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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §4.5.8.pr

Capitis Deminutio, Natural Obligations, and Dowry Action

Passage 760 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Gaius states that obligations with a natural performance do not perish by capitis deminutio because civil law cannot destroy natural rights, and thus the action for dowry, being based on equity, still endures.

[GAIUS libro quarto ad edictum prouinciale. ] §4.5.8.prEas obligationes, quae naturalem praestationem habere intelleguntur, palam est capitis deminutione non perire, quia ciuilis ratio naturalia iura corrumpere non potest.
[GAIUS libro quarto ad edictum prouinciale.] It is clear that those obligations which are understood to have a natural performance do not perish by capitis deminutio, because civil reason cannot destroy natural rights.
itaque de dote actio, quia in bonum et aequum concepta est, nihilo minus durat etiam post capitis deminutionem,
Therefore, the action concerning dowry, because it is framed in terms of what is good and equitable, none the less endures even after capitis deminutio,

Notes

  1. §4.5.8.preas obligationes, quae ... intelleguntur, palam est ... non perire — The infinitive clause (AcI) `eas obligationes ... non perire` serves as the subject of the impersonal expression `palam est` (it is clear). Note that the relative clause `quae ... intelleguntur` modifies the subject accusative `eas obligationes`, separating the core elements of the main clause.
  2. §4.5.8.prin bonum et aequum concepta est — The verb `concipere` (here as the perfect passive participle `concepta`) is used in the technical sense of 'to draft or frame a formula' in Roman civil procedure. It indicates that the action for dowry was framed with formulas that granted the judge broad discretion based on goodness and equity (bonum et aequum) rather than strict civil law (ius ciuile).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §4.5.8.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:4.5.8.pr

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