were made Eunuchs? They answer'd, To keep them from Marriage: For Women and Children most commonly make disturbance both in Church and State. But, said she, Women and Children have no employment in Church or State. 'Tis true, answer'd they; but although they are not admitted to publick employments, yet are they so prevalent with their Hus∣bands and Parents, that many times by their importu∣nate perswasions, they cause as much, nay, more mis∣chief secretly, then if they had the management of publick affairs.The Empress having received an information of what concerned both Church and State, passed some time in viewing the Imperial Palace, where she admi∣red much the skil and ingenuity of the Architects, and enquired of them, first, why they built their Houses no higher then two stories from the Ground? They answered her Majesty, That the lower their buildings were, the less were they subject either to the heat of the Sun, to Wind, Tempest, Decay, &c. Then she desired to know the reason, why they made them so thick? They answered, That the thicker the Walls were, the warmer were they in Winter, and cooler in Summer, for their thickness kept out both cold and heat. Lastly, she asked, why they arched their roofs, and made so many Pillars? They replied, That Ar∣ches and Pillars, did not onely grace a building very much, and caused it to appear Magnificent, but made it also firm and lasting.0
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