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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].

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ACT IV. Enter Gower⁸ ^note.

Gow.
Imagine Pericles arriv'd at Tyre⁹ ^note

,
Welcom'd and settled to his own desire.

-- 130 --

His woful queen leave at Ephesus,
Unto Diana there a votaress¹ ^note

.
Now to Marina bend your mind,
Whom our fast-growing scene must find² ^note

At Tharsus, and by Cleon train'd
In musick, letters³ ^note

; who hath gain'd
Of education all the grace,
Which makes her both the heart and place
Of general wonder⁴ ^note

. But alack!
That monster envy, oft the wrack

-- 131 --

Of earned praise⁵ ^note

, Marina's life
Seeks to take off by treason's knife.
And in this kind hath our Cleon
One daughter, and a wench⁶ ^note

full grown,
Even ripe for marriage fight⁷ ^note

; this maid
Hight Philoten: and it is said

-- 132 --

For certain in our story, she
Would ever with Marina be:
Be't when she weav'd the sleided silk⁸ ^note

With fingers, long, small, white⁹ ^note as milk;
Or when she would with sharp neeld wound¹ ^note

The cambrick, which she made more sound
By hurting it; or when to the lute
She sung, and made the night-bird mute,

-- 133 --

That still records with moan² ^note

; or when
She would with rich and constant pen
Vail to her mistress Dian³ ^note

; still
This Philoten contends in skill

-- 134 --

With absolute Marina⁴ ^note

: so
With the dove of Paphos might the crow
Vie feathers white⁵ ^note

. Marina gets
All praises, which are paid as debts,
And not as given. This so darks
In Philoten all graceful marks⁶ ^note

-- 135 --

That Cleon's wife, with envy rare⁷ ^note,
A present murderer does prepare
For good Marina, that her daughter
Might stand peerless by this slaughter.
The sooner her vile thoughts to stead,
Lychorida, our nurse, is dead:
And cursed Dionyza hath
The pregnant instrument of wrath⁸ ^note

Prest for this blow⁹ ^note

. The unborn event
I do commend to your content¹ ^note

:
Only I carry² ^note winged time³ ^note

Post on the lame feet of my rhyme;

-- 136 --

Which never could I so convey,
Unless your thoughts went on my way.—
Dionyza does appear,
With Leonine, a murderer. [Exit. SCENE I. Tharsus. An open Place near the Sea-shore. Enter Dionyza and Leonine.

Dion.
Thy oath remember; thou hast sworn to do it⁴ ^note

:
'Tis but a blow, which never shall be known.
Thou canst not do a thing i' the world so soon,
To yield thee so much profit. Let not conscience,
Which is but cold, inflame love in thy bosom⁵ ^note

-- 137 --

Inflame too nicely; nor let pity, which
Even women have cast off, melt thee, but be
A soldier to thy purpose.

Leon.
I'll do't; but yet she is a goodly creature⁶ ^note

.

Dion.
The fitter then the gods should have her⁷ ^note

. Here

-- 138 --

Weeping she comes for her old nurse's death⁸ ^note

.
Thou art resolv'd?

Leon.
I am resolv'd. Enter Marina, with a Basket of Flowers.

Mar.
No, I will rob Tellus of her weed,
To strew thy green with flowers⁹ ^note

: the yellows, blues,

-- 139 --

The purple violets, and marigolds,
Shall, as a carpet, hang upon thy grave,
While summer days do last¹ ^note

. Ah me! poor maid,
Born in a tempest, when my mother died,
This world to me is like a lasting storm,
Whirring me from my friends² ^note

-- 140 --

Dion.
How now, Marina! why do you keep alone³ ^note

?
How chance my daughter is not with you⁴ ^note

? Do not
Consume your blood with sorrowing⁵ ^note: you have
A nurse of me⁶ ^note

. Lord! how your favour's chang'd⁷ ^note

-- 141 --

With this unprofitable woe! Come, come;
Give me your wreath of flowers, ere the sea mar it.
Walk forth with Leonine; the air is quick there⁸ ^note

,
And it pierces and sharpens the stomach. Come⁹ ^note
;—
Leonine, take her by the arm, walk with her.

