^ Cf. Plut. Lycurg. 15 (Clough, i. loi). " In their marriages the husband

carried off his bride by a sort of force ; nor were their brides ever small and

of tender years, but in their full bloom and ripeness. "



cHili.Vr""} ORIGINALITY OF LYCURGUS'S LAWS 297

Or again, to meet the case which might occur of an old man ^
wedded to a young wife. Considering the jealous watch which
such husbands are apt to keep over their wives, he introduced
a directly opposite custom; that is to say, he made it in-
cumbent pn the aged husband to introduce some one whose
qualities, physical and moral, he admired, to play the husband's
part and to beget him children. Or again, in the case of a
man who might not desire to live with a wife permanently,
but yet might still be anxious to have children of his own
worthy the name, the lawgiver laid down a law ^ in his behalf
Such an one might select some woman, the wife of some man,
well born herself and blest with fair offspring, and, the sanction
and consent of heir husband first obtained, raise up children
for himself through her.
.-^ These and many other adaptations of a like sort the law-
giver sanctioned. As, for instance, at Sparta a wife will not
object to bear the burden of a double establishment,* or a
husband tO adopt sons as foster-brothers' of his own children,
with a full share in his family and position, but possessing no
claim to his wealth and property.
