AsIhavealwaysbeenfondoftracingtoitssourceinnatureanyprevailingcustom,Ihavefrequentlythoughtthatitwasasentimentofaffectionforwhateverhadtouchedthepersonofanabsentorlostfriend,whichgavebirthtothatrespectforrelics,somuchabusedbyselfishpriests。Devotion,orlove,maybeallowedtohallowthegarmentsaswellastheperson;forthelovermustwantfancy,whohasnotasortofsacredrespectforthegloveorslipperofhismistress。Hecouldnotconfoundthemwithvulgarthingsofthesamekind。
Thisfinesentiment,perhaps,wouldnotbeartobeanalyzedbytheexperimentalphilosopher——butofsuchstuffishumanrapturemadeup！——Ashadowyphantomglidesbeforeus,obscuringeveryotherobject;yetwhenthesoftcloudisgrasped,theformmeltsintocommonair,leavingasolitaryvoid,orsweetperfume,stolenfromtheviolet,thatmemorylongholdsdear。But,Ihavetrippedunawaresonfairyground,feelingthebalmygaleofspringstealingonme,thoughNovemberfrowns。
Asasex,womenaremorechastethanmen,andasmodestyistheeffectofchastity,theymaydeservetohavethisvirtueascribedtotheminratheranappropriatedsense;yet,Imustbeallowedtoaddanhesitatingif:——forIdoubt,whetherchastitywillproducemodesty,thoughitmayproprietyofconduct,whenitismerelyarespectfortheopinionoftheworld,andwhencoquetryandthelovelorntalesofnovelistsemploythethoughts。Nay,fromexperience,andreason,Ishouldbeleadtoexpecttomeetwithmoremodestyamongstmenthanwomen,simplybecausemenexercisetheirunderstandingsmorethanwomen。
But,withrespecttoproprietyofbehaviour,exceptingoneclassoffemales,womenhaveevidentlytheadvantage。Whatcanbemoredisgustingthanthatimpudentdrossofgallantry,thoughtsomanly,whichmakesmanymenstareinsultinglyateveryfemaletheymeet？
Isthisrespectforthesex？Thisloosebehaviourshowssuchhabitualdepravity,suchweaknessofmind,thatitisvaintoexpectmuchpublicorprivatevirtue,tillbothmenandwomengrowmoremodest——tillmen,curbingasensualfondnessforthesex,oranaffectationofmanlyassurance,moreproperlyspeaking,impudence,treateachotherwithrespect——unlessappetiteorpassiongivesthetone,peculiartoit,totheirbehaviour。Imeanevenpersonalrespect——themodestrespectofhumanity,andfellow—feeling;notthelibidinousmockeryofgallantry,northeinsolentcondescensionofprotectorship。
Tocarrytheobservationstillfurther,modestymustheartilydisclaim,andrefusetodwellwiththatdebaucheryofmind,whichleadsamancoollytobringforward,withoutablush,indecentallusions,orobscenewitticisms,inthepresenceofafellowcreature;womenarenowoutofthequestion,forthenitisbrutality。Respectforman,asmanisthefoundationofeverynoblesentiment。Howmuchmoremodestisthelibertinewhoobeysthecallofappetiteorfancy,thanthelewdjokerwhosetsthetableinaroar。
Thisisoneofthemanyinstancesinwhichthesexualdistinctionrespectingmodestyhasprovedfataltovirtueandhappiness。Itis,however,carriedstillfurther,andwoman,weakwoman！madebyhereducationtheslaveofsensibility,isrequired,onthemosttryingoccasions,toresistthatsensibility。\"Cananything,\"
saysKnox,bemoreabsurdthankeepingwomeninastateofignorance,andyetsovehementlytoinsistontheirresistingtemptation？Thuswhenvirtueorhonourmakeitpropertocheckapassion,theburdenisthrownontheweakershoulders,contrarytoreasonandtruemodesty,which,atleast,shouldrendertheself—denialmutual,tosaynothingofthegenerosityofbravery,supposedtobeamanlyvirtue。
InthesamestrainrunsRousseau\'sandDr。Gregory\'sadvicerespectingmodesty,strangelymiscalled！fortheybothdesireawifetoleaveitindoubt,whethersensibilityorweaknessledhertoherhusband\'sarms。Thewomanisimmodestwhocanlettheshadowofsuchadoubtremainonherhusband\'smindamoment。
