| 1 | This be the Law of Matrimony: |
| 2 | A man without good life or self control is like a wild animal; |
| 3 | He may try to take or seize whatever he chooses; |
| 4 | He may abandon language and knowledge and become like a hungry dog; |
| 5 | Yet even with law and right ceremony, |
| 6 | An old man may become a wild animal, |
| 7 | Upon the first menstral cycles of young girls. |
| 8 | So even a father or uncle if left alone with his young daughter, |
| 9 | Upon her first becoming fertile may transgress the law; |
| 10 | Even a brother, if left alone with his sister, |
| 11 | Upon her first becoming fertile, |
| 12 | May try to rape her and have intercourse with her. |
| 13 | It is not enough that the women take the girls away from the men, |
| 14 | Upon them first becoming fertile. |
| 15 | Men, will still try to seek out such a camp. |
| 16 | The law then was made clear to stop such illness of mind in men. |
| 17 | The law be the law of Matrimony. |
| 18 | All animals of the highest spirit unite in Matrimony, |
| 19 | One mate, one partner for life. |
| 20 | Those animals that are not of the higher spirit, |
| 21 | It be the females that control family. |
| 22 | The male never be the dominant of country. |
| 23 | Matrimony be the foundation of community; |
| 24 | Matrimony be the foundation of law; |
| 25 | Matrimony be the lawful union of one man and woman; |
| 26 | Matrimony be the most important of sacred agreements; |
| 27 | It is why Matrimony follows the most important of initiations: |
| 28 | That boy to be betrothed first comes willingly to initiation; |
| 29 | That girl to be betrothed first comes willingly to initiation. |
| 30 | That both boy and girl experience great trial in initiation; |
| 31 | That they have the physical proof of passing through such trial; |
| 32 | That they never forget the law and their oaths; |
| 33 | That they never forget their duty and obligations in matrimony. |
| 34 | Matrimony be between initiated men and women of the community; |
| 35 | Initiated men choose to be circumcised; |
| 36 | Initiated women choose to be incised. |
| 37 | Initiated men be circumcised by elder uncles before matrimony; |
| 38 | Initiated women be incised by elder aunties before matrimony. |
| 39 | Initiation of matrimony be the greatest of endurance and trial, |
| 40 | As Matrimony be the most important of oaths and honors. |
| 41 | This be the law of Matrimony. |
| 42 | As a boy be circumcised once, |
| 43 | As a girl be incised once, |
| 44 | As an initiated man and woman be united in matrimony once. |
| 45 | The law be that a man may not be betrothed, |
| 46 | To a woman of the same family or of the same moiety. |
| 47 | The law be that no man have sexual intercourse with a woman not initiated. |
| 48 | The law be that no woman have sexual intercourse with a man not initiated. |
| 49 | The law be when a girl becomes first fertile and her menstral cycle, |
| 50 | She be taken away by her sisters and aunties away from the family for a short while. |
| 51 | After one year of menstral cycles she be prepared for matrimonial ceremony. |
| 52 | The elder men of the same moiety as the girl then call a matrimonial council, |
| 53 | They call upon the elders of the other moiety of community, |
| 54 | To bring forward boys not yet initiated as suitable future husband. |
| 55 | A suitable boy willing to be initiated is selected, |
| 56 | And he be prepared for matrimonial ceremony. |
| 57 | After proper ceremony and boy becomes man and girl becomes woman, |
| 58 | Man and woman are bound in bond of sacred matrimony. |
| 59 | Any law that dishonors such law cannot be law. |
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The Second Age Of Flesh