XXII. For what Price this Book shall be Bought.
In order that any extortion on the part of a vendor and any unnecessary expenditure by a purchaser, may alike be prevented, it is decreed by the present law, that it shall not be legal for a vendor to sell a copy of this book for more than four hundred solidi, or for the purchaser to give more than that sum. And if any one should presume either to give, or to receive, an amount greater than that above mentioned, he shall receive a hundred lashes by order of the judge.[29]
TITLE V. CONCERNING PROPERTY COMMITTED TO THE CHARGE OF, OR LOANED TO, ANOTHER
| I. | Concerning Animals Hired to Another. |
| II. | Concerning Animals Loaned for the Purpose of Labor. |
| III. | Concerning Things which have been Loaned, and afterwards Destroyed by Fire, or Lost by Theft. |
| IV. | Concerning Lost Money, and the Interest on the Same. |
| V. | Concerning Property Committed to the Charge of Another, and Lost by Accident at Sea. |
| VI. | Concerning Property Entrusted to a Slave without his Master’s Knowledge. |
| VII. | Where a Slave Fraudulently Demands Property Entrusted by his Master to Another. |
| VIII. | Concerning Legal Interest. |
| IX. | What shall be Paid for the Use of Fruits of the Soil. |
| X. | Who are Entitled to Wills, or Instruments in Writing, which have been Entrusted to the Keeping of Anyone. |
ANCIENT LAW.
I. Concerning Animals Hired to Another.
If anyone should take in charge a horse, or an ox, or an animal of any kind, in consideration of a certain sum of money, and the animal should die, he shall give something equal to its value; whether the sum agreed upon was for the mere keeping of the animal, or for the use of it. But if he who had charge of said animal, should receive no compensation, and should prove that the animal was dead, he shall be entitled to nothing, and nothing shall be required of him, for this reason; as he who had charge of the said animal has established by oath that its death was not due to his guilt or negligence, no liability shall attach to him for the same. The same rule shall apply to property which has been loaned.
ANCIENT LAW.
II. Concerning Animals Loaned for the Purpose of Labor.
Where anyone rents or hires to another a beast of burden, horse, or any other animal, and it should die of disease while under the control of him who received it, the latter shall make oath that said animal did not die either through his fault or neglect, and he shall escape all liability. But if the death of said animal should have been caused by want of exercise, or by overloading, or by too much work, or by abuse, an animal of equal value shall be given to the owner. But if said animal should cause any injury or damage to anyone, he who had charge of it at the time shall be liable for the same.