Page images
PDF
EPUB

illatus est mortuus, tamen locus re- the usufructuary, cannot render it

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

XI. Singulorum autem homi- § 11. There are various means, num multis modis res fiunt: quarun- by which things become private produm enim, rerum dominium nan-perty. Of some we obtain dominion cisimur jure naturali, quod, sicut by the law of nature, which (as we diximus, appellatur jus gentium; have already observed) is also called quarundum verò jure civili. Com- the law of nations; of others by the modiùs est itaque à vetustiore jure civil law. But it will be most conincipere. Palàm est autem, vetus- venient to begin from the more ancient tius esse jus naturale, quod cum ip- law; that law, which nature estabso genere humano rerum natura lished at the birth of mankind; for prodidit. Civilia autem jura tunc civil laws could then only begin to esse cœperunt, cum et civitates con- exist, when cities began to be built, di, et magistratus creari et leges magistracies to be created, and lawś 1. scribi, cœperunt. to be written.

.

De occupatione ferarum.

XII. Feræ igitur bestiæ, et volucres, et pisces, et oninia animalia, quæ mari, cœlo, et terrà nascuntur, simul atque ab aliquo capta fuerint, jure gentium statim illius esse in

§ 12. Wild beasts, birds, fish, and all animals, bred either in the sea, the air, or upon the earth, so soon as they are taken, become by the law of nations, the property of the cap

cipiunt: quod enim ante nullius est, id naturali ratione occupanti conceditur: nec interest, feras bestias et volucres utrùm in suo fundo quis capiat, an in alieno. Planè, qui alienum fundum ingreditur venandi ut aucupandi gratià, potest à domino, si is præviderit, prohiberi, ne ingrediatur. Quicquid autem eorum ceperis, eousque tuum esse intelligitur, donec tuâ custodiâ coercetur; cum verò tuam evaserit custodiam, et in libertatem naturalem sese receperit, tuum esse desinit, et rursus occupantis fit. Naturalem autem libertatem recipere intelligitur, cum vel oculos tuos effugerit, vel ita sit in conspectu tuo, ut difficilis sit ejus persecutio.

tor: for natural reason gives to the first occupant, that which had no previous owner: and it is not material, whether a man take wild beasts or birds upon his own, or upon the ground of another: although whoever hath entered into the ground of another for the sake of hunting or fowling, might have been prohibited by the proprietor, if he had foreseen the intent. Whatever of this kind you take, is regarded as your property while it remains under your coercion; but when it hath escaped your custody, and recovered its natural liberty, it ceases to be yours and becomes the property of the first who seizes it. It is understood to have recovered its natural liberty, if it hath escaped your sight; or although not out of sight, yet if it cannot be pursued and retaken without great difficulty.

De vulneratione."

§ XIII. Illud quæsitum est, an si fera bestia ita vulnerata sit, ut capi possit, statim tua esse intelligaEt quibusdam placuit, statim esse tuam, et eousque tuam videri, donec eam persequaris: quod si desieris persequi, desinere tuam esse, et rursus fieri occupantis: alii verò putaverunt, non aliter tuam esse, quam si eam ceperis. Sed posteriorem sententiam nos confirmamus, quod multa accidere soleant, ut eam non capias.

§ 13. It hath been questioned, whether a wild beast belongs to him, by whom it hath been so wounded, that it may be taken. And, in the opinion of some, it doth so, as long as he pursues it; but, if he quits the pursuit, it ceases to be his, and again becomes the right of the first occupant. Others have thought, that property in a wild beast must attach to the actual taking it. We confirm this latter opinion; because many accidents happen, which prevent the

capture.

"

De apibus.

6 XIV. Apium quoque fera na tura est: itaque apes, quæ in arbore tuâ consederint, antequam à te alveo includantur, non magis tuæ intelliguntur. esse, quam volucres, quæ in arbore tuâ nidum fecerint: ideòque, si alius eas incluserit, is earum dominus erit. Favos quoque, si quos effecerint, eximere quilibet potest. Planè integrâ re, si prævideris ingredientem fundum tuum, poteris eum jure prohibere, ne ingrediatur. Examen quoque, quod ex alveo tuo evolaverit, eousque intelligitur esse tuum, donec in conspectu tuo est, nec difficilis persecutio ejus est; alioquin, occupantis

fit.

§ 14. Bees also are wild by nas ture: therefore, although they swarm upon your tree, they are not reputed, until they are hived by you, to be more your property, than the birds, which have nests there: so, if any other person inclose them in a hive he becomes their proprietor. Their honeycombs also, if any, become the property of him who takes them: but clearly, if you observe any person entering into your ground, the object untouched, you may justly hinder him. A swarm, which hath flown from your hive, is still reputed to continue yours, as long as it is in sight, and may easily be pursued ; but, in any other case, it will become the property of the occupant.

