# Scene I explained — The Two Noble Kinsmen

> Chapter companion for The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_two_noble_kinsmen_se/chapters