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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Into that Harlots Company (whom the fairyes
    340Thinke hone st, and sweare deeply, she is Truth.
    That strumpet by inticement heele bring ouer,
    2. Card. It came to me in letters (two dayes since.
    That this plaine dealing serues the fairy Queene,
    And will no more be seene in Babilon.
    345 1. Card. How no more seene in Babilon, tis but one lo st,
    If Babilon subscribe to our wise-doome,
    Shee shall lodge Double-Dealing in his roome. Exeunt.

    Titania Fidely, Florimell, Elfiron,
    Pentioners,
    350 Tita. Wee thought the fates would haue closde vp our eyes,
    That wee should nere haue seene this day- starre rise:
    How many plots were laid to barre vs hence,
    (Euen from our Cradle?) but our Innocence
    Your wisedome (fairy Peeres) and aboue all,
    355That Arme) that cannot let a white soule fall,
    Hath held vs vp, and lifted vs thus hie,
    Euen when the Arrowes did mo st thickly flie:
    Of that bad woman, (Babilons proud Queene,
    Who yet (we heare) swels with Inuenomed spleene.
    360 Fid. Whose poyson, shall (like Arrowes shot vpright)
    When forth it bur sts, to her owne downfall light.
    Tita. Truth be my witnes (whome we haue imployde,
    To purge our Aire that has with plagues de stroyed
    Great numbers, shutting them in darksome shades)
    365I seeke no fall of hirs, my spirit wades,
    In Clearer streames; her bloud I would not shed,
    to gaine that triple wreath that binds her head,
    Tho mine shee would let forth, I know not why,
    Only through rancke lu st after Souereigntie.
    370 Flor. Enough it is for me, if with a hand,
    (Vn staind and vn-ambitious) fairy Land
    I Crowne with Oliue-branches: all those wounds,
    Whose