fy

/-

THE

HISTORY

WOMEN,
O

FROM THE
EARLIEST ANTIQUITY, TO THE PRESENT TIMEj

GIVING
Some Account of
that Sex,

By

almoft every interefting Particular concerning

among

all

Nations, ancient and modern.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER,
IN

M. D.

TWO VOLUMES.
VOL.

I.

LONDON:
PRINTED lOR

\V.

STRAHAN; AND

CADELL,
MDCCLXXIX.

i77q

T.

IN

THE STRAND.

A ^7J^

ADVERTISEMENT.

As
and

the following
the

amufement and

as their education

men

that of the
ligible,

plicity

we have

in general lefs extenfive than

As we

render

is

not Enolifh, but even, as

perfuade ourfelves, that nothing

to the fex,

attention,

or to which

than a long

and

as

lift

much

we

we

could be

they would

of authors 'on the

have derived our in-

a great part of fuch

to books in other languages,

lift

would

refer

have entirely omitted

and contented ourfelves with fometimes interweaving

into our text,

as

and fim-

not only totally excluded

margin, to fliew from whence

it,

the more intel-

avoided every technical term.

more perplexing

formation,

it

ftudied the utmoft plainnefs

of language; have

as poffible,

lefs

is

folely for

inftrudlion of the Fair Sex;

in order to

almoft every word that

pay

Work was compofed

the

names and fentiments of fuch authors

have more peculiarly elucidated the

fubje(n:s

we were

inveftigating.

ANTUfiO-SOC.

We

ADVERTISEMENT.
We

have not vanity enough to recommend our

to the learned, they mufl: have

related

in

it

which
corrupt

the heart,

that they

would

own

ourfelves will afford

will

we cannot

undeiflanding and

the

help exprefling a vvifh,

fpare a part of this time to look into the

hiflory of their

which

fex,

fair

poring over novels and romances,

tend to miflead

greatly

the

anecdote

more confined, now fpcnd many of

is

hours in

their idle

witli every

but as the generality of

whofe reading

met

Work

more

Sex

a hiflory,

them no

irrational

which we

flatter

amufement, and

gratify the curiofity of the

female mind

in whatever relates to themfelvcs, than any thing that has

hitherto been publillied.

We

do not mean by

this to praife ourfelves;

we

fub-

mit with the utmofi: diffidence to the judgment of the

we have any

Public.

If

together,

and prefcnting

dotcs concerning the (ex,

number of author?,

merit,
in

it is

one view, a variety of

which

aneC'-

lay fcattered in a great

ancient and modern, and not with-

in the reading of the Sex themfelves

libraries

only in coUedling

recourfe to larger

mi^ht have made thefe anecdotes more nume-

rous,

and better judgments would have feleded them

more

judicioufly

more

fcnfible

accounts,

none

of the imperfedions of the

Work

on

thcfe

can be
than

we
are,

ADVERTISEMENT.
are,

but

we hope our candid Readers

will

make fome

allowances for our having trod a path which has never

been attempted before

felves,

afTure

will

treat

and the Ladies, we

us with

flatter

our-

ibme indulgence, when we

them, that we have exerted our utmoft

to put their hiflory into the mofl engaging drefs,

mingle pleafure with inftrudlion.

abilities

and to

CONTENTS
OF THE

FIRST VOLUME.
Introduction,

CHAP.

Page
I.

AJhort Sketch of the Antediluvian Hijiory of Women.

CHAP.

19

II.

24

Offemale Education,

CHAP.
Of the Employments and Anmfements

CHAP.
The fame

III.

of Women.

59

IV.

SubjeSl continued.

CHAP.
Of the

76
V.

Treatment and Condition of Women, and the ifarious Advan-

tages and Difadvantages of their Sex, infavage and civil Life.

102

CHAP.

Vi.

The fame SubjeSt continued.

CHAP.
The fame

Subjecl continued.

128
VII.
1

47

CONTENTS.
CHAP.
The fame Suhje^

Page 169

continued.

CHAP.
The fame SubjeB

IX.

continued.

198

CHAP.
Of the

VIII.

CharaEler and

X.

Condu^ of Women.

CHAP.

237

CHAP.

259

Influence

XIII.

292

continued.

CHAP.
Of the

XII.

continued.

CHAP.
The fame SubjeB

offemale

XIV.
314

Society.

H A

P.

XV.

Sketches of Ceremonies and Cufloms, for the

by

Women,

218

XI.

The fame SuhjeH continued.

The fame Subjefl

..

tnofl

part obferved only

338

INTRO-

INTRODUCTION.
ALTHOUGH

there

nothing in nature that

is

much en-

fo

gages our attention, fo forcibly draws our inclinations, or

with which our

other fex, yet fo ftrong

our partiality to ourfelves, that

is

have never in any period, nor in any country,

to the happinefs
riod,

and

and

interefts

in every country,

we have

from us the

whom

profefled to love

pofTefs,

tribute of love, they

we

fufficiently attended

of thofe beings,

and while the charms which they

torted

with the

interefts are fo intimately blended, as

in

every pe-

and

to adore:

have every where ex-

have only

in a

few places

extorted from us good ufage.

Almost
hardly do

every

man

is full

of complaints againft the

we meet with any one who

ferioufly

women

but

endeavours to rec-

tify the evils againft which he exclaims fo bitterly.

fiders

fex,

He who

con-

only as objedts of his love, and of his pleafure

complains, that in his connedions with them, he finds them inconftant,

The

unfaithful,

philofopher,

and ever open

who would

wifli to

to

flattery

and fedudion.

mingle the joys of friend-

fhip and of converfation with thofe of love, complains that they

are deftitute of every idea, but thofe that flow

felf-admiration

from gallantry and

and confequently incapable of giving or receiv-

ing

Complaints
kx!'^

INTRODUCTION.

The man

ing any of the more refined and intelledual pleafures.

of bufinefs complains, that they are giddy and thoughtlcfs, and

want the plodding head, and the faving hand,

wards thriving

in the world.

And

pJaints.

WiTHouT^examining how
or ill founded, we fhall only
are well founded, when we
the blame ultimately

fall

fet

ftancy to the females with

complains,

every kind of admofocial life.

far tlicfe general complaints are well

oblerve,
trace

that

them

to

in

cafes

where they

their fource,

we

find

Does not the man of love

on ourfelves.

and gallantry commonly

men
way

to

and negledl of the duties of domeftic and

nition,

Cnufcscf

man

almort every

of their idlenefs, extravagance, difregard

neccffary to-

fo

the example of infidelity and incon-

whom

he

connected

is

And

do not

in general, but too obvioufly, chalk out to the other fex, the

that

leads

to

every levity and folly

What made

philofopher fo fufceptible of the rational and the

fures? doubtlefs, the education beflowed

intelleiftual

the

plea-

upon him; and the fame

education might have given his wife or his daughter, an equal,

or even a fuperior relifh for them
expe(fl the fruit

fedion.

The

it is

him

folly in

without the culture necefiary

to

man

plodding and fteadinefs of the

therefore to

bring

it

to

per-

of bufinefs, he

has acquired in his early years; and they are augmented by his

being

lole

mafter of what he can amafs,

fpend or difpofe of

it

as

and having a power to

But

he thinks proper.

his

brought up in no fuch fchool, and has no fuch motives

try;

wife was
to induf-

for fhould fhe even toil with the utmoft affiduity, he can-

not appropriate to herfelf what (he acquires; nor lay out any part

of

it

without leave of her hufband.

Nor

gance, and negiedt of domeftic duties, which

upon

the fex, fo

much

is

the idlenefs, extrava-

we

fo

commonly charge

the fault of nature as of education.

I

Can

we

INTRODUCTION.
we

whom we

expet that the girl

and

levity

amufe,

fliall,

plan, and

whom we

folly,

become the

If this be, as

we

the whole

to

change her
?

as well

expecH: to reap corn.

perfuade ourfelves

may

it is,

a candid and impar-

be traced either to the total want of, or to an im-

proper education; and

the

if

or beftowing

altogether,

will follow,

that

we

part, in trying to

it

power of negleding

fhould at a

amend

this education

improperly, be lodged in our hands,

management and diredion of

as having the fole

much

their faults

better

the fex;

then

it

and more becoming

by a more judicious

inftruc-

than to leave them ignorant, and complain that they are fo;

or teach them folly, and

But

taught them.

fair,

them

rail at

inftead

every country, while the

the

totally

and

of the fource of female folly and of female wcaknefs; if

tial ftate

tion,

marriage,

and ceconomical houfewife

fober

might we fow weeds and

in every fafhlonable

ufe our utmoft efforts to flatter

moment of her

the

up

train

they have either

of doing

having learned what

for
this,

men have been

left their

in every

we

age, and in

partial to the perfons

of

minds altogether without cul-

them by a culture of a fpurious and improper nature; fufpicious, perhaps, that a more rational one would have
ture, or biafled

opened

them

their eyes,

fhewn them

to affert the rights

perpetually,

But we

more

of nature

lefs,

rights, of

and prompted

which the men have

deprived them.

do not only negled the fex, or mifiead them in point

of education

while youth and beauty

which we open
for while

or

their real condition,

we

to

them

is

all

delufion,

is

on

their fide,

flattery,

take every opportunity of telling

fent, that their perfons arc all

the fcene

and falfehood

them when pre-

beauty, and their fentiments and

adions

INTRODUCTION.

4
acllons

all

perfcdioii

their n^inds,

and

and every

fault

when

we laugh

abfent,

and exhibit

fplenetically fatirife

folly.

Nor

is it

of

view every

to

they have become wives, or

till

the wrii.klcs have furrowed their brows,

till

at the credulity

the other fex

that

hear the voice of truth from ours.

Satirifts,

NoR

how

thev have
treaied the

are the follies and foibles of the fex, only the fubjecfl of

Verbal fneer, and of verbal criticifm

of our fex as have'

fucli

lex.

been foured by difappointments of any kind, and more particularly thofe

and

who

more

Aill

have been unfortunate in the purfuit of lawful,

fo, in

that of unlawful love

every one who, they are affured,

all

vi'ill

like

cowards

make no

who

attack

have in

refiftance,

ages dipped their pens in gall, and for the fuppofed faults of a

few,

illiberally

fex.

Among

vomited out fpleen and ill-nature againft the whole

the earlieft of thefe kind of writers

reckon Solomon,

who

we may

juftly

fated with licentious love, cloyed with ve-

nal charms, and perhaps fhattered in

took almoft

conflitution,

every opportunity to exclaim againft the flaves of his feraglio, and

the whole fex

and becaufe they were not equal

men

a thing

polTiblc,

in

which Solomon might

pleafure,

mental qualifications to the

have found to be im-

eafily

had he attended to the method in which they were edu-

and

cated,

him no new

becaufe they could afford

in

which they were confined.

Some

alfo

of the Apo-

cryphal writers are nothing behind i-olomon in fpleen, and greatly

exceed
to

h\r.\ in

ill-nature

and coarfenefs of expreffion. But

have been the genius of the Eafl

to praife all

perfonal graces, and at the fame time to fuppofe

vefted of every got^d quality of the
ideas

mind

which were entertained by Solomon,

Hindoos even

in

an

earlier period

for

women
them

we

it

for their

entirely di-

find the

difFufed

feems

fame

among

the

of the world, and venting themfelves

rNTRODUCTION.
even with an additional degree

i^lves alfo in their facred writings

" The

of acrimony.

"

fatisfied,

luft

no more than

fire is

" ocean with receiving the

" the dying of
"

fix qualities

*'

furniture,

men and
the

" immoderate
*'

refentment,

their heart;

'

their eyes

luft;

no

third,

perfon

have only feleded

again,

or the

main

Women

''

and nice viduals

violent anger

the fentiments concealed in

could

thefe, to

fhew

the

With fuch

a whole volume

but

that their opinions

and Horace,

After women
netic
lafl:

for

Greek and Roman

writers

as

more

re-

The

by Juve-

too coarfe and unpolifhed for a people

to us a

mean

idea of

politenefs.

had been the fubjed of

fatlrlcal

wit and of fple-

temper for upwards of three thoufand years, an

arofe in Europe,

fome time

and

fuppofe them only mere effufions

emerged from barbarity, and conveys

Greek and Roman

at

is

we

were not

nor tindured with any wit;

we may

Nor were

fill

language ufed by fome of the Greek writers, as well

juft

fine

the fourth, deep

fined in their fentiments, or delicate in their expreflions.

nal, Martial,

have

the fecond,

commit bad adions."

we

thefe accounts

of the fpleen.

And

knowing

fupported by any argument,

on

fuel,

the fifth, another perfon's good appears evil in

invedives of the eafterns

that

with

an inordinate defire for jewels and

the fixth, they

never

or the empire of death with

rivers,

clothes,

the

is

(fays the Pundits)

fatisfied

animals."

firft,

handfome

woman

of a

totally

known by

the

name of

inftitution

chivalry,

which

changed the fentiments and writings of

mankind, and placing the iex hardly beneath

made

it

celeftial beings,
fom.ething mure than treafon to maltreat, and fcarcely
lefs

than bla;phc-my to fpeak

in

evil

which chi\alry fiouriOied

of them.

in its

1 he times, however,

greatefl perfection,

were not
thofe

Favourable

conViljonV
'""^ ^''^'

INTRODUCTION.

<jS

thofe of writing

but

when

it

began

to decline,

and

mix

letters to

with gallantry, the effufions of wit took another diredion, and

the men, inftcad of ftriving againft each other
vilify the fex, entered the

that of

all

the joys

in the life

we can

come, love

to

moft

fliould

with another intention, that of

lifts

their fuperior merit,

fhewing

who

and even of perfuading the world,

experience" in the prefent, or hope for

the only one worth our care and

is

folicitude.

Anciently

of heroes, or of the rich

ploits

praifes of beauty,

they were to the

and the fweets of

laft

entertained

angels and other inferior

compare them

not

lefs

out

it

would be

mutual

Chrift.
praifes

to,

In the praife of beauty

love.

mlftreftcs, as in

celeftial

and even

joylefs

and

claffcd together

Petrarch no

beings

to exalt

We

modern

not

times,

to

they were not afhamed

them above the Supreme

Boccace, in the moft: ferious

infipld.

God and the

aftiftance in

ladies,

and thanked them for

defending him againft his enemies

lefs ferioufly

Deudcs de Prade,

compares Laura, his

a prieft

and poet,

miftrefs,

who

and

to Jefus

ufed to fing the

of women, fays, that he would not wifh to enter into

heaven, but on condition of making love to her

are not

who were
their

in their

wild and romantic, and imagined that even paradife with-

manner,

iifliionable.

ex-

In celebrating the enjoyments of love, they were

Being himfelf.

Topraiiethe

them

degree extravagant and hyperbolical

with comparing their

fatisfied

their

who

to fing the

In the decline of chivalry, they began alfo to fing the

train.

to

employed

the bards had only been

much

whom

he adored.

furprifed to find the poets, or troubadours,

retained by the rich and

the beautiful, and paid for

fongs, flattering grcatnefs and extolling beauty.

But they
were

INTRODUCTION.
were not the only
the

fet

humour became

men who

of

general

thus employed themfelves

poets, pricfts, gentlemen,

women

cated their literary talents to the praife of

at laft

when

unneceflary for them to hire poets,

all

and

all
it

dedi-

became

ranks of peo-

ple voluntarily inlifted themfelves in their fervice.

BocCACE

feems to have been the

who

firfl

ftarted the idea

of

writing any thing larger than a fong or fonnet in praife of the

He

fex.
'*

Women

cuit

a Latin treatife,

publiflied
;"

and

" Of

intitled

of them he ranfacked the whole

in fearch

Roman

of fable, of the facred, and of the Greek and

ries.

The

idea

was too happily adapted

to be allowed to fink into oblivion

up by a numerous herd of
ing upon

it,

collected

illuftrious

it

cir-

hifto-

of the times,

to the tafte

therefore, taken

was foon,

Francis Sordonati improv-

imitators.

from every polifhed and from every barba-

rous nation to the number of one hundred and twenty, the names

of fuch

came

as

fafhionable, in a

publiflied

This mode of writing now be-

had efcaped Boccace.

in praife

few years not

The

of women.

than twenty authors had

lefs

heroine, the religiofa, and

the learned flood foremofl: in the catalogue.

tues did not pafs unnoticed

excellent pudding,

and

at laft,

and every other

came

to

tural

phlegm, even the Dutch

be the fubjed of panegyric

felt

But the

inferior vir-

even the making of an

fpecies

and

of culinary merit,

in fpite

of

all

the enthufiafm,

their na-

and contri-

buted their mite to the praife of the fex.

Subjects of writing upon,

tarns of being fafluonable
fhionable topic was to extol

the vices of

women.

this
all

Much

like

modes of

drefs,

was the period

in

have their

which the

the virtues, and to varnifh over

had already been

faid

faall

and wrote on
the

INTRODUCTION.
the fubjed

but Hilario da Cofta, a monk, refolving to exceed aH

who had gone

before him, publifhed two quarto volumes, of eight

hundred pages each

panegyrics of
turies,

all

who had

containing, according to his

the

women

of the fifteenth and fixteenth cen-

diftinguifiied

But

lents or virtues.

as if

account, the

no

themfelves by any remarkable tatalent

nor any virtue could

without the pale of the catholic church, the partial

memory

fucceeding ages have held in contempt

whom

Elizabeth,

her country

makes no mention.
hundred and feventy.
lufory world, the

The

ftill

But who can enfure

who was

fifter

gratitude,

monk amount

eulogies of this

monk were

of her

remembers with

to

he
one

to himfelf, in this de-

fummit of greatnefs or of fame

nous labours of our

ecclefiaftic

woman of other principles and while

virtues of Mary queen of England, whofe

pafles in filence over every

he loudly praifes the

exifl:

The volumi-

foon after greatly furpafled by

delivered of a monftrous work,

which
" The Triumphs and heroic Enterprizes of eight hua-

Paul de Ribera,

he called
" dred Women."

On

reading thefe accounts a reflcdion naturally

either the

women of

for their virtues and

proftituted

feems
as

their

to be, that

thefe times

good

talents

that

muft have been very remarkable

qualities,

to

arifes,

or the

men

mufl;

The

adulation and flattery.

both were in fome mcafure the cafe

we have juft now remarked, was

and

fafliionable,

writer to the fmiles and approbation of the fair

have bafely
truth

the Tubjedf,

it

intitled the

and

their fmilcs

and approbation, befides flattering his vanity, were the road to

honour and

to preferment.

Nor was

the fpirit of chivalry as yet

men

at liberty to confider the Tex

fo far evaporated, as to leave the

in a

calm and difpaflionate

light, or to write

any thing concerning

them

INTRODUCTION.
them

that did not fet

The women

them fomething above

emulous of glory and of

too,

the level of mortality.

by

praifc, were,

writings, ftimulatcd to great and to virtuous actions

they ia-

them noble deeds and fcntimentf,

fpired the oien to afcribe to

and they adled and thought nobly, that they might not
the opinions entertained of them

appeared

When

any other period

at

Europe.

this

kind of gallantry, which taught every

,'.

I'lrr !
lider every woman as a kmd 01 luperior bemg,
/-1

"by

falfify

hence thefe times produced

more extraordinary women, than have ever

in

thefe

and began

had wore

the moft extravagant exertions, the minds of

pofite direction,

man

men

to

con- The

itfelf

out men

looking upon them, either as the

play-things of a fportive hour, or the mere inftruments of animal

pleafure

almoft

diverting

them of almoft

ferious connelion

all

all

fentiment, and avoiding

with them.

In England, the libcr-

tinifm of the court of Charles the Second

rals

of almoft

them

for the

the

all

women, and then taught

debauched the mo-

men

the

to dcfpife

want of what they themfelves had robbed them

Things having taken this turn,

women,

write againft the

The

favour.

firft

earl

as

it

of Rochefter

fet

of.

foon became as fafhionable to

had been before

it

to write in their

the example, and

it

was foon

followed by Pope, Swift, Young, and a variety of other inferior

fcriblers

all

of

whom

that their intention

afTert,

was thereby

to

reclaim a fex, which, in the profecution of vice and folly, had refifted

every other

effort.

But

which there are fome reafons

ill it

was adapted

on women

Vol.

I.

if

to

fuch really was their intention,

doubt

the event has

to the purpofes intended

in former times, fired

them with

fhewn how

the praifes
a great

take an
^''

took an op-

to confider the fex, either in a dimi-

nutive, or contumelious light

fen ti-

nients of the

^ .^

beAowed

and a virtuous
emulation;

ri^ufn?

INTRODUCTION.

xo
emulation

thrown out

the fatire

againfl

have mentioned, has only incited

amending

their

them hj the

indignation, inflead of

the

modes of writing concerning the

fuch have been the efFels of thefe writings.

fhort view of the revolutions

rader and manners

Let us

which have happened

now

take a

cha-

to their

Europe, from the deftru^ion of the

in

and

fex,

Roman

to the prefent time.

When

the ancient

Germans

fliall

fee afterward, were,

from

fallied

caverns, to give laws and cuftoms to

we

we

their heart.

Such have been

empire

writers

all

woods and

Europe, their women, as

many

in

their

of equal, and

refpeifis,

fometimes even of greater, confideration and confequence than

men.

their

When

thefe

Germans had

fettled themfelves in almofl:

every country, and when, from that mixture of religion, gallantry,

and war, for which they were confpicuous, had arifen that

fpecies

we have

of romantic heroifm, called chivalry,

reafon to believe, that the value

men, communicated

to

which

it

the flrongeft

ftamped on their wo-

them a dignity and

which contri-

pride,

women

buted to render them as virtuous as perhaps the

of any

country or period have ever been.

Caofesoftius
fentimenf

BuT when

chivalry began to degenerate, and

hood, the chief of

its

and only attained by

actions,
tity

came

of land

to be

when knight-

honours, inftead of being eagerly courted,

a long feries of valorous

annexed

to the pofleflion

proflituted to every

one

who

and meritorious

of a certain quan-

defired,

ferve the purpofes of the great; forcibly obtruded

fcduloufly avoided it; the public

cline,

their behaviour to the

and even

on thofe who

honour of the men began

women became

to

lefs refpedtful

to de;

the

women:

INTRODUCTION.
women

loft

their virtue.

much of their dignity, and with it no fmall (hare of

The hiftory of all the European nations now ex-

hibited a, pidture the moft fadly reverfed from

fore;

the

men had

women had

ii

miliarity of manners,

it

deference for the fex,

loft all their

the chaftity that infpired

loft all

what

it;

was beand the

the coarfeft fa-

and the moft fcandalous profligacy of cha-

radter in both fexes enfued.

In France,

of approaching the

inftead

ful deference, to

women

with that refped-

which they had been accuftomed, and which

a tribute due to modefty,

it

now became

fafhionable for the

is

men

upon them every where, with the moft inThe fex might eafily have difcouraged this,

to intrude themfelves

decent familiarity.

but they rather gave

that

all

Even

countenance

and the confequence was,

decorum being nearly extinguifhed, the familiarity

the men, in time, began to be productive of contempt

fexual

allowed to

and the

it

grofleft

the

debauchery fucceeded the moft fentimental love.

name of delicacy was

and conditions admitted

their

almoft

male

Women

loft.

vifitors

of

all

ranks

with the fame indif-

ference, while in bed in their chamber, as to the fide of their

parlour fire; councils of ftate were frequently held in the bed-

chambers of
voice, but

ladies

who

often determined by their

more commonly by promifes of

refolutions that

NoR

while in bed,

ferved, or their characters

the

more

ladies

much more

re-

facred than thofe of the French.

indecent familiarity marked their public, and the fame

licentioufnefs, their

holidays,

favours,

were taken.

were the manners of the Engllfh

The fame

fccret

private,

behaviour

during the

Chriftmas

almoft every nobleman entertained his vaflals of both

kxes.

INTRODUCTION.

12

neighbouring clergyman was generally chofen by hint,

fexes, a

and indecent

prefide over this riotous mirth

to

from the nature of

his office,

of the Abbot of Mifrule.

rally apartments

was commonly

called

who,

by the name

In the houfes of the great, were gene-

deflined for the

women, who were employed

embroidery, and other kinds of needle-work

in

fcftivity,

and the name

given to thefe apartments, in confequencc of the ufe that was

made of them, came

Nay,

thel.

in time to be

fo loft to public

fynonymous

decency were

even the clergy were not afhamed

to

all

to that

of a bro-

ranks of men, that

have infcriptions over the

doors of thefe apartments, fignifying the ufe to which they were

appropriated *.

Nor

did

gentlemen of confiderable property

and bear commiflions, for being marfhal

bluQi, to hold lands by,

of the king's whores.

SoME

Femaledeli10 revive.

time previous to the reign of queen Elizabeth, the deli-

cacy and decency of the female character had begun to revive:

from her time,

refining;
fiaftic,

nefs

to that

of the Protestor, their manners were

ftill

but during his adminiftration, fandtimonioufly enthu-

devotion ftruggled hard to exclude nature, and flovenli-

and fuperftition

to

fubftitute

themfelves for religion.

The

Reftoration turned again the channel of their manners, and gave

a diredion only to pleafure and licentious love;

it

tions,

during the reign of James

II

abated a

little

the diftracthat fervour

for pleafure; and the fettled fituation of affairs that took place

under William

III.,

together with the difapprobatioa fliewn by

the court to unlawful gallantry, gave to the female charafter that

turn towards the decency and pblitenefs of manners, in which

The

tliefe

it

celebrated Cardinal Wolfey, over a door of a particular part of his palace, liaJ

words

in

Latin

" The hout of the whores

of

my

lord the Cardinal."

has

INTRODUCTION.
has

now made

notice here,

that if

we may

we

cannot help taking

credit the declaimer,

the preacher, the female virtues

For our parts,

We

fo confiderable a progrefs.

13

the

are at prefent on the decline.

pretend not to decide on fo delicate a point

and cnly exprefs our hopes, that the condud of our

women

and

fatirift,

fair

will in this particular contribute to give the lie to the fa-

the declaimer, and even to the preacher himfelf.

tirift,

While

the

manners and the charader oT the European

have been held out in fuch a variety of different lights

have been

liable

many

to fo

fafhion, of government,

and religion

women

while they

from the changes of

mutations,

the

have exhibited always the fame appearance

women of
their

the Eaft

manners, cuf-

toms, and fafliions, like their rocks, have flood unaltered the

of

country-

many

revolving ages

teft

and though the kingdoms of which they

are a part, have often changed mafters, and yielded to the victorious

arms of a conqueror

yet the laws by which they are go-

verned and enflaved, have never been revifed nor amended.

Such
eaftern

being the

women, we

taking an introdudory view of the

cafe, in

are, like the

man, who, from an eminence

fur-

veying the furface of a placid ocean, looks out in vain for variety
or diverfity.

The Hindoo women, who

inhabit .the greateft part

of the Eaft Indies, have been time immemorial almoft in every

refped the fame as

at prefent

which gave

women who

to the

and even the religion of Mahomet,

profeffed

no

it,

lefs

an advantage

over the difciples of Brama, than an exemption from burning on

the funeral piles of their deceafed hufbands,

could never induce

one fingle Hindoo to become Mahomedan, nor ever made the

fmalleft

change in their condition, or in the

leaft altered their

cuf-

toms,.

Of theeaftera
women.

INTRODUCTION.

14

This exemption, however, was the only advantage intro-

toms.

duced by the religion of Mahomet among the

It

women

of the Eaft.

abated not the rigour of their confinement, nor conferred upon

them any more confequence.

As

Afia was formerly the

we

ignorance,

feat

are better acquainted

and have a^feady

Had

manner.

been fubjedt

to the

the

men

in the

when we

firmed,

arc

coarfe

their

and

women

is

not the cafe,

and

we have

reafon to prefume,

by Solomon, by fome of the

we

in this opinion

confider,

and writings of

in the fentiments

apocryphal writers, and by the ancient Pundits

day

we

fame changes as they are in Europe, we might

but as this

this

mod

manners and cuftoms of

that the fame fentiments entertained

ments of

that of

that thefe ideas, bcfidcs their

feen,

have expeded the fime changes

their

now

years ago, than

being unfavourable, were often exprelTed

indelicate

is

with the ideas which the

women many

Afiatics entertained of their

at prefent

of learning, and

that, in the

*, are the fenti-

are the

more con-

treatment of the fex, no

alteration for the better has ever yet taken place

which

mufl:

doubtedly have been the cafe, had the fentiments of the

un-

men

concerning them been more favourable.

But
is

the

while fuch are the fentiments of the Afiatics, while fuch

manner

in

which they

the utmoft diflbnance to

guage

to

which

of their adlions

treat their

women,

their tongues, in

conftantly utter a lan-

thefe fentiments,

their hearts are entirely ftrangers,

flatly contradict their

words

of the fex, they feem to defplfe and

in their prefence,

when

inftigated

treat

and the whole

while, in the abfence

them with contempt

by animal

love, they not only

Pundits are the Braroinical cxpofuors of ihe laws of the Hindoos.

INTRODUCTION.
pay them the

greateft deference, but

thing more than mortal

may

tongues

ftill

when

retain the

ij

even accoft them as fome-

the love

fit is

though their

over,

fame language, they

amid

vfill

all

ahufe and proftitution of words, chaftife with fcveriiy for

this

the flighteft offence, her

whom

they feemed to adore

keep her fhut up from

out any offence whatever,

almoft from the light of heaven,

will,

with-

and

fociety,

a perpetual prifoner;

and,

if

confign her to expire amid

jcaloufy fliould arife in their breafts,

the nioft cruel tortures, while themfelves glory and exult in her
fufferings.

Such, with

little

the condition of the weaker fex, over the greater part of

quity,

Afia and Africa

the

has been, from the remoteft anti-

alteration,

men

and fuch

will probably continue,

as long as

continue the flaves of a defpot, and perhaps the

greater flaves of ignorance

When

and

ftill

barbarity.

Vefpucius difcovered America, he opened a

c

it

field for
^

the

ambition of the nateiman, the avarice of the trader, and the contemplation of the philofopher.

He

found that

vaft continent

peopled by a race, or rather divers races of mortals, fcarcely

perfons, than in their

diftinift in their

thefe of the

Old World

children in

all

the arts

man from
women were

guifh
the

drefs,

where any

ferior to

them

hunger,

thirft,

which render

the beafls of the

but

drefs

little

life

to

them, only mere

comfortable, and diftin-

Such were both fexes

field.

diftinguifhed

from the men by

their

was made ufe of; nor were they much in-

in badily ftrength,

and hardly

or lefs qualified to hunt

5

lefs

manners and cufloms, from

and when compared

and

lefs

9'^'*'^ '^'"^'

rican

patient of cold,

to fifh for their fubfiftence.

omen,

INTRODUCTION-

i^

But notwitliftandlng of

fi/lence.

this natural equality, the

had completely endavcd them, and thrown upon

all

that could be called labour,

men

their fliould^rs

either in the houfc or in the field,

while they themfelves were above undertaking any thing but the
fports

Thus

of the chace, or the depredations of war.

and difheartened, the

fair fex

ihip of the men, and not

were entire ftrangers

much

to the friend-

faid

They

the obje<St of their love.

palled through life almoft without tafting any of

and could hardly be

opprefTcd

to enjoy

its

pleafures,

one privilege befide per Tonal

liberty.

But
fomc

this

was not the

the

tribes

women

cafe in every part

Among

of America.

enjoyed almoft the whole, and

The

others a great fliare of the legiflative authority.

the fex was not, however, properly adjufted to any

were every where either exalted

among

condition of

medium

they

beyond thedilates

to a degree far

of good policy, and vefted with powers and privileges of the moft
exorbitant nature, or funk to a level with the hearts, and dcpreflcd

by the moft

Such was

abjedl flavery.

the ftate in which they were found by the

verers of America

a flatc,

from which

it

was

firft

difco-

natural to fuppofe

they would foon have been rcfcued by European politenefs and

humanity
their gold
breafts

made

our fordid love of

politenefs, banifhed

humanity from our

but the cafe was far otherwife

overcame our

and inftead of abolifliing the flavery of the women,

us with a more than favage barbarity, wherever our power

could reach, extend

it

to the

men

alfo.

In

INTRODUCTION.
we have now

In the condition

in all probability,

rica,

defcribed had the

women of Ame-

been for time immemorial

had not the art of writing, and confequently no

cords,

we know

lution,

pos,

ftates

but as they
hiftorical re-

ever fuffered any revo-

or whether they ever altered or improved their manners

and cuftoms.
kind of

not whether their

17

It

is

pretended, indeed, that the Mexicans had a

hiftorical records,

or Chords,

fo

compofed of what they

called

Qui-

knotted and twifted, as to be able to relate

the whole feries of paft events, with the fame clearnefs and precifion as

our books

ing the ancient

of

ftate

but the

little

that

was ever learned concern-

of America, feems

to demonftrate the falfity.

this opinion.

Vot.K

THE

THE

HISTORY
O

MEN.

CHAP.
AJhort jketch of

BY

I.

the Antediluvian Hlfiory of

the Mofaic hiftory of the creation

males and females of

it

Women.

appears, that the

were formed, not only of the fame materials, and

fame manner, but

fame time.

alfo at the

When

however, defcribes the creation of the

rian,

informs

that the female

us,

was

man,

the other animals, except

all

in the

the facred hifto-

human genus

he

from the male by

diftingulfiied

being formed not of the duft of the earth, as he was, but of a

part of the body of the male himfelf *.
* Various and
die

firft

pair.

Such

firrt

Jy, he tho'jght

that he had

low and
ble,

fhall

created .Adam with a long

tail

he would look better without

made, he cut

fe>;e!,

it off,

and formed

Oihers of them

and joined fide to

fide

it:

thut

ages.

two

diilincl

beings

God^

refolving, however, not to lofe any thing

it into a

tell as,

more modem

but afterward, on confidering him attentive-

woman

that the

God

and hence the fex derive their

fitft

human being was created dou-

improving on

his original plan, fepa-

rited the male from the female part, where they had been joined together, and
into

of

only mention a few of thefe propagated by the Jewifh Rabbles, whofe

inferior nature.

of both

have been fond

ridiculous ars the fables related by oriental writers concerning the creation

We

ancient legends equal, if not furpafs, in abfurdity even thofe of

fay they, at

as

made

thenv

and that from hence arofe the perpetual inclination of the fexes to

join themfelves together again.

Da

of

THE HISTORY

20

CHAP,

of maintaining the

women

of

fuperioritjr

pretend, that from this

made of double

circumftance of having been

refined matter, they

have derived their fuperior beauty and excellence.

Not
by the

long after the creation, the deception of the

ferpent,

But

the fex.

as that ftory is already fo well

in filence,

it

confcquences arifing from that de-

fatal

furnifh the moft interefting ftory in the whole hlftory of

ception,

over

and the

woman

firft

and proceed

have been handed down

to relate thofe

to

known, we

pafe

few anecdotes which

concerning

us

fliall

the

antediluvian

women.
Caufe of ihe
diiputebe-

Cain
ami Abel.

In the

j^q

we

facred hiftory

fons of

Adam, brought

tiveen

when Cain and

are told, that

Abel, the

Lord, the offcr-

their offerings to the

ing of Cain was rejeded, and that of Abel accepted

ftance for

which Mofes does not

however, defcrves any

defed
a twin

and informs
fifter,

when

any reafon.

If

that Cain

and Abel having each of them

they were

fifter

all

of Cain

fifters,

was proper

that they fhould

leaft related to

fairer

than the other.

them

marry

to

thofe

To this propofal
his own twin fifter,

them.

not agree, and infifted on having

was

Adam,

ed his fons to bring each an offering before him

in favour

who

prefented

marry

their

that

were

Cain would
becaufe fhe

Lord

it.

On

order-

and told them,

which had the preference, would be

of him

of Abel,

difpleafed at this ad: of difo-

bedience, referred the difpute to the decifion of the

that the offering

fifter

alleging as his reafon for this

that as their circumftances obliged

feemingly the

Adam

become marriageable,

propofal,
it

tradition,

oriental tradition fupplies this

propofed to them, that Cain fhould marry the twin

and Abel the twin

a circum-

an

credit,

us,

affign

a declaration

the offerings being

brought.

rid of fo

love,

began

dangerous a

mind how he might get

to revolve in his
rival,

ai
ftimulated by refent-

Cain,

brought, and that of Abel accepted,

ment and

E N.

and not being able

other method than his deftruction, as foon as they were

only of the

firft

Cain and

quarrel, but of the

of the

reft

fell

caufe not

introduction of death.

human

began

race,

to every fpecies of wickednefs

and

to
is

it

were, on that account, at length denominated Sons and

ters

Men;

of

Adam, having

virtue,

and a regard

as

fuppofed

Daugh-

remarkably diftinguifhed themfelves for

to the divine precepts, at length alfo acquired

the appellation of Sons and Daughters of God.

Seth, according to the oriental writers, fixed

mountain where

Adam

their progenitor

the facred duft depofited there,

called

its

This family o
habitation on the

was buried

it

the

and from

Holy Mountain

while Cain and his pofterity inhabited the valley below *,

there conftantly rioted

chery.

and the

were

and

every fpecies of lewdnefs and debau-

In the time of Jared,

increafed, one

as they

in

when

the family of Seth was

much

hundred and twenty of the fons of that family, or

called, the

Sons of God, hearing the found of mufic,

noife of feftivity in the valley belovp^, agreed for once to

defcend from their mountain, and partake of the amufement.

On

their arrival, they

were

fo delighted

with the novelty of the

fcene, and fo captivated with the beauty of the

peared naked, that they yielded

* This

to

their

tradicion does not agree with the banilhinent

Debauchery
of the race of

abandon Ca.

while the pofterity of Seth, under the care and tui-

tion of

-^-mj

come
upon

his pofterity being, for this barbarous deed, feparated

and exiled from the

themfelves

firft

<

upon any

to fix

down from the Mount where they had been facrificin^,

him and flew him. And thus a woman became the

chap.

women, who

ap-

charms, and defiled

of Cain, as memioned hy Mofes,

Ihem-

T H E

22

themfeWes with them

T O R Y

having gone

length,

this

on the very threfhold of pleafure:

likely they fl\ould ftop

cordingly,

returning from time to time to

they

at laft

ventured to intermarry with them

bly,

arofe the ftory of the

and the Daughters of

women,

thefc

vifit

and hence, proba-

commerce between the Sons of God,

Men

a ftory which gave birth to an opi-

from the dignity of

far deviated

by

ture, as to debafe themfelves

To

this abfurd

their incorporeal

a carnal

and

celeftial

knowledge of

and ridiculous notion, no

prophecy, which, like too

intelligible*; evident

that divine fpirit,

who

many

marks of
is

light

though we cannot

others,
its

and

is

(o

na-

terreftrial

little

ftrcngth

has been added by a forgery, called the Prophecy of Enoch

But

ac-

by the Sons of God were meant Angels, who had

nion, that

womtn.

was not

it

long obfcure and un-

not having been didated by

perfplcuity.

pofitively afcertain the precife meaning'

when he fays, the Sons of God defiled themfelves with

Daughters of Men, we may venture to affirm, that the expref-

of Mofes,
the

The general purport of this long and ill connefled prophecy, is. That in thofe timej,
women v\ere fo exceedingly beautiful and tempting, that the Egregarii, or guardian angels,
who were fet to watch over and attend thein, being conllantly expofed to the whole art'ilery

of

charms,

their

at laft fell fo violently in !o\c

with them, that they difclofed the fecret to

each other, and entered into an agreement, to take to themfelves, fiom

of thofc that were

faireft in their eyes.

That accordingly,

in

among them, wives

the year of the world 1170,

and in the nioft daring and flagitious manner conThat in thofe day?, were born to the angels who had thus
married, giant;, who devoured human fitlh, of which they were fo fond, that the race of man
began thereby gte.itiy to decreafe; that many complaints on this fubjeti haing been made to
God, he fent four archangels, who bcund ihefe ante!?, who had joined rhcnifclves to women,
fhey began ihe execution of their projtfl
tinued

an.l

it

to the time of the delugr.

produced

ihis

monlUous progeny, threw them

into the great abyfs, and afterward fcnt

Gabriel, another archangel, tq root out and dertroy the giant.'. Oiher oriental traditions relate,
(hat

it

was the

rebel angels,

who

had taken arms againit Omnipotence, that

firft

began

infamous converfc with mortsl women, from ivhence fprung a lace of monfters and
inin'jcal to virtue

mighiy

to

and

:o rain

and wiio, by

tliLir

continued crimes, at

laft

this

dzmoos

provoked the Al-

fwctp thcsi from the face of tlieesrih by an univerfal deluge.

C

lion

OF W
fion

was made

ufe of to charadeilfe

E N.

fome peculiar

fpccles

of wick-

C U A

P.

1.

ednefs, which, with other debaucheries, had

that the

Author of Nature

made man

faid

to

ahnoft the whole race of

by the

ftroy

is

flood, in order that

become

enormous,

fo

have repented that he had

whom

he might

he was obliged

raife

up

to de-*

new and more

perfed generation; which could not have been done, had the
wicked been

left

to

have mixed with and contaminated the

righteous.

FrOxM the

flood, there

is

a chafm in the hiftory of

women

till

Chafm
liiftory

the time of the patriarch

Abraham, when they began

to be

more

frequently introduced into the facred ftory, feveral of their actions

to

be recorded

were governed

the laws, cuftoms, and ufages by which they

to be exhibited

of which, joined to fome

all

anecdotes of their public and private

more

perfe(5t

account of the ancient

we

enable us to give a

women, than can

we come to the Greeks.

Ifraelitifh

be given of thofe of any other nation,

In exhibiting this account,

life,

till

have, however, judged

it

proper,

not to take the incidents in the order in which they are related,

but to reduce them under different heads, for the fake of method

*nd

regularity.

CHAP.

(ex.

in th

of ibe

T H E H

24.

T O R Y

CHAP.
Of

II.

Female Education.

we can form any Idea of the general ftate of mankind in theIFinfancy

in
of
world,
the
they
from

the

the infancy of every nation,

we may

ginally deftitute of every thing

fociety,

which

ftate

appear in

fuppofe that they were ori-

which depends on

civilization

and

and of almoft every fpecies of knowledge, but that of

procuring a precarious fubfiftence from the rivers and forefts

around them.
Obftruflions
in the early"

'^"'

NECESSARILY
^1"^^ i" ^^^^

haps

impelled to employ the greateft part of their

manner, they would have but

lefs inclination,

little leifure,

The

to cultivate their minds.

and per-

inhabitants

of the woods, and of the waves, were only to be caught by force

or fraud

in either of

which ways, ftrong exertions, or long and

painful watchings, were requifite

other

efforts,

the

and

to thefe exertions,

and

conftant calls of nature for fuftenance kept

hence it would be long before the

up an unremitted attention
human mind began to extend its ideas beyond that circle which
:

had been formed by

neceffity,

and continued by cuftom

that

courfe of ftudy and of difcipline, that application to various lan-

guages and

arts,

unknown; and

which we now

in after ages only

call

education,

in

totally

fprung up by degrees, accord-

ing as incidents gave occafion to thinking on

aQing

was then

new

projeds,

and

new employments.

CON-

O
A

CONSIDERABLE

but as

had then no

little

is

25

the ftudy of languages

Source of

a diveruty of tongues were intro-

managed

and hence the

N.

education.

communication and commerce was then carried

on, could not be properly

one another

originally the fame, this laborious part

When

exiftence.

duced, what

part of education

mankind fpoke

all

firft

unlefs the parties undcrftood

efforts

In

to ftudy languages.

fome of the milder climates of Afia, the earth fpontaneoufly yielded

and the inas much food as fimple unpampered nature required
;

habitants fupinely enjoyed her gifts,

without troubling themfelves

human

with painful exertions of mind or of body: but when the

race had multiplied fo

much,

themfelves into climates

lefs

that they

and provide againft the

to difperfe

indulgent, exertion became neceflary

food, and invention

to procure

were obliged

to

remedy the inconveniencies,

accidents, of climate

and

fituation

in Egypt, the annual inundations of the Nile obliged

might know the

The

upon them.
build houfes

feafons

to

when

them

to

apply to Aftronomy, that they

thefe inundations

to cover themfelves

and the fame caufe, perhaps,

thus

were

to

come

rigour of feafons, in places more remote from

them

the fun, obliged

with {kins, and to

at

firft,

gave birth to

Were we thus to trace almoft every human infource, we fliould generally find that fource to have

the ufe of

fire.

vention to

its

been

and

houfes on pillars,

raife

neceflity.

among

peo-

Progrcfs of
education and

removed from barbarity, we have hardly the

leaft

arts.

In the patriarchal ages, and fome lime after, even

-

pie coniiderably

among the men*, and would therefore in

among the women. In climates where the fpon-

veftige of education

vain look for

Schools where
firft

that

it

men were

were iniUiutcd

taught the arts of prophefying and of magic, were, probably, the

the former appear to have been ereded by the Ifraelitcs, the latter

by the Egyptians or Phoenicians.

Vol.

I.

taneous

TH

35

HA

'

P,

'

II

T O R Y

men were

taneous productions of the earth were few, and where

become too numerous

be maintained by hunting and (ilhing,

to

neceflity

would Simulate

efforts in

agricuhure

firft

inflruments as he at

him

to

firft

was

it

work

to the purpofe

poffibly to furnifli

and in

in iron

which were probably the

firft

trial

had carried

Solomon

to

and even

Such rude
fuggeft tQ

which opened and ex-

exercifcs

works of

tafte,

carving

to

which the

Ifraelites

no inconfiderable degree of perfection in the time of

no incompetent

to

Ikill

chymiftry, of which Mofes muft have had

to enable

him

to

ftamp the golden calf to

Into fuch exercifes and trades, were the men,

powder.
times

feveral other

fuch, that

works of fancy,

to

panded the powers of the human mind, giving birth

and gilding, and

feme rude

making others more adapted

for

and thefe again, might lead on

brafs.

conftruded, might upon

improvements neceffary

the

to

but as thcfc could not be carried on without

feme kind of inftruments,

Tubal Cain began

and perhaps

to pafturage,

we

deavour

are fpeaking of, initiated

to difcover

what was taught

were regularly inftrudted

in

cafe,

it is

as writing

left to

which

in vain that

women

to the

any thing, or

could from nature, or from chance

think was the

but

laft

the

we en-

whether they

learn

we

in

what they

are inclined to

and reading were not then in-

vented; as the fciences were but few, and thefe few only in their
infancy

tions, but

Of

OfthcEgyp-

all

and as

women were

not valued for any mental qualifica-

only for their perfonal charms.

the nations

which prefent themfelves

in the periods

we

tians.

are confidering, the

tion
all

our

firft

as

it

arts,

Egyptians moft defervedly claim our atten-

was from them

fciences,

that

we

derived the

and cultivation.

It

firft

principles of

was the Egyptians who

taught the rude and uninftru^ed Greeks

the Greeks tranf-

mitted

N.

27

mitted their knowledge to the Romans:- and the

their

we view

laws, in arts, and in government;

felves

though

than one hundred thoufand years

lefs

muft imdoubtedly appear fabulous,

this

which they be-

they had been improving them-

to believe,

during a period of no

fciences in

in

all

certain that

it is

they were allowed by moft of the ancients, to have been one of the
firft

people

who were

civilized

and formed into a nation governed

by laws, moftly founded on equity and wifdom

were, even in the diftant periods
not

much

inferior to

many of

we

thofe

view,

which

in our times

among the Egyptians only, that, in

we meet with any thing refembling a

is

education; their magicians, in

tered, ftudied,

whom

and taught, fuch

the moft diftinguiftied of which

in fhort they

are fpeaking of, a people

tlefpicable figure in the prefent civilized fyftem

It

of Europe,

fyftem of ftudy and

moft of their learning cen-

were then known

was Aftronomy, from which,

appears, that v^'omen were not altogether excluded

told that Athyrte, the

daughter of

to undertake his chimerical

affuring

Sefoftris,

for

it

are

encouraged her father

divinations,

from her dreams

and from the prodigies fhe had feen in the

Almoft every writer on ancient Egypt mentions, that the

managed

we

fcheme of conquering the world, by

him of fuccefs, from her

the temples,

make no

the periods under re-

fciences as

the greateft part of fuch bufinefs as

was

in

air.

women

tranfadted with-

out doors, and that the commerce of the nation was peculiarly
allotted to

them

it

is

therefore highly probable, that they

were

taught the ufe of numbers and figures, as far as they were then

p.
'

'

the Egyptians, they do more honour to hu-

nature than any of the ancients, as they excelled them

lieved, or pretended

c h^a

carried

In what-

knowledge, and their chains, over half the globe.

ever light

man

Romans

known:

^;

THE HISTORY
known

a fcience

without the ufe of which trade

As writing

exceedingly impcrfed and irregular.

an early period

at

commerce than

women were

in

Egypt, and

as

the ufe of figures,

it

is

it

is

hardly

mud have
alfo

As

taught the writing then in ufe.

was known
necefTary in

lefs

probable

been

that the

alfo,

the foftnefs and

fentimcntal feelings of the female heart feem excellently adapted

of mufic, mufic has therefore been a part

to the foothing drains

of the education of the fex from the remoteft ages of antiquity

Mofes frequently mentions finging men and finging women, and

we

Hiall

the nations

we

have occafion

fhall

however, were in

mined the Egyptians

foftens

juft

now

to debar

that

though

for

countries,

much

managing the

it

elfe

tliat

pleafing art, deter-

becaufe, faid they,

it

But when we

would but

ill

deftined

it

will in a great

it

and delicacy would difqua-

of trade and commerce

of the fex was encouraged in

have fuited the Egyptian women,

who

in

to the

tians;

when we

all,

fuch employments as were every

men.

However

this

be,

when we

arts, fciences,

of the culture, and wifdom of the Egyp-

confider the high eftimation,

in

which women

were held, and the powers with which they were inverted
to thefe,

we add

Herodotus, and

msn fiom

and

other

furvey the accounts given us by the ancients, of the

laws; and, above

what we

was probably the opinion of

foftnefs

affairs

recolledl

all

a certain foftnefs

were generally occupied

where

them from

this fingularity

the legiflature, that too

them

the fame rcafon which de-

of the employment of women,

meafure elucidate

lify

women

and relaxes the mind.

related

to

this refpedl fingular

termined other nations to teach

it

women among a variety of

mention.
The Egyptians,

afterwards meet with finging

the literary fame of the nation,

when,

we have

fome other authorj, doubt whether the Egyptians prohibited

their

the
wo-

learning muf:c.

ftrongeft

WOMEN.

OF
ilrongeft reafons

conclude, that though

to

29

we

are at this period

unacquainted with their fyftem of female education,

was fuch
fo loved

It

of

as fuited the dignity

it

certainly

CHAP.
'

and of a fex

fo wife a people,

and refpedlcd.

is

not eafy to determine whether the Phoenicians at

firft

OfthePhcsnicians.

borrowed
be,

their learning

from the Egyptians, but, however that

we

they were in the times

them

in knowledge.

my, and

They

them

applied

are confidering,

little

cultivated Arithmetic

to the purpofes of trade

behind

and Aftrono-

and navigation.

Mofchus, a Sydonian, before the Trojan war, taught the philo-

Atoms; and Abdomeneus of Tyre undertook

fophical dodrine of
to difpute

with Solomon,

king of

in thofe days reckoned

Ifrael;

the mofl: redoubtable champion of learning and of wifdom.

and Sydon were

this

at

Tyre

time renowned for the fciences and for

philofophy.

Man,
with

in his rude and'uncultivated ftate,

woman from

when he becomes
as well as the

forms his connections-

a regard to the beauty of her perfon only

civilized,

he regards the

We

charms of her body.

all

nefs and learning;

would

others,

of her mind,

can hardly therefore-

who

in

and were fecond

to

fuppofe, that the Phcenicians; a people,

navigation excelled

qualities

totally neglet to inftil

commerce
none

ture, as the hiftory

of thefe people

jed: and indeed hiftory

light
fons,

in general

on the ages under review

may

in part be

but

owing

we only
is

and.

in polite-

into the

of their women, any of that knowledge which was in

national efteem and veneration

;.

fo

minds
much.

offer this as conjec-

entirely filent

on the fub-

throws but a faint gleam of

which,

to that peace

among many

other rea-

and quiet which we

may

fuppofe

'

T H E

30

CHAP,

'

fiippofe

the world

then

II

T O R Y

many

enjoyed for

for hiftory

whole centuries of peace, and

pafTes in filence over

only of wars, conquefts, and revolutions;

worthy of the

ages;

notice

taices

were

as if nothing

ear of poflcrity, but the crimes and follies of their

anceflors.

Anc'ent

Wii A T wc have

(late

obfcrved of the Phoenicians, may, in a great

meafure, be equally applied to the Babylonians

knowledged by

antiquity, to have been the

all

and judicial

of writing

in their public

period

which they began

in

neverthelefs certain,

are

to relate the care

their

women

ufe

not

known, we

they were early diftinguifhed for

that

We

have occafion afterwards,

(hall

and pains they took

minds without

leave their

who made

but though the exafl

adorning the perfons of

in

from which we may conclude,

firft

this invention is

and learning.

their politenefs

ats

they are ac-

that they did not

The

and improvement.

cultivation

nations which were contemporary with, or for feveral ages fuc-

we have now

ceeded to thofe
to

them, as the

reft

now

of the world

Europe; hardly

juft entering

Europe, which

now

when compared
when compared to

mentioned, were,

on the

is,

of knowledge

threfliold

appears with fuch diftinguifhed

then involved in ignorance and barbarity

nor had

and

luftre,

was

its

fcattered

and wretched inhabitants difcovered any fymptoms of that geIt was by fome
nius which now eclipfes all other countries.
colonies

them.

from Afia, that the

And

thefe fciences

native

foil,

fuch

is

were

fciences

the fate of

firft

were

human

firft

affairs,

introduced
that

tranfplanted, they feemed to

and attach themfelves entirely

atics either loft their tafte for

them,

or,

already exhaufted their utmoft powers

in
;

to

among

from the time

abandon

Europe.

The

their

Afi-

profecuting them, had

the Europeans acquired

that

OF
that tafte,

and continue

V/

EN.

to

which no

31

and extend

to cultivate

ftill

of genius and invention,

by

it,

ftretches

limits can be fixed.

ha

<

p.

When,

from Europe, we again return

.

the manner

in

which

their

fcattered hints only, that

One of

whom Cyrus conquered

women were educated and it is from

we can difcover any thing concerning

Cyaxares

had taught

gave two female muficians,

to his uncle

who were

theit hours

of relaxation and

upon fuch inftruments

voices,
If, in

by their

in ufe,

for

Cyrus

a prefent

as

male muficians were

amufe them in

the great to

feftivity,

were then

as

mufic

his captives,

as well as

by

in thole times frequently retained

fome of the nations

women

their

and female

us any traces of

left

hints informs us, that

thefe

in playing

fkill

by the melody of

their

and by the various geftures which they pradlifed in dancing.

the times

we

the plan of female education

are confidering,

comprehended any thing

we may

farther,

fuppofe that

only fuch other arts of attradion as the eaftern

been famous

for,

women

took in

it

have always

and which the men have always regarded

In a few cafes, however,

principal qualification.

it

is

as their

probable,

they were inflruted in fome of the ufcful learning of the times

for the education of the children of the kings of the

Perfians was for

their

firft

many

ages committed to the

king, began the cuftom

As

trufted to the care

of

thefe

women

would naturally conclude,

and

ages after the reign of- Cyrus, and

places of the Eaft.

is

it

women.

was continued

at this

day pratifed

young monarchs were

till

Medes and
Dejoces,
till

in

fome

many

entirely en-

the age of fifteen or fixteen, one

that the

women muft

have been capalearning of the

ble of teaching,

at leafl: a part of, the fafhionable

times

was the fame among the ancient Medes and Per-

but if

it

OfromeotKer
ancient aaancier'""

help lamenting, that antiquity has hardly

them.

we cannot

to the Eaft,

fians,

tions.

THE HISTORY

32
^

^'

^ir'^
V

- >-.-/

^^"5' ^5

of doing fo
at

'^^'

^^ ^5
;

arnoDg their defccndants, they were not capable

which

for the education

prefcnt receive

from

women,

their

young

tlie

eaflern princes

elfe

is little

than the

firft

principles of effeminacy and debauchery, with hardly even a fmall

on

tindlure of that learning beflowed

fo

many of

the eaflern

better

monarchs dedicate

Even Cyrus

and debauchery.

their fubjeds

manner, and almoft

himfelf,

in every

eaflern monarchs, flained his

and hence

their lives to cruelty

though trained up

in

refped fuperior to the herd of

memory with

the foulefl infamy, by

perverting the education of the Lydians, for no other crime than

endeavouring
prived them.

to regain their liberty,

of which he had unjuflly de-

Cyrus had inlrufted the gold which he had found

in the treafury of Croefus king of Lydia,. to Padlyas,

favourites

who

he could not better employ

him At

place

much

feeing himfelf mafler of fo

it,

one of his

wealth, thought

than in infligating the Lydians to

and fhake off the yoke of the conqueror.

their head,

Cyrus, in revenge, determined to carry off the whole of the people,

and

fell

to Croefus,

them

for flaves

his prifoner

who

a refolution

which he made known

fearing the utter deflrudion of his

country, advifed Cyrus only to take vengeance on Padyas

and in

order to prevent any future attempt of the fame nature, to forbid

the Lydians the ufe of arms, and oblige

moft debauched and effeminate manner.

vice,

them

to be educated in the

Cyrus followed

this

ad-

and the Lydians foon became the moft infamous and abandoned
Iliflory affords but too

people in the world.

monarchs, and of parents, having winked

cation

of their fubjeds and children

where the fource of every

public authority

virtue

at the

this is

improper edu-

the only infiance

was avowedly contaminated by

an inftance in which

many examples of

we

are at a lofs to deter-

mine.

E N.

S3
^

mine, whether the charader of Cyrus, or of Crocfus, appears

the mofl: defpicable and infamous.

Were we to indulge in idle

<

fpeculation

were we

them

jedtures without proper authority to fupport

P.

>-

>

H'

form con-

to

we might

re-

many plaufible opinions concerning the education of women

among the ancients but as the fubjeit, from the time of the
Egyptians and fome other nations we have mentioned, to thofe of
Greece and Rome, is involved in the gloom of obfcurity, we rather chufe to pafs over it in filence, than to hazard opinions, when
we are uncertain whether the fcale of probability preponderates
late

for or againft them.

We

condition of

and

women,

poffible, that

it

to treat

were

little

of the rank and Of the Greet

women,

that in Greece, even in

cultivated ftate, they

was

when we come

fhall fee afterward,

its

moft flourifhing

better than flaves

nor indeed

they could in any place ever arrive at that

importance feemingly defigned them by nature, while their genius

was not

cultivated,

Oiher

view.

by

love, or

qualities,

may,

to advantage,

nor their latent qualities called forth into

fuch as beauty, and the art of fhewing

in thefe

moments when

the heart

is

the fpirits elevated by wine, give to the

temporary afcendency over the men, and enable them

them

at pleafure

as in the cafe

an afcendency, however,

is

cool reafon foon refumes the place

which

fleeting

pafTion

the empire which had been built on pafllon,

bafelefs fabric

cation

of

and

life.

of a vifion

fenfe,

It is,

while that which

ftands the teft of time,

I.

women
to

is

bend
Such

and tranfientj

had ufurped, and

tumbles like the
fupported by edu-

and the various incidents

however, to be lamented, that a proper education

has feldom fallen to the lot of

VoL.

foftened

of Thais and Alexander.

commonly but

it

women
F

even in the

politefl

countries,

;;

THE HISTORY

34
tries,

cither too

is

it

much ncgleded,

lous and miftaken plan.

The

or conduced on a frivo-

education of the Greek

during what are called the heroic ages

this nature

we

for

*,

women,

fecms to have been of

Andromache of Euripides,

find Peleus, in the

reproaching Menelaus, father of the famous Helen, for being the

by the bad educa-

occafion of the diflblute condul of that lady,

had given her

tion he

thofe times bad education

but rather that

medied

it

nor have

was confined

was a general

a conjedure

we

which

evil,

reafon to believe,

that

in

to this fingle inftance only,

and never

after properly re-

the fubfequent hiftory of Greece will

but too amply verify.

There

Idueation of
ancient

wo-

men

not calculated to

cultivate their

sninds.

of,

is

not a fubjed which ancient hiftory takes

lefs

notice

than that of education, and particularly of the education of

Women.

In early periods, and

among

uncultivated people,

fex do not feem to have been of confequence

enough

Iketches of the plan of education fettled

employ

to

the attention of the public, nor the pen of the hiftorian

the

a few

by Solon, the famous

Athenian lawgiver, are the moft ancient that have been handed

down

to

our times; and they ferve

which we have always entertained,

cients

was more directed

to

to corroborate

that the education of the an-

improve the body than the mind.

Solon ordained, that youth in general fhould be

fwim, and

to

an opinion,

imbibe the rudiments of literature

firft

taught to

that the poor

fhould be inftruded in trades, mechanic arts, and agriculture

but that fuch as could afford a genteel education fhould learn to

play on mufical inftruments, to ride, to hunt, and be expert in
every kind of exercife
Several of the
becaufe then the

firrt

mea

to all

which they were

to

add the ftudy of

ages, during the infancy of the Grecian flates, were called heroic

dedica'.cd almoll the

whole of

ibcir time to fcacs

of hcioifm and of

arms.

philo-

OF WOMEN.
Such was

^hilofophy.

more

Such gleanings of
ftill

body than

his female fyftem as

more extraordinary

other mafculine amufements

manner

throwing quoits,

gave birth

to that boldnefs

women

lafl:

at

were

mufl:

and

darts,

have tended in the

and which, in

to exercife

of delicacy that nature had

to deftroy every feed

implanted in the female mind

mind.

to cultivate the

have readied our times, are

which

a fyftem

young women were ordered

themfelves in running, wreftling,

flrongefl;

male education

his fyftem of

calculated to ftrengthen the

BS

all

probability,

and effrontery, for which the Athenian

remarkable.

fo

If Solon, in his fcheme of legiflation, inftituted that any culture

fhould be beftowed on the female mind, fuch inftitutions have not

reached to our times

were

treated,

and when we confider how the Greek women

and that healthful and

theirchief qualification, as enabling

ful children to the flate

ilitutions ever exifted.

legiflator,

tention,

kind of

that

was implanted

principles of art, to
fible to

almoft below his notice

that his fole in-

confider,

his laws,

was

them by nature

ill

calculated

generally
lefs

whatever

much

fti-ongcr

for this purpofe

them

fliould

natural,

m for becoming

and

Women, he
patriotifm

is

men, and humanity

difficulties

and the weaknefs of

heroines

man-

be infen-

the acutenefs of their feelings

able to bear all the pains

is

as in

to divefl:

and, upon the

form a race of heroes, who

principle feldom fo ftrong in

thf

in

all

famous Spartan

lefs

every feeling but the love of their country.

found, were but

them

women

when we

and the conftant fcope of

all

them to giveftrong and health-

Lycurgus, the no

at this,

bodies were reckoned

reafon to believe, that no fuchin-

feems to have thought

we wonder

nor need

we have

robufl:

a
is

made

of eradicating

their bodies difqnalified

they were therefore unfit fubjeds for

carrying the ideas of Lycurgus into execution

i"

and on that account.

^ ^ A

P*

THEHISTORY

36

CHAP,
*

"*

count,

feems probable,

it

he gave himfelf

about them, than to take care that their

little

other trouble-

company fhould neither

effeminate nor debauch his men.

Their minds
Bcgieded.

That

the Grecian

women had

not the leaft tinl:ure of polite

education, even in the moft flourifliing periods of their

ftates,

ap-

pears from the refped and efteem, which public proftitutes acquired,

merely by having the advantage over them in

We

fliall

have occafion to mention

accomplifhment.

this

therefore at prefentfhall only obferve, that

many of the

their philofophers publicly vifited thefe proftitutes,

greateft

what we have already mentioned, we

inftruded in raufic

relations,

alfo

their country,

of fuch as would receive

it,

heroifm for which their

men were

thing

elfe,

few of the Greek

their mothers, or other fe-

common

taught them the

ments and cuftoms of

Befides

and that fuch only were ad-

mitted to fome of their public feafts

male

find that a

of

and even fome-

times carried their wives to be inftrudted by their leflbns.

women were

and

this fubjeft afterwards;

and

a tindure of
fo

female employ-

inftilled into the

tha.t

Stoical

minds,

pride and

much renowned:

in

every

they were miferably deficient, and their conftant con-

finement, to their want of education, added want of knowledge-

of the world

fo that

ignorant in a nation fo

Of the Ronan women.

^f

we

on the whole, never were

much famed

found

fo;

for knowledge.

except the Egyptians, the whole hiftory of antiquity ex-

hibits to us a fcene in

which we

and

till

we

arrive at the

natural or political confequence.

them not only emerging from

8

women
of many

find

hard hand of oppreffion, deprived

ture;

women

groaning under the

of the rights of na-

Romans, never

attaining to

In Rome, however,

flavery, but flarting

up

at

we

any
find,

once into
real

Romans had but few

of men was that of war,

every

which are

all

The

(late.

hence the only education

virtues of neceffity in the infancy of almofl

women

education of the

relations.

confifted in learning

life

fuch as cookery,

which were taught them by

weaving, and fewing;

mothers or

their

and inflexible patri-

ceconomy,

rigid

the duties and employments of domeftic

fpinning,

37

laws, and no intercourfe but with rude and

ferocious neighbours like themfelves

N.

In the earlier periods of this great republic, the

real importance.

otifm

In thofe days, children were not

fuckled in the hut of a mercenary nurfe, but by the chafte mother

who

bore them

hands

and

it

their education,

was her chief care

during nonage,

to inftil into

was

in her

them every virtuous

principle: in her prefence, every loofe word, or improper alion,

were ftridly prohibited

fludies, but

fhe fuperintended not only their ferious

even their amufements, which were always condudcd

But by degrees,

with decency and moderation.

became

rich

with the plunder of their neighbours, as the

the arts and fciences became

men began

to

more

Romans
tafte for

wo-

general, the education of the

be extended on a larger

fcale

and

to the domeftic

taught them by their mothers, were added fuch parts of

duties,

polite education, as

minds

as the

this

were thought neceflary for cultivating

education

we know, from

received at public fchools

where

their

the ftory of Virginea, they,

fciences

and

literature,

no longer^

confined to rigid philofophers only, began to alTume a fofter form,,

and

to fuit themfelves to female talents

and genius.

It has long been alleged by the men, that the women, when
learned, are generally pedants
Ihall not pretend to

naturally

how

far this opinion

determine; but fhould

enough account

for

it

the

it

is

really be (o,

we

juft,

we

may--

knowledge of women,

in;

general^.

c H A

T H E

j8
r.

much
when any

general,

count,

is

lefs

much

thereby fo

T O R Y

extenfive than that of the

individual

of a confiderable

fliare

among them

of knowledge,

men

finds that (he

on
is

this ac-

poireHcd

confiders herfelf as

flie

elevated above the reft of her feK, that

flie

can-

not help taking every opportunity of fhevving this elevation.

Juvenal

" They

this light:
*'

weigh

exhibits

in the

fome of the Roman

fall,

fays he,

on the

ladies

of his time in
of Virgil; they

praifes

fame balance the merit of that poet and of Ho-

" mer; they find excufes for Dido's having ftabbed herfelf, and
" determine of the beautiful, and of the fovereign good.'' Whether the fatire here exhibited be true or falfe,
that, in the

women

of

days of

Rome

fupport this fad

Roman
dies,

hiftory.

whofe

this poet, learning

but this

not the only proof

is

others are frequently to be

we

can bring to

met with

in the

Cicero mentions, with encomiums, feveral

tafte in

letters

affords a proof,

was not neglected by the

la-

eloquence and philofophy did honour to their

fex; and Quintilian, with no fmall applaufe,

of the

it

of Cornelia

fpeech of Hortenfia

befides which,

preferved by Appian

has quoted fome

we have

fortunately a

which for elegance

of language, and juftnefs of thought, would have done honour to

a Cicero, or a Demofthenes *.

What gave

occafion to the fpeech

was,

The unhappy women you

prefumed

to

appear in

fee here imploring

this place,

had they not

your

firll

juflice

made

ufe

and bounty, would never have

of

all

other means, which their

Though our appearing here may feem contrary to

the rules of decency prtTcribed to our fex, which we have hitherto obierved with all ftriftnefs; yet the lofs of our father's children, brothers, and hull)ands, may fuf5ciently excufe uf,
efpecially when their unhappy deaths are made a pretence for our further misfortunes: yoil
pretend that they had offended and provoked you, but what injury have we women done, that
we niurt be impoverifhed ? if we arc blameable as the men, why do you not profcribe
us too? have we declared you enemies to your country ? have we fuborncd your foldiers?

natural m-^dcfty could fuggell to them.

taifed troops agsinll

you.or oppofed you

in

the purfuits of thofe honours and offices which you

claim?

of the

they drew up a

ladies,

whom

having in vain
at laft

E N.

39

a large

fum of money

for

and having met with great difficuhies in

carrying on a war,
it,

Rome wanting

was, the Triumvirs of

raifing

lift

of fourteen hundred of the richeft

every method to evade

tried

Thefe

they intended to tax.

fo great

after

ladies,

an innovation,

having chofen Hortenfia for their fpeaker, went along with

her to the market-place, where

they were adminiftering
at the boldnefs of the

flie

juftice.

addreifed the Triumvirs, while

The Triumvirs being

women, ordered them

offended

away

to be driven

but the populace growing tumultuous, they were afraid of an in-

and reduced the

furredion;

lift

of

women

to be taxed to

four

hundred.

As we do not propofe

to write the hiftory of learned

women,

but only to give a general detail of the care beftowed on the education of that fex

we

great pains in teaching their

commonly kept

it,

in

them; thofe who could

claim

We

Romans were at
young men. Thofe who could affoid

return to obferve, that the

their

own

not, fent

houfes preceptors to inftrut

them

pretend not to govern the republic, ror

is

our ambition which has drann the

it

prefen: misfortune on our heads; empire, dignities, and honours are not for us;

we

we have no manner of

then contribute to a war in which

where

to public fchools,

intereli

It is true,

why

fhould

indeed, that

in the Carthaginian^ war, bur mothers aOiflcd the republic, which was, at that time, reduced
to the utmoll dillrefs

but neither their houfes, their lands, nor their moveables,

uce

f Id

feme rings and a few jewels furnilhed the fupply ; nor was it condraint, nor
violence, that forced theie from them: what they contribured was the vo'.anxary offering of
genercfity.
What danger at prefent threatens Rome ? If the Gauls, or Parthians, were enfor that fervice

camped on the banks of the Tiber, or

fei.ce

the Ario, you (hould

of our country than our mothers were beiore us ; but

find us not lefs zealouN in the

it

becomes not

U5,

de-

and we are rc-

we will net be any way co-icerned in civil war. Neither iVlarius, nor Csfar, nor
Pompey, ever thought of obliging us to take part in the domeftic troubles which their ambifjlved that

tion had railed

nay, nor did even Svl!a himfelf,

you aflume the glorious

nal infamy;

if,

without the

folution of plundering thofe

who

of Reformers of the State

title

leaft

firft
!

let

uo tyranny

-iile

which

will

in

Rome;

and yet

turn to your eter-

regard to the laws oi equity, you perfid in your wicked re-

of their

lives

and fortunes, who have given you no

jull caufc

ofofience.

they

THE HISTORY

40

they were generally inQruded by Grecian mafters

methods, fuch fathers

as

were capable, taught

befidcs thcfc

their

own

children,

not only the literature of the times, but alfo morality, and their duty

Cato inftruded his fon in fuch a variety of

to their country.

and

exercifes, as

feem almofl; improbable; and Auguftus, though

When

fovereign of the world, taught his grandchildren to write.

fuch were the teachers,

afTure ourfelves that

when

fuch the love of learning,

women, who had now

portance, were not negleded: and

it is

mind, which many of them

nefs of

arts

we may

attained no fmall

im-

probable, from that great-

in a variety

of inftances dif-

played, that their education had always a tendency, not only to

infpire

them with fentiments of morality, but likewife with that

and firmnefs of mind,

inflexible conftancy

exceedingly neccf-

whofe agitations and convulfions were

fary in a flate,
that every

fo

member

fo frequent,

flood in need of the utmoft fortitude to fuftaia

the fhock.

Such

mode of

education, however,

we

imagine, was coun-

terading nature, and robbing the fex of that

dity, in

few
the

which

inflances

it

confills half their

charms

fucceeded, never had

Roman women, though

foftnefs,

and timi-

and fuch, though in a

any general influence

for

they boafted while in fecurity of

ihe hcroifm of their hufbands, were in fuch a confternation

when

Hannibal approached the gates of Rome, that they were forbid

appear in the

flreets,

left

to

their cries fliould difpirit the foldiers,

and fpread a general panic through the

As we

all

are able only to give

fo

city.

imperfed an account of the

female education of the Romans, a people whofe hiftory

almoft as well acquainted with, as with that of our

own

we

are

times
it

O
it is

we

not to be expeQed that

among

fubjedl,

as they

were

cal records

N.

can throw

much

upon

light

that

the nations that were contemporary with them,

in a ftate

of too much ignorance

and as we have no complete

4f

to

detail

have any

CHAP.
'

r'

hiftori-

of their manners

and cuftoms, but only fome fketches in Tacitus, and a few of the
other

Roman

writers.

we mean the culture of letters, of arts, and of

vain will we look for it among the ancient inhabiNorth. The Scandinavians, and other tribes, who,

If by education
faiences

tants

in

of the

in thofe times, pofleffed the greateft part

with the

acquainted

entertained of the

rudiments of

flighted

In the favage

fcience *.

of Europe, were hardly

literature,

which they were, no

ftate in

neceffity, or utility,

or

of

ideas arc

of any thing but what im-

mediately contributes to the fuftenance or clothing of the body

no honour

to procuring thefe,

and plunder
fiftance

by

hence their

by any other methods, than rapine

men were

trained to gaining their fub-

of arms, and wafting

feats

it

in thoughtlefs feftivity.

Their women, who frequently accompanied the men

plundering expeditions, and

who

befides

drudgery to perform, could not have

knowledge

as

but fometimes

knowledge;

if

among them

education, but

at

there

home;

was any wifdom,

and they acquired

Such

is

it,

I.

time for attaining

thcfe parties,

was any glimmerings of

it

was moftly

to

be found

not by a laborious courfe of

thefe hours of folitude,

when

the

moft fufceptible of inftrudion.

the cafe at this time with the Drufes

and contemptible

Vol.

is

much

by experience and refledion upon the contin-

gencies which happened in

human mind

if there

their

had every labour and

they were not, however, always of

left

in

acquifitioiis

only

fit

for

they reckon learning one of ihofe low

women.

What

Women

of

r,a!ios,'

how

*'^""**''

THEHISTORY

42

What

they had thus learned, of

they taught to their daughters

ccconomy,

more enlightened than men

generally

of improvements, or

arts,

hence

and hence

women were
they ac-

alfo

quired an extraordinary degree of eftecm, and were often conDefides the

fulted as oracles.

known among
erted

a people fo rude

and domeftic occupations

arts

and fimple, the mothers

alfo

ex-

themfelves in teaching their daughters the virtues of pru-

which they did no

dence and chaftity;

precept

and both being united, had

the ancient Scandinavian

who

few

women were

lefs

fo

by example than by

happy an

not only

efFel,

among

attained to that efteem due to their fex, but

the

who

laid

that
firft

the

foundation of that honour and regard, which Europe at prefent

pays as a tribute

EfFefls

During

of

'^'^y-

as

beauty and merit.

to

the long and fuccefsful reign of chivalry in

women were

the conftant objedl of romantic heroifm and ex-

travagant adoration,

we may

cation tended chiefly to enable

manner,

Even

naturally conclude,

them

fo late as the

and lovers to adore them.

beginning of the fourteenth century, there was

hardly any learning

among

men

the

the

Greek was

that the celebrated Petrarch could

France, find one perfon capable of inftruding

was known
hardly was

in a

to be

ments and

own

country; and

the men,
feats

not in Italy,

him

woman, who

met with, (he was reckoned

When

fo entirely

in

it

nor

the Latin

rude and imperfel manner only to a few; and

there to be found a

guage of her

that their edu-

to flievv themfelves in luch a

as to excite heroes to fight for,

negleded,

Europe;

who

if fuch a

could read the lan-

one was here and there

a kind of prodigy.

before had fpent their days in tourna-

of arms, began to turn their attention towards the

arts

O
arts

of peace, the

women were

N.

43

likewife laid under the neceflity

of varying their mode of education

which efFedually captivated

arts

found that the fame

as they

knight clad in armour and

ignorance, were in vain pradifed upon the enlightened fcholar

Ambitious

and philofopher.

to retain the

ftill

way

and confcious that the

poflefled,

feem fond of what they approved

liked

of,

to

power they already

men was

pleafe the

and

diflike

what they

to

dif-

they applied themfelves to letters and to philofophy, hop-

ing to keep pofTefTion by their talents, of what they had gained

by

Though

charms.

their

infpire love,

duce the

and

effects

attradl the heart,

which the

were not calculated

thefe meafures

and confequently did not pro-

ladies intended,

yet they raifed them in

unknown

that period to a pitch of learning,

to

in

They

any other.

preached in public, fupported controverfies, publifhed and de-

fended Thefes's,

gued the popes

became

filled

the chairs of philofophy and law,

nuns

of quality divines, and young

girls,

in Latin, wrote

poetefTes,

women

Greek, and read Hebrew

haran-

with a foftnefs of eloquent enthufiafm, publicly exhorted the Chriflian princes to take

The

learned languages were

ceflary

moft

all

In this

for the recovery of the

now

ranks and conditions

in

Hebrew, and the

manner was female genius turned

into a

was diverted from the duties of domcftic

New

empty words and

native fprightlinefs,
tion,

and

lefs

of

al-

falfe

philofophy,

life;

it

in Greek.

wrong channel;

foured by ftudy, or rendered petulant by learning

acquired

women

who, not content with Latin only,

Tedament

Holy Land.

confidered as indifpenfably ne-

they were taught not only to men, but to

often read the Old

it

up arms

it

loft

was

either

and while

much of

it

its

and became daily more an objed of admira-

an objed of love.

It

;
;

T H E

44

It has been often obfcrved,

T O R

l;hat

Y^

violent exertions of roind,

at

well as of body, conftantly leave a languor behind them, in proReverie of

thispiduie.

portion to the efforts that have been made.

the cafe with female literature

This vsas remarkably

every mental power had been for

a long time ovcr-ftretched, anid the greateft relaxation foon fol-

lowed of confequence

and Latin; from

from

their

their fkill in the

and of divinity,

lian philofophy,

that they acquired only an

knowledge of Hebrew, Greek,

empty

women

empty fame ;

difputations of Ariflote-

began

at laft to difcover,

and, that in proportion as

they gained the efteem of the head, they became

the

On

heart.

change

this difcovery,

their plan

learning,

it

was ncceQ'ary

likely

them

for

to

they therefore began by degrees to abandon

and attach themfelves again

were more

objeds of

lefs

to

to thofe

female

which

arts,

be produdive of love, than of fame and

applaufe.

Further re-

While

change of female manners was taking

this

greateft part of

place,

tlie

Europe exhibited a fcene of fecming inconfiflency

enthufiafm and gallantry, religion and licentioufnefs, were conftantly pradifed

reconciled to

by the fame perfons, and feemed

each other.

that

in a ftiort

their

own

time

as if

Learning, however, declined

women became

as

fo

know-

infomuch, that during a great part of the fix-

teenth and feventeenth centuries, there was hardly a

be found in the

politeft countries

tolerable letter

in

the only

her
little

own

of Europe,

tongue,

or fpell

who
it

woman

and a few

few

to

could didtate a

with decent pro-

reading which they at this period

monly concerned themfelves with, was

to bring on,

faft,

famous for ignorance of

language, as they had been formerly for their

ledge of others;

priety:

perfedly

com-

receipts in cookery

receipts in phyfic to take off difeafes

together

E N.

45

together with the wrangling and unintelligible theology of the

a fcience to which

times;

been peculiarly addidted, as

women
it

alone,

left

from the world.

and

But even

other part of female

cient to

fill

up

as

all

ages and countries have

greatly interefts their paflions; and,

perhaps, confoles them in the

they are

of

it

many

folitary

firft

daughters

which

in

were excluded from bufinefs and

thefe favourite

and every

ftudies,

amufement and oeconomy, not being

all their

vacant hours, they

now

afliduoufly to various kinds of needle-vvork

of the

moments

fuffi-

applied themfelves

and many

women

rank were themfelves taught, and inflruded their

the arts of flowering and embroidery

in,

pradifed fo well in their leifure hours, that

ture of their houfes

was decorated

in this

which they

much of

manner with

the furnitheir

own

hands.

AFTERthe
fures had

From

difcovery and conqueft of America,

immenfe

treaJ-

been conftantly imported from thence into Europe!

the trade carried

on

to the Eaft

and Weft

and other parts of the globe, perhaps

ftill

accumulated; thefe

to operate,

at laft

beginning

Indies, to Africa,

greater wealth had been

turned the minds

of the greateft part of Europe from that fober and ceconomical

plan of

life,

to

which

their poverty

trade and agriculture had fubjeded

place, gaiety, expence,

and parade.

and imperfect knowledge of

them; and

fubftituted in its

Numbers of

people,

who,

perhaps, not in the moft rigid paths of juftice, had acquired im-

menfe fortunes

in the Eaft,

rope, bringing along with

tranfported themfelves back to

them

all

Eu-

the arrogance of wealth, effe-

minacy of manners, and love of pageantry and fhow, for which

the eaftern nations have ever been remarkable.
ral other caufes

combining together,

totally

Thefe, and feve-

changed the manners

of

THEHISTORY

46
C

HA

V-

P.

of Europe;

and inftead of fober frugality, and other domeftic

virtues of the

women, introduced luxury and

tafte for all the tinfcl glare

The

French,

who

trifles.

have always been remarkably diftinguifhcd

for vivacity and fhow,

and foon difleminated

two centuries

of uufubftantial

with a

dilTipation;

took the lead in this

it all

over Europe

new mode of

which, for

life,

at leaft thcfe

has aukwardly imitated every light fafliion and

paft,

frippery of that volatile people,

with

little

Monkey

Bear dances a hornpipe, or a

better fuccefs than a

puts on

the gravity of

an alderman.
French
tioB.

In France, were

ladles,

women

tion, 5\hich before that

own

Introduced to court; their educa-

introdua:ion, confided in reading their

language, in learning needle-work, and the offices of do-

meftic
tal

firft

life,

was then by degrees changed

to vocal

and inftrumen-

mufic, drawing, dancing, and dreffing in the moft fafliionablc

manner;

to

which we may add, the

feme

of captivating and go-

This flimfy pattern was copied by every other

verning their men.

nation

art

ftrokes of

added by the French

Improvement were from time

till

at laft almoft

every thing ufeful was

boldly ftruck out from the plan of female education

women

to time

and the

of the prefent age thereby robbed of more than half their

native excellence, and rendered objeds

a melancholy hour,

more fought

after to divert

or fatisfy a lawlefs paflion, than to

the focial partners of a

life

directed

by reafon and

become

We

religion.

muft, however, allow, that the French ladies are not

all fo

much

devoted to fafhion and pleafure, as to neglcdl every thing

France has produced feveral

ment and learning

women

elfe.

diftinguifhed for their judg-

and even

in the prefent diflipated age, while

female

\V

E N.

47

female coteries commonly meet for diverfion, or for gaming, there

are in Paris focieties of

women, which meet

termine the merit of every

who

new work

meets their approbation

at ftated

and happy

times to dethe author

is

the French being too polite to

fet

themfelves in open oppofition to the judgment of their ladies,

whether they may think

Should

right or

it

wrong.

Hiftory of the Fair,

this imperfe(l attempt, to write the

furvive the prefent, and be read in any future generation,

this frivolous

mode of female

may

a better, that our readers

education fhall have given place to

then have fome idea of what

we

towards the clofe of the eighteenth century,

the outlines of

Among the

rope.
ter,

as

it

now

firfl:

it

was

fhall juft fketch

pradifed in the politeft countries of Eu-

leflbns,

which a mother teaches her daugh-

article,

according to the modern phrafe,

that important

is

when

of holding up her head, and learning a proper carriage

this

be-

gins to be inculcated at the age of three or four at lateft; and

flrenuoufly

infifted

on

for

many

young lady has learned imperfedly

fometimes even fooner, fhe
is

flie

domeftlc

life,

thofe,

fhe

is

to read her

own

When

the

language, and

fent to a boarding-fchool,

which fhe

is

mud need,

entirely ignorant.

left

fome part of her time

where

if ever fhe enters into

While

all

per attention to
metic, likewife
laft,

fhe

is

here,

alfo allotted to learning to read either

language, or the languages of fome of the

kingdoms;

the

afterward.

inftruded in the moft flimfy and ufelefs parts of needle-

work; while of

own

is

years

is

her

neighbouring

of which are too frequently taught without a pro-

Grammar

or Orthography.

Writing, and Arith-

employ a part of her time; but

thefe, particularly

are only confidered as auxiliary accompliOiments,

which
are

Prefent n-.ode

education.

