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)

    The converted Curtezan.
    Wife: Puh, he would count such a cut no vnkindenes.
    Fust. The honester Cittizen he; then make him drunke and
    cut off his beard.
    Wife Fie, fie, idle, idle, hee's no French-man to fret at the
    265losse of a little scalde haire. No brother, thus it shall be, you must
    be secret.
    Fu: As your Mid-wife I protest sister, or a Barber-surgeon.
    Wife Repaire to the Tortoys heere in S. Christophers streete,
    I will send you mony; turne your selfe into a brave man: insteed
    270of the armes of your mistris, let your sword and your militarie
    scarfe hang about your necke.
    Fust. I must have a great Horse-mans French feather too
    sister.
    Wife O, by any meanes to shew your light head, else your
    275hat will sit like a coxcombe: to be briefe, you must bee in all
    points a most terrible wide-mouth'd swaggerer:
    Fust: Nay, for swaggering points let me alone.
    Wife Resort then to our shop, & (in my husbands presence)
    kisse me, snatch rings, jewells, or any thing, so you give it backe
    280agen brother in secret.
    Fust: By this hand sister.
    Wife Sweare as if you came but new from knight-
    ing.
    Fust. Nay, ile sweare after 400. a yeare.
    285Wife Swagger worse then a Lievetenant among fresh water
    souldiers, call me your love, your yngle, your coosen, or so; but
    sister at no hand.
    Fust: No, no, it shall be coosen, or rather cuz, thats the gul-
    ling word betweene the Cittizens wives & their mad-caps,
    290that man em to the garden; to call you one a my naunts sister,
    were as good as call you arrant whoore: no, no, let me alone to
    cosen you rarely.
    Wife H'az heard I have a brother, but never saw him, there-
    fore put on a good face.
    295Fust: The best in Millan I warrant.
    Wife Take vp wares, but pay nothing, rifle my bosome, my
    pocket, my purse, the boxes for mony to dice with all; but bro-
    ther, you must give all backe agen in secret.
    Fustigo