The Honest Whore

Thomas Dekker

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781135862619
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Performing Arts

The two plays included in this volume follow the lives of a princess and a whore. Although set in Italy, this passionate tale of paternal disapproval and sexual deceit savors more of the underworld of Jacobean London with its asylums and prisons, gambling and prostitution.

THE FIRST PART OF THE HONEST WHORE

SCENE 1

Enter at one door a funeral, a coronet lying on the hearse, scutcheons and garlands hanging on the sides, attended by Gasparo Trebatzi, DUKE of Milan, CASTRUCHIO, SINEZI; PIORATTO, FLUELLO, and others at another door

Enter HIPPOLYTO in discontented appearance, MATHEO a gentleman (his friend) labouring to hold him back

Duke	Behold, yon comet shows his head again. Twice hath he thus at cross-turns thrown on us Prodigious looks. Twice hath he troubled The waters of our eyes. See, he’s turn’d wild! Go on in God’s name.
All	On afore there, ho!
Duke	Kinsmen and friends, take from your manly sides Your weapons, to keep back the desperate boy From doing violence to the innocent dead.
Hippolyto	I prithee, dear Matheo –
Matheo	Come, you’re mad!
Hippolyto	I do arrest thee, murderer! Set down, Villains, set down that sorrow: ’tis all mine.
Duke	I do beseech you all, for my blood’s sake, Send hence your milder spirits and let wrath Join in confederacy with your weapons’ points. If he proceed to vex us, let your swords Seek out his bowels. Funeral grief loathes words.
All	Set on.
Hippolyto	Set down the body!
Matheo	Oh, my lord! You’re wrong. I’th’ open street? You see she’s dead.
Hippolyto	I know she is not dead.
Duke	Frantic young man, Wilt thou believe these gentlemen? Pray, speak. Thou dost abuse my child, and mock’st the tears That here are shed for her. If to behold Those roses wither’d that set out her cheeks; That pair of stars that gave her body light, Darken’d and dim for ever; all those rivers That fed her veins with warm and crimson streams, Frozen and dried up; if these be signs of death, Then is she dead. Thou unreligious youth, Art not asham’d to empty all these eyes Of funeral tears (a debt due to the dead, As mirth is to the living)? Sham’st thou not To have them stare on thee? Hark, thou art curs’d Even to thy face, by those that scarce can speak.
Hippolyto	My lord –
Duke	What wouldst thou have? Is she not dead?
Hippolyto	Oh, you ha’ kill’d her by your cruelty.
Duke	Admit I had, thou kill’st her now again And art more savage than a barbarous Moor.
Hippolyto	Let me but kiss her pale and bloodless lip!
Duke	Oh, fie, fie, fie!
Hippolyto	Or if not touch her, let me look on her.
Matheo	As you regard your honour –
Hippolyto	Honour? Smoke!
Matheo	Or if you lov’d her living, spare her now.
Duke	Ay, well done, sir, you play the gentleman. – Steal hence – ’tis nobly done – away. – I’ll join My force to yours to stop this violent torment. – Pass on.

Exeunt [all but DUKE, HIPPOLYTO and MATHEO] with funeral

Hippolyto	Matheo, thou dost wound me more.
Matheo	I give you physic, noble friend, not wounds.
Duke	Oh, well said, well done, a true gentleman! Alack, I know the sea of lovers’ rage Comes rushing with so strong a tide, it beats And bears down all respects of life, of honour, Of friends, of foes. Forget her, gallant youth.
Matheo	Forget her?
Duke	Nay, nay, be but patient. For why, Death’s hand hath sued a strict divorce ’Twixt her and thee. What’s beauty but a corse? What but fair sand-dust are earth’s purest forms? Queens’ bodies are but trunks to put in worms.
Matheo	Speak no more sentences, my good lord, but slip hence. You see they are but fits. I’ll rule him, I warrant ye. Ay, so, tread gingerly, your grace is here somewhat too long already. [Exit DUKE] [Aside] ‘Sblood! The jest were now, if having ta’en some knocks o’th’ pate already, he should get loose again, and, like a mad ox, t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• A Note from the Director
• The Honest Whore
• Editor’s Introduction
• Dramatis Personae
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Glossary
• Synopsis
• Textual Notes