[298] Magistrates appointed to inspect the
tributary
towns.
Aristophanes
[286] Hiero, tyrant of Syracuse. --This passage is borrowed from Pindar.
[287] [Greek: Hieron] in Greek means sacrifice.
[288] A parody of poetic pathos, not to say bathos.
[289] Which the priest was preparing to sacrifice.
[290] Orneae, a city in Argolis ([Greek: ornis] in Greek means a bird).
It was because of this similarity in sound that the prophet alludes to
Orneae.
[291] Noted Athenian diviner, who, when the power was still shared
between Thucydides and Pericles, predicted that it would soon be centred
in the hands of the latter; his ground for this prophecy was the sight of
a ram with a single horn.
[292] No doubt another Athenian diviner, and possibly the same person
whom Aristophanes names in 'The Knights' and 'The Wasps' as being a
thief.
[293] A celebrated geometrician and astronomer.
[294] A deme contiguous to Athens. It is as though he said, "Well known
throughout all England and at Croydon. "
[295] Thales was no less famous as a geometrician than he was as a sage.
[296] Officers of Athens, whose duty was to protect strangers who came on
political or other business, and see to their interests generally.
[297] He addresses the inspector thus because of the royal and
magnificent manners he assumes.
[298] Magistrates appointed to inspect the tributary towns.
[299] A much-despised citizen, already mentioned. He ironically supposes
him invested with the powers of an Archon, which ordinarily were
entrusted only to men of good repute.
[300] A Persian satrap. --An allusion to certain orators, who, bribed with
Asiatic gold, had often defended the interests of the foe in the Public
Assembly.
[301] A Macedonian people in the peninsula of Chalcidice. This name is
chosen because of its similarity to the Greek word [Greek:
olophuresthai], _to groan_. It is from another verb, [Greek: ototuzein],
meaning the same thing, that Pisthetaerus coins the name of Ototyxians,
i. e. groaners, because he is about to beat the dealer. --The
mother-country had the right to impose any law it chose upon its
colonies.
[302] Corresponding to our month of April.
[303] Which the inspector had brought with him for the purpose of
inaugurating the assemblies of the people or some tribunal.
[304] So that the sacrifices might no longer be interrupted.
[305] A disciple of Democrites; he passed over from superstition to
atheism. The injustice and perversity of mankind led him to deny the
existence of the gods, to lay bare the mysteries and to break the idols.
