Monologue

Urs Monologue from Bartholomew Fair

From Bartholomew Fair by Ben Jonson

male · comedic · 1:50 min

Rehearse this freeFind more monologues
How can I hope that ever he'll discharge his place of trust, tapster, a man of reckoning under me, that remembers nothing I say to him? (Exit Nightingale.) but look to't, sirrah, you were best. Three-pence a pipe-full, I will have made, of all my whole half-pound of tobacco, and a quarter of pound of colt's-foot mixt with it too, to itch it out. I that have dealt so long in the fire, will not be to seek in smoke, now. Then six and twenty shillings a barrel I will advance on my beer, and fifty shillings a hundred on my bottle-ale; I have told you the ways how to raise it. Froth your cans well in the filling, at length, rogue, and jog your bottles o' the buttock, sirrah, then skink out the first glass ever, and drink with all companies, though you be sure to be drunk; you'll misreckon the better, and be less ashamed on't. But your true trick, rascal, must be, to be ever busy, and mistake away the bottles and cans, in haste, before they be half drunk off, and never hear any body call, (if they should chance to mark you,) till you have brought fresh, and be able to forswear them. Give me a drink of ale.

About this piece

Urs expresses frustration and determination as he instructs a tapster on how to manage the bar, revealing his ambition and the chaotic environment of the fair.

30s · anger · power · ambition · identity · betrayal

Rehearse Urs's monologue

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.

Rehearse freeStart rehearsing

More from Bartholomew Fair

  • Booksarcastic · 1:31 min
  • Litcomedic · 2:21 min
  • Litcomedic · 1:26 min
  • Litcomedic · 1:10 min
  • Quarsarcastic · 4:10 min
  • Quarsarcastic · 1:19 min

Browse