If Urquhart does not constantly adhere to the form of the expression, if he makes a few slight additions, not only has he an understanding of the original, but he feels it, and renders the sense with a force and a vivacity full of warmth and brilliancy.

His own learning made the comprehension of the work easy to him, and his anglicization of words fabricated by Rabelais is particularly successful.

The necessity of keeping to his text prevented his indulgence in the convolutions and divagations dictated by his exuberant fancy when writing on his own account.

His style, always full of life and vigour, is here balanced, lucid, and picturesque.

Never elsewhere did he write so well.