FRANCOIS RABELAIS 75 



Scylla and Charybdis ^c:^ ^i.- 



(From The Fifth Book of the Good Pantagniel ; trans.) 



'T'HEN the gusts increased, and by fits blowed 

 all at once from several quarters : yet we 

 neither settled nor braded up close our sails, but 

 only let fly the sheets, not to go against the master 

 of the ship's direction ; and thus having let go 

 amain, lest we should spend our topsails, or the 

 ship's quick-side should lie in the water, and she 

 be overset, we lay by and run adrift, that is, in a 

 landloper's phrase, we temporised it. For he 

 assured us, that, as these gusts and whirlwinds 

 would not do us much good, so they could not do 

 us much harm, considering their easiness and 

 pleasant strife, as also tlie clearness of tlie sky, 

 and calmness of the current. So tliat we were to 

 observe the philosopher's rule, bear and forbear ; 

 that is, trim, or go according to the time. 



However, these whirlwinds and gusts lasted so 

 long, that wc persuaded the master to let us go 

 and lie at trie with our main course ; that is, to 

 haul the tack aboard, the sheet close aft, tlie bow- 

 line set up, and the helm tied close aboard ; so 

 after a stormy gale of wind, we broke through the 

 whirlwind. But 'twas like falling into Scylla to 

 avoid Cliaryljdis (out of the frying-jian into the 

 fire). For we had not sailed a league, e'er our 



