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757 copies of this edition are printed 
 for advance subscribers only 
 
 Copyright, igo$ 
 By Nathan Haskell Dole 
 
 HENRY MORSE STEFHEMS 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 The so-called Gesta Romanorum — 
 the Gests or Acts of the Romans — 
 consists of a collection of l8i stories, 
 first printed in 1473. Their popularity in 
 the Middle Ages is shown by the fact 
 that numerous manuscripts, all varying 
 in content and size, are found in various 
 parts of Europe. Wynkyn de Worde, 
 Caxton's apprentice, who flourished be- 
 tween 149 1 and 1535, included among 
 his four hundred printed books a small 
 quarto, undated, which contained forty- 
 three chapters or stories, translated into 
 the quaint and stilted English of his day. 
 There were other versions of the English 
 manuscripts of not more than sixty 
 chapters, but not until 1824 was any 
 attempt made to give the complete work 
 in modern style. The translation then 
 i 
 
 f/^ 
 
 €3^-23 
 
 
 513420 
 
published in two volumes was by the 
 Rev. Charles Swan, who prefixed a some- 
 what elaborate introduction, showing that 
 a great deal of the " Romantic Fabling " 
 of the Middle Ages was due to the Cru- 
 saders bringing back with them Oriental 
 tales. The monks, desirous of impress- 
 ing their illiterate hearers, employed sto- 
 ries of Eastern, classical, and legendary 
 origin to illustrate their sermons. Char- 
 acteristic of all the Gesta Romanorum is 
 the often far-fetched and absurd " mor- 
 alization " appended. There was no 
 attempt to teach history or geography, 
 or to avoid anachronisms. The perfect 
 naivete of the narration is delightful ; 
 marvels are included with all the sol- 
 emnity of a mediaeval Bestiary j countries 
 and cities are jumbled together with an 
 indeterminateness worthy of a candidate 
 for a civil service position ; royal titles 
 are applied to the men of common clay, 
 and the queerest standards of morals are 
 inculcated. 
 
 Nevertheless, the stories are often of 
 striking interest and vivacity. Who 
 their original author or authors may have 
 ii 
 
been is wholly a matter of conjecture. 
 But later writers have freely used this 
 storehouse of suggestion for more care- 
 fully elaborated novels or more consist- 
 ently dramatic works. Many of them 
 were used by Shakespeare, and the in- 
 quisitive reader may like to compare the 
 first and longest tale in the present selec- 
 tion with the tragedy of " Pericles, 
 Prince of Tyre." 
 
 The chapters here printed are taken 
 from the revised edition of Swan's trans- 
 lation. The morals are omitted, j 
 
 111 
 
GESTA ROMANORUM 
 
 Antiochus, the king of Antioch (from 
 whom the city takes its name), had a 
 daughter of such uncommon beauty, that 
 when she came of marriageable years, 
 she was sought after with the greatest 
 
 5 
 
eagerness. But on whom to bestow her 
 was* a source of much anxiety to the 
 king; and, from frequently contemplat- 
 ing the exquisite loveliness of her face, 
 the delicacy of her form, and the excel- 
 lence of her disposition, he began to love 
 her with more than a father's love. He 
 burned with an unhallowed flame, and 
 would have excited a simultaneous feel- 
 ing in his daughter. 
 
 She, however, courageously persevered 
 in the path of duty, until at length vio- 
 lence accomplished what persuasion had 
 in vain struggled to effect. Thus situ- 
 ated, she gave a loose to her tears, and 
 wept in an agony of the bitterest sorrow. 
 At this moment her nurse entered, and 
 asked the occasion of her uneasiness; 
 she replied, "Alas, my beloved nurse, 
 two noble names have just perished." 
 
 "Dear lady," returned the other, 
 *' why do you say so ? " 
 
 She told her. 
 
 " And what accursed demon has been 
 busy ? " asked the nurse. 
 
 " Where," replied the lady, " where 
 is my father ? I have no father ; in me 
 6 
 
that sacred name has perished. But 
 death is a remedy for all, and I will die." 
 
 The nurse, alarmed at what she heard, 
 soothed her into a less desperate mood, 
 and engaged her word not to seek so 
 fearful a relief. 
 
 In the mean time the impious parent, 
 assuming the specious garb of hypocrisy, 
 exhibited to the citizens the fair example 
 of an honest life. In secret he exulted 
 at the success of his iniquity, and re- 
 flected upon the best means of freeing 
 his unhappy daughter from the numerous 
 suitors who honourably desired her hand. 
 To effect this, he devised a new scheme 
 of wickedness. He proposed certain 
 questions, and annexed to them a condi- 
 tion, by which whosoever furnished an 
 appropriate answer should espouse the 
 lady ; but failing, should be instantly de- 
 capitated. A multitude of crowned heads 
 from every quarter, attracted by her un- 
 matchable beauty, presented themselves ; 
 but they were all put to death. For, if 
 any one chanced to develop the horrid 
 secret, he was slain equally with him 
 who failed, in order to prevent its being 
 7 
 
divulged. Then the head of the victim 
 blackened upon the gate. The suitors, 
 therefore, naturally grew less; for, per- 
 ceiving so many ghastly countenances 
 peering above them, their courage quailed, 
 and they returned hastily to their several 
 homes. 
 
 Now, all this was done that he who 
 had produced this scene of wickedness 
 might continue in uninterrupted posses- 
 sion. After a short time, the young 
 prince of Tyre, named Apollonius, well- 
 lettered and rich, sailing along the coast, 
 disembarked and entered Antioch. Ap- 
 proaching the royal presence, he said, 
 
 " Hail, oh king ! I seek thy daughter 
 in marriage." 
 
 The king unwillingly heard him com- 
 municate his wishes, and fixing an ear- 
 nest look upon the young man, said, 
 
 " Dost thou know the conditions ? " 
 
 " I do," answered he boldly, " and 
 find ample confirmation at your gates." 
 
 The king, enraged at his firmness, re- 
 turned, " Hear, then, the question — ' I 
 am transported with wickedness ; I live 
 upon my mother's flesh. I seek my 
 8 
 
brother, and find him not in the off- 
 spring of my mother/ " 
 
 The youth received the question, and 
 went from the presence of the king ; and 
 after duly considering the matter, by the 
 good providence of God, discovered a 
 solution. He immediately returned, and 
 addressing the incestuous wretch, said, 
 
 " Thou hast proposed a question, oh 
 king! attend my answer. Thou hast 
 said, *' I am transported with wickedness^ 
 and thou hast not lied: look into thy 
 heart. ' / live upon my mother's fleshy — 
 look upon thy daughter." 
 
 The king, hearing this explication of 
 the riddle, and fearing the discovery of 
 his enormities, regarded him with a wrath- 
 ful eye. 
 
 " Young man," said he, " thou art 
 far from the truth, and deservest death ; 
 but I will yet allow thee the space of 
 thirty days. Recollect thyself. In the 
 mean while, return to thy own coun- 
 try : if thou findest a solution to the 
 enigma, thou shalt marry my daughter : 
 if not thou shalt die." 
 
 The youth, much disturbed, called his 
 9 
 
company together, and hastening on 
 board his own vessel, immediately set 
 sail. 
 
 No sooner had he departed, than the 
 king sent for his steward, whose name 
 was Taliarchus, and spoke to him in 
 this manner : 
 
 " Taliarchus, you are the most faith- 
 ful repository of my secrets ; you know, 
 therefore, that the Prince ApoUonius of 
 Tyre has found out my riddle. Pursue 
 him instantly to Tyre, and destroy him 
 either with the sword or with poison. 
 When you return, you shall receive a 
 liberal recompense." 
 
 Taliarchus, arming himself, and pro- 
 viding a sum of money, sailed into the 
 country of the young man. 
 
 10 
 
II. 
 
 When Apollonius reached his own 
 home, he opened his coffers, and searched 
 a variety of books upon the subject in 
 question, but he still adhered to the same 
 idea. 
 
 " Unless I am much deceived," said 
 he to himself, " King Antiochus enter- 
 tains an impious love for his daughter." 
 And continuing his reflections, he went 
 on, " What art thou about, Apollonius ? 
 thou hast resolved his problem, and still 
 he has not given thee his daughter. 
 Therefore, God will not have thee die." 
 II 
 
Commanding his ships to be got 
 ready, and laden with a hundred thou- 
 sand measures of corn, and a great weight 
 of gold and silver, with many changes 
 of garments, he hastily embarked during 
 the night, in company with a few faith- 
 ful followers. They put to sea immedi- 
 ately; and much wonder and regret 
 arose the next day among the citizens 
 respecting him. For he was greatly 
 beloved amongst them; and such was 
 their sorrow, that the barbers, for a 
 length of time, lost all their occupation ; 
 public spectacles were forbidden; the 
 baths were closed, and no one entered 
 either the temples or tabernacles. 
 
 While these things were going on, 
 Taliarchus, who had been despatched by 
 Antiochus to destroy the prince, observ- 
 ing every house shut up, and the signs 
 of mourning general, asked a boy the 
 occasion of it. 
 
 " Sir," replied he, '' are you ignorant of 
 this matter, that you ask me ? Under- 
 stand, then, that Apollonius, prince of this 
 country, having returned from a visit to 
 King Antiochus, is nowhere to be found." 
 12 
 
Much rejoiced at what he heard, Tal- 
 iarchus returned to his vessel, and sailed 
 back again to his own country. Pre- 
 senting himself to the king, he exclaimed, 
 
 " Be happy, my lord ; ApoUonius, 
 through dread of you, is not to be found 
 anywhere." 
 
 " He has fled," returned the king ; 
 "but long he shall not escape me." 
 And he immediately put forth an edict 
 to this effect : 
 
 "Whosoever brings before me the 
 traitor ApoUonius shall receive fifty tal- 
 ents of gold ; but whosoever presents me 
 with his head shall be rewarded with a 
 hundred." 
 
 This tempting proposal stimulated 
 not only his enemies, but his pretended 
 friends, to follow him, and many dedi- 
 cated their time and activity to the pur- 
 suit. They traversed sea and land, near 
 and remote countries, but he fortu- 
 nately escaped their search. The mali- 
 cious king fitted out a navy for the same 
 purpose, and commanded them to pro- 
 ceed with the utmost diligence in their 
 employment. 
 
 ^3 
 
Apollonius, however, arrived safely 
 at Tharsus, and walking along the shore, 
 he was distinguished by a certain slave 
 of his own household, called Elinatus, 
 who happened that very hour to have 
 reached it. Approaching, he made obei- 
 sance to the prince, and Apollonius, 
 recognizing him, returned his salute as 
 great men are wont to do; for he 
 thought him contemptible. 
 
 The old man, indignant at his re- 
 ception, again saluted him, " Hail, 
 King Apollonius ! Return my salute, 
 and despise not poverty, if it be orna- 
 mented by honest deeds. Did you 
 know what I know, you would be 
 cautious." 
 
 " May it please you to tell me what 
 you know ? " answered the prince. 
 
 "You are proscribed," returned the 
 other. 
 
 "And who shall dare proscribe a 
 prince in his own land ? " 
 
 " Antiochus has done it." 
 
 " Antiochus ! For what cause ? " 
 
 " Because you sought to be what the 
 father of his daughter is." 
 14 
 
" And what is the price of my proscrip- 
 tion ? " 
 
 " He who shall take you alive is to 
 receive fifty talents of gold ; but for 
 your head he will have a hundred. And 
 therefore I caution you to be upon your 
 guard." 
 
 Saying this, Elinatus went his way. 
 Apollonius recalled him, and proffered 
 the hundred talents of gold which had 
 been set upon his head. 
 
 "Take," said he, "so much of my 
 poverty; thou hast merited it: cut off 
 my head, and gratify the malicious king. 
 You possess the sum, and still you are 
 innocent. I engage you, therefore, of 
 my own free will, to do so great a 
 pleasure to him who seeks my destruc- 
 tion." 
 
 " My lord," answered the old man, 
 *' far be it from me to take away your 
 life for hire ; the friendship of good men 
 is of more value, and cannot be bought." 
 
 Then, returning thanks to the prince 
 for his munificence, he departed. But as 
 Apollonius tarried on the shore, he per- 
 ceived a person named Stranguilio 
 
 IS 
 
approaching him with a sorrowful aspect, 
 and every now and then uttering a deep 
 lament. 
 
 " Hail, Stranguilio ! " said the prince. 
 
 " Hail, my lord the king ! " was his 
 reply. ''You appear concerned; tell 
 me what occasions it ? " 
 
 " To say truth," returned Apollonius, 
 "it is because I have required the 
 daughter of a king in marriage. Can I 
 conceal myself in your country ? " 
 
 " My lord," answered Stranguilio, 
 *' our city is extremely poor, and cannot 
 sustain your attendants, in consequence 
 of a grievous famine which has wasted 
 the land. Our citizens are hopeless and 
 helpless ; and death, with all its accom- 
 panying horrors, is before our eyes." 
 
 " Give thanks to God," replied Apol- 
 lonius, " who hath driven me a fugitive 
 to your shores. If you will conceal my 
 flight, I will present to you a hundred 
 thousand measures of corn." 
 
 Full of joy, Stranguilio prostrated 
 himself at the feet of the prince, and 
 exclaimed, 
 
 "My lord, if you will assist our 
 i6 
 
starving city we will not only conceal 
 your flight, but, if necessary, unsheath 
 our swords in your defence." 
 
 Apollonius, therefore, hastened into 
 the forum, and ascending the tribunal, 
 spoke thus to the assembled population : 
 " Men of Tharsus, understanding that 
 an afflicting dearth of provisions troubles 
 you, I, Apollonius, proffer aid. I believe 
 that you will not forget the benefit I 
 render you, but conceal my flight from 
 those who unjustly pursue me. Ye 
 know what the malice of Antiochus aims 
 at, and by what providence I am brought 
 hither to relieve you in this terrible 
 emergency. I present to you a hundred 
 thousand measures of corn at the price I 
 gave for it in my own country — that is, 
 at eight pieces for each measure." 
 
 The citizens, delighted at what they 
 heard, gave thanks to God, and imme- 
 diately prepared the corn for use. 
 
 But Apollonius, not forgetting the 
 dignity of a king in the traffic of a 
 merchant, returned the purchase-money 
 to the state ; and the people, struck with 
 wonder at this unexpected instance of 
 17 
 
generosity, erected in the forum a chariot 
 drawn by four horses, running side by 
 side. In the car was a statue, represent- 
 ing Apollonius with his right hand rub- 
 bing the corn from the ear. His left foot 
 trampled upon it ; and on the pediment 
 they placed the following inscription : — 
 " Apollonius, Prince of Tyre, by a 
 
 GIFT TO THE CITY OF ThARSUS, PRE- 
 SERVED ITS INHABITANTS FROM A CRUEL 
 DEATH." 
 
 i8 
 
III. 
 
 A FEW days afterwards, by the advice 
 of Stranguilio and his wife Dionysias, 
 the prince determined to sail for Penta- 
 polis, a city of the Tyrrheni, where he 
 might remain in greater tranquillity and 
 opulence. They brought him, therefore, 
 with much ceremony to the sea-shore; 
 and then bidding his hosts farewell, he 
 embarked. 
 
 For three days and nights he sailed 
 19 
 
with favourable winds ; but after losing 
 sight of the Tharsian coast, they veered 
 round, and blew from the north with 
 great violence. The rain fell in heavy 
 showers, mixed with hail ; and the ship 
 was carried away by the fury of the 
 storm. Dark clouds brooded over them ; 
 and the blast, still increasing, threatened 
 them with immediate death. The crew, 
 imagining all was lost, caught hold of 
 planks, and committed themselves to the 
 mercy of the waves. In the extreme 
 darkness that followed, all perished. 
 But ApoUonius, riding on a plank, was 
 cast upon the Pentapolitan shore; on 
 which, after quitting the water, he stood 
 thoughtfully, and fixing his eyes upon 
 the ocean, now in a calm, exclaimed, 
 
 " Oh, ye faithless waves ! better had 
 I fallen into the hands of that savage 
 king ! — to whom shall I now go ? 
 What country shall I seek ? Who will 
 afford succour to an unknown and help- 
 less stranger ? " 
 
 As he spoke this, he beheld a young 
 man coming towards him. He was a 
 robust, hard-favoured fisherman, clad in 
 20 
 
a coarse frock. ApoUonius, driven by 
 his distresses, humbly besought this 
 man's assistance, even with tears starting 
 from his eyes. 
 
 " Pity me," said he, " whosoever thou 
 art ; pity a man stripped of all by ship- 
 wreck — one to whom better days have 
 been familiar, and who is descended from 
 no ignoble family. But that you may 
 know whom you succour, understand 
 that I am a prince of Tyre, and that my 
 name is ApoUonius. Save, then, my 
 life, I entreat you." 
 
 The fisherman, compassionating his 
 sufferings, brought him to his own roof, 
 and placed such as he had before him. 
 And that there might be no deficiency in 
 the charitable part he was acting, he 
 divided his cloak, and gave one-half to 
 the stranger. 
 
 "Take," said the benevolent man, 
 " take what I can give, and go into the 
 city; there, perhaps, you will find one 
 with more power to serve you than I 
 am. If you are unsuccessful in your 
 search, return hither to me. What 
 poverty can provide you shall share. 
 21 
 
Yet, should you hereafter be restored to 
 your throne, do not forget or despise the 
 coarse, threadbare cloak of the poor 
 fisherman." 
 
 " Fear not," said Apollonius ; " should 
 I prove ungrateful may I be shipwrecked 
 again, nor find in my extremity a man like 
 yourself." 
 
 As he spoke, the fisherman pointed 
 out the way to the city gates, which 
 Apollonius shortly entered. 
 
 Whilst he reflected upon the path he 
 should pursue, he beheld a naked boy 
 running along the street, having his head 
 anointed with oil, and bound with a nap- 
 kin. The youth lustily vociferated, 
 
 *' Hear, hear, pilgrims or slaves ; who- 
 soever would be washed, let him haste 
 to the gymnasium." 
 
 Apollonius, according to the procla- 
 mation, entered the bath, and pulling off 
 his cloak, made use of the water. Whilst 
 he was doing this, he cast his eyes around 
 to discover some one of an equality with 
 himself; and at last Altistrates, king of 
 all that country, entered with a troop of 
 his attendants. The king played with 
 
 22 
 
them at tennis -, and Apollonius running 
 forward, caught up the ball, and striking 
 it with inconceivable skill and rapidity, 
 returned it to the royal player. The 
 king, motioning to his servants, said, 
 
 " Give up your sport, give up your 
 sport ; for I suspect this youth is as good 
 a player as I am." 
 
 Apollonius, flattered by this praise, ap- 
 proached the king, and catching up an 
 unguent, with a dexterous hand anointed 
 the king's body. Then, having grate- 
 fully administered a bath, he departed. 
 After he was gone, " I swear to you," 
 said his majesty to his surrounding 
 friends, "that I have never bathed so 
 agreeably as I have done to-day by the 
 kindness of a youth whom I do not 
 know. Go," added he, to one of the 
 attendants, " go, and inquire who he is." 
 
 He followed accordingly, and beheld 
 him equipped in the mean cloak received 
 from the fisherman. Returning to the 
 king, he said, "The youth is one who 
 has suffered shipwreck." 
 
 " How do you know ? " replied he. 
 
 "The man said nothing," answered 
 
 ?3 
 
the servant, "but his dress pointed out 
 his circumstances." 
 
 "Go quickly," returned the king, 
 " and say that I entreat him to sup with 
 me. 
 
 Apollonius was content, and accom- 
 panied the servant back. The latter, 
 approaching the sovereign, stated the re- 
 turn of the shipwrecked person, but that, 
 ashamed of his mean habit, he was un- 
 willing to enter. The king instantly 
 gave command that he should be clothed 
 in honourable apparel, and introduced to 
 the supper-room. 
 
 Apollonius therefore entered the royal 
 drawing-room, and was placed opposite 
 to the king. Dinner was brought, and 
 then supper. He feasted not, however, 
 with the feasters, but continually cast 
 his eye upon the gold and silver orna- 
 ments of the table, and wept. One of 
 the guests observing this, said to the king, 
 
 " He envies your regal magnificence, 
 unless I am much deceived." 
 
 "You suspect unhappily," answered 
 he ; " he does not envy me, but laments 
 somewhat that he has lost." 
 
 ?4 
 
Then, turning to Apollonius, with a 
 smiling countenance he said, " Young 
 man, feast with us to-day, and hope 
 that God has better things in store for 
 you." 
 
 As he thus endeavoured to raise the 
 drooping spirits of the youth, his daugh- 
 ter, a beautiful girl, entered, and first 
 kissed her father, and then those who 
 were his guests. When she had gone 
 through this ceremony, she returned to 
 the king, and said, 
 
 " My dear father, who is that young 
 man reclining opposite to you in the 
 place of honour, and whose grief appears 
 so excessive ? " 
 
 '' Sweet daughter," answered he, " that 
 is a shipwrecked youth, who pleased me 
 to-day in the gymnasium ; therefore I 
 invited him to supper; but who he is I 
 know not. If you wish to ascertain 
 this, ask him — it becomes you to know 
 all things; and perhaps, when you are 
 made acquainted with his sorrows, you 
 may compassionate and relieve them." 
 
 The girl, happy in the permission, ap- 
 proached the young man, and said, 
 25 
 
" Good friend, kindness proves nobil- 
 ity : if it be not troublesome, tell me 
 your name and fortunes." 
 