;
;

THE HISTORY

48

CHAP,

are not to be carried into

attention

the grand effort

what the woman

dancing

glect,

duced mafters
tion,

if

fo

To

elfe.

much,

not

and

may

perhaps

make

as to

her ne-

modes

behaving in company

fome fchools have been intro-

which already

vice,

and

both fexes,

that into

to fay,

to teach the fashionable

a,

teach the girl

to

thefe are added, the

in fafhion, the pundlilios of

and we are forry

made

fuch as drawing, mufic,

young lady

or forget every thing

of dreffing

generally

little

they are arts agreeable to youthful fprightli-

often engage the

nefs,

is

and confequently defence but

will relinquifh
as

thefe,

life,

ftill

games
prevails

at cards;

too

a diflipa-

much among

gain ground by this

early

initiation.

Such,
in fome,
thofe

in general,

is

indeed, there

the education of female boarding-fchools

may

be a few other things taught befides

we have mentioned; but whatever be

they be condu(fled,

it is

taught, or however

too true, that the girl, after having been

there fome years, comes

home

lady; with her head

of fcraps of French, names of great peo-

ple^

full

to her parents quite a

and quotations from romances and plays

cannot

caft

or oeconomy.

parents adopt a

we have now drawn, withjuft; nor fhall we drop the

our eyes on the pidure

out a fecrct wifh, that

curtain before

fine

and quite difgufted

at the antiquated virtues of fober frugality, order,

We

modern

it,

it

were

lefs

without mentioning with pleafure, that fome

better

plan;

and that fome young

even

ladies,

thus educated, have had underftanding enough to lay afide the

greateft part

of the abovementioned frippery, and cultivate fuch

knowledge, and fuch

virtues, as

were ornamental

to fociety,

and

ufeful to themfelves.

Such

OF W
Such, with

few

E N.

trifling variations,

European education: a
*^

49

common

the

is

which feems almoft

courfe,

courfe of

entirely calcu-

heart,

life,

women

filly

may

be fought after to help in trifling

when

and the beau, creatures

ftill

not defpifed.

if

more

may

little

pleafure they generally take in the

women

perhaps expedl a better fate

fex

Let fuch

in breeches.

be no more,

fhall

away an

idle

may make oa
With

the fop

but

let

them

how

confider,

company and

converfa-

and that the fop, and the beau, are only

alfo,

but of conquefts and admirers,

beauty

Women

infignificant than themfelves,

they

own

it.

the hours of trifling and of paffion are over,

they muft infallibly be negleded,

tion of their

on

and the ufeful

pleafure.

hour; but whatever progrefs their perfonal charms

the paflions,

'

as lived a century or

two ago, unacquainted with fafhion and with

fo educated,

,^---~

but too often turned into ridicule, as the

employments of fuch

obfolete

attended to

if at all,

is little,

duties of domeftic

p.

Reflcaions

lated to cultivate the perfonal graces, while the care of the head,

and of the

^ H^A

when

as never entertained

an idea

when youth and

confider, that

the crowd of flatterers and ad-

mirers fhall have ceafed to attend, fomething will then be neceffary to

which
thing,
built

fill

it
is

up the

void,

fo often occafions
frlendfl:iip

upon

and prevent the

;

and that

cannot

friendflilp

exift,

has given but

Africa,

fo interefting,

little

and

fo

women

unlefs

it is

much efteemed by

pleafure in the recital,

and America, where

it

will give

they are

fary as ignorance

nor would any thing

fo

where

in Europe,

the men,

ftill

lefs

commonly

enOaved or difregarded: in both which cafes nothing

I.

fome-

the foundation of reafon and of fenfe.

they are objeds

Vol.

and difguft

that the natural fource of this

If the hiflory of the education of

Afia,

peeviflinefs

is

in

either

fo necef-

efFcdually fpoil

them
for

OfthcEafttrn

w nrn how
educated,

T H E

so
^

^'

^^^ ^^"''^ flavery,

'

wg

and expanding

them with a

T O R Y

minds, would foon difcover to them,

their

that our fox aflumed a

and knowledge; which, by open-

as education

^ir'^
'

power not founded

feverity inconfiftent with gentlenefs

for thefe reafons,

and humanity

the intereft of the men, that almoft no cul-

it is

on

ture fhould be beftowed

to aflert the rights

and treated

in nature;

their

minds,

left it fliould

teach

them

of nature, and refufe to fubmit to the yoke

of bondage.

In feveral of the warmer regions of Alia and Africa, where

women
the

are confidered merely as inftruments of animal pleafure,

little

education beftowed upon them,

is

entirely calculated to

debauch their minds, and give additional charms

to their perfons.

They

arts,

are inftrutled in fuch graces,

inflame the

paflions

they are

and alluring

as tend to

taught vocal and inftrumental

mufic, which they accompany with dances, in which every

ment, and every gefture,

ceive

exprefTively indecent

is

no moral inftrudtion; for

it

would teach them

doing wrong: no improvement; for

it

move-

but they re-

that they

were

would fhew them,

that

they were degrading themfelves, by being only trained up to

the pleafures

fatisfy
tice

of

all

of

parts of Afia

educated more decently

dancing

This, however,

and Africa: the

;

women

is

not the prac-

of Hindoftan are

they are not allowed to learn mufic or

which are only reckoned accomplifhments

of pleafure
graces

fenfe.

they are, notwithftanding, taught

and particular care

is

all

fit

for ladies

the perfonal

taken to inftrud them in the art of

converfing with elegance and vivacity:

fome of them are

taught to write,

read,

able to read the

and the generality

Koran

to

that they

inflead of which, they

dedicate themfelves to tales and romances

alfo

may

be

more frequently

which, painted in

all

the

OF W

the lively imagery of the Eaft, feldom

of creatures

fliut

N.

51

fail to

corrupt the minds

up from the world, and confequently forming

themfelves extravagant and romantic notions of

adted in

all

that

is

to

tranf-

it.

women

In well regulated families,

by heart fome

are taught

prayers in Arabic, which at certain hours they affemble in a hall

to repeat

never being allowed the liberty of going to the public

They

mofque.

always to wafh themfelves before

are enjoined

praying; and, indeed, the virtues of cleanlinefs, of chaftity, and

obedience, are fo ftrongly and conftantly inculcated on their minds,
that, in fpite

a few

of their general debauchery of manners, there are not

among them, who,

upon them

to the inftrudlions beftowed

wondered

at,

when we

common

in their

deportment, do credit

nor

is

this

much

to

confider the tempting recompence that

be
is

held out to them; they are, in paradife, to flourifh for ever, in the

vigour of youth and beauty

they depart this
that

all

is fair,

life,

and

and however

all

that

part of the world; where

quire

it,

men

we might

when

or ugly,

are there to be immediately transformed into

is

graceful.

In China, where education

and where the

old,

it is

greater efteem than in

in

is

any

almoft the only road to preferment,

are confequently at the greateft pains to ac-

naturally expedl,

that as their

women

poflefs

a confiderable Ihare of efteem and regard, they alfo fhould not be

uegleded

in their education

read or write their

we

own

are not informed

but whether ihey are even taught to

language, which

is

work of many

by any of the voyages and

luve fallen within our obfervation

or to write the Chinefe language

travels

which

of learning

to read

long and laborious.;

antl as

as the tafk

is fo

years,

among

^
>

^^

-/^

52

HA

P.

among

, -u

.-J

employments of

C
'

men

the

it

or never Inflruded in

lios

the

of the country

II

T O R Y

fccms chicfiy confined to fuch as afpirc after

ftate,

rich learn mufic,

II

we

are of opinion,

We

it.

or

modes of behaviour, and ceremonial

which

laft

number of bows

infallibly

women

however,

this,

is

to a

flamp the

are in general

and modefly of behaviour, not

with in any other country:

blance

as the

the perfon fo failing

alfo taught a bafhfulnefs

purnfli-

they cannot polfibly be without

manner of making them, would

mark of ignorance on

arc fcldom

are told, however, that fuch as are

as a failure in the leaft circumftance,

fuperior,

women

that

to be

met

too often but a fem-

a mere outfide of virtue, which the wearer can occafion-

ally put on,

or Ihake

as fhe has occafion to

off,

appear virtuous,

or to yield to the temptations of vice.

African

men,

wo-

SuCH, with very

little

variation,

the education of

is

their

education.

over
flill

When we

Afia.

all

more

brutifh and ignorant, and the

abufed and neglected.

we

turn towards Africa,

women

find

women
the men

confequently more

But however ignorant and brutifh the pre-

fent inhabitants of Africa are, their country was, in the time of the

Roman

empire, the feat of the fciences,

number of fcholars,
fo

which, for

number of books,

dern times

its
;

diflblving
fecret,

it

great, that in

and, for coftlinefs,

acquainted with
in

Egypt

African love of learn-

a library

much

excelled

being moft of them wrote in

fome

liquid,

made themfelves

which,

all

much

lefs

colleted

among them,
as

we

that

letters

we do with

arc

monow

of gold, by
is

a peculiar

ink.

When

matters of Egypt, this famous library

was, by fuperftition, condemned to the flames

ever, a palfion

was

equalled almoft any of our

and writing with the folution

the Turks

The

as well as heroes.

ing was then

and produced no fmall

avarice,

how-

dellrudive, faved a part of what fuperftition

O
ftition

had devoted

Mahomedifm

executed his orders, burned only

order, faving

new and

the

all

EN."

53

the Sultan had ordered

to ruin:

fuch as treated of

to be burned, but

who

that

all

among the officers of the court.

Mahomet has fpread itfelf over the

the books

the minifter,

were old and

which he

elegant,

all

its

Since this period, the faith of

greateft part of Africa; litera-

of

is

whole

of whatever religion, have hardly any veftige of

people,

learning,

bad

privately fold

ture has daily declined, and, at the prefenttime, almoft the

of

in

arts,

configned entirely to the

rude and flovenly manner

among them,

among them.
women, and managed

or of fciences

left

few trades and

the

Agriculture
in

the moft

arts

pradifed

are only the refult of neceffity, and carried on with

want of invention, which flrongly marks

a flownefs and

their

deficiency of genius.

Among

people,

in fuch a condition,

peft any female learning;

miferable fex,
fion laid

is

all

would be

it

the care that

is

in vain to ex-

taken to inftrudl that

only in teaching them to bear the load of oppref-

on their fhoulders by their lazy and imperious mailers,

which we

ftiall

afterward have occafion to mention

while,

from

one another, they learn the tawdry modes of dreffing and orna-

menting themfelves

of the perfons of women, and

rally excites our indignation;
fider,

that

it

thefe regions

nity joined

in their country.

as praiEtifed

total negledl

This flavery

of their minds, natu-

but to account for

it,

we muft con-

has been a cuftom from the earlieft antiquity in

and that cuflom

together;

is

ftronger than reafon and

that the Africans,

huma-

and even the Mahome-

make companions of their wowith them, but in the moments dedicated to

dans in Afia and in Europe, never

men, nor

affociate

love and dalliance;

hence the

women

have no opportunity of
pradlifmg

THEHISTORY

54
*"

<

^]j^
-

^'

.^

pradifing upon the

by which,

thofe arts,

they gain an afcendancy over the heart,

as well as

Tn E

Of the Amejican

men

women.

calculated to

than that of Europe

make them

which may

bcfal

inhabit the

/-

in general better adapted to their

the whole fcope of

it

being well

patient of every poflible evil and fuffer-

them

in the courfe

of a

of education confined to boys only

is

it

deftined almoft

life

one continued fccne of dangers and fatigues

who

who

cducation of the various tribes of favages,

mode of life

to

even reafon,

intereft

humanity, in their favour.

van continent of America, feems

ing,

and

in other countries,

nor

extended to

are taught to bear the rigors of the climate,

plan

is this

girls alfo,

the fatigues of

labour, the, cravings of extreme hunger, and other vicifTitudes of

fortune, not only with patience, but with refolution and fortitude.

In a great part of North America,

it is

fundamental rule

cation, never to beat their children of either fex

they,

would only weaken and

ducing any good efFeds

her daughter behave
falls

a crying

ill,

difpirit

their minds,

fails to

wife,

the mother, as a

face;

a difgrace with

lafl:

children;

a reproach

but, fliould

refource, throws a

which fhe

that fhe feldom ventures to do

In Japan,

without pro-

the daughter naturally enquires the caufe

fay

inftead of having recourfe to the rod, fhe

produce an amendment

a repetition of

which,

and, therefore, whenever a mother fees

mother anfwers, becanfe you difgraceme;

dom

in edu-

is

commonly

any thing

that

it

little

the

which

fel-

happen otherwater on her

much affedled,
may fubjcifl her to
fo

it.

the fame genllencfy muft be ufcd in the education of

the punifhments inflided in moft other nations,

only

make them more

ftubborn and rcfradory,; and fometimes there,

as

OF WOMEN.
have drove them

well as in America,

as

commit

to

fuicide;

when

tired

Japan,

to

liar

This ftubbornnefs of temper

of life.

or to America;

human

kinds of the

it

is

not pecu-

depend on

feems either to

or perhaps to be peculiar to fome diftind

favagenefs of manners,

and

trifling

and which the Americans coolly and deliberately perpe-

affront;

race

feveral other places

as

we may

find

it

alfo

in

Greenland,

even where the people have but

little

refemblance to each other in manners, cuftoms, or difpofition.

Of
to

all

the ancient inhabitants of America, the Peruvians feem

have been the moft enlightened

this

was owing

to their

firft

and even

in learning

were brought up
great care;
in

However
their

all

it

has been fuppofed, that

Inca being an European, accidentally

fliipwrecked on their coaft.

they greatly furpaffed

this

it is

certain,

that

in arts, in manners,

their Virgins of the Sun,

in the

in particular,

temple dedicated to that luminary, with

and inftrudled by v/omen, appointed for the purpofe,

in the pradlice

volence

be,

countrymen

every female art and accomplishment

and

diftlnguifhed.

known among them;

of the virtues of chaftity, honefly,

virtues for

and bene-

which the ancient Peruvians were eminently

In Mexico,

alfo,

their

young women of

were educated by matrons, who overlooked

great circumfpetion.

From

thefe inftances

their
it

quality

condud, with

appears,

that

in

South America, where they enjoy a milder climate, whofe fpontaneous produdlions preclude the neceility of procuring fubfiflence

by the

perilous occupations of fifliing

tion too,

dernefs

is

CHAP.
II.

crime to which the Japanefe are addidied on the moft

trate,

and hunting,

their educa-

of a fofter nature than in North America; where ten-

would effedually

tigues of their occupation,

dilquaiify

and the

them

feverities

for

bearing the fa-

of their climate.

But
while

5^

li

II

T O R Y

while the North Americans educate their young

women

hardy manner we have mentioned, they feem

the fame time

to blend this

education in fuch a manner, as

at
if

they would wifli

throw into the female compofition, fome of that

to

manners and perfon, which men

leaf):

had fome

in

all

in the

foftucfs

of

ages and nations have at

While

faint ideas of in the other fex.

their

male

children are young, they lay them on the fkins of panthers, that

they

may

thereby acquire the ftrength, cunning, and agility of

Their females they lay on the fkins of fawns, and

that animal.

other mild animals, that, like them, they

When

Rea,!aions

mcn

gea-

foft,

and engaging.

tle,

on the education of wo-

may become

wc

education of

who

take a retrofpedtive view of thefe (ketches of the

women,

it

affords matter of aftonifhment, that a fex,

are the fharers of our nature, and deflined to be the

nions of our

lives,

compa-

have been conflantly either fhamefully

fliould

negleded, or perverted by what was meant to ferve as inflrudion.

In Europe, their education feems only calculated to infpire them

with love of admiration, of

other places of the globe,

it

cate every moral fentiment,

goes a flep farther

any period, or

in

the fubjedt of his ferious attention

feem, by their

it

tends to

adi-

Scarcely has there ever appeared

any nation,

are greatly interefled, that

In moft

and introduce vice dreffed up in the

garb of voluptuous refinement.

in

and of amufcment.

trifling,

women

condud towards

a legiflator,

and the men

who

has

made

in general,

it

who

fhould be fenfible and virtuous,

that fex, to

have entered into a

confpiracy to render them otherways.

When
the

fuch

want of

is

the hard fate of

literary

women, we cannot wonder

knowledge has

in all ages

that

marked the female

charader

however, in

chara(3:er: there has,

been fome particular women,

more

by turning

genius, or

all

who
it

N.

ages,

either

57

and among

all

nations,

by being endowed with

into another channel, have ac-

quired no incompetent (hare of the learning of the times in which

they lived

though we have already feen

thus,

women were

common

charadler.

ftippus, taught philofophy,

that account,

Arete,

and the fciences,

Metrodidados

called

Corinna, a Theban poetefs, no

ther.

away

was

the

palm

in

i.

lefs

the daughter of Arito

e.

her fon

taught by his

than

We

Carter,

mo-

times bore

five

Afpafia, a noble Milefian lady, inflruQed Pericles,

learned

who, on

triumph from the celebrated Pindar

Athenian philofopher.

Greek

extremely ignorant, there were fome ex-

in general

ceptions to that

the

that

and

the famous

have already mentioned fome of the

Roman ladies. France and England have had a Dacier, a

and many others too tedious to mention. In Italy, where

poets, a

few centuries ago, were revered

as divinities, feveral

wo-

men have arrived at no mean degree of reputation in that art and

pur own times have feen the ceremony of a poetefs being folemnly
;

crowned with

laurel at

These particular
women in general.
above the common

Rome.

inftances,

however, have no influence on the

genius of either fex, will infallibly foar

level

who

but the herd of mankind,

not the fame impulfe, nor are aduated by the fame

fire,

will

feel
ftill

jog on in the ordinary track; while our warmefl: wifhes are, that

female education were an objed more confidered by the legiflature,

and
have

better
it

planned by parents and guardians.

underftood as our opinion, that

their fair eyes ia

Vol.

I.

becoming adepts in
I

women

literature.

We

would not

fliould

pore out

Nature feems not

to

THEHISTORY

58
to

have intended them for the more intenfe and fevere ftudies

or even to equal us

befides, fhould they proceed (o far as to rival,

we fliould perhaps grudge them the laurels of fame,

and the gaining of thefe laurels
as much as we do the breeches
would rob their brows of many of thofe charms, which to them
in learning,

are

more

tend not to chalk out the plan in which

cated

only, this

we

We

by us more efteemed.

valuable, as they are

women

venture to affirm, that

it

fliould

pre-

be edu-

fliould, if poffible,

be fuch as to avoid ignorance on the one hand, and pedantry on

the other: ignorance makes a female companion

contemptible,

pedantry makes her ridiculous

which of the

two

are

nor

is it

eafy to fay

mod difgufting.

CHAP.

WOMEN.

OF

CHAP.
Of

the Employments

50

III.

and Amufements of Women.

every country, where

INtake
and where the

civilization

and culture have begun

inhabitants are not obliged to be

place,

continually employed in procuring the neceffaries of

are confidered,

not fo

much

of our

as the partners

and enjoyments

as the fweetners of our pleafures

ourfelves abroad, in cultivating the fields, carrying

working

manufadures, we leave them

at

their feet,

life,

women

and labour,

toil

while

on

we exert
and

trades,

home to enjoy the

we lay thefe fruits at

at

when we return,
happy ourlelves, if we can contribute

of our induftry

fruits

to

hap-

to their

pinefs.

Women,

being thus exempted from the labour of procuring

their fubfiftence,

have a great deal of time upon their hands,

which the domeftic

to

up

fill

adlive,

fuch

is

duties that fall to their fhare are not fufEcient

human

nature, efpecially

and the imagination

lively,

others the moft difagreeable

in order, therefore,

employments, diverfions,

trived

many of them

human

life,

to

are

fpirits

that time of this kind

blank, as well as to vary the fcene of

tle

where the

fill

is

of

up

a variety of

all

this
lit-

and amufements, have been con-

adapted to both fexcs, and fome of them

to the fair fex only.

In

ftates

of the moft favage barbarity, or in thefe but a few

degrees removed from

it,

women
I

being confidered only as the

2

flaves

CHAP,
^"'

THEHISTORY

6o

CHAP,

and drudges of the men, and as the means of perpetuating;

flaves

111.

.
'

their race, are

houfes, and

ditions of

little

little

time; and conftantly deprefled, they

inclination for amuferaent: in fuch ftates and con-

human

nature,

diverfions, and thefe too,

nature,

or in their

fields,

Thus, conftantly em-

bring up their children.

to

ployed, they have but

have but

deAined only to labour in their

we

fliall

therefore meet with

few female

only fuch as feem to Ijave arifcn from

or from chance, and not from any exertion of genius

or refinement in the purfult of pleafure.

In the Eaft,

where women are exempted from labour

becaufe they are efteemed and regarded, but becaufe

render them
in

lefs delicate

it

not

would

inftruments of thefe voluptuous jileafures

which the Eafterns place

their

chiefeft happincfs

they are

confined to feraglios and harams, where neither their employ-

ments nor araufements can admit of much variety; and where a

large portion of their time

is

confumed

in

regret, or flumbered

away in that foft indolence and relaxation of body and mind,

which the inhabitants of the banks of the Ganges reckon the
higheft felicity that can be attained in this world, and the chief,

ingredient in the beatitude of that which

Diverfois
ments, the

wMtofidle-

As

is

to

come.

any other

the neceflities of nature muft be fatisfied before

appetite can be formed,

therefore have

or objeft fixed upon,

employments mufl

been every where prior to amufements,

could only come in as fecondary confiderations.

advance

many

which

Accordingly

centuries into the hiftory of the world,

have any account of amufements, and many of the

before

firft

we
we

ages of

barbarity; the fubfequent ones of care and fimplicity, after the

firft

foundation of Hates, generally pafs away, before they have

time.

OF
time to think

trifling dlverfions

public ones are only founded

In the

of antiquity,

earlier ages

the higheft dignity,

had

flock,

on

arife

i2:inned

it,

from merrinefs of

inconfiflent with

was not

the va-

affifted in

Abraham went and brought a calf

and gave it to his wife, who drefl"ed

then he himfelf took butter and milk, and the calf which he
dreflTed

a tree

fet

them before the

a cuftom to this day continued

nations, elpcciallyin thel/evant;

than to fee their princes fetch

and flood by them under

angels,

among many of

where nothing

home from

is

the eaflern

more common
and klU,

their flocks,

whatever they hive pitched upon for the ufe of their families
while the princeflcs their wives, or daughters, prepare a

perform the

office

liar to

part of female

grinding of corn
they

ftill

theirs

that fuch

the people, nor to the ages

Another

fo

turned by the hand, a

in

taflj.

Egypt

we

have

fhall

are confidering.

employment

ftones. the

in the earlier ages,

and

in

many

wa&

countries

which

uppermoft of which was

generally performed by two

in the time

the relation of the plagues

and

fire,

conftruded as to go by wind or water

were only two fmall

employments were not peca^

the ancients had not,

have not, mills

Such were ufed

We

of an European cook-maid.

occafion to fee afterward,

of Pharaoh

women.

for Mofes,

infefted that country

in

on account

of the Ifraelites,
throughout all the land
died, from the firfl:-born of Pharaoh who was upon the throne,
favs, that the firft-born

to the

firfl:-born

They were

of the maid-fervant that was behind the mill.

ufed in the time of our Saviour,

^^

^^^'^

-v

>

and affluence.

idlenefs

Gideon and Arunah

rious labours of hufbandry.

from the

any dlverfion or amiife-

may

it

6i

E N.

what we would reckon the meaneft

to at in

of menial employments.

it

or inclination to almofl:

of,

ment. Private and

heart

\V

who

fays,
""

"two
womea.

women

of

en!ployed.^

THEHISTORY

C2
C n
V

^ P,
,-'

"

^;^'omen (liall

be grinding

" and the other

the mill

at

They

left."

the one (hall be taken,

are iifcd at this day,

Levant, and even in the north of Scotland

who

all

over the

where the women

turn them, have a particular fong which they then fing, in-

tended perhaps to divert them from thinking on the feverity of

When

their labour.
it

was likewife

the

women had

their province to

grinded the corn into meal,

make

into bread.

it

when he entertained
Cakes, among many of

Sarah was

ordered by her hufband,

the angels, to

make

cakes for them.

the ancients,

were

offered

on the

altars

of their gods, from which cuftom even the

did not altogether abftain

Ifraelites

inform us,

women

their

that

as the fcriptures frequently

baked cakes

to

the

Queen of

Heaven.

Pasturage was
times

we

dition,

almofl: the

are fpeaking of;

as well as the

only method of fubfiftence in the

and the

women

of every rank and con-

men, were not exempted from attending on

them

the flocks, drawing water for

to drink,

and doing

all

the

other offices which the nature of fuch an employment required.

Pafturage obliged the ancient

the Eaft,
frcfh

to

Ifraelites, arid

embrace a wandering

food for their flocks.

houfes, as

we

Inftead,

that they

therefore,

might procure
of dwelling in

they ereded only tents, for the convenience of

do,

frequent removals

life,

other inhabitants of

thefe

tents

were made of camel's hair and

wool, the fpinning and weaving of which was a part of the occupation of iheir
flitutcd as

women; and from

the time that cloth

was fub-

a covering for the body, inflead of the fkins of ani-

mals, the whole operation of

women, who weavcd it

ing the woof with their

making

it

in the moft fimple

fingers,

devolved alfo on the

manner, by condudl-

inftead of a fhuttle.

In

In countries where the

is

generally his

own

arts are

E N.

6j

but in their infancy, every

The men make

artificer.

ments which they employ

the various inflru-

work, and the

in their

women make

the cloth for covering themfelves and their families

days of Mofes, the

Ifraelitcs

degrees beyond this

fiderable progrefs

had even arrived

to

have made a con-

even in the time of Abraham, they had in-

to

for fheerlng their flieep

fteel,

which he drew

fabre,

but in the

have been advanced a few

to

Metallurgy feems

ftate.

ftruments, probably of

had a

feem

man

to facrifice

works of

muft therefore have been

his fon Ifaac.

in gold

tafte

and

Abraham

And

in filver

more advanced

at this period

they

they

in the arts,

than the Greeks at the time of the fiege of Troy, whofe arms

and

fhields

were only made of copper

tions at this time,

times pointed with

Such

only

is

or than

flints,

or bones of animals.

the imperfed account

and

if

we

are enabled to give of Amufementa

they had any, are

ftill

Their amufements oflnVq^ay'^

involved in deeper ob-

Almoft in every period, and among every people, how-

fcurity.

ever wild and uncultivated,

dancing

favage na-

whofe arms are only hardened wood, fom.e-

female employments in the patriarchal ages.

diverfions,

many

we

find

fome rudiments of finging and

poems, containing the principal circumftances of the

hif-

tory of their country, and the praife of their gods and heroes, were
in ufe

among

the ancient Phoenicians, Arabians, Chinefe, Greeks,

Mexicans, "&c.
itifti

women amufed

poets; which,

were
for

It is

chiefly

probable, therefore, that the ancient Ifrael-

themfelves with llnging the fongs of their

among them

compofed either

as well as
in praife

fome remarkable deliverance, or

among

of the Deity,

to celebrate

chievement of themfelves or their anceftors.

their neighbours,

And

to

thank him

fome martial
that thefe

at-

poems
were

knoJ^"n'^

THEHISTORY

64

were not always compofed, nor always fung, by the men only, appears evident from the fong of Barak and Deborah, handed down
by Mofes. Jubal, the brother of Tubal Cain, had long before

to us
this

time invented mufical inftruments

it is

not therefore impro-

women accompanied their fongs with incuftom we often meet with in early ages, and

bable, that the Ifraelitifli

ftrumentalmufic

among

uncultivated people.

we may reckon dancing

among the female diverfions of the times we are reviewing.
and we find old BarDavid danced before the ark of the Lord
Besides

the recital of fongs and poems,

zilai

bewailing his incapacity for that exercife, in a manner that

lliewed

how much

it

was the

favourite,

which he

diverfion of the times in

and perhaps the religious,

and particularly while

rally at all times,

As women

lived.

in the

bloom of youth

and beauty, more cheerful, light-hearted, and given

amufemeats, than men
fit

it is

are gene-

to the fportive

highly probable, that they did not

inadive fpec^ators of a diverfion'fo

much

feftival occafions, efpecially flieep-fheering,

in ufe

and on fome

we have

the ftrongeft

reafons to believe, that there were promifcuous meetings,

both fexes rejoiced,

Dancing

is

made merry, and perhaps danced

perhaps not

lefs

by favage nations, over

which even the moft

them

to cxtacy,

they

fall

down

ancient than fongs,

whom

together.

lefs

pradtifed

mufic has commonly a power, to

delicate Italian ear

is

and often prompts them

breathlcfs.

nor

where

Even

a ftranger.
to exert

the wretches

It elevates

themfelves

who,

in

till

America,

fmart under the rod of European flavery, though fo difpirited, as

in appearance to

pleafure, ftart

have bid an eternal farewell to happinefs and

up

at the

power of mufic, and dance

as if their

bodies were ftrangers to pain, and their hearts to forrow.

In

O
In the times

known

we

N.

games of chance were not

are confidering,

and even in the days of Solomon,

cf degree of magnificence and hbertinifm

in every vanity,
cal

and

in

65

who

with an unheard-

I'liji-rirhad indulged himfelf

every delight, neither games nor theatri-

entertainments feem to have been introduced.

commentators on the Talmud,

credit the

fpedlacles

all

If

we may

kinds of games and

were not only forbid, butabhorredby every goodlfraelite,

on account of the judgments which had

among

ventured to be prefent at them

The comment on

the book of

fallen

upon fuch

women were

among

Ruth introduces

old

Naomi

difluadIfrael,

not there allowed to go to the theatres, as

The Jewifh comment on

the Gentiles.

had

the neighbouring nations.

ing her daughter-in-law from returning into the land of

becaufe

as

the Lamentations

of Jeremiah, introduces the church of that people expoftulating

with God, that fhe had never indulged herfelf in entering into
fuch prophane places

and the Talmud

this,

exprefsly forbidsi

them on any confideration whatever.

that they fhould enter

On

itfelf

and fome other accounts,

it

would feem, that the

amufements of the women, in the times we are fpeaking

were but few and fimple.

Perhaps one of the moft

regaling themfelves in the open

*'

every one under his

a cuftom as ancient as

amufement
difpofes

We

vine,

was,

as the fcripture exprefl'es

and under

Abraham, and

pradlifed in the Eaft

more

fions ufed

own

air,

common

at this

his

day

own

of,

it,

fig-tree ;"

almofl: the

only

where the heat of the climate

to relaxation in the fliade,

than to the fportive diver-

by the adlive inhabitants of colder regions.

are informed

by Herodotus,

that in

Egypt the employments

of the women, like moft of the other cuftoms of that people,

Vol.

I.

were

Theatricalentenainment^

chance'n"t
''*^"-

66

ir

T^ere totally different

We

T O R Y

from what they were

in other countries.

women were occuand agriculture; and we now

have already mentioned, that the Egyptian

pied abroad in trade, merchandife,

add, that, according to this author, they

ployments and cares

Wc

men.

to their

left all

arc,

opinion, that this was not ftridlly the cafe

em-

the domeftic

however, rather of
the mercantile cara-

vans, which travelled in places fo rude and unhofpitable as the

neighbourhood of Egypt, were probably not compofed of women;

the fine linen, for which Egypt was fo remarkable, was probably

who

not fpun by men,

the

tween the two

the divifion of the employments of

as

13ut

diftaff.

fcxes, in this country,

much doubt and

thors involved in fo
tant,

Fpyptianwoamofements.

we cannot

From

feem by nature to have an abhorrence at

obfcurity, at a period fo dif-

pretend to throw any light upon the fubjedl.

dancing,

women

it

would feem,

amufements and diverfions of the Egyptians were

only a kind of religious

finging,

be-

by the difagreement of au-

the faint glimmerings of ancient hiftory

that the public

the

is

life

which they celebrated with

feflivals,

feafling,

and pompous proceflions

in

which

bore a great part, and being adorned with a variety of

flowers and garlands, carried in their hands things fymbolical of

the feftival they were celebrating.
public proceflions,

women

Befides

the joining in thefe

of dirtindion ufed to keep their birth-

days with feafling and rejoicing.

On

the birth-day of a queen,

or of a daughter of Egypt, the whole court was treated in a

nificent

manner, and paid

their

account they were afl'embled.

their prince,

called

together

compliments

Great
their

men

to the lady

mag-

on whofe

followed the example of

friends and dependents,

and

fpent the birth-days of their wives and daughters in mirth and

feftivity.

With regard

to the private

amufements of the Egyptian

'

O F
women, hiftory
among a people

tian

that

E N.

entirely filent.

is

fo

\V

It

6y

is

probable, however,

highly cultivated, they were not altogether

chap.
_

-.-

_p

without fome of thefe fportivedivcrfions, which tend to invigorate

the body by unbending the mind.

From

the Egyptians
<^-'

we come

till

we only
J

to the heroic arres,

D '

meet with a few

fcattcred hints concerning the

women employed

or

manner

which

in

E.mp!oymen's
of toe

women

of 'o""e other
natioi s.

The

amufed themfelves.

Phoenician

women,

whofe hufbands were famous for trade and navigation, are

much of

have fpent

their time

in writing

faid to

and keeping of thefe

accounts, without which trade cannot be properly managed.

Lybian women, warlike

of

as their hufbands, dedicated a great part

amufements were fome of them

one

and

time to feats of arms,

their

tribe, in their

As

feated.
defs,

this

cure, that

flie

fticks

and

women

flones,

none

fuffered

the

all

and that

till

divided into two parties,

one of the parties was de-

(lie

become mortal

wounds

received in

interefted herfelf fo

to die

by the

to

policy,

it

was eafy

it

inftitution

was

in

It is

to

to fix this

who

could not

excellently calculated

be wounded in

it,

Thus,

no other light than a

not to join in the engageqient was a

ment of unchaftity

in their

vindicate her injured reputation.

though we can confider the

much

of their virginity.

lofs

and when they were,

from the dead

chaftity

were under

of them, but fuch as had for-

fligma of female levity on the unhappy fufTerer,

piece of ftate

it

wounds were feldom of confequence enough

probable, that thefe

rife

even their

annual conflidt was fought in honour of the god-

feited their title to her favour

to

chace

country, annually celebrated a feftival in honour

they imagined that

her peculiar care

to the

calculated to inftil a martial fpirit

of Minerva, in which the young

and fought with

The

tacit

to

prefervc

acknowledg-

was coafidered

as certain

THEHISTORY

68
to her

tain death

rifque themfelves,

men would

who was
who were

fo.

Few women,

confcious of being guihy

dare to be guilty,

when

was reckoned

it

would

therefore,
;

few wo-

fo impoffible

to avoid a difcovery.

women

In what manner the

Medes, and

any

who

among
;

all

conjecture.

we

We

the opulent they

which make

are almoft the only nations

figure in the periods

nearly

tafks

Perfians,

of the Syrians, Babylonians,.

were employed,

are reviewing,

may, however, venture

were not put

to

any

is

to affirm, that

fervile or laborious

would have been altogether inconfiftent with the

as fuch

delicacy in

which they were brought up, and the extraordinary

finery with

which they were decorated.

famous for

their

As the Babylonians were

manufalures of rich embroidery,

veftments, fine linen,

magnificent carpets and hangings

weaving, embroidery, and other works of the

a principal part of the occupation of
are confidering,

employed

in

finery with

fumptuous

we may

women,

and

like nature,

as

were

we

in the periods

reafonably conjcdure, that they were

fabricating of thefc, as well as in preparing that

which they ornamented

their perfons.

We

have rea-

fon alfo to fuppofe, that in nations fo rich and luxurious as thofe

mentioned, where

women were

brought up

in the lap

of

and indulgence, they would have feveral public as well

private amufements ; but what thefe were, or how conduced,

as

we have
eafe

is

for us at this period to attempt to difcover.

in vain

We

it

are

informed, that the Babylonians had a great variety of mufical inftruments

and

as mufic

is

a recreation well adapted to the fenti-

mental feelings of the female heart, it is probable, their women

The Medes and Perfians were alfo famous for
did not negledl it.
mufic and dancing. Mufic,
-7

among them, was

called in to heighten
the.

the pleafure of the feftive board

at

E N.

69

which they fung, and played

FI

P.

upon inftruments, the monarchs themfelves fometimes taking a

part in this, as well as in every other thing which promoted mirth

and

We

jollity.

Medes and

are inclined

Perfians that the cuftom

ing in finging and dancing

Among

to believe,

women,

was

that

it

was among the

introduced of bring-

firft

in order to divert a

company.

the nations which have been hitherto mentioned,

we

orruhfequent
periods.

could do

little

more than obferve

employment, and fuch the amufement of the

ing to periods

remote,

we meet with

In the Lefler Afia, where

cular.

far

lefs

from being

fo

much

parts of the world,

afhamed

to

it

defcripiions

more

women were
in many other

quality

firft

parti-

that

defpifed and neglected, as

office

Defcend-

fair fex.

would feem

even thofe of the

perform the

was the

in general, that fuch

We

of a waflierwoman.

were not
fhall

af-

terwards have occafion to take notice of the fame cuftom in Greece.

The Grecian wives and

daughters, of whatever quality, were not,

in the heroic ages, brought

the famous Ulyfres,

is fo

up

Penelope, queen of

in idlenefs.

frequently introduced by

Homer

at

her

loom, that almoft every one has heard the ftory of Penelope's web
a ftory

which has been frequently applied

operations of the

women

to the flow

and

thriftlefs

The famous Helen,

of our modern times.

while confined by the befiegers of Troy, employed herfelf in an

extraordinary piece of embroidery, which reprefented moft of the
battles

fought between the Greeks and Trojans

when

fhe heard of the death

foft

and Andromache,

of Hedor, embroidered a repre-

fentation of that tragical fcene, and adorned

fuch

employments, fuch works of

tafte,

it

with flowers.

were not the

But

fole oc-

women in the times we are delineating. The

Andromache, who with her needle painted the fall of the

cupations of the

fame

hero-

TH HISTORY

70

CHAP.
V

>,

Jiero

of her country, was not afhan^ed to feed, and take care

when

the horfes of that hero

BtsiuF.s the

unknown

arts

living.

of weaving and embroidery, which were not

women

to the

of,

in the times

of Mofes, the Grecian fair

ones employed themfelves in fpinning, which they performed

{landing, and in every other branch of the manufature of cloth
a cuflom which

of their

was not

wore garments, fpun and woven by

heroes and flatcfmcn,

fiflers

and

the earlicfl antiquity,

tuous

obliterated even in the moft poliflied times

Alexander the Great, and many others of their

ftates.

wives and

we

as

find

Solomon,

Of the Greek
women.

As

the

work, near the apartments

they were refpeded by their hufbands,

and management of

to intriguing, the provifion

neceflaries within doors

Greek

ladies

of a vir-

The Greek women

fcarlet.

allotted to their

When

where they lodged.

in his praifes

her other qualities, that of

clothing her hufband in purple and

had particular rooms

their

appears to have been the practice of

this

woman, enumerating, among

and not given

were committed

were

to

all

them.

employed, and as

almofl; conflantly

voluntary employment often banifties even every wifh of pleafure

and

diffipation,

we have

reafon to believe that they had few, if

any, private diverllons or amufements

which

are generally the

offspring of idlenefs, as appears plainly from the difference, in

between the

this refpcdl,

women and

the

men

the former, as

we

have obfcrvcd, being fully employed, had no need of amufements

the latter being frequently, and,
to be conflantly

games and

idle,

in Sparta,

were thereby induced

fports of various kinds to

and prevent

that uncomfortable
.?

fill

even by law obliged

to

up

have recourfe to

their vacant hours,

tedium which

fo

conflantly at-

tends

OF W
tends idlenefs

fome of

to

admitted, and from

Their

quire an

the Spartan
feen,

all

that they

71

women were

by the

fevereft

penalties.

imagined, that fhould they be indifcrimi-

men, they would ac-

the amufements of the

and negled the

of them at home.

women

E N.

thefe public fports the

unfuitablc boldnefs,

offices required

others excluded

legiflator pofTibly

natcly admitted to

To what we

however, an objedlion

are,

feveral duties

have here obferved

:

we have

amufed themfelves with the mafculine

wreftling, throwing darts,

But

&c.

this

is

and

not

all

already

exercifes

of

they were

obliged to appear naked at fome of their folemn feafts and facrifices,

cle

and

dance and

to

around them

fing,

while the young

an amufement highly

men

ftood in a cir-

indelicate, or,

if a reli-

gious ceremony, only worthy of the Cyprian goddefs.

In the

employment
bours,

periods,

earlier
in

while the Greeks found abundance of

procuring fubfiftence, in plundering their neigh-

or avenging their

own

quarrels

they had but few gods,

and, hardly, perhaps, any feftivals befides that of the vintage,

when

In the

gathered.

upon

their labour

the

make merry together with the fruits they had

latter, when they became idle, by devolving all

they ufed to

number of

them became

flaves,

their

and

men, the

alfo nearly

had increafed almoft

their gods

feftivals celebrated

innumerable, and were

in

to

honour of

many of them

accompanied with dancings, revcllings, pompous proceffions, and

other oftentatious ceremonies

were not only admitted, but

in feveral

part,

as fingers, dancers,

inftitutions

prieftefles,

all

of them the

women

of them aded a principal

&c.

When,

therefore, the

of a religion are in this manner more calculated

attract the eye,

and moral

into ahnoft

than to

duties,

amend

the heart

when,

to.

inftead of focial

they prcfcribe gaudy proceflions,

and oftentatious.

THE HISTORY

72
tlous ceremonies

thefe in a great

ally turned into public diverfions

meafure fupply, and are actu-

and amufements.

have been remarkably the cafe in Greece

to

one of their numerous

This

fceins

where, though every

feftivals vcas inftituted in

honour of fome

god, or in commemoration of fomeihing which they fancied was

conneded with
tution

religion, they often loft fight of the original infli-

amid the glare of

oftentatious

ceremony with which

it

was

celebrated.

Another
vals of the

was

caufe,

which contributed

Greeks be confidered

would be tedious

it

fooneries

let

make

to

the religious fefti-

amufements and diverfions,

which conftituted

that ridiculous buffoonery

them:

as

to

fo great a part

of

enumerate one half of thefe buf-

At a

few fcrve as a fpccimen.

honour of Bacchus, the women ran about

the god, who, they pretended, had run

feftival

held in

for a long time feeking

away from them

this

done, they pafled their time in propofing riddles and queftions to

each other, and laughing

at fuch as

at laft often clofed the fcene

one of thefe

feftivals,

could not anfwer them

the daughters of Minya, having in their

At another, kept

in

of the moft extravagant

defs to have been affeded

grief,

to table

honour of Venus and Adonis,

they beat their breafts, tore their hair, and mimicked

At

and

with fuch enormous exceffes, that at

madnefs killed Hippafus, had him drefled and ferved up

as a rarity.

all

the figns

with which they fuppofed thegod-

on the death of her favourite paramour.

nymph Cotys, they addreffed her as

of wantonnefs with many myfterious rites and cere-

another, in honour of the

the goddefs

monies.

At Corinth,

thefe rites

and ceremonies, being perhaps

thought inconfiftent with the charadcr of modeft women,

feftival

was only

celebrated

by

harlots.

this

Athenxus mentions a
feftival,

O
they could
all

We

fhall

the

temple

men and
all

laid

night

N.

73

hold on

fills,

all

met

in the temple of Ceres, the

morning, the

in the

women

men were

let in,

At

at the frolic.

madnefs appear the more

this

raw and bloody

fhut out

and the

the other, in

of goats newly flaughtered.

entrails

were celebrated with

fliipped in Greece,

in

',. /

and

And, in-

much wor-

a deity

rites either ridiculous,

There were

madly extravagant.

they ufed to eat the

real,

deed, the whole of the feftivals of Bacchus,

obfcene, or

negled of the

honour of Bacchus, they counterfeited frenzy and madnefs

make

'

dogs, themfelves and the bitches remaining in the

time was fpent in laughing together

to

them

altar; beating

P.

one of which, after

at

^ ^^^

the old bachelors

as punifliment for their

only mention two more

the aflembly had

all

and dragged them round an

find,

the time with their

fex.

women

which the

at

feftlval,

others, however,

honour of the other gods and goddefles, which were more de-

cent,

and had more the appearance of religious folemnity, though

even in thefe, the

women

drefled

out in

all

their finery;

and

adorned with flowers and garlands, either formed fplendid proceflions, or aflifted in

of which was

to

performing ceremonies; the general tendency

amufe rather than inftrud.

Wherever women
abjedt flavery, nothing

endeavour

are advanced a
is

more natural

to attrad the attention

native charms, fet off to the

But

it is

only in

that to drefs, to

I.

them than

advantage by drefs and ornament.

they have imagined,

which they have any

all

their charms,

bufinefs or concern

we have now feen, were

were the Romans in the early

Such, as

Roman wc-

a conflant employed,

of our fex, by a difplay of their

ornament themfelves, and difplay

Creeks, nor fuch

Vol.

befl:

to

ftates polifhed to excefs, that

are the only things with

in this world.

few degrees above the mofl

not the ancient

periods of their

empire.

;:

74
*-

HA

,^-

p.

'

li

T O R Y

Taiiaquil, the queen of Tarquin, one of the

empire.

II

and bed

firfl

kings of Rome, was admitted to public honours on account of the

ufe fhe had

known

well

is fo

made of

her diftaff

and Lucretia, whofe

Roman

in the

liiftory,

when

tragical ftory

her hnfband and

fome friends with him, unexpededly arrived from the army

in the

middle of the night, was found with her maids fpinning and

working

among

in

the

wool

and the general practice of

Romans

as the

women manufadured
families

all

this period, as well

Greeks and other nations, was,

that the

the cloaths ufed by their hufbands and

not thinking the ufeful and necefTary arts of

life fo

in-

compatible with elegance and grandeur as they began to do afterwards, and as they unfortunately do

ftill

our modern times

in

but while their hufbands and relations were labouring

fending them abroad,

cloaths

and other

they at

neceffaries,

home were

for,

or de-

providing them with

according to their rank, and the

fafhion of their country, and thus mutually forwarding one

mon

intereft; but in fubfequent periods,

numerous

train

men became by

of attending
degrees

evils,

lefs ufeful,

when

com-

luxury, with

its

had crept into Rome, the wo-

and ceaied

to be

employed ia

proportion as they were diverted and amufed.

History, fo far as we know, has not acquainted us, whetheir public

ther the Roman ladies had any private diverfions
as bathing, theaones were fuch as were common to both fexes
:

trical

reprcfentations, horfe-races, fliows of wild beaRs, fighting

with one another; and fometimes with men,

in the plenitude of their defpotic

whom

power ordered

to

the emperorft

engage them

naval battles, and gladiators hacking one another to pieces.

Romans, of both
which

at

firft,

fexes, fpent a great deal

perhaps, were

of time

at

The

the baths

interwoven with their religion, at

hft,.

'

were only confidered

lafV,

E N.

7S

as refinements in

where

places of public refort,

the

all

luxury

they were

news of the times were

to

be

heard, where people met with their acquaintances and friends,

where public
where poets

libraries

recited

earlier periods

fex

were kept for fuch

their

works

as chofe to read,

fuch as would hear.

to

and

In the

of Rome, feparate baths were appropriated to each

but luxury beginning by degrees to thruft out decency, they

came

at laft

to

bathe promifcuoufly together;

men, however,

the

being drefled and undrefled by the men; and the women, following the example, by thofe of their

Adrian prohibited

inclination,

by

Heliogabalus,

it.

the patron of gluttony and indecorum, formally abolifhed

it

was again renewed under Alexander Severus.

was by

this

timeof Conftantine

who

finally

cepts of Chriftianity to the

trees, as in

it

and

But debauchery

time become too powerful to be reftrained bylaw; and

in fpite of every effort, promifcuous

likewife at

re-efta-

degrees, overcame the

and Marcus Aurelius renewed

prohibition,

The emperor

fex alfo.

manner of bathing, and

this indecent

blifhed the feparate baths

own

Rome

bathing continued

annulled

legiflative

it,

till

the

by adding the pre-

authority.

There were

public walks, planted on each fide with rows of

modern times;

to

which both fexes

reforted in the

The emperors fomein which the women had tickets, that

In fliort, fo much did the Roman women

evenings, to walk and amufe themfelves.

times alfo gave lotteries

entitled

them

to prizes.

recede from the cuftom of antiquity, in mixiag themfelves with

the men, that at
or debauchery, in
ties or

laft

there

was hardly an amufement, a

which they

v'ere

bufinefs,

not engaged, either as par-

fpedators.

CHAP.

''"

'^j^j^

v.^

THEHISTORY

76

CHAP.
The fame

MEN, though

many

in

IV.

Sithjecl continued.

refpeds exaclly fimilar in

ages and

all

countries, in others are fo dlffimilar, that they can hardly be

confidcred as the fame kind of beings

and places the

art,

of nature;

effel

their fimilarity

in all times

their diffimilarity the effedl

and of the habits and cuftoms which have

Thefe every where govern and

is

diret

arifen

from

more than one half of

of
it.

their

thoughts and actions, lay them under obligations ftronger than

the laws of their country; and in

Such was the

laws of nature.
the public baths

fuch

is

other parts of the world

place to cuftom, but,

As
fions

many

cafe

with the

the cafe at prefent in

;

by cuflom,

and amufements of the

fhall

Roman women at
Rufiia, and many

where female modefly not only gives

is

in time entirely eradicated.

we mentioned
Roman ladies,

the other articles, which

known, we

even the

cafes obliterate

in the

lift

of diver-

are already fo well

not enter into a particular detail of them.

from the Romans we turn our eyes towards

When

thefe nations,

who

we find them, though by the

in many circumftances, lefs de-

afterwards overturned their empire,

Romans denominated

barbarians,

ferving of that contemptible epithet th.in thefe infolent depopulators

of the world.

We

find their

women

placing no fmall

female excellence in the exercife of the domefiic, and

that of the conjugal virtues:

we

find that their

ftill

fliare

of

more

in

mothers had early inftilled

O
minds

Hilled into their

ments adorned

E N.

-j-j

which more than any orna-

that modefly,

and that frugality and induftry, which

^ ^^^

P*

in a bar-

ren climate, and alinoft unaflifted by the men, maintained them.

Their employment was not only

the douefiic concerns ot the family, hut alfo to provide what-

all

ever could be obtained by peaceful induftry

thing

deemed agriculture an ignoble

forflaves and

women: even

and encouraged them

The men,
when

live

the

on

their

women,

of managing them,

which thofe women who had

we have mentioned, counted

by the fword and the bow, and confe-

not engaged in war, or in the chafe, funk into

and could only be

flothful indolence;
ate,

in

In all the nations

only glorious to

quently,

fit

themfelves in agriculture received public ap-

diftinguiftied

plaufe.

fields

to fupport the fatigue

eftablifhing annual affemblies,

moft

only

profeffionj

the Vifigoths, on the coafts of Spain,

devolved the care of their flocks and their

by

every

Germans, and perhaps every other north-

Celtcs, Gauls,

ern people,

left

conduct and diredion of their wives.

elfe to the

The

for their hufbands,

war and hunting,

inclined only to occupy themfelves in

it

and jnanage

care of,

to take

drank, and

live,

becaufe they

Every neceflary work being thus

flept.

women, they were perhaps

time for any thing

faid to

elfe

if

fo fully

employed

as to

left to

have no

they had any diverfions or amufe-

ments, as they had no hiftorians,

and as thofe of other nations

were but imperfeClly acquainted with

their

manners, we have no

account of them.

We

{hall

afterwards have occafion to relate, that the far greater Enftemwoc

/I

ia

men, ho em-

part or the temale lex in Alia, Africa, and America, are in a itate

of the

mud

abjedt flavery,

and employed only

in the execution

of

every

pioyeJ.

: ;

78
every

up

II

II

and laborious

flavifli

the difmal tale,

particulars only,

T O R Y

We

taflc.

take

but content ourfelves with mentioning a few

and thefe chiefly fuch

are the leaft cxpofcd

to feel

The Hindoo women,

the

as relare to

women, who

the oppreflive effedls of defpotifm.

Mahommedans

Labor, and feveral other places of the

much opprefled by

now

not therefore

fliall

flavery, as in

of Bengal, Naugaracut,
in general, not fo

Eaft, are,

many parts of Africa and America

becaufe, in the former places, they are confidered only as an article

of delicacy and pleafure

lords,

in the latter, only as the Haves of their

and the breeders of children.

we owe

a great part

To

of thefe works of

on the manufadlures of the Eaft

a part of that filligree

in Europe.

The

commonly charge them, does

nature as of education:
cluded from

with

all

fo

the embroidery,

all

much

therefore,

exceeds any thing

with which we

not feem to be fo

much

the bufy fcenes of

a defedt of

life,

and

acquifition of

like children

which

provided

forth the

calls

powers of the mind and body, they feldom have any motive
exert themfelves

but

when

who

lefs

up

in a defpicable

feveral female flaves,

her

raifc

reputation, and to fupport herfelf and flaves in a better

than that fcanty pittance would admit of, began to

jQie

tafte

at firft

apartment of the feraglio, on the comfort-

allowance of two fhillings per day, in order to

powers of

Mher-

v?as afterward the favourite Sultana of Jehangire,

emperor of Hindoftan, being, with

fhut

to

fuch a motive exifls, they have of-

ten exhibited the moft convincing proofs of their ability.

ul-Nilfa,

fo

brought up in luxurious indolence, ex-

thofe things, the

all

executed

the beautiful colourings and

work, which

deficiency of tafte

of Hindoftan,

tafle fo elegantly

exquifitc defignings of their printed cottons

and

women

the

and invention, which had hitherto

call

lain

own

manner

forth the

dormant

produced feme admirable pieces of tapeftry and embroidery,

painted

O
painted

filks,

\V

E N.

79

common

variety of female ornaments, fuperior to thofe in

thefe being

bought up with avidity over

made her

famous, that the Sultan paid her a

^o

are the female

the fame

among

feraglio or

vifit

and capti-

moment became

the

employments of the Eaft; they are nearly

Turks now

haram has

weahh of

garden adjoining

the proprietor

time with their attendant

more

nor (hould

and

in the

middle

decorated, according to

we wonder,

love,

in the

and ambi-

intereft,

and where

at their

if in thefe

and enjoyment, than

real pleafure

tion, fo often deftroy their peace

{hafts,

lefs

it,

here the ladies fpend moft of their

unbounded freedom of Europe, where

envenomed

to

nymphs around them, employed

mufic, embroidery, or loom

retreats they find

Europe; every Turkifh

fettled in

garden a large room, more or

this

the

flave.

Such

of

ufe

the city of Delhi,

all

vated with her fenfe and her charms, from that

her

chap.
<- ^~,^

with the moft exquifite delicacy; and invented a

with her

fcandal,

too often ftrikes equally at guilt and inno-

cence.

So

little

do the writers of voyages and

palTes in the penetralia of the

travellers

harams of the

Eaft,

know what

and

Luxurious

fo private

are thefe recedes kept even from the eye of fpeculative intrufion,
that our

knowledge of what

ceedingly imperfect
ladies

this

is

going forward within them

is

ex-

only in general feems certain, that the

of the great, fpend their time lolling on filken fophas, bath-

ing in rofe water,

and adorning

perfuming themfelves with

their perfons,

folicitous

the attention, and obtain the greateft

f their

Lord.

coftly

eflences,

by every method

to attradl

fl^are

of the conjugal favour

PubUc amufementsthey have none

as thefe

would

neceflarily

T H

8o
^

^ ^^

P-

'

ncccfrarlly expofe
torn,

lous

them

to be feen

women ihemfclves feeni

tyrants who confine them.
the

men

a thing which, through

afraid

little lefs

In the empire of the Mogul, the

apartments of the

T O R Y

women

ciif-

of than the jea-

are often called into the

where they fpend the remain-

after flipper,

der of the evening in regaling themfelves with betel *, with a few

of the liquors of the country, and in converfation

they are conflantly veiled

and

to

but inthefe cafes

to unveil,

offer

touch one of them, would be confidercd as the

or even to

greatcfl:

and perhaps puniflied with immediate ftabbing.

rudcncfs;

At court they

arc frequently admitted into a gallery, with a curtain before them

through which, without being

ever pafles.

It

occupied by a

they can fee and hear what-

feen,

has fometimes happened, that the throne has been

woman, who never appearing

her imperial mandates from behind

open court,

in

this curtain

like

an

ifTued

invifible

being producing the greateft effeds, while the caufe of them was

wrapt

At

Dancng, an
amtifsinent in

many

places,

in darknefs

and obfcurity.

Conftantinople, where the inhabitants

r

ners of the Afiatics, and

who
fpot,

m moll places

/-

>

ftill

man-

retain the

*r

of the Levant, the Turks,

love indolent amufements, chufe out in the evening a green

in

fitting

fome thick fhade,

down

in

which they fpread a carpet; and

crofs-legged together,

men and women upon

it,

divert

themfelves with drinking coffee and fherbet, while their female

flaves attend

round them

to play,

fing,

the miftrefs, or lady, of the

diredl;

firft

often leading the dance, in the fame

Betel

by

all

is

make ufe of as
women, and children.

a root, which ihe Earterns

ranks, and by men,

or dance, as they fhall

quality in the party,

manner

as

the Europeans

Diana

do tobacco;

is

faid to

it is

chewed

have

WO

OF

Nymphs on

have done with her

women

though

M EN.

8]

the banks of the Eurotas.

may

of rank, at Conftantinople,

But

lead off a dance,

fuch does not feem to be the general pratice of the Afiatics, from

whom

ihey are defccndcd

ment;

it is

the

true,

at leafi,

they do not dance for amufe-

Mogul emperors

make

often

their wives

and

men imitate
the women; it

concubines dance before them, and the other great

example; but

their
is

what they are obliged

when

it

prevails

in the

beginning of

among

all

nations,

in

almofl;

many

and we

rude and cultivated

that the rude dance

to

their

fliew

the cultivated for exercife, and to fhevv the

gracefulnefs of their perfons and motions

kind

amufe-

this chapter,

in an early period in the Eaft

only with this difference,

ftrength and agility;

and

a fuperior;

they exercife the fame authority over

feen,

was pradifed
fcill

by the command of

are alfo obliged to dance for their

have already

that dancing
that

who

flaves,

We

ment.

find

to

this fuperior retires,

own

their

voluntary al of

this is not a

and

fo

much

are

man-

every where delighted with dancing, that the indigent

places have converted

it

into a trade,

from which they

derive no uncomfortable fubfifl:ence.

In the neighbourhood of Surat, the Hindoos have

nificent temples;

many mag-

and in every temple are a number of Bramlns

or prlefts, dedicated to the fervice of the god there worfliipped.

part of that fervice confifts in dancing on religious affemblics,

and other folemn occafions

young women,
Thefe

the mofi:

firft

and

thefe dances are

handfome and

refide in the temple,

* When Mamood

performed by

beautiful in the country *.

and are by the Bramins carefully

took the magnificent temple of Samnat, he found there

five

colhun-

dred dancing girls, and three hundred muficians.

Vol.

I.

leded

J^

THEHISTORY

82

from every

Ien.ed

where

place,

their

own

them

In order to induce

ration of their temple reaches.

or the vene-

influence,

immenfe rewards held out

into this fervicc, hefides the

to enter

them

to

the world to come, they have fome peculiar privileges in this.

may

leave the temple

when

they pleafe

in

They

and being accounted holy,

they are then eagerly fought after in marriage, and have the preference in this refpe<Sl to

other

all

women.

While

in the temples,

they are entirely under the direQion of the Bramins;

many

fuppofed,

pleafures;

and

it is

by

that they are alfo entirely appropriated to their

but however this be, they are hardly ever allowed, like

the other female dancers of the country, to perform for the amufe-

ment of the
Dancing
tion.

girls,

BESIDES
city,

public.

thefe religious dancers, there is almoft in every large

companies of dancing

manner of our
public;

and

who

by any one

able to pay.

for a

and continually
vociferation,

at

in the

trifle

at

what they demand; or may be

their

beautiful girls are conftantly followed

cian, vpho beats time

v.'ho,

exhibit their performances at the houfe of

will
is

called Balliaderes;

go about for the amufement of the

ftrolling players,

any perfon, whofeen

girls,

by an old deformed mufi-

with a brazen inflrument,

every ftroke repeats the word

that he foon

Thefc

puJ>lic aflcmblies.

works himfelf

called' a

Tom

into a kind of

Tom;

with fuch

phrenzy

the Balliaderes, at the fame time eager to pleafe, and intoxicated

with the mufic, and the fmell of the effences with which they are

perfumed, foon after begin

are

in.

them

to be in the

fame

ftate

their dances

general exprefTive of the paflion of love, and they

fo as to give,

paflion in

all

its

manage

even the moft ignorant, tolerable ideas of that

difi^erent

fituations

and circumflances

and

fo

great

O
great

their beauty,

is

\V

E N.

voluptuous their figure,

fo

drawing together a numerous croud of

not,

female dancers,

and

in Otaheite,

who

of voice that

their childhood,

in

are

they have of late been

;

but befides their

they have a dance called Timoradee,

every motion, gefture, and tone

confifls in

it

truly lafcivious;'

is

profefTion,

perform, whenever eight or ten of them

girls

can be got together;

by that

live

feveral other places

ftrolling dancers in Otaheite,

which the young

and in-

fpeclators.

however, peculiar to the Eaft Indies

met with

fo rich

that they feldom perform. without

genioufly contrived their drefs,

Strolling

83

and being brought up

to

from

it

every motion, and in every gefture, they keep

time with an exadtnefs fcarcely excelled by the moft expert ftage-

But though

dancers of Europe.
virgin,

it is

prohibited to the wife

marriage, muft abftain from

That

fuch

women

fhould

a fuhfiftence,

who, from the moment of

to exert themfelves, in order to gain

a profeflion,

has nothing in

men and women, who reckon

to be

afhamed

allowed to the

for ever.

make dancing

performances for money,

want, as

it

is

have rather been the outcafts of fortune,

as

and are confequently obliged

that both

this diverfion

to

perform for

it

and exhibit their

extraordinary

but

themfelves fo far above

hire, fhould

become

ftroll-

ing dancers from choice, in fome degree excites our aftonifhment,

as

being perfedly inconfiftent with the ideas which

in Europe.

we

entertain

Such, however, in the ifland of Ulietea, were met

with by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander,

ing defcription of them

" with a company of

" and during

all

who have

given the follow-

" In the courfe of our walk, we met

ftrolling dancers,

who detained

us two hours;

that time afforded us great entertainment

the

" company

'^

'JIV.

^'

84

II

II

" company confiRed of two

T O R Y

women

dancers, and (\k men, with

" three drums: they were fome of the

*'
*'

the ifland
to place,

moR

and though they were continually going from place

they did not, like the flrolling companies of Otaheite,

" take any gratuity from the fpcflators.

" their heads a confiderable quantity of
*'

confiderable people of

The women had upon

plaited hair,

which was

brought feveral times round their head, and adorned

in

many

" parts with the flowers of the Cape JefTamine, which were fluck

" in with much

and made

tafle,

a head-drefs truly elegant;

their

**

necks, flioulders, and arms, were naked; fo were their breafts,

"

as

'^^

low

breaft,

*'

upon

*'

it

fat clofe to

their hips

refted a quantity

reached up to the breafl, and

petticoatij;

" done

of
fell

as

much

this drefs

" keeping

were

all

down below

long-

which they ma-

brown and white

they advanced fideways,

after

into

alter-

white.

excellent time to the drums,

" loud; foon

plaited very full

dexterity as our opera-dancers could have-

the plaits above the waift were

cloth,

thefe quite concealed their feet;

nately, the petticoats below

" In

the body; at the fide of each

next the arm, was placed a fmall plume of black feathers

" naged with

"

of the arm; below that they were covered

withblack cloth, which

"

"

as the parting

in a

meafured

ftep,

which beat brifkly and

they began to fliake their hips, giving the

" folds of cloth that lay upon them a very quick motion, which
" was in fome degree continued through the whole dance though
;

"

the body

*'

fometimes

" elbows

was thrown
fitting,

into various poftures, fometimes ftanding,

and fometimes refting on

their knees

and

the fingers alfo being moved, at the fame time, with a

" quicknefs fcarcely to be imagined. Much of the dexterity of

" thq. dancers, however, and the entertainment of the fpedators,
" confifted

E N.

3s

" confifted in the wantonnefs of their attitudes, and geftures

*'

which was indeed fuch

From

the

earliefl:

as

exceeds all defcription."

ages, dancing appears

to

'

have been either a

HA

P.
'

Thoughts on
'

religious or

an imitative exercife

the Lord,

the Philiftines danced before Dagon,

David danced before the ark of

contemporary nations frequently danced

at their

in their groves, and on their high places

fame

fome of the

at

and the

travellers

feftivals celebrated

own

of our

in

many of

the

folemn meetings,

the Greeks did the

honour of

their gods

times give us numberlefs accounts

\?

of the dancings of the favages before their

idols.

So

different,

however, are the ideas we have formed of religion, that

we

apt to conUder dancing as altogether inconfiftent with

folem-

nity

who thought

but, perhaps, thofe

as a fign of gratitude
;

happy

in

niftration

ments

if

that they

were cheerful and

admi-

of their government; and proceeding from fuch fenti*

ceptable fervice.

It

fxrength,

and the

what may be

it

could not be to the gods an unac-

has likewife been

The

or fymbolical manner.

battle;

otherwife, introduced

the enjoyment of their bleffings, and under the

in the worfhippers,

fhew the

its

are

and thankfulnefs, for health, vigour, and

and, to fhow the gods,

agility

much

ufed in an imitative

Indians dance their v/ar-dance, to

the agility,

and ferocity they can exert in

women we have mentioned

called

their love-dance,

qualified for the rapturous

to

indecently dance,

Ihew how well they are

enjoyments of that paflion

and

it

is

we dance purely for

rude and barbarous nations make their

only in the polite countries of Europe that

the fake of dancing.

If

"

dances expreflive of their employments and their feelings

it

is

worth confidcring, whether we might not improve on the plan,

and:

CHAP,
V

T H E

86

and add Icntiment and exprefTion

'

upon as

to

what we

"

only look

at prefcnt

and amufement.

BESIDES dancing, which does not

Bathing, an

theVair"'

frolic

T O R Y

by

nient voluntarily pradifed

in the Eaft they

all

Europe feem an amufe-

as in

women

ranks and conditions of

have the diverfion of bathing, which

fo clofcly

is

interwoven with their religion as well as with their paftime,

that

we can hardly
where

countries,

which of them

fay to

warm

In

belongs.

it

cleanlinefs is fo abfolutely neceflary to the health

and fweetncfs of the body,

the moral virtues; there

among

almoft to deferve a place

as

which

fcarcely a religious fyftem into

is

frequent bathing has not been introduced, as a ceremony without

which the gods would not accept the prayers and

men, and hence both

among

us,

who by

But there are

forcibly
is

firft

religion

more accuftomed to bathe than

are not enjoined any fuch duty.
which perhaps even more

of the bath than religion

to the ufe

inclination,

which muft operate

in climates fcorched

by

a vertical fun; to give us

on what we fometimes

is

feel

fliade,

in the fcorching

women

meet

is

a kind of public rendezvous,

to talk over

are confequently free from

;

and

befules,

fometimes manage

need only refledl

fumnier months on
;

the fccond

apart for the ufe of

where the

fex in general

the nev^s, the fcandal, and the faOiions

a facred afylum, where no

guardians

fct

manner

feme idea of the

or viewing a pool of water

the love of liberty, every bathing-place

the

we

in

fo as to

man

The

itfelf.

in the ftrongeft

ftrength of this inclination in fuch climates,

entering into a cool

of

fexes are

in the Eaft other caufes,

prompt

facrifices

dare enter, and where

it

is

women

the tyranny of their hufbands and

going

to

and coming from

be fcen by their lovers, or

it,

they

make an

affignation

afTignatlon with their gallants

wonder

to

that bathing

which they enjoy on

We
the

Sj

N.

thefe accounts,

all

much

who have

efpecially by the fair fex,

that

on

fo

is

pradtifed

we

Romans of both

hardly any other liberty than

this occafion.

which

in

bathed promifcuoufly together

fexes

with

Greeks in the heroic ages did the fame,

monly fome
two

the

com-

To the indelicacy of thefe

hiftory, we fhall oppofe the pradice
Adrianople, as related by lady Mary

the fea

famous

nations, fo

difference

this

only, that the places they ufed were not fo confined, being
river, or

and

in the Eafti

have already mentioned the indecent manner

in

of the Turkilh Ladies at

itfelf.

Wortley Montague. " I went, fays fhe, to the bagnio about

" ten o'clock ; it was already full of women, 1 was in my
" travelling habit,

which

" peared very extraordinary

*'

them

that fhewed

me

" but received

to

and certainly ap-

riding-drefs,

them, yet there was not one of

the leaft furprife or impertinent curiofity,

with

" no European court

*'

is

the obliging civility poflible.

all

where the

ladies

would

have

themfelves in fo polite a manner to fuch a ftranger

know

behaved
I

believe

" there were two hundred women, and yet none of tliofe dif" dainful fmiles and fatirical whifpers that never fail in our
" aflTembHes, when any body appears that is not dreffed exadtly in
*^

the

faftiion

they repeated over and over to me, charming,

" very charming

the

firft

on which

**

rich carpets,

**

flaves,

*'

their drefs, all being in

"

Englifli, ftark

fophas were covered with cufliions and

fat

the ladies, and

on the fecond

their

behind them, but without any diftindion of rank by

the ftate of nature; that

is,

in plain

naked, without any beauty or defecl concealed

" yet there was not the

leaft

wanton

fmile, or

are not

immodeft gefture
among:

'

^
>,

p.
'

8S

^'

'*

^\v^

^^

-"

II

T O R Y

They walked and moved with the fame majcftic

grace which Mihon defcribes our general mother with
there
were many among them as exa(flly proportioned as ever any

'^'^"S t^cni.

"
*'

goddefs was drawn by the pencil of a Guido or a Titian

"

moil;

of their fkins ihiningly white,

" beautiful hair divided

"

flioulders, braided, either

" Tenting

*'

*'

tlie

many

into

only adorned

by their

hanging on

trefles,

their

with pearl or ribbon, perfectly repre-

figures of the graces.

was here convinced of the truth of

and

often made,

that if

it

were the fafhion

" would be hardly obferved.

to

refledlion

have

go naked the face

perceived that the ladies of the

fhapes had the greatefl:

'

moft delicate fkins and

*'

my

admiration, though their faces were fometimes

"

ful

than thofe of their companions

fineft

beauti-

lefs

you the

to tell

of

fliarc

truth,

had wlckednefs enough to wifli fecretly that Mr. Gervais could

" have been there invifible I fancy it would have much im" proved his art, to fee fo many fine women naked, in different

''

',

fome

'

poftures,

'

ing coffee or flierbet

'

cufliions,

in converfation,
;

fome working, others drink-

and many, negligently lying on their

while their flaves (generally pretty girls of feventeen

" or eighteen) were employed

They

in

braiding their hair in feveral

once a

*'

pretty fancies.

*'

week, and

*'

cold,

by immediate coming out of the hot bath into the cool

room.

ftay there at lead four or five

was charmed with

" have been very glad

"

hafte to

' afford

fee

me

to pafs

their. civility

diverfion

hours without getting

and beauty, and

fo agreeable a

fliould

more time with them, but was

the ruins of Juftinian's church,

" than a heap of

8

generally take this

profped

as I

had

left,

in

which did not

being

little

more

ftones."

As

WO

OF
As we have

hitherto

ployments of women,

met with but

N.

89

Uttle diverfity in the

em-

amufements have not been nume-

as their

we now proceed to take

where, though we may not perhaps be able
we have

rous in the countries

furveyed,

a view of Europe

to find the fcene

of female employments enlarged according to

our wifhes,

we

(hall at leaft find a

diverfions and amufements.

long and ample

Of turopeaa
women.

of female

lift

by employment we underftand

-If

being occupied in fuch things as are ufeful to fociety, in that cafe

women

of rank and quality, in moft of the polite countries of

may

Europe,
at all

our

and

lift

be ftruck entirely out, as having no employment

we even admit works

fliould

of ufeful employments, fuch

that even

few of

of fancy and

by

ladies

Defcending from the moft elevated ranks of female

lifted

who

into

the love of diffipation,

is

thefe are at prcfent executed

placed in a middle ftation,

tan;e

of

life,

fafliion.

to thofe

neither have reafon to be up-

with the pride of wealth, made giddy with the glare of

preferment, nor depreffed by the pinching hand of poverty; fuch

we

fhould naturally expel to find employed fo as to be ufeful

to themfelves

and

to their

families

and fuch we could heartily

wifh the impartiality of hiftorians would allow us to paint them.

But even
their

time

in this moft eligible

is

devoured

not

and ceremony, where

it is

are afraid,

ufeful

to

all

by the

to

purpofes

examples of the fuperior ranks,

conditions,

where

giddy

vortex

of

pomp

what
;

is it

but,

and

every fafhionable folly and amufcment

we

human

not wrcfted from them by the labours

neceflary to procure daily bread

we

of

to
:

dedicated

feldom

rather to copying

gadding abroad

^or

in faying this

adted the part of declaimers; the portrait

the
after

have

we have drawn

is

only too faithful a reprefentation of the times, and ndturaliy

points out to us that

VoL.

I.

we

arc to look for the ufeful and the beiie-

ficial,

^y^

C H A
<

90

P.

ficlal,

among

only

fuch

women

T O R Y

as are obliged to gain a fubfift

ence for themfelves, and perhaps for their children, by their owninduftry.
to labour.

The whole human race is perhaps naturally averfe

From this general view of women, it would fecm that

they are particularly

fo,

Europe, where the foftncis

efpecially in

common

of their frame, of their education, and the

indulgence

they meet with from our fex, teach them to look up to us as to

beings not only obliged to fupply
minifter to

a minlftration
infifting

fcious

is

agreeable to our inclination; and even fometimes

it

is

out of our power to fupply the means of

But

extravagance.

fiderate afTembly,

riages of fuch as
?

as

companies,

women, we have heard

the incon-

is

not

all

in

with one voice, exclaim againft the mar-

were poor, why, fay they,

they can only

recollefting,

its

many

this

efpecially of the politer fort of

marry

far fuch

on running the giddy round of amufcment, when con-

that

ufelefs

how

pleafures, feldom confidering

their

all

even to

their wants, but

all

fill

country with beggars

the

that if fuch only

fliould fuch people

were

marry

to

never

as could afford to

bring up their children in idlenefs, they themfelves would want

fervants to

do for them thofe

their dignity,

offices

much

they think fo

and that the flrength of a hive does not

beneath
confift in

the drones that devour, but in the bees that colledl the honey.

But
to be

to return to

our ladies of rank and

found among them

feveral,

fhare of time and attention

as

alfo

upon

lift

To

of occupations, in which

conditions of

life

there are

ftill

beftow no inconfiderable

on the concerns of

the cultivation of

painting, drawing, &c.

who

fafliion,

fome of the

fine

their families,
arts,

as mufic,

run through the long and varied

women

employ themfelves,

of the middling and lower

for pleafure, or for profit,

would

OF W
would be tedious

N.

who know them much

our female readers,

to

91

chap.
-v

J.

better than

we do

we

therefore only obferve in general,

fhall

that, in all the polite countries

women

of middling fortune

to provide

is

are

lower and more ufeful

been

caft into

may

live

When we

defcend

who

of women,

the lap of fortune, are obliged to

we

find

their

of the

women

clafles

not having

work

that they

employments various and extenfive

moft of the manufactures in Europe, which do not depend

much upon

upon

ftrength as

of

and induftry what the

and frugality.

care

manage-

to the family, while that

their labour

manage with

to

to the

by

office

the care, infpctSlion, and

is

ment of every thing belonging

men

of Europe, the proper

'

delicacy,

Co

are in a great meafure

on by women, and many of thofe which are even of a

rougher kind receive a lafl: polifh from their fofter touch. It is to
carried

their patient induftry

and dudtile hands that we owe our

and lawns

them

fineft

we

are

indebted for a great part of our gold and filver laces, our

em-

linens,

cambrics,

broideries,

in affifting the

lefs

hufbandman

branches of agriculture

ufeful

tafte

that

and elegance,

above every thing,

lot is caft

manner, employ themfelves

in a variety

of the

lefs

laborious

who even
what we ought

and, not a few there are,

in reaping and gathering in the harveft

to value

alfo

Another part of them, whofe

though not

in a diff"erent,

we

to

is

and a variety of other works of

too tedious to mention.

toil

it

is

that cleannefs,

enjoy in our houfes and cloaths

but

which by

benefits

their

means

which we could

hardly, or at leaft aukwardly, procure for ourfeves.

It may perhaps be thought ftrange,

various employments of
that

which of

all

others

women, we have
is

that

defcrlbing

the

not hitherto mentioned

their moft natural

in

and common

office,
'

the

Nufmgof
na!ura^"em-*

P'^y^^ntof
women.

THEHISTORY

92
^ ^y^
*

^'
'

^^^^

nurfing and bringing up of children

have referved entirely for

that

this place,

we might
we

the neceflity of fo frequent a repetition, as

otherwife led to by

country

The

have been

fliould

in every

occafion to mention.

moft tender care and anxious folicitude for their infant

offspring

is

an innate idea throughout the wide extent of animal

much more

nature,

than of males
'

not be under

occurring in every period, and

its

we have had

which we

a fubjefl;

flrongly imprinted on the

minds of females

a wife inflitution of Providence, for

which various

which we

reafons will eafily occur to the intelligent reader, and

need not therefore take the trouble of pointing out.

LITTLE

attention to the nature and

oeconomy of the brute

animals will convince us, that the care of their young

principle,

and not the

more convinced of
the

human

of reafoning

effedl

if

this,

we

we

but

is

an innate

genus, in favage and in

civil

life

a confideration

that this innate care

anxious folicitude diminifh gradually, in proportion as

tion

more

toward

of politenefs,

where

folly,

to

fafliion,

perfedion,

that

which

ftill

attentively confider the females of

that will uniformly point out to us,

advance

be

fliall

or

women

imperfec-

rather

nations have

fcveral

and

now

and the love of pleafure, have

arifen

fo

much

engroffed their affedlion, as in moft cafes greatly to weaken, and

Confidera-

tionson

in

fome

of

felf prefervation.

totally to obliterate, a paffion

That women

hardly

lefs

natural than that

were, as well as other animals, intended by

own

nature to nurfe and bring up their

children,

is

a truth

nurfing.
.

which we prefume nobody

in dogmatizing

on

will

this fubje<n;,

deny

hence rigid philofophers,

have as ufual (liewn their cynical

morofenefs,

WOMEN.

OF

morofenefs, by branding fuch of the fex as did otherwife, with

every indignant epithet

ticularly

when

never confidering that ill-humour, par-

exerted againft a

woman, feldom

many

to

nor that nature in

cafes feems

room

fuch a fitualion that art might have

women

the

left

fomething in

improve

to

nor

it;

they are railing from their ftudies

that they themfelves, while

at

have

lerves to reclaim

for deviating

from nature, are

at

the fame time

deviating mofl: widely from her in almofl: every aition of their

But

lives.

and we

let

us confider the matter a

find that nature

fliall

direds us to cut them

we

reckon

gave

to

it

no crime

.women

to

flie

gave to horfes

men

gave to

more

little

tails

attentively,

convenience

hair and beards, but

crop the one and fhave the other

flie

and furnifhed them with milk,

breads,

the

natural food of infants; but that they fliould be thereby conftantly

we

obliged to nurfe them, would be almofl as whimfical as that

fhould be obliged to
ftate

let

our hair and our beards remain in a

of nature; efpecially as

trials,

fome

that children can in

the milk of another

it

woman

now

by many repeated

appears,

be brought up better by

cafes

than by that of the mother, and that

they frequently do exceedingly well without any milk

every thing
there

is

elfe therefore

no fuch preference due

phyficians and philofophers

to the

imagine

of opinion that

milk of the mother, as

the only fure

deduce any fuch inference

may

are

would willingly make us believe;

nor can they from experience,

enquiries,

we

being equal,

all:

at

naturally thrive befl

upon

all

guide in

fuch

young animals we

the milk of animals of

the fame fpecies, but to carry this idea to individuals,

giving

is

a limited and narrow view of the operations of nature, and

might almofl with an equal degree of

credibility fuppofc,

young

fo

plant could

no where grow

well

as

in

wc

that a

the

fame

hot-bed

94

CHAP,

II

hot-bed which nouriflied

its

IV.

T O R Y

parent,
as that a child could not thrive
^

by the milk of any healthful woman,

by

that of

its

fuppofe, therefore, that a child does not equally thrive

by

as well

as

mother.

To

good milk from any other perfon,

milk of every mother, adapted to the conflitution of her

in the

own

eftablifhlng a fpecific quality

is

child only

and putting the important bufmefs of rearing

children on fuch a footing, that

when

the mother chances to die,

the poor infant muft either expire foon after, or, at beft, live a

monument

feeble

of improper nourifhment;

and

point out a blunder in the conflitution of nature.

young of

the

the fpecies;
at leaft

The

human

it

fpecies only,

young of

calf

and the lamb do

when

or ewe, as

juft as well

they fuck the

when

are acquainted.

they fuck another

dam which brought them

we have

never,

been able

the
in

fome of the

to obferve

whether they received

From

thefe

young ones committed

any
it

beft

cow

forth

provided the animals be healthful, and the quantity of milk

cient to maintain

the

other animals;

all

we

of the domeftic animals with which

Kor do

on the milk of

thrive equally

the fame with the

is

fo perpetually

to their care

fuffi-

nay,

breeding counties of England,

difference, if they

had plenty of milk,

by fucking or lapping.

obfervations

appears,

it

that

what has hitherto

been alleged of the mother's milk being the only proper nourifh-

ment

for her

own

child,

has only been the vifion of theory, and

not the refult of experience.

We

account, endeavour to diffuade

tafk of nurfing;
their duty

and

we
if

would

not,

women from

perfuadc ourl'elves, that

their

however, on that
this
it

is

moft pleafant
in

moft cafes

minds are not corrupted by purfuits

lefs

natural,

;.

O
we

rratural,

flatter ourfelves,

in

that,

E N.
cafes,

all

when they

their greatefl pleafure; efpecially

95

they will find

it

by

fo

confider, that

^
\

doing they have the dear pledges of their connubial love conftantly under their

own

the feverity,

careleffnefs,

who

nary,

with

is

and diredtion

care

fants, for the fake

from

are fafe

and inattention of the female merce-

but feldom one of the

upon

difficulty, prevailed

whereby they

befl:

of her fex

fuch being,

own

of their

to quit the care

of money, unlefs urged to

it

by

lawlefs

in-

ne-

ceffity.

There

are a variety

of other arguments, which

favour of this practice

felves in

but as they have been fo fre-

quently muftered, by almoft every author

we

fing,

not

fhall

now

who

has wrote on nur-

them on our

intrude

offer then^-

fair readers:

we

making one obferhave met with. In every

cannot, however, quit the fubjet, without

which we do not

vation,
place,

mon,
idle

recolledl to

where the pradice of giving out children

the ftate

is

thereby a confiderable lofer

and wealthy only

poor only

who

who

number of

and of the poor decreafed

aurfe as foon as

whereas

fhe,

it is

who,

them in; whence

the children of the rich

for a

born, has,

after

becaufe

com-

is

it is

the

can afford to give them out, and the

are obliged to take

follows, that the

to nurfe

it

is

evidently
increafed,

woman, who fends her child to

or may have, a child every year

having fuckled her

own

child,

is

obliged

to take in another, cannot again bring forth a child in lefs than

twenty-feven months, or perhaps three years.

fo

much

But a

ftate is

not

enriched by the children of wealthy and independent

parents, as

by thofe of the poor

as the

number required

vern and diredl are few, in proportion to thofe

governed and direded.

I

May

who

to

go-

are to

be

not this be one of the caufes,

why
Great

^^,f^

P*

v^

;
:

T H E

96

'^

P-

Great Britain fends abroad

fo

lutcly determined to be rich

why,

at

home, fhe

for able-bodied

May

it

rich,

and

is

men

T O R Y

many

May

poor young gentlemen, refo-.

fometimes at a

to

man

her

much

the Spaniards

and

recruit

her armies

an increafe of children

gentlemen

to

the

we may become

like

decreafe the poor, that

almofl. all

and often

lofs for labourers,

fleets

not, in time, produce fuch

fo

not alfo be one of the caufes,

it

too proud to work, and

too poor to be idle.

Were we

judge whether every

to

own children, from

wc fhould certainly

woman

nurfe her

fliould

the pradice of the females of other animals,

find

to be a

it

duty from which

hardly find any excufe to exempt herfelf

flie

as almoft the

could

whole of

own young*.
Were we to judge of it from the hiftory of man, we fliould find,
that in almoft all nations it has been the common practice; though
to that pradlice, like all other general rules, there have been many

the birds and the beafts perform this tafk to their

exceptions.

We

have reafon

wives and con-

to believe, that the

cubines of the patriarchs conflantly fuckled their

the fame cuftom obtained

the Scythians, the

among

Medes and

Perfians

place at this day in every nation,

rated into vice,

the Egyptians,
;

and

it

own

children

the Canaanites,

invariably takes

where culture has not degene-

and where the voice of nature

is

ftrongcr

than

that of pleafure.

What

at

firft

gave

the child of another,

The

The

Oftrich and the

rife to

mud

Cuckow do

the

cuRom of one woman

have been the death or fickncfs of the

not haich thtir eggs, nor t2ke ca-? cf their young.

