[ULPIANUS libro uicesimo quarto ad edictum. ] §25.4.1.prTemporibus diuorum fratrum cum hoc incidisset, ut maritus quidem praegnatem mulierem diceret, uxor negaret, consulti Valerio Prisciano praetori urbano rescripserunt in haec uerba: 'Nouam rem desiderare Rutilius Seuerus uidetur, ut uxori, quae ab eo diuerterat et se non esse praegnatem profiteatur, custodem apponat, et ideo nemo mirabitur, si nos quoque nouum consilium et remedium suggeramus.
[ULPIANUS, from the twenty-fourth book on the Edict.] In the times of the divine brothers, when this case had arisen where a husband asserted that his wife was pregnant but the wife denied it, they, being consulted, wrote back to Valerius Priscianus, the urban praetor, in these words: 'Rutilius Severus seems to desire an unprecedented thing, namely, that a guard be placed over his wife who had divorced him and who declares that she is not pregnant; and therefore no one will wonder if we also suggest an unprecedented plan and remedy.
igitur si perstat in eadem postulatione, commodissimum est eligi honestissimae feminae domum, in qua Domitia ueniat, et ibi tres obstetrices probatae et artis et fidei, quae a te adsumptae fuerint, eam inspiciant.
Therefore, if he persists in the same demand, it is most convenient that the house of a highly respectable woman be chosen, to which Domitia may come, and there three midwives of approved skill and trustworthiness, who have been selected by you, shall inspect her.
et si quidem uel omnes uel duae renuntiauerint praegnatem uideri, tunc persuadendum mulieri erit, ut perinde custodem admittat atque si ipsa hoc desiderasset: quod si enixa non fuerit, sciat maritus ad inuidiam existimationemque suam pertinere, ut non immerito possit uideri captasse hoc ad aliquam mulieris iniuriam.
And indeed, if all or two of them report that she seems to be pregnant, then the woman must be persuaded to admit a guard just as if she herself had desired this; but if she does not give birth, let the husband know that it concerns his reputation and character, so that he may not undeservedly seem to have sought this to some injury of the woman.
si autem uel omnes uel plures non esse grauidam renuntiauerint, nulla causa custodiendi erit'. §25.4.1.1Ex hoc rescripto euidentissime apparet senatus consulta de liberis agnoscendis locum non habuisse, si mulier dissimularet se praegnatem uel etiam negaret, nec immerito: partus enim antequam edatur, mulieris portio est uel uiscerum.
If, however, all or the majority report that she is not pregnant, there will be no cause for guarding.' From this rescript it appears most clearly that the senatorial decrees on acknowledging children did not apply if the woman concealed that she was pregnant or even denied it, and not without reason: for the fetus, before it is born, is a portion of the woman or of her viscera.
post editum plane partum a muliere iam potest maritus iure suo filium per interdictum desiderare aut exhiberi sibi aut ducere permitti.
Clearly, after birth, the husband can now, by his own right, demand through an interdict either that the son be displayed to him or that he be permitted to take him.
extra ordinem igitur princeps in causa necessaria subuenit.
Therefore, the emperor gave assistance in an extraordinary procedure due to a necessary cause.
§25.4.1.2Secundum quod rescriptum euocari mulier ad praetorem poterit et apud eum interrogari, an se putet praegnatem, cogendaque erit respondere.
According to this rescript, the woman can be summoned to the praetor and be interrogated before him as to whether she thinks she is pregnant, and she shall be compelled to answer.
§25.4.1.3Quid ergo, si non responderit aut non ueniat ad praetorem? numquid senatus consulti poenam adhibemus, scilicet ut liceat marito non agnoscere? sed finge non esse eo contentum maritum, qui se patrem potius optet quam carere filio uelit.
What then if she does not answer or does not come to the praetor? Do we apply the penalty of the senatorial decree, namely, that the husband is allowed not to acknowledge the child? But imagine that the husband is not satisfied with this, who would rather wish to be a father than to be without a son.
cogenda igitur erit remediis praetoris et in ius uenire et, si uenit, respondere: pignoraque eius capienda et distrahenda, si contemnat, uel multis coercenda.
Therefore, she must be compelled by the remedies of the praetor both to appear in court and, if she appears, to answer; and her pledges must be taken and sold if she shows contempt, or she must be coerced with fines.
§25.4.1.4Quid ergo, si interrogata dixerit se praegnatem? ordo senatus consultis expositus sequetur.
What then if, upon being interrogated, she says she is pregnant? The order laid down by the senatorial decrees will follow.
quod si negauerit, tunc secundum hoc rescriptum praetor debebit obstetrices adhibere.
But if she denies it, then according to this rescript, the praetor must employ midwives.
§25.4.1.5Et notandum, quod non permittitur marito uel mulieri obstetricem adhibere, sed omnes a praetore adhibendae sunt.
And it must be noted that it is not permitted for the husband or the woman to bring a midwife, but all must be employed by the praetor.
§25.4.1.6Item praetor domum honestae matronae eligere debet, in qua mulier ueniat, ut possit inspici.
Likewise, the praetor must choose the house of a respectable matron, to which the woman may come so that she can be inspected.
§25.4.1.7Quid ergo, si inspici se non patiatur uel ad domum non ueniat? aeque praetoris auctoritas interueniet.
What then if she does not allow herself to be inspected or does not come to the house? Equally, the authority of the praetor will intervene.
§25.4.1.8Si omnes uel plures renuntiauerint praegnatem non esse, an mulier possit iniuriarum experiri ex hac causa? et magis puto agere eam iniuriarum posse, sic tamen, si iniuriae faciendae causa id maritus desiderauit: ceterum si non iniuriae faciendae animo, sed quia iuste credidit uel nimio uoto liberorum suscipiendorum ductus est uel ipsa eum illexerat ut crederet, quod constante matrimonio hoc fingebat, aequissimum erit ignosci marito.
If all or the majority report that she is not pregnant, can the woman bring an action for injury on this account? And I rather think that she can bring an action for injury, but only if the husband desired this for the purpose of committing an injury; but if not with the intention of committing an injury, but because he justly believed it, or was led by an excessive desire for having children, or she herself had enticed him to believe it because she feigned this while the marriage was subsisting, it will be most equitable for the husband to be excused.
§25.4.1.9Meminisse autem oportet tempus non esse praestitutum rescripto, quamuis in senatus consultis de liberis agnoscendis triginta dies praestituantur mulieri.
But it must be remembered that no time is prescribed by the rescript, although thirty days are prescribed for the woman in the senatorial decrees on acknowledging children.
quid ergo? semper dicemus marito licere uxorem ad praetorem euocare, an uero et ipsi triginta dies praestituimus? et putem praetorem causa cognita debere maritum et post triginta dies audire.
What then? Shall we say that the husband is always allowed to summon his wife to the praetor, or do we also prescribe thirty days for him? And I should think that the praetor, having investigated the case, ought to hear the husband even after thirty days.