a vindication of the rights of woman-第21章
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t seems； must subsist somewhere： but is not this a direct and exclusive appropriation of reason？ The RIGHTS of humanity have been thus confined to the male line from Adam downwards。 Rousseau would carry his male aristocracy still further； for he insinuates； that he should not blame those； who contend for leaving woman in a state of the most profound ignorance； if it were not necessary； in order to preserve her chastity； and justify the man's choice in the eyes of the world； to give her a little knowledge of men； and the customs produced by human passions； else she might propagate at home without being rendered less voluptuous and innocent by the exercise of her understanding： excepting； indeed； during the first year of marriage； when she might employ it to dress； like Sophia。 〃Her dress is extremely modest in appearance； and yet very coquettish in fact： she does not make a display of her charms； she conceals them； but； in concealing them； she knows how to affect your imagination。 Every one who sees her； will say； There is a modest and discreet girl； but while you are near her； your eyes and affections wander all over her person； so that you cannot withdraw them； and you would conclude that every part of her dress； simple as it seems； was only put in its proper order to be taken to pieces by the imagination。〃 Is this modesty？ Is this a preparation for immortality？ Again。 What opinion are we to form of a system of education； when the author says of his heroine； 〃that with her； doing things well is but a SECONDARY concern； her principal concern is to do them NEATLY。〃 Secondary； in fact； are all her virtues and qualities； for； respecting religion； he makes her parents thus address her； accustomed to submission〃Your husband will instruct you in good time。〃 After thus cramping a woman's mind； if； in order to keep it fair； he has not made it quite a blank； he advises her to reflect； that a reflecting man may not yawn in her company； when he is tired of caressing her。 What has she to reflect about； who must obey？ and would it not be a refinement on cruelty only to open her mind to make the darkness and misery of her fate VISIBLE？ Yet these are his sensible remarks； how consistent with what I have already been obliged to quote； to give a fair view of the subject； the reader may determine。 〃They who pass their whole lives in working for their daily bread； have no ideas beyond their business or their interest； and all their understanding seems to lie in their fingers' ends。 This ignorance is neither prejudicial to their integrity nor their morals； it is often of service to them。 Sometimes； by means of reflection； we are led to compound with our duty； and we conclude； by substituting a jargon of words； in the room of things。 Our own conscience is the most enlightened philosopher。 There is no need of being acquainted with Tully's offices； to make a man of probity： and perhaps the most virtuous woman in the world is the least acquainted with the definition of virtue。 But it is no less true； than an improved understanding only can render society agreeable； and it is a melancholy thing for a father of a family； who is fond of home； to be obliged to be always wrapped up in himself； and to have nobody about him to whom he can impart his sentiments。 〃Besides； how should a woman void of reflection be capable of educating her children？ How should she discern what is proper for them？ How should she incline them to those virtues she is unacquainted with； or to that merit of which she has no idea？ She can only sooth or chide them； render them insolent or timid； she will make them formal coxcombs； or ignorant blockheads； but will never make them sensible or amiable。〃 How indeed should she； when her husband is not always at hand to lend her his reason when they both together make but one moral being？ A blind will； 〃eyes without hands；〃 would go a very little way； and perchance his abstract reason； that should concentrate the scattered beams of her practical reason； may be employed in judging of the flavour of wine； discanting on the sauces most proper for turtle； or； more profoundly intent at a card…table； he may be generalizing his ideas as he bets away his fortune； leaving all the minutiae of education to his helpmate or chance。 But； granting that woman ought to be beautiful； innocent； and silly； to render her a more alluring and indulgent companionwhat is her understanding sacrificed for？ And why is all this preparation necessary only； according to Rousseau's own account； to make her the mistress of her husband； a very short time？ For no man ever insisted more on the transient nature of love。 Thus speaks the philosopher。 〃Sensual pleasures are transient。 The habitual state of the affections always loses by their gratification。 The imagination； which decks the object of our desires； is lost in fruition。 Excepting the Supreme Being； who is self…existent； there is nothing beautiful but what is ideal。〃 But he returns to his unintelligible paradoxes again； when he thus addresses Sophia。 〃Emilius； in becoming your husband； is become your master； and claims your obedience。 Such is the order of nature。 When a man is married； however； to such a wife as Sophia； it is proper he should be directed by her： this is also agreeable to the order of nature： it is； therefore； to give you as much authority over his heart as his sex gives him over your person； that I have made you the arbiter of his pleasures。 It may cost you； perhaps； some disagreeable self…denial； but you will be certain of maintaining your empire over him； if you can preserve it over yourself； what I have already observed； also shows me； that this difficult attempt does not surpass your courage。 