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ACT 1 In Athens, preparations for the marriage of King Theseus and Hippolyta are disrupted by the sudden appearance of three queens, whose husbands have died fighting the evil King Creon of Thebes. Denied the right to bury their husbands - whose bodies still lie on the battlefield - the women demand that Theseus take up their cause and attack Thebes. At that moment, Palamon and Arcite (Creon's nephews) are debating whether to escape the corruption of Thebes when a messenger arrives with news that Theseus is threatening the city. Despite their disgust with their uncle, the two kinsmen decide to remain and fight. Theseus triumphs, however, and the wounded Palamon and Arcite are captured and imprisoned.

ACT 2 In jail in Athens, Palamon and Arcite are consoling themselves with the closeness of their friendship when Palamon suddenly spots the beautiful Emilia (Hippolyta's sister) gathering flowers outside. Both men fall instantly in love, but Palamon claims precedence for having seen her first, and the cousins immediately begin to argue. Their quarrel is broken off only when Arcite is suddenly released. Though banished from Athens, Arcite takes the opportunity to appear in disguise at Theseus's games, where he impresses all with his wrestling skills and his noble bearing. His reward, fittingly, is to be bestowed on Emilia as a servant. Meanwhile, the Jailer's Daughter has arranged Palamon's escape in the vain hope of winning his love.

ACT 3 Separated from the royal party while out celebrating May Day, Arcite is suddenly confronted by Palamon. The two men argue over Emilia once more, before agreeing to fight a duel for her. At the same time, the Jailer's Daughter is desperately searching the woods for Palamon when she stumbles across a group of countrymen rehearsing an entertainment. Realizing that she has lost her mind, the performers include her in their masque, which they then present to Theseus and his companions. In another part of the wood, Arcite brings his cousin armour but no sooner do the two begin to fight than they are interrupted by Theseus and his party. When the Duke condemns them to death, Emilia pleads for the sentence to be commuted to banishment, but the kinsmen refuse this offer (both preferring to die rather than never see her again). Theseus then demands that Emilia choose between them, but when she is unable do so he agrees to supervise a final contest for her hand.

ACT 4 The Jailer's Daughter, now completely mad, is reunited with her father. Observing her behaviour, the Doctor advises that the only possible remedy is that a former suitor (the Wooer) should simply pretend that he is Palamon. In the meantime, Emilia is still unable to choose between her two suitors - the contest between the rivals must go ahead.

ACT 5 Palamon and Arcite, each accompanied by three knights, separately pray for success, while Emilia prays that whoever loves her best will be the victor. Back at the jail, the Doctor's treatment of the Jailer's Daughter seems to be working, and he encourages the Wooer to sleep with her. At court the contest begins, but Emilia refuses to attend and its progress is reported to her. Though at first it seems that Palamon will triumph, he is eventually defeated: Arcite wins Emilia's hand while Palamon and his knights are condemned to death. But just as Palamon is about to be executed, news arrives that Arcite has been fatally injured in a riding accident. As the cousins are briefly reunited, Arcite bestows Emilia on Palamon with his dying breath.

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