Ἐς τὸ δέον

[ei)s to\ de/on] and [sc. also attested in the form] e)s to\ de/on.¹ Perikles, when he had given bribes to the enemy under Kleandridas' command, in order that they would not pillage the territory [of Attica], charged the expense, fifteen talents, to the Athenians, writing it off with something like "for the necessary".² Aristophanes in Clouds [says]: "just like Perikles I spent it 'for the necessary'.³ And Menander in The Summoned [sc.also uses the phrase].⁴ It is also mentioned elsewhere.