The Laws of the Twelve Tables

Washington University Law Review

Volume 13 Issue 4

January 1928

E. B. Conant Washington University School of Law

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Recommended Citation E. B. Conant, The Laws of the Twelve Tables, 13 ST. LOUIS L. REV. 231 (1928). Available at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School at Washington University Open Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Law Review by an authorized administrator of Washington University Open Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW Vol. 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 Roman law. They were called by Livy (3, 34) the fons omnis publici privatique iuris. The contest for equality between the patricians and the plebeians reached its climax in the first half of the fifth century B. C. The plebeians were gaining, step by step, recognition of civil rights and participation in the government, oppression becoming less and less prevalent or possible. The complaints by the plebeians of oppression by the patricians, in whom had been lodged all civil rights and the administration of the governmental powers, gave rise to the preparation of the Twelve Tables, which defined rights and fixed penalties and thus prevented oppression under legal forms. In 451 B. C., a body of ten men, the Decenvirs, all patricians, were chosen to draw up a code of laws. All the functions of the government were placed in their hands during the progress of the work. Ten Tables were drawn up, accepted by the people, and set up on bronze or copper plates fastened to pillars in the Forum. In 450 B. C., Decernvirs were again appointed, seven patricians and three plebeians, and two more Tables were added. These were henceforth known as the Laws of the Twelve 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 the writings of Cicero, Gaius, and Ulpian. The Twelve Tables did not constitute a newly enacted code. They were chiefly a restatement of earlier legislation. Some of the provisions may have a resemblance to the Laws of Solon and other Greek models, but the Twelve Tables were essentially Roman. Much of the earlier Roman legislation was copied bodily. Although the tablets were destroyed by the northern 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 classical writers, to students who are not able to read the Latin texts readily. The Latin text here followed is from Bruns, Fontes Juris Ronzani, 7th ed., 1909, pp. 17-40.

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW TABLE I. PROCEDUIRE. 1. SI IN IUS VOCAT, ITO. NI IT, If one summon another to court, ANTESTAMINO: IGITUR EM let him go. If he go not, let (the CAPITO. plaintiff) take witnesses and arrest him. 2. SI CALVITUR PEDEMVE If he attempt evasion or flight, let STRUIT, MANUM ENDO IACITO. (the plaintiff) lay hands on him. 3. SI MORBUS AEVITASVE VI- If sickness or old age shall be a TIUM ESCIT, IUMENTUM DATO. hindrance, let (the plaintiff) provide SI NOLET, ARCERAM NE STER- a vehicle. He need not provide a NITO. covered carriage, unless he choose. 4. ASSIDUO VINDEX ASSIDUUS A tribute-payer shall give a tribute- ESTO; PROLETARIO IAM CIVI payer as surety for his appearance; QUIS VOLET VINDEX ESTO. a proletarian, if a citizen, may give anyone who may be willing to be surety. 5. NEX FORTI SANATI (Untranslatable fragment. Appar- ently:) Murder ... to a man sound in body and mind. 6. REM UBI PACUNT, ORATO. When the parties agree to submit the matter to arbiters, let him plead his case. 7. NI PACUNT, IN COMITIO AUT If they do not agree to submit the IN FORO ANTE MERIDIEM CAUS- matter to arbiters, let them state the SAM COICIUNTO. COM PERO- case (sc. before the praetor) in the RANTO AMBO PRAESENTES. comitium or in the forum before mid- day. Both being present let them argue their case together. 8. POST MERIDIEM PRAESENTI After mid-day let him decide the LITEM ADDICITO. matter in dispute in favor of the one present. 9. SI AMBO PRAESENTES, SOLIS If both are present, let the sunset OCCASUS SUPREMA TEMPESTAS be the end of the session. ESTO. 10. Gellius (16,1o,8): cum proletarii When proletarians and tribute-payers et adsidui et sanates et VADES et and sanates and sureties and subsure- SUBVADES et XXV asses et taliones ties and the twenty-five asses and re- - evanuerint, omnisque illa XII tabu, taliations in kind .. . became obso- larum antiquitas - lege Aebutia lata lete, and all that antiquity of the consopita sit -. Twelve Tables . .. was put at rest by the broad Lex Aebutia.

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

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES assibus sacramento contendebatur; nam dred asses, where a less amount fifty ita lege XII tabularum cautum erat. asses, was the sum deposited by each (At) si de libertate hominis contro- litigant; for so it was provided by a versia erat, etiamsi pretiosissimus homo law of the Twelve Tables. But if esset, tamen ut L assibus sacramento there was a dispute concerning a contenderetur, eadem lege cautum est -. man's liberty, even though he were a very rich man, then by the same law it was provided that the sum deposited by each litigant be fifty asses. 2, .. . MORBUS SONTICUS ... serious illness .. or a day . AUT STATUS DIES CUM fixed for a suit with an alien .. if HOSTE . . QUID HORUM FUIT one of these occur to jude., arbiter, or UNUM IUDICI ARBITROVE RE- party, let it be put off to the following OVE, EO DIES DIFFISSUS ESTO. day. 3. CUI TESTIMONIUM DEFUER- Let him for whom a witness shall IT, IS TERTIIS DIEBUS OB POR- have been needed summon him for TUM OBVAGULATUM ITO. the third day (thereafter) by calling aloud at his door.

