Kabanata Kabanata 52 · How Gargantua caused to be b

Chapter 1.LII.

How Gargantua caused to be built for the Monk the Abbey of Theleme.

There was left only the monk to provide for, whom Gargantua would have made

Abbot of Seville, but he refused it. He would have given him the Abbey of

Bourgueil, or of Sanct Florent, which was better, or both, if it pleased

him; but the monk gave him a very peremptory answer, that he would never

take upon him the charge nor government of monks. For how shall I be able,

said he, to rule over others, that have not full power and command of

myself? If you think I have done you, or may hereafter do any acceptable

service, give me leave to found an abbey after my own mind and fancy. The

motion pleased Gargantua very well, who thereupon offered him all the

country of Theleme by the river of Loire till within two leagues of the

great forest of Port-Huaulx. The monk then requested Gargantua to

institute his religious order contrary to all others. First, then, said

Gargantua, you must not build a wall about your convent, for all other

abbeys are strongly walled and mured about. See, said the monk, and not

without cause (seeing wall and mur signify but one and the same thing);

where there is mur before and mur behind, there is store of murmur, envy,

and mutual conspiracy. Moreover, seeing there are certain convents in the

world whereof the custom is, if any woman come in, I mean chaste and honest

women, they immediately sweep the ground which they have trod upon;

therefore was it ordained, that if any man or woman entered into religious

orders should by chance come within this new abbey, all the rooms should be

thoroughly washed and cleansed through which they had passed. And because

in all other monasteries and nunneries all is compassed, limited, and

regulated by hours, it was decreed that in this new structure there should

be neither clock nor dial, but that according to the opportunities and

incident occasions all their hours should be disposed of; for, said

Gargantua, the greatest loss of time that I know is to count the hours.

What good comes of it? Nor can there be any greater dotage in the world

than for one to guide and direct his courses by the sound of a bell, and

not by his own judgment and discretion.

Item, Because at that time they put no women into nunneries but such as

were either purblind, blinkards, lame, crooked, ill-favoured, misshapen,

fools, senseless, spoiled, or corrupt; nor encloistered any men but those

that were either sickly, subject to defluxions, ill-bred louts, simple

sots, or peevish trouble-houses. But to the purpose, said the monk. A

woman that is neither fair nor good, to what use serves she? To make a nun

of, said Gargantua. Yea, said the monk, and to make shirts and smocks.

Therefore was it ordained that into this religious order should be admitted

no women that were not fair, well-featured, and of a sweet disposition; nor

men that were not comely, personable, and well conditioned.

Item, Because in the convents of women men come not but underhand, privily,

and by stealth, it was therefore enacted that in this house there shall be

no women in case there be not men, nor men in case there be not women.

Item, Because both men and women that are received into religious orders

after the expiring of their noviciate or probation year were constrained

and forced perpetually to stay there all the days of their life, it was

therefore ordered that all whatever, men or women, admitted within this

abbey, should have full leave to depart with peace and contentment

whensoever it should seem good to them so to do.

Item, for that the religious men and women did ordinarily make three vows,

to wit, those of chastity, poverty, and obedience, it was therefore

constituted and appointed that in this convent they might be honourably

married, that they might be rich, and live at liberty. In regard of the

legitimate time of the persons to be initiated, and years under and above

which they were not capable of reception, the women were to be admitted

from ten till fifteen, and the men from twelve till eighteen.