SI QUÆRIS-PENINSULAM-AMENAM
CIRCUMSPICE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LIBRARY
1837
SCIENTIA
ARTES
VERITAS
OF THE
no
LUCIUS:D
HUBBARD
HOUGHTON
MICHIGAN
W
.
at back
ఎన్ని మందు పదుల వరకు
.
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
PR
3724
'G8
1787
DIE
T RA V E L S
O P
LEMUEL CULLIVER,
INTO $ EYES AL
REMOTE NATIONS
W ORL
D.
WHO WAS FIRST A
S U R G E ON,
AND THEN A
CA PTA
T A I
N
0 F
B
SE V E R AL SHIP S.
I N F OUR PA R T S.
ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPERPLATES.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR C. ELLIOT.
M.DCC.LXXXVII.
POLAR
Red
Lucius S. Hubbard
1
10-31 14 22
*
409933
A
H
C O N T E N T S.
Page
T
H E publiſher to the reader
Gulliver's letter to his couſin Sympſon
13
P A R T I.
he end run
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT
CHAP. I. The author gives ſome account of himſelf
and family. His firſt inducements to travel. He is
Chipwrecked, and ſwims for his life; gets ſafe on
Ihare in the country of Lilliput; in made a priſoner,
and carried up the country,
CHAP IL. The emperor of Lilliput, attended by ſever.
al of the nobility, comes to ſee the author in his con-
The emperors perſon and habit dele
bed. Learned men appointed to teach the author the
language. He gains favour by his mild difpolitian.
His pockets are ſearched, and his ſword and piftols
taken from him,
31
CHAP. III. The author diverts the emperor, and brin
mobility of both ſexes, in a very uncommon mannar,
The diverſions of the court of Lilliput deſcribed. The
author has his liberty granted him, upon certain con-
ditions,
42
CHAP, IV. Mildendo, the metropolis of Lithput, der
cribed, together with the Emperor's palace, & corte
verſation between the author and a principal ſecreta-
ry, concerning the affairs of that empire. The au-
khor's offers to ſerve the Emperor in his wars, 58
CHAP. V. The authorby an extraordinary art
e prevents an invaſion. A hi sh title of honour in
conferred upon him. Ambaffadors arrive from the
Emperor of Blefuſeu, and fue for peace. - The Em-11)
preis: apertinent on øre by an accident ; the author
inftrumental in faving the rest of the palace,
57
A 2
HABA
hor, by an extraor
THE CONTENT 3.
UIP. VI. or the inhabitants of Lilliant ; their
Teärnkug, laws, and cuſtoms, the manner or educating
their children. The author's way of living in tirar con
try. His vindication of great lady,
65
CHAP. VII. The author, Ibeing informed of a des
Sippy to accuſe
him of high-treaton, maketh his efcape
to Blefuſeu. His reception there,
76
CHIAP.
VIII. The author, by a lucky accident, finds
means to leave Blefuſen;" and; after foine difficulties,
returns (afe to his native country,
86
STUDIO:
PART 11.
Sit 10
19101 A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
mas
CHAP. I. A great form deſcribed, the long boat
fent tü fetch water, the author goes with 10 to diſ-
eurver the country. He is left on Biore, is féized by
one of the natives and carried to a fariner's houſe.
His reception, with ſeveral accidents" thar happened
there. A deſcription of the inlxabitants,
94
Chkap. II. A deſcription of the farmer's daughter,
The author carried to a market • town, and then to
the metropolis. The particulars of his journey,
CHAP. II. The author ſent for to court. The
Onsen buys him of his maſter the farmer, and pre-
font: hiin to the king. He diſputes with his Majef
tys greut fcholars. An apartment at court provid
kilom the Ruthor. He is in high favour with the D
quote, He ſtands ap for the honour of his own
Loantry His-givarrels with the queen's dwarf,
CHAP IV. The country deſcribed. A propoful for
correcting modern maps. The king's palace, and
font: account of the metropolis. The author's way
of travelling. The chief temple deſcribed,
CHAPE Y. Several adventures that happened to the
author. The execution of a criminal. The author
te bis ball iii navigation,
133
contre homelarrels with the queen's dwart.
THE CO N T E N T S.
Page
CHAP. VI. Several contrivances of the author to pleaſe
the king and queen. He ſhews his ſkill in muſic. The
king inquires into the ſtate of England, which the
author relates to him. The king's obſervations thereon, 144
he authoekin
CHAP. VII. The author's love of his country. He
makes a propoſal of much advantage to the king, which
is rejected. The king's great ignorance in politics.
The learning of that country very imperfe&t and con
fined. The laws, and military
affairs, and parties in
the ſtate,
15 4
CHAP. VIII. The king and queen make a progreſs
to the frontiers. The author attends them. The
manner in which he leaves the country very particu-
larly related. He returns to England,
162
PART
A Voyage to LAPUTA, BALNIBALBI, LUGGNAGG,
GlubBDUBDRIB, and JAPAN,
CHAP. I. The author ſets out on his third voyage,
is taken by pirates. The malice of a Dutchman.
His arrival at an iſland. He is received into Lapura, 176.
CHAP. II. The humours and diſpoſitions of the La-
putians deſcribed. An account of their learning. Of
the king and his court, The author's reception
there. The inhabitantı ſubject to fear and diſquie-
tudes. An account of the women,
CHAP. III." A phenomenon folved by modern philo. !.
ſophy and aſtronomy. The Laputians great improve-
ments in the latter. The king's method of ſup-
preffing inſurre&tions,
Orebro 193
CHAP. IV. The author leaves Laputa, is conveyed
to Balnibarbi, arrives at the metropolia. A deſcrip. A
tion of the metropolis and the country adjoining.
The author hoſpitably received by a great lord. His
converſation with that lord,
199
CHAP
5
11
A 3
Τ Η Ε Ο Ο Ν Τ Ε Ν Τ 5.
Page
CHAP: V The anthor permitted ro ſee the grand
cademy of Lagado. The academy largely deſcribed.
I hearts wherein the
profeſſors employ thențielves, 206
CHAP. VI. A further account of the academy. The
author propoſes ſome improvements, which are ho.
agurably reecivad,
CHAP. VII. The anthor leaves Lagado, arrives at
Maldonada. No ſhip ready. He takes a ſhort voyage
to Ginbödubdrib. - His reception by the governor
215
222
CHAP.
VIII. A further account of Glubbdubdrib.
Ancient and modern hiſtory correated
nity to his subject
CHAP. IX. The author returns to Maldonado Sails
to the kingdonı of Luggnagg. The author confined.
He is ſent for to court. The manner of bis admit
The king's great lenity to his fubjeéts, 134
CHAP *. The Luggnuggians commended. A parti*
cular deſcription of the Struldbrugs, with many con-
vertation between the author and fomne eminent
perſoas tipon that fubjeé,
CHAP. XI. The author leaves Luggnagg, and ſails to
Japan. From thence he returns in a wutch ſhip to
Amſterdam, and from Amſterdans to England,
248
PART IV.
A Voyags to the Country of the Houyhx**6.
CHAP: 1. The author lets out as captain of a thip,
His men conſpire againſt him, confine him a long time
to his cabbia, fet him on fhore in an unknown land.
He travels up tlie country. The yahoos, a ſtrange
Tore of animal, deſcribed. The author meets tvo
Honhnhnms,
CHAP. 1). The author conducted by a Houytinhnta
te his hpüle. The houſe deſcribed. The anthor s
recepțion. The food of the Houyhnhnms, The an-
Thor in diſtreſs for want of meat, is at last relieved.
His manner of feeding in this country,
CHAP
THE C O N T E N T S.
vii
will contitution,
Page
CHAP. III. The author ſtudies to learn the language;
The Houyhnhom, his matter, affiſts in teaching him.
The language deſcribed. Several Houyhnhnins of
quality come out of curioſity to ſee the author
He gives his maſter a ſhort account of his
voyage, 268
CHAP. IV. The Houyhohnms notion of truth and
falſehood. The author's diſcourſe diſapproved by his
matter. The autlior gives a more particular account
of himſelf, and the accidents of his voyage,
CHAP. V. The author, at his maſter's command, in-
forms him of the ſtate of England. The cauſes of
war among the princes of Europe. The author be-
gins to explain the Engliſh conltitution,
281
CHAP. VI. A continuation of the ſtate of England
under queen Anne. The charaéter of a firtt miniſter
of (tate in European courts,
289
CHAP. VII. The author's great love of his native
country. His maſter's obſervacions upon the conſti-
tution and adminiftration of England, as deſcribed by
the author, with parallel caſes and compariſons. His
maſter's obſervations upon human nature,
CHAP. VIII. The author relates ſeveral particulars
of the Yahoos. The great virtues of the
Houyhnkoms. The education and exerciſe of all
their youth. Their general aſſembly.
CHAP. IX. A grand debate at the general aſſembly of
the Houyhnhnms, and how it was determined. The
learning of the Houyhnhnms. Their buildings,
Their manner of burials. The defe&tiveneſs of
their language,
313
CHAP. X. The author's oeconomy, and happy life a-
mong the Houyhnhnms. His great improvement
in virtue, by converſing with them. Their conver-
ſations. The author hath notice given him by his
maſter, that he muſt depart from the country. He
falls into a ſwoon for grief, but ſubmits. He con.
trives and finiſhes a canoe by the help of a fellow-fer-
vant, and puts to ſea at a venture,
319
306
CHAP.
viii
THE CONTENT $.
328
Page
CHAP XI. The author's dangerous voyage. He ar..
rives at New Holland, hoping to ſettle there. Is
Wounded with an arrow from one of the natives,
Is ſeized and carried by force into a Portugueze fhip.
The great civilities of the captain. The author ar-
rives at England,
CHAP. XII. The author's veracity. Hic deſign in
publiſhing this work. His cenſure of thoſe travellers
who werve from the truth. The author clears
himſelf from any finifter ends in writing. An objec.
tion anſwered. The method of planting colonies.
His native country commended. The right of the
crown to thoſe countries deſcribed by the author is
juftified. The difficulty of conquering them. The
author takes his laſt leave of the reader ; propoſeth
his manner of living for the future ; gives good ad-
vice, and concludeth,
337
TH R E E PO E MS.
padian Odo
To Quinbus Fleſtrin, the Man-Mountain ; a Lillipu-
345
The Lamentation of Glumdalclitch for the loss of
Gelldriga Paftoral,
347
Mark Gulliver, to Capt. Lemuel Gulliver,
349
N. B. Theſe voyages are intended as a moral poli.
tical Romance-to correct vice, by ſhowing
its deformity, in oppoſition, to the beauty of
virtue; and to amend the falſe fyſtems of Phi-
loſophy, by pointing out the errors, and ap-
plying ſalurary means to avoid them.
ORKERY
THE
PUBLISHER to the READ E R.
THE author of theſe travels, Mr Lemuel Gulliver,
is my ancient and intimate friend ; there is like-
wife fome relation between us on the mother's
fide. About three years ago, Mr Gulliver grow-
*ing weary of the concourſe of curious people
coming to him at his houſe in Redriff, made a
ſmall purchaſe of land, with a convenient houſe,
near Newark in Nottinghamſhire, his native
country; where he now lives retired, yet in good
eſteem among his neighbours.
Although Mr Gulliver was born in Nottingham-
Ahire, where his father dwelt, yet I have heard
him ſay, his family came from Oxfordſhire; to
confirm which, I have obſerved in the church.
yard at Banbury, in that county, ſeveral tombs
and monuments of the Gullivers.
1 and monuments of the could
Before ke quitted Redriff, he left the cuſtody of
the following papers in my hands, with the li.
berty to diſpoſe of them as I thould think fit. I
have carefully peruſed them three times : The
ſtyle is very plain and ſimple; and the only fault
I find is, that the author, after the manner of
travellers, is a little too circumſtantial. There is
an air of truth apparent through the whole; and
indeed the author was ſo diſtinguiſhed for his
veracity, that it became a ſort of a proverb a.
mong his neighbours at Redriff, when any one
affirmed a thing, to ſay it was as true as if Mr
Gulliver had ſpoken it.
By
( 12 )
By the advice of ſeveral
worthy perſons, to whom,
with the author's permiflion, 1 communicated
theſe papers, I now venture to ſend them into
the world; hoping they may be, at leaſt for ſome
time, a better entertainment to our young no.
blemen, than the common fcribbles of politics and
party
This volume would have been at leaſt twice as large
il I had not inade bold to ſtrike out innumerable
pallages relating to the winds and tides, as well
as to the variations and bearings in the ſeveral
voyages, together with the minure deſcriptions
of the management of the ſhip in ſtorms in the
Kyle of ſailors ; likewiſe, the account of longi-
tudes and latitudes; wherein I have reaſon to
apprehend, that Mr Gulliver may be a little dir.
fatisfied. But I was reſolved to fit the work, 28
much as poſſible, to the general capacity of read.
ers. However, if my own ignorance in fea af.
fairs (hall have led me to commit fome miſtakes,
I alone am anfwerable for them · And if any tra.
veller hath a curioſity to ſee the whole work at
large, as it came from the hand of the author, I
will be ready to gratify him,
Com
As for any further particulars relating to the au.
thor, the reader will receive fatisfa&ion froin the
firſt pages of the book.
19 ai ale
RICHARD SYMPSON,
sini
***ticisi
vika
con
:
LE
T Τ' Τ Ε
R
CAPT. GULLIVER TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON.
I
HOPE you will be ready to own publicly, when-
ever you that be called to it, that by your great
and frequent urgency you prevailed on me to pub-
lifh a very looſe and uncorrect account of my tra-
vels, with directions to hire fome young gentlemen
of either univerſity to put them in order and correct
the ſtyle, as my couſin Dampier did by my advice in
his book called 4 Voyage round the World. But I do
not remember I gave you power to conſent that any
thing ſhould be omitted, and much leſs that any
thing fhould be inſerted. Therefore, as to the latter,
I do here renounce every thing of that kind; parti.
cularly a paragraph about her Majeſty the late Queen
Anne, of moſt pious and glorious memory, although
1 did reverence and eſteem her more than any of the
human ſpecies. But you or your interpolator ought
to have conſidered, that as it was not my inclination,
ſo was it not decent to praiſe any animal of our
compoſition before my maſter Houyhnhnm. And
B
be
Letter from Captain GULLIVER
bebides, the fact was altogether falfe: for to my
knowledge, being in England during ſome part of
har Majeity's reign, ſhe did govern by a chief ini-
milie, nay, everr by two fuccellively; the Brit
wlercof was the Lord of Godolphin, and the ſecond
the Lord of Oxford; ſo that you have made me fay
the thing which was not. Likewife, in the account
of the Academy of Projectors, and ſeveral paſſages
of my Diſcourſe to my maſter Houyhnhnm, you have
cither omitted fome material circumſtances, or min.
ced or changed them in ſuch a manner, that I do
hardly know mine own work. When I formerly
hinted to you ſomething of this in a letter, you were
pleaſed to anſwer, that you were afraid of giving
that people in power were very watch-
ful over the prefs; and apt not only to interpret,
but to puniſh, every thing which looked like an in
muenda (as I think you called it). But pray, how
could tivat which I ſpoke ſo many years ago, and at
above five thouſand leagues diſtance,
in another
Koign,
be applied to any of the Yahoos, who now
are ſaid to govern the herd,
oſpecially at a time when
I little thought on, or feared the unhappinefs of lis
ving under them. Have not I the moſt reaſon to
complain, when
I ſee theſe very Yahoos carried by
Houyhnlınms in a vehicle, as if theſe were brutes and
hole the rational creatures? And indeed to avoid to
monitrous and deteſtable a fight was one principal
inotive of any retirement hither.
Thus much I thought proper to tell you in rela.
tion to yourfelf, and to the truſt I repoſed in you:
I do, in the next place, complain of my own great
want of judgment, in being prevailed upon by the
întreaties, and falſe reaſonings of you and fome ou
thers, very much againſt mine own opinion, to fula
fer my Travels to be publiſhed. Pray bring to your
mind
to his Couſin SYMPSON.
mind how often I defired you to conſider, when you
inſiſted on the motive of public good, that the Ya-
hoos were a ſpecies of animals utterly incapable of
amendment by precept or examples: And ſo it hath
proved; for, inſtead of ſeeing a full ſtop put to all a.
buſes and corruptions, at leaſt in this little iſland, as I
had reaſon to expect, behold, after above fix months
warning, I cannot learn that my book hath produ-
ced one ſingle effect according to mine intentions.
I deſired you would but let me know by a letter, when
party and faction were extinguiſhed ; judges learned
and upright; pleaders honeſt and modeſt, with ſome
tincture of common ſenſe; and Smithfeld blazing
with pyramids of law-books; the young nobility's
erducation entirely changed; the phyſicians baniih-
ed; the female Yahoos abounding in virtue, how
nour, truth, and good ſenſe; courts and levees of
great miniſters thoroughly weeded and ſwept; wit,
merit, and learning rewarded; all diſgracers of the
preſs in proſe and verſe condemned to eat nothing
but their own cotton, and quench their thirſt with
their owirink. There, and a tiroufaid ocker row
formations, I firmly counted upon by your' encou--
ragement; as indeed they were plainly deducible
from the precepts delivered in my book. And it
muſt be owned, that ſeven months were a ſufficient
time to correct every vice and folly to which Ya-
hoos are ſubject, if their natures had been capable
of the leaſt diſpoſition to virtue or wiſdom. Yet fo
far have you been from anſwering mine expectation
in any of your letters, that, on the contrary, you are
loading our carrier every week with libels, and keys,
and reflexions, and memoirs, and
ſecond parts;
wherein I fee myſelf accuſed of reflecting upon great
ſtate-folks, of degrading human nature (for ſo they
lave ſtill the confidence to ſtyle it), and of abuſing
B 2
6 4 Letter from Captain GULLIVER
the female ſex. I find likewiſe, that the writers of
thoſe bundles are not agreed among themſelves; for
some of thenu vill not allow me to be author of ntinis
own Travels, and others make me author of books
to which I am wholly a ſtranger.
I find likewiſe, that your printer hath been ſo
careleſs as to confound the times, and miftake the
dates of my feveral voyages and returns; neither
aſligning the true year, or the true month, or day
of the month: And I hear the original manuſcript
is all deſtroyed ſince the
publication of my book.
Neither lave I any copy left; however, I have lost
vou fome correétions which you may inſert if ever
here ſhould be a ſecond edition: And yet I cante
pipt and to them, but ſhall leave that matter to
my judicious and candid readers to adjuſt it as they
pleale
I rear fome of our fea Yalioos find fault with my
ſca-language, as not proper in many parts, nor now
in uſe. I cannot help it. In my frit voyages,
Sphile I was young, I was inſtructed by the oldcit
inariners, and learned to ſpeak as they did. But !
have lince found that the ſea Yaloos are apt, like the
land ones, to become new-fangled in their words
which the latter change every year; infomuch, as I
gemi õiber upon each return to mine own country,
Disir old diale& was fo altered, that I could hardly
underſtand the new. And I obſerve, when any Yê-
hoo comes from London out of curioſity to vilt no
at mine own houſe, we neither of us are able to de-
tiver our conceptions in a manner intelligible to the
If the cenſure of Yahoos could any way afica
me, I ſhould have great reafon to complain, that
fome of them are to bold as to think my book of
Travels a mere f&tion out of mine own brain : ani!
to his Couſin SYMPSON.
17
havegone ſo far as to drop hints, that the Houyhnhnms
and Yahoos have no more exiſtence than the inha.
bitants of Utopia.
Indeed I muſt confeſs, that as to the people of
Lilliput, Brabdingrag, (for fo the word ſhould have
been ſpelt, and not erroneouſly Brobdingnag), and
Laputa, I have never yet heard of any Yahoo lo
preſumptuous as to diſpute their being, or the facts
I have related concerning them; becauſe the truth
immediately ſtrikes every reader with conviction.
And is there leſó probability in my account of the
Houyhnhnms or Tahoos, when it is manifeft, as to
the latter, there are ſo many thouſands even in this
city who only differ from their brother brutes in
Houyhnhnm-land, becauſe they uſe a fort of jabber,
and do not go naked. I wrote for their amendment,
and not their approbation. The united praiſe of the
whole race would be of leſs conſequence to me, than
the neighing of thoſe two degenerate Houyhnhniais
I keep in my ſtable;
becauſe from theſe, degenerace
as they are, I ſtill improve in ſome virtues, without
any mixture of vice.
Do theſe miſerable animals preſume to think that
I am fo far degenerated as to defend my veracity ?
Yahoo as I am, it is well known through all
Houyhnhnm-land, that by the inſtructions and ex-
ample of my illuſtrious maſter, I was able in the
compaſs of two years (although, I confeſs, with the
utmoſt diſficulty) to remove that infernal habit of
lying, ſhuffling, deceiving, and equivocating, ſo
deeply rooted in the very ſouls of all my ſpecies;
eſpecially the Europeans.
I have other complaints to make upon this vexa-
tious occafion; but I forbear troubling myſelf or you
any further. I muſt freely confeſs, that ſince my
return, ſome corruptions of my Yahoo nature
have
B3
A Letter from Captain GOLLIVER,
haye revived in me by converſing with a few of
your ſpecies, and particularly thoſe of mine own
family, by an unavoidable neceflity; elſe I ſhould
never have attempted ſo abfurd a project as that of
reforming the Yahoo race in this kingdom : but I
have now done with all ſuch viſionary ſchemes for
IR
T RA V E L S.
PART I.
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT
c H A TP. I.
The Author giveth (crne account of himſelf and family
bis firſt inducements to travel. He is ſhipwrecked,
and ſwims for his life; gets Jafe on Jbore in the
country of Lilliput; is made a priſoner, and care
ried up the country
Y father had a ſmall eſtate in Nottingham,
ſhire; I was the third of five ſons. He ſent
me to Emanuel college in Cambridge at
fourteen years old, where I reſided three years, and
applied myſelf cloſe to my ſtudies :. But the charge
of maintaining me (although I had a very ſcanty al-
lowance) being too great for a narrow fortune, I
was bound apprentice to Mr James Bates, an emi-
nent ſurgeon in London, with whom I continued
four years; and my father now and then ſending
M
me
20
A l'ayage to LILLIPDT.
mne Omall fums of money, I laid them out in leard.
ing navigation and other parts of the anathematics
elchul to thoſe who intend to travel, as I always bee
Vered it would be ſome time or other my fortur
to do. When I left Mr Bates, I went down tri ny
Jalliot; where; by the aſſiſtance of him and my uncle
Joht, and fome other relations, I got forty poundsg.
and a promiſe of thirty pounds a-year to nuaintaiiz
me at Leyden: There I ſtudied phyhe two years
and leven inonths, knowing it would be uſeful in
long voyages.
Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recom
mended by my good maſter Mr Bates, to be ſurgeon
ba tha Swallow, Captain Abraham Panrel com
mander, with whom I continued three years and a
half, making a voyage or two into the Levant and
fome other parts. When I came back I reſolved to
fettie in London, to which Mr Bates, my maſtor,
Çncouraged me; and by him I was recommended
to ſeveral patients. I took part of a ſmall houſe in
the Old-Jewry; and being adviſed to alter my condi-
tion, I married Mrs Mary Burton, ſecond daughter
* Mir Limond Burton holier in Newgate-Street,
with vehom I received four hundred pounds for i
But my good M. Bates dying in two years after,
and I having few friends, my bulineſs began ta fälg
tör y concience would not ſafer me to imitate
die bad practice of too many among my brethren.
Haring therefore conſulted with my wife and come
of my acquaintance; I determined to go again to ica.
1813 Cargcon ſucceſlively in two thips, and morte
leveral voyagcs, for fix years, to the East and Weit:
Endlesz by which I got ſome addition to muy for
tane. My hours of leifure I fpent in rendme the
heft authors ancient and modern, being diprats
prorided with a good number of books; and, WIXEIR
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
20
I was aſhore, in obſerving the manners and diſpofi-
tions of the people, as well as learning their lan-
guage; wherein I had a great facility by the ſtrength
of my memory.
The laſt of theſe voyages not proving very fortu-
nate, I grew weary of the ſea, and intended to ſtay
at home with my wife and family. I removed from
the Old-Jewry to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to
Wapping, hoping to get buſineſs among the failors;
but it would not turn to account.
After three years
expectation that things would mend, I accepted an
advantageous offer from Captain William Pritchard,
maſter of the Antelope, who was making a voyage
to the South-Sea. We ſet ſail from Briſtol, May
the 4th, 1699; and our voyage at firſt was very prof-
perous.
It would not be proper, for ſome reaſons, to
trouble the reader with the particulars of our adu
ventures in thoſe feas: Let it ſuflice to inform hin,
that in our paſſage from thence to the Eaſt Indies,
we were driven by a violent ſtorm to the north-weft
of Van Diemen's land. By an obſervation we found
ourſelves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes
fouth. Twelve of our crew were dead by imma.
derate labour and ill food; the reſt were in a very
weak condition. On the fifth of November, which
was the beginning of ſummer in thoſe parts, the
weather being very hazy, the ſeamen eſpied a rock
within half a cable's length of the ſhip; but the
wind was ſo ſtrong that we were driven dire@ly up-
on it, and immediately ſplit. Six of the crew, of
whom I was one, liaving let down the boat into the
ſea, made a ſhift to get clear of the ſhip and the
rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three
leagues, until we were able to work no longer, be-
ing already ſpent with labour while we were in the
fhip. We therefore truſted ourſelves to the mercy,
08
2 2
A Voyage to LILLIPUT,
of the wavess and in about half an hour the boat
was overſer by a fadden fury from the nortis.
Wluar became of my companions in the boat, as well
23 of thoſe who eſcaped on the rock, or were loſt in
itie vertel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all
lol!. Por iny dwn part, I ſwam as fortuire directed
me, and was puſhed forwards by wind and tiden i
oton let my legs drop, and could feel ro bottom:
But when I was almoſt goneand able ta fruegla
no longer, I found myſelf within my depth; and by
this time the ſtorm was much abuted. The declivity
was to fill that I walked near a mile before I got
to ta there, which I conjectured was abou ciel
o'clock in the evening. I then advanced fortar:
Die hull a taxile. but could not discover any in of
houses ar muhabitants; at least I was in in taka
condition, that I did not občerve them. I to
Drenci; tireniş and with that, amd the car af la
esther, and about half a page sf bad chust karate
se fa die (híp, I found my elf much irreled a
deep. I linge clown on the srals; vehich was sterk hort
slicte lilept founder than ever I noent-
ber to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned, a-
hoe uwe hours for when I awakeed, it was
fibilit. I atteinptod to riſe, but was not able to
ftir; for as I happened to lie on my back, I found
1 3001s: 20legs were frontly faitened on each
fide to the ground; and my hair, which was long
and like thed down in the ſame manner. I .
Per leveral flander licenturies nairolizinis boil
Hunty arm pits to my thighs I could only bok
upwards; the ſun began to grow hot, and the light
niends atide ayes. I heard a confuſed nike air ons
stile; bun, ur the softure I lay, could fee potlong or.
ceptie lky. In a little time I ick iometijos alive
poring on my left legs which advancing cully form
sard over my breally came on up to say ehits
who
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
23
when, bending mine eyes downwards as much as I
could, I perceived it to be a human creature not lix
inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands,
and a quiver at his back. In the mean time I felt
at leaſt forty more of the ſame kind (as I conjectu.
red) following the firſt. I was in the utmoſt aſto.
niſhment, and roared ſo loud, that they all ran back
in a fright; and ſome of them, as I was afterwards
told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping
from my fides upon the ground. However, they
foon returned; and one of them, who ventured fo
far as to get a full fight of my face, lifting up his
hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in
a fhrill but diftin& voice, Hekinah Degul: The
others repeated the ſame words ſeveral times, but I
then knew not what they meant. I lay all this while,
as the reader may believe, in great uneaſineſs. At
length ſtruggling to get looſe, I had the fortune to
break the ſtrings, and wrench out the pegs that fam
ftened my left arm to the ground; for by lifting it
up to my face, I diſcovered the methods they had
taken to bind me; and, at the ſame time, with a
violent pull, which gave me exceflive pain, I a little
loofened the ſtrings that tied down my hair on the
Jeft fide; ſo that I was juſt able to turn my head a-
bour two inches: But the creatures ran off a ſecond
time before I could ſeize them; whereupon there
was a great thout in a very fhrill accent; and, after
it ceaſed, I heard one of them cry aloud, Tolgo
Phonac; when in an inſtant I felt above an hundred
ärrows diſcharged on my left-hand, which pricked
me like ſo many needles; and beſides they ſhot an-
other flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe;
whereof many, I ſuppoſe, fell on my body (though
I felt them not), and ſome on my face, which I im.
mediately covered with my left-hand. When this
ſhower of arrows was over, I fell a groaning with
grief
44 4 Voyage to LILLIPUT,
me,
gricf and pain; and then ſtriving again to get looſe,
they diſcharged another volley larger than the firſt;
and ſome of them attempted with ſpears to tick
mo
in the fides;
but, by good luck, I had on me a buit
jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it
the moſt prudent method to lie ſtill; and my deſign
was to continue ſo until night, when my left-hant
being already looſe, I could eaſily free myſelf: And
for the inhabitants, I had reaſon to believe I might
be a match for the greateſt armies they could bring
againſt me, if they were all of the fame fize withi
hins that I faw. But fortune diſpoſed otherwiſe of
When the people obſerved I was quiet, they
diſcharged no more arrows. But, by the noiſe in-
creaſing, I knew their numbers were greater; and
about four yards from me, over-againſt my right
car, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like
people at work; when turning my head that way
as well as the pegs and ſtrings would permit meg !
frw a itige erected about a foot and an half fion
the ground, capable of holding four of the inhabi-
tänits, with
two or three ladders to mount it From
Wheuce one of them, who feemed to be a perfou of
quality, made me a long ſpeech, whereof I under-
food not one fyllable. But I ſhould have mention,
ed, that before the principal perſon began his ora-
tion, he cried out three times Langro Dehul ſan
theſe words and the former were afterwards 3€*
peated and explained to me). Whereupon immic-
diately abour fifty of the inhabitants came, and cut
the ſtrings that faſtened the left ſide of my head,
which give me the liberty of turuing it to the riglat,
god of obſerving the perſon and geſture of him who
was to ſpeak. He appeared to be of a middle age,
and taller than any of the other three who attend-
e him; whereof one was a page, who belj. up hins
train, and ſeemed to be ſomewhat longer than my.
paindle
2
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
25
middle finger; the other two ſtood, one on each
fide, to ſupport him. He acted every part of an ora-
tor; and I could obſerve many periods of threaten-
ings, and others of promiſes, pity, and kindneſs. I
anſwered in a few words, but in the moſt ſubmiſ-
five manner, lifting up my left-hand and both my
eyes to the ſun, as calling him for a witneſs; and
being almoſt famiſhed with hunger, having not eaten
a morſel for ſome hours before I left the ſhip, I
found the demands of nature ſo ſtrong upon me, that
I could not forbear ſhowing my impatience (perhaps
againſt the ſtrict rules of decency) by putting my
finger frequently on my mouth, to ſignify that I want-
ed food. The Hurgo (for fo they call a great lord,
as I afterwards learn'd) underſtood me very well:
He defcended from the ſtage, and commanded that
ſeveral ladders ſhould be applied to my fides, on
which above an hundred of the inhabitants mount-
ed, and walked towards my mouth, laden with baſ-
kets full of meat, which had been provided and ſent
thither by the king's orders, upon the firſt intelli-
gence he received of me. I obſerved there was the
fleſh of ſeveral animals, but could not diſtinguiſh
them by the
taſte. There
were ſhoulders, legs, and
loins ſhaped like thoſe of mutton, and very well
drefled, but ſmaller than the wings of a lark. I eat
them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three
Ioaves at a time, about the bigneſs of muſket-bul-
lets. They ſupplied me as faſt as they could, ſhow-
ing a thouſand marks of wonder and aſtoniſhment
at my bulk and appetite. I then made another fign
that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that
a ſmall quantity would not ſuffice me; and being a
moſt ingenious people, they flung up with great
dexterity one of their largeſt hogſheads; then rolled
it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I drank
it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it
C.
hardly
A Voyage to LILLIPU r.
hardly held half a pint, and taſted like a ſmall wine
of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They
brought me a ſecond hogſhead, which I drank a
the fane manner, and made ſigns for more, but
they had none to give me. When I had perfornier
thele wonders, they ſhouted for joy, and danced
upon my breaſt, repeating ſeveral times, as they did
at firſt, Hekinah Degul. They made me a fign that
fhould throw down the two hogiheads; but firſt
wamed the people below to ſtand out of the way,
crying sloud, Borach Mivola; and when they faw
the veflela in the air, there was an univerſal dout
of Hekinah Degul. I confeſs I was often tempted,
while they were paſſing backwards and forwards on
my body, to ſeize forty or fifty of the firſt that came
in my reach, and daſh them againſt the ground.
Rat the remembrance of what I had felt, which pro-
bably might not be the worſt they could do, and the
promiſe of honour I made theni, for fo Linterpre-
ted ny ſubmiſſive behaviour, foon drove out thofa
imaginations. Befides, I now confidered myfelf as
bound by the laws of hoſpitality to a people who
had treated me with ſo much expence and magnif-
CCNce. However, in my thoughts I could not full
ficiently wonder at the intrepidity of thoſe diminu.
tive mortals, who durft venture to mount and walk
on my body, while one of my hands was at liberty,
without trembling at the very fight of fo prodigious
a creature as I muſt appear to them. After fomo
time, when they obſerved that I made no more de-
hands for meat, there appeared before me a perfox
of high rank from his Imperial Majeſty. His ex*
collency liaving mounted on the finall of my right
seg, advanced forwards up to my face, wwith thout
slozen of his retinue; and producing his credende
dials wder the lignet royal, which he applied close
mame spes, ſpoke about ten minutes, without any
ſigns
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ſigns of anger, but with a kind of determinate re-
folution ; often pointing forwards, which, as I af.
terwards found, was towards the capital city, about
half a mile diftant, whither it was agreed by his ma-
jefty in council that I muſt be conveyed. I anfwer-
ed in few words, but to purpoſe; and made a fign
with my hand that was looſe, putting it to the o-
ther (but over his excellency's head, for fear of
hurting him or his train), and then to my own head
and body, to fignify that I deſired my liberty. It
appeared that he underſtood me well enough; for
he ſhook his head by way of diſapprobation, and
held his hand in a poſture to fhow that I muſt be
carried as a priſoner. However, he made other ſigns
to let me underftand, that I ſhould have meat and
drink enough, and very good treatment. Where
upon I once more thought of attempting to break
my bonds, but again, when I felt the ſmart of their
arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in
bliſters, and many of the darts ſtill ſticking in them,
and obſerving likewiſe that the number of my ene-
mies increafed, I gave tokens to let them know that
they might do with me what they pleaſed. Upon
this, the Hurgo and his train withdrew with much
civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after, I
heard a general ſhout, with frequent repetitions of
the words Peplom Selan; and I felt great numbers
of the people on my left ſide, relaxing the cords to
ſuch a degree, that I was able to turn upon my
right, and to eaſe myſelf with making water; which
I
very plentifully did, to the great aſtoniſhment of
the people, who conjecturing by my motions what
I was going to do, immediately opened to the right
and left on that fide, to avoid the torrent which fell
with ſuch noiſe and violence from me. But before
this, they had daubed my face and both my hands
with a ſort of ointment very pleaſant to the ſmell,
which
C 2
28
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
3.
which in a few minutes removed all the finart of
their arrows. Theſe circumſtances, added to the
refreſhment I had received by their victuals and
drink, which were very nouriſhing, diſpoſed me to
Пleep. I flept about eight hours, as I was after
wards aflured: and it was no wonder; for the phy.
ficians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a fleco
ing potion in the hogſheads of wine.
It ſeems that upon the firſt moment I was diſco
vered fceping on the ground after my landing, the
emperor had early notice of it by an expreſs; and
determined in council, that I ſhould be tied in the
manner i have related (which was done in the night
while I flept), that plenty of meat and drink ſhould
be fent me, and a machine prepared to carry me to
the capital city. In the
This reſolution perhaps may appear very bold and
dangerous, and I am confident would not be imita
ted by any prince in Europe on the like occalion;
however, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent
as well as generous. For ſuppoſing theſe people
had endeavoured to kill me with their ſpears and
arrows while I was aſleep, I ſhould certainly have
awaked with the firſt ſenſe of ſmart, which might
lo far have roufed my rage and ſtrength, as to en
able me to break the ſtrings wherewith I was tied;
after which, as they were not able to make refift-
ance, fo they could expe&t no mercy,
Theſe people are moſt excellent mathematicians,
and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics by
the countenance and encouragement of the enipex
ror, who is a renowned patron of learning. This
prince hath ſeveral machines fixed on wheels for
the carriage of trees and other great weights. He
often buildeth his largeſt men of war, whereof ſome
are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber
grons, and has
them carried on theſe enginea three
Or
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
29
or four hundred yards to the ſea. Five hundred
carpenters and engineers were immediately ſet at
work to prepare the greateſt engine they had. It
was a frame of wood raiſed three inches from the
ground, about feven feet long and four wide, mo-
ving upon twenty-two wheels. The fhout I heard,
was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it ſeems,
ſet out in four hours after my landing. It was
brought parallel to me as I lay. But the principal
difficulty was to raiſe and place me in this vehicle.
Lighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected
for this purpoſe, and very ſtrong cords of the big-
nefs of packthread, were faſtened by hooks to many
bandages, which the workmen had girt round my
neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hun.
dred of the ſtrongeſt men were employed to draw
up theſe cords by many pulleys fastened on the poles;
and thus in leſs than three hours I was raiſed and
flung into the engine, and there tied faft. All this
I was told; for while the whole operation was per
forming, I lay in a profound ſleep, by the force of
that foporiferous medicine infuſed into my liquor.
Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largeſt horſes, each
about four inches and a half high, were employed
to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I faid,
was half a mile diftant..
About four hours after we began our journey,
I
awaked by a very ridiculous accident; for the car-
riage being ſtopt a while to adjuſt ſomething that
was out of order, two or three of the young natives
had the curioſity to ſee how I looked when I was
aſleep: they climbed up into the engine, and advan-
cing very ſoftly to my face, one of them, an officer
in the guards, put the ſharp end of his half-pike a
good way up into my left noftril, which tickled my
noſe like a ftraw, and made me fneeze violently:
"Whereupon they ſtole off unperceived; and it was
three
C 3
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
file we continued o
three weeks before I knew the cauſe of my awaking
fo fuddenly. We made a long march the remain
ing part of the day, and reſted at night with five
hundred guards on each ſide of me, half with torches,
and half with bows and arrows, ready to shoot me
if I ſhould offer to ſtir. The next morning at ſun-
two hundred yards of the city-gates about noon.
The emperor, and all his court, came out to meet
us; but his great officers would by no means ſuffer
his majeſty to endanger his perſon by mounting on
my body.
It
At the place where the carriage ſtopt, there
ſtood an ancient temple, eſteemed to be the largeſt
in th- whole kingdom, which having been pollu-
ted ſome years before by an unnatural murder, was,
according to the zeal of thoſe people, looked upon
*3 profane, and therefore had been applied to com-
mon uſe, and all the ornaments and furniture car-
ried away. In this edifice it was determined I
thould lodge. The great gate fronting to the north
was about four feet high, and almoſt two feet wide,
through which I could eaſily creep. On each ſide
of the gate was a ſmall window not above fix inches
from the ground: Into that on the left ſide, the
king's ſmiths conveyed fourſcore and eleven chains,
like thoſe that hang to a lady's watch in Europe,
and almoſt as large, which were locked to my left
leg with fix and thirty padlocks. Over-againſt this
temple, on the other ſide of the great high-way, at
twenty feet diſtance, there was a turret at leaſt five
feet high. Here the emperor aſcended with many
principal lords of his court, to have an opportunity
of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not ſee
them. It was reckoned, that above an hundred
thouſand inhabitants came out of the town upon the
sume errand; and, in ſpite of my guards, I believe
4 Voyage to LILLIPUT.
there could not be fewer than ten thouſand at ſeves
ral times who mounted upon my body by the help
of ladders. But a proclamation was ſoon iſſued to
forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen
found it was impoſſible for me to break looſe, they
cut all the ſtrings that bound me; whereupon I
rofe up with as melancholy a diſpoſition as ever I
had in my life. But the noiſe and aſtoniſhment of
the people at ſeeing me riſe and walk, are not to be
expreſſed. The chains that held my left leg were
about two yards long, and gave me not only the li-
berty of walking backwards and forwards in a femi-
circle, but being fixed within four inches of the gate,
allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in
the temple.
CHAP. II.
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by ſeveral of the
Nobility, comes to ſee the Author in his confinement.
i The Emperor's perſon and habit deſcribed. Learn-
ed men appointed to teach the author their lan-
guage. He gains favour by his mild difpofition,
His pockets are ſearched, and his /word and piſtols
taken from him.
THEN I found myſelf on my feet, I looked
about me, and muſt confeſs I never beheld
a more entertaining proſpect. The country round
appeared like a continued garden ; and the incloſed
fields, which were generally forty feet ſquare, re-
fembled ſo many beds of flowers. Theſe fields
were intermingled with woods of half a ſtang; and
the talleſt trees, as I could judge, appeared to be
ſeven fcet high. I viewed the town on my left-
hand,
32
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ſhould
hand, which looked like the painted ſcene of a city
in a theatre.
I had been for ſome hours extremely preſſed by
the neceflities of nature, which was no wonder, it
being almoſt two days ſince I had diſburdened my-
felf. I was under great difficulties between urgency
and ſhame. The beſt expedient I could think on
was, to creep into my houſe, which I accordingly
did; and fhutting the gate after me, I went as far as
the length of my chain would fuffer; and diſcharged
nty body of that uneaſy load. But this was the only
time I was every guilty of ſo uncleanly an action;
for which I cannot but hope the candid reader will
give fome allowance, after he hath maturely and im-
partially conſidered my caſe and the diftrefs I was
in. From this time my conſtant practice was, as
foon as I roſe, to perform that buſineſs in open air,
at the full extent of my chain ; and due care was
taken every morning before company came, that the
in
barrows, by two ſervants appointed for that purpoſe.
I would not have dwelt ſo long upon a circum-
ſtance, that perhaps at firſt ſight may appear not
very momentuous, if I had not thought it neceſſary
to juſtify my character in point of cleanlineſs to the
world; which I am told ſome of my maligners have
been pleaſed upon this and other occaſions to call in
queſtion.
on this and other occ
When this adventure was at an end, I came back
out of my houſe, having occafion for freſh air. The
Emperor was already deſcended from the tower,
advancing on horſeback towards me, which had like
to have coſt him dear; for the beaſt, although very
well trained, yet wholly unuſed to ſuch a fight,
which appeared as if a mountain moved before him,
reared up on his hinder feet; but that prince, who
is an excellent horſeman, kept his ſeat until his at
3 3
tendants
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
33
tendants ran in, and held the bridle while his ma-
jefty had time to diſmount. When he alighted, he
ſurveyed me round with great admiration, but kept
beyond the length of my chains. He ordered his
cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to
give me victuals and drink, which they puſhed for
ward in a fort of vehicle upon wheels until I could
reach them. I took theſe vehicles, and ſoon emp-
tied them all; twenty of them were filled with meat
and ten with liquor; each of the former afforded
me two or three good mouthfuls, and I emptied the
liquor of ten veſſels, which was contained in earthen
vials, into one vehicle, drinking it off at a draught;
and ſo I did with the reſt. The empreſs and young
princes of the blood of both ſexes, attended by many
ladies, fat at ſome diſtance in their chairs; but upon
the accident that happened to the emperor's horſe,
they alighted and came near his perſon, which I
am now going to deſcribe. He is taller by almoſt
the breadth of my nail than any of his court, which
alone is enough to ſtrike an awe into the beholders.
His features are ſtrong and maſculine, with an Au-
Itrian lip, an arched noſe, his complexion olive, his
countenance erect, his body and limbs well propor-
tioned, all his motions graceful, and his deport-
ment majeſtic. He was then paſt his prime, being
twenty-eight years and three quarters old, of which
he had reigned about ſeven in great felicity, and ge-
nerally victorious. For the better convenience of
beholding him, I lay on my fide, ſo that my face
was parallel to his, and he ſtood but three yards off:
However, I have had him fince many times in my
hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the de
fcription. His dreſs was very plain and fimple, the
faſhion of it between the Agatic and the European ;
but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, a-
dorned with jewels, and a plume on the creſt. He
held
34
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
held his ſword drawn in his hand to defend him-
ſelf if I ſhould happen to break looſe; it was almoſt
three inches long, the hilt and fcabbard were gold
enriched with diamonds. His voice was ſhrill, but
very clear and articulate, and I could diſtinctly hear
it when I ſtood up. The ladies and courtiers were
all moſt magnificently clad, ſo that the ſpot they
Atood upon ſeemed to reſemble a petticoat ſpread on
the ground, embroidered with figures of gold and
filver. His imperial majeſty ſpoke often to me, and
I returned anſwers, but neither of us could under-
ſtand a fyllable. There were ſeveral of his prieſts
and lawyers preſent (as I conjectured by their ha-
bits), who were commanded to addreſs themſelves
to me, and I ſpoke to them in as many languages as
I had the leaft fmattering of, which were High and
Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spaniſh, Italian, and
lingua França; but all to no purpoſe. After about
two hours the court retired, and I was left with a
ſtrong guard, to prevent the impertinence, and proba-
bly the malice of the rabble, who were very impatient
to crowd about me as near as they durft; and ſome
of them had the impudence to ſhoot their arrows at
me as I fat on the ground by the door of my houſe;
whereof one very narrowly miſſed my left eye. But
the colonel ordered ſix of the ringleaders to be ſei-
zed, and thought no puniſhment fo proper as to de-
Hver them bound into my hands; which ſome of his
foldiers accordingly did, puſhing them forwards
with the but-ends of their pikes into my reach: I
took them all in my right-hand, put five of them
into my coat-pocket; and as to the ſixth, I made a
countenance as if I would eat him alive. The poor
man ſqualled terribly, and the colonel and his offi-
cers were in much pain, eſpecially when they ſaw
me take out my penknife: But I foon put them out
of fear; for looking mildly, and immediately cutting
the
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
35
the ſtrings he was bound with, I ſet him gently on
the ground, and away he ran. I treated the reſt in
the fame manner, taking them one by one out of my
pocket; and I obſerved both the ſoldiers and people
were highly delighted with this mark of my cle-
mency, which was repreſented very much to my
advantage at court.
Towards night I got with ſome difficulty into my
houſe, where I lay on the ground, and continued
to do ſo about a fortnight; during which time, the
enmeror gave orders to have a bed prepared for me.
Six hundred beds of the common meaſure
were
brought in carriages, and worked up in my houſe
an hundred and fifty of their beds fown together
made up the breadth and length, and theſe were
four double, which however kept me but very indif-
ferently from the hardneſs of the floor that was of
ſmooth ſtone. By the fame computation they pro-
vided me with ſheets, blankets, and coverlets, tole-
rable enough for one who had been ſo long enured
to hardſhips as I.
As the news of my arrival ſpread through the
kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich,
idle, and curious people to ſee me; ſo that the vil-
lages were almoſt emptied, and great negle&t of til-
lage and houſehold affairs muſt have enſued, if his
imperial majeſty had not provided by ſeveral procla-
mations and orders of ſtate againſt this inconveni-
ency. He directed that thoſe who had already be-
held me ſhould return home, and not preſume to
come within fifty yards of my houſe without licence
from court; whereby the ſecretaries of ſtate got
conſiderable fees.
In the mean time, the emperor held frequent
councils to debate what courſe ſhould be taken with
me; and I was afterwards aſſured by a particular
friend, a perſon of great quality, who was as much
in
rivs
30
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
in the ſecret as any, that the court was under many
difficulties concerning me. They apprehended my
breaking looſe; that my diet would be very expen-
five, and might cauſe a famine. Sometimes they
determined to ſtarve me; or at leaſt to ſhoot me in
the face and hands with poiſoned arrows, which
would ſoon diſpatch me: But again they conſidered,
that the ſtench of fo large a carcaſe might produce a
plague in the metropolis, and probably ſpread thro'
the whole kingdom. In the midſt of theſe conſulta-
tions, ſeveral officers of the army went to the door
of the great council-chamber, and two of them being
admitted, gave an account of my behaviour to the
fix criminals above mentioned, which made fo fa-
vourable an impreſſion in the breaſt of his majeſty
and the whole board in my behalf, that an imperial
commiſſion was iſſued out, obliging all the villages
nine hundred yards round the city, to deliver me in
every morning fix beeves, forty ſheep, and other
victuals for my ſubſiſtence; together with a propor-
tionable quantity of bread and wine, and other li-
quors: for the due payment of which, his inajeſty
gave aſſignments upon his treaſury. For this prince
lives chiefly upon his own demeſnes; ſeldom, except
upon great occafions, raiſing any ſubſidies upon his
fubjects, who were bound to attend him in his wars
at their own expence. An eſtabliſhment was alſo
made of fix hundred perſons to be my
domeſtics,
who had board-wages allowed for their maintain.
ance, and tents built for them very conveniently on
each ſide of my door. It was likewiſe ordered, that
three hundred taylors ſhould make me a ſuit of
cloaths after the faſhion of the country: That fix of
his majeſty's greateſt ſcholars ſhould be employed
to inſtruct me in their language: and laſtly, that
the emperor's horſes, and thoſe of the nobility, and
troops of guards, ſhould be exerciſed in my fight, to
ac-
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
37
accuſtom themſelves to me. All theſe orders were
duly put in execution; and in about three weeks I
made a progreſs in learning their language; during
which time the emperor frequently honoured me
with his viſits, and was pleaſed to aſlift my maſters
in teaching me. We began already to converſe to
gether in ſome fort; and the firſt words I learnt,
were to expreſs my deſire that he would pleaſe to
give me my liberty; which I every day repeated on
my
knees. His anſwer, as I could apprehend, was,
that this muſt be a work of time, not to be thought
on without the advice of his council; and that firſt
I muſt Lumos kelmin peſo deſmar lon empeſo: that is,
Swear a peace with him and his kingdom: However,
that I ſhould be uſed with all kindneſs, and he ad-
viſed me to acquire by my patience and diſcreet
behaviour the good opinion of himſelf and his ſub-
jeels. He deſired I would not take it ill, if he gave
orders to certain proper afficers to ſearch me; for
probably I might carry about me ſeveral weapons,
which muſt needs be dangerous things, if they an-
(wered the bulk of fo prodigious a perſon. I ſaid,
his majeſty ſhould be ſatisfied; for I was ready to
frip myſelf, and turn out my pockets before him.
This I delivered, part in words, and part in ligns.
He replied, that by the laws of the kingdom I muit
be ſearched by two of his officers; that he knew
this could not be done without my conſent and aſ-
Gſtance; that he had ſo good an opinion of my ge-
neroſity and juſtice, as to truſt their perſons in my
hands; that whatever they took from me ſhould be
returned when I left the country, or paid for at the
rate which I would ſet upon them. I took
two officers in my hands, put them firſt into my
coat-pockets, and then into every other posket a-
bout me, except my two fobs, and another ſecret
pocket which I had no mind ſhould be ſearched,
D
where
up the
38
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
wherein I had fome little neceffaries of no confe.
quence to any but myſelf. In one of my fobs there
was a ſilver watch, and in the other a ſmall quanti-
ty of gold in a purſe. Theſe gentlemen having
pen, ink, and paper about them, made an exact in-
ventory of every thing they ſaw; and when they had
done, deſired I would ſet them down, that they might
deliver it to the emperor. This inventory I after-
wards tranſlated into Engliſh, and is word for word
as follows.
Imprimis, in the right coat-pocket of the Great
Man-mountain (for ſo I interpret the words Quinbus
Fleſtrin), after the ftri&teſt ſearch, we found only
one great piece of coarſe cloth, large enough to be a
foot-cloth for your majeſty's chief room of ſtate. In
the left pocket we ſaw a huge filver cheſt, with a
cover of the fame metal, which we the ſearchers
were not able to lift. We deſired it ſhould be 0.
pened; and one of us ſtepping into it, found him.
ſelf up the mid-leg in a ſort of duſt, ſome part
whereof flying up to our faces, ſet us both a-fneez-
ing for ſeveral times together. In his right waiſt-
coat-pocket, we found a prodigious bundle of white
thin fubſtances, folded one over another, about the
bigneſs of three men, tied with a ſtrong cable, and
Marked with black figures; which we humbly con-
ceive to be writings, every letter almoſt half as large
as the palm of our hands. In the left, there was a
fort of engine, from the back of which were ex-
tended twenty long poles, reſembling the palliſadoes
before your majeſty's court; wherewith we conjec-
ture the Man Mountain combs his head; for we did
not always trouble him with queſtions, becauſe we
found it a great difficulty to make him underſtand
us. In the large pocket on the right ſide of his
middle cover (fo I tranſlate the word ranfu-lo,
by which they meant my breeches), we ſaw a
hol
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
39
hollow pillar of iron, about the length of a man,
faſtened to a ſtrong piece of timber larger than the
pillar; and upon qne Gde of the pillar were huge
pieces of iron ſticking out, cut into ſtrange figures,
which we knew not what to make of. In the
left pocket another engine of the ſame kind. In
the ſmaller pocket, on the right ſidef were ſeveral
round flat pieces of white and red metal, of dif-
ferent bulk. Some of the white, which ſeemed
to be filver, were fa large and heavy, that my
comrade and I could hardly lift them. In the left
pocket were two blaek pillars irregularly ſhaped
We could not, without difficulty, reach the top of
them as we ſtood at the bottom of his pocket: One
of them was covered, and ſeemed all of a piece
but, at the upper end of the other, there appeared
a white round ſubſtance, about twice the bigneſs of
our heads. * Within each of theſe was, incloſed a
prodigious plate of ſteel; which, by our orders, we
obliged him to ſhow us, becauſe we apprehended
they might be dangerous engines. He took them
out of their cafes, and told us, that in his own couni-
try his practice was to ſhave his beard with one of
theſe, and to cut his meat with the other. There
were two pockets which we could not enter: Theſe
he called his fobs; they were two large ſlits cut in-
to the top of his middle cover, but ſqueezed cloſe
by the preſſure of his belly. Out of the right fob
hung a great filver chain, with a wonderful kind of
engine at the bottom. We directed him to draw
out whatever was at the end of that chain; which
appeared to be a globe, half filver, and half of fome
tranſparent metal : For on the tranſparent fide we
Taw certain ftrange figures circularly drawn, and
thought we could touch them, until we found our
fingers ſtopt with that lucid ſubſtance. He put this
engine to our ears, which made an inceffant noiſe
like
D 2
40
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
like that of a water-mill. And we conjecture it is
either fome unknown animal, or the God that he
worſhips: But we are more inclined to the latter o-
pinion, becauſe he aſſured us (if we underſtood him
right, for he expreſſed himſelf very imperfedly),
that he ſeldom did any thing without conſulting it.
He called it his oracle, and ſaid it pointed out the
time for every action of his life. From the left fob
he took out a net almoſt large enough for a fiſher-
man, but contrived to open and fhut like a purſe,
and ſerved him for the fame ufe: We found there-
in ſeveral maſſy pieces of yellow metal, which, if
they be of real gold, muſt be of immenſe value.
Having thus, in obedience to your majeſty's com-
mands, diligently ſearched all his pockets, we ob-
ſerved a girdle about his waiſt made of the hide of
fome prodigious animal; from which, on the left
fide, hung a ſword of the length of five men; and
on the right, a bag or pouch divided into two cells;
each cell capable of holding three of your majeſty's
ſubjects. In one of theſe cells were ſeveral globes
or balls of a moſt ponderous metal, about the big.
neſs of our heads, and required a ſtrong hand to
lift them: The other cell contained a heap of cer-
tain black grains, but of no great bulk or weight,
for we could hold above fifty of them in the palm
of our hands.
This is an exact inventory of what we found a-
bout the body of the Man Mountain; who uſed us
with great civility, and due reſpect to your maje-
fty's commiſſion. Signed and fealed on the fourth
day of the eighty-ninth moon of your majeſty's au-
ſpicious reign.
Clefren Frelock, Marſi Frelock.
When this inventory was read over to the em-
peror,
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
peror, he directed me to deliver up the ſeveral par-
ticulars. He firſt called for my fcymiter, which
I took out, ſcabbard and all. In the mean time
he ordered three thouſand of the choiceſt troops,
who then
attended him, to ſurround me at a di-
ſtance with their bows and arrows juſt ready to dif-
charge: But I did not obſerve it; for mine eyes
were wholly fixed upon his majeſty. He then de-
fired me to draw my fcymiter, which, although it
had got fome ruft by the fea-water, was in moſt
parts exceeding bright. I did fo, and immediately
all the troops gave a ſhout between terror and ſur-
priſe; for the fun ſhone clear, and the reflexion
vlazzled their eyes as I waved the formiter to and
fro in my hand. His majeſty, who is a moſt mag-
nanimous prince, was leſs daunted than I could ex-
pect; he ordered me to return it into the ſcabbard,
and caſt it on the ground, as gently as I could, a-
bout fix foot from the end of my chains. The next
thing he demanded was one of the hollow iron pil-
lars, by which he meant my pocket-piſtols. I drew
it out, and at his deſire, as well as I could, expreſs
fed to him the uſe of it, and charging it only with
powder, which by the cloſeneſs of my pouch hap-
pened to eſcape wetting in the ſea (an inconveni
ence that all prudent mariners take eſpecial care to
provide againſt), I firſt cautioned the emperor not to
be afraid; and then I let it off in the air. The a-
ftoniſhment here was much greater than at the fight
of my ſcymiter. Hundreds fell down as if they had
been ſtruck dead; and even the emperor, although
he ſtood his ground, could not recover himſelf for
ſome time. I delivered up both my piſtols in the
fame manner as I had done my fcymiter, and then
my pouch of powder and bullets; begging him that
the former might be kept from fire ;, for it would.
D3
kindle
42
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
kindle with the ſmalleſt ſpark, and blow up his im-
perial palace into the air. I likewiſe delivered up
my watch, which the emperor was very curious to
ſee; and commanded two of his talleſt yeomen of
the guards to bear it on a pole upon their ſhoulders,
as.draymen in England do a barrel of ale. He was
amazed at the continual noiſe it made, and the mo-
tion of the minute-hand, which he could eaſily dif-
cern; for their fight is much more acute than ours:
He aſked the opinions of his learned men about
him, which were various and remote, as the reader
may well imagine without my repeating ; although
indeed I could not very perfectly underſtand them.
I then gave up my filver and copper money, my
purſe with nine large pieces of gold, and ſome ſmall-
er ones; my knife and razor, my comb and filver
fnuff-box, my handkerchief and journal-book. My
fcymiter, piſtols, and pouch, were conveyed in car-
riages to his majeſty's ſtores; but the reſt of my
goods were returned me. .
I had, as I before obſerved, one private pocket
which eſcaped their - ſearch, wherein there was a
pair of ſpectacles (which I ſometimes uſe for the
weakneſs of mine eyes),la pocket perſpective, and ſe-
veral other little conveniences; which being of no
conſequence to the emperor, I did not think myſelf
bound in honour to diſcover ; and I apprehended
they might be loſt or ſpoiled if I ventured them out
of my poffeffion.
CHA P. III.
The Author diverts the emperor and bis nobility of
both ſexes in a very uncommon manner. The di.
i verſions of the court of Lilliput deſcribed. The
Author
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
43
Author has his liberty granted him upon certain
conditions.
MY
guage. The
Y gentleneſs and good behaviour had gained
ſo far on the emperor and his court, and in-
deed upon the army and people in general, that I
began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a
ſhort time. I took all poſſible methods to cultivate
this favourable diſpoſition. The natives came by
degrees to be leſs apprehenſive of any danger from
me. I would ſometimes lie down, and let five or
fix of them dance on my hand. And at laſt the
boys and girls would venture to come and play at
hide-and-ſeek in my hair. I had now made a good
progreſs in underſtanding and ſpeaking their lan,
The emperor
had a mind one day to enter-
tajn me with ſeveral of the country ſhows; where-
in they exceed all nations. I have known, both for
clexterity and anagnificence. I was diverted with
none ſo much as that of the rope-dancers, perform-
ed upon a flender white thread, extended about two
fect, and twelve inches from the ground. Upon
which, I fhall deſire liberty, with the reader's pa-
tience, to enlarge a little.
This diverfion is only practiſed by thoſe perſons
who are candidates for great employments and high
favour at court. They are trained in this art from
their youth, and are not always of noble birth or
liberal education. When a' great office is vacant,
either
by death or diſgrace (which often happens),
five or ſix of thofe candidates petition the emperor
to entertain his majeſty and the court with a dance
on the rope; and whoever jumps the higheſt with-
out falling, fucceeds in the office. Very often the
chief miniſters themſelves are commanded to ſhow
their ſkill, and to convince the emperor that they
have not loſt their faculty. Flimnap, the treaſurer,
is
44
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
is allowed to cut a caper on the ſtraight rope at
leaſt an inch higher than any other lord in the whole
empire. I have ſeen him do the Sommerſet ſeve
ral times together, upon a trencher fixed on a rope
which is no thicker than a common packthread in
England. My friend Reldrefal, principal fecretary
for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not
partial, the ſecond after the treaſurer; the reſt of
the great officers are much upon a par.
Thefe diverfions are often attended with fatal ac.
cidents, whereof great numbers are on record. I
myſelf have ſeen two or three candidates break a
limb. But the danger is much greater when the
miniſters themſelves are commanded to fhew their
dexterity: For, by contending to excel themſelves
and their fellows, they ſtrain fo far, that there is
hardly one of them who hath not received a fall,
and ſome of them two or three. I was affured, that
a year or two before my arrival, Flimnap would have
infallibly broke his neck, if one of the king's cu-
fhions, that accidentally lay on the ground, had not
weakened the force of his fall.
There is likewiſe another diverſion, which is only
fhown before the emperor and empreſs, and firſt mi-
nifter, upon particular occaſions. The emperor lays
on a table three fine filken threads of fix inches
long. One is blue, the other red, and the third
green. Theſe threads are propoſed as prizes, for
thoſe perſons whom the emperor hath a mind to
diſtinguiſh by a particular mark of his favour. The
ceremony is performed in his majeſty's great cham-
ber of ſtate; where the candidates are to undergo a
trial of dexterity very different from the former,
and ſuch as I have not obſerved the leaſt refem.
blance of in any other country of the old or the new
world. The emperor holds a ſtick in his hands,
both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candi-
dates
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
45
dates advancing one by one, fometimes leap over
the ſtick, and ſometimes creep under it backwards
and forwards ſeveral times, according as the ſtick
is advanced or depreffed. Sometimes the emperor
holds one end of the ſtick and his firſt miniſter the
other; ſometimes the miniſter hath it entirely to
himſelf. Whoever performs his part with moſt a-
gility, and holds out the longeſt in leaping and
creeping, is rewarded with the blue-coloured filk;
the red is given to the next, and the green to the
third, which they all wear girt twice round about
the middle; and you ſee few great perſons about
this court who are not adorned with one of theſe
girdles.
The horſes of the army, and thoſe of the royal
ftables, having been daily led before me, were no
longer ſhy, but would come up to my very feet
without ſtarting. The riders would leap them over
my hand as I held it on the ground; and one of the
emperor's huntſmen upon a large courſer, took my
foot,
ſhoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious
leap. I had the good fortune to divert the empe-
ror one day after a very extraordinary manner. I
debred he would order ſeveral ſticks of two feet
high, and the thickneſs of an ordinary cane, to be
brought me; whereupon his majeſty commanded
the maſter of his woods to give directions accord-
ingly; and the next morning ſix woodmen arrived
with as many carriages, drawn by eight horſes to
each. I took nine of theſe fticks, and fixing them
firmly in the ground in a quadrangular figure, two
feet and a half ſquare; I took four other ſticks and
tied them parallel at each corner, about two feet
from the ground; then I faftened my handkerchief
to the nine ſticks that ſtood erected, and extended
it on all fides, until it was as tight as the top of a
drum; and the four parallel ſticks riſing about five
inches
46
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
inches higher than the handkerchief, ſerved as ledges
on each ſide.
When I had finiſhed my work, I de-
fired the emperor to let a troop of his beſt horſe,
twenty-four in number, come and exerciſe upon this
plain. His majeſty approved of the propofal, and
I took them up one by one in my hands, ready
mounted and armed, with the proper offieers to ex-
erciſe them. 'As ſoon as they got into order, they
divided into two parties, performed mock ſkirmiſh-
es, diſcharged blunt arrows, drew their ſwords, fled
and purſued, attacked and retired ; and, in fhort,
diſcovered the beſt military diſcipline I ever beheld.
The parallel fticks ſecured them and their horſes
from falling over the ſtage; and the emperor was
ſo much delighted, that he ordered this entertain-
ment to be repeated ſeveral days; and once was
pleaſed to be lifted up, and give the word of com-
mand ; and, with great difficulty, perſuaded even
the empreſs herſelf to let me hold her in her cloſe
chair within two yards of the ſtage, from whence
ſhe was able to take a full view of the whole per-
formance. It was my good fortune that no ill ac-
cident happened in theſe entertainments. Only once
a fiery horſe that belonged to one of the captains,
pawing with his hoof, ſtruck a hole in my handker-
chief, and his foot flipping he overthrew his rider
and himſelf: but I immediately relieved them both;
for covering the hole with one hand, I ſet down
the troop with the other, in the ſame manner as I
took them up. The horſe that fell was ſtrained in
the left ſhoulder, but the rider got no hurt; and I
repaired my handkerchief as well as I could: How-
ever, I would not truſt to the ſtrength of it any more
in ſuch dangerous enterprizes.
About two or three days before I was ſet at li-
berry, as I was entertaining the court with theſe
kind of feats, there arrived an expreſs to inform his
majefty,
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
47
majeſty, that fome of his ſubjects, riding near the
place where I was firſt taken up, had ſeen a great
black ſubſtance lying on the ground, very oddly ſha-
ped, extending its edges round as wide as his ma-
jeſty's bed-chamber, and riſing up in the middle as
high as a man: That it was no living creature, as
they at firſt apprehended; for it lay on the graſs
without motion, and ſome of them had walked
round it ſeveral times: That, by mounting upon
cach other's ſhoulders, they had got to the top,
which was flat and even; and ſtamping upon it, they
found it was hollow within: That, they humbly
conceived it might be ſomething belonging to the
Man Mountain; and, if his majeſty pleaſed, they
would undertake to bring it with only five horſes.
preſently knew what they meant; and was glad at
heart to receive this intelligence. It ſeems, upon
my firſt reaching the ſhore, after our ſhipwreck, I
was in ſuch confuſion, that before I came to the
place where I went to ſleep, my hat, which I had
faſtened with a ſtring to my head while I was row.
ing, and had ſtuck on all the time I was ſwimming,
fell off after I came to land; the ſtring, as I con-
jedture, breaking by ſome accident, which I never
obſerved, but thought my hat had been loſt at ſea.
I intreated his imperial majeſty to give orders. it
might be brought to me as ſoon as poſſible, deſcri-
bing to him the uſe and nature of it: And the next
day the waggons arrived with it, but not in a very
good condition; they had bored two holes in the
brim, within an inch and a half of the edge, and
faſtened two hooks in the holes ; thefe hooks were
tied by a long cord to the harneſs; and thus my
hat
was dragged along for above half an Engliſh mile:
But the ground in that country being extremely
fmooth and level, it received leſs damage than I exa
peded.
Two
48
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
Two days after this adventure, the emperor ha
ving ordered that part of his army which quarters
in and-about his metropolis to be in readineſs, took
a fancy of diverting himſelf in a very fingular man-
ner. He deſired I would ſtand like a coloſſus, with
my legs as far aſunder as I conveniently could. He
then commanded his general (who was an old ex-
perienced leader, and a great patron of mine), to
draw up the troops in cloſe order, and march them
under me; the foot by twenty-four in a breaft, and
the horſe by ſixteen, with drums beating, colours
flying, and pikes advanced. This body conſiſted of
three thouſand foot, and a thouſand horſe. His ma-
jeſty gave ora'ers upon pain of death, that every fol-
dier in his march ſhould obſerve the ſtricteft de
cency with regard to my perſon; which, however,
could not prevent fome of the younger officers from
turning up their eyes as they paſſed under me. And
to confeſs the truth, my breeches were at that time
in ſo ill a condition, that they afforded ſome oppor-
tunities for laughter and admiration.
I had ſent ſo many memorials and petitions for
my liberty, that his majeſty at length mentioned the
matter firſt in the cabinet, and then in a full coun-
cil; where it was oppoſed by none, except Skyreſh
Bolgolam, who was pleafed, without any provoca-
tion, to be my mortal enemy. But it was carried
againſt him by the whole board, and confirmed by
the emperor. That miniſter was Galbet, or admi-
ral of the realm; very much in his maſter's confi-
dence, and a perſon well verſed in affairs, but of a
moroſe and ſour complexion. However, he was at
length perſuaded to comply; but prevailed that the
articles and conditions upon which I ſhould be ſet
free, and to which I muſt ſwear, ſhould be drawn
up by himſelf. Theſe articles were brought to me
by Skyreſh Bolgolam in perſon, attended by two
3
under
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
40
under ſecretaries, and ſeveral perfons of diſtinction.
After they were read, I was demanded to ſwear to
the performance of them; firſt in the manner of
my own country, and afterwards in the method pre-
fcribed by their laws; which was to hold my right
foot in my left hand, to place the middle finger of
my right hand on the crown of my head, and my
thumb on the tip of my right ear. But, becauſe
the reader may perhaps be curious to have ſome idea
of the ſtyle and manner of expreſſion peculiar to
that people, as well as to know the articles upon
which I recovered my liberty; I have made a tranſ-
lation of the whole inftrument, word for word, as
near as I was able; which I here offer to the pub-
lic.
ne over to the pe
Golbaſto Momaren Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mul-
dy Ully Gue, moſt mighty Emperor of Lilliput, de-
light and terror of the univerfe, whoſe dominions
end five thouſand bluftrugs (about twelve miles
in circumference), to the extremities of the globe;
monarch of all monarchs; taller than the fons of
imea; whole feet preſs down to the centre, and
whoſe head ſtrikes againſt the fun; at whoſe nod the
princes of the earth fhake their knees; pleaſant as
the ſpring, comfortable as the ſummer, fruitful as
autumn, dreadful as winter: His moſt fublime Ma.
jeſty propoſes to the Man Mountain, lately arrived
at our celeſtial dominions, the following articles,
which by a ſolemn oath he ſhall be obliged to per-
form.
