Source edition
Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. III. Rennie, W., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931.
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 forensic oration delivered in an ancient Athenian court, where the plaintiff disputes with his brother-in-law, Spudias, over the inheritance of their late father-in-law, Polyeuctus. The plaintiff explains the background of the conflict, which involves unpaid dowries, mortgaged property, and outstanding debts left by the deceased. Throughout the speech, the plaintiff exposes Spudias's refusal of prior settlements and private arbitration, presenting various witnesses and a written memorandum left by their late mother-in-law as objective evidence. Furthermore, he demonstrates that Spudias and his wife had previously agreed to the terms of the will, thereby dismantling the opponent's anticipated defense. Finally, by comparing the details of the dowries received by both parties, the plaintiff exposes Spudias's unfair demands and accuses him of attempting to commit perjury in court to secure an unjust share.