[ULPIANUS libro uicensimo octauo ad Sabinum. ] §40.7.9.prStatuliberum medio tempore seruum heredis esse nemo est qui ignorare debeat: eapropter noxae dedi poterit, sed deditus sperare adhuc libertatem poterit: nec enim deditio spem illi adimit libertatis.
[ULPIANUS libro uicensimo octauo ad Sabinum.] No one ought to be ignorant of the fact that in the interim a statuliber is the slave of the heir; therefore, he can be surrendered for damage (noxae dedi), but even when surrendered he can still hope for his freedom; for surrender does not deprive him of the hope of freedom.
§40.7.9.1Si statuliberum non eadem condicione heres uendat, causa eius immutabilis est et luere se ab eo potest simili modo ut ab herede.
If the heir sells a statuliber without mentioning the same condition, his legal status is unchangeable, and he can ransom himself from him in the same manner as from the heir.
si tamen suppresserit condicionem statuliberi? et ex empto quidem tenetur: grauiores autem etiam stellionatus crimen inportant ei, qui sciens dissimulata condicione statutae libertatis simpliciter eum uendiderit.
What if, however, he has suppressed the condition of the statuliber? He is indeed held liable under the action on purchase; moreover, the more rigorous authorities even impose the charge of stellionatus (fraud) upon one who knowingly sold him simply, having concealed the condition of his established freedom.
§40.7.9.2Illud tractatum est, an liberatio contingat ei qui noxae dederit statuliberum.
The question was discussed whether liberation occurs for one who has surrendered a statuliber for damage.
et Octauenus putabat liberari: et idem dicebat et si ex stipulatu Stichum deberet eumque statuliberum soluisset: nam et si ante solutionem ad libertatem peruenisset, extingueretur obligatio tota: ea enim in obligatione consistere, quae pecunia lui praestarique possunt, libertas autem pecunia lui non potest nec reparari potest.
And Octavenus thought that he is liberated; and he said the same even if he owed Stichus by stipulation and had paid him as a statuliber; for even if he had attained freedom before the payment, the entire obligation would have been extinguished; for only those things can remain in an obligation which can be redeemed and performed with money, whereas freedom cannot be redeemed with money, nor can it be restored.
quae sententia mihi uidetur uera.
This opinion seems to me to be true.
§40.7.9.3Statuliberi condicio ita demum immutabilis est, si adita hereditas fuerit: ceterum ante aditam hereditatem in propriam usucapitur seruitutem libertatisque spes infringitur: sed adita postea hereditate spes libertatis fauore sui redintegrabitur.
The status of a statuliber is only unchangeable if the inheritance has been accepted; otherwise, before the inheritance is accepted, he is acquired by usucapion into private slavery and his hope of freedom is shattered; but if the inheritance is subsequently accepted, his hope of freedom will be restored by favor of itself.