Of the whole body: but, if you do remember, 140
I send it through the rivers of your blood,
Even to the court, the heart, to the seat o' the brain;
And, through the cranks and offices of man,
The strongest nerves and small inferior veins 144
From me receive that natural competency
Whereby they live. And though 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 148
See what I do deliver out to each,
Yet I can make my audit up, that all
From me do back receive the flour of all,
And leave me but the bran.' What say you to 't? 152
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 156
Touching the weal o' the common, you shall find
No public benefit which you receive
But it proceeds or comes from them to you,
And no way from yourselves. What do you think, 160
You, the great toe of this assembly?
2. 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: 164
Thou rascal, that art worst in blood to run,
Lead'st first to win some vantage.
143 cranks: winding passages
offices: kitchen, etc.
145 competency: sufficiency
157 weal . . . common: common weal
165 rascal . . . blood; cf. n.
166 Lead'st first: art the very leader
vantage: personal profit
