The Laws of the Twelve Tables - Washington University in

Washington University Law Review Washington University Law Review

Volume 13 Issue 4

January 1928

The Laws of the Twelve Tables The Laws of the Twelve Tables

E. B. Conant Washington University School of Law

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ST. LOUISLAW REVIEWVol. xiuI PulihdQurel Durig the University Year by te No.4

Undergraduates of Washington University School of Law

THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES.An Introductory Note and Translation.

PREPARED BY E. B. CONANT.

ASSISTED BY FLORENCE REINGRUBER.

The Twelve Tables were the earliest code and the basis of all Romanlaw. They were called by Livy (3, 34) the fons omnis publici privatiqueiuris. The contest for equality between the patricians and the plebeiansreached its climax in the first half of the fifth century B. C. The plebeianswere gaining, step by step, recognition of civil rights and participation inthe government, oppression becoming less and less prevalent or possible.The complaints by the plebeians of oppression by the patricians, in whomhad been lodged all civil rights and the administration of the governmentalpowers, gave rise to the preparation of the Twelve Tables, which definedrights and fixed penalties and thus prevented oppression under legal forms.

In 451 B. C., a body of ten men, the Decenvirs, all patricians, werechosen to draw up a code of laws. All the functions of the governmentwere placed in their hands during the progress of the work. Ten Tableswere drawn up, accepted by the people, and set up on bronze or copperplates fastened to pillars in the Forum. In 450 B. C., Decernvirs wereagain appointed, seven patricians and three plebeians, and two moreTables were added. These were henceforth known as the Laws of theTwelve Tables. They were destroyed in 390 B. C. when Rome was taken,sacked, and burned by the Gauls. Some two score fragments and refer-ences to some over one hundred provisions come down to us, chiefly in thewritings of Cicero, Gaius, and Ulpian.

The Twelve Tables did not constitute a newly enacted code. They werechiefly a restatement of earlier legislation. Some of the provisions mayhave a resemblance to the Laws of Solon and other Greek models, butthe Twelve Tables were essentially Roman. Much of the earlier Romanlegislation was copied bodily. Although the tablets were destroyed by thenorthern invaders, the substance of the Tables was preserved by the com-mentators, and many of the laws appear intact in the Code of Justinian.

This translation is here published in order to make accessible in Eng-lish the extant fragments and the allusions in a few legal and classicalwriters, to students who are not able to read the Latin texts readily. TheLatin text here followed is from Bruns, Fontes Juris Ronzani, 7th ed.,1909, pp. 17-40.

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TABLE I.PROCEDUIRE.

1. SI IN IUS VOCAT, ITO. NI IT,ANTESTAMINO: IGITUR EMCAPITO.

2. SI CALVITUR PEDEMVESTRUIT, MANUM ENDO IACITO.

3. SI MORBUS AEVITASVE VI-TIUM ESCIT, IUMENTUM DATO.SI NOLET, ARCERAM NE STER-NITO.

4. ASSIDUO VINDEX ASSIDUUSESTO; PROLETARIO IAM CIVIQUIS VOLET VINDEX ESTO.

5. NEX FORTI SANATI

6. REM UBI PACUNT, ORATO.

7. NI PACUNT, IN COMITIO AUTIN FORO ANTE MERIDIEM CAUS-SAM COICIUNTO. COM PERO-RANTO AMBO PRAESENTES.

8. POST MERIDIEM PRAESENTILITEM ADDICITO.

9. SI AMBO PRAESENTES, SOLISOCCASUS SUPREMA TEMPESTASESTO.

10. Gellius (16,1o,8): cum proletariiet adsidui et sanates et VADES etSUBVADES et XXV asses et taliones- evanuerint, omnisque illa XII tabu,larum antiquitas - lege Aebutia lataconsopita sit -.

If one summon another to court,let him go. If he go not, let (theplaintiff) take witnesses and arresthim.

If he attempt evasion or flight, let(the plaintiff) lay hands on him.

If sickness or old age shall be ahindrance, let (the plaintiff) providea vehicle. He need not provide acovered carriage, unless he choose.

A tribute-payer shall give a tribute-payer as surety for his appearance;a proletarian, if a citizen, may giveanyone who may be willing to besurety.

(Untranslatable fragment. Appar-ently:) Murder . . . to a mansound in body and mind.

When the parties agree to submitthe matter to arbiters, let him pleadhis case.

If they do not agree to submit thematter to arbiters, let them state thecase (sc. before the praetor) in thecomitium or in the forum before mid-day. Both being present let them arguetheir case together.

After mid-day let him decide thematter in dispute in favor of the onepresent.

If both are present, let the sunsetbe the end of the session.

When proletarians and tribute-payersand sanates and sureties and subsure-ties and the twenty-five asses and re-taliations in kind . . . became obso-lete, and all that antiquity of theTwelve Tables . . . was put at restby the broad Lex Aebutia.

TABLE II.PROCEDURE, CONTINUED.

1. Gaius (4,14): de rebus M aeris Where property worth a thousandplurisve D assibus, de minoris vero L asses or more was involved five hun-

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THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES

assibus sacramento contendebatur; namita lege XII tabularum cautum erat.(At) si de libertate hominis contro-versia erat, etiamsi pretiosissimus homoesset, tamen ut L assibus sacramentocontenderetur, eadem lege cautum est -.

