that she intends to leave for Milan, disguising herself as a page, in order to be closer to her lover. Lucetta has long been suspicious of Proteus, but she demonstrates her loyalty to Julia by assisting with her disguise.Blissfully unaware of Julia’s intention, Proteus proceeds with his manufactured back-stabbing of Valentine. He confronts the Duke of Milan, and, again, gives himself false airs. Proteus makes it appear that he is suffering a moral dilemma and is uncertain whether he should choose friendship or loyalty to his Duke. He tells the Duke, “The law of friendship bids me to conceal, But when I call to mind your gracious favors, Done to me, undeserving as I am, My duty pricks me on to utter that, Which else no worldly good should draw from me” (Act III. Scene I. Lines 5-9). Deception obviously comes much easier to Proteus than does faithfulness and loyalty. When the elopement plans are revealed, the Duke promptly banishes Valentine, who ends up in the forest and becomes the leader of a group of outlaws.Despite Valentine’s exile, Silvia remains faithful to both him and their love. She rejects all Thurio’s attempts to win her favor by bad-mouthing the absent Valentine, at the urging of the manipulative Proteus, who is really only looking out for himself. It is all to no avail. Silvia’s heart belongs to Valentine. Frustrated by his efforts to win Silvia, Proteus indulges in some self-pity: “Already have I been false to Valentine, And now I must be as unjust to Thurio. Under the color of commending him, I have access my own love to prefer” (Act IV. Scene II. Lines 1-4). Proteus puts himself first and foremost, and if others suffer as a result, that is an unfortunate, but nonetheless, necessary means to an end. While Julia is disguised as Sebastian, the page, she overhears the deceitful Proteus lie that both his ladylove and Valentine are dead. Silvia is appalled that Proteus ...
