Your Highness can obtain nothing from me, save by means equally unworthy of knighthood or manhood." "You are bold, Catharine," said the Prince, "but neither as a knight nor a man can I avoid accepting a defiance.

I must teach you the risk of such challenges." While he spoke, he attempted to throw his arms again around her; but she eluded his grasp, and proceeded in the same tone of firm decision.
"My strength, my lord, is as great to defend myself in an honourable strife as yours can be to assail me with a most dishonourable purpose.
Do not shame yourself and me by putting it to the combat.

You may stun me with blows, or you may call aid to overpower me; but otherwise you will fail of your purpose." "What a brute you would make me!" said the Prince.

"The force I would use is no more than excuses women in yielding to their own weakness." He sat down in some emotion.
"Then keep it," said Catharine, "for those women who desire such an excuse.

My resistance is that of the most determined mind which love of honour and fear of shame ever inspired.