the tittle-tattle of two young mangy whores.
By this inconvenient the cotyledons of her matrix
were presently loosed, through which the child sprang
up and leaped, and so, entering into the hollow vein,
did climb by the diaphragm even above her shoulders,
where the vein divides itself into two, and from thence
taking his way towards the left side, issued forth
at her left ear. As soon as he was born, he
cried not as other babes use to do, Miez, miez, miez,
miez, but with a high, sturdy, and big voice shouted
about, Some drink, some drink, some drink, as inviting
all the world to drink with him. The noise hereof
was so extremely great, that it was heard in both the
countries at once of Beauce and Bibarois. I doubt
me, that you do not thoroughly believe the truth of
this strange nativity. Though you believe it
not, I care not much: but an honest man, and
of good judgment, believeth still what is told him,
and that which he finds written.
Is this beyond our law or our faith—against
reason or the holy Scripture? For my part, I
find nothing in the sacred Bible that is against it.
But tell me, if it had been the will of God, would
you say that he could not do it? Ha, for favour
sake, I beseech you, never emberlucock or inpulregafize
your spirits with these vain thoughts and idle conceits;
for I tell you, it is not impossible with God, and,
if he pleased, all women henceforth should bring forth
their children at the ear. Was not Bacchus engendered
out of the very thigh of Jupiter? Did not Roquetaillade
come out at his mother’s heel, and Crocmoush
from the slipper of his nurse? Was not Minerva
born of the brain, even through the ear of Jove?
Adonis, of the bark of a myrrh tree; and Castor and
Pollux of the doupe of that egg which was laid and
hatched by Leda? But you would wonder more, and
with far greater amazement, if I should now present
you with that chapter of Plinius, wherein he treateth
of strange births, and contrary to nature, and yet
am not I so impudent a liar as he was. Read
the seventh book of his Natural History, chap.3, and
trouble not my head any more about this.
Chapter 1.VII.
After what manner Gargantua had his name given him,
and how he tippled, bibbed, and curried the can.
The good man Grangousier, drinking and making merry
with the rest, heard the horrible noise which his
son had made as he entered into the light of this
world, when he cried out, Some drink, some drink, some
drink; whereupon he said in French, Que grand tu as
et souple le gousier! that is to say, How great and
nimble a throat thou hast. Which the company
hearing, said that verily the child ought to be called
Gargantua; because it was the first word that after
his birth his father had spoke, in imitation, and
at the example of the ancient Hebrews; whereunto he
condescended, and his mother was very well pleased
therewith. In the meanwhile, to quiet the child,
they gave him to drink a tirelaregot, that is, till
his throat was like to crack with it; then was he carried
to the font, and there baptized, according to the
manner of good Christians.
Copyrights
Gargantua and Pantagruel from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
