SCENEⅠ Milan．An Anteroom in the DUKE＇S Palace
［Enter DUKE，THURIO，and PROTEUS．］
DUKE Sir Thurio，give us leave，I pray，awhile；we have some secrets to confer about．［Exit THURIO．］Now，tell me，Proteus，what＇s your will with me？
PROTEUS My gracious lord，that which I would discover the law of friendship bids me to conceal；but when I call to mind your gracious favours done to me，undeserving as I am，my duty pricks me on to utter that which else no worldly good should draw from me．Know，worthy prince，Sir Valentine，my friend，this night intends to steal away your daughter；myself am one made privy to the plot．I know you have determined to bestow her on Thurio whom your gentle daughter hates；and should she thus be stol＇n away from you，it would be much vexation to your age．Thus，for my duty＇s sake，I rather chose to cross my friend in his intended drift than，by concealing it，heap on your head a pack of sorrows which would press you down，being unprevented，to your timeless grave．
DUKE Proteus，I thank thee for thine honest care，which to requite，command me while I live．This love of theirs myself have often seen，haply when they have judged me fast asleep，and oftentimes have purposed to forbid Sir Valentine her company and my court；but fearing lest my jealous aim might err and so unworthily disgrace the man，—a rashness that I ever yet have shunn＇d，—I gave him gentle looks，thereby to find that which thyself hast now disclosed to me．And，that thou mayst perceive my fear of this，knowing that tender youth is soon suggested，I nightly lodge her in an upper tower，the key whereof myself have ever kept；and thence she cannot be convey＇d away．