ANIMALS. 205 



,ast by his own soldiers, 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 aie now considered 

 as of small advantage, either in war or in peace. The invention of 

 gunpowder 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 invention of new machines every 

 lay, and the application 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 depended upon the quantity 

 of muscular flesh alone, 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 ac- 

 tivity or force ; and it is not he who has the thickest legs that can 

 make the best use of them. Those, therefore, who have written ela- 

 borate 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 seemingly 

 more muscular, as in the former all the parts have better room for their 

 exertions." 



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 preten- 

 sions to a share in all the advantages life can bestow. Savage nations 

 oblige their women to a life of continual labour ; upon them rest all 

 the drudgeries of domestic duty, whi.e the husband, indolently re- 

 dined in his hammock, is first served from the fruits of her industry. 

 Vrom this negligent 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 plea- 

 sure in exercise ; he is surprised to see a European walk forward for 

 bis amusement, and then return back again. As for his part, he could 

 t,o contented to remain for ever in the same situation, perfectly satis- 

 lied wit . sensual pleasures and undisturbed repose. The women of 

 these coanttios are the greatest slaves upon earth ; sensible of their 

 weakness, and unable to resist, they are obliged to suffer those hard- 

 ships 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 politeness, 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 po- 

 lite, to engage their affections. In civilized countries, therefore, *ro- 



