The second book of the works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick treating of the heroick deeds and sayings of the good Pantagruel. Written originally in the French tongue, and now faithfully translated into English. By S.T.U.C.

CHAP. XXIV. A Letter which a messenger brought to Pan∣tagruel from a Lady of Paris, together with the exposition of a Posie, writ∣ten in a gold Ring. (Book 24)

WHen Pantagruel had read the super∣scription, he was much amazed, and therefore demanded of the said messenger

the name of her that had sent it: then open∣ed he the letter, and found nothing written in it, nor otherwayes inclosed, but only a gold ring, with a square table-diamond. Wondering at this, he called Panurge to him, and shewed him the case; whereupon Panurge told him, thar the leafe of paper was written upon, but with such cunning and ar∣tifice that no man could see the writing at the first sight, therefore to finde it out he set it by the fire, to see if it was made with Sal Armoniack soaked in water; then put he it into the water, to see if the letter was written with the juice of Tithymalle: after that he held it up against the candle, to see if it was written with the juice of white onions.

Then he rubbed one part of it with oile of nuts, to see if it were not written with the lee of a fig-tree: and another part of it with the milk of a woman giving suck to her el∣dest daughter, to see if it was written with the blood of red toads, or green earth-frogs: Afterwards he rubbed one corner with the ashes of a Swallowes nest, to see if it were not written with the dew that is found within the herb Alcakengie, called the winter-cherry. He rubbed after that one end with eare-wax, to see if it were not written with the gall of a Raven: then did he dip it into vineger, to try if it was not written with the juice of the garden Spurge: After that he greased it with

the fat of a bat or flittermouse, to see if it was not written with the sperm of a whale, which some call ambergris: Then put it ve∣ry fairly into a basin full of fresh water, and forthwith took it out, to see whether it were written with stone-allum: But after all expe∣riments, when he perceived that he could finde out nothing, he called the messenger, and asked him, Good fellow, the Lady that sent thee hither, did she not give thee a staffe to bring with thee? thinking that it had been according to the conceit, whereof Aulus Gel∣lius maketh mention, and the Messenger an∣swered him, No, Sir. Then Panurge would have caused his head to be shaven, to see whe∣ther the Lady had written upon his bald pate, with the hard lie whereof sope is made, that which she meant; but perceiving that his hair was very long, he forbore, considering that it could not have grown to so great a length in so short a time.

Then he said to Pantagruel, Master, by the vertue of G—I cannot tell what to do nor say in it; for to know whether there be any thing written upon this or no; I have made use of a good part of that which Master Fran∣cisco di Nianto, the Tuscan sets down, who hath written the manner of reading letters that do not appear; that which Zoroastes published, peri grammaton acriton; and Cal∣phurnius Bassus de literis illegibilibus: but I

can see nothing, nor do I beleeve that there is any thing else in it then the Ring: let us therefore look upon it, which when they had done, they found this in Hebrew written with∣in, Lamach sabathani; whereupon they called Epistemon, and asked him what that meant? to which he answered, that they were He∣brew words, signifying, Wherefore hast thou forsaken me? upon that Panurge suddenly re∣plied: I know the mystery, do you see this diamond? it is a false one; this then is the exposition of that which the Lady meanes, Diamant faux, that is, false lover, why hast thou forsaken me? which interpretation Pan∣tagruel presently understood, and withal re∣membering, that at his departure he had not bid the Lady farewel, he was very sorry, and would faine have returned to Paris, to make his peace with her; but Epistemon put him in minde of Aeneas's departure from Dido, and the saying of Heraclitus of Tarentum, That the ship being at anchor when need re∣quireth, we must cut the cable rather then lose time about untying of it, and that he should lay aside all other thoughts to succour the City of his Nativity, which was then in dan∣ger; and indeed within an houre after that, the winde arose at the North-north-west, wherewith they hoised saile, and put out, even into the maine sea, so that within few dayes, passing by Porto Sancto, and by the Maderas,

they went ashore in the Canarie islands; part∣ing from thence, they passed by Capobianco, by Senege, by Capoverde, by Gambre, b•• Sa∣gres, by Melli, by the Cap di buona Speranza▪ and set ashore againe in the Kingdom of Melinda; parting from thence, they sailed a∣way with a tramoutan or northerly winde, passing by Meden, by Uti, by Uden, by Ge∣lasim, by the isles of the Fairies, and alongst the Kingdome of Achorie, till at last they arrived at the port of Utopia, distant from the City of the Amaurots three leagues and somewhat more.

When they were ashore, and pretty well refreshed, Panurge said, Gentlemen, the City is not farre from hence, therefore were it not amisse before we set forward, to advise well what is to be done, that we be not like the A∣thenians, who never took counsel until after the fact: Are you resolved to live and die with me? Yes, Sir, said they all, and be as confi∣dent of us, as of your own fingers. Well (said he) there is but one thing that keeps my minde in great doubt and suspense, which is this, that I know not in what order nor of what number the enemie is, that layeth siege to the City; for if I were certain of that, I should go forward, and set on with the bet∣ter assurance. Let us therefore consult toge∣ther, and be think our selves by what meanes we may come to this intelligence: where∣unto

they all said, Let us go thither and see, and stay you here for us, for this very day, without further respite do we make account to bring you a certain report thereof.

My self (said Panurge) will undertake to enter into their camp, within the very midst of their guards, unespied by their watch, and merrily feast and lecher it at their cost, with∣out being known of any, to see the Artille∣ry and the Tents of all the Captaines, and thrust my self in with a grave and magni∣fick carriage, amongst all their troops and companies, without being discovered; the devill would not be able to peck me out with all his circumventions: for I am of the race of Zopyrus.

And I (said Epistemon) know all the plots and stratagems of the valiant Captaines, and warlike Champions of former ages, together with all the tricks and subtilties of the Art of warre; I will go, and though I be detected and revealed, I will escape, by making them beleeve of you whatever I please, for I am of the race of Sinon.

I (said Eusthenes) will enter and set upon them in their trenches, in spight of their Sentries, and all their guards; for I will tread upon their bellies, and break their legs and armes, yea though they were every whit as strong as the devil himself; for I am of the race of Hercules.

And I (said Carpalin) will get in there, if the birds can enter, for I am so nimble of body, and light withal, that I shall have leap∣ed over their trenches, and ran clean through all their camp, before that they perceive me, neither do I feare shot, nor arrow, nor horse, how swift soever, were he the Pega∣sus of Persee▪ or Pacolet; being assured that I shall be able to make a safe and sound escape before them all, without any hurt: I will undertake to walk upon the eares of corne, of grasse in the meddows, without making ei∣ther of them do so much as bow under me; for I am of the race of Camilla the Ama∣zone.