Recommended translation: "Ion," trans. A. Bloom in The Roots of Political Philosophy, ed. Thomas L. Pangle (Cornell, 1987).

Excerpt:

Socrates
Welcome, Ion. Where have you come from now, to pay us this visit? From your home in Ephesus?

Ion
No, no, Socrates; from Epidaurus and the festival there of Asclepius.

Socrates
Do you mean to say that the Epidaurians honor the god with a contest of rhapsodes also?

Ion
Certainly, and of music in general.

Socrates
Why then, you were competing in some contest, were you? And how went your competition?

Ion
We carried off the first prize, Socrates.

Socrates
Well done: so now, mind that we win too at the Panathenaea.

Ion
Why, so we shall, God willing.

Socrates
I must say I have often envied you rhapsodes, Ion, for your art: for besides that it is fitting to your art that your person should be adorned and that you should look as handsome as possible, the necessity of being conversant with a number of good poets, and especially with Homer, the best and divinest poet of all, and of apprehending his thought and not merely learning off his words, is a matter for envy; since a man can never be a good rhapsode without understanding what the poet says.

Online:
Amazon (Recommended Translation)
Project Perseus (English, Free Access)
Project Perseus (Greek, Free Access)
Project Gutenberg (Free Access)