Monologue

Sejanus Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

male · defiant · 1:21 min

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Honest and worthy Macro; Your love and friendship. (Exit Macro.) —Who’s there? Satrius, Attend my honourable friend forth.—O! How vain and vile a passion is this fear, What base uncomely things it makes men do! Suspect their noblest friends, as I did this, Flatter poor enemies, entreat their servants, Stoop, court, and catch at the benevolence Of creatures, unto whom, within this hour, I would not have vouchsafed a quarter-look, Or piece of face! By you that fools call gods, Hang all the sky with your prodigious signs, Fill earth with monsters, drop the scorpion down, Out of the zodiac, or the fiercer lion, Shake off the loosen’d globe from her long hinge, Roll all the world in darkness, and let loose The enraged winds to turn up groves and towns! When I do fear again, let me be struck With forked fire, and unpitied die: Who fears, is worthy of calamity. (Exit.)

About this piece

Sejanus grapples with his fear and the unseemly actions it compels him to take, reflecting on the nature of friendship and loyalty in a treacherous political landscape.

30s · fear · power · betrayal · honor

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