1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at our own price. Is't a verdict?

All. No more talking on't, let't be done: away, a

way.

2 Cit. One word, good Citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor Citizens; the Patricians, good: what authority furfeits on, would relieve us: if they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholfome, we might guess they reliev'd us humane. ly but they think we are too dear: the leanness that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes: for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge.

2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius.

All. Against him first: he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Confider you what services he has done for his country!

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himself with being proud.

All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though foft-confcienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and partly to be proud; which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: you muft in no ways fay he is cove

tous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufa tions; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are thofe the other fide o' th' city is rifen; why ftay we prating here? To the Capitol

All. Come, come.

I Cit. Soft- -who comes here?

tvice is here ufe inaccurately for crime.

SCENE

SCENE II. Enter Menenius Agrippa.

2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people.

1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'would all the reft were fo!

4

Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? where go you,

With bats and clubs! the matter- -Speak, I pray you.

2 Cit. Our bufinefs is not unknown to the fenate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll fhew 'em in deeds: they say, poor fuiters have strong breaths; they fhall know we have trong arms too.

Men. Why, mafters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours,

Will you undo yourselves?

2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, friends, most charitable care
Have the Patricians of you. For your wants,
Your fufferings in this dearth, you may as well
Strike at the heaven with your staves, as lift them
Against the Roman ftate; whofe courfe will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs
Of more strong links asunder, than can ever
Appear in your impediment. For the dearth,
The gods, not the Patricians, make it; and
Your knees to them (not arms) muft help. Alack,
Your are tranfported by calamity

Thither where more attends you; and you
flander
The helms o' th' state, who care for you like fathers,
When you curse them as enemies.

2 Cit. Care for us! -true, indeed!—they ne'er card for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their ftorehoufes cramm'd with grain: make edicts for ufury, to support ufurers; repeal daily any wholesome act efta'blished against the rich, and provide more piercing fla tutes 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

Confefs yourselves wondrous malicious,

Of

Or be accus'd of felly. I fhall tell you
A pretty tale, (it may be you have heard it);
But, fince it ferves my purpose, I will venture
To fcale't* a little more.

2 Cit. Well,

We'll hear it, Sir

—yet you must not think

To fob off our difgraces with a tale :

But, an't please you, deliver.

Men. There was a time, when all the body's members Rebel.'d against the belly; thus recus'd it ;That only, like a gulph, it did remain

I' th' midft o' th' body, idle and unactive,

Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing

Like labour with the ret; where th' other inftruments

Did fee, and bear, devise, inftruct, walk, feel,
And mutually participate, did minifter
Unto the appetite, and affection common
Of the whole body. The belly anfwer'd

2 Cit. Well, Sir, what answer made the belly? en. 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 th' difcontented members, th' mutinous parts,
That envied his receipt; even fo most fitly †,
As you malign our fenators, for that

They are not fuch as you

2 Cit. Your belly's anfwer

-what!

The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,

The counfellor heart, the arm our foldier,
Our feed the leg, the tongue our trumpeter;
With other muniments and petty helps

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 fink o' th' body,

Men. Well,--what then?

2 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer?

weigh, examine, and apply it.
i. e. exactly.

Men.

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. 2 Cit. Y'are long about it.

Men. Note me this, good friend.
Your moft 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 ftorehouse and the fhop
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 th' feat o' th' 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 fays the belly ), mark me—
2 Cil. 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 flow'r of all,

And leave me but the bran. What fay you to't?

2 Cit. It was an answer ;

-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' th' 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
You, the great toe of this affembly!

think?

2 Cit. I the great toe! why, the great toe?

Men. For that being one o' th' lowest, basest, poorest,. Of this most wife rebellion, thou goest foremost:

Thou rafcal, that art worst in blood to run,

Lead'st first, to win fome 'vantage.

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

VOL. VI.

Сс

SCENE

SCENE III. Enter Cauis Marcius.

Hail, Noble Marcius!

Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you diffenfious That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, [rogues, Make yourfelves fcabs?

2 Cit. We have ever your good word.

Mar. He that will give good words to thee, will flatter Beneath abhorring. What would ye have, ye curs, That likes not 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 hailftone in the fun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him,
And curfe that juftice did it. Who deferves greatness,
Deferves your hate; and your affections are

A fick man's appetite, who defires moft that
Which would increafe his evil. He that depends
Upon your favours, fwims with fins of lead,

And hews down oaks with rufhes. 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 the feveral 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?
Nen. For corn at their own rates, whereof they fay
The city is well tor❜d.

Mar. Hang 'em they fay!

:

They'll fit by th' fire, and prefume to know

What's done i' th' Capitol; who's like to rife;

out

Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give
Conjectural marriages; making parties strong,
And feeble fuch as ftand not in their liking,

Below their cobled fhoes. They fay there's grain enough!
Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,
And let me uf. my word. I'd make a quarry

With thousands of thefe quarter'd flaves, as high

Αε