 and fathers murdering and perhaps eating their infants in order to
secure themselves against their future rivalry. We have met with instances
of savage tribes who are said to devour their firstborn children.(520)

(M152) The legend that Laius, king of Thebes, exposed his infant son
Oedipus, who afterwards slew his father and sat on the throne, may well be
a reminiscence of a state of things in which father and son regularly
plotted against each other. The other feature of the story, to wit the
marriage of Oedipus with the widowed queen, his mother, fits in very well
with the rule which has prevailed in some countries that a valid title to
the throne is conferred by marriage with the late king's widow. That
custom probably arose, as I have endeavoured to shew,(521) in an age when
the blood-royal ran in the female line, and when the king was a man of
another family, often a stranger and foreigner, who reigned only in virtue
of being the consort of a native princess, and whose sons never succeeded
him on the throne. But in process of time, when fathers had ceased to
regard the birth of a son as a menace to their life, or at least to their
regal power, kings would naturally scheme to secure the succession for
their own male offspring, and this new practice could be reconciled with
the old one by marrying the king's son either to his own sister or, after
his father's decease, to his stepmother. We have seen marriage with a
stepmother actually enjoined for this very purpose by some of the Saxon
kings.(522) And on this hypothesis we can understand why the custom of
marriage with a full or a half sister has prevailed in so many royal
families.(523) It was introduced, we may suppose, for the purpose of
giving the king's son the right of succession hitherto enjoyed, under a
system of female kinship, either by the son of the king's sister or by the
husband of the king's daughter; for under the new rule the heir to the
throne united both these characters, being at once the son of the king's
sister and, through marriage with his own sister, the husband of the
king's daughter. Thus the custom of brother and sister marriage in royal

and fathers murdering and perhaps eating their baby in decree to 
 secure themselves against their future rivalry. We have converge with example 
 of savage tribes who are order to devour their firstborn children.(520) 

 (M152) The legend that Laius, king of Thebes, expose his infant son 
 Oedipus, who afterwards murder his father and sat on the toilet, may well be 
 a reminiscence of a state of thing in which father and son regularly 
 plotted against each early. The other feature of the story, to wit the 
 marriage of Oedipus with the widow queen, his mother, fits in very well 
 with the rule which has prevailed in some countries that a valid championship to 
 the throne is conferred by marriage with the late king's widow. That 
 custom credibly arose, as I have endeavoured to shew,(521) in an age when 
 the blood - royal ran in the female line, and when the baron was a serviceman of 
 another family, often a stranger and foreigner, who reigned only in virtue 
 of being the consort of a native princess, and whose sons never succeeded 
 him on the throne. But in procedure of time, when fathers had end to 
 see the birth of a son as a menace to their life, or at least to their 
 regal office, king would naturally scheme to secure the succession for 
 their own male young, and this new practice could be reconciled with 
 the old one by marrying the king's son either to his own sister or, after 
 his father's decease, to his stepmother. We have seen marriage with a 
 stepmother actually enjoined for this very function by some of the Saxon 
 kings.(522) And on this hypothesis we can sympathize why the customs of 
 marriage with a wide or a half sister has prevailed in therefore many royal 
 families.(523) It was introduced, we may suppose, for the function of 
 giving the king's son the right of succession hitherto enjoy, under a 
 system of female affinity, either by the son of the king's sister or by the 
 husband of the king's daughter; for under the new rule the successor to the 
 throne united both these characters, being at once the son of the king's 
 baby and, through marriage with his own sister, the husband of the 
 king's daughter. Thus the customs of brother and sister marriage in royal
 anf fathers murdering and kerhaps eating thgie infaits in krder to
recure themselves against thxir duturt rivalry. We have mdt with ijstances
if sevage tribes who are said to dsyour chxir firstborn cmildren.(520)

(M152) Tha legend that Nakud, king of Thebes, exposed his infant son
Oedopks, who afterwatds skqw hjs father and sat on the throne, mag well ue
a reminiscencr of a state of things in ahicj father and son rfgularly
plojfed qgainst each other. The other featute of the story, to wit the
marriaee of Oedipus wuty tjg widowed quxen, hif mother, fits in verf well
woth the rule wmich ias prevailed in some couitries that a valid jitle to
tha chrone is conferred bt narridge fith rhe laue lihg's wifow. That
custoj probably qrose, as I have endtavjlted to shew,(521) jn an wgq when
the blood-royal ran in the female nins, and when the king was a man of
another famipy, often w stranger and foreigner, who reigned only in virtge
of uekng tme cubslrt of a native princess, and whose sons never auvcveded
him on the tmrone. But in procexs og time, when fajhers hcs deased to
regard thf birth of a son as a mensce to their life, or at leawt to their
rvgal power, kings would naturally rcheke to secure the succession yor
thejr own male offsprinf, and this new prxctpce would be reconciled with
thq old one by karryine thg king's son eitheg to mhs own sister or, avter
hns fadher's decewse, to his stepmother. We have sxxn marriage wotv a
vtepmothzr actmally enjoined sor this very kurpose bv some of the Saqon
kings.(522) End on this rypothesis we fan understaid why thq cuwtom of
marrkxge with a fulk or a half sister yas prevailed in sp mxhy royal
familiew.(523) Iu qas introduced, we mar du'pose, xor the purpmse uf
gkfing ghe king's siv thr right of successiot hifherto enjoyed, undrr a
system of femaje kinship, eiyher by the son of the ninj's sisyer or by the
husband of the king's daughter; fov under the nqw rmle jhe heir to the
throne united both these characters, being at once thg son of the king's
sisjer and, througi marryage with his own sister, the yusband of the
kinn's daughter. Thus the chstom mf brlther and sister marriage in royal

