Thehabitofreflection,andtheknowledgeattainedbyfosteringanypassion,mightbeshowntobeequallyusefulthoughtheobjectbeprovedequallyfallacious;fortheywouldallappearinthesamelight,iftheywerenotmagnifiedbythegoverningpassionimplantedinusbytheAuthorofallgood,tocallforthandstrengthenthefacultiesofeachindividual,andenableittoattainalltheexperiencethataninfantcanobtain,whodoescertainthings,itcannottellwhy。
Idescendfrommyheight,andmixingwithmyfellowcreatures,feelmyselfhurriedalongthecommonstream;ambition,love,hope,andfear,exerttheirwontedpower,thoughwebeconvincedbyreasonthattheirpresentandmostattractivepromisesareonlylyingdreams;buthadthecoldhandofcircumspectiondampedeachgenerousfeelingbeforeithadleftanypermanentcharacter,orfixedsomehabit,whatcouldbeexpected,butselfishprudenceandreasonjustrisingaboveinstinct？WhothathasreadDeanSwift\'sdisgustingdescriptionoftheYahoos,andinsipidoneofHouyhnhnmwithaphilosophicaleye,canavoidseeingthefutilityofdegradingthepassions,ormakingmanrestincontentment？
TheyouthshouldACT;forhadhetheexperienceofagreyhead,hewouldbefitterfordeaththanlife,thoughhisvirtues,ratherresidinginhisheadthanhisheartcouldproducenothinggreat,andhisunderstandingpreparedforthisworld,wouldnot,byitsnobleflights,provethatithadatitletoabetter。
Besides,itisnotpossibletogiveayoungpersonajustviewoflife;hemusthavestruggledwithhisownpassionsbeforehecanestimatetheforceofthetemptationwhichbetrayedhisbrotherintovice。Thosewhoareenteringlife,andthosewhoaredeparting,seetheworldfromsuchverydifferentpointsofview,thattheycanseldomthinkalike,unlesstheunfledgedreasonoftheformerneverattemptedasolitaryflight。
Whenwehearofsomedaringcrime——itcomesfulluponusinthedeepestshadeofturpitude,andraisesindignation;buttheeyethatgraduallysawthedarknessthicken,mustobserveitwithmorecompassionateforbearance。Theworldcannotbeseenbyanunmovedspectator,wemustmixinthethrong,andfeelasmenfeelbeforewecanjudgeoftheirfeelings。Ifwemean,inshort,toliveintheworldtogrowwiserandbetter,andnotmerelytoenjoythegoodthingsoflife,wemustattainaknowledgeofothersatthesametimethatwebecomeacquaintedwithourselves——knowledgeacquiredanyotherwayonlyhardenstheheartandperplexestheunderstanding。
Imaybetold,thattheknowledgethusacquired,issometimespurchasedattoodeararate。Icanonlyanswer,thatIverymuchdoubtwhetheranyknowledgecanbeattainedwithoutlabourandsorrow;andthosewhowishtosparetheirchildrenboth,shouldnotcomplainiftheyareneitherwisenorvirtuous。Theyonlyaimedatmakingthemprudent;andprudence,earlyinlife,isbutthecautiouscraftofignorantself—love。Ihaveobserved,thatyoungpeople,towhoseeducationparticularattentionhasbeenpaid,have,ingeneral,beenverysuperficialandconceited,andfarfrompleasinginanyrespect,becausetheyhadneithertheunsuspectingwarmthofyouth,northecooldepthofage。Icannothelpimputingthisunnaturalappearanceprincipallytothathastyprematureinstruction,whichleadsthempresumptuouslytorepeatallthecrudenotionstheyhavetakenupontrust,sothatthecarefuleducationwhichtheyreceived,makesthemalltheirlivestheslavesofprejudices。
Mentalaswellasbodilyexertionis,atfirst,irksome;somuchso,thatthemanywouldfainletothersbothworkandthinkforthem。AnobservationwhichIhaveoftenmadewillillustratemymeaning。Wheninacircleofstrangers,oracquaintances,apersonofmoderateabilities,assertsanopinionwithheat,Iwillventuretoaffirm,forIhavetracedthisfacthome,veryoften,thatitisaprejudice。Theseechoeshaveahighrespectfortheunderstandingofsomerelationorfriend,andwithoutfullycomprehendingtheopinions,whichtheyaresoeagertoretail,theymaintainthemwithadegreeofobstinacy,thatwouldsurpriseeventhepersonwhoconcoctedthem。
