SejanusOne of Jonson’s greatest plays, Sejanus, has seldom been edited, and is here published, with full notes and introduction, for the first time since 1911. Mr. Barish shows that Jonsonian tragedy can be understood and appreciated only by clearing the mind of Shakespearean preconceptions. The present edition makes the play available in a modernized text, explanatory notes gloss obscure phrases ignored by previous editors, and critical notes contain extracts in English translation of the portions of Tacitus on which Jonson based his plot. The critical introduction analyzes Jonson’s technique of metamorphosing history into poetry. Yale Ben Jonson, 3. Mr. Barish is associate professor of English at the University of California. |
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accusers action Afer Agrippina Annals Arruntius Augustus Ben Jonson bounty Brutus Caesar Caius Silius Caligula Cassius Catiline characters consul Cotta Cremutius Cordus crimes danger death dignity doth dramatic Drusus edition emperor Enter Eudemus evil Exeunt Exit fate fathers favors fear flatter Folio fortune friends gainst Gallus Germanicus give gods grace Grant guard hate Haterius hath hence Herford and Simpson honor hope innocence Jonson Jove Laco lady Latiaris Lepidus Lictores live Livia Livilla look lord lordship Macro Marcus Marcus Lepidus Minutius Natta Nero noble notes numbers Opsius play plot Pompey's Pompey's theater Pomponius Posthumus Praeco praise present prince Quarto rage Regulus Roman Rome Sabinus Sacrovir Sanquinius Satrius scene Sejanus Senate Silius slave Sosia speak Suetonius Tacitus tell Terentius thee things thou thought Tiberius tragedy treason Trio trust unto Varro virtue wife worthy