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
736.1[2.1]
2.1.0.1737Enter Roger with a stool, cushion, looking-glass, and chafing-dish. 738Those being set down, he pulls out of his pocket a vial with 739white colour in it, and two boxes, one with white, another red 740painting. He places all things in order, and a candle by them, singing 741with the ends of old ballads as he does it. At last 742Bellafront, as he rubs his cheek with the colours, whistles 743within.
Anon, forsooth.
[Within] What are you playing the rogue about?
About you, forsooth; I始m drawing up a hole in your 747white silk stocking.
Is my glass there? And my boxes of complexion?
Yes, forsooth. Your boxes of complexion are 750here, I think. Yes, 始tis here; here始s your two 751complexions. [Aside] An if I had all the four complexions, I should 752ne始er set a good face upon始t. Some men, I see, are born 753under hard-favoured planets as well as women. Zounds, I look 754worse now than I did before; and it makes her face glister most 755damnably. There始s knavery in daubing, I hold my life; or else 756this is only female pomatum.
2.1.5.1757Enter Bellafront not full ready, without a gown. She sits 758down, with her bodkin curls her hair, colours her lips [etc.].
Where始s my ruff and poker, you blockhead?
Your ruff and your poker are engendering together 761upon the cupboard of the court, or the court-cupboard.
Fetch 始em! Is the pox in your hams, you can go 763no faster?
2.1.8.1[She throws something at him.]
Would the pox were in your fingers, unless you could 765leave flinging. Catch!
2.1.9.1[He throws back the object.]
I始ll catch you, you dog, by and by. Do you grumble?
2.1.10.1Exit [Roger].
2.1.10.2She sings:
2.1.14.1[Enter Roger with ruff and poker.]
There始s your ruff. Shall I poke it?
Yes, honest Roger – no, stay. Prithee, good boy, hold here.
2.1.16.1[Roger holds the looking-glass and candle for her. She sings:]
Troth, mistress, then leave the trade, if you shall never rise.
What trade, Goodman Abram?
Why, that of down and arise, or the falling trade.
I始ll fall with you, by and by.
If you do, I know who shall smart for始t. 778Troth, mistress, what do I look like now?
Like as you are: a panderly sixpenny rascal.
I may thank you for that. No, faith, I look like an old 781proverb, ‘Hold the candle before the devil.始
Ud始s life, I始ll stick my knife in your guts an you 783prate to me so! – What?
2.1.25.1She sings:
784Well met, pug, the pearl of beauty, umm, umm.
Why, as I hold your door: with my fingers.
Nay, prithee, sweet honey Roger, hold up handsomely. 791(Sings ‘Pretty wantons, warble始, etc.) We shall ha始 guests today, 792I lay my little maidenhead, my nose itches so.
I said so too, last night, when our fleas twinged me.
[Completing her make-up] So. Poke my ruff now. My gown, my gown! Have I my fall? 795Where始s my fall, Roger?
Your fall, forsooth, is behind.
2.1.35.1One knocks.
God始s my pitikins! Some fool or other knocks.
Shall I open to the fool, mistress?
And all these baubles lying thus? Away with it 800quickly!
2.1.38.1[They tidy up. More knocking.]
2.1.39– Ay, ay, knock and be damned, whosoever you be. – So. Give the 801fresh salmon line now; let him come ashore. He shall 802serve for my breakfast, though he go against my stomach.
2.1.39.2[He brings in some stools.]
[To Bellafront] Morrow, coz.
How does my sweet acquaintance?
Save thee, little marmoset. How dost thou, good 807pretty rogue?
Well, God-a-mercy, good pretty rascal.
[Producing tobacco] Roger, some light, I prithee.
You shall, signor; for we that live here in this vale 811of misery are as dark as hell.
2.1.45.1Exit for a candle.
Good tobacco, Fluello?
Smell.
It may be tickling gear, for it plays with my nose already.
2.1.48.1Enter Roger [with candle].
[To Fluello] Here始s another light angel, signor.
