第1章

PeterAbelard:HistoriaCalamitatumTheStoryofMyMisfortunes

translatedbyHenryAdamsBellows

PeterAbelard（1079—1142）wasoneofthegreatintellectualsofthe12thcentury，withespecialimportanceinthefieldoflogic。HistendencytodisputationisperhapsbestdemonstratedbyhisbookSicetNon，alistof158philosophicalandtheologicalquestionsaboutwhichthereweredividedopinions。Thisdialecticalmethodofintellectualreflection——alsoseeninGratian’sapproachtocanonlaw——wastobecomeanimportantfeatureofwesterneducationanddistinguishesitsharplyfromotherworldculturessuchasIslamandtheConfucianworld。Abelard’smistakewastoleavethequestionsopenfordiscussionandsohewasrepeatedlychargedwithheresy。ForalongperiodallhisworkswereincludedinthelaterIindexofForbiddenBooks。ThetextheregivesagoodaccountofAbelard’spugnaciousness。

HeisperhapsasfamoustodayforhisloveaffairwithHeloise（1100/01—1163/4）

anditsdisastrousconsequences，whichresultedinhergivingbirthtoson（calledAstrolabe），toAbelard’scastrationbyHeloise’sangryrelatives，andtoboththeirretreatstomonasticlife。Heloisewasoneofthemostliteratewomenofhertime，andanableadministrator:asaresulthermonasticcareerwasnotablysuccessful。Abelard，aintellectualjousterthroughouthislifewasnotablylesshappyasamonk。Heincurredthedispleasureandenmityofabbots，bishops，hisownmonks，anumberofChurchcouncilsandSt。BernardofClairvaux。ThelastmonthsofhislifewerespentundertheprotectionofPetertheVenerableofCluny，wherehedied。ThetombofAbelardandHeloisecannowbevisitedinthePéreLachaisecemeteryinParis。

TheHistoriaCalamitatum，althoughintheliteraryformofaletter，isasortofautobiography，withdistinctechoesofAugustine’sConfessions。Itisoneofthemostreadabledocumentstosurvivefromtheperiod，andaswellaspresentingaremarkablyfrankself—portrait，isavaluableaccountofintellectuallifeinParisbeforetheformalizationoftheUniversity，oftheintellectualexcitementoftheperiod，ofmonasticlifeandofalovestorythatinsomerespectsdeservesitslongreputation。HistoriaCalamitatumFOREWORD

OFTENtheheartsofmenandwomenarestirred，aslikewisetheyaresoothedintheirsorrowsmorebyexamplethanbywords。Andtherefore，becauseItooIhaveknownsomeconsolationfromspeechhadwithonewhowasawitnessthereof，amInowmindedtowriteofthesufferingswhichhavesprungoutofmymisfortunes，fortheeyesofonewho，thoughabsent，isofhimselfeveraconsoler。ThisIdosothat，incomparingyoursorrowswithmine，youmaydiscoverthatyoursareintruthnought，oratthemostbutofsmallaccount，andsoshallyoucometobearthemmoreeasily。CHAPTERIOFTHEBIRTHPLACEOFPIERREABELARDANDOFHISPARENTS

KNOW，then，thatIamcomefromacertaintownwhichwasbuiltonthewayintolesserBrittany，distantsomeeightmiles，asIthink，eastwardfromthecityofNantes，andinitsowntonguecalledPalets。Suchisthenatureofthatcountry，or，itmaybe，ofthemwhodwellthere——forintruththeyarequickinfancy——thatmymindbentitselfeasilytothestudyofletters。Yetmore，Ihadafatherwhohadwonsomesmatteringoflettersbeforehehadgirdedonthesoldier’sbelt。Andsoitcameaboutthatlongafterwardshislovethereofwassostrongthathesawtoitthateachsonofhisshouldbetaughtinlettersevenearlierthaninthemanagementofarms。Thusindeeddiditcometopass。AndbecauseIwashisfirstborn，andforthatreasonthemoredeartohim，hesoughtwithdoublediligencetohavemewiselytaught。Formypart，themoreIwentforwardinthestudyofletters，andevermoreeasily，thegreaterbecametheardourofmydevotiontothem，untilintruthIwassoenthralledbymypassionforlearningthat，gladlyleavingtomybrothersthepompofgloryinarms，therightofheritageandallthehonoursthatshouldhavebeenmineastheeldestborn，IfledutterlyfromthecourtofMarsthatImightwinlearninginthebosomofMinerva。And——sinceIfoundthearmoryoflogicalreasoningmoretomylikingthantheotherformsofphilosophy，Iexchangedallotherweaponsforthese，andtotheprizesofvictoryinwarIpreferredthebattleofmindsindisputation。Thenceforth，journeyingthroughmanyprovinces，anddebatingasIwent，goingwhithersoeverIheardthatthestudyofmychosenartmostflourished，IbecamesuchanoneasthePeripatetics。CHAPTERIIOFTHEPERSECUTIONHEHADFROMHISMASTERWILLIAMOFCHAMPEAUXOFHISADVENTURESATMELUN，ATCORBEILANDATPARISHISWITHDRAWALFROMTHECITYOFTHEPARISIANSTOMELUN，ANDHIS

