And,madebythisamiableweaknessentirelydependent,exceptingwhattheygainbyillicitsway,onman,notonlyforprotection,butadvice,isitsurprisingthat,neglectingthedutiesthatreasonalonepointsout,andshrinkingfromtrialscalculatedtostrengthentheirminds,theyonlyexertthemselvestogivetheirdefectsagracefulcovering,whichmayservetoheightentheircharmsintheeyeofthevoluptuary,thoughitsinkthembelowthescaleofmoralexcellence？
Fragileineverysenseoftheword,theyareobligedtolookuptomanforeverycomfort。Inthemosttriflingdangerstheyclingtotheirsupport,withparasiticaltenacity,piteouslydemandingsuccour;andtheirNATURALprotectorextendshisarm,orliftsuphisvoice,toguardthelovelytrembler——fromwhat？Perhapsthefrownofanoldcow,orthejumpofamouse;arat,wouldbeaseriousdanger。Inthenameofreason,andevencommonsense,whatcansavesuchbeingsfromcontempt;eventhoughtheybesoftandfair？
Thesefears,whennotaffected,maybeverypretty;buttheyshewadegreeofimbecility,thatdegradesarationalcreatureinawaywomenarenotawareof——forloveandesteemareverydistinctthings。
Iamfullypersuaded,thatweshouldhearofnoneoftheseinfantineairs,ifgirlswereallowedtotakesufficientexerciseandnotconfinedincloseroomstilltheirmusclesarerelaxedandtheirpowersofdigestiondestroyed。Tocarrytheremarkstillfurther,iffearingirls,insteadofbeingcherished,perhaps,created,weretreatedinthesamemannerascowardiceinboys,weshouldquicklyseewomenwithmoredignifiedaspects。Itistrue,theycouldnotthenwithequalproprietybetermedthesweetflowersthatsmileinthewalkofman;buttheywouldbemorerespectablemembersofsociety,anddischargetheimportantdutiesoflifebythelightoftheirownreason。\"Educatewomenlikemen,\"saysRousseau,\"andthemoretheyresembleoursexthelesspowerwilltheyhaveoverus。\"ThisistheverypointIaimat。I
donotwishthemtohavepowerovermen;butoverthemselves。
InthesamestrainhaveIheardmenargueagainstinstructingthepoor;formanyaretheformsthataristocracyassumes。\"Teachthemtoreadandwrite,\"saythey,\"andyoutakethemoutofthestationassignedthembynature。\"AneloquentFrenchman,hasansweredthem;Iwillborrowhissentiments。Buttheyknownot,whentheymakemanabrute,thattheymayexpecteveryinstanttoseehimtransformedintoaferociousbeast。Withoutknowledgetherecanbenomorality！
Ignoranceisafrailbaseforvirtue！Yet,thatitistheconditionforwhichwomanwasorganized,hasbeeninsisteduponbythewriterswhohavemostvehementlyarguedinfavourofthesuperiorityofman;asuperioritynotindegree,butessence;
though,tosoftentheargument,theyhavelabouredtoprove,withchivalrousgenerosity,thatthesexesoughtnottobecompared;manwasmadetoreason,womantofeel:andthattogether,fleshandspirit,theymakethemostperfectwhole,byblendinghappilyreasonandsensibilityintoonecharacter。
Andwhatissensibility？\"Quicknessofsensation;quicknessofperception;delicacy。\"ThusisitdefinedbyDr。Johnson;andthedefinitiongivesmenootherideathanofthemostexquisitelypolishedinstinct。IdiscernnotatraceoftheimageofGodineithersensationormatter。Refinedseventytimesseven,theyarestillmaterial;intellectdwellsnotthere;norwillfireevermakeleadgold！
Icomeroundtomyoldargument;ifwomanbeallowedtohaveanimmortalsoul,shemusthaveastheemploymentoflife,anunderstandingtoimprove。Andwhen,torenderthepresentstatemorecomplete,thougheverythingprovesittobebutafractionofamightysum,sheisincitedbypresentgratificationtoforgethergranddestination。Natureiscounteracted,orshewasbornonlytoprocreateandrot。Or,grantingbrutes,ofeverydescription,asoul,thoughnotareasonableone,theexerciseofinstinctandsensibilitymaybethestep,whichtheyaretotake,inthislife,towardstheattainmentofreasoninthenext;sothatthroughalleternitytheywilllagbehindman,who,whywecannottell,hadthepowergivenhimofattainingreasoninhisfirstmodeofexistence。
