Page:Unlawfulmarriage00jane.djvu/28

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24
HISTORICAL FACTS.

which he would have done, if that had been his opinion; or he would have stated the marriage to be customary among the Hebrews, if that had been the fact. He does neither. We have before us a transcript of his original Greek, with the accompanying Latin translation, and an English version, all kindly furnished by a learned friend who had access to Philo's works. As our friend favors the marriage under debate, his English translation will be received as correct by our opponents. We give his words: "Again (Moses) does not permit a man to marry two sisters, either at the same time or at different times, even though he may have put away the one whom he took first in marriage. For, during the lifetime of her that remains with her husband, or of her that has been sent away, whether she remain a widow, or be married to another man, (Moses) accounted it unholy for the sister to take the place of her that has been unfortunate; teaching them not to violate the right of consanguinity, nor to rise by the fall of one so united by descent, nor to delight and exult in being served by her sister's enemies, and in serving them in turn. For from these things