[ULPIANUS libro primo ad edictum aedilium curulium. ] §21.1.19.prSciendum tamen est quaedam et si dixerit praestare eum non debere, scilicet ea, quae ad nudam laudem serui pertinent: ueluti si dixerit frugi probum dicto audientem.
[ULPIANUS libro primo ad edictum aedilium curulium.] It must be known, however, that even if the seller has said certain things, he is not obliged to make them good, namely, those things which pertain to the mere praise of the slave: as for instance if he has said that he is honest, trustworthy, or obedient to commands.
ut enim Pedius scribit, multum interest, commendandi serui causa quid dixerit, an uero praestaturum se promiserit quod dixit.
For, as Pedius writes, there is a great difference between what he has said for the sake of commending the slave, and whether he has promised that he would make good what he said.
§21.1.19.1Plane si dixerit aleatorem non esse, furem non esse, ad statuam numquam confugisse, oportet eum id praestare.
Clearly, if he has said that the slave is not a gambler, not a thief, and has never fled to a statue, he must make this good.
§21.1.19.2Dictum a promisso sic discernitur: dictum accipimus, quod uerbo tenus pronuntiatum est nudoque sermone finitur: promissum autem potest referri et ad nudam promissionem siue pollicitationem uel ad sponsum.
A statement (dictum) is distinguished from a promise (promissum) in this way: we accept as a statement what is pronounced merely in words and is limited to bare talk; but a promise can refer also to a bare promise or an offer, or to a solemn pledge (sponsio).
secundum quod incipiet is, qui de huiusmodi causa stipulanti spopondit, et ex stipulatu posse conueniri et redhibitoriis actionibus non nouum, nam et qui ex empto potest conueniri. idem etiam redhibitoriis actionibus conueniri potest.
According to this, it will follow that he who has pledged himself to a stipulator on a matter of this kind can be sued both on the stipulation and by redhibitory actions, which is nothing new, for he who can be sued on the action of purchase (ex empto) can also be sued by redhibitory actions.
§21.1.19.3Ea autem sola dicta siue promissa admittenda sunt, quaecumque sic dicuntur, ut praestentur, non ut iactentur.
But only those statements or promises are to be admitted which are spoken in such a way that they are to be made good, not merely boasted.
§21.1.19.4Illud sciendum est: si quis artificem promiserit uel dixerit, non utique perfectum eum praestare debet, sed ad aliquem modum peritum, ut neque consummatae scientiae accipias, neque rursum indoctum esse in artificium: sufficiet igitur talem esse, quales uolgo artifices dicuntur.
This must be known: if anyone has promised or said that a slave is a craftsman, he does not have to provide a absolutely perfect one, but one skilled to some degree, so that you should neither expect a consummate knowledge nor, on the other hand, that he is untrained in the craft; it will be sufficient, therefore, that he is such as are commonly called craftsmen.
§21.1.19.5Deinde aiunt aediles: 'emptori omnibusque ad quos ea res pertinet iudicium dabimus'.
Next, the aediles say: 'We shall grant an action to the buyer and to all those to whom the matter pertains'.
pollicentur emptori actionem et successoribus eius qui in uniuersum ius succedunt.
They promise an action to the buyer and to his successors who succeed to his general rights.
emptorem accipere debemus eum qui pretio emit.
We must understand 'buyer' as one who buys for a price.
sed si quis permutauerit, dicendum est utrumque emptoris et uenditoris loco haberi et utrumque posse ex hoc edicto experiri.
But if anyone has bartered, it must be said that each is held in the position of both buyer and seller, and each can sue under this edict.
§21.1.19.6Tempus autem redhibitionis sex menses utiles habet: si autem mancipium non redhibeatur, sed quanto minoris agitur, annus utilis est.
The time for redhibition, however, is six available months; but if the slave is not returned and the action is brought for how much less, it is one available year.
sed tempus redhibitionis ex die uenditionis currit aut, si dictum promissumue quid est, ex eo ex quo dictum promissumue quid est.
But the time for redhibition runs from the day of sale, or, if any statement or promise was made, from the time when that statement or promise was made.