In short this _Bondage_ and
these _Cares_ are like the Bondage of having a beautiful and fertile
Garden, which a Man takes great Delight in; and the Cares are the
Pleasure he finds in cultivating it, and raising as many beautiful
and useful Plants from it as he can. And if common Planting and
Gardening be an Honourable Employment, (as 'tis generally allow'd,
since the greatest Heroes have practic'd it without any Diminution to
their Glory) I think _Human Planting_ must be more Honourable, as the
Plants to be raised are more excellent in their Nature, and to bring
them to Perfection requires the greater Skill and Wisdom.
As to the Adviser's next Insinuation, that _only Fools wed, and
every Woman is a Tyrant_; 'tis a very severe and undutiful Reflection
upon his own Father and Mother; and since he is most likely to know
best the Affairs of his own Family, I shall not contradict him in
that particular, so far as relates to his own Relations: for perhaps
his Aversion to a Wife arises from observing how his Mamma treated
his Daddy; for she might be a _Xantippe_ tho' he was no _Socrates_;
it being probable that a wise Man would have instill'd sounder
Principles into his Son. But in general I utterly dissent from him,
and declare, that I scarce ever knew a Man who knew how to command in
a proper Manner, but his Wife knew as well how to show a becoming
Obedience. And there are in the World infinitely more He-Tyrants
than She-Ones.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231