______
1。St。Cyril’sLetter。
2。ThisdoesnotcontradictwhatIhavesaidinthelastchapteroftheprecedingbook：Iherespeakofthemotivesofattachmentofreligion，andthereofthemeansofrenderingitmoregeneral。
3。Thishasbeenremarkedoveralltheworld。See，astotheTurks，theMissionsoftheLevant；theCollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，iii，partI，p。201ontheMoorsofBatavia；andFatherLabatontheMahometanNegroes，&c。
4。TheChristianandtheIndianreligions：thesehaveahellandaparadise，whichthereligionofSintoshasnot。
5。EnteringthemosqueofBochara，hetooktheKoran，andthrewitunderhishorse’sfeet。——HistoryoftheTartars，partIII，p。273。
6。Ibid。，p。342。
7。ThisdispositionofmindhasbeencommunicatedtotheJapanese，who，asitmaybeeasilyproved，derivetheiroriginfromtheTartars。
8。Annals，iii。60。
9。Numb。，35，14。
10。Ibid。，16，ff。
11。DeAbstinentiaanimal，ii，§5。
12。LiliusGiraldus，p。726。
13。ApeopleofSiberia。SeetheaccountgivenbyMr。EverardYsbrantIdes，intheCollectionofTravelstotheNorth，viii。
14。Mr。Hyde。
15。Laws，x。
16。Rogumvinonerespergito——LawoftheTwelveTables。
17。CiceroderivestheseappropriatewordsfromPlato，Laws，xii。——ED。
18。Laws，iv。
19。IdonotmeantospeakinthischapteroftheChristianreligion；
for，asIhaveelsewhereobserved，theChristianreligionisourchiefblessing。Seetheendoftheprecedingchapter，andtheDefenceoftheSpiritofLaws，partII。
20。IntheCollectionofVoyagesthatContributedtotheEstablishmentoftheEastIndiaCompany，v，part1，p。192。
21。ThesourceoftheblindnessoftheJewsistheirnotperceivingthattheeconomyoftheGospelisintheorderofthedecreesofGodandthatitisinthislightaconsequenceofhisimmutability。
22。Bookvi。13。
23。SeeKempfer。
24。Forbin，Memoirs。
25。HistoryoftheTartars，partV。
26。Pirard，Travels，27。
BookXXVI。OfLawsinRelationtotheOrderofThingsWhichTheyDetermine1。IdeaofthisBook。Menaregovernedbyseveralkindsoflaws；bythelawofnature；bythedivinelaw，whichisthatofreligion；byecclesiastical，otherwisecalledcanonlaw，whichisthatofreligiouspolity；bythelawofnations，whichmaybeconsideredasthecivillawofthewholeglobe，inwhichsenseeverynationisacitizen；bythegeneralpoliticallaw，whichrelatestothathumanwisdomwhenceallsocietiesderivetheirorigin；bytheparticularpoliticallaw，theobjectofwhichiseachsociety；bythelawofconquestfoundedonthis，thatonenationhasbeenwillingandable，orhashadarighttoofferviolencetoanother；bythecivillawofeverysociety，bywhichacitizenmaydefendhispossessionsandhislifeagainsttheattacksofanyothercitizen；infine，bydomesticlaw，whichproceedsfromasociety’sbeingdividedintoseveralfamilies，allwhichhaveneedofaparticulargovernment。
Therearethereforedifferentordersoflaws，andthesublimityofhumanreasonconsistsinperfectlyknowingtowhichoftheseordersthethingsthataretobedeterminedoughttohaveaprincipalrelation，andnottothrowintoconfusionthoseprincipleswhichshouldgovernmankind。
2。OfLawsdivineandhuman。Weoughtnottodecidebydivinelawswhatshouldbedecidedbyhumanlaws；nordeterminebyhumanwhatshouldbedeterminedbydivinelaws。
Thesetwosortsoflawsdifferintheirorigin，intheirobject，andintheirnature。
Itisuniversallyacknowledged，thathumanlawsare，intheirownnature，differentfromthoseofreligion；thisisanimportantprinciple：butthisprincipleisitselfsubjecttoothers，whichmustbeinquiredinto。
1。Itisinthenatureofhumanlawstobesubjecttoalltheaccidentswhichcanhappen，andtovaryinproportionasthewillofmanchanges；
