perched aloft. It was all wondrous indeed. Such feasting and
splendour had ne'er been known before.

At last the great day of the tournament came. At dawn Palamon arose
and went to sacrifice to Venus in her temple, and ask her help. "I
care not, goddess, whether in fight I win the laurels," he said. "For
me it is enough if she whom I love, the lady Emily, look on me kindly
and grant me her love. Help me, great goddess, help me. Never shalt
thou have a truer servant than I." Great was his joy when after some
delay the statue of Venus shook, for by this sign Palamon understood
that his prayer would be answered.

With the uprising of the sun, Emily herself also arose, bathed
herself in clear cool water, and went to ask Diana's help. "I would
rather be a maid all my life, and run and leap in the fields and
woods," she said, "but if the gods will that I be given to one of
these knights who desire me, O grant that I be given to him who loves
me most!" Thereat a marvellous thing happened; for one of the two
fires on the altar suddenly died down, but quickly leaped up in flame
again, while the other as suddenly died down and drops of blood oozed
from the dying embers. The statue of Diana shook and rattled the
arrows in its quiver, while the goddess herself appeared. "It is the
will of the gods you marry one of these men," she said, "but I may
not as yet declare which." And so she vanished.

"I am in thy hands, Diana!" cried Emily. "Grant me at least thy
protection."

An hour later Arcite' went to the temple of the terrible God of War.
"O Mars," he prayed, "grant me victory in the fight this day, and