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  • Title: The Honest Whore, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1604)
  • Editor: Joost Daalder
  • Contributing editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • Coordinating editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • General textual editor: Eleanor Lowe
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-490-5

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Authors: Thomas Dekker, Thomas Middleton
    Editor: Joost Daalder
    Peer Reviewed

    The Honest Whore, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1604)

    THE HONEST WHORE.
    Geo. Troth Mistris nothing: not so much as a Bee, he did
    2000not hum: not so much as a bawd he did not hem: not so
    much as a Cuekold he did not ha: neither hum, hem, nor ha,
    onely starde me in the face, past along, and made hast in, as if
    my lookes had workt with him, to giue him a stoole.
    Wi. Sure hees vext now, this trick has mou'd his Spleene,
    2005Hees angred now, because he vttred nothing:
    And wordlesse wrath breakes out more violent,
    May be heele striue for place, when he comes downe,
    But if thou lou'st me George, affoord him none.
    Geo. Nay let me alone to play my maisters prize, as long as
    2010my Mistrisse warrants me: Ime sure I haue his best clothes
    on, and I scorne to giue place to any that is inferiour in appa-
    rell to me, thats an Axiom, a principle, & is obseru'd as much
    as the fashion; let that perswade you then, that Ile shoulder
    with him for the vpper hand in the shop, as long as this
    2015chaine will mainteine it.
    Wi. Spoke with the spirit of a Maister, tho with the
    tongue of a Prentise.
    Enter Candido like a Prentise.
    Why how now mad-man? what in your tricksicoates!
    2020Cand. O peace good Mistrisse:
    Enter Crambo and Poli.
    See what you lack, what ist you buy? pure Callicoes, fine
    Hollands, choise Cambrickes, neate Lawnes: see what you
    buy? pray come neere, my Maister will vse you well, hee can
    2025affoord you a pennyworth.
    Wi. I that he can, out of a whole peece of Lawne yfaith.
    Cand. Pray see your choise here Gentlemen.
    Wi. O fine foole? what a mad-man? a patient mad-man?
    who euer heard of the like? well sir Ile fit you and your hu-
    2030mour presently: what? crosse-points, Ile vntie em all in a trice,
    Ile vex you faith: Boy take your cloake, quick, come. Exit.
    Cand.Be couered George, this chaine, and welted gowne,
    Bare to this coate: then the worlds vpside downe.
    Geo. Vmh, vmh, hum.
    2035Cram. Thats the shop, and theres the fellow.
    Poli. I but the Maister is walking in there.
    Cram.