Essays: Moral, Political, and Literary

ESSAY V

Essay_551-600.indd 557 12/27/11 9:23 PM ESSAY v OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE' I KNOW not whence it proceeds, that women are so apt to take amiss every thing which is said in disparagement of the married state; and always consider a satyroupon matrimony as a satyr upon themselves. Do they mean, that they are the parties principally concerned, and that if a backwardnesso to enter into that state should prevail in the world, they would be the greatest sufferers? Or, are they sensible, that the misfortunes and miscarriages of the married state are owing more to their sex than to ours? I hope they do not intend to confess '[This essay appeared in the first edition of Essays, Moral and Political, 1741 , and in subsequent editions up to and including Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects, 1760, after which it was withdrawn.] Essay_551-600.indd 558 12/27/11 9:23 PM 558 ESSAYS WITHDRAWN either of these two particulars, or to give such an advantage to their adversaries, the men, as even to allow them to suspect it. I have often had thoughts of complying with this humour of the fair sex, and of writing a panegyric upon marriage: But, in looking around for materials, they seemed to be of so mixed a nature, that at the conclusion of my reflections, I found that I was as much disposed to write a satyr, which might be placed on the opposite pages of the panegyric: And I am afraid, that as satyr is, on most occasions, thought to contain more truth than panegyric, I should have done their cause more harm than good bythis expedient. To misrepresent facts is what, I know, they will not require of me. I must be more a friend to truth, than even to them, where their interests are opposite. I shall tell the women what it is our sex complains of most in the married state; and if they be disposed to satisfy us in this particular, all the other differences will easily be accommodated . If I be not mistaken, 'tis their love of dominion, which is the ground of the quarrel; tho' 'tis very likely, that they will think it an unreasonable love of it in us, which makes us insist so much upon that point. However this may be, no passion seems to have more influence on female minds, than this for power; and there is a remarkable instance in history of its prevailing above another passion, which is the only one that can be supposed a proper counterpoise for it. We are told that all the women in SCYTHIA once conspired against the men, and kept the secret so well, that they executed their design before they were suspected. 2 They surprised the men in drink, or asleep; bound them all fast in chains; and having called a solemn council of the whole sex, it was debated what expedient should be used to improve the present advantage, and prevent their falling again into slavery. To kill all the men did not seem to the relish of any part of the assembly, 2[Hume's tale about the Scythian women could not be located by the editor in any source, ancient or modern. For an account of the legends associated with the Scythians, and their literary influence, see James William Johnson , "The Scythian: His Rise and Fall," Journal ofthe History of Ideas, 20 (January 1959), pp. 250-57.] Essay_551-600.indd 559 12/27/11 9:23 PM 559 OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE notwithstanding the injuries formerly received; and they were afterwards pleased to make a great merit of this lenity of theirs. It was, therefore, agreed to put out the eyes of the whole male sex, and thereby resign in all future time the vanity which they could draw from their beauty, in order to secure their authority. We must no longer pretend to dress and show, say they; but then we shall be free from slavery. We shall hear no more tender sighs; but in return we shall hear no more imperious commands. Love must for ever leave us; but he will carry subjection along with him. 'Tis regarded by some as an unlucky circumstance, since the women were resolved to maim the men, and deprive them of some of their senses, in order to render them humble and dependent, that the sense of...