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Arcite is a Theban soldier and nobleman. He is Palamon’s cousin and close friend. Arcite’s most notable characteristics are his noble conduct and commitment to chivalry, but he’s also clever and calculating. For example, when Palamon accuses Arcite of overstepping a boundary by pursuing Emilia, Arcite shrewdly justifies his amorous feelings with the logic that, as friends, they are subject to the same emotions—including love. Arcite is also a more accomplished warrior than Palamon, which he demonstrates in Act 5, Scene 3 when he defeats Palamon in the duel that Theseus arranges for them to determine which cousin will have Emilia’s hand in marriage. Arcite sometimes cares more about maintaining an honorable reputation than actually behaving honorably: for example, in his quest to secure Emilia’s love and prove that he is nobler and more deserving than Palamon, he breaks the terms of his exile from Athens. He further dishonors and deceives Theseus by disguising himself as a lowly peasant to gain a position near Emilia. Moreover, Arcite’s desire to achieve a noble and victorious reputation by securing Emilia’s love compels him to destroy his friendship with Palamon. Still, Arcite’s quest to secure a noble reputation also leads him to behave in genuinely noble ways. For example, in Act 1, Scene 2, Palamon and Arcite set aside their personal grievances with their uncle Creon to honor their duty to defend Thebes against the Athenian army. When Arcite encounters the escaped Palamon in the forest, he treats his cousin courteously, even as Palamon insults and threatens Arcite. After the cousins decide a duel is the only way to settle their differences, Arcite brings Palamon food, water, and armor to ensure that they have a fair fight. Arcite also redeems himself by the end of the play. After he’s thrown from his horse and mortally wounded, he admits to his transgressions, asks for Palamon’s forgiveness, and gives Palamon his blessing to wed Emilia. Arcite’s plea for mercy proves that he is noble despite his flaws and demonstrates his renewed gratitude for his friendship with Palamon.
Arcite Quotes in The Two Noble Kinsmen
The The Two Noble Kinsmen quotes below are all either spoken by Arcite or refer to Arcite. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes
Let th’ event,
That never-erring arbitrator, tell us
When we know all ourselves, and let us follow
The becking of our chance.
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Act 1, Scene 3 Quotes
You’re out of breath,
And this high-speeded pace is but to say
That you shall never—like the maid Flavina—
Love any that’s called man.
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Act 1, Scene 4 Quotes
Th’ impartial gods, who from the mounted heavens
View us their mortal herd, behold who err
And, in their time, chastise.
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Act 1, Scene 5 Quotes
This world’s a city full of straying streets,
And death’s the market-place where each one meets.
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Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes
Nay, most likely, for they are noble suff’rers.
I marvel how they would have looked had they
been victors, that with such a constant nobility enforce
a freedom out of bondage, making misery
their mirth and affliction a toy to jest at.
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Act 2, Scene 2 Quotes
Yet, cousin,
Even from the bottom of these miseries,
From all that fortune can inflict upon us,
I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings,
If the gods please: to hold here a brave patience,
And the enjoying of our griefs together.
Whilst Palamon is with me, let me perish
If I think this our prison!
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Men are mad things.
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It is the very emblem of a maid.
For when the west wind courts her gently,
How modestly she blows and paints the sun
With her chaste blushes! When the north comes near her,
Rude and impatient, then, like chastity,
She locks her beauties in her bud again,
And leave him to base briers.
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Have I called thee friend?
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I shall live
To knock thy brains out[.]
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Act 2, Scene 5 Quotes
Mark how his virtue, like a hidden sun,
Breaks through his baser garments
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Act 3, Scene 6 Quotes
Here, Palamon. This hand shall never more
Come near thee with such friendship.
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I’ll be cut a-pieces
Before I take this oath!
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No, never duke. ’Tis worse to me than begging
To take my life so basely; though I think
I shall never enjoy her, yet I’ll preserve
The honor of affection, and die for her,
Make death a devil!
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Act 4, Scene 2 Quotes
What sins have I committed, chaste Diana,
That my unspotted youth must now be soiled
With blood of princes, and my chastity
Be made the altar where the lives of lovers—
Two greater and two better never yet
Made mothers joy—must be the sacrifice
To my unhappy beauty?
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’Tis pity love should be so tyrannous.—
O, my soft-hearted sister, what think you?
Weep not till they weep blood. Wench, it must be.
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Poor wench, go weep, for whosoever wins
Loses a noble cousin for thy sins.
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Act 5, Scene 1 Quotes
Hail, sovereign queen of secrets, who hast power
To call the fiercest tyrant from his rage
And weep unto a girl[.]
