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。