The Knight's Tale

Summary

Cousins Arcita and Palamon, who are nephews of King Creon of Thebes, have a close brotherly bond. They are captured and imprisonedby Theseus, duke of Athens following his intervention against Creon. Their cell is in the tower of Theseus's castle which overlooks his palace garden. In prison Palamon wakes earlyone morning in May, to see Emily (Emelia) in the courtyard; his moan is heard by Arcite, who then too wakes to see Emily, and falls in love with her as well.The competition brought about by this love causes them to hate each other. After some years, Arcita is released from prison through the good offices of Theseus'sfriend Pirithoos, and then returns to Athens in disguise and enters service in Emily's household. Palamon eventually escapes by drugging the gaoler and whilehiding in a grove overhears Arcita singing about love and fortune.

They begin to duel with each other over who should get Emily, but are thwarted by the arrivalof Theseus, who sentences them to gather 100 men apiece and fight a mass judicial tournament, the winner of which is to marry Emily. The forces assemble; Palamonprays to Venus to make Emily his wife; Emily prays to Diana to stay unmarried and that if that should prove impossible that she marry the one who really lovesher; and Arcita prays to Mars for victory. Arcita wins the battle, but following an intervention by Saturn is wounded by his horse falling on him before he canclaim Emily as his prize. As he dies, he tells Emily that she should marry Palamon, because he would make a good husband for her, and so Palamon marries Emily.