ARTES 1837 SCIENTIA LIBRARY VERITAS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN E PLURIDUS UK TUEBOR SI QUERIS-PENINSULAM-AMLINAM. CIRCUMSPICE GIFT GENTZ LHUBBA •LUCIUS·L HUBBARD HOUGHTON MICHIGAN Tide Page 50 TRAVELS 4 INTO SEVERAL REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, BY LEMUEL GULLIFER. First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships. BY JONATHAN SWIFT, D. D. Dean of St. PATRICK'S, Dublin, A NEW EDITION. GAINSBOROUGH: PRINTED BY AND FOR H. MOZLEY, 1809. CONTENTS. THE Publisher to the reader A letter from Captain Gulliver to his Couſin Simpſon PART I. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT : CHAP. I. The author gives fome account of himſelf and family his inducements to travel. He is fhipwrecked, and fwims for his life; gets fafe on fhore in the country of Lilliput; is made a pri- foner, and carried up the country CHAP. II. The emperor of Lilliput, attended by feveral of the nobility, comes to fee the author in his confinement. The emperor's perſon and ha- bit defcribed. Learned men appointed to teach the author their language. He gains favour by his mild difpofition. His pockets are fearched, and his ſword and piſtols taken from him CHAP. IIL The author diverts the emperor, and his nobility of both fexes, in a very uncommon man- ner. The diverfions of the court of Lilliput de- fcribed. The author has his liberty granted him upon certain conditions CHAP. IV. Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, deſcribed, together with the emperor's palace. A converfation between the author and a principal fecretary, concerning the affairs of that empire. 'The author's offers to ferve the emperor in his wars CHAP. V. The author by an extraordinary ftratagem, prevents an invafion. A high title of honour is conferred upon him. Ambaffadors arrive from the Page 3 5 TI 1 22 32 40 1 A 2. CONTENTS. Page 45 emperor of Blefufcu and fue for peace. The em- prefs' apartments on fire by accident: the author inftrumental in faving the rest of the palace CHAP. VI. Of the inhabitants of Lilliput; their learning, laws, and cuſtoms, the manner of edu- cating their children. The author's way of living in that country. His vindication of a great lady 51 CHAP. VII. The author, being informed of a defign - to accufe him of high treafon, makes his eſcape to Blefufcu. His reception there CHAP. VIII. The author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave Blefufcu; and after fome difficul- ties, returns fafe to his native country PART II. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG CHAP. I. A great ftorm defcribed, the longboat fent to fetch water, the author goes with it to difco- ver the country. He is left on ſhore, is ſeized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's houfe. His reception, with feveral accidents that happened there. A defcription of the in- habitants CHAP. II. A defcription of the farmer's daughter. The author carried to a market town and then to the metropolis. The particulars of his jour- ney CHAP. III. The author fent for to court. The queen buys him of his maſter the farmer, and pre- fents him to the king. majeſty's great ſcholars. provided for the author. with the queen. He difputes with his An apartment at court He is in high favour He ſtands up for the honour of his own country. His quarrels with the queen's dwarf CHAP. IV. The country deſcribed. A propofal for correcting modern maps. The king's palace, and 61 6) 76 76 88 04 CONTENTS. 1 fome account of the metropolis. The author's way of travelling. The chief temple defcribed CHAP. V. Several adventures that happened to the author. The execution of a criminal. The au- thor ſhows his ſkill in navigation CHAP. VI. Several contrivances of the author, to pleaſe the king and queen, he ſhows his ſkill in mufic. The king inquires into the ſtate of Eng- land, which the author relates to him. The king's obfervations thereon - CHAP. VII. The author's love of his country. He makes a propofal of much advantage to the king, which is rejected. The king's great ignorance in politics. The learning of that country very im perfect and confined. The laws and military af- fairs, and partics in the ſtate 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 par- ticularly related. He returns to England PART III. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. Page CHAP. I. The author fets out on his third voyage, is taken by pirates. The malice of a Dutchman. His arrival at an iſland. He is received into La- puta CHAP. II. The humours and difpofitions of the La- putians defcribed. An account of their learning. Of the king and his court. The author's recep- tion there. The inhabitants fubject to fear and difquietudes. An account of the women CHAP. III. A phenomenon folved by modern philo- fophy and aſtronomy. The Laputians' great im- provements in the latter. The king's method of fuppreffing infurrections CHAP. IV. The author leaves Laputa, is conveyed to Balnibarbi, arrives at the metropolis. A de- 105 109 119 127 134 146 · 146 152 160 vi CONTENTS. · - 165 Page fcription of the metropolis and the country ad- joining. The author hofpitably received by a great lord. His converfation with that lord CHAP. V. The author permitted to fee the grand academy of Lagado. The academy largely de- fcribed. The acts wherein the profeffors employ themſelves CHAP. VI. A farther account of the academy. The author propoſes fome improvements, which are honourably received - CHAP. VII. The author leaves Lagado, arrives at Maldonada. No fhip ready. He takes a fhort voyage to Glubbdubdrib. His reception by the governor CHAP. VIII. A farther account of Glubbdubdrib. Ancient and modern hiftory corrected - CHAP. IX. The author returns to Maldonada. Sais to the kingdom of Luggnagg. The author con- fined. He is fent for to court. The manner of his admittance. The king's great lenity to his fubjects CHAP. X. The Luggnaggians commended. A par- ticular deſcription of the Struldbrugs, with many converfations, between the author and fome emi- nent perfons, upon that ſubject CHAP. XI. The author leaves Luggnagg, and fails to Japan. From thence he returns in a Dutch ſhip to Amſterdam, and from Amſterdam to Eng- land - - · 171 178 184 188 194 198 207 PART IV. A VOYAGE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUYHNHNMS CHAP. I. The author fets out as captain of a fhip. His men confpire againſt him, confine him a long time to his cabin. Set him on fhore in an un- known land. He travels up into the country. 211 CONTENTS. vii The Yahoos, a ſtrange fort of animal, defcribed. The author meets two Houyhnhnms CHAP. II. The author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his houfe. The houfe defcribed. The author's reception. The food of the Houyhnhnms. The author in diſtreſs for want of meat, is at laſt re- lieved. His manner of feeding in this country CHAP. III. The author ftudies to learn the language; the Houyhnhnm, his maſter, affifts in teaching him. The language deſcribed. Several Houyhn- hnms of quality come out of curiofity to fee the author. He gives his mafter a fhort account of his voyage CHAP. IV. The Houyhnhnm's notion of truth and falfehood. The author's difcourfe diſapproved by - • Page 211 218 223 his maſter. The author gives a more particular account of himſelf, and the accidents of his voyage 229 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 begins to explain the English conſtitution CHAP. VI. A continuation of the ftate of England under queen Anne. The character of a firſt mi- nifter of ſtate in European courts CHAP. VII. The author's great love of his native country. His maſter's obfervations upon the con- ftitution and adminiſtration of England, as de- fcribed by the author, with parallel cafes and compariſons. His mafter's obfervations upon hu- man nature - CHAP. VIII. The author relates feveral particulars of the Yahoos. The great virtues of the Houyhn- hnms. The education and exerciſe of their youth. Their general affembly CHAP. IX. A grand debate at the general affembly of the Houyhnhnms, and how it was determined. The learning of the Houyhnhnms. Their build- ings. Their manner of burials. The defective- nefs of their language 234 241 248 255 261 viii CONTENTS. Page CHAP. X. The author's economy, and happy life among the Houyhnhnms. His great improve- ment in virtue by converfing with them. Their converfations. The author has notice given him by his maſter that he must depart from the coun- try. He falls into a fwoon for grief; but fubmits. He contrives and finiſhes a canoe by the help of a fellow fervant, and puts to fea at a venture CHAP. XI. The author's dangerous voyage. He ar- rives at New Holland, hoping to fettle there. Is wounded with an arrow by one of the natives. Is feized and carried by force into a Portugueſe ſhip. The great civilities of the captain. The author arrives at England - - CHAP. XII. The author's veracity. His deſign in publiſhing this work. His cenfure of thofe tra- vellers who ſwerve from the truth. The author clears himſelf from any finiſter ends in writing. An objection anfwered. The method of planting colonies. His native country commended. The right of the crown to thofe countries deſcribed by the author, is juftified. The difficulty of conquer- ing them. The author takes his laſt leave of the reader; propoſes his manner of living for the fu ture: gives good advice, and concludes - 266 273 281 i TRAVELS INTŐ´ SEVERAL REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD; BY LEMUEL GULLIVER, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships. I. IN FOUR PARTS. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. II. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 2 III. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, BALNIBARBI, LUGGNIĠG, GLUBBDUEDRIE, AND JAPÁŇ. A VOYAGE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUYHNHNMS. * “Splendidè Mendax." HoR. > 1 St§ "Gulliver's Travels" and the "Tale of a Tub," are indifputably the two moſt capital Works of Swift. Dr. WARTON. C "This important year fent into the world " Gulliver's Travels," a production to new and fo ftrange, that it filled the reader with a mingled emotion of merriment and amazement. It was received with fuch avidity, that the price of the first edition was raifed before the fecond could be made; it was read by the high and the low, the learned and illiterate. Criticiim was for a while loft in wonder. No rules of judgment were applied to a book written in open defiance of truth and regularity. But when diftinctions came to be made, the part which gave leaſt pleaſure was that which defcribes the Flying Iſland, and that which gave most difguft must be the history of the Houyhnhnms. Whilft Swift was enjoying the repu- tation of his new work, the news of the king's death ar- rived, and he kiffed the hands of the new king and queen three days after their acceffion." Dr. JOHNSON. > Thefe voyages are confidered as a mere political ro- mance,to correct VICE, by fhowing its deformity in op- pofition to VIRTUE, and to amend the falſe ſyſtems of philofophy, by pointing out the errors, and applying falutary means to amend them. ORRIRY. + The first part of thefe Travels appeared October 28, 1726; the fecond early in 1727.-Bishop Atterbury, in a letter from Paris to Mr. Morice, December 24, 1726, hav- ing feen it advertiſed, expreffes his impatience to fee it:- "I fall long," he fays, "till it is with me ;" and, March 31, 1727, adds, "I had the firſt part of Gulliver, but not the fecond; however, it has been fent me here, and I have had the pleasure of reading it. Both parts are tranſ-> lating here, though the French will not be able to relifh the humour of that piece, nor underſtand the meaning of it."-The bishop was perfectly right. Neither Gulliver nor John Bull can properly be either relifhed or under- ſtood by our volatile neighbours. Gulliver, however, was immediately tranflated by the Abbé Desfontaines, and had THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER. THE author of theſe Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewife fome relation between us on the mother's fide. About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver, growing weary of the con- courfe of curious people coming to him at his houſe in Redriff, made a ſmall purchaſe of land, with a conveni- ent houfe, 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 Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yet I have heard him fay his fami- ly came from Oxfordfhire; to confirm which, I have ob- ferved in the church-yard at Banbury in that county, fe- veral tombs and monuments of the Gullivers. Before he quitted Redriff, he left the cuſtody of the fol- lowing papers in my hands, with the liberty to difpofe of them as I fhould think fit." I have carefully peruſed them three times the ſtyle is very plain and fimple; 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 fo diftinguiſhed for his veracity, that it became a fort of proverb among his neighbours at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to fay," it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had ſpoken it.' By the advice of ſeveral worthy perfons, to whom with the author's permiffion I communicated thefe papers, I now venture to fend them into the world, hoping they may be, at leaſt for ſome time, a better entertainment to our young noblemen, than the common fcribbles of po- litics and party. B 2 an extenſive fale.-See a correfpondence on this tranſla- tion, between the Abbé and the Dean, in July and Au- guß 1727, N. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER. This volume would have been at leaſt twice as large, if I had not made bold to ſtrike out innumerable paffages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the feveral voyages, together with the minute deſcriptions of the management of the hip in ftorms, in the ftyle of failors; likewife the account of lon- gitudes and latitudes; wherein I have reafon to apprehend, that Mr. Gulliver may be a little diflatisfied: but I was refolved to fit the work as much as poffible to the general capacity of readers. However, if my own ignorance in fea affairs ſhall have led me to commit fome miſtakes, I alone am anfwerable for them: and if any traveller has a curio- fity to fee the whole work at large, as it came from the hands of the author, I will be ready to gratify him. of the As for any further particulars relating to the author, the reader will receive fatisfaction from the first pages o book. RICHARD SYMPSON. } A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GULLIVER TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON. WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1727. I HOPE you will be ready to own publicly, whenever you fhall be called to it, that by your great and frequent urgency you prevailed on me to publiſh a very loofe and uncorrect account of my travels, with directions to hire fome young gentlemen of either univerſity to put them in order, and correct the ſtyle, as my coufin Dampier did, by my advice in his book called " A voyage round the World." But I do not remember I gave you power to confent that any thing ſhould be omitted, and much less that any thing fhould be inferted: therefore, as to the latter, I do here renounce every thing of that kind; particularly a para- graph about her majefty queen Anne of moſt pious and glorious memory; although I did reverence and eſteem her more than any of the human fpecies. But you, or your inter- polator, ought to have confidered, that as it was not my inclination, fo was it not decent to praiſe any animal of our compofition before my maſter Houyhnhnm and be fides, the fact was altogether falſe; for to my knowledge, being in England during fome part of her majefty's reign, fhe did govern by a chief minister; nay even by two fuc- ceffively, the firit whereof was the lord of Godolphin, and the fecond the lord of Oxford; fo that you have made me fay the thing that was not. Likewife in the account • £ 3 A LETTER FROM GULLIVER of the academy of projectors, and feveral paffages of my difcourfe to my maſter Houýbabim, you have either omit- ted fome material circumftances, or minced or changed them in ſuch a manner, that I do hardly know my own work. When I formerly hinted to you fomething of this in a letter, you were pleafed to answer, "That you were afraid of giving offence; that people in power were very watchful over the prefs, and, apt not only to interpret, but to puniſh every thing which looked like an inuendo" (as I think you call it.) "But, pray how could that which I ſpoke ſo many years ago, and at above five thouſand leagues diftance, in another reign, be applied to any of the Taboos, who now are faid to govern the herd; especially at a time when I little thought, or feared, the unhappi- nefs of living under them? Have not I the moſt reafon to complain, when I fee thefe very raboos carried by Ho- nyhnhnms in a vehicle, as if they were brutes, and thoſe the rational creatures? And indeed to avoid fo monſtrous and deteftable a fight was one principal motive of my re- tirement hither. Thus much I thought proper to tell you in relation to yourſelf, and to the truft I repofed in you. I do in the next place complain of my own great want of judgment, in being prevailed upon by the entreaties and falfe reaſonings of you and fome others, very much againſt my own opinion to fuffer my travels to be publiſh- ed. Pray bring to your mind how often I defired you to confider, when you infifted on the motive of public good, that the Yahoos were a fpecies of animals utterly incapable of amendment by precepts or example: and fo it has prov- ed; for, instead of feeing a full ftop put to all abufes and corruptions, at leaſt in this little iſland, as I had reaſon to expect; behold, after above fix months' warning, I can- not learn that my book has produced one fingle effect ac- cording to my intentions. I defired you would let me know, by letter, when party and faction were extinguiſhed; judges learned and upright; pleaders honeft and modeft, with ſome tincture of common fenfe, and Smithfield blaz- ing with pyramids of law books; the young nobility's education entirely changed; the phyſicians banished; the TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON. T female Taboos abounding in virtue, honour, truth, and good fenfe; courts and levees of great minifters thorough- ly weeded and fwept; wit, merit, and learning rewarded; all difgracers of the prefs in profe and verfe condemned to eat nothing but their own cotton, and quench their thirſt with their own ink. Theſe, and a thoufand other refor- mations, I firmly counted upon by your encouragement; as indeed they were plainly deducible from the precepts delivered in my book. And it muſt be owned, that feven months were a fufficient time to correct every vice and fol- ly to which Yahoos are ſubject, if their natures had been capable of the leaſt diſpoſition ta virtue or wiſdom. Yet, fo far have you been from anfwering my expectation in any of your letters; that on the contrary you are loading our carrier every week with libels, and keys, and reflec- tions, and memoirs, and ſecond parts; wherein I fee my-' ſelf accuſed of reflecting upon great ftate folks; of degrad- ing human nature (for fo they have ftill the confidence to ftyle it) and of abufing. the female fex. I find likewife, that the writers of thofe bundles are not agreed among themſelves; for. fome of them will not allow me to be the author of my own travels; and others make me author of books, to which I am wholly a ſtranger. I find likewife that your printer has been ſo careleſs as to confound the, times, and miſtake the dates, of my fe veral voyages and returns; neither affigning the true year, nor the true month, nor day of the month: and I hear the original manuſcript is all deſtroyed fince the publication of my book; neither have I any copy left; however, I have fent you fome corrections, which you may infert, if ever there should be a fecond edition: and yet. I cannot ſtand to them; but ſhall leave that matter to my judicious and candid readers to adjuſt it as they pleaſe. I hear fome of our fea Taboos find fault with my.fea lan-- guage, as not proper. in many parts, nor now it uſe. I cannot help it. In my, firft voyages while I was young, I was inflructed by the oldeft mariners, and learned to ſpeak as they did. But I have fince found that the fea Taboos are apt, like the land ones, to become newfangled 8 A LETTER FROM GULLIVER in their words, which the latter change every year; info- much, as I remember upon each return to my own coun- try, their old dialect was fo altered, that I could hardly underſtand the new. And I obferve, when any Taboos come from London out of curiofity to vifit me at my houfe, we neither of us are able to deliver our conceptions in a manner intelligible to the other. If the cenfure of the Taboos could any way affect me, I fhould have great reaſon to complain, that fome of them are fo bold as to think my book of travels a mere fiction. out of mine own brain; and have gone fo far as to drop hints, that the Houyhnhnms and Taboos have no more ex- iſtence than the inhabitants of Utopia. น Indeed I must confefs, that as to the people of Lilliput, Brobdingrag, (for fo the word ſhould have been ſpelt, and not erroneouſly Brobdingnog) and Laputa, I have never yet heard of any Taboo fo prefumptuous as to difpute their be- ing, or the facts I have related concerning them; becauſe the truth immediately ſtrikes every reader with conviction. And is there leſs probability in my account of the Houyhn- bnms or Yabons, when it is manifeft as to the latter, there are fo many thouſands, even in this country, who only differ from their brother brutes in Houyhnhnm-land, becaufe they ufe a fort of jabber, and do not go naked: I wrote for their amendment, and not their approbation. The united praife of the whole race would be of leſs confe- quence to me, than the neighing of thoſe two degenerate Houyhnhnms I keep in my ftable; becauſe from thefe, degenerate as they are, I ftill improve in fome virtues without any mixture of vice. ་ Do theſe miferable animals prefume to think, that I am fo degenerated as to defend my veracity? Yahoo as I am, it is well known through all Houbynham-land, that, by the inſtructions and example of my illuftrious mafter, I was able in the compafs of two years (although I confefs with the utmost difficulty) to remove that infernal habit of lying, fhuffling, deceiving, and equivocating, fo deeply rooted in the very fouls of all my fpecies; efpecially the Europeans. TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON. 9 + I have other complaints to make upon this vexatious oc- cafion; but I forbear troubling myſelf or you any further. I must freely confefs, that fince my laft fome corruptions of my Yahoo nature have revived in me by converfing with a few of your fpecies, and particularly thoſe of my own family, by an unavoidable neceffity; elfe I fhould never have attempted fo abfurd a project as that of reforming the Taboo race in this kingdom: but I have now done with all fuch viſionary ſchemes for ever. APRIL 2, 1727. APPH 5. + That the original copy of thefe Travels was altered by the perſon through whofe hands it was conveyed to the preſs, is a fact, but the paffages of which Mr. Gulliver complains in this letter are to be found only in the firſt editions; for the Dean having restored the text wherever it had been altered, fent the copy to the late Mr. Motte by the hands of Mr. Charles Ford. This copy has been ex- actly followed in every ſubſequent edition, except that printed in Ireland by Mr. Faulkner; the editor of which, ſuppoſing the Dean to be ferious when he mentioned the corruptions of dates, and yet finding them unaltered, thought fit to alter them himself; there is however ſcarce one of thefe alterations in which he has not committed a blunder though while he was thus bufy in defacing the parts that were perfect, he ſuffered the accidental blemiſhes of others to remain. H. A PART I. A VOYAGE ΤΟ LILLIPUT.* CHAP. I. HC THE AUTHOR GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY: HIS FIRST INDUCEMENTS TO TRAVEL. IS SHIPWRECKED, AND SWIMS FOR HIS LIFE; GETS SAFE ON SHORE IN THE COUNTRY OF LILLIPUT; IS MADE A PRISONER, AND CARRIED UP THE COUNTRY. MY Y Father had a ſmall eftate in Nottinghamſhire; I was the third of five fons. He fent me to Emanuel col- lege in Cambridge, at fourteen years old, where I refided three years, antl applied myfelt cloſe to my ftudies; but * The Lilliputians of Swift may pafs for probable beings, not fo much becaufe we know that a belief in pigmies was once current in the world (for the true ancient pigmy was at least thrice as tall as thoſe whom Gulliver vifited) but becauſe we find that every circumftance relating to them accords with itſelf, and their fuppofed character. It is not the fize of the people only that is diminutive; their coun- try, feas, fhips, and towns, are all in exact proportion; their theological and political principles, their paſſions, 12 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: but the charge of maintaining me, although I had a very fcanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent furgeon in London, with whom I continued four years; and my father now and then fending me ſmall ſums of money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, ufeful to thofe who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be, fome time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my father; where, by the affiftance of him and my uncle John, and fome other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promiſe of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden; there I ftudied phyfic two years and feven months, knowing it would be uſeful in long voyages. Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommend- ed by my good mafter, Mr. Bates, to be furgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell, commander: with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voy- age or two into the Levant, and fome other parts. When I came back I refolved to fettle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my mafter, encouraged me, and by him I was re- commended to feveral patients. I took part of a ſmall houſe in the Old Jewry; and being adviſed to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, fecond daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hofier, in Newgate-ſtreet, with whom I received four hundred pounds for a portion. But my good mafter Bates dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my buſineſs began to fail; for my con.' ſcience would not fuffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having therefore confulted manners, cuſtoms, and all the parts of their conduct, be- tray a levity and littleneſs perfectly fuitable: and fo fim- ple is the whole narration, and apparently fo artlefs and fincere, that I fhould not wonder if it had impofed (as I have been told it has) upon fome perſons of no contempti- ble underſtanding. And fome degree of credit may, perhaps for the fame reafon, be due to the Giants. DR. BEATTIE. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 13 " with my wife, and fome of my acquaintance; I détermin- ed to go again to fea. I was furgeon fucceffively in two hips, and made feveral voyages, for fix years, to the Eaft and West Indies, by which I got ſome addition to my for tune. My hours of leiſure I ſpent in reading the beſt au- thors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was afhore, in ob ferving the manners and difpofitions of the people, as well as learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the ſtrength of my memory. ? The laſt of theſe voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the fea, 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 bufiness among the failors, but it would not turn to ac- count. After three years' expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain Wil- liam Prichard, mafter of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We let fail from Bristol, May: 4, 1699, and our voyage at firſt was very proſperous. It would not be proper, for fome reafons, to trouble the reader with the particulars of our adventures in thoſe feas; let it fuffice to inform him, that in our paffage from thence to the Eaft Indies, we were driven by a violent ſtorm to the north-west of Van Diemen's Land. By an obferva- tion, we found ourſelves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes fouth. Twelve of our crew were dead by immo- derate labour and ill food; the reft were in a very weak condition. On the 5th of November, which was the be- ginning of fummer in thofe parts, the weather being very hazy, the feamen fpied a rock within half a cable's length of the fhip; but the wind was fo ftrong, that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately ſplit. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let down the boat into the fea, made a fhift to get clear of the ſhip and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till. we were able to work no longer, being already ſpent with labour while we were in the fhip. We therefore trufted ourſelves to the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overfet by a fudden flurry from the C 14 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: i : north. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as of thofe who efcaped on the rock, or were left in the veſſel, I cannot tell, but conclude they were all loft. For my own part, I (wam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and could feel no bottom; but when I was al- moſt gone, and able to ftruggle no longer, I found myſelf within my depth; and by this time the ftorm was much abated. The declivity was fo fmall, that I walked near a mile before I got to the fhore, which I conjectured was about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced for- ward near half a mile, but could not diſcover any ſign of houſes or inhabitants; at leaſt I was in fo weak a condition, that I did not obferve them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of, the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left the fhip, I found my- felf much inclined to fleep. I lay down on the grafs, which was very ſhort and foft, where I ſlept founder than ever I' remembered to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was juft day- light attempted to rife, hut was not able to itir: for as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were ſtrongly faltened on each fide to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick, tied down in the fame manner. I likewife felt feveral flender ligatures acrofs my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could only Look upwards, the fun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a confufed noiſe about me; but in the poſture Ilay, could fee nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt fomething alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently forward over my breaſt came al- moft up to my chin; when bending my eyes downward as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature nbt . fix inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at leaft forty more of the fame kind (as I conjectured) following the firit. I was in the utmoſt aſtoniſhment, and roared to loud, that they all ran back in a fright; and fome of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my fides upon the ground. However, they 4 A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 16 * 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 diftinct voice, Hekinah degul: the others repeated the fame 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, ftruggling to get loofe, I had the fortune to break the ftrings, and wrench out the pegs that faſtened 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 fame time with a violent pull, which gave me exceffive pain, I a little loofened the strings that tied down my hair on the left fide, fo that I was juſt able to turn my head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a fecond time, before 1 could feize them; whereupon there was a great hout in a very fhrill accent, and after it ceafed I heard one of them cry aloud, tolgo phonae; when in an in- ftant I felt above a hundred arrows difcharged on my left hand, which pricked me like fo many needles; and befides, they fhot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof many, I fuppofe, fell on my body, (though 1 felt them not) and fome on my face, which I immedi ately covered with my left hand. When this ſhower of arrows was over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain, and then triving again to get loofe, they difcharged another volley larger than the first, and fome of them attempted with fpears to ftick me in the fides; but by good luck I had on me a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it the molt prudent method to lie ftill, and my de- fign was to continue fo till night, when, my left hand be- ing already loofe, I could easily free myfelf: and as for the inhabitants, I had reafon to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring againſt me, if they were all of the fame fize with him that I faw. But fortune difpofed otherwife of me. When the people obferved I was quiet they difcharged no more arrows; but, by the noife I heard, I knew their numbers increaſed; and about four yards from me, over-against my right ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work; when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and ! C 2 16 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ftrings would permit me, I faw a ftage erected about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it: from whence one of them, who feemed to be a perfon of quality, made me a long fpeech, whereof I underflood not one fyl- lable. But I fhould have mentioned, that before the prin- cipal perfon began his oration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul fan; (thefe words and the former were after- wards repeated and explained to me.) Whereupon, im- mediately about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the Arings that faſtened the left fide of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning it to the right, and of obferving the perfon and gefture of him that was to fpeak. He ap peared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his train, and feemed to be fomewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two flood one on each fide to fupport him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could obferve many periods of threatenings, and others of promiſes, pity, and kindneſs. I answered in a few words, but in the moſt fubmiffive manner, lifting up my left hand and both my eyes to the fun, as calling him for a witneſs; and being almoſt famished with hunger, having not eaten a morfel for fome hours before I left the fhip, I found the demands of nature fo ftrong upon me that I could not forbear fhowing my impatience (perhaps againſt the ftrict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequent- ly to my mouth, to fignify that I wanted food. The burgo (for fo they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) under- ſtood me very well. He defcended from the ſtage, and commanded that feveral ladders fhould be applied to my fides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mount- ed, and walked towards my mouth, laden with baſkets full of meat, which had been provided and ſent thither by thẹ king's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. I obferved there was the fleſh of feveral animals, but could not diftinguish them by the taſte. There were fhoulders, legs, and loins, fhaped like thofe of mutton, and very well dreffed, but fmaller than the wings of a lark. I eat them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 17 per- time, about the bigness of mufket bullets. They ſupplied me as fast as they could, fhowing a thouſand marks of wonder and aftonishment 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 fuffice me; and being a moft 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 did not hold half a pint, and tafted like a ſmall wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a fecond hogshead, which I drank in the fame manner, and made figns for more: but they had none to give me. When I had formed thefe wonders, they ſhouted for joy, and danced upon my breaft, repeating feveral times as they did at firſt, Helinab degul. They made me a ſign that I ſhould throw down the two hogsheads, but firſt warning the people he, low to fland out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolab; and when they faw the veffels in the air, there was an univerfal thout of Hekingb degul. 1 confefs I was often tempted, while they were paffing backwards and forwards on my body, to feize forty or fiity of the first that came in my reach, and daſh them againſt the ground. But the re- membrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promife of honour I made them, for fo I interpreted my fubmiffive behaviour, foon drove out thefe imaginations. Besides, I now con- fidered myſelf as bound by the laws of hofpitality, to a peo- ple who had treated me with fo much expenfe and mag- nificence. However, in my thoughts I could not fufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of thefe diminutive mortals, who durit venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very tight of fo prodigious a creature as I muſt appear to them. After fome time, when they obferved that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a perſon of high rank from his imperial majefty. His excellency, having mounted on the mall of my right leg, advanced forward's up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue. And producing his credentials under the fignet royal, which CS 18 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: 4 he applied cloſe to my eyes, ſpoke about ten minutes with- out any figns of but with a kind of determinate re- angca folution; often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about half a mile dif- tant; whither it was agreed by his majeſty in council, that I muſt be conveyed. Fanfwered in few words, but to no purpoſe, and made a fign with my hand that was loofe, putting it to the other, (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 defired 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 prifoner. However, he made other figns to let me underſtand, 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 felt the fmart of their arrows up- on my face and hands, which were all in bliſters, and ma- ny of the darts ſtill flicking in them, and obferving like- wife that the number of my enemies increaſed, I gave to- kens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleafed. Upon this, the burgo and his train with- drew with much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a general fhout, with frequent repetitions of the words, Peplum felán; and I felt great numbers of people on my left fide relaxing the cords to fuch a degrco, that I was able to turn upon my right, and to eafs myfelf with making water; which very plentifully did, to the great aftonishment of the people; who, conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately opened to the right and left on that ſide, to avoid the torrent, which fell with fuch noife and violence from me. But be- fore this, they had daubed my; face and both my hands, with a fort of ointment, very pleaſant to the ſmell, which, in a few minutes, removed all the ſmart of their arrows. Thefe circumstances, added to the refreflument F. had re- ceived by their victuals and drink, which were very now- riſhing, difpofed me to fleep. I flept about eight hours, us was afterwards affured; and it was no wonder, for the . • -- £ A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 19 phyſicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a ſleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine. It feems, that upon the first moment I was diſcovered fleeping on the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an exprefs; and determined in council, that I ſhould be tied in the manner I have related; (which was done in the night while I ſlept) that plenty of meat and drink ſhould be ſent me, and a machine pre- pared to carry me to the capital city. This refolution perhaps may appear very bold and dan- gerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occafion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for, fuppofing theſe people had endeavoured to kill me with their ſpears and arrows, while I was afleep, I ſhould certainly have awaked with the firft fenfe of fmart, which might fo far have rouſed my rage and ſtrength, as to have enabled me to break the ftrings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make refiftance, fo they could expect no mercy. Theſe people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics, by the coun- tenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a re nowned patron of learning. This prince has ſeveral ma- chines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often builds his largeſt men of war, whereof ſome are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried on theſe engines three or four hundred yards to the fea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately fet 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, moving 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 diffi- culty was to raiſe and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected for this pur- pofe, and very ſtrong cords, of the bignefs of packthread, were faſtened by hooks to many bandages, which the -^ 20 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: + workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of the ſtrongeſt men were employed to draw up theſe cords, by many pullies 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 operation was performing I lay in a profound fleep, by the force of that foporiferous medicine infufed into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largeſt horfes, 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 carriage being flop- ped awhile, to adjuſt ſomething that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had the curiofity to fee how I looked when I was afleep; they climbed up into the en- gine, and advancing very foftly to my face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the fharp end of his half-pike a good way up into my left noftril, which tickled my note like a ftraw, and made me fnceze violently ;† whereupon they ſtole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the cauſe of my waking to fuddenly. We made a long march the remaining part of the day, and refled at night with five hundred guards on each ſide of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to fhoot me if I fhould offer to ftir. The next morning at fun- rife we continued our march, and arrived within two hun- ↑ It has been remarked, that courage in whatever caufe, though it fometimes excites indignation, is never the ob- ject of contempt; but this appears to be true, only becauſe courage is fuppofed to imply fuperiority; for this officer in the guards becomes extremely ridiculous and contemptidic.. by an act of the molt daring curiofity, which fets him in comparison with Gulliver, to whom he was fo much in- ferior, that a blaſt of the man-mountain's noftrils would have endangered his life; and if heroifm itſelf is not proof againſt ridicule, thole furely are Lilliputians in philofophy, who confider ridicule as the teft of truth. H. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 21 1 The emperor, dred yards of the city-gates about noon. and all his court, came out to meet us, but his great officers would by no means fuffer his majefty to endanger his per- fon, by mounting on my body. At the place where the carriage ſtopped there ſtood an ancient temple, efteemed to he the largest in the whole kingdom; which, having been polluted fome years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal of thoſe people, looked upon as prophane, and therefore had been applied to common uſe, and all the ornaments and furniture carried 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 eafily creep. On each ſide of the gate was a ſmall window, not above fix inches from the ground: into that on the left fide, the king's fmith conveyed four- fcore and eleven chains, like thofe 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 fide, of the great highway, at twenty feet diftance, 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 fee them. It was reck- oned that above a hundred thouſand inhabitants came out of the town upon the fame errand; and in ſpite of my guards, I believe, there could not be fewer than ten thou- fand at feveral times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was foon iffued to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it was impoſſible for me to break looſe, they cut all the frings that bound me; whereupon I rofe up, with as nielancholy a difpofition as ever I had in my life. But the noite and aſtoniſhment of the people, at feeing me rife and walk, are not to be expreffed. The chains, that held my left leg, were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a femi- circle; but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, al- lowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple. 22 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS:" CHAP. H. THE EMPEROR OF LILLIFUT, ATTENDED BY SEVERAL OF THE NOBILITY, COMES TO SEE THE AUTHOR IN HIS CONFINEMENT. THE EMPEROR'S PERSON AND HABIT DESCRIBED. LEARNED MEN APPOINTED TO TEACH THE AUTHOR THEIR LANGUAGE. HE GAINS FAVOUR BY HIS MILD DISPOSITION. HIS POCKETS ARE SEARCHED, AND HIS SWORD AND PISTOLS TAKEN FROM HIM. WHEN I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confeſs I never beheld a more entertaining profpect. The country around appeared like a continued garden, and the inclofed fields, which were generally forty feet fquare, refembled fo many beds of flowers. Thele fields were intermingled with woods of half a flang,† and the talleſt trees; as I could judge, appeared to be feven feet high. I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked like the painted fcene of a city in a theatre. I had been for fome hours extremely preffed by the ne- ceffities of nature; which was no wonder, it being almoſt two days fince I had laſt diſburdened myfelf. I was under great difficulties between urgency and fhame. The beſt expedient I could think on, was to creep into my house, which Laccordingly did; and ſhutting the gate after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would fuffer, and diſcharged my body of that uneasy load. But this was the only time, I was ever guilty of fo uncleanly an action; før which I cannot but hope the candid reader will give fome allowance, after he has maturely and impartially confider- ed my cafe, and the diftress I was in. From this time my conſtant practice was, as foon as I rofe, to perform that bufinefs in open air, at the full extent of my chain; and due care was taken every morning before company came, A ftang is a pole or perch; fixteen feet and a half. Original The author is fingular in the ufe of this phrafe, as think of, not think on, is the uſual míode. S. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 23 that the offenfive matter fhould be carried off in wheel- barrows, by two fervants appointed for that purpoſe. I would not have dwelt fo long upon a circumſtance, that, perhaps, at firſt fight, may appear not very momentous, if I had not thought it neceffary to justify my character, in point of cleanlinefs, to the world; which, I am told, fome of my maligners have been pleafed, upon this and other occafions, to call in queſtion. When this adventure was at an end, I came back, out of my houfe, having occafion for fresh air. The emperor was already defcended from the tower, and advancing on horfeback towards me, which had like to have coft him dear; for the beaſt, though 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 horfeman, kept his feat, till his attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his ma- jeſty had time to difmount. When he alighted, he furvey- ed me round with great admiration; but kept beyond the length of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a fort of vehicles upon wheels, till I could reach them. I took thefe vehicles, and foon emptied 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 veffels, which was contained in earthen vials, into one vehicle, drinking it off at a draught; and fo I did with the rest. The emprefs, and young princes of the blood of both ſexes, attended by many ladies, fat at fome dittance in their chairs; but upon the accident that hap- pened to the emperor's horfe, they alighted, and came near his perfon, which I am now going to defcribe. He is taller by almoſt the breadth of my nail, than any of his court; which alone is enough to ftrike an awe into the be- holders. His features are Itrong and mafculine, with an Auftrian lip and arched nofe, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motious graceful, and his deportment majeftic. He was then paſt his prime, being twenty-eight years and` GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: - Part 1. 1 three quarters old, of which he had reigned about ſeven in great felicity, and generally victorious. For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on my fide, fo 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 defcription. His drefs was very pláin and fimple, and the faſhion of it be- tween, the Afiatic and the European: but he had on his lead a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the creft. He held his fword drawn in his hand to defend himself, if I should happen to break loofe; it was almoſt three inches long, the hilt and feabbard were gold enriched with diamonds. His voice was fhrill, but very clear and articulate, and I could diftmetly hear it, when I ftood up. The ladies and courtiers were all moft magnificently clad, fo that the spot they stood upon, ſeemed to refemble a petticoat ſpread on the ground, em- broidered with figures of gold and filver. His imperial majefty fpoke often to me, and I returned anſwers: but neither of us could underſtand a fyllable. There were fe- veral of his priests and lawyers prefent, (as I conjectured by their habits) who were commanded to addrefs them- ſelves 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 Fran- ca, but all to no purpoſe After about two hours the court retired, and I was left with a strong guard, to pre- vent the impertinence, and probably the malice of the rabble; who were very impatient to crowd about me as + the mafculine ftrength of features, which, Gulliver could not fee till he laid his face upon the ground, and the awful fuperiority of flature in a being, whom he held in his hand; the helmet, the plume, and the fword, are a fine reproof of human pride; the objects of which are tri- fing diftinctions, whether of perfon or rank; the ridicu- lons parade and oftentation of a pigmy, which derive not only their origin but their ufe from the folly, weakneſs, and imperfection of ourſelves and others. H. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 25 near as they durft; and fome of them had the impudence to ſhoot their arrows at me, as I fat on the ground by the door of my houfe, whereof one very narrowly miffed my left eye. But the colonel ordered fix of the ring-leaders to be feized, and thought no punishment to proper, as to deliver them bound into my hands; which fome of his fol- diers 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 fixth, I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive. The poor man fqualled terribly, and the colonel and his officers were in much pain, efpecially when they faw me take out my pen-knife; but I foon put them out of fear; for, looking mildly, and immediately cutting the ſtrings he was bound with, I fet him gently on the ground, and away he ran. I treated the reft in the fame manner, taking them one by one out of my pocket; and I obferved both the foldiers and people were highly delighted at this mark of my clemency, which was repreſented very much to my advantage at court. Towards night I got with fome difficulty into my houfe, where I lay on the ground, and continued to do fo about a fortnight; during which time, the emperor gave orders to have a bed prepared for me. Six hundred beds † of the com- mon meaſure, were brought in carriages, and worked up in my houfe; a hundred and fifty of their beds, fewn to- gether, made up the breadth and length; and thefe were four double; which however kept me but very indifferent- ly from the hardneſs of the floor, that was of ſmooth ftone. By the fame computation, they provided me with fheets, blankets, and coverlets, tolerable.enough for one, who had been fo long inured to hardships. As the news of my arrival fpread through the kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and curious D + Gulliver has obferved great exactneſs in the juſt pro- portion and appearance of the objects thus leflened. ORRERY T 26 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: people to ſee me; fo that the villages were almoſt emptied; and great neglect of tillage and houſehold affairs muſt have enfued, if his imperial majefty had not provided, by ſeveral proclamations and orders of state, againſt this inconveni ency. He directed, that thoſe, who had already beheld me, ſhould return home, and not preſume to come within fifty yards of my houſe, without licenfe from the court; whereby the ſecretaries of ſtate got confiderable fees. In the mean time the emperor held frequent councils, to debate what courfe fhould be taken with me; and I was afterwards affured by a particular friend, a perfon of great quality, who was as much in the fecret as any, that the court was under many difficulties concerning me. They. apprehended my breaking looſe; that my diet would be very expenſive, and might caufe a famine. Sometimes they determined to ſtarve me, or at leaſt to ſhoot me in the face and hands with poifoned arrows, which would foon difpatch me; but again they confidered, that the ftench of fo large a carcafe, might produce a plague in the metropolis, and probably fpread through the whole king- dom. In the midſt of theſe conſultations, feveral 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 favourable an impreffion in the breaſt of his ma- jefty, and the whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial commiffion was iffued out, obliging all the villages, nine hundred yards round the city, to deliver in every morning fix beeves, forty fheep, and other victuals for my fuftc- nance; together with a proportionable quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors; for the due payment of which, his majefty gave affignments upon his treaſury. For this prince lives chiefly upon his own demefnes; fel- dom, except upon great, occafions, raifing any fubfidies upon his fubjects, who are bound to attend him in his wars, at their own expenſe. An eſtabliſhment was alſo made of fix hundred perfons to be my domeſtics, who had board-wages allowed for their maintenance, and tents built for them very conveniently, on each fide of my door. It was likewife ordered, that three hundred tailors ſhould A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 27 make me a fuit of clothes, after the faſhion of the coun- try: that fix of his majeſty's greateſt ſcholars ſhould be employed to inftruct me in their language: and laſtly, that the emperor's horfes, and thoſe of the nobility, and troops of guards, ſhould be frequently exerciſed in my fight, to accustom themſelves to me. All theſe orders were duly put in execution; and in about three weeks, I made a great progreſs in learning their language; during which time the emperor frequently honoured me with his vifits, and was pleaſed to affift my maſters in teaching me. We began already to converfe together in fome fort; and the first words I learnt, were to exprefs my defire "that he would pleaſe to give me my liberty;" which I every day repeated on my knees. His anfwer, as I could apprehend it, 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 peſſo deſmar lon empofo," that is, ſwear a peace with him, and his kingdom. However, that I ſhould be uſed with all kindneſs. And he advifed me to "acquire by my patience and difcreet behaviour, the good opinion of himself and his fubjects." He defired " I would not take it ill, if he gave orders to certain proper officers to ſearch me; for probably I might carry about me ſeveral weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they anfwered the bulk of fo prodigious a perfon." I faid," His majeſty ſhould be fatisfied; for I was ready to ftrip myſelf, and turn up my pockets before him." This I delivered, part in words, and part in figns. He replied, "that, by the laws of the kingdom, I muſt be fearched by two of his officers; that he knew this could not be done without my conſent and affittance; and he had fo good an opinion of my generosity and juſtice, as to trust their perfons in my hands; that whatever they took from me, ſhould be re- turned when I left the country, or paid for at the rate which I would fet upon them." I took up the two offi cers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another fecret pocket, which I had no mind fhould be fearched, wherein I had fome little neceffaries, that were of no confequence to any but myſelf. In one of D 2 28 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVÉLS: my fobs, there was a filver watch, and in the other, a fmall quantity of gold in a purfe. Theſe gentlemen, having pen, ink, and paper about them, made an exact inventory of every thing they faw; and when they had done, defired I would fet them down, that they might deliver it to the emperor. This inventory I afterwards. tranflated into Engliſh, and is word for word as follows: Imprimis, In the right coat-pocket of the great man- mountain, (for fo I interpret the words quinbus fieftrin) af- ter the strictest fearch, we found only one great piece of coarfe cloth, large enough to be a foot-cloth for your ma- jeſty's chief room of ftate. In the left pocket, we faw a huge filver cheft with a cover of the fame metal, which we the fearchers were not able to lift. We defired it should be opened, and one of us ftepping into it, found himſelf up to the mid leg in a fort of duft, fome part whereof flying up to our faces, fet us both a fneezing for ſeveral times to- gether. In his right waistcoat-pocket, we found a pro- digious bundle of white thin fubftances, folded one over another, about the bignefs of three men, tied with a ſtrong cable, and marked with black figures; which we humbly conceive 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 extended twenty Jong poles, refembling the palifados before your majelty's court wherewith we conjecture 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 under- ftand us. In the large pocket on the right ſide of his mid- dle cover, (fo I tranflate the word ranfu-lo, by which they meant my breeches) we faw a hollow pillar of iron, about the length of a man, faſtened to a strong piece of timber, larger than the pillar; and upon one fide of the pillar, were huge pieces of iron sticking out, cut into ftrange figures, which we know not what to make of. In the left pocket, In the ſmaller pocket another engine of the fame kind. on the right fide, were feveral round flat pieces of white and red metal, of different bulk; fome of the white, which feemed to be filver, were fo large and heavy, that my comrade and I could hardly lift them. In the left pocket A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 29 were two black 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 thefe, was encloſed a prodigious plate of fteel; 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 country, his practice was to have his beard with one of theſe, and cut his meat with the other. There were two pockets, which we could not enter: theſe he called his fobs; they were two large flits cut into the top of his middle cover, but ſqueezed cloſe by the preffure of his belly. Out of the right fob, hung a great ſilver 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 tranfparent metal: for, on the tranfparent fide, we faw certain ſtrange figures circu- larly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our fingers ſtopped by that lucid ſubſtance. He put this engine to our ears, which made an inceſſant noiſe 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 opinion, becauſe he affùred us (if we underſtood him right, for he expreffed himself very imperfectly) that he feldom did any thing without con- fulting it. He called it his oracle, and faid, it pointed out the time for every action of his life From the left fob he took out a net almoft large enough for a fiſherman, but contrived to open and ſhut like a purſe, and ſerved him for the fame ufe: we found therein ſeveral maffy pieces of D 3 + Perhaps the author intended to expofe the probable fallacy of opinions derived from the relations of travellers, by fhowing how little truth need to be miſunderſtood t❤ make falsehood ſpecious. H. SO Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: yellow metal, which, if they be real gold, muſt be of im- menfe value. Having thus, in obedience to your majefty's commands, diligently fearched all his pockets, we obferved a girdle about his waift, made of the hide of fome prodigious ani- mal, from which, on the left fide, hung a fword of the length of five men; and on the right, a bag or pouch di- vided into two cells, each cell capable of holding three of your majeſty's fubjects. In one of thefe cells were feveral globes, or balls, of a moſt ponderous metal, about the big- nefs of our heads, and required a ſtrong hand to lift them: the other cell contained a heap of certain black grains, but of no great bulk or weight, for we could hold above fifty of them in the palms of our hands. "This is an exact inventory of what we found about the body of the man-mountain, who ufed us with great civility, and due refpect to your majefty's commiſſion. Signed and fealed on the fourth day of the eighty-ninth moon of your majeſty's aufpicious reign. "CLEFRIN FRELOCK, MARSI FRELOCK." When this inventory was read over to the emperor, he directed me, although in very gentle terms, to deliver up the feveral particulars. He firft called for my fcimitar, which I took out, ſcabbard and all. In the mean time he ordered three thouſand of his choiceft troops (who then at- tended him) to furround me at a diſtance, with their bows and arrows juſt ready to diſcharge; but I did not obſerve it, for mine eyes where wholly fixed upon his majefty. He then defired me to draw my fcimitar, which, although it had got fome ruft by the fea-water, was in most parts ex- ceeding bright. I did fo, and immediately all the troops gave a ſhout between terror and furpriſe; for the fun fhone clear, and the reflection dazzled their eyes, as I waved the ſcimitar to and fro in my hand. His majefty, who is a moft magnanimous prince,t was lefs daunted than I could ↑ He who does not find himſelf diſpoſed to honour this magnanimity fhould reflect, that a right to judge of moral A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 31 expect; he ordered me to return it into the ſcabbard, and caft it on the ground as gently as I could, about fix feet from the end of my chain. The next thing he demanded was one of the hollow iron pillars; by which he meant my pocket piſtols. I drew it out, and at his defire, as well as I could, expreſſed to him the uſe of it; and charg- ing it only with powder, which, by the clofeneſs of my pouch, happened to eſcape wetting in the fea, (an incon- venience against which all prudent mariners take fpecial care to provide) I firft cautioned the emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it off in the air. The astonishment here was much greater, than at the fight of the fcimitar. Hundreds fell down as if they had been ftruck dead; and even the emperor, although he stood his ground, could not recover himſelf in fome time. I delivered up both my piſtols in the fame manner as I had done my fcimitar, and then my pouch of powder and bullets; begging him that the for- mer might be kept from fire, for it would kindle with the fmalleft fpark, and blow up his imperial palace into the air. I likewife delivered up my watch, which the emperor was very curious to fee, and commanded two of his talleſt yeoman of the guards, to bear it on a pule upon their fhoulders, as dray-men in England do a barrel af ale. He was amazed at the continual oife it made, and the motion of the minute-hand, which he could eafily difcern; for their fight is much more acute than ours: he asked the opinions of his learned men about it, which were various and remote, as the reader may well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very perfectly un- derſtand them. I then gave up my filver and copper mo- ney, my purfe with nine large pieces of gold, and fome fmaller ones; my knife and razor, my comb and filver fnuff box, my handkerchief and journal-book, My fcimitar, piftols, and pouch, were conveyed in carriages to his ma- jeſty's ftores; but the rest of my goods were returned me. and intellectual excellence is, with great abfurdity and in- justice, arrogated by him who admires, in a being fix feet high, any qualities that he defpifes in one whofe ftature does not exceed fix inches. H. 2 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: I had, as I before obferved, one private pocket, which efcaped their fearch, wherein there was a pair of ſpecta- cles, (which I fometimes ufe for the weakneſs of mine eyes) a pocket perſpective, and ſome other little conveni- ences; which being of no confequence to the emperor, I did not think myſelf bound in honour to diſcover, and I apprehended they might be loft or ſpoiled if I ventured them out of my poffeffion. THE AUTHOR BILITY OF CHAP. III. DIVERTS THE EMPEROR, AND HIS NO- BOTH SEXES, IN A VERY UNCOMMON MANNER. THE DIVERSIONS OF THE COURT OF LIL- LIPUT DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR HAS HIS LIBERTY GRANTED HIM UPON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MY gentleness and good behaviour had gained fo far on the emperor and his court, and indeed upon the ar- my, and people in general, that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a fhort time. I took all poffible methods to cultivate this favourable difpofition. The na- tives came, by degrees, to be lefs apprehenfive of any dan- ger from me. I would fometimes 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 feek in my hair. I had now made a good progreſs in underſtand- ing and ſpeaking the language. The emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with ſeveral of the country ſhows, wherein they exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted with none fo much as that of the rope-dancers, performed upon a ſlen- der white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches from the ground. Upon which I fhall defire liberty, with the reader's patience, to enlarge a little. This diverfion is only practifed by thofe perfons, who are candidates for great employments, and high favour at court. They are trained in this art from their youth, and A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 33 ་ 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 fix 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 minifters themſelves are commanded to fhow their skill, and to convince the emperor that they have not loſt their faculty. Flimnap, the treaſurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the ftraight rope, at leaſt an inch higher than any other lord in the whole empire. I have feen him do the fum- merfet feveral 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 fecond after the treaſurer; the rest of the great officers are much upon a par. Thefe diverfions are often attended with fatal accidents, 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 command- ed to how their dexterity; for, by contending to excel themſelves and their fellows, they ftrain fo far, that there is hardly one of them, who has not received a fall, and fome of them two or three. I was affured that a year or two before my arrival, Flimnap would infallibly have broke his neck, if one of the king's cushions, that accidentally lay on the ground, had not weakened the force of his fall. There is likewife another diverfion, which is only ſhown before the emperor and emprefs, and firſt minifter, upon particular occaſions. The emperor lays on the table three, Ene filken threads of fix inches long; one is blue, the other red, and the third green. Thele threads are pro- pofed as prizes for thoſe perfons whom the emperor has a mind to diftinguiſh by a peculiar mark of his favour. The ceremony is performed in his majefly's great chamber of + Summerfet, or ſummerfault, a gambol of a tumbler, in which he fprings up, turns heels over head in the air, and comes down upon his feet. Orig. 34 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ftate, where the candidates are to undergo a trial of dex- terity, very different from the former, and fuch as I have not obferved the leaſt reſemblance of in any other country of the new or old world. The emperor holds a ſtick in his. hands, both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candi- dates advancing, one by one, fometimes leap over the ſtick, fometimes creep under it, backward and forward feveral times, according as the flick is advanced or depreffed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the flick, and his first miniſter the other; fometimes the minifter has it en- tirely to himſelf. Whoever performs his part with moſt agility, and holds out the longeft 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 perfons about this court who are not adorned with one of thefe girdles. The horſes of the army, and thoſe of the royal ftables, having been daily led before me, were no longer fhy, but would come up to my very feet without ſtarting. The ri ders would leap them over my hand, as I held it on the ground; and one of the emperor's huntfmen, upon a large courfer, took my foot, fhoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious leap. I had the good fortune to divert the em- peror one day after a very extraordinary manner. I de- fired he would order feveral fticks 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 accordingly, and the next morn- ing fix woodmen arrived with as many carriages, drawn by eight horſes to each. I took nine of thefe fticks, and fixing them firmly in the ground in a quadrangular figure, two feet and a half fquare, I took four other ſticks and tied them parallel at each corner about two feet from the ground then I faſtened my handkerchief to the nine ſticks that flood erect; and extended it on all fides, till it was tight as the top of a drum; and the four parallel ſticks, rifing about five inches higher than the handkerchief, ferved as ledges on each fide. When I had finiſhed my work, I defired the emperor to let a troop of his beſt horſe, twen- ty four in number, come and exerciſe upon this plain. His A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. $5 majefty approved of the propoſal, and I took them up, one by one in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper officers to exerciſe them. As foon as they got into order, they divided into two parties, performed mock ſkir- miſhes, diſcharged blunt arrows, drew their fwords, flied and purfued, attacked and retired, and in fhort difcovered the best military difcipline I ever beheld. The parallel fticks, fecured them and their horfes from falling over the ftage; and the emperor was fo much delighted, that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated feveral days, and once was pleaſed to be lifted up and give the word of com- mand; and with great difficulty, perfuaded even the em-. preſs herſelf, to let me hold her in her clofe chair, within two yards of the ſtage, when ſhe was able to take å full view of the whole performance. It was my good fortune, that no ill accident happened in theſe entertainments, only once a fiery horfe, that belonged to one of the captains, pawing with his hoof ftruck a hole in my handkerchief, and his foot flipping, he overthrew his rider and himſelf; but I immediately relieved them both, and covering the hole with one hand, I fet down the troop with the other, in the fame manner as I took them up. The horfe that fell, was ſtrained in the left ſhoulder, but the rider got no hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could; however, I would not truſt to the ftrength of it any more, in fuch dangerous enterpriſes. About two or three days before I was fet at liberty, as E was entertaining the court with this kind of feats, there arrived an exprefs to inform his majefty, that fome of his fubjects, riding near the place where I was first taken up, had ſeen a great black ſubſtance lying on the ground, very oddly fhaped, extending its edges round, as wide as his majeſty's bed-chamber, and rifing up in the middle, as. high as a man; that it was no living creature, as they ap firſt apprehended, for it lay on the graſs without motion; and fome of them had walked round it ſeveral times; that, by mounting upon each other's fhoulders, they had got to the top, which was flat and even, and, ftamping upon it, they found that it was hollow within; that they humbly conceived it might be fomething belonging to the man- 36 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: mountain; and if his majeſty pleaſed, they would under- take to bring it with only five horſes, 1 prefently knew what they meant, and was glad at heart to receive this intelligence. It feems, upon my first reaching the fhore after our ſhipwreck, I was in fuch confufion, that before I came to the place where I went to fleep, my hat, which I had faſtened with a ſtring to my head while I was rowing, and had ſtuck on all the time I was ſwimming, fell off after I came to land; the ftring as I conjecture, breaking by fome accident, which I never obſerved, but thought my hat had been loft at fea. I entreated his imperial ma- jeſty to give orders, it might be brought to me as foon as poffible, defcribing to him the ufe and the nature of it: and the next day the waggoners arrived with it, but not in a very good condition; they had bored two holes in the brim within an inch and half of the edge, and faſtened two hooks in the holes; theſe 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 coun- try being extremely fmooth and level, it received lefs damage than I expected. Two days after this adventure, the emperor, having ordered that part of his army which quarters in and about his metropolis, to be in a readineſs, took a fancy of divert- ing himſelf in a very fingular manner. He defired I would ftand like a Coloffus, with my legs as far aſunder as I con- veniently could. He then commanded his general (who was an old experienced leader, and a great patron of mine) to draw up the troops in clofe order, and march them un- der me; the foot by twenty-four in a breaſt, and the horſe by fixteen, with drums beating, colours flying, and pikes ad- vanced. This body confifted of three thousand foot, and a thousand horfe. His majefty gave orders, upon pain of death, that every foldier in his marchy fhould obferve the ftricteft decency with regard to my perfon; which however could not prevent fome of the younger officers from turn- ing up their eyes, as they paffed under me; and, to con- fefs the truth, my breeches were at that time in fo ill a condition, that they afforded fome opportunities for laugh- ter and admiration. 