2, . . . MORBUS SONTICUS. AUT STATUS DIES CUM

HOSTE . . QUID HORUM FUITUNUM IUDICI ARBITROVE RE-OVE, EO DIES DIFFISSUS ESTO.

3. CUI TESTIMONIUM DEFUER-IT, IS TERTIIS DIEBUS OB POR-TUM OBVAGULATUM ITO.

dred asses, where a less amount fiftyasses, was the sum deposited by eachlitigant; for so it was provided by alaw of the Twelve Tables. But ifthere was a dispute concerning aman's liberty, even though he werea very rich man, then by the samelaw it was provided that the sumdeposited by each litigant be fiftyasses.

. . . serious illness . . or a dayfixed for a suit with an alien . . ifone of these occur to jude., arbiter, orparty, let it be put off to the followingday.

Let him for whom a witness shallhave been needed summon him forthe third day (thereafter) by callingaloud at his door.

TABLE III.RIGHTS OF CREDITORS.

1. AERIS CONFESSI REBUSQUEIURE IUDICATIS XXX DIES IUSTISUNTO.

2. POST DEINDE MANUS INIEC-TIO ESTO. IN JUS DUCITO.

3. NI IUDICATUM FACIT AUTQUIS ENDO EO IN JURE VIN-DICIT, SECUM DUCITO, VINCITOAUT NERVO AUT COMPEDIBUSXV PONDO, NE MAIORE, AUT SIVOLET MINORE VINCITO.

4. SI VOLET SUO VIVITO. NISUO VIVIT, QUI EUM VINCTUMHABEBIT, LIBRAS FARRIS ENDODIES DATO. SI VOLET, PLUSDATO.

5. Gellius (2o,IT,46-7): Erat autemius interea paciscendi ac nisi pactiforent, habebantur in vinculis dies sexa-ginta. Inter eos dies trinis nundiniscontinuis ad praetorem in comitiumproducebantur, quantaeque p e c u n i a eiudicati essent, praedicabatur. Tertiis

For the payment of an admitteddebt, or an amount adjudicated, letthe debtor have thirty days.

Thereafter let there be manus in-jectio. Let (the creditor) bring him be-fore the magistrate.

If he does not make payment orsomeone go surety for him in court,let (the creditor) take him away andbind him either with sinews or withfetters not exceeding fifteen poundsin weight, or less at the discretion ofthe creditor.

If he wishes let him live at his ownexpense. If not let the creditor whoholds him bound give him a poundof flour a day, or more if (the cred-itor) choose.

But there used to be the powerin the meantime of compromising thematter and unless such compromisewere made by them, (the debtors)were held in chains for sixty days.In the course of those (sixty) daysupon every third consecutive market



autem nundinis capite poenas dabant,aut trans Tiberim peregre venum ibant.

6. TERTIIS NUNDINIS PARTISSECANTO. SI PLUS MINUSVESECUERUNT, SE FRAUDE ESTO.

7. ADVERSUS HOSTEM AETER-NA AUCTORITAS (ESTO).

day they were brought before thePraetor in the comitium, and theamount of the judgment against themwas proclaimed. On the third marketday however they were put to death,or were sent across the Tiber to besold abroad.

On the third market-day let them (sc.where there were several judgmentcreditors) divide (sc. the body of thedebtor) into shares. If they have cuttoo much or too little, let it be withoutliability.

Against a foreigner let the rightof possession be perpetual.

TABLE IV.THE PATERNAL POWER.

1. Cicero (de leg. 3,8,19): cito necatustamquam ex XII tabulis insignis addeformitatem puer.

2. SI PATER FILIUM TER VE-NUM DUUIT, FILIUS A PATRELIBER ESTO.

3. Cicero (phil. 2,28,69): Illam suamsuas res sibi habere iussit ex XII tab.,claves ademit, exegit.

4. Gellius (3,16,52): comperi, femi-nam - in undecimo mense post maritimortem peperisse, factumque esse ne-gotium - quasi marito mortuo posteaconcepisset, quoniam Xviri in decemmensibus gigni hominem, non in unde-cimo scripsissent.

. . . quickly put to death just asaccording to a law of the TwelveTables a boy marked by deform-ity . . .

If a father offer his son for salethree times, let the son be free fromthe paternal power.

That actress of his (mimant omittedby Bruns) he ordered to keep her ownproperty according to the Twelve Tables,he took away her keys, he turned herout (i. e. divorced her).

I have heard, a woman . . borea child in the eleventh month after thedeath of her husband, and because ofthe occurrence, (sc. she was charged)as if she had conceived after the deathof her husband, since the Decen~virshad written that a child is born in tenmonths, not in the eleventh.

TABLE V.SUCCESSION AND GUARDIANSHIP.

1. Gaims (1, 44-5): Veteres - vol-uerunt feminas, etiamsi perfectae aetatissint, - in tutela esse; - exceptis vir-ginibus Vestalibus, quas - liberas essevoluerunt: itaque etiam lege XII tab.cautum est.

The ancients wanted women, evenif they may be of full age, to be undertitelage; - the Vestal virgins ex-cepted, whom - they wished to befree: therefore it was so provided bya law of the Twelve Tables.



