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At last we reach the earliest real Latin recorded. (And isn't that terrifying? It sure is for me; I have a 15-page paper I need written by the end of the month, and to date I've figured out my topic and read two relevant books on the subject.) The Twelve Tables, which are kinda like the Ten Commandments, except they're actually a discrete set of legal artifacts (rather than a subset of a larger code) inscribed in, presumably, twelve actual tables. Or tablets. Pillars? Eh. Stone Bits, anyway.
The Roman legal system is, at least in theory, built on these, and it's tempting to make comparisons to the US constitution--especially given they were originally ten, and then added to slightly later--but I don't think it'd be a very good comparison. This doesn't say a hell of a lot about what the government can do, but is concerned directly with very standard legal practices for the people.
Because of how my homework is structured, I'm going to give just a few select fragments--which are really some of the more coherent ones I have--out of the much larger number of fragments we have, and then probably skip the rest. Some of the fragments are of the "here is a single word that appears nowhere else! Good luck!" type, which I don't think would be particularly edifying for anyone.
But don't worry. We've still got plenty of Greek left to go.
Tabula I
If [the plaintiff] calls [the defendant] into court, go forth! If he does not go, call a witness! Therefore, seize [the defendant]. If [the defendant] evades or flees,* throw hands upon him. If illness or age of life is [involved], give him a [riding] animal; if [the plaintiff] doesn’t want to, don’t provide a covered carriage.
Tabula III
When debt has been admitted to, and the matters have been judged by law, thirty days are allowed for justice. Then afterwards let him be grabbed. Lead him into court. If he does not provide justice**, or if anyone formally demands his presence in the court, one must lead him with oneself. Bind him with either shackles or fetters, not less than 15 pounds in weight, or if one wishes, bind him with greater. If he wishes, he may live by his own resources. If he does not wish to live by his own resources, give him a pound of grain*** a day; if one wishes, give him more.
Tabula VIII
If a robbery occurs at night, if one kills him, it is a just death. The thief ... They forbid to kill in daylight ... unless he defends himself with a weapon ... even if he has come with a weapon, unless he uses that weapon and fights with it, you do not kill [him]. And if he fights, cry out at him.
Tabula X
Do not bury or burn a dead man in the city. Do not do more than this. Do not smooth the funeral pyre with an axe. ... with three veils and a purple little tunic and ten pipers... Women, do not scratch the cheeks, and therefore do not have a funeral lament either. Do not collect the dead bones of the man with which to make a burial afterwards. The anointing of slaves is tolerated and all funeral drinking ...
May the sumptuous sprinkling not... May the drink of myrrh not... May [...] not of the long garland ... not of the sharp... A man who wins a garland himself or from his chattel, or it is given to him because of his virtue... nor add gold... But whoever has teeth bound with gold, but one buries or burns him with that, let it be allowed for him.
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* Literally, “heaps up feet”. It’s an interesting image to find in a legal code.
** There are a lot of different words I’m translating as “justice” or “judgment” that have different legal senses that I’m not picking apart very well. In this case, it might be something along the lines of the ordered repayment of the debt.
*** Specifically, a very rough grain used frequently as cattle feed.
The Roman legal system is, at least in theory, built on these, and it's tempting to make comparisons to the US constitution--especially given they were originally ten, and then added to slightly later--but I don't think it'd be a very good comparison. This doesn't say a hell of a lot about what the government can do, but is concerned directly with very standard legal practices for the people.
Because of how my homework is structured, I'm going to give just a few select fragments--which are really some of the more coherent ones I have--out of the much larger number of fragments we have, and then probably skip the rest. Some of the fragments are of the "here is a single word that appears nowhere else! Good luck!" type, which I don't think would be particularly edifying for anyone.
But don't worry. We've still got plenty of Greek left to go.
Tabula I
If [the plaintiff] calls [the defendant] into court, go forth! If he does not go, call a witness! Therefore, seize [the defendant]. If [the defendant] evades or flees,* throw hands upon him. If illness or age of life is [involved], give him a [riding] animal; if [the plaintiff] doesn’t want to, don’t provide a covered carriage.
Tabula III
When debt has been admitted to, and the matters have been judged by law, thirty days are allowed for justice. Then afterwards let him be grabbed. Lead him into court. If he does not provide justice**, or if anyone formally demands his presence in the court, one must lead him with oneself. Bind him with either shackles or fetters, not less than 15 pounds in weight, or if one wishes, bind him with greater. If he wishes, he may live by his own resources. If he does not wish to live by his own resources, give him a pound of grain*** a day; if one wishes, give him more.
Tabula VIII
If a robbery occurs at night, if one kills him, it is a just death. The thief ... They forbid to kill in daylight ... unless he defends himself with a weapon ... even if he has come with a weapon, unless he uses that weapon and fights with it, you do not kill [him]. And if he fights, cry out at him.
Tabula X
Do not bury or burn a dead man in the city. Do not do more than this. Do not smooth the funeral pyre with an axe. ... with three veils and a purple little tunic and ten pipers... Women, do not scratch the cheeks, and therefore do not have a funeral lament either. Do not collect the dead bones of the man with which to make a burial afterwards. The anointing of slaves is tolerated and all funeral drinking ...
May the sumptuous sprinkling not... May the drink of myrrh not... May [...] not of the long garland ... not of the sharp... A man who wins a garland himself or from his chattel, or it is given to him because of his virtue... nor add gold... But whoever has teeth bound with gold, but one buries or burns him with that, let it be allowed for him.
---
* Literally, “heaps up feet”. It’s an interesting image to find in a legal code.
** There are a lot of different words I’m translating as “justice” or “judgment” that have different legal senses that I’m not picking apart very well. In this case, it might be something along the lines of the ordered repayment of the debt.
*** Specifically, a very rough grain used frequently as cattle feed.