 *' Would you inquire my name ? " re- 
 plied he : "I lost it in the sea ; or my 
 nobility ? I left it in Tyre." 
 
 " Speak intelligibly," said the girl ; and 
 ApoUonius then related his name and 
 adventures. When he had made an end 
 he wept, and the king, perceiving his 
 tears, said to his daughter, 
 
 " My dear child, you did ill to inquire 
 the name and occurrences of the young 
 man's life. You have renewed his past 
 griefs. But since he has revealed the 
 truth, it is right that you should show 
 the liberty you enjoy as queen." 
 
 The lady complied with the wishes of 
 her father, and looking upon the youth, 
 exclaimed, " You are our knight, Apol- 
 lonius ! Put away your afflictions, and 
 my father will make you rich." 
 
 ApoUonius thanked her with modesty 
 and lamentation. Then said the king, 
 " Bring hither your lyre, and add song to 
 the banquet." She commanded the in- 
 strument to be brought, and began to 
 26 
 
touch it with infinite sweetness. Ap- 
 plause followed the performance. 
 
 " There never was," said the courtiers, 
 " a better or a sweeter song." Apollo- 
 nius alone was silent, and his want of 
 politeness drew from the king a remark. 
 
 "You do an unhandsome thing. 
 Everybody else extols my daughter's 
 musical skill; why then do you only 
 discommend it ? " 
 
 " Most gracious king," replied he, 
 " permit me to say what I think. Your 
 daughter comes near to musical preemi- 
 nence, but has not yet attained it. Com- 
 mand, therefore, a lyre to be given me, 
 and you shall then know what you are 
 now ignorant of." 
 
 " I perceive," observed the king, " that 
 you are universally learned," and directed 
 a lyre to be presented to him. ApoUo- 
 nius retired for a few moments, and dec- 
 orated his head; then, reentering the 
 dining-room, he took the instrument, 
 and struck it so gracefully and delight- 
 fully that they unanimously agreed that 
 it was the harmony not of Apollonius, 
 but of Apollo. 
 
 27 
 
The guests positively asserted that 
 they never heard or saw anything better ; 
 and the daughter, regarding the youth 
 with fixed attention, grew suddenly and 
 violently enamoured. 
 
 " Oh, my father," cried she, " let me 
 reward him as I think fit." 
 
 The king assented ; and she, looking 
 tenderly upon the youth, said, 
 
 " Sir Apollonius, receive out of my 
 royal father's munificence two hundred 
 talents of gold and four hundred pounds 
 of silver, a rich garment, twenty men- 
 servants, and ten handmaids;" then, 
 turning to the attendants present, she 
 continued, " Bring what I have prom- 
 ised." Her commands were obeyed ; and 
 the guests then rising, received permis- 
 sion to depart. 
 
 When they were gone, Apollonius 
 also arose, and said, 
 
 " Excellent king, pitier of the dis- 
 tressed ! and you, O queen, lover of 
 study and friend of philosophy, fare ye 
 well." Then addressing the servants 
 bestowed upon him, he commanded them 
 to bear away the presents he had re- 
 28 
 
ceived to an hostelry ; but the girl, who 
 became apprehensive of losing her lover, 
 looked sorrowfully at her parent, and 
 said, 
 
 " Best king and father, does it please 
 you that ApoUonius, whom we have so 
 lately enriched, should leave us ? The 
 goods we have given him will be pur- 
 loined by wicked men." 
 
 The king admitted this, and assigned 
 him apartments in the palace, where he 
 lived in great honour. 
 
 But the lady's affection so much in- 
 creased, that it deprived her of all rest ; 
 and in the morning she hastened to the 
 bedside of her father. Surprised at the 
 early visit, he inquired what had roused 
 her at so unusual an hour. 
 
 *'I have been unable to sleep," an- 
 swered the lady ; " and I wish you to 
 permit me to receive instructions in music 
 from the young stranger." 
 
 The king, pleased with his daughter's 
 zeal for improvement, cheerfully as- 
 sented, and commanded the youth to be 
 brought into his presence. 
 
 " ApoUonius," said he, " my daughter 
 29 
 
is extremely desirous of learning your 
 science ; if you will instruct her, I will 
 reward you abundantly." 
 
 " My lord," he answered, " I am 
 ready to comply with your wishes;" 
 and, accordingly, the girl was placed 
 under his tuition. But her love preyed 
 upon her health, and she visibly declined. 
 Physicians were called in, and they had 
 recourse to the usual expedients ; but the 
 diagnostics led them to no certain con- 
 clusion. 
 
 30 
 
IV. 
 
 In a few days three young noblemen, 
 who had long desired to espouse the lady, 
 presented themselves before the king, 
 and besought his favour. 
 
 "You have often promised us," said 
 they, "that one or the other should 
 marry your daughter. We are rich, and 
 of noble lineage : choose, then, which of 
 us shall be your son-in-law." 
 
 "You come," replied the king, "at 
 an unseasonable time. My daughter is 
 unable to follow her usual pursuits, and 
 
 31 
 
for this reason languishes on her bed. 
 But that I may not appear to you un- 
 necessarily to protract your uncertainty, 
 write each of you your names, and the 
 settlement you will make her. She 
 shall examine them, and choose be- 
 tween ye." 
 
 The suitors complied, and gave the 
 writings to the king, who read, and 
 sealed, and then despatched Apollonius 
 with them to the lady. As soon as 
 she beheld him whom she loved, she 
 exclaimed, 
 
 *'Sir, how is it that you enter my 
 chamber alone ? " 
 
 He presented the writings which her 
 father had sent, and, having opened 
 them, she read the names and proposals 
 of the three suitors. Casting them aside, 
 she said to Apollonius, 
 
 *' Sir, are you not sorry that I must be 
 married ? " 
 
 ** No," returned he ; " whatever is for 
 your honour is pleasant to me." 
 
 " Ah ! master, master," continued the 
 girl ; " but if you loved me, you would 
 grieve." 
 
 32 
 
She wrote back her answer, sealed, 
 and delivered it to ApoUonius to carry 
 to the king. It ran in these words : 
 
 " Royal sir and father, since you have 
 permitted me to write my wishes, I do 
 write them. I will espouse him who 
 was shipwrecked." 
 
 The king read, but not knowing 
 which of them had been in this pre- 
 dicament, he said to the contending 
 parties, " Which of you has been ship- 
 wrecked ? " 
 
 One, whose name was Ardonius, re- 
 plied, " I have, my lord." 
 
 " What ! " cried another, " diseases 
 confound thee; mayst thou be neither 
 safe nor sound. I know perfectly well 
 that thou hast never been beyond the 
 gates of the city ; where, then, wert thou 
 shipwrecked ? " 
 
 When the king could not discover the 
 shipwrecked suitor, he turned to ApoUo- 
 nius, and said, 
 
 " Take thou the tablets and read ; per- 
 haps they will be more intelligible to you 
 than they are to me." 
 
 He took them, and running his eye 
 
 33 
 
over the contents, perceived that he was 
 the person designed, and that the lady 
 loved him. He blushed. 
 
 " Dost thou discover this shipwrecked 
 person, Apollonius ? " asked the king. 
 He blushed still deeper, and made a 
 brief reply. 
 
 When the king became aware of his 
 daughter's inclination, he said to the three 
 lovers, 
 
 " In due time I will communicate with 
 you." They bade him farewell and de- 
 parted. But the king hastened to his 
 daughter. 
 
 "Whom," said he, "wouldst thou 
 choose for thy husband?" 
 
 She prostrated herself before him with 
 tears, and answered, 
 
 "Dear father, I desire to marry the 
 shipwrecked Apollonius." 
 
 His child's tears softened the parent's 
 heart ; he raised her up, and said, 
 
 " My sweet child, think only of thy 
 happiness ; since he is thy choice, he 
 shall be mine. I will appoint the day 
 of your nuptials immediately." 
 
 The following morning, he sent mes- 
 34 
 
sengers to the neighbouring cities to in- 
 vite the nobles. When they arrived, he 
 said, 
 
 " My lords, my daughter would marry 
 her master. I desire you, therefore, to 
 be merry, for my child will be united to 
 a wise man." 
 
 Saying this, he fixed the period of 
 their spousals. 
 
 Now, it happened, after she became 
 pregnant, that she walked with her hus- 
 band, prince Apollonius, by the sea-shore, 
 and a fine ship riding at anchor in the 
 distance, the latter perceived that it was 
 of his own country. Turning to the 
 master of the vessel, he said, " Whence 
 are you ? " 
 
 " From Tyre," replied the man. 
 
 "You speak of my own land, my 
 friend." 
 
 " Indeed ! and are you a Tyrian ? " 
 
 " As you have said." 
 
 " Do you know," continued the mas- 
 ter, "a prince of that country, called 
 Apollonius ? I seek him ; and when- 
 ever you happen to see him, bid him 
 exult. King Antiochus and his daugh- 
 35 
 
ter, at the very same instant, were blasted 
 with lightning. The kingdom has fallen 
 to Apollonius." 
 
 Full of pleasure at the unexpected 
 intelligence he had received, the prince 
 said to his wife, '' Will you acquiesce in 
 my setting out to obtain the throne ? " 
 
 The lady instantly burst into tears: 
 " Oh, my lord," said she, " the journey 
 is long, and yet you would leave me I 
 If, however, it is necessary that you 
 should go, we will go together." 
 
 Instantly hastening to her father, she 
 communicated the happy news which 
 had just been heard, that Antiochus and 
 his daughter, by the just judgment of 
 an offended God, had been struck with 
 lightning, and his wealth and diadem 
 reserved for her husband. And lastly, 
 she entreated his permission to accom- 
 pany him. The old king, much exhila- 
 rated with the intelligence, was easily 
 prevailed upon to assent ; and ships were 
 accordingly prepared for their convey- 
 ance. They were laden with everything 
 necessary for the voyage; and a nurse, 
 called Ligoridis, was embarked, and a 
 
 36 
 
midwife, in anticipation of the young 
 queen's parturition. Her father accom- 
 panied them to the shore, and with an 
 affectionate kiss of each, took his leave. 
 
 37 
 
ITv; 
 
 !l 
 
 la' 
 
 1 
 
 il 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 
 s'l^ 
 
 # 
 
 
 V. 
 
 When they had been at sea some 
 days, there arose a fearful tempest ; and 
 the lady, brought by this circumstance 
 into premature labour, to all appearance 
 perished. The moaning and tears of 
 her family almost equalled the storm; 
 and ApoUonius, alarmed at the outcry, 
 ran into the apartment, and beheld his 
 
 38 
 
lovely wife like an inhabitant of the 
 grave. He tore his garments from his 
 breast, and cast himself with tears and 
 groans upon her inanimate body. 
 
 " Dear wife ! " he exclaimed, " daugh- 
 ter of the great Altistrates, how shall I 
 console thy unhappy parent ? " 
 
 Here the pilot, interrupting him, ob- 
 served, "Sir, it will prejudice the ship 
 to retain the dead body on board ; com- 
 mand that it be cast into the sea." 
 
 "Wretch that you are," returned 
 Apollonius, "would you wish me to 
 hurl this form into the waves, that suc- 
 coured me shipwrecked and in poverty ? " 
 
 Then calling his attendants, he di- 
 rected them to prepare a coffin, and 
 smear the lid with bitumen. He also 
 commanded that a leaden scroll should 
 be placed in it, and the body, arrayed in 
 regal habiliments, and crowned, was then 
 deposited in the coffin. He kissed her 
 cold lips, and wept bitterly. Afterwards 
 giving strict charge respecting the new- 
 born infant, he committed all that re- 
 mained of his wife to the sea. 
 
 On the third day the chest was driven 
 39 
 
by the waves to the shores of Ephesus, 
 not far from the residence of a physician, 
 called Cerimon, who happened at that 
 hour to be walking with certain of his 
 pupils upon the sands. Observing the 
 chest deserted by the waters, he com- 
 manded his servants to secure it with all 
 speed, and convey it to his house : this 
 done, he opened it, and discovered a 
 beautiful girl, attired in royal apparel. 
 Her uncommon loveliness struck all the 
 spectators with astonishment; for she 
 was as a sunbeam of beauty, in which 
 nature had created everything pure and 
 perfect, and failed in nothing but in de- 
 nying her the attribute of immortality. 
 Her hair glittered like the snow, beneath 
 which a brow of milky whiteness, smooth 
 and unwrinkled as a plain, peacefully 
 rested. Her eyes resembled the change- 
 ableness, not the prodigality, of two 
 luminous orbs; for their gaze was di- 
 rected by an unshaken modesty, which 
 indicated a constant and enduring mind. 
 Her eyebrows were naturally and excel- 
 lently placed ; and her shapely nose, de- 
 scribing a straight line, rose centrically 
 40 
 
upon the face. It possessed neither too 
 much length nor too little. Her neck 
 was whiter than the solar rays, and orna- 
 mented with precious stones ; while her 
 countenance, full of unspeakable joy, 
 communicated happiness to all who 
 looked on her. She was exquisitely 
 formed; and the most critical investiga- 
 tion could not discover more or less than 
 there ought to be. Her beautiful arms, 
 like the branches of some fair tree, de- 
 scended from her well-turned breast : 
 to which, delicately chiselled fingers, not 
 outshone by the lightning, were attached. 
 In short, she was outwardly a perfect 
 model, — flashing through which, the 
 divine spark of soul her Creator had 
 implanted might be gloriously distin- 
 guished. Works of power ought to 
 accord with one another : and hence all 
 corporal beauty originates in the soul's 
 loveliness. It has even been said, that 
 mental excellence, however various, 
 adapts the mass of matter to itself. 
 
 Be this as it may, the most perfect 
 adaptation of soul and body existed in 
 this lady, now discovered by Cerimon. 
 
 41 
 
" Fair girl," said he, " how earnest thou 
 so utterly forsaken ? " The money, 
 which had been placed beneath her 
 head, now attracted his attention, and 
 then the scroll of lead presented itself. 
 
 '' Let us examine what it contains." 
 
 He opened it accordingly, and read as 
 follows : 
 
 "Whomsoever thou art that findest 
 this chest, I entreat thy acceptance of 
 ten pieces of gold; the other ten ex- 
 pend, I pray thee, on a funeral. For 
 the corse it shrouds hath left tears and 
 sorrows enough to the authors of her 
 being. If thou dost neglect my request, 
 I imprecate upon thee curses against the 
 day of judgment, and devote thy body to 
 death, unhonoured and uninhumed." 
 
 When the physician had read, he 
 directed his servants to comply with the 
 mourner's injunction. " And I solemnly 
 vow," added he, " to expend more than 
 his sorrow requires." Immediately he 
 bade them prepare a funeral pile. When 
 this was done, and everything laid in 
 order, a pupil of the physician, a young 
 man, but possessing the wisdom of old 
 42 
 
age, came to look upon the lady. As 
 he considered her fair form attentively, 
 already laid upon the pile, his preceptor 
 said to him, 
 
 " You come opportunely ; I have ex- 
 pected you this hour. Get a vial of 
 precious ointment, and, in honour of this 
 bright creature, pour it upon the funeral 
 pile." 
 
 The youth obeyed, approached the 
 body, and drawing the garments from 
 her breast, poured out the ointment. 
 But accidentally passing his hand over 
 her heart, he fancied that it beat. The 
 youth was electrified. He touched the 
 veins, and searched if any breath issued 
 from the nostrils. He pressed his lips 
 to hers ; and he thought he felt life 
 struggling with death. Calling hastily 
 to the servants, he bade them place 
 torches at each corner of the bier. 
 When they had done this, the blood, 
 which had been coagulated, presently 
 liquefied ; and the young man, attentive 
 to the change, exclaimed to his master, 
 
 " She lives ! she lives ! You scarcely 
 credit me ; come and see." 
 43 
 
As he spoke, he bore the lady to his 
 own chamber. Then heating oil upon 
 his breast, he steeped in it a piece of 
 wool, and laid it upon her body. By 
 these means, the congealed blood being 
 dissolved, the spirit again penetrated to 
 the marrows. Thus, the veins being 
 cleared, her eyes opened, and respiration 
 returned. 
 
 " What are you ? " said she. " Touch 
 me not otherwise than I ought to be 
 touched ; for I am the daughter and the 
 wife of a king." 
 
 Full of rapture at the sound of her 
 voice, the young man hurried into his 
 master's room, and related what had 
 occurred. 
 
 " I approve your skill," returned he, 
 " I magnify your art, and wonder at 
 your prudence. Mark the results of 
 learning, and be not ungrateful to 
 science. Receive now thy reward ; for 
 the lady brought much wealth with her." 
 
 Cerimon then directed food and 
 clothes to be conveyed to her, and ad- 
 ministered the best restoratives. A few 
 days after her recovery, she declared her 
 44 
 
birth and misfortunes; and the good 
 physician, commiserating her situation, 
 adopted her as his daughter. With tears 
 she solicited permission to reside among 
 the vestals of Diana ; and he placed her 
 with certain female attendants in the 
 magnificent temple of the goddess. 
 
 45 
 
VI. 
 
 In the mean while Apollonius, guided 
 by the good providence of God, arrived 
 at Tharsus, and disembarking, sought 
 the mansion of Stranguilio and Diony- 
 sias. After mutual greetings, he nar- 
 rated his adventures. 
 
 " Wretched as I am in the death of a 
 beloved wife, I have yet cause for joy in 
 
 46 
 
the existence of this infant. To you I 
 will intrust her ; for never, since his off- 
 spring has perished, will I again revisit 
 the old Altistrates. But educate my 
 girl with your own daughter Philomatia ; 
 and call her after your city, by the name 
 of Tharsia. I would, moreover, pray 
 you to take charge of her nurse, Ligori- 
 dis." 
 
 With such words, he gave the child 
 up to them, accompanied by large 
 presents of gold and silver, and valuable 
 raiment. He then took an oath that he 
 would neither cut his beard, or hair, or 
 nails, until his daughter were bestowed 
 in marriage. Grieving at the rashness 
 of the vow, Stranguilio took the infant, 
 and promised to educate it with the ut- 
 most care; and Apollonius, satisfied 
 with the assurance, went on board his 
 vessel, and sailed to other countries. 
 
 While these things were transacting, 
 Tharsia attained her fifth year, and com- 
 menced a course of liberal studies with 
 the young Philomatia, her companion. 
 When she was fourteen, returning from 
 school, she found her nurse, Ligoridis, 
 47 
 
taken with a sudden indisposition, and 
 seating herself near the old woman, 
 kindly inquired the cause. 
 
 "My dear daughter," replied she, 
 " hear my words, and treasure them in 
 your heart. Whom do you believe to 
 be your father and mother; and which 
 is your native country ? " 
 
 "Tharsus," returned she, "is the 
 place of my nativity ; my father, Stran- 
 guilio, and my mother, Dionysias." 
 
 The nurse groaned, and said, 
 
 " My daughter, listen to me ; I will 
 tell you to whom you owe your birth, in 
 order that, when I am dead, you may 
 have some guide for your future actions. 
 Your father is called Apollonius; and 
 your mother's name is Lucina, the daugh- 
 ter of King Altistrates. She died the 
 moment you were born ; and Apollonius, 
 adorning her with regal vesture, cast the 
 chest which contained her into the sea. 
 Twenty sestertia of gold were placed 
 beneath her head, and whosoever dis- 
 covered it was entreated to give her 
 burial. The ship in which your un- 
 happy father sailed, tossed to and fro by 
 
 48 
 
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, until 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 future 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 
 
 49 
 
her a flask of wine, and there tarried, 
 invoking the name of her beloved and 
 lamented parents. Whilst she was thus 
 employed, Dionysias, with her daughter 
 Philomatia, 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 com- 
 mended, turned away in a madness of 
 fury. She retired to solitary communi- 
 cation with herself. 
 
 " For fourteen years," muttered she, 
 " the father has neglected his daughter ; 
 he has sent no letters, and certainly he 
 is dead. The nurse is also dead, and 
 there is no one to oppose me. I will 
 kill her, and deck my own girl with her 
 ornaments." 
 
 As she thus thought, her steward, 
 named Theophilus, entered. She called 
 him, and promising a vast reward, de- 
 sired him to put Tharsia to death. 
 
 " What has the maid done ? " asked he. 
 50 
 
" She has done the very worst things ; 
 you ought not therefore to deny me. 
 Do what I command you ; if you do it 
 not, you will bring evil on yourself." 
 
 " Tell me, lady, how is it to be done ? " 
 
 " Her custom is," replied Dionysias, 
 " on coming from the schools, not to 
 take food until she has entered her 
 nurse's monument ; arm yourself with a 
 dagger, seize her by the hair of the head, 
 and there stab her. Then throw her 
 body into the sea, and come to me; I 
 will give you your liberty, with a large 
 reward. 
 
 The steward, taking the weapon, went 
 with much sorrow to the monument. 
 
 " Alas ! " said he, " shall I not deserve 
 liberty except by the sacrifice of a virgin's 
 life ? " 
 
 He entered the monument, where Thar- 
 sia, after her occupation in the schools, 
 had as usual retired; the flask of wine 
 was in her hand. The steward attacked 
 the poor girl, and, seizing her by the 
 hair, threw her upon the ground. But 
 as he was on the point of striking, Thar- 
 sia cried out, 
 
 51 
 
" Oh, Theophilus ! what crime have 
 I committed against you, or against 
 any other, that I should die ? " 
 
 "You are innocent," answered he, 
 *'of everything, save possessing a sum 
 of money and certain royal ornaments 
 left you by your father." 
 
