Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/252

240 "And who shall dare proscribe a prince in his own land?"

"Antiochus has done it."

"Antiochus! for what cause?"

"Because you sought to be his son."

"And what is the price of my proscription?"

"He who shall take you alive, is to receive fifty talents of gold; but for your head, he will have a hundred. And therefore I caution you to be upon your guard."

Saying this, Elinatus went his way. Apollonius recalled him, and proffered the hundred talents of gold, which had been set upon his head. "Take," said he, "so much of my poverty; thou hast merited it: cut off my head, and gratify the malicious king. You possess the sum, and still you are innocent. I engage you, therefore, of my own free will, to do so great a pleasure to him who seeks my destruction." "My lord," answered the old man, "far be it from me to take away your life for hire; the friendship of good men is of more value, and cannot be bought." Then,