Authors -- Biography; Authors, English -- Biography; Literature -- History and criticism
Now, when they heard these answers of Pantagruel they all fell, some a
weeping, some a praying, some a swearing, some an arbitrating, some a
lecturing, some a caucussing, some a preaching, some a faith-healing,
some a miracle-working, some a hypnotising, some a writing to the daily
press; and while they were thus busy, like folk distraught, 'reforming
the island,' Pantagruel burst out a laughing; whereat they were greatly
dismayed; for laughter killeth the whole race of Coqcigrues, and they
may not endure it.
Then Pantagruel and his company stole aboard a barque that Panurge had
ready in the harbour. And having provisioned her well with store of
meat and good drink, they set sail for the kingdom of Entelechy, where,
having landed, they were kindly entreated; and there abide to this day;
drinking of the sweet and eating of the fat, under the protection of
that intellectual sphere which hath in all places its centre and nowhere
its circumference.
Such was their destiny; there was their end appointed, and thither
the Coqcigrues can never come. For all the air of that land is full
of laughter, which killeth Coqcigrues; and there aboundeth the herb
Pantagruelion. But for thee, Master Francoys, thou art not well liked
in this island of ours, where the Coqcigrues are abundant, very fierce,
cruel, and tyrannical. Yet thou hast thy friends, that meet and drink
to thee and wish thee well wheresoever thou hast found thy _grand
peut-étre_.
VIII. To Jane Austen.
Madame,--If to the enjoyments of your present state be lacking a view
of the minor infirmities or foibles of men, I cannot but think (were the
thought permitted) that your pleasures are yet incomplete. Moreover, it
is certain that a woman of parts who has once meddled with literature
will never wholly lose her love for the discussion of that delicious
topic, nor cease to relish what (in the cant of our new age) is styled
'literary shop.' For these reasons I attempt to convey to you some
inkling of the present state of that agreeable art which you, madam,
raised to its highest pitch of perfection.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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