BY chance, the two bitter rivals for Emily’s hand met in the woods. They would have fought there to the death had Theseus not discovered them, and insisted they play out their knightly duel in public, as sport for all Athens and the royalty of ancient Greece to see.

On the eve of the tournament, Palamon prayed to Venus, and Arcite prayed to Mars. Venus promised victory to Palamon, but her one-time lover Mars promised victory to Arcite, and wise old Saturn saw that he must act quickly to prevent war on Olympus.

To Mars’s glee, Arcite won the contest, and the hand of Emily; but even as he rode to claim his prize, Saturn caused the knight’s horse to shy and throw his rider, mortally wounding him in the fall.

Theseus proclaimed a draw, so the contradictory promises of Venus and Mars were kept after all; and from his deathbed, Arcite blessed Emily’s marriage to Palamon, bringing peace between Athens and Thebes.