The Courtesan's Mother brings the Courtesan a token from Sir Bounteous Progress (the Courtesan is Sir Bounteous Progress' mistress). Luxuriating in the subtlety of her own craftiness, the Mother tells how she has prostituted the Courtesan fifteen times in order to save up enough money for a good marriage dowry. She tells the Courtesan it is all worthwhile if, by sinning, she can secure a good name for herself: "Who gets the opinion of a virtuous name, / May sin at pleasure and never think of shame." The Courtesan exits.