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)

    CVRTIZAN.
    Bell. Goe, goe, hang your selfe. Cast. Its dinner time Matheo, (shalls hence?
    Omni. Yes, yes, farewell wench. Exeunt.
    Bell. Farewell boyes: Roger what wine sent they for?
    985Ro. Bastard wine, for if it had bin truly begotten, it wud
    not ha bin ashamde to come in, her's vi.s. to pay for nursing
    the bastard.
    Bell. A company of rookes! O good sweete Roger, run to
    the Poulters and buy me some fine Larkes.
    990Ro. No woodcocks?
    Bell. Yes faith a couple, if they be not deare.
    Ro. Ile buy but one, theres one already here. Exit.
    Enter Hipolito.
    Hipo. Is the gentleman (my friend) departed mistresse?
    995Bell. His backe is but new-turnd syr.
    Hipo. Fare you well. Bell. I can direct you to him.
    Hipo. Can you? pray.
    Bell. If you pleasey heele not be absent long.
    Hipo. I care not much.
    1000Bell. Pray sit forsooth. Hipo. I'me hot.
    If I may vse your roome, ile rather walke.
    Bell. At your best pleasure-whew-some rubbers there.
    Hipo. Indeed ile none: -Indeed I will not: thanks.
    Pretty-fine-lodging. I perceiue my friend
    1005Is old in your acquaintance. Bell. Troth syr, he comes
    As other gentlemen, to spend spare howers;
    If your selfe like our roofe (such as it is)
    Your owne acquaintance may be as old as his.
    Hipo. Say I did like; what welcome should I find?
    1010Bell. Such as my present fortunes can afford.
    Hipo. But would you let me play Mathaeos part?
    Bell. What part?
    Hipo. Why imbrace you: dally with you, kisse:
    Faith tell me, will you leaue him, and loue me?
    1015Bell. I am in bondes to no man syr. Hipo. Why then,
    Y'are free for any man: if any, me.
    But I must tell you Lady, were you mine,
    You should be all mine: I could brooke no sharers,
    I should be couetous, and sweepe vp all.
    D 3 I would