First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Portia and Lucius. | Enter Portia and Lucius | | JC II.iv.1 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
I prythee Boy, run to the Senate-house, | I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House. | | JC II.iv.1 | |
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. | Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. | | JC II.iv.2 | |
Why doest thou stay? | Why dost thou stay? | | JC II.iv.3.1 | |
Luc. | LUCIUS | | | |
To know my errand Madam. | To know my errand, madam. | | JC II.iv.3.2 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
I would haue had thee there and heere agen | I would have had thee there and here again | | JC II.iv.4 | |
Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there: | Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. | | JC II.iv.5 | |
O Constancie, be strong vpon my side, | O constancy, be strong upon my side; | constancy (n.)fortitude, self-control, steadfastness | JC II.iv.6 | |
Set a huge Mountaine 'tweene my Heart and Tongue: | Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! | | JC II.iv.7 | |
I haue a mans minde, but a womans might: | I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. | | JC II.iv.8 | |
How hard it is for women to keepe counsell. | How hard it is for women to keep counsel! | | JC II.iv.9 | |
Art thou heere yet? | Art thou here yet? | | JC II.iv.10.1 | |
Luc. | LUCIUS | | | |
Madam, what should I do? | Madam, what should I do? | | JC II.iv.10.2 | |
Run to the Capitoll, and nothing else? | Run to the Capitol and nothing else? | Capitol (n.)geographical and ceremonial centre of ancient Rome, the seat of government | JC II.iv.11 | |
And so returne to you, and nothing else? | And so return to you, and nothing else? | | JC II.iv.12 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Yes, bring me word Boy, if thy Lord look well, | Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, | | JC II.iv.13 | |
For he went sickly forth: and take good note | For he went sickly forth; and take good note | | JC II.iv.14 | |
What Casar doth, what Sutors presse to him. | What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him. | press (v.)push forward, thrust, come / go boldly | JC II.iv.15 | |
| | suitor (n.)petitioner, supplicant, entreater | | |
Hearke Boy, what noyse is that? | Hark, boy, what noise is that? | | JC II.iv.16 | |
Luc. | LUCIUS | | | |
I heare none Madam. | I hear none, madam. | | JC II.iv.17.1 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Prythee listen well: | Prithee, listen well; | | JC II.iv.17.2 | |
I heard a bussling Rumor like a Fray, | I heard a bustling rumour like a fray, | rumour (n.)tumult, din, confusion | JC II.iv.18 | |
| | bustling (adj.)confused, agitated, excited | | |
And the winde brings it from the Capitoll. | And the wind brings it from the Capitol. | | JC II.iv.19 | |
Luc. | LUCIUS | | | |
Sooth Madam, I heare nothing. | Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. | sooth (n.)truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] | JC II.iv.20 | |
Enter the Soothsayer. | Enter the Soothsayer | | JC II.iv.21 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Come hither Fellow, which way hast thou bin? | Come hither fellow. Which way hast thou been? | | JC II.iv.21 | |
Sooth. | SOOTHSAYER | | | |
At mine owne house, good Lady. | At mine own house, good lady. | | JC II.iv.22 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
What is't a clocke? | What is't o'clock? | | JC II.iv.23.1 | |
Sooth. | SOOTHSAYER | | | |
About the ninth houre Lady. | About the ninth hour, lady. | | JC II.iv.23.2 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Is Casar yet gone to the Capitoll? | Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol? | | JC II.iv.24 | |
Sooth. | SOOTHSAYER | | | |
Madam not yet, I go to take my stand, | Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, | | JC II.iv.25 | |
To see him passe on to the Capitoll. | To see him pass on to the Capitol. | | JC II.iv.26 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Thou hast some suite to Casar, hast thou not? | Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not? | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | JC II.iv.27 | |
Sooth. | SOOTHSAYER | | | |
That I haue Lady, if it will please Casar | That I have, lady, if it will please Caesar | | JC II.iv.28 | |
To be so good to Casar, as to heare me: | To be so good to Caesar as to hear me: | | JC II.iv.29 | |
I shall beseech him to befriend himselfe. | I shall beseech him to befriend himself. | | JC II.iv.30 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
Why know'st thou any harme's intended towards him? | Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? | | JC II.iv.31 | |
Sooth. | SOOTHSAYER | | | |
None that I know will be, / Much that I feare may chance: | None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. | | JC II.iv.32 | |
Good morrow to you: heere the street is narrow: | Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow; | | JC II.iv.33 | |
The throng that followes Casar at the heeles, | The throng that follows Caesar at the heels, | | JC II.iv.34 | |
Of Senators, of Praetors, common Sutors, | Of senators, of praetors, common suitors, | suitor (n.)petitioner, supplicant, entreater | JC II.iv.35 | |
| | praetor (n.)annually elected chief magistrate | | |
Will crowd a feeble man (almost) to death: | Will crowd a feeble man almost to death; | | JC II.iv.36 | |
Ile get me to a place more voyd, and there | I'll get me to a place more void, and there | void (adj.)uncrowded, unfrequented, roomy | JC II.iv.37 | |
Speake to great Casar as he comes along. | Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. | | JC II.iv.38 | |
Exit | Exit | | JC II.iv.38 | |
Por. | PORTIA | | | |
I must go in: / Aye me! How weake a thing | I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing | | JC II.iv.39 | |
The heart of woman is? O Brutus, | The heart of woman is! O Brutus, | | JC II.iv.40 | |
The Heauens speede thee in thine enterprize. | The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! | | JC II.iv.41 | |
Sure the Boy heard me: Brutus hath a suite | (aside) Sure, the boy heard me. (to Lucius) Brutus hath a suit | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | JC II.iv.42 | |
That Casar will not grant. O, I grow faint: | That Caesar will not grant. (aside) O, I grow faint. | | JC II.iv.43 | |
Run Lucius, and commend me to my Lord, | Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; | commend (v.)convey greetings, present kind regards | JC II.iv.44 | |
Say I am merry; Come to me againe, | Say I am merry; come to me again, | merry (adj.)in good spirits, well | JC II.iv.45 | |
And bring me word what he doth say to thee. | And bring me word what he doth say to thee. | | JC II.iv.46 | |
Exeunt | Exeunt | | JC II.iv.46 | |