How Pantagruel, being at Paris, received letters from his father Gargantua, and the copy of them.
Pantagruel studied very hard, as you may well conceive, and profited accordingly; for he had an excellent understanding and notable wit, together with a capacity in memory equal to the measure of twelve oil budgets or butts1 of olives. And, as he was there abiding2 one day, he received a letter from his father in manner as followeth.
Most dear Son,— Amongst the gifts, graces, and prerogatives3, with which the sovereign plasmator God Almighty4 hath endowed and adorned5 human nature at the beginning, that seems to me most singular and excellent by which we may in a mortal state attain6 to a kind of immortality7, and in the course of this transitory life perpetuate8 our name and seed, which is done by a progeny9 issued from us in the lawful10 bonds of matrimony. Whereby that in some measure is restored unto us which was taken from us by the sin of our first parents, to whom it was said that, because they had not obeyed the commandment of God their Creator, they should die, and by death should be brought to nought11 that so stately frame and plasmature wherein the man at first had been created.
But by this means of seminal12 propagation there (”Which continueth” in the old copy.) continueth in the children what was lost in the parents, and in the grandchildren that which perished in their fathers, and so successively until the day of the last judgment13, when Jesus Christ shall have rendered up to God the Father his kingdom in a peaceable condition, out of all danger and contamination of sin; for then shall cease all generations and corruptions14, and the elements leave off their continual transmutations, seeing the so much desired peace shall be attained15 unto and enjoyed, and that all things shall be brought to their end and period. And, therefore, not without just and reasonable cause do I give thanks to God my Saviour16 and Preserver, for that he hath enabled me to see my bald old age reflourish in thy youth; for when, at his good pleasure, who rules and governs all things, my soul shall leave this mortal habitation, I shall not account myself wholly to die, but to pass from one place unto another, considering that, in and by that, I continue in my visible image living in the world, visiting and conversing17 with people of honour, and other my good friends, as I was wont18 to do. Which conversation of mine, although it was not without sin, because we are all of us trespassers, and therefore ought continually to beseech19 his divine majesty20 to blot21 our transgressions22 out of his memory, yet was it, by the help and grace of God, without all manner of reproach before men.
Wherefore, if those qualities of the mind but shine in thee wherewith I am endowed, as in thee remaineth the perfect image of my body, thou wilt23 be esteemed24 by all men to be the perfect guardian25 and treasure of the immortality of our name. But, if otherwise, I shall truly take but small pleasure to see it, considering that the lesser26 part of me, which is the body, would abide27 in thee, and the best, to wit, that which is the soul, and by which our name continues blessed amongst men, would be degenerate28 and abastardized. This I do not speak out of any distrust that I have of thy virtue29, which I have heretofore already tried, but to encourage thee yet more earnestly to proceed from good to better. And that which I now write unto thee is not so much that thou shouldst live in this virtuous30 course, as that thou shouldst rejoice in so living and having lived, and cheer up thyself with the like resolution in time to come; to the prosecution31 and accomplishment32 of which enterprise and generous undertaking33 thou mayst easily remember how that I have spared nothing, but have so helped thee, as if I had had no other treasure in this world but to see thee once in my life completely well-bred and accomplished34, as well in virtue, honesty, and valour, as in all liberal knowledge and civility, and so to leave thee after my death as a mirror representing the person of me thy father, and if not so excellent, and such in deed as I do wish thee, yet such in my desire.
But although my deceased father of happy memory, Grangousier, had bent35 his best endeavours to make me profit in all perfection and political knowledge, and that my labour and study was fully36 correspondent to, yea, went beyond his desire, nevertheless, as thou mayest well understand, the time then was not so proper and fit for learning as it is at present, neither had I plenty of such good masters as thou hast had. For that time was darksome, obscured with clouds of ignorance, and savouring a little of the infelicity and calamity37 of the Goths, who had, wherever they set footing, destroyed all good literature, which in my age hath by the divine goodness been restored unto its former light and dignity, and that with such amendment38 and increase of the knowledge, that now hardly should I be admitted unto the first form of the little grammar-schoolboys — I say, I, who in my youthful days was, and that justly, reputed the most learned of that age. Which I do not speak in vain boasting, although I might lawfully39 do it in writing unto thee — in verification whereof thou hast the authority of Marcus Tullius in his book of old age, and the sentence of Plutarch in the book entitled How a man may praise himself without envy — but to give thee an emulous encouragement to strive yet further.
Now is it that the minds of men are qualified40 with all manner of discipline, and the old sciences revived which for many ages were extinct. Now it is that the learned languages are to their pristine41 purity restored, viz., Greek, without which a man may be ashamed to account himself a scholar, Hebrew, Arabic, Chaldaean, and Latin. Printing likewise is now in use, so elegant and so correct that better cannot be imagined, although it was found out but in my time by divine inspiration, as by a diabolical42 suggestion on the other side was the invention of ordnance43. All the world is full of knowing men, of most learned schoolmasters, and vast libraries; and it appears to me as a truth, that neither in Plato’s time, nor Cicero’s, nor Papinian’s, there was ever such conveniency for studying as we see at this day there is. Nor must any adventure henceforward to come in public, or present himself in company, that hath not been pretty well polished in the shop of Minerva. I see robbers, hangmen, freebooters, tapsters, ostlers, and such like, of the very rubbish of the people, more learned now than the doctors and preachers were in my time.