1- A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 37 I had fent fo many memorials and petitions for my liber- ty, that his majefty at length mentioned the matter, firſt in the cabinet, and then in a full council; where it was oppoſed by none, except Skyref Bolgolam, who was pleaſed, without any provocation, to be my mortal ene- my. But it was carried against him by the whole board, and confirmed by the emperor. That minifter was gulbet, or admiral of the realm, very much in his maſter's confi- dence, and a perſon well verfed in affairs, but of a morofe and four complexion. However he was at length per- fuaded to comply; but prevailed that the articles and con- ditions upon which I fhould be fet free, and to which I muſt ſwear, fhould be drawn up by himſelf. Theſe articles were brought to me by Skyreſh Bolgolam in perſon, at- tended by two under-fecretaries, and feveral perfons of diſtinction. After they were read, I was demanded to fwear to the performance of them; first in the manner of my own country, and afterwards in the method preſcribed by their laws; which was, to hold my right foot in my left hand, and 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 be curious to have fome idea of the ftyle and manner of expreffion, peculiar to that people, as well as to know the articles upon which I recovered my liberty, I have made a tranflation of the whole inftrument, word for word, as near as I was able, which I here offer to the public. "Golbasto Momarem Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mully Ully Gue, most mighty emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the univerfe, whofe dominions extend five thou- fand bluftrugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to the extremities of the globe; monarch of all monarchs, taller than the fons of men; whofe feet prefs down to the centre; and whofe head ftrikes againſt the fun; at whofe nod the princes of the earth fhake their knees; pleaſant as the fpring, comfortable as the fummer, fruitful as autumn, dreadful as winter. His moft fublime majefty propoſes to the Man-mountain, lately arrived at our celeſtial domi- nions, the following articles which, by a folemn oath, he fhall be obliged to perform: .E €8 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : 1 1ft, The Man-mountain ſhall not depart from our do- minions, without our licenſe under our great feal. "2d, He ſhall not prefume to come into our metropolis, without our exprefs order; at which time, the inhabitants ſhall have two hours warning to keep within doors. 3d, The faid Man-mountain fhall confine his walks to our principal high roads, and not offer to walk, or lie down, in a meadow or field of corn. a 4th, As he walks the faid roads, he fhall take the ut- moſt care not to trample upon the bodies of any of our loving fubjects, their horfes, or carriages, nor take any of our fubjects into his hands without their own confent. "h, If an exprefs requires extraordinary diſpatch, the Man-mountain fhall be obliged to carry in his pocket, the meffenger and horfe, a fix days' journey, once in every moon, and return the faid meffenger back (if ſo required) fafe to our imperial prefence. "6th, He shall be our ally againſt our enemies in the ifland of Blefufcu,t and do his utmoſt to deſtroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade us. "7th, that the faid Man-mountain, ſhall, at his time of leifure, be aiding and affifting to our workmen, in helping to raiſe certain great ftones, towards covering the wall of the principal park, and other our royal buildings. "8th, That, the faid Man-mountain fhall, in two moons' time, deliver in an exact furvey of the circumfe- rence of our dominions, by a computation of his own paces round the coaſt. "Laſtly, That, upon his folemn oath to obferve all the above articles, the faid Man-mountain fhall have a daily allowance of meat and drink, fufficient for the ſupport of 1724 of our ſubjects, with free access to our royal perfon, and other marks of our favour. Given at our palace at Bel- faborac, the twelfth day of the ninety-first moon of our reign." In his deſcription of Lilliput he feems to have had England more immediately in view. In his defcription of Blefufeu, he ſeems to intend the people and kingdom of Frener, OBRIKY. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 39 I ſwore and ſubſcribed to theſe articles, with great cheer- fulness and content, although fome of them were not fo honourable as I could have wifhed; which proceeded wholly from the malice of Skyreſh Bolgolam, the high admiral; whereupon my chains were immediately un- locked, and I was at full liberty. The emperor himſelf, in perfon, did me the honour to be by at the whole ceremony. I made my acknowledgments by proftrating myſelf at his majeſty's feet: but he commanded me to rife; and after- many gracious expreffions, which, to avoid the cenfure of vanity, I fhall not repeat, he added, "that he hoped I ſhould prove a ufeful fervant, and well deferve all the fa- vours he had already conferred upon me, or might do for the future." The reader may pleaſe to obferve, that, in the laſt arti- cle of the recovery of my liberty, the emperor ftipulates to allow me a quantity of meat and drink, fufficient for the fupport 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 propor tion of twelve to one, they concluded from the fimilarity of their bodies, that mine mult contain at leaſt 1724 of theirs, and confequently, would require as much food as was neceflary to fupport that number of Lilliputians. By which the reader may conceive an idea of the ingènuity of that people, as well as the prudent and exact economy of fo great a prince. F 2 40 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: CHAP. IV. MILDENDO, THE METROPOLIS OF LILLIPUT, DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH THE EMPEROR'S PALACE. A CON- VERSATION BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND A PRINCI- PAL SECRETARY, CONCERNING THE AFFAIRS OF THAT EMPIRE. THE AUTHOR'S OFFERS TO SERVE THE EM- PEROR IN HIS WARS. THE first request I made, after I had obtained my liber- ty, was, that I might have licenſe to ſee Mildendo, the Metropolis; which the emperor eaſily granted me, but, with a special charge, to do no hurt either to the inhabi- tants, or their houfes. The people had notice, by procla- mation, of my deſign to viſit the town. The wall, which- encompaffed it, is two feet and a half high, and at leaſt eleven inches broad, fo that a coach and horſes may be driven very ſafely round it; and it is flanked with ſtrong towers at ten feet diſtance. I ftept over the great weſtern gate, and paffed very gently and fideling through the two principal ſtreets, only in my fhort waiſtcoat, for fear of da- maging the roofs and eaves of the houfes with the ſkirts of my coat. I walked with the utmoft circumfpection, to avoid treading on any ftragglers, who might remain in the ftreets; although the orders were very ſtrict, that all peo- ple ſhould keep in their houſes, at their own peril. The garret windows and tops of houfes were fo crowded with fpectators, that I thought in all my travels I had not ſeen a more populous place. The city is an exact ſquare, each fide of the wall being five hundred feet long. The two great freets, which run acrofs 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 paffed, are from twelve to eighteen inches. The town is capable of holding five hundred thouſand fouls; the houſes are from three to five ftories: the fhops and markets well provided. The emperor's palace is in the centre of the city where the two great streets meet. It is inclofed by a wall of two feet high, and twenty fest diftance from the buildings. had his majesty's permiffion to ftep over this wall; and the A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 41 fpace being fo wide between that and the palace, I could eafily view it on every fide. The outward court is a fquare of forty feet, and includes two other courts: in the inmost are the royal apartments, which I was very defirous to fee, but found it extremely difficult; for the great gates, from one fquare into another, were but eighteen inches high, and ſeven inches wide. Now the buildings of the cuter court were at leaſt five feet high, and it was impoffible for me to ftride over them without infinite damage to the pile, though the walls were strongly built of hewn ftone, and four inches thick. At the fame time the emperor had a great defire, that I fhould fee the magnificence of his pa- lace; but this I was not able to do till three days after, which I spent in cutting down with my knife fome of the largeſt trees in the royal park, about a hundred yards' dif- tance from the city. Of thefe trees I made two ſtools, each about three feet high, and ſtrong enough to bear my weight. The people having received notice a fecond 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 ftood upon one ftool, and took the other in my hand; this I lifted over the roof, and gently fet it down on the fpace between the first and fecond court, which was eight feet wide. I then ſtept over the building very conveniently from one ftool to the other, and drew up the firſt after me with a hooked ftick. By this contrivance I got into the inmoſt court; and, lying down upon my fide, I applied my face to the windows of the middle ftories, which were left open on purpoſe, and diſcovered the moſt ſplendid apartments that can be imagined. There I faw the em- prefs and the young princes, in their feveral lodgings, with their chief attendants about them. Her imperial majefty was pleaſed to ſmile very graciouſly upon me, and gave me out of the window her hand to kifs. But I fhall not anticipate the reader with farther defcrip- tions of this kind," becauſe I referve them for a greater work, which is now almoſt ready for the prefs; contain- ing a general defcription of this empire, from its first erec- tion, through a long feries of princes; with a particular account of their wars and politics, laws, learning, and ree E 3 42 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ligion; their plants and animals, their peculiar manners and cuftoms, with other matters very curious and uſeful; my chief defign at prefent being only to relate fuch events and tranfactions, as happened to the public or to myſelf, daring a refidence of about nine months in that empire. One morning, about a fortnight after I had obtained my liberty, Reldrefel, principal Secretary (as they ſtyle him) for private affairs, came to my houfe attended only by one fervant. He ordered his coach to wait at a diſtance, and deſired I would give him an hour's audience; which I readily confented to, on account of his quality and per- fonal merits, as well as of the many good offices he had done me, during my folicitations 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 during our converfation. He began with compliments on my li- berty; faid, "he might pretend to fome merit in it;" buť however added, " that if it had not been for the preſent fituation of things at court, perhaps I might not have ob- tained it ſo foon. For," faid he, " as flouriſhing a con- dition as we may appear to be in to foreigners, we labour under two mighty evils, a violent faction at home, and the danger of an invafion, by a moſt potent enemy from abroad. As to the firſt, you are to underftand, that for above ſeventy moons paſt there have been two ſtraggling parties in this empire, under the names of Trameckfan and Slamechfant from the high and low heels of their shoes, by which they diſtinguiſh themſelves. It is alleged, indeed, that the high heels are moſt agreeable to our ancient con- ſtitution; but, however this be, his majeſty has determin. ed to make ufe only of low heels in the adminiſtration of the government, and all offices in the gift of the crown, as + High-church and Low.church, or whig and tory. As every accidental difference between man and man in perfon and circumftances is by this work rendered extremely con- temptible; fo fpeculative differences are fhown to be equally ridiculous, when the zeal with which they are oppoſed and defended too much exceeds their importance. H. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 43 you cannot but obſerve; 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 animofitics between theſe two parties rum fo high, that they will neither eat nor drink, nor talk with each other. We compute the Trameckfan, or high heels, to exceed us in number; but the power is wholly on our fide. We apprehend his imperial highneſs, the heir to the crown, to have fome tendency towards the high- heels; at least, we can plainly diſcover, that one of his heels is higher than the other, which gives him a hobble in his gait. Now, in the midft of theſe inteftine difquiets, we are threatened with an invafion from the iſland of Ble- fufeu, which is the other great empire of the univerſe, al- moft as large and powerful as this of his majeſty. For as to what we have heard you affirm, that there are other king- doms and ſtates in the world, inhabited by human crea tures as large as yourfelf, our philofophers are in much doubt, and would rather conjecture that you.dropped from the moon, or one of the ftars; becauſe it is certain, that a hundred mortals of your bulk would in a fhort time de- ftroy all the fruits and cattle of his majeſty's dominions: besides, our hiftories of fix thouſand moons, make no men- tion of any other regions, than the two great empires of Lilliput and Blefufcu. Which twe mighty powers have, as I was going to tell you, been engaged in a moſt obfti- nate war for fix-and-thirty moons paft. It began upon the following occafion: It is allowed on all hands, that the primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, was upon the larger end; but his prefent 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 fubjects, upon great penalties, to break the ſmaller end of their eggs. The people fo highly reſented this law, that our hiftories tell us, there have been fix rebellions raiſed on that account; wherein one emperor loft his life, and another his crown. Thefe civil commotions were conftantly fomented by the mo narchs of Blefufcu; and when they were quelled, the ex- 44 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: · १ iles always fled for refuge to that empire. It is computed that eleven thouſand perfons have at feveral times fuffered death, rather than fubmit 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 employments. During the courfe of theſe troubles, the emperors of Blefufcu did fre-. quently expoftulate by their ambaffadors, accufing us of making a fchifm in religion, by offending againſt a funda- mental doctrine of our great prophet Luftrog, in the fifty- fourth chapter of the Blundecral, which is their Alcoran. This however is thought to be a mere ftrain upon the text; for the words are thefe: That all true believers break their eggs at the convenient end. And which is the con- venient end, feems, in my humble opinion, to be left to every man's confcience, or at least in the power of the chief magiſtrate to determine. Now, the Big-endian ex-, iles have found fo much credit in the emperor of Blefuf- cu's court, and ſo much private affiftance and encourage- ment from their party here at home, that a bloody war had been carried on between the two empires for fix-and-thirty moons, with various fuccefs; during which time we have loft forty capital fhips, and a much greater number of fmaller veffels, together with thirty thoufand of our beſt feamen and foldiers; and the damage received by the ene- my, is reckoned to be fomewhat greater than ours. How- ever, they have now equipped a numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make a defcent upon us; and his imperial majefty, placing great confidence in your valour and ftrength, has commanded me to lay this account of his affairs before you." I defired the fecretary to prefent 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 perfon and ſtate againſt all invaders." + Gulliver, without examining the fubject of dispute, A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 45 CHAP. V. THE AUTHOR, BY AN EXTRAORDINARY STRATAGIM, PREVENTS AN INVASION. A HIGH TITLE OF HO- NOUR 1S CONFERRED UPON HIM. AMBASSADORS AR- RIVE FROM THE EMPEROR OF BLEFUSCU, AND SUE FOR PEACE. THE EMPRESS' APARTMENTS ON FIRE BY ACCIDENT; THE AUTHOR INSTRUMENTAL SAVING THE REST OF THE PALACE. IN THE empire of Blefufcu, is an ifland fituated to the north-eaſt of Lilliput, from which it is parted only by a channel of eight hundred yards wide. I had not yet ſeen it, and upon this notice of an intended invafion, I avoided appearing on that fide of the coaft, for fear of being difco- vered by fome of the enemy's fhips, who had received no intelligence of me, all intercourfe between the two em- pires having been ſtrictly forbidden during the war, upon pain of death, and an embargo laid by our emperor upon all veffels whatfoever. I communicated to his majeſty a project I had formed, of feizing the enemy's whole fleet: which, as our fcouts affured us, lay at anchor in the har- bour, ready to fail with the firſt fair wind. I confulted the moſt experienced feamen upon the depth of the chan- nel, which they had often plumbed; who told me, that in the middle at high-water it was feventy glumgluffs deep, which is about fix feet of European meaſure; and the reft of it fifty glumgluffs at moſt. I walked towards the north- eaſt coaſt, over against Blefufcu; where, lying down be- hind a hillock, I took out my fmall perfpective glafs, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, confifting of about fifty men of war, and a great number of tranfports: I then came back to my houfe, 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 pack- readily engaged to defend the emperor. againſt invaſion; becauſe he knew that no fuck monarch had a right to in- vade the dominions of another, for the propagation of truth. H. 46 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: thread, and the bars of the length and fize of a knitting- needle. I trebled the cable to make it ftronger, and for the fame reaſon I twisted three of the iron bars together, bend- ing the extremities into a hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I went back to the north-eaſt coaft, and putting off my coat, fhoes, and ſtockings, walk- ed into the fea, in my leathern jerkin, about half an hour before high water. I waded with what hafte I could, and fwam in the middle about thirty yards, till I felt ground. I arrived at the flest in less than half an hour. The enemy was fo frighted when they faw me, that they leaped out of their ſhips, and fwam to fhore, where there could not be fewer than thirty thouſand fouls: I then took my tack- ling, 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 difcharged feveral thouſand arrows, many of which ftuck in my hands and face; and, befide the exceffive fmart, gave me much diſturbance in my work. My greatest apprehenfion was for mine eyes, which I ſhould have infallibly loft, if I had not fuddenly thought of an expedient. I kept, among other little neceffaries, a pair of fpectacles in a private pocket, which, as I obferved before, had efcaped the emperor's fearchers. Theſe I took out and faſtened as ſtrongly as I could upon my nofe, and thus armed went on boldly with my work, in fpite of the enemy's arrows; many of which ftruck against the glaffes of my fpectacles, but without any other effect, farther than, a little to difcompofe them. I had now faftened all the hooks, and taking the knot in my hand began to pull; but not a ship would ftir, for they were all too fait held by their anchors, fo that the boldeft part of my enter- prize remained. I therefore let go the cord, and leaving the hooks fixed to the hips, I refolutely cut with my knife the cables that faftened the anchors, receiving about 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 eaſe drew fifty of the enemy's largeſt men of war after me. The Blefufcudians, who had not the leaft imagination of what I intended, were at first confounded with attonith- A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 47 ment. They had feen me cut the cables, and thought my defign was only to let the fhips run a-drift, or fall foul on each other: but when they perceived the whole fleet mov- ing in order, and faw me pulling at the end, they fet up ſuch a ſcream of grief and defpair, as it is almoft impoffi- ble to defcribe or conceive. When I had got out of danger, I ſtopped a while to pick out the arrows that ſtuck in my hands and face; and rubbed on fome of the fame ointment that was given me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then took off my fpectacles, and waiting about an hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through the middle with my cargo, and arrived ſafe at the royal port of Lilliput. 3 The emperor and his whole court ſtood on the fhore, ex- pecting the iffue of this great adventure. They faw the fhips move forward in a large half moon, but could not difcern 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 concluded me to be drowned, and that the ene- my's fleet was approaching in a hoftile manner: but he was foon eafed of his fears, for the channel growing fhal- lower every step I made, I came in a fhort time within hearing, and holding up the end of the cable, by which the fleet was faftened, I cried in a loud voice, "Long live the moſt puiffant king of Lilliput!" This great prince re- ceived me at my landing with all poffible encomiums, and created me a wardac upon the ſpot, which is the higheſt title of honour among them. His majesty defined I would take fome other opportuni- ty of bringing all the reft of his enemy's fhips into his ports. And fo unmeaſurable is the ambition of princes, that he feemed to think of nothing less than reducing the whole empire of Blefufcu into a province, and governing it by a viceroy; of deftroying the Big-endian exiles, and compelling that people to break the fmaller end of their eggs, by which he would remain the fole monarch of the whole world. But I endeavoured to divert him from this defign, by many arguments drawn from the topics of poli- cy, as well as juftice; and I plainly protefted, "that I 48 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: "" would never be an inftrument of bringing a free and brave people into flavery. And, when the matter was debated in council, the wifeft part of the miniftry were of my opinion. This open and bold declaration of mine, was fo oppo- fite to the ſchemes and politics of his imperial majesty, that he could never forgive me. He mentioned 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 fecret enemies, could not forbear fome expreffions, which by a fide-wind reflected on me. And from this time began an intrigue between his majesty, and a junto of minifters, maliciouſly bent against me, which broke out in less than two months, and had like to have ended in my utter deſtruction. Of fo little weight are the greateſt fervices to princes, when put into the balance, with a refufal to gratify their paffions. About three weeks after this exploit, there arrived a folemn embaſſy from Blefufcu, with humble offers of a peace; which was foon concluded, upon conditions very advantageous to our emperor, wherewith I fhall not trou- ble the reader. There were fix ambaffadors, with a train of about five hundred perfons; and their entry was very magnificent, fuitable to the grandeur of their maſter, and the importance of their bufinefs. When their treaty was finiſhed, wherein I did them feveral good offices by the credit I now had, or at leaft appeared to have, at court, their excellencies, who were privately told how much I had been their friend, made me a vifit in form. They be gan with many compliments upon my valour and generofi- ty, invited me to that kingdom in the emperor their maf- ter's name, and defired me to show them fome proofs of my prodigious ſtrength, of which they had heard fo many wonders; wherein I readily obliged them, but ſhall not trouble the reader with the particulars. I When I had for fome time entertained their excellencies, to their infinite fatisfaction and furprife, I defired they would do me the honour to prefent my most humble re- fpects to the emperor their mafter, the renown of whoſe virtues had ſo juſtly filled the whole world with admira- A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 49 tion, and whofe royal perfon I refolved to attend, before I returned to my own country. Accordingly, the next time I had the honour to ſee our emperor, I defired his general licenſe to wait on the Blefufcudian monarch, which he was pleafed to grant me, as I could perceive, in a very cold manner; but could not guefs the reafon, till I had a whiſper from a certain perfon," that Flimnap and Bolgo- lam, had reprefented my intercourfe with thofe ambaffa dors, as a mark of difaffection;" from which I am fure my heart was wholly free. And this was the firſt time I be- gan to conceive fome imperfect idea of courts and minifters. It is to be obſerved, that theſe ambaſſadors ſpoke to me by an interpreter, the languages of both empires differing as much from each other as any two in Europe, and each nation priding itſelf upon the antiquity, beauty, and ener gy of their own tongues, with an avowed contempt for that of their neighbour; yet our emperor, flanding upon the advantage he had got by the feizure of their fleet, obliged them to deliver their credentials, and make their fpeech, in the Lilliputian tongue. And it must be con- fefled, that from the great intercourfe of trade and com- merce between both realms, from the continual reception of exiles, which is mutual among them, and from the cuf tom, in each empire, to fend their young nobility and richer gentry to the other, in order to poliſh themſelves by feeing the world, and underſtanding men and manners; there are few perſons of diſtinction, or merchants, or fea- men, who dwell in the maritime parts, but what can hold converſation in both tongues; as I found fome weeks after, when I went to pay my refpe&ts to the emperor of Blefuf- eu, which, in the midst of great misfortunes 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 thofe ar- ticles 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 fubmit. But being now a nardac of the high- eft rank in that empire, fuch offices were looked upon as below my dignity, and the emperor (to do him juſtice) F ! : 50 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: J never once mentioned them to me. However, it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing his majeſty, at leaſt as I then thought, a moſt ſignal fervice. I was alarm- ed at midnight with the cries of many hundred people at my door; by which being fuddenly awaked, Lwas in fome kind of terror. I heard the word burglum repeated incef- ſantly ſeveral of the emperor's court, making their way through the crowd, entreated me to come immediately to the palace, where her imperial majeſty's apartment was on fire, by the carsleffness of a maid of honour, who fell afleep while fhe was reading a romance. I got up in an inftant; and orders being given to clear the way before me, and it being likewiſe a moonſhine night, I made a ſhift to get to the palace without trampling on any of the people. I found they had already applied ladders to the walls of the apartment and were well provided with buckets, but the water was at fome diftance. Thefe buckets were about the fize of a large thimble, and the poor people ſupplied me with them as fast as they could; but the flame was fo violent that they did little good. I might eaſily have fti- fled it with my coat, which I unfortunately left behind me for hafte, and came away only in my leathern jerkin. The cafe feemed wholly defperate and deplorable, and this magnificent palace would have infallibly been burnt down to the ground, if, by a prefence of mind unuſual to me, 1 had not fudely thought of an expedient. I had, the evening before drunk plentifully of a most delicious wine called glimigrim, (the Blefufcudians call it flunec, but ours is efteemed the better fort) which is very diuretic. By the luckieft chance in the world, I had not difcharged myſelf of any part of it. The heat I had contracted by coming very near the flames, and by 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-reft of that noble pile, which had coft fo many ages in erecting, preferved from deftruction. It was now day-light, and I returned to my houfe with- out waiting to congratulate with the emperor; becauſe, although I had done a very eminent piece of fervice, yet I A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 51 could not tell how his majeſty might refent the manner, by which I had performed it: for, by the fundamental laws of the realm, it is capital in any perfon, of what quality foever, to make water within the precincts of the palace. But I was a little comforted by a meflage from his majeſty, “that he would give orders to the grand jufticiary for paſ- fing my pardon in form;" which however I could not ob- tain. And I was privately affured, "that the empress con- ceiving the greateſt abhorrence of what I had done, re- moved to the moſt diſtant fide of the court, firmly re- folved that thoſe buildings ſhould never be repaired for her ufe; and, in the prefence of her chief confidants, could not, forbear vowing revenge." CHAP. VI. OF THE INHABITANTS OF LILLIPUT; THEIR LEARN- ING, LAWS, AND CUSTOMS, THE MANNER OF EDU- CATING THEIR CHILDREN. THE AUTHOR'S WAY OF LIVING IN THAT COUNTRY. HIS VINDICATION OF A GREAT LADY. ALTHOUGH I intend to leave the deſcription of this empire to a particular treatiſe, yet, in the mean time, I am content to gratify the curious reader with fome gene- ral ideas. As the common fize of the natives is fomewhat under fix inches high, fo there is an exact proportion in all other animals, as well as plants and trees: for inftance, the talleſt horfes and oxen, are between four and five inches in height, the ſheep an inch and half, more or leſs; their geefe about the bignefs of a ſparrow, and fo the ſeveral gradations downwards, till you come to the ſmalleſt, which to my fight were almoſt inviſible; but Nature has adapted the eyes of the Lilliputians to all objects proper for their view they fee with great exactneſs, but at no great dif- tance. And, to ſhow the ſharpneſs of their fight towards objects that are near, I have been much pleafed with ob- ferving a cook pulling a lark, which was not ſo large as a common fly: and a young girl threading an inviſible nee- F 2 52 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: dle with invifible filk. Their talleſt trees are about ſeven feet high: I mean fome of thoſe in the great royal park, the tops whereof I could but juſt reach with my filt clinch- ed. The other vegetables are in the fame proportion; but this I leave to the reader's imagination. I fhall fay but little at prefent of their learning, which for many ages has flouriſhed in all its branches 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; but aflant from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies in England. They bury their dead with their heads directly down- ward, becauſe they hold an opinion, that in eleven thou- fand moons they are all to rife again; in which period, the earth (which they conceive to be flat) will turn upfide down, and by this means, they fhall at their refurrection be found ready ſtanding on their feet. The learned among them confefs the abfurdity of this doctrine; but the prac- tice ftill continues, in compliance to the vulgar. There are fome laws and cuſtoms in this empire very pe- culiar; and, if they were not fo directly contrary to thoſe of my own dear country, I fhould Le tempted to fay a little in their juftification. It is only to be wifhed they were as well executed. The firft I fhall mention, relates to in- formers. All crimes againſt the ſtate, are puniſhed here with the utmost feverity; but, if the perfon accufed makes his innocence plainly to appear upon his trial, the accufer is immediately put to an ignominious death; and out of his goods or lands, the innocent perfon is quadruply recom- penſed for the loſs of his time, for the danger he underwent, for the hard@hip of his impriſonment, and for all the charges he has been at in making his defence. Or, if that fund be deficient, it is largely fupplied by the crown. The emperor alſo confers on him fome public mark of his fa- vour, and proclamation is made of his innocence through the whole city. They look upon fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore feldom fail to punish it with death; for they al- lege, that care and vigilance, with a very common under- A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 53 ftanding, may preferve a man's goods from thieves, but honesty has no fence againſt ſuperior cunning; and ſince it is neceffary that there fhould be a perpetual intercourfe of buying and felling, and dealing upon credit; where fraud is permitted and connived at, or has 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 mater of a great fum of money, 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 lit- tle to fay in return, farther than the common anſwer, that different nations had different cuſtoms; for, I confefs, I was heartily afhamed.† Although we ufually call reward and puniſhment the two hinges upon which all government turns, yet I could never obferve this maxim to be put in practice by any na- tion, except that of Lilliput. Whoever can there bring fufficient proof, that he has ftrictly obferved the laws of his country for feventy-three moons, has a claim to cer- tain privileges, according to his quality or condition of life, with a proportionable ſum of money out of a fund ap- propriated for that ufe: he likewife acquires the title of Snilpall, or legal, which is added to his name, but does not defcend to his pofterity. And thefe people 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 fword fheathed in her left, to how fhe is more difpofed to reward than to puniſh. F 3 An act of parliament has been fince paffed, by which fome breaches of truſt have been made capital. Original. 54 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: In chooſing perfons for all employments, they have more regard to good morals, than to great abilities; for, fince government is neceffary to mankind, they believe that the common fize of human underſtanding, is fitted to ſome ſtation or other; and that Providence never intended to make the management of public affairs, a myſtery to be comprehended only by a few perfons of fublime genius, of which there feldom are three born in an age: but they fuppofe truth, juftice, temperance, and the like, to be in every man's power; the practice of which virtues, affifted by experience and a good intention, would qualify any nian for the fervice of his country, except where a courfe of ſtudy is required. But they thought the want of moral virtues, was fo far from being fupplied by fuperior endow- ments of the mind, that employments could never be put into fuch dangerous hands, as thofe of perfous to qualified; and at leaſt, that the mistakes committed by ignorance, in a virtuous difpofition, would never be of fuch fatal con- fequence to the public weal, as the practices of a man, whofe inclinations led him to be corrupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to multiply, and defend his cor- ruptions.. In like manner, the disbelief of a Divine Providence, renders a man incapable of holding any public ſtation; for, fince kings avow themſelves to be the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think nothing can be more abfurd, than for a prince to employ fuch men as difown the authority, under which he acts. In relating thefe, and the following laws, I would only be understood to mean the original inftitutions, and not the moft fcandalous corruptions, into which theſe people are fallen by the degenerate nature of man. For, as to that infamous practice of acquiring great employments by dancing on the ropes, or badges of favour and diſtinction by leaping over fticks, and creeping under them, the rea- der is to obferve, that they were first introduced by the grand-father of the emperor now reigning, and grew to the prefent height by the gradual increate of party and faction. Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we read it A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 55 to have been in fome other countries; for they reafon thus, that whoever makes ill returns to his benefactor, muſt needs be a common enemy to the reft of mankind, from whom he has received no obligation, and therefore fuch a - Man is not fit to live. Their notions relating to the duties of parents and chil- dren, differ extremely from ours. For, fince the conjunc- tion of male and female is founded upon the great law of nature, in order to propagate and continue the fpecies, 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, proceeds from the like natural principle: for which reafon, they will never allow that a child is under any obligation to his father, for begetting him, or to his mo- ther, for bringing him into the world; which, confider- ing the miſeries of human life, was neither a benefit in it- felf, nor intended fo by his parents, whofe thoughts, in their love-encounters, were otherwife employed. Upon thefe, and the like reafonings, their opinion is, that pa- rents, are the last of all others to be truſted with the edu- cation of their own children: and therefore they have in every town public nurferies, where all parents, except cottagers and labourers, are obliged to fend their infants of both fexes to be reared and educated, when they come to the age of twenty moons, at which time they are fup- pofed to have fome rudiments of docility. Thefe fchools are of ſeveral kinds, fuited to different qualities, and both fexes. They have certain profeffors well killed in pre- paring children for fuch a condition of life as befits the rank of their parents, and their own capacities, as well as inclinations. I fhall first fay fomething of the male nurfe- ries, and then of the female. The nurferies for males of noble or eminent birth, are provided with grave and learned profeffors, and their feve- ral deputies. The clothes and food of the children, are plain and fimple. They are bred up in the principles of honour, juftice, courage, modefty, clemency, religion, and love of their country; they are always employed in fome bufinefs, except the times of eating and fleeping, which 56 Part I GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: are very ſhort, and two hours for diverfions confifting of bodily exerciſes. They are dreffed by men till four years of age, and then are obliged to dress themſelves, although their quality be ever fo great; and the women attendants, who are aged proportionably to ours at fifty, perform only the most menial offices. They are never fuffered to con-, verfe with fervants, but go together in fmaller or greater. numbers to take their diverfions, and always in the pre- fence of a profeffor, or one of his deputies; whereby they avoid thofe early bad impreffions of folly and vice, to which our children are fubject. Their parents are fuffered to fee them only twice a year; the vifit is to last but an hour; they are allowed to kifs the child at meeting and parting; but a profeffor, who always ftands by on thoſe occaſions, will not fuffer them to whiſper, or ufe any fond- ling expreffions, of bring any prefents of toys, fweetmeats, and the like. The penfion from each family for the education and en- tertainment of a child, upon failure of due payment, is levi- ed by the emperor's officers. The nurferies for children of ordinary gentlemen, mer- chants, traders, and handicrafts, are managed proportion- ably after the fame manner; only thofe defigned for trades are put out apprentices at eleven years old; whereas thoſe of perfons of quality, continue in their exerciſes till fifteen, which anſwers to twenty-one with us: but the confine- ment is gradually leffened for the laſt three years. In the female nurferies, the young girls of quality are educated much like the males, only they are dreffed by or- derly fervants of their own fex; but always in the prefence of a profeffor or deputy, till they come to dress themſelves, which is at five years old. And if it be found, that theſe nurſes ever prefume to entertain the girls with frightful or foolish ftories, or the common follies practifed by chamber- maids among us, they are publicly whipped thrice about the city, imprifoned for a year, and banished for life to the moſt deſolate part of the country. Thus the young ladies there, are as much afhamed of being cowards and fools, as the men; and defpife all perfonal ornaments, beyond de- cency and cleanliness: neither did I perceive any difference F A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 57 in their education, made by their difference of ſex, only that the exerciſes of the females were not altogether fo ro- buſt; and that ſome rules were given them relating to do- meſtic life, and a fmaller compafs of learning was enjoined them for their maxim is, that among people of quality, a wife should be always a reafonable and agreeable com- panion, becauſe the cannot always be young. When the girls are twelve years old, which among them is the mar- riageable age, their parents or guardians take them home, with great expreffions of gratitude to the profeffors, and feldom without tears of the young lady and her companions. In the nurieries of females of the meaner fort, the chil- dren are inftructed in all kinds of works proper for their fex, and their feveral degrees: thofe intended for apprentices, are diſmiſſed at ſeven years old, the rest are kept to eleven. The meaner families, who have children at thefe nurſe- rics, are obliged, befide their annual penfion, which is as low as poffible, to return to the fteward of the nurſery, a ſmall monthly thare of their gettings, to be a portion for the child; and therefore all parents are limited in their expenfes by the law. For, the Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjuſt, than for people, in fubfervience to their own appetites, to bring children into the world, and leave the burden of fupporting them on the public. As to perfons of quality, they give fecurity to appropriate a certain fum for each child, fuitable to their condition; and thefe funds are always managed with good huſbandry, and the most exact justice. The cottagers and labourers keep their children at home, their bulineis being only to till and cultivate the earth, and therefore their education is of little confèquence to the public: but the old and difeafed among them, are fup- ported by hofpitals: for begging is a trade unknown in this empire. And here it may perhaps divert the curious reader, to give fome account of my domeltics, and my manner of liv- ing in this country, during a refidence of nine months and thirteen days. Having a head mechanically turned, and being likewife forced by neceffity, I had made for my- felf a table and chair convenient enough, out of the largeſt 58 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: trees in the royal park. Two hundred fempftreffes were employed to make me fhirts, and linen for my bed and ta- ble, all of the strongest and coarfeſt kind they could get; which however they were forced to quilt together in feveral folds, for the thickeſt was fome degrees finer than lawn. Their linen is ufually three inches wide, and three feet make a piece. The fempftreffes took my meaſure as I lay on the ground, one ſtanding at my neck, and another at my mid-leg, with a ſtrong cord extended, that each held by the end, while a 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 wrift, and fo on to the neck and the waift, and by the help of my old fhirt, which I difplayed on the ground before them for a pattern, they fitted me exactly. Three hundred tailors were employed in the fame manner to make me clothes; but they had another contrivance for taking my meaſure. I kneeled down, and they raiſed a ladder from the ground to my neck; upon this ladder one of them mounted, and 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 meafured myfelf. When my clothes were finished, which was done in my houfe, (for the largeſt of theirs would not have been able to hold them) they look- ed 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 my victuals, in little convenient huts built about my houfe, where they and their families lived, and prepared me two difhes a-piece. I took up twenty waiters in my hand, and placed them on the table: a hundred more attended below on the ground, fome with dishes of meat, and fome with barrels of wine, and other liquors, flung on their fhoulders; all which the waiters 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 difh of their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel of their liquor a reafonable draught. Their mut- ton yields to ours, but their beef is excellent. I have had a firloin fo large, that I have been forced to make three A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 59 bits of it; but this is rare. My fervants were aſtoniſhed to fee me eat it, bones and all, as in our country we do the leg of a lark. Their geefe and turkies I ufually eat at a mouthful, and I confefs, they far exceed ours. Of their fmaller fowl I could take up twenty or thirty at the end of my knife. "" One day his imperial majefty, being informed of my way of living, defired " that himſelf and bis royal confort, with the young princes of the blood of both fexes, might have the happineſs," as he was pleafed to call it, " of din- ing with me. They came accordingly, and I placed them in chairs of ſtate, upon my table, just over against me, with their guards about them. Flimnap, the lord high treaſurer, attended there likewife with his white ſtaff; and I obferved he often looked on me with a four countenance, which I would not feem to regard, but eat more than uſual, in honour to my dear country, as well as to fill the court with admiration. I have fome private reaſons to believe, that this vifit from his majefty, gave Flimnap an opportunity of doing me ill offices to his maſter. That minifter had always been my fecret enemy, though he outwardly careffed me more than was uſual to the morofe- nefs of his nature. He reprefented to the emperor "the low condition of his treafury; that he was forced to take up money at a great diſcount; that exchequer bills would not circulate under nine per cent: below par; that I had coft his majesty above a million and a half of fprugs (their greateſt gold coin, about the bignefs of a ſpangle) and up- on the whole, that it would be advifable in the emperor to take the first fair occafion of difmiffing me. I am here obliged to vindicate the reputation of an ex- cellent lady, who was an innocent fufferer upon my account. The Treaſurer took a fancy to be jealous of his wife, from the malice of fome evil tongues, who informed him that her grace had taken a violent affection for my perſon; and the court fcandal ran for fome time, that he once came privately to my lodging. This 1 folemnly declare to be a moft infamous falfehood, without any grounds, farther than that her grace was pleaſed to treat me with all inno- cent marks of freedom and friendſhip. I own the came 60 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : often to my houſe, but always publicly, nor ever without three more in the coach, who were ufually her filter and young daughter, and fome particular acquaintance; but this was common to many other ladies of the court. And I ſtill appeal to my fervants round, whether they at any time faw a coach at my door, without knowing what per- fons were in lt. On thofe occafions, when a fervant 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 horfes very carefully in my hands (for, if there were fix horſes, the poftillion always unharneffed four) and place them on a table, where I had fixed a moveable rim quite round, of five inches high to prevent accidents. And I have often had four coaches and horfes at once on my table, full of company, while I fat in my chair, lean- ing my face towards them; and when I was engaged with one fet, the coachmen would gently drive the others round my table. I have paffed many an afternoon very agreeably in thefe converfations. But I defy the treasurer, or his two informers (I will name them, and let them make their best of it) Cluftril and Drunlo, to prove that any perfon ever came to me incognito, except the fecretary Reldrefal, who was fent by exprefs command of his imperial majeſty, as I have before related. I fhould not have dwelt fo long upon this particular, if it had not been a point wherein the reputation of a great lady is fo nearly concerned, to fay no- thing of my own; though I then had the honour to be a nardae, which the treaſurer himſelf is not; for all the world knows, that 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 poft. Thefe falfe informations, which I afterwards came to the knowledge of by an accident not proper to mention, made the trea- furer flow his lady for fome time an ill countenance, and me a worſe; and although he was at laſt undeceived and reconciled to her, yet I lost all credit with him, and found my intereft decline very faft with the emperor himſelf, who was indeed too much governed by that favourite; A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 61 CHAP. VII. THE AUTHOR, BEING INFORMED OF A DESIGN TO AC- CUSE HIM OF HIGH-TREASON, MAKES HIS ESCAPE TO BLEFUSCU. HIS RECEPTION THERE. BEFORE I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue, which had been for two months forming against me. 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 difpofitions of great princes and miniſters; but never expected to have found fuch terrible effects of them, in fo remote a country, governed, as I thought, by very different maxims from thofe in Europe. 1 When I was juſt preparing to pay my attendance on the emperor of Blefufcu, a confiderable perfon at court, (to whom I had been very ſerviceable, at a time when he lay under the higheſt difpleaſure of his imperial majeſty) came to my houſe very privately at night, in a clofe chair, and, without fending his name, defired admittance. The chair- men were difmiffed; I put the chair, with his lordſhip in it, into my coat-pocket: and, giving orders to a truly fervant, to ſay I was indifpofed and gone to fleep, I faften- ed the door of my houſe, placed the chair on the table, ac- cording to my ufual cuſtom, and ſat down by it. After the common falutations were over, obferving his lordship's countenance full of concern, and inquiring into the reafon, he defired "I would hear him with patience, in a matter that highly concerned my honour and my life." His fpeech was to the following effect, for I took notes of it as foon as he left me. "You are to know," faid he," that feveral committees of council, have been lately called in the most private manner, on your account; and it is but two days fince his majeſty came to a full refolution. "You are very fenfible, that Skyreſh Bolgolam (galbet, or high-admiral) has been your mortal enemy, almoſt ever G 62 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: * ince your arrival. His original reaſons I know not; but his hatred is increafed fince your great fuccefs againſt Ble- fufcu, by which his glory as admiral is much obſcured. This lord, in conjunction with Flimnap the high-treafurer, whofe enmity againſt you is notorious on account of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain, and Balmuff the grand jufticiary, have prepared articles of im- peachment against you, for treafon and other capital crimes." This preface made me fo impatient, being conſcious of my own merits and innocence, that I was going to inter- rupt him; when he entreated me to be filent, and thus proceeded: I "Out of gratitude for the favours you have done me, procured information of the whole proceedings, and a copy of the articles; wherein I venture my head for your fervice. "ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST QUINBUS FLESTRIN THE MAN-MOUNTAIN. ARTICLE I. "Whereas, by a ftatute made in the reign of his impe- rial majeſty Calin Deflar Plune, it is enacted, that who- ever fhall make water within the precincts of the royal pa- lace, fhall be liable to the pains and penalties of high-trea fon; notwithſtanding, the faid Quinbus Fleftrin, in open breach of the faid law, under colour of extinguiſhing the Are kindled in the apartment of his majeſty's moſt dear im- perial confort, did maliciously, traitorously, and devilishly by difcharge of his urine, put out the faid fire kindled in the faid apartment, lying and being within the precincts of the ſaid royal palace, againſt the ſtatute in that cafe provided, etc. against the duty, cic. ARTICLE 11. "That the faid Quinbus Fleftrin, having brought the imperial fleet of Blefufcu into the royal port, and being afterwards commanded by his imperial majefty, to feize all the other ſhips of the faid empire of Blefuſcu, and reduce A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. that empire to a province, to be governed by a viceroy from hence, and to deſtroy and put to death, not only ali the Big-endian exiles, but likewife all the people of that empire, who would not immediately forfake the Big-endi- an herefy; he, the faid Fleftrin, like a falfe traitor againſt his moſt auſpicious, ferene, imperial majeſty, did petition to be excufed from the faid fervice, upon pretence of un- willingness to force the confciences, or destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent people.t ARTICLE III. "That, whereas certain ambaffadors arrived from the court of Blefufcu, to fut for peace in his majeſty's court : he, the faid Fleftrin, did, like a falfe traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and divert the faid ambaffadors, although he knew them to be fervants to a prince, who was lately an open enemy to his imperial majefty, and in an open war againſt his faid majeſty. ARTICLE IV. "That the faid Quinbus Fleſtrin, contrary to the duty of a faithful fubject, is now preparing to make a voyage to the court and empire of Bleiufcu, for which he has re- ceived only verbal licenſe from his imperial majeſty; and under colour of the faid licenfe does falfely and traitorously intend to take the faid voyage, and thereby to aid, com- fort, and abet the emperor of Blefufcu, fo lately an enemy, and in open war with his imperial majeſty aforefaid. "There are fome other articles, but theſe are the moſt important, of which I have read you an abſtract. "In the feveral debates upon this impeachment, it muſt be confeſſed that his majeſty gave many marks of his great lenity, often urging the fervices you had done him, and endça- G 2 ↑ A lawyer thinks himſelf honeſt if he does the beſt he can for his client, and a ftate fman if he promotes the inte- reſt of his country, but the Dean here inculcates an higher notion of right and wrong, and obligations to a larger community. H. 64 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: vouring to extenuate your crimes. The treaſurer and ad- miral infifted that you ſhould be put to the moſt painful and ignominious death, by fetting fire on your houſe at night; and the general was to attend with twenty thou- fand men, armed with poifoned arrows to fhoot you on the face and hands. Some of your fervants were to have pri- vate orders to strew a poiſonous juice on your shirts and ſheets, which would foon make you tear your own flesh, and die in the utmoſt torture. The general came into the fame opinion; fo that for a long time there was a majority against you but his majefty refolving, if poffible, to ſpare your life, at laft brought off the chamberlain. "Upon this incident, Reldrefal, principal fecretary for private affairs, who always approved himself your true friend, was commanded by the emperor to deliver his opi- nion, which he accordingly did; and therein juſtified the good thoughts you have of him. He allowed your crimes to be great, but that ftill there was room for mercy, the most commendable virtue in a prince, and for which his majeſty was ſo juſtly celebrated. He faid, the friendſhip between you and him was fo 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 fentiments. That if his majefty, in confideration of your fervices, and purſuant to his own merciful difpofition, would pleafe to fpare your life, and only give orders to put out both your eyes, he humbly conceived, that by this expedient, juftice might in fome meaſure be fatisfied, and all the world would ap- plaud the lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceedings of thofe who have the honour to be his counfellors. That the lofs of your eyes would be no impediment to your bodily ftrength, by which you might ſtill be uſeful to his majeſty: that blindness is an addition to courage, by concealing dangers from us; that the fear you had for your eyes, was the greateft difficulty in bring ing over the enemy's fleet; and it would be fufficient for you to fee, by the eyes of the minifters, fince the greateſt princes do no more. "This propofal was received with the utmoſt diſappro- A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 05 bation by the whole board. Bolgolam the admiral could not preferve his temper; but riling up in fury, faid, he wondered how the fecretary durft prefume to give his opi- nion for preferving the life of a traitor: that the fervices you had performed were, by all true reaſons of ſtate, the great aggravation of your crimes; that you, who was able to extinguish the fire, by diſcharge of urine in her majeſty's apartment, (which he mentioned with horror) might at another time raife an inundation by the fame means, to drown the whole palace; and the fame ftrength, which enabled you to bring over the enemy's flect, might ferve, upon the firſt diſcontent, to carry it back: that he had good reafons to think you were a Big-endian in your heart; and as treafon begins in the heart, before it appears in overt acts, fo he acculed you as a traitor on that account, and therefore infifted you ſhould be put to death. "The treaſurer was of the fame opinion: he ſhowed to what traits his majefty's revenue was reduced, by the charge of maintaining you, which would foon grow infup- portable that the fecretary's expedient of putting out your eyes, was fo far from being a remedy against this evil, that it would probably increaſe it, as is manifeft from the common practice of blinding fome kind of fowls, after which they fed the faſter, and grew fooner fat: that his facred majesty and the council, who are your judges, were in their own confciences fully convinced of your guilt, which was a fufficient argument to condemn you to death, without the formal proofs required by the ftrict letter of the law.t G 3 There is fomething fo odious in whatever is wrong, that even thoſe whom it does not ſubject to puniſhment, eu- deavour to colour it with an appearance of right; but the attempt is always unfuccefsful, and only betrays a con- fcioufnels of deformity by showing a defire to hide it. Thus the Lilliputian court pretended a right to difpenfe with the ſtrict letter of the law to put Gulliver to death, though by the strict letter of the law only he could be convicted of a crime; the intention of the flatute not being to fuffer the palace rather to be burnt than piffed upon. H. 66 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: "But his imperial majeſty, fully determined against capital punishment, was graciously pleafed to ſay, that fince the council thought the lofs of your eyes too easy a cenfure, fome other may be inflicted hereafter. And And your friend the ſecretary, humbly defiring to be heard again, in anſwer to what the treaſurer had objected, concerning the great charge his majefty was at in maintaining you, faid, that his excellency, who had the ſole diſpoſal of the em- peror's revenue, might eaſily provide againſt that evil, by gradually leffening your eſtabliſhment; by which, for want of fuficient food, you will grow weak and faint, and lofe your appetite, and confume in a few months; neither would the ſtench of your carcafe 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 fubjects 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 ſkele- ton as a monument of admiration to poſterity. A “Thus, by the great friendſhip of the fecretary, the whole affair was compromifed. It was ſtrictly enjoined, that the project of ſtarving you by degrees fhould be kept a fecret; but the fentence of putting out your eyes, was entered on the books; none diffenting, except Bolgolam the admiral, who, being a creature of the emprefs, was perpetually in- ſtigated by her majeſty to inſiſt upon your death, fhe having borne perpetual malice againſt you, on account of that in- famous and illegal method you took to extinguiſh the fire in her apartment. "In three days your friend the fecretary will be directed to come to your houfe, and read before you the articles of impeachment; and then, to fignify the great lenity and favour of his majefty and council, whereby you are only condemned to the lofs of your eyes, which his majeſty docs not queſtion you will gratefully and humbly fubmit to; and twenty of his majefty's furgeons will attend, in or- der to fee the operation well performed, by difcharging. 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; A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 67 and to avoid fufpicion, I muft immediately return, in as private a manner as I came." His lordship did fo; 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 affured, from the practice of former times) that after the court had decreed any cruel execution, either to gratify the monarch's refentment, or the malice of a favourite, the emperor always made a ſpeech to his whole council, expreffing his great lenity and ten- dernefs, as qualities known and confeffed by all the world. This fpeech was immediately published throughout the kingdom; nor did any thing terrify the people fo much, as thofe encomiums on his majefty's mercy; becauſe it was obferved, that the more thefe praifes were enlarged and infifted on, the more inhuinan was the puniſhment, and the fufferer more innocent. Yet, as to myſelf, I muſt confefs, having never been defigned for a courtier, either by my birth or education, I was fo ill a judge of things, that I could not difcover the lenity and favour of this fen tence, but conceived it (perhaps erroneouſly) rather to he rigorous than gentle. I fometimes thought of ftanding my trial; for, although I could not deny the facts alleged in the feveral articles, yet I hoped they would admit of fome extenuation. But having in my life perufed many ſtate- trials, which I ever obferved to terminate as the judges. thought fit to direct, I durft not rely on fo dangerous a de- cifion, in fo critical a juncture, and againſt fuch powerful enemies. Once, I was ftrongly bent upon reſiſtance: for, while I had liberty, the whole ftrength of that empire could hardly fubdue me, and I might easily with ſtones pelt the metropolis to picces; but I foon rejected that pro- ject with horror, by remembering the oath I had made to the emperor, the favours I received from him, and the high title of nardac he conferred upon me. Neither had I fo foon learned the gratitude of courtiers, to perfuade myſelf, that his majesty's prefent feverities acquitted me of all paſt obligations. ་ At last, I fixed upon a refolution, for which it is proba- ble I may incur fome cenfure, and not unjuſtly: for I con- 68 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: fefs I owe the preferving of mine eyes, and confequently my liberty, to my own great raſhneſs and want of experi- ence; becauſe, if I had then known the nature of princes and minifters, which I have fince obferved in many other courts, and their methods of treating criminals lefs obnox- ious than myſelf, I fhould, with great alacrity and readi- nefs, have fubmitted to fo eafy a punishment. But hurried on by the precipitancy of youth, and having his imperial majefty's licenfe to pay my attendance upon the emperor of Blefufcu, I took this opportunity, before the three days were elapfed, to fend a letter to my friend the ſecretary, fignifying my refolution of fetting out that morning for Blefufcu, purſuant to the leave I had got; and, without waiting for an answer, I went to that fide of the iſland where our feet lay. I feized a large man of war, tied a cable to the prow, and, lifting up the anchors, I ftripped myfelf, put my clothes (together with my coverlet, which I carried under my arm) into the veffel, and drawing it after me, between wading and fwimming, arrived at the royal port of Blefufcu, where the people had long expected me: they lent me two guides to direct me to the capital city, which is of the .me name. I held them in my hands, till I came within two hundred yards of the gate, and de- fired them "to fignify my arrival to one of the fecretaries, and let him know, I there waited his majeſty's command.'' I had an anſwer in about an hour, "that his majefty, at- tended 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 horfes, the emprefs and ladies from their coaches, and I did not per- ecive they were in any fright or concern. I lay on the ground to kifs his majefty's and the emprefs' hands. I told his majesty," that I was come according to my pro- mife, and with the licenfe of the emperor my mafter, to have the honour of feeing fo mighty a monarch, and to of- fer him any fervice in my power, confiftent with my duty to my own prince; not mentioning a word of my difgrace, becauſe I had hitherto no regular information of it, and might fuppofe myſelf wholly ignorant of any fuch deſign; heither could I reaſonably conceive that the emperor would A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 69 diſcover the fecret, while I was out of his power; where- in, however, it foon appeared I was deceived. I fhall not trouble the reader with the particular account of my reception at this court, which was fuitable to the generofity of fo great a prince; nor of the difficulties I was in for want of a houſe and bed, being forced to lie on the ground, wrapped up in my coverlet. CHAP. VIII. THE AUTHOR, BY A LUCKY ACCIDENT, PINDS MEANS TO LEAVE BLEFUSCU; AND, AFTER SOME DIFFICUL- TIES, RETURNS SAFE TO HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. THREE days after my arrival, walking out of curiofity to the north-east coast of the iſland, I obferved, about half a league off in the fea, fomewhat that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my ſhoes and ſtockings, and, wading two or three hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer by force of the tide: and then plainly faw it to be a real boat, which I fuppofed might by fome tem- peſt have been driven from a ſhip: whereupon I returned immediately towards the city, and defired his imperial ma- jefty to lend me twenty of the talleſt veffels he had left, after the lofs of his fleet, and three thouſand feamen, under the command of his vice-admiral. This fleet failed round, while I went back the ſhorteſt way to the coaft, where I firſt diſcovered the boat; I found the tide had driven it ſtill nearer. The feamen were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand twisted to a fufficient ſtrength. When the ſhips came up, I ftripped myſelf, and waded till I came within a hundred yards of the boat, after which I was forced to fwim till I got up to it. The feamen threw me the end of the cord, which I faſtened to a hole in the forepart of the boat, and the other end to a man of war: but I found all my labour to little purpofe; for, being out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this neceffity I was forced to fwim behind, and puſh the boat forward, as often as I could, with one of my hands; and the tide favouring 70 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: me, I advanced fo far, that I could just hold up my chin and feel the ground. I refted two or three minutes, and then gave the boat another fhove, and ſo on, till the fea was no higher than my arm-pits; and now the moſt la- borious part being over, I took out my other cables, which were ftowed in one of the fhips, and fastened them firit to the boat, and then to nine of the veffels which attended me; the wind being favourable, the feamen towed, and I ſhoved until we arrived within forty yards of the ſhore, and waiting till the tide was out, I got dry to the boat, and by the affiftance of two thousand men, with ropes and en- gines I made a fhift to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged. I fhall not trouble the reader with the difficulties I was under, by the help of certain paddles, which coft me tea days making, to get my boat to the royal port of Biefuſcu, where a mighty concourfe of people appeared upon my ar- rival, full of wonder at the fight of fo prodigious a vellel. I told the emperor " that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way, to carry me to fome place, whence I might return to my native country; and begged his majef- ty's orders for getting materials to fit it up, together with his license to depart;" which, after fome kind expoftula- tions he was pleaſed to grant. I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have heardt of any exprefs relating to me from our emperor to the court of Blefufcu. But I was afterward given pri- vately to underſtand, that his imperial majeſty, never imagining I had the leaſt notice of his deſigns, believed I was only gone to Blefufcu in performance of my promife, according to the licenſe he had given me, which was well known at our court, and would return in a few days, when the ceremony was ended. But he was at last in pain at my long abfence; and after confulting with the treaſurer "I did very much wonder not to have heard," &c. This fentence is ungrammatical, it ſhould have been, “ I did very much wonder, in all this time, at not having heard of any exprefs," &c. S A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 71 and the rest of that cabal, a perſon of quality was diſpatch- ed with the copy of the articles againſt me. This envoy had inſtructions to reprefent to the monarch of Blefufcu, "the great lenity of his mafter, who was content to pu- niſh me no farther 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 farther added, " that in order to maintain the peace and amity between both empires, his maſter expected, that his brother of Blefufcu, would give orders to have me fent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be puniſhed as a traitor.” The emperor of Blefufcu, having taken three days to confult, returned an anſwer confifting of many civilities and excufes. He faid, "that, as for fending me bound, his brother knew it was impoffible; 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 however both their majelties would foon be made eafy; for I had found a prodigious veſſel on the ſhore, able to carry me on the fea, which he had given orders to fit up, with my own affiſtance and direction; and he hoped, in a few weeks, both empires would be freed from fo in- fupportable an incumbrance. With this anfwer the envoy returned to Lilliput, and the monarch of Blefufcu related to me all that had pait; offering me at the fame time (but under the ftrictest confi- dence) his gracious protection, if I would continue in his fervice wherein, although I believed him fincere, yet I refolved never more to put any confidence in princes or minifters, where I could poffibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due acknowledgments for his favourable inten- tions, I humbly begged to be excufed. I told him "that fince fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a veffel in my way, I was refolved to venture myfelf on the ocean, rather than be an occaſion of difference between two fuch mighty monarchs." Neither did I find the emperor at all diſpleaſed; and I diſcovered by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my refolution, and fo were most of his minifters. 