Woman physiologically considered as to mind, morals, marriage, matrimonial slavery, infidelity and divorce / By Alexander Walker.

Alexander Walker

Date:: 1839

Credit: Woman physiologically considered as to mind, morals, marriage, matrimonial slavery, infidelity and divorce / By Alexander Walker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$traordinary woman. Her frailty was shared by many of the highest rank and station of her age and country: her virtues were her own. They combined to form that bewitching but imperfect picture, which St. Evremont has left of her, and which every incident of her life illustrated :— pal ie indulgente et sage nature A formé ]’ame de Ninon, De la volupté-d’ Epicure, _ Et de la vertu de Caton.* *¢ An intellect of the very highest order; acquire- ments of the most extraordinary fascination ;{ a probity beyond all example; a spirit of indepen- dence which neither love nor friendship could tame to submission ; a sobriety which (strange to say) was a virtue shared by few of her royal and noble contemporaries of her own sex; a love of * Ninon from bounteous nature doth inherit A soul, endowed with ev’ry blended merit ; Where Epicurus’ love of ease combines With all the virtue which in Cato shines.” + She was one of the best linguists, the most charming nar- rator, musician and dancer, of her time. She had but one affectation, which was, that she required much pressing to be prevailed on to sing or to play on the lute. On the subject of these accomplishments, she observed ‘‘ Une liaison de coeur est celle de toutes les piéces, ou les entr’actes soient les plus longs, et les actes les plus courts: de quoi remplir ces intermédes sinon par les talens.” Q$