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 thousand 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.

Lines 142–216: Proteus guesses that Silvia is his “idol” and Valentine starts to praise her. Proteus, however, claims that his own beloved Julia is superior and the two vie with each other over the qualities of their respective ladies. Valentine tells Proteus that Silvia returns his love but unfortunately her father favors Turio as a suitor because of his great wealth. He then confides that they plan to elope that night. He is to climb to her bedroom window using a rope ladder down which they will escape. He asks Proteus to go with him to advise him. Proteus says he’ll be along soon. Once alone he confesses that he’s now fallen in love with Silvia.