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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §35.1.107.pr

Conversion Between Conditional and Unconditional Legacies

Passage 5438 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It explains cases where a conditional legacy is practically understood as unconditional, and conversely, where an unconditional legacy is regarded as conditional (revocation under a condition).

[GAIUS libro singulari de casibus. ] §35.1.107.prAliquando accidit, ut sub condicione datum legatum purum intellegatur, ueluti quod sub eadem condicione relictum est, sub qua etiam heres alius institutus est, item quod sub hac condicione relictum est 'si hereditatem adierit'. ex diuerso quoque purum datum legatum condicionale uidetur, ueluti quod sub condicione ademptum est, quia sub contraria condicione datum intellegitur.
[GAIUS in his single book on Cases.] Sometimes it happens that a legacy given under a condition is understood to be unconditional, as for example, one which is left under the same condition under which another heir is also appointed, and likewise one which is left under this condition "if he should enter upon the inheritance." Conversely, too, an unconditionally given legacy seems to be conditional, as for example, one which is revoked under a condition, because it is understood to be given under the contrary condition.

Notes

  1. §35.1.107.prut ... intellegatur — The ut clause functioning as the subject of the impersonal verb accidit.
  2. §35.1.107.prquod — A relative pronoun containing its antecedent (here, legatum), meaning "that which". ueluti quod means "as for example, one which...".
  3. §35.1.107.prsi hereditatem adierit — A conditional clause using the future perfect tense (adierit). It refers to the heir entering upon the inheritance, which is a prerequisite for all legacies; hence, this condition does not practically limit the legacy, and it is deemed unconditional (purum).
  4. §35.1.107.prsub contraria condicione datum intellegitur — Explains that "a legacy revoked under a condition" is substantively deemed conditional because it is equivalent to being given under the "contrary condition" (i.e., that the condition is not met). datum functions as the perfect passive infinitive with esse omitted.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §35.1.107.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:35.1.107.pr

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