"What I deduced was that any man would find female beauty irresistable for obvious sexual reasons, and would leave his wife for the chance of some icon of loveliness, which is something women have known for all time, and if Haggard and Lang did not know that they were deluding themselves."

Penny, are you saying that you actually believe in this as wisdom everyone should know? It comes across that way. If so, I feel a bit badly for you, and for men you have to deal with. But then again, I'm only in the upper 10%, and a male at that, so maybe I'm not smart enough to know that I would leave the good lady I love for "some icon of loveliness".
                  Dean, who loves a relatively "plain" woman with as lovely a heart and spirit as you'll ever find.