Classical Poetry

Arion of Mythemna

A letter from M. Cornelius Fronto to M. Aurelius

Translated by Max Latham B.A. (Hons.) Classical Studies

Arion of Lesbos: Methymna,
The greatest cithara player, ever,
Made a voyage to play and win gold, more
Journeyed to the south Sicilian shore,
Boarding a boat bound for Corinth city,
Wishing, wanting to return there, did he,
Although the so-called sailors had taken,
Already more than ample coin from him,
He was rich, so they would plot and they'd scheme,
To kill him by casting him in the sea,
For they were not sailors of moral worth,
But pirates, the very scum of the earth.
Arion watched and listened to the crew,
As they deliberated what to do,
For hours was decided the Fate of he:
To be cast 'neath the waves of the deep blue sea.
So, Arion pleaded-bargained with them all,

"If it's gold you want, I'll give you much more."

The pirates refused, as they'd taken all,
Therefore Arion pleaded once again,

"Let me sing one song, I entreat you men."

All knew the cithara players' fame,
So returned his clothes, embroidered in gold,
Livery so expensive and so fine,
Fit for kings, queens or even gods divine.
His cithara too was passed back to he,
Embossed with mother-of-pearl filigree,
T'was the most ornate harp that ever was,
Just like his clothes: t'was fit for the gods.
As the Orpheus began his last tune,
So bitter-sweet were the notes from the start,
That even fair nature heard: sun and moon,
Enchanted by such virtuosic art,
Angels in heaven and Jove in the sky,
Stopped their duties and began then to cry,
Rainfall tear drops fell with a silent sigh,
Before Arion was about to die.

As the final note sung out 'cross the sea,
He leapt off the side and head-first dived in,
Heavenly angels who heard his last plea,
Sent deliverance: Aphrodite's dolphin.
Cytherea's emissary caught him,
Conveyed Arion, safely they did swim,
Returned once more to the Taenarum coast,
Back again to the city of Corinth,
Where King Periander became his host,
Arion recounted what'd happened since.

"I humbly beseech Your Highness to tell,
What to me on the ocean waves befell,
It is only the truth that I do sing,
I emplore you, please believe me, my King."

And believe he did, nor bear any grudge,
But being a most even handed judge,
Once arrived, let the pirates tell their side.
Soon enough, the pirates dropped anchor there,
And Arion was under his King's care,
They were granted an audience at once,
King Periander wished to hear these runts,
At first the pirates spoke audaciously
About that which had passed upon the sea,
On account of Arion's artistry,
He prefers to remain in Sicily,
That is where he is right at this moment,
We set sail straight, leaving Arion thence.

Just after they'd spoke with lying forked tongue
Arion burst into the Court and sung!
Attired in his golden weave livery,
And his harp embossed so remarkably,

"You see, gentlemen, so as I am late,
'Tis now for our Liege, to decide your Fate!"

Those crooks were firmly rebuked, straight away,
All Arion's gold was taken from they,
The wretched men were sent off to prison,
Set up: the statue of a dolphin,
In Corinth, it would be remembered,
That honest Arion from pirates fled.