of an old man (8) 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 incumbent on 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 (9) in his behalf. Such a one might select
some woman, the wife of some man, well born herself and blest with fair
offspring, and, the sanction and consent of her husband first obtained,
raise up children for himself through her.

(6) "The bride to be wooed and won." The phrase {agesthai} perhaps
points to some primitive custom of capturing and carrying off the
bride, but it had probably become conventional.

(7) Cf. Plut. "Lycurg," 15 (Clough, i. 101). "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."

(8) Cf. Plut. "Lycurg." 15 (Clough, i. 103).

(9) Or, "established a custom to suit the case."

These and many other adaptations of a like sort the lawgiver sanctioned.
As, for instance, at Sparta a wife will not object to bear the burden
of a double establishment, (10) 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.

(10) Cf. Plut. "Comp. of Numa with Lycurgus," 4; "Cato mi." 25
(Clough, i. 163; iv. 395).

So opposed to those of the rest of the world are the principles which
Lycurgus devised in reference to the production of children. Whether
they enabled him to provide Sparta with a race of men superior to all in
size and strength I leave to the judgment of whomsoever it may concern.

II

With this exposition of the customs in connection with the birth of
children, I wish now to explain the systems of education in fashion here
and elsewhere. Throughout the rest of Hellas the custom on the part of
those who claim to educate their sons in the best way is as follows. As
soon as the children are of an age to understand what is said to them
they are immediately placed under the charge of Paidagogoi (1) (or
tutors), who ar