XXI.
After the king had read this note, he looked back at the three men who had written their names and dowry requirements down and, not knowing who was meant by “the shipwreck,” he said, “Who among you has suffered a shipwreck?” One of them, named Ardalion, said, “I have.” Another said, “Silence! May a disease consume you, may you suffer ill health! I know that you are the same age as me, and we went to school together – you have never even left the city gates! Now, where could you have suffered a shipwreck?”
When the king was unable to determine who among the three had been shipwrecked, he gave Apollonius the note, and said, “Professor, take this note, and read: perhaps you may be able, though I wasn’t, to understand, since you yourself were there when it was written.” Apollonius took the note and read, and blushed when he realized that the princess loved him. The king took him by the hand, and the stepped away just a bit from the youths, whereupon he asked, “So, professor, did you figure out who was meant by ‘the shipwreck’? “ Apollonius responded, “Good king, begging your pardon, I believe that I have.”
Once Apollonius had said this, the king observed his face growing rosy, and understanding that Apollonius was the one referred to in the note, he joyfully said, “What my daughter desires is my wish, too. Indeed, nothing of this sort can happen without the divine will.” He looked back at the three youths, he said, “Truly I have already said that you three have come at a bad time. Run along, and when the time is right, I shall send for you.” Thus he dismissed them from his presence.
XXII.
Now holding the hand of his son-in-law, formerly only his guest, the king entered his regal abode. Apollonius was left outside, and the king entered his daughter’s room alone, saying, “My sweet daughter, whom have you selected as your husband?” The girl prostrated herself at his feet and said, “Dearest father, since you want to hear the your daughter’s wish, I want and love him, despoiled of his patrimony and wrecked by the sea, my professor Apollonius; if you do not let me marry him, you will destroy your daughter straightaway!”
And, since the king was unable to bear up against his daughter’s tears, he lifted her up and said, “Sweet daughter, do not think of anything else: because you have taken up a love for that man whom I, from the moment I saw him, wished you to marry. Truly, I give you my consent, since I myself was made a father by love!” He went outside the doors and said to Apollonius, “Professor Apollonius, I have just asked my daughter what she had in mind regarding her marriage, and with tears gushing out, she told me at length (among other things), ‘You swore to my professor Apollonius that if he had obeyed my desires even in teaching, you would give him whatever the angry sea had taken from him. However, now that he has in his teaching duties he obeyed your precepts and injunctions, as well as my wishes, he does not seek gold or silver or beautiful raiment or servants or possessions, but rather, he desires to regain the kingdom which he had thought that he lost. So, according to your oath, by my own order, give me away to him!’ On this account, professor Apollonius, I entreat you not to consider marriage to my daughter lightly!” Apollonius said, “Whatever God wills, let it be; and if this is your wish, let it be fulfilled!”
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21 Et perlectis codicellis rex ignorans, quem naufragum diceret, respiciens illos tres iuvenes, qui nomina sua scripserant vel qui dotem in illis codicellis designaverant, ait illis: “Quis vestrum naufragium fecit?” Unus vero ex iis Ardalio nomine dixit: “Ego”. Alius ait: “Tace, morbus te consumit nec salvus es, cum scio te coaetaneum meum et mecum litteris eruditum, et portam civitatis numquam existi! Ubi ergo naufragium fecisti?”
Et cum rex non inveniret, quis eorum naufragium fecisset, respiciens Apollonium ait: “Tolle, magister Apolloni, hos codicellos et lege. Potest enim fieri, ut, quod ego non inveni, tu intelligas, quia praesens fuisti.”
Apollonius accepto codicello legit et, ut sensit se a regina amari, erubuit. Et rex tenens ei manum paululum secessit ab eis iuvenibus et ait: “Quid est, magister Apolloni, invenisti naufragum?” Apollonius ait: “Bone rex, si permittis, inveni.” Et his dictis videns rex faciem eius roseo colore perfusam, intellexit dictum et ait gaudens: “Quod filia mea cupit, hoc est et meum votum. Nihil enim in huiusmodi negotio sine deo agi potest.” Et respiciens illos tres iuvenes ait: “Certe dixi vobis, quia non apto tempore interpellastis. Ite, et dum tempus fuerit, mittam ad vos.” Et dimisit eos a se.
22 Et tenens manum iam genero, non hospiti, ingreditur domum regiam. Ipso autem Apollonio relicto rex solus intrat ad filiam suam dicens: “Dulcis nata, quem tibi elegisti coniugem?” Puella vero prostravit se ad pedes patris sui et ait: “Pater carissime, quia cupis audire natae tuae desiderium: illum volo coniugem et amo, patrimonio deceptum et naufragum, magistrum meum Apollonium; cui si non me tradideris, a praesenti perdes filiam!” Et cum rex filiae non posset ferre lacrimas, erexit eam et alloquitur dicens: “Nata dulcis, noli de aliqua re cogitare, quia talem concupisti, ad quem ego, ex quo eum vidi, tibi coniungere optavi. Sed ego tibi vere consentio, quia et ego amando factus sum pater.”
Et exiens foras respiciens Apollonium ait: “Magister Apolloni, quia scrutavi filiam meam, quid ei in animo resideret nuptiarum causa, lacrimis fusis multa inter alia mihi narravit dicens et adiurans me ait: ‘Iuraveras magistro meo Apollonio, ut, si desideriis meis vel doctrinis paruisset, dares illi, quidquid iratum abstulit mare. Modo vero, quia paruit tuis praeceptis et obsequiis ab ipso tibi factis et meae voluntati in doctrinis, aurum, argentum, vestes, mancipia aut possessiones non quaerit, nisi solum regnum, quod putaverat perdidisse, tuo sacramento per meam iunctionem hoc ei tradas!’ Unde, magister Apolloni, peto, ne nuptias filiae meae fastidio habeas!” Apollonius ait: “Quod a deo est, sit, et si tua est voluntas, impleatur!”