 " Oh, sir ! " said the forsaken orphan, 
 " if I have no hope, yet suffer me to 
 supplicate my Maker before I die." 
 
 " Do so," answered the steward, " and 
 God knows that it is upon compulsion 
 that I slay thee." 
 
 52 
 
vn. 
 
 Now, while the girl was engaged in 
 prayer, certain pirates rushed into the 
 monument, expecting to carry ofF a 
 booty; and observing a young maid 
 prostrated, and a man standing over her 
 in the act to destroy her, they shouted 
 out, 
 
 " Stop, barbarian ! that is our prey, 
 not your victory." 
 
 Theophilus, full of terror, fled hastily 
 53 
 
from the monument and hid himself by 
 the shore. 
 
 The pirates carried off the maid to 
 sea; and the steward, returning to his 
 mistress, assured her that he had obeyed 
 her commands. 
 
 " I advise you," said he, " to put on a 
 mourning garment, which I also will do, 
 and shed tears for her death. This will 
 deceive the citizens, to whom we will 
 say that she was taken off by a sickness." 
 
 When Stranguilio heard what had been 
 done, his grief was sincere and violent. 
 
 " I will clothe myself in deep mourn- 
 ing," cried he, "for I too am involved 
 in this fearful enormity. Alas ! what can 
 I do ? Her father freed our city from a 
 lingering death. Through our means he 
 suffered shipwreck ; he lost his property, 
 and underwent the extreme of poverty. 
 Yet we return him evil for good ! He 
 intrusted his daughter to our care, and 
 a savage lioness hath devoured her ! 
 Blind wretch that I was ! Innocent, I 
 grieve. I am bound to a base and ven- 
 omous serpent." Lifting up his eyes to 
 heaven, he continued, " O God, thou 
 54 
 
knowest that I am free from the blood 
 of this girl — require her of Dionysias." 
 
 Then fixing a stern look upon his 
 wife, " Enemy of God, and disgrace of 
 man, thou hast destroyed the daughter 
 of a king." 
 
 Dionysias made much apparent lamen- 
 tation : she put her household into mourn- 
 ing, and wept bitterly before the citizens. 
 
 " My good friends," said she, " the 
 hope of our eyes, the beloved Tharsia, 
 is gone — she is dead. Our tears shall 
 bedew the marble which we have raised 
 to her memory." 
 
 The people then hastened to the place 
 where her form, moulded in brass, had 
 been erected, in gratitude for the benefits 
 conferred upon that city by her father. 
 
 The pirates transported the maid to 
 Machilenta, where she was placed among 
 other slaves for sale. A most wretched 
 and debauched pimp, hearing of her per- 
 fections, endeavoured to buy her. But 
 Athanagoras, prince of that city, observ- 
 ing her lofty port, her beautiful coun- 
 tenance, and wise conduct, offered ten 
 golden sestertia. 
 
 $s 
 
Pimp, I will give twenty. 
 
 Athanagoras, And I, thirty. 
 
 Pimp, Forty. 
 
 Athanagoras, Fifty. 
 
 Pimp, Eighty. 
 
 Athanagoras, Ninety. 
 
 Pimp, I will give a hundred sestertia 
 in ready money; if any one offer more, 
 I will give ten gold sestertia above. 
 
 "Why should I contend any farther 
 with this pimp," thought Athanagoras. 
 " I may purchase a dozen for the price 
 she will cost him. Let him have her; 
 and by and by I will enter covertly his 
 dwelling and solicit her love." 
 
 Tharsia was conducted by the pimp 
 to a house of ill fame, in an apartment 
 of which there was a golden Priapus, 
 richly ornamented with gems. 
 
 " Girl ! worship that image," said the 
 wretch. 
 
 Tharsia, I may not worship any 
 such thing. Oh, my lord ! are you not 
 a Lapsatenarian. 
 
 Pimp, Why? 
 
 Tharsia, Because the Lapsateni wor- 
 ship Priapus, 
 
 56 
 
Pimp, Know you not, wretched girl, 
 that you have entered the house of a 
 greedy pimp ? 
 
 Casting herself at his feet, she ex- 
 claimed, " Oh, sir ! do not dishonour 
 me ; be not guilty of such a flagrant out- 
 rage." 
 
 Pimp, Are you ignorant that, with a 
 pimp and the torturer, neither prayers 
 nor tears are available ? 
 
 He sent for the overseer of the women, 
 and desired him to array Tharsia in the 
 most splendid apparel, and proclaim 
 around the city the price of her dis- 
 honour. The overseer did as he was 
 ordered; and on the third day a crowd 
 of people arrived, preceded by the pimp 
 with music. But Athanagoras came first 
 in a mask, and Tharsia, looking despair- 
 ingly upon him, threw herself at his 
 feet. 
 
 '' Pity me, my lord ; pity me, for the 
 love of Heaven. By that Heaven I ad- 
 jure you to save me from dishonour. 
 Hear my story ; and knowing from whom 
 I sprung, respect my descent and defend 
 
 my mnocence." 
 
 57 
 
She then detailed the whole fortunes 
 of her life; and Athanagoras, confused 
 and penitent, exclaimed, 
 
 " Alas ! and I too have a daughter, 
 whom fate may in like manner afflict. 
 In your misfortunes I may apprehend 
 hers. Here are twenty gold pieces; it 
 is more than your barbarous master ex- 
 acts from you. Relate your narrative to 
 the next comers, and it will insure your 
 freedom." 
 
 Full of gratitude for the generous 
 treatment she experienced, Tharsia re- 
 turned him thanks, but entreated that 
 her story might not be communicated to 
 others. 
 
 " To none but my own daughter," 
 said he, "for it will be replete with 
 moral advantage." 
 
 So saying, and shedding some tears 
 over her fallen estate, he departed. As 
 he went out he met a friend, who stopped 
 him and asked how the girl had behaved. 
 
 " None better," returned the prince ; 
 " but she is very sorrowful." 
 
 The youth entered, and she closed the 
 door as on the former occasion, 
 S3 
 
" How much has the prince given 
 you ? " asked he. 
 
 " Forty pieces," answered the girl. 
 
 " Here, then ; take the whole pound 
 of gold." 
 
 Tharsia took the present, but falling 
 at his feet, explained her situation. 
 Aporiatus (for that was the young man's 
 name) answered, 
 
 " Rise, lady ; we are men. All of us 
 are subject to misfortunes." 
 
 He went out, and observing Athanag- 
 oras laughing, said to him, 
 
 " You are a fine fellow ! Have you 
 nobody to pledge in tears but me ? " 
 
 Afraid that these words should betray 
 the matter, they gave another turn to 
 the discourse, and awaited the coming 
 of some other person. Great numbers 
 appeared, but they all returned in tears, 
 having given her sums of money. Thar- 
 sia having obtained the sum which the 
 pimp had fixed as the price of her dis- 
 honour, presented it to him. 
 
 " Take care," said the monster, " that 
 you bring me whatever money is pre- 
 sented to you." 
 
 59 
 
But the next day, understanding that 
 she yet preserved her honour, his rage 
 knew no bounds; and he immediately 
 commissioned the overseer of the women 
 to complete the iniquity. When he 
 appeared, the poor girl's tears flowed in 
 profusion. 
 
 " Pity me, sir," she said, falling at his 
 feet ; " my misfortunes have created the 
 compassion of others, and surely you will 
 not alone spurn my request. I am the 
 daughter of a king; do not dishonour 
 me. 
 
 " This pimp," replied he, " is avari- 
 cious : I know not what I can do." 
 
 "Sir," answered Tharsia, "I have 
 been educated in liberal pursuits. I 
 understand music ; if, therefore, you will 
 lead me to the forum, you shall hear my 
 performance. Propose questions to the 
 people, and I will expound them ; I have 
 no doubt but I shall receive money 
 enough." 
 
 " Well," said the fellow, " I will do 
 as you would have me." 
 
 Proclamation being made, the people 
 crowded to the forum ; and her eloquence 
 60 
 
and beauty impressed them all. What- 
 ever question they proposed, she lucidly 
 answered; and by these means drew 
 much wealth from the curious citizens. 
 Athanagoras, also, watched over her with 
 much anxiety — with little less, indeed, 
 than he showed to his only child. He 
 recommended her to the care of the 
 overseer, and bought him to his interest 
 by valuable presents. 
 
 6i 
 
VIII. 
 
 Let us now return to Apollonius. 
 After a lapse of fourteen years, he again 
 made his appearance at the house of 
 Stranguilio and Dionysias, in the city 
 of Tharsus : no sooner had the former 
 beheld him, than he strode about like a 
 madman. 
 
 "Woman," said he, addressing his 
 wife, " what wilt thou do now ? Thou 
 hast said that Apollonius was shipwrecked 
 and dead. Behold, he seeks his daughter ; 
 what answer shall we make ? " 
 
 " Foolish man," returned she, " let us 
 62 
 
resume our mourning, and have recourse 
 to tears. He will believe that his child 
 died a natural death." 
 
 As she said this, Apollonius entered. 
 Observing their funeral habiliments, he 
 asked, 
 
 " Do you grieve at my return ? Those 
 tears, I fear, are not for yourselves, but 
 for me." 
 
 " Alas ! " replied the woman, " I would 
 to Heaven that another, and not me or 
 my husband, had to detail to you what 
 I must say. Your daughter Tharsia is 
 suddenly dead ! " 
 
 Apollonius trembled through every 
 limb, and then stood fixed as a statue. 
 
 " Oh, woman, if my daughter be 
 really as you describe, have her money 
 and clothes also perished ? " 
 
 " Some part of both," replied Diony- 
 sias, " is of course expended ; but that 
 you may not hesitate to give faith to 
 our assurances, we will produce testimony 
 in our behalf. The citizens, mindful 
 of your munificence, have raised a brazen 
 monument to her memory, which your 
 own eyes may see." 
 
 63 
 
Apollonius, thus imposed upon, said 
 to his servants, " Go ye to the ship ; I 
 will visit the grave of my unhappy 
 child." 
 
 There he read the inscription, as we 
 have detailed above, and then, as if im- 
 precating a curse upon his own eyes, he 
 exclaimed in a paroxysm of mental agony, 
 
 " Hateful, cruel sources of perception, 
 do ye now refuse tears to the memory 
 of my lamented girl." 
 
 With expressions like these, he has- 
 tened to his ship, and entreated his serv- 
 ants to cast him into the sea. 
 
 They set sail for Tyre, and for a time 
 the breezes blew prosperously; but 
 changing, they were driven considerably 
 out of their course. Guided by the 
 good providence of God, they entered 
 the port of Machilena, where his daugh- 
 ter still abode. The pilot and the rest 
 of the crew shouted loudly on their ap- 
 proach to land, and Apollonius sent to 
 inquire the cause. 
 
 " My lord," answered the pilot, " the 
 people of Machilena are engaged in cele- 
 brating a birthday." 
 
 64 
 
Apollonius groaned, "All can keep 
 their birthdays except me. But it is 
 enough that I am miserable ; I give my 
 attendants ten pieces of gold, and let them 
 enjoy the festival. And whosoever pre- 
 sumes to utter my name, or rejoice in 
 my hearing, command that his legs be 
 immediately broken." 
 
 The steward took the necessary sums, 
 and having purchased supplies, returned 
 to the ship. Now, the bark which con- 
 tained Apollonius being more honourable 
 than the rest, the feast was celebrated 
 there more sumptuously. It happened 
 that Athanagoras, who was enamoured 
 of the fair Tharsia, walked upon the sea- 
 shore near the king's ship. " Friends," 
 said he to those who accompanied him, 
 " that vessel pleases me." 
 
 The sailors with which she was 
 manned, hearing him applaud their ves- 
 sel, invited him on board. He went ac- 
 cordingly ; and laying down ten gold 
 pieces upon the table, observed, 
 
 " You have not invited me for noth- 
 ing." 
 
 They thanked him; and, in answer 
 6s 
 
to certain questions he had put, informed 
 the prince that their lord was in great 
 affliction, and wished to die : they added, 
 that he had lost a wife and daughter in 
 a foreign country. 
 
 " I will give you two pieces of gold," 
 said Athanagoras to Ardalius, one of the 
 servants, " if you will go and say to him 
 that the prince of this city desires a con- 
 ference." 
 
 " Two gold pieces," answered the 
 person he spoke to, *' will not repair my 
 broken legs. I pray you send another ; 
 for he has determined thus to punish 
 any one who approaches him." 
 
 " He made this law for you," returned 
 the prince, " but not, I think, for me : 
 I will descend myself; tell me his name." 
 
 They told him — Apollonius. 
 
 " Apollonius ? " said he to himself; 
 " so Tharsia calls her father." 
 
 He hastened into his presence, and 
 beheld a forlorn and desolate person. 
 His beard was of great length, and his 
 head in the wildest disorder. In a low, 
 subdued tone of voice, he said, " Hail, 
 Apollonius." 
 
 66 
 
Apollonius, supposing it to be one of 
 his own people, fixed on him a furious 
 look, but, seeing an honourable and 
 handsome man, remained silent. 
 
 "You are doubtless surprised," said 
 the prince, "at my intrusion. I am 
 called Athanagoras, and am prince of 
 this city. Observing your fleet riding 
 at anchor from the shore, I was at- 
 tracted by it ; and amongst other things, 
 being struck with the superior structure 
 of this vessel, your sailors invited me on 
 board. I inquired for their lord, and 
 they answered that he was overwhelmed 
 with grief. I have therefore ventured 
 hither, in the hope of administering 
 comfort to you, and drawing you once 
 more into the light of joy. I pray God 
 that it may prove so." 
 
 Apollonius raised his head : " Who- 
 soever you are, go in peace. I am un- 
 worthy to appear at the banquet; and 
 I do not desire to live." 
 
 Perplexed, yet anxious to console the 
 
 unhappy king, Athanagoras returned 
 
 upon deck; and despatched a messenger 
 
 to the pimp, to require the immediate 
 
 67 
 
presence of Tharsia, whose musical skill 
 and eloquence, he thought, could not but 
 produce some effect. She came, and 
 received instructions from the prince. 
 
 " If you succeed,*' said he, " in soft- 
 ening this royal person's affliction, I will 
 present to you thirty gold sestertia, and 
 as many of silver 5 moreover, for thirty 
 days, redeem you from the power of your 
 master." 
 
 The girl accordingly prepared herself 
 for the task. Approaching the mourner, 
 " Heaven keep you," said she, in a low 
 plaintive voice, " and make you happy j 
 a virgin that hath preserved her honour 
 amid her misfortunes salutes you." She 
 then sang to an instrument, with such 
 a sweet and ravishing melody, that Apol- 
 lonius was enchanted. Her song related 
 to the fortunes she had experienced, and 
 was to the following effect : — That she 
 fell into the hands of dishonest people, 
 who sought to traffic with her virtue; 
 but that she passed innocent through all 
 her trials. "Thus," continued she, 
 " the rose is protected by its thorns. 
 They who bore me off beat down the 
 6S 
 
sword of the smiter. I preserved my 
 virtue when attacked by my brutal 
 owner. The wounds of the mind lin- 
 ger, and tears fail. In me behold the 
 only offspring of a royal house. Contain 
 your tears, and limit your anxiety. Look 
 up to heaven, and raise your thoughts 
 above. The Creator and Supporter of 
 mankind is God; nor will He permit 
 the tears of His virtuous servants to be 
 shed in vain." 
 
 As she concluded, Apollonius fixed 
 his eyes upon the girl, and groaned 
 deeply : '' Wretched man that I am," 
 said he, " how long shall I struggle with 
 my sorrows ? But I am grateful for 
 your attentions; and if again permitted 
 to rejoice in the zenith of my power, 
 your memory will support me. You 
 say you are royally descended ? — who 
 are your parents ? But begone ; here 
 are a hundred gold pieces; take them, 
 and speak to me no more. I am con- 
 sumed with new afflictions." 
 
 The girl received his donation, and 
 would have left the ship ; but Athanag- 
 oras stopped her. 
 
 69 
 
" Whither are you going ? " said he ; 
 " you have as yet done no good : is your 
 heart so pitiless that you can suffer a 
 man to destroy himself, without striving 
 to prevent it ? " 
 
 " I have done everything that I could," 
 answered Tharsia : " he gave me a hun- 
 dred gold pieces, and desired me to depart." 
 
 " I will give you two hundred pieces 
 if you will return the money to him, and 
 say, " My lord, I seek your safety, not 
 your money." 
 
 Tharsia complied, and seating herself 
 near to the king, said, " If you are deter- 
 mined to continue in the squalid state to 
 which you have accustomed yourself, 
 give me leave to reason with you. I 
 will propose a question : if you can 
 answer it, I will depart; if not, I will 
 return your present and go." 
 
 " Keep what I have given ; I will not 
 deny your request. For though my 
 evils admit of no cure, yet I determine 
 to hearken to you. Put your question, 
 then, and depart." 
 
 " Hear me ; there is a house in a 
 certain part of the world which bounds 
 70 
 
and rebounds, but it is closed against 
 mankind. This house loudly echoes, 
 but its inhabitant is ever silent; and 
 both — the house and inhabitant — 
 move forward together. Now, if you 
 are a king, as you aver, you should be 
 wiser than I am. Resolve the riddle." 
 
 "To prove to you that I am no 
 impostor," said Apollonius, " I will reply. 
 The house which bounds and rebounds 
 and echoes is the wave ; the mute inhab- 
 itant is a fish, which glides along with 
 its residence." 
 
 Tharsia continued, " I am borne 
 rapidly along by the tall daughter of the 
 grove, which equally encloses an innu- 
 merable company. I glide over various 
 paths, and leave no footstep." 
 
 "When I have answered your ques- 
 tions," said Apollonius, " I will show 
 you much that you know not. Yet I 
 am astonished that one so young should 
 be endowed with wit so keen and pene- 
 trating. The tree enclosing a host, and 
 passing through various ways without a 
 trace, is a ship." 
 
 *' A person passes through circumfer- 
 
 71 
 
ences and temples without injury. 
 There is a great heat in the centre which 
 no one removes. The house is not 
 uncovered, but it suits a naked inhab- 
 itant. If you would allay pain, you 
 must enter into fire." 
 
 "I would enter, then, into a bath, 
 where fire is introduced by means of 
 round tables. The covered house suits 
 a naked inhabitant; and he who is 
 naked in this situation will perspire." 
 
 When she had said these and similar 
 things, the girl threw herself before Apol- 
 lonius, and drawing aside his hands, 
 embraced him. 
 
 " Hear," said she, " the voice of your 
 supplicant : regard a virgin's prayers. It 
 is wicked in men of so much wisdom to 
 destroy themselves. If you lament your 
 lost wife, the mercy of God can restore 
 her to you ; if your deceased child, you 
 may yet find her. You ought to live 
 and be glad." 
 
 Apollonius, irritated at the girl's per- 
 tinacity, arose and pushed her from him 
 with his foot. She fell and cut her cheek, 
 from which the blood copiously flowed. 
 73 
 
Terrified at the wound she had received, 
 she burst into tears, and exclaimed, 
 
 "O thou eternal Architect of the 
 heavens ! look upon my afflictions. Born 
 amid the waves and storms of the ocean, 
 my mother perished in giving life to her 
 daughter. Denied rest even in the grave, 
 she was deposited in a chest, with twenty 
 gold sestertia, and thrown into the sea. 
 But I, unhappy, was delivered by my 
 remaining parent to Stranguilio and 
 Dionysius, with the ornaments befitting 
 a royal extraction. I was by them 
 devoted to death ; but whilst I invoked 
 the assistance of God, a number of 
 pirates rushed in and the murderer fled. 
 I was brought hither; and in His own 
 good time God will restore me to my 
 father Apollonius." 
 
 Here she concluded, and the royal 
 mourner, struck with her relation, 
 shouted with a loud voice, 
 
 " Merciful God ! Thou who lookest 
 over heaven and earth, and revealest 
 that which is hidden, blessed be Thy 
 holy name." 
 
 Saying this, he fell into the arms of 
 73 
 
his daughter. Tenderly be embraced 
 her, and wept aloud for joy. 
 
 " My best and only child," said he ; 
 " half of my own soul ! I shall not die 
 for thy loss. I have found thee, and I 
 wish to live." Exalting his voice yet 
 more, " Run hither, my servants, my 
 friends ! all of ye ; my misery is at an 
 end. I have found what I had lost — 
 my child, my only daughter ! " 
 
 Hearing his exclamations, the attend- 
 ants ran in, and with them the prince 
 Athanagoras. They discovered the en- 
 raptured king weeping upon his daughter's 
 neck: 
 
 " See, see," said he, " this is she 
 whom I lamented. Half of my soul ! 
 now will I live." 
 
 Participating in their master's happi- 
 ness, they all wept. 
 
 Apollonius now divested himself of his 
 mourning dress, and attired himself in 
 regal habiliments. 
 
 " Oh, my lord," said his followers, 
 "how much your daughter resembles 
 you ! Were there no other guide, that 
 would indicate her birth." The delighted 
 
 74 
 
girl overwhelmed her recovered parent 
 with kisses. 
 
 " Blessed be God," cried she, " who 
 has been so gracious to me, and given 
 me to see, and live, and die with you." 
 
 Then, entering into a more detailed 
 account of her adventures, she related 
 what she had endured from the wretched 
 pimp, and how the Almighty had pro- 
 tected her. 
 
