FABLES. 



275 



THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS. 



IN former days it happened that the members of 

 the human body, taking some offence at the con- 

 duct of the Belly, resolved no longer to grant it the 

 usual supplies. The Tongue first, _in a seditious 

 speech, aggravated their grievances ; and after 

 highly extolling the activity and diligence of the 

 Hands and Feet, set forth how hard and unreason- 

 able it was, that the fruits of their labour should be 

 squandered away upon the insatiable cravings of a 

 fat and indolent paunch. In short, it was resolved 

 for the future to strike off his allowance, and let 

 him shift for himself as well as he could. The 

 Hands protested they would not lift a Finger to 

 keep him from starving; and the Teeth refused to 

 chew a single morsel more for his use. In 

 this distress, the Belly remonstrated w r ith them in 

 vain; for during the clamour of passion the voice 



