which now we'll fhew 'em in Deeds: they fay, poor Suiters have ftrong Breaths, they fhall know we have strong Arms too.

Men. Why Mafters, my good Friends, mine honest Neighbours, will you undo your felves?

Wants,

2 Cit. We cannot, Sir, we are undone already.
Men. I tell you, Friends, moft charitable care
Have the Patricians of for
your
you:
Your fufferings in this Dearth, you may as well
Strike at the Heav'n with your Staves, as lift them
Against the Roman State; whofe course will on
The way it takes, cracking ten thousand Curbs
Of more ftrong link'd afunder, than can ever
Appear in your Impediment. For the Dearth;
The Gods, not the Patricians, make it; and
Your Knees to them, not Arms, must help. Alack,
You are transported by Calamity

Thither, where more attends you; and you flander
The Helms o'th' State, who care for you, like Fathers,
When you curfe them as Enemies..

2 Cit. Care for us !---True indeed, they ne'er car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famifh, and their Store-honfes cramm'd with Grain: Make Edicts for Ufury, to fupport Ufurers; repeal daily any wholfom Act established against the Rich, and provide more piercing Statutes daily, to chain up and reftrain 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 your felves wond'rous malicious,

Or be accus'd of Folly. 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,

I'll hear it, Sir

-yet you must not think

To fob off our Difgrace with a Tale:

But, and 't pleafe you, deliver.

Men. There was a time when all the Bodies Members

Rebell'd against the Belly; thus accus'd it

That only like a Gulf it did remain

I'th'

I'th' midft o'th' Body, idle and unactive,
Still cupbording the Viand, never bearing

Like Labour with the reft; where th' other Inftruments
Did fee, and hear, devife, 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 anfwer made the Belly?
Men. 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 fimile,
As well as fpeak) it tauntingly reply'd

To the difcontented Members, the mutinous Parts
That envied his Receit; even so most fitly,
As you malign our Senators, for that
They are not fuch as you:

2 Cit. Your Belly's anfwer

-What

The kingly crown'd 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?

What then? what then?

For me this Fellow fpeaks.

2 Cit. Should by the Cormorant Belly be reftrain'd; Who is the fink o'th' Body

2 Cit. The former Agents, if they did complain, What could the Belly anfwer?

Men.. I will tell you,

If you'll beftov a fmall (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 moft grave Belly was deliberate,

Not rafh, like his Accufers, 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-houfe, and the Shop

of

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 ftrongeft Nerves, and fmall 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 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 Flow'r of all,
And leave me but the Bran. What say you to't?
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 Counfels, and their Care; digeft things rightly,
Touching the Weal o'th' Common, you shall find
No publick Benefit which you receive,
But it proceeds or comes from them to you,
And no way from your felves. 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, bafeft, poorest
Of this moft wife Rebellion, thou goeft formoft:
Thou Rafcal, that are worft in Blood to run,
Lead'ft first to win fome vantage.

But make you ready your ftiff Bats and Clubs,
Rome and her Rats are at the point of Battel:
The one fide must have Bail.

Enter Caius Martius.

Hail, Noble Martius.

Mar. Thanks. What's the Matter, you diffentious Rogues? That rubbing the poor itch of your Opinion,

Make your felves 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, ye Curs, That like not Peace, nor War? The one affrights you,

The

་

The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,
Where he should find your Lions, finds your Hares:
Where Foxes, Geefe you are: No furer, no,
Than is the coal of Fire upon the Ice,

Or Hailftone in the Sun. Your Virtue is,

To make him worthy, whofe Offence fubdues him,
And curfe that Juftice, did it.

Who deferves Greatnefs,

Deferves your Hate; and your Affections are

A fick Man's Appetite, who defires most that,

Which would encrease his Evil. He that depends
Upon your Favours, swims with fins of Lead,

And hews down Oaks with Rushes. Hang ye----truft 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 elfe
Would feed on one another? What's their feeking?
Men. For Corn at their own Rates, whereof thy fay,
The City is well ftor'd.

Mar. Hang 'em: Thy fay!

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

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

Who thrives, and who declines: Side Factions, and give out
Conjectural Marriages; making Parties strong,

And feebling fuch as ftand not in their liking,

Below their cobled Shooes. They fay, there's Grain enough!
Would the Nobility lay afide their Ruth,

And let me ufe a Sword, I'd make a Quarry
With thousands of thefe quarter'd Slaves, as high

As I could pitch my Lance.

Men. Nay, thefe are almoft thoroughly perfuaded:

For though abundantly they lack Difcretion,
Yet are they paffing cowardly. But, I beseech you,
What fays the other Troop?

Mar. They are diffolv'd; hang 'em,

They faid they were an hungry, figh'd forth Proverbs;
That Hunger broke Stone Walls - that Dogs muft eat,

That Meat was made for mouths- that the Gods fent not

Corn

Corn for the Rich Men only -With thefe fhreds
They vented their Complainings; which being answer'd,
And a Petition granted them, a ftrange one,

To break the Heart of Generosity,

And make bold Power look pale; they threw their Caps As they would bang them on the Horns o'th' Moon, Suiting 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 knew not----S'death,
The Rabble should have first unrooft the City
Ere fo prevail'd with me; it will in time

Win upon Power, and throw forth greater Themes
For Infurrections arguing.

Men. This is ftrange.

Mar. Go get you home, you Fragments.

Enter a Messenger.

Mef. Where's Caius Martius?

Mar. Here---what's the Matter?

Mef. The News is, Sir, the Volfcies are in Arms. Mar. I am glad on't, then we fhall have means to vent Our mufty fuperfluity. See, our best Elders---Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius, Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

1 Sen. Martius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volfcies are in Arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,

Tullius Aufidius, that will put you to't.
I'fin in envying his Nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,

I could wish me only he.

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.

I Sen. Then worthy Martius,

Attend upon Cominius to thefe Wars.
Cem. It is your former promife.

Mar