Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/51

 RABELAIS 35 musk, civet, jewels, and other precious things." He goes on to say that his book, Uke these sileni and Socrates, conceals things of the utmost value within a rude and absurd exterior; and then gives another illustration : " But did you ever see a dog meeting with a marrow-bone ? He is, as Plato says (' Re- public,' Book ii.), the most philosophical beast in the world. If you have seen him, you have been able to note with what devotion he watches it, with what care he guards it, with what fervour he holds it, with what prudence he manages it, with what affec- tion he breaks it, and with what diligence he sucks it. What moves him to do all this ? What is the hope of his labour ? At what good does he aim ? Nothing but a little marrow. It is true that this little is more delicious than much of anything else, because marrow is a nourishment elaborated to perfection by nature, as Galen says (iii. Facult. Nat. ct xi., de Usu Par- tiutti). After the example of this dog, it becomes you to be wise, to smell, feel, and esteem these goodly books of high conception, easy in the pursuit, diffi- cult in the encounter. Then, by sedulous reading and frequent meditation, break the bone and suck the substantial marrow, that is to say, what I mean by these Pythagorical symbols, with assured hope to be made discreet and valiant by the said study ; for in this you shall find quite another taste, and a more abstruse doctrine, which will reveal to you most high sacraments and horrific mysteries, as well in what concerns our religion as in matters of public state and the life economical." Yet, immediately after, he ridicules these serious pretensions : " Do you believe, on your conscience, that Homer, writing the * Iliad '