“Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would rather have been a breakfast to the beast than have false Proteus rescue me!” cried Silvia. “Oh, heaven, be judge how I love Valentine, whose life is as dear to me as my soul! And just as much--for it cannot be more--do I detest false, perjured Proteus! Therefore begone; entreat me no more.” Seeing there was no chance of winning Silvia by fair words, Proteus, in a rage, seized hold of her roughly, whereupon Valentine sprang forth and struck him back. “Ruffian, let go that rude, uncivil touch! Thou evil-fashioned _friend_!” “Valentine!” [Illustration: “Treacherous man! Thou hast beguiled my hopes.”] “You miserable _friend_, without faith or love!” continued Valentine, hurling his scorn on the convicted traitor. “Treacherous man! Thou hast beguiled my hopes! Nothing but my own eyes would have made me believe what I see. Now I dare not say I have one living friend,--whom could I trust, when the one nearest my heart is perjured? Proteus, I am sorry I must never trust thee more, but for thy sake count the whole world a stranger. Alas, that amongst all foes a _friend_ should be the worst!” Proteus’s easily-moved nature was struck to the heart by Valentine’s just reproaches. With deepest remorse, he implored Valentine’s pardon, and so noble and generous was Valentine that he forgave him on the spot. Nay, more, in the impulse of the moment he even offered to resign his own claim on Silvia. The thought that Proteus would now really be lost to her for ever, struck Julia like a blow, and she fell fainting to the ground. “Look to the boy,” said Proteus. “Why, boy, how now? What’s the matter? Look up! Speak!” said Valentine. “Oh, good sir, my master charged me to deliver a ring to Madam Silvia, which because of my neglect was never done,” said Julia, in her guise of the little page. “Where is that ring, boy?” asked Proteus. “Here it is--this is it.” “How? Let me see. Why, this is the ring I gave to Julia.” “Oh, cry you mercy, sir, I have made a mistake,” said Julia, pretending to discover her error, and holding out another one. “_This_ is the ring you sent to Silvia.” “But how did you come by this ring?” asked Proteus, looking at the first one. “When I left Verona I gave this to Julia.” “And Julia herself gave it to me, and Julia herself has brought it here.” “How? Julia!” “Behold her to whom you swore so many vows, and who kept them tenderly in her heart! How often have you perjured yourself!” cried Julia, throwing off her disguise. “Oh, Proteus, let these clothes make you blush! Are you ashamed that I have put on the raiment of a boy? I tell you, it is less shameful for women to change their guise than men their minds!” “Than men their minds!” echoed the conscience-stricken Proteus. “That is true.” “Come, come, give me each your hand,” interposed Valentine. “Let me be blest in making a happy ending. It were pity that two such friends should be long foes.”