the dukes hand, and accepted the noble present which he had made him of his daughter with becoming
thankfulness: taking occasion of this joyful minute to entreat the good-humored duke to pardon the thieves
with whom he had associated in the forest, assuring him, that when reformed and restored to society,
there would be found among them many good, and fit for great employment; for the most of them had
been banished, like Valentine, for state offences, rather than for any black crimes they had been guilty
of. To this the ready duke consented: and now nothing remained but that Proteus, the false friend, was
ordained, by way of penance for his love-prompted faults, to be present at the recital of the whole story
of his loves and falsehoods before the duke; and the shame of the recital to his awakened conscience
was judged sufficient punishment: which being done, the lovers, all four returned back to Milan, and their
nuptials were solemnized in the presence of the duke, with high triumphs and feasting.