On the Estate of Hagnias

Chaereleos left the estate at Prospalta, which would not fetch more than 30 minae. The brother who left this estate happened to die before Macartatus, who in his turn perished with all the property which he took with him when he sailed away; for he lost the trireme and everything else in the war as well as his own life. The estate at Prospalta was left and passed to their sister, who is my wife, and I was persuaded by her to allow one of our two sons to be adopted into the family of Macartatus.[*](This child is the Macartatus attacked in the pseudo-Demosthenic speech, Dem. 43.) My object was not to avoid the performance of public services which the addition of this estate would involve;

for my having allowed my son to be adopted made no difference, for indeed I performed public services[*](Theopompus has already stated that his fortune did not render him liable to perform any λειτουργία (e.g., the τριηραχία or χωρηγία): he is, therefore, here using the term in the wider sense of the duties of a citizen (e.g., the payment of the war-tax and service in the army).) no less than before, but was among those who paid war contributions and carried out all the duties imposed by the state. My opponent, however, in representing me as a wealthy but unprofitable citizen is using these terms to calumniate me.

As the strongest argument of all, I will sum the matter up in a single proposal, which, I am sure, will appear to you to be just. I am willing to bring my whole estate into hotchpotch with that of the child, and let us each take half of the aggregate amount, whether it be large or small, so that neither party may have more than is fitting; but my opponent will never consent to this.[*](The rest of the speech is lacking.)