[GAIUS libro secundo rerum cottidianarum siue aureorum. ] §41.1.5.prNaturalem autem libertatem recipere intellegitur, cum uel oculos nostros effugerit uel ita sit in conspectu nostro, ut difficilis sit eius persecutio.
[GAIUS, Everyday Matters or Golden Words, Book II] Moreover, it is understood to recover its natural liberty when it has either escaped our sight, or is so far in our sight that its pursuit is difficult.
§41.1.5.1Illud quaesitum est, an fera bestia, quae ita uulnerata sit, ut capi possit, statim nostra esse intellegatur.
The question has been raised whether a wild beast which has been so wounded that it can be captured is understood to become ours immediately.
Trebatio placuit statim nostram esse et eo usque nostram uideri, donec eam persequamur, quod si desierimus eam persequi, desinere nostram esse et rursus fieri occupantis: itaque si per hoc tempus, quo eam persequimur, alius eam ceperit eo animo, ut ipse lucrifaceret, furtum uideri nobis eum commississe.
Trebatius was of the opinion that it becomes ours immediately, and is regarded as ours so long as we pursue it; but if we cease to pursue it, it ceases to be ours, and again becomes the property of the occupier. Therefore, if during the time we are pursuing it, someone else captures it with the intention of profiting himself, he is regarded as having committed a theft against us.
plerique non aliter putauerunt eam nostram esse, quam si eam ceperimus, quia multa accidere possunt, ut eam non capiamus: quod uerius est.
Most writers, however, have thought that it does not become ours unless we actually capture it, because many things can happen to prevent our capturing it; and this is the truer view.
§41.1.5.2Apium quoque natura fera est: itaque quae in arbore nostra consederint, antequam a nobis alueo concludantur, non magis nostrae esse intelleguntur quam uolucres, quae in nostra arbore nidum fecerint.
The nature of bees is also wild; therefore, those which settle on our tree, before they are enclosed by us in a hive, are no more understood to be ours than birds which have built a nest in our tree.
ideo si alius eas incluserit, earum dominus erit.
Therefore, if someone else encloses them, he will be their owner.
§41.1.5.3Fauos quoque si quos hae fecerint, sine furto quilibet possidere potest: sed ut supra quoque diximus, qui in alienum fundum ingreditur, potest a domino, si is prouiderit, iure prohiberi ne ingrederetur.
Also, if they have made any honeycombs, anyone can take possession of them without committing theft; but, as we have also said above, anyone who enters upon another's land can be lawfully forbidden by the owner, if he foresees it, from entering.
§41.1.5.4Examen, quod ex alueo nostro euolauerit, eo usque nostrum esse intellegitur, donec in conspectu nostro est nec difficilis eius persecutio est: alioquin occupantis fit.
A swarm which has flown out of our hive is understood to be ours as long as it is in our sight and its pursuit is not difficult; otherwise, it becomes the property of the occupier.
§41.1.5.5Pauonum et columbarum fera natura est nec ad rem pertinet, quod ex consuetudine auolare et reuolare solent: nam et apes idem faciunt, quarum constat feram esse naturam: ceruos quoque ita quidam mansuetos habent, ut in siluas eant et redeant, quorum et ipsorum feram esse naturam nemo negat.
The nature of peacocks and pigeons is wild, and it is of no consequence that they are accustomed to fly away and fly back, for bees also do the same, whose nature is admittedly wild; some people also have stags so tame that they go into the woods and return, and no one denies that their nature too is wild.
in his autem animalibus, quae consuetudine abire et redire solent, talis regula comprobata est, ut eo usque nostra esse intellegantur, donec reuertendi animum habeant, quod si desierint reuertendi animum habere, desinant nostra esse et fiant occupantium.
In the case of these animals, however, which are accustomed to go away and return, the rule has been approved that they are understood to be ours as long as they have the intention of returning; but if they cease to have the intention of returning, they cease to be ours and become the property of the occupiers.
intelleguntur autem desisse reuertendi animum habere tunc, cum reuertendi consuetudinem deseruerint.
Now, they are understood to have ceased to have the intention of returning when they have abandoned the habit of returning.
§41.1.5.6Gallinarum et anserum non est fera natura: palam est enim alias esse feras gallinas et alios feros anseres.
The nature of fowls and geese is not wild, for it is clear that there are other wild fowls and other wild geese.
itaque si quolibet modo anseres mei et gallinae meae turbati turbataeue adeo longius euolauerint, ut ignoremus ubi sint, tamen nihilo minus in nostro dominio tenentur.
Therefore, if in any way my geese and my fowls, having been disturbed, fly away so far that we do not know where they are, they are nevertheless still retained in our ownership.
qua de causa furti nobis tenebitur, qui quid eorum lucrandi animo adprehenderit.
For this reason, anyone who takes any of them with the intention of profiting himself will be liable to us for theft.
§41.1.5.7Item quae ex hostibus capiuntur, iure gentium statim capientium fiunt:
Likewise, things captured from enemies immediately become the property of the captors by the law of nations: