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Shakespeare's Monologues

Helena

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 1, Scene 1

Monologue

How happy some o'er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know: 
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities:
Things base and vile, folding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.

Scored Monologue

10 How happy some o'er others some can be! [Beginning of beat 1] To be spiteful
10 Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. [End of beat 1]
11 But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; [Beginning of beat 2] To loathe
10 He will not know what all but he do know:   
11 And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes, [End of beat 2]
11 So I, admiring of his qualities: [Beginning of beat 3] To idolize 
11 Things base and vile, folding no quantity,  
10 Love can transpose to form and dignity:  
10 Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;  
10 And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:  
10 Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste;  
10 Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste. [End of beat 3 and monologue]

 

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