It was answered him, that they desired to have their
bells restored to them. As soon as Ponocrates
heard that, he ran in all haste to carry the news
unto Gargantua, that he might be ready to answer them,
and speedily resolve what was to be done. Gargantua
being advertised hereof, called apart his schoolmaster
Ponocrates, Philotimus, steward of his house, Gymnastes,
his esquire, and Eudemon, and very summarily conferred
with them, both of what he should do and what answer
he should give. They were all of opinion that
they should bring them unto the goblet-office, which
is the buttery, and there make them drink like roysters
and line their jackets soundly. And that this
cougher might not be puffed up with vain-glory by
thinking the bells were restored at his request, they
sent, whilst he was chopining and plying the pot, for
the mayor of the city, the rector of the faculty,
and the vicar of the church, unto whom they resolved
to deliver the bells before the sophister had propounded
his commission. After that, in their hearing,
he should pronounce his gallant oration, which was
done; and they being come, the sophister was brought
in full hall, and began as followeth, in coughing.
Chapter 1.XIX.
The oration of Master Janotus de Bragmardo for recovery
of the bells.
Hem, hem, gud-day, sirs, gud-day. Et vobis,
my masters. It were but reason that you should
restore to us our bells; for we have great need of
them. Hem, hem, aihfuhash. We have oftentimes
heretofore refused good money for them of those of
London in Cahors, yea and those of Bourdeaux in Brie,
who would have bought them for the substantific quality
of the elementary complexion, which is intronificated
in the terrestreity of their quidditative nature,
to extraneize the blasting mists and whirlwinds upon
our vines, indeed not ours, but these round about us.
For if we lose the piot and liquor of the grape,
we lose all, both sense and law. If you restore
them unto us at my request, I shall gain by it six
basketfuls of sausages and a fine pair of breeches,
which will do my legs a great deal of good, or else
they will not keep their promise to me. Ho by
gob, Domine, a pair of breeches is good, et vir sapiens
non abhorrebit eam. Ha, ha, a pair of breeches
is not so easily got; I have experience of it myself.
Consider, Domine, I have been these eighteen days in
matagrabolizing this brave speech. Reddite quae
sunt Caesaris, Caesari, et quae sunt Dei, Deo.
Ibi jacet lepus. By my faith, Domine, if you
will sup with me in cameris, by cox body, charitatis,
nos faciemus bonum cherubin. Ego occiditunum
porcum, et ego habet bonum vino: but of good
wine we cannot make bad Latin. Well, de parte
Dei date nobis bellas nostras. Hold, I give you
in the name of the faculty a Sermones de Utino, that
utinam you would give us our bells. Vultis etiam
pardonos? Per diem vos habebitis, et nihil payabitis.
