Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 2.djvu/562

Rh 502 A E I A E 1 sequence of civil war (1821) and earthquakes (1832, 1868), it has greatly declined ; of late, however, it has shared in the general revival of Peru. The Government has taken measures for the improvement of the port, which is con nected by railway with Tacna, about 38 miles inland, where many of the merchants reside. Population, about 4000. ARIEGE, a department of France, bounded on the S. by Spain, W. by Haute-Garonne, N.E. by Aude, and S.E. by Pyrdndes Orientales. It embraces the old countship of Foix, and a portion of Languedoc and Gascony, and has an area of 1889 square miles. The southern part is occupied by the Pyrenees, which here contain some of the highest peaks in France ; as, Pic d Estats (which is 10,811 feet above the level of the sea), Montcalm (10,512), Font- argente, and Montleon. Communication with Spain is afforded by a large number of ports 5r cols, which are, however, for the most part difficult paths, and only practi cable for a few months in the year. The northern portion consists of a kind of plateau, broken by beautiful and fertile valleys. Ariege belongs to the Garonne basin, and is watered by the Salat, the Arize, and the Ariege, with their tributaries. The climate is mild in the south, but naturally very severe among the mountains. The country affords excellent pasture, and a considerable number of cattle, sheep, and swine are reared; but there is little arable land, and what exists is broken up into small crofts. There is abundance of minerals lead, copper, manganese, and especially iron, being largely obtained. Alum is found at Mas-d Azil, alabaster among the mountains, building- stone at Pamiers, marble at Belesta, &c. Warm mineral springs are common. The preparation of woollen cloths, the forging of iron, and manufacture of steel are the principal industries ; while soap, paper, and wooden wares are likewise produced. Among the celebrated men of the department are Gaston de Foix, Pope Benedict XII., and Pierre Bayle. The chief town is Foix; the arrondissements, Foix, St Girons, and Pamiers. Population, 244,798. ARION (pronounced Ari on), a celebrated poet and cithara player, a native of Methymna, in Lesbos. As he is said to have been the friend of Periander, tyrant of Corinth, he must have nourished about 625 B.C. Several of the ancients ascribe to him the invention of the dithyramb and of dithyrambic poetry; it is probable, however, that his real service was confined to the organisation of that verse, and the conversion of it froir a mere drunken song, used in the Bacchic revels, to a measured antistrophic hymn, sung by a trained body of performers. Nothing more is known of the life of Arion, with the exception of the beautiful story first told by Herodotus, and afterwards elaborated and embellished by many subsequent writers. According to Herodotus, Arion had become desirous of exhibiting his skill in foreign countries, and, leaving Corinth, had travelled through Sicily and parts of Italy, where he gained great fame, and amassed a large sum of money. At Tarentum he embarked for his homeward voyage in a ship belonging to Corinth. The sight of his treasure roused the cupidity of the sailors, who resolved to possess themselves of it by putting him to death. In answer to his entreaties that they would spare his life, they insisted that he should either die by his own hand on shipboard, or cast himself into the sea. Arion chose the latter, and as a last favour begged permission to sing a parting song. The sailors, desirous of hearing so famous a musician, consented, and the poet, standing on the deck of the ship, arrayed in the rich garments in which he was accustomed to be habited, sang a dirge accompanied by his lyre. He then threw himself overboard; but instead of perishing, as the sailors imagined, he was miraculously borne up in safety by a dolphin, supposed to have been charmed by the music. Thus he was conveyed to Tsenarus, whence he proceeded to Corinth, arriving before the ship from Tarentum. Immediately on his arrival Arion related his story to Periander, the tyrant of Corinth, who was at first incredulous, but eventually learned the truth by a strata gem. Summoning the sailors, he demanded what had become of the poet. They affirmed that he had re mained behind at Tarentum; upon which they were sud denly confronted by Arion himself, arrayed in the same garments in which he had leapt overboard. The sailors confessed their guilt, and were punished. Herodotus and Pausanias both refer to a brass figure at Taenarus, which was supposed to represent Arion seated on the dolphin s back. But this story is only one of several in which the dolphin appears as saving the lives of favoured heroes. Among others, it is curious that Taras, the mythical founder of Tarentum, is said to have been conveyed in this manner from Tsenarus to Tarentum. On Tarentine coins a man and dolphin appear, and hence it may be thought that the monument at Taenarus represented Taras, and not Arion. From the frequent appearance of the dolphin in mythical stories of voyages, it has been conjectured that it was looked upon as in some way the preserver of those at sea, and votive offerings would therefore be given to it by those who had escaped the perils of the deep. At the same time, the connection of Apollo with the dolphin must not be forgotten. Under this form the god appeared when he founded the celebrated oracle at Delphi, the name of which commemorates the circumstance. He was also the god of music, the special preserver of poets, and to him the lyre was sacred. The story of Arion seems, therefore, to be but one of the many and varied forms of the wide-spread myth of Apollo. Among the numerous modern versions of it, particular mention may be made of the pretty Romanze &quot;Arion &quot;by A. W. SchlegeL ARIOSTO, LODOVICO, one of the greatest poets of Italy, was born at Reggio, in Lombardy, on the 8th Sept. 1474. His father was Niccolo Ariosto, commander of the citadel of Reggio. He showed a strong inclination to poetry from his earliest years, but was obliged by his father to study the law a pursuit in which he lost five of the best years of his life. Allowed at last to follow his inclina tion, he applied himself to the study of the classics under Gregorio da Spoleti. But after a short time, dur ing which he read the best Latin authors, he was de prived of his teacher by Gregorio s removal to France as tutor of Prince Sforza. Ariosto thus lost the oppor tunity of learning Greek, as he intended. His father dying soon after, he was compelled to forego his literary occupations to undertake the management of the family, whose affairs were embarrassed, and to provide for his nine brothers and sisters, one of whom was a cripple. He wrote, however, about this time some comedies in prose and a few lyrical pieces. Some of these attracted the notice of the cardinal Ippolito of Este, who took the young poet under his patronage, and appointed him one of the gentlemen of his household. This prince usurped the character of a patron of literature, whilst the only reward which the poet received for having dedicated to him the Orlando Furioso, was the question, &quot; Where did you find so many stories, Master Ludovic 1&quot; The poet himself tells us that the cardinal was ungrateful; deplores the time which he spent under his yoke ; and adds, that if he received some niggardly pension, it was not to reward him for his poetry, which the prelate despised, but to make some just compensation for the poet s running like a mes senger, with risk of his life, at his eminence s pleasure. Nor was even this miserable pittance regularly paid during the period that the poet enjoyed it. The cardinal went to Hungary in 1518, and wished Ariosto to accompany him. The poet excused himself, pleading; ill health, his