Thepoetthenshouldhavedroppedhissneerwhenhesays,\"Ifweakwomengoastray,Thestarsaremoreinfaultthanthey。\"
Forthattheyareboundbytheadamantinechainofdestinyismostcertain,ifitbeprovedthattheyarenevertoexercisetheirownreason,nevertobeindependent,nevertoriseaboveopinion,ortofeelthedignityofarationalwillthatonlybowstoGod,andoftenforgetsthattheuniversecontainsanybeingbutitself,andthemodelofperfectiontowhichitsardentgazeisturned,toadoreattributesthat,softenedintovirtues,maybeimitatedinkind,thoughthedegreeoverwhelmstheenrapturedmind。
If,Isay,forIwouldnotimpressbydeclamationwhenreasonoffershersoberlight,iftheyarereallycapableofactinglikerationalcreatures,letthemnotbetreatedlikeslaves;or,likethebruteswhoaredependentonthereasonofman,whentheyassociatewithhim;butcultivatetheirminds,givethemthesalutary,sublimecurbofprinciple,andletthemattainconsciousdignitybyfeelingthemselvesonlydependentonGod。Teachthem,incommonwithman,tosubmittonecessity,insteadofgiving,torenderthemmorepleasing,asextomorals。
Further,shouldexperienceprovethattheycannotattainthesamedegreeofstrengthofmind,perseveranceandfortitude,lettheirvirtuesbethesameinkind,thoughtheymayvainlystruggleforthesamedegree;andthesuperiorityofmanwillbeequallyclear,ifnotclearer;andtruth,asitisasimpleprinciple,whichadmitsofnomodification,wouldbecommontoboth。Nay,theorderofsociety,asitisatpresentregulated,wouldnotbeinverted,forwomanwouldthenonlyhavetherankthatreasonassignedher,andartscouldnotbepractisedtobringthebalanceeven,muchlesstoturnit。
ThesemaybetermedUtopiandreams。ThankstothatBeingwhoimpressedthemonmysoul,andgavemesufficientstrengthofmindtodaretoexertmyownreason,tillbecomingdependentonlyonhimforthesupportofmyvirtue,Iviewwithindignation,themistakennotionsthatenslavemysex。
Ilovemanasmyfellow;buthissceptrerealorusurped,extendsnottome,unlessthereasonofanindividualdemandsmyhomage;
andeventhenthesubmissionistoreason,andnottoman。Infact,theconductofanaccountablebeingmustberegulatedbytheoperationsofitsownreason;oronwhatfoundationreststhethroneofGod？
Itappearstomenecessarytodwellontheseobvioustruths,becausefemaleshavebeeninsulted,asitwere;andwhiletheyhavebeenstrippedofthevirtuesthatshouldclothehumanity,theyhavebeendeckedwithartificialgraces,thatenablethemtoexerciseashortlivedtyranny。Love,intheirbosoms,takingplaceofeverynoblerpassion,theirsoleambitionistobefair,toraiseemotioninsteadofinspiringrespect;andthisignobledesire,liketheservilityinabsolutemonarchies,destroysallstrengthofcharacter。Libertyisthemotherofvirtue,andifwomenare,bytheirveryconstitution,slaves,andnotallowedtobreathethesharpinvigoratingairoffreedom,theymusteverlanguishlikeexotics,andbereckonedbeautifulflawsinnature;letitalsoberemembered,thattheyaretheonlyflaw。
Astotheargumentrespectingthesubjectioninwhichthesexhaseverbeenheld,itretortsonman。Themanyhavealwaysbeenenthralledbythefew;and,monsterswhohavescarcelyshownanydiscernmentofhumanexcellence,havetyrannizedoverthousandsoftheirfellowcreatures。Whyhavemenofsuperiorendowmentssubmittedtosuchdegradation？For,isitnotuniversallyacknowledgedthatkings,viewedcollectively,haveeverbeeninferior,inabilitiesandvirtue,tothesamenumberofmentakenfromthecommonmassofmankind——yet,havetheynot,andaretheynotstilltreatedwithadegreeofreverence,thatisaninsulttoreason？ChinaisnottheonlycountrywherealivingmanhasbeenmadeaGod。MENhavesubmittedtosuperiorstrength,toenjoywithimpunitythepleasureofthemoment——WOMENhaveonlydonethesame,andthereforetillitisprovedthatthecourtier,whoservilelyresignsthebirthrightofaman,isnotamoralagent,itcannotbedemonstratedthatwomanisessentiallyinferiortoman,becauseshehasalwaysbeensubjugated。