Iknowthatakindoffashionnowprevailsofrespectingprejudices;andwhenanyonedarestofacethem,thoughactuatedbyhumanityandarmedbyreason,heissuperciliouslyasked,whetherhisancestorswerefools。No,Ishouldreply;opinions,atfirst,ofeverydescription,wereall,probably,considered,andthereforewerefoundedonsomereason;yetnotunfrequently,ofcourse,itwasratheralocalexpedientthanafundamentalprinciple,thatwouldbereasonableatalltimes。But,moss—coveredopinionsassumethedisproportionedformofprejudices,whentheyareindolentlyadoptedonlybecauseagehasgiventhemavenerableaspect,thoughthereasononwhichtheywerebuiltceasestobeareason,orcannotbetraced。Whyarewetoloveprejudices,merelybecausetheyareprejudices？Aprejudiceisafondobstinatepersuasion,forwhichwecangivenoreason;forthemomentareasoncanbegivenforanopinion,itceasestobeaprejudice,thoughitmaybeanerrorinjudgment:andarewethenadvisedtocherishopinionsonlytosetreasonatdefiance？Thismodeofarguing,ifarguingitmaybecalled,remindsmeofwhatisvulgarlytermedawoman\'sreason。Forwomensometimesdeclarethattheylove,orbelievecertainthings,BECAUSEtheylove,orbelievethem。
Itisimpossibletoconversewithpeopletoanypurpose,who,inthisstyle,onlyuseaffirmativesandnegatives。Beforeyoucanbringthemtoapoint,tostartfairlyfrom,youmustgobacktothesimpleprinciplesthatwereantecedenttotheprejudicesbroachedbypower;anditistentoonebutyouarestoppedbythephilosophicalassertion,thatcertainprinciplesareaspracticallyfalseastheyareabstractlytrue。Nay,itmaybeinferred,thatreasonhaswhisperedsomedoubts,foritgenerallyhappensthatpeopleasserttheiropinionswiththegreatestheatwhentheybegintowaver;strivingtodriveouttheirowndoubtsbyconvincingtheiropponent,theygrowangrywhenthosegnawingdoubtsarethrownbacktopreyonthemselves。
Thefactis,thatmenexpectfromeducation,whateducationcannotgive。Asagaciousparentortutormaystrengthenthebodyandsharpentheinstrumentsbywhichthechildistogatherknowledge;
butthehoneymustbetherewardoftheindividual\'sownindustry。
Itisalmostasabsurdtoattempttomakeayouthwisebytheexperienceofanother,astoexpectthebodytogrowstrongbytheexercisewhichisonlytalkedof,orseen。
Manyofthosechildrenwhoseconducthasbeenmostnarrowlywatched,becometheweakestmen,becausetheirinstructorsonlyinstillcertainnotionsintotheirminds,thathavenootherfoundationthantheirauthority;andiftheyarelovedorrespected,themindiscrampedinitsexertionsandwaveringinitsadvances。Thebusinessofeducationinthiscase,isonlytoconducttheshootingtendrilstoaproperpole;yetafterlayingpreceptuponprecept,withoutallowingachildtoacquirejudgmentitself,parentsexpectthemtoactinthesamemannerbythisborrowedfallaciouslight,asiftheyhadilluminateditthemselves;andbe,whentheyenterlife,whattheirparentsareattheclose。Theydonotconsiderthatthetree,andeventhehumanbody,doesnotstrengthenitsfibrestillithasreacheditsfullgrowth。
Thereappearstobesomethinganalogousinthemind。Thesensesandtheimaginationgiveaformtothecharacter,duringchildhoodandyouth;andtheunderstandingaslifeadvances,givesfirmnesstothefirstfairpurposesofsensibility——tillvirtue,arisingratherfromtheclearconvictionofreasonthantheimpulseoftheheart,moralityismadetorestonarockagainstwhichthestormsofpassionvainlybeat。
IhopeIshallnotbemisunderstoodwhenIsay,thatreligionwillnothavethiscondensingenergy,unlessitbefoundedonreason。