Buttostatethesubjectinadifferentlight。Thewantofmodesty,whichIprincipallydeploreassubversiveofmorality,arisesfromthestateofwarfaresostrenuouslysupportedbyvoluptuousmenastheveryessenceofmodesty,though,infact,itsbane;becauseitisarefinementonsensualdesire,thatmenfallintowhohavenotsufficientvirtuetorelishtheinnocentpleasuresoflove。Amanofdelicacycarrieshisnotionsofmodestystillfurther,forneitherweaknessnorsensibilitywillgratifyhim——helooksforaffection。
Again;menboastoftheirtriumphsoverwomen,whatdotheyboastof？Trulythecreatureofsensibilitywassurprisedbyhersensibilityintofolly——intovice;*andthedreadfulreckoningfallsheavilyonherownweakhead,whenreasonwakes。Forwhereartthoutofindcomfort,forlornanddisconsolateone？Hewhooughttohavedirectedthyreason,andsupportedthyweakness,hasbetrayedthee！Inadreamofpassionthouconsentedsttowanderthroughflowerylawns,andheedlesslysteppingovertheprecipicetowhichthyguide,insteadofguarding,luredthee,thoustartestfromthydreamonlytofaceasneering,frowningworld,andtofindthyselfaloneinawaste,forhethattriumphedinthyweaknessisnowpursuingnewconquests;butforthee——thereisnoredemptiononthissidethegrave！Andwhatresourcehastthouinanenervatedmindtoraiseasinkingheart？
（*Footnote。Thepoormothflutteringroundacandle,burnsitswings。）
But,ifthesexesbereallytoliveinastateofwarfare,ifnaturehaspointeditout,letmenactnobly,orletpridewhispertothem,thatthevictoryismeanwhentheymerelyvanquishsensibility。Therealconquestisthatoveraffectionnottakenbysurprise——when,likeHeloisa,awomangivesupalltheworld,deliberately,forlove。Idonotnowconsiderthewisdomorvirtueofsuchasacrifice,Ionlycontendthatitwasasacrificetoaffection,andnotmerelytosensibility,thoughshehadhershare。
AndImustbeallowedtocallheramodestwoman,beforeIdismissthispartofthesubject,bysaying,thattillmenaremorechaste,womenwillbeimmodest。Where,indeed,couldmodestwomenfindhusbandsfromwhomtheywouldnotcontinuallyturnwithdisgust？
Modestymustbeequallycultivatedbybothsexes,oritwilleverremainasicklyhot—houseplant,whilsttheaffectationofit,thefigleafborrowedbywantonness,maygiveazesttovoluptuousenjoyments。）
Menwillprobablystillinsistthatwomanoughttohavemoremodestythanman;butitisnotdispassionatereasonerswhowillmostearnestlyopposemyopinion。No,theyarethemenoffancy,thefavouritesofthesex,whooutwardlyrespect,andinwardlydespisetheweakcreatureswhomtheythussportwith。Theycannotsubmittoresignthehighestsensualgratification,noreventorelishtheepicurismofvirtue——self—denial。
Totakeanotherviewofthesubject,confiningmyremarkstowomen。
Theridiculousfalsitieswhicharetoldtochildren,frommistakennotionsofmodesty,tendveryearlytoinflametheirimaginationsandsettheirlittlemindstowork,respectingsubjects,whichnatureneverintendedtheyshouldthinkof,tillthebodyarrivedatsomedegreeofmaturity;thenthepassionsnaturallybegintotakeplaceofthesenses,asinstrumentstounfoldtheunderstanding,andformthemoralcharacter。
Innurseries,andboardingschools,Ifear,girlsarefirstspoiled;particularlyinthelatter。Anumberofgirlssleepinthesameroom,andwashtogether。And,thoughIshouldbesorrytocontaminateaninnocentcreature\'smindbyinstillingfalsedelicacy,orthoseindecentprudishnotions,whichearlycautionsrespectingtheothersexnaturallyengender,Ishouldbeveryanxioustopreventtheiracquiringindelicate,orimmodesthabits;
andasmanygirlshavelearnedveryindelicatetricks,fromignorantservants,themixingthemthusindiscriminatelytogether,isveryimproper。
