Who Hath The Worse, Arcite or Palamoun?

"Knights Tale" Part 1.

Last Stanza of "Knights Tale" part 1

"1347 Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
"Yow lovers now I ask this
question:
1348 Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
Who has the
worse, Arcite or Palamon?
1349 That oon may seen his lady day by day,
That one may see his lady every day,
1350 But in prison he moot dwelle
alway;
But in prison he must always dwell;
1351 That oother wher hym
list may ride or go,
That other where he pleases may ride or walk,
1352
But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
But he shall see his lady nevermore.
1353 Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
Now judge as it pleases you,
you who know (of such things),
1354 For I wol telle forth as I bigan. "
For I will tell forth as I began. "

At the end of part one of "The Knights Tale" we are asked who has it worse, Arcite or Palamon? They both are in love with a beautiful woman called Emeyle, and both want to be with her. They were both locked in the prisons of Athens, and could see her everyday walking in the garden outside their jail.
Now Arcite has been release, but if he meets with Theseus he shall be killed. He is free, but with a price on his head. He is jealous of Palamon, because Palamon can still see Emelye walking in the gardens every day, he is safe within a jail, and he is a knight. He can never go close to the jail, because that’s where Theseus is, and he may end up dead, "That other where he pleases may ride or walk, But he shall see his lady nevermore."

Palamon (who Arcite considers to be the more fortunate one) is locked away in prison, and may never get out. He has to die in prison and may never do anything with his life. Although he can see Emeyle all the time, he finds that Arcite is more fortunate. Arcite is a lord, and he can gather the rest of their family to have a war against Theseuse and his army. Arcite can walk freely, and if he wins the war he can have Emeyle as his wife, his queen. Palamon feels that he is locked away forever, and that he may never meet Emeyle, or have her as his wife, “That one may see his lady every day, But in prison he must always dwell ."

They both see the possibilities that the other man has, but are blind to their own situation. They are cousins and love each other, but now hate each other because they both love the same woman. One sees her as a holy godess, while the other sees her as a beautiful creature. They are blind in love and they are blind to what they can do in each situation. What is better? To be locked away and still see your love? or to be free with a price on your head, and never see your love?