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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    In their infected waters, (with much loathing,)
    2070Onely that I before you might wring out
    This their corruption, and my selfe make cleere.
    And now (immortall maid) i'me not vnlike
    A casket wherein papers stuft with danger,
    Haue close beene lockt, but those tane out, the che st
    2075Serues to good vse, so may my loyall bre st:
    For from their flintie hearts what sparkes I got,
    Were but to fire themselues.
    Tyta. I praise your plotte,
    You make vs now your debter, but a day
    2080Will come, when we shal pay. My Lord, we want your Arme.
    Pary. Vmh! I feare----
    Tyta: Doctor, weele haue (Sir) other Dialogues. Exeunt.
    Pary. O shallow foole, thou ha st thy selfe vndone,
    Shees hardned and thou melted at one sunne. Exit.
    2085 Enter Como, and the three Kings:
    Como. Our eyes haue lu sted for you, and your presence
    Comes as the light to day, showers to the spring,
    Or health to sicke men.
    3. King. Thankes mo st reuerend Fathers.
    2090 1. King. Our bloud ranne all to water, yea our soules
    Stroue all (at once) t'expire, (when it was blowne
    Hither from Faiery land, that all the darts
    Which ours heere, and your arme deliuered there,
    Fell either short, or lighted vpon yee)
    2095Le st you had lo st bloud in the enterprize.
    3. King. No, I weare stronger Armour: game ster-like
    I sawe the dogges brought forth; and set them on,
    Till the Diuell parted them; but pluckt off none,
    I kept aloofe out of the reach of pawes:
    2100Better to fight with Lions then with lawes.
    What drummes are these?
    2. King. Mu sicke of heauen.
    Como. The dancers reuell in steele.
    1. King. These march to fill our Fleete.
    2105 3. King. From whence weele march with prowd victorious feete,
    And