abandon my unreasonable
desires, and take a more exact view of my weak judgment and general
insignificance. "Nature," he said, "has been a step-mother to you; you
want, altogether, the talents which clear the road to important offices.
You must creep before you walk; and it is foolish to think of flying
without wings." He acknowledged my merits: "But," he continued, "it is
not such merits as yours that will give you admittance to State affairs.
If all merit should give this right, then every painter and sculptor,
this for his skill in carving, that for his knowledge of colors, might
demand a seat at the council board. Merit ought to be rewarded, but the
reward should be adapted to the object, that the State may not suffer."

This speech struck me, and had the effect to keep me very quiet for some
time. But I could not endure the thought of growing grey in my base
employment. I determined on the desperate attempt, which I had formerly
considered, to improve the constitution, and thus, by a bold stroke, to
advance my own and the country's welfare.

Shortly before my journey I had strictly examined the internal condition
of the kingdom, to discover the least failing in its machinery, and the
best means to remedy it.

In the province Kokleku I had learnt that the government waggles in
which women have a part. For being by nature vain, they strive to extend
their power in every conceivable direction, and stop not till they have
procured for themselves perfect and unlimited dominion.

I concluded, therefore, to propose the exclusion of the fair sex from
all public offices, and trusted to get a sufficiency of voices on my
side by placing the case in its best light. It seemed an easy matter, to
me, to convince the male sex of the dangers to which they were exposed,
if they did not, in time, weaken this female power.

I executed this plan with all the art I was possessed of, supporting it
with the most cogent reasons, and sent it to the king.

He, who had given me many proofs of his favor, was astonished at this
miserable and impertinent project, as he graciously called it, and said,
that it would fall out to my destruction.

But relying partly on my reasonings and partly on the support of the
whole male population, I held obstinately to my plan. According to law,
I was led to the market-place with a rope about my neck, to await the
decision of the Council. When the counsellors had given their votes,
the sentence was sen