nelled him to seek a new formula for his logical theory, [1]
and the success of this feat made the adventurous dis
putant for the time the hero of the schools. He set up a
school for himself; he was even invited by William s
successor at Notre Dame to take his place. But William,
though at Saint Victor, was not out of hearing of what
went on in the city. He did not risk a personal encounter
with Abailard, but attacked him through the master who
had offered him a post of so dangerous an authority.
The too compliant master was disgraced, and Abailard
judged it prudent to transfer his school to his old quarters
at Melun. Soon, however, William for other reasons also
quitted Paris. Abailard was at once on the spot. He
established himself upon the hill of Saint Genevieve within
a short distance of the city, and determined to brave the
consequences. When William once more returned, it was
too late. His old fame as a teacher was almost forgotten,
while Abailard’s position was secured by a crowd of pupils
whom the novelty and brilliancy of his discourses had
fascinated into the sturdiest of partisans. Such at least
is Abailard s account, which, coloured as it undoubtedly
is by prejudice and avowed animosity, we have no means
of contradicting from other sources. William indeed
seems to have given up the long contest : after a while
he was glad to subside into the quiet of a bishoprick.
The qualities by which Abailard won his unequalled popularity were not only a native gift for exposition, not only a singular k lucidity and plainness of statement so different from the o bscure formalism usually insepar- able from the handling of logic ; but also an originality of thought which enabled him to make a serious revolution
- ↑ The exact nature of this change is doubtful on account of a various reading in the manu- scripts of the Historia calamita- turn, in respect to which Cousin, Fragments philosophiques 2. 115 sqq., and Remusat, vol. 1. 20, adopt a different judgement from that generally received, e. g., by Ritter, Geschichte der christ- lichen Philosophic 3. 358, by M. Haureau, Histoire de la Philosophic scolastique 1. 337 sqq., and by Dr. von Prantl, vol. 2. 129 sq. [130 sqq.] Dr. Deutsch, p. 103 n. 2, sup- ports the opinion of Cousin and Remusat.
