firmed me in the opinion that trifling employments have rendered woman a trifler. Men, taking her[1] body, the mind is left to ruſt; ſo that while phyſical love enervates man, as being his favourite recreation, he will endeavour to enſlave woman:—and, who can tell, how many generations may be neceſſary to give vigour to the virtue and talents of the freed poſterity of abject ſlaves[2]?
In tracing the cauſes that, in my opinion, have degraded woman, I have confined my obſervations to ſuch as univerſally act upon the morals and manners of the whole ſex, and to me it appears clear that they all ſpring from want of underſtanding. Whether this ariſe from a phyſical or accidental weakneſs of faculties, time alone can determine; for I ſhall not lay any great ſtreſs on the example of a few women[3] who, from having received a maſculine education, have acquired courage and reſolution; I only contend that the men who have been placed in ſimilar ſituations, have acquired a ſimilar character—I ſpeak of bodies of men, and that men of genius and talents have ſtarted out of a claſs, in which women have never yet been placed.
- ↑ 'I take her body,' ſays Ranger.
- ↑ 'Suppoſing that women are voluntary ſlaves—ſlavery of any kind is unfavourable to human happineſs and improvement.'Knox's Eſſays.
- ↑ Sappho, Eloiſa, Mrs. Macauley, the Empreſs of Ruſſia, Madame d'Eon, &c. Theſe, and many more, may be reckoned exceptions; and, are not all heroes, as well as heroines, exceptions to general rules? I wiſh to ſee women neither heroines nor brutes; but reaſonable creatures.
