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.
    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 well, 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.
    Can. 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. Geor. 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 somewhat the honester of the two. Enter Can-didoes wife.
    Wi. What, is your master gone?
    Geo. Yes forsooth, his back is but new turnd.
    Wi. And in his cloke? did he not vexe and sweare?
    1460Geo. No, but heele make you sweare anon: no indeed,
    he went away like a lambe.
    Wi. Key, sinke to hell: still patient, patient still!
    I am with child to vexe him: prythee George,
    If e're 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 'gaynst 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-