Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

The Lady's Tale [from The Works]

London

Printed by H. Woodfall

1725

A child may be governed Reason and her Father, unless she (like the rest of the "ungovernable Sex") think her own will her best adviser

I once thought, Abaliza, said my Father, you wou'd have been ruled by Reason and me; but I find you grow too like the rest of your ungovernable Sex, and think your own Will your best Adviser. To be govern'd by you and Reason, Sir, said I, is the same thing with two Names, since you never act without the assistance of t'other: But, Sir, I beg you will remember, Reason has very little to do with our Passions, of which I take Love and Hate to be the strongest. And so, said my Father, since we are one, and Reason has nothing to do with your Passions, by your own Civil Argument I have nothing to do with 'em neither. No, Sir, said I, not as far as Reason only is concern'd, but Nature has given you a superior Power over your own Child; and if that Power be not back'd by Love and an indulgent Pity, every wretched Child that falls into contrary Hands, must expect nothing but Misery, unless they happen to have the same taste with an inexorable Father.

Government::Rule and Subjection::Rule of Reason

Searching "rule" and "reason" in HDIS (Prose Fiction)

At least 2 entries in ESTC (1725).

Text from The Works of Mrs. Davys: Consisting of, Plays, Novels, Poems, and Familiar Letters. Several of which never before Publish'd, 2 vols. (London: H. Woodfall, 1725). <Link to ECCO>

06/09/2004