Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §16.2.5.pr

Surety's Option to Set Off Own or Debtor's Claims

Passage 2383 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It is argued that when a claim is made against a surety, it is most equitable for the surety to choose whether to set off the debt owed to himself, to the principal debtor, or both.

[GAIUS libro nono ad edictum prouinciale. ] §16.2.5.prSi quid a fideiussore petetur, aequissimum est eligere fideiussorem, quod ipsi an quod reo debetur, compensare malit: sed et si utrumque uelit compensare, audiendus est.
[GAIUS, On the Provincial Edict, Book IX.] If anything is demanded from a surety, it is most equitable that the surety should choose whether he prefers to set off what is owed to himself or what is owed to the principal debtor; but even if he wishes to set off both, he must be heard.

Notes

  1. §16.2.5.preligere fideiussorem — An accusative with infinitive (accusativus cum infinitivo) construction functioning as the subject of the impersonal expression `aequissimum est`. `fideiussorem` is the subject accusative of the infinitive `eligere`.
  2. §16.2.5.prquod ipsi an quod reo debetur — The clause `quod... malit` is an indirect question acting as the object of the infinitive `eligere`. `ipsi` (the surety himself) and `reo` (the principal debtor) are datives with `debetur` ("what is owed to..."), referring to the claims they hold against the creditor.
  3. §16.2.5.praudiendus est — An expression of passive necessity or obligation using the gerundive (`gerundivum`). In legal contexts, it means "he must be heard" or "his plea/claim must be admitted" in court.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §16.2.5.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:16.2.5.pr

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.