Tosaythetruth,womenare,ingeneral,toofamiliarwitheachother,whichleadstothatgrossdegreeoffamiliaritythatsofrequentlyrendersthemarriagestateunhappy。Whyinthenameofdecencyaresisters,femaleintimates,orladiesandtheirwaitingwomen,tobesogrosslyfamiliarastoforgettherespectwhichonehumancreatureowestoanother？Thatsqueamishdelicacywhichshrinksfromthemostdisgustingofficeswhenaffectionorhumanityleadustowatchatasickpillow,isdespicable。But,whywomeninhealthshouldbemorefamiliarwitheachotherthanmenare,whentheyboastoftheirsuperiourdelicacy,isasolecisminmannerswhichIcouldneversolve。
Inordertopreservehealthandbeauty,Ishouldearnestlyrecommendfrequentablutions,todignifymyadvicethatitmaynotoffendthefastidiousear;and,byexample,girlsoughttobetaughttowashanddressalone,withoutanydistinctionofrank;
andifcustomshouldmakethemrequiresomelittleassistance,letthemnotrequireittillthatpartofthebusinessisoverwhichoughtnevertobedonebeforeafellow—creature;becauseitisaninsulttothemajestyofhumannature。Notonthescoreofmodesty,butdecency;forthecarewhichsomemodestwomentake,makingatthesametimeadisplayofthatcare,nottolettheirlegsbeseen,isaschildishasimmodest。*
（*Footnote。Iremembertohavemetwithasentence,inabookofeducationthatmademesmile。\"Itwouldbeneedlesstocautionyouagainstputtingyourhand,bychance,underyourneck—handkerchief;
foramodestwomanneverdidso！\"）
Icouldproceedstillfurther,tillIanimadvertedonsomestillmoreindelicatecustoms,whichmenneverfallinto。Secretsaretold——wheresilenceoughttoreign;andthatregardtocleanliness,whichsomereligioussectshave,perhaps,carriedtoofar,especiallytheEssenes,amongsttheJews,bymakingthataninsulttoGodwhichisonlyaninsulttohumanity,isviolatedinabrutalmanner。HowcanDELICATEwomenobtrudeonnoticethatpartoftheanimaleconomy,whichissoverydisgusting？Andisitnotveryrationaltoconclude,thatthewomenwhohavenotbeentaughttorespectthehumannatureoftheirownsex,intheseparticulars,willnotlongrespectthemeredifferenceofsex,intheirhusbands？Aftertheirmaidenishbashfulnessisoncelost,I,infact,havegenerallyobserved,thatwomenfallintooldhabits;andtreattheirhusbandsastheydidtheirsistersorfemaleacquaintance。
Besides,womenfromnecessity,becausetheirmindsarenotcultivated,haverecourseveryoften,towhatIfamiliarlytermbodilywit;andtheirintimaciesareofthesamekind。Inshort,withrespecttobothmindandbody,theyaretoointimate。Thatdecentpersonalreserve,whichisthefoundationofdignityofcharacter,mustbekeptupbetweenwomen,ortheirmindswillnevergainstrengthormodesty。
Onthisaccountalso,Iobjecttomanyfemalesbeingshutuptogetherinnurseries,schools,orconvents。Icannotrecollectwithoutindignation,thejokesandhoidentricks,whichknotsofyoungwomenindulgedthemselvesin,wheninmyyouthaccidentthrewme,anawkwardrustic,intheirway。Theywerealmostonaparwiththedoublemeanings,whichshaketheconvivialtablewhentheglasshascirculatedfreely。Butitisvaintoattempttokeeptheheartpure,unlesstheheadisfurnishedwithideas,andsettoworktocomparethem,inorder,toacquirejudgment,bygeneralizingsimpleones;andmodestybymakingtheunderstandingdampthesensibility。
ItmaybethoughtthatIlaytoogreatastressonpersonalreserve;butitiseverthehand—maidofmodesty。SothatwereI
tonamethegracesthatoughttoadornbeauty,Ishouldinstantlyexclaim,cleanliness,neatness,andpersonalreserve。Itisobvious,Isuppose,thatthereserveImean,hasnothingsexualinit,andthatIthinkitEQUALLYnecessaryinbothsexes。Sonecessaryindeed,isthatreserveandcleanlinesswhichindolentwomentoooftenneglect,thatIwillventuretoaffirm,thatwhentwoorthreewomenliveinthesamehouse,theonewillbemostrespectedbythemalepartofthefamily,whoresidewiththem,leavingloveentirelyoutofthequestion,whopaysthiskindofhabitualrespecttoherperson。
