Whentheprincipalslavesareeunuchs，letneversomanyprivilegesbegrantedthem，theycanhardlyberegardedasfreedmen。Forastheyareincapableofhavingafamilyoftheirown，theyarenaturallyattachedtothatofanother：anditisonlybyakindoffictionthattheyareconsideredascitizens。
Andyettherearecountrieswherethemagistracyisentirelyintheirhands。"InTonquin，"[41]saysDampier，[42]"allthemandarins，civilandmilitary，areeunuchs。"Theyhavenofamilies，andthoughtheyarenaturallyavaricious，themasterortheprincebenefitsintheendbythisverypassion。
Dampiertellsus，too，[43]thatinthiscountrytheeunuchscannotlivewithoutwomen，andthereforemarry。Thelawwhichpermitstheirmarriagemaybefoundedpartlyontheirrespectfortheseeunuchs，andpartlyontheircontemptofthefairsex。
Thustheyaretrustedwiththemagistracy，becausetheyhavenofamily；
andpermittedtomarry，becausetheyaremagistrates。
Thenitisthatthesensewhichremainswouldfainsupplythatwhichtheyhavelost；andtheenterprisesofdespairbecomeakindofenjoyment。So，inMilton，thatspiritwhohasnothingleftbutdesires，enragedathisdegradation，wouldmakeuseofhisimpotencyitself。
WeseeinthehistoryofChinaagreatnumberoflawstodepriveeunuchsofallcivilandmilitaryemployments；buttheyalwaysreturnedtothemagain。Itseemsasiftheeunuchsoftheeastwereanecessaryevil。
______
1。Justinian，Institutes，i。
2。Exceptingafewcannibals。
3。Imeanslaveryinastrictsense，asformerlyamongtheRomans，andatpresentinourcolonies。
4。Biblioth。Ang。，xiii，partII，art。3。
5。SeeSolis，HistoryoftheConquestofMexico，andGarcilassodelaVega，HistoryoftheConquestofPeru。
6。Labat，NewVoyagetotheIslesofAmerica，iv，p。114，1728，12mo。
7。PresentStateofRussia。
8。Dampier，Voyages，iii。
9。Politics，i。5。
10。AsmaybeseenintheminesofHartz，inLowerSaxony，andinthoseofHungary。
11。DeMoribusGermanorum，25。
12。Tacitus，DeMoribusGermanorum，20，saysthemasterisnottobedistinguishedfromtheslavebyanydelicacyofliving。
13。SirJohnChardin，TravelstoPersia。
14。SirJohnChardin，ii，inhisdescriptionofthemarketofIzagour。
15。Booki，tit。32，§5。
16。TherevoltoftheMamelukeswasadifferentcase；thiswasabodyofthemilitiawhousurpedtheempire。
17。LawoftheVisigoths，iii，tit。1，§1。
18。Ibid。，v，tit。7，§20。
19。Ibid。，v，tit。2，§9。
20。LawoftheAlemans，5，§3。
21。Ibid。，§5，pervirtutem。
22。"Sicily，"saysFlorus，"sufferedmoreintheServilethaninthePunicwar。"——iii。19。
23。Seethewholetitleofthesenat。cons。Sillan。，ff。
24。Leg。Siquis，§12，ff。desenat。cons。Sillan。
25。WhenAntonycommandedErostokillhim，itwasthesameascommandinghimtokillhimself；because，ifhehadobeyed，hewouldhavebeenpunishedasthemurdererofhismaster。
26。Leg。i，§22，ff。desenat。cons。Sillan。
27。Leg。i，§31，ff。ibid。，xxix，tit。5。
28。Xiphilin，InClaudio。
29。SeeLeg。3，inCod。，DePatriapotestate，bytheEmperorAlexander。
30。Exod。，21。20，21。
31。Plutarch，OnSuperstition。
32。SeetheconstitutionofAntoninusPius，Institutes，i，tit。7。
33。Laws，Bookix。
34。ThiswasfrequentlythespiritofthelawsofthosenationswhocameoutofGermany，asmaybeseenbytheircodes。
35。Demosthenes，Orat。contraMidian，p。610，Frankfort，1604。
36。Tacitus，Annals，xiii。27。
37。Freinshemius，Supplement，dec。2，v。
38。Exod。，21。
39。Tacitus，Annals，xiii。27。
40。Augustus’sspeechinDio，lvi。
