Page:The Anglo-Saxon version of the story of Apollonius of Tyre.djvu/43

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
7]
35

sailing, [7] within one day came to Antioch, and went in to the king, and said: "Lord king, be glad now and rejoice, for that Apollonius dreads the powers of the realm, so that he dares continue nowhere." Then said the king: "Flee he can, but escape he cannot." He, Antiochus, then set forth his proclamation, thus saying: "What man soever that shall bring me Apollonius living, I will give him fifty pounds of gold, and to him who shall bring me his head, I will give him a hundred pounds of gold."

When this proclamation was thus set forth, then were seduced by avarice not only his foes but also his friends, and went after him, and sought him over all the earth, as well in downlands as woodlands, and in obscure places, but he was nowhere found. Then the king commanded ships to be prepared, and to pursue him, but it was long ere the ships were prepared, and Apollonius arrived before at Tharsus. When he one day was going by the strand, he saw one of his people who was called Hellanicus, who had first come thither. He then went to Apollonius and said: "Well hail, lord Apollonius." Then he, Apollonius, despised the greeting of a humble man, after the custom of great men. Hellanicus greeted him forthwith again, and said: "Well hail, Apollonius, and despise not thou a humble man that is adorned with honourable endowments; but hear now from me what thou thyself knowest not. It is in sooth very needful to