Monologue

Tiberius Monologue from Sejanus His Fall

From Sejanus His Fall by Ben Jonson

male · dramatic · 3:01 min

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Leave your courtings. We are in purpose, Macro, to depart The city for a time, and see Campania; Not for our pleasures, but to dedicate A pair of temples, one to Jupiter At Capua; th’ other at Nola, to Augustus: In which great work, perhaps our stay will be Beyond our will produced...Now since we are Not ignorant what danger may be born Out of our shortest absence in a state So subject unto envy, and embroil’d With hate and faction; we have thought on thee, Amongst a field of Romans, worthiest Macro, To be our eye and ear: to keep strict watch On Agrippina, Nero, Drusus; ay, And on Sejanus: not that we distrust His loyalty, or do repent one grace Of all that heap we have conferred on him; For that were to disparage our election, And call that judgment now in doubt, which then Seem’d as unquestion’d as an oracle- But, greatness hath his cankers. Worms and moths Breed out of too much humour, in the things Which after they consume, transferring quite The substance of their makers into themselves. Macro is sharp, and apprehends: besides, I know him subtle, close, wise, and well-read In man, and his large nature; he hath studied Affections, passions, knows their springs, their ends, Which way, and whether they will work: ’tis proof Enough of his great merit, that we trust him. Then to a point, because our conference Cannot be long without suspicion— Here, Macro, we assign thee, both to spy, Inform, and chastise; think, and use thy means, Thy ministers, what, where, on whom thou wilt; Explore, plot, practise: all thou dost in this Shall be, as if the Senate, or the laws Had given it privilege, and thou thence styled The saviour both of Cæsar and of Rome. We will not take thy answer but in act: Whereto, as thou proceed’st, we hope to hear By trusted messengers. If’t be inquired, Wherefore we call’d you, say you have in charge To see our chariots ready, and our horse.— Be still our loved and, shortly, honour’d Macro. (Exit.)

About this piece

Tiberius, the Roman Emperor, is confiding in Macro about his plans to leave the city and the potential dangers of his absence, assigning Macro the task of keeping watch over key figures in the state.

50s · trust · power · betrayal · ambition · loyalty

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