; but, beyond these, my Friend, they are quite out of the Element of Nature and Common-Sense.
I have sadly mistaken this whole Affair, it seems, I actually apprehended that Woman might be admitted as a Companion to Man, and was intended, occasionally, to soften his Temper and polish his Manners. They have, at Times, formed Governors, Legislators, and Heroes. The great
Pericles
derived all the Powers of his Oratory, and the Elegance of his Taste from the Example and Instructions of the lovely
Aspasia;
and the
Grachi
also caught the Spirit of their Eloquence, and the Fire of their Patriotism, from their Mother
Cornelia.
Pshaw, the Women you have mentioned were but as single Luminaries, perhaps One in many Centuries, who shot away and shone out of their appointed Spheres.
Mayhap, I can produce still better Authority to prove to you, my Friend, that Woman was not merely intended to form and instruct us, to soften and polish the Rudeness of our Mass; she was also appointed to native Empire and Dominion over Man.
By all Means, my dear Sir, I am quite impatient to be instructed in the Policies and Constitution of this your petticoat Government.
Whenever you shall be pleased to turn over to the third Chapter of the first Book of the Prophet
Esdras,
you will, there find it written to the following Purpose.
In the Reign of
Darius Hystaspes,
Successor to the
Grand Cyrus,
(whom you may have read of in Romance)
Darius
made a great Feast to all his Princes and Nobles, chief Captains, and Governors of his hundred and twenty seven Provinces.
And, at the Feast, three young and princely Geniuses arose, and offered to dispute for Pre-eminence before the great Assembly. And the Question turned on, what was STRONGEST? and the first said WINE is strongest, and the second said the KING is strongest, and the third said WOMAN is strongest. And then, the Advocate for the Bottle thus began.
O ye Princes! bear me Testimony, that Wine gives and takes away according to its Mightiness. It takes away the Strength and Capacities of Nature, and gives Powers, Virtues and Talents of its own Acquiring.
It trips up the Wrestler, and lays a Giant low; and bears the Feeble and the Fearful into the Midst of the Battle.
Wine is an Opener of Hearts and a Revealer of Secrets. It raises Hope into Certainty, and gives Jollity and Enjoyment in exchange for Care.
It unfolds the Purse of the Usurer, and enriches the needy; and frees the Prisoner from his
