One of the most amusing stories in ancient history, of the successful
and happy use of fine music, is told of Arion, who, when about to be
thrown overboard by some mutinous sailors, begged leave to sing to his
lute one funeral strain before his death. Having obtained leave, he
stood upon the prow with his instrument, chanted with a loud voice his
sweetest elegy, and then threw himself into the sea. A dolphin, as the
story goes, charmed with his music, swam to him while floating on the
waves, bore him on his back, and carried him safely to Cape Taenarus, in
Sparta, from whence he went to Corinth. It would have been well for the
mutineers if their taste for music had been as great as the dolphin's,
for the history not only affords a grand instance of the power of music,
but of retributive justice, as the sailors accidentally going to
Corinth, paid the penalty of their evil intentions with their lives.
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