Mar.
No, I pray you;
I'll not bereave you of your servant.

Dion.
Come, come;
I love the king your father, and yourself,
With more than foreign heart¹ ^note. We every day
Expect him here: when he shall come, and find
Our paragon to all reports² ^note

, thus blasted,

-- 142 --

He will repent the breadth of his great voyage;
Blame both my lord and me, that we have ta'en
No care to your best courses³ ^note

. Go, I pray you,
Walk, and be cheerful once again; reserve
That excellent complexion, which did steal
The eyes of young and old⁴ ^note

. Care not for me;
I can go home alone.

Mar.
Well, I will go;
But yet I have no desire to it⁵ ^note

.

Dion.
Come, come, I know 'tis good for you.
Walk half an hour, Leonine, at the least;
Remember what I have said.

Leon.
I warrant you, madam.

Dion.
I'll leave you, my sweet lady, for a while;

-- 143 --

Pray you walk softly, do not heat your blood:
What! I must have a care of you.

Mar.
Thanks, sweet madam.— [Exit Dionyza.
Is this wind westerly that blows?

Leon.
South-west.

Mar.
When I was born, the wind was north.

Leon.
Was't so?

Mar.
My father, as nurse said, did never fear,
But cry'd, good seamen! to the sailors, galling
His kingly hands with hauling of the ropes⁶ ^note

;
And, clasping to the mast, endur'd a sea
That almost burst the deck.

Leon.
When was this?

Mar.
When I was born:
Never was waves nor wind more violent;
And from the ladder-tackle washes off
A canvas-climber⁷ ^note

. Ha! says one, wilt out?

-- 144 --

And with a dropping industry they skip
From stem to stern⁹ ^note

: the boatswain whistles, and
The master calls, and trebles their confusion¹ ^note

.

Leon.
Come, say your prayers.

Mar.
What mean you?

Leon.
If you require a little space for prayer,
I grant it: Pray; but be not tedious,
For the gods are quick of ear, and I am sworn
To do my work with haste.

-- 145 --

Mar.
Why, will you kill me² ^note

Leon.
To satisfy my lady.

Mar.
Why would she have me kill'd?
Now as I can remember, by my troth,
I never did her hurt in all my life;
I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn
To any living creature: believe me, la,
I never kill'd a mouse, nor hurt a fly:
I trod upon a worm against my will,
But I wept for it³ ^note

. How have I offended,
Wherein my death might yield her profit, or
My life imply her danger.

-- 146 --

Leon.
My commission
Is not to reason of the deed, but do it.

Mar.
You will not do't for all the world, I hope.
You are well favour'd, and your looks foreshow
You have a gentle heart. I saw you lately,
When you caught hurt in parting two that fought:
Good sooth, it show'd well in you; do so now:
Your lady seeks my life; come you between,
And save poor me, the weaker.

Leon.
I am sworn,
And will despatch. Enter Pirates, whilst Marina is struggling.

1 Pirate.

Hold, villain!

[Leonine runs away⁴ ^note.

2 Pirate.

A prize! a prize!

3 Pirate.

Half-part, mates, half-part. Come, let's have her aboard suddenly.

[Exeunt Pirates with Marina. SCENE II. The Same. Re-enter Leonine.

Leon.
These roguing thieves serve the great pirate Valdes⁵ ^note

;

-- 147 --

And they have seiz'd Marina. Let her go:
There's no hope she'll return. I'll swear she's dead,
And thrown into the sea.—But I'll see further;
Perhaps they will but please themselves upon her,
Not carry her aboard. If she remain,
Whom they have ravish'd, must by me be slain. [Exit. SCENE III. Mitylene. A Room in a Brothel. Enter Pander, Bawd, and Boult.

Pand.

Boult.

Sir.

Pand.