TABLE III. RIGHTS OF CREDITORS.

1. AERIS CONFESSI REBUSQUE For the payment of an admitted IURE IUDICATIS XXX DIES IUSTI debt, or an amount adjudicated, let SUNTO. the debtor have thirty days. 2. POST DEINDE MANUS INIEC- Thereafter let there be manus in- TIO ESTO. IN JUS DUCITO. jectio. Let (the creditor) bring him before the magistrate. 3. NI IUDICATUM FACIT AUT If he does not make payment or QUIS ENDO EO IN JURE VIN- someone go surety for him in court, DICIT, SECUM DUCITO, VINCITO let (the creditor) take him away and AUT NERVO AUT COMPEDIBUS bind him either with sinews or with XV PONDO, NE MAIORE, AUT SI fetters not exceeding fifteen pounds VOLET MINORE VINCITO. in weight, or less at the discretion of the creditor. 4. SI VOLET SUO VIVITO. NI If he wishes let him live at his own SUO VIVIT, QUI EUM VINCTUM expense. If not let the creditor who HABEBIT, LIBRAS FARRIS ENDO holds him bound give him a pound DIES DATO. SI VOLET, PLUS of flour a day, or more if (the cred- DATO. itor) choose. 5. Gellius (2o,IT,46-7): Erat autem But there used to be the power ius interea paciscendi ac nisi pacti in the meantime of compromising the forent, habebantur in vinculis dies sexa- matter and unless such compromise ginta. Inter eos dies trinis nundinis were made by them, (the debtors) continuis ad praetorem in comitium were held in chains for sixty days. producebantur, quantaeque p e c u n i a e In the course of those (sixty) days iudicati essent, praedicabatur. Tertiis upon every third consecutive market

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW autem nundinis capite poenas dabant, day they were brought before the aut trans Tiberim peregre venum ibant. Praetor in the comitium, and the amount of the judgment against them was proclaimed. On the third market day however they were put to death, or were sent across the Tiber to be sold abroad. 6. TERTIIS NUNDINIS PARTIS On the third market-day let them (sc. SECANTO. SI PLUS MINUSVE where there were several judgment SECUERUNT, SE FRAUDE ESTO. creditors) divide (sc. the body of the debtor) into shares. If they have cut too much or too little, let it be without liability. 7. ADVERSUS HOSTEM AETER- Against a foreigner let the right NA AUCTORITAS (ESTO). of possession be perpetual.

TABLE IV. THE PATERNAL POWER.

1. Cicero (de leg. 3,8,19): cito necatus ... quickly put to death just as tamquam ex XII tabulis insignis ad according to a law of the Twelve deformitatem puer. Tables a boy marked by deform- ity ... 2. SI PATER FILIUM TER VE- If a father offer his son for sale NUM DUUIT, FILIUS A PATRE three times, let the son be free from LIBER ESTO. the paternal power. 3. Cicero (phil. 2,28,69): Illam suam That actress of his (mimant omitted suas res sibi habere iussit ex XII tab., by Bruns) he ordered to keep her own claves ademit, exegit. property according to the Twelve Tables, he took away her keys, he turned her out (i. e. divorced her). 4. Gellius (3,16,52): comperi, femi- I have heard, a woman .. bore nam - in undecimo mense post mariti a child in the eleventh month after the mortem peperisse, factumque esse ne- death of her husband, and because of gotium - quasi marito mortuo postea the occurrence, (sc. she was charged) concepisset, quoniam Xviri in decem as if she had conceived after the death mensibus gigni hominem, non in unde- of her husband, since the Decen~virs cimo scripsissent. had written that a child is born in ten months, not in the eleventh.

TABLE V. SUCCESSION AND GUARDIANSHIP.

1. Gaims (1, 44-5): Veteres - vol- The ancients wanted women, even uerunt feminas, etiamsi perfectae aetatis if they may be of full age, to be under sint, - in tutela esse; - exceptis vir- titelage; - the Vestal virgins ex- ginibus Vestalibus, quas - liberas esse cepted, whom - they wished to be voluerunt: itaque etiam lege XII tab. free: therefore it was so provided by cautum est. a law of the Twelve Tables.

