Thisisnotanoverchargedpicture;onthecontrary,itisaverypossiblecase,andsomethingsimilarmusthavefallenundereveryattentiveeye。
Ihave,however,takenitforgranted,thatshewaswelldisposed,thoughexperienceshows,thattheblindmayaseasilybeledintoaditchasalongthebeatenroad。Butsupposing,noveryimprobableconjecture,thatabeingonlytaughttopleasemuststillfindherhappinessinpleasing;whatanexampleoffolly,nottosayvice,willshebetoherinnocentdaughters！Themotherwillbelostinthecoquette,and,insteadofmakingfriendsofherdaughters,viewthemwitheyesaskance,fortheyarerivals——rivalsmorecruelthananyother,becausetheyinviteacomparison,anddriveherfromthethroneofbeauty,whohasneverthoughtofaseatonthebenchofreason。
Itdoesnotrequirealivelypencil,orthediscriminatingoutlineofacaricature,tosketchthedomesticmiseriesandpettyviceswhichsuchamistressofafamilydiffuses。Stillsheonlyactsasawomanoughttoact,broughtupaccordingtoRousseau\'ssystem。
Shecanneverbereproachedforbeingmasculine,orturningoutofhersphere;nay,shemayobserveanotherofhisgrandrules,and,cautiouslypreservingherreputationfreefromspot,bereckonedagoodkindofwoman。Yetinwhatrespectcanshebetermedgood？
Sheabstains,itistrue,withoutanygreatstruggle,fromcommittinggrosscrimes;buthowdoesshefulfilherduties？
Duties！——intruthshehasenoughtothinkoftoadornherbodyandnurseaweakconstitution。
Withrespecttoreligion,sheneverpresumedtojudgeforherself;
butconformed,asadependentcreatureshould,totheceremoniesofthechurchwhichshewasbroughtupin,piouslybelieving,thatwiserheadsthanherownhavesettledthatbusiness:andnottodoubtisherpointofperfection。Shethereforepayshertytheofmintandcummin,andthanksherGodthatsheisnotasotherwomenare。Thesearetheblessedeffectsofagoodeducation！thesethevirtuesofman\'shelpmate。Imustrelievemyselfbydrawingadifferentpicture。
Letfancynowpresentawomanwithatolerableunderstanding,forI
donotwishtoleavethelineofmediocrity,whoseconstitution,strengthenedbyexercise,hasallowedherbodytoacquireitsfullvigour;hermind,atthesametime,graduallyexpandingitselftocomprehendthemoraldutiesoflife,andinwhathumanvirtueanddignityconsist。Formedthusbytherelativedutiesofherstation,shemarriesfromaffection,withoutlosingsightofprudence,andlookingbeyondmatrimonialfelicity,shesecuresherhusband\'srespectbeforeitisnecessarytoexertmeanartstopleasehim,andfeedadyingflame,whichnaturedoomedtoexpirewhentheobjectbecamefamiliar,whenfriendshipandforbearancetakeplaceofamoreardentaffection。Thisisthenaturaldeathoflove,anddomesticpeaceisnotdestroyedbystrugglestopreventitsextinction。Ialsosupposethehusbandtobevirtuous;
orsheisstillmoreinwantofindependentprinciples。
Fate,however,breaksthistie。Sheisleftawidow,perhaps,withoutasufficientprovision:butsheisnotdesolate！Thepangofnatureisfelt;butaftertimehassoftenedsorrowintomelancholyresignation,herheartturnstoherchildrenwithredoubledfondness,andanxioustoprovideforthem,affectiongivesasacredheroiccasttohermaternalduties。Shethinksthatnotonlytheeyeseeshervirtuousefforts,fromwhomallhercomfortnowmustflow,andwhoseapprobationislife;butherimagination,alittleabstractedandexaltedbygrief,dwellsonthefondhope,thattheeyeswhichhertremblinghandclosed,maystillseehowshesubdueseverywaywardpassiontofulfilthedoubledutyofbeingthefatheraswellasthemotherofherchildren。Raisedtoheroismbymisfortunes,sherepressesthefirstfaintdawningofanaturalinclination,beforeitripensintolove,andinthebloomoflifeforgetshersex——forgetsthepleasureofanawakeningpassion,whichmightagainhavebeeninspiredandreturned。Shenolongerthinksofpleasing,andconsciousdignitypreventsherfrompridingherselfonaccountofthepraisewhichherconductdemands。Herchildrenhaveherlove,andherbrightesthopesarebeyondthegrave,whereherimaginationoftenstrays。
