As a sacrament of religion—and so do you!
Ernest
Good! Then why practise and preach marriage as a sacrament of property? "Who giveth this woman to be married to this man—" Women are still goods and chattels to be given or sold, are they?
Theodore
Oh, nonsense!
Ernest
Then why keep on making them promise to "serve and obey"? Why marry them with a ring—the link of the ancient chain? [He smiles.] In the days of physical force it was made of iron—now of gold. But it's still a chain, isn't it?
Theodore
Symbols, my dear fellow, not to be taken in a literal sense—time-honored and beautiful symbols.
Ernest