Page 1112 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster, are you not? Come, tell
me true, it shall be the better for you.

POMPEY
Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live. [210]

ESCALUS
How would you live, Pompey? By being a bawd? What do you think of the
trade, Pompey? Is it a lawful trade?

POMPEY
If the law would allow it, sir.

ESCALUS
But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall [215] not be allowed in
Vienna.

POMPEY
Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city?

ESCALUS
No, Pompey.

POMPEY
Truly sir, in my poor opinion, they will to’t then. [220] If your worship will

take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.

ESCALUS

There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you. It is but heading and hanging.

POMPEY
If you head and hang all that offend that way but [225] for ten year together,
you’ll be glad to give out a commission for more heads: if this law hold in
Vienna ten year, I’ll rent the fairest house in it after three pence a bay. If you
live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so.

ESCALUS