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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §15.1.43.pr

Sale of Slave Pending Trial and Liability for New Peculium

Passage 2302 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Shows Labeo's view that if the defendant sells a slave after the action is brought but before judgment, the defendant must be held liable even for the peculium acquired by the slave in the hands of the buyer.

[PAULUS libro trigensimo ad edictum. ] §15.1.43.prSi posteaquam tecum de peculio egi, ante rem iudicatam seruum uendideris, Labeo ait etiam eius peculii nomine, quod apud emptorem quaesierit, damnari te debere nec succurrendum tibi: culpa enim tua id accidisse, qui seruum uendidisses.
[PAULUS in the thirtieth book on the edict.] If, after I have brought an action against you concerning the peculium, you sell the slave before judgment is rendered, Labeo says that you ought to be condemned even in respect of that peculium which the slave has acquired in the hands of the buyer, and that no relief should be granted to you; for this happened through your own fault, since you sold the slave.

Notes

  1. §15.1.43.prtecum de peculio egi — "tecum agere" is a legal idiom meaning "to bring an action against you". "de peculio" indicates the object of the action, "concerning the peculium".
  2. §15.1.43.prquod apud emptorem quaesierit — Subjunctive perfect of the verb "quaerere" (to acquire). The subjunctive is used here because it is a relative clause within indirect speech introduced by the main verb "ait".
  3. §15.1.43.prnec succurrendum tibi — "succurrendum [esse]" is an impersonal passive periphrastic construction using the gerundive, meaning "relief should not be granted". "tibi" is the dative of agent.
  4. §15.1.43.prqui seruum uendidisses — The relative pronoun "qui" with the pluperfect subjunctive "uendidisses" forms a relative clause of cause, expressing the reason ("since you sold the slave").

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §15.1.43.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:15.1.43.pr

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