[96] An orator of debauched habits.
[97] An accusation frequently hurled at the orators.
[98] Guests took off their shoes before entering the festal hall.
[99] An allusion to Cleon's former calling of a tanner.
[100] A plant from Cyrenaïca, which was imported into Athens in large quantities after the conclusion of a treaty of navigation, which Cleon made with this country. It was a very highly valued flavouring for sauces.
[101] The name of a supposed informer. The adjective, [Greek: pyrrhos], yellow, the colour of ordure, is contained in the construction of this name; thus a most disgusting piece of word-play is intended.
[102] The orators were for ever claiming the protection of Athené.
[103] A very expensive burden, which was imposed upon the rich citizen. The trierarchs had to furnish both the equipment of the triremes or war-galleys and their upkeep. They varied considerably in number and ended in reaching a total of 1200; the most opulent found the money, and were later repaid partly and little by little by those not so well circumstanced. Later it was permissible for anyone, appointed as a trierarch, to point out someone richer than himself and to ask to have him take his place with the condition that if the other preferred, he should exchange fortunes with him and continue his office of trierarch.
[104] This is an allusion to some extortion of Cleon's.
[105] The Greek word [Greek: d_emos] means both "The People" and fat, grease. The pun cannot well be kept in English.