Bertram

They told me that your name was Fontibell.

Diana

No, my good lord, Diana.

Bertram

Titled goddess;

And worth it, with addition! But, fair soul,

In your fine frame hath love no quality?

If the 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 stern;

And now you should be as your mother was

When your sweet self was got.

Diana

She then was honest.

Bertram

So should you be.

Diana

No:

My mother did but duty; such, my lord,

As you owe to your wife.

Bertram

No more a' that;

I prithee, do not strive against my vows:

I was compelled 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.

Bertram

How have I sworn!

Diana

'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,

But the plain single vow that is vowed 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 Jove'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 unsealed,

At least in my opinion.

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 recovers: say thou art mine, and ever

My love as it begins shall so persever.

Diana

I see that men make rope's 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

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

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.

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 conquered 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 delivered:

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.

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

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. Exit.