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ἐξεταζομένους ‘scrutinised,’ ‘narrowly examined.’ ‘called to account,’ ‘taken to task’ (§§ 80, 82; 2 § 27 πικρῶς ἐξετάσαι). Liddell and Scott refer to this passage, and explain it ‘to question by the torture,’ comparing Polybius XV 27 § 7 (φιλοτίμως ἐξετάσαι πᾶσαν προτιθέντα βάσανον); but in view of the contextit seems better to give it a genera sense, though not to the exclusion of the special meaning above suggested. Besides, a reference to the passage in Polybius will show that the verb there refers not to the torture itself, but to the close examination preceding the torture. The torture was only to be applied if the ἐξέτασις failed. [The verb is here used for ἐλεγχομένους τὴν οὐσίαν, ‘having their property inquired into.’ Slaves, in fact, had no property: but their masters might inquire if they had, rightly or wrongly, become possessed of anything, e.g. of means to purchase their liberty. ‘To make an inventory of property’ is ἐξετάζειν (Ar. Eccl. 729), or ἐξέτασιν ποιεῖσθαι, which is also a military term. P.]
Select Private Orations of Demosthenes, Part II. J. E. Sandys, Litt. D., and F. A. Paley, M.A., LL.D. 1910. Cambridge University Press.
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