首页 >出版文学> The Spirit of Laws>第6章
  Indespoticstates,eachhouseisaseparategovernment。Aseducation,therefore,consistschieflvinsocialconverse,itmustbehereverymuchlimited;allitdoesistostriketheheartwithfear,andtoimprintontheunderstandingaverysimplenotionofafewprinciplesofreligion。Learninghereprovesdangerous,emulationfatal;andastovirtue,Aristotle[3]cannotthinkthatthereisanyonevirtuebelongingtoslaves;ifso,educationindespoticcountriesisconfinedwithinaverynarrowcompass。
  Here,therefore,educationisinsomemeasureneedless:togivesomething,onemusttakeawayeverything,andbeginwithmakingabadsubjectinordertomakeagoodslave。
  Forwhyshouldeducationtakepainsinformingagoodcitizen,onlytomakehimshareinthepublicmisery?Ifheloveshiscountry,hewillstrivetorelaxthespringsofgovernment;ifhemiscarrieshewillbeundone;ifhesucceeds,hemustexposehimself,theprince,andhiscountrytoruin。
  4。DifferencebetweentheEffectsofAncientandModernEducation。Mostoftheancientslivedundergovernmentsthathadvirtuefortheirprinciple;andwhenthiswasinfullvigourtheyperformedactionsunusualinourtimes,andatwhichournarrowmindsareastonished。
  Anotheradvantagetheireducationpossessedoverourswasthatitnevercouldbeeffacedbycontraryimpressions。Epaminondas,thelastyearofhislife,said,heard,beheld,andperformedtheverysamethingsasattheageinwhichhereceivedthefirstprinciplesofhiseducation。
  Inourdayswereceivethreedifferentorcontraryeducations,namely,ofourparents,ofourmasters,andoftheworld。Whatwelearninthelattereffacesalltheideasoftheformer。This,insomemeasure,arisesfromthecontrastweexperiencebetweenourreligiousandworldlyengagements,athingunknowntotheancients。
  5。OfEducationinaRepublicanGovernment。Itisinarepublicangovernmentthatthewholepowerofeducationisrequired。Thefearofdespoticgovernmentsnaturallyarisesofitselfamidstthreatsandpunishments;thehonourofmonarchiesisfavouredbythepassions,andfavourstheminitsturn;butvirtueisaself—renunciation,whichiseverarduousandpainful。
  Thisvirtuemaybedefinedastheloveofthelawsandofourcountry。
  Assuchloverequiresaconstantpreferenceofpublictoprivateinterest,itisthesourceofallprivatevirtues;fortheyarenothingmorethanthisverypreferenceitself。
  Thisloveispeculiartodemocracies。Inthesealonethegovernmentisentrustedtoprivatecitizens。Nowagovernmentislikeeverythingelse:
  topreserveitwemustloveit。
  Hasiteverbeenknownthatkingswerenotfondofmonarchy,orthatdespoticprinceshatedarbitrarypower?
  Everythingthereforedependsonestablishingthisloveinarepublic;
  andtoinspireitoughttobetheprincipalbusinessofeducation:butthesurestwayofinstillingitintochildrenisforparentstosetthemanexample。
  Peoplehaveitgenerallyintheirpowertocommunicatetheirideastotheirchildren;buttheyarestillbetterabletotransfusetheirpassions。
  Ifithappensotherwise,itisbecausetheimpressionsmadeathomeareeffacedbythosetheyhavereceivedabroad。
  Itisnottheyoungpeoplethatdegenerate;theyarenotspoiledtillthoseofmatureragearealreadysunkintocorruption。
  6。OfsomeInstitutionsamongtheGreeks。TheancientGreeks,convincedofthenecessitythatpeoplewholiveunderapopulargovernmentshouldbetraineduptovirtue,madeverysingularinstitutionsinordertoinspireit。UponseeinginthelifeofLycurgusthelawsthatlegislatorgavetotheLaced?monians,IimagineIamreadingthehistoryoftheSevarambes。ThelawsofCretewerethemodelofthoseofSparta;andthoseofPlatoreformedthem。
  Letusreflectherealittleontheextensivegeniuswithwhichthoselegislatorsmusthavebeenendowed,toperceivethatbystrikingatreceivedcustoms,andbyconfoundingallmannerofvirtues,theyshoulddisplaytheirwisdomtotheuniverse。Lycurgus,byblendingtheftwiththespiritofjustice,thehardestservitudewithexcessofliberty,themostrigidsentimentswiththegreatestmoderation,gavestabilitytohiscity。Heseemedtodepriveherofallresources,suchasarts,commerce,money,andwalls;ambitionprevailedamongthecitizenswithouthopesofimprovingtheirfortune;theyhadnaturalsentimentswithoutthetieofason,husband,orfather;andchastitywasstrippedevenofmodestyandshame。ThiswastheroadthatledSpartatograndeurandglory;andsoinfallibleweretheseinstitutions,thatitsignifiednothingtogainavictoryoverthatrepublicwithoutsubvertingherpolity。[4]
