n began to break he strode tremblingly to
a grove of trees, that he might hide there all day. When the darkness
fell once more he meant to go on again to Thebes, there to gather his
old armies to make war on Theseus. He wished either to win Emelia or
to die. He cared little for his life if he might not spend it with
her.

As Palamon lay beside a bush in the grove, he watched the sunbeams
drying up the dew drops on the leaves and flowers near him, and
listened to the joyous song of a lark that poured forth its welcome to
the morning.

The same lark that Palamon heard awakened Arcite. He was now the chief
knight in the Duke's house, and served him with honor in peace and
war. He sprang up and looked out on the fresh green fields. Everything
called to him to come out. He loosed his horse from the stall and
galloped over hill and dale. He came to the edge of a grove, and tied
up his steed to a tree. Then he wandered down a woodland path to
gather honeysuckle and hawthorn to weave a garland for himself. Little
he thought of the snare into which he was walking. As he roamed he
sang--

"O May, of every month the queen,
With thy sweet flowers and forests green,
Right welcome be thou, fair fresh May."

The grove was the one in which Palamon lay beside a pool of water.
When he heard the song of Arcite, cold fear took hold on him. He did
not know that it was Arcite who sang, but he knew that the horse must
belong to a knight of the court, and he crouched down to the ground
lest he should be seen and taken back to prison.

Soon Arcite's joyous mood passed away, and he grew sorrowful. He
sighed and threw himself down not far from the spot where Palamon lay.

"Alas, alas!" said Arcite, "for the royal blood of Thebes! Alas that I
should humbly serve my mortal enemy! Alas that I dare not claim my
noble name, but must be known, forsooth, as Philostrate, a name worth
not a straw! Of all our princely house not one is left save only me
and Palamon, whom Theseus slays in prison. Even I, free though I am,
am helpless to win Emelia. What am I to her but an humble squire?"

Palamon was so angry when he heard this, that he forgot his own
danger. He started out from his hiding-place and faced Arcite.

"False Arcite," he cried, "now art thou caught indeed! Thou hast
deceived Duke Theseus and hast falsely changed thy name, hast thou?
Then surely I or thou must die. I will suffer no man to love my lady,
save myself alone. For I am