[MODESTINUS libro singulari de heurematicis. ] §24.3.58.prSeruus dotalis heres ab aliquo institutus mariti iussu uel adire uel repudiare debet hereditatem.
[MODESTINUS, On Inventions, in one book.] When a dotal slave has been appointed heir by someone, he must either enter upon or reject the inheritance by the order of the husband.
sed ne maritus aut facile repudiando uel temere suscipiendo incognitam successionem dotis iudicio uxori suae obligetur, consulendum est mulierem coram testibus interrogari, utrum uelit omittere an adquirere hereditatem.
But lest the husband, by either easily rejecting or rashly accepting an unknown succession, should become liable to his wife in the action on dowry, measures should be taken that the woman be questioned in the presence of witnesses whether she wishes to decline or acquire the inheritance.
et si repudiare se dixerit, facile mariti iussu repudiabit.
And if she says that she rejects it, the slave will reject it without difficulty by the husband's order.
quod si hereditatem agnoscere maluerit, reddendus est a marito seruus uxori ea condicione, ut, cum iussu eius adierit, rursum marito retradatur.
But if she prefers to accept the inheritance, the slave must be returned by the husband to the wife under this condition, that when he has entered upon it by her order, he shall be delivered back again to the husband.
ita et mariti sollicitudini consuletur et uxoris desiderio parebitur.
In this way, both the husband's anxiety will be provided for, and the wife's desire will be obeyed.