1474How Marina being thus solde to a Bawde, preserued her virginitie, 1475and how shee conuerted all that euer came to make hire of her beauty from the 1476loosenesse of their desires.

1477Marina was no sooner thus concluded for, by the hee Bawde, 1478but the Pyrates were as soone brought home to his masters house, and 1479receiued their payment, when after their departure, she giuing commaund 1480to the Pander her man, that he should goe backe into the Market place, 1481and there with open crie proclaime, what a picture of Nature they had at 1482home, for euery lasciuious eie to gaze vpon. The she Bawd beganne to 1483instruct her, with what complement she should entertaine her customers: 1484she first asked her, if she were a vir/- gine. When Marina replyed, she 1485thanked the Gods, shee neuer knew what it was to be otherwise. In so 1486being quoth the she bawde, you haue beene well: but now in 1487plaine tearmes I must teach you how to be worse. It is not goodnesse in you (quoth 1488Marina) to teach me to be so: for goodnes answerd the bawd, it is a 1489Lecture, such as we vse seldome, and our consciences neuer reade one 1490to another, and therefore attend vnto me: you must now be like a stake 1491for euery man to shoote at, you must be like a foord that must receiue all waters, 1492you must haue the benefite of all nations, and seeme to take delight in 1493all men. I thanke my starres, answered Marina, I am displeased with none: 1494for by this answere it appeared such was the puritie of her minde, that 1495she vnderstoode not what this deuills sollicitor pleaded vnto her: but 1496she quickely taking her off, told in more immodest phrase, that shee had 1497payde for her, and that she and all her body was hers, that will ye nill 1498ye she must now be what she her selfe had beene (and there is seldome any 1499bawde, but before time, hath beene a whoore) that to conclude, shee had 1500bought her like a beast, and shee meant to hire her out.

1501When she vnderstanding vnwillingly what all these wordes tended 1502vnto, she fell prostrate at her feete, and with teares showred downe in 1503aboundaunce, she intreated her, not to make hire of her bodie to so 1504diseasefull a vse, which shee hoped the gods had ordained to a more happy 1505purpose. When the bawde answered her, Come, come, these droppes auaile 1506thee not, thou arte now mine, and I will make my best of thee: and I 1507must now learne you to know, we whom the worlde calles Bawdes, but more 1508properly are to be stiled Factors for men, are in this like the hangman, 1509neither to regard prayers, nor teares, but our owne profite. So calling 1510for her slaue, which was gouernour ouer her she-houshold, this was her 1511appoyntment vnto him, Goe quoth shee and take this Mayden, as shee is 1512thus decked in costly apparrell (for it is to be remembred, that the 1513former Pirates had no way dispoyled her of her ornaments, with purpose 1514to prise her at the higher rate) and leading her along, this be the crie 1515thorow the whole Citty, That whosoeuer desireth the purchase of so 1516wondrous a beauty, shall for his first enioying her, pay tenne peeces 1517of golde, and that afterward shee shall be common vnto the people for 1518one peece at a time. Which will of hers, Marina being no way able to 1519resist, but with her sorrowe, onely desiring of the good gods, to be 1520protectors of her chastitie: She with this her slaue was hurried along, 1521and who with the tenour of his priapine proclamation, had so awaked the 1522intemperaunce of the whole Cittie, that against her returne, of high and 1523low there was a full crowding at the doore, euery man carrying his money 1524in his hand, and thinking him the happiest man that might first haue 1525accesse. But heauen who is still a protector of Vertue against Vice, 1526ordayned this for Marina, that the sending her abroad, with purpose, 1527first to shew her, and after, to make sale of her to the worlde, was 1528the onely meanes to defend her in the state of her virginitie. For as 1529she was (as before is saide) led along, and thousands of people wondring 1530about her, and flocking as it had beene so many flies, to infect so 1531delicate a preseruatiue, it happened that Lysimachus the cheefe gouernour 1532of Meteline, looking out at his windowe, to obserue what strange occasion 1533drew the giddy hauocke of people, to muster themselues into such throngs: 1534he, not without great admiration obserued, that it was to make boote of 1535so pretious a beauty, whose inflaming colours which Nature had with her 1536best Arte placed vppon her face, compelled him to censure, that she was 1537rather a deseruing bed-fellow for a Prince, than a play-fellow for so 1538rascally an assembly: so pittying awhile her, misfortune, that it was 1539so hard to be throwne into the iaws of two such poisonous and deuouring 1540serpents, a Pandar, and a Bawde, yet at last, being inflamed with a little 1541sinnefull concupiscence, by the power of her face, he resolued himselfe 1542that since shee must fall, it were farre more fitter, into his owne armes, 1543whose authoritie could stretch to doe her good, than into