2.1.49.1[Fluello lights a pipe, which afterwards he passes to Castruccio.]
What, you pied curtal? What始s that you are neighing?
I say, ‘God send us the light of heaven, or some more 818angels始.
Go fetch some wine; [Aside, to him]and drink half of it.
I must fetch some wine, gentlemen, [Aside to her] and drink half of it.
[Offering him money] Here, Roger.
No, let me send, prithee.
[To Roger] Hold, you cankerworm.
You shall send both, if you please, signors. [Castruccio gives him money.]
Stay, what始s best to drink a-mornings?
Hippocras, sir, for my mistress, if I fetch it, is most dear to her.
Hippocras? [Giving Roger more money] There, then; here始s a teston for you, you snake.
Right, sir; here始s three shillings sixpence for a pottle and a manchet.
2.1.61.1Exit.
[Smoking] Here始s most Herculean tobacco. [Offering the pipe to Bellafront] Ha始 some, acquaintance?
Faugh, not I – makes your breath stink like the piss of a 831fox. Acquaintance, where supped you last night?
At a place, sweet acquaintance, where your health 833danced the canaries, i始faith; you should ha始 been there.
I there, among your punks? Marry faugh, hang 始em! 835Scorn始t. Will you never leave sucking of eggs in other folks始 836hens始 nests?
Why, in good troth, if you始ll trust me, acquaintance, 838there was not one hen at the board. Ask Fluello.
No, faith, coz, none but cocks. Signor Malavolta 840drunk to thee.
2.1.68Bellafront
O, a pure beagle! That horseleech there?
And the knight, Sir Oliver Lollio, swore he would bestow 842a taffeta petticoat on thee, but to break his fast with thee.
With me? I始ll choke him then. Hang him, 844mole-catcher! It始s the dreamingest snotty-nose.
Well, many took that Lollio for a fool; but he始s a 846subtle fool.
2.1.72Bellafront
Ay, and he has fellows; of all filthy, 847dry-fisted knights, I cannot abide that he should touch me.
Why, wench, is he scabbed?
Hang him! He始ll not live to be so honest, nor to the 850credit to have scabs about him; his betters have 始em. But 851I hate to wear out any of his coarse knighthood, because 852he始s made like an alderman始s nightgown, faced all with 853cony before, and within nothing but fox. This sweet 854Oliver will eat mutton till he be ready to burst, but the 855lean-jawed slave will not pay for the scraping of his trencher.
Plague him; set him beneath the salt, and let him not 857touch a bit till everyone has had his full cut.
Sordello, the gentleman-usher, came in to us too. 859Marry, 始twas in our cheese, for he had been to borrow money 860for his lord, of a citizen.
What an ass is that lord, to borrow money of a 862citizen!
Nay, God始s my pity, what an ass is that citizen to 864lend money to a lord!
2.1.78.1865Enter Mattheo and Hippolito, who, saluting the 866company as a stranger, walks off. Roger comes in sadly behind them, 867with a pottle pot, and stands aloof off.
Save you, gallants. Signor Fluello, exceedingly 869well met, as I may say.
Signor Mattheo, exceedingly well met too, as I may 871say.
And how fares my little pretty mistress?
E始en as my little pretty servant; sees three court 874dishes before her, and not one good bit in them. [To Roger] How now? 875Why the devil standst thou so? Art in a trance?
Yes, forsooth.
2.1.84Bellafront
Why dost not fill out their wine?
Forsooth, 始tis filled out already: all the wine that the 878signors has bestowed upon you is cast away. A porter ran a 879tilt at me, and so faced me down that I had not a drop.
I始m accurst to let such a withered artichoke-faced 881rascal grow under my nose! Now you look like an old 882he-cat, going to the gallows. I始ll be hanged if he ha始 not put up 883the money to cony-catch us all.
No, truly, forsooth, 始tis not put up [Aside to her] yet.
How many gentlemen hast thou served thus?
None [Aside] but five hundred, besides prentices and servingmen.
