Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/51

[14-15 and the precious hangings and the tables, and the royal dishes. While he beheld all this with pain, there sat an old and envious noble by the king, [who] when he saw that Apollonius sat so painfully, and beheld all things and ate nothing, then said he to the king, "Thou good king, this very man towards whom thou hast so well done, he is very envious of thy prosperity." Then said the king, "Thou art mistaken; in sooth this young man envieth nothing that he here seeth, but he showeth that he hath lost much." Then Arcestrates, the king, looked to Apollonius with a cheerful countenance, and said, "Thou young man, be merry with [15] us, and hope in God, that thou mayest come to better [days]."

While the king was saying these words, suddenly there came in the king's young daughter, and kissed her father and those sitting around. When she came to Apollonius, then she turned towards her father, and said: "Thou good king, and my dearest father, what is this young man, who sitteth opposite to thee on so honourable a seat, with painful countenance? I know not what he sorroweth for." Then said the king: "Dear daughter, this young man has been shipwrecked, and he of all men pleased me best at the play, therefore I invited him to this our entertainment. I know not what he is, nor whence he is; but if thou wilt know what he is, ask him, because it is fitting that thou shouldest know." Then went the maiden