Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/39

3-4] men. He rejoiced in that he was the husband of his daughter; and in order that he might the longer enjoy his daughter's impious bride-bed, and drive from him those who desired her in lawful marriage, he set then a riddle, thus saying: "Whatever man who shall read my riddle aright, let him receive my daughter to wife, and he who shall misread it, be he beheaded." What is now more to say about it, but that kings came from every quarter and princes, on account of the incredible beauty of the maiden, and they despised death, and ventured to read the riddle; but if any one of them, through meditation of booklike wisdom, read the riddle aright, then was he led to beheading the same as he who did not read it aright: and all the heads were set over the gate.

Now while Antiochus the cruel king continued in this cruelty, then was a young man called Apollonius, who was very wealthy and prudent, and was prince of the province of Tyre, who trusted to his prudence and to his book-learning, and began to row till that he came to Antioch. Then went he in to the king, [4] and said: "Good health, king; behold, I come now to thee as to a good and pious father. I am truly come of kingly race, and I beg thy daughter for me to wife."

When the king heard that he would not listen to his will, he with a very angry countenance looked on the young man (prince), and said: "Thou young man