leſs, if ſhe had propoſed the queſtion to me, I ſhould certainly have anſwered—They cannot.' Thus is the fair book of knowledge to be ſhut with an everlaſting ſeal! On reading ſimilar paſſages I have reverentially lifted up my eyes and heart to Him who liveth for ever and ever, and ſaid, O my Father, haſt Thou by the very conſtitution of her nature forbid Thy child to ſeek Thee in the fair forms of truth? And, can her ſoul be ſullied by the knowledge that awfully calls her to Thee?
I have then philoſophically purſued theſe reflections till I inferred that thoſe women who have moſt improved their reaſon muſt have the moſt modeſty—though a dignified ſedateneſs of deportment may have ſucceeded the playful, bewitching baſhfulneſs of youth[1].
And thus have I argued. To render chaſtity the virtue from which unſophiſticated modeſty will naturally flow, the attention ſhould be called away from employments which only exerciſe the ſenſibility; and the heart made to beat time to humanity, rather than to throb with love. The woman who has dedicated a conſiderable portion of her time to purſuits purely intellectual, and whoſe affections have been exerciſed by humane plans of uſefulneſs, muſt have more purity of mind, as a natural conſequence, than the ignorant beings whoſe time and thoughts have been occupied by gay pleaſures or ſchemes to conquer
- ↑ Modeſty, is the graceful calm virtue of maturity; baſhfulneſs, the charm of vivacious youth.
