Preview: Section 13
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Start: The Sunday night, ere day began to spring,
Stop after: The great effect, for which that I began.
Before the contest, the three central figures visit the arena’s temples in successive planetary hours. Palamon approaches Venus, Emily approaches Diana, and Arcite approaches Mars; their prayers clarify that they do not all want the same kind of victory.
The rites and divine signs can be difficult for human observers to interpret. Each prayer defines freedom, love, and honor differently, while the planetary timing connects each worshipper to a particular divine power.