WhenItreatofthepeculiardutiesofwomen,asIshouldtreatofthepeculiardutiesofacitizenorfather,itwillbefoundthatI
donotmeantoinsinuate,thattheyshouldbetakenoutoftheirfamilies,speakingofthemajority。\"Hethathathwifeandchildren,\"saysLordBacon,\"hathgivenhostagestofortune;fortheyareimpedimentstogreatenterprises,eitherofvirtueormischief。Certainlythebestworks,andofgreatestmeritforthepublic,haveproceededfromtheunmarriedorchildlessmen。\"Isaythesameofwomen。But,thewelfareofsocietyisnotbuiltonextraordinaryexertions;andwereitmorereasonablyorganized,therewouldbestilllessneedofgreatabilities,orheroicvirtues。Intheregulationofafamily,intheeducationofchildren,understanding,inanunsophisticatedsense,isparticularlyrequired:strengthbothofbodyandmind;yetthemenwho,bytheirwritings,havemostearnestlylabouredtodomesticatewomen,haveendeavouredbyargumentsdictatedbyagrossappetite,thatsatietyhadrenderedfastidious,toweakentheirbodiesandcramptheirminds。But,ifevenbythesesinistermethodstheyreallyPERSUADEDwomen,byworkingontheirfeelings,tostayathome,andfulfilthedutiesofamotherandmistressofafamily,I
shouldcautiouslyopposeopinionsthatledwomentorightconduct,byprevailingonthemtomakethedischargeofadutythebusinessoflife,thoughreasonwereinsulted。Yet,andIappealtoexperience,ifbyneglectingtheunderstandingtheyareasmuch,nay,moreattachedfromthesedomesticduties,thantheycouldbebythemostseriousintellectualpursuit,thoughitmaybeobserved,thatthemassofmankindwillnevervigorouslypursueanintellectualobject,Imaybeallowedtoinfer,thatreasonisabsolutelynecessarytoenableawomantoperformanydutyproperly,andImustagainrepeat,thatsensibilityisnotreason。
Thecomparisonwiththerichstilloccurstome;for,whenmenneglectthedutiesofhumanity,womenwilldothesame;acommonstreamhurriesthembothalongwiththoughtlesscelerity。Richesandhonourspreventamanfromenlarginghisunderstanding,andenervateallhispowers,byreversingtheorderofnature,whichhasevermadetruepleasuretherewardoflabour。
Pleasure——enervatingpleasureis,likewise,withinwoman\'sreachwithoutearningit。But,tillhereditarypossessionsarespreadabroad,howcanweexpectmentobeproudofvirtue？And,tilltheyare,womenwillgovernthembythemostdirectmeans,neglectingtheirdulldomesticduties,tocatchthepleasurethatisonthewingoftime。
\"Thepowerofwomen,\"sayssomeauthor,\"ishersensibility;\"andmennotawareoftheconsequence,doalltheycantomakethispowerswallowupeveryother。Thosewhoconstantlyemploytheirsensibilitywillhavemost:forexample;poets,painters,andcomposers。Yet,whenthesensibilityisthusincreasedattheexpenseofreason,andeventheimagination,whydophilosophicalmencomplainoftheirfickleness？Thesexualattentionofmanparticularlyactsonfemalesensibility,andthissympathyhasbeenexercisedfromtheiryouthup。Ahusbandcannotlongpaythoseattentionswiththepassionnecessarytoexcitelivelyemotions,andtheheart,accustomedtolivelyemotions,turnstoanewlover,orpinesinsecret,thepreyofvirtueorprudence。Imeanwhenthehearthasreallybeenrenderedsusceptible,andthetasteformed;forIamapttoconclude,fromwhatIhaveseeninfashionablelife,thatvanityisoftenerfosteredthansensibilitybythemodeofeducation,andtheintercoursebetweenthesexes,whichIhavereprobated;andthatcoquetrymorefrequentlyproceedsfromvanitythanfromthatinconstancy,whichoverstrainedsensibilitynaturallyproduces。