Firſt, The Man Mountain ſhall not depart from
our dominions without our licence under our great
feal.
Secondly, He ſhall not preſume to come into our
metropolis without our expreſs orders; at which
time the inhabitants ſhall have two hours warning
to keep within doors.
E
Thirdly,
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
us.
Thirdly, The ſaid Man Mountain ſhall confine his
walks to our principal high-roads, and not offer to
walk or lie down in a meadow or field of corn.
Fourthly, As he walks the ſaid roads, he ſhall
take the utmoſt care not to trample upon the bodies
of any of our loving ſubjects, their horſes, or car-
riages ; nor take any of our faid ſubjects into his
hands, without their own conſent.
Fifthly, If an expreſs require extraordinary dif-
patch, the Man Mountain ſhall be obliged to carry
in his pocket the meſſenger and horſe a fix days
journey once in every moon, and return the ſaid
meſſenger back (if ſo required) ſafe to our imperial
preſence.
Sixthly, He ſhall be our ally againſt our enemies
in the iſland of Blefuſcu, and do his utmoſt to de-
ſtroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade
Seventhly, That the faid Man Mountain ſhall, at
his times of leiſure, be aiding and aſſiſting to our
workmen, in helping to raiſe certain great ſtones,
towards covering the wall of the principal park, and
other our royal buildings.
Eightly, That the faid Man Mountain fhall in
two moons time deliver an exact ſurvey of the cir-
cumference of our dominions, by a computation of
his own paces round the coaſt.
Laſtly,
That upon his folemn oath to obſerve all
the above articles, the ſaid Man Mountain ſhall have
a daily allowance of meat and drink, ſufficient for
the ſupport of 1724 of our ſubjects; with free ac-
ceſs to our royal perſon, and other marks of our fa-
vour. Given at our palace at Belfaborac the twelfth
day of the ninety-firſt moon of our reign.
Í ſwore and ſubſcribed to theſe articles with great
cheerfulneſs and content, although ſome of them
were not ſo honourable as I could have wiſhed;
which
A Voyage to LILLIPUT...
51
which proceeded wholly from the malice of Skyreſh
Bolgolam the high-admiral; whereupon my chains
were immediately unlocked, and I was at full liber
ty. The emperor himſelf in perfon did me the ho-
nour to be by at the whole ceremony. I made my
acknowledgments by proſtrating myſelf at his ma-
jeſty's feet: But he commanded me to riſe; and af-
ter many gracious expreffions, which to avoid the
cenſure of vanity I ſhall not repeat, he added, that
he hoped I ſhould prove a uſeful fervant, and well
deſerve all the favours he had already conferred upon
me, or might do for the future.
The reader may pleaſe to obſerve, that in the laft,
article for the recovery of my liberty, the emperor
itipulates to allow me a quantity of meat and drink
fufficient for the ſupport of 1724 Lilliputians.
Some time after, aſking a friend at court how they
came to fix on that determined number, he told me,
that his majeſty's mathematicians having taken the
height of my body by the help of a quadrant, and
finding it to exceed theirs in the proportion of
twelve to one, they concludert from the ſimilarity
of their bodies, that mine muſt contain at leaſt 1924*
of theirs, and conſequently would require as much
food as was neceffary to ſupport that number of
Lilliputians. By which the reader may conceive
an idea of the ingenuity of that people, as well as
the prudent and exact economy of fo great a
prince.
CHAP. IV.
Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, deſcribed, together
with the Emperor's palace. A converſation be-
tween the Author and a principal ſecretaryconcern-
ing
52
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
>
ing the affairs of that empire. The Author's offers
to ſerve the Emperor in his wars.
berkaitan
TH
THE firſt requeſt I made after I had obtained
my liberty, was, that I might have licence to
fee Mildendo, the metropolis; which the emperor
eaſily granted me, but with a ſpecial charge to do no
hurt either to the inhabitants or their houſes. The
people had notice by proclamation of my deſign to
viſit the town. The wall which encompaſſed it, is
is two feet and an half high, and at leaſt eleven in-
ches broad, ſo that a coach and horſes may be dri-
ven very fafely round it; and it is flanked with
ſtrong towers at ten feet diſtance. I ſtept over the
great weſtern gate, and paſſed very gently, and
fideling through the two principal ſtreets, only in
my ſhort waiſtcoat, for fear of damaging the roofs
and eves of the houſes with the ſkirts of my coat.
I walked with the utmoſt circumſpection, to avoid
treading on any ftragglers who might remain in the
ftreets, although the orders were very ftri&t that all
people ſhould keep in their houſes at their own pe.
ril. The garret windows and tops of houſes were
ſo crowded with ſpectators, that I thought in all my
travels I had not not feen a more populous place.
The city is an exact ſquare, each ſide of the walls
being five hundred feet long. The two great ſtreets
which run croſs and divide it into four quarters,
are five feet wide. The lanes and alleys, which I
could not enter, but only viewed them as I paſſed,
are from twelve to eighteen inches. The town is
capable of holding five hundred thouſand ſouls.
The houſes are from three to five ſtories. The
ſhops and markets well provided.
The emperor's palace is in the centre of the city,
where the two great ſtreets meet. It is incloſed by
a wall of two feet high, and twenty feet diſtant
from
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
$$
from the buildings. I had his majeſty's permiſſion
to ſtep over this wall; and the ſpace being ſo wide
between that and the palace, I could eaſily view it
on every fide. The outward court is a ſquare of
forty feet, and includes two other courts: In the
inmoft are the royal apartments, which I was very
defirous to fee, but found it extremely difficult; for
the great gates from one ſquare into another were
but eighteen inches high and ſeven inches wide.
Now the buildings of the outer court were at leaſt
five feet high; and it was impoſſible for me to ſtride
over them without infinite damage to the pile, al-
though the walls were ftrongly built of hewn ftone,
and four inches thick. At the ſame time the em-
peror had a great deſire that I ſhould ſee the mag-
nificence of his palace: But this I was not able to
do till three days after, which ſpent in cutting down
with my knife fome of the largeſt trees in the royal
park, about an hundred yards diſtant from the city,
Of theſe trees I made two ſtools, each about three
feet high, and ſtrong enough to bear my weight.
The people having received notice a ſecond time, I
went again through the city to the palace, with my
two ſtools in my hands. When I came to the fide
of the outer court, I ſtood upon one ftool and took the
other in my hand; this I lifted over the roof, and
gently fet it down on the ſpace between the firſt and
fecond court, which was eight feet wide. I then
ſtept over the buildings very conveniently from one
ftool to the other, and drew up the firſt after me
with a hooked flick. By this contrivance I got in-
to the inmoſt court; and lying down upon my fide, I
applied my face to the windows of the middle fto.
ries, which were left open on purpoſe, and diſco-
vered the moſt ſplendid apartments that can be ima.
gined. There I ſaw the empreſs and the young
princes in their ſeveral lodgings, with their chief
at-
E 3
13
. A
54 A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
Gidence of about hine months
in that en
attendants about them. Her imperial majeſty was
pleaſed to ſmile very graciouſly upon me, and gave
me out of the window her hand to kiſs.
But I ſhall not anticipate the reader with further
defcriptions of this kind, becauſe I reſerve them for
a greater work, which is now almoſt ready for the
preſs; containing a general deſcription of this empire
from its firſt erection, thro' a long ſeries of princes,
with a peculiar account of their wars and politics,
laws, learning, and religion; their plants and ani-
mals; their peculiar manners and cuſtoms, with o-
ther matters very curious and uſeful; my chief de-
ſign at preſent being only to relate ſuch events and
tranſactions as happened to the public or to myſelf
during a reſidence of about nine months in that em-
pire.
One morning, about a fortnight after I had ob-
tained my liberty, Reldrefal, principal ſecretary (as
they ſtyle him) of private affairs, came to my houſe
attended only by one ſervant. He ordered his coach
to wait at a diftance, and deſired I would give him
an hour's audience; which I readily conſented to, on
account of his quality and perfonal merits, as well
as of the many good offices he had done me during
my
ſolicitations at court. I offered to lie down, that
he might the more conveniently reach my ear; but
he chofe rather to let me hold him in my hand du-
ring our converſation. He began with compliments
on my liberty; faid, he might pretend to fome me-
rit in it; but, however, added, that if it had not
been for the preſent fituation of things at court,
perhaps I might not have obtained it fo foon. For,
ſaid he, as flouriſhing a condition as we appear to be
in to foreigners, we labour under two mighty evils; a
violent faction at home, and the danger of an inva-
fion by a moſt potent enemy from abroad. As to
the firſt, you are to underſtand, that for above
feventy
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
55
ſeventy moons paſt, there have been two ſtruggling
parties in this empire under the names of Trameck-
Jan and Slameckfan, from the high and low heels on
their ſhoes, by which they diſtinguiſh themſelves.
It is alleged indeed, that the high heels are moſt
agreeable to our ancient conſtitution; but however
this be, his majeſty hath determined to make uſe of
only low heels in the adminiſtration of the govern-
ment and all offices in the gift of the crown; as
you cannot but obferve; and particularly, that his
majeſty's imperial heels are lower at leaſt by a drurr
than any of his court. (Drurr is a meaſure about
the fourteenth part of an inch.) The animofities
between theſe two parties run ſo high, that they
will neither eat nor drink nor talk with each other.
We compute the trameckfan, or high heels, to ex-
ceed us in number, but the power is wholly on our
lide. We apprehend his imperial highneſs, the heir
to the crown, to have ſome tendency towards the
Irigh heels; at leaſt we can plainly diſcover one of
his heels higher than the other; which gives him a
hobble in his gait. Now, in the midſt of theſe in-
teftine diſquiets, we are threatened with an invaſion
from the iſland of Blefuſeu, which is the other great
empire of the univerſe, almoſt as large and power-
ful as this of his majeſty. For as to what we have
heard you affirm, that there are other kingdoms and
ftates in the world, inhabited by human creatures
as large as yourſelf, our philoſophers are in much
doubt; and would rather conjecture that you dropt
from the moon, or one of the ſtars; becauſe it is
certain that an hundred mortals of your bulk would
in a ſhort time deſtroy all the fruits and cattle of his
majeſty's domirions. Beſides, our hiſtories of fix
thouſand moons make no mention of
any
gions, than the two great empires of Lilliput and
Blefuſcu: Which two mighty powers have, as I
am
other re-
56
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
.
am going to tell you, been engaged in a moft obſti-
nate war for fix and thirty moons paſt. It began
upon the following occaſion. It is allowed on all
hands, that the primitive way of breaking eggs be-
fore we eat them, was upon the larger end: but his
preſent majeſty's grandfather, while he was a boy,
going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the
ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers ;
whereupon the emperor his father publiſhed an edict,
commanding all his ſubjects, upon great penalties,
to break the ſmaller end of their eggs. The people
ſo highly reſented this law, that our hiſtories tell us,
there have been fix rebellions raifed on that account;
wherein one emperor loſt his life, and another his
crown. Theſe civil commotions were conſtantly
fomented by the monarchs of Blefufcu; and when
they were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge
to that empire. It is computed that eleven thouſand
perſons have, at ſeveral times, ſuffered death rather
than ſubmit to break their eggs at the ſmaller end.
Many hundred large volumes have been publiſhed
upon this controverfy: But the books of the Big-
Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole
party rendered incapable by law of holding employ-
ments. During the courſe of theſe troubles, the
emperors of Blefuſcu did frequently expoftulate by
their ambaſſadors, accuſing us of making a ſchiſm in
religion, by offending againſt a fundamental doctrine
of our great prophet Luſtrug, in the fifty-fourth
chapter of the Brundrecal (which is their Alcoran).
This, however, is thought to be a mere ſtrain upon
the text: For the words are theſe; « That all true
“ believers ſhall break their eggs at the convenient
<< end." And which is the convenient end, ſeems,
in my humble opinion, to be left to every man's con-
ſcience, or at leaſt in the power of the chief magi-
ſtrate, to determine. Now the Big-Endian exiles
have
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
57
have found ſo much credit in the emperor of Ble-
fuſcu's court, and ſo much private affiſtance and en-
couragement from their party here at home, that
a bloody war hath been carried on between the two
empires for fix and thirty moons with various ſuc-
ceffes ; during which time we have loſt forty capital
ſhips, and a much greater number of ſmaller vefſels,
together with thirty thouſand of our beſt feamen
and foldiers ; and the damage received by the ene-
my is reckoned to be ſomewhat greater than ours.
However, they have now equipped a numerous fleet,
and are juſt preparing to make a deſcent upon us :
And his imperial majeſty, placing great confidence
in your valour and ſtrength, hath commanded me to
lay this account of his affairs before you.
I deſired the ſecretary to preſent my humble duty
to the emperor, and to let him know, that I thought
it would not become me, who was a foreigner, to
interfere with parties; but I was ready, with the
hazard of my life, to defend his perſon and ſtate 2.
gainſt all invaders.
CH A P. V.
li
The Author, by an extraordinary fratagem, prevents
an invaſion. A high title of honour is conferred
upon him. Ambaſſadors arrive from the emperor
of Blefufcu, and ſue for peace. The Empref's a-
partment on fire by an accident; the Author in-
Strumental in faving the reft of the palace.
THE empire of Blefufcu is an iſland ſituated to
the north north-eaſt ſide of Lilliput, from
whence it is parted only by a channel of eight hun-
dred yards wide. I had not yet feen it; and upon
this notice of an intended invaſion, I avoided ap-
pearing
58
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
pearing on that ſide of the coaſt, for fear of being
diſcovered by ſome of the enemies fhips, who had
received no intelligence of me; all intercourſe be-
tween the two empires having been ſtrictly forbid-
den during the war, upon pain of death; and an
embargo laid by our emperor upon all vefſels what-
ſoever. I communicated to his majeſty a project I
had formed of ſeizing the enemy's whole fleet;
which, as our ſcouts afſured us, lay at anchor in the
harbour ready to fail with the firſt fair wind. I
conſulted the moſt experienced feamen upon the
depth of the channel, which they had often plum.
med; who told me, that in the middle, at high wa-
ter, it was ſeventy glumgluffs deep, which is about
fix feet of European meaſure; and the reſt of it fifty
glumgluffs at moft. I walked to the north-eaſt coast
over againſt Blefuſcu; where lying down behind a
hillock, I took out my ſmall pocket perſpective
glaſs, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, con-
lifting of about fifty men of war, and a great num-
ber of tranſports: I then came back to my houſe,
and gave orders (for which I had a warrant) for a
great quantity of the ſtrongeſt cable and bars of
iron; the cable was about as thick as packthread,
and the bars of the length and fize of a knitting-
needle. I trebled the cable to make it ſtronger ;
and for the ſame reaſon I twiſted three of the iron
bars together, binding the extremities into a hook.
Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I
went back to the north-eaſt coaſt, and putting off
my coat, ſhoes and ſtockings, walking into the fea
in leathern jerkin, about half an hour before
high water. I waded with what haſte I could, and
ſwam in the middle about thirty yards until I felt
the ground. I arrived to the fleet in leſs than half
an hour. The enemy was ſo frighted when they
ſaw me, that they leaped out of their fhips, and
ſwam
my
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
59
.
ers.
ſwam to ſhore; where there could not be fewer than
thirty thouſand ſouls. I then took my tackling, and
faſtening a hook to the hole at the prow of each, I
tied all the cords together at the end. While I was
thus employed, the enemy diſcharged ſeveral thou-
fand arrows, many of which ſtuck in my hands and
face; and beſides the exceſſive ſmart, gave me much
diſturbance in my work. My greateſt apprehen-
fion was for mine eyes; which I ſhould have infal-
libly loſt, if I had not ſuddenly thought of an expe-
dient. I kept, amongſt other little neceſſaries, a
pair of ſpectacles in a private pocket, which, as I
obſerved before, had eſcaped the emperor's ſearch-
Theſe I took out, and faſtened as ſtrongly as
I could upon my noſe, and, thus armed, went on
boldly with my work in ſpite of the enemy's arrows;
many of which ſtruck againſt the glaſſes of my ſpec-
tacles, but without any other effect, further than a
little to diſcompoſe them. I had now faſtened all
the hooks, and, taking the knot in my hand, began
to pull: but not a fhip would ſtir, for they were all
too faſt held by their anchors; ſo that the boldeſt
part of my enterprize remained. I therefore let go
the cord, and leaving the hooks fixed to the ſhips,
I refolutely cut with my knife the cables that fa-
ftened the anchors; receiving above two hundred
fhots in my face and hands : Then I took up the
knotted end of the cables to which my hooks were
tied, and with great cafe drew fifty of the enemy's
largeſt men of war after me.
The Blefuſcudians, who had not the leaſt imagi-
nation of what I intended, were at firſt confounded
with aſtoniſhment. They had ſeen me cut the
cables, and thought
my deſign was only to let the
ſhips run a-drift, or fall foul on each other: But
when they perceived the whole fleet moving in or-
der, and ſaw me pulling at the end, they ſet up
ſuch
60
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ſuch a ſcream of grief and deſpair, that it is almoſt
impoſſible to deſcribe or conceive. When I had got
out of danger, I ſtopt a while to pick out the ar-
rows that ſtuck in my hands and face, and rubbed
on ſome of the ſame the ointment that was given me
at my firſt arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I
then took off my ſpectacles, and waiting about an
hour until the tide was a little fallen, I waded thro'
the middle with my cargo, and arrived ſafe at the
royal port of Lilliput
The emperor and his whole court ſtood on the
ſhore expecting the iſſue of this great adventure.
They ſaw the ſhips move forward in a large half
moon, but could not diſcern me, who was up to
my
breaſt in water. When I advanced to the middle
of the channel, they were yet more in pain, becauſe
I was under water to my neck. The emperor con-
cluded me to be drowned, and that the enemy's fleet
was approaching in a hoſtile manner. But he was
foon eafed of his fears: for the channel growing
fhallower every ſtep I made, I came in a ſhort time
within hearing; and holding up the end of the cable
by which the fleet was faſtened, I cried in a loud
voice, Long live the moſt puiſſant emperor of Lil-
liput! This great prince received me at my landing
with all poſſible encomiums; and created me a Nar-
dac upon the ſpot, which is the higheſt title of ho-
title or no
nour among them.
His majeſty deſired I would take ſome other op-
portunity of bringing all the reſt of his enemies ſhips
into his ports. And ſo unmeaſurable is the ambi-
tion of princes, that he ſeemed to think of nothing
leſs than reducing the whole empire of Blefuſcu in-
to a province, and governing it by a viceroy; of de-
ſtroying the Big-Endian exiles, and compelling that
people to break the ſmaller end of their eggs; by
which he would remain ſole monarch of the whole
world.
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
61
me.
world. But I endeavoured to divert him from this
deſign, by many arguments drawn from the topics
of policy
as well as juftice: And I plainly proteſt-
ed, that I would never be an inſtrument of bring-
ing a free and brave people into ſlavery: And when
the matter was debated in council, the wiſeſt part
of the miniſtry were of my opinion.
This open bold declaration of mine was ſo oppo-
ſite to the ſchemes and politics of his imperial ma.
jeſty, that he could never forgive me; He mention-
ed it in a very artful manner at council, where, I
was told, that ſome of the wifeft appeared, at leaſt
by their filence, to be of my opinion; but others,
who were my ſecret enemies, could not forbear
fome expreſſions which by a fide-wind reflected on
And from this time began an intrigue be-
tween his majeſty and a junto of miniſters malici-
ouſly bent againſt me, which broke out in leſs than
two months, and had like to have ended in my ut-
ter deſtruction. Of ſo little weight are the greateſt
ſervices to princes, when put into the balance with
à refuſal to gratify their paſlions.
About three weeks after this exploit, there arri-
ved a folemn embafly from Blefufcu with humble
offers of a peace; which was ſoon concluded, upon
conditions very advantageous to our emperor ;
wherewith I ſhall not trouble the reader. There
were fix ambaſſadors, with a train of about five
hundered perſons; and their entry was very mag-
nificent, ſuitable to the grandeur of their maſter
and the importance of their buſineſs. When their
treaty was finiſhed, wherein I did them ſeveral good
offices by the credit I now had, or at leaſt appeared
to have at court, their excellencies, who were pri-
vately told how much I had been their friend, made
me a viſit in form. They began with many com-
pliments upon my valour and generolity; invited
F
me
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
me to that'kingdom in the emperor their maſter's
name; and deſired me to ſhow them ſome proofs of
my prodigious ſtrength, of which they had heard
ſo many wonders; wherein I readily obliged them,
but ſhall not interrupt the reader with the particu.
lars.
de una
When I had for ſome time entertained their ex-
cellencies to their infinite ſatisfaction and ſurpriſe,
I deſired they would do me the honour to preſent
my moſt humble reſpects to the emperor their ma-
ſter, the renown of whoſe virtues had fo juſtly fill-
ed the whole world with admiration, and whoſe
royal perſon I reſolved to attend before I returned
to my own country. Accordingly the next time I
had the honour to fee our emperor, I deſired his ge-
neral licence to wait on the Blefuſcudian monarch,
which he was pleaſed to grant me, as I could plain-
ly perceive, in a very cold manner; but could not
gueſs the reaſon, till I had a whiſper from a certain
perſon, that Flimnap and Bolgolam had repreſented
my intercourſe with thoſe ambaſſadors as a mark
of diſaffection, from which I am ſure my heart was
wholly free. And this was the firſt time I began
to conceive ſome imperfect idea of courts and mi-
niſters.
It is to be obſerved, that theſe ambaſſadors ſpoke
to me by an interpreter; the languages of both em-
pires differing as much from each other as any two
in Europe, and each nation priding itſelf upon the
antiquity, beauty, and energy of their own tongues,
with an avowed contempt for that of their neigh-
bour: Yet our emperor, ſtanding upon the advan.
tage he had got by the ſeizure of their fleet, obli-
ged them to deliver their credentials, and make their
{peech in the Lilliputian tongue. And it muſt be
confeſſed, that from the great intercourſe of trade
and commerce between both realms; from the con-
tinua
A Poyage to LILLIPUT.
63
tinual reception of exiles, which is mutual among
them; and from the cuſtom in each empire to ſend
their young nobility and richer gentry to the other,
in order to poliſh themſelves, by ſeeing the world
and underſtanding men and manners; there are few
perſons of diſtinction, or merchants, or feamen,
who dwell in the maritime parts, but what can hold
converſation in both tongues; as I found ſome weeks
after, when I went to pay my reſpects to the empe-
ror of Blefuſcu, which in the midſt of great misfor-
tunes, through the malice of my enemies, proved a
very happy adventure to me, as I ſhall relate in its
proper place.
The reader may remember, that when I figned
thoſe articles upon which I recovered my liberty,
there were ſome which I diſliked upon account of
their being too fervile, neither could any thing but
an extreme neceffity have forced me to ſubmit. But
being now a Nardac, of the higheſt rank in that
empire, ſuch offices were looked upon as below my
dignity; and the emperor (to do him juſtice) never
once mentioned them to me. However, it was not
long before I had an opportunity of doing his ma-
jeſty, at leaſt as I then thought, a moſt ſignal fer-
vice. I was alarmed at midnight with the cries of
many hundred people at my door; by which being
ſuddenly awaked, I was in ſome kind of terror. I
heard the word Burglum repeated incellantly; feve-
ral of the emperor's court making their way through
the crowd, intreated me to come immediately to the
palace, where her imperial majeſty's apartment was
on fire by the careleſſneſs of a maid of honour, who
fell aſleep while ſhe was reading a romance. I got
up in an inſtant; and orders being given to clear
the way before me, and it being likewiſe a moon-
ſhine night, I made a flrift to get to the palace with-
out trampling on any of the people. I found they
had
F 2
64
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
had already applied ladders to the walls of the apart.
ment, and were well provided with buckets, but the
water was at fome diſtance. Theſe buckets were
about the ſize of a large thimble, and the poor
people ſupplied me with them as faſt as they could;
but the flame was ſo violent that they did little
good. I might eaſily have ſtifled it with my coat,
which I unfortunately left behind me for haſte, and
came away only in my leathern jerkin. The caſe
ſeemed wholly deſperate and deplorable;
and this
magnificent palace would have been burnt down to
the ground, if, by a preſence of mind unuſual to
me, I had not ſuddenly thought of an expedient. I
had the evening before drank plentifully of a moſt
delicious wine called Glimigrim (the Blefufcudi-
ans call it Flunec, but ours is eſteemed the better
fort), which is very diuretic. By the luckieſt chance
in the world I had not diſcharged myſelf of any
part of it. The heat I had contracted by coming
very near the flames, and by my labouring to quench
them, made the wine begin to operate by urine;
which I voided in ſuch a quantity, and applied fo
well to the proper places, that in three minutes the
fire was wholly extinguiſhed; and the reſt of that
noble pile, which had coft ſo many ages in erecting,
preſerved from deſtruction.
It was now day-light, and I returned to my houſe
without waiting
to congratulate with the emperor;
becauſe, although I had done a very eminent piece
of ſervice, yet I could not tell how his majeſty might
reſent the manner by which I had performed it:
For, by the fundamental laws of the realm, it is ca-
pital in any perſon, of what quality foever, to make
water within the precincts of the palace. But I was
a little comforted by a meſſage from his majeſty,
that he would give orders to the grand juſticiary
for palling my pardon in form; which, however,
could
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
65
could not obtain. And I was privately allured,
that
the empreſs, conceiving the greateſt
abhorrence of
what I had done, removed to the moſt diſtant ſide
of the court, firmly reſolved that thoſe buildings
ſhould never be repaired for her
uſe; and, in the
preſence of her chief confidents, could not forbear
vowing revenge.
CH A P. VI.
Of tbe inhabitants of Lilliput; their learning, laws,
and cuſtoms. The männer of educating their chil-
dren. The Guthor's way of kving in that country.
Ilis vindication of a great lady.
LTHOUGH I intend to leave the deſcription of
A this empire to a particular treatiſe, yet, in the
mean time, I am content to gratify the curious rea-
der with ſome general idcan. As the common ſize
of the natives is ſomewhat under (ix inches, ſo there
is an exa& proportion in all other animals, as well
as plants and trees: For inſtance, the talleſt horſes
and oxen are between four and five inches in height,
the ſheep an inch and a half, more or leſs; their
geeſe about the bigneſs of a ſparrow; and ſo the fe-
veral gradations downward, until you come to the
ſmalleſt, which, to my fight, were almoſt inviſible;
but nature hath adapted the eyes of the Lilliputians
to all objects proper for their views: They ſee with
great exactneſs, but at no great diſtance. And, to
Ihow the ſharpneſs of their fight towards objects
that are near, I have been much pleaſed with a cook
pulling a lark which was not to large as a common
fly; and a young girl threading an inviſible
needle
with inviſible filk. Their talleit trees are about fe-
ven feet high; I mean fome of thoſe in the great
F 3
roya)
66
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
royal park, the tops whereof I could but juſt reach
with
my
fiſt clinched. The other vegetables are in
the ſame proportion: But this I leave to the reader's
imagination.
ut this!
I ſhall ſay but little at preſent of their learning,
which for many ages hath flouriſhed in all its branch
es among them: But their manner of writing is very
peculiar; being neither from the left to the right,
like the Europeans; nor from the right to the left,
like the Arabians; nor from up to down, like the
Chineſe; nor from down to up, like the Caſcagians ;
but allant from one corner of the paper to the other,
like ladies in England.
They bury their dead with their heads directly
downwards; becauſe they hold an opinion, that in
eleven thouſand moons they are all to riſe again; in
which period the earth, (which they conceive to be
flat) will turn upſide down; and by this means they
ſhall, at the reſurrection, be found ready ftanding on
their feet. The learned among them confeſs the
abſurdity of this doctrine; but the practice ſtill con-
tinues in compliance to the vulgar,
There are ſome laws and cuſtoms in this empire
very peculiar; and if they were not ſo directly con-
trary to thoſe of my own dear country, I ſhould be
tempted to ſay a little in their juſtification. It is only
to be wiſhed that they were as well executed. The
filft I fhall mention relateth to informers. All
crimes againſt the ſtate are puniſhed here with the
utmoſt ſeverity; but, if the perſon accuſed make his
innocence plainly to appear upon his trial, the ac-
cuſer is immediately put to an ignominious death;
and, out of his goods or lands, the innocent perſon
is quadruply recompenſed for the loſs of his time,
for the danger he underwent, for the hardſhip of
his impriſonment, and for all the charges he hath
been at in making his defence: Or, if that fund be
deficient
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
67
deficient, it is largely ſupplied by the crown. The
emperor doth alſo confer on him ſome public mark
of his favour; and proclamation is made of his in.
nocence through the whole city.
They look upon fraud as a greater crime than
theft, and therefore ſeldom fail to puniſh it with
death: For they allege, that care and vigilance, with
a very common underſtanding, may preſerve a man's
goods from thieves, but honeſty hath no fence a.
gainſt ſuperior cunning: And ſince it is neceſſary
that there ſhould be a perpetual intercourſe of buy-
ing and ſelling, and dealing upon credit; where
fraud is permitted or connived at, or hath no law
to puniſh it, the honeſt dealer is always undone, and
the knave gets the advantage. I remember when I
was once interceding with the king for a criminal
who had wronged his maſter of a great ſum of mo-
ney, which he had received by order, and ran away
with; and happening to tell his majeſty, by way of -
extenuation, that it was only a breach of truſt; the
emperor thought it monſtrous in me to offer, as a
defence, the greateſt aggravation of the crime: And
truly I had little to ſay in return, farther than the
common anſwer, that different nations had different
cuſtoms; for I confeſs I was heartily aſhamed.
Although we uſually call reward and puniſhment
the two hinges upon which all government turns,
yet I could never obſerve this maxim to be put in
practice by any nation except that of Lilliput. Who-
ever can there bring fufficient proof, that he hath
ftri&tly obſerved the laws of his country for ſeventy-
three moons, hath a claim to certain privileges, ac-
cording to his quality and condition of life, with a
proportionable dum of money out of a fund appro-
priated for that uſe: He likewiſe acquires the title
of Snilpal or Legal, which is added to his name, but
doth not deſcend to his poſterity. And theſe people
thought
68
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
thought it a prodigious defect of policy among us,
when I told them that our laws were enforced only
by penalties, without any mention of reward. It is
upon this account that the image of juſtice, in their
courts of judicature, is formed with fix eyes ; two
before, as many behind, and on each fide one, to
fignify.circumſpection; with a bag of gold open in
her right hand, and a ſword ſheathed in her left, to
fhow ſhe is more diſpoſed to reward than puniſh.
In chooſing perſons for all employments, they
have more regard to good morals than to great abi
lities: For, ſince government is neceſſary to man-
kind, they believe that the common fize of human
underſtandings is fitted to ſome ſtation or other;
and that Providence never intended to make the ma-
nagement of public affairs a myſtery, to be compre-
hended only by a few perſons of ſublime genius, of
which there feldom are three born in an age: But
they ſuppoſe truth, juſtice, temperance, and the like,
to be in every man's power; the practice of which
virtues, aſliſted by experience and a good intention,
would qualify any man for the ſervice of his coun-
try, except where a courſe of ſtudy is required. But
they thought the want of moral virtues was ſo far
from being ſupplied by ſuperior endowments of the
mind, that employments could never be put into
fuch dangerous hands as thoſe of perſons ſo quali-
fied; and, at leaſt, that the miſtakes committed by
ignorance in a virtuous diſpoſition, would never be
of ſuch fatal conſequence to the public weal, as the
practices of a man, whoſe inclinations led him to be
corrupt, and had great abilities to manage, to mul-
tiply, and defend his corruptions.
In like manner, the diſbelief of a divine Provi-
dence renders a man uncapable of holding any pub-
lic ſtation: For, fince kings avow themſelves to be
the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think
nothing
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
69
nothing can be more abſurd, than for a prince to
employ fuch men as diſown the authority under
which he acteth.
In relating theſe and the following laws, I would
only be underſtood to mean the original inſtitutions,
and not the moſt ſcandalous corruptions into which
theſe people are fallen by the degenerate nature of
man. For as to that infamous practice of acqui-
ring great employments by dancing on the rope, or
badges of favour and diſtinction by leaping over
ſticks, and creeping under them; the reader is to
obſerve, that they were firſt introduced by the grand-
father of the emperor now reigning, and grew to
the preſent height by the gradual increaſe of party
and faclion. .
Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we
read it to have been in fomne other countries: For
they reaſon thus; that whoever inakes ill returns to
his benefactor, muſt needs be a common enemy to
the reſt of mankind, from whom they have received
no obligation; and therefore ſuch a man is not fit
to live.
Their notions relating to the duties of parents
and children difier extremely from ours. For, ſince
the conjunction of male and female is founded up-
on the great law of narure, in order to propagate
and continue the ſpecies, the Lilliputians will needs
have it, that men and women are joined together
like other animals, by the motives of concupifcence;
and that their tenderneſs towards their young pro-
ceederh from the like natural principle: For which
reaſon, they will never allow that a child is under
any obligation to his father for begetting him, or to
his mother for bringing him into the world; which,
conſidering the miſeries of human life, was neither
a benefit in itſelf, nor intended ſo by his parents,
whoſe thoughts in their love-encounters were other-
wiſe
70
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
wiſe employed. Upon theſe, and the like reaſon-
ings, their opinion is, that parents are the laſt of all
others to be truſted with the education of their own
children: And therefore they have in every town
public nurſeries, where all parents, except cottagers
and labourers, are obliged to ſend their infants of
both ſexes to be reared and educated when they
come to the age of twenty moons; at which time
they are ſuppoſed to have ſome rudiments of doci-
lity. Thefe fchools are of ſeveral kinds, ſuited to
different qualities and to both ſexes. They have
certain profeſſors well ſkilled in preparing children
for ſuch a condition of life as befits the rank of their
parents, and their own capacities as well as inclina-
tions. I ſhall firſt ſay ſomething of the male nurſe-
ries, and then of the female.
The nurſeries for males of noble or eminent birth,
are provided with grave and learned profeffors, and
their feveral deputies. The clothes and food of the
children are plain and fimple. They are bred up
in the principles of honour, juſtice, courage, mo-
deſty, clemency, religion, and love of their coun
try: They are always employed in ſome buſineſs, ex-
cept in the times of eating and ſleeping, which are
very ſhort, and two hours for diverſions, conſiſting
of bodily exerciſe. They are dreſſed by men until
four years of age, and then are obliged to dreſs
themſelves, although their quality be ever ſo great;
and the women attendants, who are aged propor-
tionably to ours at fifty, perform only the moſt me-
nial offices. They are never ſuffered to converſe
with ſervants, but go together in ſmall or greater
numbers to take their diverſions, and always in the
preſence of a profeſſor, or one of his deputies;
whereby they avoid thoſe early bad impreſſions of
folly and vice to which our children are ſubject.
Their parents are ſuffered to ſee them only twice 2-
year;
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
71
year; the viſit is not to laſt above an hour; they'are
allowed to kiſs the child at mecting and parting :
but a profeſſor, who always standeth by on thoſe oc-
caſions, will not ſuffer them to whiſper, or uſe any
fondling expreſſions, or bring any preſents of toys,
ſweet-meats, and the like.
The penſion from each family for the education
and entertainment of a child, upon failure of due
payment, is levied by the emperor's officers.
The nurſeries for children of ordinary gentlemen,
merchants, traders, and handicrafts, are managed
proportionably after the fame manner; only thoſe
deſigned for trades are put out apprentices at ſeven
years old; whereas thoſe of perſons of quality con-
tinue in their exerciſe until fifteen, which anſwers
to one and twenty with us; But the confinement is
gradually leſſened for the laſt three years.
In the female nurſeries, the young girls of qua.
lity are educated much like the-males, only they are
dreſſed by orderly fervants of their own ſex, but al.
ways in the prcſence of a profefior or deputy, until
they come to dreſs themſelves, which is at five
years
old. And if it be found that theſe nurſes ever pre-
fume to entertain the girls with frightful or fooliſh
ſtories, or the common folkes practiſed by chamber-
maids among us, they are publicly whipped thrice
about the city, impriſoned for a year, and baniſhed
for life to the moſt defolate parts of the country.
Thus the young ladies there are as much aſhained
of being cowards and fools as the men; and deſpiſe
all perſonal ornaments beyond decency and cleanli-
neſs; neither did I perceive any difference in their
education made by their difference of ſex, only that
the exerciſes of the females were not altogether fo
robuft; and that ſome rules were given them rela-
ting to domeitic life, and a ſmaller compaſs of learn-
ing was enjoined them: For their maxim is, that
among
12
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
among people of quality, a wife ſhould be always a
reaſonable and agreeable companion, becauſe ſhe
cannot always be young. When the girls are twelve
years old, which among them is the marriageable
age,
their
parents or guardians take them home, with
great expreſions of gratitude to the profeſſors, and
feldom without tears of the young lady and her com-
panions.
In the nurſeries of females of the meaner fort,
the children are inſtructed in all kinds of works
pro-
per
for their ſex- and their ſeveral degrees : Thoſe
intended for apprentices are diſmifſed at ſeven years
old, the reſt are kept to eleven.
The meaner families who have children at theſe
nurſeries, are obliged, beſides their annual penſion,
which is as low as poflible, to return to the ſteward
of the nurſery a ſmall monthly fhare of their get-
tings, to be a portion for the child ; and therefore
all parents are limited in their expences by the law.
For the Lilliputians think that nothing can be more
unjuſt, than that people, in fubfervience to their
own appetites, ſhould bring children into the world,
and leave the burden of ſupporting them on the
public. As to perſons of quality, they give ſecurity
to appropriate a certain fum for each child ſuitable
to their condition; and theſe funds are always ma-
naged with good huſbandry, and the moft exact ju-
ſtice.
The cottagers and labourers keep their children
at home, their buſineſs being only to till and culti-
vate the earth; and therefore their education is of
little conſequence to the public; but the old and dir-
eaſed among them are ſupported by hoſpitals : For
begging is a trade unknown in this empire.
And here it may perhaps divert the curious read-
er, to give ſome account of my domeſtics, and my
manner of living in this country, during a reſidence
3
of
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
73
of nine months and thirteen days. Having a head
mechanically turned, and being likewiſe forced by
necellity, I had made for myſelf a table and chair,
convenient enough, out of the largeſt trees in the
royal park. Two hundred fempſtreſſes were em
ployed to make me ſhirts, and linen for my bed and
table, all of the ſtrongeſt and coarſeſt kind they
could get; which, however, they were forced to
quilt together into ſeveral folds; for the thickeſt was
ſome degrees finer than lawn. Their linen is uſu-
ally three inches wide, and three feet make a piece.
The fempſtreſſes took my meaſure as I lay on the
ground, one ſtanding at my neck and another åt my
mid-leg, with a ſtrong cord extended, that each held
by the end, while the third meaſured the length of
the cord with a rule of an inch long. Then they
meaſured my right thumb, and deſired no more ;
for by a mathematical computation, that twice
round the thumb is once round the wriſt, and ſo on
to the neck and the waiſt, and by the help of my
old ſhirt, which I diſplayed on the ground before
them for a pattern, they fitted me exactly. Three
hundred taylors were employed in the ſame manner
to make me clothes ; but they had another contri-
vance for taking my menfure. I kneeled down, and
they raiſed a ladder from the ground to my neck ;
upon this ladder one of theni mounted, and he let
fall a plumb-line from my collar to the floor, which
juſt anſwered the length of my coat; but my waiſt
and arms I meaſured myſelf. When my clothes
were finiſhed, which was done in my houſe (for
the largeſt of theirs would not have been able to
hold them), they looked like the patch-work made
by the ladies in England, only that mine were all of
a colour.
I had three hundred cooks to dreſs any viuals,
in Ettle convenient huts built about my houſe, where
G
they
74
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
they and their families lived, and prepared me two
diſhes a-piece. I took up twenty waiters in my hand,
and placed them on the table; an hundred more at-
tended below on the ground, ſome with diſhes of
meat, and fome with barrels of wine, and other li.
quors, Alung on their ſhoulders; all which the wait.
ers above drew up as I wanted, in a very ingenious
manner, by certain cords, as we draw the bucket
up a well in Europe. A diſh of their meat was a
good mouthful, and a barrel of their liquor a rea-
fonable draught. Their mutton yields to ours, but
their beef is excellent. I have had a furloin fo large,
that I have been forced to make three bites of it; but
this is rare. My ſervants were aſtoniſhed to ſee me
eat it bones and all, as in our country we do the leg
of a lark. Their geeſe and turkeys I uſually eat at a
mouthful; and I muſt confeſs they far exceed ours.
Of their ſmaller fowl I could take up twenty or thirty
at the end of my knife.
One day his imperial majeſty being informed of
my way of living, deſired that himſelf and his royal
confort, with the young princes of the blood of both
ſexes, might have the happineſs (as he was pleaſed
to call it) of dining with me. They came accord-
ingly; and I placed them upon chairs of ſtate on my
table, juſt over againſt me, with their guards about
them. Flimnap the lord high treaſurer attended
there likewiſe with his white ſtaff; and I obſerved
he often looked on me with a four countenance,
which I would not ſeem to regard, but eat more
than uſual, in honour to my dear country, as well
as to fill the court with admiration. I have ſome
private reaſons to believe, that this viſit from his ma-
jeſty gave Flimnap an opportunity of doing me ill
offices to his maſter. That miniſter had always been
my ſecret enemy, although he outwardly careſſed me
more than was uſual to the moroſeneſs of his nature.
He
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
75
He repreſented to the emperor the low condition of
his treaſury; that he was forced to take up money
at
great diſcount; that exchequer bills would not cir-
culate under nine per cent. below par ; that I had
coſt his majeſty above a million and a half of ſprugs
(their greateſt gold coin, about the bigneſs of a
fpangle); and upon the whole,
that it would be ad-
viſable in the emperor to take the firſt fair occaſion
of diſmiſling me.
I am here obliged to vindicate the reputation of
an excellent lady, who was an innocent ſufferer
upon my account. The treafurer took a fancy to
be jealous of his wife, from the malice of ſome evil
tongues, who informed him that her grace had ta-
ken a violent affection for my perſon ; and the court
ſcandal ran for fome time, that ſhe once came pri-
vately to my lodging. This I ſolemnly declare to
be a moſt infamous falſehood, without any grounds,
farther than that her grace was pleaſed to treat me
with all innocent marks of freedom and friendſhip.
I own ſhe came often to my houſe, but always pub-
licly, nor ever without three more in the coach,
who were uſually
her ſiſter, and young daughter,
and ſome particular acquaintance; but this was
common to many other ladies of the court. And I
ftill appeal to my fervants round, whether they at
any time ſaw a coach at my door without knowiug
what perſons were in it. On theſe occaſions, when
a ſervant had given me notice, my cuſtom was to
go immediately to the door; and after paying my
reſpects, to take up the coach and two horſes very
carefully in my hands (for if there were fix horſes,
the poſtillion always unharnefled four), and place
them on a table, where I had fixed a moveable rim
quite round, of five inches high, to prevent acci-
dents. And I have often had four coaches and
horſes at once on my table full of company, while
G2
I
76
4 Voyage to LILLIPUT.
I ſat in my chair leaning my face towards them;
and when I was engaged with one fet, the coach-
men would gently drive the others round my table.
I have paſſed many an afternoon very agreeably in
theſe converſations : But I defy the treaſurer, or his
two informers (I will name them, and let them
make their beſt of it), Cluſtril and Drunlo, to prove
that any perſon ever came to me incognito, except
the ſecretary Reldrefal, who was ſent by expreſs
command of his imperial majeſty, as I have before
related. I ſhould not have dwelt ſo long upon this
particular, if it had not been a point wherein the
reputation of a great lady is ſo nearly concerned; to
ſay nothing of my own, although I had the honour
to be a Nardac, which the treaſurer himſelf is not;
for all the world knows he is only a Glumglum; a
title inferior by one degree, as that of a marquis is
to a duke in England; yet I allow he preceded me
in right of his poſt. Theſe falſe informations, which
I fterwards came to the knowledge of by an acci-
dent not proper to mention, made the treaſurer ſhow
his lady for ſome time an ill countenance, and me
a worſe: For although he was at laſt undeceived
and reconciled to her, yet I loſt all credit with him,
and found my intereſt decline very faſt with the em-
peror himſelf, who was indeed too much governed
by that favourite.
CH A P. VII.
The Author being informed of a deſign to accuſe him of
high treaſon, maketh his eſcape to Blefufcu. His
reception there.
B
EFORE I proceed to give an account of my
leaving this kingdom, it may be proper to in-
form
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
.
form the reader of a private intrigue which had been
for two months forming againſt ine.
I had been hitherto all my life a ſtranger to courts,
for which I was unqualified by the meanneſs of my
condition. I had indeed heard and read enough of
the diſpoſitions of great princes and miniſters; but
never expected to have found ſuch terrible effects of
them in ſo remote a country, governed, as I thought,
by very different maxims from thoſe in Europe.
When I was juſt preparing to pay my attendance
on the emperor of Blefuſcu, a conſiderable perſon at
court (to whom I had been very ſerviceable at a time
when he lay under the higheſt diſpleaſure of his im-
perial majefty) came to my houſe very privately at
night in a cloſe chair, and, without ſending his name,
delired admittance: the chairmen were diſmiſſed; I
put the chair, with his lordſhip in it, into my coat-
pocket, and giving orders to a truſty ſervant to ſay
I
was indiſpoſed and gone to ſleep, I faſtened the
door of my houſe, placed the chair on the table
according to my uſual cuſtom, and ſat down by it.
After the common ſalutations were over, obſerving
his lordſhip’s countenance full of concern, and in-
quiring into the reaſon, he deſired I would hear
him with patience, in a matter that highly concern-
ed my honour and my life. His ſpeech was to the
following effect, for I took notes of it as ſoon as he
left me.
You are to know, ſaid he, that ſeveral committees
of council have been larcly called in the moſt pri-
vate manner on your account; and it is but two
days ſince his majeſty came to a full reſolution.
You are very ſenüble tha: Skyris Bolgolam (Gal.
bet, or high-admiral) hath been your mortal enemy
almoſt ever ſince your arrival. Hiis original reaſons
I know not; but his hatred is much increaſed ſince
your great ſucceſs againſt Blefuſcu, by which his
glory
G3
A Voyage 70 LILLIPUT,
glory as admiral is obſcured. This lord, in conjunc.
tion with Flimnap the high-treaſurer, whoſe enmity
againſt you is notorious on account of his lady,
Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain, and
Balmoff the grand juſticiary, have prepared articles
of impeachment againſt you, for treaſon and other
capital crimes.
This preface made me ſo impatient, being confci.
ous of my own merit and innocence, that I was go-
ing to interrupt; when he entreated me to be filent,
and thus proceeded.
Out of gratitude for the favours you have done
me, I procured information of the whole proceed.
ings, and a copy of the articles, wherein 'I venture
my head for your ſervice.
Articles of Impeachment againſt Quinbus Fleſtrin (the
Man Mountain. )
ARTICLE I.
WHEREAS, by a ſtatute made in the reign of his
imperial majeſty Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted,
That whoever fhall make water within the precincts
of the royal palace, ſhall be liable to the pains and
penalties of high treaſon: Notwithſtanding, the ſaid
Quinbus Fleſtrin, in open breach of the ſaid law,
under colour of extinguiſhing the fire kindled in
the apartment of his majeſty's moſt dear imperial
confort, did maliciouſly, traiterouſly, and deviliſh-
ly, by diſcharge of his urine, put out the ſaid fire
kindled in the ſaid apartment, lying, and being with-
in the precincts of the ſaid royal palace; againſt
the ſtatute in that caſe provided, &c. againſt the
duty, &c.
ARTICLE II.
That the faid Quinbus Fleſtrin having brought
the
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
79
the imperial fleet of Blefuſcu into the royal port,
and being afterwards commanded by his imperial
majeſty to ſeize all the other ſhips of the ſaid empe-
ror of Blefufcu, and reduce that empire to a pro-
vince, to be governed by a viceroy from hence; and
to deſtroy and put to death, not only all the Big-
Endian exiles, but likewiſe all the people of that
empire who would not immediately forſake the Big-
Endian hereſy; he, the ſaid Fleſtrin, like a falſe trai-
tor againſt his moſt auſpicious, ſerene, imperial ma-
jeſty, did petition to be excuſed from the faid fer-
vice, upon pretence of unwillingneſs to force the
conſciences, to deſtroy the liberties and lives of an
innocent people.
ARTicle III.
That, whereas certain ambaſſadors arrived from
the court of Blefulcu to fue for peace in his maje-
fty's court; he, the ſaid Fieſtrin, did, like a falſe
traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and divert the ſaid am-
balladors, although he knew them to be fervants to
a prince who was lately an open enemy to his im-
perial majeſty, and in open war againſt his faid ma-
jeſty.
ARTICLE IV.
That the faid Quinbus Fleſtrin, contrary to the
duty of a faithful ſubject, is now preparing to make
a voyage to the court and empire of Blefuſcu; for
which he hath received only verbal licence from his
imperial majefty; and, under colour of the ſaid
licence, doth falſely and traiterouſly intend to take
the faid voyage, and thereby to aid, comfort, and
abet the emperor of Blefulcu, fo late an enemy,
and in open war with his imperial majeſty afore,
faid.
There are ſome other articles, but theſe are the
moſt
80
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
moſt important of which I have read you an ab-
ftract.
In the ſeveral debates upon this impeachment, it
muſt be confeſſed that his majeſty gave many marks
of his great lenity; often urging the ſervices you
had done him, and endeavouring to extenuate your
crimes. The treaſurer and admiral inſiſted that you
ſhould be put to the moſt painful and ignominious
death, by ſetting fire to your houſe at night; and
the general was to attend with twenty thouſand
men, armed with poiſoned arrows, to ſhoot you on
the face and hands. Some of your ſervants were to
have private orders to ſtrew a poiſonous juice on
your
ſhirts and ſheets, which would ſoon make you
tear your own fleſh, and die in the utmoſt torture.
The general came into the fame opinion; ſo that for
a long time there was a majority againſt you. But
his majeſty reſolving if poſlible to ſpare your life, at
laſt brought off the chamberlain.
Upon this incident, Reldreſal, principal ſecretary
for private affairs, who always approved himſelf your
true friend, was commanded by the emperor to de-
liver his opinion, which he accordingly did; and
therein juſtified the good thoughts you have of him,
He allowed your crimes to be great; but that ſtill
there was room for mercy, the moſt commendable
irtue in a prince, and for which his majeſty was ſo
juſtly celebrated. He ſaid the friendſhip between
you and him was ſo well known to the world, that
perhaps the moſt honourable Board might think him
partial : however, in obedience to the command he
had received, he would freely offer his ſentiments,
That if his majeſty, in conſideration of your ſervi-
ces, and purſuant to his own merciful difpofition,
would pleaſe to ſpare your life, and only give or-
ders to put out both your eyes, he humbly concei-
ved, that by this expedient juſtice might in ſome
mea-
A Voyage to LillipUT.
81
had for your
meaſure be ſatisfied, and all the world would ap-
pl ud the lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair
and generous proceedings of thoſe who have the ho-
nour to be his counſellors: That the loſs of your
eyes
would be no impediment to your bodily ſtrength,
by which you might ſtill be uſeful to his majeſty
That blindneſs is an addition to courage, by conceal-
ing dangers from us : That the fear you had for
eyes, was the greateſt difficulty in bringing over the
enemy's fleet, and it would be ſufficient for you to
ſee by the eyes of the miniſters, ſince the greateſt
princes do no more.
This propoſal was received with the utmoſt dif-
approbation by the whole Board. Bolgolam, the
admiral, could not preſerve his temper, but riſing up
in fury ſaid, he wondered how the ſecretary durft
preſume to give his opinion for preſerving the life
of a traitor: That the ſervices you had performed
were, by all true reaſons of fate, the great aggrava-
tion of your crimes; that you who were able to ex-
tinguiſh the fire by diſcharge of urine in her maje-
Aty's apartment (which he mentioned with horror),
might at another time raiſe an innundation by the
fame means to drown the whole palace; and the
ſame ſtrength which enabled you to bring over the
enemy's fleet, might ſerve upon the firſt diſcontent
to carry it back: that he had good reaſons to think
you were a Big-Endian in your heart; and as trea-
ſon begins in the heart before it appears in overt-
acts, ſo he accuſed you as a traitor on that account,
and therefore inGifted you ſhould be put to death.
The treaſurer was of the fame opinion; he ſhow-
ed to what ſtraits his majeſty's revenue was reduced
by the charge of maintaining you, which would ſoon
grow inſupportable: That the ſecretary's expedient
of putting out your eyes, was ſo far from being a re.
medy againſt this evil, that it would probably in-
creaſe
82
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
creaſe it; as it is manifeſt from the common prac-
tice of blinding ſome kind of fowl, after which they
feed the faſter, and grew ſooner fat: That his fa-
cred majeſty and the council
, who are your judges,
were in their own conſciences fully convinced of
your guilt; which was a fufficient argument to
condemn you to death, without the formal proofs
required by the ſtrict letter of the law.
But his imperial majeſty, fully determined againſt
capital puniſhment, was graciouſly pleaſed to ſay,
that Gince the council thought the loſs of your eyes
too eaſy a cenſure, ſome other may be inflicted here-
after. And your friend the ſecretary humbly defi-
ring to be heard again, in anſwer to what the trea
ſurer had objected concerning
the great charge his
majeſty was at in maintaining you ; ſaid, that his
excellency, who had the fole diſpoſal of the em-
peror's revenue, might eaſily provide againſt this
evil, by gradually lefſening your eſtabliſhment; by
which, for want of ſufficient food, you would grow
weak and faint, and loſe your appetite, and conſe
quently decay and conſume in a few months ; nei-
ther would the ſtench of your carcaſs be then fo
dangerous, when it ſhould become more than half-
diminiſhed ; and immediately upon your death, five
or fix thouſand of his majeſty's ſubjects might in
two or three days cut your fleſh from your bones,
take it away by cart-loads, and bury it in diſtant
parts to prevent infection; leaving the ſkeleton as
a monument of admiration to pofterity.
Thus, by the great friendſhip of the ſecretary,
the whole affair was compromiſed. It was ftrictly
enjoined, that the project of ſtarving you by degrees
ſhould be kept a ſecret; but the ſentence of putting
out your eyes was entered on the books; none diſ-
ſenting except Bolgolam the admiral; who being a
ereature of the empreſs,
was perpetually inſtigated
by
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
83
by her majeſty to inſiſt upon your death; ſhe having
borne perpetual malice againſt you on account of
that infamous and illegal method you took to extin-
guiſh the fire in her apartment.
In three days" your friend
the ſecretary will be
directed to come to your houſe, and read before you
the articles of impeachment; and then to ſignify
the great lenity and favour of his majelty and coun-
cil; whereby you are only condemned to the loſs
of your eyes, which his majeſty doth not queſtion
you will gratefully and humbly ſubmit to; and
twenty of his majeſty's ſurgeons will attend, in or-
der to ſee the operation well performed, by diſchar-
ging very ſharp-pointed arrows into the balls of
your eyes as you lie on the ground.
I leave to your prudence what meaſures you will
take; and to avoid ſuſpicion, I muſt immediately
return in as private a manner as I came.
His lordſhip did ſo, and I remained alone, under
many doubts and perplexities of mind.
It was a cuſtom introduced by this prince and his
miniſtry (very different, as I have been aſſured, from
the practices of former times), that after the court
had decreed any cruel execution, either
to gratify
the monarch's reſentment or the malice of a fa-
vourite, the emperor always made a ſpeech to his
whole council, expreſſing his great lenity and ten-
derneſs, as qualities known and confeſſed by all the
world. This ſpeech was immediately publiſhed
through the kingdom; nor did any thing terrify the
people ſo much as thoſe encomiums on his maje-
ſty's mercy; becauſe it was obſerved, that the more
theſe praiſes were enlarged and inſiſted on, the more
inhuman was the puniſhment, and the ſufferer more
innocent. Yet, as to myſelf, I muſt confeſs, having
never been deſigned for a courtier either by my birth
or education, I was ſo ill a judge of things, that I
could not diſcover the lenity and favour of this ſen.
tences
84 A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ving in
me.
tence; but conceived it (perhaps erroneouſly) rather
to be rigorous than gentle. I ſometimes thought of
ſtanding my trial; for although I could not deny
the facts alleged in the ſeveral articles, yet I hoped
they would admit of ſome extenuations. But ha-
my
life peruſed many ſtate-trials, which I
ever obſerved to terminate as the judges thought fit
to direct, I durſt not rely on - ſo dangerous a deci-
fion, in ſo critical a juncture, and againſt ſuch power-
ful enemies. Once I was ſtrongly bent upon re-
reſiſtance : For while I had liberty, the whole
ſtrength of that empire could hardly ſubdue me,
and I might eaſily with ſtones pelt the metropo-
lis to pieces: But I ſoon rejected that proje&t with
horror, by remembering the oath I had made to
the emperor, the favours I had received from him,
and the high title of Nardac he conferred upon
Neither had I ſo ſoon learned the gratitude
of courtiers, to perſuade myſelf that his majeſty's
preſent ſeverities acquitted me of all paſt obliga-
tions.
At laſt I fixed upon a reſolution, for which it is
probable I may incur ſome cenfure, and not unjuſt.
ly; for I confeſs I owe the preſerving mine eyes
,
and conſequently my liberty, to my own great rath-
neſs and want of experience: Becauſe, if I had then
known the nature of princes and miniſters, which
I have fince obſerved in many other courts, and
their methods of treating criminals leſs obnoxious
than myſelf, I ſhould with great alacrity and rea-
dineſs have ſubmitted to ſo eaſy a puniſhment; but
hurried on by the precipitancy of youth, and having
his imperial majeſty's licence to pay my attendance
upon the emperor of Blefuſcu, I took this oppor-
tunity, before the three days were elapſed, to ſend a
letter to my friend the ſecretary, ſignifying my re-
ſolution of ſetting out that morning for Blefuſcu,
3
pur-
A Voyage to LillipUT.
85
purſuant to the leave I had got; and, without wait
an anſwer, I went to that ſide of the iſland
where our fleet lay. I ſeized a large man of war,
tied a cable to the prow, and lifting up the an-
chors, I ſtript myſelf, put my clothes (together with
my coverlet, which I carried under my arm) into
the veſſel; and drawing it after me, between wad-
ing and ſwimming arrived at the royal port of Ble-
fulcu, where the people had long expected me. They
lent me two guides to direct me to the capital city,
which is of the ſame name. I held them in my
hands until I came within two hundred yards of
the gate; and deſired them to ſignify my arrival to
one of the ſecretaries, and let him know I there
waited his majeſty's commands. I had an anſwer
in about an hour, that his] Majeſty, attended by
the royal family and great officers of the court, was
coming out to receive me. I advanced a hundred
yards; the emperor and his train alighted from their
horſes; the empreſs and ladies from their coaches;
and I did not perceive they were in any fright or
concern. I lay on the ground to kiſs his majeſty's
and the empreſs's hand. I told his majeſty, that I
was come according to my promiſe, and with the
licence of the emperor my maſter, to have the ho-
nour of ſeeing ſo mighty a monarch, and to offer
him any ſervice in my power, conſiſtent with my
dutyto myown prince; not mentioning a word of my
diſgrace, becauſe I had hitherto no regular informa.
tion of it, and might ſuppoſe myſelf wholly igno-
rait of any ſuch deſign; neither could 1 reaſonably
conceive that the emperor would diſcover the ſecrer
while I was out of his power: Wherein, however, it
loon appeared I was deceived.
I fall not trouble the reader with the particular
Account of my reception at this court, which was
kuitable to the generoſity of ſo great a prince; nor
Н.
86
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
of the difficulties I was in for want of a houſe and
bed, being forced to lie on the ground wrapt up in
my coverlet.
CH A P. VIII.
The Author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave
Blefuſcu; and, after ſome difficulties, returns ſafe
to his native country.
:
THREE days after my arrival, walking out of
curioſity to the north-eaſt coaſt of the iſland,
I obſerved, about half a league off in the ſea, fome.
what that looked like a boat overturned: I pulled
off myhoes and ſtockings, and wading two or three
hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer
by force of the tide, and then plainly ſaw it to be
a real boat, which I ſuppoſed might, by ſome tem-
peſt, have been driven from a ſhip. Whereupon I
returned immediately towards the city, and deſired
his imperial majeſty to lend me twenty of the talleſt
veſſels he had left after the loſs of his fleet, and
three thouſand ſeamen under the command of his
vice-admiral. This fleet failed round, while I went
back the ſhorteſt way to the coaſt where I firſt diſ-
covered the boat: I found the tide had driven it
ſtill nearer; the feamen were all provided with
cordage, which I had before-hand twiſted to a ſuf-
ficient ſtrength. When the ſhips came up, I ſtript
myſelf, and waded until I came within an hundred
yards of the boat; after which I was forced to ſwim
till I got up to it. The ſeamen threw me the end of
the cord, which I faſtened to a hole in the fore-part
of the boat, and the other end to a man of war:
But I found all my labour to little purpoſe; for be-
ing out of my depth, I was not able to work. In
this
sVoyage to LILLIPUT.
87
this neceflity I was forced to ſwim behind, and puſh
the boat forwards as often as I could with one of my
hands, and the tide favouring me, I advanced fo far
that I could juſt hold up my chin and feel the ground.
I reſted two or three minutes, and then gave the
boat another ſhove, and fo on till the ſea was no
higher than my arm-pits. And now the moſt la-
borious part being over, I took out my other cables,
Which were ſtowed in one of the ſhips, and faſten-
ing them firſt to the boat, and then to nine of the
vefſels which attended me, the wind being favour-
able, the ſeamen towed and I ſhoved, till we arrived
within forty yards of the ſhore; and waiting till
the tide was out, I got dry to the boat ; and by the
fiiftance of two thouſand men with ropes and en-
gines, I made a ſhift to turn it on its bottom, and
sound it was but little damaged.
I ſhall not trouble the reader with the diſhculties
#tag under by the he) of certain paddles, which
coaft me ten days making, to get my boat to the
royal ſort of Blefuſcu; where a mighty concourſe
of people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder
at the fight of ſo prodigious a vefſel. I told the
emperor, that my good fortune had thrown this
boat in my way to carry me to ſome place from
whence I might return into my native country; and
begged his majeſty's orders for getting materials to
fit it up, together with his licence to depart; which,
after ſome kind expoftulations, he was pleaſed to
grant.
I tid very much wonder in all this time not to
kave heard of any expreſs relating to me from our
emperor to the court of Blefuſcu. But I was after.
karda given privately to underſtand, that his iinpe.
rial majeſty, never imagining I had the leaſt notice
of bris debgns, believed I was only gone to Blefuſcu
in performance of my promiſe, according to the li-
EL 2
cente
88
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
cence he had given me, which was well known at
our court, and would return in a few days when
that ceremony was ended. But he was at laſt in
pain with my long abſence; and conſulting with
the treaſurer and the reſt of that cabal, a perſon of
quality was diſpatched with the copy of the articles
againſt me. This envoy had inſtructions to repre-
ſent to the monarch of Blefuſcu the great lenity of
his maſter, who was content to puniſh me no fur-
ther than with the loſs of mine eyes : That I had
fled from juſtice; and if I did not return in two
hours, I ſhould be deprived of my title of Nardac,
and declared a traitor. The envoy further added,
that in order to maintain the peace and amity be-
tween both empires, his maſter expected that his
brother of Blefufcu would give orders to have me
ſent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be
puniſhed as a traitor.
The emperor of Blefufcu having taken three days
to conſult, returned an anſwer conſiſting of many
civilities and excuſes. He ſaid, that as for ſending
me bound, his brother knew it was impoſſible; that
although I had deprived him of his fleet, yet he
owed great obligations to me for many good offices
I had done him in making the peace : That how.
ever, both their majeſties would foon be made eaſy,
for I had found a prodigious vefſel on the ſhore,
able to carry me on the ſea, which he had given
orders to fit up with my own aſliſtance and direc-
tion ; and he hoped in a few weeks both empires
would be freed from ſo inſupportable an incum-
brance.
With this anſwer the envoy returned to Lilliput;
and the monarch of Blefufcu related to me all that
had pafled, offering me at the ſame time (but un-
der the ſtrideſt confidence) his gracious protection,
if I would continue in his ſervice; wherein altho'
1
47 tage to LILLIPUT,
89
1 helicved him sincere, yet I refolved rever more to
put any confidence in princes or miniflers, where I
could poflibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due
acknowledgments for his favourable intentions, I
humbly begged to be excuſed. I told him, that Gnce
Fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a veſel
in my way, I was reſolved to venture myſelf in the
occan, rather than be an occaſion of differences bem
tween two ſuch mighty monarchis. Neither did I
find the emperor at all diſpleaſed; and I diſcovered
by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my
reſolution, and ſo were moſt of his miniſters.
Theſe conſiderations moved me to haſten my de-
parture fomewhat ſooner than I intended; to which
the court, impatient to have me gone, very readily
contributed. Five hundred workmen were employ
ed to make two fails to my boat, according to my
directions, by quilting thirteenfold of their ſtrongeſt
linen together. I was at the pains of making ropes
and cables, by twiſting ten, twenty, or thirty of the
thickeſt and frongeſt of theirs. A great itone that
I happened to find, after a long ſearch by the ſea.
fhore, ſerved me for an anchor. I had the fallow
of three hundred cows for greaſing my boat and 0,
ther uſes. I was at incredible pains in cutting
down ſome of the largeſt timber trees for oars
and maſts; wherein I was, however, much aſ-
afted by his majeſty's ſhip-carpenters, who helped
me in ſmoothing them, after I had done the tougl#
work.
In about a month, when all was prepared, I ſent
to receive his Majeſty's commands, and to take me
leave, The emperor and royal family came out of
the palace; I lay down on my face to kiſs his hand,
which he very graciouſly gave me; ſo did the em-
profs and young princes of the blood. His majeſty
preſented me with fifty purſes of two hundred fprugs
H3
90
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ay drefled a
a-piece, together with his picture at full length,
which I put immediately into one of my gloves, to
keep it from being hurt. The ceremonies at my
departure were too many to trouble the reader with
at this time.
I ſtored the boat with the carcaffes of an hundred
oxen and three hundred ſheep, with bread and drink
proportionable, and as much meat ready dreſſed as
four hundred cooks could provide.
I took with me fix cows and two bulls alive, with
as many ewes and rams, intending to carry them in-
to my own country, and propagate the breed ; and
to feed them on board, I had a good bundle of hay
and a bag of corn. I would gladly have taken a
dozen of the natives; but this was a thing the em-
peror would by no means permit; and beſides a dia
ligent ſearch into my pockets, his majeſty engaged
my honour not to carry away any of his ſubjects,
although with their own conſent and deſire.
Having thus prepared all things as well as I was
able, I fet fail on the twenty-fourth day of Septem-
ber 1701, at fix in the morning; and when I had
gone about four leagues to the northward, the wind
being at fouth-eaſt, at ſix in the evening I deſcried
a ſmall iſland about half a league to the north-weſt.
I advanced forward, and caſt anchor on the lee-ſide
of the iſland, which ſeemed to be uninhabited. I
then took fome refreſhment, and went to my reſt.
I ſlept well, and as I conjecture at leaſt fix hours;
for I found the day broke in two hours after I a-
waked. It was a clear night; I eat my breakfaſt
before the fun was up; and heaving anchor, the
wind being favourable, I fteered the fame courſe
that I had done the day before, wherein I was di-
rected by my pocket-compaſs. My intention was
to reach if poflible one of thoſe iſlands, which I had
reaſon to believe lay on the north-eaſt of Van Die-
men's
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
9
men's land. I diſcovered nothing all that day; but
upon the next, about three in the afternoon, when
I had by my computation made twenty four leagues
from Blefuſcu, I deſcried a ſail ſteering to the ſouth-
eaſt; my courſe was due eaſt. I hailed her, but
could get no anſwer; yet I found I gained
upon
her, for the wind flackened. I made all the fail I
could, and in half an hour ſhe eſpied me; then hung
out her ancient, and diſcharged a gun. It is not ea-
fy to expreſs the joy I was in upon the unexpected
hope of once more feeing my beloved country and
the dear pledges I left in it. The ſhip ſlackened her
fails, and I came up with her between five and fix
in the evening, September 26.; but my heart leapt
within me to ſee her Engliſh colours. I put my
cows and ſheep into my coat-pocket, and got on
board with all my little cargo of proviſions. The
vefſel was an Engliſh merchantman, returning from
Japan by the north and ſouth ſeas; the captain Me
John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil man, and an
excellent ſailor. We were now in the latitude of
30 degrees fouth; there were about fifty men in the
thip; and here I met an old comrade of mine, one
Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to
the captain. This gentleman treated me with kind-
neſs, and deſired I would let him know what place
I came from laſt, and whether I was bound; which
I did in few words: But he thought I was raving,
and that the dangers I underwent had diſturbed my
head; whereupon I took my black cattle and ſheep
out of iny pocket, which, after great aſtoniſhment,
clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then ſhow-
ed him the gold given me by the emperor of Bles
fuſeu, together with his majeſty's pièture at full
length, and ſome other rarities of that country.
I gave him two purſes of two hundred ſprugs cach,
and promiſed, when we arrived in England, to
make
92
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
make him a preſent of a cow and a ſheep big with
young.
I ſhall not trouble the reader with a particular ac-
count of this voyage, which was very proſperous for
the moſt part. We arrived in the Downs on the
13th of April, 1702. I had only one misfortune,
that the rats on board carried away one of my feep;
I found her bones in a hole, picked clean from the
fleſh. The reſt of my cattle I got fafe on fhore, and
fet them a grazing in a bowling-green at Green-
wich, where the fineneſs of the graſs made them
feed very heartily, although I had always feared the
contrary: Neither could I poſſibly have preſerved
them in ſo long a voyage, if the captain had not al-
lowed me fome of his beſt biſcuit, which, rubbed to
powder and mingled with water, was their conſtant
food. The ſhort time I continued in England, I
made a conſiderable profit by fhowing my cattle to
many perſons of quality, and others: And before
began my fecond voyage, I fold them for fix hun-
dred pounds. Since my laſt return, I find the breed
is conſiderably increaſed, eſpecially the ſheep; which
I hope will prove much to the advantage of the
woolen manufacture by the fineneſs of the fleeces.
