Plate IV. Vol. II. facing p.29. S.Wale inviat del J.Müller sc: Ah Wretch believed the Spouse of God in vain, Confess'd within the Slave of Love and Man... El: to ab: ELOISA то A BELAR D. N thefe deep folitudes and awful cells, IN 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 ? 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 seal'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! 5 10 In vain loft Eloïfa weeps and prays, 15 Her heart ftill dictates, and her hand obeys. Relentless walls! whofe darkfome round con tains Repentant fighs, and voluntary pains: Ye rugged rocks, which holy knees have worn ; Ye grots and caverns fhagg'd with horrid thorn! 20 Shrines! where their vigils pale ey'd virgins keep, All is not Heav'n's while Abelard has part, 25 Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose, Still breath'd in fighs, still usher'd with a tear. Some dire misfortune follows close behind. Led thro' a fad variety of woe: 35 Now warm in love, now with'ring in my bloom, Loft in a convent's folitary gloom! There stern Religion quench'd th' unwilling flame, There dy'd the best of paffions, Love and Fame. 40 Yet write, oh write me all, that I may join Griefs to thy griefs, and echo fighs to thine. Nor foes nor fortune take this pow'r away; And is my Abelard less kind than they? Tears still are mine, and those I need not spare, 45 Love but demands what else were shed in pray'r; No happier task these faded eyes pursue ; To read and weep is all they now can do. Then share thy pain, allow that fad relief; Ah, more than share it, give me all thy grief. 50 Heav'n first taught letters for some wretch's aid, Some banish'd lover, or fome captive maid; They live, they speak, they breathe what love infpires, Warm from the foul, and faithful to its fires, Thou know'ft how guiltless first I met thy flame, When Love approach'd me under friendship's name; My fancy form'd thee of angelic kind, Some emanation of th' all-beauteous Mind. 60 Those smiling eyes, attemp'ring ev'ry ray, 7.5 How oft, when prefs'd to marriage, have I said, Curfe on all laws but those which love has made? Love, free as air, at fight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies. Let wealth, let honour, wait the wedded dame, Auguft her deed, and facred be her fame; Before true paffion all thofe views remove; Fame, wealth, and honour! what are you to Love? NOTES. VER. 66. And truths divine, etc.] He was her Preceptor in Philofophy and Divinity. VER. 75. IMITATIONS. Love will not be confin'd by Maisterie: When Maifterie comes, the Lord of Love anon Flutters his wings, and forthwith is he gone. Chaucer. P. |