Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/68

 father sailed, tossed to and fro by the winds which formed your cradle, at last put into this port, where we were hospitably received by Stranguilio and Dionysias, to whom your sire also recommended me. He then made a vow never to clip his beard, or hair, or nails, untill you were married. Now I advise, that if, after my death, your present friends would do you an injury, hasten into the forum, and there you will find a statue of your father. Cling to it, and state yourself the daughter of him whose statue that is. The citizens, mindful of the benefits received from him, will avenge your wrong." "My dear nurse," answered Tharsia, "you tell me strange things, of which, till now, I was ignorant." After some further discourse, Ligoridis gave up the ghost. Tharsia attended her obsequies, and lamented her a full year.

After this she returned to her studies in the schools. Her custom was, on returning, never to eat until she had been to the monument erected in honour of her nurse. She carried with her a flask of wine; and there tarried, invoking the name of her beloved and lamented parents. While she was thus employed, Dionysias, with her daughter Philothemia, passed through the forum; and the citizens, who had caught a glimpse of Tharsia's form, exclaimed, "Happy father of the lovely Tharsia! but as for her companion, she is a shame and a disgrace." The mother, hearing her daughter vilified, while the stranger was