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES 2. Gaius. (2,47): Mulieris, quae in ag- The res mancipi of a woman, who natorum tutela erat, res mancipii usucapi was under the tutelage of her agnates, non poterant, praeterquam si ab ipsa could not be acquired by prescription, tutore [auctore] traditae essent: id[que] unless they had been handed over by ita lege XII tab. [cautum erat]. herself with the authority of her guar- dian: and that was so provided by a law of the Twelve Tables. 3. UTI LEGASSIT SUPER PE- As a man shall have provided by CUNIA TUTELAVE SUAE REI, will concerning his property or the ITA IUS ESTO. tutelage of his family, so let it be law. 4. SI INTESTATO MORITUR, CUI If a man die intestate, and without SUUS HERES NEC ESCIT, ADG- suus heres, let the nearest agnate have N A T U S PROXIMUS FAMILIAM the family property. HABETO. 5. SI ADGNATUS NEC ESCIT, And if there be no agnate, let the GENTILES FAMILIAM HABENTO. gentiles have the family property. 6. Gaius (,z.55): Quibus testamento Those to whom a tutor may not - tutor datus non sit, is ex lege XII have been appointed by testament, [tabularum] agnati sunt tutores. by a law of the Twelve Tables their agnates are their tutors. 7. a. SI FURIOSUS ESCIT, ADG- a. If he be a lunatic, control over NATUM GENTILIUMQUE IN EO him and his property shall be in the PECUNIAQUE EI U S POTESTAS hands of his agnates and gentiles. ESTO. - b. . . . AST El CUSTOS b. . .. but if there be no curator NEC ESCIT . . - c. Ulpianus ad (some provision made for his custody.) Sabinum (D. 27,10,1 pr.): Lege XII tab. ... c. By a law of the Twelve prodigo interdicitur bonorum suorum Tables the management of his prop- administratio. Ulpianus (fr. 2,2): Lex erty is forbidden to a spendthrift. A XII tab. - prodigum, cui bonis inter- law of the Twelve Tables directs that dictum est, in curatione iubet esse a spendthrift who has been prohibited agnatorum. the management of his property be under the charge of his agnates. 8. Ulpianus (ft. 29,1): Civis Romani A law of the Twelve Tables confers liberti hereditatem lex XII tab. patrono the inheritance of a Roman citizen who defert, si intestato sine suo herede li- is a freedman on his patron, if the bertus decesserit. Ulp. ad ed. (D. freedman has died intestate without a 5o,16,195,): Cum de patrono et liberto suus heres. .. (The term familia loquitur lex, EX EA FAMILIA, inquit, relates to persons) when the lex speaks IN EAM FAMILIAM. of the patron and the freedman, 'from that family', . .. 'into this family'. 9. Gordianus (C. 3,36,6): Ea, quae in Those things which are debts, - ac- nominibus sunt, - ipso iure in portiones cording to a law of the Twelve Tables, hereditarias ex lege XII tab. divisa ipso iure have been divided into heredi- sunt. Dioclet. (C. 2,3,26): ex lege XII tary shares. . . . according to a law tab. aes alienum hereditarium pro por- of the Twelve Tables an inherited debt tionibus quaesitis singulis ipso iure (sc. due to or by the deceased) was ap- divisum. portioned by that same law according to the ascertained individual shares.

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10. Gaius ad ed. provinciale (D. 1o,2,1 This action (familiae erciscundae, pr.): Haec actio (familiae erciscundae) i. e., for dividing the family property) proficiscitur e lege XII tabularum. is derived from a law of the Twelve Tables.

TABLE VI. OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION. 1. CUM NEXUM FACIET MAN- When one effects nexum and man- CIPIUMQUE, UTI LINGUA NUN- cipium, as the language has called it, so CUPASSIT, ITA IUS ESTO. be the law. 2. Cicero (de off. 3,x6,65): cum ex XII While by the Twelve Tables it used tab. satis esset ea praestari quae essent to be enough that those things be lingua nuncupata, quae qui infitiatus es- made good which were expressly de- set, dupli poenam subiret, a iuris con- clared, and for what had been mis- sultis etiam reticentiae poena est con- represented (the vendor) would be stituta. subjected to double damages, the penalty was likewise imposed by the jurisconsults in case of silence. 3. Cicero (top. 4,23): usus auctoritas Right of possession of land was fundi biennium est, - ceterarum rerum acquired in two years, - of all other omnium - annuus est usus. property in one year. 4. Gaius (x, xx): lege XII tab.cautum By a law of the Twelve Tables it est, ut si qua nollet eo modo (usu) in was provided that if a wife did not manum mariti convenire, ea quotannis wish to come under the (legal) power trinoctio abesset atque eo modo [usum] of her husband she should absent cuiusque anni interrumperet. herself for three nights each year and thus interrupt the course of each year. 5. a. SI QUI IN IURE MANUM a. If any engage in close combat CONSERUNT. . . . - b. Paul. in court ("hand grapple", a fictitious manual. (Vat. fr. 5o): et mancipationem combat) . .. b. A law of the et in iure cessionem lex XII tab. con- Twelve Tables confirms both a man- firmat. cipation and a surrender in court. 6. Livius (3,44,x,2): Advocati (Ver- The advocates (for Virginia) de- giniae) - postulant, ut (Ap. Claudius) mand that (Ap. Claudius) should al- - lege ab ipso lata vindicias det secun- low the claim for her liberty in the dum libertatem. meantime according to a law proposed by himself. 7. TIGNUM IUNCTUM AEDIBUS Let no one detach a beam built into VINEAVE ET CONCAPIT NE a house or vineyard (et concapit, cor- SOLVITO. rupt and not translatable). 8. Ulpianus ad edictum (D. 47,3,z The law of the Twelve Tables pr.): Lex XII tab. neque solvere per- neither permits one to detach a mittit tignum furtivum aedibus vel vi- stolen beam built into a house or neis iunctum neque vindicare, - sed in vineyard nor to lay claim to it as eum, qui convictus est iunxisse, in dup- one's own, - but against him, who lum dat actionem. has been convicted of having attached it, such law gives an action for double the value.

