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 disgrace 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

1

Like labour with the rest; where the other instruments
Did fee, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel,
And mutually participate, did minister
Unto the appetite and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly answered,

1 Cit. Well, fir, 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 fmile,
As well as fpeak,) it tauntingly reply'd

To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envy'd his receipt; even so most fitly

As you malign our fenators, for that

They are not fuch as you.

1 Cit.

Your belly's answer: What!

The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our foldier,
Our feed 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 reftrain'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 bestow a small (of what you 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 accufers, 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 fore-house, and the shop
Of the whole body: But if you do remember,
I fend it through the rivers of your blood,

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

The firongeft nerves, and fmall 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.

What fay you to't?
1 Cit. It was an anfwer? How apply you this?
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 fhall find,
No public 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?

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

Men. For that being one o' the lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wife rebellion, thou go'st foremost:
Thou rafcal, 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 fide must have bale.-Hail, noble Marcius!

Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

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

rogues,

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

1 Cit.

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 trufts to you, Where he should find you lions, finds you hares; Where foxes, geefe: You are no furer, no, Than is the coal of fire upon the ice,

Or hailstone in the fun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whose offence fubdues him,
And curse that justice did it. Who deserves 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?

1

With every minute you do change a mind;
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 feeking?
Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they fay,
The city is well stor’d.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say?
They'll fit by the fire, and presume to know

What's done i' the capitol: who's like to rife,

Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give

out

Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,

And feebling such as stand not in their liking,
Below their cobbled fhoes. They fay, 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 pick my lance.

Men. Nay, these are almost thoroughly perfuaded;
For though abundantly they lack difcretion,

Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What fays the other troop?

Mar.
They are diffolv'd: Hang 'em!
They faid, they were an-hungry; figh'd forth proverbs ;-
That, hunger broke stone walls; that, dogs must eat;
That, meat was made for mouths; that, the gods fent not
Corn for the rich men only :-With these shreds

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 wisdoms,
Of their own choice: One's Junius Brutus,
Sicinius Velutus, and I know not-'s death!
The rabble fhould 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 Meffenger.

Mef. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Here: What's the matter?

Mef. 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 Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS.

1 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 wish me only he.

Com.

You have fought together.

Mar