Thus, my lord, under so glorious a patronage, I am emboldened once more to draw my pen, undaunted now and secure; with hopes that you will still prove to me, against the power of detraction, a second Gallic Hercules in learning, prudence, and eloquence; an Alexicacos in virtue, power, and authority; you, of whom I may truly say what the wise monarch Solomon saith of Moses, that great prophet and captain of Israel, Ecclesiast. 45:  A man fearing and loving God, who found favour in the sight of all flesh, well-beloved both of God and man; whose memorial is blessed.  God made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him so, that his enemies stood in fear of him; and for him made wonders; made him glorious in the sight of kings, gave him a commandment for his people, and by him showed his light; he sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness, and chose him out of all men.  By him he made us to hear his voice, and caused by him the law of life and knowledge to be given.

Accordingly, if I shall be so happy as to hear anyone commend those merry composures, they shall be adjured by me to be obliged and pay their thanks to you alone, as also to offer their prayers to Heaven for the continuance and increase of your greatness; and to attribute no more to me than my humble and ready obedience to your commands; for by your most honourable encouragement you at once have inspired me with spirit and with invention; and without you my heart had failed me, and the fountain-head of my animal spirits had been dry.  May the Lord keep you in his blessed mercy!

My Lord,

Your most humble, and most devoted Servant,

Francis Rabelais, Physician.

Paris, this 28th of January, MDLII.

The Author’s Prologue.

Good people, God save and keep you!  Where are you?  I can’t see you:  stay—­I’ll saddle my nose with spectacles—­oh, oh! ’twill be fair anon:  I see you.  Well, you have had a good vintage, they say:  this is no bad news to Frank, you may swear.  You have got an infallible cure against thirst:  rarely performed of you, my friends!  You, your wives, children, friends, and families are in as good case as hearts can wish; it is well, it is as I would have it:  God be praised for it, and if such be his will, may you long be so.  For my part, I am thereabouts, thanks to his blessed goodness; and by the means of a little Pantagruelism (which you know is a certain jollity of mind, pickled in the scorn of fortune), you see me now hale and cheery, as sound as a bell, and ready to drink, if you will.  Would you know why I’m thus, good people?  I will even give you a positive answer —­Such is the Lord’s will, which I obey and revere; it being said in his word, in great derision to the physician neglectful of his own health, Physician, heal thyself.

Galen had some knowledge of the Bible, and had conversed with the Christians of his time, as appears lib. 11.  De Usu Partium; lib. 2.  De Differentiis Pulsuum, cap. 3, and ibid. lib. 3. cap. 2. and lib.  De Rerum Affectibus (if it be Galen’s).  Yet ’twas not for any such veneration of holy writ that he took care of his own health.  No, it was for fear of being twitted with the saying so well known among physicians: