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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 the seat o' the 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 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

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?

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' 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,

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:

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

