a vindication of the rights of woman-第32章
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en wiser to have advised women to improve themselves till they rose above the fumes of vanity； and then to let the public opinion come roundfor where are rules of accommodation to stop？ The narrow path of truth and virtue inclines neither to the right nor left； it is a straight…forward business； and they who are earnestly pursuing their road； may bound over many decorous prejudices； without leaving modesty behind。 Make the heart clean； and give the head employment； and I will venture to predict that there will be nothing offensive in the behaviour。 The air of fashion； which many young people are so eager to attain； always strikes me like the studied attitudes of some modern prints； copied with tasteless servility after the antiques； the soul is left out； and none of the parts are tied together by what may properly be termed character。 This varnish of fashion； which seldom sticks very close to sense； may dazzle the weak； but leave nature to itself； and it will seldom disgust the wise。 Besides； when a woman has sufficient sense not to pretend to any thing which she does not understand in some degree； there is no need of determining to hide her talents under a bushel。 Let things take their natural course； and all will be well。 It is this system of dissimulation； throughout the volume； that I despise。 Women are always to SEEM to be this and thatyet virtue might apostrophize them； in the words of HamletSeems！ I know not seems！Have that within that passeth show！ Still the same tone occurs； for in another place； after recommending； （without sufficiently discriminating） delicacy； he adds； 〃The men will complain of your reserve。 They will assure you that a franker behaviour would make you more amiable。 But； trust me； they are not sincere when they tell you so。 I acknowledge that on some occasions it might render you more agreeable as companions； but it would make you less amiable as women： an important distinction； which many of your sex are not aware of。〃 This desire of being always women； is the very consciousness that degrades the sex。 Excepting with a lover； I must repeat with emphasis； a former observationit would be well if they were only agreeable or rational companions。 But in this respect his advice is even inconsistent with a passage which I mean to quote with the most marked approbation。 〃The sentiment； that a woman may allow all innocent freedoms； provided her virtue is secure； is both grossly indelicate and dangerous； and has proved fatal to many of your sex。〃 With this opinion I perfectly coincide。 A man； or a woman； of any feeling must always wish to convince a beloved object that it is the caresses of the individual； not the sex； that is received and returned with pleasure； and； that the heart； rather than the senses； is moved。 Without this natural delicacy； love becomes a selfish personal gratification that soon degrades the character。 I carry this sentiment still further。 Affection； when love is out of the question； authorises many personal endearments； that naturally flowing from an innocent heart give life to the behaviour； but the personal intercourse of appetite； gallantry； or vanity； is despicable。 When a man squeezes the hand of a pretty woman； handing her to a carriage； whom he has never seen before； she will consider such an impertinent freedom in the light of an insult； if she have any true delicacy； instead of being flattered by this unmeaning homage to beauty。 These are the privileges of friendship； or the momentary homage which the heart pays to virtue； when it flashes suddenly on the noticemere animal spirits have no claim to the kindnesses of affection。 Wishing to feed the affections with what is now the food of vanity； I would fain persuade my sex to act from simpler principles。 Let them merit love； and they will obtain it； though they may never be told that： 〃The power of a fine woman over the hearts of men； of men of the finest parts； is even beyond what she conceives。〃 I have already noticed the narrow cautions with respect to duplicity； female softness； delicacy of constitution； for these are the changes which he rings round without ceasing； in a more decorous manner； it is true； than Rousseau； but it all comes home to the same point； and whoever is at the trouble to analyze these sentiments； will find the first principles not quite so delicate as the superstructure。 The subject of amusements is treated in too cursory a manner； but with the same spirit。 When I treat of friendship； love； and marriage； it will be found that we materially differ in opinion； I shall not then forestall what I have to observe on these important subjects； but confine my remarks to the general tenor of them； to that cautious family prudence； to those confined views of partial unenlightened affection； which exclude pleasure and improvement； by vainly wishing to ward off sorrow and errorand by thus guarding the heart and mind； destroy also all their energy。 It is far better to be often deceived than never to trust； to be disappointed in love； than never to love； to lose a husband's fondness； than forfeit his esteem。 Happy would it be for the world； and for individuals； of course； if all this unavailing solicitude to attain worldly happiness； on a confined plan； were turned into an anxious desire to improve the understanding。 〃Wisdom is the principal thing： THEREFORE get wisdom； and with all thy gettings get understanding。〃 〃How long ye simple ones； will ye love simplicity； and hate knowledge？〃 Saith Wisdom to the daughters of men！ SECTION 5。4。 I do not mean to allude to all the writers who have written on the subject of female mannersit would in fact be only beating over the old ground； for they have； in general； written in the same strain； but attacking the boasted prerogative of manthe prerogative that may emphatically be called the iron sceptre of tyranny； the original sin of tyrants； I declare against all power built on prejudices； however hoary。 If the submission demanded be founded on justicethere is no appealing to a higher powerfor God is justice itself。 Let us then； as children of the same parent； if not bastardized by being the younger born； reason together； and learn to submit to the authority of reason when her voice is distinctly heard。 But； if it be proved that this throne of prerogative only rests on a chaotic mass of prejudices； that have no inherent principle of order to keep them together； or on an elephant； tortoise； or even the mighty shoulders of a son of the earth； they may escape； who dare to brave the consequence without any breach of duty； without sinning against the order of things。 Whilst reason raises man above the brutal herd； and death is big with promises； they alone are subject to blind authority who have no reliance on their own strength。 〃They are free who will be free！〃* （*Footnote。 〃He is the free man； whom TRUTH makes free！〃 Cowper。） The being who can govern itself； has nothing to fear in life； but if any thing is dearer than its own respect； the price must be paid to the last farthing。 Virtue； like every thing valuable； must be loved for herself alone； or she will not take up her abode with us。 She will not impart that peace； 〃which passeth understanding；〃 when she is merely made the stilts of reputation and respected with pharisaical exactness； because 〃honesty is the best policy。〃 That the plan of life which enables us to carry some knowledge and virtue into another world； is the one best calculated to ensure content in this； cannot be denied； yet few people act according to this principle； though it be universally allowed that it admits not of dispute。 Present pleasure； or present power； carry before it these sober convictions； and it is for the day； not for life； that man bargains with happiness。 How few！ how very few！ have sufficient foresight or resolution； to endure a small evil at the moment； to avoid a greater hereafter。 Woman in particular； whose virtue* is built on mutual prejudices； seldom attains to this greatness of mind； so that； becoming the slave of her own feelings； she is easily subjugated by those of others。 Thus degraded； her reason； her misty reason！ is employed rather to burnish than to snap her chains。 （*Footnote。 I mean to use a word tha