the hote 1544imbracements of many, to her vtter ruine; so presently dismissing away 1545a seruant of his, he gaue him charge, to giue in charge to the Bawd, 1546that at the returne home, of this new peece of merchandise of hers, as 1547shee respected, or in time of neede would be beholding to his fauour, 1548(and Heauens forfend but Bawdes nowe and then should stand in neede of 1549anthoritie) she should keepe her priuate from the conference of any, for 1550hee himselfe that night late in the euening, in secret, and in some 1551disguise, would (for her guests sake) visite her house. There needed 1552no further incouragement to bid the Bawde stirre vp her damnable limbes 1553to make all fit. It was enough in this, that the Gouernour had sent worde, 1554it was he that was to come. But hauing giuen the best garnish she could to 1555her sinnefull habitation: and Marina being returned home againe by the Pandar, 1556who had ledde her vp and downe as Beare-heards leade beares, for shew first, 1557and to be baited after: Shee tooke her vp with her into a priuate Chamber, 1558when the fruite of her instructions were, how she should now learne to 1559behaue her selfe, for she had fortunes comming vppon her, she was nowe to 1560be receiued, respected, and regarded of a man that was honourable. Heauen 1561graunt that I may finde him so, quoth Marina. Thou needest not doubt it 1562sweete heart, quoth the Bawde, for though I tell it thee in priuate, which 1563for a million he would not haue to be knowne publikely: Hee is no woorse a 1564man thou arte shortly to deale withall, than the Gouernour of this whole 1565Citty, a Gentleman that is curteous, a fauourer of our calling, one that 1566will as soone haue his hand in his pocket, as such a pretty dilling as 1567thou shalt come in his eye, and not as most of our Gentlemen doe, drawe 1568it out empty, but filling it full of golde, will most Ioue-like rayne it 1569downe in to his Danaes lap. In briefe, he is a Nobleman, and, which is a 1570thing which we respect more than his nobilitie, he is liberall: he is curteous, 1571and thou mayest commaund him, he is vertuous and thou mayest learne of him. 1572All these indeede, answered Marina, are properties, due vnto so worthy a 1573Gentleman, whom you picture him to be: and if he be liberall in good, I 1574shall be glad to taste of his bountie: if curteous, I shall as willingly 1575become his seruant: and if vertuous, it shal be in me no way to make him 1576vicious. Well, well, well, sayes the Bawde, we must haue no more of this 1577puling, and I must haue you learne to know, vice is as hereditary to our 1578house, as the olde barne to your countrey beggar. But as shee would haue 1579proceeded with more of these her diuelish counsells, hastily into the 1580Chamber came the Pandar vnto them, who as hote as a taste, with his haste 1581to bring the newes he told them, that the Lorde Lysimachm was come, and 1582if the word Come had beene his kew, he entred the Chamber with the master 1583bawde, when the whole frie of sinners cursying about him very largely, as 1584the Prologue to his entertainment, distributed golde among them, then as 1585roundly demaunded, for that same fresh peece of stuffe, which by their 1586proclamation they tolde, they had now to make sale of, and he of set purpose 1587was come to haue a sight of.

1588When they all poynting toward Marina, told him there shee was, and 1589for our selues, quoth they, we hauing done the office of right Chamberlaines, 1590brought you together, we will shut the doore after vs, and so leaue you. Who 1591no sooner departed, but Lysimachus the Gouernour began to demaund of her the 1592performaunce of that for which he came. When shee prostrating her selfe at 1593his feete, intreated him to take pitty of her, and from poynt to poynt (excepting 1594her birth, and death of her parents) discoursed vnto him the whole story of 1595her misfortunes: as that by the practise of Dyonysa, and cruelty of Leonine, 1596she should haue beene murthered. And how it pleased the Gods to rescue her 1597from that ruine by certaine Pyrates, who after solde her to this brothell, 1598where, most vnhappy, he was witnesse she remayned. Then gentle Sir, quoth 1599shee, since heauen hath been so gratious, to restore me from death, let not 1600their good to me, be a meanes for you, to be author of my more misfortune. 1601But the Gouernour suspecting these teares, but to be some new cunning, which 1602her matron the Bawde had instructed her in, to drawe him to a more large 1603expence: He as freely tolde her so and now beganne to be more rough with 1604her vrging her, that he was the Gouernour, whose authoritie coulde wincke 1605at those blemishes, her selfe, and that sinnefull house could cast vppon 1606her, or his displeasure punish at his owne pleasure, which displeasure of 1607mine, thy beauty shall not priuiledge thee from, nor my affection, which 1608hath drawen me vnto this place abate, if thou with further lingering 1609withstand me. By which wordes, she vnderstanding him to be as confident 1610in euill, as she was constant in good, she intreated him but to be heard, 1611and thus she beganne.

