Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Quarto)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter the three Bawdes.
Pander.Boult.
Boult. Sir.
1525Pander. Searche the market narrowely, Mettelyne is
full of gallants, wee lost too much much money this mart
by beeing too wenchlesse.
Bawd. Wee were neuer so much out of Creatures, we
haue but poore three, and they can doe no more then they
1530can doe, and they with continuall action, are euen as good
as rotten.
Pander. Therefore lets haue fresh ones what ere wee pay
for them, if there bee not a conscience to be vsde in euerie
trade, wee shall neuer prosper.
1535Bawd. Thou sayst true, tis not our bringing vp of poore
bastards, as I thinke, I haue brought vp some eleuen.
Boult. I to eleuen, and brought them downe againe,
but shall I searche the market?
Bawde. What else man? the stuffe we haue, a strong
1540winde will blowe it to peeces, they are so pittifully sodden.
Pandor. Thou sayest true, ther's two vnwholesome a
conscience, the poore Transiluanian is dead that laye with
the little baggadge.
Boult. I, shee quickly poupt him, she made him roast-
1545meate for wormes, but Ile goe searche the market.
Exit.
Pand. Three or foure thousande Checkins were as
prettie a proportion to liue quietly, and so giue ouer.
Bawd. Why, to giue ouer I pray you? Is it a shame to
1550get when wee are olde?
Pand. Oh our credite comes not in like the commo-
ditie, nor the commoditie wages not with the daunger:
therefore if in our youthes we could picke vp some prettie
estate, t'were not amisse to keepe ourdoore hatch't, besides
1555the sore tearmes we stand vpon with the gods, wilbe strong
with vs for giuing ore.
Bawd. Come other sorts offend as well as wee.
Pand. As well as wee. I, and better too, wee offende
worse, neither is our profession any trade, It's no calling,
1560but heere comes Boult.
Enter Boult with the Pirates and Marina.
Boult. Come your wayes my maisters, you say shee's a
virgin.
Sayler. O Sir, wee doubt it not.
1565Boult. Master, I haue gone through for this peece you
see, if you like her so, if not I haue lost my earnest.
Bawd. Boult, has shee anie qualities?
Boult. Shee has a good face, speakes well, and has ex-
cellent good cloathes: theres no farther necessitie of qua-
1570lities can make her be refuz'd.
Bawd, What's her price Boult?
Boult. I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand peeces.
Pand. Well, follow me my maisters, you shall haue your
money presenly, wife take her in, instruct her what she has
1575to doe, that she may not be rawe in her entertainment.
Bawd. Boult, take you the markes of her, the colour of
her haire, complexion, height, her age, with warrantof her
virginitie, and crie; He that wil giue most shal haue her first,
such a maydenhead were no cheape thing, if men were as
1580they haue beene: get this done as I command you.
Boult. Performance shall follow.Exit.
Mar. Alacke that Leonine was so slacke, so slow, he should
haue strooke, not spoke, or that these Pirates, not enough
barbarous, had not oreboord throwne me, for to seeke my
1585mother.
Bawd. Why lament you prettie one?
Mar. That I am prettie.
Bawd. Come, the Gods haue done their part in you.
Mar. I accuse them not.
1590Bawd. You are light into my hands, where you are like
to liue.
Mar. The more my fault, to scape his handes, where I
was to die.
Bawd. I, and you shall liue in peasure.
1595Mar. No.
Bawd. Yes indeed shall you, and taste Gentlemen of all
fashions, you shall fare well, you shall haue the difference of
all complexions, what doe you stop your eares?
Mar. Are you a woman?
1600Bawd. What would you haue mee be, and I bee not a
woman?
Mar. An honest woman, or not a woman.
Bawd. Marie whip the Gosseling, I thinke I shall haue
something to doe with you, come you'r a young foolish
1605sapling, and must be bowed as I would haue you.
Mar. The Gods defend me.
Baud. If it please the Gods to defend you by men, then
men must comfort you, men must feed you, men stir you
vp: Boults returnd. Now sir, hast thou cride her through
1610the Market?
Boult. I haue cryde her almost to the number of her
haires, I haue drawne her picture with my voice.
Baud. And I prethee tell me, how dost thou find the in-
clination of the people, especially of the yonger sort?
1615Boult. Faith they listened to mee, as they would haue
harkened to their fathers testament, there was a Spaniards
mouth watred, and he went to bed to her verie description.
Baud. We shall haue him here to morrow with his best
ruffe on.
1620Boult. To night, to night, but Mistresse doe you knowe
the French knight, that cowres ethe hams?
Baud. Who, Mounsieur Verollus?
Boult. I, he, he offered to cut a caper at the proclama-
tion, but he made a groane at it, and swore he would see her
1625to morrow.
Baud. Well, well, as for him, hee brought his disease hi-
ther, here he does but repaire it, I knowe hee will come in
our shadow, to scatter his crownes in the Sunne.
Boult. Well, if we had of euerie Nation a traueller, wee
1630should lodge them with this signe.
Baud. Pray you come hither a while, you haue
Fortunes comming vppon you, marke mee, you must
seeme to doe that fearefully, which you commit willing-
ly, despise profite, where you haue most gaine, to weepe
1635that you liue as yee doe, makes pittie in your Louers sel-
dome, but that pittie begets you a good opinion, and that
opinion a meere profite.
Mari. I vnderstand you not.
Boult. O take her home Mistresse, take her home, these
1640blushes of hers must bee quencht with some present
practise.
Mari. Thou sayest true yfaith, so they must, for your
Bride goes to that with shame, which is her way to goe with
warrant.
1645Boult. Faith some doe, and some doe not, but Mistresse
if I haue bargaind for the ioynt.
Baud. Thou maist cut a morsell off the spit.
Boult. I may so.
Baud. Who should denie it?
1650Come young one, I like the manner of your garments
well.
Boult. I by my faith, they shall not be changd yet.
Baud. Boult, spend thou that in the towne: report what
a soiourner we haue , youle loose nothing by custome.
1655When Nature framde this peece, shee meant thee a good
turne, therefore say what a parragon she is, and thou hast
the haruest out of thine owne report.
Boult. I warrant you Mistresse, thunder shall not so a-
wake the beds of Eeles, as my giuing out her beautie stirs
1660vp the lewdly enclined, Ile bring home some to night.
Baud. Come your wayes, follow me.
Mari. If fires be hote, kniues sharpe, or waters deepe,
Vntide I still my virgin knot will keepe.
Diana ayde my purpose.
1665Baud. What haue we to doe with Diana, pray you will
you goe with vs?
Exit.