THE ARGUMENT^ OF THE WHOLE HISTORIE.
ANTIOCHUS the Great, who was the first founder of Antioch, the most famous Citty in all Syria, hauing one onelie daughter, in the prime and glory of her youth, fell in most vnnaturall loue with her j and what by the power of his perswasions, and feare of his tyranny, he so preuailed with her yeelding heart, that he became maister of his desires; which to continue to himself, his daughter, being for her beauty desired in marriage of many great princes, he made this law, That whoso presumed to desire her in marriage, and could, not vnfold the meaning of his questions, for that attempt should loose his life. Fearelesse of this Lawe, many Princes aduentured, and in their rashnesse perished : amongst the number PERICLES the Prince of Tyre, and neighbour to this tyrant King Antiochus, was the last who vndertooke to resolue this Riddle, which he accordingly, through his great wisedome, performed : and finding both the subtiltie and sinne of the Tyrant, for his owne safetie
1 [This Argument, not in Twine, and the list of characters, a most unusual feature in a novel, are given from the tract -by WiUdns, and placed between brackets. They are peculiar to his work.]