Whendomesticfriendsmeetinamorning,therewillnaturallyprevailanaffectionateseriousness,especially,ifeachlookforwardtothedischargeofdailyduties;anditmaybereckonedfanciful,butthissentimenthasfrequentlyrisenspontaneouslyinmymind。Ihavebeenpleasedafterbreathingthesweetbracingmorningair,toseethesamekindoffreshnessinthecountenancesIparticularlyloved;Iwasgladtoseethembraced,asitwere,fortheday,andreadytoruntheircoursewiththesun。Thegreetingsofaffectioninthemorningarebythesemeansmorerespectful,thanthefamiliartendernesswhichfrequentlyprolongstheeveningtalk。Nay,Ihaveoftenfelthurt,nottosaydisgusted,whenafriendhasappeared,whomIpartedwithfulldressedtheeveningbefore,withherclotheshuddledon,becauseshechosetoindulgeherselfinbedtillthelastmoment。
Domesticaffectioncanonlybekeptalivebytheseneglectedattentions;yetifmenandwomentookhalfasmuchpainstodresshabituallyneat,astheydotoornament,orrathertodisfiguretheirpersons,muchwouldbedonetowardstheattainmentofpurityofmind。Butwomenonlydresstogratifymenofgallantry;fortheloverisalwaysbestpleasedwiththesimplegarbthatsitsclosetotheshape。Thereisanimpertinenceinornamentsthatrebuffsaffection;becauselovealwaysclingsroundtheideaofhome。
Asasex,womenarehabituallyindolent;andeverythingtendstomakethemso。Idonotforgetthestartsofactivitywhichsensibilityproduces;butastheseflightsoffeelingonlyincreasetheevil,theyarenottobeconfoundedwiththeslow,orderlywalkofreason。Sogreat,inreality,istheirmentalandbodilyindolence,thattilltheirbodybestrengthenedandtheirunderstandingenlargedbyactiveexertions,thereislittlereasontoexpectthatmodestywilltakeplaceofbashfulness。Theymayfinditprudenttoassumeitssemblance;butthefairveilwillonlybewornongaladays。
Perhapsthereisnotavirtuethatmixessokindlywitheveryotherasmodesty。Itisthepalemoon—beamthatrendersmoreinterestingeveryvirtueitsoftens,givingmildgrandeurtothecontractedhorizon。Nothingcanbemorebeautifulthanthepoeticalfiction,whichmakesDianawithhersilvercrescent,thegoddessofchastity。Ihavesometimesthought,thatwanderingwithsedatestepinsomelonelyrecess,amodestdameofantiquitymusthavefeltaglowofconsciousdignity,when,aftercontemplatingthesoftshadowylandscape,shehasinvitedwithplacidfervourthemildreflectionofhersister\'sbeamstoturntoherchastebosom。
AChristianhasstillnoblermotivestoincitehertopreserveherchastityandacquiremodesty,forherbodyhasbeencalledtheTempleofthelivingGod;ofthatGodwhorequiresmorethanmodestyofmien。Hiseyesearcheththeheart;andletherremember,thatifshehopethtofindfavourinthesightofpurityitself,herchastitymustbefoundedonmodesty,andnotonworldlyprudence;orverilyagoodreputationwillbeheronlyreward;forthatawfulintercourse,thatsacredcommunion,whichvirtueestablishesbetweenmanandhisMaker,mustgiverisetothewishofbeingpureasheispure！
Aftertheforegoingremarks,itisalmostsuperfluoustoadd,thatIconsiderallthosefeminineairsofmaturity,whichsucceedbashfulness,towhichtruthissacrificed,tosecuretheheartofahusband,orrathertoforcehimtobestillaloverwhennaturewould,hadshenotbeeninterruptedinheroperations,havemadelovegiveplacetofriendship,asimmodest。Thetendernesswhichamanwillfeelforthemotherofhischildrenisanexcellentsubstitutefortheardourofunsatisfiedpassion;buttoprolongthatardouritisindelicate,nottosayimmodest,forwomentofeignanunnaturalcoldnessofconstitution。Womenaswellasmenoughttohavethecommonappetitesandpassionsoftheirnature,theyareonlybrutalwhenuncheckedbyreason:buttheobligationtocheckthemisthedutyofmankind,notasexualduty。Nature,intheserespects,maysafelybelefttoherself;letwomenonlyacquireknowledgeandhumanity,andlovewillteachthemmodesty。
