- 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-lat1:5.1.73.pr-5.1.73.3
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
This passage regulates the proceedings of default judgment (peremptory edict) when one of the parties is absent, the possibility of re-litigation if the summons is discharged, and the conditions for appealing a default judgment.
[IDEM libro quarto de omnibus tribunalibus.]
[THE SAME, in the Fourth Book on All Tribunals.]
Et post edictum peremptorium impetratum, cum dies eius superuenerit, tunc absens citari debet: et siue responderit siue non responderit, agetur causa et pronuntiabitur, non utique secundum praesentem,1 sed interdum uel absens, si bonam causam habuit, uincet.
And after the peremptory edict has been obtained, when its day has arrived, then the absent party must be summoned; and whether he answers or does not answer, the case will be pleaded and judgment will be pronounced, not necessarily in favor of the party present, but sometimes even the absent party, if he had a good case, will win.
Quod si is qui edictum peremptorium impetrauit absit die cognitionis, is uero aduersus quem impetratum est adsit, tum circumducendum erit2 edictum peremptorium neque causa cognoscetur nec secundum praesentem pronuntiabitur.
But if he who obtained the peremptory edict is absent on the day of the trial, while he against whom it was obtained is present, then the peremptory edict must be discharged, and the case will not be tried, nor will judgment be pronounced in favor of the party present.
Circumducto edicto uideamus an amplius reus conueniri possit, an uero salua quidem lis est,3 uerum instantia tantum edicti periit: et magis est ut instantia tantum perierit, ex integro autem litigari possit.
Once the edict is discharged, let us see whether the defendant can be sued further, or whether indeed the lawsuit remains intact, but only the instance of the edict has perished; and it is more correct that only the instance has perished, and the litigation can be conducted anew.
Sciendum est ex peremptorio absentem condemnatum si appellet non esse audiendum,4 si modo per contumaciam defuit: si minus, audietur.
It must be known that an absent party condemned on the basis of a peremptory edict, if he appeals, is not to be heard, provided that he was absent through contumacy; if not, he will be heard.
- 5.1.73.prsecundum praesentem
secundum is used here in a judicial sense meaning "in favor of" or "for." Thus, "pronuntiabitur secundum praesentem" means "judgment will be pronounced in favor of the party present."
- 5.1.73.1circumducendum erit
circumducere (literally "to lead around") is used here in its legal sense meaning "to discharge," "cancel," or "annul" an edict or summons.
- 5.1.73.2salua quidem lis est
This highlights the distinction in Roman civil procedure between the lawsuit or the underlying claim itself ("lis"), which remains intact ("salua est"), and the specific procedural instance of the summons ("instantia"), which is lost.
- 5.1.73.3non esse audiendum
This is the predicate of the accusative and infinitive construction introduced by "sciendum est" (it must be known). The subject accusative is "absentem condemnatum" (the absent party who was condemned). "audiendum" is the gerundive meaning "to be heard" (accepted).