[CALLISTRATUS libro secundo quaestionum. ] §50.16.220.prLiberorum' appellatione nepotes et pronepotes ceterique qui ex his descendunt continentur: hos enim omnes suorum appellatione lex duodecim tabularum comprehendit.
[CALLISTRATUS, in the second book of Questions.] Under the term 'children' (liberi) are included grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all others who descend from them; for the Law of the Twelve Tables includes all these under the term 'self-successors' (sui).
totiens enim leges necessariam ducunt cognationem singulorum nominibus uti (ueluti filii, nepotis, pronepotis ceterorumue qui ex his descendunt), quotiens non omnibus, qui post eos sunt, praestitum uoluerint, sed solis his succurrent, quos nominatim enumerent.
For laws deem it necessary to use the names of individuals (such as son, grandson, great-grandson, or others who descend from them) only when they do not wish a benefit to be granted to all who come after them, but intend to assist only those whom they enumerate by name.
at ubi non personis certis, non quibusdam gradibus praestatur, sed omnibus, qui ex eodem genere orti sunt, liberorum appellatione comprehenduntur.
But where a benefit is conferred not upon specific persons or certain degrees of relationship, but upon all who are born from the same stock, they are comprehended under the term 'children'.
§50.16.220.1Sed et Papirius Fronto libro tertio responsorum ait praedio cum uilico et contubernali eius et filiis legato nepotes quoque ex filiis contineri, nisi uoluntas testatoris aliter habeat: filii enim appellatione saepe et nepotes accipi multifariam placere.
But also Papirius Fronto, in the third book of Opinions, says that when an estate is bequeathed together with the slave-overseer, his female partner, and his children, the grandchildren from the children are also included, unless the intention of the testator was otherwise; for it is frequently and in many ways agreed that grandchildren are often accepted under the term 'children' (filii).
§50.16.220.2Diuus quoque Marcus rescripsit non uideri sine liberis defunctum, qui nepotem suum heredem reliquit.
The Divine Marcus also replied by rescript that a person who left his grandson as heir is not considered to have died without children.
§50.16.220.3Praeter haec omnia natura nos quoque docet parentes pios, qui liberorum procreandorum animo et uoto uxores ducunt, filiorum appellatione omnes qui ex nobis descendunt continere: nec enim dulciore nomine possumus nepotes nostros quam filii appellare.
In addition to all this, nature also teaches us, dutiful parents who marry wives with the intention and desire of procreating children, that the term 'children' (filii) contains all who descend from us; for we cannot call our grandchildren by a sweeter name than 'children'.
etenim idcirco filios filiasue concipimus atque edimus, ut ex prole eorum earumue diuturnitatis nobis memoriam in aeuum relinquamus.
For indeed, for this reason we conceive and bring forth sons and daughters, so that through their offspring we may leave a memory of our continuity to eternity.