Among the few passages in Shakspeare upon which little light has been
thrown, after all that has been written about them, are the following in
Act. IV. Sc. 2. of _All's Well that Ends Well_, where Bertram is persuading
Diana to yield to his desires:
"_Bert._ I pr'ythee, do not strive against my vows:
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.
_Bert._ 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,
I love'd 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."