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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.
    Geor. You may see further for your mind, but trust me
    you shall not find better for your body. Enter Candido.
    525Cast. O here he comes, lets make as tho we passe,
    Come, come, weele try in some other shop.
    Cand. How now? what's the matter?
    Geor. The gentlemen find fault with this lawne, fall out
    with it, and without a cause too.
    530Cand 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.
    535Cand. I pray come neare, - y'are very welcome gallants,
    Pray pardon my mans rudenesse, for I feare me
    Ha's talkt aboue a prentice 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 eene as farre from falshood, as from black.
    Cast. Well, how doe you rate it?
    Cand. Very conscionably, 18.s. 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 turne? I pray.
    Cast. Why let me see - would it were better too.
    Cand. Truth, tis the best in Millan at fewe words.
    550Cast. Well: let me haue then - a whole penny-worth.
    Cand. Ha, ha: y'are a merry gentleman.
    Cast. A pennorth I say.
    Cand. Of lawne !
    Cast. Of lawne? I of lawne, a pennorth, sblood dost not
    555heare? a whole pennorth, are you deaffe?
    Cand. Deaffe? no Syr: but I must tell you,
    Our wares doe seldome meete such customers.
    Cast. Nay, and you and your lawnes be so squemish,
    Fare you well.
    560Cand. Pray stay, a word, pray Signior: for what purpose
    is it I beseech you?
    C Cast