Two Gentlemen of Verona

Valentine enters with Speed chasing after him, offering him a glove. Valentine initially rejects it, then accepts with great enthusiasm when he realizes the glove belongs to Silvia, the Duke’s daughter and Valentine’s new love. Speed teases Valentine for the remarkable change he’s experienced since arriving in Milan: once proud and energetic, Valentine is now as love-sick and mopey as his friend Proteus. Speed claims that Valentine has been metamorphosed by love. He asks Valentine if Silvia is beautiful; Valentine responds that she is both beautiful and well-loved.

Valentine reveals that Silvia has asked him to write a love letter for her, though he doesn’t know the recipient. When Silvia enters to retrieve the letter, Valentine becomes awkward and shy, acting like her servant. He gives her the letter, explaining that it would be better if he knew who it was for. Silvia tells him to keep it, saying she wants one written with more feeling. He agrees to rewrite the letter and give it to her tomorrow, but she tells him to keep it once he’s done. In a private aside to the audience, Speed realizes that the love letter’s recipient Valentine himself: Silvia is too shy and modest to respond to his