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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.
    Out of my quiet sufferaence I did that,
    And not of any wrath, had I showne anger,
    I should haue then pursude you with the lawe,
    And hunted you to shame, as many worldlings
    720Doe build their anger vpon feebler groundes,
    The mores the pitty, many loose their liues
    For scarce so much coyne as will hide their palme:
    Which is most cruell, those haue vexed spirits
    That pursue liues, in this opinion rest,
    725The losse of Millions could not moue my brest.
    Flu. Thou art a blest man, and with peace dost deale,
    Such a meeke spirit can blesse a common weale.
    Cand. Gentlemen, now tis vpon eating time,
    Pray part not hence, but dyne with me today.
    730Cast. I neuer heard a carter yet say nay
    To such a motion. Ile not be the first.
    Pio. Nor I,
    Flu. Nor I,
    Cand. The constable shall beare you company,
    735George call him in, let the world say what it can,
    Nothing can driue me from a patient man. (Exeunt.
    Enter Roger with a stoole, cushin, looking-glasse and chafing-dish,
    Those being set downe, he pulls out of his pocket, a violl with
    white cullor in it. And 2. boxes, one with white, another red
    740 painting, he places all things in order & a candle by thē, singing
    with the ends of old Ballads as he does it. At last Bella-
    front (as he rubs his cheeke with the cullors, whistles with-
    in.
    Ro. Anon forsooth.
    745Bel. What are you playing the roague about?
    Ro. About you, forsooth: I me drawing vp a hole in your
    white silke stocking.
    Bell. Is my glasse there? and my boxes of complexion?
    Ro. Yes forsooth: your boxes of complexion are
    750here I thinke: yes tis here: her's your twe complexi-
    ons, and if I had all the foure complexions, I should
    nere set a good face vpont, some men I see are borne vn-
    der hard-fauourd plānets as well as women: zounds I looke
    worse