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 garland of roses.  Mars’ temple was dark and gloomy, with pictures of battle and murder on the walls.  The statue of Mars himself was guarded by a wolf of stone.  In Diana’s temple was the statue of the goddess riding upon a hart, with small hounds about her feet.  Her dress was green and she carried a bow and quiver of arrows.  A waxing moon, her symbol, was painted below her statue.

On the Sunday appointed for their meeting, Arcite and Palamon entered Athens with their companies.  Bold knights and noble princes were assembled from every land to do battle in honour of so fair a maid.  With Palamon came the great King of Thrace, wearing a crown of gold set with rubies and diamonds.  His armour was covered with a coal-black bear-skin, and he was carried in a chair of gold.

The other knights were all famous and goodly to look upon.  Each was armed according to his liking, with mace or spear, breastplate and shield.  Some had greaves, some a Prussian shield; no fashion was too old or too new to be seen there.

With Arcite came the great King of India, whose horse was decked with cloth of gold, while he himself had coat-armour studded with pearls, a saddle of beaten gold, and a mantle of sparkling rubies.  On his head was a green wreath of laurel, and he carried a tame white eagle on his hand.  Many a tame lion and leopard ran about his horse’s feet.  With him came many a goodly knight equipped for the fray.

The entertainment was princely.  I cannot tell you of the feasts, and the minstrelsy, nor of the great gifts to high and low; neither can I describe to you the fairness of the ladies and their graceful dancing; nor the hounds that lay upon the floor, and the hawks who 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.