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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.
    Cand. O well done, George, weele cut it iust ith midst:
    Tis very well I thanke thee, helpe it on.
    Ge. It must come ouer your head, sir, like a wenches pe-(ticoate.
    Cand. Th'art in the right, good George, it must indeed.
    1440Fetch me a nightcap: for Ile gyrd it close,
    As if my health were queazy: 'twill show well
    For a rude carelesse night-gowne, wil't not thinkst?
    Ge. Indifferent wel, sir, for a night-gowne, being girt & (pleated.
    Cand. I, and a night-cap on my head.
    1445Ge. Thats true sir, Ile run & fetch one, & a staffe. Exit Ge.
    Cand. For thus they cannot chuse but conster it,
    One that is out of health, takes no delight,
    Weares his apparell without appetite,
    And puts on heedles rayment without forme. Enter Geo.
    1450So so, kind George, be secret now: & prithee do not laugh
    at me till Ime out of sight. Geo. I laugh? not I sir.
    Cand. Now to the Senate-house:
    Methinks, Ide rather weare, without a frowne,
    A patient Carpet, then an angry Gowne. Exit.
    1455Ge. Now looks my M. iust like one of our carpet knights,
    only hee's somwhat the honester of the two. Enter Can-didoes wife.
    Wi. What, is your master gone?
    Geo. Yes forsooth, his backe is but new turnd.
    Wi. And in his cloke? did he not vexe and sweare?
    1460Geor. No, but heele make you sweare anon: no indeed,
    hee went away like a lambe.
    Wife. Key sinke to hell: still patient, patient still!
    I am with child to vexe him: prythee George,
    If ere thou lookst for fauour at my hands,
    1465Vphold one Iest for me. Geor. Against my master?
    Wi. Tis a meere iest in fayth: say, wilt thou doo't?
    Geor. Well, what ist?
    Wi. Heere, take this key, thou knowst where all things (lie,
    Put on thy masters best apparell, Gowne,
    1470Chayne, Cap, Ruffe, euery thing, be like himselfe,
    And 'gainst his comming home, walke in the shop,
    Fayne the same cariage, and his patient looke,
    'Twill breed but a iest thou knowst, speake, wilt thou?
    Geor. 'Twill wrong my masters patience.
    F Wi. Pry-