O, were that all! I think not on my father; And these great tears grace...
View Full Monologue TextO, were that all! I think not on my father;
And these great tears grace his remembrance more
Than those I shed for him. What was he like?
I have forgot him: my imagination
Carries no favour in't but Bertram's.
I am undone: there is no living, none,
If Bertram be away. 'Twere all one
That I should love a bright particular star
And think to wed it, he is so above me:
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
The ambition in my love thus plagues itself:
The hind that would be mated by the lion
Must die for love. 'Twas pretty, though plague,
To see him every hour; to sit and draw
His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls,
In our heart's table; heart too capable
Of every line and trick of his sweet favour:
But now he's gone, and my idolatrous fancy
Must sanctify his reliques. Who comes here?
(Enter PAROLLES)
One that goes with him: I love him for his sake;
And yet I know him a notorious liar,
Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;
Yet these fixed evils sit so fit in him,
That they take place, when virtue's steely bones
Look bleak i' the cold wind: withal, full oft we see
Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.
Summary
Helena speaks of her love for Bertram and the pain of loving someone out of her league. At the end of the monologue, Bertram's friend, Parolles, enters. Helena notes Parolles' questionable nature.
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Play
Name: All's Well That Ends Well
Period: Classical
Rating: Suitable for all ages
Copyright Status: Public domain
Men: 12
Women: 6
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Character
Name: Helena
Gender: Female
Age Range: 20s - Early, 20s - Late, 30s - Early
Dialects: Standard American, Standard English
Ethnicities: Unspecified