Monologue

Julia Monologue from The Rivals

From The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

female · defiant · 2:19 min

Hold, Faulkland!--that you are free from a crime, which I before feared to name, Heaven knows how sincerely I rejoice! These are tears of thankfulness for that! But that your cruel doubts should have urged you to an imposition that has wrung my heart, gives me now a pang more keen than I can express! (FAULKLAND: By Heavens! Julia----) Yet hear me,--My father loved you, Faulkland! and you preserved the life that tender parent gave me; in his presence I pledged my hand--joyfully pledged it--where before I had given my heart. When, soon after, I lost that parent, it seemed to me that Providence had, in Faulkland, shown me whither to transfer without a pause, my grateful duty, as well as my affection; hence I have been content to bear from you what pride and delicacy would have forbid me from another. I will not upbraid you, by repeating how you have trifled with my sincerity ---- (FAULKLAND: I confess it all! yet hear----) After such a year of trial, I might have flattered myself that I should not have been insulted with a new probation of my sincerity, as cruel as unnecessary! I now see it is not in your nature to be content or confident in love. With this conviction--I never will be yours. While I had hopes that my persevering attention, and unreproaching kindness, might in time reform your temper, I should have been happy to have gained a dearer influence over you; but I will not furnish you with a licensed power to keep alive an incorrigible fault, at the expense of one who never would contend with you.

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