Oftrich lays her eggs in the fand, and they are hai^ hed by the fun.

ti;em in che nell of another bird,

fuckling

vtho,

iuiila.:ing

them

for her

own,

The Cuckow

hs'.^hes

lays

them, and rears

tke}0Ln2.

mother

O
mother

E N.

i^y

excufed from the

of tending and fuckling, devolved the im-

toil

portant offices on flaves, and on mercenaries.

this

became

find

it,

mod

at firft the praQice,

When,

flourifhing ages of the Grecian ftates;

and often every province,

duce of its

is

almoft every nation,

feme pro-

inhabitants; the Spartan

its

trons had acquired the glory of being famous for nurfing

the ufe of fwaddling-bands

from the remoteft antiquity

vailed

every fort of food

in the dark;

and

Greece

feveral

and

alone,

into

all

or

humours,

fretful

Spartan nurfes were eagerly fought

after,

on
and

the other flates of

of the mofl eminent warriors and ftatefmen gloried

in having been nurfed

by the matrons of

however, a general cuflom for the Grecian

children out to nurfe

Sparta.

women

their poets, as well as thole

mans, frequently introduce their

ling,

when

troublefome and difagreeable

hired by fuch as could afford them,

they

they ufed children to eat

to relinquifli thefe peevifh

fo

ma-

a cuftom which had pre-

taught them not to be afraid

which often render them

thefe accounts,

we

many of the

peculiarly remarkable for

or qualification of

foil,

or where,

hiftory has not informed us

however, to have been pretty general during

laid afide

ladies

of the

firfl

It

was

not,

to give their

of the Roquality fuck-

and taking care of their children; but as the Romans imi-

tated the

Greeks in almofl

became more

all their

the feelings

alive to

of nature, they copied them

alfo,

manners and cuftoms, as they

of luxury, and

lefs

to

thofc

giving their infants to be

in

fuckled and taken care of by flaves and hired nurfes, while they

themfelves rioted in

all

and moft extravagant

Vol.

C h

indolence taking the hint from this, and willing to be

I.

the

pomp and

extravagance of the richefl

city in the world.

When

'

p.

THE HISTORY

gS

HAP.

C
_

When

the frozen regions of the North poured out fwarms of

Roman empire, they overturned not only the

Roman government, but alfo that of luxury and

barbarians into the

whole fyftem of

of pleafure; thefe being

and

inftigated the

nature refumcd her empire,

diffipated,

women

again to apply themfelves to the tafk of

own

fuckling and rearing their

Several centuries elapfed

children.

amid the depopulations of war, and marked by

ners

when

ferocity of

and cultivation,

thefe gave place to the arts of peace

luxury, and the love of pleafure, began to creep

might have more time

The French and

fafhion,

the

fet

firfl:

nefs, that, at prefent,

woman

child

thefe,

example

women

that they

pleafure and amufement.

always taken the lead in

they were

there

is

who

foon

followed

by

may

the middling ranks of

fuperiors, relinquifli likewife

on various pretenfions,

dedicate themfelves

contagion ended

if the

it,

itfelf to

their

found in Europe a

will take the trouble of nurf-

but happy were

who, fond of imitating

they

fcarcely to be

and did not fpread

the tafk of nurfing,

riors,

upon

who have

of family and fafhion

ing her own

life;

and

and the other neighbouring nations, with fuch exadl-

Britain,

among

to beftow

Italians,

in,

their children to nurfe,

refumed the pradlicc of putting

man-

more

fupe-

that, like thefe

freely

to

the rage of

pleafurci

Amuferaents
of killing time
in Europe.

SucH
ploymeut

are the prefent

employments of our women; but em-

mode of

In

all the polite

countries

^^ Europe, thefe of rank and fafhion, as well as thofe

in decent

is

not the

the times.

circumflances, having an extraordinary portion of time

hands, with an almoft

ever form

it

irrefiftible inclination

offers itfelf, are

more often

upon

to pleafure in

to be

met with

their

whatat

the

ihrine

WOMEN.

OF
/hrlne of

amufement than of Induftry

commonly

and hence

obferved, that wherever there

mcnt, or a crowd, the

women

all

kinds;

and particularly reviews, feem

ridottos,

peculiar delight

is

it

has been

a {how, an entertain-

more numerous than

are

but theatrical entertainments of

99

the

men

balls, aflemhlies, operas,

to be the fcenes

of their

becaufe, perhaps, at thefe, they can not

only

indulge their natural propenfity for fhow and oftentation, but find

them

alfo

walking,

convenient places for love, or for intrigue.

failing,

and, in forae countries of Europe, even fkaiting,

and being drawn on the

Befides thefe, and

men

Riding,

many

ice in fledges,

are female amufements.

others too tedious to mention, the

wo-

of fafhion, in mofl parts of Europe, fpend a great part of

their time in receiving

modern

politer nations,

ther;

it

at each

vifits;

vifiting is not

and in fome of the

fpending a

focial

hour toge-

only in her ladyfhlp ordering her coachman to

confifts

drive to the doors of fo

man,

and returning

many of her

of them, to give

acquaintances, and her foot-

in a card

with her name, while

the lady of the houfe, though, in the polite phrafe, not at home,
is

looking through the

and

in

window

fome convenient time

all

the time to fee

after returns the vifit,

what
and

is

pafles;
fure to

be received in the fame manner.

Shopping,
ment;

as

it is

called,

in order to which,

accompanied by

is

two,

another fafhionable female amufethree, or fometimes

their gallants, fet out to

mofl: fafhionable fhops,

and to look at

make
all

more

ladies,

a tour through the

the moft fashionable

goods, without any intention of laying out one fingle fixpence.

After a whole forenoon fpent in plaguing mercers and milliners,

they return home, either thoughtlefs of their folly, or which, per-

haps,

chap.
^-^

T H E

loo
^ ^y^
c- --

^'

h^ps,

mJ

turbance they have given.

is

But

T O R

worfe, exulting at the thoughts of the trouble and dif-

of

the

all

happy inventions difcovercd by modern inge-

nuity for the killing of time, card-playing isjuftly entitled to the

pre-eminence;

which we are
fexes,

and

all

with an immoderate

whether

at a lofs

to

for

itch

reckon public or private, both

ranks and degrees of people, are deeply infeded

particularly indolent clergy,

and women, who, having

dedicate themfelves fo affiduoufly to play,

many become

To

when made

cards,

mind fatigued with

ftudy, or to pafs

have no objedion, nor do we

can fay on the fubjel

will,

recommend

the habit

away an

idle

that

We

would only,

therefore, as

of religion, to

ifland,

when

To

may

we

watch

an un-

left

and

to their facred charadler, than they

the fair, to the lovely virgins of this favourite

thus engaged,

care of their temper,

that

fet

of

exclamations at a card-table, fhould

filly

to religion,

we
we

hour,

in the leaft, influence the conduct

to the minifters

guarded oath, or a few

are aware of.

in

is

any thing

over their tongues, while playing with bad fuccefs,

do more hurt

do,

unbend

ufe of only to

flatter ourfelves,

fuch as are habituated to them.

pafs along,

that

little to

as to be fooliflily reckoned even neceflary

fo ftrong,

to their exiftence.

the

amufement,

this

left

belie the foft,

we would recommend

the

ftridteft

fomething fhould efcape from their

the bewitching appearance, with

lips,

which

nature has painted their exterior forms.

To the

female diverfions and amufements

might add many more; but

now

mentioned,

as a bare recital of names,

we

makes a

dry and unentertaining page, and as a defcription of each would

be

OF W
we

be tedious and Infipid,

fuch

is

human, knd

European

art,

thit

fhall

N.

only obferve,

this,

in general,

when

that

tutored

to fport

to the fobcr

and

away time amid

which perplex the path of

we muft do juftice

care.

ufeful fcenes of life

among

the briars and

But notwlthflanding

to the fex, in aflerting, that as their attach-

ceconomy and induftry, purfue

their plan

a fteady and inflexible conftancy, which male nature perhaps

capable of arriving at

from

it

the flowers that ftrow

ments are always flronger than thofe of the men, fuch of them
attach themfelves to

by

conftantly fliews a greater proclivity to the

it

the path of pleafure, than to be entangled

thorns

loi

particularly female nature,

gay and the amufive, than

and loves better

and are neither

to be

as

with
is

in-

tempted to deviate

by the hope of pleafure, nor by the fear of danger and

of pain.

CHAP.

C H A
v.

p.

T H E

102

R Y

CHAP.
Of

V.

the Treatment and Condition of Women, and the various yld-

vantages

and Difadvantages of their

Sex^

in

and

favage

civil Life.

CHAP.
,

^_

fingular

-1.
,

Thooghtson
the conduion

of women.

^HERE

''

trics,

been,

they have at

by
our
^

what renders

all

periods,

fomethlng exceedingly

and almoft

fex, conftantly opprefled

i^i
y

becaufe

more extraordinary,

we

hated,

but becaufe

We

have not in Afia and Africa confined them;

lion

and the tyger, we were afraid of

caufe

we were unwilling

that

fole

is,

we

that

coun-

And

we have

loved them.

becaufe, like the

their depredations

but be-

any body fhould fhare with us the

pleafure and enjoyment of their

rope afliimcd almoft the

in all

and adored.

flill

their cafe

not opprefled,

women

in the fate of

is

We

company.

management of

were afraid that they would manage them

to

have not in Eu-

affairs,

becaufe

we

our prejudice, but

only to fave them the trouble of thought and of labour, and to

enable them to live in eafe and elegance.

Such, however,

is

not the condition of

women

in thofe ftates

approaching the neareft to favage barbarity; there, they have not

attained confcquence

fhip,

As

by which,

to merit

in Europe, they are

and

far

complimented and chained.

ftrength and courage are in favage

taining to

confinement

exemption from labour and perpetual guardian-

to merit that

lefs,

enough even

power and

life

the only

means of

at-

dlftindion, fo weaknefs and timidity are the

certain

OF

\V

E N.

certain paths to flavery and oppreflion

almoft conftantly find

women among

we

as

them emerging from

find the

approaching

to

and condition,

men emerging from

which we

find

and

in the

fliall

to every

fhall as

con-

fame proportion

ignorance and brutahty, and

knowledge and refinement

in

condemned

drudgery

this ftate,

we

this account,

favages

fpecies of fervile, or rather, of flavilh

ftantly find

on

103

women

the rank,

therefore,

any country, mark

in

out to us with the greateft precifion, the exadt point in the fcale

of

civil fociety, to

were

stfid

which the people of fuch country have arrived

on every other

their hiftory entirely filent

fubjefl,

and

only mentioned the manner in which they treated- their women,

we

would, from thence, be enabled

form a

to

judgment

tolerable

of the barbarity, or culture of their manners.

There

is

hardly any thing more natural to the rude and urt-

cultivated mind, than to confider flrength

right to whatever
is

it

can conquer

giving unlimited

one of the

it is

as

firft

ideas which,

derived from attention to the whole of the brute animals

one of which conftantly appropriates

to

itfelf,

any thing

every
it

can

take from a weaker being of the fame, or of any other fpecies.

Whether

the

human mind

has in

its

rude and barbarous

lame innate idea of right, or whether

from the other animals,

is

uncertain

that every favage people either have

tion

and thence undoubtedly arofe

;.

it

it

but

ftate the

has borrowed that idea

it

appears from hiftory,

from nature or from imita-

at firft the

barbarous cuftom of

enflaving and treating with the utmoft feverity that fex

vi'hich

nature had formed, not to force, but to charm us into a proper

behaviour towards them: but though

among

and uncultivated manners,

weaknefs of the

fubjeded them

to almoft

this natural

people of favage

every fpecies of indignity and

fex,

ill

has

ufage

among

^^

P-

T H E

I04

CHAP, among
\_

.-

the

and

civil

confidering

has

it

T O R Y
had a very different

many

tion, in
this

principle,

cafes fuperior

merely

raifed

efFet

and rather

and indulgence, have,

as intitled to their protection

it

from generofity of

(liall

polite,

difdaining to take the advantage of weakncfs,

thcfe,

and

II

women

rank and condi-

to a

even to that enjoyed by themfclves

in condefcenfion to their

weakncfs

have occafion afterwards to mention the caufes of the

we

treatment of the fex,

fhall at prefent

which have more or

lefs

ill

proceed to take a view

of their progrefs from flavery to freedom, and

rious caufes

we

but as

mark

to

the va-

accelerated or retarded that

progrefs.

This enquiry we

Condition of

women

begin with the condition of

fhall

patriarchal

among

ages-

have been but extremely indifferent.

in iiie

the ancient patriarchs,

^

we

a condition which

women

fhall find to

When Abraham

entertain-

ed the angels fent to denounce the deftrution of Sodom, he appears to have treated his wife as a menial fervant

quickly," faid he to her,

make
is

that (he

ment

(lie

confidering,

alone

the

them.

feveral

and

to partake

it

of the entertain-

we

are

now

we
(lie

information, fometimes relate incidents

refemblance to the manners and cuftoms of

are altogether at a lofs

Though Sarah

entertainment,

it,

imperfect and mutilated accounts from which

fo little

our times, that

ready

the fequel of the (lory

In ages fo remote as thefe

we can draw any

which have

And from

was not admitted

had dreffed

Make

" three meafures of fine meal, knead

cakes on the hearth."

plain,

*'

had

officiated
at the

as

how

to account for

a fervant in preparing this

fame time one, or rather, perhaps,

handmaids or maid-fervants under

were employed, or how they fervcd

her,

but in what they

their miflrefs,

we

can only

conjediure.

We

WOMEN.

OF
We

105

have already obferved, that among nations but

power

vated,

and from
Ifraelitifh

conftantly

is

principle

this

women, and

made

we muft

ufe of as a

cultl-

to enflave

derive the ill-treatment of the

In the whole

the abufe of their captives.

early hiftory of that people, there

woman

means

little

hardly one inftance of a

is

having been treated with indulgence, or of a captive

having experienced humanity.

In many parts of the

in the earth,

Eaft,

water

and the drawing of

fatiguing and laborious.

is

from the wells confequently

it

either

on account of the rank of

whom

not

who

not only

his camels alfo

drew water

and what makes

nary

is,

for

Abraham's

that the neigh-

tafk of

Re-

fervant, but for

idle

fpedator of the

his behaviour appear the

more extraordi-

that his circumftances at that time

men who have any

fex,

regard was

as high-prieft

Such was the

while the fervant ftood an

toil;

to pleafe

own

tafk of the

only infulted them, but forcibly took

from them the water they had drawn.

becca,

{o little

their father,

of the country, or on account of their

bouring {hepherds

was the

Such, however,

daughters of Jethro the Midianite, to

paid,

only to be met with deep

were

thefe, in

fenfibility generally exert their

and become acceptable

which

utmofl efforts

he was on an embafTy to court

the damfel for Ifaac his mailer's fon.

When

he had concluded

was carrying her home, we meet with another

circumftance which ftrongly marks the inferiority of women in
his bargain, and

When fhe firfl: approached

we are now confidering.
who had walked out into the fields to meet them, fhe did

the times
Ifaac,
it

in the moft fubmiffive

manner, as

if fhe

had been approaching a

lord and mafler rather than a fond and palTionate lover

from

which, as well as from feveral other parts of the facred hiftory,

Vol.

I.

it

would

^ H a
<

p.

^-....t

T H

,o6

T O R Y

would feem that women, inftcad of endeavouring, as

to perfuade the

by deigning

to accept

to vifit his uncle

times,

of him, made no difficulty of confeffing that

Laban, a

man

her father; and in a

much

When

Jacob went

of confiderable property, he met

Rachel, Laban's daughter, in the

attending on the flocks of

fields,

Tamar, one of

later period,

the

daugh-

of king David, was fent by her father to perform the

fer-

And

flill

of making cakes for her brother Aranon.

vile office

than

later

perfon,

The

modern

world that they confer an immenfe favour on a lover

the obligation was conferred on themfelves*.

ters

in

the queen of Jeroboam king of Ifrael, went ia

this,

perhaps on foot or on an

fimplicity of the times in

off a great deal

from

which

their weight,

they would otherwife do; but in

make

it

appear, that

confult

an old prophet.

thefe things

happened, take

to

afs,

and make them prove

of that fimplicity, they

fpite

women were

and among people more polifhed and

But.

excufe for what

that

we have now

v/omen were

treated

in

ages,,

refined.

of the times be admitted as a

ffiould the fimplicity

ftill

not then treated even with the

rudiments of that delicacy they have happily experienced in

Proofs of ihis

than

lefs

full

mentioned, there are other proofs

an indignant manner, which can

admit of no fuch excufe, as they appear to have been deliberation

enforced by law.

Hufbands had

a difcretionary

power of divorc-

ing their wives, without affigning any other reafon for

that

they were not agreeable to them

over the bodies of

women had

and

as if fuch a

it

than

power

not been a circumfiance fufficiently

humiliating to the fex, they had another power of an extraordi-

This was the cafe with Ruih, who had

afked by him
ikirt

who

(he was, acfwered,

"

laid

her

am Ruth

down

at the feet

thine hacdmaid

of Boa?.

and being

fpread, iberefore, thy

over thine handcaaid, for thou art a near kinfman."

nary

nary nature over their minds

E N.

107

Hufbands and

alfo.

make

authorized to annul and

fathers were

void even the moft folemn vows

of their wives and daughters, provided fuch vows were not made
in the hearing of thefe hufbands

and fathers

they did not immediately enter their

who had approved of

as parties

them

afide afterward.

men were

Was

dilTent,

which

in

cafe, if

they were confidered

thefe vows,

and could not

fet

wo-

not this plainly declaring that

beings of a nature fo inferior as not to be capable of

entering properly into any folemn or religious engagements for

themfelves

That in fome

thrown on the

cafes a

fex, feems

child-bed purification,

in

appear from the law concerning

to

by which

had brought forth a female

kind of public contempt was

child,

it

(hould not be accounted clean

than fixty-fix days; whereas

lefs

was enaded, That fhe who

As no

a male, was clean in half that time.

be afligned for fuch a law,

five

it

who had

flie

brought forth

natural reafon caa

has generally been thought expref-

of that contempt and degradation which, in the times

delineating,

To

was thrown on the

fex, as

an

we

are

inferior order of beings.

we have already brought of the defpicable conwomen among the nations we have mentioned, we may

the proofs

dition of

add the unlverfal cuftoms of polygamy and concubinage, both of

them

impofitions,

pradices w^hich
that

we

contrary to the inclination of the fex,

wound

fo

cannot fuppole any

even where they are

have but

little

or

to find

woman

voluntarily to agree to them,

by cuftom and by law.

we may

Wherever,

affure ourfelves that

no authority, and have

confequence in fociety.

cxped

deeply the delicacy of their feelings,

fandlified

therefore, they take place,

and

fcarcely arrived

In fuch a condition of the fex

at

any

we do not

any of thenfrifing into great cfteem, and

Pa

women

far lef*

to

T H

loS

as

all

flie is

appearances,

called in Icripture, faved

to cut off the

the wall to Joab,

who

a dignity

the city of Abel, by prevailing

flie

raifed to the dignity

it

fex, is,

of judging

fo

the

different

perhaps, not to be accounted for

principle than the

readily believed that every

over

And

maintained for fevcral years

and of others, into conditions

of their

upon any other

A wife woman,

thereupon retired with his army.

which

exaltation of thefe,
reft

with.

head of Sheba, and throw

Deborah, a prophercfs, had been

from the

T O R Y

we r:metimes meet

on the inhabitants

liVael,

power; circumftances which, however, even con-

to the fupreme

trary to

power of

fuperflition, which/

glimmering of knowledge, and every

fuperior attainment, were infpirations of the divinity

the people that to the diredtion of thofe,

infpired, they fliould yield themfelves

whom

up

to be

and taught

they fuppofed thus

governed with the

moft implicit confidence.

Condition of
"

womeo!''

'

From

the ancient people of Ifrael, and the nations around

them, where

contempt

we

fhall

plaifance

women were

let

on

find,

example, before

Caufes of tiiis

fo

much

indignity

contrary,

the

ufing

them

with

and humanity which would have done honour

midft of nations,

condition.

with

us turn our eyes towards the Egyptians,

moft enlightened ages.

caufes

treated

As

thefe

who in this
we proceed to

and

whom
comto the

people were fituated in the

particular

(hewed them

fo

ill

an.

the fadls, let us enquire into the

which produced them.

Wherever

the

human

race live folltary

each other, they are favage and barbarous

and unconneded with

wherever they

afTociate

together, that ailociation becomes produftiveof fofter manners,

and

a more engaging deportment. While people in the neighbourhood of

8

Egypt

WOMEN.

OF
Egypt were allowed, by

IC9

their fituation, in every fcafon, to

and while their woods and their rivers afforded

them the means of conftantly fubfifting themfelves by hunting and

about at pleafure,

the Egyptians,

fifhing;

from the nature of

their

country, an-

nually overflowed by the Nile, had no wild beafts to hunt, nor

could then procure any thing by fiQiing

were under
kind of

life

on

thefe accounts they

of applying themfelves to agriculture, a

a neceffity

which naturally brings mankind together

for

mutual

eonvenience and affiftance; but, befides, they were every year,

during the inundation of the

river, obliged to aifemble themfelves

together, and take fhelter either on the rifing grounds, or in the

houfes which were raifed upon piles above the reach of the waters-;

here the

men and

women

the

being conftantly in the company

of each other, and almoft every employment

totally fufpended, a

thoufand inducements, not to be found in a folitary

naturally
other,

prompt them

and hence

their

to render

ftate,

would

themfelves agreeable to each

manners v/ould begin more early

to affum.e

a fofter polifh, and more elegant refinement, than thofe of the

other nations

From
with the

who furrounded them.

this early fociety,

intrinfic merit

where the men

firft

became acquainted

of the fex, and where they on their part

had an opportunity of exerting every power,

every charm that could pleafe
a

manner widely

different

We

from the women of any of the neigh-

have

nations.

that they

were employed in agriculture, and

is

and that

already

related

from Herodotus,

in merchandife

great reafon to believe, that if any of

ployed in agriculture,
in

it

difplaying

they foon came to be treated in

bouring

there

and

was only

CHAP.

roam

biu

them were em-

thofe of the meaneft condition,

general they were exempted from performing any of

the

V.
'

'

T H E

no
CHAP,
t

_.

the laborious

taflcs,

II

commonly

T O R Y

them by barbarians

afTigncd

thing which to us appears to be demonftrated from the whole

of the condud of their men towards them, and which receives

an additional proof from the ftory of Pfammenitus, one of their
kings

who, being made prifoner

of Memphis,

at the redudlion

with the chief of his nobility placed on an eminence near

A?as

(he city,

women were
that occafion
this

feen

daughter, and the

than for the

been a

among

it

of the captive

reft

ordered to bear water in pitchers from the river

fo mortified the king, that

which

had

own

while his

common

all

lofs

he

is

faid to

have

felt

more on

of his liberty and kingdom

cuftom in Egypt, as

the neighbouring nations,

we have
it

but,

already

could not have

been chofen as the moft eligible mode of adding to the forrowe of

the- diftrefled

power of affecfling

all

What we

monarch.
us,

every day fee or perform lofcs

however degrading

fomething which we have not been ufcd

awakes our kccneft

fcnfations,

and

to,

in its nature

though

flings

lefs

while

degrading,

our hearts with the

fharpeft afflidion.

F.gyptian

confined""

We

fhall

aftcrwards have occafion to mention, that in a very

early period the praftlce of confining

the Eaft
loufy,

this pradicc,

however,

women was

inftituted

introduced into

by the rage of jca-

and maintained by unlawful power, was never adopted by

the Egyptians, as appears

from the

ftory of Pharaoh's daughter,

who was

going with her train of maids to bathe in the

when

found Mofes hid among the reeds

flie

of the wife of Potiphar,

the

Eaft,

to folicit

could

not

who,

have

if confined

found

the

we may add

and

from that

alfo

in the

manner of

opportunities

Jofeph to her adulterous embrace.

nies of the facred fcripture

To

river,

thefe

ftie
tefti

did

mo-

the authority of Herodotus,

\V

E N.

Ill

and fome of the other writers on ancient Egypt, who,

d^otus,

which could not have hap-

befides mentioning fevcral anecdotes

pened

to

women

they were equal,

they were,

harams and

in
if

'

p.

generally agree that

not fupcrior, in authority to the

would be

it

feraglios,

^ H^A

men; and

if

inconfiftent to think that they allowed

themfelves to be fhut up and deprived of fociety, by beings

who

neither had, nor claimed any fuperiority over them.

The men

in

Egypt were not allowed

a ftate which always

prefuppofes

he who committed
cut off, that
like crime,

a rape

to

The

be flaves.

on a free woman, had

might be out of

it

his

power ever

and that others might be

punifhment.

their favour,

privities

to perpetrate the

by

terrified

his

Laws and

fo dreadful a

Concubinage, as well as polygamy, feems either

not to have been lawful, or at

leafl:

not fafhionable

it

was a

however, in which their kings were fometimes indulged,

liberty,

we

women

polygamy,

of virgins was protedled by a law of the fevereft nature

chaftity

for

to Indulge in

find

when

Sefoftris fet

out on his expedition to conquer

the world, he lefr the government of the

kingdom

to his brother,

power over every thing, except the royal diadem, the

queen, and royal concubines. The queens of Egypt are faid to
with

full

have been much more honoured,

than the kings

and

it is

their

marriage-contrals

wives

a thing

to perform,

But

which

in

as well as

more

alfo related, that the

readily obeyed

hufbands were in

obliged to promife obedience to their

our modern times

we

are often obliged

though our wives entered into the promife.

nothing can exhibit the power and confequence of the

Egyptian

women

in a ftronger light than a law,

by which

it

was

ordained, That daughters and not fons ftiould provide for their

parents

'

TH

112
parents

when

T O

Pv

they became aged or indigent.

y
And wc

add further, that the honour and refpet paid

thofe of other nations, likewife appears

Solomon

Pharaoh's

to

to

them, above

from the behaviour of

Solomon had

daughter.

only

fhall

many

other

wives befides this princefs, and was married to feveral of them

before her, which according to the Jewifli law ought to have
entitled

for

we

them

to a

kind of preference

but fuch was not the cafe,

hear of no particular palace having been built for any of

the others, nor of the worfliip of any of their gods having been

introduced into Jerufalem

nificent palace

was

while for Pharaoh's daughter a mag-

and fhe permitted, though exprefsly

eredled,

contrary to the Jewifli law,

to worfliip

country; circuniftances which

we

pened,

the gods of her

cannot believe would have hap-

had not the regard of the Egyptians for

prompted them

to

riage agreement.

have

it

ftipulated

But loaded with

ments we have mentioned,

with Solomon

all

inverted often with

own

fex were fometimes reached by fuperftition,

of nations

a virgin

neither

was

their
in

women

the

mar-

the honours and prefer-

power, as well as the management of their

human mind, which

own

the fovereign

families

the fair

that frenzy of the

regards the laws of nature

at certain

nor

times facrificcd to Annubis.

Besides the privilege of fucceeding

to the throne itfelf,

in

default of male ilTue, the Egyptian daughters had a right of fucceflion to the paternal inheritance

to be

met with

men were
could not

in

of their fathers

a right hardly

any of the neighbouring countries, where wo-

much defpifed to be admitted to inherit what they

defend.
With this rule the inheritance of the fovereign
too

authority was not thought fo inconfiflcnt, as every fubjedl

is

con-

xerned in defending his country in general, while the defence of

private

WO M

OF
private property refls

N.

more immediately on the arm of the pro-

In an early period of the hiftory of the Aflyrians and

prietor.

we

Babylonians,

alfo find

women

creeping into fuch confequence

with their hufbands,

to fhare

as

and fometimes

themfelves the whole of the royal authority

aflume to

to

though we have

reafon to believe, that, at the fame time, they could not inherit the
eftates

of their anceftors.

While
faid

Ninus, king of Afiyria, was befieging Badria,

would have

the attempt

that

had

failed,

it

it

is

not been for

the afliftance of Semiramis, then wife of one of his principal

officers,

who

fuperior

fkill,

attracted

planned a method of attacking the

that he foon

became mafter of

by the beauty and

paffionately fond of her

art

in the

city,

it.

of this virago,

mean

with fuch

Ninus being

became

foon

time, her hufband forefee-

ing that this paffion would end in his deftrudion, to avoid falling
a vidim to licentious defpotifm, privately put an end to his

The

to wife, an adion of which, according to

foon reafon to repent, for fhe having

intereft the principal

hufband

men of

the

ftate,

to inveft her for the fpace

reign power

a decree

of

fome authors, he had

brought over to her

firft

next prevailed on her

was accordingly

iffued,

fo

fecuring

to

hufband

herfelf the

kingdom.

denied that Ninus committed this

crable deed, but

all

death, in whatever

Vol.

I.

who had
rafli,

the pro-

that all
;

which having

obtained, fhe began the exercife of her fovereignty,

to death the too indulgent

filly

days with the fove-

five

vinces fliould impllciily obey her during that time

and

life.

main obftacle being thus removed, Ninus took the adulterefs

conferred

by putting
it

on

her,

Other authors have

or Semiramis this exe-

agree that fhe fuccceded her hufband at his

manner

it

happened.

CL

Seeing herfelf

at

the
liead

Affynan woueat'ed.**

THE HISTORY

114

head of a mighty empire, and ftruck with the love of magnificence

and of fame,

flie

forming fomething that (hould

by her

name immortal, by

propofcd to render her

prcdeceflbrs

had been done

far furpafs all that

the fcheme fhe

upon, was to build, in

fell

the fpace of one year, the mighty city of Babylon

magni-

in

two millions of men are

ficence

any thing the world had ever fecn

faid to

have been conftantly employed on

it,

during the time

it

eredting.

Fro.m the advancement of Semiramis

it

which being

exceeded

finifhed within the propofed time, greatly

was

per-

would feem

that, at leaft,

fome decent degree of perfonal

the prerogatives of the

was one of

to the Aflyrian empire,

women

wherever the fex are ftridly confined by

bands,

we

liberty

of that country

their fathers

for

and huf-

can hardly fuppofe their political exiftence to have been

fuch as could form a party fufficient to bring about a total revolution of ftate; and in the Eaft they are

beings too
lege of

weak and

mounting

ty, yet their

by the power of

of a right derived from

women

confidered as

ever to be allowed the privi-

a throne, unlefs aided

tion, or the notion

the Aflyrian

infignificant,

commonly

their gods.

fuperfti-

But though

feem, in general, to have enjoyed fome liber-

monarchs, according to the cuftom of their neigh-

bours, had feraglios,

probably more

where fuch

ftridlly

ladies as

belonged to them were

confined than the other

women

of the

country.

That

feraglios

were a part of the magnificence of the Aflyrian

monarchs, appears from fcveral anecdotes in their hiftory, and

particularly

from

the ftory of Sardanapalus,

ploying his time in the

affairs

who,

infl:ead

of em-

of government, dedicated himfelf

entirely

O F
entirely to debauchery

and effeminacy of

foftnefs

handle the

alfo to

other

among

trifles

his

N.

women,

their voice

11^

afFc^ling not only the

and manners, but learning

and amufe himfelf by working in the

As we have already

with which they were employed.

the earlier ages,

in

feen that,

diftaff,

women

of the

greatefl;

rank and

quality were not afhamed to perform thofe offices, which, in our

times,

would be confidered as beneath the dignity of

ing-maids,

we

are

not to be furprifed, that the

their wait-

women

of the

auguft monarch of Aflyria fliould employ themfelves in fpinning

who had

but that the effeminate monarch himfelf,

in (o

pleafure,

many

fhapes, at his

Lufinefs and

command, (hould

up the

take

diftaff for his

amufement, not only excites our aftoniffiment, but

our contempt

and ftrongly marks the

littlenefs

which, furrounded with fuch a variety, could

infignificant, as well as

unbecoming.

by obferving,

of their

fex, generally affociate

pany of women

that

as trifling

felecft

We may,

women of talents,

for this,

of that mind,

perhaps, account

fuperior to the reft

with men, and defpife the com-

and infignificant; and that

ferior talents, finding themfelves generally defpifed

on

that account affociate with

pointing out the reafon

a diverfion fo

why

women.

honour

did

Sardanapalus confined himfelf, almoft

are entitled,

beings

as

public

or

prove that

which they

in the fcale of rational

throughout the whole continent of Afia,

have been, from time immemorial, and

private property,

would give the higheft

price for

and

them

0^3

ftill

fold
:

Semi-

an elevation which,

attained to that importance to

by the place which they hold

for,

why

to the fex in general, yet did not

they had, in general,

This obfervation, befides

ramis arrived at the royal diadem of Aflyria

it

of in-

by the men

altogether, to the feraglio, likewife difcovers the reafon

though

men

women

are, confidered either

to

fuch

hufbands as

in Affyria, the

former of
thefe

ii6

ri

women

T O R Y

being there the property of the

thefe

was the

Rate,

and by the magiftratcs difpofed of

bidder,

cuftoni

by way of public audion.

We

marriage

in

the beft

to

are of opinion,

that this

cuftom, or law, took place after the reign of Scmiramis;

though, in her lime, the fex might be on

ing,

it

fo that

more rcfpedable foot-

feems that the privileges they then enjoyed, were after-

ward almoft

entirely wrefted

from them by the men.

In an early period of the world, while

tained to

little

dignity and confequence,

yet

as

we

women

find

had

an univerfal

among

notion of female, as well as of male deities, had obtained

mankind

this

notion did not

arife folely

from

at-

the polytheifm of

the times, but alfo from an opinion that the gods propagated their
fpecies,

in

which mortals could not conceive them capable of doing;

any other way than

ftrates it to

bited with,

that of mortal

men.

All antiquity

demon-

have been a general opinion, that the gods often coha-

and had children by the daughters of men

which

children were reckoned partakers of a divine nature in their life-

time; and after their death were worfliipped as real

Semiramis

is

the

firft

woman, we

enough, without pretending

to

believe,

any divine

deities.

who had

But

influence

original, to procure

the honour of deification after her death; to have temples eredted,.

and the worfhip of a goddefs addrefled

to her

by a numerous

By what means fhe procured this dlftindtion,

in a period, and a country where women were not confidered as
while alive, an abfolute
of much importance, we are not told
monarch may eafily command the obedience of fubjeds in civil

crowd of adorers.

matters, but in thofe of religion, even the fevereft defpot

incapable of introducing any change.

I

It

is*

is

often

therefore, the

more

extraordinary^.

E N.

117

extraordinary, that Semiramis had influence enough to introduce,

after her death,

when

what few monarchs have attempted with

We

living.

are aware, that

when

fuccefs

HA

P.

^-v

the cuftoni of paying

divine honours to illuftrious perfons after death became univerfal,

it

was no very

to introduce the

were then
talents

matter to be ranked

difficult

Among

the gods, but

cuftom of conferring that dignity on a

muft have been owing

{o little diftinguillicd,

and

among

fex,

which

to fuperior

abilities.

who were

the Babylonians,

at

a part of the Afify- Of

firfl:

the

lonian

rian empire,

were,

and afterwards became their own maflers,

probably, of

The whole

much

hiftory of

the uncultivated nations of our

women

have attained to

and gratifying our

to

own

or

little

as well as

what we

no importance

paffions, there

among

fee

times, alTures us, that

fervile inftruments

only confidered as the

than in AfTyria.

greater importance

mankind,

women

is

but

in fociety,

and are

of fupplying our wants,

little

care taken, either

Among

adorn their minds, or their bodies.

where

the Babylonians,

though we are not informed what care was taken of the female
mind,

from a variety of

abound

in the prophets of the

the greateft attention

their bodies,

fcattered

hints,

which particularly

Cid Teftament, we may

was beflowed

in decorating

infer, that

and adorning

with every coftly ornament which fondnefs could in-

vent, and affluence fupply

inconteftible proofs that they

were

objeds of no fmall importance, and the peculiar care of the men.

But

further,

ple; and

we may with

man mind
interefts

the Babylonians were a wife and. cultivated peotruth aflert, that proper culture of the

has never yet exifted, without extending

and conveniences of the

itfelf to

huthe

fair fex.

That

men.

Babywo-

THEHISTORY

u8
That

fome of the queens of Babylon were more regarded,

and of greater confequence than

men

common

is

confined in the feraglios of eaftern monarchs,

the ftory of Nitocris, confort of Nabonadius,

by the name of
affairs

Evil

Mcrodach

of wo-

to the herd

rppears from

known

in fcripture

while Nabonadius, negleding the

of his kingdom, devoted himfelf entirely to fcenes of the

moft voluptuous debauchery, Nitocris took upon her the care of

the

and managed

ftate,

fo as to

it

give unlverfal fatisfaction

circumftance, which was not likely to have happened, had not

women

poflefTed a tolerable (hare of public efteem

which,

when we

the Babylonians
vial meetings,

ner, with

and confidence;

confidcr the influence of female fociety

and that their

where they

women were

lived in a free

among

admitted to convi-

and unreflraiued man-

more frequent opportunities than

their

neighbours of

exerting the various arts of pleafing; and, confequently, of gain-

ing that afcendancy which will ever

of

fenfe, will

fall to

appear not to have been

attain, as for the

women

the (hare of beauty and

them

fo difficult for

of the furrounding nations.

to

But not-

withflanding of this general importance, fuch of the Babylonifh

women

as

were poor,

tined to attend on,

who,

at their

like the

poor of every country, were def-

and minifter

girls,

by the ruin of

When

from the

the Babylonians

faireft

became

their metropolis, fathers proftituted their

daughters for gain, and hufbands,

dered from ufing their wives

reftraint

number of eunuchs,

carefully feleted

and handfomefl; of the country.

through every

pleafures of the rich

meals, were ferved by a great

and Tinging and dancing

poor,

to the

and,

ill,

it

who had

by a
is

formerly been hin-

particular law,

faid,

then broke

even compelled them to

offer themfelves to ftrangers for hire.

Con-

O
Concerning
little

E N.

the condition of the Scythian

.,,....
divination:

were anciently held in great efteem for

we know

not whether

weak and

women were

the Scythian

By one

of their laws,

fufFered

fame

the

cafes

lenity than the

men.

was put

**

anceftors,

*'

ther

we

From

for;

'
'

Scythian

men

gence.

while the daughters

but

for retreating

when you

we have

they,

faid

to their

nothing

tombs of our

arrive at the

and the habitations of our women, you

Chall fee

whe-

can defend them."

the accounts handed

down

to us

of the Phoenicians, they

appear to have been long a flourifhlng and profperous people,

acquired great riches by their fuperior

and navigation

we may

fkill in

commerce

therefore reafonably fuppofe, that, in a

country, whofe inhabitants were fo far advanced in the arts of

civil life,

find

them

the

women had

was paid

to

efpecially

ornamenting them, by

finery that an extenfive trade could purchafe

ing their

to have ftamped

tion

with

all

all the

from every part of

But though the Phoenicians fpared no

women

we generally
when we con-

attained to that importance

poflefled of in fuch countries

fider the attention that

the globe.

wo

treated

Their

privi-

leges in

who had

P.

to death, all his fons

an army much fuperior

" In thofe defolate waftes,

" worth fighting

^^

Thefe people, the moft plain and fimple

their defert frontiers, before

:

be-

fome

antiquity, being reproached with cowardice,

all

own

a father

more

along with him,

efcaped with impunity,

from

this efteem, or

inofFenfive, that in

treated with

when

fate

their fkiil in

was on account of

it

caufe they were thought

of

women we know ^

only that they, as well as thofe of the Gauls and Germans,

119

coft in

adorn-

the elegance of the times, they appear

upon them one mark of

inferiority

and fubordina-

they did not allow them to wear the Tyrian purple, fo

famous in thofe days; not only on account of

its

high price, but

alfo

fome

othernatioos.

T H E

120
alfo as a

badge of diftindion

folcly appropriated to

fuch of them only as were of the

it

the Balearic

Ifles,

fixing
their

in

of whofe hiftory

women were

inferiority

it

haps

was only done

the

women,

Among

fo fingular, that

at the firft planting

as in the origin of

fequence

fome particular rea-

much

Rome, were few and

fuperior to that of the men.

the fountain of

man

of quality married

honour and

nobility,

a plebeian,

were only plebeians.

But

than love or efteem

it

this cuftom,

were noble;

who

is

the mother of a child

blood of a family may, on her

they have no certainty

who

is

fide,

for

it

is,

wo-

but if
in that

when more

day praftifed

America; and the reafon there given

con-

that if a

peafant, the children,

at this

is

to a

In their fex alone

examined, will be found to have originated from

fure

per-

valuable.

women

infomuch

their iflue

nobleman married a foreigner or

tive

of fome colony, while

view, feems to exalt the

firft

was

cafe,

when any of
or four men ia

that

the Lycians, a people of the Leflfer Alia, a cuftom alfo ob-

tained; which, at

fair fex,

were they from

have exifled, of which we are not informed

fon for
it

fo far

In

but a few fcat-

taken captive, they gave three

exchange for her; acondiid

and to

to royally.

we have now

on the

men

rank and dignity, though

fome of the Gieek writers,

any mark of

mufl:

firft

was afterwards, altogether confined

not then, as

tercd hints

T O R Y

nearly

a different
in

mo-

fome parts of

becaufe they are

and that the noble or royal

be eafily preferved

the father

whereas

and by the incontinence

of a wife, the noble or royal blood may, on the male

fide,

be

totally extinguiflicd.

OfthePha-

If the Phoenicians treated their

niciaos.

reafonably

exped

women

to find nearly the

tranfplanted into Carthage;

with propriety,

we may

fame cuftoms concerning them

as the Carthaginians

were originally
a colo-

E N.

121

a colony from Tyre, the capital of Phoenicia.

uncommon

thing

in

As

there

the origin of this colony,

and

founded by a woman,

we hope

ers,
jc(l

to give a fhort account

While
capital

Tyre

Eliza, but

married

him
ing

of

flourifhcd in

our fub-

to

it.

all

the

pomp of

magnificence, as the

of the Phoenician empire, and the moft renowned commerworld, Pygmalion, being king, had a

cial city in the

feffed

was

it

of female read-

to the generality

deemed altogether foreign

will not be

it

as

whofe name has been immortalifed by

unknown even

Virgil, a d not

was fomc-

known

to us

to Sichnsus,

by the name of Dido

one of their

own

fifter,

which

fifter

he

was pof-

Sichccus

relations.

called

of great riches, which Pygmalion avaricioufly coveting, put

to death, that they

this execrable

him of

till

Dido, deteft-

hands.

fall into his

deed of her brother, and defirous to difappoint

that wealth,

amufed him,

might

flie

which had been the caufe of

had got

all

things in readinefs

cunningly

it,

and then pri-

vately eloped with the moft valuable efFeds of her murdered huf-

band.

After a long feries of difaftrous events, fhe at

on the

coaft

of the Mediterranean, at a

place where the piratical city of Tunis

now

purchafed fome land of the natives, fhe

had adhered

Soon
vited

to,

little

fettled a

life,

and fuch

reforted

other

wanted: finding themfelves always

Vol.

I.

from the

there,

having

colony of fuch as

to the

of the country, inftrangers with

civilly

their ancient neighbours,

the

commodities as were moft

treated, they

gradually incorporated with them into one people.

of Utica, being

landed

and followed her fortune.

by a profpedl of gain,
of

diftance

ftands

after this fettlement, the inhabitants

neceflaries

laft

began

The

at

laft

citizens

alfo to confider

them

^ ^J^
'

-- -J

THEHISTORY

132

them

countrymen

as

prefents, exhorting

had fun landed

and

them

fent

to build a city

this propofal

with confiderable

ambafladors,

on the place where they

being agreeable

to the fecret wiflies

of Dido, and her infant colony, the city was begun, and called
Carthada, or Carthage

New

nifies the

which, in the Phoenician language,

City.

What Virgil has relatedc oncerning this

is

fig-

queen of Carthage,

firfl:

only to be confidered as a poetical fidion

for

It

appears that

Ihe lived at leaft two hundred years before the time of his hero

and

iEneas,

vidim

but to

to love,

which

fafliion,

hufband

for,

herfelf

not as he reprefents, a

that kind of conjugal

confidered

it

as

criminal

being courted by Jarbas,

threatened with

bound

her days,

at laft finifhed

war

then in

marry a fecond

king of Getulla, and

confequence of a refufal

in

by an oath

to

fidelity

and having

Sichxus, never to confcnt to a fecond

to

marriage, and unwilling to bring a powerful invafion on her infant colony

to extricate herfelf

and leapt into a funeral

pile

from the

which fhe intended

to

it.

Among

a people

whofe

woman, and to one who

fo much prudence, and at
fice to

procure their fafety

would be

common

treated with

in the periods

political

in her life

her death
;

it is

many

exiftence

made

fo difinterefted a facri-

regard,

than

Accordingly,

are reviewing.

women

other countries, obliged to do

to a

had conduded them with

more deference and

we

was owing

natural to imagine that the fex

feveral reafons to believe, that the

as in

afcended

which {he had caufed her fubjeds

to eredt, unconfcious of the purpofe to

apply

difficulty, (he

was

we have

of Carthage were not,

all

the fervile drudgery

which

which naturally belonged

to

any kind of

men

to the

E N.
;

nor to fubmit themfelves

under that

flavifh fubjelion

12^

That the Car-

fex.

more

thaginians on the contrary had fentiments of a

women, appears from

nature concerning their

of them by Diodorus, the

Sicilian.

When

elevated

a ftory related

the city of

Tyre was

by Alexander the Great, the Tyrians being reduced

befieged

the utmoft

extremity,

imploring their

fent

affiftance

an embafly

to

the Carthaginians

to

the Carthaginians being at the fame

time engaged in a war with the Athenians, and fcarcely in a

condition to

make head

were not able

give

and

thage

againft Agathocles, the Athenian general,

to grant that afliftance they fo earneftly

wi(hed to

they agreed to receive into Car-

to foften the refufal,

the wives and children of their friends the Tyrians

all

that they,

might efcape the outrages which

at leaft,

their fex

generally fufFer at the plundering of a city.

It

is

the charadleriftic of the

to treat the

men

in every enlightened nation

weaker fex with lenity and indulgence

are prompted, not only

by the

to this they

fofter fenfations inftilled

by nature,

but alfo by that additional humanity, and thofe finer feelings,

which are commonly the

the

mind above what

generous and noble.

their

women

refult

of knowledge

mean, and

is

infpire

Hence, whenever we

with propriety,

it

and which

raife

only with what

is

find a people treating

we may, without any further know-

ledge of their hiftory, conclude that their minds are not uncultivated.

When we

they treat their

find

them

women

cultivated,

with propriety.

we may

We

conclude, that

Ihall

only add,

therefore, concerning the Carthaginians, that the charadler they

bore for wifdom, for learning, and the

arts, leave

us no

room

to

doubt

HA

?.

*-

T H E

124

Pcrfian
tresicJ.

'

T O R Y

doubt that they behaved to the fair-fex in general, as became a

people (o highly diflinguilhed.

Some of

wo-

Greek and

the

fevcral

Roman

of the

hiftorians, in

mentioning the ancient Ferfians, have dwelt with peculiar fcvcrity

on the manner

la

which they

treated

women

their

jealous,

almoft to diftradlion, though not under the influence of a vertical

fun, they confined the

whole fex with the

attention,

fl;riteft

and

could not bear that the eye of a ftranger fhould behold the

whom

beauty

whole of

Their monarchs placed almoft the

they adored.

and of

their grandeur,

women

and beauty of the

their

enjoyment, in the number

of their fcraglios; which they carefully

among the faireft, either taken captive in war, or

produced by their own dominions, and purified them for their
feleded from

ufe

by

and tedious preparation, tending

a long

give an agreeable relilh to their per-

beauties of nature, and to

fons
that

to heighten the

a preparation luxurioufly voluptuous, beyond any thing

modern refinement has ever

we made

obfervatlon

in

Agreeable to an

fuggeftcd.

the beginning of this

chapter,

every

circumftance in the Perfian hiftory tends to perfuade us,

that

women

with

the motive which induced them to confine

fo

much

affedion

care
;

and

in the

folicitude,

an incentive
they are

men

to

their fmiles,

confifted,

to deeds of glory

faid

was only exuberance of love and

enjoyment of

the happinefs of the

their

firft

who

fight,

faid they,

*'

fight

more

of

all

that

valiantly in

is

their

for thefe reafons,

introduced the cuftom

of carrying their wives and concubines to the

*'

their embraces,

and their approbation was

and of heroifm

have been the

and

dear to us,

defence."

field,

" That the

may animate us to
To offer the lead
violence,

WO

OF

E Nr

vFolence, even in appearance, to a Perfian

r2j

woman, was

from her hufband or guardian

certain death

even their

nay,

to incur

kings, though the moft abfolute in the univerfe, could not alter

the manners or cuftoms of the country which concerned them,

fiom Cabas,

as appears

monarch, who, not

a licentious

with the numerous beauties of his

feraglio,

thought he could

community of women, which would

introduce the

an ample opportunity of fatiating his unbounded

fore illued a decree,

women
which

appetite

all

the

their

Upon the whole, we may infer that the Perwomen with the utmoft violence of animal

but had not learned to treat them with that foftnefa

Notwithstanding
fex,

it

women who

of

would fecm

civilization can only didate.

that there

on

were introduced

were

at the Perfian court

certain occafions,

ufed, as

we

learn

of Megabyfus, one of the governors of Darius;

fome Perfian noblemen

to

do homage

to

to

and confinement

this private jealoufy

wht>m every freedom might be

who having

Amintas, king of Macedon,

his

mafler,

the conclufion of
their country, the

contrary

to

the

it

and with

from the

ftory
fent

to require,

Amintas having complied

with the requeft, gave them a fplendid entertainment.

The

and there-

the promifcuous ufe of

and good nature, which culture and

him

his fubjeds rofe in a rebellion that ended in expelling hinx

loved

of the

hifl

afford hini

of his dominions, whether married or unmarried; upon

from the throne.

fians

commanding

fatisfied

Towards

chey defired that, according to the cuftom of

women might
cul^om

be brought in, to which, though

ihe Greeks,

o!"

Perfians heated with wine, and

to the Grecian princefles

as to the

take fome indecent freedoms

the

king

confentcd.

thinking they might behave

women

of Perfia, began to

the fon of Amintas, affronted at

the

THEHISTORY

126

the treatment of his

allow the

women,

in

told the Perfians, that if they

fifters,

compliance with the cuftom of Greece,

and habit themfelves

fians gladly confented

propofal,

the

women

prince dreffed fome of the moft comely of his

locfe female habits, with poinards

them
fians

into the

room

them on
Of

the Syba-

"'*'

under their

women,

inftead of the

had each fixed upon

prince, every one

drew

The

his partner for the night.

to this

to retire

manner, they w^ould then return,

in a loofe

and every one might chufe

would

retired, the

young warriors

cloaths,

in

and brought

as foon as the Per-

on a

his partner,

Per-

fignal

from the

and flaughtered the whole of

his poinard,

the fpot.

BEFORE we

take leave of thefe dark and unenlightened periods,

we have been running

over,

where the

hiftoric

fords even the glimmering of a taper to direcfl us

page hardly af-

on our way, we

muft obferve, that there are many other ancient people and nations whom we might have mentioned, but have paffed over them
in filence,
their

becaufe

names

we

are hardly acquainted with

or, at moft,

remarkable revolutions.

any thing but

with a few of their warlike exploits and

We cannot

help, however,

making

few

obfervations on the Sybarites, the moft remarkable people of antiquity.

The

Sybarites,

from the imperfedl accounts we have of them,

placed the whole of their happinefs in indolence, eating, finery,

and women.
their

Their bodies were

fo

much

relaxed with floth, and

minds with voluptuoufnefs, that the

could be offered to any one, was to

pellation,

which comprehended

and every human

folly.

in

it

call

greateft affront that

him

a Sybarite, an ap-

almoft every

human

crime,

In grottoes, cooled with fountains, their

youth

youth fpent a great part of

amid women,
duced to a

of nature.

127

their time in fcenes

by

either elegantly adorned

ftate

N.

Women

art,

of the

of debauchery,

or fometimes

firft

quality,

re-

though

not difpofed of by auftion, were treated in a manner fomewhat

fimilar

they were given as a reward to

him who,

in

contending

for them, fhewed the greateft fplendour and magnificence.

When

any great entertainment was defigned, the women, who were

make

part of the

company, were invited a year before, that

they might have time to appear in

drefs

a circumftance

all

the luftre of beauty and of

which plainly proves

fome other nations, value the fex only

fure,

men

that they did not, as

as objedts

of fenfual plea-

but as objets which added elegance to their fcenes of

nificence

and grandeur

in foftnefs

greateft value,

were

and effeminacy,

entirely difperfed

Voi^

I.

qualities

upon which they

and cultivated with the utmoft

at laft

mag-

and, perhaps, becaufe they excelled the

people, after having been for

univerfe,

to

many

affiduity.

fet

the

Thefe

centuries the contempt of the

(hamefully driven from their country, and

by the Crotonians.

'CHAP.

^ ^ A

THEHISTORY

,8

CHAP.

VT.

The fame Suhje5l continued.

the lad chapter

women.

make on

finifhed the

few curfory obfervations we

ages which

He hid

in

the darknefs

of the moft remote antiquity,

to

thefe of the

Greeks; a people

we now come
whofe fame has been fo much

trumpeted, that

could

Of the Greek

we

we

are apt to

fider

them

thofe

annex the idea of every virtue

as highly polifhed

and

name,

to their

civilized,

to

con-

and confequently

to

expet that, amongft them, the fair fex were treated with that in-

commonly en-

dulgence, and raifed to that dignity, which they

joy in nations the fartheft advanced in the arts of culture and re-

finement

But here we

fliall

be

much

Greeks were a people feverely virtuous

miftaken
in

though the

for

whatever regarded their

country, they were far from being tender and humane, and hardly

knew any

of thofe

foft

of rugged male nature

agreeable to the

blandifliments
;

women,

which fmooth the

afperity

and which, while they render us more

are only to be acquired in their

com-

pany.

It

is

obferved by an able panegyrlft for the

fair,

that one of

the greatefl: proofs of their intrinfic worth and excellence

the greateft efteem and refped has always been paid

wifeft

and

beft

of nations.

Granting

this to

that the Greeks forfeited one great claim to

has always been attributed to them

believe that they regarded their

for

women

be a

that

them by the

fadt,

that

is,

it

follows,

wifdom which

we have good

reafon to

only as inflrumcnts of
raifing

O
up members

ralfing

lity,

were

let

N.

129

them

confidering

may

the fame

in

add, unfocial light, as they con-

which produced the corn whereby the members

fidered their fields

ftate

to the ftate

and we

cool, difpaflionate,

of that

But

fed.

left

we

fhould be fufpedted of partia-

we have ad-

us attend to fome of the proofs of what

vanced.

The

animal appetite
towards the other fex,
*'

ours by nature, and arifes at fight

gard women,

but in order to efteem, to re-

we muft do more than

fee,

tercourfe and a mutual reciprocation of

was

a pleafure totally

had

eftablifhed, the

their

own

we

good

worth and excellence

<iuainted with their

unknown

mode of

in
Implanted
'

is

cuftora

obliging

muft, by focial in-

become ac-

offices,

to the

this,

Greeks,

had introduced, and law

women

to live

retired

in

apartments, fcarcely ever allowing them to appear in

public, or have

any open intercourfe with the men

they had any amiable qualities, they were burieJ

fo

that, if

perpetual

in

obfcurity:

even their hufbands being in fome of the *

limited as

to the times

wives, and

it

and duration of the

vifits

made

to

ftates

their

being the cuftom at meals for the two fexes always

to eat feparately.

The
more

apartments deftined for the women, in order to keep them

private,

were always in the back, and generally in the

upper part of the houfe.

her chamber

The

fiimous

in the loftieft part

of

it,

Helen
and

fo

is faid

to

have had

wretched were their

dwellings, that even Penelope queen of Ulyflcs feems to have

defcendtd from hers by means of a ladder; within thefc, however,

women,

efpecially fuch as

Vol.

I.

had no hufbands, whether maids or

This w5 the cafe at Sparta.

widows,

Confined to
their aparl-

ments.

THE HISTORY

IJO

CHAP,
L

-.

_'

'widows, were clofely confined

the former in fo

that they could not pafs without leave

to another, left they fhould be feen

on the care and integrity of

as well

as

married

women were

find

Hermione

feverely reproved

women

learn

happen

New-

their guardians.

by her old duenna,

her,

tells

we

for

for appear-

was not ufually

and which would endanger her

in her fituation,

reputation, fhould fhe

from the

their honour,

almoft as ftriQly confined as virgins

ing out of doors; a freedom, which, fhe

taken by

we

would have been a rcHedion on

floiy of Antigone,

manner

from one part of the houfe

which, as

ftri(fl

to be fccn

and we are further in-

formed by Menander, that the door was the utmoft limit allowed
however, from
it appears,
to the freedom of a married woman
:

fome other authors, that

was a

this feverity

little

after they

relaxed

but

more prudent, or

either

might

flill,

finement,

if

as

lefs

it

was then owing only

the objeds of temptation

we

learn

from Ariftophanes

fined to their chambers, under

by

to

and

they pleafed, retain them in the fame rigorous con;

Athenian lady, loudly complaining, bccaufc

file,

child,

who, perhaps, thought them

the indulgence of their hufbands,

now

had brought forth a

maftifFs, goblins,

who introduces an
women were con-

lock and key, and guarded,

or any thing that can frighten

fays

away

admirers.

Caufc of their
confinement.

THOUGH

the Grecian

^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^

and obliged
one man.
have been

men

^^,^^^

to fhare

is

jjj^^

among

^^^^^

a great

lived
^.

thus feparated from the

^p^^^

confined to feraglios,

number

the fcanty favours of

Nor' does their confinement appear

fo

much

did not think

which

^^^^

women

the

in

fome

cafes

the efFe(Sof jealoufy, as of indifference

them proper companions

common

refult

of a redufe

life,

to

the

and that ignorance,

gave them too good
reafoa

WOMEN.

OF
reafon to think

Nothing

fo.

but valour and eloquence

both

in

nature had difqualified the

much

Greece was held in eftimation,

fair fex for

<

HA

P.

-,-.

mean and contemptible

they were therefore confidered as

beings,

131

beneath the notice of heroes and of orators,

who

feldom favoured them Xvith their company, unlefs prompted by

nature, or

by the

of propagating future orators and heroes

defire

Thus

like themfelves.

deferted

by a

which ought

fex,

happens

company

in every country

be the

v/omen were but

fource of knowledge, the underftandings of the

{hallow, and their

to

uninterefting; a cafe which invariably

where the two fexes have

little

commu-

nication with each other.

But

confinement was not the greateft

evil

which the Grecian

Other
tions

women

fufFered

opprefled

it

by other cuftoms and laws they were

was not

in their

power

to

out the confent of a tutor, or guardian

do any
and

judicial

fo little

over themfelves, did the legiflature devolve upon

ripened by age and experience, that

fon became the guardian of his

was

cited into court, fhe

guardian

own

when

uill

more

ad

with-

power, even

women, though

the father died, the

mother.

When

woman

was incapable of anfwering without her

and therefore the words of the proclam.ation were.

We

it

was not only

neceflary that the guardian fhould give his confent,

but that he

cite

A. B. and her guardian.

fhould be a party.

making

a will,

Thefe fads fhew, that the Greek

under the moft complete

of almoft

In

all political

tutelage,

women were

whereby they were deprived

exiftence; and teach us to confider a guar-

dian and his pupil as the fubftance and the fhadow, the latter of

which could not

we have

ex*ift

without the former.

But

this is not all

already mentioned fome of the flavifh employments to

which they were

put,

and

fhall

now
S 2

add, that, in the heroic ages,

the

refiric-

and

hardihips
'

*y " 'V

THEHISTORY

132

women

the

did

conduded

men

the

them while

allotted

to bed, drefled

fervants or

to

her

The princefs
own linen to the

laid

it

fat

down by

own women

fliould fhare a

Troy be

the mofl flavifh drudgery

was chained

In the

ftate

we

of rank,

fuch was the

employment of

cannot cxpel that their captives

taken, his wife

we

find He<flor laiitent-

would be condemned

and Hecuba bewailing,

at the gate

carried

and having waftied and

accordingly,

of Alcinous,

and dined on the provifion (he

When

her.

happier fate

ing, that, fiiould

daughter

it,

on-

offices,

no rank was exempted from

river in a chariot,

had brought along with

their

flaves,

Nauffica,

them.

on the bank,

and undrefled them, attended

nor were thefe, and fuch other

they

and perfumed them when they

in the baths, dried

came out of them

Ihe

and modefty of the fex

inconfiftent with the delicacy

were

ly

the fjavifh and domeftic offices, even fuch as

all

to

that, like a dogj

of Agamemnon.

of wedlock, a

of

ftate

all

others the moft delicate,

the Lacedemonians feem to have been deftitute of all the finer feel-

ings

for,

defpifing that principle of mutual fidelity,

Ibme degree appears

to

any reludancy, borrowed and

totally inconfiftent

rudefl: barbarity,

lent wives with each other;

to take place,

but the matter did not end here;

a lufty well-made

they, without
a kind

with that fympathetic union of

which always does, or ought

wife

for,

fouls,

between hufband and

by the laws of Solon^

young fellow might, when he

pleafcd,

demand

permiffion to cohabit with the wife of any of his fellow-citizens,

was

lefs

handfome and robuft than

ing up children to the

and vigorous

in.

have been chcriflied by every people only

a fingle degree removed from the

of barter

which

ftate,

who

himfelf, under pretence

of

wha
raif-

fhould, like the father, be ftrorg'

and fuch an unreafcnable demand, the hufband was

not

OF W
not at liberty to rejedl

cacy cxifted

what

E N.

connedions with

their

133

further fliews

ftill

dul in a war with the MyfTinians

feives

how

their wives,

deli-

little

their con-

is

when, having bound them-

by a folemn oath, not to return

to their

own

city

they

till

had revenged the injury they had received, and the war having
been unexpectedly protraded for the fpace of ten years, they be-

gan

to be afraid that a longer abfence

pulate their ftate;

number of

thofe

to

would tend greatly

who had

joined the army, after the above-men-

with

full

the wives, whofe hufbands were abfent.

body

politic,

power

to cohabit

with

all

Nothing can more plain-

of the Grecian

ly difcover the defpicable condition

as

depo-

prevent which, they fent back a certain

tioned oath had been taken,

ftate,

to

women

the

regarded them only as inftruments of

general propagation; and their hufbands indelicately acquiefced

the idea, which they never could have done, had they been
ated

by any thing but animal

appetite^

itr

adu-

and had not that appetite

been fixed more on the fex than the individual.

Whichever way we

turn us in the Grecian hiftory,

the mofl convincing proofs of the low condition of their

Homer

confiders Helen,

the wife of Menelaus, as of

we

find

women.

little

Other

value than a part of the goods which were ftolen along with her;,

and (he
in the

reftitution

of thefe, and of her, are commonly mentioned

fame fentence, in fuch a manner, as to fhew, that fuch re-

ftitution

would have been confidered

injury fuftained;

fo

that

as a full reparation

Menelaus did not place the crime of

Paris in having debauched his wife, but in having ftolen

t:o

the

amount of

fo

much

of the

value.

And

from him

the fame author, in cele-

brating Penelope, the wife of Ulyffes, for refufing in his abfence.

fo

many

fuitors,

does not appear to place the merit of her con-

dud:.

CHAP,
'

T H E

134

'

Juf^

T O R Y

a fiipcrlor regard to chaftity, or in love to licr hufband;

1,^

but in prcferving lo his family the dowry die had brought along

with her, which, on a fecond marriage, mufl; have been reftored

to her father Icarius

and though Telemachus

fented as a moft dutiful fon,

we

find

always repre-

is

him reproving

mother

his

in

a manner, which fhews that the fex in general were not treated

with fuftnefs and delicacy, however dignified, or with whatever authority inverted.

Your widowed hours,

And

From

from palace

rule,

care to

man

toll,

cares remote

and

free,

belongs, and moft to me.

the celebration of fome of their public games,

prohibited by the fevereft penalty

were not
flaves;

with female

various labours of the loom, beguile.

There

That

apart,

go

to

in chariots

women and

flaves

in

women were
they

to the feftival at Eleufis,

fome laws, they were

were forbid

clafled

to pradife phyfic.

with

was

It

a cuftom in Greece to expofe fuch children as they thought themfelves not able to maintain, or likely to derive

any advantage from

daughters, according to Poffidippus, being more coftly in their

education, and

lefs

likely to be beneficial afterward,

manner than

frequently treated in this

fons.

man, though poor, will not expofe

But

if he's rich,

cuftom which

we

were more

his fon

will fcarce preferve his daughter.

fhall

have occafion

to take notice of, in the

courfe of this work, as prevailing in feveral nations, funk in igno-

rance and barbarity.

only people

who had a

Of all

the Greeks, the

pofitive

law againft

Thebans were the

this horrid cuftom.

Let

O
Let

E N.

135

turn our eyes to the other fide of the piture, and

now

us

law or cuftom on the

beftowed by
take a view of the privileges
^
r
o
though we nowh re find that they were ever
Greek women
:

admitted to public authority, nor even to

tries,

power of

the rank and

their

fliare, as in

hufbands

yet, in the earlier

which was

ages, they had a vote in the public aflemblles,

They

wards taken from them.

heritance, if they

after-

fucceeded equally with brothers

of their fathers

to the inheritance

lome coun-

had no brothers.

whole of that in-

and

to the

But

to this laft privilege

was

always annexed a clog, which mufl have been extremely diiagreeable to every
obliged,

of her

perfon,
as
it

it

of fentiment and feeling; an heirefs was

by the laws of Greece,

that the eftate

in cafe

woman

marry her

might not go out of the family

had a right

refufal,

we do

as

to

for goods

and

this relation,

to fue for the delivery

and chattels

fometimes happened that

neareft relation,

but,

this claimant

of her

on the other

was

fide,

old or impotent,

that if he did not, in a convenient time,

was provided by law,

impregnate his wife, fhe might apply to any one fhe pleafed
for that purpofe.

He who

divorced his wife, was obliged either to return her

dowry, or pay her

He who
to

marry

raviflied

fo

much per month by way of maintenance.

free woman, was conftrained in fome ftates

her, in others

a thoufand drachmas.

pay a hundred, and

But what

Greeks than any thing wc

is

to

refledts

more honour on

find in their behaviour

the care they took of female orphans.

in others again,

"

the

toward women,

He who

is

the next

"

in blood (fays their law) to an orphan virgin, who hath no for" tune, fhall marry her himfelf, or fettle a fortune upon her, ac" cording to his quality ; if there be many relations, all equally

"

alUed,

ha

>"-"*

p.

Privileges of

Greek
women.
the

THE HISTORY

J",6

''

allied,

of them, according to their feveral

all

" contribute fomething towards her fortune."

we

impartially confider the good and

women, we

may

conclude,

therefore

nent in

that

though they were

arts,

Cf the Ro-

was only

all

and

Greeks weie emi-

illuftrious in

arms, in politencfs,

few degrees above favage

to

which they ever

barbarity.

Roman republic, as
nations, we find every

the ancient

when

againfl them,

In the more early periods of the

fancy of almoft

all,

though the

and elegance of manners, the higheft pitch

arrived,

After

fhall

treatment of the Grecian

was much

that the balance

find

ill

qualities,

in the in-

thing in-

volved in fable and abfurdity

immortality and mortality hardly

from each other

heroes, demigods, and goddcfles,

diftinguifhable

performing almoft every adlion, and refiding in every grove. Such

we meet with them,

ridiculous notions, wherever

infallible proofs

of ignorance and barbarity, and conflantly vanifh

of reafoning and knowledge.

in proportion to the increafe

Agreeably
Romans

afford the moft

to

this ohfcrvation,

exhibit a rude and

the earlieft

accounts of the

uncultivated people,

but

little

ac-

quainted with decency, and entire ftrangers to that delicacy which

takes place between the
in civilization

dent
the

ftate,

and

was

Their

fociety.

in

nations tolerably advanced

firft

appearance, as an indepen-

an handful of robbers, or banditti

as

and one of

of their memorable adtions, was the capture of fome

firft

young women,
they had

manner

two fexes

to enable

ereded

that

a people fo

to

them

thefe

to raife

up members

to

the ftate

women, however, they behaved

in a

we have feldom an opportunity of obferving among

little cultivated.
They treated them with i'o much

kindnefs, and had the addrefs fo to plcafe them, that they abfoluteiy

V/

lutely refufed to be refcued

from

may

our female readers

fhall give

them

When

N.

737

their ravifliers

not be acquainted with this

a fhort fketch of

many of
hiftory, we

but as

his infant

had no women, and that none of the

neighbouring nations would give their daughters in marriage to

men whom

they confidered as a

fet

of lawlefs banditti

he was

obliged by ftratagem to procure for his citizens, what he could

Accordingly, having proclaimed

not obtain for them by intreaty.

a folemn

and an exhibition of games

feaft,

in

honour of Equef-

Neptune, and by that means gathered a great number of

trian

on a

people together;

fignal given,

fwords in their hands, rufhed

carried

away

the

among

number of

a great

Romans, with drawn

the ftrangers, and forcibly

their daughters to

The

Rome.

next day Romulus himfelf diftributed them as wives to thofe of

who had

his citizens,

thus

rude a beginning, and

fo

as the

that

Romans,

it is

women were

by violence

among

carried

them away

*.

From

a people fo fevere and inflexible

not unnatural for the reader to expel to find,

treated in the

fame indignant,

if not in a

worfe

manner, than they were among the nations we have already mentioned.

In

mans who

this,
firft

however, he will be miftaken

gave

to the fex public liberty,

cultivated their minds,

their bodies

for

becoming

demonftrated

to the

it

who

was the Rofirfl

properly

as neceflary as to

it

firft

adorn

fitted for fociety,

companions; and among them, was

and

it firft

world, that they were capable of great adions,

and deferved a better

This is

and thought

among them were they

rational

fate

what we frtquenlly

than to be

find

mentioned

ftiut

up

in hiftory,

in feraglios,

and kept

by the name of the Rape of the

Sabine Virgins.

Vol.

I.

fj

\\

.-

it.

Romulus, the founder of Rome, had formed

republic, finding that he

only

Rape of the
Sabine Viigin?,

T H E

138

^'
'vi'^

T O R Y

^"^y ^^ ^^^ pageants of grandeur, or Inftrumcnts of fatlsfying

cit

illi-

love; truths which the fequel of the hiftory of the Sabine

men

will aiiiply confirm.

The

violent capture of thcfc

was highly rcfcntcd by

ally

wo-

by the Sabines,

to

demand

they fent to

all

young vpomen by the Romans,

the neighbouring nations, and cfpcci-

whom

the greatefl. part of

them belonged

rediiution of their daughters,

promifing, at

the fame time, an alliance, and liberty of intermarrying with the

Romans, fhould the demand be complied with.

thinking

it

expedient to part with the only poffible means he had

of raifing future

demanded of

citizens, inflcad of

a treaty

of peace; and

nature, ended in a
this

granting what they afked,

the Sabines, that they fliould confirm the marriages

of their daughters with the Romans.

produced

But Romulus not

more

Thefe conferences,

that, like

inveterate war.

gained fome advantages,

at

laft,

many others of the fame

The Romans having in

the Sabines retired

and having

demand their daughters,

and again commenced hoflilities. Being this

breathed a while, fent a fecond embafly to

were again

refufed,

time more fuccefsful,

Rome, and

they befiegcd Romulus in his citadel of

threatened immediate deftrudion to

people, unlefs their daughters were reftored.

fituation,

Herfilia,

him and

all

his

In this alarming

wife of Romulus, demanded an audience of'

the fenate, and laid before

them

a defign,

which the women had'

formed among themfelves, without the knowledge of

their huf-

bands, which was, to al the part of mediators between the con-

tending parties.

The

propofal being approved, a decree was im-

mediately paffed, permitting the

ncgociation

women

to

go on the propofed

and only requiring, that each of them

fliould leave

one of her children as a fecurity that fhe would return;

the

reft,

they

they were

more

all

Thus

N.

139

allowed to carry with them, as obje^ls which might

efFedtually

tions.

move

the compalfion of their fathers and rela-

authorized, the

women

laid afide

^ ^^^

i.

their ornaments,

put on mourning, and carrying their children in their arms, ad-

vanced

to the

camp of

the Sabines,

and threw themfelves

The Sabine

king,

of their fathers.

feet

chief officers,

ordered the

women

having afTembled his

to declare for

they were come; which Herfilia did in

what purpofe

fo pathetic a

manner, that

fhe brought on a conference between the chiefs of the

As

in

an amicable

alliance*

feveral

privileges

to be
to

all

immodeft and

brought before them

them

in the ftreet.

hanging

breafl,

and

But

thefe

fome time

to be clothed

honours and privileges not being thought

after a feftival

matrons ferved their

their

hufbands

was

inftltuted,

republic,

flaves

affift

and

During
at table,

were then

facri flees

Lucina, to induce her to

their

laftly,

at

their

with a particular robe, called Pretexta.

honour of the Sabine matrons.

From

Roman

In capital cafes, they were exempted

children were allowed to wear a golden ball

from

'''^

every one was ordered to give

And

man

Piivilegetof

licentious

from the jurifdidion of the ordinary judges.

all

were forbid in their prefence, and no indecent objedts

difcourfes

were

iTi-

and honourable marks of diUinaion women.

were granted them by the fenate

in

nations,

a reward for this moft important fervice of the Sabine

women,

way

two

by her mediation, and that of the other wo-

arjd this conference,

men, foon ended

at the

them

called Matronalia,

this feftival, the

and received prefents

alfo offered

to

Juno

by women on an infant

and from the peculiar notice taken of that

a

Ro-

in child-bearing.

a fervice fo fignal, conferred

fufficient,

fervice,

we

would

Laws and
Uraining their
^''^"'^''

THE HISTORY

40

would naturally conclude that the Romans were then a cultivated

people, and that their women were treated with all that foftncfs
and indulgence due to the tendernefs of their fcx. Such aconclufion, however, would be erroneous, for the Romans were at
every foftnefs and refinement of manners,

this period ftrangers to

the honours beftowed

and

and

fudden

efFufions

indigefted

of

operate uniformly on the whole of

to

condudl

their
to

only

which did not

gratitude,

and obligation ought

nature

that

fex

women were

the Sabine

on

towards

have rendered dear

them.

The Roman women,

as well as the Greeks,

were under per-

petual guardianfhip, and at no age, nor in any condition, were

ever truftcd with the

in cafe of wills,

were

as evidence

daughters
it

management of

their

and perhaps in other

every father had a power of

more grievous

moft darling

cafes,

life

they

not admitted

and death over his

Sumptuary laws, gene-

to

paflions,

women

than to men, as they reflrain their

were long in force

at

Rome:

the

Oppian law

them from having more than half an ounce of gold

prohibited

employed

fortunes

but this power was not reftridted to females only,

extended to fons as well as daughters.

rally

own

in

ornamenting their perfons, from wearing cloaths of

divers colours, and

from riding

a thoufand paces around

it.

in chariots either in the city or

They were

ftridly forbid the ufe

of wine, or even to have in their poireffion the key of any place

where

was kept,

it

for either of

be divorced by their hufbands

in reftraining their
to

have

tions

firft

which
and

women from

faults they

fo careful

were

liable to

were the Romans

wine, that they are fuppofed

introduced the cuftom of faluting their female rela-

and acquaintance, on entering into the houfe of a friend or

a

a neighbour,

WOMEN.

OF

I4t

a neighbour, that they might difcover by their breath whether

they had tafted any of that liquor.
in time to be relaxed,
too

at laft

till

ftrong for every law,

ages of

their wives if

however, began

women

indulged themfelves in

But fuch was not the

cafe in the

Rome, Romulus even permitted hufbands to kill

they found them drinking wine; and if we may
^Maximus, Egnatlus Metellus,

believe Valerius

his wife drinking

wine out of a

actually

caflc,

was by Romulus

permiffion, and
relates,

ftridtnefs,

luxury and debauchery becoming

the

equal liberties with the men.

earlier

This

acquitted.

having detected

made

And

ufe of this

Fabius

PiiStor

that a

Roman

lady having picked the lock of a cheft, in

come

at the

key of a place where fome wine was kept,

order to

her parents fhut her up and ftarved her to death.

Women

were

liable to

be divorced by their hufbands almoft at

was

provided the portion

pleafure,

They were

brought along with them.

for barren nefs, which, if
at leaft the fault

it

alfo liable to

could be conftrued into a fault, was

the difadvantages attending the

women, but they were not

all

of authority, do not

fo

to

remarkably

the

men, and a

touching them in the tendereft part

we have reafon to believe,

Romans, who had not yet learned,
ever,

feverities

total

affedt the fex, as to

and indelicately treated by their hufbands and

is

Roman

that they laboured under; a

fumptuary laws, a fubordination

treatment

be divorced

of nature, and might fometimes be that of the

Such were

hufband.

returned which they had

lovers.
;

want

be coldly

Such a

but fuch,

how-

they often met with from the

as in

modern

times, to blend the

of the patriot, and roughnefs of the warrior, with that

and indulging behaviour,

and heroes.

fo

few

foft

confplcuous in our modern patriots

But hufbands not only themfelves behaved roughly

to

chap.

THE HISTORY

J42

CHAP,

to ti^eir wives,

(laves

-, - ._

to

do

they even fometinies permitted their fervants and

fame

the

Eunuch of

the principal

the

Juftinian

Second, threatened to chaftife the Emprefs, his mafter's wife, in

that children are chaftifcd at fchool, if fhe did not

manner

the

obey his orders.

But

to dvpell no. longer

We

xnen.

privileges
that,

Roman"wo-*
..mea

and the following, -which we

women

Conferred on the

to point out

Roman

we

have already run over,

whofc

and devaftation

more

we have

in periods pofterior

not

introduce

was produdivc of

ravifhers and murderers,

paid to the fex.

Beauty

commanding

and private

love,

refult

of an

to

thefe

the

fo

ftory

much

Rome.

we
of

blood

if poffible,

almoft overturned the empire of

more the

to that

hitherto mentioned.

nor of Virginea, whofe end,

effeds were, perhaps,

will fhew,

fome of the particular honours

fliall

tragical exit

tragical,

againfl:

ladies,

fhall add,

was much preferable

their condition

of any other people

Im endeavouring

Lucretia,

\vo-

have already mentioned fome of their honours and

upon the whole,

of the
Honours con-

on the grievances of the Roman

ftill

Thefe

honefl: indignation

than proofs of general regard

in every country has

friendfliips

had a power of

between individuals of

the different fcxes have every where been produiftive of regard

biit

when

public honours and privileges are granted to the fex

by

not under the influence of beauty nor the

aleglflatlve body,

controul of paflion, as

was the

cafe

with the fenate of Rome,

they are the ftrongeft proofs which can poflibly be adduced of

female merit.

The

public honours conferred on the Sabine

already mentioned

but the

Romans

women we

have

did not confine honorary

rewards

WO

OF
rewards
the

E N.

They hung up

whenever merited.

quil, the contort

encourage others to follow

Coriolanus,

was ready

at

the diftafF of

fo

had made of

Tana-

it,

but alfo

laudable an example.

When

revenge for fome affront offered him

in

them on

beftovsred

of Tarquin, in the temple of Hercules; not onl^

as a public reward for the proper ufe fhe

to

143

them only, but indifcriminately

to

fex

the head of a victorious

that city in afhes

when

army of

Romei

at

the Volfci to lay

the tears and prayers of his friends, of

the nobility, and even of the venerable fenate, were infufficient

to divert the ftorm

Veturia his mother, by the perfuafion of the

Roman

matrons, having prevailed on

ment

the fenate defired that the

him

to lay afide his refent-

women engaged

fhould afk any favour they thought proper

of rewards,

fenate,

this affair

when, unambitious-

they only begged that they might be allowed

build, at their

The

in

own

expence, a temple to the fortune of

furprifed

at

fb

much

difintereflednefs,

to>

women.

ordered the'

temple to be immediately built on the very fpot where Coriolanus

had been prevailed upon

of his country
prieftefs.

to

facrifice hiS'

refentment to the love

which being completed, Veturia was confecrated

Didtator of

Rome

having

vowed

dedicate

to

golden vafe of a certain weight to Apollo, and the fenate not

being able to procure a fufficient quantity of gold
ladies voluntarily parted

The

purpofe.

with

fenate, ftruck

many

to

as well as for the

facred

the

with the unfolicited generofity, de-

men, and

to ride in chariots at the public

The

it,

of their trinkets for that

creed that funeral orations fhould thenceforth be

women

make

made

for the

that they Ihould be allowed

games.

fundion of miniflering

at

the altars of the gods

has, in moft countries, been wholly refefved for the

men; but
tills.

^ H A

p.

THE HISTORY

144
this

was not the

who

priefts,

cafe at

officiated

Rome, they had

of their temples.

in feveral

they had a peculiar order of

dium*, which was confidered

was

office

as the fecurity

to

as

Befides thefe,

who

priefteffes, called Veftals,

and whofe

in the temple of Vefta,

priefteflcs as well

refided

keep the palla-

of the empire, and

The

to preferve the facred fire of the goddefs in perpetual vigour.

prerogatives of this order demonflrate

not only the confidence

women,

but alfo the regard they

which the Romans had

in their

When

paid to their religion.

though

confuls,

met a

they gave

veftal,

meet a criminal carrying

to

way

was punifhed with death

offered to a veflal

happened

the principal magiftrates,

to

if

even

her; any infult

any of the order

he was im-

to execution,

mediately releafed, provided the veflal affirmed the meeting was

They were

accidental.

received in courts
differences

the only

of juftice

women whofe

they were

the

evidence was

umpires of the

which happened between perfons of the

firfl

they were allowed the liberty of being interred in the

liberty feldom granted even to their greateft heroes

and

rank
city,

in their

hands, as in an inviolable afylum, weredepofitcd the wills and tefla-

ments of fuch
committed by

as

were

afraid that frauds

their relations.

When

and of heroes became fafhionable

at

and forgeries might be

the deification of emperors

Rome,

the

women

foon alfo

infinuated ttiemfelves into this fpecies of honour; their ftatues

were

fet

up

in

the temples, and public facrifices were offered

and incenfe burnt before them.

be conferred on a

Roman

hero,

The higheff honour that could

who had been flain in the defence

of his country, was to be buried in the

* The
taken

fo

ftatue

long as

of Pallas, which the

it

to,

Romans

field

of Mars

an honour

believed would fecure their city from being

remained there.

which,

'

WO

OF

which, in length of time, came

Among

women.

the

with the men, and

convivial meetings

titles

be (haied by

alfo to

in later times

whigh

not hitherto found them enjoying

even

1.4^

Romans, women generally

liberties,

M EN.

to their

in fo full an extent

we have

they alfo fhared the honours' and

of their hufbands, and at one period honours of a nature

amid

of approbation, we have

more

fliared

were

and

thefe honours,

all

all

in general treated at

than with the

If the

affection.

home rather with the

warm indulgence of

whole tenor of

women

have but too many undoubted proofs

of the

barbarity

fair fex

tendernefs and

own women, we

to affure us, that their cap-

were oftea treated'evcn with the moft horrid

was

their political virtue

cool efteem of

their condudl gives us reafon to

think that fuch was their behaviour to their

never fuffered humanity in the

tereft

their

facri-

with them almoft every honour and every privilege, they

friendfhip,

tives

Romans

that the

and that while

thefe public teftimonies

reafon to believe

to merit than to love

fpr-jbecpi; only*'.

.-:,,(

-'

ficed

and drank

were even admitted

not ufually bellowed on the fex were inftitu^ed

But

ate

ilhjftrious

leaft

and

fo rigid

to interfere

fevere,

that

it

where the in-

of their country was concerned. Hence, in order to aggran-

dize the

Roman name, and

ftrlke terror into

conquered nations, they

often dragged beauty and grandeur at the wheels of their triumphal

chariots,

and expofed queens and

rank or of

fex,

to

and

degradations,

favage would blufh for.

without regard of

princefTes,
to

tortures

Not contented with

ravilhing, they alfo

Heliogabalus gave his mother a feat and vote in the fenate of

inftituted a

female fenate, and placed her at the head of

regulate the important

dcfpicable founder

affairs

ever afterward attempt to

Vol.

I.

of drefs and falhion

foon after his death

re-eftabl^fli

it

but

The

it.

Rome, and feme time

bufinefs

this inftilulion

was diflblved

that even a

of

this fenate

after

was ro

did not long furvive

its

nor did sny fuccted.ng emperor

it.

fcourged

Romans
0

cruel

conquwed*

''^"o"'-

THEHISTORY

146
fcourged

the

daughters of the Britifh queen Boadicea.

they had overcome the army of the Ambrones,

being in a

fortified

their

After

women

camp, for fome time defended themfelves

but finding they could not be able to hold out, defired to capitulate,

and required no other condition than that their chaftity

Ihould not be violated

but even this fingle condition was not

granted by the cruel and libidinous Romans.

proceed to blacken the hiftoric page with a

mous

But we
lift

will not

of fuch enor-

crimes.

CHAP.

E N.

CHAP.
The fame

THE

whom

VII.

StihjeSl contmtied.

Germans, and other northern

Celtes, Gauls,

upon

147

nations,

Tacitus and his contemporary writers

rally beflow the epithet of Barbarians, were, in feveral

lefs fo

refpedts,

than the Romans, who, at that time, thought themfelves

the only polifhed people upon the globe

nations treated their

women,

with a regard fuperior

them

fo libe-

fo horrid

if

to that

the greater part of thefe

not with a politenefs,

of thofe very

at

leafl:

Romans who gave

an appellation.

