a vindication of the rights of woman-第48章
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art； 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 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。 Mee
