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The Digest of Justinian

§2.4.11.pr

Equitable Moderation in Summoning a Patron

This section explains that even if the praetor does not explicitly state that he will grant a penal action, Labeo argues that the jurisdiction should be moderated based on circumstances such as the freedman's withdrawal of the action or the patron's consent.

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[PAULUS libro quarto ad edictum.]

[PAULUS, in the fourth book on the Edict.]

§2.4.11.pr

​Quamuis non adiciat praetor causa cognita se poenale iudicium daturum, tamen Labeo ait moderandam1 iurisdictionem: ueluti si paeniteat libertum2 et actionem remittat: uel si patronus uocatus non uenerit: aut si non inuitus3 uocatus sit, licet edicti uerba non patiantur.

​Although the praetor does not add that he will grant a penal action after an investigation of the case, nevertheless Labeo says that the jurisdiction should be moderated: as, for example, if the freedman repents and withdraws the action; or if the patron, having been summoned, does not appear; or if he was summoned not unwillingly, although the words of the edict do not allow it.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 2.4.11.prmoderandam

    Accusative with infinitive construction acting as the object of 'ait', with 'esse' understood ('moderandam esse iurisdictionem'). The gerundive 'moderandam' expresses necessity or obligation, meaning 'jurisdiction should be moderated.'

  2. 2.4.11.prpaeniteat libertum

    The impersonal verb 'paeniteo' (here in the present subjunctive 'paeniteat') takes the person who repents in the accusative case ('libertum'). Thus, it is translated as 'the freedman repents.'

  3. 2.4.11.prnon inuitus

    The adjective 'inuitus' functions adverbially, meaning 'unwillingly.' The double negation 'non inuitus' ('not unwillingly') emphasizes that the patron consented or made no objection to being summoned.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12)urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.4.11.pr