The history of Henry Earl of Moreland / [Ed. by J.W].

  • Henry Brooke
Date:
[1813]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of Henry Earl of Moreland / [Ed. by J.W]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    t Without woman, where would be father, or where would be child 1 where the relations, endearments, and connections, of kindred, the charities that bind the wide world together into one inclusive family, the great Brotherhood of Man? She comes not against you in the hostility of weapons, or fearful* ness of power. She comes in the comfort and mild light of beauty ; she looks abashed, and takes you captive; she trembles, and you obey. Yet her’s is the surest of all signories on earth ; for her dominion is sweet, and our subjection is voluntary, and a freedom from her yoke i’s what no man could bear. There are no forms of human government that can exempt us from her sway, no system of laws that can exclude her authority.' Do we not study, toil, and sweat, and go forth in the darkness, and put our face to every danger, to win and bring home treasure and ornaments to our love? Even the robbers and savage spoilers of mankind grow tame to the civilizing prerogative of beauty. If men seek peace, it is to live in kindly society with woman; and if they seek war, it is to please her with the report and renown of their valour. Even the highest and mightiest, the lord of lords, and king of kings, is caught in the fascinating net of his Apame. I saw her seated by his side ; she took the crown from his head, and gave it new lustre by the beauty of her brow and the brightness of her tresses. I saw her chide him in her playfulness, and strike him in her petulance; yet he pressed the hand of her pleasing presumption to his lips; he gazed fondly and fixedly on her; if she laughed, he laughed also; but if she affected displeasure, he spoke and looked submission, and was' feiin to plead and sue for reconcilement. Here ended the blooming orator. The monarch rose from his throne and gave loud applause, and the roofs resounded with the shouts and acclamations of the assembly. Wherefore it was decreed, “ by the laws of the Medes and Per- sians,'' that female beauty ought to govern the world in meekness, and that men owed thereunto a voluntary obedience. ‘ Fr. Pray, my good Sir, this same Esdras, is it among the cano- nical books ? AuT. I cannot affirm that it is. But it is held as authentic, and very sacred, I assure you. Fr. It is a pity that your system of female government should be apocryphal. But, since you have not proved their dominion to be' jure divino, permit me to retain my faith, and to go on with my story-'
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