Ion.
Analysis
contradiction is to be solved. The solution given by Socrates is
as follows:—
The rhapsode is not guided by rules of art, but is an inspired person who derives a mysterious power from the poet ; and the poet, in like manner, is inspired by the God. The poets and their 534 interpreters may be compared to a chain of magnetic rings sus- pended from one another, and from a magnet. The magnet is the Muse, and the ring which immediately follows is the poet himself; from him are suspended other poets; there is also a chain of rhapsodes and actors, who also hang from the Muses, but are let down at the side ; and the last ring of all is the spectator. The poet is the inspired interpreter of the God, and this is the reason why some poets, like Homer, are restricted to a single theme, or, like Tynnichus, are famous for a single poem ; and the rhapsode is the inspired interpreter of the poet, and for a similar reason some rhapsodes, like Ion, are the interpreters of single poets.
Ion is delighted at the notion of being inspired, and ac- knowledges that he is beside himself when he is performing ; — his eyes rain tears and his hair stands on end. Socrates is of opinion that a man must be mad who behaves in this way at a festival when he is surrounded by his friends and there is nothing to trouble him. Ion is confident that Socrates would never think him mad if he could only hear his embellishments of Homer. Socrates asks whether he can speak well about everything in Homer. ' Yes, indeed he can.' ' What about things 537 of which he has no knowledge .' ' Ion answers that he can interpret anything in Homer. But, rejoins Socrates, when Homer speaks of the arts, as for example, of chariot-driving, or of medicine, or of prophecy, or of navigation^will he, or will the charioteer or physician or prophet or pilot be the better judge ? Ion is compelled to admit that every man will judge of his own particular art better than the rhapsode. He still 541 maintains, however, that he understands the art of the general as well as any one. ' Then why in this city of Athens, in which men of merit are always being sought after, is he not at once appointed a general ? ' Ion replies that he is a foreigner, and the Athenians and Spartans will not appoint a foreigner to be their general. 'No, that is not the real reason; there are many