 Athanagoras, fearing lest another might 
 demand her in marriage, threw himself 
 at the king's feet, and modestly intimat- 
 ing how instrumental be had been in 
 promoting their happy reunion, besought 
 him to bestow his child upon him. 
 
 " I cannot deny you," returned Apol- 
 lonius, " for you have alleviated her sor- 
 rows, and been the means of my present 
 and future happiness. Take her. But 
 deeply shall that rascal feel my ven- 
 geance." 
 
 Athanagoras immediately returned to 
 the city, and convoked an assembly of 
 the people. 
 
 " Let not our city perish," said he, 
 addressing them, " for the crimes of one 
 75 
 
impious wretch. Know that King Ap- 
 ollonius, the father of the beautiful Thar- 
 sia, has arrived. Behold where his navy 
 rides. He threatens us with instant de- 
 struction, unless the scoundrel who would 
 have prostituted his daughter be given 
 up to him." 
 
 Scarcely had he spoken when the 
 whole population, men and women, hur- 
 ried off to implore the king's clemency. 
 
 " I advise you," said Athanagoras, " to 
 take the wretch with you." 
 
 Seizing the execrable man, they tied 
 his hands to his back, and carried him 
 along to the presence of offended majesty. 
 ApoUonius, clad in royal robes, his hair 
 shorn, and crowned, ascended the tri- 
 bunal with his daughter. The citizens 
 stood round, in expectation of his address. 
 
 " Men of Machilenta," said he, " to- 
 day I have recovered my daughter, whom 
 that villainous pimp would have cor- 
 rupted. Neither pity, nor prayers, nor 
 gold could prevail with him to desist 
 from his atrocious purposes. Do ye, 
 therefore, avenge my daughter." 
 
 The people, with one voice, answered, 
 76 
 
" Let him be burnt alive, and his 
 wealth given to the lady." 
 
 Instantly the wretch was brought for- 
 ward and burnt. 
 
 " I give you your liberty," said Thar- 
 sia to the overseer, " because, by your 
 kindness and the kindness of the citizens, 
 I remained unsullied. I also present to 
 you two hundred gold sestertia." 
 
 Turning to the other girls, she added, 
 " Be free, and forget your past habits." 
 
 Apollonius, again addressing the 
 people, returned them thanks for their 
 kindness to him and his daughter, and 
 bestowed on them a donation of five 
 hundredweight of gold. Shouts and ap- 
 plause followed; and they immediately 
 set about erecting a statue to their bene- 
 factor in the midst of the city. Upon 
 the base was the following inscription : — 
 
 TO APOLLONIUS, OF TYRE, 
 
 THE PRESERVER OF OUR STATE; 
 
 AND TO THE MOST HOLY THARSIA, 
 
 HIS VIRGIN DAUGHTER. 
 
 A few days after the lady was espoused 
 to Athanagoras, amid the universal joy 
 of the city. 
 
 77 
 
IX. 
 
 Intending to sail with his daughter, 
 and son-in-law, and followers to his own 
 country by way of Tharsus, an angel 
 admonished him in a dream to make for 
 Ephesus, and there, entering the temple 
 with his daughter and her husband, relate 
 in a loud voice all the varied turns of 
 fortune to which he had been subject 
 from his earliest youth. Accordingly, he 
 
 78 
 
sailed for Ephesus. Leaving his ship, 
 he sought out the temple to which his 
 long-lost wife had retired. When his 
 wife heard that a certain king had come 
 to the temple with his daughter, she ar- 
 rayed herself in regal ornaments, and en- 
 tered with an honourable escort. The 
 surrounding multitude was much struck 
 with her beauty and modesty, and said 
 there never was so lovely a virgin. Ap- 
 ollonius, however, knew her not; but 
 such was her splendour that he and his 
 companions fell at her feet, almost fan- 
 cying her to be Diana, the goddess. He 
 placed on the shrine precious gifts, and 
 then, as the angel had ordained, he com- 
 menced his history. 
 
 " I was born," said he, " a king. I 
 am of Tyre, and my name is Apollo- 
 nius. I solved the riddle of the impious 
 Antiochus, who sought to slay me as the 
 detector of his wickedness. I fled, and, 
 by the kindness of King Altistrates, was 
 espoused to his daughter. On the death 
 of Antiochus, I hastened with my wife 
 to ascend his throne; but she died on 
 the passage, after giving birth to this my 
 
 79 
 
daughter. I deposited her in a chest, 
 with twenty gold sestertia, and commit- 
 ted her to the waves. I placed my 
 daughter under the care of those whose 
 subsequent conduct was base and villain- 
 ous, and I departed to the higher parts 
 of Egypt. After fourteen years I re- 
 turned to see my daughter. They told 
 me she was dead ; and crediting it, I en- 
 dured the deepest anguish of mind. But 
 my child was at length restored to me." 
 
 As he ended, the daughter of Altis- 
 trates sprung towards him, and would 
 have clasped him in her arms. He re- 
 pelled her with indignation, not suppos- 
 ing that it was his wife. 
 
 " Oh, my lord ! " cried she, weeping, 
 " better half of my soul ! why do you 
 use me thus ? I am thy wife, the daugh- 
 ter of King Altistrates ; and thou art of 
 Tyre ; thou art Apollonius, my husband 
 and lord. Thou wert the beloved one 
 who instructed me. Thou wert the 
 shipwrecked man whom I loved with 
 pure and fond regard." 
 
 Apollonius awakening at the mention 
 of these well-known circumstances, rec- 
 80 
 
ollected his long-lost lady. He fell upon 
 her neck, and wept for joy. 
 
 "Blessed be the Most High, who 
 hath restored me my wife and daughter." 
 
 " But where," said she, " is our daugh- 
 ter ? " 
 
 Presenting Tharsia, he replied, " Be- 
 hold her." 
 
 They kissed each other tenderly ; and 
 the news of this happy meeting was soon 
 noised abroad through the whole city. 
 
 Apollonius again embarked for his own 
 country. Arriving at Antioch, he was 
 crowned, and then hastening to Tyre, he 
 appointed Athanagoras and his daughter 
 to the rule of this place. Afterwards 
 assembling a large army, he sat down 
 before Tharsus, and commanded Stran- 
 guilio and Dionysias to be seized and 
 brought before him. Addressing the 
 Tharsians, he inquired, 
 
 " Did I ever do an injury to any one 
 of you ? " 
 
 " No, my lord," answered they ; " we 
 are ready to die for you. This statue 
 bears record how you preserved us from 
 death." 
 
 8i 
 
" Citizens," returned Apollonius, " I 
 intrusted my daughter to Stranguilio and 
 his wife : they would not restore her." 
 
 " Oh, my lord," cried the unhappy 
 woman, "thou hast read her fate in- 
 scribed on the monument." 
 
 The king directed his daughter to 
 come forward ; and Tharsia, reproaching 
 her, said, 
 
 " Hail, woman ! Tharsia greets thee ; 
 Tharsia returned from the grave." 
 
 Dionysias trembled; and the citizens 
 wondered and rejoiced. Tharsia then 
 called the steward. 
 
 "Theophilus, dost thou know me? 
 Answer distinctly, who employed thee 
 to murder me ? " 
 
 " My lady Dionysias." 
 
 The citizens, hearing this, dragged 
 both the husband and wife out of the 
 city and stoned them. They would 
 have killed Theophilus also, but Tharsia, 
 interposing, freed him from death. " Un- 
 less he had given me time to pray," she 
 said, " I should not now have been de- 
 fending him." 
 
 Apollonius tarried here three months, 
 82 
 
and gave large gifts to the city. Thence 
 sailing to Pentapolis, the old King Altis- 
 trates received them with delight. He 
 lived with his son, and daughter, and 
 grandchild a whole year in happiness. 
 After that he died, full of years, bequeath- 
 ing the kingdom to his son and daughter. 
 
 As Apollonius walked one day upon 
 the sea-shore, he recollected the kind- 
 hearted fisherman who succoured him 
 after his shipwreck, and he ordered him 
 to be seized and brought to the palace. 
 The poor fisherman, perceiving himself 
 under the escort of a guard of soldiers, 
 expected nothing less than death. He 
 was conducted into the presence of the 
 king, who said, 
 
 "This is my friend, who helped me 
 after my shipwreck, and showed me the 
 way to the city." 
 
 And he gave him to understand that 
 he was Apollonius of Tyre. He then 
 commanded his attendants to carry him 
 two hundred sestertia, with men-servants 
 and maid-servants. Nor did his kind- 
 ness stop here — he made him one of his 
 personal attendants, and retained him as 
 
 83 
 
long as he lived. Elamitus, who de- 
 clared to him the intentions of Anti- 
 ochus, fell at his feet, and said, 
 
 " My lord, remember thy servant 
 Elamitus." Apollonius, extending his 
 hand, raised him up, and enriched him. 
 Soon after this a son was born, whom he 
 appointed king in the room of his grand- 
 father, Altistrates. 
 
 Apollonius lived with his wife eighty- 
 four years ; and ruled the kingdoms of 
 Antioch and Tyre in peace and happi- 
 ness. He wrote two volumes of his 
 adventures, one of which he laid up in 
 the temple of the Ephesians, and the 
 other in his own library. After death, 
 he went into everlasting life. To which 
 may God, of His infinite mercy, lead us 
 all. 
 
 84 
 
II. 
 
 STORY OF THE KNIGHT, GUY OF WAR- 
 WICK 
 
 In the reign of a certain King of 
 England, there were two knights, one of 
 whom was called Guido, and the other 
 Tyrius. The former engaged in many 
 wars, and always triumphed. He was 
 enamoured of a beautiful girl of noble 
 family, but whom he could not prevail 
 upon to marry him, until he had encoun- 
 8s 
 
tered many enemies for her sake. At 
 last, at the conclusion of a particular 
 exploit, he gained her consent, and 
 married her with great splendour. On 
 the third night succeeding their nuptials, 
 about cock-crowing, he arose from his 
 bed to look upon the sky ; and amongst 
 the most lustrous stars he clearly distin- 
 guished our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, 
 " Guido, Guido ! you have fought much 
 and valiantly for the love of a woman ; 
 it is now time that you should encounter 
 my enemies with equal resolution." 
 
 Having so said, our Lord vanished. 
 Guido, therefore, perceiving that it was 
 His pleasure to send him to the Holy 
 Land, to avenge Him upon the infidels, 
 returned to his wife : 
 
 " I go to the Holy Land ; should 
 Providence bless us with a child, attend 
 carefully to its education until my re- 
 turn." 
 
 The lady, startled at these words, 
 sprung up from the bed as one distracted, 
 and catching a dagger, which was placed 
 at the head of the couch, cried out, 
 
 " Oh, my lord, I have always loved 
 86 
 
you, and looked forward with anxiety to 
 our marriage, even when you were in 
 battle, and spreading your fame over all 
 the world ; and will you now leave me ? 
 First will I stab myself with this dagger." 
 
 Guido arose, and took away the 
 weapon. 
 
 " My beloved," said he, " your words 
 alarm me. I have vowed to God that I 
 will visit the Holy Land. The best 
 opportunity is the present, before old 
 age come upon me. Be not disturbed ; 
 I will soon return." 
 
 Somewhat comforted with this assur- 
 ance, she presented to him a ring: 
 "Take this ring, and as often as you 
 look upon it in your pilgrimage, think of 
 me. I will await with patience your 
 return." 
 
 The knight bade her farewell, and 
 departed in company with Tyrius. As 
 for the lady, she gave herself up to her 
 sorrows for many days, and would not 
 be consoled. In due time she brought 
 forth a son of extreme beauty, and 
 tenderly watched over his infant years. 
 
 Guido and Tyrius, in the mean while, 
 
 57 
 
passed through many countries, and heard 
 at last that the kingdom of Dacia had 
 been subdued by the infidels. 
 
 " My friend," said Guido to his asso- 
 ciate, " do you enter this kingdom ; and 
 since the king of it is a Christian, assist 
 him with all your power. I will proceed 
 to the Holy Land; and when I have 
 combated against the foes of Christ, I 
 will return to you, and we will joyfully 
 retrace our steps to England." 
 
 "Whatever pleases you," replied his 
 friend, " shall please me. I will enter 
 this kingdom ; and if you live, come to 
 me. Wc will return together to our 
 country." 
 
 Guido promised ; and exchanging 
 kisses, they separated with much regret. 
 The one proceeded to the Holy Land, 
 and the other to Dacia. Guido fought 
 many battles against the Saracens, and 
 was victorious in all ; so that his fame 
 flew to the ends of the earth. Tyrius, 
 in like manner, proved fortunate in war, 
 and drove the infidels from the Dacian 
 territory. The king loved and honoured 
 him above all others, and conferred on 
 33 
 
him great riches. But there was at that 
 time a savage nobleman, called Plebeus, 
 in whose heart the prosperity of Tyrius 
 excited an inordinate degree of hate and 
 envy. He accused him to the king of 
 treason, and malevolently insinuated that 
 he designed to make himself master of 
 the kingdom. The king credited the 
 assertion, and ungratefully robbed Tyrius 
 of all the honours which his bounty had 
 conferred. Tyrius, therefore, was re- 
 duced to extreme want, and had scarcely 
 the common sustenance of life. Thus 
 desolate, he gave free course to his griefs ; 
 and exclaimed in great tribulation, 
 
 " Wretch that I am ! what will become 
 of me ? " 
 
 89 
 
II. 
 
 While he was taking a solitary walk 
 in sorrow, Guido, journeying alone in 
 the habit of a pilgrim, met him by the 
 way, and knew him, but was not recog- 
 nized by his friend. He, however, pres- 
 ently remembered Tyrius, and retaining 
 his disguise, approached him, and said, 
 " My friend, from whence are you ? " 
 
 "From foreign parts," answered 
 Tyrius, "but I have now been many 
 years in this country. I had once a 
 companion in arms, who proceeded to 
 the Holy Land; but if he be alive or 
 dead I know not, nor what have been his 
 fortunes." 
 
 " For the love of thy companion, 
 then," said Guido, " suffer me to rest my 
 head upon your lap, and sleep a little, 
 for I am very weary." 
 90 
 
He assented, and Guido fell asleep. 
 
 Now, while he slept, his mouth stood 
 open ; and as Tyrius looked, he discov- 
 ered a white weasel pass out of it, and 
 run toward a neighbouring mountain, 
 which it entered. After remaining there 
 a short space, it returned, and again ran 
 down the sleeper's throat. Guido straight- 
 way awoke and said, 
 
 " My friend, I have had a wonderful 
 dream ! I thought a weasel went out of 
 my mouth, and entered yon mountain, 
 and after that returned." 
 
 "Sir," answered Tyrius, "what you 
 have seen in a dream I beheld with my 
 own eyes. But what that weasel did in 
 the mountain, I am altogether ignorant." 
 
 "Let us go and look," observed the 
 other ; " perhaps we may find something 
 useful." 
 
 Accordingly, they entered the place 
 which the weasel had been seen to enter, 
 and found there a dead dragon filled with 
 gold. There was a sword also, of pecul- 
 iar polish, and inscribed as follows : " By 
 means of this sword, Guido shall over- 
 come the adversary of Tyrius." 
 91 
 
Rejoiced at the discovery, the dis- 
 guised pilgrim said, "My friend, the 
 treasure is thine, but the sword I will 
 take into my own possession." 
 
 " My lord," he answered, " I do not 
 deserve so much gold ; why should you 
 bestow it upon me ? " 
 
 " Raise your eyes," said Guido. " I 
 am your friend ! " 
 
 Hearing this, he looked at him more 
 narrowly; and when he recollected his 
 heroic associate, he fell upon the earth 
 for joy, and wept exceedingly. 
 
 " It is enough ; I have lived enough, 
 now that I have seen you." 
 
 " Rise," returned Guido," rise quickly; 
 you ought to rejoice rather than weep at 
 my coming. I will combat your enemy, 
 and we will proceed honourably to Eng- 
 land. But tell no one who I am." 
 
 Tyrius arose, fell upon his neck, and 
 kissed him. He then collected the gold, 
 and hastened to his home; but Guido 
 knocked at the gate of the king's palace. 
 The porter inquired the cause, and he 
 informed him that he was a pilgrim 
 newly arrived from the Holy Land. He 
 92 
 
was immediately admitted, and presented 
 to the king, at whose side sat the invidi- 
 ous nobleman who had deprived Tyrius 
 of his honours and wealth. 
 
 " Is the Holy Land at peace ? " inquired 
 the monarch. 
 
 " Peace is now firmly established," 
 replied Guido, "and many have been 
 converted to Christianity." 
 
 King. Did you see an English knight 
 there, called Guido, who has fought so 
 many battles ? 
 
 Guido. I have seen him often, my 
 lord, and have eaten with him. 
 
 King. Is any mention made of the 
 Christian kings ? 
 
 Guido. Yes, my lord; and of you 
 also. It is said that the Saracens and 
 other infidels had taken possession of 
 your kingdom, and that from their thral- 
 dom you were delivered by the valour 
 of a noble knight, named Tyrius, after- 
 wards promoted to great honour and 
 riches. It is likewise said that you un- 
 justly deprived this same Tyrius of what 
 you had conferred, at the malevolent in- 
 stigation of a knight called Plebeus. 
 93 
 
Plebeus, False pilgrim ! since thou 
 presumest to utter these lies, hast thou 
 courage enough to defend them ? If so, 
 I offer thee battle. That very Tyrius 
 would have dethroned the king. He 
 was a traitor, and therefore lost his 
 honours. 
 
 Guido (to the king). My lord, since 
 he has been pleased to say that I am a 
 false pilgrim, and that Tyrius is a traitor, 
 I demand the combat. I will prove 
 upon his body that he lies. 
 
 King. I am well pleased with your 
 determination ; nay, I entreat you not to 
 desist. 
 
 Guido. Furnish me with arms, then, 
 my lord. 
 
 King. Whatever you want shall be 
 got ready for you. 
 
 The king then appointed a day of 
 battle ; and fearing lest the pilgrim Guido 
 should in the mean time fall by treach- 
 ery, he called to him his daughter, a vir- 
 gin, and said, 
 
 " As you love the life of that pilgrim, 
 watch over him, and let him want for 
 nothing." 
 
 94 
 
In compliance, therefore, with her 
 father's wish, she brought him into her 
 own chamber, bathed him, and supplied 
 him with every requisite. On the day 
 of battle Plebeus armed himself, and 
 standing at the gate, exclaimed, 
 
 " Where is that false pilgrim ? why 
 does he tarry ? " 
 
 Guido, hearing what was said, put on 
 his armour, and hastened to the lists. 
 They fought so fiercely, that Plebeus 
 would have died had he not drank. Ad- 
 dressing his antagonist, he said, " Good 
 pilgrim, let me have one draught of 
 water." 
 
 " I consent," answered Guido, " pro- 
 vided you faithfully promise to use the 
 same courtesy to me, should I require 
 it." 
 
 " I promise," replied the other. Hav- 
 ing quenched his thirst, he rushed on 
 Guido, and they continued the battle 
 with redoubled animosity. By and by, 
 however, Guido himself thirsted, and re- 
 quired the same courtesy to be shown 
 him as he had exhibited. 
 
 " I vow to Heaven," answered his 
 95 
 
enemy, "that you shall taste nothing, 
 except by the strong hand." 
 
 At this ungrateful return, Guido, de- 
 fending himself as well as he could, ap- 
 proached the water, leaped in, and drank 
 as much as he wished. Then springing 
 out, he rushed like a raging lion upon 
 the treacherous Plebeus, who at last 
 sought refuge in flight. The king, ob- 
 serving what passed, caused them to be 
 separated, and to rest for that night, that 
 in the morning they might be ready to 
 renew the contest. The pilgrim then 
 reentered his chamber, and received from 
 the king's daughter all the kindness it 
 was in her power to display. She bound 
 up his wounds, prepared supper, and 
 placed him upon a strong wooden pallet. 
 Wearied with the exertions of the day, 
 he fell asleep. 
 
 96 
 
m. 
 
 Now, Plebeus had seven sons, all 
 strong men. He sent for them, and 
 spoke thus : " My dear children, I give 
 you to understand that, unless this pil- 
 grim be destroyed to-night, I may reckon 
 myself among the dead to-morrow. I 
 never looked upon a braver man." 
 
 " My dear father," said one, " we will 
 presently get rid of him." 
 
 About midnight, therefore, they en- 
 97 
 
tered the girl's chamber, where the pil- 
 grim slept, and beneath which the sea 
 flowed. They said to one another, " If 
 we destroy him in bed, we are no better 
 than dead men : let us toss him, bed and 
 all, into the sea. It will be thought that 
 he has fled." 
 
 This scheme was approved; and ac- 
 cordingly they took up the sleeping war- 
 rior, and hurled him into the waves. He 
 slept on, however, without perceiving 
 what had happened. The same night 
 a fisherman, following his occupation, 
 heard the fall of the bed, and by the 
 light of the moon saw him floating upon 
 the water. Much surprised, he called 
 out, 
 
 " In the name of God, who are you ? 
 Speak, that I may render assistance, be- 
 fore the waves swallow you up." 
 
 Guido, awoke by the clamour, arose, 
 and perceiving the sky and stars above, 
 and the ocean beneath, wondered where 
 he was. 
 
 " Good friend," said he to the fisher- 
 man, " assist me, and I will amply re- 
 ward you. I am the pilgrim who fought 
 
 98 
 
in the lists ; but how I got hither, I have 
 no conception." 
 
