Monologue

Arruntius Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

male · sarcastic · 1:42 min

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Ay, and that we Must give our suffrage to it. You will say, It is to make his fall more steep and grievous: It may be so. But think it, they that can With idle wishes ’say to bring back time: In cases desperate, all hope is crime. See, see! what troops of his officious friends Flock to salute my lord, and start before My great proud lord! to get a lord-like nod! Attend my lord unto the senate-house! Bring back my lord! like servile ushers, make Way for my lord! proclaim his idol lordship, More than ten criers, or six noise of trumpets! Make legs, kiss hands, and take a scatter’d hair From my lord’s eminent shoulder! Sanquinius and Haterius pass over the stage. See, Sanquinius With his slow belly, and his dropsy! look, What toiling haste he makes! yet here’s another Retarded with the gout, will be afore him. Get thee Liburnian porters, thou gross fool, To bear thy obsequious fatness, like thy peers. They are met! the gout returns, and his great carriage. Lictors, Regulus, Trio, Sejanus, Satrius, and many other Senators pass over the stage.

About this piece

Arruntius observes the sycophantic behavior of Sejanus's supporters as they eagerly seek his favor, revealing the political machinations and moral decay surrounding their ambitions.

30s · disgust · power · betrayal · ambition · identity

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