\"Astheconductofawomanissubservienttothepublicopinion,herfaithinmattersofreligion,shouldforthatveryreason,besubjecttoauthority。\'Everydaughteroughttobeofthesamereligionashermother,andeverywifetobeofthesamereligionasherhusband:for,thoughsuchreligionshouldbefalse,thatdocilitywhichinducesthemotheranddaughtertosubmittotheorderofnature,takesaway,inthesightofGod,thecriminalityoftheirerror\'。*Astheyarenotinacapacitytojudgeforthemselves,theyoughttoabidebythedecisionoftheirfathersandhusbandsasconfidentlyasbythatofthechurch。\"
（*Footnote。Whatistobetheconsequence,ifthemother\'sandhusband\'sopinionshouldchancenottoagree？Anignorantpersoncannotbereasonedoutofanerror,andwhenpersuadedtogiveuponeprejudiceforanotherthemindisunsettled。Indeed,thehusbandmaynothaveanyreligiontoteachherthoughinsuchasituationshewillbeingreatwantofasupporttohervirtue,independentofworldlyconsiderations。）
\"Asauthorityoughttoregulatethereligionofthewomen,itisnotsoneedfultoexplaintothemthereasonsfortheirbelief,astolaydownpreciselythetenetstheyaretobelieve:forthecreed,whichpresentsonlyobscureideastothemind,isthesourceoffanaticism;andthatwhichpresentsabsurdities,leadstoinfidelity。\"
Absolute,uncontrovertedauthority,itseems,mustsubsistsomewhere:butisnotthisadirectandexclusiveappropriationofreason？TheRIGHTSofhumanityhavebeenthusconfinedtothemalelinefromAdamdownwards。Rousseauwouldcarryhismalearistocracystillfurther,forheinsinuates,thatheshouldnotblamethose,whocontendforleavingwomaninastateofthemostprofoundignorance,ifitwerenotnecessary,inordertopreserveherchastity,andjustifytheman\'schoiceintheeyesoftheworld,togiveheralittleknowledgeofmen,andthecustomsproducedbyhumanpassions;elseshemightpropagateathomewithoutbeingrenderedlessvoluptuousandinnocentbytheexerciseofherunderstanding:excepting,indeed,duringthefirstyearofmarriage,whenshemightemployittodress,likeSophia。\"Herdressisextremelymodestinappearance,andyetverycoquettishinfact:shedoesnotmakeadisplayofhercharms,sheconcealsthem;but,inconcealingthem,sheknowshowtoaffectyourimagination。Everyonewhoseesher,willsay,Thereisamodestanddiscreetgirl;butwhileyouarenearher,youreyesandaffectionswanderalloverherperson,sothatyoucannotwithdrawthem;andyouwouldconcludethateverypartofherdress,simpleasitseems,wasonlyputinitsproperordertobetakentopiecesbytheimagination。\"Isthismodesty？Isthisapreparationforimmortality？Again。Whatopinionarewetoformofasystemofeducation,whentheauthorsaysofhisheroine,\"thatwithher,doingthingswellisbutaSECONDARYconcern;herprincipalconcernistodothemNEATLY。\"
Secondary,infact,areallhervirtuesandqualities,for,respectingreligion,hemakesherparentsthusaddressher,accustomedtosubmission——\"Yourhusbandwillinstructyouingoodtime。\"
Afterthuscrampingawoman\'smind,if,inordertokeepitfair,hehasnotmadeitquiteablank,headviseshertoreflect,thatareflectingmanmaynotyawninhercompany,whenheistiredofcaressingher。Whathasshetoreflectabout,whomustobey？andwoulditnotbearefinementoncrueltyonlytoopenhermindtomakethedarknessandmiseryofherfateVISIBLE？Yetthesearehissensibleremarks;howconsistentwithwhatIhavealreadybeenobligedtoquote,togiveafairviewofthesubject,thereadermaydetermine。
