HALIEUTICA, V. 483-514 



But when he dived lightly into the brine, it would 

 swim near the youth, its side right by his side and 

 its cheek close by his and touching head with head. 

 Thou wouldst have said that in its love the Dolphin 

 was fain to kiss and embrace the youth : in such 

 close companionship it swam. But when he came 

 near the shore, straightway the youth would lay 

 his hand upon its neck and mount on its wet back. 

 And gladly and \\-ith understanding it would receive 

 the boy upon its back and would go where the will 

 of the youth drave it, whether over the wide sea 

 afar he commanded it to travel or merely to traverse 

 the space of the haven or to approach the land : it 

 obeyed every behest. No colt for its rider is so 

 tender of mouth and so obedient to the curved bit ; 

 no dog trained to the bidding of the hunter is so 

 obedient to follow where he leads ; nay, nor any 

 servants are so obedient, when their master bids, to 

 do his vill ^villingly, as that friendly Dolphin was 

 obedient to the bidding of the youth, ^nthout yoke- 

 strap or constraining bridle. And not himself alone 

 would it carrv' but it would obey any other whom 

 his master bade it and carry him on its back, refusing 

 no labour in its love. Such was its friendship for the 

 boy while he lived ; but when death took him, first 

 like one sorrowing the Dolphin visited the shores in 

 quest of the companion of its youth : you would 

 have said you heard the veritable voice of a mourner 

 — such helpless grief was upon it. And no more, 

 though they called it often, would it hearken to the 

 island townsmen nor would it accept food when 



501 



