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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Let him be Beria cald, by the Campes name.
    Plai. Thats his name then: Beria, in steede of a Midwife, a Cap-
    taine shall beare him to the Fount, and if there be any women to
    2775followe it, they shal either traile pikes, or shoote in Caliners; who
    would sweate thus to get go s sips for another mans child? but fa-
    thers themselues are guld so sometimes, farewel mi stris. Exit.
    Time, Florimell, Captaines, Souldiers.
    Tita: With roses vs you crowne, your selfe with palme,
    2780 Flor: Had we al woundes, your words are soueraigne balme.
    Tyta: Are those clowds sper st that stroue to dimme our light?
    Flor. And driuen into the gloomie caues of night.
    Tyta: Our handes be heau'd vp for it.
    Time, Therers good cause,
    2785We'are bown'd to doe so by the higher lawes.
    Those roaring Whales came with deuouring wombes
    To swallow vp your kingdomes: fooli sh heires;
    When halfe of them scarce knew where it did stand,
    Vnder what Zenith, did they share your land.
    2790At dice they plaid for Faieries; at each ca st
    A Knight at lea st was lo st : what doe you set?
    This Knight cries one (and names him) no, a Lord
    Or none, tis done, he throwes and sweepes the bord,
    His hatte is fall of Lords vp to the brimme,
    2795The sea threw next at all, won all and him,
    Would you these Game sters see now?
    Fid. See now? where?
    Thei'le scarce see vs, the la st sight co st so deere,
    Ti. Bid you me do it, tis done, Time takes such pride,
    2800To waite on you, heele lackie by your side.
    Those daies of their Arriuall, battaile, flight,
    And ignominious shipwrackes (like lo st Arrowes)
    Are out of reach: of them the world receaues
    But what Times booke shewes turning back the leaues,
    2805But if you'le see this Concubine of Kinges,
    In her maie sticke madnes with her sonnes,
    That houre is now but numbring out in sand,
    These minutes are not yet run through Times hand.
    For