onthecontrary，bythenatureofthelawsofreligion，theyarenevertovary。Humanlawsappointforsomegood；thoseofreligionforthebest：goodmayhaveanotherobject，becausetherearemanykindsofgood；butthebestisbutone；itcannotthereforechange。Wemayalterlaws，becausetheyarereputednomorethangood；buttheinstitutionsofreligionarealwayssupposedtobethebest。
2。Therearekingdomsinwhichthelawsareofnovalueastheydependonlyonthecapriciousandficklehumourofthesovereign。Ifinthesekingdomsthelawsofreligionwereofthesamenatureasthehumaninstitutions，thelawsofreligiontoowouldbeofnovalue。Itishowever，necessarytothesocietythatitshouldhavesomethingfixed；
anditisreligionthathasthisstability。
3。Theinfluenceofreligionproceedsfromitsbeingbelieved；thatofhumanlawsfromtheirbeingfeared。Antiquityaccordswithreligion，becausewehavefrequentlyafirmerbeliefinthingsinproportiontotheirdistance；forwehavenoideasannexedtothemdrawnfromthosetimeswhichcancontradictthem。Humanlaws，onthecontrary，receiveadvantagefromtheirnovelty，whichimpliestheactualandparticularattentionofthelegislatortoputtheminexecution。
3。OfcivilLawscontrarytotheLawofNature。Ifaslave，saysPlato，defendshimself，andkillsafreeman，heoughttobetreatedasaparricide。[1]Thisisacivillawwhichpunishesself—defence，thoughdictatedbynature。
ThelawofHenryVIIIwhichcondemnedamanwithoutbeingconfrontedbywitnesseswascontrarytoself—defence。Inordertopasssentenceofcondemnation，itisnecessarythatthewitnessesshouldknowwhetherthemanagainstwhomtheymaketheirdepositionishewhomtheyaccuse，andthatthismanbeatlibertytosay，"Iamnotthepersonyoumean。"
Thelawpassedduringthesamereign，whichcondemnedeverywoman，who，havingcarriedonacriminalcommercedidnotdeclareittothekingbeforeshemarriedhim，violatedtheregardduetonaturalmodesty。Itisasunreasonabletoobligeawomantomakethisdeclaration，astoobligeamannottoattemptthedefenceofhisownlife。
ThelawofHenryIIwhichcondemnedthewomantodeathwholostherchild，incaseshedidnotmakeknownherpregnancytothemagistrate，wasnotlesscontrarytoself—defence。Itwouldhavebeensufficienttoobligehertoinformoneofhernearestrelatives，whomightwatchoverthepreservationoftheinfant。
Whatotherinformationcouldshegiveinthissituation，sotorturingtonaturalmodesty？Educationhasheightenedthenotionofpreservingthatmodesty；andinthosecriticalmomentsscarcelyhassheanyidearemainingofthelossoflife。
TherehasbeenmuchtalkofalawinEnglandwhichpermittedgirlssevenyearsoldtochooseahusband。[2]Thislawwasshockingintwoways；ithadnoregardtothetimewhennaturegivesmaturitytotheunderstanding，nortothatinwhichshegivesmaturitytothebody。
AmongtheRomans，afathermightobligehisdaughtertorepudiateherhusband，thoughhehimselfhadconsentedtothemarriage。[3]Butitiscontrarytonatureforadivorcetobeinthepowerofathirdperson。
Adivorcecanbeagreeabletonatureonlywhenitisbyconsentofthetwoparties，oratleastofoneofthem；butwhenneitherconsentsitisamonstrousseparation。Inshort，thepowerofdivorcecanbegivenonlytothosewhofeeltheinconveniencesofmarriage，andwhoaresensibleofthemomentwhenitisfortheirinteresttomakethemcease。
4。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Gundebald，KingofBurgundy，decreedthatifthewifeorsonofapersonguiltyofrobberydidnotrevealthecrime，theyweretobecomeslaves。[4]Thiswascontrarytonature：awifetoinformagainstherhusband！asontoaccusehisfather！Toavengeonecriminalaction，theyordainedanotherstillmorecriminal。
