The Knight’s Tale continued…

A worthy duke named Pirithous, friend of Duke Theseus, who loved Arcita, having met him in Thebes. He asked Theseus to release Arcita, to be free and do as he pleased. Having such a strong friendship, Theseus could not deny him and released Arcita, under the condition that if Arcita were ever caught on Theseus’s land, he would be captured and beheaded. Arcita is in emotional agony at the thought of being exiled and unable to look upon Emily’s face; he admits defeat to Palamon claiming that he had the better deal to stay in jail and see her each day. Palamon however, cries and laments feeling that Arcita got the better deal being free on Thebian streets. The knight then says that the story he will follow is Arcita because Palamon is stuck in jail.