ſuch a ſacrifice, I only contend that it was a ſacrifice to affection, and not merely to ſenſibility, though ſhe had her ſhare.—And I muſt be allowed to call her a modeſt woman, before I diſmiſs this part of the ſubject, by ſaying, that till men are more chaſte women will be immodeſt. Where, indeed, could modeſt women find huſbands from whom they would not continually turn with diſguſt? Modeſty muſt be equally cultivated by both ſexes, or it will ever remain a ſickly hot-houſe plant, whilſt the affectation of it, the fig leaf borrowed by wantonneſs, may give a zeſt to voluptuous enjoyments.
Men will probably ſtill inſiſt that woman ought to have more modeſty than man; but it is not diſpaſſionate reaſoners who will moſt earneſtly oppoſe my opinion. No, they are the men of fancy, the favourites of the ſex, who outwardly reſpect and inwardly deſpiſe the weak creatures whom they thus ſport with. They cannot ſubmit to reſign the higheſt ſenſual gratification, nor even to reliſh the epicuriſm of virtue—ſelf-denial.
To take another view of the ſubject, confining my remarks to women.
The ridiculous falſities[1] which are told to children, from miſtaken notions of modeſty, tend
- ↑ Children very early ſee cats with their kittens, birds with their young ones, &c. Why then are they not to be told that their mothers carry and nouriſh them in the ſame way? As there would then be no appearance of myſtery they would never think, of the ſubject more. Truth may always be told to children, if it be told gravely; but it is the immodeſty of affected modeſty, that does all the miſchief; and this ſmoke heats the imagination by vainly endeavouring to obſure certain objects. If, indeed, children could be kept entirely from improper company, we ſhould never allude to any ſuch ſubjects; but as this is impoſſible, it is beſt to tell them the truth, eſpecially as ſuch information, not intereſting them, will make no impreſſion on their imagination.
