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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Thy ladder's but thus hie: courage, to kill
    Ten men I should not freeze thus: yet her murder
    2515Cannot be named bloud- shed, for her Faieries
    Are all of faith, and fealty a s s oyled,
    The balme that her annoynted is wa sht off,
    Her crowne is now not hers; vpon the paine
    Of a blacke curse, no more mu st I obey her,
    2520I climbe to heauen by this, climbe then and slay her.
    Tyta. A tyrants strange, but iu st end! --- Reades.
    Ran mad for sleepe, and died Princes that plunge
    Their soules in ranke and godle s s e appetites
    Mu st seeke no re st but in the armes of Sprites.
    2525 Pa. Nothing to read? that (if my nerues should shrink
    And make mine arme reuolt) I might haue colour
    To vsurp this walke of hers: whats this? see, see
    An Angel thru sts this iron into my hand,
    My warrant signd from Babylon to kill her,
    2530Endorsed, the la st will of Paridell. ---- Reade.
    *Le concede sua Benedictione, pleuaria indulgenza,
    * The very wordes of
    Eo remi s sione disuttils peccati---tuttili peccati---
    Cardinal Como his
    All, all my sinnes are paid off, paying this,
    letter sent to Parry.
    Tis done, tis done, All you ble st powers I charme,
    2535Now, now, knit all your sinewes to this arme.
    As he offers to step to her, he staies sodainly, vpon the approch of
    Fidely, Florimel, Parthenophil, Elfiron, the Ladies,
    a Guard, and the Doctors Cozen.
    Omn. You ha proou'd your selfe a loyall gentleman.
    2540 Fid. The hand of Angels guide vs: Shees not heere,
    The Queen's kild; treason: Wenches, raise the Court.
    Omn. Walke seuerall waies fir st.
    Fid. Waies; shees murdered: treason.
    Tyt. Treason; a sword. What traytor dare? who? where?
    2545 Flo. A guard: the damned serpent, see, lurkes heere.
    Fid. Sure heeres some ne st they breed in: paw him fa st,
    This Woolfe, this Toade (marke, he swelles red with poyson,)
    This learned knaue is sworne to murder thee.
    Pari. I defie any man that speakes it.
    Fid. Hah: