a vindication of the rights of woman-第16章
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woman； as an object of desire； is generally allowed to be so by men of all descriptions； whilst a fine woman； who inspires more sublime emotions by displaying intellectual beauty； may be overlooked or observed with indifference； by those men who find their happiness in the gratification of their appetites。 I foresee an obvious retort； whilst man remains such an imperfect being as he appears hitherto to have been； he will； more or less； be the slave of his appetites； and those women obtaining most power who gratify a predominant one； the sex is degraded by a physical； if not by a moral necessity。 This objection has； I grant； some force； but while such a sublime precept exists； as； 〃be pure as your heavenly father is pure；〃 it would seem that the virtues of man are not limited by the Being who alone could limit them； and that he may press forward without considering whether he steps out of his sphere by indulging such a noble ambition。 To the wild billows it has been said； 〃thus far shalt thou go； and no further； and here shall thy proud waves be stayed。〃 Vainly then do they beat and foam； restrained by the power that confines the struggling planets within their orbits； matter yields to the great governing Spirit。 But an immortal soul； not restrained by mechanical laws； and struggling to free itself from the shackles of matter； contributes to； instead of disturbing； the order of creation； when； co…operating with the Father of spirits； it tries to govern itself by the invariable rule that； in a degree； before which our imagination faints； the universe is regulated。 Besides； if women are educated for dependence； that is； to act according to the will of another fallible being； and submit； right or wrong； to power； where are we to stop？ Are they to be considered as viceregents； allowed to reign over a small domain； and answerable for their conduct to a higher tribunal； liable to error？ It will not be difficult to prove； that such delegates will act like men subjected by fear； and make their children and servants endure their tyrannical oppression。 As they submit without reason； they will； having no fixed rules to square their conduct by； be kind or cruel； just as the whim of the moment directs； and we ought not to wonder if sometimes； galled by their heavy yoke； they take a malignant pleasure in resting it on weaker shoulders。 But； supposing a woman； trained up to obedience； be married to a sensible man； who directs her judgment； without making her feel the servility of her subjection； to act with as much propriety by this reflected light as can be expected when reason is taken at second hand； yet she cannot ensure the life of her protector； he may die and leave her with a large family。 A double duty devolves on her； to educate them in the character of both father and mother； to form their principles and secure their property。 But； alas！ she has never thought； much less acted for herself。 She has only learned to please men； to depend gracefully on them； yet； encumbered with children； how is she to obtain another protector； a husband to supply the place of reason？ A rational man； for we are not treading on romantic ground； though he may think her a pleasing docile creature； will not choose to marry a FAMILY for love； when the world contains many more pretty creatures。 What is then to become of her？ She either falls an easy prey to some mean fortune hunter； who defrauds her children of their paternal inheritance； and renders her miserable； or becomes the victim of discontent and blind indulgence。 Unable to educate her sons； or impress them with respect； for it is not a play on words to assert； that people are never respected； though filling an important station； who are not respectable； she pines under the anguish of unavailing impotent regret。 The serpent's tooth enters into her very soul； and the vices of licentious youth bring her with sorrow； if not with poverty also； to the grave。 This is not an overcharged picture； on the contrary； it is a very possible case； and something similar must have fallen under every attentive eye。 I have； however； taken it for granted； that she was well disposed； though experience shows； that the blind may as easily be led into a ditch as along the beaten road。 But supposing； no very improbable conjecture； that a being only taught to please must still find her happiness in pleasing； what an example of folly； not to say vice； will she be to her innocent daughters！ The mother will be lost in the coquette； and； instead of making friends of her daughters； view them with eyes askance； for they are rivalsrivals more cruel than any other； because they invite a comparison； and drive her from the throne of beauty； who has never thought of a seat on the bench of reason。 It does not require a lively pencil； or the discriminating outline of a caricature； to sketch the domestic miseries and petty vices which such a mistress of a family diffuses。 Still she only acts as a woman ought to act； brought up according to Rousseau's system。 She can never be reproached for being masculine； or turning out of her sphere； nay； she may observe another of his grand rules； and； cautiously preserving her reputation free from spot； be reckoned a good kind of woman。 Yet in what respect can she be termed good？ She abstains； it is true； without any great struggle； from committing gross crimes； but how does she fulfil her duties？ Duties！in truth she has enough to think of to adorn her body and nurse a weak constitution。 With respect to religion； she never presumed to judge for herself； but conformed； as a dependent creature should； to the ceremonies of the church which she was brought up in； piously believing； that wiser heads than her own have settled that business： and not to doubt is her point of perfection。 She therefore pays her tythe of mint and cummin； and thanks her God that she is not as other women are。 These are the blessed effects of a good education！ these the virtues of man's helpmate。 I must relieve myself by drawing a different picture。 Let fancy now present a woman with a tolerable understanding； for I do not wish to leave the line of mediocrity； whose constitution； strengthened by exercise； has allowed her body to acquire its full vigour； her mind； at the same time； gradually expanding itself to comprehend the moral duties of life； and in what human virtue and dignity consist。 Formed thus by the relative duties of her station； she marries from affection； without losing sight of prudence； and looking beyond matrimonial felicity； she secures her husband's respect before it is necessary to exert mean arts to please him； and feed a dying flame； which nature doomed to expire when the object became familiar； when friendship and forbearance take place of a more ardent affection。 This is the natural death of love； and domestic peace is not destroyed by struggles to prevent its extinction。 I also suppose the husband to be virtuous； or she is still more in want of independent principles。 Fate； however； breaks this tie。 She is left a widow； perhaps； without a sufficient provision： but she is not desolate！ The pang of nature is felt； but after time has softened sorrow into melancholy resignation； her heart turns to her children with redoubled fondness； and anxious to provide for them； affection gives a sacred heroic cast to her maternal duties。 She thinks that not only the eye sees her virtuous efforts； from whom all her comfort now must flow； and whose approbation is life； but her imagination； a little abstracted and exalted by grief； dwells on the fond hope； that the eyes which her trembling hand closed； may still see how she subdues every wayward passion to fulfil the double duty of being the father as well as the mother of her children。 Raised to heroism by misfortunes； she represses the first faint dawning of a natural inclination； before it ripens into love； and in the bloom of life forgets her sexforgets the pleasure of an awakening passion； which might again have been inspired and returned。 She no longer thinks of pleasing； and conscious dignity prevents her from priding herself on account of the praise which her conduct demands。 Her children have her love； and her brightest hopes are beyond the grav
