The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_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, 5
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. 10
_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 prithee, do not strive against my vows:
I was compell'd to her; but I love thee 15
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! 20
_Dia._ 'Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth,
But the plain single vow that is vow'd 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, 25
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 unseal'd, 30
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, 35
Who then recover: say thou art mine, and ever
My love as it begins shall so persever.
_Dia._ I see that men make rope's in such a scarre
That we'll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
_Ber._ I'll lend it thee, my dear; but have no power 40
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: 45
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, 50
Against your vain assault.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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