〃Would you have your husband constantly at your feet？ keep him at some distance from your person。 You will long maintain the authority of love； if you know but how to render your favours rare and valuable。 It is thus you may employ even the arts of coquetry in the service of virtue； and those of love in that of reason。〃 I shall close my extracts with a just description of a comfortable couple。 〃And yet you must not imagine； that even such management will always suffice。 Whatever precaution be taken； enjoyment will； by degrees； take off the edge of passion。 But when love hath lasted as long as possible； a pleasing habitude supplies its place； and the attachment of a mutual confidence succeeds to the transports of passion。 Children often form a more agreeable and permanent connexion between married people than even love itself。 When you cease to be the mistress of Emilius； you will continue to be his wife and friend； you will be the mother of his children。〃 （Rousseau's Emilius。） Children； he truly observes； form a much more permanent connexion between married people than love。 Beauty he declares will not be valued； or even seen； after a couple have lived six months together； artificial graces and coquetry will likewise pall on the senses： why then does he say； that a girl should be educated for her husband with the same care as for an eastern haram？ I now appeal from the reveries of fancy and refined licentiousness to the good sense of mankind； whether； if the object of education be to prepare women to become chaste wives and sensible mothers； the method so plausibly recommended in the foregoing sketch； be the one best calculated to produce those ends？ Will it be allowed that the surest way to make a wife chaste； is to teach her to practise the wanton arts of a mistress； termed virtuous coquetry by the sensualist who can no longer relish the artless charms of sincerity； or taste the pleasure arising from a tender intimacy； when confidence is unchecked by suspicion； and rendered interesting by sense？ The man who can be contented to live with a pretty useful companion without a mind； has lost in voluptuous gratifications a taste for more refined enjoyments； he has never felt the calm satisfaction that refreshes the parched heart； like the silent dew of heavenof being beloved by one who could understand him。 In the society of his wife he is still alone； unless when the man is sunk in the brute。 〃The charm of life；〃 says a grave philosophical reasoner； is 〃sympathy； nothing pleases us more than to observe in other men a fellow…feeling with all the emotions of our own breast。〃 But； according to the tenor of reasoning by which women are kept from the tree of knowledge； the important years of youth； the usefulness of age； and the rational hopes of futurity； are all to be sacrificed； to render woman an object of desire for a short time。 Besides； how could Rousseau expect them to be virtuous and constant when reason is neither allowed to be the foundation of their virtue； nor truth the object of their inquiries？ But all Rousseau's errors in reasoning arose from sensibility； and sensibility to their charms women are very ready to forgive！ When he should have reasoned he became impassioned； and reflection inflamed his imagination； instead of enlightening his understanding。 Even his virtues also led him farther astray； for； born with a warm constitution and lively fancy； nature carried him toward the other sex with such eager fondness； that he soon became lascivious。 Had he given way to these desires； the fire would have extinguished itself in a natural manner； but virtue； and a romantic kind of delicacy； made him practise self…denial； yet； when fear； delicacy； or virtue restrained him； he debauched his imagination； and reflecting on the sensations to which fancy gave force； he traced them in the most glowing colours； and sunk them deep into his soul。 He then sought for solitude； not to sleep with the man of nature； or calmly investigate the causes of things under the shade where Sir Isaac Newton indulged contemplation； but merely to indulge his feelings。 And so warmly has he painted what he forcibly felt； that； interesting the heart and inflaming the imagination of his readers； in proportion to the strength of their fancy； they imagine that their understanding is convinced； when they only sympathize with a poetic writer； who skilfully exhibits the objects of sense； most voluptuously shadowed； or gracefully veiled； and thus making us feel； whilst dreaming that we reason； erroneous conclusions are left in the mind。 Why was Rousseau's life divided between ecstasy and misery？ Can any other answer be given than this； that the effervescence of his imagination produced both； but； had his fancy been allowed to cool； it is possible that he might have acquired more strength of mind。 Still； if the purpose of life be to educate the intellectual part of man； all with respect to him was right； yet； had not death led to a nobler scene of action； it is probable that he would have enjoyed more equal happiness on earth； and have felt the calm sensations of the man of nature； instead of being prepared for another stage of existence by nourishing the passions which agitate the civilized man。 But peace to his manes！ I war not with his ashes； but his opinions。 I war only with the sensibility that led him to degrade woman by making her the slave of love。 。。。。〃Curs'd vassalage； First idoliz'd till love's hot fire be o'er； Then slaves to those who courted us before。〃 Dryden。 The pernicious tendency of those boo
