232How Apollonius sailed from Tharsus to visite his father-in-law Altistrates king of Pentapolis, who died not long after Apollonius comming thither.

233THE terme of three monethes, that Apollonius purposed for his delight to remaine at Tharsus, was almost expired, and he commanded all things to be prepared for the journey; and when the day was come, hee made generall proclamation uppon paine of death every man to ship. And when the whole army was imbarked, he took ship himselfe with his wife and his daughter, being honourably accompanied by the citizens unto the water side; and after due courtesie on both sides done and received, he hoysed sayle and departed towardes Pentapolis, king Altistrates's Citie. And when they had sailed with prosperous winde ten dayes uppon the Sea, they discovered a farre off the Steeples and Towres of Pentapolis, and the Souldiers rejoyced and gave a shout for gladnesse that they were so neere to their wished land. Then they cast about and cut towards the haven, and cast anker, and landed all safe, and Apollonius with his wife and daughter after hee had taken order for the companie, rode unto the court unto king Altistrates, whom they found in good health, and merry. And when Altistrates saw his sonne-in-lawe, his daughter and his neece Tharsia, hee bid them welcome, and rejoyced exceedingly, and sent for the Nobles of his land to keepe them companie, and gave them the best entertainement that hee could devise, and they sojourned with him an whole yeare in pleasure and pastime, whereof the king tooke great comfort as was possible for a man to doe in worldly felicitie.

234But as there was never yet any thing certaine or permanent in this mortall life, but alwaies we be requited with sowre sauce to our sweete meate, and when wee thinke ourselves surest in the top of joy, then tilt wee downe soonest into the bottome of sorrow, so fared it now unto those personages in the midst of their jollitie. For the good old king Altistrates fell sodainly sick which much appalled them all, and grew everie day weaker than other. Then were the Phisitions sent for in haste, who left nothing untried that appertained unto Art and experience to doe; and above all Apollonius and Lucina his wife plaied the parts of duetifull children, in tending their aged and weake father with all care and diligence possible. But alas olde age which of it selfe is an uncurable sickenesse, and had beene growing nowe well nigh an hundred yeares lacking seven upon him, accompanied with the intollerable paine of the gowt, and the stone of the bladder, had consumed naturall moisture, so that his force gave over to the disease, and shortely after changed this transitorie life for a better.

235When report was spread abroad of the king's death, there was great sorrowe and lamentation made in all places, neither was there any that tooke not grievously the losse of so good a Prince. But to describe the inward affliction of Apollonius, and the teares of Lucina and Tharsia her daughter, woulde make any heart of flint to bleede, considering the tender affections of women above men, and howe prone they bee that way, yea, sometime (god knowes) in smaller cases than at the death of husband, father, or mother. But as al things have their time, so have sorrowe and teares also, which are best dried up with the towell of continuaunce; which gave nowe just occasion unto Apollonius to cast off drowsie sorrowe, and to provide for the funeralles of his father in lawe, which he accomplished with so seasonable expedition, and in so honourable a sort, as was seemely for so mighty a king, and so vertuous a prince, whome hee buried among the auntient race of kings his auncestours in the Temple within the citie of Pentapolis. Which beeing all finished, as it is also a worke of charitie to fulfill the will of the dead, he applied himselfe to execute his father's testament, wherin he had given halfe his kingdome unto Apollonius, and the other halfe to Tharsia his neece, to have and to holde to them and to their heires for ever.