In Germany,

when

the regal dignity defcended

to

wo-

man, they allowed her to enjoy it, and women often governed with a fleadinefs and fagacity which did honour to the fex,
and excited the admiration of the neighbouring nations
greateft

heroes

difdained

to

by

councils,

neither

ners,

nor be regulated

them

to

their

fight

under
as

they

imagined

equal, or even

and by

themfelves more firmly engaged than bv an

a fuperior

number of

warlike excurfions, they carried their

and fometimes even

and a

In their treaties with one another,

female hoftages were given by the ancient Germans

thefe they reckoned

the

ban-

their

be endowed with a kind of oracular wifdom,

prudence more than human.

the other fex.

women

to the field of battle,

In

their

along with them,

where

their cries

and

fhouts ferved to intimidate their enemies, and to animate their

friends with martial ardour

and even fometimes

to inflame

and

fupport

CHAP,
>

THEHISTORY

148

CHAP,

when ready to yield to fuperior numbers, or more

The approbation of the fair they efleemed as
difcipline.

fupport them,
fleady

the moft honourable reward of their bravery, and for them, as

being what they valued moft, they fought with the moft deter-

mined

When

refolution.

they had turned their backs on the

their wives often painted

enemy,

captivity, that they

fo

pathetically the horrors of

were prevailed upon, with double fury,

to return

to the charge, rather than fubmit themfelves to fuch indignity.

war having once

civil

two armies were drawn out

quarrel,

and

to front,

the

women

a ftop to the

them
the

juft

women

to decide tlie

into the field, extended front

wh^n

with difhevelled hair rufhing in between them, put

work of deftrucflion, and had

From

-that

time

the addrefs to reconcile

that time forward, the

to their councils,

and from

them and

the Gauls,

ready to commence a dreadful carnage,

each other.

to

bated",

among

arifen

when

alio,

Gauls admitted

peace or war was to be de-^

fuch difrerences as arofe

b.etyv,een

were terminated by female negocialion

their allies

agreeably to this cuftom,

we

find

it

ftipiilated in their treaty

and,

with

'Hannibal, that ftiould the 'Gauls have any complaint againft the
Carthaginians,, the matter fhould be fettled by the Carihaginiaa

general

but

fhould

againft the Gauls,

The

Gotlis obliged

(he

it

the

'Carthaginians

flioUld

any complaint

be referred to the Gaulifli wx>men

him who debauched

was equal <to tbim.ia rank;

give her a fortune equal

have

to liis

af'iiot,

own

a virgin

to

condition; if he eould not

;

becaufe a

thus didionoured, had no chance of obtaining a huftaand

without a fortune; and becaufe

ftatc

her,

h^ was conftrained

give her fuch a fortune, he was condemned to death

woman

marry

to

it

was bymarriage only

that a

could be properly peopled.

To

O
To

149

of the North paid to their women,

that they confidered

fhall add,

E N.

chap.

of the regard, and even of the veneration,

thefe proofs

T?vhich the ancient inhabitants

we

\V

them

as

endowed with

facred in their character, as

>

v-

-J

having fomething

a forelight of future

events, as interpreters of the Divine will in this world, and as

a

part of the

'

Cimbri,'' fays Strabo, "

*'

companied by

"

in long white linen robes."

Edda

fays the
*'

fill

reward

of the

when

next.

" The

they took the

field,

were ac-

hoary-headcd

venerable

*'

ing in this place, that

in the hall

empty them."

many of

which was

prophetefTes, clothed

crowd of beautiful

" wait on the heroes

*,

their cups as faft as they

Mahometifin,

the

in

bleffed

It is

virgins,'*

of Odin, and

worth remark-

the ancient eaftern religions, and

copied from

them,

taught,

great part of the joys of Paradife confifted in beautiful

But then they were

them

to enjoy

as fuch

that a

women.

whereas the North-

erns were fatisfied with having their cups quickly repleniftied

them

paflion-

which plainly {hews,

a circumftance,

of the Eaft was love

The

...

predominant

that of the North, drinking.

ancient Britons appear

that the

by

not to have been behind any of

.

the other northern nations in the veneration and regard paid to

their

and

women;

they had tamely f^ibmitted to every reiterated

to every fpecies

Romans had

laid

of oppreffion which

upon them

but

.the eruel

when

and avaricious

thefe lawlefs deftroycrs

fcourged their queen, and raviflied her daughters, their

ment was
and had

kindled,

been equal

that time have put an

end

them from

ifles.

the Britifli

The ^ddais

the faercJ

ret'ent-

they arofe to revenge the caufe of the

their difcipline

bppk of

to the

to their valour,

Roman

evil,

infults,

fe.K j

they would at

and extirpated

the ancient Scandinavians and pther nonhern natioos.

Though

Bnwomen

Ancient
ti'h

iiow treated.

THE HISTORY

1^0

CHAP.'
'

-'

other noithern

Though

it

appears from what has been related, that the

cient inhabitants of the

North valued and efteemed

7^^ their condudt towards

nations.

them was

far

from being

their
all

aii-

women,

of a piece;

they revered them as beings infpired with a ray of the Divi-

v>^hile

nity, according

to the

cuftom of Afia, from whence they origi-

nally caine, they at the fame time treated

rather as flaves.

The wives and

feveral

as fervants,

at their meals,

and af-

Among the ancient Danes, and

left.

of their northern neighbours, convivial feafting was more

frequent than perhaps

among any

other people; almoft every oc-

currence and bufinefs was productive of a

fcaft,

where eating and

But

drinking was carried to the moft abominable excefs.

we have

feafts,

or

children were not allowed to eat

with the hufbands, but waited upon them

terward ate up what they had

them

as fervants

reafon to believe, the

women were

to

fuch

only admitted

and that they ftood behind their hulbands and friends,

fupplying them with meat and drink, and took care of them at
laft

when

their

drunkennefs had rendered them incapable of do-

The German women,

ing any thing for themfelves.

like

thofe

of the Greeks and Romans, were under perpetual guardianfhip

but

it

was generally

to the care

of fome perfon of prudence and ex-

own

perience they were committed, and not to their

Greece.

When

fons,

as in

any perfon was murdered, the laws of their

ftates

took no notice of

much

it

the ideas of

civil fociety

perfeQed, as toconfider every individual

the property of the

community

it

as, in

lofs,

fo

fome degree,

the relations of the party

dered were only fuppofed to have fuftained a

to the relations only

were not then

mur-

and, therefore,

belonged to revenge the death, or to agree

with the murderer for a fum of money by way of compenfation.

Neither of thefe privileges were, however, vefted in the

women

they were not allowed to take vengeance^ becaufe, perhaps, cruelty

and

WOMEN.

OF
and bloodfhed did not

151

with the foftnefs of their nature;

fuit

they were not to take the compenfation, becaufe they were confidered as too

weak and

feeble to extort

it.

In general, the women of the North feem not

indulged with

law not

much

to give

more

to a wife

The German women

ftance.

The

property.

to

have been

Vifigoths were bound by a

than the tenth part of their fub-

anciently fucceeded not to any inherit-

though afterwards they were permitted to fucceed after the

males of the fame degree of kindred. But the moft fubordinate of
ance,

all

female conditions feems

to have been that of a

The hufband of an

wife to her hufband.

to aflemble her relations,

ftrip

among them

adulterefs

in their prefence to cut

was allowed
off her hair,

her naked, turn her out of his houfe, and whip her from

one end of the village to the other.

woman

thus publicly ex-

pofed could never wipe away the ftain of fo foul an infamy

the moft clrcumfpet behaviour could never call back her

nor

ra<n:er,

her,

loft

cha-

could any motive ever prevail on another to marry

though youth, beauty, fortune, and every advantage, com-

bined to allure him.

We

have already mentioned, that a law among the Goths

obliged a

man

bauched.
nations,

to

marry or give a portion

Among

the Angles, and

wounds and

and a wound given

which was
If this

fet

upon

injuries

was eftimated

double the value

to

at

man

of the fame

fenfe of the weaknefs

of the fex to defend themfelves,

inattentive to their intereft

other of the northera

at a certain price j

when given

law originated from a

many

de-

were fixed by law

to a virgin
it

woman he had

to the

if

it

and

rank-.

inability

demonftrated a legiflature not

from humanity, or from

love, it

ihewedi

^*

T H E

152

CHAP,

fliewed in the

thcfe ages in

\^ -,.

T O R Y

men a degree of civilization, which the

many circumftancee feem to coiltradi6t.

The mythology
of male

of

all

antiquity

is

full

The Hebrews, and many of

worfliipped the Queen of Heaven

adored Aftarte

Scythians, Apia

the

are of

fome confequence

where women dre held

deities are all

North

fetnale

their gloves,

and

at their
rttatiy

fpared

that

As

The

modern

light, that

wo-

nations-

even their

there tvere in the

who

they had prieftefles

altars.

a fign that

find inthofe

moft defpicable

miniftered ia-

Egyptians, Phoaniciansj

other of the ancients, offered to their

wc have

importance

to

reafon to believe they

lenity

be offered to their gods

and indulgence

ation of the lofs that population

uncertain.

is

Whether they were not thought

any females.

them from

it

have ob-

deities

fometimefe of the male, and fohietimes of

this difference,

fuflicient

we

the Phoenicians

the Northerns followed their example,

the female gender:

of

fo

deities,

gods humart vidims

facrificed

for

of the mafcuilnd gendei:.

Carthaginians, and

with

ih the

neighbour-

and the Scandinavians,

tained a place in the religion of a people,

men

their

Wherever female

Frigga, the confort of Odin.

of

of female as well as

deities.

ing nation?,

hlftories

would

we

much

never
victims

whether they

or from the confider-

fuflaln

by

their death,

But when we take a view of the whole of

dudl towards the fex,

only

is

their conit

to in-

the inhabitants of the North were not diftinguiflicd

by a

are

inclined to attribute

dulgence and affedion.

As

quicknefs of ienfibility, as they devoted moft of their time to a

pafTion for arms,

and

to the plcafures

of the

table,

clude that love held no violent dominion over them

we may conand yet they

efteemed

WOMEN.

OF
efteemed and regarded their

153

women, forming,

in this

particular,

who

a ftriking contrail to the Afiatics and other fouthern people,

have ever been diftinguifhed by the warmeft love, entirely

An

ed of the fmalleft degree of regard or eflcem.

he approaches

his miftrefs as if fhe

were a

a criminal, and confidering her as entirely

he

is

at

Northerns did not feem

their pleafures,

ance

as

for their

while

divinity, treats her as

made for

have looked on the fex

to

much

fo

Afiatlc,

his pleafures

her tyrant ^nd her flave

the fame time

divefl:-

while the

as deftlned for

convenience

and

affift-

and

they did not view them as the flaves of their power,

the panders of their

luft,

but as their friends and companions;

nor did they approach them with the fawning fubmifTion of inferiors,

and

at the

fame time

treat

them with the haughty

difre-

fpet of fuperiors.

In tracing the hiftory of the treatment and condition of

downwards from
will be

among

women

the periods already reviewed, our chief bufmefs

thedefcendants of thofe northern nations, of whom

we have been now

fpeaking

who

at

length difTatisfied with the

cold and barren regions they inhabited, where, on a fcanty and

hard-earned pittance, they dragged out a mlferable exlftence

and

convinced, as every uncultivated people were, that the fword gave

a right to whatever they could conquer by

it

fet

out in fwarms

towards the fouth, and in procefs of time over-ran

all

Europe,

propagated their race, and dlffufed their manners and cuftoms as

far as they extended their arms.

We have already
with them into the

feen, that they carried their wives

field

and children

which being a fcene not only adapted

the growth of riot and debauchery, but where thefe vices

Vol.

I.

to

may
more

Trestmem of
middle age;,

THF HISTORY

154

CHAP,

more

eafily elude the vigilance

of judice

many

of the

ftritfleff

laws became neceflary for their prefervation, and feveral of this

nature were cnafted by

tlie

When

Franks.

in the field,

their

operations were from time to time fettled in a council, of which

made a part and when in danger of being defeated,

they were more afraid of their reproache* than of the fwords of
their enemies. The men, conftantly employed in war or in drinktheir wives

to acquire ufeful

had neither time nor inclination

ing,

The women,

moreatleifure, from the

with, were by the

men

few

Hence both

fimples.

all
;

mous

in

all

the fongs of their bards

the nature of

removed from

man,

firft

fentlmental feeling, and with ideas

is

their

lovers and hufbands.

efpecially

which they were

who

little

infpired the

not the complexion of the times

men with

fhort of adoration

when he

is

we have

But

.?

but a few degrees

that while he adores a

barbarity,

fo fa-

any wonder, that the

is it

woman

beauty, he fcruples not to attack and ruin her virtue.

it

for her

Such was

already delineated; but

An

became the complexion of thefe we are now confidering.

univerfal fpirit of piracy and emigration had crept into the

one half of

new

vir-

and matrons were

virgins

that majeftic beauty, for

daughters of the North were the

fuch

they were fuppofed

thefe acquifitions, at that time fo extraordinary as well as

with

ufeful

and had adually learned the

employed in drefling the wounds of

With

they became acquainted

confidered as oracles

to be able to interpret dreams,

tues of a

little

knowledge.

its

North

inhabitants were conflantly wandering in queft of

adventures, and of

new

fcttlements.

Wanderers, who have

neither property nor poffeflions to ferve as hoftages for their good

behaviour, are generally licentious in their manners: hence

came

neceflary

for

thofe

who had

acquired

fcttlements,

it

be-

not

only to fecure their property, but alfo their wives and children,

from

OF WOMEN,
from

153

in caflles, and

thefe lawlefs wanderers,

in

ftrong fortifi-

'

cations.

In

this

manner women became

ha

p.

'

fubjedl to a fpecies of con-

firfi:

finement in the North, not becaufe they were, as

alleged in the

is

South, wicked and libidinous, but becaufe they were beautiful,

weak and

the effed of jealoufy,

fecuring their
a

This confinement, however, not being

defencelefs.

as in Afia,

women from

woman found

a lover,

but of prudence, and defire of

the infults of licentious banditti

when

or a hufband, to protect her from the

rudenefs and barbarity of the times, (he could then venture abroad

with impunity in his company.

Hence every woman

wifhed to engage fuch a champion

of the honour arifing from

fervice.

And

inllitution,
ceffity
it

was

in this

which, though

of the times, made

it

to her,

owed

ftill

of

and violence.

favour of
pofTible,

birth to chance

its

fo rapid a progrefs,

have

it

title

her whom
ftill

whether

known,

while

that fuch

more

reftrained the

this

hand

a young warrior had to the approbation and

more prevailing motive,

prompted the youthful warrior

the love of glory;

to take

in

and moft intimately con-

difinterefted

refcuing the opprefTed.

Caufes which

there was another, and, if n^nfoftrong!

he thus defended,

neded with fuch generous and

weak and

little

in his prefence or abfence

thefe times, the moft anxioufly coveted,

the

an

and the ne-

that in a

publicly

the circle of her liberty, and

enlarged

Besides the

himfelf in the

was her declared champion, and would revenge

wrong done

infult

fond

fplrit,

arofe the inftitution of chivalry

fufficient for a fair lady to

a gallant warrior

every

as naturally inlifted

it,

manner

and every man of

naturally

adions as defending

All thefe confiderations

upon him an

office,

which,
while

'ytP''o'S'^

THEHISTORY

J56
while

fame, no

fed

Icfs

and

fame time, by

love, at the

flattered his

it

nourlflicd his vanity

and

its

acquifaion of

man

as the

acquired

honour, and the name of valour, by undertaking to defend an in-

woman

nocent and hclplefs

fo the

woman

acquired an additional

and the name of beauty, by being thus diflinguiflied by a

luftre,

Thus

gallant champion.

the honour and intereftof the

two fexes

became mutually blended together, and they refieded additional

and reputation upon each other

luflre

It

not a

is

women were

little

fpirit

of chivalry made

Mahomet had
them

quence
in the

almofi:

it

them

altogether in another.

eftabliflied

arms of

funk the power of beauty almoft

is

proof,

gulated by no fixed principle

dering,

another

deavoured

to

endeavoured
religion

of

to

not

political confe-

but,

ftriking

is,

the
that

moft con trad iiSlory

blend

the

meek and

with
It

the

fierce

endeavoured

of

appearances

forgiving

mix

of

fpirit

and intolerant
to

not only

men are reages we are confihuman nature en-

adlions

in

eftabliflied

and imprifonment.

the

Jefus,

love,

lefs

that the

di-

but condemned the

to nothing,

alTume

war and bloodfhed.

ments of

all

his fucceflbrs,

to perpetual fubordination

ftrlking

which

a religion in Afia,

brought over into Europe, and

the conquering

whole of the fex

While the

objedls almoft of adoration in the

of every privilege, and of

this religion,

Weft by

This

ample tcftimony.

gradually rifing into confcquence in one part of Eu-

they fhould be lofing

velled

the

all

remarkable, that in the fame periods in which

rope,

North,

mod

of thefe times bear the

hiftorical records

which

a truth to

the

it

the

fpirit

foft

of

fenti-

with the revengeful didtates of affronted honour;

and the fame tender fentiment which bound a lover to his

miftrefs,.
infti-

O
him, in the

I'nftigated
all

who

thofe

E N.

157
to cut the throats of

manner,

mofl: favage

openly profefled either to love or hate her. In fhort,

nothing had at
a

this

time acquired any confiftency

religiori

was

mixture of paganlfm and fuperftition, and law was a compound

of weaknefs and

While the pilgrim

injuftice.

falem to obtain forgivenefs of his

load,

fins,

he was adding daily to the

by pillaging and debauchery on the way.

paffions

and law,

ftill

ceflary.

tedlors

ridiculous

more confpicuous

In fuch a

tion.

if

crifis,

The men had

in

diflint

combat the

to

modes of

its

for being feeble in

fomething

Religion, thus

was too weak

reduced to penance and ceremony,

was

travelled to Jeru-

invefligation,

power of execu-

its

from both became ne-

already begun to glory in being the pro-

of fuch women, as they were attached to by love and

friendOiip

was but carrying the idea one

it

being the champion of a fingle

of the whole
of chivalry;

fex,

woman,

and thereby

a thing

eftablifli

from

ftep farther,

to

become the champion

more complete fyftem

which adlually happened,

after the fpirit

of

crufading had been entirely obliterated by a repetition of unfuccefsful attempts.

Such is the imperfection of our nature, that to chance and neceflity we owe the far greater part of our ufeful difcoveries, as
alfo the further

fedly known.

from

love,

improvement of fuch
This was the

cafe

with chivalry

honour, and the neceffity of defending

times of lawlefs depredation, and had at

defence of one
te<rtion

wider,

woman

only

of the whole fex

its

objedt

became

imper-

as are already but

afterward

firft
it

for

it

women
its

in the

objel the

extended to the pro-

and by degrees flretching

diftreffed innocence,

found fufFering by the hard hand, of

originated

injuftice

itfelf ftill

wherever

it

was

and oppreflion.
Ariivedi

ha

p.

T H

iS^
^

'1^^

P-

'

-V-

Arrived
'

at

this period,

and exalted of
of mankind

it

it,

itfclf

and of benevolence

the mofl: honourable

as

without the

the

young

xiifintereftcdnefs,

The

all

it

was

train

in their

of previous diitipline; and

calculated to infpire a love of glory,

was performed

hero,

at -the altar

by ceremonies

to inftil into the

the moft enthufiaftic love of honour,

and truth.

efFeds of this inAitution, which at

became

laft

fo ridicu-

loufly whimfical, as to be finally laughed out of the world

inimitable Cervantes, were in

fociety

carried

on by men trained up

manity

its

horrors,

in the principles of

and

were

as

alfo

when

it

found ftrength and

it

was known

to

engaged

lot

even of bravery

rewards beftowed on

it

him

which they
be-

all,

was the caufe of chivalry. They

;

they were the judges

and entrufted with the diftribution of the

at public

approbation on the knight to

confidered by

to

this inftitu-

they were politely treated by

that their caufe

itfelf,

to defend

of women, they

fed a confequence

were approached with fubmiflion by the brave

tournaments

whom

as a greater

quired by his invincible arm.

to enjoy itfelf

objeQs of the peculiar care and attention of

had hitherto been ftrangers

caufe

fidelity

weaknefs was more peculiarly the

Hence they now began

tion.

was

it

weaknefs, which before had every thing to fear from

in fecurity,
;

when

honour and hu-

power, and hardly any protedlion bylaw, now began

it

by the

the beginning highly beneficial to

even war was diverted of half

ranks

credentials of valour,

fullefl:

awful than pompous, and well calculated

Icfs

mind of

**'"^*

T O R Y

nor were any candidates, however elevated

even the admiffion

Xffefisofchi-

was eagerly courted by

honour and probity, or a long

no

was confidered

profeffions

all

admitted into

ftation,

where

a fmile

of

they delivered them, was often

reward than

The men

all

the glory he had ac-

confidered tournaments as

t^

:;

OF W
the theatres

where they were

hiftorian)

" and
*'

was longed

for

ficent fpedacle,

as

r^.

159

ladies

and lovers, as thofe

Nothing

fair.

by the

much from

this not fo

to gain applaufe;

of acquiring the enecm of the

"

with

much

fo

French

(fays a

impatience;

the pleafure of beholding a raagni-

from the glory of prefiding there

was

it

" by them that the prize of thefe (hows was always diftributed
" they were the foul and capital ornament of them
to animate
:

" the courage of the champions, they ufed to give them a token,
" which was fometimes a fcarf, a veil, a coif, a fleeve, a brace-

"

let,

*'

curious piece of

a knot,

detached piece of their

work of

their

own

and fometimes a

attire,

doing

and with

the

thefe,

*'

knight decorated the top of his helmet or of his fpear, his

*'

fhield,

To

his coat

of arms, or fome other part of his armour."

fuch a pitch of enthufiaftic veneration of the fair fex did the

inftitution

of chivalry carry the ages in which

it

flouriflied,

that

the leaft contemptuous word uttered concerning any of them, difqualified a

and

knight for the duties and privileges of his profefTion

lady having caufe of complaint againft a knight, ufcd to

touch the helmet or fhiekl of his arms, as a token of applying to

the judges, for a
if the

trial

of his crime

when,

after proper inquiry,

delinquency was proved, the haplefs culprit immediately

fuffered the penalty of exclufion,

his dignity, but

by the

and could never again be

interceffion

of the

re-

fair,

and

the mofl folemn promifes of better behaviour for the future.

As
we

ftored

to

the greateft part of the nobility and gentry were, in the times
are confidering,

of the order of chivalry,

this inftitution

that order a fufEcient barrier againft indecent liberties

ous reports.

by the

But the lower orders of

filken cords of

honour

to

men were

was

in.

and fcandal-

not to be bound

keep them, therefore, within

the

chap.

T H E

i6o

T O R Y

the limits prcfcribcd by decency, other motives were devlfed

laws of the Thuringians ordained, that he

a

woman

while bathing, or

her, flioiild be feverely fined

fliould be doubled,

when

at

any

woman

and that allcompofitions for

of her arm, and four times as

ftrongly

mark

much

The

fqucezed the hand of a

much

he

if

laid

he touched her

if

on indecorum

hold

breaft.

and though they

the charadler of the times, yet they {hew the in-

women,

fluence of

rcftraints

who

twice as

fols,

of

injuries

woman.

the injury was donrt to a

fhould pay fifteen

Thefe were powerful

flole the clothes

threw dirty water upon

tipie

laws of the Franks enacted, that he

free

who

the

or rather, perhaps, the attention of the

well

to prefervc their delicacy, as

men

from every rude

as chaftity,

invader.

Arts,
the

and learning had,

fciences,

Roman

brought up

empire, been

man who had

fl:ooped to

ufeful in civil

life,

ever.

as to

eradicated

people

ftill

peaceful

means of labour and oeco-

Learning, and every art thereon depending, was for

veral centuries defpifed, as

'

totally

obtain every thing by the fword, had no idea of

to

gaining a fubfiftence by the

nomy.

almoft

of

fubverfion

the

at

Among

mean and contemptible

become a

was confidered

fcholar,

as

or

and

a gentle-

any thing

to learn

having degraded himfelf for

people thus circumftanced, nothing was

make any improvement

fe-

accordingly

we

find,

fo difficult

that

many of

the middle ages were more flationary than, perhaps, any period in
the hiflory of mankind.

Other

caofes

freih import-

a|Ketowo-

Among

the nations

who conquered

the

Roman

Chriftiau religion had been early introduced

precepts, and even all the coercive

but

empire the
its

peaceful

powers with which

it

was

armed,

W aM

N.

i6j

armed, were but feeble and unavailing, when oppofed

fandllfied

fuccefs

by time, and

and

it

to

cufloms

to

minds grown haughty and intolerant by

was many ages before

it

could tame that wild and ro-

mantic rage for fighting, with or without caufe, for which the inhabitants of the north had been fo remarkably diftinguilhed. This reli-

gion had, however, another good

concerning

eG"el:: diflferences

difputes were carried

it;

on

to decide thefe differences;

difputes neceffarily gave rife to emulation,

When the faculties of

gree of learning.

of opinion arofe

and emulation

the

to

fome de-

human mind have

been

exerted on a few fubjets of enquiry, thefe fubjecls begin to multi-

ply

and

as they increafe,

ftill

fuing them increafes alfo

the avidity of the

mind

in pur-

we may

hence, in fome meafure,

fee

the reafon, why, toward the beginning of the twelfth century,

much
With the

learning began to be cultivated with fo

affiduity,

had been

revival of learning,

totally negleled before.

new and more

rational importance

was added to

former importance had been derived from

and romantic

on

fpirit

of honour

women

fuperftition,

their prefent,

the foundation of tendernefs and fenfe.

though

began

and

it

their

wild

to eredl itfelf

Whatever tends

to

aggrandize the mind, and to add to the ftock of knowledge and

fenfibility, is

in

favour of the fair fex, and makes ours

frelh endearments

and

in tracing the hiftory

lavifia

upon them. Accordingly,

of the middle ages a little downwards, we
frefh dignities

fhall find that

women, by

trodudion of

real

the remains of chivalry, and the in-

politenefs, arrived at

a confequence to which

they never attained in any other period.

The

profeffors of the Chriftian

cepted*, never admitted

women

religion,

to the dignity

one

feifl

only ex-

of the prieflhood;

The Quakers.

Vol.

I.

but

C H a

p.

T H E

i62

CHAP,

1/

i3ut

the times

ifj

ward

T O R Y

are fpeaking of, they

was confidered

in feveral cafes,

man

prieft or

made

While Charlemagne fwayed the

it.

fcfflon

we

common

could be had,

fceptre in France, con-

And

at the point

in the fixteenth century,

it

they enjoyed what

young

given away with

to be

be

to

was no un-

many of

as

ladies

kind of facerdotal

exercifed a

fundion; and though they did not adually

at the altarj

officiate

the priefts themfelves would have

been glad of; the emoluments of the

altar,

without the drudgery

fervice.

When
man,

when no

was by the church allowed

it

Thus women

marriage-portion.

its

of death,

thing for church-livings, the revenues of abbeys, and

even of bifhoprics,

of

great flrides to-

as fo abfolutely neceflary to falvation, that,

and particularly

woman.

to a

made

or

any material dlfFerence happened between man and

when one accufed another of a crime,

the decifion, accord-

ing to ancient cuftom, eftablifhed by law, was, to be by fingle

combat, or by the ordeal

manners of appealing
a

man had

faid

to

trial

heaven,

any thing

that

or accufed her of a crime, fhe

from both of which ridiculous

women were

Wher>

exempted.

refledted diQionour

was not obliged

to

on a woman,
fight

him

to

prove her innocence; the combat would have been unequal; nor

was

fhe obliged

to

fubmit to the ordeal

trial

it

was

inconfiftent

with the delicacy of the female charader and conflitutioo

might chufe a champion

the horrid

trial,

fb-

upon any

eager the

in order to clear her reputation

other, fo high

thirft

^e meet with no
6

but

fl:e

to fight in her caufe, or expofe himfelf to

were generally feleded from her

fixed

fuch champions

lovers or friends

was the

fpirit

but if fhe

of martial glory, and

of defending the weak and helplefs

iafiance of a

fex,

that

champion ever having refufed

to

fight;

O F

E N.

i6 o

undergo whatever cuftom required in defence of the

fight for, or

who had honoured him with the appointment. To this we

may add another motive; he who had refufed, mufl; inevitably

lady

have been branded with the name of coward

was the condition of

and

a coward, in thefe times of general heroifm,

that death itfelf appeared the moft preferable choice

was

the rage of fighting for

thofe,

who

fo defpicable

women,

that

it

nay, fuch

became cuftomary for

could not be honoured with the decifion of their real

quarrels, to create fidlitious ones concerning

them,

in

Thus when, from

create alfo a neceffity of fighting.

order to

its

primi-

tive laudable intention, of fuccouringthediftreffed, chivalry

had de-

generated to a kind of

mon

finical fighting

madnefs,

it

was no uncom-

thing for a knight to poft himfelf in fome public place, and

by

doughty weapons, and formidable appearance, force

every paflenger, either to acknowledge the fuperior charms of his

there,

his

Dulcinea, or fight

him on

the fpot.

The

of which feldom

latter

happened, unlefs, perchance, he met with fome perfon as

mad

as

himfelf.

However much
mantic
rical

fiction,

it

is,

inftances, crouds

and even kings

to

may have

the air and appearance of roverified

neverthelefs,

Nor was

fads.

miftrefles,

this

by

number of

fighting for the ladies confined

of gallants entered the

hifto-

to fingle

lifts

againft each other;

called out their fubjeds, at the

commands of their

fhew

them, by cutting the throats of

their love to

who had
century, when

offended them.

their neighbours,

not in the

fourteenth

the countefs of Blois,

of Montfort, were

at

war

leaft

In the

and the widow

againft each other, a conference

been agreed on, upon pretence of

to appoint a combat, for deciding

fettling a peace,

which of the two

had

but in reality
ladies

was the
moft

C H A

P.

THE HISTORY

1^4
mofl handfome

inftcad

of negoclating, they foon challenged each

who was

other; and Beaumanoir,

that they fought

licly declared,

by the vidory, who had the

we

century,

find

head of the Britons, pub-

at the

from no other motive than

an anecdote of this kind

John duke de Bourbonnois publifhed

In the fifteenth

miftrefs.

faireft

ftill

to fee

more extraordinary.

a declaration, that he

over to England, with fixteen knights, and there fight

would go

it

out,

in

order to avoid idlenefs, and merit the good graces of his miftrefs:

and, to crown

James IV. of Scotland having,

all,

ments, profefTcd himfelf knight to queen

fummoned him
by taking

Henry
the

to

her defence,

VIII. of England.

two nations bled

to

He

their

However

ing, the former

Warriors,

If they fought valiantly,

enemies;

it

de Foix,

the poor ladies were dishonoured

who commanded

and fight-

to the latter.

the French troops

took advantage of this foible of his

he rode from rank to rank, calling by name his

his private

country, and their honour

men, recommending
and, above

could do for the love of their

led the

men

refledted

but if daftardly, they turned

different in their natures are love

of R,avenna,

and even fome of

in

of a woman.

was then the moft prevailing motive

The famous Gafton

army

brother-in-law,

engage, even invoked the aid of their miftreftes, as

on

at the battle

France, fhe

obeyed the romantic mandate; and

honour on the Dulcincas they adored

for ever.

againft; his

to feed the vanity

poets do that of the IMufes.

their backs

Anne of

tourna-

prove himfelf her true and valorous champion,

the field in

when ready

in all

to fo extravagant

all,

to

them

to

flicw

The fame

officers,'

their

what they

fpirit

which

an adoration of the women,

when

miftrefl'es.

happinefs and profperity, didated

to

them, that even their

punifhments, when abfolutely neceflary, fliould not offend againft

decency.

In the ninth century,

5

women, by

the laws of

Kenneth.

WOMEN.

OF
neth, king of Scots,

i6s

were punifhed by drowning, or burying

From what

now

has been

may, perhaps, imagine,

ating,

which governs

-v^'as

with

things

all

the

many of our
times we have

fair

been dehne-

not in reality the cafe; cuftom,

the

abfolute

mofl:

fway,

through a long fucceflion of years, given her fandion

combats

as

were undertaken, either

difplay the beauty of

man

to fight for a

women.

had,
fuch

to

to defend the innocence, or

Cuftom, therefore,

woman who

with eternal infamy

readers

completely happy, than in any other

but this

related,

that in

women were more

period of the world

fufal

defired

either obliged

him, or marked the re-

but cuftom did not oblige him in every

other part of his deportment, to behave to this

woman,

fex in general, with that refpedt and politenefs,

which have hap-

pily diftinguiftied the charader of

more modern

man, who,

in the middle ages,

defence of a

woman, have encountered

had but

ties,

little

would

at the

or to the

The fame

times.

command,

or for the

giants, or gigantic difiicul-

idea of adding to her happinefs, by fupplying

her with the comforts and elegancies of

thought himfelf affronted, had

flie

life

afl<:ed

him

and would have

to ftoop

and

eafe

her of a part of that domeftic flavery, which almoft in every country falls to the lot of

women.

But, befidcs,

men had

ages nothing but that kind of romantic gallantry to

ihem

ignorant of

that refines

gallantry

lantry,

arts,

fciences,

they were

in

in

their time

idlenefs

and

company with

was fpent

in their hours
their

in thofe

recommend

and of every thing

every thing, where

was not concerned, rough and unpolifhed

and

little

of

letters,

human-nature,

ners and behaviour

but

ha

p.

v-,- _>

alive.

in their

in drinking,

man-

war, gal-

of relaxation, they were

women; and when

they were,
the

Rfve.-fe

of

T H

i66

''

,f

T O R Y

the indelicacies of the caroufal, or the cruelties of the

were

Hence they could

almoft the only fubjeds they had to talk of.

not

field,

be proper companions for a fcx, who, fhrinking with relul-

ance from indelicacy and barbarity, generally turn their thoughts

to foftcr fubjcds.

In the fixth century, while the perfons and characters cf wo-

men were

defended with a romantic enthufiafm, incredible in our

days, they were, at the fame time, confidered as beings contami-

nated with a certain degree of pollution

periods,

was

that

fo great,

they approached

it

which,

at

particular

rendered every thing unclean which

hindered the operation of medicines, the effedls

of churning and brewing, and even flopped the growth of vege-

The

tables.

was

fureft road to paradife

from

to abftain

women

they were not fuffered to approach the altar, nor to touch the pall

which covered

them
their

it,

unlefs

The

to be waflied.

naked hands

of the church,

to

eucharift

of the

women

Roman

to

empire, to the fourteenth

of

focial

life

they feldom

be fpeflators of fuch public diverfions and

the fafhion of the times countenanced.

the Firft was the

court; before

be touched by

to

moft of their time alone;

fpent

almoft entire ftrangers to the joys

as

his

courts of Europe,

to

it.

or fifteenth century,

amufements

was too holy

was delivered

have a white linen glove upon the hand into

the fubverfion

went abroad, but

priefls, it

they were, therefore, ordered by the canons

which they received

From

when, by the

firft

who

introduced

time, nothing

was

women on
to be

Francis

public days to

feen at any of the

but long-bearded politicians, plotting the de-

ftrudlion of the rights

and

liberties

of mankind

and warriors clad

in

OF

\V

E N.

167

complete armour, ready to put their plots in execution.

In the

thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, elegance had fcarcely

any ex-

fii

and even

iftence,

The

ufe of linen

young

only

lady.

were a

in thofe days,
to

be had

as a cordial

rugged

at the

and the moft delicate of the

The

in oil, inftead

rarity hardly to be

of candles

which,

Wine was

met with.

fhops of the apothecaries, where

it

was

fold

and'to ride in a two-wheeled cart, along the dirty

ftreets,

was reckoned

In the time of

it.

of citizens ufcd fplin-

better fort

grandeur of

that Philip the Fair, prohibited the wives

ing

fair

pounds) was a large

livres (about five

wood, and rags dipped

ters of

as laudable.

In Paris, they had meat only three times

fliifts.

and one hundred

portion for a

was hardly confidered

was not known

fex wore woollen

a week;

cleanlinefs

Henry

of

fo enviable a nature,

citizens

from enjoy-

VIII. of England, the peers of the

realm carried their wives behind them on horfeback, when they

went

to

London

and, in the fame manner, took them back to

their ccuntry-feats, v/ith

hoods of waxed linen over their heads,

and wrapped in mantles of cloth to fecure them from the

Many

of thofe things,

we now

difagreeable to the delicacy of female nature.

muft have reconciled them

to

cold.

fuppofe, muft have been hard and

Cuftom, however,

what would appear

to us almoft in-

But there was one misfortune, even beyond the power

of cuftom to alleviate; they were in perpetual danger of being.,
tolerable.

accufcd of witchcraft, and fuffering

ties

the cruelties and indigni-

of a mob, inftigated by fuperftition and enthufiafm

condemned by laws, which were

and

all

to fenfe;

from

torture,

tacked a

at

or being

once a difgrace to humanity

even the bloom of youth and beauty, could not fave

and from death; but when age and wrinkles at-

woman,

if

any thing uncommon happened

in her

neigh-

bourhoodj!.

HA

P,

THEHISTORY

i68

CHAP,

bourhood,

flie

was

alraofl;

fure of atoning with her

life,

for a

crime which fhe never committed.

When we

take a retrofpedive

compare the times

in

viewof

thcfe fkctches,

which women were only

when we

treated with ro-

mantic gallantry, and ftrangers almoft to every enjoyment which

did not flow from that fource

with

our fricndfhip, and partake of almoft

hefitate a

moment

to declare,

thefe, in
all

which they

our joys,

fliare

we cannot

that the prefent condition of the

fair fex, every thing impartially confidered, is greatly preferable

to

what

it

was while they were approached

as demigoddeflcs,

and

in the fcale of political fociety treated as cyphers.

CHAP.

OF WOMEN,

CHAP.
'The

the

chapter,

laft

almoft to our

own

fame

we

169

Vill,

SubjeSl continued.

traced the condition of

times, and fhall

now reiume

women down
the fubjet,

by

endeavouring to give fome account of the prefent rank and confe-

quence of the

and
in

But

fex.

fubjel us to

many

every particular

vide

it

as

it

would be a

much

tafk

ton tedious,

ufelefs repetitions, to confider this fubje<3:

ftate

and kingdom of the world, we

into three dif\inl heads.

mofl favage and uncultivated

In the

ftates

we

firft,

of human

fhall di-

fhall treat

of the

In the next, of

life.

thofe holding a middle degree between barbarity and cultivation.

And

the

in

of thofe where

lafl,

fociety is arrived to

civil

the

greatefl perfection.

Man,

in that

rude and uncultivated

nally appears in
fociety,
little

countries,

from the wild

little left

for

origi-

an animal, differing but

is

beafts that furround

is

which he

before he has been formed by

and inftrudted by experience,

a part of his time

dom

all

in

ftate

him;

like

them, lb great

employed in procuring food, that he has but

any other purpofe; and

like

them

too, his ideas fel-

extend farther than to a few fenfual gratifications, in which

he Indulges without reafon, and without oeconomy

rhoughtlefs'

of the wants and hardfhips of to-morrow, nnd, confequently, but

ill

provided againft them.

Vol.

I.

Among
Z

his

few

fenfual gratifications,

we

CHAP,

THE HISTORY

170
c

HA

P.

C->r~.^

^e

niiay

Other fcx

in favage life,

if,

from his commerce with the

pleafiire arifuig

reckon the

where, entire ftrangers

to

we can

call

commerce

fuch

a pleafure,

every reciprocal affcdion, and intellec-

tual feeling arifing therefrom,

men

what

are totally indifferent

fentimcnts their female partners entertain of ihem, provided they

women

fubmit tamely to fatisfying their appetites; and where

men

gard the

as lords

and matters, whom,

re-

things, they

in all

are obliged implicitly to obey.

As women

Of women

by nature, weaker than men,

are,

their

rank and

condition muft every where be invariably regulated, by the efteem

and regard of that

The efteem and regard of the men muft

own fufceptibility of nature; and that fuf-

fex.

be founded on their
ceptibility
fications

muft be called forth into

and

perfonal beauties of the

when urged by

lefs

by the mental quali-

aiStion,

women.

In favage

life,

revenge, or delighted with the chace,

are dull, phlegmatic, and almoft deftitute of fufceptibility

men have

hardly any mental qualifications

flovenlinefs,

of

it

with but

little

ornament, and

nurfed

ftill lefs

in

dirt

men
woand

art in difpofing

burnt with the fun, and bedaubed with greafe, they are

objects rather of difguft than defire

jedls

un-

hence they are not the ob-

of love, but of animal appetite only; are feldom admitted to

any diftinguifhing rank, and

as feldom

exempted from any

diftin-

guifhing flavery.

As

in favage ftates,

where hunting,

fifhing,

and war are the

only employments, vigorous exertions of ftrcngth and courage are

neceflary

were

women

might fupply every

deficiency,

the eyes of the men.

fufficiently

By

endowed with

and greatly enhance

thefe,

thefe,

they

their value in

however, they can conciliate no

afi'edion,

OF WOMEN.
nor

afFedion,

them by

denied

what
a

arife

any confequence

to

and

nature,

fhe has not planted.

thoufand

arts

to

171
they are

they cannot reap

the

of

deficiency

this

fruit

of

women

have

ftrength

and

In civilized countries,

fupply

qualities

and maintain a balance of power againft the men

courage,

with a tolerable

arts which,

from nature, they have

afTiftance

brought to fuch perfection, that they can often engage the heart
in

while the head

their favour,
caft as

life,

with

hardfhip,

head,

were

it

their

but in favage

of naked nature, expofed

every

every bleak wind of heaven blowing on

their

forms are but

luftre

engaging; with nothing that can

little

their latent

diamond while

fhewing any

them

to

be called culture,
like the

in the lap

againft

is

qualities,

inclofed in

the

if

they

rough

have any,

flint,

incapable of

thus deftitute of every thing by which they

can excite love, or acquire efteem

or art to footh, the tyrant

perform every mean and

man

deftitute

of beauty

they are by

fervile office, a fate

him

to

charm,

deftined

to

which conftantly

at-

tends the weak, where power and not reafon didates the law.
this the

American and other favage women

of Afia, who,
to gain efteem,

if

are

differ

In

widely from thofe

they are deftitute of the qualifications necefTary

have beauty, ornament, and the art of exciting

love.

Among
only can

who

acquire fuperior

all

are equal,

power

and fuperior ftrength

thus the bull or

the ftag

has beaten the whole herd, in confequence becomes their

leader.

who

the brute animals

Exadly

the fame

thing takes place

among

favages

he

has given the moft fignal proofs of his courage and ftrength,

aftumes the right of being chief of the warriors of his

or nation

a fiiuation in

perlbnal ornaments,

which he

is

own

tribe

often not diftinguiflied by

or by that pageantry and fhew, in Europe

and

^viiL^'

THE HISTORY

i7

CHAP,
^_ -^-

and Afia reckoned

neceffary an appendage of authority, but

fo

But

right,

this

however firmly he was

by the authority

itfelf.

eftablllhed in

does not defcend to any of his family

fon afpires at

it,

he muft acquire

it,

fame manner

in the

it

if his

his

as

Their women, as we have hinted above, being by nature

father.

difqualified

from arriving

at fuperior

in war, are, confe-

eminence

quently, for ever debarred from arriving at fuperior rank or power.

In civilized countries, a
the mother of a

woman

numerous family, who obey her maternal autho-

and defend her honour and her

rity,

ther,

tomed

gains

female favage

But even

life.

her

little;

children

to fee their father treat her nearly as a flave,

imitate his example, and either pay

or fhake

rity,

fome power by being

acquires

it

little

Of

off altogether.

till

men;

after

earlicft

which

it

is

this the

foon begin to

young Hottentots
up by

when they

mo-

their

from

initiated into the fociety

of the

reckoned manly for them to take the

opportunity of returning to the hut of their mother, and

beating her in the moft barbarous manneri,

now

daily accuf-

are taken

about the age of puberty,

them, and with feveial ceremonies

mo-

regard to her autho-

afford a remarkable proof; the boys are brought

thers

as

out of her jurifdidion

nor

is

to

fhew

that they are

this a private aft,

the mother complain to the

men

applaud the boy, for fhewing

fo laudable a

for (hould

of the Kraal, they would only

contempt of the fociety

and authority of women.

siaviih con-

age women,

To fupport this
women in favage
proofs.

are thcfe

fingle evidence
life,

of the wretched condition of

we have unhappily

The moft rude and

employed wholly

barbarous
in

flates

fiftiing,

"many

collateral

human

exiftence,

too

of

hunting, and war

wherever we find the men altogether employed in

we

find the

women

either totally negleded,

this

and

manner,

or deftined to every
flavifh,

a
and

llavifh,

to

every laborious

E N.

17 1

women

In the Brazils,

office.

are

obliged to follow their hufbands to war, and, fupplying the place of

hearts of burden,

to carry their children,

and every thing wanted

travellers, to

it

women

and

fome countries, that even an

fo

Giaga in Africa does not exempt

cufloms of the country

are obliged

all

to fall

idle,

many

privilege.

his

own

down on

with the

their

at that

country, had only one wife,

them

would allow her a maid to

pride of a

refpecSt.

in

the.

lefs cruel'

labour, beftow arr

Mamood

the Second,

contrary to the cuflom of his

whom

affift

they

time one of the richefl and moft

had burnt her fingers in baking

;"

fovereign of

condemned

to

he obliged

One day having

his houfehokl drudgery.

" needlefs expcnces

The

while the men, not

flaves,

extenfive monarchies oa the globe,

for the flaie,

defpot of it

eats or drinks,

are

degree of corredion upon both.

truftee

in'

firfl

knees in token of

his fubjeds

times to flimulate

emperor of Hindoftan,

the fex,

wives from the flavifh

and when he

The wives and daughters of

to toil along

with the

is

and every-

one carries his bow, another his arrows,

&c.

a third his provifions,

*'

the prince at the.

contemptible

alliance

them neither dignity nor

confers on

equal

chain

ftate flavery is

opprefs the whole of the fubjeds,

fubjedt oppreffes the

than

along with warriors

oppreffes his courtiers, they opprefs the inferior officers,

iJie inferior officers

fields

in the

anfwer every purpofe of our baggag;e-horfes.

In every defpotic

head of

And

their backs.

women

ifthmus of Darien, they fend their

and

on

in the field,

hammocks,

provifions,

his bread,

her,

"

Greek or Pvoman, than

do every part of

complained,

that fhe

and defired that he

am,"

and determined not

a fpeech

to

faid he,

to

more adapted

" only a

burden

it

with

to the patriotic

to the luxurious effeminacy

of

the

^*

v,,f

THEHISTORY

174

CHAP,

xh^ Eafl:
'

as

demonftrated, that every fpark of love, and even

it

of Iiumanity, were

The

feelings

it

"

attention to his country.

woman

fondnefs of a

that in Scripture

man

loft in

for her offspring

it

Can

woman

even obliterates

all

forget her fucking child ?"

huYet,

of the fex carried in fome favage

and induces them

this feeling,

own body,

deftroy the female children of their

fave

remarkable,

fo

reprefented as the moft powerful of

is

to fuch a degree is the illufage

countries, that

is

that they

to

may thereby

which they themfelves are

Father Jofcph Gumilla, reproving one of the female in-

them from

fubjet.

that wretchednefs to

inhuman crime,
God, Father, I wifli

habitants of the banks of the Oronooka, for this

received the following anfwer
*'

to

God,

" nifold

that

my

diftreffes

" as long as

I live

"

have

fl\ould not

"

mother had, by
I
;

wifli to

my

and have yet

have endured,

had fhe kindly

felt

" other pains to which

death, prevented the

me

ftifled

the pain of death,

life

in

ma-

to

endure

my

birth, I

nor the numberlefs

has fubjeded me.

Confider,

Father,

" our deplorable condition, our hufljands go to hunt with their

" bows and arrows, and trouble themfelves no farther we are
;

'

dragged along with one infant

" bafket
*'

at

our breaft, and another in a

they return in the evening without any burden,

return with the burden of our children; and though

" long walking, are not allowed

" whole night in grinding maize

but

to fleep,
to

make

to comfort us for flavery, perhaps of

" wife

is

brought in upon

" children.

us,

us,
:

with

muft labour the

chica for them

" get drunk, and in their drunkennefs beat

" hair of the head, and tread us under foot

"

tired

wc

draw

us

they

by the

and what have we

twenty years

A young

and permitted to abufe us and our

Can human nature endure fuch tyranny

.?

What

" kindnefs

OF
"

kindnefs can

we fhew

\V

E N.

i7>

our female children, equal to that of

to

" relieving them from fuch fervitude,

more

thoufand

bitter a

chap.
vni.
v__.,

" times than death ? I repeat again, Would to God, my mo" ther had put me under ground the moment I was born * !"
Perhaps

may

complaint

this

even the great outlines of

rable condition of favage

pears from

The

many

fubmit to

little

women

who

exaggerated

and that they may be

among

moftly upon

live

to''

than

women

their

affift

when

the

men

kill

a tree, at the root of

Shocking

in

in his Hiftory

think

feals,

fufE-

it

dragging the cumbrous

by people

in the

which they lay

We

whom we

In fome parts

woods, they

two others exhibited

the one by the Spaniards,

have -thought proper to mention them

do not

clafs

among

fix

and travelling

it,

greatly exceeded by

it is

of the European Settlements

and the other by the French and Englifh.

as ihey are praftifed

any game

may appear,

as this defeription

by the Abbe Riynal,

rote,

ap-

true,

barbarous nations.

animals home, in {kinning, or in drefling them.

mark

but fhould

and bring them on fhore, and would rather almoft

ftarve,

of America,

be true, they fully evince the deplo-

it

fimilar inftanccs

Greenlanders,

cient to catch

be a

in

favages, and therefore

we

much propriety, infert them in the text. Speaking of the firft fettlement of
Domingo, " The natives, fays he, were indifcriminately chained together like beads thofe

cannot, wiih fo
St.

who

funk under their burdens, were compelled to

tween the

ftfxes

but by Health

which they cultivated with

exceHive labour, were
thers expired

ft ill

rife

by blows.

No

intercourfe

pa/fed be-

men periflied in the mines, and the women in the fields,

weak hands.
Their cooftitutions, already exhaufted wiih
impaired by an unwholefome and fcanty diet; the mo-

the

their

further

with hunger and fatigue,

preffing ihcir dead

or

dying infants to their breads,

and contrafttd for want of a proper fupply of milk. The fathers either poifoned
themfelve-, or hanged themfelves on thofe very trees on which they had jull feen their wiies
and their children expire. The whole race became extinft." In another place, fpeaking of the
flirivelled

flaves

of

tiie

Europeans in general, he obferves, " That fuch bard labour

is

required

of

negroe women, both before and after their pregnancy, that their children are either abortive,
or live but a (hort time after delivery;

mothers, rendered defperate by the punilhments which

fometimes their children from the

and facriBce them with a fury mingled with

the wcaknefs of their condition occaCons ;hem, fnatch

cradle, in order to llrangle

them

in their

arms,

a fpirit of revenge and companion, that they

may

not

become

the

property of their cruel

mailers."

many

>

THE HISTORY

1/6

c H
<

P.

^^-^

tnany miles home, fend

tion

which

taflc

Among many

women

their

own

tlieir

to bring

lazinefs

to their habita-

it

and pride equally forbid.

of the tribes of wandering Arabs, the

not only obliged to do every domeftic and every rural

drefs, to bridle

MoorilTi

and

women,

faddle, for the

fome few

alfo

fpedtators of the toil,

and wait upon them while

the refufe of

plenty,

is

and, after

men

band generally fpeaks

to

all,

commonly but

their

women

at meals,

what they have

contemptuous tone

but

to feed, to

The

the fame kinds

the whole of

hufbands ftand

idle

or Ileep inglorious beneath a neighbouring

of eating and drinking with the

call for,

all

fields to cultivate;

In few favage countries are

fhade.

work

of their hufbands.

upon them, while

that labour likewife falls

they

life

befides being obliged to do

of drudgery, have

arc

which they are obliged

to take care of the liorfes,

alfo,

women

left

fit

admitted to the honour

but are obliged to ftand

to ferve

down

themfelves and eat up

which, unlefs in times of great

a penurious repaft.

to

In Madura, the huf-

wife in the moft

his

while

them with whatever

flie,

imperious and

with fear and trembling,

ap-

proaches him, and pronounces not his name, but with the addition of every dignity and

title

fhe can devife

for all this fubmifllon, he frequently beats

**

inferiors,

" us?

and abufes her

them anfwered, " As our wives are

why

If they

fhould

commit

tion

*'

our

rice,

*'

purpofes to which

"

adapted."

It is

while, in return

we

oil,

fo

much our

allow them to eat and drink with

faults,

their bufincfs

make our

in the

Being afked the reafon of fuch a beha-

moft barbarous manner.

viour, one of

why

fliould they not fuffer corrcc-

only to bring up our children, pound

and do every other kind of drudgery,

only their low and inferior natures arc

Among

O
Among

\V

E N.

fome of the negroes on the

177
of Guinea, a wife

coafl

is

never allowed to appear before her hufband, nor to receive any

thing from his hand, but in a kneeling pofture.

America women are not allowed

meet

chiefs

to enter

and

feat

on

of

affairs

themfelves on the

and in the houfes where the

they are only furfered

ftate,

floor,

on each

fide

of the paf-

In Hindoftan they are not allowed to give evidence in any

fage.

court

to confult

be prefent at their temples,

to

or join in their religious aflemblies

In fome parts of

and

fo difficult is

that this privilege

it

was but

to Ihake off the cuftoms

lately

of barbarity,

granted them in Scotland.

who are remarkable

why they held them

of the Caribs,

for the flavery of

being alked,

in fubjedion

Some
their women,

"

We

fubjed

" becaufe they are weaker than

our women," faid they,

while in Europe a whole nation of you fubmit to one man,

"

who

*'

times,

no idea."

of

women,

is

perhaps not

we

are told,

any of you

fo flrong as

to

and even fome-

one woman, a thing of which we have

In the kingdom of Potany,

that

us,

numbers of female

fo

low

flaves are

is

the condition

kept by the great,

not to fatisfy the appetite of their mafler, nor to do his neceffary

bufinefs, but to be hired out to ftrangers for the purpofes

Moft of our

titution.

readers,

we

the Circaffian cuflom of breeding

prefume, are not ignorant of

young

girls

in the public market to the higheft bidder.

fubjedt,
it

in every

To

on purpofe

women

many
wives and young women
Vol. I.

examined

into,

civilized.

thefe indignities offered to the fex,

general cuflom in

be fold

are in fome degree bought and fold

county whether favage or

all

to

But we decline the

afraid that if the matter be fcrupuloufly

will be found, that

of prof-

favage countries,

we may

add the

of prefenting their

indifcriminately to ftrangers for hire;

of

^j^

p*

T H E

173

CHAP,

T O R Y

of making thenl dance naked before them;

and even in feme places of Tartary

Such, in general,

almoft at pleafure.

more

life;

of which

might

particular figures

compofcd, but

it is

*,

we

Women

it

by

ufage, can have

ill

little

more

fo.

the yoke

and leave

offered,

is

to fortune, or

fied in the

women

the picture of favage

be added to the group

fo opprefled

already fuffi-

it is

and would not willingly

with (lavery, and

irritated

their hufbands,

and but

and when an opportunity of fliaking off

it

is

arc afraid that

no afFedion for

for their children

of deftroying their wives

eafily

ciently difgufting to our fair readers,

make

and of divorcing,

is

no wonder that they betray the one,

This was veri-

trample upon, the other.

When

of South America.

the Spaniards

firft

atrived in thefe regions, the fex foon difcovered that they treated

them

in a very different

manner from

while the unfortunate remains of the

to feparate themfelves

menfe

deferts

from the fword

in crowds over the bodies of their

men were

endeavouring

that purfued them,

and almoft impenetrable

and

that of the natives,

forefts

the

by im-

women

murdered hufbands and

ran

chil-

dren, to enjoy a confequence and kindnefs in the arms of the

Spaniards, which fo

much

never been accuflomed to

men we may,

New World

the
it.

more delighted them,

To

in a great meafure,

as they

the attachment of thefe

afcribe the conquefl

had

wo-

of the

they ufually ferved the Spaniards as guides, fre-

relates a recent example, " Some young men belonging to my

" returning home one evening, and having been overtaken with liquor,
" as they palTed by the Kalmuck tents lliey v;cnt in and gave a woman liquor to intoxicate
" her; the hiifband not beir.j prefent gave them opportunities of ufing what liberties they

"

Of

this

Dr.

Cook

hofpital," fays he,

" pleafed in (hort, it was fiid fhe was caught by her hufband in the very afl. He dif nilfcd
" her gucfts without quarrelling with them, put his wife to death, and, next morning, I,
" with others, faw him dragging the dead body towards a bridge, from the middle of wtich
" he threw it ints the river."
;

quently

'

E N,

179

quently procured them fubfiftence, and fometima betrayed the

formed againft them.

confpiracies

Although
their

women,

fuch in general
yet,

like

is

the behaviour of favages toward

human

adions,

that

beha-

now and
which
has more the
then, of being chequered with fomething
viour

of a piece, as not to admit,

not fo uniformly

is

This inconfiftency of

appearance of foftnefs and of humanity.

and

behaviour, more or

lefs,

conteftible proof that

manners and cuftoms are everywhere more the

takes place in

all

nations,

treated as flaves, fuch

is

the

families, that they can prevail

from
in a

as they pleafe

it,

war

party,

with a view

women

is

an in-

Among

offspring of chance, than of fyftematic arrangement.

Hurons, and Iroquois, though

are in every other refped

power of matrons over

upon them

to

go

their

not conneded with her, either

is

to appeafe the ghofts

of any of her

a prefent of a collar, or a necklace

as the

mandate of a

feldom

fails

own

to war, or defift

flain relations,

to procure prifoners to fupply their places, fhe has only to

him

the

and, if a matron even vpifhes to engage

any one who

fair

of

fhells,

or

make

which operates

lady did in the times of chivalry, and

of engaging the champion to take up the hatchet in

her favour.

When

the Iroquois return

from war,

prifoners, they conftantly fet apart

public,

and

if they

have taken any

fome of them for the ufe of the

thefe the council of the nation difpofe

think proper.

But fuch,

in this particular,

mothers of families, that they may,

this determination

otherwife, or

if

is

the

of as they

power of the

they pleafe, invalidate

of the council, and difpofe of the prifoners

become

fole arbitreffes

'

other

all

^ h^ a

a 2

of the

life

or death of fuch
as

Some
ter

p.

in-

ufagc

THEHISTORY

iSo

CHAP,

have been abfolved or condemned by

as

VHI.
'_

.-

_i'

among

obferved that the dignity of a chief

perfonal prowefs,

upon
rons

female
fon

line,

who

fo that

and

if this

Every Huron chief

matron.

this council

whole

is aflifted

people

is

by fome authors,

tranfaded in the

by

a council, and one of

women, and they may,

have had the

heft opportunities

men

acquaint the

they think proper, and

make

own

fex.

It

is

among

this

but thofe

who

of being acquainted with their

no more than nominal,

politics affure us, that this authority is

and that the

their

women

the

the noblefl:

diftinguiflied family;

that every thing

name of

fifter's

vefted in

and even fometimes do, appoint one of

farther related

Hu-

is

the prerogative of the

is

the

line be extind, then the

muft be chofen out of every

this choice too

Among

eledllve.

power of chufing another chief

fole

favages, depending

not the fon of the chief, but his

it is

him

fucceeds

commonly

have already

not only hereditary, but defcends in the

however,

is,

it

is

We

it.

women

only with fuch

ufe of their

names

affairs as

as in other

countries one does the feal of an oli"ce.

Among

Privileges

>i"a^es.

the Natchcs the fupreme authority

2.nd defcends not

only in the female

line,

equally on a male and female of that line

man
is

chief,

and the female the

not the wife, but the

the

man

chief.

She

is

fifter,

woman

is

alfo hereditary,

but feems to devolve

the male

chief.

all,

man

and

chief;

(he has, befides, the moft fingular female

only her hufband, but even

into the other

chief

or other neareft female relation of

attended by as numerous a retinue,

privilege that hiftory gives

Iier

called the

The woman

has the fame authority, deference, and refpeft, as the

but thefe are not

is

world,

any account of: when fhe

all

dies,

not

her retinue, are obliged to follow

that fhe

may

there be ferved

and

attended

E N.
manner

attended upon by them, in the fame

have occafion

fhall

to

i8r

mention afterward, that

been a cuftom time immemorial, for wives

on the funeral

we

them

manes of

and even

when we

our amazement,

cite

the fun, and that the

of that luminary
a

common, and

more

eafily

but

hufband being obliged

his wife

woman

while the

this inftance will

to

chief

man

is

flavery,

ject
fion.

The

to

woman

when

diflatisfied

married

what

it is

officers

chief

life,

is

From

among

the great

this

women

other favages

which feem
chief,

honours conferred on them

that the fex are in general

but

may

the

fimilar to this is pradifed

and rank impart

whom
to

the

to

they keep

moft

ab-

with his conduct or condefcenare

whom

alfo

generally

they govern with

honour and deference paid

the Natches,

woman

is

as well as at death

birth

of that tyrant,

among

dotes in their hiftory,

befides

fhc

Grand Seignior

of the

fifters

that the condition of their

to

much ex-

whom

and even condemn

the moft abfolute fway.

the

not fo

as a defcendant

a right of chufing a hufband,

married to the

himfelf to the

by them held

Something

come.

extreme fubjedlion,

in

only Inftance

confider that the Natches worfhip

govern and enflave him in

women

this is the

to facrifice

by the Africans about Zaara, where

fome

has

with them, in order

generally an inferior mortal, that fhe

and in the world

it

burn themfelves

to

to be burled

world

in the other

find of a

In the Eaft

of their deceafed hufbands, and for the flaves,

pile

and even horfes of the great,

to ferve

We

as in this.

to

we would naturally imagine

fhould be in general preferable

and we meet with a few anecto hint that

fome other females,

have particular privileges and

but however this be,

condemned

to the

it

is

certain

fame flavery

as

ia

other parts of America.

Among

^
<

"

p.

THEHISTORY

i82

rt

<

berty enjoyed

ya

Among

p.

avagej.

the

few female

horrid fcene of favage

the grcateft

jealoufy,

at lead

women

but,

undoubtedly

much

feldom directed fo

is

to

little

not enough to prompt them to confine their

though in many favage countries they are

of,

fo far

that they will even offer their wives to

they feem tenacious of the rights of the

in others,

is

the fex in general; hence they have

to

from being jealous

ftrangers

that of perfonal liberty

thc love of favages

jj^y individual as

life,

which glimmer through the

privileges

hufband, and afraid of every ftrange invader.

Captain Wallis,

in his paflage through the ftreights of Magellan, having fent out

who were on

a boat to go on fhore, fome of the natives

and paddled

his ftiip leaped into their canoes

and making a great

meaning of

ftand the
lofs,

till

women

noife

the boat were as

among

and

from

yet,

ftrangers to jealoufy

to be found

the rocks,

who, on hearing the

fafl

they could fcour.

this fear,

it

feems they are not entirely

a pafTion, which, though far from being

among them.

is

yet in feveral other places

But then,

it

is

commonly

roxyfm of an hour which rages violently and again

new

occafion call

fufpicion of

warmer

it

^"'^'-

pro-

forth,

regions,

and not that

and half

fettled

the pa-

fubfides,

till

and cautious

civilized people, to

whom,

trifles light as air,

Arc confirmations

litiie

they difcovered fome

the general charateriftic of favages,

Savage wo-

at

people feem more rude and barbarous than the inhabitants of

this coaft,

much

when

they approached the fhore,

alarm from their countrymen, ran away as

No

after her, fhouting

the people in the fhip could not under-

this, thofe in

gathering mufcles

board

That womcn

ftrong,

fhould have

and proofs as holy writ.

much

property,

among

a people

^'^o hardly poflcfs any thing but the provifions of the prefent
2

hour,

E N.

183

hour, and the empty walls of a miferable hut,

is

not to be ex-

CHAP.
VIII.

pedtcd
fhare

of what

little

there

they have, however,

is,

commonly

but the clothes, arms, and utenfils belonging to favages,

being often buried along with them, and the land, for the moft
part, the property
to inherit that

Dignity

is

is

of the community, there

worth tranfmitting from one generation

hereditary only

among

is

is

it

women

honour of

derived folely from perfonal flrength and courage, and

who

their hufbands

can provide

for,

privilege of precedency,

in favage life they fhare in

be the mother of a numerous family,

to

or

neither.

advantage to be married to a war

little

and in fome places

chief,

In polite coun-

fhare in fome degree the authority, and generally the

however, of fome

It is,

in al-

but imperfedly known.

hardly attended with any badges of diftindlon.

tries,

to another.

Hurons and Natches

the

moft every other barbarous country

Authority

feldom any thing

is

them when

defend

which

in

The

neceffary.

Europe has the power of

fafci-

nating almoft every female mind, does not difturb the peace of
favages, nor kindles

we formerly
Celtes,

men of

up a fpark of envy

obferved of the

and Gauls,

may

the prefent times

by which they have cured

expert European phyficians.

more

regard,

What

of the ancient Germans,

be equally applied to the favage

they are

cians and furgeons, and, in

little

women

in their breafts.

fome

commonly

their only phyfi-

cafes, are poflefled

difeafes that

have

wo-

of
the

baffled

fecrets,
fkill

of

This fometimes procures them a

and gives them a greater confequence than

they would otherwife enjoy, but they derive

ftill

of confequence from a fuperftitious fource;

a greater degree

many of them

are

fuppofed to be endowed with a fupernatural, or magical power

of curing

difeafes,

and making difcoveries

often applies to thefe, to recover

what

it

in futurity

his

loft,

ignorance

or to procure

wliat

THEHISTORY

i8^

CHAP,

what

times, they are fure,

v-./

it

defires

however they may be

and,

on thefe occafions,

treated at

other

have the liberty of

to

doing and directing as they pleafe.

From

thefe rude fcenes of uncultivated nature, v?here the

that attend on female

few

let

us

now

are fo numerous, and

life

its

ills

privileges fo

turn our eyes towards fuch people

in their

as,

progreffive ftate, have fliook off the rudenefs of the moft favage

barbarity,

and are beginning

to

advance

to

a focial and civil

condition.

The

Condition of
nioTg"peopie
advancing

from

rudt-nels

tociviiiza-

firft

ftep

which a people funk

commonly make towards

f
to

^g

cultivation,

is

of manners

in brutality

by beginning

to

beftow

hour, and
attention on the future, as well as on the prefent
*^

provide againft thofe times of fcarcity, whofe feverity their

tion.

own negled and

inattention has brought

and with fuch accumulated mifery

eafily points out to

them

to be

this,

their

pofteflion

which they can take and

cannot find a fupply of

around them.

In this

little

confideration

and

fo

having

a ftock of tame animals,

any of

ftate

ufe at fuch times and feafons

provifions in the rivers

ftate are

fo often,

moft readily accomplifhed, by

turning from the predatory to the paftoral

conftantly in

upon them

when they

and

forefts

the greatcft part of the wander-

ing hordes of Tartars and Arabs, who, by pafturage alone, procure to themfelves no uncomfortable fubfiftence.

one

ftep in the progrefs

from favage

As

but

this is

to civil life, the progrefs

of

female improvement has among them advanced but one ftep alfo;
the paffion for drefs, a paflion fo natural to the fex, wherever

they meet with the

while

among

leaft

kind indulgence, begins

the rudeft favages,

it

is

reprelTed

to ftiew itfelf

by unkindnefs,
and

; ;

OF W

ing to pleafe the

more

men

and only

their charms,

luftre to
;

only drefs to give

woman

where love

where the men

who

has the

is

direfted

diflinguifh

more
by

ing than her companions,

a peculiar attention

who

On

The

paflion for

from

this fource

with

finery,

drefs, to

are not

lefs

appear more charm-

beholden to nature
is

held out.

ornament among the Tartars and Arabs proceeds

the

men

are fond of feeing their wives loaded

and will undergo any hardship, or part almoft with

any thing but

There

the con-

and regard her,

the moft powerful motive to appear beautiful

there,

direded

to the individual than to the fex,

by ornament and

art,

is

has no motive to

excite even a wifh of being fuperiorly beautiful.

trary,

be charm-

willi to

where the love of the men

but,

than the individual, a

to the fex

185-

Women

and often obliterated by bppreflion.

an additional

E N.

their horfes, to procure

for them.

it

are a variety of places in Africa, and even

fome

in

Afia, where, although the inhabitants have arrived at the paftoral

removed from the barbarity of the

and hunter; but, where they have carried the ideas

they appear but a

ftate,

mere

fiftier

little

of aflbciation and civilization fo

agriculture,

far, as

to

apply themfelves to

they are in general fomewhat more humane,

and

the efreds of that humanity (hew themfelves, in fome parts of

their behaviour, to the fair fex

that this rule is general,

but,

we
like

are not, however, to imagine

all

others,

liable

to

many

exceptions.

On

fome parts of the

far diftinguifhed

while in

many

imagination.
rally

I.

to

Guinea, the

women

is

wretched beyond our

the banks of the Niger, the

if

are even (o

have a vote in their public aflemblies

others, their condition

On

handfome,

Vo L.

as

coaft of

women

are gene-

beauty can confift in fymmetry of features,

and

HA

T H E

i86
P.

T O R Y

they are modeft, affable, and faithful, and an

In colour;

and not

of innocence appears in their looks and in their language,

air

which

inexpreffibly fofc

is

men, not

their

of thefe

infenfible

perfedions, treat them with a friendfhip, and a foftnefs of love

When we ap-

frigid ideas of a northern.

beyond the reach of the

proach more towards the Eaft, the complexion and charadter of the
Africans become worfe.

Situated in an ungrateful

improvable by culture, they are obliged

produce of their

bow and of

their

to fubfift

hook

their

foil,

hardly

moftly upon the

women have

not

the amiable modefty, nor engaging beauty of thofe on the banks of

the Niger

their language, like the foil they inhabit,

difagreeable

and they are

and have almoft no

In the

ifland

to

political

men

the

is

objeQs of but

woman

of Formofa,

married,

is

little

love>

confequence.

and among fome

tribes

Peruvians, daughters are more regarded than fons,

foon as a

harfh and

of the

becaufe, as

contrary to the cuflom of other

home with her

countries, fhe brings her hufband

houfe, and he becomes one of the family

her father's

to

fo that

parents derive

fupport and faniily-ftrength from the marriage of a daughter

whereas

fons,

on

fides the inhabitants

who do

rudenefs and barbarity, which

guiflied

arts

of

we

fliould

women

civil life

fociety,

and

Be-

with that

naturally expedt
is

one

by the name of Pholeys, whofe conftant maxim

from

tribe diftin-

is,

if poffible,

no indifferent proficients in fome of the

who

and, perhaps, fecond to no people on earth in

are

benevolence and humanity

of

not treat their

In particular there

fo little cultivated.

to live in peace

of the banks of the Niger, there are feveral

other people in Africa

a people

leave the family for ever.

their marriage,

all

their

women

have

all

the advantages

the indulgence of frieudfhip and of love.

Though

O
Though
mankind
firfl;

N.

agriculture, and every

pafturagc,

thing that brings

into fociety,

is

generally in favour of

of a people

in

agriculture

efforts

commonly

load of labour on the fhoulders of that fex

by an

firft,

187

inftitution,

This

advantage.

is

women

they

many

indifferent increafe

parts of Afia

and Africa

fidered as an

employment not worthy of

for

fit

women, who cannot

to greater advantage.

fowing the
climate,

feed,

to all the labours to

evils to

and reaping the harveft;

which nature feems

which

which they had

toils

to

which, in a fultry

to the delicate conftitu-

have formed for

that fex are fubjeded

to

we (hall

backwards

in pollfhed fociety, than

which, for the fake of humanity,

a

fofter

pur-

many
therefore now
which we find

enumerate too

rather trace their improvement towards that ftate in

them

con-

added thofe of digging the ground,

But we have already had occafion

pofes.

yields

men, but only

the time of

muft be exceedingly difagreeable

tions of a fex,

of the

is

any other thing employ themfelves

in

Hence,

formerly been accuftomed,

it

to cultivate it is, therefore,

to their

imperfedly acquainted with the cultivation of the ground,

them but an

lofe, at

which afterwards turns greatly

the cafe in

r.

lay an additional

fo that

yet the

^ H a

to that favage one, over

we would wifh

to

throw

veil.

Though
women
at

it

as

politenefs teaches

an unlawful exertion of fuperior power, and

as an unmerited feverity

Afia,

us to confider the confinement of Of tKe

Africa, and even in

rather extraordinary,

is,

yet

we find

it

pradifed almofl:

fome parts of Europe

that wherever

it

to

fhudder women.
all

over

but what feems

takes place,

it

affords a

demonftrative proof of the inhabitants being arrived fome degrees

farther in civilization than

mere favages, who have hardly any

love, and, confequently, as little jealoufy;

b 2

con-

who, not regarding

their

T H E

i88

CHAP,

their

women

fo

much

as to

T O R Y

be folicitous about their good behaviour,

VIII.

give the loofe to their freedom, and are unconcerned about their
condudl.

This confinement of
more

difcufs

and in Japan hardly

women

ftridtly

is

to

perhaps,

it is,

lefs fo

in China,

Grand Sig-

guarded; and in Perfia have, time

immemorial, hardly enjoyed the

ful

have occafion

In the dominions of the

exifts.

more

are

(hall

not appear to be extremely

fully afterward, does

empire of the Mogul;

rigid in the

nior,

which we

the fex,

degree of liberty; fo power-

leaft

the rage of jealoufy, and fo rooted the opinion of female

But though

frailty.

women

are confined in the Turkifh empire,

they experience every other indulgence

times, to

go

to the public baths

their apartments are richly, if

they have a train of female flaves to ferve

not elegantly furniflied

and amufe them

their perfons are

and

they are allowed, at ftated

adorned with every coftly

ornament, which their fathers or hufbands can afford

their fituation,

upon the whole, feems

tague fcruples not to affirm,

happy women on the globe

that

in ftiort,

fo eligible, that lady

fufpecS, that

ladyfhip would not have changed her Englifla freedom for

finery and

gloom of the

Conftantinople.
in Perfia,

perhaps

their

to divert

firft

Haram,

are

treated

their attention

all

her
the

or even of the feraglio of

Notwithftanding the ftridnefs

women

Mon-

they are the only free and

though we rather

with

of confinement

fevcral

indulgences

from brooding on the wretched-

nefsof their fiftuation, they are loaded with the rineft filks, and

ornamented

however

Vvith the

elegant, or

chains fometimes

jewels of the Eaft; but

however

made

gilded,

all

thefe trappings,

are only like the golden

ufe of to bind a royal prifoner.

The

The Mahomedan women,

Among
fined

E N.

189

Turkey

either in

or in

are

Perfia.

whofe frown

at

whom we

Noor-Jehan,

trembles.

they fometiraes acquirp no fmall in-

feraglio,

fluence over the defpot,

the favourite wife of the

emperor Jehangire, foon afterward placed her own

all

the principal

an empire

fo extenfive

formerly mentioned by the

name of Mher-ul-Nifla, having become

almofl

Mogul,

the empire of the

the lower and middling ranks, they are not ftridly con-

and in the

in

more confequence than

rather of

relations in

employments of the empire, introduced

fuch luxury and magnificence, that to ufe the words of an oriental writer,
*'

" expenfive pageants, and fumptuous entertainments,

became the whole bufinefs of the court; the voice of mufic never

" ceafed by day

in the ftreet,

and the fky was enlightened

*'

with fireworks and illuminations

*'

that of the

her

emperor on the current coin

" which moved the machine of the

*

name was

rank immediately

after the princes

" mitted even to the moft

fecret

fhe

ftate

night

joined with

was

her

at

the fpring

family

took

of the blood, and were ad-

apartments of the feraglio." Such,

however, was only the influence of fuperior beauty, and fuperior

fenfe

it

though
quence.

was not common

feraglios

flriter feverity

women

moved

they frequently

The

for

to

govern in

manner;

of inferior confe-

degrees

in

this

of people of rank are guarded with a

than thofe of the lower order

fuch people, every

where, have a mixture of pride and jealoufy, which far furpafles

the fimple feelings of the clown: befides the difagreeablenefs-of
perfidy in his

women,

honour would

fuffer,

inferior quality

the grandee adds to

the ftain which his

fhould any of them be corrupted by one of

and even the

in their confinement,

it,

as

it

there have been inftances,

women

conceals

themfelves are faid to glory

them from vulgar eyes; and

where they rather chofe

5

to be

burned
to

^,f^

P*

CHAP,
.-- _>

<-

Powerofhufbands

T H E

igo

io

when

to death,

their apartments

to the indelicacy

fubmit

Where

fo great a

T O R Y

had accidentally" taken

of being expofed

than

fire,

to public view.

number of wives and concubines

are al-

ihe

Haram.

lowed, an almoft unlimited power

is

from the utmoft diforder and confufion.

This power

defpotifm in miniature, which prevails in the

fame

eflFe<Sl

nion of

upon the

paffions, reducing

Even female

fear.

them

ftate
all

jcaloufy, which,

in

is

fecret,

under the domiother countries,

the

women may

is

curbed

there repine in

when

but they muft clothe their features with cheerfulnefs

their lord appears;

diate

Haram;

the fame

and has the

tranfports the foul into the regions of fury and difpair,

within the walls of a

them

ncceilary to reftrain

punifhment

even put

to death,

contumacy only draws down on them immethey are degraded, chaftifed,

but there

nor does public

Harami

is

no

juflice take

Though

and

according to the degree of their crime, or the

indignation they have excited

at their fate

divorced

their friends

may murmur

in fecret

redrefs in the laws of their country,

any cognizance of the

the laws of Hindoftan fuffer

affairs

women

of the

thus to be

abufed, yet fo facred are their perfons, that they muft not in the
leaft

be violated, nor even looked at by any one but their huf-

bands.
ing

This female privilege has given an opportunity of execut-

many

employed

confpiracies
to

warriors,

in fuch carriages as are ufually

convey women, have been often conveyed, without

examination, into the apartments of the great; from whence, inftead of ifluing forth in the fmiles

of beauty, they have rufhed out

in the terror of arms, and laid the tyrant at their feet.

Tenacious of
oftheirvvives.

The

Concealment of their

Mahomedaos of Hiadoflan

women
even

is

a facred tenet

brothers

cannot

among
vifit

the

their
fillers

N.

191

and ftrangers muft, upon no account,

private;

fillers in

fee

them

for another to be confcious of the exiftence of a man's wives feems

even a crime

and he looks furly and ofTended

enquired after
a

man

ftity

moft folicitous to fecure

is

of his wives

in Hindoflan,

this,

fion of the

of their

women

fidelity,

tifement:

when

of his moft powerful fubjets,

women

to court

is

good behaviour

the beft pledge

is,

if

he hefitates, or pro-

when

fhall

it

his

fent as a hoftage, is not confidered as the

he

to fidelity, but his

cafe

honour

is

placed in her

of difloyalty, would be in the

So facred are

his fovereign to violate.

foldier leaves

be more

affedlion for

women

even in the midft of flaughter and devaftation, the

that,

an order

confidered as the moft

immediately declared a rebel

and that honour, in

power of

all

is

which binds him

;

is

he fends but one, though

if

his greateft favourite, Ihe

woman whom

perfon

as the pofFef-

him,

ftep taken againft

firft

mifes obedience at fome future period,

tie

the cha-

the governor of a province falls under the fufpi-

inviolable fecurity for his

the

which

the reach of his immediate chaf-

when without

that he fhall fend his

convenient, he

is

is

the Afiatic mufl: not

a point, without which,

cion of his prince, the

from being

health

that

confifts in

This opinion the defpot always encourages

live.

far

honour

in every country,

if their

them unmolefted

the

the licentioufnefs of vidtory

Haram

and

is

in India,

common

a fandluary againft

ruffians,

covered with the

blood of a hufband, (brink back with veneration from the fecret

apartment of his wives.

Whether

on

religion,

India,

is

uncertain

it

is

depends upon cuftom, or

not altogether confined ta

At Conftantinople, when the Sultan fends an order

ftrangle a ftate-criminal,

who

but

this

execute

it,

and

to feize

enter not into the

on

his efFeds

to

the ruffians,

Haram, nor touch any thing

belonging to the women..

But

HA

P.

}<)2

CHAP,

Bur

HE HISTORY

in Ipitc of all this

feemlng veneration,

this facrednefs

of

VIII.

perfon,

Women

treated in
fpite

of

the

women

of Afia are,

in general,

only a kind of

I.

thij

facrednefs of

cyphers, held

up

to be the fport

of fortune; fubjedled, not only to

the nod of a tyrant lord, but alfo to his eunuchs,

pcrfon.

cilefs

and tyrannical.

to debafe their

ftill

more mer-

Educated in a manner which tends only

minds, by obliterating their virtues; torn with

jealoufy and chagrin, even their pleafures arc joylefs;

and

in a

very few years, their period of youth and beauty being over, that

of negledl, which

mon

is

long and unfupportablc, commences.

had threefcore queens, and fourfcore concubines

Hindoo chief has been known

fined

to

Haram

within the walls of his

but a petty

women

and appropriated

con-

to his

Strange that the rights of humanity and of popu-

pleafiire only.

lation (hould

have two ihoufand

Solo-

be

fo

the Afiatics alone

but they are not violated by

the Europeans,

caught with the contagion,

publicly violated
;

have imitated their example.

The

Portugueze, after their

fettlementin India, became fo debauched, that

firft

many of hem had

feven or eight concubines; which they did not confine like the
Txatives,

but obliged them to labour, and forced from them the

money they had

earned;

from debaucheries,

nor have other Europeans refrained

which

difgraced

their

religion

and

their

humanity.

The
guiflied
cafts,

whole of the ancient inhabitants of Hindoflan, dlAinby the name of Hindoos, are divided into

every one of which

above another
in

Itfelf,

rlfes

clafles,

or

gradually in rank and dignity

and every one of which moll

rigidly keeps with-

nor ever mixes, either by marriage or any kind of con-

nedion, with thofe beneath

it:

hence

women

have not, as in
other

O
riage; being obliged to

Hindoo women

and

fome
the

places,

among

the

on

dred

a palace

which they belong:

to

cafl:

over

exercifed

is

Mahomedans.

the

women

are of

Poncet

Afia.

of her own, appeared frequently in public, mounted

women, founding

tabor^s

and finging verfes in her

part of Europe,

women

in the honours

and dignities of

may

dignity of emprefs,

raife to the
;

fion of this

tells

of the reigning emperor, while he was there,

mule richly caparifoned, and furrounded by four or

pleafes

In

more confequence than

Mahomedans, or Hindoos of

China, which, for politenefs of manners,

he

193

even thofe of confiderable rank appear publicly in

us, that the fifter

had

E N.

marry into the

In Ethiopia, the

ftreet.

are not, however, guarded with that flridnefs

which

feverity,

an opportunity of advancing themfelves by mar-

other countries,

the

feem

to

little

is

five

hun-

praife.

inferior to

enjoy the fame rank, and

In

any

to fhare

The emperor
any one of his women whom

their hufbands.

and we are informed by Duhalde, that on an occanature, " after all the great officers and mandarins

" had paid their compliments to the emperor, the princefles of the
" blood, and all the ladies of the firfl quality, with the wives of
went

*'

the great mandarins,

*'

introduced, according to their rank,

" monies, the

*'
*'

firfl;

the palace;

to

eunuch prefented himfclf,

of the ceremonies thus addrclTed

prefs,

in behalf

by a

of

this alTembly,

into

which being

miftrefs of the cere-

whom

humbly

the miftrefs

befeech the

to vouchfafe her prefence,

emami

"place herfelf on the throne; which flie having done, all the
" ladies made two curtfies, fell on their knees, and ftruck their
" foreheads againft the ground; then flood up, in the fame order,
*'

in the profoundeft filence, while the emprefs dcfccnded

" throne and withdrew."

Though honours of

paid to a Chinefe emprefs, and to every

Vol.

I.

Gc

woman

from the

fuch a nature are

according to her
rank,

ha

p.

T H E

194

II

T O R Y

rank, yet the fair fcx are hardly entrufted with any property,

and have no fortunes.

view we may confider

flanding,

among

fymptoms of

wife people, folicitous of their

by

this

though

an affront and indignity,

as

the Chinefe,

fex, endeavour,

which,

Circumftanccs

own

and of

means, to prevent a

woman from

to render her undutiful

mony, which

many

in

and honoured

one of

their

we have an

Siam,

in

in

queens

fo

women

doubt that the

made of

is

women

In Japan, the

or great hereditary emperor and high

And

and avarice.

interefl;

having

and impertinent, the chain of matri-

other countries

China, only a filken cord.

rated

being

from that of her hufband, nor any indepen-

feparate interefl:

dence

That

that of the

wife, therefore, being conftantly chofen from love, and

no

firft

notwiih-

are,

love and regard.

happinefs,

chofen as a wife, on the fordid motives of

at

prieft:,

much

degree not

iron,

in

is,

of the Deyario,

feem

to

be vene-

inferior to himfelf.

account, by Kempfer, of a funeral of

magnificent,

no room

to leave

as

to

arc not confidered there in a dcfpicable

light.

BEFORE wc

Condition of

women,

che-

Eood^and'evil

that the

obfcrve,

^0"^^"
in

take our leave of Afia,

>

it

miy

nor be improper to

account here given of the condition of their

^" account ftrangely chequered with good and

which the

evil,

for the moft part,

who have formed

romances; which,

upon us

a belief,

if not

that their

the mofl happy beings in the creation

ftantly approach

them

in the

by

women were
;

by our

from eaftern

their opinions

contradidled

it

fadts,

but

may

greatly predominates,

be materially different from the ideas conceived of

readers,

evil,

tales

fair

and

would impofe

the moft beautiful,

becaufe the

and

men con-

mofl fubmiffive manner, while every

flowery epithet, for which the eaftern language

is

fo

remarkable,

bangs

O
hangs upon
for

their

N.

