Lancelot
How may a man declare the words: “I love you?”
There, ‘tis said! In any company—but hers. O! I am a fool! Who can with armies bandy, but not with words. She invited me to speak! But I-- Like one born dumb, or else more imbecile Could only think in my native French: until A spill of English words erupted—each one More babbling, incoherent than the next—! Give her my cloak and grab it back again? Aye, thou art the soul of chivalry, Du Lac! Thy Mother would know better how to woo her: But the subject of this courtly love was shunned Within the convent walls where I was raised. I learnt to love my God. I learnt to choose: To honour King—protect a Queen-- To let no word of mine abuse another soul, Since every soul is precious to our Lord. And here, I thought, in Camelot my quest For O!,—that long-desired holiness Would triumph with these Knights!... Request the full soliloquy
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From: Act I of The Table Round by Emily C. A. Snyder
Length: 21 lines, ~1-2 minutes About the scene: In this version of the Arthurian legend, Guinevere has yet to arrive at the court of Camelot, and the virginal Lancelot du Lac is actually speaking about the lively Elaine, the Lady of Shalott, with whom he just had a rather awkward encounter. About the verse: As the verse progresses, Lancelot begins to use a considerable amount of interior rhyme as his thoughts become more fluid. This is emphasized with italics, and the actor is encouraged to dance lightly on the rhyme. 
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Orpheus
(Singing.) If I leave my window open tonight,
If I leave my dreams untended And my heart quite undefended; If I leave my window open tonight, Will you rustle through my mem’ries Of things that never were And of her-- And of… (Looking up.) Eurydice? ‘Tis strange, ‘tis more than passing strange: it is Fantastical that I should wonder where… She said she’d come this hour. But what of that. (Singing.) If I leave my window open-- There was a time, I do remember me, Not so very long ago, these waterfalls, These waking slumbers, this pleasant numbness Of never-ending days and daydreams-- Satisfied. Well, she hath ruined that. Calliope! I should not love another. I will be faithful… (Singing.) If I leave my dreams untended-- There is nothing in the girl to warrant this… Confusion! That she’s fair, I grant. I have eyes, Aye, and ears as well. She sings. Would she were mute! She delights absolutely in nonsense. I have tried to put it into rhyme to please her. Why? The songs are foolish. Myself as well. She was naked when first I met her. Months. Naked. And now, I fear, she hath unclothed me to the soul... Request the full soliloquy
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From: Act II of The Seduction of Adonis by Emily C. A. Snyder
Length: 66 lines, ~3 minutes About the scene: Orpheus, a mortal man, has been blessed by the Muse Calliope with the gift of music. In return, he has dedicated his life to his art and his goddess. However, his life has been disrupted by the lively intrusion of the mortal woman, Eurydice, with whom he is developing a...friendship. Yes. Definitely. Friends. About the verse: Since Orpheus is a musician, actors are welcome to hum their own melody on the sung lyrics. This is very conversational verse. Line endings should be respected with words being groped for over the line break. If there's a Benedict feel from Much Ado, you're on the right track! About pronunciation:
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Cupid
Tender me no thanks, thou faithless woman
And more faithless friend. I’ll make an end Of her and ease my mind, then search out Bacchus To hope some wine is left. Now let me see… She will not be reduced to tears by sighs; And should I vow, she’d think it was a lie-- Nor would be wrong; for it’s rare that I am honest. If I flatter her, she’ll take it as a trick, For she thinks more poorly of herself Than ever I could do. Why then, insult her, And let her rage—which is a kind of love-- Consume her ‘til she fall into my bed: A burnt and ashen corpse. That will not do. No counterfeit will woo her, but myself... Request the full soliloquy
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From: Act I of Cupid and Psyche by Emily C. A. Snyder
Length: 19 lines, 1 minute About the scene: Cupid, the cocky god of Love, has just been ordered by his mother to infect the mortal woman, Psyche's heart. However, Psyche proves a greater challenge than most. About the verse: This may be Cupid at his calmest. Although it's technically a soliloquy, his attention is evenly split between the distant Psyche and his allies in the audience. 
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