ACT 1
Scene 2

...in servile fearfulness.
Enter Caesar, Antony for the course, Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Soothsayer; after them Marullus and Flavius and Commoners.

...leave him. Pass.
Sennet. All but Brutus and Cassius exit.

...from Brutus.
Enter Caesar and his train.

...think’st of him.
Sennet. Caesar and his train exit but Casca remains behind.

ACT 2
Scene 1

...sleep’st so sound.
Enter Portia.
Brutus, my lord.

...raw cold morning.
Nor for yours neither. You’ve ungently, Brutus,
Stole from my bed. And yesternight at supper
You suddenly arose and walked about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across,
And when I asked you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks.
I urged you further; then you scratched your head
And too impatiently stamped with your foot.
Yet I insisted; yet you answered not,
But with an angry wafture of your hand
Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did,
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seemed too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humor,
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat nor talk nor sleep,
And could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevailed on your condition,
I should not know you Brutus. Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

...that is all.
Brutus is wise and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.

...go to bed.
Is Brutus sick? And is it physical
To walk unbracèd and suck up the humors
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
To dare the vile contagion of the night
And tempt the rheumy and unpurgèd air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus,
You have some sick offense within your mind,
Which by the right and virtue of my place
I ought to know of. She kneels.
And upon my knees
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,
By all your vows of love, and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, your self, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men tonight
Have had resort to you; for here have been
Some six or seven who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

...not, gentle Portia.
He lifts her up.
I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I your self
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus’ harlot, not his wife.

...my sad heart.
If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife.
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman well-reputed, Cato’s daughter.
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so fathered and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose ’em.
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound
Here, in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience,
And not my husband’s secrets?

...me with haste.
Portia exits.

Scene 4

...traitors do contrive.
Enter Portia and Lucius.
I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House.
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
Why dost thou stay?

...my errand, madam.
I would have had thee there and here again
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
Aside.
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?

...and nothing else?
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?

...hear none, madam.
Prithee, listen well.
I heard a bustling rumor like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

...Enter the Soothsayer.
Come hither, fellow. Which way hast thou been?

...house, good lady.
What is ’t o’clock?

...ninth hour, lady.
Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?

...to the Capitol.
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?

...to befriend himself.
Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him?

...he comes along.
I must go in. Aside.
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. To Lucius.
Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. Aside.
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.
They exit separately.