 The man, hearing this, took him into 
 his vessel, and conveyed him to his 
 house, where he rested till the morning. 
 
 The sons of Plebeus, in the mean 
 while, related what they thought the end 
 of the pilgrim, and bade their parent 
 discard his fear. The latter, much exhil- 
 arated, arose, and armed himself; and 
 going to the gate of the palace, called out, 
 
 " Bring forth that pilgrim, that I may 
 complete my revenge." 
 
 The king commanded his daughter to 
 awake and prepare him for battle. Ac- 
 cordingly, she went into his room, but 
 he was not to be found. She wept 
 bitterly, exclaiming that some one had 
 conveyed away her treasure ; and the sur- 
 prise occasioned by the intelligence was 
 not less, when it became known that 
 his bed was also missing. Some said 
 that he had fled ; others, that he was 
 murdered. Plebeus, however, continued 
 his clamour at the gate. 
 
 " Bring out your pilgrim ; to-day I 
 will present his head to the king." 
 99 
 
Now, while all was bustle and inquiry 
 in the palace, the fisherman made his 
 way to the royal seat, and said, 
 
 " Grieve not, my lord, for the loss of 
 the pilgrim. Fishing last night in the 
 sea, I observed him floating upon a bed. 
 I took him on board my vessel, and he 
 is now asleep at my house." 
 
 This news greatly cheered the king, 
 and he immediately sent to him to pre- 
 pare for a renewal of the contest. But 
 Plebeus, terrified, and apprehensive of 
 the consequence, besought a truce. This 
 was denied, even for a single hour. 
 Both, therefore, re-entered the lists, and 
 each struck twice ; but at the third blow 
 Guido cut ofF his opponent's arm, and 
 afterwards his head. He presented it to 
 the king, who evinced himself well satis- 
 fied with the event ; and hearing that the 
 sons of Plebeus were instruments in the 
 meditated treachery, he caused them to 
 be crucified. The pilgrim was loaded 
 with honours, and offered immense wealth 
 if he would remain with the king, which 
 he resolutely declined. Through him 
 Tyrius was reinstated in his former 
 lOO 
 
dignity, and recompensed for his past 
 suffering. He then bade the king fare- 
 well. : '*■/.: 
 
 " Good friend," returned thi^ ilionarcrh, 
 "for the love of heaven* leave- me aiot 
 ignorant of your name." 
 
 " My lord," answered he, " I am that 
 Guido of whom you have often heard." 
 
 Overjoyed at this happy discovery, 
 the king fell upon his neck, and promised 
 him a large part of his dominions if he 
 would remain. But he could not pre- 
 vail; and the warrior, after returning 
 his friendly salutation, departed. 
 
 lOI 
 
IV. 
 
 GuiDO embarked for England, and 
 hastened to his own castle. He found a 
 great number of paupers standing about 
 his gate ; and amongst them, habited as 
 a pilgrim, sat the countess, his wife. 
 Every day did she thus minister to the 
 poor, bestowing a penny upon each, with 
 a request that he would pray for the 
 safety of her husband Guido, that once 
 more, before death, she might rejoice in 
 his presence. It happened, on the very 
 day of his return, that his son, now 
 seven years of age, sat with his mother 
 among the mendicants, sumptuously ap- 
 parelled. When he heard his mother 
 address the person who experienced her 
 bounty in the manner mentioned above, 
 
 "Mother," said he, "is it not my 
 1 02 
 
father whom you recommend to the 
 prayers of these poor people ? " 
 
 "It is, my son," replied she; "the 
 third night following our marriage he 
 left me, and I have never seen him 
 since." 
 
 Now, as the lady walked among her 
 dependents, who were ranged in order, 
 she approached her own husband Guido, 
 and gave him alms — but she knew not 
 who he was. He bowed his head in 
 acknowledgment, fearful lest his voice 
 should discover him. As the countess 
 walked, her son followed ; and Guido 
 raising his eyes and seeing his offspring, 
 whom he had not before seen, he could 
 not contain himself. He caught him in 
 his arms, and kissed him. 
 
 "My darling child," said he, "may 
 the Lord give thee grace to do that 
 which is pleasing in His eyes." 
 
 The damsels of the lady, observing 
 the emotion and action of the pilgrim, 
 called to him and bade him stand there 
 no longer. He approached his wife's 
 presence, and without making himself 
 known, entreated of her permission to 
 103 
 
occupy some retired place in the neigh- 
 bouring forest ; and she, supposing that 
 he was the pilgrim he appeared to be, 
 for the love of God and of her husband 
 built him a hermitage, and there he re- 
 mained a long time. But being on the 
 point of death, he called his attendant, 
 and said, 
 
 " Go quickly to the countess j give 
 her that ring, and say that if she wishes 
 to see me, she must come hither with all 
 speed." 
 
 The messenger went accordingly, and 
 delivered the ring. As soon as she had 
 seen it, she exclaimed, " It is my lord's 
 ring ! " and with a fleet foot hurried into 
 the forest. But Guido was dead. 
 
 She fell upon the corpse, and with a 
 loud voice cried, " Woe is me ! my hope 
 is extinct ! " and then with sighs and 
 lamentations continued, " Where are 
 now the alms I distributed in behalf of 
 my lord ? I beheld my husband receive 
 my gifts with his own hands, and knew 
 him not. And as for thee" (apostro- 
 phizing the dead body), "thou sawest 
 thy child, and touchedst him. Thou 
 104 
 
didst kiss him, and yet revealedst not 
 thyself to me ! What hast thou done ? 
 Oh, Guido ! Guido ! never shall I see 
 thee more ! " She sumptuously interred 
 his body; and bewailed his decease for 
 many days. 
 
 105 
 
III. 
 
 ALLEGORY OF THE FAIR 
 
 A CERTAIN king once went to a fair, 
 and took with him a preceptor and his 
 scholar. Standing in the market-place, 
 they perceived eight packages exposed 
 for sale. The scholar questioned his 
 1 06 
 
teacher respecting the first of them. 
 " Pray," said he, " what is the price of 
 poverty — that is, of tribulation for the 
 love of God ? " 
 
 Preceptor, The kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Scholar, It is a great price indeed. 
 Open the second package, and let us 
 see what it contains. 
 
 Preceptor. It contains meekness : 
 blessed are the meek. 
 
 Scholar, Meekness, indeed, is a very 
 illustrious thing, and worthy of divine 
 majesty. What is its price ? 
 
 Preceptor, Gold shall not be given 
 for it ; nor shall silver be weighed against 
 it. I demand earth for it ; and nothing 
 but earth will I receive. 
 
 Scholar, There is a spacious tract of 
 uninhabited country between India and 
 Britain. Take as much of it as you 
 please. 
 
 Preceptor, No; this land is the land 
 of the dying, the land which devours its 
 inhabitants. Men die there. I demand 
 the land of the living. 
 
 Scholar, I muse at what you say. 
 All die, and would you alone be exempt ? 
 107 
 
Would you live for ever ? Behold, 
 blessed are the meek, for they shall 
 inherit the earth. What is there in 
 the third package ? 
 
 Preceptor. Hunger and thirst. 
 
 Scholar, For how much may these be 
 purchased ? 
 
 Preceptor, For righteousness. Blessed 
 are they who hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness, for they shall be filled. 
 
 Scholar, Therefore you shall possess 
 righteousness, provided there be no 
 neglect. What does the fourth contain ? 
 
 Preceptor, Tears, wailings, and woe; 
 Moisture above, and moisture below. 
 
 Scholar, It is not customary to buy 
 tears and wailings, yet I will buy it ; 
 because the saints desire it at this price. 
 Blessed are they who mourn, for they 
 shall be comforted. What is the fifth 
 package ? 
 
 Preceptor, It is a precious thing, and 
 contains mercy, which I will weigh to 
 please you. At a word, I will take 
 mercy for mercy, eternity for time. 
 
 Scholar, You were a bad umpire to 
 ask this, unless mercy should plead for 
 lo8 
 
you. Nevertheless, she shall become 
 your surety. And blessed are the mer- 
 ciful, for they shall obtain mercy. In 
 this life we abound in poverty and 
 wretchedness and hardship. Undo the 
 sixth package; perhaps it may contain 
 something better. 
 
 Preceptor, It is clearly full; but it 
 loves not, like a purple robe, to be ex- 
 posed before the common eye ; ypu shall 
 see it in private, and there we will agree 
 about the price. 
 
 Scholar, Very well ; what is it ? 
 
 Preceptor, Purity; which is extremely 
 valuable. There are gold and silver 
 vases, namely, piety, goodness, charity, 
 and spiritual joy. Now, then, let us 
 open these precious garments. Here are 
 lectures, meditations, prayers, and con- 
 templations. The judgments of the 
 Lord are justified in themselves, and 
 more to be desired than gold and pre- 
 cious stones. 
 
 Scholar, There is a great reward in the 
 possession. Ask, therefore, what ye 
 will. 
 
 Preceptor, To see God. 
 109 
 
Scholar, Therefore, blessed are the 
 pure in heart, for they shall see God. 
 Open the seventh package. 
 
 Preceptor, It contains peace. 
 
 Scholar, What ! are you going to sell 
 me your peace ? 
 
 Preceptor, It does not accord with my 
 poverty, nor would it with your justice 
 and great wealth, to take anything of me 
 for nothing. But your liberality will 
 make me rich. What then ? I am a 
 mean country fellow, and made of clay 5 
 formed of the very dust of the earth. 
 My want of nobility oppresses me, and 
 I would no longer bear the reproach 
 which says, " You are earth, and to earth 
 you shall go." I would rather have it 
 said to me, " You are heaven, and to 
 heaven you shall go." I eagerly desire 
 to fulfil the destiny of the sons of God ; 
 I would become a son of God. 
 
 Scholar, I have done : I confess the 
 truth, and distrust you no longer. 
 Blessed are the peace-makers, for they 
 shall be called the sons of God. If, 
 therefore, you preserve the love of a son, 
 you shall receive the paternal inheritance, 
 no 
 
Now, what is contained in the last pack- 
 age ? Explain it. 
 
 Preceptor, It contains only tribulation 
 and persecution for the sake of right- 
 eousness. 
 
 Scholar, And what do you want for it ? 
 
 Preceptor, The kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Scholar, I gave you that as the price 
 of poverty ! 
 
 Preceptor. True; but month after 
 month, week after week, man wanders 
 in his wishes. You are mistaken : I ask 
 this for the present week or month ; as 
 to the future I wait humbly. 
 
 Scholar, I marvel at your sagacity in 
 making a bargain. Now hear, good and 
 faithful servant ! because thou hast been 
 faithful over a few things, I will appoint 
 thee lord over many : enter thou into the 
 joy of thy lord. 
 
 Ill 
 
IV. 
 
 OF THE world's WONDERS 
 
 Pliny says that there are certain men 
 who have the heads of dogs ; who bark 
 when they converse, and clothe them- 
 selves in the skins of animals. These 
 represent preachers, who ought to be 
 coarsely clad, as an example to others. — 
 Also in India there are men who possess 
 a single eye, which is placed in the fore- 
 head. They live upon the flesh of ani- 
 mals. These are they who have the eye 
 of reason. 
 
 In Africa there are women without 
 heads, having eyes and mouth in their 
 breasts. Such are like humble men. — 
 In the East, over against the terrestrial 
 Paradise, are people who never eat, and 
 whose mouth is so small that what they 
 112 
 
drink is conveyed into the stomach by 
 means of a reed. They live upon the 
 odour of apples and flowers j and a bad 
 smell instantly destroys them. These 
 designate abstemious men ; and to die of 
 an ill odour is to die of sin. — There are 
 men without a nose, but otherwise with 
 complete faces ; and whatsoever they sec 
 they think good. Such are the foolish 
 of the world. — And there are some 
 whose nose and lower lip is so long, that 
 it covers all the face, while they sleep. 
 These are just men. — In Scythia are 
 men with ears that completely envelop 
 their whole body. These represent such 
 as listen to the word of God. — Some 
 men there are who walk like cattle, and 
 these are they who honour neither God 
 nor His saints. — There are likewise 
 people who are horned, having short 
 noses and the feet of a goat. These are 
 the proud. — In ^Ethiopia are men with 
 but one leg, whose velocity nevertheless 
 is such, that they run down the swiftest 
 animal. These are the charitable. — In 
 India are pygmies two cubits long ; they 
 ride upon goats, and make war against 
 113 
 
the cranes. These are they who begin 
 well, but cease before they are perfect. 
 — In India there are also men who 
 possess six hands. They are without 
 clothes, but are extremely hairy, and 
 dwell in rivers. These are the zealous 
 workers who labour and obtain eternal 
 life. — There, too, are men who have 
 six fingers on each hand, and six toes on 
 each foot; during the week they keep 
 themselves pure, and on the seventh day 
 sanctify themselves. — Certain women 
 there are bearded to the breast ; but their 
 heads are totally bare. These represent 
 men who obey the Church, and are 
 turned from that course neither by love 
 nor by hatred. — In Ethiopia there are 
 men with four eyes each. These are 
 they who fear God, the world, the devil, 
 and the flesh. They turn one eye to 
 God, to live well ; another to the world, 
 to flee from it ; a third to the devil, to 
 resist him ; and the last to the flesh, to 
 chastise it. — In Europe are very beauti- 
 ful men ; but they have a crane's head, 
 and neck, and beak. These designate 
 judges, who ought to have long necks 
 114 
 
and beaks, in order that what the heart 
 thinks may be long before it reaches the 
 mouth. If all judges were thus we 
 should have fewer injudicious awards. 
 
 j^^4^ 
 
 "S 
 
STORY OF THE KNIGHT PLACIDUS 
 
 In the reign of Trajan there lived a 
 knight named Placid us, who was com- 
 mander-in-chief of the emperor's armies. 
 He was of a very merciful disposition, 
 but a worshipper of idols. His wife 
 also participated in the same feelings, 
 and adhered to the same religious rites. 
 They had two sons, educated in all the 
 magnificence of their age and station ; 
 and from the general kindness and good- 
 ness of their hearts, they merited a reve- 
 lation of the way of truth. 
 
 As he was one day following the 
 Ii6 
 
chase, he discovered a herd of deer, 
 amongst which was one remarkable for 
 the beauty and magnitude of its form. 
 Separating itself from the rest, it plunged 
 into the thicker part of the brake. While 
 the hunters, therefore, occupied them- 
 selves with the remainder of the herd, 
 Placidus gave his attention to the noble 
 animal in question, and followed the 
 course it had taken with all the celerity 
 in his power. While he was giving all 
 his strength to the pursuit, the stag at 
 length scaled a lofty precipice, and Placi- 
 dus, approaching as near to it as he 
 could, considered by what means it 
 might be secured. 
 
 But as he regarded it with fixed atten- 
 tion, there appeared, impressed upon the 
 centre of the brow, the form of the cross, 
 which glittered with greater splendour 
 than a meridian sun. Upon this cross 
 an image of Jesus Christ was suspended ; 
 and as formerly happened to the ass of 
 Balaam, utterance was supplied to the 
 stag, which thus addressed the hunter: 
 " Why dost thou persecute me, Placidus ? 
 For thy sake have I assumed the shape 
 117 
 
of this animal : I am Christ whom thou 
 ignorantly worshippest. Thine alms 
 have gone up before Me, and therefore 
 I come, that as thou hast hunted this 
 stag, so may I hunt thee." 
 
 Some indeed assert that the image, 
 hanging between the deer's antlers, said 
 these things. However that may be, 
 Placidus, filled with terror, fell from his 
 horse ; and in about an hour returning to 
 himself, arose from the earth, and said, 
 
 " Declare what Thou sayest, that I 
 may believe in Thee." 
 
 '' I am Christ, O Placidus ! I created 
 heaven and earth ; I caused the light to 
 arise, and divided it from the darkness. 
 I appointed days, and seasons, and years. 
 I formed man out of the dust of the 
 earth; and I became incarnate for the 
 salvation of mankind. I was crucified, 
 and buried ; and on the third day I rose 
 again." 
 
 When Placidus heard this, he fell again 
 upon the earth, and exclaimed, 
 
 " I believe, O Lord, that Thou art He 
 that made all things ; and that Thou art 
 He who bringest back the wanderer." 
 Ii8 
 
The Lord answered, " If thou believest 
 this, go into the city and be baptized." 
 
 " Wouldst Thou, O Lord, that I im- 
 part what has befallen me to my wife 
 and children, that they also may be- 
 lieve ? " 
 
 " Do so ; tell them that they also may 
 be cleansed from their iniquities. And 
 do you, on the morrow, return hither, 
 where I will appear again, and show you 
 more fully of the future." 
 
 Placidus, therefore, departed to his 
 own home, and communicated all that 
 had passed to his wife. But she, too, 
 had had a revelation ; and in like man- 
 ner had been enjoined to believe in 
 Christ, together with her children. So 
 they hastened at midnight to the bishop 
 of the city of Rome, where they were 
 entertained and baptized with great joy. 
 Placidus was called Eustacius, and his 
 wife, Theosbyta ; the two sons, Theos- 
 bytus and Agapetus. In the morning 
 Eustacius, according to custom, went 
 out to hunt, and coming with his attend- 
 ants near the place, he dispersed them, 
 as if for the purpose of discovering the 
 U9 
 
prey. Immediately the vision of yester- 
 day reappeared, and prostrating himself, 
 he said, 
 
 " I implore Thee, O Lord, to make 
 clear what Thou didst promise to Thy 
 servant." 
 
 " Blessed art thou, Eustacius, because 
 thou hast received the laver of My grace 
 and thereby overcome the devil. Now 
 hast thou trod him to dust who beguiled 
 thee. Now will thy fidelity appear; for 
 the devil, whom thou hast deserted, is 
 arming himself against thee in a variety 
 of ways. Much must thou undergo ere 
 thou possessest the crown of victory. 
 Much must thou suffer that thou mayst 
 be humbled, and abandon the deep- 
 seated vanity of this world, and once 
 more be raised by spiritual wealth. Fail 
 not, therefore, nor look back upon thy 
 former condition. Thou must demon- 
 strate thyself another Job ; but from the 
 very depth of thy humiliation, I will re- 
 store thee to the summit of earthly 
 splendour. Choose, then, whether thou 
 wouldst prefer thy trials now, or at the 
 conclusion of life." 
 
 J 20 
 
Eustacius replied, " If it become me, 
 O Lord, to be exposed to trials, let them 
 presently approach ; but do Thou uphold 
 me, and supply me with patient fortitude." 
 
 " Be bold, Eustacius : My grace shall 
 support your souls." 
 
 Saying thus, the Lord ascended into 
 heaven. After which Eustacius returned 
 home to his wife, and explained to her 
 what had been decreed. In a few days 
 a pestilence carried ofF the whole of their 
 men-servants and maid-servants; and 
 before long the sheep, horses, and cattle 
 also perished. Robbers plundered their 
 habitation, and despoiled them of every 
 ornament; while he himself, together 
 with his wife and sons, fled naked and in 
 the deepest distress. But devoutly they 
 worshipped God ; and, apprehensive of 
 an Egyptian redness, went secretly away. 
 Thus were they reduced to utter poverty. 
 
 The king and the senate, greatly af- 
 flicted with their general's calamities, 
 sought for, but found not the slightest 
 trace of him. In the mean time this un- 
 happy family approached the sea ; and find- 
 ing a ship ready to sail, they embarked in 
 121 
 
it. The master of the vessel observing that 
 the wife of Eustacius was very beautiful, 
 determined to secure her ; and when they 
 had crossed the sea, demanded their pas- 
 sage money, which, as he anticipated, 
 they did not possess. Notwithstanding 
 the vehement and indignant protestations 
 of Eustacius, he seized upon his wife ; 
 and, beckoning to the mariners, com- 
 manded them to cast the unfortunate 
 husband headlong into the sea. Per- 
 ceiving, therefore, that all opposition was 
 useless, he took up his two children, and 
 departed with much and heavy sorrow. 
 
 " Alas for me and for you ! " he ex- 
 claimed, as he wept over his bereaved 
 offspring ; " your poor mother is lost, and 
 in a strange land, in the arms of a strange 
 lord, must lament her fate." 
 
 Travelling along, he came to a river, 
 the water of which ran so high that it 
 appeared hazardous in an eminent degree 
 to cross with both the children at the 
 same time; one, therefore, he placed 
 carefully upon the bank, and then passed 
 over with the other in his arms. This 
 effected, he laid it upon the ground, and 
 122 
 
returned immediately for the remaining 
 child. But in the midst of the river, 
 accidentally glancing his eye back, he 
 beheld a wolf hastily snatch up the child, 
 and run with it into an adjoining wood. 
 
 Despairing of saving it, he hastened to 
 the other ; but while he was yet at some 
 distance, a huge lion approached the 
 child he had left, and, seizing it, pres- 
 ently disappeared. To follow was use- 
 less, for he was in the middle of the 
 water. Giving himself up, therefore, to 
 his desperate situation, he began to lament 
 and to pluck away his hair 5 and would 
 have cast himself into the stream had not 
 Divine Providence preserved him. 
 
 Certain shepherds, however, observing 
 the lion carrying ofF the child in his 
 teeth, pursued him with dogs; and by 
 the peculiar dispensation of Heaven it 
 was dropped unhurt. As for the other, 
 some ploughmen witnessing the adven- 
 ture, shouted lustily after the wolf, and 
 succeeded in liberating the poor victim 
 from its jaws. Now, it happened that 
 both the shepherds and ploughmen re- 
 sided in the same village, and brought up 
 123 
 
the children amongst them. But Eusta- 
 cius knew nothing of this, and his afflic- 
 tion was so poignant that he was unable 
 to control his complaints. 
 