  BytheselawsCreteandLaconiaweregoverned。SpartawasthelastthatfellapreytotheMacedonians,andCretetotheRomans。[5]
  TheSamniteshadthesameinstitutions,whichfurnishedthoseveryRomanswiththesubjectoffour—and—twentytriumphs。[6]
  AcharactersoextraordinaryintheinstitutionsofGreecehasshownitselflatelyinthedregsandcorruptionsofmoderntimes。[7]AveryhonestlegislatorhasformedapeopletowhomprobityseemsasnaturalasbraverytotheSpartans。Mr。PennisarealLycurgus:andthoughtheformermadepeacehisprincipalaim,asthelatterdidwar,yettheyresembleoneanotherinthesingularwayoflivingtowhichtheyreducedtheirpeople,intheascendanttheyhadoverfreemen,intheprejudicestheyovercame,andinthepassionswhichtheysubdued。
  AnotherexamplewehavefromParaguay。Thishasbeenthesubjectofaninvidiouschargeagainstasocietythatconsidersthepleasureofcommandingastheonlyhappinessinlife:butitwillbeeveragloriousundertakingtorenderagovernmentsubservienttohumanhappiness。[8]
  Itisgloriousindeedforthissocietytohavebeenthefirstinpointingouttothosecountriestheideaofreligionjoinedwiththatofhumanity。ByrepairingthedevastationsoftheSpaniards,shehasbeguntohealoneofthemostdangerouswoundsthatthehumanspecieseverreceived。
  Anexquisitesensibilitytowhatevershedistinguishesbythenameofhonour,joinedtoherzealforareligionwhichisfarmorehumblinginrespecttothosewhoreceivethantothosewhopreachitsdoctrines,hassetheruponvastundertakings,whichshehasaccomplishedwithsuccess。
  Shehasdrawnwildpeoplefromtheirwoods,securedthemamaintenance,andclothedtheirnakedness;andhadsheonlybythisstepimprovedtheindustryofmankind,itwouldhavebeensufficienttoeterniseherfame。
  TheywhoshallattempthereaftertointroducelikeinstitutionsmustestablishthecommunityofgoodsasprescribedinPlato’srepublic;thathighrespectherequiredforthegods;thatseparationfromstrangers,forthepreservationofmorals;andanextensivecommercecarriedonbythecommunity,andnotbyprivatecitizens:theymustgiveourartswithoutourluxury,andourwantswithoutourdesires。
  Theymustproscribemoney,theeffectsofwhicharetoswellpeople’sfortunesbeyondtheboundsprescribedbynature;tolearntopreservefornopurposewhathasbeenidlyhoardedup;tomultiplywithoutendourdesires;andtosupplythesterilityofnature,fromwhomwehavereceivedveryscantymeansofinflamingourpassions,andofcorruptingeachother。
  "TheEpidamnians,[9]perceivingtheirmoralsdepravedbyconversingwithbarbarians,choseamagistrateformakingallcontractsandsalesinthenameandbehalfofthecity。"Commercethendoesnotcorrupttheconstitution,andtheconstitutiondoesnotdeprivesocietyoftheadvantagesofcommerce。
  7。InwhatCasesthesesingularInstitutionsmaybeofService。
  Institutionsofthiskindmaybeproperinrepublics,becausetheyhavevirtuefortheirprinciple;buttoexcitementohonourinmonarchies,ortoinspirefearindespoticgovernments,lesstroubleisnecessary。
  Besides,theycantakeplacebutinasmallstate,[10]inwhichthereisapossibilityofgeneraleducation,andoftrainingupthebodyofthepeoplelikeasinglefamily。
  ThelawsofMinos,ofLycurgus,andofPlatosupposeaparticularattentionandcare,whichthecitizensoughttohaveoveroneanother’sconduct。Butanattentionofthiskindcannotbeexpectedintheconfusionandmultitudeofaffairsinwhichalargenationisentangled。
  Ininstitutionsofthiskind,money,aswehaveaboveobserved,mustbebanished。Butingreatsocieties,themultiplicity,variety,embarrassment,andimportanceofaffairs,aswellasthefacilityofpurchasing,andtheslownessofexchange,requireacommonmeasure。Inordertosupportorextendourpower,wemustbepossessedofthemeanstowhich,bytheunanimousconsentofmankind,thispowerisannexed。
