All's Well That Ends Well (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
[4.2]
¶Bertram They told me that your name was Fontybell.
| 2020Diana | |
| , 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,
2025You 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.
| 2030Diana | ||
| 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.
2035Bertram No more o'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 forever
| ¶Do thee all rights of service. | |
| 2040Diana | |
| 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? | |
2045Diana '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
2050I 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,
| 2055At 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,
2060But 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 ropes in such a scar
¶That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
2065Bertram 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 honor 'longing to our house,
¶Bequeathed down from many ancestors,
2070Which were the greatest obloquy i'th'world
| ¶In me to lose. | |
| ¶Diana | |
| Mine honor's such a ring. | |
¶My chastity's the jewel of our house,
¶Bequeathed down from many ancestors,
2075Which were the greatest obloquy i'th'world,
¶In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom
¶Brings in the champion honor on my part,
| ¶Against your vain assault. | |
| ¶Bertram | |
| Here, take my ring! | |
2080My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
¶And I'll be bid by thee.
¶I'll order take my mother shall not hear.
2085Now 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.
2090And 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.
2095Bertram 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
2100Have 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,
2105To cozen him that would unjustly win.
Exit.