TheRightsOfWoman

therightsofwoman

anoccasionaladdress.

spokenbymissfontenelleonherbenefitnight,november26,1792.

whileeurope'seyeisfix'donmightythings,

thefateofempiresandthefallofkings;

whilequacksofstatemusteachproducehisplan,

andevenchildrenlisptherightsofman;

amidthismightyfussjustletmemention,

therightsofwomanmeritsomeattention.

first,inthesexes'intermix'dconnection,

onesacredrightofwomanis,protection.—

thetenderflowerthatliftsitshead,elate,

helpless,mustfallbeforetheblastsoffate,

sunkontheearth,defac'ditslovelyform,

unlessyourshelterwardth'impendingstorm.

oursecondright—butneedlesshereiscaution,

tokeepthatrightinviolate'sthefashion;

eachmanofsensehasitsofullbeforehim,

he'ddiebeforehe'dwrongit—'tisdecorum.—

therewas,indeed,infarlesspolish'ddays,

atime,whenroughrudemanhadnaughtyways,

woulder,swear,getdrunk,kickupariot,

nayeventhusinvadealady'squiet.

now,thankourstars!thosegothictimesarefled;

now,well-bredmen—andyouareallwell-bred—

mostjustlythink(andwearemuchthegainers)

suchconductneitherspirit,wit,normanners.

forrightthethird,ourlast,ourbest,ourdearest,

thatrighttoflutteringfemaleheartsthenearest;

whicheventherightsofkings,inlowprostration,

mosthumblyown—'tisdear,dearadmiration!

inthatblestspherealoneweliveandmove;

theretastethatlifeoflife—immortallove.

smiles,glances,sighs,tears,fits,flirtations,airs;

'gainstsuchanhostwhatflintysavagedares,

whenawfulbeautyjoinswithallhercharms—

whoissorashasriseinrebelarms?

buttrucewithkings,andtrucewithconstitutions,

withbloodyarmamentsandrevolutions;

letmajestyyourfirstattentionsummon,

ah!caira!themajestyofwoman!