The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Leave not the mansion8 so long tenantless,
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall
And leave no memory of what it was.
Repair11 me with thy presence, Silvia:
Thou gentle nymph12, cherish thy forlorn swain.
Commotion within
What hallowing13 and what stir is this today?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have15 some unhappy passenger in chase.
They love me well: yet I have much to do
To keep them from17 uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?
Stands aside
[Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia disguised as Sebastian]
PROTEUS Madam, this service I have done for you--
Though you respect not aught20 your servant doth--
To hazard life and rescue you from him21
That would have forced your honour and your love.22
Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair23 look:
A smaller boon24 than this I cannot beg,
And less than this I am sure you cannot give.
Aside
VALENTINE How like a dream is this? I see and hear:
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
SILVIA O miserable, unhappy that I am!
PROTEUS Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came:
But by my coming I have made you happy.
SILVIA By thy approach31 thou mak'st me most unhappy.
Aside
JULIA And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
SILVIA Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O, heaven, be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender37 to me as my soul!
And full38 as much, for more there cannot be,
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone, solicit40 me no more.
PROTEUS What dangerous action41, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look:
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,43
When women cannot love where they're beloved.
SILVIA When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith47
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury, to love me.
Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two,50
And that's far worse than none: better have none
Than plural faith, which is too much by one.
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!53
PROTEUS In love
Who respects55 friend?
SILVIA All men but Proteus.
PROTEUS Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving57 words
Can no way change you to a milder form,58
I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms59' end,
He grabs her
And love you 'gainst the nature of love: force ye.
SILVIA O heaven!
PROTEUS I'll force thee yield to my desire.
Comes forward
VALENTINE Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil63 touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion!64
PROTEUS Valentine!
VALENTINE Thou common66 friend, that's without faith or love,
For such is a friend now. Treacherous man,
Thou hast beguiled68 my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say
I have one friend alive: thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted, when one's right hand71
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count74 the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private75 wound is deepest. O time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
PROTEUS My shame and guilt confounds77 me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender't80 here. I do as truly suffer
As e'er I did commit.81
VALENTINE Then I am paid:
And once again I do receive thee83 honest.
Who84 by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these85 are pleased:
By penitence th'Eternal's86 wrath's appeased.
And that my love may appear plain and free,87
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
Swoons
JULIA O, me unhappy!
PROTEUS Look to the boy.
VALENTINE Why, boy! Why, wag!91 How now? What's the matter?
Look up: speak.
JULIA O, good sir, my master charged93 me to deliver a ring
to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.
PROTEUS Where is that ring, boy?
Produces her own ring
JULIA Here 'tis: this is it.
Takes ring
PROTEUS How? Let me see. Why, this is the ring I
gave to Julia.
JULIA O, cry you mercy99, sir, I have mistook:
Offers another ring
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
PROTEUS But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart101 I
gave this unto Julia.
JULIA And Julia herself did give it me,
Reveals herself
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
PROTEUS How? Julia?
JULIA Behold her that gave aim106 to all thy oaths,
And entertained107 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!108
O Proteus, let this habit109 make thee blush.
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live111
In a disguise of love!
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,113
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
PROTEUS Than men their minds? 'Tis true. O heaven, were man
But constant, he were perfect. That one error
Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th'sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.118
What is in Silvia's face but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's, with a constant eye?
Proteus and Julia join hands
VALENTINE Come, come, a hand from either.
Let me be blest to make this happy close:
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
PROTEUS Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish forever.
JULIA And I mine.
[Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Turio]
OUTLAWS A prize, a prize, a prize!
Outlaws release Duke and Turio
VALENTINE Forbear, forbear, I say! It is my lord the Duke.
Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,128
Banished Valentine.
DUKE Sir Valentine?
Steps forward
TURIO Yonder is Silvia, and Silvia's mine.
VALENTINE Turio, give132 back, or else embrace thy death:
Draws his sword
Come not within the measure133 of my wrath.