IthinkIseehersurroundedbyherchildren,reapingtherewardofhercare。Theintelligenteyemeetsher\'s,whilsthealthandinnocencesmileontheirchubbycheeks,andastheygrowupthecaresoflifearelessenedbytheirgratefulattention。Shelivestoseethevirtueswhichsheendeavouredtoplantonprinciples,fixedintohabits,toseeherchildrenattainastrengthofcharactersufficienttoenablethemtoendureadversitywithoutforgettingtheirmother\'sexample。
Thetaskoflifethusfulfilled,shecalmlywaitsforthesleepofdeath,andrisingfromthegravemaysay,behold,thougavestmeatalent,andherearefivetalents。
IwishtosumupwhatIhavesaidinafewwords,forIherethrowdownmygauntlet,anddenytheexistenceofsexualvirtues,notexceptingmodesty。Formanandwoman,truth,ifIunderstandthemeaningoftheword,mustbethesame;yetthefancifulfemalecharacter,soprettilydrawnbypoetsandnovelists,demandingthesacrificeoftruthandsincerity,virtuebecomesarelativeidea,havingnootherfoundationthanutility,andofthatutilitymenpretendarbitrarilytojudge,shapingittotheirownconvenience。
Women,Iallow,mayhavedifferentdutiestofulfil;buttheyareHUMANduties,andtheprinciplesthatshouldregulatethedischargeofthem,Isturdilymaintain,mustbethesame。
Tobecomerespectable,theexerciseoftheirunderstandingisnecessary,thereisnootherfoundationforindependenceofcharacter;Imeanexplicitlytosay,thattheymustonlybowtotheauthorityofreason,insteadofbeingtheMODESTslavesofopinion。
Inthesuperiorranksoflifehowseldomdowemeetwithamanofsuperiorabilities,orevencommonacquirements？Thereasonappearstomeclear;thestatetheyareborninwasanunnaturalone。Thehumancharacterhaseverbeenformedbytheemploymentstheindividual,orclasspursues;andifthefacultiesarenotsharpenedbynecessity,theymustremainobtuse。Theargumentmayfairlybeextendedtowomen;forseldomoccupiedbyseriousbusiness,thepursuitofpleasuregivesthatinsignificancytotheircharacterwhichrendersthesocietyoftheGREATsoinsipid。
Thesamewantoffirmness,producedbyasimilarcause,forcesthembothtoflyfromthemselvestonoisypleasures,andartificialpassions,tillvanitytakesplaceofeverysocialaffection,andthecharacteristicsofhumanitycanscarcelybediscerned。Sucharetheblessingsofcivilgovernments,astheyareatpresentorganized,thatwealthandfemalesoftnessequallytendtodebasemankind,andareproducedbythesamecause;butallowingwomentoberationalcreaturestheyshouldbeincitedtoacquirevirtueswhichtheymaycalltheirown,forhowcanarationalbeingbeennobledbyanythingthatisnotobtainedbyitsOWNexertions？
CHAPTER4。
OBSERVATIONSONTHESTATEOFDEGRADATIONTOWHICHWOMANISREDUCED
BYVARIOUSCAUSES。
Thatwomanisnaturallyweak,ordegradedbyaconcurrenceofcircumstancesis,Ithink,clear。ButthispositionIshallsimplycontrastwithaconclusion,whichIhavefrequentlyheardfallfromsensiblemeninfavourofanaristocracy:thatthemassofmankindcannotbeanything,ortheobsequiousslaves,whopatientlyallowthemselvestobepennedup,wouldfeeltheirownconsequence,andspurntheirchains。Men,theyfurtherobserve,submiteverywheretooppression,whentheyhaveonlytoliftuptheirheadstothrowofftheyoke;yet,insteadofassertingtheirbirthright,theyquietlylickthedust,andsay,letuseatanddrink,forto—morrowwedie。Women,Iarguefromanalogy,aredegradedbythesamepropensitytoenjoythepresentmoment;and,atlast,despisethefreedomwhichtheyhavenotsufficientvirtuetostruggletoattain。ButImustbemoreexplicit。
