How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
DUMAIN
The grosser manner of these world's delights
He throws upon the gross world's baser slaves. (1.1.30-31)
Dumain takes pleasure in the idea of his ascetic (you know, self-denying) vow separating him from peasants.
Quote #2
BEROWNE
O, these are barren tasks, too hard to keep,
Not to see ladies, study, fast, not sleep! (1.1.48-49)
Berowne doesn't agree with pitting man's principles against his natural instincts. And doesn't think he can handle it.
Quote #3
BEROWNE
Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within this three years'
space; (1.1.152-154)
Berowne spies a loophole when the King says he'll welcome the Princess. They'll all just break their vow and call it necessity.
Quote #4
NATHANIEL, reads
'If love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love?
Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vowed!
Though to myself forsworn, to thee I'll faithful prove. (4.2.126-128)
Berowne is worried that Rosaline will accuse him of being incapable of fidelity, since he broke his vow. But for him, it's about priorities – he has to break that vow to make one to her.
Quote #5
KING
And Jove, for your love, would
infringe an oath.
What will Berowne say when that he shall hear
Faith infringed, which such zeal did swear? (4.3.150-153)
The King uses Berowne's razor-sharp wit as an intimidation tactic.
Quote #6
BEROWNE
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths. (4.3.355-356)
Again, Berowne argues that they have more to gain from breaking their promise (which he thought was crazy from the beginning) than keeping it.
Quote #7
PRINCESS
Now by my maiden honor, yet as pure
As the unsullied lily… (5.2.384-385)
The Princess shames the King by bringing up her own virtue.
Quote #8
PRINCESS
So much I hate a breaking cause to be
Of heavenly oaths vowed with integrity. (5.2.388-389)
How much of this is the Princess messing with the King? She's a pretty serious lady – maybe on some level, she means it. She's not sure she can trust this guy.
Quote #9
PRINCESS
Peace, peace, forbear!
Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear. (5.2.481-482)
The Princess has the King in a trap. She's about to reveal that he wooed Rosaline – forcing him to "forswear" or betray himself again.
Quote #10
KING
Berowne, they will shame us. Let them not
approach.
BEROWNE
We are shame-proof, my lord; and 'tis some policy
To have one show worse than the King's and his
company. (5.2.561-565)
The King is worried that the yokels' play will further show him to be a dishonorable man. Berowne assures him that, in their situation, there's nowhere to go but up.