Monologue

Agrippina Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

female · dark · 1:58 min

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What, my Gallus! Be lewd Sejanus’ strumpet, or the bawd To Cæsar’s lusts, he now is gone to practise? Not these are safe, where nothing is. Yourself, While thus you stand but by me, are not safe. Was Silius safe? or the good Sosia safe? Or was my niece, dear Claudia Pulchra, safe, Or innocent Furnius? they that latest have (By being made guilty) added reputation To Afer’s eloquence? O, foolish friends, Could not so fresh example warn your loves, But you must buy my favours with that loss Unto yourselves; and when you might perceive That Cæsar’s cause of raging must forsake him, Before his will! Away, good Gallus, leave me. Here to be seen, is danger; to speak, treason: To do me least observance, is call’d faction. You are unhappy in me, and I in all. Where are my sons, Nero and Drusus? We Are they be shot at; let us fall apart; Not in our ruins, sepulchre our friends. Or shall we do some action like offence, To mock their studies that would make us faulty, And frustrate practice by preventing it? The danger’s like: for what they can contrive, They will make good. No innocence is safe, When power contests: nor can they trespass more, Whose only being was all crime before. Enter Nero, Drusus and Caligula.

About this piece

Agrippina expresses her deep concerns about the dangers surrounding her and her family in a politically treacherous environment, warning Gallus of the risks they face.

30s · fear · power · betrayal · family · danger

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