\"Theywhopasstheirwholelivesinworkingfortheirdailybread,havenoideasbeyondtheirbusinessortheirinterest,andalltheirunderstandingseemstolieintheirfingers\'ends。Thisignoranceisneitherprejudicialtotheirintegritynortheirmorals;itisoftenofservicetothem。Sometimes,bymeansofreflection,weareledtocompoundwithourduty,andweconclude,bysubstitutingajargonofwords,intheroomofthings。Ourownconscienceisthemostenlightenedphilosopher。ThereisnoneedofbeingacquaintedwithTully\'soffices,tomakeamanofprobity:
andperhapsthemostvirtuouswomanintheworldistheleastacquaintedwiththedefinitionofvirtue。Butitisnolesstrue,thananimprovedunderstandingonlycanrendersocietyagreeable;
anditisamelancholythingforafatherofafamily,whoisfondofhome,tobeobligedtobealwayswrappedupinhimself,andtohavenobodyabouthimtowhomhecanimparthissentiments。
\"Besides,howshouldawomanvoidofreflectionbecapableofeducatingherchildren？Howshouldshediscernwhatisproperforthem？Howshouldsheinclinethemtothosevirtuessheisunacquaintedwith,ortothatmeritofwhichshehasnoidea？Shecanonlysoothorchidethem;rendertheminsolentortimid;shewillmakethemformalcoxcombs,orignorantblockheads;butwillnevermakethemsensibleoramiable。\"Howindeedshouldshe,whenherhusbandisnotalwaysathandtolendherhisreason——whentheybothtogethermakebutonemoralbeing？Ablindwill,\"eyeswithouthands,\"wouldgoaverylittleway;andperchancehisabstractreason,thatshouldconcentratethescatteredbeamsofherpracticalreason,maybeemployedinjudgingoftheflavourofwine,discantingonthesaucesmostproperforturtle;or,moreprofoundlyintentatacard—table,hemaybegeneralizinghisideasashebetsawayhisfortune,leavingalltheminutiaeofeducationtohishelpmateorchance。
But,grantingthatwomanoughttobebeautiful,innocent,andsilly,torenderheramorealluringandindulgentcompanion——whatisherunderstandingsacrificedfor？Andwhyisallthispreparationnecessaryonly,accordingtoRousseau\'sownaccount,tomakeherthemistressofherhusband,averyshorttime？Fornomaneverinsistedmoreonthetransientnatureoflove。Thusspeaksthephilosopher。\"Sensualpleasuresaretransient。Thehabitualstateoftheaffectionsalwayslosesbytheirgratification。Theimagination,whichdeckstheobjectofourdesires,islostinfruition。ExceptingtheSupremeBeing,whoisself—existent,thereisnothingbeautifulbutwhatisideal。\"
Buthereturnstohisunintelligibleparadoxesagain,whenhethusaddressesSophia。\"Emilius,inbecomingyourhusband,isbecomeyourmaster,andclaimsyourobedience。Suchistheorderofnature。Whenamanismarried,however,tosuchawifeasSophia,itisproperheshouldbedirectedbyher:thisisalsoagreeabletotheorderofnature:itis,therefore,togiveyouasmuchauthorityoverhisheartashissexgiveshimoveryourperson,thatIhavemadeyouthearbiterofhispleasures。Itmaycostyou,perhaps,somedisagreeableself—denial;butyouwillbecertainofmaintainingyourempireoverhim,ifyoucanpreserveitoveryourself;whatIhavealreadyobserved,alsoshowsme,thatthisdifficultattemptdoesnotsurpassyourcourage。
\"Wouldyouhaveyourhusbandconstantlyatyourfeet？keephimatsomedistancefromyourperson。Youwilllongmaintaintheauthorityoflove,ifyouknowbuthowtorenderyourfavoursrareandvaluable。Itisthusyoumayemployeventheartsofcoquetryintheserviceofvirtue,andthoseofloveinthatofreason。\"
Ishallclosemyextractswithajustdescriptionofacomfortablecouple。\"Andyetyoumustnotimagine,thatevensuchmanagementwillalwayssuffice。Whateverprecautionbetaken,enjoymentwill,bydegrees,takeofftheedgeofpassion。Butwhenlovehathlastedaslongaspossible,apleasinghabitudesuppliesitsplace,andtheattachmentofamutualconfidencesucceedstothetransportsofpassion。Childrenoftenformamoreagreeableandpermanentconnexionbetweenmarriedpeoplethanevenloveitself。
