Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1630)
  • 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.
    Author: Thomas Dekker
    Editor: Joost Daalder
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1630)

    The Honest Whore.
    Ile to her, stood armed Fiends to guard the doores. Exit.
    Lod. Oh me! what Monsters are men made by whores?
    2425If this false fire doe Kindle him, there's one Faggot
    More to the bonfire, now to my Bridewell Birds,
    What Song will they sing? Exit.

    Enter Duke, Carolo, Astolfo, Beraldo, Fontinell, three
    or foure Masters of Bridewell: Infaelice.

    2430Duke. Your Bridewell? that the name? for beauty, strength,
    Capacity and forme of ancient building,
    (Besides the Riuers neighbourhood) few houses
    Wherein we keepe our Court can better it.
    1. Master. Hither from forraigne Courts haue Princes come,
    2435And with our Duke did Acts of State Commence,
    Here that great Cardinall had first audience,
    (The graue Campayne,) that Duke dead, his Sonne
    (That famous Prince) gaue free possession
    Of this his Palace, to the Cittizens,
    2440To be the poore mans ware-house: and endowed it
    With Lands to'th valew of seuen hundred marke,
    With all the bedding and the furniture, once proper
    (As the Lands then were) to an Hospitall
    Belonging to a Duke of Sauoy. Thus
    2445Fortune can tosse the World, a Princes Court
    Is thus a prison now.
    Duke. 'Tis Fortunes sport:
    These changes common are: the Wheele of Fate
    Turnes Kingdomes vp, till they fall desolate.
    2450But how are these seuen hundred Markes by'th yeere
    Imployde in this your Worke-house?
    1. Master. Warre and Peace
    Feed both vpon those Lands: when the Iron doores
    Of warres burst open, from this House are sent
    2455Men furnisht in all Martiall Complement.
    The Moone hath thorow her Bow scarce drawn to'th head,
    (Like to twelue siluer Arrowes) all the Moneths,
    Since