There was once a musician called Arion, who wandered about the country singing songs, and wherever he sang people stopped to listen.
When the King of Corinth heard his music he invited Arion to live with him in the Royal Palace.
One day Arion received an invitation to compete at the music festival in Sicily.
"You must go," said the king, "for I am sure you will win the competition, and the prize is a bag of gold."
"The gold does not interest me," said Arion, "but I would like to compete and of course I would like to win!"
"You may go in one of my ships," said the king, "but promise you'll return, for I shall miss your music."
Arion promised to return, and away he sailed in the king's ship over the sea to the island of Sicily.
All the best musicians in the world were there to compete. One by one they played their instruments and sang their songs, and then it was Arion's turn. He sang so beautifully that the King of Sicily awarded him the first prize, a bag of gold, and all his admirers gave him wonderful gifts of jewels and other treasure. They tried to persuade him to stay on in Sicily, but Arion refused.
"I have promised the King of Corinth I shall return," said he, "and his ship waits there in the harbour to carry me home."
So the King of Sicily and all Arion's friends and admirers saw him off and waved him farewell.
Arion stood on the prow waving to them until they were out of sight, but when he turned to go to the cabin, he found himself surrounded by the captain and an angry crew. They had seen the gold and treasure Arion had carried on board, and had plotted among themselves how they would take it from him.
"You must die," said the captain. "It is the wish of the entire crew."
"Why, what have I done to hurt you?"
"You are too rich," said the captain.
"Spare my life, and I will give you the bag of gold and all the other treasures that were given to me," pleaded Arion.
"No, we cannot do that, for when you reach Corinth you may change your mind, regret your gift and make us return it," said the captain. "No, it is too dangerous. You must die!"
"Very well," said Arion, "I see that your minds are made up. But please, grant me my last wish. Allow me to sing one more song before I die."
"You may do that," said the captain, "if, when the last note has been sung, you leap overboard into the sea."
Arion promised to do that and, dressed in his finest clothes, he stood on the prow of the ship and sang more sweetly than he had ever sung before. Then he took a great leap into the sea; and the ship sailed on.
Now, a school of dolphins had gathered round to listen to Arion's songs, for dolphins are very fond of music. When he leapt from the ship, one of them swam under him, caught him on its back and saved him from drowning. Then the dolphin swam with Arion on its back and reached Corinth long before the ship.
The king was delighted to see Arion, but when he heard how the ship's crew had treated him he was very angry indeed.
"I am astonished my sailors could behave so badly," he said.
When at last the ship arrived in port, the king sent for the crew.
"Where is Arion?" he asked, pretending he did not know.
"He stayed in Sicily," said those rascals. "He was enjoying himself so much he refused to return with us, although we waited several days for him."
"Is that so?" said the king, frowning with anger.
Then Arion himself came into the room. He was wearing the same clothes in which he had leapt from the ship, and when they saw him, the captain and crew were terrified.
"A ghost! A ghost!" they cried out. "Arion was drowned and this must be his ghost!" And in their fright they confessed to the king all that they had done to Arion. The king punished them and ordered them to leave Greece for ever.
As for Arion, he stayed in Corinth and became one of the greatest musicians in all Greece.
"Arion and the Dolphin" retold by Norah Montgomerie in TO READ AND TO TELL.
Published by Bodley Head.
A. musician
B. wherever
C. he
D. people
A. make the king proud of him by winning.
B. win the bag of gold.
C. compete against other fine musicians.
D. visit Sicily and travel on the king's ship.
A. was stubborn.
B. missed his home.
C. was foolish.
D. kept his word.
A. greed and mistrust.
B. hatred and revenge.
C. disappointment.
D. ignorance.
A. A hero is helped or saved by unusual forces or in unexpected ways.
B. A hero must complete a series of tasks to save his or another's life.
C. A hero travels under a disguise so that no one can recognize him.
D. A hero does a kindness for another that later is returned to him.