that great sense--"La donna e mobile," not "Qual pium' al vento";
no, nor yet "Variable as the shade, by the light quivering aspen
made"; but variable as the LIGHT, manifold in fair and serene
division, that it may take the colour of all that it falls upon, and
exalt it.

(II.) I have been trying, thus far, to show you what should be the
place, and what the power of woman. Now, secondly, we ask, What
kind of education is to fit her for these?

And if you indeed think this a true conception of her office and
dignity, it will not be difficult to trace the course of education
which would fit her for the one, and raise her to the other.

The first of our duties to her--no thoughtful persons now doubt
this,--is to secure for her such physical training and exercise as
may confirm her health, and perfect her beauty; the highest
refinement of that beauty being unattainable without splendour of
activity and of delicate strength. To perfect her beauty, I say,
and increase its power; it cannot be too powerful, nor shed its
sacred light too far: only remember that all physical freedom is
vain to produce beauty without a corresponding freedom of heart.
There are two passages of that poet who is distinguished, it seems
to me, from all others--not by power, but by exquisite RIGHTNESS--
which point you to the source, and describe to you, in a few
syllables, the completion of womanly beauty. I will read the
introductory stanzas, but the last is the one I wish you specially
to notice:-