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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2180Is sweete and like the neate and holsome iuyce
    Of the true grape, but tis ranke poyson downe.
    Omn. Haue we not all it ta sted?
    Emp. Nay, vtter all.
    Out of their lips you see flowes naught but gall.
    2185 3. King. What can my breath doe more, to bla st your cheekes,
    And leaue them glowing as red gads of steele?
    My tongue's already bli stred sounding this,
    Yet mu st I whisper to your sacred eare:
    That on your brow (they say) is writ a name
    2190In letters mi sticall, which they interpret
    Confu sion, by great Babylon they meane
    The Citie of Confu sion.
    Emp. View our forhead?
    Where are we printed with such Characters?
    2195Point out these markes: Which of you all can lay
    A finger on that Moale that markes our face?
    3. King. They say you can throw mi sts before our eyes,
    To make vs thinke you faire.
    Omn. Damnd blasphemies.
    2200 Com. You shall with rods of iron scourge these treasons.
    1. King. The Mace is in your hand, grinde them to du st.
    2. King. And let your blowes be sound.
    3. King. For they are iu st.
    Emp. Lets heare with what lowde throats our thunder speakes,
    2205Repeate our vengeance o're, which to beate Kings
    Mu st now flie o're the seas with linnen winges.
    Com. Our Galeons, Galea s s es, Zabraes, Gallies,
    Ships, Pynaces, Pataches, huge Caruiles,
    For number, rib and belly are so great,
    2210That should they want a Sea neere Faiery land
    Of depth to beare them vp, they in their wombs
    Might swim with a sea thither: here are breifes
    Of your imperiall Armies.
    Emp. Reade them lowde:
    2215Thunder ner'e speakes, but the voice crackes a clowde.
    Com. In the fir st Squadron twelue great Galeons:
    Floate