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. I. How Pantagruel transported a Colony of Utopians into Dypsodie. (Book 1)

PAntagruel having wholly s••bdued the Land of Dypsodie, transported thereunto a Colony of Utopians, to the number of 9876543210 Men, be∣sides the Women and little Children, Ar∣tificers of all Trades, and Professors of all Sciences; to people, cultivate and im∣prove that Country, which otherways was ill inhabited, and in the greatest part thereof but a meer Desert and Wilderness; and did transport them so much for the excessive multitude of Men and Women which were in Utopia, multiplied (for number) like Grashoppers upon the face of the Land. You understand well e∣nough, nor is it needful further to explain it to you, that the Utopian Men had so rank and fruitful Genetories, and that the Utopian Women carryed Matrixes so ample, so glutonous, so tenaciously reten∣tive, and so Architectonically cellulated, that

at the end of every Ninth Month Seven Children at the least (what Male what Female) were brought forth by every Married Woman, in imitation of the People of Israel in Egypt, if Anthony de Lira be to be trusted. Nor yet was this Transplantation made so much for the Fertility of the Soil, the Wholsomness of the Air, or Commodity of the Country of Dypsodie, as to retain that Rebellious People within the bounds of their Duty and Obedience, by this new Transport of his ancient and most faithful Subjects, who from all time out of mind, never knew, acknowledged, owned or served any other Soveraign Lord but him; and who likewise from the very instant of their Birth, as soon as they were entred into this World, had, with the Milk of their Mothers and Nurses, sucked in the Sweetness, Humanity and Mildness of his Government, to which they were all of them so nourished and habituated, that there was nothing surer, than that they would sooner abandon their Lives, than swerve from this singular and primitive Obedience naturally due to their Prince, whithersoever they should be dispersed or removed.

And not only should they, and their Children successively descending from their Blood, be such, but also would keep and maintain in this same Fealty, and obsequious Observance, all the Nations lately annexed to his Empire; which so truly came to pass, that therein he was not disappointed of his intent. For if the Utopians were before their Transplantation thither dutiful and faithful Subjects, the Dypsodes, after some few days conversing with them, were every whit as (if not more) loyal than they; and that by vertue of I know not what natural Fervency in∣cident to all Humane Creatures at the be∣ginning of any labour wherein they took delight; solemnly attesting the Heavens, and supreme Intelligences of their being on∣ly sorry, that no sooner unto their know∣ledge had arrived the great Renown of the good Pantagruel.

Remark therefore here (honest Drin∣kers) that the manner of preserving and retaining Countries newly Conquered in Obedience, is not (as hath been the Er∣ronious Opinion of some Tyrannical Spi∣rits to their own Detriment and Disho∣nour) to pillage, plunder, force, spoil, trouble, oppress, vex, disquiet, ruine and destroy the People, ruling, governing and keeping them in awe with Rods of Iron;

and (in a word) eating and devouring them, after the fashion that Homer calls an unjust and wicked King, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, a Devourer of his People.

I will not bring you to this purpose the Testimony of Ancient Writers; it shall suffice to put you in mind of what your Fathers have seen thereof, and your selves too, if you be not very Babes. New∣born, they must be given suck to, rocked in a Cradle, and dandled. Trees newly planted must be supported, underpropped, strengthened and defended against all Tempests, Mischiefs, Injuries and Cala∣mities. And one lately saved from a long and dangerous Sickness, and new upon his Recovery, must be forborn, spared and cherished, in such sort, that they may harbour in their own Breasts this Opini∣on, that there is not in the World a King or a Prince, who does not desire fewer Ene∣mies, and more Friends.

Thus Osiris the great King of the Egyp∣tians, conquered almost the whole Earth, not so much by Force of Arms, as by ea∣sing the People of their Troubles, teach∣ing them how to live well, and honestly giving them good Laws, and using them with all possible Affability, Curtesie, Gen∣tleness and Liberality: Therefore was he by all Men deservedly Entituled, The

Great King Evergetes (that is to say Be∣nefactor) which Style he obtained by ver∣tue of the Command of Iupiter to Pa∣myla.