Brutalforcehashithertogovernedtheworld,andthatthescienceofpoliticsisinitsinfancy,isevidentfromphilosophersscruplingtogivetheknowledgemostusefultomanthatdeterminatedistinction。
Ishallnotpursuethisargumentanyfurtherthantoestablishanobviousinference,thatassoundpoliticsdiffuseliberty,mankind,includingwoman,willbecomemorewiseandvirtuous。
CHAPTER3。
THESAMESUBJECTCONTINUED。
Bodilystrengthfrombeingthedistinctionofheroesisnowsunkintosuchunmeritedcontempt,thatmenaswellaswomen,seemtothinkitunnecessary:thelatter,asittakesfromtheirfemininegraces,andfromthatlovelyweakness,thesourceoftheirunduepower;andtheformer,becauseitappearsinimicalwiththecharacterofagentleman。
Thattheyhavebothbydepartingfromoneextremerunintoanother,mayeasilybeproved;butitfirstmaybepropertoobserve,thatavulgarerrorhasobtainedadegreeofcredit,whichhasgivenforcetoafalseconclusion,inwhichaneffecthasbeenmistakenforacause。
Peopleofgeniushave,veryfrequently,impairedtheirconstitutionsbystudy,orcarelessinattentiontotheirhealth,andtheviolenceoftheirpassionsbearingaproportiontothevigouroftheirintellects,thesword\'sdestroyingthescabbardhasbecomealmostproverbial,andsuperficialobservershaveinferredfromthence,thatmenofgeniushavecommonlyweak,ortouseamorefashionablephrase,delicateconstitutions。Yetthecontrary,Ibelieve,willappeartobethefact;for,ondiligentinquiry,I
findthatstrengthofmindhas,inmostcases,beenaccompaniedbysuperiorstrengthofbody,naturalsoundnessofconstitution,notthatrobusttoneofnervesandvigourofmuscles,whicharisefrombodilylabour,whenthemindisquiescent,oronlydirectsthehands。
Dr。Priestleyhasremarked,intheprefacetohisbiographicalchart,thatthemajorityofgreatmenhavelivedbeyondforty—five。
And,consideringthethoughtlessmannerinwhichtheylavishedtheirstrength,wheninvestigatingafavouritescience,theyhavewastedthelampoflife,forgetfulofthemidnighthour;or,when,lostinpoeticdreams,fancyhaspeopledthescene,andthesoulhasbeendisturbed,tillitshooktheconstitution,bythepassionsthatmeditationhadraised;whoseobjects,thebaselessfabricofavision,fadedbeforetheexhaustedeye,theymusthavehadironframes。Shakespearenevergraspedtheairydaggerwithanervelesshand,nordidMiltontremblewhenheledSatanfarfromtheconfinesofhisdrearyprison。Thesewerenottheravingsofimbecility,thesicklyeffusionsofdistemperedbrains;buttheexuberanceoffancy,that\"inafinephrenzy\"wandering,wasnotcontinuallyremindedofitsmaterialshackles。
Iamaware,thatthisargumentwouldcarrymefurtherthanitmaybesupposedIwishtogo;butIfollowtruth,andstilladheringtomyfirstposition,Iwillallowthatbodilystrengthseemstogivemananaturalsuperiorityoverwoman;andthisistheonlysolidbasisonwhichthesuperiorityofthesexcanbebuilt。ButI
stillinsist,thatnotonlythevirtue,buttheKNOWLEDGEofthetwosexesshouldbethesameinnature,ifnotindegree,andthatwomen,considerednotonlyasmoral,butrationalcreatures,oughttoendeavourtoacquirehumanvirtues（orperfections）bytheSAME
meansasmen,insteadofbeingeducatedlikeafancifulkindofHALFbeing,oneofRousseau\'swildchimeras。
But,ifstrengthofbodybe,withsomeshowofreason,theboastofmen,whyarewomensoinfatuatedastobeproudofadefect？
Rousseauhasfurnishedthemwithaplausibleexcuse,whichcouldonlyhaveoccurredtoaman,whoseimaginationhadbeenallowedtorunwild,andrefineontheimpressionsmadebyexquisitesenses,thattheymight,forsoothhaveapretextforyieldingtoanaturalappetitewithoutviolatingaromanticspeciesofmodesty,whichgratifiestheprideandlibertinismofman。