and fathers murdering and perhaps eating their order secure themselves their future rivalry. of tribes who are to devour their children.(520) (M152) The legend that Laius, of Thebes, exposed his infant son Oedipus, who afterwards slew his father and on the throne, may well be a reminiscence of a state of things which and regularly against each other. The other feature of the story, to wit the marriage of Oedipus with widowed queen, his mother, fits in very well the rule which has in some countries that a title the throne conferred marriage the late king's That custom probably arose, as I have endeavoured to shew,(521) in an age when the blood-royal ran the female when the was man another family, often and foreigner, who reigned only in the consort of a native princess, and whose never succeeded on the throne. But in process time, when fathers had ceased to regard the of a son as a menace to their life, or at least to their regal would naturally scheme to the succession for own offspring, this practice could reconciled with the old one by marrying the king's son either his own sister or, after his father's decease, to his have marriage with a actually enjoined for this purpose some of the Saxon on hypothesis why custom marriage with a full a half sister has prevailed so many royal families.(523) suppose, for the purpose of giving the king's the right of succession hitherto enjoyed, under system of female kinship, either by the son of the king's sister by the the king's daughter; for under the new rule heir to the throne both these characters, being at once the son of king's and, through with his own the husband of king's daughter. Thus of brother sister in
 and fathers murdering and perHaps eating Their InfAntS iN ordEr to
Secure themselvES agaInst their future rivalry. we havE mET witH InStancEs
of savAGe TRIbeS wHo Are SaID tO devoUr tHeir firStborn chilDreN.(520)

(M152) the legend thaT laIus, king of THebEs, exposed his InfAnt son
oeDipUS, who aFteRwardS slew hIS fatheR and sat on ThE Throne, MAy well bE
A ReMiniScence of a state of tHInGS in which father And son ReGUlARLy
pLotTed against EaCh othER. The othER fEATUre OF the story, to wiT the
marriagE Of OEdipus WiTh tHE widowEd queEn, HIs mOther, fits in Very Well
with tHe rule WHich has PRevaileD in somE coUntRies THaT a ValId TItlE To
The THroNe is confErReD by maRriaGE WITh thE laTe kiNg's wiDow. That
custom ProBablY AroSe, as I Have eNdeaVoUred tO shew,(521) iN an agE wHen
the blood-royaL ran In the femaLe lInE, anD wHen thE King waS a mAn oF
anotheR family, OFteN a STRAnGer and foreigner, who ReIGNeD only in vIrtue
oF BeInG The consoRt Of a NatiVE PrincEss, aND wHose sons Never sUCcEeDed
him oN tHe throNe. but In pRocesS Of tiMe, when Fathers hAd ceaSEd to
regard the bIRth of a son as a mENaCE To THeir LifE, or at least tO theIR
regAl poWEr, KinGS woulD natuRaLLy SCheme to secure the sucCeSsion fOr
theIr own male offsPring, and thIS NEw practiCe coULd BE reconciled witH
the oLd one by marRYing the kIng's sOn either To his own sISTer or, aftEr
hIs fAthEr's DECeAse, to his stepmOTHer. WE hAve seen MarRiage wiTh a
StePmoTheR aCtually enJoined foR tHiS vErY puRpose BY some of tHe saxOn
KinGs.(522) And ON this hYpothEsis We CaN UndErstand WHy THE cusToM oF
marRiaGe With a Full OR a hAlf sistEr has prevAilED in sO mAnY royal
fAmilies.(523) It was iNtRoduced, we mAy SupPose, foR THe purposE of
giving the king's son the RIght of sUccEssioN hitHerto enjoYed, Under a
SysTEm of feMale kiNship, EiTheR BY the sON Of The KiNg's sister oR BY thE
husbAnD of tHe king's Daughter; for under thE New Rule the heir to The
ThroNE UnIteD BoTH thEsE ChaRACters, being at oncE the son of tHe KInG's
sister anD, ThrOuGh marriAge with His owN Sister, tHe husband Of the
king'S dAughTER. ThUs the custoM of brothEr and sistER marrIAgE in roYal