Search the market narrowly; Mitylene 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 with continual action⁶ ^note are even as good as rotten.

Pand.

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 prosper⁷ ^note.

-- 148 --

Bawd.

Thou say'st true: 'tis not the bringing up of poor bastards⁸ ^note, as I think, I have brought up some eleven—

Boult.

Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again⁹ ^note

. 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.

Pand.

Thou say'st true; they're too unwholesome o' conscience¹ ^note. The poor Transilvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage.

-- 149 --

Boult.

Ay, she quickly pooped him² ^note

; she made him roast-meat for worms:—but I'll go search the market.

[Exit Boult.

Pand.

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?

Pand.

O, our credit comes not in like the commodity: nor the commodity wages not with the danger³ ^note

; therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, 'twere not amiss to keep our door hatched⁴ ^note

. Besides, the sore terms we stand upon with the gods, will be strong with us for giving over.

-- 150 --

[unresolved image link]
Vnto this Island and great Plutoes Court,
  none are deny'd that willingly resort,
Charon or'e Phlegeton will set on shoare,
  and Cerberus will guard you to the doore:
Where dainty Deuils drest in humane shape,
  vpon your senses soone will make a rape.
They that come freely to this house of sinne,
  in Hell as freely may have entrance in.

-- 151 --

Bawd.

Come, other sorts offend as well as we⁵ ^note

Pand.

As well as we! ay, and better too; we

-- 152 --

offend worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it's no calling:—but here comes Boult.

Enter the Pirates, and Boult, dragging in Marina.

Boult.

Come your ways. [To Marina.]—My masters, you say she's a virgin?

1 Pirate.

O, sir, we doubt it not.

Boult.

Master, I have gone thorough⁶ ^note for this piece, you see: if you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.

Bawd.

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.

Bawd.

What's her price, Boult?

Boult.

I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces⁷ ^note.

-- 153 --

Pand.

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 entertainment⁸ ^note.

[Exeunt Pander and Pirates.

Bawd.

Boult, take you the marks of her; the colour of her hair, complexion, height, age⁹ ^note, with warrant of her virginity; and cry, He that will give most, shall have her first¹ ^note. 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.

[Exit Boult.

Mar.
Alack, that Leonine was so slack, so slow!
(He should have struck, not spoke;) or that these pirates,
(Not enough barbarous,) had not overboard thrown me
For to seek my mother² ^note

-- 154 --

Bawd.

Why lament you, pretty one?

Mar.

That I am pretty.

Bawd.

Come, the gods have done their part in you.

Mar.

I accuse them not.

Bawd.

You are lit into my hands, where you are like to live² ^note

.

Mar.
The more my fault,
To 'scape his hands, where I was like to die.

Bawd.

Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.

Mar.

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?

Mar.

Are you a woman?

Bawd.

What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?

Mar.

An honest woman, or not a woman.

Bawd.

Marry, whip thee, gosling: I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you are a young foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.

Mar.

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.

Enter Boult.

Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?

-- 155 --

Boult.

I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs; I have drawn her picture with my voice³ ^note

Bawd.

And I pr'ythee 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 went⁴ ^note to bed to her very description.

Bawd.

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 hams⁵ ^note

Bawd.

Who? monsieur Veroles?

Boult.

Ay; he offered to cut a caper at the

-- 156 --

proclamation; but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her to-morrow⁶ ^note.

Bawd.

Well, well; as for him, he brought his disease hither: here he does but repair it⁷ ^note

. I know, he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the sun⁸ ^note

-- 157 --

Boult.

Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, we should lodge them with this sign⁹ ^note.

Bawd.

Pray you, come hither awhile. You have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me; you must seem to do that fearfully, which you commit willingly; to despise profit, where you have most gain. To weep that you live as you do, makes pity in your lovers: Seldom, but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that opinion a mere profit¹ ^note

Mar.

I understand you not.

Boult.

O, take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of her's must be quenched with some present practice.

Bawd.

