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Act 4, Scene 1
Pericles Translation Act 4, Scene 2
Enter Pandar, Bawd, and BOULT
PANDAR
Boult!
PANDAR
Boult!
BOULT
Sir?
BOULT
Sir?
PANDAR
Search the market narrowly; Mytilene is full ofgallants. We lost too much money this mart by beingtoo wenchless.
PANDAR
Search the market carefully. Mytilene is full of young men. We lost too much money this season because we didn't have enough girls.
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.
BAWD
We've never had such a shortage of creatures. We only have three, and they can only do what they can do. And they've worked so much they're as good as rotten.
PANDAR
Therefore let's have fresh ones, whate'er we pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade, we shall never prosper.
PANDAR
So, let's get some fresh ones, no matter what we have to pay for them. If we don't put any heart into this business we'll never succeed.
BAWD
Thou sayest true: 'tis not our bringing up of poorbastards,—as, I think, I have brought up some eleven—
BAWD
You're right. Of course, we've brought up some bastards . . . I've brought up at least eleven, I think—
BOULT
Ay, to eleven; and brought them down again. Butshall I search the market?
BOULT
Yeah, it was eleven, and we brought them down again! But should I search the market?
BAWD
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong windwill blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
BAWD
What else can we do? The girls we have are so pitiful, a strong wind would blow them all to pieces.
PANDAR
Thou sayest true; they're too unwholesome, o' conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage.
PANDAR
You're right; they're a mess, truth be told. The poor Transylvanian girl is dead—the one that slept with that guy with the tiny junk.
BOULT
Ay, she quickly pooped him; she made him roast-meatfor worms. But I'll go search the market.
BOULT
Yeah, and she gave him whatever she had; he's food for worms now! But I'll go search the market.
Exit
PANDAR
Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty aproportion to live quietly, and so give over.
PANDAR
Three or four thousand gold coins is all we need to retire quietly and give up the business.
BAWD
Why to give over, I pray you? is it a shame to getwhen we are old?
BAWD
Why would we give it up? Is there anything wrong with working while we're old?
PANDAR
O, our credit comes not in like the commodity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger: therefore, 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.
PANDAR
Our credit's not as good as our property, and our property hasn't held up well. When we were young we could pick up lots of young girls, and it was easy to keep a roof over our heads. Besides, the fact that we're in the gods' bad books is reason enough to retire.
BAWD
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
BAWD
Oh, come on. Loads of people do as much evil as we do.
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.
PANDAR
As much as we do? But our evil is worse. And our profession isn't really a "trade" or a "calling." But here comes Boult.
Re-enter BOULT, with the Pirates and MARINA
BOULT
[To MARINA] Come your ways. My masters, you sayshe's a virgin?
BOULT
[To MARINA] Hurry up, now.
[To the PIRATES] So, guys, you say she's a virgin?
FIRST PIRATE
O, sir, we doubt it not.
FIRST PIRATE
Oh, sir, we have no doubt.
BOULT
Master, I have gone through for this piece, you see:if you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
BOULT
Master, I've paid through the nose for this one. If you like her, good. If not, I've lost my bet.
BAWD
Boult, has she any qualities?
BAWD
Boult, what are her assets?
BOULT
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellentgood clothes: there's no further necessity ofqualities can make her be refused.
BOULT
She has a good face, speaks well, and has really nice clothes. There's nothing about her that would make you dislike her.
BAWD
What's her price, Boult?
BAWD
What's her price, Boult?
BOULT
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
BOULT
I can't get her for a cent less than a thousand gold coins.
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.
PANDAR
Well, follow me, guys. You'll get your money shortly.
[To BAWD] Wife, take her in. Teach her what she has to do so she's not caught unawares her first time.
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.
BAWD
Boult, write a full report of her: the color of her hair, complexion, height, age, with a guarantee of her virginity, and cry, "Whoever pays the most can have her first." If I know men, a virginity like this won't go cheap. Do exactly as I say.
BOULT
Performance shall follow.
BOULT
I'll take care of it.
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!
MARINA
If only Leonine hadn't been so slow! He should have killed me instead of talking so much. Or if only the pirates (as if they weren't barbarous enough) had thrown me overboard, to go after my mother!
BAWD
Why lament you, pretty one?
BAWD
Why are you crying, pretty girl?
MARINA
That I am pretty.
MARINA
Because I'm pretty.
BAWD
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
BAWD
Come on, the gods have blessed you.
MARINA
I accuse them not.
MARINA
I'm not accusing them.
BAWD
You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.
BAWD
You've come into my hands now, where you're likely to live.
MARINA
The more my faultTo scape his hands where I was like to die.
MARINA
Which makes it even worse that I escaped Leonine's hands, where I might have died.
BAWD
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
BAWD
Oh, but you'll live in pleasure.
MARINA
No.
MARINA
No.
BAWD
Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of allfashions: you shall fare well; you shall have thedifference of all complexions. What! do you stop your ears?
