Peer Reviewed
- Edition: The Honest Whore, Part 2
The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Modern)
- Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Acknowledgements
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Abbreviations
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Analysis of the Plays
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: The Plays in Performance
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Textual Introduction
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- The Honest Whore, Parts 1 and 2: Appendices
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- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
1037.1[3.1]
3.1.0.11038Enter Orlando [as Pacheco, with Hippolito始s letter, purse, and diamond ring], and Infelice.
From whom, sayst thou?
From a poor gentlewoman, madam, whom I serve.
And what始s your business?
This, madam: my poor mistress has a waste piece 1043of ground, which is her own by inheritance, and left to 1044her by her mother. There始s a lord now that goes about, 1045not to take it clean from her, but to enclose it to himself, 1046and to join it to a piece of his lordship始s.
What would she have me do in this?
No more, madam, but what one woman should 1049do for another in such a case. My honourable lord your 1050husband would do anything in her behalf, but she had 1051rather put herself into your hands, because you, a woman, 1052may do more with the Duke your father.
Where lies this land?
Within a stone始s throw of this place. My mistress 1055would be content to let him enjoy it after her decease, if 1056that would serve his turn, so my master would yield too; 1057but she cannot abide to hear that the lord should meddle 1058with it in her lifetime.
Is she, then, married? Why stirs not her husband 1060in it?
Her husband stirs in it underhand. But, because 1062the other is a great rich man, my master is loath to be seen 1063in it too much.
Let her in writing draw the cause at large,
[Holding up Hippolito始s letter] 始Tis set down, madam, here in black and white 1067already. Work it so, madam, that she may keep her own 1068without disturbance, grievance, molestation, or meddling of 1069any other, and she bestows this purse of gold on your 1070ladyship.
3.1.13.1[He holds up Hippolito始s purse.]
Old man, I始ll plead for her, but take no fees.
I would all proctors始 clerks were of your mind; 1075I should law more amongst them than I do, then. Here, 1076madam, is the survey, not only of the manor itself, but of 1077the grange house, with every meadow, pasture, 1078plough-land, cony-burrow, fish-pond, hedge, ditch, and bush 1079that stands in it.
3.1.17.1[He gives her the letter.]
[Reading the letter] My husband始s name and hand and seal at arms
From the foresaid party, madam, that would keep 1083the foresaid land out of the foresaid lord始s fingers.
My lord turned ranger now?
You始re a good huntress, lady; you ha始 found your 1086game already. Your lord would fain be a ranger, but my 1087mistress requests you to let him run a course in your own 1088park. If you始ll not do始t for love, then do始t for money. She 1089has no white money, but there始s gold [Giving her the purse]; or else she prays you 1090to ring him by this token [Giving her the diamond ring], and so you shall be sure his nose 1091will not be rooting other men始s pastures.
This very purse was woven with mine own hands;
Not I, madam; old servingmen want no money.
[Reading] Cupid himself was sure his secretary!
I do not think, madam, but he fetched off some 1102poet or other for those lines, for they are parlous hawks 1103to fly at wenches.
Here始s honeyed poison! To me he ne始er thus writ;
Nay, that始s true, madam; a wench will whet 1107anything, if it be not too dull.
Oaths, promises, preferments, jewels, gold –
One of those creatures that are contrary to man – 1112a woman.
What manner of woman?
A little tiny woman, lower than your ladyship by 1115head and shoulders, but as mad a wench as ever unlaced a 1116petticoat. These things should I indeed have delivered to my 1117lord your husband.
They are delivered better. Why should she
1120Orlando
始Ware, 始ware, there始s knavery!
Strumpets, like cheating gamesters, will not win
The Irish footman can tell you all his hunting 1125hours, the park he hunts in, the doe he would strike. That 1126Irish shackatory beats the bush for him, and knows all. 1127He brought that letter and that ring; he is the carrier.
Knowst thou what other gifts have passed between 1129them?
Little Saint Patrick knows all.
