Well, I had rather than twice the worth of her she had ne’er come here.
I'd rather pay twice what she costs than have her here.
I'd pay double to not have her.
wish she wasn't here.
Fie, fie upon her! She’s able to freeze the god Priapus, and undo a
whole generation. We must either get her ravished, or be rid of her.
When she should do for clients her fitment, and do me the kindness of
our profession, she has me her quirks, her reasons, her master reasons,
her prayers, her knees; that she would make a puritan of the devil, if
he should cheapen a kiss of her.
Damn her! She's so cold she'd freeze even Priapus, god of desire, and ruin our whole business!
She's so pure she's killing our business!
freezing our trade.
Faith, I must ravish her, or she’ll disfurnish us of all our cavaliers,
and make our swearers priests.
I have to sleep with her, or she'll scare away all our customers and make us homeless.
I gotta force her, or she'll destroy us all.
force her or fail.
Now, the pox upon her green sickness for me!
Damn her virginal sickness!
Damn her virtue!
damn her virtue.
Faith, there’s no way to be rid on’t but by the way to the pox.
Here comes the Lord Lysimachus disguised.
The only way to cure her virginity is the way to get disease. Here comes the Lord.
The only cure is catching something. Here comes a customer.
customer coming.
We should have both lord and lown, if the peevish baggage would but
give way to customers.
We'd have both noble and common men if this stubborn girl would just cooperate.
We'd have customers if she'd just give in.
if only she'd cooperate.
Lysimachus is the governor of Mytilene — a man of genuine public standing who is visiting a brothel in disguise. His opening line ('How a dozen of virginities?') establishes that he is not here innocently. His conversion by Marina is real, but it happens from a standing start of self-interest. He will reappear in Act 5 as a possible match for Marina, which is where his reform becomes plot-relevant. Note his exit line here: 'Thou art a piece of virtue, and I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.' He already suspects she is not what she appears to be in that place.
How now! How a dozen of virginities?
Greetings! Do you want a girl?
Welcome! Want a girl?
want girl?
Now, the gods to bless your honour!
May the gods bless your honor!
Gods bless you, sir!
gods bless you!
I am glad to see your honour in good health.
I'm glad to see your honor in good health.
Good to see you, sir!
good to see you!
You may so; ’tis the better for you that your resorters stand upon
sound legs. How now? Wholesome iniquity have you that a man may deal
withal, and defy the surgeon?
That's good for you—your customers' legs are still working. Would you like to see what we have?
That's good for business. Want to see what we've got?
wanna see?
We have here one, sir, if she would—but there never came her like in
Mytilene.
We have one here, sir—if she would cooperate. But there's never been anyone like her in Mytilene.
We've got one amazing girl—if she'll do her job. Best in the city.
best girl ever.
If she’d do the deed of darkness, thou wouldst say.
If she'd do what you're hinting at, you'd say so.
If she'd actually sleep with you, you'd be bragging.
she won't sleep with you.
Your honour knows what ’tis to say well enough.
Your honor knows what I mean well enough.
You know what I mean.
you get it.
Well, call forth, call forth.
Well, bring her out.
Go get her.
get her.
For flesh and blood, sir, white and red, you shall see a rose; and she
were a rose indeed, if she had but—
You'll see a rose—fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, natural beauty.
She's beautiful—white skin, rosy cheeks, perfect.
beautiful girl.
What, prithee?
What do you mean?
What?
what?
O, sir, I can be modest.
I can be modest when I need to.
I can keep it classy.
classy.
That dignifies the renown of a bawd no less than it gives a good report
to a number to be chaste.
Modesty is as important to a bawd's reputation as it is to a respectable woman.
Modesty helps the brothel's reputation as much as a wife's.
modesty helps reputation.
Here comes that which grows to the stalk; never plucked yet, I can
assure you.
Here comes what money can't make—a virgin, untouched.
Here's a real virgin—never picked.
real virgin.
Faith, she would serve after a long voyage at sea. Well, there’s for
you: leave us.
She'll be perfect after a long sea voyage. Here's payment. Now leave—I want to talk to her.
She's perfect. Take this money and go. I need to talk to her.
take money. go. i'll talk to her.
I beseech your honour, give me leave: a word, and I’ll have done
presently.
Please, your honor, let me have a word first—I'll be quick.
