The Two Noble Kinsmen · Chapter
Scene I explained
Palamon and Arcite, along with their knights, pray at the altars of Mars and Venus before their tournament for Emilia.
What happens
Palamon and Arcite, along with their knights, pray at the altars of Mars and Venus before their tournament for Emilia. Emilia prays to Diana, asking to remain a virgin or to be given to the one who truly loves her. The gods give signs: Mars sends thunder and clanging armor, Venus sends doves and music, and Diana sends a rose that falls, indicating Emilia will be married.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Free Will
The characters pray to gods for signs and outcomes, highlighting the tension between divine predestination and human agency in the tournament's result.
Love and Madness
Palamon's passionate prayer to Venus and Arcite's martial devotion illustrate love's consuming, almost irrational power over the knights.
Honor and Chivalry
The formal prayers, embraces, and dedication to the gods underscore the chivalric code of honour and ritual before combat.
Characters to notice
- Theseus
Theseus presides over the prayers, instructing Palamon and Arcite to lay aside their anger and pray to the gods before the tournament.
- Pirithous
Pirithous announces the entrance of Palamon and Arcite and wishes honour to crown the worthiest.
- Hippolyta
Hippolyta is present among the attendants as the prayers begin.
- Palamon
Palamon prays to Venus for victory in love, emphasizing his devotion and chastity, and receives a sign of doves.
- Arcite
Arcite prays to Mars for military strength and victory, receiving a sign of clanging armour and thunder.
- Emilia
Emilia prays to Diana, asking to remain a virgin or to be given to the truest lover; she receives a sign of a rose that falls.
Key passages
“The glass is running now that cannot finish Till one of us expire”
The hourglass is counting down the time until one of us dies.
Palamon acknowledges the mortal stakes of the upcoming duel.
“I am in labour To push your name, your ancient love, our kindred, Out of my memory”
I am struggling to forget your name, our old friendship, and our kinship.
Arcite expresses the difficulty of setting aside their bond for the sake of love.
“Hail, sovereign queen of secrets, who hast power To call the fiercest tyrant from his rage, And weep unto a girl”
Hail, queen of secrets, who can make the cruelest tyrant weep like a girl.
Palamon praises Venus's power to soften even the most violent hearts.
“I am guiltless of election: of mine eyes Were I to lose one—they are equal precious— I could doom neither”
I am innocent of choosing: if I had to lose one of my eyes, I couldn't decide which, because they are equally precious.
Emilia says she cannot choose between Palamon and Arcite, as they are both equally dear to her.