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.
    George I, ile be sworne, for we have a curst mistris.
    Wife You mumble, do you mumble? I would your maister
    or I could be a note more angry: for two patient folkes in a
    490house, spoile all the servants that ever shall come vnder them.
    1 Prentise You patient! I, so is the divell when he is horne
    madde.

    Enter Castruchio, Fluello, and Pioratto.

    All three Gentlemen, what do you lacke? what ist you buy?
    495See fine hollands, fine cambrickes, fine lawnes.
    George What ist you lacke?
    2 Pren. What ist you buy?
    Cast. Wheres signior Candido thy master?
    George Faith signior hees a little negotiated, hee'le appeare (presently.
    500Cast. Fellow, lets see a lawne, a choise one sirra.
    George The best in all Millan Gentlemen, and this is the
    peece. I can fit you Gentlemen with fine callicoes too for dub-
    lets, the onely sweete fashion now, most delicate and courtly, a
    meeke gentle callico, cut vpon two double affable taffataes, ah,
    505most neate, feate, and vnmatchable.
    Flu. A notable-voluble tongde villaine.
    Pio. I warrant this fellow was never begot without much
    prating.
    Cast. What, and is this she saist thou?
    510George I, and the purest she that ever you fingerd since you
    were a gentleman: looke how even she is, look how cleane she
    is, ha, as even as the browe of Cinthia, and as cleane as your sons
    and heires when they ha spent all.
    Cast. Puh, thou talkst, pox on't tis rough.
    515George How? is she rough? but if you bid pox on't sir, t'will
    take away the roughnes presently.
    Flu. Ha signior; haz he fitted your French curse?
    GeorgeLooke you Gentleman, heeres another, compare
    them I pray, compara Virgilium cum Homero, compare virgins
    520with harlots.
    Cast. Puh, I ha seene better, and as you terme them, evener
    and cleaner.
    George