temporaries in his exquisite performance on the harp; and we have reason to suppose he was the first who invented, named, and taught at Corinth, the Dithyrambic measure38. XXIV. This Arion, they say, after residing for a considerable time at the court of Periander, was desirous of visiting Italy and Sicily. Having there acquired considerable wealth, he wished to return with it to Corinth: with this view, he embarked at Tarentum in a Corinthian vessel, preferring the mariners of that nation. As soon as they stood out to sea, the sailors determined to destroy Arion, for the sake of his riches. He discovered their intentions, and offered them his money, to preserve his life. The men were obdurate, and insisted, that he should either kill himself, that they might bury him on shore, or leap instantly into the sea. Reduced to this extremity, he intreated, that if they would not spare his life, they would at least suffer him to dress himself in his most valuable clothes, and to give them a specimen of his art in singing; pro 38 Dithyrambic measure.]—This was a kind of verse or hymn in honour of Bacchus, or in praise of drinking: it was a rude and perplexed composition, replete with figurative and obscure expressions. Bellanger. Clemens of Alexandria affirms, that the inventor of the Dithyrambic was Lassus or Lasus of Hermione. It should seem, however, from Pindar and his scholiast, that this species of poetry is so very ancient that its original inventor cannot be ascertained.-Larcher. 39 Bury him on shore.]-This passage, which perplexed the learned Reiske, seems to me sufficiently clear. The sailors indirectly promised Arion that they would bury him, if he would be the instrument of his own death.-Wesseling. mising, that as soon as he had finished, he would destroy himself. They were anxious to hear a man, reputed the greatest performer in the world, and, in compliance with his request, retired from him to the middle of their vessel. He accordingly adorned himself splendidly, and, standing on the side of the ship with his harp in his hand, he sang to them a species of song, termed Orthian". As soon as he had finished, he threw himself, dressed as he was, into the sea. The mariners pursued their course to Corinth; but he, it is affirmed", was taken up by a dolphin and carried to Tænarus. As soon as he got on shore, he went, without changing his dress, to Corinth, and on his arrival told what had befallen him. Periander disbelieved his story; and, keeping him in close custody, endeavoured to find out the crew. When they appeared before him, he enquired if they could give him any intelligence of Arion; they replied, that his excursion to * The nautical word for this is the waist. 40 Orthian.-The Orthian hymn was an air performed either on a flute or cithara, in an elevated key and a quick time. It was, therefore, peculiarly adapted to animate combatants. See Aulus Gellius. By this species of song, Timotheus so inflamed the ardour of Alexander, that he instantly leaped up and called for his arms. See Eustathius. See also Dryden's Ode on St. Cæcilia's Day.-Maximus Tyrius says, that to excite military ardour, the Orthian song was peculiarly adapted, as that called Parænion was for social and convivial occasions. See also Homer, Book xi. Thence the black fury through the Grecian throng It is affirmed.]-Voltaire abuses Herodotus for telling this story, as considering it true; but surely without reason, as he by no means vouches for its truth. Italy had been successful, and that they had left him well at Tarentum. Arion then shewed himself, dressed as they had seen him leap into the sea: overcome with terror, they confessed their crime. This event is related both by the Corinthians and the Lesbians; and there remains at Tænarus a small figure in brass, of a man seated on a dolphin's back*, the votive offering of Arion himself. XXV. When he had put an end to the Milesian war, and after a reign of fifty-seven years, Alyattes died. He was the second of his family who made an Larcher thus plausibly explains the story. Arion threw himself into the sea in the harbour of Tarentum, or in the road at no great distance. The Corinthians without giving themselves farther trouble about him, set sail. He gained the shore; and if the remainder of the story has any foundation in truth, he probably met with a vessel ready to set sail, and which was a better sailer than that of the Corinthians. There is on the head of vessels, figures from which the vessels themselves often take their names; as the Centaur, and the Mermaid, &c. The vessel on which Arion went on board the second time, had doubtless a dolphin at the head, and this circumstance might occasion the story of Arion's being saved by a dolphin. Larcher adds, that Helle embarked in a vessel having a ram on its prow, which gave rise to the tradition that she passed, on a ram, the sea which bears her name. Pliny, after reciting a number of facts, to prove the friendship of dolphins for man, infers that the tale of Arion may be believed. Upon the base of this figure was the following inscription: "This saved from the sea of Sicily, by the favour of heaven, Arion son of Cylon." An ode expressive of Arion's gratitude, though certainly of much later date, is found in Brunck's Analecta.-T. offering at Delphi, which he did in consequence of his recovery from illness. He presented a large silver goblet, with a saucer of iron, curiously inlayed; it is of surprising workmanship, and as worthy of observation as any of the offerings preserved at Delphi. The name of the maker was Glaucus, an inhabitant of Chios, and the inventor of this art of inlaying iron. XXVI. On the death of his father, Croesus succeeded to the throne; he began to reign at the age of thirty-five, and he immediately commenced hostilities with the Ephesians. Whilst he besieged Ephesus" with an army, the inhabitants made a solemn dedication of their city to Minerva, connecting with a rope their walls to the temple of the goddess*. This temple is at 42 Saucer of iron.]-This is mentioned in Pausanius, Book x. where also Glaucus is spoken of as the original inventor of the art. A farther account of Glaucus may be found in Junius de Pictura Veterum.-T. 43 Whilst he besieged Ephesus.]—The prince of Ephesus, at this time, was Pindar the nephew of Croesus; the story is told at length by Elian, Book iii. chap. 26.-T. A rope.]-The object of the ancients, by thus consecrating their towns, was to detain the deities by a kind of force, and prevent their departure. It was believed, that when a city was on the point of being taken, the deities abandoned it. Larcher. * Eschylus, in the Seven Chiefs against Thebes, makes Eteocles say, The gods they say prepare To quit their seats and leave a vanquished town. See Virgil, Æn. 2. Excessere omnes adytis arisque relictis Mr. Jodrell a distance of about seven stadia from the old town, which was then besieged. These Croesus attacked first. Soon afterwards he made war on every state, both of the Ionians and the Eolians: the motives which he he assigned were various, important in some instances, but, when such could not be found, frivolous pretexts sufficed. XXVII. Not satisfied with compelling the Asiatic Greeks to pay him tribute, he determined to build a fleet, and attack those who lived in the islands. He was deterred from this purpose, although he had made great preparations, by the memorable reply of Bias 45 of Priene, who was at that time in Sardis; or, as others say, of Pittacus of Mitylene. The king was enquiring 46 Mr. Jodrell observes, that the Shekinah, or Divine Presence, was withdrawn from the ark of the first temple before it was destroyed by the king of Babylon.-T. 45 Bias.-Diogenes Laertius, Plutarch, and Valerius Maximus, severally give an account of Bias. He was one of the seven wise men of Greece. Some fishermen found a golden tripod, upon which was inscribed, " To the wisest:" it was given to Bias, who sent it to Delphi. When his vanquished countrymen fled before the enemy, each took with him the most valuable part of his property. Bias took nothing: on being asked why, "I always carry," he replied, " my most valuable things about me," meaning his learning and abilities.-T. 46 Pittacus.-Pittacus of Mitylene was another of the seven wise men. His life is written by Diogenes Laertius. In a war betwixt the Athenians and the people of Mitylene, he challenged the enemy's general to single combat, and with a net which he secretly brought, he entangled and easily conquered his adversary. From this circumstance, the contests of the Retiarii and Mirmillones are said first to have arisen. His most memorable saying was-" Endeavour to prevent calamity; if it happen, bear it with equanimity.”—T. |