72 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : Theſe confiderations moved me to haften my departure fomewhat fooner than I intended; to which the court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed. Five hundred workmen were employed to make two fails to my boat, according to my directions, by quilting thirteen folds 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 ſtrongeſt of theirs. A great ftone that I happened to find, after a long fearch by the fea fhore, ferved me for an anchor. I had the tallow of three hundred cows, for greafing my boat, and other uſes. - I was at incredible pains in cutting down fome of the largeſt timber-trees, for oars and mafts, wherein I was however much aſſiſted by his majeſty's ſhip-carpenters, who helped me in ſmoothing them, after I had done the rough work. In about a month, when all was prepared, I fent to re- ceive his majeſty's commands, and to take my leave. The emperor and royal family came out of the palace; I lay down on my face to kifs his hand, which he very graciouf ly gave me fo did the empress and young princes of the blood. His majeſty prefented me with fifty purfes of two hundred prugs apiece, 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 de- parture were too many to trouble the reader with at this time. I ftored the boat with the carcaffes of a hundred oxen, and three hundred sheep, with bread and drink propor- tionable, and as much meat ready dreffed, 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 into 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 emperor would by no means permit; and, befides a diligent fearch into my pockets, his majefty engaged my honour "not to carry away any of his fubjects, although with their own con fent and defire." 1 A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 73 Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I fet fail on the twenty-fourth day of September, 1701, at fix in the morning; and when I had gone about four leagues to the northward, the wind being at fouth-eaft, at fix in the evening, I defcried a ſmall ifland, about half a league to the north-west. I advanced forward, and caſt anchor on the lee-fide of the iſland, which feemed to be uninhabit ed. I then took fome refreſhment, and went to my reft. I flept well, and as I conjecture at least fix hours, for I found the day broke in two hours after I awaked. It was a clear night. I eat my breakfaſt before the fun was up; and heaving anchor, the wind being favourable, I ſteered the fame courfe that I had done the day before, wherein I was directed by my pocket compafs. My intention was to reach, if poffible, one of thofe iflands which I had rea- fon to believe lay to the north-east of Van Diemen's land. Idiſcovered nothing all that day; but upon the next, about three in the afternoon, when I had by my compu- tation made twenty-four leagues from Blefufcu, I defcried a fail ſteering to the fouth-eaft; my courfe 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 the fpied me, then hung out her ancient, and diſcharged a gun. It is not eaſy to ex- prefs 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 fhip flackened her fails, and I came up with her between five and fix in the evening, September 26; but my heart leapt within me to fee her Engliſh co- lours. I put my cows and ſheep into my coat-pockets, and got on board with all my little cargo of provifions. The veffel was an Engliſh merchantman, returning from Japan by the North and South feas; the captain Mr. John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil man, and an excellent failor. We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees fouth, there were about fifty men in the fhip; and here I met an old com- rade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the captain. This gentleman treated me with kindneſs, and defired. I would let him know what place I came from laſt, and whither I was bound; which I did H 74 Part 1. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: in a few words, but he thought I was raving, and that the dangers I hadt underwent had diſturbed my head; where- upon I took my black cattle and fheep out of my pocket, which, after great aftonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then fhowed him the gold given me by the emperor of Blefufcu, together with his majeſty's picture at full length, and fome other rarities of that country. I gave him two purfes of two hundred fprugs each, and promifed when we arrived in England, to make him a prefent of a cow and a ſheep big with young. I ſhall not trouble the reader with a particular account of this voyage, which was very profperous 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 fheep; I found her bones in a hole, pick- ed clean from the flesh. The rest of my cattle I got fafe on fhore, and fet them a grazing in a bowling-green at Greenwich, where the fineness of the grafs made them feed very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary: neither could I poffibly have preferved them in fo long a voyage, if the captain had not allowed me fome of his beſt bifcuit, which rubbed to powder, and mingled with water, was their conftant food. The fhort time I continued in England, I made a confiderable profit by fhowing my cattle to many perfons of quality and others: and before I began my fecond voyage, I fold them for fix hundred pounds. Since my laft return I find the breed is confiderably increaſed, efpecially the fheep, which I hope will prove much to the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the fineness of the fleeces. I flayed but two months with my wife and family; for my infatiable defire of feeing foreign countries, would fuf- fer me to continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her in a good houfe at Redriff. My remaining ſtock I carried with me, part in money and part in goods, in hopes to improve my fortunes. My eldeſt +" I had underwent," is not English; it fhould have been “ I had undergone';” or, “ I underwent." S. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT. 75 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; fo that I was not in any danger of leaving my fami- ly upon the parish. My fon Johnny, named fo after his uncle, was at the grammar-ſchool, and a towardly child. My daughter Betty (who is now well married, and has children) was then at her needle-work. I took leave of my wife, and boy, and girl, with tears on both ſides, and went on board the Adventure, a merchant-ſhip 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. # H 2 Page Missing in Original Volume Page Missing in Original Volume Page Missing in Original Volume Page Missing in Original Volume PART II. A VOYAGE ΤΟ BROBDINGNAG. A CHAP. I. GREAT STORM DESCRIBED, THE LONG-BOAT SENT TO FETCH WATER, THE AUTHOR GOES WITH IT TO DISCOVER THE COUNTRY. HE IS LEFT ON SHORE, IS SEIZED BY ONE OF THE NATIVES, AND CARRIED TO A FARMER'S HOUSE. HIS RECEPTION, WITH SEVE- RAL ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED THERE. A DE- SCRIPTION OF THE INHABITANTS. HAVING been condemned, by nature and fortune, to active and reſtlefs life, in two months after my return, I again left my native country, and took ſhipping in the Downs on the 20th day of June, 1702, in the Adventure, captain John Nicholas, a Cornifh man, commander, bound for Surat. We had a very profperous gale till we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh wa- ter; but difcovering a leak, we unfhipped our goods, and wintered there; for, the captain falling fick of an ague, we could not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then fet fail, and had a good voyage till we paffed the Straits of Madagaſcar; but having got northward of that iſland, and to about five degrees fouth latitude, the winds, which in thofe feas are obferved to blow a conſtant equal A VOYAGE TO BROBDİNGNAG. 81 about under him for fome time, at laſt eſpied me as I lay on the ground. He confideréd a while, with the caution of one who endeavours to lay hold animal, in fuch a manner, that a ſmall dangerous it fhall not be able either to fcratch or to bite him, as I myſelf have fometimes done with a weafel in England. At length he ventured to take me behind, by the middle, between his fore-finger and thumb, and brought me within three yards of his eyes, that he might behold my fhape more perfectly. I gueffed his mean- ing, and my good fortune gave me fo much prefence of mind, that I refolved not to ftruggle in the leaft as he held me in the air above fixty feet from the ground, although he grievously pinched my fides, for fear I fhould flip through his fingers. All 1 ventured was to raife mine eyes toward the fun, and place my hands together in a fupplicating poſture, and to ſpeak fome words in an humble melancholy tone, fuitable to the condition I then was in: for I appre- hended every moment that he would 'daſh me againſt the ground, as we ufually do any little hateful animal, which we have a mind to deftroy. But my good ftar would have it, that he appeared pleaſed with my voice and geſtures, and began to look upon me as a curiofity, much wondering to hear me pronounce articulate words, although he could' not underſtand them. In the mean time I was not able to forbear groaning and fhedding 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 my meaning; for, lifting up the lappet of his coat, he put me gently into it, and im- mediately ran along with me to his maſter, who was a ſubſtantial farmer, and the fame perſon I had firſt ſeen in the field. • † Our inattention to the felicity of fenfitive beings, merely becauſe they are ſmall, is here forcibly reproved many have wantonly crushed an infect, who would fhudder at cutting the throat of a dog; but it ſhould always be remembered, that the leaſt of theſe In mortal fufferance feels a pang as great As when a giant dies." H. RE 82 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: $ 1 The farmer having (as I fuppofe by their talk) received fuch an account of me as his fervant could give him, took a piece of a ſmall ftraw, about the ſize of a walking ſtaff, and therewith lifted up the lappets of my coat; which it ſeems he thought to be fome kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs afide 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 feen in the fields any little creature that refembled me?" He then placed me foftly on the ground upon all four, but I got immediately up, and walked flowly backward and forward, to let thofe people fee I had no intent to run away. They all fat down in a circle about me, the better to obferve my motions. I pulled off my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I fell on my knees, and lifted up my hands and eyes, and ſpoke feveral words as loud as I could: I took a purfe of gold out of my pocket, and humbly prefented it to him. He received it on the palm of his hand, then applied it cloſe to his eye to fee what it was, and afterwards turned it feveral 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 fix Spanish pieces of four piftoles each, befide twenty or thirty fmaller coins. I faw him wet the tip of his little finger upon his tongue, and take up one of my largeſt pieces, and then another; but he feemed to be wholly ig- norant what they were. He made me a fign to put them again into my purfe, and the purfe again into my pocket, which, after offering it to him feveral times, I thought it best to do. The farmer, by this time, was convinced I muſt be a rational creature. He spoke often to me; but the found of his voice pierced my ears like that of a water-mill, yet his words were articulate enough. I answered as loud as could in feveral languages, and he often laid his ear within two yards of me; but all in vain, for we were wholly un- intelligible to each other. He then fent his fervants to their work, and taking his handkerchief out of hi pocket, A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 83 he doubled and fpread it on his left hand, which he placed flat on the ground with the palm upward, making me a fign to ſtep into it, as I could eafily do, for it was not above a foot in thickneſs. I thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, laid myfelf at full length upon the handkerchief, with the remainder of which he lapped me up to the head for farther fecurity, and in this manner car- ried me home to his houfe. There he called his wife, and ſhowed me to her; but ſhe ſcreamed and ran back, as wo- men in England do at the fight of a toad or a ſpider. However, when he had a while feen my behaviour, and how well I obferved the figns her huſband made, fhe was foon reconciled, and by degrees grew extremely tender of me. It was about twelve at noon, and a fervant brought in dinner. It was only one fubftantial diſh of meat, (fit for the plain condition of a huſbandman) in a diſh of about four-and-twenty feet diameter. The company were the farmer and his wife, three children, and an old grandmo- ther. When they were fat down, the farmer placed me at fome diftance 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 miſtreſs ſent her maid for a fmall dram-cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it with drink, I took up the veffel with much difficulty in both hands, and in a moft refpe&ful manner drank to her ladyship's health, expreffing the words as loud as I could in English, which made the company laugh fo heartily, that I was almoft deafened with the noife. This liquor tafted like a ſmall cyder, and was not unpleasant. Then the maſter made me a fign 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 eafily conceive and excufe, I happen- ed to ftumble againſt a cruft, and fell fat on my face, but received no hurt. I got up immediately, and obferving the good people to be in much concern, I took my hat 84 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: (which I held under my arm out of good manners) and waving it over my head, made three huzzas, to how I had got no mifchief by my fall. But advancing forward to- wards my maſter (as I fhall henceforth call him) his young- eft fon who fat next him, an arch boy of about ten years old, took me up by the legs, and held me fo high in the air, that I trembled every limb: but his father fnatched me from him, and at the fame time gave him fuch a box on the left ear, as would have felled an European troop of horfe to the earth, ordering him to be taken from the ta- ble. But being afraid the boy might owe me,a fpite, and well remembering how mifchievous all children among us naturally are to fparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and pup- py-dogs, I fell on my knees, and pointing to the boy, made my maſter to underſtand, as well as I could, that I defired his fon might be pardoned. The father complied, and the lad took his feat again, whereupon I went to him and kiffed his hand, which my mafler took, and made him ftroke me gently with it. J In the midst of dinner, my miftrefs' favourite cat leaped into her lap. I heard a noife behind me like that of a do- zen ftocking-weavers at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from the purring of that animal, who feemed 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 ftroking her. The fierceness of this creature's countenance altogether difcompofed me; though I ftood at the farther end of the table above fifty feet off; and although my miſtreſs held her faſt, for fear The might give a fpring, and feize me in her talons. But it happened there was no danger; for the cat took not the leaft notice of me, when my mafter placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been always told, and found true by experience in my travels, that flying or diſcovering fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way to make it purſue or attack you, fo I refolved, in this dangerous juncture, to fhow no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity five or fix times before the very head of the cat, and came within half a yard of her; whereupon the drew herfelf back, as if he were more afraid of me. I had lefs apprehenfion concerning the dogs, " A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 85 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 greyhound, fomewhat taller than the maſtiff, but not fo large. When dinner was almoſt done, the nurſe came in with a child of a year old in her arms, who immediately fpied me, and began a fquall, that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelfea, after the ufual oratory of in- fants to get me for a play-thing. The mother, out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me towards the child, who prefently feized me by the middle, and got my head into his mouth, where I roared fo loud that the urchin was frighted, and let me drop, and I fhould infallibly have broke my neck, if the mother had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to quiet her babe, made nfe of a rattle, which was a kind of hollow veffel filled with great ftones, and faſtened by a cable to the child's waift: but all in vain, fo that he was forced to apply the last remedy by giving it fuck. I must confefs no object ever difgufted me fo much as the fight of her monftrous breaſt, which I can- not tell what to compare with, fo as to give the curious reader an idea of its bulk, fhape, and colour. It flood pro- minent fix feet, and could not be less than fixteen in cir- cumference. The nipple was about half the bignefs of my head, and the hue both of that and the dug, fo varied with fpots, pimples, and freckles, that nothing could appear more naufeous: for I had a near fight of her, fhe fitting down the more conveniently to give fuck, and I ſtanding on the table. This made me reflect upon the fair ſkins of our English ladies, who appear fo beautiful to us, only be- caufe they are of our own fize, and their defects not to be feen but through a magnifying glafs; where we find by experiment, that the fmootheft and whiteſt ſkins look rough, and coarfe, and ill-coloured. I remember, when I was at Lilliput, the complexions of thoſe diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and talking upon this fubject with a perfon of learning there, who was an intimate friend of mine, he faid that my face appeared much fairer and fmoother when he looked on me from the ground, than it did upon a I 86 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : ; nearer view when I took him up in my hand, and brought him clofe, which he confeffed was at first a very fhocking fight. He faid, " he could difcover great holes in my ſkin that the ſtumps of my beard were ten times ftronger than the briſtles of a boar, and my complexion made up of ſe- veral colours altogether difagreeable;" although 1 muft beg leave to ſay for myfelf, that I am as fair as moſt of my fex and country, and very little fun-burnt by all my tra- vels. On the other fide, difcourfing of the ladies in that emperor's court, he uſed to tell me, 14 one had freckles, another too wide a mouth, a third too large a noſe;" no- thing of which I was able to diſtinguiſh. I confefs, this reflection was obvious enough; which, however, I could not forbear, left the reader might think thoſe vaſt crea- tures were actually deformed: for I muſt do them the juf tice to fay, they are a comely race of people; and particu- larly the features of my mafter's countenance, although he were but a farmer, when I beheld him from the height of fixty feet, appeared very well proportioned. When dinner was done, my mafter went out to his la- bourers, and, as I could difcover by his voice and geſture, gave his wife a fet charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and difpofed to fleep, which my miſtreſs per- ceiving, fhe put me on her own bed, and covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and coarfer than the main-fail of a man of war. I flept about two hours, and dreamt I was at home with my wife and children, which aggravated my forrows when I awaked,f and found myfelf alone in a vast room, be- tween two and three hundred feet wide, and above two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards wide. My mif- trefs was gone about her houſehold affairs, and had locked me in. The bed was eight yards from the floor. Some natural neceſſities required me to get down; I durft not prefume to call, and if I had, it would have been in vain, with ſuch a voice as mine, at fo great a diſtance as from the This ought to have been" awoke," the preterit of the verb neuter, not "awaked," the pret of the verb active. $. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 87 room where I lay, to the kitchen where the family kept.ł While I was under thefe circumftances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran fmelling backwards and forwards on the bed. One of them came up almoít to my face, where- upon I rofe in a fright, and drew out my hanger to defend myſelf. Thefe horrible animals had the boldneſs, to at- tack me on both fides, 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 feeing 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 gent- ly to and fro on the bed, to recover my breath, and loſs of fpirits. Thefe creatures were of the fize of a large maſtiff, but infinitely more nimble and fierce; ſo that if I had ta- ken off my belt before I went to fleep, I muſt have infallibly been torn to pieces and devoured. I meaſured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to be two yards long, wanting an inch; but it went againſt my ftomach to drag the car- cafs off the bed, where it ſtill lay bleeding; I obſerved it had yet fome life, but with a ſtrong flaſh across the neck, I thoroughly diſpatched it. 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, fmiling, and making other ſigns to ſhow I was not hurt; whereat the was extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then the fet 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 fcabbard. I was preffed to do more than one thing which another could trot do for me, and therefore endeavoured to make my miſtreſs underſland, that I defired to be ſet down on the floor; which after ſhe had done, my baſhfulneſs would not feffer me to exprefs myfelf farther, than by pointing to the door, and bowing feveral times. The good woman, with ↑ This is a Liſcoſtuſtim provincialiſm. N. I 2 88 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: much difficulty, at last perceived what I would be at, and taking me up again in her hand, walked into the garden, where the fet me down. I went on one fide about two hundred yards, and beckoning to her not to look or to follow me, I hid myfelf between two leaves of forrel, and there diſcharged the neceffities of nature. I hope the gentle reader will excufe me for dwelling on thefe and the like particulars, which however infigni- ficant they may appear to grovelling vulgar minds, yet will certainly help a philofopher to enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the benefit of public as well as private life, which was my fole defign in pre- fenting this, and other accounts of my travels, to the world: wherein I have been chiefly ftudious of truth, without affecting any ornaments of learning or of ſtyle. But the whole ſcene of this voyage, made fo ftrong an impref- fion on my mind, and is fo deeply fixed in my memory, that in committing it to paper, I did not omit one material circumſtance: however, upon a ſtrict review, I blotted out feveral paffages of lefs moment which were in my first copy, for fear of being cenfured as tedious and trifling, whereof travellers are often, perhaps not without juſtice, accuſed. CHAP. II. A DESCRIPTION OF THE THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER. THE AUTHOR CARRIED TO A MÄRKET-TOWN, AND THEN TO THE METROPOLIS. THE PARTICULARS OF HIS JOURNEY. MY miſtreſs had a daughter of nine years old, a child of towardly parts for her age, very dexterous at her nee- dle, and ſkilful in dreffing her baby. Her mother and ſhe contrived to fit up the baby's cradle for me againſt night: the cradle was put into a fmall drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed upon a hanging fhelf for fear of the rats. This was my bed all the time I ftaid with thoſe people, though made more convenient by degrees, as I began to A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 89 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, fhe was able to drefs and undrefs me, though I never gave her that trouble when She would let me do either myfelf. She made me ſeven ſhirts, and fome other linen, of as fine cloth as could be got, which indeed was coarfer than fack-cloth; and thefe The conftantly wafhed for me with her own hands. She was likewife my fchool-miſtrefs to teach me the language; when I pointed to any thing, ſhe told me the name of it in her own tongue, ſo that in a few days I was able to call for whatever I had 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 family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The word imports, what the Latins call nanunculus, the Italians homunceletion, and the English mannikin. To her I chiefly owe my pre- fervation in that country: we never parted while I was there; I called her my Glumdalclitch, or little nurſe; and fhould be guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this ho- nourable mention of her care and affection towards me, which I heartily with it lay in my power to requite as ſhe deferves, inſtead of being the innocent, but unhappy in- ftrament of her difgrace, as I have too much reafon to fear. It now began to be known and talked of in the neigh- bourhood, that my maſter had found a ſtrange animal in the field, about the bignefs of a splacnuck, but exactly fhaped in every part like a human creature; which it like- wife imitated in all its actions; feemed to fpeak in a little language of its own, had already learned feveral words of theirs, went erect 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 complexion fairer than a nobleman's daughter of three years old. Another farmer, who lived hard by, and was a particular friend of my mafter, came on a vifit 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 JE I 3 90 Part 2. ·GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: maſter's gueſt, aſked him in his own language how he did, and told him be was relcome, juft as my little nurſe had in- ftructed 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 fhining into a chamber at two windows. 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 mifer; and, to my misfortune, he well deferved it, by the curfed advice he gave my mafter, 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 gueffed there was fome mifchief con- triving, when I obferved my maſter and his friend whiſ- pering long together, fometimes pointing at me; and my fears made me fancy that I overheard and underſtood ſome of their words. But the next morning Glumdalclitch, my little nurfe, told me the whole matter, which ſhe had cun- ningly picked out from her mother. The poor girl laid me on her bofom, and fell a weeping with fhame 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 alfo obferved how modeft I was in my nature, how nicely I re- garded my honour, and what an indignity I ſhould con- ceive it, to be expofed for money as a public fpectacle, to the meanest of the people. She faid, her papa and mamma had promiſed that Grildrig fhould be hers, but now ſhe found they meant to ferve her as they did last year, when they pretended to give her a lamb, and yet, as ſoon as it was fat, fold it to a butcher. For my own part, I may truly affirm, that I was lefs 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 confidered myſelf to be a per fect ftranger in the country, and that fuch a misfortune could never be charged upon me as a reproach, if ever I fhould return to England; fince the king of Great-Britain : A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 91 F himielf, in my condition, muſt have undergone the fame diftrefs. My maſter, purſuant to the advice of his friend, carried me in a box the next market-day to the neighbouring town, and took along with him his little daughter, my nurſe, upon a pillion behind him. The box was clofe on every ſide, with a little door for me to go in and out, and a few gimlet-holes to let in air. The girl had been fo 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- compofed in this journey, though it † were but of half an hour. For the horfe went about forty feet at every step, and trotted fo high, that the agitation was equal to the rifing and falling of a fhip in a great ſtorm, but much more frequent. Our journey was fomewhat farther than from London to St. Alban's. My mafter alighted at an inn which he uſed to frequent; and after confulting awhile with the inn-keeper, and making fome neceffary prepara- tions, he hired the grultrud, or crier, to give notice through the town of a ſtrange creature to be feen at the fign of the Green Eagle, not fo big as a fplacnuck, (an animal in that country very finely fhaped, about fix feet long) and in every part of the body reſembling an human creature, could ſpeak feveral words, and perform a hundred diverting tricks. I was placed upon a table in the largeſt room of the inn, which might be near three hundred feet fquare. My lit- tle nurſe ſtood on a low ftool clofe to the table, to take care of me, and direct what I ſhould do. My maſter, to avoid a crowd, would fuffer only thirty people at a time to fee ine. I walked about on the table as the girl command · ed: the aſked me queftions, as far as the knew my under- ſtanding of the language reached, and I anſwered them as loud as I could. I turned about feveral times to the compa- ny, paid my humble reſpects, ſaid they were welcome, and´ ufed fome other fpeeches I had been taught. I took up a †The fubjunctive mood is improperly uſed here, it hould have been the indicative," though it was," inſtead of "though it were." S. 32 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: thimble filled with liquor, which Glumaalclitch had given me for a cup, and drank their health. I drew out my hanger, and flouriſhed with it after the manner of fencers in England. My nurfe gave me a part of a ftraw, which I exercifed as a pike, having learnt the art in my youth. I was that day. Thown to twelve fets of company, and as often forced to act over again the fame fopperies, till I was half dead with weariness and vexation, for thofe who hat feen me made ſuch wonderful reports, that the people were ready to break down the doors to come in. My maſter, for his own intereft, would not fuffer any one to touch me except my nurfe; and to prevent danger, bench- es were fet round the table, at fuch a diſtance as to put me out of every body's reach. However, an unlucky fchool-boy aimed a hazel-not directly at my head, which very narrowly miffed me; otherwife, it came with ſo much violence, that it would have infallibly knocked out my brains, for it was almoſt as large as a fmall pumpion; but I had the fatisfaction to fee the young rogue well beaten, and turned out of the room. My malter gave public notice that he would how me "again 'the next market-day, and in the mean time he pre- pared a more convenient vehicle for me, which he had rea- fon enough to do; for I was fo tired with my first journey, and with entertaining company for eight hours together, that I could hardly ftand upon my legs, or fpeak a word. It was at leaſt three days before I recovered my ſtrength; and that I might have no reft at home, all the neighbour- ing gentlemen from a hundred miles round, hearing of my fame, came to fee me at my mafter's own houfe. There could not be fewer than thirty perfons with their wives and children (for the country is very populous ;) and my mafter demanded the rate of a full room whenever he Thowed me at home, although it were only to a fingle fa- mily: fo that for fome time I had but little cafe every day of the week (except Wedneſday, which is their fabbath) although I were not carried to the town. My maſter, finding how profitable I was likely to be, refolved to carry me to the moft confiderable cities of the kingdom. Having therefore provided himself with all A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 93 things neceffary for a long journey, and fettled 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 metropolis, fituate near the middle of that em- pire, and about three thousand miles diftance from our houſe. My mafter made his daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried me on her lap in a box tied about her waift. The girl had lined it on all ſides with the foft- eft cloth ſhe could get, well quilted underneath, furniſhed it with her baby's bed, provided me with linen and other neceffaries, 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 fhow me in all the towns by the way, and to ftep out of the road, for fifty or a hundred miles, to any village or perfon of quality's houſe, where he might expect cuſtom. We made eaſy journies, of not above feven or eight fcore miles a day: for Glumdalclitch, on purpoſe to ſpare me, complained ſhe was tired with the trotting of the horfe. She often took me out of my box, at my own defire, to give me air, and ſhow me the coun- try, but always held me faſt by a leading-ſtring. We paſſed over five or fix rivers, many degrees broader and deeper than the Nile, or the Ganges; and there was hardly a rivulet fò fmall as the Thames at London-Bridge. We were ten weeks in our journey, and I was fhown in eighteen large towns, beſides many villages and private families. On the 26th day of October, we arrived at the metro- polis, called in their language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the Univerſe. My mafter took a lodging in the principal ftreet of the city, not far from the royal palace, and put out bills in the uſual form, containing an exact deſcription of my perfon and parts. He hired a large room between three and four hundred feet wide. He provided a table fixty feet in diameter, upon which I was to act my part, and pallifadoed it round three feet from the edge, and as many high, to prevent my falling over. I was ſhown ten times a day, to the wonder and fatisfaction of all people. I could now fpeak the language tolerably well, and perfect- ly underflood every word that was ſpoken to me. Beſides, 94 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: I had learnt their alphabet, and could make a ſhift to ex- plain a ſentence here and there; for Glumdalclitch had been my instructor, while we were at home, and at lei- fure hours during our journey. She carried a little book in her pocket, not much larger than a Sanfon's Atlas; it was a common treatiſe for the uſe of young girls, giving a ſhort account of their religion; out of this fhe taught me my letters, and interpreted the words. CHAP. III, THE AUTHOR SENT FOR TO COURT. THE QUEEN BUYS HIM OF HIS MASTER THE FARMER, AND PRESENTS HIM TO THE KING. KE DISPUTES WITH HIS MAJES TY'S GREAT SCHOLARS. AN APARTMENT AT COURT PROVIDED FOR THE AUTHOR. HE IS IN HIGH FA► VOUR WITH THE QUEEN. HE STANDE UP HE STANDE UP FOR tht` HONOUR OF HIS OWN COUNTRY. THE QUEEN'S DWARF. MIS QUARRELS WITH THE frequent labours I underwent every day, made in few weeks a very confiderable change in my health: the more my mafter got by me, the more infatiable he grew. I had quite loſt my ſtomach, and was almoft re- duced to a ſkeleton. The farmer obferved it, and conclud- ing I mult foon die, refolved to make as good a hand of me as he could. While he was thus reaſoning and refolv- ing with himſelf, a fardral, or gentleman-ulher, came from court, commanding my mafter to carry me immediately thither for the diverfion of the queen and her ladies. Some of the latter had already been to fee me, and reported frange things of my beauty, behaviour, and good fenfe. Her majefty, and thofe who attended her, were beyond meature delighted with my demeanour. I fell on my knees, and begged the honour of kiffing her imperial foot; but this gracious princefs held out her little finger towards me, after I was fet on a table, which I embraced in both my arms, and put the tip of it with the utmoſt reſpect to my lip. She made me fome general queſtions about my A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 95 country, and my travels, which I answered as diftin&ly, 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 flave; but, if I were at my own difpofal, I fhould be proud to devote my life to her majeſty's fervice." She then aſked my mafter, "whether he was willing to fell me at a good price?" He, who apprehended I could not live a month, was ready enough to part with me, and de- manded a thouſand pieces of gold, which were ordered him on the ſpot, each piece being about the bignefs of eight hun- dred moidores: but allowing for the proportion of all things between that country and Europe, and the high price of gold among them, was hardly fo great a fum as a thouſand guineas would be in England. I then faid to the queen, "Since I was now her majeſty's moſt humble crea- ture and vaſſal, I muſt beg the favour, that Glomdalclitch, who had always tended me with fo much care and kind- nefs, and underſtood to do it ſo well, might be admitted into her ſervice, and continue to be my nurfe and in- ftructor." Her majefly agreed to my petition, and eaſily got the farmer's confent, who was glad enough to have his daugh- ter preferred at court, and the poor girl herſelf was not able to hide her joy. My late mafter withdrew, bidding me farewel, and ſaying he had left me in a good fervice; to which I replied not a word, only making him a flight bow. The queen obferved my coldness; and when the farmer was gone out of the apartment, aſked me the reafon. I made bold to tell her majeſty, " that lowed no other obli- gation to my late mafter, than his not dafhing out the brains of a poor harmleſs creature, found by chance in his fields; which obligation was amply recompenfed, by the gain he had made in fhowing me through half the king- dom, and the price he had now fold me for. That the life I had fince led, was laborious enough to kill an animal of ten times my ftrength. That my health was much im- paired, by the continual drudgery of entertaining the rab- ble every hour of the day; and that, if my maſter had not thought my life in danger, her majefty would not have 96 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: got fo cheap a bargain. But as I was out of all fear of being ill treated, under the protection of ſo great and good an emprefs, the ornament of nature, the darling of the world, the delight of her fubjects, the phoenix of the crea- tion; fo, I hoped my late master's apprehenfions would appear to be groundleſs; for I already found my ſpirits re- vive, by the influence of her moft auguft prefence." This was the fum of my fpeech, delivered with great improprieties and heſitation. The latter part was alto- gether framed in the ftyle peculiar to that people, whereof I learned fome phrafes from Glumdalclitch, while ſhe was carrying me to court. The queen, giving great allowance for my defectiveneſs in fpeaking, was, however, furpriſed at fo much wit and good fenfe, in fo diminutive an animal. She took me in her own hand, and carried me to the king, who was then retired to his cabinet. His majefty, a prince of much gra- vity and auftere countenance, not well obferving my shape at firſt view, afked the queen after a cold manner, "how long it was fince she grew fond of a placnuck?" for fuch it feems he took me to be, as I lay upon my breaft in her ma- jeſty's right hand. But this princefs, who has an infinite deal of wit and humour, fet me gently on my feet upon the fcrutoire, and commanded me to give his majcity an account of myſelf, which I did in a very few words: and Glumdal- clitch, who attended at the cabinet door, and could not en- dure I ſhould be out of her fight, being admitted, confirm ed all that had paffed from my arrival at her father's houfe. The king, although he be as learned a perſon as any in his dominions, had been educated in the ftudy of philofo- phy, 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) contrived by fome ingenious artift. 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 fatisfied with the relation I gave him. of the manner I came into his kingdom, but thought it a toy concerted between Glumdalclitch and her father, who had taught me A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 97 a fet of words, to make me fell at a better price. Upon this imagination, he put feveral other questions to me, and ſtill received rational anfwers; no otherwiſe defective, than by a foreign accent, and an imperfect knowledge in the language, with fome ruftic phrafes, which I had learned at the farmer's houfe, and did not fuit the polite ftyle of a court. His majefty fent for three great ſcholars, who were then in the weekly waiting, according to the cuſtom in that country. Thefe gentlemen, after they had a while examined my fhape 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, be- caufe I was not framed with a capacity of preferving my life, either by fwiftnefs, or climbing of trees, or digging holes in the earth. They obferved by my teeth, which they viewed with great exactnefs, that I was a carnivorous animal; yet moft quadrupeds being an overmatch for me, and field-mice, with fome others, too nimble, they could not imagine how I fhould be able to fupport myſelf, unleſs I fed upon fnails and other infects, which they offered, by many learned arguments, to evince that I could not pof- fibly do. One of thefe virtuof feemed to think that I might be an embryo, or abortive birth. But this opinion was rejected by the other two, who obferved my limbs to be perfect and finished; and that I had lived feveral years, as it was manifeft from my beard, the ftumps whereof they plainly diſcovered through a magnifying-glafs. They would not allow me to be a dwarf, becaufe my littleneſs was be- yond all degrees of comparifon; for the queen's favourite dwarf, the ſmalleſt ever known in that kingdom, was near thirty feet high. After much debate, they concluded unani- By this reafoning the author probably intended to ridicule the pride of thofe philofophers, who have thought fit to arraign the wifdom of Providence in the creation and government of the world; whofe cavils are fpecious, like thofe of the Brobdingnagian fages, only in proportion to the ignorance of thoſe to whom they are propofed, H. 98 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: mouſly, that I was only relplum fcalcath, which is inter- preted literally lufus natura; a determination exactly agree- able to the modern philofophy of Europe, whoſe profef- fors, difdaining the old evaſion of occult caufes, whereby the followers of Ariftotle endeavoured in vain to diſguiſe their ignorance, have invented this wonderful folution of all difficulties, to the unspeakable advancement of human knowledge. After this decifive conclufion, I entreated to be heard a word or two. I applied myſelf to the king, and affured his majefty," that I came from a country which abound- ed with feveral millions of both fexes, and of my own fta- ture; where the animals, trees, and houſes were all in proportion, and where, by confequence, I might be as able to defend myſelf, and to find fuftenance, as any of his ma- jefty's fubjects could do here; which I took for a full an- fwer to thofe gentlemen's arguments." To this they only replied with a fmile of contempt, faying, " that the far- mer had inftructed me very well in my leffon." The king, who had a much better underſtanding, difmiffing his learned men, fent for the farmer, who by good fortune was not yet gone out of town. Having therefore firſt ex- amined him privately, and then confronted him with me and the young girl, his majeſty began to think that what we told him might poffibly be true. He defired the queen to order 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 obferved we had a great affection for each other. A convenient apartment was provided for her at court; fhe had a fort 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 herfelf. The queen commanded her own cabinet-maker to contrive a box, This fatire is levelled against all thoſe who reject thofe facts for which they cannot perfectly account, notwith- ftanding the abfurdity of rejecting the teftimony, by which they are fupported. H. } A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 99 that might ferve me for a bed-chamber, after the model that Glumdalclitch and I fhould agree upon. This man was a moſt ingenious artist, and according to my direction in three weeks finiſhed for me a wooden chamber of fix- teen feet fquare, and twelve high, with fafh-windows, a door, and two clofets, like a London bed-chamber. The board that made the ceiling, 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 me. A nice work- man, who was famous for little curiofities, undertook to make me two chairs, with backs and frames of a fubftance 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 floor and the ceiling, to prevent any accident from the careleſsnefs of thoſe who carried me, and to break the force of a jolt, when I went in a coach. I defired a lock for my door, to prevent rats and mice from coming in. The fmith, after feveral attempts, made the ſmalleſt that ever was ſeen among them, for I have known a larger at the gate of a gentleman's houfe in England. I made a hift to keep the key in a pocket of my own, fearing Glum- dalclitch might lofe it. The queen likewife ordered the thinneft filk's that could be gotten to make me clothes, not much thicker than an English blanket, very cumbersome, till I was accuſtomed to them. They were alter the faſhion of the kingdom, partly reſembling the Perſian, and partly the Chineſe, and are a very grave and decent habit. The queen became fo fond of my company, that the could not dine without me. I had a table placed upon the fame at which her majeſty eat, juſt at her elbow, and a chair to fit on. Glumdalelitch ſtood on a ſtool on the floor near my table, to affift and take care of me. I had an en- tire fet of filver difhes and plates, and other neceffàries, which, in proportion to thofe of the queen, were not much bigger than what I have feen in a London toyshop, for the furniture of a baby-houſe: thefe my little nurfe kept in her pocket in a filver box, and gave me at meals as I wanted them, always cleaning them herſelf. No per K 2 100 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : fon dined with the queen but the two princeffes royal, the elder fixteen years old, and the younger at that time thirteen and a month. Her majefty ufed to put a bit of meat upon one of my diſhes, out of which I carved for my- felf, and her diverfion was to fee me eat in miniature; for the queen (who had indeed but a weak ftomach) took up, at one mouthful, as much as a dozen Engliſh farmers could eat at a meal, which to me was for fome time a very naufeous 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 into 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 ſcythe, fet ftraight upon the handle. The fpoons, forks, and other inftruments, were all in the fame proportion. 1 remem- ber when Glumdalclitch carried me, out of curioſity, to fee fome of the tables at court, where ten or a dozen of thofe enormous knives and forks were lifted up together, I thought, I had never till then beheld ſo terrible a fight. It is the custom, that every Wedneſday (which, as I have obferved, is their fabbath) the king and queen, with the royal iffie of both fexes, dine together in the apart ment of his majeſty, to whom I was now become a great fa- † Among other dreadful and difgufting images which cuftom has rendered familiar arc thofe which arife from eating animal food: he who has ever turned with abhor- rence from the ſkeleton of a beaſt which has been picked whole by birds or vermin, must confefs that habit only could have enabled him to endure the fight of the mangled bones and flesh of a dead carcaſs which every day cover his table: and he who reflects on the number of lives that have been facrificed to fuftain his. own, fhould inquire by what the account has been balanced, and whether his life is become proportionably of more value by the exercife of virtue and piety, by the fuperior happiness which he has communicated to reafonable beings, and by the glory which his intelle&t has afcribed to God. H. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 101 vourite ; and at theſe times, my little chair and table were placed at his left hand, before one of the faltcellars. This prince took a pleaſure in converfing with me, inquiring into the manners, religion, laws, government, and learn- ing of Europe; wherein I gave him the best account I was able. His apprehenfion was fo clear, and his judgment fo exact, that he made very wife reflections and obferva- tions upon all I faid. 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 fea and land, of our ſchiſms in religion, and parties in the fate; the prejudices of his education prevailed fo far, that he could not forbear taking me up in his right hand, and ſtroking me gently with the other, after a hearty fit of laughing, afked me "whether I was a whig or tory?" Then turning to his first miniſter, who waited behind him with a white ftaff, near as tall as the mainmast of the Royal Sovereign, he obferved" how contemptible a thing is human grandeur, which could be mimicked by fuch diminutive infects as I and yet," fays he "I dare engage, thefe creatures have their titles and diſtinctions of honour; they contrive little nefts and burrows, that they call houfes and cities; they make a figure in drefs and equipage; they love, they fight, they difpute, they cheat, they betray." And thus he continued on, while my colour came and went feveral times, with indignation, to hear our noble country, the miſtreſs of arts and arms, the fcourge of France, the arbitrefs of Eu- rope, the feat of virtue, piety, honour, and truth, the pride and envy of the world, fo contemptuously treated, But as I was not in a condition to refent injuries, fo up- on mature thoughts I began to doubt whether I was in- jured or † no. For, after having been accuſtomed ſeveral months to the fight and converfe of this people, and ob- erved every object upon which I caft mine eyes to be of K 3 Whether I was injured or no."-This vulgar and ungrammatical mode of expreffion has become almost uni- verfal, but inſtead of " no," the particle, " not," fhould be ufed. The abfurdity of the former will appear by only 1 102 Part 3. GULLIVER'S´TRAVELS : proportionable magnitude, the horror I had at firſt con- ceived from their bulk and afpect, was fo far worn off, that if I had then beheld a company of Engliſh lords and ladies in' their finery, and birth-day clothes, acting their feveral parts in the most courtly manner of ftrutting, and bowing, and prating; to fay the truth, I fhould have been ſtrongly tempted to laugh as much at them, as the king and his grandees did at me. Neither indeed could I forbear fmiling at myſelf, when the queen ufed to place me upon her 'hand towards a looking-glafs, by which both our perfons appeared before me in full view together; and there could be nothing more ridiculous than the comparison: ſo that I really began to imagine myfelf dwindled many degrees below my uſual ſize. Nothing angered and mortified me fo 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 thir- ty feet high) became fo infolent at feeing a creature fo much beneath him, that he would always affect to ſwagger and look big as he paffed by me in the queen's antichamber, while I was ſtanding on fome table talking with the lords or ladies of the court, and he feldom 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 uſually in the mouths of court pages. One day, at dinner, this malicious little cub was fo nettled with fomething I had faid 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 thinking any harm, and let me drop into a large filver bowl of cream, and then ran away as faft as he could. I fell over head and ears, and, if I had not been a good fwim- mer, it might have gone very hard with me; for Glum- dalclitch in that inftant happened to be at the other end of the room, and the queen was in fuch a fright, that ſhe repeating the word to which it refers, and annexing it to it, as thus" whether I were injured, or no injured," whereas, whether I were injured, or not injured," is `good grammar. S. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 108 wanted prefence of mind to affiſt me. But my little nuffe 'ran to my relief, and took me out after I had fwallowed above a quart of cream. I was put to bed; however, I re- ceived no other damage than the lofs of a fuit of clothes, which was utterly ſpoiled. The dwarf was foundly whip- ped, and as a farther puniſhment forced to drink up the bowl of cream, into which he had thrown me; neither was 'he ever restored to favour: for foon after the queen be- ſtowed him on a lady of high quality, fo that I ſaw him no more, to my very great fatisfaction; for I could not tell to what extremity, fuch a malicious urchin might have cat- ried his refentment. He had before ferved me a fcurvy trick, which ſet the queen a laughing, although at the fame time he was heartily vexed, and would have immediately cafhiered him, if I had not been fo generous as to intercede. Her majeſty had taken a marrow-bone upon her plate, and, after knock- ing out the marrow, placed the bone again in the dish crect, as it stood before; the dwarf, watching his oppor- tunity while Glumdalelitch was gone to the fideboard, mounted the ftool that the 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 waift, where I ſtuck for ſome time, and made a very ridi- culous 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 fcalded, only my ſtockings and breeches in a fad condition. The dwarf, at my entreaty, had no oth punishment than a found whipping. I was frequently rallied by the queen upon account of my fearfulness; and the uſed to aſk me whether the people of my country were as great cowards as myfélf? The oc- cafion was this: the kingdom is much peſtered with flies in fummer; and thefe odious infects, each of them as big as a Dunſtable lark, hardly gave me any reft while I fat at dinner, with their continual humming and buzzing about mine ears. They would fometimes alight upon my victuals, and leave their loathfome excrements or fpawn behind, which to me was very viſible, though not to the natives 104 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: of that country, whofe large optics were not fo acute as mine, in viewing ſmaller objects. Sometimes they would fix upon my nofe or forehead, where they ſtung me to the quick, fmelling very offensively; and I could eaſily trace that viſcous matter, which, our naturalifts tell us, enables thoſe creatures to walk with their feet upwards upon a ceiling. I had much ado to defend myſelf against thefe deteftable 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 fchool-boys do among us, and let them out fuddenly under my nofe, 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 dexterity was much ad- mired. I remember, one morning, when Glumdalclitch had fet me in a box upon a window, as fhe ufually did in fair days to give me air, (for I durft not venture to let the box be hung on a nail out of the window, as we do with cages in England) after I had lifted up one of my faſhes, and fat down at my table to eat a piece of fweet cake for my breakfaſt, above twenty wafps allured by the ſmell, came flying into the room, humming louder than the drones of as many bagpipes. Some of them ſeized my cake, and car- ried it piece-meal away: others flew about my head and face, confounding me with the noiſe, and putting me in the utmost terror of their ſtings. However, I had the courage to rife and draw my hanger, and attack them in the air. I diſpatched four of them, but the reft got away, and I prefently fhut my window. Thefe infects were as large as partridges; I took out their ftings, found them an inch and a half long, and as ſharp as needles. I care- fully preferved them all, and having fince ſhown them, with fome other curiofities, in feveral parts of Europe, up- on my return to England, I gave three of them to Gref ham College, and kept the fourth for myſelf. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 105 CHAP. IV. THE COUNTRY DESCRIBED. A PROPOSAL FOR COR- RECTING MODERN MAPS. THE KING'S PALACE, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE METROPOLIS. THE AU- THOR'S WAY OF TRAVELLING. THE CHIEF TEMPLE DESCRIBED. INOW intend to give the reader a fhort defcription of this country, as far as I travelled in it, which was not above two thouſand miles round Lorbrulgrud, the metro- polis. For the queen, whom I always attended, never went farther when the accompanied the king in his pro- greffes, and there ftaid till his majesty returned from view- ing his frontiers. The whole extent of this prince's domi- nions, reaches about fix thouſand miles in length, and from three to five in breadth. Whence I cannot but con- clude, that our geographers of Europe are-in a great error, by fuppofing nothing but fea between Japan and Califor hia; for it was ever my opinion, that there muſt be a bas lance of earth to counterpoiſe the great continent of Tar- tary; and therefore they ought to correct their maps and charts, by joining this vast tract of land to the north-west parts of America, wherein I fhall be ready to lend them my affiſtance. The kingdom is a peninsula, terminated to the North- eaft, by a ridge of mountains thirty miles high, which are altogether impaffable, by reafon of the volcanoes upon the tops: neither do the moft learned know what fort of mortals inhabit beyond thoſe mountains, or whether they he inhabited at all. On the three other fides, it is bounded by the ocean. There is not one feaport in the whole king- dom; and thoſe parts of the coaſts into which the rivers iffue, are fo full of pointed rocks, and the fea generally fo rough, that there is no venturing with the fmalleſt of their boats; fo that theſe people are wholly excluded from any commerce with the rest of the world. But the large ri- vers are full of veffels, and abound with excellent fish; for they feldom get any from the fea, becauſe the fea-fish are of the fame fize with thofe in Europe, and confequently 106 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: not worth catching; whereby it is manifeft, that nature, in the production of plants and animals of fo extraordinary a bulk, is wholly confined to this continent, of which I leave the reafons to be determined by philofophers. How- ever, now and then they take a whale, that happens to be daſhed against the rocks, which the common people feed on heartily. Thefe whales I have known fo large, that a man could hardly carry one upon his ſhoulders; and fometimes, for curiofity, they are brought in hampers to Lorbrulgrud; I faw one of them in a difh at the king's table, which paffed for a rarity, but I did not obſerve he was fond of it; for I think indeed the bignefs difgufted him, although I have ſeen one fomewhat larger in Green- land. : The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages. To fatisfy my curious reader, it may be fuffi- cient to defcribe Lorbrulgrud. This city ftands upon al- most two equal parts, on each fide the river that paffes through. It contains 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 myfelf in the royal map made by the king's order, which was laid on the ground on purpoſe for me, and extended a hundred feet; I paced the diameter and circumference ſe- veral times bare foot, and computing by the fcale, mea- fured it pretty exactly. • ? · The king's palace is no regular edifice, but a heap of building about feven miles round; the chief rooms are generally two hundred and forty feet high, and broad and long in proportion. A coach was allowed to Glumdal- clitch and me, wherein her governefs frequently took her out to ſee the town, or go among the ſhops; and I was al- ways 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 houfes and the people, as we paffed along the ſtreets, I reckoned our coach to be about a fquare of Weſtminſter ball, but not altogether fo high; however, I cannot be A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 107 very exact. One day, the governefs ordered our coachman to stop at feveral fhops, where the beggars, watching their opportunity, crowded to the fides of the coach, and gave me the most horrible fpectacle that ever a European eye beheld. There was a woman with a cancer in her breaſt, fwelled to a monstrous fize, 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 wood- en legs, each about twenty feet high. But the moſt hate- ful fight of all, was, the lice crawling on their clothes. I could fee diftinctly the limbs of thefe vermine with my naked eye, much better than thofe of an European louſe through a microfcope, and their fnouts with which they rooted like ſwine. 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 inftruments, which I unluckily left behind me in the fhip, although indeed the fight was fo naufeous, that it perfectly turned my ftomach. Befide the large box in which I was ufually earried, the queen ordered a ſmaller one to be made for me, of about twelve feet fquare, and ten high, for the convenience of travelling becauſe the other was fomewhat too large for Glumdalclitch's lap, and cumberſome in the coach; it was made by the fame artist, whom I directed in the whole contrivance. This travelling clofet was an exact fquare, with a window in the middle of three of the fquares, and each window was latticed with iron wire on the outſide, to prevent accidents in long journies. On the fourth fide, which had no window, too ftrong ftaples were fixed, through which the perfon that carried me, when I had a mind to be on horfeback, put a leathern belt, and buc- kled it about his waift. This was always the office of fome grave trufty fervant in whom I could confide, whether I attended the king and queen in their progreffes, or were difpofed to ſee the gardens, or pay a vifit to ſome great lady or minifter of ftate in the court, when Glumdalclitch happened to be out of order; for I foon began to be known and eſteemed among the greateſt officers, 1 fuppofc more upon account of their majefties' favour, than any merit of 108 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: my own. In journies, when I was weary of the coach, a fervant on horfeback would buckle on my box, and place it upon a cuſhion before him; and there I had a full prof pect of the country on three fides, from my three win- dows. I had, in this cloſet, a field-bed and a hammock hung from the ceiling, two chairs and a table, neatly ſcrew- ed to the floor, to prevent being toffed about by the agita, tion of the horſe or the coach. And having been long uſed to fea-voyages, thofe motions, although fometimes very violent, did not much difcompofe me. · Whenever I had a mind to fee the town, it was always in my travelling clofet which Glumdalclitch held in her lap in a kind of open fédán, after the faſhion of the coun- try, borne by four me, and attended by two others in the queen's livery. The people, who had often heard of me, were very curious crowd about the fedan, and the girl was complaifant enough to make the bearers ftop, and to take me in her hand that I might be more conveniently feen. I was very defirous to fee the chief temple, and particular- ly the tower belonging to it, which is reckoned the higheſt in the kingdom. Accordingly one day my nurſe carried me thither, but I may truly fay I came back diſappointed; for the height is not above three thoufand feet, reckoning from the ground to the higheſt pinnacle top; which allowing for the difference between the fize 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 fteeple. But, not to detract from a nation, to which during my life I fhall acknowledge myſelf extremely obliged, it muſt be allowed that whatever this famous tower wants in height, is amply made up in beauty and ftrength. For the walls are near a hundred feet thick, built of hewn ftone, whereof each is about forty feet fquare, and adorn- ed on all fides with ftatues of gods and emperors, cut in marble, larger than 1 meaſured a litt the life, placed in their feveral niches. finger which had fallen down from one of theſe ſtatues, and lay unperceived among fome rubbiſh, and found it exactly four feet and an inch in length. Glum- dalclitch wrapped it up in her handkerchief; and carried A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 109 it home in her pocket, to keep among other trinkets, "of which the girl was very fond, as children at her age uſually are. 1 The king's kitchen is indeed a noble Building, vaulted at top, and about fix hundred feet high. The great oven is not fo wide, by ten paces, as the cupola at St. Paul's : for I meufured the latter on purpofe after my return. But if I ſhould defcribe the kitchen-grate, the prodigious pots and kettles, the joints of meat turning on the fpits, with many other particulafs, perhaps I fhould be hardly be- lieved; at leaſt a fefere critic would be apt to think I en- larged a little, as favellers are often fufpected to do. To avoid which cenfure, I fear I have run too much into the other extreme and that if this treatiſe fhould happen to be tranflated into the language of Brobdingnag, which is the general name of that kingdom) and trantinitted-th- ther, the king and his people would have reason to com- plain, that i had done them an injury, by a falfe and di- injury, minutive reprefentation. His majefty feldom keeps above fix hundred horſes in his ſtables: they are generally from fifty-four to fixty feet high. But, when he goes abroad on folemn days, he is attended, for ſtate, by a militia guard of five hundred horfe, which indeed I thought was the moll tplendid light that could be ever beheld, till 1 faw part of his army in battalia, whereof ( hall find another occaſion to fpeak. CHAP. V. SEVERAL ADVENTURES THAT HAPPENED TO THE AC THOR. THE EXECUTION OF A CRIMINAL. THE THOR SHOWS HIS SKILL ÎN NAVIGATION. I SHOULD have lived happy enough in that country, if my littlenefs had not expofed me to feveral, ridiculous and troubleſome accidents: fonie of which I fhall venture to relate. Glumdalelitch often carried me into the gardens of the court, in my fmaller box, and would fometimes take me out of it and hold me in her hand, or fet me ? L 110 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: down to walk. I remember, before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us one day into thoſe gardens, and my nurfe having fet me down, he and I being cloſe together, near fome dwarf apple-trees. I must need fhow my wit, by a filly allufion between him and the trees, which hap- pens to hold in their language, as it does in ours. Where- upon, the malicious rogue watching his opportunity, when I was walking under one of them, fhook 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 ftoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but I received no other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at my defire, becauſe I had given the provocation. Another day, Glumdalclitch left me on a fmooth graſs- plat to divert myſelf, while fhe walked at fome diſtance with her governefs. In the mean time, there fuddenly fell fuch a violent ſhower of hail, that I was immediately by the force of it, ftruck to the ground: and when I was down, the hailſtones gave me ſuch cruel bangs all over the body, as if I had been pelted with tennis-balls; however, I made a fhift to creep on all fours, and ſhelter myſelf, by lying flat on my face, on the lec-fide of a border of lemon- thyme; but fo bruiſed from head to foot, that I could not go abroad in ten days. Neither is this at all to be won- dered at, becauſe nature, in that country, obſerving the fame proportion through all her operations, a hailſtone is near eighteen hundred times as large as one in Europe; which I can affert upon experience, having been ſo curious † to weigh and meaſure them. But a more dangerous accident happened to me in the fame garden, when my little nurſe, believing ſhe had put me in a fecure place, (which I often entreated 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 + The particle, "as," is here improperly omitted; it fhould be, fo curious" as" to weigh, &c. S. