Duke Theseus once ruled over Athens. He was a great soldier. He had married with Queen Hippolyta. And they had younger sister, Emily.
On the way back to Athens a war has begun. Duke Theseus sent some of his knight to Athens with Hippolyta and Emily. Then he went to Thebes for fought Creon and killed him. There were two young knights who fought for Creon. Their names were Palamon and Aricte. They were wounded but they were not dead. Duke Theseus sent them to Athens to be shut up as prisoners in a high tower.
One morning Palamon looked out of window into the duke’s garden. He saw a lady. She was very beautiful. She was Emily. When Palamon saw her he gave a loud cry. So Arcite wanted to know why he cry out. Then Arcite looked out of the window and saw Emily. He cried too. They love the same lady. For many days the old friendliness between them was quite lost.
Duke Theseus had a good friend, call Duke Perotheus. Perotheus asked Theseus to let Arcite be free. Theseus accepted, but Arcite must never come Athens again. So Arcite left prison and lived in Thebes, far away from Athens. But he still loved Emily. So he went back to Athens and became one of the servants in the house of the lady Emily. Everyone liked him and called him Philostate.
All this time, Palamon had lived his sad life in prison. But at last, one night in May, a friend of Palamon put something in the drink of the man who kept watch over him. The man fell asleep; Palamon was free at last.
On the way back to Thebes, he met Palamon. They wanted to fight. Next day they began the battle. Duke Theseus with his wife and Emily met them and knew they both love the same girl. He said “Go home to Thebes. Come back here in one year with your hundred knights. The one who wins that battle shall marry Emily.”
Now the end of the year had come. They came back for fought. The battle went on all day. In the end of the fight Palamon was taken prisoner. Arcite will have Emily but his horse afraid something, it sprang into the air and then it fell. Arcite was thrown to the ground then he was die.
Time makes most things better. The Duke called Emily and said “If you love Palamon and marry him, then we in Athens will be friendly with the people of Thebes. Take good Palamon and marry him.”
And he said to Palamon “Take this lady by the hand. She will be your own dear wife.”
So Palamon and Emily were married and lived happily ever after. The people of Athens and of Thebes were friends again.