Womendeludedbythesesentiments,sometimesboastoftheirweakness,cunninglyobtainingpowerbyplayingontheWEAKNESSofmen;andtheymaywellgloryintheirillicitsway,for,likeTurkishbashaws,theyhavemorerealpowerthantheirmasters:butvirtueissacrificedtotemporarygratifications,andtherespectabilityoflifetothetriumphofanhour。
Women,aswellasdespots,havenow,perhaps,morepowerthantheywouldhave,iftheworld,dividedandsubdividedintokingdomsandfamilies,wasgovernedbylawsdeducedfromtheexerciseofreason;
butinobtainingit,tocarryonthecomparison,theircharacterisdegraded,andlicentiousnessspreadthroughthewholeaggregateofsociety。Themanybecomepedestaltothefew。I,thereforewillventuretoassert,thattillwomenaremorerationallyeducated,theprogressofhumanvirtueandimprovementinknowledgemustreceivecontinualchecks。Andifitbegranted,thatwomanwasnotcreatedmerelytogratifytheappetiteofman,nortobetheupperservant,whoprovideshismealsandtakescareofhislinen,itmustfollow,thatthefirstcareofthosemothersorfathers,whoreallyattendtotheeducationoffemales,shouldbe,ifnottostrengthenthebody,atleast,nottodestroytheconstitutionbymistakennotionsofbeautyandfemaleexcellence;norshouldgirlseverbeallowedtoimbibetheperniciousnotionthatadefectcan,byanychemicalprocessofreasoningbecomeanexcellence。Inthisrespect,Iamhappytofind,thattheauthorofoneofthemostinstructivebooks,thatourcountryhasproducedforchildren,coincideswithmeinopinion;Ishallquotehispertinentremarkstogivetheforceofhisrespectableauthoritytoreason。*
（*Footnote。Arespectableoldmangivesthefollowingsensibleaccountofthemethodhepursuedwheneducatinghisdaughter。\"I
endeavouredtogivebothtohermindandbodyadegreeofvigour,whichisseldomfoundinthefemalesex。Assoonasshewassufficientlyadvancedinstrengthtobecapableofthelighterlaboursofhusbandryandgardening,Iemployedherasmyconstantcompanion。Selene,forthatwashername,soonacquiredadexterityinalltheserusticemploymentswhichIconsideredwithequalpleasureandadmiration。Ifwomenareingeneralfeeblebothinbodyandmind,itariseslessfromnaturethanfromeducation。
Weencourageaviciousindolenceandinactivity,whichwefalselycalldelicacy;insteadofhardeningtheirmindsbythesevererprinciplesofreasonandphilosophy,webreedthemtouselessarts,whichterminateinvanityandsensuality。InmostofthecountrieswhichIhadvisited,theyaretaughtnothingofanhighernaturethanafewmodulationsofthevoice,oruselessposturesofthebody;theirtimeisconsumedinslothortrifles,andtriflesbecometheonlypursuitscapableofinterestingthem。Weseemtoforget,thatitisuponthequalitiesofthefemalesex,thatourowndomesticcomfortsandtheeducationofourchildrenmustdepend。Andwhatarethecomfortsortheeducationwhicharaceofbeingscorruptedfromtheirinfancy,andunacquaintedwithallthedutiesoflife,arefittedtobestow？Totouchamusicalinstrumentwithuselessskill,toexhibittheirnaturaloraffectedgraces,totheeyesofindolentanddebauchedyoungmen,whodissipatetheirhusbands\'patrimonyinriotousandunnecessaryexpenses:thesearetheonlyartscultivatedbywomeninmostofthepolishednationsIhadseen。Andtheconsequencesareuniformlysuchasmaybeexpectedtoproceedfromsuchpollutedsources,privatemisery,andpublicservitude。
\"But,Selene\'seducationwasregulatedbydifferentviews,andconducteduponsevererprinciples;ifthatcanbecalledseveritywhichopensthemindtoasenseofmoralandreligiousduties,andmosteffectuallyarmsitagainsttheinevitableevilsoflife。\"——Mr。Day\'s\"SandfordandMerton,\"Volume3。）
