第 49 节
作者:
打死也不说 更新:2021-02-20 14:22 字数:9322
xing in the giddy circle under restraint; these butterflies long to flutter at large; for the first affection of their souls is their own persons; to which their attention has been called with the most sedulous care; whilst they were preparing for the period that decides their fate for life。 Instead of pursuing this idle routine; sighing for tasteless show; and heartless state; with what dignity would the youths of both sexes form attachments in the schools that I have cursorily pointed out; in which; as life advanced; dancing; music; and drawing; might be admitted as relaxations; for at these schools young people of fortune ought to remain; more or less; till they were of age。 Those; who were designed for particular professions; might attend; three or four mornings in the week; the schools appropriated for their immediate instruction。 I only drop these observations at present; as hints; rather; indeed as an outline of the plan I mean; than a digested one; but I must add; that I highly approve of one regulation mentioned in the pamphlet already alluded to (The Bishop of Autun); that of making the children and youths independent of the masters respecting punishments。 They should be tried by their peers; which would be an admirable method of fixing sound principles of justice in the mind; and might have the happiest effect on the temper; which is very early soured or irritated by tyranny; till it becomes peevishly cunning; or ferociously overbearing。 My imagination darts forward with benevolent fervour to greet these amiable and respectable groups; in spite of the sneering of cold hearts; who are at liberty to utter; with frigid self…importance; the damning epithet romantic; the force of which I shall endeavour to blunt by repeating the words of an eloquent moralist。 〃I know not whether the allusions of a truly humane heart; whose zeal renders every thing easy; is not preferable to that rough and repulsing reason; which always finds in indifference for the public good; the first obstacle to whatever would promote it。〃 I know that libertines will also exclaim; that woman would be unsexed by acquiring strength of body and mind; and that beauty; soft bewitching beauty! would no longer adorn the daughters of men。 I am of a very different opinion; for I think; that; on the contrary; we should then see dignified beauty; and true grace; to produce which; many powerful physical and moral causes would concur。 Not relaxed beauty; it is true; nor the graces of helplessness; but such as appears to make us respect the human body as a majestic pile; fit to receive a noble inhabitant; in the relics of antiquity。 I do not forget the popular opinion; that the Grecian statues were not modelled after nature。 I mean; not according to the proportions of a particular man; but that beautiful limbs and features were selected from various bodies to form an harmonious whole。 This might; in some degree; be true。 The fine ideal picture of an exalted imagination might be superior to the materials which the painter found in nature; and thus it might with propriety be termed rather the model of mankind than of a man。 It was not; however; the mechanical selection of limbs and features; but the ebullition of an heated fancy that burst forth; and the fine senses and enlarged understanding of the artist selected the solid matter; which he drew into this glowing focus。 I observed that it was not mechanical; because a whole was produceda model of that grand simplicity; of those concurring energies; which arrest our attention and command our reverence。 For only insipid lifeless beauty is produced by a servile copy of even beautiful nature。 Yet; independent of these observations; I believe; that the human form must have been far more beautiful than it is at present; because extreme indolence; barbarous ligatures; and many causes; which forcibly act on it; in our luxurious state of society; did not retard its expansion; or render it deformed。 Exercise and cleanliness appear to be not only the surest means of preserving health; but of promoting beauty; the physical causes only considered; yet; this is not sufficient; moral ones must concur; or beauty will be merely of that rustic kind which blooms on the innocent; wholesome countenances of some country people; whose minds have not been exercised。 To render the person perfect; physical and moral beauty ought to be attained at the same time; each lending and receiving force by the combination。 Judgment must reside on the brow; affection and fancy beam in the eye; and humanity curve the cheek; or vain is the sparkling of the finest eye or the elegantly turned finish of the fairest features; whilst in every motion that displays the active limbs and well…knit joints; grace and modesty should appear。 But this fair assemblage is not to be brought together by chance; it is the reward of exertions met to support each other; for judgment can only be acquired by reflection; affection; by the discharge of duties; and humanity by the exercise of compassion to every living creature。 Humanity to animals should be particularly inculcated as a part of national education; for it is not at present one of our national virtues。 Tenderness for their humble dumb domestics; amongst the lower class; is oftener to be found in a savage than a civilized state。 For civilization prevents that intercourse which creates affection in the rude hut; or mud cabin; and leads uncultivated minds who are only depraved by the refinements which prevail in the society; where they are trodden under foot by the rich; to domineer over them to revenge the insults that they are obliged to bear from their superiours。 This habitual cruelty is first caught at school; where it is one of the rare sports of the boys to torment the miserable brutes that fall in their way。 The transition; as they grow up; from barbarity to brutes to domestic tyranny over wives; children; and servants; is very easy。 Justice; or even benevolence; will not be a powerful spring of action; unless it extend to the whole creation; nay; I believe that it may be delivered as an axiom; that those who can see pain; unmoved; will soon learn to inflict it。 The vulgar are swayed by present feelings; and the habits which they have accidentally acquired; but on partial feelings much dependence cannot be placed; though they be just; for; when they are not invigorated by reflection; custom weakens them; till they are scarcely felt。 The sympathies of our nature are strengthened by pondering cogitations; and deadened by thoughtless use。 Macbeth's heart smote him more for one murder; the first; than for a hundred subsequent ones; which were necessary to back it。 But; when I used the epithet vulgar; I did not mean to confine my remark to the poor; for partial humanity; founded on present sensations or whim; is quite as conspicuous; if not more so; amongst the rich。 The lady who sheds tears for the bird starved in a snare; and execrates the devils in the shape of men; who goad to madness the poor ox; or whip the patient ass; tottering under a burden above its strength; will; nevertheless; keep her coachman and horses whole hours waiting for her; when the sharp frost bites; or the rain beats against the well…closed windows which do not admit a breath of air to tell her how roughly the wind blows without。 And she who takes her dogs to bed; and nurses them with a parade of sensibility; when sick; will suffer her babes to grow up crooked in a nursery。 This illustration of my argument is drawn from a matter of fact。 The woman whom I allude to was handsome; reckoned very handsome; by those who do not miss the mind when the face is plump and fair; but her understanding had not been led from female duties by literature; nor her innocence debauched by knowledge。 No; she was quite feminine; according to the masculine acceptation of the word; and; so far from loving these spoiled brutes that filled the place which her children ought to have occupied; she only lisped out a pretty mixture of French and English nonsense; to please the men who flocked round her。 The wife; mother; and human creature; were all swallowed up by the factitious character; which an improper education; and the selfish vanity of beauty; had produced。 I do not like to make a distinction without a difference; and I own that I have been as much disgusted by the fine lady who took her lap…dog to her bosom; instead of her child; as by the ferocity of a man; who; beating his horse; declared; that he knew as well when he did wrong as a Christian。 This brood of folly shows how mistaken they are who; if they allow women to leave their harams; do not cultivate their understanding; in order to plant virtues in their hearts。 For had they sense; they might acquire that domestic taste which would lead them to love with reasonable subordination their whole family; from the husband to the house…dog; nor would they ever insult humanity in the person of the most menial servant; by paying more attention to the comfort of a brute; than to that of a fellow…creature。 My observations on national education are obviously hints; but I principally wish to enforce the necessity of educating the sexes together to perfect both; and of making children sleep at home; that