2 Cit. Well, I'll hear it, Sir: 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

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

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

T' the discontented members, the mutinous parts
That envied his receipt; even so most fitly

As you malign our senators, for that

They are not such as you.

Your belly's answer? What!

2 Cit.
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 fabric, if that they

Men.

'Fore me, this fellow speaks!

-

What then?

what then? what then?

2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,

Who is the sink o' the body,

If you 'll bestow a small (of what you have little)
Patience a while, you'll hear the belly's answer.

2 Cit. Y' 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,
2 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 flour of all,
And leave me but the bran."

2 Cit. It was an answer.

What say you to 't?
How apply you this?

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 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 assembly? -

2 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!

Mar. Thanks.

Enter CAIUS MARCIUS.

What's the matter, you dissentious rogues,

That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,

Make yourselves scabs?

2 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 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
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. 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?

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

The city is well stor❜d.

Mar.

They'll sit by the fire,

Hang 'em! They say?

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 dissolved. Hang 'em!
They said, they were an-hungry; sigh'd forth proverbs,
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 wisdoms;
Of their own choice: one's Junius Brutus,

Sicinius Velutus, and I know not - 'Sdeath!
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.

Mar. Go; get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Here.

Mess. Where 's Caius Marcius?

Mae.

What 's the matter?

Mess. The news is, Sir, the Volsces are in arms.

Mar. I am glad on 't: then, we shall have means to vent

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.

They have a leader,

Mar.
Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to 't.
I sin in envying his nobility;

And were I any thing but what I am,

I would wish me only he.

Com.
Mar. Were half to half the world by th' ears,

You have fought together.

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.

Attend upon Cominius to these wars.

Then, worthy Marcius,

Sir, it is;

Com. It is your former promise.
Mar.
And I am constant. Titus Lartius, thou
Shalt see me once more strike at Tullus' face.
What! art thou stiff? stand'st out?

Tit.

and he

No, Caius Marcius;

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other,
Ere stay behind this business.

Men.

O, true bred!

1 Sen. Your company to the Capitol; where, I know, Our greatest friends attend us.

Tit.

Lead you on:

Follow, Cominius; we must follow you;
Right worthy you priority.

Com.

Noble Marcius!

[To the Citizens. Nay, let them follow.

1 Sen. Hence! To your homes! be gone. Mar. The Volsces have much corn: take these rats thither,