Do not name Silvia thine: if once again,
Verona shall not hold135 thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch:
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
TURIO Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I.
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
DUKE The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such means143 for her as thou hast done,
&nb
sp; And leave her on such slight conditions.144
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empress' love:
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal149 thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrivalled merit,150
To which I thus subscribe:151 Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman and well derived,
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
VALENTINE I thank your grace: the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
DUKE I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
VALENTINE These banished men that I have kept withal158
Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here
And let them be recalled from their exile:
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment163, worthy lord.
DUKE Thou hast prevailed: I pardon them and thee.
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.165
Come, let us go: we will include all jars166
With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.167
VALENTINE And as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord?
DUKE I think the boy hath grace171 in him: he blushes.
VALENTINE I warrant you, my lord, more grace172 than boy.
DUKE What mean you by that saying?
VALENTINE Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.175
Come Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear
The story of your loves discovered.
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
Exeunt
TEXTUAL NOTES
F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632
Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor
SD = stage direction
List of parts based on "Names of all the Actors" (reordered) at end of F text
F spells Protheus, Thurio, Panthino
All entrances mid-scene = Ed. F groups names of all characters in each scene at beginning of scene
1.1.26 swam spelled swom in F 44 eating love = F. Some eds emend to doting love 65 leave = Ed. F = loue 67 metamorphosed spelled metamorphis'd in F 78 a sheep = F2. F = sheep 138 testerned = F2. F = cestern'd 1.2.101 your = F2. F = you
1.3.17 travel spelled trauaile in F which could mean either travel or travail 89 father = F2. F = Fathers 2.4.105 worthy = F2. F = worthy a 198 Is it = F2. F = It is mine eye = Ed. F = mine 216 SD Exit = F2. F = Exeunt
2.5.36 that = F2. F = that that
2.6.0 SD alone F = solus
3.1.56 tenor = Ed. F = tenure 278 master's ship = Ed. F = Mastership 314 kissed fasting = Ed. F = fasting 3.2.14 grievously = F (corrected). F (uncorrected) = heauily 4.1.35 often had been = F2. F = often had beene often 4.2.114 his = F2. F = her
4.3.42 Recking = Ed. F = Wreaking 4.4.50 hangman = Ed. F = Hangmans 64 thou = F2. F = thee 68 to leave = F2. F = not leaue 5.2.18 your = Ed. F = you
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
The two friends Valentine and Proteus are discussing Valentine's imminent departure for Milan while Proteus is to stay in Verona and woo his beloved Julia. Valentine leaves and his servant Speed arrives hurrying after his master. Proteus asks him whether he delivered a letter he had written to Julia. Speed confirms that he has but gives a deliberately misleading account of her response to the letter in his attempt to gain payment from Proteus for delivering it. He departs and Proteus fears that Julia will disregard his letter because of the incompetent messenger.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Lines 1-67: Julia is discussing love with Lucetta, asking which of her many suitors she favors. They list them but Lucetta initially refuses to pass judgment on Proteus. Finally she admits she thinks he loves Julia best and produces a letter for her mistress. She believes it is from Proteus and Julia is furious that Lucetta has accepted it and angrily dismisses her, telling her to take the letter with her. Lucetta leaves with the letter. Once alone Julia regrets not having looked at it, believing Lucetta should have made her. She attributes her own "wayward" behavior to the effect of "foolish love." She also repents sending Lucetta away pretending to be angry when in reality she was delighted and as penance calls Lucetta back.
Lines 68-144: Lucetta reappears and Julia demands to know what paper she has dropped and picked up. They quarrel over it and Julia seizes the letter and in her anger tears it to shreds, dismissing Lucetta once again. Lucetta departs but is not deceived, believing that Julia would be delighted with another letter. Alone again, Julia picks up the pieces and reads the fragments; finding her own name and Proteus', she folds them together so that they may "kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will." She is called away when Lucetta announces that dinner is ready and her father waiting.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Lines 1-44: Antonio and Pantino are discussing Proteus. Pantino says that Antonio's brother is surprised that Antonio should allow his son to stay at home rather than send him abroad to see the world and broaden his mind. Antonio also thinks it would do his son good to gain some experience of the world, and when Pantino suggests sending Proteus to Valentine at the court of the duke of Milan, he agrees. They decide he should accompany a group of courtiers due to set out the following day.
