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. XX. How Thaumast relateth the Vertues and Know∣ledg of Panurge.

THen Thaumast rose up, and putting off his Cap, did very kindly thank the said Panurge, and with a loud Voice said unto all the People that were there, My Lords, Gen∣tlemen, and others, at this time may I to some good Purpose speak that Evangelical Word, Et ecce plus quàm Salomon hîc. You have here in your Presence an incomparable Treasure, that is, my Lord Pantagruel, whose great Renown hath brought me hither, out of the very Heart of England, to confer with him about the insoluble Problems, both in Magick, Alchymy, the Caballe, Geomancy, Astrology and Philosophy, which I had in my Mind. But at present I am angry, even with Fame it self, which I think was envious to him, for that it did not declare the thousandth Part of the Worth that indeed is in him. You have seen how his Disciple only hath satisfied me, and hath told me more than I asked of him: besides, he hath opened unto me and resolved other inestimable Doubts, wherein I can assure you he hath to me discovered the very true Well, Fountain and Abyss of the Encyclopedeia of Learning; yea in such a sort,

that I did not think I should ever have found a Man that could have made his Skill appear, in so much as the first Elements of that concern∣ing which we disputed by Signs, without speaking either Word or half Word. But in fine, I will reduce into Writing that which we have said and concluded, that the World may not take them to be Fooleries, and will hereafter cause them to be printed, that every one may learn as I have done. Judg then what the Master had been able to say, seeing the Disciple hath done so valiantly; for, Non est Discipulus super Magistrum. Howsoever God be praised, and I do very humbly thank you for the Honour that you have done us at this Act: God reward you for it eternally. The like Thanks gave Pantagruel to all the Com∣pany; and going from thence, he carried Thaumast to Dinner with him, and believe that they drank as much as their Skins could hold; or, as the Phrase is, with unbottomed Bellies, (for in that Age they made fast their Bellies with Buttons, as we do now the Collars of our Doublets) even till they neither knew where they were, nor whence they came. Blessed Lady, how they did carouze it, and pluck (as we say) at the Kids Leather; and Flaggons to trot, and they to toot, Draw, give (Page) some Wine; here, reach hither, fill with a Devil, so? There was not one but did drink five and twenty or thirty Pipes, can you tell how? even sicut terra sine aqua; for

the Weather was hot; and besides that, they were very dry. In Matter of the Exposition of the Propositions set down by Thaumast; and the Signification of the Signs which they used in their Disputation, I would have set them down for you according to their own Relation; but I have been told that Thaumast made a great Book of it, imprinted at London, wherein he hath set down all without omitting any thing, and therefore at this Time I do pass by it.