Aegineticus

​And what need is there to speak of domestic life? Indeed, not even in exile did we think fit to be separated from one another. And finally, when he was seized with consumption and was ill for a long time, and since his brother Sopolis had already died before, and his mother and sister were not yet present, so that he was in such great isolation, I cared for him with such labor and devotion that he believed he could never return to me a worthy favor for what I had done.

​Nevertheless, he left nothing undone, but when he was in a bad way and had no hope of life, he called witnesses, adopted me as his son, and gave me his sister and his estate. Please take the will for me. “The Will” Read for me also the law of the Aeginetans; for in accordance with this it was necessary to make the will; for we were living here as metics. “”

​According to this very law, men of Aegina, Thrasylochus adopted me as his son, since I was his fellow citizen and friend, born of Siphnian parents second to none, and educated and raised in the same manner as himself. So I do not see how he could have acted more in accordance with the law, which bids us adopt children of equal standing. Please take also the law of the Ceans, according to which we lived as citizens. “”

​If, then, men of Aegina, they were opposing these laws, but had the law established among themselves as their advocate, it would be less worthy of wonder; but as it is, that law also stands in similar agreement with those that have been read. Please take the book. “”

​What then is left to them, when they themselves admit that Thrasylochus left the will, and of the laws, none assists them, while all assist me—first, the one among you who are about to judge the matter; next, that of the Siphnians, from whom the testator came; and further, the law established among the disputants themselves? Indeed, from what would you think they would abstain, they who seek to persuade you that you should make the will invalid, though the laws stand thus, and you have sworn to vote in accordance with them?

​Concerning the matter itself, then, I believe enough has been proved; but lest anyone think either that I hold the estate on slight pretexts, or that she, having been decent toward Thrasylochus, is being deprived of the property, I wish to speak also about these things. For I should be ashamed on behalf of the deceased, if you were not all convinced, not only that he did these things in accordance with the laws, but also that he did so justly. And I believe the proofs are easy.

​For we differed so much that this woman, who disputes on grounds of kinship, continued all along to be at variance and hostile both to him and to Sopolis and to their mother, while I shall be shown to have been of the greatest value of all friends, not only to Thrasylochus and his brother, but also to the very property which we are disputing.

​And to speak of ancient matters would be a long task; but when Pasinus seized Paros, it happened that most of their property was deposited for safety with my guest-friends; for we thought this island was especially secure. When they were in despair and thought it was lost, I sailed by night and brought out the money for them, risking my own body; for the country was being guarded, ​and some of our exiles had joined in seizing the city, who in a single day, with their own hands, killed my father, my uncle, my brother-in-law, and in addition three cousins. But nevertheless none of these things deterred me, but I went on sailing, believing that I ought to risk my life for them in the same way as for myself.