concerning civil government-第12章
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fitter umpire than he； by whose care they had every one been sustained
and brought up。 and who had a tenderness for them all？ It is no wonder
that they made no distinction betwixt minority and full age； nor
looked after one…and…twenty； or any other age； that might make them
the free disposers of themselves and fortunes； when they could have no
desire to be out of their pupilage。 The government they had been under
during it continued still to be more their protection than
restraint； and they could nowhere find a greater security to their
peace； liberties； and fortunes than in the rule of a father。
76。 Thus the natural fathers of families； by an insensible change；
became the politic monarchs of them too； and as they chanced to live
long； and leave able and worthy heirs for several successions or
otherwise； so they laid the foundations of hereditary or elective
kingdoms under several constitutions and manors； according as
chance； contrivance； or occasions happened to mould them。 But if
princes have their titles in the father's right； and it be a
sufficient proof of the natural right of fathers to political
authority； because they commonly were those in whose hands we find； de
facto； the exercise of government； I say； if this argument be good； it
will as strongly prove that all princes； nay； princes only； ought to
be priests； since it is as certain that in the beginning 〃the father
of the family was priest； as that he was ruler in his own household。〃
Chapter VII
Of Political or Civil Society
77。 GOD； having made man such a creature that； in His own
judgment； it was not good for him to be alone； put him under strong
obligations of necessity； convenience； and inclination； to drive him
into society； as well as fitted him with understanding and language to
continue and enjoy it。 The first society was between man and wife；
which gave beginning to that between parents and children； to which；
in time； that between master and servant came to be added。 And
though all these might； and commonly did； meet together； and make up
but one family； wherein the master or mistress of it had some sort
of rule proper to a family； each of these； or all together； came short
of 〃political society；〃 as we shall see if we consider the different
ends； ties； and bounds of each of these。
78。 Conjugal society is made by a voluntary compact between man
and woman； and though it consist chiefly in such a communion and right
in one another's bodies as is necessary to its chief end； procreation；
yet it draws with it mutual support and assistance； and a communion of
interests too； as necessary not only to unite their care and
affection； but also necessary to their common offspring； who have a
right to be nourished and maintained by them till they are able to
provide for themselves。
79。 For the end of conjunction between male and female being not
barely procreation； but the continuation of the species； this
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 matrim
