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- Edition: Pericles
Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)
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Bolt.
Sir?
Search the market narrowly. Metalin is 1526full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart 1527by being too wenchless.
We were never so much out of creatures! We 1529have but poor three, and they can do no more then they 1530can do, and they with continual action are even as good 1531as rotten.
Therefore let's have fresh ones whate'er we pay 1533for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every 1534trade, we shall never prosper.
Thou sayst true. 'Tis not our bringing up of poor 1536bastards -- as I think, I have brought up some eleven --
Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again. 1538But shall I search the market?
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong 1540wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
Thou sayst true. There's two unwholesome, 1542a'conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead that lay with 1543the little baggage.
Ay, she quickly pooped him! She made him roast-1545meat for worms. But I'll go search the market.1546
4.2.10.1Exit.
Three or four thousand chequins were as 1548pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
Why, to give over I pray you? Is it a shame to 1550get when we are old?
Oh, our credit comes not in like the commo1552dity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger. 1553Therefore if in our youths we could pick up some pretty 1554estate, t'were not amiss to keep our door hatched. Besides 1555the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong 1556with us for giving o'er.
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
As well as we? Ay, and better too! We offend 1559worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it's no calling. 1560But here comes Bolt.
Oh, sir, we doubt it not.
[To Bawd] Master, I have gone through for this piece you 1566see. If you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
Bolt, has she any qualities?
She has a good face, speaks well, and has ex1569cellent good clothes. There's no farther necessity of qua1570lities can make her be refused.
What's her price, Bolt?
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
Well, follow me, my masters. You shall have your 1574money presently. Wife, take her in; instruct her what she has 1575to do, that she may not be raw in her entertainment.
4.2.23.1[Exeunt Pander and Pirates.]
Bolt, take you the marks of her: the color of 1577her hair, complexion, height, her age, with warrant of her 1578virginity, and cry "He that will give most shall have her first." 1579Such a maidenhead were no cheap thing, if men were as 1580they have been. Get this done as I command you.
Performance shall follow.
4.2.25.1Exit.
Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow --
Why lament you, pretty one?
That I am pretty.
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
I accuse them not.
You are light into my hands, where you are like 1591to live.
The more my fault,
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
No.
Yes indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all 1597fashions. You shall fare well; you shall have the difference of 1598all complexions. What, do you stop your ears?
Are you a woman?
What would you have me be, an I be not a 1601woman?
An honest woman, or not a woman.
Marry, whip the gosling!, I think I shall have 1604something to do with you. Come, you're a young foolish 1605sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.
The gods defend me!
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then 1608men must comfort you, men must feed you, men stir you 1609up.
4.2.45.1 [Enter Bolt.]
I have cried her almost to the number of her 1612hairs. I have drawn her picture with my voice.
And I prithee tell me: how dost thou find the in1614clination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
Faith, they listened to me as they would have 1616harkened to their father's testament. There was a Spaniard's 1617mouth watered, and he went to bed to her very description.
We shall have him here tomorrow with his best 1619ruff on.
Tonight, tonight! But mistress, do you know 1621the French knight that cowers i'the hams?
Who, Monsieur Verollus?
Ay, he. He offered to cut a caper at the proclama1624tion, but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her 1625tomorrow.
Well, well, as for him, he brought his disease hi1627ther; here he does but repair it. I know he will come in 1628our shadow, to scatter his crowns of the sun.
[Indicating Marina] Well, if we had of every nation a traveler, we 1630should lodge them with this sign.
[To Marina] Pray you, come hither awhile. You have 1632fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must 1633seem to do that fearfully which you commit willing1634ly; despise profit where you have most gain. To weep 1635that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers; sel1636dom but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that
1637opinion a mere profit.
I understand you not.
Oh, take her home, mistress, take her home. These 1640blushes of hers must be quenched with some present 1641practice.
Thou sayest true i'faith, so they must. For your
Faith, some do, and some do not. But mistress, 1646if I have bargained for the joint --
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
I may so?
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
[Giving Bolt money.] Bolt, spend thou that in the town. Report what 1654a sojourner we have. You'll lose nothing by custom. 1655When Nature framed this piece, she meant thee a good 1656turn. Therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast 1657the harvest out of thine own report.
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so a1659wake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stirs 1660up the lewdly inclined. I'll bring home some tonight.
4.2.67.1[Exit Bolt.]
[To Marina] Come your ways, follow me.
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will 1666you go with us?