2. Gaius. (2,47): Mulieris, quae in ag-natorum tutela erat, res mancipii usucapinon poterant, praeterquam si ab ipsatutore [auctore] traditae essent: id[que]ita lege XII tab. [cautum erat].

3. UTI LEGASSIT SUPER PE-CUNIA TUTELAVE SUAE REI,ITA IUS ESTO.

4. SI INTESTATO MORITUR, CUISUUS HERES NEC ESCIT, ADG-N A T U S PROXIMUS FAMILIAMHABETO.

5. SI ADGNATUS NEC ESCIT,GENTILES FAMILIAM HABENTO.

6. Gaius (,z.55): Quibus testamento- tutor datus non sit, is ex lege XII[tabularum] agnati sunt tutores.

7. a. SI FURIOSUS ESCIT, ADG-NATUM GENTILIUMQUE IN EOPECUNIAQUE EI U S POTESTASESTO. - b. . . . AST El CUSTOSNEC ESCIT . . - c. Ulpianus adSabinum (D. 27,10,1 pr.): Lege XII tab.prodigo interdicitur bonorum suorumadministratio. Ulpianus (fr. 2,2): LexXII tab. - prodigum, cui bonis inter-dictum est, in curatione iubet esseagnatorum.

8. Ulpianus (ft. 29,1): Civis Romaniliberti hereditatem lex XII tab. patronodefert, si intestato sine suo herede li-bertus decesserit. Ulp. ad ed. (D.5o,16,195,): Cum de patrono et libertoloquitur lex, EX EA FAMILIA, inquit,IN EAM FAMILIAM.

9. Gordianus (C. 3,36,6): Ea, quae innominibus sunt, - ipso iure in portioneshereditarias ex lege XII tab. divisasunt. Dioclet. (C. 2,3,26): ex lege XIItab. aes alienum hereditarium pro por-tionibus quaesitis singulis ipso iuredivisum.

The res mancipi of a woman, whowas under the tutelage of her agnates,could not be acquired by prescription,unless they had been handed over byherself with the authority of her guar-dian: and that was so provided by alaw of the Twelve Tables.

As a man shall have provided bywill concerning his property or thetutelage of his family, so let it be law.

If a man die intestate, and withoutsuus heres, let the nearest agnate havethe family property.

And if there be no agnate, let thegentiles have the family property.

Those to whom a tutor may nothave been appointed by testament,by a law of the Twelve Tables theiragnates are their tutors.

a. If he be a lunatic, control overhim and his property shall be in thehands of his agnates and gentiles.b. . . . but if there be no curator(some provision made for his custody.). . . c. By a law of the TwelveTables the management of his prop-erty is forbidden to a spendthrift. Alaw of the Twelve Tables directs thata spendthrift who has been prohibitedthe management of his property beunder the charge of his agnates.

A law of the Twelve Tables confersthe inheritance of a Roman citizen whois a freedman on his patron, if thefreedman has died intestate without asuus heres. . . (The term familiarelates to persons) when the lex speaksof the patron and the freedman, 'fromthat family', . . . 'into this family'.

Those things which are debts, - ac-cording to a law of the Twelve Tables,ipso iure have been divided into heredi-tary shares. . . . according to a lawof the Twelve Tables an inherited debt(sc. due to or by the deceased) was ap-portioned by that same law according tothe ascertained individual shares.



10. Gaius ad ed. provinciale (D. 1o,2,1pr.): Haec actio (familiae erciscundae)proficiscitur e lege XII tabularum.

This action (familiae erciscundae,i. e., for dividing the family property)is derived from a law of the TwelveTables.

TABLE VI.OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION.

1. CUM NEXUM FACIET MAN-CIPIUMQUE, UTI LINGUA NUN-CUPASSIT, ITA IUS ESTO.

2. Cicero (de off. 3,x6,65): cum ex XIItab. satis esset ea praestari quae essentlingua nuncupata, quae qui infitiatus es-set, dupli poenam subiret, a iuris con-sultis etiam reticentiae poena est con-stituta.

3. Cicero (top. 4,23): usus auctoritasfundi biennium est, - ceterarum rerumomnium - annuus est usus.

4. Gaius (x, xx): lege XII tab.cautumest, ut si qua nollet eo modo (usu) inmanum mariti convenire, ea quotannistrinoctio abesset atque eo modo [usum]cuiusque anni interrumperet.

5. a. SI QUI IN IURE MANUMCONSERUNT. . . . - b. Paul.manual. (Vat. fr. 5o): et mancipationemet in iure cessionem lex XII tab. con-firmat.

6. Livius (3,44,x,2): Advocati (Ver-giniae) - postulant, ut (Ap. Claudius)- lege ab ipso lata vindicias det secun-dum libertatem.

7. TIGNUM IUNCTUM AEDIBUSVINEAVE ET CONCAPIT NESOLVITO.

8. Ulpianus ad edictum (D. 47,3,zpr.): Lex XII tab. neque solvere per-mittit tignum furtivum aedibus vel vi-neis iunctum neque vindicare, - sed ineum, qui convictus est iunxisse, in dup-lum dat actionem.

When one effects nexum and man-cipium, as the language has called it, sobe the law.

