THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN

<p><i>The Two Noble Kinsmen</i> is <a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/william-shakespeare">Shakespeare’s</a> final play written before his death in 1616. He collaborated on it with <a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/john-fletcher">John Fletcher</a>; later, Fletcher took over as playwright for the King’s Men. The plot derives from “The Knight’s Tale” in Chaucer’s <i>Canterbury Tales</i>.</p> <p>Thebes and Athens are at war. The tyrant Creon of Thebes commands Arcite and Palamon to fight for him. After a battle against Theseus, they end up captured and imprisoned. From their cell window, they see a beautiful woman named Emilia. Arcite and Palamon’s friendship turns into rivalry when they challenge each other to a fight to the death—with the victor claiming Emilia.</p> <p>This Standard Ebooks edition is based on the 1894 Royal Shakespeare edition.</p>