O launch thy bark, fecure of profp'rous gales; Ah let me seek it from the raging feas: ELOISA The ARGUMENT. A BELARD and Eloifa flourished in the twelfth cen . tury; they were two of the most distinguished perfons of their age in learning and beauty, but for nothing more famous than for their unfortunate paffion. After a long course of calamities, they retired each to a several convent, and confecrated the remainder of their days to religion. It was many years after this separation, that a letter of Abelard's to a friend, which contained the hiftory of his misfortune, fell into the hands of Eloifa. This awakening all her tenderness, occafioned thofe celebrated letters (out of which the following is partly extracted) which give fo lively a picture of the ftruggles of grace and nature, virtue and paffion. ELOISA EL O O IS A A B E L AR D. N thefe deep folitudes and awful cells, What means this tumult in a Veftal's veins ? Why rove my thoughts beyond this last retreat? Yet, yet I love! From Abelard it came, Dear fatal name! reft ever unreveal'd, Ye rugged rocks! which holy knees have worn; Nor pray'rs nor fafts its ftubborn pulse restrain, Soon as thy letters trembling I unclofe, 30 Still breath'd in fighs, ftill ufher'd with a tear. Some dire misfortune follows close behind. Now warm in love, now with'ring in my bloom, There ftern religion quench'd th' unwilling flame, Then fhare thy pain, allow that fad relief; 35 45 Ah, more than fhare it! give me all thy grief. 50 They live, they speak, they breathe what love infpires, Warm from the foul, and faithful to its fires, The virgin's wifh without her fears impart, $55 Excufe the blufh, and pour out all the heart, Speed the foft intercourfe from foul to foul, Thou know'ft how guiltless firft I met thy flame, When Love approach'd me under Friendship's name; 60 My fancy form'd thee of angelic kind, Some emanation of th' all-beauteous mind. Thofe fmiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, Shone fweetly lambent with celeftial day. Guiltless |