Fulbert did not keep his promise of secrecy, but spoke openly of the marriage, which when Heloise heard she indignantly denied, protesting that it had never taken place. This made her uncle treat her so cruelly, that Abelard, either to protect her from his violence, or to prove that the announcement of the marriage was false, took her himself to the convent of Argenteuil, where she did not immediately take the veil, but put on the dress of a novice. Not long after he ordered her to take the veil, which she did, although the nuns, touched by her youth and beauty, endeavoured to prevent her from making the sacrifice.
Twelve years passed without Heloise ever hearing mentioned the name of the one she so devotedly loved. She had become Prioress of Argenteuil, and lived a life of complete retirement. But her too great kindness and indulgence to the nuns under her control, gave rise to some disorders, which, although she was perfectly blameless, yet caused her to be forced by Ligur, Abbot of St. Denis, to leave her retreat, with her companions. Abelard, hearing of her homeless situation, left Brittany, where he was living in charge of the monastery of St. Gildas-de-Ruys, and went to place Heloise and her followers in the little oratory of the Paraclete, which had been founded by him. Here Heloise exerted herself to the utmost to build up a convent; and though their life at first was a painful one, yet, by the end of a year, their wealth was so much increased by the munificence of pious persons about them, that they became very comfortable.
Heloise had the rare charm of attaching every one who approached her to herself. Bishops called her daughter; priests, sister; and laymen, mother. Every one reverenced her for her piety, her wisdom, her patience, and her incomparable sweetness. She rarely appeared in public, but devoted herself almost wholly to prayer and meditation.
She happened, one day, to see a letter that Abelard had written, giving an account of his life. She read it many times with tears, and at length wrote to her lover that well-known, eloquent, and passionate letter. His reply was severe but kind; and these two letters were followed by several others.
In April, 1142, Heloise having heard a report of Abelard's death, wrote to demand his body, that it might be buried at the Paraclete, according to a wish that he had himself expressed in writing. He was buried in a chapel built by his order, and for more than twenty years, Heloise went every night to weep over his tomb. She died May 17th., 1164, aged sixty-three, and was placed in the same tomb.
In 1497, from religious motives, the tomb was opened, and the bones of Abelard and Heloise were removed. In 1800, by order of Lucien Buonaparte, these hallowed remains were carried to the Museum of French Monuments. And in 1815, when this Museum was destroyed, the tomb was taken to Père-le-Chaise, where it still remains
HELVETIUS, MADAME,
Was daughter of Compte Lignville, and married, in 1751, Claude Adrien Helvétius, who afterwards became celebrated for his talents. Madame Helvétius was very beautiful and accomplished. Being the niece of Madame Graffigny, by whom she was brought up, she
