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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    1725Doe's pull me from your sweet societie,
    Pal. You will to Babylon.
    Pary. I cannot tell;
    Whether I doe or no, you shall haue notice,
    How this great worke goes forward; strengthen mee,
    1730With all your comforts, and commend my seruice
    To the mo st glorious throne: if I get or'e,
    There lands blacke vengeance on the Fairy shore.
    Omn. If prayers can doe it shall. Exeunt.
    Plaine dealing and Truth.
    1735 Pay. But how shall I know, thou art the right truth?
    Tru. Because I am not painted.
    Play. Nay if thou ha st no better coulour then that, ther's no
    trueth in thee, for Im'e sure your faire st wenches are free of
    the painters.
    1740 Tru. Be sides I am not gorgious in attire,
    But simple, plaine and homely; in mine eyes,
    Doues sit, not Sparrowes: on my mode st cheekes,
    No witching smiles doe dwell: vpon my tongue
    No vncha st language lies: my Skins not spotted
    1745With foule disease, as is that common harlot,
    That baseborne trueth, that liues in Babylon.
    Pla. Why? is shee spotted?
    Tru. All ouer, with sttange vglines, all ouer,
    Pla. Then she has got the pox, and lying at my ho st Gryn-
    1750 cums, since I left her company: how soeuer it be thou and I will
    liue hone st togither in one house, because my court mi stris will
    haue it so: I haue beene a Trauailer a great while, plaine dea-
    ling hath lept from country to country, till he had scarce a paire
    of soales to carrie him.
    1755 Tru. Why? in what Countries haue you beene?
    Pla. In more then I had mind to stay in; I haue beene among st
    the Turkes too, the Turkes made as much of poore plaine dea-
    ling, as those whom we call Chri stians.
    Tru. What man is that great Turke? I neuer saw him:
    1760 Par. Nor euer shalt: why the great Turke is a very little fel-
    low; I haue seene a scuruy little bad paltry Chri stian, has beene
    taken for the greate st Turke there.
    Tru. Where had you bin, when now you met with me.
    Play.
    G2
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