ously purſue an intellectual object[1], I may be allowed to infer that reaſon is abſolutely neceſſary to enable a woman to perform any duty properly, and I muſt again repeat, that ſenſibility is not reaſon.
The compariſon with the rich ſtill occurs to me; for, when men neglect the duties of humanity, women will do the ſame; a common ſtream hurries them both along with thoughtleſs celerity. Riches and honours prevent a man from enlarging his underſtanding, and enervate all his powers by reverſing the order of nature, which has ever made true pleaſure the reward of labour. Pleaſure—enervating pleaſure is, likewiſe, within women's reach without earning it. But, till hereditary poſſeſſions are ſpread abroad, how can we expect men to be proud of virtue? And, till they are, women will govern them by the moſt direct means, neglecting their dull domeſtic duties to catch the pleaſure that is on the wing of time.
'The power of the woman,' ſays ſome author, is her ſenſibility;' and men, not aware of the conſequence, do all they can to make this power ſwallow up every other. Thoſe who conſtantly employ their ſenſibility will have moſt; for example; poets, painters, and compoſers[2]. Yet, when the ſenſibility is thus increaſed at the expenſe of reaſon, and even the imagination, why
- ↑ The maſs of mankind are rather the ſlaves of their appetites than of their paſſions.
- ↑ Men of theſe deſcriptions pour it into their compoſitions, to amalgamate the groſs materials; and, moulding them with paſſion, give to the inert body a ſoul; but, in woman's imagination, love alone concentrates theſe etherial beams.
