←

All's Well That Ends Well, Act 4, Scene 2

William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Having cured the king, Helena marries Bertram, who leaves for Florence and demands his ring and a child before accepting her as his wife. He woos Diana. Helena secures her mother’s help: Diana is to demand his ring and arrange a meeting, with Helena taking her place.

In the last scene: Act 4, Scene 1

Parolles admits he intends to invent an account of recovering the drum. The First Lord’s soldiers seize and blindfold him, speaking nonsense to impersonate foreign enemies. Through a supposed interpreter, Parolles offers to reveal his camp’s secrets to save his life. The lord sends word to Bertram and keeps Parolles imprisoned.

SCENE II. Florence. A room in the Widow’s house.

Enter Bertram and Diana.
BERTRAM
They told me that your name was Fontybell.
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 oneAs you are now; for you are cold and stern,And now you should be as your mother wasWhen 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 a’ that!I pr’ythee do not strive against my vows;I was compell’d to her; but I love theeBy love’s own sweet constraint, and will for everDo thee all rights of service.
DIANA
Ay, so you serve usTill 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 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 attributesI lov’d you dearly, would you believe my oathsWhen I did love you ill? This has no holding,To swear by him whom I protest to loveThat I will work against him. Therefore your oathsAre words and poor conditions; but unseal’d,—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 craftsThat you do charge men with. Stand no more off,But give thyself unto my sick desires,Who then recovers. Say thou art mine, and everMy love as it begins shall so persever.
DIANA
I see that men make hopes in such a case,That we’ll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.
BERTRAM
I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no powerTo give it from me.
DIANA
Will you not, my lord?
BERTRAM
It is an honour ’longing to our house,Bequeathed down from many ancestors,Which were the greatest obloquy i’ the worldIn me to lose.
DIANA
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 worldIn me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdomBrings in the champion honour on my partAgainst 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 conquer’d my yet maiden-bed,Remain there but an hour, nor speak to me.My reasons are most strong; and you shall know themWhen back again this ring shall be deliver’d;And on your finger in the night, I’ll putAnother ring, that what in time proceedsMay token to the future our past deeds.Adieu till then; then fail not. You have wonA 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 menHave the like oaths. He had sworn to marry meWhen his wife’s dead; therefore I’ll lie with himWhen 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 sinTo cozen him that would unjustly win.
Exit.

Characters

Speaking

  • 10 speeches
  • 10 speeches

All the characters ›

Themes

All the themes ›

Questions on this scene

  • Reading

    Whom does Diana remind Bertram he owes duty to?

Locations

  • FlorenceScene

    Bertram serves in the Duke's army during the war against Siena. In Florence and its neighbouring military camp, Helena meets Diana and the Widow, arranges the bed-trick, and secures Bertram's ring; Parolles is exposed through a staged interrogation.

    Set here · 2 quotes in this scene