Thereisnoneedoffalsehoods,disgustingasfutile,forstudiedrulesofbehaviouronlyimposeonshallowobservers;amanofsensesoonseesthrough,anddespisestheaffectation。
Thebehaviourofyoungpeople,toeachother,asmenandwomen,isthelastthingthatshouldbethoughtofineducation。Infact,behaviourinmostcircumstancesisnowsomuchthoughtof,thatsimplicityofcharacterisrarelytobeseen;yet,ifmenwereonlyanxioustocultivateeachvirtue,andletittakerootfirmlyinthemind,thegraceresultingfromit,itsnaturalexteriourmark,wouldsoonstripaffectationofitsflauntingplumes;
because,fallaciousasunstable,istheconductthatisnotfoundedupontruth！
（Footnote。Thebehaviourofmanynewlymarriedwomenhasoftendisgustedme。Theyseemanxiousnevertolettheirhusbandsforgettheprivilegeofmarriage,andtofindnopleasureinhissocietyunlessheisactingthelover。Short,indeed,mustbethereignoflove,whentheflameisthusconstantlyblownup,withoutitsreceivinganysolidfuel。）
Wouldye,Omysisters,reallypossessmodesty,yemustrememberthatthepossessionofvirtue,ofanydenomination,isincompatiblewithignoranceandvanity！yemustacquirethatsobernessofmind,whichtheexerciseofduties,andthepursuitofknowledge,aloneinspire,oryewillstillremaininadoubtfuldependentsituation,andonlybelovedwhilstyearefair！thedowncasteye,therosyblush,theretiringgrace,areallproperintheirseason;butmodesty,beingthechildofreason,cannotlongexistwiththesensibilitythatisnottemperedbyreflection。Besides,whenlove,eveninnocentlove,isthewholeemployofyourlives,yourheartswillbetoosofttoaffordmodestythattranquilretreat,whereshedelightstodwell,incloseunionwithhumanity。
CHAPTER8。
MORALITYUNDERMINEDBYSEXUALNOTIONSOFTHEIMPORTANCEOFAGOOD
REPUTATION。
Ithaslongsinceoccurredtome,thatadvicerespectingbehaviour,andallthevariousmodesofpreservingagoodreputation,whichhavebeensostrenuouslyinculcatedonthefemaleworld,werespeciouspoisons,thatincrustingmoralityeatawaythesubstance。
And,thatthismeasuringofshadowsproducedafalsecalculation,becausetheirlengthdependssomuchontheheightofthesun,andotheradventitiouscircumstances。
>Fromwhencearisestheeasyfallaciousbehaviourofacourtier？
>Fromthissituation,undoubtedly:forstandinginneedofdependents,heisobligedtolearntheartofdenyingwithoutgivingoffence,and,ofevasivelyfeedinghopewiththechameleon\'sfood;thusdoespolitenesssportwithtruth,andeatingawaythesincerityandhumanitynaturaltoman,producethefinegentleman。
Womeninthesamewayacquire,fromasupposednecessity,anequallyartificialmodeofbehaviour。Yettruthisnotwithimpunitytobesportedwith,forthepractiseddissembler,atlast,becomesthedupeofhisownarts,losesthatsagacitywhichhasbeenjustlytermedcommonsense;namely,aquickperceptionofcommontruths:whichareconstantlyreceivedassuchbytheunsophisticatedmind,thoughitmightnothavehadsufficientenergytodiscoverthemitself,whenobscuredbylocalprejudices。
Thegreaternumberofpeopletaketheiropinionsontrust,toavoidthetroubleofexercisingtheirownminds,andtheseindolentbeingsnaturallyadheretotheletter,ratherthanthespiritofalaw,divineorhuman。\"Women,\"sayssomeauthor,Icannotrecollectwho,\"mindnotwhatonlyheavensees。\"Why,indeedshouldthey？itistheeyeofmanthattheyhavebeentaughttodread——andiftheycanlulltheirArgustosleep,theyseldomthinkofheavenorthemselves,becausetheirreputationissafe;anditisreputationnotchastityandallitsfairtrain,thattheyareemployedtokeepfreefromspot,notasavirtue,buttopreservetheirstationintheworld。