Anotherargumentthathashadagreatweightwithme,must,I
think,havesomeforcewitheveryconsideratebenevolentheart。
Girls,whohavebeenthusweaklyeducated,areoftencruellyleftbytheirparentswithoutanyprovision;and,ofcourse,aredependenton,notonlythereason,butthebountyoftheirbrothers。Thesebrothersare,toviewthefairestsideofthequestion,goodsortofmen,andgiveasafavour,whatchildrenofthesameparentshadanequalrightto。Inthisequivocalhumiliatingsituation,adocilefemalemayremainsometime,withatolerabledegreeofcomfort。But,whenthebrothermarries,aprobablecircumstance,frombeingconsideredasthemistressofthefamily,sheisviewedwithavertedlooksasanintruder,anunnecessaryburdenonthebenevolenceofthemasterofthehouse,andhisnewpartner。
Whocanrecountthemisery,whichmanyunfortunatebeings,whosemindsandbodiesareequallyweak,sufferinsuchsituations——unabletoworkandashamedtobeg？Thewife,acold—hearted,narrow—mindedwoman,andthisisnotanunfairsupposition;forthepresentmodeofeducationdoesnottendtoenlargetheheartanymorethantheunderstanding,isjealousofthelittlekindnesswhichherhusbandshowstohisrelations;andhersensibilitynotrisingtohumanity,sheisdispleasedatseeingthepropertyofHERchildrenlavishedonanhelplesssister。
Thesearemattersoffact,whichhavecomeundermyeyeagainandagain。Theconsequenceisobvious,thewifehasrecoursetocunningtounderminethehabitualaffection,whichsheisafraidopenlytooppose;andneithertearsnorcaressesaresparedtillthespyisworkedoutofherhome,andthrownontheworld,unpreparedforitsdifficulties;orsent,asagreateffortofgenerosity,orfromsomeregardtopropriety,withasmallstipend,andanuncultivatedmindintojoylesssolitude。
Thesetwowomenmaybemuchuponapar,withrespecttoreasonandhumanity;andchangingsituations,mighthaveactedjustthesameselfishpart;buthadtheybeendifferentlyeducated,thecasewouldalsohavebeenverydifferent。Thewifewouldnothavehadthatsensibility,ofwhichselfisthecentre,andreasonmighthavetaughthernottoexpect,andnoteventobeflatteredbytheaffectionofherhusband,ifitledhimtoviolatepriorduties。
Shewouldwishnottolovehim,merelybecausehelovedher,butonaccountofhisvirtues;andthesistermighthavebeenabletostruggleforherself,insteadofeatingthebitterbreadofdependence。
Iam,indeed,persuadedthattheheart,aswellastheunderstanding,isopenedbycultivation;andby,whichmaynotappearsoclear,strengtheningtheorgans;Iamnotnowtalkingofmomentaryflashesofsensibility,butofaffections。And,perhaps,intheeducationofbothsexes,themostdifficulttaskissotoadjustinstructionasnottonarrowtheunderstanding,whilsttheheartiswarmedbythegenerousjuicesofspring,justraisedbytheelectricfermentationoftheseason;nortodryupthefeelingsbyemployingthemindininvestigationsremotefromlife。
Withrespecttowomen,whentheyreceiveacarefuleducation,theyareeithermadefineladies,brimfulofsensibility,andteemingwithcapriciousfancies;ormerenotablewomen。Thelatterareoftenfriendly,honestcreatures,andhaveashrewdkindofgoodsensejoinedwithworldlyprudence,thatoftenrenderthemmoreusefulmembersofsocietythanthefinesentimentallady,thoughtheypossessneithergreatnessofmindnortaste。Theintellectualworldisshutagainstthem;takethemoutoftheirfamilyorneighbourhood,andtheystandstill;themindfindingnoemployment,forliteratureaffordsafundofamusement,whichtheyhaveneversoughttorelish,butfrequentlytodespise。Thesentimentsandtasteofmorecultivatedmindsappearridiculous,eveninthosewhomchanceandfamilyconnexionshaveledthemtolove;butinmereacquaintancetheythinkitallaffectation。
