You are transported by calamity. Thither where more attends you; and you slander The helms o' the state, who care for you like fathers, When you curse them as enemies. 2 Cit. Care for us?-True, indeed!-They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their store. houses crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich, and provide more piercing statutes daily to chain up and restrain the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and there's all the love they bear us. 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; 2 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, sir: yet you must not 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 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 rest; where th' other instruments 2 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 As you malign our senators, for that They are not such as you. 2 Cit. Your belly's answer? What! The kingly crowned head, the vigilant eye, 1 Theobald reads: stale. The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier, In this our fabric, if that they— Men. What then? 'Fore me, this fellow speaks !-what then? what then? 2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain❜d, Who is the sink o' the body, Men. 2 Cit. The former agents, if What could the belly answer? Men. Well, what then? they did complain, I will tell you, If you'll bestow a small (of what you have little) Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd :— Because I am the store-house, and the shop Men. แ 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 flour of all, And leave me but the bran." What say you to 't? But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 1 to the seat o' the brain in f. e. 2 cranks: in f. e. And no way from yourselves.-What do you think, 2 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe? But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs, Mar. Thanks.-What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 2 Cit. We have ever your good word. Mar. He that will give good words to ye, 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 to 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 suddues him, And curse that justice did it. Who deserves greatness, Deserves your hate; and your affections are A sick man's appetite, who desires most that Which would increase his evil. He that depends And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust 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? Mar. 1 Evil. 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' Men. Nay, these are all most 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 answer'd, And a petition granted them, a strange one, (To break the heart of generosity, And make bold power look pale) they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o' the moon, Shouting their exultation*. 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-'Sdeath! Win upon power, and throw forth greater themes Men. This is strange. Mar. Go; get you home, you fragments! Enter a Messenger. Here. What 's the matter? Mess. Where 's Caius Marcius? Mar. Mess. The news is, sir, the Volsces are in arms. Mar. I am glad on 't: then, we shall have means to vent 1 Heap of dead game. 2 Throw. 3 almost: in f. e. 4 emulation: in f. e. Our musty superfluity.-See, our best elders. Enter COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS, and other Senators; JUNIUS BRUTUS, and SICINIUS VELUTUS. 1 Sen. Marcius, 't is true that you have lately told us ; The Volsces are in arms. Mar. I sin in envying his nobility, And, were I any thing but what I am, Com. You have fought together. Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears, and he Upon my party, I'd revolt, to make Only my wars with him: he is a lion That I am proud to hunt. 1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius, Attend upon Cominius to these wars. Mar. Tit. Men. 1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us. Tit. O, true bred! Lead you on: Noble Marcius! Follow, Cominius; we must follow you, Right worthy your priority. Com. 1 Sen. Hence! To your homes! be gone. Mar. [To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow. The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither, To gnaw their garners.-Worshipful mutineers, Your valour puts well forth: pray, follow. [Exeunt Senators, COM. MAR. TIT. and MENEN. Sic. Was ever man so proud as is this Marcius? Sic. When we were chosen tribunes for the people,- |