Itisthissystemofdissimulation,throughoutthevolume,thatI
despise。WomenarealwaystoSEEMtobethisandthat——yetvirtuemightapostrophizethem,inthewordsofHamlet——Seems！Iknownotseems！——Havethatwithinthatpassethshow！——
Stillthesametoneoccurs;forinanotherplace,afterrecommending,（withoutsufficientlydiscriminating）delicacy,headds,\"Themenwillcomplainofyourreserve。Theywillassureyouthatafrankerbehaviourwouldmakeyoumoreamiable。But,trustme,theyarenotsincerewhentheytellyouso。Iacknowledgethatonsomeoccasionsitmightrenderyoumoreagreeableascompanions,butitwouldmakeyoulessamiableaswomen:animportantdistinction,whichmanyofyoursexarenotawareof。\"
Thisdesireofbeingalwayswomen,istheveryconsciousnessthatdegradesthesex。Exceptingwithalover,Imustrepeatwithemphasis,aformerobservation——itwouldbewelliftheywereonlyagreeableorrationalcompanions。ButinthisrespecthisadviceiseveninconsistentwithapassagewhichImeantoquotewiththemostmarkedapprobation。
\"Thesentiment,thatawomanmayallowallinnocentfreedoms,providedhervirtueissecure,isbothgrosslyindelicateanddangerous,andhasprovedfataltomanyofyoursex。\"WiththisopinionIperfectlycoincide。Aman,orawoman,ofanyfeelingmustalwayswishtoconvinceabelovedobjectthatitisthecaressesoftheindividual,notthesex,thatisreceivedandreturnedwithpleasure;and,thattheheart,ratherthanthesenses,ismoved。Withoutthisnaturaldelicacy,lovebecomesaselfishpersonalgratificationthatsoondegradesthecharacter。
Icarrythissentimentstillfurther。Affection,whenloveisoutofthequestion,authorisesmanypersonalendearments,thatnaturallyflowingfromaninnocentheartgivelifetothebehaviour;butthepersonalintercourseofappetite,gallantry,orvanity,isdespicable。Whenamansqueezesthehandofaprettywoman,handinghertoacarriage,whomhehasneverseenbefore,shewillconsidersuchanimpertinentfreedominthelightofaninsult,ifshehaveanytruedelicacy,insteadofbeingflatteredbythisunmeaninghomagetobeauty。Thesearetheprivilegesoffriendship,orthemomentaryhomagewhichtheheartpaystovirtue,whenitflashessuddenlyonthenotice——mereanimalspiritshavenoclaimtothekindnessesofaffection。
Wishingtofeedtheaffectionswithwhatisnowthefoodofvanity,Iwouldfainpersuademysextoactfromsimplerprinciples。Letthemmeritlove,andtheywillobtainit,thoughtheymayneverbetoldthat:\"Thepowerofafinewomanovertheheartsofmen,ofmenofthefinestparts,isevenbeyondwhatsheconceives。\"
Ihavealreadynoticedthenarrowcautionswithrespecttoduplicity,femalesoftness,delicacyofconstitution;forthesearethechangeswhichheringsroundwithoutceasing,inamoredecorousmanner,itistrue,thanRousseau;butitallcomeshometothesamepoint,andwhoeverisatthetroubletoanalyzethesesentiments,willfindthefirstprinciplesnotquitesodelicateasthesuperstructure。
Thesubjectofamusementsistreatedintoocursoryamanner;butwiththesamespirit。
WhenItreatoffriendship,love,andmarriage,itwillbefoundthatwemateriallydifferinopinion;IshallnotthenforestallwhatIhavetoobserveontheseimportantsubjects;butconfinemyremarkstothegeneraltenorofthem,tothatcautiousfamilyprudence,tothoseconfinedviewsofpartialunenlightenedaffection,whichexcludepleasureandimprovement,byvainlywishingtowardoffsorrowanderror——andbythusguardingtheheartandmind,destroyalsoalltheirenergy。Itisfarbettertobeoftendeceivedthannevertotrust;tobedisappointedinlove,thannevertolove;toloseahusband\'sfondness,thanforfeithisesteem。