I ſtaid but two months with my wife and family;
for my inſatiable deſire of feeing foreign countries
would ſuffer me to continue no longer. I left fif-
teen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her
in a good houſe at Redriff. My remaining ſtock
carried with me, part in money, and part in goods,
in hopes to improve my fortune. My eldeſt uncle
John had left me an eſtate in land, near Epping, of
about thirty pounds a-year; and I had a long leaſe
of the Black-bull in Fetter-lane, which yielded me as
much more : So that I was not in any danger of
leaving my family upon the pariſh. My ſon Johnny,
named fo after his uncle, was at the grammar-
2
ſchool,
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
93
ſchool, and a towardly child. My daughter Betty
(who is now well married, and hath children) was
then at her needle-work. I took leave of my wife
and boy and girl with tears on both Gides, and
went on board the Adventure, a merchant-fhip of
three hundred tons, bound for Surat, captain John
Nicholas of Liverpool commander. But my account
of this voyage muſt be referred to the Second Part
of my Travels.
End of the FIRST PART.
T R A V E L S.
PART
II.
A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG.
C'H AP. I.
A great form deſcribed. The long boat fent to fetch
water; the Author goes with it to diſcover the
country. He is left on ſbore, is ſeized by one of the
natives, and carried to a farmer's houſe. His re-
ception there, with ſeveral accidents that happened
there. A deſcription of the inhabitants.
AVING been condemned by nature and for.
tune to an active and reſtleſs life, in ten
months after my return I again left my na-
tive country, and took ſhipping in the Downs on
the 20th day of June, 1702, in the Adventure, cap-
tain John Nicholas, a Corniſh man, commander,
bound for Surat. We had a very proſperous gale
till we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where
we landed for freſh water; but diſcovering a leak,
we unfhipped our goods, and wintered there; for
the
H
A Voyage to BROBBINGNAG.
95
the Captain falling fick of an ague, we could not
leave the Cape till the end of March. We then ſet
fail, and had a good voyage until we paſſed the
Streights of Madagaſcar; but having got northward
of that iſland, and to about five degrees ſouth lati-
tude, the winds, which in thoſe feas are obſerved to
blow a conſtant equal gale between the north and
weſt from the beginning of December to the be-
ginning of May, on the 19th of April began to blow
with much greater violence, and more weſterly than
uſual, continuing ſo for twenty days together; dua
ring which time we were driven a little to the caft
of the Molucca iſlands, and about three degrets
northward of the line, as our Captain found by an
obfervation he took the ad of May; at which time
the wind ceaſed, and it was a perfect calm, where-
at I was not a little rejoiced. But he being a man
Well experienced in the navigation of thoſe feas, bid
us all prepare againſt a ſtorm; which accordingly
happened the day following: For a ſouthern wind,
called the ſouthern monſoon, began to ſet inneby
Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our
ſprit-ſail, and ſtood by to hand the fore-fail; but
making foul weather, we looked the guns were all
faſt, and handed the mizzen. The ſhip lay very
broad off, ſo we thought it better ſpooning before
the ſea than trying or hulling. We reeft the fore-
fail, and let him, we hawled aft the fore {teet; the
heim was hard-a-weather. The ſhip wore bravely.
We belayed the foredown-hall; but the fail was
{plir; and we hawled the yard, and got the fail into
the ſhip, and unbound all the things clear of it. It
was a very fierce ſtorm; the ſea broke ſtrange and
dangerous. We hawled off upon the lanniard of
the vipítaif, and helped the man at helm. We couid
not get down our top-maſt, but let all ſtand, be-
Catle die feudded before the ſea very well, and we
knew
90
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
knew that the top-maſt being aloft, the ſhip was the
wholeſomer, and made better way through the ſea,
ſeeing we had fea-room. When the ſtorm was over,
we ſet fore-fail and main-ſail, and brought the ſhip
to. Then we ſet the mizzen, maintop-fail, and the
foretop-fail. Our courſe was eaſt-north-eaſt, the
wind was at ſouth-weſt. We got the ſtar-board
tack aboard, we caſt off our weather-braces and lifts;
we ſet in the lee-braces, and hawled forward by the
weather-bowlings, and hawled them tight, and be
layed them, and hawled over the mizzen tack to
windward, and kept her full and by as near as ſhe
would lie.
During this ſtorm, which was followed by a ſtrong
wind weſt-ſouth-weſt, we were carried by my com-
putation about five hundred leagues to the eaſt; ſo
that the oldeſt failor on board could not tell in what
part of the world we were. Our provifions held
out well, our ſhip was ſtaunch, and our crew all in
good health ; but we lay in the utmoſt diſtreſs for
water. We thought it beſt to hold on the ſame courſe
rather than turn more northerly, which might have
brought us to the north-weſt parts of Great Tartary,
and into the frozen fea.
On the 16th day of June 1703, a boy on the top-
maſt diſcovered land. On the 17th we came in full
view of a great iſland or continent (for we knew not
whether); on the ſouth-ſide whereof was a ſmall
neck of land jutting out into the ſea, and a creek
too ſhallow to hold a ſhip of above one hundred
tons. We caſt anchor within a league of this creek,
and our captain ſent a dozen of his men well arm-
ed in the long-boat, with veſſels for water, if any
could be found. 'I deſired his leave to go with them,
that I might ſee the country, and make what difco-
veries I could. When we came to land, we ſaw no
river or ſpring, nor any ſign of inhabitants. Our
men
4 Pamage to BROBDINGNAG,
97
been to
en therefore wandered on the ſhore to find out
fome freſh water near the ſea, and I walked alone
about a mule on the other ſide, where I obſerved the
country all barren and rocky. I now began to be
Wearya and ſeeing nothing to entertain my curio,
úty, I returned gently down towards the creek, and
the ſea being full in my view, I ſaw our men already
got into the boat, and rowing for life to the ſhip.
I was going to hollow after them, although it had
fure walking after them in the ſea as fast as he
could: He waded not much deeper than his knees,
and took prodigious ſtrides : But our men had the
Statt of him half a league, and the ſea thereabout
being full of ſharp pointed rocks, the monſter was
not able to overtake the boat. This I wag after
wards told; for I durft not ſtay to ſee the iſſue of
that adventure, but ran as faſt as I could the way I
Ivrit went, and then climbed up a ſteep hill, wluich
gare me fome proſpect of the country, I found ir
Inally cultivated; but that which firſt fumpriſed me
was the length of the graſs, which in thoſe grounds
that ſeemed to be kept for hay was above twenty
feet high
I fell into a high road, for ſo I took it to be, al-
tho' it ſerved to the inhabitants only as a foot-path
through a field of barley. Here. I walked on for
fotpe time, but could ſee little on either lide, it be
ing now near harveſt, and the corn riling at least
forty feet. I was an hour walking to the end of
this field, which was fenced in with an hedge, og
at Icaſt one hundred and twenty feet high, and the
trees fo lofty, that I could make no computation of
their altitude. There was a ſtile to paſs from this
feld into the next: It had four ſteps, and a Itong to
crofs ouer when you came to the uppermoſt. It was
moodlible for me to climb this Atile, becaufe every
I
98
A Voyage to BRODDINGNAG.
ſtep was ſix feet high, and the upper ſtone about
twenty. I was endeavouring to find ſome gap in
the hedge, when I diſcovered one of the inhabitants
in the next field advancing towards the ſtile, of the
fame ſize with him whom I ſaw in the ſea purſuing
our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary ſpire-
ſteeple, and took about ten yards at every ſtride, as
near as I could gueſs. I was ſtruck with the ut-
moſt fear and aſtoniſhment, and ran to hide myſelf
in the corn, from whence I ſaw him at the top of
the ſtile, looking back into the next field on the
right hand; and heard him call in a voice many de-
grees louder than a ſpeaking trumpet; but the noiſe
was ſo high in the air, that at firſt I certainly
thought it was thunder. Whereupon ſeven mon
fters like himſelf came towards him with reaping.
hooks in their hands, each hook about the largeneſs
of fix feythes. Theſe people were not ſo well clad
as the firſt, whoſe ſervants or labourers they ſeem-
ed to be; for, upon fome words he ſpoke, they
went to reap the corn in the field where I lay. I
kept from them at as great a diſtance as I could,
but was forced to move with extreme difficulty; for
the ſtalks of the corn were ſometimes not above 2
foot diſtant, ſo that I could hardly ſqueeze my body
betwixt them. However, I made a ſhift to go for-
ward until I came to a part of the field where the
corn had been laid by the rain and wind: Here it
was impoſſible for me to advance a ſtep; for the
ſtalks were ſo interwoven that I could not creep
through, and the beards of the fallen ears ſo ſtrong
and pointed, that they pierced through my clothes
into my fleſh. At the ſame time I heard the reap-
ers not above an hundred yards behind me. Being
quite diſpirited with toil, and wholly overcome by
grief and deſpair, I lay down between two ridges,
and heartily wiſhed I might there end my days.
bemoaned
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
99
bemoaned my deſolate widow and fatherleſs chil.
dren; I lamented my own folly and wilfulueſs in
attempting a ſecond voyage againſt the advice of all
my friends and relations. In this terrible agitation
of mind I could not forbear
thinking of Lilliput,
whoſe inhabitants looked upon me as the greateſt
prodigy that ever appeared in the world; where I
was able to draw an imperial fleet in my hand, and
perform thofe other actions which will be recorded
for cyer in the chronicles of that empire, while po-
fterity ſhall hardly believe them, although atteſted
by millions. I reflected what a mortification it muſt
prove to me to appear as inconſiderable in this na-
tion as one fingle Lilliputian would be among us.
But this I conceived was to be the leaſt of my miſ-
fortunes; For, as human creatures are obſerved to
be more ſavage and cruel in proportion to their bulk,
what could I expe& but to be a morſel in the mouth
of the firſt among theſe enormous barbarians whe
ſhould happen to ſeize me? Undoubtedly philoſo-
phers are in the right when they tell us, that no-
ding is great or little otherwiſe than by compari-
ſon: It might have pleaſed fortune to let the Lilli-
putians find ſome nation where the people were as
diminutive with reſpect to them as they were to
me. And who knows but that even this prodigious
race of mortals might be equally overmatched in
fome diftant part of the world, whercof we have yet
no diſcovery.
Scared and confounded as I was, I could not for-
bear going on with theſe reflections, when one of
the reapers approaching within ten yards of the
ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with
the next ſtep I Inuld be ſquaſhed to death under
kis foot, or cut in two with his reaping-hook. And
therefore, when he was again about to move, I
(creanted as loud as fear could make me. Where.
upon
TOO
and
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
upon the huge creature trod ſhort, and looking
Tound about under him for ſome time, at laſt eſpied
me as I lay on the ground. He conſidered a while
with the caution of one who endeavours to lay hold
on a ſmall dangerous animal in ſuch a manner that
it ſhall not be able either to ſcratch or to bite him;
as I myſelf have fometimes done with a weafel in
England. At length he ventured to take me up be-
thumb, and brought me within three yards of his
eyes, that he might behold my ſhape more perfect-
ly. I gueſſed his meaning; and my good fortune
gave me ſo much preſence of mind, that I reſolved
not to ſtruggle in the leaſt as he held me in the air
above ſixty feet from the ground; although he grie-
vouſly pinched my fides, for fear I ſhould ſlip thro'
his fingers. All I ventured, was to raiſe mine eyes
towards the fun, and place my hands trgether in a
fupplicating poſture, and to ſpeak ſome words in an
humble melancholy tone, ſuitable to the condition I
then was in. For I apprehended every moment that
he would daſh me againſt the ground, as we uſually
do any little hateful animal which we have a mind
to deſtroy. But my good ſtar would have it, that
he appeared pleaſed with my voice and geſtures, and
began to look upon me as a curioſity; much won-
dering to hear me pronounce articulate words, al-
though he could not underſtand them. In the mean
time I was not able to forbear groaning and ſhed-
ding tears, and turning my head towards my fides;
letting him know, as well as I could, how cruelly I
was hurt by the preffure of his thumb and finger.
He ſeemed to apprehend niy meaning; for, lifting
up the lappet of his coat, he put me gently into it,
and immediately ran along with me to his maſter,
who was a ſubſtantial farmer, and the ſame perſon
I had firſt ſeen in the field.
The
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
TOT
The farmer having (as I ſuppoſed by their talk)
received ſuch an account of me as his ſervant could
give him, took a piece of a ſmall ſtraw, about the
lize of a walking-ſtaff, and therewith lifted
up the
lappets of my coat, which it ſeems he thought to be
ſome kind of covering that nature had given me.
He blew my hairs aſide to take a better view of my
face. He called his hinds about him, and aſked
them (as I afterwards learned) whether they had
ever ſeen in the fields any little creature that re-
ſembled me? He then placed me ſoftly on the
ground upon all four; but I got immediately up,
and walked ſlowly backwards and forwards, to let
thoſe people fee I had no intent to run away. They
al ſat down in a circle about me, the better to ob-
ſerve my motions. I pulled off my hat, and mad.
a low bow towards the farmer : I fell on my knees,
and lifted up my hands and eyes, and ſpoke ſeveral
words as loud as I could: I took a purſe of gold out
of my pocket, and humbly preſented it to him. He
received it on the palm of his hand, then applied it
cloſe to his eye to ſee what it was, and afterwards
turned it ſeveral times with the point of a pin
(which he took out of his ſleeve), but could make
nothing of it. Whereupon I made a ſign that he
ſhould place his hand on the ground: I then took
the purſe, and opening it, poured all the gold into
his palm. There were lix Spaniſh pieces of four
piſtoles each, beſides twenty or thirty ſmaller coins.
I ſaw him wet the tip of his little finger upon his
tongue, and take up one of my largeſt pieces, and
then another, but he ſeemed to be wholly ignorare
what they were. He made me a ſign to put them
again into my purſe, and the purſe again into my
pocket : which after offering to him ſeveral times,
1 theught it beſt to do.
The farmer by this time was convinced I muſt be
13
2
102
A Voyage to BRODDINGNAG.
a rational creature. He ſpoke often to me, but the
ſound of his voice pierced my ears like that of a
water-mill; yet his words were articulate enough.
I anſwered as loud as I could in ſeveral languages;
and he often laid his ear within two yards of me;
but all in vain, for we were wholly unintelligible to
each other. He then fent his ſervants to their work,
and taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he
doubled and ſpread it on his hand, which he placed
flat on the ground, with the palm upwards, making
me a ſign to ſtep into it, as I could eaſily do, for it
was not above a foot in thickneſs. I thought it my
part to obey; and for fear of falling laid myſelf at
full length upon the handkerchief, with the re-
mainder of which he lapped me up to the head for
further ſecurity; and in this manner carried me
home to his houſe. There he called his wife, and
ſhowed me to her; but the ſcreamed and ran back
as women in England do at the fight of a toad or a
ſpider. However, when ſhe had a while ſeen my
behaviour, and how well I obſerved the ſigns her
huſband made, ſhe was foon reconcited, and by de-
grees grew extremely tender of me.
It was about twelve at noon, and a fervant brought
in dinner. It was only one ſubſtantial diſh of meat
(fit for the plain condition of an huſbandman) in a
diſh of about four and twenty feet diameter. The
company were the farmer and wife, three children,
and an old grandmother. When they were fat
down, the farmer placed me at ſome diſtance from
him on the table, which was thirty feet high from
the floor. I was in a terrible fright, and kept as far
as I could from the edge for fear of falling. The
wife minced a bit of meat, then crumbled fome bread
on a trencher, and placed it before me. I made her
a low bow, took out my knife and fork, and fell to
eat; which gave them exceeding delight. The mi-
ſtreſs
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAC. 103
Arels fent her maid for a fmall dram-cup, which
held about two gallons, and filled it with drink. I
took up the veſſel with much difficulty in both
hands, and in a moſt reſpe&tful manner drank to
her ladyſhip's health, expreſling the words as loud
as I could in Engliſh; which made the company
laugh ſo heartily, that I was almoſt deafened with
the noiſe. This liquor taſted like a ſmall tyder,
and was not unpleaſant. Then the maſter made me
a lign to come to his trencher fide; but as I walk..
ed on the table, being in great ſurpriſe all the
time, as the indulgent reader will eaſly conceive
and excuſe, I happened to ſtumble againlt a cruſt,
and fell flat on my face, but received no hurt. I
got up immediately, and obſerving the good people
to be in much concern, I took my hat (which I held
under my arm out of good manners), and waving
it over my head, made three huzzas, to ſhow I had
got no miſchief by the fall. But advancing for-
wards toward my maſter (as I ſhall henceforth call
him), his youngeſt ſon who fat next him, an arch
bòy of about ten years old, took me up by the legs,
and held me ſo high in the air, that I trembled eve-
ry limb; but his father ſnatched me from him, and
at the ſame time gave him ſuch a box on the left
ear as would have felled an European troop of horſe
to the earth; ordering him to be taken from the
table. But being afraid the boy might owe me a
ſpite, and well remembering how miſchievous all
children among us naturally are to ſparrows, rab-
bits, young kittens, and puppy-dogs, I fell on my
knees, and pointing to the boy, made my maſter
Urkierſtand as well as I could, that I deſired his lon
Inicht be pardoned. The father complied, and the
lad took his ſeat again; whereupon I went to him
and kified his hand, which my maſter took, and
mide him ſtroak me gently with it,
I
204
A Voyage to BrOBD INGNAG.
In the midſt of dinner my miſtreſs's favourite cat
leapt into her lap. I heard a noiſe behind me like
that of a dozen ſtocking-weavers at work ; and turn-
ing my head, I found it proceeded from the purring
of this animal, who ſeemed to be three times larger
than an ox, as I computed by the view of her head
and one of her paws while her miſtreſs was feeding
and ſtroaking her. The fierceneſs of this creature's
countenance altogether diſcompoſed me; although
I ſtood at the further end of the table, above fifty
feet off, and although my miſtreſs held her faſt for
fear fhe might give a ſpring, and ſeize me in her
talons. But it happened there was no danger; for
the cat took not the leaſt notice of me when my
maſter placed me within three yards of her. And,
as I have been always told, and found true by ex-
perience in my travels, that flying, or diſcovering
fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way to make
it purſue or attack you; ſo I reſolved in this dan-
gerous juncture to ſhow no manner of concern. I
walked with intrepidity five or ſix times before the
very head of the cat, and came within half a yard of
her; whereupon ſhe drew herſelf back, as if ſhe were
more afraid of me: I had leſs apprehenſion concern-
ing the dogs, whereof three or four came into the
room, as it is uſual in farmers houſes; one of which
was a maſtiff, equal in bulk to four elephants, and
a grey-hound ſomewhat taller than the maſtiff, but
not ſo large.
When dinner was almoſt done, the nurſe came
in with a child of a year old in her arms; who in-
mediately ſpied me, and began a ſquall that you
might have heard from London-bridge to Chelſea.
After the uſual oratory of infants to get me for a
plaything, the mother out of pure ind ulgence took
me up, and put me towards the child, who preſent-
ly ſeized me by the middle, and got my head in his
mouth,
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
mouth, where I roared ſo loud, that the urchin was
frighted and let me drop; and I ſhould infallibly
have broke my neck, if the mother had not held her
apron under me. The nurſe, to quiet her babe,
made uſe of a rattle, which was a kind of hollow
vertel filled with great ſtones, and faſtened by a cable
to the child's waiſt: But all in vain; ſo that ſhe was
forced to apply the laſt remedy by giving it ſuck. I
muſt confeſs no obje& ever diſguſted me ſo much
as the fight of her monſtrous breaſt, which I cannot
tell what to compare with,
ſo as to give the curious
reader an idea of its bulk, ſhape, and colour. It
flood prominent fix feet, and could not be leſs than
Sixteen in circumference. The nipple was about
half the bigneſs of my head, and the hue both of
that and the dug fo varified with ſpots, pimples,
and freckles, that nothing could appear more nau-
ſeous : -for I had a near fight of her, ſhe fitting down
the more conveniently to give ſuck, and I ſtanding
on the table. This made me reflect upon the fair
ſkins of our Engliſh ladies, who appear
ſo beautiful
to us only becauſe they are of our own ſize, and
their defects not to be ſeen but through a magnify-
ing glaſs; where we find by experiment, that the
ſmootheſt and whiteſt ſkins look rough and coarſe
and ill-coloured.
I remember when I was at Lilliput, the com-
plexions of thoſe diminutive people appeared to me
the faireſt in the world: and talking upon this ſub-
ject with a perſon of learning there, who was an
intimate friend of mine, he ſaid, that my face ap-
rčared much fairer and ſmoother when he looked
on me from the ground, than it did upon a nearer
view when I took him up in my hand and brought
kim cloſe; which he confefled was at firſt a very
ſhocking fight. He ſaid he could diſcover great
holes in my ſkin; that the ſtumps of my beard were
100
A Voyage to DROBDINGNAG.
ten times ſtronger than the briſtles of a boar; and
my complexion made up of ſeveral colours altoge-
ther diſagreeable: Although I muſt beg leave to ſay
for myſelf, that I am as fair as moſt of my ſex and
country, and very little fun-burnt by all my tra-
vels. On the other ſide, diſcourſing of the ladies in
that emperor's court, he uſed to tell me, one had
freckles, another too wide a mouth, a third too
large a noſe; nothing of which I was able to di-
ſtinguiſh. I confeſs this reflexion was obvious e-
nough; which, however, I could not forbear, left
the reader might think thoſe vaſt creatures were ac-
tually deformed : For I muſt do them juſtice to ſay
they are a comely race of people; and particularly
the features of my maſter's countenance, although
he were but a farmer, when I beheld him from the
height of fixty feet, appeared very well propor-
tioved.
When dinner was done, my maſter went out to
his labourers ; and, as I could diſcover by his voice
and geſtures, gave his wife a ſtrict charge to take
care of me. I was very much tired and diſpoſed to
ſleep; which my miſtreſs perceiving, ſhe put me on
her own bed, and covered me with a clean white
handkerchief, but larger and coarſer than the main-
ſail of a man of war.
I ſlept about two hours, and dreamed I was at
home with my wife and children ; which aggrava-
ted my forrows when I awaked, and found myſelf
alone in a vaſt room, between two and three hun-
dred feet wide, and above two hundred high, lying
in a bed twenty yards wide. My miſtreſs was gone
about her houſehold affairs, and had locked me in.
The bed was eight yards from the floor. Some na-
tural neceſſities required me to get down: I durſt
not preſume to call, and if I had, it would have
been in vain with ſuch a voice as mine at ſo great a
di-
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG, 107
diſtance from the room where I lay to the kitchen
where the family kept. While I was under theſe
circumſtances, two rats crept up the curtains,
and
ran (melling backwards and forwards on the bed :
One of thein came up almoſt to my face; where.
upon I role in a fright, and drew out my hanger to
defend myſelf. Theſe horrible animals had the
boldneſs to attack me on both ſides; and one of
them held his fore-feet at my collar; but I had the
good fortune to rip up his belly before he could do
me any miſchief. He fell down at my feet; and
the other ſeeing the fate of his comrade, made his
eſcape, but not without one good wound on the
back; which I gave him as he fled, and made the
blood run trickling from him. After this exploit I
walked gently to and fro on the bed, to recover my
breath and loſs of ſpirits. Theſe creatures were of
the fize of a large maſtiff, but infinitely more nimble
and fierce: So that if I had taken off my belt before
I went to ſleep, I muſt have infallibly been torn to
picces and devoured. I meaſured the tail of the
dead rat, and found it to be two yards long, want-
ing an inch; but it went againſt my ſtomach to
drag the carcaſs off the bed, where it lay ſtill bleed-
ing: I obſerved it had yet ſome life, but with a
ſtrong flaſh croſs the neck I thoroughly diſpatch-
Soon after my miſtreſs came into the room; who
ſeeing me all bloody, ran and took me up in her
hand. I pointed to the dead rat, ſmiling and ma-
king other ſigns to ſhow I was not hurt; whereat
ſhe was extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take
the dead rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out
of the window. Then ſhe ſet me on a table, where
I ſhowed her my hanger all bloody, and wiping it
on the lappet of my coat, returned it to the ſcab-
108
A Voyage to BRODDINGNAC.
bard. I was preſſed to do more than one thing,
which another could not do for me, and therefore
endeavoured to make my miſtreſs underſtand that I
deſired to be ſet dewn on the floor; which after ſhe
had done, my baſhfulneſs would not ſuffer me to
expreſs myſelf farther than by pointing to the door
and bowing ſeveral times. The good woman with
much difficulty at laſt perceived what I would be
at; and taking me up again in her hand, walked
into the garden, where ſhe ſet me down. I went
on one ſide about two hundred yards, and beckon-
ing to her not to look or to follow me, I hid myſelf
between two leaves of forrel, and there diſcharged
the neceſſities of nature.
I hope the gentle reader will excuſe me for dwell.
ing on theſe and the like particularz ; which, how-
ever inſignificant they may appear to grovelling vul-
gar minds, yet will certainly help a philoſopher to
enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and apply
them to the benefit of public as well as private life;
which was my fole deſign in preſenting this and o-
ther accounts of my Travels to the world; wherein
I have been chiefly ſtudious of truth, without af-
fecting any ornaments of learning or of ſtyle. But
the whole ſcene of this voyage made ſo ſtrong an
impreſſion on my mind, and is ſo deeply fixed in
my memory, that in committing it to paper, I did
not omit one material circumſtance: however, upon
ftri&t review, I blotted out ſeveral paſſages of leſs
moment which were in my firſt copy, for fear of
being cenſured as tedious and trifling, whereof
travellers are often, perhaps not without juſtice,
accuſed.
CHAP
4
& Voyage fa PROEDINGNAG.
100
CH A P. II.
deſcription of the farmer's daughter. The Author
carried to a market-town, and then to the metropo-
lis. The particulars of his journey.
Y miſtreſs had a daughter of nine years old,
a child of towardly parts for her age, very
dexterous at her needle, and ſkilful in dreſſing her
baby. Her mother and ſhe contrived to fit up the
baby's cradle for me againſt night. The cradle was
put into a ſmall drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer
placed upon a hanging ſhelf for fear of the rats.
This was my bed all the time I ſtayed with thoſe
people, although made more convenient by degrees
as I began to learn their language, and make my
wants known. This young girl was fo handy, that
after I had once or twice pulled off my clothes
before her, ſhe was able to dreſs and undreſs mc,
although I never gave her that trouble when the
would let me do either myſelf. She made me leven
ſhirts, and ſome other linen of as fine cloth as could
be got, which indeed was coarfer than fackcloth;
and there ſhe conſtantly waſhed for me with her own
bands. She was likewife my fchoolmiſtreſs to teach
me the language. When I pointed to any thing,
The told nie the name of it in her own tonguc; lo
that in a few days I was able to call for whatever I
kad a mind to : She was very good-natured, and
not above forty feet high, being little for her age.
She gave me the name of Grildrig, which the fa-
mily took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom.
The word imports what the Larins call nanunculus,
the firlians hanuriceletino, and the English mannikiv.
Tobal chiefly owe my prefervation in that coun-
K
try:
ILO
A Voyage to BroBDINGNAG.
try: We never parted while I was there; I called
her my Glumdalclitch or little nurſe: and ſhould
be guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this ho-
nourable mention of her care and affection towards
me, which I heartily wiſh it lay in my power to re-
quite as ſhe deſerves, inſtead of being the innocent
but unhappy inſtrument of her diſgrace, as I have
I
too much reaſon to fear.
It now began to be known and talked of in the
neighbourhood, that my maſter had found a ſtrange
animal in the field, about the bigneſs of a ſplack-
nuck, but exactly ſhaped in every part like a human
creature; which it likewiſe imitated in all its ac-
tions; ſeemed to ſpeak in a little language of its
own, had already learned ſeveral words of theirs,
went ere&t upon two legs, was tame and gentle,
would come when it was called, do whatever it was
bid, had the fineſt limbs in the world, and a com-
plexion fairer than a nobleman's daughter of three
years old. Another farmer who lived hard by, and
was a particular friend of my maſter, came on a viſt
on purpoſe to inquire into the truth of this ſtory.
I was immediately produced, and placed upon a
table; where I walked as I was commanded, drew
my hanger, put it up again, made my reverence to
my maſter's gueſt, aſked him in his own language
how he did, and told him he was welcome ; juſt as
my little nurſe had inſtructed me. This man, who
was old and dim-fighted, put on his ſpectacles to
behold me better, at which I could not forbear
laughing very heartily; for his eyes appeared like
the full moon ſhining into a chamber at two win-
dows. Our people, who diſcovered the cauſe of my
mirth, bore me company in laughing; at which the
old fellow was fool enough to be angry and out of
countenance. He had the character of a great mi-
fer; and to my misfortune he well deſerved it by
the
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
III
the curſed advice he gave my maſter, to ſhow me as
a fight upon a market-day in the next town, which
was half an hour's riding, about two and twenty
miles from our houſe. I guefied there was ſome
miſchief contriving, when I obſerved my maſter and
tuis friend whiſpering long together, ſometimes
pointing at me; and my fears made me fancy that
i overheard and underſtood ſome of their words.
But the next morning Glumdaleliteh my little nurſe
told me the whole matter, which ſhe had cunning-
ly picked out from her mother. The poor girl
laid me on her boſom, and fell a-weeping with
ſhame and grief. She apprehended ſome miſchief
would happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who
might ſqueeze me to death, or break one of my
limbs by taking me in their hands. She had alſo
obſerved how modeſt I was in my nature; how
nicely I regarded my honour; and what an indig-
nity I thould conceive it to be expoſed for money as
a public ſpectacle to the meaneſt of the people. She
ſaid, her pappa and mamma had promiſed that Gril-
drig ſhould be hers; but now ſhe found they meant
to ſerve her as they did laſt year, when they pre-
tended to give her a lamb; and yet, as ſoon as it
was fat, fold it to a butcher. For my own part
may truly affirm, that I was leſs concerned than my
nurſe. I had a ſtrong hope, which never left me,
that I ſhould one day recover my liberty; and as to
the ignominy of being carried about for a monſter,
I conſidered myſelf to be a perfect ſtranger in the
country, and that ſuch a misfortune could never
be charged upon me as a reproach if ever I ſhould
return to England; ſince the king of Great Britain
himſelf, in my condition, muſt have undergone the
fame diſtreſs.
My maſter, purſuant to the advice of his friend,
carried me in a box the next market-day to the
- neigh-
K 2
112 A Voyage to BRODDINGNAG.
neighbouring town; and took along with him his
little daughter my nurſe upon a pilion behind me.
The box was clofe on every fide, with a little door
for me to go in and out, and a few gimlet-holes to
let in air. The girl had been ſo careful as to put
the quilt of her baby's bed into it, for me to lie
down on. However, I was terribly fhaken and dif-
compoſed in this journey, although it were but half
of an hour: For the horſe went about forty feet at
every ſtep; and trotted ſo high, that the agitation
was equal to the riſing and falling of a ſhip in a
great ſtorm, but much more frequent: Our journey
was ſomewhat farther than from London to St AL
bans. My maſter alighted at an in which he uſed
to frequent; and after conſulting a while with the
inn-keeper, and making fome neceffary preparations,
he hired the Grultrud, or cryer, to give notice thro'
the town, of a ſtrange creature to be ſeen at the
ſign of the Green Eagle, not ſo big as a ſplacknuck,
(an animal in that country very finely ſhaped, about
fix feet long), and in every part of the body reſem-
bling an human creature; could ſpeak ſeveral words,
and perform an hundred diverting tricks.
I was placed upon a table in the largeſt room in
the inn, which might be near three hundred feet
ſquare. My little nurſe ſtood on a low-ſtool cloſe
to the table, to take care of me, and direct what I
ſhould do. My maſter, to avoid a crowd, would
ſuffer only thirty people at a time to ſee me.
I
walked about on the table as the girl commanded;
the aſked me queſtions as far as fhe knew my un.
derſtanding of the language reached, and I anſwer-
ed them as loud as I could. I turned about ſeveral
times to the company, paid my humble reſpects, ſaid
they were welcome; and uſed ſome other fpeeches
I had been taught. I took up a thimble filled with
liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a cup,
and
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
and drank their health. I drew out my hanger, ankl
domiſhed with it after the manner of fencers in
England. My nurſe gave me part of a ſtraw, which
I exerciſed as a pike, having learned the art in my
youth. I was that day ſhown to twelve ſets of com.
pany, and as often forced to act over again the
ſame fopperies, until I was half dead with wearineſs
and vexation. For thoſe who had ſeen me made
fuch wonderful reports, that the people were ready
to break down the doors to come in. My maſter,
for his own intereſt, would not ſuffer any one to
touch me except my nurſe; and to prevent danger,
benches were fet round the table at ſuch a diſtance
as to put me out of every body's reach. However,
an unlucky ſchoolboy aimed a hazel-nut directly at
my head, which very narrowly miſſed me; other-
wiſe, it came with ſo much violence, that it would
have infallibly knocked out my brains; for it was al-
moſt as large as a ſmall pumpion: But I had the fa-
tisfaction to ſee the young rogue well beaten, and
turned out of the room.
My maſter gave public notice, that he would ſhow
me again the next market-day: And, in the mean
time, he prepared a more convenient vehicle for me,
which he had reaſon enough to do; for I was ſo ti-
red with my firſt journey, and with entertaining
company for eight hours together, that I could hardly
fand upon my legs or ſpeak a word. It was at leaſt
three days before I recovered my ſtrength; and tiyat
I might have no reſt at home, all the neighbouring
gentlemen from an hundred miles round, hearing of
my fame, came to ſee me at my maſter's own houſe.
There could not be fewer than thirty perſons with
their wives and children (for the country is very
populous); and my maſter demanded the rate of a
full room whenever he fhowed me at home alther
it were only to a ſingle family. So that for ſome
time
K 3
114 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
time I had but little eaſe every day of the week (ex.
cept Wedneſday, which is their Sabbath), although
I were not carried to the town,
My maſter finding how profitable I was like to
be, reſolved to carry me to the moſt conſiderable ci-
ties of the kingdom. Having therefore provided
himſelf with all things neceſſary.for a long journey,
and ſettled his affairs at home, he took leave of his
wife; and upon the 17th of Auguſt 1703, about two
months after my arrival, we ſet out for the metro,
polis, ſituated near the middle of that empire, and
about three thouſand miles diſtance from our houſe.
My maſter made his daughter Glumdalclitch ride
behind him. She carried me on her lap in a box
tied about her waiſt. The girl had lined it on all
fides with the ſofteſt cloth the could get, well quilt-
ed underneath ; furniſhed it with her baby's bed,
provided me with linen and other neceſſaries, and
made every thing as convenient as ſhe could. We
had no other company but a boy of the houſe, who
rode after us with the luggage.
My maſter's deſign was to ſhow me in all the
towns by the way, and to ſtep out of the road for
fifty or an hundred miles, to any village or perſon
of quality's houſe where he might expect cuſtom.
We made eaſy journeys of not above ſeven or eight
ſcore miles a-day: For Glumdalclitch, on purpoſe
to ſpare me, complained ſhe was tired with the trot-
ting of the horſe. She often took me out of my
box at my own deſire, to give me air, and ſhow me
the country; but always held me faſt by leading-
ftrings. We paſſed over five or fix rivers many de-
grees broader and deeper than the Nile or the Gan-
ges; and there was hardly a rivulet ſo ſmall as the
Thames at London
Bridge. We were ten weeks in
our journey; and I was ſhown in eighteen large
towns, beſides many villages and private families.
On
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
On the 26th day of October, we arrived at the
metropolis, called in their language Lorbrulgrud, or
Pride of the Univerſe. My mafter took a lodging
in the principal ſtreet of the city, not far from the
royal palace; and put out bills in the uſual form,
containing an exact deſcription of my perſon and
parts. He hired a large room, between three and
four hundred feet wide. He provided a table Sixty
feet in diameter, upon which I was to act my part;
and palliſadoed it round three feet from the edge,
and as many high, to prevent my falling over,
was fhown ten times a-day, to the wonder and fatis
faction of all people. I could now ſpeak the lan-
guage tolerably well; and perfectly underſtood every
word that was ſpoken to me. Beſides, I had learn.
ed their alphabet, and could make a ſhift to explain
a fenrence here and there; for Glumdalclitch had
been my inſtructor while we were at home, and at
leiſure hours during our journey. She carried a
littie book in her pocket, not much larger than a
Sanſan's atlas; it was a common treatiſe for the uſe
of young girls, giving a ſhort account of their reli-
gion; out of this ſhe taught me my letters, and in-
terpreted the words.
CH A P. III.
The Author fent for to court. The queen buys bim of
his maſter the farmer, and preſents
him to the king.
He diſputes with his majeſty's great
ſcholars. An
apartment at court provided for the Author. He
is in high favour with the queen. He ſtands up
for the honour of bis own country. His quarrels
with the queen's dwarf.
THE
THE frequent labours I underwent every day,
* made in a few weeks a very confiderable
change
116
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
change in my health: The more my maſter got by
me, the more inſatiable he grew. I had quite loft
my ſtomach, and was almoſt reduced to a fkeleton.
The farmer obſerved it; and concluding I muſt foon
die, reſolved to make as good a hand of me as he
could. While he was thus reaſoning and reſolving
with himſelf, a Sardral, or gentleman uſher, came
from court, commanding my maſter to bring me
immediately thither for the diverſion of the queen
and her ladies. Some of the latter had already
been to ſee me; and reported ftrange things of my
beauty, behaviour, and good ſenſe. Her majeſty,
and thoſe who attended her, were beyond meaſure
delighted with my demeanor. I fell on my knees,
and begged the honour of kiſſing her imperial foot;
but this gracious princeſs held out her little finger
towards me (after I was ſet on a table), which I em-
braced in both my arms, and put the tip of it, with
the utmoſt reſpect, to my lip. She made me ſome
general queſtions about my country and my travels,
which I anſwered as diſtinctly, and in as few words
as I could. She aſked, whether I would be content
to live at court? I bowed down to the board of the
table, and humbly anſwered, that I was my maſter's
ſlave; but if I were at my own diſpoſal, I ſhould be
proud to devote my life at her majeſty's ſervice,
She then aſked my maſter whether he were willing
to ſell me at a good price? He, who apprehended
I could not live a month, was ready enough to part
with me, and demanded a thouſand pieces of gold;
which were ordered him on the ſpot, each piece be-
ing about the bignefs of eight hundred moidores :
But, allowing for the proportion of all things be-
tween that country and Europe, and the high price
of gold among them, was hardly ſo great a ſum as
a thouſand guineas would be in England. I then
faid to the queen, ſince I was now her majeſty's
moſt
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
moſt humble creature and vafal, I muſt beg the fam
four, that Glumdalclitch, who had always tended
me with ſo much care and kindneſs, and underſtood
to do it fo well, might be admitted into her ſervice,
and continue to be my nurſe and inſtructor, Her
majeſty agreed to my pétition; and eaſily got the
Farmer's conſent, who was glad enough to have his
daughter preferred at court. And the poor girl her-
ſelf was not able to hide her joy. My late maſter
withdrew, bidding me farewel, ſaying he had left
me in a good fervice; to which I replied
not a word,
only making him a flight bow.
The queen obſerved my coldneſs; and when the
farmer was gone out of the apartment, aſked
me the
reaſon. I made bold to tell her majefty, that I owed
no other obligation to my late maſter, than his not
daſhing out the brains of a poor harmleſs creature
found by chance in his field; which obligation was
amply recompenſed by the gain he had made in
fhowing me through half the kingdom, and the price
he had now fold me for: That the life I had lince
led, was laborious enough to kill an animal of ten
times my ſtrength: That my health was much im-
paired by the continual drudgery of entertaining the
rabble every hour of the day; and that, if my ma-
fter had not thought my life in danger, her majeſty
would not have got fo cheap a bargain. But as I
was out of all fear of being ill treated under the pro-
tection of ſo great and good an empreſs, the orna-
ment of nature, the darling of the world, the des
light of her ſübjects, the phænix of the creations
lo I hoped my late maſter's apprehenſions would
appear to be groundleſs; for I already found my ſpi-
rits to revive by the influence of her moſt auguſt
preſence.
This was the ſum of my ſpeech, delivered with
great improprieties and heſitation; the latter part
118 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
net.
was altogether framed in the ſtyle peculiar to that
people, whereof I learned ſome phraſes from Glum-
dalclitch while ſhe was carrying me to court.
The queen giving great allowance for my defec-
tiveneſs in ſpeaking, was however ſurpriſed at ſo
much wit and good ſenſe in fo diminutive an ani.
mal. She took me in her own hand, and carried
me to the king, who was then retired to his cabi.
His majeſty, a prince of much gravity and
auſtere countenance, not well obſerving my ſhape
at firſt view, aſked the queen after a cold manner,
how long it was fince ſhe grew fond of a ſplack-
nuck? for ſuch it ſeems he took me to be, as I lay
upon my breaſt in her majeſty's right-hand. But
this princeſs, who hath an infinite deal of wit and
humour, ſet me gently on my feet upon the feru-
tore, and commanded me to give his majeſty an ac-
count of myſelf, which I did in a very few words;
and Glumdalclitch, who attended at the cabinet
door, and could not endure I ſhould be out of her
fight, being admitted, confirmed all that had paſſed
from my arrival at her father's houſe.
The king, although he be as learned a perfon as
any in his dominions, had been educated in the ſtudy
of philoſophy, and particularly mathematics; yet
when he obſerved my ſhape exactly, and faw me
walk erect, before I began to ſpeak, conceived I
might be a piece of clock-work, (which is in that
country arrived to a very great perfection), contri.
ved by fome ingenious artiſt. But when he heard
my voice, and found what I delivered to be regular
and rational, he could not conceal his aftonishment.
He was by no means ſatisfied with the relation I
gave him of the manner I came into his kingdom;
but thought it a ſtory concerted between Glumdal-
clitch and her father, who had taught me a ſet of
words to make me fell at a higher price. Upon this
imagi-
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. Irg
imagination he put feveral other queſtions to me,
and ſtill received rational anſwers, no otherwiſe de-
fective than by a foreign accent, and an imperfect
knowledge in the language, with fome ruftie phraſes
which I had learned at the farmer's houſe, and did
not ſuit the polite ſtyle of a court.
His majeſty fent for three great ſcholars who were
then in their weekly waiting (according to the cu-
ſtom in that country). Theſe gentlemen, after they
had a while examined my ſhape with much nicety,
were of different opinions concerning me They all
agreed that I could not be produced according to
the regular laws of nature ; becaufe I was not fra-
med with a capacity of preferving my life, either by
ſwiftneſs, or climbing of trees, or digging holes in
the earth. They obſerved by my teeth, which they
viewed with great exactneſs, that I was a carnivo-
rous animal; yet moſt quadrupeds being an over-
match for me, and field-mice, with ſome others, too
nimble, they could not imagine how I fhould be
able to ſupport myſelf, unleſs I fed upon ſnails and
other inſects; which they offered by many learned
arguments to evince that I could not poſſibly do. One
of theſe virtuofi ſeemed to think that I might be an
embryo, or abortive birth. But this opinion was re-
jected by the other two, who obſerved my limbs to
be perfect and finiſhed, and that I had lived feve-
ral years, as it was manifelted from my beatd; the
ſtumps whereof they plainly diſcovered through a
magnifying glaſs. They would not allow me to be
a dwarf, becauſe my littleneſs was beyond all de
grees of compariſon ; for the queen's favourite
dwarf, the ſmalleſt ever known in that kingdom,
was near thirty feet high. After much debate, they
concluded unanimouſly that I was only Relplum
Scalcath, which is interpreted literally luſus naturæ,
a determination exactly agreeable to the modern
philoſophy
120 A Voyage to BRODDINGNAG.
philoſophy of Europe; whoſe profeſſors, diſdaining
the old evafton of occult cauſes, whereby the fol-
lowers of Ariſtotle endeavour in vain to diſguiſe
their ignorance, have invented this wonderful ſolu-
tion of all difficulties, to the unſpeakable advance
ment of human knowledge.
After this deciſive conclufion, I intreated to be
heard a word or two. I applied myſelf to the king,
and afľured his majeſty, that I came from a country
which abounded with ſeveral millions of both ſexes,
and of my own ftature; where the animals, trees,
and houſes were all in proportion; and where, by
conſequence, I might be as able to defend myſelf
,
and to find ſuſtenance, as any of his majeſty's ſub-
jects could do here; which I took for a full anſwer
to thoſe gentlemens arguments. To this they only
replied with a ſmile of contempt; ſaying, that the
farmer had inſtructed me very well in my leffon.
The king, who had a much better underſtanding,
diſmiſſing his learned men, ſent for the farmer, who
by good fortune was not yet gone out of town:
Having therefore firſt examined him privately, and
then confronted him with me and the young girl,
his majeſty began to think that what we told him
might poſſibly be true. He deſired the queen to or-
der, that a particular care ſhould be taken of me;
and was of opinion, that Glumdalclitch ſhould ſtill
continue in her office of tending me, becauſe he ob-
ferved we had a great affection for each other. A
convenient apartment was provided for her at court;
ſhe had a ſort of governeſs appointed to take care
of her education, a maid to dreſs her, and two other
fervants for menial offices; but the care of me was
wholly appropriated to herſelf. The queen com-
manded her own cabinet-maker to contrive a box
that might ſerve me for a bed-chamber, after the
model that Glumdalclitch and l-fhould agree upon.
This
A Voyage to BROADINGNAG. 121
me.
This man was a moft ingenious artiſt; and accord.
ing to my directions, in three weeks finiſhed for me
a wooden chamber of ſixteen feet ſquare and twelve
high; with faſh-windows, a door, and two cloſets,
like a London bed-chamber. The board that made
the cieling was to be lifted up and down by two
hinges, to put in a bed ready furniſhed by her ma-
jeſty's upholſterer; which Glumdalclitch took out
every day to air, made it with her own hands, and
letting it down at night, locked up the roof over
A nice workman, who was famous for little
curioſities, undertook to make me two chairs, with
backs and frames, of a ſubſtance not unlike ivory,
and two tables, with a cabinet to put my things in.
The room was quilted on all fides, as well as the
door and the cieling, to prevent any accident from
the careleſſneſs of thoſe who carried me; and to
break the force of a jolt when I went in a coach.
I deſired a lock for my door to prevent rats and
mice from coming in: The ſmith, after ſeveral at-
tempts, made the fmalleſt that ever was ſeen among
them; for I have known a larger at the gate of a
gentleman's houſe in England. I made a ſhift to
keep the key in a pocket of my own, fearing Glum-
dalclitch might loſe it. The queen likewiſe ordered
the thinneſt filks that could be gotten to make me
clothes; not much thicker than an Engliſh blanket,
very cumberſome until I was accuſtomed to them.
They were after the faſhion of the kingdom, partly
reſembling the Perſian and partly the Chineſe; and
are a very grave and decent habit.
The queen became ſo fond of my company, that
ſhe could not dine without me. I had a table pla-
ced upon the ſame at which her majeſty eat, juſt at
her left elbow, and a chair to fit on. Glumdal-
clitch ſtood on a ſtool on the floor, near my table,
to affiſt and take care of me. I had an entire ſet of
Gilver
L
A Voyage to BROB DINGNAG.
filver diſhes and plates, and other neceſſaries, which,
in proportion to thoſe of the queen, were not much
bigger than what I have ſeen in a London toy-ſhop
for the furniture of a baby-houſe: Theſe my little
nurſe kept in her pocket in a filver box, and gave
me at meals as I wanted them; always cleaning them
herſelf. No perſon dined with the queen but the
two princeſſes royal; the elder ſixteen years old, and
the younger at that time thirteen and a month. Her
majeſty uſed to put a bit of meat upon one of my
diſhes, out of which I carved for myſelf; and her
diverſion was to ſee me eat in miniature. For the
queen (who indeed had but a weak ftomach) took
up at one mouthful as much as a dozen Engliſh farm
mers could eat at a meal, which to me was for ſome
time a very nauſeous fight. She would craunch the
wing of a lark, bones and all, between her teeth,
although it were nine times as large as that of a full-
grown turkey, and put a bit of bread in her mouth
as big as two twelve-penny loaves. She drank out
of a golden cup, above a hogſhead at a draught.
Her knives were twice as long as a fcythe ſet ſtraight
upon the handle. The ſpoons, forks, and other in-
Atruments, were all in the ſame proportion. I re-
member when Glumdalclitch carried me out of cu-
rioſity to ſee ſome of the tables at court, where ten
or a dozen of thcfe enormous knives and forks were
lifted up together, I thought I had never till then
beheld fo terrible a fight.
It is the cuſtom, that every Wedneſday (which,
as I have before obſerved, was their ſabbath) the
king and queen, with the royal iſſue of both ſexes,
dine together in the apartment of his majefty; to
whom I was now become a great favourite; and at
theſe times my little chair and table were placed at his
left hand before one of the falt-ſellers. This prince
took a pleaſure in converſing with me; inquiring
into
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
123
into the manners, religion, laws, government, and
learning of Europe; wherein I gave him the beſt ac-
count I was able. His. apprehenſion was fo clear,
and his judgment ſo exact, that he made very wife
reflections and obſervations upon all I ſaid. But I
confeſs, that after I had been a little too copious in
talking of my own beloved country; of our trade,
and wars by ſea and land; of our ſchiſms in reli-
gion, and parties in the ſtate; the prejudices of his
education prevailed ſo far, that he could not forbear
taking me up in his right hand, and ſtroaking me
gently with the other, after an hearty fit of laugh-
ing, aſked me whether I was a Whig or a Tory.
Then turning to his firſt miniſter, who waited behind
him with a white ſtaff, near as tall as the main-maft
of the Royal Sovereign, he obſerved, how contemp-
tible a thing was human grandeur, which could be
mimicked by ſuch diminutive inſects as I: And yet,
ſays he, I dare engage, theſe creatures have their
titles and diſtinctions of honour; they contrive little
neſts and burrows, that they call houſes and cities;
they make a figure in dreſs and equipage; they love,
they fight, they diſpute, they cheat, they betray.
And thus he continued on, while my colour came
and went ſeveral times with indignation, to hear our
noble country, the miſtreſs of arts and arms, the
ſcourge of France, the arbitreſs of Europe, the ſeat
of virtue, piety, honour, and truth, the pride and
envy of the world, ſo contemptuouſly treated.
But as I was not in a condition to reſent inju-
ries, ſo, upon mature thoughts, I began to doubt
whether I was injured or no. For after having
been accuſtomed feveral months to the fight and
converſe of this people, and obſerved every object
upon which I caſt mine eyes to be of proportion-
able magnitude, the horror I had firſt conceived from
their bulk and aſpect was ſo far worn off, that if I
L 2
had
124 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
had then beheld a company of Engliſh lords and la-
dies in their finery and birth-day clothes, acting
their ſeveral parts in the moſt courtly manner of
ſtrutting, and bowing, and prating, to ſay, the truth,
I ſhould have been ſtrongly tempted to laugh as
much at them as the king and his grandees did at
me. Neither indeed could I forbear ſmiling at my-
ſelf, when the queen uſed to place me upon her hand
towards a looking glaſs, by which both our perſons
appeared before me in full view together; and there
could nothing be more ridiculous than the compa-
riſon: So that I really began to imagine myſelf dwin-
dled many degrees below my uſual fize.
Nothing angered and mortified me ſo much as the
queen's dwarf, who being of the loweſt ſtature that
was ever in that country (for I verily think he was
not full thirty feet high), became ſo inſolent at fee.
ing a creature ſo much beneath him, that he would
always affect to ſwagger and look big as he paſſed
by me in the queen's antichamber, while I was
standing on ſome table talking with the lords or la-
dies of the court, and he ſeldom failed of a ſmart
word or two upon my littleneſs; againſt which I
could only revenge myſelf by calling him brother,
challenging him to wreſtle, and ſuch repartees as are
uſual in the mouths of court-pages. One day at
dinner, this malicious little cub was ſo nettled with
ſomething I had ſaid to him, that raiſing himſelf
upon the frame of her majeſty's chair, he took me
up by the middle, as I was fitting down, not think-
ing any harm, and let me drop into a large ſilver
bowl of cream, and then ran away as faſt as he
could. I fell over head and ears, and if I had not
been a good ſwimmer, it might have gone very hard
with me; for Glumdalclitch in that inſtant happen-
ed to be at the other end of the room, and the
was in ſuch a fright, that the wanted preſence of
qucen
mind
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 125
mind to aflift me. But my little nurſe ran to my
relief, and took me out after I had ſwallowed above
a quart of cream. I was put to bed; however, I re-
ceived no other damage than the loſs of a ſuit of
clothes, which was utterly ſpoiled. The dwarf was
ſoundly whipped, and as a further puniſhment, for-
ced to drink up the bowl of cream into which he
had thrown me; neither was he ever reſtored to fa-
vour: For ſoon after the queen beſtowed him on a
lady of high quality, ſo that I ſaw him no more, to
my very great ſatisfaction; for I could not tell to
what extremity ſuch a malicious urchin might have
carried his reſentment.
He had before ſerved me a ſcurvy trick, which
ſet the queen a laughing, although at the ſame time
ſhe was heartily vexed, and would have immediate-
ly caſhiered him, if I had not been ſo generous as
to intercede. Her majeſty had taken a marrow-
bone upon her plate, and after knocking out the
marrow, placed the bone again in the diſh erect as
it ſtood before; the dwarf watching his opportu-
nity, while Glumdalclitch was gone to the ſide.
board, mounted the ftool that fhe ſtood on to take
care of me at meals, took me up in both hands, and
fqueezing my legs together, wedged them into the
marrow-bone above my waiſt; where I ſtuck for
ſome time, and made a very ridiculous figure. I
believe it was near a minute before any one knew
what was become of me; for I thought it below me
to cry out. But as princes feldom get their-meat
hot, my legs were not ſcalded, only my ſtockings
and breeches in a fad condition. The dwarf, at my
intreaty, had no other puniſhment than a found
whipping
I was frequently rallied by the queen on ac-
count of my fearfulneſs; and ſhe uſed to aſk me,
whether the people of my country were as great
cowards
L 3
126
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG,
cowards as myſelf? The occafion was this, the king.
dom is much peſtered with flies in ſummer; and
theſe odious inſects, each of them as big as a Dun-
ſtable hark, hardly gave me any reſt while I fat at
dinner, with their continual humming and buzzing
about mine ears. They would ſometimes alight
upon my victuals, and leave their loathſome excre-
ment or ſpawn behind, which to me was very vi-
fible, although not to the natives of that country,
whoſe large optics were not ſo acute as mine in view-
ing ſmaller objects. Sometimes they would fix up-
on my noſe or forehead, where they ſtung me to the
quick, ſmelling very offenſively; and I could eaſily
trace that viſcous matter, which our naturalifts tell
us enables thoſe creatures to walk with their feet
upwards on a cieling. I had much ado to defend
myſelf againſt theſe deteſtable animals, and could
not forbear ſtarting when they came on my face. It
was the common practice of the dwarf to catch a
number of theſe infects in his hand, as ſchool-boys
do among us, and let them out ſuddenly under my
noſe, on purpoſe to frighten me, and divert the
queen. My remedy was to cut them in pieces with
my knife as they flew in the air ; wherein my dex-
terity was much admired.
I remember one morning when Glumdalclitch
had ſet me in my box upon a window, as ſhe uſually
did in fair days to give me air (for I durft not ven-
ture to let the box be hung on a nail out of the win-
dow, as we do with cages in England), after I had
lifted up one of my faſhes, and ſat down at my table
to eat a piece of ſweet cake for my breakfaſt, above
twenty waſps, allured by the ſmell, came flying in-
to the room, humming louder than the drones of
as many bagpipes. Some of them ſeized my cake,
and carried it piece-meal away; others flew about
my head and face, confounding me with the noiſe,
and
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
12
and putting me in the utmoſt terror of their ſtings.
However, I had the courage to riſe and draw my
hanger, and attack them in the air. I diſpatched
four of them, but the reſt got away, and I preſently
ſhut my window. Theſe inſects were as large as
partridges; I took out their ſtings, found them an
inch and an half long, and as ſharp as needles. I
carefully preſerved them all; and having ſince ſhown
them with ſome other curioſities in ſeveral parts of
Europe, upon my return to England, I gave three
of them to Greſham-college, and kept the fourth to
myſelf.
CH A P. IV.
The country deſcribed. A propoſal for correëling mo-
dern maps. The king's palace, and ſome account
of the metropolis. The Author's way of travelling,
The chief temple deſcribed.
Now intend to give the reader a ſhort deſcrip-
tion of this country, as far as I travelled in it,
which was not above two thouſand miles round Lor-
brulgrud the metropolis. For the queen, whom I
always attended, never went further when ſhe ac-
companied the king in his progreſſes; and there
ſtaid until his majeſty returned from viewing his
frontiers. The whole extent of this prince's domi-
nions reached about fix thouſand miles in length, and
from three to five in breadth. From whence I can-
not but conclude, that our geographers of Europe
are in a great error, by ſuppoſing nothing but ſea
between Japan and California: For it was ever my
opinion, that there muſt be a balance of earth to
counterpoiſe the great continent of Tartary; and
therefore they ought to correct their maps and charts,
by joining this vaft track of land to the north-weſt
parts
128 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
parts of America; wherein I ſhall be ready to lend
them my affiftance.
The kingdom is a peninſula, terminated to the
north-eaſt by a ridge of mountains thirty miles-high,
which are altogether impaſſable by reaſon of the vol-
canos upon the tops. Neither do the moſt learned
know what fort of mortals inhabit beyond thoſe
mountains, or whether they be inhabited at all. On
the three other fides it is bounded by the ocean.
There is not one ſea-port in the whole kingdom;
and thoſe parts of the coaſts into which the rivers
iſſue are ſo full of pointed rocks, and the fea gene-
rally ſo rough, that there is no venturing with the
ſmalleſt of their boats; fo that theſe people are
wholly excluded from any commerce with the reſt
of the world. But the large rivers are full of ver-
fels, and abound with excellent fiſh; for they fel-
dom get any from the ſea, becauſe the ſea-fiſh are
of the ſame ſize with thoſe in Europe, and conſe-
quently not worth catching; whereby it is manifeft,
that nature, in the production of plants and ani-
mals of fo extraordinary a bulk, is wholly confined
to this continent; of which I leave the reaſons to
be determined by philofophers. However, now and
then they take a whale that happens to be daſhed
againſt the rocks, which the common people feed
on heartily. Theſe whales I have known fo large
that a man could hardly carry one upon his ſhould.
ers; and ſometimes for curioſity they are brought
in hampers to Lorbrulgrud: I ſaw one of them in a
diſh at the king's table, which paſſed for a rarity:
but I did not obſerve he was fond of it; for I think
indeed the bigneſs diſguſted him, although I have
ſeen one ſomewhat larger in Greenland.
The country is well inhabited, for it contains fif-
ty-one cities, near an hundred walled towns, and a
great number of villages. To fatisfy my curious
reader,
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 129
reader, it may be ſufficient to deſcribe Lorbrulgrud.
This city ſtands upon almoſt two equal parts on
each ſide the river that paſſes through. It con-
tains above eighty thouſand houſes, and about fix
hundred thouſand inhabitants. It is in length
three glomglungs (which make about fifty-four
Engliſh miles), and two and a half in breadth, as I
meaſured it myſelf in the royal map made by the
king's order, which was laid on the ground on pur-
poſe for me, and extended an hundred feet: I paced
the diameter and circumference ſeveral times bare-
foot, and computing by the ſcale, meaſured it pretty
exactly.
The king's palace is no regular edifice, but an
heap of building about ſeven miles round. The
chief rooms are generally two hundred and forty
feet high, and broad and long in proportion. A
coach was allowed to Glumdalclitch and me, where-
in her governeſs frequently took her out to ſee the
town, or go among the ſhops; and I was always of
the party, carried in my box; although the girl at
my own defire would often take me out, and hold
me in her hand, that I might more conveniently
view the houſes and the people as we paſſed along
the ſtreets. I reckoned our coach to be about a
ſquare of Weſtminſter-hall, but not altogether fo
high; howeve I cannot be very exact. One day
the governeſs ordered our coachman to ſtop at ſe-
veral ſhops; where the beggars watching their op-
portunity, crowded to the ſides of the coach, and
gave me the moſt horrible ſpectacles that ever an
European eye beheld. There was a woman with a
cancer in her breaſt, ſwelled to a monſtrous ſize,
full of holes; in two or three of which I could have
eaſily crept, and covered my whole body. There
was a fellow with a wen in his neck larger than
five woolpacks; and another with a couple of
wooden
130 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
wooden legs, each about twenty feet high. But
the moſt hateful fight of all was the lice crawling
on their clothes. I could ſee diſtinctly the limbs of
theſe vermin with my naked eye, much better than
than thoſe of an European louſe through a micro-
ſcope, and their ſnouts with which they routed like
(wine. They were the firſt I had ever beheld; and
I ſhould have been curious enough to diffect one of
them if I had had proper inſtruments (which I un-
luckily left behind me in the ſhip), although indeed
the fight was ſo nauſeous, that it perfectly turned
my ſtomach.
Beſide the large box in which I was uſually car-
ried, the queen ordered a ſmaller one to be made for
me, of about twelve feet ſquare and ten high, for
the convenience of travelling; becauſe the other was
ſomewhat too large for Glumdalclitch's lap, and
cumberſome in the coach: it was made by the ſame
artiſt, whom I directed in the whole contrivance,
This travelling cloſet was an exact ſquare, with a win-
dow in the middle of three of the ſquares, and each
window was laticed with iron-wire on the outſide to
prevent accidents in long journies. · On the fourth
fide, which had no window, two ſtrong ſtaples were
fixed, through which the perſon that carried me,
when I had a mind to be on horſeback, put a lea-
thern-belt, and buckled it about his waiſt. This
was always the office of ſome grave truſty ſervant,
in whom I could confide, whether I attended the
king and queen in their progreſſes, or were diſpoſed
to ſee the gardens, or pay a viſit to ſome great lady
or miniſter of ſtate in the court, when Glumdal-
clitch happened to be out of order: for I foon be-
gan to be known and eſteemed among the greateſt
officers; I ſuppoſe more upon account of their ma-
jeſty's favour than any merit of my own. In jour-
nies, when I was weary of the coach, a ſervant on
horſe-
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 131
horſeback would buckle on my box, and place it on a
cuſhion before him ; and there I had a full proſpect
of the country on three fides from my three win-
dows. I had in this cloſet a field bed and a ham-
mock hung from the cieling, two chairs and a table
neatly ſcrewed to the floor, to prevent being toſſed
about by the agitation of the horſe or the coach.
And having been long uſed to ſea-voyages, thoſe
motions, although ſometimes very violent, did not
much diſcompoſe me.
Whenever I had a mind to ſee the town, it was
always in my travelling-cloſet; which Glumdal-
clitch held in her lap in a kind of open ſedan, after
the faſhion of the country, borne by four men, and
attended by two others in the queen’s livery. The
people, who had often heard of me, were very cu-
rious to crowd about the ſedan; and the girl was
complaiſant enough to make the bearers ſtop, and
take me in her hand that I might be more conveni-
ently ſeen
I was very deſirous to ſee the chief temple, and
particularly the tower belonging to it, which is rec-
koned the higheſt in the kingdom. Accordingly one
day my nurſe carried me thither; but I may truly ſay
I came back diſappointed, for the height is not a-
bove three thouſand feet, reckoning from the ground
to the higheſt pinacle-top; which, allowing for the
difference between the ſize of thoſe people and us in
Europe, is no great matter for admiration, nor at
all equal in proportion (if I rightly remember) to
Saliſbury ſteeple. But, not to detract from a na-
tion, to which during my life I ſhall acknowledge
myſelf extremely obliged, it muſt be allowed, that
whatever this famous tower wants in height, is am-
ply made up in beauty and ſtrength: For the walls
are near an hundred feet thick, built of hewn ſtone,
whereof each is about forty feet ſquare, and adorned
3
on
132
A Voyage to BroBDINGNAG.
on all fides with ſtatues of gods and emperors, cut
in marble larger than the life, placed in their feve.
ral niches. I meaſured a little finger which had
fallen down from one of thoſe ftatues, and lay un-
perceived among fome rubbiſh, and found it exact-
ly four feet and an inch in length. Glumdalclitch
wrappedit up in her handkerchief, and carried it home
in her pocket, to keep among other trinkets, of which
the girl was very fond, as children at her age uſu-
ally are.
The king's kitchen is indeed a noble building;
vaulted at top, and about fix hundred feet high.
The great oven is not ſo wide by ten paces as the
cupola at St Paul's ; for I meaſured the latter on
purpoſe after my return. But if I ſhould defcribe
the kitchen-grate, the prodigious pots and kettles,
the joints of meat turning on the ſpits, with many
other particulars, perhaps I ſhould be hardly belie-
ved; at leaſt a ſevere critic would be apt to think
I enlarged a little, as travellers are often ſuſpected
to do. To avoid which cenſure, I fear I have run
too much into the other extreme; and that, if this
treatiſe fhould happen to be tranſlated into the lan-
guage of Brobdingnag (which is the general name
of that kingdom), and tranſmitted thither, the king
and his people would have reaſon to complain that
I had done them an injury, by a falſe and diminu.
tive repreſentation.
His majeſty feldom keeps above fix hundred horſes
in his ftables: They are generally from fifty-four to
fixty feet high. But when he goes abroad on ſolemn
days, he is attended for ſtate by a militia guard of
five hundred horſe, which indeed I thought was the
moſt ſplendid fight that could be ever beheld, until
I I ſaw part of his army in battalia; whereof I ſhall
find another occaſion to ſpeak.
СНАР.
A Voyage to BROEDINGNAG.
133
CHAP. V.
Several adventures that happened to the Author.
The execution of a criminal. The Author ſhows his
ſkill in navigation.
T
Should have lived happy enough in that coun-
try, if my littleneſs had not expoſed me to fe-
veral ridiculous and troubleſome accidents; ſome of
which I ſhall venture to relate. Glumdalclitch of.
ten carried me into the gardens of the court in my
ſmaller box, and would Yametimes take me out of
it, and hold me in her hand, or ſet me down to
walk. I remember, before the dwarf left the queen,
he followed us one day into thoſe gardens, and my
nurſe having ſet me down, he and I being cloſe to-
gether near fome dwarf apple-trees, I muſt needs
ſhow my wit by a filly alluſion between him and the
trees, which happens to hold in their language as
åt doth in curs. Whereupon the malicious rogue,
watching his opportunity when I was walking un-
der one of them, ſhook it directly over my head, by
which a dozen apples, each of them near as large
as a Briſtol barrel, came tumbling about my ears ;
one of them hit me on the back as I chanced to
ſtoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but
I received no other hurt, and the dwarf was par-
doned at my deſire, becauſe I had given the provo-
cation.
Another day Glumdalclitch left me on a ſmooth
graſs-plot to divert myſelf, while ſhe walked at ſome
diſtance with her governeſs. In the mean time
there ſuddenly fell ſuch a violent ſhower of hail,
that I was immediately by the force of it ſtruok to
the ground: And when I was down, the hail-ſtones
gave
134 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
gave me ſuch cruel bangs all over the body, as if I
had been pelted with tennis-balls; however, I made
a ſhift to creep on all four, and ſhelter myſelf by
lying flat on my face on the lee-lide of a border of
lemon-thyme, but ſo bruiſed from head to foot that
I could not go abroad in ten days. Neither is this
at all to be wondered at; becauſe nature in that
country obſerving the ſame proportion through all
her operations, a hail-ſtone is near eighteen hun-
dred times as large as one in Europe; which I can
aſſert upon experience, having been ſo curious to
weigh and meaſure them.
But a more dangerous accident happened to me
in the ſame garden, when my little nurſe, believing
ſhe had put me in a ſecure place, which I often in
treated her to do, that I might enjoy my own
thoughts, and having left my box at home to avoid
the trouble of carrying it, went to another part of
the garden with her governeſs and fome ladies of
her acquaintance. While ſhe was abſent and out
of hearing, a ſmall white ſpaniel belonging to one
of the chief gardeners, having got by accident into
the garden, happened to range near the place where
I lay. The dog following the ſcent, came directly
up, and taking me in his mouth, ran ſtraight to his
maſter wagging his tail, and ſet me gently on the
ground. By good fortune he had been ſo well taught,
that I was carried between his teeth without the
leaſt hurt, or even tearing my clothes. But the poor
gardener, who knew me well, and had a great kind-
neſs for me, was in a terrible fright. He gently
took me up in both his hands, and aſked me how I
did; but I was ſo amazed and out of breath, that I
could not ſpeak a word. In a few minutes I came
to myſelf, and he carried me ſafe to my little nurſe,
who by this time had returned to the place where
ſhe left me, and was in cruel agonies when I did not
appear,
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 135
appear, nor anſwer when ſhe called ; ſhe ſeverely
reprimanded the gardener on account of his dog.
But the thing was huſhed up, and never known at
court; for the girl was afraid of the queen's anger;
and truly as to rayſelf, I thought it would not be
for my reputation that ſuch a ſtory ſhould go a-
bout.
