ANIMALS. 337 



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 a European walk 

 forward for his amusement, 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 undis- 

 turbed 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 na- 

 turally 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 polite, to engage their affections. In 

 civilized countries, 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 extor* 

 by their strength. 



CHAP. VI. 



OF SLF.El" ANO HUNGER. 



As man, in all the privileges he enjoys, and the powers he is 

 invested with, has a superiority over all other animals, so in his 

 necessities, he seems inferior to the meanest of them iJl. Na- 

 ture has brought him into life with a greater variety of wants and 

 infirmities than the rest of her creatures, unarmed in the midst 

 of enemies. The lion has natural arms ; the bear natural 

 clothing ; but man is destitute of all such advantages ; and from 

 the superiority of his mind alone, he is to supply the deficiency. 

 The number of his wants, however, were merely given, in order 

 Co multiply the number of his enjoyments ; since the possibility 



2 F 



