EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 431 
tion. But all his fervices were fublimely difinterefted, and 
were to remain without hope of remuneration, till giants fhould 
be immolated to her perfedions, and widows and orphans chaunt 
forth in her prefence the praifes of their generous deliverer. 
Thefe chafte amours, in which all was elevated, and all ex- 
quifitely unnatural, according to modern ideas, were yet the 
foundation of the rank women hold in modern Europe. This 
fyftem, forced and contrary to nature, could not long have 
place, and perhaps the fex itfelf grew fatiated with the frigid 
adulation of diftant votaries, however flattering to its vanity. 
A more licentious gallantry then took place, and the charm 
was quickly dilTolved. The intercourfe between the fexes being 
at length reduced to the fimple gratification of the fenfual de- 
fire, fociety was almoft in the fame ftate in the Weft, as in the 
Eaft, at the period when the feclufion of females firft took 
place. 
But the Europeans adopted a different plan. They either 
defpifed the fecurity of bolts and bars as ineffedual, or too 
much of their former refped: yet remained to allow the attempt. 
The fex at length wearied, but not fatiated with fimple fenfu- 
ality, was governed in the choice of its indulgences by caprice ; 
and the men were ftudioufly employed to attrad the jeillades of 
their miftreffes, and to chain this fickle fentiment, by varied 
foppery and grimace. Hence the romantic tales of our novels, 
hence the inconfequential condud: of their heroes, and hence 
the agitations of our focieties, at which the Orientals would 
fmile. 
It 
