Monologue

Arruntius Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

male · dark · 1:46 min

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I would begin to study ’em, if I thought They would secure me. May I pray to Jove In secret and be safe? ay, or aloud, With open wishes, so I do not mention Tiberius or Sejanus? yes, I must, If I speak out. ’Tis hard that. May I think, And not be rack’d? What danger is’t to dream, Talk in one’s sleep, or cough? Who knows the law? May I shake my head without a comment? say It rains, or it holds up, and not be thrown Upon the Gemonies? These now are things, Whereon men’s fortune, yea, their faith depends. Nothing hath privilege ’gainst the violent ear. No place, no day, no hour, we see, is free, Not our religious and most sacred times, From some one kind of cruelty: all matter Nay, all occasion pleaseth. Madmen’s rage, The idleness of drunkards, women’s nothing, Jester’s simplicity, all, all is good That can be catcht at...Nor is now the event Of any person, or for any crime, To be expected; for ’tis always one: Death, with some little difference of place, Or time—What’s this? Prince Nero, guarded! Enter Laco and Nero with Guards.

About this piece

Arruntius grapples with the pervasive danger of speaking freely in a politically charged environment, reflecting on the constant threat of death and the lack of safety in expressing thoughts.

30s · fear · death · power · isolation · fate

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