This accident abſolutely determined Glumdal-
clitch never to truſt ine abroad for the future out of
her fight. I had been long afraid of this reſolution;
and therefore concealed from her fome little un.
lucky adventures that happened in thoſe times when
I was left by myſelf. Once a kite hovering over the
garden made a ſtoop at me, and if I had not reſu.
lutely drawn my hanger, and run under a thick ef-
palier, he would have certainly carried me away in
his talons. Another time, walking to the top of a
freſh molc-hill, I fell to my neck in the hole thro®
which that animal had caſt up the earth; and coin-
ed ſome lie not worth remembering, to excuſe my-
ſelf for ſpoiling my clothes. I likewiſe broke my
right ſhin againſt the ſhell of a ſnail, which I hap-
pened to ſtumble over as I was walking alone, and
thinking on poor England,
I cannot tell whether I were more pleaſed or mor-
tified, to obſerve in thoſe ſolitary walks, that the
ſmaller birds did not appear to be at all afraid of
me; but would hop about within a yard's diſtance,
looking for worms and other food, with as much
indifference and ſecurity as if no creature at all were
near them. I remember a thrufh had the confidence
to ſnatch out of my hand with his bill a piece of
cake that Glumdalclitch had juſt given me for my
breakfaſt. When I attempted to catch any of theſe
birds, they would boldly turn againſt me, endea-
vouring to pick my fingers, which I durſt not ven-
ture within their reach; and then they would hop
M 2
back
130
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
back unconcerned to hunt for worms or ſnails, a3
they did before. But one day I took a thick cudgel,
and threw it with all my ſtrength fo luckily at a lin-
net, that I knocked him down, and ſeizing him by
the neck with both my hands, ran with him in tri-
umph to my nurſe. However, the bird, who had
only been ſtunned, recovering himſelf, gave me ſo
many boxes with his wings on both fides of my head,
and body, although I held him at arms length, and
was out of the reach of his claws, that I was twenty
times thinking to let him go. But I was ſoon re-
lieved by one of our ſervants, who wrung off the
bird's neck; and I had him next day for dinner by
the queen's command. This linnet, as near as I can
remember, ſeemed to be ſomewhat larger than an
Engliſh ſwan.
The maids of honour often invited Glumdalclitch
to their apartments, and deſired ſhe would bring me
along with her, on purpoſe to have the pleaſure of
feeing and touching me. They would often ſtrip
me naked from top to toe, and lay me at full length
in their bofoms, wherewith I was much diſguſted;
becauſe, to ſay the truth, a very offenſive ſmell came
from their ſkins; which I do not mention or intend
to the diſadvantage of thoſe excellent ladies, for
whom I have all manner of reſpect: But I conceive
that my ſenſe was more acute in proportion to my
littleneſs; and that thoſe illuſtrious perſons were no
more diſagreeable to their lovers, or to each other,
than people of the ſame quality are with us in Eng-
land. And after all, I found their natural ſmell was
much more ſupportable than when they uſed per-
fumes, under which I immediately fwooned away.
I cannot forget, that an intimate friend of mine in
Lilliput, took the freedom in a warm day, when I
had uſed a good deal of exerciſe, to complain of a
strong ſmell about me, although I am as little faulty
that
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
137
that way as moſt of my fex. But I fuppoſe his fa-
cuty of ſmelling was as nice with regard to me as
mine was to that of this people. Upon this point
I cannot forbear doing juſtice to the queen my mi-
ſtreſs, and Glumdalclitch my nurſe, whoſe perſons
were as ſweet as thoſe of any lady in England.
That which gave me moſt uneaſineſs among theſe
maids of honour, when my nurſe carried me to viſit
them, was to ſee them uſe me without any manner
of ceremony, like a creature who had no ſort of con-
ſequence. For they would ſtrip themſelves to the
ſkin, and put on their ſmocks in my preſence, while
I was placed on the toilet directly before their na-
ked bodies; which, I am ſure, to me was very far
from being a tempting ſight, or from giving me any
other emotions than thoſe of horror and difguſt.
Their ſkins appeared fo coarſe and uneven, ſo vari-
ouſly coloured when I ſaw them near, with a mole
here and there as broad as a trencher, and hairs
hanging from it thicker than packthreads; to ſay
nothing further concerning the reſt of their perſons.
Neither did they at all ſcruple, while I was by, to
dilcharge what they had drank, to the quantity of
at leaſt two hogſheads, in a veſſel that held above
three tuns. The handſomeſt among theſe maids of
honour, a pleaſant frolickſome girl of fixteen, would
ſometimes ſet me aſtride upon one of her nipples,
with many other tricks, wherein the reader will ex >
cuſe me for not being over particular. But I was
ſo much diſpleaſed, that I intreated Glumdalclitch
to contrive fome excuſe for not ſeeing that young
lady any more.
One day a young gentleman, who was nephew
to my nurſe's governeſs, came and preſſed them both
to ſee an execution. It was of a man who had mur-
dered one of that gentleman's intimate acquaintance.
Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the com-
pany,
M3
738
A Voyage to BRONDINGNAG.
pany, very much againſt her inclination; for ſhe
was naturally tender hearted: And as for myſelf,
although I abhorred ſuch kind of ſpectacles, yet my
curioſity tempted me to ſee ſomething that I thought
muſt be extraordinary. The malefactor was fixed
in a chair upon a ſcaffold erected for that purpoſe;
and his head cut off at one blow with a ſword of
about forty feet long. The veins and arteries ſpout-
ed up ſuch a prodigious quantity of blood, and fo
high in the air, that the great Jet d'eau at Verſailles
was not equal for the time it laſted ; and the head,
when it fell on the ſcaffold floor, gave ſuch a bounce,
as made me ſtart although I were at leaſt half an
Engliſh mile diftant.
The queen, who often uſed to hear me talk of my
ſea-voyages, and took all occaſions to divert me
when I was melancholy, aſked me whether I under-
E ftood how to handle a fail or an oar; and whether
a little exerciſe of rowing might not be convenient
for my health. I anſwered, that I underſtood both
very well. For although my proper employment
had been to be ſurgeon or doctor to the ſhip, yet
often upon a pinch I was forced to work like a com
mon mariner. But I could not ſee how this could
be done in their country, where the ſmalleſt wherry
was equal to a firſt rat man of war among us; and
fuch a boat as I could manage, would never live in
any of their rivers: Her majeſty ſaid, if I would con-
trive a boat, her own joiner ſhould make it, and ſhe
would provide a place for me to fail in. The fel-
low was an ingenious workman; and by my in-
ſtructions, in ten days finiſhed a pleaſure-boat with
all its tackling, able conveniently to hold eight Eu-
ropeans. When it was finiſhed, the queen was ſo
delighted, that ſhe ran with it in her lap to the king,
who ordered it to be put into a ciftern full of water,
with me in it, by way of trial; where I could not
manage
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAC. 139
manage my two ſculls or little oars for want of
room. But the queen had before contrived another
project. She ordered the joiner to make a wooden
trough of three hundred feet long, fifty broad, and
eight deep; which being well pitched to prevent
leaking, was placed on the floor along the wall, in
an outer room of the palace. It had a cock near
the bottom, to let out the water when it began to
grow ſtale; and two fervants could eaſily fill it in half
an hour. Here I often uſed to row for my own di-
verſion, as well as that of the queen and her ladies,
who thought themſelves agreeably entertained with
my ſkill and agility. Sometimes I would put up my
fail, and then my buſineſs was only to ſteer, while
the ladies gave me a gale with their fans; and when
they were weary, ſome of the pages would blow my
fail forward with their breath, while I ſhowed my
art by ſteering ſtarboard or larboard as I pleaſed.
When I had done, Glumdalclitch always carried
back my bont into her clofet, and hung it on a nail
to dry,
In this exerciſe I once met an accident which had
like to have coft me my life. For one of the pages
having put my boat into the trough, the governeſs
who attended Glumdalelitch very officiouſly lifted
me up to place me in the boat; but I happened to
dip through her fingers, and ſhould infallibly have
fallen down forty feet upon the floor, if by the luc-
kieſt chance in the world I had not been ſtopped by
a corking-pin that ſtuck in the good gentlewoman's
ſtomacher: the head of the pin pailed between my
fhirt and the waiſtband of my breeches; and thus I
was held by the middle in the air until Glumdal-
clitch ran to my relief.
Another time one of the ſervants, whoſe office it
was to fill my trough every third day with freſh wa-
ter, was fo careleſs as to let a huge frog (nor percei-
le in the
ving
140 A Voyage to BROBBINGNAG.
ving it) ſlip out of the pail. The frog lay conceal.
ed until I was put into my boat, but then ſeeing a
reſting place, climbed up, and made it lean fo much
on one fide, that I was forced to balance it with all
my weight on the other to prevent overturning,
When the frog was got in, it hopped at once half
the length
of the boat, and then over my head,
back-
wards and forwards, daubing my face and clothes
with its odious ſlime. The largeneſs of its features
made it appear the moſt deformed animal that can
be conceived. However, I deſired Glumdalclitch to
let me deal with it alone. I banged it a good while
with one of my ſculls, and at laſt forced it to leap
out of the boat.
But the greateſt danger I ever underwent in that
kingdom was from a monkey, who belonged to one
of the clerks of the kitchen. Glumdalclitch had
locked me up in her cloſet while ſhe went fome-
where upon buſineſs or a viſit. The weather being
very warm, the cloſet window was left open, as well
as the windows and the door of my bigger box, in
which I uſually lived, becauſe of its largeneſs and
conveniency. As I. fat quietly meditating at my
table, I heard ſomething bounce in at the cloſet win-
dow, and ſkip about from one fide to the other;
whereat, although I were much alarmed, yet I ven-
tured to look out, but not ſtirring from my ſeat;
and then I ſaw this frolickſome animal, friſking and
leaping up and down, until at laſt he came to my
box, which he ſeemed to view with great pleaſure
and curioſity, peeping in at the door and every win-
dow. I retreated to the farther corner of
my
or box; but the monkey looking in at every Gide,
put me into fuch a fright, that I wanted preſence
of mind to conceal myſelf
under the bed, as I might
eaſily have done. After ſome time ſpent in peep-
ing, grinning, and chattering, he at laſt eſpicd me;
and
room
A Voyage to BroBDINGNAG.
141
out.
and reaching one of his paws in at the door, as a cat
does when the plays with a mouſe, although I often
fhifted place to avoid him, he at length ſeized the
lappet of my coat (which being made of that coun-
try filk, was very thick and ſtrong), and dragged me
He took me up in his right fore-foot, and
held me as a nurſe does a child ſhe is going to
fuckle; juſt as I have feen the ſame fort of creature
do with a kitten in Europe; and when I offered to
ſtruggle, he ſqueezed me ſo hard, that I thought it
more prudent to ſubmit. I have good reaſon
to be-
lieve that he took me for a young one of his own
ſpecies, by his often ſtroaking my face very gently
with his other paw. In theſe diverſions he was in-
terrupted by a noiſe at the cloſet-door, as if ſome-
body were opening it; whereupon he ſuddenly leap-
ed up to the window at which he had come in, and
thence upon the leads and gutters, walking upon
three legs, and holding me in the fourth, until he
clambered up to a roof that was next to ours.
heard Glumdalclitch give a ſhriek at the moment he
was carrying me out. The poor girl was almoſt
diſtracted: That quarter of the palace was all in
an uproar; the fervants ran for ladders ; the mon-
key was ſeen by hundreds in the court, ſitting upon
the ridge of a building, holding me like a baby in
one of his fore-paws and feeding me with the other,
by cramming into my mouth ſome vi&tuals he had
ſqueezed out of the bag on one fide of his chaps,
and patting me when I would not eat; whereat many
of the rabble below could not forbear laughing :
neither do I think they ought juſtly to be blamed ;
for without queſtion, the fight was ridiculous enough
to every body but myſelf. Some of the people threw
up ftones, hoping to drive the monkey down; but
this was ſtrictly forbidden, or elſe very probably my
brains had been daſhed out.
The
V
142 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
The ladders were now applied, and mounted by
ſeveral men; which the monkey obſerving, and find-
ing himſelf almoſt encompaffed, not being able to
make ſpeed enough with his three legs, let me drop
on a ridge-tyle, and made his eſcape. Here I fat
for ſome time five hundred yards from the ground,
expecting every moment to be blown down by the
wind, or to fall by my own giddineſs, and come tum-
bling over and over from the ridge to the eves. But
an honeſt lad, one of my nurſe's footmen, climb-
ed up, and putting me into his breeches pocker,
brought me down ſafe.
I was almoſt choaked with the filthy ſtuff the mon-
key had crammed down my throat, but my dear
little nurſe picked it out of my mouth with a ſmall
needle; and then I fell a vomiting, which gave me
great relief. Yet I was fo weak and bruiſed in the
fides with the ſqueezes given me by this odious ani-
mal, that I was forced to keep my bed a fortnight.
The king, queen, and all the court, ſent every day
to inquire after my health; and her majeſty made
me ſeveral viſits during my ſickneſs. The monkey
was killed, and an order made that no ſuch animal
fhould be kept about the palace.
When I attended the king after my recovery, to
return him thanks for his favours, he was pleaſed to
rally me a good deal upon this adventure. He aſked
me what my thoughts and ſpeculations were while
I lay in the monkey's paw; how I liked the vi&tuals
he gave me, his manner of feeding; and whether
the freſh air on the roof had fharpened my ſtomach?
He deſired to know what I would have done upon
ſuch an occaſion in my own country. I told his
majeſty, that in Europe we had no monkeys, except
ſuch as were brought for curioſities from other
places; and ſo ſmall, that I could deal with a dozen
of them together if they preſumed to attack me:
And
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
143
And as for that monſtrous animal with whom I was
fo lately engaged (it was indeed as large as an ele-
phant), if my fears had not ſuffered me to think ſo far
as to make uſe of my hanger (looking fiercely, and
clapping my hand upon the hilt as I ſpoke), when he
poked his paw into my chamber, perhaps I ſhould
have given him ſuch a wound, as would have made
him glad to withdraw it with more haſte than he
put it in. This I delivered in a firm tone, like a
perſon who was jealous leſt his courage ſhould be
called in queſtion. However, my ſpeech produced
nothing elſe beſides a loud laughter; which all the
reſpect due to his majeſty from thoſe about him
could not make them contain. This made me re-
flex, how vain an attempt it is for a man to endea-
vour to do himſelf honour among thoſe who are out
of all degree of equality or compariſon with him.
And yet I have ſeen the moral of my own behaviour
very frequent in England fince my return; where a
little contemptible varlet, without the leaſt title to
birth, perſon, wit, or common ſenſe, ſhall preſume
to look with importance, and put himſelf upon a foot
with the greateſt perſon of the kingdom.
I was every day furniſhing the court with ſome
ridiculous ſtory; and Glumdalclitch, although ſhe
loved me to exceſs, yet was arch enough to inform
the queen whenever I committed any folly that the
thought would be diverting to her majeſty. The
girl, who had been out of order, was carried by her
governeſs to take the air about an hour's diſtance,
or thirty miles from town. They alighted out of the
coach near a ſmall foot-path in a field; and-Glum-
dalclitch ſetting down my travelling box, I went out
of it to walk. There was a cow-dung in the path,
and I muſt needs try my activity by attempting to
leap over it. I took a run, but unfortunately jump-
ed ſhort, and found myſelf juſt in the middle up to
my
144 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
my knees. I waded through with ſome difficulty,
and one of the footmen wiped me as clean as he
could with his handkerchief, for I was filthily be-
mired; and my nurſe confined me to my box until
we returned home, where the queen was foon in-
formed of what had pafled, and the footmen ſpread
it about the court; fo that all the mirth for fome
days was at my expence.
CH AP.
VI.
and queen.
Several contrivances of the Author to pleaſe the king
He ſbows his ſkill in muſic. The
king inquires into the ſtate of England, which the
Author relates to him. The king's obſervations
thereon.
I
Used to attend the king's levee once or twice
a-week, and had often ſeen him under the bar-
ber's hand, which indeed was at firſt very terrible
to behold; for the razor was almoſt twice as long
as an ordinary fcythe. His majefty, according to
the cuſtom of the country, was only fhaved twice a-
week. I once prevailed on the barber to give me
ſome of the fuds or lather, out of which I pick-
ed forty or fifty of the ſtrongeſt ſtumps of hair.
then took a piece of fine wood, and cut it like the
back of a comb, making ſeveral holes in it at equal
diſtances, with as ſmall a needle as I could get from
Glumdalclitch. I fixed in the ſtumps fo artificially,
fcraping and floping them with my knife towards
the points, that I made a very tolerable comb; which
was a feaſonable ſupply, my own being ſo much
broken in the teeth, that it was almoſt uſeleſs:
Neither did I know any artiſt in that country
fo
nice
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 145
..
nice and exact, as would undertake to make me an-
other.
And this puts me in mind of an amuſement
wherein I ſpent many of my leiſure hours. I deſired
the queen's woman to ſave for me the combings of
her majeſty's hair; whereof in time I got a good
quantity; and conſulting with my friend the cabi-
net-maker, who had received general orders to do
little jobs for me, I directed him to make two chair-
frames, no larger than thoſe I had in my box, and
then to bore little holes with a fine awl round thoſe
parts where I deſigned the backs and ſeats; through
theſe holes I wove the ſtrongeſt hairs I could pick
out, juſt after the manner of cane-chairs in England.
When they were finiſhed, I made a preſent of them
to her majeſty, who kept them in her cabinet, and
uſed to ſhow them for curioſities; as indeed they
were the wonder of every one that beheld them.
The queen would have had me fit upon one of
theſe chairs, but I abfolutely refufed to obey her ;
proteſting I would rather die a thouſand deaths, than
place a diſhonourable part of my body on thoſe
cious hairs that once adorned her majeſty's head.
Of theſe hairs (as I had always a mechanical ge
nius) I likewiſe made a neat little purſe about
five
feet long, with her majeſty's name decyphered in
gold letters; which I gave to Glumdalclitch by the
queen's conſent. To ſay the truth, it was more for
ſhow than uſe, being not of ſtrength to bear the
weight of the larger coins; and therefore ſhe kept
nothing in it but ſome little toys that girls are fond
of,
The king, who delighted in muſic, had frequent
concerts at court, to which I was ſometimes carried,
and ſet in my box on a table to hear them: But the
noiſe was ſo great that I could hardly diſtinguiſh the
lunes. I am confident, that all the drums and trum-
N
pets
on thoſe pre-
146 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
pets of a royal army, beating and founding together
juſt at your ears, could not equal it. My practice
was to have my box removed from the place where
the performers fat as far as I could, then to ſhut
the doors and windows of it, and draw the window.
curtains; after which I found their muſic not dif-
.
I had learned in my youth to play a little upon
the ſpinet. Glumdalclitch kept one in her chamber,
and a maſter attended twice a-week to teach her: I
called it a ſpinet, becauſe it ſomewhat reſembled
that inftrument, and was played upon in the fame
manner. A fancy came into my head, that I would
entertain the king and queen with an Engliſh tune
upon this inftrument. But this appeared extremely
difficult, for the ſpinet was near fixty feet long, each
key being almoſt a foot wide, ſo that with my arms
extended I could not reach to above five keys, and
to preſs them down required a good ſinart ſtroke
with my fiſt, which would be too great a labour,
and to no purpoſe. The method I contrived was
this : I prepared two round ſticks about the bigneſs
of common cudgels; they were thicker at one end
than the other, and I covered the thicker end with
a piece of a mouſe's ſkin, that, by rapping on them,
I might neither damage the tops of the keys, nor in-
terrupt the ſound. Before the ſpinet a bench was
placed about four feet below the keys, and I was
upon the bench. I ran fideling upon it that way
and this as faſt as I could, banging the proper keys
with my two ſticks, and made a ſhift to play a jig,
to the great ſatisfaction of both their majeſties: But
it was the moſt violent exerciſe I ever underwent,
and yet I could not ſtrike above fixteen keys, nor
conſequently play the baſe and treble together, as
other artiſts do; which was a great diſadvantage to
my performance.
The
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 147
Ths king, who, as I before obſerved, was a prince
of excellent underſtanding, would frequently order
that I ſhould be brought in a box, and ſet upon the
table in his cloſet: He would then command me to
bring one of my chairs out of the box, and fit down
within three yards diſtance upon the top of the ca-
binet, which brought me almoſt to a level with his
face. In this manner I had feveral converſations
with him. I one day took the freedom to tell his
majefty, that the contempt he diſcovered towards
Europe, and the reft of the world, did not ſeem an-
fwerable to thoſe excellent qualities of mind that he
was maſter of: That reaſon did not extend itſelf
with the bulk of the body on the contrary, we ob-
ferved in our country, that the talleſt perſons were
uſually leaſt provided with it: That among other
animals, bees and ants had the reputation of more
induſtry, art, and fagacity, than many of the larger
kinds; and that, as inconſiderable as he took me to
be, I hoped I might live to do his majefty fome fig-
nal fervice. The king heard me with attention, and
began to conceive a much better opinion of me than
he had ever before. He deſired I would give him
as exact an account of the government of England
as I poſſibly could; becauſe, as fond as princes com-
monly are of their own cuſtoms (for fo he conjec-
tured of other monarchs by my former diſcourſes),
he ſhould be glad to hear of any thing that might
deſerve imitation.
Imagine with thyſelf, courteous reader, how of-
ten I then wiſhed for the tongue of Demofthenes or
Cicero, that might have enabled me to celebrate the
praiſe of my own dear native country in a ſtyle equal
to its merits and felicity.
I began my diſcourſe by informing his majeſty,
that our dominions conſiſted of two iſlands, which
compoſed three mighty kingdoms under one ſove-
reign,
N 2
148 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
reign, beſides our plantations in America. I dwelt
long upon the fertility of our foil, and the tempera-
ture of our climate. I then ſpoke at large upon the
conſtitution of an Engliſh parliament, partly made
up of an illuſtrious body called the houſe of peers,
perſons of the nobleſt blood, and of the moſt ancient
and ample patrimonies. I deſcribed that extraor-
dinary care always taken of their education in arts
and arms, to qualify them for being counſellors both
to the king and kingdom; to have a ſhare in the le-
giſlature; to be members of the higheſt court of ju-
dicature, from whence there could be no appeal ;
and to be champions always ready for the defence
of their prince and country, by their valour, con-
duct, and fidelity. That theſe were the ornament
and bulwark of the kingdom, worthy followers of
their moſt renowned anceſtors, whoſe honour had
been the reward of their virtue, from which their
poſterity were never once known to degenerate. To
theſe were joined ſeveral holy perſons, as part of
that aſſembly, under the title of biſhops, whoſe
pe-
culiar buſineſs it is to take care of religion, and of
thoſe who inſtruct the people therein. Theſe were
ſearched and ſought out through the whole nation
by the prince and his wiſeſt counſellors, among ſuch
of the prieſthood as were moſt deſervedly diſtin-
guiſhed by the ſanctity of their lives and the depth
of their erudition, who were indeed the fpiritual fa-
thers of the clergy and the people.
Thất the other part of the parliament conſiſted
of an aſſembly called the houſe of commons, who
were all principal gentlemen, freely picked and cull-
ed out by the people themſelves, for their great abi-
lities and love of their country, to repreſent the wif-
dom of the whole nation. And that theſe two bo-
dies made up the moſt auguſt aſſembly in Europe;
to
A Voyage to BROEDINGNAG.
149
..
to whom, in conjunction with the prince, the whole
legiſlature is committed.
I then deſcended to the courts of juſtice, over
which the judges, thoſe venerable ſages and inter-
preters of the law, preſided for determining the diſ-
puted rights and properties of men, as well as for
the puniſhment of vice and protection of innocence.
I mentioned the prudent management of our trea-
fury, the valour and atchievements of our forces by
fea and land. I computed the number of our peo-
ple, by reckoning how many millions there might
be of each religious feet or political party among
us. I did not omit even our ſports and paſtimes, or
any other particular, which I thought might redound
to the honour of my country. And I finiſhed all
with a brief hiſtorical account of affairs and events
in England for about an hundred years paſt.
This converſation was not ended under five audi-
ences, each of ſeveral hours;
and the king heard the
whole with great attention, frequently taking notes
of what I ſpoke, as well as memorandums of what
queſtions he intended to aſk me.
When I had put an end to thefe long diſcourſes,
his majeſty, in a fixth audience, conſulting
his notes,
propoſed many doubts, queries, and objections upon
every article. He aſked what methods we uſed to
cultivate the minds and bodies of our young nobi-
lity, and in what kind of buſineſs they commonly
fpent the firſt and teachable part of their lives.
What courſe was taken to ſupply that aſſembly
when any noble family became extinct. What qua-
lifications were neceſſary in thoſe who are to be
created new lords: Whether the humour of the
prince, a ſum of money to a court lady or a prime
miniſter, or a deſign of ſtrengthening a party oppo-
fite to the public intereſt, ever happened to be mo-
tives in thoſe advancements. What ſhare of know-
ledge
N 3
150
A Voyage to BROEDINGNAG.
?
ledge theſe lords had in the laws of their country,
and how they came by it, ſo as to enable them to
decide the properties of their fellow-ſubjects in the
laſt reſort. Whether they were always ſo free from
avarice, partialities, or want, that a bribe or ſome
other ſiniſter view could have no place among them.
Whether thoſe holy lords I ſpoke of, were always
promoted to that rank upon account of their know-
ledge in religious matters and the ſanctity of their
lives; had never been compliers with the times while
they were common prieſts, or ſlaviſh proſtitute cha-
plains to fome nobleman, whoſe opinions they con-
tinued ſervilely to follow after they were admitted
into that aſſembly.
He then deſired to know, what arts were practi-
fed in electing thofe whom I called commoners :
Whether a ſtranger with a ſtrong purſe might not
influence the vulgar voters to chooſe him before their
own landlord, or the moſt conſiderable gentleman
in the neighbourhood. How it came to paſs that
people were fo violently bent upon getting into this
afſembly, which I allowed to be a great trouble and
expence, often to the ruin of their families, without
any ſalary or penfion : Becauſe this appeared fuch
an exalted ſtrain of virtue and public ſpirit, that his
majeſty ſeemed to doubt it might poſſibly not be al-
ways ſincere: And he deſired to know, whether ſuch
zealous gentlemen could have any views of refund-
ing themſelves for the charges and trouble they were
at, by facrificing the public good to the deſigns of a
weak and vicious prince, in conjunction with a cor-
rupted miniſtry. He multiplied his queſtions, and
fifted me thoroughly upon every part of this head,
propoſing numberleſs inquiries and objections, which
I think it not prudent or convenient to repeat.
Upon what I ſaid in relation to our courts of ju-
ſtice, his majeſty deſired to be ſatisfied in ſeveral
points:
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 151
fure. Whether they had ever at different times
points: And this I was the better able to do, having
been formerly almoft ruined by a long fuit in chan-
cery, which was decreed for me with coſts. He alk-
ed what time was uſually ſpent in determining be-
tween right and wrong, and what degree of expence.
Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead
in cauſes manifeſtly known to be unjuſt, vexatious,
or opprefſive. Whether party in religion or politics
were obferved to be of any weight in the ſcale of
juſtice. Whether thoſe pleading orators were per-
fons educated in the general knowledge of equity,
or only in provincial, national, and other local cu-
ftoms. Whether they or their judges had any part
in penning thoſe laws, which they aſſumed the li.
berty of interpreting and glofling upon at their plea-
pleaded for and againſt the ſame cauſe, and cited
precedents to prove contrary opinions. Whether
they were a rich or poor corporation. Whether they
received any pecuniary reward for pleading or deli-
vering their opinions. And particularly, whether
they were ever admitted as members in the lower
fenate.
He fell next upon the management of our trea-
fury; and ſaid, he thought my memory had failed
me, becauſe I computed our taxes at about five or
fix millions a-year; and, when I came to mention
the iffues, he found they ſometimes amounted to
more than double: For the notes he had taken were
very particular in this point, becauſe he hoped, as
he told me, that the knowledge of our conduct
might be uſeful to him, and he could not be decei-
ved in his calculations. But if what I told him were
true, he was ſtill at a loſs how a kingdom could run
out of its eſtate like a private perſon. He aſked me,
who were our creditors; and where we found mo-
ney to pay them. He wondered to hear me talk of
fuch
152 A Voyage to BROEDINGNAG.
fuch chargeable and expenſive wars; that certainly
we muſt be a quarrelſome people, or live among
very bad neighbours, and that our generals muſt
needs be richer than our kings. He aſked what bu-
fineſs we had out of our own iſlands, unleſs upon
the ſcore of trade or treaty, or to defend the coaſts
with our fleet. Above all, he was amazed to hear
me talk of a mercenary ſtanding army in the midſt
of peace and among a free people. He faid, if we
were governed by our own conſent in the perſons of
our reprefentatives, he could not imagine of whom
we were afraid, or againſt whom we were to fight;
and would hear my opinion, whether a private man's
houfe might not better be defended by himfelf, his
children, and family, than by half a dozen raſcals,
picked up at a venture in the ſtreets for ſmall wages,
who might get a hundred times more by cutting
their throats.
He laughed at my odd kind of arithmetic (as he
was pleaſed to call it), in reckoning the numbers of
our people, by a computation drawn from the ſeve-
ral feets among us in religion and politics. He ſaid,
he knew no reaſon why thoſe, who entertain opi-
nions prejudicial to the public, ſhould be obliged to
change, or ſhould not be obliged to conceal them.
And as it was tyranny in any government to require
the firſt, fo it was weakneſs not to enforce the fe-
cond: For a man may be allowed to keep poiſons
in his cloſet, but not to vend them about for cor-
dials.
He obſerved, that among the diverſions of our
nobility and gentry I had mentioned gaming; he
deſired to know at what age this entertainment was
uſually taken up, and when it was laid down: How
much of their time it employed: Whether it ever
went fo high as to affect their fortunes : Whether
mean vicious people, by their dexterity in that art,
might
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
153
might not arrive at great riches, and ſometimes keep
our very nobles in dependence, as well as habituate
them, to vile companions, wholly take them from
the improvement of their minds, and force them,
by the loſſes they received, to learn and practiſe that
infamous dexterity upon others.
He was perfectly aftoniſhed with the hiſtorical
account I gave him of our affairs during the laſt cen-
tury, proteſting it was only a heap of conſpiracies,
rebellions, murders, mafſacres, revolutions, baniſh-
ments; the very worſt effects that avarice, faction,
hypocriſy, perfidiouſneſs, cruelty, rage, madneſs,
hatred, envy, luft, malice, and ambition, could pro-
duce.
His majeſty, in another audience, was at the pains
to recapitulate the ſum of all I had ſpoken; compx
red the queſtions he made with the anſwers I had
given:
Then taking me into his hands, and ttroak-
ing me gently, delivered himſelf in theſe words,
which I Thall never forget, nor the manner he ſpoke
them in: My little friend Grildrig, you have made
a moſt admirable panegyric upon your country; you
have clearly proved, that ignorance, idleneſs, and
vice are the proper ingredients for qualifying a le-
giſlator ; that laws are beſt explained, interpreted,
and applied by thoſe whoſe intereſt and abilities lie
in perverting, confounding, and eluding them. I
obſerve among you ſome lines of an inſtitution,
which in its original might have been tolerable, but
theſe half eraſed, and the reſt wholly blurred and
blotted by corruptions. It doth not appear from all
you have ſaid, how any one perfection is required
toward the procurement of any one ſtation among
you ; much leſs that men are ennobled on account
of their virtue, that prieits are advanced for their
piety or learning, foldiers for their conduct or va-
lour, judges for their integrity, fenators for the love
of
154
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
of their country, or counſellors for their wiſdom,
As for yourſelf, continued the king, who have ſpent
the greateſt part of your life in travelling, I am well
difpofed to hope you may hitherto have eſcaped
many vices of your country. But by what I have
gathered from your own relation, and the anſwers I
have with much pains wringed and extorted from
you, I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives
to be the moſt pernicious race of little odious ver-
min, that nature ever fuffered to crawl upon the fur-
face of the earth.
CHA P. VII.
The Author's love of his country. He makes a pro
poſal of much advantage to the king, which is rea
jected. The king's great ignorance in politics.
The learning of that country very imperfeet and con-
fined. The laws, and military affairs, and parties
in the fate.
NOT
OTHING but an extreme love of truth could
have hindered me from concealing this part
of my ſtory. It was in vain to diſcover my reſent-
ments, which were always turned into ridicule; and
I was forced to reſt with patience, while my noble
and moſt beloved country was ſo injurioufly treated.
I am as heartily forry as any of my readers can pof-
fibly be, that ſuch an occaſion was given : But this
prince happened to be ſo curious and inquiſitive up-
on every particular, that it could not confiſt either
with gratitude or good manners to refuſe giving
him what ſatisfaction I was able. Yet this much I
ntay be allowed to fay in my own vindication, that
I artfully eluded many of his queſtions, and gave to
every point a more favourable turn by many degrees
than
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
135
than the ſtrictneſs of truth would allow. For I have
always borne that laudable partiality to my own
country, which Dionyfius Halicarnaffenfis with fo
much juſtice recommends to an hiſtorian: I would
hide the frailties and deformities of my political mo-
ther, and place her virtues and beauties in the moſt
advantageous light. This was my fincere endeavour
in thoſe many diſcourſes I had with that monarch,
although it unfortunately failed of ſucceſs. *
But great allowances ſhould be given to a king
who lives wholly fecluded from the reſt of the world,
and muſt therefore be altogether unacquainted with
the manners and cuſtoms that moſt prevail in other
nations : The want of which knowledge will ever
produce many prejudices, and a certain narrowneſs
of thinking, from which we and the politer coun-
tries of Europe are wholly exempted. And it would
be hard indeed, if ſo remote a prince's notions of
virtue and vice were to be offered as a ſtandard for
all mankind.
To confirm what I have now faid, and further to
fhow the miſerable effects of a confined education, I
fhall here infert a paſſage which will hardly obtain
belief. In hopes to ingratiate myſelf farther into his
majeſty's favour, I told him of an invention, diſco-
vered between three and four hundred years ago, to
make a certain powder, into an heap of which the
ſmalleſt ſpark of fire falling would kindle the whole
in a moment, although it were as big as a mountain,
and make it all fly up in the air together, with a
noife and agitation greater than thunder. That a
proper quantity of this powder rammed into an hol-
low tube of braſs or iron, according to its bigneſs,
would drive a ball of iron or lead with ſuch violence
and ſpeed, as nothing was able to ſuſtain its force.
That the largeſt balls
thus difcharged would not on-
ly deſtroy whole ranks of an army at once, but bat-
ter
be offered as a ſtandard
136
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
ter the ſtrongeſt walls to the ground, ſink down ſhips.
with a thouſand men in each to the bottom of the
fea; and when linked together by a chain, would
cut through maſts and rigging, divide hundreds of
bodies in the middle, and lay all waſte before them.
That we often put this powder into large hollow
balls of iron, and diſcharged them by an engine in-
to fome city we were beſieging, which would rip up
the pavements, tear the houſes to pieces, burſt and
throw ſplinters on every fide, daſhing out the brains
of all who came near. That I knew the ingredients
very well, which were cheap and common; I un-
derſtood the manner of compounding them, and
could direct his workmen how to make thoſe tubes
of a fize proportionable to all other things in his
majeſty's kingdom, and the largeſt need not be above
an hundred feet long; twenty or thirty of which
tubes, charged with the proper quantity of powder
and balls, would batter down the walls of the ſtrong-
eft town in his dominions in a few hours, or deſtroy
the whole metropolis, if ever it ſhould pretend to
diſpute his abſolute commands. This I humbly of.
fered to his majeſty, as a ſmall tribute of acknow-
ledgment in return of ſo many marks that I had re-
ceived of his royal favour and protection.in
The king was ſtruck with horror at the deſcrip-
tion I had given of thoſe terrible engines and the
propoſal I had made. He was amazed, how ſo im-
potent and grovelling an infect as I (theſe were his
expreſſions), could entertain ſuch inhuman ideas,
and in ſo familiar a manner, as to appear wholly un-
moved at all the ſcenes of blood and defolation,
which I had painted as the common effects of thoſe
deſtructive machines, whereof he ſaid fomé evil ge-
nius, enemy to mankind, muſt have been the firſt
contriver. As for himſelf, he proteſted, that al-
though few things delighted him ſo much as new
diſco-
I
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 157
my life,
diſcoveries in art or in nature, yet he would rather
loſe half his kingdom, than to be privy to ſuch a fe-
cret, which he commanded me, as I valued
never to mention any more..
A ftrange effect of narrow principles and foort
views ! that a prince poſſeſſed of every quality which
procures veneration, love, and eſteem; of ſtrong
parts, great wiſdom, and profound learning, endow-
ed with admirable talents for government, and al-
moſt adored by his ſubjects; ſhould, from a nice un-
neceſary fcruple, whereof in Europe we can have no
conception, let flip an opportunity put into his hand
that would have made him abfolute maſter of the
lives, the liberties, and the fortunes of his people.
Neither do I ſay this with the leaft intention to de
tract from the many virtues of that excellent king,
whoſe character I am fenfible will on this account
be very much lefſened in the opinion of an Engliſh
reader; but I take this defeat among them to have
riſen from their ignorance, by not having hitherto
reduced politics into a ſcience, as the more acute
wits of Europe have done. For I remember very
well, in a diſcourſe one day with the king, when I
happened to ſay there were ſeveral thouſand books
among us written upon the art of government, it
gave him (dire&ly contrary to my intention) a very
mean opinion of our underſtandings. He profeffed
both to abominate and deſpiſe all myſtery, refinement,
and intrigue, either in a prince or a miniſter. He
could not tell what I meant by ſecrets of ſtate,
where
an enemy, or ſome rival nation, were not in the caſe.
He confined the knowledge of governing within
very narrow bounds, to common ſenſe and reaſon,
to juſtice and lenity, to the ſpeedy determination of
civil and criminal cauſes; with fome other obvious
topics, which are not worth conſidering. And he
gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make
two
158 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
cars of corn, or two blades of graſs, to grow upon a
ſpot of ground where only one grew before, would
deſerve better of mankind, and do more eflential fer-
vice to his country, than the whole race of politi-
cians put together...
The learning of this people is very defective, con-
fiſting only in morality, hiſtory, poetry, and mathe-
matics, wherein they muſt be allowed to excel. But
the laſt of theſe is wholly applied to what may be
uſeful in life, to the improvement of agriculture
and all mechanical arts; fo that among us it would
be little eſteemed. And as to ideas, entities, ab-
ſtractions, and tranſcendentals, I could never drive
the leaſt conception into their heads.
No law of that country muſt exceed in words the
number of letters in their alphabet, which conſiſts
only of two-and-twenty. But indeed few of them
extend even to that length. They are expreſſed in
the moſt plain and ſimple terms, wherein thoſe peo-
ple are not mercurial enough to diſcover above one
interpretation: And to write a comment upon any
law is a capital crime. As to the deciſion of civil
cauſes, or proceedings againſt criminals, their pre-
cedents are ſo few, that they have little reaſon to
boaſt of any extraordinary ſkill in either.
They have had the art of printing as well as the
Chineſe time out of mind : But their libraries are
not very large ; for that of the king, which is rec-
koned the largeſt, doth not amount to above a thou-
ſand volumes, placed in a gallery of twelve hun-
dred feet long, from whence I had liberty to borrow
what books I pleaſed. The queen's joiner had con-
trived in one of Glumdalclitch's rooms a kind of
wooden machine five-and-twenty feet high, formed
like a ſtanding ladder, the ſteps were each fifty feet
long: It was indeed a moveable pair of ſtairs, the
loweſt end placed at ten feet diſtance from the wall
of
A Voyage to. BROB DINGNAG. 159
of the chamber. The book I had a mind to read
was put up leaning againſt the wall; I firſt mount-
ed to the upper ſtep of the ladder, and turning my
face towards the book, began at the top of the page,
and ſo walking to the right and left about eight or
ten paces, according to the length of the lines, till
I had gotten a little below the level of mine eyes,
and then deſcending
gradually till I came to the bot-
tom: after which I mounted again, and began the
other page in the fame manner, and fo turned over
the leaf, which I could eaſily do with both my hands,
for it was as thick and ſtiff as a paſte-board, and in
the largeſt folios not above eighteen or twenty feet
long. This is
Their ſtyle is clear, mafculine, and ſmooth, but
not florid; for they avoid nothing more than multi-
plying unneceſſary words, or uſing various expreſ-
fions. I have peruſed many of their books, eſpeci-
ally thoſe in hiſtory and morality. Among the relt,
I was much diverted with a little old treatife, which
always lay in Glumdalclitch's bed-chamber, and be-
longed to her governeſs, a grave elderly gentlewo-
man, who dealt in writings of morality and devo-
tion. The book treats of the weakneſs of human kind,
and is in little eſteem except among the women and
the vulgar. However, I was curious to fee what an
author of that country could ſay upon ſuch a ſubject.
This writer went through all the uſual topics of Eu-
ropean moraliſts, fhowing how diminutive, contemp-
tible, and helpleſs an animal was man in his own
nature; how unable to defend himſelf from incle-
mencies of the air, or the fury of wild beaſts. How
much he was excelled by one creature in ſtrength,
by another in ſpeed, by a third in foreſight, by a
fourth in induſtry. He added, that nature was de-
generated in theſe latter declining ages of the world,
and could now produce only ſmall abortive births,
O 2
in
160
A Voyage to BROBD INGNAG.
in compariſon of thoſe of ancient times. He faid, it
was very reaſonable to think, not only that the fpe-
cies of men were originally much larger, but alſo
that there muſt have been giants in former ages;
which, as it is afferted by hiſtory and tradition, ſo it
hath been confirmed by huge bones and ſkulls, ca-
ſually dug up in feveral parts of the kingdom, far
exceeding the common dwindled race of man in our
days. He argued, that the very laws of nature ab-
folutely required we ſhould have been made in the
beginning of a ſize more large and robuſt, not fo li-
able to deſtruction from every little accident of a tile
falling from an houſe, or a ſtone caſt from the hand
of a boy, or being drowned in a little brook. From
this way of reaſoning, the author drew ſeveral mo-
ral applications uſeful to the conduct of life, but
needleſs here to repeat. For my own part, I could
not avoid reflecting how univerſally this talent was
{pread, of drawing lectures in morality, or indeed
rather matter of diſcontent and repining, from the
quarrels we raiſe with nature. And, I believe, up-
on a ſtrict enquiry, thoſe quarrels might be ſhown
as ill-grounded among us as they are among
that
people.
As to their military affairs, they boaſt that the
king's army confifts of an hundred and feventy-ſix
thouſand foot and thirty-two thoufand horſe'; if
that may be called an army, which is made up of
tradeſmen in the ſeveral cities and farmers in the
country, whoſe commanders are only the nobility
and gentry, without pay or reward. They are in-
deed perfect enough in their exerciſes, and under
very good difcipline, wherein I ſaw no great merit;
for how ſhould it be otherwiſe, where every farmer
is under the command of his own landlord, and
every citizen under that of the principal men in his
OWN
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 161
own city, choſen after the manner of Venice, by bal-
lot.
*
I have often ſeen the militia of Lorbrulgrud drawn
out to exerciſe in a great field near the city of twen-
ty miles ſquare. They were in all not above twenty-
five thouſand foot and fix thouſand horfe : But it
was impoſſible for me to compute their number,
conſidering the ſpace of ground they took up. A
cavalier, mounted on a large ſteed, might be about
ninety feet high. I have ſeen this whole body of
horſe, upon a word of command, draw their ſwords
at once, and brandiſh them in the air. Imagina-
tion can figure nothing ſo grand, ſo ſurpriſing, and
fo aſtoniſhing! it looked as if ten thouſand flaſhes of
lightning were darting at the ſame time from every
ſky.
I was curious to know how this prince, to whoſe
dominions there is no acceſs from any other cours.
try, came to think of armies, or to teach his people
the practice of military diſcipline. But I was foon
informed, both by converſation and reading their
hiſtories: For in the courſe of many ages they have
been troubled with the fame diſease to which the
whole race of mankind is ſubject; the nobility of
ten contending for power, the people for liberty,
and the king
for abſolute dominion. All which,
however, happily tempered
by the laws of that king-
dom, have been fometimes violated by each of the
three parties, and have more than once occaſioned
civil wars, the laſt whereof was happily put an
end to by this prince's grandfather in a general
compoſition; and the militia, then ſettled with com:
mon conſent, hath been everjſince kept in the ſtriet.
eft duty.
of
03
CHAP
162 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
Work Abroad
CH A P. VIII.
I
The king and queen make a progreſs to the frontiers.
The Author attends them. The manner in which
he leaves the country very particularly related. He
returns to England.
este
T Had always a ſtrong impulfe that I ſhould ſome
time recover my liberty, though it was impoſ-
ſible to conjecture by what means, or to form any
project with the leaſt hope of ſucceeding. The
fhip in which I failed was the firſt ever known to
be driven within fight of that coaft, and the king
had given ſtrict orders, that if at any time another
appeared, it ſhould be taken afhore, and with all its
crew and paſſengers brought in a tumbril to Lor-
brulgrud. He was ſtrongly bent to get me a wo-
man of my own size, by whom I might propagate
the breed. But I think I ſhould rather have died,
than undergone the diſgrace of leaving a poſterity,
to be kept in cages like tame Canary birds,
and per-
haps in time fold about the kingdom to perſons of
quality for curioſities. I was indeed treated with
much kindneſs: I was the favourite of a great king
and queen, and the delight of the whole court; but
it was upon ſuch a foot as ill became the dignity
of human kind. I could never forget thoſe dome.
ſtic pledges I had left behind me. I wanted to be
among people with whom I could converſe upon
even terms, and walk about the ſtreets and fields,
without being afraid of being trod to death like a
frog or a young puppy. But my deliverance came
ſooner than I expected, and in a manner not very
common; The whole ſtory and circumſtances of
which I ſhall faithfully relate.
I
A Voyage To BROADINGNAG. 163
I had now been two years in this country, and
about the beginning of the third Gluindalclitch and
I attended the king and queen in a progreſs to the
Jouth coaſt of that kingdom. I was carried as uſual
in my travelling-box, which, as I have already de
fcribed, was a very convenient cloſet of twelve feet
wide. And I had ordered a hammock to be fixed
by Gilken ropes from the four corners at the top, to
break the jolts when a fervant carried me before him
on horfeback, as I fometimes defired, and would
often fleep in my hammock while we were upon the
road. On the roof of my cloſet, not direaly over
the middle of the hammock, I ordered the joiner to
cut out a hole of a foot ſquare, to give me air in hot
weather as I flept; which hole I fhut at pleaſure
with a board, that drew backwards and forvards
through a groove.
When we came to our journey's end, the king
thought proper to paſs a few days at a palace he
hath near Flanflaſnic, a city within eighteen English
miles of the fea-fide. Glumdalclitch and 1 were
much fatigued : I had gotten a ſmall cold, but the
poor girl was ſo ill as to be confined to her cham-
ber. I longed to ſee the ocean, which muſt be the
only ſcene of my eſcape, if ever it ſhould happen:
I pretended to be worſe than I really was, and de-
Gred leave to take the freſh air of the ſea with a
page, whom I was very fond of, and who had fome-
omes been truſted with me. I fhall never forget
with what unwillingneſs Glumdalclitch confented,
nor the ſtrict charge fhe gave the page to be care-
ful of me, burſting at the fame time into a flood of
tears, as if ſhe had ſome foreboding of what was to
happen. The boy took me out in my box about
half an hour's walk from the palace towards the
rocks on the ſea-ſhore. I ordered him to ſet me
down, and lifting up one of my falhes, caft many a
164
A Voyage to BroBDINGNAG.
.
wiſhful melancholy look towards the ſea. I found
myſelf not very well, and told the page that I had
a mind to take a nap in my hammock, which I ho-
ped would do me good. I got in, and the boy ſhut
the window cloſe down to keep out the cold. I ſoon
fell aſleep; and all I can conjecture is, that while
I ſlept, the page, thinking no danger could happen,
went among the rocks to look for birds eggs, ha-
ving before obſerved him from my window ſearch.
ing about, and picking up one or two in the clefts.
Be that as it will, I found myſelf ſuddenly awaked
with a violent pull upon the ring which was faſten-
ed at the top of my box for the conveniency of car-
riage. I felt my box raiſed very high in the air, and
then borne forward with prodigious ſpeed. The
firſt jolt had like to have ſhaken me out of my ham-
mock, but afterwards the motion was eaſy enough
I called out ſeveral times as loud as I could raiſe
my voice; but all to no purpoſe. I looked towards
my windows, and could fee nothing but the clouds
and ſky. I heard a noiſe juſt over my head like the
clapping of wings, and then began to perceive the
woful condition I was in, that ſome eagle had got
the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent to
let it fall upon a rock, like a tortoiſe in a ſhell, and
then pick out my body and devour it: For the fa-
gacity and ſmell of this bird enabled him to diſco-
ver his quarry at a great diſtance, though better con-
cealed than I could be within a two-inch board.
In a little time I obſerved the noiſe and flatter of
wings to increafe very faſt, and my box was toſſed
up and down like a ſign in a windy day. I heard
ſeveral bangs or buffets, as I thought, given to the
eagle (for ſuch I am certain it muſt have been that
held the ring of my box in his beak), and then all
on a ſudden felt myſelf falling perpendicularly down
for above a minute, but with ſuch incredible ſwift-
neſs
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
163
nels that I almoſt loſt my breath. My fall was ſtop
ped by a terrible ſquaſh, that founded louder to my
cars than the cataract of Niagara; after which I was
quite in the dark for another minute, and then my
box began to rife ſo high that I could ſee light from
the tops of the windows. I now perceived that I
was fallen into the ſea. My box, by the weight of
my body, and the goods that were in, and the broad
plates of iron fixed for ſtrength at the four corners
of the top and bottom, floated about five feet depth
in water. I did then, and do now ſuppoſe, that
the eagle which flew away with my box was purſued
by two or three others, and forced to let me drop
while he defended himſelf againſt the reſt, who ho.
ped to ſhare in the prey. The plates of iron fafteria
cd at the bottom of the box (for thoſe were the
trongeſt), preſerved the balance while it fell, and
hindered it from being broken on the ſurface of the
water. Every joint of it was well grooved; and the
door did not move on hinges, but up and down like
1 Gíh, which kept my cloſet fo tight that very little
water came in. I got with much difficulty out of
my hammock, having firſt ventured to draw back
the flip-board on the roof already mentioned, con-
trived on purpoſe to let in air, for
want of which I
found myſelf almoſt ftifled.
How often did I then wiſh myſelf with my dear
Glumdalchtch, from whom one ſingle hour had lo far
divided me! And I may ſay with truth, that in the
midſt of my own misfortunes I could not forbear
lamenting my poor nurſe, the grief ſhe would ſuf-
fer for my loſs, the diſpleaſure of the queen, Md
the ruin of her fortune. Perhaps many travellers
have not been under greater difficulties and diſtreſs
than I was at this jundure, expecting every mo-
ment to ſee my body daſhed to pieces, or at leaſt
overfet by the firkt violent blaft or riſing wave. A
breach
166 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
breach in one ſingle pane of glaſs would have been
immediate death; nor could any thing have preſer-
ved the windows but the ſtrong lattice wires placed
on the outſide againſt accidents in travelling. I ſaw
the water ooze in at ſeveral crannies, although the
leaks were not conſiderable, and I endeavoured to
ſtop them as well as I could. I was not able to lift
up the roof of my cloſet, which otherwiſe I certain.
ly ſhould have done, and ſat on the top of it, where
I might at leaſt preſerve myſelf fome hours longer
than by being ſhut up (as I may call it) in the hold.
Or if I eſcaped theſe dangers for a day or two, what
could I expeâ but a miſerable death of cold and
hunger? I was four hours under theſe circumſtances,
expecting, and indeed wiſhing, every moment to be
my laſt.
I have already told the reader, that there were
two ſtrong ſtaples fixed upon that fide of my box
which had no window, and into which the fervant
who uſed to carry me on horſeback would put a
leathern belt, and buckle it about his waiſt. Being
in this diſconfolate ſtate, I heard, or at leaſt thought
I heard, fome kind of grating noiſe on that ſide of
my box where the ſtaples were fixed ; and ſoon af-
ter I began to fancy, that the box was pulled or
towed along in the ſea, for I now and then felt a
fort of tugging, which made the waves riſe near the
tops of
my windows, leaving me almoſt in the dark.
This gave me ſome faint hopes of relief; although
I was not able to imagine how it could be brought
about. I ventured to unſcrew one of my
chairs,
which were always faſtened to the floor; and ha-
ving made a hard ſhift to ſcrew it down again di-
rectly under the flipping-board that I had lately
opened, I mounted on the chair, and putting my
mouth as near as I could to the hole, I called for
help in a loud voice, and in all the languages I un-
derſtood.
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG, 167
deeftoad. I then faſtened my handkerchief to a ſtick
I uſually carried, and thruſting it up the hole, wa-
ved it ſeveral times in the air, that if any boat or
fhip were near, the feamen might conjecture fome
unhappy mortal to be ſhut up in the box.
I found no effect from all I could do, but plainly
perceived my cloſet to be moved along; and in the
ſpace of an hour, or better, that ſide of the box
where the ſtaples were, and had no window, ſtruck
againſt ſomething that was hard. I apprehended it
to be a rock, and found myſelf toſſed more than
ever. I plainly heard a noiſe upon the cover of my
clofet like that of a cable, and the grating of it as
it paſſed through the ring. I then found myſelf
hoiſted up by degrees at leaſt three feet higher than
I was before. Whereupon I again thruſt up my
ftick and handkerchief, calling for help till I was al-
moft hoarſe. In return to which, I heard a great
ſhout repeated three times, giving me ſuch tranſ-
ports of joy as are not to be conceived but by thoſe
who feel them. I now heard a trampling over my
head, and ſomebody calling through the hole with
Joud voice in the Engliſh tongue, If there be anz.
body below, let them ſpeak. I anſwered, I was an
Engliſhman, drawn by ill-fortune into the greate
calamity that ever any creature underwent, and beg-
ged by all that was moving to be delivered out of
the dungeon I was in. The voice replied I was ſafe,
for my box was faſtened to their ſhip; and the car-
penter ſhould immediately come and ſaw a hole in
the cover large enough to pull me out. I anſwered,
that was needleſs, and would take up too much time,
for there was no more to be done, but let one of
the crew put his finger into the ring, and take the
box out of the ſea into the ſhip, and ſo into the cap.
tain's cabin. Some of them, upon hearing me talk
ſo wildly, thought I was mad; others laughed; for:
indeed
168 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
indeed it never came into my head that I was now
got among people of my own ſtature and ſtrength.
The carpenter came, and in a few minutes ſawed a
paſſage about four feet ſquare, then let down a ſmall
ladder, upon which I mounted, and from thence
was taken into the ſhip in a very weak condition.
The failors were all in amazement, and aſked me
a thouſand queſtions, which I had no inclination to
anſwer. I was equally confounded at the fight of
ſo many pigmies, for ſuch I took them to be, after
having ſo long accuſtomed mine eyes to the mon.
ſtrous objects I had left. But the captain, Mr Tho-
mas Wilcocks, an honeſt worthy Shropſhire man,
obſerving I was ready to faint, took me into his
cabin, gave me a cordial to comfort me, and made
me turn in upon his own bed, adviſing me to take
a little reſt, of which I had great need. Before I
went to ſleep, I gave him to underſtand that I had
ſome valuable furniture in my box too good to be
loſt; a fine hammock, an handſome field-bed, two
chairs, a table, and a cabinet: That my cloſet was
hung on all fides, or rather quilted, with filk and
cotton: That if he would let one of the crew bring
my cloſet into his cabbin, I would open it there be-
fore him, and ſhow him my goods. The captain
hearing me utter theſe abſurdities, concluded I was
raving: However (I ſuppoſe to pacify me), he pro-
miſed to give order as I deſired; and going upon
deck, ſent ſome of his men down into my cloſet,
from whence (as I afterwards found) they drew up
all my goods, and ſtripped off the quilting: But the
chairs, cabinet, and bedſtead, being ſcrewed to the
floor, were much damaged by the ignorance of the
ſeamen, who tore them up by force. Then they
knocked off ſome of the boards for the uſe of the
ſhip; and when they had got all they had a mind
for, let the hull drop into the ſea; which, by reaſon
->
.
2
of
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. 169
of
of many breaches made in the bottom and Gides, funk
to rights. And indeed I was glad not to have beert
a ſpectator of the havoc they made; becauſe I am
confident it would have ſenſibly touched me, by
bringing former paflages into my mind, which I had
rather forget.
I ſlept fome hours, but perpetually diſturbed with
dreams of the place I had left, and the dangers I
had eſcaped. However, upon waking, I fouml my.
felf much recovered. It was now about eight of clock
at night, and the captain ordered ſupper immediate
ly, thinking I had already faſted too long. He en-
tertained me with great kindneſs, obſerving me not
to look wildly, or talk inconſiſtently; and, when we
were left alone, deſired I wouid give him a relation
iny travels, and by what accident I came to be ſet
adrift in that monſtrous wooden cheſt. He ſaid.
,
that abont twelve o'clock at noon, as he was look-
ing through his glaſs, he ſpied it at a diſtance, and
thought it was a fail, which he had a mind to make
being not much out of his courſe, in hopes of buying
ſome biſcuit, his own beginning to fall ſhort; that
upon comiug nearer, and finding his error, he fent
ovat bis Jong, boat to diſcover what I was That
his men came back in a fright, ſwearing that thej
had fecn a ſwimming houſe; that he laughed at
their folly and went himſelf in the boat, ondermy
his men to take a ſtrong cable along with thems
that the weather being calm, he rowed round me
keveral times, obſerving my windows, aiid the wire.
latrices that defended them; that he difcovered two
ſtaples upon one ſide, which was all of boards, with-
out any paſlage for light. He then commanded his
men to row up to that fide, and faſteming å cable to
ane of the ſtaples, ordered them to tow my cheſt (as
they called it) towards the fhip. When it was there,
be care directions to faiten another cable to the fing
P
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
s fixed in the cover, and to raiſe up my cheft with
pullies, which all the failors were not able to do
above two or three feet. He ſaid, they ſaw me ſtick
an handkerchief thruſt out of the hole, and conclu-
ded that ſome unhappy man muſt be ſhut up in the
cavity. I aſked whether he or the crew had ſeen
any prodigious birds in the air about the time he
firſt diſcovered me ? To which he anſwered, that
diſcourſing this matter with the ſailors while I was
afleep, one of them ſaid, he had obſerved three eagles
flying towards the north ; but remarked nothing of
their being larger than the uſual ſize, which I fup-
poſe muſt be imputed to the great height they were
at; and he could not gueſs the reaſon of my queſtion,
I then aſked the captain, how far he reckoned we
might be from land? He ſaid, by the beſt compu-
tation he could make, we were at leaſt an hundred
leagues. I aſſured him he muſt be miſtaken by almoſt
half, for I had not left the country from whence !
came above two hours before I dropt into the ſea.
Whereupon he began again to think that my brain
was diſturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and ad-
viſed me to go to bed in a cabbin he had provided.
I afſured him I was well refreſhed with his good en-
tertainment and company, and as much in my ſenſes
as ever I was in my life. He then grew ſerious, and
deſired me to ſpeak freely, whether I were not trou-
bled in mind by the conſciouſneſs of ſome enormous
crime, for which I was puniſhed at the command of
ſome prince, by expoſing me in that cheſt, as great
criminals in other countries have been forced to ſea
in a leaky veſſel without proviſions : For although
he ſhould be ſorry to have taken ſo ill a man into
his ſhip, yet he would engage his word to ſet me
ſafe aſhore in the firſt port where we arrived. He
added, that his ſuſpicions were much increaſed by
ſome very abſurd ſpeeches I had delivered at firſt to
A Payage to BROBDINGNAG.
FO.
the failors, and afterwards to himſelf, in relation to
msy cloſet or eheft, as well as by my odd looks and
bekaviour while I was at ſupper. photo
I begged his patience, to hear me tell my ſtory,
whick I faithfully did from the laſt time I left Eas.
land to the moment he firſt diſcovered me
And as
truth always forceth its way into rational minds, ſo this
honek worthy gentleman, who had ſome finĉture of
learning, and very good ſenſe, was immediately con.
vinced of my candeur and veracity, Bat, farther to
confirm all I had faid, I entreated him to give order
that my cabinet ſhould be brought, of which I had
the key in my pocket, (for he had already informed
me how the ſeamén diſpoſed of my clutet). Jopen.
ed it in his own preſence, and ſhowed him the ſmall
collection of rarities I made in the country from
whence I had been ſo ſtrangely delivered. There was
the comb i ha contrived out of the itumos of the
Kinga beard, and another of the faune matouale,
but fixed into a paring of her Majeſty's thumb-nail,
#hich ſerved for the back. There was a colle&tion
of wedles and pins, from a foot to half a yard lang.
four waſpettings, like joiners tacks ; tome constalogs
of the Queen's hair; a gold ring, which one day ſhe
made me a preſent of in a molt obliging mandet:
taking it from her little finger, and throwing it over
my head like a collar. I delired the captain would
pleaſe to accept this ring in return of his civilities
which lie abſolutely refuſed. 1 fhowed hm, a octa
that I had cut off with my own hand from a maid of
honour's toe ; it was about the bigneſs of a Kennith
pippin, and grown ſo hard, that, when I returned
lo Ksrgland, I got it hollowed into a cup, and let in
fiver. Lafly, I defired him to ſee the breeches I.
had then on, which were made of a moule's ſkin,
I could force nothing on him but a foorman's
tooth, which I obſerved him to examine with great
P2
curiolity,
172 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
curioſity, and found he had a fancy for it. He re.
ceived it with abundance of thanks, more than fuch
a trifle could deſerve. It was drawn by an unſkilful
ſurgeon, in a miſtake, from one of Glumdalclitch's
men, who was afflicted with the toothache ; but it
was as found as any in his head. I got it cleaned,
and put into my cabinet. It was about a foot long,
and four inches in diameter.
The captain was very well fatisfied with this plain
relation I had given him ; and ſaid, he hoped, when
we returned to England, I would oblige the world
by putting it on paper, and making it public. My
anſwer was, that I thought we were already over-
ſtocked with books of travels : That nothing could
now pafs which was not extraordinary; wherein I
doubted ſome authors leſs conſulted truth than their
own vanity or intereſt, or the diverhon of ignorant
readers: That my ſtory could contain little beſides
common events, without thoſe ornamental deſcrip-
tions of ſtrange plants, trees, birds, and other ani-
mals; or of the barbarous cuſtoms and idolatry of
ſavage people, with which moſt writers abound.
However, I thanked him for his good opinion, and
promiſed to take the matter into my thoughts.
He faid, he wondered at one thing very much,
which was, to hear me ſpeak fo loud, aſking me,
whether the King or Queen of that country were
thick of hearing? I told him, it was what I had been
uſed to for above two years paſt; and that I admi-
red as much at the voices of him and his men, who
ſeemed to me only to whiſper, and yet I could hear
them well enough. But, when I ſpoke in that count-
ry, it was like a man talking in the ſtreet to another
looking out from the top of a ſteeple, unleſs when
I was placed on a table, or held in any perſon's hand.
I told him, I had likewiſe obſerved another thing,
that wlien I firſt got into the ſhip, and the ſailors
food
A Voyage to BROBDINGNĄG.
173
Hood all about me, I thought they were the moſt
little contemptible creatures I had ever beheld. For
indeed, while I was in that prince's country, I could
never endure to look in a glaſs, after mine eyes had
been accuſtomed to ſuch prodigious objects, becauſe
the compariſon gave me ſo deſpicable a conceit of
myſelf. The captain ſaid, that while we were at
fupper he obſerved me to look at every thing with a
fort of wonder, and that I often ſeemed hardly able
to contain my laughter, which he knew not well
how to take, but imputed it to fome difurder in my
brain. I anfwered, it was very true; and I wonder-
ed how I could forbear, when I ſaw his diſhes of
the lize of a filver three-pence, a leg of pork hardly a
niouthful, a cup not fo big as a nut-ſhell; and to !
went on, diferibing the reſt of his houſehold-ftur
and proviſions after the fame manner. For althought
the Oueen had ordered a little equipage of all things
neceſſary for me, while I was in her ſervice, yet my
ideas were wholly taken up with what I ſaw orrevery
fide of me, and I winked at my own litzlenele, as
people do at their own faults. The captain -{+
derſtood my raillery very well, and merrlly replieit
with the old Engliſh proverb, that he doubted mine
eyes were bigger than my belly, for he did not ob-
ſerve my ſtomach ſo good, although I had fafted all
days and, continuing his mirth, proteſted he woult
have given an hundred pounds to have feen 1ox
clofet in the eagle's bill, and afterwards most
from ſo great a height into the fea; which would
certainly have been a moſt aſtoniſhing ebied, worthy
to have the deſcription of it tranſmitted to futste
ages: And the compariſon of Phaeton was fo ob-
vious, that he could not forbear applying it, although
1 did not much admire the conceit.
The captain, having been at 'Tonquin, was in lis
weurn to England driven north-eaſtward to the latte
tude
P3
174 A Voyage to BRODDINGNAC.
tude of 44 degrees, and of longitude 143. But
meeting a trade-wind two days after I came on
board him, we failed ſouthward a long time, and
coaſting New-Holland, kept our courſe weſt-ſouth
weſt, and then fouth-ſouth-weſt, till we doubled the
Cape of Good Hope. Our voyage was very proſper-
ous; but I fhall not trouble the reader with a jour-
nal of it. The captain called in at one or two ports,
and ſent in his long boat for proviſions and freſh
water; but I never went out of the ſhip till we
came into the Downs, which was on the third day
of June 1706, about nine months after my eſcape.
1 offered to leave my goods in ſecurity for payment
of my freight ; but the captain proteſted he would
not receive one farthing. We took a kind leave of
each other, and I made him promiſe he would
come to ſee me at my houſe in Redriff. I hired a
horſe and guide for five ſhillings, which I borrowed
of the captain.
As I was on the road, obſerving the littleneſs of
the houſes, the trees, the cattle, and the people, I
began to think myſelf in Lilliput. I was affraid of
trampling on every traveller I met, and often called
aloud to have them ſtand out of the way, ſo that I
had like to have gotten one or two broken heads for
my impertinence.
When I came to my own houſe, for which I was
forced to enquire, one of the ſervants opening the
door, I bent down to go in (like a gooſe under a
gate) for fear of ſtriking my head. My wife ran
out to embrace me; but I ſtooped lower than her
knees, thinking the could otherwiſe never be able to
reach my mouth. My daughter kneeled to aſk my
bleſſing, but I could not ſee her till the aroſe, ha-
ving been ſo long uſed to ſtand with my head and
eyes ere& to above fixty feet; and then I went to
take her up with one hand by the waiſt. I looked
down
A Voyage to BROB DINGNAG. 175
down upon the fervants, and one or two friends
who were in the houſe, as if they had been pigmies
and I a giant. I told my wife ſhe had been too
thrifty, for I found ſhe had ſtarved herſelf and
her daughter to nothing. In ſhort, I behaved my-
ſelf fo unacountably, that they were all of the cap-
tain's opinion when he firſt ſaw me, and concluded
I had loſt my wits. This I mention as an inſtance
of the great power of habit and prejudice.
In a little time, I and my family and friends
came to a right underſtanding ; but my wife pro.
teſted I ſhould never go to ſea any more; although
tay evit: deftiny ſo ordered, that ſhe had pot power
te hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter.
In the mean time, I here conclude the fecond part
of my unfortunate voyages.
PART
TRAVEL S.
P A R T III.
A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, BALNI-
BARBI, LUGGNAG, GLUBBDUB-
DRIB, AND JAPAN.
CH A P. I.
The author ſets out on his third voyage, is taken by
pirates. The malice of a Dutchman. His ar-
rival at an iſland. He is received into Laputa.
HAD not been at home above ten days, when
Captain William Robinſon, a Corniſhman,
commander of the Hope-well, a ſtout ſhip of three
hundred tons, came to my houſe. I had formerly
been ſurgeon of another ſhip, where he was maſter
and a fourth part owner, in a voyage to the Levant;
he had always treated me more like a brother than
an inferior officer, and, hearing of my arrival, made
me a viſit, as I apprehended, only out of friendſhip,
for nothing paſſed more than what is uſual after
long abſences. But. repeating his viſits often, ex-
preſſing his joy to find me in good health, aſking
2
whe-
2
A Voyage to Laputa, &c.
whether I were now ſettled for life, adding that he
intended a voyage to the Eaſt-Indies in two months ;
at laſt he plainly invited me, though with font
apologies, to be furgeon of the ſhip ; that I fhoald
have another furgeon under me, befides our two
mates; that my falary ſhould be double to the uſual
pay; and that having experienced my knowledge in
ua-affairs to be at leaſt equal to his, he would enter
into any engagement to follow my advice, as much
as if I had ſhared in the command.
He faid ſo many other obliging things, and I
kucw him to be ſo honeſt a man, that I could-not
reject his propoſal; the thirſt I had of ſeeing the
world, notwithſtanding my paſt misfortunes, con-
tinuing as violent as ever. The only diflicily that
remained, was to perſuade my wife, whoſe conſent
however I ac lait obtained, by the prolpect of advan,
tagte
We fer, our the sth day of Auguſt 1706, and,
arrived at Fort St George the irth of April 1707.
We ſtaid there three weeks to refreſh our crew,
Inany of whom were fick. From thence we went to
Tergulin, where the captain reſolved to continue
lome time, becauſe many of the goods he intended
to buy were not ready, nor could he expect to be
diſpatched in ſeveral months. Therefore, in hopes
to defray fome of the charges he muſt be at; key
bought a floop, loaded it with ſeveral ſorts of goods,
wherewith the Tonquineſe uſually trade to the
neighbouring illands, and putting fourteen men ori
board, whereof three were of the country, he ap,
peinted me maſter of the floop, and gave me power
Eo trallic, while he tranſacted his affairs at Tonquin.
We had not failed above three days, when, a
great ſtorm ariſing, we were driven five days to the
berth-north-eaſt, and then to the eaſt, after which
we lind fair weather, but ſtill with a pretty ſtrong
pal
178
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
gale from the weſt. Upon the tenth day we were
Chaſed by two pirates, who fooni overtook us; for
my floop was ſo deep laden, that ſhe failed very ſlow,
neither were we in a condition to defend ourſelves.
We were boarded about the ſame time by both
the pirates, who entered furiouſly at the head of
their men ; but finding us all proftrate upon our
faces (for ſo I gave order), they pinioned us with
ſtrong ropes, and, ſetting a guard upon us, went to
ſearch the floop.
I obſerved among them a Dutchman, who ſeemed
to be of ſome authority, though he was not com-
mander of either ſhip. He knew us by our coun
tenances to be Engliſhmen; and jabbering to us in
his own language, ſwore we ſhould be tied back to
back, and thrown into the ſea. I ſpoke Dutch toler-
ably well; I told him who we were, and begged
him, in conſideration of our being Chriſtians and
Proteſtants, of neighbouring countries in ſtrict alli-
ance, that he would move the captains to take ſome
pity on us. This inflamed his rage; he repeated
his threatenings; and turning to his companions,
ſpoke with great vehemence in the Japaneſe lan-
guage, as I fuppofe, often uſing the word Chriſtianos.
