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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    1995 Florimell, Fideli, Ropus.
    Tyta: Sure 'tis too hot. Fid: Oh roague!
    Tyta: Set it to coole.
    Fid: Hell and damnation, Diuels,
    Flor: What's that?
    2000 Fid: The damned' st treason! Dog: you whorsen dog;
    O ble s s ed mayd: let not the toad come neere her:
    What's this? If't be his brewing, touch it not---
    For 'tis a drench to kill the stronge st Deuill,
    That's Druncke all day with brim stone: come sucke, Weezell,
    2005Sucke your owne teat, you--- pray;
    Thou art preseru'd.
    Tyta: From what? From whome?
    Fid: Looke to that Gli ster-pipe:
    One crowne doe's serue thy tourne, but heere's a theefe,
    2010That mu st haue 50000. crownes to steale
    Thy life: Here 'tis in blacke and white--thy life,
    Sirra thou Vrinall, Tynoco, Gama,
    Andrada, and Ibarra, names of Diuels,
    Or names to fetch vp Diuels: thou knowe st these Scar-crowes.
    2015 Rop: Oh mee! O mercy, mercy! I confe s s e.
    Fid: Well sayd, thou shalt be hang'd then.
    Tyta: Haue we for this Shee reades the letter,
    Heap'd fauours on thee.
    Fid: Heape halters on him: call the Guard: out polecat: Enter Gard.
    2020He smels, thy conscience stincks Doctor goe purge
    Thy soule, for 'tis diseas'd. Away with Ropus.
    Omu. Away with him: foh.
    Rop: Here my tale but out.
    Fid: Ther's too muchout already.
    2025 Fid: On me accursed! and mo st miserable. Exit with Guard.
    Tyta: Goodnes of vertue! is my bloud so sweet,
    That they would pay so deere for't Fid: To sucke Lambes,
    What would not Wolues doe, he that this paper writte,
    Had neuer meaning we should finger it.
    2030 Tyta: Our a mercy makes them cruell, hunt out these Leopards:
    Their own spots will betray them: they build caues
    Euen