Monologue

Cleopatra Monologue from All for Love

From All for Love by John Dryden

female · anguished · 1:01 min

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How shall I plead my cause, when you, my judge, Already have condemned me? Shall I bring The love you bore me for my advocate? That now is turned against me, that destroys me; For love, once past, is, at the best, forgotten; But oftener sours to hate: 'twill please my lord To ruin me, and therefore I'll be guilty. But, could I once have thought it would have pleased you, That you would pry, with narrow searching eyes, Into my faults, severe to my destruction, And watching all advantages with care, That serve to make me wretched? Speak, my lord, For I end here. Though I deserved this usage, Was it like you to give it?

About this piece

Cleopatra confronts her judge, grappling with feelings of guilt and betrayal as she reflects on the love that has turned against her, questioning the harshness of her fate.

30s · despair · love · betrayal · power · identity

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Run it out loud with a spotlight that follows your voice, line by line, until it's off the page. Free to start, no credit card.

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