Amanofsensecanonlylovesuchawomanonaccountofhersex,andrespecther,becausesheisatrustyservant。Heletsher,topreservehisownpeace,scoldtheservants,andgotochurchinclothesmadeoftheverybestmaterials。Amanofherownsizeofunderstandingwould,probably,notagreesowellwithher;forhemightwishtoencroachonherprerogative,andmanagesomedomesticconcernshimself。Yetwomen,whosemindsarenotenlargedbycultivation,orthenaturalselfishnessofsensibilityexpandedbyreflection,areveryunfittomanageafamily;forbyanunduestretchofpower,theyarealwaystyrannizingtosupportasuperioritythatonlyrestsonthearbitrarydistinctionoffortune。Theevilissometimesmoreserious,anddomesticsaredeprivedofinnocentindulgences,andmadetoworkbeyondtheirstrength,inordertoenablethenotablewomantokeepabettertable,andoutshineherneighboursinfineryandparade。Ifsheattendtoherchildren,itis,ingeneral,todresstheminacostlymanner——and,whether,thisattentionarisesfromvanityorfondness,itisequallypernicious。
Besides,howmanywomenofthisdescriptionpasstheirdays,or,atleasttheirevenings,discontentedly。Theirhusbandsacknowledgethattheyaregoodmanagers,andchastewives;butleavehometoseekformoreagreeable,mayIbeallowedtouseasignificantFrenchword,piquantsociety;andthepatientdrudge,whofulfilshertask,likeablindhorseinamill,isdefraudedofherjustreward;forthewagesduetoherarethecaressesofherhusband;
andwomenwhohavesofewresourcesinthemselves,donotverypatientlybearthisprivationofanaturalright。
Afinelady,onthecontrary,hasbeentaughttolookdownwithcontemptonthevulgaremploymentsoflife;thoughshehasonlybeenincitedtoacquireaccomplishmentsthatriseadegreeabovesense;forevencorporealaccomplishmentscannotbeacquiredwithanydegreeofprecision,unlesstheunderstandinghasbeenstrengthenedbyexercise。Withoutafoundationofprinciplestasteissuperficial;andgracemustarisefromsomethingdeeperthanimitation。Theimagination,however,isheated,andthefeelingsrenderedfastidious,ifnotsophisticated;or,acounterpoiseofjudgmentisnotacquired,whentheheartstillremainsartless,thoughitbecomestootender。
Thesewomenareoftenamiable;andtheirheartsarereallymoresensibletogeneralbenevolence,morealivetothesentimentsthatcivilizelife,thanthesquareelbowedfamilydrudge;but,wantingadueproportionofreflectionandself—government,theyonlyinspirelove;andarethemistressesoftheirhusbands,whilsttheyhaveanyholdontheiraffections;andtheplatonicfriendsofhismaleacquaintance。Thesearethefairdefectsinnature;thewomenwhoappeartobecreatednottoenjoythefellowshipofman,buttosavehimfromsinkingintoabsolutebrutality,byrubbingofftheroughanglesofhischaracter;andbyplayfuldalliancetogivesomedignitytotheappetitethatdrawshimtothem。GraciousCreatorofthewholehumanrace！hastthoucreatedsuchabeingaswoman,whocantracethywisdominthyworks,andfeelthatthoualoneartbythynature,exaltedaboveher——fornobetterpurpose？
Canshebelievethatshewasonlymadetosubmittomanherequal;
abeing,who,likeher,wassentintotheworldtoacquirevirtue？
Cansheconsenttobeoccupiedmerelytopleasehim;merelytoadorntheearth,whenhersouliscapableofrisingtothee？Andcansherestsupinelydependentonmanforreason,whensheoughttomountwithhimthearduoussteepsofknowledge？
