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 conuerted Courtizan.
    Fust. The Deuils dung in thy teeth: Ile be welcom whe-
    ther thou wilt or no, I: What Ring's this Coz? very pretty
    and fantasticall ifayth, lets see it.
    Wife. Puh! nay you wrench my finger.
    1250Fust. I ha sworne Ile ha't, and I hope you wil not let my
    othes be crackt in the ring, wil you? I hope sir, you are not
    mallicolly at this for all your great lookes: are you angry?
    Cand. Angry? not I sir, nay, if she can part
    So easily with her Ring, tis with my heart.
    1255Geo. Suffer this, sir, and suffer all, a whorson Gull to --,
    Can. Peace George, whē she has reapt what I haue sowne,
    Sheele say, one grayne tastes better of her owne,
    Then whole sheaues gathered from anothers land:
    Wit's neuer good, til bought at a deare hand.
    1260Geo. But in the meane time she makes an Asse of some (body.
    2. Pren. See, see, see, sir, as you turne your backe, they
    do nothing but kisse.
    Cand. No matter, let 'em: when I touch her lip,
    I shall not feele his kisses, no nor misse
    1265Any of her lips: no harme in kissing is.
    Looke to your businesse, pray make vp your wares.
    Fust. Troth Coz, and well remembred, I would thou
    wouldst giue mee fiue yards of Lawne, to make my Punke
    some falling bands a the fashiō, three falling one vpō ano-
    1270ther: for thats the new editiō now: she's out of linnen hor-
    ribly too, troth, sha's neuer a good smock to her back ney-
    ther, but one that has a great many patches in't, & that I'm
    fain to weare my selfe for want of shift too: prithee put me
    into holesome napery, & bestow some clean commodities
    1275vpō vs. Wife. Reach me those Cambricks & the Lawnes
    hither. Cand. What to doe, wife? to lauish out my goods
    vpon a foole?
    Fust. Foole! Sneales eate the foole, or Ile so batter your
    crowne, that it shall scarce go for fiue shillings.
    12802. Pr. Do you heare sir? y'are best be quiet, & say a foole (tels you so.
    Fust. Nailes, I think so, for thou telst me.
    Can. Are you angry sir, because I namde the foole?
    Trust me, you are not wise, in mine owne house,
    And