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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    (On paine to be into an vrchin turnd)
    680Till thou ha st fixt vpon the highe st gates,
    Of our great' st Cities The'rs a warning peece. Away. (Exit.
    Fidel. Theis to the Spirits that our waters keepe,
    Charge thē that none row st there, but those whose nets,
    Are ca st out of our Fairy gundolets. Away. Exit. 2.
    685 Elfyr. Theis to the keepers of those royall woods
    Where Lyons, Panthers, and the kingly heardes
    Feede in one company; that if wild Boares,
    Mad Buls, or rauing Beares, breake in for prey,
    Hoping to make our groues their wildernes,
    690Ours may like souldiers bid thē battaile. Flie. Exit. 3.
    Parth. Theis to the Shepheards on our Fairie downs
    To warne them not to sleepe, but with sweet Layes
    And Iolly pipings driue into fat pa stures
    Their goodly flocks: Wolues are abroad say, Fly. Exit. 4.
    695 Fidel. Place Prouidence, (because she has quick eye:
    And is the be st at kenning) in our Nauy,
    Courage shall wait on her.
    Flor. No: shees mo st fit
    Titania and
    her maids
    standing alofe.
    To goe with vs.
    700 Omn. Let her in Counsell sit.
    Fid. Tis said: and lea st they breake into our walkes
    And kil our fairie deare, or change themselues
    Into the shape of Fawnes, being indeed Foxes,
    Range all the forre st danger to preuent,
    705Fore sight, beats stormes backe, when mo st Imminent.
    Omn. Away then. Exeunt.
    Manent Titania, and her maides.
    Titani. Wise Pilots? firme st pillars? how it agrees,
    When Princes heads sleepe on their counsels knees:
    710Deepe rooted is a state, and growes vp hie,
    When Prouidence, Zeale, and Integritie
    Husband it well: Theis fathers twill be said
    (One day) make me a grandame of a maid.
    Meane time my farewell to such gaudy lures
    715As here, were thrown vp t'haue me quite ore-thrown,
    I charge you maids, entertaine no de sires,
    So irreligious and vnsanctified:
    Oh