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES 237

9 .... QUANDOQUE SARPTA, Whenever detached, until they shall DONEC DEMPTA ERUNT ... be replaced . (their owner may retake them).

TABLE VII. LAND AND THINGS AFFIXED THERETO.

1. Varro (de . L 5,z2): XII tabu- The interpreters of the Twelve Tables larum interpretes ambitum parietis cir- describe the border extending around cuitum esse describunt. - Festus: Am- the house. - Festus: The border ex- bitus - dicitur circuitus aedificiorum, tending around the buildings is de- patens - pedes duos et semissem. scribed as open, two and a half feet. Maecianus (assis distr. 46): Sestertius Maecianus: A sestertius is worth two duos asses et semissem (valet), - lex and a half asses. - There is a law of - XII tab. argumento est, in qua duo the Twelve Tables by a syllogism in pedes et semis 'sestertius pes' vocatur. which two and a half feet are called a 'sestertius pes'. (Sestertium was used as a measure of dimension, two and a half feet deep.) 2. Gaius 1. IV ad leg. XII tab. (D. It is understood that in an action 1o,r,13): Sciendum est in actione finium for determining boundaries that must regundorum illud observandum esse, be observed which was written (in quod (in XII tab.) ad exemplum quo- the Twelve Tables) as patterned dammodo eius legis scriptum est, quam after, to a certain extent, that law Athenis Solonem dicitur tulisse. Nam which it is said Solon promulgated illic ira est: 'Edr 7- algaand xrX. at Athens: If anyone a fence etc. 3. a. Plinius (ts. h. r9,4,o): In XII a. In the Twelve Tables 'villa' is no- tab. - nusquam nominatur villa, semper where mentioned; 'hortus' is always in significatione ea 'hortus', in horti vero used with that signification; in truth 'heredium'. - b. Festus (F. 355): [Tu- 'heredium' is used for 'garden'. b. The gu]ria a tecto appellantur [domicilia sordid huts, the homes of the country rusticorum] sordida, - quo nomine folk, are called tuguria from tectum [M e s s a I I a in explana]tione XII ait (covered), by which term Messalla in etiam ... [signifi]cari. his interpretation of the Twelve Tables also says it is expressed. 4. Cicero (de leg. 2,2.,55): usus capio- The Twelve Tables did not permit nem XII tab. intra V pedes esse usucaption to be exercised inside a noluerunt. space of five feet (so, a neutral zone between neighboring landowners). 5. a. SI IURGANT ... - b. a. If they quarrel (adjoining own- Cic. (de leg. r,2i,55): controversia est ers, as to boundaries) . . b. A con- nata de finibus, in qua - e XII tres troversy has arisen concerning boun- arbitri fines regemus. daries, in relation to which, - in accordance with the Twelve Tables we three as arbiters shall determine the boundaries. 6. Gaius ad ed. provinc. (D. 8,3,8): The width of the right of way ac- Viae latitudo ex lege XII tab. in por- cording to a law of the Twelve Tables

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW rectum octo pedes habet, in anfractum, covers eight feet in a straight line, id est ubi flexum est, sedecim. on a turn, i. e. where it is curved, sixteen feet. 7. VIAM MUNIUNTO: NI SAM They (neighboring owners) shall DELAPIDASSINT, QUA VOLET make the road passable: if they have IUMENTO AGITO. not cleared their road from stones, let one drive with one's beast of bur- den where one wishes. 8. a. SI AQUA PLUVIA NOCET, a. If rain water creates injury ... .. - b. Paulus ad Sab. (D. 43,8,5): - b. If a stream of water passing Si per publicum locum rivus aquae duc- through a public place shall cause injury tus privato nocebit, erit actio privato ex to a private person, there will be a lege XII tab., ut noxa domino sarciatur. private action according to a law of the Twelve Tables, that the injury to the owner may be made good. 9. a. Ulp. ad ed. (D. 43,27,A,8): lex a. A law of the Twelve Tables wished XII tab. efficere voluit, ut XV pedes to bring it about that the branches of a altius rami arboris circumcidantur. - b. tree be trimmed fifteen feet higher Pomponius ad Sab. (D. 43,27,2): Si (than the ground) .. . b." If a arbor ex vicini fundo vento inclinata in tree from the estate of a neighbor be tuum fundum sit, ex lege XII tab. de broken down by the wind upon your adimenda ea recte agere potes. estate, according to a law of the Twelve Tables concerning taking things away rightly you may carry it off. 10. Plinius (n.h. r6,5,.5): Cautum est By a law of the Twelve Tables it - lege XII tab., ut glandem in alienum was provided that one should be al- fundum procidentem liceret colligere. lowed to gather nuts fallen on land belonging to another. 11. Iustiniani Inshtutiones (2,1,41): Goods sold and delivered are not ac- Venditae - et traditae (res) non aliter quired by the purchaser unless he has emptori adquiruntur, quam si is ven- paid the price to the vendor or given ditori pretium solverit vel alio modo satisfaction in another way, for ex- satisfecerit, veluti expromissore aut pig- ample either by giving a surety or a nore dato; quod cavetur - lege XII tab. pledge; which was provided by a law of the Twelve Tables. 12. Ulpianus (fr. 2,4): Sub hac con- (Sc. A slave) ordered to be free dicione liber esse iussus 'si decem milia under this condition 'if he give ten heredi dederit', etsi ab herede abaliena- thousand sesterces to the heir', though tus sit, emptori dando pecuniam ad li- he have been alienated by the heir, will bertatem perveniet: idque lex XII tab. attain his freedom on giving the money iubet to the purchaser: and this is ordered by a law of the Twelve Tables.

