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 reply'd

To the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envy'd 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

Men.

What then?

'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what

then?

1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be re

strain'd,

Who is the sink 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;

have little,) Patience, a-while, you'll hear the belly's answer.

If you'll bestow a small (of what you

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 the seat o' the 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

me,

1 Cit. Ay, sir; 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

And leave me but the bran.

flower of all,

What

What say you to't?

How apply you this?

1 Cit. It was an answer: 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' 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 assembly?

1 Cit. I the great toe? Why the great toe?
Men. For that being one o' the 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 dissentious rogues,

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

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 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.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,

And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye?

With

every minute you do change a mind;

And call him noble, that was now your hate,
Him vile, that was your garland.

matter,

That in these several places of the city
You cry against the noble senate, who,

What's the

Under the gods, keep you in awe, which else Would feed on one another?-What's their seek

ing?

Men. For corn at their own rates; whereof, they

say,

The city is well stor❜d.

Mar.

Hang 'em! They say?

They'll sit by the fire, and presume to know What's done i' the Capitol: who's like to rise, 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 pick 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 dissolv'd: 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 emulation.

Men.

What is granted them?

Mar. Five tribunes, to defend their vulgar wis

doms,

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 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,

Here: What's the matter?

Mes. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar.

Mes. 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.