Gonzalez Lodge, Commentary on Plato: Gorgias

τὰ σώματα καὶ τὰ χρήματα: probably this phrase was a common one, and we must therefore not press a contrast between τὰ σώματα and τὰς ψυχάς, which latter refers especially to their lives. Thompson supposes, with some probability, that σώματα refers to the other members of the passenger's family, who may be conceived as belonging to him. Perhaps “goods and chattels” may be as good a rendering as any.

προσεσταλμένη: “retired,” i.e. unpretending. Still stronger is συνεσταλμένος, as i.e. in Isoc. Panath. 230 ἀπῄει φρονιμώτερος γεγενημένος καὶ συνεσταλμένην ἔχων τὴν διάνοιαν (“with a feeling of humility”).

ἐσχηματισμένη: cf. Soph. 268 a ὡς ἀγνοεῖ ταῦτα ἃ πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους ὡς εἰδῶς ἐσχημάτισται (“which he has pretended to know”).

τῇ δικανικῇ: used by Socrates instead of τῇ ῥητορικῇ because this species of the art affords the most room for comparison.

δὔ ὀβολούς: i.e. about six cents. The price was accordingly very low, if, as is shown by what follows, the fare from Egypt or Pontus (a dangerous voyage besides) for a whole family, including baggage, was only two drachmae, or about thirty-five cents.

ἐπράξατο: ‘gnomic’ or ‘empiric’ aorist.