And in effect, Hesiod, in his Hierarchy placed the good Demons (call them Angels if you will, or Geniuses) as Intercessors and Mediators betwixt the Gods and Men, they being of a degree inferiour to the Gods, but superiour to Men; and for that through their Hands the Riches and Be∣nefits we get from Heaven are dealt to us; and that they are continually doing us good, and still protecting us from evil. He saith, that they exercise the Offices of Kings; because to do always good, and never ill, is an Act most singularly Royal.

Just such another was the Emperor of the Universe, Alexander the Macedonian. After this manner was Hercules Sovereign Possessor of the whole Continent, reliev∣ing Men from monstrous Oppressions, Exactions and Tyrannies; governing them with Discretion, maintaining them in Equity and Justice, instructing them with seasonable Policies and wholsom Laws, convenient for, and suitable to the Soil, Climate and Disposition of the Country, supplying where was wanting, abating what was superfluous, and par∣doning all that was past, with a sempi∣ternal

forgetfulness of all preceding Of∣fences, as was the Amnestie of the Atheni∣ans, when by the Prowess, Valour and Industry of Thrasybulus, the Tyrants were exterminated; afterwards at Rome by Cicero exposed, and renewed under the Emperor Aurelian. These are the Philtres, Al∣lurements, Iynges, Inveiglements, Baits, and Enticements of Love, by the means whereof that may be peaceably revived, which was painfully acquired. Nor can a Conqueror Reign more happily, whe∣ther he be a Monarch, Emperor, King, Prince or Philosopher, than by making his Justice to second his Valour. His Va∣lour shows it self in Victory and Con∣quest; his Iustice will appear in the good Will and Affection of the People, when he maketh Laws, publisheth Ordinances, establisheth Religion, and doth what is right to every one, as the noble Poet Virgil writes of Octavian Augustus.

—Victorque volentes Per populos dat jura.

Therefore is it that Homer in his Iliads calleth a good Prince and great King 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, The Ornament of the People.

Such was the Consideration of Numa Pompilius the Second King of the Romans, a just Politician and wise Philosopher, when he ordained that to God Terminus, on the day of his Festival called Termina∣les, nothing should be Sacrificed that had died; teaching us thereby, that the Bounds, Limits and Frontiers of Kingdoms should be guarded, and preserved in Peace, Ami∣ty and Meekness, without polluting our Hands with Blood and Robbery: Who doth otherways, shall not only lose what he hath gained, but also be loaded with this Scandal and Reproach, That he is an unjust and wicked Purchaser, and his Ac∣quests perish with him, Iuxta illud malae parta, male dilabuntur. And although du∣ring his whole Life-time, he should have peaceable possession thereof; yet if what hath been so acquired moulder away in the Hands of his Heirs the same Oppro∣by, Scandal and Imputation will be char∣ged upon the Defunct, and his Memory remain accursed for his unjust and unwar∣rantable Conquest, Iuxta illud, de male quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres.

Remark, likewise, Gentlemen, you Gouty Feoffees in this main Point worthy of your Observation, how by these means Pantagruel of one Angel made two, which was a Contingency opposite to the

Council of Charlemaine, who made two Devils of one, when he transplanted▪ the Sax∣ons into Flanders, and the Flemins into Saxony. For not being able to keep in such Subjection the Saxons, whose Domi∣nion he had joyned to the Empire, but that ever and anon they would break forth into open Rebellion, if he should casu∣ally be drawn into Spain, or other re∣mote Kingdoms: He caused them to be brought unto his own Country of Flan∣ders, the Inhabitants whereof did natu∣rally obey him; and transported the Haynaults and Flemens, his ancient loving Subjects, into Saxony, not mistrusting their Loyalty, now that they were trans∣planted into a strange Land. But it hap∣ned that the Saxons persisted in their Re∣bellion and primitive Obstinacy; and the Flemins dwelling in Saxony did imbibe the stubborn Manners and Conditions of the Saxons.