[210] The passage in Rabelais is as follows:--"Pantagruel ... would one day make trial of his knowledge. Thereupon in all the Carrefours, that is, throughout all the foure quarters, streets and corners of the city, he set up Conclusions to the number of nine thousand seven hundred sixty and foure,[A] in all manner of learning, touching in them the hardest doubts that are in any science. And first of all, in the Fodder-street[B] he held disputes against all the Regents or Fellowes of Colledges, Artists or Masters of Arts, and Oratours, and did so gallantly, that he overthrew them, and set them all upon their tailes. He went afterwards to the Sorboune, where he maintained argument against all the Theologians or Divines, for the space of six weeks, from foure a clock in the morning until six in the evening, except an interval of two houres 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 Sheriffes 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 jades, and in their opinions obstinate; but he took such course with them, that, for all their ergo's 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 monkies, and a knot of mufled calves. Whereupon everybody began to keep a bustling noise, and talk of his so marvellous knowledge, through all degrees of persons in both sexes, even to the very laundresses, brokers, rostmeat-sellers, penknife-makers, and others, who, when he past along in the street, would say, This is he! in which he took delight, as Demosthenes the prince of Greek oratours did when an old crouching wife, pointing at him with her fingers, said, That is the man"[C] (ii. chap. 10). [A] Pico della Mirandola in the winter of 1486-87 offered to maintain at Rome 900 theses _de omni scitili_ (W. F. S.). [B] _Rue de la Feurre_ (near the Place Maubert) was the street in Paris where the poorer students used to lodge. It got its name because straw served them for beds and furniture. Dante says in _Par._ x. 137: "Essa è la luce eterua di Sigieri, Che, leggendo nel vico degli strami, Sillogizzo invidiosi veri." (_Ibid._) [C] Cf. "At pulchrum est, digito monstrari, et dicier: Hic est" (_Pers._ i. 28). (_Ibid._) [211] He says in reference to the whole history of Crichton: "The verity of this story I have here related, concerning this incomparable Crichton, may be certified by above two thousand men yet living, who have known him" (_Works_, p. 244). There can scarcely have been so many, unless centenarians were much commoner then than now.