XVII DEMOSTHENES AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES Demosthenes, son of Demosthenes, from PAIANIA (383-322 B.C.) Demosthenes lost his father when a boy of seven. His three guardians made away with his property and failed to provide for his mother. It was she that brought him up, a delicate, awkward, and passionate boy, indus- trious and unathletic. Doubtless the two brooded on their wrongs ; and as soon as Demosthenes was legally competent he brought actions against the guardians. They were men of position, connected with the mode- rate party then in power. They may possibly have had some real defence, but, instead of using it, they tried to browbeat and puzzle the boy by counter-actions and chicanery. When at last he won his case, there was not much property left to recover. The chief results to him were a certain practical skill in law and in speaking, enhanced, it is said, by the lessons of Isaeus; a certain mistrust of dignitaries, and a con- tempt for etiquette. The sordidness, also, of the long quarrel about money offended him. He was by nature lavish ; he always gave largely in charity, helped poor citizens to dower their daughters, and ransomed prisoners of war. On this occasion he spent his damages on fitting out a trireme — one of the costliest public services 353
