Dialogue

  1   Ion|      contrast between the irony of Socrates and the transparent vanity
  2   Ion|       festival of the Panathenaea. Socrates admires and envies the rhapsode’
  3   Ion|      solved. The solution given by Socrates is as follows:—~The rhapsode
  4   Ion|            his hair stands on end. Socrates is of opinion that a man
  5   Ion|         him. Ion is confident that Socrates would never think him mad
  6   Ion|           embellishments of Homer. Socrates asks whether he can speak
  7   Ion|    anything in Homer. But, rejoins Socrates, when Homer speaks of the
  8   Ion|          suspicion of the irony of Socrates, eagerly embraces the alternative
  9   Ion|            in the contrast between Socrates and Ion. Yet here, as in
 10   Ion|          here, as in the Republic, Socrates shows a sympathy with the
 11   Ion|            which, in the Republic, Socrates attributes to dramatic performances
 12   Ion|           PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Ion.~SOCRATES: Welcome,
 13   Ion|           DIALOGUE: Socrates, Ion.~SOCRATES: Welcome, Ion. Are you from
 14   Ion|          city of Ephesus?~ION: No, Socrates; but from Epidaurus, where
 15   Ion|         the festival of Asclepius.~SOCRATES: And do the Epidaurians
 16   Ion|       sorts of musical performers.~SOCRATES: And were you one of the
 17   Ion|            the first prize of all, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Well done; and
 18   Ion|            prize of all, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Well done; and I hope that
 19   Ion|         And I will, please heaven.~SOCRATES: I often envy the profession
 20   Ion|            envied.~ION: Very true, Socrates; interpretation has certainly
 21   Ion|       Homer as I have, or as many.~SOCRATES: I am glad to hear you say
 22   Ion|         with them.~ION: Certainly, Socrates; and you really ought to
 23   Ion|            give me a golden crown.~SOCRATES: I shall take an opportunity
 24   Ion|           in himself quite enough.~SOCRATES: Are there any things about
 25   Ion|     opinion there are a good many.~SOCRATES: And can you interpret better
 26   Ion|       interpret them equally well, Socrates, where they agree.~SOCRATES:
 27   Ion|        Socrates, where they agree.~SOCRATES: But what about matters
 28   Ion|           to say,—~ION: Very true:~SOCRATES: Would you or a good prophet
 29   Ion|          disagree?~ION: A prophet.~SOCRATES: And if you were a prophet,
 30   Ion|          they agree?~ION: Clearly.~SOCRATES: But how did you come to
 31   Ion|       Homer sings?~ION: Very true, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And do not the
 32   Ion|          ION: Very true, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And do not the other poets
 33   Ion|        sing of the same?~ION: Yes, Socrates; but not in the same way
 34   Ion|          in the same way as Homer.~SOCRATES: What, in a worse way?~ION:
 35   Ion|          ION: Yes, in a far worse.~SOCRATES: And Homer in a better way?~
 36   Ion|            is incomparably better.~SOCRATES: And yet surely, my dear
 37   Ion|            good speaker?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And he who judges of the
 38   Ion|           speakers?~ION: The same.~SOCRATES: And he will be the arithmetician?~
 39   Ion|           arithmetician?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Well, and in discussions
 40   Ion|             ION: Clearly the same.~SOCRATES: And who is he, and what
 41   Ion|          name?~ION: The physician.~SOCRATES: And speaking generally,
 42   Ion|        being discussed.~ION: True.~SOCRATES: Is not the same person
 43   Ion|         skilful in both?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And you say that Homer
 44   Ion|           I am right in saying so.~SOCRATES: And if you knew the good
 45   Ion|       inferior?~ION: That is true.~SOCRATES: Then, my dear friend, can
 46   Ion|        same things?~ION: Why then, Socrates, do I lose attention and
 47   Ion|            and have plenty to say?~SOCRATES: The reason, my friend,
 48   Ion|       poetry is a whole.~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And when any one acquires
 49   Ion|             Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates; I very much wish that you
 50   Ion|            hear you wise men talk.~SOCRATES: O that we were wise, Ion,
 51   Ion|        painting a whole?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And there are and have
 52   Ion|            good and bad?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And did you ever know any
 53   Ion|         never known such a person.~SOCRATES: Or did you ever know of
 54   Ion|            no more than the other.~SOCRATES: And if I am not mistaken,
 55   Ion|          cannot deny what you say, Socrates. Nevertheless I am conscious
 56   Ion|        tell me the reason of this.~SOCRATES: I perceive, Ion; and I
 57   Ion|             Ion?~ION: Yes, indeed, Socrates, I feel that you are; for
 58   Ion|          things of the Gods to us.~SOCRATES: And you rhapsodists are
 59   Ion|         There again you are right.~SOCRATES: Then you are the interpreters
 60   Ion|      interpreters?~ION: Precisely.~SOCRATES: I wish you would frankly
 61   Ion|          proof strikes home to me, Socrates. For I must frankly confess
 62   Ion|           end and my heart throbs.~SOCRATES: Well, Ion, and what are