ThelawofRecessuinthuspermitsthechildrenoftheadulteress，orthoseofherhusband，toaccuseher，andtoputtheslavesofthehousetothetorture。[5]Howiniquitousthelawwhich，topreserveapurityofmoralsoverturnsnature，theorigin，thesourceofallmorality！
Withpleasurewebeholdinourtheatresayoungheroexpressasmuchhorroragainstthediscoveryofhismother—in—law’sguilt，asagainsttheguiltitself。Inhissurprise，thoughaccused，judged，condemned，proscribed，andcoveredwithinfamy，hescarcelydarestoreflectontheabominablebloodwhencePh？drasprang；heabandonsthemosttenderobject，allthatismostdear，allthatliesnearesthisheart，allthatcanfillhimwithrage，todeliverhimselfuptotheunmeritedvengeanceofthegods。Itisnature’svoice，thesweetestofallsounds，thatinspiresuswiththispleasure。
5。CasesinwhichwemayjudgebythePrinciplesofthecivilLawinlimitingthePrinciplesoftheLawofNature。AnAthenianlawobligedchildrentoprovidefortheirfatherswhenfallenintopoverty；[6]itexceptedthosewhowerebornofacourtesan，[7]thosewhosechastityhadbeeninfamouslyprostitutedbytheirfather，andthosetowhomhehadnotgivenanymeansofgainingalivelihood。[8]
Thelawconsideredthat，inthefirstcase，thefatherbeinguncertain，hehadrenderedthenaturalobligationprecarious；thatinthesecond，hehadsulliedthelifehehadgiven，anddonethegreatestinjuryhecoulddotohischildrenindeprivingthemoftheirreputation；thatinthethird，hehadrenderedinsupportablealifewhichhadnomeansofsubsistence。Thelawsuspendedthenaturalobligationofchildrenbecausethefatherhadviolatedhis；itlookeduponthefatherandthesonasnomorethantwocitizens，anddeterminedinrespecttothemonlyfromcivilandpoliticalviews；everconsideringthatagoodrepublicoughttohaveaparticularregardtomanners。IamapttothinkthatSolon’slawwasawiseregulationinthefirsttwocases，whetherthatinwhichnaturehasleftthesoninignorancewithregardtohisfather，orthatinwhichsheevenseemstoordainheshouldnotownhim；butitcannotbeapprovedwithrespecttothethird，wherethefatherhadonlyviolatedacivilinstitution。
6。ThattheOrderofsuccessionorInheritancedependsonthePrinciplesofpoliticalorcivilLaw，andnotonthoseoftheLawofNature。TheVoconianlawordainedthatnowomanshouldbeleftheiresstoanestate，notevenifshehadanonlychild。Neverwastherealaw，saysSt。
Augustine，moreunjust。[9]AformulaofMarculfustreatsthatcustomasimpiouswhichdeprivesdaughtersoftherightofsucceedingtotheestateoftheirfathers。[10]Justiniangivestheappellationofbarbaroustotherightwhichthemaleshadformerlyofsucceedinginprejudicetothedaughters。[11]Thesenotionsproceededfromtheirhavingconsideredtherightofchildrentosucceedtotheirfather’spossessionsasaconsequenceofthelawofnature；whichitisnot。
Thelawofnatureordainsthatfathersshallprovidefortheirchildren；
butitdoesnotobligethemtomakethemtheirheirs。Thedivisionofproperty，thelawsofthisdivision，andthesuccessionafterthedeathofthepersonwhohashadthisdivisioncanberegulatedonlybythecommunity，andconsequentlybypoliticalorcivillaws。
Trueitisthatapoliticalorcivilorderfrequentlydemandsthatchildrenshouldsucceedtotheirfather’sestate；butitdoesnotalwaysmakethisnecessary。
Theremaybesomereasonsgivenwhythelawsofourfiefsappointthattheeldestofthemales，orthenearestrelativesofthemaleside，shouldhaveall，andthefemalesnothing，andwhy，bythelawsoftheLombards，[12]thesisters，thenaturalchildren，theotherrelatives；
