a vindication of the rights of woman-第30章
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even to relish the epicurism of virtueself…denial。 To take another view of the subject； confining my remarks to women。 The ridiculous falsities which are told to children； from mistaken notions of modesty； tend very early to inflame their imaginations and set their little minds to work； respecting subjects； which nature never intended they should think of； till the body arrived at some degree of maturity； then the passions naturally begin to take place of the senses； as instruments to unfold the understanding； and form the moral character。 In nurseries； and boarding schools； I fear； girls are first spoiled； particularly in the latter。 A number of girls sleep in the same room； and wash together。 And； though I should be sorry to contaminate an innocent creature's mind by instilling false delicacy； or those indecent prudish notions； which early cautions respecting the other sex naturally engender； I should be very anxious to prevent their acquiring indelicate； or immodest habits； and as many girls have learned very indelicate tricks； from ignorant servants； the mixing them thus indiscriminately together； is very improper。 To say the truth； women are； in general； too familiar with each other； which leads to that gross degree of familiarity that so frequently renders the marriage state unhappy。 Why in the name of decency are sisters； female intimates； or ladies and their waiting women； to be so grossly familiar as to forget the respect which one human creature owes to another？ That squeamish delicacy which shrinks from the most disgusting offices when affection or humanity lead us to watch at a sick pillow； is despicable。 But； why women in health should be more familiar with each other than men are； when they boast of their superiour delicacy； is a solecism in manners which I could never solve。 In order to preserve health and beauty； I should earnestly recommend frequent ablutions； to dignify my advice that it may not offend the fastidious ear； and； by example； girls ought to be taught to wash and dress alone； without any distinction of rank； and if custom should make them require some little assistance； let them not require it till that part of the business is over which ought never to be done before a fellow…creature； because it is an insult to the majesty of human nature。 Not on the score of modesty； but decency； for the care which some modest women take； making at the same time a display of that care； not to let their legs be seen； is as childish as immodest。* （*Footnote。 I remember to have met with a sentence； in a book of education that made me smile。 〃It would be needless to caution you against putting your hand； by chance； under your neck…handkerchief； for a modest woman never did so！〃） I could proceed still further； till I animadverted on some still more indelicate customs； which men never fall into。 Secrets are toldwhere silence ought to reign； and that regard to cleanliness； which some religious sects have； perhaps； carried too far； especially the Essenes； amongst the Jews； by making that an insult to God which is only an insult to humanity； is violated in a brutal manner。 How can DELICATE women obtrude on notice that part of the animal economy； which is so very disgusting？ And is it not very rational to conclude； that the women who have not been taught to respect the human nature of their own sex； in these particulars； will not long respect the mere difference of sex； in their husbands？ After their maidenish bashfulness is once lost； I； in fact； have generally observed； that women fall into old habits； and treat their husbands as they did their sisters or female acquaintance。 Besides； women from necessity； because their minds are not cultivated； have recourse very often； to what I familiarly term bodily wit； and their intimacies are of the same kind。 In short； with respect to both mind and body； they are too intimate。 That decent personal reserve； which is the foundation of dignity of character； must be kept up between women； or their minds will never gain strength or modesty。 On this account also； I object to many females being shut up together in nurseries； schools； or convents。 I cannot recollect without indignation； the jokes and hoiden tricks； which knots of young women indulged themselves in； when in my youth accident threw me； an awkward rustic； in their way。 They were almost on a par with the double meanings； which shake the convivial table when the glass has circulated freely。 But it is vain to attempt to keep the heart pure； unless the head is furnished with ideas； and set to work to compare them； in order； to acquire judgment； by generalizing simple ones； and modesty by making the understanding damp the sensibility。 It may be thought that I lay too great a stress on personal reserve； but it is ever the hand…maid of modesty。 So that were I to name the graces that ought to adorn beauty； I should instantly exclaim； cleanliness； neatness； and personal reserve。 It is obvious； I suppose； that the reserve I mean； has nothing sexual in it； and that I think it EQUALLY necessary in both sexes。 So necessary indeed； is that reserve and cleanliness which indolent women too often neglect； that I will venture to affirm； that when two or three women live in the same house； the one will be most respected by the male part of the family； who reside with them； leaving love entirely out of the question； who pays this kind of habitual respect to her person。 When domestic friends meet in a morning； there will naturally prevail an affectionate seriousness； especially； if each look forward to the discharge of daily duties； and it may be reckoned fanciful； but this sentiment has frequently risen spontaneously in my mind。 