Note 9 — Chapter V

See the advice Hesiod gives to his brother, ‘an habitual loafer.’ ‘First of all get a house, and a woman, and a ploughing ox. A woman purchased, not wedded.’ I read that Aristotle evidently believes that wife is here understood, and hence some think that the second line is spurious. Does not the difficulty arise from looking at it from a modern European standpoint? The whole passage is perfectly applicable to Kabyle society. More advice follows: ‘Most of all marry her who lives near you, when you have duly looked round on everything, lest you should marry a cause-of-mocking for your neighbours.’ I conclude that the advice of the song not to marry in one’s village, is in order to avoid bickerings and interference from relatives, leading to loss of dignity, like shaving off the beard. Better to be on the safe side, and seek for a girl unknown to the neighbourhood, who, separated from friends, will not bring upon you causes for mocking.