Thou say'st true, i' faith, so they must: for your bride goes to that with shame, which is her way to go with warrant² ^note.

-- 158 --

Boult.

'Faith some do, and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargained for the joint,—

Bawd.

Thou may'st cut a morsel off the spit.

Boult.

I may so.

Bawd.

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.

Bawd.

Boult, spend thou that in the town: report what a sojourner we have; you'll lose nothing by custom. When nature framed this piece, she meant thee a good turn³ ^note

; therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report⁴ ^note
.

Boult.

I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels⁵ ^note

, as my giving out her beauty stir up the lewdly-inclined. I'll bring home some to-night.

Bawd.

Come your ways; follow me.

Mar.
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep⁶ ^note

-- 159 --

Untied I still my virgin knot will keep⁷ ^note
.
Diana, aid my purpose!

Bawd.

What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?

[Exeunt. SCENE IV. Tharsus. A Room in Cleon's House. Enter Cleon and Dionyza.

Dion.
Why, are you foolish? Can it be undone⁸ ^note
?

Cle.
O Dionyza, such a piece of slaughter
The sun and moon ne'er look'd upon!

Dion.
I think
You'll turn a child again.

Cle.
Were I chief lord of all the spacious world,
I'd give it to undo the deed⁹ ^note

. O lady,
Much less in blood than virtue, yet a princess
To equal any single crown o' the earth,
I' the justice of compare! O villain Leonine,
Whom thou hast poison'd too!
If thou hadst drunk to him, it had been a kindness

-- 160 --

Becoming well thy feat¹ ^note

: what can'st thou say,
When noble Pericles shall demand his child² ^note

Dion.
That she is dead. Nurses are not the fates,
To foster it, nor ever to preserve³ ^note

.
She died at night⁴ ^note

; I'll say so. Who can cross it⁵ ^note

?

-- 161 --

Unless you play the impious innocent⁶ ^note

,
And for an honest attribute, cry out,
She died by foul play.

Cle.
O, go to. Well, well,
Of all the faults beneath the heavens, the gods
Do like this worst.

Dion.
Be one of those, that think
The petty wrens of Tharsus will fly hence⁷ ^note,
And open this to Pericles. I do shame
To think of what a noble strain you are,
And of how coward a spirit⁸ ^note

-- 162 --

Cle.
To such proceeding
Who ever but his approbation added,
Though not his pre-consent⁹ ^note

, he did not flow
From honourable courses.

Dion.
Be it so then:
Yet none does know, but you, how she came dead,
Nor none can know, Leonine being gone.
She did disdain my child¹ ^note

, and stood between
Her and her fortunes: None would look on her,
But cast their gazes on Marina's face;
Whilst ours was blurted at² ^note

, and held a malkin,

-- 163 --

Not worth the time of day³ ^note
. It pierc'd me thorough;
And though you call my course unnatural⁴ ^note

,
You not your child well loving, yet I find,
It greets me, as an enterprize of kindness,
Perform'd to your sole daughter⁵ ^note

.

Cle.
Heavens forgive it!

-- 164 --

Dion.
And as for Pericles,
What should he say? We wept after her hearse,
And even yet we mourn: her monument
Is almost finish'd, and her epitaphs
In glittering golden characters express
A general praise to her, and care in us
At whose expence 'tis done.

Cle.
Thou art like the harpy,
Which, to betray, doth with thine angel's face,
Seize with thine eagle's talons⁶ ^note

Dion.
You are like one, that superstitiously
Doth swear to the gods, that winter kills the flies⁷ ^note

;
But yet I know you'll do as I advise. [Exeunt.

-- 165 --

Enter Gower, before the Monument of Marina at Tharsus.

Gow.
Thus time we waste, and longest leagues make short;
Sail seas in cockles⁸ ^note

, have, and wish but for't;
Making, (to take your imagination,)
From bourn to bourn⁹ ^note

, region to region.

