R. G. Bury, The Symposium of Plato

οὕτω...πρὸς ἡδονήν . οὕτως is frequently used thus in combination with adverbs (esp. ῥαδίως, εἰκῇ, ἁπλῶς, and the like; see Blaydes on Ar. Vesp. 461) where it has “a diminishing power” (L. and S.), e.g. 180 C infra, Gorg. 503 D; cp. the force of sic in such phrases as “iacentes sic temere” (Hor. C. II. xi. 14).

τοῦτο μὲν κτλ. The antithesis to the μέν-clause lies, not in the clause ἐπάναγκες δὲ μ. εἶναι, but in τὸ μετὰ τοῦτο κτλ. Cp. Arist. Pol. 1278^{b} 6 ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτα διώρισται, τὸ μετὰ ταῦτα σκεπτέον πότερον κτλ.

ἐπάναγκες. Cp. Theogn. 472 πᾶν γὰρ ἀναγκαῖον χρῆμ᾽ ἀνιηρὸν ἔφυ: | τῷ πίνειν δ᾽ ἐθέλοντι παρασταδὸν οἰνοχοείτω—where a similar relaxation of compulsory rules is advocated.

εἰσηγοῦμαι. “I propose,” suadeo: cp. Crito 48 A; Xen. Mem. II. 7. 10.

τὴν...αὐλητρίδα. It was the fashion at convivia to provide pipers, dancers, jesters, jugglers et hoc genus omne to amuse the guests. Cp. Xen. Symp. II. 1, Rep. 373 A κλῖναί τε...καὶ ἑταῖραι καὶ πέμματα (with Adam's note); Ar. Ach. 1090 ff.; also Protag. 347 C, D (see next page).

ταῖς ἔνδον. Sc. ἐν τῷ γυναικείῳ.

δἰ οἵων λόγων. For an appreciation of the συνουσία διὰ λόγων, cp. Theogn. 493 ff. ὑμεῖς δ᾽ εὖ μυθεῖσθε παρὰ κρητῆρι μένοντες... | ἐς τὸ μέσον φωνεῦντες ὁμῶς ἑνὶ καὶ συνάπασιν: | χοὔτως συμπόσιον γίνεται οὐκ ἄχαρι. Simplic. in Epict. 33. 6, p. 266 καλῶς εἴρηται ὅτι ἡ χωρὶς λόγων τράπεζα φάτνης οὐδὲν διαφέρει which is probably a reminiscence of Protag. 347 C, D καὶ γὰρ οὗτοι (sc. οἱ φαῦλοι καὶ ἀγοραῖοι), διὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι ἀλλήλοις δἰ ἑαυτῶν συνεῖναι ἐν τῷ πότῳ μηδὲ διὰ τῆς ἑαυτῶν φωνῆς καὶ τῶν λόγων τῶν ἑαυτῶν ὑπὸ ἀπαιδευσίας, τιμίας ποιοῦσι τὰς αὐλητρίδας κτλ. Cp. Phaedrus 276 D.