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. XXX. How the Theologue, Hippothadee, giv∣eth Counsel to Panurge in the mat∣ter and business of his Nuptial En∣terprize. (Book 30)

THE Dinner on the subsequent Sun∣day was no sooner made ready, than that the afore-named invited Guests gave thereto their Appearance, all of them; Bridlegoose only excepted, who was the Deputy-Governor of the Fonspeton. At the ushering in of the Second Service, Panurge making a low Reverence, spake thus: Gentlemen, the Question I am to propound unto you shall be uttered in very few Words; Should I marry or no? If my Doubt herein be not resolved by you, I shall hold it altogether insolvable, as are the Insolubilia de Aliaco; for all of you are elected, chosen, and culled out from a∣mongst others, every one in his own Condition and Quality, like so many picked Peas on a Carpet.

The Father Hippothada, in obedience to the bidding of Pantagruel, and with much Courtesie to the Company, an∣swered exceeding modestly, after this man∣ner: My Friend, you are pleased to ask Counsel of us; but first you must consult with your self. Do you find any trouble or disquiet in your Body by the impor∣tunate stings and pricklings of the Flesh? That I do (quoth Panurge) in a hugely strong and almost irresistible mea∣sure: Be not offended, I beseech you, good Father, at the freedom of my Ex∣pression. No truly, Friend, not I, (quoth Hippothadee) there is no reason why I should be displeased therewith: But in this Carnal Strife and Debate of yours, have you obtained from God the Gift and special Grace of Continency? In good Faith, not, (quoth Panurge) My Counsel to you in that case (my Friend) is, that you marry, (quoth Hippothadee) for you should rather choose to marry once, than to burn still in Fires of Con∣cupiscence. Then Panurge, with a jovial Heart and a loud Voice, cried out, That is spoke gallantly, without circumbiliva∣ginating about and about, and never hit it in its centred Point. Grammercy, my good Father. In truth I am resolved now to marry, and without fail I shall do

it quickly. I invite you to my Wedding; by the Body of a Hen, we shall make good Cheer, and be as merry as Crickets: You shall wear the Bridegroom's Colours; and if we eat a Goose, my Wife shall not rost for me. I will intreat you to lead up the first Dance of the Brides Maids, if it may please you to do me so much Favour and Honour. There resteth yet a small Difficulty, a little Scruple, yea, even less than nothing, whereof I humbly crave your Resolution; Shall I be a Cuckold, Father, yea or no? By no means, (an∣swered Hippothadee) will you be Cuc∣kolded, if it please God. O the Lord help us now, (quoth Panurge) whither are we driven to, good Folks? To the Conditionals, which according to the Rules and Precepts of the Dialectick Faculty, admit of all contradictions and impossi∣bilities. If my Transalpine Mule had Wings, my Transalpine Mule would fly. If it please God I shall not be a Cockold, but I shall be a Cuckold if it please him. Good God, if this were a condition which I knew how to prevent, my Hopes should be as high as ever, nor would I despair: But you here send me to God's Privy Coun∣cil, to the Closet of his little Pleasures. You my French Countrymen, which is the way you take to go thither?

My honest Father, I believe it will be your best not to come to my Wedding: The clutter and dingle dangle noise of Marriage Guests will but disturb you, and break the serious Fancies of your Brain. You love Repose, with Solitude and Si∣lence; I really believe you will not come. And then you Dance but indifferently, and would be out of Countenance at the first Entry. I will send you some good things to your Chamber, together with the Bride's Favour, and there you may drink our Health, if it may stand with your good liking. My Friend (quoth Hippothadee) take my Words in the Sence wherein I meaned them, and do not mis∣interpret me. When I tell you, if it please God, do I to you any wrong there∣in? Is it an ill Expression? Is it a Blas∣pheming Clause or Reserve any way scan∣dalous unto the World? Do not we there∣by honour the Lord God Almighty, Cre∣ator, Pretector and Conserver of all things? Is not that a mean, whereby we do acknowledge him to be the sole Giver of all whatsoever is good? Do not we in that manifest our Faith, that we believe all things to depend upon his in∣finite and incomprehensible Bounty? and that without him nothing can be produ∣ced, nor after its Production be of any