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 111 ladies of her acquaintance. While he was abſent, and out of hearing, a fmall white fpaniel belonging to one of the chief gardeners, having got by accident into the gar- den, happened to range near the place where I lay: the dog, following the fcent, came directly up, and taking me in his mouth, ran ftraight to his mafter wagging his tail, and fet me gently on the ground. By good fortune he had been fo well taught, that I was carried between his teeth' without the leaf hurt, or even tearing my clothes. But the poor gardener, who knew me well and had a great kindneſs 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 fo amazed and out of breath, that I could not speak a word. In a few minutes I came to myſelf, and he carried me fafe to my little nurſe, who by this time had returned to the place where the left me, and was in cruel agonies when I did not appear, nor antwer when he called. She feverely reprimanded the gardener on account of his dog. But the thing was hufhed up, and never known at court, for the girl was afraid of the queen's anger; and truly, as to myſelf, I thought it would not be for my reputation, that ſuch a ſtory ſhould go about. This accident abfolutely determined Glumdalclitch, ne- ver to truſt me abroad for the future, out of her fight. I had been long afraid of this refolution, and therefore con- cealed from her fome little unlucky adventures, that hap- pened 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 refolutely drawn my hanger, and run under a thick espalier, he would have certainly carried me away in his talons. Another time, walking to the top of a freſh molehill, I fell to my neck in the hole, through which that animal had caft up the earth, and coined fome lie, not worth remembering, to excufe myfelf for fpoiling my clothes. I likewife broke my right fhin againſt the ſhell of a fnail, which I happened to ftumble over, as I was walking alone, and thinking on poor England. I cannot tell whether I were more pleated or mortified, to obſerve in thofe folitary walks, that the fmaller birds did not appear to be at all afraid of me, but would hop L 2 112 Part GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: about within a yard's diftance, looking for worms and other food, with as much indifference and fecurity, as if no creature at all were near them. I remember, a thrush had the confidence to fnatch 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, endeavouring to pick my fingers, which I durft not venture within their reach; and then they would hop back unconcerned, to hunt for worms or fails, as they did before. But one day, I took a thick cudgel, and threw it with all my ſtrength fo luckily at a linnet, that I knocked him down, and feizing him by the neck with both my hands, ran with him in triumph to my nurfe. However, the bird, who had only been stunned, recovering himself, gave me fo many boxes with his wings, on both fides of my head and body, though I held him at arm's length, and was out of the reach of his claws, that I was twenty times thinking to let him go. But I was foon relieved by one of our fervants, 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, feemed to be fomewhat larger than an English fran. The maids of honour often invited Glumdalclitch to their apartments, and defired the 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; where- with I was much difgufted; becaufe, to fay the truth, a very offenſive ſmell came from their ſkins; which I do not mention, or intend, to the diſadvantage of thofe excellent ladies, for whom I have all manner of reſpect; but I con- ceive that my fenfe was more acute in proportion to my littleness, and that thofe illuftrious perfons were no more difagreeable to their lovers, or to each other, than people of the fame quality are with us in England. And, after all, I found their natural fmell, was much more fupportable, than when they uſed perfumes, 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 A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 113 I I had ufed a good deal of exerciſe, to complain of a ſtrong ſmell about me, although I am as little faulty that way, as moſt of my ſex: but I ſuppoſe his faculty of ſmelling, was as nice with regard to me, as mine was, to that of this people. Upon this point, I cannot forbear doing juſ- tice to the queen my miſtreſs, and Glumdalclitch my nurſe, whoſe perfons were as sweet as thoſe of any lady in England. That which gave me moſt uneafinefs among thefe maids of honour (when my nurfe carried me to viſit them) was, to ſee them ufe me without any manner of ceremo- ny, like a creature who had no fort of confequence: for they would trip themfelves to the ſkin, and put their fmocks on in my prefence, while I was placed on their toilet, directly before their naked bodies, which I am fure to me was very far from being a tempting fight, or from giving me any other emotion, than thofe of horror and difguft. Their fkins appeared fo coarfe and uneven, ſo va- riously coloured, when I ſaw them near, with a mole here and there as broad as a trencher, and hairs hanging from it thicker than pack threads, to fay nothing farther con- cerning the rest of their perfons. Neither did they at all ſcruple, while I was by, to diſcharge what they had drank, to the quantity of at leaſt two hogfheads, in a veffel that held above three tons. The handfomeft among theſe maids of honour, a pleaſant frolicfome girl of fixteen, would fometimes fet me aftride upon one of her nipples, with many other tricks, wherein the reader, will excufe me for not being over particular. But I was so much diſpleaſed, that I entreated Glumdalclitch to contrive ſome excuſe for not feeing that young lady any more. One day, a young gentleman, who was nephew to my ourfe's governeſs, came and prefled them both to fee an execution. It was of a man, who had murdered one of that gentleman's intimate acquaintance. Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the company, very much againſt her inclination, for he was naturally tender-hearted: and as for myſelf, although I abhorred ſuch kind of ſpectacles, yet my curiosity tempted me to fee fomething that I thought muſt be extraordinary. The malefactor was fixed in a L 3 114 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: chair upon a fcaffold, erected for that purpoſe, and his head cut off at one blow, with a ſword of about forty feet long. The veins and arteries fpouted up fuch a prodigious quantity of blood, and fo high in the air, that the great jet d'eau at Verfailles was not equal + for the time it lafted; and the head, when it fell on the fcaffold floor, gave fuch a bounce as made me ftart, although I were at leaſt half an Engliſh mile diſtant. The queen who often uſed to hear me talk of my ſea- voyages, and took all occafions to divert me when I was melancholy, afked me whether I understood how to handle a fail or an oar, and whether a little exerciſe of rowing might not be convenient for my health? I anfwered, that I understood both very well; for although my proper em- ployment had been, to be furgeon or doctor to the hip, yet often, upon a pinch, I was forced to work like a com- mon mariner. But I could not fee how this could be done in their country, where the fmalleft wherry, was equal to a firſt rate man of war among us; and fuch a boat as I could manage, would never live in any of their rivers. Her majefty faid, "if I would contrive a boat, her own joiner fhould make it, and fhe would provide a place for me to fail in." The fellow was an ingenious workman, and by my inftructions, in ten days, finished a pleasure-boat, with all its tackling, able conveniently to hold eight Europeans. When it was finished, the queen was fo delighted, that the ran with it in her lap to the king, who ordered it to be put into a cistern full of water, with me in it, by way of trial; where I could not manage my two fculls, 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 It should be was not equal to it," &c. . A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 115 - for my own diverfion, as well as that of the queen and her ladies, who thought themſelves well 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, fome of their pages would blow my fail forward with their breath, while I showed my art, by ſteering ſtarboard or lar- board, as I pleaſed. When I had done, Glumdalclitch al- ways carried back my boat into her closet, and hung it on a nail to dry. In this exercife I once met an accident, which had like to have cost me my life: for, one of the pages having put my boat into the trough, the governefs who attended Glumdalclitch, very officiouſly lifted me up to place me in the boat, but I happened to flip through her fingers, and ſhould infallibly have fallen down forty feet upon the floor, if, by the luckiest chance in the world, I had not been ſtop- ped by a corking-pin, that ſtuck in the good gentlewoman's ftomacher; the head of the pin pafled between my ſhirt and the waiſtband of my breeches, and thus I was held by the middle in the air, till Glumdalclitch ran to my relief. Another time, one of the fervants, whofe office it was to fill my trough every third day with freſh water, was ſo careless to let a huge frog (not perceiving it) flip out of his pail. The frog lay concealed till I was put into my boat, but then, ſeeing a refting place, climbed up, and made it lean fo much on one fide, that I was forced to ba- lance it with all my weight on the other to prevent over- turning. When the frog was got in, it hopped at once half the length of the boat, and then over my head, back- ward and forward, daubing my face and clothes with its odious flime. The largenefs of its features, made it ap- pear the most deformed animal that can be conceived. However, I defired Glumdalclitch to let me deal with it alone. 1 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 king- + It thould be" was ſo careleſs as to let," &c. S 116 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: dom, was from a monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen. Glumdalclitch had locked me up in her cloſet, while fhe went fomewhere upon buſineſs, or a vifit. 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 ufually lived, becauſe of its large- nefs and conveniency. As I fat quietly meditating at my table, I heard ſomething bounce in at the cloſet-window, and ſkip about from one ſide to the other: whereat al- though I was much alarmed, yet I ventured to look out, but not ſtirring from my feat; and then I faw this frolic- fome animal friſking and leaping up and down, till at last he came to my box, which he feemed to view with great pleaſure and curiofity, peeping in at the door and every window. I retreated to the farther corner of my room, or box, but the monkey looking in at every ſide put me into fuch a fright, that I wanted prefence of mind to conceal myſelf under the bed, as I might eaſily have done. After fome time ſpent in peeping, grinning, and chattering, he at laſt eſpied me; and reaching one o. his paws in at the door, as a cat does when the plays with a moufe, although I often ſhifted place to avoid him, he at length feized the lappet of my coat, (which being made of that country filk, was very thick and ſtrong) and dragged me out. 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 ſeen the ſame ſort of creature do with a kitten in Europe and when I offered to ftruggle, he fqueezed me ſo hard, that I thought it more prudent to fubmit. I have good reaſon to believe, that he took me for a young one of his own ſpe- cies, by his often ftroking my face very gently with his other paw. In thefe diverfions he was interrupted by a noife at the cloſet-door, as if ſomebody were opening it: whereupon he fuddenly leaped 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, till he clambered up to a roof that was next to ours. heard Glumdalclitch give a fhriek 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 fer- He A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 117 vants ran for ladders: the monkey was feen by hundreds in the court, fitting 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 fome victuals he had ſqueezed out of the bag on one ſide 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 juflly ought to be blamed, for without quef- tion, 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 ftrictly forbidden, or elfe, very probably, my brains had been dafhed out. The ladders were now applied, and mounted by ſeveral men, which the monkey obferving, and finding himſelf almoſt encompaſſed; not being able to make ſpeed enough with his three legs, let me drop on a ridge tile, and made his efcape. Here I fat for fome 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 tumbling over and over from the ridge to the eaves: but an honest lad, one of my nurfe's footmen, climbed up, and putting me into his breeches-pocket, brought me down fafe. I was almoſt choaked with the filthy ſtuff the monkey had crammed down my throat; but my dear little nurſe, picked it out of my mouth with a fmall needle, and then I fell a vomiting, which gave me great relief. Yet I was fo weak and bruifed in the fides with the fqueezes given me by this odious animal, that I was forced to keep my bed a fortnight. The king, queen, and all the court, fent every day to inquire after my health; and her majeſty made me feveral vilīts, during my ſickneſs. The monkey was killed, and an order made, that no fuch animal ſhould be kept about the palace. When I attended the king after my recovery, to return him thanks for his favours, he was pleafed to rally me a good deal upon this adventure. He afked me, "what my thoughts and fpeculations were, while I lay in the mon- key's paw; how I liked the victuals he gave me; his man- wer of feeding; and whether the fresh air on the roof, had 118 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: fharpened my ftomach." He defired to know, "what I would have done upon fuch an occafion in my own coun- try." I told his majefty, "that in Europe we had no monkies except fuch as were brought for curioſities from other places, and fo ſmall, that I could deal with a dozen of them together, if they prefumed to attack me. And as for that monstrous animal, with whom I was fo lately en- gaged (it was indeed as large as an elephant) if my fears had fuffered me to think fo far, as to make uſe of my hanger (looking fiercely, and clapping my hand upon the hilt, as I fpoke) when he poked his paw into my chamber, perhaps I ſhould have given him fuch a wound, as would have made him glad to withdraw it, with more hafte than he put it in." This I delivered in a firm tone, like a perſon who was jealous left his courage fhould be called in queſtion. However, my fpeech produced nothing elfe befide a loud laughter, which all the refpect due to his majeſty from thofe about him, could not make them contain. This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is, for a man to endeavour to do himſelf honour among thoſe who are out of all degree of equality or compariſon with him. And yet I have feen 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 com- mon fenfe, fhall prefume to look with importance, and put himſelf upon a foot with the greateſt perfons of the king- dom. I was every day furnishing the court with fome ridicu lous ſtory; and Glumdalclitch, although ſhe loved me to excefs, yet was arch enough to inform the queen, when- ever I committed any folly, that the thought would be di- verting to her majesty. The girl, who had been out of order, was carried by her governefs to take the air about an hour's diſtance, or thirty miles from town. They alight- ed out of the coach near a ſmall foot-path in a field, and Glumdalclitch fetting down my travelling box, I went out of it to walk. There was a cow-dung in the path, and I muſt need try my activity by attempting to leap over it. I took a run, but unfortunately jumped Thort, and found myſelf juſt in the middle, up to my knees. I waded through A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 119 with ſome difficulty, and one of the footmen wiped me as clean as he could with his handkerchief; for I was filthily bemired, and my nurſe confined me to my box, till we re- turned home; where the queen was foon informed of what had paſſed, and the footmen ſpread it about the court; fo that all the mirth for fome days was at my expenſe. CHAP. VI. SEVERAL CONTRIVANCES OF THE AUTHOR, TO PLEASE THE KING AND QUEEN. HE SHOWS HIS SKILL IN MUSIC. THE KING INQUIRES INTO THE STATE OF ENGLAND, WHICH THE AUTHOR RELATES TO HIM. THE KING'S OBSERVATIONS THEREON. USED to attend the king's levee once or twice a week, and had often ſeen him under the barber's hand, which indeed was at firſt very terrible to behold: for the razor was almoſt twice as long as an ordinary ſcythe. His ma- jefty, according to the custom of the country, was only fhaved twice a week. I once prevailed on the barber to give me fome of the fuds or lather, out of which I picked forty or fifty of the ſtrongeſt ſtumps of hair. I then took a piece of fine wood and cut it like the back of a comb, making feveral holes in it at equal diſtances with as ſmall a needle as I could get from Glumdalclitch. I fixed in the ſtumps fo artificially, ſcraping and floping them with my knife toward the points, that I made a very tolerable comb; which was a ſeaſonable ſupply, my own being fo much broken in the teeth, that it was almoſt uſeleſs: neither did I know any artiſt in that country ſo nice and exact, as would undertake to make me another. And this puts me in mind of an amuſement, wherein I ſpent many of my leiſure hours. I defired the queen's wo- man to fave for me the combings of her majeſty's hair, whereof in time I got a good quantity; and confulting with my friend the cabinet-maker, who had received ge- neral orders to do little jobs for me, I directed him to make two chair-frames, no larger than thoſe I had in my box, 120 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: and to bore little holes with a fine awl, round thoſe parts where I defigned the backs and feats; through thefe holes I wove the ftrongeſt hairs I could pick out, juft after the manner of cane chairs in England. When they were finiſh- ed, I made a prefent of them to her majefty; who kept them in her cabinet, and uſed to fhow them for curiofities. as indeed they were the wonder of every one that beheld them. The queen would have had me fit upon one of thefe chairs, but I abfolutely refufed to obey her, proteſt- ing I would rather die a thoufand deaths, than place a dishonourable part of my body on thofe precious hairs, that once adorned her majesty's head. Of theſe hairs (as I had always a mechanical genius) I likewife made a neat little purfe, about five feet long, with her majefty's name deci- phered in´gold letters, which I gave to Glumdalelitch by the queen's confent. To fay the truth, it was more for fhow than ufe, being not of itrength to bear the weight of the larger coins, and therefore he kept nothing it but fome little toys that girls are fond of. in The king, who delighted in mufic, had frequent con- certs at court, to which I was fometimes carried, and fet in my box on a table to hear them but the noife was fo great, that I could hardly diftinguifh the tunes I am con- fident, that all the drums and trumpets 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 fhut the doors and windows of it, and drew the win- dow-curtains; after which I found their mufic not difi-. greeable. I had learned in my youth to play a little upon the fpinet. Glumdalclitch kept one in her chamber, and a mafter attended twice a week to teach her: I called it a fpinet, becauſe it fomewhat refembled 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 ap- peared extremely difficult: for the fpinet was near fixty feet long, each key being almoſt a foot wide, fo that with my arms extended I could not reach to above five keys, A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 121 and to prefs them down required a good ſmart ſtroke with my fift, which would be too great a labour, and to no pur- pofe. The method I contrived was this. I prepared twó round ficks about the bigneſs of common cudgels; they were thicker at one end than the other, and I covered the thicker ends, with pieces of a moufe's ſkin that by rapping on them, I might neither damage the tops of the keys, nor interrupt the found. Before the fpinet a bench was placed about four feet below the keys, and I was put upon the bench. I ran fideling upon it that way and this, as faft as I could, banging the proper keys with my two flicks, and made a ſhift to play a jig, to the great fatisfaction of both their majeſties; but it was the moft violent exerciſe I ever underwent; and yet I could not frike above fixteen keys, nor confequently play the bafs and treble together, as other artists do; which was a great diſadvantage to my performance. · The king, who, as I before obferved, was a prince of excellent underſtanding, would frequently 'order that I ſhould be brought in my box, and fet upon the table in his clofet: 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 cabinet, which brought me al- mok to a level with his face. In this manner I had feveral converſations with him., I one day took the freedom to tell his majeſty, that the contempt he difcovered to- wards Europe, and the rest of the world, did not ferm an- fwerable to thofe excellent qualities of mind, that he was maſter of: that reafon did not extend itſelf with the bulk of the body: on the contrary, we obſerved in our country, that the talleſt perſons were uſually leaſt provided with it; that among other animals, bees and ants had the reputa- tion 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 majeſty ſome ſignal fer- vice." The king heard me with attention, and began to conceive a much better opinion of me than he had ever be- fore. He defired “ I would give him as exact an account of the government of England as I ponably could; becauſe, as fond as princes commonly are of their own cuſtoms, (for M 122 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: * fo he conjectured of other monarchs by my former dif- courfes) he ſhould be glad to hear of any thing that might deferve imitation.” Imagine with thyself, courteous reader, how often I then withed for the tongue of Demofthenes or Cicero, that might have enabled me to celebrate the praife of my own dear native country, in a ſtyle equal to its merits and felicity. I began my difcourfe by informing his majeſty, that our do- minions confifted of two islands, which compofed three migh- ty kingdoms, under one fovereign, beſide our plantations in America. I dwelt long upon the fertility of our foil, and the temperature of our climate. I then spoke at large up- on the conftitution of an English parliament; partly made up of an illuſtrious body, called the houſe of peers; per- fons of the nobleft blood, and of the moſt ancient and am- ple patrimonies. I defcribed that extraordinary care al- ways taken of their education in arts and arms, to qualify them for being counſellors both to the king and kingdom; to have a fhare in the legiſlature; to be members of the higheſt court of judicature, whence there can be no appeal ; and to be champions always ready for the defence of their prince and country, by their valour, conduct, and fidelity. That theſe were the ornament and bulwark of the king- dom, worthy followers of their moſt renowned anceſtors, whofe honour had been the reward of their virtue, from which their poſterity were never once known to degene- rate. To theſe were joined ſeveral holy perfons, as part of that affembly, under the title of bifhops; whofe peculiar buſineſs it is to take care of religion, and of thoſe who in- ſtruct the people therein. Theſe were ſearched and fought out through the whole nation, by the prince and his wifeſt counſellors, among ſuch of the priesthood as were moſt de- ſervedly diſtinguiſhed by the fanctity of their lives, and the depth of their erudition; who were indeed the ſpiritual fa- thers of the clergy and the people. That the other part of the parliament conſiſted of an af- fembly, called the houſe of commons, who were all prin- cipal gentlemen, freely picked and culled out by the peo- ple themſelves, for their great abilities and love of their country, to reprefent the wifdom of the whole nation. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 123 And that theſe two bodies made up the moſt auguſt aſſem- bly in Europe; to whom, in conjunction with the prince, the whole legiſlature is committed. I then defcended to the court of juftice; over which, the judges, thoſe venerable fages and interpreters of the law, prefided, for determining the difputed rights and proper- ties of men, as well as for the puniſhment of vice, and pro- tection of innocence. I mentioned the prudent manage- ment of our treafury; the valour and achievements of our forces, by fea and land. I computed the number of our people, by reckoning how many millions there might be of each religious fect, or political party among us. I did not omit even our fports and paſtimes, or any other parti cular, which I thought might redound to the honour of my country. And I finished all with a brief hiſtorical ac- count of affairs and events in England for about a hundred years paſt. This converfation was not ended under five audiences, each of feveral 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 aík me. When I had put an end to thefe long difcourfes, his ma- jeſty, in a ſixth audience, confulting his notes, propoſed many doubts, queries, and objections, upon every article. He asked, "what methods were uſed to cultivate the minds and bodies of our young nobility, and in what kind of buſineſs they commonly ſpent the firſt, and teachable part of their lives? What courfe was taken to fupply that af fembly, when any noble family became extinct? What qualifications were neceffary in thoſe who are to be cre- ated new lords: whether the humour of the prince, a fum of money to a court lady, or a deſign of ſtrengthening a party oppoſite to the public intereft, ever happened to be motives in thoſe advancements? What fhare of knowledge theſe lords had in the laws of their country, and how they came by it, fo as to enable them to decide the properties of their fellow-fubje&s, in the last refort? Whether they were always to free from avarice, partialities or want, that a bribe, or fome other finiſter view, could have no place 2 M 2 124 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ! among them? Whether thofe holy lords I ſpoke of, were always promoted to that rank, upon account of their know- ledge in religious matters, and the fanctity of their lives; had never been compliers with the times, while they were common prieſts; or flaviſh proſtitute chaplains to fome no- bleman, whoſe opinions they continued fervilely to fol- low, after they were admitted into that affembly?" He then defired to know," what arts were practifed in electing thoſe whom I called commoners: whether a ſtran- ger, with a ſtrong purfe, 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 affembly, which I allowed to be a great trouble and expenfe, often to the ruin of their families, without any falary or penſion; becauſe this appeared ſuch an exalted flrain of virtue and public fpirit, that his ma- jeſty ſeemed to doubt it might poffibly not be always fin- cere?" And he defired to know, "whether fuch zealous gentlemen could have any views of refunding themſelves for the charges and trouble they were at, by facrificing the public good to the defigns of a weak and vicious prince, in conjunction with a corrupted miniftry?" 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 faid in relation to our courts of juſtice, his majefty defired to be fatisfied in feveral points: and this 1 was the better able to do, having been formerly almoſt ruined by a long fuit in chancery, which was decreed for me with cofts. He asked "what time was uſually ſpent in determining between right and wrong, and what de- gree of expenfe? Whether advocates and orators had li- berty to plead in caufes, manifeftly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppreffive? Whether party, in religion or politics, were obferved to be of any weight in the fcale of juftice? Whether thoſe pleading orators, were perfons educated in the general knowledge of equity, or only in provincial, national, and other local customs? Whether they or their judges had any part in penning thofe laws, : A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 125 which they affumed the liberty of interpreting, and gloff- ing upon at their pleaſure? Whether they had ever, at dif- ferent times, pleaded for and againſt the ſame cauſe, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions? Whether they were a rich, or a poor corporation? Whether they re- ceived any pecuniary reward for pleading, or delivering their opinions? And particularly, whether they were ever admitted as members in the lower fenate ?” He fell next upon the management of our treaſury; and faid, "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 fome- times amounted to more than double; for the notes he had taken were very particular in this point, becaufe he hoped, as he told me, that the knowledge of our conduct might be useful to him, and he could not be deceived in his cal- culations. But, if what I told him were true, he was ſtill at a lofs, how a kingdom could run out of its eftate, like a private perfon." He asked me, "who were our creditors; and where we found money to pay them?" He wondered to hear me talk of fuch chargeable and expenfive wars; "that certainly we must be a quarrelfome people, or live among very bad neighbours, and that our generals muſt needs be richer than our kings." He asked "what buſineſs we had out of our own iflands, unleſs upon the fcore of trade, or treaty, or to defend the coafts with our fleet?" Above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary ftanding army, in the midft of peace, and among a free people. He faid, "if we were governed by our own con- fent, in the perfons 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 him- ſelf, his children, and family, than by half a dozen raſcals, picked up at a venture in the ſtreets, for fmall wages, who might get a hundred times more by cutting their throat?" He laughed at my “ odd kind of arithmetic," as he was pleaſed to call it, "in reckoning the numbers of our peo- ple, by a computation drawn from the feveral fects among us, in religion and politics." He faid, he knew no rea 1 M 3 126 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: Part 2. fon why thofe, who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public, ſhould be obliged to change, or ſhould not be oblig- ed to conceal them. And as it was tyranny in any go- vernment, to require the firft, fo it was weaknefs, not to enforce the ſecond: for a man may be allowed to keep poifons in his clofet, but not to vend them about for cordials." He obferved, "that among the diverfions of our nobili- ty and gentry, I had mentioned gaming: he defired to know at what age this entertainment was ufually 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 not arrive at great riches, and fometimes keep our very nobles in dependance, as well as habituate them to vile companions; wholly take them from the improvement of their minds, and force them, by the loffes they † received, to learn and practiſe that in- famous dexterity upon others." He was perfectly aftoniſhed, with the hiftorical account I gave him of our affairs, during the last century; proteſt- ing, "it was only a heap of confpiracies, rebellions, mur- ders, maffacres, revolutions, banishments, the very worſt effects that avarice, faction, hypocrify, perfidiouſneſs, cru- elty, rage, madness, hatred, envy, luft, malice, and am- bition, could produce." His majesty, in another audience, was at the pains to recapitulate the fum of all I had spoken; compared the queftions he made, with the anſwers I had given; then taking me into his hands, and ftroking me gently, deliver- ed himself in thefe words, which I fhall never forget, nor the manner he spoke them in: "My little friend Grildrig, you have made a moſt admirable panegyric upon your coun- try; you have clearly proved, that ignorance, idleness, and vice, are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legiſlator; that laws are beft explained, interpreted, and applied, by ↑ Receiving a lofs, is certainly not a good expreflion; it bould be, "the leffes they fuffained." S. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 127 thoſe whofe intereft and abilities lie in perverting, con- founding, and eluding them. I obferve among you fome lines of an inftitution, which in its original might have been tolerable, but theſe half erafed, and the rest wholly blurred and blotted by corruptions. It does not appear, from all you have faid, 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 vir- tue; that prieſts are advanced, for their piety or learning; foldiers, for their conduct or valour; judges for their inte- grity; fenators, for the love of their country; or counſel- lors, for their wifdom. 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 vermine, that nature ever ſuffered to crawl upon the ſurface of the earth.” CHAP. VII. THE AUTHOR'S LOVE OF HIS COUNTRY. HE MAKES A PRO- POSAL OF MUCH ADVANTAGE TO THE KING, WHICH IS REJECTED. ΤΗΣ KING'S GREAT IGNORANCE IN THE LEARNING OF THAT COUNTRY VERY POLITICS. י IMPERFECT AND CONFINED. THE LAWS AND MILI- TARY AFFAIRS, AND PARTIES IN THE STATE, NOTHING but an extreme love of truth, could have hin- dered me from conccaling this part of my ſtory. It was in vain to diſcover my refentments, which were al- ways turned into ridicule; and I was forced to rest with patience while my noble and beloved country, was ſo in- juriously ticated. I am as heartily forry, as any of my rea- ders can poffibly be, that fuch an occafion was given: bus + fuftead of " wringed," it thould have been, “wrong." 128 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : this prince happened to be fo curious and inquifitive upon every particular, that it could not confift either with grati- tude or good manners, to refufe giving him what fatisfac- tion I was able. Yet thus much I may 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 the strictnefs 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 hiftorian: I would hide the frailties and deformities of my political mother, and place her virtues and beauties in the most advantageous light. This was my fincere endeavour, in thoſe many dif courſes I had with that monarch, although it unfortunate- ly failed of fuccefs. 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 countries of Europe, are wholly exempted. And it would be hard indeed, if fo 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 farther to how the miferable effects of a confined education, I ſhall here infert a paffage, which will hardly obtain belief. In hopes to ingratitate myſelf farther into his majesty's favour, I told him of “ an invention, difcovered between three and four hundred years ago, to make a certain powder, into a heap of which, the fmalleft fpark 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 noiſe and agitation greater than thunder. That a pro- per quantity of this powder rammed into a hollow tube of brafs or iron, according to its bignefs, would drive a ball of iron or lead, with fuch violence and ſpeed, as nothing was able to ſuſtain its force. That the largeſt balls thus diſcharged, would not only deſtroy whole ranks of an army A VOYAGE TO EROBDINGNAG. 129 at once, but batter the ſtrongeſt walls to the ground, fink down fhips, with a thouſand men in each, to the bottom. of the fea; and when linked together by a chain, would cut through mafts and rigging, divide hundreds of bodies. in the middle, and lay all wafte before them. That we often put this powder into large hollow balls of iron, and diſcharged them by an engine into fome city we were be fieging, which would rip up the pavements, tear the houfes to pieces, burft and throw fplinters on every fide, dafhing out the brains of all who came near. That I knew the ingredients very well, which were cheap and common; I underſtood 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 majefty's king- dom, and the largest need not be above a 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 ſtrongeſt town in his dominions, in a few hours, or destroy the whole metropolis, if ever it fhould pretend to diſpute his abfolute commands. This I humbly offered to his majefty, as a ſmall tribute of acknowledg- ment, in return of fo many marks that I had received, of his royal favour and protection," The king was ftruck with horror at the defcription I had given of thofe terrible engines, and the propofal I had made. "He was amazed, how fo impotent and groveling an in- fect as 1," (theſe were his expreffions)" could entertain fuch inhuman ideas, and in fo familiar a manner; as to appear wholly unmoved at all the fcenes of blood and defo- lation, which I had painted, as the common effects of thofe deftructive machines; whereof," he ſaid, "fome evil genius, enemy to mankind, must have been the first con- triver. As for himſelf, he proteſted, that although few things delighted him fo much, as new diſcoveries in art or in nature, yet he would rather loſe half his kingdom, than be privy to fuch a fecret; which he commanded me, as I valued my life, never to mention any more." A ftrange effect of narrow principles and views that a prince poffeffed of every quality which procures veneration, love, and efteem; of ftrong parts, great wiſdom, and pro- found learning, endowed with admirable talents, and al- 130 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: moſt adored by his ſubjects, ſhould from a nice unneceffary fcruple, whereof in Europe we can have no conception, let flip an opportunity put into his hands, that would have made him abfolutely mafter of the lives, the liberties, and the fortunes of his people. Neither do I fay this, with the leaſt intention to detract from the many virtues of that ex- cellent king, whoſe character, I am fenfible, will, on this account, be very much leffened in the opinion of an Eng- lifh reader: but I take this defect among them to have rifen 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 difcourfe one day with the king, when I happened to ſay " there were feveral thouſand books among us written upon the art of government," it gave him (directly contrary to my inten- tion) a very mean opinion of our underſtandings. He pro- feffed both to abominate and defpife all mystery, refine- ment, and intrigue, either in a prince or a minifter. He could not tell what I meant by fecrets of ſtate, where an enemy, or fome rival nation, were not in the cafe. 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 ſome other obvious topics, which are not worth con- fidering. And he gave it for his opinion," that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of graís, to grow upon a ſpot of ground, where only one grew before, would deferve better of mankind, and do more effential ſervice to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together." • The learning of this people is very defective: confifting only in morality, history, poetry, and mathematics, where- in they must be allowed to excel. But the laft of thefe, is wholly applied to what may be uſeful in life, to the im- provement of agriculture, and all mechanical arts; fo that among us, it would be little esteemed. And as to ideas, entities, abſtractions, and tranfcendentals, i could never drive the leaſt conception † into their heads. + It ſhould be, "I could never drive the least concep- tion" of them" into their heads." S. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 131 ! No law of that country, muſt exceed in words, the num ber 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 fimple terms, wherein thoſe people are not mercurial enough to diſcover above one interpretation: and to write a com- ment upon any law, is a capital crime. As to the deci- fion of civil caufes, or proceedings against criminals, their precedents are fo 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 Chi- nefe, time out of mind: but their libraries are not very large; for that of the king, which is reckoned the largeſt, does not amount to above a thouſand volumes, placed in a gallery of twelve hundred feet long, whence I had liberty to borrow what books I pleaſed. The queen's joiner had contrived in one of Glumdalclitch's rooms, a kind of wood- en machine five-and-twenty feet high, formed like a ſtand- ing ladder, the fteps were each fifty feet long: it was in- deed a moveable pair of ſtairs, the lowest end placed at ten feet diſtance from the wall of the chamber. The book I had a mind to read, was put up leaning againſt the wall: I firſt mounted to the upper ſtep of the ladder, and turn- ing my face towards the book, began at the top of the page, and fo 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 de- fcending gradually till I came to the bottom: after which I mounted again, and began the other page in the fame manner, and ſo turned over the leaf, which I could eaſily do with both my hands, for it was as thick and ſtiff as a pafte-board, and in the largeſt folios not above eighteen or twenty feet long. Their ftyle is clear, mafculine, and fmooth, but not florid; for they avoid nothing more than multiplying un- neceflary words, or uſing various expreffions. I have per- ufed many of their books, eſpecially thofe in hiſtory and morality, Among the reft, I was much diverted with a little old treatiſe, which always lay in Glumdalclitch's bed-chamber, and belonged to her governeſs, a grave el- 132 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: derly gentlewoman, who dealt in writings of morality and devotion. The book treats of the weaknefs of human kind, and is in little efteem, except among the women and the vulgar. However, I was curious to fee what an au- thor of that country could fay upon ſuch a ſubject. This writer went through all the ufual topics of European mo- ralifts, fhowing "how diminutive, contemptible, and help- lefs an animal was man in his own nature; how unable to defend himſelf from inclemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beafts: how much he was excelled by one creature in ftrength, by another in ſpeed, by a third in forefight, by a fourth in induftry." He added, "that nature was de- generated in theſe latter declining ages of the world, and could now produce only ſmall abortive births, in compari- fon of thofe in ancient times." He faid, "it was very rea- fonable to think, not only that the fpecies 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, fo it has been confirmed by huge bones and fculls, cafually dug up in feveral parts of the kingdom, far exceeding the common dwindled race of men in our days." He argued, "that the very laws of nature, abfolutely re- quired we should have been made, in the beginning of a ſize more large and robuſt, not fo liable to deſtruction from every little accident, of a tile falling from a houſe, or a ſtone caft from the hand of a boy, or being drowned in a little brook." From this way of reafoning, the author drew ſeveral moral applications, uſeful in the conduct of life, but needlefs here to repeat. For my own part, I could not avoid reflecting how univerfally this talent was fpread, of drawing lectures in morality, or indeed rather matter of difcontent and repining, from the quarrels we raife with nature. And I believe, upon a ſtrict inquiry, thoſe quar- rels might be ſhown as ill grounded among us, as they are among that people.† + The author's zeal to juſlify Providence has before been remarked; and thefe quarrels with nature, or in other words with God, could not have been more forcibly re- proved than by fhowing, that the complaints upon which A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG 133 As to their military affairs, they boaſt that the king's ar- my conſiſts of a hundred and feventy-fix thouſand foot, and thirty-two thouſand horfe: if that may be called an army, which is made up of tradeſmen in the ſeveral cities, and farmers in the country, whofe commanders are only the nobility and gentry, without pay or reward. They are indeed perfect enough in their exerciſes, and under very good difcipline, wherein I faw no great merit; for how fhould it be otherwife, where every farmer is under the command of his own landlord, and every citizen under that of the principal men in his own city, choſen after the man- ner of Venice, by ballot. I have often ſeen the militia of Lorbrulgrud, drawn out to exercife in a great field near the city of twenty miles fquare. They were in all not above twenty-five thouſand foot, and fix thouſand horſe; but it was impoffible for me to compute their number, confidering 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 horfe upon a word of command, draw their ſwords at once, and brandish them in the air. Imagination can figure no- thing fo grand, fo furpriſing, and fo aftonishing! it looked as if ten thousand flashes of lightning, where darting at the ſame time, from every quarter of the ſky. I was curious to know how this prince, to whofe domi- nions there is no accefs from any other country, came to think of armies, or to teach his people the practice of mili- tary difcipline. But I was foon informed, both by conver- fation, and reading their hiſtories; for, in the courſe of ma- ny ages, they have been troubled with the ſame diſeaſe, to which the whole race of mankind is fubject; the no- bility often contending for power, the people for liberty, and the king for abfolute dominion. All which, however, happily tempered by the laws of that kingdom, have been fometimes violated by each of the three parties, and have more than once occaſioned civil wars; the laſt whereof, N they are founded, would be equally ſpecious among beings of fuch aftonishing fuperiority of flature and ftrength. H. 134 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: was happily put an end to, by this prince's grandfather, in a general compofition; and the militia, then fettled with common confent, has been ever fince kept in the strictest duty. CHAP. VIII. THE KING AND QUEEN · MAKE A PROGRESS' TO A THE FRONTIERS. THE AUTHOR ATTENDS THEM. THE MANNER IN WHICH HE LEAVES THE COUNTRY VERY PARTICULARLY RELATED. HE RETURNS TO ENGLAND. I HAD always a ſtrong impulfe, that I fhould fome time recover my liberty, though it was impoffible to conjec- ture by what means, or to form any project, with the leaſt hope of fuccceding. The pip in which I failed, was the firſt ever known to be driven within fight of that coaſt, and the king had given ſtrict orders, " that if at any time another appeared, it fhould be taken afhore, and with all its crew and paſſengers, brought in a tumbril to Lorbṛulgrud." He was ftrongly bent to get me a woman of my own fize, by whom I might propagate the breed: but I think I ſhould rather have died, than undergone the difgrace, of leaving a poſterity to be kept in cages, like tame canary-birds, and perhaps, in time, fold about the kingdom, to perfons of quality, for curiofities. 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 fuch a foot, as ill became the dignity of human kind. I could never forget thofe domeftic pledges I had left behind me. I wanted to be among people, with, whom I could con verfe 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 fooner than I expected, and in a manner not very common: the whole ftory and circumſtances of which, I fhall faithfully relate. I had now been two years in this country; and about the beginning of the third, Glumdalclitch and I attended A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 135 the king and queen, in a progrefs to the ſouth coaſt of, the kingdom. I was carried as ufual, in nry travelling box, which, as I have already defcribed, was a very convenient clofet, of twelve feet wide. And I had ordered a ham- mock to be fixed, by filken ropes, from the four corners at the top to break the jolts, whep a fervant carried me be- fore 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 clofet, not directly over the mid- dle of the hammock, Irdered the joiner to cut out a hole of a foot ſquare, to give me air in hot weather, as I flept; which hole I fut at pleaſure with a board that drew back- ward and forward through a groove. When we came to our journey's end, the king thought proper to pass a few days at a palace he has near Flanflat nic, a city within eighteen English miles of the fea-fide. Glumdalclitch and I were much fatigued: I had gotten a fmall cold, but the poor girl was fo ill as to be confined to her chamber. I longed to fee the ocean, which mult be the only fcene of my efcape, if ever it fhould happen. I pretended to be worie than I really was, and defired leave to take the fresh air of the fea, with a page, whom I was very fond of, and who had fometimes been trusted with me. I fhall never forget with what unwillingnefs Glum- dalclitch confented, nor the ftrict charge the gave the page to be careful of me, þurfting at the fame time into a flood of tears, as if fhe had fome forboding 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 fea-fhore. I ordered him to fet me down, and lifting up one of my faſhes, caft many a wiftful melancholy look to- wards the fea, I found myself not very well, and told the page that I had a mind to take a nap in my hammock, which I hoped would do me good. I got in, and the boy fhut the window clofe down, to keep out the cold. I foon fell asleep, and all I can conjecture is, while I Dept, the page, thinking no danger could happen, went among the rocks to look for birds' eggs, having before obferved him from my window fearching about, and picking up one or two in the clefts. Be that as it will, I found myſelf fud- N 2 136 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: : denly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was faſtened at the top of my box, for the conveniency of carriage. I felt my box raiſed very high in the air, and then borne forward with prodigious fpeed. The first jolt had like to have ſhaken me out of my hammock, but afterward the motion was eafy enough. I called out feveral times, as loud as I could raiſe my voice, but all to no purpoſe. I looked towards my windows, and couid fee nothing but the clouds and fky. I heard a noife juft over my head, like the clapping of wings, and then began to perceive the woful condition I was in, that fome eagle had got the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent, to let it fall on a rock like a tortoife in a fhell, and then pick out my body, and devour it for the fagacity and ſmell of this bird, en- abled him to diſcover his quarry at a great diſtance, though better concealed than I could be within a two-inch board. In a little time, I obferved the noiſe and flutter of wings to increaſe very faft, and my box was toffed up and down, like a fign in a windy day. I heard feveral bangs or buffets as I thought, given to the eagle, (for fuch I am certain it muſt have been that held the ring of my box in his beak) and then, all on a fudden, felt myfelf falling perpendicular- ly down, for above a minute, but with fuch incredible fwift- nefs, that I almoſt loſt my breath. My fall was ſtopped by a terrible ſquaſh, that founded louder to my ears than the cataract of Niagara ;† after which, I was quite in the dark for another minute, and then my box began to rife fo high, that I could fee light from the tops of the windows, I now perceived I was fallen into the fea. My box, by the weight of my body, the goods that were in, and the broad plates of iron fixed for ftrength at the four corners of the top and bottom, floated about five feet deep in water. I did then, and do now fuppofe, that the eagle which few away with This cataract is produced by the fall of a conflux of water (formed of the four vaft lakes of Canada,) from a rocky precipice, the perpendicular height of which is one hundred and thirty-feven feet; and it is,faid to have been heard fifteen leagues. H. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 137 my box, was purfued by two or three others, and forced to let me drop, while he defended himſelf against the reft, who hoped to fhare in the prey. The plates of iron faften- ed at the bottom of the box (for thoſe were the ſtrongeſt) preferved the balance while it fell, and hindered it from being broken on the furface of the water. Every joint of it was well grooved; and the door did not move on hinges, but up and down like a faſh, 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 flipboard on the roof already mentioned, contrived on purpoſe to let in air, for want of which 1 found myself al- moſt ſtifled. How often did I then with myself with my dear Glum- dalclitch, from whom one fingle hour had fo far divided me! And I may fay with truth, that in the midst of my own misfortunes I could not forbear lamenting my poor nurſe, the grief ſhe would fuffer for my lofs, the difplea- fure of the queen, and the ruin of her fortune. Perhaps many travellers have not been under greater difficulties and dif- trefs than I was at this juncture, expecting every moment to fee my box dashed to pieces, or at least overiet by the firſt violent blaft, or rifing wave. A breach in one fingle pane of glaſs, would have been immediate death: nor could any thing have preferved the windows, but the ftrong lat- tice wires placed on the outſide, againſt accidents in tra- velling. I faw the water ooze in at feveral crannies, al- though the leaks were not confiderable, and 1 endeavoured to ſtop them as well as I could. I was not able to lift up the roof of my cloſet, which otherwiſe 1 certainly ſhould have done, and fat on the top of it; where I might at leaſt preferve myſelf fome hours longer, than by being fhut up (as I may call it) in the hold. Or, if I eſcaped thefe dangers for a day or two, what could I expect, but a miferable death of cold and hunger? 1 was four hours under theſe cir- cumſtances, expecting, and indeed wiſhing every moment to be my lath. I have already told the reader, that there were two ftrong ftaples fixed upon that fide of my box which had no window, and into which, the fervant who uſed to carry N 3 138 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: me on horfeback, would put a leathern belt, and buckle it about his waift. Being in this difconfolate ftate, I heard, or at least thought I heard, fome kind of grating noiſe on that fide of my box, where the ftaples were fixed; and foon after I began to fancy, that the box was pulled or towed along in the fea; for I now and then felt a ſort of tugging, which made the waves rife near the tops of my windows, leaving me almoſt in the dark. This gave me fome faint hopes of relief, although I was not able to imagine how it could be brought about. I ventured to un- fcrew one of my chairs, which were always faftened to the floor; and having made a hard ſhift to fcrew it dowu again, directly 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 underſtood. I then faſten- ed my handkerchief to a ſtick I uſually carried, and thruſt- ing it up the hole, waved it ſeveral times in the air, that if any boat or ſhip 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 per- ceived my cloſet to be moved along; and in the ſpace of an hour, or better, that fide of the box where the ſtaples were, and had no windows, ftruck against fomething that was hard. I apprehended it to be a rock, and found my、 felf toffed more than ever. i plainly heard a noiſe upon the cover of my clofet, like that of a cable, and the grat- ing of it as it paſſed through the ring. I then found my, ſelf hoisted up, by degrees, at leaſt three feet higher than I was before. Whereupon I again thruſt up my ſtick and handkerchief, calling for help till I was almoft hoarse. In return to which, I heard a great fhout repeated three times, giving me fuch tranſports of joy, as are not to be con- ceived but by thoſe who feel them. I now heard a tram- pling over my head, and ſomebody calling through the hole with a loud voice, in the Englifh tongue," If there be any body below, let them ſpeak." I answered, “I was an Engliſhman, drawn by ill fortune into the greateſt calami- ty that ever any creature underwent, and begged, by all that was moving, to be delivered out of the dungeon I was A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 139 in." The voice replied, "I was fafe, for my box was faſtened to their fhip; and the carpenter fhould immedi- ately come and faw a hole in the cover, large enough to pull me out." I answered," that was needlefs, 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 captain's cabin." Some of them, upon hearing me talk fo wildly, thought I was mad; others laughed; for indeed it never came into my head, that I was now got among people of my own ftature and ſtrength. The carpenter came, and in a few minutes fawed a paffage about four feet fquare, then let down a ſmall ladder, upon which I mount- ed, and thence was taken into the fhip, in a very weak condition. The failors were all in amazement, and aſked me a thoufand questions, which I had no inclination to anſwer. I was equally confounded at the fight of fo many pigmies, for fuch I took them to be, after having fo long accuſtom- ed mine eyes to the monstrous objects I had left. But the captain, Mr. Thomas Wilcocks, an honeſt worthy Shrop- fhire man, obferving 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 reft, of which I had great need. Before I went to fleep, I gave him to underſtand that I had fome valuable furniture in my box, too good to be loft; a fine hammock; a hand- fome field-bed, two chairs, a table, and a cabinet. That my closet was hung on all fides, or rather quilted, with There are feveral little incidents which fhow the au- thor to have had a deep knowledge of human nature; and I think this is one. Although the principal advantages enumerated by Gulliver in the beginning of this chapter, of mingling again among his countrymen, depended on their being of the fame fize with himſelf, yet this is for- gotten in his ardour to be delivered; and he is afterwards betrayed into the fame abfurdity, by his zeal to preferve his furniture. H 140 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: filk and cotton: that if he would let one of the crew bring my clofet into his cabin, I would open it there before him, and how him my goods. The captain, hearing me utter thefe abfurdities, concluded I was raving: however, (I fup- pofe to pacify me) he promiſed to give orders as I defired, and going upon deck, fent fome of his men down into my clofet, whence (as I afterwards found) they drew up all my goods, and ftripped off the quilting; but the chairs, cabinet, and bedftead, being ferewed to the floor, were much damaged by the ignorance of the feamen, who tore them up by force. Then they knocked off ſome of the boards for the ufe of the fhip, and when they had got all they had a mind for, let the hull drop into the fea, which by reafon of many breaches made in the bottom and fides funk to rights. And indeed I was glad not to have been a fpectator of the havock they made: becauſe I am confi- dent it would have fenfibly touched me, by bringing for- mer paffages into my mind, which I would rather have forgot. I flept fome hours, but perpetually diſturbed with dreams of the place I had left, and the dangers I had ef- caped. However, upon waking, I found myſelf much re- covered. It was now about eight o'clock at night, and the captain ordered fupper immediately, thinking I had al- ready faſted too long. He entertained me with great kindneſs, obferving me not to look wildly, or talk incon- iftently; and, when we were left alone, defired I would `give him a relation of my travels, and by what accident I came to be fet adrift, in that monstrous wooden cheft. He faid, "that about twelve o'clock at noon, as he was look- ing through his glafs, he fpied 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 fome biſcuit, his own beginning to fall fhort. That upon coming near- er, and finding his error, he fent out his long-boat to dif cover what it was; that his men came back in a fright, fwearing they had ſeen a ſwimming houfe. That he laugh- ed at their folly, and went himself in the boat, ordering his men to take a strong cable along with them. That the weather being calm, he rowed round me feveral times, ob- 1 1 A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 141 ferved my windows, and wire-lattices that defended them. That he discovered two ftaples upon one fide, which was all of boards, without any paffage for light. He then com- manded his men to row up to that fide, and faftening a ca- ble to one of the ftaples, ordered them to tow my cheft, as they called it, toward the fhip. When it was there, he gave directions to faften another cable to the ring fixed in the cover, and to raiſe up my cheſt with pullies, which all the failors were not able to do above two or three feet. He faid, they faw my ſtick and handkerchief thruſt out of the hole, and concluded that fome unhappy man must be ſhut up in the cavity." I asked, "whether he or the crew had feen any prodigious birds in the air, about the time he firſt diſcovered me?" To which he anfwered, "that difcourf ing this matter with the failors while I was asleep, one of them faid, he had obferved three eagles flying towards the north, but remarked nothing of their being larger than the ufual fize." Which I fuppofe 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 reck- oned we might be from land?" he faid, " by the beſt com- putation he could make, we were at leaft a hundred leagues." I affured him, I aſſured him, “that he muſt be miſtaken by al- moft half, for I had not left the country whence I came, above two hours before I dropped into the fea." Where- upon he began again to think that my brain was diſturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and adviſed me to go to bed in a cabin he had provided. I affured him "I was well re- freshed with his good entertainment and company, and as much in my fenfes as ever I was in my life." He then grew ferious, and defired to aſk me freely, "whether 1 were not troubled in my mind by the conſciouſneſs of tome enormous crime, for which I was punished, at the com- mand of fome prince, by expofing me in that cheft; as great criminals in other countries, have been forced to fea in a leaky veffel, without proviſions: for although he fhould he forry to have taken to ill a man into his ſhip, yet he would engage his word to fet me fafe afhore, in the firſt port where we arrived. He added, "that his fufpicions were much increafed, by fome very abfurd fpeeches 1 had 142 Part . GULLIVER'S TRAVELS:· delivered at first to his failors, and afterwards to himſelf, in relation to my clofet. or cheft, as well as by my odd looks and behaviour while I was at fupper." N I begged his patience to hear me tell my ftory, which I faithfully did, from the last time I left England, to the moment he firft difcovered me. And as truth always forces its way into rational minds, fo this honeft worthy gentleman, who had fome tincture of learning, and very good fenfe, was immediately convinced of my candour and veracity. But, farther to confirm all I had faid, 1 entreated him to give order that my cabinet fhould be brought, of which I had the key in my pocket; for he had already in- formed me how the feamen difpofed of my clofet. I open- ed it in his own prefence, and ſhowed him the fmall col- lection of rarities I made in the country from which I had been fo ftrangely delivered. There was the comb I had contrived out of the stumps of the king's beard, and an- other of the fame materials, but fixed into a paring of her majefty's thumb-nail, which ferved for the back. There was a collection of needles and pins, from a foot, to half a yard long; four wafp ftings, like joiners' tacks; fome combings of the queen's hair; a gold ring, which one day the made me a prefent of, in a moft obliging manner, tak- ing it from her little finger, and throwing it over my head. like a collar. I defired the captain would pleaſe to accept this ring in return of his civilities; which he abfolutely refufed. I fhowed him a corn that I had cut off, with my own hand, from a maid of honour's toe; it was about the bigness of a Kentifh pippin, and grown fo hard, that when I returned to England I got it hollowed into a cup, and fet in filver. Lastly, I defired him to fee the breeches I had then on, which were made of a moufe's ſkin. I could force nothing on him but a footman's tooth, which I obferved him to examine with great curioſity, and found he had a fancy for it. He received it with abundance of thanks, more than fuch a trifle could deferve. It was drawn by an unſkilful furgeon, in a mistake, from one of Glumdalclitch's men, who was afflicted with the tooth- ach, but it was as found as any in his head. I got it clean- A VOYAGE TO BRUBDINGNAG. 143 + ed, and put it into my cabinet. It was about a foot long, and four inches in diameter. The captain was very well fatisfied with this plain re- lation I had given him, and faid, " he hoped, when we're turned to England, I would oblige the world by putting it on paper, and making it public." My anfwer was, " that I thought we were already overstocked with books of tra vels: that nothing could now paſs which was not extraor- dinary; wherein I doubted fome authors lefs confulted truth, than their own vanity, or intereft, or the diverſion of ignorant readers: that my ſtory could contain little be- fide conmon events, without thofe ornamental defcrip- tions of ftrange plants, trees, birds, and other animals; or of the barbarous cuſtoms and idolatry of favage 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 fpeak fo loud;" afking 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 admired 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 country, it was like a man talking in the streets, to another looking out from the top of a ſteeple, unleſs when I was placed on a table, or held in any perfon's hand." I told him, “i had likewiſe obferved another thing, that when I firſt got into the fhip, and the failors flood 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 glafs after mine eyes had been accuſtomed to ſuch prodigious ob- jects, becauſe the compariſon gave me ſo deſpicable a con- ceit of myſelf. The captain faid, "that while we were at fupper, he obferved me to look at every thing with a fort of wonder, and that I often feemed hardly able to contain my-laughter, which he knew not well how to take, but imputed it to ſome diſorder in my brain.” I answered, "it was very true; and 1 wondered how I could forbear, 144 Part 2. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: when I faw his diſhes of the fize of a filver threepence, a leg of pork hardly a mouthful, a cup not fo big as a nut- fhell" and fo I went on, defcribing the reſt of his houſe- hold-ftuff and provifions, after the fame manner. For, al- though the queen had ordered a little equipage of all things neceffary for me, while I was in her fervice, yet my ideas were wholly taken up with what I faw on every fide of me, and I winked at my own littleneſs, as people do at their own faults. The captain understood my raillery very well, and merrily replied with the old English proverb, "that he doubted mine eyes were bigger than my belly, for he did not obſerve my ftomach fo good, although I had faſted all day;" and, continuing in his mirth, protefted" he would have gladly given a hundred pounds, to have ſeen my clofet in the eagle's bill, and afterwards in its fall from ſo great a height into the fea; which would certainly have been a most astonishing object, worthy to have the defcription of it tranfmitted to future ages:" and the compariſon of Phaeton was fo obvious, that he could not forbear apply- ing it, although I did not much admire the conceit. The captain, having been at Tonquin, was, in his re- turn to England, driven north-eastward to the latitude of 44 degrees, and longitude of 143. But meeting a trade- wind two days after I came on board him, we failed fouth- ward a long time, and coafting New-Holland, kept our courfe weft-fouth-weft, and then fouth-fouth-weft, till we - doubled the Cape of Good Hope. Our voyage was very profperous, but I ſhall not trouble the reader with a journal of it. The captain called in at one or two ports, and fent in his long-boat for provifions and fresh water; but I never went out of the hip till we came into the Downs, which was on the third day of June, 1706, about nine months after my efcape. I offered to leave my goods in fecurity for payment of my freight; but the captain protefted he would not receive one farthing. We took a kind leave of cach other, and I made him promiſe he would come to fee me at my houfe in Redriff. I hired a horfe and guide for five hillings, which I borrowed of the captain. As I was on the road, obferving the littleness of the houſes, the trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. 145 think myſelf in Lilliput. I was afraid 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 houfe, for which I was forced to inquire, one of the fervants opening the door, I hent down to go in (like a goofe under a gate) for fear of ſtriking my head. My wife ran out to embrace me, but I ftooped lower than her knees, thinking ſhe could otherwife never be able to reach my mouth. My daughter kneeled to aſk my bleffing, but I could not fee her till the arofe, having been fo long uſed to ſtand with my head and eyes erect to above fixty feet; and then I went to take her up with one hand by the waift. I looked 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" he had been too thrifty, for I found the had starved herſelf and her daughter to nothing." In short, I behaved myſelf fo un- accountably, that they were all of the captain's opinion when he first faw me, and concluded I had loft 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 proteſted “ I ſhould never go to fea any more," although my evil deftiny to ordered, that he had not power to hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter. In the mean time, I here conclude the fecond part of my unfortunate voyages.f + From the whole of thoſe two voyages to Lilliput and Brobdingnag, arifes one general remark, which, however obvious, has been overlooked by thoſe who conſider them as little more than the fport of a wanton imagination. When human actions are afcribed to pigmies and giants, there are few that do not excite either contempt, difguft, or horror; to afcribe them therefore to fuch beings, was perhaps the moſt probable method of engaging the mind to examine them with attention, and judge of them with impartiality, by fufpending the fafcination of habit, and και PART III. i A VOYAGE TO ! LAPUTA, BALNIBARBI, LUGGNAGG, GLUBBDUBDRIB, AND JAPAN.