e by enemies he meant vicious men
and foolish, and by friends, wise and good men. Then, brother Gorgias,
quoth Periander, I pray relate the whole story particularly.

Gorgias in obedience to his brother's command began his story thus:--

When we had fasted now for three days and offered sacrifice upon each of
those days, we were all resolved to sit up the third night and spend it
in pastime and dancing. The moon shone very bright upon the water,
and the sea was exceeding calm and still; this we saw, for we sported
ourselves upon the shore. Being thus taken up, all of a sudden we espied
a wonderful spectacle off at sea, making with incredible expedition to
the adjoining promontory. The violence of the motion made the sea foam
again, and the noise was so loud, that the whole company forsook their
sport and ran together toward the place, admiring what the matter should
be. Before we could make a full discovery of the whole, the motion
was so rapid, we perceived divers dolphins, some swimming in a ring or
circle, others hastening amain to that part of the shore which was most
shallow, and others following after and (as it were) bringing up the
rear. In the middle there was a certain heap which we could perceive
above the water; but we could not distinctly apprehend what it was, till
drawing near the shore we saw all the dolphins flocking together, and
having made near the land they safely surrendered their charge, and left
out of danger a man breathing and shaking himself. They returned to the
promontory, and there seemed to rejoice more than before for this their
fortunate undertaking. Divers in the company were affrighted and ran
away; myself and a few more took courage, and went on to see and
satisfy ourselves what this unusual matter might be; there we found and
instantly knew our old acquaintance Arion the musician, who told us his
name. He wore that very garment he used when he strove for mastery. We
brought him into our tent and found he had received no damage in his
passage, save only a little lassitude by the violence of the motion. He
told us the whole story of his adventure,--a story incredible to all but
such as saw it with their eyes. He told us how, when he had determined
to leave Italy, being hastened away by Periander's letters, he went
aboard a Corinthian merchantman then in port and ready to sail; being
off at sea with the winds favorable, he observed the seamen bent to
ruin him, and the master of the vess