ABSTRACT
432 Pericles, Prince oj Tyre cause that you walk in this place thus troubled within your minde? Apollonius answered: because, being promised to have king Antiochus daughter to my wife, if I told him the true meaning of his question, nowe that I have so done, I am notwithstanding restrained from her. Wherefore I request you it may so be, that I may live secretly in your citie; for why, I stand moreover in some doubt of the kinges farther displeasure. Stranguilio answered: My lord Apollonius, our citie at this present is verie poore, and not able to sustaine the greatnesse of your dignitie: and even now we suffer great penurie and want of vittell, insomuch that there remaineth small hope of comfort unto our citizens, but that we shall all perish by extreme famine: and now certes there resteth nothing but the fearefull image of gastly death before our eies.1 When Apollonius heard these wordes, he said unto him: Then give thankes unto God, who in my flight hath brought me a land into your costes. For I have brought great store of provision with me, and will presently give unto your citie an hundreth thousand bushels ofwheate, if you will onely conceale my comming hither. At these wordes Stranguilio being strooken as it were into a sodaine amazednesse, as it happeneth when a man is overjoyed with some glad tidinges, fell downe prostrate before prince Apollonius feete, and saide: My lord Apollonius, if you coulde, and also if it might please of your great goodnesse, in such sort as you say, to succour this afflicted and famished citie, we wi! not onely receive you gladly, and conceale your abode: but also if neede so require, willingly spend our lives in your quarrel!. Which promise of mine, to the intent you may heare to be confirmed by the full consent of all the citizens, might it please your Grace to enter into the citie, and I most willingly will attend upon you. Apollonius agreed thereto, and when they came into the citie, he mounted up into the place of judgment, to the intent he might the better be heard, and gathering al the people together: thus hee spake unto the whole multitude. Ye citizens of Tharsus, whom penurie of vittell pincheth at this present: understand ye, that I Apollonius prince of Tirus, am determined presently to relieve you: In respect of which benefite I trust ye will be so thankfull as to conceale mine arriving hither. And know ye moreover, that not as being driven away through the malice of king Antiochus, but say ling along by the Seas I am happily fallen into your haven. Wherefore I meane to utter unto you an hundred thousand bushels of wheate, paying no more than I bought it for in mine own countrey, that is to say, eight peeces of bra sse for everie bushell.2 When the citizens heard this, they gave a shout for joy
