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 XXV. How Panurge, Carpalin, Eusthenes and Episte∣mon, (the Gentlemen Attendants of Panta∣gruel) vanquished and discomfited six hun∣dred and threescore Horse-men very cun∣ningly.

AS he was speaking this, they perceived six hundred and threescore light Horse-men, gallantly mounted, who came to discover what Ship and Company it was that was newly arrived in the Harbour; and came in a full Gallop to take them if they had been able. Then said Pantagruel, my Lads, re∣tire your selves unto the Ship, here are some of our Enemies coming apace, but I will kill them here before you like Beasts, although they were ten times so many; in the mean time withdraw your selves, and take your sport at it. Then answered Panurge, No, Sir, there is no reason that you should do so; but on the contrary, retire you unto the Ship, both you and the rest; for I alone will here discomfit them, but we must not linger, come, set forward. Whereunto the others said, It is well advised; Sir, withdraw your self, and we will help Panurge here, so shall you know

what we are able to do. Then said Pantagruel, Well, I am content, but if that you be too weak, I will not fail to come to your assi∣stance.

With this Panurge took two great Cables of the Ship, and tied them to the Capstane which was on the Deck towards the Hatches, and fastned them in the Ground, making a long Circuit, the one further off, the other within that. Then said he to Epistemon, Go aboard the Ship, and when I give you a Call, turn about the Capstane upon the Or∣lop diligently, drawing unto you the two Ca∣ble-robes. And said to Eusthenes, and to Car∣palin, My Bullies, stay you here, and offer your selves freely to your Enemies, do as they bid you, and make as if you would yield unto them: but take heed you come not within the Compass of the Ropes; be sure to keep your selves free of them. And presently he went aboard the Ship, and took a Bundle of Straw, and a Barrel of Gun-powder, strewed it round about the Compass of the Cords, and stood by with a Brand of Fire or Match lighted in his Hand. Presently came the Horse-men with great Fury, and the foremost ran almost home to the Ship; and by reason of the Slipperiness of the Bank, they fell they and their Horses, to the number of four and fourty; which the rest seeing, came on, think∣ing that Resistance had been made them at their arrival. But Panurge said unto them,

My Masters, I believe that you have hurt your selves; I pray you pardon us, for it is not our Fault, but the Slipperiness of the Sea-water that is always flowing: we sub∣mit our selves to your good pleasure: So said likewise his two other Fellows, and E∣pistemon that was upon the Deck. In the mean time, Panurge withdrew himself, and seeing that they were all within the Com∣pass of the Cables, and that his two Compa∣nions were retired, making room for all those Horses which came in a Croud, thronging up∣on the Neck of one another to see the Ship, and such as were in it, cried out on a sudden to Epistemon, Draw, draw. Then began E∣pistemon to wind about the Capstane, by do∣ing whereof the two Cables so intangled and impestered the Legs of the Horses, that they were all of them thrown down to the Ground easily, together with their Riders. But they seeing that, drew their Swords, and would have cut them. Whereupon Panurge set Fire to the Train, and there burnt them up all like damned Souls, both Men and Horses, not one escaping save one alone; who being mounted on a fleet Turky Cour∣ser, by meer speed in Flight got himself out of the Circle of the Ropes. But when Carpalin perceived him, he ran after him with such Nimbleness and Celerity, that he overtook him in less than a hundred Pa∣ces; than leaping close behind him up∣on

the Crupper of his Horse, clasped him in his Arms, and brought him back to the Ship.

This Exploit being ended, Pantagruel was very jovial, and wondrously commended the Industry of these Gentlemen, whom he called his Fellow-Souldiers, and made them re∣fresh themselves, and feed well and merrily upon the Sea-shore, and drink heartily with their Bellies upon the Ground, and their Pri∣soner with them, whom they admitted to that Familiarity; only that the poor Devil was not well assured but that Pantagruel would have eaten him up whole; which, considering the Wideness of his Mouth, and Capacity of his Throat, was no great mat∣ter for him to have done; for he could have done it, as easily as you would eat a small Comfit, he shewing no more in his Throat than would a Grain of Millet-Seed in the Mouth of an Ass.