De stipulationibus praetoriis
(Concerning prætorian stipulations.)
1 Ulpianus libro septuagensimo ad edictum. Praetoriarum stipulationum tres videntur esse species, iudiciales cautionales communes. 1Iudiciales eas dicimus, quae propter iudicium interponuntur ut ratum fiat, ut iudicatum solvi et ex operis novi nuntiatione. 2Cautionales sunt autem, quae instar actionis habent et, ut sit nova actio, intercedunt, ut de legatis stipulationes et de tutela et ratam rem haberi et damni infecti. 3Communes sunt stipulationes, quae fiunt iudicio sistendi causa. 4Et sciendum est omnes stipulationes natura sui cautionales esse: hoc enim agitur in stipulationibus, ut quis cautior sit et securior interposita stipulatione. 5Stipulationum istarum praetoriarum quaedam sunt, quae satisdationem exigunt, quaedam nudam repromissionem: sed perpaucae sunt, quae nudam promissionem habent, quibus enumeratis apparebit ceteras non esse repromissiones, sed satisdationes. 6Stipulatio itaque ex operis novi nuntiatione alias satisdationem, alias repromissionem habet. ex qua operis novi nuntiatione satisdari oporteat, quemadmodum satisdetur. namque de eo opere, quod in privato factum erit, satisdatio est: de eo, quod in publico, repromitti oportet: sed hi quidem, qui suo nomine cavent, repromittunt, qui alieno, satisdant. 7Item ex causa damni infecti interdum repromittitur, interdum satisdatur: nam si quid in flumine publico fiat, satisdatur, de aedibus autem repromittitur. 8Stipulatio duplae repromissio est, nisi si convenerit, ut satisdetur. 9Quod si sit aliqua controversia, ut puta si dicatur per calumniam desiderari, ut stipulatio interponatur, ipse praetor debet super ea re summatim cognoscere et cautum iubere aut denegare. 10Sed et si quid vel addi vel detrahi vel immutari in stipulatione oporteat, praetoriae erit iurisdictionis.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXX. There are three kinds of prætorian stipulations; namely, judicial, cautional, and common. 1We call those stipulations judicial which are interposed on account of a judgment, in order to procure its ratification, so that it may be paid, or notice served with reference to the construction of a new work. 2Cautional stipulations are those which take the place of a lawsuit, and are introduced to permit a new action to be brought; such are stipulations with reference to legacies and guardianships, to enable ratification to be made, and for the prevention of threatened injury. 3Common stipulations are those which are entered into for the purpose of causing a party to appear in court. 4It should be remembered that all stipulations are in their nature cautional, for in agreements of this kind the intention is that, by means of them, a person may be rendered more secure and safe. 5Some of these prætorian stipulations require security, others merely a promise; but there are very few of them which require a mere promise, and, when they are enumerated, it will be evident that those which are mentioned are not promises, but obligations with security. 6A stipulation made with reference to notice of a new work sometimes includes security, and sometimes a promise. Hence, after what kind of a notice to discontinue a new work should security be given? How should it be given? Security must be given for a work which is constructed on private property, but where it is constructed on public lands, a mere promise will be sufficient. Those, however, who contract in their own names promise; those who contract in the name of another furnish security. 7Likewise, in a case of threatened injury, sometimes a promise is made, and at others security is given; for when anything is built in a public stream, security is furnished, but a mere promise is made with reference to houses. 8Stipulation for double damages is a promise, unless an agreement was made that security should be furnished. 9Where, however, there is some controversy, as, for instance, if, for the purpose of annoying an adversary, it is stated that a stipulation should be interposed, the Prætor himself should decide the case summarily, and either order security to be furnished, or refuse it. 10But where anything is to be added, taken from, or changed in the stipulation, this belongs to the jurisdiction of the Prætor.
2 Paulus libro septuagensimo tertio ad edictum. Praetoriae stipulationes aut rei restitutionem continent aut incertam quantitatem. 1Sicuti stipulatio ex operis novi nuntiatione, qua cavetur, ut opus restituatur: ideoque sive actor sive reus decesserit pluribus heredibus relictis, uno vincente vel victo totum opus restitui debebit: quamdiu enim aliquid superest, tamdiu non potest videri opus restitutum. 2Incertam quantitatem continet stipulatio iudicatum solvi et rem ratam dominum habiturum et damni infecti et his similes, in quibus respondetur scindi eas in personas heredum, quamvis possit dici ex persona heredum promissoris non posse descendentem a defuncto stipulationem diversam condicionem cuiusque facere. at in contrarium summa ratione fit, ut uno ex heredibus stipulatoris vincente in partem eius committatur stipulatio: hoc enim facere verba stipulationis ‘quanti ea res est’. sed si unus ex heredibus promissoris totam rem possideat, in solidum eum damnandum Iulianus scribit: in quantum autem ipse ea stipulatione vel fideiussores an omnino teneantur, dubitari potest: et videndum ait, ne non committatur. sed si lite contestata possessor decesserit, unum ex heredibus non maiore ex parte damnandum, licet totum fundum possideat, quam ex qua heres est.
