Gonzalez Lodge, Commentary on Plato: Gorgias

καὶ εἰ ἀγροικότερόν τι εἰπεῖν: see on 462 e. The καὶ εἰ shows that the word used is correct, though harsh. See crit. note on 503 a. The definite indic. is used in order to excuse the unusual comparison of arguments to iron and steel fetters. The simile is well chosen, and is a good retort on Callicles, who in 484 a had characterized the laws and moral rules as bonds which the true man must break through (διαρρήξας).

οὑτωσί: “as matters stand,” i.e. so far as these principles have been tested. They may be attacked with new arguments, in which case new defences would have to be made.—

εἰ μὴ λύσεις: the stern minatory conditional form. See on 502 b.

νεανικώτερος: i.e. who is more powerful and courageous, just as Callicles surpassed Polus, and Polus Gorgias.

ὁ αὐτὸς λόγος: cf. 506 a οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔγωγε εἰδὼς λέγω ἃ λέγω.

25 f.

ὧν . . . ἐντετύχηκα: on this unusual kind of attraction, see G. 153, 2; H. 996 a. We miss a mention of the persons with ὥσπερ νῦν.

26 f.

μὴ οὐ: after a negatived leading verb, the negative of the inf. is generally made by μὴ οὐ. See Madv. Syn. § 211; GMT. 815.

αὖ τίθημι: sc. as against the opposing opinions of all others. This statement now, taken as a basis (εἰ δὲ οὕτως ἔχει) leads to a conclusion which is given in the form of a question. τίθημι is frequently used of the laying down of a principle or assumption. Cf. Rep. ii. 361 b τοιοῦτον θέντες τὸν δίκαιον, Theaet. 191 c.