Notes & Queries Archive
NOTE1851

ON TWO PASSAGES IN "ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL."

By S. W. SINGER.

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 swo…

Topics: Shakespearean Literature, Textual Analysis, Historical Linguistics