The Honest Whore is an early Jacobean city comedy, written in two parts; Part 1 is a collaboration between Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton, while Part 2 is the work of Dekker alone. The plays were acted by the Admiral's Men.
“I was ne’er so thrummed since I was a gentleman.”
Thomas Dekker The Honest Whore
The Honest Whore (1604), Part i, Act iv. Sc. 2. Compare: "Zounds! I was never so bethump’d with words, Since I first call’d my brother’s father dad", William Shakespeare, King John, Act ii. Sc. 2.
Thomas Dekker The Honest Whore
The Honest Whore (1604), Part i, Act i. Sc. 12. Compare: "Of the offspring of the gentilman Jafeth come Habraham, Moyses, Aron, and the profettys; also the Kyng of the right lyne of Mary, of whom that gentilman Jhesus was borne", Juliana Berners, Heraldic Blazonry.
“We are ne’er like angels till our passion dies.”
Thomas Dekker The Honest Whore
The Honest Whore (1604), Part ii, Act i. Sc. 2.
“This principle is old, but true as fate,—
Kings may love treason, but the traitor hate.”
Thomas Dekker The Honest Whore
The Honest Whore (1604), Part i, Act iv. Sc. 4.
Compare: "Cæsar said he loved the treason, but hated the traitor", Plutarch, Life of Romulus.
Compare: "treason is loved of many, but the Traitor hated of all", Robert Greene, Pandosto (1588).
Thomas Dekker The Honest Whore
The Honest Whore (1604), Part ii, Act ii. Sc. 1. Compare: "Turn over a new leaf", Thomas Middleton, Anything for a Quiet Life (1621), Act iii. Sc. 3.
