Page 332
Scene 10.
I would have all women bred to manage Civil Affairs, and men to manage the Military, both by Sea and Land; also women to follow all Manufactures at home, and the men all Affairs that are abroad; likewise all Arts of Labour, the men to be imploy'd in, and for all Arts of Curiosity, the women.
Nay certainly, if women were imploy'd in the Affairs of State, the World would live more happily.
So they were imploy'd in those things or business that were pro∣per for their strength and capacity.
Let me tell you, Ladies, women have no more capacity than what is as thin as a Cobweb-la••n, which every eye may see through, even those that are weak and half blind.
Why we are not Fools, we are capable of Knowledge, we on∣ly want Experience and Education, to make us as wise as men.
But women are uncapable of publick Imployments.
Some, we will grant are, so are some men: for some are nei∣ther made by Heaven, Nature, nor Education, sit to be States-men.
And Education is the chief: for Lawyers and Divines can ne∣ver be good States-men, they are too learned to be wise; they may be good Orators, but never subtil Counsellors; they are better Disputers than Conui∣vers; they are fitter for Faction than Reformation; the one make quarrels, or upholds quarrels, the other raises doubts: But good States-men are bred in Courts, Camps, and Cities, and not in Schools and Closets, at Bars and in Pulpits; and women are bred in Courts and Cities, they only want the Camp to give them the perfect State-breeding.
Certainly, if we had that breeding, and did govern, we should govern the world better than it is.
Yes, for it cannot be govern'd worse than it is: for the whole World is together by the Ears, all up in Wars and Blood, which shews there is a general defect in the Rulers and Governors thereof.
Indeed the State-Counsellers in this Age have more Formality than Policy, and Princes more plausible words, than rewardable deeds; in∣somuch as they are like Fidlers, that play Artificially and Skilfully, yet it is but a sound which they make and give, and not real presences.
You say true; and as there is no Prince that hath had the like good fortune as Alexander and Caesar, so none have had the like Generosities as they had, which shews, as if Fortune (when she dealt in good earnest, and not in mockery) measur'd her gifts by the largeness of the Heart, and the li∣berality of the hand of those she gave to: And as for the death of those two Worthies, she had no hand in them, nor was she any way guilty there∣of: for the Gods distribute life and death without the help of Fortune.
'Tis strange, Ladies, to hear how you talk without knowledge, neither is it fit for such young Ladies as you are to talk of State-matters; leave this discourse to the Autumnal of your Sex, or old Court-Ladies, who take upon them to know every thing, although they understand nothing. But