widely spread. In one case the
adulterous lady is left the choice of her own death. Married women's
Homeric duties are shown.

There is a curious story, which may rest upon fact, and not be merely
typical, where a mother who had suffered wrong forced her daughter to
suffer the same wrong.

Captive women are reduced to degrading slavery as "harlots" in one case,
according to the eleventh century English practice of Gytha.

THE FAMILY AND BLOOD REVENGE.--This duty, one of the strongest links of
the family in archaic Teutonic society, has left deep traces in Saxo.

To slay those most close in blood, even by accident, is to incur the
guilt of parricide, or kin-killing, a bootless crime, which can only be
purged by religious ceremonies; and which involves exile, lest the gods'
wrath fall on the land, and brings the curse of childlessness on the
offender until he is forgiven.

BOOTLESS CRIMES.--As among the ancient Teutons, botes and were-gilds
satisfy the injured who seek redress at law rather than by the steel.
But there are certain bootless crimes, or rather sins, that imply
"sacratio", devotion to the gods, for the clearing of the community.
Such are treason, which is punishable by hanging; by drowning in sea.

Rebellion is still more harshly treated by death and forfeiture; the
rebels' heels are bored and thonged under the sinew, as Hector's feet
were, and they are then fastened by the thongs to wild bulls, hunted
by hounds, till they are dashed to pieces (for which there are classic
parallels), or their feet are fastened with thongs to horses driven
apart, so that they are torn asunder.

For "parricide", i.e., killing within near degrees, the criminal is hung
up, apparently by the heels, with a live wolf (he having acted as a wolf
which will slay its fellows). Cunning avoidance of the guilt by trick is
shown.

For "arson" the appropriate punishment is the fire.

For "incestuous adultery" of stepson with his stepmother, hanging is
awarded to the man. In the same case Swanwhite, the woman, is punished,
by treading to death with horses. A woman accomplice in adultery is
treated to what Homer calls a "stone coat." Incestuous adultery is a
foul slur.

For "witchcraft", the horror of heathens, hanging was the penalty.

"Private revenge" sometimes deliberately inflicts a cruel death for
atrocious wrong or insult, as when a king, enraged at the slaying of his
son and seduction of his daughter, has the offender han