1. No one specific is intended: this is just a dig at the sophists’ lack of originality.

2. That is, to make them virtuous (273d).

3. This probably refers to Carian mercenaries being put in the front line of assault; see also Laches 187b.

4. Medea, the famous legendary sorceress, returned to Iolcus as Jason’s wife. Pelias had usurped the kingdom from Jason’s father Aeson. Medea tricked Pelias’ daughters into chopping and boiling their father, in order to rejuvenate him… it didn’t work!

5. There is almost certainly a sly reference in these lines to the mockery in Aristophanes, Clouds 439 ff., where Strepsiades hands himself over to Socrates and his school ‘to be beaten, starved, parched, desiccated, frozen and flayed alive – as long as I learn how to escape my debts!’

6. Marsyas made the mistake of challenging the god Apollo to a music contest. Of course he lost; this was the price he paid.

7. Reading άκoüωµεν νν εi with manuscript T.

8. The challenge is clearly eristic: ‘If you can’t disprove my claim, I’ve won.’