[Side-note: Plato disregards and disapproves the poetic or emotional working.] The reader must keep in mind, in following the questions put by Sokrates, that this pædagogic and edifying view of Homer is the only one present to the men of the Sokratic school--and especially to Plato. Of the genuine functions of the gifted poet, who touches the chords of strong and diversified emotion--"qui pectus inaniter angit, Irritat, mulcet, falsis terroribus implet" (Horat. Epist. II. 1, 212)--Plato takes no account: or rather, he declares open war against them, either as childish delusions[9], or as mischievous stimulants, tending to exalt the unruly elements of the mind, and to overthrow the sovereign authority of reason. We shall find farther manifestations on this point in the Republic and Leges. [Footnote 9: The question of Sokrates (Ion, 535 D), about the emotion produced in the hearers by the recital of Homer's poetry, bears out what is here asserted.] [Side-note: Ion devoted himself to Homer exclusively. Questions of Sokrates to him--How happens it that you cannot talk equally upon other poets? The poetic art is one.] Ion professes to have devoted himself to the study of Homer exclusively, neglecting other poets: so that he can interpret the thoughts, and furnish reflections upon them, better than any other expositor.[10] How does it happen (asked Sokrates) that you have so much to say about Homer, and nothing at all about other poets? Homer may be the best of all poets: but he is still only one of those who exercise the poetic art, and he must necessarily talk about the same subjects as other poets. Now the art of poetry is _One_ altogether--like that of painting, sculpture, playing on the flute, playing on the harp, rhapsodizing, &c.[11] Whoever is competent to judge and explain one artist,--what he has done well and what he has done ill,--is competent also to judge any other artist in the same profession. [Footnote 10: Plato, Ion, 536 E.] [Footnote 11: Plato, Ion, 531 A, 532 C-D. [Greek: poiêtikê\ pou/ e)sti to\ o(/lon. . . Ou)kou=n e)peida\n la/bê| tis kai\ a)/llên te/chnên ê(ntinou=n o(/lên, o( au)to\s tro/pos tê=s ske/pseô/s e)sti peri\ a(pasô=n tô=n technô=n?] 533 A.] I cannot explain to you how it happens (replies Ion): I only know the fact incontestably--that when I talk about Homer, my thoughts flow abundantly, and every one tells me that my discourse is excellent. Quite the reverse, when I talk of any other poet.[12] [Footnote 12: Plato, Ion, 533 C.] [Side-note: Explanation given by Sokrates. Both the Rhapsode and the Poet work, not by art and system, but by divine inspiration. Fine poets are bereft of their reason, and possessed by inspiration from some God.]