The Canterbury Tales: The Knight's Tale Part 2, Lines 593-669 Summary

Meanwhile, Palamon has been rotting in prison for seven whole years. (We're thinking that Arcite was definitely the luckier one.) It sounds like he's going crazy.
However, on the night of May 3rd, he manages to escape the prison with the help of a friend.
How did he get out? Well, he gave his guard some spiced wine laced with opium, which made the guard pass out. Then Palamon ran for it.
The sun is rising so he hides in a grove of trees.
He's already hatched a plan. He's going to escape to Thebes at nightfall. There, he'll build and army and wage war against Theseus. Either he'll win Emily as his wife or he'll die trying.
Right now, though, he'll rest in the grove.
Meanwhile, Arcite has decided to go for a ride this fine May morning. By chance, he heads to the same grove of trees where Palamon is hiding.
Arcite hops off his horse. He starts making a garland and singing. No, we're totally serious.
Palamon, still in hiding, notices Arcite but doesn't recognize him.