Original: Ay, Proteus, but that life is alter’d now:
Modern: Yes, Proteus, but my life has completely changed now:

Original: I have done penance for contemning Love,
Modern: I’ve been punished for looking down on Love,

Original: Whose high imperious thoughts have punish’d me
Modern: Love’s proud and commanding nature has punished me

Original: With bitter fasts, with penitential groans,
Modern: With painful hunger, with regretful moaning,

Original: With nightly tears and daily heart-sore sighs;
Modern: With tears every night and heartbroken sighs every day;

Original: For in revenge of my contempt of love,
Modern: Because I showed disrespect for love,

Original: Love hath chased sleep from my enthralled eyes
Modern: Love has driven sleep away from my captivated eyes

Original: And made them watchers of mine own heart’s sorrow.
Modern: And made them stay awake to witness my heart’s pain.

Original: O gentle Proteus, Love’s a mighty lord,
Modern: Oh kind Proteus, Love is a powerful master,

Original: And hath so humbled me, as, I confess,
Modern: And has brought me so low that, I admit,

Original: There is no woe to his correction,
Modern: There’s no suffering that compares to his punishment,

Original: Nor to his service no such joy on earth.
Modern: And no joy on earth compares to serving him.

Original: Now no discourse, except it be of love;
Modern: Now I can’t talk about anything except love;

Original: Now can I break my fast, dine, sup and sleep,
Modern: Now I can eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep,

Original: Upon the very naked name of love.
Modern: Just by hearing the simple word “love.”

In Act II, Scene 4 of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Proteus arrives in Milan and is reunited with his friend Valentine. Valentine enthusiastically shares that he has fallen deeply in love with Silvia, the Duke’s daughter, and describes her many virtues and beauties at length. He reveals that he and Silvia plan to elope that very night because the Duke intends to marry her to Thurio, a foolish suitor whom Silvia despises. Valentine explains his elaborate plan: he will use a rope ladder to help Silvia escape from her tower window, after which they will flee together. He asks Proteus to accompany them on their journey.

Left alone after Valentine departs, Proteus delivers a soliloquy revealing his treacherous intentions. Despite his friendship with Valentine and his own professed love for Julia back in Verona, Proteus admits that he has now fallen in love with Silvia himself upon seeing her. He wrestles briefly with his conscience, acknowledging that betraying Valentine would be dishonorable and forgetting Julia would be faithless, but ultimately decides to pursue Silvia regardless of the consequences. He resolves to prevent Valentine’s elopement by informing the Duke of the plan, hoping that Valentine’s banishment will clear the way for him to court Silvia himself, fully aware that his actions will destroy his friendship and break his vows to Julia.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona follows the friendship and romantic entanglements of Valentine and Proteus, two young gentlemen from Verona. The play opens with Valentine departing for Milan to experience court life, leaving behind his friend Proteus, who is deeply in love with Julia. Soon after, Proteus is also sent to Milan by his father, forcing him to leave Julia, though they secretly exchange rings as tokens of their love. Meanwhile, Julia decides to disguise herself as a young man named Sebastian and follow Proteus to Milan.

In Milan, Valentine has fallen in love with Silvia, the Duke’s daughter, and she returns his affection. However, when Proteus arrives and meets Silvia, he immediately forgets his love for Julia and becomes infatuated with his friend’s beloved. In an act of betrayal, Proteus reveals Valentine’s secret plan to elope with Silvia to her father, the Duke. As punishment, Valentine is banished from Milan and becomes the leader of a group of outlaws in the forest.

The climax unfolds in the forest where all the characters converge. Proteus pursues the disguised Julia (still dressed as Sebastian, who has become his page) and attempts to force his attentions on Silvia, who has fled to find Valentine. Valentine arrives just in time to stop the assault, and when Proteus expresses remorse, Valentine magnanimously offers to give up Silvia to restore their friendship. At this moment, Julia faints and reveals her true identity. The play concludes with the Duke’s arrival, his pardon of Valentine and the outlaws, and the restoration of proper romantic pairings: Valentine with Silvia and Proteus reunited with the forgiving Julia.