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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §38.2.41.pr

Legacies to Patrons and Compelled Manumission

Passage 5977 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Discusses a case where a freedman secures the due portion for his patron but tries to force the manumission of the patron's own slave in exchange for a legacy, examining the praetorian remedies depending on the presence of a substitute heir.

[PAPINIANUS libro duodecimo quaestionum. ] §38.2.41.prSi libertus patrono, quod ad debitam portionem attinet, satisfaciat, inuito tamen aliquid extorquere conetur, quid statuendum est, quaeritur.
[PAPINIANUS, in the twelfth book of Questions.] If a freedman satisfies his patron so far as the due portion is concerned, but nevertheless attempts to extort something from him against his will, it is asked what should be decided.
quid enim, si ex parte debita instituto decem praeterea legentur et rogetur seruum proprium, qui sit decem uel minoris pretii, manumittere? iniquum est et legatum uelle percipere et libertatem seruo non dare: sed parte debita accepta et legato temperare et libertatem imponere non cogi, ne seruum (forte de se male meritum) cogatur manumittere.
For what if, after being appointed heir for the due portion, ten is further bequeathed to him, and he is requested to manumit his own slave, who is of the value of ten or less? It is unjust both to wish to receive the legacy and not to give freedom to the slave; but after receiving the due portion, he should be allowed to decline the legacy and not be compelled to grant freedom, lest he be forced to manumit a slave (who perhaps has deserved poorly of him).
quid ergo si solo eodem herede instituto idem libertus petierit? si substitutum habebit, aeque decreti remedium poterit procedere, ut accepta debita portione cetera pars ad substitutum perueniat ita, ut, si forte seruus redimi potuisset, praestaretur libertas: cessante uero substitutione patronum hereditatem liberti amplectentem praetor, qui de fideicommisso cognoscit, libertatem seruo eum imponere cogat.
What then if, with the same patron being appointed sole heir, the same freedman has made this request? If he has a substitute, the remedy of the decree can equally proceed, so that, after the due portion is received, the rest of the share goes to the substitute in such a way that, if by chance the slave could have been ransomed, freedom should be granted; but if there is no substitution, the praetor who takes cognizance of trust-bequests should compel the patron, who accepts the inheritance of the freedman, to grant freedom to the slave.

Notes

  1. §38.2.41.prinuito — The adjective `inuito` is used by itself and is interpreted as an ablative absolute with the implied noun *patrono* ('against the patron's will').
  2. §38.2.41.prlegato temperare — The intransitive verb `temperare` governs the dative `legato` (legacy) to mean 'to refrain from' or 'to decline.'
  3. §38.2.41.prnon cogi — The infinitive `cogi` is loosely connected to the preceding structure of `iniquum est`, or functions as an objective infinitive describing the praetorian remedy, meaning '(the patron) is not to be compelled.'
  4. §38.2.41.prcessante uero substitutione — An ablative absolute using the present participle of the noun `substitutio` (substitution of heirs), expressing the condition 'but if there is no substitution.'

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §38.2.41.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:38.2.41.pr

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