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Section 541

SOCRATES. Perhaps that is because you also happen to possess the art of the general, Ion. For instance, if you happened to be both a horseman and a lyre-player, you would know good and bad riding. But if I asked you: "By which art do you know good riding? By your horsemanship, or by your lyre-playing?" What would you say?

ION. By my horsemanship.

SOCRATES. And if you knew good lyre-playing, you would agree you know it by your lyre-playing, not your horsemanship.

ION. Yes.

SOCRATES. Since you know military affairs, do you know them by the art of the general, or by the art of the rhapsode?

ION. It seems to me they are the same thing.

SOCRATES. You say they are the same? That the art of the rhapsode and the art of the general are one single art?

ION. I do.

SOCRATES. So whoever is a good rhapsode also turns out to be a good general?

ION. Absolutely, Socrates.

SOCRATES. Then surely whoever is a good general also turns out to be a good rhapsode?

ION. No, I do not think that is true.

SOCRATES. But you do think that whoever is a good rhapsode is also a good general.

ION. I certainly do.

SOCRATES. And are you not the best rhapsode in Greece?

ION. By far, Socrates.

SOCRATES. Are you also the best general in Greece, Ion?

ION. Know it well, Socrates! And I learned that from Homer's poetry.

SOCRATES. Then by the gods, Ion, if you are both the best general and the best rhapsode among the Greeks, why do you spend your time traveling around reciting poetry instead of commanding an army? Do you think the Greeks have a great need for a rhapsode crowned in gold, but no need at all for a general?

ION. My city, Ephesus, is under the rule of your city, Athens, Socrates, so we have no need of our own general. And as for your city or Sparta, you would not elect me as general because you think you are sufficient unto yourselves.

SOCRATES. My dear Ion, have you not heard of Apollodorus of Cyzicus?

ION. Who is he?

SOCRATES. He is a foreigner whom the Athenians often elect as their general. And there is Phanosthenes of Andros, and Heraclides of Clazomenae, who are also foreigners, but because they have demonstrated their merit, Athens elevates them to military command and honors them. Would not Athens elect Ion of Ephesus as general and honor him, if he seemed worthy? Are not the Ephesians originally Athenians anyway? And Ephesus is not a petty city.