rited!

CHAP. V.

COUNTRY SOUTH OF THE LOIRE.--LE BOCAGE.--CLISSON.--HISTORICAL
ANECDOTES.--THE GARENNE, AND RIVER SEVRES.

The best method of travelling in this country is on horseback: in
fact, it is impossible to proceed in any other way, after quitting the
main road. Having procured a guide and horses, I set out early in the
morning, crossing the Loire by the Pont Rosseau, to Verton, keeping
along the banks of the River Sevres. Verton is a romantic village
standing on a hill: most of the houses are in ruins, from the effect
of the destructive war of La Vendee. From thence to Le Palet, most
intricate narrow roads, or more properly speaking, pathways, darkened
by the overhanging branches of trees, and in many parts deep with
mire, from the sun's rays not being able to dry the ground, make it
difficult to proceed, and we several times lost our way. It was late
before we reached Le Palet, and though I had not tasted food for many
hours, I could not resist stopping to view so interesting a spot, and
making a hasty sketch of the ruins of the house in which Abelard
was born, and in which Heloise resided with him before their final
separation. The ruins of the House of Berenger, the father of Abelard,
are close to the church of Palet, on the left of the high road, three
miles distant from Clisson. Le Palet is thus described by a French
author, in the history of the Province.

"Cet homme si celebre par son savoir, ses amours, et ses infortunes,
amena Heloise au Palet lorsqu'il l'eut enlevee de chez le Chanoine
Fulbert, pour la soustraire au ressentiment de cet oncle jaloux
et barbare; mais, oblige de quitter cette retraite paisible pour
retourner a Paris, ou l'appelaient ses nombreux disciples, le soin de
sa gloire et de sa fortune, Abelard confia a sa soeur sa chere Heloise
et le gage precieux qu'elle portait dans son sein. Elle accoucha au
Palet d'un fils d'une si rare beaute, qu'elle le nomma Astralabe,
c'est-a-dire, astre brillant; mais l'absence de celui qu'elle adorait
rendait moins vifs pour elle les doux plaisirs de la maternite; son
ame expansive et brulante etait livree sans cesse a une inquiete et
sombre melancholie qu'elle ne parvenait sans doute a dissiper qu'en
venant sur les bords de la Sevres rever a l'objet de sa tendresse, et
soupirer apres son retour. Sept siecles se sont ecoules depuis cette
epoque, et les noms d'Abelard et d'Heloise embellissent toujours ce
delicieux ravage. On interroge ave