WhenyouceasetobethemistressofEmilius,youwillcontinuetobehiswifeandfriend;youwillbethemotherofhischildren。\"
（Rousseau\'sEmilius。）
Children,hetrulyobserves,formamuchmorepermanentconnexionbetweenmarriedpeoplethanlove。Beautyhedeclareswillnotbevalued,orevenseen,afteracouplehavelivedsixmonthstogether;artificialgracesandcoquetrywilllikewisepallonthesenses:whythendoeshesay,thatagirlshouldbeeducatedforherhusbandwiththesamecareasforaneasternharam？
Inowappealfromthereveriesoffancyandrefinedlicentiousnesstothegoodsenseofmankind,whether,iftheobjectofeducationbetopreparewomentobecomechastewivesandsensiblemothers,themethodsoplausiblyrecommendedintheforegoingsketch,betheonebestcalculatedtoproducethoseends？Willitbeallowedthatthesurestwaytomakeawifechaste,istoteachhertopractisethewantonartsofamistress,termedvirtuouscoquetrybythesensualistwhocannolongerrelishtheartlesscharmsofsincerity,ortastethepleasurearisingfromatenderintimacy,whenconfidenceisuncheckedbysuspicion,andrenderedinterestingbysense？
Themanwhocanbecontentedtolivewithaprettyusefulcompanionwithoutamind,haslostinvoluptuousgratificationsatasteformorerefinedenjoyments;hehasneverfeltthecalmsatisfactionthatrefreshestheparchedheart,likethesilentdewofheaven——ofbeingbelovedbyonewhocouldunderstandhim。Inthesocietyofhiswifeheisstillalone,unlesswhenthemanissunkinthebrute。\"Thecharmoflife,\"saysagravephilosophicalreasoner,is\"sympathy;nothingpleasesusmorethantoobserveinothermenafellow—feelingwithalltheemotionsofourownbreast。\"
But,accordingtothetenorofreasoningbywhichwomenarekeptfromthetreeofknowledge,theimportantyearsofyouth,theusefulnessofage,andtherationalhopesoffuturity,arealltobesacrificed,torenderwomananobjectofdesireforashorttime。Besides,howcouldRousseauexpectthemtobevirtuousandconstantwhenreasonisneitherallowedtobethefoundationoftheirvirtue,nortruththeobjectoftheirinquiries？
ButallRousseau\'serrorsinreasoningarosefromsensibility,andsensibilitytotheircharmswomenareveryreadytoforgive！Whenheshouldhavereasonedhebecameimpassioned,andreflectioninflamedhisimagination,insteadofenlighteninghisunderstanding。Evenhisvirtuesalsoledhimfartherastray;for,bornwithawarmconstitutionandlivelyfancy,naturecarriedhimtowardtheothersexwithsucheagerfondness,thathesoonbecamelascivious。Hadhegivenwaytothesedesires,thefirewouldhaveextinguisheditselfinanaturalmanner,butvirtue,andaromantickindofdelicacy,madehimpractiseself—denial;yet,whenfear,delicacy,orvirtuerestrainedhim,hedebauchedhisimagination;
andreflectingonthesensationstowhichfancygaveforce,hetracedtheminthemostglowingcolours,andsunkthemdeepintohissoul。
Hethensoughtforsolitude,nottosleepwiththemanofnature;
orcalmlyinvestigatethecausesofthingsundertheshadewhereSirIsaacNewtonindulgedcontemplation,butmerelytoindulgehisfeelings。Andsowarmlyhashepaintedwhatheforciblyfelt,that,interestingtheheartandinflamingtheimaginationofhisreaders;inproportiontothestrengthoftheirfancy,theyimaginethattheirunderstandingisconvinced,whentheyonlysympathizewithapoeticwriter,whoskilfullyexhibitstheobjectsofsense,mostvoluptuouslyshadowed,orgracefullyveiled;andthusmakingusfeel,whilstdreamingthatwereason,erroneousconclusionsareleftinthemind。
