“I see,” said the girl, visibly disappointed that she had elicited from me no hint of embarrassment for being a wanton woman off to couple with heathens.  Having spent over a year in a lunatic asylum for roughy this same “sin,” I am scarcely intimidated by the transparent interrogations of a twit such as Miss Bradley.  “Ambassadors of peace . . . ” she added, trying for a trace of sarcasm in her voice.

“That’s right.” I said, and I quoted:

“‘A peace is of the nature of a conquest;
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.’

So saith the great Shakespeare.”

“Henry VI, Part Two, Act IV, Scene 2!” boomed the Captain, with a broad smile.  And then he quote himself:

“‘ You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.'”

Antony and Cleopatra, Act III, Scene II,” I said with equal pleasure.

(From One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus, St Martins Griffin New York.  1988 p58)