Ifitbemerelytherefugeofweaknessorwildfanaticism,andnotagoverningprincipleofconduct,drawnfromself—knowledge,andarationalopinionrespectingtheattributesofGod,whatcanitbeexpectedtoproduce？Thereligionwhichconsistsinwarmingtheaffections,andexaltingtheimagination,isonlythepoeticalpart,andmayaffordtheindividualpleasurewithoutrenderingitamoremoralbeing。Itmaybeasubstituteforworldlypursuits;yetnarrowinsteadofenlargingtheheart:butvirtuemustbelovedasinitselfsublimeandexcellent,andnotfortheadvantagesitprocuresortheevilsitaverts,ifanygreatdegreeofexcellencebeexpected。Menwillnotbecomemoralwhentheyonlybuildairycastlesinafutureworldtocompensateforthedisappointmentswhichtheymeetwithinthis;iftheyturntheirthoughtsfromrelativedutiestoreligiousreveries。
Mostprospectsinlifearemarredbytheshufflingworldlywisdomofmen,who,forgettingthattheycannotserveGodandmammon,endeavourtoblendcontradictorythings。Ifyouwishtomakeyoursonrich,pursueonecourse——ifyouareonlyanxioustomakehimvirtuous,youmusttakeanother;butdonotimaginethatyoucanboundfromoneroadtotheotherwithoutlosingyourway。*
（*Footnote。SeeanexcellentessayonthissubjectbyMrs。
Barbauld,inMiscellaneouspiecesinProse。）
CHAPTER6。
THEEFFECTWHICHANEARLYASSOCIATIONOFIDEASHASUPONTHE
CHARACTER。
EducatedintheenervatingstylerecommendedbythewritersonwhomIhavebeenanimadverting;andnothavingachance,fromtheirsubordinatestateinsociety,torecovertheirlostground,isitsurprisingthatwomeneverywhereappearadefectinnature？Isitsurprising,whenweconsiderwhatadeterminateeffectanearlyassociationofideashasonthecharacter,thattheyneglecttheirunderstandings,andturnalltheirattentiontotheirpersons？
Thegreatadvantageswhichnaturallyresultfromstoringthemindwithknowledge,areobviousfromthefollowingconsiderations。Theassociationofourideasiseitherhabitualorinstantaneous;andthelattermodeseemsrathertodependontheoriginaltemperatureofthemindthanonthewill。Whentheideas,andmattersoffact,areoncetakenin,theyliebyforuse,tillsomefortuitouscircumstancemakestheinformationdartintothemindwithillustrativeforce,thathasbeenreceivedatverydifferentperiodsofourlives。Likethelightning\'sflasharemanyrecollections;oneideaassimilatingandexplaininganother,withastonishingrapidity。Idonotnowalludetothatquickperceptionoftruth,whichissointuitivethatitbafflesresearch,andmakesusatalosstodeterminewhetheritisreminiscenceorratiocination,lostsightofinitscelerity,thatopensthedarkcloud。Overthoseinstantaneousassociationswehavelittlepower;
forwhenthemindisonceenlargedbyexcursiveflights,orprofoundreflection,therawmaterials,will,insomedegree,arrangethemselves。Theunderstanding,itistrue,maykeepusfromgoingoutofdrawingwhenwegroupourthoughts,ortranscribefromtheimaginationthewarmsketchesoffancy;buttheanimalspirits,theindividualcharactergivethecolouring。Overthissubtileelectricfluid,*howlittlepowerdowepossess,andoverithowlittlepowercanreasonobtain！Thesefineintractablespiritsappeartobetheessenceofgenius,andbeaminginitseagleeye,produceinthemosteminentdegreethehappyenergyofassociatingthoughtsthatsurprise,delight,andinstruct。Thesearetheglowingmindsthatconcentratepicturesfortheirfellow—creatures;forcingthemtoviewwithinteresttheobjectsreflectedfromtheimpassionedimagination,whichtheypassedoverinnature。
（*Footnote。Ihavesometimes,wheninclinedtolaughatmaterialists,askedwhether,asthemostpowerfuleffectsinnatureareapparentlyproducedbyfluids,themagnetic,etc。thepassionsmightnotbefinevolatilefluidsthatembracedhumanity,keepingthemorerefractoryelementarypartstogether——orwhethertheyweresimplyaliquidfirethatpervadedthemoresluggishmaterialsgivingthemlifeandheat？）
