But there was another thing which kept women in degradation.  Paganism did not recognize the immaterial and immortal soul:  it only had regard to the wants of the body.  Of course there were exceptions.  There were sages and philosophers among the men who speculated on the grandest subjects which can elevate the mind to the regions of immortal truth,—­like Socrates, Plato, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius,—­even as there were women who rose above all the vile temptations which surrounded them, and were poets, heroines, and benefactors,—­like Telessa, who saved Argos by her courage; and Volumnia, who screened Rome from the vengeance of her angry son; and Lucretia, who destroyed herself rather than survive the dishonor of her house.  There are some people who rise and triumph over every kind of oppression and injury.  Under Paganism there was the possibility of the emancipation of the soul, but not the probability.  Its genius was directed to the welfare of the body,—­to utilitarian ends of life, to ornaments and riches, to luxury and voluptuousness, to the pleasures which are brief, to the charms of physical beauty and grace.  It could stimulate ambition and inculcate patriotism and sing of love, if it coupled the praises of Venus with the praises of wine.  But everything it praised or honored had reference to this life and to the mortal body.  It may have recognized the mind, but not the soul, which is greater than the mind.  It had no aspirations for future happiness; it had no fears of future misery.  Hence the frequency of suicide under disappointment, or ennui, or satiated desire, or fear of poverty, or disgrace, or pain.

And thus, as Paganism did not take cognizance of the soul in its future existence, it disregarded man’s highest aspirations.  It did not cultivate his graces; it set but a slight value on moral beauty; it thought little of affections; it spurned gentleness and passive virtues; it saw no lustre in the tender eye; it heard no music in the tones of sympathy; it was hard and cold.  That which constitutes the richest beatitudes of love it could not see, and did not care for.  Ethereal blessedness it despised.  That which raises woman highest, it was indifferent to.  The cold atmosphere of Paganism froze her soul, and made her callous to wrongs and sufferings.  It destroyed enthusiasm and poetic ardor and the graces which shine in misfortune.  Woman was not kindled by lofty sentiments, since no one believed in them.  The harmonies of home had no poetry and no inspiration, and they disappeared.  The face of woman was not lighted by supernatural smiles.  Her caresses had no spiritual fervor, and her benedictions were unmeaning platitudes.  Take away the soul of woman, and what is she?  Rob her of her divine enthusiasm, and how vapid and commonplace she becomes!  Destroy her yearnings to be a spiritual solace, and how limited is her sphere!  Take away the holy dignity of the soul, and how impossible is a lofty friendship!  Without the amenities of the soul there can be no real