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. XXVI. How Pantagruel and his company were weary in eating still salt meats: and how Car∣palin went a hunting to have some Venison. (Book 26)

THus as they talked & chatted together, Carpalin said, And by the belly of St. Quenet, shal we never eat any venison? this salt meat makes me horribly dry, I will go fetch you a quarter of one of those horses which we have burnt, it is well roasted already: as he was rising up to go about it, he perceived under the side of a wood a fair great roe-buck, which was come out of his Fort (as I conceive) at the sight of Panurge's fire: him did he pur∣sue and run after with as much vigour and swiftnesse, as if it had been a bolt out of a Crossebowe, and caught him in a moment; and whilest he was in his course, he with his hands took in the aire foure great bustards, seven bitterns, six and twenty gray partridges,

two and thirty red legged ones, sixteen phea∣sants, nine woodcooks, nineteen herons, two and thirty coushots and ring-doves; and with his feet killed ten or twelve hares and rab∣bets, which were then at relief, and pretty big withal, eighteen rayles in a knot toge∣ther, with fifteen young wilde boares, two little Bevers, and three great foxes: so stri∣king the Kid with his fauchion athwart the head he killed him, and bearing him on his back, he in his return took up his hares, rayls, and young wilde boares, and as far off as he could be heard, cried out, & said, Panurge my friend, vineger, vineger: then the good Pan∣tagruel, thinking he had fainted▪ commanded them to provide him some vineger▪ but Pa∣nurge knew well that there was some good prey in hands, and forthwith shewed unto noble Pantagruel how he was bearing upon his back a faire roe-buck, and all his girdle bordered with hares; then immediately did Epistemon make in the name of the nine Mu∣ses, nine antick wooden spits: Eusthenes did help to flay, and Panurge placed two great cuirasier saddles, in such sort that they served for Andirons and making their prisoner to be their Cook, they roasted their venison by the fire, wherein the horsemen were burnt: and making great chear with a good deal of vineger, the devil a one of them did forbear from his victuals, it was a triumphant and

incomparable spectacle to see how they ra∣vened and devoured. Then said Pantagruel, Would to God every one of you had two paires of little Anthem or Sacring bells hang∣ing at your chin, and that I had at mine the great clocks of Renes, of Poitiers, of Tours, and of Cambray, to see what a peale they would ring with the wagging of our chaps; But, said Panurge, it were better we thought a little up∣on our businesse, and by what meanes we might get the upper hand of our enemies: That is well remembered, said Pantagruel; therefore spoke he thus to the prisoner, My friend, tell us here the truth, and do not lie to us at all, if thou wouldest not be flayed a∣live, for it is I that eat the little children: re∣late unto us at full the order, the number and the strength of the Army: to which the pri∣soner answered, Sir, know for a truth that in the army there are three hundred giants, all armed with armour of proof, and wonderful great: neverthelesse, not fully so great as you, except one that is their head, named Loup-garou, who is armed from head to foot with Cyclopical annuils; furthermore, one hundred threescore and three thousand foot, all armed with the skins of hobgoblins, strong and valiant men: eleven thousand foure hun∣dred men at armes or cuirasiers: three thou∣sand six hundred double canons, and harque∣busiers without number; fourescore and

fourteen thousand Pioneers: one hundred and fifty thousand whores, faire like goddes∣ses, (that is, for me said Panurge,) whereof some are Amazons, some Lionnoises, others Parisiennes, Taurangelles, Angevines, Poicte∣vines, Normandes, and high dutch, there are of them of all Countreys, and all Lan∣guages,

Yea, but (said Pantagruel) is the King there? Yes Sir, (said the prisoner) he is there in person, and we call him Anarchus, King of the Dipsodes, which is as much to say as thirsty people, for you never saw men more thirsty, nor more willing to drink, and his tent is guarded by the Giants: It is e∣nough (said Pantagruel) come brave boyes, are you resolved to go with me? To which Panurge answered, God confound him that leaves you: I have already bethought my self how I will kill them all like pigs, and so, that the devil one leg of them shall escape: but I am somewhat troubled about one thing: And what is that? said Pantagruel: It is (said Pa∣nurge) how I shall be able to set forward to the jusling and bragmardising of all the whores that be there this afternoon, in such sort, that there escape not one unbumped by me; breasted and jum'd after the ordinary fa∣shion of man and woman, in the Venetian conflict. Ha, ha, ha, ha, said Pantagruel.

And Carpalin said; The devil take these

sink-holes, if by G—I do not bumbast some one of them: Then said Eusthenes, What shall not I have any, whose paces since we came from Rowen, were never so well winded up, as that my needle could mount to ten or eleven a clock till now, that I have it hard, stiffe and strong, like a hundred de∣vils? Truly, (said Panurge,) thou shalt have of the fattest, and of those that are most plump, and in the best case.

How now? (said Epistemon) every one shall ride, and I must lead the Asse, the devil take him that will do so, we will make use of the right of warre, Qui potest capere, capiat: No, no, said Panurge, but tie thine Asse to a crook, and ride as the world doth: And the good Pantagruel laughed at all this, and said unto them, You reckon without your host; I am much afraid, that before it be night I shall see you in such taking, that you will have no great stomach to ride, but more like to be rode upon, with sound blowes of pike and lance: Baste, (said Epistemon) e∣nough of that, I will not faile to bring them to you, either to roste or boile, to fry or put in paste: they are not so many in number, as were in the army of Xerxes, for he had thirty hundred thousand fighting men, if you will beleeve Herodotus and Trogus Pompeius: and yet Themistocles with a few men over∣threw them all: for Gods sake take you no

care for that. Cobsminnie, Cobsminnie, (said Panurge) my Codpiece alone shall suffice to overthrow all the men; and my St. Sweep∣hole that dwells within it, shall lay all the wo∣men squat upon their backs. Up then my lads (said Pantagruel) and let us march a∣long.