Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/24

5 by birth, named Palamon and Arcite. These two, covered with wounds on the battle-field, had Theseus taken prisoner, and nursing their hurts carefully, had cured them, so they were able to be brought to Athens in the train of the conqueror. Now in one prison were the two shut up together to bewail the cruel stars which had spared their lives only that they might live in such misery.

The prison tower in which they were kept, overlooked the garden of the palace. Through the bars the sunlight slanted in, and the songs of the birds outside mocked them with thoughts of freedom. Sometimes, by standing on tiptoe, they caught glimpses of the garden paths, and saw where the many colored flowers blossomed below.

One beautiful May morning, sweet Lady Emelie, the youngest sister of Hypolita, who was like the queen in fairness as the soft evening star is like the full-orbed moon, must needs go walking in this very garden to pick flowers for a Mayday wreath. Herself fairer than May, and sweeter than the roses, which were glad to borrow their red from her cheeks, she sang, as she wove her garland, a little song which fell like a bird&rsquo;s from her fair throat.

While she sang thus, Palamon, straining to catch a glimpse of the sun through his prison