and，intheirdefault，thetreasurymightsharetheinheritancewiththedaughters。
ItwasregulatedinsomeofthedynastiesofChinathatthebrothersoftheemperorshouldsucceedtothethrone，andthatthechildrenshouldnot。Iftheywerewillingthattheprinceshouldhaveacertaindegreeofexperience，iftheyfearedhisbeingtooyoung，andifithadbecomenecessarytopreventeunuchsfromplacingchildrensuccessivelyonthethrone，theymightveryjustlyestablishalikeorderofsuccession，andwhensomewritershavetreatedthesebrothersasusurpers，theyhavejudgedonlybyideasreceivedfromthelawsoftheirowncountries。[13]
AccordingtothecustomofNumidia，[14]Desalces，brotherofGala，succeededtothekingdom；notMassinissa，hisson。Andeventothisday，amongtheArabsinBarbary，whereeachvillagehasitschief，theyadheretothisancientcustom，bychoosingtheuncle，orsomeotherrelativetosucceed。[15]
Therearemonarchiesmerelyelective；andsinceitisevidentthattheorderofsuccessionoughttobederivedfromthepoliticalorcivillaws，itisforthesetodecideinwhatcasesitisagreeabletoreasonthatthesuccessionbegrantedtochildren，andinwhatcasesitoughttobegiventoothers。
Incountrieswherepolygamyisestablished，theprincehasmanychildren；andthenumberofthemismuchgreaterinsomeofthesecountriesthaninothers。Therearestates[16]whereitisimpossibleforthepeopletomaintainthechildrenoftheking；theymightthereforemakeitalawthatthecrownshalldevolve，notontheking’schildren，butonthoseofhissister。
Aprodigiousnumberofchildrenwouldexposethestatetothemostdreadfulcivilwars。Theorderofsuccessionwhichgivesthecrowntothechildrenofthesister，thenumberofwhomisnotlargerthanthoseofaprincewhohasonlyonewife，mustpreventtheseinconveniences。
Therearepeopleamongwhomreasonsofstate，orsomemaximsofreligion，havemadeitnecessarythatthecrownshouldbealwaysfixedinacertainfamily：hence，inIndia，proceedsthejealousyoftheirtribes，[17]andthefearoflosingthedescent；theyhavethereconceivedthatnevertowantprincesofthebloodroyal，theyoughttotakethechildrenoftheeldestsisteroftheking。
Ageneralmaxim：itisanobligationofthelawofnaturetoprovideforourchildren；buttomakethemoursuccessorsisanobligationofthecivilorpoliticallaw。Hencearederivedthedifferentregulationswithrespecttobastardsinthedifferentcountriesoftheworld；theseareaccordingtothecivilorpoliticallawsofeachcountry。
7。ThatweoughtnottodecidebythePreceptsofReligionwhatbelongsonlytotheLawofNature。TheAbassineshaveamostseverelentoffiftydays，whichweakensthemtosuchadegreethatforalongtimetheyareincapableofbusiness：theTurksdonotfailtoattackthemaftertheirlent。[18]Religionought，infavourofthenaturalrightofself—defence，tosetboundstothesecustoms。
TheJewswereobligedtokeeptheSabbath；butitwasaninstanceofgreatstupidityinthisnationnottodefendthemselveswhentheirenemieschosetoattackthemonthisday。[19]
Cambyses，layingsiegetoPelusium，setinthefirstrankagreatnumberofthoseanimalswhichtheEgyptiansregardedassacred；theconsequencewasthatthesoldiersofthegarrisondurstnotmolestthem。Whodoesnotseethatself—defenceisadutysuperiortoeveryprecept？