Sir, one word first—quick.
one word.
I beseech you, do.
Of course, do.
Go ahead.
go.
I desire to find him so, that I may worthily note him.
I hope to find him worthy of recognition.
I hope he's a good person.
hope he's good.
Lysimachus is the play's most ethically awkward character. He enters the brothel with money paid and intent clear. His conversion by Marina is genuine — but the question of what he would have done without it remains. His claim on exit that he 'came with no ill intent' is almost certainly false, or at best a face-saving revision. The play doesn't condemn him — in fact, it rewards him with Marina's hand in the final scene. Modern readers and scholars are often uncomfortable with this, and rightly so. The play's romance logic treats his conversion as sufficient: he is changed by Marina, and what he would have done is overwritten by what he did. Whether this is satisfying is a judgment call the play leaves to the audience.
Next, he’s the governor of this country, and a man whom I am bound to.
He's the governor of this country—someone I'm obligated to respect.
He runs this place. I work for him.
he's governor.
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.
If he governs the country, you're bound to him—but how honorable is he?
So he's your boss—but is he a good person?
your boss. good person?
What he will do graciously, I will thankfully receive.
Whatever he wants to do graciously, I'll receive gratefully.
Whatever he chooses, I'll accept gracefully.
i'll accept.
Ha’ you done?
Are you done?
Done?
done?
My lord, she’s not paced yet: you must take some pains to work her to
your manage. Come, we will leave his honour and her together. Go thy
ways.
My lord, she's not broken in yet. You'll need to work to get her to behave as you want.
Sir, she needs training. You'll have to work on her.
needs training.
Now, pretty one, how long have you been at this trade?
Pretty one, how long have you worked at this trade?
So how long have you been doing this?
how long?
What trade, sir?
What trade, sir?
What trade?
what trade?
Why, I cannot name’t but I shall offend.
I can't name it without offending you.
I can't say it without being gross.
can't say it.
I cannot be offended with my trade. Please you to name it.
I can't be offended by my own trade. Please name it.
My job doesn't offend me. Say it.
i'm not offended.
How long have you been of this profession?
How long have you been a prostitute?
How long have you been selling yourself?
how long been selling?
E’er since I can remember.
LYSIMACHUS. Did you go to’t so young? Were you a gamester at five or at
seven?
Ever since I can remember.
Since forever.
always.
Earlier, too, sir, if now I be one.
Even earlier than I can remember, if I am one now.
Even before I can remember, if that's what I am.
before i could remember.
Why, the house you dwell in proclaims you to be a creature of sale.
Your house proclaims you're for sale.
This place is a brothel.
this is a brothel.
Do you know this house to be a place of such resort, and will come
into’t? I hear say you are of honourable parts, and are the governor of
this place.
Do you know this is a place where people come for sex and still come here? I've heard of your reputation.
You know what this place is and you still come? I know who you are.
you know what this is.
Why, hath your principal made known unto you who I am?
Doesn't the Bawd tell you who I am?
Didn't she tell you who I am?
didn't she say?
Who is my principal?
Who is my principal?
Who's my boss?
who's my boss?
Why, your herb-woman; she that sets seeds 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 see thee, or else look friendly upon thee. Come,
bring me to some private place: come, come.
Your boss—the woman who plants seeds of shame and sin. Oh, you're noble-born! Show it by not ruining this girl.
Your boss plants shame and sin. You're a noble—prove it by not hurting me.
prove your nobility. don't hurt me.
If you were born to honour, show it now;
If put upon you, make the judgement good
That thought you worthy of it.
If you were born noble, show it now. If nobility was given to you, prove you deserve it by leaving me alone.
If you're truly noble, prove it. Don't touch me.
prove nobility. don't touch me.
How’s this? how’s this? Some more; be sage.
What's this? Say more—be wise.
What? Keep going.
keep going.
For me,
That am a maid, though most ungentle Fortune
Have placed me in this sty, where, since I came,
Diseases have been sold dearer than physic,
O, that the gods
Would set me free from this unhallow’d place,
Though they did change me to the meanest bird
That flies i’ the purer air!
I'm a girl, though cruel fortune placed me here. There are gods who care about purity. My father is a king. I was never meant for this place.
I'm innocent. Bad luck put me here. I have a father who's a king. Gods protect virgins. I'm not meant for this.
i'm innocent. bad luck put me here. father's king. gods protect me.