Lines 45-92: Proteus enters, poring over a love letter from Julia. When his father demands to see it, he pretends it is a note from Valentine. His father wants to know what it says and Proteus says that he reports he's enjoying himself and wishes Proteus were there too. Antonio asks him how he feels about the idea. Proteus replies dutifully that his father's wishes are more important than his own. Antonio says in that case he can go to Milan the next day. Proteus tries to play for time, saying he needs to prepare himself, but Antonio dismisses the idea and says whatever he needs can be sent on, that his departure is already decided. He and Pantino leave. Proteus, now alone, realizes that he has brought this situation on himself: he concealed the letter from his father, fearing his disapproval, and now he will have to leave Julia anyway. Considering the sudden reversals of fortune in love, he likens it to the "uncertain glory of an April day."
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1-86: A comic scene between Valentine and Speed: Speed finds a glove he believes is Valentine's, who recognizes it belongs to Silvia. When he says her name, Speed calls her, much to Valentine's annoyance. Valentine asks Speed if he knows who she is and Speed inquires if he means the one "your worship loves." When Valentine asks him how he knows that he's in love, Speed replies that he's now like Proteus and shows all the external signs of a lover: he's melancholy, weeps, sighs, walks alone, and has lost his appetite. He's completely changed and is now unrecognizable from his former self. Valentine asks if all these signs are perceived in him and Speed says they're obvious for anyone to see. Valentine inquires again if Speed knows Silvia and describes her beauty, but in a battle of wits between the two, Speed contrives to continually misunderstand his meaning and deflate Valentine's praise of his beloved. Valentine tells Speed that Silvia has asked him to write "some lines to one she loves."
Lines 87-159: Silvia enters and she and Valentine greet one another effusively. Speed watches and comments on their encounter in a series of satirical asides. Valentine tells Silvia that he has dutifully written the letter that she asked him to write, although it pained him to do so and it was difficult since he did not know to whom it was written. She asks him if it was too much effort, but he replies that to please her he'd write "a t
housand times as much." She tells him to take the letter back, and when he objects that it's for her, she says that she asked for it to be written, but it's not for herself but for him and, insisting he keep the letter, she leaves. Speed at once realizes that Silvia's playing a game with Valentine and that she's asked him to write a love letter from her to himself. Valentine wants to know what he's talking about and Speed tries to explain but Valentine is unconvinced.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Proteus and Julia say goodbye before he leaves for Milan. They exchange rings and a kiss. Proteus protests that he will think of Julia every day and asks that something terrible should happen to him if he should forget his love.
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Lance, who is going to Milan with Proteus, explains that he has been bidding his sorrowful farewells to his family. They have all been upset and weeping except Crab, his dog, who did not "shed one tear." He goes through a comic recital of the whole family's responses, using a pair of shoes, a staff, and a hat. Crab, however, remained unmoved throughout. Pantino arrives telling him to hurry and not miss the tide, but Lance replies that if the river were dry he could fill it with his tears.
ACT 2 SCENE 4
Lines 1-96: Valentine and Turio compete for Silvia's love and attention. Her father, the Duke, arrives and asks Valentine if he knows Don Antonio and whether he has a son. Valentine confirms that he knows them both and goes on to praise his friend Proteus. The Duke tells him that in that case he will be pleased to know that Proteus has arrived. Valentine says that's all he would have wished for and the Duke tells Silvia and Turio to welcome him "according to his worth." He leaves, saying he'll send Proteus along to them. Valentine then confirms to Silvia that this is the friend he had talked of who would have accompanied him had it not been for his eyes being held prisoner by the looks of his beloved. Silvia thinks that she must have set him free or exchanged his eyes for some other pledge of loyalty or found a new lover since he has now left her to come to Milan, but Valentine does not believe this possible.
