the species to which they
belong. At least I believe every one will allow me, that a female
philosopher is not so absurd a character, and so opposite to the sex, as
a female gamester; and that it is more irrational for a woman to pass
away half a dozen hours at cards or dice, than in getting up stores of
useful learning.

9. This, therefore, is another reason why I would recommend the studies
of knowledge to the female world, that they may not be at a loss how to
employ those hours that lie heavy upon their hands.

10. I might also add this motive to my fair readers, that several of
their sex, who have improved their minds by books and literature, have
raised themselves to the highest posts of honour and fortune. A
neighbouring nation may at this time furnish us with a very remarkable
instance of this kind: but I shall conclude this head with the history
of Athenais, which is a very signal example to my present purpose.

11. The Emperor Theodosius being about the age of one-and-twenty, and
designing to take a wife, desired his sister Pulcheria and his friend
Paulinus to search his whole empire for a woman of the most exquisite
beauty and highest accomplishments. In the midst of this search,
Athenais, a Grecian virgin, accidentally offered herself. Her father,
who was an eminent philosopher of Athens, and had bred her up in all the
learning of that place, at his death left her but a very small portion,
in which also she suffered great hardships from the injustice of her two
brothers.

12. This forced her upon a journey to Constantinople, where she had a
relation who represented her case to Pulcheria, in order to obtain some
redress from the emperor. By this means that religious princess became
acquainted with Athenais; whom she found the most beautiful woman of her
age, and educated under a long course of philosophy, in the strictest
virtue and most unspotted innocence.

13. Pulcheria was charmed with her conversation, and immediately made
her report to the emperor her brother Theodosius. The character she gave
made such an impression on him, that he desired his sister to bring her
away immediately to the lodgings of his friend Paulinus, where he found
her beauty and her conversation beyond the highest idea he had framed of
them.

14. His friend Paulinus converted her to christianity, and gave her the
name of Eudosia; after which the emperor publicly espoused her, and
enjoyed all the happiness in his marriage whic