Demosthenes, Against Meidias, James Herbert Vince (Translator), 78

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[78] When I brought my action against my guardians for the recovery of my patrimony, being a mere lad, neither acquainted with Meidias nor even aware of his existence—would that I were not acquainted with him now!—when my suit was due to come on in three or four days, Meidias and his brother suddenly burst into my house and challenged me to take over their trierarchy.¹ It was the brother, Thrasylochus, who submitted his name and made the challenge; but the real author of all these proceedings was Meidias.

Against Meidias. Demosthenes. James Herbert Vince (Translator). London. 1935.

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Current edition Perseus

Against Meidias (English) (Demosthenes, Vol. III: Orations, XXI-XXVI. Vince, J. H., translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1935 (printing).)

Editions (1)

κατὰ Μειδίου περὶ τοῦ Κονδύλου Perseus (Demosthenes. Orationes, Vol. II, Part 1. Butcher, S. H., editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 78 focus

[78] ἡνίκα τὰς δίκας ἔλαχον τῶν πατρῴων τοῖς ἐπιτρόποις, μειρακύλλιον ὢν κομιδῇ καὶ τοῦτον οὐδʼ εἰ γέγονʼ εἰδὼς οὐδὲ γιγνώσκων ὡς μηδὲ νῦν ὤφελον, τότε μοι μελλουσῶν εἰσιέναι τῶν δικῶν εἰς ἡμέραν ὡσπερεὶ τετάρτην ἢ πέμπτην εἰσεπήδησαν ἁδελφὸς ὁ τούτου καὶ οὗτος εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ἀντιδιδόντες τριηραρχίαν. τοὔνομα μὲν δὴ παρέσχεν ἐκεῖνος, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἀντιδιδοὺς Θρασύλοχος· τὰ δʼ ἔργα πάντʼ ἦν καὶ τὰ πραττόμενα ὑπὸ τούτου.

Notes on the current edition

Against Meidias

1. Before the system of symmories was introduced, the liturgies fell on individuals. A citizen to whom one was assigned could challenge another citizen, whom he thought better able to bear the expense, to undertake the liturgy or exchange properties. Such exchange was called ἀντίδοσις.

Demosthenes Against Meidias 78

James Herbert Vince (Translator)

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