Imustbeallowedtoexplainmyself。Thegeneralityofpeoplecannotseeorfeelpoetically,theywantfancy,andthereforeflyfromsolitudeinsearchofsensibleobjects;butwhenanauthorlendsthemhiseyes,theycanseeashesaw,andbeamusedbyimagestheycouldnotselect,thoughlyingbeforethem。
Educationthusonlysuppliesthemanofgeniuswithknowledgetogivevarietyandcontrasttohisassociations;butthereisanhabitualassociationofideas,thatgrows\"withourgrowth,\"whichhasagreateffectonthemoralcharacterofmankind;andbywhichaturnisgiventothemind,thatcommonlyremainsthroughoutlife。
Soductileistheunderstanding,andyetsostubborn,thattheassociationswhichdependonadventitiouscircumstances,duringtheperiodthatthebodytakestoarriveatmaturity,canseldombedisentangledbyreason。Oneideacallsupanother,itsoldassociate,andmemory,faithfultothefirstimpressions,particularlywhentheintellectualpowersarenotemployedtocooloursensations,retracesthemwithmechanicalexactness。
Thishabitualslavery,tofirstimpressions,hasamorebanefuleffectonthefemalethanthemalecharacter,becausebusinessandotherdryemploymentsoftheunderstanding,tendtodeadenthefeelingsandbreakassociationsthatdoviolencetoreason。Butfemales,whoaremadewomenofwhentheyaremerechildren,andbroughtbacktochildhoodwhentheyoughttoleavethego—cartforever,havenotsufficientstrengthofmindtoeffacethesuperinductionsofartthathavesmotherednature。
Everythingthattheyseeorhearservestofiximpressions,callforthemotions,andassociateideas,thatgiveasexualcharactertothemind。Falsenotionsofbeautyanddelicacystopthegrowthoftheirlimbsandproduceasicklysoreness,ratherthandelicacyoforgans;andthusweakenedbybeingemployedinunfoldinginsteadofexaminingthefirstassociations,forcedonthembyeverysurroundingobject,howcantheyattainthevigournecessarytoenablethemtothrowofftheirfactitiouscharacter？——wherefindstrengthtorecurtoreasonandrisesuperiortoasystemofoppression,thatblaststhefairpromisesofspring？Thiscruelassociationofideas,whicheverythingconspirestotwistintoalltheirhabitsofthinking,or,tospeakwithmoreprecision,offeeling,receivesnewforcewhentheybegintoactalittleforthemselves;fortheythenperceive,thatitisonlythroughtheiraddresstoexciteemotionsinmen,thatpleasureandpoweraretobeobtained。Besides,allthebooksprofessedlywrittenfortheirinstruction,whichmakethefirstimpressionontheirminds,allinculcatethesameopinions。EducatedinworsethanEgyptianbondage,itisunreasonable,aswellascruel,toupbraidthemwithfaultsthatcanscarcelybeavoided,unlessadegreeofnativevigourbesupposed,thatfallstothelotofveryfewamongstmankind。
Forinstance,theseverestsarcasmshavebeenlevelledagainstthesex,andtheyhavebeenridiculedforrepeating\"asetofphraseslearntbyrote,\"whennothingcouldbemorenatural,consideringtheeducationtheyreceive,andthattheir\"highestpraiseistoobey,unargued\"——thewillofman。Iftheyarenotallowedtohavereasonsufficienttogoverntheirownconduct——why,alltheylearn——mustbelearnedbyrote！Andwhenalltheiringenuityiscalledforthtoadjusttheirdress,\"apassionforascarletcoat,\"
issonatural,thatitneversurprisedme;and,allowingPope\'ssummaryoftheircharactertobejust,\"thateverywomanisatheartarake,\"whyshouldtheybebitterlycensuredforseekingacongenialmind,andpreferringaraketoamanofsense？
Rakesknowhowtoworkontheirsensibility,whilstthemodestmeritofreasonablemenhas,ofcourse,lesseffectontheirfeelings,andtheycannotreachtheheartbythewayoftheunderstanding,becausetheyhavefewsentimentsincommon。
