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All's Well That Ends Well - Act 4, scene 2
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All's Well That Ends Well - Act 4, scene 2Act 4, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
Diana agrees to lie with Bertram after he reluctantly gives her his ancestral ring.
Enter Bertram and the maid called Diana.BERTRAM
1997 They told me that your name was Fontibell.
DIANA
1998 No, my good lord, Diana.
BERTRAM 1999 Titled goddess,
2000 And worth it, with addition. But, fair soul,
2001 5 In your fine frame hath love no quality?
2002 If the quick fire of youth light not your mind,
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147
2003
You are no maiden but a monument.2004 When you are dead, you should be such a one
2005 As you are now, for you are cold and stern,
2006 10 And now you should be as your mother was
2007 When your sweet self was got.
DIANA
2008 She then was honest.
BERTRAM 2009 So should you be.
DIANA 2010 No.
2011 15 My mother did but duty—such, my lord,
2012 As you owe to your wife.
BERTRAM 2013 No more o’ that.
2014 I prithee do not strive against my vows.
2015 I was compelled to her, but I love thee
2016 20 By love’s own sweet constraint, and will forever
2017 Do thee all rights of service.
DIANA 2018 Ay, so you serve us
2019 Till we serve you. But when you have our roses,
2020 You barely leave our thorns to prick ourselves
2021 25 And mock us with our bareness.
BERTRAM 2022 How have I sworn!
DIANA
2023 ’Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,
2024 But the plain single vow that is vowed true.
2025 What is not holy, that we swear not by,
2026 30 But take the high’st to witness. Then pray you, tell
2027 me,
2028 If I should swear by Jove’s great attributes
2029 I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths
2030 When I did love you ill? This has no holding
2031 35 To swear by him whom I protest to love
2032 That I will work against him. Therefore your oaths
2033 Are words, and poor conditions but unsealed,
2034 At least in my opinion.
BERTRAM 2035 Change it, change it.
2036 40 Be not so holy-cruel. Love is holy,
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149
2037
And my integrity ne’er knew the crafts2038 That you do charge men with. Stand no more off,
2039 But give thyself unto my sick desires,
2040 Who then recovers. Say thou art mine, and ever
2041 45 My love as it begins shall so persever.
DIANA
2042 I see that men ⌜may⌝ rope ’s in such a ⌜snare⌝
2043 That we’ll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
BERTRAM
2044 I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
2045 To give it from me.
DIANA 2046 50 Will you not, my lord?
BERTRAM
2047 It is an honor ’longing to our house,
2048 Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
2049 Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
2050 In me to lose.
DIANA 2051 55 Mine honor’s such a ring.
2052 My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
2053 Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
2054 Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
2055 In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom
2056 60 Brings in the champion Honor on my part
2057 Against your vain assault.
BERTRAM 2058 Here, take my ring.
2059 My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
2060 And I’ll be bid by thee.
DIANA
2061 65 When midnight comes, knock at my chamber
2062 window.
2063 I’ll order take my mother shall not hear.
2064 Now will I charge you in the band of truth,
2065 When you have conquered my yet maiden bed,
2066 70 Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me.
2067 My reasons are most strong, and you shall know them
2068 When back again this ring shall be delivered.
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2069
And on your finger in the night I’ll put2070 Another ring, that what in time proceeds
2071 75 May token to the future our past deeds.
2072 Adieu till then; then, fail not. You have won
2073 A wife of me, though there my hope be done.
BERTRAM
2074 A heaven on Earth I have won by wooing thee.
DIANA
2075 For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
2076 80 You may so in the end.⌜He exits.⌝
2077 My mother told me just how he would woo
2078 As if she sat in ’s heart. She says all men
2079 Have the like oaths. He had sworn to marry me
2080 When his wife’s dead. Therefore I’ll lie with him
2081 85 When I am buried. Since Frenchmen are so braid,
2082 Marry that will, I live and die a maid.
2083 Only, in this disguise I think ’t no sin
2084 To cozen him that would unjustly win.
She exits.