As for my part, in vindicating the liberty of my spouse, life shall leave me sooner than my honour." [Footnote 146: Appius here contrasts two classes of persons, one consisting of individuals, who are in their own power; the other, of those who are not _sui juris_, but are under the control either of a parent, or some other person.

If the question arise concerning a person who is _sui juris_, whether he is to be consigned to slavery, or to be restored to liberty, then "_id juris esse_," sc.

that he remain free till the decision is made, _because any person_, as being _homo sui juris_, and consequently he himself, "may proceed by law;" but he says, that this does not hold good with respect to a person who is not _sui juris_, but is in the hands of others; such a person, he says, cannot be pronounced free, but must be subject to the power, either of the parent or master, so that no injury be done to either.

Wherefore, since the girl is not _sui juris_, she must be in the power, either of Virginius, who says he is her father, or of Claudius, who says he is her master.
But since Virginius is not present, that she can be in the power of no one but Claudius, until Virginius arrive.
I cannot resist the temptation of giving in full Mr.Gunn's note on the passage, as found in his very neat edition of our author.
"Appius for his own purposes, in interpreting his own law, introduces a distinction betwixt those who were _sui juris_, entirely free, and those who were subject to the _patria potestas_.

The law, according to him, can apply only to the former, because in them only is there a true claim for liberty, and in them only could a judge give an interim decision _secundum libertatem_.