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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §38.4.13.pr-38.4.13.3

Assignment of Freedmen by Will and Senatus Consultum

Passage 6001 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This passage discusses the manumission and assignment of a freedman by will, and interprets the senate consult regarding the scope of children, the definition of ceasing to be a citizen, and the temporal limits of assignment.

[IDEM libro quarto senatus consultorum. ] §38.4.13.prTestamento potest quis et seruum manumittere et eundem ut libertum adsignare.
[THE SAME AUTHOR in the fourth book on Senate Consults.] By a will, a person can both manumit a slave and assign the same person as a freedman.
§38.4.13.1De liberis, qui sunt in potestate, senatus locutus est: ergo de postumis nihil hoc senatus consulto prouisum est: magis tamen puto etiam postumos contineri.
The senate spoke of children who are under paternal power; therefore, nothing has been provided by this senate consult concerning posthumous children; however, I rather think that posthumous children are also included.
§38.4.13.2Quod inquit senatus 'si ex liberis quis in ciuitate esse desisset', eum significat, qui in perpetuum in ciuitate esse desierit, non etiam si quis ab hostibus captus reuerti possit.
When the senate says "if any of the children should have ceased to be in the state," it signifies one who has ceased to be in the state permanently, and not also if someone captured by enemies is able to return.
§38.4.13.3Ex die quoque certa adsignari potest, sed usque in diem certum uix potest: nam ipse senatus huic negotio finem praeposuit.
An assignment can also be made from a certain day, but it can hardly be made until a certain day; for the senate itself has set a limit to this transaction.

Notes

  1. §38.4.13.1magis tamen puto etiam postumos contineri — The adverb magis here means "rather" or "more inclined to think," indicating the author's preference for this interpretation over the literal reading of the text (expressed in nihil ... prouisum est). contineri is a present passive infinitive, forming an accusative and infinitive construction (A.C.I.) with its subject accusative postumos, depending on puto.
  2. §38.4.13.2Quod inquit senatus ... — The introductory Quod is a neuter singular nominative relative pronoun containing its antecedent, forming a nominal clause: "As for what the senate says...". The latter part non etiam si quis ... operates as a condensed clause depending on the implied negative sense of significat, meaning "it does not mean (the case) even if someone captured...".
  3. §38.4.13.3Ex die quoque certa adsignari potest, sed usque in diem certum uix potest — These prepositional phrases express temporal limits: ex die certa (from a certain day, indicating a suspensive term) is contrasted with usque in diem certum (until a certain day, indicating a resolutive term). The phrase uix potest (it is scarcely possible) gently denotes a legal impossibility or high implausibility under civil law.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §38.4.13.pr-38.4.13.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:38.4.13.pr-38.4.13.3

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