It is characteristic of
the real motive from which these deeds arise, that not only the
husbands, but the brothers and the father of the woman feel themselves
not only justified in taking vengeance, but bound to take it. Jealousy,
therefore, has nothing to do with the matter, moral reprobation but
little; the real reason is the wish to spoil the triumph of others.
'Nowadays,' says Bandello, 'we see a woman poison her husband to
gratify her lusts, thinking that a widow may do whatever she desires.
Another, fearing the discovery of an illicit amour, has her husband
murdered by her lover. And though fathers, brothers, and husbands arise
to extirpate the shame with poison, with the sword, and by every other
means, women still continue to follow their passions, careless of their
honour and their lives.' Another time, in milder strain, he exclaims:
'Would that we were not daily forced to hear that one man has murdered
his wife because he suspected her of infidelity; that another has
killed his daughter, on account of a secret marriage; that a third has
caused his sister to be murdered, because she would not marry as he
wished! It is great cruelty that we claim the right to do whatever we
list, and will not suffer women to do the same. If they do anything
which does not please us, there we are at once with cords and daggers
and poison.
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