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more likely to make a man happy, particularly a Frenchman, than his being able to indulge his genius, and cultivate the task he is fit for. Native vivacity and suitable occupation conspire to make his existence perfect."

An able writer in the "Foreign Quarterly Review" speaks of Rabelais as "an author without parallel in the history of literature: an author who is the literary parent of many authors, since without him we should probably have never known a Swift, a Sterne, a Jean Paul, or, in fact, any of the irregular humorists: an author who did not appear as a steadily shining light to the human race, but as a wild, startling meteor, predicting the independence of thought, and the downfall of the authority of ages: an author who for the union of heavy learning with the most miraculous power of imagination, is perhaps without a competitor."

did me a good turn but I returned it, or at least acknowledged it; never did man do me an ill one without ruing the day that he did it, either in this world or the next." He is in some sort a type of worldly sagacity, -of that faculty which extracts all possible comfort and indulgence from the present life, with a supreme regard for self. Panurge is the real hero of the books in which he figures. He displays great pusillanimity in danger, though a great braggart at other times. He says of himself, "As for fear, I have none of it. My name is William Dreadnought. I fear nothing but danger."

FRIAR JOHN is in effective contrast with Panurge, and a kind of friendly bickering is constantly kept up between them. Lusty, roaring, bullying speeches are given to the monk and sly waggeries, odd conceits, and astute sophistries are given to Panurge. If there is a shipwreck or a skirmish, Friar Obviously, from what has been said, the John is foremost in the bustle; fear is unwritings of Rabelais can never become pop-known to him. He is a mass of profanity ular. They embody so much learning, and and valor; he butts his way through the their serious intention is so hidden from all world like a bull, while Panurge glides save acute and erudite minds, that they give through it like a snake. to the general reader an impression of riotous levity, flashing, indeed, with unmistakable wit, but soiled too often with repulsive coarseness. They have been, and still are, however, a rich mine for philosophers and wits, and thus, literature and thought have been leavened with the humorous conceits and the practical wisdom of Rabelais.

A few words of explanation concerning the characters that figure prominently in our selections may prove helpful to the reader:

PANTAGRUEL (from panta all, and gruel thirst) represents, in a general sense, the spirit of inquiry, which is all-embracing and insatiate; hence Pantagruel is represented as a giant with an astounding alimental capacity. He is said to have come into the world accompanied by eighty-one sellers of salt, each leading a mule by a halter; nine dromedaries laden with hams and smoked tongues; seven camels laden with eels; besides twenty-five wagons full of leeks, garlics, onions and shalots.

PANURGE, who is the protégé and beloved companion of Pantagruel, is a handsome, lively, healthy fellow, with a superabundance of animal spirits, yet exceedingly shrewd, witty and cunning, and quite learned withal, especially in respect of languages. He is given to the perpetration of practical jokes, and boasts that " never mau

Many volumes filled with most ingenious speculations and theories have been produced in the endeavor to prove the historical identity of Rabelais' heroes, and to interpret his puzzling fancies and allusions. It is almost needless to say that the critics differ irreconcilably in their attempted solu tions. It would be quite foreign to the present purpose, as well as altogether beyond the limits of our space, to enter upon such a difficult quest. In the subjoined extracts we have sought to exhibit the characteristic traits of our author, without offending the proper sensibilities of the reader. The personal anecdotes by which the selections are prefaced, will, we doubt not, be appreciated as well for their intrinsic interest as for the light they shed on the character of the man.]

PERSONAL ANECDOTES.

RABELAIS REQUESTS EXCOMMUNICATION. Cardinal Du Bellay having on one occasion brought Rabelais and the rest of his retinue to Pope Paul III., that they might beg some favor of his Holiness, Rabelais, being bid to make his demand, only begged that his Holiness would be pleased to excommunicate him.

So strange a request having caused much surprise, he was ordered to say

why he made it. Then addressing him- | consequence to one less known than Rabself to that Pope, who was doubtless a elais. great man, and had nothing of the moroseness of many others: "May it please your Holiness," said he, "I am a Frenchman of a little town called Chinon, whose inhabitants are thought somewhat too subject to be thrown into a sort of unpleasant bonfires; and indeed, a good number of honest men, and amongst the rest, some of my relations, have been fairly burned there already: now would your Holiness but excommunicate me, I would be sure never to burn. My reason is, that passing through the Tarentese, where the cold was very great in the way to this city with my Lord Cardinal Du Bellay, having reached a little hut, where an old woman lived, we prayed her to make a fire to warm us, but she burned all the straw of her bed to kindle a faggot, yet could not make it burn; so that at last, after many imprecations, she cried, without doubt this faggot was excommunicated by the Pope's own mouth, since it will not burn: in short, we were obliged to go on without warming ourselves. Now if it pleased your Holiness, but to excommunicate me thus, I might go safely to my country." By this, he not only, in a jesting manner, exposed the Roman clergy's persecuting temper, but seemed to allude to the inefficacy of the former Pope's excommunications in England, and chiefly in Germany; where they only served to warn Henry VIII., and on the other side, the Lutherans, to secure themselves against the attempts of their enemies.

