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ὧν. For the attraction see VI 510 B note ἀλλ᾽ ἤδη κτλ. ‘Well, did it ever seem to you that persons who are unable’ etc. The subject is μὴ δυνατοί τινες ὄντες— λόγον, and after ἤδη “supplendum est ἔδοξαν, quod ipsum Glauconis verbis magis accommodatum est quam δοκοῦσι” (Schneider). The form of Socrates' question is in fact affected by Glauco's reference to the past in ὧν ἐγὼ ἐντετύχηκα. I formerly, with v and three other MSS, including Vind. F, read ἀλλὰ δή, understanding δοκοῦσι: but ἀλλὰ δή is scarcely appropriate here (see on II 365 C), and Schneider's explanation gives a satisfactory meaning to ἤδη. J. and C. take ἤδη with μὴ δυνατοί τινες ὄντες (‘persons who are as yet unable’ etc.); but the hyperbaton is too difficult, and the meaning (which Plato would rather have expressed by μήπω δυνατοὶ κτλ.) unsuitable. Few will approve of Badham's ἀλλ᾽ οἱ δὴ κτλ. or even of Burnet's ἀλλὰ δή, εἶπον, μὴ δυνατοὶ οἵτινες δοῦναί τε κτλ. For the sentiment, which is a commonplace of the Socratic school, cf. Xen. Mem. IV 6. 1, Prot. 336 C, Phaed. 76 B, Crat. 390 C ff. al. οὐδ᾽ αὖ κτλ. ‘My answer to this question is also no.’
The Republic of Plato. James Adam. 1902. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
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