Lines 97-141: Proteus arrives and is welcomed by Valentine and introduced to Silvia. Valentine asks her to accept Proteus as her servant like himself. After some courtly banter, she accepts his service. She is then called away to her father. Valentine inquires after all their mutual friends back in Verona and asks after his lady and how his love thrives. Proteus says he used to be bored with talk of love and Valentine confesses that that's all changed. He is punished for having scorned love in the past and is now suffering all its pains and torments. He can think of nothing else but love.
Lest, growing ruinous, the building fall
And leave no memory of what it was.
Repair11 me with thy presence, Silvia:
Thou gentle nymph12, cherish thy forlorn swain.
Commotion within
What hallowing13 and what stir is this today?
These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
Have15 some unhappy passenger in chase.
They love me well: yet I have much to do
To keep them from17 uncivil outrages.
Withdraw thee, Valentine: who's this comes here?
Stands aside
[Enter Proteus, Silvia, and Julia disguised as Sebastian]
PROTEUS Madam, this service I have done for you--
Though you respect not aught20 your servant doth--
To hazard life and rescue you from him21
That would have forced your honour and your love.22
Vouchsafe me for my meed but one fair23 look:
A smaller boon24 than this I cannot beg,
And less than this I am sure you cannot give.
Aside
VALENTINE How like a dream is this? I see and hear:
Love, lend me patience to forbear awhile.
SILVIA O miserable, unhappy that I am!
PROTEUS Unhappy were you, madam, ere I came:
But by my coming I have made you happy.
SILVIA By thy approach31 thou mak'st me most unhappy.
Aside
JULIA And me, when he approacheth to your presence.
SILVIA Had I been seized by a hungry lion,
I would have been a breakfast to the beast
Rather than have false Proteus rescue me.
O, heaven, be judge how I love Valentine,
Whose life's as tender37 to me as my soul!
And full38 as much, for more there cannot be,
I do detest false perjured Proteus.
Therefore be gone, solicit40 me no more.
PROTEUS What dangerous action41, stood it next to death,
Would I not undergo for one calm look:
O, 'tis the curse in love, and still approved,43
When women cannot love where they're beloved.
SILVIA When Proteus cannot love where he's beloved.
Read over Julia's heart, thy first best love,
For whose dear sake thou didst then rend thy faith47
Into a thousand oaths; and all those oaths
Descended into perjury, to love me.
Thou hast no faith left now, unless thou'dst two,50
And that's far worse than none: better have none
Than plural faith, which is too much by one.
Thou counterfeit to thy true friend!53
PROTEUS In love
Who respects55 friend?
SILVIA All men but Proteus.
PROTEUS Nay, if the gentle spirit of moving57 words
Can no way change you to a milder form,58
I'll woo you like a soldier, at arms59' end,
He grabs her
And love you 'gainst the nature of love: force ye.
SILVIA O heaven!
PROTEUS I'll force thee yield to my desire.
Comes forward
VALENTINE Ruffian, let go that rude uncivil63 touch,
Thou friend of an ill fashion!64
PROTEUS Valentine!
VALENTINE Thou common66 friend, that's without faith or love,
For such is a friend now. Treacherous man,
Thou hast beguiled68 my hopes; nought but mine eye
Could have persuaded me. Now I dare not say
I have one friend alive: thou wouldst disprove me.
Who should be trusted, when one's right hand71
Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,
I am sorry I must never trust thee more,
But count74 the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private75 wound is deepest. O time most accurst,
'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!
PROTEUS My shame and guilt confounds77 me.
Forgive me, Valentine: if hearty sorrow
Be a sufficient ransom for offence,
I tender't80 here. I do as truly suffer
As e'er I did commit.81
VALENTINE Then I am paid:
And once again I do receive thee83 honest.
Who84 by repentance is not satisfied
Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these85 are pleased:
By penitence th'Eternal's86 wrath's appeased.
And that my love may appear plain and free,87
All that was mine in Silvia I give thee.
Swoons
JULIA O, me unhappy!
PROTEUS Look to the boy.
VALENTINE Why, boy! Why, wag!91 How now? What's the matter?
Look up: speak.
JULIA O, good sir, my master charged93 me to deliver a ring
to Madam Silvia, which, out of my neglect, was never done.
PROTEUS Where is that ring, boy?
Produces her own ring
JULIA Here 'tis: this is it.
Takes ring
PROTEUS How? Let me see. Why, this is the ring I
gave to Julia.
JULIA O, cry you mercy99, sir, I have mistook:
Offers another ring
This is the ring you sent to Silvia.
PROTEUS But how cam'st thou by this ring? At my depart101 I
gave this unto Julia.
JULIA And Julia herself did give it me,
Reveals herself
And Julia herself hath brought it hither.
PROTEUS How? Julia?
JULIA Behold her that gave aim106 to all thy oaths,
And entertained107 'em deeply in her heart.
How oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root!108
O Proteus, let this habit109 make thee blush.
Be thou ashamed that I have took upon me
Such an immodest raiment, if shame live111
In a disguise of love!
It is the lesser blot, modesty finds,113
Women to change their shapes than men their minds.
PROTEUS Than men their minds? 'Tis true. O heaven, were man
But constant, he were perfect. That one error
Fills him with faults, makes him run through all th'sins:
Inconstancy falls off ere it begins.118
What is in Silvia's face but I may spy
More fresh in Julia's, with a constant eye?
Proteus and Julia join hands
VALENTINE Come, come, a hand from either.
Let me be blest to make this happy close:
'Twere pity two such friends should be long foes.
PROTEUS Bear witness, heaven, I have my wish forever.
JULIA And I mine.
[Enter Outlaws, with Duke and Turio]
OUTLAWS A prize, a prize, a prize!
Outlaws release Duke and Turio
VALENTINE Forbear, forbear, I say! It is my lord the Duke.
Your grace is welcome to a man disgraced,128
Banished Valentine.
DUKE Sir Valentine?
Steps forward
TURIO Yonder is Silvia, and Silvia's mine.
VALENTINE Turio, give132 back, or else embrace thy death:
Draws his sword
Come not within the measure133 of my wrath.
Do not name Silvia thine: if once again,
Verona shall not hold135 thee. Here she stands,
Take but possession of her with a touch:
I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.
TURIO Sir Valentine, I care not for her, I.
I hold him but a fool that will endanger
His body for a girl that loves him not:
I claim her not, and therefore she is thine.
DUKE The more degenerate and base art thou
To make such means143 for her as thou hast done,
&nb
Now, by the honour of my ancestry,
I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,
And think thee worthy of an empress' love:
Know then, I here forget all former griefs,
Cancel all grudge, repeal149 thee home again,
Plead a new state in thy unrivalled merit,150
To which I thus subscribe:151 Sir Valentine,
Thou art a gentleman and well derived,
Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.
VALENTINE I thank your grace: the gift hath made me happy.
I now beseech you, for your daughter's sake,
To grant one boon that I shall ask of you.
DUKE I grant it, for thine own, whate'er it be.
VALENTINE These banished men that I have kept withal158
Are men endued with worthy qualities:
Forgive them what they have committed here
And let them be recalled from their exile:
They are reformed, civil, full of good,
And fit for great employment163, worthy lord.
DUKE Thou hast prevailed: I pardon them and thee.
Dispose of them as thou know'st their deserts.165
Come, let us go: we will include all jars166
With triumphs, mirth and rare solemnity.167
VALENTINE And as we walk along, I dare be bold
With our discourse to make your grace to smile.
What think you of this page, my lord?
DUKE I think the boy hath grace171 in him: he blushes.
VALENTINE I warrant you, my lord, more grace172 than boy.
DUKE What mean you by that saying?
VALENTINE Please you, I'll tell you as we pass along,
That you will wonder what hath fortuned.175
Come Proteus, 'tis your penance but to hear
The story of your loves discovered.
That done, our day of marriage shall be yours,
One feast, one house, one mutual happiness.
Exeunt
TEXTUAL NOTES
F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632
Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor
SD = stage direction
List of parts based on "Names of all the Actors" (reordered) at end of F text
F spells Protheus, Thurio, Panthino
All entrances mid-scene = Ed. F groups names of all characters in each scene at beginning of scene
1.1.26 swam spelled swom in F 44 eating love = F. Some eds emend to doting love 65 leave = Ed. F = loue 67 metamorphosed spelled metamorphis'd in F 78 a sheep = F2. F = sheep 138 testerned = F2. F = cestern'd 1.2.101 your = F2. F = you
1.3.17 travel spelled trauaile in F which could mean either travel or travail 89 father = F2. F = Fathers 2.4.105 worthy = F2. F = worthy a 198 Is it = F2. F = It is mine eye = Ed. F = mine 216 SD Exit = F2. F = Exeunt
2.5.36 that = F2. F = that that
2.6.0 SD alone F = solus
3.1.56 tenor = Ed. F = tenure 278 master's ship = Ed. F = Mastership 314 kissed fasting = Ed. F = fasting 3.2.14 grievously = F (corrected). F (uncorrected) = heauily 4.1.35 often had been = F2. F = often had beene often 4.2.114 his = F2. F = her
4.3.42 Recking = Ed. F = Wreaking 4.4.50 hangman = Ed. F = Hangmans 64 thou = F2. F = thee 68 to leave = F2. F = not leaue 5.2.18 your = Ed. F = you
SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
The two friends Valentine and Proteus are discussing Valentine's imminent departure for Milan while Proteus is to stay in Verona and woo his beloved Julia. Valentine leaves and his servant Speed arrives hurrying after his master. Proteus asks him whether he delivered a letter he had written to Julia. Speed confirms that he has but gives a deliberately misleading account of her response to the letter in his attempt to gain payment from Proteus for delivering it. He departs and Proteus fears that Julia will disregard his letter because of the incompetent messenger.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Lines 1-67: Julia is discussing love with Lucetta, asking which of her many suitors she favors. They list them but Lucetta initially refuses to pass judgment on Proteus. Finally she admits she thinks he loves Julia best and produces a letter for her mistress. She believes it is from Proteus and Julia is furious that Lucetta has accepted it and angrily dismisses her, telling her to take the letter with her. Lucetta leaves with the letter. Once alone Julia regrets not having looked at it, believing Lucetta should have made her. She attributes her own "wayward" behavior to the effect of "foolish love." She also repents sending Lucetta away pretending to be angry when in reality she was delighted and as penance calls Lucetta back.
Lines 68-144: Lucetta reappears and Julia demands to know what paper she has dropped and picked up. They quarrel over it and Julia seizes the letter and in her anger tears it to shreds, dismissing Lucetta once again. Lucetta departs but is not deceived, believing that Julia would be delighted with another letter. Alone again, Julia picks up the pieces and reads the fragments; finding her own name and Proteus', she folds them together so that they may "kiss, embrace, contend, do what you will." She is called away when Lucetta announces that dinner is ready and her father waiting.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Lines 1-44: Antonio and Pantino are discussing Proteus. Pantino says that Antonio's brother is surprised that Antonio should allow his son to stay at home rather than send him abroad to see the world and broaden his mind. Antonio also thinks it would do his son good to gain some experience of the world, and when Pantino suggests sending Proteus to Valentine at the court of the duke of Milan, he agrees. They decide he should accompany a group of courtiers due to set out the following day.
