[PAPINIANUS libro octauo quaestionum. ] §13.5.25.prIllud aut illud debuit et constituit alterum: an uel alterum quod non constituit soluere possit, quaesitum est.
[PAPINIANUS, from the eighth book of Questions.] A person owed either this or that, and promised one of them: it was asked whether he could pay even the other one which he did not promise.
dixi non esse audiendum, si uelit hodie fidem constitutae rei frangere.
I said that he should not be heard if he wishes today to break the faith of the promised thing.
§13.5.25.1Si iureiurando delato deberi tibi iuraueris, cum habeas eo nomine actionem, recte de constituta agis.
If, upon an oath being tendered to you, you have sworn that the debt is owed to you, since you have an action on that account, you rightly bring the action on promised money.
sed si non ultro detulero iusiurandum, sed referendi necessitate compulsus id fecero, quia nemo dubitat modestius facere qui referat, quam ut ipse iuret, nulla distinctio adhibetur, tametsi ob tuam facilitatem ac meam uerecundiam subsecuta sit referendi necessitas.
But if I did not tender the oath voluntarily, but did so compelled by the necessity of referring it—for no one doubts that he who refers acts more modestly than if he were to swear himself—no distinction is made, even though the necessity of referring followed from your readiness and my modesty.