Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part I/I
I.THE STORY OF ARION.
Arion, after travelling abroad, hires a vessel to take him home.
1.Arion was a celebrated harper. He had lived for a long time at the court of Penander, king of the Corinthians. Then he wished to sail to Italy and Sicily. Having obtained great wealth there, he desired to return to Corinth, Therefore he set out from Tarentum, a city of Italy; there he had had hired a vessel belonging to (lit. of) some Corinthians.
The sailors farm a plan to rob and murder him.
2.But the latter resolved to throw him into the sea; for they were desirous to get possession of his money. Then, indeed, Arion understood their plan. He sadly (lit sad) had recourse (lit. fled) to prayers. Having offered all his money to the sailors, he begged his life. But the sailors not being moved by the man's prayer threatened him at once with death (lit death to him).
Arion sings a beautiful song, and leaps overboard.
3.Arion reduced to these extremities, stood on the stem, dressed in all his ornaments. Then he began to sing one of his songs. The sailors charmed by the sweet song retired to the middle of the ship from the stem. He, clad in all his ornaments, took his lyre and finished the song. When the song was finished, he threw himself into the sea. Then the sailors sailed to Corinth.
He is miraculously saved by a dolphin.
4.But Arion, having been taken up by a dolphin on its back, was brought (to land) at Taenarum. Having landed, he proceeded to Corinth in the same dress. There he related the deeds of the sailors. But Periander was unwilling to believe him. Arion was therefore kept by him under a guard.
The wicked sailors are detected and punished, and Arion is rewarded.
5.Meanwhile the sailors came to Corinth. They were questioned by Periander about Arion. All lied most disgracefully. Suddenly Arion appeared with the same dress (on). The astonished sailors confessed their crime. They were all slain by King Periander, and much money was given to Arion.