ItseemsalittleabsurdtoexpectwomentobemorereasonablethanmenintheirLIKINGS,andstilltodenythemtheuncontroleduseofreason。WhendomenFALLINLOVEwithsense？Whendothey,withtheirsuperiorpowersandadvantages,turnfromthepersontothemind？Andhowcantheythenexpectwomen,whoareonlytaughttoobservebehaviour,andacquiremannersratherthanmorals,todespisewhattheyhavebeenalltheirliveslabouringtoattain？
Wherearetheysuddenlytofindjudgmentenoughtoweighpatientlythesenseofanawkwardvirtuousman,whenhismanners,ofwhichtheyaremadecriticaljudges,arerebuffing,andhisconversationcoldanddull,becauseitdoesnotconsistofprettyrepartees,orwell—turnedcompliments？Inordertoadmireoresteemanythingforacontinuance,wemust,atleast,haveourcuriosityexcitedbyknowing,insomedegree,whatweadmire;forweareunabletoestimatethevalueofqualitiesandvirtuesaboveourcomprehension。Sucharespect,whenitisfelt,maybeverysublime;andtheconfusedconsciousnessofhumilitymayrenderthedependentcreatureaninterestingobject,insomepointsofview;
buthumanlovemusthavegrosseringredients;andthepersonverynaturallywillcomeinforitsshare——and,anampleshareitmostlyhas！
Loveis,inagreatdegree,anarbitrarypassion,andwillreignlikesomeotherstalkingmischiefs,byitsownauthority,withoutdeigningtoreason;anditmayalsobeeasilydistinguishedfromesteem,thefoundationoffriendship,becauseitisoftenexcitedbyevanescentbeautiesandgraces,thoughtogiveanenergytothesentimentsomethingmoresolidmustdeepentheirimpressionandsettheimaginationtowork,tomakethemostfair——thefirstgood。
Commonpassionsareexcitedbycommonqualities。Menlookforbeautyandthesimperofgoodhumoureddocility:womenarecaptivatedbyeasymanners:agentleman—likemanseldomfailstopleasethem,andtheirthirstyearseagerlydrinktheinsinuatingnothingsofpoliteness,whilsttheyturnfromtheunintelligiblesoundsofthecharmer——reason,charmheneversowisely。Withrespecttosuperficialaccomplishments,therakecertainlyhastheadvantage;andofthese,femalescanformanopinion,foritistheirownground。Renderedgayandgiddybythewholetenoroftheirlives,theveryaspectofwisdom,ortheseveregracesofvirtuemusthavealugubriousappearancetothem;andproduceakindofrestraintfromwhichtheyandlove,sportivechild,naturallyrevolt。Withouttaste,exceptingofthelighterkind,fortasteistheoffspringofjudgment,howcantheydiscover,thattruebeautyandgracemustarisefromtheplayofthemind？andhowcantheybeexpectedtorelishinaloverwhattheydonot,orveryimperfectly,possessthemselves？Thesympathythatuniteshearts,andinvitestoconfidence,inthemissoveryfaint,thatitcannottakefire,andthusmounttopassion。No,Irepeatit,thelovecherishedbysuchminds,musthavegrosserfuel！
Theinferenceisobvious;tillwomenareledtoexercisetheirunderstandings,theyshouldnotbesatirizedfortheirattachmenttorakes;norevenforbeingrakesatheart,whenitappearstobetheinevitableconsequenceoftheireducation。Theywholivetopleasemustfindtheirenjoyments,theirhappiness,inpleasure！
Itisatrite,yettrueremark,thatweneverdoanythingwell,unlessweloveitforitsownsake。