Happywoulditbefortheworld,andforindividuals,ofcourse,ifallthisunavailingsolicitudetoattainworldlyhappiness,onaconfinedplan,wereturnedintoananxiousdesiretoimprovetheunderstanding。\"Wisdomistheprincipalthing:THEREFOREgetwisdom;andwithallthygettingsgetunderstanding。\"\"Howlongyesimpleones,willyelovesimplicity,andhateknowledge？\"SaithWisdomtothedaughtersofmen！
SECTION5。4。
Idonotmeantoalludetoallthewriterswhohavewrittenonthesubjectoffemalemanners——itwouldinfactbeonlybeatingovertheoldground,fortheyhave,ingeneral,writteninthesamestrain;butattackingtheboastedprerogativeofman——theprerogativethatmayemphaticallybecalledtheironsceptreoftyranny,theoriginalsinoftyrants,Ideclareagainstallpowerbuiltonprejudices,howeverhoary。
Ifthesubmissiondemandedbefoundedonjustice——thereisnoappealingtoahigherpower——forGodisjusticeitself。Letusthen,aschildrenofthesameparent,ifnotbastardizedbybeingtheyoungerborn,reasontogether,andlearntosubmittotheauthorityofreasonwhenhervoiceisdistinctlyheard。But,ifitbeprovedthatthisthroneofprerogativeonlyrestsonachaoticmassofprejudices,thathavenoinherentprincipleofordertokeepthemtogether,oronanelephant,tortoise,oreventhemightyshouldersofasonoftheearth,theymayescape,whodaretobravetheconsequencewithoutanybreachofduty,withoutsinningagainsttheorderofthings。
Whilstreasonraisesmanabovethebrutalherd,anddeathisbigwithpromises,theyalonearesubjecttoblindauthoritywhohavenorelianceontheirownstrength。\"Theyarefreewhowillbefree！\"*
（*Footnote。\"Heisthefreeman,whomTRUTHmakesfree！\"Cowper。）
Thebeingwhocangovernitself,hasnothingtofearinlife;butifanythingisdearerthanitsownrespect,thepricemustbepaidtothelastfarthing。Virtue,likeeverythingvaluable,mustbelovedforherselfalone;orshewillnottakeupherabodewithus。
Shewillnotimpartthatpeace,\"whichpassethunderstanding,\"whensheismerelymadethestiltsofreputationandrespectedwithpharisaicalexactness,because\"honestyisthebestpolicy。\"
Thattheplanoflifewhichenablesustocarrysomeknowledgeandvirtueintoanotherworld,istheonebestcalculatedtoensurecontentinthis,cannotbedenied;yetfewpeopleactaccordingtothisprinciple,thoughitbeuniversallyallowedthatitadmitsnotofdispute。Presentpleasure,orpresentpower,carrybeforeitthesesoberconvictions;anditisfortheday,notforlife,thatmanbargainswithhappiness。Howfew！howveryfew！havesufficientforesightorresolution,toendureasmallevilatthemoment,toavoidagreaterhereafter。
Womaninparticular,whosevirtue*isbuiltonmutualprejudices,seldomattainstothisgreatnessofmind;sothat,becomingtheslaveofherownfeelings,sheiseasilysubjugatedbythoseofothers。Thusdegraded,herreason,hermistyreason！isemployedrathertoburnishthantosnapherchains。
（*Footnote。Imeantouseawordthatcomprehendsmorethanchastity,thesexualvirtue。）
IndignantlyhaveIheardwomenargueinthesametrackasmen,andadoptthesentimentsthatbrutalizethemwithallthepertinacityofignorance。
Imustillustratemyassertionbyafewexamples。Mrs。Piozzi,whooftenrepeatedbyrote,whatshedidnotunderstand,comesforwardwithJohnsonianperiods。
\"Seeknotforhappinessinsingularity;anddreadarefinementofwisdomasadeviationintofolly。\"Thusshedogmaticallyaddressesanewmarriedman;andtoelucidatethispompousexordium,sheadds,\"Isaidthatthepersonofyourladywouldnotgrowmorepleasingtoyou,butprayletherneversuspectthatitgrowslessso:thatawomanwillpardonanaffronttoherunderstandingmuchsoonerthanonetoherperson,iswellknown;norwillanyofuscontradicttheassertion。Allourattainments,allourarts,areemployedtogainandkeeptheheartofman;andwhatmortificationcanexceedthedisappointment,iftheendbenotobtained:Thereisnoreproofhoweverpointed,nopunishmenthoweversevere,thatawomanofspiritwillnotprefertoneglect;andifshecanendureitwithoutcomplaint,itonlyprovesthatshemeanstomakeherselfamendsbytheattentionofothersfortheslightsofherhusband！\"
