We have recently enacted certain legislation having reference to the Falcidian Law and its portion, and have made no unimportant addition to it, for the reason that its provisions were inequitable, and it did not please Us; still, it is necessary to give preference to children whom the father may wish to favor, not, however, to such an extent as to render the diminution suffered by others intolerable.

  Therefore, as the law enacted by Us remains in full force. We desire that if anyone should make an immense donation to one or more of his children it will, in the distribution of the estate, be necessary to reserve for each one of them the share to which he or she was entitled by law before the father made the donation to the child or children whom he honored in this way. Hence, those who obtain their lawful share of the whole of their father's estate cannot claim any of the donation, but the shares of the children will be increased in proportion to the value of said estate, as it was before it was exhausted by the donations; the children to whom they were given cannot allege that they are content with these immense gifts, and that they will not claim their father's estate; and while it is true that, if satisfied with the donations, they cannot be compelled to accept the estate, still they will be forced to make up to their brothers the share which We have decreed by Our law, in order that the excessive amounts of the gifts may not deprive the lawful heirs of that to which they are legally entitled, especially where a father who acts wisely and judiciously towards all his offspring is allowed to give more to the children for whom he entertains greater affection, but not to injure others by the immensity of his donations, as well as to disobey Us. And, indeed, this was Our idea from the beginning. But as We have allowed this parental injustice to continue for a considerable time, now that We have become more familiar with the human mind, and have seen parents give way to their passions, We make this addition to Our preceding laws.
  (1) We decree that this rule shall apply to children who have shown proper respect to their parents, but not to those whom their father reproaches for veritable ingratitude. For if he should appear to suffer from it, and the existence of ingratitude should be established, what has been proved by the law with reference to ungrateful children shall remain in full force, and shall not be changed in any respect.

  Your Highness will hasten to provide for the execution of what We have been pleased to set forth in this Imperial Law.