A KNIGHT’ S TALE

THE TEST:

After that Theseus, king of Athens, ad conquered the Amazons and had married  their queen Hippolyte , he met on his way back to Athens a group of Theban women dressed in black.

They pleased him to free their kingdom from the tyrannical Creon that had killed their husbands.

Theseus accepted their request , he went to Thebes where he defeated Creon, he conquered the town while meeting, amoung its ruins, two cousins, Arcite and Palamon, who were soldiers at the service of Creon.

He imprisoned both in a tower that had a window, which the knights spent their days looking out of. One day they saw Emilye, Theseus’ sister-in-law walking in the garden and they fell in love with her instantly. Thanks to friend Arcite was set free but at the same time he was banished from Athens.

Palamon was desperate because he feared that his cousin Arcite could get an army to conquer the town and marry Emilye.

Meanwhile Arcite came back to Athens in disguise and became page by Emilye’s household . Similar to his cousin is vicissitude many years later Palamon was set free  from the prison he took refuge in the wood waiting for the night with the intention to go to Thebes and to return later to Athens with an army.

In Thebes the two cousins met by chance and they fought for Emilye.

Theseus, who was riding his horse near the wood , understood their love for Emilye and insisted that they hold a tournament.

Palamon and Arcite were each given one year to build an army.

The tournament would be a fight to the death and the winner would receive Emilye’s hand in marriage.

The evening before the tournament Palamon, Arcite and Emilye each visited one of the three shrines built into the wall of the tournament arena.

Arcite visited the shrine of the Roman god of war, Mars, where he prayed to win the tournament.

Palamon visited the shrine of the Roman goddess of love, Venus, where he prayed to win Emilye’s hand.

Emilye meanwhile visited the shrine of the Roman goddess of chastity, Diana.

There she prayed that Diana would allow her to remain unmarried, althought she was ready to accept Diana’s will.

After much fighting Arcite emerged as the winner but Venus, furious for having been defeated, caused an earthquake that le Arcite throw from his horse and suffer a fatal injury.

At this point Arcite asked Emilye and Palamon to get married and to live happily.

Staring at the beloved Emilye he died.

After big ceremonies to honor the death of the young Arcite, Palamon and Emilye got married respecting his will.