by Akhnaton

Book Three

WOMAN

CHAPTER I

GIVE EAR, FAIR daughter of love, to the instructions of prudence, and let the precepts of truth sink deep in thy heart; so shall the charms of thy mind add lustre to the elegance of thy form: and the beauty like the rose it resembleth, shall retain its sweetness when its bloom is whithered.

In the spring of thy youth, in the morning of thy days, when the eyes of men gaze on thee with delight, and nature whispereth in thine ear the meaning of their looks; ah! hear with caution their seducing words, guard well thy heart, nor listen to their soft persuasions.

Remember thou art man’s reasonable companion, not the slave of his passion; the end of thy being is not merely to gratify his loose desire, but to assist him in the toils of life, to sooth him with thy tenderness, I and recompense his care with soft endearments.

Who is she that winneth the heart of man, that subdueth him to love and reigneth in his breast?

Lo! yonder she walketh in maiden sweetness, with innocence in her mind, and modesty on her cheek.

Her hand seeketh employment, her foot delighteth not in gadding abroad.

She is clothed in neatness, she is fed with temperance; humility and meekness are as a crown of glory circling her head.

On her tongue dwelleth music, the sweetness of honey floweth from her lips.

Decency is in all her words, in her answers are mildness and truth.

Submission and obedience are the lessons of her life, and peace and happiness are her reward.

Before her steps walketh prudence, and virtue attendeth at her right hand.

Her eye speaketh softness and love; but discretion with a sceptre sitteth on her brow.

The tongue of the licentious is dumb in her presence, the awe of her virtue keepeth him silent.

When scandal is busy, and the fame of her neighbor is tossed from tongue to tongue; if charity and good-nature open not her mouth, the finger of silence resteth on her lip.

Her breast is the mansion of goodness, and therefore she suspecteth no evil in others.

Happy were the man that should make her his wife; happy the child that shall call her mother.

She presideth in the house, and there is peace; she commandeth with judgment, and is obeyed.

She riseth in the morning, she considers her affairs, and appointeth to every one their proper business.

The care of her family is her whole delight, to that alone she applieth her study; and elegance with frugality is seen in her mansions.

The prudence of her management is an honor to her husband, and he heareth her praise with a secret delight.

She informeth the minds of her children with wisdom, she fashioneth their manners from the example of her own goodness.

The word of her mouth is the law of their youth, the motion of her eye commandeth their obedience.

She speaketh and her servants fly: she pointeth and the thing is done; for the law of love is in their hearts, and her kindness addeth wings to their feet.

In prosperity she is not puffed up, in adversity she healeth the wounds of fortune with patience.

The troubles of her husband are alleviated by her counsels and sweetened by her endearments: he putteth his heart in her bosom and receiveth comfort.

Happy is the man that hath made her his wife; happy the child that calleth her mother.

Book Four

CONSANGUINITY; OR NATURAL RELATIONS

CHAPTER I

Husband

ACCEPT UNTO THYSELF a wife, and obey the ordinance of God; take unto thyself a wife, and become a faithful member of society.

But examine with care arid fix not suddenly. On thy present choice depends thy future happiness.

If much of her time is destroyed in dress and adornments; if she is enamoured with her own beauty, and delighted with her own praise; if she laugheth much, and talketh loud; if her foot abideth not in her father’s house, and her eyes with boldness rove on the faces of men: though her beauty were as the sun in the firmament of heaven, turn thy face from her charms, turn thy feet from her paths, and suffer not thy mind to be ensnared by the allurements of imagination.

But when thou findest sensibility of heart, joined with softness of manners, an accomplished mind, with a form agreeable to thy fancy: take her home to thy house; she is worthy to be thy friend, thy companion in life, the wife of thy bosom.

O cherish her, as a blessing sent thee from Heaven; let the kindness of thy behaviour endear thee to her heart.

She is the mistress of thy house; treat her therefore with respect, that thy servants may obey her.

Oppose not her inclination without cause; she is the partner of thy cares, make her also the companion of thy pleasures.

Reprove her faults with gentleness, exact not her obedience with rigour. Trust thy secrets in her breast; her counsels are sincere, thou shalt not be deceived.

Be faithful to her bed; for she is the mother of thy children.

When pain and sickness assault her, let thy tenderness sooth her affliction; a look from thee of pity and love, shall alleviate her grief, or mitigate her pain and be of more avail than ten physicians.

Consider the tenderness of her sex, the delicacy of her frame; and be not severe to her weakness, but remember thine own imperfections.

CHAPTER II

Father

Consider, thou who art a parent, the importance of thy trust; the being thou hast produced it is thy duty to support.

Upon thee also it dependeth, whether the child of thy bosom shall be a blessing, or a curse to thyself; an useful or worthless member to the community.

Prepare him early with instruction, and reason his mind with maxims of truth.

Watch the bent of his inclination, set him right in his youth, and let no evil habit gain strength with his years.

So shall he rise like a cedar on the mountains; his head shall be seen above the trees of the forest.

A wicked son is a reproach to his father; but he that doeth right, is an honor to his gray hairs.

The soil is thine own, let it not want cultivation, the seed which thou sowest, that also shalt thou reap.

Teach him obedience, and he shall bless thee; teach him modesty, and he shall not be ashamed.

Teach him gratitude, and he shall receive benefits; teach him charity, and he shall gain love.

Teach him temperance, and he shall have health; teach him prudence, and fortune shall attend him.

Teach him justice and he shall be honored by the world; teach him sincerity, and his own heart shall not reproach him.

Teach him diligence, and his wealth shall increase; teach him benevolence and his mind shall be exalted. Teach him science, and his life shall be useful; teach him religion, and his death shall be happy.

CHAPTER III

Son

From the creatures of God let man learn wisdom, and apply to himself the instruction they give.

Go to the desert, my son; observe the young story of the wilderness, let him speak of thy heart; he bareth on his wings his aged sire, he lodgeth him in safety, and supplieth him with food.

The piety of a child is sweeter than the incense of Persia offered to the sun; yea, more delicious than odours wafted from a field of Arabian spices by the western gales.

Be grateful then to thy father, for he gave thee life; and to thy mother for she sustained thee.

Hear the words from his mouth, for they are spoken for thy good; give ear to his admonition, for it proceedeth from love.

He hath watched for thy welfare, he hath toiled for thy ease; do honour therefore to his age, and let not his gray hairs be treated with irreverence.

Forget not thy helpless infancy, nor the forwardness of thy youth, and indulge the infirmities of thy aged parents; assist and support them in the decline of life.

So shall their hoary heads go down to the grave in peace; and thine own children, in reverence of thy example, shall repay thy piety with filial love.

CHAPTER IV

Brothers

Ye are the children of one father, provided for by his care; and the breast of one mother hath given you suck.

Let the bonds of affection, therefore, unite thee with thy brothers, that peace and happiness may dwell in thy father’s house.

And when ye separate in the world, remember the relation that bindeth you to love and unity; and prefer not a stranger before thy own blood.

If thy brother is in adversity, assist him; if thy sister is in trouble forsake her not.

So shall the fortunes of thy father contribute to the support of his whole race; and his care be continued to you all, in your love to each other.

Excerpt from Unto Thee I Grant

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