The Two Noble Kinsmen: Act 1, Scene 4 Summary & Analysis

A cornet sounds, and a victorious Theseus enters accompanied by Lords and Soldiers. The Three Queens enter and fall to their knees before Theseus, praising him. Theseus explains that the gods will always reward the noble and punish the wicked. He orders the Queens to find and honor their husbands’ bones three times over. He orders them to make sure the people he assigned to undertake the funeral rites perform them with the utmost dignity. The Queens exit.

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 that the men are gravely wounded. Theseus recognizes Arcite and Palamon from battle, where he witnessed the cousins fighting mightily. He orders the Herald to ensure that the prison treats the cousins respectfully and does everything in its power to make them survive. Although Theseus would’ve preferred that the cousins died in battle, he values their nobility and also recognizes that the men are worth more alive than dead. Finally, Theseus asks Herald to gather their forces in the city; from there, Theseus will lead the return procession to Athens.