and saw that with Theseus were his queen, and the lady for whose love
they fought, Emily the Fair, the niece of Theseus. She was dressed in
green, as befitted a huntress on so bright a morning. Palamon spoke
at once. "Show us no mercy, Lord Theseus. Better it is that we should
both die, for well have we deserved death. I, Palamon, am your
captive, escaped from prison but yesterday, and this man here is
Arcite, who for many years has deceived you. This our quarrel is for
the love of Emily, the bright maid at your side. Slay us both, and
let our sorrow have an end." Theseus was wroth, and would indeed have
slain them, but the queen and Emily pleaded so well for their lives
that the duke relented. "You art foolish, both of you," he said; "but
lovers are ever thus. This is my judgment. For fifty weeks you shall
be free, and then shall you appear, each with a hundred knights, to
do battle for Emily in a tournament. Whoso wins that day shall have
her for his bride." Palamon and Arcite leapt up with joy at this; and
all the court praised Theseus for his chivalrous behaviour and
knightly courtesy.

Those fifty weeks were busy times in Athens. The lists prepared for
the tournament were the most wonderful ever seen. The walls were
circular and a mile round. At the east and west ends were marble
gateways over which were temples. On the east gate was a temple to
Venus, the Goddess of Love, and on the west gate a temple to Mars,
God of War. On the north side was a temple in honour of Diana, the
Goddess of Maidens. Every man in the kingdom who could carve or paint
or build had been summoned to work on these lists and make them
beautiful. I wish I could describe to you all their magnificence. On
the walls of the temple of Venus were painted the stories of the
great lovers of fable and history. The statue of the goddess herself
seemed to float in a grass-green sea, and on her head she wore a