J95

tongue; and every promife they make,

or for eternity.

life,

to

lad

But the reverfe of the pidure (hews

us,

is

that they keep in the crueleft fubjeflion and confinement, the be-

ings they feem to adore

who

may

and while they appear

are adually the jailors

felves at their feet,

tyrants

Even among

enflave them.

reckon the

politeft

who

to

humble them-

confine,

the Chinefe,

them

whom we

of the Afiatics, wives are fometimes

ftrangled at the death of their hu{bands, that they

ferve

and the

may go and

in the other world.

Such as we have defcribed, is the condition of women, among

many of thofe people who hold a kind of middle rank, between
favage barbarity and civilization

and of the
ceed

focial principle

upon an uniform

nius, to the neceffities,

find

but as the culture of manners,

among mankind,

plan,

and

but

is

does not always pro-

varied, according to the ge-

we

to a thoufand other circumftances,

one nation often excelling another in one or two points of

refinement, while in every other point of the fame kind,

greatly behind

it.

Thus,

in Otaheite,

an

it

is

ifland lately difcovered

South Sea, the inhabitants, though hitherto unacquainted

in the

with any part of the globe, but a few more iflands fcattered around

them; though fons of pure nature, and almoft entirely fed and
clothed
art,

by her hand; though without the

or glimmering of fcience,

themfelves,

civil

and

are,

knowledge of

leaft

neverthelefs,

focial

polite to the fair fex, allowing

them every

rank and dignity, and even the fupreme authority of the

when

it

is

their birthright

treating

them with

among
ifland,

a deference

and

indulgence, which the weaknefs and foftnefs of their nature feems

to require

and

yet,

though they have carried

c 2

their politenefs

thus

chap.

THEHISTORY

196
C

HA

P.

tj^ug far

though the two fexes conftantly

mifcuous fociety

live together In

which bring the people of

at meals,

or in their

men

company;

or drinking

is,

indelicacies:

in this idand,

w.e,

who

cuftoms, reckon

it

the prefence of

men

prefumable, the adion of eating

it is

among

ranked

the

number of female

are conftantly ufed to other

women

extraordinary that
;

but

na-

but never eat with them,

at their repafts;

(o that

polite

The women

tions together, thp fexes in Otaheite are feparated.

fometimes ferve the

pro-

it is lliil

manners and

fhould refufe to eat in

more extraordinary,

fome

that

of the chiefs of this people, either from a principle of pride, or for

fome other reafon

any thing into

to put

we

that

are not acquainted with, will not deign

their

own mouths,

be conftantly fed by their women.

Perhaps the fame caufe, which

induces the Otaheitean to this flabbering dignity,

Europe, would induce a

his coach;

in the Eaft,

ties to thofe

man
to

burn

who

more of

the ghaftly fpoils of

is

perfumes, add more beau-

and more

flavcs

at prefent,

favage barbarifm, the

in Afia and Africa,

and, in America, to

hang

war round

his body,

and add

that

may

men have

in

over the greateft part of

be called the native country of

general but one wife

where they are commonly a

little

an unreftrained polygamy fhould ftill take place

while in

many

to the

by painting himfelf frightful.

fomewhat remarkable,

America, which,

vilized,

coftly

attend on his perfon

natural ferocity of his vifage,

operating in

be ferved in plate, or to ride in

already languifhing in his feraglio,

to thofe

It

to

muft

but, like children,

other refpeds they treat their

women

while

more

ci-

and

that,

better,

this

cuftom, which gives them their rivals for their infeparable companions, fliould not have been aboliflied.
3,

But

fo

permanent and
unalter-=-

OF W
Tinalterable are the

N.

197

in all probability,

it

will be

of the chains of female flavery that will be broken

among

the

and

we

if

many of the mifhonaries, who were fent to propagate

Chriftianity among them, there were none of the precepts of that
religion, which they found fo much difficulty of making them
can believe

conform

to,

as that

of confining themfelves to one wife

which they thought

not believe

it

to

curtoms of the Eaft, and particularly this of a

plurality of wives, that,

laft

fo

a thing

abfurd and unreafonable, that they could

be agreeable to the will of the great Lord o

the univerfe.

CHAP.

'

^
j

p.

'

T H E

198

ri

T O R Y

CHAP.
The fame SubjeH

IX.

continued.

Imperfeft fketches, -which we have already given of

INthethefe
rank and condition of ancient and modern women, we are
forry to fay, that
poffeffion of

the

it

was long before we found them getting

common

rights of

more than one quarter of the

flaves

and

while in that

in

much more

little

corner of

mankind

globe,

that at prefent, in

they are the moft abjedt

than another, perpetual prifoners

called Kurope,

it,

they only poflefs

the confequence to which they feem entitled by nature,

fcale

now

of intelligent beings.

It

words,

in polifhed

confidering

is

a light, which does fo

it

and

civil

honour

we

which

leads us to confider

fociety

only in Europe

little

in the

with pleafure

therefore,

is,

arrive at that part of our hiftory,

their condition

into

which,

having feen

after

to our fex,

in

and adds

fo

other
it

in

much

wretchednefs to theirs, in every other part of the globe.

BuT

Treatment of

women
Europe.

in

rr

though the

fair fex are,

in Europe,

an aftedlion and indulgence, which

commonly

treated with

other parts they are either

quite ftrangers to, or only enjoy on particular occafions; yet, as

all

Europe

women

is

is

not equally cultivated in manners, the condition of ^

not in every part of

it

equally eligible.

Russia,

WO

OF

Russia, which we confider

prehending in

N.

199

an European nation, though com-

dominions a part of Afia, has only begun a few

its

years ago to affume the

polifli

from having attained that

far

as

of the Europeans; and

whofe acute

lenity

much

therefore,

frailties,

than

it

is

in

women

in

Ruffia

of the

England, France, or

firft

manner which was hardly

in a

lefs indelicate

emprefs, at another time, allowed feveral

quality to fufFer the punifhment of the knout

and afterwards

thefe cruel fentences

to

have their tongues cut

were executing,

while

out';

they were expofed on the

Such

backs of men, with no covering, but a fcanty petticoat.

when

were the Ruffians only a few years ago;

part of Europe, and
rians,

the law,

when

even

among

people

in every other

whom we

call

barba-

punifhment on

neceflarily obliged to inflift

female delinquents, never violated the rules of decency.

been

aflerted

travellers,

that a Ruffian bride,

in token of her fubjedfion

flighted, if

fon.

by manv

prefented the bridegroom with a

ding-night

making,

is,

of Ruffia, as a punifhrnent for fome female

The fame

than fevere.

publicly,

condition of

ordered a moft beautiful young lady of family to be

publicly knouted,

ladies

The

lefs defirable

A late emprefs

Italy.

with propriety, a

both of body and of mind, demand

feelings,

and indulgence.

as yet

of behaviour, which muft

foftnefs

diftinguifh every people before they can treat,

lex,

is

cuftom did

exift,

on her wed-

whip of her own-

and thought herfelf much

he did not immediately make a

Later travellers, however,

has

It

alTure

trial

of

it

us, that

upon her per-

if

ever fuch a

they could find no remaining traces of

it

af

prefent.

Though
apartments,

the

wom^n

they go

at

little

Peteriburgh are not confined to their

abroad,

being but

jufl:

emerging from>
a

flat a--

^^ J^

^'

>

Difadvantages of the
n,en.

'

THE HISTORY

200

CHAP,
-,-

__f

In their

a fiate of barbarity.
there

is

and

converfation,

their

alions,

hardly any thing of that foftnefs and delicacy which difthe fex in other parts of

tinguiflics

Europe;

even their exercifes

and diverfions have more of the mafculine than the feminine. The
with the ladles of her court, fometimes divert

prefent emprefe,

Drunkennefs, the vice of al-

themfelves by fhooting at a mark.

moft every cold climate, they are

many

friend the next day,

making her drunk

lations for

tant
*'

"

to

of,

to the

that not

houfe of

lier

thank her for doing her the pleafure of

the day before

nor

is it

long fince the regu-

the aflcmblies, at the court of Peterfburgh, contained

remarkable

this

afhamcd

would have returned

a lady

years ago,

fo little

And

article

it

an

article

which, perhaps,

further ordered,

is

drunk upon any

ladies

that

nor

^iretence whatever,

is

fhall

flill

ex-

not get

gentlemen before

" nine o'clock."

Their advan*'^"'

HowEVER

unfavourable this account of the Ruffian

appear, their condition

far

is

from being

women may

fo defpicable, as

we might

from thence naturally imagine. They fhare the rank and fplendour
of the families of which they are fprung, and of the hufbands

whom

with

at prefent

is

they marry

and even the fiipreme authority; which

enjoyed by an emprefs, whofe head does honour to

her nation and to her fex; although on fome occafions the virtues

of her heart have been much fufpeded.

widows and daughters,

for

by government

as well as fons

the

widows,

if

In the

of

officers,

young,

during
teen

if old,

life,

when

and

the

are provided

are allowed

year's pay, according to the rank of their hufbands,

portion;

military,

one

by way of a

they have a fourth of the pay of their hufbands

their daughters

they arc fuppofed

have the fame

to

be

fit

to

till

the age of

fif-

marry, or otherwifc to
provide

WOMEN.

OF
In

provide for themfelves.

infult

by

among

feveral falutary laws, and, except

tions as are given them, or fall

upon

the fex are protcled from

civil life,

are exempted from every kind of

and

toil

20I

fafl:

/^ P-

>^-..sr ~/

flavery, enjoy fuch por-

to their fhare

the whole, feem approaching

the peafants,

^ ^

to the

by heritage

and,

enjoyment of that

confequence to which they have already arrived in feveral parts

of Europe.
In the other northern countries of Europe, the
IS,

in

many

mean and

relpecls, but

except in fome houfes of their

feparate apartments,

nobility.

firft

women

In Lapland,

contemptible.

Norway, and Poland, they have hardly even

of

ftate
1

Eftates,

as well

thole that are acquired, as thofe that are hereditary, defcend to

the children in the following proportions

in Poland, a fon has

always two fhares, and a daughter one; nor can a father difpofc

of his fortune otherwife, without a judicial fentence to enable

him

In

fo to do.

inheritance, but
fell,

Denmark, women may fucceed

it

any other manner

who on

to the heir at law,

to take pofTefFion of
fale that (he

it

may have made

fo long as there are

any fons

have acquired, they

will,

alienate

her demife

any land, but

is

empowered

notwithftanding any devife, bargain, or

in her lifetime to the contrary.

Britain, daughters are excluded

them by

any

no female, of whatever rank or condition, can

difpofe of, or in

muft leave

as heirs to

may

from inheriting hereditary

In

eftates

alive; but fuch eftates as the fathers

give

to

daughters, or leave to

their

though they have fons

at

the fame

time living.

In Piedmont, females cannot inherit a fief as long as any of the

male

line are alive.

or honours in their

Though the Britifli

own right, yet they

ladies

feldom enjoy

titles

conftantly fhare in thofe

of their hufbands, wives of bifhops and judges only excepted

Vol.

I.

and

Their condition in fome

o-.hers

of ihe

countries.

T H E

202
^

^'

^^Y^

>.

3"'' further,

man

T O R Y
woman

of the higheft quality, by marrying a

from the very loweft of the people, confers upon her the fame
rank and quality as he enjoys himfclf

whereas no man, how-

ever mean, can again altogether reduce her to her original

the

had once acquired by her noble hufband

title flie

by the complaifance of her acquaintance,

fliould again be

men have
titles

Englifh

never had any power conferred on them

of

late

own

and honours on women, in their

of tranfmitting them

to their

male

to

right, with

In

pofterity.

flie

wo-

ennoble

to

uncommon

has not been

it

retains,

flie

death, though

till

married to the meanefl: plebeian.

their hufbands, but

ftate

beftow

a power

Germany, female

honours run in a channel fomething different from that of Britain,

riage,

they are only the property of birth, or attainable by mar-

and on the deceafe of a hufband the wife,

inferior, defcends to that

Some

marriage.
that this

is

the great

writers

rank

in

life

which

on the Germanic

women

Property,

how far verted

in women.

A's

wrong

matrimony among

are feldom averfe to this flate, to place

is

putting the weight

fcale.

being veftcd with the management and difpofal of property,

,iwhether

in

goods or

which women,

and reftridions

the

and

is

<-

a privilege from

and countries, have either been en-

as

privilege

this

power and

greatefl;

value,

dignity,

we

fhall

is

one of thofe which

and upon which manendeavour

how far it ha^ been granted

we are now confidering.

readers fome idea

whofe hiftory

inheritance,

enjoyed under a great variety of limitations

confers the greatefl

fet

/-!

n
eltates or

in moft ages

tirely debarred, or

kind

his

conftitution have alleged

the lofs of being unmarried on their fide,

into the

was

fhe occupied before

a political inftitution to encourage

but, as

if (he

to

give our

or denied to the fex,

To

O
To

give portions to

women

E N.
of their marriage was

at the time

an ancient cuftom among fome nations

303

Pharaoh gave the

city

of Gazer as a portion to his daughter when (he became the wife

of Solomon, king of

Ifrael

in fuch early times,

that,

of the portions

fo

but

we have

great reafon to believe

management nor

neither the

difpofal

given were vefted in the perfon of the wife,

but that fhe, and the dowry which came along with her, were
almoft equally confidered as the property of the hufband.

Almoft

the whole hiftory of remote antiquity prefents us with a fcene, in

which women appear too inconfiderable

to

have acquired any of

the goods of fortune, or to have been trufted with

acquired by their parents or relations.

bitants of Chaldea

and Arabia, we are

Among
told,

them when

the ancient inha-

that

women

could

not hold the pofleffion of any inheritance; and the decifion of

this

matter by Mofes, fliews that, in his time, no precedent had

cxifted

The

of females having any fuch privilege.

Zelophehad brought before Mofes, the

priefts,

daughters of

the princes, and

the congregation, a petition, fetting forth, that their father, after

having always demeaned himfelf properly, had died

nefs,

having no fons

in the wilder-

on which account they thought themfelves

among the brethren of their father, which

Mofes, by the commandment of the Lord, not only granted them,
but alfo ordained, that in future, when a man died, having no
entitled to a polTeffion

fons, his inheritance fliould

ters.

ceflion

As
their
their

decifion,

of

women

become the property of

which feems
is,

in

many

to be the bafis

in

daugh-

on which the

fuc-

countries, founded at this day.

the Egyptians had the greateft efleem

women, and even

direilion, we have

his

many

and veneration for

things fubmitred themfelves to

great realon to believe that they allowed

d 2

them

chap.

THEHISTORY

204
^
^

''

^Y*^
M

'

^^^"^ property, and the fucceflion to the eftates of their anceftors

efpecially

when we

a colony

from Egypt,

confider that the Greeks,

The

befides

whom we

people of antiquity,
privilege.

were,

ancient

up

trained

war and

to

their neiglibours,

male

trived to

make

and

their

little

The

value.

minds, that

women ought

ance, pafled the Voconian law, by

no

woman

only child

came

more

but

more

tluit

take the eftates as heirs at law, con-

people, irritated at this

proceeding, and convinced from the relics of barbarity

in^

women

fuch provilions for their daughters, as rendered

the eftates lo taken of

ing

arms,

hard that their fons fhould be rich

it

relations fhould

this

to retain

idea that

in pofleflions, while their daughters had none

diftant

and

to

what they could neither conquer nor defend

fathers, in time, thinking

only

the

them with

by force what they had thus conquered, had no

fliould inherit

originally

Hebrews,

find indulging

Romans,

by conqueft the land of

to take

the

who were

ftiould be

a law,

left

heirefs

which continued

refined

and foftened

an

it

was ordained, That

even though an

eftate,

in force
in

lurk-

not to have any inherit-

which
to

ftill

their

Romans befentiments, when a

till

the

regard to the weaker fex broke through the unjufl: reftraint laid

upon them, and granted them

of brothers, both

Barbarity

in

moveables and in land.

of manners

the fame cuftoms.

a right of fuccefTion, after the death

So

is

Utile

qualified, to inherit eftates,

almoft everywhere produdive of

did

that,

the

by

Lombards think women

their law,

even the natural

children, diftant male relations, and the public treafury,

ftiare

the inheritance with daughters.

among

might

This law was foftened

the Saxons, where the father and mother were bound to

leave their eftate to their fons, and to their daughters if they had

no

OF WOMEN.
Among

nofon.

205

the Burgundians, daughters were neither allow-

ed to be heirs in conjundion with fons, nor to fucceed to the

The

crown.

Salique lands

of a tenure fimilar

among

the Franks feem

to thofe in the

to

have been

times oF the feodal fyftem,

held under a lord, for which the tenant was to perform military
fervice;

women were not

admitted as inheritors, or tenants of fuch

lands, for a plain reafon, becaufc they

the military fervice

were not

by which they were held

qualified to

but methods were

afterwards difcovered to elude this prohibition

to

make

who wanted

he

his daughter equal to his fon, carried her before the

commiflary, and
*'

perform

"

faid,

My

woman from

cuftom bars a young

" but as all my children

" to love them equally;

my

**

that

*^

brethren."

cfFedts fliall

little if at all

to the crown,

dear child, an ancient and impious

fucceeding to her father

are equally given

my

therefore,

me by God,

dear child,

my

ought

will

is,

be fhared equally between you and your

This Salique law, which in modern France feems

regarded by the fubject,

no

woman

though the French

is ftill

in force with regard

ever being allowed to inherit

will not fuffer

woman

to

fway

But

it.

their fcepter,

they cannot hinder her from ruling the monarch which holds

it;

a cafe which has fo often happened, that, in fpite of their Salique

law, they have been more under the direlion of

women

tharj

any of the neighbouring kingdoms.

The

laws which preclude females from enjoying property and

inheritance have, perhaps, in every other country, befide France,

been confined to the

antiquity,

among

America, where

no

fubje<Sl/

Among many

of the nations of

the prefent Afiatics, and even in fome parts of

women

political exiftence

in general

where

it

have no property, and almoft

was never heard

that they enjoyed

any

CHAP.
,-

T H E

2o6

CHAP,

T O R Y

nor were even truflcd with the management of their

ajiy land,

own

perfons, they have been allowed, in failure of male

manage

the throne, and

mount

the affairs of a ftate

iflTue,

a pradice fo

with reafon, that the only caufe we can aflign for

inconfiftent

to

it is

fuperftition.

Caufes

vvtiy

nomopem!

From

the

mean and

^^^^^ Countries,

fervile condition

is

and friends, by

they

receive

whom

they are protedled, and from

and precarious

fcanty

labour, whatever they take in

their

women

and

fo fcanty a

Wherever women

are ftridly

property creates independence

confined, they can have no property

to

cannot poflibly enjoy

;

many

to fo

fhare of the favours of a hufband.

any thing further than food

them would be unncceffary; and any thing that

could not be brought within the walls of a

not manage.

whether

Wherever

rivals,

property

independent would not fubmit

whom

and a

is

countenanced,

fubfiftence.

rela-

much
woman who is

polygamy

and raiment,

barba-

under the adminiftration of the male

entirely

tions

fair fex in

they fecm to be rendered incapable of property.

Whatever they acquire by

the chace,

of the

Wherever

Haram, they could

the fex are publickly bought and fold,

as wives or as flaves, they can

have but

little

property

they are in fuch cafes the property transferred tliemfelves, and

confequently in a

ftate too

mean

be truftcd with other property,

to

perhaps reckoned more valuable than they are

with

fo

perty,

we

find

fliall

Europe

with fuch

wards

confider

that

it

how

widely thefe caufes are dilTeminated,

only in a few of the politer countries of

is

that they are poffcffed

to enjoy

which deprive women of pro-

great a variety of caufes

when we

reftrilions,

what they

to

treat

of

this privilege,

fully

and even there,

many cafes they can

but as we fliall have

that in

poffeis;

more

When we meet

of the

riglits

hardly be faid
occafion after-

and privileges of the

Britifh

OF W
Britifh

E N.

IM

207

...

women, which

are in a e;reac meafure fimilar to thofe of

the other poliflied countries in the neighbourhood,

human

ftages of

mofl uncuhivated

fociety that

of nature and a

ftate

and

fhall

not

intervene between the

for elegance

tafte

how feem

re.iincment of manners, pageantry and

utmofl: attention,

to be confidered as the

to

and

employ the

only proper appen-

dages of grandeur, ftrong proofs of which are afforded us by

almoft

the nations of the

all

the Polifh

women

Eafl:,

and by Poland in the North

of fafhion feidom go to

by the

out being attended

vifit

one another with-

moft numerous train of fervants,

and flambeaus they can mufter

carriages,

but

them home, we meet with nothing adequate

when we follow

to this

parade; their

apartments are but poorly furnifhed, and but hardly clean, and
themfelves are the

mean and fawning

who,

c.Kcept in the articles

them

as

general

rational
lefs

beings.

formed,

pageantry, and more

or England.

the

flaves

of equipage and
In

of their hufbands.
drefs, fcarcely treat

Germany, where

women

are

the tafte

more fond

crammed with family

In Italy, of a

is

ia

of family

pride than in France

warmer temperament, they aim more

at captivating the heart than the eyes,

and have

there, as well as in

France, attained almoft to an abfolute

dominion over the men

a prerogative which in Portugal Teems

much on

the decline; for

though, in the time of Alphonfo, when the Portuguefe were an

honour

to

human

nature,

the

broke any promife he had made

ever rank he enjoyed
authorifes

him

to

P.

1^'>

.;

of our lubjet^.

at prefent anticipate that part

In thofe

we

C H A

man who
to her,

at prefent,

commit every

infulted

woman,

or

was degraded from what-

the falfe gallantry introduced,

perfidy of that nature

with

impunity.

In

Love, page(how,' the

Jomen."

;
;

T H E

-o8

In Englantl, France,

^'^""'

T O R Y

and thofe other parts of Europe

Italy,

have arrived nearly

wliicli
with^indur

II

at

the fame degree

prompted by a mixture of humanity and

women from

exempted the

entirely

except what

is

abfolutely neceflary

their daily bread

and even there,

is

it

men have

the

love,

every

among

of politenefs

of labour,

fpecies

the poor for obtaining

we

with pleafure

often

obferve the ruftic clown, while he wipes the fweat from his brow,

endeavouring to lighten the burden and alleviate the

who

fun-burnt daughter of labour

So extenfive are the

toils

by

of politenefs

efFedls

in

taflc

of the

his fide.

Europe, that

has not

it

only foftened the actions and manners of him who, tutored in the
lap of eafe, has received the polilh of a good education

him

alfo

who,

left to

nature, has nothing to boafl; of but

This

from her hand.

received

but of

what he

of fympathetic indulgence,

fpirit

or of polite gallantry, does not flop at endeavouring to eafe the load

of female

toil,

their natural
itfelf to

or to mitigate the feverity of that labour for which

weaknefs feems

to

have incapacitated the fex;

every part of the condul of the

We

to them.

give to a

men which

woman, even though of

it

expands

has any relation

inferior quality,

the right hand, (hew her every token of refpcd, and place her
in every fituation of honour.

ments

for our wives

We

are hurt

when

tafte,

our fubftance upon orna-

they refled a luftre and credit upon

they behave improperly, and on the con-

trary, perfuade ourfelves that their

to our character

lavifli

and daughters, and reckon, that when they

appear in elegance and

us.

We

and reputation.

terefted in every thing

good condut!! adds a dignity

In fhort,

that relates to

we

are fo deeply in-

them, that they

may be

confidered as the arbiters of our fate, and the fpring which

in motion,

and continues

to diredl:,

fets

almoft every adion of our

lives

'

O
lives

we

fiich is

the indulgence

we fhew

N.

209

them, and fuch the power

put into their hands, that a proverbial faying has from thence

arifen, that

England

is

greater than in England, and generally proceeds

ferent motives

from

'

the honours

we

women
from

there,

it

is

dif-

confer upon them flow

for the moft part, only

arifes,

from a kind of

cuftomary gallantry, which feems direded more to the fex than

the individual.

pany of

Frenchman, the moment he

woman, whether young

is

or old, beautiful or otherwife,

declares himfelf her admirer, talks of flames and darts,

An

her a thoufand compliments on her beauty.

he

is

and pays

Italian,

introduced to a lady, approaches her in the moft

and fubmiflive manner,

kifles

com-

in the

her hand, and if fhe

is

when

humble

handfome,

and of quality, confiders her as a fublime being, an angel

human form, and

the whole fex

he

is

to

The Spaniard goes

him an

retains ftilla lindure

thing relating to

objedt of

of the

women, and

fpirit

lefs

than a goddefs,

little

yet
lefs

whom

the

farther,

than adoration

of knight-errantry in every

faveany

the objedt of his love

he always mentions with

extravagance that metaphor and hyperbola can

woman, above

a flep

will readily venture his life to

of them from trouble or from danger

never

in a

confequently never to be approached but with

the greateft reverence.

rank of a peafaot,

di(ftate

and

is

the

all

to a

he never prefcnts any

thing but in a kneeling pofture.

These

improvements, in the condition of the

fair

fex

of

Europe, feem naturally to point out to us, that they are there
.

Vol.

I.

the

ConHdera|re"!,c"fit'of

'"' "'

P.

mixture of love for their perfons, and efteem of their

virtues

here,

HA

the heaven of women, and the hell of horfes.

In France, Italy, and Spain, the deference paid to

ftill

THEHISTORY

2IO

CHAP.
w

.-. .^

o^Q nioft happy, as well as the moft deferving of beings

external appearance of things

we

reprefentation

but an unfaithful mirrour, whofc

is

of fuperior power

flaves

arc in

in Afia,

by the impulfe of

and conftantly reduced to at

imprifoned,

Women

cannot altogether depend on.

fome degree every where the

but the

without any will or any inclination which they can

another,

gratify, their

animofities,

triumphs

lafting

only a few moments

and confinement,

their rivalry,

In Africa and America,

death.

till

the mere drudges of their proud tyrants, they labour to procure

fubfiftence for

themfelves and hufbands,

done, are treated

than our dogs; they receive only

better

little

chaftifement and crumbs.

and when they have

In

improperly, or flightly educated

Europe,

for

the moft part,

but

and

all

times kept in a

ftate

at

of dependence, by the reftridions of a fevere

in

the

management and

difpofal

of what property

them, commonly cramps the freedom of

and difgraced beyond

fllon

all poflibility

of faults, which in the

but als of gallantry

which they naturally

hufbands.
to

whom

The law
they are

and while he may

wife

and

afpire,

tied,

may

their will,

Dlflionoured

are hardly confidered as

in the ftate

more

them no

any thing

of matrimony, a

indlflblubly

ftate to

bound than

relief, unlefs

with impunity
his

allowed

is

of redemption, by the commif-

has attempted to take

by copying

retaliates,

a divorce,

and even

affords

riot

men

which,

legiflation,

their

the cruel partner

away

their life;

in adulterous amtours,

if the

example, he immediately procures

turn her out without fubfiftence, to the fcorn

and contempt of her

own

fex,

who,

in fuch cafes, feldom look

with pity even on a repenting finner.

Caufcsofthe
frcatm"nt of

women.

THOUGH wc
caufcs of the

have marked, as we came along, feveral of the

good and ill-treatment of women, yet we

flatter

OUlfelveS

O
ourfelves

may

it

from analogy, we

Were we on

to the fair fex

to partake

of

moft part,

and the males of

all

whole of the

his

irra-

and the

of the fame fpecies rudely,

for the

Among

hatching.

indulgence, and even

latter not

No

are acquainted with, will

the

hens together

the feathered kind,

lefs

to the diligent obfervers of nature.

we

in na-

is

behave with lenity

on the part of the male, yet the former

cafes very diftinguifhable,

animals

to

calls

provide for the females while

quadrupedes, though there appears

affiftance

that there

as almoft the

has found any provifion,

it;

this fubjeft to reafon

with a pidure of fuch behaviour

tional creation prefents us

when he

211

fliould not hefitate to fay,

which ftrongly prompts us

ture a principle,

cock,

E N.

not be improper to conclude this chapter with a

more accurate view of them.

and indulgence

is

altogether

male of any

fight vrith,

lefs

many
unknown
in

fpecies

or ufe a female

unlefs highly provoked;

and even

then, he will corred her with lenity and feeming reludance.

while

we

on

reafon

will certainly miflead

if
we
And when we

this

fubjedt,

us.

truft

of

to

But

analogy,

it

turn ourfelves from

reafoning upon principles, to the obfervation of fads, a flight fur-

vey of man,

in his favage ftate, will

foon convince us, that he

has no natural propenfity, nor inftind, which determines him to

ufe the females of his fpecies with tendernefs and indulgence
if

he has,

it

is,

like

rated in his youth

many

other natural inftinds, totally oblite-

by habit and education.

We are

told,

indeed,

by Charlevoix, that fome of the favages of North America

by no means, be prevailed upon

only a local cuftom
that

favages,

in

for

to ftrike,

woman

fend themfelves againft a

or

we

variety

and hardly even

of parts

e 2

to de-

but fhould this be true,

are aflured almoft

by every

of the world,

will,

it

is

traveller,

on

the

moft

THEHISTORY

212

CHAP,
IX.

occafions,

mofl: trifllnc
^

beat and abufe

women

their

without

mercy.

We

have ah-eady obferved, that power, when not influenced

by humanity,

commonly made

is

we may

principle,

caufe of the

ill

conftitutions,

that the

aflert,

treatment of

moft general and extenfive

women,

much

is

the imbecillity of their

their fupcriors in ftrength.

caufe, is the infenfibility of the

which not only

men, or

The

next

that favagenefs of dif-

but prompts only

eradicates humanity,

inftead of the fentimental feelings of love; a

to animal appetite,

caufe which,

this

and the impoflibility of aflerting the rights of na-

ture againft a fex fo

pofition,

On

ufe of only to enflave.

more or

particularly in thofe,

prevails in almoft every country,

lefs,

where

thereon depending, are but

conftantly accuftomed

to

fociety
little

and

and the various refinements

Men

and imperfedly known.

gain their fubliftence by fifhing and

hunting, are trained up in the exercife of every cruelty againft

the brute creation
fufes itfelf

upon

hence, in their wars, the fame cruelty dif-

their

antagonifts and prifoners

even the tender and inoffending

exercife that ferocious
carlieft

fair fex are

and hence

too,

fubjeds upon which they

and unfeeling temper, which, from their

infancy, has been nouriflied by their

their difficulties; and

which neither

ample, have ever confpired

employments and

religion, admonition, nor ex-_

to reflrain;

nor the fympatheiic feel-

ings of the heart revolted againft, as barbarous and inhuman.

Whatever be
heart,

the original difference in the feelings of the

we know

they are capable of being altered,

human

and made

better or worfe

by education and example

of which

from the behaviour of the genteel, and commoa

arifes

an inconteftible proof

people

O
people of England,

who muft

more

ral

213

and the example of low

life,

latter are often brutal

and yet

and ferocious

man-

in their

while the former are diftinguifhed for humanity, and the

ners,

N.

be nearly alike by nature;

by education, the employments of

company, the

exalted feelings of the foul.

THIRD

caufe of the ill-treatment of the fex

want of proper education and inftrudion.

gene-

their

is,

In favage

life,

without any engaging qualification of mind, and deftitute of every

ornament of body, except only a few things which render them

have nothing but fex

engage the atten-

more

dlfagreeable, they

tion,

and foften the rugged nature of the male.

little

more

ment on

cultivated, as in Afia,

their perfons,

to

though they

In countries

minds commonly prefent a blank

their

and experience,

women

acquire fenfe

charms and beauty expand.

In Afia, if

In moderate climates,

as their

they ever become fenfible and intelligent,

and

their fliort
at eighteen,

the

women

This

over.

of the Eaft are fo

is

little

the manners are finilhed by the

ment
fity

the levities,

to pleafure

fex ill-treatment

demn

expenfive

taking too

monly the

at

an age when

from ours
is

care to

efteemed.

lafl:

follies,

In countries, where

and

irreftrainable

and force us even

make themfelves
where,

why

touches of polifh and refine-

lodged in the form

cafe in favage life,

to fade

one of the ftrongeft reafons

caufe of the ill-treatment of

little

is

and admiration, frequently procure

the heart, which

A FOURTH

it

which commonly begins

fleeting beauty,

is all

know-

fcarcely even here and there fhaded with the outlines of

ledge and fenfibility.

orna-

lavifh every

if

we

propen-

to the foftcr

to defpife

and con--

adore.

women

agreeable.

is,

often, their

This

is

com-

nature has denied them

charms,

chap.

THE HISTORY

214

CH
<

A
n

P.

they have no other

charms,
'

where,

if (he

way of

attracting the

has not denied them, the pofleflbrs have not learned

upon them, nor

to fet a proper vakie

to

improve

correfpondent qualifications of the mind.

But

only to be met with in favage countries;

in the

dates of fociety,

we

their

power by

this is not a cafe

moft cultivated

who

often meet the carelefs flattern,

us with her indelicacy;

difgufts

who, trufting

the conceited beauty,

the favours fhe has received from nature, exats

bute

and

heart;

from us the

to

tri-

thinks due to them, with a petulant prefumption, which

iTie

fruftrates all its

own

intentions

the paths of virtue, who,

and the haplefs wanderer from

honour and

loft to

to

fhame, lays afide

every thing pleafing in the manners of the beft of her

and adopts every thing difgufting

we may add

chara(Sers

in the worft

of ours.

own

To

fex,

thefe

the unthinking wife; who, as foon as fhe

has ftepped over the threftiold of matrimony,

every delicacy, and every

foft

and engaging

leaves behind her

art,

by which

flie

attraded the lover.

In

polite countries,

women

reckon themfelves

they are not beloved, accofted with refpcdt,

prevented by

cuftomed

all

the namelefs

to be conftantly

and even

with an

air

their

ac-

on actount

beauty and accompliftiments, and wanting fagacity to

diftinguilli

they at

of fubmifTion

that borders on adoration, to be conftantly flattered,

of

if

their wifhes

of good-breeding

little offices

approached,

ill-treated,

laft

mere gallantry from the

real

fentiments of the heart,

become pert and affuming, and often rude and

ill-

natured to fuch as they think do not offer a fufficient quantity of

the incenfe of praife at the ftirine of their beauty
this length, they foon

of

ill-treatpient.

No

become
clafs

obje<fls

having arrived

of contempt, and fometimes

of females are

fo apt to fall into this

traa

'

O
trat as thofe

called

beauties

O M E

N.

215

who, though

company

their

is

J^
^ A.*

^'

eagerly coveted at every place of public amufenient,

eagerly feleded to retire with into that private

where the mafk muft be

life,

laid aiide,

fceiie

and the

are not

fo

'

,r-

of domeftic

train of flatterers

difcarded.

The power
and efteem,

of appropriating entirely
fo ftrongly rooted in

is

birth to jealoufy,
foul

and from

(hut

rial,

this jealoufy arifes

them up

our nature,

it

has given

another fruitful fource of the

immemo-

the caufe that has, time

it is

gloom of perpetual imprifonraent

in the

fhip,

and from

more

particularly in Perfia, has

fociety.

It is

in the

the caufe which, in Hindoftan, and

fubjeded them not only to the

chaftifement of an enraged hufband,

an offence no greater than looking

from fuch

The

fcenes of horror, to

fide

itfclf,

for

But we turn

at a ftranger.

view the other

all

comprehended

in

and the behaviour of the other.

ftrudlion, that

of the pidure.

brought up

In

the education of the one fex,

It Is

makes the favage; and

of them, that form the

man

any of the

earlieft infancy,

to

but even to death

general caufes of the proper treatment of women are fimple, Ctuks

and may be

want of education and

it is

the proper application

of fociety and the gentleman.

polite countries of

honour and indulge them; and,

he can perform

in-

Europe,

is,

A man
from

his

taught to do a thoufand good ofTices to the fair

vide for, and defend

his

that

and debarred them from every joy that can flow from friend-

Eaft,

fex;

what we love

one of the ftrongeft paflions that convulfe the

women;

ill-treatment of

to ourfelves

to

them

takes

he grows up,

to pro-

hence every kindnefs, and every duty

them, are

nature, that he

as

fo

them
5

imperceptibly interwoven with

for nature

itfelf:

but

lefl

this

attachment

of the

mento'"vo'"''"*

T H E H

si6

CHAP,

T O R Y

attachment of education fhould not be ftrong enough to form a

IX.

kind of balance of power between the two fexes,

of nature has wifely provided,

fpring up to lend

that,

afliftance,

its

and add a motive

the fair fex every kind and indulgent

and the weaknefs of

their fituation,

need

civil

in

mental feeling

ately under

but

fliort

The

only.

tite

its

life,

laft,

impulfe,

their nature,

may

its

common

women

more

in

to

it

life,

is

ftand in

muft be

operations; and, confequently, un-

rudenefs and oppreffion of the men,

any degree of confequencc and dignity.

fteady and uniform, infpires with an unremitting

to proteft,

and fcreen from oppref-

weaknefs which favages defpife; with a generofity of fen-

are the fair regarded

of paffion and

intereft,

love,

friendfhip,

and other motives

but by the generality of

from fentiments of gallantry

more

in proportion to the

and

men

by every wife

weaknefs of that

fev,

in civil life,
legiflature,

exerts itfclf the

ftrenuoufly to protect their perfons and intereft.

Such, and many more, are the happy effeds which the
experience from education and from love

with

Nor

and defended only by fuch individuals as

conneded with them by

which,

fenti-

may prompt men, when immedi-

timent, which does honour to politcnefs and to humanity.

are

love,

animal appe-

be fawning and complaifant,

to

attention to do good offices,

fion the

which the delicacy of

mixture of animal appetite and

though

and inconftant

or raife the
firft,

is

more

induce us to do

to

and that which, in favage

able to reftrain the

The

office,

dill

But we muft here carefully diflinguifh between that

of.

which

Author

at a certain age, love fliould

than even cuftom and education,

powerful,

the

whom

fair fex

but in the individuals,

they are more nearly conneded, good fenfe, and hu-

manity of temper, are likewife neceffary,

in order to eftablifh their

fccurity

O
fecurlty

incidents

even

this

where fentiments

happen

There are

from lU-ufage.

little

fo frequently,

E N.

217

domeftic

in

life,

will unavoidably jar

woman whom he

is

That

and

treat the fex

countries,

them.

it

them
;

confifls
;

and will be forry

men

admit

refide in will
to

of,

In favage

run over.

moftly in performing the talks of labour

in yielding

In the Eaft,
to

it

the moft abject fubmiflion to their

confifts in

confinement

refigning themfelves with a

being perfectly {killed

in all the

of pleafing, and avoiding, with the utmoft circumfpedion,

every caufe of jealoufy.

fifts

ill

and taking proper care of the children they have by

feeming alacrity
arts

fenfe,

with the greateft indulgence, which the

of various kinds, and would be tedious

hulbands

of

obliged to pity, where he would wifh to love.

manners and cuftoms of the country they

affigned

man

and be

propriety of female behaviour, which inclines the

to favour,

is

but fhould

cannot love in his heart,

will never degrade himfelf fo as to ufe her

that he

to interrupt all peace,

as

produdlivc of a conftant acrimony of temper, a

when conneled with

thoufand

In Europe

in good-nature, fenfibility,

virtues,

and a thoufand other

a competent

ftiare

it is

more unlimited;

which,

of beauty and female

foftnefs,

cient to footh the moft

when

con-

domeftic

delicacy, chaftity, the

qualities

it

joined to

are almoft fuffi-

rugged nature, and change the

cruellefl:

temper into gentlenefs and humanity.

Vol.

I.

F f

CHAP.

THEHISTORY

2i8

CHAP.
Of

CHAP.
X.

yV S

the

CharaHer and

the circle of female adion

X.

is

commonly more narrow and

Jljl. circumfcribed that that of the other

bad charader

virtues and vices

ment

alfo,

is
:

Women.

Cotidii^ of

for the moft part,

comprifed under fewer

and in the Eaft, where they are by confine-

with Pope, That they have hardly any charader

At

which

tue, or vice;
all

Thus what
fenfibility;

women,

is

is fet,

is

as

at all.

generally placed fome cardinal vir-

it

were, in the fore-ground

is

the moft highly eftimated in the

and what gives the higheft

modefty, and that

foft

men,

luftre

portion of what

we have

to fay

be employed in inquiring,

is

and

to

courage and

and polifh

and gentle temper, which

diftrefs.

As

form the great outlines of the charader of the

farily

the reft of the figures in the groupe are fubordinate.

ready to footh afflidion, and to pity

tues

fay

which make up the good or bad

the head of the qualities,

charaler of each fex, there

which

we may

excluded from adion and obfervation,

totally

good or

fo their

fex,

thefe

far they

is

two

ever
vir-

fair fex, a large

on the prefent fubjed,

how

to the

will necef-

have followed the

paths that lead to them, or deviated into thofe that lead to their
oppofite vices, from the earlieft ages of antiquity to

the pre-

fent time.

Fr M

WOMEN.

OF
From

319

the very beginning almoft of time,

as

we may

from feme hints thrown out by Mofes, and conjedlure from the
.

rude and uncultivated

The

tues.

and chaflity

that modefty

beheve,

reafons afligned

the deluge;

we have no great reafon to

were among the favourite vir-

of fociety,

ftate

for the deftrudtion

and the condudl of Lot's daughters, are

our

aflertion.

fcene

is

of the world by

thofe afligned for the pofterior defl:rudion of

but

all

Sodom;

too evident proofs of

Proceeding forward to the patriarchal ages, the

little

altered

for

had gone down into Egypt

we

there find, that

to avoid a

when Abraham

famine, he had fuch an

opinion of the diflblutenefs of the people of that country,

he was afraid they would murder him, in order

of his wife

was

that fhe

repeated,

and

to avoid that danger,

his filler

when he

a falfity

the people of

rifk

a meannefs,

any country

on her account.

agreed with her to fay,

which plainly points

to

out, that

have been debauched,

which he went, than run any

This pufilanimous example w'as likewife

copied by his fon Ifaac,

into the

to get pofleflion

and meannefs, which he again

he would rather have fuffered her tamely

by

that

afterwards journied with her in Gerar, in the

land of the Philiftines

into

when he went with

fame country of Gerar

Rebecca, his wife,

and the fpeech of Abimelech

to

him, on finding that he had deceived him, plainly points out

the ideas they then entertained of debauchery ; " one of the people
" might lightly have lain with her."

The

fevere revenge,

however, taken on the Sechemites, for

the rape of Jacob's daughter, feems

paid no

little

thofe that

to infinuate,

regard to the chaftity of their

were of her rank and condition

thefe avengers

made

to their father Jacob,

f z

that the

women

learn

men

at leaft to

though the anfwer

when he reproved them

for

^\,^ P*

^.

early vice ia

"^

^"""'

T H E

220
for

their

tion

was

cruel

perfidy,

in that fimple

" Should he

And we

are

T O

plainly (hews us,

and early period

11

far

that

public proftitu-

from being unknown.

an harlot ?"

deal with our fifter (faid they), as with

from the

to obferve,

forry

ture of Judah, with

Tamar,

who

his daughter-in-law,

in order to force

fonated a harlot,

relation of the

him

adven-

had pcr-

procure her a fecond

to

hufband, that, in his days, that profeflion feems neither to have

been uncommon,

famy.

nor attended with any great degree of in-

In periods (o exceedingly remote as

we

thefe

now

are

Hebrew women, with

regard to chaftity, feems extremely uncertain.
We may, however, with great propriety lay it down as a rule, that the virtues
of the

delineating, the general condu(ft

and

of the two fexes always keep nearly an equal pace

vices

with each other; and as we find the patriarchs themfelves no way

famous

we cannot

for continence,

men were
Abraham,

Ifaac,

well as wives.

by the ancient

and Jacob, had

David

Solomon

fet

all

men

among whom he

till

and even
he

alfo

in adultery

feledted a

became a mur-

to his voluptuous appetite;

from every neighbouring nation,

but

of them feveral concubines as

rioted in concubinage,

no bounds

is

hiftory of the Jewifli nation

nor feems to have been checked in either,

derer.

which

diflinguifhed by this virtue: a conjedure,

too well confirmed

wo-

reafonably expe(t that their

numerous

and,

train of

wo-

fpent a great part of his time in lewdnefs

and debauchery.
-,

Not remarkbbie

forhu-

If the

women,

markable for

in the times

chaftity,

we have

we

are fpeaking
r
a of,'

fcarcely

any

were not re-

better reafon to think

DaDUy.

that they

were more confpicuous for the fympathetic tendernefs of

the fex.

Sarah, in a cruel manner, turned out the concubine and

child

of her hufband, almoft without provifion, and

country,

in a defert

where they had both nearly perifhed of hunger

nor

was

'

OF W
was (Ke

common
Hagar

by jealoufy

Inftigated

to the

E N.

22t

barbarous deed

to

her hufband.

him

perfidioufly flew
Philiftine,

who was

Jael, in

whom

as

flie

human

he lay aflcep'in her

victims to their idols

when

the

that

feveral other inftances

mankind

cruelty, vices

in

Delilah,

tent.

we

But not
it

Ifraelites,

a cuftom

fire

to

to

draw

was cuftomary
in thefe times,

which they

parents of both fexes

while their children paffed through the

and

^-

married to Samfon, treacheroufly betrayed

which furrounded the

fometimes imitated,

^ A

had promifed protection, and

the charader of a people from fingle inftances,

the nations

cool blood, drove a nail into

the hufband of her bofom to her countrymen.

to offer

the

cuftom to have concubines, and fhe herfelf had given

the temple of Sifera, to

among

was

it

alfo

attended,

Moloch.

Thefe,

could give, but too plainly fhew

general were then immerfed in rudenefs and

from which even the

fofter fex

were not

in the leaft

exempted.

The

charader of fome of the other nations, in the remote

we

periods

are

now

confidering, was, perhaps,

for purity of female

manners than

ftill

that of the

lefs

famous

Hebrews.

In

Egypt, the ftory of Potiphar's wife prefents us with an almoft

unparalleled inftance of female effrontery;
unjuft to ftigmatize a whole nation,

lewdnefs of one

which

woman,

let

in

would be

it

from the impudence and

us look into their hiftory

will but too well convince

manners being debauched

but as

a hiftory

us that the proofs of female

Egypt, are far from being confined

to this fingle inftance.

Pheron,

fucceffor to Sefoftris, the

firft

king of Egypt, having

.

become

blind,

was

told

by an

ftiould

recover if

woman who

had never

oracle, that

he waftied his eyes with the urine of a

he

knowQ

Egyptian women, their

charader.

THEHISTORY

1-22

CHAP, known
trial

any man befides her own hufband

own

of that of his

many

wife, and afterwards of that of

other

women,

fight

by the urine of an obfcure

no purpofe, and was

to

he began by making

at

happily rcflored to

laft

woman

upon which he be-

ftowed upon her great rewards, and ordered, that

had given him fuch proof of their incontinence

to death.

Chcmmis, another of

ereded the

largeft

their kings,

Egyptian pyramid, being

be put

fliould

who

is

at a lofs

who

thofc

all

have

faid

to

how

to pro-

cure materials for carrying on fo extraordinary a work, at

confidering

ordered his

how much the people were given to debauchery,

own daughter to become a proftitute, and to demand

that each of her

employed

paramours fhould bring a large ftone

fhe colleded in

to

be

thefe ftones

pyramid already begun, but with the

remainder fhe erefled a fmall one

ftories

to

numbers, that they were found not only

fuch

fufficient to finilh the great

of fable

on by her father

in the building carried

both thefe

laft,

carry along with

yet, as fable

was

convey inftruQion or

own memory.

to her

them

reproof,

the moft evident

made

fo frequently

Though

ufe of in the Eaft,

might

they

neverthelefs be

highly charaderiftic of the manners of the times

if

we may form any judgment of

its

ciiftoms and religious ceremonies, which, if

marks

but, befides,

the charader of a nation

the expreffion, are the trueft pictures of

its

from

we may be allowed

heart, they will teach

us to entertain but a low opinion of the decency and decorum of

the ancient Egyptian

They

had

women.

a cuftom in

feveral times every year

commonly went
were promifcuoufly crowded with men and

to celebrate a feftival of

by water, the boats

Egypt of going

Diana

women, and when they

at

palTcd

BubaHe

as they

near any town or village, they

flopped,

OF WOMEN.

223

flopped, in order to give an opportunity to the

to

make

a kind of

of

trial

with thefe on

fkill

obfcene language and gefticulations;

when

of thefe indecent fklrniifhes, they arrived

deftination, they celebrated the feftival in

by

at

by drinking,

mortality,

rioting,

we

mod

after a variety

the place of their

honour of
vileft

their goddefs,

of the race of

and committing fuch debaucheries

that ancient authors have been

Among

board

in the

fliore,

at laft,

which would have difhonoured the

rites

women on

afhamed

fully to defcribe them.

many examples of men

endeavouring to debauch their women when living the Egyptians afford us the only one we meet with, where they facrilegioufly defiled themfelves with them when dead.
It was a
other nations

find but too

cuftom in

body

this country,

immediately after death, to deliver the

embalmers, to be by them prepared for burial

to the

young women of

beauty were at

great

cuftom, obliged to be kept

to appear, left the

till

the

laft,

contrary to

but
this

fymptoms of putrefadtion began

embalmers, as had fometimes happened, ftaould

abufe their dead bodies.

Notwithstanding

of this public licentioufnefs, the laws

of Egypt feem not to have been in the fault, but the conftitutions

of the people appear to have been

meafure

nor were the

civil

warm and

libidinous

laws only well calculated for the

prefervation of chaftity, and fecuring the weaker fex

infult

to

upon

affift

among

their

honour,

beyond

from every

but thofe of religion alfo confpired

The Egyptians feem to have been the firft

ancients who paid a proper refpedl to the temples of

them.

the

their gods

the neighbouring nations polluted

them with every

fpecies of luft

and intemperance; the Egyptians hallowing them,

ordained that

men
2

ftiould religioufly abftain

from women within

their

;;
:;

THE HISTORY

224

CHAP,
\

^.^

and that ablullons, fimilar

their facred walls,

to thofe Inftltuted

by

Moles, fhould be ufed after the commerce between the fexes.

We
fpring

have already obferved that tendernefsfor their

is

and fometimes

we

fuperftitlon,

Egyptian

now

To

it.

weakened,
taken

thefe already

add, that this has in Egypt been done by

Greece and Rome, by a romantic patriotifm

women

flaln in the

a variety of caufes have often

obliterated

totally

(hall

in

is,

it

rejoiced

their facred crocodiles

when

their children

the Greeks and

were devoured by

Romans, when they were

to fay, that in

modern times maternal ten-

dernefs did not often ceafe to fhew itfelf on account of caufes

frivolous

and not

Egyptian

women

were

the

wars, undertaken to defend or enlarge their country

would we were able

thofe

ofF-

one of the moft powerful feelings of the female heart

but that, powerful as

notice of

own

lefs

The

culpable.

religious character of the

men

can only be drawn from that of their

fuperftitious

beyond almoft

more

a pofTibility of belief, they

worfhipped animals of every kind, and even paid an extravagant

degree of adoration to the

what

is

not a

little

and worfhipped

in

extraordinary,

one

diftril,

utmoft abomination in another.

countries

lefs

of

vilefl;

apt to examine

reptiles

upon

'^gJP*-

in

matters,

fuperftitious

all

than
;

we

extravagance in the

in general as

its

votaries.

^N no country was there ever fuch powerful motives devifed

Motives to
i)"1iav1o^7in

women

the

in

As women have been

therefore fuppofe that every whimfical

Egyptian religion had the

was adored

was frequently held

and reafon

and

infedts;

the ai:imal that

men, they have ever been more credulous and

may

and

^^ obllgc people to preferve

it

is

well

known

to

an untainted charader

our learned readers

as

how much

in

Egypt

the honours

of

;;

O
of

fepulture were valued

ideas they

annexed

verfal prejudice, ordained,

among

to the

The Egyptian

unburied.

E N.

living

fituation

of that foul whofe body lay

was ordered

ifland in the lake Moeris,

it,

and decreed, or denied

where the people

it

burial,

to

judges upon

fat as

according as the charafter

folemn

this

when

be carried into

to

The boatman who was

bodies over

burial

conduit

into his

uni-

this

That no perfon fhould obtain

an

carrying dead

of

legiflature, availing itfelf

for this purpofe the corpfe

came out good or bad.

and the horrid

the ancients,

a rigorous examination had pafled

till

225-

firfl:

employed

in

being named

trial,

Charon, has given origin to the poetical fable of Charon ferrying

fouls over the Styx, or

few

Egypt,

we can with

charader or condul
concerning them,

little

certainty

fo different are

fay

men

the

men

any more

might not be able

to

all

their

modefly and

women from

fl-ioes,

but thefe accounts

to different periods, or to different diflrids

That

of their

confined themfelves within

confined

walk abroad

they

that

may

relate

of the fame country.

which we now efleem

chaflity,

ancient

we meet with
women did all the

and never allowed them the ufe of

jealoufy,

the

the accounts

fome affirming that the

that

From

to the next.

we have remaining of

bufinefs without doors, while the

others afferting,

world

this

only which

hints

fcattered

from

the

as

chief ornament of the female character, Hoes not appear in times

of remote antiquity

At Babylon,

to

have been much regarded by either kx.

the capital of the Aflyrian empire,

it

valued, that a law of the country even obliged every

in her life to depart
is

faid,

from

once in her

fo little

woman

once

This abominable law, which,

it.

was promulgated by an

woman fhould
Vol. I.

was

life

oracle,

ordained,

That every

repair to the temple of

it

Venus
that

Proftitutfon

Uw'at^Ba-^

^^''"^^"

T H E

226
on her

that

that attire

in

with

performed

her

the

T O R Y

her head

there,

arrival

and

flowers,

II

(he fhould wait

till

the

to

facred

rites

be crowned with

ftiould

fonie ftranger

goddcfs of

de-

bauchery.

This

was conftrudled with a great many winding

temple

galleries, appropriated

who,

ftrangers

to the

allured

women, and

reception of the

by debauchery, never

failed

who came

When

to the law.

he was obliged

was fhe
ftranger

who

being
the

fettled,

woman

fcribed

was

to prefent her

pre-

home.

Nor

countries, a certain

fuppoicd, by

Venus,

way of

reft

of their

lives.

In fome other

to proftitution, as

a bribe, to induce the goddefs of de-

reft.

woman had

was not allowed

in the

proftituted themfelves as a tribute to

at

number only were doomed

bauchery to fave the

women

to the

might be chafte the

lefs

at liberty to return

facrifice

ftated times

that they

it

the law, after which

fulfil

cuftom entirely confined to the Babylonians

where they

and

Thefe preliminaries

returned and offered to the goddefs the

of Cyprus they fent young

When

the requeft of the

was the value of the money,

they retired together to

fea-fhore,

is

thefe, or

or difagreeable the donor.

by cuftom, and then was

this

ifland

it

with fome pieces of money, nor

offered them, whatever

mean

or however

there in obedience

the ftranger accofted the objed of his choice,

liberty to refufe either

at

to aflemble

any woman they

there in great numbers, being allowed to chufe

thought proper from among thofe

the

once entered the temple of Venus, fhe

to depart

from

it

till

fhe

frequently happened that thofe to

had

whom

fulfilled the

law

nature had been

indulgent than to others, remained there a long time before

any

O
any perfon offered

to

A cuftom,

releafe.

men

we

think, fometimes alluded to in fcrlptur?,

" bran for perfume

"

paflTeth by, lie

*'

was not thought

but, if

women

of Babylon, yet

in the

"

The wo-

ways, burn
that

as herfelf, nor her cord broken.'*

infamous law was

they grew afhamed

were not willing

it

and

of,

at

many

in

they were carried in

all

ftridly obferved
that,

by

all

the

in length of time,

cafes difpenfed

with

of the fuperior ranks of

literally to fulfil

where, having difmiffed

firft

would feem

women

are informed that

fitting

any of them, drawn by fome

worthy

as

this

of evafion

Baruch

with him, fhe reproacheth her fellow that {he

Though

we

the book of

in

with cords about them,

alfo,

227

perform with them the condition of their

and exprefsly delineated

*'

W O M E N.

it

for

who

life,

the law, were allowed a kind

litters to

the gates of the temple,

their attendants,

they entered alone,

prefented themfelvcs before the ftatue of the goddefs, and returned

home.

PofFibly this

who had

was done by the

afliftance

of a bribe, to thofe

the care of the temple.

It has been

alleged

by fome of

thefe authors,

who

can find

Reflcaionson

nothing in antiquity but virtue and excellence, that the oracle

which

inftituted this law, confidering

Venus

as

a goddefs

who

delighted in debauchery, not only meant to fatisfy her by this

public al of proftitution, but alfo to induce her to preferve, du-

ring the

refl

of their

lives,

the innocence of fuch

women

as

had

thus (hewn that they were her votaries, by voluntarily dedicating

themfelves for once to her fervice

of their

women

this

kind

in

minds

expofing themfelves to fo public a profti-

But whatever may be

is

as alfo to raife in the

a deteftation of unchaftity, by the (hame they

muft have fuffered

tution.

faid in its juftification, a

in its nature indefenfible, and,

law of

from whatever motive

it

T H E

228

C
'

HA
1

P.

jj
'

IT

proceeded, muft have been but

and morality;

as

barrier,

which feparates between

is

from that moment

half

lofes

no great degree of

credit is

that the Babylonifli

women

impofed upon them by

to deviate

calculated to promote virtue

vice

time becomes no barrier at

upon

ill

its

and

all.

It

that the

once overleaped,

virtue,

power, and in a

appears, therefore, that

due to Herodotus, when he affirms

having once

the obligation

fulfilled

law, could never after be prevailed

this

who fays,
of Cyprus, who had

from modefty and virtue; nor

which

nature,

rcftridlive

that the Lydians and inhabitants of the

fimilar laws,

human

the difpofition of

that fuch

little

T O R Y

obvious, even almoft to the flighteft ob-

is

it

ferver,

it

Ifle

to ^lian,

thefe laft carried even farther than the

lonians, obliging every

had gained a fortune

woman

to abftain

fuitable to her

from marriage

Babytill

(he

rank by proftitution, were

ever after inflexibly virtuous.

Such

aflertions are too grofs to be

obferver of

human

nature

fwallowed by an impartial

and, bcfides, are every where

The

by the conduct of the Babylonifli women.

of the prophets are almoft in every page
againft

them

for their lewdnefs

filled

and debauchery

falfified

facred writings

with reproaches
;

but not to

reft

we have faid entirely on that foundation, the

fame Herodotus, who had told us of the inviolable chaftity of the
Babylonian women, informs us a little after, that when their city
the validity of what

was taken by Cyrus, fuch was the

fathers, without
hire.

any

And Quintus

licentioufnefs of the place, that

fcruple, proftituted their

own

daughters for

Curtius not only confirms the fame thing,

but adds, that even hufbands were not afliamed on that occafion
to deliver their wives to ftrangers for

in

no

refpe<St

money;

adtlons

which are

confonant to the virtuous character pretended by

fome

WOMEN.

OF
fome

to be derived

Were

it

29

from the vicious fource of public

proftitution.

neceflary to multiply proofs of the licentious charaler of

the Babylonian

women, we could

of courtezans,

which were among them, whofe

inftance the prodigious

profeflion

not render them contemptible in the public opinion, as

who

did

always
the

ufed frequently to attend the convivial meetings of the

men, where, themfelves not

and made merry,

till

lefs

convivial, they often ate, drank,

by degrees diverting themfelves of

they fomctimes finifhed the debauch in the original

Eve ; nor was

this the

all

ftate

modefty,

of mother

pradice of the meaneft of the fex only,

nor of the moft lewd and abandoned,

all

it

The drunkennefs of

does where virtue and modefty prevail.

fex,

number

ranks and conditions

we
when

but

people lewd and debauched,

it

was

that of

cannot wonder

at

women of
finding a

the ceremonies of their reli-

gion, and the divinities they worfliipped, taught

them the hopeful

leflbn.

When

error and abfurdity have

the fandlion of religion to

own times afford us too many proofs of what

and were we not daily conmifchiefs they may be produdive
vinced of this by experience, we would hardly be able to give
credit to what has been now related of the Babylonians. But they
fupport them, our

were not the only people of antiquity

led aftray in this

there fcarcely exifled one fingle religion, in the times

fpeaking

of,

the rites of

which were not folemnized

cruelty or debauchery, or both

or goddefs adored,

who was

fuch, in a notorious degree,

deities,

manner;

we

either

are

with

and fcarcely was there one god

not famous for luft and intrigue;

was

Jupiter,

the greateft of their

fuch was Vulcan, fuch was Venus, and fuch the great

Syrian goddefs, whofe temples were crowded with the votaries

of

chap.

T H

230

CHAP,
'I

''

of

who

luft,

T O R y
among

dincminated that vice

the people, greatly to

the corruption of the manners of both fexes.

were naturally enough

debauchery

and

modes of worlhipping
and

divinities,

who

But

rites

fuggefted

delighted

of cruelty
as

proper

uncleannefa

in

in blood.

This

Of theMatuLyman's.

corruption of manners reigned but too unlverfally

The

*^^ ancicnts.

MeflTagetac, a people

of Scythia, being con-

fined to one wife, while the nations around

with the

liberty

among

them were indulged

of polygamy and concubinage

in order

put

to

themfelves in fome degree on a footing with their neighbours,

introduced a kind of

an

community of wives, and a man who had

inclination to the wife of his friend, only carried her into his

waggon

or hut, and

fign, that they

hung up a quiver while

might not be interrupted.

decency and the moft facred

ties

fhe

was

In this

there, as a

manner were

of matrimony publicly violated;

but what decency, what regard to the moft folemn inftitutions

can
that

we expeifl in a people who were

when any of their relations became

and along with fome

them

to their

human and

gods

than the Maftageta:.

fcarctly,

from

old, they

met together,

apart for the purpofe, facrificed

flefh

more ignoble vidlms, they devoured

the

their luft,

fet

rude and barbarous,

then having boiled together the

moft delicious repaft

was

cattle

fo

that

The Lydians were

ftiU

of the
it

as

more debauched

In the reign of Jardanes, fo ungovernable

Omphak,

the king's only daughter, could

even within the walls of

the licentious multitude.

tlie

royal palace, find flielter

Onaphale

at length fuccceding to

the throne of her father, puniftied with the utraoft feverity fuch
as

had formerly

abiifed her

confidered as not

lefs

on the women,

whom

it

appears

ftie

criminal than the men, fhe revenged herfelf

in

O F
in a fingular

manner

wo

boaft of the chaftity and. fidelity

when

231
ali

her kingdom,

to

much caufe to
women the greateft

have had

occafion

made an expedition

were detained there mvich beyond

their wives, either impatient of their

their expeftation,

long abfence, or de-

fpairing of their return, took their fervants and flaves, and invefted

them

in all

the poflfeffions and privileges of their abfent

Thefe, fome time after hearing that their mafters were

hufbands.

about to return,

fortified

and intrenched themfelves,

hinder them from entering into their

and

their wives

poffeflions.

The

own

in order to

country, and claiming^

Scythians having advanced to

their flaves, feveral fkirmifhes

were fought between them, with

when one of

their leaders advifed his country-

doubtful fuccefs,

men

not to fight again with their

to attack

own

flaves as

with equals, nor

them with warlike weapons, which were

dom, but with fuch whips and fcourges

been accuftoraed to make them

feel.

as they

figns of free-

had formerly

This advice being put in

execution, the whips recalled their ideas of flavery, and

pufillanimity naturally attending it; they threw

and

tied in confufion,

many

down

the

all

their

arms

of them were taken and put to death,

and not a few of the unfaithful wives deftroyed themfelves,

avoid the refentmenc of their injured hufbands.
ftory

has

not the

Though

been by different authors varied in feveral of

circumftances, yet as fo
leaft

doubt of

its

that the Novogorodians,

many have

agreed in relating

authenticity, efpecially as

whofe

tciiy ftands

'

from being the moft OftheScy-

of their

men having on fome

CHAP,
<

far

is

abandoned or the ancients, leem not

into Afia,

N.

flaves.

Scythians, whofe charader

part of their

(he ordered, thar, over

they fhould be fhut up with their

The

it,

we

to

this
its

we have

are affured

in Sarmatian Scythia,

hadt

THE HISTORY

3*

CHAP,
t^.^,

memory of

formerly a coin ftamped in

iiad

horfeback fliaking a whip in his hand

ancient cuftom in RufTia, which
bride prcfenting the bridegroom

and

now

is

man on

with a

it,

fuppofed that the

it is

happily forgot, of the

on the nuptial night with a whip,

originated from this ftory of the Scythian wives.

Perfian

men,

We

wo-

their

charaflcr.

have already related the manner

women were

admitted to the iiotous

in

which the Babylonifh

enrealhngs

c ^
or the

men; a

cuftom which, only with a few more reftridions, took place

in

Media and

of Macedon,

Perfia, as appears

already alfo

proves that, in the times

were of

as

from the

related

we

ftory

of Amintas, king

a ftory which inconteftibly

women

are confidering, the Perfian

eafy virtue as the

alfo

men

could wifli them

but the

voluptuous and libidinous charater of that court cannot be better

delineated, nor painted in ftronger colours, than

book of Efther, where we have a

we

find

it

relation of Ahafuerus,

in the

one of

their monarchs, carrying his refinements in debauchery to fuch a

we have no

length as

Now

when

inftance of

any where

elfe

on record.

every maiden's turn was come to go in unto king

had been twelve months, according to

Ahafuerus, after that

the

cation accomplifhed

months with fwcet odours, and with other things

ing of the women.

'

flie

manner of the women,

Then

defired

'

women

for fo

viz. fix

were the days of

months with

oil

their purifi-

of myrrh, and

for the purify-

thus came every maiden unto the king; whatfoever

was given her

to

fix

flie

go with her out of the houfe of the

into the king's houfe.

O
In the evening

flie

F
went

E N.

233

and on the morrow

out,

women,

'

into the fecond houfe of the

the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines

to the cuftody

returned

flie

of Shaafgaz
flie

came

in

unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and

that

flie

were

called

by name.'

Such was the expence, and fuch the refinement neceffary to fit
women for the arms of the Perfian monarch and fuch was the
;

perpetual imprifonment and continence to which he condemned

the haplefs wretches, who, with

all this

were deftined for one night only

his bed

in fhort,

it

was

parade of voluptuoufnefs,

to the hateful

in the court

of

pre-eminence of

where we may

Perfia,

mo-

properly fay, that lawlefs love reigned triumphant, where

thers

mixed in inceftuous commerce with

with their fathers, and

Memnon, having
and

flie,

*'

what

fet

fpeech,

own

with his

fallen in love

thefe fcruples diffipated

*'

with their brothers.

fillers

and himfelf entertaining fome

their fons, daughters

daughter AtofTa,

fcruples, his paffion

by

mother

his

by the gods over the

Perfians,

Artaxerxes

was fomented,

" Are not you,

as

faid

the only rule of

becoming or unbecoming, virtuous or vicious ?"

is

which ftrongly

indicates that daring fpirit of

which when urged by any of the more

overleaped every barrier, and born

woman,

violent paflions, has often

down

every difficulty, from

which male nature has flirunk back with trembling and reludance.
Another of the Perfian kings, entertaining fome fcruples on an
occafion of a firailar nature, convened the

opinion, "

" a

man

We

to

magi

to give

him

their

can find no law, faid they, in Perfia, to authorize

marry

his

own

daughter, but our laws authorize a

" king to do whatever he pleafes."

Vol.

I.

Hh

Im

chap.

T H E

234

In countries where there

T O R Y

as in Perfia, an unlimited liberty

is,

of polygamy and concubinage, jealoufy in the

ihetffeaof
jcaouy.

much weakened by
reftraint laid

therefore
here,

on

it

the variety of objeds that divide

by the defpoilfm of the men

expet to find

where the king

women only the

tools

we

and the

it,

not

fliould

But even

operating very ftrongly.

it

the fevereft defpot of the country, and

is

of his

meet with inftances of

cruel

fair fcx is a paffion

this

and

luft,

flaves

of his power,

we

mod

paflion exerting itfclf in the

Xemes, among many other amours, had con-

manner.

which he

ceived a paflion for the wife of his brother Mafiflus,

profecuted for a long time by promifes and threatenihgs, without

anyfuccefs; when, quite

changed

at laft

with much

lefs

his attack

tired

with

fo

many

from the mother

fruitlefs efforts,

to her daughter,

he

who,

Ameftris,

oppofition, yielded herfelf to his withes.

amour, and imagining that the

his queen, having difcovered the

daughter only adted by the diredion of her mother, from that

moment
-*

refolved

in Perfia, the

on the

fevereft revenge.

queen had a

demand of him any favour

aflccd that the

whom

flie

on the king's

right,

Among

to

Ameftris

wife of Mafiftus fhould be delivered into her hands,

and

be cut

lips to

a people

fo

and thrown

off,

own

abandoned, and

cruelty and luft, a people

who made

voluptuoufnefs and debauchery,

among

birth- day,

that fhe thought proper

that (he fliould be detained to fee her

looJefty.

ancient cuftom

had no fooner received than fhe ordered her

nofe, tongue,

Inflancesof

By an

it

is

flefti

fo

to the dogs,

was not univerfally the

were

far

from being
6

cafe

deftitute

and

devoured by them.

much

the flaves of

every thing fubfervient to

natural to think that modefty

the fair fex could fcarcely have any exiftence.

ever,

breafts,

This,

few women, even

how-

in Peifia,

of that modefty and fenfibillty

which

OF
which

are the

ornament of

N.

235

and the delight of ours.

their fex,

AtofTa, the daughter of Cyrus, and wife of Darius, being attacked

"with a cancer in her breaft, and thinking

modefty of her fex

own mind,

her

when,

intolerable,

fhe at

lafl:

prevailed

We

Democedes, her phyfician.

to take notice

kingdom, which

which

on herfelf

fliew

it

to

pafs over

under review, there

that, in the times

fufceptible

are not frequently

of fentiment and feeling; things

met with

in

offered a great ranfom for her liberty

them both without any reward

Tygranes and

the Eaft.

by Cyrus, Tygranes

Cyrus generoufly releafed

as foon as they

were alone, the

couple, naturally falling into a difcourfe concerning their

benefador

What do you

and deportment

Upon what

flie,

think,

faid

Tygranes, of his afpedt

did not obeferve either,

then did you

man, returned

my

to

ftruggles in

women, but we

his new-married wife being taken prifoners

happy

many

of an anecdote of a lady in a neighbouring

fhevvs,

were fome women

after

might mention more particular

inftances of the modefty of the Perfian

them,

inconfiftent with the

to difcover the difeafed part, fufFered in filence

became

the pain

till

it

who

fix

your eyes,

faid

anfwered the lady.

Tygranes

Upon

the

generoufly offered fo great a ranfom for

liberty.

So

was modefty and

little

cients,

that

many

Aufi, a people of L) bia,

their

women,

fidered as a

chaftlty cultivated

nations feem to have had

The

that the

community

among

no idea of

either.

cohabited fo promifcuoufly with

whole of the children of the

till

the an-

flate

were con-

they were able to walk alone, when, be-

ing brought by their mothers into a public afl"embly of the people,

the

-~

man

himfelf

to

its

whom
father.

a child

firft

fpoke was obliged to acknowledge

The wives of
Hh

the Eaclrians were, through a

long

Depravity of
moii"uni*xr.
^'"

THEHISTORY

236

CHAP,

long

feries

of years, famed for licentioufnefs

and cuftom had

given fuch a fandion to their crimes, that the hufbands had not

only

loft

all

power of

rcftraining them,

venture to complain of their

facred to

Venus, the very

rites

of their religion were

And

But

bridled

paffions

by the

to multiply inftances

of the de-

mankind, even

and reftrided in their

religion, are but too often, in the

purfuit of unlawful pleafures, apt to difregard both

muft they have been before

religion lent

heart

its

many

and other

their

ftrongeft penal laws,

by the facred voice of

mingled

the Lydians, and

pravity of ancient manners would be endlefs

when

all

daughters,

publicly proftituted

female relations, for hire.

In Cyprus, an ifland

infidelity.

with debauchery and proftitution.

other nations,

but even durft hardly

fociety, before

what then

laws exifted, and

when

fandlion to encourage the vices and deprave the

In thefe times

we have

debauchery reigned with but

the greateft reafon to believe that

little

controul over two-thirds of the

habitable globe.

CHAP.

N.

CHAP.
The fame

Suhje5l continued.

enveloped in thofe clouds of darknefs which

fo

is

we

much

this fo

many

fhall leave

it,

to

make

women

diftingulfhed, (o

ferae obfervations

on

of Greece.

much admired

people,

who,

and arms, and whofe

ages, fhone fo illuftrious in arts

panegyric has been founded fo loud in ancient and in modern

hiftory

we

fincerely wifh that a regard for truth did not oblige

But when we have

us to give fo indifferent a chara(3:er.

that

they fhone

eulogium.

in

and arms,

arts

When we

diflinguifhable

confider

when we

we have completed

them

confider

as

them

laws to make nature better, and

were calculated

of the Grecian

ftates

nity from the

human

template this people,

to enforce

find

natural aufterity of manners,

a life hardly foftened

men, and

their

as citizens

Other nations made

humanity. Thofe of fome

to eradicate nature

them remarkable only

for

faid

they appear

and huma-

In fhort, in whatever view

heart.

we

patriots,

as

of the world, they almofl excite our horror.

and

CHAP,
XI.

ing

the character and conduct of the

for

xr.

S the hiftory of the nations we have hitherto been confider-

obfcure antiquity,

Of

237

for

we conan un-

the moft inflexible feverity,

by one agreeable fhade in the whole

pidure.

The

General idea

T H

238

The

character

we have

culated to excite but

wifli

to

warm

dear to us,

panegyric

hitherto

few of

T O R Y

drawn of

thefe pleafing emotions

our bofoms whenever

we

but
truth,

charadlers hardly

the fair fex

write

ftill

we would

contemplate objeQs

Women,

of

hiftory

the

therefore,

we

cal-

is

not

fo

their

obliges us to exhibit to view

more amiable or engaging than

we have

thofe

already drawn.

In'

whole of what are

is

we have

a preceding chapter

during the

obferved that,

called the heroic ages, the hiftory

nothing but a compound of the moft abfurd fable

fiible

however appears,

it

much

that

of their time and ingenuity in feducing,

forcibly debauching their

rally fuggeft

an idea that thofe

appear that they were then

when

were reckoned
haps,
difplay

reafon

more
more
is

0,

women who

much

infant

could not be obtained

;

nor indeed does

all
;

their fplendour,

the

have not yet attained riches, the fourccs

lafl

But the Greeks, even

have attained them, and are

the infancy of their exift-

i;i

-ence as a people, feem to have been remarkably vicious, for

hardly meet with any thing in their early

liiftory

Proferpine, Helena, &c.

all

of which

fouleft

infamy

The

and

as

it

kingdom

rapes of lo,

ftaln the character

;

we

but murders,

witnefs the tranfaftions of the

of Mycenc, of Pelops, and his defcendants.

^ods and men with the

and

and kingdoms commonly

colonies

of idlencfs and debauchery, the

rapes, and ufiirpations

it

nay, they were, per-

virtue than thofe already arrived at maturity

firft

and

ftealing,

than in thofe fucceeding

a highly poliflied people

plain, the

corrupted.

fo

lefs

the Greeks flourifhed in

for

that

young women, circumftances which natu-

by any other means muft have been virtuous

periods,

from

men employed

gods and

their

of Greece

of their

has never hap-

pened

OF W
pened

239

IsT.

any nation that the one fex has been exceedingly

in

and the other not participated of

Greek women were,

that the

who

we may

in the heroic ages, far

famous for any of the moral

Grecian princes

crimes,

its

The

virtues.

conclude

when we

cuftom had condemned the wife

than

lefs

after their return;

confider that in thofe times

who had

loft

a hufband to per-

but even cuftom, though often more regarded

the laws of heaven and earth, mull in time yield to

all

'
,

greateft part of the

murdered almoft the whole of them

widowhood

>

p.

affembled at the fiege of Troy, were guilty

a thing nearly incredible,

petual

ha

from being

of many of the moft enormous crimes, while their wives, not

flagitious,

vicious,

general corruption of manners.

BtJT

women
their

to proceed to times

of which we are better informed. The"

of other nations were indecent through the ftrength of

ungovernable paflions

fome of the Greek

obliged to be indecent by law.

In Sparta, what virtue,

decorum can we expeft, when even the

ftrongeft

vice had the public fandion. of the legiOature

ages, while ignorance

not

much

what

temptations to
In

the

heroic-

and brutality of manners prevailed, we are

furprifed to find the

undreffing them,

baths,

women were

women

conduifting the

and attending

to

drefs

men

to the

and rub them

when they came out but in Sparta, famed for its falutary laws,
and when Greece was in its moft poliihed condition, we arc
;

amazed

to find that

the public baths.

we

both fexes reforted

And

this

amazement

are affured that here alfo plays

legiflator,

fight,

to his

and

to,
is

and bathed together in

ftill

heightened,

when

were ated by order of the

where young people of both fexes were obliged

to

idea?,

to

dance naked on the ftage, that the men, according

might be thereby excited

to

matrimony.

What
were

Laws

in

vourab.'e to
'

nunners!'^

THE HISTORY

2 40

CHAP,

were the confequences of the indecencies we have now men-

XI.

v_ -,

tioned

The

.''

intention of Lycurgus, if he really had any fuch

was but

intention,

little

attended

and

to,

it

is

agreed on

all

hands, that both fexes went to thofe plays only for the fake of

debauchery
fure,

the

became
as

to

and further,

men

lefs

paid

lefs

virtuous,

difgufted

that,

at laft

grew

be thereby diftinguifhed from

Greece.

this fhamelcfs

women, and

regard to the

and

by

diflblute
all

the

Euripides, and fome others of the

the

to fuch

other

expo-

women

a degree

women

of

Greek authors, be-

ftow upon them epithets which decency will not allow us to

tranllate,

nor were thefe epithets the overflowings of the gall of

fatyric poets

and violent declaimers only, but the cool and con-

fiderate refledions of the impartial hiftorian

but

we would not

be underftood as altogether confining diflblutenefs and debauchery

to the
little

women

of Sparta, thofe of

inferior to them.

year held a
India, at

feftival in

many

of the other

were

In Thracia and Boeotia they every third

memory of

the expedition of Bacchus into

which both married women and

in their hands

ftates

and didievelled

hair, ran

virgins,

with javelins

about like furies bellow-

ing the praifes of the god, and committing every diforder fuggefted

by madnefs and

Wherever

Deference
fliewn to

courtezans.

is

folly.

public proftitution becomes fo fafhionable that

it

attended with no difgrace in the opinion of the male, and with

exceedingly

little

in that of the female fex, there,

ourfelves, the morals of the

women

we may

aflure

are highly contaminated

circumftance of which Athens afforded the mofl glaring proof.

In that city courtezans were not only kept in a public manner

by moft of the young men of fafhion, but greatly countenanced,

and even publicly vilited by Solon their lawgiver, who applauded

fuch

O F
fuch

young men

were found

as

thefe places rendered

them

N.

241

in the ftews, becaufc their

going

apt to attempt the virtue of modeft

lefs

women. But Athenian courtezans were

to
'

^\

P-

>

not only vifited by their great

lawgiver, but alfo by the celebrated Socrates, and moft of their other

who, not content with going frequently

philofophers,

to fee

them

themfelves, even foraetimes carried their wives and daughters along

with them

heard

in

a circumftance

we do

of which

not recolledt to have

any other country, and which could not but tend

thefe wives a

mean opinion of

rence that was given to vice

to give

when they faw the

and when fuch of their own
virtue,

prefefex as

thus publicly deviated from the paths of chaftity were fo openly

efteemed and regarded,

it

rader

regard to that chaftity, the pradifing of

to

pay the

lefs

was natural

for thofe

of a different cha-

which gained them no fuperior privilege nor advantage.

The

whole hiftory of ancient Greece prefents us with courte-

zans enjoymg
this,

we muft

uncommon
lay

it

reputation and honour

down

as a fundamental principle, that our

company and

fex has a natural inclination to the

the other.

Now,

confined, that

in Greece,

modeft

none were allowed

but their neareft relations

to account for

converfation of

women were

fo ftridly

all

to fee or converfe with

and from

this

confinement

it

them

naturally

followed, that they were uncultivated, and ignorant of learning,

and of almoft every thing that was tranfadling in the world

they were, therefore, but

men

and painters

ftatuaries

were rendered

invifible

qualified to entertain or

The

amufe the
tafte

which was greatly improved by

their

but the beauties of their modeft

by

Grecians had a natural

with their converfation.

for the beautiful, a tafte

The

ill

veils,

women

and unengaging by aukwardnefs.

very reverie was the cafe with the courtezans, they improved

Vol.

I.

I i

Caufesofthii
deference.

their

THE HISTORY

242
their

charms by every

public place, and

all

had

Not ignorant of

houfes.

(hewed

art,

unveiled

thcra

every

in

accefs to their conii)any

and

to their

the difadvantages that

other

women

laboured under, they availed themfclves of, and improved, their

own more happy

their time

to the arts

and

they

fciences,

Greece

feem but half acquainted with.

how

cedors.

Hence

is

it

not difficult

the Grecian proftitutes crept into fuch confequence;

fide,

and modeft

women

being

imprifoned, they had no rivals to contend with.

The

ha-

like

all,

beauty, have an afcendency over us that they them-

all

their an-

the knowledge of public

women of

they had art and nature on their

ir

of

of pleafing, which, whenever properly managed by

to fee

bitants of

part

to the arts

felves

Prcfent

to

great

dedicated

fpeaking with elegance and propriety, and, above

to

affairs,

fituation

prefent inhabitants of Greece feem to have pretty nearly

copied the pattern of antiquity

unchaftity, with them, and everi'

the trade of proftitution, are confidered but as very trifling affairs,

which any woman may be guilty of without

Greek

pleafes

girl

will agree with

lofing her charader.

Frank for any limited lime he

the Subafci will as eafily grant

them

a licence to live to-

gether for that time; and fhould any one be caught with her,

during the continuance of

it,

they would both be fined, and ex-

hibited through the nearefl city,

mounted together on an

afs.

At

Venice, the courtezans of the prefent time feem nearly on a footing with thofe of ancient Greece.
laws,

By

the ftrongeft fumptuary

the Venetian nobility are reftrained from fpending their

money

almoft on any thing but their miftreffes;

modeft

women

feel their inclinations

and while the

curbed in almoft every article

of luxury and expence by thefe laws, the courtezans, either above

or below their notice, evade

them

altogether.

As

'

WOMEN.

OF
As

the female form

is

243

of a fofter and more delicate nature than

^^

p.

XI.

that of the male,

fo their

to the gentler feelings

women,

cian

either

minds are generally more

by nature, or more probably by cultom, were

brated in honour of Diana,

till

the blood ran

cruel ceremony,

tom them

which was

feftival,

were whipt

Under

the altar of the goddefs.

inflidled, as

cele-

this

they pretended, to accuf-

without murmuring, fome, almoft every

The inhuman

prefence of the whole city;

was performed

barbarity

the fathers,

in

the

and what our female

readers will hardly credit, even the mothers, beholding their chil-

dren bathed in blood, and ready to expire with pain, ftood exhorting them to fuffer the

number of

out a groan or a complaint.

It

may

ladies affigned

them, with-

be alleged here, that

being fpedtators and encouragers of a cruel ceremony,

is

women

no proof

of their want of proper feelings, but only an inftance of the

power of cuftom.
aflcnt,

dodrine

to

which we cannot altogether

being perfuaded, that there are

compofition
reconcile

what

fo

them

folly

humane and
to barbarity

the fair-fex, of a

tender, that even cuftom could not

but allowing

were the men guilty of

they were robbing the

many of

women

female mind, and labouring to

it

to

have that power,

in inflituting fuch a

ceremony

of every thing valuable in the

make them what

they were not

intended to be by nature.

But

this

inhuman cuflom was not the only proof

Greek women were

fo

much admire

pofTible,

ftill

diverted of that female tendernefs

in the fcx.

more barbarous

that

the

which we

There was

in Greece a cuflom, if

as foon as a

boy was born

at Sparta,

he

deftitute

nefs of their
^'''

At an annual

the children of Sparta

all

down on

to bear pain

year, expired.

r'^

of tendernefs and humanity; but the Gre- men

rcfpedl miferably deficient.

in this

finely attuned

T H E

$44
he was

vifited

appeared

to be

of

weakly

elders of each tribe; If

member

of their

lie

and not likely to become

conftitution,

they judged him not

ftatc,

worth the trouble of rearing; and therefore ordered him

be thrown into a quagmire,

geta.

T O R Y

by a deputation of the

a flout and healthful

to be

bottom of the Mountain Tay-

at the

This was valuing human beings,

ox or an

afs

murder.

It

and entirely

exatflly as

fctting afide

that,

even there,

it

we would do an

the moral turpitude of

all

was only, however, pradifed

have hoped,

to

at Sparta.;

was contrary

and we

fliould

to the inclination,

and without the confent, of the women; were we not

by

afl'ured

a variety of authors, that the Spartan dames, in every circumftance, almoft entirely

now

cuftoms,

mentioned,

weak and expiring

duced

among

governed

a ftate

we

To

their hufbands.
fhall

the barbarous

To

add only one more.

was the paternal

inftincl

fo

of nature re-

the Greeks, that they frequently, as

we have

al-

ready related, expofed fuch children as they were not able, or did

not chufe, to maintain*.

vailed in
to the

all

by

finifh

their

this fubjeft,

ceived the

laws,

it

was

by obferving,

news of their

it

was

fo

pre-

Icfs,

the Grecian flates; except at Thebes, a city,

immortal honour of the inhabitants

red, that,

more or

barbarity which,

where,

much abhor-

capitally punifhed.