TABLE VIII. WRONGS. 1. a. QUI MALUM CARMEN IN- a. Whoever chanted a magic formula CANTASSIT . . . - b. Cicero (de (i. e. an incantation) .. . b. While

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES rep. 4,1,2 ap. Aug. de civit. dei 2,9): the Twelve Tables provided for capital XII tab. cum perpaucas res capite punishment in connection with few of- sanxissent, in his hanc quoque san- fences, among these they provided that ciendam putaverunt: si quis occenta- it be sanctioned in case of anyone who visset sive carmen condidisset, quod in- had sung a satirical song or composed famiam faceret flagitiumve alteri. a poem which brought infamy or dis- grace to another. 2. SI MEMBRUM RUP[S]IT, NI If any one break a limb (of another), CUM EO PACIT, TALIO ESTO. unless he reach an agreement with him, let there be retaliation in kind. 3. MANU FUSTIVE SI OS FRE- If with his hand or a club he have GIT LIBERO, CCC, SI SERVO, CL struck the face of a freeman, let him POENAM SUBITO. suffer a fine of 300 asses, if of a slave, 150 asses. 4. SI INIURIAM FAXSIT, VIGIN- If he have wronged another, let the TI QUINQUE POENAE SUNTO. penalty be 25 asses. 5 .... RUP[S]IT . . . SARCITO. . he has caused injury let him make amends. 6. Ulpianus 1. XVIII ad ed. (D. 9,, If a quadruped shall be alleged to Pr.): Si quadrupes pauperiem fecisse have caused injury, a law of the Twelve dicetur, - lex (XII tab.) voluit aut Tables required either that which did dar id quod nocuit - aut aestimatio- the harm to be given up or compensa- nem noxiae offerri. tion for the injury to be proffered. 7. Ulpianus 1. XLI ad Sabinum (D. If fruit falls from your tree into my 19,5,14,3): Si glans ex arbore tua in field, and my cattle being driven in I meum fundum cadat, eamque ego im- cause them to eat it, neither by the law misso pecore depascam, - neque ex of the Twelve Tables concerning the lege XII tab. de pastu pecoris, quia non pasturing of cattle, because they are not in tuo pascitur, neque de pauperie - pastured in your pasture, nor by that agi posse. concerning damage, can an action be brought. 8. a. QUI FRUGES EXCANTAS- a. One who has bewitched the hang- SIT. - b. . . . NEVE ALIENAM ing fruits. - b...... do not spirit SEGETEM PELLEXERIS . .. away the growing crop belonging to another. .. (punished with death.) 9. Plinius (nat. hist. 18,3,12): Frugem It was a capital offence by the Twelve - aratro quaesitam noctu pavisse ac Tables for one of the age of puberty to secuisse puberi XII tabulis capital erat, have trod down (i.e., trespassed upon) suspensumque Cereri necari iubebant, - and to have reaped a crop gained by the inpubem praetoris arbitratu verberari plow, and they ordered him to be noxiamve duplionemve decerni. hanged, raised in reparation to Ceres, - one under the age of puberty in the discretion of the praetor to be beaten or a penalty in double the amount of the injury to be affixed. 10. Gaius 1. IV ad XII tab. (D. It is provided by the Twelve Tables 47,9,9): Qui aedes acervumve frumenti that one who has burned another's