† THE AUTHOR TAKEN J BY CHAP. I. SETS OUT ON HIS THIRD VOYAGE, IS PIRATES. THE MALICE OF A DUTCH- MAN. HIS ARRIVAL AT AN ISLAND, HE 13 RECEIV- ED INTO LAPUTA. } I HAD not been at home above ten days, when captain William Robinſon, a Corniſh man, commander of the Hopewell, a tout fhip of three hundred tons, came to my exhibiting familiar objects in a new light. The uſe of the fable then is not lefs apparent, than important and exten- five; and that this ufe was intended by the author can be. doubted only by thoſe who are difpofed to affirm, that or- der and regularity are the effects of chance. H. + Dr. Swift feems to have borrowed feveral hints, in his voyage to Laputa, from a novel written by the learned Dr. Francis Godwin, Bishop of Landaff, called " Man in the Moon, or a Difcourfe of a Voyage thither, by Domingo Gonfales, 1638," 8vo. This philofophic romance, which has been feveral times printed, fhows that bishop Godzin had a creative genius. His " Nuncius Inanimatus," which contains inſtructions to convey fecret intelligence, is very fearce. He died in April 1699. N. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 147 houfe. I had formerly been furgeon 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 paffed more than what is ufual after long abfences. But repeating his vifits often, expreffing his joy to find me in good health, afking "whether I were now fettled for life," adding, that he intended a voyage to the Eaft-In- dies in two months; at laſt he plainly invited me, though with fome apologies, to be furgeon of the ship; "that I ſhould have another furgeon under me, beſide our two mates; that my falary ſhould be double to the ufual pay, and that having experienced my knowledge in fea-affairs, to be at leaſt equal to his, he would enter into any en- gagement to follow my advice, as much as if I had thared in the command." He faid fo many other obliging things, and I knew him to be ſo honeſt a man, that I could not reject his propoſal; the thirſt I had of feeing the world, notwithſtanding my paſt misfortunes, continuing as violent as ever. The only difficulty that remained, was to perfuade my wife, whoſe confent however I at laſt obtained, by the proſpect of ad- vantage the propofed to her children. 3 We fet out the 5th day of Auguſt, 1706, and arrived at Fort St. George the 11th of April, 1707. We stayed there three weeks to refresh our crew, many of whom were fick. From thence we went to Fonquin, where the cap- tain refolved to continue fome time, becaufe many of the goods be 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, he bought a floop, loaded it with feveral forts of goods," wherewith the Tonquineſe uſually trade to the neighbour- ing iflands, and putting fourteen men on board, whereof three were of the country, he appointed me maſter of the floop, and gave me power to traffic, while he tranfacted his affairs at Tonquin. We had not failed above three days, when a great ſtorm ariſing, we were driven five days to the north-north-eaſt, 0 2 148 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: and then to the eaft: after which we had fair weather, but ſtill with a pretty ſtrong gale from the west. Upon the tenth day we were chafed by two pirates, who foon overtook us; for my floop was fo deep laden, that ſhe failed very flow, neither were we in a condition to defend ourfelves. We were boarded about the fame time by both the pi- rates, who entered furiously at the head of their men; but finding us all proftrate upon our faces, (for fo I gave order) they pinioned us with ftrong ropes, and fetting a guard upon us, went to fearch the floop. I obferved among them a Dutchman, who feemed to be of fome authority, though he was not commander of either ſhip. He knew us by our countenances to be Engliſhmen, and jabbering to us in his own language, fwore we ſhould be tied back to back and thrown into the fea. I ſpoke Dutch tolerably well; I told him who we were, and beg- ged him, in confideration of our being Chriftians and Pro- teftants, of neighbouring countries in ftrict alliance, that - he would move the captains to take fome pity on us. This inflamed his rage, he repeated his threatenings, and turn- ing to his companions, fpoke with great vehemence in the Japanese language, as I fuppofe, often uſing the word chriftianos. The largeſt of the two pirate fhips, was commanded by a Japaneſe captain, who fpoke a little Dutch, but very im- perfectly. He came up to me, and after feveral queſtions, which I answered in great humility, he faid "we fhould not die." I made the captain a very low bow, and then, turning to the Dutchman, faid, "I was forry to find more mercy in a Heathen, than in a brother Chriftian." But I had foon reafon to repent thofe foolish words: for that ma- licious reprobate, having often endeavoured in vain to per- fuade both the captains that I might be thrown into the fea, (which they would not yield to after the promiſe made me that I should not die) however prevailed fo far, as to have a puniſhment inflicted on me, worfe in all human ap- pearance, than death itſelf. My men were fent by an equal divifion into both the pirate fhips, and my floop new manned. As to myſelf, it was determined that I ſhould A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 149 be fet adrift, in a ſmall canoe, with paddles and a fail, and four days proviſions; which laft, the Japaneſe captain was ſo kind to double out of his own ftores, and would per- mit no man to fearch me. I got down into the canoe, while the Dutchman, ftanding upon the deck, loaded me with all the curfes and injurious terms, his language could afford. About an hour before we ſaw the pirates, I had taken an obfervation, and found we were in the latitude of 46 N. and longitude of 183. When I was at ſome diſtance from the pirates, I difcovered, by my pocket-glaſs, ſeveral iflands to the fouth-east. I ſet up my fail, the wind being fair, with a defign to reach the nearest of thoſe iſlands, which I made a fhift 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 feaweed, by which I roafted my eggs. I eat no other fupper, being refolved to fpare my provifions as much as I could. I pafled the night under the ſhelter of a rock, ftrewing fome neath under me, and flept pretty well. The next day I failed to another iſland, and thence to a third and fourth, fometimes ufing my fail, and ſometimes my paddles. But, not to trouble the reader with a parti- cular account of my diltreffes, let it fuffice, that on the fifth day I arrived at the laſt iſland in my fight, which lay fouth-fouth-east of the former. This island was at a greater diftance than I expected, and I did not reach it in lefs than five hours. I encom- pafied it almoft round, before I could find a convenient place to land in; which was a fmal! creek, about three times the wideneſs of my canoe. I found the illand to be all rocky, only a little intermingled with tufts of graſs, and fweet-fmelling herbs. I took out my fmall proviſions, and after having refreſhed myſelf, I fecured the remainder in a cave, whereof there were great numbers; I gathered plenty of eggs upon the rocks, and got a quantity of dry feaweed, and parched grafs, which I defigned to kindle the next day, and roaft my eggs as well as I could; for I had about me my flint, fteel, match, and burning-glafs. I lay all night in the cave where I had lodged my proviſions. My Q 3 150 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : bed, was the ſame dry grafs and feaweed, which I intend-* ed for fewel. lept very little, for the difquiets of my mind prevailed over my wearinefs, and kept me awake. I confidered how impoffible it was to preſerve my life in fo defolare a place, and how miferable my end must be. Yet found myself fo liftlefs and defponding, that I had not the heart to rife: and before I could get fpirits 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 fun fo hot, that I was forced to turn my face from it: when all on a fudden it became obfcure, as I thought in a manner very different from what happens by the interpo- fition of a cloud. I turned back, and perceiving a vaſt opake body between me and the fun, moving forwards to- wards the island: it feemed to be about two miles high, and hid the fun fix or feven minutes, but I did not obſerve the air to be much colder, or the fky more darkened, than if I had ſtood under the fhade of a mountain. As it ap- proached nearer over the place where I was, it appeared to be a firm ſubſtance, the bottom flat, ſmooth, and ſhin- ing very bright, from the reflection of the fea below. I ftood upon a height about two hundred yards from the fhore, and faw this vaft body defcending almoft to a pa- rallel with me, at lefs than an Engliſh mile diſtance. trok out my pocket perſpective, and could plainly diſcover 1mbers of people moving up and down the fides of it, which appeared to be floping; but, what thoſe people were doing, I was not able to diſtinguiſh. I The natural love of life gave me fome inward motion of joy, and I was ready to entertain a hope, that this adven- ture might, fome way or other, help to deliver me from the defolate place and condition I was in. But at the fame time the reader can hardly conceive my aftoniſhment, to behold an iſland in the air, inhabited by men, who were able (as it ſhould feem) to rife or fink, or put it in pro- greffive motion, as they pleafed. But not being at that time, in a difpofition to philofophize upon this phenome- non, I rather chofe to obferve what courfe the iſland would take, becauſe it ſeemed for a while to ſtand ſtill. Yet foon after, it advanced nearer, and I could ſee the A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 151 fides of it encompaffed with feveral gradations of galleries, and ftairs, at certain intervals, to defcend from one to the other. In the loweſt gallery, I beheld fome people fishing with long angling rods, and others looking on. I waved my cap (for my hat was long fince worn out) and my handkerchief toward the ifland; and upon its nearer ap- proach, I called and fhouted with the utmoſt ſtrength of my voice; and then looking circumspectly, I beheld a crowd gather to that fide, which was moft in my view. I found, by their pointing toward me and to each other, that they plainly discovered me, although they made no return to my fhouting. But I could fee four or five men running in great hafte, up the ſtairs, to the top of the ifland, who then difappeared. I happened rightly to con- jecture, that thefe were fent for orders, to fome perfon in authority, upon this occafion. The number of people increaſed, and in leſs than half an hour, the iſland was moved and raiſed in fuch a manner, that the lowest gallery appeared in a parallel of less than a hundred yards diftance from the height where I ſtood. 1 then put myself into the moft fupplicating poftures, and ſpoke in the humbleft accent, but received no answer. Those who stood nearest over against me, feemed to be perfons of diftinction, as I fuppofed by their habit. They conferred earnestly with each other, looking often upon me. At length one of them called out in a clear, polite, fmooth dialect, not unlike in found to the Italian: and therefore I returned an anſwer in that language, hoping at leaſt, that the cadence might be more agreeable to his cars. Although neither of us underſtood the other, yet my meaning was eaſily known, for the people faw the diftrefs I was in. They made ſigns for me to come down from the rock, and go towards the fhore, which I accordingly did; and the Aying inland being railed to a convenient height, the verge directly over me, a chain was let down from the loweft gallery, with a feat faftened to the bottom, to which I fixed myfelf, and was drawn up by pullies. 152 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: CHAP. II. THE HUMOURS AND DISPOSITIONS OF THE LAPUTIANS DESCRIBED. AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR LEARNING, OF THE KING, AND HIS COURT. THE AUTHOR'S RECEP- TION THERE. THE INHABITANTS SUBJECT TO FEAR AND DISQUIETUDES. AN ACCOUNT OF THE WOMEN. AT my alighting, I was furrounded with a crowd of peo- ple, but thoſe who ftood neareſt, feemed to be of bet- ter quality. They beheld me with all the marks and cir- cumitances of wonder, neither indeed was I much in their debt; having never till then, feen a race of mortals, fo fingular in their fhapes, habits, and countenances. Their heads were all reclined, either to the right, or the left; one of their eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the zenith. Their outward garments were adorned with the figures of funs, moons, and ftars; interwoven with thoſe of fiddles, flutes, harps, trumpets, guitars, harpsichords, and many other inftruments of mufic, unknown to us in Europe. I obferved, here and there, many in the habit of fervants, with a blown bladder, faftened like a fail to the end of a ſtick, which they carried in their hands. In each bladder, was a ſmall quantity of dry peas, or little pebbles, as I was afterwards informed. With thefe bladders, they now and then Happed the mouths and ears of thoſe who ftood near them, of which practice I could not then con- ceive the meaning. It feems, the minds of theſe people are fo taken up with intenfe fpeculations, that they nei- ther can ſpeak, nor attend to the difcourfes of others, without being roufed by fome external taction, upon the organs of ſpeech and hearing; for which reafon, thofe per- fons who are able to afford it, always keep a fapper (the original is climenole) in their family, as one of their do- meftics; nor ever walk abroad, or make visits, without him. And the buſineſs of this officer is, when two, three, + By this deſcription the author intended to ridicule thofe who waſte life in fpeculative fciences, the powers of whoſe minds are as abfurdly employed as the eyes of the Laputians. H. ; A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 153 or more perfons are in company, gently to ſtrike with his bladder the mouth of him who is to ſpeak, and the right ear of him or them to whom the fpeaker addreffes him felf. This flapper is likewife employed, diligently to attend his maſter in his walks, and upon occafion to give him a foft flap on his eyes; becauſe he is always fo wrapped up in cogitation, that he is in manifeft danger of falling down every precipice, and bouncing his head againſt every poſt; and in the ſtreets of juftling others, or being juftled him- felf into the kennel. It was necellary to give the reader this information, without which, he would be at the fame lofs with me to underſtand the proceedings of theſe people, as they con- ducted me up the ftairs to the top of the ifland, and from thence to the royal palace. While we were aſcending, they forgot feveral times what they were about, and left me to myſelf, till their memories were again roufed by their flappers; for they appeared altogether unmoved by the fight of my foreign habit and countenance, and by the fhouts of the vulgar, whoſe thoughts and minds were more difengaged. . At last we entered the palace, and proceeded into the chamber of preſence, where I ſaw the king feated on his throne, attended on each ſide by perfons of prime quality. Before the throne, was a large table filled with globes and fpheres, and mathematical inftruments of all kinds. His majeſty took not the leaſt notice of us, although our en- trance was not without fufficient noife, by the concourſe of all perfons belonging to the court. But he was then deep in a problem; and we attended at least an hour, be- fore he could folve it. There ftood by him, on each fide, young page with flaps in their hands, and when they faw he was at leifure, one of them gently ftruck his mouth, and the other his right ear; at which he ſtartled like one awaked on the fudden, and looking towards me and the company I was in, recollected the occafion of our coming, whereof he had been informed before. He spoke fome words, whereupon immediately a young man with a flap came up to my fide, and flapped me gently on the right car, but I made figns, as well as I could, that I had no occafion for fuch an inſtrument; which, as I afterwards 154 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: found, gave his majefty, and the whole court, a very mean opinion of my underſtanding. The king, as far as I could conjecture, afked me feveral queſtions, and I addreffed my- felf to him in all the languages I had. When it was found I could neither underſtand nor be underſtood, I was con- ducted by his order to an apartment in his palace, (this prince being diſtinguiſhed above all his predeceffors for his hofpitality to ftrangers) where two fervants were ap- pointed to attend me. My dinner was brought, and four perfons of quality, whom I remembered to have ſeen very near the king's perfon, did me the honour to dine with me. We had two courfes of three difhes each. In the firſt courſe, there was a ſhoulder of mutton cut into an equilate- ral triangle, a piece of beef into a rhomboides, and a pud- · ding into a cycloid. The fecond courfe, was, two ducks truffed up in the form of fiddles; faufages and puddings, reſembling Autes and hautboys, and a breaſt of veal in the fhape of a harp. The fervants cut our bread into cones, cylinders, parallelograms, and feveral other mathematical figures. While we were at dinner, I made bold to aſk the names of feveral things in their language, and thofe noble per- fons, by the affiftance of their flappers, delighted to give me anſwers, hoping to raife my admiration of their great abilities, if I could be brought to converfe with them. I was foon able to call for bread and drink, or whatever elſe I wanted. After dinner my company withdrew, and a perfon was fent to me by the king's order, attended by a flapper. He brought with him pen, ink, and paper, and three or four books, giving me to underſtand by figns, that he was fent to teach me the language. We fat together four hours, in which time I wrote down a great number of words in columns, with the tranflations over againſt them; I like- wife made a ſhift to learn feveral ſhort ſentences. For my tutor would order one of my fervants, to fetch fomething, to turn about, to make a bow, to fit, or to ftand, or walk, and the like. Then I took down the fentence in writing. He ſhowed me alfo, in one of his books, the figures of the fun, moon, and ſtars, the zodiac, the tropics, and polar circles, together with the denominations of many planes A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 155 and folids. He gave me the names and deſcriptions of all the muſical inſtruments, 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 alphabetical order. And thus, in a few days, by the help of a very faithful memory, I got ſome inſight into their language. The word, which I interpret the flying or floating ifland, is in the original Laputa, whereof I could never learn the true etymology. Lap, in the old obfolete lan- guage, fignifies high: and untuh, a governor; from which they fay, by corruption, was derived Laputa from Lapun- tah. But I do not approve of this derivation, which feems to be a little ſtrained. I venture 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 fun-beams in the fea, and outed a wing; which, however, I ſhall not obtrude, but fubmit to the judicious reader. * Thoſe to whom the king had entrusted me, obferving how ill I was clad, ordered a tailor to come next morning, and take meaſure for a fuit of clothes. This operator did his office after a different manner from thoſe of his trade in Europe. He first took my altitude by a quadrant, and then, with rule and compaffes, defcribed the dimenſions and outlines of my whole body, all which he entered upon paper; and in fix days, brought my clothes very ill made, and quite out of ſhape, by happening to miſtake a figure in the calculation. But my comfort was that I obferved fuch accidents very frequent, and little regarded. During my confinement for want of clothes, and by an indifpofition that held me fome days longer, I much en- larged my dictionary: and when I went next to court, was able to underſtand many things the king ſpoke, and to re- turn him ſome kind of anfwers. His majefty had given orders, that the iſland ſhould move north-eaſt and by eaſt, to the vertical point over Lagado, the metropolis of the whole kingdom below, upon the firm earth. It was about ninety leagues diſtant, and our voyage lafted four days and a half. I was not in the leaft fenfible of the progreffive motion made in the air by the iſland. On the ſecond morning, about eleven o'clock, the king himſelf in perfon, attended by his nobility, courtiers, and officers, having pre- 156 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: pared all their mufical inftruments, played on them for three hours without intermiffion, fo that I was quite-ftun- ned with the noife; neither could I poffibly gueſs the mean- ing, till my tutor informed me. He faid, "that the peo- ple of their ifland had their ears adapted to hear the mu- fic of the ſpheres, which always played at certain periods, and the court was now prepared to bear their part, in what- ever inftrument they most excelled." In our journey towards Lagado, the capital city, his majesty ordered that the island fhould ftop over certain towns and villages, from whence he might receive the pe- titions of his fubjects. And to this purpofe, feveral pack- threads were let down, with fmall weights at the bottom. On thefe pack threads the people ftrung their petitions, which mounted up directly, like the fcraps of paper faſten- ed by fchool-boys at the end of the ftring that holds their kite. Sometimes we received wine and viduals from below, which were drawn up by pullies. The knowledge I had in mathematics, gave me great affiftance in acquiring their phrafeology, which depended much upon that fcience, and mufic; and in the latter I was not unskilled. Their ideas are perpetually converfant in lines and figures. If they would, for example, praiſe the beauty of a woman, or any other animal, they defcribe it by rhombs, circles, parallelograms, ellipfes, and other geometrical terms, or by words of art drawn from muſic, needlefs here to repeat. I obferved in the king's kitchen all forts of mathematical and mufical inftruments, after the figures of which, they cut up the joints that were ferved to his majeſty's table. Their houfes are very ill built, the walls bevil, without one right angle in any apartment; and this defect arifes from the contempt they bear to practical geometry, which they defpife as vulgar and mechanic; thofe inſtructions they give being too refined for the intellects of their work* men, which occaſion perpetual miſtakes. And although they are dexterous enough upon a piece of paper, in the management of the rule, the pencil, and the divider, yet in the common actions and behaviour of life, I have not feen a more clumfy, awkward, and unhandy people, nor fo flow and perplexed in their conceptions upon all other A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 157 fubjects, except thoſe of mathematics and mufic. They are very bad reafoners, and vehemently given to oppofition, unless when they happen to be of the right opinion, which is feldom their cafe. Imagination, fancy, and invention, they are wholly ftrangers to, nor have any words in their language, by which thofe ideas can be expreffed; the whole compafs of their thoughts and mind being ſhut up within the two forementioned ſciences. Moſt of them, and efpecially thofe who deal in the aſtronomical part, have great faith in judicial aſtrology, although they are afhamed to own it publicly. But what I chiefly admired, and thought altogether unaccountable, was the ſtrong difpofition I obferved in them, towards news and politics, perpetually inquiring into public affairs, giving their judgments in matters of flate, and paffionate- ly difputing every inch of a party opinion. I have indeed obferved the fame difpofition, among most of the mathe- maticians I have known in Europe, although I could never difcover the leaft analogy between the two fciences; unleſs thoſe people fuppofe, that becauſe the ſmalleſt circle has as many degrees as the largeſt, therefore the regulation and management of the world, require no more abilities, than the handling and turning of a globe: but I rather take this quality to fpring from a very common infirmity of human nature, inclining us to be moft curious and con- ceited, in matters where we have leaſt concern, and for which we are leaft adapted by ſtudy or nature. Theſe people are under continual difquietudes, never enjoying a minute's peace of mind; and their disturbances proceed from caufes, which very little affe the rest of mortals. Their apprehenfions arife from feveral changes they dread in the celestial bodies. For inſtance, that the earth, by the continual approaches of the fun towards it, muft, in courfe of time, be abſorbed, or ſwallowed up. That the face of the fun, will, by degrees, be encrufted with its own effluvia, and give no more light to the world. That the earth, very narrowly efcaped a bruſh from the tail of the laſt comet, which would have infallibly reduced it to afhes; and that the next, which they have calculated for one-and-thirty years hence, will probably deſtroy us, p 158 Part 9. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: For, if in its perihelion, it ſhould approach within a cer- tain degree of the fun, (as by their calculations they have reafon to dread) it will receive a degree of heat ten thou- fand times more intenfe, than that of red hot glowing iron; and, in its abfence from the fun, carry a bſazing 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 nucleus, or main body of the comet, it muſt in its paffage be fet on fire, and reduced to afhes. That the fun, daily fpending its rays without any nutriment to ſupply them, will at last be wholly con- fumed and annihilated; which must be attended with the deſtruction of this earth, and of all the planets that receive their light from it.f They are fo perpetually alarmed with the apprehenſions of thefe, and the like impending dangers, that they can neither fleep quietly in their beds, nor have any reliſh for the common pleaſures and amufements of life. When they meet an acquaintance in the morning, the firſt queſtion is about the fun's health, how he looked at his ſetting and rif- ing, and what hopes they have to avoid the ftroke of the approaching comet. This converfation they are apt to run into with the fame temper, that boys diſcover, in delight- ing to hear terrible tories of fpirits and hobgoblins, which they greedily liften to, and dare not go to bed for fear. The women of the island have abundance of vivacity; they contemn their huſbands, and are exceedingly fond of ftrangers; whereof there is always a confiderable number from the continent below, attending at court, either upon affairs of the feveral towns and corporations, or their own particular occafions, but are much defpifed, because they want the fame endowments. Among thefe, the ladies choose their gallants: but the vexation is, that they act with too much eafe and fecurity; for the huſband is always fo rapt in fpeculation, that the mistress and lover may pro- ceed to the greateſt familiarities before his face, if he be All theſe were fuppofitions of perfons eminent in their time for mathematical knowledge. H. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 159 but provided with paper and implements, and without his flapper at his fide. The wives and daughters lament their confinement to the iſland, although I think it the moſt delicious fpot of ground in the world; and although they live here in the greateſt plenty and magnificence, and are allowed to do whatever they pleafe, they long to fee the world, and take the diverfions of the metropolis, which they are not allow- ed to do without a particular licenfe from the king; and this is not easy to be obtained, becauſe the people of quali- ty have found, by frequent experience, how hard it is to perfuade their women to return from below. J was told, that a great court lady, who had feveral children, is mar- ried to the prime minifter, the richeſt ſubject in the king- dom, a very graceful perion, extremely fond of her, and lives in the fineſt palace of the iſland, went down to Laga- do on the pretence of health, there hid herſelf for ſeveral months, till the king fent a warrant to fearch for her; and ſhe was found in an obfcure eating-houſe all in rags, having pawned her clothes to maintain an old deformed footman, who beat her every day, and in whofe company ſhe was taken, much against her will. And although her huſband received her with all poffible kindnefs, and without the leaft reproach, the foon after contrived to ſteal down. again with all her jewels, to the fame gallant, and has not been heard of fince. This may perhaps pafs with the reader rather for a Eu- ropean or Engliſh ſtory, than for one of a country fo re- mote. But he may pleaſe to confider that the caprices of womenkind are not limited 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 pro- ficiency in their language, and was able to anſwer molt of the king's queftions, when I had the honour to attend him. His majeſty difcovered not the leaſt curioſity to in- quire into the laws, government, hiſtory, religion, or man- ners of the countries where I had been; but confined his queſtions to the ſtate of mathematics, and received the ac- P 2 160 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: count I gave him, with great contempt and indifference, though often roufed by his flapper on each fide. CHAP. III. A PHENOMENON SOLVED BY MODERN PHILOSOPHY AND ASTRONOMY, THE LAPUTIANS' GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LATTER. THE KING'S METHOD OF SUPPRESS- ING INSURRECTIONS. DESIRED leave of this prince to fee the curiofities of the iſland, which he was graciously pleafed to grant, and ordered my tutor to attend me. I chiefly wanted to know, to what caufe in art or in nature it owed its feveral motions, whereof I will now give a philofophical account to the reader. The flying or floating iſland is exactly circular, its diame- ter 7837 yards, or about four miles and a half, and con- fequently contains ten thouſand acres. It is three hundred yards thick. The bottom, or under furface, which appears to thoſe who view it below, is one even regular plate of adamant, ſhooting up to the height of about two hundred yards. Above it lie the feveral minerals in their ufual or der, and over all is a coat of rich mould, ten or twelve feet deep. The declivity of the upper furface, from the circumference to the centre, is the natural caufe why all the dews and rains, which fall upon the island, are convey- ed in ſmall rivulets toward the middle, where they are emptied into four large bafins, cach of about half a mile in circuit, and two hundred yards diſtant from the centre. From thefe bafins the water is continually exhaled by the fun in the day-time, which effectually prevents their over- flowing. Befides, as it is in the power of the monarch to raife the island above the region of clouds and vapours; he can prevent the falling of dews and rain whenever he pleaſes. For the higheſt clouds cannot raiſe above two miles, as naturalifts agree, at leaſt they were never known to do fo in that country. At the centre of the island there is a chaẩm about fifty " A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 161 yards in diameter, whence the aftronomers defcend into a large dome, which is therefore called fandona gagnole, or the aftronomer's cave, fituated at the depth of a hundred yards beneath the upper furface of the adamant. In this cave are twenty lamps continually turning, which from the reflection of the adamant, caft a ftrong light into every part. The place is ſtored with great variety of fextants, quadrants, teleſcopes, aftrolabes, and other aſtronomical inftruments. But the greatest curiofity, upon which the fate of the island depends, is a loadftone of a prodigious ſize, in ſhape reſembling a weaver's fbuttle. It is in length fix yards, and in the thickeſt part at leaſt three yards over. This magnet is ſuſtained by a very ſtrong axle of adamant paffing through its middle, upon which it plays, and is poiſed fo exactly, that the weakest hand can turn it. It is hooped round with a hollow cylinder of adamant, four feet deep, as many thick, and twelve yards in diameter, placed horizontally, and fupported by eight adamantine feet, each fix yards high. In the middle of the concave ſide, there is a groove twelve inches deep, in which the extremities of there is occafion. the axle are lodged, and turned round ae extremities of The ſtone cannot be moved from its place by any force, becauſe the hoop and its feet are one continued piece with that body of adamant, which conftitutes the bottom of the ifland. By means of this loadftone, the iſland is made to rife and fall, and move from one place to another. For, with re- ſpect to that part of the earth over which the monarch prefides, the ſtone is endued at one of its fides with an at- tractive power, and at the other with a repulfive. Upon placing the magnet erect, with its attracting end towards the earth, the island defcends; but when the repelling ex- tremity points downwards, the island mounts directly up- wards. When the polition of the ftone is oblique, the mo- tion of the iſland is fo too: for, in this magnet, the forces always act in lines parallel to its direction. x By this oblique motion, the island is conveyed to differ- ent parts of the monarch's dominions. To explain the manner of its progrefs, let A B reprefent a line drawn acrofs the dominions of Balnibarbi, let the line c d repre- P 3 162. Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ſent the loadſtone, of which let d be the repelling end, and the attracting end, the island being over C: let the ftone be placed in poſition cd, with its repelling end downwards; then the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is arrived at D, let the ftone be turned upon its axle, till its attracting end points towards E, and then the island will be carried obliquely towards E; where, if the ſtone be again turned upon its axle till it ftands in the pofition E F, with its repelling point downwards, the ifland will rife 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 ftone, ſo as to make its repelling extremity point directly downward. And thus, by changing the fituation of the ſtone, as often as there is occafion, the iſland is made to rife and fall by turns, in an oblique direction, and by thoſe alternate rifings and fallings (the obliquity being not confiderable) is conveyed from one part of the dominions to the other. aputa B D F BALNIB ARB Lagado H G Maldong But it must be obferved, that this ifland cannot move beyond the extent of the dominions below, nor can it riſe above the height of four miles. For which the aftrono- mers (who have written large ſyſtems concerning the ſtone) A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 165 affign the following reafon: that the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the diſtance of four miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the ftone in the bowels of the earth, and in the fea about fix leagues diftant from the fhore, is not diffufed through the whole globe, but termi- nated with the limits of the king's dominions, and it was cafy, from the great advantage of ſuch a ſuperior ſituation, for a prince to bring under his obedience, whatever coun try lay within the attraction of that magnet. When the ftone is put parallel to the plane of the hori zon, the iſland ſtands ſtill; 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 upwards, and confequently no motion can enfue. This loadſtone is under the care of certain aftronomers, who, from time to time, give it fuch pofitions as the mo- narch directs. They spend the greateſt part of their lives in obſerving the celestial bodies, which they do by the af fiftance of glaffes, far excelling ours in goodneſs. For, al- though, their largeſt teleſcopes do not exceed three feet, they magnify much more than thoſe of a hundred with us, and fhow the ftars with greater clearnefs. This advantage has enabled them to extend their difcoveries, much farther- than our aftronomers 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 num- ber. They have likewife difcovered two leffer ftars, or fatellites, which revolve about Mars; whereof the inner- moſt is diſtant from the centre of the primary planet, ex- actly three of his diameters, and the outermoft, five; the former revolves in the space of ten hours, and the latter in twenty-one and a half; ſo that the ſquares of their peri- odical times, are very near in the fame proportion with the cubes of their diftance, from the centre of Mars; which evidently fhows them to be governed by the fame law of gravitation, that influences the other heavenly bodies. They have obferved ninety-three different comets, and fettled their periods with great exactnefs. If this be true (and they affirm it with great confidence) it is much to be wished, that their obfervations were made public, whereby the theory of comets, which at prefent is very 164 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: lame and defective, might be brought to the fame perfec- tion, with other parts of aftronomy. The king would be the moſt abfolute prince in the uni- verfe, if he could but prevail on a miniftry to join with him; but thefe having their eftates below on the conti- nent, and confidering that the office of a favourite has a very uncertain tenure, would never confent to the enslaving of their country. If any town should engage in rebellion or mutiny, fall into violent factions, or refufe to pay the ufual tribute, the king has two methods of reducing them to obedience. The firſt, and the mildeft courfe is, by keeping the iſland hover- ing over fuch a town, and the lands about it, whereby he can deprive them of the benefit of the fun and the rain, and confequently afflict the inhabitants with dearth and dif- cafes. And if the crime deferve it, they are at the fame time pelted from above with great ftones, againſt which they have no defence but by creeping into cellars or caves, while the roofs of their houfes are beaten to pieces. But if they fill continue obftinate, or offer to raife insurrections, he proceeds to the last remedy, by letting the inland drop directly upon their heads, which makes an univerfal deſtruc- tion both of houfes and men. However, this is an ex- tremity to which the prince is feldom driven, neither in- deed is he willing to put it in execution; nor dare his mi- nifters advife him to an action, which, as it would render them odious to the people, fo it would be a great damage to their own eſtates, which lie all below; for the iſland is the king's demefne. But there is ſtill indeed a more weighty reafon, why the kings of this country have been always averfe from exe, cuting fo-terrible an action, unleſs upon the utmoſt necef- fity. For, if the town intended to be deftroyed, ſhould have in it any tall rocks, as it generally falls out in the larger cities, a fituation probably chofen at firſt with a view to prevent fuch a cataſtrophe; or if it abound in high fpires, or pillars of ſtone, a fudden fall might endanger the bottom or under furface of the island, which, although it confifts, as I have ſaid, of one entire adamant two hundred yards thick, might happen to crack by too great a ſhock, + A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 165 or burſt by approaching too near the fires from the houſes below, as the backs both of iron and ſtone will often do in our chimnies. Of all this the people are well apprized, and underſtand how far to carry their obftinacy, where their liberty or property is concerned. And the king, when he is higheſt provoked, and moſt determined to preſs a city to rubbish, orders the island to defcend with great gentleness out of a pretence of tenderneſs to his people; but indeed for fear of breaking the adamantine bottom; in which cafe it is the opinion of all their philofophers, that the load- ftone could no longer hold it up, and the whole mafs would fall to the ground. By a fundamental law of this realm, neither the king, nor either of his two elder fons, are permitted to leave the iſland, nor the queen, till ſhe is paſt child-bearing. CHAP. IV. THE AUTHOR LEAVES LAPUTA, IS CONVEYED TO BAL- NIBARHI, ARRIVES AT THE METROPOLIS. A DESCRIP- TION OF THE METROPOLIS, AND THE COUNTRY AD- JOINING. THE AUTHON HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BY A GREAT LORD. HIS CONVERSATION WITH THAT LORD. ALTHOUGH I cannot fay that I was ill treated in this iſland, yet I must confefs I thought myſelf too much neglected, not without fome degree of contempt. For nei- ther 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 ſide, after having ſeen all the curioſities of the iſland, I was very defirous to leave it, being heartily weary of thoſe people. They were indeed excellent in two fciences, for which I have great eſteem, and wherein I am not unverfed; but, at the fame time, fo abftracted and involved in fpeculation, that I never met with fuch diſagreeable companions. I converfed only with women, tradeſmen, flappers, and court-pages, during two months 166 Part 8. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : of my abode there; by which at last I rendered myſelf extremely contemptible; yet thefe were the only people, from whom I could ever receive a reaſonable anfwer, I had obtained by hard ſtudy, a good degree of know- ledge in their language: I was weary of being confined to an iſland, where I received fo little countenance, and re- folved to leave it with the first opportunity. There was a great lord at court, nearly related to the king, and for that reafon alone, ufed with refpect. He was univer- fally reckoned the moſt ignorant and ſtupid perſon among them. He had performed many eminent fervices for the crown, had great natural and acquired parts, adorned with integrity and honour; but fo ill an ear for muſic, that his de- tractors reported," he had been often known to beat time in the wrong place;" neither could his tutors, without ex- treme difficulty, teach him to demonftrate the moſt eaſy propofition in the mathematics. He was pleafed to ſhow me many marks of favour, often did me the honour of a vifit, defired 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 liftened to me with great attention, and made very wife obfervations on all I fpoke. He had two flappers attending him for ſtate, but never made uſe of them, except at court and in vifits of ceremony; and would always command them to with- draw, when we were alone together. I entreated this illuftrious perfon, to intercede in my behalf with his majeſty, for leave to depart; which he ac- cordingly did, as he was pleaſed to tell me, with regret : for indeed he had made me feveral offers very advantage- ous, which however I refufed, with expreffions of the higheſt acknowledgment. On the 16th of February I took leave of his majeſty and the court. The king made me a prefent to the value of about two hundred pounds English, and my protector his kinfman as much more; together with a letter of recom- mendation 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 manner as I had been taken up. The continent, as far as it is fubject to the monarch of A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 167 the flying ifland, paffes under the general name of Balni- barbi; and the metropolis, as I faid before, is called La- gado. I felt fome little fatisfaction in finding myſelf on firm ground. I walked to the city without any concern, being clad like one of the natives, and fufficiently inftructed to converſe with them. I foon found out the perfon's houſe, to whom I was recommended, prefented my letter from his friend the grandee in the island, and was received with much kindneſs. This great lord, whofe name was Mu- nodi, ordered me an apartment in his own houſe, where I continued during my ſtay, and was entertained in a moſt hofpitable manner. The next morning after my arrival, he took me in his chariot to fee the town, which is about half the bigness of London; but the houfes very ftrangely built, and moſt of them out of repair. The people in the ſtreets walked faſt, looked wild, their eyes fixed, and were generally in rags. We paffed through one of the town gates, and went about three miles into the country, where I faw many la- bourers working with feveral forts of tools in the ground, but was not able to conjecture what they were about; neither did I obferve any expectation either of corn or grafs, although the foil appeared to be excellent. I could not forbear admiring at thefe odd appearances, both in town and country; and I made bold to defire my conductor that he would be pleafed to explain to me, what could be meant by fo many bufy heads, hands, and faces, both in the ſtreets and the fields, becaufe I did not difcover any good effects they produced; but, on the contrary, I never knew a foil fo unhappily cultivated, houſes ſo ill contrived and fo ruinous, or a people, whofe countenances and habit, expreffed fo much mifery and want. This lord Munodi was a perfon of the firſt rank, and had been fome years governor of Lagado; but by a cabal of minifters, was difcharged for infüfficiency. However the king treated him with tenderne fs as a well-meaning man, but of a low contemptible underſtanding. When I gave that free cenfure of the country and its inhabitants, he made no farther anfwer, than by telling me," that I had not been long enough among them to 168 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: form a judgment: and that the different nations of the world had different customs;" with other common topics to the fame purpoſe. But, when we returned to his pa- lace, he aſked me "how I liked the building, what abfur- dities I obferved, and what quarrel I had with the dreſs or looks of his domeftics." This he might fafely do; be- cauſe every thing about him was magnificent, regular, and polite. I answered, " that his excellency's prudence, quali- ty, and fortune, had exempted him from thoſe defects, which folly and beggary had produced in others." He faid, "if I would go with him to his country-houſe, about twenty miles diftant, where his eftate lay, there would be more leiſure for this kind of converfation. I told his ex- cellency," that I was entirely at his difpofal;" and ac- cordingly we fet out next morning. i During our journey, he made me obferve the feveral methods used by farmers in managing their lands; which to me were wholly unaccountable; for, except in fome very few places, I could not difcover one car of corn, or blade of grafs. But, in three hours travelling, the fcene was wholly altered; we came into a moſt beautiful coun- try: farmers' houfes, at fmall diftances, neatly built, the fields incloſed, containing vineyards, corn-grounds, and meadows. Neither do I remember to have feen a more delightful profpect. His excellency obferved my counte- nance to clear up; he told me with a ſigh, that there his eſtate began, and would continue the fame, till we should come to his houfe. That his countrymen ridiculed and deſpiſed him, for managing his affairs no better, and for fetting fo ill an example to the kingdom; which however was followed by very few, fuch as were old, and wilful, and weak like himſelf.” We came at length to the houfe, which was indeed a noble ſtructure, built according to the beſt rules of ancient architecture. The fountains, gardens, walks, avenues, and groves, were all difpofed with exact judgment and taſte. I gave due praifes to every thing I faw, whereof his excel- lency took not the leaſt notice tiil after fupper; when, there being no third companion, he told me with a very melancholy air," that he doubted he must throw down A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 169 his houſes in town and country, to rebuild them after the prefent mode; deftroy all his plantations, and caft others into fuch a form as modern ufage required, and give the fame directions to all his tenants, unless he would fubmit to incur the cenfure of pride, fingularity, affectation, ig- norance, caprice, and perhaps increaſe his majeſty's dif pleaſure. That the admiration I appeared to be under would ceafe or diminish, when he had informed me of fome particulars, which probably I never heard of at court; the people there being too much taken up in their own ſpeculations, to have regard to what paffed here be low." The fum of his difcourfe was to this effect: "that about forty years ago, certain perfons went up to Laputa, either upon buſineſs or diverfion, and after five months continu- ance, came back with a very little fmattering in mathe- matics, but full of volatile fpirits, acquired in that airy re- gion. That thefe perfons, upon their return, began to diſlike the management of every thing below, and fell into fchemes of putting all arts, fciences, languages, and me- chanics, upon a new foot. To this end, they procured a royal patent, for erecting an academy of projectors in La- gado; and the humour prevailed fo ftrongly among the people, that there is not a town of any confequence in the kingdom, without fuch an academy. In thefe colleges, the profeflors contrive new rules and methods of agricul- ture and building, and new inftruments 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 fo durable, as to laſt for ever without repairing. All the fruits of the earth fhall come to ma- turity, at whatever ſeafon we think it to chooſe, and in- create a hundred fold more than they do at prefent; with innumerable other happy propofals. The only inconveni- ence is, that nore of theſe projects are yet brought to per- fection; and in the mean time, the whole country lies miferably wafte, the honfes in ruins, and the people with- out food or clothes. By all which, inſtead of being dif couraged, they are fifty times more violently bent upon profecuting their ſchemes, driven equally on by hope and 170 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: defpair: that as for himſelf, being not of an enterpriſing fpirit, he was content to go on in the old forms, to live in the houfes his ancestors had built, and act as they did, in every part of life, without innovation. That fome few other perfons of quality, and gentry, had done the fame, but were looked on with an eye of contempt and ill-will, as enemies to art, ignorant, and ill commonwealths men, preferring their own eaſe and floth before the general im- provement of their country.' · His lordſhip added, "that he would not, by any farther particulars, prevent the pleaſure I fhould certainly take, in viewing the grand academy, whither he was refolved I fhould go." He only defired me to obferve a ruined build- ing, upon the fide of a mountain about three miles diſtant, of which he gave me this account: "that he had a very convenient mill within half a mile of his houfe, turned by a current from a large river, and fufficient for his own fa- mily, as well as a great number of his tenants. That about feven years ago, a club of thoſe projectors came to him with propoſals to deſtroy this mill, and build another on the fide of that mountain, on the long ridge whereof, a long canal muſt be cut, for a repofitory of water, to be convey- ed up by pipes and engines to fupply the mill: because the wind and air upon a heighth, agitated the water, and thereby made it fitter for motion: and becauſe the water, defcending down a declivity, would turn the mill with half the current of a river, whofe courfe is more upon a level. He ſaid, “that being then not very well with the court, and preffed by many of his friends, he complied with the propofal; and after employing a hundred men for two years, the work mifcarried, the projectors went off, laying the blame entirely upon him, railing at him ever fince, and putting others upon the fame experiment, with equal af- furance of fuccefs, as well as equal difappointment." In a few days we came back to town, and his excellen- cy, confidering 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 reprefent me as a great admirer of projects, and a perſon of much curioſity, and eafy belief; which, in- A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 171 deed, was not without truth; for I had myſelf been a fort of projector in my younger days. CHAP. V. THE AUTHOR PERMITTED TO SEE THE GRAND ACADE MY OF LAGADO. THE ACADEMY LARGELY DESCRIB- ED. THE ARTS WHEREIN THE PROFESSORS EMPLOY THEMSELVES. THIS academy is not an entire fingle building, but a continuation of ſeveral houſes on both ſides of a ſtreet, which, growing waſte, was purchaſed and applied to that ufe. I was received very kindly by the warden, and went for many days to the academy. Every room has in it one or more projectors; and I believe I could not be in fewer 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 finged in feveral places. His clothes, fhirt, and fkin, were all of the fame colour. He had been eight years upon a pro- ject for extracting fun-beams out of cucumbers, which were to be put in vials hermetically fealed, and let out to warm the air, in raw inclement fummers. He told me, he did not doubt, that in eight years more, he ſhould be able to fupply the governor's gardens with funfhine, at a reaſon- able rate; but he complained that his ſtock was low, and entreated me" to give him fomething as an encouragement to ingenuity, eſpecially fince this had been a very dear fea- fon for cucumbers." I made him a ſmall preſent, for my lord had furniſhed me with money on purpoſe, becauſe he knew their practice of begging from all who go to fec them. I went into another chamber, but was ready to haften back, being almoſt overcome with a horrible flink. My conductor preſſed me forward, conjuring me in a whiſper "to give no offence, which would be highly reſented," and therefore I durft not fo much as ftop my nofe. The pro- Q2 172 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: jector of this cell was the most ancient ftudent of the acade- my; his face and beard were of a pale yellow; his hands and clothes daubed over with filth. When I was pre- fented to him, he gave me a clofe embrace; à compliment I could well have excufed. His employment, from his firſt coming into the academy, was an operation to reduce hu- man excrement to its original food, by feparating the fe- veral parts, removing the tincture which it receives from the gall, making the ordure exhale, and fcumming off the faliva. He had a weekly allowance, from the fociety, of a veffel filled with human ordure, about the bigness of a Bristol barrel. I faw another at work to calcine ice into gunpowder; who likewife fhowed me a treatife he had written concern. ing the malleability of fire, which he intended to publiſh. There was a moft ingenious architect, who had con- trived a new method for building houfes, by beginning at the roof, and working downward to the foundation; which he justified to me, by the like practice of thoſe two prudent infects, the bee and the ſpider. There was a man born blind, who had feveral appren- tices in his own condition: their employment was to mix colours for painters, which their master taught them to diftinguish, by feeling and fmelling. It was indeed my misfortune to find them at that time not very perfect in their leffons, and the profeffor himfelf, happened to be generally mistaken. This artift, is much encouraged and efteemed, by the whole fraternity. In another apartment, I was highly pleaſed with a pro- jector 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 diftance and tight deep, a quantity of acorns, dates, chefnuts, and other maft or vegetables, whereof theſe ani- mals are fondeft; then you drive fix hundred or more of them into the field, where, in a few days, they will root up the whole ground in ſearch of their feed, and make it fit for fowing, at the fame time manuring it with their dung; it is true, upon experiment, they found the charge and trouble very great, and they had little or no crop. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 173 1 However, it is not doubted, that this invention may be capable of great improvement. I went into another room, where the walls and ceiling were all hung round with cobwebs, except a narrow paf- fage for the artiſt to go in and out. At my entrance, he called aloud to me "not to diſturb his webs.' He lament- ed "the fatal mistake the world had been fo long in, of ufing filk-worms, while we had fuch plenty of domestic infects, who infinitely excelled the former, becauſe they underſtood how to weave, as well as fpin." And he And he pro- pofed farther, "that by employing ſpiders, the charge of dying filks fhould be wholly faved;" whereof I was fully convinced, when he flowed me a vaſt number of flies moft beautifully coloured, wherewith he fed his fpiders, affor ing us" that the webs would take a tincture from them; and as he had them of all hues, he hoped to fit every bo- dy's fancy, as foon as he could find proper food for the flies, of certain gums, oils, and other glutinous matter, to give a ftrength and confiftence to the threads." There was an aſtronomer, who had undertaken to place a fun-dial upon the great weather-cock on the town-houfe, by adjusting the annual and diurnal 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 colic, upon which my conductor led me into a room where a great phyſician refided, who was famous for curing that diſeaſe, by contra- ry operations from the fame inftrument. He had a large pair of bellows, with a long flender muzzle of ivory: this he conveyed 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 vio- lent, he let in the muzzle while the bellows were full of wind, which he diſcharged into the body of the patient; then withdrew the inftrument to replenish it, clapping his thumb ſtrongly 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 patient recovered. I faw him try both experiments upon a dog, but could not جمه 174 Part 3, GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: 3 difcern any effect from the former. After the latter the animal was ready to burft, and made fo violent a difcharge, as was very offenfive to me and my companions. The dog died on the fpot, and we left the doctor endeavouring to recover him, by the fame operation. I visited many other apartments, but ſhall not trouble my reader with all the curiofities I obferved, being ftudious of brevity. I had hitherto feen only one fide of the academy, the other being appropriated to the advancers of ſpéculative learning, of whom I fhall fay fomething, when I have men- tioned one illuftrious perfon more, who is called among them "the univerfal artift." 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 curioſities, and fifty men at work. Some, were condenſing air into a dry tangible fubftance, by extracting the nitre, and letting the aqueous or fluid particles percolate; others, foftening marble, for pillows and pincuſhions: others, pe- trifying the hoofs of a living horfe, to preferve them from foundering. The artiſt himſelf, was at that time bufy upon two great defigns; the firft to fow land with chaff, where- in he affirmed the true feminal virtue to be contained, as he demonftrated by feveral experiments, which I was not fkilful enough to comprehend. The other was, by a cer- tain compofition of gums, minerals, and vegetables, out- wardly applied, to prevent the growth of wool upon two young lambs; and he hoped, in a reaſonable time, to pro- pagate the breed of naked fheep, all over the kingdom. : We croffed a walk to the other part of the academy, where, as I have already faid, the projectors in fpeculative learning refided. * The firſt profeffor I faw, was in a very large room, with forty pupils about him. After falutation, obferving me to look carneftly upon a frame, which took up the greatest part of both the length and breadth of the room, he faid, Perhaps I might wonder to fee him employed in a project for improving fpeculative knowledge, by practical and me- chanical operations. But the world would foon be ſenſible of its uſefulneſs; and he flattered himſelf, that a more no- A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 175 ble exalted thought, never fprang in any other man's head. Every one knew, how laborious the uſual method is of attaining to arts and fciences; whereas, by his con- trivance, the moft ignorant perfon, at a reafonable charge, and with a little bodily labour, might write books in phi- lofophy, poetry, politics, laws, mathematics, and theolo- WIN ベ ​不 ​AND M こ ​ス ​ズチ ​X 55 gy, without the leaft affiftance from genius or ftudy." He then led me to the frame, about the fides whereof all his pupils flood in ranks. It was twenty feet ſquare, placed in the middle of the room. The fuperficies was compofed of ſeveral bits of wood about the biguefs of a die, hut fome larger than others. They were all linked together by flender wires. Thefe bits of wood, were covered on every IL 176 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: fquare, with paper pafted on them; and on theſe papers, were written all the words of their language, in their fe- veral moods, tenfes, and declenfions; but without any or- der. The profeffor then defired me" to obferve; for he was going to fet his engine at work." The pupils, at his com- mand, took each of them hold of an iron handle, whereof there were forty fixed round the edges of the frame; and giving them a ſudden ture, the whole diſpoſition of the words was entirely changed. He then commanded fix-and- thirty of the lads, to read the ſeveral lines foftly, as they appeared upon the frame; and where they found three or four words together, that might make part of a ſentence, they dictated to the four remaining boys, who were ſcribes. This work was repeated three or four times; and at every turn, the engine was fo contrived, that the words fhifted into new places, as the fquare bits of wood moved upſide down. Six hours a day the young students were employed in this labour; and the profeffor fhowed me feveral volumes in large folio, already collected, of broken ſentences, which he intended to piece together, and out of thofe rich_ma- terials, to give the world a complete body of all arts and fciences; which however might be ftill improved, and much expedited, if the public would raife a fund for making and employing five hundred fuch frames in Lagado, and oblige the managers to contribute in common their feveral col- lections. He affured me, "that this invention had employed all his thoughts from his youth; that he had emptied the whole vocabulary into his frame, and made the ſtricteſt computation of the general proportion there is in books. between the numbers of particles, nouns, and verbs, and other parts of speech." I made my humbleft acknowledgment to this illuftrious perfon, for his great communicativenefs; and promiſed, "if ever I had the good fortune to return to my native country, that I would do him juftice, as the fole inventor of this wonderful machine ;" the form and contrivance of which I defired leave to delineate on paper, as in the figure on the preceding page. I told him," although it were the A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 177 cuſtom of our learned in Europe, to ſteal inventions from each other, who had thereby at leaſt this advantage, that it became a controverfy which was the right owner; yet I would take fuch caution, that he ſhould have the honour entire, without a rival." We next went to the ſchool of languages, where three profeffors fat in confultation, upon improving that of their own country. The first project was, to fhorten difcourfe, by cutting polyfyllables into one, and leaving out verbs and partici- ples; becauſe in reality, all things imaginable are but nouns. The other project was, a ſcheme for entirely aboliſhing all words whatfoever; and this was urged as a great ad- vantage in point of health, as well as brevity. For it is plain, that every word we fpeak, is, in fome degree, a di- minution of our lungs by corroſion; and confequently, con- tributes to the ſhortening of our lives. An expedient was therefore offered, "that fince words are only names for things, it would be more convenient, for all men to carry about them fuch things, as were neceffary to exprefs a par- ticular buſineſs they are to difcourfe on." And this in- vention would certainly have taken place, to the great eafe as well as health of the fuhject, if the women, in conjunc- tion with the vulgar and illiterate, had not threatened to raife a rebellion, unleſs they might be allowed the liberty to ſpeak with their tongues, after the manner of their forefathers; fuch conftant irreconcileable enemies to ſci- ence, are the common people. However, many of the moſt learned and wife, adhere to the new fcheme of ex- preffing themselves by things; which has only this incon- venience attending it, that if a man's buſineſs be very great, and of various kinds, he must be obliged, in propor- tion, to carry a greater bundle of things upon his back, unless he can afford one or two ftrong fervants to attend him. I have often beheld two of thole fages, almoſt ſink- ing under the weight of their packs, like pedlars among us; who, when they met in the street, would lay down their loads, open their facks, and hold converfation for an 178 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: hour together; then put up their implements, help each other to refume their burdens, and take their leave. But for fhort converfations, a man may carry imple- ments in his pockets, and under his arms, enough to fup- ply him; and in his houſe, he cannot be at a lofs. There- fore the room, where company meet who practiſe this art, is full of all things, ready at hand, requifite to furnish matter for this kind of artificial converſe. Another great advantage propofed by this invention, was, that it would ferve as a univerfal language, to be un- derſtood in all civilized nations, whofe goods and utenfils are generally of the fame kind, or nearly reſembling, fo that their ufes might easily be comprehended. And thus, ambaſſadors would be qualified to treat with foreign princes, or ministers of ſtate, to whofe tongues they were utter ftrangers. I was at the mathematical fchool, where the maſter taught his pupils, after a method, fearce imaginable to us in Europe. The propofition, and demonſtration, were fairly written on a thin wafer, with ink compofed of a ce- phalic tincture. This, the ftudent was to fwallow 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 propofition along with it. But the fuccefs has not hitherto been answerable, partly by fome error in the quantum or compoſition, and partly by the perverſeneſs of lads, to whom this bolus is ſo naufeous, that they generally fteal afide, and diſcharge it upwards, before it can operate; neither have they been yet perfuaded to uſe ſo long an abſtinence, as the prefcrip- tion requires. CHAP. VI. A FARTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ACADEMY. THE AU- THOR PROPOSES SOME IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH ARE HONOURABLY RECEIVED. IN the ſchool of political projectors, I was but ill enter- tained; the profeffors appearing, in my judgment, A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 179 wholly out of their fenfes; which is a ſcene, that never fails to make me melancholy. Theſe unhappy people were propofing ſchemes, for perfuading monarchs to chooſe fa- vourites, upon the fcore of their wisdom, capacity, and virtue; of teaching minifters to confult the public good; of rewarding merit, great abilities, and eminent fervices; of inftructing princes to know their true intereft, by placing it on the fame foundation with that of their peo- ple; of choofing for employments, perfons qualified to ex- ercife them; with many other wild impoffible chimeras, that never entered before into the heart of man to con- ceive; and confirmed in me the old obfervation, “ that there is nothing fo extravagant and irrational, which ſome philofophers 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 vifionary. There was a noft ingenious doctor, who feem- ed to be perfectly verfed in the whole nature and ſyſtem of of government. This illuftrious perfon, had very uſefully employed his ftudies, in finding out effectual remedies for all difeafes and corruptions, to which the feveral kinds of public adminiſtration are ſubject, by the vices or infirmities of those who govern, as well as by the licentiouſneſs of thoſe who are to obey. For instance; whereas all writers and reafoners have agreed, that there is a ſtrict univerſal reſemblance, between the natural and the political body; can there be any thing more evident, than that the health of both must be preferved, and the difeafes cured, by the fame preferiptions? It is allowed, that fenates and great counfels are often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant humours; with many diſeaſes of the head, and more of the heart; with ftrong convullions, with grievous contractions of the nerves and finews in both hands, but eſpecially the right; with ſpleen, flatus, ver- tigoes, and deliriums; with fcrofulous tumours, full of fetid purulent matter; with four frothy ructations; with canine appetites, and crudeness of digeftion, befide many others needlefs to mention. This doctor therefore pro- pofed, "that upon the meeting of the fenate, certain phy- Leians fhould attend at the three first days of their fitting, 180 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: and at the clofe of each day's debate, feel the pulfes of every ſenator; after which having maturely confidered and confulted upon the nature of the feveral maladies, and the methods of cure, they fhould on the fourth day, return to the fenate-houſe, attended by their apothecaries ſtored with proper medicines; and before the members fat, ad- miniſter to each of them lenitives, aperitives, abſterſives, corrofives, reftringents, palliatives, laxatives, cephalalgics, icterics, apophlegmatics, acoftics, as their feveral cafes re- quired; and according as thefe medicines fhould operate, repeat, alter, or omit them, at the next meeting." This project could not be of any great expenfe to the public; and might, in my poor opinion, be of much uſe for the dispatch of bufinefs, in thofe countries, where fe- nates have any fhare in the legislative power; beget una- nimity, fhorten debates, open a few mouths, which are now cloſed, and cloſe many more, which are now open; curb the petulancy of the young, and correct the poſitive- nefs of the old; roufe the ftupid, and damp the pert. Again becauſe it is a general complaint, that the fa- vourites of princes are troubled with fhort and weak nie- mories; the fame doctor propofed, "that whoever attend- ed a firſt miniſter, after having told his buſineſs, with the utmoſt brevity, and in the plaineft words, fhould, at his departure, give the faid minifter a tweak by the noſe, or a kick on the belly, or tread on his corns, or lug him thrice by both ears, or run a pin into his breech, or pinch his arm black and blue, to prevent forgetfulnefs: and at every levee day, repeat the fame operation, till the buſineſs were done, or abfolutely refufed." ▼ He likewife directed, that every fenator in the great council of a nation, after he had delivered his opinion, and argued in the defence of it, fhould be obliged to give his vote directly contrary; becauſe, if that were done, the re- fult would infallibly terminate in the good of the public." When parties in a flate are violent, he offered a wonder- ful contrivance to reconcile them. The method is this: You take a hundred leaders of each party; you difpofe them into couples of fuch, whofe heads are neareſt of a fize; then let two nice operators faw off the occiput of each A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC, 181 couple at the ſame time, in fuch a manner, that the brain may be equally divided, Let the occiputs, thus cut off, be interchanged, applying each to the head of his oppofite party-man. It feems indeed to be a work that requires fome exactacis, but the profeflor aflured us, "that if it were dexterously performed, the cure would be infallible." For he argued thus; " that the two half brains, being left to debate the matter between themſelves, within the ſpace of one ſkull, would foon come to a good underſtanding; and produce that moderation, as well as regularity of thinking, fo much to be wished for in 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 or quality, among those who are directors in fac tion," the doctor aflured us, from his own knowledge, that "it was a perfe&t trifle.” I heard a very warm debate between two profeffors, about the moſt commodious and effectual ways and means of raising money, without grieving the fubject. The first affirmed, "the juftest method would be, to lay a certain tax upon vices and folly; and the fum fixed upon every man, to be rated after the fairest manner, by a jury of his neighbours." The fecond, was of an opinion directly con- trapy; to tax thoſe qualities of body and mind, for which men chiefty value themſelves; the rate to be more or leſs, according to the degrees of excelling; the decifion where of, fhould be left entisely to their own breaſt." The high- cft tax was upon men, who are the greatelt favourites of the other fex, and the aſſeſſments, according to the num- her and nature of the favours they have received; for which, they ate allowed to be their own vouchers. Wit, valour, and politeneſs, were likewile propofed to be largely taxed, and collected in, the fame manner, by every per-, fon's giving his own word, for the quantum of what he poffelled. But as to honour, juſtice, wiſdom, and learn- ing, they thould 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 propofed to be taxed, according to their beauty, and ſkill in dreffing, wherein they had the A • 182 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: fame privilege with the men, to be determined by their own judgment. But conftancy, chastity, good fenfe, and good nature, were not rated, becauſe they would not bear the charge of collecting. : To keep fenators in the intereft of the crown, it was propofed, that the members ſhould raffle for employments: every man firſt taking an oath, and giving fecurity, that he would vote for the court, whether he won or not; after which, the lofers had, in their turn, the liberty of raffling upon the next vacancy. Thus, hope and expectation would be kept alive; none would complain of broken promiſes, but impute their diſappointments wholly to fortune, whoſe ſhoulders are broader and ſtronger than thoſe of a miniſtry. Another profeffor, fhowed me a large paper of instruc- tions, for diſcovering plots and confpiracies against the go- vernment. He adviſed great ſtateſmen to examine into the diet of all fufpected perfons; their times of eating; upon which fide they-lay in bed; with which hand they wiped their pofteriors; take a ſtrict view of their excre- ments; and from the colour, the ordure, the tafte, the confiftence, the crudeness, or maturity of digeftion, form a judgment of their thoughts and defigns. Becauſe men are never fo ferious, thoughtful, and intent, as when they are at ftool, which he found by frequent experiment: for, in fuch conjun&tures, when he ufed, merely as a trial, to con- fider 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 infurrection, or burn- ing the metropolis. יו The whole difcourfe was written with great acuteness, containing many obfervations, both curious and useful for politicians; but, as I conceived, not altogether complete. This I ventured to tell the author, and offered, if he pleaſed, to fupply him with ſome additions. He received my pro- pofition with more compliance, than is ufual among writers, cfpecially thoſe of the projecting fpecies; profeffing "he would be glad to receive farther information." + 1 I told in, "that in the kingdom of Tribnia, by the natives called Langdon, where I had fojourned. fame time in my travels, the bulk of the people confift in a manner wholly of diſcoverers, witneſſes, informers, accuſers, pro- A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 183 fecutors, evidences, fwearers, together with their feveral fubfervient and ſubaltern inſtruments, all under the co- lours, the conduct, and the pay of miniſters of ſtate, and their deputies. The plots, in that kingdom, are uſually the workmanſhip of thoſe perſons, who deſire to raiſe their own characters of profound politicians; to reſtore new vi- gour to a crazy adminiſtration; to. ftifle or divert general difcontents; to fill their coffers with forfeitures; and raiſe or fink the opinion of public credit, as either ſhall beft an- fwer their private advantage. It is first agreed and fettled among them, what ſuſpected perſons ſhall be accuſed of a plot: then, effectual care is taken to fecure all their, let- ters and papers, and put the owners in chains. Theſe papers are delivered to a fet of artists, very dexterous in finding out the myſterious meanings of words, fyllables, and letters: for inftance, they can difcover a clofeftool, to fignify a privy-council; a flock of geefe, a fenate; a lame dog,f an invader; the plague, a ftanding army; a buzzard, a prime minifter; the gout, a high priest; a gib- bet, a fecretary of state; a chamber-pot, a committee of grandees; 'a fieve, a court lady; a broom, a revolution; a moufe-trap, an employment; a bottomlefs pit, a treafu- ry; a fink, a court; a cap and bells, a favourite; a broken reed, à court of juftice; an empty tun, a general; a run- ning fore, the adminiſtration. ä "When this method fails, they have two others more effectual, which the learned among them call acrostics and anagrams. First, they can decipher all initial letters into political meanings. Thus, N, fhall fignify a plot, B, a regiment of horfe, L, a fleet at fea: or, fecondly, by tranf pofing the letters of the alphabet in any fufpected paper, they can lay open the deepest defigns of a difcontented party. So for example, if I fhould fay in a letter to a friend, "Our brother Tom has just got the piles," a skilful deci- pherer would difcover, that the fame letters, which com- pofe that fentence, may be analyfed into the following • R 2 + See the proceedings againſt Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochefter, in the State Trials, Vol. VI.