  8。ExplanationofaParadoxoftheAncientsinrespecttoManners。Thatjudiciouswriter,Polybius,informsusthatmusicwasnecessarytosoftenthemannersoftheArcadians,wholivedinacold,gloomycountry;thattheinhabitantsofCynete,whoslightedmusic,werethecruellestofalltheGreeks,andthatnoothertownwassoimmersedinluxuryanddebauchery。Plato[11]isnotafraidtoaffirmthatthereisnopossibilityofmakingachangeinmusicwithoutalteringtheframeofgovernment。Aristotle,whoseemstohavewrittenhisPoliticsonlyinordertocontradictPlato,agreeswithhim,notwithstanding,inregardtothepowerandinfluenceofmusicoverthemannersofthepeople。[12]
  ThiswasalsotheopinionofTheophrastus,ofPlutarch[13]andofalltheancients——anopiniongroundedonmaturereflection;beingoneoftheprinciplesoftheirpolity。[14]Thusitwastheyenactedlaws,andthustheyrequiredthatcitiesshouldbegoverned。
  ThisIfancymustbeexplainedinthefollowingmanner。ItisobservablethatinthecitiesofGreece,especiallythosewhose。principalobjectwaswar,alllucrativeartsandprofessionswereconsideredunworthyofafreeman。"Mostarts,"saysXenophon,[15]"corruptandenervatethebodiesofthosethatexercisethem;theyobligethemtositintheshade,ornearthefire。Theycanfindnoleisure,eitherfortheirfriendsorfortherepublic。"Itwasonlybythecorruptionofsomedemocraciesthatartisansbecamefreemen。ThiswelearnfromAristotle,[16]whomaintainsthatawell—regulatedrepublicwillnevergivethemtherightandfreedomofthecity。[17]
  Agriculturewaslikewiseaservileprofession,andgenerallypractisedbytheinhabitantsofconqueredcountries,suchastheHelotesamongtheLaced?monians,thePerieciansamongtheCretans,thePenestesamongtheThessalians,andotherconquered[18]peopleinotherrepublics。
  Infine,everykindoflowcommerce[19]wasinfamousamongtheGreeks;
  asitobligedacitizentoserveandwaitonaslave,onalodger,orastranger。ThiswasanotionthatclashedwiththespiritofGreekliberty;hencePlato[20]inhisLawsordersacitizentobepunishedifheattemptstoconcernhimselfwithtrade。
  ThusintheGreekrepublicsthemagistrateswereextremelyembarrassed。
  Theywouldnothavethecitizensapplythemselvestotrade,toagriculture,ortothearts,andyettheywouldnothavethemidle。[21]
  Theyfound,therefore,employmentforthemingymnicandmilitaryexercises;andnoneelsewereallowedbytheirinstitution。[22]HencetheGreeksmustbeconsideredasasocietyofwrestlersandboxers。Now,theseexerciseshavinganaturaltendencytorenderpeoplehardyandfierce,therewasanecessityfortemperingthemwithothersthatmightsoftentheirmanners。[23]Forthispurpose,music,whichinfluencesthemindbymeansofthecorporealorgans,wasextremelyproper。Itisakindofmediumbetweenmanlyexercises,whichhardenthebody,andspeculativesciences,whichareapttorenderusunsociableandsour。Itcannotbesaidthatmusicinspiredvirtue,forthiswouldbeinconceivable:butitpreventedtheeffectsofasavageinstitution,andenabledthesoultohavesuchashareintheeducationasitcouldneverhavehadwithouttheassistanceofharmony。
  Letussupposeamongourselvesasocietyofmensopassionatelyfondofhuntingastomakeittheirsoleemployment;theywoulddoubtlesscontracttherebyakindofrusticityandfierceness。Butiftheyhappentoimbibeatasteformusic,weshouldquicklyperceiveasensibledifferenceintheircustomsandmanners。Inshort,theexercisesusedbytheGreekscouldraisebutonekindofpassions,viz。,fierceness,indignation,andcruelty。Butmusicexcitesallthese;andislikewiseabletoinspirethesoulwithasenseofpity,lenity,tenderness,andlove。Ourmoralwriters,whodeclaimsovehementlyagainstthestage,sufficientlydemonstratethepowerofmusicoverthemind。
  Ifthesocietyabovementionedweretohavenoothermusicthanthatofdrums,andthesoundofthetrumpet,woulditnotbemoredifficulttoaccomplishthisendthanbythemoremeltingtonesofsofterharmony?
