Abelard's Passion (Revision 2), senryu Options

[Maggie]

Abelard's Passion (Revision 2)

Ignorance castrates,
but passion is forever,
beyond death itself.

Peggy Carpenter Harwood



Abelard's Passion (Revision 1)

Hate castrated him,
but passion is forever-
beyond death itself.

Peggy Carpenter Harwood




Abelard's Passion

Evil castrates him,
but passion is forever-
beyond death itself.

Peggy Carpenter Harwood

[Maggie]

Hi Cleo,

The Abelard and Heloise story is an old one, but a true one. Peter Abelard was a French philosopher who taught at Notre Dame in Paris in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. He fell in love with one of his students, the beautiful Heloise. Since he was a teacher of philosophy, he was not allowed to have sex or ever marry. But he did have sex with Heloise, and she became pregnant. Abelard secretly married her and took her to his sister's house far away from Paris to have the baby. They named the baby Astrolade. Heloise's Uncle, the rector of Notre Dame, was Heloise's guardian and became violently angry at Abelard for shaming his niece. The uncle hired a band of Paris ruffians to castrate Abelard, so they broke into his lodgings and did castrate him. Much of the Paris population rose up against the uncle, and he was ruined financially and reputation-wise as well.

Abelard was desolate with grief and so was Heloise. Abelard talked her into joining a holy order, and he did as well. Their child Astrolade was raised by Abelard's sister and her husband. Abelard and Heloise wrote to each other until Abelard died of old age.
They both attained great fame in their holy orders. Abelard died years before Heloise, and when Heloise died Abelard's grave was opened and Heloise's body was laid beside his. When Napoleon came to power, Josephine, his wife, had the bodies of Abelard and Heloise were moved to a Paris cemetery. I forget the name of the cemetery This is not myth or legend, but history. Now this part is legend: It is said that when they lay Heloise's body beside him in the grave he put his arm around her.

Their grave is visited by thousands yearly to this day in Paris. Cleo, you would find this a fascinating story. Google them.

Peggy