[Iustiniani Institutiones]

Africa, which was occupied by the Vandals for one hundred and five years. Rome was captured and adorned by those same Vandals, and the special ornaments were transferred from there to Africa, as in the Code. Africa, under which many provinces are contained. Provinces, so these are constituted, as Africa and other inevitable provinces. Also added, that is, joined to the aforementioned, concerning jurisdiction, which he held before by such great [victory].

Protested: By our victories and celestial favor. For these provinces were under the Roman Empire, and after being deserted, after one hundred and five years they returned, as is said, and through such great spaces of time they are ruled, as in the Code. All the people, however, whom he mentioned here, previously had the care of war; now they have the care of the law.

Promulgated: Namely by us, and it is said, and anew. And to promulgate is to bind the rough and hidden nature of equity in the snares of the law, opposing it in the promulgation. But to oppose is difficult: to reduce things already promulgated into order and summary. As for those opposed: that is, from others which we transform for the better. It is said, opposed by us, that is, compiled by us, just as the laws were, as in the Digest and Code and those of other emperors, to whom he promulgated and opposed them.

Confused: Namely in the three codes placed together, the Gregorian, the Theodosian, and the Hermogenian. Consonance: In one code which we do not have, but from it was made this one which we have. Then: Here, in these times, it is revealed for the highest emendation of the law that we perform, as in the Code. Then we extend our care: that is, immediately after the composition of that code we made the Digest. Care: So that no contradiction can be found, and no unnecessary superfluity. Volumes: For there were hundreds of thousands of books and many other laws. And through that space of time: Namely, from Constantine, for Constantine wanted to do it but could not.

Deep: Repeatedly founded from Romulus; but it was so extended in times that it would increase into the infinite and would not be contained by the capacity of any human nature.

Celestial: By this, we have done everything; and by the way of wars, with celestial favor, we have completed it through the Digest and the first composition. We have done this, although we do not have it, yet before the composition of the code which we have, from which it is corrected by the code. We have established this for the instruction of the youth, as in the first book, so that the law might be restored by our authority.

Tribonian: He was a magnificent man, ex-quaestor of our sacred palace, and Theophilus and Dorotheus, illustrious men, our predecessors, whose diligence and knowledge of the laws and our commands, we have already received faith from many arguments of things. Having called them together, we commanded them specially that they should compose the Institutes by our authority and our suggestions, so that it may be permitted to you to learn the first cradles of the laws, not from ancient fables, but to seek them from the imperial splendor, and so that both your ears and minds may have nothing useless, nothing placed incorrectly, but what is in the very truth of things which emerge daily, not from things which cannot happen.