he city rode Palamon and his train. With him
came Lycurgus, the king of Thrace. He stood in a great car of gold,
drawn by four white bulls, and his face was like a griffin when he
looked about. Twenty or more hounds used for hunting the lion and the
bear ran about the wheels of his car; at his back rode a hundred lords,
stern and stout. Another burst of trumpets, and Arcite entered with
his troop. By his side rode Emetrius, the king of India, on a bay
steed covered with cloth of gold. His hair was yellow, and glittered
like the sun; when he looked upon the people, they thought his face was
like the face of a lion; his voice was like the thunder of a trumpet.
He bore a white eagle on his wrist, and tame lions and leopards ran
among the horses of his train. They came to the city on a Sunday
morning, and the jousts were to begin on Monday. What pricking of
squires backwards and forwards, what clanking of hammers, what baying
of hounds, that day! At last it was noon of Monday. Theseus declared
from his throne that no blood was to be shed, that they should take
prisoners only, and that he who was once taken prisoner should on no
account again mingle in the fray. Then the duke, the queen, Emily, and
the rest, rode to the lists with trumpets and melody. They had no
sooner taken their places than through the gate of Mars rode Arcite and
his hundred, displaying a red banner. At the self-same moment Palamon
and his company entered by the gate of Venus, with a banner white as
milk. They were then arranged in two ranks, their names were called
over, the gates were shut, the herald gave his cry, loud and clear rang
the trumpet, and crash went the spears, as if made of glass, when the
knights met in battle shock. There might you see a knight unhorsed, a
second crushing his way through the press, armed with a mighty mace, a
third hurt and taken prisoner. Many a time that day in the swaying
battle did the two Thebans meet, and thrice were they unhorsed. At
last, near the setting of the sun, when Palamon was fighting with
Arcite, he was wounded by Emetrius, and the battle thickened at the
place. Emetrius, is thrown out of his saddle a spear's length.
Lycurgus is overthrown, and rolls on the ground, horse and man; and
Palamon is dragged by main force to the stake. Then Theseus rose up
where he sat, and cried, 'Ho! no more; Arcite of Thebes hath won
Emily!' at which the people shouted so loudly that it almost seemed the