Dost think I始ll pocket it up at thy hands?
Yes, forsooth, [Aside to her] I fear you will pocket it up.
[To Mattheo] Fie, fie, cut my lace, good servant; I shall ha始 the 890mother presently, I始m so vexed at this horse-plum!
Plague, not for a scald pottle of wine!
Nay, sweet Bellafront, for a little pig始s wash!
Here, Roger, fetch more. [He gives him more money.] – A mischance, i始faith, 894acquaintance.
[To Roger] Out of my sight, thou ungodly puritanical creature!
For the tother pottle? Yes, forsooth.
[Aside to him] Spill that too!
2.1.98.1Exit [Roger].
Godso! A stool, a stool! If you love me, mistress, 900entertain this gentleman respectively, and bid him welcome.
He始s very welcome. [To Hippolito] Pray, sir, sit.
Thanks, lady.
[Moving towards him] Count Hippolito, is始t not? Cry you mercy, signor; you 904walk here all this while, and we not heed you? Let me 905bestow a stool upon you, beseech you. You are a stranger here; 906we know the fashions o始th始 house.
2.1.103.1[He offers Hippolito a stool.]
Please you be here, my lord. [He offers Hippolito] tobacco.
[Declining the offer] No, good Castruccio.
You have abandoned the court, I see, my lord, since 910the death of your mistress. Well, she was a delicate piece – [Aside to Bellafront] 911Beseech you, sweet, come, let us serve under the colours of your 912acquaintance still, for all that. [Aloud to Hippolito] Please you to meet here at the 913lodging of my coz; I shall bestow a banquet upon you.
2.1.106.1[Bellafront and Mattheo speak privately without hearing the others, who converse aloud with one another.]
[To Fluello] I never can deserve this kindness, sir.
Faith, sir, a poor gentlewoman, of passing good 917carriage; one that has some suits in law, and lies here in an 918attorney始s house.
Is she married?
Ha, as all your punks are, a captain始s wife or so. 921Never saw her before, my lord?
Never, trust me. A goodly creature.
By gad, when you know her as we do, you始ll swear she is 924the prettiest, kindest, sweetest, most bewitching honest ape 925under the pole. A skin – your satin is not more soft, nor 926lawn whiter.
Belike, then, she始s some sale courtesan.
Troth, as all your best faces are; a good wench.
Great pity that she始s a good wench. [They whisper.]
[Aloud to Bellafront] Thou shalt have it i始faith, mistress. – How now, signors? 931What? Whispering? [Talking apart to Hippolito] Did not I lay a wager I should take you 932within seven days in a house of vanity?
You did, and, I beshrew your heart, you have won.
How do you like my mistress?
Well, for such a mistress. Better, if your mistress 936be not your master. [Aloud] 937I must break manners, gentlemen; fare you well.
始Sfoot, you shall not leave us.
The gentleman likes not the taste of our company.
Beseech you, stay.
Trust me, my affairs beckon for me. Pardon me.
Will you call for me half an hour hence here?
Perhaps I shall.
Perhaps? Faugh! I know you can; swear to me you will.
Since you will press me, on my word I will.
2.1.128.1Exit.
What sullen picture is this, servant?
It始s Count Hippolito, the brave count.
As gallant a spirit as any in Milan, you sweet Jew.
O, he始s a most essential gentleman, coz.
Did you never hear of Count Hippolito, 951acquaintance?
Marry-muff o始your counts, an be no more life in 始em.
He始s so malcontent! Sirrah Bellafront – [To the others] An you be 954honest gallants, let始s sup together, and have the count dine with us. [To her] 955Thou shalt sit at the upper end, punk.
‘Punk始, you soused gurnet?
King始s truce! Come, I始ll bestow the supper to have 958him but laugh.
He betrays his youth too grossly to that tyrant, melancholy.
All this is for a woman.
A woman? Some whore! What sweet jewel is始t?
Would she heard you.
2.1.142Fluello
Troth, so would I.
