306 THE PATTERNS
attired, he held liis peace. Then spake Athanagoras: Sir, I thinke you doe maruell, that I being a stranger, am so bold as to come to trouble you. You shall vnderstand that I am prince of this citie, and my name is Athanagoras. I walked by chance vnto the Sea side, where beholding thy ships, especially commending this wherin thou art, for beautie and strength : I was by thy men desired to come aboord which I did, and haue eaten with them. Then inquired I for the owner, and they told me thy name, and that thou remainest in great sorrow, and for that cause I am come downe vnto thee to bring thee, if I may, out of darknesse into light, hoping that after this heauinesse ?God shal restore thee vnto gladnesse. Apollonius lifted vp his eies, saying: I thanke thee, my Lord, whosoeuer thou art, and I beseech thee not to trouble me longer, for I am not worthy to eate meat or make good cheare, & I will Hue no longer. Athanagoras much mused at this answere, and wondred at the jrilfulnesse of the man, and came vp vppon the decke ind saide vnto the seruauntes: I cannot perswade your lord to come vp out of that darke place into the light: what way therefore, were I best to deuise to bring him from his purpose, and to preserue him from an obstinate death ? For it were great pitie that a notable gentleman should so consume away in hucker mucker, and die by a dishonourable death.
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER.
How Athanagoras sent for Tharsia to make her father Apollonius merry ; and how after long circumstance they came into knowledge one of another.
AND as he was deuising with himselfe, it came into his mind to send for the maide Tharsia, for which