Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/313

Rh know me? Answer distinctly, who employed thee to murder me?"

"My lady Dionysias."

The citizens, hearing this, dragged both the husband and wife out of the city and stoned them. They would have killed Theophilus also, but Tharsia interposing, freed him from death. "Unless he had given me time to pray," said she, "I should not now have been defending him."

Apollonius tarried here three months, and gave large gifts to the city. Thence, sailing to Pentapolis, the old king, Altistrates, received them with delight. He lived with his son and daughter, and grandchild, a whole year in happiness. After that, he died full of years, bequeathing the kingdom to his son and daughter.

As Apollonius walked one day upon the sea-shore, he recollected the kind-hearted fisherman who succoured him after his shipwreck, and he ordered him to be seized and brought to the palace. The poor fisherman, perceiving himself under the escort of a guard of soldiers, expected nothing less than death.