While by the Twelve Tables it usedto be enough that those things bemade good which were expressly de-clared, and for what had been mis-represented (the vendor) would besubjected to double damages, thepenalty was likewise imposed by thejurisconsults in case of silence.

Right of possession of land wasacquired in two years, - of all otherproperty in one year.

By a law of the Twelve Tables itwas provided that if a wife did notwish to come under the (legal) powerof her husband she should absentherself for three nights each year andthus interrupt the course of each year.

a. If any engage in close combatin court ("hand grapple", a fictitiouscombat) . . . b. A law of theTwelve Tables confirms both a man-cipation and a surrender in court.

The advocates (for Virginia) de-mand that (Ap. Claudius) should al-low the claim for her liberty in themeantime according to a law proposedby himself.

Let no one detach a beam built intoa house or vineyard (et concapit, cor-rupt and not translatable).

The law of the Twelve Tablesneither permits one to detach astolen beam built into a house orvineyard nor to lay claim to it asone's own, - but against him, whohas been convicted of having attachedit, such law gives an action for doublethe value.


THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES 237

9 .... QUANDOQUE SARPTA, Whenever detached, until they shallDONEC DEMPTA ERUNT . . . be replaced . (their owner may

retake them).

TABLE VII.LAND AND THINGS AFFIXED THERETO.

1. Varro (de . L 5,z2): XII tabu-larum interpretes ambitum parietis cir-cuitum esse describunt. - Festus: Am-bitus - dicitur circuitus aedificiorum,patens - pedes duos et semissem.Maecianus (assis distr. 46): Sestertiusduos asses et semissem (valet), - lex- XII tab. argumento est, in qua duopedes et semis 'sestertius pes' vocatur.

2. Gaius 1. IV ad leg. XII tab. (D.1o,r,13): Sciendum est in actione finiumregundorum illud observandum esse,quod (in XII tab.) ad exemplum quo-dammodo eius legis scriptum est, quamAthenis Solonem dicitur tulisse. Namillic ira est: 'Edr 7- algaand xrX.

3. a. Plinius (ts. h. r9,4,o): In XIItab. - nusquam nominatur villa, semperin significatione ea 'hortus', in horti vero'heredium'. - b. Festus (F. 355): [Tu-gu]ria a tecto appellantur [domiciliarusticorum] sordida, - quo nomine[M e s s a I I a in explana]tione XII aitetiam . . . [signifi]cari.

4. Cicero (de leg. 2,2.,55): usus capio-nem XII tab. intra V pedes essenoluerunt.

5. a. SI IURGANT . . . - b.Cic. (de leg. r,2i,55): controversia estnata de finibus, in qua - e XII tresarbitri fines regemus.

6. Gaius ad ed. provinc. (D. 8,3,8):Viae latitudo ex lege XII tab. in por-

The interpreters of the Twelve Tablesdescribe the border extending aroundthe house. - Festus: The border ex-tending around the buildings is de-scribed as open, two and a half feet.Maecianus: A sestertius is worth twoand a half asses. - There is a law ofthe Twelve Tables by a syllogism inwhich two and a half feet are called a'sestertius pes'. (Sestertium was usedas a measure of dimension, two and ahalf feet deep.)

It is understood that in an actionfor determining boundaries that mustbe observed which was written (inthe Twelve Tables) as patternedafter, to a certain extent, that lawwhich it is said Solon promulgatedat Athens: If anyone a fence etc.

a. In the Twelve Tables 'villa' is no-where mentioned; 'hortus' is alwaysused with that signification; in truth'heredium' is used for 'garden'. b. Thesordid huts, the homes of the countryfolk, are called tuguria from tectum(covered), by which term Messalla inhis interpretation of the Twelve Tablesalso says it is expressed.

The Twelve Tables did not permitusucaption to be exercised inside aspace of five feet (so, a neutral zonebetween neighboring landowners).

a. If they quarrel (adjoining own-ers, as to boundaries) . . b. A con-troversy has arisen concerning boun-daries, in relation to which, - inaccordance with the Twelve Tableswe three as arbiters shall determinethe boundaries.

The width of the right of way ac-cording to a law of the Twelve Tables



rectum octo pedes habet, in anfractum,id est ubi flexum est, sedecim.

7. VIAM MUNIUNTO: NI SAMDELAPIDASSINT, QUA VOLETIUMENTO AGITO.

8. a. SI AQUA PLUVIA NOCET,. . - b. Paulus ad Sab. (D. 43,8,5):

Si per publicum locum rivus aquae duc-tus privato nocebit, erit actio privato exlege XII tab., ut noxa domino sarciatur.

9. a. Ulp. ad ed. (D. 43,27,A,8): lexXII tab. efficere voluit, ut XV pedesaltius rami arboris circumcidantur. - b.Pomponius ad Sab. (D. 43,27,2): Siarbor ex vicini fundo vento inclinata intuum fundum sit, ex lege XII tab. deadimenda ea recte agere potes.

10. Plinius (n.h. r6,5,.5): Cautum est- lege XII tab., ut glandem in alienumfundum procidentem liceret colligere.

11. Iustiniani Inshtutiones (2,1,41):Venditae - et traditae (res) non aliteremptori adquiruntur, quam si is ven-ditori pretium solverit vel alio modosatisfecerit, veluti expromissore aut pig-nore dato; quod cavetur - lege XII tab.