Supposing,however,foramoment,thatwomenwere,insomefuturerevolutionoftime,tobecome,whatIsincerelywishthemtobe,evenlovewouldacquiremoreseriousdignity,andbepurifiedinitsownfires;andvirtuegivingtruedelicacytotheiraffections,theywouldturnwithdisgustfromarake。Reasoningthen,aswellasfeeling,theonlyprovinceofwoman,atpresent,theymighteasilyguardagainstexteriorgraces,andquicklylearntodespisethesensibilitythathadbeenexcitedandhackneyedinthewaysofwomen,whosetradewasvice;andallurement\'swantonairs。Theywouldrecollectthattheflame,（onemustuseappropriateexpressions,）whichtheywishedtolightup,hadbeenexhaustedbylust,andthatthesatedappetite,losingallrelishforpureandsimplepleasures,couldonlyberousedbylicentiousartsofvariety。Whatsatisfactioncouldawomanofdelicacypromiseherselfinaunionwithsuchaman,whentheveryartlessnessofheraffectionmightappearinsipid？ThusdoesDrydendescribethesituation:
\"Whereloveisdutyonthefemaleside,Ontheirsmeresensualgust,andsoughtwithsurlypride。\"
Butonegrandtruthwomenhaveyettolearn,thoughmuchitimportsthemtoactaccordingly。Inthechoiceofahusbandtheyshouldnotbeledastraybythequalitiesofalover——foraloverthehusband,evensupposinghimtobewiseandvirtuous,cannotlongremain。
Werewomenmorerationallyeducated,couldtheytakeamorecomprehensiveviewofthings,theywouldbecontentedtolovebutonceintheirlives;andaftermarriagecalmlyletpassionsubsideintofriendship——intothattenderintimacy,whichisthebestrefugefromcare;yetisbuiltonsuchpure,stillaffections,thatidlejealousieswouldnotbeallowedtodisturbthedischargeofthesoberdutiesoflife,nortoengrossthethoughtsthatoughttobeotherwiseemployed。Thisisastateinwhichmanymenlive;butfew,veryfewwomen。Andthedifferencemayeasilybeaccountedfor,withoutrecurringtoasexualcharacter。Men,forwhomwearetoldwomenaremade,havetoomuchoccupiedthethoughtsofwomen;
andthisassociationhassoentangledlove,withalltheirmotivesofaction;and,toharpalittleonanoldstring,havingbeensolelyemployedeithertopreparethemselvestoexcitelove,oractuallyputtingtheirlessonsinpractice,theycannotlivewithoutlove。But,whenasenseofduty,orfearofshame,obligesthemtorestrainthispampereddesireofpleasingbeyondcertainlengths,toofarfordelicacy,itistrue,thoughfarfromcriminality,theyobstinatelydeterminetolove,Ispeakoftheirpassion,theirhusbandstotheendofthechapter——andthenactingthepartwhichtheyfoolishlyexactedfromtheirlovers,theybecomeabjectwooers,andfondslaves。
Menofwitandfancyareoftenrakes;andfancyisthefoodoflove。Suchmenwillinspirepassion。Halfthesex,initspresentinfantinestate,wouldpineforaLovelace;amansowitty,sograceful,andsovaliant;andcantheyDESERVEblameforactingaccordingtoprinciplessoconstantlyinculcated？Theywantaloverandprotector:andbeholdhimkneelingbeforethem——braveryprostratetobeauty！Thevirtuesofahusbandarethusthrownbyloveintothebackground,andgayhopes,orlivelyemotions,banishreflectiontillthedayofreckoningcomes;andcomeitsurelywill,toturnthesprightlyloverintoasurlysuspicioustyrant,whocontemptuouslyinsultstheveryweaknesshefostered。Or,supposingtherakereformed,hecannotquicklygetridofoldhabits。Whenamanofabilitiesisfirstcarriedawaybyhispassions,itisnecessarythatsentimentandtastevarnishtheenormitiesofvice,andgiveazesttobrutalindulgences:butwhentheglossofnoveltyiswornoff,andpleasurepallsuponthesense,lasciviousnessbecomesbarefaced,andenjoymentonlythedesperateeffortofweaknessflyingfromreflectionasfromalegionofdevils。Oh！virtue,thouartnotanemptyname！Allthatlifecangive——thougivest！
Ifmuchcomfortcannotbeexpectedfromthefriendshipofareformedrakeofsuperiorabilities,whatistheconsequencewhenhelackethsense,aswellasprinciples？Verilymiseryinitsmosthideousshape。Whenthehabitsofweakpeopleareconsolidatedbytime,areformationisbarelypossible;andactuallymakesthebeingsmiserablewhohavenotsufficientmindtobeamusedbyinnocentpleasure;likethetradesmanwhoretiresfromthehurryofbusiness,naturepresentstothemonlyauniversalblank;andtherestlessthoughtspreyonthedampedspirits。Theirreformationaswellashisretirementactuallymakesthemwretched,becauseitdeprivesthemofallemployment,byquenchingthehopesandfearsthatsetinmotiontheirsluggishminds。
