Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §45.1.41.pr-45.1.41.2

Interpretation of Ambiguous Dates and Debtor's Benefit

Passage 7388 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This chunk discusses the interpretation of stipulations where the specific date (such as which Kalends) is not clarified, and establishes the principle that the addition of a term is for the benefit of the debtor.

[ULPIANUS libro quinquagensimo ad Sabinum. ] §45.1.41.prEum, qui 'kalendis Ianuariis' stipulatur, si adiciat 'primis' uel 'proximis', nullam habere dubitationem palam est: sed et si dicat 'secundis' uel 'tertiis' uel quibus aliis, aeque dirimit quaestionem.
[ULPIANUS, in the fiftieth book on Sabinus.] It is clear that he who stipulates "on the Kalends of January", if he adds "the first" or "the nearest", has no doubt: but even if he says "the second" or "the third" or any others, it equally resolves the question.
si autem non addat quibus Ianuariis, facti quaestionem inducere, quid forte senserit, hoc est quid inter eos acti sit (utique enim hoc sequimur quod actum est), easque adsumemus.
But if he does not add which Kalends, this introduces a question of fact as to what he perhaps intended, that is, what was transacted between them (for we surely follow what was transacted), and we shall adopt those.
si autem non appareat, dicendum est quod Sabinus, primas kalendas Ianuarias spectandas.
But if it is not apparent, we must say what Sabinus [held], that the first Kalends of January are to be looked to.
plane si ipsa die kalendarum quis stipulationem interponat, quid sequemur? et puto actum uideri de sequentibus kalendis.
Clearly, if anyone should enter into a stipulation on the very day of the Kalends, what shall we follow? And I think it seems to be transacted concerning the following Kalends.
§45.1.41.1Quotiens autem in obligationibus dies non ponitur, praesenti die pecunia debetur, nisi si locus adiectus spatium temporis inducat, quo illo possit perueniri.
Whenever, however, a date is not set in obligations, the money is due immediately, unless an added place introduces a space of time within which it can be reached there.
uerum dies adiectus efficit, ne praesenti die pecunia debeatur: ex quo apparet diei adiectionem pro reo esse, non pro stipulatore.
But an added date brings it about that the money is not due immediately: from which it appears that the addition of a term is in favor of the promisor, not of the stipulator.
§45.1.41.2Idem in idibus etiam et nonis probandum est et generaliter in omnibus diebus.
The same must also be approved in the case of the Ides and the Nones, and generally on all days.

Notes

  1. §45.1.41.prfacti quaestionem inducere — The infinitive `inducere` involves an ellipsis in this context. It is generally understood either as depending on an elided verbal expression like `dicendum est` ("it must be said that...") forming an accusative-and-infinitive construction, or as a historical infinitive standing in for the indicative `inducit` ("it introduces"). Some suggest textual emendation to `inducit` or adding `<puto>` ("I think"). It is translated here as expressing the main predicate statement.
  2. §45.1.41.prquid inter eos acti sit — The neuter singular perfect participle genitive `acti` functions as a partitive genitive dependent on the interrogative pronoun `quid` (literally "what of transacted"). Combined with `inter eos` ("between them"), it forms an indirect question clause ("what was transacted between them"), which takes the subjunctive verb `sit`.
  3. §45.1.41.1pro reo — The preposition `pro` ("for the benefit of, in favor of") governs the ablative. In Roman legal terminology, `reus` can refer to either the creditor (*reus stipulandi*) or the debtor (*reus promittendi*). Here, it specifically denotes the promisor (debtor) who bears the obligation. The phrase highlights the famous Roman legal principle that the addition of a time limit is in favor of the debtor.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §45.1.41.pr-45.1.41.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:45.1.41.pr-45.1.41.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.