Butshoulditbeprovedthatwomanisnaturallyweakerthanman,fromwhencedoesitfollowthatitisnaturalforhertolabourtobecomestillweakerthannatureintendedhertobe？Argumentsofthiscastareaninsulttocommonsense,andsavourofpassion。
TheDIVINERIGHTofhusbands,likethedivinerightofkings,may,itistobehoped,inthisenlightenedage,becontestedwithoutdanger,andthoughconvictionmaynotsilencemanyboisterousdisputants,yet,whenanyprevailingprejudiceisattacked,thewisewillconsider,andleavethenarrow—mindedtorailwiththoughtlessvehemenceatinnovation。
Themother,whowishestogivetruedignityofcharactertoherdaughter,must,regardlessofthesneersofignorance,proceedonaplandiametricallyoppositetothatwhichRousseauhasrecommendedwithallthedeludingcharmsofeloquenceandphilosophicalsophistry:forhiseloquencerendersabsurditiesplausible,andhisdogmaticconclusionspuzzle,withoutconvincingthosewhohavenotabilitytorefutethem。
Throughoutthewholeanimalkingdomeveryyoungcreaturerequiresalmostcontinualexercise,andtheinfancyofchildren,conformabletothisintimation,shouldbepassedinharmlessgambols,thatexercisethefeetandhands,withoutrequiringveryminutedirectionfromthehead,ortheconstantattentionofanurse。Infact,thecarenecessaryforself—preservationisthefirstnaturalexerciseoftheunderstanding,aslittleinventionstoamusethepresentmomentunfoldtheimagination。Butthesewisedesignsofnaturearecounteractedbymistakenfondnessorblindzeal。Thechildisnotleftamomenttoitsowndirection,particularlyagirl,andthusrendereddependent——dependenceiscallednatural。
Topreservepersonalbeauty,woman\'sglory！thelimbsandfacultiesarecrampedwithworsethanChinesebands,andthesedentarylifewhichtheyarecondemnedtolive,whilstboysfrolicintheopenair,weakensthemusclesandrelaxesthenerves。AsforRousseau\'sremarks,whichhavesincebeenechoedbyseveralwriters,thattheyhavenaturally,thatisfromtheirbirth,independentofeducation,afondnessfordolls,dressing,andtalking,theyaresopuerileasnottomeritaseriousrefutation。Thatagirl,condemnedtositforhourstogetherlisteningtotheidlechatofweaknursesortoattendathermother\'stoilet,willendeavourtojointheconversation,is,indeedverynatural;andthatshewillimitatehermotheroraunts,andamuseherselfbyadorningherlifelessdoll,astheydoindressingher,poorinnocentbabe！isundoubtedlyamostnaturalconsequence。Formenofthegreatestabilitieshaveseldomhadsufficientstrengthtoriseabovethesurroundingatmosphere;and,ifthepageofgeniushasalwaysbeenblurredbytheprejudicesoftheage,someallowanceshouldbemadeforasex,who,likekings,alwaysseethingsthroughafalsemedium。
Inthismannermaythefondnessfordress,conspicuousinwomen,beeasilyaccountedfor,withoutsupposingittheresultofadesiretopleasethesexonwhichtheyaredependent。Theabsurdity,inshort,ofsupposingthatagirlisnaturallyacoquette,andthatadesireconnectedwiththeimpulseofnaturetopropagatethespecies,shouldappearevenbeforeanimpropereducationhas,byheatingtheimagination,calleditforthprematurely,issounphilosophical,thatsuchasagaciousobserverasRousseauwouldnothaveadoptedit,ifhehadnotbeenaccustomedtomakereasongivewaytohisdesireofsingularity,andtruthtoafavouriteparadox。
Yetthustogiveasextomindwasnotveryconsistentwiththeprinciplesofamanwhoarguedsowarmly,andsowell,fortheimmortalityofthesoul。Butwhataweakbarrieristruthwhenitstandsinthewayofanhypothesis！Rousseaurespected——almostadoredvirtue——andyetallowedhimselftolovewithsensualfondness。Hisimaginationconstantlypreparedinflammablefuelforhisinflammablesenses;but,inordertoreconcilehisrespectforself—denial,fortitudeandthoseheroicvirtues,whichamindlikehiscouldnotcoollyadmire,helabourstoinvertthelawofnature,andbroachesadoctrinepregnantwithmischief,andderogatorytothecharacterofsupremewisdom。