The largeſt of the two pirate ſhips was command-
ed by a Japaneſe captain, who ſpoke a little Dutch,
but very imperfeally. He came up to me, and after
feveral queſtions, which I anſwered in great hu-
mility, he ſaid we ſhould not die. I made the cap-
tain a very low bow; and then turning to the Dutch-
man, faid, I was forry to find more mercy in an
heathen than in a brother Chriſtian. But I had
foon reaſon to repent thoſe fooliſh words : For this
malicious reprobate, having often endeavoured in
vain to perſuade both the captains that I might be
thrown into the ſea (which they would not yield to
after the promiſe made me that I fhoud not die)
how-
A Voyage to Lapura, &c.
179
however prevailed ſo far as to have a puniſhment
inflicted on me, worſe, in all human appearance,
than death itſelf. My men were fent by an eqaal
diviſion into both the pirate ſhips, and my loan
new-manned. As to myſelf, it was determined
that I fhould be ſet adrift in a fmall canoe, with
paddles and a fail
, and four days proviſions ; which
laſt the Japaneſe captain was ſo kind to double out
of his own föres, and would permit no man to
fearch me. I got down into the canoe, while the
Dutchnan, ſtanding upon the deck, loaded me with
all the curſes and injurious terms his language could
About an hour before we ſaw the pirates, I had
taken an obſervation, and found we were in the
Jatitude of 46 N. and of longitude 183. When I
was at ſome diſtance from the pirates, I diſcovered
by my pocket-glafs foveral iſlands to the fouth-eaft.
I ler up my til, the wind being fairy with a dehgn
to reach the neareſt of thoſe iſlands, which I made
a ſhift to do in about three hours. It was all rocky,
however I got many birds eggs; and ſtriking fire
I kindled fome heath and dry ſea-weed, by which I
roaſted my eggs. I eat no other ſupper, being re-
Solved to ſpare my proviſions as much as I could.
I palled the night under the ſhelter of a rock, ſtrew-
ing fome heath under me, and flepr pretty wello store
The next day I failed to another iſland, and thence
to a third and fourth, ſometimes uſing my fail,
and ſometimes my paddles. But, not to trouble the
reader with a particular account of my diſtreſs, let
it fuffice, that on the fifth day I arrived at the laſt
iſland in my light, which lay ſouth-ſouth-eaſt to
the former,
This iſland was at a greater diſtance than I ex-
peded, and I did not reach it in leſs than five hours.
i encompaled it almoſt round before I could find a
CONY.
80 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
convenient place to land in, which was a ſmall creer
about three times the wideneſs of my canoe. I
found the iſland to be all rocky, only a little inter-
mingled with tufts of graſs and ſweet ſmelling
herbs. I took out my ſmall proviſions, and after
having refreſhed myſelf, I ſecured the remainder in
a cave, whereof there were great numbers. I gather-
ed plenty of eggs upon the rocks, and got a quantity
of dry ſea-weed and parched graſs, which I deſign-
ed to kindle the next day, and roaſt my eggs as well
as I could (for I had about me my flint, ſteel, match,
and burning-glaſs.) I lay all night in the cave where
I had lodged my proviſions. My bed was the ſame
dry graſs and ſea-weed which I intended for feuel.
I ſlept very little ; for the diſquiets of my mind pre-
vailed over my wearineſs, and kept me awake. I
conſidered how impoſſible it was to preſerve my life
in ſo deſolate a place, and how miſerable my end
muſt be; yet found myſelf ſo liſtleſs and deſpond-
ing, that I had not the heart to riſe; and before I
could get ſpirits enough to creep out of my cave,
the day was far advanced. I walked a while among
the rocks, the ſky was perfectly clear, and the ſun
ſo hot, that I was forced to turn my face from it:
When all on a ſudden it became obſcure, as I
thought, in a manner very different ftom what hap-
pens by the interpoſition of a cloud. I turned back,
and perceived a vaſt opaque body between me and
the ſun, moving forwards towards the iſland : It
ſeemed to be about two miles high, and hid the fun
fix or ſeven minutes, but I did not obſerve the air
to be much colder, or the ſky more darkened, than
if I had ſtood under the ſhade of a mountain. As
it approached nearer over the place where I was, it
appeared to be a firm fubftance, the bottom flat,
ſmooth, and ſhining very bright from the reflection
of the ſea below. I ſtood upon a height about two
hundred
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
181
hundred yards from the ſhore, and ſaw this vaſt body
deſcending almoſt to a parallel with me, at leſs chaq
an Eaglith mile diſtance. I took out my pocket.
perſpective, and could plainly diſcover numbers of
people moving up and down the ſides of it, which
appeared to be floping, but what thoſe people were
doing I was not able to diſtinguiſh,
The natural love of life gave me ſome inward
motions of joy; and I was
and I was ready to entertain in
hope, that this adventure might fome way or other
help to deliver me from the deſolate place and con-
dition I was in, But at the ſame time, the reader
can hardly conceive my aſtoniſhment, to behold an
iſland in the air, inhabited
by men, who were able
(as it ſhould ſeem) to raiſe, or link, or put into a
progreſſive motion, as they pleaſed. But not be.
ing, at that time, in a diſpoſition to philofophife
upon this phæpomenon, I rather choſe to oblerye
whar courle the iſland would take, becauſe it ſeem-
ed for a while to ſtand ſtill. Yet ſoon afier, it ad.
vanced nearer ; and I could ſee the fides of it ca.
comipalled with ſeveral gradations of galleries and
ſtairs, at certain intervals, to deſcend from one to
the other. In the loweſt gallery 1 beheld ſome
people fiſhing with long angling rods, and others
looking on. I waved my cap (for my hat was long
lince worn out) and my handkerchief towards the
Hland; and, upon its nearer approach, I called and
fouted with the utmoſt ſtrength of my voice ; and
tren looking circumfpe&ly, I beheld a croud pa-
thered to that fide which was moſt in my view.
I found, by their pointing towards me and to each
other, that they plainly diſcovered me, althongh
they made no return to my ſhouting : bør I could
fee four or five men running in great haſte up the
ſtairs to the top of the iſland, who then diſappear-
ed. I happened rightly to conjecture that theſe
Q
were
1182 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
were ſent for orders to ſome perſon in authority
upon this occaſion.
The number of people increaſed ; and in leſs
than half an hour the iſland was moved and raiſed
in ſuch a manner, that the loweſt gallery appeared
in a parallel of leſs than a hundred yards diſtance
from the height where I ſtood. I then put my felf
into the moſt fupplicating poſtures, and ſpoke in the
humbleft accent, but received no anſwer. Thoſe
who ſtood neareft over-againſt me, ſeemed to be
perſons of diſtinction, as I ſuppoſed by their habit.
They conferred earnefly with each other, looking
often uponi ine. At length one of them called out
in a clear, polite, ſmooth dialect, not unlike in
found to the Italian ; and therefore I returned an
anſwer in that language, hoping at lealt that the
cadence might be more agreeable to his ears.
Al
though neicher of us underſtood the other, yet my
meaning was eaſily known, for the people ſaw the
diſtreſs I was in,
They made ſigns for me to come down from the
rock, and go towards the ſhore, which I according-
ly did ; and the flying iſlard being raiſed to a con-
venient height, the verge directly over me; a chain
was let down from the loweſt gallery, with a feat
faſtened to the bottom, to which I fixed myſelf, and
was drawn up by pulleys,
С НАР,
A Voyage to Laputa, &:.
183
CHA P. II.
The humours and difpofitions of the Laputans deſcri-
bord. An account of their learning. Of the king
and his court. The author's reception there. The
inhabitants fubje&7 to fears and difquietudes. Au
account of the women.
ATmg alighting I was ſurrounded by a croud
of people, but thoſe who ſtood neareſt feem.
ed to be of better quality. They beheld me with
all the marks and circuinitances of wonder, neither
indeed was I much in their debt ; having never
until then ſeen a race of mortals ſo fingular in their
thapes, babits, and countenances. Their heads
were all reclined either to the right or the left ;
One of the r eyes turned inward, and the other di.
reetly up to the zenith. Their outward garments
were adorned with the fipures of ſuns, moons, 300
Stars, interwoven with thoſe of Giddles, flutes, harps,
truiapets, guitars, harpficords, and many other
inſtruments of muſic, unknown to us in Lurope
1 obferved here and there many in the habit of,
fervants, with a blown bladder faftened like a fail
at the end of a ſhort ſtick, which they carried in
their hands. In each bladder was a ſmall quantity
of dried peaſe, or little pebbles, (as I was after.
wards informed,) With theſe bladders they now
and then flapped the mouths and ears of thoſe who
Ilaod near them, of which practice I could not then
cenceive the meaning. It ſeems the minds of thoſe
people are ſo taken up with intenſe ſpeculations,
that they neither can ſpeak nor attend to the diſ.
coui les of others, without being rouſed by ſome
Q2
184
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
external taction upon the organs of ſpeech and
hearing ; for which reafon, thoſe perſons who are
able to afford it always keep a flapper, (the ori.
ginal is climenole) in their family, as one of their
domeſtics ; nor ever walk abroad, or make viſits
without him. And the buſineſs of this officer is,
when two or more perſons are in company, gently
to ſtrike with his bladder in the mouth of him who
is to ſpeak, and the right ear of him or them to
whom the ſpeaker addreſſeth himſelf. This flap.
per is likewiſe employed diligently to attend his
maſter in his walks, and upon occaſion to give him
a foft flap on his eyes ; becauſe he is always fo
wrapped up in cogitation, that he is in manifeſt
danger of falling down every precipice, and boun-
cing his head againſt every poſt; and in the ſtreets,
of joftling others, or being joftled into the kennel.
It was necefTiry to give the reader this informa.
tion, without which he would be at the ſame loſs
with me to underſtand the proceediogs of thoſe
people, as they conducted me up the ſtairs to the top
of the iſland, and from thence to the royal palace.
While we were aſcending, they forgot ſeveral
times what they were about, and left me to myſelf
until their memories were again rouſed by their
flappers ; for they appeared altogether unmoved by
the fight of my foreign habit and countenance, and
by the thouts of the vulgar, whoſe thoughts and
minds were more diſengaged,
At laſt we entered the palace, and proceeded in-
to the chamber of preſence ; where I ſaw the king
feated on his throne, attended on each ſide by perº
ſons of prime quality. Before the throne was a
large table filled with globes, and ſpheres, and
mathematical inſtruments of all kinds. His majeſty
took not the leaſt notice of us, although our en-
trance were not without ſufficient noiſe, by the
concourſe
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
185
concourſe of all perſons belonging to the court.
But he was then deep in a problem, and we ata
tended at leaſt an hour before he could ſolve it.
There ſtood by him, on each ſide, a young page
with flaps in their hands; and when they ſaw he
was at leiſure, one of them gently ſtruck his mouth,
and the other his right ear; at which he ſtarted
like one awaked on the ſudden, and looking to.
wards me, and the company I was in, recollected
the occaſion of our coming, whereof he had been
informed before. He ſpoke fome words, where-
upon immediately a young man with a flap came
up to my fide, and flapt me gently on the right
ear but I made ſigns as well as I could, that I
had no occaſion for luch an inſtrument, which, as
I afterwards found, gave his majeſty and the whole
court a very mean opinion of my underſtanding.
The king, as far as I could conjecture, aſked me
feveral queſtions, and I addreſſed myſelf to him in
all the languages I had. When it was found that
I could neither underſtand nor be underſtood, 1
was conduced by his order to an apartment in his
palace, (this prince being diſtinguiſhed above all his
predeceſſors for his hoſpitality to ftrangers) where
two ſervants were appointed to attend me. My
dinnet was brought, and four perſons of quatry,
whom I remembered to have ſeen very near the
king's perſon, did me the honour to dine with me.
We had two courſes, of three diſhes each. In the
frit courſe, there was a ſhoulder of mutton, cut
into an equilateral triangle ; a piece of beef into
a
rhomboides; and a pudding into a cycloid. The
fecond cmurfe was two ducks truffed up into the
form of hiddles; ſauſages and paddings reſembling
Mates and hautboys, and a breaſt of yeal in the
thape of a harp. The ſervants cus our bread into
cones,
2.3
186
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
cones, cylinders, parallelograms, and ſeveral oo
ther mathematical figures.
While we were at dinner, I made bold to afk
the names of ſeveral things in their language ; and
thoſe noble perſons, by the aſſiſtance of their flap-
pers, delighted to give me anſwers, hoping to raiſe
my admiration of their great abilities, if I could
be brought to converſe with them. I was ſoon
able to call for bread and drink, or whatever elſe
I wanted.
tor
After dinner my company withdrew, and a per
fon was ſent to me by the king's order, attended
by a flapper. He brought with him penk, ink, and
paper, and three or four books ; giving me to un-
derſtand by figns, that he was ſent to teach me the
language. We ſat together four hours, in which
time I wrote down a great number of words in
columns, with the tranſlations over-againſt them.
I likewiſe made a ſhift to learn ſeveral ſhort fen-
tences. For my tutor would order one of my fer-
vants to fetch ſomething, to turn about, to mpake a
bow, to fit, or ftand, or walk, and the like. Then
I took down the ſentence in writing. He ſhe wedi
me alſo in one of his books, the figures of the ſun,
moon, and ſtars, the zodiac, the tropics, and polar
circles, together with the denominations of many
figures of planes and folids. He gave me the names
and deſcriptions of all the mufical inftruments, and
the general terms of art in playing on each of
them. After he had left me, I placed all my
words, with their interpretations, in alphabeti.
cal order. And thus in a few days, by the help
ef a very faithful memory, I got ſome inſight into
their language.
The word which I interpret the flying or float-
ing iſland, is in the original Laputa ; whereof I could
never learn the true etymology. Lap, in the old
obſolete
A Koyage to LAPUTA, &c. 187
.
obſolete language, fignifieth bigh, and Untah a go
vernor , from which they ſay by corruption was
derived Laputa, from Lapuntah. But I do pot
approve of this derivation, which ſeems to be a
lide Atrained. I ventured to offer to the learned
among them a conjecture of my own, that Laputa
was quafi Lap outed ; Lap fignifying properly the
dancing of the ſun beams in the ſea ; and Oated a
wing, waich however I ſhall not obtrude, but
fubmit to the judicious reader.
Thoſe to whom the king had entruſted me ob.
ferving how ill I was clad, ordered a tailor to come
next morning, and take niy meaſure for a fuit of
cloathes. This operator did his office after a dif-
ferent manner from thoſe of his trade in Europe.
He firſt took my altitude by a quadrant, and then
with rule and compaſſes deſcribed the dimenſioni
and outlines of my whole body; all which he en.
terel upon paper, and in fix days brought my
coaches, very ill made, and quite out of ſhape, by
happening to miſtake a figure in the calculation
but my comfort was, that I obſerved ſuch accidents
very fréquent, and little regarded.
During my confinement for want of cloathes,
and by an indiſpoſition that held me ſome days
longer, I much enlarged my dictionary ; and when
I went next to court, was able to underſtand
ings the king ſpoke, and to return him fome kind
of anſwers. His majeſty had given orders, that
the island thould move North Eaſt and by Lafty to
the vertical point over Lagoda, the metropolis of
the whole kingdom, below upon the firm earth.
I was about ninety leagues diftant, and our yoy.
age lafted four days and an half. I was not in the
least fenfible of the pregreſſive motion made in the
air by the iſland. On the ſecond morning, about
deyen o dock, the king himſelf in perſon, atend.
ed
188
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
ed by his nobility, courtiers, and officers, having
prepared all their muſical inftruments, played on
them for three hours without intermiffion ; fo that
I was quite ſtunned with the noiſe ; neither could I
poſſibly gueſs the meaning until my tutor informed
me, He ſaid, that the people of their iſland had their
ears adapted to hear the muſic of the ſpheres,
which always played at certain periods : and the
court was now prepared to bear their part in what
ever inſtrument they moſt excelled,
In our journey towards Lagoda, the capital city,
his majeſty ordered that the iſland ſhould ſtop over
certain towns and villages, from whence he might
receive the petitions of his ſubjects. And to this
purpoſe, ſeveral packthreads were let down with
ſmall weights at the bottom. On theſe packthreads
the people ſtrung their petitions, which mounted
up directly, like the foraps of paper faftened by
ſchool-boys at the end of the itring that holds
their kite. Sometimes we received wine and vic
tuals fronı below, which were drawn up by pulleys.
The knowledge I had in mathematics gave ms
great aſſiſtance, in acquiring their phraſeology,
which depended much upon that ſcience, and
muſic ; and in the latter I was not unſkilled. Their
ideas were perpetually converſant in lines and fie
gures. If they would, for example, praiſe the
beauty of a woman, or any other animal, they de:
fcribed
it by rhombs,circles, parallelograms, ellipſes,
and other geometrical terms ; or elſe by words of
art drawn from muſic, needleſs here to repeat.
I obſerved in the king's kitchen all ſorts of mathe.
matical and muſical instruments, after the figures
of which they cut up the joints that were ſerved
to his majeſty's table.
Their houſes are very ill built, the walls bevil,
without one right angle in any apartment; and this
defect
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 189
in the management of the rule, the pencil, and
defect ariſerh
from the contempt they bear for
practical geometry, which they deſpiſe as vulgar
and mechanic, thoſe inſtructions they give being
too refined for the intellectuals of their workmen,
which occaſions many miſtakes. And although
they are dexterous enough upon a piece of paper
the divider, yet in the common adions and beba-
viour of life, I have not ſeen a more clumſy, auk-
Ward, and unhandy people, nor fo flow and per
plexed in their conceptions upon all orher fob.
jects, except thoſe of mathematics and muſic.
They are very bad reaſoners, and vehemently
given to oppoſition, unleſs when they
happen to
be of the right opinion, which is ſeldom their
caſe, Imagination, fancy, and inventian, they
The wholly ſtrangers to, nor have any words in
their language by which thoſe ideas can be ex-
preſſed ; the whole compaſs of their thoughts and
mind being thut up within the two forementioned
fcientes.
Moſt of them, and eſpecially thoſe who deal in
the afronomical part, have great faith in judieial
altrology, although they are aſhamed to own it
publicly. But what I chiefly admired, and thought
altogether unaccountable, was the ſtrong diſpoſi.
tion I obſerved in them towards news and politics ;
perpetually inquiring into public affairs, giving
their judgments in matters of ſtate, and pallionäte-
lý difputing every inch of a party opinion. I have
indeed obſerved the ſame difpofition among arøft
of the mathematicians I have known in Europe
akkoughi I could never diſcover the leaſt analogy
betkeen the two ſciences ; unleſs thoſe people füp.
pole, that becauſe the ſmalleſt circle liath as many
degrees as the largeſt, therefore the regulation and
managetuient of the world require no more abilities
than
1901 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
than the handling and turning of a globe. But I
rather take this quality to ſpring from a very com-
mon infirmity of human nature, inclining us to be
more curious and conceited in matters where we
have leaſt concern, and for which we are the leaſt
adapted, either by ſtudy or nature.
Theſe people are under continual diſquietudes,
never enjoying a minute's peace of mind; and their
diſturbances proceed from cauſes which very little
affect the reſt of mortals, Their apprehenſions a.
riſe from ſeveral changes they dread in the celeſtial
bodies. For inſtance, that the earth, by the con.
tinual approaches of the ſun towards it, muſt in
courſe of time be abſorbed or ſwallowed up. That
the face of the fun will be by degrees encruſted
with its own effluvia, and give no more light to
the world. That the earth very narrowly eſcaped
a bruſh from the tail of the laſt comer, which
would have infallibly reduced it to alhes; and that
the next, which they have calculated for one.and.
thirty years hence, will probably deſtroy us
For,
if in his perihelion it ſhould approach within a cer-
tain degree of the fun, (as by their calculations
they have reaſon to dread) it will conceive a de.
gree of heat ten thouſand times more intenſe than
than of red-hot glowing iron; and in its abſence
from the ſun, carry a blazing tail ten hundred
thouſand and fourteen miles long ; through which
if the earth ſhould paſs at the diſtance of one hun-
dred thouſand miles from the Neucleus, or main
body of the comet, it muſt on its paffage be ſet on
fire, and reduced to aſhes. That the ſun, daily
ſpending its rays without any nutriment to ſupply
them, will at laſt be wholly confuined and anni-
hilated; which muſt be attended with the de.
ſtruction of this earth, and of all the planets that
receive their light from it.
They
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
191
They are ſo perpetually alarmed with the appre.
kenlions of theſe and the like impending dangers,
that they can neither ſleep quietly in their beds,
por have any relifh for the common pleaſures or
amoféments of life. When they ineet an acquaint.
ance in the morning, the firſt queſtion is about the
fon's health, how he looked at his ſetting and ri.
fing, and what hopes they have to avoid the ſtroke
of the approaching comet, This converſation they
are apt ro run into with the ſame temper that
boys diſcover in delighting to hear terrible ttories
of ſpirits and hobgoblins; which they greedily liſten
to, and dare not go to bed for fear of.
The voinen of the iſland have abundance of vi
Yacity, they contemn their huſbands, and are ex-
creding fond of ſtrangers ; whereof there is always
a confiderable number from the continent below
reading # court, either upon affairs of thrles
veral towns and corporations, or their own par
ticular occaſions, but are rnuch deſpiſed, becaufe
they want the ſame endowments. Among thefe
the ladies chuſe their gallants : But the vexation
is, that they a&t with too much eaſe and ſecurity :
for the huſband is always ſo wrapt in ſpeculation,
tliat the miſtreſs and lover may proceed to the
greateſt familiarities before his face, if he be bac
provided with paper and implements, and without,
his flapper at his fide.
The wives and daughters - lament their confine.
nient to the iſland, although I think it the moſt
delicious ſpot of ground in the world
: And al.
though they live here in the greateſt plenty and
magnificence, and are allowed to do whatever they
pleak, they long to fee che world, and take the
diverfions of the metropolis, which they are not
allowed to do without a particular licence from
the king; and this is not eaſy to be obtained, be.
cauſe
192 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
Cauſe the people of quality have found by frequent
experience, how hard it is to perſuade their wo.
men to return from below, I was told, that a
great court lady, who had ſeveral children, is
married to the prime miniller, the richeſt ſubjca
in the kingdom, a very graceful perſon, extreme.
ly fond of her, and lives in the fineſt palace of the
iland, went down to Lagado on the pretence of
health, there hid herſelf for ſeveral months, till
the king fent a warrant to ſearch for her, and the
was found in an obſcure eating-houſe all in rags,
having pawned her clothes to maintain an old de
formed footman, who beat her every day, and in
whoſe company ſhe was taken much againſt her
will. And although her huſband received her with
all poſlible kindneſs, and without the leaſt reproach,
the foon after contrived to ſteal down again with
all her jewels to the ſame gallant, and hath not
been heard of ſince.
This may perhaps paſs with the reader rather
for an European or Engliſh ſtory, than for one of
a country ſo remote ; but he may pleaſe to con
ſider, that the caprices of women-kind are not li.
mited by any climate or nation, and that they are
much more uniform than can be eaſily imagined
In about a month's time I had made a tolerable
proficiency in their language, and was able to an.
ſwer moſt of the king's queſtions, when I had the
honour to attend him. His majeſty diſcovered not
the leaſt curioſity to inquire into the laws, govern.
ment, hiſtory, religion, or manners of the coun.
tries where I had been, but confined his queſtions
to the ſtate of mathematics, and received the ac
count 1 gave him with great contempt and indif-
ference, though often rouled by his flapper on each
Gde.
CHAP,
A Veyage to LAPUTA, &c.
193
CH A P. III.
1 phenomenon ſolved by modern philoſophy and aſtro-
nomy. The Laputians great improvements in the
latter. The king's method of ſuppreffing inſur.
rections.
acres.
I Deſired leave of this prince to ſee the curioſities
of the iſland, which he was graciouſly pleaſed
to grant, and ordered my tutor to attend me. I
chiefly wanted to know to what cauſe in art or in
nature it owed its ſeveral motions, whereof I will
now give a philofophical account to the reader.
The flying or floating iſland is exactly circular,
its diameter 7837 yards, or about four miles and
an half, and conſequently contains ten thouſand
It is three hundred yards thick. The bot-
tom, or under ſurface, which appears to thoſe who
view it from below, is one even regular plate
of adamant, ſhooting up to the height of about
two hundred yards. Above it lie the ſeveral mi-
nerals in their uſual order, and over all is a coat
of rich mould, ten or twelve feet deep. The de-
clivity of the upper ſurface, from the circumfe.
rence to the centre, is the natural cauſe why all
the dews and rains which fall upon the iſland are
conveyed in ſmall rivulets towards the middle,
where they are emptied into four large bafons,
each of about half a mile in circuit, and two hun-
dred yards diſtant from the centre. From theſe
baſons the water is continually exhaled by the fun
in the day-time, which effectually prevents their
overflowing. Beſides, as it is in the power of
the monarch to raiſe the iſland above the region of
R
clouds
194
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &e.
clouds and vapours, he can prevent the falling of
rains and dews whenever he pleaſes. For the
higheſt clouds cannot riſe above two miles, as na
turaliſts agree, at leaſt they were never known to
do fo in that country.
At tbe centre of the iſland there is a chama
bout fifty yards in diameter, from whence the a
ſtronomers deſcend into a large dome, which is
threfore called flandona gagnole, or the aſtronomer's
cave, ſituated at the depth of a hundred yards be-
neath the upper ſurface of the adamant. In this
cave are twenty lamps continually burning, which,
from the reflection of the adamant, caſt a ſtrong
light into every part. The place is ſtored with
great variety of ſextants, quadrants, teleſcopes,
aſtrolabes, and other aſtronomical inſtruments,
But the greateſt curioſity, upon which the fate of
the iſland depends, is a loadſtone of a prodigious
fize, in ſlape reſembling a weaver's ſhuttle. It is
in length ſix yards, and in the thickeſt part at leaſt
three yards over. This magnet is fuſtained by a
very ſtrong axle of adamant paſſing through its
niiddle, upon which it plays, and is poiſed ſo exi
adly, that the weakeſt hand can turn it. It is
hooped round with an hollow cylinder of adamarr*,
four feet deep, as many thick, and twelve yards
in diameter, placed horizontally, and ſupported by
eight adamantic feet, each ſix yards high. In the
middle of the concave fide there is a groove twelve
inches deep, in which the extremities of the axle
are lodged, and turned round as there is occaſion.
The ſtone cannot be moved from its place by
any force, becauſe the hoop and irs feet are one
continued piece with that body of adamant which
conſtitutes the bottom of the iſland.
By means of this loadſtone the iſland is made
to rile and fall, and nuove from ene place to anak
ther
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
195
ther; for, with reſpect to that part of the earth
over which the monarch preſides, the ſtone is endu.
ed at one of its ſides with an attractive power, and
at the other with a repulſive. Upon placing the
magnet erect, with its attractive end towards the
earth, the iſland deſcends ; but when the repelling
extremity points downwards, the iſland mounts
directly upwards. When the poſition of the ſtone
is oblique, the motion of the iſland is ſo 'too : For
in this magnet the forces always act in lines parallel
to its direction.
By this oblique motion the iſland is conveyed
to different parts of the monarch's dominions. To
explain the manner of its progreſs, let A B repre.
fent a line drawn acroſs the dominions of Balni.
barbi, let the line c d repreſent the loadltone, of
which let d be the repelling end, and c the attrac-
ting end, the iſland being over C ; let -he ſtone
be placed in the poſition c d, with its repelling end
downwards ; then the iſland will be driven upwards
obliquely towards D. When it is arrived at D, let
the ſtone be turned upon its axle till its attracting
end points towards E, and then the iſland will be
obliquely towards E ; where, if the ſtone be again
turned upon its axle till it ſtands in the polition
EF, with its repelling point downward, the iſland
will riſe obliquely towards F, where, by directing
the attracting end towards G, the iſland may be
carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the
Itone, ſo as to make its repelling extremity point
dire&tly downward. And thus, by changing the
ſituation of the ſtone as often as there is occaſion,
the iſland is made to riſe and fall by turns in an
oblique direction, and by thoſe alternate riſings
and fallings (the obliquity not being conſiderable)
is conveyed from one part of the dominions to the
other.
R 2
But
196
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
But it muſt be obſerved, that this illand cannot
move beyond the extent of the dominions below,
nor can it riſe above the height of four miles.
For which the aſtronomers who have written
large fyftems concerning the ſtone) afſign the fol
lowing reaſon; That the magnetic virtue does not
extend beyond the diſtance of four miles, and that
the mineral, which acts upon the ſtone in the
bowels of the earth, and in the ſea about lix
leagues diſtant from the ſhore, is not diffuſed thro'
the whole globe, but terminated with the limits
of the king's dominions ; and it was eaſy, from
the great advantage of ſuch a ſuperior fruation,
for a prince to bring under his obedience what-
ever country lay within the attraction of that
magnet.
When the ſtone is put parallel to the plane of
the hori.. ?, the iſland ſtandeth ftill ; for in that
cafe the extremities of it, being at equal diſtance
from the earth, act with equal force, the one in
drawing downwards, the other in puſhing up-
wards, and conſequently no motion can enſue.
This loadſtone is under the care of certain a-
ftronomers, who from time to time give it fuch po.
fitions as the monarch directs. They ſpend the
greateſt part of their lives in obſerving the celeſtial
bodies, which they do by the aſſiſtance of glaſſes,
far excelling ours in goodneſs. For, although
their largeſt teleſcopes do not exceed three feet,
they magnily much more than thoſe of an hundred
with us, and ſhew the ſtars with greater clearners,
This advantage hath enabled them to extend their
difcoveries much farther than our aſtronomers in
Europe ; for they have made a catalogue of ten
thouſand fixed ftars, whereas the largeſt of ours
do not contain above one third part of that nun.
ber. They have likewiſe diſcovered two killer
Voyage to LAPUT A, &c.
197
ftars, or ſatellites, which revolve about Mars,
whereof the innermoſt is diftant from the centre
of the primary planet exactly three of his diaine
ters, and the outermoſt, five ; the former revolves
in the ſpace of ten hours, and the latter in twenty-
one and an half; fo that the ſquares of their perio.
dical times are very near in the ſame proportion,
with the cubes of their diſtance from the centre of
Mars ; which evidently ſhews them to be govern-
ed by the ſame law of gravitation that influences
the other heavenly bodies.
They have obferved ninety-three different co-
mets, and ſettled their periods with great exact.
neſs. If this be true (aüd they affirm it with
great confidence) it is much to be wiſhed, that
their obſervations were made public, whereby the
theory of comets, which at preſent is very lame
and defe&tive, night be brought to the fame per.
fection with the other parts of aſtronomy.
The king would be the moſt abſolute prince in
the univerſe, if he could but prevail on a miniſtry
to join with hjin : But theſe, having their eſtates
below on the continent, and conſidering that the
office of a favourite hath a very uncertain tenure,
would never conſent to the enſaving their coun-
try.
If any town ſhould engage in rebellion or mu-
tiny, fall into violent factions, or refuſe to pay
the uſual tribute, the king hath two metho:ls of
reducing them to obedience. The first and the
mildeft courſe is by keeping the illand hovering
over ſuch a town, and the lands about it, where-
by he can deprive them of the benefit of the fun
and the rain, and conſequently afflict the inhabitants
with dearth and diſeaſes. And if the crime deserve
it, they are at the ſame time pelted from above
with great fones, againſt which they have no de
fence,
R3
198
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
fence but by creeping into cellars
or caves, while
the roofs of their houſes are beaten to pieces. But
if they ſtill continue obſtinate, or offer to raiſe in.
furrections, he proceeds to the laſt remedy, by
letting the iſland drop direály upon their heads,
which makes an univerſal deſtruction both of houſes
and men, However, this is an extremity to which
the prince is ſeldom driven ; neither indeed is he
willing to put it in execution, nor dare his mini-
Iters adviſe him to an action, which, as it would
render them odious to the people, ſo it would
be a great damage to their own eſtares, which
lie alt below; for the iſland is the king's demeſne.
But there is fill indeed a more weighty reafon,
why the kings of this country have been always
averſe from executing ſo terrible an action, unleſs
upon the utmoft neceffity. For if the town in.
tended to be deſtroyed ſhould have in it any tall
rocks, as it generally falls out in the larger cities,
a lituation probably choſen at firſt with a view to
prevent ſuch a cataſtrophe; or if it abound in high
Ipires, or pillars of ſtone, a ſudden fall might en-
danger the bottom or under-ſurface of the iſland,
which, although it confift, as I have ſaid, of one
entire adamant, two hundred yards thick, mnight
happen to crack by too great a ſhock, or burſt by
approaching too near the fires from the houſes be-
low as the backs both of iron and ſtone will often
Jó in our chimnies. Of all this the people are well
appriled, and underſtand how far to carry their
obkinacy, where their liberty or property is con-
cerned. And the king, when he is higheſt pro-
voked, and moſt determined to preſs a city to rubs
bifh, orders the iſland to deſcend with great gerr
deneſs, out of a pretence of tenderneſs to his people;
but indeed for fear of breaking the adamantine
kotima; in which caſe, it is the opinion of all
their
A Voyage to LaPUTA, &c.
199
their philoſophers, that the loadſtone could no
longer hold it up, and the whole maſs would fall
to the ground.
By a fundamental law of this realm, neither the
king, nor either of his two elder ſons are permit.
ed to leave the iſland, nor the queen, till - ſlae is
paſt child-bearing.
CH A P. IV.
The author leaves Laputa, is conveyed to Balnibarbi,
arrives at the metropolis. A deſcription of the
metropolis, and the country adjoining. The author
hoſpitably received by a great lord. His conver.
fation with that lord.
AP
LTHOUGH I cannot fay that I was ill-treated
in this iſland, yet I muſt confefs I thought
myſelf too much neglected, not without fome de.
gree of contempt. For neither prince nor people
appeared to be curious in any part of knowledge,
except mathematics and muſic, wherein I was far
their inferior, and upon that account very little
regarded.
On the other fide, after having ſeen all the
curioſities of the iſland, I was very deſirous to
leave it, being heartily weary of thoſe people.
They were indeed excellent in two ſciences, for
which I have great eſteem, and wherein I am not
unverfed, but at the ſame time fo abſtracted and
involved in ſpeculation, that I never met with ſuch
diſagreeable companions. I converſed only with
women, tradefinen, flappers, and court-pages, du.
ring two months of my abode there ; by which at
laf
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c,
laſt I rendered myſelf extremely contemptible
yet* theſe were the only people from whom I could
ever receive a reaſonable anſwer
I had obtained by hard ftudy a good degree of
knowledge in their language : I was weary of be-
ang confined to an iſland, where I received ſo litte
countenance, and reſolved to leave it with the first
opportunity.
There was a great lord at court nearly related
to the king, and for that reaſon alone uſed with
reſpect. He was univerſally reckoned the most
ignorant and ſtapid perſon among them. He had
performed many eminent ſervices for the crown,
had great natural and acquired parts, adorned with
integrity and honour, but ſo ill an ear for muſic,
that his detractors reported he had been often
known to beat time in the wrong place ; neither
could his tutors, without extreme difficulty, teach
him to demonſtrate the moſt eafy propoſitions in
the mathematics, He was pleaſed to thew me many
marks of favour, often did me the honour of a vi:
fit, deſired to be informed in the affairs of Europe,
the laws and cuſtoms, the manners and learning of
the ſeveral countries where I had travelled. He
liſtened to me with great attention, and made very
wife obfervations on all I ſpoke, He had two
flappers attending him for ſtate, but never made
nſe of them, except at court and in viſits of cere:
mony, and would always command them to with.
draw when we were alone together,
I intreated this idlaſtrious perſon to intercede
in my behalf with his majsity for leave to depart
which he accordingly did, as he was pleafed to
tell me, with regret : For indeed he had made
me feveral offere very advantageous, which how.
ever I refuriud, with expreſſions of the higheft ac-
kBewledgment.
A Voydge to LAPUTA, &c. 201
On the 16th of February I took leave of his
majeſty and the court. The king made me a pre.
ſent to the value of about two hundred pounds
Engliſh, and my protector, his kinſinan, as much
more, together with a letter of recommendation
to a friend of his in Lagado, the metropolis. The
iſland being then hovering over a mountain about
two miles from it, I was let down from the loweſt
gallery, in the ſame inanner as I had been taken
up.
The continent, as far as it is ſubject to the mo.
narch of the flying iſand, paſſes under the general
name of Balnibarbi; and the metropolis, as I ſaid
before, is called Lagado, I felt ſome little fatif.
faction in finding myſelf on firm ground, I walk-
ed to the city without any concern, being clad like
one of the natives, and ſufficiently inſtructed to
converſe with them. I foon found out the per.
fon's houſe to whom I was recommended, preſent.
ed my letter from his friend the grandee in the
island, and was received with much kindneſs.
This great lord, whoſe name was Munodi, order.
ed me an apartment in his own houſe, where I
continued during my ſtay, and was entertained in
a molt hoſpitable manner.
The next morning after my arrival, he took
me in his chariot to ſee the town, which is about
half the bigneſs of London ; but the houſes very
ſtrangely built, and moſt of them out of repair,
The people in the ſtreets walked faft, looked wild,
their eyes fixed, and were generally in rags. We
paſſed through one of the town.gates, and went
about three miles into the country, where I ſaw
many labourers working with ſeveral ſorts of tools
in the ground, but was not able to conjeâure
what they were about ; neither did I obſerve any
expectation either of corn or graſs, although the
foil
202
Vorage to LAPUTA, &c.
fail appeared to be excellent. I could not forliear
admiring at theſe add appearances both in town
and country, and I made bold to delire my con.
dudor, that he would be pleaſed to explain to
me, what could be meanc by ſo many buſy beads,
hands, and faces, both in the itreets and the fields,
becauſe I did not diſcover any good effects they
produced ; but, on the contrary, I never knew a
foil ſo uohappily cultivated, houſes ſo ill contrived
and fo ruinous, or a people whoſe countenances and
habit expreſſed ſo much miſery and want,
This Lord Munodi was a perſon of the firſt
rank, and had been ſome years governor of Li.
gado ; but by a cabal of miniſters was diſcharged
for inſufficiency.
However, the king treated him with tenderneſs,
as a well-meaning man, but of a low, contemp
tible underſtanding.
When I gave that free cenſure of the country
and its inhabitants, he made no further anſwer,
then by telling ine, that I had not been lorg e-
nough among them to form a judgment; and that
the different nations of the world had different
cuftoms ; with other common topics to the fame
purpofe. But, when we returned to his palace,
he aſked me how I liked the building, what ab.
ſurdities I obſervcd, and what quarreli had with
dreſs or looks of his domeſtics? This he might
{afely do ; becauſe every thing was magnificent,
regular, and polite. I anſwered, that his Excel.
lency's prudence, quality, and fortune, had exempt
ed him from thoſe defects which folly and bega
gary had produced in others. He ſaid, if I would
go with him to his country-houſe, about twenty
miles diſtant, where his eſtate lay, there would be
more leifure for this kind of converſation. I told
hes
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
203
his Excellency, that I was entirely at his diſpoſal ;
and accordingly we ſet out next morning.
During our journey, he made me obſerve the
ſeveral methods uſed by farmers in managing their
lands; which to me were wholly unaccountable ;
for, except in fome very few places, I could not
diſcover one ear of corn, or blade of graſs. , But
in three hours travelling the ſcene was wholly al-
tered; we came into a moft beautiful country :
farmers houſes at ſmall diſtances, neatly buile; the
fields incloſed, containing vineyards, corn-grounds,
and meadows. Neither do I remember to have
feen a more delightful proſpect. His Excellency
obſerved my countenance to clear up ; he told me
with a ligh, that there his eſtate began, and would
continue the fame, till we ſhould come to his
houſe. That his countrymen ridiculed and des
ſpiſed him for managing his affairs no better, and
for ſetting fo ill an example to the kingdoni ; wbich
however was followed by very few ; ſuch as were
old, and wilful, and weak like himſelf. +
We came at length to the houſe, which was
indeed a noble Atructure, built according to the
beſt rules of ancient architecture, The fountains,
gardens, walks, avenues, and groves, were all dif
poſed with exa& judgment and tafte. I gave due
praiſes to every thing I ſaw, whereof his Excel.
lency took not the leaſt notice till after ſupper ;
when, there being no third companion, he told
me with a very melancholy air, that he doubted
he muſt throw down his houſes in town and coun-
try to rebuild them after the preſent mode, de.
ſtroy all his plantations, and calt others in ſuch a
form as modern uſage required, and give the ſame
directions to all his tenants, unleſs he would ſub-
mit to incur the cenfure of pride, fingularity, af.
fectation,
204 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
fectation, ignorance, caprice, and perhaps increaſe
his majeſty's diſpleaſure.
That the admiration I appeared to be under
would ceaſe or diminiſh when he had informed
me of ſome particulars, which probably I never
heard of at court, the people there being too much
taken up in their own ſpeculations to trave regard
to what pafled here below.
The ſum of his diſcourſe was to this effect :
That about forty years ago, certain perſons went
up to Laputa, either upon buſineſs or diverſion,
and, after five month's continuance, came back
with a very little fiattering in mathematics, but
full of volatile ſpirits acquired in that airy region.
That theſe perſons, upon their return, began to
diſlike the management of every thing below, and
fell into ſchemes of putting all arts, ſciences, lan-
guages, and mechanics upon a new foot. To this
end, they procured a royal patent for erecting an
academy of projectors in Lagado; and the humour
prevailed ſo ſtrong among the people, that there
is not a town of any conſequence in the kingdom
without ſuch an academy. In theſe colleges the
profeſſors contrive new rules and methods of agri.
culture and building, and new inſtruments, and
tools for all trades and manufactures; whereby,
as they undertake one man ſhall do the work of
ten, a palace may be built in a week, of materials
ſo durable as to laſt for ever without repairing.
All the fruits of the earth ſhall come to maturity
at whatever ſeaſon we think fit to chuſe, and in.
creaſe an hundred fold more than they do at pre.
fent; with innumerable other happy propoſals.
The only inconvenience is, that none of theſe pro-
jeéts are brought to perfe&ion ; and in the mean
tune the whole country lies miſerably waſte, the
houſes in ruins, and the people without food or
cloathes.
A Voyage to LAPOTA, &c. 285
Boathes. By all which, inſtead of being diſcou.
raged, they are fifty times more volently bent up.
on proſecuting their fchemes, driven equally on by
hope and deſpair : That as for himſelf, being not
of an enterpriſing ſpirit, he was content to go on
in the old forms, to live in the houſes his anceſ.
tors had built, and act as they did in every part of
life without innovation. That ſome few other
perfons of quality and gentry had done the ſame,
but were looked on with an eye of contempt and
ill. will, as enemies to the art, ignorant, and ill
commonwealth's men, preferring their own eaſe
and floth before the general improvement of their
country.
be
His Lordfhip added, that he would not, by any
further particulars, prevent the pleaſure I ſhould
certainly take in viewing the grand academy, whi.
ther he was reſolved I thould go. He only defir-
ed to obſerve a ruined building upon the ſide of
a mountain about three miles diftant, of which he
gave me this account : That he had a very conve-
nient mill within half a mile of his houſe, turned
by a current from a large river, and ſufficient for
his own family, as well as a great number of his
tenants : That about ſeven years ago, a club of
thoſe projectors came to him with propoſals, to de.
ſtroy this mill, and build another on the ſide of
that mountain, on the long ridge whereof a long
canal muſt be cut for a repoſitory of water, to be
conveyed up by pipes and engines to ſupply the
mill : Becauſe the wind and air upon a height agi-
tated the water, and thereby made it fitter for mo-
tion; and becauſe the water deſcending down a
declivity, would turn the mill with half the cur-
rent of a river, whoſe courſe is more upon a level.
He ſaid, that being then not very well with the
court, and preſſed by many of his friends, he com-
S
plied
200
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
plied with the propoſal; and after employing an
hundred men for two years, the work miſcarried,
the projectors went off, laying the blame entirely
upon him, railing at him ever ſince, and pürting
others upon the fame experiment, with equal al
furance of ſucceſs, as well as equal diſappointment.
In a few days we came back to town, and his
Excellency, conſidering the bad character he had in
the academy, would not go with me himſelf, but
recommended me to a friend of his to bear me
company thither. My Lord was pleaſed to re.
preſent me as a great admirer of projects, and a
perſon of much curioſity, and eaſy belief; which
indeed was not without truth, for I had myſelf
been a ſort of projector in my younger days.
CHA P. V
v.
The author permitted to ſee the grand academy of
Lagado. The academy largely deſcribed. The
arts wherein the profeſſors employ themſelves.
THI
HIS academy is not an entire ſingle building,
but a continuation of ſeveral houſes on both
ſides of a ſtreet, which growing waſte, was pur-
chaſed, and applied to that uſe.
I was received very kindly by the warden, and
went for inany days to the academy. Every
room bath in it one or more projectors ; and I
believe I could not be in leſs than five hundred
.
rooms.
The firſt man I ſaw was of a meagre aſpect,
with footy hands and face, his hair and beard long,
ragged, and ſinged in ſeveral places. His cloathes,
flirt, and ſkin, were all of the fame colour. He
A Voyage to LADUTA, &c.
107
*
had been eight years upon a project for extracting
ſun-beams out of cucumbers, which were to be
put into vials hermetically ſealed, and let out to
warm the air in raw inclement ſummers. He told
me, he did not doubt, that in eight years more
he ſhould be able to ſupply the governor's gar.
dens with funſhine at a reafonable rate ; but he
complained, that his ſtock was low, and intreated
me to give him fomething as an encouragement
to ingenuity, eſpecially fince this had been a very
dear feafon for cucumbers. I made him a ſmall
preſent ; for my Lord had furniſhed me with mo.
ney on purpoſe, becauſe he knew their practice of
beggiag from all who go to ſee them.
I went into another chamber, but was ready to
haſten back, being almoſt overcome with a horrible
ſtink. My conductor preſſed me forward, conju.
ring me in a whiſper to give no offence, which
would be highly reſented, and therefore I durft not
ſo much as ſtop my noſe. The projector of this
cell was the molt ancient ſtudent of the academy :
his face and beard were of a pale yellow, his hands
and cloathes daubed over with filth. When I was
preſented to him, he gave me a cloſe embrace (a
compliment I could well have excuſed.) His em:
ployment from his first coming into the academy,
was an operation to reduce human excrement to
its original food, by ſeparating the ſeveral parts,
removing the tincture which it receives from the
gall, making the odour exhale, and feumming off
the ſaliva. He had a weekly allowance from the
fociety, of a veſſel filled with human ordure, about
the bigneſs of a Briſtol barrel.
I ſaw another at work, to calcine ice into gun.
powder, who likewife ſhewed me a treatiſe he had
written concerning the malleability of fire which he
intended to publiib.
There
:
S 2
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
3.
There was, a molt ingenious architect, who had
eontrived a new method for building houſes, by be
ginning at the roof, and working downwards to
the foundation, which he juſtified to me by the like
pradlice of thoſe two prudent infects the bee and the
{pider.
There was a man born blind, who had ſeveral
apprentices in his own condition : Their employ
ment was to mix colours for painters, which their
muafter taught them to diſtinguiſh by feeling and
fmelling. It was indeed my misfortune to find
them at that time not very perfect in their leſſons,
and the profeffor himſelf happened to be generally
miftaken. This artiſt is much encouraged and e-
fteemed by the whole fraternity.
In another apartment I was highly pleaſed with
a projector, who had found a device of plowing the
ground with hogs, to fave the charges of ploughs,
cattle, and labour. The method is this: In an
acre of ground you bury, at fix inches diſtance,
and eight deep, a quantity of acorns, dates, chef
nuts, and other mait or vegetables, whereof theſe
animals are fondeſt: Then you drive fix hundred
er more of them into the field, where in a few days
they will root up the ground in ſearch of their food,
and make it fit for ſowing, at the fame time manu.
ring it with their dung: it is true, upon experi-
ment they fougl the charge and trouble very great,
and they had little or no crop. However, it is not
doubted that this invention may be capable of great
unprovemeut.
I went into another room, where the walls and
ceiling were hung round with cobwebs, except a
narrow paffage for the artiſt to go in and out. At
my entrance he called aloud to me not to diſturb
his webs. He lamented the fatal miſtake the world
had been ſo long in of uſing filk-worms, while we
had
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
209
had ſuch plenty of domeſtic inſects, who infinitely
excelled the former, becauſe they underſtood how
to weave as well as ſpin, And he propoſed, far.
ther, that by employing ſpiders, the charge of dy.
ing Glks hhould be wholly ſaved; whereof I was
fully convinced, when he ſhewed me a vaſt number
of Aies moſt beautifully coloured, where with he fed
his ſpiders, aſſuring us, that the webs would take a
tincture from them; and as he had then of all hues,
he hoped to fit every body's fancy, as ſoon as he
could find proper food for the fies, of certain
gums, oils, and other glutinous matter, to give a
Atrength and conſiſtence to the threads.
There was an aſtronomer, who had undertaken
to place a ſun-dial upon the great weathercock on
the town houſe, by adjuſting the annual and diure
nal motions of the earth and fun ſo as to anſwer
and coincide with all accidental turnings of the
wind.
I was complaining of a ſmall fit of the cholic,
upon which my conductor led me into a room where
a great phyſician reſided, who was famous for cur.
ing that diſeaſe by contrary operations from the
fame inſtrument. He had a large pair of bellows,
with a long ſlender muzzle of ivory : This he con-
veyed eight inches up the anus, and drawing in the
wind, he affirmed he could make the guts as lank
as a dried bladder.. But when the diſeaſe was
more ſtubborn and violent, he let in the muzzle while
the bellows were full of wind, which he diſcharged
into the body of the patient ; then withdrew the
inſtrunent to repleniſh it, clapping his thumb ſtrong-
ly againſt the orifice of the fundament; and this
being repeated three or four times, the adventitious
wind would ruſh out, bringing the noxious along
with it (like water put into a pump) and the pati,
ent recover. I ſaw him try both experiments up-
S 3
c
A Vovage to LAPUTA, &c.
:
dy to burst, and made lo
on a dog, but could not diſcern any effect from
the former. After the latter, the animal was reas
was very offenſive to me and my companions. The
dog died on the ſpot, and we left the doctor en-
deavouring to recover him by the fame operation,
I viſited many other apartments, but thall ner
trouble my reader with all the curioſities I obfer.
ved, being ſtudious of brevity.
I had hitherto feen only one ſide of the acade
my, the other being appropriated to the advancers
of ſpeculative learning, of whom I thall ſay fome-
thing when I have mentioned one illuſtrious perſon
more, who is called among them the univerſal ar.
tift. He told us, he had been thirty years employing
his thoughts for the improvement of human life.
He had two large rooms full of wonderful curiofi.
ties, and fifty men at work. Some were conden
fing air into a dry tangible ſubſtance, by extract:
ing the nitre, and letting the aqueous or fluid para
ticles percolate ; others foftening marble for pil.
lows and pincuſhions ; others petrifying the hoofs of
a living horfe, to preſerve them from foundering.
The artiſt himſelf was at that time buſy upon two
great deſigns ; the firſt to ſow land with chaff,
wherein he affirmed the true ſeminal virtue to be
contained, as he demonſtrated by feveral experi.
ments, which I was not ſkilful enough to compre-
hend. The other was, by a certain compofition
gums, minerals, and vegetables, outwardly ap.
plied to prevent the growth of wool upon two
young lambs; and he hoped, in a reaſonable time,
to propagate the breed of naked ſheep all over
the kingdom
We croſſed a walk to the other part of the acı.
denxy, where, as I have already ſaid, the projectors
in fpeculative learning reſided,
The
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
The firſt profeſſor I ſaw, was in a very large
room, with forty pupils about him. After faluta.
tion, obſerving me to look earneſtly upon a frame,
which took up the greateſt part of both the length
and breadth of the room, he ſaid, perhaps I might
wonder to ſee him employed in a project for im.
proving fpeculative knowledge, by practical and
mechanical operations. But the world would foon
be ſenſible of its uſefulneſs; and he flattered him:
felf, that a more noble exalted thought never
ſprang in any other man's head. Every one knew,
how laborious the uſual method is, of attaining to
arts and ſciences; whereas, by his contrivance, the
moſt ignorant perſon, at a reaſonable charge, and
with a little bodily labour, might write books in
philoſophy, poetry, politics, law mathematics, and
theology, without the leaſt aſliftance from genius or
ftudy. He then led me to the frame, about the
fides whereof all his pupils ſtood in ranks. It was
twenty feet ſquare, placed in the middle of the
room. The fuperficies was compoſed of ſeveral
bits of wood about the bigneſs of a dye, but ſome
larger than others. They were all linked together
by ſender wires. Theſe bits of wood were co.
vered on every ſquare with paper paſted op them ;
and on theſe papers were written all the words of
their language, in their ſeveral moods, tenſes, and
declenfions, but without any order. The profeſ.
for then deſired me to obſerve, for he was going
to ſet his engine at work. The
pupils, at his
command, took each of them, hold of an iron-hand-
le, whereof there were forty fixed round the ed.
ges of the frame ; and giving them a ſudden turn,
the whole difpofition of the words was entirely
changed. He then commanded fix, and thirty of
the lads to read the ſeveral lines ſoftly, as they ap.
peared upon the frame ; and where they found
three
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
three or four words together, that might make
part of a ſentence, they dictated to the four re.
maining boys, who were ſcribes. This work was
repeated three or four times, and at every turn
the engine was ſo contrived, that the words fhift
ed into new places, as the ſquare bits of wood mo
ved upfide down.
Six hours a day the young ſtudents were employ
ed in this labour, and the profeſſor fhewed me le.
veral volumes in large folio already collected of
broken ſentences, which he intended to piece to
gether out of thoſe rich niaterials, to give the
world a complete body of all arts and ſciences;
which however might be ſtill improved, and mucha
expedited, if the public would raiſe a fund for ma
kinig and employing five hundred ſuch frames in
Lagado, and oblige the managers to contribute in
common their feveral collections.
He aſſured me, that this invention had employ.
ed all his thoughts from his youth ; that he had
emptied the whole vocabulary into his frame, and
made the ſtricteft computation of the general pro.
portion there is in books between the numbers of
particles,nouns, and verbs, and other parts of ſpeech.
I made my humbleft acknowledgement to this il,
luftrious perfon for his great communicativeneſs
and promiſed, if ever I had the good fortune to re:
turn to my native country, that I would do him
jottiec, as the fole inventor of this wonderful ma
chine ; the form and contrivance of which I defired
leave to delineate upon paper.
I told hin, that although it were the cuſtom
of our learned in Europe to feal inventions from
each other, who had thereby at leaſt this advag-
Rage, that it became a controverſy which was the right
owner ; yet I would take fuch caution, that he
hould have the honour entire, without a rival,
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
We next went to the ſchool of languages, where
three profeſſors fat in conſultation upon impro.
ving that of their own country.
The firſt project was, to ſhorten diſcourſe, by
eutting polyſyllables into one, and leaving out verbs
and participles ; becauſe in reality all things ima.
ginable are but nouns.
The other project was, a ſcheme for entirely
aboliſhing all words whatſoever ; and this was
urged as a great advantage in point of health, as
well as brevity. For it is plain, that every word
we ſpeak is in ſome degree a diminution of our
lungs by corroſion; and conſequently contributes
to the thortening of our lives. An expedient was
therefore offered, that ſince words are only names
for things, it would be more convenient for all
men to carry about them ſuch things as were ne.
ceſſary to expreſs the particular buſineſs they are
to diſcourſe on. And this invention would cer.
tainly have taken place, to the great eaſe as well
as health of the ſubject, if the women, in con-
junction with the vulgar and illiterate, had not
threatened to raiſe a rebellion, unleſs they might
be allowed the liberty to ſpeak with their tongues
after the manner of their forefathers ; ſuch con.
ftant irreconcileable enemies to ſcience are the
common people. However, many of the moſt
learned and wife adhere to the 'new ſcheme of ex.
preſſing themſelves by things; which hath only
this inconvenience atiending it, that if a man's
buſineſs be very great, and of various kinds, he
muſt be obliged in proportion 'to carry a greater
bundle of things upon his back, unleſs he can af-
ford one or two ſtrong ſervants to attend him.
I have often beheld two of thofe fages almoſt
ſinking under the weight of their packs, like ped-
lars among us; who, when they meet in the
ſtreets,
214 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
vo
ftreets, would lay down their loads, open their
ſacks, and hold converſation for an hour together;
then put up their implements, help each other to
reſume their burthens, and take their leave,
But for fort converſation a man may carry in
plements in his pockets, and under his arms enough
to ſupply him ; and in his houſe he cannot be at
lofs. Therefore the room where company ocet
who practiſe this art, is full of all things ready ar
hand, requiſite to furnith matter for this kind of
artificial converſe.
Another great advantage propoſed by this in,
vention was, that it would ſerve as an univerfal
language to be underſtood in all civilized nations
whoſe goods and utenſils are generally of the ſame
kind, or nearly reſembled, ſo that their uſes might
eaſily be comprehended. And thus ambaſſadors
would be qualified to treat with foreign princes
or miniſters of ſtate, to whoſe tongues they were
utter ſtrangers.
I was at the mathematical ſchool, where the
mafter taught his pupils after a method (carce i.
inaginable to us in Europe. The propoſition and
demonftration were fairly written on a thin wafer,
with ink compoſed of a cephalic tincture. This
the ſtudent was to ſwallow upon a faſting ftomach,
and for three days following eat nothing but bread
and water.
As the wafer digeſted, the tincture
mounted to his brain, bearing the propoſition a.
Jong with it. But the fuccef's hath not hitherto
been anſwerable, parıly by ſome error in the
quantum or compoſition, and partly by the pers
verſenefs of lads; to whom this bolus is fo nau.
feous, that they generally ſteal aſide and diſcharge
it upwards, before it can operate ; neither have
they been yet perſuaded to uſe fo long an abiti-
hence as the preſcription requires.
CHAP
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
C H A P. VI.
A further account of the academy. The author pro-
poſes fome improvements, which are honourably
received.
IUNI
N the ſchool of political projectors I was but
ill entertained; the profeſſors appearing, in
my judgment, wholly out of their ſenſes; which
is a ſcene that never fails to make me melancholy.
Theſe unhappy people were prop ſing ſchemes for
perſuading monarchs to chuſe favourites upon the
ſcore of their wiſdom, capacity, and virtue 2;
of
teaching miniſters to conſult the public good ; of
rewarding merit, great abilities, and eminent ſer.
vices; of inſtructing princes to know their true in.
tereft, by placing it on the ſame foundation with
that of their people ; of chuſing for employments,
perſons qualified to exerciſe them ; with many o.
ther wild impoſſible chimæras, that never entered
before into the heart of man to conceive ; and
confirmed in me the old obſervation, that there is
nothing fo extravagant and irrational, which fome
philoſophers have not maintained for truth.
But, however, I ſhall ſo far do juſtice to this
part of the academy, as to acknowledge, that all
of them were not fo viſionary. There was a moſt
ingenious doctor, who ſeemed to be perfectly ver-
fed in the whole nature and fyftem of government,
This illuſtrious perſon had very uſefully employed
his ſtudies in finding out effetual remedies for all
diſeales and corruptions, to which the ſeveral kinds
of public adminiſtration are ſubject, by the vices
OP
316
1 Voyage to LAPUTA, &o.
.
or infirmities of thoſe who govern, as well as 61
the licentiouſneſs of thoſe who are to obey. For
inſtance; whereas all writers and reaſoners have
agreed, that there is a ſtrict univerſal reſemblance
between the natural and the political body ; can
there be any thing more evident, than thar the
health of both muſt be preſerved, and the diſeaſes
cured by the ſame preſcriptions? It is allowed,
that ſenates and great counſels are often troubled
with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant hu.
with many diſeaſes of the head, and more
of the heart; with ſtrong convulſions, with grie-
vous contractions of the nerves and finews in both
hands, but eſpecially the rights with ſpleca's fila.
tus, vertigos, and deliriumis ; with ſcrophulous
tonours, full of fætid purulent matter with four
frothy ructations ; with canine appetites, and crude
neſs of digeſtion, beſides many others needleſs to
mention; This doctor therefore propoſed, that
upop the meeting of a fenate, certain phyſicians
ſhould attend at the three firſt days of their fit
ting, and at the cloſe of each day's debate, feel
the pulſes of every ſenator ; after which, having
inaturely conſidered and conſulted upon the na.
ture of the ſeveral maladies, and the methods of
cure, they ſhould on the fourth day return to the
ſenate-houſe, attended by their apothecaries ſtored
with proper medicines ; and before the members
ſat, adminiſter to each of them lenitives, aperitivesy
abiterſives, corroſives, reſtringents, palliatives, luxe
itives, cephalagics, icterics, apophlegmatics, accouf.
tics, as their ſeveral caſes required, and according
as theſe medicines ſhould operate, repeat, alter, or
omit them at the next meeting.
This proje& could not be of any great expence
to the public, and might, in my poor opinion, be
of much uſe for the diſpatch of buſineſs in thoſe
.
countries
1 Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 217
suntries, where fenates have any fhare in the legiſla.
tive power; beget unanimity, florten debates, open
a few mouths which are now cloſed, and dole
many more which are now open ; curb the petu.
lancy of the young, and correết the poſitiveneſs of
the old; rouſe the ſtupid, and damp the pert,
Again; becauſe it is a general complaint, that
the favourites of princes are troubled with ſhort
and weak memories ; the fame doctor propoſed,
that whoever attended a firſt miniſter, after ha-
ving told his buſineſs with the utmoſt brevity, and
in the plaineſt words, ſhould at his departure give
the faid miniſter a tweak by the noſe, or a kick in
the belly, or tread on his corps, or lug him thrice
by both ears, or run a pin into his breech, or pinch
his arm black and blue, to prevent forgetfulneſs ;
and at every levee-day repeat the ſame operation,
till the buſineſs were done, or abfolutely refuſed.
He likewiſe directed, that every ſenator in the
great council of a nation, after he had delivered
his opinion, and argued in the defence of it, ſhould
be obliged to give his vote directly contrary ; be.
cauſe if that were done, the reſult would infallibly
terminate in the good of the public.
When parties in a ſtate are violent, he offered
a wonderful contrivance to reconcile then), The
method is this: You take an hundred leaders of
each party; you diſpoſe them into couples of ſuch,
whoſe heads are neareſt of a ſize ; then let two
nice operators law off the occiput of each couple at
the ſame time, in ſuch a manner, that the brain
may be equally divided. Let the occiputs thus cut
off be interchanged, applying each to the head
of his oppoſite party-man. It ſeems indeed to be
a work that requireth ſome exactneſs ; but the
pro:
feſſor aſſureth us, that if it were dexterouſly per-
formed, the cure would be infallible, . For he ar.
T
gued
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &e.
rued thus s. that the two half brains being left to
debate tha niatrer between themſelves within the
fare of one full, would ſoon come to a good un-
terktanding, and produce that-inoderation, a& wel
as regularity of thinking, ſo much to be wiſhed for
jo the heads of thoſe who imagine they come into
the world only to watch and govern its motion
And as to the difference of brains in quantity of
quality, anong thoſe who are directors in faction
the doctor aflüred us, from his own knowledge,
that it was a perfect trifle.
I heard a very warm debate between two pro.
feflors, about the moſt commodious and effectual
ways and nicans of railing money without grieving
the fubjet. The firſt affirmed, the juſteſt method
would be to lay a certain tax upon vices and folly:
and the ſum fixed upon every man (to be rated af:
for the fairett manner by a jury of his acighbours
The fecond was of an opinion directly contrary:
to tax choſe qualities of body and mind for which
mèn chielly value themſelves; the rate to be more
or leſs, according to the degrees of excelling; thá
decition, whereof ſhould be left entirely to their
own breaft, The higheſt tax was upon zuen who
are the greateſt favourites of the other fex, and
the ailellients according to the number and näe
ware of the favours they lrave received, for which
Firey are allowed to be their own vouchers Wit
#alour, and politeneſs, were likewiſe propatid na
be largely taxed, and collected in the ſame man-
ner, by every perſon's giving his own word for
the quanium of what he poſſeſſed. But as to ho.
nou, jartice, wiſdom, and learning, they should
not be taxed at all ; becauſe they are qualifications
of ſo ſingular a kind, that no man will either allow
them in his neighbour, or value them in himſelf,
The women were propoſed to be taxed accordo
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
219
ing to their beauty and ſkill in dreſling ; where-
in they had the ſame privilege with the men, to be
deterinined by their own judgment. But con-
ftancy, chaſtity, good ſenſe, and good nature, were
not rated, becauſe they would not bear the charge
of collecting,
To keep fenators in the intereſt of the crown,
it was propoſed, that the members fhould raffle
for employinents; every man firſt taking an oath,
and giving ſecurity, that he would vote for the
court, whether he won or no ; after which the
loſers had in their turn the liberty of raffling upon
the next vacancy. Thus hope and expectation
would be kept alive ; none would complain of bro.
ken promiſes, but impute their diſappointments
wholly to fortune, whofe ſhoulders are broader and
ſtronger than thoſe of a miniſtry.
Another profeffor fhewed me a large paper of
inſtructions, for diſcovering plots and conſpiracies
againſt the government. He adviſed great fatef.
men to examine into the diet of all ſuſpected per.
fons ; their times of eating ; upon which ſide they
lay in bed; with which hand they wiped their
poſteriors ; to take a ſtriet view of their excre-
ments, and from the colour, the odour, the taſte,
the confiftence, the crudeneſs, or maturity of
digeſtion, form a judgment of their thoughts and
deſigns. Becauſe nien are never ſo ſerious, thought-
fal, and intent, as when they are at ſtool, which
he found by frequent experiment : For in ſuch
conjunctures, when he ufed merely as a trial to
conſider which was the beſt way of murdering the
king, his ordure would have a tincture of green;
but quite different, when he thought only of raiſing
an inſurrection, or burning the metropolis.
The whole diſcourſe was written with great a.
cuteneſs, containing many obfervations both cu.
rious
T2
220
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
rious and uſeful for politicians ; but, as I conCI.
vidhy nor altogether compleat. This I ventured
tó tell the author, and offered, if he pleaſed, to
fupply him with ſome additions. He received my
Propoſition with more compliance than is ufal
among writers, eſpecially thoſe of the projeding
fpecies; profeſling he would be glad to receive
further information,
"I told him, that in the kingdom of Tribnia, by
the natives called Langden, where
I had fojourn.
ed ſome time in my travels, the bulk of the people
conliſt in a manner wholly of diſcoverers, witneffes,
formers, accuſers, proſecutors, evidences, ſwear-
ers, together with their feveral fubfervient and
fubaltera inftruments, all under the colours, the
condud, and pay of miniſters of ſtate and their de
poties. The plots in that kingdom are uſually the
workaragſhip of thoſe perſons who defme to raiſe
their own charaders of profound politicisus ; to
reſtore new vigour to a crazy adminiſtration : 10
Hifle or divert general diſcontents ; to fill their
casters with forfeitures ; and raiſe or ſink the opi.
nion of public credit, as either Arall beſt anſwer
their private advantage. It is firſt agreed, and
Jecded among them, what fufpected perſons ſhall
be accuſed of a plot; then effectual care is takco
to ſecure all their letters and papers, and put the
oners in chains,
Tht ſe papers are delivered to a ſet of artiſts,
very dexterous in finding out the mysterious mean-
ing of words, ſvlables, and letters: For inftance,
they can diſcover cloſe-ftool to fignify a priky
weil ; a flock of geefe, a feriate ; a lame dog,
an invader; the plague, a ſtanding army ; a buka
zard, a prime minifter ; the gout, a high prieſt :
A gibber, a ſecretary of ſtate; a chamber.pol, a
committee of grandees; a fieve, a court. lady:
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 22+
broom, a revolution ; a mouſe-trap, an employ.
ment; a bottomleſs pit, a treaſury; a fink, a court;
a cap and bells, a favourite; a broken reed, a court
of juſtice ; an empty tun, a general ; a running
fore, the adminiſtration.
When this method fails, they have two others
more effe&ual, which the learned among them call
acroſtics and anagrams. Firſt, they can decipher
all initial letters into political meanings. Thus,
N ſhall ſignify a plot, B, a regiment of horſe,
L, a fleet at ſea ; or, ſecondly, by tranſpoſing the
letters of the alphabet in any ſuſpected paper, they
can lay open the deepeſt deſigns of a diſcontented
party. So, for example, if I ſhould ſay in a letter
to a friend, Our brother Tom has juſt got the piles,
a ſkilful decipherer would diſcover, that the ſame
letters which compoſe that ſentence may be ana-
lized into the following werds, Refift,—_-a plot
is brought home The Tour. And this is the
anagrammatic method.
The profeſſor made great acknowledgments for
communicating theſe obſervations, and promiſed to
make honourable mention of me in his treatiſe.
I ſaw nothing in this country that could invite
me to a longer continuance, and began to think-
of returning home to England.
T3
CH AP).
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c,
CHA P. VII.
The author leaves Lagado, arrives at Maldonada.
No ſhip ready. He takes a ſhort voyage to Glub-
dubdrib. His reception by the governor,
THE continent, of which this kingdom is :
part, extends
itſelf, as I have reaſon to be:
Jieve, eaſtward to that unknown tract of America
weſtward of California, and north to the Pacific
Ocean, which is not above a hundred and fifty
miks fram Lagado; where there is a good port,
and much commerce with the great iſland of Luts.
nage, ſituated to the north-weſt, about 29 de
grees north latitude, and 140 longitude. This
ilhand of Luggnagg ſtands fouth-callward of Japan,
about an hundred leagues diſtant. There is a ſtrid
alliance between the Japaneſe Emperor and the
King of Luggnagg, which affords frequent oppor
tunities of failing from one iſland to the other. I
The termined therefore to direct my courfe this way,
in order to my return to Europe. I hired two
mules, with a guide to fhew me the way, and carry
my (nall baggage. I took leave of iny noble pro-
téctor, who had thewn me fo much favonr,
made me a generous preſent at my departure,
My journey was without any accident or adven.
mure worth relating. When I arrived at the port
of Maldonada (for ſo it is called) there was rid ſhip
in the harbour bound for Luggnagg, or like to
be in Tome time. The town is about as large 13
Poetſmouth, I ſoon fell into ſome acquaintance,
and was very hoſpitably received. A gentleman
of diſtinction ſaid to me, that ſince the ſhips bound
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
223
:
for Luggnagg could not be ready in leſs than a
month, it might be no diſagreeable amuſement for
me to take a trip to the little iſland of Glubdub.
drib, about five leagues off to the ſouth-weſt. He
offered himſelf and a friend to accompany me, and
that I ſhould be provided with a ſmall convenient
barque for the voyage.
