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. XXXVI. How Gargantua demolished the Castle at the Ford of Vede, and how they past the Ford.

AS soon as he came thither, he related the Estate and Condition wherein they had found the Enemy, and the Stratagem which he alone had used against all their multitude; affirming that they were but rascally Rogues, Plunderers, Thieves and Robbers, ignorant of all military Discipline, and that they might boldly set forward unto the Field; it being an easie matter to fell and strike them down like Beasts, then Gar∣gantua mounted his great Mare, accompanied as we have said before, and finding in his way a high and great Tree (which com∣monly was called St. Martin's Tree, because heretofore St. Martin planted a Pilgrim's staff there; which grew to that height and greatness) said, This is that which I lacked; this Tree shall serve me both for a Staff and Lance: With that he pulled it up easily, pluck∣ed

it off the Boughs, and trimed it at his pleasure. In the mean time his Mare pissed to ease her Belly, but it was in such abun∣dance, that it did overflow the Country Seven Leagues, and all the flood ran glib away towards the Ford of Vede, wherewith the Water was so swollen, that all the Forces the Enemy had there, were with great hor∣ror drowned, except some who had taken the way on the left hand towards the Hills. Gargantua being come to the Wood of Vede, was informed by Eudemon, that there was some remainder of the Enemy within the Castle, which to know, Gargantua cried out as loud as he was able, Are you there, or are you not there? If you be there, be there no more; and if you be not there, I have no more to say. But a Ruffian Gunner at the Portcullis, let fly a Cannot-ball at him, and hit him with that shot most furiously on the right Temple of his head, yet did him no more hurt, then if he had but cast a Grape-stone at him: What is this? (said Gargantua) do yo throw at us Grape-stones here? The Vintage shall cost you dear, thinking indeed that the Bul∣let had been the stone of a Grape.

Those who were within the Castle, being till then busie at the pillage, when they heard this noise, ran to the Towers and For∣tresses, from whence they shot at him above Nine thousand and five and twenty Falcon∣shot and Harcabusades, aiming all at his

Head; and so thick did they shoot at him, that he cried out, Ponocrates my Friend, These Flies are like to put out mine Eyes; give me a Branch of those Willow-trees to drive them away, thinking that the Bullets and Stones shot out of the great Ordnance had been but Dun-flies. Ponocrates looked and saw there were no other Flies, but great shot which they had shot from the Castle. Then was it that he rusht with his great Tree a∣gainst the Castle, and with mighty blows overthrew both Towers and Fortresses, and laid all level with the Ground, by which means all that were within were slain and broken in pieces.

Going from thence, they came to the Bridge at the Mill, where they found all the Ford covered with dead Bodies, so thick, that they had choaked up the Mill, and stop∣ped the current of its Water; and these were those that were destroyed in the Urinal Deluge of the Mare. There they were at a stand, consulting how they might pass with∣out hindrance by these dead Carcasses. But Gymnast said, If the Devils have past there, I will pass well enough. The Devils have past there (said Eudemon) to carry away the damned Souls. By St. Rhenian (said Pono∣crates) then by necessary consequence he shall pass there. Yes, yes (said Gymnastes) or I shall stick in the way. Then setting Spurs to his Horse, he past through freely,

his Horse not fearing, nor being any ways affrighted at the sight of the dead Bodies. For he had accustomed him (according to the Doctrin of Aelian) not to fear Armour, nor the Carcasses of dead Men; and that not by killing Men as Diomedes did the Thracians, or as Vlysses did in throwing the Corpses of his Enemies at his Horses feet, as Homer saith; but by putting a Iack a-lent amongst his hay, and making him go over it ordinarily, when he gave him his Oats.

The other three followed him very close, except Eudemon only, whose Horses far fore∣foot sank up to the Knee in the Paunch of a great fat Chuff, who lay there upon his back drowned, and could not get it out. There was he pester'd, until Gargantua with the end of his Staff thrust down the rest of the Vil∣lain's Tripes into the Water, whilst the Horse pulled out his Foot; and (which is a won∣derful thing in Hippiatry) the said Horse was throughly cured of a Ringbone which he had in that Foot, by this touch of the burst guts of that great Looby.