WhywasRousseau\'slifedividedbetweenecstasyandmisery？Cananyotheranswerbegiventhanthis,thattheeffervescenceofhisimaginationproducedboth;but,hadhisfancybeenallowedtocool,itispossiblethathemighthaveacquiredmorestrengthofmind。
Still,ifthepurposeoflifebetoeducatetheintellectualpartofman,allwithrespecttohimwasright;yet,hadnotdeathledtoanoblersceneofaction,itisprobablethathewouldhaveenjoyedmoreequalhappinessonearth,andhavefeltthecalmsensationsofthemanofnature,insteadofbeingpreparedforanotherstageofexistencebynourishingthepassionswhichagitatethecivilizedman。
Butpeacetohismanes！Iwarnotwithhisashes,buthisopinions。Iwaronlywiththesensibilitythatledhimtodegradewomanbymakinghertheslaveoflove……\"Curs\'dvassalage,Firstidoliz\'dtilllove\'shotfirebeo\'er,Thenslavestothosewhocourtedusbefore。\"
Dryden。
Thepernicioustendencyofthosebooks,inwhichthewritersinsidiouslydegradethesex,whilsttheyareprostratebeforetheirpersonalcharms,cannotbetoooftenortooseverelyexposed。
Letus,mydearcontemporaries,ariseabovesuchnarrowprejudices！
Ifwisdomisdesirableonitsownaccount,ifvirtue,todeservethename,mustbefoundedonknowledge;letusendeavourtostrengthenourmindsbyreflection,tillourheadsbecomeabalanceforourhearts;letusnotconfineallourthoughtstothepettyoccurrencesoftheday,norourknowledgetoanacquaintancewithourlovers\'orhusbands\'hearts;butletthepracticeofeverydutybesubordinatetothegrandoneofimprovingourminds,andpreparingouraffectionsforamoreexaltedstate！
Bewarethen,myfriends,ofsufferingthehearttobemovedbyeverytrivialincident:thereedisshakenbyabreeze,andannuallydies,buttheoakstandsfirm,andforagesbravesthestorm。
Werewe,indeed,onlycreatedtoflutterourhouroutanddie——whyletusthenindulgesensibility,andlaughattheseverityofreason。Yet,alas！eventhenweshouldwantstrengthofbodyandmind,andlifewouldbelostinfeverishpleasuresorwearisomelanguor。
Butthesystemofeducation,whichIearnestlywishtoseeexploded,seemstopresuppose,whatoughtnevertobetakenforgranted,thatvirtueshieldsusfromthecasualtiesoflife;andthatfortune,slippingoffherbandage,willsmileonawell—educatedfemale,andbringinherhandanEmiliusoraTelemachus。Whilst,onthecontrary,therewardwhichvirtuepromisestohervotariesisconfined,itisclear,totheirownbosoms;andoftenmusttheycontendwiththemostvexatiousworldlycares,andbearwiththevicesandhumoursofrelationsforwhomtheycanneverfeelafriendship。
Therehavebeenmanywomenintheworldwho,insteadofbeingsupportedbythereasonandvirtueoftheirfathersandbrothers,havestrengthenedtheirownmindsbystrugglingwiththeirvicesandfollies;yethavenevermetwithahero,intheshapeofahusband;who,payingthedebtthatmankindowedthem,mightchancetobringbacktheirreasontoitsnaturaldependentstate,andrestoretheusurpedprerogative,ofrisingaboveopinion,toman。
SECTION5。2。
Dr。Fordyce\'ssermonshavelongmadeapartofayoungwoman\'slibrary;nay,girlsatschoolareallowedtoreadthem;butI
shouldinstantlydismissthemfrommypupil\'s,ifIwishedtostrengthenherunderstanding,byleadinghertoformsoundprinciplesonabroadbasis;or,wereIonlyanxioustocultivatehertaste;thoughtheymustbeallowedtocontainmanysensibleobservations。
Dr。Fordycemayhavehadaverylaudableendinview;butthesediscoursesarewritteninsuchanaffectedstyle,thatwereitonlyonthataccount,andhadInothingtoobjectagainsthisMELLIFLUOUSprecepts,Ishouldnotallowgirlstoperusethem,unlessIdesignedtohunteverysparkofnatureoutoftheircomposition,meltingeveryhumanqualityintofemaleweaknessandartificialgrace。Isayartificial,fortruegracearisesfromsomekindofindependenceofmind。
