Hints for Lovers | Page 7

by sentiment. This is why
Even when a woman has deceived and betrayed, she does not regard
herself culpable. Always, she says to herself, she was driven to it, and
therefore she is blameless. Accordingly
A penitent woman is rare:
Even when a man, with his so-called superior reason, thinks he has
proved her wrong, at the bottom of her heart she knows herself right.
* * *
Many have been the discussions as to woman's most powerful weapon.
The simple fact is, she is armed cap a pie(2). Indeed, Every woman is a
sort of feminine Proteus, not only in the myriad shapes she assumes,
but also in her amenability to nothing but superior force. Women form,
perhaps, where men are concerned, the single exception to the rule that

in union there is strength. One woman often enough is irrepressible;
two (be the second her own mother) break the charm an association of
women is the feeblest of forces.
(2) Cf. Cowper:
They are all women, and they dart Like Porcupines, from every part.
-Anacreontics
* * *
All women are rivals. And this they never forget. Consequently
Mistrust a truce between hostile ladies.
* * *
Amongst women, modesty is of infinitely more potent influence than is
ability. Yet
To a woman's modesty ability is a wonderfully enhancing setting. And
Modesty is the most complex and the most varied of emotions. Perhaps
When modesty and frailty go hand in hand, there is no more delectable
combination known to men; and Aphrodite has not the subtle charm of
a Cynthia. Perhaps this is why such
A wondrous halo of romance hangs about the name of a Heloise, of a
Marguerite, of a Marianna Alcoforado; of a Concetta of Afragola; of a
Catalina; of Robert le Diable's Helena, of Isolde; of Lucia of Bologna,
the enchantress of Ottaviano; of Francesca; of Guenevere; of the sweet
seventeen-year old novice of Andouillets, Margarita, the fille who was
"rosy as the morn"; of the Beguine who nursed Captain Shandy; of the
fille de chamber who walked along the Quai de Conti with Yorick; of
Ameilia Viviani, the inspirer of Shelly's most ecstatic lyric; of Dryden's
masque-loving Lucretia. For, after all,
Is the star any the less starry to the rapt star-gazer when he finds it to be

a tremulous planet?
Cynthia may have blushed in heaven; bit did the blush make her any
less lovely to the Latmian?
Only in the clear and unclouded pool is the star undimmed embosomed.
* * *
They say a woman is capricious. But the consistency of woman's
capriciousness is only exceeded by the capriciousness of man's
consistency.
Man calls woman capricious simply because he is too stupid to
comprehend the laws by which she is swayed. Woman does not call
man capricious. --The inference is obvious.
* * *
To women the profoundest mysteries of the universe give place to two
things: a lover, and a baby.--But perhaps these are the profoundest
mysteries of the universe.
* * *
How many women there be who, deeming themselves fitted to be the
consorts of kings, yet comport themselves dutifully as the wives of
wastrels! And indeed,
Given beauty, cleverness, and grace, 44 there is no position to which a
woman could not aspire; for
Being Woman, she is ex officio Queen.
* * *
Speak to a woman disparagingly of her sex,--she is up in arms.
Speak to her disparagingly of a member of her sex,--well, she will not

be up in arms. The reason for her bellicosity in the former case is the
fact that
A woman always interprets abstract disparagement of her sex
personally. And she is perfectly right.
* * *
It is not only the woman who cannot be accounted quite as stainless as
the stars that sometimes trade on their charms.
* * *
When a strong-souled woman wholly and unreservedly loves, her love
will go to lengths passing the comprehension of man. For
Women prefer an despot to a dependent.
* * *
It is marvelous to what a pitch of demureness features by nature that the
most coquettish can be set.
(A Man's features are often a clue to his character; a woman's rarely.)
So it comes about that
The owner of a seraphic face is often owner of a temper satanic.
Nevertheless,
Often enough a spice of diablerie in a woman at once enhances all her
charms.
It is indeed fortunate for the men that so many women are unaware of
the power of their charms.
* * *
A woman would much rather you lied to her concerning herself than
that you told her something unpleasant to hear.

* * *
Some women seem to be envious of some men's familiarity with
immorality.
* * *
It is by woman that a