270	THE PATTERNS,
ladies cunning, onely Apollonius spake nothing. Then saide the king vnto him : You are too blame Apollonius, since all praise my daughter for her excellencie in musike, and you commend not her, or rather dispraise her by holding your peace. Apollonius answered : My soueraine and good lord, might it please you to pardon me, & I will say what I think: The lady Lucina your daughter is pretily entred, but she is not yet come to perfection in musike. For proofe whereof, if it please your Grace to command the harp to be deliuered vnto me, she shal well perceiue, that she shal heare that which she doth not yet know. The king answered: I see well Apollonius you haue skill in all things, and is nothing to be wished in a gentleman, but you haue perfectly learned it, wher-fore, hold, I pray you take the harpe, and let vs heare some part of your cunning. When Apollonius had receiued the harp, he went forth, and put a garland of flowers vpon his head, and fastned his raiment in comly maner about him, and entred into the parlour againe, playing before the king, and the residue with such cunning and sweetnes, that he seemed rather to be Apollo then Apollonius, and the kings guests confessed that in al their Hues they neuer heard the like before. But whe Lucina had heard and seene what was done, she felt hir selfe sodainely mooued within, and was sharpelie surprised with the loue of Apollonius, and, turning to her father : Nowe suffer me good father, saide she, to giue vnto this yoong gentleman some reward, according as I shall think conuenient. I giue you leaue to do so faire daughter, saide the king. Then she, looking towards Apollonius, My lord Apollonius, said she, receiue heere of my fathers liberalitie two hundred talents of gold, foure hundred poundes of siluer, store of raiment, twentie men ser-uants, and tenne handmaidens. Nowe therefore, said she vnto the officers that stood by, bring hither all