Eloisa to Abelard

by Alexander Pope

In these deep solitudes and awful cells,
Where heav’nly-pensive contemplation dwells,
And ever-musing melancholy reigns;
What means this tumult in a vestal’s veins?
Why rove my thoughts beyond this last retreat?
Why feels my heart its long-forgotten heat?
Yet, yet I love!—From Abelard it came,
And Eloisa yet must kiss the name.

Dear fatal name! rest ever unreveal’d,
Nor pass these lips in holy silence seal’d.
Hide it, my heart, within that close disguise,
Where mix’d with God’s, his lov’d idea lies:
O write it not, my hand—the name appears
Already written—wash it out, my tears!
In vain lost Eloisa weeps and prays,
Her heart still dictates, and her hand obeys.

Relentless walls! whose darksome round contains
Repentant sighs, and voluntary pains:
Ye rugged rocks! which holy knees have worn;
Ye grots and caverns shagg’d with horrid thorn!
Shrines! where their vigils pale-ey’d virgins keep,
And pitying saints, whose statues learn to weep!
Though cold like you, unmov’d, and silent grown,
I have not yet forgot myself to stone.
All is not Heav’n’s while Abelard has part,
Still rebel nature holds out half my heart;
Nor pray’rs nor fasts its stubborn pulse restrain,
Nor tears, for ages, taught to flow in vain.

Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose,
That well-known name awakens all my woes.
Oh name for ever sad! for ever dear!
Still breath’d in sighs, still usher’d with a tear.
I tremble too, where’er my own I find,
Some dire misfortune follows close behind.
Line after line my gushing eyes o’erflow,
Led through a sad variety of woe:
Now warm in love, now with’ring in thy bloom,
Lost in a convent’s solitary gloom!
There stern religion quench’d th’ unwilling flame,
There died the best of passions, love and fame.

Yet write, oh write me all, that I may join
Griefs to thy griefs, and echo sighs to thine.
Nor foes nor fortune take this pow’r away;
And is my Abelard less kind than they?
Tears still are mine, and those I need not spare,
Love but demands what else were shed in pray’r;
No happier task these faded eyes pursue;
To read and weep is all they now can do.

Then share thy pain, allow that sad relief;
Ah, more than share it! give me all thy grief.
Heav’n first taught letters for some wretch’s aid,
Some banish’d lover, or some captive maid;
They live, they speak, they breathe what love inspires,
Warm from the soul, and faithful to its fires,
The virgin’s wish without her fears impart,
Excuse the blush, and pour out all the heart,
Speed the soft intercourse from soul to soul,
And lend the voice where silence holds control.

For thee, what art I now? a mournful shade,
A blighted flower, in dark seclusion laid?
Or art thou still, as once, with passion warm,
To see my face, to hear my tender name?
But, oh! forbear! that image brings despair.
And wake my senses to eternal pain.
Let silence reign, and hide thy form from me,
Let not thy letters reach these walls again!

Yet, if thou writest, let it not be all
Of joy and peace, and comforts of thy state!
Describe the sun, the fields, the cheerful day,
And all the bliss that freedom can bestow!
But tell me, too, of storms, and raging seas,
Of fate’s caprice, and all that mortals bear.
Then, in thy sorrows, I shall find my own.
And mingle tears for both in equal woe.

I scorn the hope of meeting in this life,
Or sharing bliss beneath the self-same sky!
What’s heaven to me, if thou art not there?
What joy can angels grant, or spirits lend?
But if, in future years, we meet again,
Beyond the reach of fate, beyond control,
Then, oh! let not the past upbraid my fate,
Nor love’s regret, nor sorrow’s heavy chain!

Let not the vows I made, or tears I shed,
Be held against me, when my course is run!
But let thy love, pure, tender, and divine,
Forgive the errors of a life misled.
And grant me peace, and rest, and sweet release,
From all the storms that rage within my breast.
Then, in thy arms, I’ll find my final home,
And sleep in bliss, forever at thy side.

See in her cell sad Eloisa spread,
Propp’d on some tomb, a neighbor of the dead.
In each low wind methinks a spirit calls,
And more than echoes talk along the walls.
Here, as I watch’d the dying lamps around,
From yonder shrine I heard a hollow sound.
“Come, sister, come!” (it said, or seem’d to say)
“Thy place is here, sad sister, come away!
Once like thyself, I trembled, wept, and pray’d,
Love’s victim then, though now a sainted maid:
But all is calm in this eternal sleep;
Here grief forgets to groan, and love to weep,
Ev’n superstition loses ev’ry fear:
For God, not man, absolves our frailties here.”

I come, I come! prepare your roseate bow’rs,
Celestial palms, and ever-blooming flow’rs.
Thither, where sinners may have rest, I go,
Where flames refin’d in breasts seraphic glow:
Thou, Abelard! the last sad office pay,
And let me be a part of love’s sweet prayer.
If I could see my heart with a new flame,
I’ll see it in that bright sky, and that bright name.

