He tells of a singular Circumstance that happened at Sea.

The health of the bewitched Antonio was now quite restored, and with his recovered beauty, increased Zenotia's passion, and made her more and more desirous of detaining him; for even those whose cases are most desperate, never give up deluding themselves with hope, so long as the beloved object is before their eyes: therefore with all the means her active mind could suggest, she cast about to throw impediments in the way of the departure of the guests, and went again to advise Polycarp on no account to let the daring crime of the barbarous homicide go unpunished, or at least that he should keep a threat of punishment hanging over his head.

Polycarp was not, however, disposed to comply with the advice, "for," said he to Zenotia, "it will be an interference with Prince Arnoldo, under whose protection this youth is, and it will vex my beloved Auristella, who considers him as her brother; besides, his crime was accidental, and proceeded not from malice, but mischance; moreover, no one demands justice, and all those who know the man, affirm that he well deserved his death, for that he was the worst evil-speaker and slanderer that ever lived."

"How is this, sire?" cried Zenotia, "after having settled the other day together that he was to be punished as an excuse for detaining Auristella,—you now seem averse to the measure. They will go, and she will not return; then will you lament your ill-advised consent to allow of her departure, when tears and lamentations will be of no avail. By giving up this boy to justice, and then acting towards him mercifully, you will preserve your character for a good and just king."

Thus did Zenotia counsel Polycarp, who was now in one mind, now in another, as to what he should resolve to do, and how he could continue to detain Auristella without offending Arnoldo, whose power and valour he feared greatly.

In the midst of all these considerations, and in the midst of those which Sinforosa was on her side also indulging, arrived the hour when Periander was to go on with his history, which he did in the following manner:—

"Lightly flew our ship as the winds impelled her—not a single man amongst us wished it otherwise—leaving our course to be as fate directed us.

"Having sailed all that day, at the dawn of another the sentinel, on the topmast-head, cried aloud, 'A ship! a ship!' I asked what her course was, and how large she might be; he replied that, 'she was the same size as our own ship, and that she was ahead of us.'

"'Then, my friends'," said I, 'arm yourselves, and if these are pirates, show the valorous spirit which has led you to abandon your nets in search of fame.' We crowded all our sails, and in less than two hours were alongside the ship, which, as if taken by surprise, offered no resistance: about forty of my men boarded her, but found no occasion to use their swords, as she contained only the mariners and some serving men. Looking about, we found in one of the cabins, two persons, closely confined by the neck in a sort of iron stocks, and separated from each other scarcely two rods; one was a man of good mien; the other, a woman possessing a considerable share of beauty. In another apartment we found a rich couch, on which lay a venerable old man, whose air and manner at once commanded respect. He could not leave his couch, but he raised his head a little, and said, 'Sheathe your swords, gentlemen, for in this ship you will find none to resist you; necessarily then you must try your fortune in this exercise in some other quarter; but your coming will be fortunate for you, not because the ship has wealth wherewith to enrich you, but because I sail in her, I, who am Leopold, king of Norway.'[G]

"On hearing him speak thus, I felt a desire to know what events could have happened to bring a king into such a defenceless situation; going to him, I asked if this was true that I heard, for although his appearance and noble demeanour well agreed with his words, yet the scanty equipage of his vessel made it difficult of belief. 'Sir,' replied the old man, 'order your people to be quiet, and listen to me, for in a few words you shall hear great things.' I commanded silence, and my companions and I listened attentively to what he wished to say, which was this:—

"'It pleased Heaven t............