Controversia I BC
Cic. - Inv. (Cic.Inv.2.122)
Text
Paterfamilias cum liberorum haberet nihil, uxorem autem haberet, in testamento ita scripsit: ‘SI MIHI FILIUS GENITUR UNUS PLURESVE, IS MIHI HERES ESTO’. Deinde quae assolent. Postea : ‘SI FILIUS ANTE MORITUR, QUAM IN TUTELAM SUAM VENERIT, TUM MIHI SECUNDUS HERES ESTO’. Filius natus non est. Ambigunt adgnati cum eo, qui est heres, si filius ante, quam in tutelam veniat, mortuus sit.
Translation
A head of a family, having a wife but no children, drew his will as follows: "IF ONE OR MORE SONS ARE BORN TO ME, HE OR THEY ARE TO INHERIT MY ESTATE". Then follow the usual phrases. Then comes: "IF MY SON DIES BEFORE COMING OF AGE, THEN SO-AND-SO IS TO BE MY HEIR". No son was born. The agnates dispute with the man who was to be the reversionary heir in case the son died before coming of age.
Main Characters
Father
Characters
Agnates, Reversionary heir
Issues
Scriptum et voluntas
Accusations
Exact interpretation of the will of the deceased
Narrative themes
Inheritance, Last will and testament