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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Would streigten all.--- you find the contrarie.
    1260 Empe. What followes?
    1. Card. Sharp cha stizment, leaue the Mother
    And be the steptdame; wanton her no more
    On your Indulgent knee, signe no more pardons
    To her Off-fallings and her flyings out,
    1265But let it be a meritorious Act:
    Make it a ladder for the soule to climbe,
    Lift from the hindges all the gates of heauen;
    To make way for him that shall kill her.
    Omnes. Good.
    1270 1. Card. Giue him an office in yon Starr-chamber,
    Or els a Saints place and Canonize him;
    So Sanctifie the arme that takes her life,
    That sylly soules may go on pilgrimage,
    Only to ki s s e the In strument (that strikes)
    1275As a mo st reuerent relique.
    Empe. Be it so.
    1. King. In that one word she expires
    Empe. Her fayrie Lordes
    (That play the Pilots nowe, and steere her kingdome
    1280In fowle st weather) as white bearded corne
    Bowes his proud head before th'imperiall windes,
    Shall soly groueling (heere) when that day comes.
    1. Ki. And that it shall come fates thēselues prepare.
    Emp. True, but old Lyons hardly fall into the snare.
    1285 1. King. Is not the good and politique Satyran
    (Our leagued brother, and your va s s aile sworne)
    Euen now (this very minute) sucking close
    Their faire st bosomes? if his traynes take well:
    They haue strange workings (down-wards) into hel.
    1290 Emp. That Satiran is this hand: his braines a forge
    Still working for ys he's the trew set clocke
    By which we goe, and of our houres doth keepe
    The numbred strokes, when we lye bound in sleepe.
    1. Card. Be sides such voluntaries as will serue
    1295Vnder your holy cullors and forsake
    The Fairie standard, all such fugitiues
    Whose heartes are Babylonized: all the Mutiners
    All