Monologue

Clown Monologue from The Harlequinade: An Excursion

From The Harlequinade: An Excursion by Dion Clayton Calthrop

male · dramatic · 2:24 min

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There's more to come. The night before the wedding was to be... last night as ever was... if Sir Jeffrey didn't win at cards a cool fifteen thousand from the same poor fool. And this very morning, off have the precious couple gone! Married by this, begad they are; he with his pockets lined, she free of her Jews. It'll be all over town in an hour. And the fool fop is dressing for his wedding! Now did ever you hear the like of that? [There is silence in the other room. I say, did ever you hear the like of that? Is your master there, Quin? (HARLEQUIN: To some extent he is, Sir George.) Gad, let me think a minute... though the wine's in my head. What sum did you lose to Sir Jeffrey last night? Your bride's name was Clarissa.... I heard it. And Clarissa Mordaunt's the name of that fine lady. Odds, Bobs and Buttons! You're not the fool fop, Eglantine, are you? [Is it Eglantine who enters? There stands something for a moment a dead thing dressed in a bridegroom's splendour. It is as if some ice-cold hand had plucked at his heart. Yet he is calm; the poise remains true, the subtle artifice is there. But the crushing blow to his pride is in his pale face, and his voice rings bitterly when he says: (EGLANTINE: I was.) I'm sorry. I might have guessed. I mean, of course I couldn't have guessed... that any man would be such a fool... I mean... oh, gad, I...

About this piece

20s · sadness · betrayal · identity · love · pride

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