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW iuxta domum positum combusserit, vinc- house or heap of grain piled next to a tus verberatus igni necari (XII tab.) dwelling-house be bound and beaten and iubetur, si modo sciens prudensque id burned at the stake, if he did it wil- commiserit; si vero casu, id est neg- fully and knowingly; if it was in truth legentia, aut noxiam sarcire iubetur, by accident, that is by negligence, he aut, si minus idoneus sit, levius casti- must make good the damage, or if he is gatur. too poor, be punished moderately. 11. Plinius (nat. hist. i7,r,7): cautum It was enacted by the Twelve Tables - est XII tabulis, ut qui iniuria ceci- that one who should wrongfully cut disset (succidendi vocabulo lex usa est) down trees belonging to another should alienas (arbores), lueret in singulas pay twenty-five asses for each. aeris XXV. 12. SI NOX FURTUM FAXSIT, SI If one commit theft by night and be IM OCCISIT, IURE CAESUS ESTO. killed in the act, let such killing be lawful. 13. LUCI SI SE TELO In the day-time . .. if he de- DEFENDIT, ENDOQUE fends himself with a weapon (killing PLORATO. him is lawful, but) let (the person at- tacked) cry aloud. 14. Gellius (xxSr,8): Ex ceteris - Other thieves, taken in the act, if they manifestis furibus liberos verberari ad- were freemen, the decemvirs ordered to dicique iusserunt (Xviri) ei, ci furtum be scourged and handed over to the one factum esset -; servos - verberibus from whom the theft had been commit- affici et e saxo praecipitari; sed pueros ted -; slaves were to be scourged and impuberes praetoris arbitratu verberari hurled from the rock (i.e., the Tarpeian voluerunt noxiamque - sarciri. Rock); but boys under the age of puberty should be flogged at the discretion of the praetor and the damage which they had done made good. 15. a. Gaius (3,gx): Concepti et ob- The penalty for stolen property dis- lati (furti) poena ex lege XII tab. tripli covered and brought forth (i.e. by a est. - b. . . . LANCE ET LICIO searcher) is triple the value by a law of the Twelve Tables. - b... with platter and loin-cloth. (Refers to the manner of searching for stolen property, going through the house with no clothing but a cloth around the loins and carrying a platter in both hands.) 16. SI ADORAT FURTO, QUOD If one brings an accusation for theft, NEC MANIFESTUM ERIT -, which shall be "not manifest" -, (i.e., [DUPLIONE DAMNUM DECIDITO.] secret theft) let the damage be assessed in double the amount. 17. (Gai. 2,45): furtivam (rem) lex A law of the Twelve Tables prohib- XII tab. usucapi prohibet -. its usucaption of stolen goods. 18. a. Tacit. (ann. 6,16): XII tabulis a. It was enacted by the Twelve sanctum, ne quis unciario fenore am- Tables that no one should exact a rate plius exerceret. - b. Cato (de agri cult. of interest higher than ten per cent. b.

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praef): Maiores - in legibus posi- The ancients set down in the Twelve verunt furem dupli condemnari, fenera- Tables that a thief be sentenced to a torem quadrupli. double amount, a usurer quadruple. 19. Paulus (colt. 1o,7,1I): Ex causa Upon the ground of a deposit an depositi lege XII tab. in duplum actio action is given by the law of the Twelve datur -. Tables for double the amount. (Breach by a depositary.) 20. a. Ulpianus 1. XXXV ad ed. (D. a. The accusation of one suspected 26,o,1,): Sciendum est suspecti crimen is known to come down from a law e lege XII tab. descendere. - b. Try- of the Twelve Tables. (If the ad- phoninus disputat. (D. 26,7,55,1): Si - ministration of a tutor was suspicious, tutores rem pupilli furati sunt, videamus action was given to any one to have an ea actione, quae proponitur ex lege him removed.) b. If the tutors have XII tab. adversus tutorem in duplum, stolen property of the ward, let us see singuli in solidum teneantur. whether by the action which is set forth by the Twelve Tables for double damages against a tutor, they may be held, each for the full amount. 21. PATRONUS SI CLIENTI If a patron defraud his client let him FRAUDEM FECERIT, SACER be accursed (i.e. be sacrificed to the in- ESTO. fernal gods). 22. QUI SE SIERIT TESTARIER He who shall suffer himself to be LIBRIPENSVE FUERIT, NI TES- called as a witness or shall be a TIMONIUM FATIATUR. INPRO- libripens (balance-holder), and shall not BUS INTESTABILISQUE ESTO. disclose his testimony, shall be impious and incapable of being a witness or of making a will (i.e. of taking any bene- fit under a deed requiring witnesses). 23. Gellius (2o,5,53): ex XII tab. - According to the Twelve Tables - if si nunc quoque - qui falsum testi- it were only true now - one who had monium dixisse convictus esset, e saxo been convicted of giving false testimony Tarpeio deiceretur. would be thrown from the Tarpeian rock. 24, a. SI TELUM MANU FUGIT a. If a weapon flies from the hand MAGIS QUAM IECIT, aries subicitur. farther than one hurls (aims) it, a - b. Plin. (n. h. r8,3,12): Frugem - ram is substituted. (Peace offering furtim - pavisse - XII tabulis capital to the kinsmen.) b. To tread down erat (8,9) - gravius quam in homicidio. grain by stealth (i.e., to depasture cattle secretly by night) was a capital offence according to the Twelve Tables - (a punishment) more severe than that in the case of murder. 25. Gaius L. IV ad XII tab. (D. He who mentions the word drug 50,16,236 pr.): Qui venenum dicit, adi- ought to add whether bad or good; cere debet, utrum malum an bonum; for even medicines are drugs. nam et medicamenta venena sunt. 26. Latro (ded. in Cat. 19): XII tab. We know it to be decreed by the

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW cautum esse cognoscimus, ne qui in urbe Twelve Tables that no one hold sedi- coetus nocturnos agitaret. tious nocturnal assemblies in the city. 27. Gaius I. IV ad XII tab. (D. A law of the Twelve Tables gives 47,22,4): His (sodalibus) potestatem the power to these guilds to make facit lex (XII tab.), pactionem quam rules for their government in what velint sibi ferre, dum ne quid ex publica manner they wish, provided they do lege corrumpant; sed haec lex videtur not make rules contrary to the pub- ex lege Solonis translata esse. lic law; but this law seems to be copied from a law of Solon.

