I was of opinion, citizens of Aegina, that Thrasylochus had arranged his affairs so
 prudently that no one should ever come before a court to bring a suit in opposition to the
 will which he left. But since my adversaries have determined to contest a testament so
 purposefully drawn, I am compelled to try to obtain my rights from you. My feeling is unlike that of most men. For I see that others are indignant when they are
 unjustly involved in a law-suit, whereas I am almost grateful to my opponents for bringing
 me into this trial. A commonplace; cf. Lys. 16.1-2 ; Lys. 24.1 . For if the matter
 had not been brought before a tribunal you would not have known of my devotion to the
 deceased, which led to my being made his heir; but when you learn the facts you will all
 perceive that I might justly have been thought worthy of even a greater reward. The proper course, however, for the woman who is laying claim to the property would have
 been, not to try to obtain from you the estate left by Thrasylochus, but to show that she
 also was devoted to him and on that ground thought fit to bring suit for it. But the truth
 is, she is so far from repenting of her misconduct towards Thrasylochus in his life-time,
 that now too that he is dead she is trying to annul his will and to leave the home without
 heirs. And I am astonished that those who are acting in her behalf think this action is
 reputable, just because, if they fail to win, they will need to pay no penalty. For my
 part, I think that it will be a severe penalty, if, having been convicted of making a
 wrongful claim, they shall thereafter suffer in your esteem. However, you will know the
 baseness of these men from their very acts when you have heard to the end what they have
 done; and I shall begin the recital of them at the point from which, in my opinion, you
 will be able to learn most quickly the matters at issue. Thrasyllus, the father of the testator, had inherited nothing from his parents; but
 having become the guest-friend of Polemaenetus, the soothsayer, he became so intimate with
 him that Polemaenetus at his death left to him his books on divination and gave him a
 portion of the property which is now in question.