  Theancientswerethereforeintherightwhen,underparticularcircumstances,theypreferredonemodetoanotherinregardtomanners。
  Butsomewillask,whyshouldmusicbepitcheduponaspreferabletoanyotherentertainment?Itisbecauseofallsensiblepleasuresthereisnonethatlesscorruptsthesoul。WeblushtoreadinPlutarch[24]thattheThebans,inordertosoftenthemannersoftheiryouth,authorisedbylawapassionwhichoughttobeproscribedbyallnations。
  ______
  1。Seed’Aubigny’sHistory。
  2。Wementionherewhatactuallyis,andnotwhatoughttobe;honourisaprejudice,whichreligionsometimesendeavourstoremove,andatothertimestoregulate。
  3。Politics,i。13。
  4。PhilopoemenobligedtheLaced?monianstochangetheirmannerofeducatingtheirchildren,beingconvincedthatifhedidnottakethismeasuretheywouldalwaysbenotedfortheirmagnanimity。——Plutarch,Philopoemen。SeeLivy,xxxviii。
  5。Shedefendedherlawsandlibertyforthespaceofthreeyears。Seethe98th,99th,and100thbookofLivy,inFlorus’sepitome。Shemadeabraverresistancethanthegreatestkings。
  6。Florus,i。16。
  7。InfeceRomuli。——Cicero,LetterstoAtticus,ii。1。
  8。TheIndiansofParaguaydonotdependonanyparticularlord;theypayonlyafifthofthetaxes,andareallowedtheuseoffirearmstodefendthemselves。
  9。PlutarchinhisQuestionsConcerningtheGreekAffairs,xxix。
  10。SuchaswereformerlythecitiesofGreece。
  11。Republic,iv。
  12。Politics,viii。5。
  13。Pelopidas。
  14。Plato,inhisseventhbookofLaws,saysthatthepr?fecturesofmusicandgymnicexercisesarethemostimportantemploymentsinthecity;and,inhisRepublic,iii,Damonwilltellyou,sayshe,whatsoundsarecapableofcorruptingthemindwithbasesentiments,orofinspiringthecontraryvirtues。
  15。Memorabilia,v。
  16。Politics,iii。4。
  17。Diophantes,saysAristotle,Politics,ii。7,madealawformerlyatAthens,thatartisansshouldbeslavestotherepublic。
  18。Plato,likewise,andAristotlerequireslavestotilltheland,Laws,viii。Politics,vii。10。Trueitisthatagriculturewasnoteverywhereexercisedbyslaves:onthecontrary,Aristotleobservesthebestrepublicswerethoseinwhichthecitizensthemselvestilledtheland:butthiswasbroughtaboutbythecorruptionoftheancientgovernments,whichhadbecomedemocratic:forinearliertimesthecitiesofGreeceweresubjecttoanaristocraticgovernment。
  19。Cauponatio。
  20。Bookv。
  21。Aristotle,Politics,vii—viii。
  22。Ibid。,viii。3。
  23。AristotleobservesthatthechildrenoftheLaced?monians,whobegantheseexercisesataverytenderage,contractedthencetoogreataferocityandrudenessofbehaviour。——Ibid。,viii。4。
  24。Pelopidas。
  BookV。ThattheLawsGivenbytheLegislatorOughttoBeinRelationtothePrincipleofGovernment1。IdeaofthisBook。Thatthelawsofeducationshouldrelatetotheprincipleofeachgovernmenthasbeenshownintheprecedingbook。Nowthesamemaybesaidofthosewhichthelegislatorgivestothewholesociety。Therelationoflawstothisprinciplestrengthenstheseveralspringsofgovernment;andthisprinciplederivesthence,initsturn,anewdegreeofvigour。Andthusitisinmechanics,thatactionisalwaysfollowedbyreaction。
  Ourdesignis,toexaminethisrelationineachgovernment,beginningwiththerepublicanstate,theprincipleofwhichisvirtue。
  2。WhatismeantbyVirtueinapoliticalState。Virtueinarepublicisamostsimplething:itisaloveoftherepublic;itisasensation,andnotaconsequenceofacquiredknowledge:asensationthatmaybefeltbythemeanestaswellasbythehighestpersoninthestate。Whenthecommonpeopleadoptgoodmaxims,theyadheretothemmoresteadilythanthosewhomwecallgentlemen。Itisveryrarelythatcorruptioncommenceswiththeformer:nay,theyfrequentlyderivefromtheirimperfectlightastrongerattachmenttotheestablishedlawsandcustoms。