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Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes
Is this winning?
O all you heavenly powers, where is your mercy?
But that your wills have said it must be so,
And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,
This miserable prince, that cuts away
a life more worthy from him than all women,
I should and would die too.
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Infinite pity
That four such eyes should be so fixed on one
That two must needs be blind for ‘t.
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Act 5, Scene 4 Quotes
His part is played, and though it were too short,
He did it well.
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[…] O you heavenly charmers,
What things you make of us! For what we lack
We laugh, for what we have are sorry, still
Are children in some kind.
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Arcite Character Timeline in The Two Noble Kinsmen
The timeline below shows where the character Arcite appears in The Two Noble Kinsmen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 2
Arcite and Palamon enter. Arcite addresses his dear, innocent cousin Palamon and suggests that they leave...
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Arcite suggests he and Palamon leave Creon’s court to save their reputations; if they stick around,...
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Arcite claims not to be afraid of Theseus, but he feels conflicted about defending Thebes due...
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Arcite asks Valerius if the war has started yet, and Valerius confirms that it has. Palamon...
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Act 1, Scene 4
A Herald and some Attendants enter, carrying in the unconscious prisoners (Palamon and Arcite) on two hearses. The Herald identifies Arcite and Palamon as Creon’s nephews and tells Theseus...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...gestures toward the floor above them, where the prison cells line the wall: Palamon and Arcite have just come into view. When he swaps the names of the two men, his...
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Act 2, Scene 2
Palamon and Arcite remain above. Although they make light of their situation, Palamon fears that they’ll be prisoners...
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Arcite commiserates with Palamon, mourning the fact that they’re wasting their youths in prison. Worst of...
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While they are right to bemoan their dismal futures, Arcite reminds Palamon that their cell cannot be a prison so long as they have each...
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Palamon and Arcite continue to praise their friendship. Arcite insists that even after they die, their spirits will...
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Arcite notices something is up with Palamon and asks what’s bothering him. Palamon replies, “Never till...
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Emilia and her Woman move inside. Palamon and Arcite rave about Emilia’s beauty. When they both admit to falling in love with her, Palamon...
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Arcite insists that he has just as much a right to love Emilia as Palamon does....
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Palamon wishes he and Arcite were free so they could engage in a duel. He threatens to kill Arcite if...
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Palamon continues to fume. The Jailer enters and tells Arcite that Theseus expects him. They depart. Alone in his cell, Palamon anguishes about why Theseus...
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The Jailer enters above and tells Palamon that Theseus has released Arcite on the condition that he never steps foot in Athens again. Palamon bemoans Arcite’s luck:...
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Act 2, Scene 3
Arcite enters. He praises his good luck at being free while bemoaning his banishment, which inhibits...
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Just as the Four Countrymen are about to leave, Arcite emerges to ask them where they are going. The men regard Arcite suspiciously since everyone...
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Act 2, Scene 5
Cornets sound to mark the entrance of Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Emilia, and Arcite (who’s in disguise). Theseus compliments Arcite on his admirable wrestling, comparing him to Hercules. He...
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Theseus asks Arcite what brought him to Athens, and Arcite explains that he came here to make a...
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Pirithous invites Arcite to ride with him later that afternoon. Arcite agrees. Theseus announces that the party will...
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Act 3, Scene 1
Cornets sound as people celebrate May Day in the woods. Arcite enters alone. Theseus and Hippolyta have parted ways to attend to their respective May Day...
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Still shackled, Palamon emerges from a bush and curses his “traitor kinsman.” He promises that Arcite would know the full depth of his rage if his hands were unshackled and free...
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Arcite starts to respond to Palamon, addressing him as “Dear cousin,” but Palamon calls Arcite “Cozener...
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Palamon asks Arcite to help him remove his chains and asks if Arcite can bring him some food....
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Arcite orders Palamon to return to his hiding place before someone sees him. He promises to...
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Arcite tells Palamon that he must return to his hiding place or else Theseus’s party might...
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Arcite tells Palamon that it’s clear a duel is the only way they will settle their...
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Act 3, Scene 3
In another part of the forest, Arcite returns to Palamon with food, meat, and files. Palamon insults Arcite, but Arcite orders him...
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The cousins exchange insults. Arcite promises to return in two hours with clothing and files, and Palamon reminds him to...
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Act 3, Scene 6
...emerges from the bush where he’s been hiding. He reflects on the duel he and Arcite will have once Arcite arrives with swords and armors. If Arcite doesn’t bring these supplies,...
