h depart for a year, and gather
to him a hundred knights, and then return to tourney in the lists for the
hand of Emilia.

"Who loketh lightly now but Palamoun?
Who springeth up for joye but Arcite?"

And thanking him on their knees, they took their leave and rode away.

Royal were the lists which Theseus made, a mile in circuit, and walled with
stone. Eastward and westward were marble gates, whereon were built temples
of Venus and Mars, while in a turret on the north wall was a shrine of
Diana goddess of chastity. And each temple was nobly carven and wrought
with statues and pictures.

Now the day of the tourney approached, and Palamon and Arcite returned each
with a hundred knights.

"To fighte for a lady, _ben'cite!_
It were a lusty sighte for to see."

Palamon brought with him Ligurge king of Thrace, and with Arcite was
Emetreas, the king of India, each a giant in might. So on a Sunday they all
came to the city.

And in the night, ere dawn, Palamon arose and went to the temple of Venus
to pray that he might win Emilia for his wife; and, as it seemed, in answer
to his prayer, the statue of Venus shook, and Palamon held it for a sign
that the boon he asked was granted. Emilia meanwhile went to the temple of
Diana, and prayed to the goddess, that she might remain a virgin, and that
the hearts of Palamon and Arcite might be turned from her; or, if she needs
must wed one of the twain, let him be the one that most desired her. To her
appeared the goddess Diana, and told her that she must be wedded to one of
the two, but she might not tell which that one should be.

And Arcite went to the temple of Mars, and prayed for victory; whereat the
door of the temple clattered, and the fires blazed up on the altar, while
the hauberk on the god's statue rang, and Arcite heard a murmur of
"Victory." So rejoicing thereat he returned home

"As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne."

Thereafter in the heavens above strife began betwixt Mars and Venus, such
that Jupiter himself was troubled to quell it; till Saturn (the father of
Venus) comforted his daughter with assurance that Palamon should win his
lady.

That day was high festival in Athens, and all Monday they justed and
feasted, but went betimes to rest that they might rise early to see the
great fight. And on the morrow there were lords and knights and squires,
armourers, yeomen and commoners, and steeds and palfreys, on every hand,
and all was ready.

N