Toprovethetruthofthisremark,Ineedonlyadverttotheintriguesofmarriedwomen,particularlyinhighlife,andincountrieswherewomenaresuitablymarried,accordingtotheirrespectiveranksbytheirparents。Ifaninnocentgirlbecomeapreytolove,sheisdegradedforever,thoughhermindwasnotpollutedbytheartswhichmarriedwomen,undertheconvenientcloakofmarriage,practise;norhassheviolatedanyduty——butthedutyofrespectingherself。Themarriedwoman,onthecontrary,breaksamostsacredengagement,andbecomesacruelmotherwhensheisafalseandfaithlesswife。Ifherhusbandhasstillanaffectionforher,theartswhichshemustpractisetodeceivehim,willrenderherthemostcontemptibleofhumanbeings;andatanyrate,thecontrivancesnecessarytopreserveappearances,willkeephermindinthatchildishorvicioustumultwhichdestroysallitsenergy。Besides,intime,likethosepeoplewhohabituallytakecordialstoraisetheirspirits,shewillwantanintriguetogivelifetoherthoughts,havinglostallrelishforpleasuresthatarenothighlyseasonedbyhopeorfear。
Sometimesmarriedwomenactstillmoreaudaciously;Iwillmentionaninstance。
Awomanofquality,notoriousforhergallantries,thoughasshestilllivedwithherhusband,nobodychosetoplaceherintheclasswheresheoughttohavebeenplaced,madeapointoftreatingwiththemostinsultingcontemptapoortimidcreature,abashedbyasenseofherformerweakness,whomaneighbouringgentlemanhadseducedandafterwardsmarried。Thiswomanhadactuallyconfoundedvirtuewithreputation;and,Idobelieve,valuedherselfontheproprietyofherbehaviourbeforemarriage,thoughwhenoncesettled,tothesatisfactionofherfamily,sheandherlordwereequallyfaithless——sothatthehalfaliveheirtoanimmenseestatecamefromheavenknowswhere！
Toviewthissubjectinanotherlight。
Ihaveknownanumberofwomenwho,iftheydidnotlovetheirhusbands,lovednobodyelse,givingthemselvesentirelyuptovanityanddissipation,neglectingeverydomesticduty;nay,evensquanderingawayallthemoneywhichshouldhavebeensavedfortheirhelplessyoungerchildren,yethaveplumedthemselvesontheirunsulliedreputation,asifthewholecompassoftheirdutyaswivesandmotherswasonlytopreserveit。Whilstotherindolentwomen,neglectingeverypersonalduty,havethoughtthattheydeservedtheirhusband\'saffection,becausetheyactedinthisrespectwithpropriety。
Weakmindsarealwaysfondofrestingintheceremonialsofduty,butmoralityoffersmuchsimplermotives;anditweretobewishedthatsuperficialmoralistshadsaidlessrespectingbehaviour,andoutwardobservances,forunlessvirtue,ofanykind,isbuiltonknowledge,itwillonlyproduceakindofinsipiddecency。Respectfortheopinionoftheworld,has,however,beentermedtheprincipaldutyofwomaninthemostexpresswords,forRousseaudeclares,\"thatreputationisnolessindispensablethanchastity。\"
\"Aman,\"addshe,\"secureinhisowngoodconduct,dependsonlyonhimself,andmaybravethepublicopinion;butawoman,inbehavingwell,performsbuthalfherduty;aswhatisthoughtofher,isasimportanttoheraswhatshereallyis。Itfollowshence,thatthesystemofawoman\'seducationshould,inthisrespect,bedirectlycontrarytothatofours。Opinionisthegraveofvirtueamongthemen;butitsthroneamongwomen。\"Itisstrictlylogicaltoinfer,thatthevirtuethatrestsonopinionismerelyworldly,andthatitisthevirtueofabeingtowhomreasonhasbeendenied。But,evenwithrespecttotheopinionoftheworld,Iamconvinced,thatthisclassofreasonersaremistaken。
