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.
    Ans. Thanke you gentlemen.
    Cast. Pray may we see some of those wretched Soules,
    2575That here are in your keeping? Ans. Yes: you shall,
    But gentlemen I must disarme you then,
    There are of mad men, as there are of tame,
    All humourd not alike: we haue here some,
    So apish and phantastike, play with a fether,
    2580And tho twould greeue a soule, to see Gods image,
    So blemisht and defac'd, yet do they act
    Such anticke and such pretty lunacies,
    That spite of sorrow they will make you smile:
    Others agen we haue like hungry Lions,
    2585Fierce as wilde Buls, vntameable as flies,
    And these haue oftentimes from strangers sides
    Snatcht rapiers suddenly, and done much harme,
    Whom if youle see, you must be weaponlesse.
    Omn. With all our harts.
    2590Ans. Here: take these weapons in,
    Stand of a little pray, so, so, tis well:
    Ile shew you here a man that was sometimes,
    A very graue and wealthy Cittizen,
    Has serud a prentiship to this misfortune,
    2595Bin here seuen yeares, and dwelt in Bergamo.
    Duke. How fell he from himselfe?
    Ans. By losse at Sea:
    Ile stand aside, question him you alone,
    For if he spy me, heele not speake a word,
    2600Vnlesse hees throughly vext. Discouers an old man, wrapt in a Net.
    Flu. Alas poore soule.
    Cast. A very old man. Duk. God speed father.
    1. Mad. God speed the plough: thou shalt not speed me.
    Pio. We see you old man, for all you daunce in a net.
    26051. Mad. True, but thou wilt daunce in a halter, & I shal not (see thee.
    Ans. O, doe not vex him pray.
    Cast. Are you a Fisherman father?
    1. Mad. No, i'me neither fish nor flesh.
    Flu. What do you with that net then?
    26101. Mad. Doest not see foole! theres a fresh Salmon in't: if
    you step one foot furder, youle be ouer shoes, for you see ime
    I 4 oue