The edition published by Didot in 1857 has an altogether
special character. In the biographical notice
M. Rathery for the first time treated as they deserve
the foolish prejudices which have made Rabelais misunderstood,
and M. Burgaud des Marets set the text on a quite
new base. Having proved, what of course is very
evident, that in the original editions the spelling,
and the language too, were of the simplest and clearest,
and were not bristling with the nonsensical and superfluous
consonants which have given rise to the idea that
Rabelais is difficult to read, he took the trouble
first of all to note the spelling of each word.
Whenever in a single instance he found it in accordance
with modern spelling, he made it the same throughout.
The task was a hard one, and Rabelais certainly gained
in clearness, but over-zeal is often fatal to a reform.
In respect to its precision and the value of its
notes, which are short and very judicious, Burgaud
des Marets’ edition is valuable, and is amongst
those which should be known and taken into account.
Since Le Duchat all the editions have a common fault.
They are not exactly guilty of fabricating, but they
set up an artificial text in the sense that, in order
to lose as little as possible, they have collected
and united what originally were variations—the
revisions, in short, of the original editions.
Guided by the wise counsels given by Brunet in 1852
in his Researches on the old editions of Rabelais,
Pierre Jannet published the first three books in 1858;
then, when the publication of the Bibliotheque Elzevirienne
was discontinued, he took up the work again and finished
the edition in Picard’s blue library, in little
volumes, each book quite distinct. It was M.
Jannet who in our days first restored the pure and
exact text of Rabelais, not only without retouching
it, but without making additions or insertions, or
juxtaposition of things that were not formerly found
together. For each of the books he has followed
the last edition issued by Rabelais, and all the earlier
differences he gives as variations. It is astonishing
that a thing so simple and so fitting should not have
been done before, and the result is that this absolutely
exact fidelity has restored a lucidity which was not
wanting in Rabelais’s time, but which had since
been obscured. All who have come after Jannet
have followed in his path, and there is no reason
for straying from it.
FRANCIS RABELAIS.
THE FIRST BOOK.
To the Honoured, Noble Translator of Rabelais.
Rabelais, whose wit prodigiously was made,
All men, professions, actions to invade,
With so much furious vigour, as if it
Had lived o’er each of them, and each had quit,
Yet with such happy sleight and careless skill,
As, like the serpent, doth with laughter kill,
So that although his noble leaves appear
Antic and Gottish, and dull souls forbear
