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Pericles - Act 4, scene 2
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Pericles - Act 4, scene 2Act 4, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
Marina is sold by the pirates to a brothel in Mytilene.
Enter ⌜Pander, Bawd, and Bolt.⌝PANDER 1562 Bolt!
BOLT 1563 Sir?
PANDER 1564 Search the market narrowly. Mytilene is full
1565 of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by
1566 5 being too wenchless.
BAWD 1567 We were never so much out of creatures. We
1568 have but poor three, and they can do no more than
1569 they can do; and they with continual action are
1570 even as good as rotten.
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127
PANDER
1571
10Therefore let’s have fresh ones, whate’er we1572 pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be
1573 used in every trade, we shall never prosper.
BAWD 1574 Thou sayst true. ’Tis not our bringing up of poor
1575 bastards—as I think I have brought up some
1576 15 eleven—
BOLT 1577 Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again. But
1578 shall I search the market?
BAWD 1579 What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong
1580 wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully
1581 20 sodden.
PANDER 1582 Thou sayst true. There’s two unwholesome, a’
1583 conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead that
1584 lay with the little baggage.
BOLT 1585 Ay, she quickly pooped him. She made him
1586 25 roast-meat for worms. But I’ll go search the
1587 market.He exits.
PANDER 1588 Three or four thousand chequins were as
1589 pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
BAWD 1590 Why to give over, I pray you? Is it a shame to get
1591 30 when we are old?
PANDER 1592 O, our credit comes not in like the commodity,
1593 nor the commodity wages not with the danger.
1594 Therefore, if in our youths we could pick up some
1595 pretty estate, ’twere not amiss to keep our door
1596 35 hatched. Besides, the sore terms we stand upon
1597 with the gods will be strong with us for giving o’er.
BAWD 1598 Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
PANDER 1599 As well as we? Ay, and better too; we offend
1600 worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it’s no
1601 40 calling. But here comes Bolt.
Enter Bolt with the Pirates and Marina.
BOLT 1602 Come your ways, my masters. You say she’s a
1603 virgin?
⌜PIRATE⌝ 1604 O, sir, we doubt it not.
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129
BOLT
1605
Master, I have gone through for this piece you1606 45 see. If you like her, so; if not, I have lost my
1607 earnest.
BAWD 1608 Bolt, has she any qualities?
BOLT 1609 She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent
1610 good clothes. There’s no farther necessity of
1611 50 qualities can make her be refused.
BAWD 1612 What’s her price, Bolt?
BOLT 1613 I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
PANDER 1614 Well, follow me, my masters; you shall have
1615 your money presently.—Wife, take her in. Instruct
1616 55 her what she has to do, that she may not be raw in
1617 her entertainment.⌜He exits with Pirates.⌝
BAWD 1618 Bolt, take you the marks of her: the color of her
1619 hair, complexion, height, her age, with warrant of
1620 her virginity, and cry “He that will give most shall
1621 60 have her first.” Such a maidenhead were no cheap
1622 thing, if men were as they have been. Get this done
1623 as I command you.
BOLT 1624 Performance shall follow.He exits.
MARINA
1625 Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow!
1626 65 He should have struck, not spoke. Or that these
1627 pirates,
1628 Not enough barbarous, had ⌜but⌝ o’erboard thrown me
1629 For to seek my mother.
BAWD 1630 Why lament you, pretty one?
MARINA 1631 70That I am pretty.
BAWD 1632 Come, the gods have done their part in you.
MARINA 1633 I accuse them not.
BAWD 1634 You are light into my hands, where you are like
1635 to live.
MARINA 1636 75The more my fault, to ’scape his hands where
1637 I was to die.
BAWD 1638 Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
MARINA 1639 No.
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131
BAWD
1640
Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all1641 80 fashions. You shall fare well; you shall have the
1642 difference of all complexions. What, do you stop
1643 your ears?
MARINA 1644 Are you a woman?
BAWD 1645 What would you have me be, an I be not a
1646 85 woman?
MARINA 1647 An honest woman, or not a woman.
BAWD 1648 Marry, whip the gosling! I think I shall have
1649 something to do with you. Come, you’re a young
1650 foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would
1651 90 have you.
MARINA 1652 The gods defend me!
BAWD 1653 If it please the gods to defend you by men, then
1654 men must comfort you, men must feed you, men
1655 stir you up. Bolt’s returned.
⌜Enter Bolt.⌝
1656 95 Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?
BOLT 1657 I have cried her almost to the number of her
1658 hairs. I have drawn her picture with my voice.
BAWD 1659 And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination
1660 of the people, especially of the younger
1661 100 sort?
BOLT 1662 Faith, they listened to me as they would have
1663 hearkened to their father’s testament. There was a
1664 Spaniard’s mouth watered an he went to bed to her
1665 very description.
BAWD 1666 105We shall have him here tomorrow with his best
1667 ruff on.
BOLT 1668 Tonight, tonight! But, mistress, do you know the
1669 French knight that cowers i’ the hams?
BAWD 1670 Who? Monsieur Verolles?
BOLT 1671 110Ay, he. He offered to cut a caper at the proclamation,
1672 but he made a groan at it and swore he would
1673 see her tomorrow.
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133
BAWD
1674
Well, well, as for him, he brought his disease1675 hither; here he does but repair it. I know he will
1676 115 come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the
1677 sun.
BOLT 1678 Well, if we had of every nation a traveler, we
1679 should lodge them with this sign.
BAWD, ⌜to Marina⌝ 1680 Pray you, come hither awhile. You
1681 120 have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you
1682 must seem to do that fearfully which you commit
1683 willingly, despise profit where you have most gain.
1684 To weep that you live as you do makes pity in your
1685 lovers. Seldom but that pity begets you a good
1686 125 opinion, and that opinion a mere profit.
MARINA 1687 I understand you not.
BOLT 1688 O, take her home, mistress, take her home!
1689 These blushes of hers must be quenched with
1690 some present practice.
⌜BAWD⌝ 1691 130Thou sayst true, i’ faith, so they must, for your
1692 bride goes to that with shame which is her way to
1693 go with warrant.
BOLT 1694 Faith, some do and some do not. But, mistress,
1695 if I have bargained for the joint—
BAWD 1696 135Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
BOLT 1697 I may so.
BAWD 1698 Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like
1699 the manner of your garments well.
BOLT 1700 Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
BAWD 1701 140Bolt, spend thou that in the town. (⌜She gives him
money.⌝) 1702 Report what a sojourner we have. You’ll
1703 lose nothing by custom. When Nature framed this
1704 piece, she meant thee a good turn. Therefore say
1705 what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest
1706 145 out of thine own report.
BOLT 1707 I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so
1708 awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty
1709 stirs up the lewdly inclined. I’ll bring home some
1710 tonight.
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135
BAWD, ⌜to Marina⌝
1711
150Come your ways. Follow me.MARINA
1712 If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,
1713 Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.
1714 Diana aid my purpose!
BAWD 1715 What have we to do with Diana, pray you? Will
1716 155 you go with us?
⌜They⌝ exit.