How Pantagruel judged so equitably1 of a controversy2, which was wonderfully obscure and difficult, that, by reason of his just decree therein, he was reputed to have a most admirable judgment4.
Pantagruel, very well remembering his father’s letter and admonitions, would one day make trial of his knowledge. Thereupon, in all the carrefours, that is, throughout all the four quarters, streets, and corners of the city, he set up conclusions to the number of nine thousand seven hundred sixty and four, in all manner of learning, touching5 in them the hardest doubts that are in any science. And first of all, in the Fodder6 Street he held dispute against all the regents or fellows of colleges, artists or masters of arts, and orators7, and did so gallantly8 that he overthrew9 them and set them all upon their tails. He went afterwards to the Sorbonne, where he maintained argument against all the theologians or divines, for the space of six weeks, from four o’clock in the morning until six in the evening, except an interval10 of two hours to refresh themselves and take their repast. And at this were present the greatest part of the lords of the court, the masters of requests, presidents, counsellors, those of the accompts, secretaries, advocates, and others; as also the sheriffs of the said town, with the physicians and professors of the canon law. Amongst which, it is to be remarked, that the greatest part were stubborn jades12, and in their opinions obstinate13; but he took such course with them that, for all their ergoes and fallacies, he put their backs to the wall, gravelled them in the deepest questions, and made it visibly appear to the world that, compared to him, they were but monkeys and a knot of muffled14 calves15. Whereupon everybody began to keep a bustling16 noise and talk of his so marvellous knowledge, through all degrees of persons of both sexes, even to the very laundresses, brokers17, roast-meat sellers, penknife makers18, and others, who, when he passed along in the street, would say, This is he! in which he took delight, as Demosthenes, the prince of Greek orators, did, when an old crouching19 wife, pointing at him with her fingers, said, That is the man.
Now at this same very time there was a process or suit in law depending in court between two great lords, of which one was called my Lord Kissbreech, plaintiff of one side, and the other my Lord Suckfist, defendant20 of the other; whose controversy was so high and difficult in law that the court of parliament could make nothing of it. And therefore, by the commandment of the king, there were assembled four of the greatest and most learned of all the parliaments of France, together with the great council, and all the principal regents of the universities, not only of France, but of England also and Italy, such as Jason, Philippus Decius, Petrus de Petronibus, and a rabble21 of other old Rabbinists. Who being thus met together, after they had thereupon consulted for the space of six-and-forty weeks, finding that they could not fasten their teeth in it, nor with such clearness understand the case as that they might in any manner of way be able to right it, or take up the difference betwixt the two aforesaid parties, it did so grievously vex22 them that they most villainously conshit themselves for shame. In this great extremity23 one amongst them, named Du Douhet, the learnedest of all, and more expert and prudent24 than any of the rest, whilst one day they were thus at their wits’ end, all-to-be-dunced and philogrobolized in their brains, said unto them, We have been here, my masters, a good long space, without doing anything else than trifle away both our time and money, and can nevertheless find neither brim nor bottom in this matter, for the more we study about it the less we understand therein, which is a great shame and disgrace to us, and a heavy burden to our consciences; yea, such that in my opinion we shall not rid ourselves of it without dishonour25, unless we take some other course; for we do nothing but dote in our consultations26.
See, therefore, what I have thought upon. You have heard much talking of that worthy27 personage named Master Pantagruel, who hath been found to be learned above the capacity of this present age, by the proofs he gave in those great disputations which he held publicly against all men. My opinion is, that we send for him to confer with him about this business; for never any man will encompass28 the bringing of it to an end if he do it not.
