Gonzalez Lodge, Commentary on Plato: Gorgias

τὰ κομψὰ ταῦτα: this employment of Callicles' epithet (cf. 486 c) is probably not without design on Socrates' part, according to whose view it applies better to rhetoric than to philosophy.

ὁ αὐτὸς . . . λόγος: in the passage referred to (464 d) Socrates is actually speaking to Gorgias, who has taken Polus' place for the time, but what he says applies just as well to Polus, as is seen by reference to 463 e and 465 a.

19 f.

κρινοῦμαι: probably passive; but if so, it is the only example in Attic prose (see Kr. 39, 11, A). On the other hand, the fut. middle of ἀδικέω is regularly used for fut. passive. Cf. 509 d, and see H. 496 a.

ἐν τούτοις ληφθείς: cf. 486 a εἴ τις σοῦ λαβόμενος. How ἐν τούτοις is to be understood, is shown by τοὺς τοιούτους δικαστάς below.

ὦ παῖδες: what follows as far as εὐώχουν ὑμᾶς is a parody on the accusation made against Socrates, especially in so far as he was declared to be a corrupter of the young.

ἀνήρ: without the art. because it is disparaging. But see H. 674.—

τοὺς νεωτάτους: instead of τοὺς ϝέους, because the supposed judge himself is a child.

24 f.

διαφθείρει καὶ ἀπορεῖν ποιεῖ: are loosely connected with κακὰ εἴργασται as denoting two species of the evils complained of,—διαφθείρει the more severe treatment by τέμνων τε καὶ κάων,—ἀπορεῖν ποιεῖ, the less severe by ἰσχναίνων καὶ πνίγων. The latter is explained by πικρότατα κτἑ. and πεινῆν . . . ἀναγκάζων in chiastic position. It denotes, therefore, the condition of wretchedness and discomfort brought about by fasting and nauseating medicines. While διαφθείρει reminds one of the accusation before the court, ἀπορεῖν ποιεῖ applies especially to the customary criticisms which were made against Socrates. See on 522 b below.