Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/56

Rh thee on land." When Apollonius heard that, he received the maiden for instruction, and taught her as well as he himself had learned.

It happened then, after this, within a few hours, that Arcestrates the king held Apollonius hand in hand, and so went out into the street of the city. Then at length there came walking towards them three learned and noble men, who long before had desired the king's daughter. These then all three together, with one voice, greeted the king. Then the king smiled, and looked on them, and thus said: "Why is it that ye greet me with one voice?" Then answered one of them and said: "We, a long time ago, demanded thy daughter, and thou often hast deliberately tormented us with delay: therefore we come hither to-day thus together. [20] We are thy fellow-citizens, born of noble lineage: now we beseech thee that thou choose thee one of us three, which thou wilt have for thy son-in-law." Then said the king: "Ye have not chosen a good time: my daughter is now very busy about her learning; but lest that I should always longer put you off, write your names in a letter, and her dower; then I will send the letters to my daughter, and she herself shall choose which of you she will." Then the young men did so, and the king took the letters, and sealed them with his ring, and gave them to Apollonius, thus saying: "Take now, Master Apollonius, if it be