Yet,iflovebethesupremegood,letwomenbeonlyeducatedtoinspireit,andleteverycharmbepolishedtointoxicatethesenses;but,iftheyaremoralbeings,letthemhaveachancetobecomeintelligent;andletlovetomanbeonlyapartofthatglowingflameofuniversallove,which,afterencirclinghumanity,mountsingratefulincensetoGod。
Tofulfildomesticdutiesmuchresolutionisnecessary,andaseriouskindofperseverancethatrequiresamorefirmsupportthanemotions,howeverlivelyandtruetonature。Togiveanexampleoforder,thesoulofvirtue,someausterityofbehaviourmustbeadopted,scarcelytobeexpectedfromabeingwho,fromitsinfancy,hasbeenmadetheweathercockofitsownsensations。
Whoeverrationallymeanstobeuseful,musthaveaplanofconduct;
and,inthedischargeofthesimplestduty,weareoftenobligedtoactcontrarytothepresentimpulseoftendernessorcompassion。
Severityisfrequentlythemostcertain,aswellasthemostsublimeproofofaffection;andthewantofthispoweroverthefeelings,andofthatlofty,dignifiedaffection,whichmakesapersonpreferthefuturegoodofthebelovedobjecttoapresentgratification,isthereasonwhysomanyfondmothersspoiltheirchildren,andhasmadeitquestionable,whethernegligenceorindulgenceismosthurtful:butIaminclinedtothink,thatthelatterhasdonemostharm。
Mankindseemtoagree,thatchildrenshouldbeleftunderthemanagementofwomenduringtheirchildhood。Now,fromalltheobservationthatIhavebeenabletomake,womenofsensibilityarethemostunfitforthistask,becausetheywillinfallibly,carriedawaybytheirfeelings,spoilachild\'stemper。Themanagementofthetemper,thefirstandmostimportantbranchofeducation,requiresthesobersteadyeyeofreason;aplanofconductequallydistantfromtyrannyandindulgence;yetthesearetheextremesthatpeopleofsensibilityalternatelyfallinto;alwaysshootingbeyondthemark。Ihavefollowedthistrainofreasoningmuchfurther,tillIhaveconcluded,thatapersonofgeniusisthemostimproperpersontobeemployedineducation,publicorprivate。
Mindsofthisrarespeciesseethingstoomuchinmasses,andseldom,ifever,haveagoodtemper。Thathabitualcheerfulness,termedgoodhumour,is,perhaps,asseldomunitedwithgreatmentalpowers,aswithstrongfeelings。Andthosepeoplewhofollow,withinterestandadmiration,theflightsofgenius;or,withcoolerapprobationsuckintheinstruction,whichhasbeenelaboratelypreparedforthembytheprofoundthinker,oughtnottobedisgusted,iftheyfindtheformercholeric,andthelattermorose;
becauselivelinessoffancy,andatenaciouscomprehensionofmind,arescarcelycompatiblewiththatplianturbanitywhichleadsaman,atleasttobendtotheopinionsandprejudicesofothers,insteadofroughlyconfrontingthem。
But,treatingofeducationormanners,mindsofasuperiorclassarenottobeconsidered,theymaybelefttochance;itisthemultitude,withmoderateabilities,whocallforinstruction,andcatchthecolouroftheatmospheretheybreathe。Thisrespectableconcourse,Icontend,menandwomen,shouldnothavetheirsensationsheightenedinthehot—bedofluxuriousindolence,attheexpenceoftheirunderstanding;for,unlesstherebeaballastofunderstanding,theywillneverbecomeeithervirtuousorfree:anaristocracy,foundedonproperty,orsterlingtalents,willeversweepbeforeit,thealternatelytimidandferociousslavesoffeeling。
Numberlessarethearguments,totakeanotherviewofthesubject,broughtforwardwithashowofreason;becausesupposedtobededucedfromnature,thatmenhaveusedmorallyandphysicallytodegradethesex。Imustnoticeafew。
