Florence. A Room in the Widow's House.
 Enter BERTRAM and DIANA.

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 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 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 may rope's in such a snare
	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,
	Bequeathd down from many ancestors,
	Which were the greatest obloquy i'th' world
	In me to lose.

Diana					Mine honour's such a ring;
	My chastity's the jewel of our house,
	Bequeathd down from many ancestors,
	Which were the greatest obloquy i'th' 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.
