Tale of two knights PART II
One day, Palemon was looking through the window of the prison tower when he saw Emily walking in the garden. He fell in love with her beauty, compared her to a goddess, and prayed that she would become his wife.
After some time, Arcite also saw Emily. He too fell in love with her beauty and began talking about how he would marry her. When Palemon overheard Arcite, they started arguing, each claiming that he would marry Emily.
Marrying Emily became a conquest for both cousins. Their love for each other turned into rivalry over Emily.
Arcite had a friend named Theron in King Theseus's court. Arcite requested Theron to appeal to King Theseus and pull some political strings to secure his release from prison.
Eventually, King Theseus agreed to free Arcite on three conditions:
Arcite would be banished from Athens for life.
Arcite would pay a compensation of 100 gold coins every month for the next three years.
If Arcite were seen in Athens, he would be detained and imprisoned in the tower again.
Theron agreed to these terms and took Arcite away with him. Although Arcite was happy to be released from prison, he was deeply jealous of Palemon, who remained closer to Emily. Arcite felt tormented, suffering outside Athens while Palemon remained within its walls.
Determined to stay close to Emily and confess his love to her, Arcite decided to return to Athens. Assuming the identity of a servant named Amadaro, and with Theron's help, he entered Emily's household to be near her.
Meanwhile, Palemon was planning his own escape. A month after Arcite’s release, the prison tower’s security was reduced, leaving only two guards to watch over Palemon. One of Palemon’s fellow knights bribed one of the guards and ordered him to drug the food of the other guard to ensure he would fall asleep at night. The bribed guard carried out the plan, and at midnight, Palemon broke out of prison and escaped.
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