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a vindication of the rights of woman-第36节

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 man; as man is the foundation of every noble sentiment。  How much more modest is the libertine who obeys the call of appetite or fancy; than the lewd joker who sets the table in a roar。 This is one of the many instances in which the sexual distinction respecting modesty has proved fatal to virtue and happiness。  It is; however; carried still further; and woman; weak woman! made by her education the slave of sensibility; is required; on the most trying occasions; to resist that sensibility。  〃Can any thing;〃 says Knox; be more absurd than keeping women in a state of ignorance; and yet so vehemently to insist on their resisting temptation?  Thus when virtue or honour make it proper to check a passion; the burden is thrown on the weaker shoulders; contrary to reason and true modesty; which; at least; should render the self…denial mutual; to say nothing of the generosity of bravery; supposed to be a manly virtue。 In the same strain runs Rousseau's and Dr。 Gregory's advice respecting modesty; strangely miscalled! for they both desire a wife to leave it in doubt; whether sensibility or weakness led her to her husband's arms。  The woman is immodest who can let the shadow of such a doubt remain on her husband's mind a moment。 But to state the subject in a different light。  The want of modesty; which I principally deplore as subversive of morality; arises from the state of warfare so strenuously supported by voluptuous men as the very essence of modesty; though; in fact; its bane; because it is a refinement on sensual desire; that men fall into who have not sufficient virtue to relish the innocent pleasures of love。  A man of delicacy carries his notions of modesty still further; for neither weakness nor sensibility will gratify himhe looks for affection。 Again; men boast of their triumphs over women; what do they boast of? Truly the creature of sensibility was surprised by her sensibility into follyinto vice;* and the dreadful reckoning falls heavily on her own weak head; when reason wakes。  For where art thou to find comfort; forlorn and disconsolate one?  He who ought to have directed thy reason; and supported thy weakness; has betrayed thee!  In a dream of passion thou consentedst to wander through flowery lawns; and heedlessly stepping over the precipice to which thy guide; instead of guarding; lured thee; thou startest from thy dream only to face a sneering; frowning world; and to find thyself alone in a waste; for he that triumphed in thy weakness is now pursuing new conquests; but for theethere is no redemption on this side the grave!  And what resource hast thou in an enervated mind to raise a sinking heart? (*Footnote。  The poor moth fluttering round a candle; burns its wings。) But; if the sexes be really to live in a state of warfare; if nature has pointed it out; let men act nobly; or let pride whisper to them; that the victory is mean when they merely vanquish sensibility。  The real conquest is that over affection not taken by surprisewhen; like Heloisa; a woman gives up all the world; deliberately; for love。  I do not now consider the wisdom or virtue of such a sacrifice; I only contend that it was a sacrifice to affection; and not merely to sensibility; though she had her share。 And I must be allowed to call her a modest woman; before I dismiss this part of the subject; by saying; that till men are more chaste; women will be immodest。  Where; indeed; could modest women find husbands from whom they would not continually turn with disgust? Modesty must be equally cultivated by both sexes; or it will ever remain a sickly hot…house plant; whilst the affectation of it; the fig leaf borrowed by wantonness; may give a zest to voluptuous enjoyments。) Men will probably still insist that woman ought to have more modesty than man; but it is not dispassionate reasoners who will most earnestly oppose my opinion。  No; they are the men of fancy; the favourites of the sex; who outwardly respect; and inwardly despise the weak creatures whom they thus sport with。  They cannot submit to resign the highest sensual gratification; nor even to relish the epicurism of virtueself…denial。 To take another view of the subject; confining my remarks to women。 The ridiculous falsities which are told to children; from mistaken notions of modesty; tend very early to inflame their imaginations and set their little minds to work; respecting subjects; which nature never intended they should think of; till the body arrived at some degree of maturity; then the passions naturally begin to take place of the senses; as instruments to unfold the understanding; and form the moral character。 In nurseries; and boarding schools; I fear; girls are first spoiled; particularly in the latter。  A number of girls sleep in the same room; and wash together。  And; though I should be sorry to contaminate an innocent creature's mind by instilling false delicacy; or those indecent prudish notions; which early cautions respecting the other sex naturally engender; I should be very anxious to prevent their acquiring indelicate; or immodest habits; and as many girls have learned very indelicate tricks; from ignorant servants; the mixing them thus indiscriminately together; is very improper。 To say the truth; women are; in general; too familiar with each other; which leads to that gross degree of familiarity that so frequently renders the marriage state unhappy。  Why in the name of decency are sisters; female intimates; or ladies and their waiting women; to be so grossly familiar as to forget the respect which one human creature owes to another?  That squeamish delicacy which shrinks from the most disgusting offices when affection or humanity lead us to watch at a sick pillow; is despicable。  But; why women in health should be more familiar with each other than men are; when they boast of their superiour delicacy; is a solecism in manners which I could never solve。 In order to preserve health and beauty; I should earnestly recommend frequent ablutions; to dignify my advice that it may not offend the fastidious ear; and; by example; girls ought to be taught to wash and dress alone; without any distinction of rank; and if custom should make them require some little assistance; let them not require it till that part of the business is over which ought never to be done before a fellow…creature; because it is an insult to the majesty of human nature。  Not on the score of modesty; but decency; for the care which some modest women take; making at the same time a display of that care; not to let their legs be seen; is as childish as immodest。* (*Footnote。  I remember to have met with a sentence; in a book of education that made me smile。  〃It would be needless to caution you against putting your hand; by chance; under your neck…handkerchief; for a modest woman never did so!〃) I could proceed still further; till I animadverted on some still more indelicate customs; which men never fall into。  Secrets are toldwhere silence ought to reign; and that regard to cleanliness; which some religious sects have; perhaps; carried too far; especially the Essenes; amongst the Jews; by making that an insult to God which is only an insult to humanity; is violated in a brutal manner。  How can DELICATE women obtrude on notice that part of the animal economy; which is so very disgusting?  And is it not very rational to conclude; that the women who have not been taught to respect the human nature of their own sex; in these particulars; will not long respect the mere difference of sex; in their husbands?  After their maidenish bashfulness is once lost; I; in fact; have generally observed; that women fall into old habits; and treat their husbands as they did their sisters or female acquaintance。 Besides; women from necessity; because their minds are not cultivated; have recourse very often; to what I familiarly term bodily wit; and their intimacies are of the same kind。  In short; with respect to both mind and body; they are too intimate。  That decent personal reserve; which is the foundation of dignity of character; must be kept up between women; or their minds will never gain strength or modesty。 On this account also; I object to many females being shut up together in nurseries; schools; or convents。  I cannot recollect without indignation; the jokes and hoiden tricks; which knots of young women indulged themselves in; when in my youth accident threw me; an awkward rustic; in their way。  They were almost on a par with the double meanings; which shake the convivial table when the glass has circulated freely。  But it is vain to attempt to keep the heart pure; unless the head is furnished with ideas; and set to work to compare them; in order; to acquire judgment; by generalizing simple ones; and modesty by making the understanding damp the sensibility。 It may be thought that I lay too great a stress on personal reserve; but it is ever the hand…maid of modesty。  So that were I to name the graces that ought to adorn beauty; I should instantly exclaim; cleanliness; neatness; and personal reserve。  It is obvious; I suppose; that the reserve I mean; has nothing sexual in it; and that I think it EQUALLY necessary in both sexes。  So necessary indeed; is that reserve and cleanliness which indolent women too often neglect; that I wil

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