RETURNTOMONTSTEGENEVIEVEOFHISJOURNEYTOHISOLDHOME

ICAMEatlengthtoParis，whereaboveallinthosedaystheartofdialecticswasmostflourishing，andtheredidImeetWilliamofChampeaux，myteacher，amanmostdistinguishedinhissciencebothbyhisrenownandbyhistruemerit。WithhimIremainedforsometime，atfirstindeedwelllikedofhim;butlaterIbroughthimgreatgrief，becauseIundertooktorefutecertainofhisopinions，notinfrequentlyattackinghimindisputation，andnowandtheninthesedebatesIwasadjudgedvictor。Nowthis，tothoseamongmyfellowstudentswhowererankedforemost，seemedallthemoreinsufferablebecauseofmyyouthandthebriefdurationofmystudies。

Outofthissprangthebeginningofmymisfortunes，whichhavefollowedmeeventothepresentday;themorewidelymyfamewasspreadabroad，themorebitterwastheenvythatwaskindledagainstme。ItwasgivenoutthatI，presumingonmygiftsfarbeyondthewarrantyofmyyouth，wasaspiringdespitemytenderyearstotheleadershipofaschool;nay，more，thatIwasmakingreadytheveryplaceinwhichIwouldundertakethistask，theplacebeingnoneotherthanthecastleofMelun，atthattimearoyalseat。Myteacherhimselfhadsomeforeknowledgeofthis，andtriedtoremovemyschoolasfaraspossiblefromhisown。Workinginsecret，hesoughtineverywayhecouldbeforeIlefthisfollowingtobringtonoughttheschoolIhadplannedandtheplaceIhadchosenforIt。Since，however，inthatveryplacehehadmanyrivals，andsomeofthemmenofinfluenceamongthegreatonesoftheland，relyingontheiraidIwontothefulfillmentofmywish;thesupportofmanywassecuredformebyreasonofhisownunconcealedenvy。Fromthissmallinceptionofmyschool，myfameintheartofdialecticsbegantospreadabroad，sothatlittlebylittletherenown，notaloneofthosewhohadbeenmyfellowstudents，butofourveryteacherhimself，grewdimandwasliketodieoutaltogether。

Thusitcameaboutthat，stillmoreconfidentinmyself，ImovedmyschoolassoonasIwellmighttothecastleofCorbeil，whichishardbythecityofParis，forthereIknewtherewouldbegivenmorefrequentchanceformyassaultsinourbattleofdisputation。

NolongtimethereafterIwassmittenwithagrievousillness，broughtuponmebymyimmoderatezealforstudy。Thisillnessforcedmetoturnhomewardtomynativeprovince，andthusforsomeyearsIwasasifcutofffromFrance。Andyet，forthatveryreason，Iwassoughtoutallthemoreeagerlybythosewhoseheartsweretroubledbytheloreofdialectics。

Butafterafewyearshadpassed，andIwaswholeagainfrommysickness，Ilearnedthatmyteacher，thatsameWilliamArchdeaconofParis，hadchangedhisformergarbandjoinedanorderoftheregularclergy。Thishehaddone，orsomensaid，inorderthathemightbedeemedmoredeeplyreligious，andsomightbeelevatedtoaloftierrankintheprelacy，athingwhich，intruth，verysooncametopass，forhewasmadebishopofChalons。Nevertheless，thegarbhehaddonnedbyreasonofhisconversiondidnoughttokeephimawayeitherfromthecityofParisorfromhiswontedstudyofphilosophy;

andintheverymonasterywhereinhehadshuthimselfupforthesakeofreligionhestraightwaysettoteachingagainafterthesamefashionasbefore。