He, that would not spare the Pope to his face, was doubtless not less liberal of his biting jokes to others: insomuch, that he was obliged to leave Rome without much preparation; not thinking himself safe among the Italians, who, of all men, love and forgive raillery the least, when they are the subjects of it.

HOW HE OBTAINED FREE TRANSPOR

TATION.

Being come as far as Lyons in his way to Paris, very indifferently accoutred, and no money to proceed, whether he had been robbed or had spent all his stock; he, who had a peculiar love for ease, and good eating, and no less zeal for good drinking, found himself in dismal circumstances. So he had recourse to a stratagem which might have been of dangerous

Being lodged at the Tower and Angel, a famous inn in that city, he took some of the ashes in the chimney, and having wrapped them up in several little papers, on one of them he writ Poison to kill the King, on another, Poison to kill the Queen, on a third, Poison to kill the Duke of Orleans, and having on the Change met a young merchant, told him, that being skilled in physiognomy he plainly saw that he had a great desire to get an estate easily; therefore, if he would come to his inn, he would put him in a way to gain a hundred thousand crowns. The greedy merchant was very ready, so when he had treated our doctor, he came to the main point, that is, how to get the hundred thousand crowns. Then Rabelais, after t' other bottle or two, pretending a great deal of caution, at last showed him the papers of powder, and proposed to him to make use of them according to their superscriptions, which the other promised, and they appointed to meet the next day, to take measures about it; but the too credulous, though honest trader, immediately ran to a judge, who, having heard the information, presently sent to secure Rabelais, the Dauphin having been poisoned some time before; so the doctor with his powder was seized, and being examined by the judge, gave no answer to the accusation, save that he told the young merchant, that he had never thought him fit to keep a secret, and only desired them to secure what was in the papers, and send him to the King, for he had strange things to say to him.

Accordingly, he is carefully sent to Paris, and handsomely treated by the way on free cost, as are all the King's prisoners, and being come to Paris, was immediately brought before the King, who, knowing him, asked him what he had done to be brought in that condition, and where he had left the Cardinal Du Bellay. Upon this the Judge made his report, showed the bills with the powder, and the informations which he had drawn. Rabelais on his side told his case, took some of all the powders before the King; which, being found to be only harmless wood ashes, pleaded for Rabelais so effectually, that the business ended in mirth, and the poor Judge was only laughed at for his pains.

SERVING HIS UNIVERSITY BY A JEST.

Neither were his jests sometimes less productive of good, than the deep earnest of others, of which the University of Montpellier furnishes us with an instance; none being admitted to the degree of Doctor of Physic there, who has not first put on the gown and cap of Dr. Rabelais, which are preserved in the Castle of Morac in that city. The cause of this uncommon veneration for the memory of that learned man, is said to be this:

Some scholars having occasioned an extraordinary disorder in that city, Anthony Du Prat, Cardinal Archbishop of Sens, then Lord Chancellor of France, upon complaint made of it, caused the Úniversity to be deprived of part of its privileges. Upon this, none was thought fitter to be sent to Paris to solicit their restitution than our doctor, who, by his wit, learning and eloquence, as also by the friends which they had purchased him at Court, seemed capable to obtain any thing. When he came to Paris about it, the difficulty lay in gaining audience of the Chancellor, who was so incensed, that he refused to hear anything in behalf of the University of Montpellier. So Rabelais, having vainly tried to be admitted, at last put on his red gown and doctor's cap (some say, a green gown and a long grey beard) and thus accoutred, came to the Chancellor's Palace, on St. Austin's Quay; but the porter and some other servants mistook him for a mad man: so Rabelais having, in a peremptory tone, been asked there who he was, let his impertinent querist know, that he was the gentleman who usually had the honor to flay bull-calves; and that, if he had a mind to be first flayed, he had best make haste and strip immediately. Then being asked some other questions, he answered in Latin, which the other understanding not, one of the Chancellor's officers that could speak that tongue was brought, who, addressing himself to our doctor in Latin, was answered by him in Greek, which the other understanding as little as the first did Latin, a third was fetched who could speak Greek; but he no sooner spoke in that language to Rabelais, but was answered by him in Hebrew; and one, who understood Hebrew, being with much difficulty procured Rabelais spoke to him in Syriac: thus having exhausted all the learning of the family,

