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. XLI. How the Monk made Gargantua sleep, and of his Hours and Breviaries.

SUpper being ended, they consulted of the business in hand, and concluded that a∣bout midnight they should fall unawares up∣on the enemy, to know what manner of watch and ward they kept; and in the mean while take a little rest, the better to refresh them∣selves. But Gargantua could not sleep by any means, on which side soever he turned himself. Whereupon the Monk said to him, I never sleep soundly, but when I am at Sermon or Pray∣ers. Let us therefore begin, you and I, the seven penitential Psalms, to try whether you shall not quickly fall asleep. The conceit pleased Gargantua very well, and beginning the first of these Psalms, as soon as they came to Be∣ati quorum, they fell asleep both the one and the other. But the Monk for his being for∣merly accustomed to the hour of Claustral ma∣tines, failed not to awake a little before mid∣night, and being up himself awaked all the rest, in singing aloud, and with a full clear voice, the song,

Awake, O Reinian, awake; Awake, O Reinian, Ho▪

Get up for a Pot and a Cake; With a diddle dum, diddle dum, do.

When they were all rowsed and up, he said, My Masters, it is a usual saying, that we begin Matines with coughing, and supper with drinking; let us now (in doing clean contrari∣ly) begin our Matines, with drinking, and at Night before supper, we shall cough as hard as we can. What? (said Gargantua) to drink so soon after sleep, this is not to live by the rule of Physicians; for you ought first to scour and cleanse your stomac of all its superfluities: O rot your Physicians, said the Monk, a hundred devils leap into my body, if there be not more old Drunkards, then old Physicians. I have made this paction and covenant with my Appetite, that it always lieth down, and goes to Bed with me (for of that I take very good care) and then it also riseth with me the next Morning, tend your cures as much as you will, I will get me to my tiring. What tiring do you mean (said Gargan∣tua?) My Breviary (said the Monk) for just as the Falconers, before they feed their Hawks, do make them tire at a hens leg, to purge their Brains of flegm, and sharpen them to a good Appetite; so by taking this jolly little Brevi∣ary, in the Morning I scour all my Lungs, and find my self ready to drink.

After what manner (said Gargantua) do you say these belly heures of yours? After the man∣ner

of Whipfield, said the Monk, by three Psalms, and three Lessons, or nothing at all, he that will. I never tye my self to hours, les heures are made for the Man, and not the Man for les heures; therefore is it that I make my Prayers in fashion of stirrup-leathers; I shor∣ten or lengthen them when I think good. Bre∣vis Oratio penetrat coelos, & long a potatio evacuat Scyphos.

Where is that written? by my faith (said Ponocrates) I cannot tell, my Pillicock, but thou art worth gold; like you Sir, said the Monk; but venite, apotemus. Then made they ready rashers on the Coals in abundance, and good fat Brewis with Sippets; and the Monk drank at pleasure. Some kept him company, and did as he did; others let it alone. Afterwards e∣very Man began to arm and equip himself for battle, and they armed the Monk against his Will; for he desired no other Armour for Back and Breast, but his frock, nor any other weapon in his hand, but the staff of the Cross; yet at their pleasure was he armed cap a-pe, and mounted upon one of the best Horses in the Kingdom, with a good slashing sable by his side, together with him were Gargantua, Pono∣crates, Gymnast, Eudemon, and five and twenty more of the most resolute and adventurous of Grangousier's house, all armed at proof with their lances in their hands, mounted like St. George, and every one of them having a har∣quebuse behind him.