The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise
'The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise' is a collection of correspondence between the 12th-century philosopher Peter Abelard and his student Heloise, detailing their passionate yet tragic love affair. Written in the early 1100s, the letters explore themes of love, loss, and societal constraints, revealing their emotional struggles and the impact of their relationship on their spiritual lives. This revised edition includes Abelard's autobiography, spiritual advice to Heloise, and additional letters, providing a comprehensive view of their enduring connection and the historical context of their lives. The translation by Betty Radice has been updated by Michael Clanchy to reflect current scholarship.
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“If the portraits of our absent friends are pleasant to us, which renew our memory of them and relieve our regret for their absence by a false and empty consolation, how much more pleasant are letters which bring us the written characters of the absent friend.””
— Peter Abelard
“God knows I never sought anything in you except yourself. I wanted simply you, nothing of yours.””
— Peter Abelard
“[I]t is not by being richer or more powerful that a man becomes better; one is a matter of fortune, the other of virtue. Nor should she deem herself other than venal who weds a rich man rather than a poor, and desires more things in her husband than himself. Assuredly, whomsoever this concupiscence leads into marriage deserves payment rather than affection.””
— Peter Abelard
“Against the disease of writing one must take special precautions, since it is a dangerous and contagious disease.””
— Peter Abelard
“Would that thy love, beloved, had less trust in me, that it might be more anxious!””
— Peter Abelard
“[I]f the name of wife appears more sacred and more valid, sweeter to me is ever the word friend, or, if thou be not ashamed, concubine ... And thou thyself wert not wholly unmindful of that ... [as in ] thou hast not disdained to set forth sundry reasons by which I tried to dissuade thee from our marriage, from an ill-starred bed; but wert silent as to many, in which I preferred love to wedlock, freedom to a bond. I call God to witness, if Augustus, ruling over the whole world, were to deem me worthy of the honour of marriage, and to confirm the whole world to me, to be ruled by me forever, dearer to me and of greater dignity would it seem to be called thy concubine than his empress.””
— Peter Abelard
“Let me have a faithful account of all that concerns you; I would know everything, be it ever so unfortunate. Perhaps by mingling my sighs with yours I may make your sufferings less, for it is said that all sorrows divided are made lighter.””
— Peter Abelard
“Love is incapable of being concealed; a word, a look, nay, silence, speaks it.””
— Peter Abelard
“If there is anything that may properly be called happiness here below, I am persuaded it is the union of two persons who love each other with perfect liberty, who are united by a secret inclination, and satisfied with each other's merits. Their hearts are full and leave no vacancy for any other passion; they enjoy perpetual tranquillity because they enjoy content.””
— Peter Abelard