I did not think
Thou couldst have spoke so well; ne’er dream’d thou couldst.
Had I brought hither a corrupted mind,
Thy speech had alter’d it. Hold, here’s gold for thee:
Persever in that clear way thou goest,
And the gods strengthen thee!
I didn't think you could speak so well. I never dreamed it. Had I not met you, I'd still think you guilty.
I'm shocked—you talk like an educated person. If I hadn't met you, I'd think you were guilty.
you speak well. so educated.
The good gods preserve you!
May the gods keep you safe.
May the gods protect you.
gods protect you.
For me, be you thoughten
That I came with no ill intent; for to me
The very doors and windows savour vilely.
Fare thee well. Thou art a piece of virtue, and
I doubt not but thy training hath been noble.
Hold, here’s more gold for thee.
A curse upon him, die he like a thief,
That robs thee of thy goodness! If thou dost
Hear from me, it shall be for thy good.
As for me, know I came with no bad intentions. Just seeing the door of this place made me want to leave.
I came here with good intentions. But seeing this place made me want to leave.
came with good intent. but this place... want to leave.
I beseech your honour, one piece for me.
Please, sir, let me have my turn with her.
Sir, can I have a turn?
my turn?
Avaunt, thou damned door-keeper!
Your house but for this virgin that doth prop it,
Would sink and overwhelm you. Away!
Get out, you damned doorkeeper! The only thing valuable in this brothel is this virgin. Without her, the whole place is worthless.
Get out! You're worthless. This girl is the only thing keeping this place running.
get out! she's worth everything.
How’s this? We must 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.
How's this? We have to try a different approach. Your stubborn virginity, which makes you holier than vows, will destroy us all.
We need a new plan. Your virginity is ruining us.
virginity ruins us.
What Marina does in 4-6 is classical rhetoric applied to survival. With Lysimachus, she uses demonstratio — showing him what he actually is in this room (a powerful man visiting a brothel) against what he claims to be (an honourable governor). The argument works because it doesn't accuse; it questions. 'If you were born to honour, show it now' — she doesn't say 'you are dishonourable,' she says 'prove your honour.' With Boult, she uses a different technique: inventio, the systematic demolition of his position, followed immediately by a concrete alternative offer. She gives him a way out as well as a reason to take it. The gold makes it real. The wager makes it credible. Marina has been trained in 'music and letters' in Tarsus — which means she was trained in rhetoric, the fundamental art of persuasion. She is using her education to survive.
Whither would you have me?
Where would you have me go?
Where are you taking me?
where?
I must have your maidenhead taken off, or the common hangman shall
execute it. Come your ways. We’ll have no more gentlemen driven away.
Come your ways, I say.
I must take your virginity, or the executioner will do it. Come on—let's go.
I'm forcing you, or the law will. Let's go.
force or law. let's go.
How now! what’s the matter?
What's wrong?
What happened?
what?
Worse and worse, mistress; she has here spoken holy words to the Lord
Lysimachus.
Worse and worse—she spoke holy words to the governor! She's going to ruin us!
She turned the governor religious! She's destroying us!
she converted him! we're done!
O, abominable!
Horrible!
Awful!
awful!
She makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the
gods.
She makes our profession stink in the eyes of the gods.
She's making us look like sinners to the gods.
we look evil now.
Marry, hang her up for ever!
Hang her forever!
Hang her!
hang her!
The nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman, and she sent
him away as cold as a snowball; saying his prayers too.
The nobleman wanted to treat her honorably, and she treated him like garbage!
He came as a gentleman and she rejected him!
rejected him!
Boult, take her away; use her at thy pleasure: crack the glass of her
virginity, and make the rest malleable.
Boult, take her away. Do what you want with her. Destroy her virginity. Get her working or I'll throw her out.
Boult, take her. Rape her if you have to. Get her working or she's done.
take her. rape her. make her work.
An if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is, she shall be
ploughed.
Even if she were worse than she is, I'll break her.
I don't care—I'll force her.
i'll force her.
Hark, hark, you gods!
Oh gods, listen to me!
Gods, help me!
gods help!
She conjures: away with her! Would she had never come within my doors!
Marry, hang you! She’s born to undo us. Will you not go the way of
womankind? Marry, come up, my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays!
