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The plural vadimonia is here used because a number of suits is meant; the word constituta is chosen as a more general term than promissa, and as referring to the circumstances of both plaintiff and defendant. Strictly speaking, it is the presiding judge who vadimonia constituit.
Omnia quae curant meminerunt, vadimonia constituta, quis sibi, cui ipsi debeant. 22 Quid iuris consulti, quid pontifices, quid augures, quid philosophi senes? Quam multa meminerunt! Manent ingenia senibus, modo permaneat studium et industria, neque ea solum claris et honoratis viris, sed in vita etiam privata et quieta.
On this account vadimonia constituta should be translated as above 'appointments', and not 'bonds' or 'engagements' to appear in court. QUID ... SENES: sc. tibi videntur; 'what do you think of old men as lawyers, etc.? So without ellipsis, Fam. 9, 21, 1 quid tibi ego in epistulis videor?
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