The reason why spiritual jealousy exists among monogamous people is that they are the only ones capable of receiving spiritual conjugial love, as was fully shown above. We say it exists, but this must be understood as meaning that it is capable of existing in these cases. It has also been proved above that it exists only in a very few cases in the Christian world, where marriages are monogamous, but it is still possible. Conjugial love among the polygamous is natural, as may be seen in the chapter on polygamy (345, 347). The same is true then of their jealousy, since this is in keeping with their love.

[2] The nature of jealousy among the polygamous has been revealed by the eye-witness accounts that some writers have given about it among eastern peoples. They state that wives and mistresses are shut up like prisoners in work-shops, and are kept and prevented from having any communication with men. No man is allowed to enter the harem or quarters where women are confined, unless accompanied by a eunuch. The women are carefully watched in case any of them turns a wanton eye or glance on a passer-by; if such behaviour is noticed, the woman is punished with a beating. And if she behaves wantonly with any man who has tricked his way into the forecourt, or outside it, the penalty is death.