SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

Speeches (Lines) for Diana
in "All's Well That Ends Well"

Total: 44

---
# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

III,5,1609

Widow. Nay, come; for if they do approach the city, we
shall lose all the sight.

Diana. They say the French count has done most honourable service.


2

III,5,1635

Mariana. I know that knave; hang him! one Parolles: a
filthy officer he is in those suggestions for the
young earl. Beware of them, Diana; their promises,
enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of
lust, are not the things they go under: many a maid
hath been seduced by them; and the misery is,
example, that so terrible shows in the wreck of
maidenhood, cannot for all that dissuade succession,
but that they are limed with the twigs that threaten
them. I hope I need not to advise you further; but
I hope your own grace will keep you where you are,
though there were no further danger known but the
modesty which is so lost.

Diana. You shall not need to fear me.


3

III,5,1661

Helena. His name, I pray you.

Diana. The Count Rousillon: know you such a one?


4

III,5,1664

Helena. But by the ear, that hears most nobly of him:
His face I know not.

Diana. Whatsome'er he is,
He's bravely taken here. He stole from France,
As 'tis reported, for the king had married him
Against his liking: think you it is so?


5

III,5,1669

Helena. Ay, surely, mere the truth: I know his lady.

Diana. There is a gentleman that serves the count
Reports but coarsely of her.


6

III,5,1672

Helena. What's his name?

Diana. Monsieur Parolles.


7

III,5,1679

Helena. O, I believe with him,
In argument of praise, or to the worth
Of the great count himself, she is too mean
To have her name repeated: all her deserving
Is a reserved honesty, and that
I have not heard examined.

Diana. Alas, poor lady!
'Tis a hard bondage to become the wife
Of a detesting lord.


8

III,5,1700

Helena. Which is the Frenchman?

Diana. He;
That with the plume: 'tis a most gallant fellow.
I would he loved his wife: if he were honester
He were much goodlier: is't not a handsome gentleman?


9

III,5,1705

Helena. I like him well.

Diana. 'Tis pity he is not honest: yond's that same knave
That leads him to these places: were I his lady,
I would Poison that vile rascal.


10

III,5,1709

Helena. Which is he?

Diana. That jack-an-apes with scarfs: why is he melancholy?


11

IV,2,2005

Bertram. They told me that your name was Fontibell.

Diana. No, my good lord, Diana.


12

IV,2,2015

Bertram. Titled goddess;
And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,
In your fine frame hath love no quality?
If quick fire of youth light not your mind,
You are no maiden, but a monument:
When you are dead, you should be such a one
As you are now, for you are cold and stem;
And now you should be as your mother was
When your sweet self was got.

Diana. She then was honest.


13

IV,2,2017

Bertram. So should you be.

Diana. No:
My mother did but duty; such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.


14

IV,2,2025

Bertram. No more o' that;
I prithee, do not strive against my vows:
I was compell'd to her; but I love thee
By love's own sweet constraint, and will for ever
Do thee all rights of service.

Diana. Ay, so you serve us
Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,
You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves
And mock us with our bareness.


15

IV,2,2030

Bertram. How have I sworn!

Diana. 'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,
But the plain single vow that is vow'd true.
What is not holy, that we swear not by,
But take the High'st to witness: then, pray you, tell me,
If I should swear by God's great attributes,
I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill? This has no holding,
To swear by him whom I protest to love,
That I will work against him: therefore your oaths
Are words and poor conditions, but unseal'd,
At least in my opinion.


16

IV,2,2048

Bertram. Change it, change it;
Be not so holy-cruel: love is holy;
And my integrity ne'er knew the crafts
That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,
But give thyself unto my sick desires,
Who then recover: say thou art mine, and ever
My love as it begins shall so persever.

Diana. I see that men make ropes in such a scarre
That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.


17

IV,2,2052

Bertram. I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power
To give it from me.

Diana. Will you not, my lord?


18

IV,2,2057

Bertram. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose.

Diana. Mine honour's such a ring:
My chastity's the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world
In me to lose: thus your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion Honour on my part,
Against your vain assault.


19

IV,2,2067

Bertram. Here, take my ring:
My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine,
And I'll be bid by thee.

Diana. When midnight comes, knock at my chamber-window:
I'll order take my mother shall not hear.
Now will I charge you in the band of truth,
When you have conquer'd my yet maiden bed,
Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me:
My reasons are most strong; and you shall know them
When back again this ring shall be deliver'd:
And on your finger in the night I'll put
Another ring, that what in time proceeds
May token to the future our past deeds.
Adieu, till then; then, fail not. You have won
A wife of me, though there my hope be done.


20

IV,2,2081

(stage directions). [Exit]

Diana. For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
You may so in the end.
My mother told me just how he would woo,
As if she sat in 's heart; she says all men
Have the like oaths: he had sworn to marry me
When his wife's dead; therefore I'll lie with him
When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,
Marry that will, I live and die a maid:
Only in this disguise I think't no sin
To cozen him that would unjustly win.


