[ULPIANUS libro quadragesimo ad edictum. ]
[ULPIANUS libro quadragesimo ad edictum.] Let us see how a virile portion is to be understood.
§37.5.8.prUirilis portio quemadmodum accipienda sit, uideamus.
Suppose there are two persons who receive possession of goods contrary to the will, and there is one from among the children and parents: the virile portion will be one third.
pone duos esse, qui contra tabulas bonorum possessionem accipiunt, unum esse ex liberis parentibusque: uirilis tertia erit portio: sed si tres sunt, qui contra tabulas acceperunt, quarta erit uirilis: hoc idem et in legatis obseruabitur.
But if there are three who have received contrary to the will, the virile portion will be one fourth: this same rule shall also be observed in legacies. But if there is one from among the children who received possession of goods contrary to the will, and there are several from among the children and parents who received legacies, this must be understood in such a way that the omitted son has a half, and all the others who are from among the children or parents have a half.
sed si unus sit ex liberis, qui accepit contra tabulas bonorum possessionem, plures sint, qui ex liberis parentibusque legata acceperunt, sic hoc accipiendum est, ut filius praeteritus semissem habeat, ceteri omnes, qui sunt ex liberis parentibusue, semissem.
If anyone from among the children and parents is both appointed heir and has received a legacy, do we preserve for him only the portion, or indeed also the legacy, or either one which he chooses?
§37.5.8.1Si quis ex liberis parentibusque et heres institutus sit et legatum acceperit, utrum tantum portionem ei conseruamus an uero et legatum an alterutrum quod elegerit? et magis est, ut utrumque conseruetur, sed sic, ne amplius in utroque quam uirilem habeat.
And it is more approved that both should be preserved, but in such a way that he does not have more in both together than a virile portion. If he for whom a virile portion is preserved enters upon the inheritance, the manumissions of slaves will necessarily take effect through the entry.
§37.5.8.2Si adierit hereditatem is cui uirilis conseruatur, libertates competent ex necessitate per aditionem: uerumtamen uidendum est, an de dolo actione teneatur qui adit.
Nevertheless, it must be seen whether he who enters is liable to an action on the ground of fraud. And it is more approved that if, despite the warning of him who, being omitted, received possession of goods contrary to the will, this person entered upon the inheritance while the former promised him a virile portion, there is something to be imputed to him, and he is liable to an action on the ground of fraud; for he inflicts damage on the inheritance while the manumissions take effect.
et magis est, ut, si denuntiante eo, qui praeteritus accepit contra tabulas bonorum possessionem, hic adiit hereditatem pollicente eo portionem uirilem, sit quod ei imputetur et de dolo actione teneatur: damno enim adficit hereditatem, dum competunt libertates.
If anything other than a dowry is bequeathed to a wife or a daughter-in-law, it will not be paid if possession of goods contrary to the will has been received.
§37.5.8.3Si quid uxori nuruique fuerit legatum praeter dotem, accepta contra tabulas bonorum possessione non praestabitur.
Moreover, there is no doubt that by the term 'daughter-in-law', granddaughters-in-law and the others are also included.
§37.5.8.4Nurus autem appellatione et pronurum ceterasque contineri nulla dubitatio est.
However, when a bequest is made under the name of a dowry, I do not think that the wife or daughter-in-law should be reduced to a virile portion, since that woman comes for a debt.
§37.5.8.5Cum autem dotis nomine legatur, non puto ad uirilem uxorem nurumue redigendam, cum mulier ista ad aes alienum ueniat. §37.5.8.6Non solum autem dotem praelegatam praetor complectitur, uerum etiam si pro dote aliquid fuerit relictum, ut puta si dos in rebus sit et pro rebus ei quantitas relinquatur uel contra: dum tamen hoc nominetur, quod pro dote relinquitur.
Furthermore, the praetor includes not only a pre-bequeathed dowry, but also if something was left instead of a dowry, as for example if the dowry consists of things and a sum of money is left to her instead of those things, or vice versa; provided, however, that this is specified, that it is left instead of a dowry.