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.