***grassetto*** = ***TestoPrincipale***
    Dialogue                                ***grigio*** = ***TestoDiCommento***

  1   Ion|                                  Ion~
  2   Ion|                 INTRODUCTION~The Ion is the shortest, or nearly
  3   Ion|       enthusiasm of the rhapsode Ion. The theme of the Dialogue
  4   Ion|         Compare Aristotle, Met.)~Ion the rhapsode has just come
  5   Ion|       admission is elicited from Ion that his skill is restricted
  6   Ion|      brought home to the mind of Ion, who asks how this contradiction
  7   Ion|      reason some rhapsodes, like Ion, are the interpreters of
  8   Ion|    interpreters of single poets.~Ion is delighted at the notion
  9   Ion|          nothing to trouble him. Ion is confident that Socrates
 10   Ion|      which he has no knowledge?’ Ion answers that he can interpret
 11   Ion|       pilot be the better judge? Ion is compelled to admit that
 12   Ion|       once appointed a general?’ Ion replies that he is a foreigner,
 13   Ion|    examples to the contrary. But Ion has long been playing tricks
 14   Ion|          inspired or dishonest?’ Ion, who has no suspicion of
 15   Ion|  alternative of inspiration.~The Ion, like the other earlier
 16   Ion| resemblance may be traced in the Ion. The rhapsode belongs to
 17   Ion|    contrast between Socrates and Ion. Yet here, as in the Republic,
 18   Ion|        Also, the manner in which Ion is affected by his own recitations
 19   Ion|                                  ION~PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE:
 20   Ion|          THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Ion.~SOCRATES: Welcome, Ion.
 21   Ion|          Ion.~SOCRATES: Welcome, Ion. Are you from your native
 22   Ion|          native city of Ephesus?~ION: No, Socrates; but from
 23   Ion|       rhapsodes at the festival?~ION: O yes; and of all sorts
 24   Ion| competitors—and did you succeed?~ION: I obtained the first prize
 25   Ion|       for us at the Panathenaea.~ION: And I will, please heaven.~
 26   Ion|        profession of a rhapsode, Ion; for you have always to
 27   Ion|         is greatly to be envied.~ION: Very true, Socrates; interpretation
 28   Ion|         glad to hear you say so, Ion; I see that you will not
 29   Ion|        to acquaint me with them.~ION: Certainly, Socrates; and
 30   Ion|   Archilochus, or to Homer only?~ION: To Homer only; he is in
 31   Ion|          Homer and Hesiod agree?~ION: Yes; in my opinion there
 32   Ion|     matters in which they agree?~ION: I can interpret them equally
 33   Ion|          have something to say,—~ION: Very true:~SOCRATES: Would
 34   Ion|          but when they disagree?~ION: A prophet.~SOCRATES: And
 35   Ion|         well as when they agree?~ION: Clearly.~SOCRATES: But
 36   Ion|     themes of which Homer sings?~ION: Very true, Socrates.~SOCRATES:
 37   Ion|          poets sing of the same?~ION: Yes, Socrates; but not
 38   Ion|  SOCRATES: What, in a worse way?~ION: Yes, in a far worse.~SOCRATES:
 39   Ion|       And Homer in a better way?~ION: He is incomparably better.~
 40   Ion|       yet surely, my dear friend Ion, in a discussion about arithmetic,
 41   Ion|        them is the good speaker?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And he who
 42   Ion|      judges of the bad speakers?~ION: The same.~SOCRATES: And
 43   Ion|       will be the arithmetician?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Well, and
 44   Ion|          the worse, or the same?~ION: Clearly the same.~SOCRATES:
 45   Ion|        he, and what is his name?~ION: The physician.~SOCRATES:
 46   Ion|        topic is being discussed.~ION: True.~SOCRATES: Is not
 47   Ion|          person skilful in both?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And you
 48   Ion|       and the other not so well?~ION: Yes; and I am right in
 49   Ion|         speakers to be inferior?~ION: That is true.~SOCRATES:
 50   Ion|          mistaken in saying that Ion is equally skilled in Homer
 51   Ion|        speak of the same things?~ION: Why then, Socrates, do
 52   Ion|           for poetry is a whole.~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And when
 53   Ion|        me to explain my meaning, Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates;
 54   Ion|         explain my meaning, Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates;
 55   Ion|   SOCRATES: O that we were wise, Ion, and that you could truly
 56   Ion|         art of painting a whole?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And there
 57   Ion|      many painters good and bad?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And did
 58   Ion| attentive and had plenty to say?~ION: No indeed, I have never
 59   Ion|          and had nothing to say?~ION: No indeed; no more than
 60   Ion|         when he came to speak of Ion of Ephesus, and had no notion
 61   Ion|        of his merits or defects?~ION: I cannot deny what you
 62   Ion|      this.~SOCRATES: I perceive, Ion; and I will proceed to explain
 63   Ion|        of songs? Am I not right, Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates,
 64   Ion|      songs? Am I not right, Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates,