 " Alas ! " he would say, " once I flour- 
 ished like a luxuriant tree, but now I am 
 stripped of my leaves. Once I was 
 encompassed with military ensigns and 
 bands of armed men ; now I am a single 
 being in the universe : I have lost all my 
 children, and everything that I possessed. 
 Remember, O Lord, that thou saidst my 
 trials should resemble Job's ; behold, they 
 exceed them. For, although he was 
 destitute, he had a couch, however vile, 
 to repose upon ; I, alas ! have nothing. 
 He had compassionating friends, while I 
 have savage beasts, who have carried off 
 my sons, for my friends. His wife re- 
 mained, but mine is forcibly carried off. 
 Assuage my anguish, O Lord ! and place 
 a bridle upon my lips, lest I utter foolish- 
 ness, and be cast away from before Thy 
 face." With such words he gave free 
 course to the fulness of his heart ; and 
 after much travel entered a village, where 
 he abode. In this place he continued 
 124 
 
for fifteen years, and tended the lambs 
 of the men of that place as their hired 
 servant. 
 
 To return to the two boys. They 
 were educated in the same neighbour- 
 hood, but had no knowledge that they 
 were brothers. And as for the wife of 
 Eustacius, she preserved her purity, and 
 suffered not the infamous usage which 
 circumstances led her to apprehend. 
 After some time her persecutor died. 
 
 In the mean while the Roman emperor 
 was beset by his enemies, and recollect- 
 ing how valiantly Placidus had behaved 
 himself in similar straits, his grief at the 
 deplorable mutation of fortune was re- 
 newed. He despatched soldiers through 
 various parts of the world in pursuit of 
 them ; and promised to the discoverer 
 infinite rewards and honours. It hap- 
 pened that some of the emissaries, being 
 of those who had attended upon the per- 
 son of Placidus, came into the country 
 in which he laboured, and one of them 
 he recognized by his gait. The sight of 
 these men brought back to the exile's 
 mind the situation of wealth and honour 
 125 
 
which he had once possessed ; and being 
 filled with fresh trouble at the recollec- 
 tion — 
 
 " O Lord ! ** he exclaimed, " even as 
 beyond expectation I have seen these 
 people again, so let me be restored to my 
 beloved wife. Of my children I speak 
 not; for I know too well that they are 
 devoured by wild beasts.** 
 
 At that moment a voice whispered, 
 
 " Be faithful, Eustacius, and thou wilt 
 shortly recover thy lost honours, and 
 again look upon thy wife and ofFspring.*' 
 
 Now, when the soldiers met Placidus, 
 they knew not who he was ; and accost- 
 ing him, they asked if he were acquainted 
 with any foreigner named Placidus, with 
 his wife and two sons. He replied in 
 the negative, but requested that they 
 would tarry in his house. They con- 
 sented ; and he conducted them home, 
 and waited on them. And here, as be- 
 fore, at the recollection of his former 
 splendour, his tears flowed. Unable to 
 contain himself, he went out of doors, 
 and when he had washed his face he re- 
 entered, and continued his service. By 
 126 
 
and by the appearance of their ancient 
 master underwent a more exact scrutiny ; 
 and one said to the other, " Surely this 
 man bears great resemblance to him we 
 inquire after." 
 
 " Of a truth," answered his compan- 
 ion, " you say well. Let us examine if 
 he possess a scar on his head, which he 
 received in action." 
 
 They did so, and finding a scar which 
 indicated a similar wound, they leaped up 
 and embraced him, and inquired after his 
 wife and sons. He related his adven- 
 tures; and the neighbours, coming in, 
 listened with wonder to the account 
 delivered by the soldiers of his military 
 achievements and former magnificence. 
 Then, obeying the command of the em- 
 peror, they clothed him in sumptuous 
 apparel. On the fifteenth day they 
 reached the imperial court ; and the em- 
 peror, apprized of his coming, went out 
 to meet him, and saluted him with great 
 gladness. 
 
 Eustacius related all that had befallen 
 him ; he was then invested with the com- 
 mand of the army, and restored to every 
 127 
 
office that he had held prior to his de- 
 parture. When the soldiers were num- 
 bered, they were found to be too few to 
 meet the enemy. He therefore drew 
 together from all parts the young men 
 of the country ; and it fell in the lot of 
 the village where his own children were 
 educated, to send two to the army ; and 
 these very youths were selected by the 
 inhabitants as the best and bravest of 
 their number. They appeared before 
 the general; and their elegant manners, 
 united to a singular propriety of con- 
 duct, won his esteem. He placed them 
 in the van of his troops, and began his 
 march against the enemy. After the 
 rout of the foe, he caused his army to 
 halt for three days at a certain place, 
 where, as it happened, his wife was liv- 
 ing in poverty. Strange to say, the sons 
 themselves, in the general distribution of 
 the soldiers, were quartered with their 
 own mother, but all the while ignorant 
 with whom they were stationed. 
 
 About mid-day the lads, sitting to- 
 gether, related the various mutations to 
 which their infancy had been subject; 
 128 
 
and the mother, who was at no great dis- 
 tance, became an attentive auditor. 
 
 " Of what I was, while a child," said 
 the elder of the brothers, " I remember 
 nothing, except that my beloved father 
 was a leader of a company of soldiers; 
 and that my mother, who was very beau- 
 tiful, had two sons, of whom I was the 
 elder. During the night we accompa- 
 nied our parents from the habitation in 
 which we had constantly resided, and 
 embarking on board a vessel that imme- 
 diately put to sea, sailed I know not 
 whither. Our mother remained in the 
 ship, but wherefore, I am also ignorant. 
 In the mean time our father carried my 
 brother and myself in his arms, and me 
 he left upon the nearer bank of a river, 
 until he had conveyed the younger of us 
 across. But no sooner had he accom- 
 plished his design, and was returning to 
 my assistance, than a wolf darted from a 
 thicket and bore my brother off in his 
 mouth. Before he could hasten back to 
 his succour, a prodigious lion seized upon 
 me, and carried me into a neighbouring 
 wood. Certain shepherds, however, de- 
 129 
 
livered and educated me amongst them, 
 as you know. What has become of my 
 father and my brother, I know not." 
 
 The younger brother here burst into a 
 flood of tears, and exclaimed, 
 
 " Surely I have found my brother ; for 
 they who brought me up frequently de- 
 clared that 1 was emancipated from the 
 jaws of a wolf." 
 
 Then did they exchange embraces and 
 shed tears. The mother, who listened, 
 it may be well supposed, with intense 
 interest to what was going forward, felt 
 a strong conviction that they were her 
 own children. She was silent, however ; 
 and the next day went to the commander 
 of the forces, and entreated permission 
 to go into her own country. 
 
 "I am a Roman woman," said she, 
 " and a stranger in these parts." 
 
 As she uttered these words, her eye 
 fixed with an earnest and anxious gaze 
 upon the countenance of him she ad- 
 dressed. It was her husband, whom she 
 now for the first time recollected; and 
 she threw herself at his feet unable to 
 contain her joy. 
 
 130 
 
" My lord," cried the enraptured ma- 
 tron, " I entreat you to relate some cir- 
 cumstances of your past life ; for, unless 
 I greatly mistake, you are Placidus, the 
 master of the soldiery, since known by 
 the name of Eustacius, whom our blessed 
 Saviour converted, and tried by such and 
 such temptations : I am his wife, taken 
 from him at sea by a perfidious wretch, 
 but who accomplished not his atrocious 
 purposes. 1 had two sons, called Aga- 
 petus and Theosbytus." 
 
 When Eustacius heard this, he looked 
 at her earnestly, and saw that it was his 
 wife. They embraced and wept ; giving 
 glory to God, who brings joy to the sor- 
 rowful. The wife then observed, 
 
 " My lord, what has become of our 
 children ? " 
 
 " Alas ! " replied he, " they were car- 
 ried ofF by wild beasts ; " and he repeated 
 the circumstance of their loss. 
 
 " Give thanks," said his wife, " give 
 manifold thanks to the Lord ; for as His 
 Providence hath revealed our existence 
 to each other, so will He give us back 
 our beloved offspring." 
 131 
 
" Did I not tell you," returned he, 
 *' that wild beasts had devoured them ? " 
 
 "True; but yesternight, as I sat in 
 the garden, I overheard two young men 
 relate the occurrences of their childhood, 
 and I believe them to be our sons. In- 
 terrogate them, and they will tell you." 
 
 Messengers were immediately des- 
 patched for this purpose, and a few 
 questions convinced Eustacius of the 
 full completion of his happiness. They 
 fell upon each other's necks and wept 
 aloud. It was a joyful occasion ; and 
 the whole army rejoiced at their being 
 found, and at the victory over the barba- 
 rians. Previous to their return the Em- 
 peror Trajan died, and was succeeded 
 by Adrian, more wicked even than his 
 predecessor. However, he received the 
 conqueror and his family with great 
 magnificence, and sumptuously enter- 
 tained them at his own table. But the 
 day following the emperor would have 
 proceeded to the temple of his idols 
 to sacrifice, in consequence of the late 
 victory ; and desired his guests to accom- 
 pany him. 
 
 132 
 
" My lord," said Eustacius, " I wor- 
 ship the God of the Christians ; and Him 
 only do I serve, and propitiate with sac- 
 rifice." 
 
 The emperor, full of rage, placed him, 
 with his whole family, in the arena, and 
 let loose a ferocious lion upon them. 
 But the lion, to the astonishment of all, 
 held down his head before them, as if in 
 reverence, and humbly went from them. 
 On which the emperor ordered a brazen 
 bull to be heated, and into this his vic- 
 tims were cast alive; but with prayer 
 and supplication they commended them- 
 selves to the mercy of God, and three 
 days after, being taken out of the fur- 
 nace in the presence of the emperor, so 
 untouched were they by the fire that not 
 a hair of their heads was singed, nor had 
 the fiery vapours in any way affected them. 
 
 The Christians buried their corpses in 
 the most honourable manner, and over 
 them constructed an oratory. They 
 perished in the first year of Adrian, a. d. 
 1 20, in the calends of November ; or, as 
 some write, the I2th of the calends of 
 October. 
 
 133 
 

 
 ^^^^^ 
 
 
 VL 
 
 THE EMPEROR JOVINIAN 
 
 When Jovinian was emperor, he pos- 
 sessed very great power; and as he lay 
 in bed reflecting upon the extent of his 
 dominions, his heart was elated to an 
 extraordinary degree. " Is there," he 
 impiously asked, " is there any other god 
 than me ? " Amid such thoughts he 
 fell asleep. 
 
 In the morning he reviewed his troops, 
 and said, " My friends, after breakfast 
 we will hunt." Preparations being made 
 accordingly, he set out with a large reti- 
 nue. During the chase, the emperor 
 felt such extreme oppression from the 
 134 
 
heat, that he believed his very existence 
 depended upon a cold bath. As he anx- 
 iously looked around, he discovered a 
 sheet of vjrater at no great distance. 
 
 *' Remain here," said he to his guard, 
 " until I have refreshed myself in yonder 
 stream." 
 
 Then spurring his steed, he rode ha- 
 stily to the edge of the water. Alighting, 
 he divested himself of his apparel, and 
 experienced the greatest pleasure from 
 its invigorating freshness and coolness. 
 But whilst he was thus employed, a per- 
 son similar to him in every respect — in 
 countenance and gesture — arrayed him- 
 self unperceived in the emperor's dress, 
 and then mounting his horse, rode ofF to 
 the attendants. The resemblance to the 
 sovereign was such, that no doubt was 
 entertained of the reality ; and when the 
 sport was over command was issued for 
 their return to the palace. 
 
 Jovinian, however, having quitted the 
 water, sought in every possible direction 
 for his horse and clothes, and to his utter 
 astonishment could find neither. Vexed 
 beyond measure at the circumstance (for 
 
he was completely naked, and saw no 
 one near to assist him), he began to 
 reflect upon what course he should 
 pursue. 
 
 " Miserable man that I am," said he, 
 " to what a strait am I reduced ! There 
 is, I remember, a knight residing close 
 by, whom I have promoted to a military 
 post; I will go to him, and command 
 his attendance and service. I will then 
 ride on to the palace and strictly investi- 
 gate the cause of this extraodinary con- 
 duct." 
 
 Jovinian proceeded, naked and 
 ashamed, to the castle of the aforesaid 
 and beat loudly at the gate. The porter 
 inquired the cause of the knocking. 
 
 " Open the gate," said the enraged 
 emperor, " and you will see whom I 
 am. 
 
 The gate was opened ; and the porter, 
 struck with the strange appearance he 
 exhibited, replied, '' In the name of all 
 that is marvellous, what are you ? " 
 
 " I am," said he, " Jovinian, your 
 emperor ; go to your lord, and command 
 him from me to supply the wants of his 
 136 
 
sovereign. I have lost both horse and 
 clothes." 
 
 " Thou liest, infamous ribald ! " 
 shouted, the porter; "just before thy 
 approach, the Emperor Jovinian, accom- 
 panied by the officers of his household, 
 entered the palace. My lord both went 
 and returned with him; and but even 
 now sat with him at meat. But because 
 thou hast called thyself the emperor, my 
 lord shall know of thy presumption." 
 
 The porter entered, and related what 
 had passed. Jovinian was introduced, 
 but the knight retained not the slightest 
 recollection of his master, although the 
 emperor remembered him. 
 
 "Who are you?" said the former, 
 " and what is your name ? " 
 
 " I am the Emperor Jovinian," rejoined 
 he ; " canst thou have forgotten me ? 
 At such a time I promoted thee to a mili- 
 tary command." 
 
 " Why, thou most audacious scoun- 
 drel," said the knight, " darest thou call 
 thyself the emperor? I rode with him 
 myself to the palace, from whence I am 
 this moment returned. But thy impu- 
 137 
 
dence shall not go without its reward. 
 Flog him," said he, turning to his serv- 
 ants, " flog him soundly, and drive him 
 away." 
 
 This sentence was immediately ex- 
 ecuted, and the poor emperor, bursting 
 into a convulsion of tears, exclaimed, 
 *' Oh, my God, is it possible that one 
 whom I have so much honoured and 
 exalted should do this ? Not content 
 with pretending ignorance of my person, 
 he orders these merciless villains to abuse 
 me!" 
 
 He next thought within himself, 
 "There is a certain duke, one of my 
 privy councillors, to whom I will make 
 known my calamity. At least, he will 
 enable me to return decently to the pal- 
 ace. 
 
 To him, therefore, Jovinian proceeded, 
 and the gate was opened at his knock. 
 But the porter, beholding a naked man, 
 exclaimed in the greatest amaze, 
 
 " Friend, who are you, and why come 
 you here in such a guise ? " 
 
 He replied, " I am your emperor ; I 
 have accidentally lost my clothes and my 
 
 138 
 
horse, and I have come for succour to 
 your lord. I beg you, therefore, to do 
 me this errand to the duke." 
 
 The porter, more and more astonished, 
 entered the hall, and communicated the 
 strange intelligence which he had re- 
 ceived. 
 
 " Bring him in," said the duke. He 
 was brought in, but neither did he recog- 
 nize the person of the emperor. 
 
 " What art thou ? " he asked. 
 
 " I am the emperor," replied Jovinian, 
 *'and I have promoted thee to riches 
 and honour, since I made thee a duke 
 and one of my councillors." 
 
 "Poor mad wretch," said the duke, 
 " a short time since I returned from the 
 palace, where I left the very emperor 
 thou assumest to be. But since thou 
 hast claimed such rank, thou shalt not 
 escape unpunished. Carry him to prison, 
 and feed him with bread and water." 
 
 The command was no sooner de- 
 livered than obeyed; and the following 
 day his naked body was submitted to the 
 lash, and he was again cast into the 
 dungeon. 
 
 139 
 
Thus afflicted, he gave himself up to 
 the wretchednesG of his untoward con- 
 dition. In the agony of his heart, he 
 said, 
 
 " What shall I do ? Oh, what will 
 be my destiny ? I am loaded with the 
 coarsest contumely, and exposed to the 
 malicious observation of my people. It 
 were better to hasten immediately to my 
 palace, and there discover myself — my 
 servants will know me ; and even if they 
 do not, my wife will know me ! " 
 
 Escaping, therefore, from his confine- 
 ment, he approached the palace and beat 
 upon the gate. 
 
 " Who art thou ? ** said the porter. 
 
 " It is strange," replied the aggrieved 
 emperor, " it is strange that thou 
 shouldest not know me ; thou, who hast 
 served me so long ! " 
 
 " Served thee ! " returned the porter 
 indignantly, " thou liest abominably. 
 I have served none but the emperor." 
 
 " Why," said the other, " thou knowest 
 
 that I am he. Yet, though you disregard 
 
 my words, go, I implore you, to the 
 
 empress ; communicate what I will tell 
 
 140 
 
thee, and by these signs bid her send the 
 imperial robes, of which some rogue has 
 deprived me. The signs I tell thee of 
 are known to none but to ourselves." 
 
 " In verity," said the porter, " thou 
 art mad : at this very moment my lord 
 sits at table with the empress herself. 
 Nevertheless, out of regard for thy sin- 
 gular merits, I will intimate thy dec- 
 laration within ; and rest assured, thou 
 wilt presently find thyself most royally 
 beaten." 
 
 The porter went accordingly, and 
 related what he had heard. But the 
 empress became very sorrowful, and said, 
 
 " Oh, my lord, what am I to think ? 
 The most hidden passages of our lives 
 are revealed by an obscene fellow at the 
 gate, and repeated to me by the porter, 
 on the strength of which he declares 
 himself the emperor and my espoused 
 lord ! " 
 
 When the fictitious monarch was ap- 
 prised of this, he commanded him to 
 be brought in. He had no sooner entered 
 than a large dog, which couched upon 
 the hearth, and had been much cherished 
 141 
 
by him, flew at his throat, and, but for 
 timely prevention, would have killed him. 
 A falcon, also, seated upon her perch, no 
 sooner beheld him, than she broke her 
 jesses and flew out of the hall. Then 
 the pretended emperor, addressing those 
 who stood about him, said, " My friends, 
 hear what I will ask of yon ribald. 
 Who are you ? and what do you want ? " 
 
 " These questions," said the suffering 
 man, " are very strange. You know I 
 am the emperor and master of this 
 place." 
 
 The other, turning to the nobles who 
 sat or stood at the table, continued, 
 " Tell me, on your allegiance, which of 
 us two is your lord and master ? " 
 
 " Your majesty asks us an easy thing," 
 replied they, "and need not to remind 
 us of our allegiance. That obscene 
 wretch we have never before seen. You 
 alone are he, whom we have known 
 from childhood; and we entreat that 
 this fellow may be severely punished, as 
 a warning to others how they give scope 
 to their mad presumption." 
 
 Then turning to the empress, the 
 142 
 
usurper said, " Tell me, my lady, on the 
 faith you have sworn, do you know this 
 man who calls himself thy lord and 
 emperor ? " 
 
 She answered, " My lord, how can you 
 ask such a question ? Have I not known 
 thee more than thirty years, and borne 
 thee many children ? Yet, at one thing 
 I do admire. How can this fellow have 
 acquired so intimate a knowledge of 
 what has passed between us ? " 
 
 The pretended emperor made no reply, 
 but addressing the real one, said, " Friend, 
 how darest thou to call thyself emperor ? 
 We sentence thee, for this unexampled 
 impudence, to be drawn, without loss of 
 time, at the tail of a horse. And if thou 
 utterest the same words again, thou shalt 
 be doomed to an ignominious death." 
 
 He then commanded his guards to see 
 the sentence put in force, but to preserve 
 his life. The unfortunate emperor was 
 now almost distracted ; and urged by his 
 despair, wished vehemently for death. 
 
 " Why was I born ? " he exclaimed. 
 
 " My friends shun me ; and my wife 
 and children will not acknowledge me. 
 
 143 
 
But there is my confessor, still. To 
 him will I go ; perhaps he will recollect 
 me, because he has often received my 
 confessions." 
 
 He went accordingly, and knocked at 
 the window of his cell. 
 
 " Who is there ? " said the confessor. 
 
 "The emperor, Jovinian," was the 
 reply; "open the window, and I will 
 speak to thee." The window was 
 opened ; but no sooner had he looked 
 out than he closed it again in great haste. 
 
 " Depart from me," said he, " accursed 
 thing : thou art not the emperor, but the 
 devil incarnate." 
 
 This completed the miseries of the per- 
 secuted man ; and he tore his hair, and 
 plucked up his beard by the roots. 
 
 " Woe is me ! " he cried, " for what 
 strange doom am I reserved ? " 
 
 At this crisis, the impious words 
 which, in the arrogance of his heart, he 
 had uttered, crossed his recollection. 
 Immediately he beat again at the window 
 of the confessor's cell, and exclaimed, 
 " For the love of Him who was sus- 
 pended from the cross, hear my con- 
 144 
 
fession with the window closed." The 
 recluse said, " I will do this with pleas- 
 ure ; " and then Jovinian acquainted him 
 with every particular of his past life ; and 
 principally how he had lifted himself up 
 against his Maker, saying that he be- 
 lieved there was no other god but him- 
 self. 
 
 The confession made, and absolution 
 given, the recluse opened the window, 
 and directly knew him. 
 
