Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/45

8-9] country?" Apollonius said, "I heard say that I was condemned." Stranguilio [9] said, "Who hath condemned thee?" Apollonius said, "Antiochus the king." Stranguilio said, "For what reasons?" Apollonius said, "Because I asked his daughter for me to wife, of whom I may in truth say that she was his own wife: therefore, if it may be, I will conceal myself in your country." Then said Stranguilio: "Lord Apollonius, our city is in want and may not suit your nobility, because we are suffering the severest and fiercest famine, and for my citizens is no hope of salvation; but the most cruel [death] stands before our eyes."

Then said Apollonius: "My dearest friend Stranguilio, thank God that he hath led me to flee hither to your frontiers. I will give your citizens a hundred thousand measures of wheat, if ye will conceal my flight." When Stranguilio heard that, he prostrated himself at his feet, and said: "Lord Apollonius, if thou helpest these hungry citizens, we will not only conceal thy flight, but also, if it shall be needful to thee, we will fight for thy safety." Then Apollonius mounted on the tribunal in the street, and said to the citizens present: "Ye citizens of Tharsus, I Apollonius, the Tyrian prince, make known to you, that I believe that ye will be mindful of this benefit, and