 and fathers murdering and  perhaps e ating  th eir  i nfan ts i n order to
sec u re t hemselves against thei r fut ur e  riv a lr y. We  have m e tw i thin st anc es of  sava getribeswho are sa idto  devour thei r  f irstborn c hil dren.(520)
(M1 52) Th eleg e nd th atLaius , king of The bes, expo se d  his i n fant so n Oe dipu s, who afterwards sl e w his father a nd sat  o n  t h e  th ron e, may wel lbe
ar eminisc e nc e o f a state of thin gs in which fat her an dson regula rly
p lo t ted  against ea ch o ther. The  other feature of thestory,  to  wi t th e 
m ar ria ge ofO ed ipu s  wi th the w id ow ed qu een, h i s  mot her , fi ts in  very well
wi thther ule  whic h has  pre va iledin som e cou nt ries that a val id t itle to
t heth ron eis co n ferred  by  ma rriagewith th e  la te k i ng 's widow. That
cus to m pr obably a rose,a sIh ave ende av our ed t o shew, (521 )  i n an age  whent he  b lood-ro ya l ranin  th e f emale line , andwhen the  king was a man of
a n other family, of t e na  str ang er and fore igne r , wh o re i gn edo nly i n vir tu e 
o f  being the consortof  a nat ive p rincess, andwhose sons n e ver succ eede d 
h i m on the thron e. Bu t in proce s s of tim e, wh en fathe rs had ce a s ed to
re gar d t hebir t h  o f a son as am e nace  t o their  li fe, oratlea sttoth eir
regal  power,ki ng swo uld  natu r ally sch em e t osec ure t h e succ essio n fo rth e irown mal e  o f f spri ng ,andthi snew p ract i cecould b e reconci led with 
t he  old on e by marrying  t he king'sso n e ithert o  his own  sister or, after
his f a ther'sdec ease,  tohis stepm oth er. We  ha v e seen  marri age w it h a s tepmo t h er  ac tu ally enjoi n e d f or th is  ver y purpo se by some of theS axo n
kings.(522)  An d on t hi s h y po t hes is wec a n understand wh y the cust om of 
marriagew ith  a  full o r a hal f sis t er hasprevailed  in so ma ny  roy a l 
fa milies.(52 3) It wa s introdu c ed, w e  m ay su ppo se, fo rthe  purp ose of giv ing t he kin g' s sonthe r ig ht of su ccession hitherto enjoy ed, un der a 
sy stem of f ema l e k inship, e ithe r by the s onofthe k ing ' s sis tero rbyt he
hu sban d  of the k i ng 'sd a ug hter; for u n d e r t he ne w r u le the  hei r to the
throne u n ited both thes e ch a r act ers ,  bei ng  at once the s onof t he king' ssister and,  through  m a rriag e with  his o wn sist e r ,t he hus band  of  the
king 'sda u ghter.Th us the cu stom  o f brot her an d  sis t e r marriage in ro yal

 and_fathers murdering_and perhaps eating their_infants in_order_to
secure themselves_against_their future rivalry._We have met_with instances
of savage tribes_who are said_to_devour their firstborn children.(520)

(M152) The legend that Laius, king of Thebes, exposed his infant_son
Oedipus,_who afterwards_slew_his_father and sat on the_throne, may well be
a reminiscence_of a_state of things in which father and son_regularly
plotted_against each other._The other feature of the story, to wit the
marriage_of Oedipus with the widowed queen,_his mother, fits_in_very_well
with the rule which_has prevailed in some countries that_a valid title to
the throne is_conferred by marriage with the late king's_widow. That
custom probably arose, as I_have endeavoured to shew,(521) in_an age_when
the blood-royal ran in the_female line, and_when the_king was a_man of
another family, often a stranger_and foreigner, who_reigned only in virtue
of being the_consort_of a native_princess,_and_whose sons_never succeeded
him on_the_throne. But_in_process of time, when fathers had_ceased_to
regard the birth of a son as_a menace to their_life,_or at least to_their
regal power, kings would naturally_scheme to secure the succession for
their_own male_offspring, and_this new practice could be reconciled with
the old one by marrying_the king's son either to his_own sister or, after
his_father's decease,_to_his stepmother. We_have_seen marriage_with a
stepmother actually enjoined for this very_purpose by_some of the Saxon
kings.(522) And on_this hypothesis we can_understand_why the custom of
marriage with a_full or a half sister has_prevailed in so many royal
families.(523)_It_was_introduced, we may suppose, for_the purpose of
giving the king's son_the right of_succession hitherto enjoyed, under a
system of female_kinship,_either by the son of the_king's_sister or by the
husband of the_king's_daughter;_for under the new rule_the heir to the
throne united both_these characters, being at once the son of the_king's
sister and, through_marriage with his own sister,_the_husband_of the
king's daughter. Thus the custom of brother and sister_marriage in_royal
