- Source
- Digesta Iustiniani Augusti. Mommsen, Theodor & Krueger, Paul, editors. Berlin: Weidmann, 1870.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:1.18.19.pr-1.18.19.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-25
Callistratus advises that a governor administering justice must strike a balance between accessibility and dignity, avoiding excessive familiarity with provincials, and remain emotionally detached and firm during trials.
[CALLISTRATUS libro primo de cognitionibus.]
[CALLISTRATUS, in the first book on Judicial Inquiries.]
Obseruandum est ius reddenti,1 ut in adeundo quidem facilem se praebeat, sed contemni non patiatur. unde mandatis adicitur, ne praesides prouinciarum in ulteriorem familiaritatem prouinciales admittant: nam ex conuersatione aequali contemptio dignitatis nascitur.
He who administers justice must observe that, while he shows himself easy of access, he does not allow himself to be treated with contempt. Hence it is added to the imperial instructions that governors of provinces should not admit provincials to too great familiarity; for from equal intercourse arises contempt for official dignity.
Sed et in cognoscendo neque excandescere aduersus eos, quos malos putat, neque precibus calamitosorum inlacrimari oportet: id enim non est constantis et recti iudicis,2 cuius animi motum uultus detegit. et summatim ita ius reddi debet, ut auctoritatem dignitatis ingenio suo3 augeat.
But also, in hearing cases, he ought neither to fly into a passion against those whom he considers wicked, nor to shed tears at the entreaties of the unfortunate; for this is not the part of a firm and upright judge, whose facial expression betrays the emotion of his mind. And in short, justice ought to be administered in such a manner that he increases the authority of his office by his own character.
- 1.18.19.prius reddenti
Dative of agent with the passive periphrastic conjugation obseruandum est. The substantivized present participle reddenti refers to "the one who administers justice."
- 1.18.19.1non est constantis et recti iudicis
Predicative use of the possessive genitive with the copula est, signifying "it is not the part/duty/characteristic of a firm and upright judge."
- 1.18.19.1ingenio suo
Ablative of means. Here, ingenium refers to the judge's innate character, moral disposition, or personal ability, indicating that they should enhance the dignity of their office through their internal qualities rather than outward force.