1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accusations; he hath faults, with surplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What shouts are these? The other side o'the city is risen: Why stay we prating 1 here? to the Capitol. All. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here ? Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. 49 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always lov'd the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; Would all the rest were so! Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? Where go you With bats and clubs ? The matter? Speak, I pray you. 2 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll shew 'em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know we have strong arms too. 60 Men. Why, masters, 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 suffering in this dearth, you may as well Strike at the heaven with your staves, as lift them Against the Roman state; whose course will on The 70 The way it takes, cracking ten thousand curbs Thither where more attends you; and you slander 2 Cit. Care for us !-True, indeed!-They ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses cramm'd with grain; make edicts for usury, to support usurers: repeal daily any wholesome act established against the rich; and provide more pier. cing 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. Confess yourselves wondrous malicious, Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it; To scale't a little more. 85 91 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 mem. bers Rebell'd against the belly; thus accus'd it :- I' the midst o' the body, idle and unactive, Like labour with the rest; where the other instru ments Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 100 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 reply'd 109. 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! In this our fabrick, if that they Men. What then? 120 '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. Well, what then? 2 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What 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. 2 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: That I receive the general food at first, Which you do live upon : and fit it is; 130 Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o'the brain; 140 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; 150 2 Cit. It was an answer: 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, 160 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; Enter CAIUS MARCIUS. Mar. Thanks. - What's the matter, you dissentious rogues, That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, 170 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 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 |