12. Ulpianus (fr. 2,4): Sub hac con-dicione liber esse iussus 'si decem miliaheredi dederit', etsi ab herede abaliena-tus sit, emptori dando pecuniam ad li-bertatem perveniet: idque lex XII tab.iubet

covers eight feet in a straight line,on a turn, i. e. where it is curved,sixteen feet.

They (neighboring owners) shallmake the road passable: if they havenot cleared their road from stones,let one drive with one's beast of bur-den where one wishes.

a. If rain water creates injury ...- b. If a stream of water passingthrough a public place shall cause injuryto a private person, there will be aprivate action according to a law ofthe Twelve Tables, that the injury tothe owner may be made good.

a. A law of the Twelve Tables wishedto bring it about that the branches of atree be trimmed fifteen feet higher(than the ground) . . . b." If atree from the estate of a neighbor bebroken down by the wind upon yourestate, according to a law of the TwelveTables concerning taking things awayrightly you may carry it off.

By a law of the Twelve Tables itwas provided that one should be al-lowed to gather nuts fallen on land be-longing to another.

Goods sold and delivered are not ac-quired by the purchaser unless he haspaid the price to the vendor or givensatisfaction in another way, for ex-ample either by giving a surety or apledge; which was provided by a lawof the Twelve Tables.

(Sc. A slave) ordered to be freeunder this condition 'if he give tenthousand sesterces to the heir', thoughhe have been alienated by the heir, willattain his freedom on giving the moneyto the purchaser: and this is orderedby a law of the Twelve Tables.

TABLE VIII.WRONGS.

1. a. QUI MALUM CARMEN IN-CANTASSIT . . . - b. Cicero (de

a. Whoever chanted a magic formula(i. e. an incantation) . . . b. While



rep. 4,1,2 ap. Aug. de civit. dei 2,9):XII tab. cum perpaucas res capitesanxissent, in his hanc quoque san-ciendam putaverunt: si quis occenta-visset sive carmen condidisset, quod in-famiam faceret flagitiumve alteri.

2. SI MEMBRUM RUP[S]IT, NICUM EO PACIT, TALIO ESTO.

3. MANU FUSTIVE SI OS FRE-GIT LIBERO, CCC, SI SERVO, CLPOENAM SUBITO.

4. SI INIURIAM FAXSIT, VIGIN-TI QUINQUE POENAE SUNTO.

5 .... RUP[S]IT . . . SARCITO.

6. Ulpianus 1. XVIII ad ed. (D. 9,,Pr.): Si quadrupes pauperiem fecissedicetur, - lex (XII tab.) voluit autdar id quod nocuit - aut aestimatio-nem noxiae offerri.

7. Ulpianus 1. XLI ad Sabinum (D.19,5,14,3): Si glans ex arbore tua inmeum fundum cadat, eamque ego im-misso pecore depascam, - neque exlege XII tab. de pastu pecoris, quia nonin tuo pascitur, neque de pauperie -agi posse.

8. a. QUI FRUGES EXCANTAS-SIT. - b. . . . NEVE ALIENAMSEGETEM PELLEXERIS . ..

9. Plinius (nat. hist. 18,3,12): Frugem- aratro quaesitam noctu pavisse acsecuisse puberi XII tabulis capital erat,suspensumque Cereri necari iubebant, -inpubem praetoris arbitratu verberarinoxiamve duplionemve decerni.

10. Gaius 1. IV ad XII tab. (D.47,9,9): Qui aedes acervumve frumenti

the Twelve Tables provided for capitalpunishment in connection with few of-fences, among these they provided thatit be sanctioned in case of anyone whohad sung a satirical song or composeda poem which brought infamy or dis-grace to another.

If any one break a limb (of another),unless he reach an agreement with him,let there be retaliation in kind.

If with his hand or a club he havestruck the face of a freeman, let himsuffer a fine of 300 asses, if of a slave,150 asses.

If he have wronged another, let thepenalty be 25 asses.

. he has caused injurylet him make amends.

If a quadruped shall be alleged tohave caused injury, a law of the TwelveTables required either that which didthe harm to be given up or compensa-tion for the injury to be proffered.

If fruit falls from your tree into myfield, and my cattle being driven in Icause them to eat it, neither by the lawof the Twelve Tables concerning thepasturing of cattle, because they are notpastured in your pasture, nor by thatconcerning damage, can an action bebrought.

a. One who has bewitched the hang-ing fruits. - b. ...... do not spiritaway the growing crop belonging to an-other. . . (punished with death.)

It was a capital offence by the TwelveTables for one of the age of puberty tohave trod down (i.e., trespassed upon)and to have reaped a crop gained by theplow, and they ordered him to behanged, raised in reparation to Ceres,- one under the age of puberty in thediscretion of the praetor to be beatenor a penalty in double the amount of theinjury to be affixed.

It is provided by the Twelve Tablesthat one who has burned another's



iuxta domum positum combusserit, vinc-tus verberatus igni necari (XII tab.)iubetur, si modo sciens prudensque idcommiserit; si vero casu, id est neg-legentia, aut noxiam sarcire iubetur,aut, si minus idoneus sit, levius casti-gatur.

