The law of retaliation was often adopted in the early attempts at legislation. Among the laws of Alfred we find the following article:—“Si quis alterius occulum effoderit, compenset proprio, dentem prodente, manum pro menu, pedem pro pede, adustionem pro adustione, vulnus pro vulnere, vimen pro vimine.”—Wilk. Ll. Ang. Sax. p. 30. Art. 19.