can win the lady.' 'Agreed,' said
Palamon; and Arcite rode away in great fierce joy of heart. Next
morning, at the crowing of the cock, Arcite placed two suits of armour
before him on his horse, and rode towards the grove. When they met,
the colour of their faces changed. Each thought, 'Here comes my mortal
enemy; one of us must be dead.' Then, friend-like, as if they had been
brothers, they assisted each the other to rivet on the armour; that
done, the great bright swords went to and fro, and they were soon
standing ankle-deep in blood. That same morning the Duke Theseus, his
wife, and Emily went forth to hunt the hart with hound and horn, and,
as destiny ordered it, the chase led them to the very grove in which
the knights were fighting. Theseus, shading his eyes from the sunlight
with his hand, saw them, and, spurring his horse between them, cried,
'What manner of men are ye, fighting here without judge or officer?'
Whereupon Palamon said, 'I am that Palamon who has broken your prison;
this is Arcite the banished man, who, by returning to Athens, has
forfeited his head. Do with us as you list. I have no more to say.'
'You have condemned yourselves!' cried the duke; 'by mighty Mars the
red, both of you shall die!' Then Emily and the queen fell at his
feet, and, with prayers and tears and white hands lifted up, besought
the lives of the young knights, which was soon granted. Theseus began
to laugh when he thought of his own young days. 'What a mighty god is
Love!' quoth he. 'Here are Palamon and Arcite fighting for my sister,
while they know she can only marry one, Fight they ever so much, she
cannot marry both. I therefore ordain that both of you go away, and
return this day year, each bringing with him a hundred knights; and let
the victor in solemn tournament have Emily for wife.' Who was glad now
but Palamon! who sprang up for joy but Arcite!

"When the twelve months had nearly passed away, there was in Athens a
great noise of workmen and hammers. The duke was busy with
preparations. He built a large amphitheatre, seated, round and round,
to hold thousands of people. He erected also three temples,--one for
Diana, one for Mars, one for Venus; how rich these were, how full of
paintings and images, the tongue cannot tell! Never was such
preparation made in the world. At last the day arrived in which the
knights were to make their entrance into the city. A noise of trumpets
was heard, and through t