How Gargantua was instructed by Ponocrates, and in such sort disciplinated, that he lost not one hour of the day.
When Ponocrates knew Gargantua’s vicious manner of living, he resolved to bring him up in another kind; but for a while he bore with him, considering that nature cannot endure a sudden change, without great violence. Therefore, to begin his work the better, he requested a learned physician of that time, called Master Theodorus, seriously to perpend, if it were possible, how to bring Gargantua into a better course. The said physician purged2 him canonically4 with Anticyrian hellebore, by which medicine he cleansed5 all the alteration6 and perverse7 habitude of his brain. By this means also Ponocrates made him forget all that he had learned under his ancient preceptors, as Timotheus did to his disciples8, who had been instructed under other musicians. To do this the better, they brought him into the company of learned men, which were there, in whose imitation he had a great desire and affection to study otherwise, and to improve his parts. Afterwards he put himself into such a road and way of studying, that he lost not any one hour in the day, but employed all his time in learning and honest knowledge. Gargantua awaked, then, about four o’clock in the morning. Whilst they were in rubbing of him, there was read unto him some chapter of the holy Scripture9 aloud and clearly, with a pronunciation fit for the matter, and hereunto was appointed a young page born in Basche, named Anagnostes. According to the purpose and argument of that lesson, he oftentimes gave himself to worship, adore, pray, and send up his supplications to that good God, whose Word did show his majesty10 and marvellous judgment11. Then went he unto the secret places to make excretion of his natural digestions12. There his master repeated what had been read, expounding14 unto him the most obscure and difficult points. In returning, they considered the face of the sky, if it was such as they had observed it the night before, and into what signs the sun was entering, as also the moon for that day. This done, he was apparelled, combed, curled, trimmed, and perfumed, during which time they repeated to him the lessons of the day before. He himself said them by heart, and upon them would ground some practical cases concerning the estate of man, which he would prosecute15 sometimes two or three hours, but ordinarily they ceased as soon as he was fully16 clothed. Then for three good hours he had a lecture read unto him. This done they went forth17, still conferring of the substance of the lecture, either unto a field near the university called the Brack, or unto the meadows, where they played at the ball, the long-tennis, and at the piletrigone (which is a play wherein we throw a triangular18 piece of iron at a ring, to pass it), most gallantly19 exercising their bodies, as formerly20 they had done their minds. All their play was but in liberty, for they left off when they pleased, and that was commonly when they did sweat over all their body, or were otherwise weary. Then were they very well wiped and rubbed, shifted their shirts, and, walking soberly, went to see if dinner was ready. Whilst they stayed for that, they did clearly and eloquently21 pronounce some sentences that they had retained of the lecture. In the meantime Master Appetite came, and then very orderly sat they down at table. At the beginning of the meal there was read some pleasant history of the warlike actions of former times, until he had taken a glass of wine. Then, if they thought good, they continued reading, or began to discourse22 merrily together; speaking first of the virtue23, propriety24, efficacy, and nature of all that was served in at the table; of bread, of wine, of water, of salt, of fleshes, fishes, fruits, herbs, roots, and of their dressing25. By means whereof he learned in a little time all the passages competent for this that were to be found in Pliny, Athenaeus, Dioscorides, Julius Pollux, Galen, Porphyry, Oppian, Polybius, Heliodore, Aristotle, Aelian, and others. Whilst they talked of these things, many times, to be the more certain, they caused the very books to be brought to the table, and so well and perfectly26 did he in his memory retain the things above said, that in that time there was not a physician that knew half so much as he did. Afterwards they conferred of the lessons read in the morning, and, ending their repast with some conserve27 or marmalade of quinces, he picked his teeth with mastic tooth-pickers, washed his hands and eyes with fair fresh water, and gave thanks unto God in some fine cantiques, made in praise of the divine bounty28 and munificence29. This done, they brought in cards, not to play, but to learn a thousand pretty tricks and new inventions, which were all grounded upon arithmetic. By this means he fell in love with that numerical science, and every day after dinner and supper he passed his time in it as pleasantly as he was wont30 to do at cards and dice31; so that at last he understood so well both the theory and practical part thereof, that Tunstall the Englishman, who had written very largely of that purpose, confessed that verily in comparison of him he had no skill at all. And not only in that, but in the other mathematical sciences, as geometry, astronomy, music, &c. For in waiting on the concoction32 and attending the digestion13 of his food, they made a thousand pretty instruments and geometrical figures, and did in some measure practise the astronomical33 canons.
