The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-09

I in each others company. Beneath the tower of the great castle where these two powerful princes were confined there, was a garden, and it happened that on a morning in May, the Lady Finely walked therein. She was fairer to the eye than the lily on it's green stalk and | fresher than the May with its new flow CTS. It was difficult, to tell which had the more perfect bloom, the dewy rose that bloomed along the garden paths or the maiden's cheek. She had arisen, as was her wont, before the day broke; for May will have no sluggards among those who view it's charms. and in the vernal season every one of gentle blood Is an early riser.
 So, as the new day broke over Athens, Finely walked in the garden and Pala- mon looked out from his prison tower over the city. Then he cast his eyes down to the garden and behed this vision of loveliness. She was gathering flowers 1 in the sunrise to make garland for her | yellow hair, which hung in long braid down her back a yard in length. And as she picked the flowers she sang
 
 to the captive in the tower above. At the first glance at the maid Palamon | cried out. "Ah!' as if stone had hit him over the heart. At that cry Ar>~,, who was with him, but had stood back from the window, said: Cousin mine, what aileth thee, thou art pale? What is hte matter? For the love of God grieve not so much. Try to take our impris- onment with patience; better times may come" "Cousin," replied Palamon, 'ft was not grief for my Imprisonment that cried out. But I was hurt through | my eye deep iEto my heart. The fairest | lady in the world I see wonder in the | garden, roaming to and fro. I wot not whether she be woman or goddess. Real | ly guess 1t is Venus herself" At that he fell down on his knees and cried out: Venus, if 1t be thy will to reveal thy self thus in the garden before me- a sorrowful, wretched creature, pray have pity and help us to escape from this prison.
 Meantime Arctic was looking eagerly through the window bars and feasting his eyes upon the beauteous damsel who walked there radiant in the clear light of the morning. Now if Palamon had been sore wounded by the sight of Finely then was Arctic as badly hurt or worse, and said: "This fresh beauty slayeth me suddenly and unless have her mercy and her grace to see her now and then I am but dead; there is no more to say" Are you speaking in earnest or in jest?" cried Palamon. Tn earnest, by my faith" replied Arctic. Palamon knit his brows as he rejoined: "It does you no great honor then to talk so, for you are a traitor if you mean it-a traitor and foresworn. Have we not sworn to each other that never in love would the one hinder the other; that we would In everything each help the other? Thou knowest it, and now thou wouldst falsely be about to love my lady. whom serve and ever shall first and told thee so."
 Nay" replied Arctic, "you did not know whether she was goddess or a woman. At any rate, is there not an old saw which says, Who shall give lover any law? Law is a greater law than any made by earthly man.. A man must love meagerly indeed who would not break all law to win his love. though he lost his life by doing it. But what are we talking of-are we not prisoners for life? We are like the | hounds which fought over a bone and while they fought a kite came down and flew away with the bone" So the two, though thereafter they were not the same to each other.
 | And now 1t happened that there came | to Athens in great state Duke Pero- heus, who had been a friend of Duke Theseus from boyhood, and came from time to time to enjoy the hospitality of his lifelong friend. Duke Porctheus had known Arctic in Thebes, and when he learned that he was a prisoner in Athens he interceded for him with Duke Theseus, and Duke Theseus haled the young prince from his prisoners before him and gave him his liberty He forbade him, however, to inhabit any country subject to the Duke of Athens upon penalty of having his head cut off if he were caught so do- ing.
 Arctic went back to Thebes, while Palamon in his prison grieved, because, as he thought. now would his cousin have chance to woo and win the fair Finely while he himself remained in durance vile But Arctic remained not long in Thebes. His heart was back in Athens. He could not eat, nor sleep, nor drink, and he grew so pale and wan and bent that men scarcely knew him for that noble prince who had once been the pride of the city. Finally he resolved to venture everything to be near the object of his affections, and disguising himself as a laborer, went again to Athens. There he offered his services at the palace as a newer of wood and drawer of water, I calling himself Philostrate. A chamber lain. having need of a laborer. and seeing that he was strong and big of bone, en- gagged him. So well did he do his work that he was before long promoted to be one of the servants in the esta ablishment of the Lady Finely, and say her every day.
 Nearly two years did he pass thus un- suspected and so well did he serve that the Duke, noticing his zeal and skill, promoted him to be the squi.e of his own person. Another year or two did he pass in the service of the Duke. Then. one ri0ht Pa1amOn broke prison and fo +a