A

ARGUMENT.

BELARD and Eloifa flourished in the twelfth Century; 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 courfe of calamities, they retired each to a feveral Convent, and confecrated the remainder of their days to religion. It was many years after this feparation, 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 tendernefs, occafioned those celebrated letters (out of which the following is partly extracted) which give fo lively a picture of the struggles of grace and nature, virtue and paffion. P.

S.Wale inv: &t del:

3.S.Müller Sci.

Ah Wretch believ'd the Spouse of God in vain, Confess'd within the Slave of Love and Man...

El: to ab:

ELOISA TO ABELARD.

IN thefe deep folitudes and awful cells,

Where heav'nly-penfive contemplation dwells,
And ever-mufing melancholy reigns;

What means this tumult in a Veftal's veins ?
Why rove my thoughts beyond this last retreat? 5
Why feels my heart its long-forgotten heat?
Yet, yet I love!-From Abelard it came,
And Eloïfa yet must kiss the name.

Dear fatal name! reft ever unreveal'd,
Nor pass these lips in holy filence feal'd:
Hide it, my heart, within that close disguise,
Where mix'd with God's, his lov'd Idea lies:
O write it not, my hand-the name appears
Already written-wash it out, my tears!
In vain loft Eloïfa weeps and prays,

ΤΟ

15

Her heart ftill dictates, and her hand obeys.
Relentless walls! whofe darkfome round con-

tains

Repentant fighs, and voluntary pains:

1

Ye rugged rocks, which holy knees have worn ;

Ye grots and caverns fhagg'd with horrid

20

!

thorn! Shrines! where their vigils pale ey'd virgins keep, And pitying faints, whofe ftatues learn to weep Tho' cold like you, unmov'd and filent grown, I have not yet forgot myself to ftone. All is not Heav'n's while Abelard has part, 25 Still rebel nature holds out half my heart; Nor pray'rs nor fafts its stubborn pulse restrain, Nor tears for ages taught to flow in vain.

Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose,
That well-known name awakens all my woes. 30
Oh name for ever fad! for ever dear!

Still breath'd in fighs, still usher'd with a tear.
I tremble too, where'er my own I find,
Some dire misfortune follows close behind.
Line after line my gushing eyes

o'erflow,

Led through a fad variety of woe:

35

Now warm in love, now with'ring in my bloom, Loft in a convent's folitary gloom!

There ftern Religion quench'd th' unwilling

flame,

39

There dy'd the best of paffions, Love and Fame.

Yet