=Pantag´ruel´=, king of the Dipsodes (2 _syl._), son of Gargantua, and last of the race of giants. His mother, Badebec, died in giving him birth. His paternal grandfather was named Grangousier. Pantagruel was a lineal descendant of Fierabras, the Titans, Goliath, Polypheme (3 _syl._), and all the other giants traceable to Chalbrook, who lived in that extraordinary period noted for its “week of three Thursdays.” The word is a hybrid, compounded of the Greek _panta_ (“all”), and the Hagarene word _gruel_ (“thirsty”). His immortal achievement was his “quest of the oracle of the Holy Bottle.”--Rabelais, _Gargantua and Pantagruel_, ii. (1533). =Pantagruel’s Course of Study.= Pantagruel’s father, Gargantua, said in a letter to his son: “I intend and insist that you learn all languages perfectly; first of all Greek, in Quintillian’s method; then Latin, then Hebrew, then Arabic and Chaldee. I wish you to form your style of Greek on the model of Plato, and of Latin on that of Cicero. Let there be no history you have not at your finger’s ends, and study thoroughly cosmography and geography. Of liberal arts, such as geometry, mathematics and music, I gave you a taste when not above five years old, and I would have you now master them fully. Study astronomy, but not divination and judicial astrology, which I consider mere vanities. As for civil law, I would have thee know the _digests_ by heart. You should also have a perfect knowledge of the works of Nature, so that there is no sea, river, or smallest stream, which you do not know for what fish it is noted, whence it proceeds, and whither it directs its course; all fowls of the air, all shrubs and trees, whether forest or orchard, all herbs and flowers, all metals and stones should be mastered by you. Fail not at the same time most carefully to peruse the Talmudists and Cabalists, and be sure by frequent anatomies to gain a perfect knowledge of that other world called the microcosm, which is man. Master all these in your young days, and let nothing be superficial; as you grow into manhood, you must learn chivalry, warfare, and field manœuvres.”--Rabelais, _Pantagruel_, ii. 8 (1533). =Pantag´ruel’s Tongue.= It formed shelter for a whole army. His throat and mouth contained whole cities. Then did they [_the army_] put themselves in close order, and stood as near to each other as they could, and Pantagruel put out his tongue half-way, and covered them all, as a hen doth her chickens.--Rabelais, _Pantagruel_, ii. 32 (1533).