Thesearetruemasculinesentiments。\"AllourARTSareemployedtogainandkeeptheheartofman:\"——andwhatistheinference？——ifherperson,andwasthereeveraperson,thoughformedwithMedicisansymmetry,thatwasnotslighted？beneglected,shewillmakeherselfamendsbyendeavouringtopleaseothermen。Noblemorality！Butthusistheunderstandingofthewholesexaffronted,andtheirvirtuedeprivedofthecommonbasisofvirtue。
Awomanmustknow,thatherpersoncannotbeaspleasingtoherhusbandasitwastoherlover,andifshebeoffendedwithhimforbeingahumancreature,shemayaswellwhineaboutthelossofhisheartasaboutanyotherfoolishthing。Andthisverywantofdiscernmentorunreasonableanger,provesthathecouldnotchangehisfondnessforherpersonintoaffectionforhervirtuesorrespectforherunderstanding。
Whilstwomenavow,andactuptosuchopinions,theirunderstandings,atleast,deservethecontemptandobloquythatmen,WHONEVERinsulttheirpersons,havepointedlylevelledatthefemalemind。Anditisthesentimentsofthesepolitemen,whodonotwishtobeencumberedwithmind,thatvainwomenthoughtlesslyadopt。Yettheyshouldknow,thatinsultedreasonalonecanspreadthatSACREDreserveaboutthepersonswhichrendershumanaffections,forhumanaffectionshavealwayssomebasealloy,aspermanentasisconsistentwiththegrandendofexistence——theattainmentofvirtue。
TheBaronessdeStaelspeaksthesamelanguageastheladyjustcited,withmoreenthusiasm。HereulogiumonRousseauwasaccidentallyputintomyhands,andhersentiments,thesentimentsoftoomanyofmysex,mayserveasthetextforafewcomments。
\"ThoughRousseau,\"sheobserves,\"hasendeavouredtopreventwomenfrominterferinginpublicaffairs,andactingabrilliantpartinthetheatreofpolitics;yet,inspeakingofthem,howmuchhashedoneittotheirsatisfaction！Ifhewishedtodeprivethemofsomerights,foreigntotheirsex,howhasheforeverrestoredtothemallthosetowhichithasaclaim！Andinattemptingtodiminishtheirinfluenceoverthedeliberationsofmen,howsacredlyhasheestablishedtheempiretheyhaveovertheirhappiness！Inaidingthemtodescendfromanusurpedthrone,hehasfirmlyseatedthemuponthattowhichtheyweredestinedbynature;andthoughhebefullofindignationagainstthemwhentheyendeavourtoresemblemen,yetwhentheycomebeforehimwithallTHECHARMSWEAKNESSES,VIRTUES,andERRORS,OFtheirsex,hisrespectfortheirPERSONSamountsalmosttoadoration。\"True！——Forneverwasthereasensualistwhopaidmoreferventadorationattheshrineofbeauty。Sodevout,indeed,washisrespectfortheperson,thatexceptingthevirtueofchastity,forobviousreasons,heonlywishedtoseeitembellishedbycharms,weaknesses,anderrors。Hewasafraidlesttheausterityofreasonshoulddisturbthesoftplayfulnessoflove。Themasterwishedtohaveameretriciousslavetofondle,entirelydependentonhisreasonandbounty;hedidnotwantacompanion,whomheshouldbecompelledtoesteem,orafriendtowhomhecouldconfidethecareofhischildren\'seducation,shoulddeathdeprivethemoftheirfather,beforehehadfulfilledthesacredtask。Hedenieswomanreason,shutsheroutfromknowledge,andturnsherasidefromtruth;yethispardonisgranted,because,\"headmitsthepassionoflove。\"
