The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-06-24

the court Of Thcseus, did not forget to
do honor to May. AS the day began
to break, he mounted his steed, and
rode to the grove where Palamon was
concealed, seeking woodhne and haw.
thorn with which to bind garland
As the sun appeared, he broke into
4 joyous song of May.
20 sweet May with all thy vertlure
and thy flowers, right welcome thou
art, fair fresh May!'
Up ard down through the thick
grove he rode, passing many times the
spot where Palamon cronched behind
the bushes, little thinking that the man
who apparently was so mirthful over
his May garland was his cousin Arctic.
When Arctic had finished gathering
the dewey leaves and blossoms, he sud
denly ceased his singing, and fell into
a deep reverie, and began to speak
aloud. as these lovers Will do; but little
did he dream that he had other listener
than the binds and blossoms He spoke
of his false position at the court of
ThescuS; ot ii, dc>Iril.ng love for
Emile; and of his cousin Palamon,
who, he supposed, was still suffering
the horrors Of imprisonment.
The GOODNESS of death seized Pala-
mon when he realized that this gayly-
dressed squire was his former brother
in arms, his mortal foe his cousin Ar
cite. He tried to master his emotions,
but he could not With awful death
like countenance he confronted Arctic,
crying:
"Stll false, still false! | have heard
thee, traitor. In all things thou art
false; but swear now. as l swore be-
fore in the prison, that thou shalt not
win that lady whom l love even to
madness! Dost know me? lam Pala-
mon, my mortal zoe.
YEA, | know thee, wretcL!' and Ar
cite drew his sword in sudden wrath;
but, seeing that Palamon was without
means of defending himself, he stayed
his hand. Arctic remembered what
was due from one knight to another,
and promised Palamon that he would
come to the same spot on the next day,
with weapons and armor for two.
Paiamon should have choice of the
arms, and then-onc of them must die
for love of Lady Emile.
Arctic was true to bis word. On
the day after his encounter with Pala-
mon he appeared in the grove at the
appointed time, with armor and weap-
ons. Palamon was awaiting him.
There was no exchange of salutations
between the cousins In silence they
helped each other into the armor, and
Immediately began to fight Palamon
vas as bold as lion; Arctic as fierce
as tiger.
Fale drove Duke Theseus into the
grove that day. Surrounded by the
lords and ladies of his courts, he, with
Queen Ipolita and the Lady Emile, in
beautiful robes Of green, rode forth to
the chase. In pursuing the game into
that part of the grove where the wood
bine and the hawthorn and the laurel
made dense shade, the duke came
suddenly upon Arctic and Palamon
fighting like two wild beasts. The
ground all around them was soaked
with blood
'No more" cried Theseus, raising
his sword, ''no more on pain of your
life! would know what manner of
men We are who fight like beasts of
prey, here in the heart of the forest
without any judge or officer!''
Palamon spoke: "Sire, we deserve
no mercy at thy hands; we are thy
wretched prisoners. This is the eNiled
Arctic, who has returned to thy court
in disguise, and serves thee as Philo-
strate. He loves the Lady Emile.
For myself | must make like confes-
sion. am Paamon. | have wilfully
broken my prison; | too love L:dy
Emile, 50 greatly that | would count
it JOY to die in her presence. There
fore, my lord, | pray thee let me die
now; but slay Arctic also
"By Mars!" answered the duke,
you shall have your wish. Neither
of YOU shall cumber the earth much
longer
At this juncture Queen Ipolita began
to weep. and to ask for mercy for the
two combatants, as did Lady Emile
and all the other ladies.
This touched the duke, and he not
only pardoned the knights, but gave
them promises of protection and favor.
''As to Lady Emilie," he said, you
are both her equals in birth and sta
ton; as to bravery, there can no
knight he found who surpasses either
of YOU; and am convinced that each
of you loveth her to distraction; but
am also convinced that she cannot
marry both of you; therefore | am re-
solved to give her to the man who
shall win her hy his sword, but not
h re and now" Then the duke COM
manled both Arctic an Palamon to
90 where they would, and return to
Athens at Il certain time, each with an
army OF a hundred knights prepared