There cannot be a doubt that, if these two developments were in
perfect harmony, they would correspond to and fulfil one another, like
hemispheres, or the tenor and bass in music.
But there is no perfect harmony in human nature; and the two parts
answer one another only now and then; or, if there be a persistent
consonance, it can only be traced at long intervals, instead of
discoursing an obvious melody.
What is the cause of this?
Man, in the order of time, was developed first; as energy comes before
harmony; power before beauty.
Woman was therefore under his care as an elder. He might have been her
guardian and teacher.
But, as human nature goes not straight forward, but by excessive
action and then reaction in an undulated course, he misunderstood and
abused his advantages, and became her temporal master instead of her
spiritual sire.
On himself came the punishment. He educated Woman more as a servant
than a daughter, and found himself a king without a queen.
The children of this unequal union showed unequal natures, and, more
and more, men seemed sons of the handmaid, rather than princess.
At last, there were so many Ishmaelites that the rest grew frightened
and indignant.
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