William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act II. Scene IV.Julius Cæsar
Por.I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
Why dost thou stay?
Luc.To know my errand, madam.
Por.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?
Luc.Madam, what shall I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
Por.Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
For he went sickly forth; and take good note
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?
Luc.I hear none, madam.
Por.Prithee, listen well:
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc.Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Por.Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been?
Sooth.At mine own house, good lady.
Por.What is ’t o’clock?
Sooth.About the ninth hour, lady.
Por.Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?
Sooth.Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Por.Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?
Sooth.That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar
To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Por.Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him?
Sooth.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 Cæsar at the heels,
Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along.[Exit.
Por.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 Cæsar 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.