[L.] The law of retaliation, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ (The accus. and abl. forms no longer occur in Eng. contexts.)
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., III. 146. Wherefore I may Lege talionis laugh at incongruity as well as you might at vnformality.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 56. He is presently without any iudgement to haue Legem talionis, that is, like for like, inflicted vpon him.
1646. Evance, Noble Ord., 23. Gods Lex talionis is as firme as the lawes of the Meads and Persians.
1731. Medley, trans. Kolben’s Cape G. Hope (1738), I. 287. They take the Field with their best Force, not only to recover their Wives, but, Lege Talionis, to plunder the Robbers of theirs.
1821. T. Jefferson, Autobiog., Writ. (1892), I. 60. For other felonies should be substituted hard labor … and in some cases, the Lex Talionis.
1857. J. W. Croker, Ess. Fr. Rev., iv. 171. The lex talionis with which the revolutionary Nemesis requited her votaries.
