February 3rd | Fastorum Liber Secundus: Februarius
B N | III Non. | II.79-118, Ovid discusses the story of Arion and the Dolphin.
Quem modo caelatum stellis Delphina videbas,
is fugiet visus nocte sequente tuos: 80
seu fuit occultis felix in amoribus index,
Lesbida cum domino seu tulit ille lyram.
quod mare non novit, quae nescit Ariona tellus?
carmine currentes ille tenebat aquas.
saepe sequens agnam lupus est a voce retentus, 85
saepe avidum fugiens restitit agna lupum;
saepe canes leporesque umbra iacuere sub una,
et stetit in saxo proxima cerva leae,
et sine lite loquax cum Palladis alite cornix
sedit, et accipitri iuncta columba fuit. 90
Cynthia saepe tuis fertur, vocalis Arion,
tamquam fraternis obstipuisse modis.
nomen Arionium Siculas impleverat urbes,
captaque erat lyricis Ausonis ora sonis;
inde domum repetens puppem conscendit Arion, 95
atque ita quaesitas arte ferebat opes.
forsitan, infelix, ventos undasque timebas,
at tibi nave tua tutius aequor erat.
namque gubernator destricto constitit ense
ceteraque armata conscia turba manu. 100
quid tibi cum gladio? dubiam rege, navita, puppem:
non haec sunt digitis arma tenenda tuis.
ille, metu pavidus, “mortem non deprecor” inquit,
“sed liceat sumpta pauca referre lyra.”
dant veniam ridentque moram. capit ille coronam, 105
quae possit crines, Phoebe, decere tuos;
induerat Tyrio bis tinctam murice pallam:
reddidit icta suos pollice chorda sonos,
flebilibus numeris veluti canentia dura
traiectus penna tempora cantat olor. 110
protinus in medias ornatus desilit undas:
spargitur impulsa caerula puppis aqua.
inde (fide maius) tergo delphina recurvo
se memorant oneri supposuisse novo;
ille sedens citharamque tenet pretiumque vehendi 115
cantat et aequoreas carmine mulcet aquas.
di pia facta vident: astris delphina recepit
Iuppiter et stellas iussit habere novem.
79 The Dolphin, which of late thou didst see fretted with stars, will on the next night escape thy gaze. (He was raised to heaven) either because he was a lucky go-between in love’s intrigues, or because he carried the Lesbian lyre and the lyre’s master. What sea, what land knows not Arion?1 By his song he used to stay the running waters. Often at his voice the wolf in pursuit of the lamb stood still, often the lamb halted in fleeing from the ravening wolf; often hounds and hares have couched in the same covert, and the hind upon the rock has stood beside the lioness: at peace the chattering crow has sat with Pallas’ bird,2 and the dove has been neighbour to the hawk. ’Tis said that Cynthia3 oft hath stood entranced, tuneful Arion, at thy notes, as if the notes had been struck by her brother’s hand. Arion’s fame had filled Sicilian cities, and by the music of his lyre he had charmed the Ausonian land. Thence wending homewards, he took ship and carried with him the wealth his art had won. Perhaps, poor wretch, thou didst dread the winds and waves, but in sooth the sea was safer for thee than thy ship. For the helmsman took his stand with a drawn sword, and the rest of the conspiring gang had weapons in their hands. What wouldst thou with a sword? Steer the crazy bark, thou mariner; these weapons ill befit thy hands. Quaking with fear the bard, “I deprecate not death,” said he, “but let me take my lyre and play a little.” They gave him leave and laughed at the delay. He took the crown that might well, Phoebus, become thy locks; he donned his robe twice dipped in Tyrian purple: touched by his thumb, the strings gave back a music all their own, such notes as the swan chants in mournful numbers when the cruel shaft has pierced his snowy brow. Straightway, with all his finery on, he leaped plump down into the waves: the refluent water splashed the azure poop. Thereupon they say (it sounds past credence) a dolphin did submit his arched back to the unusual weight; seated there Arion grasped his lyre and paid his fare in song, and with his chant he charmed the ocean waves. The gods see pious deeds: Jupiter received the dolphin among the constellations, and bade him have nine stars.
The story is told by Herodotus, i. 24.
The owl.
Diana.