JULIA  Now, as thou lov’st me, do him not that wrong

To bear a hard opinion of his truth.

Only deserve my love by loving him,

And presently go with me to my chamber

To take a note of what I stand in need of

To furnish me upon my longing journey.

All that is mine I leave at thy dispose,

My goods, my lands, my reputation;

Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence.

Come. Answer not, but to it presently–

I am impatient of my tarriance.

Exeunt             (2.7.80-90)

There’s stubbornness in Julia’s response, but also a touch of pathos: now, as thou lov’st me, do him not that wrong to bear a hard opinion of his truth. If you care about me, then don’t doubt Proteus’s fidelity, don’t even begin to think that he’s not been honest about his feelings. Because if you doubt him, then you doubt me too, by calling into question everything I’m living by and for. So please, believe in him, and in me. And the best way you can deserve my love, earn my favour and affection, is to love him too—love me, love my dog!—and, right now, presently go with me to my chamber to take a note of what I stand in need of to furnish me upon my longing journey. Come with me to my room and help me to get organized, help me to work out everything I need to equip me for this journey, which is both long (it’s not, really) and longing, full of desire and yearning.

All that is mine I leave at thy dispose, my goods, my lands, my reputation: even if Julia’s not being entirely literal (she does live with her father, apparently) the point is that she’s leaving Lucetta in charge of everything, making a total break with her life in Verona. Take care of everything for me, and do with it all as you like. (It doesn’t matter how realistic this is, the point is the dramatic break, the grand gesture.) Only, in lieu thereof, dispatch me hence. All that I ask in return is that you send me on my way, with all possible speed. So come, answer not. Not another word, but to it presently. Hurry! We must get on with everything that needs to be done, right away! I am impatient of my tarriance; I can’t bear to delay a moment longer.

Is there straightforward levity, excitement, an awfully big adventure, off to see the world and Proteus? Or just the beginnings of a realization of what a crazy, reckless thing Julia’s doing, a half-formed plan which has already gained its own, unstoppable, slightly hysterical momentum?

But that’s the end of the act.