Confefs yourselves wondrous malicious, 1 CIT. Well, I'll hear it, fir: yet you must not think to fob off our difgrace with a tale: but, an't please you, deliver. MEN. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :That only like a gulf it did remain I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labour with the reft; where the other inftruments I CIT. Well, fir, what answer made the belly? To the discontented members, the mutinous parts 1 CIT. Your belly's answer: What! MEN. What then? 'Fore me, this fellow fpeaks !-what then? what then? 1 CIT. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the fink o' the body, MEN. Well, what then? 1 CIT. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? MEN. I will tell you; If you'll beftow a fmall (of what you have little,) MEN. Note me this, good friends; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rafh like his accufers, and thus anfwer'd. Even to the court, the heart,-to the feat o' the brain ; The ftrongest nerves, and small inferior veins, Whereby they live: And though that all at once, You, my good friends, (this fays the belly,) mark me, 1 CIT. Ay, fir; well, well. MEN. Though all at once cannot See what I do deliver out to each; What say you to't? MEN. The fenators of Rome are this good belly, But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, I CIT. I the great toe? Why the great toe? MEN. For that being one of the lowest, basest, poorest, But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Hail, noble Marcius! Enter CAIUS MARCIUS. MAR. Thanks.-What's the matter, you diffentious That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves fcabs? I CIT. We have ever your good word. [rogues, 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 trufts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds hares ; Where foxes, geefe : You are no furer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice, you Or hailstone in the fun. Your virtue is, To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him, A fick man's appetite, who defires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Truft ye? With every minute you do change a mind; And call him noble, that was now your hate, What's the matter, Him vile, that was your garland. You cry against the noble senate, who, Under the gods, keep you in awe, which elfe Would feed on one another?What's their feeking? MEN. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they fay, The city is well ftor'd. MAR. Hang'em! They fay? They'll fit by the fire, and prefume to know What's done i'the Capitol: who's like to rife, [out Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give Conjectural marriages; making parties strong, And feebling fuch as ftand not in their liking, Below their cobbled fhoes. They fay, there's grain eWould the nobility lay afide their ruth, [nough? And let me use my fword, I'd make a quarry MEN. Nay, these are almost thoroughly perfuaded; What says the other troop? MAR. They are diffolv'd: Hang 'em! you, They faid, they were an-hungry; figh'd forth proverbs;— And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generofity, And make bold power look pale,) they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'the moon, Shouting their emulation. MEN. What is granted them? MAR. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wifdoms, Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes MEN. This is ftrange. MAR. Go, get you home, you fragments! Enter a MESSENGER. MES. Where's Caius Marcius? MAR. Here: What's the matter? MES. The news is, fir, the Volces are in arms. MAR. I am glad on't; then we shall have means to vent Our musty fuperfluity :-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other SEN 4 TORS; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS. I SEN. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us; The Volces are in arms. MAR. They have a leader, Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't. I fin in envying his nobility; And were I any thing but what I am, I would with me only he. COM. You have fought together. MAR. Were half to half the world by the ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make |