Withrespecttothecultureoftheheart,itisunanimouslyallowedthatsexisoutofthequestion;butthelineofsubordinationinthementalpowersisnevertobepassedover。Only\"absoluteinloveliness,\"theportionofrationalitygrantedtowomanis,indeed,veryscanty;for,denyinghergeniusandjudgment,itisscarcelypossibletodivinewhatremainstocharacterizeintellect。
Thestaminaofimmortality,ifImaybeallowedthephrase,istheperfectibilityofhumanreason;for,wasmancreatedperfect,ordidafloodofknowledgebreakinuponhim,whenhearrivedatmaturity,thatprecludederror,Ishoulddoubtwhetherhisexistencewouldbecontinuedafterthedissolutionofthebody。
Butinthepresentstateofthings,everydifficultyinmorals,thatescapesfromhumandiscussion,andequallybafflestheinvestigationofprofoundthinking,andthelightningglanceofgenius,isanargumentonwhichIbuildmybeliefoftheimmortalityofthesoul。Reasonis,consequentially,thesimplepowerofimprovement;or,moreproperlyspeaking,ofdiscerningtruth。Everyindividualisinthisrespectaworldinitself。
Moreorlessmaybeconspicuousinonebeingthanother;butthenatureofreasonmustbethesameinall,ifitbeanemanationofdivinity,thetiethatconnectsthecreaturewiththeCreator;for,canthatsoulbestampedwiththeheavenlyimage,thatisnotperfectedbytheexerciseofitsownreason？Yetoutwardlyornamentedwithelaboratecare,andsoadornedtodelightman,\"thatwithhonourhemaylove,\"（VideMilton）thesoulofwomanisnotallowedtohavethisdistinction,andman,everplacedbetweenherandreason,sheisalwaysrepresentedasonlycreatedtoseethroughagrossmedium,andtotakethingsontrust。But,dismissingthesefancifultheories,andconsideringwomanasawhole,letitbewhatitwill,insteadofapartofman,theinquiryis,whethershehasreasonornot。Ifshehas,which,foramoment,Iwilltakeforgranted,shewasnotcreatedmerelytobethesolaceofman,andthesexualshouldnotdestroythehumancharacter。
Intothiserrormenhave,probably,beenledbyviewingeducationinafalselight;notconsideringitasthefirststeptoformabeingadvancinggraduallytowardperfection;（Thiswordisnotstrictlyjust,butIcannotfindabetter。）butonlyasapreparationforlife。Onthissensualerror,forImustcallitso,hasthefalsesystemoffemalemannersbeenreared,whichrobsthewholesexofitsdignity,andclassesthebrownandfairwiththesmilingflowersthatonlyadorntheland。Thishaseverbeenthelanguageofmen,andthefearofdepartingfromasupposedsexualcharacter,hasmadeevenwomenofsuperiorsenseadoptthesamesentiments。Thusunderstanding,strictlyspeaking,hasbeendeniedtowoman;andinstinct,sublimatedintowitandcunning,forthepurposesoflife,hasbeensubstitutedinitsstead。
Thepowerofgeneralizingideas,ofdrawingcomprehensiveconclusionsfromindividualobservations,istheonlyacquirementforanimmortalbeing,thatreallydeservesthenameofknowledge。
Merelytoobserve,withoutendeavouringtoaccountforanything,may,（inaveryincompletemanner）serveasthecommonsenseoflife;butwhereisthestorelaidupthatistoclothethesoulwhenitleavesthebody？
Thispowerhasnotonlybeendeniedtowomen;butwritershaveinsistedthatitisinconsistent,withafewexceptions,withtheirsexualcharacter。Letmenprovethis,andIshallgrantthatwomanonlyexistsforman。Imust,however,previouslyremark,thatthepowerofgeneralizingideas,toanygreatextent,isnotverycommonamongstmenorwomen。Butthisexerciseisthetruecultivationoftheunderstanding;andeverythingconspirestorenderthecultivationoftheunderstandingmoredifficultinthefemalethanthemaleworld。
