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 chaste.

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 Well, there's for you: leave us.

at sea.

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

Lys. I beseech you, do.

Bawd. First, I would have you note, this is an honorable 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 honorable he is in that, I know not.

Bawd. Pray you, without any more virginal fencing, 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 yet: you must take some pains to work her to your manage. Come, we will leave his honor and her together.

[Exeunt Bawd, Pander, and Boult.

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

Mar. What trade, sir?

Lys. What I cannot name, but I shall offend. 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 gamester1 at five, or at seven ?

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 honorable parts, and are the governor of this place.

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

ܕ܂

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 aloof for more serious wooing: but I protest to thee,

1 A wanton.

pretty one, my authority shall not see thee, or else

look friendly upon thee.

Come, bring me to some

private place. Come, come.

Mar. If you were born to honor, show it now; If put upon you, make the judgment good,

That thought you worthy of it.

Lys. How's this? how's this? Some more: be sage.

Mar. For me,

That am a maid, though most ungentle Fortune
Hath placed me here within this loathsome sty,
Where, since I came, diseases have been sold
Dearer than physic,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 couldst have spoke so well; ne'er dream'd thou couldst.

Had I brought hither a corrupted mind,

Thy speech had alter'd it. Hold, here's gold for

thee:

Persever still in that clear way thou goest,

And the gods strengthen thee!
Mar. The gods preserve you!

For me, be you thoughten

Lys.
That I came with no ill intent; for to me
The very doors and windows savor vilely.
Farewell. Thou art a piece of virtue, 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 honor, one piece for me.

Lys. Avaunt, thou damned doorkeeper! 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 the cope,1 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.

Ι

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!

1 i. e. under the canopy of heaven.

Boult. She makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods.

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 malleable.

Boult. An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is, she shall be ploughed.

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 bays! [Exit Bawd. Boult. Come, mistress; come your way with me. Mar. Whither would you have me? Boult. To take from you the jewel you dear.

Mar. Pr'ythee, tell me one thing first.
Boult. Come now, your one thing.

hold so

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

art,

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: