PROTEUS       As much as I can do, I will effect.

But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough.

You must lay lime to tangle her desires

By wailful sonnets, whose composed rhymes

Should be full-fraught with serviceable vows.

DUKE  Ay, much is the force of heaven-bred poesy.         (3.2.66-71)

Oh, totally, I’ll do what I can, says Proteus; as much as I can do, I will effect. (What he can do to woo Silvia on behalf of someone else is, of course, minimal; he’s not going to try at all, basically.) But you, Sir Thurio, are not sharp enough. You’ve got to put in a bit of an effort too, show willing; back yourself! Let Silvia know how you really feel! You must lay lime to tangle her desires—seduce her, entrap her, like a bird enticed into a bush where it will be caught fast. You must employ wailful sonnets, full of moans and groans, whose composed rhymes should be full-fraught with serviceable vows. Overload your love-poems with protestations of your love; swear your adoration to her in verse. Woo her in rhyme! (Is Proteus being genuine or is he making the—reasonable—assumption that any love-poem composed by Thurio will have quite the opposite effect?) But the Duke thinks it’s a great idea: ay, much is the force of heaven-bred poetry. Poetry: it makes things happen. That’s the (heavenly) power of love…