Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 4
Another part of the same street.
The Original
Plain Modern English
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?
Portia
Please, boy, run to the Senate house.
Don't stop to answer me — just go.
Why are you still standing there?
Lucius
To know my errand, madam.
Lucius
To find out 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?
Portia
I'd have had you there and back again
before I could tell you what you're supposed to do there.
Steadiness, stand firmly by me!
Put a huge mountain between my heart and my tongue!
I have a man's mind but a woman's strength.
How hard it is for women to keep a secret! (She means: how hard it is for HER. She is terrified she'll give him away.)
Are you still here?
Lucius
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
Lucius
Madam, what am I to do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing more?
And come back 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?
Portia
Yes — bring me word whether your master looks well,
because he went out unwell. And take careful note
of what Caesar does, and which petitioners crowd around him.
Listen, boy — what's that noise?
Lucius
I hear none, madam.
Lucius
I don't hear anything, madam.
Portia
Prithee, listen well;
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Portia
Please, listen carefully.
I heard a bustling noise, like a fight,
and the wind is carrying it from the Capitol.
Lucius
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Lucius
Truly, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter the Soothsayer.
Portia
Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
Portia
Come here, man. Which way have you come?
Soothsayer
At mine own house, good lady.
Soothsayer
From my own house, good lady.
Portia
What is 't o'clock?
Portia
What time is it?
Soothsayer
About the ninth hour, lady.
Soothsayer
About nine o'clock, madam.
Portia
Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
Portia
Has Caesar gone to the Capitol yet?
Soothsayer
Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Soothsayer
Not yet, madam. I'm going to take up a position
to watch him pass on his way there.
Portia
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
Portia
You have some request for Caesar, don't you?
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.
Soothsayer
I do, madam. If Caesar will be kind enough
to himself to listen to me,
I'll beg him to be his own friend.
Portia
Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
Portia
Do you know of some harm intended against 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.
Soothsayer
None that I know of for certain — much that I fear may happen.
Good morning to you. The street's narrow here.
The crowd that follows at Caesar's heels —
senators, magistrates, ordinary petitioners —
would crush a frail man half to death.
I'll find somewhere emptier, and there
speak to great Caesar as he passes.
Exit Soothsayer.
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.
Portia
I must go inside. Oh — what a weak thing
a woman's heart is! Brutus,
may heaven speed you in your undertaking!
Surely the boy heard me. — Brutus has a request
that Caesar won't grant. — Oh, I feel faint.
Run, Lucius, and give my love to my husband.
Tell him I'm cheerful. Come back to me
and tell me what he says to you.
Exeunt. — End of Act Two.