Julius Caesar: Act 2, Scene 4

    tragedy

    Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.

    Scene Summary

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    Portia, increasingly agitated, sends a servant to the Capitol to watch what happens. The soothsayer passes on his way to find a position where Caesar must walk. Portia can barely hold herself together.

    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,
    Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
    O constancy, be strong upon my side,
    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!
    Art thou here yet?
    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
    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,
    And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
    LUCIUS
    Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
    Enter the Soothsayer
    PORTIA
    Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou 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
    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?
    Soothsayer
    That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar
    To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
    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.
    Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
    The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
    Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
    Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
    I'll get me to a place more void, and there
    Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
    Exit
    PORTIA
    I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
    The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
    The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
    Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
    That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
    Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
    Say I am merry: come to me again,
    And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
    Exeunt severally