11. Plinius (nat. hist. i7,r,7): cautumest XII tabulis, ut qui iniuria ceci-disset (succidendi vocabulo lex usa est)alienas (arbores), lueret in singulasaeris XXV.

12. SI NOX FURTUM FAXSIT, SIIM OCCISIT, IURE CAESUS ESTO.

13. LUCI SI SE TELODEFENDIT, ENDOQUEPLORATO.

14. Gellius (xxSr,8): Ex ceteris -manifestis furibus liberos verberari ad-dicique iusserunt (Xviri) ei, ci furtumfactum esset -; servos - verberibusaffici et e saxo praecipitari; sed puerosimpuberes praetoris arbitratu verberarivoluerunt noxiamque - sarciri.

15. a. Gaius (3,gx): Concepti et ob-lati (furti) poena ex lege XII tab. tripliest. - b. . . . LANCE ET LICIO

16. SI ADORAT FURTO, QUODNEC MANIFESTUM ERIT -,[DUPLIONE DAMNUM DECIDITO.]

17. (Gai. 2,45): furtivam (rem) lexXII tab. usucapi prohibet -.

18. a. Tacit. (ann. 6,16): XII tabulissanctum, ne quis unciario fenore am-plius exerceret. - b. Cato (de agri cult.

house or heap of grain piled next to adwelling-house be bound and beaten andburned at the stake, if he did it wil-fully and knowingly; if it was in truthby accident, that is by negligence, hemust make good the damage, or if he istoo poor, be punished moderately.

It was enacted by the Twelve Tablesthat one who should wrongfully cutdown trees belonging to another shouldpay twenty-five asses for each.

If one commit theft by night and bekilled in the act, let such killing be law-ful.

In the day-time . . . if he de-fends himself with a weapon (killinghim is lawful, but) let (the person at-tacked) cry aloud.

Other thieves, taken in the act, if theywere freemen, the decemvirs ordered tobe scourged and handed over to the onefrom whom the theft had been commit-ted -; slaves were to be scourged andhurled from the rock (i.e., the TarpeianRock); but boys under the age ofpuberty should be flogged at the dis-cretion of the praetor and the damagewhich they had done made good.

The penalty for stolen property dis-covered and brought forth (i.e. by asearcher) is triple the value by a lawof the Twelve Tables. - b ...with platter and loin-cloth. (Refers tothe manner of searching for stolenproperty, going through the house withno clothing but a cloth around the loinsand carrying a platter in both hands.)

If one brings an accusation for theft,which shall be "not manifest" -, (i.e.,secret theft) let the damage be assessedin double the amount.

A law of the Twelve Tables prohib-its usucaption of stolen goods.

a. It was enacted by the TwelveTables that no one should exact a rateof interest higher than ten per cent. b.



praef): Maiores - in legibus posi-verunt furem dupli condemnari, fenera-torem quadrupli.

19. Paulus (colt. 1o,7,1I): Ex causadepositi lege XII tab. in duplum actiodatur -.

20. a. Ulpianus 1. XXXV ad ed. (D.26,o,1,): Sciendum est suspecti crimene lege XII tab. descendere. - b. Try-phoninus disputat. (D. 26,7,55,1): Si -

tutores rem pupilli furati sunt, videamusan ea actione, quae proponitur ex legeXII tab. adversus tutorem in duplum,singuli in solidum teneantur.

21. PATRONUS SI CLIENTIFRAUDEM FECERIT, SACERESTO.

22. QUI SE SIERIT TESTARIERLIBRIPENSVE FUERIT, NI TES-TIMONIUM FATIATUR. INPRO-BUS INTESTABILISQUE ESTO.

23. Gellius (2o,5,53): ex XII tab. -

si nunc quoque - qui falsum testi-monium dixisse convictus esset, e saxoTarpeio deiceretur.

24, a. SI TELUM MANU FUGITMAGIS QUAM IECIT, aries subicitur.- b. Plin. (n. h. r8,3,12): Frugem -

furtim - pavisse - XII tabulis capitalerat (8,9) - gravius quam in homicidio.

25. Gaius L. IV ad XII tab. (D.50,16,236 pr.): Qui venenum dicit, adi-cere debet, utrum malum an bonum;nam et medicamenta venena sunt.

26. Latro (ded. in Cat. 19): XII tab.

The ancients set down in the TwelveTables that a thief be sentenced to adouble amount, a usurer quadruple.

Upon the ground of a deposit anaction is given by the law of the TwelveTables for double the amount. (Breachby a depositary.)

a. The accusation of one suspectedis known to come down from a lawof the Twelve Tables. (If the ad-ministration of a tutor was suspicious,action was given to any one to havehim removed.) b. If the tutors havestolen property of the ward, let us seewhether by the action which is set forthby the Twelve Tables for double dam-ages against a tutor, they may be held,each for the full amount.

If a patron defraud his client let himbe accursed (i.e. be sacrificed to the in-fernal gods).

He who shall suffer himself to becalled as a witness or shall be alibripens (balance-holder), and shall notdisclose his testimony, shall be impiousand incapable of being a witness or ofmaking a will (i.e. of taking any bene-fit under a deed requiring witnesses).

