[ULPIANUS libro sexagensimo octauo ad edictum. ] §43.15.1.prPraetor ait: 'Quo minus illi in flumine publico ripaue eius opus facere ripae agriue qui circa ripam est tuendi causa liceat, dum ne ob id nauigatio deterior fiat, si tibi damni infecti in annos decem uiri boni arbitratu uel cautum uel satisdatum est aut per illum non stat, quo minus uiri boni arbitratu caueatur uel satisdetur, uim fieri ueto'. §43.15.1.1Ripas fluminum publicorum reficere munire utilissimum est.
[ULPIANUS libro sexagensimo octauo ad edictum.] The praetor says: "I forbid force to be used to prevent that person from being allowed to perform work on a public river or its bank for the purpose of protecting the bank or the land situated around the bank, provided that navigation is not made worse thereby, and if security has been given to you, either by promise or by surety, for threatened damage for ten years according to the arbitration of an upright man, or if it is not due to him that security is not given by the arbitration of an upright man." It is most useful to repair and reinforce the banks of public rivers.
sicuti igitur de uia publica reficienda interdictum propositum est, ita etiam de ripa fluminis munienda proponendum fuit.
Therefore, just as an interdict was proposed concerning the repair of a public road, so also one ought to have been proposed concerning the reinforcing of a river bank.
§43.15.1.2Merito adicit 'dum ne ob id nauigatio deterior fiat': illa enim sola refectio toleranda est, quae nauigio non est impedimento.
He adds with good reason: "provided that navigation is not made worse thereby"; for only that repair is to be tolerated which is not a hindrance to navigation.
§43.15.1.3Is autem, qui ripam uult munire, de damno futuro debet uel cauere uel satisdare secundum qualitatem personae: et hoc interdicto expressum est, ut damni infecti in annos decem uiri boni arbitratu uel caueatur uel satisdetur.
He, however, who wishes to reinforce a bank, must either give security by promise or by surety for future damage according to the status of the person; and this is expressed in this interdict, that security, either by promise or by surety, is to be given for threatened damage for ten years according to the arbitration of an upright man.
§43.15.1.4Dabitur autem satis uicinis: sed et his, qui trans flumen possidebunt.
Moreover, security shall be given to neighbors, but also to those who possess land across the river.
§43.15.1.5Etenim curandum fuit, ut eis ante opus factum caueretur: nam post opus factum persequendi hoc interdicto nulla facultas superest, etiamsi quid damni postea datum fuerit, sed lege Aquilia experiendum est.
For care had to be taken that security was given to them before the work was done; because after the work is done, no capacity for suing under this interdict remains, even if some damage is caused afterward, but one must proceed under the Lex Aquilia.
§43.15.1.6Illud notandum est, quod ripae lacus fossae stagni muniendi nihil praetor hic cauit: sed idem erit obseruandum, quod in ripa fluminis munienda.
It should be noted that the praetor has provided nothing here concerning the reinforcing of the bank of a lake, canal, or pool; but the same rule will have to be observed as in the reinforcing of a river bank.