Iamnaturallyledbythisassertiontothemainsubjectofthepresentchapter,andshallnowattempttopointoutsomeofthecausesthatdegradethesex,andpreventwomenfromgeneralizingtheirobservations。
Ishallnotgobacktotheremoteannalsofantiquitytotracethehistoryofwoman;itissufficienttoallow,thatshehasalwaysbeeneitheraslaveoradespot,andtoremark,thateachofthesesituationsequallyretardstheprogressofreason。Thegrandsourceoffemalefollyandvicehaseverappearedtometoarisefromnarrownessofmind;andtheveryconstitutionofcivilgovernmentshasputalmostinsuperableobstaclesinthewaytopreventthecultivationofthefemaleunderstanding:yetvirtuecanbebuiltonnootherfoundation！Thesameobstaclesarethrowninthewayoftherich,andthesameconsequencesensue。
Necessityhasbeenproverbiallytermedthemotherofinvention;theaphorismmaybeextendedtovirtue。Itisanacquirement,andanacquirementtowhichpleasuremustbesacrificed,andwhosacrificespleasurewhenitiswithinthegrasp,whosemindhasnotbeenopenedandstrengthenedbyadversity,orthepursuitofknowledgegoadedonbynecessity？Happyisitwhenpeoplehavethecaresoflifetostrugglewith;forthesestrugglespreventtheirbecomingapreytoenervatingvices,merelyfromidleness！But,iffromtheirbirthmenandwomenareplacedinatorridzone,withthemeridiansunofpleasuredartingdirectlyuponthem,howcantheysufficientlybracetheirmindstodischargethedutiesoflife,oreventorelishtheaffectionsthatcarrythemoutofthemselves？
Pleasureisthebusinessofawoman\'slife,accordingtothepresentmodificationofsociety,andwhileitcontinuestobeso,littlecanbeexpectedfromsuchweakbeings。Inheriting,inalinealdescentfromthefirstfairdefectinnature,thesovereigntyofbeauty,theyhave,tomaintaintheirpower,resignedtheirnaturalrights,whichtheexerciseofreason,mighthaveprocuredthem,andchosenrathertobeshort—livedqueensthanlabourtoattainthesoberpleasuresthatarisefromequality。
Exaltedbytheirinferiority（thissoundslikeacontradiction）
theyconstantlydemandhomageaswomen,thoughexperienceshouldteachthemthatthemenwhopridethemselvesuponpayingthisarbitraryinsolentrespecttothesex,withthemostscrupulousexactness,aremostinclinedtotyrannizeover,anddespisetheveryweaknesstheycherish。OftendotheyrepeatMr。Hume\'ssentiments;whencomparingtheFrenchandAtheniancharacter,healludestowomen。\"Butwhatismoresingularinthiswhimsicalnation,sayItotheAthenians,is,thatafrolicofyoursduringtheSaturnalia,whentheslavesareservedbytheirmasters,isseriouslycontinuedbythemthroughthewholeyear,andthroughthewholecourseoftheirlives;accompaniedtoowithsomecircumstances,whichstillfurtheraugmenttheabsurdityandridicule。Yoursportonlyelevatesforafewdays,thosewhomfortunehasthrowndown,andwhomshetoo,insport,mayreallyelevateforeveraboveyou。Butthisnationgravelyexaltsthose,whomnaturehassubjectedtothem,andwhoseinferiorityandinfirmitiesareabsolutelyincurable。Thewomen,thoughwithoutvirtue,aretheirmastersandsovereigns。\"
Ah！whydowomen,Iwritewithaffectionatesolicitude,condescendtoreceiveadegreeofattentionandrespectfromstrangers,differentfromthatreciprocationofcivilitywhichthedictatesofhumanity,andthepolitenessofcivilizationauthorisebetweenmanandman？Andwhydotheynotdiscover,when\"inthenoonofbeauty\'spower,\"thattheyaretreatedlikequeensonlytobedeludedbyhollowrespect,tilltheyareledtoresign,ornotassume,theirnaturalprerogatives？Confinedthenincages,likethefeatheredrace,theyhavenothingtodobuttoplumethemselves,andstalkwithmock—majestyfromperchtoperch。Itistrue,theyareprovidedwithfoodandraiment,forwhichtheyneithertoilnorspin;buthealth,liberty,andvirtuearegiveninexchange。But,where,amongstmankindhasbeenfoundsufficientstrengthofmindtoenableabeingtoresigntheseadventitiousprerogatives;onewhorisingwiththecalmdignityofreasonaboveopinion,daredtobeproudoftheprivilegesinherentinman？anditisvaintoexpectitwhilsthereditarypowerchokestheaffections,andnipsreasoninthebud。
