Pliny Dolphin P3

postero die obsident litus, prospectant mare et si quid est mari simile.

On the following day they took over the shore, and looked out over the sea and any waters resembling the sea.

natant pueri, inter hos ille, sed cautius.

The boys swam, and among them swam that boy [to whom the dolphin first appeared], but more cautiously than before.

delphinus rursus ad tempus, rursus ad puerum.

Again the dolphin appeared on time and again it approached the boy

fugit ille cum ceteris. delphinus, quasi invitet et revocet,

but he fled with the rest. The dolphin, as though inviting him [to approach], and calling him back,

exsilit mergitur, variosque orbes implicat expeditque.

leaped up and dived, then curled and uncurled itself into different shapes.

hoc altero die, hoc tertio, hoc pluribus,

This happened on the next day, and the day after, and on several other days,

donec homines innutritos mari subiret timendi pudor.

until shame at being afraid overcame the men, who had been brought up by the sea.

accedunt et adludunt et adpellant,

They approached the dolphin, played with it, and spoke to it,

tangunt etiam pertrectantque praebentem.

and even touched and stroked it as it offered itself to be touched.

crescit audacia experimento.

Their boldness increased with experience.

maxime puer, qui primus expertus est, adnatat nanti,

Especially the boy who first experienced this swam to the dolphin as it swam about,

insilit tergo, fertur referturque,

leaped on his back, and was carried out to sea and brought back again,

agnosci se amari putat, amat ipse;

he thought that he was recognised and loved [by the dolphin], while he loved it in turn.

neuter timet, neuter timetur; huius fiducia, mansuetudo illius augetur.

Neither feared nor was feared by the other; his trust and its tameness increased.

nec non alii pueri dextra laevaque simul eunt hortantes monentesque.

And other boys also went with them on the right hand and on the left, encouraging and advising.