Thefemaleunderstandinghasoftenbeenspokenofwithcontempt,asarrivingsooneratmaturitythanthemale。Ishallnotanswerthisargumentbyalludingtotheearlyproofsofreason,aswellasgenius,inCowley,Milton,andPope,（Manyothernamesmightbeadded。）butonlyappealtoexperiencetodecidewhetheryoungmen,whoareearlyintroducedintocompany（andexamplesnowabound）donotacquirethesameprecocity。Sonotoriousisthisfact,thatthebarementioningofitmustbringbeforepeople,whoatallmixintheworld,theideaofanumberofswaggeringapesofmenwhoseunderstandingsarenarrowedbybeingbroughtintothesocietyofmenwhentheyoughttohavebeenspinningatoportwirlingahoop。
Ithasalsobeenasserted,bysomenaturalists,thatmendonotattaintheirfullgrowthandstrengthtillthirty;butthatwomenarriveatmaturitybytwenty。Iapprehendthattheyreasononfalseground,ledastraybythemaleprejudice,whichdeemsbeautytheperfectionofwoman——merebeautyoffeaturesandcomplexion,thevulgaracceptationoftheworld,whilstmalebeautyisallowedtohavesomeconnexionwiththemind。Strengthofbody,andthatcharacterofcountenance,whichtheFrenchtermaphysionomie,womendonotacquirebeforethirty,anymorethanmen。Thelittleartlesstricksofchildren,itistrue,areparticularlypleasingandattractive;yet,whentheprettyfreshnessofyouthiswornoff,theseartlessgracesbecomestudiedairs,anddisgusteverypersonoftaste。Inthecountenanceofgirlsweonlylookforvivacityandbashfulmodesty;but,thespringtideoflifeover,welookforsoberersenseintheface,andfortracesofpassion,insteadofthedimplesofanimalspirits;expectingtoseeindividualityofcharacter,theonlyfasteneroftheaffections。
Wethenwishtoconverse,nottofondle;togivescopetoourimaginations,aswellastothesensationsofourhearts。
Attwentythebeautyofbothsexesisequal;butthelibertinismofmanleadshimtomakethedistinction,andsuperannuatedcoquettesarecommonlyofthesameopinion;forwhentheycannolongerinspirelove,theypayforthevigourandvivacityofyouth。TheFrenchwhoadmitmoreofmindintotheirnotionsofbeauty,givethepreferencetowomenofthirty。Imeantosay,thattheyallowwomentobeintheirmostperfectstate,whenvivacitygivesplacetoreason,andtothatmajesticseriousnessofcharacter,whichmarksmaturity;or,therestingpoint。Inyouth,tilltwentythebodyshootsout;tillthirtythesolidsareattainingadegreeofdensity;andtheflexiblemuscles,growingdailymorerigid,givecharactertothecountenance;thatis,theytracetheoperationsofthemindwiththeironpenoffate,andtellusnotonlywhatpowersarewithin,buthowtheyhavebeenemployed。
Itispropertoobserve,thatanimalswhoarriveslowlyatmaturity,arethelongestlived,andofthenoblestspecies。Mencannot,however,claimanynaturalsuperiorityfromthegrandeuroflongevity;forinthisrespectnaturehasnotdistinguishedthemale。
Polygamyisanotherphysicaldegradation;andaplausibleargumentforacustom,thatblastseverydomesticvirtue,isdrawnfromthewell—attestedfact,thatinthecountrieswhereitisestablished,morefemalesarebornthanmales。Thisappearstobeanindicationofnature,andtonatureapparentlyreasonablespeculationsmustyield。Afurtherconclusionobviouslypresentsitself;ifpolygamybenecessary,womanmustbeinferiortoman,andmadeforhim。
Withrespecttotheformationofthefoetusinthewomb,weareveryignorant;butitappearstomeprobable,thatanaccidentalphysicalcausemayaccountforthisphenomenon,andproveitnottobealawofnature。IhavemetwithsomepertinentobservationsonthesubjectinForster\'sAccountoftheIslesoftheSouthSea,thatwillexplainmymeaning。Afterobservingthatofthetwosexesamongstanimals,themostvigorousandhottestconstitutionalwaysprevails,andproducesitskind;headds,——\"IfthisbeappliedtotheinhabitantsofAfrica,itisevidentthatthementhere,accustomedtopolygamy,areenervatedbytheuseofsomanywomen,andthereforelessvigorous;thewomenonthecontrary,areofahotterconstitution,notonlyonaccountoftheirmoreirritablenerves,moresensitiveorganization,andmorelivelyfancy;butlikewisebecausetheyaredeprivedintheirmatrimonyofthatshareofphysicallovewhichinamonogamouscondition,wouldallbetheirs;andthusfortheabovereasons,thegeneralityofchildrenarebornfemales。\"
