Roman snake charmers

Ah, research is such a constant delight to the spirit. Here is one of today’s finds:

An action in proportion to the gravity of the offence will be granted against mountebanks who carry around and exhibit serpents, when any damage results through fear of these reptiles.

Paulus, Sentences (c. 210), Book I, cited in Justinian’s Pandects, xlvii.11.11

trans S. P. Scott


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More from Justinian

This has a quaint old-fashioned charm:

No one suffers a penalty for merely thinking.

Ulpianus, On the Edict (fl. 212–223), Book III, cited in Justinian’s Pandects, xlviii.19.18

trans S. P. Scott


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