246 
pliny's natural history. BookVIIL 
too, they walked upon the tight-rope/^ 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 ELEPHAIs^T. 
* It is a well-known fact,^^ 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. 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.^* 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." Mutianus states also, 
that he himself was witness to the fact, that when some ele- 
phants were being landed at Puteoli and were compelled to 
leave the ship, being terrified at the length of the platform, 
M^hich 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. 
1^ 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 -Lilian, 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 Eome. 
1^ " 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. 
1* Suetonius is supposed to allude to this circumstance. — B. He tells 
Ui6 that a horseman ascended a tight rope on an elephant's back. 
1^ ^lian informs us, that he had seen an elephant write Latin charac- 
ters. Hardouin remarks, that the Greek would be Avtoq iyuj rdd' iypa-ipa^ 
16 See B. iii. c. 9, 