Thepassionsofmenhavethusplacedwomenonthrones;and,tillmankindbecomemorereasonable,itistobefearedthatwomenwillavailthemselvesofthepowerwhichtheyattainwiththeleastexertion,andwhichisthemostindisputable。Theywillsmile,yes,theywillsmile,thoughtoldthat——
\"Inbeauty\'sempireisnomean,Andwomaneitherslaveorqueen,Isquicklyscorn\'dwhennotador\'d。\"
Buttheadorationcomesfirst,andthescornisnotanticipated。
LewistheXIVth,inparticular,spreadfactitiousmanners,andcaughtinaspeciousway,thewholenationinhistoils;forestablishinganartfulchainofdespotism,hemadeittheinterestofthepeopleatlarge,individuallytorespecthisstation,andsupporthispower。Andwomen,whomheflatteredbyapuerileattentiontothewholesex,obtainedinhisreignthatprince—likedistinctionsofataltoreasonandvirtue。
Akingisalwaysaking,andawomanalwaysawoman:（Andawit,alwaysawit,mightbeadded;forthevainfooleriesofwitsandbeautiestoobtainattention,andmakeconquests,aremuchuponapar。）hisauthorityandhersex,everstandbetweenthemandrationalconverse。Withalover,Igrantsheshouldbeso,andhersensibilitywillnaturallyleadhertoendeavourtoexciteemotion,nottogratifyhervanitybutherheart。ThisIdonotallowtobecoquetry,itistheartlessimpulseofnature,Ionlyexclaimagainstthesexualdesireofconquest,whentheheartisoutofthequestion。
Thisdesireisnotconfinedtowomen;\"Ihaveendeavoured,\"saysLordChesterfield,\"togaintheheartsoftwentywomen,whosepersonsIwouldnothavegivenafigfor。\"Thelibertinewhoinagustofpassion,takesadvantageofunsuspectingtenderness,isasaintwhencomparedwiththiscold—heartedrascal;forIliketousesignificantwords。Yetonlytaughttoplease,womenarealwaysonthewatchtoplease,andwithtrueheroicardourendeavourtogainheartsmerelytoresign,orspurnthem,whenthevictoryisdecided,andconspicuous。
Imustdescendtotheminutiaeofthesubject。
Ilamentthatwomenaresystematicallydegradedbyreceivingthetrivialattentions,whichmenthinkitmanlytopaytothesex,when,infact,theyareinsultinglysupportingtheirownsuperiority。Itisnotcondescensiontobowtoaninferior。Soludicrous,infact,dotheseceremoniesappeartome,thatI
scarcelyamabletogovernmymuscles,whenIseeamanstartwitheager,andserioussolicitudetoliftahandkerchief,orshutadoor,whentheLADYcouldhavedoneitherself,hadsheonlymovedapaceortwo。
Awildwishhasjustflownfrommyhearttomyhead,andIwillnotstifleitthoughitmayexciteahorselaugh。Idoearnestlywishtoseethedistinctionofsexconfoundedinsociety,unlesswhereloveanimatesthebehaviour。Forthisdistinctionis,Iamfirmlypersuaded,thefoundationoftheweaknessofcharacterascribedtowoman;isthecausewhytheunderstandingisneglected,whilstaccomplishmentsareacquiredwithsedulouscare:andthesamecauseaccountsfortheirpreferringthegracefulbeforetheheroicvirtues。
Mankind,includingeverydescription,wishtobelovedandrespectedforSOMETHING;andthecommonherdwillalwaystakethenearestroadtothecompletionoftheirwishes。Therespectpaidtowealthandbeautyisthemostcertainandunequivocal;andofcourse,willalwaysattractthevulgareyeofcommonminds。