8。ThatweoughtnottoregulatebythePrinciplesofthecanonLawThingswhichshouldberegulatedbythoseofthecivilLaw。BythecivillawoftheRomans，[20]hewhotookathingprivatelyfromasacredplacewaspunishedonlyfortheguiltoftheft；bythecanonlaw，hewaspunishedforthecrimeofsacrilege。[21]Thecanonlawtakescognizanceoftheplace；thecivillawsofthefact。Buttoattendonlytotheplaceisneithertoreflectonthenatureanddefinitionofatheft，noronthenatureanddefinitionofsacrilege。
Asthehusbandmaydemandaseparationbyreasonoftheinfidelityofhiswife，thewifemightformerlydemanditonaccountoftheinfidelityofthehusband。[22]Thiscustom，contrarytoaregulationmadeintheRomanlaws，[23]wasintroducedintotheecclesiasticcourt，[24]wherenothingwasregardedbutthemaximsofcanonlaw；andindeed，ifweconsidermarriageasathingmerelyspiritual，andasrelatingonlytothethingsofanotherlife，theviolationisinbothcasesthesame，butthepoliticalandcivillawsofalmostallnationshave，withreason，madeadistinctionbetweenthem。Theyhaverequiredfromthewomenadegreeofreserveandcontinencywhichtheyhavenotexactedfromthemen，becauseinwomen，aviolationofchastitysupposesarenunciationofallvirtue；becausewomen，byviolatingthelawsofmarriage，quitthestateoftheirnaturaldependence；becausenaturehasmarkedtheinfidelityofwomenwithcertainsigns；and，infine，becausethechildrenofthewifeborninadulterynecessarilybelongandareanexpensetothehusband，whilethechildrenproducedbytheadulteryofthehusbandarenotthewife’s，norareanexpensetothewife。
9。ThatThingswhichoughttoberegulatedbythePrinciplesofcivilLawcanseldomberegulatedbythoseofReligion。Thelawsofreligionhaveagreatersublimity；thecivillawsagreaterextent。
Thelawsofperfectiondrawnfromreligionhavemoreinviewthegoodnessofthepersonthatobservesthemthanofthesocietyinwhichtheyareobserved；thecivillaws，onthecontrary，havemoreinviewthemoralgoodnessofmeningeneralthanthatofindividuals。
Thus，venerableasthoseideasarewhichimmediatelyspringfromreligion，theyoughtnotalwaystoserveasafirstprincipletothecivillaws；becausethesehaveanother，thegeneralwelfareofsociety。
TheRomansmaderegulationsamongthemselvestopreservethemoralsoftheirwomen；thesewerepoliticalinstitutions。Upontheestablishmentofmonarchy，theymadecivillawsonthishead，andformedthemontheprinciplesoftheircivilgovernment。WhentheChristianreligionbecamepredominant，thenewlawsthatwerethenmadehadlessrelationtothegeneralrectitudeofmoralsthantotheholinessofmarriage；theyhadlessregardtotheunionofthetwosexesinacivilthaninaspiritualstate。
Atfirst，bytheRomanlaw，ahusband，whobroughtbackhiswifeintohishouseaftershehadbeenfoundguiltyofadultery，waspunishedasanaccompliceinherdebauch。[25]Justinian，fromotherprinciples，ordainedthatduringthespaceoftwoyearshemightgoandtakeheragainoutofthemonastery。[26]
Formerly，whenawoman，whosehusbandwasgonetowar，heardnolongeranytidingsofhim，shemighteasilymarryagain，becauseshehadinherhandsthepowerofmakingadivorce。ThelawofConstantineobligedthewomantowaitfouryears，afterwhichshemightsendthebillofdivorcetothegeneral；and，ifherhusbandreturned，hecouldnotthenchargeherwithadultery。[27]ButJustiniandecreedthat，letthetimebeneversolongafterthedepartureofherhusband，sheshouldnotmarryunless，bythedepositionandoathofthegeneral，shecouldprovethedeathofherhusband。[28]Justinianhadinviewtheindissolubilityofmarriage；
butwemaysafelysaythathehadittoomuchinview。Hedemandedapositiveproofwhenanegativeonewassufficient；herequiredathingextremelydifficulttogive，anaccountofthefateofamanatagreatdistance，andexposedtosomanyaccidents；hepresumedacrime，thatis，adesertionofthehusband，whenitwassonaturaltopresumehisdeath。Heinjuredthecommonwealthbyobligingwomentoliveoutofmarriage；heinjuredindividualsbyexposingthemtoathousanddangers。
