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

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 Suiters have strong breaths; they shall know, we have strong arms too.

Men.

Why, Masters, my good Friends, mine honest Neighbours,

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 sufferings 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 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) must help. Alack,
You are transported by Calamity
Thither where more attends you; and you slander
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 car'd for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their Store-houses cramm'd with grain: make Edicts for Usury, to support Usurers; repeal daily any wholesome Act established against the Rich, and provide more piercing 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.

Men.
Either you must
Confess yourselves wond'rous malicious,
Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you
A pretty Tale, (it may be, you have heard it;)
But, since it serves my purpose ^{3 note}

2 Cit.
Well,
I'll hear it, Sir—yet you must not think
To fob off our disgraces 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' th' midst o' th' 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 answer'd—

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
To th' discontented Members, th' mutinous Parts,
That envied his receit; ^{4 note}even so most fitly,
As you malign our Senators, for that
They are not such as you—

2 Cit.
Your belly's answer—what!
The kingly-crowned head, the vigilant eye,
The counsellor heart, the arm our soldier,
Or 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?

2 Cit.
Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd,
Who is the sink o' th' body,—

Men.
Well,—what then?

2 Cit.
The former Agents, if they did complain,
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.
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 th' seat 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 tho' 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 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 Counsels, and their Cares; digest 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 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' th' lowest, basest, poorest,
Of this most wise Rebellion, thou goest 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 ^{5 note}bale.

Previous section

Next section