Arts Ed Monologues

Proteus, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 2 Sc 4;Even as one heat another heat expels, Or as one nail by strength drives out another,So the remembrance of my former loveIs by a newer object quite forgotten.Is it mine, or Valentine’s praise,Her true perfection, or my false transgressionThat makes me reasonless to reason thus?She is fair; as so is Julia that I love – That I did love, for now my love is thaw’d;Which, like a waxen image, ‘gainst a fire,Bears no impression of the thing it was.Methinks my zeal to Valentine is cold,And that I love him not as I was wont.O, but I love his lady too too much,And that’s the reason I love him so littleHow shall I dote on her with more advice,That thus without advice begin to love her!‘Tis but her picture I have yet beheld,And that hath dazzled my reason’s light;But when I look on her perfections,There is no reason but I shall be blindIf I can cheque my erring love, I will,If not, to compass her I’ll use my skill.

First folio version:847: Euen as one heate, another heate expels, 848: Or as one naile, by strength driues out another. 849: So the remembrance of my former Loue 850: Is by a newer obiect quite forgotten, 851: It is mine, or Valentines praise? 852: Her true perfection, or my false transgression? 853: That makes me reasonlesse, to reason thus? 854: Shee is faire: and so is Iulia that I loue, 855: (That I did loue, for now my loue is thaw'd, 856: Which like a waxen Image 'gainst a fire 857: Beares no impression of the thing it was.) 858: Me thinkes my zeale to Valentine is cold, 859: And that I loue him not as I was wont: 860: O, but I loue his Lady too-too much, 861: And that's the reason I loue him so little. 862: How shall I doate on her with more aduice, 863: That thus without aduice begin to loue her? 864: 'Tis but her picture I haue yet beheld, 865: And that hath dazel'd my reasons light: 866: But when I looke on her perfections, 867: There is no reason, but I shall be blinde. 868: If I can checke my erring loue, I will, 869: If not, to compasse her Ile vse my skill.

Arts Ed Monologues

Kit, French Without Tears, Terence Rattigan

I was wondering whether I ought to tell you I was sorry for… for what happened last night, or whether I ought to pass it off with a laugh and a shrug of the shoulders… I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell you. You see, last night, when Alan was a bit drunk, he played a stupid practical joke on me. He told me – this is a bit embarrassing, but it’s a good laugh – he told me that you had been madly in love with me for two months. Well, I, being also rather drunk, believed him, and so, as I was feeling rather sentimental, I… kissed you, as you remember, and of course I couldn’t understand why you didn’t fall into my arms and say ‘at last, at last’ or some such rot. However, this morning Alan told me the whole thing had been a joke, and that you were really rather angry with me for – well – spoiling a beautiful friendship, and all that nonsense. So that’s why I thought I’d better apologise.

Konstantin, The Seagull, Anton Chekhov

Nina, I’ve cursed you, I’ve hated you, I’ve torn up your letters and your photographs.