Chap. VII.] THE ELEPHANT. 
239 
and they had learnt their lessons accurately, they did not 
belie the labour of his instruction whenever a necessity and 
opportunity called upon them to exhibit what they had been 
taught. For the whole troop came forward from this and that 
side of the theatre, and divided themselves into parties : they 
advanced walking with a mincing gait and exhibiting in their 
whole body and persons the manners of a beau, clothed in the 
flowery dresses of dancers ; and on the ballet-master giving a 
signal with his voice, they fell into line and went round in a 
circle, and if it were requisite to deploy they did so. They 
ornamented the floor of the stage by throwing flowers upon it, 
and this they did in moderation and sparingly, and straight- 
way they beat a measure with their feet and kept time to- 
gether. 
"Now that Damon and Spintharus and Aristoxenus and 
Xenophilus and Philoxenus and others should know music 
excellently well, and for their cleverness be ranked amongst 
the few, is indeed a thing of wonder, but not incredible nor 
contrary at all to reason. For this reason that a man is a 
rational animal, and the recipient of mind and intelligence. 
But that a jointless animal (avapdpov) should understand 
rhythm and melody, and preserve a gesture, and not deviate 
from a measured movement, and fulfil the requirements of 
those who laid down instructions, these are gifts of nature, I 
think, and a peculiarity in every way astounding. Added to 
these there were things enough to drive the spectator out of 
his senses ; when the strewn rushes and other materials for 
beds on the ground were placed on the sand of the theatre, 
and they received stuffed mattrasses such as belonged to rich 
houses and variegated bed coverings, and goblets were placed 
there very expensive, and bowls of gold and silver, and in 
them a great quantity of water ; and tables were placed there of 
sweet-smelling wood and ivory very superb : and upon them 
flesh meats and loaves enough to fill the stomachs of animals 
the most voracious. When the preparations were completed 
and abundant, the banqueters came forward, six male and an 
