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. XIV. How Gargantua was taught Latin by a Sophister.

THE good Man Grangousier, having heard this discourse, was ravish'd with Admiration, considering the high reach, and marvellous understanding of his Son Gar∣gantua, and said to his Governesses. Philip King of Macedon knew the great Wit of his Son Alexander, by his skilful managing of a Horse; for his Horse Bucephalus was so fierce and unruly, that none durst adventure to ride him; after that he had given to his Ri∣ders such devillish falls, breaking the Neck of this Man, the other Man's Leg, braining one, and cracking another's Jaw-bone. This by Alexander being considered, one day in the Hippodrome (which was a place appointed for

the breaking and managing of great Horses) he perceived that the fury of the Horse pro∣ceeded meerly from the fear he had of his own shadow; whereupon getting on his back, he run him against the Sun, so that the sha∣dow fell behind, and by that means tamed the Horse, and brought him to his hand. Whereby his Father perceiving his marvel∣lous Capacity and divine Insight, caused him most carefully to be instructed by Aristotle; who at that time was highly renowned above all the Philosophers of Greece. After the same manner, I tell you, that by this only dis∣course, which now I have here had before you with my Son Gargantua; I know that his Understanding doth participate of some Divinity; and that if he be well taught, and have that Education which is fitting, he will attain to a supream degree of Wisdom. There∣fore will I commit him to some learned Man, to have him indoctrinated according to his Capacity, and will spare no cost.

Presently they appointed him a great So∣phister-Doctor, called Master Tubal Holo∣phernes, who taught him his ABC, so well, that he could say it by heart backwards; and about this he was Five Years and three Months.

Then read he to him, Donat, facet, theo∣dolet, and Alanus in parabolis: About this he was Thirteen Years six Months and two Weeks. But you must remark, that in the

mean time he did learn to write in Gottish Characters, and that he wrote all his Books; for the Art of Printing was not then in use.

And did ordinarily carry a great Pen and Inkhorn, weighing above Seven thousand Quintals, the Pen-case vvhereof vvas as big and as long as the great Pillar of Enay; and the Horn vvas hanged to it in great Iron Chains, it being of the vvideness to hold a Tun of Merchand Ware.

After that vvas read unto him the Book de modis significandi, with the Commentaries of Hurtbise, of Fasquin, of Tropifeu, of Gaulhaut, of Iohn Calf, of Billonio, of Berlinguandus, and a rabble of others; and herein he spent more then Eighteen Years and eleven Months, and was so well versed therein, that to try Masteries in School-disputes with his Condis∣ciples, he would recite it by heart backwards: And did sometimes prove on his Fingers ends to his Mother, Quod de modis significandi non erat scientia. Then was read to him the Com∣post, on which he spent Sixteen Years and two Months. And at that very time, which was in the Year 1420, his said Praeceptor died of the Pox.

Afterwards he got an old coughing Fellow to teach him, named Master Iobelin Bridé, vvho read unto him Hugotio, Flebard, Grecism, the Doctrinal, the Pars, the Quid est, the Sup∣plementum, Marmoretus de moribus in mensa ser∣vandis, Seneca de quatuor virtutibus cardinalibus,

Passaventus cum commento; and Dormi securè for the Holy-days, and other such llke stuff; by reading vvhereof he became as vvise as any vve ever since baked in an Oven.