41。ItwasformerlythesameinChina。ThetwoMahometanArabswhotravelledthitherintheninthcenturyusethewordeunuchwhenevertheyspeakofagovernorofthecity。
42。Volumeiii，p。91。
43。Ibid。，p。94。
BookXVI。HowtheLawsofDomesticSlaveryBearaRelationtotheNatureoftheClimate1。OfdomesticServitude。Slavesareestablishedforthefamily；buttheyarenotapartofit。ThusIdistinguishtheirservitudefromthatwhichthewomeninsomecountriessuffer，andwhichIshallproperlycalldomesticservitude。
2。ThatintheCountriesoftheSouththereisanaturalInequalitybetweenthetwoSexes。Women，inhotclimates，aremarriageableateight，nine，ortenyearsofage；[1]thus，inthosecountries，infancyandmarriagegenerallygotogether。Theyareoldattwenty：theirreasonthereforeneveraccompaniestheirbeauty。Whenbeautydemandstheempire，thewantofreasonforbidstheclaim；whenreasonisobtained，beautyisnomore。Thesewomenoughtthentobeinastateofdependence；forreasoncannotprocureinoldagethatempirewhichevenyouthandbeautycouldnotgive。Itisthereforeextremelynaturalthatintheseplacesaman，whennolawopposesit，shouldleaveonewifetotakeanother，andthatpolygamyshouldbeintroduced。
Intemperateclimates，wherethecharmsofwomenarebestpreserved，wheretheyarrivelateratmaturity，andhavechildrenatamoreadvancedseasonoflife，theoldageoftheirhusbandsinsomedegreefollowstheirs；andastheyhavemorereasonandknowledgeatthetimeofmarriage，ifitbeonlyonaccountoftheirhavingcontinuedlongerinlife，itmustnaturallyintroduceakindofequalitybetweenthetwosexes；and，inconsequenceofthis，thelawofhavingonlyonewife。
Incoldcountriesthealmostnecessarycustomofdrinkingstrongliquorsestablishesintemperanceamongstmen。Women，whointhisrespecthaveanaturalrestraint，becausetheyarealwaysonthedefensive，havethereforetheadvantageofreasonoverthem。
Nature，whichhasdistinguishedmenbytheirreasonandbodilystrength，hassetnootherboundstotheirpowerthanthoseofthisstrengthandreason。Ithasgivencharmstowomen，andordainedthattheirascendancyovermanshallendwiththesecharms：butinhotcountries，thesearefoundonlyatthebeginning，andneverintheprogressoflife。
ThusthelawwhichpermitsonlyonewifeisphysicallyconformabletotheclimateofEurope，andnottothatofAsia。ThisisthereasonwhyMahometanismwassoeasilyestablishedinAsia，andwithsuchdifficultyextendedinEurope；whyChristianityismaintainedinEurope，andhasbeendestroyedinAsia；and，infine，whytheMahometanshavemadesuchprogressinChina，andtheChristianssolittle。Humanreasons，however，aresubordinatetothatSupremeCausewhodoeswhateverHepleases，andrenderseverythingsubservienttoHiswill。
SomeparticularreasonsinducedValentinian[2]topermitpolygamyintheempire。Thatlaw，soimproperforourclimates，wasabrogatedbyTheodosius，Arcadius，andHonorius。[3]
3。ThataPluralityofWivesgreatlydependsontheMeansofsupportingthem。Thoughincountrieswherepolygamyisonceestablishedthenumberofwivesisprincipallydeterminedbytheopulenceofthehusband，yetitcannotbesaidthatopulenceestablishedpolygamyinthosestates，sincepovertymayproducethesameeffect，asIshallprovewhenIcometospeakofthesavages。
Polygamy，inpowerfulnations，islessaluxuryinitselfthantheoccasionofgreatluxury。Inhotclimatestheyhavefewwants，anditcostslittletomaintainawifeandchildren；[4]theymaythereforehaveagreatnumberofwives。
4。ThattheLawofPolygamyisanaffairthatdependsonCalculation。
