96How Apollonius was married to the Lady Lucina, and, hearing of King Antiochus' death, departeth with his wife towards his own country of Tyrus.

97BUT to return again to my story from which I have digressed: when King Altistrates perceived that Apollonius was the man whom his daughter Lucina disposed in her heart to prefer in love before any of the other three noblemen, he found means to put them off for that present, saying that he would talk with them farther concerning that matter another time; who, taking their leave, immediately departed. But the king withdrew himself into the chamber where his daughter lay sick, and said unto her: "Whom have you chosen to be your husband?" To whom Lucina, humbling herself and with trickling tears, answered: "Gracious prince and dear father, I have chosen in my heart the sea-wrecked man, my schoolmaster Apollonius, for whom I most dutifully desire your fatherly goodwill." When the king saw her tears, his heart bled inwardly with compassion toward his child whom he loved tenderly, and he kissed her, and said unto her: "My sweet Lucina, be of good cheer and take not thought for anything, and assure thyself thou hast chosen the man that I liked of as soon as I first saw him, whom I love no less than thee -- that is to say, than if he were my natural child. And therefore since the matter is now thus fallen out, I mean forthwith to appoint a day for your marriage, after that I have broken the matter unto Apollonius." And when he had said that, Lucina with blushing cheeks thanked her father much, and he departed.

98Now would I demand of lovers, whether Lucina rejoiced or not? Or whether there were any better tidings in the world could chance to a man or woman? I am sure they would answer no. For such is the nature of this affection that it preferreth the beloved person above all earthly things, yea and heavenly too, unless it be bridled with reason: as the same likewise, though moderately and within the bounds of modest womanhood, working the wonted effect in the Lady Lucina, revived her so presently that she forsook her bed and cast away her mourning apparel, and appeared as it had been a new woman restored from death to life and that almost in a moment.

99The king being alone in the parlor called for Apollonius, and when he was come, he said thus unto him: "Apollonius, the virtue which I have seen in thee I have testified by my liberality towards thee, and thy trustiness is proved by committing mine onely child and daughter to thine instruction. As these have caused me to prefer thee, so have they made my daughter to love thee, so that I am as well contented with the one as I am well pleased with the other. And for thy part likewise, I hope, Apollonius, that as thou hast been glad to be my client, thou wilt rejoice as much to be my son-in-law. Tell me thy mind out of hand for I attend thine answer." Then Apollonius, much abashed at the king's talk, falling down upon his knees, answered: "Most gracious sovereign, your words sound so strangely in mine ears that I scarcely know how to give answer, and your goodness hath been so great towards me that I can wish for no more. But since it is your Grace's pleasure that I should not be indebted to many but owe all thing unto you, as life and wife, honor and goods and all, you shall not find me unthankful, howsoever God or fickle fortune deal with me, to remain both loyal and constant to you and your daughter, whom above all creatures, both for birth and beauty and good qualities, I love and honor most entirely."

100Altistrates rejoiced much to hear so wise and conformable an answer, and embracing Apollonius, called him by the name of dear beloved son. The next day morning, the king addressed his messengers and pursuivants to assemble the noblest of his subjects and friends out of the confederate cities and countries, and to show them that he had certain affairs to communicate unto them. And when they were come altogether unto Pentapolis, after due greeting and accustomable entertainments showed as in the manner of great estates, he said thus unto them: "My loving friends and faithful subjects, my meaning was to let you understand that my daughter is desirous to marry with her schoolmaster Apollonius, and I am well pleased therewith. Wherefore, I beseech you all to rejoice thereat and be glad, for my daughter shall be matched to a wise man. And know you, moreover, that I appoint this day six weeks for the solemnization day of the marriage, at what time I desire you all to be here present that like friends we may rejoice and make merry together." And when he had all said, he dismissed the assembly.