 63   Ion|            he not?~ION: No indeed, Socrates, I must say that, strictly
 64   Ion|          is not in his right mind.~SOCRATES: And are you aware that
 65   Ion|           time of payment arrives.~SOCRATES: Do you know that the spectator
 66   Ion|    inspiration.~ION: That is good, Socrates; and yet I doubt whether
 67   Ion|         think this to be the case.~SOCRATES: I should like very much
 68   Ion|             ION: There is no part, Socrates, about which I do not speak
 69   Ion|          of that I can assure you.~SOCRATES: Surely not about things
 70   Ion|         which I have no knowledge?~SOCRATES: Why, does not Homer speak
 71   Ion|    remember, and will repeat them.~SOCRATES: Tell me then, what Nestor
 72   Ion|         catching the stone (Il.).’~SOCRATES: Enough. Now, Ion, will
 73   Ion|           The charioteer, clearly.~SOCRATES: And will the reason be
 74   Ion|           that will be the reason.~SOCRATES: And every art is appointed
 75   Ion|      medicine?~ION: Certainly not.~SOCRATES: Nor do we know by the art
 76   Ion|      medicine?~ION: Certainly not.~SOCRATES: And this is true of all
 77   Ion|     differences of arts?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: You would argue, as I should,
 78   Ion|           are different?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Yes, surely; for if the
 79   Ion| acknowledge that we did?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Tell me, then, what I was
 80   Ion|           ION: That is my opinion, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Then he who has
 81   Ion|           is my opinion, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Then he who has no knowledge
 82   Ion|          that art?~ION: Very true.~SOCRATES: Then which will be a better
 83   Ion|   charioteer?~ION: The charioteer.~SOCRATES: Why, yes, because you are
 84   Ion|            a charioteer.~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And the art of the rhapsode
 85   Ion|          the charioteer?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And if a different knowledge,
 86   Ion|      different matters?~ION: True.~SOCRATES: You know the passage in
 87   Ion|          ION: The art of medicine.~SOCRATES: And when Homer says,~‘And
 88   Ion|    expressed or not?~ION: Clearly, Socrates, the art of the fisherman.~
 89   Ion|          the art of the fisherman.~SOCRATES: Come now, suppose that
 90   Ion|          to say to me: ‘Since you, Socrates, are able to assign different
 91   Ion|           And you are quite right, Socrates, in saying so.~SOCRATES:
 92   Ion|            Socrates, in saying so.~SOCRATES: Yes, Ion, and you are right
 93   Ion|            passages, I should say, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Not all, Ion,
 94   Ion|            I should say, Socrates.~SOCRATES: Not all, Ion, surely. Have
 95   Ion|         Why, what am I forgetting?~SOCRATES: Do you not remember that
 96   Ion|  charioteer?~ION: Yes, I remember.~SOCRATES: And you admitted that being
 97   Ion|            of knowledge?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Then upon your own showing
 98   Ion|            exclude certain things, Socrates.~SOCRATES: You mean to say
 99   Ion|          certain things, Socrates.~SOCRATES: You mean to say that you
100   Ion|          ruler and what a subject.~SOCRATES: Do you mean that a rhapsode
101   Ion|          the pilot will know best.~SOCRATES: Or will the rhapsode know
102   Ion|          to say?~ION: He will not.~SOCRATES: But he will know what a
103   Ion|            ought to say?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: Suppose the slave to be
104   Ion|        cows?~ION: No, he will not.~SOCRATES: But he will know what a
105   Ion|          working of wool?~ION: No.~SOCRATES: At any rate he will know
106   Ion|     rhapsode will be sure to know.~SOCRATES: Well, but is the art of
107   Ion|            a general ought to say.~SOCRATES: Why, yes, Ion, because
108   Ion|            my skill as a horseman.~SOCRATES: And if you judged of performers
109   Ion|           as a horseman?~ION: Yes.~SOCRATES: And in judging of the general’
110   Ion|           difference between them.~SOCRATES: What do you mean? Do you
111   Ion|             Yes, one and the same.~SOCRATES: Then he who is a good rhapsode
112   Ion|           general?~ION: Certainly, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And he who is
113   Ion|          ION: Certainly, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And he who is a good general
114   Ion|             No; I do not say that.~SOCRATES: But you do say that he
115   Ion|           general.~ION: Certainly.~SOCRATES: And you are the best of
116   Ion|      rhapsodes?~ION: Far the best, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And are you the
117   Ion|            Far the best, Socrates.~SOCRATES: And are you the best general,
118   Ion|     general, Ion?~ION: To be sure, Socrates; and Homer was my master.~
119   Ion|           and Homer was my master.~SOCRATES: But then, Ion, what in
120   Ion|          want a general?~ION: Why, Socrates, the reason is, that my
121   Ion|       enough generals of your own.~SOCRATES: My good Ion, did you never
122   Ion|       Cyzicus?~ION: Who may he be?~SOCRATES: One who, though a foreigner,
123   Ion|       There is a great difference, Socrates, between the two alternatives;
124   Ion|  inspiration is by far the nobler.~SOCRATES: Then, Ion, I shall assume