a vindication of the rights of woman-第43节
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tability； by withdrawing from the giddy whirl of pleasure； or the indolent calm that stupifies the good sort of women it sucks in。 Proud of their weakness； however； they must always be protected； guarded from care； and all the rough toils that dignify the mind。 If this be the fiat of fate； if they will make themselves insignificant and contemptible； sweetly to waste 〃life away；〃 let them not expect to be valued when their beauty fades； for it is the fate of the fairest flowers to be admired and pulled to pieces by the careless hand that plucked them。 In how many ways do I wish； from the purest benevolence； to impress this truth on my sex； yet I fear that they will not listen to a truth； that dear…bought experience has brought home to many an agitated bosom； nor willingly resign the privileges of rank and sex for the privileges of humanity； to which those have no claim who do not discharge its duties。 Those writers are particularly useful； in my opinion； who make man feel for man； independent of the station he fills； or the drapery of factitious sentiments。 I then would fain convince reasonable men of the importance of some of my remarks and prevail on them to weigh dispassionately the whole tenor of my observations。 I appeal to their understandings； and； as a fellow…creature claim； in the name of my sex； some interest in their hearts。 I entreat them to assist to emancipate their companion to make her a help meet for them！ Would men but generously snap our chains； and be content with rational fellowship； instead of slavish obedience； they would find us more observant daughters； more affectionate sisters； more faithful wives； more reasonable mothersin a word； better citizens。 We should then love them with true affection； because we should learn to respect ourselves； and the peace of mind of a worthy man would not be interrupted by the idle vanity of his wife； nor his babes sent to nestle in a strange bosom； having never found a home in their mother's。
CHAPTER 10。 PARENTAL AFFECTION。 Parental affection is； perhaps； the blindest modification of perverse self…love； for we have not； like the French two terms （L'amour propre； L'amour de soi meme） to distinguish the pursuit of a natural and reasonable desire； from the ignorant calculations of weakness。 Parents often love their children in the most brutal manner； and sacrifice every relative duty to promote their advancement in the world。 To promote； such is the perversity of unprincipled prejudices； the future welfare of the very beings whose present existence they imbitter by the most despotic stretch of power。 Power； in fact； is ever true to its vital principle； for in every shape it would reign without controul or inquiry。 Its throne is built across a dark abyss； which no eye must dare to explore； lest the baseless fabric should totter under investigation。 Obedience； unconditional obedience； is the catch…word of tyrants of every description； and to render 〃assurance doubly sure；〃 one kind of despotism supports another。 Tyrants would have cause to tremble if reason were to become the rule of duty in any of the relations of life； for the light might spread till perfect day appeared。 And when it did appear； how would men smile at the sight of the bugbears at which they started during the night of ignorance； or the twilight of timid inquiry。 Parental affection； indeed； in many minds； is but a pretext to tyrannize where it can be done with impunity； for only good and wise men are content with the respect that will bear discussion。 Convinced that they have a right to what they insist on； they do not fear reason； or dread the sifting of subjects that recur to natural justice： because they firmly believe； that the more enlightened the human mind becomes； the deeper root will just and simple principles take。 They do not rest in expedients； or grant that what is metaphysically true can be practically false； but disdaining the shifts of the moment they calmly wait till time； sanctioning innovation； silences the hiss of selfishness or envy。 If the power of reflecting on the past； and darting the keen eye of contemplation into futurity； be the grand privilege of man； it must be granted that some people enjoy this prerogative in a very limited degree。 Every thing now appears to them wrong； and not able to distinguish the possible from the monstrous； they fear where no fear should find a place； running from the light of reason as if it were a firebrand； yet the limits of the possible have never been defined to stop the sturdy innovator's hand。 Woman； however； a slave in every situation to prejudice seldom exerts enlightened maternal affection； for she either neglects her children； or spoils them by improper indulgence。 Besides； the affection of some women for their children is； as I have before termed it； frequently very brutish； for it eradicates every spark of humanity。 Justice； truth； every thing is sacrificed by these Rebekahs； and for the sake of their own children they violate the most sacred duties； forgetting the common relationship that binds the whole family on earth together。 Yet； reason seems to say； that they who suffer one duty； or affection to swallow up the rest； have not sufficient heart or mind to fulfil that one conscientiously。 It then loses the venerable aspect of a duty； and assumes the fantastic form of a whim。 As the care of children in their infancy is one of the grand duties annexed to the female character by nature； this duty would afford many forcible arguments for strengthening the female understanding； if it were properly considered。 The formation of the mind must be begun very early； and the temper； in particular； requires the most judicious attentionan attention which women cannot pay who only love their children because they are their children； and seek no further for the foundation of their duty； than in the feelings of the moment。 It is this want of reason in their affections which makes women so often run into extremes； and either be the most fond； or most careless and unnatural mothers。 To be a good mothera woman must have sense； and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands。 Meek wives are； in general； foolish mothers； wanting their children to love them best； and take their part； in secret； against the father； who is held up as a scarecrow。 If they are to be punished； though they have offended the mother； the father must inflict the punishment； he must be the judge in all disputes： but I shall more fully discuss this subject when I treat of private education； I now only mean to insist； that unless the understanding of woman be enlarged； and her character rendered more firm； by being allowed to govern her own conduct； she will never have sufficient sense or command of temper to manage her children properly。 Her parental affection； indeed； scarcely deserves the name； when it does not lead her to suckle her children； because the discharge of this duty is equally calculated to inspire maternal and filial affection； and it is the indispensable duty of men and women to fulfil the duties which give birth to affections that are the surest preservatives against vice。 Natural affection； as it is termed； I believe to be a very weak tie； affections must grow out of the habitual exercise of a mutual sympathy； and what sympathy does a mother exercise who sends her babe to a nurse； and only takes it from a nurse to send it to a school？ In the exercise of their natural feelings； providence has furnished women with a natural substitute for love； when the lover becomes only a friend and mutual confidence takes place of overstrained admirationa child then gently twists the relaxing cord； and a mutual care produces a new mutual sympathy。 But a child； though a pledge of affection； will not enliven it； if both father and mother are content to transfer the charge to hirelings； for they who do their duty by proxy should not murmur if they miss the reward of dutyparental affection produces filial duty。
CHAPTER 11。 DUTY TO PARENTS。 There seems to be an indolent propensity in man to make prescription always take place of reason； and to place every duty on an arbitrary foundation。 The rights of kings are deduced in a direct line from the King of kings； and that of parents from our first parent。 Why do we thus go back for principles that should always rest on the same base； and have the same weight to…day that they had a thousand years agoand not a jot more？ If parents discharge their duty they have a strong hold and sacred claim on the gratitude of their children； but few parents are willing to receive the respectful affection of their offspring on such terms。 They demand blind obedience； because they do not merit a reasonable service： and to render these demands of weakness and ignorance more binding； a mysterious sanctity is spread round the most arbitrary principle； for what other name can be given to the blind duty of obeying vicious or weak beings； merely because they obeyed a powerful instinct？ The simple definition of the reciprocal duty； which naturally subsists between parent and child； may be given in a few words： The parent who pays proper attention to helpless infancy has a right to require th
