e, whom the heralds recognised, from the cognisances on their
armour, as of blood-royal, and born of two sisters. Theseus sent them to
Athens to be held to ransom in prison perpetually, and himself returned
home in triumph.

So years and days passed, and Palamon and Arcite dwelt in durance in a
tower; till on a morrow of May it befel that the fair and fresh Emilia
arose to do observance to May, and walked in the garden, gathering flowers
and singing. Now in a high chamber of the tower, which adjoined the
garden-wall, Palamon by leave of his gaoler was pacing to and fro and
bewailing his lot, when he cast his eyes through the thick-barred window,
and beheld Emilia in the garden below; whereat he blenched, and cried out
as though struck to the heart. Arcite heard him, and, asking him why he so
cried out, bade him suffer imprisonment in patience; but Palamon replied
that the cause of his crying out was the beauty of the lady in the garden.
Thereupon Arcite spied out of the window at Emilia, and was so struck by
her fairness

"That if that Palamon was wounded sore,
Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more."

So strife began between the two. Palamon said it were small honour for
Arcite to be false to his cousin and sworn brother, since each had taken an
oath not to hinder the other in love; nay, as a knight Arcite was bound to
help him in his amour. But Arcite replied that love knows no law; decrees
of man are every day broken for love; moreover Palamon and he were
prisoners, and were like two dogs fighting for a bone which meantime a kite
bears away. Let each continue in his love, for in prison each must endure.

Now a duke name Pirithous came to visit his friend Theseus; who being also
a friend to Arcite begged Theseus to let him go free out of prison, which
Theseus did. And Arcite was set free without ransom, but on condition that
his life should be forfeit if he ever set foot again in any domain of Duke
Theseus.

Yet now Arcite found himself in no better stead, being banished from the
sight of his lady; and could even find it in his heart to envy Palamon, who
might still blissfully abide in prison--nay, not in prison, in Paradise,
where sometimes he might see her whom both loved. And on his part Palamon
was jealous of Arcite, who might even now be calling together his kin in
Thebes to make onslaught on Athens and win his lady Emilia.

"Yow loveres axe I now this questioun,
Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamo