AN ESSAY IN DEFENCE OF THE FEMALE SEX. Judith Drake

few Friends whom I consulted about it, which is this; There are a sort of Men, that upon all occasions think themselves more concern’d; and more thought of than they are, and that, like Men that are deaf, or have any other notorious Defect, can see no body whisper, or laugh, but they think ’tis at themselves. These Men are apt to think, that every ridiculous description they meet with, was intended more particularly for some one or other of them; as indeed it is hard to paint any thing compleat in their several Kinds, without hitting many of their particular Features, even without drawing from them. The knowledge of this, with the consideration of the tenderness of Reputation in our Sex, (which as our delicatest Fruits and finest Flowers are most obnoxious to the injuries of Weather, is submitted to every infectious Blast of malicious Breath) made me very cautious, how I expos’d mine to such poisonous Vapours. I was not ignorant, how liberal some Men are of their Scandal, whenever provok’d, especially by a Woman; and how ready the same Men are to be so, tho’ upon never so mistaken Grounds. This made me resolve to keep ’em in Ignorance of my Name, and if they have a mind to find me out, let ’em catch me (if they can) as Children at Blind-mans Buff do one another, Hoodwinkt; and I am of Opinion I have room enough to put ’em out of Breath before they come near me.

      The Event has in Effect prov’d my suspicious Prophetick; for there are (as I am inform’d) already some, so forward to interest themselves against me, that they take Characters upon themselves, before they see ’em; and, for fear they should want some Body to throw their Dirt at, with equal Ignorance and Injustice, Father this Piece upon the Gentleman, who was so kind as to take care of the Publication of it, only to excuse me from appearing. This made me once resolve to oppose my Innocence to their Clamour, and perfix my Name, which I thought I was bound to do in Justice to him. In this Resolution I had persisted, had not the same Gentleman generously perswaded, and over-rul’d me to the contrary, representing how weak a defence Innocence is against Calumny, how open the Ears of the Wold are, and how greedily they suck in any thing to the prejudice of a Woman; and that (to use his own Expression) the scandal of such Men, was like Dirt thrown by Children, and Fools at random, and without Provocation, it would dawb filthily at first, though it were easily washt off again: Adding, that he desird me not to be under any concern for him; for he valued the Malice of such men, as little, as their Friendship, the one was as feeble as t’other false.

      I suppose I need make no Apology to my own Sex for the meaness of this defence; the bare intention of serving ’em will I hope be accepted, and of Men, the Candid and Ingenuous I am sure will not quarrel with me for any thing in this little Book; since there is nothing in it, which was not drawn from the strictest Reason I was Mistress of, and the best Observations I was able to make, except a start or two only concerning the Salique Law, and the Amazons, which, if they divert not the Reader, can’t offend him.

      I shall not trouble the Reader with any account of the Method I have observ’d, he will easily discover that in reading the Piece it self. I shall only take notice to him of one thing, which with a little attention to what he reads he will readily find to be true, that is, that the Characters were not written out of any Wanton Humour, or Malicious Design to characterize any Particular Persons, but to illustrate what I have said upon the several Heads, under which they are rang’d, and represent not single Men, that play the Fool seriously in the World. If any Individual seem to be more peculiarly markt, it is because he is perhaps more notorious to the World, by some one or more Articles of the General Character here given. I am sure that there is no Man, who is but moderately Acquainted with the World, especially this Town, but may find half a Dozen, or more Originals for every Picture. After all, if any Man have so little Wit, as to appropriate any of these Characters to himself, He takes a liberty I have hitherto never given him, but shall do it now in the Words of a Great Man, If any Fool finds the Cap fit him, let him put it on.

      There are some Men, (I hear) who will not allow this Piece to be written by a Woman; did I know what Estimate to make of their Judgments, I might perhaps have a higher Opinion of this Triffle, than I ever yet had. For I little thought while I was writing this, that any Man (especially an Ingenious Man) should have the scandal of being the reputed Author. For he must think it scandalous to be made to Father a Womans Productions unlawfully. But these Gentlemen, I suppose, believe there is more Wit, that they’l find in this Piece, upon the Credit of the Bookseller, whose Interest it is to flatter it. But were it as well written as I could wish it, or as the Subject wou’d bear, and deserves; I see no reason why our Sex shou’d be robb’d of the Honour of it; Since there have been Women in all Ages, whose Writings might vie with those of the greatest Men, as the Present Age as well as past can testifie. I shall not trouble the Reader with their names, because I wou’d not be thought so vain, as to rank my self among ’em; and their names are already too well known, and celebrated to receive any additional Lustre from so weak Encomiums as mine, I pretend not to imitate, much less to Rival those Illustrious Ladies, who have done so much Honour to their Sex, and are unanswerable Proofs of what I contend for. I only wish, that some Ladies now living among us (whose names I forbear to mention in regard to their Modesty) wou’d exert themselves, and give us more recent Instances, who are both by Nature and Education sufficiently qualified to do it, which I pretend not to. I freely own to the Reader, that I know no other Tongue besides my Native, except French, in which I am but very moderately skill’d. I plead not this to excuse the meaness of my Performance; because I know, I may reasonably be ask’d, why I was so forward to write; for that I have already given my reasons above, if they will not satisfie the Reader, he must endeavour to please himself with better, for I am very little solicitous about the matter. I shall only add, that for my Good Will I hope the Favour of my own Sex, which will satisfie my Ambition.

      To the Most Ingenious Mrs. — or her admirable Defence of Her Sex.

       Table of Contents

      LOng have we sung the Fam’d Orinda’s praise,

       And own’d Astrea‘s Title to the Bays,

       We to their Wit have paid the Tribute due,

       But shou‘d be Bankrupt before just to you.

       Sweet flowing Numbers, and fine Thoughts they writ.

       But you Eternal Truths, as well as Wit.

       In them the Force of Harmony we find,

       In you the Strengh, and Vigour of the Mind.

       Dark Clouds of Prejudice obscur’d their Verse,

       You with Victorious Prose those Clouds disperse;

       Those Foggs, which wou’d not to their Flame submit,

       Vanish before your Rising Sun of Wit.

      Our Sex have long thro’ Usurpation reign’d,

       And by their Tyranny their Rule maintain’d.

       Till wanton grown with Arbitrary Sway

       Depos’d by you They practice to obey,

       Proudly submitting, when such Graces meet,

       Beauty by Nature, and by Conquest Wit.

       For Wit they had on their own Sex entail’d,

       Till for your self, and Sex you thus prevail’d.

       Thrice happy Sex! Whose Foes such Pow’r disarms,

       And gives fresh Lustre to your native Charms,

       Whose Nervous Sense couch’d in close Method lies, Clear as her Soul, and piercing as her Eyes, If any yet so stupid shou’d appear, As still to doubt, what she has made so clear, Her Beautie’s Arguments they would allow, And to Her Eyes their full Conversion owe. And by Experiment the World Convince. The Force of Reason’s less, than that of Sense.

      Your Sex you with such Charming Grace defend,

       While that you vindicate, you Ours amend:

       We in your Glass may see each foul defect,

       And may not only see, but may correct.

      In vain old Greece her Sages would compare,