Peer Reviewed
- Edition: The Honest Whore, Part 1
The Honest Whore, Part 1 (Modern)
- Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Acknowledgements
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Abbreviations
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Analysis of the Plays
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: The Plays in Performance
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Textual Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Appendices
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- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
481.1[1.5]
Come, you put up your wares in good order here, do 485you not, think you? One piece cast this way, another that way! 486You had need have a patient master, indeed.
[Aside] Ay, I’ll be sworn, for we have a curst mistress.
You mumble? Do you mumble? I would your master 489or I could be a note more angry, for two patient folks in a 490house spoil all the servants that ever shall come under them.
[Aside] You patient! Ay, so is the devil when he is 492horn-mad.
Gentlemen, what do you lack? What is’t you buy? 495See, fine hollands, fine cambrics, fine lawns.
What is’t you lack?
What is’t you buy?
Where’s Signor Candido, thy master?
Faith, signor, he’s a little negotiated. He’ll appear presently.
[To George] Fellow, let’s see a lawn, a choice one, sirrah.
The best in all Milan, gentlemen, and [Showing it] this is the 502piece. I can fit you gentlemen with fine calicoes too, for 503doublets, the only sweet fashion now, most delicate and courtly, a 504meek, gentle calico, cut upon two double affable taffetas – ah, 505most neat, feat, and unmatchable!
[Aside to Pioratto] A notable, voluble-tongued villain.
[Aside to Fluello] I warrant this fellow was never begot without much 508prating.
[To George with his piece of lawn] What, and is this she, sayst thou?
1.5.14.1[He handles the cloth.]
Ay, and the purest she that ever you fingered since you 511were a gentleman. Look how even she is, look how clean she 512is – ha, as even as the brow of Cynthia, and as clean as your sons 513and heirs when they ha’ spent all.
Pooh, thou talkst – pox on’t, ’tis rough.
How? Is she rough? But if you bid pox on’t sir, ’twill 516take away the roughness presently.
[To Castruccio] Ha, signor! Has he fitted your French curse?
[To Castruccio] Look you, gentleman, here’s another. [He displays another cloth.] Compare 519them, I pray: compara Virgilium cum Homero, compare virgins 520with harlots.
Pooh, I ha’ seen better, and, as you term them, evener 522and cleaner.
You may see further for your mind, but trust me, 524you shall not find better for your body.
1.5.21.1Enter Candido.
[Aside to his companions] O, here he comes. Let’s make as though we pass.
1.5.23.1[The Gentlemen start to leave.]
How now? What’s the matter?
The gentlemen find fault with this lawn, fall out 529with it, and without a cause too.
Without a cause?
[Aside to his companions] He calls us.
[Aside to Fluello] Makes the better for the jest.
I pray come near. You’re very welcome, gallants.
Well, how do you rate it?
Very conscionable, eighteen shillings a yard.
That’s too dear. How many yards does the whole 545piece contain, think you?
Why, some seventeen yards I think, or thereabouts. 547How much would serve your turn, I pray?
Why, let me see. [He examines the cloth.] Would it were better, too.
Truth, ’tis the best in Milan, at few words.
Well, let me have, then – a whole pennyworth.
Ha, ha! You’re a merry gentleman.
A penn’orth, I say.
Of lawn?
Of lawn? Ay, of lawn, a penn’orth. ’Sblood, dost not 555hear? A whole penn’orth. Are you deaf?
Deaf? No, sir, but I must tell you
Nay, an you and your lawns be so squeamish, 559fare you well.
1.5.51.1[He makes as if to go.]
Pray stay, a word. Pray, signor,
’Sblood, what’s that to you? I’ll have a pennyworth.
A pennyworth? Why, you shall. I’ll serve you presently.
[Aside to Viola] ’Sfoot, a pennyworth, mistress!
[To Candido] A pennyworth! Call you these gentlemen?
[To Candido, as he starts to cut the cloth] No, no, not there.
What then, kind gentleman? What, at this corner here?
No, nor there neither.
Just in the middle. Ha, you shall, too. What,
572Castruccio
[Producing a coin] Yes, here’s one.
1.5.64Candido
Lend it me, I pray.
[Aside] An excellent-followed jest!
What, will he spoil the lawn now?
Patience, good wife.
Ay, that patience makes a fool of you. – Gentlemen, 577you might ha’ found some other citizen to have 578made a kind gull on besides my husband.
[As he proceeds to cut the cloth] Pray, gentlemen, take her to be a woman;
‘Customers’ with a murrain! Call you these customers?
Patience, good wife.
1.5.74Viola
Pax o’your patience!
’Sfoot, mistress, I warrant these are some cheating 585companions.
Look you, gentleman, there’s your ware. I thank 587you;
1.5.77I have your money.