Children,carelessofpleasing,andonlyanxioustoamusethemselves,areoftenverygraceful;andthenobilitywhohavemostlylivedwithinferiors,andalwayshadthecommandofmoney,acquireagracefuleaseofdeportment,whichshouldratherbetermedhabitualgraceofbody,thanthatsuperiourgracefulnesswhichistrulytheexpressionofthemind。Thismentalgrace,notnoticedbyvulgareyes,oftenflashesacrossaroughcountenance,andirradiatingeveryfeature,showssimplicityandindependenceofmind。Itisthenwereadcharactersofimmortalityintheeye,andseethesoulineverygesture,thoughwhenatrest,neitherthefacenorlimbsmayhavemuchbeautytorecommendthem;orthebehaviour,anythingpeculiartoattractuniversalattention。Themassofmankind,however,lookformoreTANGIBLEbeauty;yetsimplicityis,ingeneral,admired,whenpeopledonotconsiderwhattheyadmire;andcantherebesimplicitywithoutsincerity？
but,tohavedonewithremarksthatareinsomemeasuredesultory,thoughnaturallyexcitedbythesubject。
IndeclamatoryperiodsDr。FordycespinsoutRousseau\'seloquence;
andinmostsentimentalrant,detailshisopinionsrespectingthefemalecharacter,andthebehaviourwhichwomanoughttoassumetorenderherlovely。
Heshallspeakforhimself,forthushemakesnatureaddressman。
\"Beholdthesesmilinginnocents,whomIhavegracedwithmyfairestgifts,andcommittedtoyourprotection;beholdthemwithloveandrespect;treatthemwithtendernessandhonour。Theyaretimidandwanttobedefended。Theyarefrail;Odonottakeadvantageoftheirweakness！Lettheirfearsandblushesendearthem。Lettheirconfidenceinyouneverbeabused。Butisitpossible,thatanyofyoucanbesuchbarbarians,sosupremelywicked,astoabuseit？Canyoufindinyourhearts*todespoilthegentle,trustingcreaturesoftheirtreasure,ordoanythingtostripthemoftheirnativerobeofvirtue？CurstbetheimpioushandthatwoulddaretoviolatetheunblemishedformofChastity！Thouwretch！thouruffian！forbear;norventuretoprovokeheaven\'sfiercestvengeance。\"Iknownotanycommentthatcanbemadeseriouslyonthiscuriouspassage,andIcouldproducemanysimilarones;andsome,soverysentimental,thatIhaveheardrationalmenusethewordindecent,whentheymentionedthemwithdisgust。
（*Footnote。Canyou？——Canyou？wouldbethemostemphaticalcomment,wereitdrawledoutinawhiningvoice。）
Throughoutthereisadisplayofcold,artificialfeelings,andthatparadeofsensibilitywhichboysandgirlsshouldbetaughttodespiseasthesuremarkofalittlevainmind。Floridappealsaremadetoheaven,andtotheBEAUTEOUSINNOCENTS,thefairestimagesofheavenherebelow,whilstsobersenseisleftfarbehind。Thisisnotthelanguageoftheheart,norwilliteverreachit,thoughtheearmaybetickled。
Ishallbetold,perhaps,thatthepublichavebeenpleasedwiththesevolumes。True——andHervey\'sMeditationsarestillread,thoughheequallysinnedagainstsenseandtaste。
Iparticularlyobjecttothelover—likephrasesofpumpeduppassion,whichareeverywhereinterspersed。Ifwomenbeeverallowedtowalkwithoutleading—strings,whymusttheybecajoledintovirtuebyartfulflatteryandsexualcompliments？Speaktothemthelanguageoftruthandsoberness,andawaywiththelullabystrainsofcondescendingendearment！Letthembetaughttorespectthemselvesasrationalcreatures,andnotledtohaveapassionfortheirowninsipidpersons。Itmovesmygalltohearapreacherdescantingondressandneedle—work;andstillmore,tohearhimaddressthe\'Britishfair,thefairestofthefair\',asiftheyhadonlyfeelings。
