he could not find him in the company. Then suddenly came Arcestrates, king of all that people, with a great company of his men, and went into the bath. Then [13] began the king to play with his companions at ball, and Apollonius mingled himself, so as God would, in the king's play, and, running, caught the ball, and struck with swift promptitude sent it again to the playing king. Again he sent it back; he promptly struck, so that he never let it fall. The king then perceived the young man's activity, so that he knew that he had not his like in the play. Then said he to his companions, "Go ye hence; this young man, as it seemeth to me, is my equal."
When Apollonius heard that the king praised him, he ran quickly and approached the king, and with skilful hand he swang the top[1] with so great swiftness that it seemed to the king as if he were turned from age to youth; and after that he agreeably ministered to him on his royal seat; and when he went out of the bath, he led him by the hand, and then afterwards turned thence the way that he before came. Then said the king to his men, after Apollonius was
e 3
- ↑ I have here retained the Saxon word, being in doubt as to its signification. The whole passage, however, is probably mistranslated from the Latin, as it agrees neither with the text given by Welser, nor with that of the Gesta. The former has, "Apollonius ut audivit se laudari, const ant er accessit ad regem, et accepto ceromate, cum docta manu circumlavit ex cum subtilitate." The latter reads, "accepto curamoco, docta manu circulavit eum," &c.
