Brifeis, "Another thing I will tell thee: "record it in thy foul. For a woman "thefe hands fhall never fight, with thee nor with thy foes. Come, feize Briseis: ye Argives, take the prize ye gave. "But beware of other fpoil, which lies "flowed in my fhips on the shore. I "will not be plundered farther. If other "be thy thoughts, Atrides, come in arms, 65 a trial make: these very flaves of "thine fhall behold thy blood pouring "around my spear *." The comedies of * Pope disguises that fentiment as follows: "For know, thy blood, when next thou dar'ft invade, "Shall stream in vengeance on my reeking blade." Such contempt of the female fex as expreffed by Achilles was perhaps thought too grofs for a modern ear. But did not Pope difcover, that one capital beauty in Homer, is the delineation of ancient manners? At that rate, had it fallen to his fhare to describe Julius Caefar, he would have dreffed him like a modern beau. And why not? for in a genteel affembly, what a favage would he appear, without breeches, and without linen! Menander, Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus, are loft; but manners must have been little polished in their time, as far as can be conjectured from their tranflators or imitators, Plautus and Terence. Married women in their comedies are fometimes introduced and treated with very little refpect. A man commonly vents his wrath on his wife, and fcolds her as the caufe of the misconduct of their children. A lady, perhaps too inquifitive about her hufband's amours, is addreffed by him in the following words. "Ni mala, ni ftulta fis, ni indomita impofque animi, 66 Quod viro effe odio videas, tute tibi odia habeas. "Praeter hac fi mihi tale post hunc diem "Faxis, faxo foris vidua vifas patrem *." So little formerly were women regarded in England, that the benefit of clergy was not extended to them, till the days of William and Mary, when an act of parliament was made, beftowing that privilege on them, * "Would you be held a wife and virtuous fpoufe, "And of difcretion due, obferve this counfel: "Whatever I, your lord, blame or approve, "Within these walls;-your father has you back." VOL. II. G One One will not be surprised that women in Greece were treated with no great refpect by their husbands. A woman cannot have much attraction who paffes all her time in folitude: to be admired, the muft receive the polifh of fociety. At the fame time, men of fashion were fo much improved in manners, as to relish fociety with agreeable women, where fuch could be found. And hence the figure that courtezans made at that period, especially in Athens. They ftudied the temper and tafte of the men, and endeavoured to gain their affection, by every winning art. The daily conversations they liftened to, on philofophy, politics, poetry, enlightened their understanding, and improved their tafte. Their houfes became agreeable fchools, where every one might be inftructed in his own art. Socrates and Pericles met frequently at the houfe of Afpafia: from her they acquired delicacy of tafte, and, in return, procured to her public refpect and reputation. Greece at that time was governed by orators, over whom fome celebrated courtezans had great influence; and by that means entered deep into the government. It was faid of the famous Demofthenes, "The mea "fure "fure he hath meditated on for a year, "will be overturned in a day by a wo"man." It appears accordingly from Plautus and Terence, that Athenian courtezans lived in great fplendor. See in particular Heautontimoroumenos, A&t 3. Scene 2. I proceed to the other caufe of polygamy, viz. opulence in a hot climate. Men there have a burning appetite for animal enjoyment; and women become old, and lofe the prolific quality, at an age which carries them little beyond the prime of life in a temperate climate. These circumftances difpofe men of opulence to purchase their wives, that they may not be confined to one; and purchase they muft; for no man, without a valuable confideration, will furrender his daughter, to be one of many who are deftined to gratify the carnal appetite of a single man. The numerous wives and concubines in Afiatic harems, are all of them purchased with money. In the hot climate of Hindoftan polygamy is univerfal, and men buy their wives. The fame obtains in China: After the price is adjusted and paid, the bride is conducted to the bridegroom's houfe, locked in a fedan, and the key key delivered to him: If he be not fatiffied with his bargain, he fends her back, at the expence of lofing the fum he paid for her: If fatisfied, he feafts his male friends in one room, and fhe her female friends in another. A man who has little fubftance takes a wife for his fon from an hospital, which faves him a dowry. It has been pleaded for polygamy in warm climates, that women are fit for being married at or before the age of ten ; that they are past child-bearing at twentyfive, while men are yet in the prime of life; and therefore that a fecond wife ought to be permitted who can bear children. Are women then created for no oother purpose but procreation merely, to be laid afide as ufelefs animals when they ceafe to bear children? In the hottest climates, a woman may be the mother of ten or twelve children; and are not both parents usefully employed, in rearing such a number, and fitting them to do for themfelves? After this important tafk is performed, is not the woman well entitled, for the remainder of life, to enjoy the conjugal fociety of a man, to whom the dedicated the flower of her youth? But, even attend |