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IN GELLAM. XXVI. - Christopher Marlowe, The Works of Christopher Marlowe, vol. 3 (Poems) [1598]

Edition used:

The Works of Christopher Marlowe, ed. A.H. Bullen (London: John C. Nimmo, 1885). Vol. 3.

Part of: The Works of Christopher Marlowe, 3 vols.

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IN GELLAM. XXVI.

  • If Gella's beauty be examinéd,
  • She hath a dull dead eye, a saddle nose,
  • An ill-shap'd face, with morphew overspread,
  • And rotten teeth, which she in laughing shows,
  • Briefly, she is the filthiest wench in town,
  • Of all that do the art of whoring use:
  • But when she hath put on her satin gown,
  • Her cut1 lawn apron, and her velvet shoes,
  • Her green silk stockings, and her petticoat
  • Of taffeta, with golden fringe around,

    10

  • And is withal perfum'd with civet hot,
  • Which doth her valiant stinking breath confound,—
  • Yet she with these additions is no more
  • Than a sweet, filthy, fine, ill-favour'd whore.

[1]So MS —Old eds. “out.”