Monologue

Sejanus Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

male · sarcastic · 1:46 min

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What excellent fools Religion makes of men! Believes Terentius, If these were dangers, as I shame to think them, The gods could change the certain course of fate! Or, if they could they would, now in a moment, For a beeve’s fat, or less, be bribed to invert Those long decrees? Then think the gods, like flies, Are to be taken with the steam of flesh, Or blood, diffused about their altars: think Their power as cheap as I esteem it small.— Of all the throng that fill th’ Olympian hall, And, without pity, lade poor Atlas’ back, I know not that one deity, but Fortune, To whom I would throw up, in begging smoke, One grain of incense; or whose ear I’d buy With thus much oil. Her I, indeed, adore; And keep her grateful image in my house, Sometime belonging to a Roman king. But now call’d mine, as by the better style: To her I care not, if, for satisfying Your scrupulous phant’sies, I go offer. Bid Our priest prepare us honey, milk, and poppy, His masculine odours, and night-vestments: say, Our rites are instant; which perform’d, you’ll see How vain, and worthy laughter, your fears be. (Exeunt.)

About this piece

Sejanus expresses his disdain for the gods and the foolishness of religious beliefs, revealing his preference for Fortune over divine powers while preparing for a ritual that he views as trivial.

40s · disgust · power · fate · religion · ambition

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