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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §45.1.97.pr-45.1.97.1

Impossible Conditions and Promises in Favor of Third Parties

Passage 7444 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Celsus explains the effect of stipulating an impossible object (a hippocentaur) as a penalty, the validity of a promise to pay in the name of a third party based on the stipulator's interest, and the refusal of an action regarding certain marriage-related stipulations.

[CELSUS libro uicensimo sexto digestorum. ] §45.1.97.prSi ita stipulatus fuero: 'te sisti? nisi steteris, hippocentaurum dari?' proinde erit, atque 'te sisti' solummodo stipulatus essem. §45.1.97.1Possum utiliter a te ita stipulari: 'Titii nomine te soluturum?', neque enim hoc simile est illi 'Titium daturum?': sed ex ea stipulatione, dum interest mea, agere possum, et ideo, si locuples sit Titius, nihil ex hac stipulatione consequi possim: quid enim mea interest id a te fieri, quod si non feceris, aeque saluam pecuniam habiturus sum? 'Si tibi nupsero, decem dari spondes?' causa cognita denegandam actionem puto, nec raro probabilis causa eiusmodi stipulationis est.
I have stipulated thus: 'that you present yourself? and if you do not present yourself, that a hippocentaur be given?', it will be the same as if I had stipulated only 'that you present yourself'. can validly stipulate from you as follows: 'that you will pay in the name of Titius?', for this is not similar to that other stipulation 'that Titius will give?': but on the basis of that stipulation, as long as it is in my interest, I can bring an action; and therefore, if Titius is solvent, I would be able to obtain nothing from this stipulation: for what interest of mine is it that this be done by you, if, even if you do not do it, I am equally going to have my money safe? 'If I marry you, do you promise that ten be given?' I think that, after investigating the case, the action should be denied, and yet a plausible reason for a stipulation of this kind is not rare.
item si uir a muliere eo modo non in dotem stipulatus est.
The same applies if a husband has stipulated in this manner from his wife, not as a dowry.

Notes

  1. §45.1.97.prhippocentaurum dari — An accusative with infinitive clause meaning 'that a hippocentaur be given'. Since a hippocentaur is a non-existent 'impossible thing', it would normally make an obligation void. However, here it is appended as a penalty for failing the primary obligation (te sisti). The legal decision shows that because this impossible penalty is void, only the primary obligation remains valid.
  2. §45.1.97.1interest mea — The impersonal verb 'interest' (it is of interest, it concerns) takes the genitive of the person concerned, but for personal pronouns, it uses the feminine ablative singular of the possessive adjective (meā, tuā, etc.). Here, 'mea' (in my interest) forms an adverbial clause with 'dum' (as long as).
  3. §45.1.97.1quod si non feceris — The relative pronoun 'quod' serves as the direct object within the 'si' clause, forming a relative connection (nexus relativus) meaning 'if you do not do which (this)'. The antecedent is the preceding infinitive phrase 'id a te fieri' (that this be done by you).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §45.1.97.pr-45.1.97.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:45.1.97.pr-45.1.97.1

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