After Arcita returns to Thebes, Arcita goes through a year of lamentation. His depression slowly changes his physical appearance. One night, Arcita dreams of Mercury- the god of messenger- telling him that all of his grievances will be gone back at Athens. Therefore, Arcita,determined to meet Emily once more, disguises himself as a servant and brings his own servant. At Athens, Arcita finds a job in the castle, going under the name Philostrato. Arcita’s hard work eventually leads him to be well liked by everyone. As a result, Arcita becomes Theseus’s assistant. While this was happening, Palamon had been miserably sulking in prison for seven years. Until one fateful night, he escapes with a help from a friend. The friend drugs the guard to sleep through the whole night. Palamon runs to hide in the grove. He decides to rally up an army to attack Theseus and capture Emily. …show more content…
Palamon overhears Arcita complaining how he has to live as Philostrato and work under Theseus. Enraged, Palamon accosts Arcita. After their heated argument, the two men agrees to duel the next day to decide who has the right over Emily. During the two men’s battle, Theseus and his wife and Emily came to the same area to hunt. Theseus notices the two men fighting. Palamon declares his and Arcita’s identities to the King and pleads for death. The King quickly orders the men death; however, the Queen and Emily begs the King for forgiveness. Seeing the two ladies weeping, Theseus rethinks his order and agrees to let the two knights live. Theseus forgives in exchange that Arcita and Palamon becomes his allies. Arcita and Palamon thanks the King for his generosity. Theseus, realizing there was still a problem at hand, offers the two men one year to prepare 100 knights to participate in a tournament to decide who will marry Emily. The two men, filled with excitement, immediately accepts the challenge and sets off to