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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    the Grange house, with euery Medow pasture, Plough-
    land, Cony-borough, Fish-pond, hedge, ditch, and bush
    that stands in it.
    1080Infae. My Husbands name, and hand and seale at armes
    to a Loue-letter? Where hadst thou this writing?
    Orla. From the foresaid party, Madam, that would keepe
    the foresaid Land out of the foresaid Lords fingers.
    Infae. My Lord turnd Ranger now?
    1085Orl. Y'are a good Huntresse, Lady, you ha found your
    Game already; your Lord would faine be a Ranger, but my
    Mistris requests you to let him runne a course in your owne
    Parke, if you'll not doo't for loue, then doo't for money; she
    has no white money, but there's gold, or else she praies you
    1090to ring him by this token, and so you shall be sure his nose
    will not be rooting other mens pastures.
    Infae. This very purse was wouen with mine owne hands,
    This Diamond on that very night, when he
    Vntyed my Virgin girdle, gaue I him:
    1095And must a common Harlot share in mine?
    Old man, to quit thy paines, take thou the gold.
    Orl. Not I, Madam, old Seruingmen want no money.
    Infae. Cupid himselfe was sure his Secretary,
    These lines are euen the Arrowes Loue let flies,
    1100The very Incke dropt out of Uenus eyes.
    Orla. I doe not thinke, Madam, but hee fetcht off some
    Poet or other for those lines, for they are parlous Hawkes
    to flie at wenches.
    Infae Here's honied poyson, to me he ne'r thus writ,
    1105But Lust can set a double edge on wit.
    Orla. Nay, that's true, Madam, a wench will whet any
    thing, if it be not too dull.
    Infae. Oathes, promises, preferments, Iewels, gold,
    What snares should breake, if all these cannot hold?
    1110What creature is thy Mistris?
    Orl. One of those creatures that are contrary to man;
    a woman.
    Infae. What manner of woman?
    E Orl.