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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §8.1.15.pr-8.1.15.1

Validity of Servitudes and Obligation to Endure or Refrain

Passage 1363 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Discusses that the establishment of a right that is of no benefit to neighbors is invalid, and that the essence of a servitude lies not in imposing an obligation to act, but in imposing an obligation to endure or refrain from acting.

[POMPONIUS libro trigensimo tertio ad Sabinum. ] §8.1.15.prQuotiens nec hominum nec praediorum seruitutes sunt, quia nihil uicinorum interest, non ualet, ueluti ne per fundum tuum eas aut ibi consistas: et ideo si mihi concedas ius tibi non esse fundo tuo uti frui, nihil agitur, aliter atque si concedas mihi ius tibi non esse in fundo tuo aquam quaerere minuendae aquae meae gratia.
[POMPONIUS in the thirty-third book on Sabinus.] Whenever there are servitudes neither of persons nor of estates, because it is of no concern to the neighbors, it is of no effect; as, for example, that you may not walk through your own estate or remain there. And therefore, if you should grant to me that you have no right to use and enjoy your own estate, nothing is accomplished; otherwise than if you should grant to me that you have no right to search for water on your estate for the purpose of diminishing my water.
§8.1.15.1Seruitutium non ea natura est, ut aliquid faciat quis, ueluti uiridia tollat aut amoeniorem prospectum praestet, aut in hoc ut in suo pingat, sed ut aliquid patiatur aut non faciat.
It is not the nature of servitudes that someone should do something, as, for example, remove greenery or provide a more pleasant view, or paint on this [estate] as if on his own, but that he should endure something or refrain from doing something.

Notes

  1. §8.1.15.prnihil uicinorum interest — Explanation of the construction of interest with the genitive uicinorum ("it is of concern to the neighbors") and the adverbial accusative or subject nihil ("not at all" or "nothing"), meaning "it is of no concern to the neighbors."
  2. §8.1.15.praliter atque si — A comparative expression meaning "otherwise than if" or "different from the case if." It introduces an exception (which would be valid) in contrast to the preceding "nihil agitur" (nothing is accomplished / it is void).
  3. §8.1.15.prminuendae aquae meae gratia — A construction expressing purpose using gratia (governing the genitive) combined with the gerundive minuendae agreeing with aquae meae, meaning "for the purpose of diminishing my water."
  4. §8.1.15.1ut aliquid faciat quis... sed ut aliquid patiatur aut non faciat — Subjunctive ut-clauses explaining the content of nature (natura). The negative "non ea... ut" denies the positive action (aliquid faciat) and contrasts it with "sed ut...", expressing that the essence of servitudes lies not in active doing (facere) by the servient owner, but in enduring (pati) or refraining from doing (non facere).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §8.1.15.pr-8.1.15.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:8.1.15.pr-8.1.15.1

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