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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Till their great bellies be deliuered
    2255On the soft Faiery shoares: captiue their Queene,
    That we may thus take off her crowne, whil st she
    Kneeles to these glorious wonders, or be trampled
    To death for her contempt: burne, batter, kill,
    Blow vp, pull downe, ruine all, let not white haires,
    2260Nor red cheekes blunt your wrath, snatch babes from bre sts,
    And when they crie for milke, let them sucke bloud,
    Turne all their fieldes to lakes of gellyed goare,
    That Sea-men one day sayling by the land
    May say, there Faiery kingdome once did stand.
    2265 Omn. They shall. 3. King: Tis done already.
    Emp: To be sure
    You all are ours, bow and adore the bea st,
    On whome we ride.
    Omn. We fall beneath his feete.
    2270 Emp: Be ble st, obedience is in sonnes mo st sweete,
    O strange, to you he stoopes as you before him,
    Humility, he bowes whil st you adore him:
    To kindle lu stie fires in all your bloud,
    A health to all, and as our cup goes rownd,
    2275Draw neere, weele marke you for our chosen flocke,
    Who buildes on heartes confirmd, buildes on a rocke:
    The seale of heauen! who on their foreheads weare it,
    We choose for counsaile: on their hands who beare it,
    We marke for Action: Heere, a health to all.
    2280 Omn. Braue health! to pledge it, see Kings pro strate fall. Kneele.
    Emp: On: All: On:
    3. King. Sing warre thy lowd and loftie st notes.
    We winne; our ships meete none but fi sher-boates. Exeunt.
    Enter Paridell and his kinsman.
    2285 Pari: What if I shewe you a foundation,
    Firme as earthes fixed Center? a strong warrant,
    To strike the head off, an Iniunction
    That bids me doo't: A dispensation
    For what I doe: A pardon sign'd, that giues
    2290Indulgence plenarie, and full remi s sion
    (For
    I