'm HISTORY OF 



CHAP. V. 



OF THE AGE OF MANHOOD.* 



The human body attains to its full height during the age of 

 puberty ; or, at least, a short time after. Some young people 

 are found to cease growing at fourteen or fifteen ; others con- 

 tinue their growth till two or three and twenty. During this 

 period they are all of a slender make ; their thighs and legs small, 

 and the muscular parts are yet unfilled. But by degrees the 

 fleshy fibres augment ; the muscles swell, and assume their 

 figure ; the limbs become proportioned, and rounder ; and be- 

 fore the age of thirty, the body in men has acquired the most 

 perfect symmetry. In women, the body arrives at perfection 

 much sooner, as they arrive at the age of maturity more early ; 

 the muscles, and all the other parts, being weaker, less compact 

 and solid, than those of man, they require less time in coming 

 to perfection : and as they are less in size, that size is sooner 

 completed. Hence the persons of women are found to be as 

 complete at twenty, as those of men are found to be at thirty. 



The body of a well shaped man ought to be square ; the muscles 

 should be expressed with boldness, and the lines of the face 

 strongly marked. In the woman, all the muscles should be rounder, 

 the lines softer, and the features more delicate. Strength and 

 majesty belong to the man ; grace and softness are the peculiar 

 embellishments of the other sex. In both every part of their 

 form declares their sovereignty over other creatures. Man sup- 

 ports his body erect ; his attitude is that of command ; and his 

 face, which is turned towards the heavens, displays the dignity 

 of his station. The image of his soul is painted in his visage ; 

 and the excellence of his nature penetrates through the material 

 form in which it is inclosed. His majestic port, his sedate 

 and resolute step, announce tlie nobleness of his rank. He 

 touches the earth only with his extremity ; and beholds it as if 



* This chapter is translatpd frnm Mr Buffon, whose description is very 

 excellent. VVliatevor I Iiare added is marked by inverted commas, "thus." 

 And in whatever trifling points 1 liave differed, the notes will seryeto show. 



