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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §8.1.4.pr-8.1.4.2

Conditions, Terms, and Modalities Restricting Servitudes

Passage 1352 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Papinian explains that while servitudes cannot strictly be subject to terms or conditions under civil law, agreements to that effect are protected via exceptions; furthermore, servitudes may be legally restricted by manner of exercise (such as vehicle type, weight, or specific time intervals).

[PAPINIANUS libro septimo quaestionum. ] §8.1.4.prSeruitutes ipso quidem iure neque ex tempore neque ad tempus neque sub condicione neque ad certam condicionem (uerbi gratia 'quamdiu uolam') constitui possunt: sed tamen si haec adiciantur, pacti uel per doli exceptionem occurretur contra placita seruitutem uindicanti: idque et Sabinum respondisse Cassius rettulit et sibi placere.
[PAPINIANUS in the seventh book of Questions.] Servitudes cannot, strictly by law itself, be established either from a certain time, or up to a certain time, or under a condition, or until a certain condition (for example, "as long as I wish"). However, if these are added, the person claiming the servitude contrary to the agreement will be opposed by the exception of agreement or of fraud. Cassius reported that Sabinus also gave this opinion, and that he himself approved of it.
§8.1.4.1Modum adici seruitutibus posse constat: ueluti quo genere uehiculi agatur uel non agatur (ueluti ut equo dumtaxat) uel ut certum pondus uehatur uel grex ille transducatur aut carbo portetur.
It is established that a restriction (modus) can be added to servitudes: for example, with what kind of vehicle one may drive or not drive (for example, that it be only by horse), or that a certain weight be carried, or that that particular herd be driven across, or that coal be carried.
§8.1.4.2Interualla dierum et horarum non ad temporis causam, sed ad modum pertinent iure constitutae seruitutis.
Intervals of days and hours do not pertain to the status of time, but to the restriction of a legally established servitude.

Notes

  1. 8.1.4.pripso quidem iure — An expression indicating that under strict civil law (*ius civile*), servitudes are inherently perpetual and undivided, and thus cannot formally be made subject to conditions or terms.
  2. 8.1.4.prpacti uel per doli exceptionem occurretur contra placita seruitutem uindicanti — The genitive `pacti` depends on `exceptionem`, implying both *exceptio pacti* (exception of agreement) and *exceptio doli* (exception of fraud). `occurretur` is an impersonal passive meaning "opposition will be made," and `uindicanti` is a dative present participle functioning as the indirect object.
  3. 8.1.4.pridque et Sabinum respondisse Cassius rettulit et sibi placere — Two accusative-and-infinitive clauses (`Sabinum respondisse` and `sibi placere`) are coordinated by `et... et...` as objects of `Cassius rettulit`. The reflexive pronoun `sibi` refers back to the subject of the reporting verb, `Cassius`.
  4. 8.1.4.2iure constitutae seruitutis — The phrase `iure constitutae` is a participle phrase modifying the genitive `seruitutis`, meaning "of a servitude established by law (or rightfully)." The entire genitive phrase modifies `modum`.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §8.1.4.pr-8.1.4.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:8.1.4.pr-8.1.4.2

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