[UENULEIUS libro primo stipulationum. ] §45.1.137.prContinuus actus stipulantis et promittentis esse debet (ut tamen aliquod momentum naturae interuenire possit) et comminus responderi stipulanti oportet: ceterum si post interrogationem aliud acceperit, nihil proderit, quamuis eadem die spopondisset.
[UENULEIUS, Stipulations, book 1.] The act of the stipulator and the promisor must be continuous (although some natural interval of time may intervene), and the answer to the stipulator must be made face-to-face; however, if after the interrogation the party should have taken up another business, it will be of no avail, even though he should have promised on the same day.
§45.1.137.1Si hominem stipulatus sim et ego de alio sensero, tu de alio, nihil acti erit: nam stipulatio ex utriusque consensu perficitur.
If I should have stipulated for a slave, and I was thinking of one and you of another, nothing will have been done, for a stipulation is perfected by the consent of both.
§45.1.137.2Cum ita stipulatus sum 'Ephesi dari?' inest tempus: quod autem accipi debeat, quaeritur.
When I have stipulated thus, 'Is it to be given at Ephesus?', time is implied; but it is asked what length of time should be allowed.
et magis est, ut totam eam rem ad iudicem, id est ad uirum bonum remittamus, qui aestimet, quanto tempore diligens pater familias conficere possit, quod facturum se promiserit, ut qui Ephesi daturum se spoponderit, neque duplomate diebus ac noctibus et omni tempestate contempta iter continuare cogatur neque tam delicate progredi debeat, ut reprehensione dignus appareat, sed habita ratione temporis aetatis sexus ualetudinis, cum id agat, ut mature perueniat, id est eodem tempore, quo plerique eiusdem condicionis homines solent peruenire.
And it is more correct that we should refer the whole matter to a judge, that is, to an honorable man, who may estimate within what time a diligent head of a household could accomplish what he has promised to do, so that one who has promised to give at Ephesus is neither compelled to continue his journey day and night using a travel pass and disregarding every storm, nor ought he to proceed so slowly as to appear worthy of censure, but, having taken into account the season, age, sex, and health, should strive to arrive quickly, that is, in the same time in which most men of the same condition are accustomed to arrive.
eoque transacto, quamuis Romae remanserit nec possit Ephesi pecuniam dare, nihilo minus ei recte condicetur, uel quia per ipsum steterit, quo minus Ephesi daret, uel quoniam per alium Ephesi possit dari uel quia ubique potest soluere: nam et quod in diem debetur, ante solui potest, licet peti non potest.
And when that time has elapsed, although he should have remained at Rome and cannot give the money at Ephesus, a claim for recovery will nevertheless be correctly brought against him, either because it was due to himself that he did not give at Ephesus, or because it could be given at Ephesus through another, or because he can pay anywhere; for even what is owed on a future day can be paid beforehand, although it cannot be demanded.
quod si duplomate usus aut felici nauigatione maturius quam quisque peruenerit Ephesum, confestim obligatus est, quia in eo, quod tempore atque facto finitum est, nullus est coniecturae locus.
But if, by using a travel pass or by a successful voyage, he should have arrived at Ephesus sooner than anyone else, he is immediately bound, because in that which is limited by time and fact, there is no room for conjecture.
§45.1.137.3Item qui insulam fieri spopondit, non utique conquisitis undique fabris et plurimis operis adhibitis festinare debet nec rursus utroque aut altero contentus esse, sed modus adhibendus est secundum rationem diligentis aedificatoris et temporum locorumque.
Likewise, he who has promised to build a block of flats is not indeed bound to make haste by searching out workmen from everywhere and employing a vast number of laborers, nor on the other hand ought he to be content with one or two; but a middle course must be observed according to the standard of a diligent builder and of the times and places.
item si non inchoetur opus, id tantum aestimetur, quod in illo interuallo effici potuit.
Likewise, if the work is not begun, only that should be estimated which could have been accomplished in that interval.
transactoque tempore, quo insulam consummare oportuerit, si postea aedificetur, liberetur reus, sicut liberatur, qui se daturum spopondit, si quandoque tradit.
And when the time has elapsed within which the block of flats ought to have been completed, if it should be built afterwards, the debtor is released, just as he who has promised to give is released if he delivers at any time.
