The poetical conscience
Peter Godman
The solemnity with which intellectuals discussed fictio during the second quarter of twelfth century is alleviated only by a hint humour in Abelard's autobiography, and even then his account inverted penance experienced him Heloise when their affair was discovered amounts to little more than parenthesis. main thrust narrative is, establish authenticity monastic vocation that had begun, at Saint-Denis, as form feigning. On margins this central issue, touch irony might be directed Cuno Preneste he ‘repented’ act injustice made unpopular, but integrity own motivation truth Abelard allowed no one laugh. Nor there much comic Heloise's self-accusations insincerity. Despite trace black her plight, she regarded herself, first letters, deadly seriousness, concluding, from impenitence for past sins, religious life present. did not do so because conscience ‘awoke’. It turned on itself. savage scrupulousness turn, few concessions comedy granted feigning, also embodied, lifetime Abelard'es, relentless enemy mirth, St Bernard.
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