Ion (530)

Soc.

Welcome, Ion. Where have you come from now, to pay us this visit? From your home in Ephesus?

Ion.

No, no, Socrates; from Epidaurus and the festival there of Asclepius.

Soc.

Do you mean to say that the Epidaurians honor the god with a contest of rhapsodes also?

Ion.

Certainly, and of music [*] in general.

Soc.

Why then, you were competing in some contest, were you? And how went your competition?

Ion.

We carried off the first prize, Socrates.

Soc.

Well done: so now, mind that we win too at the Panathenaea. [*]

Ion.

Why, so we shall, God willing.

Soc.

I must say I have often envied you rhapsodes, Ion, for your art: for besides that it is fitting to your art that your person should be adorned and that you should look as handsome as possible, the necessity of being conversant with a number of good poets, and especially with Homer, the best and divinest poet of all, and of apprehending

his thought and not merely learning off his words, is a matter for envy; since a man can never be a good rhapsode without understanding what the poet says. For the rhapsode ought to make himself an interpreter of the poet’s thought to his audience; and to do this properly without knowing what the poet means is impossible. So one cannot but envy all this.

Ion.

What you say is true, Socrates: I at any rate have found this the most laborious part of my art; and I consider I speak about Homer better than anybody, for neither

Metrodorus [*] of Lampsacus, nor Stesimbrotus [*] of Thasos, nor Glaucon, [*] nor any one that the world has ever seen, had so many and such fine comments to offer on Homer as I have.

Soc.

That is good news, Ion; for obviously you will not grudge me an exhibition of them.

Ion.

And indeed it is worth hearing, Socrates, how well I have embellished Homer; so that I think I deserve to be crowned with a golden crown by the Homeridae. [*]