TohimdidIreturnforIwaseagertolearnmoreofrhetoricfromhislips;andinthecourseofourmanyargumentsonvariousmatters，Icompelledhimbymostpotentreasoningfirsttoalterhisformeropiniononthesubjectoftheuniversals，andfinallytoabandonitaltogether。Now，thebasisofthisoldconceptofhisregardingtherealityofuniversalideaswasthatthesamequalityformedtheessencealikeoftheabstractwholeandoftheindividualswhichwereitsparts:inotherwords，thattherecouldbenoessentialdifferencesamongtheseindividuals，allbeingalikesaveforsuchvarietyasmightgrowoutofthemanyaccidentsofexistence。

Thereafter，however，hecorrectedthisopinion，nolongermaintainingthatthesamequalitywastheessenceofallthings，butthat，rather，itmanifesteditselfinthemthroughdiverseways。Thisproblemofuniversalsiseverthemostvexedoneamonglogicians，tosuchadegree，indeed，thatevenPorphyry，writinginhis\"Isagoge\"regardinguniversals，darednotattemptafinalpronouncementthereon，sayingrather:\"Thisisthedeepestofallproblemsofitskind。\"WhereforeitfollowedthatwhenWilliamhadfirstrevisedandthenfinallyabandonedaltogetherhisviewsonthisonesubject，hislecturingsankintosuchastateofnegligentreasoningthatitcouldscarcebecalledlecturingonthescienceofdialecticsatall;itwasasifallhissciencehadbeenboundupinthisonequestionofthenatureofuniversals。

Thusitcameaboutthatmyteachingwonsuchstrengthandauthoritythateventhosewhobeforehadclungmostvehementlytomyformermaster，andmostbitterlyattackedmydoctrines，nowflockedtomyschool。Theverymanwhohadsucceededtomymaster’schairintheParisschoolofferedmehispost，inorderthathemightputhimselfundermytutelagealongwithalltherest，andthisintheveryplacewhereofoldhismasterandminehadreigned。Andwhen，insoshortatime，mymastersawmedirectingthestudyofdialecticsthere，itisnoteasytofindwordstotellwithwhatenvyhewasconsumedorwithwhatpainhewastormented。Hecouldnotlong，intruth，beartheanguishofwhathefelttobehiswrongs，andshrewdlyheattackedmethathemightdrivemeforth。Andbecausetherewasnoughtinmyconductwherebyhecouldcomeatmeopenly，hetriedtostealawaytheschoolbylaunchingthevilestcalumniesagainsthimwhohadyieldedhisposttome，andbyputtinginhisplaceacertainrivalofmine。SothenIreturnedtoMelun，andsetupmyschoolthereasbefore;

andthemoreopenlyhisenvypursuedme，thegreaterwastheauthorityitconferreduponme。Evensoheldthepoet:\"Jealousyaimsatthepeaks;

thewindsstormtheloftiestsummits。\"（Ovid:\"RemedyforLove，\"I，369。）

Notlongthereafter，whenWilliambecameawareofthefactthatalmostallhisstudentswereholdinggravedoubtsastohisreligion，andwerewhisperingearnestlyamongthemselvesabouthisconversion，deemingthathehadbynomeansabandonedthisworld，hewithdrewhimselfandhisbrotherhood，togetherwithhisstudents，toacertainestatefardistantfromthecity。

ForthwithIreturnedfromMeluntoParis，hopingforpeacefromhiminthefuture。Butsince，asIhavesaid，hehadcausedmyplacetobeoccupiedbyarivalofmine，Ipitchedthecamp，asitwere，ofmyschooloutsidethecityonMontSte。Genevieve。ThusIwasasonelayingsiegetohimwhohadtakenpossessionofmypost。Nosoonerhadmymasterheardofthisthanhebrazenlyreturnedposthastetothecity，bringingbackwithhimsuchstudentsashecould，andreinstatinghisbrotherhoodintheirformermonastery，muchasifhewouldfreehissoldiery，whomhehaddeserted，frommyblockade。Intruth，though，ifitwashispurposetobringthemsuccour，hedidnoughtbuthurtthem。Beforethattimemyrivalhadindeedhadacertainnumberofstudents，ofonesortandanother，chieflybyreasonofhislecturesonPriscian，inwhichhewasconsideredofgreatauthority。