101Now as the time wore away, so the wedding day drew near, and there was great preparation made, as well for the feast as for jewels and rich clothes to furnish the bridegroom and bride withal, as all thing else that appertained to the beautifying of so great a wedding. And when the day was come, the king, appareled in his princely robes with a diadem of great price upon his head, accompanied his daughter Lucina and Apollonius unto the church, whom thousands of lords and ladies followed after, all clothed in rich attire and marshaled in comely order. The bride wore a gown of cloth of gold, cut and drawn out with cloth of silver, and a kirtle of crimson velvet embroidered with pure gold and thickly beset with oriental pearls. Her hair hung down in tresses fairly braided with a lace of gold, and a coronet upon her head set with precious stones of inestimable value. Her neck was bare, whereby her naked skin appeared whiter than the driven snow, curiously bedecked with chains of gold, and every other link enameled with black amel; great baldrics of perfect goldsmiths' work [were] upon each arm to fasten the sleeves of her garment from sliding up at the wrist; lastly, a massy collar of fine gold, made S-wise upon her shoulders, hanging down behind and before, with a diamond reaching down unto her middle, esteemed in value at three-score thousand pound, which the king her father had sent unto her for a present that morning while she was appareling. The bridegroom wore on a doublet and hose of costly cloth of silver, guarded with goldsmiths' work of the same color, and a gown of purple satin embroidered with gold and beset with rich stones. His cap was of fine black velvet, all over bespangled with rubies set in gold and fastened on by loops; the band of massy gold, beset with courses of stones in order: first a ruby, then a turquoise, then a diamond, and so beginning again with a ruby. This was their raiment, and thus went they forth together hand in hand, after whom, as is already declared, the lords and ladies followed by three and three in a rank.

102When the solemnities were done at the Church and the words spoken and the princes joined in marriage, they returned home and went to dinner. What shall I now speak of the noble cheer and princely provision for this feast? And after dinner, of the exquisite music, fine dancing, heavenly singing, sweet devising, and pleasant communication among the estates? I may not discourse at large of the liberal challenges made and proclaimed at the tilt, barriers, running at the ring, ioco di can, managing fierce horses, running a-foot and dancing in armor; and at night of the gorgeous plays, shows, disguised speeches, masks and mummeries, with continual harmony of all kinds of music, and banqueting in all delicacy. All these things I leave to the consideration of them which have seen the like in the courts and at the weddings of princes, where they have seen more than my simple pen is able to describe, or may be comprehended within the recital of so short an history.

103When night was come and revels were ended, the bride was brought to bed and Apollonius tarried not long from her, where he accomplished the duties of marriage, and fair Lucina conceived child the same night. The next day, every man arose to feasting and jollity, for the wedding triumphs continued a whole month. This while Lucina's belly began to grow, and as it fortuned that the lord Apollonius and his lady on a day walked along the sea-side for their disport, he saw a fair ship fleeting under sail, which he knew well to be of his country, and he hallowed unto the master, whose name was Calamitus, and asked of him of whence his ship was. The master answered, "Of Tyrus." "Thou hast named my country," said Apollonius. "Art thou then of Tyrus?" said the master. "Yea," answered Apollonius. Then said the master, "Knowest thou one Apollonius, prince of that country? If thou do, or shalt hear of him hereafter, bid him now be glad and rejoice, for King Antiochus and his daughter are struck dead with lightning from heaven, and the city of Antiochia with all the riches and the whole kingdom are reserved for Apollonius."

104With these words the ship, being under sail, departed, and Apollonius, being filled with gladness, immediately began to break with his lady to give him leave to go and receive his kingdom. But when fair Lucina heard him begin to move words of departing, she burst out into tears, saying: "My Lord, if you were now in some far country, and heard say that I were near my time to be delivered, you ought to make haste home unto me. But since you be now with me and know in what case I am, methinks you should not now desire to depart from me. Howbeit, if your pleasure be so, and tarriance breed danger, and kingdoms want not heirs long, as I would not persuade you to tarry, so do I request you to take me with you." This discreet answer pleased Apollonius well; wherefore he kissed his lady, and they agreed it should be so. And when they were returned from walking, Lucina, rejoicing, came unto the king her father, saying, "Dear father, rejoice I beseech you and be glad with my lord Apollonius and me, for the most cruel tyrant Antiochus and his daughter are by the just judgement of God destroyed with lightning from heaven; and the kingdom and riches are reserved for us to inherit. Moreover, I pray you good father, let me have your goodwill to travel thither with my husband." The king rejoiced much at this tidings, and granted her reasonable request, and also commanded all things to be provided immediately that were necessary for the journey. The ships were strongly appointed and brought unto the shore, and fraught with all things convenient, as gold, silver, apparel, bedding, victuals and armour. Moreover, whatsoever fortune might befall, the king prepared to sail with them Ligozides, the nurse, and a midwife, and all things meet for the child whensoever Lucina should need them: and with great honor himself accompanieth them unto the seaside when the time appointed for their departure was come; where with many tears, and great fatherly affection he kissed his daughter and embraced his son-in-law, and recommended them unto God, in whom he did wish unto them a most prosperous journey, and so returned unto his palace.