101I'th midd'st a th' body, idle and vnactiue,

102Still cubbording the Viand, neuer bearing

103Like labour with the rest, where th' other Instruments

104Did see, and heare, deuise, instruct, walke, feele,

105And mutually participate, did minister

106Vnto the appetite; and affection common

107Of the whole body, the Belly answer'd.

1082. Cit. Well sir, what answer made the Belly.

109Men. Sir, I shall tell you with a kinde of Smile,

110Which ne're came from the Lungs, but euen thus:

111For looke you I may make the belly Smile,

112As well as speake, it taintingly replyed

113To'th' discontented Members, the mutinous parts

114That enuied his receite: euen so most fitly,

115As you maligne our Senators, for that

116They are not such as you.

1172. Cit. Your Bellies answer: What

118The Kingly crown'd head, the vigilant eye,

119The Counsailor Heart, the Arme our Souldier,

120Our Steed the Legge, the Tongue our Trumpeter,

121With other Muniments and petty helpes

122In this our Fabricke, if that they---

123Men. What then? Fore me, this Fellow speakes.

124What then? What then?

1252. Cit. Should by the Cormorant belly be restrain'd,

126Who is the sinke a th' body.

127Men. Well, what then?

1282. Cit. The former Agents, if they did complaine,

129What could the Belly answer?

130Men. I will tell you,

131If you'l bestow a small (of what you haue little)

132Patience awhile; you'st heare the Bellies answer.

1332. Cit. Y'are long about it.

134Men. Note me this good Friend;

135Your most graue Belly was deliberate,

136Not rash like his Accusers, and thus answered.

137True is it my Incorporate Friends (quoth he)

138That I receiue the generall Food at first

139Which you do liue vpon: and fit it is,

140Because I am the Store-house, and the Shop

141Of the whole Body. But, if you do remember,

142I send it through the Riuers of your blood

143Euen to the Court, the Heart, to th' seate o'th' Braine,

144And through the Crankes and Offices of man,

145The strongest Nerues, and small inferiour Veines

146From me receiue that naturall competencie

147Whereby they liue. And though that all at once

148(You my good Friends, this sayes the Belly) marke me.

1492. Cit. I sir, well, well.

150Men. Though all at once, cannot

151See what I do deliuer out to each,

152Yet I can make my Awdit vp, that all

153From me do backe receiue the Flowre of all,

154And leaue me but the Bran. What say you too't?

1552. Cit. It was an answer, how apply you this?

156Men. The Senators of Rome, are this good Belly,

157And you the mutinous Members: For examine

158Their Counsailes, and their Cares; disgest things rightly,

159Touching the Weale a'th Common, you shall finde

160No publique benefit which you receiue

161But it proceeds, or comes from them to you,

162And no way from your selues. What do you thinke?

163You, the great Toe of this Assembly?

1642. Cit. I the great Toe? Why the great Toe?

165Men. For that being one o'th lowest, basest, poorest

166Of this most wise Rebellion, thou goest formost:

167Thou Rascall, that art worst in blood to run,

168Lead'st first to win some vantage.

169But make you ready your stiffe bats and clubs,

170Rome, and her Rats, are at the point of battell,

171The one side must haue baile.

173Hayle, Noble Martius.

174Mar. Thanks. What's the matter you dissentious rogues

175That rubbing the poore Itch of your Opinion,

176Make your selues Scabs.

1772. Cit. We haue euer your good word.

178Mar. He that will giue good words to thee, wil flatter

179Beneath abhorring. What would you haue, you Curres,

180That like nor Peace, nor Warre? The one affrights you,

181The other makes you proud. He that trusts to you,

182Where he should finde you Lyons, findes you Hares:

183Where Foxes, Geese you are: No surer, no,

184Then is the coale of fire vpon the Ice,

185Or Hailstone in the Sun. Your Vertue is,

186To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him,

187And curse that Iustice did it. Who deserues Greatnes,

188Deserues your Hate: and your Affections are

189A sickmans Appetite; who desires most that

190Which would encrease his euill. He that depends

191Vpon your fauours, swimmes with finnes of Leade,

192And hewes downe Oakes, with rushes. Hang ye: trust ye?

193With euery Minute you do change a Minde,

194And call him Noble, that was now your Hate:

195Him vilde, that was your Garland. What's the matter,

196That in these seuerall places of the Citie,

197You cry against the Noble Senate, who

198(Vnder the Gods) keepe you in awe, which else

199Would feede on one another? What's their seeking?

200Men. For Corne at their owne rates, wherof they say

201The Citie is well stor'd.

202Mar. Hang 'em: They say?

203They'l sit by th' fire, and presume to know

204What's done i'th Capitoll: Who's like to rise,

205Who thriues, & who declines: Side factions, & giue out

206Coniecturall Marriages, making parties strong,

207And feebling such as stand not in their liking,

208Below their cobled Shooes. They say ther's grain enough?

209Would the Nobility lay aside their ruth,

210And let me vse my Sword, I'de make a Quarrie

211With thousands of these quarter'd slaues, as high

212As I could picke my Lance.

213Menen. Nay these are almost thoroughly perswaded:

214For though abundantly they lacke discretion

215Yet are they passing Cowardly. But I beseech you,

216What sayes the other Troope?

217Mar. They are dissolu'd: Hang em;

218They said they were an hungry, sigh'd forth Prouerbes

219That Hunger-broke stone wals: that dogges must eate

220That meate was made for mouths. That the gods sent not

221Corne for the Richmen onely: With these shreds

222They vented their Complainings, which being answer'd

223And a petition granted them, a strange one,

224To breake the heart of generosity,

225And make bold power looke pale, they threw their caps

226As they would hang them on the hornes a'th Moone,

227Shooting their Emulation.

228Menen. What is graunted them?

229Mar. Fiue Tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms

230Of their owne choice. One's Iunius Brutus,

231Sicinius Velutus, and I know not. Sdeath,