Thisregardforreputation,independentofitsbeingoneofthenaturalrewardsofvirtue,however,tookitsrisefromacausethatIhavealreadydeploredasthegrandsourceoffemaledepravity,theimpossibilityofregainingrespectabilitybyareturntovirtue,thoughmenpreservetheirsduringtheindulgenceofvice。
Itwasnaturalforwomenthentoendeavourtopreservewhatoncelost——waslostforever,tillthiscareswallowingupeveryothercare,reputationforchastity,becametheonethingneedfultothesex。Butvainisthescrupulosityofignorance,forneitherreligionnorvirtue,whentheyresideintheheart,requiresuchapuerileattentiontomereceremonies,becausethebehaviourmust,uponthewholebeproper,whenthemotiveispure。
TosupportmyopinionIcanproduceveryrespectableauthority;andtheauthorityofacoolreasoneroughttohaveweighttoenforceconsideration,thoughnottoestablishasentiment。Speakingofthegenerallawsofmorality,Dr。Smithobserves——\"Thatbysomeveryextraordinaryandunluckycircumstance,agoodmanmaycometobesuspectedofacrimeofwhichhewasaltogetherincapable,anduponthataccountbemostunjustlyexposedfortheremainingpartofhislifetothehorrorandaversionofmankind。Byanaccidentofthiskindhemaybesaidtolosehisall,notwithstandinghisintegrityandjustice,inthesamemannerasacautiousman,notwithstandinghisutmostcircumspection,mayberuinedbyanearthquakeoraninundation。Accidentsofthefirstkind,however,areperhapsstillmorerare,andstillmorecontrarytothecommoncourseofthingsthanthoseofthesecond;anditstillremainstrue,thatthepracticeoftruth,justiceandhumanity,isacertainandalmostinfalliblemethodofacquiringwhatthosevirtueschieflyaimat,theconfidenceandloveofthosewelivewith。Apersonmaybeeasilymisrepresentedwithregardtoaparticularaction;butitisscarcelypossiblethatheshouldbesowithregardtothegeneraltenorofhisconduct。Aninnocentmanmaybebelievedtohavedonewrong:this,however,willrarelyhappen。Onthecontrary,theestablishedopinionoftheinnocenceofhismannerswilloftenleadustoabsolvehimwherehehasreallybeeninthefault,notwithstandingverystrongpresumptions。\"
Iperfectlycoincideinopinionwiththiswriter,forIverilybelieve,thatfewofeithersexwereeverdespisedforcertainviceswithoutdeservingtobedespised。Ispeaknotofthecalumnyofthemoment,whichhangsoveracharacter,likeoneofthedensefogsofNovemberoverthismetropolis,tillitgraduallysubsidesbeforethecommonlightofday,Ionlycontend,thatthedailyconductofthemajorityprevailstostamptheircharacterwiththeimpressionoftruth。Quietlydoestheclearlight,shiningdayafterday,refutetheignorantsurmise,ormalicioustale,whichhasthrowndirtonapurecharacter。Afalselightdistorted,forashorttime,itsshadow——reputation;butitseldomfailstobecomejustwhenthecloudisdispersedthatproducedthemistakeinvision。
Manypeople,undoubtedlyinseveralrespects,obtainabetterreputationthan,strictlyspeaking,theydeserve,forunremittingindustrywillmostlyreachitsgoalinallraces。Theywhoonlystriveforthispaltryprize,likethePharisees,whoprayedatthecornersofstreets,tobeseenofmen,verilyobtaintherewardtheyseek;fortheheartofmancannotbereadbyman！Stillthefairfamethatisnaturallyreflectedbygoodactions,whenthemanisonlyemployedtodirecthisstepsaright,regardlessofthelookers—on,isingeneral,notonlymoretruebutmoresure。
Thereare,itistrue,trialswhenthegoodmanmustappealtoGodfromtheinjusticeofman;andamidstthewhiningcandourorhissingofenvy,erectapavilioninhisownmindtoretireto,tilltherumourbeoverpast;nay,thedartsofundeservedcensuremaypierceaninnocenttenderbosomthroughwithmanysorrows;buttheseareallexceptionstogeneralrules。Anditisaccordingtothesecommonlawsthathumanbehaviouroughttoberegulated。Theeccentricorbitofthecometneverinfluencesastronomicalcalculationsrespectingtheinvariableorderestablishedinthemotionoftheprincipalbodiesofthesolarsystem。