Evenrecommendingpietyheusesthefollowingargument。\"Never,perhaps,doesafinewomanstrikemoredeeply,thanwhen,composedintopiousrecollection,andpossessedwiththenoblestconsiderations,sheassumes,withoutknowingit,superiourdignityandnewgraces;sothatthebeautiesofholinessseemtoradiateabouther,andtheby—standersarealmostinducedtofancyheralreadyworshippingamongstherkindredangels！\"Whyarewomentobethusbredupwithadesireofconquest？theveryepithet,usedinthissense,givesmeasicklyqualm！Doesreligionandvirtueoffernostrongermotives,nobrighterreward？Musttheyalwaysbedebasedbybeingmadetoconsiderthesexoftheircompanions？
Musttheybetaughtalwaystobepleasing？Andwhenlevellingtheirsmallartilleryattheheartofman,isitnecessarytotellthemthatalittlesenseissufficienttorendertheirattentionINCREDIBLYSOOTHING？\"Asasmalldegreeofknowledgeentertainsinawoman,sofromawoman,thoughforadifferentreason,asmallexpressionofkindnessdelights,particularlyifshehavebeauty！\"
Ishouldhavesupposedforthesamereason。
Whyaregirlstobetoldthattheyresembleangels;buttosinkthembelowwomen？Or,thatagentle,innocentfemaleisanobjectthatcomesnearertotheideawhichwehaveformedofangelsthananyother。Yettheyaretold,atthesametime,thattheyareonlylikeangelswhentheyareyoungandbeautiful;consequently,itistheirpersons,nottheirvirtues,thatprocurethemthishomage。
Idleemptywords！whatcansuchdelusiveflatteryleadto,butvanityandfolly？Thelover,itistrue,hasapoeticlicencetoexalthismistress;hisreasonisthebubbleofhispassion,andhedoesnotutterafalsehoodwhenheborrowsthelanguageofadoration。Hisimaginationmayraisetheidolofhisheart,unblamed,abovehumanity;andhappywoulditbeforwomen,iftheywereonlyflatteredbythemenwholovedthem;Imean,wholovetheindividual,notthesex;butshouldagravepreacherinterlardhisdiscourseswithsuchfooleries？
Insermonsornovels,however,voluptuousnessisalwaystruetoitstext。Menareallowedbymoraliststocultivate,asnaturedirects,differentqualities,andassumethedifferentcharacters,thatthesamepassions,modifiedalmosttoinfinity,givetoeachindividual。Avirtuousmanmayhaveacholericorasanguineconstitution,begayorgrave,unreproved;befirmtillbeisalmostover—bearing,or,weaklysubmissive,havenowilloropinionofhisown;butallwomenaretobelevelled,bymeeknessanddocility,intoonecharacterofyieldingsoftnessandgentlecompliance。
Iwillusethepreacher\'sownwords。\"Letitbeobserved,thatinyoursexmanlyexercisesarenevergraceful;thatinthematoneandfigure,aswellasanairanddeportment,ofthemasculinekind,arealwaysforbidding;andthatmenofsensibilitydesireineverywomansoftfeatures,andaflowingvoice,aformnotrobust,anddemeanourdelicateandgentle。\"
Isnotthefollowingportrait——theportraitofahouseslave？\"I
amastonishedatthefollyofmanywomen,whoarestillreproachingtheirhusbandsforleavingthemalone,forpreferringthisorthatcompanytotheirs,fortreatingthemwiththisandtheothermarkofdisregardorindifference;when,tospeakthetruth,theyhavethemselvesinagreatmeasuretoblame。NotthatIwouldjustifythemeninanythingwrongontheirpart。ButhadyoubehavedtothemwithmoreRESPECTFULOBSERVANCE,andamoreEQUALTENDERNESS;
STUDYINGTHEIRHUMOURS,OVERLOOKINGTHEIRMISTAKES,SUBMITTINGTO
THEIROPINIONSinmattersindifferent,passingbylittleinstancesofunevenness,caprice,orpassion,givingSOFTanswerstohastywords,complainingasseldomaspossible,andmakingityourdailycaretorelievetheiranxietiesandpreventtheirwishes,toenliventhehourofdulness,andcalluptheideasoffelicity:
