Venuleius, Actions, Book IV. When anyone obtains permission to reside upon land under a precarious tenure, it is superfluous for the words, “For him and his household” to be added; for it is understood that permission is granted through him for his family to make use of the property.

Venuleius, Actions, Book V. It is a mental rather than a physical defect, for a slave to wish to constantly be present at exhibitions, or to carefully examine paintings, or even to be untruthful, or to have similar faults. 1Whenever a chronic disease is mentioned, Cassius says this means one which is harmful. The word, however, should be understood to signify an affection which is constant, and not ended by time. A chronic disease is held to be one which attacks a man after his birth, for the word chronic means continuous. 2A slave can be styled experienced, or a novice. Cælius says that an experienced slave should be valued, not on account of the time he has been in servitude, but because of his ability and qualifications; for where anyone, at a sale, purchases a slave who is a novice and employs him in some service, he is immediately included in the number of those who are experienced, since inexperience is understood to be dependent, not upon the undeveloped state of the mind, but upon the condition of servitude. It makes no difference whether he understands Latin or not, for a slave is not held to be experienced merely because he happens to be learned in the liberal arts and sciences.

Venuleius, Actions, Book VII. Although it was formerly doubtful whether only a slave or a freedman could be obliged by his patron to swear to observe the conditions which were imposed upon him in consideration of his liberty, it is, however, better to hold that he cannot be bound to a greater extent than a freeman. Hence it is customary to exact this oath from slaves, in order that they may be restrained by religion, and be required to again be sworn after they become their own masters; provided they take the oath, or make the promise at the very time when they are manumitted. 1Moreover, it is lawful to insert the name of the wife with reference to any donation, present, or daily labor to be given or performed by the manumitted slave. 2A prætorian action on account of labor to be performed should be granted against one who, before reaching the age of puberty, took the oath, that is to say if he was legally capable of doing so; as a boy under the age of puberty can render services if he is either a nomenclator or an actor.

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.

Venuleius, Actions, Book X. It makes no difference whether the testator bequeaths the usufruct of the third part of property, or the usufruct of the third part of certain property, for where the usufruct of property in general is left, the debts are deducted from it, and any accounts which may be due are credited. Where the usufruct of certain property is bequeathed, the same rule is not observed.

Venuleius, Actions, Book X. It is easy to take anything from, or add anything to a legacy, where only a sum of money was bequeathed, but where certain corporeal property is concerned, it is more difficult to express this in writing, and the division is likely to be unintelligible. 1Where the freedom bequeathed to slaves is taken away from them, nothing is gained by specifically depriving them of their legacies.