-- 166 --

By you being pardon'd, we commit no crime
To use one language, in each several clime,
Where our scenes seem to live. I do beseech you,
To learn of me, who stand i' the gaps to teach you
The stages of our story¹ ^note

. Pericles
Is now again thwarting the wayward seas² ^note

-- 167 --

(Attended on by many a lord and knight,)
To see his daughter, all his life's delight.
Old Escanes, whom Helicanus late³ ^note

Advanc'd in time to great and high estate,
Is left to govern. Bear you it in mind,
Old Helicanus goes along behind.
Well-sailing ships, and bounteous winds, have brought
This king to Tharsus, (think his pilot thought;
So with his steerage shall your thoughts grow on,)
To fetch his daughter home, who first is gone⁴ ^note

-- 168 --

Like motes and shadows see them move awhile⁵ ^note
;
Your ears unto your eyes I'll reconcile. Dumb show. Enter at one door, Pericles with his Train; Cleon and Dionyza at the other. Cleon shows Pericles the Tomb of Marina; whereat Pericles makes lamentation, puts on Suckcloth, and in a mighty passion departs. Then Cleon and Dionyza retire.

Gow.
See how belief may suffer by foul show!
This borrow'd passion stands for true old woe⁶ ^note

;

-- 169 --

And Pericles, in sorrow all devour'd,
With sighs shot through, and biggest tears o'ershow'r'd,
Leaves Tharsus, and again embarks. He swears
Never to wash his face, nor cut his hairs;
He puts on sackcloth, and to sea. He bears
A tempest, which his mortal vessel tears⁷ ^note

,
And yet he rides it out. Now please you wit⁸ ^note

The epitaph is for Marina writ
By wicked Dionyza. [Reads the inscription on Marina's Monument.

The fairest, sweet'st, and best⁹ ^note

, lies here,
Who wither'd in her spring of year.
She was of Tyrus, the king's daughter,
On whom foul death hath made this slaughter;
Marina was she call'd¹ ^note

; and at her birth,

-- 170 --

Thetis, being proud, swallow'd some part o' the earth² ^note

:
Therefore the earth, fearing to be o'erflow'd,
Hath Thetis' birth-child on the heavens bestow'd:

-- 171 --

Wherefore she does, (and swears she'll never stint³ ^note
,)
Make raging battery upon shores of flint.
No visor does become black villainy,
So well as soft and tender flattery.
Let Pericles believe his daughter's dead,
And bear his courses to be ordered
By lady fortune; while our scene must play⁴ ^note

His daughter's woe and heavy well-a-day,
In her unholy service. Patience then,
And think you now are all in Mitylen. [Exit. SCENE V. Mitylene. A Street before the Brothel. Enter, from the Brothel, Two Gentlemen.

1 Gent.

Did you ever hear the like?

-- 172 --

2 Gent.

No, nor never shall do in such a place as this, she being once gone.

1 Gent.

But to have divinity preached there! did you ever dream of such a thing?

2 Gent.

No, no. Come, I am for no more bawdy-houses: Shall we go hear the vestals sing?

1 Gent.

I'll do any thing now that is virtuous; but I am out of the road of rutting, for ever.

[Exeunt. SCENE VI. The Same. A Room in the Brothel. Enter Pander, Bawd, and Boult.

Pand.

Well, I had rather than twice the worth of her, she had ne'er come here.

Bawd.

Fye, fye upon her; she is able to freeze the god Priapus⁵ ^note, and undo a whole generation. We must either get her ravished, or be rid of her. When she should do for clients her fitment, and do me the kindness of our profession, she has me her quirks, her reasons, her master reasons, her prayers, her knees; that she would make a puritan of the devil, if he should cheapen a kiss of her.

Boult.

'Faith, I must ravish her, or she'll disfurnish us of all our cavaliers, and make all our swearers priests.

Pand.

Now, the pox upon her green-sickness for me!

Bawd.

'Faith, there's no way to be rid on't, but

-- 173 --

by the way to the pox. Here comes the lord Lysimachus, disguised⁶ ^note

Boult.

We should have both lord and lown, if the peevish baggage would but give way to customers.

