PROTEUS       Sebastian, I have entertained thee

Partly that I have need of such a youth

That can with some discretion do my business

For ’tis no trusting to yond foolish lout,

But chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour,

Which, if my augury deceive me not,

Witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth.

Therefore, know thou, for this I entertain thee.

Go presently, and take this ring with thee.

Deliver it to Madam Silvia.

She loved me well delivered it to me.         (4.4.49-59)

And now to other business. Sebastian, I have entertained thee—taken you on, given you a job—partly that I have need of such a youth that can with some discretion do my business: I need someone like you, a bit more discreet, more classy, to act as my go-between (say)—for ’tis no trusting to yond foolish lout; he’s so unreliable, so—coarse. So, yes, that’s part of it: I need a servant like you to represent me. But even more, chiefly for thy face and thy behaviour, which, if my augury deceive me not, witness good bringing up, fortune, and truth. Proteus is class-obsessed as ever, and thinks—trusting to his instincts—that ‘Sebastian’ looks like a gentleman in appearance and demeanour; he seems well brought up, well turned out, and honest. (Fortune and truth are ironic here: Julia is certainly not fortunate in this encounter or in general, and she is both deceiver and deceived.) Therefore, know thou, for this I entertain thee: that’s why I’m taking you on, because you’re so self-evidently a gentleman, the right sort of chap. And here’s your first commission: go presently, right away, and take this ring with thee. Deliver it to Madam Silvia. And—just to turn the knife in poor Julia’s heart, as well as making Proteus a mite more conflicted, with a small pang of conscience at least (perhaps): she loved me well delivered it to me. Yes, it’s the ring that Julia gave him when they parted. And yes, he does still remember how much Julia loved him—and, presumably, he, her. But that was in another country, and besides…