four o'clock in the morning
Pantagruel , very well remembering his father 's letter and admonitions , would one day make trial of his knowledge . Thereupon , in all the carrefours , that is , throughout all the four quarters , streets , and corners of the city , he set up conclusions to the number of nine thousand seven hundred sixty and four , in all manner of learning , touching in them the hardest doubts that are in any science . And first of all , in the Fodder Street he held dispute against all the regents or fellows of colleges , artists or masters of arts , and orators , and did so gallantly that he overthrew them and set them all upon their tails . He went afterwards to the Sorbonne , where he maintained argument against all the theologians or divines , for the space of six weeks , from four o'clock in the morning until six in the evening , except an interval of two hours to refresh themselves and take their repast . And at this were present the greatest part of the lords of the court , the masters of requests , presidents , counsellors , those of the accompts , secretaries , advocates , and others ; as also the sheriffs of the said town , with the physicians and professors of the canon law . Amongst which , it is to be remarked , that the greatest part were stubborn jades , and in their opinions obstinate ; but he took such course with them that , for all their ergoes and fallacies , he put their backs to the wall , gravelled them in the deepest questions , and made it visibly appear to the world that , compared to him , they were but monkeys and a knot of muffled calves . Whereupon everybody began to keep a bustling noise and talk of his so marvellous knowledge , through all degrees of persons of both sexes , even to the very laundresses , brokers , roast-meat sellers , penknife makers , and others , who , when he passed along in the street , would say , This is he !