At this Arcite answered more mildly,—“ Be it so, cousin; I am willing to test this with the sword. Rest thee here to-night, for thou art still weak and prison-worn. I will bring here to this wood, food and a couch for to-night’s comfort. To-morrow, or ere the rising of the sun, I will be here with two sets of armor, and swords for both. Thou shalt choose the best and leave the other for me. And we will fight till one of us is dead from his wounds.”
Arcite kept his word in every point, and next day at early dawn he was in the wood with two sets of armor, and swords to match them. Palamon awaited him eagerly, and with all courtesy each helped the other buckle on his harness and make ready for the affray. Soon the clashing of their swords smote sparks of fire so thick that they shone in the green wood like myriads of fire-flies.
Suddenly, in the middle of their deadly sport, the knights heard the sharp bay of hounds, the blast of the horns, the rush of many steeds; and, looking up, they saw themselves surrounded by a royal hunting party. There was the noble Duke Theseus, and by his side Hypolita, with snow-white falcon on her wrist, while foremost among the ladies of the court, all clad in green, rode Emelie, the unconscious cause of all this strife.