TABLE IX. PUBLIC LAW.

1. 2. Cic. (de leg. 3,4,i; .9,44): 'Pri- 'Let them permit no special privileges; vilegia ne inroganto; de capite civis nisi as to capital punishment of a citizen, let per maximum comitiatum - ne ferun- them not carry it out unless by order of to'. - Leges praeclarissimae de XII the cornitia centuriata'. - Two very ex- tabulis tralatae duae, quarum altera cellent laws copied from the Twelve privilegia tollit, altera de capite civis Tables, of which one does away with rogari nisi maximo comitiatu vetat. special privileges, the other prohibits capital punishment of a citizen to be carried out unless by order of the comitia centuriata. 3. Gellius (20,,7): duram esse legem Do you think it a harsh law which putas, quae iudicem arbitrumve jure punishes with death a judex or arbiter datum, qui ob rem [iu]dic[a]ndam appointed to a court of justice who has pecuniam accepisse convictus est, capite been convicted of accepting money for poenitur? passing judgment? 4. Pomponius enchirid. (D. x,2,2,23): Quaestors who have charge over quaestores - qui capitalibus r e b u s capital crimes are called quaestores praeessent, - appellabantur quaestores parricidi, of whom even the law of the parricidii, quorum etiam meminit lex Twelve Tables makes mention. XII tab. 5. Marcianus (D. 48,4,3): Lex XII A law of the Twelve Tables orders tab. iubet eum, qui hostem concitaverit him who stirs up an enemy (sc. of the quive civem hosti tradiderit, capite Roman people) or who delivers a citi- puniri. zen to an enemy to be punished by death. 6. Salvianus (de gubern. dei 8,5,24): The decrees of the Twelve Tables Interfici - indemnatum quemcunque forbid any uncondemned man whom- hominem etiam XII tabularum decreta ever to be put to death. vetuerunt. TABLE X. BURIALS AND FUNERAL RITES. 1. HOMINEM M 0 R T U U M IN Let not (anyone) bury or burn a URBE NE SEPELITO NEVE dead person within the city. URITO.

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES 2 .. . HOC PLUS NE FACI- More than this let no one do: Let TO: ROGUM ASCEA NE POLITO. no one smooth a funeral pile with an axe. 3. Cicero (de leg. 2,23,59): Extenuato Expense therefore being reduced to igitur sumptu tribug reciniis et tunicula three suits of mourning and small tunic purpurae et decem tibicinibus tollit of purple and ten flute players (sc. the etiam lamentationem. rule) even does away with (excessive) lamentation. 4. MULIERES GENAS NE RA- Let not the women tear their cheeks DUNTO, NEVE LESSUM FUNERIS or make the lessus or funeral wailings. ERGO HABENTO. 5. a. HOMINE MORTUO NE a. When a man has died do not OSSA LEGITO, QUO POST FUNUS collect the bones in order to have a FACIAT. - b. Cicero (l. c. 24,6o): funeral afterwards. b. Exception is Excipit bellicam peregrinamque mortem. made with regard to those who die in battle or in a foreign land. 6. a. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,60): Haec a. Besides these there are in the laws praeterea sunt in legibus -: 'servilis (sc. other provisions)-: 'servile anoint- unctura tollitur omnisque circumpota- ing is prohibited and all drinking tio'. - 'Ne sumptuosa respersio, ne around in a funeral meal'. - 'Let there longae coronae, ne acerrae'. - b. Fest.: be no expensive respersions, (sprinkling Murrata potione usos antiquos indicio of the funeral pile with wine), no long est, quod - XII tab. cavetur, ne mortuo garlands, no incense boxes'. - b. There indatur. is an indication that the ancients used a drink spiced with myrrh, because the Twelve Tables forbade the placing of it on a corpse. 7. QUI CORONAM PARIT IPSE Whoever by himself gains a crown, PECUNIAVE E I U S [HONORIS] or (if) money is given to him on ac- VIRTUTISVE ERGO ARDUUITUR count of his merit or virtue, let the EI honor be accorded to him (i. e., the crown placed on the deceased and buried with him.) 8. . .. NEVE AURUM AD- Let no gold be put into the grave DITO AT CUI AURO DENTES with the dead. If the teeth of the IUNCTI ESCUNT. AST IM CUM deceased are fastened with gold let I L L O SEPELIET URETVE, SE it be buried or burned with him, and FRAUDE ESTO. no wrong be done. 9. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,61): rogum (A law of the Twelve Tables) pro- bustumve novum vetat propius LX hibits a new funeral pile or pyre pedes adigi aedes alienas invito domino. nearer than sixty feet to a neighbor's house without his consent. 10. Cicero (de leg. 2,24,61): forum - Let the sepulchre and its vestibule bustumve usucapi vetat. be not subject to usucaption. TABLE XI. SUPPLEMENTARY-MARRIAGE; COURT DAYS. 1. Cicero (de rep. 2,36,61-37,63): When (the Decemnvrs) had drawn

