Confefs yourselves wondrous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I fhall tell you
A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it;
But, fince it ferves my purpose, I will venture
To scale 't a little more.

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
Did fee, and hear, devife, inftruct, walk, feel,
And, mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answered,-

I CIT. Well, fir, what answer made the belly?
MEN. Sir, I fhall tell you. With a kind of fmile,
Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus,
(For, look you, I may make the belly fmile,
As well as fpeak,) it tauntingly reply'd

To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envy'd his receipt; even fo most fitly
As you malign our fenators, for that
They are not fuch as you.

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

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,)
Patience, a while, you'll hear the belly's anfwer.
1 CIT. You are long about it.

MEN. Note me this, good friends;

Your most grave belly was deliberate,

Not rafh like his accufers, and thus anfwer'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 fore-house, and the shop
Of the whole body: But if you do remember,
1fend it through the rivers of your blood,

Even to the court, the heart,-to the feat o' the brain ;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,

The ftrongest 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 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;
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flower of all,
And leave me but the bran.
1 CIT. It was an answer: How apply you this?

What say you to't?

MEN. The fenators of Rome are this good belly,
And you the mutinous members: For examine
Their counfels, and their cares; digeft things rightly,
Touching the weal o' the 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 affembly?

I CIT. I the great toe? Why the great toe?

MEN. For that being one of the lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wife rebellion, thou go'ft foremost :
Thou rascal, that art worft in blood, to run
Lead'ft first, to win fome 'vantage.-

But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs;
Rome and her rats are at the point of battle,
The one fide must have bale.

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,
And curfe that justice did it. Who deferves greatness,
Deferves your hate: and your affections are

A fick man's appetite, who defires most that

Which would increase his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, fwims with fins of lead,

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.
That in these several places of the city

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
With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as high
As I could pick my lance.

MEN. Nay, these are almost thoroughly perfuaded;
For though abundantly they lack discretion,
Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech

What says the other troop?

MAR. They are diffolv'd: Hang 'em!

you,

They faid, they were an-hungry; figh'd forth proverbs;—
That, hunger broke ftone walls; that, dogs must eat;
That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods fent not
Corn for the rich men only :-With these fhreds
They vented their complainings; which being answer'd,

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,
Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'s death!
The rabble should have first unroof'd the city,
Ere fo prevail'd with me: it will in time

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

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