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 honourable 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. Lyf. Have you done? Bawd. My lord, fhe's not paced yet; you must take fome pains to work her to your manage. Come, we will leave his honour and her together. [Exeunt Bawd, PANDER, and BOULT. Lyf. Go thy ways.-Now, pretty one, how long have you been at this trade ? Mar. What trade, fir? Lyf. What I cannot name but I fhall offend. Mar. I cannot be offended with my trade. Please you to name it. Lyf. How long have you been of this profession? Mar. Ever fince I can remember. Lyf. Did you go to it fo young? Were you a gamester at five, or at seven? Mar. Earlier too, fir, if now I be one. Lyf. Why, the house you dwell in, proclaims you to be a creature of fale. Mar. Do you know this house to be a place of fuch refort, and will come into it? I hear fay, you are of honourable parts, and are the governor of this place. Lyf. Why, hath your principal made known unto you who I am? Mar. Who is my principal ? Lyf. Why, your herb-woman; the that fets feeds 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, pretty one, my authority shall not fee thee, or else, look friendly upon thee. Come, bring me to fome private place. Come, come. Mar. If you were born to honour, fhow it now; Lyf. How's this? how's this?-Some more ;-be fage. That am a maid, though most ungentle fortune Lyf. I did not think Thou could'st have spoke so well; ne'er dream'd thou could'ft. Had I brought hither a corrupted mind, Thy speech had alter'd it. Hold, here's gold for thee: Perfever ftill in that clear way thou goeft, And the gods ftrengthen thee! Mar. The gods preserve you! Lyf. For me, be you thoughten That I came with no ill intent; for to me I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.— A curfe upon him, die he like a thief, That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou hear'ft from me, It fhall be for thy good. [AS LYSIMACHUS is putting up his purse, BOULT enters. Poult Boult. I beseech your honour, one piece for me. Lys. Avaunt, thou damned door-keeper! Your house But for this virgin that doth prop it up, Would fink, and overwhelm you all. Away! [Exit LYSIMACHUS. Boult. How's this? We muft take another course with you. If your peevish chastity, which is not worth a breakfast in the cheapest country under the cope, 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 fhall execute it. Come your way. We'll have no more gentlemen driven away. Come your ways, I fay. Re-enter Bawd. Bawd. How now! what's the matter? Boult. Worfe and worse, miftrefs; the has here spoken holy words to the lord Lyfimachus. Bawd. O abominable! Boult. She makes our profeffion 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 fent him away as cold as a fnowball; faying his prayers too. Bavid. Boult, take her away; ufe her at thy pleasure : crack the glass of her virginity, and make the rest malleable. Boult. An if he were a thornier piece of ground than fhe is, the fhall be plough'd. Mar. Hark, hark, you gods! Bawd. She conjures away with her. Would the had never come within my doors! Marry hang you! She's born to undo us. Will you not go the way of womenkind? 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 hold so dear. Mar. Pr'ythee, tell me one thing first. Boult. Come now, your one thing; Mar. What canst thou wish thine enemy to be? Boult. Why, I could wish him to be my master, or ra, ther, 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'ft fiend Thou'rt the damn'd door-keeper to every coystrel As hath been belch'd on by infected lungs. Boult. What would you have me do? go to the wars, would you? where a man may ferve feven years for the lofs of a leg, and have not money enough in the end to buy him a wooden one? Mar. Do any thing but this thou doeft. Empty If If that thy mafter would gain aught by me, I doubt not but this populous city will Boult. But can you teach all this you speak of? That doth frequent your house. Boult. Well, I will fee what I can do for thee: if I can place thee, I will. Mar. But, amongst honest women? Boult. 'Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst them. But fince my master and mistress have bought you, there's no going but by their confent: therefore I will make them acquainted with your purpose, and I doubt not but I shall find them tractable enough. Come, I'll do for thee what I can; come your ways. [Exeunt. |