 " Blessed be the most high God," said 
 he, " now do I know thee. I have here 
 a few garments : clothe thyself, and go 
 to the palace. I trust that they also will 
 recognize thee." 
 
 The emperor did as the confessor di- 
 rected. The porter opened the gate, 
 and made a low obeisance to him. 
 " Dost thou know me ? " said he. 
 
 " Very well, my lord ! " replied the 
 menial; "but I marvel that I did not 
 observe you go out." 
 
 Entering the hall of his mansion, Jo- 
 vinian was received by all with a pro- 
 found reverence. The strange emperor 
 was at that time in another apartment 
 145 
 
with the queen ; and a certain knight 
 came out of the chamber, looked nar- 
 rowly at Jovinian, and returning to the 
 supposed emperor, said, 
 
 " My lord, there is one in the hall to 
 whom everybody bends; he so much 
 resembles you, that we know not which 
 is the emperor." 
 
 Hearing this, the usurper said to the 
 empress, " Go and see if you know him." 
 
 She went, and returned greatly sur- 
 prised at what she saw. 
 
 " Oh, my lord," said she, " I declare 
 to you that I know not whom to trust." 
 
 " Then," returned he, " I will go and 
 determine you." 
 
 When he had entered the hall, he took 
 Jovinian by the hand and placed him near 
 him. Addressing the assembly, he said, 
 " By the oaths you have taken, declare 
 which of us is your emperor." 
 
 The empress answered, " It is incum- 
 bent on me to speak first; but Heaven 
 is my witness that I am unable to deter- 
 mine which is he." 
 
 And so said all. Then the feigned 
 emperor spoke thus, 
 146 
 
" My friends, hearken ! That man is 
 your king and your lord. He exalted 
 himself to the disparagement of his 
 Maker; and God, therefore, scourged 
 and hid him from your knowledge. I 
 am the angel that watches over his soul, 
 and I have guarded his kingdom while he 
 was undergoing his penance. But his 
 repentance removes the rod ; he has now 
 made ample satisfaction, and again let 
 your obedience wait upon him. Com- 
 mend yourselves to the protection of 
 Heaven." 
 
 So saying, he disappeared. The em- 
 peror gave thanks to God, and lived 
 happily, and finished his days in peace. 
 
 147 
 
VII. 
 
 THE king's four SONS 
 
 There was a wise and rich king who 
 possessed a beloved, but not a loving 
 wife. She had three illegitimate sons, 
 who proved ungrateful and rebellious to 
 their reputed parent. 
 
 In due time she brought forth another 
 son, whose legitimacy was undisputed; 
 and after arriving at a good old age, he 
 died, and was buried in the royal sepul- 
 chre of his fathers. But the death of 
 148 
 
the old king caused great strife amongst 
 his surviving sons, about the right of 
 succession. All of them advanced a 
 claim, and none would relinquish it to 
 the other ; the three first presuming upon 
 their priority in birth, and the last upon 
 his legitimacy. 
 
 In this strait, they agreed to refer the 
 absolute decision of their cause to a cer- 
 tain honourable knight of the late king. 
 When this person, therefore, heard their 
 difference, he said, " Follow my advice, 
 and it will greatly benefit you. Draw 
 from its sepulchre the body of the de- 
 ceased monarch ; prepare, each of you, a 
 bow and single shaft, and whosoever 
 transfixes the heart of his father shall 
 obtain the kingdom." 
 
 The counsel was approved, the body 
 was taken from its repository and bound 
 to a tree. The arrow of the first son 
 wounded the king's right hand — on 
 which, as if the contest were deter- 
 mined, they proclaimed him heir to the 
 throne. 
 
 But the second arrow went nearer, 
 and entered the mouth ; so that he, too, 
 149 
 
considered himself the undoubted lord 
 of the kingdom. 
 
 However, the third perforated the 
 heart itself, and consequently imagined 
 that his claim was fully decided, and his 
 succession sure. 
 
 It now came to the turn of the fourth 
 and last son to shoot ; but he broke forth 
 into a lamentable cry, and with eyes 
 swimming in tears, said, 
 
 " Oh ! my poor father ; have I then 
 lived to see you the victim of an impious 
 contest — thine own offspring lacerate 
 thy unconscious clay ? — Far, oh ! far 
 be it from me to strike thy venerated 
 form, whether living or dead." 
 
 No sooner had he uttered these words, 
 than the nobles of the realm, together 
 with the whole people, unanimously 
 elected him to the throne ; and depriving 
 the three barbarous wretches of their 
 rank and wealth, expelled them for ever 
 from the kingdom. 
 
 150 
 
VIII. 
 
 JUSTICE, TRUTH, MERCY, AND PEACE 
 
 A CERTAIN great king had a handsome 
 son, who proved himself, on all occa- 
 sions, wise, bold, and courteous. The 
 same king had four daughters also, whose 
 names were Justice, Truth, Mercy, and 
 Peace. 
 
 Now, the king, being very desirous of 
 procuring for his son a suitable partner, 
 despatched a messenger in search of a 
 beautiful virgin, to whom he should be 
 united. At last, the daughter of the 
 King of Jerusalem was selected, and 
 married to the young prince, who was 
 much struck with the beauty of his bride. 
 At this time there was in the court a 
 servant whom the king's son principally 
 
 151 
 
trusted, and to whom he had confided 
 the care of one of his provinces. 
 
 This man, in return for the benefits 
 accumulated upon him, seduced the lady, 
 and wasted the country over which he 
 was placed. When the husband, there- 
 fore, knew of his wife's infidelity, he 
 was overwhelmed with sorrow, and re- 
 pudiated her with the loss of every hon- 
 our. Thus circumstanced, she fell into 
 extreme poverty ; and, reduced to despair 
 by the wretchedness of her condition, 
 walked from place to place begging her 
 bread, and wishing for the death that 
 came not to her relief. 
 
 But at length the husband, compas- 
 sionating her distress, sent messengers to 
 recall her to his court. 
 
 " Come, lady," they said, " come in 
 perfect safety. Thy lord wishes thy 
 return ; fear nothing." 
 
 Yet she refused, and exclaimed, " Tell 
 my lord that I would willingly come to 
 him, but I am unable to do so. If he 
 asks why, say, in compliance with an 
 imperious law. If a man marry, and 
 his wife prove an adultress, he shall give 
 152 
 
her a writing of divorcement ; but from 
 that hour, she can be no longer his wife. 
 To me such a writing has been given — 
 for, alas ! I am an adultress ; therefore, 
 it is impossible for me to return to my 
 lord." 
 
 " But," replied the messengers, " our 
 lord is greater than the law which he 
 made himself: and since he is disposed 
 to show mercy towards you, we repeat 
 that you may properly comply with his 
 wishes, secure from further punishment 
 or reproach." 
 
 " How shall I know that ? " said the 
 lady; "if my beloved would assure me 
 of it ; if he would deign to come and kiss 
 me with the kiss of his lip, then should 
 I feel certain of favour." 
 
 When the messengers communicated 
 to the prince what had passed between 
 them and his afflicted wife, he called to- 
 gether the noblemen of his kingdom, and 
 deliberated upon the measures it became 
 him to adopt. After mature reflection, 
 they determined that some man of expe- 
 rience and judgment should be sent to 
 persuade her to return. But they who 
 
answered this description refused to un- 
 dertake the office; and the husband, in 
 his extremity, despatched once more a 
 messenger, whom he commissioned to 
 speak thus : 
 
 '' What can I do for you ? There is 
 not a man in my dominions who will 
 execute my wishes ! " These words in- 
 creased the anguish of the unfortunate 
 lady, and she wept bitterly. Her condi- 
 tion was related to the prince, and he 
 earnestly besought his father to give him 
 permission to bring back his wife, and 
 to assuage her sorrows. 
 
 The king acquiesced — " Go," said 
 he, " go now in thy might, and reinstate 
 her in the seat from which she has 
 fallen." 
 
 The messengers were then ordered to 
 return and apprize her of the purposed 
 visit. But the prince's elder sister, that 
 is to say. Justice, understanding what 
 was meditated, hastened to her father, 
 and said, 
 
 "My Lord, you are just. You de- 
 cided rightly concerning that harlot. 
 You properly sanctioned the writing of 
 
 ?54 
 
divorcement, whereby she could no 
 longer be my brother's wife; therefore, 
 to the law let her appeal. And if, in 
 violation of justice, you act thus, be as- 
 sured that I will no longer be accounted 
 your daughter." 
 
 The second sister, who was called 
 Truth, then said, "My father, she has 
 spoken truly. You have adjudged this 
 woman an adultress : if you permit 
 her to return, you destroy the very es- 
 sence of truth, and therefore I, too, 
 will no more fulfil the offices of a 
 daughter." 
 
 But the third sister, called Mercy, 
 hearing what had been said by the other 
 two, exclaimed, " Oh, my Lord, I also 
 am thy daughter : forgive the offence of 
 this repentant woman. If thou wilt 
 not, thou abandonest Mercy, and she 
 will never again acknowledge thee her 
 father." 
 
 The fourth sister, whose name was 
 Peace, terrified at the discord between 
 her parent and sisters, desired to leave 
 the country, and fled. 
 
 Justice and Truth, however, relin- 
 
 155 
 
quished not their purpose ; and, putting 
 into their father's hands a naked sword, 
 said, 
 
 "My Lord, we present to you the 
 sword of Justice. Take it, and strike 
 the harlot who has wronged our brother." 
 
 But Mercy, rushing forward, snatched 
 the weapon from their grasp. " Enough, 
 enough," cried she; "long have you 
 reigned, and your inclinations have been 
 your only law. Now forbear ; it is fit that 
 my wishes should sometimes be listened 
 to. Remember that I, too, am the 
 daughter of the king." 
 
 To this Justice made answer, " Thou 
 hast said well : we have reigned long : 
 and long will we preserve our authority. 
 But since there is this discord, call our 
 brother, who is wise in all things; and 
 let him judge between us." 
 
 The proposal was assented to. They 
 showed him the grounds of their alterca- 
 tion, and explained how Justice and Truth 
 pertinaciously demanded the infliction of 
 the law, while Mercy sought a free for- 
 giveness. 
 
 " My beloved sisters," said the prince, 
 
 156 
 
" I am little satisfied with the flight of 
 my sister Peace, whom your unbeseem- 
 ing strife has banished. This ought not 
 to be, and shall not. And as for my 
 adulterous wife, I am prepared to undergo 
 her punishment myself." 
 
 " If this be your determination," ob- 
 served Justice, " we cannot oppose you, 
 my brother." 
 
 Then turning towards Mercy, he said, 
 '' Use your endeavour to restore my 
 wife. But should I receive her, and she 
 again falls, do you design to renew your 
 intercession ? " 
 
 "Not," said the other, "unless she 
 be truly penitent." 
 
 The prince then conducted back his 
 sister Peace, and caused each of the 
 others to embrace her, in turn. Concord 
 being thus reestablished, he hastened to 
 his erring wife. She was received with 
 every honour, and ended her days in 
 peace. 
 
 157 
 
IX. 
 
 THE KING S DAUGHTER WHO WAS SWIFT- 
 FOOTED 
 
 A CERTAIN king had an only daughter, 
 remarkable for the beauty and dignity of 
 her person. She was called Rosamond ; 
 and, at the early age of ten years, she 
 proved so swift a runner, that she invari- 
 ably attained the goal before her com- 
 petitor. The king caused it to be 
 proclaimed that whosoever should surpass 
 his daughter in speed should marry her, 
 and succeed to the throne : but in the 
 event of a failure he should lose his head. 
 And even with the heavy penalty before 
 them, numbers permitted themselves to 
 
 158 
 
be buoyed up by the hope of success to 
 attempt, and to perish in the attempt. 
 
 But it happened that a poor man, 
 called Abibas, inhabited that country, 
 who thus communed with himself: 
 
 "I am very poor, and of a base 
 extraction ; if I may overcome this lady 
 and marry her, not only shall I be 
 promoted myself, but all who are of my 
 blood." 
 
 But wiser than the rest, he took the 
 three following precautions. First, he 
 framed a curious garland of roses, of 
 which he had ascertained that the lady 
 was devotedly fond. Then, he procured 
 a zone of the finest silk, from a convic- 
 tion that most damsels were partial to 
 this sort of clothing. And, lastly, he 
 bought a silken bag, in which he depos- 
 ited a golden ball bearing the following 
 inscription : " Whosoever plays with me 
 shall never satiate of play." 
 
 These three things he placed in his 
 bosom, and knocked at the palace gate. 
 The porter inquired his business ; and he 
 stated his wish in the usual form. 
 
 It happened that the princess herself 
 159 
 
stood at a window close by, and heard 
 Abibas express his intention to run with 
 her. Observing that he was poor, and 
 his attire threadbare and rent, she de- 
 spised him from her very heart, and said, 
 " Lo ! what poor wretch is this with 
 whom I have to contend ? " 
 
 However, she prepared to run ; and 
 everything being in readiness, they com- 
 menced the race. Abibas would have 
 been left at a considerable distance ; but 
 taking the garland of roses from its 
 repository, he skilfully threw it down 
 before her, on which the maiden stooped, 
 picked it up, and placed it on her head. 
 Delighted with the odour and beauty of 
 the flowers, she paused to examine it; 
 and Abibas took advantage of her forget- 
 fulness and advanced rapidly toward the 
 goal. This awoke her to a recollection 
 of what was going forward, and crying 
 aloud, 
 
 " Never shall the daughter of a prince 
 be united to this miserable clown," she 
 threw the garland from her into a deep 
 well, and rushed onward like a whirlwind. 
 In a few moments she overtook the 
 1 60 
 
youth, and extending her hand, struck 
 him upon the shoulder, exclaiming, 
 " Stop, foolish thing ; hopest thou to 
 marry a princess ? " 
 
 Just as she was on the point of repass- 
 ing him, he drew forth the silken girdle, 
 and cast it at her feet. The temptation 
 again proved too strong for her resolution, 
 and she stooped to gather it. Overjoyed 
 at the beauty of its texture, she paused 
 to bind it round her waist; and whilst 
 she did this, Abibas had recovered more 
 ground than he had lost. As soon as 
 the fair racer perceived the consequences 
 of her folly, she burst into a flood of 
 tears, and rending the zone asunder, 
 hurried on. Having again overtaken her 
 adversary, she seized him by the arm, 
 striking him smartly at the same time : 
 *' Fool, thou shalt not marry me ; " and 
 immediately she ran faster than before. 
 
 Abibas, when he saw this, waited 
 until she was near the goal, and then 
 threw at her feet the bag with the golden 
 ball. It was impossible to forbear pick- 
 ing it up 5 and equally impossible not to 
 open it and peep at its contents. She 
 i6i 
 
did so; but reading the inscription, 
 " Who plays with me shall never satiate 
 of playing," she played so much and so 
 long, that Abibas came first to the goal 
 and married her. 
 
 162 
 
X. 
 
 THE TALE OF TWO KNIGHTS 
 
 The Emperor Maximian was re- 
 nowned for the wisdom of his govern- 
 ment. In his reign there lived two 
 knights, the one wise and the 'other fool- 
 ish, but who had a mutual regard for 
 each other. 
 
 "Let us make an agreement," said 
 the wise knight, " which will be advan- 
 tageous to both." 
 
 The other assented, and, by the direc- 
 tion of his friend, proceeded to draw 
 blood from his right arm. " I," said the 
 latter, " will drink of thy blood, and thou 
 of mine ; so that neither in prosperity nor 
 in adversity shall our covenant be broken, 
 and whatsoever the one gains, shall be 
 divided by the other." 
 163 
 
The foolish knight agreed ; and they 
 ratified the treaty by a draught of each 
 other's blood. After this they both 
 dwelt in the same mansion. Now, the 
 lord of the country had two cities, one 
 of which was built on the summit of a 
 lofty mountain. Since all who went to 
 it would possess great wealth, and remain 
 there for life, the path to this city was 
 narrow and stony, and about midway 
 three knights with a large army were 
 stationed. 
 
 The custom was that whosoever 
 passed should do battle, or lose his life, 
 with everything that he possessed. In 
 that city the emperor appointed a sen- 
 eschal, who received without exception 
 all who entered, and ministered to them 
 according to their condition. But the 
 other city was built in a valley under the 
 mountain, the way to which was per- 
 fectly level and pleasant. 
 
 Three soldiers dwelt there, who cheer- 
 fully received whosoever came, and 
 served them according to their pleasure. 
 In this city also a seneschal was placed, 
 but he ordered all who approached to be 
 164 
 
thrown into prison, and on the coming 
 of the judge to be condemned. 
 
 The wise knight said to his compan- 
 ion, " My friend, let us go through the 
 world as other knights are wont to do, 
 and seek our fortune." 
 
 His friend acquiesced ; they set out 
 upon their travels, and presently came to 
 a place where two roads met. 
 
 "See," said the wise knight, "here 
 are two roads. The one leads to the 
 noblest city in the world, and if we go 
 thither, we shall obtain whatsoever our 
 hearts desire. But the other path con- 
 ducts to a city which is built in a valley ; 
 if we venture there, we shall be thrown 
 into prison, and afterwards crucified. I 
 advise, therefore, that we avoid this road, 
 and pursue the other." 
 
 " My friend," replied the foolish 
 knight, *' I heard long ago of these two 
 cities; but the way to that upon the 
 mountain is very narrow and dangerous, 
 because of the soldiers who attack those 
 that enter ; nay, they frequently rob and 
 murder them. But the other way is 
 open and broad ; and the soldiers who 
 
 165 
 
are stationed there receive passengers 
 with hospitality, and supply them with 
 all things necessary. This is sufficiently 
 manifest ; I see it, and had rather believe 
 my own eyes than you." 
 
 " It is true," returned his companion, 
 " one way is difficult to walk along, but 
 the other is infinitely worse at the end : 
 ignominy and crucifixion will certainly 
 be our doom. But fear you to walk the 
 strait road, on account of a battle, or 
 because of robbers ? you, who are a sol- 
 dier, and therefore in duty bound to fight 
 valiantly ! However, if you will go with 
 me the way I desire, I promise to precede 
 you in the attack ; and be assured with your 
 aid we shall overcome every obstacle." 
 
 *' I protest to you," said the other, " I 
 will not go your way, but will take mine 
 own." 
 
 "Well," replied the wise knight, 
 " since I have pledged you my word, 
 and drank your blood in token of fidelity, 
 I will proceed with you, though against 
 my better judgment." 
 
 So they both went the same path. 
 
 The progress was extremely pleasant 
 i66 
 
till they reached the station of the three 
 soldiers, who honourably and magnifi- 
 cently entertained them. And here the 
 foolish knight said to the wise one, 
 "Friend, did I not tell thee how com- 
 fortable this way would be found ; in all 
 which the other is deficient ? " 
 
 " If the end be well," replied he, " all 
 is well; but I do not hope it." With 
 the three soldiers they tarried some time ; 
 insomuch that the seneschal of the city, 
 hearing that two knights, contrary to 
 royal prohibition, were approaching, sent 
 out troops to apprehend them. The 
 foolish knight he commanded to be 
 bound hand and foot, and thrown into a 
 pit, but the other he imprisoned. Now, 
 when the judge arrived, the malefactors 
 were all brought before him, and among 
 the rest our two knights — the wiser of 
 whom thus spoke : 
 
 " My Lord, I complain of my com- 
 rade, who is the occasion of my death. 
 I declared to him the law of this city, 
 and the danger to which we were ex- 
 posed, but he would not listen to my 
 words, nor abide by my counsels. *I 
 167 
 
will trust my eyes,* said he, * rather than 
 you/ Now, because I had taken an 
 oath never to forsake him in prosperity 
 or in adversity, I accompanied him 
 hither. But ought I therefore to die ? 
 Pronounce a just judgment." 
 
 Then the foolish knight addressed the 
 judge : " He is himself the cause of my 
 death. For every one knows that he is 
 reckoned wise, and I am naturally a fool. 
 Ought he then so lightly to have surren- 
 dered his wisdom to my folly ? And 
 had he not done so, I should have re- 
 turned to go the way which he went, 
 even for the solemn oath which I had 
 sworn. And therefore, since he is wise, 
 and I am foolish, he is the occasion of 
 my death." 
 
 The judge, hearing this, spoke to both, 
 but to the wise knight first : " Thou who 
 art wise, since thou didst listen so heed- 
 lessly to his folly and followedst him, 
 and thou, foolish man, since thou didst 
 not credit his word, but acted out thine 
 own folly, ye shall both be suspended 
 on the cross this very day." Thus it 
 was dpne. 
 
 i68 
 
XL 
 
 THE MAN WHO LOST HIS EYES IN VAIN 
 
 A CERTAIN king of Rome decreed that 
 every blind man should annually receive 
 a hundred shillings. It happened that 
 twenty-three associates came into the 
 city and entered a tavern to drink. They 
 remained there seven days, both eating 
 and drinking; but when they would 
 reckon with the tavern-keeper, they had 
 not sufficient money to defray the ex- 
 pense of what they had consumed. 
 " Friends," quoth mine host, " here be 
 wanting a hundred shillings. I tell you, 
 of a certainty, ye go not hence till ye 
 have paid the uttermost farthing." This 
 rather startled the revellers, who, turning 
 to one another, exclaimed, 
 169 
 
" What shall we do ? We cannot 
 pay so large a sum." 
 
 At length one of them observed, 
 " Listen to me *, I will give you the best 
 advice. The king of this country has 
 decreed that whosoever is blind shall re- 
 ceive from his treasury one hundred 
 shillings. Let us then cast lots, and 
 upon whomsoever the lot falls, we will 
 deprive him of sight, and send him to 
 the king for the promised benevolence. 
 Thus we shall depart in peace." 
 
 They all agreed that the counsel was 
 excellent ; and casting lots, the chance 
 fell upon the contriver of the expedient ; 
 whose eyes they immediately put out. 
 He was then led to the palace. Arriving 
 at the gate, they knocked and were ad- 
 mitted by the porter, who inquired their 
 business. The blind man answered, " I 
 am one entitled, from my deficiency of 
 sight, to the benefit of the royal dona- 
 tion." 
 
 " Well," said the porter, " I will in- 
 form the seneschal." He went accord- 
 ingly ; but the wary seneschal first deter- 
 mined to examine his exterior before he 
 170 
 
delivered the money. He did so, and 
 then asked what he wanted. " A hun- 
 dred shillings," replied he, "which the 
 law gives to every blind man." 
 
 " My friend," said the seneschal, " if 
 I am not greatly mistaken, I saw you 
 yesterday in a tavern with both eyes 
 perfect. You misinterpret the law. It 
 relates to those who, by some natural 
 infirmity, or by accident, become blind 
 — and against which there was no de- 
 fence. Such the law protects and re- 
 lieves. But you voluntarily surrendered 
 your eyes ; you drank away your money 
 in a tavern, and planned this deceit. 
 Seek, therefore, consolation and relief in 
 the same place, for you shall not get a 
 halfpenny here." 
 
 The blind man then retired in great 
 confusion from the palace. 
 
 171 
 
XII. 
 
 THE SUBTERRANEAN PALACE 
 
 There was an image in the city of 
 Rome standing in an erect posture, with 
 the dexter hand outstretched ; and upon 
 the middle finger was written, " Strike 
 HERE." The image stood a long time 
 in this manner, and no one understood 
 what the inscription signified. It was 
 much wondered at, and commented on ; 
 172 
 
but this was all, for they invariably 
 departed as wise as they came. 
 
 At last, a certain subtle clerk, hearing 
 of the image, felt anxious to see it ; and 
 when he had done so, he observed the 
 superscription, "Strike here." He no- 
 ticed that when the sun shone upon the 
 image, the outstretched finger was dis- 
 cernible in the lengthened shadow. 
 After a little consideration he took a 
 spade, and where the shadow ceased, dug 
 to the depth of about three feet. This 
 brought him to a number of steps, which 
 led into a subterranean cavity. Not 
 a little exhilarated with his discovery, the 
 clerk prosecuted the adventure. De- 
 scending the steps, he entered the hall 
 of a magnificent palace, in which he 
 perceived a king and a queen and many 
 nobles seated at table, and the hall itself 
 filled with men. They were all habited in 
 costly apparel, and kept the most rigid 
 silence. Looking about, he beheld in 
 one corner of the place a polished stone, 
 called a carbuncle, by the single aid of 
 which the hall was lighted. In the 
 opposite corner stood a man armed with 
 173 
 
a bow and arrow, in the act of taking 
 aim at the precious stone. Upon his 
 brow was inscribed, " I am what I am : 
 my shaft is inevitable ; least of all 
 can yon luminous carbuncle escape its 
 stroke." 
 
 The clerk, amazed at what he saw, 
 entered the bed-chamber, and found a 
 multitude of beautiful women arrayed in 
 purple garments, but not a sound escaped 
 them. From thence he proceeded to the 
 stables, and observed a number of horses 
 and asses in their stalls. He touched 
 them, but they were nothing but stone. 
 He visited all the various buildings of 
 the palace, and whatsoever his heart 
 desired was to be found there. Return- 
 ing to the hall, he thought of making 
 good his retreat. " I have seen wonders 
 to-day," said he to himself, " but nobody 
 will credit the relation, unless I carry 
 back with me some incontrovertible 
 testimony." 
 
 Casting his eyes upon the highest table, 
 
 he beheld a quantity of golden cups and 
 
 beautiful knives, which he approached, 
 
 and laid his hands upon one of each, 
 
 174 
 
designing to carry them away. But no 
 sooner had he placed them in his bosom, 
 than the archer struck the carbuncle 
 with the arrow, and shivered it into a 
 thousand atoms. Instantly, the whole 
 building was enveloped in thick darkness, 
 and the clerk, in utter consternation, 
 sought his way back. But being unable, 
 in consequence of the darkness, to dis- 
 cover it, he perished in the greatest 
 misery, amid the mysterious statues of 
 the palace. 
 
 175 
 
XIII. 
 
 THE TWO THIEVES 
 
 In the reign of a certain emperor, 
 there were two thieves who bound 
 themselves by an oath 'never to quit one 
 another on any emergency, even though 
 death were the alternative. They after- 
 wards committed many depredations, and 
 were, on some occasions, guilty of 
 murder. It happened that one of them, 
 being caught in some theft, was impris- 
 oned and placed in fetters. His com- 
 panion, understanding what had chanced, 
 hastened to him, and said, " My friend, 
 by the engagement which we have 
 formed, I adjure you to tell me what I 
 can do to serve you." 
 
 "It appears," answered the other, 
 " that I must die, having been taken in 
 176 
 
the fact for which I am sentenced. But 
 I will show you how to oblige me. 
 Obtain permission to remain in my 
 place, while I hasten to arrange my 
 affairs, and provide for my wife and 
 children. Having done this, I will re- 
 turn in due time and liberate you." 
 
 " My friend," answered the first, " I 
 will readily comply with your wishes." 
 
 He went therefore to the judge, and 
 spoke thus : " My lord, my friend has 
 been thrown into prison, and condemned 
 to death. It seems that there is no 
 chance for him j let it please you, then, 
 to permit him to return home to arrange 
 the affairs of his family, and I, in the 
 mean time, will become his surety, and 
 remain in prison." 
 
 " On such a day," replied the judge, 
 " he, with some others, will be executed ; 
 if, upon that day, he return not before a 
 certain hour, look you to it : your death 
 is inevitable." 
 
 " My lord," answered the man, " I am 
 prepared for the worst." 
 
 " Let him go, then : I consent to your 
 wishes." 
 
 177 
 
The judge ordered the substitute to be 
 ironed, and placed in prison in the room 
 of his friend, who immediately set out to 
 his family. So long, however, did he 
 postpone his return, that the day of 
 execution arrived, and his pledge was 
 unredeemed. The latter, therefore, was 
 brought, with many others, to the seat 
 of judgment. 
 
 " Where is your friend ? " said the 
 judge; "he has not arrived to make 
 good his word." 
 
 "I hope the best, my lord," replied 
 the other J "I do not think he will fail 
 me." 
 
 Some time passed over, and still he 
 came not ; and the prisoner was at length 
 conducted to the cross. 
 
 "You must attribute your death to 
 yourself," said the judge ; " do not charge 
 it upon me. You have rashly trusted 
 to your friend, and he has deceived 
 you." 
 
 "My lord," replied he, "defer the 
 crucifixion but for a moment, and suffer 
 me to play upon an instrument three 
 times before my death." 
 178 
 
" Play ! " exclaimed the judge ; " of 
 what nature is that playing ? " 
 
 " I will shout, my lord." 
 
 " As you please." 
 
 Accordingly he began to vociferate. 
 He shouted loudly once, twice, and at 
 the third shout he distinguished, at some 
 distance, a man running toward them 
 with surprising velocity. 
 
 " My lord ! my lord ! there is a man 
 coming ; stay the execution — perhaps 
 it is my friend, and I shall yet be 
 liberated ! " 
 
 The judge waited, and the person 
 they looked for made his appearance. 
 
 " I am the man you expect," he ex- 
 claimed. " I have arranged my affairs, 
 and meanwhile my friend has been in 
 peril of death for me; let him now 
 freely depart, for I am ready to suffer 
 death for my crimes." 
 
 The judge regarded him for a few 
 moments with attention, and then said, 
 "My friend, tell me whence it comes 
 that you are so faithful to one another ? " 
 
 " My lord," he replied, " from our 
 youth up we have been friends, and ever 
 179 
 
pledged ourselves to be faithful. For 
 this reason he put himself in my place 
 till I settled my affairs." 
 
 " Well," said the judge, " because of 
 this remarkable instance of fidelity, I 
 pardon you. Remain with me, and I 
 will provide all things necessary for your 
 well-being." 
 
 They returned thanks to the judge, 
 and promised equal fidelity to him. He 
 then received them to favour; and all 
 praised the judge who showed them this 
 mercy. 
 
 1 80 
 
XIV. 
 
 THE knight's injustice 
 
 In the reign of the Emperor Maximian 
 there were two knights, of whom one 
 feared God and loved justice, while the 
 other was covetous and rich, and more 
 studious of pleasing the world than his 
 Maker. Contiguous to this person's 
 lands, the just knight had a piece of 
 ground, which his avaricious neighbour 
 ardently desired to possess. He offered 
 large sums for it ; but being denied, he 
 was filled with vexation. It happened, 
 i8i 
 
however, that the just knight died; on 
 hearing which, the other forged an 
 instrument purporting to be written by 
 the deceased knight. 
 
 It stated that the land in question had 
 been sold for a specified sum a short 
 time previous to his death; and three 
 men were hired to attest it. Having, by 
 some means, obtained access to the dead 
 knight, he introduced the witnesses ; and 
 finding his signet in the hall where he 
 lay, took it, and, fixing it upon the thumb 
 of the deceased, sealed the paper with 
 the usual formalities. 
 
 " You are witnesses of this deed ? " 
 said he to the men who accompanied 
 him. 
 
 " We are," answered they ; and then 
 making good their retreat, the knight 
 seized upon the land. The son of the 
 deceased complained grievously of this 
 injustice. 
 
 " Why have you taken possession of 
 my land ? " asked he. 
 
 " It was sold to me by your father." 
 
 " Impossible," cried the other ; " my 
 father many times refused to sell it ; and 
 182 
 
that he afterwards did so, I will never 
 believe." 
 
 They both went before the judge; 
 and the covetous knight triumphantly 
 produced the forged instrument, bearing 
 the impression of the deceased's signet- 
 ring, and brought forward the false wit- 
 nesses to the sealing. After examining 
 it, the son said, " I know that this is my 
 father's signet, but I know also that he 
 never disposed of the land. How you 
 obtained the signet and these witnesses, 
 I am ignorant." 
 
 The judge, after some deliberation, 
 took each of the witnesses aside in turn ; 
 and separately examined them, together 
 with the knight. He asked the eldest if 
 he knew the Lord's Prayer, and made 
 him repeat it from beginning to end. He 
 did this accurately, and was then placed 
 apart. When the second witness ap- 
 peared, the judge said, " My friend, your 
 companion has told me facts as true as 
 the Lord's Prayer ; therefore, unless you 
 inform me what I demand, you shall 
 instantly hang upon a cross." 
 
 The fellow, imagining that his comrade 
 
 J83 
 
had revealed the fraud, confessed how 
 they had obtained the seal to the doc- 
 ument. When the communication was 
 made, he placed him apart; and sending 
 for the third, spoke to him as to the 
 other, and threatened him with the like 
 penalty, unless he declared the fact. 
 This man, therefore, corroborated his 
 companion's account, and was then 
 stationed by himself. 
 
 The old knight was then called ; and 
 the judge, putting on a stern aspect, 
 spoke thus : " Wretched man ! thy avarice 
 hath blinded thee. Tell me how the 
 deceased knight sold you the land." 
 
 The culprit, not divining that the 
 truth had been discovered, boldly per- 
 severed in the account he had before 
 given. 
 
 " Foolish man ! " answered the judge, 
 " thy own witnesses accuse thee. Didst 
 thou not place the signet on the dead 
 man's thumb, and sign the paper ? " 
 
 When the knight found that his for- 
 gery was revealed, he fell prostrate upon 
 the earth, and entreated mercy. 
 
 "Such mercy as thou meritest, thou 
 184 
 
shalt have," said the judge : " bear them 
 away, and drag them at the tails of 
 horses to the cross, upon which let them 
 be immediately suspended," 
 
 The noblemen of the kingdom ap- 
 plauded the sentence, not less than the 
 ingenuity of the investigation. The prop- 
 erty of the unjust knight was conferred 
 upon the son of him whom he had wished 
 to wrong ; the young man gave thanks to 
 the king, and possessed his inheritance in 
 peace. 
 
 185 
 
XV. 
 
 THE emperor's JUSTICE 
 
 The Emperor Heraclius, amongst 
 many other virtues, was remarkable for 
 his inflexible justice. It happened that 
 a certain man accused a knight of the 
 murder of another knight, in this form : — 
 " They two went out, in company with 
 another, to war; but no battle was 
 fought. He, however, returned without 
 his companion ; and, therefore, we be- 
 lieve that he murdered him." 
 
 The king appeared satisfied with the 
 inference, and commanded the prisoner 
 to be executed. But as they approached 
 the place of execution, they beheld the 
 lost knight advancing towards them, alive 
 and well. The judge, enraged at this 
 interruption of the sentence, said to the 
 
accused, " I order you to be put to death, 
 because you are already condemned." 
 Then turning to the accuser, " And you 
 also, because you are the cause of his 
 death." " And you, too," addressing the 
 restored knight — " because you were 
 sent to kill a knight, and you did not." 
 
 187 
 
mMmn. 
 
 
 XVI. 
 
 THE KNIGHT AND THE SERPENT 
 
 In the reign of the Emperor Fulgen- 
 tius, a certain knight, named Zedechias, 
 married a very beautiful but imprudent 
 wife. In a certain chamber of their 
 mansion a serpent dwelt. Now, the 
 knight's vehement inclination for tourna- 
 ments and jousting brought him to ex- 
 treme poverty : he grieved immoderately, 
 and, like one who was desperate, walked 
 backward and forward, ignorant of what 
 he should do. 'The serpent, beholding 
 his misery, like the ass of Balaam, was 
 i88 
 
on that occasion miraculously gifted with 
 a voice, and said to the knight, " Why 
 do you lament ? Take my advice, and 
 you shall not repent it. Supply me 
 every day with a certain quantity of 
 sweet milk, and I will enrich you." 
 This promise exhilarated the knight, 
 and he faithfully followed the instructions 
 of his subtle friend. The consequence 
 was that he had a beautiful son, and 
 became exceedingly wealthy. But it 
 happened that his wife one day said 
 to him, 
 
 " My lord, I am sure that serpent has 
 great riches hidden In the chamber where 
 he dwells. Let us kill him and get pos- 
 session of the whole." 
 
 The advice pleased the knight, and at 
 the request of his wife he took a hammer 
 to destroy the serpent, and a vessel of 
 milk. Allured by the milk, it put its 
 head out of the hole, as it had been ac- 
 customed ; and the knight lifted the ham- 
 mer to strike it. The serpent, observing 
 his perfidy, suddenly drew back its head ; 
 and the blow fell upon the vessel. No 
 sooner had he done this, than his ofF- 
 189 
 
spring died, and he lost everything that 
 he formerly possessed. The wife, taught 
 by their common loss, said to him, 
 " Alas ! I have ill counselled you ; but 
 go now to the hole of the serpent, and 
 humbly acknowledge your offence. Per- 
 adventure you may find grace." 
 
 The knight complied, and standing 
 before the dwelling-place of the serpent, 
 shed many tears, and entreated that he 
 might once more be made rich. 
 
 " I see," answered the serpent, " I see 
 now that you are a fool, and will always 
 be a fool. For how can I forget that 
 blow of the hammer which you designed 
 me, for which reason I slew your son 
 and took away your wealth? There 
 can be no real peace between us." 
 
 The knight, full of sorrow, replied 
 thus : " I promise the most unshaken 
 fidelity, and will never meditate the 
 slightest injury, provided I may this once 
 obtain your grace." 
 
 " My friend," said the serpent, " it is 
 
 the nature of my species to be subtle and 
 
 venomous. Let what I have said suffice. 
 
 The blow offered at my head is fresh 
 
 190 
 
upon my recollection ; get you gone 
 before you receive an injury." 
 
 The knight departed in great affliction, 
 saying to his wife, " Fool that 1 was to 
 take thy counsel ! " 
 
 But ever afterwards they lived in the 
 greatest indigence. 
 
 191 
 
XVII. 
 
 THE king's forest 
 
 A CERTAIN powerful king planted a 
 forest, and surrounded it with a wall. 
 He stocked it with various animals, in 
 which he took infinite pleasure. It hap- 
 pened that one being discovered meditat- 
 ing traitorous designs, his property was 
 confiscated, and himself banished the 
 land. This person, therefore, provided 
 various kinds of dogs and nets, and went 
 privately into the royal forest to take and 
 destroy the animals which it contained. 
 The names of his dogs were Richer, 
 Emuleym, HanegifF, Baudyn, Crismel, 
 Egofyn, Beamis, and Renelen. By means 
 of these dogs and the nets he destroyed 
 every animal in the forest. 
 
 The king was greatly enraged ^t this 
 192 
 
circumstance, and said to his son, " My 
 dear son, arm yourself; call out the 
 troops, and slay this traitor, or drive 
 him from the kingdom." The youth 
 answered, " I am ready to comply with 
 your wishes ; but as I have heard that he 
 is a man of exceeding prowess, it would 
 be advisable to conceal myself for a cer- 
 tain time, in company with a beautiful 
 girl, whose wisdom surpasses that of all 
 others. I will converse with her, and 
 then prepare myself for battle." 
 
 The father replied, " Go to the castle 
 Varioch; there you will find a girl of 
 inimitable prudence. By her means, you 
 may send a defiance to our enemy, and I 
 will then promote her to many honours." 
 
 This heard, the son entered the castle 
 secretly, and was received by the lady 
 with great joy. He remained there some 
 time, and then departed, armed with the 
 power of his father, against the traitorous 
 despoiler of the royal forest. In the end 
 he overthrew him, cut ofFhis head, and 
 returned in triumph to the king's palace. 
 
 193 
 
XVIII. 
 
 THE KING S MELANCHOLY 
 
 A KING made a law, by which whoso- 
 ever was suddenly to be put to death in 
 the morning, before sunrise should be 
 saluted with songs and trumpets, and, 
 arrayed in black garments, should receive 
 judgment. This king made a great feast, 
 and convoked all the nobles of his king- 
 dom, who appeared accordingly. The 
 194 
 
most skilful musicians were assembled, 
 and there was much sweet melody. But 
 the sovereign was discontented and out 
 of humour J his countenance expressed 
 intense sorrow, and sighs and groans 
 ascended from his heart. The courtiers 
 were all amazed, but none had the 
 hardihood to inquire the cause of his 
 sadness. 
 
 At last they requested the king's 
 brother to ask the cause of his sorrow ; 
 he made known to him the surprise of 
 his guests, and entreated that he might 
 understand the occasion of his grief. 
 
 " Go home now," answered the king ; 
 "^to-morrow you shall know." 
 
 This was done. Early in the morn- 
 ing the king directed the trumpets to 
 sound before his brother's house, and the 
 guards to bring him to the court. The 
 brother, greatly alarmed at the sounding 
 of the trumpets, arose, and put on sable 
 vesture. When he came before the king, 
 the latter commanded a deep pit to be 
 dug, and a rotten chair with four decayed 
 feet to be slightly suspended over it. In 
 this chair he made his brother sit ; above 
 
his head he caused a sword to hang, at- 
 tached to a single silk thread ; and four 
 men, each armed with an extremely sharp 
 sword, to stand near him, one before 
 and one behind, a third on the right 
 hand, and the fourth on the left. When 
 they were thus placed, the king said, 
 " The moment I give the word, strike 
 him to the heart." 
 
 Trumpets and all other kind of mu- 
 sical instruments were brought, and a 
 table, covered with various dishes, was 
 set before him. 
 
 "My dear brother," said the king, 
 " what is the occasion of your sorrow ? 
 Here are the greatest delicacies — the 
 most enrapturing harmony ; why do you 
 not rejoice ? " 
 
 " How can I rejoice ? " answered he. 
 " In the morning trumpets sounded for my 
 death ; and I am now placed upon a fragile 
 chair : if I move ever so little it will fall 
 to pieces, and I shall fall into the pit 
 and never come out again. If I raise 
 my head, the weapon above will pene- 
 trate to my brain. Besides this, the 
 four torturers around stand ready to kill 
 196 
 
me at your bidding. These things con- 
 sidered, were I lord of the universe, I 
 could not rejoice." 
 
 " Now, then," answered the king, " I 
 will reply to your question of yesterday. 
 I am on my throne, as you on that frail 
 chair. For my body is its emblem, 
 supported by four decayed feet, that is, 
 by the four elements. The pit below 
 me is hell ; above my head is the sword 
 of divine justice, ready to take life from 
 my body. Before me is the sword of 
 death, which spares none, and comes 
 when it is not expected ; behind, a sword 
 — that is, my sins, ready to accuse me 
 at the tribunal of God. The weapon on 
 the right hand is the devil ; and that on 
 the left is the worms which after death 
 shall gnaw my body. And, considering 
 all these circumstances, how can I re- 
 joice ? If you to-day feared me, who 
 am mortal, how much more ought I to 
 dread my Creator ? Go, dearest brother, 
 and be careful that you do not again ask 
 such questions." 
 
 The brother rose from his unpleasant 
 seat, and rendering thanks to the king 
 197 
 
for his life, firmly resolved to amend 
 himself. All who were present com- 
 mended the ingenuity of the royal an- 
 swer. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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