Ifsuchbetheforceofhabit;ifsuchbethebondageoffolly,howcarefullyoughtwetoguardthemindfromstoringupviciousassociations;andequallycarefulshouldwebetocultivatetheunderstanding,tosavethepoorwightfromtheweakdependentstateofevenharmlessignorance。Foritistherightuseofreasonalonewhichmakesusindependentofeverything——exceptingtheuncloudedReason——\"Whoseserviceisperfectfreedom。\"
CHAPTER7。
MODESTYCOMPREHENSIVELYCONSIDEREDANDNOTASASEXUALVIRTUE。
Modesty！Sacredoffspringofsensibilityandreason！truedelicacyofmind！mayIunblamedpresumetoinvestigatethynature,andtracetoitscovertthemildcharm,thatmellowingeachharshfeatureofacharacter,renderswhatwouldotherwiseonlyinspirecoldadmiration——lovely！Thouthatsmoothestthewrinklesofwisdom,andsoftenestthetoneofthemoresublimevirtuestilltheyallmeltintohumanity！thouthatspreadesttheetherealcloudthatsurroundingloveheightenseverybeauty,ithalfshades,breathingthosecoysweetsthatstealintotheheart,andcharmthesenses——modulateformethelanguageofpersuasivereason,tillI
rousemysexfromtheflowerybed,onwhichtheysupinelysleeplifeaway！
Inspeakingoftheassociationofourideas,Ihavenoticedtwodistinctmodes;andindefiningmodesty,itappearstomeequallypropertodiscriminatethatpurityofmind,whichistheeffectofchastity,fromasimplicityofcharacterthatleadsustoformajustopinionofourselves,equallydistantfromvanityorpresumption,thoughbynomeansincompatiblewithaloftyconsciousnessofourowndignity。Modestyinthelattersignificationoftheterm,isthatsobernessofmindwhichteachesamannottothinkmorehighlyofhimselfthanheoughttothink,andshouldbedistinguishedfromhumility,becausehumilityisakindofself—abasement。Amodestmanoftenconceivesagreatplan,andtenaciouslyadherestoit,consciousofhisownstrength,tillsuccessgivesitasanctionthatdeterminesitscharacter。Miltonwasnotarrogantwhenhesufferedasuggestionofjudgmenttoescapehimthatprovedaprophesy;norwasGeneralWashingtonwhenheacceptedofthecommandoftheAmericanforces。Thelatterhasalwaysbeencharacterizedasamodestman;buthadhebeenmerelyhumble,hewouldprobablyhaveshrunkbackirresolute,afraidoftrustingtohimselfthedirectionofanenterpriseonwhichsomuchdepended。
Amodestmanissteady,anhumblemantimid,andavainonepresumptuous;thisisthejudgment,whichtheobservationofmanycharacters,hasledmetoform。JesusChristwasmodest,Moseswashumble,andPetervain。
Thusdiscriminatingmodestyfromhumilityinonecase,Idonotmeantoconfounditwithbashfulnessintheother。Bashfulness,infact,issodistinctfrommodesty,thatthemostbashfullass,orrawcountrylout,oftenbecomesthemostimpudent;fortheirbashfulnessbeingmerelytheinstinctivetimidityofignorance,customsoonchangesitintoassurance。*
（*Footnote。\"Suchisthecountry—maiden\'sfright,Whenfirstared—coatisinsight;
Behindthedoorshehidesherface,Nexttimeatdistanceeyesthelace:
Shenowcanallhisterrorsstand,Norfromhissqueezewithdrawsherhand,Sheplaysfamiliarinhisarms,Andeverysoldierhathhischarms;
>Fromtenttotentshespreadsherflame;
Forcustomconquersfearandshame。\"）
