change he had made in Valentine), was working in the heart of Proteus;
and he, who had till this time been a pattern of true love and perfect
friendship, was now, in one short interview with Silvia, become a false
friend and a faithless lover; for at the first sight of Silvia all his
love for Julia vanished away like a dream, nor did his long friendship
for Valentine deter him from endeavouring to supplant him in her
affections; and although, as it will always be, when people of
dispositions naturally good become unjust, he had many scruples before
he determined to forsake Julia, and become the rival of Valentine; yet
he at length overcame his sense of duty, and yielded himself up, almost
without remorse, to his new unhappy passion.

Valentine imparted to him in confidence the whole history of his love,
and how carefully they had concealed it from the duke her father, and
told him, that, despairing of ever being able to obtain his consent, he
had prevailed upon Silvia to leave her father's palace that night, and
go with him to Mantua; then he showed Proteus a ladder of ropes, by help
of which he meant to assist Silvia to get out of one of the windows of
the palace after it was dark.

Upon hearing this faithful recital of his friend's dearest secrets, it
is hardly possible to be believed, but so it was, that Proteus resolved
to go to the duke, and disclose the whole to him.

This false friend began his tale with many artful speeches to the duke,
such as that by the laws of friendship he ought to conceal what he was
going to reveal, but that the gracious favour the duke had shown him,
and the duty he owed his grace, urged him to tell that which else no
worldly good should draw from him. He then told all he had heard from
Valentine, not omitting the ladder of ropes, and the manner in which
Valentine meant to conceal them under a long cloak.

The duke thought Proteus quite a miracle of integrity, in that he
preferred telling his friend's intention rather than he would conceal an
unjust action, highly commended him, and promised him not to let
Valentine know from whom he had learnt this intelligence, but by some
artifice to make Valentine betray the secret himself. For this purpose
the duke awaited the coming of Valentine in the evening, whom he soon
saw hurrying towards the palace, and he perceived somewhat was wrapped
within his cloak, which he concluded was the rope-ladder.

The duke upon this stopped him, saying, "Wh