- 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-lat1:8.5.10.pr-8.5.10.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-14
Ulpian explains that a person who has acquired a right of aqueduct through long use and quasi-possession does not need to prove the legal origin of the right, but can use a beneficial action based on non-defective possession, which can be brought against anyone who obstructs the water flow.
[ULPIANUS libro quinquagensimo tertio ad edictum.]
[ULPIANUS, book 53 on the Edict.]
Si quis diuturno usu et longa quasi possessione1 ius aquae ducendae nactus sit, non est ei necesse docere de iure, quo aqua constituta est, ueluti ex legato uel alio modo, sed utilem habet actionem, ut ostendat per annos forte tot usum se non ui non clam non precario possedisse.2
If anyone has acquired the right of drawing water by long-term use and long quasi-possession, it is not necessary for him to prove the legal basis by which the water right was established, such as by legacy or in some other way, but he has a beneficial action to show that he has possessed the use, say for so many years, not by force, not secretly, and not by permission.
Agi autem hac actione poterit3 non tantum cum eo, in cuius agro aqua oritur uel per cuius fundum ducitur, uerum etiam cum omnibus agi poterit, quicumque aquam non ducere impediunt, exemplo ceterarum seruitutium. et generaliter quicumque aquam ducere impediat, hac actione cum eo experiri potero.
Moreover, proceedings can be taken by this action not only against him in whose field the water rises or through whose land it is conducted, but also against all who prevent the drawing of water, following the example of other servitudes. And generally, whoever prevents the drawing of water, I will be able to proceed against him with this action.
- 8.5.10.prquasi possessione
The term refers to 'quasi-possession', representing the factual exercise of an incorporeal right (like a servitude) in analogy to the physical 'possessio' of corporeal things. The ablative phrase 'diuturno usu et longa quasi possessione' functions as an ablative of means.
- 8.5.10.prusum se non ui non clam non precario possedisse
In the infinitive clause 'usum se... possedisse', the accusative pronoun 'se' is the subject accusative, and 'usum' (referring to the factual exercise of the right) is the direct object of 'possedisse'. The phrase 'non ui non clam non precario' (not by force, not secretly, not by permission) represents the classical Roman law requirement for a possession to be legally valid and free of defects (absence of the three vices of possession).
- 8.5.10.1Agi autem hac actione poterit
The phrase 'agi poterit' is an impersonal passive construction ('it will be possible to bring an action'). It is constructed with the ablative of means 'hac actione' (by this action), while the party against whom the action is brought is expressed by the prepositional phrases 'cum eo' and 'cum omnibus'.