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Modern English
Boult!
Boult!
Sir?
Sir?
Search the market narrowly; Mytilene is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless.
Search the market carefully; Mytilene is full of young men. We lost too much money this time by not having enough girls.
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.
We’ve never been this short on girls. We have only three poor ones, and they can only do so much; and after a while, they’re as good as useless.
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.
So let’s get some new ones, no matter what we have to pay for them. If there’s no conscience in business, we’ll never succeed.
Thou sayest true: ’tis not our bringing up of poor bastards,--as, I think, I have brought up some eleven--
You’re right: it’s not about raising poor illegitimate children,--as, I think, I’ve raised about eleven--
Ay, to eleven; and brought them down again. But shall I search the market?
Yes, eleven; and sent them back. But should I search the market?
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
What else, man? The girls we have, a strong wind would blow them away, they’re in such bad condition.
Thou sayest true; they’re too unwholesome, o’ conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage.
You’re right; they’re too unhealthy, frankly. The poor Transylvanian girl is dead, the one who was with the little baggage.
Ay, she quickly pooped him; she made him roast-meat for worms. But I’ll go search the market.
Yes, she quickly finished him off; she made him easy prey for the worms. But I’ll go search the market.
Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
Three or four thousand chequins would be a good amount to live quietly on, and then retire.
Why to give over, I pray you? is it a shame to get when we are old?
Why retire, may I ask? Is it a shame to stop working when we get old?
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.
Oh, our reputation doesn’t come in the same way as products, and business doesn’t pay off without risk: so if we could make some nice money while we’re young, it wouldn’t hurt to stop working. Plus, the bad situation we’re in with the gods will make it difficult for us to quit.
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
Well, other people are just as bad as we are.
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.
As well as we! yeah, and even better; we do worse things. Our profession isn’t a real job; it’s not a legitimate career. But here comes Boult.
[To MARINA] Come your ways. My masters, you say she’s a virgin?
[To MARINA] Come on, let’s go. My masters, you said she’s a virgin?
O, sir, we doubt it not.
Oh, sir, we don’t doubt that.
Master, I have gone through for this piece, you see: if you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
Master, I’ve done the work for this one, as you can see: if you like her, fine; if not, I’ve lost my deposit.
Boult, has she any qualities?
Boult, does she have any other qualities?
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent good clothes: there’s no further necessity of qualities can make her be refused.
She’s got a good face, speaks well, and wears great clothes: there’s nothing more she needs to have for someone to not want her.
What’s her price, Boult?
What’s her price, Boult?
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
I can’t lower the price by even a penny of a thousand coins.
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.
Well, follow me, my masters, you’ll get your money right away. Wife, take her in; teach her what she needs to do, so she’s not inexperienced in how to entertain you.
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.
Boult, take note of her features—her hair color, skin tone, height, age, and confirm her virginity; and shout, “The highest bidder gets her first.” Such a virginity wouldn’t be cheap if men were like they used to be. Get this done exactly as I told you.
Performance shall follow.
I’ll get it done.
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!
Oh, it’s a shame Leonine was so careless, so slow! He should have attacked, not talked; or that these pirates, Not cruel enough, hadn’t thrown me overboard To search for my mother!
Why lament you, pretty one?
Why are you crying, sweet girl?
That I am pretty.
That I’m attractive.
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
Come on, the gods have done their part with you.
I accuse them not.
I don’t blame them.
You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.
You’re in my hands now, where you’ll probably stay.
The more my fault To scape his hands where I was like to die.
It’s more my fault That I escaped his hands, where I was about to die.
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
Yes, and you’ll live a life of pleasure.
No.
No.
Yes, indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all fashions: you shall fare well; you shall have the difference of all complexions. What! do you stop your ears?
Yes, you will, for sure, and meet men of all sorts. You’ll be treated well; you’ll experience all kinds of people. What? Are you covering your ears?
Are you a woman?
Are you a woman?
What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?
What do you want me to be, if I’m not a woman?
An honest woman, or not a woman.
A decent woman, or not a woman at all.
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.
Well, go ahead, little fool: I think I’ll have to deal with you. Come on, you’re a young, naive thing, and I’ll shape you the way I want.
The gods defend me!
May the gods protect me!
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then men must comfort you, men must feed you, men must stir you up. Boult’s returned.
If the gods want to protect you through men, then men have to comfort you, feed you, and excite you. Boult’s back.
Now, sir, hast thou cried her through the market?
Now, boy, have you shouted her name through the marketplace?
I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs; I have drawn her picture with my voice.
I’ve almost shouted her name until I counted every hair on her head; I’ve painted a picture of her with my voice.
And I prithee tell me, how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
And please, tell me, how do you think the people feel about it, especially the younger ones?
’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.
Honestly, they listened to me like they would listen to their father’s will. One Spaniard’s mouth watered so much, he went to bed just from hearing about her.
We shall have him here to-morrow with his best ruff on.
We’ll have him here tomorrow, wearing his best ruff.
To-night, to-night. But, mistress, do you know the French knight that cowers i’ the hams?
Tonight, tonight. But, mistress, do you know the French knight who keeps to himself?
Who, Monsieur Veroles?
Who, Monsieur Veroles?
Ay, he: he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation; but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her to-morrow.
Yes, him. He wanted to jump for joy at the announcement, but he groaned and said he’d come back tomorrow.
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.
Well, well; as for him, he brought his illness here: now he’s just trying to fix it. I know he’ll come back into our space to throw his money around.
Well, if we had of every nation a traveller, we should lodge them with this sign.
Well, if we had a traveler from every country, we’d put them up with this sign.
[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.
[To MARINA] Please, come here for a moment. You have fortunes coming your way. Listen to me: you must act like you’re afraid to do what you’re willing to do, despise profit where you could gain the most. Cry that you live as you do, and it will make people pity you: often, pity turns into a good reputation, and that reputation into real profit.
I understand you not.
I don’t understand you.
O, take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practise.
Oh, take her home, mistress, take her home: these blushes of hers need to be dealt with through some immediate action.
Thou sayest true, i’ faith, so they must; for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant.
You’re right, indeed, they do need to be handled; for your bride goes into that with shame, but it’s the way she must go with certainty.
’Faith, some do, and some do not. But, mistress, if I have bargained for the joint,--
Honestly, some do, and some don’t. But, mistress, if I’ve made a deal for the whole thing,--
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
You may take a little piece off the deal.
I may so.
I may indeed.
Who should deny it? Come, young one, I like the manner of your garments well.
Who would argue with that? Come, young one, I like the way your clothes look.
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
Yes, by my word, they won’t be changed yet.
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.
Boult, take that money into town: spread the word about what a visitor we have; you won’t lose anything by following tradition. When nature made this woman, she did you a big favor; so tell everyone how perfect she is, and you’ll profit from your own gossip.
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stir up the lewdly-inclined. I’ll bring home some to-night.
I promise you, mistress, thunder won’t wake the eel beds as much as my spreading the word about her beauty will stir up the morally corrupt. I’ll bring some back tonight.
Come your ways; follow me.
Come along; follow me.
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep, Untied I still my virgin knot will keep. Diana, aid my purpose!
If fires are hot, knives are sharp, or waters are deep, I will still remain untarnished, keeping my virginity. Diana, help me fulfill my vow!
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?
What does Diana have to do with this? Please, will you come with us?