to the final resolution of my scruple, to the response-giving
bottle. Therefore do I renew afresh the first
vow which I made, and here in your presence protest
and make oath, by Styx and Acheron, to carry still
spectacles in my cap, and never to wear a codpiece
in my breeches, until upon the enterprise in hand
of my nuptial undertaking I shall have obtained an
answer from the holy bottle. I am acquainted
with a prudent, understanding, and discreet gentleman,
and besides a very good friend of mine, who knoweth
the land, country, and place where its temple and oracle
is built and posited. He will guide and conduct
us thither sure and safely. Let us go thither,
I beseech you. Deny me not, and say not nay;
reject not the suit I make unto you, I entreat you.
I will be to you an Achates, a Damis, and heartily
accompany you all along in the whole voyage, both
in your going forth and coming back. I have of
a long time known you to be a great lover of peregrination,
desirous still to learn new things, and still to see
what you had never seen before.
Very willingly, quoth Pantagruel, I condescend to
your request. But before we enter in upon our
progress towards the accomplishment of so far a journey,
replenished and fraught with eminent perils, full of
innumerable hazards, and every way stored with evident
and manifest dangers,—What dangers? quoth
Panurge, interrupting him. Dangers fly back,
run from, and shun me whithersoever I go, seven leagues
around, as in the presence of the sovereign a subordinate
magistracy is eclipsed; or as clouds and darkness
quite evanish at the bright coming of a radiant sun;
or as all sores and sicknesses did suddenly depart
at the approach of the body of St. Martin a Quande.
Nevertheless, quoth Pantagruel, before we adventure
to set forwards on the road of our projected and intended
voyage, some few points are to be discussed, expedited,
and despatched. First, let us send back Triboulet
to Blois. Which was instantly done, after that
Pantagruel had given him a frieze coat. Secondly,
our design must be backed with the advice and counsel
of the king my father. And, lastly, it is most
needful and expedient for us that we search for and
find out some sibyl to serve us for a guide, truchman,
and interpreter. To this Panurge made answer,
that his friend Xenomanes would abundantly suffice
for the plenary discharge and performance of the sibyl’s
office; and that, furthermore, in passing through
the Lanternatory revelling country, they should take
along with them a learned and profitable Lanternesse,
which would be no less useful to them in their voyage
than was the sibyl to Aeneas in his descent to the
Elysian fields. Carpalin, in the interim, as
he was upon the conducting away of Triboulet, in his
passing by hearkened a little to the discourse they
were upon; then spoke out, saying, Ho, Panurge, master
freeman, take my Lord Debitis at Calais alongst with
you, for he is goud-fallot, a good fellow. He
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