indigence, want, and penury.  Now as he was just amongst them, Pantagruel said unto him, Let me entreat you, friend, that you may be pleased to stop here a little and answer me to that which I shall ask you, and I am confident you will not think your time ill bestowed; for I have an extreme desire, according to my ability, to give you some supply in this distress wherein I see you are; because I do very much commiserate your case, which truly moves me to great pity.  Therefore, my friend, tell me who you are; whence you come; whither you go; what you desire; and what your name is.  The companion answered him in the German (The first edition reads “Dutch.”) tongue, thus: 

’Junker, Gott geb euch gluck und heil.  Furwahr, lieber Junker, ich lasz euch wissen, das da ihr mich von fragt, ist ein arm und erbarmlich Ding, und wer viel darvon zu sagen, welches euch verdrussig zu horen, und mir zu erzelen wer, wiewol die Poeten und Oratorn vorzeiten haben gesagt in ihren Spruchen und Sentenzen, dasz die gedechtniss des Elends und Armuth vorlangst erlitten ist eine grosse Lust.’  My friend, said Pantagruel, I have no skill in that gibberish of yours; therefore, if you would have us to understand you, speak to us in some other language.  Then did the droll answer him thus: 

’Albarildim gotfano dechmin brin alabo dordio falbroth ringuam albaras.  Nin portzadikin almucatin milko prin alelmin en thoth dalheben ensouim; kuthim al dum alkatim nim broth dechoth porth min michais im endoth, pruch dalmaisoulum hol moth danfrihim lupaldas in voldemoth.  Nin hur diavosth mnarbotim dalgousch palfrapin duch im scoth pruch galeth dal chinon, min foulchrich al conin brutathen doth dal prin.’  Do you understand none of this? said Pantagruel to the company.  I believe, said Epistemon, that this is the language of the Antipodes, and such a hard one that the devil himself knows not what to make of it.  Then said Pantagruel, Gossip, I know not if the walls do comprehend the meaning of your words, but none of us here doth so much as understand one syllable of them.  Then said my blade again: 

’Signor mio, voi vedete per essempio, che la cornamusa non suona mai, s’ella non ha il ventre pieno.  Cosi io parimente non vi saprei contare le mie fortune, se prima il tribulato ventre non ha la solita refettione.  Al quale e adviso che le mani et li denti habbiano perso il loro ordine naturale et del tutto annichilati.’  To which Epistemon answered, As much of the one as of the other, and nothing of either.  Then said Panurge: 

’Lord, if you be so virtuous of intelligence as you be naturally relieved to the body, you should have pity of me.  For nature hath made us equal, but fortune hath some exalted and others deprived; nevertheless is virtue often deprived and the virtuous men despised; for before the last end none is good.’ (The following is the passage as it stands in the first edition.  Urquhart seems to have rendered