ABSTRACT
The Romane Historie of T. Livy 497 citie, and in this mutuall and reciprocall feare, all men were perplexed and to seeke what to doe. The commons forlorne of their fellow commoners doubted the violence of the Senatours: the Senatours againe stood in feare and je10usie of the commons that remained stil behind; and were in suspense whither it were better they abode still among them, or followed after their fellowes. For how long trow ye, will a multitude once disbanded, rest in quiet? Againe, in case any forrain warre should arise in the meane time, what might ensue therupon in the end? In conclusion, there was no hope behind to be looked for, but in the concord of citizens: and therfore the commons one way or other, either by reasonable conditions or unreasonable, were to be reconciled again and reduced into the citie, there was no remedie. So it was thought good and agreed upon, that one Menellius Agrippa (a faire spoken and eloquent man, gratious withall and welbeloved among the commons, for that he was from them descended) should be sent as an Orator to treat with them. Who being received into the campe, after that old and harsh kind of eloquence in those daies, spake as men saith to this effect, and told this tale and parable1 : Whilome (quoth he) when as in mans bodie, all the parts therof agreed not, as now they do in one, but el!h member had a several intent & meaning, yea and a speech by it selfe: so it befel, that all other parts besides the belly, thought much & repined that by their carefulnes, labor, & ministerie, all was gotten, & yet all little enough to serve it: and the bellie it selfe lying still in the mids of them,2 did nothing else but enjoy the delightsome pleasures brought unto her. Wherupon they mutined & conspired altogether in this wise, That neither the hands should reach & convey food into the mouth, nor the mouth receive it as it came, ne yet the teeth grind & chew the same. In this mood & fit, whiles they were minded to famish the poore bellie, behold the other lims, yea & the whole bodie besides, pined, wasted, & fel into an extreme consumption. Then was it wel seen, that even the very belly also did no smal service, but fed the other parts, as it received food it selfe: seeing that by working and concocting the meat throughlie, it digesteth and distributeth by the veines into all parts, that fresh and perfect blood whereby we live, we like, and have our full strength.3 Comparing herewith, and making his application, to wit, how like this intestine and inward sedition of the bodie, was to the full stomacke of the commons, which they had taken and borne against the Senatours, he turned quite the peoples hearts.
