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Emilia
Theseus is the Duke of Athens and Hippolyta’s husband. He is close friends with Pirithous, with whom he has endured many battles and hardships. Above all, Theseus is a principled, brave, and noble leader who consistently honors his chivalric duties. He demonstrates his chivalry in Act 1 when (after some convincing by Emilia and Hippolyta) he leaves his wedding to travel to Thebes, conquer Creon, and aid the Three Queens in retrieving their husbands’ remains. Another example of Theseus’s chivalry is his refusal to break an oath. When Theseus encounters Arcite and Palamon engaged in an unsanctioned duel in the woods, he initially sentences both cousins to death. However, after Emilia interjects to remind Theseus of an oath he took to agree to any reasonable request she made of him, he realizes he has no choice but to fulfill Emilia’s request to spare Arcite and Palamon’s lives. However, Theseus’s chivalry doesn’t always lead him to be merciful. The new conditions Theseus proposes to honor his oath to Emilia hold that Arcite and Palamon will enter into a sanctioned contest where the winner will receive his blessing to wed Emilia, and the loser must die. Arcite ultimately defeats Palamon, leaving the latter fated to die. Although Palamon’s death saddens Theseus, he extends no other mercy to Palamon since he believes Palamon must honor the conditions Theseus outlined in their arrangement and bravely accept his fate. The lack of compassion Theseus shows Palamon also reflects Theseus’s unwavering faith in divine Providence. Although it saddens Theseus that Palamon must die, he accepts Palamon’s loss and Arcite’s victory as the gods’ will. He adopts the same attitude when Arcite’s unexpected death allows Palamon to marry Emilia. Theseus even suggests that this unlikely twist of fate is evidence that the gods have heard everyone’s prayers, fulfilling Arcite’s prayer for victory, Palamon’s prayer for love, and Emilia’s prayer to marry the man who loves her best.
Theseus Quotes in The Two Noble Kinsmen
The The Two Noble Kinsmen quotes below are all either spoken by Theseus or refer to Theseus. 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
Their knot of love,
Tied, weaved, entangled, with so true, so long,
And with a finger of so deep a cunning,
May be outworn, never undone. I think
Theseus cannot be umpire to himself,
Cleaving his conscience into twin and doing
Each side like justice, which he loves best.
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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 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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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
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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Poor wench, go weep, for whosoever wins
Loses a noble cousin for thy sins.
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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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Theseus Character Timeline in The Two Noble Kinsmen
The timeline below shows where the character Theseus appears in The Two Noble Kinsmen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...carrying a burning torch, and a Nymph wearing a “wheaten garland” follows Hymen. After this, Theseus enters, flanked by nymphs. Hippolyta, his bride, enters next, escorted by Pirithous and wearing a...
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...black and wearing veils enter and kneel before Hippolyta’s sister, Emilia. The First Queen begs Theseus to hear their request, and the Second and Third Queens appeal to Hippolyta and Emilia,...
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Theseus feels for the Three Queens and regrets making them kneel in light of their hardships....
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The First Queen begs Theseus to be merciful. The Second Queen praises Hippolyta for her strength and military prowess. She...
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...for the Third Queen and promises that she will transfer some of this pity to Theseus.
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Theseus is eager to resume the wedding proceedings and tries to usher the party into the...
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Theseus tells the Queens that his wedding is more important than any war. The First Queen...
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Hippolyta says that postponing the wedding will only deepen her and Theseus’s desire. She urges him to strongly consider helping the Three Queens as soon as possible....
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Theseus gives in. He orders Pirithous to escort Hippolyta to the temple to pray to the...
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The Queens praise Theseus, and the Second Queen proclaims that he’s “Equal with Mars.” Theseus humbly replies that it’s...
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Act 1, Scene 2
...announces that Creon has called for the cousins. He says that Creon is enraged because Theseus, who is nearby, has announced his intention to conquer Thebes.
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Arcite claims not to be afraid of Theseus, but he feels conflicted about defending Thebes due to their disrespect for Creon. Palamon insists...
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...have to shed on his behalf, since Creon isn’t nearly as honorable a man as Theseus. Arcite, too, accepts that they must “follow / The becking of [their chance].” They exit.
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Act 1, Scene 3
...enter the temple. Before Pirithous leaves, Hippolyta asks him to send her best wishes to Theseus. Emilia seconds Hippolyta and tells Pirithous to let Theseus know they are praying to “the...
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...leaves, Emilia asks Hippolyta if she’s noticed how Pirithous has lost interest in everything since Theseus left: he seems distracted and indifferent about whether Athens wins or loses. Hippolyta agrees with...
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...only 11 years old. Her friendship with Flavina was not as developed as Pirithous’s and Theseus’s love and was more innocent. She recalls how she liked whatever Flavina liked and mimicked...
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...ripe for [Emilia’s persuasion]," Emilia’s impassioned speech would be enough to win her away from Theseus. Still, Hippolyta prays for Theseus, knowing that she (and not Pirithous) is his number one...