After this they recreated themselves with singing musically, in four or five parts, or upon a set theme or ground at random34, as it best pleased them. In matter of musical instruments, he learned to play upon the lute35, the virginals, the harp36, the Almain flute37 with nine holes, the viol, and the sackbut. This hour thus spent, and digestion finished, he did purge3 his body of natural excrements, then betook himself to his principal study for three hours together, or more, as well to repeat his matutinal lectures as to proceed in the book wherein he was, as also to write handsomely, to draw and form the antique and Roman letters. This being done, they went out of their house, and with them a young gentleman of Touraine, named the Esquire Gymnast, who taught him the art of riding. Changing then his clothes, he rode a Naples courser, a Dutch roussin, a Spanish jennet, a barded or trapped steed, then a light fleet horse, unto whom he gave a hundred carieres, made him go the high saults, bounding in the air, free the ditch with a skip, leap over a stile or pale, turn short in a ring both to the right and left hand. There he broke not his lance; for it is the greatest foolery in the world to say, I have broken ten lances at tilts38 or in fight. A carpenter can do even as much. But it is a glorious and praise-worthy action with one lance to break and overthrow39 ten enemies. Therefore, with a sharp, stiff, strong, and well-steeled lance would he usually force up a door, pierce a harness, beat down a tree, carry away the ring, lift up a cuirassier saddle, with the mail-coat and gauntlet. All this he did in complete arms from head to foot. As for the prancing40 flourishes and smacking41 popisms for the better cherishing of the horse, commonly used in riding, none did them better than he. The cavallerize of Ferrara was but as an ape compared to him. He was singularly skilful42 in leaping nimbly from one horse to another without putting foot to ground, and these horses were called desultories. He could likewise from either side, with a lance in his hand, leap on horseback without stirrups, and rule the horse at his pleasure without a bridle43, for such things are useful in military engagements. Another day he exercised the battle-axe, which he so dexterously44 wielded45, both in the nimble, strong, and smooth management of that weapon, and that in all the feats46 practicable by it, that he passed knight47 of arms in the field, and at all essays.
Then tossed he the pike, played with the two-handed sword, with the backsword, with the Spanish tuck, the dagger48, poniard, armed, unarmed, with a buckler, with a cloak, with a target. Then would he hunt the hart, the roebuck, the bear, the fallow deer, the wild boar, the hare, the pheasant, the partridge, and the bustard. He played at the balloon, and made it bound in the air, both with fist and foot. He wrestled50, ran, jumped — not at three steps and a leap, called the hops51, nor at clochepied, called the hare’s leap, nor yet at the Almains; for, said Gymnast, these jumps are for the wars altogether unprofitable, and of no use — but at one leap he would skip over a ditch, spring over a hedge, mount six paces upon a wall, ramp52 and grapple after this fashion up against a window of the full height of a lance. He did swim in deep waters on his belly53, on his back, sideways, with all his body, with his feet only, with one hand in the air, wherein he held a book, crossing thus the breadth of the river of Seine without wetting it, and dragged along his cloak with his teeth, as did Julius Caesar; then with the help of one hand he entered forcibly into a boat, from whence he cast himself again headlong into the water, sounded the depths, hollowed the rocks, and plunged54 into the pits and gulfs. Then turned he the boat about, governed it, led it swiftly or slowly with the stream and against the stream, stopped it in his course, guided it with one hand, and with the other laid hard about him with a huge great oar49, hoisted55 the sail, hied up along the mast by the shrouds56, ran upon the edge of the decks, set the compass in order, tackled the bowlines, and steered57 the helm. Coming out of the water, he ran furiously up against a hill, and with the same alacrity58 and swiftness ran down again. He climbed up at trees like a cat, and leaped from the one to the other like a squirrel. He did pull down the great boughs59 and branches like another Milo; then with two sharp well-steeled daggers60 and two tried bodkins would he run up by the wall to the very top of a house like a rat; then suddenly came down from the top to the bottom, with such an even composition of members that by the fall he would catch no harm.
