ThusdiditcometopassthatwhileIwasutterlyabsorbedinprideandsensuality，divinegrace，thecureforbothdiseases，wasforceduponme，eventhoughI，forsoothwouldfainhaveshunnedit。FirstwasIpunishedformysensuality，andthenformypride。FormysensualityIlostthosethingswherebyIpracticedit;formypride，engenderedinmebymyknowledgeoflettersanditisevenastheApostlesaid:\"Knowledgepuffethitselfup\"（ICor。viii。1）——IknewthehumiliationofseeingburnedtheverybookinwhichImostgloried。Andnowitismydesirethatyoushouldknowthestoriesofthesetwohappenings，understandingthemmoretrulyfromlearningtheveryfactsthanfromhearingwhatisspokenofthem，andintheorderinwhichtheycameabout。BecauseIhadeverheldinabhorrencethefoulnessofprostitutes，becauseIhaddiligentlykeptmyselffromallexcessesandfromassociationwiththewomenofnoblebirthwhoattendedtheschool，becauseIknewsolittleofthecommontalkofordinarypeople，perverseandsubtlyflatteringchancegavebirthtoanoccasionforcastingmelightlydownfromtheheightsofmyownexaltation。Nay，insuchcasenotevendivinegoodnesscouldredeemonewho，havingbeensoproud，wasbroughttosuchshame，wereitnotfortheblessedgiftofgrace。CHAPTERVIOFHOW，BROUGHTLOWBYHISLOVEFORHELOISE，HEWASWOUNDEDIN
BODYANDSOUL
NOWtheredweltinthatsamecityofParisacertainyounggirlnamedHeloise，theneiceofacanonwhowascalledFulbert。Heruncle’sloveforherwasequalledonlybyhisdesirethatsheshouldhavethebesteducationwhichhecouldpossiblyprocureforher。Ofnomeanbeauty，shestoodoutaboveallbyreasonofherabundantknowledgeofletters。Nowthisvirtueisrareamongwomen，andforthatveryreasonitdoublygracedthemaiden，andmadeherthemostworthyofrenownintheentirekingdom。ItwasthisyounggirlwhomI，aftercarefullyconsideringallthosequalitieswhicharewonttoattractlovers，determinedtounitewithmyselfinthebondsoflove，andindeedthethingseemedtomeveryeasytobedone。Sodistinguishedwasmyname，andIpossessedsuchadvantagesofyouthandcomeliness，thatnomatterwhatwomanImightfavourwithmylove，Idreadedrejectionofnone。Then，too，IbelievedthatIcouldwinthemaiden’sconsentallthemoreeasilybyreasonofherknowledgeoflettersandherzealtherefor;
so，evenifwewereparted，wemightyetbetogetherinthoughtwiththeaidofwrittenmessages。Perchance，too，wemightbeabletowritemoreboldlythanwecouldspeak，andthusatalltimescouldweliveinjoyousintimacy。
Thus，utterlyaflamewithmypassionforthismaiden，IsoughttodiscovermeanswherebyImighthavedailyandfamiliarspeechwithher，therebythemoreeasilytowinherconsent。ForthispurposeIpersuadedthegirl’suncle，withtheaidofsomeofhisfriendstotakemeintohishousehold——forhedwelthardbymyschool——inreturnforthepaymentofasmallsum。Mypretextforthiswasthatthecareofmyownhouseholdwasaserioushandicaptomystudies，andlikewiseburdenedmewithanexpensefargreaterthanIcouldafford。Nowhewasamankeeninavariceandlikewisehewasmostdesirousforhisniecethatherstudyoflettersshouldevergoforward，so，forthesetworeasonsIeasilywonhisconsenttothefulfillmentofmywish，forhewasfairlyagapeformymoney，andatthesametimebelievedthathisniecewouldvastlybenefitbymyteaching。Moreeventhanthis，byhisownearnestentreatieshefellinwithmydesiresbeyondanythingIhaddaredtohope，openingthewayformylove;forheentrustedherwhollytomyguidance，beggingmetogiveherinstructionwhensoeverI