Original: Even as one heat another heat expels,
Modern: Just like one fire can drive out another fire,

Original: Or as one nail by strength drives out another,
Modern: Or like hammering one nail pushes out another nail,

Original: So the remembrance of my former love
Modern: My memories of the girl I used to love

Original: Is by a newer object quite forgotten.
Modern: Have been completely erased by this new girl.

Original: Is it mine, or Valentine’s praise,
Modern: Is it my own feelings, or Valentine’s compliments about her,

Original: Her true perfection, or my false transgression,
Modern: Her actual beauty, or my own betrayal,

Original: That makes me reasonless to reason thus?
Modern: That makes me lose all sense and think this way?

Original: She is fair; and so is Julia that I love—
Modern: She’s beautiful; and so is Julia, who I love—

Original: That I did love, for now my love is thaw’d;
Modern: Who I used to love, because now my love has melted away;

Original: Which, like a waxen image, ‘gainst a fire,
Modern: My love, like a wax figure near a flame,

Original: Bears no impression of the thing it was.
Modern: Shows no trace of what it used to be.

Original: Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,
Modern: I think my loyalty to Valentine has grown cold,

Original: And that I love him not as I was wont.
Modern: And I don’t love him the way I used to.

Original: O, but I love his lady too too much,
Modern: Oh, but I’m way too much in love with his girlfriend,

Original: And that’s the reason I love him so little.
Modern: And that’s why I care so little about him now.

Original: How shall I dote on her with more advice,
Modern: How can I love her more thoughtfully and wisely

Original: That thus without advice begin to love her!
Modern: When I started loving her so recklessly!

Original: ‘Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,
Modern: I’ve only seen her portrait so far,

Original: And that hath dazzled my reason’s light;
Modern: And even that has blinded my common sense;

Original: But when I look on her perfections,
Modern: But when I see her actual beauty in person,

Original: There is no reason but I shall be blind.
Modern: I’ll definitely lose all ability to think clearly.

Original: If I can cheque my erring love, I will;
Modern: If I can stop myself from this wrong love, I will;

Original: If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.
Modern: If not, I’ll use all my abilities to win her over.

In Act II, Scene iv of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Proteus arrives at the Duke’s court in Milan, where his friend Valentine now serves. Valentine enthusiastically greets Proteus and reveals that he has fallen deeply in love with Silvia, the Duke’s daughter. Despite having previously mocked lovers and love itself, Valentine now finds himself completely transformed by his passion. He confesses to Proteus that he and Silvia have arranged a secret plan to elope that very night, as the Duke intends to marry her to the foolish Thurio, whom she despises. Valentine asks Proteus to help with the elopement by providing a rope ladder, which Silvia will use to descend from her tower window.

After Valentine exits, Proteus delivers a soliloquy revealing his sudden infatuation with Silvia, despite his previous vows of love to Julia back in Verona. He contemplates betraying both his friendship with Valentine and his love for Julia in order to pursue Silvia for himself. Proteus decides he will sabotage Valentine’s elopement plans by informing the Duke of the scheme, reasoning that once Valentine is banished or removed as a rival, he can then work to win Silvia’s affections away from Thurio. He acknowledges the treachery of his intended actions but resolves to proceed regardless, justifying his betrayal by claiming that love compels him to act against his better judgment.

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.