OF THE DOLPHIN. 73 



" Periander was king of Corinth. The Covin 

 thians relate, (and the Lesbians agree with them,) 

 that during his life-time, a great prodigy occurred. 

 They say that Arion was carried from Methymna 

 to TsBuarus upon the back of a dolphin: as a musi- 

 Nuan, he was second to none, as a dithyrambist, we 

 know he was the first, composing, giving rules and 

 teaching at Corinth. Having spent much of his 

 time with Periander, he desired to visit Sicily; hav- 

 ing acquired much wealth there he wished to go back 

 to Corinth, for which purpose he hired a vessel from 

 some Corinthians at Tarentum. When at sea, they 

 conspired to throw him overboard, that they might 

 share his money; which having learned, he earnest- 

 ly besought them to take his wealth, but spare his 

 life. But they, unmoved by his entreaties, ordered 

 him either to kill himself, and perchance obtain a 

 burial on shore, or to cast himself instantly into the 

 sea. 



" Driven to despair, Arion besought them, since 

 it was thus determined, that they would allow him 

 to sing, standing completely arrayed on the deck. 

 They promised him that he might die singing, and 

 pleased that they should hear the most excellent of 

 musicians, they removed from the poop towards the 

 middle of the ship. Arion, clad in his professional 

 robes,* took his lyre, and, standing on the deck, ran 



*Ev tri ixsvtj rcaatj is rendered by Dalzell, " completely ar- 

 rayed," as we have given the phrase in the second para- 

 VOL. III. 10 



