a vindication of the rights of woman-第19节
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ons are spread abroad； how can we expect men to be proud of virtue？ And； till they are； women will govern them by the most direct means； neglecting their dull domestic duties； to catch the pleasure that is on the wing of time。 〃The power of women；〃 says some author； 〃is her sensibility；〃 and men not aware of the consequence； do all they can to make this power swallow up every other。 Those who constantly employ their sensibility will have most： for example； poets； painters； and composers。 Yet； when the sensibility is thus increased at the expense of reason； and even the imagination； why do philosophical men complain of their fickleness？ The sexual attention of man particularly acts on female sensibility； and this sympathy has been exercised from their youth up。 A husband cannot long pay those attentions with the passion necessary to excite lively emotions； and the heart； accustomed to lively emotions； turns to a new lover； or pines in secret； the prey of virtue or prudence。 I mean when the heart has really been rendered susceptible； and the taste formed； for I am apt to conclude； from what I have seen in fashionable life； that vanity is oftener fostered than sensibility by the mode of education； and the intercourse between the sexes； which I have reprobated； and that coquetry more frequently proceeds from vanity than from that inconstancy； which overstrained sensibility naturally produces。 Another argument that has had a great weight with me； must； I think； have some force with every considerate benevolent heart。 Girls； who have been thus weakly educated； are often cruelly left by their parents without any provision； and； of course； are dependent on； not only the reason； but the bounty of their brothers。 These brothers are； to view the fairest side of the question； good sort of men； and give as a favour； what children of the same parents had an equal right to。 In this equivocal humiliating situation； a docile female may remain some time； with a tolerable degree of comfort。 But； when the brother marries； a probable circumstance； from being considered as the mistress of the family； she is viewed with averted looks as an intruder； an unnecessary burden on the benevolence of the master of the house； and his new partner。 Who can recount the misery； which many unfortunate beings； whose minds and bodies are equally weak； suffer in such situationsunable to work and ashamed to beg？ The wife； a cold…hearted； narrow…minded woman； and this is not an unfair supposition； for the present mode of education does not tend to enlarge the heart any more than the understanding； is jealous of the little kindness which her husband shows to his relations； and her sensibility not rising to humanity； she is displeased at seeing the property of HER children lavished on an helpless sister。 These are matters of fact； which have come under my eye again and again。 The consequence is obvious； the wife has recourse to cunning to undermine the habitual affection； which she is afraid openly to oppose； and neither tears nor caresses are spared till the spy is worked out of her home； and thrown on the world； unprepared for its difficulties； or sent； as a great effort of generosity； or from some regard to propriety； with a small stipend； and an uncultivated mind into joyless solitude。 These two women may be much upon a par； with respect to reason and humanity； and changing situations； might have acted just the same selfish part； but had they been differently educated； the case would also have been very different。 The wife would not have had that sensibility； of which self is the centre； and reason might have taught her not to expect； and not even to be flattered by the affection of her husband； if it led him to violate prior duties。 She would wish not to love him； merely because he loved her； but on account of his virtues； and the sister might have been able to struggle for herself； instead of eating the bitter bread of dependence。 I am； indeed； persuaded that the heart； as well as the understanding； is opened by cultivation； and by； which may not appear so clear； strengthening the organs； I am not now talking of momentary flashes of sensibility； but of affections。 And； perhaps； in the education of both sexes； the most difficult task is so to adjust instruction as not to narrow the understanding； whilst the heart is warmed by the generous juices of spring； just raised by the electric fermentation of the season； nor to dry up the feelings by employing the mind in investigations remote from life。 With respect to women； when they receive a careful education； they are either made fine ladies； brimful of sensibility； and teeming with capricious fancies； or mere notable women。 The latter are often friendly； honest creatures； and have a shrewd kind of good sense joined with worldly prudence； that often render them more useful members of society than the fine sentimental lady； though they possess neither greatness of mind nor taste。 The intellectual world is shut against them； take them out of their family or neighbourhood； and they stand still； the mind finding no employment； for literature affords a fund of amusement； which they have never sought to relish； but frequently to despise。 The sentiments and taste of more cultivated minds appear ridiculous； even in those whom chance and family connexions have led them to love； but in mere acquaintance they think it all affectation。 A man of sense can only love such a woman on account of her sex； and respect her； because she is a trusty servant。 He lets her； to preserve his own peace； scold the servants； and go to church in clothes made of the very best materials。 A man of her own size of understanding would； probably； not agree so well with her； for he might wish to encroach on her prerogative； and manage some domestic concerns himself。 Yet women； whose minds are not enlarged by cultivation； or the natural selfishness of sensibility expanded by reflection； are very unfit to manage a family； for by an undue stretch of power； they are always tyrannizing to support a superiority that only rests on the arbitrary distinction of fortune。 The evil is sometimes more serious； and domestics are deprived of innocent indulgences； and made to work beyond their strength； in order to enable the notable woman to keep a better table； and outshine her neighbours in finery and parade。 If she attend to her children； it is； in general； to dress them in a costly mannerand； whether； this attention arises from vanity or fondness； it is equally pernicious。 Besides； how many women of this description pass their days； or； at least their evenings； discontentedly。 Their husbands acknowledge that they are good managers； and chaste wives； but leave home to seek for more agreeable； may I be allowed to use a significant French word； piquant society； and the patient drudge； who fulfils her task； like a blind horse in a mill； is defrauded of her just reward； for the wages due to her are the caresses of her husband； and women who have so few resources in themselves； do not very patiently bear this privation of a natural right。 A fine lady； on the contrary； has been taught to look down with contempt on the vulgar employments of life； though she has only been incited to acquire accomplishments that rise a degree above sense； for even corporeal accomplishments cannot be acquired with any degree of precision； unless the understanding has been strengthened by exercise。 Without a foundation of principles taste is superficial； and grace must arise from something deeper than imitation。 The imagination； however； is heated； and the feelings rendered fastidious； if not sophisticated； or； a counterpoise of judgment is not acquired； when the heart still remains artless； though it becomes too tender。 These women are often amiable； and their hearts are really more sensible to general benevolence； more alive to the sentiments that civilize life； than the square elbowed family drudge； but； wanting a due proportion of reflection and self…government； they only inspire love； and are the mistresses of their husbands； whilst they have any hold on their affections； and the platonic friends of his male acquaintance。 These are the fair defects in nature； the women who appear to be created not to enjoy the fellowship of man； but to save him from sinking into absolute brutality； by rubbing off the rough angles of his character； and by playful dalliance to give some dignity to the appetite that draws him to them。 Gracious Creator of the whole human race！ hast thou created such a being as woman； who can trace thy wisdom in thy works； and feel that thou alone art by thy nature； exalted above herfor no better purpose？ Can she believe that she was only made to submit to man her equal； a being； who； like her； was sent into the world to acquire virtue？ Can she consent to be occupied merely to please him； merely to adorn the earth； when her soul is capable of rising to thee？ And can she rest supinely dependent on man for reason； when she ought to mount with him the arduous steeps of knowledge？ Yet； if love be the supreme good； let women be only educated to inspire it； and let every charm be polished to intoxicate the senses； but； if they are moral beings； let them have a chance to
