Of wisdom three books / written originally in French by the Sieur de Charron ; with an account of the author, made English by George Stanhope ...

CHAP. VI. Of Apparel for the Body.

MAny probable Reasons may be given that may induce us to believe the way of going Naked, which is still continued in a considerable part of the World, to have been the Original, and once Universal Mode of all Mankind, how odd and singular soever it may seem to Us at this Day. The other of Cloathing seems the Effect of Art and Invention, contrived to abolish Nature upon pretence of mending it; as fantastical People shut out the Sun, and enlighten their Rooms at Mid∣day with Tapers and Candles. And surely this is not so much the dictate of Necessity, as some would make us believe. For it is by no means to be imagin'd, that Nature, which hath been so Liberal in all her Provisions for every other Creature, and particularly in Point of warm and convenient Co∣vering, hath dealt so much worse by Man, than all the rest, as to leave him the only indigent Child she hath, and in such Need of Help from other Hands, that he must starve and perish pre∣sently, if he be not succoured, and supplied with it. This is one of the Reproaches, which fanci∣ful and melancholy People cast upon Nature, when they call her a hard and cruel Step-Mother, to Man∣kind; but that Charge against her is false and un∣just. Upon the supposition, that Men had from the Beginning been all accustomed to Cloths, it is not easy to conceive how any Number of them should ever take up a Fancy of throwing them aside again, and going Naked; both because a Regard

to their Health, which must needs have suffered extremely by so disadvantageous an Exchange, and a Regard to Modesty and Shame too, must in all reason have persuaded the Contrary. And yet we see, this is still the Fashion in several Nations, which is a great Presumption of its having once been the Fashion of all Mankind Naturally. For what can be alleged for the Contrary Opinion? Will you urge the Two common Reasons, that Clothes were always necessary to cover our Shame, and to defend us against the Cold? (I mention not the Heat, because it is not likely they were taken up for a Protection against That) These Arguments are plainly insufficient. Look back to the Primi∣tive State of our First Ancestors, and you will find that Nature never taught them to be out of Coun∣tenance at their Nakedness. The Distinctions of this Kind are of a later Date; and it was Guilt First, and then Custom, that introduced Shame. Besides, even those very Parts, which we take Pains to conceal, Nature hath been beforehand with us, in keeping out of Sight. But if we should allow this for one Reason of Cloathing, yet the Argument can only concern the Covering of these Parts. The Consequence of it cannot possibly extend to the rest, and thus we see in some Countries some Per∣sons of Better Condition, do consult their own and the Beholders Modesty, without troubling them∣selves for any farther Garments; though the Com∣mon People in the same Places go stark naked. Some have thought it a Disparagement, that Man, who challenges a Precedence and Authority over all Things here below, should not dare to shew him∣self to the World, as God Almighty made him; but though that Thought be liable to some Exce∣ption, yet I think truly, it cannot be for his Ho∣nour, to think himself Enrich'd with the Spoils of his Subjects; to be Proud of the Ornaments they

furnish him with, and value himself, or disesteem others, according as he possesses, or they want these poor Advantages, (if they are sit to be call'd Ad∣vantages even in the last and lowest Degree.) And yet this is a Vanity so prevailing, that, as if Rea∣son cou'd not urge enough to make People asha∣med of it, Religion hath interpos'd her Authority too, to forbid Affectation and Pride in tricking and setting off our Persons, and teaches us, that we shou'd never think our selves truly adorn'd, except when the virtuous and shining Qualities of the Mind render us agreeable and lovely in the Eyes of God and Man. These are the Jewels, these the Ornaments which wou'd most effectually re∣pair that Shame which all our outward Dresses were so industriously contriv'd to cover.

As to that other Argument, which proceeds upon Cold, and some other things that render Ap∣parel necessary, either to particular Persons of a Constitution more feeble, or to all that dwell un∣der one Climate, sharper than the rest; we know full-well, that some go naked, and others drest, in the very same Latitude, and the very same Air; and there is never a one of us but exposes the ten∣derest Part about him to all Weathers continually: Which gave occasion to that Reply of a sturdy Beggar, who when he was asked how he cou'd en∣dure to go naked in the midst of Frost and Snow, made only this Answer, That other People cou'd bear their Faces naked, and he was Face all over. History tells us of several very great Persons who went constantly bare-headed, as Masinissa, and Caesar, and Hannibal, and Severas; And some Nations there are, who being accusiom'd to no Defence for their Bodies at other times, never trouble them∣selves for any when they go into the Wars, but engage in the hottest Action, whole Armies of naked Men together. Plato thinks it adviseable for

the Health never to cover either the Head or the Feet at all. Varro pretends, that when Men were commanded to stand bare in the Temple of the Gods, and in the Presence of the Magistrates; it was not only the Respectfulness of the Ceremony, but the Wholsomness of it, that the Law had re∣gard to; since Men by this means harden'd their Bodies against the Injuries of Wind and Weather, and strengthen'd themselves, while they paid a due Reverence to their Superiours.

In a Word, abstracting from what Revelation hath taught us, and looking at Nature only, I shou'd make no doubt but the Contrivances of Hutts and Houses, and other Shelters against the Violence of the Seasons, and the Assaults of Men, was a much more ancient Institution than that of Cloath∣ing; and there seems to have been more of Na∣ture, and universal Practice in it; for we see that Beasts and Birds do the same thing. The Care and Provision of Victuals was unquestionably of far greater Antiquity than either of the former, for this seems to have been one of the first Impul∣ses and Dictates of Nature; the Necessities and Appetites whereof return so thick upon us, that it is not easie to suppose Man cou'd subsist at all with∣out this Care.* 1.1 But of these Matters we shall have other Opportunities to treat more fully, when we come to give Rules for the Use and Regulation both of Food and Raiment, hereafter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Book III. In the Ver∣tue of Tem∣perance.