Act IV, Scene 2

Florence. The Widow’s house.

[Enter BERTRAM and DIANA]

• Bertram. They told me that your name was Fontibell.

• Diana. No, my good lord, Diana. 2005

• 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: 2010
  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. 2015

• Bertram. So should you be.

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

• Bertram. No more o' that; 2020
  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 2025
  Till we serve you; but when you have our roses,
  You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves
  And mock us with our bareness.

• Bertram. How have I sworn!

• Diana. 'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth, 2030
  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, 2035
  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. 2040

• 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, 2045
  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.

• Bertram. I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power 2050
  To give it from me.

• Diana. Will you not, my lord?

• Bertram. It is an honour 'longing to our house,
  Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
  Which were the greatest obloquy i' the world 2055
  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 2060
  In me to lose: thus your own proper wisdom
  Brings in the champion Honour on my part,
  Against your vain assault.

• Bertram. Here, take my ring:
  My house, mine honour, yea, my life, be thine, 2065
  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, 2070
  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 2075
  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.

• Bertram. A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.

[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 2085
  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. 2090

[Exit]