A Day in Paris

Page 4 of 5

You have undoubtedly heard of the
bitter-sweet story of these two lovers,
it was their correspondence that put 
them into the lovers' hall of fame. Some
of it is really touching, some of it is rather
blah, some of it makes you mad, for 
example when like a typical man Abelard
hints that his "situation" is all her fault for
getting pregnant). But they continued 
their devotion to each other through
correspondence while living separate lives.

What was his "situation"? When Eloise
became pregnant, Abelard was forcibly
castrated to make sure he would not want
to move in with her and become just another
husband in Paris working to support his family.

He already was, and was meant to remain,
a great church scholar, and that's what also
makes him famous today.

Strange times! Long live laws protecting
privacy and freedom of choice and above all,
due process!

[Even in 2006 I am still interested in this pair, as you can see by my first book review for 2006.]

Together at last in death, it says on the tomb.

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