Washington University Open Scholarship ST. LOUIS LAW REVIEW (Decemviri) cum X tabulas summa up the ten tables of the laws with the legum aequitate prudentiaque conscrip- utmost equity and prudence, they ap- sissent, in annum posterum Xviros alios pointed to office other Decemvirs to subrogaverunt, - qui duabus tabulis succeed them in the following year, iniquarum legum additis - conubia - - who, having added two tables of ut ne plebi cum patribus essent, in- unjust laws provided by a most in- humanissima lege sanxerunt. humane law that marriage might not exist between plebeians and patricians. 2. Macrobius (sat. 1,13,2z): Tudi- Tuditanus says that the Decemvirs tanus refert, - Xviros, qui decem who added two to the ten tables tabulis duas addiderunt, de intercalando asked the people about inserting populum rogasse. Cassius eosdem scri- them. Cassius writes that the same bit auctores. ones were the authors. 3. Cic. (ad. At. 6,x,8): E quibus From which (books about the (libris de rep.) unum lCTopmIuv requiris state) you ask for a history of Cn. de Cn. Flavio Anni f. - Ille vero ante Flavius son of Annius. - Truly he Xviros non fuit. - Quid ergo profecit, did not live before the Decenvirs quod protulit fastos? Occultatam putant (i. e. the authors of the Twelve Ta- quodam tempore istam tabulam, ut dies bles.) What therefore did he accom- agendi peterentur a paucis. plish in that he posted the legal court days? They think that at one time that table was concealed so that the days for pleading in court might be known to a few.

TABLE XII. SUPPLEMENTARY-PROCEDURE; LEGISLATION. 1. Gaias (4,28): Lege autem intro- But pignoris capio was introduced by ducta est pignoris capio, veluti lege XII statute, as for instance by a law of the tab. adversus eum, qui hostiam emisset Twelve Tables against him who had nec pretium redderet; item adversus bought a victim for sacrifice and not eum, qui mercedem non redderet pro eo paid the price; likewise against him who iumento, quod quis ideo locasset, ut inde did not return the fee for that beast pecuniam acceptam in dapem, id est in which someone had hired out so that sacrificium, impenderet. thereafter he might devote the money received to a sacrificial feast. 2. a. SI SERVUS FURTUM FAXIT If a slave commits a theft or inflicts NOXIAMVE NO[X]IT. - b. Gai. an injury (the owner was liable, by the (4,75,76): Ex maleficiis filiorum familias actio noxalis, to surrender the slave or servorumque - noxales actiones prodi- pay damages). - b. Noxal actions have tae sunt, uti liceret patri dominove aut been brought about by the wrongful acts litis aestimationem sufferre aut noxae of sons under power and of slaves, so dedere -. Constitutae sunt - aut legi- that it be permitted to the father or bus anut edicto praetoris: legibus velut owner either to bear the pecuniary dam- furti lege XII tabularum cet. age or surrender the wrongdoer by way of reparation. - (Noxal actions) have

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_lawreview/vol13/iss4/1 THE LAWS OF THE TWELVE TABLES been created. . . . either by leges or by Praetor's edict: by leges, for instance, for theft, by a law of the Twelve Tables, etc. 3. SI VINDICIAM FALSAM TU- If (the Praetor) has awarded in- LIT, SI VELIT IS . . . TOR AR- terim possession to the wrong party, BITROS TRIS DATO, EORUM if this party wishes it, the Praetor ARBITRIO . . . FRUCTUS DU- must appoint three arbiters. On PLIONE DAMNUM DECIDITO. their decision (of the value of the object of vindication and its) fruits, the Praetor must award damages at double the amount. 4. Gaius 1. VI ad XII (D. 44,6,3): We are forbidden (by a law of the Rem, de qua controversia est, pro- Twelve Tables) to dedicate to sa- hibemur (lege XII tab.) in sacrum cred uses a thing which is the sub- dedicare: alioquin dupli poenam pati- ject of litigation: otherwise (i. e., if mur, - sed duplum utrum fisco an we do) we suffer a double penalty, adversario praestandum sit, nihil ex- - but nothing is expressed as to primitur. whether the fine goes to the treasury or to the adversary. 5. Livius (7,17,12): in XII tabulis There was a law in the Twelve legem esse, ut quodcumque postremum Tables that whatever the people had populus iussisset, id ius ratumque esset. ordered last, that should be the law and carried out.

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