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 game forward, six male and an 



