If those but take, I shall. Dull, heavy Cæsar! Wouldst thou tell me, thy favours were made crimes, And that my fortunes were esteem’d thy faults, That thou for me wert hated, and not think I would with winged haste prevent that change, When thou might’st win all to thyself again, By forfeiture of me! Did those fond words Fly swifter from thy lips, than this my brain, This sparkling forge, created me an armour T’ encounter chance and thee? Well, read my charms, And may they lay that hold upon thy senses, As thou hadst snuft up hemlock, or ta’en down The juice of poppy and of mandrakes. Sleep, Voluptuous Cæsar, and security Seize on thy stupid powers, and leave them dead To public cares; awake but to thy lusts, The strength of which makes thy libidinous soul Itch to leave Rome! and I have thrust it on; With blaming of the city business, The multitude of suits, the confluence Of suitors; then their importunacies, The manifold distractions he must suffer, Besides ill-rumours, envies, and reproaches, All which a quiet and retired life, Larded with ease and pleasure, did avoid: And yet for any weighty and great affair, The fittest place to give the soundest counsels. By this I shall remove him both from thought And knowledge of his own most dear affairs; Draw all dispatches through my private hands; Know his designments, and pursue mine own; Make mine own strengths by giving suits and places. Conferring dignities and offices; And these that hate me now, wanting access To him, will make their envy none, or less: For when they see me arbiter of all, They must observe; or else, with Cæsar fall. (Exit.)

Sejanus Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

About this piece

Rehearse Sejanus's monologue

More from Sejanus His Fall

Browse