Glubdubdrib, as near as I can interpret the
word, ſignifies the iſland of Sorcerers or Magi.
cians. It is about one third as farge as the ille
of Wight, and extremely fruitful : It is governed
by the head of a certain tribe, who are all magi.
cians. This tribe marry only among each other,
and the eldeſt in ſucceſſion is prince or governor.
He hath a noble palace, and a park of about three
thouſand acres, ſurrounded by a wall of hewn.
ſtone twenty feet high. In this park are ſeveral
ſmall incloſures for cattle, corn, and gardening.
The governor and his family are ſerved and at.
tended by domeſtics of a kind ſomewhat unuſual.
By his ſkill in necromancy he hath a power of call.
ing whom he pleaſeth from the dead, and com-
manding their ſervice for twenty-four hours, but
no longer ; nor can he call the ſame perſons up
again in leſs than three months, except upon very
extraordinary occaſions.
When we arrived at the iſland, which was a.
bout eleven in the morning, one of the gentlemen
who accompanied me went to the governor, and
deſired admittance for a ſtranger, who came on
purpoſe to have the honour of attending on his
highneſs. This was immediately granted; and
we all three entered the gate of the palace, be.
tween two rows of. guards armed and dreſſed af:
ter a very antic manner, and ſomething in their
countenances that made my fleſh creep with a hor-
ror I cannot expreſs, We paſſed through ſeveral
apartments
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
apartments between fervants of the faine fort,
ranked on each lide as before, till we came to the
chamber of preſence, where, after three profound
obeiſances, and a few general queſtions; we were
permitted to fit on three ſtools near the lovelt
hep of his birghneſs's throne. He underſtood the
language of Balnibarbi, although it were different
from that of this iſland. He deſired me to give
hiin fonte account of my travels; and, to let me
fee that I ſhould be treated withont ceremony, he
dilmifed all his arterdants with a turn of his ha
ger, at which, to my great aſtoniſhment, they va.
nified in an inſtant, like viſions in a dream wheit
we «awake on a ſudden. I conid not recover my .
felf in ſome time, till the governor aſſured me,
that 1 frould receive no hurt; and obſerving my
two companions to be under no concern, who had
bacni often entertained in the ſame manner, 1-bea
gan to take conrage, and related to his highneſs a
lbord hiſtory of my ſeveral adventures; yet not
withour. fimne heſitation, and frequently looking
bchind me to the place where I had ſeen chole
domeſtic ſpectres. I had the honour to dine with
the governor, where a new fer of ghoits ferved up
the meat, and waited at table. I now obſerved
myſelf to be lefs rerrified than I had been in the
mørning, I flaid till fun.ſer, but lvumbly de Gred
His highneſs to excuſe me for not accepting his ina
Witæriðh of lodgin': in the palace. My two friends
anxel I lay at a private houte in the rown adjoitting,
which is the capital of this little illand; and the
pikxt morning we returned to pay our duty lo ilie
governor, as he was pleaſed to coininand us.
Afrer this manner we continued in die Nand
for ten days; moſt part of every day, with the go-
vernar, ajal at night in our lodging I foon grew
ſo familiarized to the light of ſpirics, that after the
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c, 225
2
third or fourth time they gave me no emotion at
all; or if I had any apprehenſions left, my curio .
ſity prevailed over them. For his highneſs the
governor ordered me to call up whatever perſons
I would chuſe to name, and in whatever numbers,
among all the dead, from the beginning of the
world to the preſent time, and command them to
anſwer any queſtions I ſhould think fit to aſk ;
with this condition, that my queſtions muſt be
confined within the compaſs of the times they lived
in : and one thing I might depend upon, that
they would certainly tell me truth; for lying was
a talent of no uſe in the lower world. I made
my humble acknowledgments to his highneſs for
ſo great a favour. We were in a chamber, from
whence there was a fair proſpect into the park.
And becauſe my firſt inclinations was to be enter-
tained with ſcenes of pomp and magnificence, I
defired to ſee Alexander the Great, at the head of
his army, juſt after the battle of Arbela, which,
upon a motion of the governor's finger, imme.
diately appeared in a large field under the win-
dow where we ftood. Alexander was called up
into the room : It was with great difficulty that I
underſtood his Greek, and had but little of my
own. He aſſured me upon his honour, that he
was not poiſoned, but died of a fever by exceſſive
drinking.
Next I ſaw Hannibal paſſing the Alps, who
told me, he had not a drop of vinegar in his
canap,
I ſaw Cæſar and Pompey at the head of their
troops, juſt ready to engage, I ſaw the former
in his laſt great triumph. I defired, that the ſe.
nate of Rome might appear before me in one large
chamber, and a modern repreſentative in counter-
view in another. The firft ſeemed to be an aſſem-
bly
226
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
bly of heroes and demi-gods, the other a knot of
pedlars, pick-pockets, highwaymen, and bullies.
The governor at my requeſt gave the ſign for
Calar and Brurus to advance towards us. I was
ftruck with a profound venerarion at the ſight of
Brorns, and could eaſily diſcover the moſt conſumi
mate virtue, the greateft intrepidity
and firmne
of mind, the truelt love of his country, and general
benevolence for mankind, in every lineament of
liis countenance, I obſerved with much pleafure
that theſe two perſons were in good intelligence
with each other; and Cæfar freely confeſſed to
me, tliät the greateſt actions of his own life were not
equal, by nang degrees, to the glory of taking it
away. I had the honour to have much converla:
tion with Brutus ; and was told, that his anceitor
Janizs, Socrares, Epaminondas, Cata the younger,
Sir Fhomas-Muore, and himſelf, were perpetually
trgether : A fextumvirate, to which all the ages
of the world cannor add a ſeventh.
It would be tedious to trouble the reader with
relarmg what valt numbers of illuſtrious perlens
were maded up to gratify that infatiabla delire
had to fee the world in every period of ani quity
placeil before me. I chiefly fed' niy eyos with bem
hokting the deſtroyers of tyrants and uſurpers,
and the reſtorers of liberty to the oppreffed and
injured nations. But it is impoſſible to expreſs
the fatisfaélion I received in my own mind, after
fuch a manner as to make it a ſuitable entertain)
went to the reader.
CHAP
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
227
CH A P. VIII,
A further account of Glubdubdrib. Ancient and
modern hiſtory corrected.
HAVING a deſire to ſee thoſe ancients who
were moft renowned for wit and learning,
I ſet apart one day on purpoſe. I propoſed that
Homer and Ariſtotle might appear at the head of
all their commentators ; but theſe were ſo nume.
rous, that ſome hundreds were forced to attend
in the court and outward rooms of the palace. I
knew and could diſtinguiſh thoſe two heroes at
firſt ſight, not only from the croud, but fronı each
other. Homer was the taller and comelier perſon
of the two, walked very erect for one of his
age,
and his eyes were the moſt quick and piercing
ever beheld. Ariſtotle ftooped much, and made
uſe of a ſtaff. His viſage was meagre, his hair
lank and thin, and his voice hollow. I ſoon dir.
covered that both of them were perfect Arangers
to the reſt of the company, and had never ſeen or
heard of them before. And I had a whiſper from
a ghoſt, who ſhall be nameleſs, that theſe com-
mentators always kept in the moſt diftant quarters
from their principals in the lower world, thro’ a
conſciouſneſs of thame and guilt, becauſe they had
fo horribly miſrepreſented the meaning of authors
to poſteriry. I introduced Didymus and Euſta.
thius to Homer, and prevailed on him to treat
them better than perhaps they deſerved, for he
foon found they wanted a genius to enter into the
ſpirit of a poet. But Ariſtotle was out of all pa.
tience
228 A Voyage to LAPOTA &c.
tience with the account I gave him of Scotus and
Ramus, as I preſenred them to him, and he aſked
then whether the reſt of the tribe were as great
dunces as themſelves?
I then deſired the governor to call up Deſcartes
and Gallendi, with whom I prevailed to explain
their fyttems to Ariſtotle. This great philoſc per
frocly acknowledged his own miſtakes in natural
philoſophy, becauſe he proceeded in many things
upon conje&ure, as all men muſt do; and he
found, that Gaſſendi, who had made the doctrine
of Epicurus as palatable as he could, and the vor.
tices of Deſcartes, were equally to be exploded.
He predicted the fame fate to attraction, whereof
the preſent learned are ſuch zealous aſſerters. He
ſaid, that new ſyſtems of nature were but new
falhions, which would vary in every age ; and e.
yen chole, who pretend to demonstrate them from
mathematical principles, would flouriſh but a ſhort
period of time, and be out of vogue when that
was determined.
I spent five days in converſing with many others
of the ancient learned. I ſaw most of the firſt Ro.
man emperors. I prevailed on the gorernor to
call up Haliogabalus's cooks to dreſs us a dinner;
bat they could not ſhew us much of their ſkill for
want of materials. A helot of Ageſilaus made us a
dith of Spartan broth, but I was not able to get
down a ſecond ſpoonful.
The two gentlemen who conducted me tothe iſland
were preſled by their private affairs to return in
three days, which I employed in ſeeing ſome of the
modern dead who had made the greatelt ngurt
for two or three hundred years paft in our own and
other countries of Europe ; and having been ali
ways, a great admirer of old illuſtrious fainilies,
defired the governor would call up a dozen or €ws
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &či
of kings, with their anceſtors in order for eight or
nine generations. But my diſappointment was grie.
vous and unexpected. For, inſtead of a long train
with royal diadems, I ſaw in one family two fiddlers,
three (pruce courtiers, and an Italian prelate. In
another, a barber, an abbot, and two cardinals.
I have too great a veneration for crowned heads to
dwell any longer on ſonice a ſubject. But as to Counts,
Marquiſſes, Dukes, Earls, and the like, I was not ſo
fcrupulous. And, I confeſs, it was not without ſome
pleaſure, that I found myſelf able to trace the par.
ticular features, by which certain families are diltin.
guiſhed up to their originals. I could plainly dif.
cover, from whence one family derives a long chin,
why a ſecond hath abounded with knaves for two
generations, and fools for two more ; why a third
happened to be crackbrained, and a fourth to be
barpers ; whence it came what Polydore Virgil
ſays of a certain great houſe, Nec vir fortis, nec
fæmina cafta ; how cruelty, falſehood, and coward-
ice grew to be characteriſtics, by which certain fa.
nilies are diſtinguifhed as much as by their coats
of arms; who firſt brought the pox into a no.
ble houſe, which hath lineally deſcended in ſcro-
phulous tumours to their poſterity. Neither could
I wonder at all this, when I ſaw ſuch an interrup-
tion of lineages by pages, lacqueys, valets, coach-
men, gameſters, fiddlers, players, captains, and pick.
pockets
.
I was chiefly diſguſted with modern hiſtory.
For having ſtrictly examined all the perſons of
greateſt name in the courts of princes for an hun.
dred
years paft, I found how the world had been
milled by proſtitute writers to aſcribe the greateſt
exploits in war to cowards, the wiſeft counſel to
fools, Gincerity to flatterers, Roman virtue to betray-
€rs of their country, piety to atheiſts, chaſtity to
U
ſodomises,
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
& domites, truth to informers : How many inne.
cent and excellent perſons had been condemned to
death or baniſhment by the practiſing of great
miniſters upon the corruption of judges, and the
malice of factions: How many villains had been exe
alted to the higheſt places of truſt, power, dignity,
ani profit : How great a ſhare in the motions and
eve its of courts, councils, and fenates, might be
challenged by bawds, whores, pimps, paraſites, and
buffo n5 : How low an opinion I had of human
wiſdon and integrity, when I was truly informed
of the fprings and motives of great enterpriſes and
revolutions in the world, and of the contemptible
accidents to which they owed their ſucceſs.
Here I diſcovered the roguery and ignorance of
thoſe who pretend to write anecdotes, or ſecret
hiftory ; who fend ſo many kings to their graves
with a cup of poiſon ; will repeat the diſcourſe be .
tween a prince and chief miniſter, where 170 wit-
neſs was by ; unlock the thoughts and cabinets of am.
balladors and ſecretaries of lfate ; and have the per
perual misfortune to be miſtaken. Here I dilco.
vered the true cauſes of many great events that have
furpriſed the world; how a whore can govern the
back-stairs, the back ſtairs a council, and the coun-
cil a fenate. A general confeſſed in my preſence,
that he got a victory purely by the force of coward
ice and all conduct; and an admiral, that for want
of proper intelligence he beat the enemy, to whom
he intended to betray the fleet, Three kings pro-
teſted to inė, that in their whole reigns they never
did once prefer any perſon of merit, unleſs by miſ.
mke, or treachery of fome miniſter in whom
they confided ; neither would they do it if they
were to live again : and they ſhewed with great
Arength of reaſon, that the royal throne could not
be ſupported wishout corruption, becauſe that por
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c,
231
ſitive, confident, reſtive temper, which virtue in-
fuſed into a man, was a perpetual clog to public
buſineſs.
I had the curioſity to inquire, in a particular man-
ner, by what method great numbers had procured
to themſelves high titles of honour and prodigious
eſtates; and I confined my inquiry to a very mo.
dern period, however, without grating upon pre-
ſent times, becauſe I would be ſure to give no of.
fence even to foreigners ; for I hope the reader
need to be told, that I do not in the leaſt intend
my own country in what I ſay upon this occaſion.
A great number of perſons concerned were called
up; and upon a very slight examination diſcovered
ſuch a ſcene of infamy, that I cannot refled upon
it without ſome ſeriouſneſs. Perjury, oppreſlion,
ſubornation, fraud, pandariſm, and the like infir-
mpties, were amongſt the moft excuſeable arts
they had to mention ; and for theſe I gave, as it
was reaſonable, great allowance. But when ſome
confeffed they owed their greateneſs and wealth to
ſodomy or inceft ; others to the proſtituting of their
own wives and daughters; others to the betraying
their country or their prince ; fome to poiſoning,
more to the perverting of juſtice in order to deſtroy
the innocent ; 1 hope I may be pardoned, if theſe
diſcoveries inclined me a little to abate of that pro-
found veneration, which I am naturally apt to pay
to perſons of high rank, who ought to be treated
with the utmoſt reſpect due to their ſublime digni.
ty by us their inferiors. as con
I had often read of ſome great ſervices done to
princes and ſtates, and deſired to ſee the perſons
by whom thoſe ſervices were performed, Upon
inquiry I was told, that their names were to be
found on no record, except a few of them, whonr
hiſtory hath repreſented as the vileft rogues and
traitors.
.
U2
232
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
fortune to break through the enemy's great line
of battle, Gink three of their
traitors. As to the reſt, I had never once heard of
them. They all appeared with dejected looks, and
in the meaneſt habit, moſt of them telling me they
red in poverty and diſgrace, and the reſt on a ſcafe
fold or a gibber.
Among others there was one perſon whoſe cafe
appeared a little Gingular. He had a youth about
righteen years old Nanding by his fide. He told
me he had for inany years been compander of a
fhip; and in the ſea fight at A&tium had the good
* fourth, which was the ſole cauſe of Anthony's
flight, and of the victory that enſued; that the
youth ftanding by him, his only ſon, was killed in
the aâion. He added, that upon the confidence
of fome merit, the war being at an end, he went to
Home, and ſolicited at the court of Auguſtus to be
preferred to a greater ſhip, whoſe
commaíder had
been killed ; but without any regard to his preten *
fions, it was given to a boy, who had never ſeen the
fea, the lon of Libertina, who waited on one of the
Emperor's miſtreſſes. Returning back to his own
vellal, he was charged with negle& of duty, and
the ſhip given to a favourite page of Publicola, the
vice admnical ; whereupon he retired to a poor
farm at a great diſtance froin Rome, and there
ended his life. I was ſo curious to know the truth
of this ſtory, that I deſired Agrippa might be call.
ed, who was admiral in that fight. He appeared,
and confirined the whole account,
with much more
advantage to the captain, whole
modeſty had ex*
tenuated or concealed a great part of his merit.
I was {urpriſed to find corruption grown ſo high
and ( quick in that empire, by the force of luxury
fo lately introduced, which made mne leſs wonder
at many parallel caſes in other countries, where
vices
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
233
vices of all kinds have reigned fo much longer, and
where the whole praiſe, as well as pillage, hath
been engroſſed by the chief commander, who per-
haps had the leaſt title to either.
As every perſon called up made exactly the ſame
appearance he had done in the world, it gave me
melancholy reflections to obferve, how much the
race of human kind was degenerated among
within theſe hundred years paſt. How the pox,
under all its conſequences and denominations, had
altered every lineament of an Engliſh counte.
nance; ſhortened the ſize of bodies, unbraced the
nerves, relaxed the finews and muſcles, introdu-
ced à fallow complexion, and rendered the fleſh
looſe and rancid.
I deſcended ſo low as to deſire, that ſome En-
gliſh yeomen of the old ſtamp might be ſummoned
to appear ; once fo famous for the fimplicity of
their manners, diet, and dreſs; for juſtice in their
dealings; for their true ſpirit of liberty ; for their
valour and love of their country, Neither could
I be wholly unmoved, after comparing the living
with the dead, when I conſidered how all theſe
pure native virtues were proſtituted for a piece of
money by their grand children, who, in felling their
votes, and managing at elections, have acquired e-
very vice and corruption that can poſſibly be learn
e flella
sy
ed in a court,
ע
CHAI
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &
CHAP, IX,
The author returns to Maldonada. Sails 16 the
kingdom of Luggnagg. The author confined,
He is ſent for to court. The manner of his admit.
tance. The King's great lenity to his ſubjects.
THE
I E day of our departure being come, I took
leave of his Highneſs the governor of Glub.
dubdrib, and returned with my two companions
to Maldonada, where, after a fortnight's waiting,
3 ſhip was ready to fail for Luggnagg. The two
gentlemen, and ſome others, were ſo generous
and kind as to furniſh me with provifions, and ſee
me on board. I was a month on this voyage. We
had one violent ſtorm, and were under a neceffity
of ſteering weſtward to get into the trade-wind,
which holds for above fixty leagues. On the 21
of April 1708 we failed into the river of Clumeg:
nig, which is a ſea-port town at the ſouth eait
point of Luggnagg. We caſt anchor within a
lengue of the town, and made a ſignal for a pilot,
Two of them came on board in leſs than half an
hoor, by whom we were
guided between certain
thoals and rocks, which are very dangerous in the
paſſage, to a large baſon, where a fleet may
in ſafety within a cable's length of the town-wall:
Some of our failors, whether out of treachery
ør inadvertence, had'informed the pilots that I
was a ſtranger, and a great traveller ; whereof
gave notice to a cuſtom houſe officer, by
whom I was examined very ſtriály upon my land.
ing. This officer ſpoke to me in the language of
Bilnibarbi, which, by the force of much commerce
ride
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
235
is generally underſtood in that town, eſpecially by
feamen, and thoſe employed in the cuſtoms. I
gave him a ſhort account of fome particulars, and
made my ſtory as plauſible and conſiſtent as I could;
but I thought it neceſſary to diſguiſe my country,
and call myſelf an Hollander, becauſe my inten.
tions were for Japan, and I knew the Dutch
were the only Europeans permitted to enter into
that kingdom. I therefore told the officer, that
having been ſhipwrecked on the coaſt of Balnibar:
bi, and caſt on a rock, I was received up into
Lapota, or the flying iſland (of which he had of.
ten heard) and was now endeavouring to get to
Japan, from whence I might find a convenience
of returning to my own country The officer ſaid,
I muſt be confined till he could receive orders
from court, for which he would write immediate:
ly, and hoped to receive an anſwer in a fortnight,
I was carried to a convenient lodging, with a cen.
try placed at the door ; however, I had the liberty
of a large garden, and was treated with humanity
enough, being maintained all the time at the king's
charge, I was invited by ſeveral perſons, chiefly
out of curioſity, becauſe it was reported that I
came from countries very remote, of which they
had never heard.
I hired a young man, who came in the fame
fhip, to be an interpreter; he was a native of
Luggnagg, but had lived ſome years at Maldona.
da, and was a perfect maſter of both languages.
By his aſſiſtance I was able to hold a converſation
with thoſe who came to viſit me ; but this conſiſt,
ed only of their queſtions and my anſwers.
The diſpatch came from court about the time
we expected. It contained a warrant for con.
ducting me and my retinue to Traldragdub, or
Trildrogdrib, for it is pronounced both ways;
29
A Voyage to LAPUT A, &e.
ܪܪܘ
days after my arrival, I was commanded to co
as near as I can remember, by a party of ten horſe.
All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpret.
ter, whom I perfuaded into my ſervice ; and at
my humble requeſt we had each of us a mule to
ride on. A meſſenger was diſpatched half a day's
journey before us to give the king notice of my
approach, and to defire that his majeſty woulu
pleaſe to appoint a day and hour, when it would
be his gracious pleaſure that I might have the bo-
nour to lick the daft before bis foot-ftool. This is
the court-ſtyle, and I found it to be more than
matter of form. For, upon my adinittance, two
craw)
upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced
but, on account of my being a ſtranger, care was
taken to have it made ſo clean, that the duſt wai
not offenlive. However, this was a peculiar grace,
not allowed to any but perſons of the higheſt ranking
when they deſire an admittance. Nay, fometimes
the floor is ſtrewed with duft on purpoſe, when
the perfon to be admitted happens to have power.
ful enemies at court. And I have ſeen a great
lord with his mouth fo crammed, that, when he
had crept to the proper diſtance from the throne,
he was not able to (peak a word. Neither is there
any reinedy ; becauſe it is capital for thoſe who re-
ceive an audience, to ſpit or wipe their mouths in
his Majeſty's preſence. There is indeed another
cultoti which I cannot altogether approve of 4
When the king had a mind to put any of his no-
bles to death in a gentle, indulgent manner, **
commands the floor to be ſtrewed with a certain
brown powder of a deadly compoſition, which bax
ing licked up, infallibly kills him in 24 hours.
But in juſtice to this prince's great clemency:
and the care he hath of his ſubjects lives (where.
in it were niuch to be wiſhed that the monarcho
of
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.'
of Europe would imitate him) it muſt be mention.
ed for his hononr, that Atrict orders are given to
have the infected parts of the floor well waſhed
after every ſuch execution ; which if his domeſtics
neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal
diſpleaſure. I myſelf heard him give directions
that one of his pages hhould be whipt, whoſe turn
it was to give notice about waſhing the floor af-
ter an execution, but maliciouſly had omitted it ;
by which neglect, a young lord, of great hopes,
coming to an audience, was unfortunately poiſon-
ed, although the king at that time had no deſign
against his life. But this good prince was fo
cious as to forgive the poor page his whipping,
upon promiſe that he would do ſo no more with
out ſpecial orders.
To return from this digreſſion : When I had
trept within four yards of the throne, I raiſed
myſelf gently upon my knees, and then ſtriking
my forehead ſeven times againſt the ground,
pronounced the following words, as they had been
taught me the night before, Ickpling gloffthrob!
Jqut ſerumm blhiop mlajhnalt zwin trodvalkuffh
Jhiophad gurdlubb afht. This is the complimente
eſtabliſhed by the laws of the land for all perſons
admitted to the king's preſence. It may be ren.
dered into Engliſh thus : May your celeſtial Majef.
ty outlive the fun eleven moons and an half. To
this the king returned ſome anſwer, which altho
I could not underſtand, yet I replied as I had been
directed: Flute drin yalerick dwuldom praſtrad mir-
puſh, which properly ſignifies, My tongue is in the
mouth of my friend; and by this expreſion was
meant, that I deſired leave to bring my interpre-
ter ; whereupon the young man already mention-
ed was introduced, by whoſe intervention 1 an.
fwered as many queſtions as his Majeſty could
put
Onour
235 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
put in above an hour. I ſpoke in the Balmbas.
bian tongue, and my interpreter delivered my
meaning in that of Luggnagg.
* The king was much delighted with my coin.
pany, and ordered his Bliffmac klub, or high chain.
berlain, to appoint a lodging in the court for me
and my interpreter, with a daily allowance for my
table, and a large purſe of gold for my common
expences,
I faid three months in this country out of pri
feat. ebedience to his majeſty, who was pleated
able offers. But I thought it more confiftent with
prudence and juſtice to paſs the remainder of my
days with my wife and family.
СНА Р. Х.
The Lnggraggians commended. A particular
fcription of the Struldbrugs, with many converſa,
tions between the author and ſome eminent perſons
upon that ſubject.
HE Luggnuggians are a polite and generous
peeple ; and although they are not without
ſome thare of that pride which is peculiar to all
eaſtern countries, yet they ſhew themſelves cour
teous to ſtrangers, eſpecially ſuch who are coun-
tenanced by the court. I had many acquaintances
among perſons of the beſt faſhion; and being al.
ways attended by my interpreter, the conver fation
we had was not diſagreeable.
One day, in much good company, I was aſked
by a perſen of quality, whether I had feen any of
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 239
their Struldbrugs, or Immortals. I ſaid, I had
not; and defired he would explain to me what he
meant by ſuch an appellation applied to a mortal
creature. He told me, that ſometimes, though
very rarely, a child happened to be born in a fa.
mily with a red circular ſpot in the forehead, di-
reály over the left eye-brow, which was an in.
fallible mark that it hould never die, The ſpot,
as he deſcribed it, was about the compaſs of a fil.
ver three-pence, but in the courſe of time grew
larger, and changed its colour ; for at twelve years
old it became green, fo continued till five-and-
twenty, then turned to a deep blue ; at five-and-
forty it grew coal-black, and as large as an Eng.
lith fhilling ; but never admitted any farther alter.
ation. He ſaid, theſe births were ſo rare, that
he did not believe there could be above eleven
hundred Struldbrugs of both fexes in the whole
kingdom, of which he computed about fifty in the
metropolis, and ainong the reſt a young girl, born
about three years ago : That theſe productions
were not peculiar to any family, but a mere effect
of chance ; and the children of the Struldbrugs
themſelves were equally mortal with the reſt of,
the people.
I freely own myſelf to have been ſtruck with
inexpreſſible delight upon hearing this account:
And the perſon who gave it me, happening to un-
derftand the Balnibarbian language, which I ſpoke
very well, I could not forbear breaking out into
expreſſions perhaps a little too extravagant. I
cried out, as in a rapture, Happy nation, where
every child hath at leaſt a chance for being im.
mortal! Happy people, who enjoy fo inany living
examples of ancient virtue, and have rafters ready
to inſtruct them in the wiſdom of all former ages!
But, happieſt beyond all compariſon are thoſe ex-
cellent
240
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
and depreſion of ſpirits cauſed by the
cellent Struldbrugs, who being born exempt from
that univerſal calarity of human nature, have their
minds free and diſengaged, without the weight
apprehenſion of death. I diſcovered my admira-
tion, that I had not obſerved any of thefe illuitri.
ous perſons at court;
the black ſpot on the fore.
head being ſo remarkable a diſtinction, that I could
pot have eaſily overlooked it: And it was impoflible
that his majeſty, a moſt judicious prince, thould
not provide himſelf with a good number of ſuch
wife and able counſellors. Yet perhaps the virtue
of thoſe reverend ſages was too ſtria for the cor-
rupt and libertine panners of a court. And we
often find by experience, that young men are too
opinionative and volatile to be guided by the fo*
ber dičtates of their feniors. However, ſince the
king was pleaſed to allow me acceſs to his royal
perſon, I was reſolved, upon the very first occa
fion, to deliver my opinion to him in this matter
freely and at large, by the help of my interpre-
ter i and whether he would pleaſe to take my ad-
vice or no, yet in one thing I was determined, that
his Majeſty, having frequently offered me an eſta
blifantent in this country, I would with great
thankfulneſs accept the favour, and paſs any life
here in the converſation of thoſe ſuperior beings,
the Struldbrugs, if diey would pleaſe to admit
The gentleman to whom I directed my dile
courſe, becauſe (as I have already obſerved) he
Ipoke the language of Balnibarbi, ſaid to me wird
a fort of a ſurile, which uſually ariſeih from pity
10 the ignorant, that he was glad of any occafioa
to kzep me among them, and deſired my permillion
to explain to the company what I had ſpoke. He
did lö, and they talked together for føme time ir
KAKOVO**,
their
Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
their own language, whereof I underſtood not a
fyllable; neither could I oblerve, by their coun.
tenances, what impreffion my diſcourſe had made
on them. After a ſhort filence, the fare perſon
told me, that his friends and mine (lo he thought
fit to expreſs himſelf) were very much pleaſed with
the judicious remarks I had made on the great
happinefs and advantages of in mortal life and
they were deſirous to know, in a particular man
ner, what ſcheme of living I thould have formed
to myſelf if it had fallen to my lot to have been
born a Struldbrug.
I anſwered, it was eaſy to be eloquent on
copious and delightful a ſubject, eſpecially to me,
who had been often apt to amuſe myſelf with vi.
fions of what I ſhould do, if I were a king, a ge.
neral, on a great lord ; and upon this very caſe,
1 frequently run over the whole Syſtem how í
fhould employ myſelf, and paſs the time, if I were
ſure to live for ever.
That, if it had been my good fortune to come
into the world a Struldbrug, as ſoon as I could
diſcover my own happineſs, by underſtanding the
difference between life and death, I would firit re.
folve by all arts and methods whatſoever, to pro-
cure myſelf riches In the purſuit of which, by
tkriſt and management, I might reaſonably expect,
in about two hundred years, to be the wealthieſt
man in the kingdom. In the ſecond place, I would
from my carlieſt youth apply myſelf to the ſtudy
of arts and ſciences, by which I ſhould arrive in
time to excel all others in learning, Laſtly, I
would carefully record every action and event of
conſequence that happened in the public, impar-
tially draw the chara&ters of the ſeveral fucceffions
of princes and great miniſters of ſtate, with my
own obſervations on every point, I would exac..
X
ly
ly let down the ſeveral changes in cuſtoms, lan-
you inortals, whom length of time would bardem
242 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
guage, faſhions of dreſs, diet
and diverſions. By
all which acquirements I ſhould be a living trea.
fury of knowledge and wiſdom, and certainly be.
comie che oracle of the nation.
I would never marry after threeſcore, but live
in an hoſpitable manner, yet ſtill on the ſaving
ſide I would entertain myſelf in forining and di.
reding the minds of hopeful young men, by con.
vincing them from my own remembrance, expe.
rience, and obſervation, fortified by numerous ex-
amples of the uſefulneſs of virtue in public and
private life. But my choice and conſtant compa-
nions fhould be a ſer of my own inunortal brother
hood, among whom I would elea a dozen from
the moſt ancient down to iny own contemporaries.
Where any of theſe wanted fortunes, I would pro.
vide them with convenient lodges round my own
cftate, and have fome of them always at my table,
only mingling a few of the molt valuable ainong
me to loſe with little or no reluctance, and treat
your pofterity after the fame manner; juſt as a
man diverts himſelf with the annual fucceflion of
pinks and tulips in his garden, withour regretting
the loſs of chofe which withered the preceding
year,
Thefe Struldbrugs and I would mutually com.
municate our obfervations and memorials through
the courſe of time; remark the ſeveral gradations
by which corruption fleals into the world,
and op
pole it in every ſtep, by giving perpetual warning
and inſtruction to mankind which added to the
ſtrong influence of our own example, would pro-
bably prevent that continuat degeneracy of human
nature lo juftly complained of in all ages,
Add to all this the pleaſure of ſeeing the various
revolution:
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
243
.
revolutions of fates and empires ; the changes in
the lower and upper world; ancient cities in ruins,
and obſcure villages become the feats of kings
famous rivers lellening into ſhallow brooks; the
ocean leaving one coaft dry, and overwhelming
another ; the diſcovery of many countries yet un-
known, barbarity over-running the politeſt na-
I
fhould then ſee the diſcovery of the longitude, the
perpetual motion, the univerfal medicine, and many
other great inventions brought to the utmoſt per-
fection.
What wonderful diſcoveries ſhould we make
in aſtronomy, by out-living and confirming our
own predictions, by obſerving the progreſs and
returns of comets, with the changes of motion in
the fun, moon, and ſtars.
I enlarged upon many other topics, which the
natural deſire of endleſs life and ſublunary happi.
neſs could eaſily furniſh me with. When I had
ended, and the fun of my diſcourſe had been in.
terpreted, as before, to the reſt of the company,
there was a good deal of talk among them in the
language of the country, not without ſome laugh-
ter at my expence. At laſt the faine gentleinan,
who had been my interpreter, faid he was defired
by the reſt to let me right in a few miſtakes,
which I had fallen into through the common im-
becility of human nature, and upon that allowance
was leſs anſwerable for them. That this breed
of Struldbrugs was peculiar to their country ; for
there were no ſuch people either in Balnibarbi or
Japan, where he had the honour to be ambaſſador
from his Majeſty, and found the natives in both
thoſe kingdoins very hard to believe that the fact
was poſſible ; and it appeared from my altoniſh-
ment, when he firſt mentioned the matter to me,
X 2
244
A Voyage to LAPUTA &E.
hing his rclidence
that I received it as a thing wholly new, and
fcrrcely to be credited. That in the two king.
he had converſed very much, he obſerved long
life to be the univerlal defire and with of mankind.
That whoever had one foot in the grave, was ſure
to hold back the other as ſtrongly as he could.
Tliat the oldeſt had ſtill hopes of living one day
longer, and looked on death as the greatelt evil,
from which nature always prompted him to re:
treat; only in this iſland of Luggnagg the appo .
tite for living was not ſo eager, from the continual
example of the Struldbrugs before their cyes,
That the ſyſtem of living contrived by wie was
norcaſonable and unjuſt ; becauſe it fuppoſed a
perperuity of youth, health, and vigour, which
no pan could be ſo fooliſh to hope, however ex
travagant he may be in his wiſhes. Thit the qucí
tion therefore was not, whether a man would
chuſe to be always in the priine of youth, atrend.
ed with proſperity and health ? Du: how he would
paſs a perpetual life, under all the uſual diad
tages which old age brings along with it ? For
al hough few men will avow their deſires of being
immorral upon ſuch hard condition, yet in the
two kingdoms before mentioned, of Bilibarbi and
Japan, he obferved that every man dufired to put
of death fome tine longer, let it approach eve: 0
late and he rarely heard of any man who died
willingly, except he were excited by the extre-
mity of grief or torture. And lie appeak d to me
whether, in thoſe countries I had travelled, as well
as my own, I had not obſerved the fame general
diſpolirion.
After this preface, he gave me a particular sc
count of the Siruldbrugs among them. He said,
they commonly acted like mortals, till about thirty
;
years
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
245
years old, after which by degrees they grew me-
lancholy and dejected, increafing in both till they
Came to fourſcore. This he learned from their
own confeflion; for otherwiſe, there not being
above two or three of that ſpecies born in an age,
they were too few to form a general obſervation
by. When they came to four ſcore years, which
is reckoned the extremity of living in this cous.
try, they had not only all the follies and infirmi.
ties of other old men, but many more, which a.
roſe from the dreadful proſpect of never dying.
They were not only opinionative, peevith, cove.
tous, moroſe, vain, talkative ; but incapable of
friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which
never deſcended below their grandchildren. En-
vy and impotent deſires are their prevailing paf-
fons. But thofe objects, againſt which their en.
vy ſeems principally directed, are the vices of the
younger fort, and the deaths of the old. By re-
flecting on the former, they find themſelves cut:
off from all poſſibility of pleaſure ; and. whenever
they fee a funeral, they lament and repine that:
others are gone to an harbour of reſt to which
they themſelves can never hope to arrive. They
have no remembrance of any thing but what they
learned and obſerved in their youth and middle
age, and even that is very imperfect; and for the
truth or particulars of any fact, it is fater to de..
pend on common tradition, than ypon their beſt
recolledii ns. The lealt miſerable among them
appear to be thoſe who turn to dotag, and en-
they loſe their memories ; theſe meet with more:
pity and aſſiſtance, becauſe they want many badi
qualities which abount in others.
1 a. Sirudibrug happen to marry one of his
own kind, the marriage is, diſſolved or caurle by
the courteſy of the kingdons, as loun as the yowe:
em
have at that age no diftinction of tafte, but ex and
246 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c,
er of the two comes to be fourfore. For the law
thinks it is a reaſonable indulgence, that thoſe who
are condemned without any fault of their own
to a perpetual continuance in the world, thould
not have their mifery doubled by the load of a
wife.
As foon as they have completed the terın of
eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law;
their heirs immediately ſucceed to their eflates,
only a fall pittance is reſerved for their ſupport
and the poor ones are maintained at the public
charge. After that period, they are hekl incaţia
ble of any employinent of truit or profit; they
cannot purchaſe lands, or take leafes ; neither are
they allowed to be witneſfes in any cauſe, either
civil or criminal, not even for the deciſion of
meers and botands.
At nine ry they loſe their teeth and hair, they
drink whatever they can get, without relith or
appetite. The diſeaſes they were ſubject to il
continue, without increaſing or dimuralhing. In
talking, they forget the coinmon appellation of
things, and the names of perfons, evea of thos
who are their neareft friends and relations, For
the fame reaſon they never can amuſe themſelves
with reading, becaufe their memory will not ferge
to carry them from the beginning of a ſentence
to the end ; and by this defect they are deprived
of the only entertainment whereof they might
sherwiſe be capable,
* The language of this country being always up
on the flux, the Struldbrugs of one age do not un
stand thoſe of nother
; neither are they able,
after two hundred years, to hold any converfation
(farther than by a few general words) with their
neighbours, the mortals; and thus they lye under
.
the
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
247
the diſadvantage of living like foreigners in their
own country.
This was the account given me of the Struld-
brugs, as near as I can reinember. 1 afterwards
faw five or fix of different ages, the youngeſt not
above two hundred years old, who were brought
to me at ſeveral times by ſome of my friends ; but
although they were told that I was a great tra.
veller, and had ſeen all the world, they had not
the leaſt curioſity to aſk me a queſtion ; only defi.
red I would give them Numſkudaſk, or a token of
remembrance ; which is a modeſt way of begging,
to avoid the law that ſtrictly forbids it, becauſe
they are provided for by the public, although in-
deed with a very ſcanty allowance,
They are deſpiſed and hated by all ſorts of peo-
ple, 2. When one of them is born, it is reckoned
ominous, and their birth is recorded very parti.
cularly ; fo that you may know their age by con.
fulting the regiſter; which however hath not been
kept above a thouſand years paſt, or at leaft hath
been deſtroyed by time or public diſturbances.
But the uſual way of computing how old they are,
is by aſking them what kings or great perfons they
can remember, and then conſulting hiſtory ; for
infallibly the laſt prince in their mind did not be.
gin his reign after they were fourſcore years old,
They were the moſt mortifying fight I ever be.
held; and the women more horrible than the
Beſides the uſual deformities in extreme
old
age, they acquired an additional ghaftlineſs
in proportion to their number of years, which is
not to be deſcribed ; and among half a dozen I
foon diſtinguifhed which was the elded, although
there was not above a century or two between
thein.
The reader will eaſily believe, that from what
I had
248 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
::
I had heard and ſeen, my keen appetite for per.
petuity of life was much abated. I grew heartily
aſhamed of the pleaſing viſions I had formed;
and thought no tyrant could invent a death, into
which I would not run with pleaſure from ſuch a
life. The king heard of all that had paſſed be
tween me and my friends upon this occaſion, and
railed me very pleaſantly ; withing I could fend
a couple of Struldbrugs to my own country, to
arm our people againſt the fear of death ; but this
it ſeems is forbidden by the fundamental laws of
th kin dom, or elſe I thould have been well con.
tent with the trouble and expence of tranſporting
them.
I could not but agree, that the laws of the
kingdom relating to the Struldbrugs were found.
ed upon the ſtrongeſt reaſons, and ſuch as any
other country would be under the neceffity of
enaĉing in the like circumſtances. Otherwiſe, as
avarice is the neceffary confequent of old age, thoſe
immortals would in time become proprietors of
the whole nation, and engroſs the civil power ;
which, for want of abilities to manage, muſt end
in the ruin of the public.
CHAP
XI.
The author leaves Luggnagg, and fails to Japan
From thence he returns in a Dutch ſhip to Amiter-
dam, and from Auſterdam to England.
I
THOUGHT this account of the Struldbrugs
might be ſome entertainment to the reader, bem
caule is kems to be a little out of the common
way;
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
249
way; at leaſt I do not remember to have met the
like in any book of travels that hath come to my
hands. And if I am deceived, my excuſe muſt be,
that it is neceffary for travellers, who deſcribe the
faire country, very often to agree in dwelling on
the fame particulars, without de ferving the cenſure
of having borrowed or tranſcribed from thoſe who
wrote before them.
There is indeed a perpetual commerce between
this kingdom and the great empire of Japan; and
it is very probable, that the Japaneſe authors may
hav" given fome account of the Struldbrugs ; but
my ſtay in Japan was ſo ſhort, and I was ſo entire-
ly a ſtranger to the language, that I was not quali.
fied o make any enquiries. But I hope the Dutch,
upon this notice, will be curious and able enough
to supply my defects.
His Majeſty having often preſſed me to accept
fome employment in his court, and finding me ab-
folutely determined to return to my native country,
was pleaf:d to give me Itis licence to depart, and
honoured me with a lerier of recommendat on un-
der his own hand to the Emperor of Japan. He
likewiſe preſented me with four hundred and forty-
four large pieces of gold (this nation delighting in
€9t na mnumbers) and a red diamond, which I fold in
Englandi or eleven hundred pounds.
On the 6th day of May 1709 I took a ſolemn
leave of his Majelty and all my friends. This prince
was fo gracious, as to order a guard to conduct
me to Glanguenſtald, which is a royal port to the
futh.wett part of the iſland. In fix days I found
a veſſel ready to carry me to Japan, and ſpent fif.
teen days'in the voyage. We landed at a ſmall
por town called Xamolchi, Gruated on the ſouth.
eaſt part of Japan; the town lies on the weſtern
point, where there is a narrow ſtrait leading north.
ward
250 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
ward into a long arm of the ſea, upon the north.
weft part of which Yedo the metropolis ftands. At
landing I fhewed the cuſtom houſe officers my let.
ter from the King of Luggnagg, to his Imperial Ma.
jeſty. They knew the feal perfectly well ; it was
as broad as the palm of my hand. The impreſion
was A king lifting up a lame beggar from the earth.
The magiſtrates of the town, hearing of my letter,
received me as a public miniſter ; they provided me
with carriages and ſervants, and bore my charges
to Yedo, where I was admitted to an audience,
and delivered my letter, which was opened with
great ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by
an interpreter ; who then gave me notice, by his
Majeſty's order, that I ſhould fignify my requeſt;
and whatever it were, it ſhould be granted for the
ſake of his royal brother of Luggnagg. This in.
terpreter was a perſon employed to tranfact affairs
with the Hollanders ; be foon conjectured by my
countenance, that I was an European, and there
fore repeated his Maj: fly's commands in low Dutch,
which he ſpoke perfectly well. I aufvered (as I
had before determined) that I was a Dutch mer.
chant ſhipwrecked in a very remote country, from
whence I had travelled by ſea and land to Lugg;
nagg, and then took ſhipping for Japan, where
knew my countrymen often traded, and with ſome
of theſe I hoped to get an opportunity of return.
ing into Europe ; I therefore moſt humbly en.
treated his royal favour, to give order that I ſhould
be conducted in ſafety to Nangaſac : To this I ad.
ded another petition, that for the ſake of my pa.
tron the King of Luggvagg, his Majeſty would con-
deſcend to excuſe my performing the ceremony
impoſed on my countrymen, of trampling upon the
crucifix ; becauſe I had been thrown in to his king-
dom by iny misfortunes, without anyintention of trad.
*
ing
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
251
ing. When this latter petition was interpreted to
the Emperor, he ſeemed a little furprifed ; and ſaid,
he believed I was the firſt of my countrymen who
ever made any ſcruple in this point; and that he be.
gan to doubt, whether I was a real Hollander or
nut; but rather ſuſpected I muſt be a Chriſtian.
However, for the reaſons I had offered, but chief-
ly to gratify the King of Luggnagg by an uncom-
mon mark of his favour, he would comply with the
fingularity of my humour ; but the affair muit be
managed with dexterity, and his officers thould be
commanded to let me pafs as it were by forgetful-
neſs. For he aſſured me, that if the ſecret ſhould
be diſcovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they
would cut my throat in the voyage, I returned
my thanks by the interpreter for ſo unuſuala favour;
and fome troops being at that time on their inarch
to Nangaſac, the commanding officer had orders to
convey me ſafe thither, with particular inſtructions
about the buſineſs of the crucifix,
On the oth day of June 1709 I arrived at Nan-
gaſac, after a very long and troubleſome journey.
I foon fell into company of Imie Dutch Tailors be.
longing to the Amboyna of Amiterdain, a ſtout
thip of 450 tuns. I had lived long in Holland, pur-
ſuing my ſtudies at Leyden, and I ſpoke Dutch
well. The ſeamen foon knew from whence I came
lalt; they were curious to inquire into my voy-
ages, and courſe of life. I made up a ſtory as ſhort
and probable as I could, but concealed the greateſt
part. I knew many perſons in Holland ; I was
able to invent names for my parents, whom I
pre-
tended to be obſcure people in the province of Gel.
derland. I would have given the captain (one
Theodorus Vangrault) what he pleaſed to aſk for
my voyage to Holland ; but underſtanding I was a
furgeon, he was contented to take half the uſual rate,
on
252 A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
.
on condition that I would ſerve him in the way of
my calling. Before we took thipping, I was often
alked by ſome of the crew, whether I had perform-
ed the ceremony above mentioned ? I evaded the
queſtion by general anſwers, that I had fatisfied the
Emperor and court in all particulars. However, a
malicious rogue of a ſkipper went to an officer, and,
pointing to me, told him, I had not yet trampled on
the crucifix : But the other, who had received in.
ſtructions to let me paſs, gave the raſcal twenty
Atrokes on the ſhoulders with a bamboo ; after which
I was no more troubled with ſuch queſtions.
Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voy,
age. We failed with a fair wind to the Cape of
Good Hope, where we ſtaid only to take in freſh
On the roth of April 1710 we arrived
ſafe to Anſterdam, having lot only three men by
fickneſs in the voyage, and a fourth who fell from
the fore-matt into the ſea, not far from the coaſt
of Guinea. From Amſterdam I ſoon after failed for
England, in a ſmall veſſel belonging to that city.
On the 16th of April we put in at the Downs. I
landed next morning, and ſaw once more my na-
tive country, after an abſence of five years, and lix
months complece, I went ſtraight to Redriff
, where
I arrived the ſame day at two in the afternoon,
found my wife and family in good health.
water.
and
PART
WA
TRAVEL S.
A R T
IV.
A VOYAGE to the COUNTRY of the
HOUYHNHNMS.
с н А Р.
I.
I
The author ſets out as captain of a thip. His men
conſpire againſt him, confine him a long time to his
cabbin. Set him on Shore, in an unknown land. He
travels up into the country. The Yahoos, a ſtrange
fort of animal, deſcribed. The author meets two
Houyhnhows.
Continued at home with my wife and children
about five months in a very happy condition, if
I could have learned the leſſon of knowing when I
was well. I left my poor wife big with child, and
accepted an advantageous offer made me to be cap--
tain of the Adventure, a ſtout merchantman of 350
tuns: For I underſtood navigation well; and being
grown weary of a ſurgeon's employment at ſea,
which however I could exerciſe upon occafion, I
tok a ſkilful young man of that calling, one Robert
Purefoy, into my mip. We ſet ſail from Portſmouth
upon the 7th day of September 1710; on the 14th,
we met with Captain Pocock of Bristol at Teneriff,
Y
who
:
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
254
who was going to the bay of Campeachy to cut log.
wood. On the 16th, he was parted from us by a
form ; I heard ſince my return, that his ſhip foun.
dered, and none eſcaped but one cabbin boy. He
was an honeſt man, and a good failor, but a little
too poſitive in his own opinions, which was the
cauſe of his deſtruction, as it hath been of ſeveral
ouhers. For if he had followed my advice, he
might have been ſafe at home with his family at this
time, as well as myſelf.
I had ſeveral men died in my hip of calentures,
fo that I was forced to get recruits out of Barba.
does and the Leeward Ifards, where I touched
by the direction of the merchants who employed
me, which I had foon too much cauſe to repent;
for I found afterwards, that moſt of them had been
Buccaneers. I had fifty hands on board; and my
orders were, that I ſhould trade with the Indians
in the Sourk ſea, and make what diſcoveries I could.
Theſe rogues whom I had picked up, debauched my
other men, and they all formed a conſpiracy to ſeize
the thip, and ſecure me; which they did one nor.
ning, ruſhing into my cabbin, and binding me hand
and foot, threatning to throw me over-board if I
offered to fir. 1 told them I was their priſoner,
and would ſubmit. This they made me ſwear to do,
and then they unbound me, only faſtening one of
my legs with a chain near my bed, and placed a
centry at my door with his piece charged, who was
commanded to ſhoot me dead if I attempted my
berty. They fent me down victuals and drink, and
took the government of the fhip to themſelves.
Their deſign was to turn pirates, and plunder the
Spaniards, which they could not do till they got
more med. But firſt they reſolved to ſell the goods
in the ſhip, and then to go to Madagaſcar for re.
cruits, ſeveral among them having died fince my
COR:
.
A Voyage to the HOUXHNHNMS.
255
confinement. They failed many weeks, and traded
with the Indians; bot I knew not what courſe they
took, being kept a cloſe priſoner in my cabbin, and
expecting nothing leſs than to be murdered, as
they often threatned me.
Upon the oth day of May 1711, one James
Weich came down to my cabbin, and ſaid he had
orders from the captain to fet me a fhore. I expoſ.
tulated with hiin, but in vain; neither would be
ſo much as tell me who their new captain was.
They forced me into the long-boat, letting me put
on my beſt ſuit of cloathes, which were as good as
new, and take a ſmall bundle of linen, but no arms
except my hanger; and they were fo civil as not
to ſearch my pockets, into which I conveyed what
money I had, with fome other little neceffaries.
They rowed me about a league, and then fet me
down on a ſtrand. I deſired them to tell me what
country it was: They all ſwore they knew no more
than myſelf, but ſaid, that the captain (as they call.
ed him) was reſolved, after they had told the lad.
ing, to get rid of me in the firſt place where they
could d (cover land, They puſhed off immediately,
adviſing me to make hafte for fear of being over-
taken by the tide, and ſo bade me farewell.
In this defolate condition I advanced forward,
and ſoon got upon firm ground, where I ſat down
on a bank to reſt myſelf, and conſider what I had
beſt to do. When I was a little refreſhed, I went
up into the country, reſolving to deliver myſelf to
the firſt ſavages I ſhould meet, and purchaſe my
life from them by ſome bracelets, glaſs rings, and e-
ther toys, which failors uſually provide themſelves
with in thoſe voyages, and whereof I had ſome a-
bout me. The land was divided by long rows of trees,
not regularly planted, but naturally growing; there
was great plenty of graſs, and ſeveral fields of oats;
250 A Voyage to the HOUYANHNMS.
I
I walked very circumſpectly for fear of being fur.
priſed, or ſuddenly ſhot with an arrow from be.
hind, or on either fide. I fell into a beaten road,
where I ſaw many tracks of human feet, and fome
of cows, but moſt of horſes. At laſt I beheld fe.
veral animals in a field, and one or two of the ſame
kind ſitting in trees. Their ſhape was very fin-
gular and deformed, which a little diſcompoſed me,
ſo that I lay down behind a thicket to obſerve
them better. Some of them coming forward near
the place where I lay, gave me an opportunity of di.
ſtindly marking their form. Their heads and
breaſts were covered with a thick hair, fome friz.
led, and others lank; they had beards like goats,
and a long ridge of hair down their backs, and the
fore-parts of their legs and feet; but the reit of
their bodies were bare, ſo that I might ſee their
kins, which were of a brown buff colour. They
ad no tails, nor any hair at all on their buttocks,
except about the anus; which I prefume Nature
had placed there to defend them, as they ſat on the
ground; for this poſture they uſed, as well as lying
down, and often ſtood on their hind feet. They
climbed high trees as nimbly as a ſquirri), for they
had ſtrong extended claws before and behind, ter:
minating in ſharp points, and hooked. They would
often ſpring, and bound, and leap with prodigious
agility. The females were not ſo large as the
males; they had long lank hair on their heads,
but none on their faces, nor any thing more than
a ſort of down on the reſt of their bodies, except 2.
bout the anus and pudenda. Their dugs hung between
their fore. feet, and often reached almoſt to the
ground as they walked. The hair of both ſexes
was of ſeveral colours, brown, red, black and yel-
low. Upon the whole, I never beheld, in all my
travels, ſo diſagreeable an animal, or one againſt
which
· A Voyage to the HOVYHNINMS.
257
which I naturally conceived ſo ſtrong an antipathy.
So that thinking I had ſeen enough, full of con-
tempt and averſion, I got up, and purſued the bea-
ten road, hoping it might direct me to the cabbin of
fome Indian. I had not got far, when I met one
of theſe creatures full in my way, and coming up
directly to me. The ugly monter, when he ſaw
me, diſtorted ſeveral ways every feature of his vi.
fage, and ftared as at an object he had never ſeen
before ; then approaching nearer, lifted up his fore.
paw, whether out of curioſity or miſchief, I could
not tell : But I drew my hanger, and gave him a
good blow with the flat fide of it, for I durft not
frike with the edge, fearing the inhabitants might
be provoked againſt me, if they ſhould come to
know that I had killed or maimed any of their cat-
tle. When the beaſt felt the ſmart, he drew back,
and roared ſo loud, that a herd of at leaſt forty
came flocking about me from the next field, howl.
ing, and making odious faces; but I ran to the bo-
dy of a tree, and leaning my back againſt it, kept
them off by waving my hanger, Several of this
curſed brood getting hold of branches behind, leapt
up into the tree, from whence they began to dif.
charge their excrements on my head: However,
I eſcaped pretty well, by ſticking cloſe to the ſtem
of the tree ; but was alınoít tifled with the filth, ,
which fell about me on every lide.
In the midst of this diſtreſs, I obſerved them
all to run away on a ſudden as faſt as they could ;
at which I ventured to leave the tree, and purſue
the road, wondering what it was that could put
them into the fright. But looking on my left
hand, I ſaw a horſe walking ſoftly in the field;
which my perſecutors having ſooner diſcovered,
was the cauſe of their flight. The horſe ſtarted a
little when he came near
me, but ſoon recovering
himſelfy
Y 3
258 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
himſelf, looked full in my face, with manifeſt to
kens of wonder : He viewed my hands and feet,
walking round me ſeveral times. I would have
purſued my journey, but he placed himſelf directly
in the way, yet looking with a very mild aſpect,
never offering the leaſt violence. We ſtood gazing
at each other for ſome time ; at laſt I took the
boldnefs to reach my hand towards his neck, with
a defign to ftroak it, uſing the common ſtyle and
whiſtle of jockies, when they are going to handle a
ftrange horſe. But this animal ſeemed to receive
my civilities with diſdain, fhook his head, and bent
his brows, fuftly raiſing up his right fore-foot, to
remove my hand. Then he neighed three or four
times, but in ſo different a cadence, that I almoſt
began to think he was ſpeaking to himſelf in fome
language of his own.
While he and I were thus employed, another
horfe came up; who applying himſelf to the firſt
in a very formal manner, they gently ſtruck each
other's right hoof before, neighing feveral times by
turns, and varying the found, which ſeemed to be
almoſt articulate. They went fome paces off, as if
it were to confer together, walking ſide by ſide,
backward and forward, like perfons deliberating
upon ſome affair of weight, but often turning their
eyes towards me, as it were to watch that I might
not eſcape. I was amazed to ſee fuch actions and be
haviour in brute beaſts; and concluded with my.
felf, that if the inhabitants of this country were en-
dued with a proportionable degree of reaſon, they
mult needs be the wifeſt people upon earth. This
thought gave me ſo much comfort, that I reſolved
to go forward, until I could diſcover ſome houſe or
village, or meet with any of the natives, leaving
the two horſes to diſcourſe together as they pleaſed.
But the firſt, who was a dapple grey, obſerving
X
me
$
*259
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHMS.
me to ſteal off, neighed after me in fo expreffive a
tone, that I fancied myſelf to underſtand what he
meant; whereupon I turned back, and came near
him to expect his farther commands, but conceal.
ing my fear as much as I could ; for I began to be
in ſome pain, how this adventure might termi.
nate ; and the reader will eaſily believe, I did not
much like my preſent ſituation.
The two horfes came up cloſe to me, looking
with great earneſtneſs upon my face and hands,
The grey fteed rubbed my hat all round with his
right fore hoof, and diſcompoſed it ſo much, that I
was forced to adjuſt it better, by taking it off, and
ſetting it again; whereat both he and his compani.
on (who was a brown bay) appeared to be much
furpriſed; the latter felt the lappet of my coat, and
finding it to hang looſe about me, they both looked
with new ſigns of wonder. He ſtroaked my right
hand, ſeeming to admire the ſoftneſs and colour ;
but he ſqueezed it ſo hard between his hoof and
his paftern, that I was forced to roar ; after which
they both touched me with all poſſible tenderneſs.
They were under great perplexity about my ſhoes
and ſtockings, which they felt very often, neighing
to each other, and uſing various geſtures not un-
like thoſe of a philoſopher, when he would at:
tempt to ſolve ſome new and difficult phænome.
Don.
Upon the whole, the behaviour of theſe animals
Was To orderly and rational, fo acute and judicious,
that I at laſt concluded they muſt needs be magici-
ans, who had thus metamorpoſed themſelves upon
fome deſign, and ſeeing a ſtranger in the way, re.
folved to divert themfelves with him ; or perhaps
were really amazed at the light of a man ſo very
different in habit, feature, and complexion, from
thoſe who might probably live in fo remote a cli-
mate.
.... 2
260 A Voyage to the HOVYHNHNMS.
mate. Upon the strength of this reaſoning, I ven.
tured to addreſs them in the following manner:
Gentlemen, if you be conjurers, as I have good
cauſe to believe you can underſtand any language;
therefore I make bold to let your worfhips know,
that I am a poor diftrefed Engliſman, driven by
misfortunes upon your coaſt, and I intreat one of
you to let me ride upon his back, as if he were a
real horſe, to ſome houſe or village, where I can be
relieved: In return of which favour, I will make
you a preſent of this knife and bracelet (taking them
out of my pocket.) The two creatures stood Glent
while I ſpoke, ſeeming to liften with great atten-
tion, and when I had ended, they neighed fre-
quently towards each other, as if they were enga.
ged in ſerious converfation. I plainly obſerved that
their language expreſſed the pallions very well, and
the words might with little pains be reſolved into
an alphabet more eaſily than the Chineſe,
I could frequently diftinguiſh the word yahoo,
which was repeated by each of them ſeveral times ;
And although it was impoſſible for me to conjec-
ture what it meant, yet while the two horſes were
buſy in converſation, I endeavoured to practiſe this
word upon my tongue ; and as ſoon as they were
filent, I boldly pronounced yahoo in a loud voice,
imitating at the ſame time, as near as I could, the
neighing of a horſe : At which they were both vi-
fibly ſurpriſed; and the grey repeated the ſame
word twice, as if he meant to teach are the right
accent, wherein I ſpoke after him as well as I could,
and found myſelf perceivably to improve every time,
though very far from any degree of perfe&tion:
Then the bay tried me with a ſecond word, much
harder to be pronounced : But reducing it to the
Engliſh orthography, may be ſpelt thus, Hou:
yhnhnm. I did not ſucceed in this ſo well as the
fermer;
.:
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 261
former ; but after two or three farther trials, I had
better fortune; and they both appeared amazed at
my capacity.
After ſome farther diſcourſe, which I then con.
jectured might relate to me, the two friends took
their leaves with the ſame compliment of ſtriking
each other's hoof; and the grey made me ſigns
that I fhould walk before him; wherein I thought
it prudent to comply, till I could find a beiter die
rečtor, When I offered to ſacken my pace, he
would cry hhuun, bhuun ; I gueſſed his meaning,
and gave him to understand, as well as I could,
that I was weary, and not able to walk faſter"; up-
on which he would ſtand a while, to let me reſt,
CHAP, II.
1
The author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his houſe.
The houſe deſcribed. The author's reception. The
food of the Houybnhnms. The author in diſtreſs
for want of meat, is at laſt relieved, His man.
ner of feeding in this couutry.
H Η
AVING travelled about three miles, we came
to a long kind of building, made of timber
ftuck in the ground, and wattled acroſs : The
roof was low, and covered with ſtraw. I now be-
gan to be a little comforted; and took out ſome
toys, which travellers uſually carry for preſents to
the favage Indians of America and other parts, in
hopes the people of the houſe would be thereby
encouraged to receive me kindly. The horle
made me a figo to go in firſt; it was a large room,
with a ſmooth clay floor, and a rack and manger,
extending the whole length on one ſide. There
were three nags and two mares, not eating, bat
ſome
262 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
.
ſome of them ſitting down upon their hams, which
I very much wondered at ; but wondered more to
ſee the reſt employed in domeſtic buſineſs; theſe
feemed but ordinary cattle : However, this con-
firmed my first opinion, that a people, who could
fo far civilize brute animals, muſt needs excell in
wiſdom all the nations of the world. The grey
came in juſt after, and thereby prevented any ill
treatment which the others might have given me.
He neighed to them ſeveral times in a ſtyle of au.
thority, and received anſwers,
Beyond this room there were three others
reaching the length of the houſe, to which you
paſſed through three doors oppoſite to each other,
in the manner of a viſta. We went through the
ſecond room towards the third ;
here the grey
walked in firſt, beckoning to me to attend : I
waited in the fecond room, and got ready my pre.
fents for the maſter and miſtreſs of the houſe :
They were two knives, three bracelets of falſe
pearl ; a fmall looking-glaſs, and a bead necklace.
The horſe weighed three or four times, and I wait.
ed to hear fome anſwers in a human voice ; but I
heard no other rerurns, than in the fame dialect,
only one or two a little thriller than his. I began
to think, that this houſe muſt belong to fome per.
fun of great note among them, becaule there ap-
peared ſo much ceremony before I could gain ada
mittance. But, that a man of quality ſhould be
ferved all by horfes, was beyond my comprehen.
fion. I feared my brain was diſturbed by my fuf.
ferings and misfortunes : I rouſed myſelf, and look.
ed about me in the room, where I was left alone ;
this was furnifhed like the first, only after a more
elegant manner. I rubbed ny eyes often, but
the ſame objects ſtill occurred. I pinched my arms
and ſides to awake myſelf, hoping I might be in a
dream,
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
263
:
thereupon repeated ſeveral times the word rahoo,
dream, I then abſolutely concluded, that all theſe
appearances could be nothing elſe but necromancy
and magic. But I had no time to purſue thefe re.
Hections ; for the grey horſe came to the door, and
made me a ſign to follow him into the third room;
where I ſaw a very comely mare, together with a
cole and foal, fitting on their haunches upon matts
of ſtraw, not unartfully made, and perfectly neat
and clean.
The mare, foon after my entrance, roſe from
her matt, and coming up cloſe, after having nicely
obſerved my hands and face, gave me a moft con-
temptuous look; then turning to the horſe, I heard
the word Yahoo often repeated betwixt them; the
meaning of which word I could not then compre-
hend, although it were the firſt I had learned to
pronounce ; but I was ſoon better informed, to
my everlaſting mortification ; for the horſe beck.
oning to me with his head, and repeating the
word hhuun, hhuun, as he did upon the road, which
I understood was to attend him, led me out into
a kind of court, where was another building at
fome diſtance from the houſe. Here we entered,
and I ſaw three of thoſe deteſtable creatures which I
firſt met after my landing, feeding upon roots and
the fleſh of ſome animals,
which I afterwards found
to be that of aſſes and dogs, and now and then a
cow, dead by accident or diſeaſe, They were all
tied by the neck with ſtrong wyths faſtened to a
beam; they held their food between the claws of
their fore feet, and tore it with their teeth.
The maſter horſe ordered a forrel nag, one of
his ſervants, to untie the largeſt of theſe animals,
and take him into the yard. The beaſt and I were
brought cloſe together, and our countenances di-
ligently compared both by maſter and fervant, who
My
264
A Voyage to the HOUYNHNMS.
.
My horror and aſtoniſhment are not to be defcri.
bed, when I obſerved in this abominable animal
a perfect human figure : The face of it indeed was
flat and broad, the noſe depreffed, the lips large,
and the mouth wide : But theſe differences are
common to all ſavage nations, where the lineaments
of the countenance are diſtorted, by the natives ſuf-
fering their infants to lie grovelling on the earth,
or by carrying them on their backs nuzling with
their faces againſt the mother's ſhoulders. The
fore feet of the Yahoo differed from my hands in
nothing ele but the length of the nails, the coarſe.
neſs and brownneſs of the palms, and the hairineſs
on the backs. There was the ſame reſemblance
between our feet, with the fame differences, which
I knew very well, though the horſes did not, be-
cauſe of my ſhoes and ſtockings; the ſame in every
part of our bodies, except as to the hairineſs and
colour, which I have already deſcribed.
The great difficulty that ſeemed to ſtick with
two horles, was to ſee the reſt of my body ſo very
different from that of the Tahoos, for which I was
obliged to my cloathes, whereof they had no con-
ception. The forrel nag offered me a root which
he held (after their manier, as we ſhall deſcribe
in its proper place) between his hoof and paſtern ;
I took it in my hand, and having ſmelt it, returned
it to him again as civily as I could. He brought
out of the rahoo's kennel, a piece of afs's fleſh;
but it ſmelt fo offenſively, that I turned from it
with loathing: He then threw it to the Yahoo, by
whom it was greedily devoured. He afterwards
ſhewed me a wiſp of hay, and a fetlock full of oats,
but I shook my head, to ſignify that neither of
theſe were food for me. And indeed I now ap.
prehended that I muſt abſolutely ftarre if I did not
get to ſome of my own ſpecies ; for as to thoſe
filthy
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
265
ment.
filthy Yahoos, although there were few greater
lovers of mankind at that time than myſelf ; yet, I
confeſs, I never ſaw any ſenſitive being ſo deteſt-
able on all accounts; and the more I came near
them, the more hateful they grew while I ſtaid in
that country. This the maſter horſe obſerved by
my behaviour, and therefore ſent the Yahoo back
to his kennel. He then put his fore-hoof to his
mouth, at which I was much ſurpriſed, although
he did it with eaſe, and with a motion that appear.
ed perfectly natural ; and made other ſigns to know
what I would eat ; but I could not return him ſuch
an anſwer as he was able to apprehend ; and if he
had underſtood me, I did not ſee how it was poſſi.
ble to contrive any way for finding myſelf nouriſh-
While we were thus engaged, I obſerved
a cow
paſſing by ; whereupon I pointed to her, and
expreſſed a deſire to go and milk her. This had
its effect ; for he led me back into the houſe, and
ordered a mare ſervant to open a room, where a
good ftore of milk lay in earthen and wooden veſ-
ſels, after a very orderly and cleanly manner. She
gave me a large bowl-full, of which I drank very
heartily, and found myſelf well refreſhed.
About noon I ſaw coming towards the houſe, a
kind of vehicle drawn like a fledge by four Yahoos.
There was in it an old ſteed, who feenied to be of
quality ; he alighted with his hind feet forward, ha.
ving by accident got a hurt in his left fore foot.
came to dine with our horſe, who received him
with
great civility. They dined in the beſt room,
and had oats boiled in milk for the ſecond courſe,
which the old horſe eat warm, but the reſt cold.
Their mangers were placed circular in the middle
of the room, and divided into ſeveral partitions,
found which they fat on their haunches upon boſ.
fes of ſtraw. In the middle was a large rack, with
Z
angles
He
fufficient with milk to keep me alive till I could
266 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
angles anſwering to every partition of the man
ger ; fo that each horſe and mare eat their own
malh of oats and milk, with much decency and re-
gularity. The behaviour of the young colt and
foal appeared very modeſt ; and that of the maſter
and miſtreſs extremely chearful and complaiſant to
their gueſt. The grey ordered me to ſtand by
him ; and much diſcourſe paſſed between him and
his friend concerning me, as I found by the ſtran.
ger's often looking on me, and the frequent repe.
tition of the word rahoo.
I happened to wear my gloves, which the maſ.
ter-grey obſerving, ſeemed perplexed, diſcovering
figns of wonder what I had done to my fore-feet;
he put his hoof three or four times to thern, as if
he would ſignify that I ſhould reduce them to
their former fhape, which I preſently did, pulling
off my gloves, and putting them into my pocket.
This occafioned farther talk, and I ſaw the com.
pany was pleaſed with my behaviour, whereof I ſoon
found the good effects, I was ordered to ſpeak
the few woods I underſtood ; and while they were
at dinner, the maſter taught me the names for
oats, milk, fire, water, and ſome others ; which I
couldreadily pronounce after him, having from my
youth a great facility in learning languages.
When dinner was done, the maſter-horſe took
me aſide, and by ſigns and words made me under-
ſtand the concern he was in that I had nothing
to eat. Oats in their tongue are called bluunh
.
This word I pronounced two or three times ; for
although I had refuſed them at firſt, yet upon
cond thoughts I conſidered, that I could contrive
to make of them a kind of bread, which might be
fe
make my eſcape to ſome other country, and to crea:
tures of my own fpecies. The horſe immediately
ordered
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 267
ordered a white mare.fervant of his family to bring
me a good quantity of oats in a ſort of wooden
tray. Theſe I heated before the fire, as well as I
could, and rubbed them till the huſks came off,
which I made a ſhiſt to winnow from, the grain.