value, force, or power, without the con∣curring aid and favour of his assisting Grace? Is it not a canonical and authen∣tick Exception, worthy to be premised to all our Undertakings? Is it not expedient that what we propose unto our selves, be still referred to what shall be disposed of by the Sacred Will of God, unto which all things must acquiesce in the Heavens as well as on the Earth? Is not that verily a sanctifying of his Holy Name? My Friend, you shall not be a Cuckold, if it please God, nor shall we need to despair of the knowledge of his good Will and Pleasure herein, as if it were such an ab∣struse and mysteriously hidden Secret, that for the clear understanding thereof it were necessary to consult with those of his Celestial Privy Council, or expresly make a Voyage unto the Empyrean Cham∣ber, where Order is given for the effe∣ctuating of his most holy Pleasures.

The great God hath done us this good, that he hath declared and revealed them to us openly and plainly, and described them in the Holy Bible. There will you find that you shall never be a Cuckold, that is to say, your Wife shall never be a Strumpet, if you make choice of one of a commendable Extraction, descended of honest Parents, and instructed in all

Piety and Vertue: Such a one as hath not at any time hanted or frequented the Com∣pany or Conversation of those that are of corrupt and deprav'd Manners; one loving and fearing God, who taketh a singular delight in drawing near to him by Faith, and the cordial observing of his Sacred Commandments: And finally, one who standing in awe of the Divine Majesty, of the most High, will be loath to offend him, and lose the favourable kindness of his Grace through any defect of Faith, or transgression against the Ordinances of his Holy Law, wherein Adultery is most rigorously forbidden, and a close Adhe∣rence to her Husband alone most strictly and severely enjoyned; yea, in such sort, that she is to cherish, serve and love him above any thing, next to God, that me∣riteth to be beloved. In the interim, for the better schooling of her in these In∣structions, and that the wholsom Do∣ctrine of a Matrimonial Duty may take the deeper Root in her Mind, you must needs carry your self so on your part, and your behaviour is to be such, that you are to go before her in a good Example, by entertaining her unfeigned∣ly with a Conjugal Amity, by continu∣ally approving your self in all your Words and Actions a faithful and discreet Hus∣band;

and by living not only at home, and privately with your own Houshold and Family, but in the face also of all Men, and open view of the World, devotely, vertuously and chastly, as you would have her on her side to deport and demean her self towards you, as becomes a Godly, Loyal and Respectful Wife, who maketh Conscience to keep inviolable the Tie of a Matrimonial Oath.

For as that Looking-glass is not the best, which is most deck'd with Gold and Pre∣cious Stones, but that which representeth to the Eye the liveliest shapes of Objects set before it: Even so that Wife should not be most esteemed who richest is, and of the noblest Race, but she who fearing God, conforms her self nearest unto the Humour of her Husband.

Consider how the Moon doth not bor∣row her Light from Iupiter, Mars, Mer∣cury, or any other of the Planets; nor yet from any of those Splendid Stars which are set in the spangled Firma∣ment; but from her Husband only, the bright Sun, which she receiveth from him more or less, according to the man∣ner of his Aspect, and variously bestowed Eradiations. Just so should you be a Pattern to your Wife in Vertue, goodly Zeal and true Devotion, that by your

Radiance in darting on her the Aspect of an Exemplary Goodness, she, in your imi∣tation, may outshine the Luminaries of all other Women. To this effect you daily must implore God's Grace to the Protection of you both. You would have me then (quoth Panurge, twisting the Whiskers of his Beard on either side with the Thumb and Fore-finger of his Left Hand) to espouse and take to Wife the prudent frugal Woman described by Solomon: Without all doubt she is clead, and truly to my best remembrance I never saw her; the Lord forgive me. Never∣theless I thank you, Father; eat this slice of Marchpane, it will help your Disgestion; then shall you be presented with a Cup of Claret Hypocras, which is right healthful and stomached. Let us proceed.