She's summoning spirits! Take her away! I wish she'd never come here! Hang her, cut her, or drown her!
She's got magic! Get her out! I never want to see her! Kill her!
kill her! gone! magic!
Come, mistress; come your way with me.
Come on, come with me.
Come on, let's go.
let's go.
Whither wilt thou have me?
Where are you taking me?
Where?
where?
To take from you the jewel you hold so dear.
To take the jewel you guard so carefully.
To take what you're protecting.
to take your virginity.
Prithee, tell me one thing first.
Please, tell me one thing first.
Wait—one question.
one question.
Come now, your one thing?
What's your one thing?
What?
what?
What canst thou wish thine enemy to be?
What do you wish on your enemy?
What's the worst thing that could happen to someone?
worst thing?
Why, I could wish him to be my master, or rather, my mistress.
I'd wish him to be my master or mistress.
To end up like me—enslaved.
enslaved like me.
Neither of these are so bad as thou art,
Since they do better thee in their command.
Thou hold’st a place, for which the pained’st fiend
Of hell would not in reputation change:
Thou art the damned doorkeeper to every
Coistrel that comes inquiring for his Tib.
To the choleric fisting of every rogue
Thy ear is liable, thy food is such
As hath been belch’d on by infected lungs.
You're worse than either of them because they wouldn't do what you're doing.
You're worse than evil people because good people wouldn't do this.
worse than evil. good people wouldn't.
What would you have me do? Go to the wars, would you? where a man may
serve seven years for the loss of a leg, and have not money enough in
the end to buy him a wooden one?
What do you want me to do? Join the army? Sewers need cleaning. That's all there is left if not this.
What else can I do? Join the army? Clean sewers? That's all that's left.
what else can i do? army? sewers? that's it.
Do anything but this thou doest. Empty
Old receptacles, or common shores, of filth;
Serve by indenture to the common hangman:
Any of these ways are yet better than this;
For what thou professest, a baboon, could he speak,
Would own a name too dear. O, that the gods
Would safely deliver me from this place!
Here, here’s gold for thee.
If that thy master would gain by me,
Proclaim that I can sing, weave, sew, and dance,
With other virtues, which I’ll keep from boast;
And I will undertake all these to teach.
I doubt not but this populous city will
Yield many scholars.
Do anything but this. Clean sewers. Carry waste. Anything but destroy innocence.
Anything else. Be a servant. Clean filth. Anything but this.
anything but this. clean filth. be servant.
But can you teach all this you speak of?
Can you teach everything you're saying?
Can you actually do all this?
can you do it?
Prove that I cannot, take me home again,
And prostitute me to the basest groom
That doth frequent your house.
If I can't prove it, take me back and sell me to the lowest servant. But if I can, find me honest work.
If I can't, sell me as a slave. If I can, find me honest work.
sell me as slave if i fail. honest work if not.
Well, I will see what I can do for thee: if I can place thee, I will.
I'll see what I can do. If I can find you work, I will.
I'll try to help. If I find work for you, I'll do it.
i'll try to help.
But amongst honest women.
But with honest women.
Good women, not whores.
honest women.
Faith, my acquaintance lies little amongst them. But since my master
and mistress have bought you, there’s no going but by their consent:
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.
I don't know many honest women. But since my master and mistress are leaving town, I'll help you escape and find honest work.
I don't know many good girls. But my bosses are leaving, so I'll help you escape and find real work.
bosses leaving. i'll help you escape. find real work.
The Reckoning
This is the scene where Marina takes control. Everything before this — the kidnap, the brothel, the threats — has been done to her. In 4-6, she starts doing things to others. She converts Lysimachus. She demolishes Boult's self-image so completely that he switches from threat to ally within thirty lines. The scene is the play's most morally complex because it asks us to watch Marina weaponize her eloquence against men who have power over her body — and it is not entirely comfortable. Lysimachus entered with no good intentions. His conversion is real, but his original visit was not innocent. Marina sees through all of it and responds not with moral condemnation but with argument, gold, and a business proposal.
If this happened today…
A trafficked girl in a locked room with the city official who came to use her. She keeps him talking. Within an hour he's given her money and left. Then the manager sends the enforcer in. She talks to him too, lays out exactly how bad his life is, then offers him a cut of a different business she can start. He becomes her handler in the legitimate version.