152 



A HISTORY OF 



for him and his subjects if, from being formi- 

 dable to his enemies, he had not brconic still 

 more so to his subjects ; he reigned, for some 

 time, with all the world his enemy ; all man- 

 kind wishing him dead, yet none daring to 

 strike the blow. As if fortune had resolved 

 that through life he should continue uncon- 

 querable, he was killed at last by his own sol- 

 diers while he was sleeping. We have many 

 other instances, in later ages, of very great 

 strength, and not fewer of amazing swiftness : 

 but these, .merely corporeal perfections, are 

 now considered as of small advantage, either 

 in war or in peace. The invention of gun- 

 powder has, in some measure, levelled all 

 force to one standard ; and has wrought a 

 total change in martial education through all 

 parts of the world. In peace also the inven- 

 tion of new machines every day, and the ap- 

 plication of the strength of the lower animals 

 to the purposes of life, have rendered human 

 strength less valuable. The boast of corporeal 

 force is, therefore, consigned to savage nations, 

 where those arts not being introduced, it may 

 still be needful ; but, in more polite countries, 

 few will be proud of that strength which other 

 animals can be taught to exert to as useful 

 purposes as they. 



" If we compare the largeness and thickness 

 of our muscles with those of any other animal, 

 we shall find that, in this respect, we have the 

 advantage ; and if strength, or swiftness, de- 

 pended upon the quantity of muscular flesh 

 nlonc, I believe that, in this respect, we should 

 be more active and powerful than any other. 

 But this is not the case ; a great deal more 

 than the size of the muscles goes to constitute 

 activity or force ; and it is not he who has the 

 thiekestlegs that can make the best use of them. 

 Those, therefore, who have written elaborate 

 treatises on muscular force, and have estimated 

 the strength of animals by the thickness of 

 their muscles, have been employed to very 

 little purpose. It is in general observed, that 

 thin and raw-boned men are always stronger 



and more powerful, than such as are seem- 

 ingly more muscular ; as in the former all 

 the parts have better room for their ex- 

 ertions." 



Women want much of the strength of men ; 

 and, in some countries, the stronger sex have 

 availed themselves of this superiority, in cruelly 

 and tyrannically enslaving those who were 

 made with equal pretensions to a share in all 

 the advantages life can bestow. Savage na- 

 tions oblige their women to a life of continual 

 labour ; upon them rest all the drudgeries of 

 domestic duty ; while the husband, indolently 

 reclined in his hammock, is first served from 

 the fruits of her industry. From this negli- 

 gent situation he is seldom roused, except by 

 the calls of appetite, when it is necessary, either 

 by fishing or hunting, to make a variety in his 

 entertainments. A savage has no idea of 

 taking pleasure in exercise ; he is surprised to 

 see an European walk forward for his amuse- 

 ment, and then return back again. As for his 

 part, he could be contented to remain for ever 

 in the same situation, perfectly satisfied with 

 sensual pleasures and undisturbed repose. The 

 women of these countries are the greatest 

 slaves upon earth : sensible of their weakness ; 

 and unable to resist, they are obliged to suffer 

 those hardships which are naturally inflicted 

 by such as have been taught that nothing but 

 corporeal force ought to give pre-eminence. 

 It is not, therefore, till after some degree of 

 refinement, that women are treated with 

 lenity ; and not till the highest degree of po- 

 liteness, that they are permitted to share in all 

 the privileges of man. The first impulse of 

 savage nature is to confirm their slavery ; the 

 next of half barbarous nations, is to appropriate 

 their beauty ; and that of the perfectly polite, 

 to engage their affections. In civilized coun- 

 tries, therefore, women have united the force 

 of modesty to the power of their natural 

 charms; and thus obtain that superiority over 

 the mind, which they are unable to extort by 

 their strength. 



