Page:The Dial (Volume 68).djvu/682
who wrought an arrant rascal of him that had erst been but an unwarned dolt!
As to wherefore the rib, Astyanax of Olbia saith on behalf of Euphor: The creator pondered and pored upon the human limbs, musing which should become the source of woman.
"I will not create her," he debated, "from the head of Adam Primus, for that she would be haughty: she would toss and bridle her head. If I create her of the eye, she will desire, inquisitive, to stare on all things curiously. Of the ear, she will lust after all manner of rumour. Of the mouth, she will chatter without stint. Of the heart, she will gnaw with envy of all folk. Of the hand, she will thrust forth to feel with finger-tips, testing and snatching. Of the feet, she will wax a gad-about. Therefore I will create her of a member which is hidden, that is to say, a rib. Which is not to be seen when the very persen is naked.
"But all that availed me nothing! I did not create her of the head, yet she bridles and tosses the head; as is written: They minced with necks out-thrust. I did not create her of the eye, yet she peeps, inquisitive, at every thing; as is written: Their bright eyes stare and ogle always. I did not create her of the ear, yet she eavesdrops continually. I did not create her of the heart, yet she gnaws with envy of any folk. I did not create her of the hand, yet she delights to accept any thing. I did not create her of the feet, yet she gads about, restless, nor does weariness weigh her down!"
Astyanax of Olbia inquireth further: Why doth the child, when it is brought to world of its mother, conduct in the following: the male child lieth face downward; but the female face upward? Rideo Genovese answered: Man was shaped of the dust, and humbly turns his face thereto; but woman was shaped of man, since when she rears her crest proudly for cause. And again Astyanax of Olbia asketh: Why must a woman prink out her body with perfumes and fine garments more than aman? Rideo answered: Man was shaped of earth which is clean beyond corruption; but woman was shaped of the bone of a rib. And any flesh soever neither spiced nor brined, falleth into taint. Therefore women the rather turn to unguents, silks, and linens. Therefore, also, women's voicesecho and sound: for their source is a hollow bone; which, being beaten one on the other, give forth a great noise, pleasant though empty. But beat earth upon earth, clod upon clod, and no noise, or but dull, will