AccordingtothecalculationsmadeinseveralpartsofEurope，thereareherebornmoreboysthangirls；[5]onthecontrary，bytheaccountswehaveofAsia，therearetherebornmoregirlsthanboys。[6]ThelawwhichinEuropeallowsonlyonewife，andthatinAsiawhichpermitsmany，havethereforeacertainrelationtotheclimate。
InthecoldclimatesofAsiathereareborn，asinEurope，moremalesthanfemales；andhence，saytheLamas，[7]isderivedthereasonofthatlawwhichamongstthempermitsawomantohavemanyhusbands。[8]
Butitisdifficultformetobelievethattherearemanycountrieswherethedisproportioncanbegreatenoughforanyexigencytojustifytheintroducingeitherthelawinfavourofmanywivesorthatofmanyhusbands。Thiswouldonlyimplythatamajorityofwomen，orevenamajorityofmen，ismoreconformabletonatureincertaincountriesthaninothers。
Iconfessthatifwhathistorytellsusbetrue，thatatBantamtherearetenwomentooneman，[9]thismustbeacaseparticularlyfavourabletopolygamy。
InallthisIonlygivetheirreasons，butdonotjustifytheircustoms。
5。TheReasonofaLawofMalabar。InthetribeoftheNaires，onthecoastofMalabar，themencanhaveonlyonewife，whileawoman，onthecontrary，mayhavemanyhusbands。[10]TheoriginofthiscustomisnotI
believedifficulttodiscover。TheNairesarethetribeofnobles，whoarethesoldiersofallthosenations。InEuropesoldiersareforbiddentomarry；inMalabar，wheretheclimaterequiresgreaterindulgence，theyaresatisfiedwithrenderingmarriageaslittleburdensometothemaspossible：theygiveonewifeamongstmanymen，whichconsequentlydiminishestheattachmenttoafamily，andthecaresofhousekeeping，andleavestheminthefreepossessionofamilitaryspirit。
6。OfPolygamyconsideredinitself。Withregardtopolygamyingeneral，independentlyofthecircumstanceswhichmayrenderittolerable，itisnotoftheleastservicetomankind，nortoeitherofthetwosexes，whetheritbethatwhichabusesorthatwhichisabused。Neitherisitofservicetothechildren；foroneofitsgreatestinconveniencesis，thatthefatherandmothercannothavethesameaffectionfortheiroffspring；afathercannotlovetwentychildrenwiththesametendernessasamothercanlovetwo。Itismuchworsewhenawifehasmanyhusbands；forthenpaternalloveonlyisheldbythisopinion，thatafathermaybelieve，ifhewill，orthatothersmaybelieve，thatcertainchildrenbelongtohim。
TheysaythattheEmperorofMoroccohaswomenofallcolours，white，black，andtawny，inhisseraglio。Butthewretchhasscarcelyneedofasinglecolour。
Besides，thepossessionofsomanywivesdoesnotalwayspreventtheirentertainingdesiresforthoseofothers；[11]itiswithlustaswithavarice，whosethirstincreasesbytheacquisitionoftreasure。
InthereignofJustinian，manyphilosophers，displeasedwiththeconstraintofChristianity，retiredintoPersia。Whatstruckthemthemost，saysAgathias，[12]wasthatpolygamywaspermittedamongstmenwhodidnotevenabstainfromadultery。
MayInotsaythatapluralityofwivesleadstothatpassionwhichnaturedisallows？foronedepravationalwaysdrawsonanother。I
rememberthatintherevolutionwhichhappenedatConstantinople，whenSultanAchmetwasdeposed，historysaysthatthepeople，havingplunderedtheKiaya’shouse，foundnotasinglewoman；theytellusthatatAlgiers，[13]inthegreatestpartoftheirseraglios，theyhavenoneatall。
