a vindication of the rights of woman-第42节
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ly wish to see the bayonet converted into a pruning hook。 I only recreated an imagination； fatigued by contemplating the vices and follies which all proceed from a feculent stream of wealth that has muddied the pure rills of natural affection； by supposing that society will some time or other be so constituted； that man must necessarily fulfil the duties of a citizen； or be despised； and that while he was employed in any of the departments of civil life； his wife； also an active citizen； should be equally intent to manage her family； educate her children； and assist her neighbours。 But； to render her really virtuous and useful； she must not； if she discharge her civil duties； want； individually； the protection of civil laws； she must not be dependent on her husband's bounty for her subsistence during his life； or support after his deathfor how can a being be generous who has nothing of its own？ or； virtuous； who is not free？ The wife； in the present state of things； who is faithful to her husband； and neither suckles nor educates her children； scarcely deserves the name of a wife； and has no right to that of a citizen。 But take away natural rights； and there is of course an end of duties。 Women thus infallibly become only the wanton solace of men； when they are so weak in mind and body； that they cannot exert themselves； unless to pursue some frothy pleasure； or to invent some frivolous fashion。 What can be a more melancholy sight to a thinking mind； than to look into the numerous carriages that drive helter…skelter about this metropolis in a morning； full of pale…faced creatures who are flying from themselves。 I have often wished； with Dr。 Johnson； to place some of them in a little shop； with half a dozen children looking up to their languid countenances for support。 I am much mistaken； if some latent vigour would not soon give health and spirit to their eyes； and some lines drawn by the exercise of reason on the blank cheeks； which before were only undulated by dimples； might restore lost dignity to the character； or rather enable it to attain the true dignity of its nature。 Virtue is not to be acquired even by speculation； much less by the negative supineness that wealth naturally generates。 Besides； when poverty is more disgraceful than even vice； is not morality cut to the quick？ Still to avoid misconstruction； though I consider that women in the common walks of life are called to fulfil the duties of wives and mothers； by religion and reason； I cannot help lamenting that women of a superiour cast have not a road open by which they can pursue more extensive plans of usefulness and independence。 I may excite laughter； by dropping an hint； which I mean to pursue； some future time； for I really think that women ought to have representatives； instead of being arbitrarily governed without having any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government。 But； as the whole system of representation is now； in this country； only a convenient handle for despotism； they need not complain； for they are as well represented as a numerous class of hard working mechanics； who pay for the support of royality when they can scarcely stop their children's mouths with bread。 How are they represented； whose very sweat supports the splendid stud of an heir apparent； or varnishes the chariot of some female favourite who looks down on shame？ Taxes on the very necessaries of life； enable an endless tribe of idle princes and princesses to pass with stupid pomp before a gaping crowd； who almost worship the very parade which costs them so dear。 This is mere gothic grandeur； something like the barbarous； useless parade of having sentinels on horseback at Whitehall； which I could never view without a mixture of contempt and indignation。 How strangely must the mind be sophisticated when this sort of state impresses it！ But till these monuments of folly are levelled by virtue； similar follies will leaven the whole mass。 For the same character； in some degree； will prevail in the aggregate of society： and the refinements of luxury； or the vicious repinings of envious poverty； will equally banish virtue from society； considered as the characteristic of that society； or only allow it to appear as one of the stripes of the harlequin coat； worn by the civilized man。 In the superiour ranks of life； every duty is done by deputies； as if duties could ever be waved； and the vain pleasures which consequent idleness forces the rich to pursue； appear so enticing to the next rank； that the numerous scramblers for wealth sacrifice every thing to tread on their heels。 The most sacred trusts are then considered as sinecures； because they were procured by interest； and only sought to enable a man to keep GOOD COMPANY。 Women； in particular； all want to be ladies。 Which is simply to have nothing to do； but listlessly to go they scarcely care where； for they cannot tell what。 But what have women to do in society？ I may be asked； but to loiter with easy grace； surely you would not condemn them all to suckle fools； and chronicle small beer！ No。 Women might certainly study the art of healing； and be physicians as well as nurses。 And midwifery； decency seems to allot to them； though I am afraid the word midwife； in our dictionaries； will soon give place to accoucheur； and one proof of the former delicacy of the sex be effaced from the language。 They might； also study politics； and settle their benevolence on the broadest basis； for the reading of history will scarcely be more useful than the perusal of romances； if read as mere biography； if the character of the times； the political improvements； arts； etc。 be not observed。 In short； if it be not considered as the history of man； and not of particular men； who filled a niche in the temple of fame； and dropped into the black rolling stream of time； that silently sweeps all before it； into the shapeless void called eternity。 For shape can it be called； 〃that shape hath none？〃 Business of various kinds； they might likewise pursue； if they were educated in a more orderly manner； which might save many from common and legal prostitution。 Women would not then marry for a support； as men accept of places under government； and neglect the implied duties； nor would an attempt to earn their own subsistence； a most laudable one！ sink them almost to the level of those poor abandoned creatures who live by prostitution。 For are not milliners and mantuamakers reckoned the next class？ The few employments open to women； so far from being liberal； are menial； and when a superior education enables them to take charge of the education of children as governesses； they are not treated like the tutors of sons； though even clerical tutors are not always treated in a manner calculated to render them respectable in the eyes of their pupils； to say nothing of the private comfort of the individual。 But as women educated like gentlewomen； are never designed for the humiliating situation which necessity sometimes forces them to fill； these situations are considered in the light of a degradation； and they know little of the human heart； who need to be told； that nothing so painfully sharpens the sensibility as such a fall in life。 Some of these women might be restrained from marrying by a proper spirit or delicacy； and others may not have had it in their power to escape in this pitiful way from servitude； is not that government then very defective； and very unmindful of the happiness of one half of its members； that does not provide for honest； independent women； by encouraging them to fill respectable stations？ But in order to render their private virtue a public benefit； they must have a civil existence in the state； married or single； else we shall continually see some worthy woman； whose sensibility has been rendered painfully acute by undeserved contempt； droop like 〃the lily broken down by a plough share。〃 It is a melancholy truth； yet such is the blessed effects of civilization！ the most respectable women are the most oppressed； and； unless they have understandings far superiour to the common run of understandings； taking in both sexes； they must； from being treated like contemptible beings； become contemptible。 How many women thus waste life away； the prey of discontent； who might have practised as physicians； regulated a farm； managed a shop； and stood erect； supported by their own industry； instead of hanging their heads surcharged with the dew of sensibility； that consumes the beauty to which it at first gave lustre； nay； I doubt whether pity and love are so near a…kin as poets feign； for I have seldom seen much compassion excited by the helplessness of females； unless they were fair； then； perhaps； pity was the soft handmaid of love； or the harbinger of lust。 How much more respectable is the woman who earns her own bread by fulfilling any duty； than the most accomplished beauty！ beauty did I say？ so sensible am I of the beauty of moral loveliness； or the harmonious propriety that attunes the passions of a well…regulated mind； that I blush at making the comparison； yet I sigh to think how few women aim at attaining this respectability； by withdrawing from the giddy whirl of pleasure； or the indolent calm that stupifies the g