Hisridiculousstories,whichtendtoprovethatgirlsareNATURALLYattentivetotheirpersons,withoutlayinganystressondailyexample,arebelowcontempt。AndthatalittlemissshouldhavesuchacorrecttasteastoneglectthepleasingamusementofmakingO\'s,merelybecausesheperceivedthatitwasanungracefulattitude,shouldbeselectedwiththeanecdotesofthelearnedpig。*
（*Footnote。\"Ionceknewayoungpersonwholearnedtowritebeforeshelearnedtoread,andbegantowritewithherneedlebeforeshecoulduseapen。Atfirstindeed,shetookitintoherheadtomakenootherletterthantheO:thislettershewasconstantlymakingofallsizes,andalwaysthewrongway。
Unluckilyoneday,asshewasintentonthisemployment,shehappenedtoseeherselfinthelookingglass;when,takingadisliketotheconstrainedattitudeinwhichshesatwhilewriting,shethrewawayherpen,likeanotherPallas,anddeterminedagainstmakingtheOanymore。Herbrotherwasalsoequallyaversetowriting:itwastheconfinement,however,andnottheconstrainedattitude,thatmostdisgustedhim。\"
Rousseau\'s\"Emilius。\"）
Ihave,probably,hadanopportunityofobservingmoregirlsintheirinfancythanJ。J。Rousseau。Icanrecollectmyownfeelings,andIhavelookedsteadilyaroundme;yet,sofarfromcoincidingwithhiminopinionrespectingthefirstdawnofthefemalecharacter,Iwillventuretoaffirm,thatagirl,whosespiritshavenotbeendampedbyinactivity,orinnocencetaintedbyfalseshame,willalwaysbearomp,andthedollwillneverexciteattentionunlessconfinementallowshernoalternative。Girlsandboys,inshort,wouldplayharmlesstogether,ifthedistinctionofsexwasnotinculcatedlongbeforenaturemakesanydifference。I
will,gofurther,andaffirm,asanindisputablefact,thatmostofthewomen,inthecircleofmyobservation,whohaveactedlikerationalcreatures,orshownanyvigourofintellect,haveaccidentallybeenallowedtorunwild,assomeoftheelegantformersofthefairsexwouldinsinuate。
Thebanefulconsequenceswhichflowfrominattentiontohealthduringinfancy,andyouth,extendfurtherthanissupposed,dependenceofbodynaturallyproducesdependenceofmind;andhowcanshebeagoodwifeormother,thegreaterpartofwhosetimeisemployedtoguardagainstorenduresickness;norcanitbeexpected,thatawomanwillresolutelyendeavourtostrengthenherconstitutionandabstainfromenervatingindulgences,ifartificialnotionsofbeauty,andfalsedescriptionsofsensibility,havebeenearlyentangledwithhermotivesofaction。Mostmenaresometimesobligedtobearwithbodilyinconveniences,andtoendure,occasionally,theinclemencyoftheelements;butgenteelwomenare,literallyspeaking,slavestotheirbodies,andgloryintheirsubjection。
Ionceknewaweakwomanoffashion,whowasmorethancommonlyproudofherdelicacyandsensibility。Shethoughtadistinguishingtasteandpunyappetitetheheightofallhumanperfection,andactedaccordingly。Ihaveseenthisweaksophisticatedbeingneglectallthedutiesoflife,yetreclinewithself—complacencyonasofa,andboastofherwantofappetiteasaproofofdelicacythatextendedto,or,perhaps,arosefrom,herexquisitesensibility:foritisdifficulttorenderintelligiblesuchridiculousjargon。Yet,atthemoment,Ihaveseenherinsultaworthyoldgentlewoman,whomunexpectedmisfortuneshadmadedependentonherostentatiousbounty,andwho,inbetterdays,hadclaimsonhergratitude。Isitpossiblethatahumancreatureshouldhavebecomesuchaweakanddepravedbeing,if,liketheSybarites,dissolvedinluxury,everythinglikevirtuehadnotbeenwornaway,orneverimpressedbyprecept,apoorsubstituteitistrue,forcultivationofmind,thoughitservesasafenceagainstvice？
