償ひの道、あるいはハンムラビの法典 Codex Hammurabi

主の掟、あるいは償ひの道 The Code of Laws

148 - 149. 病後の妻

148. 人が妻を娶(めと)るに、病に侵されしに於ては。彼すなはち側室切望しやうと、病に倒れし妻放り出すべからず。設(しつら)へし離れに妻留め置き、生ある限り、これ支へよ。

If a man take a wife, and she be seized by disease, if he then desire to take a second wife he shall not put away his wife, who has been attacked by disease, but he shall keep her in the house which he has built and support her so long as she lives.

149. この女、夫の家に留まるを望まずに於ては。父親が家からの持参金、夫補償せざるを得ず、女去(い)ぬに任せよ。

If this woman does not wish to remain in her husband's house, then he shall compensate her for the dowry that she brought with her from her father's house, and she may go.

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148. disease:おそらく天然痘。強い感染力を持ち、人の顔に瘢痕を齎す天然痘は、長らく人類の敵であった。