Two Gentlemen of Verona

Julia and her maid, Lucetta, sit alone in Julia’s room. Julia asks Lucetta whether she thinks Julia should fall in love; Lucetta warns her against falling in love mindlessly. Julia lists her suitors—including Proteus—and asks Lucetta for her honest thoughts on each. Lucetta criticizes all of the men except for Proteus, whom she believes is the best match for Julia. Julia is surprised by Lucetta’s response, since Proteus rarely speaks to her, and she is unsure of his true feelings for her. Lucetta offers her Proteus’s letter, and explains that she took it from Speed, who believed that she was Julia. Julia pretends to be scandalized by the situation, claiming that modesty prevents her from receiving letters from suitors. She chastises Lucetta for her role as mediator for the suitors, and for accepting the letter under false pretenses. She gives the letter back to Lucetta and angrily orders her to leave. Lucetta tells Julia that Proteus’s plea for love deserves more than anger, and leaves.

As soon she is alone, Julia regrets giving in to her temper. She wishes she had read the letter, and calls Lucetta back with a question about dinner. Lucetta jokes that if Julia ate, she wouldn’t be so moody, and drops the letter on the floor in front of Julia. Julia pretends to believe it’s a love poem from one of Lucetta’s suitors, and asks Lucetta to sing it to her. When Lucetta refuses, Julia tries to take the letter. In the ensuing scuffle, Julia loses her temper again, and rips the letter into pieces. She sends Lucetta away, then privately chastises herself for destroying the letter she so desperately wants to read. Julia picks up and kisses each piece of the letter. She is moved by Proteus’s description of himself as a passionate, forlorn, wounded lover. Lucetta re-enters to bring Julia down to dinner. She implies that she is aware of the letter’s contents.

Proteus’s father Antonio speaks with his servant, Panthino. Panthino tells Antonio that members of the family are worried about Proteus, and gossiping in the household. Unlike other young men, who have left Verona to find patrons in other cities, study at university, or fight in wars abroad, Proteus remains at home with his parents, having never traveled or conducted business on his own. Antonio admits that he believes Proteus cannot be a perfect man without having left his home, and asks Panthino where he should be sent. Panthino reminds Antonio that Valentine is in Milan at the court of the Duke (also referred to as the Emperor), and urges him to send Proteus there. In Milan, Proteus will be surrounded by gentleman and trained in the skills necessary to succeed in tournaments and in life at Court. Antonio agrees, and Panthino arranges for Proteus to travel with a group of other young gentlemen traveling to Milan.

Proteus enters holding a letter from Julia, in which she professes her love and devotion. Unaware of his father and Panthino, Proteus openly wishes that he and Julia can be married. When Antonio interrupts and asks his son about the letter, Proteus lies, claiming that the letter is from Valentine, encouraging him to come to Milan. Antonio tells Proteus that he agrees with Valentine, and that Proteus should plan to leave for Milan the next day. Proteus protests, claiming that he’ll need more time to pack his things. Antonio tells him to pack what he needs and send for the rest, then leaves with Panthino. Alone, Proteus laments his foolishness: He had lied about the letter because he was afraid his father would disapprove of his love for Julia, and now his father was using that lie to send him away from Julia. He compares his fate to an April day, which can alternate between beautiful sun and cold rain in an instant.