De pavonibus et columbis, et cæteris animalibus mansuefactis.

§ XV. Pavonum quoque et columbarum fera natura est; nec ad rem pertinet, quod ex consuetudine evolare et revolare solent; nam et apes idem faciunt, quarum constat feram esse naturam. Cervos quoque quidem ita mansuetos habent, ut in silvam ire et redire soleant, quorum et ipsorum feram esse naturam nemo negat. In iis autem animalibus, quæ ex consuetudine abire et redire solent, talis regula comprobata est; ut eousque tua esse intelligantur, donec animum revertendi habeant: nam, si revertendi animum habere desierint, etiam tua esse deinunt, et fiunt occupan

§ 15. Peacocks and Pidgeons are also naturally wild; nor is it any objection that after every flight, it is their custom to return: for bees that are naturally wild, do so too. Some have had deer so tame, that they would go to the woods, and return at regular periods; yet no one denies, but that deer are wild by nature. But, with respect to animals, which go and return customarily, the rule is, that they are considered yours, as long as they retain an inclination to return; but, if this ceases, they cease to be yours; and will again become the property of those who take them. These animals seem to have lost the

tium. Revertendi autem animum inclination to return, when they disuse the custom of returning.

videntur desinere habere tunc, cum revertendi consuetudinem deseruerint.

De gallinis et anseribus.

XVI. Gallinarum autem et anserum non est fera natura: idque ex eo, possumus intelligere, quod aliæ sunt gallinæ, quas feras vocamus; item alii sunt anseres, quos feros appellamus: ideòque, si anseres tui, aut gallinæ tuæ, aliquo modo turbati turbatæve evolaverint, licet conspectum tuum effugerint, quocumque tamen loco sint, tui tuæve esse intelliguntur; et, qui lucrandi animo ea animalia detinet, furtum committere intelligitur.

16. But geese, and fowls are not wild by nature; and this we may observe, because there is a kind of fowls and geese, which in contradistinction we term wild; and therefore if your geese or fowls, being disturbed and frightened, should take flight, they are still regarded as yours wherever found, although you may have lost sight of them; and who_` ever detains such animals, with a lucrative view, is understood to commit a theft.

De occupatione in bello.

§ XVII. Item ea, quæ ex hostibus capimus, jure gentium statim nostra fiunt; adèo quidem, ut et liberi homines in servitutem nostram deducantur; qui tamen, si evaserint nostram potestatem, et ad suos reversi fuerint, pristinum statum recipiunt.

$ 17. What we take from our enemies in war, becomes instantly our own by the law of nations; so that free-men may be brought into a state of servitude by eapture; but, if they afterwards escape, and return to their own people, they obtain again their former state.

De occupatione corum, quæ in littore inveniuntur. XVIII. Item lapilli, et gemme, et cætera, quæ in littore maris inveniuntur, jure naturali statim inventoris fiunt.

18. Precious stones, gems and other things, found upon the seashore, become instantly by the law of nations, the property of the find

er.

De foetu animalium.

XIX. Item ea, quæ ex animalibus dominio tuo subjectis nata sunt, codem jure tibi acquiruntur.

19. The product of those animals, which are reduced to our subjection, becomes by the same law, our

own.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

§ XXII. Insula, quæ in mari est (quod rarò accidit) occupantis fit: nullius enim esse creditur. At insula in flumine nata (quod frequenter accidit) si quidem mediam partem fluminis tenet, communis est eorum, qui ab utrâque parte fluminis prope ripam prædia possident, pro modo scilicet latitudinis cujusque prædii, quæ prope ripam sit: quod si alteri proximior sit parti, eorum est tantum, qui ab ea parte prope ripam prædia possident. Quod si qua parte divisum sit flumen, deinde infra unitum agrum alicujus in formam msulæ redegerit, ejusdem

§ 21. But, if the impetuosity of a river should sever a part of your estate, and adjoin it to that of your neighbour, it is certain, such part would still continue yours; but, if it should remain, for a long time, joined to the estate of your neighbour, and the trees, which accompanied it, take root in his ground, such trees seem, from the time of taking root, to be acquired to his estate.

insulâ.

§ 22. When an island rises in the sea, (which rarely happens) the property of it is in the occupant; for before occupation, it is in no one. But if an island rises in a river, (which frequently happens) and is placed exactly in the middle of it, such island shall be in common to them, who possess the lands near the banks on each side of the river, in proportion to the extent of each man's estate adjoining the banks. But, if the island is nearer to one side than the other, it belongs to them only, who possess lands next to the banks on that side, to which the island is

« PreviousContinue »