-H. 184 Part 8. GULLIVERS TRAVELS: words, "Refift, a plot is brought home And this is the anagrammatic method. The tour." The profeffor made me great acknowledgments for com- municating thefe obfervations, and promiſed to make ho- nourable mention of me in his treatife. 1 faw nothing in this country, that could invite me to á longer continuance, and began to think of returning home to England. CHAP. VII. THE AUTHOR DEAVES LAGADO, ARRIVES AT MALDOL NADA. NO SULP READY. HE TAKES A SHORT VOY AGE TO GLUEBDUBDRIB BIS RECEPTION BY THE GO. VERNOR. THE continent, of which this kingdom is a part, ex- tends itself, as I have reafon to believe, caftward, to that unknown tract of America weftward of California; and north, to the Pacific ocean, which is not above a hun- dred and fifty miles from Lagado; where there is a good port, and much commerce with the great iſland of Lugg- nagg, fituated to the north-weſt about 29 degrees north latitude, and 140 longitude. This ifland of Luggnagg, ftands fouth-eastward of Japan, about a hundred leagues diftant. There is a ftrict alliance between the Japanefe emperor, and the king of Luggnagg; which affords fre- quent opportunities of failing from one ifland to the other. I determined therefore to direct my courfe this way, in or der to my return to Europe. I hired two mules, with a guide, to fhow me the way, and carry my ſmall baggage. I took leave of my noble protector, who had thown me fo much favour, and made me a generous prefent at my de- parture. My journey was without any accident or adventure worth relating. When I arrived at the port of Maldona- da (for ſo it is called) there was no fhip in the harbour bound for Luggnagg, nor likely to be in fome time. The fown is about as large as Portfmouth. I foon fell into fome acquaintance, and was very hofpitably received, A A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 185 gentleman of diftinction faid to me, "that fince the fhips bound for Luggnagg could not be ready in lefs than a month, it might be no difagreeable amufement for me to take a trip to the little island of Glubbdubdrib, about five leagues off to the fouth-west." He offered himself and a friend to accompany me, and that I fhould be provided with a fmall convenient bark for the voyage. Glubbdubdrib, as nearly as I can interpret the word, fignifies the island of forcerers or magicians. It is about one third as large as the ifle of Wight, and extremely fruit- ful it is governed by the head of a certain tribe, who are all magicians. This tribe marries only among each other, and the eldest in fucceffion is prince or governor. He has a noble palace, and a park of about three thouſand acres, furrounded by a wall of hewn ftone twenty feet high.. In this park are feveral ſmall incloſures for cattle, corn, and gardening. The governor and his family are ſerved and attended by domeltics, of a kind fomewhat unuſual. By his ſkill in necromancy, he has a power of calling whom he pleafes from the dead, and commanding their fervice for twenty- four hours, but no longer; nor can he call the fame perfons up again in lefs than three months, except upon very ex- traordinary occafions. When we arrived at the island, which was about eleven in the morning, one of the gentlemen who accompanied me, went to the governor, and defired admittance for a ftranger, who came on purpoſe to have the honour of at- tending on his highnefs. This was immediately granted, and we all three entered the gate of the palace, between two rows of guards, armed and dreffed after a very antic manner, and fomething in their countenances, that made my flesh creep with a horror I cannot exprefs. We paffed through feveral apartments, between fervants of the fame fort, ranked on each fide, as hefore, till we came to the cham- ber of prefence; where, after three profound obeifances, and a few general queſtions, we were permitted to fit on three ftools, near the loweft ftep of his highnefs' throne. He underſtood the language of Balnibarbi, although it were different from that of this ifland. He defired me to give R 3 186 Part S. GULIAVER'S TRAVELS: him fome account of my travels; and, to let me fee that I Thould be treated without ceremony, he difmiffed all his attendants with a turn of his finger; at which, to my great afloniſhment, they vanished in an inftant, like vi- fions in a dream, when we awake on a fudden. I could hot recover myself in fome time, till the governor aflured me, "that I fhould receive no hurt ;" and obferving my two companions to be under no concern, who had been often entertained in the fame manner, I began to take courage, and related to his highneſs a ſhort hiſtory of my feveral adventures; yet not without fome heſitation, and frequently looking behind me to the place where I had feen thofe domeftic spectres. I had the honour to dine with the governor, where a new fet of ghofts ferved up the meat, and waited at table. I now obferved myſelf to be lefs ter- rified, than I had been in the morning. Iftayed till funfet, but humbly defired his highneſs to excute me, for not ac- cepting his invitation of lodging in the palace. My two friends and I lay at a private houſe in the town adjoining, which is the capital of this little ifland; and the next morn- ing we returned to pay our duty to the governor, as he was pleaſed to command us. After this manner we continued in the inland for ten days, moſt part of every day with the governor, and at night in our lodging. I foon grew fo familiarized to the fight of fpirits, that after the third or fourth time they gave mẹ no emotion at all; or, if I had any apprehenſions left, my curiosity prevailed over them. For, his highness the governor, ordered me " to call up whatever perfons I would chooſe 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 l'ſhould think fit to ask; with this condition, that my queftions muſt be confined within the compafs of the times they lived in. And one thing I might depend upon, that they would cer- tainly tell me truth, for lying was a talent of no use in the lower world." I made my humble acknowledgments to his highnefs for fo great a favour. We were in a chamber, from whence there was a fair prospect into the park. And becauſe my first inclination was to be entertained with scenes of pomp A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 187 and magnificence, I defired to fee Alexander the Great at the head of his army, juſt after the battle of Arbela; which, upon a motion of the governor's finger, immediately ap- peared in a large field, under the window where we ſtood. 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 affured me upon his honour, “that he was not poifoned, but died of a bad fever by exceffive drinking." Next, I faw Hannibal paffing the alps, who told me " he had not a drop of vinegar in his camp." I faw Cæfar and Pompey at the head of their troops, just ready to engage. I faw the former, in his laſt great triumph. I defired that the fenate of Rome might appear before me, in one large chamber, and a modern reprefen- tative in counterview, in another. The firſt, ſeemed to be an aflembly of heroes and demi-gods; the other, a knot of pedlars, pickpockets, highwaymen, and bullies. The governor, at my request, gave the fign for Cæfar An hint from Gulliver, that we have loft the true Greek idiom. ORKERY. ↑ In this pallage there is a peculiar beauty, though it is not diſcovered at an hafty view. The appearance of Alex- ander with a victorious army immediately after the battle of Arbela, produces only a declaration that he died by drunkennets; thus inadequate and ridiculous in the eye of reafon is the ultimate purpofe for which Alexander with his army marched into a remote country, fubverted a mighty empire, and deluged a nation with blood; he gain- ed no more than an epithet to his name, which after a few repetitions was no longer regarded even by himſelf: thus the purpoſe of his refurrection appears to be at leaſt equal- ly important with that of his life, upon which it is a fa- tire not more bitter than juſt. H. 4 Livy the Roman hiftorian has related, that Hannibal burnt a great pile of wood upon a rock that ſtopped his paſſage, and when it was thus heated, poured vinegar up- on it, by which it was made fo foft as to be calily cut through. H 188 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: and Brutus to advance towards us. I was ſtruck with a profound veneration at the fight of Brutus, and could eaſi- ly discover the most confumimate virtue, the greateſt in- trepidity and firmnefs of mind, the trueft love of his coun- try, and general benevolence for mankind, in every linea- ment of his countenance. I obferved with much pleaſure, that theſe two perfons were in good intelligence with each other; and Cæfar freely confeffed to me, that the great- elt actions of his own life were not equal, by many de- grees to the glory of taking it away." I had the honour to have much converfation with Brutus; and was told, "that his anceſtor Junius, Socrates, Epaminondas, Cato -the younger,† Sir Thomas Mote, and himſelf, were per- petually together:" a fextumvirate, to which all the ages of the world cannot add a feventh. -- It would be tedious to trouble the reader with relating what vaft numbers of illuftrious perfons were called up, to gratify that infatiable defire I had, to fee the world in every period of antiquity placed before me. I chiefly fed mine eyes with beholding the deftroyers of tyrants and ufurpers, and the reftorers of liberty, to oppreffed and in- jured nations. But it is impoffible to exprefs the fatisfac- tion I received in my own mind, after fuch a manner, as to make it a fuitable entertainment-to the reader. : A FARTHER CHAP. VIII. ACCOUNT OF GLUBBDUBDRIA. AND MODERN HISTORY CORRECTED. ANCIENT HAVING a defire to fee thofe ancients who were moſt renowned for wit and learning, I fet apart one day on + I am in fome doubt whether Cato the cenfor can fairly claim a rank among ſo choice a group of gholts. ORRERY. fo This note of his lordship is an Encomium on the judg ment of our author, who knew that Cato the cenfor and Cato the younger were very different perfons, and for good reafons preferred the latter. H. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 189 purpoſe. I propoſed that Homer and Ariſtotle might ap- pear, at the head of all their commentators; but theſe were fo numerous, that fome hundreds were forced to at- tend in the court, and outward rooms of the palace. I knew, and could diftinguiſh thoſe two heroes, at firſt ſight, not only from the crowd, but from each other. Homer was the taller and comelier perion of the two, walked very erect for one of his age, and his eyes were the moſt quick and piercing I ever beheld. Ariftotle ſtooped much, and made ufe of a ſtaff. His vifage was meagre, his hair lank and thin, and his voice hollowt I foon diſcovered that both of them were perfect ſtrangers to the reſt of the company, and had never feen or heard of them before. And I had a whiſper from a ghost who ſhall be nameless, "that theſe commentators always kept in the moſt diſ- tant quarters from their principals, in the lower world, through a confcioufnels of ſhame and guilt, becaufe they had ſo horribly mifreprefented the meaning of thofe au- thors to poſterity." I introduced Didymus and Euftathius to Homer, and prevailed on him to treat them better than perhaps they deferved, for he foon found they wanted a genius to enter into the ſpirit of a poet. But Ariſtotle was out of all patience with the account I gave him of Scotus and Ramus, as I preſented them to him; and he aſked them, "whether the rest of the tribe were as great dunces as themſelves?" I then defired the governor to call up Defcartes and Gaſſendi, with whom I prevailed to explain their ſyſtems ↑ This defcription of Ariftotle is fine, and in a few words repreſents the true nature of his works. By not having the immortal ſpirit of Homer, he was unable to keep his body erect; and his ſtaff which feebly ſupported him, like his commentators, made this defect more confpicuous. He wanted not fome uſeful qualities, but theſe real ornaments, like his hair, were thin and angraceful. ORRERY.In this the noble commentator feems to be miſtaken, for it cannot be believed that Ariftotle's real ornaments, however few, were ungraceful. H. 190 Part 8. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: to Ariftotle. This great philofopher freely acknowledged his own mistakes in natural philofophy, becauſe he pro- ceeded in many things upon conjecture, as all men muſt do; and he found, that Gaffendi, who had made the doc- trine of Epicurus as palatable as he could, and the vortices of Defcartes were equally to be exploded. He predicted the fame fate to attraction, whereof the prefent learned are fuch zealous afferters. He faid, " that new ſyſtems of nature were but new faſhions, which would vary in every age; and even thofe, who pretend to demonstrate them from mathematical principles, would flouriſh but a fhort period of time, and be out of vogue when that was determined." I ſpent five days in converfing with many others of the ancient learned. I ſaw moſt of the firft Roman emperors. I prevailed on the governor to call up Eliogabalus' cooks to dress us a dinner, but they could not show us much of their ſkill, for want of materials. A helot of Agefilaus made us a difh of Spartan broth, but I was not able to get down a ſecond ſpoonful. The two gentlemen, who conducted me to the iſland, were preffed by their private affairs to return in three days; which I employed in ſeeing fome of the modern dead, who had made the greatest figure, for two or three hundred years paft, in our own, and other countries of Europe; and having been always a great admirer of old illuftrious families, I defired the governor would call up a dozen or two of kings with their anceſtors in order, for eight or nine generations. But my difappointment was grievous and unexpected. For, instead of a long train with royal dia- dems, I ſaw in one family two fiddlers, three fpruce courti- ers, and an Italian prelate. In another, a barber, an ab- bot, and two cardinals. I have too great a veneration for crowned heads, to dwell any longer on fo nice a fubject. But as to counts, marquiffes, dukes, earls, and the like, I was not fo fcrupulous. And I confefs, it was not without fome pleaſure, that I found myself able to trace the parti cular features, by which certain families are diftinguished, up to their originals. I could plainly diſcover, whence one family derives a long chin: why a fecond, has abounded A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 191 with knaves for two generations, and fools for two more; why a third, happened to be crack-brained, and a fourth to be sharpers; whence it came, what Polydore Vergil fays of a certain great houfe, Nec vir fortis, nec fœmina cafe; how cruelty, falfehood, and cowardice, grew to be characteriſtics, by which certain families are diftinguiſhed as much as by their coats of arms; who first brought the pox into a noble houfe, which has lineally defcended in ſcrofu- lous tumours to their pofterity. Neither could I wonder at all this, when I faw fuch an interruption of lineages, by pages, lackeys, valets, coachinen, gameſters, fiddlers, players, captains, and pickpockets. I was chiefly diſguſted with modern hiſtory. For having strictly examined all the perſons of greateſt name in the courts of princes, for a hundred years paft, I found how the world had been misled by proſtitute writers, to afcribe the greateſt exploits in war, to cowards; the wifeſt counſel, to fools; fincerity, to flatterers; Roman virtue, to betray- ers of their country; piety, to atheiſts; chaſtity, to ſodo- mites; truth, to informers; how many innocent and ex- cellent perfons had been condemned to death or baniſh- ment, by the practiſing of great minifters upon the corrup tion of judges, and the malice of factions; how many vil- lains had been exalted to the higheſt places of truſt, power, dignity, and profit; how great a fhare in the motions and events of courts, councils, and ſenates, might be chal- lenged by bawds, whores, pimps, paraſites, and buffoons; how low an opinion I had of human wisdom and integrity, when I was truly informed of the ſprings and motives of great enterprifes and revolutions in the world, and of the contemptible accidents to which they owed their fuccefs. Here I diſcovered the roguery and ignorance of thoſe who pretend to write anecdotes, or feeret hiſtory; who fend fo many kings to their graves with a cup of poifon; will re- peat the difcourfe between a prince and chief miniſter, where no witneſs was by; unlock the thoughts and cabi- nets of ambaſſadors and ſecretaries of ſtate; and have the perpetual misfortune to be miſtaken. Here I diſcovered the true caufes of many great events that have surpriſed the world; how a whore can govern the back-ſtairs, the 192 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS:" back-ſtairs a council, and the council a fenate. A general confeffed in my prefence," that he got a victory purely by the force of cowardice and ill conduct;" and an admiral, that for want of proper intelligence, he beat the enemy, to whom he intended to betray the fleet." Three kings protefted to me, "that in their whole reigns they never did once prefer any perfon of merit, unleſs by miſtake, or treachery of fome minifter in whom they confided: nei- ther would they do it if they were to live again" and they fhowed, with great ftrength of reafon, "that the royal throne could not be fupported without corruption, becauſe that pofitive, confident, reftive temper, which virtue in- fufed into man, was a perpetual clog to public bufiness. I had the curiofity to inquire in a particular manner, by what method, great numbers had procured to them- felves high titles of honour, and prodigious eftates; and f confined my inquiry to a very modern period, however without grating upon prefent times, becauſe I would be füre to give no offence, even to foreigners; for I hope the reader need not to be told, that I do not in the leaft intend my own country, in what I fay upon this occafion. A great number of perfons concerned, were called up; and Upon a very flight examination, difcovered fuch a fcene of infamy that I cannot reflect upon it without fome feri oufnefs. Perjury, oppreffion, fubornation, fraud, pandar- ifm, and the like infirmities, were among the moſt ex- cufable arts they had to mention; and for theſe k gave, as it was reafonable, great allowance. But when fome con- felfed they owed their greatneſs and wealth to fodomy, or inceft; others, to the proftituting of their own wives and daughters; others, to the betraying of their country of their prince; fome, to poiſoning; more, to the pervert- ing of justice, in order to deftroy the innocent: l'hope I may be pardoned, if thefe difcoveries incline me a little to abate of that profound 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 fublime dig- nity, by us their inferiors. I had often read of fome great fervices done to princes and ſtates, and defired to ſee the perfons by whom those A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 193 i fervices were performed. Upon inquiry I was told, “ that their names were to be found on no record, except a few of them, whom hillary. has reprefented as the vileſt of rogues and traitors. As to the reft, I had never once heard of them They all appeared with dejected looks, and in the meanest habit; most of them telling me" they died in poverty and difgrace, and the rest on a scaffold or a gibbet." Among others there was one perfon, whofe cafe appear. ed a little fingular. He had a youth about eighteen years old ſtanding by his fide. He told me he had for many years been commander of a fhip; and in the fea fight at Actium, had the good fortune to break through the ene my's great line of battle, fmk three of their capital fhips, and take a fourth, which was the fole caufe of Antony's flight, and of the victory that enfued; that the youth ftanding by him, his only fon, was killed in the action." He added, that upon the confidence of ſome merit, the war being at an end, he went to Rome, and folicited at the court of Auguftus to be preferred to, a greater ſhip, whoſe commander had been killed; but, without any re- gard to his pretenfions, it was given to a boy, who had never feen the fea, the ſon of Libertina, who waited on one of the emperor's miſtreffes. Returning back to his own vellel he was charged with neglect of duty, and the ſhip given to a favourite page of Publicola, the vice-admiral`; whereupon he retired to a poor farm at a great diſtance from Rome, and there ended his life." I was fo curious to know the truth of this ftory, that I defired Agrippa might be called, who was admiral in that fight. He appeared, and confirmed the whole account; but with much more advan- tage to the captain, whoſe modefly had extenuated or con- cealed a great part of his merit. I was furpriſed to find corruption grown ſo high and fo quick in that empire, by the force of luxury fo lately in- troduced; which made me lefs wonder at many parallel cafes in other countries, where vices of all kinds have reigned fo much longer, and where the whole praife, as well as pillage, has been engroſſed by the chief command- ar, who perhaps had the leaft sirle to either. S 194 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : As every perfon called up made exactly the fame appear- ance he had done in the world, it gave me melaneho- ly reflections to obferve, how much the race of human kind was degenerated among us, within theſe hundred years paſt. How the pox, under all its confequences and denominations, had altered every lineament of an English countenance; fhortened the fize of bodies, unbraced the nerves, relaxed the finews and muſcles, introduced a fal- low complexion, and rendered the flesh looſe and rancid. I defcended fo low, as to defire fome Engliſh yeoman of the old ſtamp, might be fummoned to appear; once fo fa- mous for the fimplicity of their manners, diet, and dreſs; for juſtice in their dealings; for their true fpirit 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 confidered how all thefe pure native virtues, were proſtituted for a piece of money by their grand chil- dren; who, in felling their votes, and managing at elec- tions, have acquired every vice and corruption, that can poffibly be learned in a court. CHAP. IX. THE AUTHOR RETURNS. TO MALDONADA. SAILS TO THE KINGDOM OF LUGGNAGG. THE AUTHOR CONFINED. HE IS SENT FOR TO COURT. THE MANNER OF HIS ADMITTANCE. THE KING'S GREAT LENITY TO UIs SUBJECTS. THE day of our departure being come, I took leave of his highness, the governor of Glubbdubdrib, and re- turned with my two companions to Maldonada, where, after a fortnight's waiting, a fhip was ready to fail for Luggnagg. The two gentlemen, and fome others, were fo generous and kind as to furnish, me with provifions, and fee me on board. I was a month in 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 21st of April, 1708, we failed A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 195 into the river of Clumegnig, which is a feaport town, at the fouth-east point of Luggnagg. We caft anchor within a league of the town, and made a ſignal for a pilot. Two of them came on board in leſs than half an hour, by whom we were guided between certain fhoals and rocks, which are very dangerous in the paſſage, to a large bafin, where a fleet may ride in fafety, within a cable's length of the town-wall. Some of our failors, whether out of treachery or inad- vertence, had informed the pilots "that I was a ſtranger, and a great traveller;" whereof thefe gave notice to a cuf- tom-houfe officer, by whom I was examined very ſtrictly upon my landing. This officer spoke to me in the lan- guage of Balnibarbi, which, by the force of much com- merce, 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 plaufible and confiftent as I could; but I thought it necef fary to diſguiſe my country, and call myfelf a Hollander; becauſe my intentions 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 fhipwrecked on the coaſt of Balnibarbi, and caft on a rock, I was received up into Laputa, or the Aying ifland, (of which he had often heard) and was now endeavouring to get to Japan, whence I might find a convenience of re- turning to my own country." The officer faid, "I muſt be confined till he could receive orders from court, for which he would write immediately, and hoped to receive an anſwer in a fortnight." I was carried to a convenient lodging, with a fentry placed at the door; however, I had the liberty of a large garden, and was treated with hu- manity enough, being maintained all the time at the king's charge. I was invited by feveral perfons, chiefly out of curioſity, becauſe it was reported that I came from coun- tries 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 fome years at Maldonada, and was a perfect maſter of both languages. By his affiftance, I was able to hold a : $ 2 196 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: converſation with thofe who came to vifit me; but this confifted only of their queſtions, and my answers. The diſpatch came from court about the time we ex- pected. It contained a warrant for conducting me and my rétinue to Traldragdubb or Trilärogdrib, for it is pronounced both ways as near as I can remember, by a party of ten horfe. All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpre- ter, whom I perfuaded into my fervice, 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 ma- jefty would pleafe to appoint a day and hour, when it would be his gracious pleaſure, that I might have the ho- nour to lick the duft before his footstool." This is the court ſtyle, and I found it to be more than matter of form. For, upon my admittance two days after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as 1 advanced; but, on account of my being a ftranger, care was taken to have it made fo clean, that the duft was not offenfive. However, this was a peculiar grace, not allows ed to any but perfons of the higheſt rank, when they de fire an admittance. Nay, fometimes the floor is ftrewed with duſt en purpoſe, when the perſon to be admitted happens to have powerful enemies at court. And I have feen 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 ſpeak a word. Neither is there any reme- dy; becauſe it is capital for thoſe, who receive an audience, to fit or wipe their mouths in his majeſty's prefence. There is indeed another custom which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king has a mind to put any of his nobles to death, in a gentle indulgent manner, he com- mands the floor to be ftrewed with a certain brown powder of a deadly compoſition, which, being licked up, infalli bly kills him in twenty-four hours. But in juſtice to this prince's great clemency, and the care he has of his fubjects' lives, (wherein it were much to be wifhed that the mo- narchs of Europe would imitate him) it muſt be mention- ed for his honour, that ftrict orders are given to have the infected parts of the floor well waſhed after every ſuch exe- A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 197 cution; which if his domeftics neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal diſpleaſure. I myself heard him give directions, that one of his pages ſhould be whipped, whoſe turn it was to give notice about washing the floor after an execution, but maliciouſly had omitted it; by which neg- left, a young lord, of great hopes, coming to an audience, was unfortunately poifoned, although the king at that time had no defign againſt his life. But this good prince was fo gracious, as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promiſe that he would do fo no more, without.fpe- cial orders. To return from this digreffion; when I had crept with- in four yards of the throne, I raiſed myſelf gently upon my knees, and then ftriking my forehead feven times againſt the ground, I pronounced the following words, as they had been taught me the night before, Inckpling gloffibrobb fquut ferumm blhiop mlafonalt zwin tnodbalkuffhfhiopbad guard- lubh afbt. This is the compliment, eftabliſhed by the laws of the land, for all perfons admitted to the king's prefence. It may be rendered into Engliſh thus: "May your celeftial majeſty outlive the fun, eleven moons and a half!" To this the king returned fome anſwer, which although I could not underſtand, yet I replied as I had been directed: Flute drin yalerick dwuldom proftrad mirpub, which properly fignifies, "My tongue is in the mouth of my friend;' and by this expreffion was meant, that I'defired leave to bring my interpreter; whereupon the young man, already men- tioned, was accordingly introduced; by whofe interven- tion I anſwered as many questions, as his majeſty could put in above an hour.. I fpoke in the Balnibarbian tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning in that of Lugg-. nagg. The king was much delighted with my company, and ordered his bliffmarklub, or high chamberlain, to appoint a lodging in the court for me and my interpreter; with a daily allowance for my table, and a large purfe of gold for my common expenfes. I stayed three months in this country, out of perfect obe- dience to his majefty; who was pleafed highly to favour me, and made me very honourable offers. But I thought S 3 198 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : it more confiftent with prudence and juftice, to pass the remainder of my days with my wife and family. CHAP. X. THE LUGGNAGGIANS COMMENDED. A PARTICULAR DE- BCRIPTION OF THE STRULDBRUGS, WITH MANY CON- VERSATIONS, BETWEEN · THE AUTHOR AND SOMB EMINENT PERSONS, UPON THAT SUBJECT. THE Luggnaggians are a polite and generous people; and although they are not without ſome ſhare of that pride which is peculiar to all Eaſtern countries, yet they Thow themfelves courteous to strangers; efpecially fuch who are countenanced by the court. I had many acquaint ance, and among perfons of the beſt faſhion, and being al- ways attended by my interpreter, the converfation we had was not difagreeable. was One day, in much good company, I was aſked by a per- Ton of quality," whether I had ſeen any of their firuldbrugs, ſon er immortals?" I faid, "I had not ;" and defired he would explain to me "what he meant by fuch an appellation, ap- plied to a mortal creature." He told me, " that fome- rimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family, with a red circular ſpot in the forehead; directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark, that it should never die. The pot as he defcribed it, about the compafs of a filver threepence, but in the courfe 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 Engliſh ſhilling; but never admitted any farther alteration." He faid, thefe births was fo rare, that he did not believe there could be above eleven hundied fruldbrugs, of both fexes, in the whole kingdom; of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, and among the reft, a young girl born about three years ago; that theſe productions were not peculiar to any family, but a mere `effect of chance; and A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 199 the children of the fruldbrags themſelves, were equally mortal with the reft of the people. I freely own myſelf to have been ſtruck with inexpref- fible delight, upon hearing this account: and the perſon, who gave it me, happening to underſtand the Balnibarbian language, which I fpoke very well, I could not forbear breaking out into expreffions, perhaps a little too extra- vagant. I cried out, as in rapture: "Happy nation, where every child has at leaſt a chance for being immortal! Hap py people, who enjoy fo many living examples of ancient virtue, and have maſters ready to inſtruct them in the wif dom of all former ages; but happieſt beyond all compari- fon, are thoſe excellent firuldbrugs, who being born_ex- empt from that univerfal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and difengaged, without the weight and depreſſion of ſpirits cauſed by the continual apprehenſions of death." I diſcovered my admiration," that I had not obferved any of thefe illuftrious perfons at court; the black ſpot on the forehead being fo remarkable a diſtinction, that I could not have eaſily overlooked it: and it was im- poffible that his majefty, a moſt judicious prince, ſhould not provide himſelf with a good number of fuch wife and able counſellors. Yet perhaps, the virtue of thoſe reverend fages, was too ſtrict for the corrupt and libertine manners of a court. And we often find by experience, that young men are too opinionated and volatile, to be guided by the fober dictates of their feniors. However, Lince the king was pleaſed to allow me aceefs to his royal perſon, I was refolved, upon the very firſt occafion, to deliver my opinion to him on this matter freely and at large, by the help of my interpreter; and whether he would pleaſe to take my advice or not, yet in one thing I was determined, that his majesty having frequently offered me an eſtabliſhment in this country, I would, with great thankfulneſs, accept the favour, and pafs my life here in the converſation of thoſe fuperior beings, the firuldbrugs, if they would pleaſe to admit me.” 1 The gentleman, to whom I addreſſed my diſcourſe, be- caufe (as I have already obferved) he spoke the language of Balnibarbi, faid to me with a fort of a ſmile, which 900 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ufually ariſes from pity to the ignorant, "that he was glad of any occafion to keep me among them, and defired my permiffion to explain to the company what I had ſpoke." He did fo, and they talked together for fome time in their own language, whereof I underſtood not a fyllable, nei- ther could I obferve by their countenances, what impref- fion my diſcourſe had made on them. After a fhort filence, the fame perfon told me," that his friends and mine (fo he thought fit to exprefs himſelf) were very much pleafed with the judicious remarks I had made, on the great hap- pinefs and advantages of immortal life," and they were de- firous to know in a particular manner, what ſcheme of living I fhould have formed to myſelf, if it had fallen to my lot to have been born a ftruldbrug, "it I anſwered," it was eafy to be eloquent on fo copious and delightful a ſubject, eſpecially to me, who had been often apt to amuſe myſelf with viſions of what I ſhould do, if I were a king, a general, or a great lord: and upon this very cafe, I had frequently run over the whole ſyſtem how I ſhould employ myſelf, and paſs the time if I were fure to live for ever. "That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a firuldbrug, as foon as I could diſcover my own hap- pinefs, by underſtanding the difference between life and death, I would firſt reſolve, by all arts and methods what- foever, to procure myſelf riches. In the purſuit of which, by thrift 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 earlieſt youth, apply myſelf to the ſtudy of arts and ſciences, by which I ſhould arrive in time, to excel all others in learn ing. Lastly, I would carefully record every action and event of confequence, that happened in the public, impar- tially draw the characters of the feveral fucceffions of princes and great minifters of ſtate, with my own obferva- tions on every point. I would exactly fet down the ſe- veral changes in cuſtoms, language, faſhions of dreſs, diet, and diverſions. By all which acquirements, I ſhould be a living treaſure of knowledge and wiſdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nation. A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 201 "I would never marry after threeſcore, but live in a hofpitable manner, yet fill on the faving fide. I would entertain myſelf in forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing them from my own remembrance, experience, and obfervation, fortified by hu- merous examples, of the uſefulneſs of virtue in public and private life. But my choice and conſtant companions ſhould be a fet of my own immortal brotherhood; among whon, I would elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. Where any of theſe wanted for- tunes, I would provide them with convenient Indges round my own eftate, and have ſome of them always at my ta- ble; only mingling a few of the moſt valuable among you mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lofe with little or no reluctance, and treat your poſterity after the fame manner; juſt as a man diverts himſelf with the annual fucceſſion of pinks and tulips in his garden, with- out regretting the loſs of thoſe, which withered the pre- eeding year. “Theſe firuldbrugs and I, would mutually communicate our obſervations and memorials, through the courſe of time; remark the feveral gradations by which corruption ſteals into the world, and oppoſe it in every step, by giving per- petual warning and inſtruction to mankind; which, added to the ſtrong influence of our own example, would proba- bly prevent that continual degeneracy of human nature, ſo justly complained of in all ages. "Add to all this, the pleaſure of ſeeing the various ré- volutions of ſtates and empires; the changes in the lower and upper world; ancient cities in ruins, and obfcure vil- lages become the feats of kings; famous rivers leflening into shallow brooks; the ocean leaving one coaſt dry, and overwhelming another; the diſcovery of many countries yet unknown. Barbarity overrunning the politeft nations, and the moſt barbarous become civilized. I ſhould then fee the diſcovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the univerfal medicine, and many other great inventions, brought to the utmoſt perfection. "What wonderful diſcoveries ſhould we make in aftrono. my, by outliving and confirming our own predictions; by 202 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: A obferving the progrefs and returns of comets, with the changes of motion in the fun, moon, and ſtars." I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural defire of endless life, and fublunary happineſs, could eaſily furnish me with. When I had ended, and the ſum of my difcourfe had been interpreted, 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 fome laughter at my expenfe. At last, the fame gentleman who had been my interpreter, faid, "he was defired by the reft, to fet me right in a few miſtakes, which I had fallen into through the common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was lefs anfwerable for them. That this breed of firuldbrugs was peculiar to their country, for there were no fuch people either in Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambaſſador from his majeſty, and found the natives in both thoſe kingdoms very hard to believe that the fact was poffible: and it appeared, from my afto- niſhment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I received it as a thing wholly new, and ſcarcely to be credited. That in the two kingdoms above-mentioned, where during his refidence he had converfed very much, he obferved long life to be the univerfal defire and wish of mankind. That whoever had one foot in the grave, was fure to hold back the other, as ftrongly as he could. That the oldeſt had ſtill hopes of living one day longer, and look- ed on death as the greateft evil, from which nature always prompted him to retreat; only in this ifland of Luggnagg the appetite for living was not fo eager, from the continual example of the firuldbrugs before their eyes. • "That the fyftem of living contrived by me, was unrea- fonable and unjuft; because it fuppofed a perpetuity of youth, health, and vigour, which no man could be fo foolish to hope, however extravagant he may be in his wifhest That the question therefore was not, whether a To this it may poffibly be objected, that the perpetu- ity of youth, health, and vigour, would be lefs a prodigy than the perpetuity of life in a body fubject to gradual de- A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 203 man would chooſe to be always in the prime of youth, at- tended with profperity and health; but how he would paſs a perpetual life, under all the ufual diſadvantages, which old age brings along with it. For although few men will avow their defires of being immortal, upon fuch hard con- ditions, yet in the two kingdoms before-mentioned, of Balnibarbi and Japan, he obferved that every man defired to put off death fome time longer, let it approach ever fo late; and he rarely heard of any man who died willingly, except he were incited by the extremity of grief or tor- ture. And he appealed to me, whether in thoſe countries. I had travelled, as well as my own, I had not obſerved the fame general difpofition."+ After this preface, he gave me a particular account of the fruldbrugs among them. He faid, "they commonly acted like mortals, till about thirty years old; after which, by degrees, they grew melancholy and dejected, increasing cay, and might therefore be hoped without greater extra- vagance of folly; but the fentiment here expreffed is that of a being to whom immortality though not perpetual youth was familiar, and in whom the wish of perpetual youth only would have been extravagant, becauſe that only appeared from facts to be impoſſible. H. ↑ If it be faid, that although the folly of defiring life to be prolonged under the diſadvantages of old age is here finely expofed; yet the defire of terreftrial immortality up- on terms, on which alone in the nature of things it is pof- fible, an exemption from difeafe, accident and decay is tacitly allowed. It may be anſwered, that as we grow old by imperceptible degrees, fo for the most part we grow old without repining, and every man is ready to profeſs him- felf willing to die, when he thall be overtaken by the de- crepitude of age in fome future period; yet when every other eye fees that this period is arrived, he is ftill tena- cious of life, and murmurs at the condition upon which he received his exiſtence: to reconcile old age therefore to the thoughts of a diffolution, appears to be all that was ne ceffary in a moral writer for practical purpoſes. H` 204 Part S. « GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: in bath till they came to fourfcore. This he learned from their own confeffion: for otherwife, there not being above two or three of that fpecies horn in an age, they were too few to form a general obfervation by. When they came to fourfeore years, which is reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and infirmitics of other old men, but many more, which arofe from the dreadful profpect of never dying. They were not only opinianative, peevish, covetous, morofe, vain, talka- tive; but incapable of friendſhip, and dead to all natural affection, which never defcended below their grand-chil dren. Euvy, and impotent defires, are their prevailing paffions. But thoſe objects againſt which their envy feems principally directed, are the vices of the younger fort, and the deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former, they find themfelves cut off from all poffibility of pleafure; and whenever they fee a funeral, they lament and repina that others are gone to a harbour of reft, to which they them- felves never can hope to arrive. They have no remem brance of any thing, but what they learned and abſerved in their youth and middle age, and even that is very im- perfect. And for the truth, or particulars of any fact, it is lafer to depend on common tradition, than upon their beſt recollections. The leaſt miferable among them, appear to be thoſe who turn to dotage, and entirely lofe their me- mories: thefe meet with more pity and affiftance, becaufa they want many bad qualities, which abound in others. "If a fruldbrug happened to marry one of his own kind, the marriage is diffolved of course, by the courteſy of the kingdom, as foon as the younger of the two comes to be four core. For the law thinks it a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned, without any fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, fhould not have their mifery doubled, by the load of a wife. "As fpon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law; their heirs in mediately fucceed to their eftates, only a ſmall pittance is referved for their fupport; and the poor ones are main- tained at the public charge. After that period, they are held incapable of any employment of truſt or profit; they A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 205 cannot purchaſe lands, or take leaſes; neither are they al- lowed to be witneffes in any caufe, either civil or criminal, not even for the decifion of meers and bounds. "At ninety, they loſe their teeth and hair; they have at that age no diſtinction of taſte, but eat and drink what- ever they can get, without reliſh or appetite. The diſeaſes they were fubject to ftill continue, without increaſing or diminishing. In talking, they forget the common appel- lation of things, and the names of perfons, even of thoſe who are their nearest friends and relations. For the fame reafon, they never can amuse themselves with reading, be- caufe their memory will not ferve to carry them from the beginning of a fentence to the end; and by this defect, they are deprived of the only entertainment, whereof they might otherwife be capable. The language of this country being always upon the Aux, the firuldbrugs of one age, do not underſtand thoſe of another; 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 lie under the diſadvantage of living like foreigners, in their own country." This was the account given me of the firuldbrugs, as near as I can remember. I afterwards faw five or fix of differ- ent ages, the youngeſt not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at feveral times by fome of my friends; but although they were told, “that I was a great traveller, and had feen all the world," they had not the leaſt curioſity to afk me a queftion ; only defired “I would give them flumfkudafk, or a token of remembrance;" which is a modelt way of begging, to avoid the law, that ſtrictly forbids it, because they are provided for by the public, al- though indeed with a very fcanty allowance. They are defpifed and hated by all forts of people; when one of them is born, it is reckoned ominous, and their birth is recorded very particularly; fo that you may know their age by confulting the regifter, which, however, has not been kept above a thousand years paſt, or at leaſt has been destroyed by time or public disturbances. But the ufual way of computing how old they are, is, by afking Τ 206 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: them what kings or great perfons they can remember, and then confulting hiſtory; for infallibly the last prince in their mind, did not begin his reign after they were four fcore years old. They were the moſt mortifying ſight I ever beheld; and the women, more horrible than the men. Beside the uſual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an additional ghaftlineſs, in proportion to their number of years, which is not to be defcribed; and among half a dozen, I foon dif, tinguiſhed which was the eideft, although there was not above a century or two between them. The reader will eafily believe, that from what I had heard and feen, my keen appetite for perpetuity of life, was much abated. I grew heartily ashamed of the pleasing vifions I had formed; and thought no tyrant could invent a death, into which I would not run with pleaſure, from fuch a life. The king heard of all that had paffed between me and my friends upon this occafion, and rallied me very pleasantly; wiſhing I could fend a couple of fruldbrugs to my own country, to arm our people against the fear of death; but this, it feem, is forbidden by the fundamen- tal laws of the kingdom, or elſe 1 fhould have been well content with the trouble and expenſe of tranſporting them. I could not but agree, that the laws of this kingdom re- lative to the fruldbrugs, were founded upon the ftrongest reafons, and fuch as any other country would be under the ucceffity of enacting, in the like circumstances. Otherwife, as avarice is the neceffary confequent of old age, thofe im- mortals would in time become proprietors of the whole nation, and engrofs the civil power; which for want of abilities to manage, muft end in the ruin of the public. Perhaps it may not be wholly ufeless to remark, that the fight of a firuldbrug would no otherwife arm thofe against the fear of death, who have no hope beyond it. than a man is armed against the fear of breaking his limbs. who jumps out of a window when his houſe is on fire. H. A VÕYAGE TO LÁPUTA, ÉTC. 207 CHAP XI. THE AUTHỜR LEAVES LuĜĠNAGG. AND SAILS TO JA*, FAN. FROM THENCE HE RETURNS IN A DUTCH SAIP TO AMSTERDAM, AND FROM AMSTERDAM TO ENG- LAND. I THOUGHT this account of the fruldbrugs might be fome entertainment to the reader, becauſe it ſeems to be a little out of the common way; at leaſt I do not remem- ber to have met the like in any book of travels, that has come to my hands; and if I am deceived, my excuſe muſt bé, that it is neceflary for travellers, who defcribe the fame country, very often to agree in dwelling on the fame par- ticulars, without deferving the cenfure of having borrow- ed or tranfcribed from thofe 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 have given fome secbant of the firuldbrugs; but my ftay in Japan was fo ſhort, and I was fo entirely a stranger to the language, that I was not qualified to make any inquiries. But I hope the Dutch, upon this notice, will be curious and able enough to fupply my defects. His majesty having often preſſed me to accept ſome em- ployment in his court, and finding me abfolutely deter- mined to return to my native country, was pleaſed to give me his license to depart; and honoured me with a letter of recommendation, under his own hand, to the emperor of Japan. He likewife prefented me with four hundred forty- four large pieces of gold, (this nation delighting in even humbers) and a red diamond, which I fold in England for eleven hundred pounds. On the 6th of May, 1709, I took a folemn leave of his majefty, and all my friends. This prince was fo gracious, as to order a guard to conduct me to Glanguenftald, which is a royal port to the fouth-west part of the island. In fix days I found a veſſel ready to carry me to Japan, and ſpent fifteen days in the voyage. We landed at a ſmall port- town called Xamofchi, ſituated on the ſouth-eaſt part of T 2 208 Part 3. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: } Japan; the town lies on the western point, where there is a narrow ſtrait leading northward into a long arm of the fea, upon the north-west part of which, Yedo the metro- polis ſtands. At landing I ſhowed the cuſtom-houſe offi- cers my letter from the king of Luggnagg to his imperial majefty. They knew the feal perfectly well; it was as broad as the palm of my hand. The impreffion was, "A king lifting up a lame beggar from the earth." The ma- giftrates of the town, hearing of my letter, received me as a public minifter; they provided me with carriages and fervants, and bore my charges to Yedo; where I was ad- mitted 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 fhould fignify my requeſt, and whatever it were, it ſhould be granted, for the fake of his royal brother of Luggnagg." This interpreter, was a per- fon employed to tranfact affairs with the Hollanders; he foon conjectured by my countenance, that I was a Euro- pean, and therefore repeated his majeſty's commands in Low Dutch, which he fpoke perfectly well. I answered, as i had before determined, " that I was a Dutch merchant, fhipwrecked in a very remote country, whence I had tra- velled by fea and land to Luggnagg, and then took ſhip- ping for Japan; where I knew my countrymen often traded, and with fome of thefe I hoped to get an opportu- nity of returning into Europe: I, therefore most humbly entreated his royal favour,, to give.order, that I fhould be conducted in fafety to Nangafac." To this I added an- other petition," that for the fake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, his majeſty would condefcend to excufe, my performing the ceremony impoſed on my countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix: becaufe I had been thrown into his kingdom by my misfortunes, without any inten- tion of trading." When this latter petition was inter- preted to the emperor, he feemed a little ſurpriſed; and faid, "he believed I was the first of my countrymen, who ever made any ſcruple in this point; and that he began to doubt, whether I was a real Hollander, or not; but rather fufpected I muſt be a Chriſtian. However, for the reaſons A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, ETC. 209 I had offcred, but chiefly to gratify the king of Luggnagg, by an uncommon mark of his favour, he would comply with the fingularity of my humour; but the affair muſt be managed with dexterity, and his officers fhould be com- manded to let me país, as it were by forgetfulness. For he affured me, that if the fecret ſhould be difcovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my throat in the voyage." I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for fo unuſual a favour; and ſome troops being at that time on their march to Nangafae, the commanding officer had or- ders to convey me fafe thither, with particular inſtructions about the buſineſs of the crucifix. On the 9th day of June 1709, I arrived at Nangafac, after a very long and troublefome journey. I foon fell into the company of fome Dutch failors, belonging to the Am- boyna of Amfterdam, a flout fhip of 450 tons. I had lived long in Holland, purſuing my ftudies at Leyden, and I fpoke Dutch well. The feamen foon knew whence I came lait; they were curious to inquire into my voyages, and courfe of life. I made up a story as fhort and probable as I could, but concealed the greateſt part. I knew many perfons in Holland; I was able to invent names for my parents, whom I pretended to be obfcure people in the province of Gelderland. I would have given the captain (one Theodorus Vangrult) what he pleaſed to aſk for my voyage to Holland; but underſtanding I was a furgeon, he was contented to take half the ufual rate, on condition that I would ferve him in the way of my calling. Before we took shipping, I was often alked by fome of the crew, "whether I had performed the ceremony above-mention- ed?" I evaded the question by general anfwers, "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 inftructions to let me pafs, gave the rafcal twenty ftrokes on the ſhoulders with a bamboo; after which I was no more trou- bled with fuch queſtions. Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. We faibed with a fair wind to the Cape of Good Hope, 7 8 210 Part S. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: where we ſtaid only to take in fresh water. On the 10th of April, 1710, we arrived fafe at Amſterdam, having loft only three men by fick nefs in the voyage, and a fourth, who fell from the foremaft into the fea, not far from the coast of Guinea. From Amfterdam I foon after fet fail for England, in a ſmall veffel belonging to that city. On the 16th of April we put in at the Downs. I land- ed next morning, and faw once more my native country, after an abfence of five years and fix months complete. I went ftraight to Redriff, where I arrived the fame day at two in the afternoon, and found my wife and family in good health. PART IV. A VOYAGE ΤΟ THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUYHNHNMS. + CHAP. 1. THE AUTHOR SETS OUT AS CAPTAIN OF A SHIP. HIS MEN.CONSPIKE AGAINST HIM, CONFINE HIM A LONG TIME TO HIS CABIN. SET HIM ON SHORE IN AN UNKNOWN LAND. HE TRAVELS UP INTO THE COUN- TRY. THE YAHOUS, A STRANGE SORT OF ANIMAL, DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR MEETS TWO HOUYHNUNMS. I CONTINUED at home with my wife and children about five months, in a very happy condition, if I could have learned the leflon of knowing when I was well. I left my poor wife big with child, and accepted an advan- tageous offer made me to be captain of the Adventure, a ftout merchantman of 350 tons: for I underſtood naviga- tion well, and being grown weary of a furgeon's employ- ment at fea, which however I could' exercife upon occa- fion, I took a ſkilful young man of that calling, one Ro- bert Purefoy, into my fhip. We fet fail from Portſmouth, upon the 7th day of September, 1710; on the 14th, we met with captain Pocock of Briſtol, at Teneriffe, who was going to the bay of Campechy to cut logwood. On the 16th, he was parted from us by a ſtorm; I heard fince my 212 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: return, that his fhip foundered, and none eſcaped, but one cabin-boy. He was an honest man, and a good failor, but a little too pofitive in his own opinions, which was the caufe of his deſtruction, as it has been of feveral others. 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 I had feveral men died in my fhip of calentures, fo that I was forced to get recruits out of Barbadoes and the Lee- ward Iſlands, where I touched, by the direction of the merchants who employed me; which I had foon too much caufe to repent; for I found afterwards, that moſt of them had been bucaneers. I had fifty hands on board; and my orders were, that I fhould trade with the Indians. in the South-Sea, and make what difcoveries I could. Theſe rogues, whom I had picked up, debauched my other men, and they all formed a confpiracy to feize the fhip, and fe- cure me; which they did one morning, rushing into my cabin, and binding me hand and foot, threatening to throw me overboard, if I offered to fir. I told them, " [ was their prifoner, and would fubmit." This they made me fwea to do, and then they unbound me, only faſtening one of my legs with a chain, near my bed, and placed a fentry at my door with his piece charged, who was com- manded to shoot me dead, if I attempted my liberty. They fent me down victuals and drink, and took the govern- ment of the ſhip to themfelves. Their defign was to turn pirates, and plunder the Spaniards, which they could not do, till they got more men. But first they refolved to fell the goods in the fhip, and then go to Madagaſcar for re- craits, feveral among them having died fince my confine- ment. They failed many weeks, and traded with the In- dians; but I knew not what courfe they took, being kept a cloſe prifoner in my cabin, and expecting nothing lefs than to be murdered, as they often threatened me. Upon the 9th day of May, 1711, one James Welch same down to my cabin, and faid, " he had orders from the captain to fet me afhore." I expoftulated with him, † Certain pirates, that infested the Weft-Indies, were fo called. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 213 but in vain; neither would he fo much as tell me, who their new captain was. They forced me into the longboat, letting me put on my best fuit of clothes, 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 fearch my pockets, into which conveyed what money I had, with fome other little neceffaries. They rowed about a league, and then fet me down on a ſtrand. I defired them to tell me what country it was. They all ſwore they knew no more than myfelf;" but faid, but faid, "that the captain (as they called him) was refolved, after they had fold the lading, to get rid of me in the first place, where they could difcover land." They pushed off immediately, adviſing me to make hafte for fear of being overtaken by the tide, and ſo bade me farewel. In this defolate condition I advanced forward, and foon got upon firm ground, where I ſat down on a bank to reſt myſelf, and confider what I had best do. When I was a little refreshed, I went up into the country, refolving to deliver myſelf to the firft favages I fhould meet, and pur- chafe my life from them by fome bracelets, glaſs rings, and other toys, which failors ufually provide themselves with in thofe voyages, and whereof I had ſome about me. The land was divided by long rows of trees, not regularly planted, but naturally growing; there was great plenty of grafs, and feveral fields of oats. I walked very circum- fpectly for fear of being jurpriſed, or fuddenly ſhot with an arrow from behind, or on either fide. i fell into a beaten road, where I faw many tracks of human feet, and fome of cows, but most of horfes. At laft 1 beheld feveral ani- mals in a field, and one or two of the fame kind fitting in trees. Their fhape was very fingular and deformed, which a little difcompofed me, fo that I lay down behind a thick- et to obſerve them better. Some of them coming forward near the place where 1 lay, gave me an opportunity of diftinctly marking their form. Their heads and breaſts were covered with a thick hair, fome frizzled, and others lank; they had beards like goats, and a long ridge of hair down their backs, and the foreparts of their legs and feet; but the rest of their bodies was bare, fo that I might fee 214 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: their ſkins, which were of a brown buff colour. They had 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 fat on the ground; for this pofture they uſed, as well as lying down, and often ſtood on theit hind feet. They climbed high trees as nimbly as a ſquirtel, for they had Itrong extended claws before and behind, terminating in fharp points, and hooked. They would often ſpring, and bound, and leap with prodigious agility. The females were not fo large as the males; they had long lank hair on their head, but none on their faces, nor any thing more than a fort of down on the rest of their bodies, except about the anus and pudenda. The dugs hung be- fween their fore-feet, and often reached almoſt to the ground as they walked. The hair of both fexes was of feveral colours, brown, red, black, and yellow. Upon the whole, I never beheld, in all my travels, fo difagreeable an animal, or one against which I naturally conceived to ftrong an antipathy. So that thinking I had ſeen enough, full of contempt and averfion, I got up, and purſued the beaten road, hoping it might direct me to the cabin of fome Indian. I had not got far, when I met one of thefe éfeatures full in my way, and coming up directly to me. The ugly monſter, when he ſaw me, diſtorted ſeveral ways every feature of his vifage, and ftared, as at an object he had never feen before; then, approaching nearer, lifted op his forepaw, whether out of curiofity 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 durfl not ſtrike with the edge, fearing the inhabitants might be provoked against me, if they fhould come to know that I had killed or maimed any of their cattle. When the beaſt felt the fmart he drew back, and roared fo loud, that a herd of at leaft forty came flocking about me from the next field, howling and making odious faces; but I ran to the body of a tree, and leaning my back against it kept them off by waving my hanger. Several of this curfed brood, getting hold of the branches behind, leapt up into the tree, whence they began to diſcharge their excrements on my head: however, I eſcaped pretty well by ſticking cloſe to the ſtem A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 215 } of the tree, but was almoft ftifled with the filth, which fell about me on every fide. In the midst of this diftrefs, I obferved them all to run away on a fudden as fast as they could, at which I ven- tured to leave the tree, and purfue the road, wondering what it was that could put them into this fright. But looking on my left hand, I faw a horfe walking foftty 'in the field; which my perfecutors having faoner discovered, was the cauſe of their fight. The horse startled a little, when he came near me; but foon recovering himself, looked full in my face with manifeft tokens of wonder: he viewed my hands and feet, walking round me feveral times. I would have purſued my journey, but he placed himfeli directly in the way, yet looking with very mild af pect, never offering the leaft violence. We food gazing at each other for fome time; at last I took the boldness to reach my hand towards his neck with a defign to ſtroke it, ufing the common ftyle and while of jockies, when they are going to handle a ſtrange horse. But this animal feemed to receive my civilities with difdain, ſhook his head, and bent his brows, foftly raiſing up his right fore- foot to remove my hand. Then he neighed three or four times, but in fo different a cadence, that I almoſt began to think he was fpeaking to himſelf, in fome language of his own. While he and I were thus employed, another horfe came up; who applying himſelf 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 feem- ed to be almost articulate. They went fome paces off, as if it were to confer together, walking fide by fide, back, ward and forward, like perfons deliberating upon fome af- fair of weight, but often turning their eyes towards me, as it were to watch that I might not efcape. I was amazed to fee fuch actions and behaviour in brute beafts; and con- cluded with myſelf, that if the inhabitants of this coun- try were endued with a proportionable degree of reaſon, they must needs be the wifeft people upon earth. This thought gave me fo much comfort, that I refolved to go forward, until I could diſcover ſome houſe or village, or 216 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: meet with any of the natives, leaving the two horfes to difcourfe together as they pleafed. But the firft, who was a dapple grey, obferving me to fteal 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 to him to expect his farther commands; but concealing fear as much as I could; for I began to be in fome pain how this adventure might terminate; and the reader, will cafily believe, I did not much like my preſent ſituation. my The two horfes came up clofe to me, looking with great earneſtneſs upon my face and hands. The grey feed rub- bed my hat all round with his right forehoof, and difcom- pofed it ſo much, that I was forced to adjuſt it better by. taking it off, and fettling it again; whereat, both he and his companion (who was a brown bay) appeared to be much furpriſed; the latter felt the lappet of my coat, and finding it to hang loofe about me, they both looked with new signs of wonder. He ftroked my right hand, feem- ing to admire the foftnefs and colour: but he ſqueezed it fo hard between his hoof and his paſtern that I was forced to roar; after which they both touched me with all poſſi- ble tenderness. They were in great perplexity about my fhoes and stockings, which they felt very often, neighing to each other, and ufing various geftures, not unlike thofe of a philofopher, when he would attempt to folve fome new and difficult phenomenon. Upon the whole, the behaviour of thefe animals was fo orderly and rational, fo acute and judicious, that I at laſt concluded, they must needs be magicians, who had thus metamorphofed themselves upon fonie defign, and feeing a ftranger in the way, refolved to divert themſelves with him; or perhaps were really amazed at the fight of a man fo very different in habit, feature, and complexion, from thofe who might probably live in fo remote a climate. Upon the ſtrength of this reafoning, I ventured to addrefs them in the following manner: "Gentlemen, if you be conjurors, as I have good caufe to believe, you can under- ftand any language; therefore I make bold to let your worships know, that I am a poor diftreffed Engliſhman, driven by his misfortunes upon your coaft, and I entreat A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 217 one of you to let me ride upon his back, as if he were a real horſe, to fome houſe or village, where I can be re- lieved. In return of which favour, I will make you a pre- fent of this knife and bracelet ;" taking them out of my pocket. The two creatures ftood filent while I fpoke, feeming to liften with great attention; and when I had ended, they neighed frequently towards each other, as if they were engaged in ferious converfation. I plainly ob- ferved that their language expreffed the paffions very well, and the words might, with little pains, be refolved into an alphabet, more easily than the Chineſe. I could frequently diſtinguiſh the word Yahoo, which was repeated by each of them ſeveral times; and although it was impoffible for me to conjecture what it meant, yet while the two horſes were buſy in converfation, I endea- voured to practiſe this word upon my tongue; and as foon as they were filent, I boldly pronounced Taboo in a loud voice, imitating at the fame time, as near as I could, the neighing of a horſe; at which they were both viſibly fur- prifed, and the grey repeated the fame word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right accent; wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myfelf perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any degree of perfection. 