SuchawomanisnotamoreirrationalmonsterthansomeoftheRomanemperors,whoweredepravedbylawlesspower。Yet,sincekingshavebeenmoreundertherestraintoflaw,andthecurb,howeverweak,ofhonour,therecordsofhistoryarenotfilledwithsuchunnaturalinstancesoffollyandcruelty,nordoesthedespotismthatkillsvirtueandgeniusinthebud,hoveroverEuropewiththatdestructiveblastwhichdesolatesTurkey,andrendersthemen,aswellasthesoilunfruitful。
Womenareeverywhereinthisdeplorablestate;for,inordertopreservetheirinnocence,asignoranceiscourteouslytermed,truthishiddenfromthem,andtheyaremadetoassumeanartificialcharacterbeforetheirfacultieshaveacquiredanystrength。
Taughtfromtheirinfancy,thatbeautyiswoman\'ssceptre,themindshapesitselftothebody,and,roamingrounditsgiltcage,onlyseekstoadornitsprison。Menhavevariousemploymentsandpursuitswhichengagetheirattention,andgiveacharactertotheopeningmind;butwomen,confinedtoone,andhavingtheirthoughtsconstantlydirectedtothemostinsignificantpartofthemselves,seldomextendtheirviewsbeyondthetriumphofthehour。Butwastheirunderstandingonceemancipatedfromtheslaverytowhichtheprideandsensualityofmanandtheirshortsighteddesire,likethatofdominionintyrants,ofpresentsway,hassubjectedthem,weshouldprobablyreadoftheirweaknesseswithsurprise。Imustbeallowedtopursuetheargumentalittlefarther。
Perhaps,iftheexistenceofanevilbeingwasallowed,who,intheallegoricallanguageofscripture,wentaboutseekingwhomheshoulddevour,hecouldnotmoreeffectuallydegradethehumancharacterthanbygivingamanabsolutepower。
Thisargumentbranchesintovariousramifications。Birth,riches,andeveryintrinsicadvantagethatexaltamanabovehisfellows,withoutanymentalexertion,sinkhiminrealitybelowthem。Inproportiontohisweakness,heisplayeduponbydesigningmen,tillthebloatedmonsterhaslostalltracesofhumanity。Andthattribesofmen,likeflocksofsheep,shouldquietlyfollowsuchaleader,isasolecismthatonlyadesireofpresentenjoymentandnarrownessofunderstandingcansolve。Educatedinslavishdependence,andenervatedbyluxuryandsloth,whereshallwefindmenwhowillstandforthtoasserttherightsofman;orclaimtheprivilegeofmoralbeings,whoshouldhavebutoneroadtoexcellence？Slaverytomonarchsandministers,whichtheworldwillbelonginfreeingitselffrom,andwhosedeadlygraspstopstheprogressofthehumanmind,isnotyetabolished。
Letnotmenthenintheprideofpower,usethesameargumentsthattyrannickingsandvenalministershaveused,andfallaciouslyassert,thatwomanoughttobesubjectedbecauseshehasalwaysbeenso。But,whenman,governedbyreasonablelaws,enjoyshisnaturalfreedom,lethimdespisewoman,ifshedonotshareitwithhim;and,tillthatgloriousperiodarrives,indescantingonthefollyofthesex,lethimnotoverlookhisown。
Women,itistrue,obtainingpowerbyunjustmeans,bypractisingorfosteringvice,evidentlylosetherankwhichreasonwouldassignthem,andtheybecomeeitherabjectslavesorcapricioustyrants。Theyloseallsimplicity,alldignityofmind,inacquiringpower,andactasmenareobservedtoactwhentheyhavebeenexaltedbythesamemeans。
Itistimetoeffectarevolutioninfemalemanners,timetorestoretothemtheirlostdignity,andmakethem,asapartofthehumanspecies,labourbyreformingthemselvestoreformtheworld。
Itistimetoseparateunchangeablemoralsfromlocalmanners。Ifmenbedemi—gods,whyletusservethem！Andifthedignityofthefemalesoulbeasdisputableasthatofanimals,iftheirreasondoesnotaffordsufficientlighttodirecttheirconductwhilstunerringinstinctisdenied,theyaresurelyofallcreaturesthemostmiserableand,bentbeneaththeironhandofdestiny,mustsubmittobeaFAIRDEFECTincreation。Buttojustifythewaysofprovidencerespectingthem,bypointingoutsomeirrefragablereasonforthusmakingsuchalargeportionofmankindaccountableandnotaccountable,wouldpuzzlethesubtlestcasuist。
