Ber.
They told me, that your name was Fontibell.

Dia.
No, my good lord, Diana.

Ber.
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; 11Q0421
And now you should be as your mother was,
When your sweet self was got.

Dia.
She then was honest.

Ber.
So should you be.

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

Ber.
No more o' that:
I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows^{8 note}.
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.

Dia.
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.

Ber.
How have I sworn?

Dia.
'Tis not the many oaths that make the truth,
But the plain single vow, that is vow'd true.
What is not holy, that we swear not by,
But take the Highest to witness: then, pray you, tell me,
If I should swear by Jove's great attributes^{9 note},
I lov'd you dearly, would you believe my oaths,
When I did love you ill^{1 note}? this has no holding,
To swear by him, whom I protest to love,
That I will work against him 11Q0422^{2 note}

. Therefore, your oaths
Are words, and poor conditions, but unseal'd,
At least, in my opinion.

Ber.
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 recover: say, thou art mine, and ever
My love, as it begins, shall so persever.

Dia.
I see, that men make ropes in such a scarre,
That we'll forsake ourselves 11Q0423^{3 note}
. Give me that ring.

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

Dia.
Will you not, my lord?

Ber.
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.

Dia.
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.

Ber.
Here, take my ring:
My house, mine honour, yea, my life be thine,
And I'll be bid by thee.

Dia.
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,
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
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. 11Q0424

Ber.
A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee. [Exit.

Dia.
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^{4 note},
Marry that will, I live and die a maid^{5 note}:
Only, in this disguise, I think't no sin
To cozen him, that would unjustly win. [Exit.

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