Original: Pardon me, Proteus: all I can is nothing
Modern: Forgive me, Proteus: everything I have and can do is nothing

Original: To her whose worth makes other worthies nothing;
Modern: Compared to her, whose value makes everyone else seem worthless;

Original: She is alone.
Modern: She stands alone at the top.

Original: Not for the world: why, man, she is mine own,
Modern: I wouldn’t leave her for anything: listen, man, she belongs to me,

Original: And I as rich in having such a jewel
Modern: And I’m as wealthy in possessing such a treasure

Original: As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,
Modern: As twenty oceans would be if all their sand were pearls,

Original: The water nectar and the rocks pure gold.
Modern: The water were sweet nectar, and the rocks were solid gold.

Original: Forgive me that I do not dream on thee,
Modern: Forgive me for not thinking about you,

Original: Because thou see’st me dote upon my love.
Modern: Because you can see I’m obsessed with my love.

Original: My foolish rival, that her father likes
Modern: My ridiculous rival, whom her father approves of

Original: Only for his possessions are so huge,
Modern: Only because his wealth is so enormous,

Original: Is gone with her along, and I must after,
Modern: Has gone along with her, and I must follow,

Original: For love, thou know’st, is full of jealousy.
Modern: Because love, as you know, is filled with jealousy.

Original: Ay, and we are betroth’d: nay, more, our, marriage-hour,
Modern: Yes, and we’re engaged: in fact, even more, our wedding time,

Original: With all the cunning manner of our flight,
Modern: Along with all the clever details of our elopement,

Original: Determined of; how I must climb her window,
Modern: Has been decided; how I have to climb up to her window,

Original: The ladder made of cords, and all the means
Modern: Using a rope ladder, and all the methods

Original: Plotted and ‘greed on for my happiness.
Modern: Have been planned and agreed upon for my happiness.

Original: Good Proteus, go with me to my chamber,
Modern: Dear Proteus, come with me to my room,

Original: In these affairs to aid me with thy counsel.
Modern: To help me with your advice in these matters.

In Act II, Scene 4 of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Proteus arrives in Milan and is welcomed by his friend Valentine, who eagerly shares news of his love for Silvia, the Duke’s daughter. Valentine reveals that he and Silvia plan to elope that very night using a rope ladder, as the Duke opposes their match and intends to marry Silvia to the foolish Thurio. Valentine confides all the details of the escape plan to Proteus, trusting him completely as his dear friend. However, Proteus has already become infatuated with Silvia himself after seeing her, despite his earlier vows of love to Julia back in Verona.

After Valentine exits, Proteus delivers a soliloquy revealing his treacherous intentions. He acknowledges that his sudden love for Silvia has caused him to forget Julia entirely and that he must betray Valentine to pursue Silvia for himself. Proteus decides to inform the Duke of Valentine’s elopement plot, reasoning that by ruining Valentine’s chances with Silvia, he can eliminate his rival and potentially win Silvia’s affections. He justifies his betrayal by convincing himself that his love for Silvia is worth sacrificing both his friendship with Valentine and his loyalty to Julia, declaring that he cannot be true to his friend if he is false to himself.

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.