246 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTOET. Book VIII. 



too, they walked upon the tight-rope, 11 and four of them would 

 carry a litter in which lay a fifth, which represented a woman 

 lying-in. They afterwards took their places at table, reclining 

 upon couches which were filled with people ; and so nicely did 

 they manage their steps, that they did not so much as touch 

 any of those who were drinking there. 



CHAP. 3. (3.) THE DOCILITY OF THE ELEPHANT. 



It is a well-known fact, 12 that one of these animals, who 

 was slower than usual in learning what was taught him, and 

 had been frequently chastised with blows, was found conning 

 over his lesson in the night-time. 13 It is a most surprising 

 thing also, that the elephant is able not only to walk up the 

 tight-rope backwards ; but to come down it as well, with the 

 head foremost. 14 Mutianus, who was three times consul, in- 

 forms us that one of these animals had been taught to trace 

 the Greek letters, and that he used to write in that language 

 the following words : " I have myself written these words, and 

 have dedicated the Celtic spoils." 15 Mutianus states also, 

 that he himself was witness to the fact, that when some ele- 

 phants were being landed at Puteoli 16 and were compelled to 

 leave the ship, being terrified at the length of the platform, 

 which extended from the vessel to the shore, they walked back- 

 wards, in order to deceive themselves by forming a false esti- 

 mate of the distance. 



231. It is not improbable that the elephants employed in this dance were 

 caparisoned with armour. 



11 However ill adapted the elephant may appear, from its size and form, 

 for this feat, we have the testimony of Seneca, Suetonius, Dion Cassius, 

 and JElian, to the truth of the fact. B. 



12 Plutarch, in his treatise on the Shrewdness of Animals, tells us that 

 this wonderful circumstance happened at Rome. 



13 "Eadem ilia meditantem," is the expression. It would be curious to 

 know in what way the elephant showed that he was " conning" over his 

 lesson. 



14 Suetonius is supposed to allude to this circumstance. B. He tells 

 us that a horseman ascended a tight rope on an elephant's back. 



15 -ZElian informs us, that he had seen an elephant write Latin charac- 

 ters. Hardouin remarks, that the Greek would be AVTOQ *yu> rfl' 

 Xa^Vjod TS KtXr' dveOrjica, 



16 See B. iii. c. 9, 