I ground and beat them between two ſtones, then
took water, and made them into a palte or cake,
which I toaſted at the fire, and eat warm with
milk. It was at firft a very inſipid diet, though
common enough in many parts of Europe, but
grew tolerable by time ; and having been often re.
duced to hard fare in niy life, this was not the firſt
experiment I had made how eaſily nature is ſatis.
fied. And I cannot but obſerve, that I never had
one hour's ſickneſs wbile I ſtaid in this iſland. It
is true, I ſometimes made a ſhift to catch a rabbit,
or bird, by ſprings made of rahoo's hair ; and í
often gathered wholeſome herbs, which I boiled,
and eat as fallads with my bread ; and now and
then, for a rarity, I made a little butter; and
drank the whey. I was at firſt at a great loſs for
ſalt; but cuſtom ſoon reconciled me to the want
of it ; and I am confident, that the frequent uſe
of falt ainong us is an effect of luxury, and was firit
introduced only as a provocative to drink ; except
where it is neceſſary for preſerving of fleſh in long
Voyages, or in places remote from great markets.
we obſerve no animal to be fond of it but
man : And as to myſelf, when I left this country,
it was a great while before I could endure the
taſte of it in any thing that I eat.
This is enough to ſay upon the ſubject of my
diet, where with
other travellers fill their books,
as if the readers were perſonally concerned whe.
ther we fare well or ill. However, it was neceſſary
to mention this matter, left the world ſhould think
impoſſible that I could find fuſtenance for tharee
Z 2
years
For
it
268 A Voyage to the HovyHNHNMS.
years in ſuch a country, and among ſuch inhabi-
tants,
When it grew towards evening, the maſter horſe
ordered a place for me to lodge in ; it was but fix
yards from the houſe, and ſeparated from the ſta-
ble of the Yaboos. Here I got ſome ſtraw, and
covering myſelf with my own cloathes, ſlept very
found. But I was in a ſhort time better accom.
modated, as the reader fall know hereafter, when
I come to treat morc particularly about my way of
living.
CH A P. III.
The author ſtudies to learn the language; the Houy.
hnhnm, his maſter, affiſts in teaching him. The
language deſcribed. Several Houyhnhnms of qua.
lity came, out of curioſity, to ſee the author. He
gives his maſter a ſhort account of his voyage.
M
guage, which
Y principal endeavonr was to learn the lan.
my maſter (for ſo I ſhall hence.
forto call him) and his children, and every ſervant
of his houſe, were deſirous to teach me. For they
looked upon it as a prodigy, that a brute animal
ſhould diſcover fuch marks of a rational creature.
I pointed to every thing, and inquired the name
of it, which I wrote down in my journal.book when
I was alone, and corrected my had accent, by de.
firing thoſe of the family to pronounce it often. In
this employment a forrel nag, one of the under-
fervants, was very ready to aflift me.
In ſpeaking, they pronounce through the noſe
and throat, and their language approaches neareſt
to the High Dutch, or German, of any I know in
Europe ; but is much more graceful and fignificant
The
A Voyage to to the HOUYHNHNMS. 269
The emperor Charles V, made almoſt the ſame ob.
ſervation, when he ſaid, that if he were to ſpeak
to his horſe it would be in High-Dutch.
The curioſity and inpatience of my maſter were
ſo grear, that he ſpent many hours of his leiſure to
inftrudt me. He was convinced (as he afterwards
told me that I muſt be a Yahoo; but my teachable.
neſs, civility, and cleanlineſs, aſtoniſhed him; which
were qualities altogether oppoſite to thoſe animals,
He was moſt perplexed about my cloathes, reaſon-
ing ſometimes with himſelf whether they were a
part of my body; for I never pulled them off till
the family were aſleep, and got thein on before
they waked in the morning. My maſter was eager
to learn from whence I came; how I acquired
thoſe appearances of reaſon which I difcovered in
all my actions ; and to know my ſtory froir my own
mouth, which he hoped he fhould foon do by the
great proficiency I made in learning and pronoun-
cing their words and ſentences - To help my me.
mory, I formed all I learned into the Engliſh al-
phabet, and writ the words down with the tranſ.
lations. This laft, after ſome time; I ventured to do
in my maſter's preſence. It coft me much trouble
to explain to him what I was doing : For the in-
habitants have not the leaſt idea of books or litera.
ture,
In about ten weeks time I was able to under-
ſtand moſt of his queſtions, and in three nionths
could give him ſome tolerable anſwers. He was ex-
tremely curious to know from what part of the
country I came, and how I was taught to imirate
a rational creature; becauſe the rahoos (whom he
ſaw I exactly reſembled in my head, hands and
face, that were only viſiale) with ſome appearance
of cunning, and the ſtrongeſt diſpoſition to miſchief,
were obſerved to be the moft unteachable of all
Z 3
brutes.
270 A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
brutes. I anſwered, that I came over the ſea from
a far place, with many others of my own kind, in
a great hollow vefſel made of the bodies of trees;
that my companions forced me to land on this coaſt
,
and then left me to ſhift for my felf. It was with
fomë difficulty, and by the help of many ſigns, that
1 brought him to underſtand me. He replied, that
I muſt needs be miſtaken, or that I ſaid the thing
which was not (for they have no word in their lan.
guage to expreſs lying or fallhood.) He knew it
was impoſſible, that there could be a country be.
yond the ſea, or that a parcel of brutes could move
a wooden veſſel whether they pleaſed upon water.
He was ſure no Houyhnhnm alive could make ſuch
a veffel, nor would truſt raboos to manage it.
The word Houyhnhnm, in their language lig.
nifies a horſe, and, in its etymology, the perfeclion
of nature. I told my mafter, that I was at a loſs for
expreſſion; but would improve as faſt as I could,
and hoped in a ſhort time I ſhould be able to tell
hiin wonders: He was pleaſed to direct his own
mare, his colt, and foal, and the ſervants of the
family, to take all opportunities of inſtructing me;
and every day, for two or three hours, he was at
the ſame pains himſelf : Several horſes and mares
of quality in the neighbourhood came often to our
houle, upon the report ſpread of a wonderful Yahoo
that could ſpeak like a Houyhnhnm, and ſeemed in
his words and actions to diſcover fome glimmerings
of reaſon. Theſe delighted to converſe with me ;
they put many queſtions, and received ſuch an.
Swers as I was able to return. By all theſe advan.
tages. I made ſo great a progreſs, that in five
months from my arrival, I underſtood -wbatever
was ſpoken, and could expreſs myſelf tolerably
well.
The Houyhnhnms, who came to viſit my maſter
out
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNM 5. 271
out of a deſign of ſeeing and talking with me, could
hardly believe me to be a right Yahoo, becauſe my
body had a different covering from others of my
kind They were aſtoniſhed to obſerve me with.
out the uſual hair or ſkin, except on my head, face,
and hands; but I diſcovered that ſecret to my maſt.
er, upon an accident which happened about a fort-
night before,
have already told the reader, that every night,
when the family were gone to bed, it was my cuſt-
om to ſtrip, and cover myſelf with my cloathes : It
happened one morning early, that my maſter ſent
for me by the ſorrel nag, who was his valet ; when
he came, I was faſt aſleep, my cloathes fallen off on
one ſide, and my ſhirt above my waiſt. I waked
at the noiſe he made, and obſerved him to deliver
his meſſage in ſome diſorder ; after which he went
to my maſter, and in a great fright gave him a ve.
ry confuſed account of what he had ſeen : This I
preſently diſcovered; for going as ſoon as I was
dreſſed to pay my attendance npon his Honour, he
alked me the meaning of what his ſervant had re-
ported ; that I was not the ſame thing when I ſlept
as I
appeared to be at other times'; that his valet
aſſured him ſome part of me was white, fome yel.
low, at leaſt not lo white, and ſome brown.
I had hitherto concealed the ſecret of my dreſs,
in order to diſtinguiſh myſelf as much as poſſible
from that curſed race of raboos ; but now I found
it in vain to do ſo any longer. Beſides, I conſider-
ed that my cloathes and ſhoes would ſoon wear out,
which already were in a declining condition, and
muſt be ſupplied by ſome contrivance from the hides
of Yahoos, or other brutes ; whereby the whole
decret would be known : I therefore told my maſt-
.
er, that in the country from whence I came, thoſe
of my kind always covered their bodies with the hairs
of
272 A Voyage to the HouyHNHNMS.
of certain animals prepired by art, as well for de:
cency, as to avoid the inclemencies of air both hot
and cold ; of which, as to my own perſon, I would
give
him immediate conviction, if he pleaſed to com.
mand me ; önly defiring his excuſe, if I did not
expoſe thoſe pirts that nature taught us to conceal,
He ſaid my diſcourſe was all very ſtrange, but
eſpecially the laſt part ; for he could not underſtand,
why nature ſhould reach us to conceal what nature
had given : That neither himſelf nor family were
aſhamed of any parts of their bodies; but, however,
I might do as I pleaſed. Whereupon I firſt un.
buttoned my coat, and pulled it off. I did the ſame
with my waiſtcoat : I drew off my fhoes, ſtockings,
and breeches. I let my ſhirt down to my waiſt, and
drew up the bottom, faſtening it like a girdle about
my middle to hide my nakedneſs.
My maſter obſerved the whole performance with
great ſigns of curioſity and admiration. He took
up all my cloaths in his paftern, one piece after ano.
ther, and examined them diligently: He then ſtroak-
ed my body very gently, and looked round me ſe.
veral times ; after which he faid, it was plain I
muſt be a perfect rahoo ; but that I differed very
much from the reſt of my ſpecies, in the ſoftneſs,
whiteneſs, and ſmoothneſs of my fkin, iny want of
hair in ſeveral parts of my body, the ſhape and ſhort-
nefs of my claws behind and before, and my affec-
tation of walking continually on my two hinder
feet. He deſired to fee no more ; and gave me
leave to put on my cloathes again, for I was fhud-
dering with cold.
I expreſſed my uneaſineſs at his giving me ſo of-
ten the appellation of Yahoo, an odious animal, for
which I had ſo utter an hatred and contempt
begged he would forbear applying that word to me,
and make the ſame order in his family, and among
I
his
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS. 273
his friends, whom he ſuffered to ſee me, I requeſt.
ed likewiſe, that the ſecret of my having a falſe
covering to my body might be known to none but
himſelf, at leaſt as long as my preſent cloathing
should laſt ; for as to what the forrel nag his valet
had obſerved, his Honour neight command him to
conceal it.
All this my maſter very graciouſly conſented to;
and thus the ſecret was kept till my cloathes began
to wear out, which I was forced to ſupply by ſeve.
veral contrivances that ſhall hereafter be mentioned.
In the mean time, he delired I would go on with
my utmoſt diligence to learn their language, be.
cauſe he was more aſtonithed at my capacity for
ſpeech and reaſon, than at the figure of my body,
whether it were covered or no ; adding, that he
waited with ſome impatience to hear the wonders
which I promiſed to tell him.
From thenceforward he doubled the pains he had
been at to inſtruct me ; he brought me into all com.
pany, and made thein treat me with civility, be.
cauſe, as he told them privately, this would put me
in good humour, and make me more diverting.
Every day, when I waited on him, beſide the
trouble he was at in teaching, he would aſk me
ſeveral queſtions concerning myſelf, which I an-
ſwered as well as I could ; and by theſe means he
had already received ſome general ideas, though
very imperfect. It would be tedious to relate the
ſeveral fteps by which I advanced to a more regu.
lar converſation : But the firſt account I gave of
myfelf, in any order and length, was to this pur.
poſe :
That I came from a very far country, as I already
had attempted to tell him, with about fifty more
of my own ſpecies ; that we travelled upon the
leas in a great hollow veſſel made of wood, and
larger
274 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
larger than his Honour's houſe. I deſcribed the
fhip to him in the beſt terms I could, and explain.
ed, by the help of my handkerchief diſplayed, how
it was driven forward by the wind. That upon a
quarrel among us I was ſet on ſhore on this coalt
,
where I walked forward, without knowing whi.
ther, till he delivered me from the perſecution of
thoſe execrable raboos. He aſked me, who mad
the ſhip, and how it was poflible that the Houy.
hnhnms of my country would leave it to the ma-
nagement of brutes ? My anſwer was, that I durat
proceed no farther in my relation, unlel's he
would give me his word and honour that he would
not be offended, and then I would tell him the
wonders I had ſo often promiſed. He agreed ;
and I went on by aſſuring him, that the ſhip was made
by creatures like myſelf, who in all the countries 1
had travelled, as well as in my own, were the
only governing, rational animals; and that upon my
arrival hither, I was as much aſtoniſhed to ſee the
Houyhnnnms act like rational beings, as he or his
friends could be in finding ſome marks of reaſon in
a creature he was pleaſed to call a Yahoo ; to which
I owned my reſemblance in every part, but could
not account for their degenerate and brutal na-
ture. I ſaid farther, that if good fortune ever re.
ſtored me to my native country to relate my tra.
vels hither, as I reſolved to do, every body would
believe, that I ſaid the thing which was not ; that I
invented the ſtory out of my own head ; and (with
all poſſible reſpect to himſelf, his family, and friends,
and under his promiſe of not being offended)
countrymen would hardly think it probable, that a
Houyhnhnn fhould be the preſiding creature of a
nation, and a rakoo the brute.
our
СНАР.
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHMS.
275
CMAP.
IV.
MY
The Houyhnhnms notion of truth and falſehood.
The author's diſcourſe diſapproved by his maſier.
The author gives a more particular account of him.
ſelf, and the accidents of his voyage. .
Y maſter heard me with great appearances
of uneaſineſs in his countenance ; becauſe
doubting, or not believing, are ſo little known in
this country, that the inhabitants cannot tell how
to behave themſelves under ſuch circumſtances.
And I remember, in frequent diſcourſes with my
maſter concerning the nature of manhood in other
parts of the world, having occaſion to talk of lying
and falſe repreſentation, it was with much difficulty
that he comprehended what I meant ; although he
had otherwiſe a moſt acule judgment. For he ar.
gued thus : That the uſe of ſpeech was to make us
underſtand one another, and to receive information
of facts ! Now, if any one ſaid the thing which was
not, the fe ends were defeated ; becauſe I cannot
properly be ſaid to underſtand him : And I am ſo
far from receiving information, that he leaves me
worſe than in ignorance ; for I am led to believe a
thing black when it is white, and ſhort when it is
long. And theſe were all the notions he had con-
cerning that faculty of lying, ſo perfe&ly well un.
derſtood, and ſo univerſally practiſed among human
creatures.
To return from this digreſſion; when I aſſerted
that the raboos were the only governing animals
in my country, which my maſter ſaid was altoge.
ther paſt his conception, he defired to know, whe.
ther
276
A Voyage to the HovyHNHNMS.
ther we had Houyhnhnms among us, and what
was their employment, I told him, we had great
numbers; that in ſummer they grazed in the fields,
and in winter were kept in houſes with hay and
oars, where Yaboo-fervants were employed to rub
their ſkins ſmooth, comb their manes, pick their
feet, ſerve them with food, and make their beds,
I underſtand you well, ſays my maſter ; it is now
very plain from all you have ſpoken, that, what.
ever * Aare of reaſon the Yahoos pretend to, the
Houyhnhnms are your maſters ; I heartily, with
our Yahoos would be ſo tractable. I begged his Ho.
nour would pleaſe excuſe me from proceeding any
farther, becauſe I was very certain, that the ac-
count he expected from me would be highly diſ-
pleaſing. But he inſiſted in commanding me to let
him know the beſt and the worſt: I told him he
ſhould be obeyed. I owned, that the Houyhnhnms
among us, whom we called horſes, were the moſt ge-
nerous and comely animal we had ; that they ex.
celled in ſtrength and ſwiftneſs; and when they
belonged to perſons of quality, were employed in
travelling, racing, or drawing chariots ; they were
treated with much kindneſs and care, till they fell
into diſeaſes, or became foundered in the feet;
but then they were ſold, and uſed to all kind of
drudgery, till they died; after which their ſkins
were ſtripped, and ſold for what they were worth,
and their bodies left to be devoured by dogs and
birds of prey. But the common race of horſes had
not ſo good fortune, being kept by farmers, and
carriers, and other mean people, who put them to
greater labour, and fed them worſe. I deſcribed,
as well as I could, our way of riding : the ſhape
and uſe of a bridle, a faddle, a ſpur, and a whip;
of harneſs and wheels. I added, that we faitened
plates of a certain hard ſubſtance, called iron, at
the
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 277
at the bottom of their feet, to preſerve their hoofs
from being broken by the ſtony ways, on which we
often travelled.
My maſter, after fome expreffions of great in-
dignation, wondered how we dared to venture
upon a Houybnlimn's back ; for he was ſure that
the weakeſt fervant in his houſe would be able to
ſhake off the ſtrongeſt Yahoo ; or by lying down,
and rolling on his back, ſqueeze the brute to death,
I anſwered, that our horſes were trained up from
three or four years old to the ſeveral uſes we in.
tended them for; that if any of them proved in-
tolerably vicious, they were employed for carri.
ages ; that they were ſeverely beaten, while they
were young, for any miſchievous tricks; that the
males, deſigned for the common uſe of riding or
draught, were generally cuſtrated about two years
after their birth, to take down their ſpirits, and
make them more tame and gentle; that
they were
indeed fenſible of rewards and puniſhments ; but
his Honour would pleaſe to conſider, that they had
not the leaſt tincture of reaſon, any more than the
Taheos in this country."
It
put me to the pains of many circumlocutions,
to give my maſter a right idea of what I fpeke ;
for their language doth not abound in variety of
words, becauſe their
wants and paſſions are fewer
than among us. But it is impoſſible to exprefs his
noble reſentment at our ſavage treatment of the
Houyhnhnm race; particularly, after I bad ex.
plained the manner and uſe of caſtrating horſes a.
mong us, to hinder them from propagating their
kind, and to render them more fervile. He ſaid,
if it were poſſible there could be any country
where Jaboos alone were endued with reaſon, they
certainly muſt be the governing animal, becauſe rea.
fon will in time always
prevail againſt brutal ſtrength.
Аа
But
forced to put on and off every day with tediouſ.
27 $ A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
But conſidering the frame of our bodies, and eſ.
pecially of mine, he thought no creature of equal
bulk was ſo ill contrived for employing that reaſon
in the conmon effices of life ; whereupon he de.
fired to know, whether thoſe among whom I li.
ved reſembled me or the Yahoos of his country,
I aſſured him, that I was as well ſhaped as moſt of
my age. But the younger, and the females, were
much more ſoft and tender, and the ſkins of the
Jatter generally as white as milk. He ſaid, I dif
fered indeed from other Yahoos, being much more
cleariy, and not altogether ſo deformed ; but in
point of real advantage, he thought I differed for
the worſe. That my nails were of no uſe, either
to iny fore or hinder.feet ; as to my fore-feet, he
could not properly call them by that name, for he
never obſerved me to walk upon them; that they
were too ſoft to bear the ground ; that I generally
went with them uncovered; neither was the cover-
ing I ſometimes wore on them of the fame ſhape,
or ſo ſtrong as that on my feet behind, That I
could not talk with any ſecurity ; for if either of
my hinder-feet flipped, I muſt inevitably fall. He
then began to find fault with other parts of my bo.
dy ; the flatueſs of my face, the prominence of my
noſe, mine eyes placed directly in front, ſo that I
could not look on either fide without turning my
head : That I was not able to feed myſelf without
lifting one of my fore feet to iny mouth ; and there.
fore nature had placed thoſe joints to anſwer that
neceflity. He knew not what could be the uſe of
thoſe feveral clefts and divifions in my feet behind;
that theſe were too ſoft to bear the hardneſs and
tharpneſs of ſtones, without a covering made of the
ſkin of ſome other brute ; that my whole body
wanted a fence againſt heat and cold, which I was
neſs
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
279
neſs and trouble. And, laſtly, that he obſerved every
animal in this country naturally to abhor the ra.
haos, whom the weaker avoided, and the ſtronger
drove from them. So that, ſuppoſing us to have
the gift of reaſon, he could not ſee how it were
poſſible to cure that natural antipathy which every
creature diſcovered againſti us ; nor conſequently
how we could tame and render then, ſerviceable.
However, he would (as he faid) debate the matter
no farther, becauſe he was more deſirous to know
my own ſtory, the country where I was born, and
the ſeveral actions and events of my life before I
came hither.ir
I aſſured him, how extremely deſirous I was
that he ſhould be ſatisfied in every point : But r
doubted mu h: whether it would be poffible for
me to explain myſelf on ſeveral ſubjects, whereof
his Honour could have no conception ; becauſe I
ſaw nothing in his country to which I could re.
femble them. That however I would do my beſt,
and ſtrive to expreſs myſelf by fimilitudes, hum.
bly deſiring his aſſiltance when I wanted proper
words, which he was pleaſed to promiſe me.
I ſaid, my birth was of honeſt parents- in an
ill and called England), which was remote from this
country as many days journey as the ſtrongeſt
of his Honour's ſervants could travel in the annu.
al courſe of the ſun : That I was bred a ſurgeon,
whoſe trade it is to cure wounds and hurts in the
body gotten by accident or violence :- That my
country was governed by a female man, whom we
called Queen : That I left it to get riches, where.
by I might maintain myſelf and family when I.
ſhould return : That in my laſt voyage I was com-
mander of the fhip, and had about fifty Yahoos un.
der me, many of which died at ſea, and I was for-
ced to fupply them by others picked out from fe-
A a 2
veral
280 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
veral nations : That our ſhip was twice in danger
of being funk ; the firft time by a great ſtorm ;
and the ſecond, by ſtriking againſt a rock. Here
my maſter interpoſed, by aſking me, how I could
perſuade (trangers out of different countries to
venture with me, after the loſſes I had ſuſtained,
and the hazards I had run? I ſaid, they were fel.
lows of deſperate fortunes, forced to fly from the
places of their birth on account of their poverty
or their crimes. Some were undone by law-ſuits;
others ſpent all they had in drinking, whoring, and
gaming ; others fled for treaſon; many for mur-
der, theft, poiſoning, robbery, perjury, forgery,
coining falſe money ; for committing rapes of ſo-
domy ; for flying from their colours, or deſerting
to the enemy ; and the moſt of them had broken
priſon. None of theſe durft return to their na-
tive countries, for fear of being hanged, or of ſtar.
ving in a jail ; and therefore they were under a
neceſfity of ſeeking a livelihood in other places.
During this diſcourſe my maſter was pleaſed to
interrupt me ſeveral times. I had made uſe of
many circumlocutions in deſcribing to him the na:
ture of the ſeveral crimes for which moſt of our
crew had been forced to fly their country. This
labour took up ſeveral days converſation, before
he was able to comprehend me, He was wholly
at a loſs to know what could be the uſe or neceſ.
fity of practiſing theſe vices. To clear up which,
I endeavoured to give ſome him ideas of the deſire
of power and riches ; of the terrible effe&ts of luft,
interperance, malice, and envy. All this I was for-
eed to define and deſcribe, by putting caſes, and
making ſuppoſitions. After which, 1 ke one whole
imagination was ſtruck with ſomething never ſeen
er heard of before, he would lift up his eyes with
annazement and indignation. Power, government,
war,
A Voyage to the HovyHNHNN3. 288
war, law, puniſhment, and a thouſand other things,
had no terms wherein that language could expreſs
them ; which made the difficulty almoſt inſuperable
to give my maſter any conception of what I
meant : But being of an excellent underſtanding,
much improved by contemplation and converſe, he
at laſt arrived at a competent knowledge of what
human nature in our parts of the world is capable
to perform; and deſired I wonld give him fome
particular account of that land which we coll Ex.
rope, but eſpecially of my own country,
sro
NEW
CH A P. V.
The author, at his maſter's commands, informis him of
the state of England. The cauſes of war among
the princes of Europe. The author begins to exa
plain the Engliſh conftitution.
H E reader may pleaſe to obſerve, that the
following extract of many converſations
had with my maſter, contains a ſummary of the
moſt material points which were diſcourſed at ſe..
veral times for above two years; his Honour often
defiring fuller ſatisfaction, as [farther improved
in
the Houyhnhnm tongue. I laid before him, as well
as I could, the whole ſtate of Europe ; I difcourſed
of trade and manufactures, of arts and ſciences ; and
the anſwers I gave to all the queſtions he made as
they aroſe upon-feveral ſubjects, were a fund of
converſation not to be exhauſted. But I ſhall here
only fet down the ſubſtance of what paſſed between
us concerning my own country, reducing it into
order as well as I can, without any regard to time
or other circumſtances, while I ſtrictly adhere to
truth
A a 3
282
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS
truth. My only concern is, that I ſhall hardly be
able to do juſtice to my maſter's arguments and ex.
preſſions, which muſt needs ſuffer by my want of
capacity, as well as by a tranſlation into our bar-
barous Engliſh.com
In obedience, therefore, to his Honour's com.
mands, I related to him the revolution under the
Prince of Orange ; the long war with France en.
tered into by the ſaid Prince, and renewed by his ſuc.
ceffor the preſent Queen, wherein the greateſt powers
of Chriſtendom were engaged, and which ſtill con-
tinued : I computed, at his requeſt, that about a
million of Yahoos might have been killed in the whole
progreſs of it ; and perhaps a hundred or more ci.
ties taken, and five times as many thips burnt or ſunk.
He aſked me, what were the uſual cauſes or mo.
tives that made one country go to war with ano.
ther? I anſwered, they were innumerable ; but I
ſhould only mention a few of the chief. Sometimes
the ambition of princes, who never think they have
land or people enough to govern. Sometimes the
corruption of miniſters, who engage their mafter
in a war, in order to ſtifle or divert the clamour of
the ſubjects againſt their evil adminiſtration. Dif-
ference in opinions hath coſt many millions of lives :
For inſtance, whether fleſh be bread, or bread be
fcph, whether the juice of a certain berry be blood
or wine ; whether whiſtling be a vice or a virtue ;
whether it be better to kiſs a poſt, or throw it into
the fire ; what is the beſt colour for a coat, whether
black, white, red, or grey ; and whether it ſhould be
long or ſhort, narrow or wide, dirty or clean, with
many more. Neither are any wars ſo furious and
bloody, or of fo long continuance, as thoſe occaſion-
ed by difference in opinion, eſpecially if it be in
things indifferent.
Sometimes the quarrel between two princes is to
decide,
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 283
decide, which of them ſhall diſpoſſeſs a third of his
dominions, where neither of them pretend to any
right. Sometimes one prince quarrelleth with
another, for fear the other lould qnarrel with
him. Sometimes a war is entered upon, becauſe
the enemy is too ſtrong ; and ſometimes becauſe he
is too weak. Sometimes our neighbours want th:
things which we have, or have the things which we
want ; and we both fight, till they take ours, or
give us theirs. It is a very juſtifiable cauſe of a
war, to invade a country after the people have been
waſted by famine, deſtroyed by peſtilence, or em-
broiled by factions among themſelves. It is juſtifi-
able to enter into a war againſt our neareſt ally,
when one of his towns lies convenient for us, or
a tcrritoty of land that would render our dominions
round and compact. If a prince ſends forces into
a nation where the people are poor and ignorant,
he may lawfully put half of them to death, and make
flaves of the reſt, in order to civilize and reduce
them from their barbarous way of living. It is a
very kingly, honourable, and frequent practice,
when one prince deſires the aſſiſtance of another to
ſecure him againſt an invaſion, that the aſſiſtant,
when he had driven out the invader, ſhould ſeize
on the dominions himſelf, and kill, impriſon, or
banith the prince he came to relieve. Alliance by
blood or marriage is a frequent cauſe of war be.
tween princes; and the nearer the kindred is, the
greater is their diſpoſition to quarrel : poor nations
are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride
and hunger will ever be at variance. For theſe
reaſons, the trade of a ſoldier is held the moſt ho.
nourable of all others; becauſe a ſoldier is a Yahoo
hired to kill in cold blood as many of his own ſpe.
cies, who have never offended him, as poſſibly he
can,
There
284 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
There is likewiſe a kind of beggarly princes in
Europe, not able to make war by themſelves, who
hire out their troops to richer nations, for ſo much
a day to each man; of which they keep three.
fourths to themſelves, and it is the beſt part of
their maintenance; ſuch are thoſe in many northern
parts of Europe.
What
you have told me (faid my maſter) upon
the ſubject of war, does indeed diſcover moſt ad.
mirably the effects of that reaſon you pretend to:
However it is happy that the ſhame is greater than
the danger; and that nature has left you utterly
incapable of doing much miſchief. Fór, your mouths
lying flat with your faces, you can hardly bite each
other to any purpoſe, unleſs by conſent. Then as
to the claws upon your feet before and behind,
they are ſo ſhort and fu tender, that one of our
raboos would drive a dozen of yours before him.
And therefore, in recounting the numbers of thoſe
who have been killed in batile, I cannot but think
you have ſaid the thing which is not.
I could not forbear ſhaking my bead, and finil.
ing a little at his ignorance. And being no ſtranger
to the art of war, I gave him a deſcription of can.
nons, culverins, muſquets, carabines, piſtols, bul..
lets, powder, ſwords, bayoners, battles, lieges, re.
treats, attacks, undermines, countermines, boni.
bardments, ſea-fights, ſhips ſunk with a thouſand
men, twenty thouſand killed on each ſide, dying
groans, limbs flying in the air, ſinoke, noiſe, confu-
lion, trampling to death under horſes feet; flight,
purſuit, victory; fields ſtrewed with carcaſe s left
for food to dogs, and wolves, and birds of prey;
plundering, ſtripping, raviſhing, burning and de.
ſtroying. And to ſet forth the valour
of my own
dear countrymen, I aflured him, that I had ſeen
them blow up an hundred enemies at once in a
ſiege,
1 Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 285
ſiege, and as many in a ſhip; and beheld dead bo.
dies drop down in pieces from the clouds, to the
great diverſion of the ſpectators.
I was going on to more particulars, when my
maſter commanded me ſilence. He ſaid, whoever
underſtood the nature of Yahoos, might eaſily be.
lieve it poſſible for ſo vile an animal to be capable
of every action I had named, if their ſtrength and
cunning equalled their malice, But as my diſcourſe
bad increaſed his abhorrence of the whole ſpecies,
ſo he found it gave him a diſturbance in his mind,
to which he was wholly a Itranger before. He
thought his ears, being uſed to ſuch abominable
words, might by degrees admit them with leſs de.
teſtation. That although he hated the Yahoos of this
country, yet he no more blamed them for their o.
dious qualities, than he did a Gnnayh (a bird of
prey) for its cruelty, or a ſharp ſtone for cutting
his hoof. But when a creature pretending to rea-
fon, conld be capable of ſuch enormities, he dread.
ed, left the corruption of that faculty might be
worſe than brutality itſelf. He ſeemed therefore
confident, that inſtead of reaſon, we were only
poffeſled of ſome quality fitted to increaſe our na.
tural vices; as the reflection from a troubled ſtream
returns the innage of an ill ſhapen body, not only
larger, but more diſtorted.
He added, that he had heard too much upon the
ſubject of war, both in this and ſome former diſa
courſes. There was another peint, which a little
perplexed him at preſent. I had informed him,
that ſome of our crew left their country on account
of being ruined by law ; that I hsd already explain-
ed the meaning of the word : But he was at a loſs
how it ſhould come to paſs, that the law, which
was intended for every man's preſervation, ſhould
be any inan's ruin, Therefore he deſired to be far-
ther
286
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
ther ſatisfied what I meant by law and the difpen.
ſers thereof, according to the preſent practice in my
own country: Becauſe he thought nature and reaſon
were ſufficient guides for a reaſonable animal, as
we pretended to be, in the wing us what we ought
to do, and what to avoid
..
· I affered his Honour, that law was a ſcience in
which I had not much converſed, further than by
employing advocates in vain upon ſome injuſtices
that had been done to me; however, I would give
him all the fatisfaction I was able, .
I ſaid, there was a fociety of men among us,
bred up from their youth in the art of proving, by
words multiplied for the purpoſe, that white is
black, and black is white, according as they are
paid. To this ſociety all the reſt of the people
are ſlaves. For example, if my neighbonr hath a
mind to my cow, he hires a laywer
to prove that
he onght to have may cow from me, I muſt their hire
arother to defend my right, it being againſt all rules
of law, that any man ſhould be allowed to ſpeak for
himſelf. Now in this caſe, I, who am the right ownl-
er, lie under two great diſadvantages ; firſt, my law-
yer, being practifed almoſt from his cradle in de
fending falſehood, is quite out of his element when
he would be an advocate for juſtice, which is an
unnatural office, he always atiempts with great
aukwardneſs, if not with ill will. "The ſecond dil
.
advantage is, that my lawyer muſt proceed with
great caution, or elſe he will be reprimanded by
the judges, and abhorred by his brethren as one
that would leſſen the practice of the law, And
therefore I have but two methods to preſerve my
cow. The firſt is, to gain over my adverfary's
lawyer with a double fee; who will then betray
his client, by inſinuating, that he hath juſtice on
bis fide. The ſecond way is, for my laruyer to
inake
A Voyage to the HQUYHNHNMS. 287
make my cauſe appear as unjuſt as he can, by al.
Jowing the cow to belong to niy adverſary; and
this, if it be ſkilfully done, will certainly befpeak
the favour of the bench. Now, your Honour is to
know, that theſe judges are perſons appointed to
decide all controverſies of property, as well as for
the trial of criminals, and picked out from the
moſt dextrous lawyers who are grown old or lazy;
and having been biaſſed all their lives againſt truth
and equity, lie under ſuch a fatal neceſſity of favour.
ing fraud, perjury, and oppreflion, that I have
known ſome of them refuſe a large bribe from the
fide where juſtice lay, rather than injure the Facul.
ty by doing any thing unbecoming their nature
or their office. .
It is a maxim among theſe lawyers, that what.
ever hath been done before, may legally be done
again ; and therefore, they take ſpecial care to re.
cord all the deciſions
formerly made againſt com-
mon juſtice, and the general reaſon of mankind.
Thefe, under the name of precedents, they produce
as authorities to juſtify the moſt iniquitous opini-
ons, and the jadges never fail of directing accord.
ingly.
In pleading, they ſtudiouſly avoid entering into
the merits of the cauſe ; but are loud, violent, and
tedious, in dwelling upon all circumſtances which
are not to the purpoſe. For inſtance, in the caſe
already mentioned; they never deſire to know
what claim or title my adverſary hath to my cow;
bat whether the ſaid cow were red, or black ; her
horns long or ſhort; whether the field I graze her
in be round or ſquare ; whether ſhe was milked at
home or abroad; whatkdiſeaſes ſhe is ſubject to,
and the like ; after which they conſult precedents,
adjourn the cauſe from time to time, and in ten,
twenty, or thirty years, come to an iſſue.
It
288
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
It is likewiſe to be obſerved, that this fociety
hath a peculiar
cant and jargon of their own, that
rio other mortal can underſtand, and wherein all
their laws are written, which they take ſpecial care
to multiply ; whereby they have wholly confound.
ed the very eſſence of truth and falſehood, of right
and wrong ; ſo that it will take thirty years to de.
cide, whether the field left me by my anceſtors for
ſix generations, belongs to me, or to a ſtranger
three hundred miles off.
In the trial of perſons accuſed for crimes againſt
the ſtate, the method is much more ſhort and com.
mendable : The judge firſt ſends to found the dil
poſition of thoſe in power, after which he can
caſily hang or ſave a criminal, ſtrictly preſerving
all due forms of law,
Here my mafter, interpoſing, ſaid, it was a pity
that creatures endued with ſuch predigious abili.
ties of mind, as theſe lawyer's by the deſcription I
gave of them muſt certainly be, were not rather
encouraged to be inſtructors of others in wiſdom and
knowledge. In anſwer to which I aſſured his
Honour, that in all points out of their own trade,
they were uſually the moſt ignorant and fupid
generation among us, the moſt deſpicable in com.
mon converſation; avowed enemies to all know.
ledge and learning, and equally diſpoſed to pervert
the general reaſon of mankind in every other ſub-
ject of diſcourſe, as in that of their own profeſſion.
СНАР,
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
289
CH A P. VI.
A continuation of the ſtate of England under Queen
Anne, The character of a firſt miniſter of ſtate
in European courts.
MY
Y maſter was yet wholly at a loſs to under.
ſtand what motives could incite this race of
lawyers, to perplex, diſquiet, and weary themfelves,
and engage in a confederacy of injuſtice, merely
for the ſake of injuring their fellow animals; neither
could he comprehend what I meant in ſaying they
did it for hire. Whereupon I was at much pains
to deſcribe to him the uſe of money, the materials
it was made of, and the value of the metals ; that
when a Yahoo had got a great ſtore of this preci.
ous ſubſtance, he was able to purchaſe whatever he
had a mind to ; the fineſt cloathing, the nobleſt
houſes, great tracts of land, the moſt coſtly meats
and drinks, and have his choice of the moft beauti.
ful females. Therefore, ſince money alone was able
to perform all theſe feats, our Yahoos thought they
could never have enough of it to ſpend, or to ſave,
as they found themſelves inclined from their natu.
ral bent either to profuſion or avarice : That the
rich man enjoyed the fruit of the poor man's la-
bour, and the latter were a thouſand to one in pro.
portion to the former: That the bulk of our people
were forced to live miſerably, by labouring every
day for fmall wages, to make a few live plentifully.
I enlarged myſelf much on theſe, and many other
particulars to the ſame purpoſe : But his Honour
was ſtill to ſeek; for he went upon a ſuppoſition,
that all animals had a title to their ſhare in the
productions of the earth, and eſpecially thoſe who
въ
preſided
290 :4 Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
put it in.
preſided over the reſt. Therefore he deſired I
would let him know, what theſe coſtly meats were,
and how any of us happened to want them,
Whereupon 1 enumerated as many ſorts as came
into my head, with the various methods of dref.
iing them, which could not be done without ſind.
ing veſſels by ſea to every part of the world, as
well for liquors to drink, as for fauces, and innu-
merable other conveniences, I afured him, that
this whole globe of earth muſt be at leaſt three
times gone round, before one of our better fe.
male Tahoos could get her breakfast, or a cup to
He ſaid, that muſt needs be a miſerable
country which cannot furniſh food for its own in-
habitants. But what ke chiefly wondered at was,
how ſuch vaſt tracts of ground, as I deſcribed,
Thould be wholly without freſh water, and the peo.
ple put to the neceflity of ſending over the ſea for
drink. I replied, that' England (the dear place of
my nativity) was computed to produce three tiinės
the quantity of food more than its inhabitants are
able to conſume, as well as liquors extracted from
grain, or preſſed out of the fruits of certain trees,
which made excellent drink; and the famie propor-
tion in every other convenience of life. But in
order to feed the luxury and intemperance of the
males, and the vanity of females, we ſent away the
greateſt part of our neceffary things to other coun-
tries ; from whence we in return brought the ma
terials of diſeaſes, folly, and vice, to ſpend among
ourſelves. Hence it follows 'of neceſſity, that valt
numbers of our people are compelled to ſeek their
livelihood by begging, robbing, ſtealing, cheating,
pimping, flattering, fuburning, forſwearing, for-
ging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting,
Scribbling, ſtar-gazing, poiſoining, whoring, canting,
libeling, free-thinking, and the like occupations
Every
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
291
Every one of which terms. I was at much pains to
make him underſtand.
That wine was not imported among us from fo-
reign countries to ſupply the want of water, or o-
ther drinks, bot becauſe it was a ſort of liquid which
made us inerry by putting us out of our ſenſes, di.
verted all melancholy thoughts, begat wild extra.
vagant imaginations in the brain, raiſed our hoses,
and baniſhed our fears; ſuſpended every office of rea-
ſon for a time, and deprived us of the uſe of our limbs,
till we fell into a profound ſleep; although it muſt
be confeſſed, that we always awaked fi:k and diſpiri-
ted ; and that the uſe of this liquor filled us with dir-
eaſes, which made our lives uncomfortable and thort.
But beſide all this, the bulk of our people fup.
ported themſelves by, furniſhing the neceſlities or
conveniences of life to the rich, and to each other.
For inſtance, when I am at home, and dreſſed as
lought to be, I carry on my body the workmanſhip
of an hundred tradeſmen ; the building and furni.
ture of my houſe employ as many more, and five
times the number to adorn my wife.
I was going on to tell him of another fort of
people, who get their livelihood by attending the
lick, having upon fome occaſions informed his
Honour that many of my crew had died of diſea.
fes, But here it was with the utmoſt difficulty
that
I brought him to apprshend what I meant. He
could eaſily conceive, that a Houy hnhnm grew
weak and heavy, a few days before his death, or by
fome aceident might hurt a limb ; but that nature,
who works all things to perfection, ſhould ſuffer any
pins to breed in our bodies, he thought it impoľ-
lible, and delirej to kvow the reaſon of fo unac-
countable an evil I told him, we fed on a thou.
Jand things, which operated contrary to each *o.
ther : Tbat we eat them when we were not hun.
B b 2
gry,
292 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
gry, and drank without the provocation of thirſt:
That we ſat whole nights drinking ſtrong liquors
without eating a bit, which diſpoſed us to ſloth, en.
flamed our bodies, and precipitated or prevented
digeſtion : That proſtitute female Yahoos acquired
a certain malady, which bred rotteneſs in the bones
of thoſe who fell into their embraces : That this
and many other diſeaſes were propagated from fa.
ther to ſon ; ſo that great numbers come into the
world with complicated maladies upon them : That
it would be endleſs to give him a catalogue of all
diſeaſes incident to human bodies; for they could
not be fewer than five or lix hundred ſpread over
every limb and joint; in ſhort, every part, exter.
nal and inteſtine, having diſeaſes appropriated to
itſelf. To remedy which, there was a fort of peo-
ple bred up among us in the profeſſion, or pretence,
of curing the ſick. And becauſe I had ſome fill
in the Faculty, I would, in gratitude to his Honour,
let him know the whole myſtery and method by
which they proceed.
Their fundamental is, that all diſeaſes ariſe from
repletion; from whence they conclude, that a great
evucuation of the budy is neceſſary, either through
the natural paſſage, or upwards at their niouth.
The next buſineſs is, from herbs, minerals, gums,
oils, ſhells, falts, juices, fea-weed, excrenients, barks
of trees, ferpents, toads, frogs, ſpiders, dead mens
deſh and bones, birds, beaſts, and filhes, to form a
compoſition for ſinell and taſte the moſt abo ninable,
nuu'eous, and deteſtable, they can poſibly contrive,
which the ſtomach immediately rejects with loath.
ing ; and this they call a vomit: Ör elſe, from the
fame ſtore. houſe with ſome other poiſonous additions,
they command us to take in at the orifice, above or
below, (juſt as the phyſician then happens to be dil-
poſed) a medicine equally annoying and diſguſtful
to
A Voyage to the HouYuNHNMS.
293
to the bowels ; which, relaxing the belly, drives
down all before it ; and this they call a purge or a
clyfter. For nature (as the phyſicians alledge) hav.
irg intended the ſuperior anterior orifice only for
the intromifſion of folids and liquids, and the inferi.
or pokerior for ejection ; theſe artiſts ingeniouſly
conlidering
that in all diſeaſes nature is forced out
of her feat, therefore to replace her in it, the body
muſt be treated in a manner directly contrary, by
interchanging the uſe of each orifice ; forcing ſolids
and liquids in at the anus, and making evacuations
at the mouth.
But belides real diſeaſes, we are ſubject to ma-
ny that are only imaginary, for which the phyſicians
have invented imaginary cures,
Thele have their
ſeveral names, and ſo have the drugs that are pro.
per for them, and with theſe our female rahoss are
always infeſted.
One great excellency in this tribe is their Aill
at prognoſtics, wherein they ſeldom fail ; their pre.
di&tions in real diſeaſes, when they riſe to any degree
of malignity, generally portending death, which is
always in their power, when recovery is not : And
therefore, upon any unexpected ſigns of amendment
after they have pronounced their ſentence, rather
than be accuſed as falſe prophets, they know how
to approve their ſagacity to the world by a ſeaſon-
able doſe:
They are likewiſe of ſpecial uſe to huſbands and
wives, who are grown weary of their mares ; to :
eldeſt ſons, to great miniſters of ſtate, and often to
princes.
had formerly, upon occaſion, diſcourſed with my
maſter upon the nature of government in general,
and particularly of our own excellent conſtitution, de-
ſervedly the wonder and envy of the whole world.
But having here accidentally mentioned a miniſter
Toit
ef
Bb 3
294 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNM3.
of ſtate, he commanded me, ſome time after, to in-
form him what ſpecies of Yahoo I particularly meant
by that appellation,
I told hiin, that a firſt or chief miniſter of ſtate,
who was the perſon I intended to deſcribe, was a
creature wholly exempt from joy and grief, love
and hatred, pity and anger ; at leaſt, makes uſe of
no other paſſions, but a violent deſire of wealth,
power, and titles; that he applies his words to all
uſes, except to the indication of his mind ; that he
never tells a truth, but with an intent that you
Should take it for a lie ; nor a lie, but with a deſign
that you ſhould take it for a truth : That thoſe he
fpeaks worſt of behind their backs are in the fureſt
way of preferment ; and whenever he begins to
praiſe you to others, or to yourſelf, you are from
that day forlorn. The worft mark you can receive
is a promiſe, eſpecially when it is confirmed with an
oath ; after which every wiſe man retires, and gives
over all hopes.
There are three methods, by which a man may
riſe to be chief minifter. The firſt is, by knowing
how with prudence to diſpoſe of a wife, a daughter,
or a fifter : The ſecond, by betraying or undermin.
ing his predeceſſor : And the third is, by a furious
zeal, in public aſſemblies, againſt the corruptions of
But a wiſe prince would rather chooſe
to employ thoſe, who practiſe the laſt of theſe me.
thods; becauſe ſuch zealots prove always the moſt
obfequious and ſubſervient to the will and paſfions
of their maſters. That theſe miniſters, having all
employments at their diſpofal, preſerve themſelves
in power, by bribing the majority of a fenate or
great council ; and at laſt, by an expedient called
an act of indemnity, (whereof I deſcribed the na-
ture to him) they ſecure themſelves from after. sec.
konings, and retire from the public, laden with the
fpoils of the nation.
the court.
The
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
295
The palace of a chief miniſter is a ſeminary to
Breed up others in his own trade: The pages, lace
quies, and porter, by imitating their maller, be.
come miniſters of ſtate in their ſeveral diſtricts, and
learn to excel in the three principal ingredients, of
infolence, lying, and bribery. Accordingly they have
a ſubaltern court paid to them by perſons of the
beſt rank; azxd ſometimes, by the force of dexteri.
ty and impudence, arrive through ſeveral grada-
tions to be ſucceſſors to their lord.
He is uſually governed by a decayed wench, or
favourite footman, who are the funnels through
which all graces are conveyed, and may properly
be called, in the laſt reſort, the governors of the
kingdom, One day in diſcourſe, ny maſter having
heard me mention the nobility of my country, was
pleaſed to make me a compliment, which I could
not pretend to deſerve: That he was ſure, I muft
have been born of ſome noble family, becauſe I far
exceeded in ſhape, colour, and cleanlineſs, all the
Yahoos of his nation, although I ſeemed to fail in
ſtrength and agility, which muft be imputed to iny
different way of living from thoſe other brutes ;
and beſides, I was not only endued with the facul.
ty of ſpeech, but likewiſe with ſome rudiments of
reaſon, to a degree that with all his acquaintance I
paſſed for a prodigy:
He made me obſerve, that among the Houy
hnbnms, the white, the forrel, and the iron-grey,
were not ſo exactly ſhaped as the bay, the dapple.
grey, and the black; nor born with equal talents
of mind, or a capacity to improve them; and there.
fore continued always in the condition of ſervants,
without ever aſpiring to match out of their own
race, which in that country would be reckoned
monſtrous and unnatural.
I made his Honour my moſt humble acknow.
ledge,
2ÇÓ A Voyage to the HOUYHMNMS.-
edgements for the good opinion he was pleaſed
to conceive of me; but aſſured him at the ſame
time, that my birth was of the lower ſort, having
been born of plain honelt parents, who were just
able to give me a tolerable education; that nobility
among us was altoge:her a different thing from
the idea he had of it ; that our young noblemen
are bred from their childhood in idloweſs and lux.
ury ; that, as ſoon as years will permit, they cons
fine their vigour, and contract odious diſeaſes a.
njong lewd females ; and when their fortunes are
almoſt ruined, they marry fome woman of mean
birth, diſagreeable perſon, and unfound conſtitu.
tien, merely for the ſake of money, whom they hate
and deſpiſe : That the production of ſuch mar-
riages are generally ſcrophulous, rickety, or de.
fornied children ;. by which means the family fels
doni continues above three generations, unleſs the
wife takes care to provide a healthy father among
her neighbours or domeftics, in order to improve
and continue the breed : That a weak diſeaſed bo-
dy, a mcagre countenance, and fallow complexion,
are the crne marks of noble blond; and a healthy ro-
buſt appearance is ſo diſgraceful in a man of quali-
ty, that the world concludes his real father to have
been a groom, or a coachman. The imperfections
of his mind run parallel with thoſe of his body, be.
ing a compoſition of ſpleen, duheſs, ignorance,
caprice, ſenſuality, and pride.
Without this conſent of the illuſtrious body, no
law can be enacted, repealed, or altered ; and theſe
nobles have likewife the deciſions of all our poffef-
fions, without iappeal.
CRO
blu
CHA P.
A Voyage to the HOUYHNMNMS.
297
CHAP VII.
The author's great love of bis native country. His maf-
ter's obfervations upon the conſtitution and adminiftra.
lionof Engalnd, as deſcribed by the author, with pa-
rallel caſes and compariſons. His majier's obfervations
upon human nature.
Ti
H E reader may be diſpoſed to wonder, how
I could prevail on myſelf to give ſo free a re-
preſentation of my own ſpecies, among a race of
mortals who are already too apt to conceive the
vileft opinion of human - kind, from that entire
congruity betwixt me and their rahooy. But I
muſt freely confeſs, that the many virtues of thofe
excellent Quadrupeds, placed in oppoſite view to
human corruptions, had ſo far opened my eyes, and
enlarged my underſtanding, that I began to view
the actions and paſſions of man in a very different
light ; and to think the honour of my own kind not
worth managing ; which beſides it was impoſſible
for nie to do, before a perſon of ſo acute a judg-
ment as my maſter, who daily convinced me of a
thouſand faults in myſelf, whereof I had not the
leaſt perception before, and which with us would
never be numbered even among hunan infirmities,
I had likewiſe learned, from his example, an urter
deteſtation of all fallhood or diſguiſe ; and truth
appeared ſo amiable to m;, that I determined upon
facrificing every thing to it.
Let me deal fo candidly with the reader, as to
confeſs, that there was yet a much ſtronger motive
for the freedom I took in my repreſentation of
things, I had not been a year in this country, be-
fere
298
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS
fore I contracted ſuch a love and veneration for the
inhabitants, that I entered on a firm reſolution ne-
ver to return to human-kind, but to paſs the reſt
of my life among theſe admirable Houy hnhnms, in
the contemplation and practice of every virtue,
where I could have no example or incitements to
vice. But it was decreed by fortune, my perpetu-
al enemy, that ſo great a felicity Ihould not fall 10
my ſhare. However, it is now. ſome comfort to re.
flect, that in what I ſaid of niy countrymen, 1 exte.
nuated their faults as much as I durft before ſo ſtrict
an eximiner; and upon every article gave as fax
vourable a turn as the matter would bear. For
indeed who is there alive that will not be ſwayed,
by his bias and partiality to the place of his birth?
I have related the ſubſtance of ſeveral conver.
fations I had with my Maiter during the greateſt
part of the time I had the honour to be in his ſer-
vice-; but have indeed, for breviry's ſake, onnitted
much more than is here ſet down.
When I had anſwered all his qu: ftions, and his
curioſity ſeemed to, be fully ſatisfied; he ſent for
me one morning early, and commanding me to Ge
down at ſome diſtance (an honour which he had
never before conferred upon me,) be ſaid, he had
been very ſeriouſly conſidering my whole ſtory, as
far as it related buth to myſelf and my couniry:
Thar he looked upon us as a jurt of animals, to
whoſe share, by what accident he could not conjec-
ture, ſome finall pittance of reafon bad fallen, where,
of we made no other uſe, than by its affittance to
aggravate our natural corruptions, and to acquire
new ones, wh ch nature had given us : That we
difarmed ourlelves of the few abilities ſhe had be-
lowed, had been very ſucceſsful in multiplying
our original wants, and feensd to ſpend our whole
lives in vain endeavours to ſoppiy them by our
own
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
299
own inventions : That as to inyſelf, it was manifeft
1 had neither the ſtrength or agility of a common
Yahoo ; that I walked infirmly on my hinder feet ;
had found out a contrivance to make my claws of
no uſe or defence, and to remove the hair from my
chin, which was intended as a fhelter from the ſun
and the weather. Laſly, that I could neither run
with ſpeed, nor eliimb trees like iny brethren (as
he called them) the raboos in this country.
That our inſtitutions of governinent and law
were plainly owing to our groſs defects in reafon,
and by conſequence in virtue ; becauſe réafon alone
is fufficient to govern'a 'rational creature ; which
was therefore a character we had no pretence to
challenge, even from the account I had 'given of
my own people : Although he manifeſtly percei.
ved, that in order to favour them, I had concealed
many particulars, and often
ſaid the thing which was
not.
He was the more confirmed in his opinion, be.
cauſe he obſerved, that as I agreed in every feature
of ny body with other Yahoos, except where it was
to my real diſadvantage, in point of ftrength, ſpeed,
and activity, the fhortneſs of my claws, and ſome
other particulars where nature had no part; ſo
from the repreſentation I had given him of our
lives, our inanners, and our actions, he found as
near a reſemblance in the difpofition of our minds.
He ſaid the Yahoos were known to hate one ano.
ther more than they did any different ſpecies of
animals ; and the reaſon uſually aſſigned was the
odiouſneſs of their own ſhapes, which all could fee
in the reſt, but not in themſelves. He had there.
fore begun to think it not unwiſe in us to cover
our bodies, and by that invention conceal many of
our deformitics from each other, which would elſe
be hardly ſupportable. But he now found he had
been
300
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
been miſtaken, and that the diſſenſions of thoſe
brutes in his country, were owing to the ſame
cauſe with ours, as I had deſcribed them. For if
(faid he) you throw among five Yahoos as much
food, as would be ſufficient for fifty, they will in.
ſtead of eating peaceably, fall together by the ears
each ſingle one impatient to have all to itſelf; and
therefore a ſervant was uſually employed to ſtand
by while they were feeding abroad, and thoſe kept
at home were tied at a diſtance from each other;
that if a cow died of age or accident, before a
Houyhnhnm could ſecure it for his own Yahoos,
thoſe in the neighbourhood would come in herds
to feize it, and then would enſue ſuch a battle as I
had deſcribed, with terrible wounds made by their
claws on both ſides, although they feldom were able
to kill one another, for want of ſuch convenient in.
ftruments of death as we have invented. At other
times, the like battles have been fought between
the Yahoos of feveral neighbourhoods, without any
viſible cauſe : thoſe of one diſtrict watching all op.
portunities to ſurpriſe the next, before they are
prepared. But if they find their project hath miſ.
carried, they return home, and, for want of ene.
mies, engage in what I call a civil war among
themſelves.
That in ſome fields of his country, there are
certain fining ſtones of ſeveral colours, whereof
the raboos are violently fond ; and when part of
theſe Jones is fixed in the earth, as it ſometimes
happeneth, they will dig with their claws for whole
days to get them out; then carry them away, and
hide them by heaps in their kennels ; but ſtill look-
ing round with great caution, for fear their com-
rades ſhould find out their treaſure. My maſter
ſaid he could never diſcover the reaſon of this un-
natural appetite, or how theſe Aones could be of
any
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
301
any uſe to a Yahoo ; but now he believed it might
proceed from the ſame principle of avarice, which
I had aſcribed to mankind : That he had once, by
way of experiment, privately removed a heap of
theſe fones from the place where one of his rahoos
had buried it : Whereupon the ſordid animal, mil-
ſing his treaſure, by his loud lamenting, brought
the
whole herd to the place, there miſerably how-
led, then fell to biting and tearing the reſt ; began
to pine away, would neither eat, nor ſleep, nor
work, till he ordered a ſervant privately to convey
the ſtones into che ſame hole, and hide them as be-
fore ; which when his ruhoo had found, he pre-
ſently recovered his ſpirits and good humour, but
took care to remove them to a better hiding place,
and hath ever ſince been a very ſerviceable brute.
My maſter farther aſſured me, which I alſo ob.
ſerved myſelf, that in the fields where ſhining fones
abound, the fierceſt and moſt frequent battles are
fought, occaſioned by perpetual inroads of the
neighbouring Yahoos.
He ſaid, it was common, when two raboos dif-
covered fuch a ſtone in a field, and were contending
which of thein ſhould be the proprietor, a third
would take the advantage, and carry it away from
both ;, which my maſter would needs contend to
have ſome kind of reſemblance with our ſuits af
law ; wherein I thought it for our credit not to
undeceive him, ſince the deciſion he mentioned was
much more equitable than many decrees among us;
becauſe the plaintiff and the defendant there loſt
nothing beſide the fore they contended for, where.
as our courts of equity would never have diſmiſſed
the cauſe, while either of them had any thing left.
My maſter continuing his diſcourſe, faid, there
was nothing that rendered the Yahoos more odi.
ous, than their undiſtinguiſhing appetite to devour
Cc
every
302 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
every thing that came in their way, whether herbs,
roots, berries, the corrupted fleſh of animals, or all
mingled together : And it was peculiar in their tem.
per, that they were fonder of what they could get
by rapire or ſtealth at a greater diſtance, than much
better food provided for them at home. If their
prey
held out, they would eat till they were ready
to burſt, after which nature had pointed out to
them a certain roof that gave them a general eva-
cuation.
There was alſo another kind of root, very juicy,
but ſomewhat rare and difficult to be found, which
the Yahoos fought for with much eagerneſs, and
would ſuck it with great delight ; it produced in
them the fame effeéts
that wine hath upon us. It
would make them fometimes hug, and fometimes
tear one another; they would howl and grin, and
chatter, and reel, and tumble, and then fall aſleep
in the mud.
I did indeed obſerve, that the Yaboos were the
only animals in this country fubje&t to any diſeaſes ;
which, however, were much fewer than horſes have
ainong us, and contracted, nor by any ill treatment
they meet with, but by the naſtineſs and greedineſs
of that fordid brute. Neither has their language
any more than a general appellation for thoſe ma.
ladies, which is borrowed from the name of the
beaſt, and called hnea yahoo, orthe Yahoo's evil; and
the cure prefcribed is a mixture of their own dung
and urine, forcibly put down the rahoo's throat.
This I have ſince often known to have been taken
with ſuccefs, and do here freely recommend it to
my countrymen, for the public good, as an admi-
rable ſpecific againſt all diſeaſes produced by a re.
plerion.
***
As to learning, government, arts, manufactures,
and the like, my maſter confeſſed he could find lit-
tle
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
303
tle or no reſemblance between the rahogs of that
country and thoſe in ours. For he only meant to
obſerve, what parity there was in our natures. He
had heard indeed ſome curious Houyhnhums obſerve,
that in moſt herds there was a ſort of ruling Yahoo
(as among us there is generally ſome leading or
principal ftag in a park) who was always niore de.
formed in body, and miſchievous in difpofition, than
any
of the reſt : That this leader had uſually a fa.
vourite, as like himſelf as he could get, whoſe em-
ployment was to lick his maſter's feet and poſteri.
ors, and drive the female Yahous to his kenned; for
which he was now and then rewarded with a piece
of afs's fleih. This favourite is hated by the whole
herd, and therefore, to prote& himfelf, keeps always
near the perſon of his leader. He uſually continues
in offi:e till a worſe can be found ; but the very
moment he is diſcarded, his ſucceſſor, at the head of
all the raboos in that diſtrict, young and old, male
and female, come in a body, and diſcharge their ex.
crements upon him from head to fcot. But how
far this might be applicable to our courts, and fa-
vouriks, and miniſters of State, my maſter ſaid I
could beſt determine.
I durft make no return to this malicious inſinua.
tion, which debaſed human underſtanding below
the ſagacity of a common hound, who hath judgment
enough to diftinguiſh and follow the cry of the
ablejt dog in the pack, without being ever miſtoken,
My maſter told me there were fome qualities.
remarkable in the rahoos, which he had not ob.
ſerved me to mention, or at leaſt very ſlightly, ia
the accounts I had given him of human-kind. He
ſaid thoſe animals, like other brutes, had their fe.
males in common; but in this they differed, that
the ſhe rahoo would admit the male 'while ſhe was
pregnant ; and that the hees weuld quarrel and
Cc 2
fight
304 A Voyage to the HouYnNHNMS.
rived at,
fight with the females, as with each other. Both
which practices were ſuch degrees of irfamous
brutality, as no other ſenſitive creature ever ar.
Another thing he wondered at in the raboos,
was their ſtrange diſpoſition to naſtineſs and dirt;
whereas there appears to be a natural love of clean.
lineſs in all other animals. As to the two former
accuſations, I was glad to let them paſs without
any reply, becauſe I had not a word to offer upon
them in defence of my ſpecies, which otherwiſe I
certainly had done from my own inclinations,
But I could have eaſily vindicated human.kind
from the imputation of ſingularity upon the laſt
article, if there had been any ſwine in that country
(as unluckily for me there were not) which altho'
it may be a ſweeter quadruped than a raboo, can.
not, I humbly conceive, in juſtire pretend to more
cleanlineſs and to his Honour himſelf muſt have
owned, if he liad ſeen their filthy way of feeding,
and their cuſlom of wallowing and ſleeping in the
mud.
My maſter likewiſe mentioned another quality,
which his ſervants had diſcovered in ſeveral Taboos,
and to him was wholly unaccountable. He ſaid,
fancy wou'd ſometimes take a Yahoo to retire into
a corner, to lie down, and howl and groan, and
ſpurn away all that came near him, although he
were young and far, wanted ncither food nor wa-
ter, nor did the ſervants imagine what could pol-
fibly ail him. And the only remědy they found
was, to ſet him to hard work, after which he would
infallbly come to himſelf. To this I was filent
out of partiality to my own kind ; yet here I could
plainly diſcover the true fecds of the ſpleen, which
only k izeth on the lazy, the luxurious, and the rich;
who
A Poyage to the HOUYMN#NMS. 305
who, if they were forced to undergo the ſame regi.
men, I would undertake for the cure.
His Honour had farther obſerved, that a female
Yahoo would often ſtand behind a bank or a buſh,
to gaze on the young males palling by, and then
appear, and hide, uſing many antic geſtures and
grimaces, at which time it was obſerved that ſhe
had a muſt offenſive fmell; and when any of the
males advanced, would ſlowly retire, looking often
back, and with a counterfeit Ahew of fear, run off
into fome convenient place, where ſhe knew the
male would follow her.
At other times, if a female ftranger came among
them, three or four of her own ſex would get a-
bout her, and ſtare, and chatter, and grin, and
fmell her all over ; and then turn off with geſtures,
that ſeemed to expreſs contempt and diſdain.
Perhaps my maſter miglit refine a little in theſe
fepeculations which he had drawn from what he
obferved himſelf, or had been told him by others :
However, I could not reflect without ſome amaze.
ment, and much ſorrow, that the rudiments of lewd.
neſs, caquetry, cenſure, and ſcandal, ſhould have
place by inſtinct in woman.kind.
I expected every moment, that my maſter would
accuſe the Yahoos of thoſe unnatural appetites in
both ſexes, ſo common among us.
But nature, it
feems, hath not been ſo expert a ſchool. miſtreſs ;
and theſe politer pleaſures are entirely the produc-
tions of art and reaſon on our fide of the globe.
tot
did 1 C 0 3
CH A PA
H2O
1910oC
306
A Voyage to the HOUYHNUNMS.
C H A P.
VIII.
4:32)
The author relates ſeveral particulars of the Yahoos,
The great virtues of the Houyhnhnms. The e
ducation and exerciſe of their youth. Their
gen.
eral «fembly.
.
AS
S I ought to have underſtood human nature
much better than I ſuppoſed it poflible for
my maſter to do, ſo it was eaſy to apply the cha.
racter he gave of the Yahoos to myſelf and my com.
trymen, and I believed I could yet mike farther
diſcoveries from my own obſervation. I therefore of.
ten begged his Honour to let me go among
the
herds of the Yahoos in the neighbourhood, to which
he always very graciouſly conſented, being perfect.
ly convinced, that the hatred I bore thoſe brutes
would never ſuffer me to be corrupted by them;
and his Honour ordered one of his ſervants, a
(trong forrel nag, very honeſt and good-natured, to
be my guard, without whoſe protection I durſt not
undertake ſuch adventures. For I have already
told the reader, how much I was peſtered by thoſe
odious animals upon my firſt arrival. And I after
wards failed very narrowly three or four times of
falling into their clutches, when I happened to
ſtray at any diſtance without my hanger. And I
have reaſon to believe they had ſome imagination
that I was of their own ſpecies, which I often al.
liſted myſelf by ſtripping up my ſleeves, and ſhew-
ing my naked arms and breaſts in their ſight, when
my protector was with me, At which times they
would approach as near as they durſt, and imitate
my actions after the manner of monkies, but ever
with great ſigns of hatred; as a tame jack-daw
with
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 307
with cap and ſtocking is always perſecuted by the
wild ones when he happens to be got among
them,
They are prodigiouſly nimble from their infan.
cy: However, I once caught a young male of three
years old, and endeavoured by all marks of tender-
neſs to make it quiet ; but the little imp fell a
ſqualling, and ſcratching, and biting with ſuch vio.
lence, that I was forced to let it go ; and it was
high time, for a whole troop of old ones came a.
bout us at the noiſe ; but finding the cub was ſafe,
(for away it ran), and my ſorrel nag being by,
they durft not venture rear us.
I obſerved the
young animal's fleſh to fmell very rank, and the
ſtink was ſomewhat between a weaſel and a fox,
but much möre diſagreeable, I forgot another
circumſtance (and perhaps I might have the read.
er's pardon if it were wholly omitted) that while
I held the odious vermin in my hands, it voided its
filthy excrements, of a yellow liquid ſubſtance, all
over my cloaths ; but by good fortune there was
a ſmall brook hard by, where I waſhed myſelf, as
clean as I could ; although I durſt not come into
my maſter's preſence until I were ſufficiently aired,
By what I could diſcover, the Yahoos appear to
be the moſt unteachable of all animals : their capa.
cities never reaching higher than to draw or carry
burthens, Yet I am-of opinion, this defe&t ariſeth
chiefly from a perverſe, reſtive diſpoſition. For
are cunning, malicious, treacherous, and re.
vengeful. They are ſtrong and hardy, but of a
cowardly ſpirit, and by conſequence inſolent, ab.
ject, and cruel. It is obſerved, that the red-haired
of both ſexes are more libidinous and miſchievous
than the reſt, whom yet they much exceed in
Arength and activity.
Houyhnkoms keep the Yahoos for preſent uſe, in
hurs
they
308
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS,
Yahoo in every limb and feature, lince the females
huts not far from the houſe ; but the reſt are ſent
abroad to certain fields, where they dig up roots,
eat ſeveral kinds of herbs, and ſearch about for
carrion, or ſometimes catch weaſels and luhimuhs
(a ſort of wild rat) which they greedily devour.
Nature hath taught them to dig deep holes with
their nails, on the fide of a riſing ground, wherein
they lie by themſelves: Only the kennels of the
femalesare larger, ſufficient to hold two or three cubs.
They ſwim from their infancy like frogs, and
are able to continue long under water, where they
often take fiſh, which the females carry home
to their young. And, upon this occaſion, I hope
the reader will pardon my relating an odd adventure,
Being one day abroad with my protector, the
forrel nag, and the weather exceeding hot, I in.
treated him to let me bathe in a river that was
near. He conſented, and I immediately ſtripped
myſelf ſtark naked, and went down foftly unto the
ſtream. It happened that a young female Yahoo,
ſtanding behind a bank, ſaw the whole proceeding,
and, enflamed by deſire, as the forrel nag and
I conjectured, came running with all ſpeed, and
leaped into the water within five yards of the
place where I bathed. I was never in my life lo
terribly frighted ; the nug was grazing at ſome
diſtance, and not ſuſpecting any harm. She em:
braced me after a moft fulſome manner : I roared
as loud as I could, and the nag came galloping to-
wards me : whereupon ſhe quitted her graſp with
the utmoſt reluctancy, and leaped upon the oppo-
Site bank, where ſhe ſtood gazing and howling all
the time I was putting on my cloaths.
This was a matter of diverſion to my maſter
and his family, as well as mortification to myſelf.
For now I could no longer deny that I was a real
had
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
309
had a natural propenſity to me, as one of their own
ſpecies : Neither was the hair of this brute of a red
colour (which might have been fome excuſe for an
appetite a little irregular) but black as a floe, and her
countenance did not make an appearance altoge.
ther fo hideous as the reſt of her kind : For I
think ſhe could not be above eleven years old.
Having lived three years in this country, the
reader I fuppoſe will expect that I ſhould, like o.
ther travellers, give him ſome account of the man-
ners and cuſtoms of its inhabitants, which it was
indeed my principal ftudy to learn. wacha
As thefe noble Houyhnhnms are endowed by na.
ture with a general diſpoſition to all virtues, and
have no conceptions or ideas of what is evil in a
rational creature ; ſo their grand maxim is to cul-
tivate reaſon, and to be wholly governed by it.
Neither is reaſon among them a point problematie
cal, as withu s, where men can argue with plauſi.
bility on both ſides of a queſtion; but ſtrikes you
with immediate conviction ; as it muſt needs do,
where it is not mingled, obfcured, or diſcoloured,
by paſſion and intereſt. I remember it was with
extreine difficulty, that I could bring my maſter to
underſtand the meaning of the word opinion, or
how
a point could be diſputable; becauſe reaſon
taught us to affirm or deny only where we are cer-
tain ; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do ei-
ther. So that controverſies, wranglings, diſputes,
and poſitiveneſs, in falſe or dubious propoſitions,
are evils unkown among the Houyhnhnms. In the
like manner, when I uſed to explain to him our ſe-
veral ſyſtems of natural philoſophy, he would laugh,
that a creature pretending to reaſon, ſhould value
itfelf upon the knowledge of other people's conjec-
tures, and in things where that knowledge, if it
were certain, could be of no uſe. Wherein he agreed
entirely
319
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
entirely with the ſentiments of Socrates, as Plato
delivers them ; which I mention as the highest
honour I can do to that prince of philoſophers. I
have often ſince reflected, what deſtruction ſuch a
doctrine would make in the libraries of Europe ;
and how many paths to fame would be then thuc
up in the learned world.
