2 The Honest Whore (2 The Converted Courtesan) · chunk 43 of 47
Dekker, Thomas · published 1630 · first performed or written 1605 [1604-c.1605] (Annals) comedy · Prince Henry's Men unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
He seems a Soldier? I am what I seem, Sir, one of Fortune's Bastards, a Soldier, and a Gentleman, and am brought in here with Master Constable's band of Billmen, because they face me down that I live (like those that keep Bowling-alleys) by the sins of the people, in being a Squire of the body. Oh, an Apple-squire. Yes, sir, that degree of scurvy Squires, and that I am maintained by the best part that is commonly in a woman, by the worst players of those parts, but I am known to all this company. My Lord, 'tis true, we all know him, 'tis Lieutenant Bots. Bots, and where ha' you served, Bots? In most of your hottest Services in the Low-countries: at the Groin I was wounded in this thigh, and halted upon't, but 'tis now sound. In Cleveland I missed but little, having the bridge of my nose broken down with two great stones, as I was scaling a Fort: I ha' been tried, Sir, too, in Gelderland, and scaped hardly there from being blown up at a Breach: I was fired, and lay i'th' Surgeons hands for't, till the fall of the leaf following. All this may be, and yet you no Soldier. No Soldier, sir? I hope these are Services that your proudest Commanders do venture upon, and never come off sometimes. Well, sir, because you say you are a Soldier, I'll use you like a Gentleman: make room there, Plant him amongst you, we shall have anon Strange Hawks fly here before us: if none light on you, You shall with freedom take your flight: But if you prove a Bird of baser wing, we'll use you like such Birds, here you shall sing. I wish to be tried at no other weapon. Why, is he furnished with those in payments? The Pander is more dangerous to a State, Then is the common Thief, and though our laws Lie heavier on the Thief, yet that the Pander May know the hangman's ruff should fit him too, Therefore he's set to beat Hemp. This does savour Of justice, basest Slaves to basest labour. Now pray, set open Hell, and let us see The she-devils that are here. methinks this place Should make even Lais honest. Some it turns good, But (as some men whose hands are once in blood, Do in a pride spill more) so, some going hence, Are (by being here) lost in more impudence: Let it not to them (when they come) appear, That any one does as their judge sit here: But that as Gentlemen you come to see, And then perhaps their tongues will walk more free. Let them be marshaled in: be covered all, Fellows, now to make the Scene more Comical. Will not you be smelled out, Bots. No, your bravest whores have the worst noses. Are not you a Bride, forsooth? Say ye? He would know if these be not your Bridemen.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
He seemes a Soldier? I am what I seeme, Sir, one of Fortunes Bastards, a Soldier, and a Gentleman, and am brought in here with Master Constables band of Bilmen, because they face mee downe that I liue (like those that keepe Bowling-alleyes) by the sinnes of the people, in being a Squire of the body. Oh, an Apple-squire. Yes, sir, that degree of scuruy Squiers, and that I am maintained by the best part that is commonly in a woman, by the worst players of those parts, but I am knowne to all this company. My Lord, 'tis true, we all know him, 'tis Lieutenant Bots. Bots, and where ha you serued, Bots? In most of your hottest Seruices in the Low-countries: at the Groyne I was wounded in this thigh, and halted vpon't, but 'tis now sound. In Cleueland I mist but little, hauing the bridge of my nose broken downe with two great stones, as I was scaling a Fort: I ha beene tryed, Sir, too, in Gelderland, and scap'd hardly there from being blown vp at a Breach: I was fired, and lay i'th Surgeons hands for't, till the fall of the leafe following. All this may be, and yet you no Soldier. No Soldier, sir? I hope these are Seruices that your proudest Commanders doe venture vpon, and neuer come off sometimes. Well, sir, because you say you are a Soldier, Ile vse you like a Gentleman: make roome there, Plant him amongst you, we shall haue anon Strange Hawkes flie here before vs: if none light on you, You shall with freedome take your flight: But if you proue a Bird of baser wing, Wee'll vse you like such Birds, here you shall sing. I wish to be tried at no other weapon. Why, is he furnisht with those in pyments? The Pander is more dangerous to a State, Then is the common Thiefe, and tho our lawes Lie heauier on the Thiefe, yet that the Pander May know the Hangmans ruffe should fit him too, Therefore he's set to beat Hempe. This does sauour Of Iustice, basest Slaues to basest labour. Now pray, set open Hell, and let vs see The Shee-Deuils that are here. Me thinkes this place Should make euen Lais honest. Some it turnes good, But (as some men whose hands are once in blood, Doe in a pride spill more) so, some going hence, Are (by being here) lost in more impudence: Let it not to them (when they come) appeare, That any one does as their Iudge sit here: But that as Gentlemen you come to see, And then perhaps their tongues will walke more free. Let them be marshall'd in: be couerd all, Fellowes, now to make the Sceane more Comicall. Will not you be smelt out, Bots. No, your brauest whores haue the worst noses. Are not you a Bride, forsooth? Say yee? He wud know if these be not your Bridemen.