Source edition
Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. II, Part 2. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a courtroom oration delivered by the young Athenian orator Demosthenes to refute the allegations of perjury brought by his former guardian, Aphobus, who had embezzled his patrimony. As Aphobus attempts to conceal his assets and flee, Demosthenes seeks to dismantle his opponent's case by proving that a key figure, Milyas, is a freeman rather than a slave. Throughout the speech, the orator sharply exposes the contradictions of his opponents, who repeatedly refused to verify the truth through the torture of slaves or solemn oaths. He presents meticulous evidence regarding his father's will, his mother's dowry, and various estate assets to demonstrate Aphobus's blatant embezzlement. Ultimately, Demosthenes highlights how Aphobus rejected past compromise proposals and lost every previous arbitration and trial, thereby justifying the heavy fine imposed upon him.