The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)
Prologue
1 PROLOGVE.
THe Charmes of silence through this Square be throwne,
That an vn-vsde Attention (like a Iewell)
May hang at euery eare, for wee present
5Matter aboue the vulgar Argument:
Yet drawne so liuely, that the weake st eye,
(Through those thin vailes we hang betweene your sight,
And this our peice) may reach the mi stery:
What in it is mo st graue, will mo st delight.
10But as in Lantskip, Townes and Woods appeare
Small a farre off, yet to the Optick sence,
The mind shewes them as great as those more neere;
So, winged Time that long agoe flew hence
You mu st fetch backe, with all those golden yeares
15He stole, and here imagine still hee stands,
Thru sting his siluer locke into your hands.
There hold it but two howres, It shall from Graues
Raize vp the dead: vpon this narrow floore
Swell vp an Ocean, (with an Armed Fleete,)
20And lay the Dragon at a Doues soft feete.
These Wonders sit and see, sending as guides
Your Iudgement, not your passions: passion slides,
When Iudgement goes vpright: for tho the Muse
(Thats thus in spir'de) a Nouell path does tread,
25Shee's free from fooli sh boldnes, or base dread.
Loe; scorne she scornes and Enuies ranckling tooth,
For this is all shee does, she wakens Truth.

The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)