7。OfanEqualityofTreatmentincaseofmanyWives。Fromthelawwhichpermittedapluralityofwivesfollowedthatofanequalbehaviourtoeach。Mahomet，whoallowedoffour，wouldhaveeverything，asprovisions，dress，andconjugalduty，equallydividedbetweenthem。ThislawisalsoinforceintheMaldivianisles，[14]wheretheyareatlibertytomarrythreewives。
ThelawofMoses[15]evendeclaresthatifanyonehasmarriedhissontoaslave，andthissonshouldafterwardsespouseafreewoman，herfood，herraiment，andherdutyofmarriageshallhenotdiminish。Theymightgivemoretothenewwife，butthefirstwasnottohavelessthanshehadbefore。
8。OftheSeparationofWomenfromMen。Theprodigiousnumberofwivespossessedbythosewholiveinrichandvoluptuouscountriesisaconsequenceofthelawofpolygamy。Theirseparationfrommen，andtheircloseconfinement，naturallyfollowfromthegreatnessofthisnumber。
Domesticorderrendersthisnecessary；thusaninsolventdebtorseekstoconcealhimselffromthepursuitofhiscreditors。Thereareclimateswheretheimpulsesofnaturehavesuchforcethatmoralityhasalmostnone。Ifamanbeleftwithawoman，thetemptationandthefallwillbethesamething；theattackcertain，theresistancenone。Inthesecountries，insteadofprecepts，theyhaverecoursetoboltsandbars。
OneoftheChineseclassicauthorsconsidersthemanasaprodigyofvirtuewho，findingawomanaloneinadistantapartment，canforbearmakinguseofforce。[16]
9。OftheConnectionbetweendomesticandpoliticalGovernment。Inarepublictheconditionofcitizensismoderate，equal，mild，andagreeable；everythingpartakesofthebenefitofpublicliberty。Anempireoverthewomencannot，amongthem，besowellexerted；andwheretheclimatedemandsthisempire，itismostagreeabletoamonarchicalgovernment。ThisisoneofthereasonswhyithaseverbeendifficulttoestablishapopulargovernmentintheEast。
Onthecontrary，theslaveryofwomenisperfectlyconformabletothegeniusofadespoticgovernment，whichdelightsintreatingallwithseverity。ThusatalltimeshaveweseeninAsiadomesticslaveryanddespoticgovernmentwalkhandinhandwithanequalpace。
Inagovernmentwhichrequires，aboveallthings，thataparticularregardbepaidtoitstranquillity，andwheretheextremesubordinationcallsforpeace，itisabsolutelynecessarytoshutupthewomen；fortheirintrigueswouldprovefataltotheirhusbands。Agovernmentwhichhasnottimetoexamineintotheconductofitssubjectsviewsthemwithasuspiciouseye，onlybecausetheyappearandsufferthemselvestobeknown。
Letusonlysupposethatthelevityofmind，theindiscretions，thetastesandcapricesofourwomen，attendedbytheirpassionsofahigherandalowerkind，withalltheiractivefire，andinthatfulllibertywithwhichtheyappearamongstus，wereconveyedintoaneasterngovernment，wherewouldbethefatherofafamilywhocouldenjoyamoment’srepose？Themenwouldbeeverywheresuspected，everywhereenemies；thestatewouldbeoverturned，andthekingdomoverflowedwithriversofblood。
10。ThePrincipleonwhichtheMoralsoftheEastarefounded。Inthecaseofamultiplicityofwives，themoreafamilyceasestobeunited，themoreoughtthelawstoreuniteitsdetachedpartsinacommoncentre；andthegreaterthediversityofinterests，themorenecessaryisitforthelawstobringthembacktoacommoninterest。