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, Houyhnhnm. I did not fucceed in this fo well as in the former; but after two or three farther trials, I had better fortune; and they both appeared amazed at my capacity. After fome farther difcourfe, which I then conje&ured might relate to me, the two friends took their leave, with the fame compliment of ftriking each other's hoof; and the grey made me figns that I fhould walk before him; wherein I thought it prudent to comply, till I could find a better director. When I offered to flacken my pace, he would cry bhuun bbuun; I gueſſed his meaning, and gave him to underſtand, as well as I could, "that I was weary, and not able to walk fafter;" upon which he would stand awhile to let me reft. U 218 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: CHAP. II. THE AUTHOR CONDUCTED BY A HOUYHNHNM TO HIS HOUSE. THE HOUSE DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR'S RE- Ог THE HOUYHNIIN MS. THE CEPTION. THE FOOD AUTHOR IN DISTRESS FOR WANT OF MEAT, IS AT LAST RELIEVED. HIS MANNER OF FEEDING IN THIS COUNTRY. HAVING travelled about three miles, we came to a long kind of building, made of timber ſtuck in the ground, and wattled acroſs; the roof was low, and covered with ftraw. I now began to be a little comforted; and took out fome toys, which travellers ufually carry for preſents to the favage Indians of America, and other parts, in hopes the people of the houſe would be thereby encouraged to re- ceive me kindly. The horſe made me a fign 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 fide. There were three nags, and two mascs, not eating, but ſome of them fitting down upon their hams, which I very much wondered at; but wondered more to ſee the reſt em- ployed in domeftic business; theſe ſeemed but ordinary cattle; however, this confirmed my first opinion, that a people, who could fo far civilize brute animals, muft needs excel in wiſdom all the nations of the world. The grey came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill treat- ment, which the others might have given me. He neigh- ed to them ſeveral times in a ſtyle of authority, and re- ceived anfwers. Beyond this room, there were three others, reaching the Jength of the houſe, to which you paffed through three doors, oppofite to each other, in the manner of a viſta; we went through the fecond room towards the third; here the grey walked in first, beckoning me to attend: I wait- ed in the fecond room, and got ready my prefents for the maſter and miftrefs of the houſe: they were two knives, three bracelets of falfe pearls, a fmali looking glafs, and a bead necklace. The horfe neighed three or four times, and I waited to hear fome anſwers in a human voice, but I A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 219. heard no other returns, than in the fame dialect, only one or two a little fhriller than his. I began to think, that this houſe muſt belong to fome perfon of great note among them, becauſe there appeared fo much ceremony, before I could gain admittance. But, that a man of quality ſhould be ferved all by horfes, was beyond my comprehenfion. I feared my brain was diſturbed by my fufferings and mif- fortunes: I rouſed myſelf, and looked about me in the room where I was left alone; this was furniſhed like the firſt, only after a more elegant manner. I rubbed my eyes often, but the fame objects ftill occurred.. I pinched my arms and fides to awake myself, hoping I might be in a dream. I then abfolutely concluded, that all theſe appear- ances could be nothing elſe but necromancy and magic. But I had no time to purſue theſe reflections; for the grey horfe came to the door, and made me a fign to follow him into the third room, where I faw a very comely mare, to- gether with a colt and foal, fitting on their haunches upon mats of ſtraw, not unartfully made, and perfectly neat and clean. t The mare foon after my entrance roſe from her mat, and coming up cloſe, after having nicely obferved my hands and face, gave me a most contemptuous look; and turning to the horſe, I heard the word Taboo often repeated betwixt them; the meaning of which word I could not then com- prehend, although it was the first I had learned to pro- nounce; but I was foon better informed, to my everlaſt- ing mortification: for the horſe, beckoning to me with his head, and repeating the bhuun bhuun, 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 ſome diſtance from the houſe. Here we entered, and I faw three of thoſe deteftable creatures, which I first met after my landing, feeding upon roots, and the flesh of fome animals, which I afterwards found to be that of afles and dogs, and now and then a cow, dead by accident or diſeaſe. They were all tied by the neck with ſtrong wyths faftened to a beam; they held their food between the claws of their forefeet, and tore it with their teeth. The mafter horfe ordered a forret nag, one of his fer- U 2 1 220 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: vants, to untie the largeſt of theſe animals, and take him into the yard. The beaft and I were brought clofe toge- ther; and our countenances diligently compared both by maſter and ſervant, who thereupon repeated feveral times the word Yahoo, my horror and aſtoniſhment are not to be defcribed, when I obſerved, in this abominable animal, a perfect human figure; the face of it indeed was flat and broad, the nofe depreffed, the lips large, and the mouth wide but thefe differences are common to all favage na- tions, where the lineaments of the countenance are dif torted, by the natives fuffering their infants to lie grovel- ling on the earth, or by carrying them on their backs, nuzzling with their face against the mother's fhoulders. The forefeet of the Taboo differed from my hands in nothing elfe but the length of the nails, the coarfenefs and brown- nefs of the palms, and the hairineſs on the backs. There was the fame reſemblance between our feet, with the fame differences; which I knew very well, though the horfes did not, becauſe of my fhoes and flockings; the fame in every part of our bodies, except as to hairineſs and colour, which I have already defcribed. The great difficulty, that feemed to stick with the two horfes, was, to fee the rest of my body fo very different from that of a Taboo, for which I was obliged to my clothes, whereof they had no conception. The forrel nag offered me a root, which he held (after their manner, as we ſhall deſcribe in its proper place) between his hoof and paſtern; I took it in my hand, and, having fmelt it, re- turned it to him again as civilly as I could. He brought out of the raboo's kennel a piece of afs' flesh, but it ſmelt fo offensively, that I turned from it with loathing; he then threw it to the Taboo, by whom it was greedily de- voured. He afterwards fhowed me a whifp of hay, and a fetlock full of oats; but I fhook my head, to fignify that neither of thefe were food for me. And indeed I now ap- prehended, that I muſt abfolutely ſtarve, if I did not get to fome of my own ſpecies; for as to thofe filthy Taboos, although there were few greater lovers of mankind at that time than myfelf, yet I confefs, I never faw any fenfitive being fo deteftable on all accounts; and the more I came A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 221 near them, the more hateful they grew, while I ſtayed in that country. This the mafter horfe obferved by my behaviour, and therefore fent the Yabos back to his kennel. He then put his forehoof to his mouth, at which I was much ſurpriſed, although he did it with eaſe, and with a motion that appeared perfectly natural; and made other figns to know what I would eat; but I could not return him fuch an anfwer as he was able to apprehend; and if he had underſtood me, I did not ſee how it was poſſible to contrive any way for finding myfelf nourishment. While we were thus engaged, I obferved a cow paffing by, where- upon 1 pointed to her, and exprefled a defire to go and milk her. This had its effect; for he led me back into the houſe, and ordered a mare-fervant to open a room, where a good ſtore of milk lay in earthen and wooden vef- 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 Taboos. There was in it an old ſteed, who feemed to be of quality; he alighted with his hindfect forward, having by accident got a hurt in his left forefoot. He came to dine with our horie, who received him with great civility. They dined in the beſt room, and had oats boiled in milk for the fecond courſe, which the old horfe eat warm, but the reft cold. Their mangers were placed circular in the middle of the room, and divided into feveral partitions, round which they ſat on their haunches, upon boſſes of itraw. In the middle was a large rack, with angles anfwering to every parti- tion of the manger; fo that each horfe and mare eat their own hay, and their own math of oats and milk, with much decency and regularity. The behaviour of the young .colt and foal, appeared very modeſt; and that of the maf ter and mistrefs, extremely cheerful and complaifant to their gueſt. The grey ordered me to ftand by him; and much difcourfe paffed between him and his friend concern- ing me, as I found by the ſtranger's often looking on me, and the frequent repetition of the word Taboo. I happened to wear my gloves, which the mafter grey U 3 232 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ་ obferving, ſeemed perplexed, diſcovering figns of wonder what I had done to my forefeet; he put his hoof three or four times to them, as if he would fignify, that I ſhould reduce them to their former fhape, which I prefently did, pulling off both 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 foon found the good effects. I was ordered to fpeak the few words I underſtood; and, while they were at dinner, the maſter taught me the names for oats, milk, fire, water, and ſome others; which I could readily pronounce after him, hav- ing from my youth a great facility in learning languages. When dinner was done, the maſter horſe took me afide, and by ſigns and words made me understand the concern he was in, that I had nothing to eat. Oats in their tongue are called blunnh. This word I pronounced two or three times; for although I had refufed them at firſt, yet, up- on fecond thoughts, I confidered that I could contrive to make of them a kind of bread, which might be fuffi- cient, with milk, to keep me alive, till I could make my eſcape to fome other country, and to creatures of my own fpecies. The horfe immediately ordered a white mare- fervant of his family to bring me a good quantity of oats in a fort of wooden tray. Theſe I heated before the fire, as well as I could, and rubbed them till the hufks came off, which I made a fhift to winnow from the grain: I ground and beat them between two ſtones, then took water, and made them into a paſte or cake, which I toaſted at the fire, and eat warm with milk. It was at firſt a very in- fipid diet, though common enough in many parts of Eu- rope, but grew tolerable by time; and having been often reduced to hard fare in my life, this was not the firft ex- periment I had made, how easily nature is fatisfied. And I cannot but obferve, that I never had one hour's ſickneſs, while I ftaid in this iſland. It is true, I ſometimes made a fhift to catch a rabbit, or bird, by fpringes made of Ya- boo's hairs; and I often gathered wholeſome herbs, which I boiled, and eat as falads 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 lofs for falt, but cuſtom A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 223 foon reconciled me to the want of it; and I am confident, that the frequent uſe of ſalt among us, is an effect of lux- ury, and was firſt introduced only as a provocative to drink,. except where it is neceffary for preferving flesh in long voyages, or in places remote from great markets. For we obferve no animal to be fond of it but man; and as to my- felf, 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 fay upon the ſubject of my diet, wherewith other travellers fill their books, as if the read- ers were perfonally concerned, whether we fare well or ill. However it was neceflary to mention this matter, left the world ſhould think it impoffible that I could find fuf- tenance for three years, in fuch a country, and among ſuch inhabitants. When it grew towards evening, the maſter horſe order- ed a place for me to lodge in; it was but fix yards from the houſe, and feparated from the flable of the Yaboos. Here I got fome ſtraw, and covering myſelf with my own clothes, flept very found. But I was in a fhort time better accommodated, as the reader fhall know hereafter, when I come to treat more particularly about my way of living. CHAP. III. THE AUTHOR STUDIES TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE; THE HOUTHNHNM, HIS MASTER, ASSISTS IN TEACH- ING HIM. THE LANGUAGE DESCRIBED. SEVERAL HOUYHN HNMS OF QUALITY COME OUT OF CURIOSITY TO SEE THE AUTHOR. HE GIVES HIS MASTER SHORT ACCOUNT OF HIS VOYAGE. A My principal endeavour was to learn the language which my maſter (for fo I fhall henceforth call him) and his children, and every fervant of his houſe, were defirous to to teach me. For they looked upon it as a prodigy, that a brute animal ſhould diſcover fuch marks of a rational crea- ture. I pointed to every thing, and inquired the name of it, which I wrote down in my journal-book when I was 224 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: alone, and corrected my bad accent, by defiring thoſe of the family to pronounce it often. In this employment, a forrel nag, one of the under fervants, was very ready to affift me. In fpeaking, they pronounce through the nofe 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 emperor Charles V. made almoft the fame obfervation, when he faid, "that if he were to fpeak to his horfe, it should be in High- Dutch." The curiofity and impatience of my mafter were fo great, that he ſpent many hours of his leifure to inftruct me. He was convinced (as he afterwards told me) that I muſt be a Taboo; but my teachableneis, civility, and cleanlineſs, aftonished him; which were qualities altogether oppofite to thofe animals. He was molt perplexed about my clothes, reafoning fometimes with himfelf, whether they were a part of my body; for I never pulled them off till the family were afleep, and got them on before they waked in the morning. My maſter was eager to learn "whence I came; how I acquired thofe appearances of reaſon, which I diſcovered in all my actions; and to know my ſtory from my own mouth, which he hoped he thould foon do, by the great proficiency I made in learning and pronouncing their words and fentences." To help my memory, I formed all I learned into the Engliſh alphabet, and writ the words. down, with the tranflations. This laft, after fome time, I ventured to do in my maſter's prefence. It coſt me much trouble to explain to him what I was doing; for the in- habitants have not the leaft idea of books or literature. In about ten weeks time, I was able to underſtand moſt of his queſtions; and in three months, could give him fome tolerable anfwers. He was extremely curious to know" from what part of the country I came, and how I + Qualities oppofite to animals," is a ſtrange mode of expreffion; it should be," which were qualities alto- gether oppoſite to fuch as belonged to thoſe animals." S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 225 was taught to imitate a rational creature; becauſe the ra- boos (whom he ſaw I exactly reſembled in my head, hands, and face, that weret only visible) with fome appearance of cunning, and the ſtrongeſt difpofition to mifchief, were obferved to be the moſt unteachable of all brutes." I an- ſwered, "that I came over the ſea from a far place, with many others of my own kind, in a great hollow veffel made of the bodies of trees: that my companions forced me to land on this coaft, and then left me to ſhift for myſelf." It was with fome difficulty, and by the help of many ſigns, that I 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 language to ex- prefs lying or falsehood. "He knew it was impoffible, that there could be a country beyond the fea, or that a parcel of brutes could move a wooden veffel whither they pleafed upon water. He was fure no Houyhnhnm alive could make fuch a veffel, nor would truft raboos to ma- nage it." The word Houybnbnm, in their tongue, fignifies a horſe, and in its etymology, the perfection of nature. I told my maſter" that I was at a lofs for expreffion, but would im- prove as fast as I could; and hoped, in a fhort time, I Thould be able to tell him wonders." He was pleaſed to direct his own mare, his colt and foal, and the fervants of the family, to take all opportunities of inftructing me; and every day, for two or three hours, he was at the fame pains himſelf ſeveral horſes and mares of quality in the neighbourhood, came often to our houfe, upon the report ſpread of " a wonderful Yaboo, that could ſpeak like a Houybubum, and ſeemed, in his words and actions, to dif cover fome glimmerings of reaſon." Theſe delighted to converſe with me: they put many queſtions, and received fuch anſwers as I was able to return. By all theſe advan- tages I made fo great a progrefs, that, in five months. from my arrival, I underſtood whatever was ſpoken, and could expreſs myſelf tolerably well. + "That were only visible"-an ambiguous phrafe; it fhould be," which only were visible," &c. S. 22€ Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: + The Houyhnhnms, who came to visit my mafter out of a defign of feeing and talking with me, could hardly believe me to be a right Taboo, becauſe my body had a different covering from others of my kind. They were aſtoniſhed to obferve me without the uſual hair or ſkin, except on my head, face, and hands; but I diſcovered that fecret to my mafter upon an accident which happened about a fortnight before. I have already told the reader, that every night, when the family were gone to bed, it was my cuftom to ſtrip, and cover myself with my clothes: it happened one morn- ing early, that my mafter fent for me by the forrel nag, who was his valet; when he came, I was faſt aſleep, my clothes fallen off on one fide, and my fhirt above my waist. I awaked at the noife he made, and obferved him to deli- ver his meſſage in fome diforder; after which he went to my mafter, and in a great fright gave him a very confuſed account of what he had feen: this I prefently discovered; for, going as foon as I was dreffed to pay my attendance upon his honour, he asked me "the meaning of what his fervant had reported, that I was not the fame thing when I flept, as I appeared to be at other times; that his valet affured him, fome part of me was white, fome yellow, at leaſt not fo white, and fome brown." I had hitherto concealed the fecret of my dreſs, in order to diſtinguiſh myſelf, as much as poſſible, from that curſed race of Taboos; but now I found it in vain to do ſo any longer. Befides, I confidered that my clothes and fhoes would foon wear out, which already were in a declining condition, and muſt be ſupplied by fome contrivance from the hides of Taboos, or other brutes; whereby the whole fecret would be known. I therefore told my mafter, "that in the country whence I came, thofe of my kind al- ways covered their bodies with the hairs of certain animals prepared by art, as well for decency as to avoid the incle- mencies of air, both hot and cold; of which, as to my own perfon, I would give him immediate conviction, if he pleaſed to command me; only defiring his excufe, if I did not expoſe thoſe parts that nature taught us to conceal.” He ſaid, " my diſcourſe was all very ſtrange, but eſpecially A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 227 the laſt part; for he could not underſtand, why nature ſhould teach us to conceal what nature had given: that neither himſelf nor family were afhamed of any parts of their bodies; but however, I might do as I pleaſed." Whereupon I first unbuttoned my coat and pulled it off. I did the fame with my waiſtcoat. I drew off my fhoes, ſtockings, and breeches. I let my fhirt down to my waist, and drew up the bottom, faſtening it like a girdle about my middle, to hide my nakedness. My maſter obferved the whole performance with great figns of curiofity and admiration. He took up all my clothes in his paſtern, one piece after another, and examined them diligently; he then ftroked my body very gently, and looked round me feveral times; after which, he faid, it was plain I muſt be a perfect Yahoo; but that I differed very much from the rest of my fpecies, in the foftneſs, whiteness, and fmoothness of my fkin; my want of hair in feveral parts of my body; the ſhape and fhortnefs of my claws behind and before; and my affectation of walking continually on my two hinder feet. He defired to fee no more; and gave me leave to put on my clothes again, for I was fhuddering with cold. I expreffed my uneafinefs at his giving me fo often the appellation of Taboo, an odious animal, for which I had fo utter a hatred and contempt: I begged he would forbear applying that word to me, and make the fame order in his family, and among his friends whom he ſuffered to fee me. I requeſted likewiſe, "that the fecret of my having a falſe covering to my body, might be known to none but him- felf, at least as long as my prefent clothing fhould laft; for, as to what the forrel nag his valet had obferved, his honour might command him to conceal it." All this my mafter very gracioufly confented to, and thus the fecret was kept till my clothes began to wear out, which I was forced to fupply by feveral contrivances, that ſhall hereafter be mentioned. In the mean time, he de- fired "I would go on with my utmoſt diligence to learn their language, becauſe he was more aſtoniſhed at my ca- pacity for ſpeech and reafon, than at the figure of my bo- dy, whether it were covered or not;" adding, " that he 228 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: 1 waited with fome impatience to hear the wonders, which I promised to tell him." Thenceforward he doubled the pains he had been at to inftruct me; he brought me into all company, and made them treat me with civility; " becauſe," as he told them privately, "this would put me into 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 con- cerning myſelf, which I answered as well as I could; and, by theſe means, he had already received fome general ideas, though very imperfect. It would be tedious to re- late the feveral steps by which I advanced to a more regu- lar converſation; but the first account I gave of myſelf in any order and length was to this purpoſe: "That I came from a very far country, as I already had attempted to tell him, with about fifty more of my own fpecies; that we travelled upon the feas in a great hollow veffel made of wood, and larger than his honour's houte. I deſcribed the fhip to him in the best terms I could, and explained, by the help of my handkerchief diſplayed, how it was driven forward by the wind. That upon a quarrel among us, I was fet on fhore on this coaft, where I walk- ed forward, without knowing whither, till he delivered me from the perfecution of thofe execrable Taboos." He alked me, "who made the fhip, and how it was poffible that the Houyhnhnms of my country, would leave it to the management of brutes?" My anfwer was, "that I durft proceed no farther in my relation, unleſs he would give me his word and honour that he would not be of- fended, and then I would tell him the wonders I had fo often promiſed." He agreed; and I went on by alluring him, "that the ship was made by creatures like myſelf; who, in all the countries I had travelled, as well as in my own, were the only governing, rational animals; and that upon my arrival hither, I was as much aftonished to fee the Houybubums act like rational beings, as he, or his friends, It ſhould be "upon my arrival here," not "arrival hither," which is not Engliſh. S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 229 could be, in finding fome marks of reafon in a creature, he was pleaſed to call a raboo; to which I owned my refem- blance in every part, but could not account for their de- generate and brutal nature." I faid farther," that if good fortune ever restored me to my native country, to relate my travels hither, as I refolved to do, every body would believe, that I ſaid the thing that was not; that I invent- ed the ſtory out of my own head; and (with all poffible reſpect to himſelf, his family, and friends, and under his promife of not being offended) our countrymen would hardly think it probable, that a Houyhnhnm fhould be the preſiding creature of a nation, and a Yahoo the brute. " CHAP. IV. THE HOUYHNHNM'S NOTION OF TRUTH AND FALSE- HOOD. THE AUTHOR'S DISCOURSE DISAPPROVED BY HIS MASTER. THE AUTHOR GIVES A MORE PARTI- CULAR ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF, AND THE ACCIDENTS OF HIS VOYAGE. MY mafter heard me with great appearances of uneaſi- nefs in his countenance; becaufe doubting, or not believing, are fo little known in this country, that the in- habitants cannot tell how to behave themſelves under fuch circumſtances. And I remember, in frequent difcourfes with my mafter concerning the nature of manhood in other parts of the world, having occafion to talk of lying, and falſe repreſentation, it was with much difficulty that he comprehended what I meant; although he had other- wife a moſt acute judgment. For he argued thus: "that the uſe of ſpeech was to make us underítand one another, and to receive information of facts; now, if any one faid the thing which was not, theſe ends were defeated, be- cauſe I cannot properly be faid to underſtand him; and, I am fo 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 thefe were all the notions he had concerning that faculty + X 230 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: of lying, fo perfectly well understood, and fo univerfally practifed, among human creatures. "> "I un- To return from this digreffion; when I afferted that the Taboos where the only governing animals in my coun- try, which my mafter faid, was altogether paſt his con ception, he defired to know, "whether we had Houyhn- bnms among us, and what was their employment?" I told him, "we had great numbers; that in fummer, they grazed in the fields; and in winter, were kept in houfes with hay and oats, where Taboo-fervants were employed to rub their ſkins fmooth, comb their manes, pick their feet, ferve them with food, and make their beds. derſtand you well," ſaid my maſter; "it is how very plain from all you have ſpoken, that whatever fhare of reafon the Taboos pretend to, the Houyhnhnms are your maſters; I heartily wish our Taboos would be fo tractable." I begged "his honour would pleaſe to excufe me from proceeding any farther, becauſe I was very certain that the account he expected from me, would be highly difpleafing." But he tinfiſted 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 horfes, were the most generous and comely animal we had; that they excelled in ftrength and fwiftnefs; and when they belonged to perfons of quality, were employed in travel- ling, racing, or drawing chariots; they were treated with much kindneſs and care, till they fell into diſeaſes, or he- came foundered in the feet; but then they were fold, and ufed to all kind of drudgery till they died; after which, their ſkins were ftripped, and fold for what they were worth, and their bodies left to be devoured by dogs and birds of prey. But the common race of horfes had not fo good fortune; being kept by farmers and carriers, and other mean people, who put them to greater labour, and fed them worſe. defcribed, as well as I could, our way of riding; the ſhape and ufe of a bridle, a faddle, a fpur, and + Infifted in commanding," is not English; it ſhould be," perfifted in commanding," &c. S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 231 a whip; of harnefs, and wheels. I added, "that we faft- ened plates of a certain hard ſubſtance, called iron, at the bottom of their feet, to preferve their hoofs from being broken by the ftony ways, on which we often travelled." My maſter, after fome expreffions of great indignation, wondered" how we dared to venture upon a Houyhnhnm's back; for he was fure, that the weakeft fervant in his houſe, would be able to ſhake off the ſtrongeſt Taboo; or by lying down, and rolling on his back, ſqueeze the brute to death." I answered, "that our horfes were trained up, from three or four years old, to the feveral ufes we intend- ed them for; that if any of them proved intolerably vicious, they were employed for carriages; that they were ſeverely beaten, while they were young, for any mischievous tricks; that the males, defigned for the common ufe of riding or draught, were generally caftrated about two years after their birth, to take down their fpirits, and make them more tame and gentle; that they were indeed fenfible of rewards and punishments; but his honour would pleaſe to confider, that they had not the leaſt tincture of reaſon, any more than the Taboos in this country." It put me to the pains of many circumlocutions, to give my maſter a right idea of what I fpoke; for their language does not abound in variety of words, becauſe their wants and paffions are fewer than among us. But it is impoffible to exprefs his noble refentment at our favage treatment of the Houyhnhnm race; particularly after I had explained the manner and uſe of caftrating horfes among us, to hinder them from propagating their kind, and to render them more fervile. He faid, "if it were poffible there could be any country where Taboos alone were endued with reafon, they certainly muſt be the governing animal: becauſe rea- fon in time will always prevail againſt brutal ſtrength. But, confidering the frame of our bodies, and eſpecially of mine, he thought no creature, of equal bulk, was fo ill contrived for employing that reafon in the common offices of life;" whereupon, he defired to know "whether thofe among whom I lived, refembled me or the Taboos of his country." I affured him, "that I was as well ſhaped as most of my age: but the younger, and the females, were X 2 232 Part 4 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: much more ſoft and tender, and the ſkins of the latter, ge- nerally as white as milk." He faid, "I differed indeed from other raboos, being much more cleanly, and not al- together fo deformed, but in point of real advantage, he thought I differed for the worfe. That my nails were of no ufe either to my fore or hinder feet; as to my forefeet, he could not properly call them by that name, for he never obferved me to walk upon them; that they were too foft to bear the ground; that I generally went with them un- covered; neither was the covering I fometimes wore on them of the ſame ſhape, or fo ftrong as that on my feet behind. That I could not walk with any fecurity, for if either of my hinder feet flipped, I muft inevitably fall." He then began to find fault with other parts of my body: "the flatnefs of my face, the prominence of my noſe, mine eyes placed directly in front, fo 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 forefeet to my mouth and therefore nature had placed thoſe joints to an- fwer that neceffity. He knew not what could be the uſe of thoſe ſeveral clefts and divifions in my feet behind; that theſe were too ſoft to bear the hardneſs and tharpneſs of ftones, without a covering made from the ſkin of fome other brute; that my whole body wanted a fence againſt heat and cold, which I was forced to put on and off every day, with tediouſneſs and trouble. And lastly, that he ob- ferved every animal in this country naturally to abhor the Taboos, whom the weaker avoided, and the ftronger drove from them. So that, fuppofing us to have the gift of rea- fon, he could not fee how it were poffible to cure that na- tural antipathy, which every creature difcovered againſt us; nor confequently how we could tame and render them ferviceable. However, he would" as he faid " debate the matter no farther, becauſe he was more defirous to know my own story, the country where I was born, and the fe- veral actions and events of my life, before I came hither." : I affured him, "how extremely defirous I was that he ſhould be fatisfied in every point; but I doubted much, whether it would be poffible for me to explain myſelf on feveral ſubjects, whereof his honour could have no concep- A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 233 F tion; becauſe I faw nothing in his country, to which I could reſemble them. That however I would do my beft, and ſtrive to expreſs myſelf by fimilitudes, humbly defiring his affiftance when I wanted proper words;" which he was pleaſed to promiſe me. I faid, " my birth was of honeft parents, in an iſland called England; which was remote from his country, as many days journey as the ſtrongeſt of his honour's fervants could travel in the annual courſe of the fun. That I was bred a furgeon, whofe 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, whereby I might main- tain myſelf and family when I fhould return. That, in my laft voyage, I was commander of the ſhip, and had about fifty Taboos under me, many of which died at fea, and I was forced to ſupply them by others picked out from fe- veral nations. That our fhip was twice in danger of being funk; the firſt time by a great ſtorm; and the ſecond, by ftriking againſt a rock." Here my maſter interpofed, by afking me, "how I could perfuade ſtrangers, out of differ- ent countries, to venture with me, after the loffes I had fuftained, and the hazards I had run?" I faid, "they were fellows of defperate fortunes, forced to fly from the places of their birth on account of their poverty or their crimes. Some were undone by lawfuits; others spent all they had in drinking, whoring, and gaming; others fled for treaſon; many for murder, theft, poisoning, robbery, perjury, forgery, coining falfe money, for committing rapes, or fodomy; for fying from their colours, or deferting to the enemy; and moft of them had broken priſon; none of thefe durft return to their native countries, for fear of being hanged, or of ftarving in a jail; and therefore they were under a neceffity of ſeeking a livelihood in other places." During this difcourfe, my mafter was pleaſed to inter- rupt me feveral times. I had made uſe of many circumlo- cutions, in defcribing to him the nature of the feveral crimes, for which moſt of our crew had been forced to fly their country. This labour took up feveral days converfation, before he was able to comprehend me. He was wholly at X 3 234 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: a loſs to know, what could be the uſe or neceffity of prac- tifing thoſe vices. To clear up which, I endeavoured to give ſome ideas of the defire of power and riches; of the terrible effects of luft, intemperance, malice, and envy. All this I was forced to define and deſcribe by putting cafes, and making fuppofitions. After which, like one. whoſe imagination was ftruck with fomething never feen or heard of before, he would lift up his eyes with amaze- ment and indignation. Power, government, war, law, puniſhment, and a thouſand other things had no terms, wherein that language could exprefs them; which made the difficulty almoſt infuperable, to give my maſter any conception of what I meant. But being of an excellent underſtanding, much improved by contemplation and con- verſe, he at laſt arrived at a competent knowledge of what human nature, in our parts of the world, is capable to perform, and defired I would give him fome particular ac- count of that land which we call Europe, but eſpecially of my own country. CHAP. V. THE AUTHOR, AT HIS MASTER'S COMMAND, INFORMS HIM OF THE STATE OF ENGLAND. THE CAUSES OF WAR AMONG THE PRINCES OF EUROPE. THE AUTHOR BEGINS TO EXPLAIN THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION. THE reader may pleaſe to obferve, that the following extract of many converfations I had with my maſter, contains a fummary of the moft material points, which were diſcourſed at feveral times for above two years; his honour often defiring fuller fatisfaction, as I farther im- proved in the Houyhnhnm tongue. I laid before him as well as I could, the whole ſtate of Europe; I difcourfed of trade and manufactures, of arts and ſciences; and the anfwers 1 gave to all the queftions he made, as they arofe upon fe- veral fubjects, were a fund of converſation not to be ex- haufted. But I fhall here only fet down the fubftance of what paffed between us, concerning my own country, re- A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 235 ducing it in order as well as I can, without any regard to time or other circumſtances, while I ftrictly adhere to truth. My only concern is, that I ſhall hardly be able to do juſtice to my maſter's arguments and expreſſions, which muſt needs fuffer by my want of capacity, as well as by a tranſlation into our barbarous Engliſh. In obedience therefore to his honour's commands, I re- Jated to him the revolution under the prince of Orange; the long war with France, entered into by the ſaid prince, and renewed by his fucceffor, the prefent queen; wherein the greateſt powers of Christendom were engaged, and which ſtill continued: I computed at his requeſt, "that about a million of Taboos might have been killed in the whole progrefs of it; and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and five times as many ſhips burnt or funk.” He aſked me" what were the ufual caufes or motives that made one country go to war with another?" 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. Some- times, the corruption of miniſters, who engage their maf ter in a war, in order to stifle or divert the clamour of the ſubjects against the evil adminiſtration. Difference in opinions has coft many millions of lives; for instance, whether fleſh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine;* whether whift- ling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kifs a poft, or throw it into the fire; what is the beſt colour for a coat, whether black, white, red or grey; and whe- ther it ſhould be long or ſhort, narrow or wide, dirty or clean, with many more. Neither are any wars fo furious and bloody, or of fo long continuance, as thofe occafioned by difference in opinion, efpecially if it be in things in- different. "Sometimes the quarrel between two princes, is to de- cide which of them fhall difpoffefs a third of his domini- * Tranſubſtantiation. H. + Church Mufic. H. Kifling a croſs. H. § The colour and make of ſacred veſtments, and different orders of popiſh ecclefiaftics. H. 236 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ons, where neither of them pretend to any right. Some- times one prince quarrels with another for fear the other fhould quarrel with him. Sometimes a war is entered up- on, becauſe the enemy is too ftrong; and fometimes, be- cauſe he is too weak. Sometimes our neighbours want the 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 caufe of a war, to invade a country af- ter the people have been wafted by famine, deſtroyed by peftilence, or embroiled by factions among themſelves. It is juftifiable to enter into war against our nearest ally, when one of his towns lies convenient for us, or a territory of land, that would render our dominions round and compact. If a prince fends 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 reft, 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 defires the affiflance of another, to fecure him againſt an invafion, that the affiffant, when he has driven out the invader, fhould feize on the dominions himſelf, and kill, imprifon, or banish the prince he came to relieve. Alliance by blood, or marriage, is a frequent caufe of war between princes; and the nearer the kindred is, the greater their difpofition to quarrel: poor nations are hungry, and rich na- tions are proud: and pride and hunger will ever be at vari- For thefe reafons, the trade. of a foldier is held the moſt honourable of all others; becauſe a foldier is a Tabco hired to kill, in cold blood, as many of his own ſpecies, who have never offended him, as poffibly he can. ance. "There is likewife a kind of beggarly princes in Eu- rope, not able to make war by themselves, who hire out their troops to richer nations, for fo much a day to each man; of which they keep three-fourths to themfelves, and it is the best part of their maintenance; fuch are thofe in many Northern parts of Europe." "What you have told me," faid my maſter, "upon the fubject of war, does indeed difcover moft admirably the effects of that reaſon you pretend to however it is happy that the fhame is greater than the danger; and that na- 1 A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 287 ture has left you utterly incapable of doing much miſchief. For, your mouths lying flat with your faces, you can hard- ly bite each other to any purpoſe, unleſs by confent. Then as to the claws upon your feet before and behind, they are ſo ſhort and tender, that one of our Taboos would drive a dozen of yours before him. And therefore in recounting the numbers of thoſe who have been killed in battle, I cannot but think you have ſaid the thing which is not. "" I could not forbear ſhaking my head, and finiling a little at his ignorance. And being no ftranger to the art of war, I gave him a defcription of cannons, culverins, muſkets, carabines, piſtols, bullets, powder, fwords, bayonets, bat- tles, fieges, retreats, attacks, undermines, countermines, bombardments, feafights, fhips funk with a thouſand men, twenty thousand killed on each fide, dying groans, limbs flying in the air, fmoke, noife, confufion, trampling to death under horfes' feet, flight, purfuit, victory; fields ftrewed with carcafes, left for food to dogs and wolves, and birds of prey; plundering, ftripping, ravishing, burn- ing and deſtroying. And to fet forth the valour of my own dear countrymen, I affured him, "that I had feen them blow up a hundred enemies at once in a fiege, and as many in a fhip; and beheld the dead bodies drop down in pieces from the clouds, to the great diverſion of the ſpec- tators."+ † It would perhaps be impoffible, by the moſt laboured argument, or forcible eloquence, to how the abfurd in- jultice and horrid cruelty of war fo effectually, as by this fimple exhibition of them in a new light: with war, in- cluding every fpecies of iniquity and every art of deftrue- tion, we become familiar by degrees under fpecious terms, which are ſeldom examined, becauſe they are learned at an age, in which the mind implicitly receives and retains whatever is impreffed; thus it happens, that when one man marders another to gratify his luft, we shudder; but when one man murders a million to gratify his vanity we approve and we admire, we envy and we applaud. If, when this and the preceding pages are read, we diſcover 238 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: I was going on to more particulars, when my maſter commanded me filence. He faid" whoever underſtood the nature of Taboos, might eafily believe it poffible for fo vile an animal to be capable of every action I had named, if their ftrength and cunning equalled their malice. But as my difcourfe had increafed his abhorrence of the whole fpecies, fo he found it gave him a diſturbance in his mind, to which he was wholly a ſtranger before. He thought his ears, being uſed to ſuch abominable words, might by degrees admit them with lefs deteftation: that although he hated the Taboos of this country, yet he no more blamed them for their odious qualities, than he did a gunayh (a bird of prey) for its cruelty, or a ſharp ftone for cutting his hoof. But, when a creature pretending to reafon could be capable of fuch enormities, he dreaded, left the corrup- tion of that faculty, might be worſe than brutality itſelf. He feemed therefore confident, that inſtead of reaſon, we were only poffeffed of fome quality, fitted to increaſe our natural vices; as the reflection from a troubled ftream re- turns the image of an ill-ſhapen body, not only larger but more diftorted." He added, that he had heard too much upon the ſubject of war, both in this and fome former difcourfes. There was another point, which a little perplexed him at pre- fent. I had informed him, that fome of our crew left their country on account of being ruined by law; that I had already explained the meaning of the word; but he was at a lofs how it should come to pafs, that the law, which was intended for every man's prefervation, ſhould be any with aſtoniſhment, that when the fame events have occur- red in hiſtory we felt no emotion, and acquiefced in wars which we could not but know to have been commenced for fuch caufis, and carried on by ſuch means; let not him be cenfured for too much debafing his fpecies, who has con- tributed to their felicity and prefervation, by tripping off the veil of cuſtom and prejudice, and holding up, in their native deformity, the vices by which they become wretch- ed, and the arts by which they are deftroyed. H. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 239 man's ruin. Therefore he defired to be farther fatisfied what I meant by law, and the difpenfers thereof, accord- ing to the prefent practice in my own country: becauſe he thought natüre and reaſon were fufficient guides for a reaſonable animal, as we pretended to be, in ſhowing us what he ought to do, and what to avoid." I affured his honour, " that law was a fcience, in which I had not much converfed, farther than by employing ad- vocates in vain, upon fome injuftices that had been done me; however I would give him all the fatisfaction I was able." I faid, "there was a fociety of men among us, bred up from their youth in the art of proving, by words multipli- ed for the purpoſe, that white is black, and black is white, according as they are paid. To this fociety all the reft of the people are flaves. For example, if my neigh- bour has a mind to my cow, he has a lawyer to prove that he ought to have my cow from me. I muft then hire an- other to defend my right, it being againſt all rules of law, that any man fhould be allowed to fpeak for himſelf. Now, in this cafe, I, who am the right owner, lie under two great diſadvantages: firſt, my lawyer, being prac- tifed almoſt from his cradle in defending falfehood, is quite out of his element when he would be an advocate for juf- tice, which is an unnatural office he always attempts with great aukwardnefs, if not with ill will. The fecond dif advantage is, that my lawyer mult 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 me- thods to preferve my cow. The first is, to gain over my adverfary's lawyer with a double fee, who will then betray his client by infinuating, that he has juſtice on his fide. The fecond way is, for my lawyer to make my cauſe ap- pear as unjuſt as he can, by allowing the cow to belong to my adverfary: and this if it be ſkilfully done, will certain- ly befpeak the favour of the bench. Now your honour is to know, that theſe judges are perfons appointed to de- cide all controverfies of property, as well as for the trial of criminals, and picked out from the moſt dextrous law- 240 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: yers, who are grown old or lazy; and having been biaſſed all their lives against truth and equity, lie under fuch a fatal neceflity of favouring fraud, perjury, and oppreſſion, that I have known fome of them refuſe a large bribe from the fide where juſtice lay, rather than injure the faculty, by doing any thing unbecoming their nature or their office. "It is a maxim among thefe lawyers, that whatever has been done before, may legally be done again; and there- fore they take ſpecial care to record all the decifions for- merly made against common juſtice, and the general rea- fon of mankind. Thefe, under the name of precedents, they produce as authorities to justify the most iniquitous opinions, and the judges never fail of directing accordingly. "In pleading, they ftudiouſly avoid entering into the merits of the caufe; but are loud, violent, and tedious, in dwelling upon all circumstances which are not to the pur- pofe. For instance, in the cafe already mentioned; they never defire to know what claim or title my adverfary has to my cow; but whether the faid cow were red or black her horns long or short; whether the field I graze her in be round or fquare; whether he was milked at home or abroad; what diſeaſes ſhe is ſubject to, and the like; after which they confult precedents, adjourn the caufe from time to time, and in ten, twenty, or thirty years come to an iſſue. "It is likewife to be obferved, that this fociety has a peculiar cant and jargon of their own that no other mor- tal can understand, and wherein all their laws are written, which they take fpecial care to multiply; whereby they have wholly confounded the very effence of truth and falfchood, of right and wrong; fo that it will take thirty years to decide, whether the field, lelt me by my ancet- tors for fix generations, belongs to me, or to a ſtranger three hundred miles off. * "In the trial of perfons accufed for crimes againſt the ſtate, the method is much more ſhort and commendable : the judge first fends to found the difpofition of thofe in power, after which he can easily hang or fave a criminal, ftrictly preſerving all due forms of law." Here my mafter interpofing, faid, "it was a pity, that } A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 241 creatures endowed with fuch prodigious abilities of mind, as theſe lawyers, by the deſcription 1 gave of them, muſt certainly be, were not rather encouraged to be inſtructors of others in wiſdom and knowledge." In anſwer to which I affured his honour," that in all points out of their own trade, they were uſually the moſt ignorant and ſtupid ge- neration among us, the moſt deſpicable in common con- verſation, avowed enemies to all knowledge and learning, and equally diſpoſed to pervert the general reaſon of man- kind, in every other fubject of difcourfe as in that of their own profeffion." CHAP. VI. A CONTINUATION OF THE STATE OF ENGLAND UNDER QUEEN ANNE. THE CHARACTER OF A FIRST MINIS- TER OF STATE IN EUROPEAN COURTS. MY Y maſter was yet wholly at a loſs to underſtand what motives could incite this race of lawyers to perplex, difquiet, and weary themfelves, and engage in a confedera- cy of injuſtice, merely for the fake of injuring their fel- low-animals; neither could he comprehend what I meant in faying, 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 Taboo had got a great ſtore of this precious fubftance, he was able to purchaſe whatever he had a mind to, the fineſt clothing, the nobleſt houſes, great tracts of land, the moſt coftly meats and drinks; and have his choice of the moſt beautiful females. Therefore, fince money alone was able to perform all thefe feats, our Yaboos thought they could never have enough of it to ſpend, or to fave, as they found themſelves inclined, from their natural bent, either to pro- fufion or avarice. That the rich man enjoyed the fruit of the poor man's labour, and the latter were a thouſand to one in proportion to the former. That the bulk of our people were forced to live miferably, by labouring every day for fmall wages, to make a few live plentifully. I 242 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: I enlarged myſelf much on thefe, and many other par- ticulars to the fame purpoſe; but his honour was ftill to feek; for he went upon a fuppofition, that all animals had a title to their fhare in the productions of the earth, and eſpecially thoſe who prefided over the reft. Therefore he defired I would let him know," what thefe coftly meats were, and how any of us happened to want them?" Whereupon I enumerated as many forts as came into my head, with the various methods of dreffing them, which could not be done without fending veffels by fea to every part of the world, as well for liquors to drink as for fauces, and innumerable other conveniences. I affured him " that this whole globe of earth must be at least three times gone round, before one of our better female Yaboos could get her breakfaſt, or a cup to put it in." He faid, "that muſt needs be a miſerable country, which cannot furniſh food for its own inhabitants. But what he chiefly wondered at was how fuch vast tracts of ground, as I defcribed, fhould be wholly without fresh water, and the people put to the neceflity of fending over the fea for drink.” plied, "that England (the dear place of my nativity) was computed to produce three times the quantity of food more than its inhabitants are able to confume, as well as liquors extracted from grain, or preffed out of the fruit of certain trees, which made excellent drink; and the fame propor- tion in every other convenience of life. But in order to feed the luxury and intemperance of the males, and the vanity of the females, we fent away the greateſt part of our neceflary things to other countries, whence in return we brought the materials of difeafes, folly, and vice, to fpend among ourfelves. Hence it follows of neceffity, that vaft numbers of our people are compelled to ſeek their livelihood by begging, robbing, fteafing, cheating, pimp- ing, flattering, fuborning, forfwearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, fcribbling, ftargazing, poiſoning, whoring, canting, libelling, free-thinking, and the like occupations" every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him underſtand. I re- "That wine was not imported among us from foreign countries, to ſupply the waut of water, or other drinks, A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 243 but becauſe it was a fort of liquid, which made us merry by putting us out of our fenfes, diverted all melancholy thoughts, begat wild extravagant imaginations in the brain, raiſed our hopes, and banished our fears; fufpended every office of reaſon for a time, and deprived us of the uſe of our limbs, till we fell into a profound fleep; although it muſt be confeffed, that we always awaked fick and difpi- rited; and that the ufe of this liquor filled us with diſeaſes, which made our lives uncomfortable and ſhort. "But befide all this, the bulk of our people fupported themſelves by furnishing the neceffities, or conveniences of life, to the rich, and to each other. For inftance, when I am at home, and drefled as I ought to be, I carry on my body the workmanſhip of a hundred tradefmen: the build- ing and furniture of my houfe, 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 fick, having, up- on fome occafions, informed his honour, that many of my. crew had died of difeafes. But here it was with the ut- moſt difficulty, that I brought him to apprehend what I meant. "He could eafily conceive, that a Houyhnbum grew weak and heavy a few days before his death, or by fome accident might hurt a limb; but that nature, who works all things to perfection, fhould fuffer any pains to breed in our bodies, he thought impoffible, and defired to know the reafon of fo unaccountable an evil," I told him, "we fed on a thouſand things, which operated contrary to each other; that we eat when we were not hun- gry, and drank without the provocation of thirst; that we fet whole nights drinking (trong liquors, without cating a bit, which difpofed us to floth, inflamed our bodies, and precipitated or prevented digeftion. That proſtitute fe- male Taboos acquired a certain malady, which bred rotten- nefs in the bones of thofe who fell into their embraces; that this, and many other difeafes, were propagated from father to fon; fo 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 fix Y 2 244 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: hundred, fpread over every limb and joint; in ſhort, every part, external and inteftine, having difeafes appropriated to itſelf. To remedy which, there was a fort of people bred up among us in the profeffion, or pretence, of curing the fick. And becauſe I had fome Ikill in the faculty, 1 would, in gratitude to his honour, let him know the whole mystery and method by which they proceed. "Their fundamental is, that all diſeaſes arife from re- pletion; whence they conclude, that a great evacuation of the body is neceffary, either through the natural paffage, or upwards at the mouth. Their next bufiuefs is from herbs, minerals, gums, oils, fhells, falts, juices, feaweed, excrements, barks of trees, ferpents, toads, frogs, fpiders, dead men's flesh and bones, birds, beafts, and fiſhes, to form a compofition, for fmell and taſte, the moſt abomina- ble, naufeous, and deteftable, they can poffibly contrive, which the ftomach immediately rejects with loathing, and this they call a vomit; or elfe, from the fame ſtorehouſe, with fome other poiſonous additions, they command us to take in at the orifice above or below (juſt as the phyſician then happens to be difpofed) a medicine equally annoying and difguftful 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 allege) having in- tended the fuperior anterior orifice, only for the intromif- fion of folids and liquids, and the inferior pofterior for ejec- tion; thefe artiſts,t ingeniously confidering that in all difeafes 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 ufe of each orifice; forcing folids and liquids in at the anus, and making evacuations at the mouth. But, befides real diſeaſes, we are ſubject to many that are only imaginary, for which the phyſicians have invent- ed imaginary cures; thefe have their feveral names, and fo have the drugs that are proper for them; and with theſe our female Taboos are always infefted. + Theſe artiſts, is a nominative, without any verb to which it refers in the remainder of the fentence. S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 245 "One great excellency in this tribe, is their ſkill at prog- noftics, wherein they feldom fail; their predictions in real diſeaſes, when they rife to any degree of malignity, gene- rally portending death, which is always in their power, when recovery is not: and therefore, upon any unexpect- ed figns of amendment, after they have pronounced their fentence, rather than be accufed as falfe prophets, they know how to approve their fagacity to the world, by a feafonable dofe. They are likewife of ſpecial uſe to huſbands and wives who are grown weary of their mates; to eldeſt ſons, to great miniſters of ſtate, and often to princes." I had formerly, upon occafion, difcourfed with my maſ- ter upon the nature of government in general, and parti- cularly of our own excellent conftitution, defervedly the wonder and envy of the whole world. But having here ac- cidentally mentioned a minifter of ſtate, he commanded me fome time after to inform him, "what fpecies of Ta- hoo I particularly meant by that appellation." I told him," that a firft or chief minister of ftate, who was the perſon I intended to defcribe, was a creature. wholly exempt from joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger; at leaſt, makes ufe of no other paffions, but a violent defire of wealth, power, and titles; that he applies his words to all ufes, 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 defign that you ſhould take it for a truth; that thofe he ſpeaks worth of behind their backs, are in the fureft way of preferment; and whenever he begins to praiſe you to others, or to yourself, you are from that day forlorn. The worst mark you can receive is a promiſe, eſpecially when it is confirm- ed with an oath; after which, every wife man retires, and gives over all hopes. "There are three methods, by which a man may rife to be chief minifter. The firft is, by knowing how, with prudence, to difpoſe of a wife, a daughter, or a fifter: the fecond, by betraying or undermining his predeceffor: and the third is, by a furious zeal in public affemblics, againſt the corruptions of the court. But a wife prince would ra- Y S 246 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ther chooſe to employ thoſe who practiſe the laſt of theſe methods; becauſe fuch zealots prove always the moſt ob- fequious and fubfervient to the will and paffions of their mafter. That thefe minifters, having all employments at their diſpoſal, preferve 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 de- fcribed the nature to him) they fecure themſelves from after reckonings, and retire from the public laden with the fpoils of the nation. "The palace of chief minifter is a feminary to breed up others in his own trade: the pages, lackeys, and porter, by imitating their mafter, become minifters of flate in their feveral diftricts, and learn to excel in the three prin- cipal ingredients, of infolence, lying, and bribery. Ac- cordingly they have a fubaltern court paid to them by per- fons of the beſt rank; and fometimes, by the force of dex- terity and impudence, arrive, through feveral gradations, to be fucceffors to their lord. T "He is ufually governed by a decayed wench, or fa- vourite footman, who are the tunnels through which all graces are conveyed, and may properly be called, in the laft refort, the governors of the kingdom." One day in difcourfe, my mafter, having heard me men- tion the nobility of my country, was pleafed to make me a compliment, which I could not pretend to deferve: "that he was fure I muſt have been born of fome noble fa- mily, becauſe I far exceeded in fhape, colour, and cleanli- nefs, all the Yaboos of his nation, although I feemed to fail in ftrength and agility, which must be imputed to my different way of living from thofe other brutes; and be- fides, I was not only endowed with the faculty of ſpeech, but likewife with fome rudiments of reafon, to a degree, that with all his acquaintance I pafled for a prodigy.' 缠 ​He made me obferve," that, among the Houyhnhnms, the white, the forrel, and the iron-grey, were not fo ex- actly fhaped as the bay, the dapple-grey, and the black; nor born with equal talents of mind, or a capacity to im- prove them; and therefore continued always in the condi- tion of ſervants, without ever afpiring to match out of A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS, 247 their own race, which in that country would be reckoned monstrous and unnatural." I made his honour my most humble acknowledgments for the good opinion he was pleaſed to conceive of me; but affured him at the fame time," that "that my birth was of the lower fort, having been born of plain honeft parents, who were juft able to give me a tolerable education: that no- bility, among us, was altogether a different thing from the idea he had of it; that our young noblemen are bred from their childhood in idleness and luxury; that as foon as years will permit, they confume their vigour, and con- tract odious diſeaſes among lewd females; and when their fortunes are almoft ruined, they marry fome woman of mean birth, diſagreeable perfon, and unfound conſtitution, (merely for the fake of money) whom they hate and de- ipite. That the productions of fuch marriages, are gene- rally ſcrofulous, ricketty, or deformed children; by which means the family feldom continues above three genera- tions, unless the wife takes care to provide a healthy fa- ther, among her neighbours or domeftics, in order to im- prove and continue the breed. That a weak diſeaſed body, a meagre countenance, and fallow complexion, are the true marks of noble blood; and a healthy robuſt appear- ance is fo difgraceful in a man of quality, that the world concludes his real father to have been a groom, or a coach- man. The imperfections of his mind, run parallel with thofe of his body, being a compulition of fpleen, dulnefs, ignorance, caprice, fenfuality, and pride. Without the confent of this illuftrious body, no law can be enacted, repealed, or altered: and thefe nobles have likewiſe the decifion of all our poffeffions, without appeal." 