Lysander Monologues

From: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Casting type notes: Male, 20s-30s. Lysander is typically the softer of the two leading men and a bit of a romantic (one of his lines is the famous, “the course of true love never did run smooth”). He is often played by a friendly, guy-next-door type.

Act 1, Scene 1

You have her father's love, Demetrius;
Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him.
…
I am, my lord, as well derived as he,
As well possess'd; my love is more than his;
My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,
If not with vantage, as Demetrius';
And, which is more than all these boasts can be,
I am beloved of beauteous Hermia:
Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,
Upon this spotted and inconstant man.