[Iustiniani Institutiones]

p Read. For even of old, from the beginning, they were reading imperial constitutions, that is, ancient Institutiones Introductory textbooks, as in the preface, Digest, on discipline.
q Beginning, that is, in the first year, you will advance as much as you were advancing in four. And note that the emperor flatters us.
r In the beginning, that is, this book.
s End, that is, the Code. For in the first year, Institutiones Introductory textbooks are read; in the fifth, the Code is read, as in the preface, Digest, paragraph on responses, there "to whom, if well."
t Principal, that is, principles. And not that this science has a head and an end, although in other arts it is not so.
u Thus, that is, so it continues according to Johannes, that we approved the knowledge and authority of the aforementioned men and it could not be expedited more conveniently by others. Therefore he orders it to be divided by them, or because it is sought from imperial splendor, and therefore he orders it divided so it can be better understood, Digest, on the office of the judge, book 1, paragraph "to whom also."
x Fifty, are contained in the old Digest and the Infortiatum a middle volume of the Digest and three parts, from the new Digest. Therefore it is said that all things there are cut down, directed, and solved, Accursius of Florence.
y Or Pandects, from pan which is "all" and decten which is "doctrine," because there is the doctrine of all legal experts, as in the Code, on the old law, book 2, paragraph 2, with everything, in the end, which follows as here.

from the arguments of affairs. And that, in the time of the emperors, it barely happened over four years for the readers that they would then read the imperial constitutions, you enter from the beginning with the honor of those worthy, and with such happiness found that the beginning and the end of the erudition of the laws may proceed from the voice of the prince. Thus, through the fifty books of the Digest or Pandects, in which all ancient law is collected, which through the same excellent man Tribonian, as well as other illustrious and most eloquent men, we have made, we have ordered these same Institutiones Introductory textbooks to be divided into these four books, so that they may be the first elements of the knowledge of the whole law, in which what has been explained is that which previously held sway, and that which afterwards was obscured by disuse by

b Of our Gaius, in his commentaries, I say, upon the books of the Institutiones Introductory textbooks of the ancients.
i Daily, the book was called thus because it contained how things were to be done by the magistrates on individual days, how they should judge.
k When three, is an interposition.
l With total effort, as far as the body. Whence Pamphilus, alias Ovid: "Persistent labor conquers all things."
m And with alert, affection, he puts a name to his work, as in the Code, to the Cornelian law, regarding injury, book 1, Digest, on theft, book "what injuries."
n Laws, that is, of the Institutiones Introductory textbooks.
o Show, that is, be so practiced in this book or be so informed in customs. For good customs produce more than wealth, as Digest, on guardianship and curatorship, book 1, "from these to know," paragraph 1, and Digest, on verbal obligations, book "if anyone stipulated," in the end.
p So that hope, and this hope is made of us, that our republic might be able to be governed.
q Perfected, that is, having read other books.

imperial remedy is illuminated. Which, from all the Institutiones Introductory textbooks of the ancients and especially from the commentaries of our Gaius, both of the Institutiones Introductory textbooks and of daily affairs, and from many other commentaries, were composed when the three aforementioned wise men offered them to us, and we read and recognized and granted the fullest authority of our constitutions to them. With, therefore, total effort and alert study, accept these laws of ours and show yourselves so learned that the most beautiful hope may cherish you that, with the entire work perfected, you may also be able to govern our republic in its parts to be entrusted to you.

On Justice and Law.

A large historiated initial 'I' (for Iusticia) in blue and white on a red background. Inside the letter is a miniature illustration of a seated man, likely Justinian, wearing robes and a head covering, holding a book.

Justice is a constant and perpetual will to attribute to each one his own right.