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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §35.2.57.pr

Dowry Restitution Legacy and Disregarding Intermediaries

Passage 5502 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains that the Lex Falcidia does not apply when a husband bequeaths a dowry to an intermediary for restoration to his wife, and establishes the principle of disregarding the intermediary in favor of the actual beneficiary.

[IDEM libro uicesimo sexto digestorum. ] §35.2.57.prCum dotem maritus alicui legauerit, ut uxori restituatur, non habere legem Falcidiam locum dicendum est.
[THE SAME in the twenty-sixth book of his Digests.] When a husband has bequeathed a dowry to someone in order that it be restored to his wife, it must be said that the Lex Falcidia has no application.
et sane in plerisque ita obseruatur, ut omissa interpositi capientis persona spectetur.
And indeed, in most cases it is so observed that, the person of the intermediary recipient being disregarded, [the actual beneficiary] is looked at.

Notes

  1. 35.2.57.prnon habere legem Falcidiam locum dicendum est — An accusative with infinitive (ACI) construction governed by 'dicendum est' ('it must be said'). 'legem Falcidiam' is the subject of the infinitive 'habere'. The phrase 'locum habere' (literally, 'to have a place') is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to apply' or 'to hold good.'
  2. 35.2.57.promissa interpositi capientis persona — An ablative absolute construction consisting of the noun 'persona' (ablative singular) and the participle 'omissa' (perfect passive participle, feminine ablative singular). 'interpositi capientis' is a genitive phrase meaning 'of the intermediary recipient,' modifying 'persona.' It translates literally to 'the person of the intermediary recipient being disregarded.'
  3. 35.2.57.prut ... spectetur — A consecutive clause introduced by 'ita ... ut' ('in such a way that...'). The subject of the subjunctive verb 'spectetur' (present passive subjunctive, third-person singular) is not explicitly stated but is understood from the context as the actual beneficiary (in this case, the wife) or the true legal relationship, bypassing the intermediary.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §35.2.57.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:35.2.57.pr

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