Apollonius King of Tyre - Marginal Summary of the Romaic Text

8/4/2019 Apollonius King of Tyre - Marginal Summary of the Romaic Text

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Apollonius King of Tyre A Marginal Synopsis of the Romaic Text

(63>)

The king of Antiochia had an only daughter who surpassed

all women in beauty. He conceives a sinful love for her, and even

carries it into effect. The maiden discloses this to her nurse, (64>)

who vainly tries to comfort her. The wicked father continues

enjoying the rights of a husband, and invents riddles to baffle the

suitors who come for her hand. If they cannot answer hisquestions, they must lose their heads.

Apollonius of Tyre, a noble youth, arrives as a suitor, (65>)

and solves the riddle. The king denies the truth of his answer, and

Apollonius is obliged to fly; but the kings seneschal is despatched

to pursue him, and a reward is offered for his head. (66>)

Apollonius lands at Tarsus, and is there warned of his

danger by Hellanicus. Strangulio informs Apollonius of the famine

at Tarsus, (67>) and the generous prince gives his own provisions

to the citizens. They promise to protect him against the king, but

on the news of a large fleet being on its way to Tarsus, adviseApollonius to leave their town. He is shipwrecked at Tripolis. A

poor fisherman takes pity on him and directs him to the city. (68>)

At Tripolis Apollonius attracts the notice of the king and finds

favour with him. The king presents him with a suit, and invites him

to his table. The sight of royal splendour makes Apollonius

Source: Medieval Greek Texts , Part 1, ed. Wilhelm Wagner, Covent Garden,1870, pp. 63-90. 5 September 2011 0:58:35 a9/p9


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melancholy. (69>) The kings beautiful daughter, Archistratusa,

plays on the cithara; but his melancholy remains unaltered. (70>)

At Apolloniuss request the cithara is handed to him, and he

begins to play, and enchants the whole company by his

performance, but above all the princess.

Apollonius is ordered to remain in the palace, (71>) and the

princess obtains the kings permission to have him for a tutor in

music. The princesss love for Apollonius increases day by day.(72>)

Three princes offer themselves as suitors for Archistratusas

hand, and the king allows her to choose between them. She

prefers Apollonius, (73>) and the king gives his consent. (74>)

The nuptials are celebrated.

Some time after this, Apollonius and his wife observe a ship

near the shore; from the sailors they learn the fate of King

Antiochus, and the news that the kingdom of Antioch had devolved

upon Apollonius. (75>) Apollonius and his wife embark for

Antioch; they have a fearful tempest, during which the princess isdelivered of a daughter. The mother is dead, according to all

appearances; they put her into a chest, which has been secured

against the water, and throw this into the sea. (76>)

The chest is found by a wise physician at Ephesus, who

brings the princess back to life. She enters a nunnery and

becomes the abbess of it.



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Apollonius entrusts his daughter to Strangulio at Tarsus, and

she is baptized Tarsia. Apollonius himself again goes abroad.

(77>)

Tarsias beauty soon begins to surpass that of Strangulios

daughter, and jealousy is the consequence. When Tarsia is

fourteen years old, her nurse, on her death-bed, discloses to her

her parentage. (78>)

Strangulios wife hears the remarks of the citizens about

Tarsias beauty, and resolves to kill her. The task of killing Tarsia

is committed to one of Strangulios slaves. (79>)

He attempts to kill Tarsia near her nurses tomb, but, moved

by her tears, allows her time to pray; lo! Suddenly pirates appear,and carry Tarsia off to their ship. The slave hurries home with the

news that Tarsia is dead, and a mock funeral takes place. (80>)

Tarsia is sold at Tarsus to Markionis, and on refusing to

worship his idol, is prostituted in a brothel. (81>) She succeeds in

exciting Athenagorass compassion and saving her virginity. Witha second and a third she has the same success. Markion orders

Pokaropas to corrupt her. (82>) Tarsia offers to gain money by

her playing and other accomplishments. This wish she obtains

and thus remains a virgin.

Apollonius returns to Tarsus and is there told that his

daughter is dead. His lamentations. (83>) He sits down in the



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lowest part of his grieves. They land at Mitylene, and the prince

invites Apollonius to dine with him, but Apollonius refuses.

Antinagoras pays Apollonius a visit on board his ship. (84>)

Apollonius neither looks at nor speaks to him. Tarsia is

despatched to play and sing with him. She tries to comfort

Apollonius, and when she mentions her own wretchedness, he

turns and speaks to her. (85>) He tries her skill in riddles, but

finally bids her leave him, and when she stays, he beats her. In

her lamentation Tarsia discloses her history. (86-7>)

Apollonius now recognizes her as his daughter. He tells her

of the deception practised upon him and his grief at her supposed

loss. Great rejoicings follow; (88>) and Antinagoras marries

Tarsia. The pimp receives his due punishment.

Apollonius is commanded by a dream to travel to Ephesus,and in the temple of Saint John finds his spouse whom he

supposed to be dead. (89>) They go to Tarsus, and Strongylion

and his family meet with their punishment.

At Antioch Apollonius is crowned king, but leaves his

daughter and son-in-law as regents, while he himself goes to Tyre,and from there to Tripolis. Meeting with the father of the queen.

(90/127>) After his death Apollonius succeeds to the throne.

Moral: Gods providence can be discerned in all these

events.


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Apollonius King of Tyre - Marginal Summary of the Romaic Text