2 Paulus, On the Edict, Book LXXIII. Prætorian stipulations either involve the restitution of the property, or an indeterminate amount, 1As, for instance, the stipulation with reference to notice of a new work, whereby it is provided that everything shall be restored to its former condition. Therefore, whether the plaintiff or the defendant dies, leaving several heirs; and whether either of them gains, or loses the case, everything must be restored to its former condition; for as long as anything remains it cannot appear that complete restitution has been made. 2A stipulation involves an indeterminate amount, when an agreement is made that the judgment shall be paid; that the principal will ratify what has been done; that injury will not be caused; and other things of this kind. With reference to these, it can be said that they are divided among the heirs, although it may be maintained that a stipulation made by the deceased, and which descends from him, cannot, in the persons of his heirs, render their condition different. But, on the other hand, it is perfectly reasonable that if one of the heirs of the stipulator gains his case, the stipulation will become operative, so far as his share is concerned; since this is caused by the words of the stipulation: “As much as the property is worth.” If, however, one of the heirs of the promisor is in possession of the entire property, Julianus says that judgment must be rendered against him in full. It may be doubted whether he himself, as well as his sureties, are liable under the stipulation, or even liable at all; and it is a question whether the stipulation becomes operative. If the possessor should die after issue has been joined, one of the heirs ought not to have judgment rendered against him for a larger share than he is entitled to from the estate, even though he may be in possession of all the land.
3 Ulpianus libro septuagensimo nono ad edictum. Generaliter in omnibus praetoriis stipulationibus et procuratoribus satisdatur.
3 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXXIX. Generally speaking, in all prætorian stipulations security is furnished, even to agents.
4 Paulus libro septuagensimo quinto ad edictum. Praetoriae stipulationes saepius interponuntur, cum sine culpa stipulatoris cautum esse desiit.
4 Paulus, On the Edict, Book LXXV. Prætorian stipulations are often interposed when, without the fault of the stipulator, the security ceases to exist.
5 Idem libro quadragensimo octavo ad edictum. In omnibus praetoriis stipulationibus hoc servandum est, ut, si procurator meus stipuletur, mihi causa cognita ex ea stipulatione actio competat. idem est et cum institor in ea causa esse coepit, ut interposita persona eius dominus mercis rem amissurus sit, veluti bonis eius venditis: succurrere enim domino praetor debet.
5 The Same, Qn the Edict, Book XLVIII. In all prætorian stipulations, it should be noted that if my agent stipulates for my benefit, an action will lie in my favor by virtue of the stipulation, if proper cause is shown. The same thing happens where a factor is in such a position that, through his personal interposition, the principal will lose his. merchandise; for example, where his property is to be sold, for the Prætor should come to the relief of the principal.
6 Idem libro quarto decimo ad Plautium. In omnibus praetoriis stipulationibus, in quibus primo fieri aliquid, deinde, si factum non sit, poenam inferimus, poenae nomine stipulatio committitur.
6 The Same, On Plautius, Book XIV. In all prætorian stipulations in which something is to be previously done, and if it is not done, we impose a penalty, the stipulation takes effect on account of the penalty.
7 Ulpianus libro quarto decimo ad edictum. Praetoriae satisdationes personas desiderant pro se intervenientium et neque pignoribus quis neque pecuniae vel auri vel argenti depositione in vicem satisdationis fungitur.
7 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XIV. Prætorian security requires persons to appear for themselves, and no one can replace this kind of security by pledges, or by depositing money or articles of gold or silver.
8 Papinianus libro quinto quaestionum. Paulus notat: Qui sub condicione institutus est, adgnita bonorum possessione cogitur substituto in diem cavere longiorem: praetor enim beneficium suum nemini vult esse captiosum et potest videri calumniose satis petere, quem alius antecedit. 1Cum sub contrariis condicionibus Titio et Maevio legatum sit, utrique cavetur, quia uterque ex voluntate defuncti sperat legatum.
8 Papinianus, Questions, Book V. Paulus says that when anyone is appointed under a condition, and is recognized as capable of holding possession of the estate, he will be compelled to give security to the substitute, but for a more remote date. For the Prætor does not wish the benefit which he confers to become a source of deceit, and a man can seem to demand security for the purpose of annoyance, when another precedes him. 1When a legacy has been bequeathed to Mævius and to Titius, under opposite conditions, security is furnished to both of them, because both expect a legacy under the will of the deceased.
9 Venuleius libro primo stipulationum. In praetoriis stipulationibus si ambiguus sermo acciderit, praetoris erit interpretatio: eius enim mens aestimanda est.
9 Venuleius, Stipulations, Book I. In prætorian stipulations, if the language is ambiguous, it is the duty of the Prætor to interpret it, for its intention should be determined.
10 Ulpianus libro primo responsorum. Valeriano respondit: si praeses, qui ante in triennium caveri iusserat, postea in longum tempus caveri praecepit: quia a prima stipulatione prorsus discedi voluerat, exceptionem primae stipulationi obligatis peperisse videtur.
10 Ulpianus, Opinions, Book I. Answers Valerianus. If the Prætor, who previously had ordered security furnished for three years afterwards, should direct it to be given for a longer time, because he desired that the first stipulation should be abandoned, he is considered to have granted an exception to those who were bound by the first stipulation.
11 Venuleius libro octavo actionum. In eiusmodi stipulationibus, quae ‘quanti ea res est’ promissionem habent, commodius est certam summam comprehendere, quoniam plerumque difficilis probatio est, quanti cuiusque intersit, et ad exiguam summam deducitur.
11 Venuleius, Actions, Book VIII. In stipulations which include a promise of as much as the property is worth, it is more convenient to mention a definite sum, for the reason that it is frequently difficult to prove the amount of the interest of each of the persons in question and this is reduced to a very small sum.