Arion's Lyre

Arion was a palace musician. He loved dolphins. He sang and played his lyre for them and they leaped in joy. When Arion sailed to Sicily to compete in a music contest, dolphins followed alongside the ship to hear him practice. Arion won the contest, and the prize was all the gold he could carry. But on the journey home, the sailors stole his gold and ordered him to jump overboard. Arion sang one last song and jumped, carrying his lyre with him. A dolphin, attracted by his song, lifted Arion from the waves and carried him home on its back. When the king heard this story, he punished the soldiers and they returned Arion's gold. Arion played his songs for his dolphin friends in thanks for saving his life.
Dolphins