Julius Caesar :   Act 2, Scene 4


      Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS   
    
      PORTIA   
      I prithee, boy, run to the Senate-house;   
      Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.   
      Why dost thou stay?   
    
      LUCIUS   
                              To know my errand, madam.   
    
      PORTIA   
      I would have had thee there, and here again,   
2.4.5      Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.—   
      O constancy, be strong upon my side,   constancy firmness of mind
      Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!   
      I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.   
      How hard it is for women to keep counsel!   keep counsel keep a secret (Portia is so worried
2.4.10      Art thou here yet?   about Brutus that she's afraid she will reveal
    the secret of his plot against Caesar.)
      LUCIUS   
                              Madam, what should I do?   
      Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?   
      And so return to you, and nothing else?   
    
      PORTIA   
      Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,   
      For he went sickly forth: and take good note   
2.4.15      What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.   
      Hark, boy! what noise is that?   
    
      LUCIUS   
      I hear none, madam.   
    
      PORTIA   
                              Prithee, listen well;   
      I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,   bustling rumour confused clamor | fray brawl
      And the wind brings it from the Capitol.   
    
      LUCIUS   
2.4.20      Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.   Sooth truly
    
      Enter the Soothsayer.   
    
      PORTIA   
      Come hither, fellow; which way hast thou been?   which way hast thou been? where have you just
    been?
      Soothsayer   
      At mine own house, good lady.   
    
      PORTIA   
      What is't o'clock?   
    
      Soothsayer   
                             About the ninth hour, lady.   
    
      PORTIA   
      Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?   
    
      Soothsayer   
2.4.25      Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand,   
      To see him pass on to the Capitol.   
    
      PORTIA   
      Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?   suit to request of
    
      Soothsayer   
      That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar   
      To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,   
2.4.30      I shall beseech him to befriend himself.   
    
      PORTIA   
      Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?   
    
      Soothsayer   
      None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.   chance happen unexpectedly
      Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow;   
      The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,   
2.4.35      Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,   praetors judges | common suitors i.e., the usual
      Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:   crowd of people asking favors
      I'll get me to a place more void, and there   more void less crowded
      Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.   
    
      Exit [Soothsayer].   
    
      PORTIA   
      I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing   
2.4.40      The heart of woman is! O Brutus,   
      The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!   speed thee make you successful
      Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit   Sure, the boy heard me (She's afraid that what she
      That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.   just said will give Lucius a clue about Brutus' plot.)
      Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;   commend me to deliver my greetings to
2.4.45      Say I am merry. Come to me again,   merry in good spirits
      And bring me word what he doth say to thee.   
    
      Exeunt [severally].   severally in different directions