Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/83

Gave shelter to him as a monk;
And when this bitter cup he’d drunk
Down to the dregs, an abbey meet
He founded, hight the Paraclete,
For Heloïse, and there with good
Success she ruled the sisterhood.
Her love-lorn story hath she told
In letters which she penned with bold
Unshamed assurance; therein she
Declares monk Abelard to be9230
Her lord and master; and some say
These far-famed letters but betray
Delirious love. When first the dress
She donned of abbess, her distress
Broke forth in these wild words:
Heloïse unparalleled If he
Who rules Rome’s Empire courteously
Deigned to demand that I, as wife,
To him would dedicate my life,
In proud estate, I should reply:
Much rather would I live and die9240
Thy mistress, wrapped in shame pro­found,
Than empress of the world be crowned.
But never since that day till now
Hath such a woman lived, I trow.

I doubt not ’twas her reading wide
Had taught her wisely to decide
All questions wherein woman’s heart
Is bound to bear so great a part,
And so when love she felt disturb
Her soul, she knew his power to curb;9250