\"InthegreaterpartofEuropeithasbeenprovedbythemostaccuratelistsofmortality,thattheproportionofmentowomenisnearlyequal,or,ifanydifferencetakesplace,themalesbornaremorenumerous,intheproportionof105to100。\"
Thenecessityofpolygamy,therefore,doesnotappear;yetwhenamanseducesawoman,itshouldIthink,betermedaLEFT—HANDED
marriage,andthemanshouldbeLEGALLYobligedtomaintainthewomanandherchildren,unlessadultery,anaturaldivorcement,abrogatedthelaw。Andthislawshouldremaininforceaslongastheweaknessofwomencausedthewordseductiontobeusedasanexcusefortheirfrailtyandwantofprinciple;nay,whiletheydependonmanforasubsistence,insteadofearningitbytheexerciseoftheirownhandsorheads。Butthesewomenshouldnotinthefullmeaningoftherelationship,betermedwives,ortheverypurposeofmarriagewouldbesubverted,andallthoseendearingcharitiesthatflowfrompersonalfidelity,andgiveasanctitytothetie,whenneitherlovenorfriendshipunitesthehearts,wouldmeltintoselfishness。Thewomanwhoisfaithfultothefatherofherchildrendemandsrespect,andshouldnotbetreatedlikeaprostitute;thoughIreadilygrant,thatifitbenecessaryforamanandwomantolivetogetherinordertobringuptheiroffspring,natureneverintendedthatamanshouldhavemorethanonewife。
Still,highlyasIrespectmarriage,asthefoundationofalmosteverysocialvirtue,Icannotavoidfeelingthemostlivelycompassionforthoseunfortunatefemaleswhoarebrokenofffromsociety,andbyoneerrortornfromallthoseaffectionsandrelationshipsthatimprovetheheartandmind。Itdoesnotfrequentlyevendeservethenameoferror;formanyinnocentgirlsbecomethedupesofasincereaffectionateheart,andstillmoreare,asitmayemphaticallybetermed,RUINEDbeforetheyknowthedifferencebetweenvirtueandvice:andthuspreparedbytheireducationforinfamy,theybecomeinfamous。AsylumsandMagdalensarenottheproperremediesfortheseabuses。Itisjustice,notcharity,thatiswantingintheworld！
Awomanwhohaslostherhonour,imaginesthatshecannotfalllower,andasforrecoveringherformerstation,itisimpossible;
noexertioncanwashthisstainaway。Losingthuseveryspur,andhavingnoothermeansofsupport,prostitutionbecomesheronlyrefuge,andthecharacterisquicklydepravedbycircumstancesoverwhichthepoorwretchhaslittlepower,unlessshepossessesanuncommonportionofsenseandloftinessofspirit。Necessitynevermakesprostitutionthebusinessofmen\'slives;thoughnumberlessarethewomenwhoarethusrenderedsystematicallyvicious。This,however,arises,inagreatdegree,fromthestateofidlenessinwhichwomenareeducated,whoarealwaystaughttolookuptomanforamaintenance,andtoconsidertheirpersonsastheproperreturnforhisexertionstosupportthem。Meretriciousairs,andthewholescienceofwantonness,hasthenamorepowerfulstimulusthaneitherappetiteorvanity;andthisremarkgivesforcetotheprevailingopinion,thatwithchastityallislostthatisrespectableinwoman。Hercharacterdependsontheobservanceofonevirtue,thoughtheonlypassionfosteredinherheart——islove。
Naythehonourofawomanisnotmadeeventodependonherwill。
