the origin of the distinction of ranks-第3部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ll　serve　as　an　apology　for　the　multiplicity　of　facts　that　are　sometimes　stated　in　confirmation　of　the　following　remark。　At　the　same　time；　from　an　apprehension　of　being　tedious；　the　author　has；　on　other　occasions；　selected　only　a　few；　from　a　greater　number　to　the　same　purpose；　that　might　easily　have　been　procured。　Chapter　I　Of　the　rank　and　condition　of　woman　in　different　ages　Section　I　The　effects　of　poverty　and　barbarism；　with　respect　to　the　condition　of　women　　　　　Of　all　our　passions；　it　should　seem　that　those　which　unite　the　sexes　are　most　easily　affected　by　the　peculiar　circumstances　in　which　we　are　placed；　and　most　liable　to　be　influenced　by　the　power　of　habit　and　education。　Upon　this　account　they　exhibit　the　most　wonderful　variety　of　appearances；　and；　in　different　ages　and　countries；　have　produced　the　greatest　diversity　of　manners　and　customs。　　　　　The　state　of　mankind　in　the　rudest　period　of　society；　is　extremely　unfavourable　to　the　improvement　of　these　passions。　A　savage　who　earns　his　food　by　hunting　and　fishing；　or　by　gathering　the　spontaneous　fruits　of　the　earth；　is　incapable　of　attaining　any　considerable　refinement　in　his　pleasures。　He　finds　so　much　difficulty；　and　is　exposed　to　so　many　hardships　in　procuring　mere　necessaries；　that　he　has　no　leisure　or　encouragement　to　aim　at　the　luxuries　and　conveniencies　of　life。　His　wants　are　few；　in　proportion　to　the　narrowness　of　his　circumstances。　With　him；　the　great　object　is　to　be　able　to　satisfy　his　hunger；　and；　after　the　utmost　exertions　of　labour　and　activity；　to　enjoy　the　relief　of　idleness　and　repose。　He　has　no　time　for　cultivating　a　correspondence　with　the　other　sex；　nor　for　attending　to　those　enjoyments　which　result　from　it；　and　his　desires　being　neither　cherished　by　affluence；　nor　inflamed　by　indulgence；　are　allowed　to　remain　in　that　moderate　state　which　renders　them　barely　sufficient　for　the　continuation　of　the　species。　　　　　The　facility　with　which　he　may　commonly　gratify　these　appetites；　is　another　circumstance　by　which　his　situation　is　peculiarly　distinguished。　In　the　most　rude　and　barbarous　ages；　little　or　no　property　can　be　acquired　by　particular　persons；　and；　consequently；　there　are　no　differences　of　rank　to　interrupt　the　free　intercourse　of　the　sexes。　The　pride　of　family　as　well　as　the　insolence　of　wealth；　is　unknown；。and　there　are　no　distinctions　among　individuals；　but　those　which　arise　from　their　age　and　experience；　from　their　strength；　courage；　and　other　personal　qualities。　The　members　of　different　families；　being　all　nearly　upon　a　level；　maintain　the　most　familiar　intercourse　with　one　another；　and；　when　impelled　by　natural　instinct；　give　way　to　their　mutual　desires　without　hesitation　or　reluctance。　They　are　unacquainted　with　those　refinements　which　create　a　strong　preference　of　particular　objects；　and　with　those　artificial　rules　of　decency　and　decorum　which　might　lay　a　restraint　upon　their　conduct。　　　　　It　cannot　be　supposed；　therefore；　that　the　passions　of　sex　will　rise　to　any　considerable　height　in　the　breast　of　a　savage。　He　must　have　little　regard　for　pleasures　which　he　can　purchase　at　so　easy　a　rate。　He　meets　with　no　difficulties　nor　disappointments　to　enhance　the　value　of　his　enjoyment；　or　to　rouse　and　animate　him　in　the　pursuit　of　it。　He　arrives　at　the　end　of　his　wishes；　before　they　have　sufficiently　occupied　his　thoughts；　or　engaged　him　in　those　delightful　anticipations　of　happiness　which　the　imagination　is　apt　to　display　in　the　most　flattering　colours。　He　is　a　stranger　to　that　long　continued　solicitude；　those　alternate　hopes　and　fears；　which　agitate　and　torment　the　lover；　and　which；　by　awakening　the　sensibility；　while　they　relax　the　vigour　of　his　mind；　render　his　prevailing　inclinations　more　irresistible。　　　　　The　phlegmatic　disposition　of　savages；　in　this　particular；　has　accordingly　been　often　remarked　as　a　distinguishing　part　of　their　character。　There　is　good　reason　to　believe　that；　in　the　state　of　simplicity　which　precedes　all　cultivation　and　improvement；　the　intercourse　of　the　sexes　is　chiefly　regulated　by　the　primary　intention　of　nature；　that　it　is　of　consequence　totally　interrupted　by　the　periods　of　pregnancy；　and　that　the　same　laws；　with　respect　to　the　difference　of　seasons；　which　govern　the　constitution　of　inferior　animals；　have　also　an　influence　upon　the　desires　of　the　human　species。（1*）　　　　　It　is　true；　that；　even　in　early　ages；　some　sort　of　marriage；　or　permanent　union　between　persons　of　different　sexes；　has　been　almost　universally　established。　But　when　we　examine　the　nature　of　this　primitive　alliance；　it　appears　to　have　been　derived　from　motives　very　little　connected　with　those　passions　which　we　are　at　present　considering。　