Abilitiesandvirtuesareabsolutelynecessarytoraisemenfromthemiddlerankoflifeintonotice;andthenaturalconsequenceisnotorious,themiddlerankcontainsmostvirtueandabilities。Menhavethus,inonestation,atleast,anopportunityofexertingthemselveswithdignity,andofrisingbytheexertionswhichreallyimprovearationalcreature;butthewholefemalesexare,tilltheircharacterisformed,inthesameconditionastherich:
fortheyareborn,Inowspeakofastateofcivilization,withcertainsexualprivileges,andwhilsttheyaregratuitouslygrantedthem,fewwilleverthinkofworksofsupererogation,toobtaintheesteemofasmallnumberofsuperiorpeople。
Whendowehearofwomen,whostartingoutofobscurity,boldlyclaimrespectonaccountoftheirgreatabilitiesordaringvirtues？Wherearetheytobefound？\"Tobeobserved,tobeattendedto,tobetakennoticeofwithsympathy,complacency,andapprobation,arealltheadvantageswhichtheyseek。\"True！mymalereaderswillprobablyexclaim;butletthem,beforetheydrawanyconclusion,recollect,thatthiswasnotwrittenoriginallyasdescriptiveofwomen,butoftherich。InDr。Smith\'sTheoryofMoralSentiments,Ihavefoundageneralcharacterofpeopleofrankandfortune,thatinmyopinion,mightwiththegreatestproprietybeappliedtothefemalesex。Ireferthesagaciousreadertothewholecomparison;butmustbeallowedtoquoteapassagetoenforceanargumentthatImeantoinsiston,astheonemostconclusiveagainstasexualcharacter。Forif,exceptingwarriors,nogreatmenofanydenomination,haveeverappearedamongstthenobility,mayitnotbefairlyinferred,thattheirlocalsituationswalloweduptheman,andproducedacharactersimilartothatofwomen,whoareLOCALIZED,ifImaybeallowedtheword,bytheranktheyareplacedin,byCOURTESY？Women,commonlycalledLadies,arenottobecontradictedincompany,arenotallowedtoexertanymanualstrength;andfromthemthenegativevirtuesonlyareexpected,whenanyvirtuesareexpected,patience,docility,good—humour,andflexibility;virtuesincompatiblewithanyvigorousexertionofintellect。Besidesbylivingmorewitheachother,andtobeingseldomabsolutelyalone,theyaremoreundertheinfluenceofsentimentsthanpassions。
Solitudeandreflectionarenecessarytogivetowishestheforceofpassions,andenabletheimaginationtoenlargetheobjectandmakeitthemostdesirable。Thesamemaybesaidoftherich;theydonotsufficientlydealingeneralideas,collectedbyimpassionatethinking,orcalminvestigation,toacquirethatstrengthofcharacter,onwhichgreatresolvesarebuilt。Buthearwhatanacuteobserversaysofthegreat。
\"Dothegreatseeminsensibleoftheeasypriceatwhichtheymayacquirethepublicadmiration？ordotheyseemtoimagine,thattothem,astoothermen,itmustbethepurchaseeitherofsweatorofblood？Bywhatimportantaccomplishmentsistheyoungnoblemaninstructedtosupportthedignityofhisrank,andtorenderhimselfworthyofthatsuperiorityoverhisfellowcitizens,towhichthevirtueofhisancestorshadraisedthem？Isitbyknowledge,byindustry,bypatience,byself—denial,orbyvirtueofanykind？Asallhiswords,asallhismotionsareattendedto,helearnsanhabitualregardforeverycircumstanceofordinarybehaviour,andstudiestoperformallthosesmalldutieswiththemostexactpropriety。Asheisconscioushowmuchheisobserved,andhowmuchmankindaredisposedtofavourallhisinclinations,heacts,uponthemostindifferentoccasions,withthatfreedomandelevationwhichthethoughtofthisnaturallyinspires。Hisair,hismanner,hisdeportmentallmarkthatelegantandgracefulsenseofhisownsuperiority,whichthosewhoareborntoaninferiorstationcanhardlyeverarriveat。Thesearetheartsbywhichheproposestomakemankindmoreeasilysubmittohisauthority,andtogoverntheirinclinationsaccordingtohisownpleasure:andinthisheisseldomdisappointed。