Julius Caesar, Act 2 Scene 4 runs 50 lines of dialogue, spoken by 3 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 144 lines. This scene is part of Act 2 of Julius Caesar.
Full Dialogue
Portia ♀
I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?
Lucius ♂
To know 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?
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?
Lucius ♂
Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return 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?
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?
Lucius ♂
I hear none, madam.
Portia ♀
Prithee, listen well;
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Lucius ♂
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Portia ♀
Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou 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.
To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Portia ♀
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou 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.
To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Portia ♀
Why, know'st thou 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.
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 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.
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.
50 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Portia | 30 | 60.0% |
| Soothsayer | 14 | 28.0% |
| Lucius | 6 | 12.0% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 30 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
3 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 2
This is Scene 4 of 4 in Act 2 of Julius Caesar.
Scene length vs. play average
At 50 lines, this scene is shorter than the Julius Caesar average scene in Julius Caesar (~144 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 2 Scene 3 · Next: Act 3 Scene 1
About Act 2 Scene 4 of Julius Caesar
Who carries Act 2 Scene 4 of Julius Caesar?
Portia, with 30 lines — about 60% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 3 speakers and the lead holding 60% of the lines, this scene is a showcase for the lead voice.