Thisismoreparticularlydonebyconfinement。Thewomenshouldnotonlybeseparatedfromthemenbythewallsofthehouse，buttheyoughtalsotobeseparatedinthesameenclosure，insuchamannerthateachmayhaveadistincthouseholdinthesamefamily。Henceeachderivesallthatrelatestothepracticeofmorality，modesty，chastity，reserve，silence，peace，dependence，respect，andlove；and，inshort，ageneraldirectionofherthoughtstothatwhich，initsownnature，isathingofthegreatestimportance，asingleandentireattachmenttoherfamily。
Womenhavenaturallysomanydutiestofulfil——dutieswhicharepeculiarlytheirs——thattheycannotbesufficientlyexcludedfromeverythingcapableofinspiringotherideas；fromeverythingthatgoesbythenameofamusements；andfromeverythingwhichwecallbusiness。
WefindthemannersmorepureintheseveralpartsoftheEast，inproportionastheconfinementofwomenismorestrictlyobserved。Ingreatkingdomstherearenecessarilygreatlords。Thegreatertheirwealth，themoreenlargedistheirabilityofkeepingtheirwivesinanexactconfinement，andofpreventingthemfromenteringagainintosociety。HenceitproceedsthatintheempiresofTurkey，Persia，oftheMogul，China，andJapan，themannersoftheirwivesareadmirable。
ButthecaseisnotthesameinIndia，whereamultitudeofislandsandthesituationofthelandhavedividedthecountryintoaninfinitenumberofpettystates，whichfromcausesthatwehavenothereroomtomentionarerendereddespotic。
Therearenonetherebutwretches，somepillagingandotherspillaged。
Theirgrandeeshaveverymoderatefortunes，andthosewhomtheycallrichhaveonlyabaresubsistence。Theconfinementoftheirwomencannotthereforebeverystrict；norcantheymakeuseofanygreatprecautionstokeepthemwithinduebounds；henceitproceedsthatthecorruptionoftheirmannersisscarcelytobeconceived。
Wemaythereseetowhatanextremethevicesofaclimateindulgedinfulllibertywillcarrylicentiousness。Itistherethatnaturehasaforceandmodestyaweakness，whichexceedsallcomprehension。AtPatan[17]thewantondesiresofthewomenaresooutrageous，thatthemenareobligedtomakeuseofacertainappareltoshelterthemfromtheirdesigns。[18]AccordingtoMr。Smith，[19]thingsarenotbetterconductedinthepettykingdomsofGuinea。Inthesecountriesthetwosexesloseeventhoselawswhichproperlybelongtoeach。
11。OfdomesticSlaveryindependentlyofPolygamy。ItisnotonlyapluralityofwiveswhichincertainplacesoftheEastrequirestheirconfinement，butalsotheclimateitself。Thosewhoconsiderthehorriblecrimes，thetreachery，thedarkvillainies，thepoisonings，theassassinations，whichthelibertyofwomenhasoccasionedatGoaandinthePortuguesesettlementsintheIndies，wherereligionpermitsonlyonewife；andwhocomparethemwiththeinnocenceandpurityofmannersofthewomenofTurkey，Persia，Hindostan，China，andJapan，willclearlyseethatitisfrequentlyasnecessarytoseparatethemfromthemen，whentheyhavebutone，aswhentheyhavemany。
Thesearethingswhichoughttobedecidedbytheclimate。Whatpurposewoulditanswertoshutupwomeninournortherncountries，wheretheirmannersarenaturallygood；wherealltheirpassionsarecalm；andwhereloverulesovertheheartwithsoregularandgentleanempirethattheleastdegreeofprudenceissufficienttoconductit？
Itisahappinesstoliveinthoseclimateswhichpermitsuchfreedomofconverse，wherethatsexwhichhasmostcharmsseemstoembellishsociety，andwherewives，reservingthemselvesforthepleasuresofone，contributetotheamusementofall。
