Mary Wollstonecraft Original Storie

Description

[2nd c.] Plutarch¹—Neither was it ever seene that a lion became a slave unto a lion, or one horse unto another in regard of fortitude, like as one man to another, contenting himselfe and willingly embracing servitude as next cousin and a surname appropriate unto cowardise. And as for those beasts which men have surprised and caught by snares, traps, subtill fleights and devices of engins, such if they be come to their growth and perfect age, reject all food, refuse nourishment, yea, and endure thirst, to such extremitie, that they chose to die and seeke to procure their owne death, rather than to live in servitude.

[2nd c.] Plutarch²—To sell slaves in that sort, or to turne them out of doores when you have had the service of all their youth, & that they are growen olde, as you use brute beastes that have served whilest they may for age: me thinkes that must needes proceede of to severe and greedy a nature, that hath no longer regard or consideration of humanity, then whilest one is able to do another good. For we see, gentlenesse goeth further then justice. For nature teacheth us to use justice onely unto men, but gentlenesse sometimes is shewed unto brute beasts: and that commeth from the very fountaine and spring of all curtesie and humanity, which shoulde never dry up in any man living. For to say truely, to keepe cast horses spoiled in our service, and dogs also, not only when they are whelpes, but when they be old : be even tokens of love and kindnes.