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[3] In training my son in those pursuits from which the state derives most benefit I imagined that both of us would be rewarded; but the result has sadly belied my hopes. For the lad—not from insolence or wantonness, but while at javelin-practice in the gymnasium with his fellows—made a hit, it is true, but killed no one, if one considers his true part in the matter1: he accidentally2 incurred the blame for the error of another which affected that other's own person.
1 Two interpretations of the text as it stands in the manuscripts are possible: （1） “He threw （his spear）, it is true, but killed no one”; （2） “He struck （someone）, it is true, but did not kill him.” （1） gives good sense; but elsewhere in the tetralogy βάλλειν means “to hit,” not “to throw.” （2） avoids this difficulty; but it has been urged （e.g. by Blass, who favors emendation） that the words τὸν μὲν βαλόντα καὶ ἀποκτείναντα οὔτε τρῶσαι οὔτε ἀποκτείναί φησι in Antiph. 3.3.5 （cf. also Antiph. 3.3.6 sub fin.） prove that the speaker in the present passage had not admitted that X struck Y. The contradiction, however, is only apparent. The speaker here is saying in effect that the responsibility for the blow must rest with Y, although X dealt it; in Antiph. 3.3.5-6 his opponents argue that the responsibility must rest with X, because X dealt it.
2 For ἀκουσίως cf. Antiph. 2.3.1, note 2.
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