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.
    As Parsley from a roasted cunny.
    2340 So tho the day be nere so sunny,
    If wiues will haue it raine, downe then it driues,
    The calmest husbands make the stormest wiues.
    Wif. Tame George, but I ha don storming now.
    Geo. Why thats well done, good mistris throw aside this
    2345fashion of your humor, be not so phantasticall in wearing it,
    storme no more, long no more.-This longing has made you
    come short of many a good thing that you might haue had
    from my Maister: Here comes the Duke.
    Enter Duke, Fluello, Pioratto, Sinere.
    2350Wife. Oh I beseech you pardon my offence,
    In that I durst abuse your Graces warrant,
    Deliuer foorth my husband good my Lord.
    Duke. Who is her husband?
    Flu. Candido my Lord. Duke. Where is he?
    2355Wife. Hees among the lunaticks,
    He was a man made vp without a gall,
    Nothing could moue him, nothing could conuert
    His meeke bloud into fury, yet like a monster,
    I often beat at the most constant rock
    2360Of his vnshaken patience, and did long
    To vex him. Duke. Did you so?
    Wife. And for that purpose,
    Had warrant from your Grace, to cary him
    To Bethlem Monastery whence they will not free him,
    2365Without your Graces hand that sent him in.
    Duke. You haue longd fayre; tis you are mad I feare,
    Its fit to fetch him thence, and keepe you there:
    If he be mad, why would you haue him forth?
    Geo. And please your grace, hees not starke mad, but one-
    2370ly talkes like a young Gentleman; somewhat phantastically,
    thats all: theres a thousand about your court, citty and
    countrie, madder then he.
    Duke. Prouide a warrant, you shall haue our hand.
    Geo. Heres a warrant ready drawne my Lord.
    2375Cast. Get pen & inck, get pen & inck: Enter Castruchio.
    Cast Where is my Lord the Duke?
    Duke. How now? more mad men.
    I Cast.