I do not know
all the places which it is legitimate for women to fill in the world,
but it seems to me that they are many and various, and that the great
object in life for a woman is to help. To be a Pericles I see that a
man must have an Aspasia. Was Aspasia vile? some said so--yet she did a
nobler work, and was finer in her fall, if she fell, than many good
women in all the glory of uprightness are. And was she impure? then it
is strange that her mind was not corrupting in its influence. And was
she low? then whence came her power to raise others? It seems to me
that it only rests with ourselves to make any position in life, which
circumstances render it expedient for us to occupy, desirable."
"And you propose to be an Aspasia to this modern Pericles?"
"If you like to put it so. The cases are not dissimilar, as there was
an obstacle in the way of their marriage also."
"The law was the obstacle."
"Yes; another of those laws which are more honoured in the breach than
in the observance. They might not marry because she came from Miletus!
and Lorrimer may not marry me because I came out of the house of
bondage.
Pages:
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249