บทที่ บทที่ 49 · How Picrochole in his flight

Chapter 1.XLIX.

How Picrochole in his flight fell into great misfortunes, and what

Gargantua did after the battle.

Picrochole thus in despair fled towards the Bouchard Island, and in the way

to Riviere his horse stumbled and fell down, whereat he on a sudden was so

incensed, that he with his sword without more ado killed him in his choler;

then, not finding any that would remount him, he was about to have taken an

ass at the mill that was thereby; but the miller’s men did so baste his

bones and so soundly bethwack him that they made him both black and blue

with strokes; then stripping him of all his clothes, gave him a scurvy old

canvas jacket wherewith to cover his nakedness. Thus went along this poor

choleric wretch, who, passing the water at Port-Huaulx, and relating his

misadventurous disasters, was foretold by an old Lourpidon hag that his

kingdom should be restored to him at the coming of the Cocklicranes, which

she called Coquecigrues. What is become of him since we cannot certainly

tell, yet was I told that he is now a porter at Lyons, as testy and pettish

in humour as ever he was before, and would be always with great lamentation

inquiring at all strangers of the coming of the Cocklicranes, expecting

assuredly, according to the old woman’s prophecy, that at their coming he

shall be re-established in his kingdom. The first thing Gargantua did

after his return into the town was to call the muster-roll of his men,

which when he had done, he found that there were very few either killed or

wounded, only some few foot of Captain Tolmere’s company, and Ponocrates,

who was shot with a musket-ball through the doublet. Then he caused them

all at and in their several posts and divisions to take a little

refreshment, which was very plenteously provided for them in the best drink

and victuals that could be had for money, and gave order to the treasurers

and commissaries of the army to pay for and defray that repast, and that

there should be no outrage at all nor abuse committed in the town, seeing

it was his own. And furthermore commanded, that immediately after the

soldiers had done with eating and drinking for that time sufficiently and

to their own hearts’ desire, a gathering should be beaten for bringing them

altogether, to be drawn up on the piazza before the castle, there to

receive six months’ pay completely. All which was done. After this, by

his direction, were brought before him in the said place all those that

remained of Picrochole’s party, unto whom, in the presence of the princes,

nobles, and officers of his court and army, he spoke as followeth.