ACT II - SCENE IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of BRUTUS.
Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS
PORTIA
1 I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; 2 Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: 3 Why dost thou stay?
LUCIUS
4 To know my errand, madam.
PORTIA
5 I would have had thee there, and here again, 6 Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. 7 O constancy, be strong upon my side, 8 Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! 9 I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. 10 How hard it is for women to keep counsel! 11 Art thou here yet?
LUCIUS
12 Madam, what should I do? 13 Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? 14 And so return to you, and nothing else?
PORTIA
15 Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, 16 For he went sickly forth: and take good note 17 What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him. 18 Hark, boy! what noise is that?
LUCIUS
19 I hear none, madam.
PORTIA
20 Prithee, listen well; 21 I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, 22 And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
LUCIUS
23 Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter the Soothsayer
PORTIA
24 Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
Soothsayer
25 At mine own house, good lady.
PORTIA
26 What is't o'clock?
Soothsayer
27 About the ninth hour, lady.
PORTIA
28 Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
Soothsayer
29 Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand, 30 To see him pass on to the Capitol.
PORTIA
31 Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
Soothsayer
32 That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar 33 To be so good to Caesar as to hear me, 34 I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
PORTIA
35 Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
Soothsayer
36 None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. 37 Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: 38 The throng that follows Caesar at the heels, 39 Of senators, of praetors, common suitors, 40 Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: 41 I'll get me to a place more void, and there 42 Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
Exit
PORTIA
43 I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing 44 The heart of woman is! O Brutus, 45 The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! 46 Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit 47 That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint. 48 Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; 49 Say I am merry: come to me again, 50 And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
