Pand.

Boult.

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 action 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 us'd in every trade, we shall never prosper^{6 note}
.

Bawd.

Thou say'st true: 'tis not our bringing up of poor bastards^{7 note}, as I think, I have brought up some eleven—

Boult.

Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again^{8 note}

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' conscience. The poor Transilvanian is dead that lay with the little baggage^{9 note}.

Boult.

Ay, she quickly poop'd him^{1 note}

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

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 danger^{2 note}

: therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, 'twere not amiss to keep our door hatch'd^{3 note}. 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^{4 note}.

Pand.

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.

Boult.

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

1 Pirat.

O sir, we doubt it not.

Boult.

Master, I have gone thorough^{5 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 hath excellent good cloaths; there's no farther necessity of qualities can make her be refused.

Bawd.

What's her price, Boult?

Boult.

I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces^{6 note}.

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 entertainment^{7 note}.

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^{8 note}. Such a maiden-head were no cheap thing, if men were as they have been. Get this done as I command you.

Boult.

Performance shall follow.

Mar.
Alack, that Leonine was so slack, so slow!
(He should have struck, not spoke;) or that these pirates,
Not enough barbarous, had but over-board
Thrown me^{9 note}
, to seek my mother!

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 live.

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 return'd.

Now, sir, hast thou cry'd her through the market?

Boult.

I have cry'd her almost to the number of her hairs; I have drawn her picture with my voice.

Bawd.

And I pr'ythee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?

Boult.

'Faith they listen'd to me, as they would have hearken'd to their father's testament. There was a Spaniard's mouth so water'd, that he went 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 hams^{1 note}

Bawd.

Who? monsieur Veroles?

Boult.

Ay; he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation; but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her to-morrow^{2 note}
.

Bawd.

Well, well; as for him, he brought his disease hither: here he doth but repair it* ^note

. I know he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the sun^{3 note}

Boult.

Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, we should lodge them with this sign^{4 note}

Bawd.

Pray you, come hither a while. 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 meer profit^{5 note}

Mar.

I understand you not.

Boult.

O take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of her's must be quench'd 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 warrant^{6 note}.

Boult.

'Faith some do, and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargain'd 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 chang'd yet.

Bawd.

Boult, spend thou that in the town: report what a sojourner we have; you'll lose nothing by custom. When Nature fram'd this piece, she meant thee a good turn^{7 note}

; 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^{8 note}, as my giving out of 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 deep^{9 note}

,
Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.9Q1332
Diana, aid my purpose!

Bawd.

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