fulfilling what the other lacks.[27]

[26] Or, "He bestowed memory and carefulness as the common heritage of
both."

[27] Or, "the pair discovers the advantage of duality; the one being
strong wherein the other is defective."

"Now, being well aware of this, my wife," I added, "and knowing well
what things are laid upon us twain by God Himself, must we not strive
to perform, each in the best way possible, our respective duties? Law,
too, gives her consent--law and the usage of mankind, by sanctioning
the wedlock of man and wife; and just as God ordained them to be
partners in their children, so the law establishes their common
ownership of house and estate. Custom, moreover, proclaims as
beautiful those excellences of man and woman with which God gifted
them at birth.[28] Thus for a woman to bide tranquilly at home rather
than roam aborad is no dishonour; but for a man to remain indoors,
instead of devoting himself to outdoor pursuits, is a thing
discreditable. But if a man does things contrary to the nature given
him by God, the chances are,[29] such insubordination escapes not the
eye of Heaven: he pays the penalty, whether of neglecting his own
works, or of performing those appropriate to woman."[30]

[28] Or, "with approving fingers stamps as noble those diverse
faculties, those superiorities in either sex which God created in
them. Thus for the womean to remain indoors is nobler than to gad
about abroad." {ta kala . . .; kallion . . . aiskhion . . .}--
These words, wich their significant Hellenic connotation, suffer
cruelly in translation.