[IDEM libro quarto fideicommissorum. ] §36.1.4.prQuia poterat fieri, ut heres institutus nolit adire hereditatem ueritus, ne damno adficeretur, prospectum est, ut, si fideicommissarius diceret suo periculo adire et restitui sibi uelle, cogatur heres institutus a praetore adire et restituere hereditatem.
[THE SAME AUTHOR from the fourth book on Trusts.] Since it could happen that the appointed heir refused to enter upon the inheritance, fearing lest he should suffer a loss, provision was made that, if the beneficiary of the trust should say that he wished the heir to enter upon it at his (the beneficiary's) own risk and restore it to him, the appointed heir should be compelled by the praetor to enter upon and restore the inheritance.
quod si fuerit factum, transeunt actiones ex Trebelliano nec quartae commodo heres in restitutione utetur: nam cum alieno periculo adierit hereditatem, merito omni commodo arcebitur.
If this should be done, the actions transfer under the Trebellian decree, and the heir shall not enjoy the benefit of the quarter in the restoration; for since he entered upon the inheritance at another's risk, he is deservedly excluded from every benefit.
nec interest, soluendo sit hereditas nec ne: sufficit enim recusari ab herede instituto.
Nor does it matter whether the inheritance is solvent or not; for it is enough that it is refused by the appointed heir.
neque illud inquiritur, soluendo sit hereditas an non sit.
Nor is that inquired into, whether the inheritance is solvent or not.
opinio enim, uel metus uel color, eius, qui noluit adire hereditatem, inspicitur, non substantia hereditatis, nec immerito: non enim praescribi heredi instituto debet, cur metuat hereditatem adire uel cur nolit, cum uariae sint hominum uoluntates: quorundam negotia timentium, quorundam uexationem, quorundam aeris alieni cumulum, tametsi locuples uideatur hereditas, quorundam offensas uel inuidiam: quorundam gratificari uolentium his, quibus hereditas relicta est, sine onere tamen suo.
For the opinion, or fear, or pretext of him who refused to enter upon the inheritance is inspected, not the substance of the inheritance, and not without reason; for it ought not to be prescribed to the appointed heir why he fears to enter upon the inheritance or why he refuses, since the wills of men are diverse: some fearing business cares, some harassment, some the accumulation of debt even though the inheritance seems rich, some offenses or envy, and some wishing to gratify those to whom the inheritance was left, yet without their own burden.