First Gentleman How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.
Mistress Overdone A bawd whose brothel business is threatened by Angelo's crackdown. Comedy · Measure for Measure
Mistress Overdone's lines in Measure for Measure
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Second Gentleman Who's that, I pray thee?
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.
First Gentleman Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off.
Lucio But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.
Lucio Away! let's go learn the truth of it.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.
How now! what's the news with you?
Pompey Yonder man is carried to prison.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Well; what has he done?
Pompey A woman.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. But what's his offence?
Pompey Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. What, is there a maid with child by him?
Pompey No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. What proclamation, man?
Pompey All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. And what shall become of those in the city?
Pompey They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?
Pompey To the ground, mistress.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?
Pompey Come; fear you not: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.
Escalus Go; away with her to prison!
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. Good my lord, be good to me; your honour is accounted a merciful man; good my lord.
Provost A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please your honour.
Mistress Overdone
Mistress Overdone. My lord, this is one Lucio's information against me. Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by him in the duke's time; he promised her marriage: his child is a year and a quarter old, come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!