JULIA Why he, of all the rest, hath never moved me.
LUCETTA Yet he, of all the rest, I think best loves ye.
JULIA His little speaking shows his love but small.
LUCETTA Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.
JULIA They do not love, that do not show their love.
LUCETTA O, they love least that let men know their love.
JULIA I would I knew his mind.
LUCETTA [giving a letter] Peruse this paper, madam. (1.2.27-34)
But, but—he’s never seemed interested at all, unlike the rest of them! he, of all the rest, hath never moved me, never made me a proposal, solicited my affections. He’s hung back! Lucetta is more perceptive, as well as more experienced: yet he, of all the rest, I think best loves ye. (The switch into rhyming couplets here is characteristic of writing for a pair of boy actors, allowing for easy memorization and rapid-fire delivery, as well as, within the world of the play, giving this little exchange an artificial, aphoristic quality: I told you so!) Julia’s still not convinced: his little speaking shows his love but small; surely it doesn’t say much for the strength of his affection that he hasn’t made a move yet? Ah, but you see, says Lucetta, there’s a proverb for that: fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch, the strong silent types; he’s a slow burn, but properly ardent. But, they do not love, that do not show their love. (That rings true in an early modern context: you have to perform your love, be seen to be a lover. Proteus has been, actually, moping around, all disheveled and poetic.) O, they love least that let men know their love. Emptiest vessels make the loudest noise, all mouth and no trousers. As it were. Says Lucetta. Never trust the ones who just shout about it all the time.
OOOOOHHHH, I would I knew his mind! Poor Julia. I wish I knew what was going on with Proteus, how he REALLY FEELS. And that’s what Lucetta’s been waiting for: peruse this paper, madam. Here you go, he’s written you a letter.
So it was delivered by Speed, but to Lucetta, as was suggested in the previous scene. What does it say? And how will Julia react, now this has suddenly become real?