Sejanus, his fall Essay Example For Students

Sejanus, his fall Essay A monologue from the play by Ben Jonson NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from Sejanus, His Fall (1603). SEJANUS: If this be not revenge, when I have done And made it perfect, let Egyptian slaves, Parthians, and barefoot Hebrews brand my face, And print my body full of injuries. Thou lost thyself, child Drusus, when thou thoughtst Thou couldst outskip my vengeance, or outstand The power I had to crush thee into air. Thy follies now shall taste what kind of man They have provoked, and this thy fathers house Crack in flame of my incensed rage, Whose fury shall admit no shame or mean. Adultery? It is the lightest ill I will commit. A race of wicked acts Shall flow out of my anger, and oerspread The worlds wide face, which no posterity Shall eer approve, nor yet keep silent; things That for their cunning, close, and cruel marks, Thy father would wish his, and shall, perhaps, Carry the empty name, but we the prize. On, then, my soul, and start not in thy course; Though heavn drop sulphur, and hell belch out fire, Laugh at the idle terrors. Tell proud Jove, Between his power and thine there is no odds. Twas only fear first in the world made gods.