Thesearts,supportedbyrankandpre—eminence,are,uponordinaryoccasions,sufficienttogoverntheworld。LewisXIV。duringthegreaterpartofhisreign,wasregarded,notonlyinFrance,butoverallEurope,asthemostperfectmodelofagreatprince。Butwhatwerethetalentsandvirtues,bywhichheacquiredthisgreatreputation？Wasitbythescrupulousandinflexiblejusticeofallhisundertakings,bytheimmensedangersanddifficultieswithwhichtheywereattended,orbytheunweariedandunrelentingapplicationwithwhichhepursuedthem？Wasitbyhisextensiveknowledge,byhisexquisitejudgment,orbyhisheroicvalour？Itwasbynoneofthesequalities。Buthewas,firstofall,themostpowerfulprinceinEurope,andconsequentlyheldthehighestrankamongkings;andthen,sayshishistorian,\'hesurpassedallhiscourtiersinthegracefulnessofhisshape,andthemajesticbeautyofhisfeatures。
Thesoundofhisvoicenobleandaffecting,gainedthoseheartswhichhispresenceintimidated。Hehadastepandadeportment,whichcouldsuitonlyhimandhisrank,andwhichwouldhavebeenridiculousinanyotherperson。Theembarrassmentwhichheoccasionedtothosewhospoketohim,flatteredthatsecretsatisfactionwithwhichhefelthisownsuperiority。\'Thesefrivolousaccomplishments,supportedbyhisrank,and,nodoubt,too,byadegreeofothertalentsandvirtues,whichseems,however,nottohavebeenmuchabovemediocrity,establishedthisprinceintheesteemofhisownage,andhavedrawnevenfromposterity,agooddealofrespectforhismemory。Comparedwiththese,inhisowntimes,andinhisownpresence,noothervirtue,itseems,appearedtohaveanymerit。Knowledge,industry,valour,andbeneficence,trembling,wereabashed,andlostalldignitybeforethem。\"
Woman,also,thus\"inherselfcomplete,\"bypossessingalltheseFRIVOLOUSaccomplishments,sochangesthenatureofthings,——\"ThatwhatshewillstodoorsaySeemswisest,virtuousest,discreetest,best;
AllhigherknowledgeinHERPRESENCEfallsDegraded。WisdomindiscoursewithherLosesdiscountenanc\'d,andlikefollyshows;
Authorityandreasononherwait。\"——
Andallthisisbuiltonherloveliness！
Inthemiddlerankoflife,tocontinuethecomparison,men,intheiryouth,arepreparedforprofessions,andmarriageisnotconsideredasthegrandfeatureintheirlives;whilstwomen,onthecontrary,havenootherschemetosharpentheirfaculties。Itisnotbusiness,extensiveplans,oranyoftheexcursiveflightsofambition,thatengrosstheirattention;no,theirthoughtsarenotemployedinrearingsuchnoblestructures。Toriseintheworld,andhavethelibertyofrunningfrompleasuretopleasure,theymustmarryadvantageously,andtothisobjecttheirtimeissacrificed,andtheirpersonsoftenlegallyprostituted。Aman,whenheentersanyprofession,hashiseyesteadilyfixedonsomefutureadvantage（andthemindgainsgreatstrengthbyhavingallitseffortsdirectedtoonepoint）and,fullofhisbusiness,pleasureisconsideredasmererelaxation;whilstwomenseekforpleasureasthemainpurposeofexistence。Infact,fromtheeducationwhichtheyreceivefromsociety,theloveofpleasuremaybesaidtogovernthemall;butdoesthisprovethatthereisasexinsouls？Itwouldbejustasrationaltodeclare,thatthecourtiersinFrance,whenadestructivesystemofdespotismhadformedtheircharacter,werenotmen,becauseliberty,virtue,andhumanity,weresacrificedtopleasureandvanity。Fatalpassions,whichhaveeverdomineeredovertheWHOLErace！
Thesameloveofpleasure,fosteredbythewholetendencyoftheireducation,givesatriflingturntotheconductofwomeninmostcircumstances:forinstance,theyareeveranxiousaboutsecondarythings;andonthewatchforadventures,insteadofbeingoccupiedbyduties。
