De operis servorum
(Concerning the Services of Slaves.)
1 Paulus libro secundo ad edictum. Opera in actu consistit nec ante in rerum natura est, quam si dies venit, quo praestanda est, quemadmodum cum stipulamur ‘quod ex Arethusa natum erit’.
1 Paulus, On the Edict, Book II. Services consist of acts, and in the nature of things they do not exist before the day comes in which they are to be rendered; just as when we make a stipulation for a child which is to be born of Arethusa.
2 Ulpianus libro septimo decimo ad edictum. Operae servi legatae capitis minutione non amittuntur.
2 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XVII. The services of a slave which have been bequeathed are not lost by the forfeiture of civil rights.
3 Gaius libro septimo ad edictum provinciale. In hominis usu fructu operae sunt et ob operas mercedes.
3 Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book VII. In the usufruct of a slave, his services as well as compensation for the same are included.
4 Idem libro secundo de liberali causa edicti urbici. Fructus hominis in operis constitit et retro in fructu hominis operae sunt. et ut in ceteris rebus fructus deductis necessariis impensis intellegitur, ita et in operis servorum.
4 The Same, On the Urban Edict Relating to Freedom, Book II. The produce of a slave consists of his services, and on the other hand, the services of a slave are what he produces. And, as, in other matters, the produce is understood to be what is left after the necessary expenses have been deducted, this is also the case with refence to the services of slaves.
5 Terentius Clemens libro octavo decimo ad legem Iuliam et Papiam. Operis servi legatis usum datum intellegi et ego didici et Iulianus existimat.
5 Terentius Clemens, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XVIII. Where the services of a slave are bequeathed, I have always been taught, and Julianus holds, that the use is understood to be given.
6 Ulpianus libro quinquagensimo quinto ad edictum. Cum de servi operis artificis agitur, pro modo restituendae sunt, sed mediastini secundum ministerium: et ita Mela scribit. 1Si minor annis quinque vel debilis servus sit vel quis alius, cuius nulla opera esse apud dominum potuit, nulla aestimatio fiet. 2Item voluptatis vel affectionis aestimatio non habebitur, veluti si dilexerit eum dominus aut in deliciis habuerit. 3Ceterum deductis necessariis impensis fiet aestimatio.
6 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LV. Where an action is brought for the services of a slave who is an artisan, payment must be made in proportion to their value; but in the case of an ordinary laborer, this will depend upon the kind of work he does, which was the opinion of Mela. 1Where a slave is under five years of age, or is weak, or is one who is unable to do any work for his owner, no estimate of the value of his services shall be made. 2Nor shall any estimate of them, based upon the pleasure or affection of the owner, be considered; for example, where the owner is greatly attached to him, or employs him in his pleasures. 3Moreover, the value of his services shall be estimated after necessary expenses have been deducted.