按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
conjunction betwixt male and female ought to last； even after
procreation； so long as is necessary to the nourishment and support of
the young ones； who are to be sustained by those that got them till
they are able to shift and provide for themselves。 This rule； which
the infinite wise Maker hath set to the works of His hands； we find
the inferior creatures steadily obey。 In those vivaporous animals
which feed on grass the conjunction between male and female lasts no
longer than the very act of copulation； because the teat of the dam
being sufficient to nourish the young till it be able to feed on
grass。 the male only begets； but concerns not himself for the female
or young； to whose sustenance he can contribute nothing。 But in beasts
of prey the conjunction lasts longer because the dam； not being able
well to subsist herself and nourish her numerous offspring by her
own prey alone （a more laborious as well as more dangerous way of
living than by feeding on grass）； the assistance of the male is
necessary to the maintenance of their common family； which cannot
subsist till they are able to prey for themselves； but by the joint
care of male and female。 The same is observed in all birds （except
some domestic ones； where plenty of food excuses the cock from feeding
and taking care of the young brood）； whose young； needing food in
the nest； the cock and hen continue mates till the young are able to
use their wings and provide for themselves。
80。 And herein； I think； lies the chief； if not the only reason； why
the male and female in mankind are tied to a longer conjunction than
other creatures… viz。； because the female is capable of conceiving；
and； de facto； is commonly with child again； and brings forth too a
new birth； long before the former is out of a dependency for support
on his parents' help and able to shift for himself and has all the
assistance due to him from his parents； whereby the father； who is
bound to take care for those he hath begot； is under an obligation
to continue in conjugal society with the same woman longer than
other creatures； whose young； being able to subsist of themselves
before the time of procreation returns again； the conjugal bond
dissolves of itself； and they are at liberty till Hymen； at his
usual anniversary season； summons them again to choose new mates。
Wherein one cannot but admire the wisdom of the great Creator； who；
having given to man an ability to lay up for the future as well as
supply the present necessity； hath made it necessary that society of
man and wife should be more lasting than of male and female amongst
other creatures； that so their industry might be encouraged； and their
interest better united； to make provision and lay up goods for their
common issue； which uncertain mixture； or easy and frequent
solutions of conjugal society； would mightily disturb。
81。 But though these are ties upon mankind which make the conjugal
bonds more firm and lasting in a man than the other species of
animals； yet it would give one reason to inquire why this compact；
where procreation and education are secured and inheritance taken care
for； may not be made determinable； either by consent； or at a
certain time； or upon certain conditions； as well as any other
voluntary compacts； there being no necessity； in the nature of the
thing； nor to the ends of it； that it should always be for life… I
mean； to such as are under no restraint of any positive law which
ordains all such contracts to be perpetual。
82。 But the husband and wife； though they have but one common
concern； yet having different understandings； will unavoidably
sometimes have different wills too。 It therefore being necessary
that the last determination （i。e。； the rule） should be placed
somewhere； it naturally falls to the man's share as the abler and
the stronger。 But this； reaching but to the things of their common
interest and property； leaves the wife in the full and true possession
of what by contract is her peculiar right； and at least gives the
husband no more power over her than she has over his life； the power
of the husband being so far from that of an absolute monarch that
the wife has； in many cases； a liberty to separate from him where
natural right or their contract allows it； whether that contract be
made by themselves in the state of Nature or by the customs or laws of
the country they live in； and the children； upon such separation； fall
to the father or mother's lot as such contract does determine。
83。 For all the ends of marriage being to be obtained under
politic government； as well as in the state of Nature； the civil
magistrate doth not abridge the right or power of either； naturally
necessary to those ends… viz。； procreation and mutual support and
assistance whilst they are together； but only decides any
controversy that may arise between man and wife about them。 If it were
otherwise； and that absolute sovereignty and power of life and death
naturally belonged to the husband； and were necessary to the society
between man and wife； there could be no matrimony in any of these
countries where the husband is allowed no such absolute authority。 But
the ends of matrimony requiring no such power in the husband； it was
not at all necessary to it。 The condition of conjugal society put it
not in him； but whatsoever might consist with procreation and
support of the children till they could shift for themselves… mutual
assistance； comfort； and maintenance… might be varied and regulated by
that contract which first united them in that society； nothing being
necessary to any society that is not necessary to the ends for which
it is made。
84。 The society betwixt parents and children； and the distinct
rights and powers belonging respectively to them； I have treated of so
largely in the foregoing chapter that I shall not here need to say
anything of it； and I think it is plain that it is far different
from a politic society。
85。 Master and servant are names as old as history； but given to
those of far different condition； for a free man makes himself a
servant to another by selling him for a certain time the service he
undertakes to do in exchange for wages he is to receive； and though
this commonly puts him into the family of his master； and under the
ordinary discipline thereof； yet it gives the master but a temporary
power over him； and no greater than what is contained in the
contract between them。 But there is another sort of servant which by a
peculiar name we call slaves； who being captives taken in a just war
are； by the right of Nature； subjected to the absolute dominion and
arbitrary power of their masters。 These men having； as I say；
forfeited their lives and； with it； their liberties； and lost their
estates； and being in the state of slavery； not capable of any
property； cannot in that state be considered as any part of civil
society； the chief end whereof is the preservation of property。
86。 Let us therefore consider a master of a family with all these
subordinate relations of wife； children； servan