see nothing, nor do I believe that there is anything
else in it than the ring. Let us, therefore,
look upon it. Which when they had done, they
found this in Hebrew written within, Lamach saba(ch)thani;
whereupon they called Epistemon, and asked him what
that meant. To which he answered that they were
Hebrew words, signifying, Wherefore hast thou forsaken
me? Upon that Panurge suddenly replied, I know
the mystery. Do you see this diamond?
It is a false one. This, then, is the exposition
of that which the lady means, Diamant faux, that is,
false lover, why hast thou forsaken me? Which
interpretation Pantagruel presently understood, and
withal remembering that at his departure he had not
bid the lady farewell, he was very sorry, and would
fain have returned to Paris to make his peace with
her. But Epistemon put him in mind of Aeneas’s
departure from Dido, and the saying of Heraclitus
of Tarentum, That the ship being at anchor, when need
requireth we must cut the cable rather than lose time
about untying of it,—and that he should
lay aside all other thoughts to succour the city of
his nativity, which was then in danger. And,
indeed, within an hour after that the wind arose at
the north-north-west, wherewith they hoist sail, and
put out, even into the main sea, so that within few
days, passing by Porto Sancto and by the Madeiras,
they went ashore in the Canary Islands. Parting
from thence, they passed by Capobianco, by Senege,
by Capoverde, by Gambre, by Sagres, by Melli, by the
Cap di Buona Speranza, and set ashore again in the
kingdom of Melinda. Parting from thence, they
sailed away with a tramontane or northerly wind, passing
by Meden, by Uti, by Uden, by Gelasim, by the Isles
of the Fairies, and alongst the kingdom of Achorie,
till at last they arrived at the port of Utopia, distant
from the city of the Amaurots three leagues and somewhat
more.
When they were ashore, and pretty well refreshed,
Pantagruel said, Gentlemen, the city is not far from
hence; therefore, were it not amiss, before we set
forward, to advise well what is to be done, that we
be not like the Athenians, who never took counsel
until after the fact? Are you resolved to live
and die with me? Yes, sir, said they all, and
be as confident of us as of your own fingers.
Well, said he, there is but one thing that keeps
my mind in great doubt and suspense, which is this,
that I know not in what order nor of what number the
enemy is that layeth siege to the city; for, if I
were certain of that, I should go forward and set on
with the better assurance. Let us therefore consult
together, and bethink ourselves by what means we may
come to this intelligence. Whereunto they all
said, Let us go thither and see, and stay you here
for us; for this very day, without further respite,
do we make account to bring you a certain report thereof.
Myself, said Panurge, will undertake to enter into
their camp, within the very midst of their guards,
unespied by their watch, and merrily feast and lecher
it at their cost, without being known of any, to see
the artillery and the tents of all the captains, and
thrust myself in with a grave and magnific carriage
amongst all their troops and companies, without being
discovered. The devil would not be able to peck
me out with all his circumventions, for I am of the
race of Zopyrus.