SCENE II. Mytilene. A room in a brothel.
[Enter Pandar, Bawd, and Boult.]
PANDAR.
Boult!
BOULT.
Sir?
PANDAR.
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.
PANDAR.
Therefore let's have fresh ones, whate'r 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 bought up some eleven --
BOULT.
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 blo 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.
BOULT.
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.
BAWD.
Wgy 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: therfore, 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, others 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.
[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.
BOULT.
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.
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent clothes:
ther's no further necessity of qualities can make her be refused.
BAWD.
What is her price, Boult?
BOULT.
I cannot be baited 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.
[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.
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!
BARD.
Why lament you, pretty one?
MARINA.
That I am pretty.