Remedies Against a Wife Holding Her Husband's Goods — Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian Book 3 (3.5.32.pr), Latin & English

[IDEM libro decimo responsorum.]

[IDEM, Responses, Book X]

§3.5.32.pr

Heres uiri defuncti uxorem, quae res uiri tempore nuptiarum in sua potestate habuit, compilatae hereditatis¹ postulare non debet. prudentius itaque faciet, si ad exhibendum et negotiorum gestorum,² si in negotia quoque uiri gessit,³ cum ea fuerit expertus.

The heir of a deceased husband ought not to prosecute for plundered inheritance the wife who, during the marriage, had the husband’s property in her power. Therefore, he will act more prudently if, in the event of legal proceedings against her, he avails himself of the action for production and the action for management of affairs (if she also conducted the affairs of his).

Syntax notes3 items

3.5.32.prcompilatae hereditatis
The object of the verb 'postulare' (to prosecute) is expressed in the accusative (uxorem), while the charge or crime is in the genitive (compilatae hereditatis), referring to the plundering of an inheritance.
3.5.32.prad exhibendum et negotiorum gestorum
Elliptical expressions for the specific legal actions, namely 'actio ad exhibendum' (action for production) and 'actio negotiorum gestorum' (action for management of affairs), serving as the means by which the heir might proceed (expertus fuerit) against the wife.
3.5.32.prsi in negotia quoque uiri gessit
An idiom based on 'negotia gerere' (to manage affairs). Although the preposition 'in' is present in the text, it functions semantically as a conditional clause meaning 'if she also conducted the affairs of her husband.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12)urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:3.5.32.pr