When　a　child　has　been　produced　by　the　accidental　correspondence　of　his　parents；　it　is　to　be　expected　that；　from　the　influence　of　natural　affection；　they　will　be　excited　to　assist　one　another　in　making　some　provision　for　his　maintenance。　For　this　purpose；　they　are　led　to　take　up　their　residence　together；　that　they　may　act　in　concert　with　each　other；　and　unite　their　efforts　in　the　preservation　and　care　of　their　offspring。　　　　　Among　inferior　animals；　we　may　discern　the　influence　of　the　same　principle　in　forming　an　association　between　individuals　of　different　sexes。　The　connexion　indeed；　in　this　case；　is　commonly　of　short　duration；　because　the　young　animal　is　soon　in　a　condition　to　provide　for　its　own　subsistence。　In　some　of　the　species　of　birds；　however；　the　young　which　are　hatched　at　one　time；　are　frequently　incapable　of　procuring　their　own　food　before　the　mother　begins　to　lay　eggs　a…new；　and　the　male　and　female　are；　therefore；　apt　to　contract　a　more　permanent　attachment。　To　this　circumstance　we　may　ascribe　the　imagined　fidelity　of　the　turtle；　as　well　as　the　poetical　honours　that　have　been　paid　to　the　gentleness　of　the　dove；　an　animal　which；　notwithstanding　the　character　it　has　so　universally　acquired；　appears　remarkable　for　its　peevish　and　quarrelsome　temper。　Among　common　poultry；　on　the　contrary；　whose　offspring　is　reared　without　much　assistance　even　from　the　dam；　the　disposition　to　unite　in　pairs　is　scarcely　observable。　　　　　But　the　long　culture　which　is　necessary　in　rearing　the　human　species；　will　generally　afford　to　the　parents　a　second　pledge　of　their　commerce；　before　their　assistance　can　be　withdrawn　from　the　former。　Their　attention；　therefore；　is　extended　from　one　object　to　another；　as　long　as　the　mother　is　capable　of　child…bearing；　and　their　union　is　thus　continued　by　the　same　causes　which　first　gave　rise　to　it。　Even　after　this　period；　they　will　naturally　be　disposed　to　remain　in　a　society　to　which　they　have　been　so　long　accustomed：　more　especially；　as　by　living　at　the　head　of　a　numerous　family；　they　enjoy　a　degree　of　ease；　respect；　and　security；　of　which　they　would　otherwise　be　deprived；　and　have　reason；　in　their　old　age；　to　expect　the　assistance　and　protection　of　their　posterity；　under　all　those　diseases　and　infirmities　by　which　they　are　rendered　incapable　of　providing　for　themselves。（2*）　　　　　These　were　in　all　probability　the　first　inducements　to　marriage　among　the　rude　and　barbarous　inhabitants　of　the　earth。　As　it　appears　to　have　taken　its　origin　from　the　accidental　and　unforeseen　exertions　of　parental　affection；　we　may　suppose　that　it　would　be　commenced　without　any　previous　contract　between　the　parties；　concerning　the　term　or　duration　of　their　correspondence。　Thus；　among　the　Romans；　it　should　seem　that　the　most　ancient　marriage　was　formed　merely　by　use；　that　is；　by　the　parties；　living　constantly　together　for　the　space　of　a　year；　a　period　which；　in　the　ordinary　course　of　things；　was　sufficient　to　involve　them　in　the　care　of　a　family。（3*）　It　is　believed　that　the　early　Greeks　were　accustomed　to　marry　in　the　same　simple　manner。（4*）　The　Kalmuck　Tartars　have；　at　present；　a　similar　practice。　Among　them；　it　is　usual　for　a　young　pair　to　retire；　and　live　together　as　man　and　wife　for　one　year；　and　if；　during　this　time；　the　woman　has　produced　a　child；　their　marriage　is　understood　to　be　completed；　but　if　not；　they　either　separate　at　pleasure　or　agree　to　make　another　year's　trial。　Traces　of　this　primitive　custom　may　still　be　discovered　in　the　law　of　Scotland；　according　to　which；　a　marriage　dissolved　within　a　year　and　day；　and　without　a　child；　has　no　legal　consequences；　but　restores　the　property　of　either　party　to　the　same　situation　as　if　no　such　alliance　had　ever　existed。　　　　　Time　and　experience　gradually　improved　this　connexion；　and　discovered　the　many　advantages　of　which　it　is　productive。　The　consideration　of　those　advantages；　together　with　the　influence　of　fashion　and　example；　contributed　to　promote　its　universal　establishment。　The　anxiety　of　parties；　or　of　their　relations；　to　avoid　those　disputes　and　inconveniences　with　which　it　was　frequently　attended；　made　them　endeavour；　by　an　express　stipulation；　to　settle　the　conditions　of　their　union；　and　produced　a　solemn　and　formal　celebration　of　marriage。　The　utility　of　this　contract；　as　it　makes　a　regular　provision　for　multiplying　the　inhabitants　of　a　country；　gave　rise　to　a　variety　of　public　regulations　for　promoting　the　institution　in　general；　for　directing　its　particular　forms；　and　for　discouraging　the　vague　and　irregular　commerce　of　the　sexes。　　　　　The　marriages；　however；　of　rude　people；　ac