specioustheoryisconfutedbythisfreeandperfectexperiment，whichdemonstrates，thatthelibertyofdivorcedoesnotcontributetohappinessandvirtue。Thefacilityofseparationwoulddestroyallmutualconfidence，andinflameeverytriflingdispute:theminutedifferencebetweenahusbandandastranger，whichmightsoeasilyberemoved，mightstillmoreeasilybeforgotten；andthematron，whoinfiveyearscansubmittotheembracesofeighthusbands，mustceasetoreverencethechastityofherownperson。^125
[Footnote123:AccordingtoPlutarch，p。57，Romulusallowedonlythreegroundsofadivorce—drunkenness，adultery，andfalsekeys。Otherwise，thehusbandwhoabusedhissupremacyforfeitedhalfhisgoodstothewife，andhalftothegoddessCeres，andofferedasacrificewiththeremainder?totheterrestrialdeities。Thisstrangelawwaseitherimaginaryortransient。]
[Footnote*:MontesquieurelatesandexplainsthisfactinadifferentmarnesEspritdesLoix，l。xvi。c。16。—G。]
[Footnote124:IntheyearofRome523，SpuriusCarviliusRugarepudiatedafair，agood，butabarren，wife，DionysiusHal。l。
ii。p。93。Plutarch，inNuma，p。141；ValeriusMaximus，l。ii。