Lines 45-92: Proteus enters, poring over a love letter from Julia. When his father demands to see it, he pretends it is a note from Valentine. His father wants to know what it says and Proteus says that he reports he's enjoying himself and wishes Proteus were there too. Antonio asks him how he feels about the idea. Proteus replies dutifully that his father's wishes are more important than his own. Antonio says in that case he can go to Milan the next day. Proteus tries to play for time, saying he needs to prepare himself, but Antonio dismisses the idea and says whatever he needs can be sent on, that his departure is already decided. He and Pantino leave. Proteus, now alone, realizes that he has brought this situation on himself: he concealed the letter from his father, fearing his disapproval, and now he will have to leave Julia anyway. Considering the sudden reversals of fortune in love, he likens it to the "uncertain glory of an April day."
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1-86: A comic scene between Valentine and Speed: Speed finds a glove he believes is Valentine's, who recognizes it belongs to Silvia. When he says her name, Speed calls her, much to Valentine's annoyance. Valentine asks Speed if he knows who she is and Speed inquires if he means the one "your worship loves." When Valentine asks him how he knows that he's in love, Speed replies that he's now like Proteus and shows all the external signs of a lover: he's melancholy, weeps, sighs, walks alone, and has lost his appetite. He's completely changed and is now unrecognizable from his former self. Valentine asks if all these signs are perceived in him and Speed says they're obvious for anyone to see. Valentine inquires again if Speed knows Silvia and describes her beauty, but in a battle of wits between the two, Speed contrives to continually misunderstand his meaning and deflate Valentine's praise of his beloved. Valentine tells Speed that Silvia has asked him to write "some lines to one she loves."
Lines 87-159: Silvia enters and she and Valentine greet one another effusively. Speed watches and comments on their encounter in a series of satirical asides. Valentine tells Silvia that he has dutifully written the letter that she asked him to write, although it pained him to do so and it was difficult since he did not know to whom it was written. She asks him if it was too much effort, but he replies that to please her he'd write "a t
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Proteus and Julia say goodbye before he leaves for Milan. They exchange rings and a kiss. Proteus protests that he will think of Julia every day and asks that something terrible should happen to him if he should forget his love.
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Lance, who is going to Milan with Proteus, explains that he has been bidding his sorrowful farewells to his family. They have all been upset and weeping except Crab, his dog, who did not "shed one tear." He goes through a comic recital of the whole family's responses, using a pair of shoes, a staff, and a hat. Crab, however, remained unmoved throughout. Pantino arrives telling him to hurry and not miss the tide, but Lance replies that if the river were dry he could fill it with his tears.
ACT 2 SCENE 4
Lines 1-96: Valentine and Turio compete for Silvia's love and attention. Her father, the Duke, arrives and asks Valentine if he knows Don Antonio and whether he has a son. Valentine confirms that he knows them both and goes on to praise his friend Proteus. The Duke tells him that in that case he will be pleased to know that Proteus has arrived. Valentine says that's all he would have wished for and the Duke tells Silvia and Turio to welcome him "according to his worth." He leaves, saying he'll send Proteus along to them. Valentine then confirms to Silvia that this is the friend he had talked of who would have accompanied him had it not been for his eyes being held prisoner by the looks of his beloved. Silvia thinks that she must have set him free or exchanged his eyes for some other pledge of loyalty or found a new lover since he has now left her to come to Milan, but Valentine does not believe this possible.
Lines 97-141: Proteus arrives and is welcomed by Valentine and introduced to Silvia. Valentine asks her to accept Proteus as her servant like himself. After some courtly banter, she accepts his service. She is then called away to her father. Valentine inquires after all their mutual friends back in Verona and asks after his lady and how his love thrives. Proteus says he used to be bored with talk of love and Valentine confesses that that's all changed. He is punished for having scorned love in the past and is now suffering all its pains and torments. He can think of nothing else but love.