28
You hear, men of the jury. He declares that he owes upon the land to Pamphilus and Pheidoleus of RhamnusRhamnus was a deme of the tribe Aeantis. jointly a talent, and to Aeantides of PhlyusPhlyus was a deme of the tribe Cecropis. four thousand drachmae, and to Aristomenes of AnagyrusAnagyrus was a deme of the tribe Erectheïs. fourteen minae. Why, then, Phaenippus, when I asked you in the presence of witnesses whether you owed anything on your farm, and bade you show me the pillar of mortgage, if one were set up anywhere upon it, and and adjured you not to have any fictitious creditors to be brought to light later on to my prejudice—why, pray, did you not reveal any of these debts then? And why, when you have been a month late in giving me your declaration, though the law bids that it be given within three days, have creditors and debts for more than three talents now come on the scene?
29
Because, my good Sir, it is merely this that you are contriving, that you may now have private debts equal in amount to the public debt which I have incurred to the state. But that your statement is false, Phaenippus, and that you have come before these gentlemen as a perjured man, I shall straightway prove beyond all question.
29
Please, clerk, take the deposition of Aeantides and Theoteles to whom this fellow has declared that he owes four thousand drachmae. His declaration is false, and he long ago paid the debt, not willingly, but after a judgement had been secured against him. Read.
29
The Deposition