Him I始ll examine presently.
Not whilst I am here, sweet madam.
Begone then, and what lies in me command.
3.1.52.1Exit Orlando.
Come hither, sirrah. How much cost those satins
Faat satins, faat silvers, faat low gentlefolks? 1139Dow prat始st dow knowst not what, i始faat, la.
She there, to whom you carried letters.
By dis hand and bod dow sayst true, if I did so, O 1142how? I know not a letter o始de book, i始faat, la.
Did your lord never send you with a ring, sir,
Never, sa Crees sa始 me, never! He may run at a 1146towsand rings, i始faat, and I never hold his stirrup till he leap 1147into de saddle. By Saint Patrick, madam, I never touch my lord始s 1148diamond, nor ever had to, i始faat, la, with any of his 1149precious stones.
Are you so close, you bawd, you pand始ring slave?
3.1.62.1[She strikes Brian.]
How now? Why, Infelice, what始s your quarrel?
[To Brian] Out of my sight, base varlet, get thee gone!
Away, you rogue!
Slawne loot, fare de well, fare de well. Ah marragh 1156frofat boddah breen.
3.1.66.1Exit.
What, grown a fighter? Prithee, what始s the matter?
If you始ll needs know, it was about the clock.
Lest you cuff me, I始ll tell you presently.
1162Infelice
[Consulting her watch] How, two? I am scarce at one.
One of us then goes false.
1164Infelice
Then sure 始tis you;
I think indeed mine runs somewhat too fast.
Set it to mine, at one, then.
1168Hippolito
One? 始Tis past;
1170Infelice
Faith, then, belike
You始re very pleasant, madam.
1175Infelice
Yet not merry.
Why, Infelice, what should make you sad?
Nothing, my lord, but my false watch. Pray tell me:
1181Hippolito
Faith, on both.
All is not well indeed, my dearest lord;
1191Hippolito
What means this?
Or if my own tongue must myself betray,
3.1.97.1She kneels.
1195Hippolito
Why do you kneel?
Earth is sin始s cushion; when the sick soul feels
3.1.103And given it to a slave.
1201Hippolito
Ha?
1202Infelice
On thy pillow
3.1.104Adultery and lust have slept. Thy groom
始Sdeath! Who? – A cuckold! – Who?
1206Infelice
This Irish footman.
Worse than damnation! A wild kern, a frog,
3.1.112.1[She clings to his garment.]
Bold strumpet,
3.1.114To a whore because she始s noble?
1213Infelice
I beg but this:
1217Hippolito
Darkened? My horns
3.1.128.1[She rises.]
1233Infelice
Hippolito!
Tell me, didst thou bait hooks to draw him to 1235thee,
3.1.134Or did he bewitch thee?
1236Infelice
The slave did woo me.
Tu-whoos in that screech-owls始s language?
始Twas thus: he gave me this battery first.
3.1.141.1[She gives him the letter.]
O, I
3.1.142.1[She gives him the purse.]
3.1.143.1[She gives him the diamond ring.]
1254Hippolito
[Laughing] Yes, guilty, my good lady.
Nay, you may laugh, but henceforth shun my bed;
3.1.153.1Exit.
O始erreached so finely? 始Tis the very diamond
(Within) My lord calls.
Send me the footman.
[Within] Call the footman to my lord. – Brian, Brian!
It can be no man else – that Irish Judas,
Faat meanst thou by this, now?
Question me not, nor tempt my fury, villain!
I始faat, I care not.
Prate not, but get thee gone; I shall send else.
Ay, do, pridee! I had rather have thee make a scabbard 1276of my guts, and let out all de Irish puddings in my poor 1277belly, den to be a false knave to dee, i始faat. I will never see 1278dine own sweet face more. A mawhid deer a gra! 1279Fare dee well, fare dee well! I will go steal cows again in Ireland.
3.1.171.1Exit.
He始s damned that raised this whirlwind, which 1281hath blown
3.1.181.1Exit.