Enter Lysimachus.

Lys.

How now? How a dozen of virginities⁷ ^note
?

Bawd.

Now, the gods to-bless your honour⁸ ^note!

Boult.

I am glad to see your honour in good health.

Lys.

You may so; 'tis the better for you that your resorters stand upon sound legs. How now, wholesome iniquity⁹ ^note. Have you that a man may deal withal, and defy the surgeon?

-- 174 --

Bawd.

We have here one, sir, if she would— but there never came her like in Mitylene.

Lys.

If she'd do the deeds of darkness, thou would'st say.

Bawd.

Your honour knows what 'tis to say, well enough.

Lys.

Well; call forth, call forth.

Boult.

For flesh and blood, sir, white and red, you shall see a rose; and she were a rose indeed, if she had but—

Lys.

What, pr'ythee?

Boult.

O, sir, I can be modest.

Lys.

That dignifies the renown of a bawd, no less than it gives a good report to a number to be chaste¹ ^note

Enter Marina.

Bawd.

Here comes that which grows to the stalk;—never plucked yet, I can assure you. Is she not a fair creature?

Lys.

'Faith, she would serve after a long voyage at sea. Well, there's for you;—leave us.

Bawd.

I beseech your honour, give me leave: a word, and I'll have done presently.

-- 175 --

Lys.

I beseech you, do.

Bawd.

First, I would have you note, this is an honourable man.

[To Marina, whom she takes aside.

Mar.

I desire to find him so, that I may worthily note him.

Bawd.

Next, he's the governor of this country, and a man whom I am bound to.

Mar.

If he govern the country, you are bound to him indeed; but how honourable he is in that, I know not.

Bawd.

'Pray you, without any more virginal fencing² ^note
, will you use him kindly? He will line your apron with gold.

Mar.

What he will do graciously, I will thankfully receive.

Lys.

Have you done?

Bawd.

My lord, she's not paced yet³ ^note; you must take some pains to work her to your manage. Come, we will leave his honour and her together⁴ ^note

[Exeunt Bawd, Pander, and Boult.

Lys.

Go thy ways.—Now, pretty one, how long have you been at this trade?

Mar.

What trade, sir?

-- 176 --

Lys.

What I cannot name but I shall offend⁵ ^note

Mar.

I cannot be offended with my trade. Please you to name it.

Lys.

How long have you been of this profession?

Mar.

Ever since I can remember.

Lys.

Did you go to it so young? Were you a gamester at five, or at seven⁶ ^note

Mar.

Earlier too, sir, if now I be one.

Lys.

Why, the house you dwell in, proclaims you to be a creature of sale.

Mar.

Do you know this house to be a place of such resort, and will come into it? I hear say, you are of honourable parts, and are the governor of this place.

Lys.

Why, hath your principal made known unto you who I am?

Mar.

Who is my principal?

Lys.

Why, your herb-woman; she that sets seed and roots of shame and iniquity. O, you have heard something of my power, and so stand aloof⁷ ^note for more serious wooing. But I protest to thee, pretty one, my authority shall not see thee, or else, look friendly upon thee. Come, bring me to some private place. Come, come.

-- 177 --

Mar.
If you were born to honour, show it now⁸ ^note

;
If put upon you, make the judgment good
That thought you worthy of it.

Lys.
How's this? how's this?—Some more;—be sage⁹ ^note.

Mar.
For me,
That am a maid, though most ungentle fortune
Hath plac'd me here within this loathsome stie,
Where, since I came, diseases have been sold
Dearer than physick,—O that the good gods
Would set me free from this unhallow'd place,
Though they did change me to the meanest bird
That flies i' the purer air!

Lys.
I did not think
Thou could'st have spoke so well; ne'er dream'd thou could'st.
Had I brought hither a corrupted mind,
Thy speech had alter'd it. Hold, here's gold for thee:

-- 178 --

Perséver still in that clear way thou goest¹ ^note

,
And the gods strengthen thee!