Itwouldrequiresomeingenuitytoshowwhywomenweretobeundersuchanobligationtohimforthusadmittinglove;whenitisclearthatheadmitsitonlyfortherelaxationofmen,andtoperpetuatethespecies;buthetalkedwithpassion,andthatpowerfulspellworkedonthesensibilityofayoungencomiast。\"Whatsignifiesit,\"pursuesthisrhapsodist,\"towomen,thathisreasondisputeswiththemtheempire,whenhisheartisdevotedlytheirs。\"Itisnotempire——butequality,thattheyshouldcontendfor。Yet,iftheyonlywishedtolengthenouttheirsway,theyshouldnotentirelytrusttotheirpersons,forthoughbeautymaygainaheart,itcannotkeepit,evenwhilethebeautyisinfullbloom,unlessthemindlend,atleast,somegraces。
Whenwomenareoncesufficientlyenlightenedtodiscovertheirrealinterest,onagrandscale,theywill,Iampersuaded,beveryreadytoresignalltheprerogativesoflove,thatarenotmutual,（speakingofthemaslastingprerogatives,）forthecalmsatisfactionoffriendship,andthetenderconfidenceofhabitualesteem。Beforemarriagetheywillnotassumeanyinsolentairs,norafterwardabjectlysubmit;but,endeavouringtoactlikereasonablecreatures,inbothsituations,theywillnotbetumbledfromathronetoastool。
MadameGenlishaswrittenseveralentertainingbooksforchildren;
andherlettersonEducationaffordmanyusefulhints,thatsensibleparentswillcertainlyavailthemselvesof;butherviewsarenarrow,andherprejudicesasunreasonableasstrong。
Ishallpassoverhervehementargumentinfavouroftheeternityoffuturepunishments,becauseIblushtothinkthatahumanbeingshouldeverarguevehementlyinsuchacause,andonlymakeafewremarksonherabsurdmannerofmakingtheparentalauthoritysupplantreason。ForeverywheredoessheinculcatenotonlyBLIND
submissiontoparents;buttotheopinionoftheworld。*
（*Footnote。Apersonisnottoactinthisorthatway,thoughconvincedtheyarerightinsodoing,becausesomeequivocalcircumstancesmayleadtheworldtoSUSPECTthattheyactedfromdifferentmotives。Thisissacrificingthesubstanceforashadow。
Letpeoplebutwatchtheirownhearts,andactrightlyasfarastheycanjudge,andtheymaypatientlywaittilltheopinionoftheworldcomesround。Itisbesttobedirectedbyasimplemotive——forjusticehastoooftenbeensacrificedtopropriety;——anotherwordforconvenience。）
Shetellsastoryofayoungmanengagedbyhisfather\'sexpressdesiretoagirloffortune。Beforethemarriagecouldtakeplacesheisdeprivedofherfortune,andthrownfriendlessontheworld。
Thefatherpractisesthemostinfamousartstoseparatehissonfromher,andwhenthesondetectshisvillany,and,followingthedictatesofhonour,marriesthegirl,nothingbutmiseryensues,becauseforsoothhemarriedWITHOUThisfather\'sconsent。Onwhatgroundcanreligionormoralityrest,whenjusticeisthussetatdefiance？Inthesamestylesherepresentsanaccomplishedyoungwoman,asreadytomarryanybodythatherMAMMApleasedtorecommend;and,asactuallymarryingtheyoungmanofherownchoice,withoutfeelinganyemotionsofpassion,becausethatawelleducatedgirlhadnottimetobeinlove。Isitpossibletohavemuchrespectforasystemofeducationthatthusinsultsreasonandnature？
Manysimilaropinionsoccurinherwritings,mixedwithsentimentsthatdohonourtoherheadandheart。Yetsomuchsuperstitionismixedwithherreligion,andsomuchworldlywisdomwithhermorality,thatIshouldnotletayoungpersonreadherworks,unlessIcouldafterwardsconverseonthesubjects,andpointoutthecontradictions。
Mrs。Chapone\'sLettersarewrittenwithsuchgoodsense,andunaffectedhumility,andcontainsomanyusefulobservations,thatIonlymentionthemtopaytheworthywriterthistributeofrespect。Icannot,itistrue,alwayscoincideinopinionwithher;butIalwaysrespecther。
TheverywordrespectbringsMrs。Macaulaytomyremembrance。Thewomanofthegreatestabilities,undoubtedly,thatthiscountryhaseverproduced。Andyetthiswomanhasbeensufferedtodiewithoutsufficientrespectbeingpaidtohermemory。
