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FRANCOIS RABELAIS

Gargantua and Pantagruel

Francois Rabelais was born at Seuille in Touraine, France, about 1483.  Brought up in a Franciscan convent, he was made a priest in 1520.  During his monastic career he conceived a deep and lasting contempt for monkish life, and he obtained permission from the Pope to become a secular priest.  He then studied medicine, and became a physician.  After wandering about France for many years, he was appointed parish priest of Meudon in 1551, and he died at Paris in 1553.  “The Great and Inestimable Chronicles of the Grand and Enormous Giant Gargantua” ("Les Grandes et Inestimables Chroniques du Grande et Enorme Geant Gargantua"), and its sequel, “Pantagruel,” appeared between 1533 and 1564.  Had these appeared during Rabelais’ life, his career would probably have been shorter than it was, for the work is, with all its humour, a very bitter satire against both the Roman Church and the Calvinistic.  Rabelais is one of the very great French writers and humourists whose work is closely connected with English literature.  But what he borrowed from Sir Thomas More, he generously repaid to Shakespeare, Swift, and Sterne.  The famous Abbey of Thelema is inspired by More’s “Utopia”; on the other hand, Shakespeare’s praise of debt is taken from the speech of Panurge—­the most humorous character in French literature, and worthy to stand beside Falstaff.

I.—­The Very Horrific Life of the Great Gargantua

Grangousier was a right merry fellow in his time, and he had as great a love as any man living in the world for neat wine and salt meat.  When he came to man’s estate he married Gargamelle, daughter to the king of the Parpaillons, a jolly wench and good looking, who died in giving birth to a son.

They had gone out with their neighbours in a hurl to Willow Grove, and there on the thick grass they danced so gallantly that it was a heavenly sport to see them so frolic.  Then began flagons to go, gammons to trot, goblets to fly, and glasses to rattle.  “Draw, reach, fill, mix.  Give it to me—­without water; so my friend.  Whip me off this bowl gallantly.  Bring me some claret, a full glass running over.  A truce to thirst!  By my faith, gossip, I cannot get in a drinking humour!  Have you caught a cold, gammer?  Let’s talk of drinking.  Which was first, thirst or drinking?  Thirst, for who would have drunk without thirst in the time of innocence?  I do, as I am a sinner.  I drink to prevent thirst.  I drink for the thirst to come.  Let’s have a song, a catch; let us sing a round.  Drink for ever, and you shall never die!  When I am not drinking I am as good as dead.  Drink, or I’ll—­The appetite comes with eating and the thirst goes with drinking.  Nature abhors a vacuum.  Swallow it down, it is wholesome medicine!”