a vindication of the rights of woman-第15节
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I do not wish to leave the line of mediocrity； whose constitution； strengthened by exercise； has allowed her body to acquire its full vigour； her mind； at the same time； gradually expanding itself to comprehend the moral duties of life； and in what human virtue and dignity consist。 Formed thus by the relative duties of her station； she marries from affection； without losing sight of prudence； and looking beyond matrimonial felicity； she secures her husband's respect before it is necessary to exert mean arts to please him； and feed a dying flame； which nature doomed to expire when the object became familiar； when friendship and forbearance take place of a more ardent affection。 This is the natural death of love； and domestic peace is not destroyed by struggles to prevent its extinction。 I also suppose the husband to be virtuous； or she is still more in want of independent principles。 Fate； however； breaks this tie。 She is left a widow； perhaps； without a sufficient provision： but she is not desolate！ The pang of nature is felt； but after time has softened sorrow into melancholy resignation； her heart turns to her children with redoubled fondness； and anxious to provide for them； affection gives a sacred heroic cast to her maternal duties。 She thinks that not only the eye sees her virtuous efforts； from whom all her comfort now must flow； and whose approbation is life； but her imagination； a little abstracted and exalted by grief； dwells on the fond hope； that the eyes which her trembling hand closed； may still see how she subdues every wayward passion to fulfil the double duty of being the father as well as the mother of her children。 Raised to heroism by misfortunes； she represses the first faint dawning of a natural inclination； before it ripens into love； and in the bloom of life forgets her sexforgets the pleasure of an awakening passion； which might again have been inspired and returned。 She no longer thinks of pleasing； and conscious dignity prevents her from priding herself on account of the praise which her conduct demands。 Her children have her love； and her brightest hopes are beyond the grave； where her imagination often strays。 I think I see her surrounded by her children； reaping the reward of her care。 The intelligent eye meets her's； whilst health and innocence smile on their chubby cheeks； and as they grow up the cares of life are lessened by their grateful attention。 She lives to see the virtues which she endeavoured to plant on principles； fixed into habits； to see her children attain a strength of character sufficient to enable them to endure adversity without forgetting their mother's example。 The task of life thus fulfilled； she calmly waits for the sleep of death； and rising from the grave may say； behold； thou gavest me a talent； and here are five talents。 I wish to sum up what I have said in a few words； for I here throw down my gauntlet； and deny the existence of sexual virtues； not excepting modesty。 For man and woman； truth； if I understand the meaning of the word； must be the same； yet the fanciful female character； so prettily drawn by poets and novelists； demanding the sacrifice of truth and sincerity； virtue becomes a relative idea； having no other foundation than utility； and of that utility men pretend arbitrarily to judge； shaping it to their own convenience。 Women； I allow； may have different duties to fulfil； but they are HUMAN duties； and the principles that should regulate the discharge of them； I sturdily maintain； must be the same。 To become respectable； the exercise of their understanding is necessary； there is no other foundation for independence of character； I mean explicitly to say； that they must only bow to the authority of reason； instead of being the MODEST slaves of opinion。 In the superior ranks of life how seldom do we meet with a man of superior abilities； or even common acquirements？ The reason appears to me clear； the state they are born in was an unnatural one。 The human character has ever been formed by the employments the individual； or class pursues； and if the faculties are not sharpened by necessity； they must remain obtuse。 The argument may fairly be extended to women； for seldom occupied by serious business； the pursuit of pleasure gives that insignificancy to their character which renders the society of the GREAT so insipid。 The same want of firmness； produced by a similar cause； forces them both to fly from themselves to noisy pleasures； and artificial passions； till vanity takes place of every social affection； and the characteristics of humanity can scarcely be discerned。 Such are the blessings of civil governments； as they are at present organized； that wealth and female softness equally tend to debase mankind； and are produced by the same cause； but allowing women to be rational creatures they should be incited to acquire virtues which they may call their own； for how can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its OWN exertions？
CHAPTER 4。 OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF DEGRADATION TO WHICH WOMAN IS REDUCED BY VARIOUS CAUSES。 That woman is naturally weak； or degraded by a concurrence of circumstances is； I think； clear。 But this position I shall simply contrast with a conclusion； which I have frequently heard fall from sensible men in favour of an aristocracy： that the mass of mankind cannot be any thing； or the obsequious slaves； who patiently allow themselves to be penned up； would feel their own consequence； and spurn their chains。 Men； they further observe； submit every where to oppression； when they have only to lift up their heads to throw off the yoke； yet； instead of asserting their birthright； they quietly lick the dust； and say； let us eat and drink； for to…morrow we die。 Women； I argue from analogy； are degraded by the same propensity to enjoy the present moment； and； at last； despise the freedom which they have not sufficient virtue to struggle to attain。 But I must be more explicit。 With respect to the culture of the heart； it is unanimously allowed that sex is out of the question； but the line of subordination in the mental powers is never to be passed over。 Only 〃absolute in loveliness；〃 the portion of rationality granted to woman is； indeed； very scanty； for； denying her genius and judgment； it is scarcely possible to divine what remains to characterize intellect。 The stamina of immortality； if I may be allowed the phrase； is the perfectibility of human reason； for； was man created perfect； or did a flood of knowledge break in upon him； when he arrived at maturity； that precluded error； I should doubt whether his existence would be continued after the dissolution of the body。 But in the present state of things； every difficulty in morals； that escapes from human discussion； and equally baffles the investigation of profound thinking； and the lightning glance of genius； is an argument on which I build my belief of the immortality of the soul。 Reason is； consequentially； the simple power of improvement； or； more properly speaking； of discerning truth。 Every individual is in this respect a world in itself。 More or less may be conspicuous in one being than other； but the nature of reason must be the same in all； if it be an emanation of divinity； the tie that connects the creature with the Creator； for； can that soul be stamped with the heavenly image； that is not perfected by the exercise of its own reason？ Yet outwardly ornamented with elaborate care； and so adorned to delight man； 〃that with honour he may love；〃 （Vide Milton） the soul of woman is not allowed to have this distinction； and man； ever placed between her and reason； she is always represented as only created to see through a gross medium； and to take things on trust。 But； dismissing these fanciful theories； and considering woman as a whole； let it be what it will； instead of a part of man； the inquiry is； whether she has reason or not。 If she has； which； for a moment； I will take for granted； she was not created merely to be the solace of man； and the sexual should not destroy the human character。 Into this error men have； probably； been led by viewing education in a false light； not considering it as the first step to form a being advancing gradually toward perfection； （This word is not strictly just； but I cannot find a better。） but only as a preparation for life。 On this sensual error； for I must call it so； has the false system of female manners been reared； which robs the whole sex of its dignity； and classes the brown and fair with the smiling flowers that only adorn the land。 This has ever been the language of men； and the fear of departing from a supposed sexual character； has made even women of superior sense adopt the same sentiments。 Thus understanding； strictly speaking； has been denied to woman； and instinct； sublimated into wit and cunning； for the purposes of life； has been substituted in its stead。 The power of generalizing ideas； of drawing comprehensive conclusions from individual observations； is the only acquirement for an immortal being； that really deserves the name of knowledge。 Merely to observe； without endeavouring to account for any thing； may； （in a very incomplete manner） serve as the common sense of life； but
