In a word, it is necessary there should be a real daily employment; the body should have its task as well as the mind. Knotting is not a greater labour than flirting a fan: it is necessary to have some employment that requires attention; such as the needle, drawing, &c.

Women have learned all these things in their earliest youth: it was not, doubtless, that they should forget them in more advanced life. In whatever station they may be, well-ordered employment does them honour. It is the way not to abandon themselves to that languor, or to the first passion which chance may excite.

When we read in antient writers what they inform us was the custom of living among the women of their time, they were very far from considering the works of the women as trifling.

Homer speaks to us of princesses who took upon them the economy of their households and the care of their servants, and

also made the clothes of their husbands and family.

He describes Andromache to us as employing herself in works of embroidery: Helen made rich carpets, which she also embroidered. The celebrated Penelope and her web are well known.

Terence, Virgil, and all the authors, as well sacred as profane, agree as to the active and laborious lives of women; and even at Rome, in its most corrupted times, Augustus, from the account of Suetonius, wore no other clothes than those made by his wife or his sister.

It was even a custom in the last century for women to employ themselves in useful works. The half of our antient nobility were not contented with employing only some part of the day in ingenuity: there may be seen in France many mansions in which the whole furniture has been worked by the lady of the house.

There are always sufficient examples to quote for the encouraging women to activity.

The Germans, that wise nation, who have least degenerated from the antient manners, have preserved in their women that love for work that they themselves possess. In all the German courts, the princesses work assiduously among their ladies, and do not blush at being employed about domestic concerns.... but they would blush to be found idlers. As they do not think women have the shameful privilege of doing nothing, they think that the love of employment is a virtue which sets off the others, and which does honour to their sex, even upon a throne.

CHAP. IV.

OF PLEASURES.

We hear of women incessantly talking of pleasures; and they speak of them with an enthusiasm that seduces themselves. Notwithstanding, these pleasures, so hunted after, and of which they figure to themselves so sweet a picture, are frequently the most contrary to what they had imagined: they return very serious from an assembly where they reckoned on much amusement; and pleasure is dismissed till another fête, where they perhaps, will not find more.

Not to fatigue themselves in vain in the pursuit of pleasure, if it would be proper for women to form to themselves a just idea of it, let them keep upon their guard against the false images that too lively an imagination may picture......it is that which leads.

them incessantly from the true, and promises them transports and delight that are not in nature.

These are pleasing dreams which vanish at the moment of waking, and leave nothing but the regret of having been deceived.

What the women seek for at a distance, is much nearer them than they think. Pleasures are always at hand; but it is necessary to be happily disposed to catch them. They are the children of Need: if her voice does not call them, it is needless to pursue.

When a walk succeeds a sedentary employment, it is a sensible pleasure. Rest becomes one, in its turn, if it has been preceded by a little fatigue. Every thing that we do may be turned into a kind of pleasure, if done properly.

It is from this well-understood succession that life draws its charms: it has none for those who know not how to intermix employment and relaxation.

This is exactly the defect of the greater part of our belles. Their taste is decidedly