The works of F. Rabelais, M.D., or, The lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and Pantagruel with a large account of the life and works of the author, particularly an explanation of the most difficult passages in them never before publish'd in any language / done out of French by Sir Tho. Urchard, Kt., and others.

CHAP. XXXI. The Speech made by Gallet to Picro∣chole.

THere cannot arise amongst Men a juster cause of Grief, then when they receive hurt and damage▪ where they may justly expect for fa∣vour and good will; and not without cause (though without reason) have many, after they had fallen into such a calamitous accident, esteemed this in∣dignity less supportable then the loss of their own Lives; in such sort, that if they could not by force of Arms or otherwise correct it, they have deprived themselves of this Light.

It is therefore no wonder if King Grangou∣sier, my Master be full of high displeasure, and much disquieted in mind upon thy outragious and hostile coming; but truly it would be a marvel, if he were not sensible of, and moved with the

incomparable Abuses and Injuries perpetrated by thee and thine upon those of his Country, towards whom there hath been no Example of Inhuma∣nity omitted. Which in it self is to him so grie∣vous for the cordial Affection, wherewith he hath always cherish'd his Subjects, that more it cannot be to any mortal Man; yet in this (above human Apprehension) is it to him the more grievous, that these Wrongs and sad Offences have been committed by thee and thine, who time out of mind, from all antiquity, thou and thy Pre∣decessors have been in a continual League and Amity with him, and all his Ancestors; which, even until this time, you have as sacred together inviolably preserved, kept and maintained so well, that not he and his only, but the very barbarous Nations of the Poictevins, Bretons, Manceaux, and those that dwell beyond the Isles of the Ca∣naries, and that of Isabella, have thought it as easie to pull down the Firmament, and to set up depths above the Clouds, as to make a breach in your Alliance; and have been so afraid of it in their Enterprises, that they have never dared to provoke, incense or indamage the one for fear of the other. Nay, which is more, this sacred League hath so filled the World, that there are few Nations at this day inhabiting throughout all the Continent and Isles of the Ocean, who have not ambitiously aspired to be received into it, upon your own Covenants and Conditions, holding your joint Confederacy in as high Esteem as their own Territories and Dominions; in such sort, that

from the memory of Man, there hath not been either Prince or League so wild and proud, that durst have offered to invade, I say not your Coun∣tries, but not so much as those of your Confede∣rates. And if by rash and heady Counsel they have attempted any new design against them, as soon as they heard the Name and Title of your Al∣liance, they have suddenly desisted from their En∣prises. What Rage and Madness therefore doth now incite thee, all old Alliance infringed, all Amity trod under foot, and all right violated, thus in a hostil manner to invade his Country, without having been by him or his in any thing prejudiced, wronged or provoked? Where is Faith? Where is Law? Where is Reason? Where is Humanity? Where is the fear of God? Dost thou think that these atr••cious Abuses are hidden from the eternal Spirits, and the Supream God, who is the just re∣warder of all our Vndertakings? If thou so think, thou deceivest thy self; for all things shall come to pass, as in his incomprehensible Judgment he hath appointed.

Is it thy fatal Destiny, or influences of the Stars that would put an end to thy so long enjoyed Ease and Rest? For that all things have their end and period, so as that when they are come to the super∣lative point of their greatest height, they are in a trice tumbled down again, as not being able to abide long in that state. This is the Conclusion and End of those who cannot by Reason and Tempe∣rance moderate their Fortunes and Prosperities. But if it be predestinated that thy Happiness and

Ease must now come to an end, must it needs be by wronging my King? him by whom thou were establish'd? If thy House must come to ruin, should it therefore in its fall crush the heels of him that set it up? The matter is so unreasonable, and so dissonant from common Sense, that hardly can it be conceived by human Vnderstanding, and altogether incredible unto Strangers, till by the certain and undoubted effects thereof it be made apparent, that nothing is either sacred or holy to those, who having emancipated them∣selves from God and Reason, do meerly fol∣low the perverse affections of their own depraved nature.

If any wrong had been done by us to thy Sub∣jects and Dominions; if we had favour'd thy Ill-willers; if we had not assisted thee in thy Need; if thy Name and Reputation had been wounded by us; or (to speak more truly) if the calumnia∣ting Spirit, tempting to induce thee to Evil, had by false Illusions and deceitful Fantasies, put into thy Conceit the impression of a thought, that we had done unto thee any thing unworthy of our ancient Correspondence and Friendship, thou ought∣est first to have enquired out the Truth, and after∣wards by a seasonable warning to admonish us thereof; and we should have so satisfied thee, ac∣cording to thine own hearts desire, that thou shouldest have had occasion to be contented. But, O Eternal God, what is thy enterprize? Wouldst thou like a perfidious Tyrant, thus spoil and lay waste my Masters Kingdom? Hast thou found

him so silly and blockish, that he would not; or so destitute of Men and Money, of Counsel and Skill in military Discipline, that he cannot withstand thy unjustly Invasion? March hence presently, and to morrow some time of the Day retreat unto thine own Country, without doing any kind of Violence or disorderly act by the way; and pay withal a Thousand Besans of Gold, for reparation of Damages thou hast done in his Country: Half thou shalt pay to morrow, and the other half at the Ides of May next coming, leaving with us in the mean time for Hostages, the Dukes of Turnebank, Lowbuttock and Small-trash: together with the Prince of Itches, and Viscount of Snatch-bit.