Digital Renaissance Editions

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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    (Which stifly beare them vp) flag and hang low,
    And that (like reedes, playing with a paire of winds.)
    They promise facill pliance, then, then shake
    305The trees by the root, then'le make the branches blow,
    And drop their mellowed fruits, euen at your feet,
    Gather them they are our owne, then is the houre,
    To weane those sonnes of blacke Apo sta si
    From her. (their stepdame) and to make them take,
    310A ble s sing from our reuerend mothers hands,
    Be happie goe.
    Card. Omn. Wee shall remember you,
    In all our kneelings.
    1. Card. Stay: ere you shift Ayre,
    315Sprinkle your selues all ore with sacred droppes,
    Take Periapts, Pentacles, and potent Charmes
    To coniure downe fowle feinds, that will be rayzed
    To vex you, tempt you, and betray your bloud,
    About your necks hang hallowed Amulets,
    320That may Conserue you from the plagues of Error
    Which will strike at you.
    Sacr. Omn. Wee obey mo st holy fathers.
    1. Car. And heare you,
    If clymbing vp to this haught enterprize
    325The foot slip, and (ith' fal) with death you meet---
    Sacr. Omn. O glorious ladder!
    1. Car. A Saints winding sheet,
    Farewell: Mount all the engines of your wit Exeunt Sacr.
    When darts are sent from all parts, some mu st hit.
    330There is a fellow to whome, because he dare
    Not be a slaue to greatnes, nor is molded
    Of Court dow (flattering) but ( should it thunder)
    To his father. doing ill, (would speake ill) our Empre s s e,
    Hath giuen this name. (Plaine Dealing): this plaine dealing
    335Haue I shipd hence, and is long since arriued
    Vpon the fairy strnod: from him I expect,
    Intelligence of all Occurrences,
    He for the names sake, shall perhaps be welcome,
    Into