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Act 1, Scene 4
A cornet sounds, and a victorious Theseus enters accompanied by Lords and Soldiers. The Three Queens enter and fall to their knees...
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...Arcite) on two hearses. The Herald identifies Arcite and Palamon as Creon’s nephews and tells Theseus that the men are gravely wounded. Theseus recognizes Arcite and Palamon from battle, where he...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...hasn’t seen the prisoners yet, and the Jailer’s Daughter explains that the men and the Duke (Theseus) arrived late at night. The Jailer gestures toward the floor above them, where the...
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Act 2, Scene 2
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 has sent...
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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...
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Act 2, Scene 3
...the Schoolmaster will follow through with his promise to speak well of them to the Duke when they perform their dance for him in the forest.
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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,...
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Theseus asks Arcite what brought him to Athens, and Arcite explains that he came here to...
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Pirithous invites Arcite to ride with him later that afternoon. Arcite agrees. Theseus announces that the party will depart for the woods at sunrise tomorrow morning. He tells...
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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 responsibilities. Arcite thinks...
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Arcite tells Palamon that he must return to his hiding place or else Theseus’s party might find them. He affectionally urges his cousin to stay strong. Palamon again rejects...
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Act 3, Scene 5
...again, he reviews the plan for their performance: the Countrymen will hide in the trees. Theseus will appear and chat with the Schoolmaster about intellectual subjects. When Theseus orders the Schoolmaster...
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...in the trees. The Schoolmaster hears a horn call in the distance and prepares for Theseus’s approach.
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Theseus, Pirithous, Hippolyta, and Emilia enter. Theseus orders the Schoolmaster to proceed, and the Schoolmaster gives...
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...Countrywomen, and the Jailer’s Daughter emerge from the trees and perform a morris dance. Afterward, Theseus and his party give their compliments to the Schoolmaster and Pirithous hands out money to...
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Act 3, Scene 6
...he’s ready. The cousins select their weapons and armor, which Arcite admits he stole from Theseus. They banter affectionately with each other as they arm themselves, reminiscing about past battles. Arcite...
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Arcite tells Palamon that the horn signals the approach of Theseus’s hunting party. He orders Palamon to return to his bush to hide, for Theseus will...
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Just then, Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia, and Pirithous arrive. When Theseus spots the dueling knights, he calls them traitors...
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When Theseus refuses to relent, Arcite offers some words of his own. Arcite tells Theseus that he...
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Palamon interjects to beg Theseus to show neither of them any mercy. He pleads with Theseus to let them die...
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...turns to Emilia and pleads with her to show mercy on the men and beg Theseus not to put them to death. Emilia admits that while she doesn’t want the cousins...
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Theseus asks Emilia what she’d suggest as an alternative to killing the cousins. Emilia suggests banishment....
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Emilia reminds Theseus that he made this oath in a state of anger. She also reminds Theseus of...
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...than be forced to surrender his “honor of affection.” Emilia’s speech instilled some sympathy in Theseus, and the cousins’ refusal to take the new oath leaves him confused about how to...
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Emilia refuses to have any part in either cousin’s death. Theseus draws up a new agreement: the cousins will return to Thebes. They’ll return to Athens...
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Act 4, Scene 1
...village gossip about him related to Palamon’s escape. First Friend tells him that—with a few conditions—Theseus will pardon the cousins due to Hippolyta, Emilia, and Pirithous’s urging. However, there’s nothing new...
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...claims that all these babies will be boys who must become castrati to sing for Theseus’s wars. “This is strange,” remarks Second Friend.
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Act 4, Scene 2
...is the embodiment of nobility. Emilia curses her inability to decide between the cousins. If Theseus were to ask her which cousin she prefers, she’d select Arcite; but if Hippolyta were...
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Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, and their attendants enter. Theseus orders the attendants to send in Palamon, Arcite,...
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...looks like a lover when he smiles and a soldier when he frows. Pirithous ensures Theseus that all these knights are “the sons of honor.”
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...wishes love weren’t “so tyrannous.” She turns to Emilia and begs her not to cry. Theseus tells Emilia that she “ha[s] steeled ’em with [her] beauty" and orders Pirithous to ensure...
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Act 5, Scene 1
Theseus, Pirithous, Hippolyta, and their Attendants enter. There are three altars arranged onstage. Theseus orders the...
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Act 5, Scene 3
Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia, and their attendants head toward the battlefield. Emilia refuses to go any further,...
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Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, Arcite, and their Attendants enter. Theseus turns to Emilia and proclaims that the...
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Theseus orders Arcite to wear the garland he’s won and claim his rightful prize, Emilia. He...
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Act 5, Scene 4
Theseus, Hippolyta, and Emilia enter with Arcite, who is seated in a chair. Palamon laments the...
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...closes Arcite's eyes. She cries as she tells him what a good man he was. Theseus tells Palamon to thank the gods for his life and praises Arcite for so nobly...
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...that they both “desire [things] which do cost us / The loss of our desire.” Theseus notes the nuanced game Fortune has played in allowing the winner to lose and the...
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