Before we proceed any further , hear me speak . You are all resolv 'd rather to die than to famish ? First , you know Caius Marcius is chief enemy to the people . Let us kill him , and we 'll have corn at our own price . Is't a verdict ? We are accounted poor citizens , the patricians good . What authority surfeits on would relieve us ; if they would yield us but the superfluity while it were wholesome , we might guess they relieved us humanely ; but they think we are too dear . The leanness that afflicts us , the object of our misery , 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 . Against him first ; he 's a very dog to the commonalty . Very well , and could be content to give him good report for't but that he pays himself with being proud . 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 . If I must not , I need not be barren of accusations ; he hath faults , with surplus , to tire in repetition . within ] What shouts are these ? The other side o ’ th ’ city is risen . Why stay we prating here ? To th ’ Capitol ! Soft ! who comes here ? He 's one honest enough ; would all the rest were so ! Our business is not unknown to th ’ 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 . We cannot , sir ; we are undone already . Care for us ! True , indeed ! They ne'er car 'd for us yet . Suffer us to famish , and their storehouses cramm 'd 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 . Well , I 'll hear it , sir ; yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale . But , a n't please you , deliver . Well , sir , what answer made the belly ? Your belly 's answer - What ? The kingly crowned head , the vigilant eye , The counsellor heart , the arm our soldier , Our steed the leg , the tongue our trumpeter , With other muniments and petty helps Is this our fabric , if that they- Should by the cormorant belly be restrain 'd , Who is the sink o ’ th ’ body- The former agents , if they did complain , What could the belly answer ? Y'are long about it . Ay , sir ; well , well . It was an answer . How apply you this ? I the great toe ? Why the great toe ? We have ever your good word . Once , if he do require our voices , we ought not to deny him . And to make us no better thought of , a little help will serve ; for once we stood up about the corn , he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude . The price is to ask it kindly . He has our voices , sir . No , ‘ tis his kind of speech - he did not mock us . I twice five hundred , and their friends to piece ‘ em . He shall well know The noble tribunes are the people 's mouths , And we their hands . Ourselves , our wives , and children , on our knees Are bound to pray for you both . For mine own part , When I said banish him , I said ‘ twas pity . The gods be good to us ! Come , masters , let 's home . I ever said we were i ’ th ’ wrong when we banish 'd him .