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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    I dare doe what I told you.
    Pal. Noble valour!
    Pary. So that I might but read on yonder scrolls,
    1535A warrant writ vnder the seale of Heauen,
    To ju stifie the Act.
    Palm. You haue my hand,
    And shall haue more. Y'are reconcil'de (Sonne?)
    Pary. Yes.
    1540 Pal. Who did confe s s e you?
    Pary. Father Anniball.
    Pal. But did the Nuntio Campeggio
    Present your letters, and your vowed seruice
    At Babylon.
    1545 Pary. He did: I sued out warrant
    For pa s s age safely thither: aud from graue Como
    (One of the capitall Columnes of the state)
    This I receiued.
    Palm. He sends you here good welcome:
    1550'Tis strong; why went you not?
    Pary. I like it not:
    There wants a conuoy of some better words,
    Which hourely I expect: vpon a Sea
    So dangerous, so full of rockes, so narrow,
    1555(Albeit the venture holy and of honour)
    I would not gladly sayle, without direction
    Of noble Pilots, home I would not come
    Basely, but like a glorious voyager.
    Enter Ragazzoni.
    1560 Palm. Yea, you do well; the Nuntio Raggazoni!
    Not know him?
    Pary. Certes no.
    Palm. Come, you shall meete:
    Mon signor, here's a Gentleman de sires
    1565To haue your armes about him.---
    Rag. Willingly.
    Palm. He vndertakes an action full of merit,
    Sans promise or reward, to cure all those
    Through Fairie land, that are diseas'd within,
    1570And he will doo't, by letting one veine bloud.
    Ragaz.