hadyoupursuedthisconduct,Idoubtnotbutyouwouldhavemaintainedandevenincreasedtheiresteem,sofarastohavesecuredeverydegreeofinfluencethatcouldconducetotheirvirtue,oryourmutualsatisfaction;andyourhousemightatthisdayhavebeentheabodeofdomesticbliss。\"Suchawomanoughttobeanangel——orsheisanass——forIdiscernnotatraceofthehumancharacter,neitherreasonnorpassioninthisdomesticdrudge,whosebeingisabsorbedinthatofatyrant\'s。
StillDr。Fordycemusthaveverylittleacquaintancewiththehumanheart,ifhereallysupposedthatsuchconductwouldbringbackwanderinglove,insteadofexcitingcontempt。No,beauty,gentleness,etc。etc。maygainaheart;butesteem,theonlylastingaffection,canalonebeobtainedbyvirtuesupportedbyreason。Itisrespectfortheunderstandingthatkeepsalivetendernessfortheperson。
Asthesevolumesaresofrequentlyputintothehandsofyoungpeople,Ihavetakenmorenoticeofthemthanstrictlyspeaking,theydeserve;butastheyhavecontributedtovitiatethetaste,andenervatetheunderstandingofmanyofmyfellow—creatures,I
couldnotpassthemsilentlyover。
SECTION5。3。
SuchpaternalsolicitudepervadesDr。Gregory\'sLegacytohisdaughters,thatIenteronthetaskofcriticismwithaffectionaterespect;butasthislittlevolumehasmanyattractionstorecommendittothenoticeofthemostrespectablepartofmysex,Icannotsilentlypassoverargumentsthatsospeciouslysupportopinionswhich,Ithink,havehadthemostbanefuleffectonthemoralsandmannersofthefemaleworld。
Hiseasyfamiliarstyleisparticularlysuitedtothetenorofhisadvice,andthemelancholytendernesswhichhisrespectforthememoryofabelovedwifediffusesthroughthewholework,rendersitveryinteresting;yetthereisadegreeofconciseeleganceconspicuousinmanypassages,thatdisturbsthissympathy;andwepopontheauthor,whenweonlyexpectedtomeetthe——father。
Besides,havingtwoobjectsinview,heseldomadheredsteadilytoeither;for,wishingtomakehisdaughtersamiable,andfearinglestunhappinessshouldonlybetheconsequence,ofinstillingsentiments,thatmightdrawthemoutofthetrackofcommonlife,withoutenablingthemtoactwithconsonantindependenceanddignity,hechecksthenaturalflowofhisthoughts,andneitheradvisesonethingnortheother。
Intheprefacehetellsthemamournfultruth,\"thattheywillhear,atleastonceintheirlives,thegenuinesentimentsofaman,whohasnointerestindeceivingthem。\"
Haplesswoman！whatcanbeexpectedfromthee,whenthebeingsonwhomthouartsaidnaturallytodependforreasonandsupport,haveallaninterestindeceivingthee！Thisistherootoftheevilthathasshedacorrodingmildewonallthyvirtues;andblightinginthebudthyopeningfaculties,hasrenderedtheetheweakthingthouart！Itisthisseparateinterest——thisinsidiousstateofwarfare,thatunderminesmorality,anddividesmankind！
Iflovehasmadesomewomenwretched——howmanymorehasthecoldunmeaningintercourseofgallantryrenderedvainanduseless！yetthisheartlessattentiontothesexisreckonedsomanly,sopolite,thattillsocietyisverydifferentlyorganized,Ifear,thisvestigeofgothicmannerswillnotbedoneawaybyamorereasonableandaffectionatemodeofconduct。Besides,tostripitofitsimaginarydignity,Imustobserve,thatinthemostcivilizedEuropeanstates,thislip—serviceprevailsinaverygreatdegree,accompaniedwithextremedissolutenessofmorals。InPortugal,thecountrythatIparticularlyalludeto,ittakesplaceofthemostseriousmoralobligations;foramanisseldomassassinatedwheninthecompanyofawoman。Thesavagehandofrapineisunnervedbythischivalrousspirit;and,ifthestrokeofvengeancecannotbestayed——theladyisentreatedtopardontherudenessanddepartinpeace,thoughsprinkled,perhaps,withherhusband\'sorbrother\'sblood。
