Julius Caesar

Act 2, Scene 4

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

Listen to Act 2. LibriVox volunteers recorded “ACt II” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.

PORTIA

I , boy, run to the Senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get gone.
Why stay?

LUCIUS

To know my errand, madam.

PORTIA

I would have had there and here again,
I can tell what 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 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 lord look well,
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Caesar , what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy, what noise is that?

LUCIUS

I hear none, madam.

PORTIA

, listen well.
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

LUCIUS

Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

PORTIA

Come , fellow:
Which way 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

some suit to Caesar, 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 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.

PORTIA

I must go in.
Ay me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
The heavens speed in enterprise!
Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus 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 say to .

All of Julius Caesar

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1Act 1, Scene 2Act 1, Scene 3,

Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1Act 2, Scene 2Act 2, Scene 3Act 2, Scene 4,

Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1Act 3, Scene 2Act 3, Scene 3,

Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1Act 4, Scene 2Act 4, Scene 3,

Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1Act 5, Scene 2Act 5, Scene 3Act 5, Scene 4Act 5, Scene 5

Open Julius Caesar in the 1623 First Folio. See its words in the cloud.

Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.