12。OfnaturalModesty。Allnationsareequallyagreedinfixingcontemptandignominyontheincontinenceofwomen。Naturehasdictatedthistoall。Shehasestablishedtheattack，andshehasestablishedtootheresistance；andhavingimplanteddesiresinboth，shehasgiventotheoneboldness，andtotheothershame。Toindividualsshehasgrantedalongsuccessionofyearstoattendtotheirpreservation：buttocontinuethespecies，shehasgrantedonlyamoment。
Itisthenfarfrombeingtruethattobeincontinentistofollowthelawsofnature；onthecontrary，itisaviolationoftheselaws，whichcanbeobservedonlybybehavingwithmodestyanddiscretion。
Besides，itisnaturalforintelligentbeingstofeeltheirimperfections。Naturehas，therefore，fixedshameinourminds——ashameofourimperfections。
When，therefore，thephysicalpowerofcertainclimatesviolatesthenaturallawofthetwosexes，andthatofintelligentbeings，itbelongstothelegislaturetomakecivillaws，withaviewtoopposingthenatureoftheclimateandre—establishingtheprimitivelaws。
13。OfJealousy。Withrespecttonations，weoughttodistinguishbetweenthepassionofjealousyandajealousyarisingfromcustoms，manners，andlaws。Theoneisahotragingfever；theother，cold，butsometimesterrible，maybejoinedwithindifferenceandcontempt。
Theone，anabuseoflove，derivesitssourcefromloveitself。Theotherdependsonlyonmanners，onthecustomsofanation，onthelawsofthecountry，andsometimesevenonreligion。[20]
Itisgenerallytheeffectofthephysicalpoweroftheclimate；and，atthesametime，theremedyofthisphysicalpower。
14。OftheEasternMannerofdomesticGovernment。WivesarechangedsooftenintheEastthattheycannothavethepowerofdomesticgovernment。Thiscareis，therefore，committedtotheeunuchs，whomtheyentrustwiththeirkeysandthemanagementoftheirfamilies。"InPersia，"saysSirJohnChardin，"marriedwomenarefurnishedwithclothesastheywantthem，afterthemannerofchildren。"Thusthatcarewhichseemssowelltobecomethem，thatcarewhicheverywhereelseisthefirstoftheirconcern，doesnotatallregardthem。
15。OfDivorceandRepudiation。Thereisthisdifferencebetweenadivorceandarepudiation，thattheformerismadebymutualconsent，arisingfromamutualantipathy；whilethelatterisformedbythewill，andfortheadvantageofoneofthetwoparties，independentlyofthewillandadvantageoftheother。
Thenecessitythereissometimesforwomentorepudiate，andthedifficultytherealwaysisindoingit，renderthatlawverytyrannicalwhichgivesthisrighttomenwithoutgrantingittowomen。Ahusbandisthemasterofthehouse；hehasathousandwaysofconfininghiswifetoherduty，orofbringingherbacktoit；sothatinhishandsitseemsasifrepudiationcouldbeonlyafreshabuseofpower。Butawifewhorepudiatesonlymakesuseofadreadfulkindofremedy。Itisalwaysagreatmisfortuneforhertogoinsearchofasecondhusband，whenshehaslostthemostpartofherattractionswithanother。Oneoftheadvantagesattendingthecharmsofyouthinthefemalesexisthatinanadvancedagethehusbandisledtocomplacencyandlovebytheremembranceofpastpleasures。
Itisthenageneralrulethatinallcountrieswherethelawshavegiventomenthepowerofrepudiating，theyoughtalsotograntittowomen。Nay，inclimateswherewomenliveindomesticslavery，onewouldthinkthatthelawoughttofavourwomenwiththerightofrepudiation，andhusbandsonlywiththatofdivorce。
Whenwivesareconfinedinaseraglio，thehusbandoughtnottorepudiateonaccountofanoppositionofmanners；itisthehusband’sfaultiftheirmannersareincompatible。
