the point thereof the flat of his hand, turning in
a little the ends of his fingers. Whereat Panurge
held down his head on the left side, and put his middle
finger into his right ear, holding up his thumb bolt
upright. Then he crossed his two arms upon his
breast and coughed five times, and at the fifth time
he struck his right foot against the ground.
Then he lift up his left arm, and closing all his
fingers into his fist, held his thumb against his
forehead, striking with his right hand six times against
his breast. But Thaumast, as not content therewith,
put the thumb of his left hand upon the top of his
nose, shutting the rest of his said hand, whereupon
Panurge set his two master-fingers upon each side
of his mouth, drawing it as much as he was able, and
widening it so that he showed all his teeth, and with
his two thumbs plucked down his two eyelids very low,
making therewith a very ill-favoured countenance,
as it seemed to the company.
Chapter 2.XX.
How Thaumast relateth the virtues and knowledge of
Panurge.
Then Panurge rose up, and, putting off his cap, did
very kindly thank the said Panurge, and with a loud
voice said unto all the people that were there:
My lords, gentlemen, and others, at this time may
I to some good purpose speak that evangelical word,
Et ecce plus quam Salomon hic! You have here
in your presence an incomparable treasure, that is,
my lord Pantagruel, whose great renown hath brought
me hither, out of the very heart of England, to confer
with him about the insoluble problems, both in magic,
alchemy, the cabal, geomancy, astrology, and philosophy,
which I had in my mind. But at present I am
angry even with fame itself, which I think was envious
to him, for that it did not declare the thousandth
part of the worth that indeed is in him. You
have seen how his disciple only hath satisfied me,
and hath told me more than I asked of him. Besides,
he hath opened unto me, and resolved other inestimable
doubts, wherein I can assure you he hath to me discovered
the very true well, fountain, and abyss of the encyclopaedia
of learning; yea, in such a sort that I did not think
I should ever have found a man that could have made
his skill appear in so much as the first elements
of that concerning which we disputed by signs, without
speaking either word or half word. But, in fine,
I will reduce into writing that which we have said
and concluded, that the world may not take them to
be fooleries, and will thereafter cause them to be
printed, that everyone may learn as I have done.
Judge, then, what the master had been able to say,
seeing the disciple hath done so valiantly; for, Non
est discipulus super magistrum. Howsoever, God
be praised! and I do very humbly thank you for the
honour that you have done us at this act. God
reward you for it eternally! The like thanks
gave Pantagruel to all the company, and, going from
thence, he carried Thaumast to dinner with him, and
