SOCRATES. Him whom the Athenians entrusted with a command although a foreigner; Phanosthenes the Andrian and Heraclides the Clazomenian, likewise foreigners, were also promoted to many civil and military trusts in Athens on account of their reputation. Why should they not honour and elect Ion the Ephesian as their general, if he should be considered equal to the situation ?-you Ephesians were originally Athenians and Ephesus is a city inferior to none. But you are in the wrong Ion, if you are serious in your pretence of being able to illustrate Homer by Art and Knowledge. For after having promised to explain a multiplicity of subjects mentioned by Homer, and assuring me that you knew them well; you now deceive me; and although I give you every opportunity you are still found wanting even with respect to that very subject of which you profess yourself fully master. Like Proteus, you assume a multiplicity of shapes, until at last escaping through my fingers, that you may avoid giving me any proof of your skill in Homer, you suddenly stand before me in the shape of a general. If now, you have deceived me in your promise of explaining Homer in your quality of a professor in the science of rhapsody you act unjustly by me; but if the various and beautiful expressions which at times you can employ are according to my view of the subject, suggested by the influence of the divine election whilst you are possessed as it were by the spirit of Homer, and you are in yourself ignorant, and incompetent, I absolve you from all blame.-Take your choice-whether you prefer to be considered inspired or unjust. ION. There is a great difference between these two imputations, O Socrates, the former is far more honourable. SOCRATES. It is better both for you and for us, O Ion, to say that you are the inspired, and not the learned, eulogist of Homer. [This fragment was first given by Mrs. Shelley in the first volume of the Essays, Letters &c. (1840). See the remarks on it at page 153 of the present volume.-H. B. F.] A PORTION OF MENEXENUS, OR THE FUNERAL ORATION; TRANSLATED FROM PLATO. PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE, SOCRATES. WHENCE Comest thou, O Menexenus? from the forum? MENEXENUS. Even so; and from the senate-house. SOCRATES. What was thy business with the senate? Art thou persuaded that thou hast attained to that perfection of discipline and philosophy, from which thou mayest aspire to undertake greater matters ? Wouldst thou, at thine age, my wonderful friend, assume to thyself the government of us who are thine elders, lest thy family should at any time fail in affording us a protector? |