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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Who stood aloofe, heard nothing; and though a bloud
    2440Of courser veines then ours, would haue beene stird
    Into a sea tempe stuous to boyle vp,
    And drowne the Pilate that dur st saile so farre,
    Yet of our princely grace (tho twas not fitte,
    Nor stood with wisdome) did we silence it.
    2445These heaped fauours, not with standing (Doctor)
    Tis in our eare: the hammers lie not still,
    But that new clubs of iron are forging now,
    To bruife our bones, and that your selfe doe knowe,
    The very Anuile where they worke.
    2450 Pari. I.
    Tyta. Heare vs, because tis thought some of those worser spirits,
    And mo st malignant that at midnight rise
    To bla st our Faiery circles by the Moone,
    Are your Familiars.
    2455 Pari: Madam. Tyta: Sir anone.
    Thee therefore I coniure (if not by faith,
    Oathed allegeance, nor thy conscience,
    Perhaps this ranckling vlcerateth them)
    Yet by thy hopes of bli s s e, tell, and tell true,
    2460Who i' st mu st let vs bloud?
    Pary. O vnhappie man;
    That thou should st breathe thus long: mirrour of women,
    I open now my bre st euen to the heart,
    My very soule pants on my lips: none, none,
    2465I know of none.
    Tyta. Well; none: rise and take heede,
    They are no common droppes when Princes bleede.
    What houre is this? does not my larum strike?
    This watch goes false.
    2470 Pari: This watch goes true.
    Tyta: All's naught.----what houre is this?
    Pari. Thy la st houre, O heauens, furder
    The worke you haue begun: where art thou heart?
    Tyta: Oh we see't: Doctor wind vp the wheele, tis downe,
    2475 Pari: Tis downe.
    Tyta: How