DUKE  The more degenerate and base art thou

To make such means for her as thou hast done,

And leave her on such slight conditions.

Now, by the honour of my ancestry,

I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine,

And think thee worthy of an empress’ love.

Know then I here forget all former griefs,

Cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again,

Plead a new state in thy unrivalled merit,

To which I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine,

Thou art a gentleman, and well derived.

Take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her. (5.4.134-145)

First of all, the Duke dismisses Thurio in no uncertain terms, excoriating him for his rejection of Silvia: the more degenerate and base art thou—you’re common, basically, ignoble, dishonourable, not a gentleman—to make such means for her as thou has done: you’ve made such a song and dance about this courtship, and spent so much money—and now to leave her on such slight conditions, reject her, give it all up on such a flimsy pretext, once you encounter a bit of opposition? Time-waster. Light-weight. Loser.

Then, however, he turns the full warmth of his approval on Valentine: now, by the honour of my ancestry (once again emphasising the importance of rank and lineage, nobility of both character and descent) I do applaud thy spirit, Valentine. You’ve shown pluck, young man, pluck and decency. You’ve behaved with honour. I think thee worthy of an empress’ love, never mind my daughter’s. You’ve more than proved yourself. (There’s some confusion as to whether he’s a Duke or an Emperor, and therefore means it literally—but it can just be a superlative: you’re an excellent chap, Valentine, and deserve the absolute best in wives.)

So the formal bit, for the avoidance of doubt: know then I hear forget all former griefs, cancel all grudge, repeal thee home again. You’re officially unbanished, young man, and I forgive you. No hard feelings. In fact I plead a new state in thy unrivalled merit: whereas previously I issued a proclamation that you were the lowest of the low, now I’m doing the same in declaring that you are in fact an all-round excellent chap. And this is what I’ll say, and sign my name to as a witness; I thus subscribe: Sir Valentine, thou art a gentleman, and well-derived. You’re honourable, and so are your family and your ancestry more generally. You’re one of us. So take thou thy Silvia, for thou hast deserved her.

Is Silvia being consulted yet? Is Silvia entirely happy about this? Who knows. But there are many possible choices for actors, depending on how much they want—or are allowed—to sour the ending…