Gargantua And Pantagruel

After Pantagruel conquered the land of Dispodia at the end of Book 1, the Dispodians thrive under his rule, since he rules through love instead of fear in the manner of Numa Pompillus, the second king of the Romans.

Pantagruel gifts Panurge the wealthy castellany of Salmagundi. However, Panurge squanders three years’ worth of Salmagundi’s earnings in two weeks and winds up in debt. When Pantagruel gently points out to Panurge the importance of being thrifty, Panurge defends himself through a clever, long thesis.

Panurge’s defense continues. According to Panurge, having creditors is good as one’s creditors always pray for their long lives to recover debts. Further, borrowing and lending are proof that men still trust one another.

If everyone in the world was both a borrower and a lender, it would be a place of great harmony. People would give and borrow money and treasures freely, eliminating the need for rancor and war. Nature approves of such loans and payments, as can be seen in the way it has structured male and female private parts and the process of reproduction.

Pantagruel says that though Panurge is good at arguing, his argument is only partly true. Lending and borrowing are good only under very select circumstances. Pantagruel wants Panurge to change the topic of their discussion.

Panurge asks why newlywed men are exempt from going to war during their first year of marriage. Pantagruel replies one year is time enough for them to produce heirs before facing the risk of death, but not so long that in case their young wives are widowed they cannot find husbands. Panurge says some would rather die a virgin than marry a widow.

Sometime later, Panurge has his ear pierced, which causes him an itch, indicating that he is filled with lust and ready to marry. Pantagruel is delighted; Panurge gives up his codpiece—which protects his private parts in battle—since he will not be going to war anytime soon.

Panurge calls the codpiece the most important bit of armor as it protects the part that produces seed (semen). He recites a bawdy ode to testicles and asks Pantagruel not to stare at his fabulous codpiece.

Panurge asks Pantagruel if marriage is a good idea, and Pantagruel replies in the affirmative. When Panurge doubts his decision to marry, Pantagruel affirms his doubt too. Panurge thinks Pantagruel is mocking him.

According to Pantagruel, it is impossible to advise anyone else about marriage because marriage is always the luck of the draw. Panurge must make up his own mind and hope for the best. Though heroes of Homer and Virgil drew lots for decisions, the practice is not infallible.

Panurge suggests rolling dice to decide, but Pantagruel says the use of dice for lots and other such forms of divination are wrong. A popular book on lots and divination is even outlawed in his father’s lands. They decide to use the works of Virgil to interpret the throw of the dice.

To placate Panurge, Pantagruel lets him roll dice. They arrive to the number 16 and read the 16th line of verse on a page in Virgil. Pantagruel interprets the line as implying Panurge’s wife will be promiscuous, making him a cuckold (slang for a deceived husband). Panurge protests that the words indicate the opposite.

Since Pantagruel and Panurge cannot agree on the meaning of the Virgilian lots, Pantagruel suggests Panurge use his dreams to foretell the fate of his marriage.

Panurge recounts his dream to Pantagruel, Friar Jean, and the others. In the dream, his pretty wife decorates his forehead with horns. According to Pantagruel, the horns are not literal, but a sign Panurge’s wife will cuckold him. Panurge says it is wrong to see horns as a symbol for cuckolds, since gods like Bacchus and Pan wear them as well.

Panurge interrupts the discussion since he wants to eat. This prompts Friar Jean to expound on a monastical cabbala—an interpretation of the Bible that is followed by a monastic sect—about cooking and eating salted beef.

Pantagruel next suggests Panurge consult the Sybil at Panzoust, an old woman who has the gift of prophecy. To protect Panurge in case the woman is a sorceress, Epistemon accompanies him.

Panurge is terrified by the Sybil’s wizened appearance. She scribbles a verse on some leaves for him, shows him her bum, and disappears.

Panurge takes the leaves to Pantagruel. The verse begins “Shuck you she will” (476). Pantagruel interprets it as meaning Panurge’s wife will cheat on him. Panurge disagrees once again.

Since words are subject to different interpretations, Pantagruel asks Panurge to seek the advice of Nazdecabre, who cannot hear or speak.

Nazdecabre arrives and makes complex gestures, including the Greek letter tau. He sticks his fingers in Panurge’s navel, mouth, and eyes, angering him. Pantagruel reads the signs as implying Panurge’s marriage will be unhappy.

Pantagruel suggests that Panurge take the counsel of Raminagrobis, an aged French poet on his deathbed, since people speak the truth before they die. Panurge, Epistemon, and Jean leave. Raminagrobis writes Panurge a verse and implores the group to disturb him no more; he had already been disturbed earlier by a rabble of “filthy creatures.”

After they leave, Panurge is shocked Raminagrobis badmouthed the Mendicant friars. Epistemon says this is just inference, as the “filthy creatures” could just have been vermin. They find the poet’s verse so nonsensical, part of it may be true.

Panurge wants to make Raminagrobis atone for insulting the Mendicant order. Otherwise, his soul will be damned by the devil. As Panurge invokes the devil repeatedly, Jean asks him not to dwell on the subject and refuses to visit Raminagrobis.

On their way to Pantagruel, Panurge tells Epistemon he wants to get married, but fears being cuckolded. Epistemon tells him were the Oracles still active, they could have perhaps foretold the fate of Panurge’s marriage. Right now, it is impossible to answer the question.

As soon as noted necromancer Trippa sees Panurge he declares: “You have the physiognomy and metroscopy of a cuckold” (505).

Upset by Herr Trippa’s caustic words, Panurge beseeches Friar Jean for advice. Jean says Panurge must get married so that he does not waste his essence (seed).