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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Plies me with wholesome phi sicke; so the Nuntio,
    1650My honored Friend Campeggio makes it cleere,
    That it is lawfull.
    Gent. Where at stick you then?
    Pary. At a small rocke, (a dispensation.)

    Raggazzoni, Palmio, Campeggio, & the Albonoys.

    1655 Gent. You cannot want for hands to helpe you for- (ward:
    In such a noble worke your friends are neere;
    Deere Countriman, my sword, my state, and honor,
    Are for your vse, goe on; and let no heate
    thaw your strong resolution, I shall see you,
    1660Before you take to Sea.
    Pary. You shall.
    Gen. My dewtie.
    Pai. This is the worthy Gentleman, to whome
    I wi sh your loue endeer'de: we haue some conference.
    1665 Pary. Borne Sir in Fairy Land?
    Alba. No marry Sir-An Albanois,
    Pary. Then for proximitie
    Of Countries, let vs enterchange acquaintance,
    I wi sh'd for your embracements, for your name
    1670Is crown'd with titles of integritie,
    Iudgement and Learning: let me vpon their Bases
    Erect a piller, by which Babylon,
    And all we may be strengthned.
    Alba. I pray be apert and plaine.
    1675 Pary. Then thus Sir; by the way of Argument
    I would a que stion put, to ta st your censure,
    Because I doe not soundly reli sh it.
    Alba. Propone it Sir, Ile solue it as I can.
    Pary. Suppose that in the field there were an Army,
    1680Commixt of halfe your kinsfolke, friends, and louers,
    The other halfe sworne foes, (all countrimen;)
    And that the leader of them were your father,
    And that this leading father were so partiall,
    That to preserue that halfe which loues you not,
    1685Ye would loose that which loues you: & that to take
    This
    G