2l6 STORY OF APOLLONIUS OF TYRE.
But to declare my matere
To Tire I thenke torne ayein
And telle, as the croniques sain.
Whan that the king was comen home
And hath lefte in the salte fome
His wife, which he may nought foryete.
For he some comfort wolde gete,
He let sommone a parlement,
To which the lordes were assent,
And of the time he hath ben out,
He seeth the thinges all about.
And told hem eke, how he hath fare,
While he was out of londe fare,
And praide him alle to abide,
For he wolde at the same tide
Do shape for his wives minde,
As he, that woll nought ben unkinde.
Solempne was that like office,
And riche was the sacrifice,
The feste really was holde.
And thereto was he well beholde.
For suche a wife as he had one,
In thilke daies was there none.
Whan this was done, than he him thought Upon his doughter, and besought Such pf his lordes, as he wolde, SjST qS That they with him to Tharse sholde To fet his doughter Thaise there,
.
To ship they gone, and forth they went, Till they the haven of Tharse hent They londe and saile of that they seche By coverture and sleight of speche. This false man Strangulio And Dionise his wife also, That he the better trowe might, They ladden him to have a sight,