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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.
Now a herald proclaimed from a scaffold the will of Duke Theseus, decreeing
the weapons with which the tourney should be fought, and the rules of the
combat. Then with trumpets and music, Theseus and Hippolyta and Emilia in a
noble procession took their places; and from the west gate under the temple
of Mars came Arcite with a red banner, and from the east, under the temple
of Venus, Palamon with a white banner. And the names of the two companies
were recited, the heralds left pricking up and down, the trumpet and
clarion sounded, and the just began. Sore was the fight, and many were
wounded and by the duke's proclamation removed from the fight; and many a
time fought Palamon and Arcite together. But everything must have an end;
Emetreus gave Palamon a wound; and though Ligurge attempted his rescue, he
was borne down; and though Emetreus was thrust from his saddle by Palamon,
Palamon was wounded, and had to give up the combat and the hope of winning
Emilia.
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