s
Horse without its Rider, and was now overjoyed to find her unhurt, cried out, »I
am glad it is no worse; if Tom hath broken his Arm, we will get a Joiner to mend
un again.«
    The Squire alighted from his Horse, and proceeded to his House on foot, with
his Daughter and Jones. An impartial Spectator, who had met them on the Way,
would, on viewing their several Countenances, have concluded Sophia alone to
have been the Object of Compassion: For as to Jones, he exulted in having
probably saved the Life of the young Lady, at the Price only of a broken Bone;
and Mr. Western, though he was not unconcerned at the Accident which had
befallen Jones, was, however, delighted in a much higher Degree with the
fortunate Escape of his Daughter.
    The Generosity of Sophia's Temper construed this Behaviour of Jones into
great Bravery; and it made a deep Impression on her Heart: For certain it is,
that there is no one Quality which so generally recommends Men to Women as this;
proceeding, if we believe the common Opinion, from that natural Timidity of the
Sex; which is, says Mr. Osborne, so great, that a Woman is »the most cowardly of
all the Creatures God ever made.« A Sentiment more remarkable for its Bluntness,
than for its Truth. Aristotle, in his Politics, doth them, I believe, more
Justice, when he says, »The Modesty and Fortitude of Men differ from those
Virtues in Women; for the Fortitude which becomes a Woman, would be Cowardice in
a Man; and the Modesty which becomes a Man, would be Pertness in a Woman.« Nor
is there, perhaps, more of Truth in the Opinion of those who derive the
Partiality which Women are inclined to shew to the Brave, from this Excess of
their Fear. Mr. Bayle (I think, in his Article of Helen) imputes this, and with
greater Probability, to their violent Love of Glory; for the Truth of which, we
have the Authority of him, who, of all others, saw farthest into human Nature;
and who introduces the Heroine of his Odyssey, the great Pattern of matrimonial
Love and Constancy, assigning the Glory of her Husband as the only Source of her
Affection towards him.2
    However this be, certain it is that the Accident operated very strongly on
Sophia; and, indeed, after much Enquiry into the Matter, I am inclined to
believe, that at this very Time, the charming Sophia made no less Impression on