1.5.77.1[Handing over the piece of cloth]
Here. Pray know my shop,
1.5.78Let me have your custom.
588Viola
‘Custom’, quoth’a!
Let me take more of your money.
You had need so.
[Aside to Castruccio] Hark in thine ear: th’ast lost a hundred ducats.
[Aside in reply] Well, well, I know’t. Is’t possible that homo
[To Candido] Come, come, you’re angry, though you smother it;
Candido
Why, gentlemen,
O, but the hateful name of a pennyworth of lawn,
Well, give me leave to answer you for that.
O wondrous man, patient ’bove wrong or woe!
And to express how well my breast is pleased
1.5.108.1Exit George.
Viola
God’s my life,
1.5.112.1Enter George [with filled beaker].
1.5.112.2Candido
[Passing the beaker to Viola]
I begin to him?
1.5.114.1[She deliberately spills the drink.]
Candido
George, fill’t up again. –
1.5.115.1Exit George [with beaker].
[Aside to his friends] How strangely this doth show:
[Aside] A silver-and-gilt beaker! I have a trick
[Aside to Castruccio] Signor Castruccio,
Castruccio
[Aside to Fluello] Sweet Fluello,
Well, ’tis enough.
1.5.125.1Enter George [with filled beaker and jug].
1.5.125.2Candido
[To Castruccio, holding the beaker]
636Here, gentleman, to you.
1.5.126.1[He takes a sip and passes the beaker to Castruccio.]
I pledge you, Signor Candido. [He drinks to Candido.]
1.5.128.1[He drinks to Pioratto, and passes the beaker to him.]
I’ll pledge them deep, i’faith, Castruccio. [He drinks.]
1.5.130.1[He drinks to Fluello.]
642Fluello
[To Pioratto] Come, play’t off – to me;
1.5.131I am your last man.
1.5.131.1[Pioratto empties out the beaker, as urged by Fluello, who is to drink next.]
643Candido
George, supply the cup.
1.5.131.2[George fills the beaker and pases it to Fluello.]
So, so, good honest George.
1.5.133.1[He drinks a little to Candido.]
all this to you.
1.5.133.2[He passes the beaker to him.]
O, you must pardon me. I use it not.
Will you not pledge me, then?
648Candido
Yes, but not that;
650Fluello
Blurt on your sentences!
652Candido
Indeed I shall not.
Not pledge me? ’Sblood, I’ll carry away the beaker 654then.
The beaker? O, that at your pleasure, sir.
Now, by this drink, I will.
[To Candido] Pledge him; he’ll do’t else.
1.5.141.1[Candido does not move. Fluello drinks the contents of the beaker. He pours out the last drop on his thumbnail.]
So. I ha’ done you right, on my thumbnail.
660Candido
You know me, sir,
1.5.144I am not of that sin.
661Fluello
Why then, farewell.
That’s as you please; ’tis very good.
Nay, it doth please me, and as you say ’tis a very good one.
Farewell, Candido.
You’re welcome, gentlemen.
668Castruccio
[Aside] Heart, not moved yet?
1.5.151.1Exeunt [Castruccio, Pioratto, and Fluello with the beaker].
I told you before, mistress, they were all cheaters.
Why, fool; why, husband; why, madman! I hope 672you will not let ’em sneak away so, with a silver-and-gilt 673beaker, the best in the house, too. – Go, fellows, make hue and 674cry after them.
Pray let your tongue lie still; all will be well. –
1.5.162Make haste again.
1.5.162.1Exit George.
O, you’re a goodly patient woodcock, are you not 684now? 685See what your patience comes to: everyone saddles you and 686rides you, you’ll be shortly the common stone-horse of 687Milan. A woman’s well holped up with such a meacock; I 688had rather have a husband that would swaddle me thrice a 689day than such a one, that will be gulled twice in half an 690hour. O, I could burn all the wares in my shop for anger!
Pray wear a peaceful temper, be my wife –
Hang your agreements! But if my beaker be gone –
1.5.168.1Exit.
O, here they come.
The constable, sir, let ’em come along with me, 699because there should be no wondering. He stays at door.
Constable, Goodman Abram?
Now, Signor Candido, ’sblood, why do you attach us?
’Sheart! Attach us!
703Candido
Nay, swear not, gallants.
You say not true, ’tis gilt.
707Candido
Then you say true.
I hope you’re not angry, sir.
710Candido
Then you hope right,
1.5.179For I am not angry.
711Pioratto
No, but a little moved.
I moved? ’Twas you were moved; you were brought hither.
But you, out of your anger and impatience,
715Candido
Nay, you misplace it.
Thou art a blest man, and with peace dost deal;
Gentlemen, now ’tis upon eating-time,
I never heard a courtier yet say nay
Nor I.
Nor I.
The constable shall bear you company.
1.5.203.1Exeunt.