 65   Ion|       interpreters of the poets?~ION: There again you are right.~
 66   Ion|    interpreters of interpreters?~ION: Precisely.~SOCRATES: I
 67   Ion|       you would frankly tell me, Ion, what I am going to ask
 68   Ion|        be the scene of the poem?~ION: That proof strikes home
 69   Ion|          throbs.~SOCRATES: Well, Ion, and what are we to say
 70   Ion|         right mind or is he not?~ION: No indeed, Socrates, I
 71   Ion|          most of the spectators?~ION: Only too well; for I look
 72   Ion|          held by Homer. Of whom, Ion, you are one, and are possessed
 73   Ion|      heed of any other. And you, Ion, when the name of Homer
 74   Ion|       but by divine inspiration.~ION: That is good, Socrates;
 75   Ion|         surely about every part.~ION: There is no part, Socrates,
 76   Ion|     which you have no knowledge?~ION: And what is there in Homer
 77   Ion|        lines I will repeat them.~ION: I remember, and will repeat
 78   Ion|          in honour of Patroclus.~ION: ‘Bend gently,’ he says, ‘
 79   Ion|           SOCRATES: Enough. Now, Ion, will the charioteer or
 80   Ion|        propriety of these lines?~ION: The charioteer, clearly.~
 81   Ion|       there be any other reason?~ION: No, that will be the reason.~
 82   Ion|          by the art of medicine?~ION: Certainly not.~SOCRATES:
 83   Ion|          by the art of medicine?~ION: Certainly not.~SOCRATES:
 84   Ion|         are differences of arts?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: You would
 85   Ion|     another, they are different?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Yes, surely;
 86   Ion|         acknowledge that we did?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Tell me,
 87   Ion|     other subjects of knowledge?~ION: That is my opinion, Socrates.~
 88   Ion|          and doings of that art?~ION: Very true.~SOCRATES: Then
 89   Ion|           you or the charioteer?~ION: The charioteer.~SOCRATES:
 90   Ion|   rhapsode and not a charioteer.~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And the
 91   Ion|          that of the charioteer?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And if a
 92   Ion|  knowledge of different matters?~ION: True.~SOCRATES: You know
 93   Ion|        propriety of these lines?~ION: The art of medicine.~SOCRATES:
 94   Ion|        rightly expressed or not?~ION: Clearly, Socrates, the
 95   Ion|          consider and determine.~ION: And you are quite right,
 96   Ion|        saying so.~SOCRATES: Yes, Ion, and you are right also.
 97   Ion|        so much better than I do, Ion, select for me passages
 98   Ion|        of better than other men.~ION: All passages, I should
 99   Ion|     Socrates.~SOCRATES: Not all, Ion, surely. Have you already
100   Ion|         to have a better memory.~ION: Why, what am I forgetting?~
101   Ion|       the art of the charioteer?~ION: Yes, I remember.~SOCRATES:
102   Ion| different subjects of knowledge?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Then upon
103   Ion|        will not know everything?~ION: I should exclude certain
104   Ion|      which of them will he know?~ION: He will know what a man
105   Ion|  sea-tossed vessel ought to say?~ION: No; the pilot will know
106   Ion|         a sick man ought to say?~ION: He will not.~SOCRATES:
107   Ion|       what a slave ought to say?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Suppose
108   Ion|      soothe the infuriated cows?~ION: No, he will not.~SOCRATES:
109   Ion|       about the working of wool?~ION: No.~SOCRATES: At any rate
110   Ion|          exhorting his soldiers?~ION: Yes, that is the sort of
111   Ion|          the art of the general?~ION: I am sure that I should
112   Ion|         say.~SOCRATES: Why, yes, Ion, because you may possibly
113   Ion|        By the help of which art, Ion, do you know whether horses
114   Ion|      lyre—what would you answer?~ION: I should reply, by my skill
115   Ion|           and not as a horseman?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And in judging
116   Ion|         a general or a rhapsode?~ION: To me there appears to
117   Ion|         the general is the same?~ION: Yes, one and the same.~
118   Ion|          is also a good general?~ION: Certainly, Socrates.~SOCRATES:
119   Ion|         is also a good rhapsode?~ION: No; I do not say that.~
120   Ion|          is also a good general.~ION: Certainly.~SOCRATES: And
121   Ion|      best of Hellenic rhapsodes?~ION: Far the best, Socrates.~
122   Ion|        are you the best general, Ion?~ION: To be sure, Socrates;
123   Ion|       you the best general, Ion?~ION: To be sure, Socrates; and
124   Ion|      master.~SOCRATES: But then, Ion, what in the name of goodness
125   Ion|       and do not want a general?~ION: Why, Socrates, the reason
126   Ion|      your own.~SOCRATES: My good Ion, did you never hear of Apollodorus
127   Ion|          Apollodorus of Cyzicus?~ION: Who may he be?~SOCRATES:
128   Ion|         And will they not choose Ion the Ephesian to be their
129   Ion|          mean city? But, indeed, Ion, if you are correct in saying
130   Ion|           dishonest or inspired?~ION: There is a great difference,
131   Ion|          nobler.~SOCRATES: Then, Ion, I shall assume the nobler