Archbishop

Peter Abelard, I have summoned you here to respond to Canon

Fulbert's charges

He accuses you of

Blasphemy and heresy

Fulbert

And lechery with my niece

Archbishop

That's past, Fulbert

They're married now

Though they choose to live apart

He can't deny

They're married now

Fulbert

It's lechery with my niece

Archbishop

What else, Fulbert? What else?

Fulbert

He called the Holy Mother religion ...

Archbishop

A what, Fulbert?

Fulbert

He called the Holy Mother religion a ...

Archbishop

A what, Fulbert?

Fulbert

A whore, Archbishop. A whore!

Archbishop

Did you? Well, did you?



Abelard

I saw a virgin of light

A celestial, beautiful bride

Stained and abused in the night

By her many lovers

Who are people like you, Archbishop

You parade around in silk and ermine, turning your eyes from the

naked in the street, turning your noses from the stench of their sores

while you perfume your bodies with oriental incense, while you erect

vast treasuries in your banks, and lie, and lie, and lie! It is you who

abuse the virgin of light and turn her into a whore!



Whispers

Heresy, blasphemy, lechery



Abelard

I saw a virgin of light

A celestial, beautiful bride