Hereunto all the counsellors and doctors willingly agreed, and according to that their result having instantly sent for him, they entreated29 him to be pleased to canvass30 the process and sift31 it thoroughly32, that, after a deep search and narrow examination of all the points thereof, he might forthwith make the report unto them such as he shall think good in true and legal language. To this effect they delivered into his hands the bags wherein were the writs33 and pancarts concerning that suit, which for bulk and weight were almost enough to lade four great couillard or stoned asses34. But Pantagruel said unto them, Are the two lords between whom this debate and process is yet living? It was answered him, Yes. To what a devil, then, said he, serve so many paltry35 heaps and bundles of papers and copies which you give me? Is it not better to hear their controversy from their own mouths whilst they are face to face before us, than to read these vile36 fopperies, which are nothing but trumperies37, deceits, diabolical38 cozenages of Cepola, pernicious slights and subversions of equity39? For I am sure that you, and all those through whose hands this process has passed, have by your devices added what you could to it pro11 et contra in such sort that, although their difference perhaps was clear and easy enough to determine at first, you have obscured it and made it more intricate by the frivolous40, sottish, unreasonable41, and foolish reasons and opinions of Accursius, Baldus, Bartolus, de Castro, de Imola, Hippolytus, Panormo, Bertachin, Alexander, Curtius, and those other old mastiffs, who never understood the least law of the Pandects, they being but mere42 blockheads and great tithe43 calves, ignorant of all that which was needful for the understanding of the laws; for, as it is most certain, they had not the knowledge either of the Greek or Latin tongue, but only of the Gothic and barbarian44. The laws, nevertheless, were first taken from the Greeks, according to the testimony45 of Ulpian, L. poster. de origine juris, which we likewise may perceive by that all the laws are full of Greek words and sentences. And then we find that they are reduced into a Latin style the most elegant and ornate that whole language is able to afford, without excepting that of any that ever wrote therein, nay46, not of Sallust, Varro, Cicero, Seneca, Titus Livius, nor Quintilian. How then could these old dotards be able to understand aright the text of the laws who never in their time had looked upon a good Latin book, as doth evidently enough appear by the rudeness of their style, which is fitter for a chimney-sweeper, or for a cook or a scullion, than for a jurisconsult and doctor in the laws?
Furthermore, seeing the laws are excerpted out of the middle of moral and natural philosophy, how should these fools have understood it, that have, by G—, studied less in philosophy than my mule47? In respect of human learning and the knowledge of antiquities48 and history they were truly laden49 with those faculties50 as a toad51 is with feathers. And yet of all this the laws are so full that without it they cannot be understood, as I intend more fully3 to show unto you in a peculiar52 treatise53 which on that purpose I am about to publish. Therefore, if you will that I take any meddling54 in this process, first cause all these papers to be burnt; secondly55, make the two gentlemen come personally before me, and afterwards, when I shall have heard them, I will tell you my opinion freely without any feignedness or dissimulation56 whatsoever57.
Some amongst them did contradict this motion, as you know that in all companies there are more fools than wise men, and that the greater part always surmounts58 the better, as saith Titus Livius in speaking of the Carthaginians. But the foresaid Du Douhet held the contrary opinion, maintaining that Pantagruel had said well, and what was right, in affirming that these records, bills of inquest, replies, rejoinders, exceptions, depositions59, and other such diableries of truth-entangling writs, were but engines wherewith to overthrow60 justice and unnecessarily to prolong such suits as did depend before them; and that, therefore, the devil would carry them all away to hell if they did not take another course and proceeded not in times coming according to the prescripts of evangelical and philosophical61 equity. In fine, all the papers were burnt, and the two gentlemen summoned and personally convented. At whose appearance before the court Pantagruel said unto them, Are you they that have this great difference betwixt you? Yes, my lord, said they. Which of you, said Pantagruel, is the plaintiff? It is I, said my Lord Kissbreech. Go to, then, my friend, said he, and relate your matter unto me from point to point, according to the real truth, or else, by cock’s body, if I find you to lie so much as in one word, I will make you shorter by the head, and take it from off your shoulders to show others by your example that in justice and judgment men ought to speak nothing but the truth. Therefore take heed62 you do not add nor impair63 anything in the narration64 of your case. Begin.
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1
equitably
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| 公平地 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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overthrew
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| overthrow的过去式 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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jades
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| n.玉，翡翠（jade的复数形式）v.（使）疲（jade的第三人称单数形式） | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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consultations
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| n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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encompass
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| vt.围绕，包围；包含，包括；完成 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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sift
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| v.筛撒，纷落，详察 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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writs
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| n.书面命令，令状( writ的名词复数 ) | |
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asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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trumperies
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| n.中看不中用的东西( trumpery的名词复数 )；徒有其表的东西；胡言乱语；废话 | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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41
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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43
tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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45
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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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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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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54
meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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55
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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56
dissimulation
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| n.掩饰，虚伪，装糊涂 | |
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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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surmounts
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| 战胜( surmount的第三人称单数 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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depositions
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| 沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免 | |
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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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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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62
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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impair
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| v.损害，损伤；削弱，减少 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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