Aman,whenheundertakesajourney,has,ingeneraltheendinview;awomanthinksmoreoftheincidentaloccurrences,thestrangethingsthatmaypossiblyoccurontheroad;theimpressionthatshemaymakeonherfellowtravellers;and,aboveall,sheisanxiouslyintentonthecareofthefinerythatshecarrieswithher,whichismorethaneverapartofherself,whengoingtofigureonanewscene;when,touseanaptFrenchturnofexpression,sheisgoingtoproduceasensation。Candignityofmindexistwithsuchtrivialcares？
Inshort,women,ingeneral,aswellastherichofbothsexes,haveacquiredallthefolliesandvicesofcivilization,andmissedtheusefulfruit。Itisnotnecessaryformealwaystopremise,thatIspeakoftheconditionofthewholesex,leavingexceptionsoutofthequestion。Theirsensesareinflamed,andtheirunderstandingsneglected;consequentlytheybecomethepreyoftheirsenses,delicatelytermedsensibility,andareblownaboutbyeverymomentarygustoffeeling。Theyare,therefore,inamuchworseconditionthantheywouldbein,weretheyinastatenearertonature。Everrestlessandanxious,theiroverexercisedsensibilitynotonlyrendersthemuncomfortablethemselves,buttroublesome,touseasoftphrase,toothers。Alltheirthoughtsturnonthingscalculatedtoexciteemotion;and,feeling,whentheyshouldreason,theirconductisunstable,andtheiropinionsarewavering,notthewaveringproducedbydeliberationorprogressiveviews,butbycontradictoryemotions。Byfitsandstartstheyarewarminmanypursuits;yetthiswarmth,neverconcentratedintoperseverance,soonexhaustsitself;exhaledbyitsownheat,ormeetingwithsomeotherfleetingpassion,towhichreasonhasnevergivenanyspecificgravity,neutralityensues。
Miserable,indeed,mustbethatbeingwhosecultivationofmindhasonlytendedtoinflameitspassions！Adistinctionshouldbemadebetweeninflamingandstrengtheningthem。Thepassionsthuspampered,whilstthejudgmentisleftunformed,whatcanbeexpectedtoensue？Undoubtedly,amixtureofmadnessandfolly！
ThisobservationshouldnotbeconfinedtotheFAIRsex;however,atpresent,Ionlymeantoapplyittothem。
Novels,music,poetryandgallantry,alltendtomakewomenthecreaturesofsensation,andtheircharacteristhusformedduringthetimetheyareacquiringaccomplishments,theonlyimprovementtheyareexcited,bytheirstationinsociety,toacquire。Thisoverstretchedsensibilitynaturallyrelaxestheotherpowersofthemind,andpreventsintellectfromattainingthatsovereigntywhichitoughttoattain,torenderarationalcreatureusefultoothers,andcontentwithitsownstation;fortheexerciseoftheunderstanding,aslifeadvances,istheonlymethodpointedoutbynaturetocalmthepassions。
Satietyhasaverydifferenteffect,andIhaveoftenbeenforciblystruckbyanemphaticaldescriptionofdamnation,whenthespiritisrepresentedascontinuallyhoveringwithabortiveeagernessroundthedefiledbody,unabletoenjoyanythingwithouttheorgansofsense。Yet,totheirsenses,arewomenmadeslaves,becauseitisbytheirsensibilitythattheyobtainpresentpower。
Andwillmoralistspretendtoassert,thatthisistheconditioninwhichonehalfofthehumanraceshouldbeencouragedtoremainwithlistlessinactivityandstupidacquiescence？Kindinstructors！whatwerewecreatedfor？Toremain,itmaybesaid,innocent;theymeaninastateofchildhood。Wemightaswellneverhavebeenborn,unlessitwerenecessarythatweshouldbecreatedtoenablemantoacquirethenobleprivilegeofreason,thepowerofdiscerninggoodfromevil,whilstweliedowninthedustfromwhenceweweretaken,nevertoriseagain。
Itwouldbeanendlesstasktotracethevarietyofmeannesses,cares,andsorrows,intowhichwomenareplungedbytheprevailingopinion,thattheywerecreatedrathertofeelthanreason,andthatallthepowertheyobtain,mustbeobtainedbytheircharmsandweakness;
\"Finebydefect,andamiablyweak！\"