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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §12.5.4.pr-12.5.4.4

Recovery of Property Given for Immoral Causes in Specific Cases

Passage 1970 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Regarding the recovery of property given for an immoral purpose, specific cases such as illicit intercourse, concealment of theft, payments to a prostitute, and rewards for locating runaways are discussed to determine whether recovery is allowed based on which party acted immorally.

[ULPIANUS libro uicensimo sexto ad edictum. ] §12.5.4.prIdem si ob stuprum datum sit, uel si quis in adulterio deprehensus redemerit se: cessat enim repetitio, idque Sabinus et Pegasus responderunt. §12.5.4.1Item si dederit fur, ne proderetur, quoniam utriusque turpitudo uersatur, cessat repetitio. §12.5.4.2Quotiens autem solius accipientis turpitudo uersatur, Celsus ait repeti posse: ueluti si tibi dedero, ne mihi iniuriam facias. §12.5.4.3Sed quod meretrici datur, repeti non potest, ut Labeo et Marcellus scribunt, sed noua ratione, non ea, quod utriusque turpitudo uersatur, sed solius dantis: illam enim turpiter facere, quod sit meretrix, non turpiter accipere, cum sit meretrix. §12.5.4.4Si tibi indicium dedero, ut fugitiuum meum indices uel furem rerum mearum, non poterit repeti quod datum est: nec enim turpiter accepisti.
[ULPIAN, Twenty-Sixth Book on the Edict.]\n\nThe same applies if something is given for the purpose of illicit sexual intercourse, or if someone caught in adultery redeems himself; for recovery is barred, and Sabinus and Pegasus gave this opinion.\n\nLikewise, if a thief gives money so that he may not be betrayed, since the immorality of both parties is involved, recovery is barred.\n\nBut whenever the immorality of only the receiver is involved, Celsus says that recovery is possible; as for instance, if I give to you so that you may not do me an injury.\n\nBut what is given to a prostitute cannot be recovered, as Labeo and Marcellus write, yet for a new reason, not because the immorality of both is involved, but only that of the giver; for she acts immorally in being a prostitute, but she does not act immorally in receiving it, since she is a prostitute.\n\nIf I give you a reward so that you may point out my runaway slave or the thief of my property, what has been given cannot be recovered; for you did not receive it immorally.
quod si a fugitiuo meo acceperis ne eum indicares, condicere tibi hoc quasi furi possim: sed si ipse fur indicium a me accepit uel furis uel fugitiui socius, puto condictionem locum habere.
But if you receive it from my runaway slave so that you would not point him out, I can bring a condictio against you for this, as if against a thief; but if the thief himself, or the accomplice of the thief or of the runaway slave, has received a reward from me, I think that a condictio lies.

Notes

  1. §12.5.4.prIdem — Idem is a neuter nominative singular pronoun, here functioning as the subject of an elliptical main clause (meaning 'the same holds true' or 'the same rule applies'). It indicates that the legal rule of 'recovery is not possible' (from §12.5.3.pr) also applies to the cases introduced by si below.
  2. §12.5.4.3illam enim turpiter facere, quod sit meretrix, non turpiter accipere, cum sit meretrix. — This sentence is structured as an accusative with infinitive (AcI) construction in indirect speech. illam (she) is the subject accusative for both turpiter facere (acts immorally) and the implied [illam] non turpiter accipere (does not act immorally in receiving). The second infinitive accipere contrasts with facere, explaining the rationale that while her being a prostitute is immoral, her act of receiving payment in her capacity as a prostitute is not legally considered immoral.
  3. §12.5.4.4quod si a fugitiuo meo acceperis ne eum indicares, condicere tibi hoc quasi furi possim — quod si is an idiomatic transition meaning 'but if' or 'and if'. The main clause verb possim (from condicere ... possim) is in the present subjunctive, expressing potentiality ('I would be able to bring a condictio'). quasi furi ('as if against a thief') modifies tibi (against you), drawing an analogy for the basis of the legal action.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §12.5.4.pr-12.5.4.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:12.5.4.pr-12.5.4.4

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