Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Honest Whore, Part 1 (Quarto 2, 1604)
  • Editor: Joost Daalder
  • 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 2, 1604)

    CVRTIZAN.
    Geo. You may see further for your minde, but trust me
    you shall not finde better for your bodie. Enter Candido.
    525Cast. O heere he comes, lets make as tho we passe:
    Come, come, weele try in some other shop.
    Can. How now? what's the matter?
    Geo. The gentlemen find fault with this lawne, fall out
    with it, and without a cause too.
    530Can Without a cause!
    And that makes you to let em passe away,
    Ah, may I craue a word with you gentlemen?
    Flu. He calls vs.
    Cast. Makes the better for the iest.
    535Can. I pray come neare, y'are very welcome gallants,
    Pray pardon my mans rudenes, for I feare me
    H'as talkt aboue a prentise with you, ---- Lawnes!
    Looke you kind gentlemen, -- this! no: -- I this:
    Take this vpon my honest-dealing faith,
    540To be a true weaue, not too hard, nor slack,
    But euen as farre from falshood, as from blacke.
    Cast. Well, how doe you rate it?
    Can. Very conscionable, 18. a yard.
    Cast. That's too deare: how many yards does the whole
    545piece containe thinke you?
    Cand. Why some 17. yardes I thinke, or there abouts:
    How much would serue your tutne, I pray?
    Cast. Why let me see, -- would it were better too.
    Cand. Truth, tis the best in Millan at few words.
    550Cast. Well: let me haue then - a whole penny-worth.
    Cand. Ha, ha, y'are a merrie gentleman,
    Cast. A pennorth I say.
    Cand. Of lawne!
    Cast. Of lawne? I of lawne, a pennorth, sblood doost not
    555heare? a whole pennorth, are you deafe?
    Cand. Deafe? no Syr: but I must tell you,
    Our wares do seldome meete such customers.
    Cast. Nay, and you and your lawnes bee so squemish,
    Fare you well.
    560Cand. Pray stay, a word, pray Signior for what purpose
    is it I beseech you?
    C Cast.