Love and redemption rule the stage in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Departing Verona for Milan, Valentine begs Proteus to join him. In love with Julia, Proteus demurs, only to be commanded to Milan by his father. In Milan, Proteus quickly forgets Julia, and falls in love with Silvia, the object of Valentine's affection. Desperate to win Silvia's affections Proteus betrays Valentine, only to have his treachery revealed in full view of Julia, who has joined his service disguised as Sebastian, a manservant. Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech.