第9章

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？