is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our sufferance 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? Cit. Against him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty. 2 Cit. Consider 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. 2 Cit. Nay, but speak not maliciously. 1 Cit. I say unto you, what he hath done famously, he did it to that end: though soft conscienc'd men can be content to say, it was for his country, he did it to please his mother, and to be partly 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 must in no way say, he is covetous. 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 here? to the Capitol. Cit. Come, come. 1 Cit. Soft; who comes here? 2 Thin as rakes. Enter MENENIUS AGRIPPA. 2 Cit. Worthy Menenius Agrippa; one that hath always loved the people. 1 Cit. He's one honest enough; 'Would, all the rest were so! Men. What work's, my countrymen, in hand? With bats and clubs? The matter? Speak, I pray you. 1 Cit. Our business is not unknown to the senate; they have had inkling, this fortnight, what we intend to do, which now we'll show 'em in deeds. They say, poor suitors have strong breaths; they shall know, we have strong arms too. Men. Why, masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbours, Will you undo yourselves? 1 Cit. We cannot, sir, we are undone already. Thither where more attends you; and you slander 1 Cit. Care for us!-True, indeed!-They ne'er cared for us yet. Suffer us to famish, and their storehouses crammed 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 wondrous malicious, Or be accus'd of folly. I shall tell you A pretty tale; it may be, you have heard it ; 1 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 : That only like a gulf it did remain I' the midst o'the body, idle and inactive, Still cupboarding the viand, never bearing Like labour with the rest; where the other instru ments Did see, and hear, devise, instruct, walk, feel, 1 Cit. Well, sir, what answer made the belly? Men. Sir, I shall tell you.-With a kind of smile, 4 Hardship. s Whereas. 3 Spread it. Which ne'er came from the lungs, but even thus, To the discontented members, the mutinous parts As you malign our sénators, for that They are not such as you. 1 Cit. Your belly's answer: What! In this our fabrick, if that they——— What then? Men. 'Fore me, this fellow speaks!-what then? what then? 1 Cit. Should by the cormorant belly be restrain'd, Who is the sink o'the body, Men. Well, what then? 1 Cit. The former agents, if they did complain, What could the belly answer? I will tell you; Men. Men. Note me this, good friend; Your most grave belly was deliberate, Not rash like his accusers, and thus answer'd. Which you do live upon and fit it is; • Exactly. Because I am the store-house, and the shop Even to the court, the heart,—to the seat o'the brain; The strongest nerves, and small inferior veins, Whereby they live: And though that all at once, 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 flower of all, And leave me but the bran. What say you to't? But it proceeds, or comes, from them to you, 1 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: Lead'st first to win some vantage.— But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; 7 Windings. |