According to the Twelve Tables - ifit were only true now - one who hadbeen convicted of giving false testimonywould be thrown from the Tarpeianrock.

a. If a weapon flies from the handfarther than one hurls (aims) it, aram is substituted. (Peace offeringto the kinsmen.) b. To tread downgrain by stealth (i.e., to depasture cat-tle secretly by night) was a capital of-fence according to the Twelve Tables- (a punishment) more severe thanthat in the case of murder.

He who mentions the word drugought to add whether bad or good;for even medicines are drugs.

We know it to be decreed by the



cautum esse cognoscimus, ne qui in urbecoetus nocturnos agitaret.

27. Gaius I. IV ad XII tab. (D.47,22,4): His (sodalibus) potestatemfacit lex (XII tab.), pactionem quamvelint sibi ferre, dum ne quid ex publicalege corrumpant; sed haec lex videturex lege Solonis translata esse.

Twelve Tables that no one hold sedi-tious nocturnal assemblies in the city.

A law of the Twelve Tables givesthe power to these guilds to makerules for their government in whatmanner they wish, provided they donot make rules contrary to the pub-lic law; but this law seems to becopied from a law of Solon.

TABLE IX.PUBLIC LAW.

1. 2. Cic. (de leg. 3,4,i; .9,44): 'Pri-vilegia ne inroganto; de capite civis nisiper maximum comitiatum - ne ferun-to'. - Leges praeclarissimae de XIItabulis tralatae duae, quarum alteraprivilegia tollit, altera de capite civisrogari nisi maximo comitiatu vetat.

3. Gellius (20,,7): duram esse legemputas, quae iudicem arbitrumve juredatum, qui ob rem [iu]dic[a]ndampecuniam accepisse convictus est, capitepoenitur?

4. Pomponius enchirid. (D. x,2,2,23):quaestores - qui capitalibus r e b u spraeessent, - appellabantur quaestoresparricidii, quorum etiam meminit lexXII tab.

5. Marcianus (D. 48,4,3): Lex XIItab. iubet eum, qui hostem concitaveritquive civem hosti tradiderit, capitepuniri.

6. Salvianus (de gubern. dei 8,5,24):Interfici - indemnatum quemcunquehominem etiam XII tabularum decretavetuerunt.

'Let them permit no special privileges;as to capital punishment of a citizen, letthem not carry it out unless by order ofthe cornitia centuriata'. - Two very ex-cellent laws copied from the TwelveTables, of which one does away withspecial privileges, the other prohibitscapital punishment of a citizen to becarried out unless by order of thecomitia centuriata.

Do you think it a harsh law whichpunishes with death a judex or arbiterappointed to a court of justice who hasbeen convicted of accepting money forpassing judgment?

Quaestors who have charge overcapital crimes are called quaestoresparricidi, of whom even the law of theTwelve Tables makes mention.

A law of the Twelve Tables ordershim who stirs up an enemy (sc. of theRoman people) or who delivers a citi-zen to an enemy to be punished bydeath.

The decrees of the Twelve Tablesforbid any uncondemned man whom-ever to be put to death.

TABLE X.BURIALS AND FUNERAL RITES.

1. HOMINEM M 0 R T U U M INURBE NE SEPELITO NEVEURITO.

Let not (anyone) bury or burn adead person within the city.



2 . . . HOC PLUS NE FACI-TO: ROGUM ASCEA NE POLITO.

3. Cicero (de leg. 2,23,59): Extenuatoigitur sumptu tribug reciniis et tuniculapurpurae et decem tibicinibus tollitetiam lamentationem.

4. MULIERES GENAS NE RA-DUNTO, NEVE LESSUM FUNERISERGO HABENTO.

5. a. HOMINE MORTUO NEOSSA LEGITO, QUO POST FUNUSFACIAT. - b. Cicero (l. c. 24,6o):Excipit bellicam peregrinamque mortem.

6. a. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,60): Haecpraeterea sunt in legibus -: 'servilisunctura tollitur omnisque circumpota-tio'. - 'Ne sumptuosa respersio, nelongae coronae, ne acerrae'. - b. Fest.:Murrata potione usos antiquos indicioest, quod - XII tab. cavetur, ne mortuoindatur.

7. QUI CORONAM PARIT IPSEPECUNIAVE E I U S [HONORIS]VIRTUTISVE ERGO ARDUUITUREI

8. . .. NEVE AURUM AD-DITO AT CUI AURO DENTESIUNCTI ESCUNT. AST IM CUMI L L O SEPELIET URETVE, SEFRAUDE ESTO.

9. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,61): rogumbustumve novum vetat propius LXpedes adigi aedes alienas invito domino.

10. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,61): forum -bustumve usucapi vetat.

More than this let no one do: Letno one smooth a funeral pile with anaxe.

Expense therefore being reduced tothree suits of mourning and small tunicof purple and ten flute players (sc. therule) even does away with (excessive)lamentation.

Let not the women tear their cheeksor make the lessus or funeral wailings.

a. When a man has died do notcollect the bones in order to have afuneral afterwards. b. Exception ismade with regard to those who diein battle or in a foreign land.

a. Besides these there are in the laws(sc. other provisions)-: 'servile anoint-ing is prohibited and all drinkingaround in a funeral meal'. - 'Let therebe no expensive respersions, (sprinklingof the funeral pile with wine), no longgarlands, no incense boxes'. - b. Thereis an indication that the ancients useda drink spiced with myrrh, because theTwelve Tables forbade the placing of iton a corpse.

