a vindication of the rights of woman-第51节
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y women； who are drawn from their duty by the admiration of men； and the ignorance of others； render the infancy of man a much more perilous state than that of brutes； yet men are unwilling to place women in situations proper to enable them to acquire sufficient understanding to know how even to nurse their babes。 So forcibly does this truth strike me； that I would rest the whole tendency of my reasoning upon it； for whatever tends to incapacitate the maternal character； takes woman out of her sphere。 But it is vain to expect the present race of weak mothers either to take that reasonable care of a child's body； which is necessary to lay the foundation of a good constitution； supposing that it do not suffer for the sins of its fathers； or to manage its temper so judiciously that the child will not have； as it grows up； to throw off all that its mother； its first instructor； directly or indirectly taught； and unless the mind have uncommon vigour； womanish follies will stick to the character throughout life。 The weakness of the mother will be visited on the children！ And whilst women are educated to rely on their husbands for judgment； this must ever be the consequence； for there is no improving an understanding by halves； nor can any being act wisely from imitation； because in every circumstance of life there is a kind of individuality； which requires an exertion of judgment to modify general rules。 The being who can think justly in one track； will soon extend its intellectual empire； and she who has sufficient judgment to manage her children； will not submit right or wrong； to her husband； or patiently to the social laws which makes a nonentity of a wife。 In public schools women； to guard against the errors of ignorance； should be taught the elements of anatomy and medicine； not only to enable them to take proper care of their own health； but to make them rational nurses of their infants； parents； and husbands； for the bills of mortality are swelled by the blunders of self…willed old women； who give nostrums of their own； without knowing any thing of the human frame。 It is likewise proper； only in a domestic view； to make women； acquainted with the anatomy of the mind； by allowing the sexes to associate together in every pursuit； and by leading them to observe the progress of the human understanding in the improvement of the sciences and arts； never forgetting the science of morality； nor the study of the political history of mankind。 A man has been termed a microcosm； and every family might also be called a state。 States； it is true； have mostly been governed by arts that disgrace the character of man； and the want of a just constitution； and equal laws； have so perplexed the notions of the worldly wise； that they more than question the reasonableness of contending for the rights of humanity。 Thus morality； polluted in the national reservoir； sends off streams of vice to corrupt the constituent parts of the body politic； but should more noble； or rather more just principles regulate the laws； which ought to be the government of society； and not those who execute them； duty might become the rule of private conduct。 Besides； by the exercise of their bodies and minds； women would acquire that mental activity so necessary in the maternal character； united with the fortitude that distinguishes steadiness of conduct from the obstinate perverseness of weakness。 For it is dangerous to advise the indolent to be steady； because they instantly become rigorous； and to save themselves trouble； punish with severity faults that the patient fortitude of reason might have prevented。 But fortitude presupposes strength of mind； and is strength of mind to be acquired by indolent acquiescence？ By asking advice instead of exerting the judgment？ By obeying through fear； instead of practising the forbearance； which we all stand in need of ourselves？ The conclusion which I wish to draw is obvious； make women rational creatures and free citizens； and they will quickly become good wives； and mothers； that isif men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers。 Discussing the advantages which a public and private education combined； as I have sketched； might rationally be expected to produce； I have dwelt most on such as are particularly relative to the female world； because I think the female world oppressed； yet the gangrene which the vices； engendered by oppression have produced； is not confined to the morbid part； but pervades society at large； so that when I wish to see my sex become more like moral agents； my heart bounds with the anticipation of the general diffusion of that sublime contentment which only morality can diffuse。
CHAPTER 13。 SOME INSTANCES OF THE FOLLY WHICH THE IGNORANCE OF WOMEN GENERATES； WITH CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS ON THE MORAL IMPROVEMENT THAT A REVOLUTION IN FEMALE MANNERS MIGHT NATURALLY BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE。 There are many follies； in some degree； peculiar to women： sins against reason； of commission； as well as of omission； but all flowing from ignorance or prejudice； I shall only point out such as appear to be injurious to their moral character。 And in animadverting on them； I wish especially to prove； that the weakness of mind and body； which men have endeavoured by various motives to perpetuate； prevents their discharging the peculiar duty of their sex： for when weakness of body will not permit them to suckle their children； and weakness of mind makes them spoil their tempersis woman in a natural state？ SECTION 13。1。 One glaring instance of the weakness which proceeds from ignorance； first claims attention； and calls for severe reproof。 In this metropolis a number of lurking leeches infamously gain a subsistence by practising on the credulity of women； pretending to cast nativities； to use the technical phrase； and many females who； proud of their rank and fortune； look down on the vulgar with sovereign contempt； show by this credulity； that the distinction is arbitrary； and that they have not sufficiently cultivated their minds to rise above vulgar prejudices。 Women； because they have not been led to consider the knowledge of their duty as the one thing necessary to know； or； to live in the present moment by the discharge of it； are very anxious to peep into futurity； to learn what they have to expect to render life interesting； and to break the vacuum of ignorance。 I must be allowed to expostulate seriously with the ladies； who follow these idle inventions； for ladies； mistresses of families； are not ashamed to drive in their own carriages to the door of the cunning man。 And if any of them should peruse this work； I entreat them to answer to their own hearts the following questions； not forgetting that they are in the presence of God。 Do you believe that there is but one God； and that he is powerful； wise； and good？ Do you believe that all things were created by him； and that all beings are dependent on him？ Do you rely on his wisdom； so conspicuous in his works； and in your own frame； and are you convinced； that he has ordered all things which do not come under the cognizance of your senses； in the same perfect harmony； to fulfil his designs？ Do you acknowledge that the power of looking into futurity and seeing things that are not； as if they were； is an attribute of the Creator？ And should he； by an impression on the minds of his creatures； think fit to impart to them some event hid in the shades of time； yet unborn； to whom would the secret be revealed by immediate inspiration？ The opinion of ages will answer this questionto reverend old men； to people distinguished for eminent piety。 The oracles of old were thus delivered by priests dedicated to the service of the God； who was supposed to inspire them。 The glare of worldly pomp which surrounded these impostors； and the respect paid to them by artful politicians； who knew how to avail themselves of this useful engine to bend the necks of the strong under the dominion of the cunning； spread a sacred mysterious veil of sanctity over their lies and abominations。 Impressed by such solemn devotional parade； a Greek or Roman lady might be excused； if she inquired of the oracle； when she was anxious to pry into futurity； or inquire about some dubious event： and her inquiries； however contrary to reason； could not be reckoned impious。 But； can the professors of Christianity ward off that imputation？ Can a Christian suppose； that the favourites of the most High； the highly favoured would be obliged to lurk in disguise； and practise the most dishonest tricks to cheat silly women out of the money； which the poor cry for in vain？ Say not that such questions are an insult to common sense for it is your own conduct； O ye foolish women！ which throws an odium on your sex！ And these reflections should make you shudder at your thoughtlessness； and irrational devotion； for I do not suppose that all of you laid aside your religion； such as it is； when you entered those mysterious dwellings。 Yet； as I have throughout supposed myself talking to ignorant women； for ignorant ye are in the most emphatical sense of the word； it would be absurd to reason with you on the egregious folly of desiring to know what the Supreme Wisdom has concealed。 Probably you would not und
