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. II. Of the Nativity of the most dread and redoubt∣ed Pantagruel. (Book 2)

GArgantua at the age of foure hundred, fourescore fourty and foure yeares be∣gat his sonne Pantagruel, upon his wife na∣med Badebec, daughter to the King of the Amaurots in Utopia, who died in childe-birth, for he was so wonderfully great and lumpish, that he could not possibly come forth into the light of the world, without thus suffoca∣ting his mother. But that we may fully un∣derstand the cause and reason of the name of Pantagruel, which at his Baptism was given him, you are to remark, that in that yeare there was so great drought over all the coun∣trey of Affrick, that there past thirty and six moneths, three weeks, foure dayes, thirteen houres, and a little more without raine, but with a heat so vehement, that the whole earth was parched and withered by it: neither was it more scorched and dried up with heat in the dayes of Eliah, then it was at that time; for there was not a tree to be seen, that had either

leafe or bloom upon it: the grasse was with∣out verdure or greennesse, the rivers were drained, the fountaines dried up, the poore fishes abandoned and forsaken by their pro∣per element, wandring and crying upon the ground most horribly: the birds did fall down from the aire for want of moisture and dew, wherewith to refresh them: the wolves, foxes, harts, wild-boares, fallow-deer, hares, coneys, weesils, brocks, badgers, and other such beasts were found dead in the fields with their mouthes open; in respect of men, there was the pity, you should have seen them lay out their tongues like hares that have been run six houres: many did throw themselves into the wells: others entred within a Cowes belly to be in the shade; those Homer calls A∣libants: all the Countrey was idle, and could do no vertue: it was a most lamentable case to have seen the labour of mortals in defend∣ing themselves from the vehemencie of this horrifick drought; for they had work enough to do to save the holy water in the Churches from being wasted; but there was such order taken by the counsel of my Lords the Car∣dinals, and of our holy Father, that none did dare to take above one lick: yet when any one came into the Church, you should have seen above twenty poor thirsty fellows hang upon him that was the distributer of the wa∣ter, and that with a wide open throat, gaping

for some little drop, (like the rich glutton in Luke,) that might fall by, lest any thing should be lost. O how happy was he in that yeare, who had a coole Cellar under ground, well plenished with fresh wine!

The Philosopher reports in moving the question, wherefore it is that the sea-water is salt? that at the time when Phoebus gave the government of his resplendent chariot to his sonne Phaeton, the said Phaeton, unskilful in the Art, and not knowing how to keep the ecliptick line betwixt the two tropicks of the latitude of the Sunnes course, strayed out of his way, and came so near the earth, that he dried up all the Countreys that were under it, burning a great part of the Hea∣vens, which the Philosophers call via lactea, and the Huffsnuffs, St. Iames his way, al∣though the most coped, lofty, and high-crest∣ed Poets affirme that to be the place where Iuno's milk fell, when she gave suck to Her∣cules.

The earth at that time was so excessively heated, that it fell into an enormous sweat yea such a one as made it sweat out the sea which is therefore salt, because all sweat i•• salt; and this you cannot but confesse to b•• true, if you will taste of your own, or of those that have the pox, when they are put into •• sweating, it is all one to me. Just such an•• other case fell out this same yeare: for one

certain Friday, when the whole people were bent upon their devotions, and had made goodly Processions, with store of Letanies, and faire preachings, and beseechings of God Almighty, to look down with his eye of mer∣cy upon their miserable and disconsolate con∣dition, there was even then visibly seen issue out of the ground great drops of water, such as fall from a puff-bagg'd man in a top sweat; and the poore Hoydons began to rejoyce, as if it had been a thing very profitable unto them; for some said that there was not one drop of moisture in the aire, whence they might have any rain, and that the earth did supply the default of that. Other learned men said, that it was a showre of the Antipodes, as Se∣neca saith in his fourth book Quaestionum na∣turalium, speaking of the source and spring of Nilus: but they were deceived, for the Procession being ended, when every one went about to gather of this dew, and to drink of it with full bowles; they found that it was nothing but pickle, and the very brine of salt, more brackish in taste then the saltest water of the sea: and because in that very day Pantagruel was borne, his father gave him that name; for panta in Greek is as much to say as all, and Gruel in the Hagarene language doth signifie thirsty; inferring here∣by, that at his birth the whole world was a dry and thirstie, as likewise foreseeing that

he, would be some day Suprem Lord, & Sove∣reign of the thirstie Ethrappels, which was shewn to him at that very same hour by a more evident signe; for when his mother Badebec was in the bringing of him forth, and that the Midwives did wait to receive him: there came first out of her belly threescore and eight Tregeneers (that is, Salt-sellers,) every one of them leading in a Halter a Mule hea∣vy loaden with salt: after whom issued forth nine Dromedaries, with great loads of gam∣mons of bacon, and dried neats tongues on their backs: then followed seven Camels loaded with links and chitterlins, Hogs pud∣dings and salciges: after them came out five great waines, full of leeks, garlick, onions and chibols, drawn with five and thirty strong Cart-horses, which was six for every one, besides the Thiller. At the sight hereoi the said Midwives were much amazed; yet some of them said, Lo, here is good provi∣sion, and indeed we need it; for we drink but lazily, as if our tongues walked on crutches, and not lustily like Lansman dutches: truly this is a good signe, there is nothing here but what is fit for us, these are the spurres of wine that set it a going. As they were tatling thus together after their own manner of chat, behold, out comes Pantagruel all hairie like a Beare, whereupon one of them inspired with a prophetical Spirit, said, This will be a ter∣rible

fellow, he is borne with all his haire, he is undoubtedly to do wonderful things; and if he live, he shall have age.