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And when they had thus been received by me into the house, we proceeded to divide the inheritance; and upon my demanding that my mother’s marriage-portion be repaid to me, these men put in a counter-claim, and alleged that a portion of like amount was owing to their mother.Below (Dem. 40.20, end) the amount is set at more than 100 minae, not a talent merely. On the advice of friends who were present we divided all the rest of the property but kept apart the house and the domestic servants of my father,
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in order that whichever party of us might establish his claim to the dowry should recover it from the value of the house; and from the slaves, who were common property, the defendants, should they wish to search outThe precise meaning of this phrase is open to question. It may imply a claim that some property had been omitted from the inventory or in some way concealed. any of my father’s effects, might make inquiry by torturing them, or by prosecuting their search in any other way they might please.
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That I am speaking the truth in this also you will know from these depositions.
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The Depositions
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After this these men brought action against me to establish their claims, and I sued them for the marriage-portion. At the first we had Solon, of Erchia,Erchia was a deme of the tribe Aeantis. registered as arbitrator, and submitted to him for decision the claims we advanced against each other. These men, however, did not appear, but avoided the hearing; and thus considerable time was wasted, and it came about that Solon died. These men then instituted their suit against me afresh, and I my suit against the defendant, summoning him under the name of Boeotus, and inscribing that name on the complaint; for that was the name my father gave him.