Posterity,however,willbemorejust;andrememberthatCatharineMacaulaywasanexampleofintellectualacquirementssupposedtobeincompatiblewiththeweaknessofhersex。Inherstyleofwriting,indeed,nosexappears,foritislikethesenseitconveys,strongandclear。
Iwillnotcallher\'samasculineunderstanding,becauseIadmitnotofsuchanarrogantassumptionofreason;butIcontendthatitwasasoundone,andthatherjudgment,thematuredfruitofprofoundthinking,wasaproofthatawomancanacquirejudgment,inthefullextentoftheword。Possessingmorepenetrationthansagacity,moreunderstandingthanfancy,shewriteswithsoberenergy,andargumentativecloseness;yetsympathyandbenevolencegiveaninteresttohersentiments,andthatvitalheattoarguments,whichforcesthereadertoweighthem。*
（*Footnote。CoincidinginopinionwithMrs。Macaulayrelativetomanybranchesofeducation,Irefertohervaluablework,insteadofquotinghersentimentstosupportmyown。）
WhenIfirstthoughtofwritingthesestricturesIanticipatedMrs。
Macaulay\'sapprobationwithalittleofthatsanguineardourwhichithasbeenthebusinessofmylifetodepress;butsoonheardwiththesicklyqualmofdisappointedhope,andthestillseriousnessofregret——thatshewasnomore！
SECTION5。5。
Takingaviewofthedifferentworkswhichhavebeenwrittenoneducation,LordChesterfield\'sLettersmustnotbesilentlypassedover。NotthatImeantoanalyzehisunmanly,immoralsystem,oreventocullanyoftheusefulshrewdremarkswhichoccurinhisfrivolouscorrespondence——No,Ionlymeantomakeafewreflectionsontheavowedtendencyofthem——theartofacquiringanearlyknowledgeoftheworld。Anart,Iwillventuretoassert,thatpreyssecretly,liketheworminthebud,ontheexpandingpowers,andturnstopoisonthegenerousjuiceswhichshouldmountwithvigourintheyouthfulframe,inspiringwarmaffectionsandgreatresolves。
Foreverything,saiththewiseman,thereisreason;andwhowouldlookforthefruitsofautumnduringthegenialmonthsofspring？
Butthisismeredeclamation,andImeantoreasonwiththoseworldly—wiseinstructors,who,insteadofcultivatingthejudgment,instilprejudices,andrenderhardtheheartthatgradualexperiencewouldonlyhavecooled。Anearlyacquaintancewithhumaninfirmities;or,whatistermedknowledgeoftheworld,isthesurestway,inmyopinion,tocontracttheheartanddampthenaturalyouthfulardourwhichproducesnotonlygreattalents,butgreatvirtues。Forthevainattempttobringforththefruitofexperience,beforethesaplinghasthrownoutitsleaves,onlyexhaustsitsstrength,andpreventsitsassuminganaturalform;
justastheformandstrengthofsubsidingmetalsareinjuredwhentheattractionofcohesionisdisturbed。Tellme,yewhohavestudiedthehumanmind,isitnotastrangewaytofixprinciplesbyshowingyoungpeoplethattheyareseldomstable？Andhowcantheybefortifiedbyhabitswhentheyareprovedtobefallaciousbyexample？Whyistheardourofyouththustobedamped,andtheluxuriancyoffancycuttothequick？Thisdrycautionmay,itistrue,guardacharacterfromworldlymischances;butwillinfalliblyprecludeexcellenceineithervirtueorknowledge。Thestumbling—blockthrownacrosseverypathbysuspicion,willpreventanyvigorousexertionsofgeniusorbenevolence,andlifewillbestrippedofitsmostalluringcharmlongbeforeitscalmevening,whenmanshouldretiretocontemplationforcomfortandsupport。
Ayoungmanwhohasbeenbredupwithdomesticfriends,andledtostorehismindwithasmuchspeculativeknowledgeascanbeacquiredbyreadingandthenaturalreflectionswhichyouthfulebullitionsofanimalspiritsandinstinctivefeelingsinspire,willentertheworldwithwarmanderroneousexpectations。Butthisappearstobethecourseofnature;andinmorals,aswellasinworksoftaste,weshouldbeobservantofhersacredindications,andnotpresumetoleadwhenweoughtobsequiouslytofollow。
