The Singer and the Dolphin

Part One · The Singer

The king of Corinth loved music. His best singer was a man named Arion.

Arion played a lyre, a kind of small harp. When he sang, all of Corinth stopped to listen.

One spring, Arion sailed to Italy and Sicily. He sang in the streets of the towns there.

The crowds loved him. They gave him coins, rings and golden cups.

Soon Arion began to miss his home. He missed his friend the king, too. He found a ship from Corinth to take him back.

Part Two · The Last Song

Arion trusted the sailors. They were from his own city. He brought his lyre and his gold on board.

For days the sea was calm. But the sailors kept looking at the gold. One night, Arion heard them whisper.

"Take my gold, but let me go home," said Arion. "No," said the sailors. "You must leap into the waves."

Arion thought hard. "A singer should end with a song. Let me sing, and then I will jump."

The sailors sat down to listen. They had never heard such a wonderful singer.

Arion put on his robe and sang from the stern. His wonderful song rang out over the waves. When it ended, he jumped.

Part Three · The Dolphin

Down, down he went. Then something strong lifted him up. It was a dolphin!

Arion hugged its back, and off they swam. The Greeks said the dolphin had heard his music.

The dolphin left him on the shore of Greece. Arion walked home to Corinth. He told the king everything.

The king asked the sailors, "Have you seen Arion?" "He was well when we left him," they said.

Then Arion walked in, carrying his lyre. The sailors could only stare.