Perseverance In Love by Honoré de Balzac. Short summary

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A master goldsmith falls in love with a serf belonging to the abbey. The man wishes to marry her, despite the fact that after their marriage he will also become a slave, and his property will become the property of the chapter.

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Master goldsmith Anso was in the business of melting silver and minting gold. The man never loved anyone and was lonely. When he was 41 years old, while walking along the banks of the Seine, he met a poorly dressed girl and fell in love with her. Anseau learned that she was the daughter of a serf slave and belonged to the abbey. As such, anyone who thinks of marrying her will also become a slave.

The protagonist wishes to ransom his beloved. He goes to Paris and secures the patronage of the chief of the royal court. The men go to the abbey, where the courtier asks the prior to release the girl. But the latter refuses the petitioners, saying that whoever marries the maiden will give his property and himself to the Abbey Chapter.

Anso agrees to marry and accept slavery. After the honeymoon of the newlyweds, the prior comes to them and frees them, saying that he only wanted to test their faith in God’s Providence and was struck by the love that united their hearts.