He did cast the dart61, throw the bar, put the stone, practise the javelin62, the boar-spear or partisan63, and the halbert. He broke the strongest bows in drawing, bended against his breast the greatest crossbows of steel, took his aim by the eye with the hand-gun, and shot well, traversed and planted the cannon64, shot at butt-marks, at the papgay from below upwards65, or to a height from above downwards66, or to a descent; then before him, sideways, and behind him, like the Parthians. They tied a cable-rope to the top of a high tower, by one end whereof hanging near the ground he wrought67 himself with his hands to the very top; then upon the same track came down so sturdily and firm that you could not on a plain meadow have run with more assurance. They set up a great pole fixed68 upon two trees. There would he hang by his hands, and with them alone, his feet touching69 at nothing, would go back and fore1 along the foresaid rope with so great swiftness that hardly could one overtake him with running; and then, to exercise his breast and lungs, he would shout like all the devils in hell. I heard him once call Eudemon from St. Victor’s gate to Montmartre. Stentor had never such a voice at the siege of Troy. Then for the strengthening of his nerves or sinews they made him two great sows of lead, each of them weighing eight thousand and seven hundred quintals, which they called alteres. Those he took up from the ground, in each hand one, then lifted them up over his head, and held them so without stirring three quarters of an hour and more, which was an inimitable force. He fought at barriers with the stoutest70 and most vigorous champions; and when it came to the cope, he stood so sturdily on his feet that he abandoned himself unto the strongest, in case they could remove him from his place, as Milo was wont to do of old. In whose imitation, likewise, he held a pomegranate in his hand, to give it unto him that could take it from him. The time being thus bestowed71, and himself rubbed, cleansed, wiped, and refreshed with other clothes, he returned fair and softly; and passing through certain meadows, or other grassy72 places, beheld73 the trees and plants, comparing them with what is written of them in the books of the ancients, such as Theophrast, Dioscorides, Marinus, Pliny, Nicander, Macer, and Galen, and carried home to the house great handfuls of them, whereof a young page called Rizotomos had charge; together with little mattocks, pickaxes, grubbing-hooks, cabbies, pruning-knives, and other instruments requisite74 for herborizing. Being come to their lodging75, whilst supper was making ready, they repeated certain passages of that which hath been read, and sat down to table. Here remark, that his dinner was sober and thrifty76, for he did then eat only to prevent the gnawings of his stomach, but his supper was copious77 and large, for he took then as much as was fit to maintain and nourish him; which, indeed, is the true diet prescribed by the art of good and sound physic, although a rabble78 of loggerheaded physicians, nuzzeled in the brabbling shop of sophisters, counsel the contrary. During that repast was continued the lesson read at dinner as long as they thought good; the rest was spent in good discourse, learned and profitable. After that they had given thanks, he set himself to sing vocally79, and play upon harmonious80 instruments, or otherwise passed his time at some pretty sports, made with cards or dice, or in practising the feats of legerdemain81 with cups and balls. There they stayed some nights in frolicking thus, and making themselves merry till it was time to go to bed; and on other nights they would go make visits unto learned men, or to such as had been travellers in strange and remote countries. When it was full night before they retired82 themselves, they went unto the most open place of the house to see the face of the sky, and there beheld the comets, if any were, as likewise the figures, situations, aspects, oppositions83, and conjunctions of both the fixed stars and planets.
Then with his master did he briefly84 recapitulate85, after the manner of the Pythagoreans, that which he had read, seen, learned, done, and understood in the whole course of that day.
Then prayed they unto God the Creator, in falling down before him, and strengthening their faith towards him, and glorifying86 him for his boundless87 bounty; and, giving thanks unto him for the time that was past, they recommended themselves to his divine clemency88 for the future. Which being done, they went to bed, and betook themselves to their repose89 and rest.
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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purged
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| 清除（政敌等）( purge的过去式和过去分词 )； 涤除（罪恶等）； 净化（心灵、风气等）； 消除（错事等）的不良影响 | |
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purge
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| n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁 | |
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canonically
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| adv.照宗规地，宗规上地 | |
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cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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digestions
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| n.消化能力( digestion的名词复数 )；消化，领悟 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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expounding
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的现在分词 ) | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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conserve
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| vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭 | |
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bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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munificence
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| n.宽宏大量，慷慨给与 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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concoction
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| n.调配(物)；谎言 | |
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astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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tilts
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| （意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 ) | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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45
wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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54
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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vocally
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| adv. 用声音, 用口头, 藉著声音 | |
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harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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legerdemain
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| n.戏法，诈术 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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oppositions
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| （强烈的）反对( opposition的名词复数 )； 反对党； （事业、竞赛、游戏等的）对手； 对比 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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recapitulate
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| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
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glorifying
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| 赞美( glorify的现在分词 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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