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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §21.1.18.pr-21.1.18.2

Seller's Assertions on Slave Qualities and Buyer Remedies

Passage 3033 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Explains the buyer's remedies (redhibition or price reduction) when the seller's assertions about a slave's qualities do not match reality, stating that such assertions should be interpreted moderately according to good faith and equity, and provides standards for specific skills and the possession of a peculium.

[GAIUS libro primo ad edictum aedilium curulium. ] §21.1.18.prSi quid uenditor de mancipio adfirmauerit idque non ita esse emptor queratur, aut redhibitorio aut aestimatorio (id est quanto minoris) iudicio agere potest: uerbi gratia si constantem aut laboriosum aut curracem uigilacem esse, aut ex frugalitate sua peculium adquirentem adfirmauerit, et is ex diuerso leuis proteruus desidiosus somniculosus piger tardus comesor inueniatur.
[GAIUS libro primo ad edictum aedilium curulium.] If the seller has asserted something about the slave and the buyer complains that it is not so, the buyer can sue by either the redhibitory action or the estimatory action (that is, for how much less). For example, if he has asserted that the slave is steady, industrious, quick, or watchful, or acquiring a peculium from his own frugality, and the slave on the contrary is found to be flighty, impudent, lazy, sleepy, sluggish, slow, or a glutton.
haec omnia uidentur eo pertinere, ne id quod adfirmauerit uenditor amare ab eo exigatur, sed cum quodam temperamento, ut si forte constantem esse adfirmauerit, non exacta grauitas et constantia quasi a philosopho desideretur, et si laboriosum et uigilacem adfirmauerit esse, non continuus labor per dies noctesque ab eo exigatur, sed haec omnia ex bono et aequo modice desiderentur.
All these things seem to tend to this, that what the seller has asserted should not be rigorously demanded of him, but with a certain moderation; so that if by chance he has asserted that the slave is steady, an exact seriousness and steadiness should not be required as if from a philosopher, and if he has asserted that the slave is industrious and watchful, continuous labor by day and night should not be demanded of him, but all these things should be moderately required in accordance with what is good and fair.
idem et in ceteris quae uenditor adfirmauerit intellegemus.
We shall understand the same also in other things which the seller has asserted.
§21.1.18.1Uenditor, qui optimum cocum esse dixerit, optimum in eo artificio praestare debet: qui uero simpliciter cocum esse dixerit, satis facere uidetur, etiamsi mediocrem cocum praestet.
A seller who has said that a slave is an excellent cook must provide one who is excellent in that craft; but one who has simply said that he is a cook is seen to satisfy his obligation, even if he provides a mediocre cook.
idem et in ceteris generibus artificiorum.
The same also in other kinds of crafts.
§21.1.18.2Aeque si quis simpliciter dixerit peculiatum esse seruum, sufficit, si is uel minimum habeat peculium.
Equally, if anyone has simply said that a slave has a peculium, it is sufficient if he has even a minimal peculium.

Notes

  1. §21.1.18.prquanto minoris — A combination of the comparative 'minoris' (genitive of value/price) and 'quanto' (ablative of degree of difference). It forms the basis of the name for the action for a reduction in price (actio quanti minoris), representing the standard of how much less the slave is worth.
  2. §21.1.18.preo pertinere, ne — The verb 'pertinere' (to tend, relate) is used with the demonstrative adverb 'eo' (to that point), which is further explained by the negative purpose/substantive clause introduced by 'ne' (lest, that... not). It forms a construction meaning 'tends to this, namely that... not'.
  3. §21.1.18.1satis facere — A legal idiomatic expression. While generally meaning 'to satisfy (a demand)', in the context of obligations it technicaly means 'to perform an obligation' or 'to discharge a duty'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §21.1.18.pr-21.1.18.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:21.1.18.pr-21.1.18.2

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