What shall I say? The very women and children have aspired44 to this praise and celestial45 manner of good learning. Yet so it is that, in the age I am now of, I have been constrained46 to learn the Greek tongue — which I contemned47 not like Cato, but had not the leisure in my younger years to attend the study of it — and take much delight in the reading of Plutarch’s Morals, the pleasant Dialogues of Plato, the Monuments of Pausanias, and the Antiquities48 of Athenaeus, in waiting on the hour wherein God my Creator shall call me and command me to depart from this earth and transitory pilgrimage. Wherefore, my son, I admonish49 thee to employ thy youth to profit as well as thou canst, both in thy studies and in virtue. Thou art at Paris, where the laudable examples of many brave men may stir up thy mind to gallant50 actions, and hast likewise for thy tutor and pedagogue51 the learned Epistemon, who by his lively and vocal52 documents may instruct thee in the arts and sciences.
I intend, and will have it so, that thou learn the languages perfectly53; first of all the Greek, as Quintilian will have it; secondly54, the Latin; and then the Hebrew, for the Holy Scripture55 sake; and then the Chaldee and Arabic likewise, and that thou frame thy style in Greek in imitation of Plato, and for the Latin after Cicero. Let there be no history which thou shalt not have ready in thy memory; unto the prosecuting56 of which design, books of cosmography will be very conducible and help thee much. Of the liberal arts of geometry, arithmetic, and music, I gave thee some taste when thou wert yet little, and not above five or six years old. Proceed further in them, and learn the remainder if thou canst. As for astronomy, study all the rules thereof. Let pass, nevertheless, the divining and judicial57 astrology, and the art of Lullius, as being nothing else but plain abuses and vanities. As for the civil law, of that I would have thee to know the texts by heart, and then to confer them with philosophy.
Now, in matter of the knowledge of the works of nature, I would have thee to study that exactly, and that so there be no sea, river, nor fountain, of which thou dost not know the fishes; all the fowls58 of the air; all the several kinds of shrubs59 and trees, whether in forests or orchards60; all the sorts of herbs and flowers that grow upon the ground; all the various metals that are hid within the bowels61 of the earth; together with all the diversity of precious stones that are to be seen in the orient and south parts of the world. Let nothing of all these be hidden from thee. Then fail not most carefully to peruse62 the books of the Greek, Arabian, and Latin physicians, not despising the Talmudists and Cabalists; and by frequent anatomies63 get thee the perfect knowledge of the other world, called the microcosm, which is man. And at some hours of the day apply thy mind to the study of the Holy Scriptures64; first in Greek, the New Testament65, with the Epistles of the Apostles; and then the Old Testament in Hebrew. In brief, let me see thee an abyss and bottomless pit of knowledge; for from henceforward, as thou growest great and becomest a man, thou must part from this tranquillity66 and rest of study, thou must learn chivalry67, warfare68, and the exercises of the field, the better thereby69 to defend my house and our friends, and to succour and protect them at all their needs against the invasion and assaults of evildoers.
Furthermore, I will that very shortly thou try how much thou hast profited, which thou canst not better do than by maintaining publicly theses and conclusions in all arts against all persons whatsoever70, and by haunting the company of learned men, both at Paris and otherwhere. But because, as the wise man Solomon saith, Wisdom entereth not into a malicious71 mind, and that knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul, it behoveth thee to serve, to love, to fear God, and on him to cast all thy thoughts and all thy hope, and by faith formed in charity to cleave72 unto him, so that thou mayst never be separated from him by thy sins. Suspect the abuses of the world. Set not thy heart upon vanity, for this life is transitory, but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. Be serviceable to all thy neighbours, and love them as thyself. Reverence73 thy preceptors: shun74 the conversation of those whom thou desirest not to resemble, and receive not in vain the graces which God hath bestowed75 upon thee. And, when thou shalt see that thou hast attained to all the knowledge that is to be acquired in that part, return unto me, that I may see thee and give thee my blessing76 before I die. My son, the peace and grace of our Lord be with thee. Amen.
Thy father Gargantua.
From Utopia the 17th day of the month of March.
These letters being received and read, Pantagruel plucked up his heart, took a fresh courage to him, and was inflamed77 with a desire to profit in his studies more than ever, so that if you had seen him, how he took pains, and how he advanced in learning, you would have said that the vivacity78 of his spirit amidst the books was like a great fire amongst dry wood, so active it was, vigorous and indefatigable79.
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butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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perpetuate
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| v.使永存，使永记不忘 | |
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progeny
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| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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seminal
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| adj.影响深远的；种子的 | |
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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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corruptions
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| n.堕落( corruption的名词复数 )；腐化；腐败；贿赂 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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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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blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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transgressions
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| n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 ) | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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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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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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contemned
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| v.侮辱，蔑视( contemn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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admonish
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| v.训戒；警告；劝告 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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pedagogue
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| n.教师 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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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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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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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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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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anatomies
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| n.解剖( anatomy的名词复数 )；（详细的）分析；（生物体的）解剖结构；人体 | |
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scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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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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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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