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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §8.2.16.pr

Distinction Between Light and Prospect by View of the Sky

Passage 1384 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus, quoting Alfenus, explains the definition of and difference between light (lumen) and prospect (prospectus), noting that light requires a view of the sky and thus cannot come from a lower position.

[PAULUS libro secundo epitomarum Alfeni digestorum. ] §8.2.16.prLumen id est, ut caelum uideretur, et interest inter lumen et prospectum: nam prospectus etiam ex inferioribus locis est, lumen ex inferiore loco esse non potest.
[PAULUS in the second book of the Epitomes of Alfenus' Digest.] Light is this, that the sky is seen, and there is a difference between light and prospect: for prospect is possible even from lower places, but light cannot be from a lower place.

Notes

  1. §8.2.16.pruideretur — Subjunctive imperfect. It forms an appositive (noun) clause introduced by ut following id est to define "lumen". The imperfect tense is used due to the sequence of tenses, reflecting the fact that the original statement by Alfenus is being quoted or summarized as a past utterance.
  2. §8.2.16.prex inferioribus locis — Ablative with the preposition ex, indicating origin or direction, meaning "from lower places." While a "prospect" (prospectus) can look down upon or exist from a lower elevation, "light" (lumen), defined as seeing the sky, requires open space above, making it physically impossible to obtain light from a place lower than oneself.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §8.2.16.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:8.2.16.pr

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