Mar.
The gods preserve you!

Lys.
For me, be you thoughten
That I came with no ill intent; for to me
The very doors and windows savour vilely.
Farewell. Thou art a piece of virtue² ^note

, and
I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.—
Hold; here's more gold for thee.—
A curse upon him, die he like a thief,
That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou hear'st from me,
It shall be for thy good. [As Lysimachus is putting up his Purse, Boult enters.

Boult.
I beseech your honour, one piece for me.

Lys.
Avaunt, thou damned door-keeper! Your house,
But for this virgin that doth prop it up,
Would sink, and overwhelm you all. Away! [Exit Lysimachus.

Boult.

How's this? We must take another course with you. If your peevish chastity, which is not worth a breakfast in the cheapest country under

-- 179 --

the cope³ ^note, shall undo a whole household, let me be gelded like a spaniel. Come your ways.

Mar.

Whither would you have me?

Boult.

I must have your maidenhead taken off, or the common hangman shall execute it. Come your way. We'll have no more gentlemen driven away. Come your ways, I say.

Re-enter Bawd.

Bawd.

How now! what's the matter?

Boult.

Worse and worse, mistress; she has here spoken holy words to the lord Lysimachus.

Bawd.

O abominable!

Boult.

She makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods⁴ ^note

.

Bawd.

Marry, hang her up for ever!

Boult.

The nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman, and she sent him away as cold as a snowball; saying his prayers too.

Bawd.

Boult, take her away; use her at thy pleasure: crack the glass of her virginity, and make the rest malleable⁵ ^note

-- 180 --

Boult.

An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is, she shall be ploughed⁶ ^note

.

Mar.

Hark, hark, you gods!

Bawd.

She conjures: away with her. Would she had never come within my doors! Marry hang you! She's born to undo us. Will you not go the way of women-kind? Marry come up, my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays⁷ ^note!

[Exit Bawd.

Boult.

Come, mistress; come your way with me.

Mar.

Whither would you have me?

Boult.

To take from you the jewel you hold so dear.

Mar.

Pr'ythee, tell me one thing first.

Boult.

Come now, your one thing⁸ ^note

.

Mar.

What canst thou wish thine enemy to be?

Boult.

Why, I could wish him to be my master, or rather, my mistress.

Mar.
Neither of these are yet so bad as thou art⁹ ^note,

-- 181 --

Since they do better thee in their command.
Thou hold'st a place, for which the pained'st fiend
Of hell would not in reputation change:
Thou'rt the damn'd door-keeper to every coystrel
That hither comes enquiring for his tib¹ ^note

;
To the cholerick fisting of each rogue thy ear
Is liable; thy very food is such
As hath been belch'd on by infected lungs² ^note.

Boult.

What would you have me? go to the wars, would you? where a man may serve seven years for the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one?

Mar.
Do any thing but this thou doest. Empty
Old receptacles, or common sewers, of filth;
Serve by indenture to the common hangman;
Any of these ways are better yet than this³ ^note

-- 182 --

For that which thou professest, a baboon, could he speak,
Would own a name too dear⁴ ^note

. That the gods
Would safely from this place deliver me!
Here, here is gold for thee.
If that thy master would gain aught by me,
Proclaim that I can sing, weave, sew, and dance,
With other virtues, which I'll keep from boast;
And I will undertake all these to teach.
I doubt not but this populous city will
Yield many scholars⁵ ^note

Boult.
But can you teach all this you speak of?

Mar.
Prove that I cannot, take me home again,
And prostitute me to the basest groom⁶ ^note

That doth frequent your house.

-- 183 --

Boult.

Well, I will see what I can do for thee: if I can place thee, I will.

Mar.

But, amongst honest women?

Boult.

'Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst them. But since my master and mistress have bought you, there's no going but by their consent; therefore I will make them acquainted with your purpose, and I doubt not but I shall find them tractable enough⁷ ^note. Come, I'll do for thee what I can; come your ways.

[Exeunt.

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