  Theloveofourcountryisconducivetoapurityofmorals,andthelatterisagainconducivetotheformer。Thelessweareabletosatisfyourprivatepassions,themoreweabandonourselvestothoseofageneralnature。Howcomesitthatmonksaresofondoftheirorder?Itisowingtotheverycausethatrenderstheorderinsupportable。Theirruledebarsthemfromallthosethingsbywhichtheordinarypassionsarefed;thereremainsthereforeonlythispassionfortheveryrulethattormentsthem。Themoreaustereitis,thatis,themoreitcurbstheirinclinations,themoreforceitgivfestotheonlypassionleftthem。
  3。WhatismeantbyaLoveoftheRepublicinaDemocracy。Aloveoftherepublicinademocracyisaloveofthedemocracy;asthelatteristhatofequality。
  Aloveofthedemocracyislikewisethatoffrugality。Sinceeveryindividualoughtheretoenjoythesamehappinessandthesameadvantages,theyshouldconsequentlytastethesamepleasuresandformthesamehopes,whichcannotbeexpectedbutfromageneralfrugality。
  Theloveofequalityinademocracylimitsambitiontothesoledesire,tothesolehappiness,ofdoinggreaterservicestoourcountrythantherestofourfellow—citizens。Theycannotallrenderherequalservices,buttheyalloughttoserveherwithequalalacrity。Atourcomingintotheworld,wecontractanimmensedebttoourcountry,whichwecanneverdischarge。
  Hencedistinctionsherearisefromtheprincipleofequality,evenwhenitseemstoberemovedbysignalservicesorsuperiorabilities。
  Theloveoffrugalitylimitsthedesireofhavingtothestudyofprocuringnecessariestoourfamily,andsuperfluitiestoourcountry。
  Richesgiveapowerwhichacitizencannotuseforhimself,forthenhewouldbenolongerequal。Theylikewiseprocurepleasureswhichheoughtnottoenjoy,becausethesewouldbealsorepugnanttotheequality。
  Thuswell—regulateddemocracies,byestablishingdomesticfrugality,madewayatthesametimeforpublicexpenses,aswasthecaseatRomeandAthens,whenmagnificenceandprofusionarosefromtheveryfundoffrugality。Andasreligioncommandsustohavepureandunspottedhandswhenwemakeourofferingstothegods,thelawsrequiredafrugalityoflifetoenablethemtobeliberaltoourcountry。
  Thegoodsenseandhappinessofindividualsdependgreatlyuponthemediocrityoftheirabilitiesandfortunes。Therefore,asarepublic,wherethelawshaveplacedmanyinamiddlingstation,iscomposedofwisemen,itwillbewiselygoverned;asitiscomposedofhappymen,itwillbeextremelyhappy。
  4。InwhatMannertheLoveofEqualityandFrugalityisinspired。Theloveofequalityandofafrugaleconomyisgreatlyexcitedbyequalityandfrugalitythemselves,insocietieswhereboththesevirtuesareestablishedbylaw。
  Inmonarchiesanddespoticgovernments,nobodyaimsatequality;thisdoesnotsomuchasentertheirthoughts;theyallaspiretosuperiority。Peopleoftheverylowestconditiondesiretoemergefromtheirobscurity,onlytolorditovertheirfellow—subjects。
  Itisthesamewithrespecttofrugality。Toloveit,wemustpractiseandenjoyit。Itisnotthosewhoareenervatedbypleasurethatarefondofafrugallife;werethisnaturalandcommon,Alcibiadeswouldneverhavebeentheadmirationoftheuniverse。Neitherisitthosewhoenvyoradmiretheluxuryofthegreat;peoplethathavepresenttotheirviewnonebutrichmen,ormenmiserablelikethemselves,detesttheirwretchedcondition,withoutlovingorknowingtherealtermorpointofmisery。
  Atruemaximitis,therefore,thatinordertoloveequalityandfrugalityinarepublic,thesevirtuesmusthavebeenpreviouslyestablishedbylaw。