WhenRichardsonmakesClarissatellLovelacethathehadrobbedherofherhonour,hemusthavehadstrangenotionsofhonourandvirtue。For,miserablebeyondallnamesofmiseryistheconditionofabeing,whocouldbedegradedwithoutitsownconsent！ThisexcessofstrictnessIhaveheardvindicatedasasalutaryerror。
IshallanswerinthewordsofLeibnitz——\"Errorsareoftenuseful;
butitiscommonlytoremedyothererrors。\"
Mostoftheevilsoflifearisefromadesireofpresentenjoymentthatoutrunsitself。Theobediencerequiredofwomeninthemarriagestate,comesunderthisdescription;themind,naturallyweakenedbydependingonauthority,neverexertsitsownpowers,andtheobedientwifeisthusrenderedaweakindolentmother。Or,supposingthatthisisnotalwaystheconsequence,afuturestateofexistenceisscarcelytakenintothereckoningwhenonlynegativevirtuesarecultivated。Forintreatingofmorals,particularlywhenwomenarealludedto,writershavetoooftenconsideredvirtueinaverylimitedsense,andmadethefoundationofitSOLELYworldlyutility;nay,astillmorefragilebasehasbeengiventothisstupendousfabric,andthewaywardfluctuatingfeelingsofmenhavebeenmadethestandardofvirtue。Yes,virtueaswellasreligion,hasbeensubjectedtothedecisionsoftaste。
Itwouldalmostprovokeasmileofcontempt,ifthevainabsurditiesofmandidnotstrikeusonallsides,toobserve,howeagermenaretodegradethesexfromwhomtheypretendtoreceivethechiefpleasureoflife;andIhavefrequently,withfullconviction,retortedPope\'ssarcasmonthem;or,tospeakexplicitly,ithasappearedtomeapplicabletothewholehumanrace。Aloveofpleasureorswayseemstodividemankind,andthehusbandwholordsitinhislittleharem,thinksonlyofhispleasureorhisconvenience。Tosuchlengths,indeed,doesanintemperateloveofpleasurecarrysomeprudentmen,orwornoutlibertines,whomarrytohaveasafecompanion,thattheyseducetheirownwives。Hymenbanishesmodesty,andchastelovetakesitsflight。
Love,consideredasananimalappetite,cannotlongfeedonitselfwithoutexpiring。Andthisextinction,initsownflame,maybetermedtheviolentdeathoflove。Butthewifewhohasthusbeenrenderedlicentious,willprobablyendeavourtofillthevoidleftbythelossofherhusband\'sattentions;forshecannotcontentedlybecomemerelyanupperservantafterhavingbeentreatedlikeagoddess。Sheisstillhandsome,and,insteadoftransferringherfondnesstoherchildren,sheonlydreamsofenjoyingthesunshineoflife。Besides,therearemanyhusbandssodevoidofsenseandparentalaffection,thatduringthefirsteffervescenceofvoluptuousfondness,theyrefusetolettheirwivessuckletheirchildren。Theyareonlytodressandlivetopleasethem:andlove,eveninnocentlove,soonsinksintolasciviousnesswhentheexerciseofadutyissacrificedtoitsindulgence。
Personalattachmentisaveryhappyfoundationforfriendship;yet,wheneventwovirtuousyoungpeoplemarry,itwould,perhaps,behappyifsomecircumstancecheckedtheirpassion;iftherecollectionofsomepriorattachment,ordisappointedaffection,madeitononeside,atleast,ratheramatchfoundedonesteem。
Inthatcasetheywouldlookbeyondthepresentmoment,andtrytorenderthewholeofliferespectable,byformingaplantoregulateafriendshipwhichonlydeathoughttodissolve。
Friendshipisaseriousaffection;themostsublimeofallaffections,becauseitisfoundedonprinciple,andcementedbytime。Theveryreversemaybesaidoflove。Inagreatdegree,loveandfriendshipcannotsubsistinthesamebosom;evenwheninspiredbydifferentobjectstheyweakenordestroyeachother,andforthesameobjectcanonlybefeltinsuccession。Thevainfearsandfondjealousies,thewindswhichfantheflameoflove,whenjudiciouslyorartfullytempered,arebothincompatiblewiththetenderconfidenceandsincererespectoffriendship。