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Arcite arrives. Palamon apologizes for inconveniencing him, but Arcite insists that it “is but a debt...
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After the cousins finish arming themselves, they bow and exchange final words. Palamon tells Arcite that they share whatever blood they’ll shed and that he and the gods will forgive...
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Arcite tells Palamon that the horn signals the approach of Theseus’s hunting party. He orders Palamon...
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...permission. Palamon tells Theseus to hold his breath and comes clean about everything: he and Arcite are traitors, yes, but not how Theseus thinks. He explains that he is Palamon, the...
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When Theseus refuses to relent, Arcite offers some words of his own. Arcite tells Theseus that he and Arcite aren’t looking...
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...alternative to killing the cousins. Emilia suggests banishment. However, Theseus fears that if he lets Arcite and Palamon live, they’ll inevitably kill each other over their competing love for Emilia. He...
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...the cousins’ mothers and the women who have loved them. Emilia asks Theseus to spare Arcite and Palamon their lives on the condition that they stop fighting over her, never again...
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...such an oath and forgetting his love for Emilia. He reaffirms his duty to kill Arcite. Arcite, too, refuses to take the oath. Even though he knows he’ll never end up...
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...will have Emilia’s hand in marriage—and the other will be put to death. Palamon and Arcite are satisfied with these new conditions. Emilia reluctantly agrees. Theseus agrees to treat the winner...
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Act 4, Scene 2
Emilia sits alone, holding two portraits: one of Arcite and one of Palamon. She resolves to choose between the two cousins to stop them...
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Next, Emilia turns to Palamon’s picture and determines that he is Arcite’s foil: Palamon isn’t nearly as handsome as Arcite and has sad, expressive eyes. His smile...
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...whom she sees as the unique and beautiful cousin with the expressive eyes, and then Arcite, who is the embodiment of nobility. Emilia curses her inability to decide between the cousins....
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Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, and their attendants enter. Theseus orders the attendants to send in Palamon, Arcite, and their assembled knights. Theseus tells Emilia she must love one of the cousins; Emilia...
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Next, Pirithous and the Messenger describe Palamon’s knight. Like Arcite's knight, this man looks like a prince and bears the mark of greatness. He’s larger...
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Act 5, Scene 1
...gods: because they have such “noble work” to do, they must honor the gods. Palamon, Arcite, and their respective knights enter the temple. Theseus announces that the time has come for...
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Palamon tells Arcite that if there were any part of himself that resisted going into battle against Arcite,...
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Arcite invites his Knights to join him at Mars’s alter, and the men drop to the...
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Act 5, Scene 2
...and forth. The Jailer’s Daughter points toward the Doctor and asks if he’s Palamon’s cousin, Arcite. Everyone plays along. The Jailer’s Daughter excitedly prattles on about the many children she and...
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...the room to alert the Jailer to the battle that’s about to take place between Arcite and Palamon. As the Jailer and the Doctor prepare to leave, the Doctor reminds the...
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Act 5, Scene 3
Alone, Emilia compares Arcite’s and Palamon’s portraits. She remarks on Arcite’s gentle but intense face and his “mercy and...
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...that signal the first charge, and she anguishes over the battle’s potential outcomes. For example, Arcite might win, but Palamon might disfigure Arcite’s beautiful face in the process. At any rate,...
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A Servant enters and tells Emilia that the crowd is shouting “À Palamon,” which means Arcite has lost. Emilia offers her condolences to Arcite's picture. She realizes that she wore Arcite’s...
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The Servant returns and tells Emilia that although Palamon nearly pressed Arcite’s body to the pyramid, Arcite fought back and remains in the game. Emilia briefly wishes...
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Emilia hears cornets blaring from the battlefield, and the crowd cheers, “Arcite, victory!” The Servant reenters to confirm that Arcite has defeated Palamon. Emilia recalls Arcite’s evident...
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Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Arcite, and their Attendants enter. Theseus turns to Emilia and proclaims that the gods have given...
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Theseus orders Arcite to wear the garland he’s won and claim his rightful prize, Emilia. He orders the...
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Act 5, Scene 4
According to Pirithous, Arcite was riding a black horse Emilia gave him. The horse didn’t have a single white...
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Theseus, Hippolyta, and Emilia enter with Arcite, who is seated in a chair. Palamon laments the tragic end the gods have given...
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Palamon praises Arcite. Emilia closes Arcite's eyes. She cries as she tells him what a good man he...
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Palamon addresses Arcite and laments that they both “desire [things] which do cost us / The loss of...
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