Whoever by himself gains a crown,or (if) money is given to him on ac-count of his merit or virtue, let thehonor be accorded to him (i. e., thecrown placed on the deceased andburied with him.)

Let no gold be put into the gravewith the dead. If the teeth of thedeceased are fastened with gold letit be buried or burned with him, andno wrong be done.

(A law of the Twelve Tables) pro-hibits a new funeral pile or pyrenearer than sixty feet to a neighbor'shouse without his consent.

Let the sepulchre and its vestibulebe not subject to usucaption.

TABLE XI.SUPPLEMENTARY-MARRIAGE; COURT DAYS.

1. Cicero (de rep. 2,36,61-37,63): When (the Decemnvrs) had drawn



(Decemviri) cum X tabulas summalegum aequitate prudentiaque conscrip-sissent, in annum posterum Xviros aliossubrogaverunt, - qui duabus tabulisiniquarum legum additis - conubia -ut ne plebi cum patribus essent, in-humanissima lege sanxerunt.

2. Macrobius (sat. 1,13,2z): Tudi-tanus refert, - Xviros, qui decemtabulis duas addiderunt, de intercalandopopulum rogasse. Cassius eosdem scri-bit auctores.

3. Cic. (ad. At. 6,x,8): E quibus(libris de rep.) unum lCTopmIuv requirisde Cn. Flavio Anni f. - Ille vero anteXviros non fuit. - Quid ergo profecit,quod protulit fastos? Occultatam putantquodam tempore istam tabulam, ut diesagendi peterentur a paucis.

up the ten tables of the laws with theutmost equity and prudence, they ap-pointed to office other Decemvirs tosucceed them in the following year,- who, having added two tables ofunjust laws provided by a most in-humane law that marriage might notexist between plebeians and patri-cians.

Tuditanus says that the Decemvirswho added two to the ten tablesasked the people about insertingthem. Cassius writes that the sameones were the authors.

From which (books about thestate) you ask for a history of Cn.Flavius son of Annius. - Truly hedid not live before the Decenvirs(i. e. the authors of the Twelve Ta-bles.) What therefore did he accom-plish in that he posted the legal courtdays? They think that at one timethat table was concealed so that thedays for pleading in court might beknown to a few.

TABLE XII.SUPPLEMENTARY-PROCEDURE; LEGISLATION.

1. Gaias (4,28): Lege autem intro-ducta est pignoris capio, veluti lege XIItab. adversus eum, qui hostiam emissetnec pretium redderet; item adversuseum, qui mercedem non redderet pro eoiumento, quod quis ideo locasset, ut indepecuniam acceptam in dapem, id est insacrificium, impenderet.

2. a. SI SERVUS FURTUM FAXITNOXIAMVE NO[X]IT. - b. Gai.(4,75,76): Ex maleficiis filiorum familiasservorumque - noxales actiones prodi-tae sunt, uti liceret patri dominove autlitis aestimationem sufferre aut noxaededere -. Constitutae sunt - aut legi-bus anut edicto praetoris: legibus velutfurti lege XII tabularum cet.

But pignoris capio was introduced bystatute, as for instance by a law of theTwelve Tables against him who hadbought a victim for sacrifice and notpaid the price; likewise against him whodid not return the fee for that beastwhich someone had hired out so thatthereafter he might devote the moneyreceived to a sacrificial feast.

If a slave commits a theft or inflictsan injury (the owner was liable, by theactio noxalis, to surrender the slave orpay damages). - b. Noxal actions havebeen brought about by the wrongful actsof sons under power and of slaves, sothat it be permitted to the father orowner either to bear the pecuniary dam-age or surrender the wrongdoer by wayof reparation. - (Noxal actions) have



3. SI VINDICIAM FALSAM TU-LIT, SI VELIT IS . . . TOR AR-

BITROS TRIS DATO, EORUMARBITRIO . . . FRUCTUS DU-

PLIONE DAMNUM DECIDITO.

4. Gaius 1. VI ad XII (D. 44,6,3):Rem, de qua controversia est, pro-hibemur (lege XII tab.) in sacrumdedicare: alioquin dupli poenam pati-mur, - sed duplum utrum fisco anadversario praestandum sit, nihil ex-primitur.

5. Livius (7,17,12): in XII tabulislegem esse, ut quodcumque postremumpopulus iussisset, id ius ratumque esset.

been created. . . . either by leges orby Praetor's edict: by leges, for in-

stance, for theft, by a law of the TwelveTables, etc.

If (the Praetor) has awarded in-terim possession to the wrong party,if this party wishes it, the Praetormust appoint three arbiters. Ontheir decision (of the value of the

object of vindication and its) fruits,the Praetor must award damages atdouble the amount.

We are forbidden (by a law of theTwelve Tables) to dedicate to sa-cred uses a thing which is the sub-

ject of litigation: otherwise (i. e., ifwe do) we suffer a double penalty,

- but nothing is expressed as towhether the fine goes to the treasuryor to the adversary.

There was a law in the TwelveTables that whatever the people had

ordered last, that should be the lawand carried out.


Documents

The Laws of the Twelve Tables - Washington University in