  5。InwhatMannertheLawsestablishEqualityinaDemocracy。Someancientlegislators,asLycurgusandRomulus,madeanequaldivisionoflands。Asettlementofthiskindcannevertakeplaceexceptuponthefoundationofanewrepublic;orwhentheoldoneissocorrupt,andthemindsofthepeoplearesodisposed,thatthepoorthinkthemselvesobligedtodemand,andtherichobligedtoconsenttoaremedyofthisnature。
  Ifthelegislator,inmakingadivisionofthiskind,doesnotenactlawsatthesametimetosupportit,heformsonlyatemporaryconstitution;inequalitywillbreakinwherethelawshavenotprecludedit,andtherepublicwillbeutterlyundone。
  Henceforthepreservationofthisequalityitisabsolutelynecessarythereshouldbesomeregulationinrespecttowomen’sdowries,donations,successions,testamentarysettlements,andallotherformsofcontracting。Forwereweonceallowedtodisposeofourpropertytowhomandhowwepleased,thewillofeachindividualwoulddisturbtheorderofthefundamentallaw。
  Solon,bypermittingtheAthenians,uponfailureofissue[1]toleavetheirestatestowhomtheypleased,actedcontrarytotheancientlaws,bywhichtheestateswereorderedtocontinueinthefamilyofthetestator;[2]andevencontrarytohisownlaws,forbyabolishingdebtshehadaimedatequality。
  Thelawwhichprohibitedpeoplehavingtwoinheritances[3]wasextremelywelladaptedforademocracy。Itderiveditsoriginfromtheequaldistributionoflandsandportionsmadetoeachcitizen。Thelawwouldnotpermitasinglemantopossessmorethanasingleportion。
  Fromthesamesourcearosethoselawsbywhichthenextrelativewasorderedtomarrytheheiress。ThislawwasgiventotheJewsafterthelikedistribution。Plato,[4]whogroundshislawsonthisdivision,madethesameregulationwhichhadbeenreceivedasalawbytheAthenians。
  AtAthenstherewasalawwhosespirit,inmyopinion,hasnotbeenhithertorightlyunderstood。Itwaslawfultomarryasisteronlybythefather’sside,butitwasnotpermittedtoespouseasisterbythesameventer。[5]Thiscustomwasoriginallyowingtorepublics,whosespiritwouldnotpermitthattwoportionsofland,andconsequentlytwoinheritances,shoulddevolveonthesameperson。Amanwhomarriedhissisteronlybythefather’ssidecouldinheritbutoneestate,namely,thatofhisfather;butbyespousinghissisterbythesameventer,itmighthappenthatthissister’sfather,havingnomaleissue,mightleaveherhisestate,andconsequentlythebrotherwhomarriedhermightbepossessedoftwo。
  LittlewillitavailtoobjecttowhatPhilosays,[6]thatalthoughtheAthenianswereallowedtomarryasisterbythefather’sside,andnotbythemother’s,yetthecontrarypracticeprevailedamongtheLaced?monians,whowerepermittedtoespouseasisterbythemother’sside,andnotbythefather’s。ForIfindinStrabo[7]thatatSparta,wheneverawomanwasmarriedtoherbrothershehadhalfhisportionforherdowry。Plainisitthatthissecondlawwasmadeinordertopreventthebadconsequencesoftheformer。Thattheestatebelongingtothesister’sfamilymightnotdevolveonthebrother’s,theygavehalfthebrother’sestatetothesisterforherdowry。
  Seneca[8]speakingofSilanus,whohadmarriedhissister,saysthatthepermissionwaslimitedatAthens,butgeneralatAlexandria。Inamonarchicalgovernmenttherewasverylittleconcernaboutanysuchthingasadivisionofestates。
  Excellentwasthatlawwhich,inordertomaintainthisdivisionoflandsinademocracy,ordainedthatafatherwhohadseveralchildrenshouldpitchupononeofthemtoinherithisportion,[9]andleavetheotherstobeadopted,totheendthatthenumbersofcitizensmightalwaysbekeptuponanequalitywiththatofthedivisions。