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So then, that Aristophanes did not leave any silver or gold is easily concluded from what I have stated and from these testimonies. Of fineContaining an admixture of gold and silver. bronze plate he possessed but little: when he was entertaining the envoys of Evagoras, he had to use what he could borrow. The list of the pieces that he left shall be read to you.
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Inventory of Bronze Plate Perhaps to some of you, gentlemen of the jury, they appear few: but bear in mind the fact that before Conon won his victory at sea,At Cnidus, 394 B.C. Aristophanes had no land except a small plot at Rhamnus.A district of Attica. Now the sea-fight occurred in the archonship of Eubulides;
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and in four or five years it was a difficult thing, gentlemen, when he had no wealth to start with, to be twice a producer of tragedies, on his father’s account as well as his own; to equip a warship for three years in succession; to have been a contributor to special levies on many occasions; to purchase a house for fifty minae; and to acquire more than three hundred plethraAmounting to about 80 acres. of land. Do you suppose that, besides doing all this, he must have left many personal effects?
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Why, even people credited with long-established wealth may fail to produce any that are of value: for at times, however much one may desire it, one cannot buy things of the sort that, once acquired, will be a permanent source of pleasure.
