Tales of True Knights (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ...of Palamon and Arcite had gone abroad, and all were eager to know what would be the result of their trial by combat. Early in the morning, on the day the tournament was to take place, Palamon and Arcite both made a visit to the temple in which the Athenians worshiped their gods, to offer up prayers, each for his own victory and safety. And Arcite went into the temple and offered up his prayers at the altar of Mars, the dread god of war. And as Arcite prayed, an omen and a sign was given to him by the god. For the altar shook, and all the doors of the temple clattered, and from the mouth of the statue of the god on the altar, there issued the word "Victory." Arcite was greatly pleased, and interpreted all this to mean that the great god of war would assist him, but little he guessed that success in arms might not mean success in everything. Palamon, when he entered the temple, offered up his prayers before the altar of Venus, the goddess of love, and Venus also sent out a sign to her petitioner. For the marble statue of Venus on the altar shook, and it made a sign which Palamon interpreted as an omen of victory. Yet how this could be--that Arcite should be victorious in battle and yet Palamon, through the aid of Venus, should be successful in love--the story must show by its ending. Still one other petitioner appeared in the temple early on the morning of the tournament, and that was the Lady Emilia. Emilia offered up her prayers before the altar of the goddess Diana, for Diana was the deity who cared for the welfare of all young girls and maidens. And Emilia, in her prayer, said that she would like best of all to remain a faithful worshiper of Diana and a maid forever. "But since it is decreed," she said, "that one I must choose and one must...