"By reason's standard, then, you judge amiss / Of those whose legislator is caprice."
— Griffith, Elizabeth (1720-1793)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Johnston
Date
1765
Metaphor
"By reason's standard, then, you judge amiss / Of those whose legislator is caprice."
Metaphor in Context
PLACID.
My lords and gentlemen, attend a while,
Nor let too specious words your sense beguile.
My brother's somewhat warm; but, entre nous,
Might not Platonic Wives suit some of you?
Men fond of hunting, drinking, or debate,
Would they repine at a Platonic mate?
Their hearts are aliened from domestic life,
And hounds, or wine, or party, are a wife.
Besides, he argues from the common laws,
But I in equity defend the cause;
Plead, women are not bound by Nature's rules,
Nor are their morals borrow'd from the schools:
How many sacrifice their youthful charms
To an old, wealthy husband's feeble arms!
Or yield to titles what they owe to merit,
Wretched themselves, that children may inherit!
These sure are Platonists, who thus forego
Nature's true joys for wealth, or rank, or shew!
Our heroine, tho' she differs wide from these,
Has but refin'd upon the same disease.
Our auth'ress too, perhaps, to aid her cause,
May boast herself the great sublime she draws.
By reason's standard, then, you judge amiss
Of those whose legislator is caprice:
I therefore crave exception for this night,
And plead the privilege of Female-right.
My lords and gentlemen, attend a while,
Nor let too specious words your sense beguile.
My brother's somewhat warm; but, entre nous,
Might not Platonic Wives suit some of you?
Men fond of hunting, drinking, or debate,
Would they repine at a Platonic mate?
Their hearts are aliened from domestic life,
And hounds, or wine, or party, are a wife.
Besides, he argues from the common laws,
But I in equity defend the cause;
Plead, women are not bound by Nature's rules,
Nor are their morals borrow'd from the schools:
How many sacrifice their youthful charms
To an old, wealthy husband's feeble arms!
Or yield to titles what they owe to merit,
Wretched themselves, that children may inherit!
These sure are Platonists, who thus forego
Nature's true joys for wealth, or rank, or shew!
Our heroine, tho' she differs wide from these,
Has but refin'd upon the same disease.
Our auth'ress too, perhaps, to aid her cause,
May boast herself the great sublime she draws.
By reason's standard, then, you judge amiss
Of those whose legislator is caprice:
I therefore crave exception for this night,
And plead the privilege of Female-right.
Categories
Provenance
Searching HDIS; Found again (11/16/2004)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1765).
The Platonic Wife, a Comedy. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By a Lady. (London: Printed for W. Johnston; J. Dodsley; and T. Davies, 1765). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
The Platonic Wife, a Comedy. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By a Lady. (London: Printed for W. Johnston; J. Dodsley; and T. Davies, 1765). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
10/14/2004
