Digital Renaissance Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)
  • Editors: Frances E. Dolan, Anna Pruitt

    • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Thomas Dekker
    Editors: Frances E. Dolan, Anna Pruitt
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)

    The Whore of Babylon.
    All 3. Stood death ith' way.
    Lup. Stood hell.
    Emp. Nobly resolu'de:
    But li sten to vs, and obserue our counsell:
    1380Backe mu st we send you to the Fairie Land,
    Danger goes with you; here's your safetie: li sten.
    Chuse winds to sayle by; if the wayward seas
    Grow stormie, houer, keepe aloofe: if feares,
    Shipwracks, and death lie tumbling on the waues,
    1385And will not off, then ombe venturous,
    Conque sts hard got are sweet and glorious.
    Being landed, if suspition ca st on you.
    Her narrow eyes, turne your selues then to Moles,
    Worke vnder ground, and vndermine your countrey,
    1390Tho you ca st earth vp but a handfull high,
    To make her stumble: if that bloud-hound hunt you,
    (That long-ear'd Inqui sition) take the thickets,
    Climbe vp to Hay-mowes, liue like birds, and eate
    The vndeflowred corne: in hollow trees
    1395Take such proui sion as the Ant can make:
    Flie with the Batt vnder the eeues of night,
    And shift your nea sts: or like to Ancre s s es,
    Close vp your selues in artificiall wals:
    Or if you walke abroad, be wrapt in clouds,
    1400Haue change of haires, of cie-brows, halt with soldiers,
    Be shauen and be old women, take all shapes
    To escape taking: But if they ayre be cleere,
    Flie to the Court, and vnderneath the wings
    Of the Eagle, Faulcon, or some great bird houer,
    1405Oakes and large Beech-trees many, bea sts doe couer.
    He that fir st sings a Dirge tun'de to the death
    Of that my onely foe the Fairie Queene,
    Shalbe my loue, and (clad in purple) ride
    Vpon that scarlet-coloured bea st that beares
    1410Seuen Kingdomes on seuen heads.
    Camp. If all the Spels
    That wit, or eloquence, or arts can set:
    If all the sleights that bookemen vse in schooles
    Be powrefull in such happine s s e, 'tis mine.
    Rop. What
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Digital Renaissance Editions
    Published by the ISE
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    University of Western Australia
    Friends of the ISE