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Original Text

Modern Text
Enter BERTRAM and the maid called DIANA.
Enter BERTRAM and the maid called DIANA.
BERTRAM  
They told me that your name was Fontibell.
BERTRAM  
They told me that your name was Fontibell.
DIANA  
No, my good lord, Diana.
DIANA  
No, my good lord, Diana.
BERTRAM
Titled goddess,
And worth it, with addition. But, fair soul,
5
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,
10
And now you should be as your mother was
When your sweet self was got.
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.
DIANA  
She then was honest.
BERTRAM  
So should you be.
BERTRAM  
So should you be.
DIANA  
No.
15
My mother did but duty—such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.
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
20
By love’s own sweet constraint, and will forever
Do thee all rights of service.
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 forever
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
25
And mock us with our bareness.
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!
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,
30
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
35
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.
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.
40
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
45
My love as it begins shall so persever.
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.
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.
BERTRAM  
I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me.
DIANA  
50
Will you not, my lord?
DIANA  
Will you not, my lord?
BERTRAM  
It is an honor ’longing to our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose.
BERTRAM  
It is an honor ’longing to our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose.
DIANA
55
Mine honor’s such a ring.
My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom
60
Brings in the champion Honor on my part
Against your vain assault.
DIANA
Mine honor’s such a ring.
My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
Bequeathèd 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 Honor on my part
Against your vain assault.
BERTRAM  
Here, take my ring.
My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
And I’ll be bid by thee.
BERTRAM  
Here, take my ring.
My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
And I’ll be bid by thee.
DIANA  
65
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,
70
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
75
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.
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.
BERTRAM  
A heaven on Earth I have won by wooing thee.
DIANA  
For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
He exits.
80
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.
DIANA  
For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
He exits.
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.
She exits.
She exits.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter BERTRAM and the maid called DIANA.
Enter BERTRAM and the maid called DIANA.
BERTRAM  
They told me that your name was Fontibell.
BERTRAM  
They told me that your name was Fontibell.
DIANA  
No, my good lord, Diana.
DIANA  
No, my good lord, Diana.
BERTRAM
Titled goddess,
And worth it, with addition. But, fair soul,
5
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,
10
And now you should be as your mother was
When your sweet self was got.
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.
DIANA  
She then was honest.
BERTRAM  
So should you be.
BERTRAM  
So should you be.
DIANA  
No.
15
My mother did but duty—such, my lord,
As you owe to your wife.
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
20
By love’s own sweet constraint, and will forever
Do thee all rights of service.
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 forever
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
25
And mock us with our bareness.
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!
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,
30
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
35
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.
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.
40
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
45
My love as it begins shall so persever.
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.
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.
BERTRAM  
I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me.
DIANA  
50
Will you not, my lord?
DIANA  
Will you not, my lord?
BERTRAM  
It is an honor ’longing to our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose.
BERTRAM  
It is an honor ’longing to our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose.
DIANA
55
Mine honor’s such a ring.
My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
Bequeathèd down from many ancestors,
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ th’ world
In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom
60
Brings in the champion Honor on my part
Against your vain assault.
DIANA
Mine honor’s such a ring.
My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
Bequeathèd 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 Honor on my part
Against your vain assault.
BERTRAM  
Here, take my ring.
My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
And I’ll be bid by thee.
BERTRAM  
Here, take my ring.
My house, mine honor, yea, my life be thine,
And I’ll be bid by thee.
DIANA  
65
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,
70
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
75
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.
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.
BERTRAM  
A heaven on Earth I have won by wooing thee.
DIANA  
For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
He exits.
80
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.
DIANA  
For which live long to thank both heaven and me!
He exits.
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.
She exits.
She exits.
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