Note to Twelfth Night, 1.2.15, "like Arion on the dolphin's back"

According to the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, Arion had won a singing competition and on his way home across the sea with his rich prizes, greedy sailors gave him the choice of suicide with a land burial or being thrown into the sea to perish. Arion asked if he could sing one last song; the song in praise of Apollo attracted and charmed a dolphin pod who gathered around. When Arion jumped overboard to avoid being murdered, a dolphin gave him a ride to dry land.

Arion Riding a Dolphin, by Albrecht Dürer circa. 1514