"Far be it from me!" answered Periander. "The story pleases me well, and if you will tell me another such, I will take pains to believe that also." "Then Zeus be my witness! I will find means to prove it," cried Arion. "Have I not said that I doubted not?" asked Periander. "Yet I would gladly see the proof. My crown to your lute upon the issue!" "So be it!" said Arion. "But first I must ask your majesty that none may speak of my return; and when the ship _Nausicaa_ comes to port, let the seamen be dealt with as I shall appoint!" The king assented laughing, for he deemed the tale impossible. After some days, however, it was announced that the ship _Nausicaa_ was in the harbor. Periander summoned the captain and all the crew to the palace, and asked them whether they had brought any news of his minstrel Arion. The captain replied that men said at Tarentum that Arion was still in Italy, traveling from place to place, and received everywhere with great honor. The rest of the sailors confirmed the story, and one of them added that Arion was said to prefer Italy to Greece, nor had he any intention of returning to Corinth. At that moment a curtain was drawn and disclosed Arion, standing in his sacred robes and holding his lute, just as they had seen him last in the prow of the ship. The sailors, supposing that they beheld his spirit, were seized with terror, and fell at the king's feet, confessing all their wickedness and begging for mercy. But Periander was filled with indignation, and spurned them angrily. Arion interposed, urging the king to be merciful, now that the seamen had seen their wickedness, and were willing to make restitution. Periander, however, would not hear of mercy. "Your compassion bears witness to your noble spirit, Arion," he replied. "But these men have planned a most cruel and cowardly murder, and cruelly shall they suffer for it. Seize me these men, guards, and bind them!" The guards came forward and began to lead away the trembling wretches. "Stay!" cried Arion. "It is I who am king. Did not your majesty stake your crown against my lute, and can the royal word be broken? Back, guards! I claim my wager." Periander could not refrain from laughter, but confessed himself beaten by this piece of strategy. "The wit of Arion," he said, "is stronger than the tears of repentance. Release the prisoners!" "That being so," said Arion, "and seeing that I find myself more easy with the lute, I will restore the royal crown to Periander." So the men were set at liberty, after having restored the property of Arion, and departed full of gratitude, invoking blessings on his head. And lest any man should doubt the truth of the story in time to come, Arion erected at Tænarus a statue in bronze, representing a man riding on a dolphin's back. STORIES FROM LIVY ROMULUS, FOUNDER OF ROME Adapted by Alfred J. Church