Mira. Do you love me?
Ferd. O Heaven, O Earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true! if hollowly,[422-8] invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else[422-9] i’ the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.
Mira. I am a fool
To weep at what I’m glad of.
Pros. [Aside.] Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!
Ferd. Wherefore weep you?
Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take
What I shall die to want.[422-10] But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I’ll die your maid: to be your fellow[423-11]
You may deny me; but I’ll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.
Ferd. My mistress, dearest,
And I thus humble ever.
Mira. My husband, then?
Ferd. Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage[423-12] e’er of freedom: here’s my hand.
Mira. And mine, with my heart in’t: and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.