Men. Either you must

Confess yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you

A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it;
But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To scale't a little more.'

2

1 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must think to fob off our disgraces with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver.

Men. There was a time, when all the body's memRebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it: [bers That only like a gulf it did remain

I' th' midst o' th' body, idle and inactive,
Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

-7

[ments

Like labour with the rest; where3 th' other instru-
Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body.5 The belly answer'd,-

6

1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile, Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus, (For, look you, I may make the belly smile, As well as speak,) it tauntingly replied

To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly,"
As you malign our senators, for that

They are not such as you.

1 Cit.

Your belly's answer: What! The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye, The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, Our steed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter, With other muniments and petty helps In this our fabrick, if that they

To scale, to disperse.

3 where, for whereas.

2 i. e. hardships, injuries. participate, for participating.

5 The common appetites and affections of the whole body. 6 A smile not indicating pleasure, but contempt.

7 fitly, that is, exactly.

Men.

What then?

'Fore me, this fellow speaks !—what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o' th' body,

Men.

Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer?

Men.

I will tell you;

you

If you'll bestow a small (of what have little,)
Patience, a while, you'll hear the belly's answer.
1 Cit. You are long about it.
Men.

Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate,

Not rash, like his accusers, and thus answer'd.
True is it, my incorporate friends, quoth he,
That I receive the general food at first,
Which you do live upon: and fit it is;
Because I am the store-house, and the shop
Of the whole body: But if you do remember,
I send it through the rivers of your blood,

Even to the court, the heart,—to th' seat o' th' brain;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins,
From me receive that natural competency

Whereby they live: And though that all at once,
You, my good friends, (this says the belly,) mark

Though all at once cannot,

See what I do deliver out to each;
Yet I can make my audit up, that all

From me do back receive the flower of all.
What say you to't?

1 Cit. It was an answer: How apply you this? Men. The senators of Rome are this good belly, And you the mutinous members: For examine Their counsels, and their cares; digest things rightly, Touching the weal o' th' common; you shall find, No publick benefit which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,
And no way from yourselves.-What do you think?
You, the great toe of this assembly?----

1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe?

Men. For that being one o' th' lowest, basest,
poorest,

Of this most wise rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage.—

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,

The one side must have bale.-Hail, noble Marcius!
Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you

rogues,

That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make yourselves scabs?

1 Cit.

dissentious

We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will

flatter

Beneath abhorring.-What would you have, you curs,
That like nor peace, nor war? the one affrights you,
The other makes you proud. He that trusts you,
Where he should find you lions, finds you hares;
Where foxes, geese: You are no surer, no,
Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the sun. Your virtue is,
To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves great-
Deserves your hate and your affections are

A sick man's appetite, who desires most that
Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, swims with fins of lead,

[ness

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust With every minute you do change a mind;

An old Saxon word, for misery or calamity.
And rail at justice, that punished him.

[ye?

And call him noble, that was now your hate,

Him vile, that was your garland. What's the matter, That in these several places of the city

You cry against the noble senate, who,

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else

Would feed on one another?-What's their seeking? Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they The city is well stor❜d.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say? They'll sit by th' fire, and presume to know

What's done i' th' Capitol who's like to rise,

:

[say,

Who thrives, and who declines; side factions, and give out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feebling' such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled shoes. They say, there's grain
enough?

Would the nobility lay aside their ruth,"
And let me use my sword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick3 my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly persuaded;
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they passing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What says the other troop?

Mar.

They are dissolved: Hang 'em! They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth pro

verbs;

That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat; That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods sent

not

Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds
They vented their complainings; which being an-
And a petition granted them, a strange one, [swer'd,
(To break the heart of generosity,*

3 i. e. pitch it.

• To give the final blow to the nobles-Generosity, for high birth.

And make bold power look pale,) they threw their

caps,

As they would hang them on the horns o' th' moon, Shouting their emulation.

Men.

[doms,

What is granted them?
Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wis-
Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'Sdeath!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Ere so prevail'd with me: It will in time

Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes
For insurrection's arguing.'

Men.

This is strange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here: What's the matter?

Mess. The news is, sir, the Volces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to

vent

Our musty superfluity :-See, our best elders.

Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told The Volces are in arms.

Mar.
They have a leader,
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I sin in envying his nobility:

And were I anything but what I am,

I would wish me only he.

Com.

[us!

You have fought together.

[he

Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make

Only my wars with him: he is a lion

That I am proud to hunt.

'For insurgents to debate upon.