SCENE II
Mytilene. A room in a brothel.
[Enter Pandar, Bawd, and BOULT]
Pandar
Boult!
Boult!
BOULT
Sir?
Sir?
Pandar
Search the market narrowly; Mytilene is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless.
Search the market narrowly; Mytilene is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless.
Bawd
We were never so much out of creatures. We have but poor three, and they can do no more than they can do; and they with continual action are even as good as rotten.
We were never so much out of creatures. We have but poor three, and they can do no more than they can do; and they with continual action are even as good as rotten.
Pandar
Therefore let’s have fresh ones, whate’er we pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade, we shall never prosper.
Therefore let’s have fresh ones, whate’er we pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade, we shall never prosper.
Bawd
Thou sayest true: ’tis not our bringing up of poor bastards, – as, I think, I have brought up some eleven –
Thou sayest true: ’tis not our bringing up of poor bastards, – as, I think, I have brought up some eleven –
BOULT
Ay, to eleven; and brought them down again. But shall I search the market?
Ay, to eleven; and brought them down again. But shall I search the market?
Bawd
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
Pandar
Thou sayest true; they’re too unwholesome, o’ conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage.
Thou sayest true; they’re too unwholesome, o’ conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage.
BOULT
Ay, she quickly pooped him; she made him roast-meat for worms. But I’ll go search the market.
Ay, she quickly pooped him; she made him roast-meat for worms. But I’ll go search the market.
[Exit]
Pandar
Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
Bawd
Why to give over, I pray you? is it a shame to get when we are old?
Why to give over, I pray you? is it a shame to get when we are old?
Pandar
O, our credit comes not in like the commodity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger: therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, ’twere not amiss to keep our door hatched. Besides, the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong with us for giving over.
O, our credit comes not in like the commodity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger: therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, ’twere not amiss to keep our door hatched. Besides, the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong with us for giving over.
Bawd
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
Pandar
As well as we! ay, and better too; we offend worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it’s no calling. But here comes Boult.
As well as we! ay, and better too; we offend worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it’s no calling. But here comes Boult.
[Re-enter BOULT, with the Pirates and MARINA]
BOULT
| [To MARINA] | Come your ways. My masters, you say she’s a virgin? |
First Pirate
O, sir, we doubt it not.
O, sir, we doubt it not.
BOULT
Master, I have gone through for this piece, you see: if you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
Master, I have gone through for this piece, you see: if you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
Bawd
Boult, has she any qualities?
Boult, has she any qualities?
BOULT
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent good clothes: there’s no further necessity of qualities can make her be refused.
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent good clothes: there’s no further necessity of qualities can make her be refused.
Bawd
What’s her price, Boult?
What’s her price, Boult?
BOULT
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
Pandar
Well, follow me, my masters, you shall have your money presently. Wife, take her in; instruct her what she has to do, that she may not be raw in her entertainment.
Well, follow me, my masters, you shall have your money presently. Wife, take her in; instruct her what she has to do, that she may not be raw in her entertainment.
[Exeunt Pandar and Pirates]
Bawd
Boult, take you the marks of her, the colour of her hair, complexion, height, age, with warrant of her virginity; and cry ’He that will give most shall have her first.’ Such a maidenhead were no cheap thing, if men were as they have been. Get this done as I command you.
Boult, take you the marks of her, the colour of her hair, complexion, height, age, with warrant of her virginity; and cry ’He that will give most shall have her first.’ Such a maidenhead were no cheap thing, if men were as they have been. Get this done as I command you.
BOULT
Performance shall follow.
Performance shall follow.
[Exit]
MARINA
Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow!
He should have struck, not spoke; or that these pirates,
Not enough barbarous, had not o’erboard thrown me
For to seek my mother!
Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow!
He should have struck, not spoke; or that these pirates,
Not enough barbarous, had not o’erboard thrown me
For to seek my mother!
Bawd
Why lament you, pretty one?
Why lament you, pretty one?
MARINA
That I am pretty.
That I am pretty.
Bawd
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
MARINA
I accuse them not.
I accuse them not.
Bawd
You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.
You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.
MARINA
The more my fault
To scape his hands where I was like to die.
The more my fault
To scape his hands where I was like to die.
Bawd
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
MARINA
No.
No.
Bawd
Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all fashions: you shall fare well; you shall have the difference of all complexions. What! do you stop your ears?
Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all fashions: you shall fare well; you shall have the difference of all complexions. What! do you stop your ears?
MARINA
Are you a woman?
Are you a woman?
Bawd
What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?
What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?
MARINA
An honest woman, or not a woman.
An honest woman, or not a woman.
Bawd
Marry, whip thee, gosling: I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you’re a young foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.
Marry, whip thee, gosling: I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you’re a young foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.
MARINA
The gods defend me!
The gods defend me!
Bawd
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then men must comfort you, men must feed you, men must stir you up. Boult’s returned.
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then men must comfort you, men must feed you, men must stir you up. Boult’s returned.
[Re-enter BOULT]
Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?
BOULT
I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs; I have drawn her picture with my voice.
I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs; I have drawn her picture with my voice.
Bawd
And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
BOULT
’Faith, they listened to me as they would have hearkened to their father’s testament. There was a Spaniard’s mouth so watered, that he went to bed to her very description.
’Faith, they listened to me as they would have hearkened to their father’s testament. There was a Spaniard’s mouth so watered, that he went to bed to her very description.
Bawd
We shall have him here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
We shall have him here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
BOULT
To-night, to-night. But, mistress, do you know the French knight that cowers i’ the hams?
To-night, to-night. But, mistress, do you know the French knight that cowers i’ the hams?
Bawd
Who, Monsieur Veroles?
Who, Monsieur Veroles?
BOULT
Ay, he: he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation; but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her to-morrow.
Ay, he: he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation; but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her to-morrow.
Bawd
Well, well; as for him, he brought his disease hither: here he does but repair it. I know he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the
sun.
Well, well; as for him, he brought his disease hither: here he does but repair it. I know he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the
sun.
BOULT
Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, we should lodge them with this sign.
Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, we should lodge them with this sign.
Bawd
[To MARINA] Pray you, come hither awhile. You have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly, despise profit where you have most gain. To weep that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers: seldom but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that opinion a mere profit.
[To MARINA] Pray you, come hither awhile. You have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly, despise profit where you have most gain. To weep that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers: seldom but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that opinion a mere profit.
MARINA
I understand you not.
I understand you not.
BOULT
O, take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practise.
O, take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practise.
Bawd
Thou sayest true, i’ faith, so they must; for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant.
Thou sayest true, i’ faith, so they must; for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant.
BOULT
’Faith, some do, and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargained for the joint, –
’Faith, some do, and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargained for the joint, –
Bawd
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
BOULT
I may so.
I may so.
Bawd
Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like the manner of your garments well.
Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like the manner of your garments well.
BOULT
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
Bawd
Boult, spend thou that in the town: report what a sojourner we have; you’ll lose nothing by custom. When nature flamed this piece, she meant thee a good turn; therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report.
Boult, spend thou that in the town: report what a sojourner we have; you’ll lose nothing by custom. When nature flamed this piece, she meant thee a good turn; therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report.
BOULT
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stir up the lewdly-inclined. I’ll bring home some to-night.
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stir up the lewdly-inclined. I’ll bring home some to-night.
Bawd
Come your ways; follow me.
Come your ways; follow me.
MARINA
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,
Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.
Diana, aid my purpose!
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,
Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.
Diana, aid my purpose!
Bawd
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?
[Exeunt]