I have been pleased after breathing the sweet bracing morning air； to see the same kind of freshness in the countenances I particularly loved； I was glad to see them braced； as it were； for the day； and ready to run their course with the sun。 The greetings of affection in the morning are by these means more respectful； than the familiar tenderness which frequently prolongs the evening talk。 Nay； I have often felt hurt； not to say disgusted； when a friend has appeared； whom I parted with full dressed the evening before； with her clothes huddled on； because she chose to indulge herself in bed till the last moment。 Domestic affection can only be kept alive by these neglected attentions； yet if men and women took half as much pains to dress habitually neat； as they do to ornament； or rather to disfigure their persons； much would be done towards the attainment of purity of mind。 But women only dress to gratify men of gallantry； for the lover is always best pleased with the simple garb that sits close to the shape。 There is an impertinence in ornaments that rebuffs affection； because love always clings round the idea of home。 As a sex； women are habitually indolent； and every thing tends to make them so。 I do not forget the starts of activity which sensibility produces； but as these flights of feeling only increase the evil； they are not to be confounded with the slow； orderly walk of reason。 So great； in reality； is their mental and bodily indolence； that till their body be strengthened and their understanding enlarged by active exertions； there is little reason to expect that modesty will take place of bashfulness。 They may find it prudent to assume its semblance； but the fair veil will only be worn on gala days。 Perhaps there is not a virtue that mixes so kindly with every other as modesty。 It is the pale moon…beam that renders more interesting every virtue it softens； giving mild grandeur to the contracted horizon。 Nothing can be more beautiful than the poetical fiction； which makes Diana with her silver crescent； the goddess of chastity。 I have sometimes thought； that wandering with sedate step in some lonely recess； a modest dame of antiquity must have felt a glow of conscious dignity； when； after contemplating the soft shadowy landscape； she has invited with placid fervour the mild reflection of her sister's beams to turn to her chaste bosom。 A Christian has still nobler motives to incite her to preserve her chastity and acquire modesty； for her body has been called the Temple of the living God； of that God who requires more than modesty of mien。 His eye searcheth the heart； and let her remember； that if she hopeth to find favour in the sight of purity itself； her chastity must be founded on modesty； and not on worldly prudence； or verily a good reputation will be her only reward； for that awful intercourse； that sacred communion； which virtue establishes between man and his Maker； must give rise to the wish of being pure as he is pure！ After the foregoing remarks； it is almost superfluous to add； that I consider all those feminine airs of maturity； which succeed bashfulness； to which truth is sacrificed； to secure the heart of a husband； or rather to force him to be still a lover when nature would； had she not been interrupted in her operations； have made love give place to friendship； as immodest。 The tenderness which a man will feel for the mother of his children is an excellent substitute for the ardour of unsatisfied passion； but to prolong that ardour it is indelicate； not to say immodest； for women to feign an unnatural coldness of constitution。 Women as well as men ought to have the common appetites and passions of their nature； they are only brutal when unchecked by reason： but the obligation to check them is the duty of mankind； not a sexual duty。 Nature； in these respects； may safely be left to herself； let women only acquire knowledge and humanity； and love will teach them modesty。 There is no need of falsehoods； disgusting as futile； for studied rules of behaviour only impose on shallow observers； a man of sense soon sees through； and despises the affectation。 The behaviour of young people； to each other； as men and women； is the last thing that should be thought of in education。 In fact； behaviour in most circumstances is now so much thought of； that simplicity of character is rarely to be seen； yet； if men were only anxious to cultivate each virtue； and let it take root firmly in the mind； the grace resulting from it； its natural exteriour mark； would soon strip affectation of its flaunting plumes； because； fallacious as unstable； is the conduct that is not founded upon truth！ （Footnote。 The behaviour of many newly married women has often disgusted me。 They seem anxious never to let their husbands forget the privilege of marriage； and to find no pleasure in his society unless he is acting the lover。 Short； indeed； must be the reign of love； when the flame is thus constantly blown up； without its receiving any solid fuel。） Would ye； O my sisters； really possess modesty； ye must remember that the possession of virtue； of any denomination； is incompatible with ignorance and vanity！ ye must acquire that soberness of mind； which the exercise of duties； and the pursuit of knowledge； alone inspire； or ye will still remain in a doubtful dependent situation； and only be loved whilst ye are fair！ the downcast eye； the rosy blush； the retiring grace； are all proper in their season； but modesty； being the child of reason； cannot long exist with the sensibility that is not tempered by reflectio
