Chapter 1.XLII.

How the Monk encouraged his fellow-champions, and how he hanged upon a tree.

Thus went out those valiant champions on their adventure, in full resolution to know what enterprise they should undertake, and what to take heed of and look well to in the day of the great and horrible battle.  And the monk encouraged them, saying, My children, do not fear nor doubt, I will conduct you safely.  God and Sanct Benedict be with us!  If I had strength answerable to my courage, by’s death, I would plume them for you like ducks.  I fear nothing but the great ordnance; yet I know of a charm by way of prayer, which the subsexton of our abbey taught me, that will preserve a man from the violence of guns and all manner of fire-weapons and engines; but it will do me no good, because I do not believe it.  Nevertheless, I hope my staff of the cross shall this day play devilish pranks amongst them.  By G—­, whoever of our party shall offer to play the duck, and shrink when blows are a-dealing, I give myself to the devil, if I do not make a monk of him in my stead, and hamper him within my frock, which is a sovereign cure against cowardice.  Did you never hear of my Lord Meurles his greyhound, which was not worth a straw in the fields?  He put a frock about his neck:  by the body of G—­, there was neither hare nor fox that could escape him, and, which is more, he lined all the bitches in the country, though before that he was feeble-reined and ex frigidis et maleficiatis.

The monk uttering these words in choler, as he passed under a walnut-tree, in his way towards the causey, he broached the vizor of his helmet on the stump of a great branch of the said tree.  Nevertheless, he set his spurs so fiercely to the horse, who was full of mettle and quick on the spur, that he bounded forwards, and the monk going about to ungrapple his vizor, let go his hold of the bridle, and so hanged by his hand upon the bough, whilst his horse stole away from under him.  By this means was the monk left hanging on the walnut-tree, and crying for help, murder, murder, swearing also that he was betrayed.  Eudemon perceived him first, and calling Gargantua said, Sir, come and see Absalom hanging.  Gargantua, being come, considered the countenance of the monk, and in what posture he hanged; wherefore he said to Eudemon, You were mistaken in comparing him to Absalom; for Absalom hung by his hair, but this shaveling monk hangeth by the ears.  Help me, said the monk, in the devil’s name; is this a time for you to prate?  You seem to me to be like the decretalist preachers, who say that whosoever shall see his neighbour in the danger of death, ought, upon pain of trisulk excommunication, rather choose to admonish him to make his confession to a priest, and put his conscience in the state of peace, than otherwise to help and relieve him.