alamon and Arcite love each other as they used to do long ago,
and leave me free?"

On the morning of the tournament Duke Theseus and his queen sat with
Emelia on a high seat overlooking the lists. When the trumpet sounded,
Arcite and his knights rode in through the western gate. His red
banner shone bright against the white marble pillars. At the same
moment Palamon entered from the east, and his white banner floated out
against the blue sky.

Soon the heralds ceased galloping up and down, and the whole space was
left to the warriors.

The trumpets sounded "Advance," and the fray began. Through the bright
sunshine they fought, advancing here, and beaten back there, till at
last Palamon was hurled from his horse and taken prisoner.

The trumpets sounded, and all stood still while Theseus called out,
"Ho! no more. All is over. Arcite of Thebes khall wed Emelia." Then
the people shouted till it seemed that the great marble gates would
fall.

In the eagerness of the fight Emelia had begun to like the warriors
who fought for her, and her liking grew ever stronger as they showed
their worth. When Arcite rode towards her with glowing face she was
proud of him, and leant forward to welcome him gladly.

But as he galloped, his horse started aside and he was thrown to the
ground. He was too much hurt to rise. So he was lifted by his knights
and carried to the palace. There he was cared for in every way, but
nothing could save him.

Before he died, he called for Emelia and Palamon.

"No words can tell the sorrow I bear because I must leave thee, my
lady! Alas, death tears me from thee! Farewell, my wife! farewell, my
Emelia! Ah, take me softly in thine arms, and listen while I speak!
For years I have had strife with my dear cousin Palamon. Yet now I say
to thee, in all this world I never have met with one so worthy to be
loved as Palamon, that hath served thee, and will serve thee, his life
long. Ah, if ever thou dost wed, let it be Palamon!"

His voice began to fail. "Emelia!" he said, and died.

Emelia mourned sadly for her valiant knight. As for Palamon, all his
old love for Arcite came back, and he wept for him as bitterly as he
had bewailed his own sorrow in the dungeon.

When all the Greeks had ceased to mourn for Arcite, Palamon still
grieved for the death of his friend, and for the strife that had been
between them.

After two years Theseus sent one day for Palamon and Emelia. Palamon
came to the court in