The Letters Of Abelard And Heloise

The concluding matter includes two hymns written by Abelard, “Sabbato Ad Vesperas–Vespers: Saturday Evening” and “In Parasceve Domini: III, Nocturno–Good Friday: The Third Nocturn.” The first hymn is longer and reflects on the Sabbaths, Jerusalem, truth and joy, exile and homecoming, and eternal praise of God. The second hymn is brief and reflects on Christ’s passion, Good Friday, and Easter. 

The concluding matter also includes an appendix of excerpts from the “lost love letters” of Heloise and Abelard. It should be noted that these letters, which exist in a single 15th-century copy, have not been confirmed as written by Heloise and Abelard. Rather, they were written anonymously, and some scholars have postulated that they were written by Heloise and Abelard in the early years of their relationship. The letters differ in style from their letters written after taking religious vows. Clanchy notes that the excerpts provide “an intriguing new problem in the history of Abelard and Heloise” (237).

The excerpts are fervent love letters between two individuals who are entirely enamored with and overwhelmed with love for one another. The woman writes that “my breast blazes with the fervor of love” and the man responds to “my star…my greatest hope” (238-39).