Chapter 7
The Rights of Woman by Anna Barbald. Read for LibriVox.org by Sarah Mustafa. The Rights of Woman. Yes, injured woman, rise, assert thy right. Woman, too long degraded, scorned, oppressed,
O born to rule in partial laws despite, resume thy native empire over the breast. Go forth, arrayed, and panoply divine, that angel pureness which admits no stain. Go, bid proud man his boasted rule resign
and kiss the golden scepter of thy reign. Go, gird thyself with grace, collect thy store of bright artillery glancing from afar, soft melting tones thy thundering cannons roar, blushes and fears thy magazine of war.
Thy rights our empire, urge no meaner claim, felt not defined, and if debated, lost. Like sacred mysteries which withheld from fame, shunning discussion are revered the most. Try all that wit and art suggests to bend
of thy imperial foe the stubborn knee. Make treacherous man thy subject, not thy friend. Thou mayst command, but never canst be free. Ah, the licentious and restrained the rude, soften the sullen, clear the cloudy brow,
be more than prince's gifts, thy favor sued. She hazards all who will the least allow. But hope not, courted idol of mankind, on this proud eminence secure to stay, subduing and subdued, thou soon shalt find,
thy coldness soften and thy pride give way. Then, then, abandon each ambitious thought, conquest or rule thy heart shall feebly move in nature's school by her soft maxims taught that separate rights are lost in mutual love.
End of poem. This recording is in the public domain.
