88 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



What is fingularly flrange, at that very time, 

 and even before, they enjoyed the moft unbounded 

 power. Hear what the good Plutarch fays on the 

 fubjed, as he is communicated to us, through the 

 medium of the good Amyot. *' Before the Gauls 

 ** had pafled the Alps, and got pofleffion of that 

 *' part of Italy which they now inhabit, a violent 

 *' and alarming fedition arofe among them, which 

 " iffued in a civil war. But their wives, juft as 

 " the two armies were on the point of engaging, 

 " threw themfelves into the intervening fpace ; 

 " and taking up the caufe of their diffenfion, dif- 

 " cuffed it with fo much wifdom, and decided 

 " upon it with fuch moderation and equity, that 

 ** they gave complete fatisfadion to both parties. 

 " The refult was an unanimous return to mutual 

 " benevolence, and cordial friendfhip, which re- 

 " united not only city to city, but family to fa- 

 " mily : and this with fo much effeél, that ever 

 " fince, they invariably confult their wives, on all 

 *' deliberations, whether refpeding war or peace; 

 " and they fettle all difputes and differences with 

 *' neighbours and allies, conformably to the advice 

 *' of the women. Accordingly, in the agreement 

 *' which they made with Hannibal^ when he march- 

 *' ed through Gaul, among other flipulations, this 

 " was one, that if the Gauls fhould have occaiion 

 *' to complain of any injury done them by the 

 " Carthaginians, the caufe was to be fubmitted to 



"the 