the Chancellor, who was told, that there was a merry fool at his gate who had outdone every one, not only in languages, but in smartness of repartees, ordered him to be brought in. 'T was a little before dinner. Then Rabelais, shifting the farcical scene into one more serious, addressed himself to the Chancellor with much respect, and having first made his excuse for his forced buffoonery, in a most eloquent and learned speech, so effectually pleaded the cause of his university, that the Chancellor, at once ravished and persuaded, not only promised the restitution of the abolished privileges, but made the doctor sit down at table with him as a particular mark of his esteem.

PROCURING A DOCTOR'S DEGREE FOR HIS HORSE.

Much about that time, hearing with what facility, for the sake of a small sum of money, the Faculty of Orange (some say Orleans) admitted ignorant pretenders, as Doctors of Physic, not only without examining, but even without seeing them, Rabelais sent the usual fees, and had one received Doctor there unseen, by the name of Doctor Johannes Caballus, and let the wise professors and the world know afterwards, what a worthy member they had admitted into their body, since that very Doctor was his horse Jack; or, as some say, his mule: for if there are various lections, there may well be also various traditions of the same passage.

THE MULE AND THE HOLY WATER.

Rabelais being at Paris, and more careful of himself than of his mule, had trusted it to the care of the printer's men, desiring them at least not to let it want water. But he having perhaps forgot to make them drink, they also easily, though uncharitably, forgot the poor brute. At three days' end the creature having drank as little water as its master, a young unlucky boy took a fancy to get on its back, even like the Miller's Daughter, without a saddle; another truant scholar begged to get behind him, so did a third and eke a fourth. Thus these four being mounted like Aymond's four sons a horseback on a mule, without bridle or halter, the real and living emblem of Folly, the grave animal walked leisurely down St James's

street, till it came near a church, towards which it moved, drawn by the magnetic virtue of the water, which it smelt at a considerable distance, in the Holy WaterPot, which is always near the porch. And in vain our four riders kicked and called; in spite of them the headstrong thirsty beast made up to the Holy element; and though the church was almost full of people, it being Sunday and sermon-time, notwithstanding all opposition, the bold monster dipped its saucy snout in the sanctified cistern. The people, that were near it, were not a little amazed at the impudence of that sacrilegious animal, deservedly cursed with sterility, though it were but for this one crime; many took him for a spectrum that bore some souls formerly heretical, but now penitent, that came to seek the sweet refrigeratory of the saints, out of the more than hellish flames of purgatory. So the unconcerned mule took a swinging draught of holy liquor, yet did not like it so well, there being always salt in it, as to take a second dose; but, having somewhat allayed its raging thirst, modestly withdrew, with her two brace of youngsters. However, the thing did not end thus; for the brute was seized, and Rabelais, being thought none of the greatest admirers of the Romish fopperies, was shrewdly suspected of having laid the design of that scandalous adventure. Nor was the rude four-legged Johannes Caballus released out of the pound, till its master had dearly paid for its drink.

ADORING THE STATUE OF CHARLES VIII.

'Tis also said, that as he was kneeling once at church, before the statue of King Charles VIII., a monk came and said to him, that doubtless he mistook that King's statue for that of some saint; but Rabelais immediately replied, "I am not so much a monk (blockhead I mean) as thou thinkest me; nor yet so blind, as not to know, that I kneel before the representation of King Charles VIII. for whose soul I was praying, because he brought the syphilis out of Naples into this kingdom, by which means, I, and other physicians, have been considerable gainers.

humour, which confined Cardinal Du Bellay to his bed; they at last resolved, that an aperitive (opening) decoction should be prepared, to be frequently taken with some syrup, by the patient. Now Rabelais, who was his physician, perhaps not being of their opinion, while the rest of our learned doctors were still discoursing in their scientific jargon, to deserve the large fee, caused a fire to be made in the yard, and on it to be set a kettle full of water, into which he had put as many keys as he could get; and while he was very busy in stirring them about with a stick, the doctors coming down, saw him, and asked what he was doing? "Following your directions," replied he. "How, in the name of Galen?" cried one of them. "You are for something that may be very aperitive," returned Rabelais, "and by Hippocrates, I think you will own that nothing can be more aperitive than keys, unless you would have me send to the arsenal for some pieces of cannon." This odd fancy, being immediately related to the sick cardinal, set him into such a fit of laughing, that it helped more to cure him than the prescription; and what made the jest the more pertinent was, that keys are made of iron and steel, which with water are the chief ingredients in chalybeate medicincs.

