Now, whilst they were thus busy about me, the fire triumphed, never ask how?  For it took hold on above two thousand houses, which one of them espying cried out, saying, By Mahoom’s belly, all the city is on fire, and we do nevertheless stand gazing here, without offering to make any relief.  Upon this everyone ran to save his own; for my part, I took my way towards the gate.  When I was got upon the knap of a little hillock not far off, I turned me about as did Lot’s wife, and, looking back, saw all the city burning in a fair fire, whereat I was so glad that I had almost beshit myself for joy.  But God punished me well for it.  How? said Pantagruel.  Thus, said Panurge; for when with pleasure I beheld this jolly fire, jesting with myself, and saying—­Ha! poor flies, ha! poor mice, you will have a bad winter of it this year; the fire is in your reeks, it is in your bed-straw—­out come more than six, yea, more than thirteen hundred and eleven dogs, great and small, altogether out of the town, flying away from the fire.  At the first approach they ran all upon me, being carried on by the scent of my lecherous half-roasted flesh, and had even then devoured me in a trice, if my good angel had not well inspired me with the instruction of a remedy very sovereign against the toothache.  And wherefore, said Pantagruel, wert thou afraid of the toothache or pain of the teeth?  Wert thou not cured of thy rheums?  By Palm Sunday, said Panurge, is there any greater pain of the teeth than when the dogs have you by the legs?  But on a sudden, as my good angel directed me, I thought upon my lardons, and threw them into the midst of the field amongst them.  Then did the dogs run, and fight with one another at fair teeth which should have the lardons.  By this means they left me, and I left them also bustling with and hairing one another.  Thus did I escape frolic and lively, gramercy roastmeat and cookery.

Chapter 2.XV.

How Panurge showed a very new way to build the walls of Paris.

Pantagruel one day, to refresh himself of his study, went a-walking towards St. Marcel’s suburbs, to see the extravagancy of the Gobeline building, and to taste of their spiced bread.  Panurge was with him, having always a flagon under his gown and a good slice of a gammon of bacon; for without this he never went, saying that it was as a yeoman of the guard to him, to preserve his body from harm.  Other sword carried he none; and, when Pantagruel would have given him one, he answered that he needed none, for that it would but heat his milt.  Yea but, said Epistemon, if thou shouldst be set upon, how wouldst thou defend thyself?  With great buskinades or brodkin blows, answered he, provided thrusts were forbidden.  At their return, Panurge considered the walls of the city of Paris, and in derision said to Pantagruel, See what fair walls here are!  O how strong they are, and well fitted to keep geese in a mew or coop