Friendſhip and benevolence are the two principal
virtues among the Houy hnhnms; and theſe are not
confined to particular objects, but univerſal to the
whole race. For a ſtranger, from the remoteft part,
is equally treated with the neareſt neighbour ; and
wherever he goes, looks upon himſelf as at home.
They preſerve decency and civility in the higheſt
degrees, but are altogether ignorant of ceremony.
They have no fondneſs for their colts or foals, but
the care they take in educating them proceedeth
entirely from the dictates of reaſon. And I obfer.
yed my maſter to ſhew the fame affection to his
neighbour's iſlue that he had for his own. They
will have it, that nature teaches them to love the
whole ſpecies; and it is reaſon only that maketh a
diftinction of perſons, where there is a ſuperior de.
gree of virtue.
When the matron Houyhnhnms have produced
one of each. ſex, they no longer accompany with
their conſorts, except they loie one of their iſſue
by ſome caſualty, which very ſeldom happens : But
in ſuch a caſe they meet again; or when the like
accident befals a perſon whoſe wife is paſt bearing,
fome other couple beſtow him one of their own
colts, and then go together agoin until the mother
is pregnant. This caution is neceſſary to prevent
the country from being over. burthened with num.
bers. But the race of inferior Houyhnhnms, bred
up to be ſervants, is not ſo ſtrictly limited up-
on this article ; theſe are allowed to
produce
three
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
310
tbree of each ſex to be domeftics in the noble fami-
lics.
In their marriages they are exactly careful to
chuſe ſuch colours as will not make any diſagreea-
ble mixture in the breed. Strength is chiefly vaiu-
ed in the male, and comelineſs in the feinale : Not
upon the account of love, but to preferve the race
from degenerating; for where a female happens to
excel in ſtrength, a conſort is choſen with regard
to comelinefs.
Courtſhips, love, preſents, jointures, ſettlements,
have no place in their thoughts, or terms where.
by to expreſs them in their language. The young
couple meet, and are joined, merely becauſe it is
the determination of their parents and friends : It
is what they fee done every day, and they look u.
pon it as one of the neceſſary actions of a reaſon-
able being. But the violation of marriage, or any
other unchaftity, was never heard of: And the
married pair paſs their lives with the ſame friend-
ſhip, and mutual benevolence, that they bear to
all others of the fame fpecies who come in their
way ; without jealouſy, fondneſs, quarrelling, or
diſcontent,
In educating the youth of both ſexes, their me.
thod is admirable, and highly deſerveth our imita-
tion. Theſe are not ſuffered to taſte a grain of oats,
except upon certain days, till eighteen years old;
nor milk, but very rarely; and in ſummer they
graze two hours in the morning, and as many in
evening, which their parents likewiſe obſerve ; but
the ſervants are not allowed above half that time,
and a great part of their graſs is brought home,
which they eat at the moſt convenient hours, when
they can be beſt fpared froni work.
Temperance, induſtry, exerciſe, and cleanlineſs,
are the leſſons equally enjoined to the young ones
of
312
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
of both ſexes : And my maſter thought it monſ.
trous in us to give the females a different kind of
education from the males, except in ſome articles
of domeſtic management; whereby, as he truly ob-
ſerved, one half of our natives were good for no.
thing but bringing children into the world : And
to truſt the care of our children to ſuch uſeleſs ani.
mals, he ſaid, was yet a greater inſtance of brutality.
But the Houyhnhnms train up their youth to
firength, ſpeed, and hardineſs, by exerciſing them
in running races up and down ſteep hills, and over
hard ſtony grounds; and when they are all in a
ſweat, they are ordered to leap, over head and ears,
into a pond or river. Four times a year the youth
of a certain diſtrict meet, to ſhew their proficiency
in running and leaping, and other feats of ſtrength
and agility ; i where the victor is rewarded with a
ſong in his or her praiſe. On this feſtival, the fer-
vants drive a herd of Yahoos into the field, laden
with hay, and oats, and milk, for repaſt to the
Houyhnhnms ; after which theſe brutes are imme.
diately driven back again, for fear of being noiſome
to the aſſembly.
Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there
is a repreſentative council of the whole nation,
which meets in a plain about twenty miles from our
houſe, and continueth about five or fix days. Here
they inquire into the ſtate and condition of the fe-
veral diilriets ; whether they abound, or be defici-
ent in hay or cats, or cows or Yahoos ? And where-
ver there is any want (which is but ſeldom) it is
immediately ſupplied by unanimous conſent and con-
tribution. Here likewiſe the regulation of child.
ren is ſettled : As for inſtance, if a Houyhnhnm
hath two males, he changeth one of them with ano-
ther that hath two females ; and when a child hath
been loft by any caſualty, where the mother is paft
breeding
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
313
breeding, it is determined what family in the diſtrict
fhall breed another to ſupply the loſs,
CH A P,
IX.
A grand debate at the general aſſembly of the Hou.
yhnhnms, and how it was determined. The learn.
ing of the Houy hnhnms. Their buildings. Their
nianner of burials. The defectiveneſs of their lan-
guage.
0:
NE of theſe grand afſemblies was held in
my time, about three months before my de-
parture, whether my maſter went as the repreſenta-
tive of our diſtrict. In this council was reſumed
their old debate, and indeed the only debate that
ever happened in their country ; whereof my maſt.
er, after his return, gave me a very particular ac.
count.my
The queſtion to be debated was, Whether the
raboos ſhould be exterminated from the face of the
earth? One of the members for the affirmative of.
fered ſeveral arguments of ſtrength and weight;
alledging, that as the rahoos were the moft filthy,
noiſome, and defornied animal which nature ever
produced, ſo they were the moſt relive and indo-
cible, miſchievous and malicious'; They would pri-
vately fuck the teats of the Houyhnhnms cows; kill
and devour their cats, trample down their oats and
graſs, if they were not continually watched, and
commit a thouſand other extravaganciesHe took
notice of a general tradition, that rahoes had not
been always in their country ; but that, many ages
ago, two of theſe brutes appeared together upon a
mountain ; whether produced by the heat of the fun,
corrupted mud and ſlime, or from the oeze and
D D
froth
and
314
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
froth of the ſea, was never known : That theſe ra:
hoos engendered, and their brood in a (hort time
grew ſo numerous as to over.run and infeft the
whole nation : That the Houyhnhnms, to get rid
of this evil, made a general hunting, and at Taft in.
cloſed the whole herd; and deſtroying the elder,
every Houyhnham kept two young ones in a ken.
nel, and brought them to ſuch a degree of tameneſs,
as an animal ſo ſavage by nature can be capable of
acquiring; uſing them for draught and carriage:
That there ſeemed to be much truth in this tradi.
tion, and that thoſe creatures could not be Y]nhni.
amſhy (or Aborogines of the land) becauſe of the vi.
olent hatred the Houyhnhnms, as well as all other
animals, bore them ; which, although their evil diſ-
poſition ſufficiently deſerved, could never have ar-
rived at ſo high a degree, if they had been Abori.
gines; or elſe they would have long ſince been root-
ed out : That the inhabitants, taking a fancy to uſe
the ſervice of the Yahoos, had very imprudently
neglected to cultivate the breed of aſes, which are
a comely animal, eaſily kept, more tame and orderly,
without any offenſive ſmell, ſtrong enough for la-
bour, although they yield to the other in agility of
body; and, if their braying be no agreeable ſound,
it is far preferable to the horrible howlings of the
Taboos.
Several others declared their fentiments to the
fame purpoſe, when my maſter propoſed an expedi-
ent to the aſſembly, whereof he had indeed borrow.
ed the hint from me. He approved of the tradition
mentioned by the honourable member who fpoke be-
fore; and affirmed, that the two Yahoos, faid to be
firſt ſeen aniong them, had been driven thither O-
ver the fea: That coming to land, and being for-
faken by their companions, they retired to the
mountains, and, degenerating by degrees, became,
& Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
315
in proceſs of time, much more ſavage than thoſe of
their own ſpecies in the country from whence theſe
two originals came. The reaſon of this afler
tion was, that he had now in his poffefſion a cer.
tain wonderful Yahoo (meaning myſelf) which moſt
of them had heard of, and many of them had ſeen.
He then related to them how he firſt found me :
That my body was all covered with an artificial
compofure of the ſkins and hairs of other animals :
That I ſpoke in a language of my own, and had
thoroughly learned theirs: That I had related to
him the accidents which brought me thither: That,
when he ſaw me without my covering, I was an
exact Yahoo in every part, only of a whiter colour,
leſs hairy, and with ſhorter claws. He added, how
I had endeavoured to perfuade hin, that, in my
own and other countries, the Yahoos acted as the
governing, rational animal, and held the Houy-
hnhnms in ſervitude : Tbat he obſerved in me all
the qualities of a Yahoo, only a little more civilized
by ſome tin&ture of reaſon ; which, however, was
in a degree as far inferior to the Houyhnhnni race,
as the raboos of their country were to me : That,
among other things, I mentioned a cuſtom we had,
of cafirating Houy hnhnms when they were young,
in order to render them tame; that the operation
was cafy and ſafe; that it was no ſhame to learn
wiſdom from brutes, as induftry is taught by the
ant, and building by the ſwallow (for ſo I tranſlate
the word lyhannh, although it be a much larger
fowl:) That this invention might be practiſed up-
on the younger Yahoos-here, which, beſides ren-
dering them tractable and fitter for uſe, would in
age
put an end to the whole fpecies, without deſtroy-
ing life: That in the mean time the Houy hnhnms
ſhould be exhorted to cultivate the breed of aſſes,
which as they are in all reſpects nicre valuable
D d 2
brutes
316
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
brutes, ſo they have this advantage, to be fit for
ſervice at five years old, which the others are not
till twelve. .
This was all my maſter thought fit to tell me at
that time, of what paſſed in the grand council. But
he was pleaſed to conceal one particular, which re.
lated perſonally to myſelf, whereof I ſoon felt the
unhappy effect, as the reader will know in its pro-
per place, and from whence I date all the ſucceed.
ing misfortunes of my life.
The Houyhnhoms have no letters, and conſe-
quently their knowledge is all traditional. But there
happening few events of any moment among a peo-
ple to well united, naturally diſpoſed to every vir.
tue, wholly governed by reaſon, and cut off from
all commerce with other nations; the hiſtorical
part is eaſily preſerved without burthening their
meinories, I have already obſerved, that they are
fubje&t to no diſeaſes, and therefore can have no
need of phyſicians. However, they have excellent
medicines, compoſed of herbs, to cure accidental
bruiſes and cuts in the paſtern or frog of the foot
by the ſharp ftones, as well as other maims and
hurts in the ſeveral parts of the body.
They calculate the year by the revolution of the
fun and the moon, but uſe no ſubdiviſions into
weeks. They are well enough acquainted with the
motions of thoſe two luminaries, and underſtand
the na-ure of eclipſes: and this is the utmoſt pro•
greſs of their aſtronomy.
In poetry they muſt be allowed to excel all other
mortals; wherein the juftneſs of their fimiles, and
the minuteneſs as well as exactneſs of their deſcrip.
tions, are indeed inimitable. Their verſes abound
very much in both of theſe ; and uſually contain
either ſome exalted notions of friendthip and bene-
volence, or the praiſes of thoſe who were victors
1 Voyage to the HOUY NHNMS.
317
in races and other bodily exerciſes. Their build.
ings, although very rude and ſimple, are not in-
convenient, but well contrived to defend them
from all injuries of cold and heat. They have a
kind of tree, which at forty years old looſens in the
root, and falls with the firſt ſtorm ; it grows very
ſtraight, and being pointed like ſtakes, with a ſharp
ftone (for the Houyhnhnmas know not the uſe of
iron) they ſtick them erect in the ground about ten
inches aſunder, and then weave it in oat ftraw, or
ſometimes wattles betwixt them. The roof is made
after the fame manner, and ſo are the doors.
The Houyhnhnms uſe the hollow part, between
the paſtern and the hoof, of their fore-feet, as we
do our hands, and this with greater dexterity than
I could at firſt imagine. I have ſeen a white mare
of our family thread a needle (which I lent her on
purpofe) with that joint. They milk their cows, reap
their oats, and do all the work which requires
hands in the ſame manner. They liave a kind of
hard flints, which, by grinding againſt their ſtones,
they form into inſtruments, that ſerve inſtead of
wedges, axes, and hammers. With tools made
of theſe flints, they likewiſe cut their hay and
reap their oats, which there grow naturally in fe-
veral fields. The Yahoos draw home the ſhaves in
carriages, and the ſervants tread them in certain
covered huts to get out the grain, which is kept in
ftores, They make a rude kind of earthen and
wooden veſſels, and bake the former in the ſun,
If they can avoid caſualties, they die only of ok!
age, and are buried in the obfcureſt places that can
be found, their friends and relations expreſſing
neither
joy nor grief at their departure ; nor does
the dying perſon diſcover the leaſt regret that he
is leaving the world, any more than if he were up-
on returning home from a viſit to one of his neigh-
bours.
Dd3
318
A Voyage to the HOUXHNHNMS.
bours. I remember my maſter having once made an
appointment with a friend and his family to come
to his houſe upon fome affairs of importance, on
the day fixed the miſtreſs and her two children
came very late. She made two excuſes, firſt for
her huſband, who, as ſhe ſaid, happened that very
morning to Ihnurunh. The word is ſtrongly ex.
preſſive in their language, but not ealily rendered
into Engliſh ; it ſignifies to retire to bis firſt mother.
Her excuſe for not coming ſooner was, that her
huſband dying late in the morning, ſhe was a good
while conſulting her ſervants about a convenient
place where his body ſhould be laid ; and I obſer-
ved the behaved herfelf at our houſe as chearfully
as the reſt : She died about three months after.
They live generally to ſeventy, or ſeventy-five
years, very ſeldom to four.ſcore : Some weeks be.
fore their death they feel a gradual decay, but
without pain. During this time they are much vi.
fited by their friends, becauſe they cannot go a.
broad with their uſual eaſe and ſatisfaction. How.
ever, about ten days before their death, which they
ſeldom fail in computing, they return the viſits that
have been made them by thoſe who are neareſt in
the neighbourhood, being carried in a convenient
fledge drawn by ľahoos; which vehicle they ufe,
not only upon this occaſion, but when they grow
old, upon long journies, or when they are lamed
by accident. And therefore, when the dying Houy,
hahnms return thoſe viſits, they take a folemn leave
of their friends, as if they were going to ſome re.
mote part of the country, where they deſigned to
paſs the reſt of their lives.
I know not whether it may be worth obſerving,
that the Houybnhnms have no word in their lan-
guage to expreſs any thing that is evil, except what
they borrow from the deformities or íll qualities of
che
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 379
the Yahoos. Thus they denote the folly of a fer-
vant, an omiſſion of a child, a ſtone that cuts their
feet, a continuance of foul ar unfeaſonable wea.
ther, and the like, by adding to each the epithet of
Yahoo : For inſtance, hhnm Yahoo, whnaholm Yahoo. ;
ynlhmndwihlma Yahoo ; and an ill.contrived houſe:
ynholmbnmr oblnw Yahoo,
I could with great pleaſure enlarge farther upon
the manners and virtues of this excellent people;
but intending in a ſhort time to publiſh a volume
by itſelf expreſsly upon thatſſubject, I refer the read.
er thither ; and, in the mean time, proceed 10 re.
late my own ſad cataſtrophe.
C H A P. X.
The author's æconomy, and happy life, among the
Houyhnhnms. His great improvement in virtue,
by converſing with them. Their converſations,
The author hath notice given him by his maſter,
that he muſt depart from the country. He falls
into a fwoon for grief, but fubmits. He contrives
and finiſhes a canoe by the help of a fellow ſervant,
and puts to ſea at a venture.
HAD ſettled my little economy to my own
I
heart's content. My maſter had ordered a
room to be made for me after their manner, about
fix yards from the houſe ; the ſides and floors of
which I plaiſtered with clay, and covered with
rulh mats of my own contriving. I had beaten
hemp, which there grows wild, and made of it a
ſort of tiking : This I filled with the feathers of
ſeveral birds I had taken with ſpringes made of
Yahoos hairs, and were excellent food. I had work.
ed two chairs with my knife, the ſorrel nag help-
ing
320 A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS,
made my-
ing me in the groſſer and more laborious part.
When my cloaths were worn to rags, I made
felf others with the Akins of rabbits, and of a cer.
tain beautiful animal about the ſame ſize, called
nnubnoh, the ſkin of which is covered with a fine
down. Of the fe I alſo made very tolerable ſtock.
ings. I ſoaled my ſhoes with wood, which I cut
from a tree, and fitted to the upper. leather;
and when this was worn out, 1 ſupplied it with the
fkins of Yahoos dried in the ſun. I often got ho.
ney out of hollow trees, which I mingled with wa.
ter, or eat with my bread. No man could more
verify the truth of theſe two maxims, That nature
is very eaſily ſatified; and, That neceſſity is the mo.
ther of inventions. Tenjoyed perfe& health of bo-
dy, and tranquillity of mind : I did not feel the
treachery or inconſtancy of a friend, nor the in-
juries of a ſecret of open enemy. I lad ro oc-
caſion of bribing, flattering, or pimping, to pro-
cure the favour of any great man, or of his minion:
I wanted no defence againſt fraud or oppreffion :
Here was neither phyſician
to deſtroy my body, nor
lawyer to ruin my fortune ; no informer to watch
my words and aictons, or forge accuſations againſt
me for hire : Here were no gibers, cenfurers, back.
biters, pick pockets, highway men, houſe breakers,
attornies, bawds, buffoons, garneſters, politicians,
wirs, ſplenerios, tedious talkers, controvertiſts, ra-
viſhers, murderers, robbers, virtuoſos ; no leaders
or followers of party and faction ; no encouragers
to vice by ſeducement or examples; no dungeon,
axés, gibbets, whipping poſts, or pillories ; no cheat-
ing fhopkeepers or mechanics ; no pride, vanity, or
affectation ; no fops, bullies, drunkards, ſtrolling
whores, or poxes ; no ranting, lewd, expenſive
wives ; no ftupid, proud pedants ; no importunate,
over bearing, quarrelſome, noiſy, roaring, ernply,
conceited,
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS,
321
conceited, ſwearing companions : No ſcoundrels
raiſed from the duſt upon the merit of their vices,
or nobility thrown into it on account of their virtues;
no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing-maſters.
I had the favour of being admitted to ſeveral
Houyhnhorns, who came to viſit or dine with my
maſter; where his Honour graciouſly ſuffered me
to wait in the room, and listen to their diſcourſe.
Both he and his company would often deſcend to
aſk me queſtions, and receive my anſwers. I had
alſo ſometimes the honour of actending my maſter
in his viſits to others. I never preſumed to ſpeak,
except in anſwer to a queſtion; and then I did it
with inward regret, becauſe it was a loſs of ſo much
time for improving myſelf : But I was infinitely
delighted with the ſtation of an humble auditor in
ſuch converſations, where nothing paſſed but what
was uſeful, expreſſed in the feweſt and moſt inlig-
nificant words : Where (as I have already faid) the
greateſt decency was obſerved, without the leaſt
degree of ceremony ; where no perſon ſpoke, with.
out being pleaſed himſelf, and pleaſing his compa-
nions ; where there was no interruption, tediouſ
neſs, heat, or difference of ſentiments. They have
a notion, that, when people are met together, a
ſhort filence doth much improve converſation :
This I found to be true ; for during thoſe little in.
termiffions of talk, new ideas would ariſe in their
minds, which very much enlivened the diſcourſe.
Their ſubjects are generally on friend/hip and be.
nevolence, on order and economy ; ſometimes up-
on the vilible operations of nature, or ancient tra-
ditions ; upon the bounds and limits of virtue ;
upon the uncrring rules of reafon, or upon fome
determinations to be taken at the next great aſ.
ſembly; and often upon the various excellencies
of poetry. I may add, without vanity, that my
preſence
322 A Voyage to the HovyHNHNMS.
preſence often gave them fuflicient matter for dif
courſe, becauſe it afforded my maſter an occaſion
of letting his friends into the hiflory of me and
my country, upon which they were all pleaſed to
de feant, in a manner not very advantageous to
human kind : And for that reaſon I ſhall not re.
peat what they ſaid ; only I may be allowed to ob-
ferve, that his Honour, to my great admiration,
appeared to underſtand the nature of raboos much
better than iny felf. He went through all our vi.
ces and follies, and diſcovered many which I had
never mentioned to him, by only ſuppoſing what
qualities a Yahoo of their country, with a ſmall pro-
portion of reaſon, might be capable of exerting:
and concluded, with too much probability, how
vile, as well as miſerable, ſuch a creature muſt be.
I freely confeſs, that all the little knowledge I
have of any value, was required by the lectures I
received from my mailer, and from hearing the diſa
courſes of him and his friends; to which I fhould
be prouder to liſten, than to di&tate to the greateſt
and wifeft affembly in Europe. I admired the
ſtrength, comelineſs, and ſpeed of the inhabitants;
and ſuch a conſtellation of virque, in ſuch amiable
perfons, produced in me the higheſt veneration.
At firſt indeed I did not feel that natural awe,
which the raboos, and all other animals, bear to-
wards them ; but it grew upon me by degrees
much ſooner than I invagined, and was mingled with
areſpectful love and gratitude, that they would con-
deſcend to diſtinguiſh me from the refe of my ſpecies.
When I thought of my fainily, my friends, my
countrymen, or human race in general, I confider:
ed them, as they really were, Yaboos in fhape and
diſpoſition, perhaps a little more civilized, and qua-
lified with the gift of ſpeech ; but making no other
ufe of reaſon, than to improve and multiply thoſe
Vices,
A Vayage to the HOUYINHNMS.
323
vices, whereof their brethren in this country had
only the ſhare that nature alloned them, When I
happened to behold the refledion of my owin form
in a lake or a fountain, I turned a way my face in
horror and deteſtation of my felf, and could better
endure the ſight of a combien l'aboj, than of my
own perſon. By converfing with the Houyhohnms,
and looking upon them with delighar, I fell to imi.
tate their gait and geſture, which is now grown in-
to an habit, and my friends often tell me in a blunt
way, that I trot like a borſe ; which however I take
for a great compliment. Neither thall { diſowıı,
that in ſpeaking Lain apt to fall into the voice
and manner of the Holyhohnins, and lıçar myſelf
ridiculed on that account without the leaſt mortifi.
Cation.
In the midlt of all this happineſs, and when
I locked upon myſelf to be fully feculed for life,
my maſter jent for me one morning a Tirtle earli.
er than his uſual Jieur hobferved by his coante.
nance, that he was in fonteperistexty, and at 2
loſs, now to begin what he had to Ipeak. After
a ſhort Glence, he told me, be did not know how
I would take what he was going to ſay. That in
the lalt general aflembly, when the affair of the
Yaboos was entered upon, the repreſentatives had
taken offence at his keeping a Yahon (meaning my.
ſelf) in his family, ruore like a Houyhnlinm than a
brute anipial: That he was known frequently to
converſe with me as if he could receive ſome ad.
vantage or pleaſure in my company: That ſuch a
practice was not agreeable to realon or nature, or
a thing ever heard of before among them. The
aſſembly did therefore exhort hins, either to employ
me like the reſt of my fpecies, or command me to
Swim back to the place from whence I came : That
the firſt of theſe expedients was utterly rejected by
all
324 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
all the Houybnnnms who had ever ſeen me at
his houſe or their own; for they alledged, that be.
cauſe I had ſome rudiments of reaſon, added
to the natural pravity of thoſe animals, it was
to be feared I might be able to ſeduce them into
the woody and . niountainous parts of the country,
and bring them in troops by night to deſtroy the
Houyhnhnms cattle, as being naturally of the ra.
venous kind, and averſe from labour,
My maſter added, that he was daily preſſed by
the Houynhnhms of the neighbourhood, to have
the aſſembly's exhortation executed, which he could
not put off much longer. He doubted it would
be im-
poffible for me to ſwim to another country; and
therefore wilhed I would contrive fome ſort of ve.
hicle, reſembling thoſe I had deſcribed to him, that
might carry me on the ſea ; in which work I ſhould
have the aſſiſtance of his own ſervants, as well as
thoſe of his neighbours. He concluded, that for
his own part he could have been content to keep
me in his ſervice as long as I lived ; becauſe he
found I had cured myſelf of ſome bad habits and
diſpoſitions, by endeavouring, as far as my inferior
nature was capable, to imitate the Houynhnhms.
I ſhould here obſerve to the reader, that a decree
of the general aſſembly in this country is expreſfed
by the word hnhloayn, which ſignifies an exhortation
as near as I can render it ; for they have no con-
ception how a rational creature can be compelled,
but only adviſed, or exhorted; becauſe no perſon
can diſobey reaſon, without giving up his claim to
be a rational creature.
• I was ſtruck with the utmoſt grief and deſpair at
my maſter's diſcourſe ; and being unable to ſupport
the agonies I was under, I fell into a ſwoon at his
feet. When I came to myſelf, he told me, that he
concluded I had been dead (for theſe people are
ſubjea
A Voyage to the HOUYUNINMS.
325
ſubjedl to no ſuch imbecillities of nature,) I anſwer-
ed, in a faint voice, that death would have been too
great an happineſs: That altliough I could not blame
the aſſembly's exhartation, or the urgency of his
friends ; yet, in my werk and corrupt judgment,
I thought it might conſiſt with reaſon to have been
leſs rigoreus: That I could not ſwim a league,
and
probably the neareft land to theirs might be diſtant
above an hundred : That many materials, neceſſary
for making * fiuallı veílel to carry me off, were
wholly wanting in this country - which however I
would attempt ip obediei.ee and gratitude to his
Honour, although I concluded the thing to be im-
poſſible, and therefore looked on myſelf as already
devoted to deftru&ion; That the certain proſpect
of an unnatural devil was the leaſt of my evils :
for ſuppaſing 1 thoulil eftispe with life by ſome
Itrange adventure, how could I think, with temper,
of palling my days among 7 ahgar, and relapfing in.
to my old corruptians, for want of examples to
Jead and keep me within the paths of virtue: That
I knew too well-upon what folid reaſons all the
dererminations of the wiſe Heughuhnms were found-
ed, not to be ſhaken by arguments of mine, a miſer-
able Yahoo : And therefore, after preſenting him
with my humble thanks
for the off r of his fervants
alliſtance in making a veffet, and deliring a reaſona-
ble time for fo difficul: a work I told him I would
Endeavour to preſerve a wretched being ; and if e-
ver I returned to England, was not without hopes
of being aleful to my owri ſpecies, by cclebrating
the praiſes of the renowned Honyhnhnms, and pro-
poſing their virtues to the imitation of mankind.
My mafter, in a few words, made me a very gra-
cious reply, allowed me the ſpace of two months to
my boat ; and ordered the forrel nag, my fel.
low.ſervant, (for ſo at this diſtance I may preſume
finiſh
Ee
to
326
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
and I likewiſe provided myſelf with four paddles.
to call him,) to follow my inſtructions ; becauſe I
told my maſter, that his help would be ſufficient, and
I knew he had a tenderneſs for me.
In his company, my firſt buſineſs was to go to
that part of the coaſt where my rebellious crew
had ordered me to be ſet on ſhore. I got upon a
height, and looking on every ſide into the ſea, fan.
cied I faw a ſmall iſland towards the north-eaft. I
took out my pocker glaſs, and could then clearly
diſtinguiſh it about five leagues off, as I computed;
but it appeared to the forrel nag to be only a blue
cloud : For as he had no conception of any country
beſide his own, ſo he could not be as expert in dil
tinguiſhing remote objects at ſea, as we who ſo much
converſe in that element.
After I had diſcovered this iſland, I conſidered
no farther ; but reſolved it fhould, if poſſible, be
the firft place of my baniſhment, leaving the con-
fequence to fortune.
I returned home, and conſulting with the forrel
nag, we went into a copfe at fome diſtance, where
I with my knife, and he with a fharp flint faftened
very artificially after their manner to a wooden han
dle, cut down ſeveral oak wattles, about the chick
neſs of a walking ſtaff, and ſome larger pieces. But
I ſhall not trouble the reader with a particular deſ
cription of my own mechanics : Let it fuffice to ſay,
that in fix weeks time, with the help of the forrel
nag, who performed the parts that required moft la.
bour, I finiſhed a ſort of Indian canoe, but much
larger, covering it with the ſkins of rahoas, well
ſtitched together with hempen threads of my own
making. My fail was likewiſe compoſed of the ſkins
of the fame animal ; but I made uſe of the young.
eſt I could get, the older being too tough and thick;
I laid in a ſtock of boiled fleſh, of rabbits and fowls;
and
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS, 327
and took with me two veſſels, one filled with milk,
and the other with water,
I tried my canoe in a large pond near my maſter's
houſe, and then corrected in it what was amils ;
ftopping all the chinks with raboos tallow, till I
found it ſtaunch, and able to hear me and my freight,
And, when it was as complete as I could poſſibly
make it, I had it drawn on a carriage very gently
by Yahoos to the ſea fide, under the conduct of the
forrel nag, and another ſervant.
When all was ready, and the day came for my
departure, I took leave of niy mafter and lady and
the whole family, mine eyes Howing with tears, and
my heart quite funk with grief. But his Honour,
out of curioſity, and perhaps (f I may ſpeak it with-
out vanity) pirkly out of kindacſs, was deterinined
to ſee me in mný caude ; and got feveral friends to
accompany him, I was forced to wait above an
hour for the ride, and then obferving the wind ve.
ry fortunately bearing towards the iſland to which
lintended to feer my courfe, I took a ſecond leave
of my maſter : But, as I was going to proſtrate my-
lelf to kiſs his hoof, he did me the honour to raiſe
* gently to my niou:h, I am not ignorant how
much I have been tenfured for mentioning this laſt
particular. Defractors are pleaſed to think it im.
probable, that fo illaſtriotis a perſon thould deſcend
to give ſo great a mark of deftinction to a creature
bo inferior as I. Neither have I forgotten how'apt
fome travellers are to boaſt of extraord inary favours
they have received : But if their cenſurers were
better acquainted will the noble and courteous dif.
poſition of the Houylinhons, they would foon
change their opinion.
I paid my relpeeks to the reſt of the Houghnhnms
in his Honour's company : then getting into my ca-
Hoe, I puſhed off from hore.
CHAP
328
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
C H A P.
XI.
I
The author's dangerous voyage. He arrives at New.
Holland, hoping to ſettle there. Is wounded with an
arrow by one of the natives. Is ſeized and curried
by force into a Portugueze ſhip. The great civili.
ties of the captain. The author arrives at England.
Began this deſperate voyage on February 15,
1714:15, at 9 o'clock in the morning. The
wind was very favourable ; however I made uſe at
firkt only of my paddles; but conſidering I ſhould
ſoon be weary, and that the wind -might chop a.
bout, I ventured to ſet up my little fail; and thus,
with the help of the tide, I went at the rate of a
league and a half an hour, as near as I could gueſs,
My maſter and bis friends continued on the ſhore,
till I was almost out of ſight; and I of en heard
the forrel nag (who always loved me) crying out,
hnuy illa nyha majab rahoo, Take care of thy felf,
gentle rahoo.
My delig, was, if poſſible, to diſcover ſome ſmall
iſland, uninhabited, yet ſufficient by my labour to
furnith me with the neceſſaries of life, which I
would have thought a greater happineſs, than to
be firit miniſter in the politeſt court of Europe ;
fo
horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to
live in the ſociety, and under the government, of
Tahoos. For, in ſuch a ſolitude as I deſired, I could
at leaſt enjoy my own thoughts, and refle& with
delight on the virtues of theſe inimitable Houy.
hnhnms, without any opportunity of degenerating
into the vices and corruptions of my own ſpecies,
The reader may remember what I related, when
my crew conſpired againſt me, and confined me to
IDY
A Voyage to the HOVYHNHNMS.
329
my cabbin : How I continued there ſeveral weeks,
without knowing what courſe we took; and when
I was put a-lhore in the long-boat, how the failors
told me, with oaths, whether true or falſe, that
they knew not in what part of the world we were.
However, I did then believe in to be about ten
degrees Southward of the Cape of Good Hope, or
about 45 degrees Southern latitude, as I gathered
from ſome general words I overheard among them,
being I ſuppoſed to the South-Eaſt in their intend.
ed voyage to Madagaſcar. And although this were
but little better than conjeâure, yer I relolved to
ſteer my courſe Ealt ward, hoping to reach the
Souch. Weſt coalt of new-Holland, and perhaps
ſome ſuch iſland as I delited, Iving Weſtward of it..
The wind was full West And by fix in the even.
ing I compued I had gone Laftward at leaſt eigh-
teen leagues, when I pied a very ſmall iſland a.
bout hall a leggere off, which I fon reached. It
was nothing burrock, with one creek naturally
arched by the force of tempelts. Here I put in my
Canoe, and climbing a part of the rock, I could
plainly diſcover land to the Laft, extending from
South to North, Jay all night in my capoe; and
repeating my voyage carly in the morning, 1 ar-
rived in leven hoprs to die South. Last point of
New Holland. This confirmed me in the opinion
Thave long entertained that the maps and charts place
this country at leaſt three degrees more to the Eaſt
than it really is ; which thought I communicated
many years ago to my worthy friend, Mr Herman
Molí, and gave hiin my realons for it, although he
hath rather choſen to follow other authors,
I ſaw no inhabitants in the place where I land.
ed ; and being unarmed, I was afraid of venturing,
far into the country. I found ſome ſhell-fiſh on the
Hore, and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a
fure
L = 3
330 A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
fire, for fear of being diſcovered by the natives. I
continued three days feeding on oyſters and lim-
pets, to ſave my own proviſions; and I fortunate-
ly found a brook of excellent water, which gave
me great relief.
On the fourth day, venturing out early a little
too far, I ſaw twenty or thirty natives, upon a
height not above five hundred yards from me.
They were ſtark naked, men, women, and chil-
dren, round a fire, as I could diſcover by the
ſmoke. One of them fpied me, and gave notice to
the reft ; five of them advanced towards me, lea-
ving the wcmen and children at the fire. I made
what haſte I could to the ſhore, and getting into
my canoe, ſhoved off: The ſavages obſerving my
retreat, ran after me ; and before I could
get
far
enough into the ſea, diſcharged an arrow which
wounded me deeply on the inſide of my left knee,
(I ſhall carry the mark to my grave). I appre-
hended the arrow might be poiſoned, and paddling
out of the reach of their darts, (being a calm day,)
I made a ſhift to ſuck the wound, and dreſs it as
well as I could.
I was at a loſs what to do, for I durſt not re-
turn to the ſame landing. place, but ſtood to the
North, and was forced to paddle; for the wind,
though very gentle, was againſt me blowing North-
Weſt. As I was looking about for a ſecure land-
ing-place, I ſaw a fail to the North North Eaſt,
which appearing every minute more viſible, I was
in ſome doubt whether I ſhould wait for them or
no : But at laft ny deteſtation of the Yahoo race
prevailed; and turning my canoe, I failed and pad-
dled together to the South, and got into the fame
creek from whence I ſet out in the morning, chuſ.
ing rather to truſt myſelf among theſe Barbarians,
than live with European Yahoos. I drew up my
canoc
A Voyage to the HOUXHNHNM S.
335
canoe as cloſe as I could w the fhore, and hid
mmy-
ſelf behind a stone by the liucle bruok, which, as I
have already ſaid, was excellent water.
The lhip came within half a league of this creek,
and ſent out her long boat, with veſſels to take in
freſh water (for the place it ſeems was very well
known); but I did not obferve it till the boat
was almoit on ſhore, and it was too late to ſeek a.
nother hiding-place. The ſeamen, at their land-
ing, obſ. rvcd my canoe, and rummaging it all o.
ver, ealily conjectured that the owner could not be
far off. Four of theju, sell armed, ſearched e.
very cranny and lurking hole, till at laſt they found
me flat on my face belind thic ſtone. They gazod
a wh le, in adiniration at iny strange incouch dreſs:
my coat made of ſkins, thy wooden-foaled ſhoes
and my furré | Stockings from whence however
they concludeid. I was not a narive of the place,
who all go naked, One of the ſeamen, in Portu.
gueze, bid me riſe, and aſked who I was ? I un.
derſtood thar lauzuage very well and geting upon
my feet, fail, I was à not raboa banillied from
the Houyhnhnins, and deſired they would pleaſe to
let me depart. They adaired to hear me anſwer
them in their own tongdie, and lay by my complex.
ion I nruſt be an European but were at a loſs to
know what I meant by Yaboos, and Hoayhnhnms,
and at the ſanie time fell a laughing at my ſtrange
tone in ſpeaking, which reſembled the neighing of
a horſe. I trembled all the wbile betwixt fear and
hatred: I again deſired leave to depart, and was
gently moving to my canoe, but they laid hold
on me, deliring to know what country I was of
whence I came with many other queſtions. I
told them I was born in England, from whence I
came about five years ago, and then their country
and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they
would not treat ideas an enemy, ſince I meant
thema
332
A P'oyage to the HOUYINHNMS.
them no harın, but was a poor Yahoo, ſeeking ſome
defolate place where to paſs the remainder of his
unfortunate life.
When they began to talk, I thought I never
heard or ſaw any thing ſo unnatural ; for it appear.
ed to me as monſtrous, as if a dog or a cow
ſhould ſpeak in England, or a Yahoo in Houy.
hnhnm-land. The honeft Portugueze were equal.
ly amazed at my ſtrange dreſs, and the odd manner
of delivering my words, which however they un.
derſtood very well. They ſpoke to me with great
humanity, and ſaid they were ſure the captain
would carry me gratis to Liſbon, from whence I
might return to my own country: That two of the
ſeamen would go back to the ſhip, inform the cap.
tain of what they had ſeen, and receive his orders;
in the mean time, unleſs I would give my folemn
oath not to fly, they would ſecure me by force. I
thought it beft to comply with their propoſal, They
were very curious to know my ſtory, but I gave
them very little ſatisfaction : And they all conjec-
tured, that my misfortunes had impaired my reaſon.
In two hours the boat, which went loaden with
veſſels of water, returned with the captain's com-
mand to fetch me on board. I fell on my knees,
to preſerve my liberty ; but all was in vain, and
the men having tied me with cords, heaved
me in.
to the boat, from whence I was taken into the ſhip,
and from thence into the captain's cabbin,
His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very
courteous and generous perſon : He entreated me
to give ſome account of myſelf, and deſired to know
what I would eat or drink; ſaid, I ſhould be u.
ſed as well as himſelf, and ſpoke lo inany obliging.
things, that I wondered to find ſuch civilities from a
Yahoo. However, I remained ſilent and fullen ; I
was ready to faint at the very ſmell of him and his
mnen.
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHXMS.
333
men. At laſt 1 deſired ſomething to eat out of my
own canoe ; but he ordered ine a chicken, and ſome
excellent wine, and thien directed that I ſhould be
put to bed in a very clean cabbin. I would not
undreſs myſelf, but lay on the bed-cloathis, and in
half an hour ſtole out wlien I thought the crew
was at dinner, and getting to the ſide of the ſhip,
was going to leap into the ſea, and ſwitn for my
life, rather then continue among rathogs. But one
of the ſeamen preyented me, and having informed
the captain, I was chained to my cabbin,
After dinner, Don Pedró came to me, and de.
fired to know my reaſon for lo d fperate an ar-
tempt ; allured me, he only meant to do me all
the ſervice he was able, and fpoke ſo very nioving-
ly, that at laſt 1 defeeristext to treat him like an ani-
ma! which had (oine Guclé portion of seafon. I
gave him a very ſhort relation of my voyage; of
the conſpracy againit me by my own men: of the
country where they ſet me on ſhore, and of my
five years, refiderace there All which he locked
upon, as il', it were a dream of yilian wherear i
took great offerace ; for I had quite forgot the fa.
culty of lying, lo peculiar to l'annos in all countries
where they preſide, and craiequently the diſpoſi.
tion of ſuſpecting truth in others of their own fpe.
cies. 1 asked him whether in sere the cuſtom in
his country, to ſay the thing which was noi? I al.
ſured him, I had almoll forgotten what he meant
by falſehool, and if I had lived a thouſand years
in Hooyhnhm-land, I thould never have heard a
lie from the nieanett Jervant : That I was altoge.
ther indifferent whether he believed me or no ;
but howerer, in return for his favours, I would
give ſo much allowance to the corruption of his
nature, as to anſwer any objedlicni he would pleaſe
to make, and then he miglit eaſily diſcover the
truth.
The
334 A Voyage to the HOUY NHNM S.
The captain, a wiſe man, after many endeavours
to catch me tripping in ſome part of my ſtory, at laſt
began to have a better opinion of my veracity.
But he added, that ſince I profeſſed ſo inviolable an
attachment to truth, I muſt give him my word and
honour to bear him company in this voyage, with.
out attempting any thing againſt my life, or elſe he
would continue me a priſoner till we arrived at
Liſbon. I gave him the promiſe he required : but
at the ſame time proteſted, that Iwould ſuffer the
greateſt hardlhips, rather than return to live a.
mong Yahoos.
Our voyage paſſed without any conſiderable ac-
cident. In gratitude to the captain, I ſometimes
ſat with him at his earneft requeſt, and ſtrove to
conceal my antipathy againſt human kind, although
it often broke out, which he ſuffered to paſs with-
out obſervation. But the greateſt part of the day
I confined myſelf to my cabbin, to avoid ſeeing any
of the crew. The captain had oftentimes en-
treated me to ſtrip myſelf of my favage dreſs,
and offered to lend me the beſt ſuit of cloaths he
had. This I would not be prevailed on to accept,
abhorring to cover myſelf with any thing that had
been on the back of a Yahoo, I only deſired he
would lend me two clean thirts, which, having
been waſhed ſince he wore them, I believed would
not ſo inuch defile me. Theſe I changed every
fecond day, and waſhed them myſelf.
We arrived at Lilbon, Nov. 5. 1715. At our
landing, the captain forced me to cover myſelf with
his cloak, to prevent the rabble from crouding about
me. I was coriveyed to his own houſe; and at my
earneſt requeſt, he led me up to the higheſt room
backwards. I conjured him to conceal from all per-
fons what I had told him of the Houyhmhnis;
becaufe the leaſt hint of ſuch a fory would
not
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
335
not only draw numbers of people to fee me,
but probably put me in danger of being im.
priſoned, or burnt by the Inquifition. The cap-
tain perſuaded me to accept a fuit of cloaths new-
ly made ; but I would not fuffer the tailor to take
my meaſure ; however, Don Pedro being alınoſt
of my fize, they fitred me well enough. He ac.
courred me with other neceflaries, all new, which
I aired for twenty-four hours, before I would uſe
them.
The captain had no wife, nor above three fer-
vants, none of which were ſuffered to attend at
meals, and his whole deportinent was ſo obliging,
added to every good human underſtanding, that I
really began to tolerate his company. He gained
ſo far upon ne that I véritured to look ont of the
back window. By degrees # was brought into a-
nother room, from whence I peeped into the ſtreet,
but drew any head back in a fright. In a week's
time he ſeduced me down to the door. I found my
terror gradually leffojed, but my hatred and con-
* tempt ſeemed to increaſe. I was at laft bold e.
nough to walk the fireer in his company, bur kept
my noſe well ſtopped with rue, or ſometimes with
tobacco.
In ten days Don Pedro, to whom I had given
fome account of my domeftic affairs, put it upon me
as a matter of honour and conſcience, that I ought
to return to my rative country, and live at home
with my wife and childrení He told me, there was
an Engliſh fhip in the port juft ready to fail, and
he would furniſh me with all things neceſſary. It
would be tedious to repeat his arguments, and my
contradictions. He ſaid it was altogether impoffi-
ble to find ſuch a ſolitary iſland as I had deſired to
live in ; but I might coinmand in my own houſe,
and paſt my time in a manner as recluſe as I plea-
I com.
ſed.
336
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNM S.
I complied at laft, finding I could not do better.
I left L fbon the 24th day of November, in an En.
gliſh merchantman ; but who was the maſter, I ne-
ver inquired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the
fhip, and lent me twenty pounds. He took a kind
leave of me, and embraced me at parting, which I
bore as well as I could. During this laft voyage,
I had no commerce with the maſter, or any of his
men ; but pretending I was ſick, kept cloſe in my
cabbin. On the 5th of December 1715, we caſt
anchor in the Downs
about nine in the morning,
and at three in the afternoon I got ſafe to my houſe
at Rotherhith.
My wife and family received me with great fur-
priſe and joy, becauſe they concluded me certainly
dead; but I muſt freely confeſs the fight of them
filled me only with batred, diſguſt, and contempt:
and the more by reflecting on the near alliance I
had to them. For although, fince ny unfortunate
exile from the Houyhnhnm country, I had compel-
led myſelf to tolerate the fight of Yaboos, and to
converſe with Don Pedro de Mendez, yet my me.
mory and imagination were perpetually filled with
the virtues and ideag of thoſe exalted Houyhnhoms.
And when I began to conſider, that by copulating
with one of the Yahoo-ſpecies I had become a pa-
rent of more, it ftruck me with the utmoſt ſhame,
confuſion, and horror.
As ſoon as I entered the houſe, my wife took me
in her arms, and kiſſed me : At which, having not
been uſed to the touch of that odious animal for fo
many years, I fell into a ſwoon for almoſt an hour.
At the time I am writing, it is five years ſince my
laſt return to England : During the firſt year, I
could not endure my wife or children in my pre-
ſence ; the very ſmell of them was intolerable,
much leſs could I ſuffer them to eat in the ſame
room,
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
337
room. To this hour they dare not preſume to
touch my bread, or drink out of the ſame cup;
neither was I ever able to let one of them take me
by the hand. The firſt money I laid out was to
buy two young ſtone-horſes, which I keep in a good
fable ; and next to them the groom is my greateſt
favourite, for I feel my ſpirits revived by the
ſmell he contracts in the table. My horſes un-
derſtand me tolerably well, I converſe with them
at leaſt four hours every day. They are ſtrangers
to bridle or ſaddle ; they live in great amity with
me, and friendſhip to each orher.
C Η Α Ρ. ΧΙΙ. .
The author's veracity. His deſign in publiſhing this
work. His cenfure of theſe travellers who ſwerve
from the truth, the mutlor dear's himſel from
any ſiniffer ends in writing. An objection anſwer-
ed. The method of planting colonies, His native
country commended. The ripit of the crown na
thoſe countries deſcribed by the author is juſtified.
The difficulty of conquering them. The author
takes his leave of the reader; propoſeth his manner
of living for the future ; gives good advice, and
concluderb.
HUS, gentle render, I have given thee a
faithful hiſtory of my travels for ſixteen
years and above teven months, wherein I have
nor been ſo fludiqus of ornament as of truth. I
could perhaps, like others, have aſtoniſhed thee
with ſtrange improbable cales ; but I rather chuſe
to relate plain matter of fact, in the ſimpleſt man-
per and ftile ; becauſe my principal deſign was to
inform, and not to amuſe thee.
Ff
IC
338
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
It is eaſy for us who travel into remote coun-
tries, which are feldom viſited by Engliſhmen or
other Europeans, to form deſcriptions of wonder.
ful apimals both at fea and land. Whereas a tra.
veller's chief aim ſhould be to make men wiſer
and better, and to improve their minds by the
bad, as well as good example, of what they deli-
ver concerning foreign places,
I could heartily wiſh a law was enacted, that eve-
ry traveller, before he were permited to publish his
voyages, ſhould be obliged to make oath before the
Lord High Chancellor, that all he intended to print
was abſolutely true, to the beſt of his knowledge;
for then the world would no longer be deceived, as
it uſually is ; while ſome writers, to make their
works paſs the better upon the public, impoſe the
groffeft falfities on the unwary reader. I have per-
uled ſeveral books of travels with great delight in
my younger days ; but having ſince gone over moſt
parts of the globe, and been able to contradiet ma-
ny fabulous accounts from my own obſervation, it
hath given me a great diſguſt againſt this part of
reading, and fome indignation to ſee the credulity
of mankind fo impudently abuſed. Therefore, fince
my.acquaintance were pleaſed to think my poor en-
deavours might not be unacceptable to my country,
I impoſed on my ſelf, as a maxim never to be fwerv.
ed from, that I would ſtriëtly adhere to truth : Neith-
er indeed can I be ever under the lealt temptation
to vary from it, while I retain in my mind the lec-
tures and example of my noble mafter, and the other
illuſtrious Houyhnhnms, of whom I had ſo long the
honour to be an humble bearer.
Nec ſi miſerum fortuna Sinonem
Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba finget.
I know very well how little
reputation is to be
got
A Voyage to the HOUYHNENMS.
339
got by writings, which require neither genius nor
learning, vor indeed any other talent, except a good
nie mory, or an exaét journal. I know likewiſe, that
writers
of travels, like dicionary: makers,
arc funk in.
to oblivion by the weight and bulk of thoſe who come
laſt, and therefore lie uppermok. And it is highly
probable, that ſuch-travellers, who thall hereafter
viſit the countries deferibed in this work of mine,"
may, by detecting my errors (if there be any) and
adding many new diſcoveries of their own, juſtle
me out of vogue, and {tand in my place, making the
world forget that ever I was an author. This in-
deed would be too great a mortilication, if I wrote
for fame : But as my fole intention was the public
good, I cannot be altogorher diſappointed. For who
can read of the virtues d have mentioned in the
glorious Hlouyhnhuns, without being alhamed of
his own vices, when he copüders him dlf as the rea-
ſoning, governing animal es his country ?. I thall ſay
nothing of thoſe remote nations where Kaboos pre-
fide; amongſt which the Jeait corrupted are the
Brobding nahians, whole wile maximus is morality
and government it wouldbeanr happineſs to obſerve,
But I forbear defconring farther, and rather leave
the judicious readerita his own remarks and ap-
plications.
I ain not a little plaked, that this work of mine
can poffibly meet with no cenfurers : For what
obje&tions can be made again't a writer, who re-
lares only plain fact, that happened in ſuch diſtant
countries, wliere we have not the least intereſt
with reſpect either to trade or negotiations ? I have
carefully avoided every fault, with which commen
writers of travels are ofteit too juftly charged. Be-
ſides, I meddle nor the leaſt with any party, but
write without paſſion, prejudice, or ill-will, against
any man, or number of men whatſoever. I write
for
340
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
for the nobleſt end, to inform and inſtruct mankind,
over whom I may, without breach of modeſty, pre-
tend to fonie fuperiority, from the advantages I
received by converſing ſo long among the moſt
accomplifhed Houyhnhnms. I write without any
view towards profit or praiſe. I never fuffer a
word to paſs, that may look like reflection, or poſ-
ſibly give the leaſt offence, even to thoſe who are
moſt ready to take it. So that, I hope, I may with
juſtice pronounce myſelf an author perfealy blame.
leſs; againſt whom the tribes of anſwerers, confi-
derers, obſervers, reflecters, detecters, remarkers,
will never be able to find matter for exerciſing their
talents.
I confeſs it was whiſpered to me, that I was bound
in duty, as a ſubject of England, to have given in a
memorial to a Secretary of State at my firſt coming
over ; becauſe, whatever lands are diſcovered by a
fubject belong to the crown. But I doubt whether
our conqueſts, in the countries I treat of, would be
as eaſy as thoſe of Ferdinando Cortez over the na-
ked Americans. The Lilliputians, 1 think, are hard-
ly worth the charge of a fleet and army to reduce
them; and I queſtion whether it might
be prudent
or ſafe to atteinpt the Brobdingnagians ; or whe-
ther an Engliſh army would be much at their eaſe
with the flying iſlınd over their heads. The Houy-
hnhnms indeed appear not to be fo well prepared
for war, a ſcience to which they are perfect ſtran-
gers, and eſpecially againſt miſſive weapons. How
ever, ſuppoſing myſelf to be a miniſter of ſtate, I
could never give my advice for invading thein.
Their prudence, unanimity, unacquaintedneſs with
fear, and their love of their country, would amply
ſupply all defects in the military art, Imagine twen-
ty thouſand of them breaking into the midſt of an
European army, confounding the ranks, overturn-
ing
A Voyage is the HQUY HNHNMS,
341
ing the carriages, battering the warrior's faces into
mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder hoofs;
for they would well deſerve the character given to
Auguſtus : Recalcitrat undique tutus. But inſtead of
propoſals for conquering that inagnanimous nation,
I rather with they were in a capacity, or diſpofi-
tion, to ſend a fufficient number of their inhabi..
tants for civilizing Europe, by teaching us the firſt
principles of honour, juflite, truth, temperance,
public ſpirit; furlitude, chaſtity, friendthip, bene-
volence, and fidelity: Die names of -11 which vir.
dues are fill retained arnong us i molt languages,
and are to be mer with in modern, as well as an
cient authors, which I am able to allert from my
own ſmall reading.
But I had another tes hon, whiich made me leſs
forward to enlarge fils Wizjefly's dominions by my
diſcoveries. To pay the truth. I had conceived a
few ſcruples with relation to the diſtriburive juſtice
of princes upon thofe occaſions. For inſtance, a
crew of pirates are driven by a ſtorm, they know
not whether; at length, á boy diſcovers land from
the top-malt; they go on fhore to rob and plun-
der ; they ſee an harinleke people, are entertained
with kindness; they give abs canntry a new name:
they take formal poffeffion of it for their king; they
fet up a rotten plank öra ftone for a memorial:
they murder two or three doren of the natives,
bring away a couple more by force for a fample,
return boine, and ect their pardon, Here commen-
ces a new dominión, acquired With 1 title by divine
right. Ships are fent with the firſt opportunity; the
natives driven ous or deflröred; their princes tor-
tured to diſcover their gold: a free licence given
to all acts of inbuntaniry and luft; the earflı reek-
ing with the blood of its inhabitants ; and this exe-
cable crew of burchers employed in ſo pious an
expedition,
342 A Poyage to the HourHNHNMS.
expedition, is a modern colony, ſent to convert an
civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people.
But this deſcription, I confeſs, doth by no means
affect the Britiſh nation, who may be an example to
the whole world for their wiſdom, care and juſt.
ice in planting colonies ;, their liberal, endowments
for the advancement of religion and learning ; their
choice of devout and able paſtors to propagate
Chriſtianity ; their caution in ſtocking their pro.
vinces with people of ſober lives and converſations
from this the mother kingdom ; their ſtrict regard
to the diftribution of juſtice in ſupplying the civil
adminiſtration, through all their colonies, with of.
ficers of the greateſt ablities, utter ſtrangers to cor-
ruption ; and, to crown all, by ſending the moſt
vigilant and virtuous governors, who have no o-
ther view than the happineſs of the people over
whom they preſide, and the honour of the King
their maſter.
But as the countries, which I have deſcribed, da
not appear to have any defire of being conquered
and enſlaved, murdered or driven out by colonies;
nor abound either in gold, ſilver, ſugar, or tobac.
co; I did humbly conceive they were by no means
proper objects of our zeal, our valour, or our in-
tereft. However, if rhofe whom it more concerns
thick fit to be of another opinion, I am ready to
depoſe, when I ſhall be lawfully called, that no Eu.
ropean did ever viſit theſe countries before me. I
mean, if the inhabitants ought to be believed, un-
leſs a diſpute may ariſe concerning the two rahoos.
faid to have been ſeen many ages ago- upon a
mountain in Houyhnhnm-land.
But as to the formality of taking poſſe Mion in my
ſovereign's name, it never came once into my
thoughts; and if it had, yet, as my affairs then
Aood, I ſhould perhaps, in point of prudence and
ſelf
1 Voyage to the HOUY NHNMS,
343
ſelf preſervation, have put it off to a better oppor-
tunity
Having thus anſwered the only objection that
can ever be raiſed againſt me as a traveller, I here
take a final leave of all sny courteous readers, and
return to enjoy my own speculations in my little
garden at Rotherbith: to apply thoſe excellent
leffons of virtue, which I learned among r'e Houy-
hnhnms ; to inſtru& the Yakoos of my owir family,
as far as I ſhall find then docible animals; to be.
hold my figure often in a glaſs, and thus, if poſſible,
habituate myſelf by time to kolerate the ſight of a
human creature ; to landnt the brutality of Houy.
hohnms in my own country, but always treat their
perſons with reſpect for the ſake of my noble ma-
ſter, his family, his friends, and the whole Houy.
hnhnın ráce, whom thefe of ours have the ho.
viour to reſemble in all their lineaments,
however
their intelle&uals carne te degenerate,
I began laſt weck to. perniit my wife to ſit at
dinner with me at the fartheft end of a long table ;
and to anſwer (but with the utmoſt brevity) the
few queſtions 1 alked her. Yet the ſmell of a Yahoo
continuing very oftenlišoj I always kept my noſe
well ſtopt with rue, lavender, or tobucco leaves.
And although it be hard for a man late in life to
remove old habits, I am not altogether out of hopes,
in ſome tine, to ſuffer a neighbour rahoo in my
company, without the apprehenfions I am yet un.
der of his teeth or his claws.
My recencilement to the Yahoo kind in general
might not be ſo difficnlı, if they would be content
with thoſe vices and follies only which nature hath
entitled them te. I am not in the least pro-
voked at the fight of a lawyer, a pick-pocket, a
colonel, a fool, a lord, a gameſter, a politician, a
whore-jonger, a phyſician yan evidence, a ſubor-
ner,
344 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
ner, an attorney, a traitor, or the like : This is all
according to the due courſe of things, But when
1 behold a lump of deformity and diſeaſe, both in
body and mind, fmitten with pride, it immediately
breaks all the meaſures of my patience ; neither
Ihall I ever be able to comprehend how ſuch an
animal, and ſuch a vice, could tally together. The
wife and virtuous Houy hnhnms, who abound in
all excellencies that can adorn a rational creature,
have no name for this vice in their language, which
hath not termıs'to expreſs any thing that is evil, ex-
cept hoſe whereby they deſeribe the deteftable quali.
ties of their Yahoos, among which they were not
able to diſtinguiſh this of pride, for want of thoa
roughly underltanding human nature, as it fheweth
itſelf in other countries where that animal preſides,
But I, who had more experience, cou'd plainly ob.
ferve ſome rudiments of it among the wild Yahoos.
But the Houyhnhoms, who live under the go.
vernment of reaſon, are no more proud of the
good qualities they poffefs, than I ſhould be for not
wanting a leg or an arm, which no man in his wits
would coalt of, although he muſt be miſerable with-
out them. I dwell the longer upon this ſubject,
frem the deſire I have to make the fociety of an
Engliſh Yahoo by any means not inſupportable;
and therefore I here intreat
thoſe who have any
tinêture of this abfurd vice, that they will not pre-
fame to come in my ſight.
[ 345 )
The three following Poems were written, as we
are informed, by Dr ARBUTHNOT, Mr Pope,
and Mr GAY.
TO
QUIN BUS F L ESTR IN,
THE
MAN-MOUNTAIN
A LILLIPUTIAN O D E.
N Amaze
Loft, I gaze,
Cað our CES
Reach chy. Gze:
May my lays
Swell with praiſe,
Worthy thee!
Worthy me!
Muſe, inſpire
Altby Pire!
Birds of old
Of his told,
When they ſaid,
Mlas' head
Propt the skies:
See ! and believe your eyes !
II. See
[ 346
See him ftride
Valleys wide :
Over woods,
Over
floods.
When he treads,
Mountains heads
Groan and thake :
Armies quake,
Left his fpurn
Overturn
Man and ſteed.
Troops take
heed !
Left and right,
Speed your fight!
Left an hoft
Bencath his foot be loft
Turn'd aſide
From his hide,
Safe from wound
Darts rebolaid.
Froni his Hoſe
Clouds he blows
When he ſpeaks,
Thunder breaks!
When be eals,
Famine threats !
When he drinks
Neptune thrinks!
Nigh-thy Ear,
In mid-air
On diy hand
Let are stand;
So fall 1
Lofty poet I touch the ſky.
THE
[ 347 )
Τ T H E
Ι Α Μ Ε Ν Τ Α Τ Ι Ο Ν
0 P
Glumdalclitch, for the Loſs of Grildrig :
A P A S T O R A L.
SOON as Glumdalclitch miſs’d*her pleaſing care,
She wept, the blubber'd, and the tore her hair.
No Britiſh miſs fincerer grief has known, i
Her ſquirrel milling, or her ſparrow flown.
She furl'd her ſampler, and harul'd in her thread,
And ſtuck her needle into Grildrig's bed ;
Then ſpread her hands, and with a bounce let fall
Her baby, like the giant in Guildhall.
In peals of thunder now ſhe roars, and now
She gently whimpers like a lowing cow :
Yet lovely in her ſorrow ſtill appears,
Her locks diſhevell’d, and her flood of tears,
Seem like the lofty barn of ſome rich ſwain,
When from the thatch drips faſt a ſhow'r of rain.
In vain ſhe ſearch'd each cranny of the houſe,
Each gaping chink impervious to a mouſe.
(Was it for this (ſhe cry'd) with daily care,
Within thy reach I ſet the vinegar?
And fill’d the cruet with the acid tide,
While pepper-water worms thy bait ſupplyed ?
« Where
[348]
€ Where twin'd the filver eel around thy hook,
« And all the little monſters of the brook.
Sure in that lake he dropt : My Grilly's drown'd,
« She dragg'd the cruet, but no Grildrig found.
« Vain is thy courage, Grilly, vain thy boaſt :
But little creatures enterprize the moſt.
Trembling, I've ſeen thee dare the kitten's paw,
« Nay, nix with children, as they play'd at taw,
« Nor fear the marbles, as they bounding flew :
• Marbles to them, but rolling rocks to you,
« Why did I truſt thee with that giddy youth ?
( Who from a page can ever learn the truth?
« Vers'd in court-tricks, that money-loving boy,
• To ſome lord's daughter fold the living toy ;
« Or rent him limb from limb in cruel play,
( As children tçar the wings of flies away.
« From place to place o’er Brobdignag I'll roame,
• And never will return, or bring thee home.
• But who hath eyes to trace the paſling wind ?
« How, then, thy fairy footſteps can I find ?
* Doft thou bewilder'd wander all alone,
• In the green thicket of a molly ffone,
« Or tumbled from the toad-flool's flippery round,
Perhaps all maim'd lié grov'hing on the ground?
*Doſt thon, imbolom'd in the lovely roſe,
« Or funk within the peach's down repoſe ?
« Within the king-cup if thy limbs are ſpread,
• Or in the golden cowll p's velver head.
"O thew me, Flora, ?mudit thoſe ſweets the flow'r
Where ſleeps my Grildrig in his fragrant bow'r.
• But ah! I fear chy little fancy roves
« On little feniales, anid on little loves ;
Thy pigmy children, and thy tiny ſpouſe,
« The baby play-things that adorn thy houſe.
Doors, windows, chimneys, and the ſpacious
rooms,
• Equal in fize to cells of honeycombs,
Haft
[ 349 )
Haft thou for theſe now ventur'd from the fhore,
Thy barque a bean-ſhell, and a ſtraw thine oar :
Or, in thy box, now bounding on the inain,
"Shall I ne'er bear thyſelf and houſe again ?
"And ſhall I ſet thee on my hand no more,
* To ſee thee leap the lines, and traverſe o’er
My ſpacious palm ? of ſtatue ſcarce a ſpan,
Mimic the ačtions of a real man ?
No more behold thee turn my watch's key,
As ſeamen at a capítern anchors weigh?
How wert thou wont to walk with cautious tread,
A diſh of tea like milk-pail on thy head ?
How chace the mite that bore thy cheeſe away,
* And kept the rolling maggot at a bay ?"
She ſaid ; but broken accents ſtopt her voice,
Soft as the ſpeaking-trumpet's mellow noiſe :
She lobb’d a ſtorm, and wip'd her flowing eyes,
Which ſeem'd like two broad ſuns in miſty ſkies :-
0! [quander not thy grief ; thoſe tears command
To wetp upon our cod in Newfoundland:
The plenteous pickle ſhall preſerve the fiſh,
And Europe taſte thy ſorrows in her diſh.
CODICOUL 000000000000-00*6000 1000 NOK GOR & 00000000022coda LED
M AR Y GUL LI V E R
T 0
Capt. LEMUEL GULLIVER.
A R G U M E N T.
captain, ſome time after his return, being retired to
Mr Sympſon's in the country; Mrs Gulliver appre-
hending, from his late behaviour, ſome eſtrangement of
his affections, writes him the following expoftulating,
foothing, and tenderly-complaining ErnsI1 E.
Elcome, thrice welcome, to thy native place !!
What ! touch me not? What! ſhun a
wife's embrace ?
Have
W
GS
[ 350 ]
Have I for this thy tedious abſence borne,
And wak’d, and with’d whole nights for thy re.
turn?,
In five long years I took no fecond ſpouſe,
What Redriff wife fo long hath kept her vows ?
Your eyes, your noſe, inconftancy betray;
Your noſe you ſtop, your eyes you turn away.
'Tis ſaid, that thou ſhouldſt cleave unto thy wife;
Once thou didſt cleave,
and I could cleave for life,
Hear, and relent ! hark, how thy children moan ;
Be kind at leaff to theſe, they are thy own ;
Be bold, and count them all , ſecure to find
The honeſt number that you left behind.
See how they pat thee with their pretty paws :
Why ſtart thee, are they ſnakes ? or have they claws ?
Thy Chriftian feed, our mutual fleſh and bone :
Be kind at leaſt to thefc, they are thy own.
Biddel, like thee, might fartbeft India rove;
He chang’d his country, but retain’d his love.
There's captain Pannel, abſent half bis life,
Comes back, and is the kinder to his wife.
Yet Pannel's wife is brown comparöd to me,
And miſtreſs Biddel fire is fifty-three.
Not touch me ! never neighbour call'd me Slut :
Was Flimnap's dame more ſweet in Lilliput?
I've no red hair to breathe an odious ſuine ;
At leaſt thy conſort's cleaner than thy groom.
Why then that dirty ftable-boy thy care?
What mean thoſe viſits from the Sorrel Mare ?
Say, by what witchcraft, or what Dæmon led,
Preferr’At thoi litter to the marriage bed?
Some fay, the dev'l himſelf is in that mare :
If ſo, our Dean fhall drive him forth by prayer.
Some think you mad, fome think you are poſſeft,
That bedlam and clean ſtraw would ſuit you beft:
Vain means, alas, this frenzy to appeaze !
That ſtraw, that ſtraw would heighten the diſeaſe.
My
Naines of ſea Captains mentioned in Gulliver's Travels
[ 351 )
My bed (the ſcene of all our former joys,
Witneſs two lovely girls, two lovely boys)
Alone I preſs; in dreams I call my dear,
1 ſtretch my hand, no Gulliver is there!
I wake, I riſe, and ſhiv’ring with the froſt,
Search all the houſe, my Gulliver is loſt !
Forth in the ſtreet I ruſh with frantic cries ;
The windows open ; all the neighbours riſe
Where ſeeps my Gulliver? 0 tell me where !
The neighbours anſwer,' With the Sorrel Mare.
At early morn I to the market haſte,
(Studious in ev'ry thing to pleaſe thy taſte ;)
A curious fowl and Sparragraſs I choſe,
(For I remember you were fond of thoſe,)
Three ſhillings coſt the firſt, the laſt ſev'n groats :
Sullen you turn from both, and call for oats.
Others bring goods and treaſure to their houſes,
Something to deck their pretty babes and ſpouſes ;
My only token was a cup like horn,
That's made of nothing but a lady's corn,
'Tis not for that I grieve; no, 'tis to ſee
The groom and forrel mare preferr'd to me.
Theſe for ſome inoments when you deign to quit,
And (at due diſtance) ſweet diſcourſe admit,
'Tis all my pleaſure thy paſt toil to know,
For, pleas'd remembrance builds delight on woe :
At ev'ry danger pants thy confort's breaſt,
And gaping infants [qual to hear the reſt.
How did I tremble, when by thouſands bound,
I ſaw thee ftretch'd on Lilliputian ground ;
When ſcaling armies climb’d up ev'ry part ;
Each ſtep they trod I felt upon my heart.
But when thy torrent quench'd the dreadful blaze,
King, queen, and nation, ſtaring with amazė,
Full in my view how all my huſband came,
And what extinguiſh'd theirs, increas’d my flame.
Thoſe Spectacles, ordain'd thine eyes to ſave,
Were once my preſent ; love that armour gave.
How
G g 2
[ 352 )
How did I mourn at Bolgolam's decree !
For when he ſign'd thy death, he ſentenc'd me:
When folks might ſee thee all the country round
For fixpence, I'd have given a thouſand pound,
Lord! when the giant-babe that head of thine
Got in his mouth, my heart was up in mine !
When in the marrow-bone I ſee thee ramm’d,
Or, on the houſe-top, by the monkey crainm'd ;
The piteous images renew my pain,
And all thy dangers 1 weep o'er again.
But on the maiden's nipple when you rid,
Pray heav'n 'twas all a wanton maiden did !
Glumdalclitch too !_with thee I mourn her caſe,
Heav'n guard the gentle girl from all diſgrace!
O may the king that one negle&t forgive,
And pardon her the fault by which I live!
Was there no other way to ſet him free?
My life, alas ! I fear, prov'd death to thee.
() teach me, dear, new words to ſpeak my flame,
Teach me to woo thee by thy beft-lov’d name !
Whether the ſtyle of Grildrig pleafe thee moft,
So ca!P'd on Broblingnag's ſtupendous coaſt,
When on the monarch's ample hand you ſate,
And halloo’d in his ear intrigues of ſtate :
Or Quinbus Fleſtrin more endearment brings,
When like a mountain you look down on kings :
If Ducal Nardac, Lilliputian peer,
Or Glumglum's humbler tide cou'd ſoothe thine car?
Nay, would kind Jove my organs fo diſpoſe,
To hymn harmonious Houyhnbnms thro’ the noſe,
I'd call thee Houyhnhnm, that high-founding name,
Thy children's noſes all fhoald twang the fame.
So might I find my loving ſpouſe of courſe,
Endu'd with all the virtues of a horſe,
pins
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