It proved to be one of Chaucer's most popular works Shakespeare collaborated on a dramatic version (see The Two Noble Kinsmen, by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, ed. (Students reading this text for the first time may also find an interlinear translation helpful (though they should move on to the Middle English as soon as possible.)Ĭhaucer's story of Palamon and Arcite is based on Boccaccio's Teseide. Since this is the first long narrative assigned in this course, students may wish to read through a more detailed summary of the Knight's Tale in order to get a clear idea of the narrative before turning to the Middle English version. They live in perfect love, with never a harsh word between them. But years ease the pain, and in Parliament Theseus proposes the marriage of Emily and Palamon, which brings final peace between Thebes and Athens. All are deep in mourning, Theseus is so saddened that only his old father Egeus can comfort him. But a fury sent from hell by Saturn frightens his horse, who suddenly rears and fatally injures him. Palamon loses the tournament he is captured, and Arcite rides through the arena in triumph. Wise old Saturn finds a way to satisfy both Mars and Venus. Palamon prays to Venus to grant him Emily and the goddess agrees Arcite prays to Mars for victory, and Mars agrees. The ladies plead for the lives of the young men, and Theseus spares them and arranges for a great tournament, with one hundred knights to a side, to determine who shall have Emily. Theseus, hunting with his queen Ypolita and Emily, comes upon the duel and stops it. The two former friends engage in deadly battle. He hides in a woodland where he comes upon Arcite bemoaning his love for Emily. Palamon, by help of a friend, escapes from captivity. Arcite is so ravaged by love he is no longer recognizable he returns to Athens, disguised, and takes service in Theseus' household. Perotheus, a friend of Theseus, obtains Arcite's release on the condition he never returns to Athens. They argue over who shall have her, though both are helplessly imprisoned. From the window of their cell they see the lovely Emily, Ypolita's young sister, with whom both fall in love. Theseus condemns them to perpetual imprisonment. Among the wounded are Palamon and Arcite, young Thebans of royal blood. Theseus, duke of Athens, returning with Ypolita from his conquest of the Amazons, turns aside to defeat Creon, the tyrant of Thebes, who has unjustly refused burial for his victims.
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