Skip to main content
Modern Philosophers
All books

Book

Available now

The Two Noble Kinsmen

William Shakespeare

Based on Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale," it tells the story of two inseparable cousins, Palamon and Arcite, whose deep friendship shatters when both fall in love with Princess Emilia from their prison window.

"The Two Noble Kinsmen" by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher is a Jacobean tragicomedy. Based on Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale," it tells the story of two inseparable cousins, Palamon and Arcite, whose deep friendship shatters when both fall in love with Princess Emilia from their prison window.

What you get

  • The book as EPUB, PDF, delivered to your library after payment.
  • Bought on its own: yours to keep.

Read a passage

Enter Hymen with a torch burning; a Boy, in a white robe before singing, and strewing flowers. After Hymen, a Nymph encompassed in her tresses, bearing a wheaten garland; then Theseus between two other Nymphs with wheaten chaplets on their heads. Then Hippolyta, the bride, led by Pirithous, and another holding a garland over her head, her tresses likewise hanging. After her, Emilia, holding up her train. Then Artesius and Attendants.

Roses, their sharp spines being gone, Not royal in their smells alone, But in their hue; Maiden pinks of odour faint, Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint, And sweet thyme true;

Primrose, first-born child of Ver, Merry springtime’s harbinger, With harebells dim, Oxlips in their cradles growing, Marigolds on deathbeds blowing, Lark’s-heels trim;

All dear Nature’s children sweet Lie ’fore bride and bridegroom’s feet, Blessing their sense. Not an angel of the air, Bird melodious or bird fair, Is absent hence.

The crow, the sland’rous cuckoo, nor The boding raven, nor chough hoar, Nor chatt’ring ’pie, May on our bride-house perch or sing, Or with them any discord bring, But from it fly.

Enter three Queens in black, with veils stained, with imperial crowns. The first Queen falls down at the foot of Theseus; the second falls down at the foot of Hippolyta; the third before Emilia.

FIRST QUEEN. For pity’s sake and true gentility’s, Hear and respect me.

Contents

  1. 01Prologue
  2. 02Act I
  3. 03Scene I. Athens. Before a temple
  4. 04Scene II. Thebes. The Court of the Palace
  5. 05Scene III. Before the gates of Athens
  6. 06Scene IV. A field before Thebes.
  7. 07Scene V. Another part of the same, more remote from Thebes
  8. 08Act II
  9. 09Scene I. Athens. A garden, with a castle in the background
  10. 10Scene II. The prison
  11. 11Scene III. The country near Athens
  12. 12Scene IV. Athens. A room in the prison
  13. 13Scene V. An open place in Athens
  14. 14Scene VI. Athens. Before the prison
  15. 15Act III
  16. 16Scene I. A forest near Athens
  17. 17Scene II. Another Part of the forest
  18. 18Scene III. The same part of the forest as in scene I.
  19. 19Scene IV. Another part of the forest
  20. 20Scene V. Another part of the forest
  21. 21Scene VI. The same part of the forest as in scene III.
  22. 22Act IV
  23. 23Scene I. Athens. A room in the prison
  24. 24Scene II. A Room in the Palace
  25. 25Scene III. A room in the prison
  26. 26Act V
  27. 27Scene I. Athens. Before the Temples of Mars, Venus, and Diana
  28. 28Scene II. Athens. A Room in the Prison
  29. 29Scene III. A part of the Forest near Athens, and near the Place appointed for the Combat
  30. 30Scene IV. The same; a Block prepared
  31. 31Epilogue
  32. 32Finis

About this edition

Author
William Shakespeare
Era
Early modern (c. 1500–1800)
Reading level
Introductory: no background needed
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
172 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers