Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Modern)
  • 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.
    Author: Thomas Dekker
    Editor: Joost Daalder
    Peer Reviewed

    The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Modern)

    The Honest Whore, [Part Two]
    1[1.1]
    Enter at one door Beraldo, Carolo, Fontinell, [and] Astolfo, with Servingmen or Pages attending on them. At another door, enter Lodovico, meeting them.
    5Lodovico
    Good day, gallants.
    Other Gentlemen
    Good morrow, sweet Lodovico.
    Lodovico
    How dost thou, Carolo?
    Carolo
    Faith, as physicians do 10in a plague: see the world sick, and am well myself.
    Fontinell
    Hereʼs a sweet morning, gentlemen.
    Lodovico
    O, a morning to tempt Jove from his ningle Ganymede, which is but to give dairy-wenches green gowns as 15they are going a-milking. [To Astolfo] What, is thy lord stirring yet?
    Astolfo
    Yes; he will not be horsed this hour, sure.
    Beraldo
    My lady swears he shall, for she longs to be at court.
    Carolo
    O, we shall ride switch and spur. Would we 20were there once!
    Enter Brian, the [Irish] footman.
    Lodovico
    [To Brian] How now, is thy lord ready?
    Brian
    No, so Crees saʼ me; my lady will have some little ting in her pelly first.
    25Carolo
    O, then theyʼll to breakfast.
    Lodovico
    Footman, does my lord ride iʼthʼ coach with my lady, or on horseback?
    Brian
    No, foot, la; my lady will have me lord sheet wid her. My lord will sheet in de one side, and my lady sheet 30in de toder side.
    Exit.
    Lodovico
    ‘My lady sheet in de toder sideʼ! Did you ever hear a rascal talk so like a pagan? Isʼt not strange that a fellow of his star should be seen here so long in Italy, yet speak so from a Christian?
    35Enter Antonio Giorgio, a poor scholar. [He stands apart.]
    Astolfo
    An Irishman in Italy! That so strange? Why, the nation have running heads.
    Exchange walk.
    Lodovico
    Nay, Carolo, this is more strange: I haʼ been in France – thereʼs few of them. Marry, England they count a warm 40chimney-corner, and there they swarm like crickets to the crevice of a brew-house. But, sir, in England I have noted one thing.
    Other Gentlemen
    Whatʼs that? Whatʼs that of England?
    Lodovico
    Marry, this, sir – [Indicating Antonio] Whatʼs he yonder?
    45Beraldo
    A poor fellow would speak with my lord.
    Lodovico
    In England, sir – troth, I ever laugh when I think onʼt: to see a whole nation should be marked iʼthʼ forehead, as a man may say, with one iron – why, sir, there all costermongers are Irishmen.
    50Carolo
    O, thatʼs to show their antiquity, as coming from Eve who was an apple-wife; and they take after the mother.
    Other Gentlemen
    [Laughing] Good, good! Ha, ha!
    Lodovico
    Why, then, should all your chimney-sweepers 55likewise be Irishmen? Answer that, now; come, your wit!
    Carolo
    Faith, thatʼs soon answered; for Saint Patrick, you know, keeps purgatory. He makes the fire, and his countrymen could do nothing if they cannot sweep the chimneys.
    60Other Gentlemen
    Good again!
    Lodovico
    Then, sir, you have many of them, like this fellow (especially those of his hair), footmen to noblemen and others. And the knaves are very faithful where they love, by my faith – very proper men, many of them, and as active as 65the clouds: whirr, ha!
    Other Gentlemen
    Are they so?
    Lodovico
    And stout! Exceeding stout. Why, I warrant this precious wild villain, if he were put toʼt, would fight more desperately than sixteen Dunkirks.
    70Astolfo
    The women, they say, are very fair.
    Lodovico
    No, no, our country buona-robas – O! – are the sugarest delicious rogues.
    Astolfo
    O, look, he has a feeling of them!
    Lodovico
    Not I, I protest. Thereʼs a saying when they 75commend nations. It goes: the Irishman for his hand, the Welshman for a leg, the Englishman for a face, and Dutchman for a beard –
    Fontinell
    Iʼfaith, they may make swabbers of them.
    Lodovico
    The Spaniard – let me see – for a little foot, I take it; the 80Frenchman – what a-pox hath he? And so the rest. Are they at breakfast yet? Come, walk.
    Astolfo
    [Talking apart to his companions] This Lodovico is a notable-tongued fellow.
    Fontinell
    Discourses well.
    Beraldo
    And a very honest gentleman.
    85Astolfo
    O, heʼs well valued by my lord.
    Enter Bellafront with a petition.
    Fontinell
    [To his companions] How now, how now, whatʼs she?
    Beraldo
    Letʼs make towards her.
    Bellafront
    [To Astolfo] Will it be long, sir, ere my lord come forth?
    90Astolfo
    [To her] Would you speak with my lord?
    Lodovico
    [To her, indicating the petition] How now, whatʼs this? A nurseʼs bill? Hath any here got thee with child, and now will not keep it?
    Bellafront
    No, sir, my business is unto my lord.
    Lodovico
    Heʼs about his own wifeʼs now; heʼll hardly 95despatch two causes in a morning.
    Astolfo
    No matter what he says, fair lady, heʼs a knight; thereʼs no hold to be taken at his words.
    Fontinell
    My lord will pass this way presently.
    [Bellafront stands aside.]
    Beraldo
    [Talking apart to the other Gentlemen] A pretty, plump rogue.
    100Astolfo
    A good lusty, bouncing baggage.
    Beraldo
    [To Lodovico] Do you know her?
    Lodovico
    A pox on her! I was sure her name was in my table-book once. I know not of what cut her die is now, but she has been more common than tobacco. This is she that had 105the name of ‘The Honest Whoreʼ.
    Other Gentlemen
    Is this she?
    Lodovico
    This is the blackamoor that by washing was turned white; this is the birding-piece new scoured; this is she that – if any of her religion can be saved – was saved by my 110lord Hippolito.
    Astolfo
    She has been a goodly creature.
    Lodovico
    ‘She has beenʼ! Thatʼs the epitaph of all whores. Iʼm well acquainted with the poor gentleman her husband. Lord, what fortunes that man has overreached! She knows 115not me, yet I have been in her company; I scarce know her, for the beauty of her cheek hath, like the moon, suffered strange eclipses since I beheld it. But women are like medlars – no sooner ripe but rotten.
    A woman last was made, but is spent first;
    120Yet man is oft proved in performance worst.
    Other Gentlemen
    My lord is come.
    Enter Hippolito, Infelice, and two Waiting-women. [Lodovico greets Hippolito.]
    Hippolito
    We haʼ wasted half this morning! – Morrow, Lodovico.
    Lodovico
    [To Infelice] Morrow, madam.
    125Hippolito
    Letʼs away to horse.
    Other Gentlemen
    Ay, ay, to horse, to horse.
    Bellafront
    [Approaching Hippolito] I do beseech your lordship, let your eye
    Read oʼre this wretched paper.
    [She gives him the petition.]
    Hippolito
    Iʼm in haste;
    Pray thee, good woman, take some apter time.
    130Infelice
    Good woman, do.
    Bellafront
    O, ʼlas! It does concern
    A poor manʼs life.
    Hippolito
    Life? [To Infelice] Sweetheart, seat yourself;
    Iʼll but read this and come.
    [He reads the petition.]
    Lodovico
    [Aside to Infelice] What stockings have you put on this morning, 135madam? If they be not yellow, change them; that paper is a letter from some wench to your husband.
    Infelice
    O sir, that cannot make me jealous.
    Exeunt [all but Hippolito, Bellafront, and Antonio].
    Hippolito
    [To Antonio] Your business, sir? To me?
    Antonio
    Yes, my good lord.
    140Hippolito
    Presently, sir. [To Bellafront] Are you Mattheoʼs wife?
    Bellafront
    That most unfortunate woman.
    Hippolito
    Iʼm sorry
    These storms are fallen on him. I love Mattheo,
    And any good shall do him. He and I
    Have sealed two bonds of friendship, which are strong
    145In me, however fortune does him wrong.
    He speaks here heʼs condemned. Isʼt so?
    Bellafront
    Too true.
    Hippolito
    What was he whom he killed? O, his nameʼs here:
    Old Giacomo, son to the Florentine
    Giacomo – a dog that to 150meet profit
    Would to the very eyelids wade in blood
    Of his own children!
    Tell Mattheo the Duke my father hardly shall
    Deny his signèd pardon. ʼTwas fair fight, yes,
    If rumourʼs tongue go true; so writes he here.
    Tomorrow morning I return from court;
    155Pray be you here then. [To Antonio] Iʼll have done, sir, straight. –
    But in troth, say, are you Mattheoʼs wife?
    You have forgot me.
    Bellafront
    No, my lord.
    Hippolito
    Your turner,
    160That made you smooth to run an even bias.
    You know I loved you when your very soul
    Was full of discord. Art not a good wench still?
    Bellafront
    Umph! When I had lost my way to heaven, you showed it;
    I was newborn that day.
    Enter Lodovico.
    165Lodovico
    ʼSfoot, my lord, your lady asks if you have not left your wench yet. When you get in once, you never have done. Come, come, come, pay your old score and send her packing. Come.
    Hippolito
    Ride softly on before; Iʼll oʼertake you.
    170Lodovico
    Your lady swears sheʼll have no riding on before without ye.
    Hippolito
    Prithee, good Lodovico –
    Lodovico
    My lord, pray hasten.
    Hippolito
    I come.
    [Exit Lodovico.]
    [To Bellafront] Tomorrow let me see you. Fare you well.
    175Commend me to Mattheo. – Pray, one word more:
    Does not your father live about the court?
    Bellafront
    I think he does; but such rude spots of shame
    Stick on my cheek that he scarce knows my name.
    Hippolito
    Orlando Frescobaldo, isʼt not?
    180Bellafront
    Yes, my lord.
    Hippolito
    What does he for you?
    Bellafront
    All he should; when children
    From duty start, parents from love may swerve.
    He nothing does, for nothing I deserve.
    185Hippolito
    Shall I join him unto you, and restore you
    To wonted grace?
    Bellafront
    It is impossible.
    Hippolito
    It shall be put to trial. Fare you well.
    Exit Bellafront.
    [Aside] The face I would not look on! Sure then ʼtwas rare,
    190When in despite of grief ʼtis still thus fair.
    [To Antonio] Now, sir, your business with me?
    Antonio
    I am bold
    To express my love and duty to your lordship
    In these few leaves.
    [He shows Hippolito a book.]
    Hippolito
    A book!
    195Antonio
    Yes, my good lord.
    Hippolito
    Are you a scholar?
    Antonio
    Yes, my lord, a poor one.
    Hippolito
    Sir you honour me.
    Kings may be scholarsʼ patrons, but, faith, tell me:
    200To how many hands besides hath this bird flown?
    How many partners share with me?
    Antonio
    Not one,
    In troth, not one; your name I held more dear.
    Iʼm not, my lord, of that low character.
    Hippolito
    Your name, I pray?
    205Antonio
    Antonio Giorgio.
    Hippolito
    Of Milan?
    Antonio
    Yes, my lord.
    Hippolito
    Iʼll borrow leave
    To read you oʼer, and then weʼll talk. Till then
    [Giving him money]
    210Drink up this gold. Good wits should love good wine;
    This of your loves, the earnest that of mine.
    Enter Brian.
    [To Brian] How now, sir, whereʼs your lady? Not gone yet?
    I fart dy Lady is run away from dee, a mighty 215deal of ground. She sent me back for dine own sweet face. I pray dee come, my lord, away; wuʼt tow go now?
    Hippolito
    Is the coach gone? Saddle my horse, the sorrel.
    A pox oʼde horseʼs nose! He is a lousy, rascally 220fellow. When I came to gird his belly, his scurvy guts rumbled; dy horse farted in my face, and dow knowst an Irishman cannot abide a fart. But I have saddled de hobby-horse; dy fine hobby is ready. I pray dee, my good sweet lord, wiʼt tow go now, and I will run to de devil before dee?
    225Hippolito
    Well, sir. [To Antonio] I pray letʼs see you, Master Scholar.
    Come, I pray dee; wuʼt come, sweet face? Go.
    Exeunt