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Apollonius of Tyre
995[Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.]
How ambassadors from Tyre coming to Pentapolis in a certain ship, brought news to Appolinus of the death of Antiochus.
996 Now have I told of the spousailes.
997Bot forto speke of the mervailes
998Whiche afterward to hem befelle,
999It is a wonder forto telle.
1000It fell adai thei riden oute,
1001The king and queene and al the route,
1002To pleien hem upon the stronde,
1003Wher as thei sen toward the londe
1004A Schip sailende of gret array.
1005To knowe what it mene may,
1006Til it be come thei abide;
1007Than sen thei stonde on every side,
1008Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,
1009Of Penonceals a riche rewe.
1010Thei axen when the schip is come:
1011Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some,
1012And over this thei seiden more
1013The cause why thei comen fore
1014Was forto seche and forto finde
1015Appolinus, which was of kinde
1016Her liege lord: and he appiereth,
1017And of the tale which he hiereth
1018He was riht glad; for thei him tolde,
1019That for vengance, as god it wolde,
1020Antiochus, as men mai wite,
1021With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite;
1022His doghter hath the same chaunce,
1023So be thei bothe in o balance.
1024"Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie
1025In name of al the lond, and preie,
1026That left al other thing to done,
1027It like you to come sone
1028And se youre oghne liege men
1029With othre that ben of youre ken,
1030That live in longinge and desir
1031Til ye be come ayein to Tyr."
1032This tale after the king it hadde
1033Pentapolim al overspradde,
1034Ther was no joie forto seche;
1035For every man it hadde in speche
1036And seiden alle of on acord,
1037"A worthi king schal ben oure lord:
1038That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse
1039Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse."
1040Thus goth the tidinge overal.