Repudiationonaccountofthebarrennessofthewomanoughtnevertotakeplaceexceptwherethereisonlyonewife：[21]whentherearemany，thisisofnoimportancetothehusband。
AlawoftheMaldivianspermittedthemtotakeagainawifewhomtheyhadrepudiated。[22]AlawofMexico[23]forbadetheirbeingreunitedunderpainofdeath。ThelawofMexicowasmorerationalthanthatoftheMaldivians：atthetimeevenofthedissolution，itattendedtotheperpetuityofmarriage；insteadofthis，thelawoftheMaldiviansseemedequallytosportwithmarriageandrepudiation。
ThelawofMexicoadmittedonlyofdivorce。Thiswasaparticularreasonfortheirnotpermittingthosewhowerevoluntarilyseparatedtobeeverreunited。Repudiationseemschieflytoproceedfromahastinessoftemper，andfromthedictatesofpassion；whiledivorceappearstobeanaffairofdeliberation。
Divorcesarefrequentlyofgreatpoliticaluse：butastothecivilutility，theyareestablishedonlyfortheadvantageofthehusbandandwife，andarenotalwaysfavourabletotheirchildren。
16。OfRepudiationandDivorceamongsttheRomans。Romuluspermittedahusbandtorepudiatehiswife，ifshehadcommittedadultery，preparedpoison，orprocuredfalsekeys。Hedidnotgranttowomentherightofrepudiatingtheirhusbands。Plutarch[24]callsthisalawextremelysevere。
AstheAthenianlaw[25]gavethepowerofrepudiationtothewifeaswellastothehusband，andasthisrightwasobtainedbythewomenamongtheprimitiveRomans，notwithstandingthelawofRomulus，itisevidentthatthisinstitutionwasoneofthosewhichthedeputiesofRomebroughtfromAthens，andwhichwereinsertedinthelawsoftheTwelveTables。
CicerosaysthatthereasonsofrepudiationsprangfromthelawoftheTwelveTables。[26]WecannotthendoubtbutthatthislawincreasedthenumberofthereasonsforrepudiationestablishedbyRomulus。
Thepowerofdivorcewasalsoanappointment，oratleastaconsequence，ofthelawoftheTwelveTables。Forfromthemomentthatthewifeorthehusbandhadseparatelytherightofrepudiation，therewasamuchstrongerreasonfortheirhavingthepowerofquittingeachotherbymutualconsent。
Thelawdidnotrequirethattheyshouldlayopenthecausesofdivorce[27]Inthenatureofthething，thereasonsforrepudiationshouldbegiven，whilethoseforadivorceareunnecessary；because，whatevercausesthelawmayadmitassufficienttobreakamarriage，amutualantipathymustbestrongerthanthemall。
Thefollowingfact，mentionedbyDionysiusHalicarnassus，[28]ValeriusMaximus，[29]andAulusGellius，[30]doesnotappeartometohavetheleastdegreeofprobability：thoughtheyhadatRome，saythey，thepowerofrepudiatingawife，yettheyhadsomuchrespectfortheauspicesthatnobodyforthespaceoffivehundredandtwentyyearsevermade[31]useofthisright，tillCarviliusRugarepudiatedhis，becauseofhersterility。Weneedonlybesensibleofthenatureofthehumanmindtoperceivehowveryextraordinaryitmustbeforalawtograntsuchrighttoawholenation，andyetfornobodytomakeuseofit。
Coriolanus，settingoutonhisexile，advisedhis[32]wifetomarryamanmorehappythanhimself。WehavejustbeenseeingthatthelawoftheTwelveTablesandthemannersoftheRomansgreatlyextendedthelawofRomulus。Buttowhatpurposeweretheseextensionsiftheynevermadeuseofapowertorepudiate？Besides，ifthecitizenshadsucharespectfortheauspicesthattheywouldneverrepudiate，howcamethelegislatorsofRometohavelessthanthey？Andhowcamethelawsincessantlytocorrupttheirmanners？
第25章