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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Camp. In disputation
    1145I dare for latine, hebrew, and the greeke,
    Challenge an vniuer sitie; yet (O euill hap!)
    Three learned languages cannot set a nap
    Vpon this thred-bare gowne: how is Arte curs'd?
    Shee ha's the sweete st lymbes, and goes the wor st:
    1150Like common Fidlers, drawing down others meate
    With lickori sh tunes, whil st they on scraps do eate.
    3. King. Shake then these seruile fetters off.
    Camp. But how?
    3. King. Play the mules part, now thou ha st suckt a dam
    1155Drie and vnholsome, kicke her sides.
    Camp. Her heart --- her very heart ---
    Would it were dried to du st, to strew vpon
    Th'inuenomed paper vpon which Ile write.
    3. King. Know you the Court of Babylon?
    1160 Camp. I haue read,
    How great it is, how glorious, and would venter
    A soule to get but thither.
    3. King. Get then thither; you venture none, but saue
    a soule going thither:
    1165The Queene of Babylon rides on a bea st,
    That carries vp seauen heads.
    Camp. Rare.
    3. King. Each head crow'nd. Enter his man like a say-
    Camp. O admirable! ler with rich attires vnder his arme.
    1170 3. King. Shee with her owne hand
    Will fil thee wine out of a golden bowle.
    There's Angels to conduct thee. Get to sea,
    Steale o're, behold, here's one to waft thee hence,
    Take leaue of none, tell none, th'art made, farewell.
    1175 Camp. Thus to meet heauen, who would not wade through hell?
    Exeunt Campeius and Sayler, manet 3. King,
    enter Sayler presently.
    3. King. To flea off this hypocri sie, tis time,
    Lea st worne too long, the Foxes skinne be known:
    1180In our di s s embling now we mu st be braue,
    Make me a courtier: come; A s s es I see,
    In nothing but in trappings, different be
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