Prior to all things, it is requisite to speak of the works through
which the union of a family is preserved. These, therefore, are to
be divided after the accustomed manner; viz. rural, forensic, and
political works are to be attributed to the husband; but to the wife,
such works as pertain to spinning wool, making of bread, cooking,
and, in short, every thing of a domestic nature. Nevertheless, it
is not fit that the one should be entirely exempt from the works
of the other. For sometimes it will be proper when the wife is in
the country that she should superintend the labourers, and perform
the office of the master of the house; and that the husband should
sometimes convert his attention to domestic affairs; and partly
inquire about, and partly inspect what is doing in the house. For
thus, what pertains to the mutual association of both will be more
firmly connected by their joint participation of necessary cares.
Since, however, our discussion has extended thus far, it appears to
me that I ought not to omit to mention manual operations; for it
will not be incongruous to add this also to what has been said about
works.
What occasion, therefore, is there to say, that it is fit the man
should meddle with agricultural labours? For there are not many
by whom this will not be admitted. But though so much luxury and
idleness occupies the life of men of the present day, yet it is rare
to find one who is not willing to engage in the labour of sowing
and planting; and to be employed in other works which pertain to
agriculture. Perhaps, however, the arguments will be much less
persuasive, which call on the man to engage in those other works
which belong to the woman. For such men as pay great attention to
neatness and cleanliness will not conceive the spinning of wool to be
their business: since, for the most part, vile diminutive men, and
the tribe of such as are delicate and effeminate apply themselves to
the elaboration of wool, through an emulation of feminine softness.
But it does not become a man, who is truly so called, to apply
himself to things of this kind; so that neither shall I, perhaps,
advise those to engage in such employments, who have not given
perfectly credible indications of their virility and modesty. What,
therefore, should hinder the man from partaking of the works which
pertain to a woman, whose past life has been such as to free him
from all suspicion of absurd and effeminate conduct? For in other
domestic works, is it not thought that more of them pertain to men
than to women? For they are more laborious, and require corporeal
strength, such as to grind, to knead meal, to cut wood, to draw water
from a well, to transfer large vessels from one place to another; to
shake coverlets and carpets, and every other work similar to these.
And it will be sufficient, indeed, for these things to be performed
by men. But it is also fit that some addition should be made to the
legitimate work of a woman, so that she may not only engage with her
maid servants in the spinning of wool, but may also apply herself
to other more virile works. For it appears to me that the making of
bread, the drawing of water [from a well], the lighting of fires, the
making of beds, and every other work similar to these are the proper
employments of a freeborn woman. But a wife will seem much more
beautiful to her husband, and especially if she is young, and not yet
worn out by the bearing of children, if she becomes his associate
in gathering grapes, and collecting olives; and if he is verging to
old age, she will render herself more pleasing to him, by partaking
with him of the labour of sowing and ploughing, and extending to him,
while he is digging or planting, the instruments proper for such
works. For when a family is governed after this manner by the husband
and wife, so far as pertains to necessary works, it appears to me
that it will be conducted in this respect in the best manner.