the world: the womb of woman, a cow's udder, a
smith's moulding-block.

149. Three concealments upon which forfeiture does not close: a wife's
dowry, the food of a married couple, a boy's foster-fee.

150. Three contracts that are reversed by the decision of a judge: the
contracts of a woman, of a son, of a cottar.

151. Three that are incapable of special contracts[90]: a son whose
father is alive, a betrothed woman, the serf of a chief.

[90] Or, 'of contracts on their own behalf.'

152. Three sons that do not share inheritance: a son begotten in a
brake,[91] the son of a slave, the son of a girl still wearing tresses.

[91] Cf. the expression _meirdrech muine_, 'a bush-strumpet,' Laws v.
176, 4.

153. Three causes that do not die with neglect: the causes of an
imbecile, and of oppression, and of ignorance.

154. Three bloodsheds that need not be impugned: the bloodshed of
battle, of jealousy, of mediating.

155. Three cohabitations[92] that do not pay a marriage-portion: taking
her by force, outraging her without her knowledge through drunkenness,
her being violated by a king.

[92] _fuchacht_, or _fuichecht_, usually means 'cuckoldry,' a meaning
which does not seem to suit here.

156. Three that are not entitled to exemption: restoring a son, the
tools of an artificer, hostageship.

157. Three deposits that need not be returned: the deposits of an
imbecile,[93] and of a high dignitary, and a fixed deposit.[94]

[93] _i.e._ a deposit made by an imbecile. _Cf._ Plato, Republic: "But
surely you would never give back to a mad friend a sword which he had
lent you?"

[94] But in the Heptads (Laws v. 196, 3) _aithne fuirmida_, there
rendered by 'a deposited charge,' is enumerated as one of those to be
restored even if there are no bonds to that effect.

158. Three dead ones that are paid for with living things: an
apple-tree, a hazle-bush, a sacred grove.[95]

[95] there is nothing in the laws to explain this.

159. Three that neither swear nor are sworn: a woman, a son who does not
support his father, a dumb person.

160. Three that are not entitled to renunciation of authority: a son and
his father, a wife and her husband, a serf and his lord.

161. Three who do not adjudicate though they are possessed of wisdom: a
man who sues, a man who is being sued, a man who is bribed to give
judgment.

162. Three on whom acknowledgment does not fall in its time: death,
ignorance, carelessness.

163. Tri