the origin of the distinction of ranks-第16章

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course　of　the　sexes；　and　contributed　to　heighten　and　inflame　their　passions。　From　the　cultivation　of　the　arts　of　peace；　the　different　members　of　society　are　more　and　more　united；　and　have　occasion　to　enter　into　a　greater　variety　of　transactions　for　their　mutual　benefit。　As　they　become　more　civilized；　they　perceive　the　advantages　of　establishing　a　regular　government；　and　different　tribes　who　lived　in　a　state　of　independence；　are　restrained　from　injuring　one　another；　and　reduced　under　subjection　to　the　laws。　Their　former　animosities；　the　cause　of　so　much　disturbance；　are　no　longer　cherished　by　fresh　provocation；　and　at　length　are　buried　in　oblivion。　Being　no　longer　withheld　by　mutual　fear　and　jealousy；　they　are　led　by　degrees　to　contract　an　acquaintance；　and　to　carry　on　a　more　intimate　correspondence。　The　men　and　women　of　different　families　are　permitted　to　converse　with　more　ease　and　freedom；　and　meet　with　less　opposition　to　the　indulgence　of　their　inclinations。　　　　　But　while　the　fair　sex　become　less　frequently　the　objects　of　those　romantic　and　extravagant　passions；　which　in　some　measure　arise　from　the　disorders　of　society；　they　are　more　universally　regarded　upon　account　of　their　useful　or　agreeable　talents。　　　　　When　men　begin　to　disuse　their　ancient　barbarous　practices；　when　their　attention　is　not　wholly　engrossed　by　the　pursuit　of　military　reputation；　when　they　have　made　some　progress　in　arts；　and　have　attained　to　a　proportional　degree　of　refinement；　they　are　necessarily　led　to　set　a　value　upon　those　female　accomplishments　and　virtues　which　have　so　much　influence　upon　every　species　of　improvement；　and　which　contribute　in　so　many　different　ways　to　multiply　the　comforts　of　life。　In　this　situation；　the　women　become；　neither　the　slaves；　nor　the　idols　of　the　other　sex；　but　the　friends　and　companions。　The　wife　obtains　that　rank　and　station　which　appears　most　agreeable　to　reason；　being　suited　to　her　character　and　talents。　Loaded　by　nature　with　the　first　and　most　immediate　concern　in　rearing　and　maintaining　the　children；　she　is　endowed　with　such　dispositions　as　fit　her　for　the　discharge　of　this　important　duty；　and　is　at　the　same　time　particularly　qualified　for　all　such　employments　as　require　skill　and　dexterity　more　than　strength；　which　are　so　necessary　in　the　interior　management　of　the　family。　Possessed　of　peculiar　delicacy；　and　sensibility；　whether　derived　from　original　constitution；　or　from　her　way　of　life；　she　is　capable　of　securing　the　esteem　and　affection　of　her　husband；　by　dividing　his　cares；　by　sharing　his　joys；　and　by　soothing　his　misfortunes。　　　　　The　regard；　which　is　thus　shown　to　the　useful　talents　and　accomplishments　of　the　women；　cannot　fail　to　operate　in　directing　their　education；　and　in　forming　their　manners。　They　learn　to　suit　their　behaviour　to　the　circumstances　in　which　they　are　placed；　and　to　that　particular　standard　of　propriety　and　excellence　which　is　set　before　them。　Being　respected　upon　account　of　their　diligence　and　proficiency　in　the　various　branches　of　domestic　economy；　they　naturally　endeavour　to　improve　and　extend　those　valuable　qualifications。　They　are　taught　to　apply　with　assiduity　to　those　occupations　which　fall　under　their　province；　and　to　look　upon　idleness　as　the　greatest　blemish　in　the　female　character。　They　are　instructed　betimes　in　whatever　will　qualify　them　for　the　duties　of　their　station；　and　is　thought　conducive　to　the　ornament　of　private　life。　Engaged　in　these　solid　pursuits；　they　are　less　apt　to　be　distinguished　by　such　brilliant　accomplishments　as　make　a　figure　in　the　circle　of　gaiety　and　amusement。　