This he said because Proteus was deeply in love at that moment with a fair lady of Verona called Julia. And then Valentine went on to tease Proteus, pretending that all love was folly, and that only foolish people let themselves be deluded into it. He little knew how soon he was himself to be caught in the same folly, and how basely and treacherously his friend was going to act towards him.
However, at that moment Proteus had no thought for anyone but Julia, and would not have left Verona on any account. The two friends took an affectionate farewell of each other, and Valentine went his way, to travel to the Court of Milan.
“He hunts after honour, I after love,” thought Proteus, when his friend had left him. “He leaves his friends to bring more credit to them by improving himself. I leave myself, my friends, and all, for love. Thou, Julia, hast changed me, made me neglect my studies, lose my time, fight against good counsel, set the world at naught, weaken my brains with dreaming, and make my heart sick with thought!”
While Proteus was indulging in this rhapsody, Speed, the clownish servant of Valentine, came hurrying up.
“Sir Proteus, save you!” he cried, in the greeting of those days. “Saw you my master?”
“He has just this minute gone to embark for Milan,” replied Proteus. “Did you give my letter to the Lady Julia?”
“Ay, sir, and she gave me nothing for my labour,” said Speed, who was out of temper at not having received the handsome fee he was hoping for.
“But what did she say?” asked Proteus eagerly.
“Oh—she nodded!”
“Come, come, what did she say?”