Ishallpassoverhisstricturesonreligion,becauseImeantodiscussthatsubjectinaseparatechapter。
Theremarksrelativetobehaviour,thoughmanyofthemverysensible,Ientirelydisapproveof,becauseitappearstometobebeginning,asitwereatthewrongend。Acultivatedunderstanding,andanaffectionateheart,willneverwantstarchedrulesofdecorum,somethingmoresubstantialthanseemlinesswillbetheresult;and,withoutunderstanding,thebehaviourhererecommended,wouldberankaffectation。Decorum,indeed,istheonethingneedful！decorumistosupplantnature,andbanishallsimplicityandvarietyofcharacteroutofthefemaleworld。Yetwhatgoodendcanallthissuperficialcounselproduce？Itis,however,mucheasiertopointoutthisorthatmodeofbehaviour,thantosetthereasontowork;but,whenthemindhasbeenstoredwithusefulknowledge,andstrengthenedbybeingemployed,theregulationofthebehaviourmaysafelybelefttoitsguidance。
Why,forinstance,shouldthefollowingcautionbegiven,whenartofeverykindmustcontaminatethemind;andwhyentanglethegrandmotivesofaction,whichreasonandreligionequallycombinetoenforce,withpitifulworldlyshiftsandslightofhandtrickstogaintheapplauseofgapingtastelessfools？\"Beevencautiousindisplayingyourgoodsense。*Itwillbethoughtyouassumeasuperiorityovertherestofthecompany——Butifyouhappentohaveanylearningkeepitaprofoundsecret,especiallyfromthemen,whogenerallylookwithajealousandmalignanteyeonawomanofgreatparts,andacultivatedunderstanding。\"Ifmenofrealmerit,asheafterwardsobserves,aresuperiortothismeanness,whereisthenecessitythatthebehaviourofthewholesexshouldbemodulatedtopleasefools,ormen,whohavinglittleclaimtorespectasindividuals,choosetokeepcloseintheirphalanx。
Men,indeed,whoinsistontheircommonsuperiority,havingonlythissexualsuperiority,arecertainlyveryexcusable。
（*Footnote。Letwomenonceacquiregoodsense——andifitdeservethename,itwillteachthem;or,ofwhatusewillitbehowtoemployit。）
Therewouldbenoendtorulesforbehaviour,ifitbeproperalwaystoadoptthetoneofthecompany;forthus,forevervaryingthekey,aFLATwouldoftenpassforaNATURALnote。
Surelyitwouldhavebeenwisertohaveadvisedwomentoimprovethemselvestilltheyroseabovethefumesofvanity;andthentoletthepublicopinioncomeround——forwherearerulesofaccommodationtostop？Thenarrowpathoftruthandvirtueinclinesneithertotherightnorleft,itisastraight—forwardbusiness,andtheywhoareearnestlypursuingtheirroad,mayboundovermanydecorousprejudices,withoutleavingmodestybehind。
Maketheheartclean,andgivetheheademployment,andIwillventuretopredictthattherewillbenothingoffensiveinthebehaviour。
Theairoffashion,whichmanyyoungpeoplearesoeagertoattain,alwaysstrikesmelikethestudiedattitudesofsomemodernprints,copiedwithtastelessservilityaftertheantiques;thesoulisleftout,andnoneofthepartsaretiedtogetherbywhatmayproperlybetermedcharacter。Thisvarnishoffashion,whichseldomsticksveryclosetosense,maydazzletheweak;butleavenaturetoitself,anditwillseldomdisgustthewise。Besides,whenawomanhassufficientsensenottopretendtoanythingwhichshedoesnotunderstandinsomedegree,thereisnoneedofdeterminingtohidehertalentsunderabushel。Letthingstaketheirnaturalcourse,andallwillbewell。