ThelawofJustinian，whichrankedamongthecausesofdivorcetheconsentofthehusbandandwifetoenterintoamonastery，wasentirelyoppositetotheprinciplesofthecivillaws。[29]Itisnaturalthatthecausesofdivorceshouldhavetheiroriginincertainimpedimentswhichcouldnotbeforeseenbeforemarriage；butthisdesireofpreservingchastitymightbeforeseen，sinceitisinourselves。Thislawfavoursinconstancyinastatewhichisbyitsverynatureperpetual；itshookthefundamentalprincipleofdivorce，whichpermitsthedissolutionofonemarriageonlyfromthehopeofanother。Inshort，ifweviewitinareligiouslight，itisnomorethangivingvictimstoGodwithoutasacrifice。
10。InwhatCaseweoughttofollowthecivilLawwhichpermits，andnottheLawofReligionwhichforbids。Whenareligionwhichprohibitspolygamyisintroducedintoacountrywhereitispermitted，wecannotbelieve（speakingonlyasapolitician）thatthelawsofthecountryoughttosufferamanwhohasmanywivestoembracethisreligion；
unlessthemagistrateorthehusbandshouldindemnifythem，byrestoringtheminsomewayorothertotheircivilstate。Withoutthistheirconditionwouldbedeplorable；nosoonerwouldtheyobeythelawsthantheywouldfindthemselvesdeprivedofthegreatestadvantagesofsociety。
11。ThathumanCourtsofJusticeshouldnotberegulatedbytheMaximsofthoseTribunalswhichrelatetotheOtherLife。Thetribunaloftheinquisition，formedbytheChristianmonksontheideaofthetribunalofpenitence，iscontrarytoallgoodpolicy。Ithaseverywheremetwithageneraldislike，andmusthavesunkundertheoppositionsitmetwith，ifthosewhowereresolvedtoestablishithadnotdrawnadvantagesevenfromtheseoppositions。
Thistribunalisinsupportableinallgovernments。Inmonarchies，itonlymakesinformersandtraitors；inrepublics，itonlyformsdishonestmen；inadespoticstate，itisasdestructiveasthegovernmentitself。
12。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Itisoneabuseofthistribunalthat，oftwopersonsaccusedofthesamecrime，hewhodeniesiscondemnedtodie；andhewhoconfessesavoidsthepunishment。Thishasitssourceinmonasticideas，wherehewhodeniesseemsinastateofimpenitenceanddamnation；andhewhoconfesses，inastateofrepentanceandsalvation。
Butadistinctionofthiskindcanhavenorelationtohumantribunals。
Humanjustice，whichseesonlytheactions，hasbutonecompactwithmen，namely，thatofinnocence；divinejustice，whichseesthethoughts，hastwo，thatofinnocenceandrepentance。
13。InwhatCases，withregardtoMarriage，weoughttofollowtheLawsofReligion；andinwhatCasesweshouldfollowthecivilLaws。Ithashappenedinallagesandcountries，thatreligionhasbeenblendedwithmarriages。Whencertainthingshavebeenconsideredasimpureorunlawful，andhadneverthelessbecomenecessary，theywereobligedtocallinreligiontolegitimateintheonecase，andtoreproveinothers。
Ontheotherhand，asmarriageisofallhumanactionsthatinwhichsocietyismostinterested，itbecameproperthatthisshouldberegulatedbythecivillaws。
Everythingwhichrelatestothenatureofmarriage，itsform，themannerofcontractingit，thefruitfulnessitoccasions，whichhasmadeallnationsconsideritastheobjectofaparticularbenediction，abenedictionwhich，notbeingalwaysannexedtoit，issupposedtodependoncertainsuperiorgraces；allthisiswithintheresortofreligion。
