An enquiry into the duties of the female sex / By Thomas Gisborne.

  • Gisborne, Thomas, 1758-1846.
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the duties of the female sex / By Thomas Gisborne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    become inwardly impatient when it flags; and more im- patient when it meets with interruption. And if a man of grave aspect and more wakeful reflection presumes to step within the circle, they assail the unwelcome intruder with a volley of brilliant raillery and sparkling repartee, which bears down knowledge and learning before it; and convulse the delighted auditors with peals of laughter, while he la- bours in his heavy accoutrements after his light armed anta- gonist, and receives at every turn a shower of arrows, which he can neither parry nor withstand. From the remarks which have been made on the frivo- lousness of language and sentiment which often appears agreeable to women ; and even to women who are qualified both to communicate and to enjoy the highest pleasures of conversation which can flow from cultivated minds; let it not be inferred, that the mixed discourse either of female society, or of young persons of the two sexes, is to resemble the discussions of a board of philosophers ; and that ease and gaiety, and laughter and wit, are to be proscribed as inveterate enemies of sobriety and good sense* Let ease exempt from affectation, gaiety prompted by sportive good humour, laughter the effusion of ingenuous delight, and wit unstained with any tincture of malevolence, enliven the hours of social converse. But let it not be thought that their enlivening influence is unreasonably curtailed, if good sense be empowered at all times to superintend their pro- ceedings ; and if sobriety be authorised sometimes to inter- pose topics, which may excercise and improve the faculties of the understanding. The true sources of useful and pleasing conversation, whether in men or in women, (and let it be remembered that no conversation can be truly pleasing that is not ac- companied by simplicity of manner), are virtuous disposi- tions, right judgement, and polished taste. I mention them m the order in which they appear to be requisite. Persons