Intheworldfewpeopleactfromprinciple;presentfeelings,andearlyhabits,arethegrandsprings:buthowwouldtheformerbedeadened,andthelatterrenderedironcorrodingfetters,iftheworldwereshowntoyoungpeoplejustasitis;whennoknowledgeofmankindortheirownhearts,slowlyobtainedbyexperiencerenderedthemforbearing？Theirfellowcreatureswouldnotthenbeviewedasfrailbeings;likethemselves,condemnedtostrugglewithhumaninfirmities,andsometimesdisplayingthelightandsometimesthedarksideoftheircharacter;extortingalternatefeelingsofloveanddisgust;butguardedagainstasbeastsofprey,tilleveryenlargedsocialfeeling,inaword——humanity,waseradicated。
Inlife,onthecontrary,aswegraduallydiscovertheimperfectionsofournature,wediscovervirtues,andvariouscircumstancesattachustoourfellowcreatures,whenwemixwiththem,andviewthesameobjects,thatareneverthoughtofinacquiringahastyunnaturalknowledgeoftheworld。Weseeafollyswellintoavice,byalmostimperceptibledegrees,andpitywhileweblame;but,ifthehideousmonsterburstsuddenlyonoursight,fearanddisgustrenderingusmoreseverethanmanoughttobe,mightleaduswithblindzealtousurpthecharacterofomnipotence,anddenouncedamnationonourfellowmortals,forgettingthatwecannotreadtheheart,andthatwehaveseedsofthesameviceslurkinginourown。
Ihavealreadyremarked,thatweexpectmorefrominstruction,thanmereinstructioncanproduce:for,insteadofpreparingyoungpeopletoencountertheevilsoflifewithdignity,andtoacquirewisdomandvirtuebytheexerciseoftheirownfaculties,preceptsareheapeduponprecepts,andblindobediencerequired,whenconvictionshouldbebroughthometoreason。
Suppose,forinstance,thatayoungpersoninthefirstardouroffriendshipdeifiesthebelovedobject——whatharmcanarisefromthismistakenenthusiasticattachment？Perhapsitisnecessaryforvirtuefirsttoappearinahumanformtoimpressyouthfulhearts;
theidealmodel,whichamorematuredandexaltedmindlooksupto,andshapesforitself,wouldeludetheirsight。Hewholovesnothisbrotherwhomhehathseen,howcanheloveGod？askedthewisestofmen。
Itisnaturalforyouthtoadornthefirstobjectofitsaffectionwitheverygoodquality,andtheemulationproducedbyignorance,or,tospeakwithmorepropriety,byinexperience,bringsforwardthemindcapableofformingsuchanaffection,andwhen,inthelapseoftime,perfectionisfoundnottobewithinthereachofmortals,virtue,abstractly,isthoughtbeautiful,andwisdomsublime。Admirationthengivesplacetofriendship,properlysocalled,becauseitiscementedbyesteem;andthebeingwalksaloneonlydependentonheavenforthatemulouspantingafterperfectionwhicheverglowsinanoblemind。Butthisknowledgeamanmustgainbytheexertionofhisownfaculties;andthisissurelytheblessedfruitofdisappointedhope！forHewhodelightethtodiffusehappinessandshowmercytotheweakcreatures,whoarelearningtoknowhim,neverimplantedagoodpropensitytobeatormentingignisfatuus。
