Abelard and Heloise; A Tragedy in Five Acts (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 Excerpt: ...Abelard. How grave thou art, Philintus Perchance thou hast not supp'd? A hungry man is always mad or melancholy. Philintus. Heigho I have no list to eat. Abelard. 'Tis a bad sign. Perchance thou art in love? Philintus. I never fall so deep But I can eat and sleep my fill. Abelard. Certes Thou art as grave as a churchyard; What ails thee, man? Philintus (aside). Oh, that I could wake the ambition of thy soul, Which thou art killing in love's lethargy Man yearns for that which is denied him, And I love that which I did ne'er possess--Much learning. I see it dying in thy heart, And feel as though a darling child of mine Was being slain by murderous hands Abelard (yawning). I wait. Philintus (aloud). Thou know'st that I keep watch for thee. I just have learnt that what ye do, all know; All Paris sings about thy love. Abelard. A street hawker did cry the song Beneath our very window even now. Is this thy wondrous news? Philintus (aside). He shows no more amaze than I had said, "I hear the snowy Alps are passing cold," Or that "fire is hot," that "winds do blow," Or "water's wet," or any of those thousand platitudes That daily life is charged with. (Aloud) 'Tis not all. Dost remember thy Great work on " Man's Equality "? Abelard (warming to the subject as he speaks of it). The one I took five years to write? Which was my labour night and day, In which I strove all men to teach That newer thought doth wisdom bring. I tried to show that musty rules That dogmas of the schools worn out Should be foregone; and from the dust Of bigot and pedantic lore Phoenix-like there should arise, Clear and bright as light of day, This highest of all earthly creeds--That truest pray'rs are noble deeds. Philintus (bending over th...