TheshamelessbehaviouroftheprostituteswhoinfestthestreetsofLondon,raisingalternateemotionsofpityanddisgust,mayservetoillustratethisremark。Theytrampleonvirginbashfulnesswithasortofbravado,andgloryingintheirshame,becomemoreaudaciouslylewdthanmen,howeverdepraved,towhomthesexualqualityhasnotbeengratuitouslygranted,everappeartobe。Butthesepoorignorantwretchesneverhadanymodestytolose,whentheyconsignedthemselvestoinfamy;formodestyisavirtuenotaquality。No,theywereonlybashful,shame—facedinnocents;andlosingtheirinnocence,theirshame—facednesswasrudelybrushedoff;avirtuewouldhaveleftsomevestigesinthemind,haditbeensacrificedtopassion,tomakeusrespectthegrandruin。
Purityofmind,orthatgenuinedelicacy,whichistheonlyvirtuoussupportofchastity,isneara—kintothatrefinementofhumanity,whichneverresidesinanybutcultivatedminds。Itissomethingnoblerthaninnocence;itisthedelicacyofreflection,andnotthecoynessofignorance。Thereserveofreason,whichlikehabitualcleanliness,isseldomseeninanygreatdegree,unlessthesoulisactive,mayeasilybedistinguishedfromrusticshynessorwantonskittishness;andsofarfrombeingincompatiblewithknowledge,itisitsfairestfruit。Whatagrossideaofmodestyhadthewriterofthefollowingremark！\"Theladywhoaskedthequestionwhetherwomenmaybeinstructedinthemodernsystemofbotany,consistentlywithfemaledelicacy？\"wasaccusedofridiculousprudery:nevertheless,ifshehadproposedthequestiontome,Ishouldcertainlyhaveanswered——Theycannot。\"
Thusisthefairbookofknowledgetobeshutwithaneverlastingseal！OnreadingsimilarpassagesIhavereverentiallyliftedupmyeyesandhearttoHimwholivethforeverandever,andsaid,O
myFather,hastThoubytheveryconstitutionofhernatureforbidThychildtoseekTheeinthefairformsoftruth？And,canhersoulbesulliedbytheknowledgethatawfullycallshertoThee？
IhavethenphilosophicallypursuedthesereflectionstillI
inferred,thatthosewomenwhohavemostimprovedtheirreasonmusthavethemostmodesty——thoughadignifiedsedatenessofdeportmentmayhavesucceededtheplayful,bewitchingbashfulnessofyouth。*
（*Footnote。Modesty,isthegracefulcalmvirtueofmaturity;
bashfulness,thecharmofvivaciousyouth。）
AndthushaveIargued。Torenderchastitythevirtuefromwhichunsophisticatedmodestywillnaturallyflow,theattentionshouldbecalledawayfromemployments,whichonlyexercisethesensibility;andtheheartmadetobeattimetohumanity,ratherthantothrobwithlove。Thewomanwhohasdedicatedaconsiderableportionofhertimetopursuitspurelyintellectual,andwhoseaffectionshavebeenexercisedbyhumaneplansofusefulness,musthavemorepurityofmind,asanaturalconsequence,thantheignorantbeingswhosetimeandthoughtshavebeenoccupiedbygaypleasuresorschemestoconquerhearts。Theregulationofthebehaviourisnotmodesty,thoughthosewhostudyrulesofdecorum,are,ingeneraltermedmodestwomen。Maketheheartclean,letitexpandandfeelforallthatishuman,insteadofbeingnarrowedbyselfishpassions;andletthemindfrequentlycontemplatesubjectsthatexercisetheunderstanding,withoutheatingtheimagination,andartlessmodestywillgivethefinishingtouchestothepicture。
Shewhocandiscernthedawnofimmortality,inthestreaksthatshootathwartthemistynightofignorance,promisingaclearerday,willrespect,asasacredtemple,thebodythatenshrinessuchanimprovablesoul。Truelove,likewise,spreadsthiskindofmysterioussanctityroundthebelovedobject,makingthelovermostmodestwheninherpresence。Soreservedisaffection,that,receivingorreturningpersonalendearments,itwishes,notonlytoshunthehumaneye,asakindofprofanation;buttodiffuseanencirclingcloudyobscuritytoshutouteventhesaucysparklingsunbeams。Yet,thataffectiondoesnotdeservetheepithetofchastewhichdoesnotreceiveasublimegloomoftendermelancholy,thatallowsthemindforamomenttostandstillandenjoythepresentsatisfaction,whenaconsciousnessoftheDivinepresenceisfelt——forthismusteverbethefoodofjoy！
