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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §46.1.34.pr

Rule Against Sureties Bearing Heavier Obligations

Passage 7582 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus states the rule that an accessory obligor cannot assume a heavier burden than the principal, and discusses how the addition of alternative creditors or the limitation of specific performance items affects the weight of the obligation.

[PAULUS libro septuagensimo secundo ad edictum. ] §46.1.34.prHi, qui accessionis loco promittunt, in leuiorem causam accipi possunt, in deteriorem non possunt.
[PAULUS in the seventy-second book on the Edict.] Those who promise in the position of an accessory can be accepted for a lighter obligation, but cannot for a heavier one.
ideo, si a reo mihi stipulatus sim, a fideiussore mihi aut Titio, meliorem causam esse fideiussoris Iulianus putat, quia potest uel Titio soluere.
Therefore, if I have stipulated from the principal debtor payment to myself, and from the surety payment to myself or to Titius, Julian thinks that the condition of the surety is better, because he can pay even to Titius.
quod si a reo mihi aut Titio stipulatus, a fideiussore mihi tantum interrogem, in deteriorem causam acceptum fideiussorem Iulianus ait.
But if, having stipulated from the principal debtor payment to myself or to Titius, I should interrogate the surety only for payment to myself, Julian says that the surety has been accepted for a heavier obligation.
quid ergo, si a reo Stichum aut Pamphilum, a fideiussore Stichum interrogem? utrum in deteriorem causam acceptus est sublata electione? an in meliorem, quod et uerum est, quia mortuo eo liberari potest?
What then, if I interrogate the principal debtor for Stichus or Pamphilus, and the surety for Stichus? Has he been accepted for a heavier obligation, because the choice has been taken away? Or for a lighter one, which indeed is true, because if he dies, the surety can be freed?

Notes

  1. §46.1.34.praccessionis loco — Meaning 'in the place of an accessory.' This is a legal idiom referring to the position of a party who assumes a subordinate obligation, such as a surety (fideiussor) in relation to a principal debt.
  2. §46.1.34.pra reo mihi stipulatus sim — The deponent verb 'stipulari' means 'to stipulate' (to question and bind the other party). The structure is 'a reo' (from the principal debtor) 'mihi' (to me [payment]) 'stipulatus sim' (if I have stipulated). In the subsequent clause 'a fideiussore mihi aut Titio', the verb 'stipulatus sim' is elliptically omitted.
  3. §46.1.34.prsublata electione — An ablative absolute construction using the perfect participle of 'tollere' (to take away, remove). It refers to the fact that while the principal debtor has the choice (electio) between Stichus or Pamphilus, the surety's obligation is restricted to Stichus alone, thereby removing the choice.
  4. §46.1.34.prmortuo eo — An ablative absolute phrase meaning 'he (the specific slave Stichus) having died.' It refers to the legal principle that in an obligation for a specific thing, if that thing perishes (dies) without fault before delivery, the debtor is released (liberari potest) from the obligation.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §46.1.34.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:46.1.34.pr

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