Ourtreesarenowallowedtospreadwithwildluxuriance,nordoweexpectbyforcetocombinethemajesticmarksoftimewithyouthfulgraces;butwaitpatientlytilltheyhavestruckdeeptheirroot,andbravedmanyastorm。Isthemindthen,which,inproportiontoitsdignityadvancesmoreslowlytowardsperfection,tobetreatedwithlessrespect？Toarguefromanalogy,everythingaroundusisinaprogressivestate;andwhenanunwelcomeknowledgeoflifeproducesalmostasatietyoflife,andwediscoverbythenaturalcourseofthingsthatallthatisdoneunderthesunisvanity,wearedrawingneartheawfulcloseofthedrama。Thedaysofactivityandhopeareover,andtheopportunitieswhichthefirststageofexistencehasaffordedofadvancinginthescaleofintelligence,mustsoonbesummedup。Aknowledgeatthisperiodofthefutilityoflife,orearlier,ifobtainedbyexperience,isveryuseful,becauseitisnatural;butwhenafrailbeingisshownthefolliesandvicesofman,thathemaybetaughtprudentlytoguardagainstthecommoncasualtiesoflifebysacrificinghisheart——surelyitisnotspeakingharshlytocallitthewisdomofthisworld,contrastedwiththenoblerfruitofpietyandexperience。
Iwillventureaparadox,anddelivermyopinionwithoutreserve;
ifmenwereonlyborntoformacircleoflifeanddeath,itwouldbewisetotakeeverystepthatforesightcouldsuggesttorenderlifehappy。Moderationineverypursuitwouldthenbesupremewisdom;andtheprudentvoluptuarymightenjoyadegreeofcontent,thoughheneithercultivatedhisunderstandingnorkepthisheartpure。Prudence,supposingweweremortal,wouldbetruewisdom,or,tobemoreexplicit,wouldprocurethegreatestportionofhappiness,consideringthewholeoflife;butknowledgebeyondtheconveniencesoflifewouldbeacurse。
Whyshouldweinjureourhealthbyclosestudy？Theexaltedpleasurewhichintellectualpursuitsaffordwouldscarcelybeequivalenttothehoursoflanguorthatfollow;especially,ifitbenecessarytotakeintothereckoningthedoubtsanddisappointmentsthatcloudourresearches。Vanityandvexationcloseeveryinquiry:forthecausewhichweparticularlywishedtodiscoverflieslikethehorizonbeforeusasweadvance。Theignorant,onthecontrary,resemblechildren,andsuppose,thatiftheycouldwalkstraightforwardtheyshouldatlastarrivewheretheearthandcloudsmeet。Yet,disappointedasweareinourresearches,themindgainsstrengthbytheexercise,sufficient,perhaps,tocomprehendtheanswerswhich,inanotherstepofexistence,itmayreceivetotheanxiousquestionsitasked,whentheunderstandingwithfeeblewingwasflutteringroundthevisibleeffectstodiveintothehiddencause。
Thepassionsalso,thewindsoflife,wouldbeuseless,ifnotinjurious,didthesubstancewhichcomposesourthinkingbeing,afterwehavethoughtinvain,onlybecomethesupportofvegetablelife,andinvigorateacabbage,orblushinarose。Theappetiteswouldanswereveryearthlypurpose,andproducemoremoderateandpermanenthappiness。Butthepowersofthesoulthatareoflittleusehere,and,probably,disturbouranimalenjoyments,evenwhileconsciousdignitymakesusgloryinpossessingthem,provethatlifeismerelyaneducation,astateofinfancy,ofwhichtheonlyhopesworthcherishingshouldnotbesacrificed。Imean,thereforetoinfer,thatweoughttohaveapreciseideaofwhatwewishtoattainbyeducation,fortheimmortalityofthesouliscontradictedbytheactionsofmanypeople,whofirmlyprofessthebelief。
Ifyoumeantosecureeaseandprosperityonearthasthefirstconsideration,andleavefuturitytoprovideforitself,youactprudentlyingivingyourchildanearlyinsightintotheweaknessesofhisnature。Youmaynot,itistrue,makeanInkleofhim;butdonotimaginethathewillsticktomorethantheletterofthelaw,whohasveryearlyimbibedameanopinionofhumannature;norwillhethinkitnecessarytorisemuchabovethecommonstandard。
Hemayavoidgrossvices,becausehonestyisthebestpolicy;buthewillneveraimatattaininggreatvirtues。Theexampleofwritersandartistswillillustratethisremark。