And I, by heaven.
Nay, good servant, what woman?
2.1.145Mattheo
Pah!
Prithee, tell me; a buss, and tell me! I warrant he始s 966an honest fellow, if he take on thus for a wench. Good 967rogue, who?
By th始Lord, I will not, must not, faith, mistress. – Is始t a 969match, sirs? This night, at th始Antelope; for there始s best wine, and good boys.
It始s done; at th始Antelope.
I cannot be there tonight.
‘Cannot始? By th始Lord, you shall.
By the Lady, I will not. ‘Shall始!
Why then, put it off till Friday. Wu始t come then, coz?
Well –
2.1.153.1Enter Roger.
You始re the waspishest ape. – Roger, put your mistress in 977mind, your scurvy mistress here, to sup with us on Friday 978next. [To her] You始re best come like a madwoman, without a band, in 979your waistcoat, and the linings of your kirtle outward, like 980every common hackney that steals out at the back gate of her 981sweet knight始s lodging.
Go, go, hang yourself!
2.1.156Castruccio
It始s dinner-time, Mattheo; shall始s hence?
Yes, yes. – Farewell, wench.
Farewell, boys.
2.1.158.1Exeunt [Fluello, Castruccio, Pioratto, and Mattheo].
Roger, what wine sent they for?
Bastard wine; for if it had been truly begotten, it would 986not ha始 been ashamed to come in. Here始s six shillings, to pay for nursing 987the bastard.
A company of rooks! O good sweet Roger, run to 989the poulter始s and buy me some fine larks.
No woodcocks?
Yes, faith, a couple, if they be not dear.
I始ll buy but one: there始s one already here.
2.1.164.1Exit.
Is the gentleman my friend departed, mistress?
His back is but new turned, sir.
996Hippolito
[Going] Fare you well.
2.1.167Bellafront
I can direct you to him.
997Hippolito
Can you, pray?
If you please, stay; he始ll not be absent long.
I care not much.
1000Bellafront
Pray sit, forsooth.
Hippolito
[Putting down his rapier] I始m hot;
At your best pleasure. Whew!
[Offering towels] Some rubbers, there.
Indeed, I始ll none – indeed, I will not. Thanks.
Bellafront
Troth, sir, he comes
Say I did like, what welcome should I find?
Such as my present fortunes can afford.
But would you let me play Mattheo始s part?
What part?
1013Hippolito
Why, embrace you, dally with you, kiss.
I am in bonds to no man, sir.
Hippolito
Why then,
O fate!
1022Hippolito
Why sigh you, lady? May I know?
始T has never been my fortune yet to single
This were well now to one but newly fledged
1041Bellafront
Indeed, not any.
‘Indeed始? And blush not?
1043Bellafront
No, in truth, not any.
‘Indeed始! ‘In truth始! How warily you swear!
1052Bellafront
Shall I swear?
1054Hippolito
Worst then of all;
Mattheo! That始s true. But if you始ll believe
O, you cannot feign with me! Why, I know, lady,
1072Bellafront
O, by my soul,
If any be disposed to trust your oath,
I am content; I would fain loathe myself
1083Hippolito
Then if your gracious blood
2.1.248Heaven始s treasure bought it,
O me unhappy!
1116Hippolito
I can vex you more.
1123Bellafront
Misery.
Methinks a toad is happier than a whore:
2.1.320.1[She weeps.]
[Weeping] O yes, I pray, proceed.
To give those tears a relish, this I add:
2.1.348.1[He starts to go.]
1189Bellafront
O, I pray, stay!
I see Mattheo comes not. Time hath barred me.
2.1.350.1Exit.
[Calling after him] Stay yet a little longer! No? Quite gone!
2.1.372.1[As she is about to stab herself], enter Hippolito.
Mad woman, what art doing?
1215Bellafront
Either love me,
2.1.376.1[She gives him his sword.]
2.1.378.1Exit Hippolito.
Not speak to me! Not look! Not bid farewell!
2.1.381.1Exit.