BAWD
Yes, you will, and you'll taste all different kinds of gentlemen. You'll do well! You'll have all sorts. What? Why are you covering your ears?
MARINA
Are you a woman?
MARINA
Are you a woman?
BAWD
What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?
BAWD
What would you rather me be, if not a woman?
MARINA
An honest woman, or not a woman.
MARINA
A good woman, or not a woman at all.
BAWD
Marry, whip thee, gosling: I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you're a young foolish sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.
BAWD
Shut your mouth, girl. I think I'll have to do something about you. You're young and naive and you'll have to be broken as I would have you.
MARINA
The gods defend me!
MARINA
May the gods protect me!
BAWD
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then menmust comfort you, men must feed you, men must stiryou up. Boult's returned.
BAWD
If it pleases the gods to protect you through men, then men will comfort you, feed you, sleep with you. Boult's back.
Re-enter BOULT
BAWD
Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?
BAWD
Have you spread the word about her all over the market?
BOULT
I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs;I have drawn her picture with my voice.
BOULT
I've described her down to every last hair. I've drawn a picture of her with my voice.
BAWD
And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find theinclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
BAWD
And please, tell me: how do people seem to be reacting, especially the younger ones?
BOULT
'Faith, they listened to me as they would have hearkened to their father's testament. There was a Spaniard's mouth so watered, that he went to bed to her very description.
BOULT
Well, they listened to me as closely as they would to their own father's will being read. There was a Spanish guy whose mouth watered so much, he went to masturbate off just the description of her.
BAWD
We shall have him here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
BAWD
I'm sure he'll be here tomorrow in his best clothes.
BOULT
To-night, to-night. But, mistress, do you know theFrench knight that cowers i' the hams?
BOULT
Tonight, tonight. But, mistress, do you know the French guy who works as a butcher?
BAWD
Who, Monsieur Veroles?
BAWD
Who, Mr. Syphilis?
BOULT
Ay, he: he offered to cut a caper at theproclamation; but he made a groan at it, and sworehe would see her to-morrow.
BOULT
Yeah, him. He wanted to do it as soon as he heard the proclamation, but then groaned and swore he would see her tomorrow.
BAWD
Well, well; as for him, he brought his disease hither: here he does but repair it. I know he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns in the sun.
BAWD
Well, well, as for him—he brought his disease here, and he just keeps it up. I know he'll come here soon and that he'll spend plenty of money.
BOULT
Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, weshould lodge them with this sign.
BOULT
Well, if we had customers from every country in the world, we'd welcome them in, since they either have syphilis or will do soon.
BAWD
[To MARINA] Pray you, come hither awhile. You have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly, despise profit where you have most gain. To weep that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers: seldom but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that opinion a mere profit.
BAWD
[To MARINA] Come here for a minute. Good things are coming your way. Mark my words: you need to pretend you're afraid of having sex even though you're perfectly willing, and you need to seem like you don't want the money, even though you'll make a fortune. If you cry about having to work as a prostitute, your customers will take pity on you; pity equals good reviews, and good reviews equals a huge profit.
MARINA
I understand you not.
MARINA
I don't understand you.
BOULT
O, take her home, mistress, take her home: theseblushes of hers must be quenched with some present practise.
BOULT
Oh, take her home, mistress, take her home. We'll get rid of all this shyness with a little practice.
BAWD
Thou sayest true, i' faith, so they must; for yourbride goes to that with shame which is her way to gowith warrant.
BAWD
You're right, darn it, we will. Even brides are afraid of the wedding night, though they have no reason to be.
BOULT
'Faith, some do, and some do not. But, mistress, ifI have bargained for the joint,—
BOULT
Well, some do, some don't. But, mistress, since it's me that bought her—
BAWD
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
BAWD
—you can have a little taste.
BOULT
I may so.
BOULT
I may?
BAWD
Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like themanner of your garments well.
BAWD
Who's stopping you?
[To MARINA] Cheer up, missy. I like your clothes.
BOULT
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
BOULT
Ah, don't change them yet.
BAWD
Boult, spend thou that in the town: report what a sojourner we have; you'll lose nothing by custom. When nature flamed this piece, she meant thee a good turn; therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report.
BAWD
[She gives BOULT a coin] Boult, spread the news in town about our new guest, and don't leave out a single detail. When Mother Nature put together this girl, she meant to do you a favor. If you tell everyone how beautiful she is, you'll get money and you'll get to sleep with her, too.
BOULT
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awakethe beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stir upthe lewdly-inclined. I'll bring home some to-night.
BOULT
I promise I'll excite those dirty-minded men as much as I can. I'll bring some home tonight.
BAWD
Come your ways; follow me.
BAWD
Come on, then, follow me.
MARINA
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.Diana, aid my purpose!
MARINA
I swear I'll stay a virgin! Diana, help me!
BAWD
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?
BAWD
What do we have to do with Diana? Now will you come with us?
Exeunt
