[IDEM libro sexto quaestionum. ] §24.3.45.prGaius Seius auus maternus Seiae nepti¹, quae erat in patris potestate, certam pecuniae quantitatem dotis nomine Lucio Titio marito dedit et instrumento dotali huiusmodi pactum et stipulationem complexus est: 'si inter Lucium Titium maritum et Seiam diuortium sine culpa mulieris factum esset, dos omnis 'Seiae uxori uel Gaio Seio auo materno redderetur restituereturque'. quaero, cum Seius auus maternus statim uita defunctus sit et Seia postea sine culpa sua diuorterit uiuo patre suo, in cuius potestate est, an et cui actio ex hoc pacto et stipulatione competat et utrum heredi aui materni ex stipulatu an nepti.
[THE SAME, Book 6 of Questions.] Gaius Seius, the maternal grandfather of Seia, gave a certain quantity of money as dowry to her husband Lucius Titius on behalf of his granddaughter Seia, who was under her father's power, and included the following agreement and stipulation in the dowry instrument: "If a divorce should occur between the husband Lucius Titius and Seia without the fault of the woman, the entire dowry shall be returned and restored to the wife Seia or to the maternal grandfather Gaius Seius." I ask, since the maternal grandfather Seius died shortly thereafter, and Seia subsequently divorced without her own fault during the lifetime of her father, under whose power she is, whether and to whom an action arises from this agreement and stipulation, and whether it belongs to the heir of the maternal grandfather under the stipulation, or to the granddaughter.
respondi in persona quidem neptis uideri inutiliter stipulationem esse conceptam, quoniam auus maternus ei stipulatus proponitur: quod cum ita est, heredi stipulatoris, quandoque diuorterit mulier, actio competere uidetur.
I answered: indeed, in the person of the granddaughter, the stipulation seems to have been drafted ineffectively, since the maternal grandfather is presented as having stipulated for her. Since this is so, it seems that an action belongs to the heir of the stipulator whenever the woman divorces.
sed dicendum est Seiae posse dotem solui (quamuis actio ei directo non competat), ac si sibi aut illi dari auus stipulatus esset.
But it must be said that the dowry can be paid to Seia (although an action does not directly belong to her), just as if the grandfather had stipulated that it be given to himself or to her.
sed permittendum est nepti ex hac auita conuentione, ne commodo dotis defrudetur, utilem actionem: fauore enim nuptiarum et maxime propter affectionem personarum ad hoc decurrendum est.
However, the granddaughter must be allowed an equitable action from this grandfatherly agreement, so that she is not defrauded of the benefit of the dowry; for we must resort to this because of the favor of marriage, and especially on account of affection for the persons.