Then Palamon answered, “Let it be so.”

Next morning Arcite rode to the wood alone.  He met Palamon on the woodland path where the flowers he had gathered the day before lay withered on the ground.  No word nor greeting passed between them, but each helped to arm the other in silence.  As the buckles were tightened and the armor slipped into its place, the color came and went in the faces of the two princes.  They deemed that this would be the last of all fights to one of them.

When they were ready they fenced together for a little, and then the real fight began.  So fierce was it that the men seemed like wild animals in their rage.  Palamon sprang at Arcite like a strong lion, and Arcite glanced aside and darted at him again like a cruel tiger.  In the midst of this they heard a sound of the galloping of horses that brought the royal hunters to the spot.  In a moment the sword of Theseus flashed between the fighters, and his voice thundered out, “Ho! no more, on pain of death.  Who are ye who dare to fight here alone, with none to see justice done?”

The princes turned and saw Theseus, Duke of Athens.  Behind him rode Hippolyta with her sister, Emelia the Radiant, and many knights and ladies.

Palamon answered the Duke’s question swiftly, before Arcite had time to speak.  “Sire, what need of words?  Both of us deserve death.  Two wretches are we, burdened with our lives.  As thou art a just judge, give to us neither mercy nor refuge, but slay us both.  Thou knowrest not that this knight, Philostrate, is thy mortal foe, whom thou hast banished.  He is Arcite, who hath deceived thee for that he loveth Emelia.  And I too love her.  I too am thy mortal foe, for I am Palamon, and I have broken from my prison.  Slay us then, here before fair Emelia.”

“That is easily granted,” said Theseus.  “Ye judge yourselves.  Ye shall die.”

Then the queen began to weep, and Emelia too.  They were sad to think that these two princes should die so young, and all for the service they wished to do to the queen’s sister.

The other ladies of the court begged the Duke to forgive the fighters.  “Have mercy, sire,” they urged, “on us women, and save the princes!”

At first Theseus was too angry to listen to them, but soon he thought that he would have done as the princes had done, if he had been in their place, so he said, “Arcite and Palamon, ye could both have lived in peace and safety in Thebes, yet love has brought you here to Athens into my power, who am your deadly foe.  Here then for the sake of Hippolyta, my queen, and of Emelia the Radiant, our dear sister, I forgive you both.  Promise never to make war on my land, but to yield me your friendship evermore.”  Joyfully the princes promised this, and thanked the Duke for his grace.

Then Theseus said, “Both of you are noble.  Either might wed Emelia the Radiant, but she cannot wed you both.  Therefore I appoint a tournament in this place a year hence.  Come here then, ye Princes of Thebes, each of you, with a hundred knights of the bravest, and that one of you, who shall slay or capture the other, he shall wed Emelia.”