21

IV,4,2453

Helena. Nor you, mistress,
Ever a friend whose thoughts more truly labour
To recompense your love: doubt not but heaven
Hath brought me up to be your daughter's dower,
As it hath fated her to be my motive
And helper to a husband. But, O strange men!
That can such sweet use make of what they hate,
When saucy trusting of the cozen'd thoughts
Defiles the pitchy night: so lust doth play
With what it loathes for that which is away.
But more of this hereafter. You, Diana,
Under my poor instructions yet must suffer
Something in my behalf.

Diana. Let death and honesty
Go with your impositions, I am yours
Upon your will to suffer.


22

V,3,2858

King of France. I wonder, sir, sith wives are monsters to you,
And that you fly them as you swear them lordship,
Yet you desire to marry.
[Enter Widow and DIANA]
What woman's that?

Diana. I am, my lord, a wretched Florentine,
Derived from the ancient Capilet:
My suit, as I do understand, you know,
And therefore know how far I may be pitied.


23

V,3,2868

Bertram. My lord, I neither can nor will deny
But that I know them: do they charge me further?

Diana. Why do you look so strange upon your wife?


24

V,3,2870

Bertram. She's none of mine, my lord.

Diana. If you shall marry,
You give away this hand, and that is mine;
You give away heaven's vows, and those are mine;
You give away myself, which is known mine;
For I by vow am so embodied yours,
That she which marries you must marry me,
Either both or none.


25

V,3,2886

King of France. Sir, for my thoughts, you have them ill to friend
Till your deeds gain them: fairer prove your honour
Than in my thought it lies.

Diana. Good my lord,
Ask him upon his oath, if he does think
He had not my virginity.


26

V,3,2892

Bertram. She's impudent, my lord,
And was a common gamester to the camp.

Diana. He does me wrong, my lord; if I were so,
He might have bought me at a common price:
Do not believe him. O, behold this ring,
Whose high respect and rich validity
Did lack a parallel; yet for all that
He gave it to a commoner o' the camp,
If I be one.


27

V,3,2906

King of France. Methought you said
You saw one here in court could witness it.

Diana. I did, my lord, but loath am to produce
So bad an instrument: his name's Parolles.


28

V,3,2928

Bertram. I think she has: certain it is I liked her,
And boarded her i' the wanton way of youth:
She knew her distance and did angle for me,
Madding my eagerness with her restraint,
As all impediments in fancy's course
Are motives of more fancy; and, in fine,
Her infinite cunning, with her modern grace,
Subdued me to her rate: she got the ring;
And I had that which any inferior might
At market-price have bought.

Diana. I must be patient:
You, that have turn'd off a first so noble wife,
May justly diet me. I pray you yet;
Since you lack virtue, I will lose a husband;
Send for your ring, I will return it home,
And give me mine again.


29

V,3,2936

King of France. What ring was yours, I pray you?

Diana. Sir, much like
The same upon your finger.


30

V,3,2939

King of France. Know you this ring? this ring was his of late.

Diana. And this was it I gave him, being abed.


31

V,3,2942

King of France. The story then goes false, you threw it him
Out of a casement.

Diana. I have spoke the truth.


32

V,3,2947

King of France. You boggle shrewdly, every feather stars you.
Is this the man you speak of?

Diana. Ay, my lord.


33

V,3,2965

Lafeu. He's a good drum, my lord, but a naughty orator.

Diana. Do you know he promised me marriage?


34

V,3,2981

King of France. Thou hast spoken all already, unless thou canst say
they are married: but thou art too fine in thy
evidence; therefore stand aside.
This ring, you say, was yours?

Diana. Ay, my good lord.


35

V,3,2983

King of France. Where did you buy it? or who gave it you?

Diana. It was not given me, nor I did not buy it.


36

V,3,2985

King of France. Who lent it you?

Diana. It was not lent me neither.


37

V,3,2987

King of France. Where did you find it, then?

Diana. I found it not.


38

V,3,2990

King of France. If it were yours by none of all these ways,
How could you give it him?

Diana. I never gave it him.


39

V,3,2994

King of France. This ring was mine; I gave it his first wife.

Diana. It might be yours or hers, for aught I know.


40

V,3,2999

King of France. Take her away; I do not like her now;
To prison with her: and away with him.
Unless thou tell'st me where thou hadst this ring,
Thou diest within this hour.

Diana. I'll never tell you.


41

V,3,3001

King of France. Take her away.

Diana. I'll put in bail, my liege.


42

V,3,3003

King of France. I think thee now some common customer.

Diana. By Jove, if ever I knew man, 'twas you.


43

V,3,3005

King of France. Wherefore hast thou accused him all this while?

Diana. Because he's guilty, and he is not guilty:
He knows I am no maid, and he'll swear to't;
I'll swear I am a maid, and he knows not.
Great king, I am no strumpet, by my life;
I am either maid, or else this old man's wife.


44

V,3,3011

King of France. She does abuse our ears: to prison with her.

Diana. Good mother, fetch my bail. Stay, royal sir:
[Exit Widow]
The jeweller that owes the ring is sent for,
And he shall surety me. But for this lord,
Who hath abused me, as he knows himself,
Though yet he never harm'd me, here I quit him:
He knows himself my bed he hath defiled;
And at that time he got his wife with child:
Dead though she be, she feels her young one kick:
So there's my riddle: one that's dead is quick:
And now behold the meaning.


Return to the "All's Well That Ends Well" menu