EXCHANGING COMPLIMENTS WITH

CALVIN.

Hearing that the grave John Calvin, somewhat prejudiced against him for his biting jokes, had played on his name by the way of anagram; saying Rabelæsius, Rabie læsus, anglice mad man; he, with an admirable presence of mind, immediately returned the compliment in the same kind, saying: Calvin Jan cul, anglice jack arse, adding, that there was anagram for anagram, and that a studied trifle only deserved to be paid back with one worse, extempore.

"RABELAIS' QUARTER OF AN HOUR."

himself merry with the impertinencies of Thus, while like Democritus, he made mankind, nothing was able to allay his mirth, unless it were the thought of a reckoning, at the time that he paid it; then indeed, he was thought somewhat serious, Several physicians being once assem- though probably 't was partly that those bled to consult about an hypochondriac | who were to receive it, might not impose

A JOKE THAT CURED A CARDINAL.

on him and the company, and because he generally found his purse not over full. However, the time of paying the shot in a tavern among good fellows, or pantagruelists, is still called in France, le quart d'heure de Rabelais; that is Rabelais's quarter of an hour (when a man is uneasy or melancholy).

HIS LAST HOURS.

Yet his enemies, the monks and some others tell us, that he seemed much less concerned when he paid the grand shot of life, than when he discharged a small tavern reckoning: for they say, that he faced death with an unconcerned and careless countenance; and in short that he died just as he lived. They relate the thing thus.

Rabelais being very sick, Cardinal Du Bellay sent his page to him, to have an account of his condition; his answer was, "Tell my Lord, in what circumstances thou findest me; I am just going to leap into the dark. He is up in the cock-loft, bid him keep where he is. As for thee, thoul't always be a fool: let down the curtain, the farce is done." Likewise a monk not only tells us, that he ended his life with that jest but that he left a paper sealed up, wherein were found three articles, as his last will, "I owe much, I have nothing, I give the rest to the poor."

HOW PANURGE PRAISETH DEBTORS AND BORROWERS.

Quoth Pantagruel, when will you be out of debt? At the ensuing term of the Greek Calends, answered Panurge, when all the world shall be content, and that it be your fate to become your own heir. The Lord forbid that I should be out of debt, as if, indeed, I could not be trusted. Who leaves not some leaven over night, will hardly have paste the next morning.

Be still indebted to somebody or other, that there may be somebody always to pray for you, that the Giver of all good things may grant unto you a blessed, long, and prosperous life; fearing if Fortune should deal crossly with you, that it might be his chance to come short of

1 That is, Never For the Greeks knew nothing of

the Roman way of reckoning by Calends.

being paid by you; he will always speak good of you in every company, ever and anon purchase new creditors unto you; to the end that through their means you may make a shift by borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, and with other folks' earth When of old in the fill up his ditch. region of the Gauls, by the institution of the druids, the servants, slaves, and bondmen were burnt quick at the funerals and obsequies of their lords and masters, had not they fear enough, think you, that their lords and masters should die? For, per force, they were to die with them for company. Did not tions to their great god Mercury, as likethey incessantly send up their supplicawise unto Dis the father of wealth, to lengthen out their days, and preserve them long in health? Were not they very careful to entertain them well, punctually to look unto them, and to attend them faithfully and circumspectly? For by those means were they to live together at least until the hour of death. Believe me, your creditors with a more fervent devotion will beseech Almighty God to prolong your life, they being of nothing more afraid than that you should die; for that they are more concerned for the sleeve than the arm, and love the penny better than their own lives; as it Landerousse, who not long since hanged evidently appeareth by the usurers of themselves, because the price of the corn and wines was fallen, by the return of a gracious season. To this Pantagruel answering nothing, Panurge went on in his discourse, saying, Truly, and in good sooth, Sir, when I ponder my destiny aright, and think well upon it, you put me shrewdly to my plunges, and have me at a bay in twitting me with the reproach of my debts and creditors: and yet did I, in this only respect and consideration of being a debtor, esteem myself worshipful, reverend, and formidable. For, against the opinion of most philosophers, that of nothing ariseth nothing; yet without having bottomed on so much as that which is called the first matter, did I out of nothing become such a maker and creator, that I have created, what? a gay number of fair and jolly creditors. Nay, creditors (I will maintain it, even to the very fire itself exclusively) are fair and goodly creatures. Who lendeth nothing is an ugly and wicked creature, and an

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