κατὰ τὸν δεύτερον, φασί, πλοῦν τὰ ἐλάχιστα ληπτέον τῶν κακῶν → we must as second best, as people say, take the least of the evils
ἐκμελές: τό неблагозвучие, нестройность, диссонанс Plut.