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.
    Wife. Thats well.
    1965The Senate will leaue wording presently,
    But is George ready,
    2. Pre. Yes forsooth, hees furbusht.
    Wife. Now as you euer hope to win my fauour,
    Thtow both your duties and respects on him,
    1970With the like awe as if he were your maister,
    Let not your lookes betray it with a smile,
    Or ieering glaunce to any customer,
    Keepe a true setled countenance, and beware,
    You laugh not whatsoeuer you heare or see.
    19752. Pren. I warrant you mistris, let vs alone for keeping our
    countenance: for if I list, theres neuer a foole in all Millan shal
    make me laugh, let him play the foole neuer so like an Asse,
    whether it be the fat Court foole, or the leane Cittie foole.
    Wife. Enough then, call downe George.
    19802. Pren. I heare him comming.

    Enter George.

    Wife. Be ready with your legs then, let me see,
    How curtzy would become him: gallantly!
    Beshrew my bloud a proper seemely man,
    1985Of a choice carriage walkes with a good port,
    Geo. I thanke you mistris, my back's broad enough, now
    my Maisters gown's on,
    Wif. Sure I should thinke it were the least of sinne,
    To mistake the maister, and to let him in.
    1990Geo. Twere a good Comedy of errors that yfaith.
    2. Pre. Whist, whist, my maister.

    Enter Candido, and Exit presently.

    Wif. You all know your taskes: gods my life, whats that
    hee has got vpon's backe? who can tell?
    1995Geo. That can I, but I will not.
    Wife. Girt about him like a mad-man: what: has he lost
    his cloake too; this is the maddest fashion that ere I sawe:
    what said he George when he pasde by thee?
    G 4 Geor.