Digital Renaissance Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1630)
  • 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
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Honest Whore, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1630)

    The Honest Whore.
    275downe, and stript bare, and yet weare they not pide coates
    againe? tho my head be like a Leeke, white: may not my
    heart be like the blade, greene?
    Hip. Scarce can I read the Stories on your brow,
    Which age hath writ there, you looke youthfull still.
    280Orla. I eate Snakes, my Lord, I eate Snakes.
    My heart shall neuer haue a wrinkle in it, so long as I can cry
    Hem with a cleare voice.
    Hip. You are the happier man, sir.
    Orla. Happy man! Ile giue you (my Lord) the true picture
    285of a happy man; I was turning leaues ouer this morning,
    and found it, an excellent Italian Painter drew it, If I haue
    it in the right colours, Ile bestow it on your Lordship.
    Hip. I stay for it.
    Orla. He that makes gold his wife, but not his whore,
    290He that at noone-day walkes by a prison doore,
    He that 'ith Sunne is neither beame nor moate,
    He that's not mad after a Petticoate,
    He for whom poore mens curses dig no graue,
    He that is neither Lords nor Lawyers slaue,
    295He that makes This his Sea, and That his Shore,
    He that in's Coffin is richer then before,
    He that counts Youth his Sword, and Age his Staffe,
    He whose right hand carues his owne Epitaph,
    He that vpon his death-bead is a Swan,
    300And Dead, no Crow, he is a happy man.
    Hip. It's very well, I thanke you for this Picture.
    Orla. After this Picture (my Lord) doe I striue to haue
    my face drawne:
    For I am not couetous,
    305Am not in debt,
    Sit neither at the Dukes side,
    Nor lie at his feete.
    Wenching and I haue done, no man I wrong,
    No man I feare, no man I fee;
    310I take heed how farre I walke, because I know yonders my
    home.
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