With other muniments and petty helps

In this our fabrick, if that they

Men. What then? What then? what then?

'Fore me, this fellow speaks.

2 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be reftrain'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 beftow 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 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 ftore-house, and the hop
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 tho' 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 fay you to't?

2 Cit. It was an answer;

And

how apply you this?

Men. The Senators of Rome are this good belly, you the mutinous Members; for examine Their Counfels, and their Cares; digeft things rightly, Touching the weal o'th' Common; you shall find,

No

No publick benefit, which you receive,

But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you,

And no way from your felves. What do you think? You, the great toe of this Affembly!

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

Men. For that, being one o' th' loweft, bafeft,

pooreft,

Of this most wife Rebellion, thou goest foremost :
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'ft firft, to win fome vantage..

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

Enter Caius Marcius.

Hail, noble Marcius!

Mar. Thanks. What's the matter, you diffentious rogues,

That, rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
Make your felves fcabs?

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 nor 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,

(3) The one Side muft bave Bail.] It must be the vanquisht Side, fure, that could want it; and who were likely to be their Bail? But it is endless to queftion with Negligence and Stupi dity. The Poet, undoubtedly, wrote, as I have restor❜d;

The one Side muft bave Bale

i. e. Sorrow, Misfortune, must have the worst of it, be difcomfited. I have reftored this Word in fome other Paffages of our Author; where the Editors feem'd not to be aware of any fuch Word in our Language.

Or

Or hailstone in the Sun. Your virtue is,

To make him worthy, whofe offence fubdues him,
And curfe that justice, did it. Who deferves Great-
nefs,

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, fwims 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 Seeking? Men. For corn at their own rates, whereof, they fay,

The City is well ftor'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;

Who thrives, and who declines: fide factions, and give

out

Conjectural marriages; making parties ftrong,

And feeble such, as stand not in their Liking,

Below their cobled fhoes. They fay, there's Grain enough!

Would the Nobility lay afide their ruth,

And let me ufe my fword, I'd make a quarry
With thousands of these quarter'd Slaves as high

As I could pitch my

lance.

Men. Nay, thefe are almost 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 bunger broke ftone walls

that dogs must eat,

That

that the Gods

-With thefe fhreds

That meat was made for mouths

jent not

Corn for the rich men only

They vented their complainings: which being answer'd, And a Petition granted them, a ftrange one,

To break the heart of Generofity,

And make bold Power look pale; they threw their caps As they would hang them on the horns o'th' Moon, Shouting their emulation.

Men. What is granted them?

Mar. Five Tribunes to defend their vulgar wifdoms, Of their own choice. One's Junius Brutus, Sicinius Velutus, and I know not

s'death,
The rabble fhould have first unroof'd the City,
Ere fo prevail'd with me! it will in time

Win upon Power, and throw forth greater themes
For Infurrection's arguing.

Men. This is ftrange.

Mar. Go, get you home, you fragments!

Enter a Messenger.

Mef. Where's Caius Marcius?

Mar. Here- -what's the matter?

Mef. The news is, Sir, the Volfcians are in arms. Mar. I'm glad on't, then we shall have means to vent Our mufty fuperfluity. See, our beft Elders!

Enter Sicinius Velutus, Junius Brutus, Cominius,
Titus Lartius, with other Senators.

1 Sen. Marcius, 'tis true, that you have lately told us, The Volfcians are in arms.

Mar. They have a Leader,

Tullus Aufidius, that will put you to't..

I fin in envying his Nobility:

And were I any thing but what I am,.

I'd with 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

Only my wars with him. He is a lion,
That I am proud to hunt.

1 Sen. Then, worthy Marcius,
Attend upon Cominius to these wars.
Com. It is your former promife.
Mar. Sir, it is;

And I am conftant: Titus Lartius, thou

Shalt fee me once more ftrike at Tullus' face.
What, art thou ftiff? ftand'ft out?

Tit. No, Caius Marcius,

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with t'other;
Ere stay behind this business.

Men. O true-bred !

1 Sen. Your company to th' 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 Lartius!

Sen. Hence to your homes

Mar. Nay, let them follow ;

-

be gone.

[To the Citizens.

The Volfcians have much Corn: take these rats thither,
To gnaw their garners. Worshipful Mutineers,
Your valour puts well forth; pray, follow.

[Exeunt.

[Citizens fteal away. Manent Sicinius and Brutus. Sic. Was ever man fo proud, as is this Marcius? Bru. He has no equal.

Sic. When we were chofen Tribunes for the People-
Bru. Mark'd you his lip and eyes?

Sic. Nay, but his taunts.

Bru. Being mov'd, he will not fpare to gird the
Gods-

Sic. Be-mock the modeft Moon,

Bru. The prefent Wars devour him; he is grown Too proud, to be so valiant.

Sic. Such a nature,

Tickled with good fuccefs, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon; but I do wonder,