On The Estate of Ciron

How is one to prove clearly that all these events occurred in face of the imputations which our opponents are now uttering? I sought and discovered a way. Whether my mother was or was not the daughter of Ciron, whether she lived in his house or not, whether he did or did not on two occasions give a feast in honor of her marriage, and what dowry each of her husbands received with her—all these things must necessarily be known to the male and female slaves who belonged to Ciron.

Wishing, therefore, in addition to the witnesses which I already had, to obtain proof of these facts by evidence given under torture[*](Slaves could give evidence only under torture.)—in order that the veracity of my witnesses might be tested before, and not after, they gave their evidence, and so your belief in them might be confirmed[*](If the slaves confirmed the evidence of his witnesses, the latter would come forward to give evidence in court with a presumption already established that the evidence which they were going to give was true.)—I demanded that our opponents should surrender the male and female slaves to be put to the question on these points and any others of which they had cognizance.