The third book of the works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick containing the heroick deeds of Pantagruel the son of Gargantua / now faithfully translated into English by the unimitable pen of Sir Thomas Urwhart.

CHAP. XXI. How Panurge consulteth with an old French Poet, named Raminagrobis. (Book 21)

I Never thought (said Pantagruel) to have encountred with any Man so head∣strong in his Apprehensions, or in his O∣pinions so wilful, as I have found you to be, and see you are. Nevertheless, the better to clear and extricate your Doubts, let us try all courses, and leave no stone unturned, nor wind unsailed by. Take good heed to what I am to say unto you, the Swans, which are Fouls consecrated to Apollo, never chant but in the hour of their approaching Death, especially in the Me∣ander Flood, which is a River that run∣neth along some of the Territories of Phrygia. This I say, because Elianus and Alexander Wyndius write, that they had seen several Swans in other places die, but ne∣ver heard any of them sing, or chant be∣fore their death. However, it passeth for current that the imminent death of a Swan is presaged by his foregoing Song, and

that no Swan dieth until preallably he have Sung.

After the same manner Poets, who are under the protection of Apollo, when they are drawing near their latter end, do or∣dinarily become Prophets, and by the in∣spiration of that God sing sweetly, in va∣ticinating things which are to come. It hath been likeways told me frequently, That old decrepit Men upon the Brinks of Charon's Banks, do usher their Decease with a disclosure, all at ease (to those that are desirous of such Informations) of the determinate and assured truth of future Accidents and Contingencies. I remem∣ber also that Aristophanes, in a certain Co∣medy of his, calleth folks Sybils, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for as when being upon a Pee•• by the Shore, we see afar off Mariners, Sea faring men, and other Travellers alongst the curled Waves of Azure Thetis within their Ships, we then consider them in si∣lence only, and seldom proceed any fur∣ther than to wish them a happy and pro∣sperous Arrival: but when they do ap∣proach near to the Haven, and come to wet their Keels within their Harbour, then both with words and gestures we salute them, and heartily congratulate their Ac∣cess safe to the Port wherein we are our selves. Just so the Angels, Heroes, and

good Demons (according to the Doctrine of Platonicks) when they see Mortals draw∣ing near unto the Harbour of the Grave, as the most sure and calmest Port of any, full of Repose, Ease, Rest, Tranquility; free from the Troubles and Sollicitudes of this tumultuous and tempestuous World; then is it that they with alacrity Hale and Salute them, Cherish and Comfort them, and speaking to them lovingly, begin even then to bless them with Illuminations, and to communicate unto them the abstrusest Mysteries of Divination. I will not offer here to confound your Memory by quo∣ting antick Examples of Isaac, of Iacob, of Patroclus towards Hector, of Hector to∣wards Achilles, of Polymnester towards A∣gamemnon, of Hecuba, of the Phodian re∣nowned by Possidonius, of Calanus the In∣dian towards Alexander the Great, of Oro∣des towards Mezentius, and of many others; it shall suffice for the present, that I com∣memorate unto you the learned and vali∣ant Knight and Cavalier William of Ballay▪ late Lord of Langcy, who died on the Hill of Tarara, the Tenth of Ianuary, in the Cli∣macterick year of his Age, and of our Sup∣putation 1543. according to the Roman Account. The last three or four hours of his Life he did imploy in the serious ut∣terance of a very pithy Discourse, whilst

with a clear Judgment, and Spirit void of all Trouble, he did foretell several impor∣tant Things, whereof a great deal is come to pass, and the rest we wait for. How∣beit, his Prophesies did at that time seem unto us somewhat strange, absurd, and unlikely; because there did not then ap∣pear any sign of efficacy enough to engage our Faith to the belief of what he did prognosticate▪

We have hear near to the Town of Vil∣lomer, a Man that is both Old and a Poet, to wit, Raminogrobis, who to his Second Wife espoused my Lady Broadsow, on whom he begot the fair Basoche▪ it hath been told me, he is a dying, and so near unto his latter end, that he is almost up∣on the very last moment, point, and arti∣cle thereof; repair thither as fast as you can, and be ready to give an attentive Ear to what he shall chant unto you: it may be, that you shall obtain from him what you desire, and that Apollo will be pleased, by his means, to clear your scruples. I am content (quoth Panurge) let us go thi∣ther Epistemon, and that both instantly and in all hast, least otherways his Death prevent our coming. Wilt thou come a∣long with us, Fryar Ihon? Yes, that I will, (quoth Fryar Ihon) right heartily to do thee a Courtesie, my Billy-ballocks; for

I love thee with the best of my Milt and Liver. Thereupon, incontinently, with∣out any further lingring to the way, they all three went, and quickly thereafter (for they made good speed) arriving at the Poetical Habitation, they found the jolly Old Man, albeit in the Agony of his De∣parture from this World, looking chear∣fully, with an open Countenance, splen∣did Aspect, and Behaviour full of alacri∣ty. After that Panurge had very civilly saluted him, he in a free Gift did present him with a Gold▪Ring, which he even then put upon the Medical Finger of his Left Hand, in the Collet or Bezle where∣of was inchased an Oriental Saphire, very fair and large. Then, in imitation of So∣crates, did he make an Oblation unto him of a fair White Cock; which was no sooner set upon the Tester of his Bed, then that with a high raised Head and Crest, lustily shaking his Feather-Coat, he crowed Sten∣toriphonically loud. This done, Panurge very courteously required of him, that he would vouchsafe to favour him with the Grant and Report of his Sence and Judg∣ment, touching the future Destiny of his intended Marriage. For answer hereto, when the honest Old Man had forthwith commanded Pen, Paper, and Ink to be brought unto him, and that he was at the

same Call conveniently served with all the three, he wrote these following Verses▪

Take, or not take her, Off, or on: Handy-dandy is your Lot. When her Name you write, you blot. 'Tis undone, when all is done, Ended e're it was begun: Hardly Gallop, if you Trot, Set not forward when you Run, Nor be single, tho' alone, Take, or not take her.

Before you Eat, begin to Fast; For what shall be was never past. Say, unsay, gainsay, save your Breath▪ Then wish at once her Life and Death. Take, or not take her.

These Lines he gave out of his own Hands unto them, saying unto them, Go my Lads in Peace, the great God of the highest Hea∣vens be your Guardian and Preserver; and do not offer any more to trouble or disquiet me with this or any other Business whatsoever. I have this same very day (which is the last both of May▪ and of me) with a great deal of labour, toyl, and difficulty, ••••ased out of my House a rabble of filthy, unclean, and plagui∣••y pestilentious Rake ••elts, black Beasts, dusk,

dun, white, ash-coloured, speckled, and a foul Vermine of other hues, whose obtrusive impor∣tunity would not permit me to die at my own case: for by fraudulent and deceitful prick∣lings, ravenous, Harpy-like graspings, wa∣spish stingings, and such-like unwelcome Ap∣proaches, forged in the Shop of I know not what kind of Insatiabilities; they went about to withdraw, and call me out of those sweet Thoughts, wherein I was already beginning to repose myself, and acquiesce in the Contempla∣tion and Vision; yea, almost in the very touch and tast of the Happiness and Felicity which the good God hath prepared for his faithful Saints, and Elect in the other Life, and State of Immortality. Turn out of their Courses, and eschew them, step forth of their ways, and do not resemble them, mean while, let me be no more troubled by you, but leave me now in silence, I beseech you.