[36] See Plato’s Republic, Book I. Of course it must be remembered that we have here only the representation of Thrasymachus’s teaching as given by an opponent. As Mr Grote fairly remarks: “How far the real Thrasymachus may have argued in the slashing and offensive style here described, we have no means of deciding.”--Grote’s Plato, i. 145. [37] See p. 8. [38] See p. 92. [39] Dialog. Icaro-Menippus. [40] The names in the Greek are significant. “Philocleon” means “friend of Cleon” (who represents litigation, as he does most other things which are bad, in the view of Aristophanes); “Bdelycleon,” the name of the son, means “hater of Cleon.” [41] The Athenians affected to wear a golden grasshopper in their hair, as being “sprung from the soil.” [42] K. Henry IV., Pt. ii., act iii. sc. 2. [43] There is a political allusion here to the conduct of Laches, (whose name is slightly modified), an Athenian admiral accused at the time of taking bribes in Sicily. [44] This scene has been borrowed by Racine (Les Plaideurs, act iii. sc. 3.) The French dramatist has added, as to the behaviour of the puppies in court, a touch of his own which is very Aristophanic indeed. Ben Jonson has also adapted the idea in his play of ‘The Staple of News’ (act v. sc. 2), where he makes the miser Pennyboy sit in judgment on his two dogs. It is somewhat surprising that two such authors should have considered an incident which, after all, is not so very humorous, worth making prize of. [45] If the reader would like to see how thoroughly this kind of humour is in the spirit of modern burlesque, he cannot do better than glance at Mr Planché’s “Birds of Aristophanes,” produced at the Haymarket in 1846. This is his free version of the passage just noticed--(‘Tomostyleron’ and ‘Jackanoxides’ are the two adventurers of the Greek comedy):-- “_King of Birds._ And what bird will you be--a popinjay? _Tom._ No, no; they pop at him. (_To Jack._) What kind would you be? _King_ (_aside_). The bird you’re most akin to is a booby. _Jack._ For fear of accidents, some fowl I’d be, That folks don’t shoot or eat. _Tom._ Humph! let me see-- There may be one I never heard the name of. _King_ (_aside_). You can’t be anything they won’t make _game_ of.” [46] The play on the names is, of course, not the same in the Greek as in the English. Mr Frere has perhaps managed it as well as it could be done. [47] A sort of Night-hag belonging to Hecate, which assumed various shapes to terrify belated travellers at cross-roads. [48] The priests of Bacchus had probably (and very naturally) a reputation as _bons vivants_. At all events, they gave a sumptuous official entertainment at these dramatic festivals. [49] We find something of this professional _badinage_ to the audience in Shakspeare’s “Hamlet” (act v. sc. i.):-- _Ham._ Marry, why was he sent into England?