TheonlysolidfoundationformoralityappearstobethecharacteroftheSupremeBeing;theharmonyofwhicharisesfromabalanceofattributes;and,tospeakwithreverence,oneattributeseemstoimplytheNECESSITYofanother。Hemustbejust,becauseheiswise,hemustbegood,becauseheisomnipotent。For,toexaltoneattributeattheexpenseofanotherequallynobleandnecessary,bearsthestampofthewarpedreasonofman,thehomageofpassion。
Man,accustomedtobowdowntopowerinhissavagestate,canseldomdivesthimselfofthisbarbarousprejudiceevenwhencivilizationdetermineshowmuchsuperiormentalistobodilystrength;andhisreasoniscloudedbythesecrudeopinions,evenwhenhethinksoftheDeity。Hisomnipotenceismadetoswallowup,orpresideoverhisotherattributes,andthosemortalsaresupposedtolimithispowerirreverently,whothinkthatitmustberegulatedbyhiswisdom。
Idisclaimthatspeciesofhumilitywhich,afterinvestigatingnature,stopsattheauthor。ThehighandloftyOne,whoinhabitetheternity,doubtlesspossessesmanyattributesofwhichwecanformnoconception;butreasontellsmethattheycannotclashwiththoseIadore,andIamcompelledtolistentohervoice。
Itseemsnaturalformantosearchforexcellence,andeithertotraceitintheobjectthatheworships,orblindlytoinvestitwithperfectionasagarment。Butwhatgoodeffectcanthelattermodeofworshiphaveonthemoralconductofarationalbeing？Hebendstopower;headoresadarkcloud,whichmayopenabrightprospecttohim,orburstinangry,lawlessfuryonhisdevotedhead,heknowsnotwhy。And,supposingthattheDeityactsfromthevagueimpulseofanundirectedwill,manmustalsofollowhisown,oractaccordingtorules,deducedfromprincipleswhichhedisclaimsasirreverent。Intothisdilemmahavebothenthusiastsandcoolerthinkersfallen,whentheylabouredtofreemenfromthewholesomerestraintswhichajustconceptionofthecharacterofGodimposes。
ItisnotimpiousthustoscantheattributesoftheAlmighty:infact,whocanavoiditthatexerciseshisfaculties？fortoloveGodasthefountainofwisdom,goodness,andpower,appearstobetheonlyworshipusefultoabeingwhowishestoacquireeithervirtueorknowledge。Ablindunsettledaffectionmay,likehumanpassions,occupythemindandwarmtheheart,whilst,todojustice,lovemercy,andwalkhumblywithourGod,isforgotten。I
shallpursuethissubjectstillfurther,whenIconsiderreligioninalightoppositetothatrecommendedbyDr。Gregory,whotreatsitasamatterofsentimentortaste。
Toreturnfromthisapparentdigression。Itweretobewished,thatwomenwouldcherishanaffectionfortheirhusbands,foundedonthesameprinciplethatdevotionoughttorestupon。Nootherfirmbaseisthereunderheaven,forletthembewareofthefallaciouslightofsentiment;toooftenusedasasofterphraseforsensuality。Itfollowsthen,Ithink,thatfromtheirinfancywomenshouldeitherbeshutuplikeeasternprinces,oreducatedinsuchamannerastobeabletothinkandactforthemselves。
Whydomenhaltbetweentwoopinions,andexpectimpossibilities？
Whydotheyexpectvirtuefromaslave,orfromabeingwhomtheconstitutionofcivilsocietyhasrenderedweak,ifnotvicious？
StillIknowthatitwillrequireaconsiderablelengthoftimetoeradicatethefirmlyrootedprejudiceswhichsensualistshaveplanted;itwillalsorequiresometimetoconvincewomenthattheyactcontrarytotheirrealinterestonanenlargedscale,whentheycherishoraffectweaknessunderthenameofdelicacy,andtoconvincetheworldthatthepoisonedsourceoffemalevicesandfollies,ifitbenecessary,incompliancewithcustom,tousesynonymoustermsinalaxsense,hasbeenthesensualhomagepaidtobeauty:tobeautyoffeatures;forithasbeenshrewdlyobservedbyaGermanwriter,thataprettywoman,asanobjectofdesire,isgenerallyallowedtobesobymenofalldescriptions;
