第30章

-Wemaybeblindtomen，sir：weembraceAfuturenowbeyondthefowler’snets。

Thoughfew，weholdapromisefortheraceThatwasnotatourrising：youarefreeTowinbravemates；youlosebutmarionnettes。

Hewho’sforus，forhimarewe-

Ah!madam，weretheypuppetswhowithstoodYouth’scrangsforadventuretopreserveThededicatedwaysofwomanhood？

Thelightwhichleadsusfromthepathsofrue，Thatlightaboveus，neverseentoswerve，Shouldbethehome-lamptrimmedbyyou-

Ah!sir，ourworshippedpostureweperchanceShallnotabandon，thoughweseenothow，Beingtothatlamp-postfed，wemayadvanceBesideourlordsinanyrealdegree，Unlesswemove：andtoadvanceisnowAsovereignneed，thinkmorethanwe-

Sopushyououtofharbourinsmallcraft，Withlittleseamanship；andcomesagale，Theworldwilllaugh，theworldhasoftenlaughed，Lady，toseehowboldwhenskiesareblue，Whenblackwindschurnthedeepshowpanic-pale，Howswifttotheoldnestflyyou!-

Whatthinksyourfriend，kindsir？WehaveescapedButpartlythatoldhalf-tamedwildbeast’spawWhereunderwoman，theweakthing，wasshaped：

Men，too，haveknownthecrampingenemyIngrimbruteforce，whomforceofbrainshallawe：

Himourdelerer，awaitwe!-

Delusionsarewitheloquenceendowed，AndyoursmightpluckanangelfromthespheresToplayinthisrevoltwheretoyouarevowed，Delerer，lady!butlikesummerdewO’erfieldsthatcrackforrainyourfriendsdroptears，Whoseetheawakeningforyou-

Isheourfriend，theresilent？heweepsnot。

Osir，delusionmountinglikeasunOnamindblankasthewhitewifeofLot，Gingitwarmthandmovement!ifthisbeDelusion，thinkofwhattherebywaswonFormen，anddreamofwhatwinwe-

Lady，thedestinyofminorpowers，Whowouldrecastus，isbuttoconvulse：

Youenteronastrifethatfretsandsours；

Youcanbutwinsickdisappointment’shue；

Andsimplyanacceleratedpulse，Sometonicyouhavedrunkmovesyou-

Thinksyourfriendso？Goodsir，yourwitisbright；

Butwitthatstrestospeakthepopularvoice，Putsonitsnightcapandputsoutitslight。

Curfew，wouldseemyourconqueror’sdecreeTowomenlikewise：andwehavenochoiceSavedarknessorrebellion，we!-

AplainsafeintermediatewayiscleftByreasonfoilingpassion：youthatraveOfmadalternatestorightandleftEchothetempter，madam：and’tisdueUntoyoursextoshunitasthegrave，Thislaterappleofferedyou-

Thisappleisnotripe，itisnotsweet；

Norrosy，sir，norgolden：eyeandmouthArelittlewooedbyit；yetwewouldeat。

WearesomewhattiredofEden，isourplea。

Wehavethirstedlong；thisapplesuitsourdrouth：

’Tisgoodformentohalve，thinkwe-

Butsay，whatseekyou，madam？’TisenoughThatyoushouldhavedominiono’erthespringsDomesticandman’sheart：thoseways，howrough，Howle，outsidethestatelyavenueWhereyouwalkshelteredbyyourangel’swings，Arehappilyunknowntoyou-

Wehearwomen’sshrieksonthem。Welikeyourphrase，Dominiondomestic!Andthatroar，’Whatseekyou？’isoftyrantsinalldays。

Sir，getyousomethingofourpurityAndwewillofyourstrength：weasknomore。

Thatisthesumofwhatseekwe-

Oforanimage，madam，inoneword，Toshowyouasthelightningnightreveals，Yourerrorandyourperils：youhaveerredInmindonly，andtheperilsthatensueSwiftheelsmaysoften；whereforetoswiftheelsAddressyourhopesofsafetyyou!-

Toerrinmind，sir……yourfriendsmiles：hemay!

Toerrinmind，iferrinmindwecan，Isgrievouserroryoudowelltostay。

ButOhowdifferentfromrealityMen’sfictionis!howlikeyouint