1612If as you say (my Lorde) you are the Gouernour, let not your authoritie, 1613which should teach you to rule others, be the meanes to make you mis-gouerne 1614your selfe: If the eminence of your place came vnto you by discent, and the 1615royalty of your blood, let not your life prooue your birth a bastard: If it 1616were throwne vpon you by opinion, make good, that opinion was the cause to 1617make you great. What reason is there in your Iustice, who hath power ouer 1618all, to vndoe any? If you take from mee mine honour, you are like him, that 1619makes a gappe into forbidden ground, after whome too many enter, and you are 1620guiltie of all their euilles: my life is yet vnspotted, my chastitie vnstained 1621in thought. Then if your violence deface this building, the workemanship of 1622heauen, made vp for good, and not to be the exercise of sinnes intemperaunce, 1623you do kill your owne honour, abuse your owne iustice, and impouerish me. Why 1624quoth Lysimachus, this house wherein thou liuest, is euen the receptacle of 1625all mens sinnes, and nurse of wickednesse, and how canst thou then be otherwise 1626then naught, that liuest in it? It is not good, answered Marina, when you that 1627are the Gouernour, who should liue well, the better to be bolde to punish euill, 1628doe knowe that there is such a roofe, and yet come vnder it. Is there a necessitie 1629(my yet good Lord) if there be fire before me, that I must strait then thither 1630flie and burne my selfe? Or if suppose this house (which too too many feele such 1631houses are) should be the Doctors patrimony, and Surgeons feeding; folowes it 1632therefore, that I must needs infect my self to giue them maintenance? O my good 1633Lord, kill me, but not deflower me, punish me how you please, so you spare my 1634chastitie, and since it is all the dowry that both the Gods haue giuen, and 1635men haue left to me, do not you take it from me; make me your seruant, I will 1636willingly obey you; make mee your bondwoman, I will accompt it freedome; let 1637me be the worst that is called vile, so I may still liue honest, I am content: 1638or if you thinke it is too blessed a happinesse to haue me so, let me euen now, 1639now in this minute die, and Ile accompt my death more happy than my birth. With 1640which wordes (being spoken vpon her knees) while her eyes were the glasses that 1641carried the water of her mis-hap, the good Gentlewoman being mooued, hee lift her 1642vp with his hands, and euen then imbraced her in his hart, saying aside: surely 1643this is Virtues image, or rather, vertues selfe, sent downe from heauen, a while 1644to raigne on earth, to teach vs what we should be. So in steede of willing her 1645to drie her eyes, he wiped the wet himselfe off, and could haue found in his 1646heart, with modest thoughts to haue kissed her, but that hee feared the offer 1647would offend her. This onely hee sayde, Lady, for such your vertues are, a 1648farre more worthy stile your beuty challenges, and no way lesse your beauty 1649can promise me that you are, I hither came with thoughtes intemperate, foule 1650and deformed, the which your paines so well haue laued, that they are now 1651white, continue still to all so, and for my parte, who hither came but to 1652haue payd the price, a peece of golde for your virginitie, now giue you twenty 1653to releeue your honesty. It shall become you still to be euen as you are, a 1654peece of goodnesse, the best wrought vppe, that euer Nature made, and if that 1655any shall inforce you ill, if you but send to me, I am your friend. With which 1656promise, leauing her presence, she most humbly thanked the Gods for the 1657preseruation of her chastitie, and the reformation of his mind.

