And the abilities of the poet and rhapsode are limited by the Muse that inspired them, whereas their abilities were an art poets would be equally skilled in all forms of poetry and rhapsodes would speak equally well on all poets. Much like how a magnet not only attracts iron rings but imparts on them the same power to attract more iron rings, a Muse inspires a poet who in turn inspires the rhapsode who likewise inspires the audience. Socrates says that this is because Ion’s gift for speaking about Homer is not an art, but divine inspiration. Ion asks Socrates why it is then that he goes to sleep and has absolutely no ideas when other poets are discussed, but when Homer is mentioned, he comes to attention and has plenty to say. Therefore Ion must be equally skilled in Homer and other poet. Socrates points out that in other fields of knowledge (e.g., arithmetic, medicine or divination), an expert can judge speakers equally well whether they agree or disagree.
Socrates asks if he can interpret what Hesiod says where he agrees with Homer and Ion says he can interpret them equally well where they agree however, where they disagree, even though the sing of the same themes, Homer does so in a different and far better way.
Socrates asks if his art extends to other poets or just to Homer, and Ion answers the latter. Socrates meets with Ion, a egotistic rhapsode who specializes in Homer.
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