Accustomed　to　live　in　retirement；　and　to　keep　company　with　their　nearest　relations　and　friends；　they　are　inspired　with　all　that　modesty　and　diffidence　which　is　natural　to　persons　unacquainted　with　promiscuous　conversation；　and　their　affections　are　neither　dissipated　by　pleasure；　nor　corrupted　by　the　vicious　custom　of　the　world。　As　their　attention　is　principally　bestowed　upon　the　members　of　their　own　family；　they　are　led　in　a　particular　manner　to　improve　those　feelings　of　the　heart　which　are　excited　by　these　tender　connections；　and　they　are　trained　up　in　the　practice　of　all　domestic　virtues。　　　　　The　celebrated　character；　drawn　by　Solomon；　of　the　virtuous　woman；　is　highly　expressive　of　those　ideas　and　sentiments；　which　are　commonly　entertained　by　a　people　advancing　in　commerce　and　in　the　arts　of　life。　　　　　She　seeketh　wool　and　flax；　and　worketh　willingly　with　her　hands。　She　is　like　the　merchant　ships；　she　bringeth　her　food　from　afar。　　　　　She　riseth　also　while　it　is　yet　night；　and　giveth　meat　to　her　household；　and　a　portion　to　her　maidens。　　　　　She　considereth　a　field　and　buyeth　it：　with　the　fruit　of　her　hands　she　planteth　a　vineyard。　　　　　She　perceiveth　that　her　merchandise　is　good：　her　candle　goeth　not　out　by　night。　　　　　She　layeth　her　hands　to　the　spindle；　and　her　hands　hold　the　distaff。　　　　　She　stretcheth　out　her　hand　to　the　poor；　yea；　she　reacheth　forth　her　hands　to　the　needy。　　　　　She　is　not　afraid　of　the　snow　for　her　household：　for　all　her　household　are　cloathed　with　scarlet。　　　　　She　maketh　herself　coverings　of　tapestry；　her　cloathing　is　silk　and　purple。　　　　　Her　husband　is　known　in　the　gates；　when　he　sitteth　among　the　elders　of　the　land。　　　　　She　maketh　fine　linen；　and　selleth　it；　and　delivereth　girdles　unto　the　merchant。　　　　　Strength　and　honour　are　her　cloathing；　and　she　shall　rejoice　in　time　to　come。　　　　　She　openeth　her　mouth　with　wisdom；　and　in　her　tongue　is　the　law　of　kindness。　　　　　She　looketh　well　to　the　ways　of　her　household；　and　eateth　not　the　bread　of　idleness。（31*）　　　　　In　many　of　the　Greek　states；　during　their　most　flourishing　periods；　it　appears；　that　the　women　were　viewed　nearly　in　the　same　light；　and　that　their　education　was　chiefly　calculated　to　improve　their　industry　and　talents；　so　as　to　render　them　useful　members　of　society。　Their　attention　seems　to　have　been　engrossed　by　the　care　of　their　own　families；　and　by　those　smaller　branches　of　manufacture　which　they　were　qualified　to　exercise。　They　were　usually　lodged　in　a　remote　apartment　of　the　house；　and　were　seldom　visited　by　any　person　except　their　near　relations。　Their　modesty　and　reserve；　and　their　notions　of　a　behaviour　suited　to　the　female　character；　were　such　as　might　be　expected　from　their　retired　manner　of　life。　They　never　appeared　abroad　without　being　covered　with　a　veil；　and　were　not　allowed　to　be　present　at　any　public　entertainment。　'As　for　you；　women；'　says　Pericles；　in　one　of　the　orations　in　Thucydides；　'it　ought　to　be　the　constant　aim　of　your　sex　to　avoid　being　talked　of　by　the　public；　and　it　is　your　highest　commendation　that　you　should　never　be　the　objects　either　of　applause　or　censure。'（32*）　　　　　Lysias；　in　one　of　his　orations；　has　introduced　a　widow；　the　mother　of　several　children；　who　considers　her　appearing　in　public　as　one　of　the　most　desperate　measures　to　which　she　could　be　driven　by　her　misfortunes。　She　prays　and　entreats　her　son…in…law　to　call　together　her　relations　and　friends；　that　she　might　inform　them　of　her　situation。　'I　have；'　says　she；　'never　before　been　accustomed　to　speak　in　the　presence　of　men；　but　I　am　compelled　by　my　sufferings　to　complain　of　the　injuries　I　have　met　with。'（33*）　　　　　In　another　oration；　compo