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    Not Peer Reviewed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.


    Empre s s e of Babylon: her Canopie supported by 4. Cardinals: 2. persons in
    55 Pontificall roabes on either hand, the one bearing a sword, the other the
    keies: before her 3. Kings crowned, behinde her Friers, &c.

    Empr. THat we, in pompe, in peace, in god-like splendor,
    With adoration of all dazeled eies,
    Should breath thus long, and grow so full of daies,
    60Be fruitfull as the Vine, in sonnes and daughters,
    (All Emperors, Kings, and Queenes) that (like to Cedars
    Vpri sing from the breas st of Lybanus,
    Or Oliues nur st vp by Ierusalem)
    Heightened our glories, whil st we held vp them:
    65That this va st Globe Terre striall should be cantled,
    And almo st three parts ours, and that the nations,
    Who su spiration draw out of this aire,
    With vniuersall Aues, showtes, and cries,
    Should vs acknowledge to be head supreame
    70To this great body (for a world of yeares:)
    Yet now, when we had made our Crowne compleat,
    And clos'd it strongly with a triple arch,
    And had inrich'd it with those pretious jewels
    Few Princes euer see (white haires) euen now
    75Our greatne s s e hangs in ballance, and the stampe
    Of our true Soueraignty, clipt, and abas'd.
    1. King. By whom dread Empre s s e?
    Emp. Aske these holy Fathers:
    Aske those our out-ca st sonnes: a throne vsurped
    Our