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. XXXV. How the Philosopher Trouillogan ••an∣dleth the difficulty of Marriage. (Book 35)

AS this Discourse was ended, Panta∣gruel said to the Philosopher Trouillo∣gan, Our loyal, honest, true and trusty Friend, the Lamp from hand to hand is come to you; it falleth to your turn to give an Answer, Should Panurge, pray you, marry, yea or no? He should do both, quoth Trouillogan. What say you, asked Panurge? That which you have heard, answered Trouillogan. What have I heard? replied Panurge. That which I have said, replied Trouillogan. Ha, ha, ha, are we come to that pass, quoth Pa∣nurge? Let it go nevertheless, I do not value it at a rush, seeing we can make no

better of the Game. But howsoever tell me, Should I marry or no? Neither the one nor the other, answered Trouillogan. The Devil take me, quoth Panurge, if these odd Answers do not make me dote, and may be snatch me presently away, if I do understand you. Stay awhile until I fasten these Spectacles of mine on this left Ear, that I may hear you better. With this Pantagruel perceived at the Door of the great Hall, (which was that day their Dining Room) Gargantua's little Dog, whose Name was Kyne; for so was Toby's Dog called, as is Recorded. Then did he say to these who were there present, Our King is not far off, let us all rise. That word was scarcely sooner ••ttered, than that Gargantua with his Ro••al Pre∣sence graced that banqueting and stately Hall. Each of their Guests a••ose to do their King that Reverence and Duty which became them. After that Gargan∣tua had most affably saluted all the Gen∣tlemen there present, he said, Good Friends, I beg this Favour of you, and therein you will very much oblige me, that you leave not the places where you sate, nor quit the Discourse you were upon.

Let a Chair be brought hither unto this end of the Table, and reach me a Cup full of the strongest and best Wine you have, that I may drink to all the Com∣pany. You are in Faith, all welcom, Gentlemen. Now let me know what Talk you were about. To this Panta∣gruel answered, That at the beginning of the Second Service Panurge had proposed a Problematick Theme, to wit, Whether he should marry, or not marry? That Father Hippothadee, and Doctor Rondibilis had al∣ready dispatched their Resolutions there∣upon; and that just as his Majesty was coming in, the faithful Trouillogan, in the delivery of his Opinion, hath thus far proceeded, that when Panurge asked, whether he ought to marry, yea or no. At first he made this Answer, Both together. When this same Question was again pro∣pounded, his second Answer was, Not the one nor▪ the other. Panurge exclaimeth, that those Answers are full of Repugnan∣cies and Contradictions, protesting that he understands them not, nor what it is that can be meaned by them. If I be not mistaken, quoth Gargantua, I under∣stand it very well: The Answer is not unlike to that which was once made by a Philosopher in ancient times, who be∣ing interrogated, if he had a Woman,

whom they named him, to his Wife; I have her, quoth he, but she hath not me; possessing her, by her I am not possest. Such another Answer, quoth Pantagruel, was once made by a certain bouncing Wench of Sparta, who being asked, if at any time she had had to do with a Man? No, (quoth she) but sometimes Men have to do with me. Well then (quoth Rondibilis) let it be a Neuter in Physick; as when we say a bo∣dy is Neuter, when it is neither sick nor healthful; and a Mean in Philosophy; that by an Abnegation of both Extreams, and this by the Participation of the one and of the other: Even as when luke∣warm Water is said to be both hot and cold; or rather, as when Time makes the Partition, and equally divides betwixt the two, a while in the one, ano∣ther while, as long, in the other opposite extremity. The holy Apostle, (quoth Hippothadee) seemeth, as I conceive, to have more clearly explained this Point, when he said, Those that are married, let them be as if they were not married; and those that have Wives, let them be as if they had no Wives at all. I thus inter∣terpret (quoth Pantagruel) the having and not having of a Wife. To have a Wife, is to have the use of her in such a way as Nature hath ordained, which is for the

Aid, Society and Solace of Man, and pro∣pagating of his Race: To have no Wife is not to be uxorious, play the Cow∣ard, and be lazy about her, and not for her sake to distain the Lustre of that Affection which Man owes to God; or yet for her to leave those Offices and Duties which he owes unto his Coun∣try, unto his Friends and Kindred; or for her to abandon and forsake his pre∣cious Studies, and other businesses of Account, to wait still on her Will, her Beck, and her Buttocks. If we be plea∣sed in this Sense to take having and not having of a Wife, we shall indeed find no Repugnancy nor Contradiction in the Terms at all.