§45.1.137.4Illud inspiciendum est, an qui centum dari promisit confestim teneatur an uero cesset obligatio, donec pecuniam conferre possit.
This point must be considered, whether he who has promised to give a hundred is immediately bound, or whether indeed the obligation is suspended until he can raise the money.
quid ergo, si neque domi habet neque inueniat creditorem? sed haec recedunt ab impedimento naturali et respiciunt ad facultatem dandi.
What then, if he has it not at home, nor can find a creditor? But these matters depart from a natural impediment and look to the capability of giving.
est autem facultas personae commodum incommodumque, non rerum quae promittuntur.
Now capability is a personal advantage or disadvantage, not an attribute of the things which are promised.
et alioquin si quis Stichum dari spoponderit, quaeremus, ubi sit Stichus: aut si non multum referre uideatur 'Ephesi daturum se', an, quod Ephesi sit, cum ipse Romae sit, dare spondeat: nam hoc quoque ad facultatem dandi pertinet, quia in pecunia et in Sticho illud commune est, quod promissor in praesentia dare non potest.
And otherwise, if anyone should have promised that Stichus be given, we should have to ask where Stichus is; or whether it would not seem to make much difference whether one promises 'to give at Ephesus' or promises to give what is at Ephesus when he himself is at Rome; for this also pertains to the capability of giving, since in the case of both money and Stichus, it is common that the promisor cannot give them at the present moment.
et generaliter causa difficultatis ad incommodum promissoris, non ad impedimentum stipulatoris pertinet, ne incipiat dici eum quoque dare non posse, qui alienum seruum, quem dominus non uendat, dare promiserit.
And generally, the cause of difficulty pertains to the disadvantage of the promisor, not to an impediment of the stipulator, lest it begin to be said that he also cannot give, who has promised to give another's slave whom the owner does not sell.
§45.1.137.5Si ab eo stipulatus sim, qui efficere non possit, cum alio possibile sit, iure factam obligationem Sabinus scribit.
If I should have stipulated with one who cannot perform, although it is possible for another, Sabinus writes that the obligation is lawfully made.
§45.1.137.6Cum quis sub hac condicione stipulatus sit, si rem sacram aut religiosam Titius uendiderit uel forum aut basilicam et huiusmodi res, quae publicis usibus in perpetuum relictae sint: ubi omnino condicio iure impleri non potest uel id facere ei non liceat, nullius momenti fore stipulationem, proinde ac si ea condicio, quae natura impossibilis est, inserta esset.
When one has stipulated under this condition, 'if Titius should have sold a sacred or religious object, or a forum or basilica and things of this kind which are left in perpetuity for public uses,' where the condition cannot be legally fulfilled at all or it is not permitted for him to do it, the stipulation will be of no moment, just as if that condition which is naturally impossible had been inserted.
nec ad rem pertinet, quod ius mutari potest et id, quod nunc impossibile est, postea possibile fieri: non enim secundum futuri temporis ius, sed secundum praesentis aestimari debet stipulatio.
Nor does it pertain to the matter that the law can be changed, and that which is now impossible can afterwards become possible; for a stipulation must be evaluated not according to the law of a future time, but according to that of the present.
§45.1.137.7Si ut aliquid fiat stipulemur, et usitatius et elegantius esse Labeo ait sic subici poenam: 'si ita factum non erit': at cum quid ne fiat stipulemur, tunc hoc modo: 'si aduersus ea factum erit': et cum alia fieri, alia non fieri coniuncte stipulemur, sic comprehendendum: 'si non feceris, si quid aduersus ea feceris'. §45.1.137.8Praeterea sciendum est, quod dari stipulemur, non posse nos uni ex heredibus adquiri, sed necesse esse omnibus adquiri: at cum quid fieri stipulemur, etiam unius personam recte comprehendi.
If we should stipulate that something be done, Labeo says that it is both more customary and more elegant for the penalty to be annexed thus: 'if it shall not have been so done'; but when we stipulate that something not be done, then in this manner: 'if it shall have been done contrary thereto'; and when we stipulate conjunctively that some things be done and others not be done, it should be expressed thus: 'if you shall not have done it, or if you shall have done anything contrary thereto.' Furthermore, it should be known that what we stipulate to be given cannot be acquired for only one of the heirs, but must of necessity be acquired for all; but when we stipulate that something be done, even the person of a single heir is rightly included.