Arion was also from Methymne playing the cithara, as well,
During the times of Croesus and of Periander.
He won a lot of things. On a boat to Corinth
He embarked, leaving Taranto, as he wanted to return home.
The sailors wanted to take all his money.
He asked, then, to play them music with his melodious guitar,
A song before his death; he took his cithara immediately
(There were seven melodies that one could play with his cithara).
He stood and started to play beautifully the first one;
A dolphin, being enchanted, came out of the water, and when Arion fell into the sea
He was dragged by the dolphin and was brought to Cape Tenaro.
When he arrived in Corinth, he told this to Periander.
He didn’t believe him, though, and put the man in prison.
Later, the sailors came and Periander asked them what happened.
He sentenced them to death as it is proper for murderers.
The writer Herodotus has written down this story,
Along with him Oppian, but his story is more precise.
His story, which is widely known, my child, here follows:
Being in danger, Arion played his music straight up.
Some pirates, who were Phoenician men, upon a boat of dolphin shape
Felt pity for him and left him on the coast of Cape Tenaro.
John Tzetzes (1110 - 1180) Turkey
Translated by Ana Untila
Source: Classical Texts Library
Story 17 from Book 1 of Chiliades (Book of Histories)
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