[107] The Grecians indulged their luxury in the article of drinking–vessels in an extravagant degree, and every sort of cup had its peculiar appellation. There is no allusion contained in the names introduced here.
[108] Pallas, the tutelary deity of Athens.
[109] Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Hamlet. Aye, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end. He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing, and then, sponge, you shall be dry again.—Hamlet, iv. 2.
Mr. Mitchell’s translation is plainly modelled on this passage; and is more like that than the original. Vespasian is said to have promoted the most rapacious collectors to the highest offices, whom he was commonly said to use as sponges, that he might squeeze them out when they had sucked up enough.—Sueton. c. 16.
[110] Where he had served Demosthenes the same trick, see p. 232–3.
[111] Cleon had received a chaplet in full assembly from the people.
[112] The lowest tradesmen only took their stand at the gates of the town: every answer is made to show the utter baseness of Cleon’s rival, and thus to place himself in the most ignominious light.
[113] Parodied from Euripides’ description of the dying Alcestis taking leave of her bridal bed, v. 181.
[114] Jupiter, the protector of Greece.