[IDEM libro decimo responsorum. ] §40.4.44.prMaeuia decedens seruis suis nomine Sacco et Eutychiae et Irenae sub condicione libertatem reliquit his uerbis: 'saccus seruus meus et Eutychia et Irene ancillae meae omnes sub hac condicione liberi sunto, ut monumento meo alternis mensibus lucernam accendant et sollemnia mortis peragant': quaero, cum adsiduo monumento Maeuiae Saccus et Eutychia et Irene non adsint, an liberi esse possunt.
[THE SAME in the tenth book of Opinions.] Maevia, on her deathbed, left freedom to her slaves named Saccus, Eutychia, and Irene under a condition in these words: "Let my slave Saccus and my female slaves Eutychia and Irene all be free under this condition, that they light a lamp at my tomb in alternate months and perform the solemn rites of death." I ask, since Saccus, Eutychia, and Irene are not constantly present at the tomb of Maevia, whether they can be free.
Modestinus respondit neque contextum uerborum totius scripturae neque mentem testatricis eam esse, ut libertas sub condicione suspensa sit, cum liberos eos monumento adesse uoluit: officio tamen iudicis eos esse compellendos testatricis iussioni parere.
Modestinus replied that neither the context of the words of the entire writing nor the intention of the testatrix was such that the freedom was suspended under a condition, since she wished them to be present at the tomb as free persons; however, they ought to be compelled by the office of the judge to obey the command of the testatrix.