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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §45.1.65.pr-45.1.65.1

Irrelevant Words, Variations in Names, and Stipulation

Passage 7412 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It explains that the addition of irrelevant words (such as poetry) does not invalidate a stipulation, and that variations in the names of the promised thing or person do not affect its validity as long as they refer to the same substance.

[FLORENTINUS libro octavo institutionum. ] §45.1.65.prQuae extrinsecus et nihil ad praesentem actum pertinentia adieceris stipulationi, pro supervacuis habebuntur nec uitiabunt obligationem, ueluti si dicas: 'arma uirumque cano: spondeo', nihilo minus ualet.
[FLORENTINUS, Institutes, Book 8] Those things which you have added to a stipulation from the outside and which pertain nothing to the present act will be held as superfluous and will not invalidate the obligation; for example, if you should say, "Arms and the man I sing: I promise", it is nonetheless valid.
§45.1.65.1Sed et si in rei quae promittitur aut personae appellatione uarietur, non obesse placet: nam stipulanti denarios eiusdem quantitatis aureos spondendo obligaberis: et seruo stipulanti Lucio domino suo, si Titio, qui idem sit, daturum te spondeas, obligaberis.
But even if there is a variation in the designation of the thing promised or of the person, it is agreed that it does not stand in the way; for you will be bound by promising gold coins of the same value to one stipulating for denarii; and you will be bound to a slave stipulating for Lucius his master, if you promise that you will give to Titius, who is the same person.

Notes

  1. §45.1.65.prpro supervacuis — "As superfluous." The preposition "pro" means "regarded as" or "in the place of," and is used here with the future passive verb "habebuntur" to indicate that the redundant insertions do not affect the contract.
  2. §45.1.65.1denarios eiusdem quantitatis aureos — "Denarii... gold coins of the same value." "Denarios" is the object of the preceding participle "stipulanti" (to the one stipulating), while "aureos" is the object of the gerund "spondendo" (by promising). "Eiusdem quantitatis" is a genitive modifying "aureos".
  3. §45.1.65.1seruo stipulanti Lucio domino suo — "To a slave stipulating for Lucius his master." "Lucio domino suo" is a dative depending on "stipulanti", referring to the legal act of a slave acquiring a right for his master (stipulari alicui = to stipulate for someone).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §45.1.65.pr-45.1.65.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:45.1.65.pr-45.1.65.1

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