e mere echo of her husband's sentiments; she
believes him to be "the greatest wight on ground," and would as soon
think of contradicting the scriptures, as any thing that he says. This
acquiescence gratifies the vanity of her husband; he thinks her an
admirable wife, but to every one else, she appears a very insignificant
woman.

Imperitus was early a worshipper of the showy attractions of Clelia. She
was always a forward girl, and took the command of all the little
parties of her own age. This forwardness her parents mistook for mental
superiority, and thought they could not bestow too much pains in the
cultivation of her extraordinary talents. They accordingly provided her
numerous masters, and Clelia attained a smattering in many things. She
could draw tolerably, play tolerably, speak French tolerably, and write
tolerably pretty verses. Her parents thought her a prodigy of genius;
and her brothers and sisters were early taught to pay a proper deference
to her superior endowments. Her will was law, and her opinions
infallible. Imperitus contemplated her with amazement, and thought he
should be completely happy if he could obtain such an accomplished
character for his wife. But several long years did he languish in vain
for that blessing; and when at last she consented to become his wife,
she yielded with that air of condescension, which a high-bred dame
assumes when she suffers herself to be handed across the way by a person
of inferior condition. From that time, Imperitus became a cypher in his
own house; for the poor man was not only obliged to submit to all his
wife's proceedings, but she expected him to acquiesce in all her
opinions. Nothing under absolute authority could satisfy her high
opinion of her own abilities. Imperitus is almost afraid to speak in her
company; for, instead of assisting and palliating his natural
deficiencies, she is the first to ridicule and expose them. Her
passions, having never been checked, have become exceedingly violent.
She converses on politics and divinity with all the fury of a partizan
and a polemic; she seems impatient of the trammels of her sex; and her
conversation frequently goes beyond the bounds of decency and good
manners. One cannot help pitying the lot of Imperitus, who has a large
share of good-nature, and who (whatever may be his deficiencies) cannot
certainly be reproached with a want of constancy and tenderness towards
his wife.

Benignus's notions of the married