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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Be full of courage Lordes as ya're in yeares.
    2625For this be sure weele not out-liue our peeres.
    Fid. Weele al liue, but wil fir st haue them bi'th eares.
    Tyta. Goe on, your conduct be the prosperous hand,
    Make you the sea good, weele not loose the land.
    Your Queene will to the field, It shall be said,
    2630Once souldiers to their Captaine had a Maide. Exeunt.
    Truth and Plaine-dealing leading souldiers with drum
    and colours, Time meeting them.
    Time: You sweate well in this harue st.
    Plai: Nay, when we come to binde vp the whore of Babilons
    2635Punckes and Pynaces in sheaues, weele sweate worse.
    Time, Haue you be stowed the other bandes? Tru: I haue.
    Time, Incorporate this to you then: tis the mandate
    Of your Liefetenant Generall. You fight
    In your great Faieries quarrell, and Truthes right,
    2640Stand therefore too't.
    Uolu: I will haue no woundes on my shoulders, I scorn to run,
    Or to cry out of warlike kybes in the heele.
    Time, Goe (thou mo st God-like maide) & buckle on
    The bre st-plates fetcht from thine owne Armoury,
    2645Let euery souldier weare one, on each leader
    Be stowe a guiding- staffe, and a strong shield
    That may as faithfull be to his good sword
    As thou art to his heart: head all the speares
    With gold of Angell-proofe. Sit like a doue
    2650Vpon the Horsmans helme, and on his face
    Fan with thy siluer winges sweete victorie,
    Goe, beate thy drum, that men may know thy march,
    Spread thine owne colours (Truth) so let them shine,
    Souldiers may sweare thei'le follow none but thine. Away.
    2655 Tru. I flie, swift as the winged winges. Exit.
    Play. To day is workiday with me for all I haue my be st clothes
    On, what doe you set me to?
    Time, Goe thou and sweepe tha' buses from the camp.
    Plai. Conscience has left no broomes big enough to doe that (cleane,
    2660 Time: Then purge the tents of all infectious aires.
    Plai. Yonder's
    K2