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
1701[4.1]
4.1.0.11702Enter a Servant setting out a table, on which he places a 1703skull, a picture [of Infelice], a book, and a taper.
So. This is Monday morning, and now must I to my 1705huswifery. Would I had been created a shoemaker, for all the 1706gentle craft are gentlemen every Monday by their copy, 1707and scorn then to work one true stitch. My master means 1708sure to turn me into a student, for here’s my book, here 1709my desk, here my light, this my close chamber, and here 1710my punk. So that this dull, drowsy first day of the week 1711makes me half a priest, half a chandler, half a painter, 1712half a sexton, ay, and half a bawd; for all this day my office 1713is to do nothing but keep the door. To prove it, look you, 1714this good face and yonder gentleman, so soon as ever my 1715back’s turned, will be naught together.
4.1.1.1Enter Hippolito.
Are all the windows shut?
4.1.3Servant
Close, sir, as the fist 1717of a courtier that hath stood in three reigns.
Thou art a faithful servant, and observ’st
If they do, my lord, I’ll pierce some of them. 1724What will your lordship have to breakfast?
Sighs.
4.1.11Servant
What to dinner?
4.1.12Hippolito
Tears.
The one of them, my lord, will fill you too full of 1727wind, the other wet you too much. What to supper?
That which now thou canst not get me, the 1729constancy of a woman.
Indeed, that’s harder to come by than ever was 1731Ostend.
Prithee, away.
I’ll make away myself presently, which few 1734servants will do for their lords, but rather help to make 1735them away. [Aside] Now to my door-keeping; I hope to pick 1736something out of it.
4.1.17.1Exit.
[Taking the picture] My Infelice’s face: her brow, her eye,
4.1.35.1[He puts the picture aside.]
[Taking the skull] What’s here?
Here’s a person would speak with you, sir.
Ha?
A parson, sir, would speak with you.
Vicar?
Vicar? No, sir, h’as too good a face to be a vicar yet; a 1797youth, a very youth.
What youth? Of man or woman? Lock the doors.
If it be a woman, marrowbones and potato-pies keep 1800me fro’ meddling with her, for the thing has got the breeches. 1801’Tis a male varlet, sure, my lord, for a woman’s tailor ne’er 1802measured him.
Let him give thee his message and be gone.
He says he’s Signor Mattheo’s man, but I know he 1805lies.
How dost thou know it?
’Cause h’as ne’er a beard. ’Tis his boy, I think, sir, 1808whosoe’er paid for his nursing.
Send him, and keep the door.
4.1.83.1[Exit Servant.]
4.1.83.2Reads [aloud from his book]:
4.1.87Vela –
1817Bellafront
Yes, my lord.
1818Hippolito
Art sick?
Not all in health, my lord.
1820Hippolito
Keep off.
1821Bellafront
I do.
This paper does speak nothing.
1824Bellafront
Yes, my lord,
Do so; read out.
1830Bellafront
[Revealing herself] I am already out;
[Calling out] What, villain, ho!
4.1.100.1Enter his Servant.
Call you, my lord?
Thou slave, thou hast let in the devil.
Lord bless us, where? He’s not cloven, my lord, that 1836I can see. Besides, the devil goes more like a gentleman 1837than a page. Good my lord, buon coraggio!
Thou hast let in a woman, in man’s shape;
Not damned, I hope, for putting in a woman to a lord.
Fetch me my rapier! – Do not: I shall kill thee.
Alas, my lord, I shall never be able to thrust her hence 1845without help. – Come, mermaid, you must to sea again.
Hear me but speak; my words shall be all music.
4.1.112.1[Knocking within.]
1848Hippolito
[To the Servant] Another beats the door.
1850Servant
Why, then hell’s broke loose.
Hence, guard the chamber. Let no more come on;
4.1.115.1Exit [Servant].
If woman were thy mother, if thy heart
1866Hippolito
Woman, I beseech thee,
She’s dead, you told me. She’ll let fall her suit.
My vows to her fled after her to heaven.
Be greater than a king; save not a body,
Stay, and take physic for it. Read this book.
4.1.157.1Enter his Servant [with a letter].
No more knaves, my lord, that wear smocks. Here’s 1898a letter from Doctor Benedict. I would not enter his man, though 1899he had hairs at his mouth, for fear he should be a woman, for 1900some women have beards; marry, they are half-witches. [To Bellafront] 1901’Slid, you are a sweet youth, to wear a codpiece and have no 1902pins to stick upon’t.
[To the Servant] I’ll meet the doctor, tell him. Yet tonight
4.1.162.1Exeunt [Hippolito and Servant, severally].
The lowest fall can be but into hell.
4.1.171.1Exit.