Imustthereforeventuretodoubt,whetherwhathasbeenthoughtanaxiominmorals,maynothavebeenadogmaticalassertionmadebymenwhohavecoollyseenmankindthroughthemediumofbooks,andsay,indirectcontradictiontothem,thattheregulationofthepassionsisnotalwayswisdom。Onthecontrary,itshouldseem,thatonereasonwhymenhavesuperiourjudgmentandmorefortitudethanwomen,isundoubtedlythis,thattheygiveafreerscopetothegrandpassions,andbymorefrequentlygoingastray,enlargetheirminds。Ifthenbytheexerciseoftheirownreason,theyfixonsomestableprinciple,theyhaveprobablytothanktheforceoftheirpassions,nourishedbyFALSEviewsoflife,andpermittedtooverleaptheboundarythatsecurescontent。Butif,inthedawnoflife,wecouldsoberlysurveythescenesbeforeusasinperspective,andseeeverythinginitstruecolours,howcouldthepassionsgainsufficientstrengthtounfoldthefaculties？
Letmenow,asfromaneminence,surveytheworldstrippedofallitsfalsedelusivecharms。Theclearatmosphereenablesmetoseeeachobjectinitstruepointofview,whilemyheartisstill。I
amcalmastheprospectinamorningwhenthemists,slowlydispersing,silentlyunveilthebeautiesofnature,refreshedbyrest。
Inwhatlightwilltheworldnowappear？Irubmyeyesandthink,perchance,thatIamjustawakingfromalivelydream。
Iseethesonsanddaughtersofmenpursuingshadows,andanxiouslywastingtheirpowerstofeedpassionswhichhavenoadequateobject——iftheveryexcessoftheseblindimpulsespamperedbythatlying,yetconstantly—trustedguide,theimagination,didnot,bypreparingthemforsomeotherstate,rendershortsightedmortalswiserwithouttheirownconcurrence;or,whatcomestothesamething,whentheywerepursuingsomeimaginarypresentgood。
Afterviewingobjectsinthislight,itwouldnotbeveryfancifultoimagine,thatthisworldwasastageonwhichapantomimeisdailyperformedfortheamusementofsuperiourbeings。Howwouldtheybedivertedtoseetheambitiousmanconsuminghimselfbyrunningafteraphantom,and,pursuingthebubblefamein\"thecannon\'smouth\"thatwastoblowhimtonothing:forwhenconsciousnessislost,itmattersnotwhetherwemountinawhirlwindordescendinrain。Andshouldtheycompassionatelyinvigoratehissight,andshowhimthethornypathwhichledtoeminence,thatlikeaquicksandsinksasheascends,disappointinghishopeswhenalmostwithinhisgrasp,wouldhenotleavetoothersthehonourofamusingthem,andlabourtosecurethepresentmoment,thoughfromtheconstitutionofhisnaturehewouldnotfinditveryeasytocatchtheflyingstream？Suchslavesarewetohopeandfear！
But,vainastheambitiousman\'spursuitwouldbe,heisoftenstrivingforsomethingmoresubstantialthanfame——thatindeedwouldbetheveriestmeteor,thewildestfirethatcouldlureamantoruin。What！renouncethemosttriflinggratificationtobeapplaudedwhenheshouldbenomore！Whereforethisstruggle,whethermanismortalorimmortal,ifthatnoblepassiondidnotreallyraisethebeingabovehisfellows？
Andlove！Whatdivertingsceneswoulditproduce——Pantaloon\'stricksmustyieldtomoreegregiousfolly。Toseeamortaladornanobjectwithimaginarycharms,andthenfalldownandworshiptheidolwhichhehadhimselfsetup——howridiculous！Butwhatseriousconsequencesensuetorobmanofthatportionofhappiness,whichtheDeitybycallinghimintoexistencehas（or,onwhatcanhisattributesrest？）indubitablypromised;wouldnotallthepurposesoflifehavebeenmuchbetterfulfilledifhehadonlyfeltwhathasbeentermedphysicallove？And,wouldnotthesightoftheobject,notseenthroughthemediumoftheimagination,soonreducethepassiontoanappetite,ifreflection,thenobledistinctionofman,didnotgiveitforce,andmakeitaninstrumenttoraisehimabovethisearthydross,byteachinghimtolovethecentreofallperfection！whosewisdomappearsclearerandclearerintheworksofnature,inproportionasreasonisilluminatedandexaltedbycontemplation,andbyacquiringthatloveoforderwhichthestrugglesofpassionproduce？