Theconsequencesofthisunionwithregardtoproperty，thereciprocaladvantages，everythingwhichhasarelationtothenewfamily，tothatfromwhichitsprang，andtothatwhichisexpectedtoarise；allthisrelatestothecivillaws。
Asoneofthegreatobjectsofmarriageistotakeawaythatuncertaintywhichattendsunlawfulconjunctions，religionherestampsitsseal，andthecivillawsjointheirstoit，totheendthatitmaybeasauthenticaspossible。Thus，besidestheconditionsrequiredbyreligiontomakeamarriagevalid，thecivillawsmaystillexactothers。
Thecivillawsreceivethispowerfromtheirbeingadditionalobligations，andnotcontradictoryones。Thelawofreligioninsistsuponcertainceremonies，thecivillawsontheconsentoffathers；inthiscase，theydemandsomethingmorethanthatofreligion，buttheydemandnothingcontrarytoit。
Itfollowshence，thatthereligiouslawmustdecidewhetherthebondbeindissolubleornot；forifthelawsofreligionhadmadethebondindissoluble，andthecivillawshaddeclareditmightbebroken，theywouldbecontradictorytoeachother。
Sometimestheregulationsmadebythecivillawswithrespecttomarriagearenotabsolutelynecessary；sucharethoseestablishedbythelaws，which，insteadofannullingthemarriage，onlypunishthosewhocontractit。
AmongtheRomans，thePapianlawdeclaredthosemarriagesillegalwhichhadbeenprohibited，andyetonlysubjectedthemtoapenalty；[30]butaSenatusConsultum，madeattheinstanceoftheEmperorMarcusAntoninus，declaredthemvoid；therethennolongersubsistedanysuchthingasamarriage，wife，dowry，orhusband。[31]Thecivillawsdetermineaccordingtocircumstances：sometimestheyaremostattentivetorepairtheevil；atothers，topreventit。
14。InwhatinstancesMarriagesbetweenRelativesshallberegulatedbytheLawsofNature：andinwhatinstancesbythecivilLaws。Withregardtotheprohibitionofmarriagebetweenrelatives，itisathingextremelydelicatetofixexactlythepointatwhichthelawsofnaturestopandwherethecivillawsbegin。Forthispurposewemustestablishsomeprinciples。
Themarriageofthesonwiththemotherconfoundsthestateofthings：
thesonoughttohaveanunlimitedrespectforhismother，thewifeanunlimitedrespectforherhusband；thereforethemarriageofthemothertohersonwouldsubvertthenaturalstateofboth。
Besides，naturehasforwardedinwomenthetimeinwhichtheyareabletohavechildren，buthasretardeditinmen；and，forthesamereason，womensoonerlosethisabilityandmenlater。Ifthemarriagebetweenthemotherandthesonwerepermitted，itwouldalmostalwaysbethecasethatwhenthehusbandwascapableofenteringintotheviewsofnature，thewifewouldbeincapable。
Themarriagebetweenthefatherandthedaughteriscontrarytonature，aswellastheother；butitisnotlesscontrary，becauseithasnotthesetwoobstacles。ThustheTartars，whomaymarrytheirdaughters，[32]nevermarrytheirmothers，asweseeintheaccountswehaveofthatnation。[33]
Ithaseverbeenthenaturaldutyoffatherstowatchoverthechastityoftheirchildren。Entrustedwiththecareoftheireducation，theyareobligedtopreservethebodyinthegreatestperfection，andthemindfromtheleastcorruption；toencouragewhateverhasatendencytoinspirethemwithvirtuousdesires，andtonourishabecomingtenderness。Fathers，alwaysemployedinpreservingthemoralsoftheirchildren，musthaveanaturalaversiontoeverythingthatcanrenderthemcorrupt。Marriage，youwillsay，isnotacorruption；butbeforemarriagetheymustspeak，theymustmaketheirpersonsbeloved，theymustseduce；itisthisseductionwhichoughttoinspireuswithhorror。