I will see you in that sky, and then in the sky,
In the light I love in the bright light
Of love in the world of all your bright light,
In all that I love in love of the bright light
And love in love of the light of the light, of the light, the light and the bright light.

I’ll be the one that I’ll see with the sky,
In the bright light of the world that I love to see in a bright light, the bright light of the bright light, the bright light and the bright light, the bright light.

The love that I love with love to see love,
I will be the one that I love with the sky
And the love of the bright light that I will be the love of the bright light, the bright light.

Heavenly light, I will love the bright light that the bright light of the world of love to love to the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light of the bright light.

Summary of Eloisa to Abelard

“Eloisa to Abelard” is a dramatic monologue in verse by Alexander Pope, published in 1717. It presents the inner turmoil of Eloisa, a woman confined to a nunnery, who is desperately in love with her former tutor, Abelard. The poem explores the conflict between her spiritual obligations and her passionate, earthly desires. Eloisa struggles to reconcile her vows of chastity with the enduring power of her love for Abelard, fueled by the letters he continues to send. She laments her fate, oscillating between guilt and longing, and finds no solace in religion. Throughout the poem, Eloisa paints a vivid picture of her internal conflict—her desire for Abelard clashing with her duty to God. Despite her attempts to suppress her feelings, the letters she receives only rekindle her love and sorrow. Ultimately, she embraces death as the only escape from her torment, yearning to be reunited with Abelard in the afterlife.

Popularity of “Eloisa to Abelard”: Alexander Pope, a prominent figure of the Augustan era, penned the celebrated verse epistolary poem depicting a poignant love story. First published in 1717, it explores the complex emotions of a woman torn between spiritual devotion and earthly passion.
“Eloisa to Abelard” as a Representative of Sorrow: The poem masterfully portrays Eloisa’s profound sorrow and internal conflict. Confined to a nunnery, she grapples with the enduring power of her love for Abelard, which clashes with her religious vows. Despite her attempts to find solace in spirituality, she remains haunted by memories of their past intimacy and the letters he sends, reigniting her emotional turmoil.
Major Themes in “Eloisa to Abelard”: The poem delves into several key themes, including the conflict between love and religion, the power of memory, and the struggle for spiritual liberation. Eloisa’s internal battle between her desires and her vows creates a compelling exploration of human emotion and the complexities of the human heart.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Eloisa to Abelard”

Literary devices enrich a literary text, providing depth and revealing hidden meanings. Alexander Pope skillfully employs these devices throughout “Eloisa to Abelard,” enhancing the poem’s emotional impact and thematic resonance.

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity. For example, relentless walls emphasizes the confining nature of her situation.
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, pale-ey’d virgins creates a musical quality and reinforces the imagery.
Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause. This technique creates a sense of flow and mimics the unrestrained nature of Eloisa’s thoughts. For example,

“And smooth my passage to the realms of day;
See my lips tremble, and my eye-balls roll,”

Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Pope uses powerful imagery throughout the poem, creating a haunting and evocative atmosphere. For example, dark seclusion laid creates a sense of isolation and despair.
Rhetorical Question: A question posed for effect rather than to elicit an answer. These questions highlight Eloisa’s internal struggles and emotional turmoil. For example, What means this tumult in a vestal’s veins?
Symbolism: The use of objects or ideas to represent something else. The nunnery itself symbolizes Eloisa’s confinement and her struggle to reconcile her desires with her religious obligations.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Eloisa to Abelard”

Poetic devices are techniques employed by poets to create rhythm, enhance meaning, and evoke emotion. Pope masterfully utilizes these devices throughout “Eloisa to Abelard,” contributing to the poem’s lyrical beauty and thematic depth.

Heroic Couplet: The poem is written in heroic couplets, pairs of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter. This structure creates a sense of formality and elegance while also providing a driving rhythm.
End Rhyme: The rhyme scheme of the poem is consistent, with each couplet rhyming. This creates a sense of musicality and reinforces the poem’s structure.
Iambic Pentameter: The dominant meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern consisting of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line. This creates a natural and flowing rhythm that mimics the cadence of speech.
Allusion: The poem contains allusions to classical mythology and religious texts, adding depth and complexity to its themes.

Quotes to be Used

The following lines can be used to explore themes of confinement, sorrow, and the conflict between desire and duty:

“In these deep solitudes and awful cells,
Where heav’nly-pensive contemplation dwells,
And ever-musing melancholy reigns;
What means this tumult in a vestal’s veins?”

These lines capture the poem’s atmosphere of sorrow and Eloisa’s internal turmoil. They can also be used to discuss the psychological effects of confinement and the struggle to reconcile conflicting emotions.