On The Estate of Aristarchus (19-20)

My father received a dowry when he engaged himself to my mother and married her, but, while these men were enjoying the estate, he had no means of obtaining its restitution; for when, at my mother's instance, he raised the question, they threatened that they themselves would obtain the adjudication of her hand and marry her, if he were not satisfied to keep her with only a dowry. Now my father would have allowed them to enjoy an estate of even double the value so as not to be deprived of her.

That is why my father never brought a suit for the estate. Then came the Corinthian war,[*] in which my father and I were obliged to serve, so that neither of us could have obtained justice. When peace was restored, I had unfortunate difficulties with the public treasury,[*] so that it was not easy for me to contend with my opponents. Thus we have good reasons for our conduct in the matter.