1658Lysimachus though departed thus, intended not to leaue her so, but with 1659diligent eyes to attend, how shee behaued her selfe to all other, who should haue 1660admittance to her, and for that purpose, hauing power to commaund the Bawde, hee 1661placed himselfe in the next Chamber where he might heare, euen to a sillable, 1662whatsoere passed, where he was no sooner setled with a former charge giuen to the 1663bawd, that any man should haue accesse to her, but by turnes, he heard she had 1664also won others, and preserued herselfe from them, as she had formerly done 1665against him, gaining tenne times as much of profite by her prayers and teares, 1666as she should haue doone by prostituting her beauty to their willes: at last, 1667all of them being departed, and the house vnfrequented, onely of their owne 1668housholde, and of the Gouernour, the bawde standing ready at the doore, as hee 1669should goe out, making his obeysaunce vnto him as hee should returne, in hope 1670of his fee or rewarde, hee with an angry brow turned towards him, saying, 1671Villaine, thou hast a house heere, the weight of whose sinne would sincke the 1672foundation, euen vnto hell, did not the vertue of one that is lodged therein, 1673keepe it standing; and so, as it were inraged, giuing them nothing, he departed. 1674By which displeasure of his, the whole swarme of bawdes (as truely it was) ghessed, 1675that their new tenaunt, had not beene pliant to his will: and all rushing in 1676hastily vppon her, first taking away the golde which the charitie (and not 1677iniury of all who had beene there) had giuen her to releeue her with, they cried 1678against her, they should be all vndoone by her, their house would grow vncustomed, 1679and their trading would fall to decay, by her squeamishnesse, and want of 1680familiaritie to their Clients, resoluing now, that there was no way to bring her 1681vnto their bowe, but by hauing her rauished. For it is to be noted, not any that 1682the house besides Lysimachus, but euen as he did, so they in like manner rayled 1683against them, so forcibly had hir perswasions preuailed with them: whereupon, 1684for that purpose they gaue her vp to the Pandar, who first agreed for her, saying; 1685That he that had bargained for the whole ioynt, it was fittest for him to cut a 1686morsel from off the spit. So leauing them together, and telling him, they gaue 1687her vp to his power, to doe euen what he would with her: the man and wife (though 1688both bawdes) departed, when the pandar going to her, tolde her, that he, his 1689master, nor their antient family would as thus long they had beene, be vndoone 1690by ere a Puritane peece of them all. And therefore quoth he; Come on and resolue 1691your selfe without more whining, for I am but the bawdes seruant. The bawde hath 1692commaunded me, and euery seruant by the Indenture of his duety, is bound to obey 1693his master: So catching her rashly by the hand, as he would haue inforced her to 1694his will; she first calling on Diana patronesse of Chastitie to defend her, fell 1695likewise downe at his feete, and besought him but to heare her: which being graunted, 1696she demaunded of him what thing he could wish himselfe to be, which was more vile 1697than he was, or more hatefull than he would make himselfe to be? Why my master or 1698my mistris (quoth the villaine) I thinke, who haue all the sinnes subiect to 1699mankind raigning in them, and are (indeede) as bad as the Diuell himselfe: yet 1700(quoth Marina) thou goest about to be worse then they, and to doe an office at 1701their setting on, which thy master himselfe hath more pitty then to attempt, to 1702robbe me of mine honour, which in spite of them and thee, the Gods (who I hope 1703will protect it still) haue till this breathing protected, to leprous my chast 1704thoghts, with remembrance of so foule a deede, which thou then shalt haue doone, 1705to damne thine owne soule, by vndooing of mine. At which word, the Villaine being 1706strucke into some remorce, and standing in a pawse, Marina went forward, and tolde 1707him; If thou wantest golde, there is some for thee (part of that she had reserued 1708which before was giuen hir, from the bawdes knowledge:) or if thou wantest 1709maintenaunce, prouide mee but some residence in an honest house, and I haue 1710experience in many things which shall labour for thee, as namely, I am skilfull 1711in the seauen Liberall Sciences, well exercised in all studies, and dare approoue 1712this, that my skill in singing and playing on Instruments exceeds any in the citty: 1713therefore (quoth she) as thou before didst proclame my beuty in the market to the 1714open world, whereby to haue made me a common prostitute, so now agayne proclame my 1715vertues vnto them, and I doubt not but this honorable citty will affoord schollers 1716sufficient, the instructing of whome will returne profile enough, both to repay 1717the Maister what hee payed out for me, prouide an honester course for thee then 1718this thou liuest in; and giue a quiet content vnto my selfe. Sooth (quoth the 1719Villaine) being now mooued vnto much more compassion of her; If you haue (as you 1720say) these qualities, I will labour with my Master, and doe my best for your 1721release. If not (answered Marina, I giue thee free leaue to bring me backe againe, 1722and prostitute me to that course which was first pretended for me. In briefe, the 1723Villaine so laboured with the bawde his maister, that though hee woulde not giue her leaue to depart his house, yet in hope of the profit, which would come in by 1724her other qualities, she should stay in his house, and none, with her former 1725greeuances disturbe her, and withall, charged the Pander to set vp a Bill in the 1726Market place, of her excellencie in speaking, and in singing. At the report of 1727which there crowded as many to the bawdes great profite to be delighted with her 1728woorth, as there came before to haue made spoyle of her vertue, and not any man 1729but gaue her money largely, and departed contented, onely aboue the rest the Lorde 1730Lysimachus had euermore an especiall regarde in the preseruation of her safety no 1731otherwise than if she had beene descended from himselfe, and rewarded the villaine 1732very liberally for the diligent care hee had ouer her.