DUKE  And Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind

Because we know, on Valentine’s report,

You are already love’s firm votary,

And cannot soon revolt, and change your mind.

Upon this warrant shall you have access

Where you with Silvia may confer at large.

For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy,

And for your friend’s sake will be glad of you;

Where you may temper her, by your persuasion,

To hate young Valentine and love my friend.        (3.2.56-65)

Irony is being added to irony: Proteus, we dare trust you in this kind—with this matter and in this way—because we know, on Valentine’s report, you are already love’s firm votary, and cannot soon revolt, and change your mind. Valentine told us all about your girlfriend back home! How devoted you are to her! You’re a believer! You’re not going to be in any danger of falling in love with Silvia yourself, now, are you, or trying to seduce her? You’re basically a MONK for love. And therefore, upon this warrant—with that as a guarantee—shall you have access where you with Silvia may confer at large. You can go and see her, talk with her, for as long as you like! For she is lumpish, heavy, melancholy—she’s really low, sulking and sighing in her room—and for your friend’s sake will be glad of you. I mean, she loves Valentine right now—so that ensures she’ll be pleased to see you, right? You’re pretty interchangeable, after all, except—don’t go falling in love with her! In this way you may temper her, win her over, make her malleable, biddable, obedient, by your persuasion, to hate young Valentine and love my friend. Just be nice to her—and change her mind; make her fall in love with my very good friend Thurio, rather than your very good friend Valentine. Simple!

Silvia has at least finally been named, but it’s a wildly ironic and cynical moment; at least if Proteus looks momentarily flustered, he might seem less of a total psychopath.