passionate
a lover as Proteus.

She who had wrought this wondrous change in Valentine was the Lady
Silvia, daughter of the Duke of Milan, and she also loved him; but they
concealed their love from the duke, because although he showed much
kindness for Valentine, and invited him every day to his palace, yet he
designed to marry his daughter to a young courtier whose name was
Thurio. Silvia despised this Thurio, for he had none of the fine sense
and excellent qualities of Valentine.

These two rivals, Thurio and Valentine, were one day on a visit to
Silvia, and Valentine was entertaining Silvia with turning everything
Thurio said into ridicule, when the duke himself entered the room, and
told Valentine the welcome news of his friend Proteus' arrival.
Valentine said, "If I had wished a thing, it would have been to have
seen him here!" And then he highly praised Proteus to the duke, saying,
"My lord, though I have been a truant of my time, yet hath my friend
made use and fair advantage of his days, and is complete in person and
in mind, in all good grace to grace a gentleman."

"Welcome him then according to his worth," said the duke. "Silvia, I
speak to you, and you, Sir Thurio; for Valentine, I need not bid him do
so." They were here interrupted by the entrance of Proteus, and
Valentine introduced him to Silvia, saying, "Sweet lady, entertain him
to be my fellow-servant to your ladyship."

When Valentine and Proteus had ended their visit, and were alone
together, Valentine said, "Now tell me how all does from whence you
came? How does your lady, and how thrives your love?" Proteus replied,
"My tales of love used to weary you. I know you joy not in a love
discourse."

"Ay, Proteus," returned Valentine, "but that life is altered now. I have
done penance for condemning love. For in revenge of my contempt of love,
love has chased sleep from my enthralled eyes. O gentle Proteus, Love is
a mighty lord, and hath so humbled me, that I confess there is no woe
like his correction, nor no such joy on earth as in his service. I now
like no discourse except it be of love. Now I can break my fast, dine,
sup, and sleep, upon the very name of love."

This acknowledgment of the change which love had made in the disposition
of Valentine was a great triumph to his friend Proteus. But "friend"
Proteus must be called no longer, for the same all-powerful deity Love,
of whom they were speaking (yea, even while they were talking of the