Afterourmasterhadreturned，however，helostnearlyallofthesefollowers，andthuswascompelledtogiveupthedirectionoftheschool。Notlongthereafter，apparentlydespairingfurtherofworldlyfame，hewasconvertedtothemonasticlife。

Followingthereturnofourmastertothecity，thecombatsindisputationwhichmyscholarswagedbothwithhimhimselfandwithhispupils，andthesuccesseswhichfortunegavetous，andabovealltome，inthesewars，youhavelongsincelearnedofthroughyourownexperience。TheboastofAjax，thoughIspeakitmoretemperately，Istillamboldenoughtomake:\"iffainyouwouldlearnnowHowvictorycrownedthebattle，byhimwasInevervanquished。\"

（Ovid，\"Metamorphoses，\"XIII，89。）ButevenwereItobesilent，thefactproclaimsitself，anditsoutcomerevealsthetruthregardingit。

Whilethesethingswerehappening，itbecameneedfulformeagaintorepairtomyoldhome，byreasonofmydearmother，Lucia，foraftertheconversionofmyfather，Berengarius，tothemonasticlife，shesoorderedheraffairsastodolikewise。Whenallthishadbeencompleted，IreturnedtoFrance，aboveallinorderthatImightstudytheology，sincenowmyoft—mentionedteacher，William，wasactiveintheepiscopateofChalons。

InthisfieldoflearningAnselmofLaon，whowashisteachertherein，hadforlongyearsenjoyedthegreatestrenown。CHAPTERIIIOFHOWHECAMETOLAONTOSEEKANSELMASTEACHER

ISOUGHTout，therefore，thissamevenerableman，whosefame，intruth，wasmoretheresultoflongestablishedcustomthanofthepotencyofhisowntalentorintellect。Ifanyonecametohimimpelledbydoubtonanysubject，hewentawaymoredoubtfulstill。Hewaswonderful，indeed，intheeyesofthesewhoonlylistenedtohim，butthosewhoaskedhimquestionsperforceheldhimasnought。Hehadamiraculousflowofwords，buttheywerecontemptibleinmeaningandquitevoidofreason。Whenhekindledafire，hefilledhishousewithsmokeandillumineditnotatall。Hewasatreewhichseemednobletothosewhogazeduponitsleavesfromafar，buttothosewhocamenearerandexamineditmorecloselywasrevealeditsbarrenness。When，therefore，IhadcometothistreethatImightpluckthefruitthereof，IdiscoveredthatitwasindeedthefigtreewhichOurLordcursed（Matthewxxi。19;Markxi。13），orthatancientoaktowhichLucanlikenedPompey，saying:\"hestands，theshadeofanameoncemighty，Liketothetoweringoakinthemidstofthefruitfulfield。\"

（Lucan，\"Pharsalia，\"IV，135—）ItwasnotlongbeforeImadethisdiscovery，andstretchedmyselflazilyintheshadeofthatsametree。Iwenttohislectureslessandlessoften，athingwhichsomeamonghiseminentfollowerstooksorelytoheart，becausetheyinterpreteditasamarkofcontemptforsoillustriousateacher。

Thenceforththeysecretlysought！toinfluencehimagainstme，andbytheirvileinsinuationsmademehatedofhim。Itchanced，moreover，thatoneday，aftertheexpositionofcertaintexts，wescholarswerejestingamongourselves，andoneofthem，seekingtodrawmeout，askedmewhatIthoughtofthelecturesontheBooksofScripture。I，whohadasyetstudiedonlythesciences，repliedthatfollowingsuchlecturesseemedtomemostusefulinsofarasthesalvationofthesoulwasconcerned，butthatitappearedquiteextraordinarytomethateducatedpersonsshouldnotbeabletounderstandthesacredbookssimplybystudyingthemthemselves，togetherwiththeglossesthereon，andwithouttheaidofanyteacher。Mostofthosewhowerepresentmockedatme，andaskedwhetherImyselfcoulddoasIhadsaid，orwhetherIwoulddaretoundertakeit。Iansweredthatiftheywished，Iwasreadytotryit。Forthwiththeycriedoutandjeeredallthemore。\"Wellandgood，\"saidthey;\"weagreetothetest。PickoutandgiveusanexpositionofsomedoubtfulpassageintheScriptures，Isothatwecanputthisboastofyourstotheproof。\"AndtheyallchosethatmostobscureprophecyofEzekiel。

