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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Com. Ea sie: while st our thunderbolts
    Are anuiling abroad, call Satyran home,
    1495He in his fadome metes va st Argozies,
    Huge Galea s s es, and such wodden Ca stles,
    As by enchantment of the waters moue:
    To his, marry yours and ours; and of them all
    Create a braue Armado, such a fleete,
    1500That may breake Neptunes backe to carry it:
    Such for varietie, number, pui s s ance,
    As may fetch all the Fairie Land in turfes,
    To make a greene for you to walke vpon
    In Babilon.
    1505 1. King. Inuincible! goe on.
    Com. Now when the volley of those murdring shot
    That are to play fir st on Titaniaes brea st,
    And (yet) leane on their re sts, goe off and kill her,
    So that the very Aluerado giuen,
    1510Sounds the lea st hope of conque st; then, then shew
    Your warlike Pageants dancing on the waues,
    Yours is the Land, the Nation are your slaues.
    Omn. Counsell from Heauen!
    Emp. None this shall ouer-whelme:
    1515Braue voyage! Rig out ships, and fetch a Realme.
    Exeunt.
    Parydell and Palmio.
    Pal. You ariue on a ble st shore. The freight you bring
    Is good: it will be bought vp of vs all
    1520With our deere blouds: be con stant, doe not warpe
    In this your zeale to Babilon.
    Paryd. Graue Palmio,
    To you I haue vnladen euen my soule,
    The wings frō home that brought me had sick feathers,
    1525Some you haue puld off: my owne countrey gra s s e
    Was to my feet sharpe needels ( stucke vpright)
    I tread on downe-beds now.
    Pal. But are your countreymen
    (I meane those that in thought with vs fea st richly)
    1530Fed with the course bread of affliction still?
    Paryd. Still father Palmio still, and to relieue them
    I dare
    F3