The first [second] book of the works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick, containing five books of the lives, heroick deeds, and sayings of Gargantua, and his sonne Pantagruel. Together with the Pantagrueline prognostication, the oracle of the divine Bachus, and response of the bottle. Hereunto are annexed the navigations unto the sounding isle, and the isle of the Apedests: as likewise the philosophical cream with a Limosm epistle. / All done by Mr. Francis Rabelais, in the French tongue, and now faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XII. Of Gargantua's wooden Horses.

AFterwards, that he might be all his life∣time a good Rider, they made to him a faire great horse of wood, which he did make leap, curvete, yerk out behinde, and skip forward, all at a time: to pace, trot, rack, gallop, amble, to play the hobbie, the hackney-guelding: go the gate of the camel & of the wild asse. He made him also change his colour of hair, as the Monks of Coultibo, (according to the variety of their holy-days) use to do their clothes, from bay, brown, to sorrel, daple-gray, mouse-dun, deer-colour, roan, cow-colour, gingioline, skued colour, pybal'd, and the colour of the savage elk.

Himself of an huge big post made a hunt∣ing nag: and another for daily service, of the

beam of a Vine-presse: and of a great Oak, made up a mule, with a foot-cloth for his chamber. Besides this, he had ten or twelve spare horses, and seven horses for post; and all these were lodged in his own chamber, close by his bed-side. One day the Lord of Breadinbag came to visit his father in great * 1.1 bravery, and with a gallant traine: and at the same time to see him came likewise the Duke of Free-meale, and the Earle of Wet∣gullet. The house truly for so many guests at once was somewhat narrow, but especial∣ly the stables; whereupon the steward and harbinger of the said Lord Breadinbag, to know if there were any other empty stables in the house, came to Gargantua, a little young lad, and secretly asked him where the stables of the great horses were, thinking that children would be ready to tell all? Then he led them up along the stairs of the Castle, passing by the second Hall unto a broad great Gallery, by which they entred into a large Tower, and as they were going up at another paire of staires, said the harbinger to the steward, this childe deceives us, for the stables are never on the top of the house: You may be mistaken (said the steward,) for I know some places at Lyons, at the Basmette, at Chaunon, and elsewhere, which have their stables at the very tops of the houses, so it may be, that behinde the house there is a way

to come to this ascent, but I will question with him further. Then said he to Gargan∣tua, My pretty little boy, whither do you lead us? To the stable (said he) of my great horses, we are almost come to it, we have but these staires to go up at, then leading them alongst another great Hall, he brought them into his chamber, and opening the door said unto them, This is the stable that you ask for: this is my gennet, this is my gelding, this my courser, and this my hackney, and laid on them with a great Leaver: I will be∣stow upon you (said he) this Frizeland horse, I had him from Francfort, yet will I give him you; for he is a pretty little nagge, and will go very well, with a tessel of goosehawk, halfe a dosen of spaniels, and a brace of grey-hounds, thus are you King of the hares and partridges for all this winter. By St. John (said they) now we are payed, he hath gleek∣ed us to some purpose, bobbed we are now for ever: I deny it (said he) he was not here above three dayes, judge you now, whether they had most cause, either to hide their heads for shame, or to laugh at the jest: as they were going down again thus amazed, he asked them, Will you have a whimwham? What is that, said they? It is (said he) five turds * 1.2 to make you a muzzel: To day (said the steward,) though we happen to be rosted, we shall not be burnt, for we are pretty well

quipped and larded in my opinion. O my jolly daper boy, thou hast given us a gudge∣on, I hope to see thee Pope before I die: I think so (said he) my self: and then shall you be a puppie, and this gentle popinjeay a perfect papelard, that is, dissembler: Well, well, (said the harbinger,) But (said Gargan∣tua;) guesse how many stitches there are in my mothers smock: Sixteen (quoth the har∣binger,) You do not speak Gospel (said Gar∣gantua) for there is sent before, and sent be∣hinde, and you did reckon them ill, consi∣dering the two under holes: When (said the harbinger?) Even then (said Gargantua,) when they made a shovel of your nose to take up a quarter of dirt, and of your throat a funnel, wherewith to put it into another vessel, be∣cause the bottom of the old one was out. Cocksbod (said the steward) we have met with a Prater. Farewel (Master tatler) God keep you, so goodly are the words which you come out with, and so fresh in your mouth, that it had need to be salted.

Thus going down in great haste, under the arch of the staires, they let fall the great Lea∣ver, which he had put upon their backs, whereupon Gargantua said, what a deedle, you are (it seems) but bad horsemen, that suffer your bilder to faile you, when you need him most, if you were to go from hence to Chausas, whether had you rather ride on a

gesling, or lead a sow in a Leash? I had ra∣ther drink (said the harbinger,) with this they entered into the lower Hall, where the company was, and relating to them this new story, they made them laugh like a swarm of flies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Painen sac Franc∣repas mouille¦vent.
• * 1.2

  Aubeliere.