in 1 The Honest Whore (1 The Converted Courtesan) (The Patient Man and the Honest Whore) — Dekker, Thomas; Middleton, Thomas
Metadata
Play
1 The Honest Whore (1 The Converted Courtesan) (The Patient Man and the Honest Whore)
Author
Dekker, Thomas; Middleton, Thomas
Year (catalogued)
1604
First performance
1604
Decade
1600s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Prince Henry's Men
Speech prefix(es)
Pio: | Pio. | Pior. | Pi.
Words
460
Characters
2462
Typicality
0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A20062
BritDrama no.
1431
Cluster
Cluster 8 — Martial kings & Roman gravity
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Lets have't, lets have't, and where shall the scene of mirth lie? Well sir. Thou him? thou move him thou anger him? alas, I know his approved temper thou him? why he would a paty ce above sooner raise a spleen in and Angel than rough humour in him: why isle give you instance for it. This wonderfully tempered signior Candido upon a time invited home to his house certain Ne politane lords of curious taste, and no mean palate, conjuring his wife of all loves, to prepare cheer fitting for such honourable tren cher-men. She (just of a woman's nature, covetous to try the uttermost of vexation, and thinking at last to get the start of his humour) willingly neglected the preparation, and became unfurnished, not only of dainty, but of ordinary dishes. He (ac cording to the mildness of his breast) entertained the lords, and with courtly discourse beguiled the time (as much as a Cit tizen might do:) to conclude, they were hungry lords, for there came no meat in; their stomachs were plainly g ld, and their teeth deluded, and (if anger could have a man) there was matter enough i'faith to vex any citizen in the world, if he were not too much made a fool by his wife. Why twould would tempered any blood but his, And thou to vex him that to anger him With some poor shallow jest Done, 'tis a lay, join golls on't: wit us signior Fl llo. I warrant this fellow was never begotten without much Pr ting. Hark in thine ear, thast lost and hundred ducats. How strangely this does show? A patient man linked with a waspish shrow. Farewell Candido. No, but a little mou'de. Nor I, Save thee little Marmoset: how dost thou good pretty rogue? It may be tickling gear: for it plays with my nose already. Stay, whats best to drink a morning's? Well, many took that Lollio for a fool, but he's a subtle fool. Plague him, set him beneath the salt, and let him not touch a bit, till every one has had his full cut. As gallant a spirit, as any in Milan you sweet Jew, Wood she herd you. He's upon coming mistress. Exit. He's Hipolitoes bosom. This is the place my Lord. Sirrah are all the mad folks in Milan brought hither? We see you old man, for all you dance in a net. 'Tis the punk bith Lord. come, to their Fortune's. I'll pledge them deep i'faith Castruchio, Signior Fluello ? And when we were in our Woodcocks (sweet Rogue) a brace of Gulles, dwelling here in the City, came in & paid all the shot. Yes indeed father. There's more deceit in women, then in hell. Exeunt
Plot summary
Plot — 1 The Honest Whore (1 The Converted Courtesan) (The Patient Man and the Honest Whore)
Count Hippolito attempts to make a scene at the funeral of the Duke’s daughter, Infelice, but is restrained. In fact, Infelice is not dead: the Duke administered a sleeping draught to prevent her from marrying Hippolito. When she wakes, he tells her Hippolito is dead and sends her away to Bergamo, then accepts Dr Benedict’s offer to poison Hippolito. Bellafront the courtesan falls in love with Hippolito when his friend and her client Matheo brings him to meet her. He mistrusts her protestation that, for him, she will become honest, and speaks harshly against whores. But she fulfils her promise: dismisses her pander Roger (who quickly finds alternative employment) and sends away her former clients, including Matheo. On a Monday, she goes to visit Hippolito, disguised as a page; she finds him in solemn meditation (since Infelice supposedly died on a Monday), and he rejects her again. Dr Benedict tells the Duke that he has been poisoned, and is banished for it; but in fact he has done no such thing, and tells Hippolito that Infelice is not only alive, but waiting at the madhouse to marry him. Meanwhile, Fustigo returns to Milan to find that his sister has married Candido, a man apparently incapable of anger. This is demonstrated in a wager between three gentlemen who try to make him lose his temper: first Castruccio poses as a customer and makes unreasonable demands, which Candido meets even though it means spoiling a piece of cloth; then Fluello steals a beaker from the household, for which Candido has them arrested, but then genially invites them to dinner. Viola also wants to make her husband angry, and has Fustigo pose as a swaggerer and attempt to seduce her. When he tries, however, Candido’s apprentices take it upon themselves to beat him while their master is away, and Candido’s equanimity remains intact. Viola continues to behave provocatively: she refuses Candido the key to fetch his gown for a senate meeting, so he goes wearing a carpet instead; she has George dress in his clothes and 1604 pose as him on his return, but Candido’s good-natured response is to dress himself as an apprentice; and he even looks on the bright side of a beating administered by ruffians hired by Fustigo to avenge his injury. Finally Viola has him committed to the madhouse, but soon changes her mind and petitions the Duke for his release. The Duke hears of Infelice’s plans, goes to the madhouse, and, while they wait to interrupt the marriage that afternoon, pass the time…