[379]. Xen. Œconom. ix. 10. 57.
[380]. That the sycophants were sometimes troublesome, however, is certain; that is to say, in later ages. Speaking of the time of his youth, Isocrates says:—Οὐδεὶς οὔτ᾽ ἀπεκρύπτετο τὴν οὐσίαν οὔτ᾽ ὤκνει συμβάλλειν. κ. τ. λ.—Areop. § 12. Cf. Bergmann. in loc. p. 362. But their persecution must always have been confined to a very few individuals, as people generally continued to display whatever they possessed down to the final overthrow of the state.
[381]. Aristoph. Acharn. 398.—Mitchell. The learned editor fails to remark how little this custom harmonizes with the fears which he imagines rich people felt at Athens.
[382]. On the attractive power of this substance, see Plat. Tim. t. vii. p. 118.
[383]. Athen. v. 45. Lys. Frag. 46. Orat. Att. t. ii. p. 647.
[384]. Deipnosoph. xi. 78.
[385]. α. 111. 138.
[386]. This is also the opinion of Potter, ii. 376, 377; and Damm. in v. τράπεζα, col. 1822.
[387]. Odyss. τ. 259. Pind. Olymp. i. 26.
[388]. κ. 354, seq. 361, seq. In the letters attributed to Plato we find mention made of silver tables. t. viii. p. 397. Sometimes, also, of brass. Athen. ix. 75.