Iwillthenventuretoaffirm,thatafteramanhasarrivedatmaturity,thegeneraloutlineofhischaracterintheworldisjust,allowingforthebeforementionedexceptionstotherule。I
donotsay,thataprudent,worldly—wiseman,withonlynegativevirtuesandqualities,maynotsometimesobtainasmootherreputationthanawiserorabetterman。Sofarfromit,thatIamapttoconcludefromexperience,thatwherethevirtueoftwopeopleisnearlyequal,themostnegativecharacterwillbelikedbestbytheworldatlarge,whilsttheothermayhavemorefriendsinprivatelife。Butthehillsanddales,cloudsandsunshine,conspicuousinthevirtuesofgreatmen,setoffeachother;andthoughtheyaffordenviousweaknessafairermarktoshootat,therealcharacterwillstillworkitswaytolight,thoughbespatteredbyweakaffection,oringeniousmalice。*
（*Footnote。Ialludetovariousbiographicalwritings,butparticularlytoBoswell\'sLifeofJohnson。）
Withrespecttothatanxietytopreserveareputationhardlyearned,whichleadssagaciouspeopletoanalyzeit,Ishallnotmaketheobviouscomment;butIamafraidthatmoralityisveryinsidiouslyundermined,inthefemaleworld,bytheattentionbeingturnedtotheshowinsteadofthesubstance。Asimplethingisthusmadestrangelycomplicated;nay,sometimesvirtueanditsshadowaresetatvariance。Weshouldnever,perhaps,haveheardofLucretia,hadshediedtopreserveherchastityinsteadofherreputation。Ifwereallydeserveourowngoodopinion,weshallcommonlyberespectedintheworld;butifwepantafterhigherimprovementandhigherattainments,itisnotsufficienttoviewourselvesaswesupposethatweareviewedbyothers,thoughthishasbeeningeniouslyarguedasthefoundationofourmoralsentiments。（Smith。）Becauseeachbystandermayhavehisownprejudices,besidestheprejudicesofhisageorcountry。Weshouldratherendeavourtoviewourselves,aswesupposethatBeingviewsus,whoseetheachthoughtripenintoaction,andwhosejudgmentneverswervesfromtheeternalruleofright。Righteousareallhisjudgments——just,asmerciful！
ThehumblemindthatseekethtofindfavourinHissight,andcalmlyexaminesitsconductwhenonlyHispresenceisfelt,willseldomformaveryerroneousopinionofitsownvirtues。Duringthestillhourofself—collection,theangrybrowofoffendedjusticewillbefearfullydeprecated,orthetiewhichdrawsmantotheDeitywillberecognizedinthepuresentimentofreverentialadoration,thatswellstheheartwithoutexcitinganytumultuousemotions。Inthesesolemnmomentsmandiscoversthegermofthosevices,whichliketheJavatreeshedapestiferousvapouraround——deathisintheshade！andheperceivesthemwithoutabhorrence,becausehefeelshimselfdrawnbysomecordoflovetoallhisfellowcreatures,forwhosefolliesheisanxioustofindeveryextenuationintheirnature——inhimself。IfI,hemaythusargue,whoexercisemyownmind,andhavebeenrefinedbytribulation,findtheserpent\'segginsomefoldofmyheart,andcrushitwithdifficulty,shallnotIpitythosewhoarestampedwithlessvigour,orwhohaveheedlesslynurturedtheinsidiousreptiletillitpoisonedthevitalstreamitsucked？CanI,consciousofmysecretsins,throwoffmyfellowcreatures,andcalmlyseethemdropintothechasmofperdition,thatyawnstoreceivethem。No！no！Theagonizedheartwillcrywithsuffocatingimpatience——Itooamaman！andhavevices,hid,perhaps,fromhumaneye,thatbendmetothedustbeforeGod,andloudlytellmewhenallismute,thatweareformedofthesameearth,andbreathethesameelement。Humanitythusrisesnaturallyoutofhumility,andtwiststhecordsoflovethatinvariousconvolutionsentangletheheart。
