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

warning knights. One of them doubtless
 she recognized as a servant who had been
 in her household. But now he seemed a powerful and warllke. The other, of
 course she knew not, and that these two
 were princes of Thebes and had for years
 been almost dying for the love of her she visited not bit
 Duke Theseus spurred his cohrser in
 between the knights and cried out for
 them to cease their combat upon pain of death. By mighty Mars,'' said he,
 drawing his huge sword, "the one of you
 shall die who strikes another blow. But
 tell me, what is the cause of all this; what mean you by fighting here, with
 out judge or other officer?'' Quickly did
 Palamon answer: Sire, we both deserve death, for we are two men doomed by you and now you have caught us. We are two captives, those Princes of Thebes. who so long languished In your prison tower. This man here, who has been passing as your squire, is none other than Arctic, whom you doomed once to death should he be found again on any land of Athens. And am Palamon, who broke your jail. You are my mortal foe and I am thine. And this Arctic here is he who loves the Lady Finely; and am he who so loves the Lady Finely that would die now in her sight, and so, since l am to die, kill me instantly"
 Well" said the Duke, you are two foolish men. Here is this Arctic, who
 might have lived in royalty at Thebes, risking his life to come again to Athens. And it Is love, I see, that brought him hither. But who can be a fool unless he is in love? And so it's this-you fought for-is 1t who should be the lover of our sister Finely? Well, both shall have your just reward and die" At that the Queen and all her ladies sprang from their horses and kneeling before the Duke beg ged mercy for the warning lovers-all except Finely, who, of course. blushed and hung down her head, as maiden should do under such embarrassing cir
 cumstances. When ladies see love story they are at once the. champions of the
 lovers and even the fair Finely managed to intimate to her brother-in-law that she would fain he pardoned the knights. Theseus, overcome as even great dukes will be, by woman's clamor, said: Well, well, both you have richly deserved death, but for the sake of the Queen, who kneel-
 eth here, and also of Finely, my sister dear, will not have your heads cut off,
 as I was going to do. You both are worthy, doubtless. to marry when the time is but-and speak for myself and | for the Lady Emely-you know yourselves
 that she cannot marry the both of you
 at once though yo6 should fight on for ever And so my will is that each of
 you shall go where he listeth, freely, with
 out danger or ransom. And this day 50
 weeks each of you shall reappear here accompanied by a hundred knights ready
 to do battle for and with h'you, all armed
 and ready for the lists. We will have a great tournament. and he who wins | in this battle 10 him shall the hand of
 Lady Finely be given in marriage Do you accept the conditions?' Palamon and
 Arctic accepted them joyfully and. fall- ing upon their knees, thanked him for
 so great grace. Then away upon their
 hunting and the two 1oye-lorn princes
 rode away to Thebes
 Before the time had come when the
 two princes were to appear for the great tournament for which the prize
 was to be the hand of the Lady Elm fly, Duke fheseus did construct at
 Athens a great amphitheatre for the
 jousting; a spacious lists, right royal.
 and in circuit a mile about. It was
 shaped round and at the east there was great gate, or archway. of marble, and westward there was set
 another marble arch as rich in design