Iacceptedthechallenge，andinvitedthemtoattendalectureontheverynextday。Whereupontheyundertooktogivemegoodadvice，sayingthatIshouldbynomeansmakeunduehasteinsoimportantamatter，butthatIoughttodevoteamuchlongerspacetoworkingoutmyexpositionandoffsettingmyinexperiencebydiligenttoil。TothisIrepliedindignantlythatitwasmywonttowinsuccess，notbyroutine，butbyability。IaddedthatIwouldabandonthetestaltogetherunlesstheywouldagreenottoputofftheirattendanceatmylecture。Intruthatthisfirstlectureofmineonlyafewwerepresent，foritseemedquiteabsurdtoallofthemthatI。hithertosoinexperiencedindiscussingtheScriptures，shouldattemptthethingsohastily。However，thislecturegavesuchsatisfactiontoallthosewhohearditthattheyspreaditspraisesabroadwithnotableenthusiasm，andthuscompelledmetocontinuemyinterpretationofthesacredtext。Whenwordofthiswasbruitedabout，thosewhohadstayedawayfromthefirstlecturecameeagerly，sometothesecondandmoretothethird，andallofthemwereeagertowritedowntheglosseswhichI

hadbegunonthefirstday，soastohavethemfromtheverybeginning。CHAPTERIVOFTHEPERSECUTIONHEHADFROMHISTEACHERANSELM

NOWthisvenerablemanofwhomIhavespokenwasacutelysmittenwithenvy，andstraightwayincited，asIhavealreadymentioned，bytheinsinuationsofsundrypersons，begantopersecutemeformylecturingontheScripturesnolessbitterlythanmyformermaster，William，haddoneformyworkinphilosophy。Atthattimetherewereinthisoldman’sschooltwowhowereconsideredfartoexcelalltheothers:AlbericofRheimsandLotulphetheLombard。Thebetteropinionthesetwoheldofthemselves，themoretheywereincensedagainstme。Chieflyattheirsuggestion，asitafterwardstranspired，yondervenerablecowardhadtheimpudencetoforbidmetocarryonanyfurtherinhisschooltheworkofpreparingglosseswhichIhadthusbegun。ThepretextheallegedwasthatifbychanceinthecourseofthisworkIshouldwriteanythingcontainingblunders——aswaslikelyenoughinviewofmylackoftraining——thethingmightbeimputedtohim。

Whenthiscametotheearsofhisscholars，theywerefilledwithindignationatsoundisguisedamanifestationofspite，thelikeofwhichhadneverbeendirectedagainstanyonebefore。Themoreobviousthisrancourbecame，themoreitredoundedtomyhonour，andhispersecutiondidnoughtsavetomakememorefamous。CHAPTERVOFHOWHERETURNEDTOPARISANDFINISHEDTHEGLOSSESWHICHHEHAD

BEGUNATLAON

ANDso，afterafewdays，IreturnedtoParis，andthereforseveralyearsIpeacefullydirectedtheschoolwhichformerlyhadbeendestinedforme，nay，evenofferedtome，butfromwhichIhadbeendrivenout。

Attheveryoutsetofmyworkthere，IsetaboutcompletingtheglossesonEzekielwhichIhadbegunatLaon。TheseprovedsosatisfactorytoallwhoreadthemthattheycametobelievemenolessadeptinlecturingontheologythanIhadprovedmyselftobeinthefieldofphilosophy。Thusmyschoolwasnotablyincreasedinsizebyreasonofmylecturesonsubjectsofboththesekinds，andtheamountoffinancialprofitaswellasglorywhichitbroughtmecannotbeconcealedfromyou，forthemattertalkedof。Butprosperityalwayspuffsupthefoolishandworldlycomfortenervatesthesoul，renderingitaneasypreytocarnaltemptations。ThusIwhobythistimehadcometoregardmyselfastheonlyphilosopherremaininginthewholeworld，andhadceasedtofearanyfurtherdisturbanceofmypeace，begantoloosenthereinonmydesires，althoughhithertoIhadalwayslivedintheutmostcontinence。AndthegreaterprogressImadeinmylecturingonphilosophyortheology，themoreIdepartedalikefromthepracticeofthephilosophersandthespiritofthedivinesintheuncleannessofmylife。Foritiswellknown，methinks，thatphilosophers，andstillmorethosewhohavedevotedtheirlivestoarousingtheloveofsacredstudy，havebeenstrongaboveallelseinthebeautyofchastity。