whilstafinewoman,whoinspiresmoresublimeemotionsbydisplayingintellectualbeauty,maybeoverlookedorobservedwithindifference,bythosemenwhofindtheirhappinessinthegratificationoftheirappetites。Iforeseeanobviousretort;
whilstmanremainssuchanimperfectbeingasheappearshithertotohavebeen,hewill,moreorless,betheslaveofhisappetites;
andthosewomenobtainingmostpowerwhogratifyapredominantone,thesexisdegradedbyaphysical,ifnotbyamoralnecessity。
Thisobjectionhas,Igrant,someforce;butwhilesuchasublimepreceptexists,as,\"bepureasyourheavenlyfatherispure;\"itwouldseemthatthevirtuesofmanarenotlimitedbytheBeingwhoalonecouldlimitthem;andthathemaypressforwardwithoutconsideringwhetherhestepsoutofhisspherebyindulgingsuchanobleambition。Tothewildbillowsithasbeensaid,\"thusfarshaltthougo,andnofurther;andhereshallthyproudwavesbestayed。\"Vainlythendotheybeatandfoam,restrainedbythepowerthatconfinesthestrugglingplanetswithintheirorbits,matteryieldstothegreatgoverningSpirit。Butanimmortalsoul,notrestrainedbymechanicallaws,andstrugglingtofreeitselffromtheshacklesofmatter,contributesto,insteadofdisturbing,theorderofcreation,when,co—operatingwiththeFatherofspirits,ittriestogovernitselfbytheinvariablerulethat,inadegree,beforewhichourimaginationfaints,theuniverseisregulated。
Besides,ifwomenareeducatedfordependence,thatis,toactaccordingtothewillofanotherfalliblebeing,andsubmit,rightorwrong,topower,wherearewetostop？Aretheytobeconsideredasviceregents,allowedtoreignoverasmalldomain,andanswerablefortheirconducttoahighertribunal,liabletoerror？
Itwillnotbedifficulttoprove,thatsuchdelegateswillactlikemensubjectedbyfear,andmaketheirchildrenandservantsenduretheirtyrannicaloppression。Astheysubmitwithoutreason,theywill,havingnofixedrulestosquaretheirconductby,bekindorcruel,justasthewhimofthemomentdirects;andweoughtnottowonderifsometimes,galledbytheirheavyyoke,theytakeamalignantpleasureinrestingitonweakershoulders。
But,supposingawoman,traineduptoobedience,bemarriedtoasensibleman,whodirectsherjudgment,withoutmakingherfeeltheservilityofhersubjection,toactwithasmuchproprietybythisreflectedlightascanbeexpectedwhenreasonistakenatsecondhand,yetshecannotensurethelifeofherprotector;hemaydieandleaveherwithalargefamily。
Adoubledutydevolvesonher;toeducatetheminthecharacterofbothfatherandmother;toformtheirprinciplesandsecuretheirproperty。But,alas！shehasneverthought,muchlessactedforherself。Shehasonlylearnedtopleasemen,todependgracefullyonthem;yet,encumberedwithchildren,howisshetoobtainanotherprotector;ahusbandtosupplytheplaceofreason？A
rationalman,forwearenottreadingonromanticground,thoughhemaythinkherapleasingdocilecreature,willnotchoosetomarryaFAMILYforlove,whentheworldcontainsmanymoreprettycreatures。Whatisthentobecomeofher？Sheeitherfallsaneasypreytosomemeanfortunehunter,whodefraudsherchildrenoftheirpaternalinheritance,andrendershermiserable;orbecomesthevictimofdiscontentandblindindulgence。Unabletoeducatehersons,orimpressthemwithrespect;foritisnotaplayonwordstoassert,thatpeopleareneverrespected,thoughfillinganimportantstation,whoarenotrespectable;shepinesundertheanguishofunavailingimpotentregret。Theserpent\'stoothentersintoherverysoul,andthevicesoflicentiousyouthbringherwithsorrow,ifnotwithpovertyalso,tothegrave。
