ACT 2
[Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS]
PORTIA
I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
I tell you, boy, run to the Senate House.
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Don’t wait to answer me, but go there now.
Why dost thou stay?
Why do you stay?
LUCIUS
To know my errand, madam.
To know my errand, madam.
PORTIA
I would have had thee there, and here again,
You could get there and back again before
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
I could tell you what you are going for.
O constancy, be strong upon my side,
Oh strength of mind, stay with me to support me;
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue!
Be like a rock between my heart and tongue.
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
I have a man’s mind but a woman’s strength.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
It is so hard for women to keep secrets!
Art thou here yet?
Are you still here?
LUCIUS
Madam, what should I do?
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
And then return to you, and nothing else?
PORTIA
Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
Yes. Tell me if your master’s looking well,
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
For he was sick when leaving. And observe
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
What Caesar does, and who gets close to him.
Hark, boy! What noise is that?
Hark, boy: what is that noise?
LUCIUS
I hear none, madam.
I hear none, madam.
PORTIA
Prithee, listen well;
Please, listen closely.
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
I heard a bustling noise, like a disturbance,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Blown by the wind from near the Capitol.
LUCIUS
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
I tell the truth, madam, I didn’t hear it.
[Enter the Soothsayer]
PORTIA
Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
Come here, good man. Where have you just come from?
SOOTHSAYER
At mine own house, good lady.
From my own house, my lady.
PORTIA
What is't o'clock?
What’s the time?
SOOTHSAYER
About the ninth hour, lady.
It’s close to nine o’clock.
PORTIA
Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
Has Caesar reached the Capitol by now?
SOOTHSAYER
Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
Madam, not yet. I’m on my way to stand
To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Nearby the Capitol to watch him pass.
PORTIA
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
You have something to ask of Caesar, don’t you?
SOOTHSAYER
That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar
I have, my lady. If it pleases Caesar
To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
To hear the things that I would like to say,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
I will encourage him to be most careful.
PORTIA
Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
Why? Do you know of any threats against him?
SOOTHSAYER
None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
None that I know for sure, but I fear many.
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
Good day to you. The streets round here are narrow.
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
The throng of people on the heels of Caesar,
Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
The senators, the judges, and the crowd,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
Could almost overwhelm a feeble man.
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
I’ll head somewhere where I can find more space,
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
And there I’ll speak to Caesar as he passes.
[Exit]
PORTIA
I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
I must go inside. Oh, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
A woman’s heart is! Oh, my Brutus,
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
May heavens rush you through today’s endeavours!
Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
I’m sure the boy heard me. Brutus desires
That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
A wish that Caesar will not grant. I feel faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Run, Lucius, send my greetings to my lord.
Say I am merry: come to me again,
Tell him I’m happy. Then come back again
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
And tell me all the things he said to you.
[Exeunt severally]