We

fhall

that the Spartan matrons

re-

fons having been flain in battle, not only

without any figns of grief, but even with an appearance of extra-

vagant joy and fatisfadlion, which they took the

tunity of fliewing in public.

much

ftrangers to every fear, but fuch

IcTs

Though
(he

when
the

became

oppor-

Thofe fame women, however, who

pretended to have imbibed fo

country,

mofl: early

heroifm,

as arofe

that

they were

on account of

their

they faw Epamlnondas, after the battle of Leuftra,

Grceki might ixpok iafaots, they could not

fell

a daughter, or a

fjflcr,

un-

whore.

march-

OF WOMEN.
marching his vidorious army towards Sparta,

245
teftlfied

by

their beha-

CHAP.
Aj.

and

viour, that they werefubjcdt to fears of another nature;

all their

and

defpaix*,

own

their

'

'

joys and forrows arofe not folely from the profperity or

They

adverfity of their country.

terror

that

ran

up and down the

ftreets in

the air with fhrieks,

and transfufing

men, caufed more

diforder than the

filling

timidity into the

approach of the vidtorious army.

When
fhall fee
fliall

we come to the hiftory of the matrimonial compad, we

how the Grecian women behaved to their hufbands and
;

fum up

at prefent

the reft of their charader, by obferving,

that at Athens, even drunkennefs appears

the

number of

which

it is

their vices

as

one fervant when

flie

goes abroad,

fliall

them

law of Solon ordains, that no

unlefs

flie

nances of this

legiflator,

it

when

made

alfo

woman
;

fliall

drunk.

flie is

It

ufe of the dark-

in their intrigues

whore

intends to play the

be attended by more than

unlefs

would feem that the Athenian women

nefs of the night to fcreen

have been among

evident by a law of Solon, in

is

woman

enaded, that no

to

for another

walk abroad

at night,

and from feveral other ordi-

plainly appears, that to keep

women

within the bounds of that decorum proper to their fex, was a

matter of no fmall difficulty

mentioned, he was obliged

were only
that

no

to

to

for, to the

laws

we have

fliuuld

He

go out of the

city

if a

woman went

abroad

at

be carried in a waggon, preceded by a flambeau

it

women
g

decent and virtuous.

baflcet

night,
:

feems evident, that the defign of Solon was to

nian

ordained,

with more provifions

than could be purchafed for an obolus, nor with a

than a cubit; and

now

add others, which fliew that the fex

be governed by coercive meafures.

woman

juft

fhe

higher

was

to

which

from

all

make

the Athe-

]f Lycurgus had the fame intention

Othenicesof

women?

THE HISTORY

2,6

CHAP,

we cannot

tcntion in the laws that he eave the Lacedemonians,

XI.
*

'

help thinking that he had but

learned author

of both fexcs

of"
is

ill

human

ftudicd

nature

as a

for,

the prefent age has obfervcd, though nakcdncfi

no incentive

and though the inhabitants

to lufl,

of countries where no clothes are ufed, are not on

lefs

this

account

virtuous than their neighbours, wJiere they are ufed, yet there

be modes of clothing which more powerfully excite the

may

paflions, than the

Of

moft abfolute nakednefs.

opinion, was the drefs of Sparta.

We

fliall

ward

fliall

only obferve, that

to defcribe

and

it,

at prefent

our

this kind, in

have occafion afterit

has

been exclaimed againft by a variety of the writers of antiquity.

Of iheRoman women.

Though

fuch

the general character of the Greeks,

is

we have

happily no inftance of a corruption of manners having fpread

itfelf

free

over a whole nation, in fuch a manner as to leave nobody

from the contagion.

In the midfl: of licentioufnefs and bar-

barity, at leaft in thefe periods,

of Troy, the Grecian

women

that

were fubfecjuent

to the ficge

afford us feveral inftanccs of chaftity,

conjugal fidelity, and maternal affedlion. In the heroic ages, or thofe

periods

when

their ftates

been abandoned almoft

were

in their infancy,

to every fpecies

they appear to have

of wickednefs

but

when we

we find the cafe quite otherwife. In the earlier

periods of the Roman republic, before the wealth poured in from innumerable conqueftshad introduced luxury and diffipation, no women were more famous for their virtues, none more infamous afterward for their vices. The whole hiftory of Rome, for fevcral ages

turn to the Romans,

after

its

foundation, bears teftimony to the tendernefs, frugality,

and chaftity of her women.

Of

this

nothing can be a ftronger

proof, than the long period that intervened between the foundation of the republic

and the

firfl

divorce

a period of five

hundrcd

OF W

E N.

247

men had a power of divorcing

To this proof we could add a

dred and twenty years, though the

their wives ahnofl at pleafure.

great variety of others, but (hall only mention the ftory of the

rape of Lucretia, which in the ftrongefl: manner demonftrates the

Roman women

value which the

found the fmalleft

ed

force

and

being violated

Lucretia,

chaflity.

befides,

made

in

difficulty

fhould

it

upon

fet

in

the moft unfpotted

could

fecret,

concealing what

had happen-

have been difcovered, the fraud and

ufe of againft her

were

fufficient to

have quieted her

confcience, and exculpated her to her hufband and the public

every imputation of criminality

chaftity,

was

that fhe

have

not

yet, fo exalted

were her

refolved not to give back to the

from

ideas

of

arms of her

hufband, a body even involuntarily polluted, nor to furvive the

guiltlefs

ftain

which her honour had

fuffered

but calling toge-

ther her friends, in the prefence of her hufband,

them the

fecret

flie

revealed to

of the rape that had been committed upon her;

and while conjuring them

name, fhe ftabbed

to revenge her injured

herfelf in the bread with a dagger fhe

had concealed under her

garments for that purpofe.

The

care taken

by women

be in proportion to the value

women
band

much

after they

carefled,

upon

but

it

little

and have

as

upon them

In the earlier periods of the

it

the

regard to this virtue, that

good

a chance for a hufit

to preferve

Roman

as

it,

before
is

the

then taken

republic, this feems to

have been the caufe of fuch inviolable chaftity

higheft regard for

always

When

by the men.

have trefpaffed the rules of

ftrongefl obligation laid

off.

fet

men pay

find that the

they are as

to preferve their chaRity will

the

men had

the

they not only avoided faying any thing inconfiftent;

THEHISTORY

24$

CHAP,

manners, any thing that could give

confiftent with purity of

but even in their gay

ofTence to modefty, in their ferious hours

and fportive humours, when the watch

apt to

door of the

is

indulged in frolic and dalliance, even with their

they flighted and defpifed the

own wives, before

woman who had

voluntarily yielded herfelf to an unlawful embrace

thing hurt their honour

violated

from the

never tranfgrefled the bounds of decency, nor

lips,

a third perfon

flip afide

fo

much,

and methods of the

as to
mofl:

nor did any

have a wife or a daughter

extraordinary nature were

often taken to prevent or revenge fuch infults.

Husbands and
ral

fathers, valuing chaftity

times killed their wives and daughters,

more than

when

life,

feve-

they had no other

means of preventing them from being raviflied ; and women

themfelves, fired by this example, not unfrequently facrificed their

when he had

lives to preferve their

honour. Virgineus,

method

haplefs daughter Virginea

to fave his

Claudius, who,

own power,

to

bauch her

having obtained leave

have her in his

to

every

from the tyrant

under pretence of claiming her for his

wanted only
;

tried

that

flave,

he might de-

fpeak to her before fhe

fhould be delivered to the tyrant by the judgment of the court,

took her in his arms, and wiping the tears from her eyes, drew
near to fome butchers

fliops,

caufes were publicly tried,

which ftood

'*

"

left to fave

Forum, where

and where Virginea had

judged the property of Claudius.

and turning to his daughter, "

" the only way

in the

juft

been ad-

There, fnatching up a knife,

My

dear child (faid he), this

is

thy liberty and thy honour. Go, Vir-

ginea! go to thy anceftors whilft thou art yet free and undefiled

!"

Thus

faying, he plunged the fatal knife into her breaft;

and

and fuch was the regard of the Romans

whole of the people

N.

249

to chaftity, that almoft the

rofe in arms, to revenge the injured father,

^5,

P-

u.. - w- -'

and the murdered daughter.

Could any thing more forcibly demonftrate the manner in which

the Romans exerted themfelves to preferve the delicacy, as well as
thehonour of their women, itwould be the following circumftances.
Manlius, a patrician and fenator of Rome, having inadvertently

and being by the

faluted his wife in the prefence of his daughter,

Cenfors accufed of an indecency

fidering the matter, ftruck

him

the Senate, after folemnly con-

off the

of their order.

lift

Julius

Cxfar, having heard forae indecent reports of his wife, immediately divorced

innocent

"

whether fhe was guilty or

her, without enquiring

and being afked the reafon of

fo fevere a

treatment,

would not (anfwered he) have the wife of Csefar even

" peded.''

When

time corrupted, the

dia, or the turner

feveral

of the Veftal virgins had been

Romans

reared a temple to

fuf-

one

at

Venus Verticor-

of hearts; and worfliipped her with fuch cere-

monies, as they imagined would incline her to turn the hearts of

the

Roman women

When

forlaking.

to that chaftity

which they were

in danger

of

fuch were the private, fuch the public inftances

of the regard {hewn

to

forfeited every thing that

they deviated from

it,

by the

chaftity

was dear and

can

men

when

the

women

interefting to their fex

we wonder,

that the

Roman

if

ladies,

while this was the cafe, were remarkable beyond any thing that
hiftory has

virtues

handed down

to us, for this

moft exalted of female

,SucH was

the ftate of chaftity in

tended their conquefts into Afia

Vol.

I.

Rome,

till

the

Romans ex-

and returning, brought along

with

Charoeintbc
"he"Ro"
lan
*'"''"-

T H

250
C

HA

P.

them the amazing wealth,

xv'ah

v_v^ of

T O R Y

as well as voluptuous

manner?,

when all the boafted patriotway to the moft fhameful vena-

the nations they had plundered;

ifm of the one fex began to give

lity,

and

all

the chaftity of the other, to the force of the fafliion-

among them. This

able vices juft introduced

venality of the

was whetted by the now luxurious manner of

vagant

tafte for

living,

men

and extra-

pageantry and fliow, and gratified by getting into

ofEces of the itate, and plundering the provinces, or felling the

intercfls

publicly confpicuous, had

to

Women

of their country.

become

fo,

too,

not

lefs

fond of being

no other method of acquiring money

Such an innovation of manners

than proftitution.

altogether overturned every fober plan of frugal ceconomy, and

turned the ideas of both fcxes entirely upon riches, and the parade

of the public fhews and diverfions, which thefe enabled them to

This immoderate

give and to attend.

low and

fliamelefs

with each other,

a player.

freedom into fafhion, and

who

Debauchery reduced

fuflPer

pleafures,

the

lefs

women

contended

ftioukl bribe highefl to obtain the favours

fertility

but as

their wifh, they learned to procure abortions,

might

fhews brought a

defire of

interruption

which they had

tried

at laft,

fertility

of

was not

that their pleafures

jaded even with thefe

moft unnatural means to

the

vary, their lewdnefs became too powerful to be reftrained by law,

and bore down every

men, tinged with the

that

now

oppofed

manners of

licentious

nated with every crime,

who had

obftacle

its

Afia,

courfc.

The

and contami-

paid nearly the fame refpefl to her

forfeited her title to chaftity, as to

Hence lewdnefs and debauchery,

punifhment, became fafhionable

her

who had

not.

neither afraid of fhame nor of

among

every rank and condition

of women, while chaftity was confidered only as an antiquated

virtue.

Courts

OF WOMEN.
Courts

251

are but too frequently the feminaries of vice.

was evidently the

cafe at

The Emprefles

Rome.
:

monly followed by

from the

the

little

generally took

example of the great

the lead in lawlefs indulgence

the

This

com-

is

court, a fcene of the moft

fhamelefs libertinifm, hardly to be paralleled in hiftory, diflemi-

nated

Women

over Rome.

itfelf all

danced naked on the ftage,

bathed promifcuoufly with the men, and, with more than mafcu-

committed every

line effrontery,

bounded

fort

By

of irregularity.

licence thus given to unlawful pleafures,

came unfafhionable, and was confidered

as

the

un-

matrimony be-

a confinement and a

Roman freedom and independence.

condudl of the married women did not a

burden, not confident with

To

thefe ideas alfo the

little

contribute,

and

raifed in the

even Metellus the Cenfor,

riage, that

made

proteftor of that inftitution,

ple againft

it

" we {hould

" If

were

it

deliver ourfelves

" without them, we ought

fervation,

who ought

to

from
live

to

have been the

this evil

do without wives,
but as nature has

very happily with them,

have more regard to our

than to tranfient gratifications."

Rome

is

own

women

A VARIETY
Romans
it

that

all
;

and without which they

;

among

of laws were from time to time devifed by the Lwsoftha

the court of the iEdiles

trade

pre-

to poifon their hufbands.

to ftop the progrefs

was ordained,

nor

the only

place that ever furnifhed an inftance of a general confpiracy

the married

mar-

at

the following fpeech to the peo-

poffible for us to

" ordained, that we cannot

*'

hufbands fuch a difguft

that their names,

of public proftitution.

Among others

courtezans fhould take out a licence from

which they

fliould

renew once every

fliould not be allowed to carry

and the price of their favours,

wrote upon the doors of their houfes.

k 2

on

year,
their

fliould be

Thefe, one would have

imagined,

re!^in'thi's

''"""^"'^'^'

CHAP,
<

T H E

252

r~~-t

T O R Y
woman who had

imagined, were fuch conditions as no

maining fpark of

fenfibility

would have agreed

of vice was not to be ftopped

and daughters

to

Roman

lb eafily

the leafl re-

But the

to.

torrent

women, who were wives

knights, were not afliamed to apply for

fuch licences; and the infetStion was even reaching higher. Viftilla,

a lady of a

with an unparalleled effrontery

Praetorian family,

in public court before the yEdiles,

appeared

proftitute,

demanded

Debauched

as the

a licence to enable her to excrcife her trade.

Romans then

were, under a prince

as Tiberius, their fears

were alarmed

veral laws

at

rcftraln

to

and declaring hcrlelf a

leafl:

women

and the fenate enabled

Roman
take

woman whofe

no

father, grandfather, or

hufband, was a

The debauchery of the

Voconian law, which we have

the trade of proftitution.

was. alfo the occafion of the

already mentioned

but

when

corruption had interwoven

dcxleroufly into the manners and cuftoms of the

to

tus prohibited

public ftews

all

fome

cafes

^^'
fligacy."

tried,

moment

he abandoned

that

the prohibition

it

no

lefs

it

The emperor
was but

Ti-

little re-

the throne, he found on the roll

than three thoufand profecutions for

;

from

that

as impoflible.

was not the manners and cuftoms of the Romans only,

wcrc tinged with debauchery

^^'^ ^"^^^

itfclf [o

Romans, laws

he had formed a fcheme of reformation

adultery

BuT

When Severus mounted

of caufes to be

in

bring on a reformation.

became too feeble

garded.

Religion of

they ordained,

knight, or of any higher quality, fliould be allowed to

upon her

women

fe-

of rank from degrading

themfelves and families by a conduft fo infamous

that

fo difTolute

\^\t\i

that vice at laft infinuated it-

religious ceremonies alfo.

Fond of imitating the

Greeks, the Bacchanalian myfteries, which they celebrated, were

at length introduced into

Rome, and

filled

the city with a fcene of

horror

OF

WOMEN.

253

horror and profligacy, as appears from Livy, hardly equalled in the

annals of any country.

" An obfcure Greek

(fays he)

came from

" Etruria, but brought with him none of thofe arts which that moft
" accomplifhed people have introduced, to improve our minds and
" perfons;

and

paltry prieft

a little

one that

fortune-teller, not

^ {hocked the minds of the people, by publicly profeffing

"

a gain

*'

taught,

myfteries, in

**

were afterwards communicated

^'

out diftindlion or reftraint.

make

and trade of fome religious ceremonies which he openly

" of the
**

to

but he was the minifter of fecret

fineft

which but few were

to

To

rites

he had his
but which

at firft initiated,

men

as well as

thefe rites

women, with-

an entertainment

wines and moft exquifite dainties was added, to

numbers

entice the greater

become members of the

to

fociety.

When drinking had deprived them of their fenfes, and when

" the night, with the mixed company of young and old, and of
" men and women, had put an end to all modefty, every fort of
" vice began at once to be pra6tifed, as every one found the means
*'

of thofe

lufts at

hand, to which he was by nature moft addided.

" Nor were thefe^crimcs confined

to

one fpecies only, the promif-

" cuous debauchery of men and women of rank and family but
^ from thence iuued falfe witneflcs, falfe feals, falfe oaths, and
'
and even poifons, and aftaffinations, fo fecret, that
falfe deeds
" they could not fometimes find the bodies to bury them. Many
;

" crimes were perpetrated by fraud,

perfon knew of
'

flaughter,

for

cries

" extent of

force,

which no

amid fuch a fcene of debauchery and.

attended with the bowlings of the people, and the

" noife of the trumpets and cymbals,

" the

many by

of thofe

who were

it

was impofTible

calling for affiftance.

At

to hear

firft,

the

the city, and a willingnefs to endure an evil of this

"

fort,

THEHISTORY

254

CHAP.

fort,

*'

lad informed of

"

made

At

it

pafs unnoticed

but Poflhuinus the Conful was

was appropriated

" man being on any account admitted

*'

days

fet

into

women

to
it

only, no

there were three

apart in each year for initiation into the Bacchanalian

" myflcries
"

at

it.

their chapel

firft

and the women, in their turn, were ufually created

PacuUa Minia Campana

pricflefles.

altered every thing,

as if

" directed by the gods fo to do: (he firft initiated men, Menius
" and Herennius, her own fons ; and inftcad of confining the
" time of initiation to three days in the year, fhe extended it to
'

five times

every month,

and fixed the time in the night.

I3y

"

this means the facred rites became common, the men and women
" made but one company, and the darknefs increafed their licen" tioufnefs no wickednefs, no abomination, was left unpradifed.
:

" If there was any one who refented

in wickednefs, he

was

their infults, or

vidim

came behind
nor did they

*'

them

**

blufh to glory in this as the height of their religion.

*'

The men

*'

if they

*'

veiled,

were

facrificcd as a

prophefied with fanatical toflTmg of their bodies, as

poflefled

and dreffed

and the women, with

after the

their hair diflie-

manner of Bacchanals, ran

to the

" Tyber with burning torches, which they plunged into the wa" ter, and drew out dill in a flame. Whoever refufed to join
*'

with them, or partake of their

guilt, or

fubmit to their inde-

" cencies, they bound on a machine, and hurried out of fight to

*'

fome unfrequented wood, pretending

that the gods

had taken

" him. There were among them many of the firft quality of
" both fexes and after two years thfy made a rule, that no per" fon fliould be initiated who was more than twenty years of age;
;

" j^jJg'ng,

OF W
''judging,
*'

fuch were

that

mod

E N.

likely

and lubmit

To

ihefe inftances of the flagitious charader of the

all

to their debaucheries."

have been a cuftom from the

of every nation, were

earlieft

own

other nations, and were called ftrangers;

and an

country

antiquity,

women who

Roman
firft who

Courtezans

Z"^^azets^'

feems

it

that the profti-

reforted

to

them from

hence a ftrange woman,

generally fignlfy the fame thing in fcripture

harlot,

-.,_/

add, that they appear to have been the

pradlifed the trade of proftitution in their

tutes

CHAP.

be feduced to their

to

errors,

women, we may
to

^SS

and

hence the repeated injundions which Solomon laid upon his foa,
not to give his ftrength to ftrange

women.

This cuftom of women

when they became prowas univerfal among the an-

betaking themfelves to another country

we have

ftitutes,

cients;

whether

it

lieved that their

their neighbours,
at

home

reafon to believe,

was, that every people, willing to have

own women were more

would not

as took

by feme

little

ful trade,

were

inftigated

own

country and pradife

virtuous than thofe of

to

women

or whether fuch

them

fuffer

be-

it

proftitute themfelves

upon them

this

fhame-

remains of modefty, to

among ftrangers we fhall

but we are aflured, that the
not take upon us to determine
Greeks, however debauched and licentious, commonly adhered to
this cuftom, while the Romans, who broke through every reftraiat,
leave their

it

paid no regard to

it.

But lewdnefs
Roman women

and debauchery were not the only

tion, the

vices

of the

through the whole of their exiftence as a na-

Romans were remarkable

which gave

for their cruelty.

Several

a power of

of

life

and

death over their children, and to huftjands a power hardly

lels

their laws, as

that

to fathers

extenfive over their wives, are a proof of this

but

it

appears in
a

ftill

Cruelty of
the
'

Rom
"""^

women.

TH

256

CHAP,
^_

-,'
,

of

Wronger

fllll

we

light, vphen

T O R Y

confider the barbarous treatment

by whips and tortures; and the deluges of blood

their flaves,

which were fhed

almofl;

by every ufurper of the empire, fome-

timcs from fufpicion, oftener perhaps from mere wantonncfs and

the fpedtacles of wihl hearts, tearing crimi-

barbarity of nature,

and gladiators hacking one another

nals and captives to pieces,

down

for the

amufement of the public

and

fex

were

Nor was Roman

far

their be-

cruelty only a male vice, the fofter

from being proof againft the contagion.

two hundred and twentieth year of Rome,

Severus, then king of the Romans,

Tarquin, confpired

on the throne

all,

who were conquered by

haviour towards thefe unhappy nations

their arms.

of

laft

to aflafTinate

in his dead

In the

Tullia, the daughter of

having, with her hufband

and place themfelves

her father,

the order for the atrocious deed being

given in a tumult of the people, the infamous Tullia, mounted

her chariot with an
ftreet

air

of triumph to return to her houfe; in the

through which fhe was drove, the murderers had

the king's body bleeding and hardly breathlcfs

tacle ftruck the charioteer

petrefied with

go on;

cries

with horror, he checked his horfes, and

what

riot,

At

is

it

drew out

in the cha-

The

and

driver obeyed,

inhuman daughter.

Antony having ordered Cicero

is

and the head to be brought

his wife, Fulvia, laid hold

many

was

have ftained the chariot and the

to be beheaded,

uttered

turning

faid to

the blood of the father

arrived,

he,

on, cried (he, and do not

be afraid of driving over a dead body.

cloaths of the

do not you

faid

a ftool that

Go

at his head,

Why

the body of the king, your fa-

up

thefe words, fnatching

and throwing

you? Alas!

ftops

about to her as he fpoke, That

ther

the difmal fpec-

amazement, could not proceed

Tullia,

juft left

bitter execrations,

the tongue,

of

it,

and placing

and pierced

it

ftruck
it

him,

to

it

when

on the

it

face,

between her knees,

with a bodkin.

To

thefe

we

might

OF W
might

add

eafily

many more

women, but we drop

After

we view

light

qualities, except

257

Roman chap.

a fubjedl fo difagrceable.

acquainted withAfia, in whatever

women, they

their

E N.

inftances of the cruelty of the

Romans became

the

fome imperfect

any amiable

fcarcely exhibit

relics

of their ancient patriotifm,

a virtue, which unlefs exercifed with the greateft moderation,

fcarcely ever adorns the female character.

Roman

the

As wives, we have

matrons were frequently unchafte

at

as mothers, not lefs

luxurious and extravagant be-

frequently carelefs and unnatural,

yond meafure;

feen that

they became almoft entirely the creatures

laft,

of ambition, and of pleafure;

even religion, which almoft in

every age and country, feems to have been more devoutly cultivated by the

women

have had any fuperior power over the female heart

attended at proceffions,

but

we

when any

and were fometimes made

averted,

Rome to
their women

than the men, does not appear at

public

calamity was

prieftefles

to be

of certain temples

read of few peculiar ads of their piety, and of few facrifices

which they offered

Such

is

to propitiate the

gods of their country.

the general charader of the

to defcend to

more

particulars,

Roman women; were we

we might

give inftances almoft

without end of their depravity, and not a few of their virtue.

Before the Republic was contaminated

with the

from every quarter of the plundered globe flowed

were

in general the beft

and

it

even amid the general depravity

Vol.

I.

to

which

Rome, they

of wives, of mothers, and of citizens

having by their mediation, advice, and money,

faved the finking ftate

riches,

is

feveral

times

with pleafure we remark, that

we have been

LI

delineating, there
ftiU

THE HISTORY
ftill

appeared

ftemmed the

many
tide

amiable and virtuous characters,

who

bravely

of popular corruption, and in ages overrun with

every vice, flood forth the advocates of virtue, of maternal tendernefs,

and of conjugal

fidelity

preferving their children and

hufbands, from falling victims to the horrid profcriptions of 06tavius,

Antony, Lepidus, Nero, and many others, who, with a

barbarity

which can hardly be equalled

in hiftory, caufed to

be

murdered in cool blood one half of the nobility of Rome.

CHAP.

WOM

CHAP.
The fame

EAVING
we

the

N.

259

XII.

fuhjei continued.

Romans, and proceeding

in our enquiry,

again defcend into the regions of hiftorical obfcurity,

chap,
^^''

where we are prefentcd with a group of nations and people, now

hardly diftinguifhable from each other, and of many of whom,

we

know any

fcarcely

would be

Of

fuch people

vain, as well as ridiculous, to attempt a minute

cumftantial chara<Ser
,

thing but the names.

we

fketching the outlines of

cir-

therefore, content ourfelves with

fhall,

it

and

it

among

that

group of northern na-

tions,

which we have no authentic accounts

lineate

more

to enable

us to de-

diftindly.

Thoug H in a ftate of the utmoft unculti vation of manners, and atwhich inculcated but few of the precepts of mo-

tached to religions
rality;

and

in

many cafes diredlycontradided them;

early in

their charader;
felves

by

and

and

they learned that modefty which adorned

and that induftry which often maintained them-

their hufbands,

their hunting,

thers,

life,

when

thefe failed to procure fubfiftence

or their depredations

fortified in

mo-

educated by chafte

female virtue by every example around

them, chaftity became almoft an innate principle in their minds,

and daily acquired ftrength by the contempt which was thrown

by the men upon thofe who difregarded

that

no

woman

it;

a contempt fo great,

could violate her chaftity, without precipitating

herfelf into the moft difmal certainty of perpetual celibacy,

Jj'onher'n

the women of "^"

the ancient northern nations were not deftitute of virtue and of excellence

virtues of

as

none

"wo-

T H E

z6o

T O R Y
hope of pardon,

in this cafe entertain even a diftant

none could

or of a hufband,

not, as in rnodern times, to be obtain-

nor the allian:e of the great, but only by perfonal

ed by riches,

mod

attradions,

who was
ftridlly

Tacitus draws

attached to unfpotted perfonal virtue.

a beautifulpidure of ancient

German

fimplicity

and chaftity, in the following words " A ftrit regard for the
" matrimonial ftate charaderifes the Germans, and deferves our
:

Among them

female virtue runs no hazard

*'

higheft applaufe.

*'

of being debauched by the outward objeds of the fenfes,

" being corrupted by fuch

focial gaieties as

never forgiven

inflame the paffions

vice

*'

chaftity once forfeited

**

objel of mirth and raillery, nor

'

for being corrupt, or for corrupting others

is

is

or of

is

made the

not

fafhion pleaded as an excufe

;

good cuftoms and

" manners avail more among thofe barbarous people, than good
" laws among fuch as are more refined." We are apt to place the
greateft purity

refinement
the wrong.

of manners, in particular

ftates

of cultivation and

experience, however, fhews us that

From

we

are often in

account of Tacitus, the ancient Germans

this

appear to have exceeded in fome points of morality, the moft poliftied

and inftruded nations of Europe

nor were the Goths be-

hind them, they deemed purity of manners their diflinguifhing

charaderiftic, and therefore they faid, " Though wc punifh for-

Laws

proteft.

own countrymen, we pardon

*'

nication in our

'

as they are

*'

reaching to our fublimity of

By
who
three

in the

Romans,

by nature and education weak, and uncapable of

virtue.'*

an ancicut law of Iceland, any one who

ing chaltity.

againft

it

her inclination,

was condemned

kifled

to exile

woman

and even he

obtained her confent, fubjeded himfelf thereby to a fine of

marks of

filver.

We

have in a former chapter taken notice

of

O
of fome laws of

this nature

amon?

N.

261

the northern nations, and fhall

^

here add, that they were in general fo folicitous of the honour of

women, and took

their

fuch care that no indecency fliould be of-

manThe
other.
free woman,

fered to them, that their laws in moft places prefcribed the

ner in which the two fexes fhould behave to each

Goths prohibited even a furgeon from bleeding a

unlefs in the prefence

iome other near

fumed

touch a

and fixed a

woman

fine

upon

was

fporting,

journey.

impofed on him

alfo
at

many

pre-

who

kifled

In other places, a
a

woman, except

in

not only flood as fo

but by rendering

virtue,

among

other laws of the fame nature,

the inhabitants of the north,

on the threfhold of

man who

meetings, or on returning from a long

convivial

Thefe, and

or

againft her will, according to her qua-

and the part of her body he touched.

lity,

fine

to

of her father, mother, brother, fon,

relation

many

centinels

all accefs to

fex fo exceedingly difficult, and even dangerous,

the fair

men

taught

to

look up to them as a kind of fuperior beings, and ftamped upon

them

a value

which

they never can attain

make

the accefs to

prompts them

to

them

a value,

which

where modern freedom and gallantry

to,

fo

eafy

and, where their

own

vanity

appear conftantly in every public place, and

cheapen themfelves by a
is

to adoration;

arofe nearly

vifible

fondnefs to be difpofed of.

There

not perhaps in nature a more general law, than that which

induces us to value every thing in proportion to the pains and

labour

it

has coft us,

ing, naturally

cuftom and by

the

women

chafte, proud,

hw, were

difficult

both by

not to be gained by every flight attack,

worthy of

his

miflrefs

every other acquifition then in eflimation, could

I

are confider-

of accefs,

nor did they yield to every pretended admirer

lover's rendering himfelf

we

of the nations

and

CHAP.
XII.

nothing but a

by valour, and

make her propitioua

THEHISTORY

262

CHAP,

tious to his wlfties

hence he feldom got pofleflion of the objet

XII

of his heart, but after a long tram or labours and

difficulties,

and the value he had for her, was meafured by the retrofpedive
view of all that he had gone through on her account. But a fur-

more naturally under

ther difcuflion of this fubjed will fall

the

head of courtlhip.

An

hiftorian endeavouring to delineate the characters of people

fo little

many of thofe we have already mentioned, as

we are now confidering, may be compared to an

known,

well as thofe

as

antiquarian, foUcitous about difcovering the real fize of our anceftors,

in the times

when

they were

to

faid

be gigantic

but

not being able any where to find an entire ftatue, or fkeleton, can

only find the foot or hand of a

leg of a fkeleton

when

ftatue, or

the bone of an

arm

or

calculating that fuch parts of a regularly

formed body, bear fuch proportions

to the whole,

with a tolerable degree of precifion what the

fize

he can difcover

of the whole was.

In like manner, though the hiftorian has only broken and interrupted fketches of the character of a people, he may, by carefully

comparing them together, and tracing the

to the virtues and vices that
racter,

the whole of a

they bear

human

cha-

be able to form a tolerable conjecture concerning the

people to

down

make up

relations

whom

to us

have been

Thus from every anecdote handed

women of the north, we may delineate them to

they belong.

of the

chafte, frugal,

induftrious,

Ihare of knowledge, which gave

rity over the

thefe good

men, who were

qualities they

them

to the laft

feem

to

and
in

poflefTed

many

of fome

little

refpeCts a fuperio-

degree ignorant.

With

all

have had a mixture of pride and

ferocity in their nature, not very confiftent with that female foftnefs and delicacy

which the men

in general fo

much

admire.

Such,

N.

263

Such, perhaps, was nearly the general charadter of the

fair fex,

chap.
A.I1

from the

earlieft

infancy of the northern nations,

decline of chivalry,

when

it

began

to

till

towards the

affume a more degenerate ap-

pearance and for feveral ages continued to be only a compofition

of brutality and debauchery, from which again

emerged.

In the fixth century,

when

it

happily

is

the paflions feem to have

been divided between religion and debauchery, and the churches

equally appropriated to the prayers of the faint and the profligacy

of the

{inner,

it

was no uncommon thing

carry her by force,

or decoy her

there detain and debauch her

to feize

by fraud,

on a woman,

to the church,

and

nor could her relations, nor the

laws, refcue her from the arms of her raviflier, while he chofe to

keep within the walls of the facred afylum. In the reign of Charlemagne,

it

was

a cuftom in France to colledt together all the

ftrumpets they could find, and

tainment of the public.

make them run

And

vourite theatrical entertainment

in the

races for the enter-

time of Lewis XI. a fa-

was the Judgment of Paris

when

three of the moft handfome of their female players, naked as they

were born, reprefented the three goddelTes,

felves in this condition to the
it

was

confiftent with female

who

fubmitted them-

judgment of that youth.

modefty

Whether

to be prefent at fuch enter-

tainments, muft be judged of from the complexion of the times

we

will venture to affirm,

make
to

it

however, that no circumftances could

confiftent with delicacy.

We

have had occafion formerly

mention, that the worlhip of polluted

deities,

and celebration

of religious ceremonies remarkable for impurity,

contributed to contaminate the manners; and

have greatly

we cannot

help here

obferving, that though the objed of chriftian adoration, and the

rites

of the chriftian religion, are the moft pure and holy, the

minifters of that religion were, in the limes

we

are fpeaking of^

q^uitc

i-

the middle

^^

*'

T H E

2<)4

MA

P.

\-v

->

the

quite

When

reverfe.

T O R Y

almofl:

every

prieft,

who

fhould have

taught by example as well as by precept, gave himfelf up to

lewdnefs, and publicly kept often a variety of loofe

him, what can

we

expel from the people

the people were licentious, the

gion

women

When

women

about

the priefts and

could not efcape the conta-

every rank was whirled into the vortex of lewdnefs, and

The queen of Navarre pub-

the rudeft vulgarity of manners.

lifhed a

volume of Tales, almoft too

Queen

courtezan.

Elizabeth of England was not only

dicted to fwearing,

kind of

About her

manner.

much

but even to the mod: vulgar and

which

oaths,

indelicate for the ear of a

uttered

flae

in a

time, however, the

ad-

familiar

vulgar and indelicate

manners of Europe were

beginning to aflume that chaftity and elegance for which

are

now

happily diftinguifhed.

fo

character and

condudl of

neceflary for us to take a

the prefent

to

from

polifh

Ch

thofe

European women,

ftates

where the human

approaching the neareft

valued

it

is

to

na-

fpecies has received the higheft

art.

'^"^ nearer that mankind approach to a favage

(lit

furvey the

view of the other parts of the globe, and

proceed gradually from thofe

ture,

we

But before

we

the

ftate,

lefs

litile

in fa-

difference in every age

them

and in every country

perceivable

among

in this ftate, their obfervations, their purfuits, are narrow

and limited

their attachments

few, but ftrong

fentments lafting and implacable.

admits of

little

polifhed nations

variation
is

it,

is

Beyond

and their re-

thefc, their condition

confequently their charadler, which in

formed and influenced by a thoufand

circumftances and fituations,

upon

is

having but few of thefe to operate

marked with much

uniform appearances.

different

ftronger,

though fewer and more

In

OF W
In favage

life,

fhame

and

E N.

26x}

female delicacy has no exiftence

lute nakednefs railes not

idea of

a blufh

the mofl: abfo-

nor can any adion excite the

many

as chaftity itfelf has not, in

fame value ftamped upon

places, the
it

are either confidered as no fault, or at moft as a fault of a very

which neither draws down on a delinquent the ridicule and contempt of her own fex, nor the negledl and defertion
trifling nature,

The

of ours.

we

inftances

could give of this would be almoft

endlefs.

Among

wives

each other, and married as well as unmarried

to

without the

fome

in

by

places, they

them

fire

ceremony,

leaft

to

is

fixed

it is

a pradice, into

and

in v^'hich the

In

the

many

upon her who

which

when

parts of South America, fo

by

were

if

on

that

it

little reftraint is laid

koned

Thibet, no

fit

The

for

Don

Ulloa reports, that

upon

woman who

and

it is faid,

women

has not been deflowered

are fo far

is

rec-

from paying any regard

aftiamed to prepare and adminifter to the

ftimulating potions, to create or

I,

as

that in the king-

that they even violate every principle of decency

being in the leaft

Vol.

women

they found them fuch, were highly

matrimony.

Brazilian

chaftity,

on

plainly appears to be confidered

legiflation.

trial

affronted at being impofed

dom of

their parents,

the ancient Peruvians did not knowingly marry fuch

and

degree

leafl:

cuftom of their country continues them through

objed not worthy of

virgins,

refufed

offers herfelf to proflitution

girls are early initiated

commerce of thefexes,

as an

nay,

even complain to their countrymen, and de-

In the dlftrid of the Hurons, not the

of criminality

women,

themfelves to ftrangers

offer

revenge the indignity they have fuffered,

a ftranger.

life.

hufbands voluntarily lend their

the Natches,

M m

v^

to

not

men

increafe their natural defires

which

-u

feir.ale

^"'

from

as in civil foclety, deviations

it

CHAP,
fava-

THE HISTORY

266

CHAP,
^ :

which when they

i

tions fometimes prove mortal.

their houfes

the perfon

him

offer

At Mindanao,

whofe

invitation he

him

vour.

This cuftom, which, befides

power

accepts,

he

fure

is

obliged

is

to

to

return a genteel prefent for the unfolicited fa-

and

to

whom

female companion,

accept,

difpofing

as foon as a ftranger

natives flock about him, and eagerly invite

arrives, the

to

an extravagant height, the po-

wifli to raife to

implying an abfolute and

in the male, likewife fuppofes female unchaftity to

be a matter of no confideratlon,

is

obferved at Palo Condorc, Pe-

gu, Siam, Cochin-China, Cambodia, in fome places of the EaftIn Otaheite, chaftity does
Indies, and on the coaft of Guinea.

not feem to be confidered as one of the virtues, nor

public violation of

The women

looked upon

it

is

the moft

either as criminal or indecent.

Eng-

not only readily and openly trafficked with the

liQi failors for

perfonal favours,

and brothers for that purpofe,

but were brought by their fathers

market

as to a

and thofe

who

brought them were always abundantly confcious of the fuperior

value of youth and beauty.

Savage woo/foftnefs"'*

BESIDES a

ftrltlt

regard to chaftity, there

radter a certain foftnefs of

temper and

kind of timidity and inclination

women

which may

itfelf,

amiable in the eyes of every beholder.

in the female cha-

difpofition,

to pity,

cacy, beauty, and even with modefty

is

mixed with a
vie with deli-

in rendering a

But of

woman

this quality favage

Brought up

in every climate are almoft entirely deftitute.

amid the ftorms of rough and unhofpitable climates

expofed

to

the vicifTitudes of hunger and of cold

obliged to procure moft of

by carnage and deftrudion

and conftantly accuftomed

their food

of cruelty

to fcenes

fenfation

and

pity,

their hearts are

fteeled

againft every foft

one of the moft engaging ornaments of the

female

OF

WOMEN.

female mind, reckoned a weaknefs, which

We

to fubdue.

it Is

which

from being

them any of

in

the efTence of female

conftitutes

and forcibly engages the heart

in general,

incumbent on them

have therefore no reafon to expe<ft

that engaging foftnefs,

friendfliip,

267

nay, fo far are they,

of any of the companionate

fufceptible

fenfations, that the very reverfe is their character.

Among many
commonly go
though
they

of the

out to meet the warriors on their return

thefe warriors

fell

have treated

their captives,

into their hands, with an

hardly form any idea

women

home; and

from the moment

inhumanity of which we caa

yet the period of their real fufFerings

be faid only to commence

It is

North Americans, the

tribes of

at the

time they are met by the

may

women.

almofl incredible to believe, with what degree of tranfport and

rage thefe furies attack them

tion of

it,

who

and he only can form any concep-

has frequently witnelTed the power of the paffions

over the female mind, and their concentrated power over the fe-

male favage
is

where being but few

coUedled, as

who go

were, into a focus.

it

out to meet the warriors,

or near relation
fpired to blot
in vain.

number,

in

Has any woman among

loft

till

is this

though thirty or forty long years have con-

him out of her remembrance, they have

Frantic with revenge,

fhe falls on the

firft

at

the fliort-lived effort of a fudden paffion

her bodily ftrength

thirft

is

quite exhaufted

little,

flie

than fhe renews the horrid tafk

with no other interruption than what

is

confpired

captive

every wound.
:

fhe goes on

no fooner reco;

a tafk, which,

abfolutely neceflary to re-

freih the ferocious tormentors, generally continues in the

Mm2

flie

but the fame infatiable

of revenge urging her implacable mind,

vers herfelf a

thofe

a hufband, a fon, a brother,

meets, and violates decency, humanity, and mercy,

Nor

whole ftrength

their

camp,

through

p.

^^^^

THEHISTORY

a68

CHAP,
<-

-w ->

through the whole of the

firft

men and when the prifoners are afterward finally condemned,

when they are led out to fulFer, fuch a fcene of torture as the
hiftory of no other people ever yet paralleled, and which we
:

women are
fiends, who inflidl
the

think too fliocklng to defcribe,

cutioners, or rather relentlefs
hell

might flaudder

To
lied

by fuch inhuman crimes,

we inform our

it

is

fhocking

not taken up the hatchet, nor

and

fall at laft

own

fex.

S'JCH

Cruelty to
rec'uTiarto"

favagc

is

but

muft be

it

much

ciple,

to nations lefs ful-

ftill

muft appear as

more

come out

in

an

hoftile

when

manner, are

men,

as the

victims to the lingering tortures inflided by their

the ftatc of chaftity, fuch that of humanity,

we

fo,

women, though they have

America.

among

the

But from thefe unpromifing

are not rafhly to conclude, that they are deftitute of

every virtue, and of every excellence.

fo

and

fame indifcriminate rage of cruelty

women of North

fpecimens

tortures that everv

this female barbarity

readers, that captive

treated with the

the principal exe-

at.

thofe accuflomed to foftcr manners,

unaccountable as

.America.

wo-

night after the arrival of the

Their inhumanity

Revenge

the efFel of nature, as of education.

which, from the

earlieft periods

lefs

not

a prin-

of antiquity, has operated

ftrongly on every ignorant and unlettered people.

hardly treated their captives with

is

is

The

Ifraclites

cruelty than the Americans

they made them pafs through the brick-kilns, and under faws and

harrows of

iron.

nearly the fame

The

pradice of almoft

every country had

its

all

the ancients

tutelar deities

and

it

was
was

imagined, that a more acceptable fervice could not be rendered to

ihefe,

than to llain their altars with the blood of the enemies of

that

O
that country

which they patronifed

E N.

269

thus, cruehy to captives

country a religious ceremony, which took

in every

human mind,

fuch hold of the

of the vidims, were

to the deity.

totally abforbed in

had fallen in

thofe of the fervice

their

till

their furviving friends to this

fully accomplifhed,

to

inflidled.

Strongly excited by the

we

of thefe motives,

riety of torments with

is

latter,

the fource

tortures that

if not alfo

from whence

which they execute

this horrid barbarity

to their nature,

fhould reckon

but

we

them

pity them,

by the former

va-

arifes that

their enemies.

of the American

the mofl; execrable of

when we

confider

unbounded, though miftakcn

it

women

friendlTiip

peculiarly charadlerife

and hatred are the

ftrongeft.

never to be forgiven

fo a

As an

all

congenial

human

and indeed, of
favage

life,

good adion

is

to

you

turn afide from your intereft.

required of the fex, this quality

faithful

and inviolable of

all

wives.

the

friendfhip
is

held in everlafting rein a friendfhip,

which adverfity cannot fhake, which danger cannot

Is

all

injury done to a favage,

membrance, and commonly attaches him

chaftity

beings

of the mofl

as the efFedt

marks which moft

itfelf

were

or what they delighted in from mere wantonnefs,

we

even death

and

to,

difcover that an exuberance of friendfhip to

their deceafed relations,

Were

appear

to

vengeance; which was the

more horrid the

the

of thofe

or ghofts,

mies; and, they were even fometimes fuppofed

more

to inflid vari-

roam about in a kind

blood was avenged on their ene-

were fuppofed

battle,

of melancholy mood,

the manes,

done

was among the ancients

there

which powerfully urged them

ous torments on their captives

^->^

v_

that the thoughts of the fuflPerings

But, befides this,

another principle,

iblicit

CHAP.
All*

was almoft

who

terrify,

nor

In places where

makes them the mofl

Where

chaftity

is

not required,

Caufes of this

"^^^^'

THE HISTORY

270

CHAP,

if

quiretl,

they are but tolerably well ufed by their hufbands,

it

binds them in an attachment to their interefts and perfons, far fuipafling

any thing

we

that

their other qualities, they are

hufbands

fubniiffive

and obedient

variety of wretchednefs to

which

ftimulated by want, but

feldom bleded with a talent for unremitting induftry

domer, perhaps, with forefight enough

my.

Like

all

fuperftition,

ftantly

who

and

ftill

fel-

be produdlive of oecono-

to

other ignorant people, the moft abfolute dupes of

by which conftantly deceived themfelves,

deceive

that

all

are daily expofed;

their lives

when

ftrenuous exerters of their powers,

to

their

to

and

patient fufTerers of hunger, cold, pain,

As

ever meet with in civil fociety.

one another, and

more

ftill

they con-

deceive their

men,

take the ravings of a diftempered female brain, for the in-

fallible fuggeftions

of the Great Spirit.

In afcending from

thefe fcenes,

where we

are prefented with

nature in her moft rude and uncultivated fhape, to thofe where

fhe

is juft

gufting,

beginning

we

to

put on an appearance fomething

naturally turn our eyes

tracklefs waftes of

North America,

we

of Africa and Afia; though

many

parts of thefe,

tivation of manners,

yond

Of Africa.

we
to

lefs

dif-

from the frozen regions and

to the

more indulgent climates

that,

even in

civil fociety

and cul-

are forry to fay,

find the progrefs

of

have advanced but a very few degrees be-

the Americans.

In travelling over the vaft peninfula of Africa,

expecfi to find,

among

of manners and of

fo

many

chara(5ler

different people,
in this,

however,

we

naturally

a great diverfity

we

are

much

dif-

appointed, for notwithftandlng of the great variety of climates

that the Africans inhabit,

and

different

forms of government

to

which

O
which they are

fubjeled,

E N.

271

they are every where nearly the fame

*

kind of people

a general famenefs and uniformity of fentiments

and ufages, running through the whole of thofe immenfc regions

they poffefs, with feme trifling difference only in the degrees of
the fame qualities

and with

this

remarkable coincidence of the

whole, that thefe qualities are commonly the worft of thofe which

human nature

have difgraced
bours

it

mixture of good and

When we
cans,

evil in

and cuftoms

them, except the Africans.

take a furvey of the ancient, and the prefent Afri-

with fome

it is

their neigh-

that all the inhabitants of the globe have a

a proverb,

is

infomuch that among

to

be nearly the fame,

that every fpark of genius,

we

that while

furprife,

we

find

their

manners

difcover at the fame time,

and every idea of moral redltude,

feem almoft entirely diffipated from among them.

The names of

Hannibal, of Afdrubal, and Terence, fliew that they were for-

merly famous for heroes, and

tion of the Chriftian religion

for poets

and

among them,

after the introduc-

the

names of Cyprian,

Auguftine, and TertuUian, do credit to their divinity

in old time

renowned

for their induftry in cultivating the ground,

for their trade, navigation, caravans,

they are infamous for

treachery

and above

and murdering
tical ftates

all

retain

their

all,

and ufeful

idlenefs,

arts

ignorance,

for their lawlefs

at prefent

fuperftition,

methods of robbing

the other inhabitant^ of the globe, as the pira-

of Tunis and Algiers every day demonftrate.

It would feem, that

ftill

they were

fome

loft as

fenfe of their

as they

do not chufe

deavour

to juftlfy

to

they are

own

amend,

to

almoft every virtue, they

flagitioufnefs

of character

their priefts, or

them by the following

Marabouts,

ftory:

"

but

en-

Noah, fay
" they.

^-

^.f^
All*

'*'

*"

Yii^
<

T H E

2^^

-.

T O R Y

" *^^y ^^^^ "o fooner dead, than his three fons, the firft of
" whom was white, the fecond tawny, and the third black,
*'

agreed upon dividing

"

ter

**

was fpent

"

left,

"

till

having come

among them

they were obliged

the next

morning

" pipe together, they

poflTefTions

ter a

*'

gold, filver, precious

*'

value,

went

of goods which their father had

adjourn the divifion of them

to

to rert, each In his

own

Af-

tent.

furprifed

the

and other things of the greateft

ftoncs,

away

loaded the heft horfes with them, and rode

was

af-

of the day

the white brother got up, feizcd on

fleep,

" country where his white

" The tawny awaking foon
" tention,

having fupped, and fmoked a friendly

all

"

few hours

and

to this refolution, the greateft part

in forting that variety

fo that

his goods

pofterity
after,

have been

to that

fettled ever fmce.

and with the fame criminal in-

when he came

to

the ftorehoufe, to find

'*

that his brother had been before-hand with him, but refolving

"

to

"

horfes and

make

the beft of a bad bargain, haflily fecured the

camels, and

loading them

reft

with the beft carpets,

" cloaths, and other remaining goods, direded his route

" other part of the world, leaving behind him only

'*

coarfeft

" the
'*

of the goods, and fome provifions of

third,

or black brother,

of his heart, to

make

little

came next morning,

the propofcd

of the

divifion,

to

an-

few of the

value.

When

in the honefty

and could neither

" find his brethren, nor any of the valuable commodities, he

judged that they had tricked him, and were by that time

eafily

'

fled

*'

fituation, he took his pipe,

'

the moft cffcdual means of retrieving his

*'

venged on

**

fchemcs in his mind, he

beyond any

poftibility

of

a difcovery.

and

" portunity of making

3

at

laft

reprifals

him down

fet

his perfidious brothers.

In this moft affliding

lofs,

to confidcr

on

and being re-

After revolving a variety of

fixed

upon watching every op-

on them, and laying hold

of,

and

" carrying

O F
*'

carrying

*'

way,

"
*'

away

E N.

their property as often as

in revenge for the lofs

deprived him

fo unjuftly

having come

the profpedt before us,

fliould

in his

fall

on

his defcendants to

defcend to particulars,

promifing, though in fome places the gloomy fcene

do

gaged themfelves

is

but unhere and

is

Some of the tribes of

fidelity, when they have en-

of a ftranger.

in the protetion

and

are confpicuous for their temperance

women, upon

behind a curtain, that they

alfo

Among

of them,

and

their

the whole, are far from being indelicate or unchafte.

and

In Egypt, they never appear unveiled,

fit

Many

hofpitality,

may

at public

aflemblies

not be feen by the men.

the Hottentots, though they have no claim to delicacy,

they are fimple and inoffenfive, chaftc and fubmiffive to their huf-

On

bands.

ous, have

the banks of the Niger,

time, a female referve,

they are tolerably induftri-

of vivacity, and,

confiderable (hare

which would do no

fame

at the

difcredit to a politer

country: they are modeft, affable, and faithful, and an

air

of

innocence appears in their looks, in their language, and gives a

beauty to their whole deportment.

approach toward
ftature,

the

eaft,

complexion, and

When

African

the

fenfibility,

and

and

like

the

foil

they inhabit,

their pleafures refemble

Vol.

I.

more the

degenerate in

as well as in chaftity,

chief of the female virtues; even their

tures,

from the Niger, we

women

that

language, like their feais

,- u

fo to

there chequered with a few of the virtues.

wandering Arabs are remarkable for

p.

his death-

of the general charader of the Africans,

when we

C H a

he not

to this refolution,

his life, but

all

it

" bed laid the ftrongeft injundicns on

" the end of the world,"
this fhort (ketch

it

of that patrimony of which they had

only continued in the pradtice of

From

273

harfh and difagreeable,

tranfports of fury, than the

gentle

Female charent parts

"'^'*

of'

THE HISTORY

274

"entle emotions communicated

by agreeable

Upon

fenfations.

the

weftern coafts of Africa, are extended for a confiderable way, a

people called Zafe Ibrahims, or offspring of

long flowing hair, and are

Africans

but what

is

much

much

fpirit,

reft

nor to murder, be-

to plundering,

cing and to fongs, of which love

in fuch a

they have

than any other of the

fairer

ing of a free, liberal, and hofpitable

many

moft remarkable, they are not like the

of their countrymen, addidcd

while in

Abraham

given to dan-

conflantly the fubjecfl; and

is

men and women paint

deformity, the women here

other parts of Africa, both

manner

as to add to their

paint after nature, and improve the charms fhe

by

has given,

fuch colours as have the neareft refemblance to her in her moft

beautiful appearance
ly taken care of

by

to all this

we may

their parents,

add, that they are ftridt-

and on that account

difficult

of

accels to ftrangers.

One

peculiar cuftom of this people, though not properly be-

longing to our fubje^t,

we cannot

help mentioning

none but the

chief lords of their country have the privilege of killing any ani-

mal, which they always do with a great deal of ceremony;

nor

would any of the people, though urged by the

ftrongeft neceffity,

by any other perfon.

Another cuftoni

eat that

hardly

which was

lefs

fingular

killed
is,

that all children born

days, and Fridays, are

woods

to die

reckoned accurfed, and expofed in the

of cold and hunger,

or meet with a

death from the jaws of the wild hearts

the

women,

more merciful

but fo compaflionate are

that in fplte of the puniQiments threatened againft

by the men, and of the more tremendous

by

on Tuefdays, Thurf-

fuperftition, they frequently fteal,

privately at the hazard of their

own

terrors held over

them
them

and bring up thefc children

lives.

On

the banks of the

Gambia,

'

O
Gambia,

female charadler

this

an appearance of modefty,

and when opportunity

favour for a

in

E N.

reverfed

Is

it is

offers,

275
though they put on

fad nothing but an appearance,

they will very readily grant any

a filk handkerchief,

little coral,

or fome

trifle

of a

fimilar nature.

Besides the

now

places

only lame and imperfedt accounts of,

others, of

which we know

we have
Africa many

mentioned, feveral of which

little

there are in

more than the names.

Ethiopia,

Lybia, Zanguebar, and fome others, have hitherto been almoft

impervious

to

European

travellers

and the only people who have

dared to enter them, have been Jefuits

whofe

relations,

where-

ever religion or intereft were concerned, have gained no great

credit

among mankind

and mercantile adventurers,

fo

hot

in

the purfuit of gain, that they never examined any thing which had

not a relation to that fubjedt.

Beyond

the river Volta, in the country of Benin,

every where upon the Gold Coaft,

the

and almoft

women, though

far

from

being famous for any of the virtues, would not be difagreeable in

their

looks,

with

their faces

on

ladies lay

there

is

were

not for the abominable cuftom of marking

it

fears,

for the

Though

paint.

in

fame purpofes

few

a particular opinion over

humanife the mind

this

remove themfelves, or

they

after death

refpedts better than

all this

demned

by any accident removed,

are

return to their

foftens the flavery

in other countries,

favages,

country, which tends to

own

country, which they

confider as the moft delightful in the univerfe.

hope not only

our European

a firm perfuafion, that to whatever

is

place they
fliall

as

to

This fond delufive

which they

are often con-

but alfo induces them to treat fuch

n 2

ftrangers

^
'

^^

^-

CHAP,
'

T H E

27G

_r

flrangers

fuaded,

that

who

labour in procuring

in public

bled

amufements

common

places of

Refleaions.

As wc

them

lefs

are the

which, like

priefts

time

the

and amufements, and no men are ever

places of the world, has the efFedt

upon beings who ought

to be free,

virtuous.

we

all

fliall

we have

conclude what

latter,

to fay

when we look back upon

we have drawn, we find

that

national charaders,

worfe than the

fented,

they fpend

themfelves,

affem-

many

by obferving,

ever admitted

This confinement, though not of

and particular character

women

women

Cannot give a minute and circumftantial charadler of the

African women,
fubjet,

fimple, and they beftow

fociety.

a nature as in

renders

is

neither to thefe, nor to any other

that confinement generally has

it

The

in other bodies.

they fpend a great deal of their time

but

refort,

their

into

{lri(5l

done

their food

it

in female employments

fo

adlions

together in houfes by

admitted

T O R Y

border upon Zaara are the mofl peaceable and good-

natured of the Africans

little

come among them with much civility; being perthey are come there to enjoy paradifc, and re-

as

ceive the reward of virtuous

people

is

on

that

this general

the former,

drawn from the men, much

which we have

and perhaps even that former

is

chiefly

taken from the

not fo bad as

it is

repre-

being Iketched out almoft entirely, either by declaiming

of their

own

nation,

or.

by Europeans, who are ftrongly

prejudiced agalnft the Africans, on account of the lofles they have

fuftained

by

their plunderings

and depredations. Thefe things, no

doubt, juftly excite our indignation, and extort from us every ungracious epithet

but were

we

to

have the charafter of the Euro-

peans drawn by an African, would he have more reafon to be indulgent to us

No

he might
1

treat us

with

dill

greater feverity

what

WOMEN.

OF
what

would he probably paint

a horrid fcene

a people,

who

277
he would delineate

profefs a religion, the precepts of

which breathe no-

thing but gentlenefs and humanity, in fpite of nature, and in

fpite

of that religion, carrying away by fraud and force, every year,

thoufands of his helplefs countrymen into flavery

how their

from them

mercilefs mailers exadl

and even

their ftrength,

fuftenance;

he would

fufFer that

he would

a labour fuperior to

ftrength to

fail

want of

for

of the whips, the tortures,

tell

tell

and the

deaths inflided on his countrymen, fhould they ever happen to

confider

human

themfelves as

beings, or venture to aflert the

rights of nature

and of humanity

from the difmal

tale,

Africans while

we

as

we

he would

feel ourfelves almoft

improvement

but we

defift

transformed into

relate it.

In cur progrefs from America to Africa,

little

tell

in

the

we meet with

but

manners and character of the people

and when from Africa we pafs into Afia, we find that they have
only

left

the Africans a very

few degrees behind them, almoft

man-

every thing but peacefulnefs of difpofition and gentlenefs of

While the African,

ners.

wait to plunder and deftroy

rice,

like
;

the tyger of his forefts,

the Afiatic,

neath

little

reclines be-

the fhade, and gives labour and luxury to the winds

him but enjoy

his

his rice,

women, and

his eafe,

in

lies

contented with a

and fome of the fimpleft productions of nature,

in

let

and he afks no

more.

The

beautiful fcenes

which prefent themfelves on the banks of

the Ganges, and along the plains of Hindoftan, are almoft beyond
defcrlption; the air

is

perfumed

licious fragrance, arifing

at

fome feafons with the moft de-

from a variety of flowers, and no

lefs

number.

General chaAGatics.

T H E

278

number of

The

rifliment.

fun

fruits, wliich

trees

but pleafure

wholefome and

yield a

form a (hade impenetrable

here bountiful Nature has

nou-

rcfrcfliing

to the rays

of the

the Afiatic nothing to purfue

left

and hardly any thing

T O R Y

do the Hindoos,

elfe

the ancient inhabitants of the country, purfue.

who

are

Relaxed by the

more than half of this pleafure confifts in eafe and indowhich has taken fuch hold of them, that a faying from one

climate,

lence

of their favourite authors

" better

to

fit ftill

" but death

vellers,

fo

is

frequently in their mouths

is

''

It is

than to walk; better to fleep than to awake;

bed of

extravagant

we may

If

all."

their love

is

of

credit

fome modern

that the

reft,

tra-

women

of

Allahabad can hardly be prevailed upon to reach out their hands

to fave their

own

children,

when

by carriages paffing along the

Hindoos.
fions,

in danger of being trod to death

Such

ftreet.

The Mahommedans have more

is

the pidure of the

aQivity, ftronger paf-

and a cruelty and ambition which are hardly

to

be reftrain-

ed within any bounds.

Sketches of

In confidering the charader of the

Afiatic

women, there are

The firft is, that

the cbarafler
of their wo-

two things which claim our utmoft

men.

the narrow and limited fphcre in v?hich they move, altnoft entirely
diverts

them of every thing

that arifcs

and confequently of much of

fecond,

from

liberty

and

fociety,

their chara6"terirt;ic diflindion.

The

up from the obferv^tion of all

our accounts of them are extremely mutilated and

that they arc fo clofely fhut

Europeans, that

imperfed, as well as in

many

may, however, obferve of them

by an external force
{(J

attention.

is

points falfe and ridiculous.

in general,

Y/e

that as a fpring bent

conftantly endeavouring to reftore itfelf

they, unjuflly deprived of their liberty, are conftantly exerting

all

O
all
TV

E N.

279

the cunning they are mafters of, in order to deceive the tyrants

ho have fecluded them from the world and the fweets of

and by long cuftom,

affifted

fociety

by nature, and urged by necelBty,

they are become great adepts in thofe arts of deception, which tend
to procure

them

a temporary liberty, or favour an intrigue.

Chastity and unchaftity

charaderife the women of the
trable

are almoft the only things that can

Harams, they can hardly be

having no intercourfe with

mical virtues which adorn
fiftsin care, frugality

it,

Shut up for ever

Eaft.

called creatures

and no ufe for the

If being

citizens.

its

and induftry, thefeare

all

in

impene-

of the worlds
and cecono-

focial

good wives con-

things entirely out

of their power: if being fuch, confifts in loving their hufbands,

and tendernefs

of thefe

to their children; the firft

is

ren-

alfo

dered next to impofhble by the behaviour of thofe tyrants

ftyle

themfelves hufbands

transferring

upon the children fome

to the father.

flrangers
fible

tice,

the

To

laft

is

who
much weakened by

part of that diflike they have

the joys of friendfhip they are, perhaps, entire

men

treat

them

they can efteem them

The only

and the

virtues, then,

manner, that

in fuch a

the

women

which the

it is

are their conftant rivals.

Afiatic fair can put in prac-

are fuch as relate to their religion,

and

their chaftity;

even in the exercife of religion they are circumfcribed.

are not allowed to attend
their country, they can

manner

ration of the heart

are difpofed of

or forcibly taken by hufbands,

to,

as to chaftity, the

viour of thefe hufbands to them through

methods

in the

but

As they

on the public worlhip of the gods of

have no other religion than the

and

impof-

life,

in

filent

ado-

which they

and the beha-

are the moft unlikely

world to make them famous for that virtue.

But

CHAP.

THE HISTORY

28o
C H A

But

P.

though thefe obfervations

may

be pretty generally applied

Xll.

to the Afiatic
Braminical

women,

tlicir

condufl.

women,

or priefts of India, though they confine their

of

countrymen,

their

dulgence, they

Married

to

fecure

women

by treating them with

yet,

their

and

lenity

by attaching

virtue

like the reft

in-

hearts.

their

each other in their infancy, they have the greateft vene-

ration for the nuptial tie

their ftrength
confifts in

The Bramins,

there are feme exceptions.

and

pieafing

their

mutual fondnefs increafes with

in riper years,

their

all

hufbands

women

the glory of the

a duty which they confi-

der as one of the moft facred of their holy religion, and which
the gods will not fuffer them to neglect with impunity.
the reft of the

Hindoo women take every opportunity

their keepers, thefe voluntarily confine themfelves,

the

company and

converfation of

copy that fimpliclty of

life

all

ftrangers,

While
to elude

at leaft

from

and in every refped

and manners, for which

their

hufbands

are fo remarkable.

Mo Jelly

If

the Chinefe

women.

we

except thefe

we have now mentioned, of

all

the other

perhaps the beft

to

modefty.

of

the

Afiatics

Chinefe have

Even the men wrap themfelves

reckon
than

up

in their garments,

neceflary

the

women,

more

ftill

clofely

wrapped up,

never difcover a naked hand even to their neareft relations,

can poflibly avoid
behaviour,

is

it.

Every part of

calculated to preferve decency,

modefty which appears

Charmed, no doubt, with

have

to

them

fo

in a reciprocal

in

if

they

their drefs, every part of their

and

and what adds the greateft luftre to their charms,

mon

and

indecent to difcover any more of their arms and legs

it

is

clofely

title

infpire rcfped
is

that

uncom-

every look, and in every adion.

engaging

manner

demeanour, the men be-

and that

their virtue

may
not

WO M

OF

E N.

281

^ ^ a

not be contaminated by the neighbourhood of vice, the Icgiflature

takes care that no proftitutes fhall lodge within the walls of any

of the great towns

in

China.

fented by fome travellers

this femblance of

Such
but

it

are the Chinefe

women

'

repre-

by others doubted, whether

is

modefty be any thing

elfe

than the cuftom of

much feem-

the country; and alleged, that notwithftanding of fo

ing decency and decorum, they have their peculiar modes of intriguing, and embrace every pofllble opportunity of putting
in

pradice

and

not to ftab the

fureft

that,

they frequently fcruple

in thefe intrigues,

paramour they had

invited to their arms,

method of preventing detedion and

few, perhaps, of the moft flagitious

them

may

lofs

as the

of charader.

be guilty of fuch enor-

mous crimes but we perfuade ourfelves, that they are only very
few and we are happy in having it in our power to inform our
;

fair readers, that fuch relations are

modern

So
of

travellers,

whofe veracity

different over all the

priefts,

who have

moft

to

be relied on.

world are the feds of

finners, that befides the

gious

is

not to be found in any of our

Bramins, a

rendered their

fet

faints,

as well as Of

of innocent and

women

virtuous

by

reli-

treating

them with kindnefs and humanity, there

are another fed of reli-

gio-philofophical drones, called Fakiers,

who

as they can to
tity.

debauch the

Thefe hypocritical

which formerly

them only

faints,

appendages

caufe they are fenfible of guilt

like

fome of the ridiculous feds

wear no clothes

to finners,
;

who

confidering

are aftiamed, be-

while they, being free from

every ftain of pollution, have no fliaoie to cover.

ftate

much

under a pretence of fuperior fanc-

fex,

exifled in Europe,

as proper

contribute as

In this original

of nature, thefe idle and pretended devotees, aflemble toge-

ther fometimes in armies of ten or twelve thoufand,

Vol.

I.

and under a
pretence

the Fa-

p.
'

iS'2

C H A
*-^

P.

'

II

II

T O

II

pretence of going in pilgrimage to certain temples, like locufts dc-

vour every thing on

carrying
tions

the

men

of lufly

faints,

throw themfelves in

leaft afraid

their

that there
flerility

way, or remain quietly

at

women,

of

as the

barren

when

ance; which

prayers of thefe fturdy naked

women

apartment with

faints.

for

alfifl:-

the good-natured Fakier has an inclination to

whom

effedlually prevents

them

conflantly apply to

grant, he leaves his flipper, or his

eftablifhed all over India;,

not in nature fo powerful a remedy for removing the

is

this account,

votion

of a naked army

to receive them.

It has long been an opinion, well

On

flying before them, and

can out of the reach of their depreda-

that they

all

way

while the women, not in the

home

their

he

is

ftaff, at

praying

the door of the lady's

a fymbol fo facred, that

any one from violating the fecrecy of

but, ftiould he forget this fignal,

and

at the

their de-

fame time be

diRant from the protection of his brethren, a found drubbing

frequently the reward of his pious endeavours.

ration in

which

when
women, but

accefs

in other parts

of Afia and Africa, fuch

is

un-

the vene-

have

thefe lufty faints are held, that they not only

they pleafe, to perform private devotions with barren

are accounted fo holy, that they

may

at

public or in private, confer a perfonal favour upon a

has been conferred,

is

becaufe

woman

Nor, indeed, has any one an

refufe to gratify their paflion.

nation of this kind

any time, in

woman, with-

out bringing upon her either fliame or guilt; and no

&s having

is

But though they

will venture fometimes, in Hindoftan, to treat a Fakier in this

holy manner

it

flie,

upon

whom

this perfonal

confidered by herfelf, and by

all

dare

incli-

favour

the people,

been fandified and made more holy by the adion.

So

E N.

383

So much concerning the condud of the Fakiers, in debauching

But it is by fome travellers further re\vofnen, feems certain.
lated,

that

wherever they

woman who

find a

i-exceedingly hand-

fome, they carry her off privately to one of their temples

make her and

fuch a manner, as to
carried

away by

the

god who

lently in love with her, took that

method

who, being

vio-

to procure her for his

This done, they perform a nuptial ceremony, and make

T\-ife.

her further believe, that

lity,

fhewas

the people believe, that

there worfliipped

is

but in

fhe

is

married to the god

flie is

who

only married to one of the Fakiers

AVomen who

are treated in this

who

when,

in rea-

perfonates him.

are revered

by the people

and by that ftratagem fecured

as the wives of the gods,

the Fakiers,

manner

folely to

have cunning enough to impofe themfelves as

gods upon fome of thefe women, through the whole of their

Jn countries where reafon

think this impoflible
thing

by the

ftronger than fuperflition,

is

where the contrary

priefls

the cafe, there

is

Something

too hard to be credited.

of ancient Greece and

Rome

we

like this

lives.

almofl
is

no-

was done

and a few centuries

ago, tricks of the fame nature were pradifed by the monks, and

other libertines,

men

of Europe.

upon fome of the

vifionary and enthufiaftic

Hence we need not think

it

ftrange, if the Fa-

kiers generally fucceed in attempts of this nature;

fider, that

wo-

when we con-

they only have to deceive a people brought up in the

moft confummate ignorance

and that nothing can be a more

tering diftindion to female vanity, than for a

woman

flat-

to fuppofe

herfelf fuch a peculiar favourite of the divinity ihe worfhips, as to

be chofen, from

all

her companions, to the honour of being ad-

mitted to his embraces

ilifpofe

a favour,

which her felf-admiration

will

her more readily to believe than examine.

o a

Besides

^ ^^^^ ^
v
^^-^

C H A
N

made

T H E

284
Resides

P.

>J.

fubftr-

^'
fliluuon

T O R Y

method of decoying women into the temples,

this

where they are

the fake of debauchery, there are other temples,

fupplied With
fered

by

thcmin

pomp and

being voluntarily of-

and dedicated by the

their parents,

with great

more open manner

for

while infants,

priefts

folemnity, to the fervice of their gods;

dance and fing before the chief idol on folemn

they

with

feftivals,

all

the wantonnefs of venal charms, and temptation of loofe attire,

in order to attraft the fpe(lators, to

whom

they afterwards profti-

which they be-

tute themfelves for the benefit of the temple to

long

fuch

is

and

at the

the religion of the Eaft,

we
women,

when

fuch are the deities there

worfhipped, can

expet chaftity to be a virtue

among

or that the

the

methods than

But

it

is

locks, bars,

men

regarded

by any other

of the Hindoos only, that

is

unfavourable to

homedifm every where indulges

the

now

is

prevails

Ma-

likewife,

it

men with

un-

a plurality of

down the women to the ftrideft conjugal fidehence, while the men riot in unlimited variety, the women
in great numbers confined to fhare among them the fcanty

wives, while

are

it

of Mahomet, which

that

over a great part of India,

can fecure

much

and eunuchs?

not the religion

favourable to chaftity

lity

When

expcnce of which they were brought up.

it

favours of one

ties

man

only.

This unnatural and impolitic condu(fl

induces them to feek by art and intrigue, what they are denied by
the laws of their prophet.
art

As polygamy

and intrigue follow as the confequence of

gined, that

it is

the refult of climate, but

the refult of the injuftice which

it

prevails over

feems to reign as

much

women

it

it

all

Afia, this

fome have ima-

rather appears to be

fufFer

in Conftantinople,

by polygamy;
and

for

in every other

place

'

WOMEN.

OF
where polygamy

place

is

in fafhion,

C H A

does on the banks of

it

The famous Montefquieu, whofe

Ganges, or the Indus.

the

as

285

v-

fyftem was, that the pafTions are entirely regulated by the climate,
brings as a proof of this fyftem,

from the

a ftory

collection of

voyages for the eftabliftiment of an Eaft India Company, in which

it is
**

fo outrageous,

" apparel

why

fions

that the

it

men

would be but a

make

are obliged to

them from

fhelter

to

really true,

for

" the wanton defires of the

that at Patan,

faid,

their defigns."

women

are

ufe of a certain

Were

this ftory

proof of the e9[e^ of climate,

partial

fhould the burning funs of Patan only influence the paf-

of the

fair

Why

yond decency, which

fhould they there

in all other climates

tranfport that fex beis

leave in fo

cool and defenfive a

climates

apt to be the moft ofFenfive and

is

ftate,

the moft decent

that fex,

which

indecent

and

in all other
?

To what-

may be carried in Afia and Africa,

however the paffions of the women may prompt them to excite
defire, and to throw themfelves in the way of gratification, we
ever length the fpirit of intrigue

have the

flirongeft reafons

would make us

believe,

tack the other fex

and inverting the

to

reprobate

thefe ftories,

all

that they are fo loft to decency as

which
to at-

fuch a fyftem would be overturning nature,

eftablifhed laws

by which fhe governs the

world.

In Otaheite, an
Ocean,

As

far

ifland

lately difcovered

in the great

Southern Women

we are prefented with women of a fingular charader.

as we can recoiled, we think it is a pretty general rule,

that wherever the fex are accuftomed to be

they are aftiamed to appear naked

thofe of Otaheite feem

ever to be an exception to this rule

conftantly clothed,

to

how-

(hew themfelves in public,

with

P.

of

T H

86

C H

XII.

P.

T O R Y

with or without clothing, appears to be to them a matter of equal

and the expofition of any part of

indifference,

their bodies,

noc

is

attended with the lead backwardnefs or reludance; circumflanccs

from which we may reafonably

were not originally invented

infer,

to cover ftiame,

the females of

likewife

from thofe of almoft

forming

in public thofe rites,

globe, and almoft

and retirement

whether

of manners

diflblutcnefs

remains

ed,

among

ftill

beyond any

to

tiling

As polygamy

is

all

which
animals,

common

to

have a child,

it

may

this

it

man
is

that they

among them,

fmothered

in the

jundure, fhould nature relent

man who

is

its

is

but too certain.

fatisfy

which every

moment of

its

it

in

as a father;

which

woman

anecdotes fufiiciently charaiflerife the

but in

even then

cafe,

this difcovery,

if the

at leaft lefs flagitious

of

vifited

women were

and

indelicate.

the

to himfelf,

women

fome of the adjacent ones, which were

they were

that

not allowed to fave her child, unlefs fhe can find a

will patronife

upon

woman

birth,

infamous mother

accordingly extruded from this hopeful fociety.

fliips

the luft of

at fo horrid a deed,

confidered as having appropriated the

is

are diflblute, even

to
in

arriv-

and w hen any of thefe wom.en happens

not interrupt the pleafures of

the mother

other part of the

of innocence, or of a

hitherto recorded,

not allowed

to every

their per-

is,

are performed in privacy

variety, they have a fociety called Arrcoy,

is

diftin-

which no other people have yet

be difcovered

we have

ftriking

other nations, but

in every

this is the effeCt

to

all

other animals,

all

more

ftill

women, and which

fmgularity in the charadler of thcfe

them not only from

clothes

but either as orna-

But a

ments, or as a defence againft the cold.

guiflies

among them,

that,

man

and fhe

Thcfe few

this ifland.

by
not

is

In

his Majefty's
lefs

unchafte,

OF W
As thsTuiks, who now

2S7

N.

CHAP.

inhabit a part of Europe, were oiiginal-

All,

and

fy Afiatics,
,

manners and cuftoms which they

retain the

ftill

brought from that country,

fecret gallantry

their

women

much

are

and intrigue; vices which feem however

departments of female

life,

Turkid,

given

to

to

be the

ing to adorn them, fuch as benevolence, charity, and a tendernefs

of feeling, and

of difpofition, to which they have hardly

foftnefs

ever reached in the moft poliflied parts of the Chriftian world.

In Lady Montague's defcripticn of the

vifit

fhe

made

to

the lady

of the Grand Vizer of Conftantinople, her humility, meeknefs,

and charity, are delineated in a manner which does honour
In her

fex.

an angel, engaged
be infenfible

to

we

to the fair Fatima, while

vifit

every feeling,

We

the defcription.

if

to the

find the perfon

in all the tender offices of a mother,

of

we muil

our hearts do not glow with

are indeed. but too apt to throw a veil over

every virtue which appears in a people profeffing a religion fo

different

from our own, and which we have always been taught

to confider

with

partiality,

and to look upon with horror

than

which, nothing can more certainly indicate weaknefs of mind and

want of urbanity.
ture of vice

People of

and virtue

that vice oftener flows

all

and,

we

we

fiiall

find,

but fliould the Mahometans, or

a religion lefs pure

the Chriftians, be found to excel them in

tues,

enquiry,

ftrivSt

from a bad education and improper cuf-

toms, than from a bad religion

any other people, with

on

have in them a mix-

religions

and holy than that of

many

of the moral vir-

they certainly on that account deferve the more praife, and

the

more reprehenfion;

efpecially

when

it

is

dies,

la-

their

cbatafter.

when we view them in the other

we fee many amiable qualities confpir-

worft part of their charader

'

confidered

what

they would probably have done, had they been in our fituation.

When

T H E

2S8
C U A

P.

XII.

When

wc

take

T O R Y

rctrofpedive

view

of

tlicfe

lmpcrfel

fketches of the charadter of the American, African, and Afiatic

R<

fieflicns 0.1
1

women, when we

the coiidua
"
peans^.

'

1-

fee ahnofl: the

whole of

comprifed in unremit-

it

when we fee the fex

confinement, we cannot help

^^^ endcavours to fatisfy a voluptuous appetite,

every where abufcd by flavery or

breathing a wiHi, that both the one and the other were redlified

and from the intercourfe that has long

and

many of

the countries

we have been

between Europe

fubfifted

confidering, fome

amend-

the

manners of the

women might reafonably have been expelled.

peans who have gone abroad, inftcad of carrying

But the Euro-

ment

in

the condition, and reformation in

that fpirit of moral reditude, taught

ought

to

by the

along with them

religion of Jefus,

have demonftrated their fupcrior virtue as well as fuperior

knowledge, feem in general, the moment they

country,

to

of confcience

among

though

own

left their

have thrown afide every principle, and every

that of amafTing wealth,

larity

which

idea,

but

the expence of probity, and

at

and inftead of introducing more order and regu-

the ignorant people they vifited, have but too often

given a loofe to every voluptuous appetite, and outdone in every

fpecies of debauchery, thofe

laws, nor their religion

who were

neither retrained by their

nor has this flagitious condudt been pe-

culiar to

one European nation only,

colonies,

and extended

their

all

thofe

who have

commerce, have been

planted

almofl; equally

infamous for cruelty, oppreflion, and debauchery.

Soon

after the Portuguefe

had conquered India, laying afide

that martial fpirit for

which they were then

themfelves up to

thofe exceffes

odious,

and

all

famous, they gave

which render the human

and became fuch monRers,

afl'aflination,

fo

that

poifon,

race

conflagration,

with every other crime, grew familiar to them.

I

They

OF W
They

maflacred the natives

E N.

289

they deftroyed one another

while they raifcd the hatred of thefe natives, they

to

make

In the illand of

themfelves feared.

guefe had, at a public

feftival, feized

and regardlefs of decency, proceeded

rage.

armed

One of the

tuguefe, addreffed

"

" you.
**

a Portu-

a beautiful

woman,

firft

and afterward calling together the Por-

manner: " To revenge

cruel a nature as thefe

nerous adtions

" are your

*'

Amboyna,

to offer her the greateft out-

in the following

but theft, murder, obfcenity, and drunkennefs,

common

every vice

" forefaw

Your

practices.

hearts are inflamed with

our manners can never agree with yours.

when

this,

fhe feparated us

*'

ye have overleaped her

"

are not afhamed to boaft,

*'

hearts.

*'

that refemble

Take

my

you

Nature

by immenfe oceans, but

barriers: this audacity,

of which you

a proof of the corruption of your

is

advice, leave to their repofe thefe nations

fo little

go, fix your habitations

among thofe

" who are brutal as yourfelves. An intercourfe with you would

" be more fatal to us, than all the evils which it is in the power
" of your god to inflift upon us. We renounce your alliance for
" ever. Your arms are fuperior
*'

*'

"

you, and

we do

enemies,

fly

it

not fear you

from

to ours, but

we

the Itons are

their country,

are

from

more juft than

this

day your

and beware how you approach

any more."

Such were

behaviour of the Portuguefe.

humanity happened

Vol.

I.

whom we call a
When a governor

the fentiments of one

on the

of fenfe and

he endeavoured

to prefide over their colonies,

P p

favage,

'

CHAP.
XII.

we have received from

would require adiions, not words yet we will fpeak to
You preach to us a Deity, who delights, you fay, in ge-

affronts of fo

" you,

them

and

the courage

highly refenting fuch a conduct,

iflanders,

his fellow-citizens,

upon

loft

to

290
the

reform

to

countrymen
vailing,

The

T H E

manners,

and

T O R Y

the

reftrain

of

rapacity,

his

but his finglc virtue was always feeble and una-

when oppofed

who

Spaniards,

to the vices

many

in

of a contaminated people.
fucceeded

places

them,

not

only copied, but even in time fairly exceeded, the original ex-

Few of our

ample.

readers can be ftrangcrs to the cruelties and

debaucheries they committed in Mexico and Peru, where they

built churches,

tian religion to

endeavoured

the natives, in a language of which they did not

underftand one word

and afterward pioufly flaughtered them as

heretics, for not believing

them.

to explain the myfteries of the Chrif-

what had been

fo clearly

demonftrated to

When they had conquered the ifland of Hifpaniola,

they made

peace with the natives, on condition that they fhould cultivate

the land for their ufe, and furnifh

The poor

gold every month.

to

mean time

to

had fufFered

to revenge, as they faid, the in-

trained their dogs to hunt and deftroy

to themfelves

with fuperftition and a

thirft

to deftroy twelve Indians

What

uneafinefs

were

inacceflible

of blood, fome of them

would

it

have given
their

been proftituted to fuch infamous purpofes

that the other

and, fired

made

vow

every day, in honour of the twelve

and benevolent, had they thought that

Humanity

But the Spaniards,

receiving a fupply of provifions from Europe,

them, in places which

Apoftles.

the Spaniards {hould

till

evacuate their ifland.

purfucd them to their faftnefles

juftice they

wretches, finding the tafk infup-

maintain themfelves

be obliged by famine
in the

a certain quantity of

impoflible, took fhelter in their mountains,

portable, as well as

where they hoped

them with

all

to

men

fo

mild

names would have

recoils at this difmal recital,

and fincerely

powers who have ufurped a right

wiflies,

in the Indies could

be

E N.

291

be abfolved from fimilar crimes; but the immenfe plunder lately

brought

to

England from the

plains of Hindoftan

and banks of

countrymen

the Ganges, are but too evident proofs of what our

Such loads of

have there committed.

treafure are not the produce

of the paths of peace, nor even of the

fields ftained

and disfigured by the horrors of war

indifcriminately

deluge,

as

goes

it

Avarice, fordid avarice, feems alone to have occupied the

along.

of thefe

breafts of the greateft part

rope to the Indies

and from

who have

Englifliman

coaft of Africa, being taken

the natives, was faved

country

travelled

who was

who, on a promife

that

an European fettlement, than he

abandoned her for ever.

to death

diftindtion in

the

fooner arrived in

fold his deliverer for a flave,

But the

by

he would marry her, contrived

The wretch had no

to efcape along with him.

{hipwrecked

and condemned

by a woman of fome

from Eu-

has fprung up

fo fruitful a fource

An

almoft every other crime.

on the

unlefs that war, like a

and enemy

friend

levels

with blood,

and

vices are not folely attached to

men who have left Europe in purfuit of gain evea the women who have accompanied them, leaving behind them the gen-

the

tlenefs

of European manners and of female nature, have been

often hardly

men.

lefs

diftinguifhed for debauchery

virago of this fort in the Eaft or Weft- Indies,

meeting with any oppofition

laft

and cruelty than the

a fpirit of prefumption

to her

whim and

and tyranny

and

humanity, wields the whip with fuch dexterity,

ftroke blood

whofe only

caprice, aflumes at
loft to

miftrefs, or becaufe

he

of the fame genus as

fome

and

unrefifting flave

he did not anticipate the

let fall

feeling

as to fetch at every

from the back of the naked and

fault was, that

feldom

hints, that

wiflies

of his

he was a creature

herfelf.

P p

CHAP.

c h^a
*

p.

^^

'

THEHISTORY

291

CHAP.
The fame

CHAP.
^"^'
.

XIII.

Stihje6l continued.

AFTER having traced the charadler of the

xV

fo

many

countries,

fair fex

where we have found the

the difagreeable too frequently to be predominant

through

vicious and'

we now with

the utmoft pleafure turn towards Europe, where the beauties of

their character,

Hke thofe of

our attention, but

alfo attract

their perfons, will not only

our hearts.

We

engage

cannot, however,

extend our plan fo far as to hold up to view every beauty and

every blemifh, which gives a luftre or a deformity to the

through

all

Europe

the different countries of

we

fair,

fhall therefore

only endeavour to draw the outlines of characters, too various

and complicated for us

any

to finifh with

tolerable degree of pre-

cifion.

General

charaaerof
^uropeanwo-

We

have already obferved, that

chaftity has, in all polifhed

nations, been ever efteemed the principal

^.j^jj^^^^gj.

