19
You have heard what persons this law has appointed to be guardians; and that my mother had none of these my opponents have themselves borne witness. For if there had been such, they would have produced them. Or do you suppose they would have produced false witnesses and a non-existent will, but would not have produced a brother or a grandfather or a father, if they could have done it for money? Since, then, it is plain that no one of these was living, it follows necessarily that my mother was an heiress. Now see whom the law ordains to be guardians of an heiress.
20
(To the clerk.) Read the law.
20
The Law
20
If one be born the son of an heiress, two years after he has reached the age of manhoodThat is at the age of eighteen years (see note b on p. 9 of vol. 1.). he shall assume control of the estate, and he shall make due provision for his mother’s maintenance.
20
The law, then, appoints that sons who have reached the age of manhood shall be guardians of their mother and shall make due provision for their mother’s maintenance. But it is clear that I was on a military expedition and in command of a trireme in your service,Hence he had obviously come to manhood. when this man married my mother.
21
Nay more, to prove that I was absent in command of a trireme, and that my father had been dead for some time, when the fellow married, I demanded of him the female slaves, and claimed the right of having them put to the torture to establish this very point, whether what I am saying is true—to prove all this, and that I tendered him a challenge, (to the clerk) please take the deposition.
21
The Deposition
