Yet the contrary, I believe, will
appear to be the fact; for, on diligent inquiry, I find that
strength of mind has, in most cases, been accompanied by superior
strength of body,- natural soundness of constitution,- not that robust
tone of nerves and vigour of muscles, which arise from bodily
labour, when the mind is quiescent, or only directs the hands.
Dr. Priestley has remarked, in the preface to his biographical
chart, that the majority of great men have lived beyond forty-five.
And, considering the thoughtless manner in which they have lavished
their strength, when investigating a favourite science they have
wasted the lamp of life, forgetful of the midnight hour; or, when,
lost in poetic dreams, fancy has peopled the scene, and the soul has
been disturbed, till it shook the constitution, by the passions that
meditation had raised; whose objects, the baseless fabric of a vision,
faded before the exhausted eye, they must have had iron frames.
Shakspeare never grasped the airy dagger with a nerveless hand, nor
did Milton tremble when he led Satan far from the confines of his
dreary prison.- These were not the ravings of imbecility, the sickly
effusions of distempered brains; but the exuberance of fancy, that 'in
a fine phrenzy' wandering, was not continually reminded of its
material shackles.
I am aware that this argument would carry me further than it may
be supposed I wish to go; but I follow truth, and, still adhering to
my first position, I will allow that bodily strength seems to give man
a natural superiority over woman; and this is the only solid basis
on which the superiority of the sex can be built.
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