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destined for the cloister； being a sickly lad。 His uncle； one of the canons
of Maguelonne； near by； had even given him the revenues of a small
chapela job of nepotism which was mon enough in those days。 But
his heart was in science and medicine。 He set off； still a mere boy； to
Paris to study there； and returned to Montpellier； at the age of eighteen； to
study again。
The next year； 1530； while still a scholar himself； he was appointed
procurator of the scholarsa post which brought him in a small fee on
each matriculationand that year he took a fee； among others； from one of
the most remarkable men of that or of any age； Francois Rabelais himself。
And what shall I say of him？who stands alone； like Shakespeare； in
his generation； possessed of colossal learningof all science which could
be gathered in his daysof practical and statesmanlike wisdomof
knowledge of languages； ancient and modern； beyond all his peersof
eloquence； which when he speaks of pure and noble things bees heroic；
and； as it were； inspiredof scorn for meanness； hypocrisy； ignoranceof
esteem； genuine and earnest； for the Holy Scriptures； and for the more
moderate of the Reformers who were spreading the Scriptures in Europe；
and all this great light wilfully hidden； not under a bushel； but under a
dunghill。 He is somewhat like Socrates in face； and in character likewise；
in him； as in Socrates； the demigod and the satyr； the man and the ape； are
struggling for the mastery。 In Socrates； the true man conquers； and
es forth high and pure； in Rabelais； alas！ the victor is the ape； while
the man himself sinks down in cynicism； sensuality； practical jokes； foul
talk。 He returns to Paris； to live an idle； luxurious life； to diesays the
legendsaying； 〃I go to seek a great perhaps；〃 and to leave behind him
little save a school of Pantagruelistscareless young gentlemen； whose
ideal was to laugh at everything； to believe in nothing； and to gratify their
five senses like the brutes which perish。 There are those who read his
books to make them laugh； the wise man； when he reads them； will be far
more inclined to weep。 Let any young man who may see these words
remember； that in him； as in Rabelais； the ape and the man are struggling
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for the mastery。 Let him take warning by the fate of one who was to him
as a giant to a pigmy； and think of Tennyson's words …
Arise； and fly The reeling faun； the sensual feast； Strive upwards；
working out the beast； And let the ape and tiger die。
But to return。 Down among them there at Montpellier； like a
brilliant meteor； flashed this wonderful Rabelais； in the year 1530。 He had
fled； some say； for his life。 Like Erasmus； he had no mind to be a martyr；
and he had been terrified at the execution of poor Louis de Berquin； his
friend； and the friend of Erasmus likewise。 This Louis de Berquin； a man
well known in those days； was a gallant young gentleman and scholar；
holding a place in the court of Francis I。； who had translated into French
the works of Erasmus； Luther； and Melancthon； and had asserted that it
was heretical to invoke the Virgin Mary instead of the Holy Spirit； or to
call her our Hope and our Life； which titlesBerquin averredbelonged
alone to God。 Twice had the doctors of the Sorbonne； with that terrible
persecutor； Noel Beda； at their head； seized poor Berquin； and tried to
burn his books and him； twice had that angel in human form； Marguerite
d'Angouleme； sister of Francis I。； saved him from their clutches； but when
Francistaken prisoner at the battle of Pavia at last returned from his
captivity in Spain； the suppression of heresy and the burning of heretics
seemed to him and to his mother； Louise of Savoy； a thank…offering so
acceptable to God； that Louis Berquinwho would not； in spite of the
entreaties of Erasmus； purchase his life by silencewas burnt at last on the
Place de Greve； being first strangled； because he was of gentle blood。
Montpellier received its famous guest joyfully。 Rabelais was now
forty…two years old； and a distinguished savant； so they excused him his
three years' undergraduate's career； and invested him at once with the red
gown of the bachelors。 That red gownor； rather； the ragged phantom of
itis still shown at Montpellier； and must be worn by each bachelor when
he takes his degree。 Unfortunately； antiquarians assure us that the
precious garment has been renewed again and againthe students having
clipped bits of it away for relics； and clipped as earnestly from the new
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gowns as their predecessors had done from the authentic original。
Doubtless； the ing of such a man among them to lecture on the
Aphorisms of Hippocrates； and the Ars Parva of Galen； not from the Latin
translations then in use； but from original Greek texts； with ments and
corrections of his own； must have had a great influence on the minds of
the Montpellier students； and still more influence and that not altogether
a good onemust Rabelais's lighter talk have had； as he l