HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



363 



frequently the difpleafure of feeing her children little be- 

 loved by a father who did not give them birth : the new 

 huiband little refpe&ed by his children, who confidered 

 him as a ftranger ; and the children of each marriage as 

 difcordant among themfelves, as if they were born of dif- 

 ferent mothers. What better meafure could thofe na- 

 tions have adopted, than that of marrying widows with 

 their brothers-in-law. Many ancient nations of Europe, 

 imitated by not a few of the modern people of Afia and 

 Africa, bought their wives ; and, on that account, ex- 

 ercifed over them an authority greater than the Author 

 of nature has intended, and treated them more like flaves 

 than companions. The Mexicans did not obtain their 

 wives but by lawful and honourable pretenfions ; and 

 though they prefented gifts to the parents, thofe were 

 not given as a price for the daughter whom they court- 

 ed, but merely a piece of civility to gain their good will, 

 and difpofe the parents to the contract. The Romans, 

 although they did not fcruple to lend their wives (z), 

 had, notwithstanding, a right by law to take away their 

 lives whenever they found them out in adultery. This 

 iniquitous law, which made the hufband judge and ex- 

 ecutioner in his own caufe, inftead of hindering adulte- 

 ries, increafed parricides. Among the Mexicans, that 

 infamous commerce with wives was not permitted ; nor 

 had they any authority over their lives. He who took 

 away his wife's life, was, although he caught her in adul- 

 tery, puniflied with death. This, they faid, was to ufurp 

 the authority of the magiftrates, to whom it belonged to 

 take cognifance of crimes, and to chaftifc criminals ac- 

 cording 



(z) In Rome, fays Montefquieu, the hufband was permitted to lend his wife 

 to another perfon. It is known that Cato lent his wife to Hortenfius, and Cato 

 was incapable of violating the laws of his country. L:v. xxv. 