^^d we now aver,

that this

ornament of the female

was never more remarkably

the cafe, in any part of the world, than at prefent in Europe.

Here we worfhip no deities

the ancients; nor fuch

as, regardlefs

cern not themfelves about

world,

among

befides being

among

us,

that delight in debauchery,

human

the moderns.
influenced

is ftill

by

of moral good and

actions,

Hence

as, in

as

among

evil,

con-

fome parts of the

the condudt of our

women,

the fuperior regard paid to chafbity

further influenced by a veneration for that purity

of

of manners and of charader,

E N.
by the pre-

^ ^ ^^'

and hence, though declaimers

every nation of Europe paint their

fatirifts in

the moft lewd and abandoned in the world,

Europe

in general

qualities

of

293

flrongly inculcated

fo

cepts of the Chriftian religion

and

is

more famous

women, than any

its

truth of which

we need

we

for the chaftity

ever, obferve here, that the virtues of

women by

affertion.

for the

both of which

We mull,

how-

modefty and chaftity do not

where they are endeavoured

to

be forced upon the

and gouvernantes, as in Spain

locks, bolts,

experience of

to the perfonal

ample demonftration of our

flourifh moft,

and other good

other part of the globe

only appeal

as

boldly affirm, that

the traveller, and to the reading, of the hiftorian

afford an

own women

nor where

unreftrained liberty and politenefs are carried to the greateft length,

France and Italy

as

in

on

their perfonal

but rather, where, with no other curb

freedom than what decency requires, they have

not carried the refinements of politenefs to fuch an excefs, as to

reckon every reftraint upon inclination a mark of ruftication and

ill-breeding.

In endeavouring
of the European

to fketch

fome rude draughts of the charader

women, we

fhall

take a view of

appear in the principal nations of which

the French reckon themfelves of

cuous,

we

kon them

fhall

begin with them

juftly entitled, as

all
;

As

chaftity

is

where too much

compofed

as they

and

as

other people the moft confpi-

a diftindion to which

we

rec-

they are the fruitful fource of half

the fafhions that embellifh, and perhaps of

bles that difgrace,

it is

them

more than half the

foi-

Europe.

a virtue

or too

which does not feem

little

culture

is

to flourifh in a

beftowed upon

it,

foil,

oftheFrench
*^'"^'''

we muft
not

THE HISTORY

294

CHAP,
<

not expcdt to find

where

politenefs

is

would hardly be
lers,

are

remarkably vigorous among the Trencli,

it

the

firft

of

the virtues, and where chaftity

all

When

entitled to a place as the fecond.

travel-

who have always been accuftomed to countries where women

much on the referve, enter France, where the very reverfe in

almoft every particular

the cafe

is

before they have coolly confi-

dered the cuftoms of different countries, they are apt to conclude

French have no decency and no chaftity among them.

that the

Such conclufions

are,

be led by appearances

however, by
:

a French

much

woman

too hafty:

we muft

not

of the moft unblemiflied

reputation will, in compliance with the cuftoms of her country,

ad

with a levity and freedom, both of words and adions, which in

England would be almoft an

while in France

We

would

among

it

infallible indication

woman

only indicates, that a

however, infinuate from

not,

the French a prevailing virtue

kept by the married as well as the fingle

on the
girl,

are proofs of this

and

men

among
;

the

that chaftity

the

number of

the

little difcredit

if

fhe

women, and

the

little

length

at

not to be fafliionable,

is

thrown

an Opera

is

defire

notice taken of

eftabliftied

it

is

miftrefles

and we may add, the general

both of which have

in France,

has feen the world.

this,

profeflion of a proftitute, efpecially

intrigue

the

of a ftrumpet;

it

of

by

as a fafliion;

a condition

much more

dreaded, than not to be virtuous.

In every country in the world,

do, and a great deal to fay.

women

haye always a

in the

world

is

done

to

In France, notwithftanding of the

Salique law, they didate almoft every thing that

every thing that

little

they are the moft

is

faid,

and dired

reftlcfs fet

of beings

ever in the hurry of adion, either about their

affairs, or thofe of other people

and equally bufy and

own

folicitous

about

E N.

295

about fettling the affairs of the nation, or fticking a pin in

per place

to fold

her hands in idlenefs and impofe filence on her

tongue, would be to a French-woman worfe than death

joy of her

life is to

ambition, or love be the

if fafhion,

the fole

be engaged in the profccution of fome fcheme,

the more intricate and arduous the better

ftill,

pro-

its

vity confined to the

gay and the

and

fo

fubje(5l.

pleafant,

much
Nor

is

the better
their ali-

they even enter fome-

momentous concerns of

times into the moft ferious and

life

the

profoundeft depths of politics are not hid from them, and the moft

folemn councils have often been fummoned, and

when

confequence debated,

by

their addrefs

and

Among

artifices.

the rich and opulent, they

which they purfue through

to the laft degree, they leave to their

bands ceconomy and care, which would only

men and

all

expence of fortune, reputation, and health.

at the

Giddy and extravagant

and furrow

plexions,

of the utmoft

the decifion had been previoufly fettled

are entirely the votaries of pleafure,

her labyrinths,

affairs

their brows.

mechanics, the cafe

is

When

reverfed

their

fpoil

huf-

com-

'we defcend to tradefthe wife

manages every

thing in the houfe and fhop, while the hufband lounges in the

back-fhop an

idle fpetator, or flruts

about in his fword and bag-

wig.

Matrimony
is

is

in all other

in France a thing entirely different

parts of

Europe;

it

hufband,

while

that of calling

among

all

unbounded

confers

it

her his

ranks, as

all

it

does not there fubjeA the

helplefs female to obedience, to duty,

gives her a right to an

from what

or even

liberty

to

fidelity,

but

and the fortune of her

on the hufband hardly any right but

wife.

In fafhionable

life,

afpire at being tafliionable,

it

and indeed
feems to be

a bargain entered into by a male and female to bear the fame

name,

live in the

fame houfe, and purfue

their feparate pleafures

without

ha

p.

OF WOMEN.

296
e

II

I',

without

rcftralnt or controul

and

fo rcHgioufly

Is

of the

(his part

bargain kept, that both parties fhape their courfe exatly as con-

venience or inchnation
fhip at

they

may

dictate,

fpurning the joys of friend-

home, and contemning the cenfure of the world abroad

live in the

fame houfe, but feldom

fee

each other, having dif-

ferent apartments, different fets of acquaintance, different fervants,

a different equipage, and different tables.

expeded

here,

it is

a monfler

Jealoufy

which fprings from love

French couple come together without love, they

jealoufy,
little

and commonly jog through

life

not to be

is
;

live

but as a

without

together, enjoying but

happinefs, and feeling perhaps no mifery on account of each

other.

Learning of
the Frinch

women.

In the midfl of every levity and fafhionable folly, there

part of the world where literature
fex than in France, nor
letters is

diffufes

cultivated

no

is

by the

fair

any part where the company of men of

by them more coveted

a circumflance, which, while

it

knowledge among the women, gives an elegance and

cheerfulnefs to the men, and

well as of letters

and

renders

improvement

female world,

is

them men of the world

a circumflance,

of the French-women the valuable

to

is

more

but a fecret

as

which has taught many

fecret

of reconciling pleafure

and

fo valuable,

fo rare

in the

not entirely owing to this circumflance, educa-

tion alfo has a fhare in it;

brought up for the moft part

vents, books are often the only

con-

in

means they have of beguiling the

tedious hours of ina61;ivity and filence, and a fondnefs for

once contraded, the habit frequently remains for

life.

them

Such

is

female influence over literature, as well as over every other thing

in France, that

by much the

the prefs are calculated

I

for

greatefl; part

of the produdions of

their capacity

and happy

is

the

author

WOMEN.

OF
author

who

297

meets with their general approbation,

by which he

mufl: climb to fame,

afliiredly yield

him

and the fountain which will

all

the fliffnefs, and throw afide thofe airs of referve, which in every

country appear more confpicuous as the

more towards barbarlfm;

nifcft itfelf

men

is

and by

his drefs,

French

more than

acceflible to

women

in

no country does

in France,

To

his addrefs.

An

air

and

that their only bufinefs

is

tongue

indefatigable,

is

expreflion,

fo foft

on a

too far gone in

the fpleen, there

run with that

and he

lively

difeafe,

""*"'

the appearance
to be the effedl

is

company

In

life

their volubility
fo

lively

is

of

their

the attention
a

man

fo certain

but if he

vail

to indicate,

with flowers.

fliort, if

no cure

on

perpetually

that they fix

of nothing.

French-woman
her

path of

their accent,

is

for hours together

tale

fits

and though

fo various their attitudes,

company of a

much

whole deportment feems

lips,

Frcnchwo

and prudery the

no part of it

to ftrew the

Perfuafion hangs on their

and

eafy and unafFeded in their

almofl: believe

their

Eafs

can recommend himfelf by

of fprightlinefs and gaiety

their countenances,

ma-

this politenefs

afl"c<flation

are equally ftrangers

of nature, that one would

art.

"

p.

where the company of the wo-

man who

every

approach

inhabitants

perfons and manners, their politenefs has fo

of

ha

profit.

property of real and unafFeded politencfs to banifli

It is the

the ladder

it is

is

not

as the

totally over-

augment every fymptom,

will paint her as a late fnariing traveller did, all folly

and

impertinence.

The

peculiar province of beauty

is

to captivate at the firft fight,

and to retain the captive in chains, only for the

is

neceflary to difcover they were forged

Vol.

I.

Q^q

fliort

by beauty

time that

alone.

The

French-

Their

levity.

THEHISTORY

298
^

^i/^

^"

French-women

jump
upon him by

in

being remarkable for

not

general,

into the affeiltions of a

feldom

man

beauty,

once, but gala

all at

degrees, and pralife every female art to retain

in their fervice as long as inclination or convenience

him

fliall di(ftate

but the wind, or the fafliions which fhe follows, are hardly more inconftant than a French lady's

her admirers, and her

ble

fole

mind

herfolc joy

pride in changing

is

number of

in the

them

as often as pofli-

over the whole of them fhe exercifes the moftabfolute power,

and they are zealoufly attentive even to prevent her

forming whatever they think fhe has any inclination

their intcreft,

and adivity, become wholly devoted

rather to her caprice, and they muft not prefume to

lent or

power from the moft

flavifh fervitude to

by per-

wiflies,

to, their

time,

to her will, or

exempt any

her pleal'ure

ta-

even

the purl'e, that moii inaccefhble thing about aFrenchman, mufl: pour

out

its laft fous, at

the call of his miflrefs

and

lliould

he

fail

he would be immediately difcarded from her

this particular,

in

train,

with a fligma of preferring Mercury to Venus, which would

effedually prevent
train of

him from ever gaining admittance

any other of

the fair

into the

a mortification which being ex-

ceedingly unfalhionable, would to a Frenchman be almoft intolerable.

The French-women
world

who

unafFe(ted

reckon themfelves the only females in the

can drefs with elegance, and behave with genuine and

eafe,

notions which

Europe, that thefe

women

are

diffufed

lead every fafliion,

fo

much

anddidate

over
to

all

every

people the manner of behaviour; hence they have contraded a

national pride,

which

is

apt to

make them look down on

the in-

habitants of every other country as miferable beings, but a

degrees above favage barbarity.

Such

few

abfolutc votaries of pleafur e.

O
fure,

they have but

muft give place

is

little

to this

299

time for any other purfuit, even religion

darling paffion

while a French-woman

able to drink at the ftream of pleafure,

atheift

diminiflies,

as her tafte for that

and when

religious,

bufinefs of pleafure.

otherwife,

nurfe,

young; but

fhe

has

loft

or

Few women
take much

become capable of entering

conclude,

females with each other,

crifice too

much of their

good-breeding
too

much

above

we

have

foli-

when they
But

or the church.

to

fafhionable people are

opinion, that

much the
much from

creatures

of

art,

their feelings as

their faces.

If chaftity
is

by

regard to character, and

little

and have almoft difcarded nature as

from

reparation,

when

are of opinion, that they rather fa-

that in fine, they are too

it;

do

aff"ord to

delicacy to wit, and of their chaftity to

a ridiculous

to

can

accounts of the French

different

they pay too

that

'

>,

interrupt the

not

of their children

army

p.

moft

the

is

provide for them

to

H a

generally an

is

who

make feme

becomes gradually

muft

care

into the

on comparing the

flie

in France,

for this neglect they

citoufly ufing all their intereft

fhe

altogether,

it

Maternal afFedion

devotee.

bigotted

it

E N.

ftill

lefs

vifited

doned of

all

is

fo

none of the moft

of the

Italy,

flilning virtues

Almoft

Italians.

agree in

defcribing

the countries of Europe.

their infancy,

it

At

indeed in almoft every part of Italy,

all

the travellers

as

the

women
to

are

who

moft aban-

^'cnice, at Naples,

of alluring

the various arts

of the French, or the

and

taught from

their

arms the

young and unwary, and of obtaining from them, while heated by

love or wine, every thing that flattery and falfe fmiles can obtain
in thefe

unguarded moments

of proftitution, and

fo

venal the

and

(0 little

women,

Qjq

infamous

that hardly

is

the trade

any rank or
condition

Italian

*'''"^"'

T H E

Soo
^

vin
A if*

^'

condition

II

T O R Y

them above being bribed

fcts

to

nay they are even-

it,

^V

.-/

frequently

a good bargain
their

by their male friends and acquaintances

afTifted

nor does their career of debauchery

unmarried

vows of

the

ftate:

fidelity

the altar, are like the vows and oaths

occafions,

with

finifli

which they make

made upon

too

many

at

other

only confidered as nugatory forms, which law has

obliged them to take, but cuftom abfolved

They even

them from performing.

claim and enjoy greater liberties after marriage than-

woman

before; every married

attends her to
riage, picks
offices

to drive

has a

cicifbio,

or

wha

gallant,

public places, hands her in and out of her car-

all

up her gloves or

of the fame nature

and a ihoufand other

fan,

but this

ment, as a reward for which, he

is

is

little

only his public employ-

entitled to

have the lady as

often as he pleafes at a place of retirement facred to themfelves,

where no perfon, not even the moft

to be witnefs

fidered

of what

by people of

confiftent

with

intrufive

between them.

pafles

hufoand muft enters

This has been con-

other nations, as a cuftom not altogether

all

and

chaftity

purity

of manners

themfelves, however, endeavour to juftify

it

the

Italians

in their couverfations

with ftrangers, and Baretti has of

late

vindication of

In this vindication he has not

to

it

world.

the

only deduced the original of

willingly perluade us that

mental principles

it

it

years publiflied a formal

from pure Platonic

is

ftill

continued

love, but

upon

would

the

fame

dodrine which the world will hardly be

credulous enough to fwallow, even though he fliould offer more

convincing arguments

If the French

to

women

fupport

it

than he has already done.

are remarkable for a national pride,

which

induces them to look with a mixture of pity and contempt upon

every

O
who

every female

every one
tors

them

inftigates

who

E N.

remarkable for a family pride,

lefs

as beings

to defpife,

as

that a defcent of this kind conferred

own
The

all their

bly ftain or deflroy.

farther than the Italians,

than they.

meet with
and

little

It
it,

lefs

p.

>

beneath their notice,

upon them

a dignity

and

Spaniards carry this family pride even

and the Germans, perhaps,

and one of the

Viewing

it

rnofl:

ftill

among

women,

the

certain appendages of

in this light,
:

in almofl: every country,

degree even

were perfuaded,

if they

farther

a remainder of Gothic barbarity, wherever

is

minds.

ideas of the

^^^
v^ -w

worthlefs infignificance could not pofli-

aimoft entirely to the female fex

fcribed

cannot reckon up a long line of illuftrious ancef-

and indeed they often behave

worth, which

301

unfortunate enough to belong to any other

is

country, the Italians are not

which

men

fupplies the

but
it

its

we

narrow

fome have confined

it

limits are not fo circum-

difFufes itfelf in a greater or

but

it

reigns triumphant in the

want of perfonal

merit,

and too

often betrays Itfelf in every look and in every aQion of their lives.

In other refpedts the

women

of Italy approach nearer to the

French, than thofe of any of the European kingdoms

not quite fo gay and volatile, nor do they fo

gans of

rifibility

much

they are

excite the or-

but by the foftnefs of their language, and their

manner, they more forcibly engage the heart

much

they are not fo

the cameleon or the weathercock, but have fome decent

degree of permanency in their connexions, whether of love or

friendfhip

not, like the French, carelefs

bu: often fuffering

it

to tranfport

them

and diverted of jealoufy,

to the

mofl unwarrantable

aflions.

As we have

women of

almofl in every other particular charaderlfed the Spani(hwo

Italy,

in our Iketches of thofe of France, weihall

now
pafe

chlraaw.'

TH

3<32

CHAP,

T O R Y

though almoft In our neigh-

yafs on to Spain; a country which,

we

bourhood,

are Icfs acquainted with, and

proper charader of

Ganges

Indians on the banks of the

able to give the

than of the Hottentots, or

inhabitants,

its

lefs

a circumflance

owing

to

the Spaniards having formerly almoft totally (hut up their country

from the intrufion of ftrangers; and from the genius of fomc of

modern

the moft

travellers,

who,

in paffing

through

it,

have hardly

deigned to take notice of any thing that was not ftamped

with the

ruft

which we Icara of the

who

travellers

no great reafon

ple have

From

of a thoufand years.

have

the

to boaft of the fecurlty in

of locks, bars,

perly fccured but

The

force.
fee this

men do

by

virtue,

not become

laft

and bars are

lefs

of particulars, when

which they

women, by

chafte

inftilled

attained fcnfibility

falling into difufe,

and whatever

we view them

the af-

Chaftity cannot be pro-

and virtue never yet was

Spaniards have at

their locks

and old duennas.

however,

vifited Spain, that peo-

fuppofe they have placed the chaftity of their

fiftance

little,

at leaft

may

as a nation,

enough

by
to

and their wobe the conduct

they rank

much

higher in this refpeft than either the French or Italians, though

not fo high as fome of the other nations of Europe.

Spanlfh

lady of rank difcourfing with fome of her countrymen on gallantry,

faid, that (he

would

heartily defpife the

opportunity, did not flrenuoufly

Every Spanilh

grant.

charms
that a

woman

man, who, having a proper

folicit

every favour

can alk of her, (he

could

reckons this a tribute due to her

and though (he has no inclination

man

flie

is

not the

to

lefs

grant

all

the favours

affronted if he does

not afk them.

There

is

in the Spaniards a native dignity and pride,

far furpalR's that

of any other nation

which

which, though the fource

of

OF WOMEN.
of many inconvenlencles, has neverthelefs

;)^J

this falutary effed,

that

Chap.
XII',

it fets

Nor

them above almoft every

is this

men

a quality peculiar to the

great meafure

among

the

of meannefs and

fpecies

women

alfo

both in their conftancy in love and in

diffufes itfelf in

it

and

its

by

Their deportment
they have

and

Their affedions

by the appearance of

lofl

rather grave and referved

much more of

fet

at

and, on the whole,

in pleafure, they take

home, and

more

of

finer.

ftill

com-

the prude than the coquette in their

Being more confined

pofition.
finefs

is

which refpeds

friendfliip, in

a bit of fparkling lace, or a tawdry

nor are they to be

liveries;

efFeis are vifible,

they are the very reverfe of the French women.

are not to be gained

infidelity.

lefs

engaged in bu-

care of their offspring than

the French, and have a becoming tendernefs in their difpofition to

every thing but heretics.

The

Spaniards are indulgent almoft beyond meafure to their

women, and
advantage of

there are feveral fituations in

this indulgence.

cuftom, a right to a

new

fuit

which they take every

kept miftrefs has, by indifputable

of clothes, according

of her keeper, as often as fhe

is

blooded

and

it is

to the quality

only feigning

a flight illnefs, and being on a proper footing with the Dodtor, to

procure this as often as fhe pleafes.

pays his

addrefl'es, is

fole miftrefs

lady to

whom

a Cavallero

of his time and money

{hould he refufe her any requeft, reafonable or capricious,

it

and

would

upon him among the men, and not only

but make him the deteftation of all the women.
But

reflel eternal diftionour

ruin his

fuit,

in no fituation does their charadler appear fo whimfical, or their

power

fo confpicuous, as

whatever they long

for,

when

they are breeding.

whatever they

afk, or

an inclination to do, they rauft be indulged

in.

In this cafe,

whatever they have

Some even of

the.

loweft

THEHISTORY

304

CHAP.
Xdl.

loweft flation have taken

into their heads to fee the king, have

him, and he has gratified their curiofity.

fcnt to

indulgence

fical

it

known,

that

But

fometimes ufed improperly

is

for

this
it

whiin-

has been

young men who could not gain admittance

wives of others,
themfelves like

whom

women

to the

they wanted to debauch, have drefled

with child, and in this difguife carried on

their intrigues unfufpeded.

It would greatly exceed the

General obthe'Elope'aH

women.

^'^'vcs.

Were wc

women

dudt of the

minute

to givc a

we have

limits
detail

of the charader and coa-

every country of Europe

in

prefcribcd to our-

we

more general

fore confine our fubje<fl to a few obfcrvations of a

nature than thofe

mans

we have

now

juft

much

warmer

paffions,

given to intrigue

being fcandalous, that a

gallant,

and

is

reckoned

yet at the court of Vienna they are

and an

affair

woman

filly

which have been

related above,

of courts, than of places

quently

to

lefs diffolute;

of this kind

lefs

fo far

from

But
it

is

this, as

hoped,

if flie fcrupuloufly

well as fome things

is

more

the

manners

expofed to temptation, and confe-

and we are well affured, that

we have mentioned,

is

gains credit by the rank of her

and unfaflilonable,

adheres to the virtue of chaRity.

tions

Though the Gerand not much ad-

exhibited.

are rather a dull and phlegmatic people,

didled to the

fhall there-

there are

in all the na-

many women who do honour

humanity, not by chaftity only, but

alfo

by a variety of other

virtues.

The

greatefl: part

of the other European nations, not having

yet arrived at that point in the fcale of politenefs, where nature

begins to be difcardcd, and religion obliterated,

pf courfe

lefs

their

the votaries of the Cyprian goddefs.

women

are

In GreatBritain,

WOMEN.

OF
Britaln, moft parts

30J
Pruflla,

chap.

a fafhion-

v.^-^1-1^

of Germany, Holland, Switzerland,

Poland, Denmark, Norway, and Ruffia, chaftity

is ftill

able virtue, and the other female virtues attend in her train.
delicacy

In-

not fubftituted for wit, nor are double entendres almoft

is

ever heard from the lips of any female above an oyfter-wench or

a proftitute.
Some women, indeed, of the higher ranks in England have of late

commonly found

themfelves engaged in an unequal

the lafh of fcandal has

made them fmart, in fpite of their

want of a good charader has ex-

but they have

contefl

fcandal at defiance, and laughed at charader

fet

feeming indifference

and

their

them almoft from every company, and of courfe from

more than half the joys of life. Their pernicious example is,
cluded

Our women

however, in our opinion, not widely diffufed.

in general, chafte

and delicate

per countenance to thofe

fhall not diftinguifh

is not,

longer

and while we do not give impro-

have aded otherwife, will continue

But fhould the unhappy period ever

to be fo.

men

who

and we

exift,

between her

we have

the character

ftroyed

it.

But
women

befides the virtues of

the heart.

many

It is

in

other

all

good

others,

to

when our

virtuous, and her

blame

women
for

chaftity, in

they are not

who

will

no

having de-

which the
lefs diftin-

both of the head and of

qualities

fome of the

where we meet with that

arrive,

here given of our

modefty and

of Europe far furpafs

guifhable for

who is

have ourfelves

fhall

are,

politer

European nations only,

inexpreffible foftnefs and delicacy of

manners, which, cultivated by education, appears as much fuperior

to

what

it

does without

to that

which

world,

women

Vol.

I.

is

it,

as the polifhed

rough from the mine.

have attained

to fo little

diamond appears fuperior

In

all

other parts of the

knowledge, and

fo little

confe-

CHAP,
^^

T H E

oo6

/-

'

we

confcquence, that

can only confider their virtues

not only in abftlnence from

but in doing good

evil,

they confift

we

fee

wo-

every day exerting themfelves in ads of benevolence and

charity, in relieving the diftrefles of the body,

wounds of the mind

and preventing the

ftrife

fential a part

But,

of enemies

and, to fum up

which

as impartial hiftorians,

however, we

(hall

we

turn to the other

and

cf-

that a reproof

and having only

in

This

alfo.

lefs

lovely

our female readers, without any

Ihall prefent to

is

fneering of the

farcaftical

when we

being fully fenfible, efpecially

to the fofter fex,

joined

neceffary

hold not up the fair fide of the

of the fournefs of the declaimer, or the

;

is fo

in that

all,

of their duty.

pidure only, but

fatirift

and binding up the

reconciling the differences of friends,

in

care and attention to their offspring,

lide,

of the ne-

as

In Europe they are of another nature

gative kind.

men

T O R Y

half

lofl,

addrefs ourfelves

where

ill-nature

is

our view, the improvement of their

underflandings, and leading them by gentle arts to thofe paths of

reditude and decorum, from which fome of them have deviated.

Though we

have declared

as

it

our opinion, that there

in

is

moft parts of Europe more female virtue than in any other place

on the globe, yet even here, we

foibles

and

As

failings.

chaflity

the nations of our continent,

foolifh

enough

women

is fo

liable to a variety

of

highly valued in almofl

all

women who

are

we meet

often with

to perfuade themfelves, and endeavour to perfuade

the world, that the pofTeffion of

other thing amiable and virtuous

to hint at their faults,

cant phrafe, "

find

am

it

can atone for the want of every

and

if

any one

is

hardy enough

they anfwer with no fmall feverity, in the

an honefl woman,

at leaft."

TttERE

O
There

Is

bitterefl

307

amongft us another female charader, not uncommon,

which we denominate the outrageoufly

ftamp never

E N.

to feize all opportunities

fail

Women

virtuous.

this

of exclaiming, in the

whom

manner, againft every one upon

of

fufpicion of indifcretion or unchaftlty has fallen

even the
;

flighteft

taking care, as

they go along, to magnify every mole-hill into a mountain, and

every thoughtlefs freedom into the blacked: of crimes.

may

the illiberality of thus treating fuch as

cent,

you may

But befides

frequently be inno-

countrywomen, when we

credit us, dear

aver, that

fuch a behaviour, inftead of making you appear more virtuous,

down upon you, by thofe who know the world, fufpicions not much to your advantage.
Your fex are in general fufpedled by ours, of being too much addided to fcandal and defaonly draws

mation

which has not

a fufpicion,

arifen

of late years, as we find

in the ancient laws of England a punifliment,

of ducking-ftool, annexed

to fcolding

lefs

This crime, however,

guilty of, than

is

commonly

we

which

taken notice of in

perfuade ourfelves, you are

believed

a nature not more excufable, from which

pate you

is

name
the wo-

the

and defamation in

men, though no fuch punifhment nor crime

the men.

known by

but there

we cannot

is

fo

another, of

much

excul-

and forbidding appearance you put

on, and that ill-treatment, which you no doubt think it neceflary, for
;

is,

that harfli

the illuftration of your

own

you fhould beftow on every

one of your fex who has deviated from the path of reditude. A
virtue,

behaviour of this nature, befides being

and gentle

fpirit

which fhould

fo oppofite to that

meek

diftlnguifh female nature,

is

in

every refped contrary to the charitable and forgiving temper of

the Chriftian religion, and infallibly fhuts the door of repentance
againft

an unfortunate

vices into

which

fifter,

heedlefs

willing, perhaps, to abandon

inadvertency

the

had plunged her, and

from

}}

^*

T H

3o8
^

^"

Xiit

T O R Y

^^^^ which none of you can promife yourfelves an abfolute

fecurity.

We

wifh not, fair countrywomen, like the declaimer and

to paint

rlft,

negyrift,

to

anceftors
alfo

Is

men

of

vice and imperfedion, nor, like the venal pa-

all

you

exhibit

you have,

confefs that
qualities,

you

which were

all

As

virtue.

impartial hiftorians,

many

in the prefent age,

unknown

either nearly or altogether

not the
this

vity,

diflipation,

aud extravagance

century arrived to a pitch

in former times

entirely directed

your

to

and vices
the

>f

wo-

unknown and unheard-of

not the courfe which you fteer in

Is

tollies

we

and good

virtues

but do you not exceed them in fome

fati-

by vanity and fafhion

And

life,

almoft

are there not too

tnany of you, who, throwing afide reafon and good condudi, and
defpifing the counfel of your friends and relutions,

mined

to follow the

folly,

and however

mode of
it

may

the world, hov^ever

be mixed with vice

rality

of you drefs, and appear, above your

many

of you afhamed

fum up

alJ,

do not

to be feen

too, too

feem deter-

may

it

Do

favour of

not the gene-

ftation,

and are not

performing the duties of

many of you

a<3:

as if

it ?

To

you thought the

care of a family, and the other domeftic virtues, beneath your attention,

and that the

fole

end for which you were

world, was to pleafe and divert yourfelves,

poor wretches the men,

you

in every kind

whom

you confider

are not to be furprifed if the

men,

is
ftill

expence of thofe

as obliged to Aipport

of idlenefs and extravagance

your condudt, and while the contagion

you

at the

fent into the

While fuch

is

every day increafing,

fond of you

as

play-

things, in the hours of mirth and revelry, fhun every ferious con-

nection with you

chaims, are

io

and while they wifh

much

afraid of your

to be poflefled

manners and

of your

condu(St, that

they

O
they prefer the cheerlefs

from being

evils arifing

"We

ftate

309

of a batchelor,

tied to a

modern

to the

numberlefs

.f,...~

f.

on the charaaeriftic differences of the

among many,

Such,

the world.

paft,

is

is

and prefent ages of

part

the proclivity

and defpifing whatever

to

admiring

prefent, that every

is

thing ftamped with the ruft of remote antiquity muft infallibly

be

all

good and virtuous, and every thing of a modern date

patriarchs were the

much

as

un-

be vice and folly. According to fuch, the times of the

queftioii.'bly

fo, that

bert:

and happieft periods of the world, even

they werediftinguifhed by thefplendid

title

fo

of golden

age, while our modern times are branded with the epithet of the

age of iron.

To

give us fome idea of this golden age,

of confiderable merit have laboured

brought forth her

were harmlefs

ambition, avarice, and

all

many

authors

to perfuade us, that the earth

fruit fpontaneoufly, that the lion

as the lamb,

and the tyger

and that mankind, free from pride,

the vicious and tumultuous paflions of

the mind, lived in the moft

happy

fecurity

fome have even gone

as

reprefent thefe times as ex-

empted from thofe

fo far

infirmities to

to

like nature,

though they may do

paft events,

we

credit to the fong

we muft

and climate,

of the poet,

but in forming our judg-

are not to be direded

declalmer, the panegyrift, nor the

only, and

folly,

Thefe and other fables of the

difgrace the record of the hiftorian

ment of

and fimplicity; and

which nature,

have always fubjedled humanity.

fatirift

chap.

wife.

conclude this chapter with a few general obfervations

fhall

whatever

N.

by the poet,

we muft

alfo confider the general

liften to

the

fads

complexion of the

times in which they happened.

Such

Difference

between the
part and pre-

THEHISTORY

310

CHAP.

we have mentioned would make us believe, that

and ambition were unknown to the happy beings they have

Such
avarice

authors as

placed in the

firft

ages of the world

but

all

that remains of the

demon-

teaches quite another dolrine, and

hiftory of thefe ages,

almoft from the remoteft antiquity, there were wars,

ftrates that,

entered into with the moft flagrant injuftice, and carried on with the

moft fhocking inhumanity

mitted, and the moft

provocation
brother

wanton

cruelties often executed without

any

manner

his

that brother cheated in the moft folemn

were maltreated and abufed

that the fair fex

that a favage barbarity of

rior ftrength.

murders and robberies conftantly com-

They would

likewife perfuade us,

abfolute terms

name of luxury
another.

We

in

as

that

in fine,

to

fupe-

pomp and

but thefe are only com-

what might well deferve

the

one period, would be the utmoft fimplicity in

grant indeed, that thofe elegant pleafures which

are the refult of knowledge, induftry,

arts,

and

manners fubjedled every thing

luxury were then altogether unknown

parative, not

had then no exiftence

and a perfedion of the

but they had a

pomp and

luxury

proportioned to their powers, and the means they had of fliewing

them, and in thefe they exerted, nay even overftretched them-

much

our modern times, as

felves

perhaps as

more

fully in the fequel of this

continue to afcribe fo

as in

many

work.

to their belter principles

celebrated,

Let us then no longer

to their

which then

when

prevailed,

rude and uncultivated ftate,than

and when the virtues for which they are

were more of the negative than the

Those abandoned

fhall fee

chimerical virtues to thofe ages,

the plainncfs and fimplicity of manners

was evidently owing more

we

cities

pofitive kind.

which were confumed by

heaven, need not be brought as examples of the

total

fire

from

corruption

of

OF

WOMEN.

We

have unhappily too

of ancient manners.
of

it,

is

his

other proofs

Abriham and

not the weakeft.

apprehended that they fhould be

it

many

and of thefe the diffidence that every one then entertained

of his neighbour,

and

311

man

to require

neighbour that he would do him no harm.

Judah and Tamar,

his daughter-in-law,

both

of their wives;

flain for the fake

was no uncommon thing for

Ifaac,

an oath of

The

ftories

of

and of the rape of Dinah,

give us fome idea of the debauchery and injuftice which then

reigned upon the earth.

Judah condemned Tamar

for the crime that he had

committed with her, and the perfidious

to fufFer

death

fons of Jacob flew the Sechemites after they had ratified a treaty

of peace with them in the moft folemn manner.

and honour more

lity

refpe<Sled

Nor were

fide-

private than in public life

in

Jacob bargained with his uncle to ferve him feven years for his

daughter Rachel

when

fhamefully impofed upon

to juftify

was accomplilhed, Laban

fervice

him Leah, and had even

what he had done, and

exa<fl;

Jofeph their brother as a flave

the efi^rontery

another feven years fervice

Jacob deceived his brother Efau

for Rachel.
fold

the

the fons of Jacob

an old prophet, by a pre-

tended commiffion from the Lord, decoyed a brother prophet to

made him

his houfe, and

the

commandment

that

eat bread

and drink water, contrary

to

had been given him, and for the difobe-

dience of which he was flain by a lion.

Such were mankind ia

the patriarchal ages.

When
riods
lift

we

trace

mentioned

their charadler

in the

through the fubfequent pe-

Old Teftament, we meet with a numerous

of the fame enormities and crimes.

record,

we

When

turn towards the traditions and

hiftory of other nations, they give us

from

this facred

fragments of the

no more favourable idea of

thefe

chap.

THEHISTORY

312

CHAP,

primitive times

tiiefe

from them we

men

that

learn,

lived at

XIII.
firfl;

without government, and without law, without mutual con-

fidence, or

mutual friendship; paflion and appetite didlated what

they fliould do, and they were not felicitous about the juftice,

The

but only about the convenience and utility of their adions.

whole of the

political hlftory

The

flaughter and injuftice.

cruelty and

ramis excite our indignation, and the

fcene of

is

other crimes of

mad

Semi-

exploits of Alexander,

much marked with blood, would almoft excite

The heroic ages of Greece exhibit little befides

were they not

fo

our laughter.
rape, murder,

Egypt

of ancient

and adultery

and the fubfcquent periods are

full

of tyranny, profcrlption, and opprefTiou.

The Romans

were

at

firfl:

fet

of lawlefs banditti

after they

had formed themfelves into a community, and peopled Rome,

they became famous for moderation and
concerns of

their republic

wherever the

juftice,

were not in queftion, and

at

When

turned the mofl: venal and profligate of mankind.

laft

the

Roman

empire was deflroyed, were the crimes of the people ex-

tirpated

or does

great an event
fuperrtition

her,

hiftory paint

mankind

as

we

are afraid

is

The

i'

now

reverfe

ftarted up, perfecution

and drenched Europe

when

fhe had

loft

in

among

lawlefs alfainns,

us,

Rome ereded

blood.

whofe roads were not

fingle offenders, tojuftice.

fo

gloomy

behind

a fpiritual,

was there

fcarcely

infefted with

gangs of

robbed and murdered the traveller as he

went along, and the laws were too

afylum, where his

by

temporal, authority, and indifcriminately

who

the cafe

ftalked terrible

trampled on the rights of heaven and earth

a nation

meliorated

life

feeble to bring thefe, or cvea

Nor was

man's

own

houfe even an

and property could be fccure

his ftronger

neighbour

O F
neighbour often entered

It

once of property and of hfe.

till

in the

E N.

night, and bereaved

him

the beginning of the fixteenth century, when, by a variety of

caufes,

which

began

to

whole
hold

to

it

foften,

is

not our province to enumerate, the manners

juftice

to

triumph over oppreffion, and the

aflume that order and fecurity in which

we now

be-

it.

VoL.I.

S f

chap.

at

Such was the pidlure of Europe

CHAP.

13

<

r~

THE HISTORY

314

CHAP.
Of

CHAP. /"^ F
XIV.

all

XIV.

the Injluence of Female Society.

the various caufes

which tend

to influence

and form our manners, none operate

focietyof the other fex.

our condudl

powerfully as the

fo

If perpetually confined to their

company,

they infallibly ftamp upon us effeminacy, and fome other of the

of their nature;

fignaturcs

if conftantly

contrail a roughnefs of behaviour, and

out to us the

fufficient to point

lofs

excluded from
flovenllnefs

we have

it,

we

of perfon,

fuftained.

If

we

fpend a reafonable portion of our time in the company of women,

and another

we

in the

company of our own

fex,

it is

then only that

imbibe a proper ihare of the foftnefs of the female, and at the

fame time retain the firmnefs and conftancy of the male.

Women

in

bravery in the

all

men

have placed the

ages have
;

the greateft value on courage and

and men, in

all civilized

ages and countries,

chiefeft female excellence in beauty, chaftity,

certain namelefs foftnefs

The

fet

and delicacy of perfon and behaviour.

caufe of this will unfold

the different fexes.

Women,

fencelefs, ftand in the greateft

itfclf in

may

confidering the nature of

in themfclves

weak, timid, and de-

need of courage and bravery, to

defend them from the affaults that

or advantages that

and a

may

be made on their bodies,

be gained over their minds

men, on the

other hand, enterprlfing and robuft, have the greateft need of fe-

male

foftnefs, to

fmooth

their

rugged nature,

to

wear off the

af-

pcrities

contrad

perities they daily

O M E

VV

N.

315
and connexions with

in their bufinefs

one another, and by the lenient balm of endearment,

to blunt the

^ 5,^
<

'*'

edge of corrofive care.

We

have

jufl:

now

obferved,

pany of women, become flovenly

fecluded

this

mufical tone; their fenfations become

ments

lefs religious,

and

their paffions

of their fex

pear but too confpicuous in

failors,

women,

or in the

cellence.

Should

all,

their voice a hoarfer

and

lefs delicate, their fentl-

circumftances which ap-

miners, and other people

who

as

have

loft

every female ex-

be alleged, that thefe alterations are owing

of war, in which

to the furlinefs

which they maintain

engaged,

failors are fo often

Should

we

of the winds and waves, againft

a perpetual

fome meafure account

combat,

may

in

will appear to

an

though

for their behaviour, yet

it

thefe

found only

in

the want of that focial intercourfe with the other fex, which of

all

accurate obferver,

^o3/n"/

even their gait

the fame thing fhould then be obferved in foldlers.

have recourfe

tfce

of their time altogether without

company of fucR
it

to the horrid trade

and rough and

EiTeds of

feem to have more of the

brutal, than thofe of the reft

either fpend the greateft part

not

is

more uncouth appearance, and

aflfumes a

from the com-

in their perfons,

untradable in their manners; but

lefs

men

that

that

the ultimate caufe

is

to be

things has the moft powerful tendency to foften and humanize

the mind.

Though men

fecluded from the

the moft rude and

entirely
fecluded
'
ticular cafes,

company of women, become

uncultivated of animals, yet

of men, do
from the company
^
'

lofe

women

not, in

alraoft

fome par'

almoft any thing of their foftnefs and delicacy.

In nunneries, for inftance,

we

often perfuade ourfelves, that thefe

f 2

qualities

v/omcn

lofe

fo"^gfs"^t.cn

iudeafrom
ine men.

THE HISTORY

3i6
c

EI

1',

qualities rather increafe

but here

are to confider, that

of feeing and converfing with

frequent opportunities

them through

a grate

and

befides, the

melancholy

the Tweets of fociety, of friendfhip, and above

they have for

which never

ever

make

fails to

our pity, a paffion which,

objeft,

more than

is

them an

give

loft,

womef\

company of men,

not altogether exckuled from the

(o placed, are

having

we

the fex appear

we may

fifter to love,

lovely,

it

infpires us

on

of love, %vhlch

of penfivc

more

when

fay,

and

air

all,

reflecflions

foftnefs,

and

to raife

has beauty for

its

with the ftrongeft

partiality.

Contrafl a

But

though

women who

are fliut

up by themfelvcs

and delicacy, yet thofe of them, who, aban-

roiigbrn-fs

their native foftnefs

iiantiy rtith

doned by, or defpifing the company of

men.

preferve

their

own

fex,

aflbciate

only with ours, foon become the rougheft and moft uncultivated

human

of the

fpecics

a fadl

which the experience of every one

muft have abundantly demonftrated

to

him, and which affords

the ftrongeft pofTible proof of the falutary influence of female fo-

But in order

ciety.

from

fhew more prrticularly the

this fource, let us take

among
tries,

to

benefits arifing

a fliort view of the ftate of fociety

the ancients, and then turn our eyes towards thofe coun-

where,

at

prcfent,

men and women

feparated from each other, and

deign to

vifit

the

women

live

almoft conftantly

where the men feldom or never

but to (hew their authority, or to gratify

animal appetite.

View of fo!''r

1"

'!"

When

we

look back to the more early ages of antiquity,

fii^d l^ut little focial

intercourfe between the

confequence thereof, both were

manners.

lefs

In the patriarchal ages,

two

fexes,

and

we

that, in

amiable in their perfons and

it

would feem,

that the

women

generally

E N.

317

generally refided by themfelves, in apartments allotted to them in

^the back- parts of the tents of their parents and hufbands

tom long

among

after continued,

and in feme places

the defcendants of the patriarchs

women,

cheerful
ful

the

Many
men

the efFedls of which,

men were

women,

cruel,

thofe of

gloomy, treacherous, and revenge-

in a leffer degree, fliared all thefe unfocial vices.

ages elapfed after the times

to fociety,

Even

the Babylonians,

more

liberty than

them

in a friendly

we

enough

arofe into confequence

an hour devoted

upon

on

Neither of the fexes were lively nor

v/ere apparent.

the

day obferved,

at this

the tempers and difpofitions of the men, and even

the

a cuf-

who

any of the

are fpeaking of, before

wo-

become the companions of

to

of that devoted to love.

as well as

appear to have allowed their

women

ancients, feem not to have lived with

and familiar manner

the fexes had with each other, being

but the

ftill

little

intercourfe

greater than that of the

neighbouring nations, they acquired thereby a polifhand refinement

unknown to any of the

of both fexes were
cleanlinefs and

people

fofter,

who

and better calculated

drefs they paid

more

of female fociety on the Babylonians

carried

it

enough to become properly

who had carried

it

that firmnefs of
tracled, if

by much too

far, in a feries

to

but they had not

The

of years

to the

the expreflion, a

and

Such were the

cultivated.

body and of mind peculiar

we may be allowed

to pleafe,

attention.

effedts

far

The manners

furrounded them.

Sybarites,

loft

by

it,

all

men, and con-

more than female

cfl'eminacy.

What

a rude and barbarous people the Greeks were, during

the heroic ages,

ward

to

wc have

already feen

thofe periods in

knowledge of the
8

arts

and

when we

trace

them down-

which they became famous

fciences,

we

for their

find their ludenefs but a

little

chap.

C H A

T H E

3i8
P.

little altered,
is

and

ihelr

T O R Y

manners foftened only a few degpces

it

company of

not therefore arts, fclences, and learning, but the

man
as wc

the other fex only, that forms the manners, and renders the
agreeable.

But the company and converfation of that

have before

related,

was among the Greeks

fliamefiilly

and particularly among the Lacedemonians,

were the moft rude and uncivilized of

their

more

Greeks

early periods, the

neglcded

that account

their neighbours.

Romans were

rudenefs and barbarity

in

all

who on

fox,

In

fcarcely behind the

but they were feme time a

community without women, and confequently without any thing

to foften the ferocity

The

of male nature.

Sabine virgins,

they had ftolen, appear to have infufed into them the

politenefs
field,

firft

whom

ideas of

but as they fpent the greateft part of their time in the

or in the

in general did not

Forum, and

of their wives and daughters,

it

make companions

was many ages before the rough-

nefs of the warrior, and clownifhnefs of the farmer, began to give

place to the politenefs of the gentleman; a revolution of manners,

which did not begin

the fexes

(hew

empire

Csefars alTumcd the

betv^reen

to

became

into falhion, that the

itfelf

about the time

when

the

and from that time the intercourfe

fo eafy,

hardy

till

and gallantry grew

Roman was

at

fo

length foftened

much
down

to the delicate voluptuary.

The

fame caufes exifted among the nations contemporary with

Romans, and they produced the fame

the

fierce inhabitants

the

company of

tute

None of

the

of the North had either time or inclination for

their

women

and on that account they were

of ornaments and graces, and equally uncultivated

and in mind.

we

effeds.

Were we

ftiould find, that it

to proceed

in

defli-

body

on our furvey of antiquity,

was only a few centuries ago

that the fair

fex

'

OF WOMEN.

319

the introdudlon of chivalry, they were looked upon as beings un-

worthy of the company or

were

tion they

attention of the

rank of

raifed to the

reverence, and confidered as

the familiarity of mortal

of

this

inftitu-

approached with

divinities,

moving

in a fphere too exalted for

and

was only upon the decline

men

it

to be focial

companions,

the pleafures, and alleviate

From

this flight

wards the prefent

all

fociety

furvey of antiquity,

ftate

there,

picious, cowardly,

to

let

fhall

all

of

ills,

life.

us turn our eyes to-

of mankind in the Eaft

we

and

enhance the value of

the pains and

that tyrant of the foul, has excluded

where jealoufy,

the joys and comforts of

not only find the

men gloomy,

fhall find, that

roughnefs and barbarity have

and triumph over the human mind

There,

fettled their

but there, (hall

we

difficulty find

mental feelings
fociety

all

any of the

thefe are

focial virtues,

commonly

and though men may improve

we

empire,

hardly be

able to difcover the tender parent, or the indulgent hufband

we with

fiif-.

cruel, but diverted of almoft all the finer

fentiments that arife from friendfhip and from love.

fhall

there,

or the fenti-

the offspring of

their heads in the

mixed

company

own fex, we may affirm, that the company and converof women alone is the proper fchool for the heart. Should

of their
fation

/-

of rational beings, for which nature feems to have in-

tended them

mixed

by that

'

P.

romantic turn of mind, that they began to take that place

in the fcale

all

men

^ ^^^

Before

fex began in Europe to be confidered in a rational light.

any one doubt the truth of

this,

let

him turn over

few volumes

of the hiftory of any of thefe nations, where the fexes

cluded from each other, and he will meet with the

live

ex-

mod ample

convidion.

When

state of the

^fl*-

c H

P.

State ot i>jio')e.

T H E

320

T O R Y

Wnf.N from tliefe unfocial regions, where, by being deprived

of the company of the fair, life fs deprived of more than half
its joys, we turn ourfelves to Europe, we eafily difcover, that in
proportion to the time fpent in the converfatlon of their
the people are polifhed and refined; and

lefs

attention to their females than

bours, and arc of confequence

their perfons,

when

in proportion as

Tlie Ruifians, Poles, and even the

they ncglet or dcfpife them.

Dutch, pay

lefs fo,

women,

any of

lefs diftinguiftied

and the feelings of

their neigh-

for the graces of

their hearts.

The

Spaniards,

they formerly had not the benefits of female fociety, were

remarkable for their cruelties

at this period,

when

and duennas arc becoming unfafhionable, and

among them, they

and converfation of the

So powerful,

fair, in difl'ufing

in fliort,

bars,

women mixing

are faft affuming the culture and

the neighbouring nations.

locks,

is

humanity of
the

company

happinefs and hilarity, that

even the cloud which hangs on the thoughtful brow of an Englifhman

begins in the prefent age to brighten, by his devoting to the ladies
a larger fhare

But

of time than was formerly done by his anceftors.

we would contemplate the influence of female fociety

in its greateft perfedion, we muft take a view of the Italians and
in the laft of which, we are conftantly prefented with
French
tempers fo gay and cheerful, that we are almoft tempted to think
them fuperior to all the ills and accidents of life among them
only we find happinefs fmiling amid want and poverty, and
if

pleafure and amufement, with

all

their fportive train, not

only

attending on the rich and affluent, but on the humble villager,

and dancing around the

ruftlc cot.

French in fupporting their

fpirits

ftances of this world,

For this fortitude of the

through

for their vivacity

all

the adverfe circum-

and cheerfulnefs of temper.

per, various reafons have been afligned,

food, and falubrity of their air

N.
of their

as the lightnefs

caufes to

321

which

be juftly attributed, but which are undoubtedly

much

aflifted in

their operations

by the conftant mixture of the young and

by the

and

levity

of female converfation

fprightlinefs

may

a great deal

and

old,

for

we

fcruple not to aflert, that this vivacity of the French ladies, and the

them by the men,

conftant attendance paid

and

the cares

ills

of

life fit

lighter

are the chief caufes

on the fhoulders of thn^;

why

fantaftic

people, than on thofe of any other country in the world.

In

of pleafure,

ties

curfion

men make excurfions, and form parby themfelves The French reckon that an ex-

other countries, the

all

is

and that a party of pleafure cannot deferve that

dull,

name, without a mixture of both fexes join

to

compofe

it.

The

women do not even withdraw from the table after meals

nor do the men difcover that propenfity to have them difmiffed,
which we fo often meet with in England, and which is a certain
French

indication, that

they either want to debauch themfelves with

quor, or indulge in thofe indecencies of difcourfe, which the

pany of women always

no

reftrains.

relifh for the converfation

It is

of the

com-

thofe

who have

that their

company

alleged

fair fex,

li-

by

curbs the freedom of fpeech, and reftrains the jollity of mirth

but

if the converfation

and the mirth are decent, and the company

are capable of relifhing

the cafe

nor
lefs

is

at leaft,

it

is

any thing but wine, the very reverfe

always remarkably

any thing more natural

difturbed

fo

among

the French

for, the fair fex in general

by the cares and anxieties of

life,

is
:

being

are not only

themfelves more cheerful, but more eager to promote mirth and

feftiv ity.

Vol.

I,

But

chap,

T H E H

322

CHAP.
'

of lemaic
"*'^*

fc-

to

the circumftances

themfelves

T O R Y

advantages of female fociety are not altogether con-

]3yj. [[^Q

fined

much

farther,

we have now

and fpread

women,

they

make

to pleafe

owe

pleafing they

that the

men

that they frequently

owe

fequently their health

is fo effetual

much

that

a check,

it is

and

the focial in-

it is

to the

ambition of

manners, as well as

their elegance of

neatnefs and ornaments of drefs.

It is to

life.

are indebted for every effort

and be agreeable

all

they extend

their inlluence over almoft

every cuftom and every adlion of focial

tercourfe with

related

to the

It is

fame

all

the

caufe, alfo,

and temperance, and con-

their fobriety

for to drunkennefs and irregularity nothing

as the

but feldom

company of modeft women

we

man

find a

fo loft to

info-

fhamc, as to

company.

To them

get

drunk when he

we

are not lefs frequently indebted for the calming of violent dif-

is in,

or to

go

into their

putes, and preventing of quarrels, which, with every other fpecies

fo indecent in their

of rudenefs, are happily reckoned

fence, that

we

them

often poftpone

till

another opportunity

pre-

and

in the interim, reafon refumes the rein which paflion had ufurped.

But

this is not all:

have been amicably

offices,

tears

or,

at leaft,

and mediation.

many

difputes and quarrels, already begun,

fettled

by the

inter pofition

the fatal effeds of

Fond of the

have often had the addrefs

interceCTion, the direful effeds

of war

their

them prevented by

fofter

to prevent,

of

by

good
their

fcenes of peace, they

their

arguments and

and, afraid of lofing their

bufbands and relations, they have fometimes ruflied between two

hoftile

armies ready to engage, and turned the horrid fcenes of

deflruQion into thofe of friendfliip and

In our

fex, there is a

fcftivity.

kind of conftituiional or mafculine pride,

which hinders us from yielding,

in points of

knowledge or of
honour.

Though

honour, to each other.

for feveral ufeful purpofes, yet

this

N.

may

323

be defigned by nature

often the fource alfo of a vari-

it is

ety of evils, the mofl dangerous to the peace of fociety

lay

it

afide in our

entirely

we

but

connedions with women, and wiih

pleafure fubmit to fuch didates and behaviour from their fex, as

from our own would

up every

call

and inflame every ungovernable

irafcible particle

of our blood,

This accuftomed fub-

pafTion.

new and lefs imperious turn to our ideas, teaches

obey where we were ufed to command, and to reafon where

miffion gives a
us to

we

ufed to be in a paflion

complaifance, that which before

and unbecoming meannefs

is

we

looked upon as the mofl; abjedt

and thus the

Hence we may

verfation of virtuous and fenfible

us for fociety;

fit

irafcible paflions,

and

that,

that

reft aflTured,

women

it is

to

the con-

only, that can properly

by abating the

ferocity of our

more

can lead us on to that gentlenefs of deportment,

diftinguifhed by the

The

name of humanity.

tendernefs

foftens the ruggednefs of our nature;

for

them

we

affume, in order to

times become

of the male

ftern feverity

by the gentlenefs peculiar

foftened and rendered agreeable

the female nature.

only good-breeding and

to confider as

make

we have

and the virtues

a better figure in their eyes,

fo habitual to us, that

we

fome-

never afterward lay them

afide.

We

much the fafliion

company of men only, are necef-

are aware, that in this country

to fuppofe that books,

and the

it

is

too

fary to furnifh every qualification requifite for the fcholar

the gentleman
to

but

we would

defire fuch as are

compare the generality of the gentlemen of

thofe of France

and

Italy,

and they will

this

opinion

this country,

find, that

perhaps excel them in deepnefs of thought and

of

and

to

though we

folidity

of judg-

ment,

^ H A

P,

HA

T H E

324
P.

we

nicnt,

arc greatly their inferiors in urbanity,

knowledge of the world:

company and acquaintance of

eafinefs of addrefs by which
from the mere

fcholar,

Italians educate

their

proper

furnifli
it

only the

is

the ladjes, which can beftow that

the fine gentleman

and man of

is

diftinguiflied

The French and

bufinefs.

drawing-room,

nobility in the

at the toi-

and places of public amufement, where they are conftantly

in the

The

company of women.
and

college,

at

taftical

Englifh educate theirs

Newmarket, where books, grooms, and

are their only companions:

of beings

at

the

jockies,

the former are often the mofl; fan-

the latter, the moft ignorant,

imperious, and

between thefe two extremes of education, while

furly: fomething
it

though books may

for

and

in addrefs,

and experience improve the underftanding,

ideas,

lette,

T O R Y

preferved the dignity and firmnefs of the man, might infufe a

proper quantity of the foftnefs and addrefs of the

When

we

when, even

in

look a few centuries

Europe, there was but

the two fexes,

we

manners than

in their pcrfons

find that

totally covered the chin,

breaft.

backward

the
;

little

men were

woman.

to thefe periods,

intercourfe between

hardly ruder in their

they wore long beards, which

and often hung a great way down the

Beards are the work of nature, and however troublefome

and uncouth, had no moral turpitude, nor tendency to debauch

the manners; but the

men

had, in thofe times, other modes of

As the

drefling

which

gan

have more influence, beards were mutilated down

to

violated every idea of decency.

ladies be-

to

muftachoes, though the learned exclaimed againft the horrid innovation, as difcovering a

women, than

to

tafte

which tended more

to gratify the

keep up the dignity of the mafculine counte-

nance j and though the church confidercd the mutilaiioii as

little

fhort

OF W O M

E N.

325

fhort of apoftacy,

becaufe Mofes and Jefus were always painted

with long beards.

As

no great

the gentlemen found that the ladies had

muftachoes, which were the

relith for

relics

they cut and curled them into various fafliions,

more agreeable

and

at

laft

of a beard,
render them

to

finding that fuch labour was in vain,

gave them up altogether. But as the gentlemen of the three learned

were fuppofed

profefTions

need

in

to be

endowed with, or

at leaft to ftand

more wifdom than other people, and

of,

as the longeft

beard had always been fuppofed to fprout from the wifeft chin, to
fupply this mark of diftindion, which they had

up

to fmother
that they

cred to

their

heads in enormous quantities of frizzled hair,

might bear the greater refemblance

wifdom and Minerva.

were long an objed of the

the

women, who,

to the

fecluded

Such

ridicule

honour of

in the prefent age, banifhed

Man,

they contrived

loft,

by

to

an owl, the bird

fa-

profeffional wigs,

however,

of wits, and the

diflike

their tafte

of

and influence, have,

far the greater part of them.

from the company of women,

rough and uncultivated, but a dangerous, animal

is

not only a

to fociety

for,

in fuch a fituation, the animal appetite is daily gathering ftrength,

till

at laft

known

becomes almoft quite ungovernable; a

it

of fea-ports,

to the inhabitants

opportunities of feeing the

with which

failors

money.

returned from a long voyage,

condud of

the

And a
men in

faft
all

too frequent

force of that ungovernable paflion,

cate themfelves to the worthlefs

their

who have

fadl well

women who

which

commonly

attend on account of

alfo appears evident

countries,

from the

where women are kept

mifer does his gold: \a fuch countries, the paflions of the

fo raifed

by

partial glances,

ideal beauty,

and

dedi-

as the

men

are

and by brooding over the thoughts of

ideal happinefs, in the

enjoyment of it, andfo inflamed

CHAP.

T H

326
^

w**'i

fl^"^^'^

^v/v^*
'

li

T O R Y

almoft infurmountable obftaclcs to that enjoyment,

happen

ever

that if tlicy

to

find a

woman

alone,

manner

they attack

her in

the moft furious and licentious

women

here fuch a power of refidance as they have in countries

where they are accuftomed

to the

company of

the

nor have the

men

fecluded

from them by a barbarous cuflom, they naturally form notions of

the happinefs they

would derive from them, of the mo(l wild and

romantic nature

thefe

them
it

fall

an eafy prey to the

happens, that, in

and of

locks, bars,

fpite

wc may

lencc,

than where the fcxes

therefore

aflfert,

men

minds

lefs

men

and we

to regulate

fociety

women

alfo

attacks of info-

of their daily converfe,

the objedt

is lefs

and eafy

mixed

alone, but extend to the

to their virtue or ^heir happinefs

this fociety teaches the

women

that the benefits of

and confequently

valuable,

this caufe

live free

power of checking the

and by making man

make him

From

rude invader.

and eunuchs, the chaftity of the

are not confined to the

infufe into their

firfl

of cautious parents, and jealous hufbands,

fecure in fuch countries,

together

make

notions difarm their virtue, and

lefs

dangerous, either

may

further aver, that

and govern

their pafllons

with greater propriety, as nothing can be more certain, than that

rape, adultery,
in countries

the

of fociety

is
is

evil that

where thefexes

company of each

There
and

and every

follow them, are more

live feparate,

than where they enjoy

other.

nothing by which the happinefs of individuals and

(o

much promoted,

as

by conftant

efforts to pleafe

thefe efforts are in a great meafure only produced

pany of women
particular

common

for

men, by ihemfelves,

by the com-

relax in almoft every

of good-breeding and complaifance, and appear the

creatures of

mere nature

but no fooner does a

woman

appear,

than

O
than the fccne

good

their

women

qualifications.

E N.

327

It is

by the

arts

prompt them

arts for

fiich are

fmiles,

their

to cultivate

and

objedts
all

of

others

moft afliduoufly

which they are well

they by nature and by

by

their air

fweets into fociety, which

by

qualified

that they can infufe

art,

and addrefs,

thoufand

But

enjoy any pleafure

to

we muft never be fatiated with it and

more than common prudence in a woman, to

in perfedtion,

requires

A
up

to her,

and

in houfes

When

much
which we
be

were we feldomer indulged with her

women were

few centuries ago,

of the world.

and relpedl

retain that deference

ftill

would voluntarily pay

fhut

therefore

company, and

prefence

namelefs

without them would be infipid, and

barren of fentiment and of feeling.

but,

all

In their forms lovely, in their manners foft and en-

nature.

gaging,

become

attainments which, as they are of

the arts of pleafing

in

(hew

of pleafing only, that

only, that they can hope to

the moft dear to them,

it

to

can attain to any degree of confequence or of power

love and affettion

by

changed, and they become emulous

is

by pleafing

is

it

lived retired

caflles,

rarely acceflible,

from the

buftle

they deigned to fliew themfelves, they were

approached as divinities

tranfient

view of them often

the

fet

heart on fire; and their fmiles conferred a happinefs, and raifed an

of which

enthufiaftic ardour,

any

idea.

fexes

Ly

degrees, as

mixed together with

feen with

lefs

effedt
let

period

we can

manners became more

lefs

ceremony,

hardly form

free,

women

and the

began

to

trepidation, approached with lefs deference,

funk in their value

Nor was

this

at

as they

became

this peculiar to the times

objedls

we

be

and

of greater familiarity.

are delineating: the fame

always has, and always will happen from the fame caufe

the other fex, therefore, learn this inftrudive lefTon from

that half the efteem

and veneration we fhew them,

is

owing

it,

to

their

C h a

p.

THEHISTORY

328

CHAP.

tUe'ir

modefty and referve, and that

on

may

face

je6t of efteem, or

We

is

is

toaft,

folicited to

rife

we had

and progrefs of

polite

are confined,

we

it

to fay

life.

on the advantages of

feems not only to be thecaufe

manners, and of fentimental feel-

where

the countries

find the inhabitants of

them

diftinguiflied

manners; when we view the fame countries

for barbarity of

the periods

and have her name infcribed

When we view

ings, but alfo of the fine arts.

women

walk, and in every

be a companion for

female fociety, by obferving, that

of the

in every

for-

tavern, but fhe rarely ever becomes an ob-

conclude what

(hall

known

be given as a

windows of a

the

The

the frailties of mortality about her.

all

ward beauty, whofe

public place,

may make

goddefs degenerate in our eyes to a mere

the mofl: enchanting

woman, with

conduct

a contrary

when

the

women

begin to have their liberty,

we im-

mediately perceive the manners begin to foften and improve.

no country can

this

they had formerly

In

be more ftrongly exemplified than in Spain

lefs

communication with the

fair fex

of them in politenefs and elegance of manners

have been under

lefs

reftraint, the

than any

other people of Europe, and were confequently greatly behind

women

in

all

but fince their

progrefs of manners

has been fo rapid, that they are hardly behind any of their neighbours.

To

the fociety of

tion of pleafing,

emulation

we

the fine arts.

and

let

owe

him

and

to this

the greater part, if not the, whole of

any one doubts of this,

dition of thefe countries,

lation,

are indebted for the emula-

and conferring happinefs on others

certainly
If

women we

let

him

confider the con-

where men have no fuch motive of emu-

there difcover the fine arts if he can

he

may

indeed fay, that in the Eaft he finds fome of thofe arts in as great
perfedtion as in Europe; but
3

he difcovers

alfo,

that the/

have

exifted

WOMEN.

OF

immemorial, without the

exifted there time

provement

and why?

under no obligation

pleafing

has he a rival in love, he

to fucceed in preference

preferable accomplilhments;

offices,

him by

to

does he court a coy

relulance in accepting of him, he

affedions by good

advance or im-

leaft

becaufe the Eaftern has no motive to

him emulous of

render

329

is

chap.
XIV.
<

n y-n^

is

flievving

who fhews

fair,

not defirous to gain her

and by inventions

render her

to

life

eafy and comfortable, but at once buys her of her fordid parents

Widely

or relations.
fenfe

different

men by

judge of the

is

hence, even the fine

may

der us amiable,

male

fociety

Were we
of the

fair

arifing

from

which we

cultivate to pleafe

and

and

to ren-

be rationally confidered as an effed of fe-

we might enumerate

fex,

company and

their

to female

mind, and gives

related

on

but, contenting

this head,

the learned and ftudious,

company,

that

it fo

it

fhall

has often been

enervates and relaxes the

fuch a turn for trifling, levity, and dilTipation,

altogether unfit for that application

fary in order to

we

of the difadvantages ariiing from our inter-

By

it

feveral other advantages

converfation

what we have already

courfewith them.

it

men have

thefe to the beft advantage,

inclined to write the panegyric, inftead of the hiftory Difadvan-

now mention fome

as renders

all

hence the

and of love.

ourfelves with

objeded

fhew

arts,

women of

the elegance of their peffons, of their

manners, and by thejr intelledlual faculties

conftantly occafion to

Europe

the cafe in

become eminent

in

any of the

which

fciences.

is

necef-

In proof

of this they allege, that the greateft philofophers feldom or never

were men who enjoyed, or were

fation of

any of

women.

the fex, and

Vol.

I.

fit

for the

Newton hardly

company

ever converf^d with

Sir

Ifaac

it is

believed, died at laft as

or conver-

much

a ftranger
to

male

fociety.

THEHISTORY

330

CHAP,

to the Joys

Ui -,- >

that

of love, as he had lived a ftranger

awaken

the heart

in

it

Boyle, Des Cartes,

Bacon,

a variety of others, confpicuous for their

cation,
thefe,

were but

companions

indifferent

to

and

learning and applithe

Whether

fair.

and many more inftances of the fame nature which might

be adduced, are

that the youth

who

Nothing however feems more

but without the fatigue and appli-

cation of fevere ftudy, fuch a

labour of

But

many

by female

often obtains

often

of the

much comcompany of women, fuch

men

into a fcene of expenfive

and negled of ftudy,

leads the

fo

amufements, into a love of finery and oftentatious

they are not able to afford
pleafe the

in-

years.

plained of as a confequence
alfo

man

denied to the merited improvements acquired by the

befides this idlenefs

company

certain, than

of gallantry, never diftinguifhes

little offices

himfelf in the literary world

is

pretend

devotes his whole time and attention to female

converfation and the

what

we

fufficient to eftablifli a general rule,

not to determine.

tereft,

to the fair obje<5ls

fhovv,

which

while regardlefs of every thing but to

giddy and unthinking

fair,

they rulh forward with

thoughtlefs unconcern on the ruin of their fortunes, and

not from their dream of folly

till

awake

they find themfelves plunged

become the jeft of their acquaintances, and even perhaps fneered at by the very females who led them into the fnare.

into poverty,

Againft fuch weaknefs

we

fincerely wifh to caution the

unexperienced part of our

how

fex,

and we advife them

they aflbciate with any of the other,

with fenfe as well as virtue

for

it

frequently to gay and thoughtlefs

is

who

young and

to be careful

are not

endowed

not always to vicious, but

women,

that

men owe

their

ruin.

Such

WOMEN.

OF
Such

331

of man-

as are enthufiaftically zealous for the liberties

kind, have imagined that the only

and independent people,

company of women,

is

way

xiv.
to continue a brave, free,

avoid as

to

much

as

the foft drains of mufic, and

all

poflible

the

the luxuries

of the table and of drefs; and as a proof of their opinion, they

that the Lydians, the Sybarites,

tell us,

mans
by

and even the hardy Ro-

themfelves, were debauched, and at length

their attention to

That

all

hiftory has left us

loft their liberty

women.

thefe people

were greatly debauched

no room

to

doubt

but that the

manners,

in their

company of wo-

men was the caufe of this debauchery, is far from being certain; at
leaft if we take a view of the world as it exifts in the prefent period,

teaches us a different leflbn;

it

moft clear and

diftlndl

manner, that

it

points out to us,

in the

and independence,

liberty

the moft ineftimable bleflings of mankind, are no where at fo low

an ebb,

as in the countries

them

it

where the women have no

men keep
the men of

and where the

influence,

ftiews us, that

almoft no

political

company with

fuch countries, inftead of

being the braveft and moft independent, are the moft daftardly

and enflaved of the human race

and that on the contrary,

in the

wilds of America, where liberty and independence exift in the

moft extenfive fenfe of the words, the freedom which the

women

enjoy in mixing with, and in fome places even of governing along

with the men, has not in the

That

rights of mankind.

founded on

focial

in

contributed to deftroy thefe native

Europe, where liberty

is

generally

and rational principles, calculated for the good of

the community, the

enervated the

leaft

men

company of

as to induce

the

them

women
to part

has not hitherto fo

with

rouze themfelves from the lap of indolence and

u 2

chap.

it,

eafe.

rather than

About two
hun-

THE HISTORY

03hundred and

duced wenien

company of
more

them

period,

we have

feen

againft arbitrary

of

to the fee

employed

in

much

power

Rome

in the

and yet were not then a

as at prefent,

on the contrary, though we

finlcing in

them

effeminacy ever fince that

at different

make

times

fuch efforts

have rather increafed than diminifhed

as

Were

their privileges.

and

women

have been

to

Francis the Firfl had not Intro-

the French were not half fo

to court,

their

when

and independent people

free

fuppofe

years ago,

fifty

the Italians lefs flaves to their princes,

in

former times, when they were fcarcely

any thing but

arts

of fuperftitious devotion, than

at

when they almofl. entirely refign themfelves to mufic and

women ? Or were the Spaniards more free under the gloomy

prefent,

to

reign of Philip the Second, when, from motives of jealoufy and

their

religion,

prefent

at

part!cuiar

when

conftantly locked up,

they converfe with them

In

than they are

fliort,

wherever

we meet with

a nation of flaves, other caufes befides the

pany of

women muft

and

Inflaenceof

women were

to continue

SucH
j^^,

their

them

i^jfiyg^ce

minutely

woman

which evcry
good

fenfe,

to defcribe; a

confider the
it

into,

of an agreeable perfon, and a to-

has over every man,

we

cannot pretend

tafkof this kind would be better executed

in the exercife of fuch a power.

When

two fexes into which the human genus are

di-

appears in the moft confpicuous manner, that the Author

of nature has placed the balance of power on the

by giving him not only

mind endowed with

reach.

them

in, that defpicable ftate.

by fome female, verfant

vided,

to bring

are the general influences of female fociety; the particu-

lerable fliare of

we

have contributed

com-

But are

body more large and

fide

of the male,

robuft, but alfo

refolution,

and a more extenfive

thefe qualities altogether

without their counter-

greater

poife

O
Are women

poife ?

left

whereby they can reduce

footing

If they

each fex he has given

upon
and

the whole,

women

may

juftly

and the feverity of their

no fuch

is

Have they no powers

they

and we

tentively confider this matter,

of our being

333

feeming fuperiority

this

have not,

partiality of nature,

E N.

without any thing on theit fide to balance

fuperiority of our nature

this

partial parent:

its

to a

more equal

complain of the
But

lot.

we

cultivated

us at-

let

fhall find, that the

Author

fhall difcover, that

and that

different qualifications;

when properly

to exert,

to

thefe,

and exerted, put

men

nearly on an equal footing with each other, and fliare

and difadvantages of

the advantages

life

between-

impartially

To bend the haughty ftubbornnefs of man, he has given

woman beauty, and to that beauty has added an inexpreffible

them.
to

foftnefs

and perfuafive force both of words and adtions, which

but few of the fex themfelves

know

fewer of ours have the power of

word, a kind look, or even

fubdued

Caefar,

and which

the extent of,

flill

Thus, an infinuating

refitting.

a fmile, often

conquered Alexander,

and decided the fate of empires and of kingdoms;

thus the interceffion of the mother of Coriolanus faved the city

of

Rome from impending

deftrudion, and in one hour brought

about a happy event, which the fenate and people had defpaired

of ever feeing accomplished.

This power of the women,

ing the ftronger fex to their will,

when
the

is

of thefe

circumftance

But

this

is

not always extinguilhed

but even with

of which

this laft

an indubitable proof.

power of the women does not altogether

fmiles, words,
lefs vifible,

it is

bend-

no doubt greatly augmented

they have youth and beauty on their fide

lofs

in

and actions

and impoffible
&_

to

it

often effeds

be defcribed

its

confift in

purpofes by means

but thefe means muft

conftantly

CHAP.
XIV,

THE HISTORY

334
C H

XIV

P.

conftantly have for their bafis foftncfs and good-nature

they

mud

ever be fuch as throw a veil over the pride of our fuppofed fuperi-

and make us

ority,

believe, that

we

are exerting that fovereign

we confider as our right, when in reality we arc

The leaft appearance of the contrary alarms our
-yielding it up.
pride
and (he who difcovers to us her intention to govern by her
power, which

power, or by her ill-temper, produces an

fex are not fufficiently aware of,

raifing adifguft,

would be in a

to face about,

leding

woman

In fhort, fuch a condut in a

attempt.
it

on us the other
which

all

our

can never conquer, befides, for the moft part, failing in her

efforts

as

by

efFedl

the fame thing

lion to fight with his hinder legs, or for a hare

and defy the teeth of the purfuing pack

make

to

is

it is

ncg-

what nature has furnilhed, and endeavour-

ufe of

ing to ufe what fhe thought proper to deny.

We

could point out here, were

women

it

neceffary, a great variety of

men by the influence of

good-nature and infmuating manners but we defy hiftory to furwhere

inflances,

have governed
;

nifh one fingle inftance of this afcendency having ever been ob-

tained over a

man of

fenfe,

by brawling, ill-humour, and a

vifi-

No man of feeling is proof againft the

woman fuch arts are armed with an irre-

ble conteft for fuperiority.

fofter arts

of a fenfible

Every man, almoft,

proof againft her open at-

fiftible

power.

tacks

they are the attacks of a bee without a fting.

of

Sefoftris prevailed

upon him by the

take the conqueft of the world

the fame

means engaged him

in

to carry

general

arts

The

daughter

of perfuafion to under-

AttofTa, the wife

againft the Scythians, into Greece.

where women have

is

of Darius, by

an expedition he had planned

In the empire of the Mogul,

but

little

influence,

Noor-Je-

han, a favourite Sultana, prevailed on the emperor her huflaand to

I

delegate

O
dielegate almoft the

E N.

33S

whole of the fovereign power into her hands.

But a much more noble inftance of the exertion of female influwho,

ence occurs in the queen of Pythius, a prince of Lydia
;

cruel

and avaricious beyond meafure, kept the greater part of his

fubjeds

fo conftantly

employed digging in the gold mines,

that

they had no time for agriculture, and were confequently in danger of perifhing by famine.

OpprefTed by this tyranny, they

took an opportunity of his being abroad, and aflembled in great

numbers, with
his

queen

tears in their eyes, to lay their complaints before

who, commiferating

volving in her mind

how

following method.

On

their condition, after

to relieve

the return of her hufband, fhe ordered a

when he uncovered

any thing but

gold.

re-

them, bethought herfelf of the

magnificent entertainment to be ferved up to him

furprife,

much

the difhes, none of

but to his great

them contained

Senfible at once of his mifcondud:, and

ftruck with the propriety of the

method

his wife

had made ufe

of,

in order to open his eyes, that he might fee his folly, and fully

convinced that gold could not fatisfy his

own hunger,

from famine, he immediately gave orders

fubjedls

nor fave his

that,

in future,

no more than one- fifth part of them fhould be employed

in pro-

curing gold from the mines, and that the other four parts fhould
betake themfelves to agriculture and the ufeful

It would be

eafy to multiply inftances, both ancient and

dern, of this afcendency

men of

feeling

thefe, the

arts.

but

we

emprefs Livia

which women of

fenfe

have gained over

Among

Ihall confine ourfclves to a few.

may

juftly claim the

mo"

firft

notice

having

attained fuch an influence over her hufl^and Auguftus, that there

was hardly any thing he could

ladies

of

Rome

refufe her.

being anxious to

know

the

Many
means

of the married

that

flie

had ufed
to

CHAP.
XIV.

THE HISTORY

36

c H A

P.

one of them

to attain this end,

"

replied,

vouring

*'

" ledge of
grcateft

commands

being obedient to

to

difcover his fecrets; and by concealing

his

amours."

all his

Henry

my know-

the Fourth of France, one of the

power women may, by gentle methods, acquire over

Tender and compaflionate

any thing

his

and

and

miftrefTes,

at

dains, that the

the French

tears

Hence he was

to

fenfible at the

crown of France

fliall

be forced from him

conftantly governed by his

The

variance with his wives.

women

honour and power, there was hardly

any thing he would grant, when attempted

different methods.

he could hardly

in his nature,

intreaties,

to foftncfs,

fame time, and jealous of

affront;

and moft amiable of princes, affords a moft remarkable

the men.

by

by not endea-

I3y

inftance of the

refufe

at laft venturing to aflc her, flic

never

Salique law orthe diftaff: but

fall to

have amply revenged themfelves for

by contriving

to

govern

almofl,

this

every monarch, they

have conftantly governed that great kingdom, from the apparent

management of which

From

fcripture,

the law had fo pofitively excluded them.

and from education, almofl every

imbibed an idea of the fuperiority of his

own

fex

he

is

man

has

therefore

zealous to maintain that fuperiority, and jealous of every attack

made upon

it

but he

is

at the

fame time endowed with a

fenti-

mental tendernefs for the other fcx, and a flrong inclination to

promote
called his

and

their

happinefs

weak

fide,

as eafily take the

between

the

two

which, with regard

and which
advantage

fexes,

women

of.

to

them,

may

be

of fenfe eafily difcover,

This being the

ffate

of things

nothing feems more plain, than that

though men govern by law, women may almofl always govern by

" The empire of wothe arts of gentlencfs and fofi perfuafion.
*'

man

(fays a

French author)

is

an empire of fwcetnefs, addrefs,

"and

OF WOMEN.
**

and complalfance
^

**

tears ;" tind

we may add,

of fuch menaces
tains

it is

commands

her

is

are carefles

which can remove mounits

us, pleads in favour

fide

drefs,

infallibly be

to the finer fenfations,

which

it

in filence
is

good reafon

beyond

loft,

commands
fenfibility

whofe hearts are

and whofe ftubborn feelings bend

Women joined

to fuch

their

power

to

remedy

for

we have

but too

upon which gentlenefs and

can never be mended by ill-nature.

Men

fenfe will often, for the fake of peace, fubmit to be ill-treated

woman

men

may

and deplore their misfortune; a misfortune

to affirm, that the temper,

good-nature are

the

and more

governed by foftnefs and ad-

not even to prayers and intreaties.

down

fex,

But though men of

there are others caft in a rougher mould,

Grangers

fit

all

the principle

they are laid with gentlenefs of manners,

and an infinuating behaviour.

and good-nature may

of the

than half performs the tafk of making us obey

when

her menaces are

power of fuch commands and

power wjiich has nature on

they lay upon us,

deftitute

of

by a

of fenfe will retort that treatment with

double violence.

Vol.

I.

chap.
XIV.

that the

like that of faith,

by her implanted within

337

XX

CHAP.

T H E

338

T O R Y

CHAP.

XV.

Sketches of Ceremonies and Cujloms, for ilx mojl pari obferved

only,

by Women,

CHAP.

/V ^

tcrife

^^^ manners and cuftoms of a nation, befides being the

mofl entertaining part of

and diftinguifh

purfuits to

it

from

all

which the genius of

its

hillory, ferve alfo to charac-

others,

by pointing out the various

people are diredted; the

its

and caprices which climate, chance, or

whims

neceffity has introduced

the force that the intelledual powers have exerted, in contriving

or adopting ceremonies and cufloms agreeable to reafon

ing fuperftition, and difcarding whatever

unbecoming

is

in refill-

ridiculous in manners,

government

in religion, or tyrannical in

fo the cuf-

women, were we enabled by hiftory to give

a particular detail of them, on comparing them with thofe of the
men, would greatly afhft us in forming a judgment of the comtoms more peculiar

to

parative merit of the

two

fexes, in difcovering the folid

flimfy of each, and pointing out

rious purfuits and pleafures,

which

by reafon

is
;

and the

mofl directed, in

and which

its

va-

raoft follows

the didlates of cuftom, or fuggeflions of fancy.

obfcurity of

But, unhappily, of

all

other parts of the female hiftory, that

of their manners and cuftoms

rity

them

almoft

all

in filence,

is

involved in the greateft obfcu-

the writers of antiquity have either pafled over

or blended

them

fo

intimately with the ceremo-

nies

WOMEN.

OF

339

and cuftoms of the men, that we are generally

n'les

at a lofs to

C H A
AV

P,

any degree of

difcover, with

Nor

much

the fubjedt

is

their voyages

and

they have vifited

power

which, indeed,

are defcribing, precludes

is

places,

the fhort ftay

in the countries
that

all

in their

is

all

fpccies

of information,

The jealoufy of the men, in

accefs to their women; and

a traveller affords not the neceflary time for

have but imperfed fketches of what

is

peculiar to the one fex,

to the other.

It has been obferved by

man

in

Hence, among the prefent inhabitants of the globe,

information.

and what

women

commonly

them from every

hinders them from

made by

all

who have attentively

confidered hu-

nature, that fafhion and cultom are powers

little

which

exercife the jea

minds, either bccaufe

fuch are not properly qualified to examine the caufes from which
arife,

caufe,

after

nor the

of which they are produdlive

effedls

or be-

having examined and found them ridiculous, they

have not fortitude enough

to prefer fingularity to

cuftom, though

the former be founded on reafon, and the latter on folly or caprice

and

as

women

in all ages

have been fuppofed

to

of fafhion, ceremony, and cuflom, than men,

ftantly

been made ufe of

their underftandings.
blifhed, the proof

from being

to

for

impartiality to look around

this flavery has

indeed, that if the

would be undeniable

eftablifhed

be more the flaves

con-

prove the weaknefs and inferiority of

We allow,
we

challenge

him

X 2

fad were

efta-

we think it is far
any man of fenfe and

but

into the fafliions

Both fexes
equally fublo the

mofl extenfive authority over weak and

they

of the language of the people they

but what they receive by their eyes.

many

<^ii..,

moft part, only inform us of the

travels, for the

their ignorance

for

peculiar to each.

is

by the moderns, who,

better elucidated

complexion, and behaviour of the

drefs,

we

what

certainty,

and cufloms of
Europe,

tom.

THE HISTORY

340

Europe, nnd to fay whether thofe of our fex are not

and ridiculous

as

whimfical

of the other, and whether our whole de-

as thofe

portment does not declare, that we are as inviolably attached

to

them.

As

the fubjel of female ceremonies and cuftoms

and requires

delicate nature,

may on
filence

that account have been the

and on that account,

run over
rical

be touched by the

to

it

moreflightly than

is

Rut we lay

information.

rather flop fomethlng

fliort

is

we have

down

find ourfelves obliged to

as a rule,

Eewailingof

As

feveral

of thofe of which

already treated, and fhalh hereafter have occafion to treat

of

^ ^^^

meet with in
pradlifed

this

work, we

carlicfl

fliall

here only mention a few of

hifl:ory, is

among

either al-

by women.

ccremonies peculiar to the

fex,

the bewailing of virginity.

which we
This was

the Ifraelites, Phoenicians, and feveral of the

neighbouring nations, by
life

we would

the fubjed of ceremonies anc.

which appear the mofl remarkable, and which are

^^^

qulfh

that

of hifto-

of the information we could give, than

together, or for the mofl part, pradifed only

virginity.

it

paflcd over in

confiftent with the nature

conneded with

fo intimately

in the courfe

thofe

we

of the moft

fofteft pencil,

more generally

alfo,

it

offend the mofl delicate ear.

cuftoms

is

all

women who were

obliged to relin"

before they had entered into the flate of wedlock

who, by any

particular

vow

all

hopes of en-

joying the fweets of love, or of raifing up poflerity.

unhappinefs of their
their female friends

own

and

or

being devoted to perpetual celibacy,

were, in confequence of that vow, cut off from

not only continued through

life,

at flared times,

fate, but,

relations, to

Thefc

to deplore

lafl

the

on fome occafions, afTcmbled

afTift

them

in

performing the

mournful

WOMEN.

OF

why

the

bewailed their virginity, was, becaufe every

wo-

mournful ceremony.
Ifraelitifh virgins

man

It

was

to

fuppofed, that the reafon

is

come

but

among

now

pofterity

ancients, one of the greateft blefTings,

and a particular mark of

is

impoffible for us

jecture, that as a

numerous

the divine favour, that (he

and of

this blefling,

-,-'

_<

but what thefe

we can only conwas reckoned, among the

it

t_

the neighbouring nations, the

cuftom muft have originated from other caufes

were,

chap.

with the hope of being mother to the Mef-

flattered herlelf

fiah that

341

to difcover

who was

excluded from a

this diftinguilhing favour,

poflibility

might on

of

thefe

accounts fuppofe herfelf peculiarly wretched.

Besides
perhaps not

men

of

ceremony of bewailing

this
lefs

Ifrael,

or,

this

by

women, on

him,

by

thofe of other nations, in their cities and houfes

ful

we

proceed to defcribe this ceremony,

think

to

to her

infancy, that

flie

own mind, and

Proferpine.

