a vindication of the rights of woman-第14节
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that species of humility which; after investigating nature; stops at the author。 The high and lofty One; who inhabiteth eternity; doubtless possesses many attributes of which we can form no conception; but reason tells me that they cannot clash with those I adore; and I am compelled to listen to her voice。 It seems natural for man to search for excellence; and either to trace it in the object that he worships; or blindly to invest it with perfection as a garment。 But what good effect can the latter mode of worship have on the moral conduct of a rational being? He bends to power; he adores a dark cloud; which may open a bright prospect to him; or burst in angry; lawless fury on his devoted head; he knows not why。 And; supposing that the Deity acts from the vague impulse of an undirected will; man must also follow his own; or act according to rules; deduced from principles which he disclaims as irreverent。 Into this dilemma have both enthusiasts and cooler thinkers fallen; when they laboured to free men from the wholesome restraints which a just conception of the character of God imposes。 It is not impious thus to scan the attributes of the Almighty: in fact; who can avoid it that exercises his faculties? for to love God as the fountain of wisdom; goodness; and power; appears to be the only worship useful to a being who wishes to acquire either virtue or knowledge。 A blind unsettled affection may; like human passions; occupy the mind and warm the heart; whilst; to do justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with our God; is forgotten。 I shall pursue this subject still further; when I consider religion in a light opposite to that recommended by Dr。 Gregory; who treats it as a matter of sentiment or taste。 To return from this apparent digression。 It were to be wished; that women would cherish an affection for their husbands; founded on the same principle that devotion ought to rest upon。 No other firm base is there under heaven; for let them beware of the fallacious light of sentiment; too often used as a softer phrase for sensuality。 It follows then; I think; that from their infancy women should either be shut up like eastern princes; or educated in such a manner as to be able to think and act for themselves。 Why do men halt between two opinions; and expect impossibilities? Why do they expect virtue from a slave; or from a being whom the constitution of civil society has rendered weak; if not vicious? Still I know that it will require a considerable length of time to eradicate the firmly rooted prejudices which sensualists have planted; it will also require some time to convince women that they act contrary to their real interest on an enlarged scale; when they cherish or affect weakness under the name of delicacy; and to convince the world that the poisoned source of female vices and follies; if it be necessary; in compliance with custom; to use synonymous terms in a lax sense; has been the sensual homage paid to beauty: to beauty of features; for it has been shrewdly observed by a German writer; that a pretty woman; as an object of desire; is generally allowed to be so by men of all descriptions; whilst a fine woman; who inspires more sublime emotions by displaying intellectual beauty; may be overlooked or observed with indifference; by those men who find their happiness in the gratification of their appetites。 I foresee an obvious retort; whilst man remains such an imperfect being as he appears hitherto to have been; he will; more or less; be the slave of his appetites; and those women obtaining most power who gratify a predominant one; the sex is degraded by a physical; if not by a moral necessity。 This objection has; I grant; some force; but while such a sublime precept exists; as; 〃be pure as your heavenly father is pure;〃 it would seem that the virtues of man are not limited by the Being who alone could limit them; and that he may press forward without considering whether he steps out of his sphere by indulging such a noble ambition。 To the wild billows it has been said; 〃thus far shalt thou go; and no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed。〃 Vainly then do they beat and foam; restrained by the power that confines the struggling planets within their orbits; matter yields to the great governing Spirit。 But an immortal soul; not restrained by mechanical laws; and struggling to free itself from the shackles of matter; contributes to; instead of disturbing; the order of creation; when; co…operating with the Father of spirits; it tries to govern itself by the invariable rule that; in a degree; before which our imagination faints; the universe is regulated。 Besides; if women are educated for dependence; that is; to act according to the will of another fallible being; and submit; right or wrong; to power; where are we to stop? Are they to be considered as viceregents; allowed to reign over a small domain; and answerable for their conduct to a higher tribunal; liable to error? It will not be difficult to prove; that such delegates will act like men subjected by fear; and make their children and servants endure their tyrannical oppression。 As they submit without reason; they will; having no fixed rules to square their conduct by; be kind or cruel; just as the whim of the moment directs; and we ought not to wonder if sometimes; galled by their heavy yoke; they take a malignant pleasure in resting it on weaker shoulders。 But; supposing a woman; trained up to obedience; be married to a sensible man; who directs her judgment; without making her feel the servility of her subjection; to act with as much propriety by this reflected light as can be expected when reason is taken at second hand; yet she cannot ensure the life of her protector; he may die and leave her with a large family。 A double duty devolves on her; to educate them in the character of both father and mother; to form their principles and secure their property。 But; alas! she has never thought; much less acted for herself。 She has only learned to please men; to depend gracefully on them; yet; encumbered with children; how is she to obtain another protector; a husband to supply the place of reason? A rational man; for we are not treading on romantic ground; though he may think her a pleasing docile creature; will not choose to marry a FAMILY for love; when the world contains many more pretty creatures。 What is then to become of her? She either falls an easy prey to some mean fortune hunter; who defrauds her children of their paternal inheritance; and renders her miserable; or becomes the victim of discontent and blind indulgence。 Unable to educate her sons; or impress them with respect; for it is not a play on words to assert; that people are never respected; though filling an important station; who are not respectable; she pines under the anguish of unavailing impotent regret。 The serpent's tooth enters into her very soul; and the vices of licentious youth bring her with sorrow; if not with poverty also; to the grave。 This is not an overcharged picture; on the contrary; it is a very possible case; and something similar must have fallen under every attentive eye。 I have; however; taken it for granted; that she was well disposed; though experience shows; that the blind may as easily be led into a ditch as along the beaten road。 But supposing; no very improbable conjecture; that a being only taught to please must still find her happiness in pleasing; what an example of folly; not to say vice; will she be to her innocent daughters! The mother will be lost in the coquette; and; instead of making friends of her daughters; view them with eyes askance; for they are rivalsrivals more cruel than any other; because they invite a comparison; and drive her from the throne of beauty; who has never thought of a seat on the bench of reason。 It does not require a lively pencil; or the discriminating outline of a caricature; to sketch the domestic miseries and petty vices which such a mistress of a family diffuses。 Still she only acts as a woman ought to act; brought up according to Rousseau's system。 She can never be reproached for being masculine; or turning out of her sphere; nay; she may observe another of his grand rules; and; cautiously preserving her reputation free from spot; be reckoned a good kind of woman。 Yet in what respect can she be termed good? She abstains; it is true; without any great struggle; from committing gross crimes; but how does she fulfil her duties? Duties!in truth she has enough to think of to adorn her body and nurse a weak constitution。 With respect to religion; she never presumed to judge for herself; but conformed; as a dependent creature should; to the ceremonies of the church which she was brought up in; piously believing; that wiser heads than her own have settled that business: and not to doubt is her point of perfection。 She therefore pays her tythe of mint and cummin; and thanks her God that she is not as other women are。 These are the blessed effects of a good education! these the virtues of man's helpmate。 I must relieve myself by drawing a different picture。 Let fancy now present a woman with a tolerable understanding; for I do not wish to leave the line of mediocrity; whose constitution; strengthened by exercise; has all