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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.16.125.pr

Condition of Ability to Pay in Dowry Promises

Passage 8939 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Nepos questions the timing and interpretation of a conditionally promised dowry regarding the debtor's ability to pay, and Proculus answers that interpretation must align with the parties' intent, which reasonably implies deducting debts and preserving social standing.

[IDEM libro quinto epistularum. ] §50.16.125.prNepos Proculo suo salutem.
[THE SAME, from the fifth book of Epistles.] Nepos to his Proculus, greeting.
Ab eo, qui ita dotem promisit: 'cum commodum erit, dotis filiae meae tibi erunt aurei centum', putasne protinus nuptiis factis dotem peti posse? quid si ita promisisset: 'cum potuero, doti erunt'? quod si aliquam uim habeat posterior obligatio, 'possit' uerbum quomodo interpretaris, utrum aere alieno deducto an extante? Proculus: cum dotem quis ita promisit: 'cum potuero, doti tibi erunt centum', existimo ad id quod actum est interpretationem redigendam esse: nam qui ambigue loquitur, id loquitur, quod ex his quae significantur sensit.
Do you think that from one who promised a dowry thus: 'when it shall be convenient, one hundred gold pieces of my daughter's dowry shall be yours,' the dowry can be demanded immediately once the marriage is celebrated? What if he had promised thus: 'when I am able, they shall be for a dowry'? But if the latter obligation has any force, how do you interpret the word 'can'—is it with debts deducted, or with them remaining? Proculus: When someone has promised a dowry thus: 'when I am able, one hundred shall be for a dowry to you,' I think that the interpretation should be reduced to what was agreed upon; for he who speaks ambiguously speaks that which, out of those things which are signified, he intended.
propius est tamen, ut hoc eum sensisse existimem 'deducto aere alieno potero'. potest etiam illa accipi significatio 'cum salua dignitate mea potero': quae interpretatio eo magis accipienda est, si ita promissum est 'cum commodum erit', hoc est 'cum sine incommodo meo potero'.
Yet, it is more appropriate to think that he intended this: 'with debts deducted, I shall be able.' That meaning can also be accepted: 'when I am able without prejudice to my social standing'; which interpretation is all the more to be accepted if it was promised thus: 'when it shall be convenient,' that is, 'when I am able without inconvenience to myself.'

Notes

  1. §50.16.125.prdotis filiae meae — The genitive `dotis` (genitive singular of `dos`) functions as a genitive of definition modifying `aurei centum` ('one hundred gold pieces'), or as a genitive of possession/purpose denoting 'as my daughter's dowry'.
  2. §50.16.125.prpossit — The subjunctive present form of the verb `posse` used substantively. It refers back to the quoted future form `potero`, asking about the interpretation of the debtor's state of 'being able' to pay.
  3. §50.16.125.prad id quod actum est — `actum est` (perfect passive of `agere`) in Roman legal contexts refers to 'what was transacted/agreed upon' or 'the intention of the parties'. Thus, the phrase means the interpretation should be brought back to the actual intent of the contracting parties rather than the literal wording.
  4. §50.16.125.prsalua dignitate mea — An ablative absolute construction with the noun `dignitas` (dignity, social status). It means 'without prejudice to my social standing,' implying that the debtor is considered 'able' only if they can pay while maintaining the living standard appropriate to their social position.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.16.125.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.16.125.pr

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