When

but before

neceflary to

much from

therefore committed the care of

he was grown up

refufed the

difpute arofe between the

his

wifhed to have him educated according

"him as her right, but Proferpine,

come fond of him,

it

fome of the ancients, was a moft beauti-

boy; Venus on this account admired him fo

earlieft

for the death

origin.

its

Adonis, according

and of

the banks of the river Adonis, and

the Phoenician

give fome account of

wo-

Thammuz, performed

by

we

another, Ceremony of

thofe of Greece

was the annual lamentation

as the fcrlpture calls

is

likewife pradlifed by the

of Phoenicia, and alfo

fome other nations

of Adonis,'

which was

ancient,

virginity, there

two

to a

who by

demand

him

to

man, Venus demanded

this

time had alfo be-

upon which

a violent

goddefles, which, after long altercation,

thedeathof
Adonis.

T H

342

CHAP,
XV.

cation,'

was

T O R Y

at laft referred to the declfion

of

On

Tiinlter.
^

-^

hcarinff
^

both parlies, Jupiter decreed, that he fliould fpend one-third of

every year with Proferpine, another with Venus, and during the

remaining

fhould difpofe of himfclf according to his

third,

Adonis, having fpent his portion of the year with

inclination.

went

Proferpine,

to

Venus, and being greatly captivated with her

him the whole remaining

upon which Diana, who was alfo defperately in love

charms, fhe had the addrefs

part of

it;

with him, and had

flattered

to detain

herfelf that he

with her that third part of the year

being highly affronted
the

firfl

own

in

would come and

which he was

live

at liberty,

he had given to Venus, ia

at the preference

tranfport of her refentment, fent a wild boar to deflroy

him.

According

toothers, Adonis being an incefluous child, begot

by Cynarus king of Cyprus on

his

own

daughter, was on that ac-

count expofed on the mountains, and nourilhed by the nymphs,

where Venus

accidentally feeing him,

fell

fo

much

in love

with

him, that Mars, jealous of the growing connexion, transformed

himfelf into a wild boar and flew him.

Others again

fay,

that

while he was hunting in the Idalian grove, a boar which he was

purfuing, turned upon him, and tore

commiferating his
colour, and

called

grieved for the

not tamely

fate,

Icxfs

it

him

to pieces

that

transformed him into a flower of a bloody

by

his

name

or that being unfpeakabljr

of her paramour, and refolving that

relinquifli

Venus,

flbe

would

her hopes, fhe followed him to the fhades be-

low, and, demanding him of Proferpine,

at

length fo far fucceeded,

as to prevail on her infernal majefty to allow him to return and

fpend one half of every year with her upon earth

which having

.accomplLIhed, (he joyfully afcended from the fliades,and relating her

fuccefii

OF WOMEN.
to her

i^iccefs

companions, inftltuted a

343
in

feftlval

having brought back from the regions of the dead, the fwaia

whom

fhe adored.

Such
been the

are the ftorles related of Adonis, and fuch

inflitution

by the women of

as Adonis,

down

marks of

raofl indubitable

was fuch a perfon

to

have

inftitution, as well as

this

every other thing that has been handed

him, bears the

is faid

of the ceremonies with which he was ho-

But though the occafion of

noured.

to us concerning

fable

yet that there

and that ceremonies were performed

feveral nations, to

commemorate

death, and extraordinary reftitution to

his untimely

the facred and pro'

life,

fane hiftory of antiquity have equally contributed to confirm.

The

Phoenician

women

performed the ceremonies facred

Through

Adonis in the following manner.

the river of Adonis, the channel of which

wards

its

fource, a kind

of red earth

of a bloody colour, as often as

and

the adjacent country

by the

for

to-

country runs

many

this earth tinges

wafhed down from

is

it

is,

their

miles to-

waters

its

its

banks

Superftition, inRead of

rain.

attributing this to the natural caufe, fuppofed that the waters were
at thefe

times tinged with the blood of Adonis, or rather that they

put on that bloody appearance,

tragical exit

to

exprefs their forrow for the

he made upon their banks.

therefore reckoned a fignal

This appearance was

by the gods, appointing the proper

time for the celebration of the

rites

inftituted to call to

remem-

brance that exit. Accordingly the women, at this fignal, affembled

on the banks of the

river,

and began

their lamentation?,

were of the loudeft and moft lugubrious nature, and fuch

commonly

uttered

upon the

lofs

memory of

which
as they

of their moft near and dear relations.

'

^^
^

'

^'

xv\

T H E

344
'^'^^

^'"'

T O R Y

lamentations ended, they difjiplined themfelves with

whips, then offered a

and on the day following, pretending that Adonis was revived, and had afcended through the
facrifice,

upper regions, they flioutcd for joy, (haved their heads,

air to the

and obliged

who would

all

not comply with

proflitute themfelves in the temple of

facred to the

Venus,

recompence

as a

for having negledled a part of the

that goddefs,

to

cuflom to

this

memory of

The women

ceremony

her beloved paramour.

of Byblus

performed the

alfo

firft

part of this

ceremony with mourning and lamentation, during which the

priefts

of Ofiris in Egypt wrote

whom

god

them

to

they were feeking, fent the

of papyrus, which

and performed
the port, the

its

is

faid to

voyage

letter in a fmall

have gone by

fea

As

in feven days.

women who were met

had found the

that they

of

own

its

foon as

together to

ark made
accord,

arrived in

it

mourn and

to la-

ment, changed the fcene to dancing, feafting, and rejoicing, becaufe

he was found

The

Ifraelltifh

that

tells us,

faw

their

w-hom they had mourned

alive

women

being dead.

alfo celebrated thefe rites

on being brought

women weeping

as

for

for Ezekiel

of the Lord's houfe, he

to -he door

Thammuz.

They

are fuppofcd to

haveobferved them in the following manner. They

laid

an image

of Adonis on a bed, and having for fome time lamented over

a light

was brought

the mourners, and

that deliverance

in

by the

whifpercd

was brought

who

prieft,

to

them

to pafs

anointed the mouths of

that falvation

upon which

taken as from a fepulchre, and they rejoiced

with

joy no

count of

its

lefs

it,

the

was come,
image was

at its reftituiion to life,

extravagant than their forrow had been on ac-

death.

These

O
These

E N.

345

following manner

All their cities put ihemfelves into

ing, coffins were expofed at every door, the ftatues of

Adonis were carried

mony

and counterfeited

menting the dead.

filled

proceffion, with all the

in

women

pralifed at funerals, the

breafts,

In the

myfteries were alfo celebrated by the Greeks,

all

pomp and

Along with the

After this a

were carried

proceffion

facrifice

forts

laid out

was

of Venus, had confented

by Venus upon

offered,

from the fhades

and the

all

vouring time

now

fol-

at the

Adonis to return

to the regions above.

Ceremonies and
nature, like

to allow

fhells

of herbs, efpe-

lowing day fpent in expreffing their joy, that Proferpine,

folicitation

cere-

the adions and geftures ufual in la-

memory of Adonis being

a bed of lettuces.

Venus and

tore their hair, beat their

with earth, in which were raifed feveral

cially lettuces, in

mourn-

cuftoms, even though they are of a religious

other things,

fuch, however,

defcribing.

the Levant, with

It
little

is

are frequently obliterated

is

faid that

variation

not the fate of that

it

ftill

exifts in

from the manner

by de-

we have been

fome places of
in

which

it

was

pradifed by the ancient Greeks.

Deities, whether they were fuppofed

to

be of the mafculine

or feminine gender, were generally worffiipped indifcriminately

by both fexes

Among

but to this rule there were fome few exceptions.

the Syrians there was a female deity called the great

Syrian goddefs,
priefts,

her

who had

fervlce,

who

feems chiefly to have been worffiipped by

emafculated themfelves, to render them

and by frantic women.

to the contrary,

we muft

partiality to that fex to

Vol.

I.

all

fit

for

In fpite of every pretenfion

be fometimes fenfible of a natural

which we belong, and

feel ourfelves

prone
to

Goodgoddefs
only by^'wo'*""

THEHISTORY

346

xv^

* excufe

we

faults

its

ourfelves

are

and pity

more

infirmities,

its

Among

liable.

as incidents to

which

who

people therefore,

fuppofe that their deities, like themfelves, arc of different fexes,

it

not to fuppofe them alfo fufceptible of the

will be impoffible

different propenfities

could be

and feelings of thofe fexes: hence nothing

more natural than

women

for

to addrefs

themfelves

to,

and imagine they would be more readily heard by, a female deity
than a male

and hence arofe among

fhip and adoration they paid

was on

wor-

the peculiar

fex,

fome of the goddeffes,

who had

otherwife called Lucina,

bearing, and

to

that

herfelf felt the pains

that account fuppofed to be

more

Juno,

of child-

fufceptible

of feeling for thofe in a like condition, was conftituted the patronefs of lying-in

women, and by them

procure a fafe and eafy delivery.

was on

retained her virginity,

V'efta,

conftantly invoked

to

becaufe (he had always

that account fuppofed to be a pro-

per patronefs for chaftity, and therefore worfliipped in a temple

at

Rome, and

in

fome other countries by virgins only.

by women

the kinds of adoration paid

the

Roman ladies

to the

and extraordinary,
particular caufe,

as

to a

But of

alt

female deity, that of

good goddefs, feems the moft unaccountable

it

originated, fo far as

and tended

condudcd with the utmoft

to

we know, from no

no particular purjwfe,

fecrecy,

as

it

was

and fcrupuloufly concealed

from the eyes of every thing of the mafculine gender.

As

early as the birth of the

tomary for the women,

to celebrate, in the
rites

at

Roman

republic,

it

had been cuf-

the expiration of every confular year,

houfeof the conful or

prjetor, certain religious

and ceremonies in honour of the good goddefs; but what

ihefe ceremonies were, or

count, as no

man was

how conduded, we

can give no ac-

ever allowed to be prefent at them, and no

maa

OF W

E N.

347

man was ever made acquainted with their nature and tendency.
All we can fay is, that when the time appointed for celebrating
thefe rites came, the Veftal virgins repaired to the houfe appointed
for that purpofe,

the

offered,

faci'ifices

fecrets

which

tradid the

and offered

to this

common

facrifices to the

good goddefs; but

and the manner of offering them, were

day remain impenetrable, and ftrongly conopinion, that no fecret

fafe in, the breaft

is

of

a woman.

Our own
from which
ladies,

in

times furnifh us with an inflance of a ceremony

all

women

performing the

even more afraid of the

we

are carefully excluded *

are told

facred to the

rites

men

but the

good goddefs, were

than our mafons are of

by fome authors,

that fo cautious

Roman

women

for

were they of con-

men and other

veil.
The houfe of

cealment, that even the ftatues and pictures of

male animals were hoodwinked with

the conful,

though commonly

perfed:ly fecured againft

of

it,

was obliged

to

all

fo

a thick

Urge

that they

intrufion in fome remote apartment

be evacuated by

male animals, and even

all

the conful himfelf was not fuffered to remain in

began

their

might have been

it.

Before they

ceremonies, every corner and lurking-place in the

houfe was carefully fearched, and no caution omitted to prevent

all

poffibility

of being difcovered by impertinent curiofity, or

difturbed by prefumptive intrufion.

all

the guard

Romans made

that
it

But

thefe cautions

was placed around them

death for any

man

to

were not

the laws of the

be prefent at the folem-

nity.
Mafonry.

y 2

Such

C H A
XV.

P.

THE HISTORY

548

Such being

the precautions, and fuch the penalties for infurlng

the fecrecy of this ceremony,

(hipVrs

in-

b"cio!j[us"

though

violated,

empire

exifted

it

was only once attempted

it

much perhaps with

made, not

fo

mony,

to fulfil

as

be

from the foundation of the Roman

the introdudion of Chriltianity

till

to

and

this

attempt was

a view to be prefent at the cere-

an aflignation with a

Pompeia, the

miftrefs.

wife of Cxfar, having been fufpeded of a criminal correfpondonce

with Clodius, and fo clofely watched that fhe could find no opportunity of gratifying her paffion, at

female

an

flave, fettled

aflfignation

laft,

with him

by the means of a
at

the celebration of

Clodius was direded to come ia

the rites of the good goddcfs.

the habit of a finging-glrl, a charader he could eafily perfonate,

complexion.

being young and of a

fair

him

inform her

to

enter, fhe ran to

meet her

lover,

immediately

left

As

foon as the flave faw

The

miftrefs.

the

miftrefs, eager

company, and threw her-

arms, but could not be prevailed upon by him to re-

felf into his

turn fo foon as he thought necefl'ary for their mutual fafety;

upon which he

left her,

and began

to take a

rooms, always avoiding the light as

was thus walking by

defired
'

him

to fing

and urged him

His voice

fo

as poffible.

While he

himfelf, a maid-fervant accofted him,

and

he took no notice of her, but fhe followed

clofely, that

immediately

at

laft

betrayed

his

Ihrieked, and running into the

forming, told that a

much

walk through the

man was

utmoft confternation, threw a

he was obliged
fex

the

room where the

in the houfe.
veil

to

fpeak.

maid-fervant

rites

were per-

The women,

in the

over the myfteries, ordered the

doors to be fecured, and with lights in their hands, ran about

the houfe fearching for the facrilegious intruder.

him

in

the

apartment

of the

flave

who had

They found
admitted

him,
drove

E N.

349

drove him out with ignominy, and,

though

of the night, immediately difpcrfed,

to give

it

was the middla

CHAP.
A,

an account

to their

hufbands of what had happened.

Clodius was foon after accufed

of having profaned the holy

women were

In a country where the

and where

fully concealed

from

knowledge were

their

But

by the Romans, we

learn

What

"

myfteries, fays,
**

has been handed

'

with

*'

as that

is

inquifitive,

no fuch fufpicions were entertained

from Cicero, who, fpeaking of

to us

What

from our

firfl:

kings, and

facrifice is there fo private

*'

to enter

I'his facrifice

as to violate

no

man

the Veftal virgins,

Roman

it.

This

fecret,

which
which

is

facrifice,

in

"

this facrifice

honour of

In fubfequent periods,

Romans

it

im-

people,

a goddefs,

is

which

is

performed in the

houfe of the chief magiftrate, celebrated with

" monies, and

fo

performed for the

*'

opinion the

and

but Clodius ever thought, without

profperity of the

coeval

all

'*

facrilege

which

is

no man except Clodius was ever

the utmoft horror, of affifting at

is

thefe

men, and where neither

wickednefs nor impudence ever yet prefumed

but from the fight of

the moft profligate

" performed by

either inimical to vir-

concealed, not only from the eyes of the curious

*'

**

that

fo care-

facrifice is there fo ancient, as that

down

herfelf ?

which

regarded than at Rome,

probably have fuppofed, that ceremonies

tue, or to the ftate.

Rome

lefs

confidence was repofed in their probity and honour,

lefs

men would

" pious

were obliged

him.

to acquit

" and

but the populace declaring

fearing an infurrcdtion,

in his favour, the judges,

the

rites

unknown ccrewhofe very name to knov?

Clodius prophaned."

has been alleged by fome, that whatever

themfelves entertained of the

rites

and cere-

monies

T H

350

HA
, ^-.,^
C

1*.

monies performed
been

at leafl:

think

more

it is

honour of

women

this

T O R Y
good goddefs, they

why

clfe

all this

them from the men

to conceal

natural, as well as charitable,

Romans had

the

II

of an indelicate nature;

of the

folicitude

in

miifl

have

care

and

But

we

to fuppofe, that as

a deity to prefide almoft over every particular

circumftance and adtion, this good goddefs muft either have been
confidered as the patronefs of the fex in general, or the particular
patronefs of fome of their affairs and concerns
this account the

her, as

able

to

fex,

and

women

imagined nothing could be

fo

accept-

and ceremonies performed only by that

rites

of thofe

the profperity

for

and that on

affairs

which

flie

patro-

nifed.

This being probably

that the worfliip of this goddefs

fuppofe,

this

was not the

rites

performed by the

thofe of the

priefteffes

velries in

cafe every

women

idols

women

was not

in the leaft in-

in other countries, there

incompatible with either

in the temple

women

were

priefts

licentious re-

fuch are the frantic gefticulations

of California, while facrificing

alfo are the

But

fuch were

of Venus, thofe of the

Such were the mad and

honour of Bacchus

and fuch

where

of Cybele.

and bowlings of the

the ftrongeft reafon to

manners, or modefty of charader.

confiftent with decency of

and

we have

the cafe,

dances of the

Egypt, and of fome other places which

women

we have

to their

of modern
already de-

fcribed.

Ceremonies
cif

thcjc^vith

In

^^^^

religion of the

peculiar to their

which
fets.

is

women,

modern Jews,
at the

there are

fome ceremonies

commencement of

on the Friday evening

at

their fabbath,

half an hour before the fun

Every confcientious Jew muft have a lamp lighted

I

in his

houfe.

E N.

even though he fhould horrow the

h'oufe,

The

lighting of thefe lamps

afligned to the

women,

is

in order to

to teach

oil

of his neighbour.

kind of religious

recal to

crime by which their original mother

of righteoufnefs, and

331

firfl;

rite,

their

invariably

memory

the

extinguifhed the lamp

them, that they ought to do every

thing in their power to atone for that crime, by rekindling

Inftead of the fcape-goaf,

which

this

people formerly loaded with

and fent into the wildernefs, they now

their fins,

it.

fubftitute a fowl.

Every father of a family takes a white cock, and the mother of

the family a white hen, which flie ftrikes upon the head, repeating

" Let

at every ftroke,

" but

miffion of

fin.

may
may

is a

fins

fhe fhall die,

twifts her neck,

and cuts her

that without fhedding of blood there

If a

woman, however, happens

the time of this ceremony, as

fant

my

hen atone for

This done, fhe

fhall live."

throat, to fignlfy,

this

flie

male or a female, that

to

is

no

r&*

be pregnant at

cannot afcertain whether the in-

its fins,

of whatever gender

it

be;

not be unexpiated, fhe takes both a hen and a cock, that fhe

be afTured of having performed the ceremony as required by

their law.

religions of the prefcnt times, and particularly that of

In the

chriftianity,

mon and

which teaches

us, that the

Supreme Being

impartial father and governor of both

but few ceremonies peculiar either to the

we

fhall therefore

men

or to the

only take notice of one more, which

by the women of Chinefe Tartary,

is

the

com-

fexes, there are

is

women

practifed

by

their Bonzes, or

priefts,

their

own emolument.

In

affemblies of

affifted

who turn the credulity of the fex to

many places of this country, there are

who,

to the

and out of

number of
this

women,

ten or fifteen, meet together at ftated times,

number annually

elect a diredrefs

of their fociety.

An

^ H A

w^

p.

THE HISTORY
C H

A
XV.

An aged Bonze

prefides at the meeting, and fings

On

of the god Fo.

their

anthems

more folemn days, they adorn

where they meet with many images and grotefque

felvcs in laying

little

up

treafure for the

the houfe

paintings,

prefenting the miferies and torments of the damned.

ings continue for fevcn days, during

in praife

re-

Thefc meet-

which they employ them-

world

to

come

paper houfe, which having painted and gilded, they

with a great number of paper boxes varniflied and painted

thefe they dcpofit pieces of paper

and done over with gold or

formed

filver leaf i

of

this confifts

into the fliape

fill

in

of ingots,

of which feveral hundreds

are fuppofed nccellary to redeem the foul from the cruelties and

which Gen-vang, the king of

tortures

have nothing

to bribe

him

hell,

inflids

The

into lenity.

reft,

on thofe who
as well as the

houfe which contains them, are defigned to procure the foul a

comfortable lodging, with fuch viduals and drink as are neceflary
in the other world.

Every thing thus prepared, to the doors of thefe paper houfes

the women faften paper padlocks, and lock them with i)aper keys;
and when the lady who was at the expence of building that deftined for herfelf dies, the furvivors meet, and with great folemnity burn the whole; imagining in the next world fhe (hall find,
that

from

her ufe

its aflies

her houfe has arifen with every thing in

it

for

only the paper ingots, inflead of remaining what they

were, turned into gold or

filver,

according to the metal with which

they were gilded.

Ceremonies
'

ea!iiar"to^

women.

WHEREVER
features

politcnefs has

ftamped a

and elegance of perfon, there

powerful enough to induce the

fair

real value

is

upon beauty

of

hardly any circumftance

fex to injure, or even for a

time

time to fubmit to have the

eclipfed

luftre

E N.

3J3

of either the one or the other

but where thefe natural advantages fcarcely entitle the

pofleffor to

any fuperior attention or regard, they are of confe-

quence cuhivated with

Women,

citudc.

and preferred with

lefs afliduity,

lefs foli-

when

the politer countries of Europe, even

in

obliged to drefs themfelves in the weeds of forrovv and affliction,

never lofe fight of the idea of appearing lovely, and ufually conmatters

trive

their

fo,

even their weeds

as that

may

add fomething to

charms, by giving them a languifhing and melancholy

circumftances which often render beauty more

when

it is

arrayed in

many modern

in the ruder ages of antiquity,

than

and thofe of

into vvhofe plan of life elegance

nations,

the tinfel glare of fliow, and frippery of

all

The women

fafliion.

irrefiftible,

air

and po-

have not yet entered, in the melancholy moments dedi-

litenefs

cated to mourning, regardlefs of every thing but the cuftom of

perhaps, of the irapulfes of their heart,

their country, or rather,

not only eclipfe the prefent

wounds and
deface

them

luftre

of their charms, but, by the

which they make upon

flaflies

their bodies,

for ever.

It was throughout

all

antiquity a prevailing opinion, that no

offended deity would grant forglvenefs without blood

moft every people upon earth ftained the

the blood of

human

or of

altars

more ignoble vidims.

the moft effedual

who approached

mangled and

VoL.

I.

But blood was

own

Nor was

flefti,
it

alfo

pro-

and hence, almoft in every nation,

a deity to afk

tore their

ing their requsft.

hence al-

when offended, it was

means of rendering him propitious, and

curing from him any favour

any particular favour of him,

as the iureft

method of obtain-

their deities alone,

Origin

ofwo"

of their eods with

not only neceflary to appeafe a god

thofe

cruelly

which the ancicnts

{"^'"hem"
'^'^"'"

CHAP,
y

T H E

354

-,

_'

T O R Y

fuppofed were delighted with blood; the ghofte,

clcnts

approaching in their feparate

their deceafcd relations

to the nature of thefe deities, likcwife rcfcmblcd

ticular.

It is

them

flefli

in

mourning, was

peafe the ghofts of deceafed friends

particular favour

to

lamented by thofe

firft

nearer

wound-

introduced to ap-

to fupplicate

of

in this par-

therefore not improbable, that the cuftom of

ing and tearing the

to feaft

flate

alfo,

them

for

fome

fhew them how much they were loved and

whom

they had

left

behind them on earth

or

them with human blood, upon which they were fuppofed

by the Greeks and fome of the neighbouring nations to regale

But from whatever caufe
ihemfelves with a peculiar pleafure.
this

we

cuftom proceeded,

are well afTured that the

women of

Egypt, Syria, Phoenicia, Greece, and perhaps of many other nations,

mangled and disfigured themfelves by wounds, on the death

of their friends and

But

this

relations..

cuflom was not peculiar

handed down even

to

our times.

the other iflands around

it,

the

to antiquity

women,

of a

fit

ftole into their

it

has beea

In Otaheite, and in feveral of

either in compliance with

the cuftom of their country, or rather, perhaps,

fome departed friend

when

memory, though

the idea of

in the height

of jollity and mirth, immediately affumed the appearance

of the deepeft forrow, wounded their heads with the tooth of a,

(hark,

till

mony was

the blood ran

down

their faces

and

as foon as the cere-

ended, or perhaps the idea of the departed friend drove

out by another of a more pleafureable nature, the tranfition from,

forrow to joy was as inftantaneous as

it

had before been from

joy.

to forrow.

This

E N.

1^^^

This ceremony, however, of our modern

cruel

in

nature, and unavailing in

its

of a fhort duration, and gives but

it

little

lafted, ftruck

although

confequences,

is

interruption to the

only

more

women was

But the mourning of the Grecian

cheerful fenfations.

long, and, while

its

favages,

out of exiftence every thing that

They

could be called joyous or amufing.

not only beat their

breads, and tore their faces with their nails, but alfo divefted themfelves

of

all their

and whatever was

felves
cies

ornaments, laid afide their jewels, their gold,

rich

and precious

from company, and refufed

of

them-

the comforts and convenien-

fliunned the light as odious, and courted dark fhades

life,

and melancholy retirement

either caft

all

in apparel, fequeflered

it

they alfo tore or cut off their hair, and

into the funeral pile, to be

body of the perfon

for

buried along with

it.

whom they

confumed along with the

mourned, or

into the tomb, to be

Cutting off the hair was not, however, an

invariable cuftom.

Some

themfelves in the

coarfefl:

ran about with

it

diflievelled,

clothing

garments, throwing duff upon their

heads and faces, and even fometimes proflrating themfelves upon

the earth, and rolling in the duft; cuftoms which feem to have

been pratifed from the

earlieft antiquity,

as expreffive

of the

deepeil forrow and afflidtion.

Besides

the ceremonies already mentioned, the

cient times, as direded

by fancy or

the tombs of their deceafed friends

women

by regard, decked

inftigated

they hung lamps upon them,

and adorned them with a variety of herbs and flowers

at

in an-

a cuftom

this time obferved by the inhabitants of Conftantinople and

neighbourhood,

who

its

not only adorn the tombs of their dead, but

plant their burying-grounds with rofemary, cyprefs, and other odofiferous (hrubs and flowers

but whether with

z 2

view

to pleafe the

manes

chap.

THEHISTORY

356

CHAP,
>,..,/

manes of the dead, orprcferve the heahh of the living, is uncerThere were other ornaments befides thefe we liave now
tain.
mentioned, ufed by the

women

Among

tomb of

the Greeks, the

hung round with

wife

made

and poured out libations

to fmell, to eat,

and

to

to the ghofts,

like-

whom

drink as they did while upon

but has not as yet been totally obliterated.

cients,

and

by the Chiriguanes;

at

manes of the dead.

On

It

is ftill

be-

Narva, one of the principal

towns of Livonia, they celebrate a remarkable

the

They

This was not only a prevailing opinion among the an-

earth.

lieved

was frequently

a deceafed lover

locks of the hair of his miftrefs.

offerings,

they fuppofed

of antiquity to deck the tombs.

feflival lacred

the eve of Whitfuntide, the

to

women

aflemble in the church-yard, and fpreading napkins on the graves

and tombftoncs, cover them with a variety of difhes of broiled and

fried fifh, cuftards,

and painted eggs

and

agreeable to the ghofls, the prieft, while he

perfumes them with frankincenfe, the

and lamenting

inrtances of

\hT"ead!^

not

lefs

up

all

in the

afliduoufly

to render

praying over them,

is

women

them more

all

the time howling

moft difmal manner, and the intelligent clerk

employed

in

defrauding the ghofls, by gathering

the viands for the ufe of the prieft.

There
diiFufed

are few, if any cuftoms that have been

among mankind, than

and there are

that of

more generally

mourning

few nations where the women have

for the dead

not, either

from

cuftom or the tendernefs of their nature, aded a principal part in

thefe

mournings.

ftead of

There

are,

however, fome nations, who, in-

reckoning death a fubjet of lamentation, rejoice at

a happy deliverance from pain and advcrfity

though they commonly mourn

relations, rejoice at

it

when

at the

it,

as

and others, who,

death of their friends and

attended with particular circumftances.

Thus

OF WOMEN.
Thus

Greek and Roman

the

what

and,

fathers,

257
is

more extraor-

^^

^ ^

X\'.

dinary, even the mothers, rejoiced

fence of their country

their fons fell in the de-

and thus the Chrillians,

and countries, rejoiced when

among

in feveral periods

who were

thofe

Thus

worthy of the crown of martyrdom.

being put to death by

their friends,

were numbered

perfecutors,

when

alfo the

reckoned

women

of

modern Egypt, though on other occafions they lament over the

dead with the moft difmal outcries,

when

a Sheick departs this

demondrate the moft extravagant joy and fatisfadion, be-

life,

caufe, fay they, a Sheick muft, at death, infallibly enter into the

paradife of the blefled.

Besides
the

women

ferved

thefe ceremonies

have appropriated

by them, which,

ftances attending

it,

when

In Chirigua,

let it

arifing

may, for

from

ob-

and the circum-

denominated fexual.

that reafon, be

in this

hammoc

half way, and at the

neighbouring

their nature,

hammoc, and fufpend

Having remained

down

to themfelves, there are others

a girl arrives at a certain age, her female rela-

tions inclofe her in a

cottage.

of religion and of mourning which

women

end

at the

it

for one

end of her

month, they

of another month, the

aflemble, and having

armed themfelves with

clubs and ftaves, enter the cottage in a frantic manner, ftriking

furloufly
for

upon every thing within

it.

Having adcd

fome time, one of them declares that fhe has

which had flung the

girl,

upon which fhe

is

this farce

killed the ferpent

liberated

from her

women rejoice for fome time together, and then

one to her own home. Among fome of the Tarta-

confinement, the
depart every
rian tribes,

when

a girl arrives at the

fame period of

life,

they fhut

her up for fome days, and afterward hang a fignal on the top of
her tent, to
I

let

the

young men know

that

flie

is

become marriageable.

Sexual cere"""""^

women.

'

T H

558

CHAP,

Among

riageable.

make

T O RY

others of thefe tribes the parents of the girl

a feaft on this occafion, and having invited

them with milk and

bours, and treated

that their daughter

horfe

neigh-

they declare

flefli,

become marriageable, and

is

tlieir

that they are

ready to difpofe of her as foon as a proper opportunity

fliall offer.

In Circaflia and Georgia, where parents are fometimes obliged to

marry

their daughters

while infants, to prevent their being vio-

from them by the rich and powerful, the circum-

lently taken

ftance of a girl being arrived at the time of puberty,

is

frequently

concealed for fome time, as the hufband has then a right to de-

mand

and the parents perhaps think her too young

her,

matrimonial

Among
^hich

for the

ftatc.

which give

the circumflanccs

we have
As

particular.

called fexual, child-bearing

in child-bearing

been necefiary in almoft

all

fome

little

countries

to thefe cufloms

rife
is

one of the mofl

afliftancehas generally

to afford

this

afTiftance,

women have commonly employed midwives of their own fex.

The Athenians were the only people of antiquity who did otherwife.
They had a law which prohibited women and flaves from
the

pradifing

phyfic

branches of
cacy of the

A woman

this

art,

midwifery was

many

women would
called

women from

lives

the

women, who

Agnodlce, in

the

reft

had been

loft,

order

drcflcd

to

the

becaufe the deli-

refcue

agreed

to

employ no

of the phyficians, enraged

her

country-

herfelf in the habit

fludicd the art of phyfic,

all

one of

accounted

not fubmit to be delivered by a man,

this difhculty,

man, and having

all

as

that

of a

revealed herfelf to
other.

Upon

this

fhe fhould monopolize

the bufinefs, arraigned her before the court of Areopagus, as

Laving only obtained the preference

to

them by corrupting the

chaftity

of the wives

ofiaflity

O M

O F

\V

whom

fhe delivered.

E N.

359
This obliging her

to

difcover her fex, the phyficians then profecuted her for violating

The

principal

matrons of the

city,

came

into

the

laws of her country.

now

finding her in fuch danger, aflembled together,

The

the court, and petitioned the judges in her favour.

of the matrons was

fo

powerful, and

urged for having employed her,

tion of female delicacy, that a

midwifery.

praiflife

the affiftance of the

Among

fo

conducive to the prefervato

quite unfafluonable.

after

vated the fcience of medicine with great afliduity, the

fometimes fiibmitted

cafes of difficulty,

women

themfelves of this law, and

Romans, and the Arabians, who

the

which they

the reafons

law was made, allowing

The fex availed

men foon became

petition

to be delivered

them

culti-

women,
by

in

man

but this was far from being a matter of choice or a general practice

nor was

ning of

begun

it till

when

this,

mode of being

which now

fo

one of her

6wn

How

Italy

had

fo

mode

that there is fcarcely to be

unfafhionable as to be delivered

by

can afford to pay for the affiftance of a

women may be fafer in

we fliall not take upon us

far the

this we. are aflu red,

and

that the fex began to give fo much,

prevails,

woman

fex, if (he

than in the other,

century, and begin-

delivered by male pradlitioners

commonly

found in Europe, a

laft

excefs of politenefs in France

to eradicate delicacy,

into the

man.

the latter end of the

that the

cuftom

is

lefs

this fafliionable

way

to determine, but

of

confident with deli-

cacy.

In ages unenlightened by fcience and philofophy,

{6 perilous to the fex

prifed to find

as thofe of child-bearing,

them ufing

feveral ridiculous

we

in

moments-

are not

fur-'

and unavailing methods--

T n E

T O R Y

thods to fccure thcmfelves from danger; but our aftonlfhmcnt

when we

excited

in our

find that,

dupes of others not

own

times, they are

inconfiftent with

lefs

ftill

i*

the

and expe-

rcafon

rience.

The Greek
poiTefled a

Roman women

and

imagined that the pahn-tree

power of eafing pain and

therefore at thefe

facilitating labour

deftitute

The

of more rational methods, placed

in magical girdles,

they

times grafped palm branches in their hands,

and devoutly fupplicated the goddefs Lucina,

mans,

which they

tied

about their

ancient Gertheir

all

hopes

women, and which,

according to them, had the virtues of procuring immediate eafe,

But the power of

and promoting a fpecdy delivery.

did not terminate here,
tlie

mother

to be brave,

and a

it

fon,

thefe girdles

extended even to the child as well as to

born by their

and a daughter

to

affiftance,

was undoubtedly

be chaftej hence fuch girdles were

carefully kept in the repofitories of kings and of other great per-

fonages.

met with

few years, feme of them were

Till within thefe

in

the families

of the chieftains in Scotland.

were marked with many myftical

binding them about the

women

myftical words and geftures,

were fuppofed
that

to underftand

their pretended utility

their intrinfic virtues.

to

be

They

figures,

and the ceremony of

in labour,

attended with certain

which only fome

a circumftance

particular

by which

it

women

appeared

depended more upon magic, than on

Every age and country has

its

peculiar follies

and abfurdities; ours has many noftrums to prevent the pain

neceflarily attendant on child-bearing, and they are juft as well
calculated to perform

been

now

an impofllbility, as the methods

we have

defcribing.

In

OF W

E N.

In fome climates, where the conftitution

and

at the

little

pain,

women

any other circumftance

who have been

fhe feels the

to the

warm

peculiar to

depend more on living agreeably

people

are faid

and fre<iuent]y without any

fingularity altogether

for

in

relaxed by the heat,

by thefe habits which

vitiated

deftroy mankind,

nations

but

fame time not

is

361

to

be delivered with

nor

alTiftance;

is

this

countries, but feems to

to nature,

we have

in politer

heard

than on climate, or
it

afferted

by feveral

Canada, that a favage woman, when

fymptoms of labour coming upon

her,

fteals filently

woods, lays herfelf down in a coppice, and

delivered

is

alone; which done, fhe goes to the neareft river or pool, wafhes
herfelf and the child,

While

and then returns home

ignorance and fuperftition difturbed the

with groundlefs terrors and apprehenfions,

opinion over
to

the

to her hut.

Europe, that lying-in

all

it

was a prevailing

women were more

power of demons and witches than people

condition, and

that

new-born

human mind

infants,

if

in

fubjedt

any other

not carefully watched

and fecured by ceremonies and fpells, were frequently carried

away by them on this- account various ceremonies and fpells
:

were commonly made ufe of j and even

remember

to

upon the

door,

man from

the

fo lately as

an inverted manner, to fecure a lying-in wo-

in

power of
;

it

witchcraft.

pervaded

But

at leaft

in

her door, and

kettles,

Vol.

labour, the

make

in order to
I.

relations

away
3

it;

The No-

when one of

their

by beating on pots and

the devil, who,

was not

of the family aflemble at

a prodigious noife

fright

this opinion

half the globe.

gais Tartars are the particular dupes of

is

we

have feen in the weft of Scotland, a horfe-fhoe nailed

confined to Europe

women

our times,

they

fuppofe,

would,

CHAP.
XV.

THEHISTORY

362

C
YU^
'

would,

^'

Ccrcmonits
and cuftonis
arfingfrom

'

to the

he did not find them on their guard, do fome mifchief

if

mother or

BuT

the time of lying-in

i-i
hie in which

,.

marriagc.

child, or to both.

not the only period of

is

r.

are luppoled to have a

evil Ipirits

jj^ry

power

fame

at the

time of marriage.

they are imagined by

The

many

human

more than

ordi-

nations to have the

make

Livonians

the fign of

the crofs with a naked fword upon the door of the bridegroom's

houfe, and afterwards flick

to prevent the

fame account,

beam over

in a

it

power of malignant
fcatters red rags

fpirits

his head, as a

charm

and the bride on the

along the highways, and upon the

graves of unbaptized infants.

In countries where the virtue of the fex

is

fuppofed to be fe-

women

cured by their fenfe of moral rectitude, married

no particular

reftraint in the abfence

when

Hindoflan,

the hufband

are under

of their hufbands

but in

from home, the wife muft not

is

appear chearful, muft not eat delicate \ndluals, nor drefs herfelf
in fine cloaths, nor
fliort

fit

at the

do any thing but fuch as indicates forrow and

In France and Italy, the cafe

verfe,

window of her apartment, nor

and

England the

in

is

in

fubjecftion.

almoft in every particular the re-

ladies are too faft following the fafliion-

able example.

In Poland the women of middling condition are not allowed

to

marry,

bflflcetsful

guefts

the

till

have wrought with

their

own hands

three

of cloaths, which they are obliged to prefenr to the

who

bride

they

attend them on their wedding-day.

wears a

veil

In Wallachia,

on the day before, and on

^

that of her

marriage

J.

marriage; whoever unveils her

much

too

mans

had, and

called

is

mufl; be

E N.

363

entitled to a kifs; but to prevent

impertinence, the bride

and the requeft

fent,

may

demand

in return

The

complied with.

which

gift,

pre-

Ger-

ancient

their defcendants continue to this day, a

Morgengabe, or morning

ceremony

the hufband

is

obliged to prefent to the bride on the morning after their marriage,

may

and which becomes her

difpofe of

a like

it

and abfoiute property, and

in her lifetime or at her death.

Some

met with among

it is

cuftom are

voluntary, there

fole

to be

us, but

flie

traces

of

here only

enforced by a law.

Formerly among the

when a bride was brought to the door of the
is

it

peafants of Britain,

bridegroom's houfe, a cake was broken over her head, for the
fragments of which the attendants fcrambled: thefe fragments

were

laid

men and

under the pillows of the young

fuppofed to be endowed with a power of

their future

making them dream of

wives and hufbands.

In Adrianople and the neighbouring

the

cities,

public baths, which are a

part of their religion

amufement, and a bride, the

firft

marriage,

is

time

flie

feated

The

ftate

of Eve.

The

the door richly drefled and adorned with jewels

gins meet her, and foon put her

filling

and of

matrons and

fome

filver

in the

bride

the virgins join in chorus

and

to

every matron,

who

to each fhe returns

comes

two of the

to

vir-

fame condition with them-

pots with perfume, they

proceflion round the rooms, finging an epithalamium, in

up

their

round the room, the virgins immediately put

themfelves into the original

then

women have

appears there after her

received in a particular manner.

widows being

felves;

maidens, and

make a

which

the proceflion ended, the bride

is

all

led

beftows on her fome trifling prefents,

thanks,

till

(he has been led round the

whole.

T H

;64

We

whole.

could add

many more

T O R Y

ceremonies arifing from mar-

but as they are for the moft part fuch as

ria^^c,

marria"-c

ceremony

itfclf,

we

fliall

make

have occafion

a part

of the

mention them

to

with more propriety afterwards.

Of

Mifcellaiicous

ceremonies,

all

jcaloufy

the pafTions which fubvert reafon and deform the mind,

the moft creduloudy ridiculous, and in order to clear

is

themfelves from

fufpicions, has

its

fubjeded the

fome

fair fex to

of the moft unaccountable cxpurgatory ceremonies. Such was that

of the waters of jealoufy of the ancient Jews, and fuch
another of

whom, when
the form

nature pradifed

fimilar

woman was

into the water

till

fhe

was

bearing

it

over the tablet, that

of

fo foul a

cleared

deed

from

was ufed

all

fufpicion.

many

for fo

crimes, be a relic of

in this

manner, fhe went

then fhe flood

we

the water,

if falfe,

upon

till

it

are
rofe

might cover from the fun the perpetration

it

if true, it

take, written

with rage at her perfidy, fwelled

if agitated

as

to

reached the calf of her leg,

it

and folemnly repeated the oath, which,

told,

by the Greeks, among

accufed of unchaftity, a tablet with

of an oath, which

was hung about her neck

it,

was

alfo

ages,

this.^

remained quiet, and the

Might not

the ordeal

woman was

and for the difcovery of

But be that

as

it

will,

it

which

trial,

fo

many

was not found-

ed upon more rational principles.

To

trials

were fubjed

of
;

circumftances,
proofs.

kind the fingle as well as the married

women

but of the chaftity of the latter there were other

which the Greeks reckoned the moft convincing

Pain and difliculty in bringing forth their young, are

unavoidable
are

this

more or

evils,

to

which the females of

lefs fubjedt.
I

But

it

all

viviparous animals

was fuppofcd by

this people, that

their

their gods, in commlferation

E N.

s^S

woman who was

of the cafe of a

wrought

juftly fiifpeQed of infidelity to her hufband,

un-

a miracle in

her favour, by exempting her from thefe peculiar evils annexed to

the lot of female

life

and

who brought forth

flie

a figh or a groan, and declared that

no pain, was

flie felt

quence accounted as chafte as Vcfta. Hence

a child without
in confe-

isobvious, that

it

it

only

required a tolerable degree of fortitude in the wife, and a large

fhare of credulity in the hufband, to adjuft

matrimonial differ-

all

ences of this kind to the falisfaftion of both.

But

this

was not

the only proof the Greeks had of the conjugal fidelity of their

wives

numerous offspring was among the ancients reckoned

one of the greatefl of

bleflings

and

to

have

two children

was confidcrcd

as

one of

at a

birth,

which the gods only beflow upon fuperior

The

wife, therefore,

who

the confiftcncy

among mankind,

which the Greeks reckoned the

their wives,

moft

is,

infallible

and

chaftiry.

brought forth twins, was by that

So

by

'thefe favours,

virtue

cumftance fully cleared of every foul afperfion.

is

increafed

it

little,

cir-

however,

that this very circumftance,

ftrongeft

proof of the chaftity of

by the Hottentots of the prefent time, reckoned the

proof of the contrary.

We

have given the reafon

of the Creeks for their opinion, but that of the Hottentots

is

ra-

ther too indelicate to be related.

On

St.

Valentine's day,

it is

for an unmarried lady to chufe,

of her acquaintance, one

to

cuftomary, in

many

parts of Italy

from among the young gentlemen

be her guardian or gallant

who,

in

return for the hopour of this appointment, prefents to her Ibme

noiegays, or other

trifles,

and thereby obliges himfelf

her in the mofl obfequious manner in

and

to all her public

all

to attend

her parties of pleafure,

amulements, for the Ipace of one year, whea

he

T H E

366
C

HA

P.

u.-V'^

II

T O R Y

and the lady may chufc another

i^g fj^jjy retire,

in the courfe of this

connedion

it

in

But

place.

liis

frequently happens, that they

contrad: fuch an inclination to each other, as prompts

them

to

be

we have feen, that the

men gloried in protedling the women, and the women thought
ihemfelves lafe and happy when they obtained that protedion.
It is probable, therefore, that this cuftom, though now more an
coupled for

of gallantry than of protedion,

affair

fubfifting

But
day

In the times of chivalry

life.

is

among

not confined to Italy;

by fome

it

almoft

upon

it

flill

Europe has joined

As

when

in dif-

always hap-

it

the genial influences of

has been believed by the vulgar,

it

the birds invariably chufe their mates for the enfuing

In imitation, therefore, of their example, the vulgar of

feafon.

both fexes, in
flips

many

them

female names by

meet together

parts of Britain,

down

of paper wrote

ances, and put

lot,

woman who drew

rural

all

ceremony.

particular

the fpring begin to operate,

the

of chivalry

and fcntimental people.

that romantic

pens about that time of the year,

upon

a relid

the obfervation of fome peculiar cuftoms on St. Valentine's

tinguifliing

that

is

into

two

and the

the names of

all

and having

their acquaint-

men draw the

the man makes

different bags, the

women

name fome

the male

and

in the

gambol becomes her partner; and (he confiders him

as her

fweetheart,

till

he

is

his

trifling prefent,

otherwife difpofed of, or

till

next Valentine's

day provide her with another.

From

fhedding the blood, or taking away the

life,

of any ani-

mal, both fexes of the Hindoos are ftridly prohibited by their

reli-

gion.

Foreigners, in a fneering manner,

that, in

England, gentlemen of property are only allowed by law to

frequently take notice,

butcher

WOMEN.

OF
butcher hares,

partridges,

ehians, though there

women

yet the

is

367

Among

and pheafants.

no

to the contrary,

pofitive inftitution

never deftroy the

life

whether

it

originated from incidental circumftances,

legiflators, or
is

uncertain

but however that be, nothing can be more fuitable to the gentlenefs

and timidity, which forms the

mod

part of the female charadter, and which,

tries,

might take away fome of

tinguiflies

many of

beautiful and

that mafculine ferocity,

the lower clalfes of

engaging

imitated in other coun-

if

women

which

in Britain,

dif-

and

which they, perhaps, in a great meafure contradl from being

conftituted butchers of all the lelTer animals ufed in our kitchens.

How

different

is

this

cuftom of the Wallachian

obferved by fome of thofe in America,

the lives of their aged parents,
ther ufe to the

who

when they

community; and from

who, when delivered of twins,

alive,

from an ill-founded opinion, that

to nurfe

two children

at the

alTift

are faid to
it is

fame time

in taking

that

away

become of no fur-

are

that of the

cular,

woman

women from

Moxes

in parti-

bury one of them

impoflible for one

Feasting upon particular occafions is of the greateft antiquity,

and, among every rude and uncultivated people, longed for with the
utmoft avidity, as

whom at

it

calls

together their friends and acquaintances,

other times they have but few opportunities of feeing, and

gives a ftimulus to theirtorpid natures,

then made ufe

a

banquet

is

of.

by the intoxicating liquors

In Egypt, when, upon fome particular occafion,

company of womea
The company, commonly ;about ten or

given, the guefts are invited by a

hired for that purpofe.

twelve in number,

is

preceded by fome eunuchs, and on each fide

guarded by feveral Moors with long

ftaffs

in

going along, they

frequently

^^

^^

<.-v^^

Whether

of any creature.

cuftom was founded by fome of their ancient

this

the Walla-

'

THE HISTORY OF WOMEN.

J 6S

frequently a mufe ihemfclvcs and the fpedators with a fong adapted

to the occafion,

ing

fcaft.

and exprefTiveof their fatisfadion

As

the hgypiiaii

women

fcems probable, that thofc employed

dancers,

ftrolling

this

confinement

is

eunuchs pradife, fuch

prophet Mahomet, that
are

all

by

bolts

fcrupulous

as

at

manner

But though

as jealoufy can did^ate,

fhewn

it

are like their

fevcre.

lefs

the veneration

is

approach-

are in general contincd,

in this

under regulations

at the

to

or

their great

Cairo even the doors of harams, which

the reft of the year watched by eunuchs, and fattened

and chains,

fly

open on his birth-day, and allow the

joyful prifoners to fally out, in order to celebrate a feftival to the

founder of their religion, and the deftroyer of their

liberty.

It has generally been obferved, that thofe human beings who

enjoy the
tion

fmallefi;

fhare of liberty,

manage even

that fcanty por-

which they have, with the lead degree of prudence and

cretion;

becaufe,

many

fond of crowding too

dif-

incidents into the

duration of their limited freedom, they have neither time to ar-

range them into any order, nor to

is

the cafe vpith the

women

from one amufement

with the whole,

confinement, and with a

liberty,

of Cairo.

to another,

retire

to
lefs

relifli

their

and

them

On

as they pafs.

this fcllival,

Such

they fly

in the evening, difgufled

harams

lefs

impatient of their

extravagant idea of the pleafures of

than they entertained in the morning.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
TO T H E

FIRST VOLUME.
^ Temple

-^ women

built at

Rome

to the fortune of

Adonis^ to lament his death an early cuftom

among women

his

ibid,

of the ceremonies facred to

memory
how they were

343
celebrated

ibid.

mourned by the women of Ifrael

by the Greeks and feveral others

Jfricans, their women

their education

among unpolifhed

people

women

their

women

little

..

-.

272
comas

is

52

diftinguiflied

from the men

their

187

Alexandrian library not totally burnt,

fuppofed
Ameriitins,

ibid.

are enflaved and opprefTed

15
16

fome diliricls vefted with the legiibid.

flative power
had no hiftorical records, unlefs their
Quipos could be called ("uch
17
eft'eiSs arifmg from the trade carried on
there and to the Eaft Indies
45
in

never correiSl their children

have only one wife

Aniejlris,

queen of

Vol.

I.

Perlia, her cruelty

54
196

fkill

in chymiflry and the

other arts

Ancient Grecian

26
of the eaft,

women employed

their eduin

31
embroi-

dery and weaving

69

retained this cuftom

till

after the

time of

Alexander
70
had probably few private amufements,
their public ones not known
71

52

villainy

the province of

in

98
fome

Ancient inhabitants
cation

345

271

were not always fo abandoned

their own account of the caufes of

monly

344

totally negle<3ed

their flagitious charailer

Agriculture

Europe
Ancients had

341

feme account who he was

inftitution

Amufemtnts and methods of killing time in

143

__

at religious feftivals ated as fingers,

dancers, priefteffes, &c.
ibid.
Angels faid to cohabit with women
22
Arabs, how they enflave their women
176
'

women, their condition not fuch as it

defcribed in romances
104

Afiatic
is

their general charafter

impoflible they can be good wives

ftrangers to the joys of friendfhip

debarred

277
279
ibid.

from the public exercife of

their religion

280

Babylonian women, their early

confequtnce
113
women not confined, unlefs they belonged to the great
114
fold by autStion for wives to the higheft

AJJyrian and

bidder
Auft, their

ii6

manner of

finding fathers to their

children.

23s

234

b b

Baby-

INDEX.
B

Britijh

women how treated

in ancient times

cannot, by our laws,

cftates, while any of the
Babylonian

women,

their early

confequcnce in

Society

1 1

alive

201
by marriage from the
lowcit to the highcll rank
202
cannot ennoble their hufbands, but have
fometim.s a power to enoble their children
ibid.
Burial, of what confequcnce it was among

may

the care taken of their perfons a proof

itid.
of this
admitted to convivial meetings
118
the decline of the empire

in

ibid,

obliged by a law to proflitute themfelvcs

once
nus

in their lives

in

pro-

this

226
C^rrepudiates

his wife on mere fufpicion 240

allowed their liberty theie on
the birth day of Mahomet
368

and the proAiturion fomctimes difpenfed with

227
their complying with this law is faid to
have rendered their chaflity afterwards inthefe

rules

violable

fuch

Card-p'aying, a fafhionable

fuppofuion not founded on

na-

Carthage,

women

incorrigibly

tious

licen-

236

Balhadera, or dancing girls, defcription of

their perfons and performances
82
Bardsf their extravagance in the praife of

women
becomes

them
Bathings an amufement of

the

women

of the

86

ofburden

of the good
ceive from the

give Aimulating potions to their

173

men 266

importance of wo-

160
206

and

ill

treatment they re-

men

thefe caufes

219

arife

not from nature but

from education
210
Charon, the origin of the fable concerning

him
Chivalry, the ob'ets of
is

its

extended be)ond

225
157

inftitution
its

inten-

original

tion

ibid.

mod

honourable of all profcflions

while in vogue
j^jj
what qualifications were required of
the

part of their religious fyftem in almoft

every warm country

ihid,

place of the women a facred afylum,

where no man dare enter
ibid,
-'
how praiifed at Adrianople
87
Behaviour, what kind of it makes the women
be well tiCdtedbyihe men
217
Boafled heroii'm of the Roman women belied
by their condudl
40
Brtimins, their wives better treated than the
other women of Afia
280
Brazil an women fupply the place of beafts

123

them of property

that divert

ibid.

ealt

121

Tyrian women

men

for all people to

praife

origin

its

95
100

Caufes that increafc the

6
fafliionable

amufement

it

CartJjaginiani (hclter the

their

on

reflc'<aions

ibid.

228
their licentious charafler
229
were probably employed inweaving and
embroidery
68
their amufcments not known
il>id.
Bacchanalian myfteries introduced intoRome 252
Baffrians,

women

Cairo,

ture

it

225

225
in

flitution

'

the ancients

temple of Ve-

the

the rules they obferved

be raifed

proftituted by their fathers and hu(bands

149

inherit entailed
heirs male arc

thofe

who

obtained it
on the mariners

ibid,

its efte(ls

5H

and on iJle treatment of women

ibid,
had no tftlcl on the lower ranks of
m.inkind
159
its eiFecls

in

making the

fair fex

lous of praife and adtions that deferved

loft

came

tlicfe

tffeiSs

when

its

10

honours he-

proftituted

Children, and other

emuit

Hid.

young animals,

thrive ai

well on the milk of another, as on that of

own motht-rs
g^.
are preferved from many dangers by

their

being nurfcd by their mothers

9;
Chinefc

N D E

/
beflow no education

Chlnefe

on

wo-

their

men

51
thcRi

teach

only

ceremonies

the

their country

of
ibid,

impoitance of their

women
women

give

no fortunes

to

why

they

this

a(t

in

193
194.

manner

ihid.

modefty of their women

280
Church- livings and revenues of abbies formerly
given as marriage portions
162
'

Complaints againft the fair fex

whence they arife

Condition of the Egyptian

women more

caufes of this

proofs of

of

women

ele-

108
IO9

gible than that of their neighbours

110

it

104

in the patriarchal ages

among people advanced a few degrees

beyond favage barbarity
184
Confejjion., in what cafes it was made to wo162
men

women

Confinement of

a proof, that a people

are advanced beyond the favage ftate

different ideas of

it

in different

187

Dancing proftitutes

in the temples of the eafl 284

Daughters, not fons, obliged to provide for
their aged parents in Egypt
1 12
Z)f3(7c^fr)' of the race of Cain
si

paid to women greater in France,

and Spain, than in England
209
Deities of the ancient pagans, favoured debauchery and intrigue
229
Defcriftion of fome of the ridiculous ceremoDcftreiice
Italy,

nies of the

on dancing,

as praflifed

by

72

Diana, the children of Sparta annually whipt

in honour of her
248
Dido efcapes from Pygmalion with all the efI2t
fets of her murdered hufband
ibid.
founds the city of Carthage
the account of her by Virgil only poeti122
cal fi<Sion

her death

ibid.

Dlverfions and amufements the refult of idlenefs and affluence

60

Duzking JlotU an
fcold in

ancient punifliment

England

for

307

fa-

vage and civilized nations

85
Court of Charles II. debauched the morals of

women

Courtezans of antiquity were

commonly

gers

ftran-

255

Cruelty,

women

dicted to

of the

patriarchal

ages ad-

220

it

proved by feveral anecdotes

ibid.
.
of the Romans to their captives
145
Cujlctiit its power in inducing the men of polite countries to treat the women with pro-

Eajlerns approach their

and ufe theni

216

priety

Cyrus, remarkable (lory of his perverting the

education of the Lydians
32

Dancing, fuppofed to be an amufement of the

of antiquity
temples of HinJoftan

girls in the

how

brought up

their privileges

men and women

defcrib:d

64

14

women

ments

79

their

private ones confift

in

bathing,

perfuming, and dreffing themfclves

are brought in to divert the
feafls

Education,

how

it

came

to be neccffary

ibid,

men

at

80
25

of the ancient Medes and Perfians committed to their women

31
makes a woman beloved anJ regarded
when youth and beauty are no more
33
of the (ireek women perverted or negletSed in the early ages
34
of the Afiatics, Africans, and Ameri-

82
iQand of Uiictea

84

49

ricans

tends only to corrupt

Si
ibid.

in the

like divinities,

women

women

like flaves

confidered as an article of
luxury and pleafure
7^
iheir women have no public amufetheir

at their religious

188

Confideratiom

Greek women

feflivals

coun-

tries

the

X.

women, and

the minds of

fit them for flavery

50
American women tends to
fit tlieu for cverv fatigue and hardfhip
54
EJfefis of female learning
43
R b b 2
Eff^m

the

that

of the

INDEX.
EffiRi of European Education
49
Lgyptians, the inventors of the arts and fci26
cnccs
- were the f\j^ people governed by laws
founded on equity
27
women, their employments not
Egyptian

Fabulous ftories concerning the creation of the

firft

of

confe-

their

quence

carry

of

ibiJ.

fathers

221

their incontinence

women,

their

various proofs of their incon-

222

tinence

Egyptians, the only people who abufed the

223
bodies of women after death
their laws calculated to preferve chaf-

'bid.

tity

were not allowed burial till

i\i&. while living was examined

their

Euro;t, its ancient ftate

condition of its women
Eurcpi-an manner of educating

30

..

are

fomctimes

outrageoufly

virtu-

307

ous

treat every

one with cruelty

who

effecls

vices

of their

follies,

foibles,

and
3^

Eurcpeam have contributed nothing to the reformation of any people they have conquered
288
or traded with

generally originate from

the

3
in the condition of the fair

how

their cruel difpofition

266

how

they torment their prifoners

267
their cruelty equalled by theancientS268

their

whence

'

their cruelty arifes

good

in

ibid.

Egypt

ibid,

and weft parts

on the banks of the Gambia
on the Gold Coaft
about Zaara

ibid.

in the eaft

fociety,

its

274
27s
276
314

influence

makes men effeminate,

much

too

in

and clownifh, if too much out of it ibid.

effeds of want of it in failcrs and ma-

riners

3'5

advantages
makes us ambitious to pleafe
fober and temperate
prevents quarrels

322

its

273
ibid.

on the banks of the Niger

FefoU
it,

269

qualities

charafler indifferent parts of Africa

/Vwfl/t'

makes us humble and

ibid.

ibid.

fubmiflivc

222
223

g;ves the higheft polifti to behaviour 324.

infufes more than half the fweets into
fociety
327

has

ibid.

dipt afide from chaftity

.

283
taught their children to read,

rafltr

there

5
educated in America
56
Female deities a proof that women are not
without confequence
J52
Female favages, their c\nzTzQ.tr
265
have no idea of chaftity
ibid,

49

292
306
the good ofEces they perform
fome of them confidcr chaftity as an
atonement for wanting all other virtues 306

gods

the

to

fex

general flcetches of their cha-

women,

282

40

women

/Vwfl/:- infants

its

tendency

Rome

ihii.

at atl times

to their temples, and pre-

them

men
Fav urabh change

198

women,

which cor281

write, &c.
Faults of

225

Fathirs in

con-

Emprtjfa of Rome generally took the lead in

debauchery
251
Emp'oyrmms of the lower clafs of women de9'
fcribed
Englljh follow the example of the French in
12
libertinifm and folly
the wealth they have brought from In291
dia how acquired
fome of their women of fafli ion laugh
305
at charafter and defy fcandal

women

tend to marry
worfhipped

II

fucceeded to the inheritance

women

women

have accefs to

daughter a proof

ii

feci in In'.'ia,

wear no clothes

their

raoh's

woman

and

rupts the morals of the

amufements confifted in religious

feftivals, and celebrating their birth-days ij/.
110
were not confined
the refpect paid by Solomon to Pha-

man

Fakiers, a religious

66

agreed upon by hidorians

i^

ar.d

is

provement

the caufe of almoft every imin

mannsrs and

in arts

the difadvantages arifing from

isfaid tofoften

it

328
329

and enervate the mind ibid.

Female

INDEX.
men

Female fociety, induces

to fquander

their fortunes

away

of theie

the fource

evils

331

Females lofe not their native fofmefs when excluded from men
315
but contraiS a mafculine air when con-

tinually with

fair

330

proved not to be

General ohkiviUons on the condition of the

them

drinking

316

they addrcfled in a particular manner female divinities

346
Fidelity to the marriage bed, what the Greeks
reckoned proofs of it
365
Fighting in the caufe of women, inftances of

why

their

Form'fa, daughters there of

firft

prevail in

the

infipid

-^

women,

321
ibid.

are aflive and reftlefs

ibid.

new books

are eafy and

in

their

297
their volubility of

tongue

and inconltaucy
298
ibid.
their power over their gallants
reckon themfelves the only polite woibid.
men in the world
are atheiils in youth, and devotees in
old age
299
too fond of plcafure to take care of their

children

in

tie

flri6tly

early

65

ages
prohibited

among

the

Jews

ibid.

Romans

260

to their women
128
what light they viewed the fex
i 29
borrowed and lent their wives
132
their young and handfome men might

manner

Games of chance not known

ibid.

Greek women all ignorant, cxceft common.

courtezans
3b
Grieks behaved in a rough and unpoliftied

ibid.

G
-

their idea of the

ibid,

their levity

345

behavi-

our
.

could only be noble by

mafculine turned out of the

houfe, and every male piflure covered,
during the celebration of her myderies ibid.
intruded on by Clodius
348
account of thefe myfteries by Cicero 349
her worOiip had nothing indecent in it 350
Goths obliged him who debauched a woman
to mjrry her, or give her a portion
148

ibid.

fprightly

ibid.

women

everything

but indifferent wives

295
are above the cenfure of the world
296
the patrons of learning, and give the

ton to

their

in the houfe of the conful

294

not diftinguiflied by modefty

ibid.

from the very foundation of Rome 34b"

her myfteries celebrated by the velial
virgins and other ladies
347

without a

their charafler

Europe

perpetually minors

man women

ibid.

reckon every thing

women

birth or marriage
202
Giaga, the abjed condition of women there 1 73
Good Goddefs worfhipped fecretly by the Ro-

ibid.
education the eft'edts of it
ladies do not altogether neglel learn-

mixtureof the fexes

prevails over

relations

46

ing

felves

manners

fantaftic

Europe

know-

150
were not allowed to avenge themon thofe who had murdered their

their

ii

iniroduced

which now

little

foundation of that politenefs,

laid the

which now

poflcfledof any

ibid.
ledge that was found among them
women on that account acquired the
efteem and veneration paid to them
42

186
than fons
ibid.
reafonofthis
French firft contaminated the manners of the

European women

ibid.

women

163
more confequence

it

210

fx

on the women of Europe

244.
German hufbands, their power over adulterous
wives
151
Germans were anciently rude and illiterate 41
had no idea but of war, hunting, and

in

demand admittance to the wives of the old

and infirm
ibid.
fend a deputation from the army to enjoy the wives of all thofe who were abfent 1 33
confidcrcd their wives as of no other
value than the portions they brought with

them

134
Greekt

INDEX.
their boys allowed to beat and
abuie their mothers
1^2
Hurons, their chief mufl defcend from the fe-

Hottentots,

1 34
Grtiks frequently expofed female infants
.
general idea of their chara6ler
237
.
their gods and men highly licentious 238
greateft part of their princes, who re.

male

from the fuge of Troy, murdered

turned

by their wives

in

great eft;em,

reared up

244

women

confined to their apartments 129

their hufband only allowed to vifit them
ibid.
at certain times
ibid.
their wrecched dwellings
.
were rot allowed to pafs from one part

of the houfe to another without leave

130
allowed when married to go to the
jhid.
door
ibid.
caufts of their confinement
other hardfhips and reftraints they fuffered
131
did all the (lavifh bufmefs
132

265

ibid.

their courtezans

fometimcs caralong with them

241
ibid,
their reafons for fo doing
of Sparta condemned weakly children
to be put to death, as unworthy of being

for a girl to profti-

tute herfclf

ried their wives

Griek

no crime

them publicly, and

vifited

it

240

effects of this

held

ibid.

reckon

of Sparta obliged both fexes to appear

naked on the Oage

ill

180

wo-

by

of ftate chofen

men

239

their laws favourable to debauchery Jbtd.

line

their council

fome of their privileges

134
were deftitute of the tendernefs of the
fex
143
and given to drunkennefs
245
Grindino at the mill, an ancient and modern
01
employment of women

women,

Jafatiefe

of

their (Jondition

194

one of the caufes of the

ycaltufy,

treatment

ill

women

215
14th, 15th, and

Ignorance of the

6th cen-

turies

42

Improvements ftationary in the middle ages 160

Imonfiftcncy of the alions and charadler of the
middle ages
156
Infiutnce of the women over the men always
moft powerful when attempted by foftnefs
and infinuation
3^4.
this evinced by feveral inftances
ibiJ,
greateft when they feem not to (how

it

openly

on

336

much augmented by having Nature

is

their fide

337

h'.habhants of the north

famous

for the regard

good ufage of their women

153
of the fouth, for rapturous love and ill

to and

treatment
ib:d.
of fiipcrftition having obliterated
maternal afFedtion
224
their women and capJfraelite: maltreated

Injlo'ues

tives

105

women

JJraeli'iJh

obliged

to

draw water

their flocks

low condition, and the other

they performed

their

Harems, how managed in Hindoftan

Harkts, that profeffion not unknown

igo

220

Hindoo

women

in

rigiJly

con-

193
5
51

fined
.

how

educated
remarkable for cleannefs

drawing and

colouring

of tafte
nienton the education of

ibid.

cmploved

in

their cotton fluffs

I

ot deftitute

/i'/lifry,

many

of the ages of antiquity

7^

women

for

33

mean

fome of their particular ceremonies

the

in

patriarchal ages

fome parts not

offices

Italian

women

not

more

chafte

than

French

160
350
the

299

aitful in

decoying and plundering their

gallants
are not

for
ibid.

ib,d,

afhamed of intriguing

300

nor fcrupiilous obfervers of the laws of

matrimony

ibid.

allowed by cudom to have

a gallant after marriage
are remarkable for family pride

each

are

li/V.

301

"JiiVtnal

INDEX.
'Juvenal accufes the

Roman

ladies of

pedan-

try

38

Mahometifm unfavourable to chaftity

284
ot bread an employment of the wo-

Making

men of antiquity
Knowledge not altogether hidden from the ancient Greek women
57
Knowledge and good fcnfe neceffary in the
choice of a hufband
216
Knowledge and learning of fome of the Greek
ladies

58

Lacedemm'tanSy

their

rude

and

uncultivated

manners

318
Ladit's of rank and fafliion, their want of employment
89
of middling fortunes too fond of copying their fuperiors
ibid.
amufe themfelyes fometimes with the

fine aits

90

Laivs formed to regulate the conduit of the

vulgar
160
of Solon to prevent the debauchery of

the

Greek women
of Lycurgus, ftritures

of the

Romans

on them

245
246

to reftrain public pro-

ftitution

251
252

did notanfwerthe purpofe

of the ancient northerns reoulating the
behaviour of the I'exes to each other
260
Learned women in France and England
57
Learn ng of the Phoenician women
29

LeJ/er Afid.
Liitie

employment of the women there 69

inclination of favage

women

for diver-

fions

60

Love of our offspring diminifhed by the progrefs of politencis

92

prompts the men to behave properly to

the other fex

2i6
Lucretia, her condul and tragical end
247
L)bian women employed in war and hunting
67
have an annual combat in honour of

Minerva
Hid,
Lycurgus confidered the fex as below his notice, becaufc they were not fit to become
heroes
35
Lydians, their debauchery

proftituted their daughters for hire

230
2-56

62

Jtdamcody emperor of Hindjftan,

wife: to

'

coDk

maid to

il^(7i little different in

173

his vi6lu,ils

refules her a

beads of the

obligei his

aflift

her

ib^d.

favage ftate from the

169

field

almoft deftitute of all the finer feelings,

and of humanity
170
Monlius, a Roman fenator, degraded for having faluteJ his wife in prefence of his

daughter
249
M'-nners and cuftoms peculiar to women 338is a fubjetft involved in much obcirity

ibid.

whence

the obfcurity arifes

339
340
203

a fubjel of the greateft delicacy

Marriage portions an ancient cuftom

Married women of Hindoflan, how they are
to behave in the abfence of their hufbands
362
Majfagetcs, their promifcuous ufe of wo-

men
facrificed

230
and eat their old or difeafcd

relations

ibid.

Alatronalia, a feftival

inftituted in

honour of

the Sabine women

139
Matrons of the Iroquois, difpofe of the prif jners of war
179
Megahyfus makes too free witii the women
of Macedon
125
is murdered with his whole retinue for
his temerity

126
what they become when fecluded from
women
325
equally the dupes of fafliion and cuftom

>u

zs the other fex

339'
Middle age?, (ketches of them
263
the men romantic
and fuperftitious,
their women haughty and indelicate, and
their clergy debauched and illiterate
Hid.
Modfjly and gcntlenefi-, two diftinguifhing
virtues in the female charaifler
218was not among the virtues of the early

ages
inftances to prove

it

219
was not then much

pradtifed

Modern Greeks

ibid.

242
Modern

as diflbluts as the ancient

INDEX.
Modtrn Greeks marry for any given time 242
^^/ emperors make their women dance to
them, and the grandees follow their
81
of the ancient Germans de-

divert

example
Morgetiybe

women

adorning thcmfelves 183

fonie cuftoms of it peculiar to

M-urningy

in

women

352

the drefs they ufe in

conduces to make

it

them feem more engaging

why

it

induces the

kx

Nur/ing of children one of the moft common

employments of women
91
by women hired for the purpofc, its inconvenience
97

353
to

wound them-

ibid.

feives

how
how

obferved in Otahcite
in ancient Greece

354
thid.

N
356
a remarkable ceremony there
Natural to women to drcfs and ornament
thcmfelves, unlefs opprefi'ed by flavery
73
wcaknefs of the fex among favages has
fubjesEtcd them to flavery
97

Narva,

in civil life, entitles

them

to protetion

and indulgence
Natc/ja,

their

ibid.

woman-chief equal

man-chief
the hufband and retinue of

to

their

8o
this

0/

world to ferve her there

lend their wives to each other

New-man ied

the eaftern

women

ij

Ompbalc, queen of Lydia, her revenge on the

people for endeavouring to debauch her 230
Origin of amulemeius and diveifions
eg
of the confinement of the women in the
middle ages
15^
of chivalry
i^j
Original flate of mankind in the early ages 24
Otahiite, condition of the women there
195
their women never eat with nor in the
prefence of men
796
.
their chiefs will not feed thcmfelves,
but muft be fed like children
ibid.
Otaheiteam hardly confider chaftity as a vir.

woman-

266

tue

chief obliged to follow her into the other

m

262

fiduity

363

fined

AJolivis of

Northern women were admitted to the councils of the men

1+9
were not fuffered to eat with their hufbands
150
.
not to be gained but by valour and af-

their

women

appear naked or

cloathed

with equal indifierence

286
their infamous fociety called Arreoy ibid.

ibid.

265
danger

people (uppofed to be in
362
of witches and evil fpirits
Niger, the women who inhabit its banks de-

186
queen of Nabonadius, takes the management of the kingdom into her hands 1 18

scribed
Nitccris,

gives great fatistaclion to her people ibid.

N.rthern women anciently had the care of
every thing but war and hunting
77
__
when they behaved properly were thank-

ed

in their

public aflemblies

ibid,

fometimes enjoyed the rojal dignity 147

were fuppofed to be endowed with more
ibiJ.
than human wifdom
were "iven as hoftsi^es in their treaties
wd.
with other nations
were prefent in the field of battle, fometimes rallitd the men, and returned with

them

to the charge

Pageantry and fliow moft

reliflied by people
but little refined
207
Patau, the women there faid to be exceedingly immodcft
285
Patriarchs, not remaikable for continence 220
Perft mi jealous tomaiincfs of their women i 24
grandeur of their monarchs
iiid.
number of beautiful women in their
.

feraglios

kings

ibid.
fitf{

cubines to ihe

carried their wives and confield

their reafons for

hws made it death

woman

their

to a

124.

doing fo

ibid.

to offer violence
1

25

14
PerfianSy

INDEX.
PerfmnSi their monarchs, though the moft
abfolute in the world, could not alter the

laws concerning

women

Putting children out to wet-nurfes encrcafes

the children of the rich, and diminiOies
thofe of the poor
95
Pygmalion mutdefs the hufband of his fifter

125

their voluptuoufnefs

232
their inceftuous marriages
233
the delicacy of feme of their women 225
Peculiar opinion of the Africans on the Gold
coaft
275
Peruvians did not choofe to marry a virgin 265

Dido

Phcenicians, their

women employed

in writ-

ing and keeping accounts

67
were not allowed to wear the Tyrian
purple
120
PhoUys, a people in Africa, who treat their
women with indulgence
186
Piiiure of German fimplicity by Tacitus 260
Poetejs lately crowned with laurel at Rome 57
Politenefs and culture, their efrels on the be-

208
haviour of the men to the women
Polygamy ?.T\A concubinage proofs of the wretch107
ed condition of women
neither of them allowed in ancient
i8
284
288
289

Egypt

unfavourable to chaftity
ill behaviour in India
the fpeech of a favage to them
are fucceeded in many of their fettlements by the Spaniards, who behave ftili

Partuguefe, their

290

worfe
their wives

among

the ancient Ifraelites

of fathers over their daughters

106

Power of hufbands over

ibid.

mode

of female education,

its

abfur-

dity

47

Progrefs

of

general education

among man-

kind
25
Proper education induces the men to treat the
115
women with indulgence
Property, in what cafes enjoyed by the women

of antiquity
allowed to be

203
held

by the Egyptian

women

ibid.

by the Hebrews and the Greeks allowci

to

women
not originally vefted

in

the

Roman wo-

thev brought forth a female than a

1.

Reafom why men of inferior genus aflbciatc

with women, and women of fuperior genius with men
115
Rebecca, the humble manner in which {he approaches Ifaac
105
ReflcLlions on the education of the African
women
53
on the European charader of the Africans
276
Rejoicings at death, inftances of it
356
Religion of Mahomet made little change in the

condition of the eaflern

.le

107

women

13

Remarks on the general tendency of female

education

48

Revolutions of

manners

in the reign of Eliza-

beth, of James II. and William

12
Roman women, the firft after thofe of Egypt,

who

attained to any confequence

36

their educatioh

ibid.

their virtues

ibid.

how

contaminated
ibid.
their quarrel with the triumvirs
38
their eloquence
39
were employed in fpinning and manutheir virtues

fadturing clothes for their families

74.
^ not afhamed of doing what was ufeful
and necellary
ibid.

their diverfions the

fame as thofe of the

men

ibid.

fpent

into

much time

which both

at

fexes

the public bath?,

went

promilcu-

ouily

7j
by Adrian and by Aurelian, allowed to do it by Heliogabalus,
and prevented finally from it by Confl^.iforbid to

do

fo

tine

ibid.

of opulence gave out

.i-O^

ibid.
men, but vefted in ihem afterward
22
Prophecy of Enoch, an impofition
Punijhment for committing a rape in Eg\ pt iii
when
Puripcamn of lying in women, Ion,-

Vol.

among

them
Prefent

izi

all their

children

to nurfe

under perpetual guardianihip

much ciamped by fumptuary laws
not allowed to tsfte wine
.vere

liable

98
140
ibid,
ibid.

to be divorced at the pleafure

their hulhands

of

141

c c

Roman

INDEX.
Roman women, fometimes

ill

treated by flaves

them

honours conftrred on them by the

I43
fenate
had funeral orations pronounced in their
ibid.

praifc

were allowed to minifter at the altar of

their gods
144
ibid.
were deified after death
ibid.
were buried in the field of Mars
were admitted to convivial meetings,
but fecm to have been more eileemed than
loved

I4S

Roman empire
began

to

being

overturned,

nurfe their

again left oft" doing

fond of pleafure

own

fo, as

mothers
and

at

men

firft

only a few banditti

by the rape of the

ibid.

137

were rude and auftere

defpife

in

their

9
4
from
81

women,

enflave their

weak

be-

Savage

women, their difadvantages

how afFe(3;ed by thefe

enjoy perfonal liberty

17+

are feldom troubled with

the jealoufy

182

of their hufbands

have little or no property

183
do not {hare the honours of their hufibid,
bands

man-

r40
cuftom of faluting women, toknow if they had drank any wine 141
Rujfian women, their difadvantages
199
bride faid to have prefented her hufibid.
band with a whip, in old time
cmprefs, and the ladies of her court,
200
divert themfelves wiih fhooting
ibid.
women addiiflcd to drunkennefs

wo-

172
J70
171

ners

introduf ed

and

caufe they arc

Sabine

the firft who gave the fex public liberty,

ibid.
and cultivated their underftandin gs

ibid.

their ideas of dancing different

thofe in civil life
reckon ftrength and courage the only
ibid.
qualities that entitle to preference

Savoys,

136

virgins
.

in all ages have maltreated the fex

hiftory only

encreafed

in

Sardanapalui, his effeminacy

employs himfelf in fpinning
declaimed againft
Sutiri/Is who have

they became more

fable

Ro-

children,

their

39
into the

318
France could not be held by
205
women
law, though it debars the fair fex from
fwaying the fcepter of France, cannot hinder them from ruling the monarch who
ibid,
fways it

98

Romansy the early part of

on

mans

246

republic

conferred

privileges

politenefs

infuf.d

Salique lands

rigidly virtuous in the early ages of the

the

this office

for

firft

the

women,

Sabine

142

tlie

are the phyficians, furgeons, and

gicians of the country
in

Canada, are delivered alone

woods
Scythian
fkill in

maibid.

in

the

361

women

regarded
divination

for

their fuperior privileges

their

fuppofed

119
ibid.

the advantages of their condition

ibid.

Sahina demand reftitution of their daughters

138
from the Romans
.

ibid.

are rcfufed

hive a conference with the Romans,

ibid.
which ends in a peace
make a fecond demand of their daughli/'d.
ters, and are rcfufed
to
but
confsnt
Romans,
the
overcome
peace at the

reii^ueft

of the

women

39

take the flaves of their hufbands to their

beds
231
Semiramiiy fome account of her
113
ibid.
plans the attack of Badria
married to Ninus king of Aflyria
is
ibid,

authority for fome

days, and in that time murders her hufibid.
band, and ufurps his throne
in one year builds the city of Babyobtains

lon

the

royal

114

ranked among the gods, and worftiippcd in a temple

Send/nents o( the prefent inhabitants of the
is

n6

afl>

INDEX,
eaft,

concerning their women, the fame as

Solomon
an amufement of both

in the days of

Shoppings

wantonly

is

only

praiSlifed

14
which

fexes,

to

give

trou-

the fplendour

Sybarites,

women

their

and magnificerce of
27
i

effeminated by the ccnftant

company nf

women

their

317

ble

99
Singing and dancing girls of the Medes and
Perfians brought in to divert a company 69
Sketches of the education inftituted by ijolon 34
Society, the ftate of it in the eaft
319
in Europe
320
of women, its influence on the French
ibid.
and Italians

plan of education more calculated

body than the mind
35
Songs, religious and martial, a part of the
amufement of the women of antiquity 64

were accompanied with inflruments ibiJ,

Sons and daughters of men, why the antede21
luvians were fo called
ibid,
Sons of God, why fo called
Spaniards maflacred the Peruvians, becaufe
they would not receive a religion they did not
underftand
290
hunted the people of Hifpaniola with
dogs, and maflacred them in honour of the
Solon,

his

to improve the

apoftles

ibid.

their

country and

cuftoms

but

known

little

ihid.
all excellence
the prefent how condemned as all vice
iliid.
and imperfedlion
of the patriarchs not better than the
prefent
310
not better among the other nations
than among the Hebrews
312

ple as

To tend the flocks in the field, one of the employments of the women of antiquity
62
Treatment and condition of women, thoughts
on it
102

mark the point

302

fociety to

allow their women more liberty than

ibid.
formerly
haVe a native honour and fidelity above
ibid,
other nations
fome
indulgent to their women in

in the

Tartarian women, a particular religious ceremony obferved by them

351
-^ aflifted by the Bonzes in it
352
Timaradee, an indecent dance by the girls of
Otaheite
83
Times, the pad and prefent, cnmcared
309
how the paft are extolled by fome peo-

cafes
303
privileges they allow to a kept- miftrefs ib.
to a breeding

woman

which

in

of

fcale

middle ages, what

women employed

Turkij})

the

a people havearriied
in

open

79
and drink coffee

in

humane and benevolent

ftory of him

Tygranes,

the

80
287

air

are

103
153

weavinj tmbroi-

dery, and mufic

dance, fing,

civil

^3S

304

women, their public diverfions were

fome of them mafculine, others highly in-

Spartan

decent

71

famous

for nurfing children

Speech of Hortenfia to the

of

female

Triumvirs

favage,

defcribing

97
39

Valentine's day,

the

middle ages

wretched condition of her (ex

1 74
and weaving the common employments of the women of antiquity
62
Succeion to an inheritance denied to women
Spinning

by

the

Lombards

and

Supirjiition

by theBurgundians
fometimes exalts women

alfo

fupreme dignity
Sybarites, their effeminacy

204
205
to the

108
127

its

curtoms

363

Fiew of the difadvantages of women

in

tiie

165

they were confidered as polluted

i6t>

from them was imagined to

be the fureft road to heaven
Hid,
fpent their time in a folitary manner,
and had few of the conveniences of life 167
were in perpetual danger o( being conto

abflain

demned

for witchcraft

Hid.

their preferal le condition in the prefer;

168

time

c c 2

rer.eliuns

INDEX.
by fumpluary laws, which
with im-

yeret'ians reftrained

Women, became

242
249
yi.w ot lociety in t:.e early ages
316
Firginta, her tra^.cal ftory and death
242
55
Vi'gim of the Sun in Peru, bow educated
punity

f<yi7j/ virgins,

fome of them debauched

bound by

151

wo-

own

law not to give more than

a tenth of their (ubftance to a wife

Voluminous books written in praife of

men

never take away the

life

any animal
IVant of
improper treatment of women
of proper education in the
.

other
of care to

caufe of the

212

women

an-

213

make

themfelves agreeable a

third
IVeaknefs of the fex a fourth
Why women are commonly

than

of

3^7

men one

fenfibility in the

ibid.

women

greater pedants

men

38

Witches, their fuppofed

power over lying-in

361

Wives killed by fome Tartarian tribes with

J?^
impunity
Women of antiquity, their amufements but
63
little kno\*n
,

93
more valued than
the men
120
of Lycia were the fountain of ho-

ol

at the

Adrianople,
bagnio

how

nour

while gaining importance in Europe,

were lofing it in Afia
156
were not obliged to fight, nor undergo
the ordeal trial
162
their condition regulated by the opinion
entertained of them by the men
170
of Madura, their defpicable fiate
176
why treated fo ill by the men there ibid.

of Guinea, how fubjeiSed

177

of Hindoflan, not allowed to give evidence

ibid.
of Potany kept to be hired out to public

proflitution

ket

obliged again to change their

and for what reafoa

fyftem,

44

mar-

treatment
178
in fome places meet with more indul-

gence

'

ill

179
power of fending the men out to
war in America
179
their perfons facred in Hindoftan
190
the honour of their hufbands concerned
in their good behaviour there
191
are without power, and without political confequence
192
their confequence in Ethiopia
igj
their difadvantages in Lapland, Norway
and Poland
20 r
2
Wmta
their

3^4

thofe of the men

43
applied themfelves to letters and thefciibid.
enccs, and became adepts in them

the public

ibid.

cfFedls of their

363

not excluded from the learning of the

27
Egyptians
28
T forbidden to learn mufic in Egypt
obliged to change their manners with

ibid.

of Circaffia fold in

they receive a bride

adultery

ibid.

of Carthage enjoyed their freedom

123
of the middle ?ges were poflefll-d of all
the knowledge of the times
1^^

167
of the Moors, how cnflaved
the methofJs ufed for deteling them in

ifles

W
women

children

of the Balearic

Jfallachian

as

nor infipidly ignorant

4Q
flumbtr away their time in the eaft in
relaxation of body and mind
60
of antiquity, how employed
61
arc fa fond of amulcmenis that they
fometimes do not confider whether ihey can
afford tht n or not
91
were intended by nature to nurfe their

259

north

famous for ignorance

Virtue of the Romans contaminated by their

intercourfe with the Afiatics
250
Virtues ot the ancient inhabitants of the
Vi/igoths

as

they had been before for learning

^^
to embroidery and
betake themfelves
other kinds of needle-worlc
45
ought neither to be pedantically learned,

their courtezans only can break

INDEX.
Women cannot

difpofe of eftates

Den-

in

mark
of

201

Rome

contended againft each other

for the perfonal favours of a player

250

danced naked on the ftage

251

joined in a confpiracy to poifon

their

hufbands
ibid.
were hard-hearted and cruel
256
the proofs they gave of this difpofition

much
i

'

to ufe men-midwives about the

century
359
the methods they pratifed to eafe the
pains of child-bearing
36
Wounds and injuries done to women rated
higher than to men by the ancient northerns
151

end of

Idft

ibid,

were not much addidled to religion 257

when fecluded from men are lefs chafte
on that account
326
grow cheap by fhowing themfelves too

Women began

327

bewailing virginity, an ancient cuftom

among them
why they

Zaara, women of rank there keep their hufbands in great fubjeflion

181
not peculiar in this cuftom as it is practife by the fifters of the grand fignior
ibid*
"Zaffe Ibrahims, their

their

340

obferved this cuftom

34.1
account of fome of their fexual cere-

monies
357
of Greece, the only ones of antiquity
who employed men-midwives
338

great

charadler

men

only allowed to

their cattle

-^

their children, when born on certain

days, expofed in the woods, and frequently
relieved by the women
tMm

ERRATA.
3, line 15, for Liiv/ul read unlawful.
i3> for commands read command,

J^3>
173,
281,

334,

for firj} defpot of it, read their

20, ^01 are read it.
20, for thdr read there.

1 1,

kill

ibid,

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Page

274

firji drffot,

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