248 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: CHAP. VII. THE AUTHOR'S GREAT LOVE OF HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. HIS MASTER'S OBSERVATIONS UPON THE CONSTITU- TION AND ADMINISTRATION OF ENGLAND, AS DE- SCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, WITH PARALLEL CASES AND COMPARISONS. HIS MASTER'S OBSERVATIONS UPON HUMAN NATURE. THE reader may be difpofed to wonder, how I could pre- vail on myſelf to give fo free a reprefentation of my own fpecies, among a race of mortals, who are already too apt to conceive the vileft opinion of human kind, from that entire congruity between me and their Taboos. But I mult freely confefs, that the many virtues of thofe excellent quadrupeds, placed in oppofite view to human corruptions, had fo far opened my eyes, and enlarged my underſtand- ing, 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, befides, it was impoffible for me to do, before a perfon of fo acute a judg- ment as my mafter, who daily convinced me of a thouſand faults in myſelf, whereof I had not the leaſt perception be- fore, and which, with us, would never be numbered even among human infirmities. I had likewife learned, from his example, an utter deteſtation of all falſehood or diſguiſe; and truth appeared fo amiable to me, 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 yet been a year in this country, before I contracted fuch a love and veneration for the inhabitants, that I entered on a firm refolution, never to return to humankind, but to paſs the rest of my life among thefe admirable Houyhnhnms, in the contemplation and practice of every virtue; where I could have no example or incitement to vice. But it was decreed by fortune, my perpetual enemy, that fo great a felicity fhould not fall to my fhare. However, it is now fome comfort to reflect, that in what I faid of my country- A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 249 men, I extenuated their faults, as much as I durft before fo ftrict an examiner; and upon every article gave as fa- vourable a turn, as the matter would bear. For indeed, who is there alive, that will not be fwayed by his bias and partiality to the place of his birth? I have related the fubftance of feveral converfations I had with my maſter, during the greateſt part of the time [ had the honour to be in his fervice; but have indeed, for brevity fake, omitted much more than is here fet down. When I had anſwered all his queſtions, and his curioſity feemed to be fully fatisfied, he fent for me one morning early, and commanded me to fit down at fome diſtance (an honour which he had never before conferred upon me.) He ſaid "he had been very ſeriouſly confidering my whole ftory, as far as it related both to myfelf and my country: that he looked upon us as a fort of animals, to whoſe share, by what accident he could not conjecture, ſome ſmall pittance of reafon had fallen, whereof we made no other ufe, than by its affiftance to aggravate our natural corrup- tions, and to acquire new ones, which nature had not given that we difarmed ourfelves of the few abilities ſhe had beſtowed; had been very fuccefsful in multiplying our original wants, and feemed to fpend our whole lives in vain endeavours, to fupply them by our own inventions. That as to myfelf, it was manifeft I had neither the Atrength nor agility of a common Taboo; that I walked in- firmly on my hinder feet; had found out a contrivance to make my claws of no ufe or defence, and to remove the hair from my chin, which was intended as a ſhelter from the fun and the weather. Lastly, that I could neither run with ſpeed, nor climb trees like my brethren," as he called them, "the Yahoos in his country. "That our inftitutions of government and law, were plainly owing to our grofs defects in reafon, and by confe- quence in virtue; becaufe reafon alone is fufficient to go- vern a rational creature, which was therefore a character we had no pretence to challenge, even from the account I had given of my own pcople; although he manifeftly per- ceived, that in order to favour them, I had concealed ma- ny particulars, and often ſaid the thing which was not. 250 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: "He was the more confirmed in this opinion, becaufe he obſerved, that as I agreed in every feature of my body with other raboos, except where it was to my real difad- vantage in point of ſtrength, ſpeed, and activity, the fhort- nefs of my claws, and fome other particulars where nature had no part; fo from the reprefentation I had given him of our lives, our manners, and our actions, he found as near a refemblance in the difpofition of our minds." He faid, "the raboos were known to hate one another, more than they did any different fpecies of animals; and the reaſon ufually affigned was, the odioufnefs of their own shapes, which all could fee in the reſt, but not in themſelves. He had therefore begun to think it not unwife in us to cover our bodies, and by that invention conceal many of our de- formities from each other, which would elfe be hardly fup- portable. But he now found he had been miſtaken, and that the diffenfions of thofe brutes in his country, were owing to the fame caufe with ours, as I had deſcribed them. For if," faid he, " you throw among five Yaboos, as much food as would be fufficient for fifty, they will, in- ftead of cating peaceably, fall together by the ears, each fingle one impatient to have all to itſelf: and therefore a fervant was uſually employed to ſtand by, while they were feeding abroad, and thoſe kept at home were tied at a dif- tance from each other: that if a cow died of age or acci- dent, before a Houyhnhnmn could fecure it for his own Ya- boos, thofe in the neighbourhood would come in herds to feize it, and then would enfue fuch a battle as I had de- fcribed, with terrible wounds made by their claws on both fides, although they feldom were able to kill one another, for want of fuch convenient inftruments of death, as we had invented. At other times, the like battles have been fought between the Yaboos of feveral neighbourhoods, without any visible caufe: thofe of one diftrict, watching all opportunities to furpriſe the next, before they are pre- pared. But if they find their project has mifcarried, they return home, and for want of enemies, engage in what I call a civil war among themselves. "That in fome fields of his country there are certain ſhining ſtones of ſeveral colours, whereof the Yaboos are vio- are A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 251 lently fond; and when part of thefe ftones is fixed in the earth, as it fometimes happens, 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 looking round with great caution, for fear their comrades ſhould find out their treaſure." My mafter faid," he could never diſcover the reafon of this unnatural appetite, or how thefe ftones could be of any ufe to a Taboo; but now he believed it might proceed from the fame principle of ava- rice, which I had afcribed to mankind: that he had once, by way of experiment, privately removed a heap of thefe ftones from the place, where one of his raboos had buried it: whereupon the fordid animal, miffing his treaſure, by his loud lamenting, brought the whole herd to the place, there miferably howled, then fell to biting and tearing the reft; began to pine away, would neither eat, nor fleep, nor work, till he ordered a fervant privately to con- vey the ſtones into the fame hole, and hide them as be- fore; which, when his Taboo had found, he preſently re- covered his ſpirits, and good humour, but took care to re- move them to a better hiding-place, and has ever ſince been a very ferviceable brute." My matter farther affured me, which I alſo obſerved myſelf," that in the fields where the fhining ftones abound, the fiercest and moſt frequent battles are fought, occaſion- ed by perpetual inroads of the neighbouring Taboos.” He faid, "it was common, when two Taboos diſcovered ſuch a ſtone in a field, and were contending which of them ſhould be the proprietor, a third would take the ad- vantage, and carry it away from them both;" which my mafter would needs contend to have fome kind of refem- blance with our fuits at law; wherein I thought it for our credit not to undeceive him; fince the deciſion he mention- ed, was much more equitable, than many decrees among us; because the plaintiff and defendant there, loſt nothing befide the flone they contended for, whereas our courts of equity would never have difmiffed the cauſe, while either of them had any thing left. My mafter continuing his diſcourſe faid, " there was no- thing that rendered the Yaboos more odious, than their 252 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: undiſtinguiſhing appetite to devour every thing that came in their way, whether herbs, roots, berries, the corrupted fleſh of animals, or all mingled together: and it was pe- culiar in their temper, that they were fonder of what they could get by rapine or ſtealth, at a greater diftance, 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 root, that gave them a general evacuation. "There was alſo another kind of root, very juicy, but fomewhat rare and difficult to be found, which the Yahoos fought for with much eagerness, and would fuck it with great delight; it produced in them the fame effects, that wine has upon us. It would make them fometimes hug, and ſometimes tear one another; they would howl and grin, and chatter, and reel, and tumble, and then fall afleep in the mud.' I did indeed obferve, that the Taboos were the only ani- mals in this country, fubject to any diſeaſes; which, how ever, were much fewer than horfes have among us, and · contracted not by any ill treatment they meet with, but by the naftiness, and greedinefs of that fordid brute. Nei- ther has their language any more than a general appella- tion for thofe maladies, which is borrowed from the name of the beaſt, and called buea-yaboo, or Yaboo's evil; and the cure prefcribed is a mixture of their own dung and urine, forcibly put down the Taboo's throat. This I have fince often known to have been taken with fuccefs, and do here freely recommend it to my countrymen, for the public good, as an admirable ſpecific againſt all diſeaſes produced by repletion. As to learning, government, arts, manufactures, and the like," my mafter confefled," he could find little or no refemblance between the Taboos of that country, and thofe in ours. For he only meant to obſerve, what parity there was in our natures. He had heard indeed, fome curious Houyhnhnms obferve, that in moſt herds there was a fort of ruling Taboo (as among us there is generally fome leading or principal flag in a park) who was always more'deformed in body, and mischievous in difpofition, than any of the A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 259 reft. That this leader had uſually a favourite as like him- felf as he could get, whofe employment was to lick his maſter's feet and pofteriors, and drive the female raboos to his kennel;t for which he was now and then rewarded with a piece of afs' flesh. This favourite is hated by the whole herd, and therefore, to protect himself, keeps al- ways near the perfon of his leader. He ufually continues in office, till a worſe can be found; but the very moment he is difcarded, his fucceffor, at the head of all the ra- boos in that diftrict, young and old, male and female, come in a body, and difcharge their excrements upon him from head to foot. But how far this might be applicable to our courts, and favourites, and minifters of late, my mafter faid I could beſt determine." I durft make no return to this malicious infinuation, which debaſed human understanding below the fagacity of a common hound, who has judgment enough to distinguiſh and follow the cry of the ableft dog in the pack, without being ever miſtaken. My mafter told me, "there were fome qualities remark- able in the raboos, which he had not obſerved me to inen- tion, or at leaſt very ſlightly, in the accounts I had given him of human kind." He faid, "thofe animals, like other brutes, had their females in common; but in this they dif fered, that the the Taboo would admit the males, while ſhe was pregnant; and that the hes would quarrel and fight with the females, as fiercely as with each other. Both which practices, were fuch degrees of infamous bru- tality as no other fenfitive creature ever arrived at. "Another thing he wondered at in the Taboos, was their Z † Flattery and pimping. H. This fentence is altogether ungrammatical : "his fuc- cellor," is the only nominative to the plural verb "come;" it may be thus amended-" but the very moment he is difcarded, all the yahoos in that diſtrict, young and old, male and female, with his fucceffor at their head; come in a body," &c. S. 254 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ftrange difpofition to naftiness and dirt; whereas there ap- pears to be a natural love of cleanlinefs, in all other ani- mals." As to the two former accufations, I was glad to let them pafs without any reply, becauſe I had not a word to offer upon them in defence of my fpecies, which other- wife I certainly had done from my own inclinations. But I could have eaſily vindicated human kind from the impu- tation of fingularity upon the laſt article, if there had been any fwine in that country, (as unluckily for me there were not) which, although it may be a fweeter quadruped than a Taboo, cannot, I humbly conceive, in juftice, pretend to more cleanlineſs; and fo his honour himſelf muſt have owned, if he had feen their filthy way of feeding, and their cuſtom of wallowing and fleeping in the mud. My maſter likewife mentioned another quality, which his fervants had difcovered in feveral Taboos, and to him was wholly unaccountable. He faid "a fancy would fome- times take a Taboo to retire into a corner, to lie down, and howl and groan, and fpurn away all that came near him, although he were young and fat, wanted neither food nor water nor did the fervant imagine what could poſſibly ail him. And the only remedy they found was, to fet him to hard work, after which he would infallibly come to him- felf." To this I was filent out of partiality to my own kind; yet here I could plainly diſcover the true feeds of fpleen, which only fcizes on the lazy, the luxurious, and the rich; who, if they were forced to undergo the ſame regimen, I would undertake for the cure. His honour had farther obferved, "that a female Taboo would often ftand behind a bank or a bufh, to gaze on the young males paffing by, and then appear, and hide, uſing many antic gestures and grimaces, at which time it was obſerved that ſhe had a moſt offenſive ſmell; and when any of the males advanced, would flowly retire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit fhow of fear, run off into fome convenient place, where he knew the male would follow her. Here the word " who," is a nominative without re- ference to any verb afterwards. S. ง A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 255 "At other times, if a female ftranger came among them, three or four of her own fex would get about her, and ſtare, and chatter, and grin, and ſmell her all over; and then turn off with geftures, that feemed to exprefs contempt and diſdain.” Perhaps my mafter might refine a little in theſe ſpecula- tions, which he had drawn from what he obſerved himſelf, or had been told him by others; however i could not re- flect, without fome amazement, and much forrow, that the rudiments of lewdnefs, coquetry, cenfure, and ſcandal, fhould have place by inſtinct in womankind. I expected every moment, that my mafter would accufe the raboos of thofe unnatural appetites in both fexes, fo common among us. But Nature, it ſeems, has not been fo expert a fchool-mittrefs; and thefe politer pleaſures are entirely the productions of Art and Reafon on our fide of the globe. CHAP. VIII. THE AUTHOR RELATES SEVERAL PARTICULARS OF THE YAHOOS. THE GREAT VIRTUES OF THE HOUYHN- THE EDUCATION AND EXERCISE OF THEIR THEIR GENERAL ASSEMBLY. HNMS. YOUTH. AS S I ought to have underſtood human nature much bet- ter, than I fuppofed it poflible for my mafter to do, ſo it was easy to apply the character he gave of the Taboos to myfelf, and my countrymen; and 1 believed I could yet make farther diſcoveries, from my own obfèrvation. therefore often begged his honour to let me go among the herds of Taboos in the neighbourhood; to which he always very graciouſly confented, being perfectly convinced, that the hatred I bore thefe brutes, would never fuffer me to be. corrupted by them; and his honour ordered one of his fer- vants, a strong forrel nag, very honeſt and good-natured, to be my guard; without whofe protection I durſt not un- dertake fuch adventures. For I have already told the reader, how much I was peltered by thefe odious animals, Z 2 256 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: upon my first arrival: and I afterward failed very narrowly three or four times of falling into their clutches, when. I happened to ftray at any diftance without my hanger. And I have reafon to believe they had ſome imagination that I was of their own fpecies, which I often affifted myſelf, by ftripping up my fleeves, and fhowing my naked arms and breaft in their fight, 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 figns of hatred; as a tame jackdaw with cap and stockings is always perfecuted by the wild ones, when he happens to be got among them. They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy. How- ever, I once caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured by all marks of tenderneſs to make it quiet; but the little imp fell a fqualling, and feratching, and biting with fuch violence, that I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old ones came about us at the noiſe, but finding the cub was fafe (for away it ran) and my forrel nag being by, they durft not ven- ture near us. 1 obferved the young animal's flesh to finell very rank; and the ftink was fomewhat between a weafel and a fox, but much more difagreeable. I forgot another circumftance, (and perhaps I might have the reader's par- don, if it were wholly omitted) that while I held the odi- ous vermine in my hands, it voided its filthy excrements of a yellow liquid fubftance all over my clothes; but by good fortune there was a ſmall brook hard by, where I waſhed myfelf as clean as I could; although I durft not come into my mafter's prefence, until I were fufficiently aired. By what I could difcover, the Taboos appear to be the moft unteachable of all animals; their capacities never reaching higher than to draw or carry burdens. Yet I am of opinion, this defect rifes chiefly from a perverſe, ref- tive difpofition. For they are cunning, malicious, treache- rous, and revengeful. They are ſtrong and hardy, but of a cowardly fpirit, and by confequence infolent, abject, and cruel. It is obferved, that the red haired of both fexes, are more libidinous and mifchievous than the reft, whom yet they much exceed in ftrength and activity. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 257 The Houyhnhnms keep the Taboos for preſent ufe in huts not far from the houſe; but the reſt are fent abroad to cer- tain fields, where they dig up roots, eat feveral kinds of herbs, and fearch about for carrion, or fometimes catch weafels and lubimubs (a fort of wild rat) which they greedi ly devour. Nature has taught them to dig deep holes with their nails on the fide of a rifing ground, wherein they lie by themſelves; only the kennels of the females are larger, fufficient to hold two or three cubs. They fwim 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 entreated him to let me bathe in a river that was near. He conſented, and I im- mediately tripped myſelf ſtark naked, and went down foftly into the Itream. It happened that a young fenile Taboo, ftanding behind a bank, faw the whole proceeding, and enflamed by defire, as the nag and I conjectured, came running with all fpeed, and leaped into the water within five yards of the place where I bathed. I was never in my life fo terribly frightened. The nag was grazing at fome distance, not fufpecting any harm. She embraced me after a moſt fulfome manner. I roared as loud as I could, and the nag came galloping towards me, whereupon fhe quitted her grafp with the utmolt reluctancy, and leaped upon the op- polite bank, where he too gazing and howling all the time I was putting on my clothes. This was a matter of diverfion to my mafter and his fa- mily, as well as of mortification to myfelf. For now, I could no longer deny that I was a real Taboo in every limb apd feature, fince the females had a natural propenlity to me, as one of their own fpecies: neither was the hair of this brute of a red colour, (which might have been fome excufe for an appetite a little irregular) but black as a flot, and her countenance did not make an appearance alto- gether fo hideous, as the reit of her kind; for I think, the could not be above eleven years old. Z 3 258 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: } * Having lived three years in this country, the reader I fuppofe will expect that I should, like other travellers, give him fome account of the manners and cuſtoms of its in- habitants, which it was indeed my principal ſtudy to learn. As thefe noble Houyhnhnms are endowed by nature with a general difpofition to all virtues, and have no conceptions or ideas of what is evil in a rational creature; fo their grand maxim is, to cultivate reaſon, and to be wholly go- verned by it. Neither is reafon among them a point pro- blematical, as with us, where men can argue with plaufi- bility on both fides of the question; but strikes you with immediate conviction; as it muſt needs do, where it is not mingled, obſcured, or difcoloured, by paffion and intereſt. I remember it was with extreme difficulty, that I could bring my mafter to underſtand the meaning of the word opinion, or how a point could be difputable; becauſe reaſon taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do either. So that controverfies, wranglings, diſputes, and poſitiveneſs, in falfe or dubious propofitions, are evils unknown among the Houyhnhnms. In the like manner, when I ufed to explain to him our feveral ſyſtems of natural philofophy, he would laugh, "that a creature pretending to reaſon, ſhould value itfelf upon the knowledge of other people's conjectures, and in things where that knowledge, if it were certain, could be of no ufe." Wherein he agreed entirely with the fentiments of Socrates, as Plato delivers them; which I mention as the highest honour I can do that prince of phi- lofophers. I have often fince reflected, what deſtruction fuch doctrine would make in the libraries of Europe; and how many paths of fame would be then fhut up in the learned world. Friendſhip and benevolence are the two principal virtues among the Houyhnhnms and thefe, not confined to par- ticular objects, but univerfal to the whole race. For a ftranger from the remoteſt part, is equally treated with the nearest neighbour; and wherever he goes, looks upon himfelf as at home. They preferve decency, and civility in the highest degrees, but are altogether ignorant of cere- Grany. They have no fondness for their colts or foals, A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 259 but the care they take in educating them proceeds entirely from the dictates of reafon. And I obferved my maſter to ſhow the ſame affection to his neighbour's iffue, that he had for his own. They will have it that nature teaches them to love the whole fpecies, and it is reaſon only that makes a diſtinction of perfons, where there is a ſuperior degree of virtue. When the matron Houyhnhnms have produced one of each fex, they no longer accompany with their conforts, except they lof one of their iffue by fome cafualty, which very feldom happens: but in fuch a caſe they meet again; or when the like accident befals a perſon whoſe wife is paſt bearing, fome other couple beflow on him one of their own colts, and then go together again until the mother is pregnant. This caution is neceffary to prevent the country from being overburdened with numbers. But the race of inferior Houyhnhnms, bred up to be fervants, is not fo ftrictly limited upon this article; theſe are allowed to produce three of each fex, to be domeſtics in the noble families. In their marriages, they are exactly careful to chooſe fuch colours, as will not make any diſagreeable mixture in the breed. Strength is chiefly valued in the male, and comelineſs in the female; not upon the account of love, but to preſerve the race from degenerating; for where a female happens to excel in ftrength, a confort is chofen with regard to comeliness. Courtship, love, prefents, jointures, fettlements, have no place in their thoughts; or terms whereby to expreſs them in their language. The young couple meet and are joined, merely because it is the determination of their pa- rents and friends: it is what they fee done every day, and they look upon it as one of the neceflary actions of a rea- fonable being. But the violation of marriage, or any other unchastity, was never heard of: and the married pair pafs their lives with the fame friendſhip, and mutual benero- lence, that they bear to all others of the fame fpecies, who come in their way; without jealoufy, fondness, quar- relling, or difcontent. In educating the youth of both fexes, their method is 260 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: admirable, and highly deſerves our imitation. Theſe are not fuffered to taste a grain of oats, except upon certain days, till eighteen years old; nor milk, but very rarely; and in fummer they graze two hours in the morning, and as many in the evening, which their parents likewife ob- ferve; but the fervants are not allowed above half that time, and a great part of their grafs is brought home, which they eat at the most convenient hours, when they can be beft fpared from work. Temperance, induſtry, exercife, and cleanliness, are the deffons equally enjoined to the young ones of both fexes: and my maſter thought it monftrous in us, to give the fe- males a different kind of education from the males, except in fome articles of domeſtic management; whereby, as he truly obferved, 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 fuch uſelefs animals, he faid, was yet a greater inſtance of brutality. But the Houyhnhnms train up their youth to ftrength, ſpeed, and hardineſs, by exerciling them in running races up and down steep hills, and over hard ftony 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 fhow their proficiency in running and leaping, and other feats of ſtrength and agili- ty; where the victor is rewarded, with a ſong in his or her praife. On this feftival, the fervants drive a herd of Ta- boos into the field, laden with hay, and oats, and milk, for a repait to the Houyhnhnms; after which, thefe brutes are immediately driven back again, for fear of being noiſome to the affembly. Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there is a re-. prefentative council of the whole nation, which meets in a plain about twenty miles from our houfe, and continues about five or fix days. Here they inquire into the ftate and condition of the ſeveral diſtricts; whether they abound, or be deficient in hay or oats, or cows, or Taboos? and wherever there is any want, (which is but feldom) it is immediately ſupplied by unanimous confent and contribu- tion. Here likewife the regulation of children is ſettled : as for inftance, if a Houyhnhnm has two males, he changes A A VOYAGE TO THE HOU YHNHNMS. 261 one of them with another that has two females: and when a child has been loft by any cafualty, where the mother is paft breeding, it is determined what family in the dif trict ſhall breed another to fupply the lofs. CHAP. IX. A GRAND DEBATE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF. THE HOUYINшNMS, AND HOW IT WAS DETERMINED. THE LEARNING OF THE HOUYHNIN MS. THEIR BUILD- INGS. THEIR MANNER OF BURIALS. THE DEFECTIVE- NESS OF THEIR LANGUAGE. ONE of theſe grand affemblies was held in my time, about three months before my departure, whither my maſter went as the reprefentative of our diſtrict. In this council was refumed their old debate, and indeed the only debate that ever happened in their country; whereof my master, after his return, gave me a very particular account. The queftion to be debated was, "whether the Taboos fhould be exterminated from the face of the earth?" One of the members for the affirmative, offered feveral argu- ments of great ftrength and weight; alleging, "that as the raboos were the moſt filthy, noifome, and deformed animal, which nature ever produced, fo they were the moſt reftive and indocible, mifchievous and malicious: they would privately fuck the teats of the Houyhnhnms' cows; kill and devour their cats, trample down their oats and grafs, if they were not continually watched, and commit a thouſand other extravagancies." He took notice of a general tradition, "that Taboos 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 upon corrupted mud and flime, or from the ooze and froth of the fea, was never known that thefe Yahoos engendered, and their brood, in a fhort time, grew fo numerous, as to overrun and infeft the whole na- tion; that the Houybubums, to get rid of this evil, made a general hunting, and at laſt incloſed the whole herd; and 262 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: destroying the elder, every Houyhnhnm kept two young ones in a kennel, and brought them to fuch a degree of tameneſs, as an animal, fo favage by nature, can be capa- ble of acquiring; ufing them for draught and carriage: that there feemed to be much truth in this tradition, and that thoſe creatures could not be ylnbniamſby or (aborigines of the land) becauſe of the violent hatred the Houyhnhnms, as well as all other animals, bore them; which, although their evil difpofition fufficiently deferved, could never have arrived at ſo high a degree, if they had been aborigines; or elfe they would have long fince been rooted out: that the inhabitants, taking a fancy to uſe the ſervice of the Yahoos, had very imprudently neglected to cultivate the breed of affes, which are a comely animal, eafily kept, more tame and orderly, without any offenfive fmell, ftrong enough for labour, although they yield to the other in agility of body; and if their braying be no agreeable found, it is far preferable to the horrible howlings of the Taboos. Several others declared their fentiments to the fame pur- pofe, when my mafter propofed an expedient to the af- fembly, whereof he had indeed borrowed the hint from me. "He approved of the tradition mentioned by the ho- nourable member, who ſpoke before; and affirmed, that the two laboos, ſaid to be firſt ſeen among them, had been driven thither over the fea; that coming to land, and bo- ing forfaken by their companions, they retired to the mountains, and degenerating by degrees, became in pro- ceſs of time much more favage, than thoſe of their own fpecies in the country whence thefe two originals came. The reafon of this affertion was, that he had now in his poffeffion a certain wonderful Yahoo, (meaning_myſelf) which most of them had heard of, and many of them had feen. He then related to them, how he firſt found me; that my body was all covered with an artificial compoſure 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 faw 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 en- ; A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS, 263 deavoured to perfuade him, that in my own and other countries, the Taboos acted as the governing, rational ani- mal, and held the Houyhnhnms in fervitude: that he ob- ferved in me all the qualities of a Yahoo, only a little more civilized by fome tincture of reafon; which however was in a degree as far inferior to the Houyhnhnm race, as the Yahoos of their country were to me: that among other things, I mentioned a cuſtom we had of caftrating Houyhn- Enms when they were young, in order to render them tame; that the operation was eaſy and ſafe; that it was no ſhame to learn wifdom from brutes, as induftry is taught by the ant. and building by the ſwallow, (for ſo I tranſ- late the word lybannh, although it be a much larger fowl;) that this invention might be practifed upon the younger Yaboos here, which, befide rendering them tractable and fitter for uſe, would in an age put an end to the whole fpe- cies, without deſtroying life: that in the mean time the Houyhubnms thould be exhorted to cultivate the breed of afles, which as they are in all refpects more valuable brutes, fo they have this advantage, to be fit for ſervice at five years old, which the others are not till twelve.” This was all my mafter thought fit to tell me at that time, of what paffed in the grand council. But he was pleaſed to conceal one particular, which related perfonally to myſelf, whereof I foon felt the unhappy effect, as the reader will know in its proper place, and whence I date all the fucceeding misfortunes of my life. The Houyhnhums have no letters, and confequently their knowledge is all traditional. But there happening few events of any moment among a people fo well united, na- turally difpofed to every virtue, wholly governed by reafon, and cut off from all commerce with other nations; the hif- torical part is eaſily preferved, without burdening their memories. I have already obferved that they are fubject to no difeafes, and therefore can have no need of phyficians. However, they have excellent medicines compofed of herbs, to cure accidental bruiſes and cuts in the paſtern or frog of the foot, by fharp 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 264 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: the moon, but uſe no fubdivifions into weeks. They are well enough acquainted with the motions of thofe two lu- minaries, and underſtand the nature of eclipfes; and this is the utmoſt progrefs of their aftronomy. In poetry they muſt be allowed to excel all other mor- tals; wherein the juftness of their fimiles, and the minute- nefs as well as exactness of their defcriptions, are indeed inimitable. Their verfes abound very much in both of thefe; and uſually contain either fome exalted notions of friendſhip and benevolence, or the praiſes of thoſe, who were victors in races, and other bodily exercifes. Their buildings, although very rude and ſimple, are not incon- venient, but well contrived to defend them from all inju- ries of cold and heat. They have a kind of tree, which, at forty years old, Icofens in the root, and falls with the firſt ſtorm; it grows very ſtraight, and being pointed like ftakes, with a harp ftone (for the Houyhnhnms know not the uſe of iron) they flick them erect in the ground, about ten inches afunder, and then weave in oat-ftraw, or ſome- times wattles between them. The roof is made after the fame manner, and fo are the doors. The Houyhubums ufe the hollow part, between the paſ tern and the hoof of their forefeet, as we do our hands, and this with greater dexterity than I could at firſt imagine. I have feen a white mare of our family thread a needle (which I lent her on purpoſe) with that joint They milk their cows, reap their oats, and do all the work which re- quires hands, in the fame manner. They have a kind of hard flints, which, by grinding against other ſtones, they form into inftruments, that ferve inſtead of wedges, axes, and hammers. With tools made of theſe flints, they like- wife cut their hay, and reap their oats, which there grow naturally in feveral fields: the Yaboos draw home the heaves in carriages, and the fervants 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 fun. If they can avoid cafualties, they die only of old age, and are buried in the obfcureſt places that can be found, their friends and relations expreffing neither joy nor grief at A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 265 their departure; nor does the dying perfon diſcover the leaſt regret that he is leaving the world, any more than if he were upon returning home from a viſit to one of his neigh- hours. I remember my mafter having once made an ap- pointment with a friend and his family to come to his houſe, upon ſome affair of importance; on the day fixed, the miſtreſs and her two children came very late; he made two excufes, firft for her huſband, who, as the faid, hap- pened that very morning to lbnurunh. The word is ftrong- ly expreffive in their language, but not easily rendered into English; it fignifies, " to retire to his first mother." Her excufe for not coming fooner was, that her huſband dying Vate in the morning, fhe was a good while confulting her fervants about a convenient place where his body ſhould be Jaid; and I obferved, he behaved herfelf at our houſe, as cheerfully as the reft; fhe died about three months after. They live generally to feventy, or feventy-five years, very feldom to fourfcore: fome weeks before their death, they feel a gradual decay; but without pain. During this time they are much visited by their friends, becauſe they cannot go abroad with their ufual eafe and fatisfaction. However, about ten days before their death, which they feldom fail in computing, they return the vifits that have been made them by thofe, who are neareſt in the neigh- bourhood, being carried in a convenient fledge drawn by Taboos; which vehicle they uſe, not only upon this occa- fion, but when they grow old, upon long journies, or when they are lamed by any accident. And therefore when the dying Houyhubams return thofe vifits, they take a folemn leave of their friends, as if they were going to ſome re- mote part of the country, where they defigned to paſs the reſt of their lives. I know not whether it may be worth obferving, that the Houyhubums have no word in their language to exprefs any thing that is evil, except what they borrow from the deformities, or ill qualities of the Taboo Thus they de- riote the folly of a fervant, an omiffion of a child, a ſtone that cuts their feet, a continuance of foul or unſeaſonable weather, and the like, by adding to each the epithet of Faboo. For inftance, Lham Taboo, webnaholm Yaboo, yılham- A a 266 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: dwihlma Yahoo, and an ill contrived houſe, ynholmbnmrohlnw Yaboo. I could, with great pleaſure, enlarge farther upon the manners and virtues of this excellent people; but intend- ing in a ſhort time to publiſh a volume by itſelf, expreſsly upon that fubject, I refer the reader thither. And in the mean time, proceed to relate my own ſad cataſtrophe. CHAP. X. THE AUTHOR'S ECONOMY, AND HAPPY LIFE, AMONG THE HOUYHN HNMS. HIS GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN VIRTUE BY CONVERSING WITH THEM. THEIR CON- VERSATIONS. THE AUTHOR HAS NOTICE GIVEN HIM BY HIS MASTER, THAT HE MUST DEPART FROM THE COUNTRY. HE FALLS INTO A SWOON FOR GRIEF; HE CONTRIVES AND FINISHES A CA- HELP OF A FELLOW-SERVANT, PUTS TO SEA AT A VENTURE. BUT SUBMITS. NOE BY THE AND I HAD fettled my little economy to my own heart's con- tent. My mafter had ordered a room to be made for me, after their manner, about fix yards from the houſe; the fides and floors of which I plaſtered with clay, and covered with rufh-mats of my own contriving; I had beaten hemp, which there grows wild, and made of it a fort of ticking; this I filled with the feathers of feveral birds I had taken with fprings made of Taboo's hairs, and † were excellent food. I had worked two chairs with my knife, the forrel nag helping me in the groffer and more laborious part. When my clothes were worn to rags, I made myſelf others ↑ It should be,-and "which" were excellent food. This fentence is faulty in other reſpects, but there, as well as in many other paffages of thefe voyages, the author has intentionally made ufe of inaccurate expreffion, and ſtudied negligence, in order to make the ftyle more like that of a feafaring man; on which account they have been paſſed over in filence, where fuch intention was obvious. S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 267 with the ſkins of rabbits, and of a certain beautiful animal, about the ſame ſize, called nnubnob, the ſkin of which is covered with a fine down. Of thefe I alfo made very tolera- ble ſtockings. I foled my fhoes with wood, which I cut from a tree, and fitted to the upper-leather; and when this was worn out, I fupplied it with the fkins of Yahoos dried in the fun. I often got honey out of hollow trees, which I mingled with water, or eat with my bread. No man could more verify the truth of thefe two maxims, "That nature is very eaſily fatisfied;" and, " That ne- ceffity is the mother of invention." I enjoyed perfect health of body, and tranquillity of mind; I did not feel the treachery or inconftancy of a friend, nor the injuries of a fecret or open enemy. I had no occafion of bribing, flat- tering, or pimping, to procure the favour of any great man, or of his minion. I wanted no fence 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 actions, or forge accufations against me for hire here were no gibers, cenfurers, backbiters, pickpockets, highwaymen, houfebreakers, attornies, bawds, buffoons, gameſters, politicians, wits, fplenetics, tedious talkers controvertiſts, raviſhers, murderers, robbers, vir- tuofoes; no leaders, or followers, of party and faction; no encouragers to vice, by feducement or examples; no dungeon, axes, gibbets, whipping-pofts, or pillories; no cheating ſhopkeepers or mechanics; no pride, vanity, or affectation; no fops, bullies, drunkards, ftrolling whores, or poxes; no ranting, lewd, expenſive wives; no ſtupid, proud pedants; no importunate, overbearing, quarrel- fome, noily, roaring, empty, conceited, fwearing compa- nions; no fcoundrels raited from the duft upon the merit of their vices, or nobility thrown into it, on account of their virtues; no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing mafters. • I had the favour of being admitted to feveral Houybn- bums, who came to vifit or dine with my maſter; where his honour gracioully fuffered me to wait in the room, and liften to their difcourfe. Both he and his company would often defcend to afk me queftions, and receive my anſwers. I had alfo fometimes the honour of attending my mafter A 22 268 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: * in his vifits to others. I never prefumed to fpeak, except in anſwer to a question; and then I did it with inward re- gret, becauſe it was a lofs of ſo much time for improving myfelf: but I was infinitely delighted with the ſtation of an humble auditor in fuch converfations, where nothing paffed but what was uſeful, expreffed in the feweſt and moft fignificant words: where, as I have already ſaid, the greatest decency was obferved, without the leaft degree of ceremony; where no perfon fpoke without being pleaſed himfelf, and pleafing his companions; where there was no interruption, tediouſneſs, heat, or difference of fentiments. They have a notion, that when people are met together, a ſhort filence does much improve converfation: this I found to be true; for, during thoſe little intermiffions of talk, new ideas would arife in their minds, which very much. enlivened the difcourfe. Their fubjects are generally on friendſhip and benevolence, on order and economy; fome- times upon the viſible operations of nature, or ancient tra- ditions; upon the bounds and limits of virtue; upon the unerring rules of reafon, or upon fome determinations to be taken at the next great affembly: and often upon the various excellencies of poetry. I may add, without vanity, that my preſence often gave them fufficient matter for dif- courfe, becauſe it afforded my mafter an occaſion of letting his friends into the hiftory of me and my country, upon which they were all pleaſed to deſcant, in a manner not very advantageous to humankind; and for that reafon I fball not repeat what they faid: only I may be allowed to obferve, that his honour, to my great admiration, appear- ed to underſtand the nature of Taboos, much better than myſelf. He went through all our vices and follies, and diſcovered many, which I had never mentioned to him, by only fuppofing what qualities a Taboo of their country, with a fmall proportion of reafon, might be capable of ex- erting, and concluded, with too much probability, “how vile as well as miferable fuch a creature must be." I freely confefs, that all the little knowledge I have of any value, was acquired by the lectures I received from my mafter, and from hearing the difcourfes of him and his friends; to which I fhould be prouder to liften, than to A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 269 dictate to the greatest and wifeft aflembly in Europe. I admired the ſtrength, comeliness, and fpeed of the inhabi- tants; and fuch a conftellation of virtues, in fuch amiable perfons, produced in me the higheſt veneration. At first indeed, I did not feel that natural awe, which the Taboos and all other animals bear toward them; but it grew upon me by degrees, much fooner than I imagined, and was mingled with a refpectful love and gratitude, that they would condefcend to diftinguith me from the rest of my fpecies. When I thought of my family, my friends, my coun- trymen, or the human race in general, I confidered them as they really were, Tabros in ſhape and diſpoſition, perhaps a little more civilized, and qualified with the gift of fpeech; but making no other uſe of reaſon, than to improve and multiply thoſe vices, whereof, their brethren in this coun try, had only the thare that nature allotted them. When I happened to behold the reflection of my own form in a lake or a fountain, I turned away my face in horror and deteftation of myfelf; and could better endure the fight of a common Taboo, than of my own perfon. By con- verfing with the Houybabams, and looking upon them with delight, I fell to imitate their gait and getture, which is now grown into a habit; and my friends often tell me, in a blunt way, "that I trot like a horfe;" which however, I take for a great compliment: neither thall I difown, that in fpeaking I am apt to fall into the voice and manner of the Houyhnhnms, and hear myſelf ridiculed on that account, without the leaft mortification. In the midst of all this happinefs, and when I looked upon myſelf to be fully fettled for life, my master fent for me one morning a little earlier than his ufual hour. I cb- ferved by his countenance that he was in fome perplexity, and at a loss how to begin what he had to fpeak. After a fhort filence he told me, "he did not know how I would take what he was going to fay; that in the laſt general aflembly, when the affair of the Taboos was entered upon, the reprefentatives had taken offence at his keeping a ra- boo (meaning myfelf) in his family, more like a Honybu- bam, than a brute animal. That he was known frequently A a 3 270 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: to converſe with me, as if he could receive fome advantage or pleaſure in my company: that ſuch a practice was not agreeable to reaſon or nature, or a thing ever heard of be- fore among them. The affembly did therefore exhort him either to employ me like the reſt of my ſpecies, or com- mand me to ſwim back to the place whence I came. That the firſt of theſe expedients was utterly rejected by all the Houyhnhnms who had ever feen me at his houſe or their own: for they alleged, that becauſe I had fome 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 mountainous parts of the country, and bring them in troops by night to deſtroy the Houyhnhnm's cattle, as being naturally of the ravenous kind, and averfe from labour. My maſter added, "that he was daily preffed by the Houyhnhnms of the neighbourhood, to have the affembly's exhortation executed, which he could not put off much longer. He doubted it would be impoffible for me to ſwim to another country; and therefore wifhed I would contrive fome fort of vehicle, reſembling thoſe I had deſcribed to him, that might carry me on the fea; in which work I fhould have the affiftance of his own fervants, as well as thoſe of his neighbours." He concluded, " that for his own part, he could have been content to keep me in his fervice as long as I lived; becauſe he found I had cured myſelf of fome bad habits and difpofitions, by endeavouring, as far as my inferior nature was capable, to imitate the Houybubums.” I fhould here obferve to the reader, that a decree of the general affembly in this country, is expreffed by the word bnbloayn, which fignifies an exhortation, as near as I can render it for they have no conception how a rational crea- ture can be compelled, but only adviſed, or exhorted; be- caufe no perſon can diſobey reafon, without giving up his claim to be a rational creature. I was ftruck with the utmoft grief and defpair at my maſter's difcourfe; and being unable to fupport the ago. nies 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 thefe people are ſubject to no ſuch imbecilities A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 271 of nature. I anſwered in a faint voice, " that death would have been too great a happineſs; that although I could not blame the affembly's exhortation, or the urgency of his friends; yet in my weak and corrupt judgment, I thought it might confift with reafon to have been lefs ri- gorous: that I could not ſwim a league, and probably the neareſt land to theirs might be diftant above a hundred : that many materials, neceffary for making a ſmall veſſel to carry me off, were wholly wanting in this country; which however I would attempt, in obedience and grati- tude to his honour, although I concluded the thing to be impoffible, and therefore looked on myſelf as already de- voted to deſtruction: that the certain profpect of an un- natural death, was the leaſt of my evils: for, ſuppoſing I ſhould eſcape with life by fome ftrange adventure, how could I think with temper of paffing my days among Ya- boos, and relapfing into my old corruptions, for want of examples to lead and keep me within the paths of virtue : that I knew too well upon what folid reafons all the de- terminations of the wife Houyhnhnms were founded, not to be ſhaken by arguments of mine, a miferable Yahoo; and therefore, after prefenting him with my humble thanks for the offer of his fervants' affiftance in making a veſſel, and defiring a reaſonable time for fo difficult a work, I told him I would endeavour to preſerve a wretched being; and if ever I returned to England, was not without hopes of being uſeful to my own species, by celebrating the praiſes of the renowned Houyhnhnms, and propofing their virtues to the imitation of mankind." My mafter, in a few words, made me a very gracious reply; allowed me the space of two months to finiſh my boat; and ordered the forrel nag, my fellow-ſervant (for fo at this diſtance I may prefume to call him) to follow my inſtruction; becauſe I told my matter, that his help would be fufficient, 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 fet on fhore. I got upon a height, and looking on every ſide into the ſea, fancied I faw a ſmall iſland toward the 272 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: north-eaft: I took out my pocket-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, fo he could not be as expert in diftinguiſhing remote ob- jects at fea, as we who fo much converfe + in that element. After I had diſcovered this iſland, I confidered no farther; but refolved it fhould, if poffible, be the first place of my baniſhment, leaving the conſequence to fortune. I returned home, and confulting with the forrel nag, we went into a copfe at fome diftance, where I with my knife, and he with a fharp fint, faftened very artificially after their manner to a wooden handle, cut down feveral oak wattles, about the thicknefs of a walking ſtaff, and fome larger pieces. But I fhall not trouble the reader with a particular deſcription of my own mechanics; let it fuffice to fay, that in ſix weeks time, with the help of the forrel nag, who performed the parts that required moft labour, I finished a fort of Indian canoe, but much larger, covering it with the ſkins of Taboos, well ſtitched together witn hempen threads of my own making. My fail was likewife compofed of the ſkins of the fame animal; but I made uſe of the youngeſt I could get, the older being too tough and thick; and I likewife provided myſelf with four paddles. 1 laid in a flock of boiled Alefh, of rabbits and fowls; and took with me two veffels, one filled with milk, and the other with water. I tried my canoe in a large pond near my maſter's houfe, and then corrected in it what was amifs; ſtopping all the chinks with Faboo's tallow, till I found it Itanch, and able to bear me and my freight. And, when it was as complete as I could poffibly make it, I had it drawn on a carriage very gently by Taboos to the feafide, under the conduct of the forrel nag, and another fervant. converſe;" This is an uncommon ufe of the word, inſtead of the verb, the adjective is always employed in this ſenſe; as thus-" as we, who are fo converfant in that element." S. A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 273 When all was ready, and the day came for my depar- ture, I took leave of my mafter and lady, and the whole. family, my eyes flowing with tears, and my heart quite funk with grief. But his honour, out of curiofity, and perhaps (if I may ſpeak it without vanity) partly out of kindneſs, was determined to fee me in my canoe; and got feveral of his neighbouring friends to accompany him. I was forced to wait above an hour for the tide, and then obſerving the wind very fortunately bearing toward the ifland to which I intended to leer my courfe, I took a ſe- cond leave of my mafter: but as I was going to proftrate myſelf to kifs his hoof, he did me the honour to raiſe it gently to my mouth. I am not ignorant how much I have been cenfured for mentioning this laft particular. De- tractors are pleafed to think it improbable, that fo illuftri- ous a perfon, ſhould defcend to give fo great a mark of dif- tinction, to a creature fo inferior as 1. Neither have I forgotten how apt fome travellers are to boat of extraor- dinary favours they have received. But, if theſe cenfurers were better acquainted with the noble and courteous uif- pofition of the Houyhnhnms, they would foon change their opinion. I paid my respects to the rest of the Houyhnhnms in his honour's company; then getting into my canoe, I puſhed off from ſhore. CHAP. XI. THE AUTHOR'S DANGEROUS VOYAGE. HE ARRIVES AT NEW HOLLAND, HOPING ΤΟ SETTLE THERE. IS WOUNDED WITH AN ARROW BY ONE OF THE NA- TIVES. IS SEIZED AND CARRIED BY FORCE INTO A PORTUGUESE SHIP, THE GREAT CIVILITIES OF THE CAPTAIN. THE AUTHOR ARRIVES AT ENGLAND. I BEGAN this defperate voyage on February 15, 1714-15, at nine o'clock in the morning. The wind was very favourable; however I made ufe at firft only of my pad- dles; but confidering I ſhould foon be weary, and that the 274 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: wind might chop about, I ventured to fet 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 guefs. My maſter and his friends continued on the fhore, till I was almoſt out of fight; and I often heard the forrel nag (who always loved me) crying out, “ Hnuy illa nyha majah Taboo ;" "Take care of thyfelf, gentle Taboo," cr My defign was, if poffible, to diſcover ſome ſmall iſland uninhabited, yet fufficient by my labour to furniſh me with the neceffaries of life, which I would have thought a great- er happineſs, than to be first minifter in the politeft court of Europe; fo horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to live in the fociety, and under the government of Taboos. For, in fuch a folitude as I de fired, I could at least enjoy my own thoughts, and reflect with delight on the virtues of thofe inimitable Houyhnhnms, without any opportunity of degenerating into the vices and corruptions of my own fpecies. The reader may remember what I related, when my crew confpired against me, and confined me to my cabin. How I continued there ſeveral weeks without knowing what courſe we took; and when I was put afhore in the longboat, 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 us to be about 10 degrees fouthward of the Cape of Good Hope, or about 45 degrees fouthern latitude, as I gathered from fome general words I overheard among them, being I fup- pofed to the fouth-cafl in their intended voyage to Mada- gafear. And although this were little better than conjec- ture, yet I refolved to fleer my courfe eastward, hoping to reach the fouth-west coast of New Holland, and perhaps fome fuch ifland as I defired lying weftward of it. The wind was full weft, and by fix in the evening I computed I had gone caftward at least eighteen leagues; when I ſpied a very small island about half a league off, which I foon reached. It was nothing but a rock, with one creek na- turally arched by the force of tempefts. Here I put in my canoe, and climbing a part of the rock, I could plainly dif cover land to the caft, extending from fouth to north. I Jay all night in my canoe; and continuing my voyage early A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 275 f in the morning, I arrived in ſeven hours to the ſouth-eaſt point of New Holland. This confirmed me in the opinion I have 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 Moll, and gave him my reafons for it, although he has rather chofen to follow other authors. I ſaw no inhabitants in the place where I landed, and being unarmed I was afraid of venturing far into the coun- try. Lfound fome fhell-fish on the fhore, and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a fire, for fear of being diſcover- ed by the natives. I continued three days feeding on oysters and limpits, to fave my own proviſion; and I fortunately found a brook of excellent water, which gave me great relief. On the fourth day, venturing out carly a little too far, I ſaw twenty or thirty natives upon a height not above five hundred yards from me. They were ftark naked, men, women, and children, round a fire, as I could difco- ver by the fmoke. One of them ſpied me, and gave notice to the reft; five of them advanced toward me, leaving the women and children at the fire. I made what haſte I could to the ſhore, and getting into my canoe fhoved off: the favages, obſerving me retreat, ran after me; and be- fore I could get far enough into the fea, diſcharged an ar- row, which wounded me deeply on the infide of my left knee; I fhall carry the mark to my grave. I apprehended the arrow might be poifoned, and paddling out of the reach of their darts (being a calm day) I made à fhift to fuck the wound, and drefs it as well as I could. I was at a loſs what to do, for I durft not return to the fame 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 fecure landing place, I faw a fail to the north-east, which appearing every minute more visible, I was in fome doubt, whether I fhould wait for them or not; but at laft my de- teftation of the Taboo race prevailed; and turning my ca- noe I failed and paddled together to the fouth, and, got 276 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: into the fame creek whence I fet out in the morning, chooſing rather to truft myſelf among theſe barbarians, than live with European Yahoos. I drew up my canoe as cloſe as I could to the fhore, and hid myſelf behind a ſtone by the little brook, which, as I have already faid, was excellent water. The ship came within half a league of this creek, and fent 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 almoft on fhore; and it was too late to feek another hiding-place. The ſeamen at their landing obferved my canoe, and rummaging it all over, eaſily conjectured that the owner could not be far off. Four of them, well armed, fearched every cranny and lurking hole, till at laft they found me flat on my face be- hind the stone. They gazed a while in admiration at my ftrange uncouth dreſs: my coat made of ſkins, my wooden foled ſhoes, and my furred stockings; whence however they concluded, I was not a native of the place, who all go naked. One of the feamen, in Portugueſe, bid me rife, and asked who I was, I underſtood that language very well, and getting upon my feet, faid, "I was a poor Taboo banished from the Houyhubums, and defired they would pleaſe to let me depart." They admired to hear me anſwer them in their own tongue, and faw by my complexion, I muſt be an European; but were at a lofs to know what I meant by Taboos, and Houyhubums, and at the fame time fell a laughing at my ftrange tone in fpeak- ing, which refembled the neighing of a horfe. I trembled all the while betwixt fear and hatred. I again defired leave to depart, and was gently moving to my cance; but they ' laid hold of me, defiring to know, "what country I was of? whence I came?" with many other queſtions. I tald them, "I was born in England, whence I came about fire years ago, and then their country and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they would not treat me as an enemy, fince I meant them no harm, but was a poor Fabso, feek- ing fome defolate place where to paſs the remainder of his unfortunate life. When they began to talk, I thought I gever heard or A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 277 faw any thing fo unnatural; for it appeared to me as mon- ftrous as if a dog or a cow fhould fpeak in England, or a Yahoo in Houyhnhnmland. The honeft Portugueſe were equally amazed at my ſtrange drefs, and the odd manner of delivering my words, which however they underſtood very well. They ſpoke to me with great humanity, and faid, "they were fure the captain would carry me gratis to Liſbon, whence I might return to my own country; that two of the feamen would go back to the fhip, inform the captain 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 best to comply with their propofal. They were very curious to know my ſtory, but I gave them very little fatisfac- tion; and they all conjectured, that my misfortunes had impaired my reaſon. In two hours the boat, which went loaden with veffels of water, returned with the captain's command to fetch me on board. I fell on my knees to preferve my liberty; but all was in vain, and the men, having tied me with cords, heaved me into the boat, whence I was taken into the ſhip, and thence into the captain's cabin. His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very courte- ous and generous perfon. He entreated me to give fome account of myself, and defired to know what I would eat or drink; faid, "I fhould be uſed as well as himself;" and ſpoke fo many obliging things, that I wondered to find fuch civilities from a Taboo. However, I remained filent and fullen; I was ready to faint at the very fmell of him and his men. At laft I defired fomething to eat out of my own canoe; but he ordered me a chicken, and ſome ex- cellent wine, and then directed that I fhould be put to bed in a very clean cabin. I would not undrefs myfelf, but lay on the bedclothes, and in half an hour ſtole out, when I thought the crew was at dinner, and getting to the ſide of the hip was going to leap into the fea, and ſwim for my life, rather than continue among Yaloos. But one of the feamen prevented me, and having informed the captain, I was chained to my cabin. After dinner Don Pedro came to me, and defired to know B b 278 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: my reafon for fo defperate an attempt; affured me, "he only meant to do me all the ſervice he was able;" and ſpoke fo very movingly, that at laft I defcended to treat him like an animal which had fome little portion of reafon. I gave him a very short relation of my voyage; of the con- fpiracy against me by my own men; of the country where they fet me on fhore, and of my five years refidence there. All which he looked upon, as if it were a dream or a viſion; whereat I took great offence; for I had quite for- got the faculty of lying, fo peculiar to Yahoos, in all coun- tries where they prefide, and confequently, the difpofi tion of fufpecting truth in others of their own ſpecies. I afked him," whether it were the custom in his country to fay the thing which was not?" I affured him, "I had al- moft forgot what he meant by falfehood, and if I had lived a thousand years in Houyhnhnmland, I ſhould never have heard a lie from the meanest fervant; that I was altogether Indifferent whether he believed me or not; but however, in return for his favours, I would give fo much allowance to the corruption of his nature, as to answer any objec- tion he would pleafe to make, and then he might eafily difcover the truth. · The captain, a wife man, after many endeavours to catch me tripping in fome part of my ſtory, at laſt began to have a better opinion of my veracity. But he added, “ that fince I profeffed fo inviolable an attachment to truth, 1 must give him my word and honour to bear him company in this voyage, without attempting any thing againſt my life; or elfe he would continue me a prifoner till we ar- rived at Liſbon." I gave him the promife he required; but at the fame time protested, "that I would fuffer the greateſt hardſhips, rather than return to live among Taboos,” Our voyage paffed without any confiderable accident. In gratitude to the captain, I fometimes fat with him at his earnest request, and ftrove to conceal my antipathy. against humankind, although it often broke out; which he fuffered to pafs without obfervation. But the greateſt part of the day I confined myſelf to my cabin, to avoid feeing any of the crew. The captain had often entreated me to ftrip myself of my favage dreſs, and offered to lend VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS 279. me the beſt fuit of clothes he had. This, I would not be prevailed on to accept, abhorring to cover myfelf with any thing that had been on the back of a Taboo. I only defired he would lend me two clean fhirts, which, having been waſhed ſince he wore them, I believed would not fo -much defile me. Theſe I changed every ſecond day, and washed them myſelf. We arrived at Liſbon, Nov. 5, 1715. At our landing the captain forced me to cover myfelf with his cloak, to prevent the rabble from crowding about me. I was con- veyed to his own houfe; and at my earneft requeſt he led me up to the highest room backwards. I conjured him. "to conceal from all perfons what I had told him of the Houyhnhnms; becauſe the leaft hiut of ſuch a ſtory would not only draw numbers of people to fee me, but probably put me in danger of being imprifoned, or burnt by the- inquifition." The captain perfuaded me to accept a fuit of clothes newly made; but I would not fuffer the tailor to take my meafure: however, Don Pedro being almoſt of my fize, they fitted me well enough. He accoutred 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 fervants, none of which were fuffered to attend at meals; and his whole deportment was fo obliging, added to very good human underſtanding, that I really began to tolerate his company. He gained fo far upon me that I ventured to look out of the back window. By degrees I was brought into an- other room, whence I peeped into the ſtreet, but drew my head back in a fright. In a week's time he feduced me down to the door. I found my terror gradually leſſened, but my hatred and contempt feemed to increaſe. I was at laſt bold enough to walk the street in his company, but kept my nafe well ſtopped with rue, or fometimes with tobacco. · In ten days, Don Pedro, to whom I had given fome ac- count of my domeftic affairs, put it upon me as a matter of honour and confcience," that I ought to return to my native country, and live at home with my wife and chil dren." He told me, "there was an Englifh fhip in the B b 2 2 Part 4. 280 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: port just ready to fail, and he would furnish me with all things neceffary." It would be tedious to repeat his ar- guments, and my contradictions. He faid, "it was alto- gether impoffible to find fuch a folitary iſland as I had de- fired to live in; but I might command in my own houſe, and pafs my time in a manner as reclufe as I pleafed." I complied at laft, finding I could not do better, I left Liſbon the 24th day of November, in an Engliſh mer- chantman, but, who was the maſter, I never inquired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the fhip, and lent me twen- ty pounds. He took 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 fick, kept clofe in my cabin. On the 5th of December, 1715, we caft anchor in the Downs, about nine in the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got fafe to my houfe at Redriff. My wife and family received me with great furpriſe and joy, becauſe they concluded me certainly dead; but I muſt freely confefs the fight of them filled me only with hatred, difguft, and contempt; and the more, by reflecting on the near alliance I had to them. For although, fince my un- fortunate exile from the Houyhnhnm country, I had compel- led myſelf to tolerate the fight of Taboos, and to converfe with Don Pedro de Mendez; yet my memory and imagi nation were perpetually filled with the virtues and ideas of thofe exalted Houyhnhnms. And when I began to con- fider that by copulating with one of the Taboo fpecies I had become a parent of more, it ftruck me with the utmoſt fhame, confufion, and horror. As foon as I entered the houſe, my wife took me in her arms, and kiffed 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 writ- ing, it is five years fince my last return to England: during the first year, I could not endure my wife or children in my prefence; the very fmell of them was intolerable; much lefs could I fuffer them to eat in the fame room. To this hour they dare not prefume to touch my bread, or drink out of the fame cup; neither was I ever able to let one A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 281 of them take me by the hand. The first money I laid out was to buy two young ftone horſes, which I keep in a good ſtable, and next to them, the groom is my greateſt favourite; for I feel my fpirits revived by the fmell he con- tracts in the ſtable. My horfes underſtand me tolerably well; I converfe with them at leaſt four hours every day. They are ftrangers to bridle or faddle; they live in great amity with me, and friendship to each other, CHAP. XII. THE AUTHOR'S VERACITY. HIS DESIGN IN PUBLISHING THIS WORK. HIS CENSURE OF THOSE TRAVELLERS WHO SWERVE FROM THE TRUTH. THE AUTHOR CLEARS HIMSELF FROM ANY SINISTER ENDS IN WRITING. AN OBJECTION ANSWERED. THE METHOD OF PLANTING COLONIES. HIS NATIVE COUNTRY COMMENDED. THE RIGHT OF THE CROWN TO THOSE COUNTRIES DESCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, IS JUSTI- FIED. THE DIFFICULTY OF CONQUERING THEM. THE AUTHOR TAKES IIS LAST LEAVE OF THE READER; PROPOSES HIS MANNER OF LIVING FOR THE FUTURE; GIVES GOOD ADVICE, AND CONCLUDES. THUS, gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful hiſtory of my travels for fixteen years and above ſeven months: wherein I have not been fo ftudious of ornament, as of truth. I could perhaps, like others, have aftoniſhed thee with ſtrange improbable tales; but I rather choſe to relate plain matter of fact, in the fimpleft manner and ftyle; becauſe my principal defign was to inform, and not to amufe thee. It is eafy for us who travel into remote countries, which are feldom vifited by Englishmen or other Europeans, to form defcriptions of wonderful animals both at ſea and land. Whereas a traveller's chief aim fhould be to make men wifer and better, and to improve their minds by the bad, as well as good example, of what they deliver con- cerning foreign places. Bb 3 282 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: ¡ I could heartily wish a law was enacted, that every tra- veller, before he were permitted to publifh his voyages, fhould be obliged to make oath before the Lord High Chancellor, that all he intended to print was abfolutely true to the beſt of his knowledge; for then the world would no longer be deceived, as it ufually is; while fome writers, to make their works pafs the better upon the pub- fic, impofe the groffeft falfities on the unwary reader. I have peruſed ſeveral books of travels with great delight in my younger days; but having fince gone over most parts of the globe, and been able to contradict many fabulous ac- counts from my own obſervation, it has given me a great diſguſt againſt this part of reading, and fome indignation to fee the credulity of mankind fo impudently abuſed. Therefore, fince my acquaintance were pleaſed to think my poor endeavours might not be unacceptable to my country, I impofed on myfelf as a maxim never to be fwerved from, that I would ſtrictly adhere to truth; nei- ther indeed can I be ever under the least temptation to va- ry from it, while I retain in my mind the lectures and ex- ample of my noble maſter and the other illuſtrious Houyn- bums, of whom I had ſo long the honour to be an humble hearer. Nec fi miferum Fortuna Sinonem Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba finget. I know very well, how little reputation is to be got by writings, which require neither genius nor learning, nor indeed any other talent, except a good memory, or an exact journal. I know likewife, that writers of travels, like dictionary-makers, are funk into oblivion by the weight and bulk of thofe who come laft, and therefore lie upper- most. And it is highly probable, that fuch travellers, who fhall hereafter vifit the countries defcribed in this work of mine, may, by detecting my errors, (if there be any) and adding many new difcoveries of their own, juſtle me out of vogue, and ſtand in my place, making the world forget that ever I was an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification, if I wrote for fame: but as my ។ A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 283 } fole intention was the public good, I cannot be altogether diſappointed. For who can read of the virtues I have men- tioned in the glorious Houyhnhnms, without being ashamed of his own vices, when he confiders himſelf as the reaſon- ing, governing animal of his country? I fhall fay nothing of thoſe remote nations, where Yaboos prefide; among which the leaſt corrupted. are the Brobdingnagians; whole wife maxims in morality and government, it would be our happineſs to obferve. But I forbear deſcanting farther, and rather leave the judicious reader to his own remarks and application. I am not a little pleaſed, that this work of mine can poffibly meet with no cenfurers: for what objections can be made againſt a writer, who relates only plain facts, that happened in fuch diftant countries, where we have not the leaft intereft, with respect either to trade or nego- ciations? I have carefully avoided every fault, with which common writers of travels are often too juttly charged. Befides, I meddle not the leaft with any party, but write without paffion, prejudice, or ill-will againſt any man, or number of men whatſoever. I write for the nobleſt end, to inform and inftruct mankind; over whom I may, with- out breach of modeſty, pretend to fome fuperiority, from the advantages I received by converfing fo long among the moſt accompliſhed Houyhnhnms. I write without any view towards profit or praife. I never fuffer a word to pass, that may look like reflection, or poſſibly give the lealt of- fence, even to thoſe who are molt ready to take it. So that I hope, I may with juſtice pronounce myſelf an au- thor perfectly blameleſs; against whom the tribes of An- fwerers, Confiderers, Obfervers, Reflectors, Detecters, Re- markers, will never be able to find matter for exercising their talents. I confefs, it was whiſpered to me, "that I was bound in duty, as a ſubject of England, to have given in a memo- rial to a fecretary of Itate at my first coming over; becaufe, whatever lands are difcovered by a fubject, belong to the crown. But I doubt, whether our conquefts, in the countries I treat of, would be as eafy as thofe of Ferdinando Cortez over the naked Americans. The Lilliputians, I 284 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS : think, are hardly worth the charge of a fleet and army to reduce them; and I question whether it might be prudent or ſafe to attempt the Brobdingnagians. Or whether an English army would be much at their eafe, with the flying iſland over their heads. The Houyhnhnms indeed appear not to be fo well prepared for war, a fcience to which they are perfect ftrangers, and eſpecially againſt miffive weapons. However, fuppofing myſelf to be a miniſter of ftate, I could never give my advice for invading them. Their prudence, unanimity, unacquaintednefs with fear, and their love of their country, would amply fupply all de- fects in the military art. Imagine twenty thousand of them breaking into the midst of an European army, con- founding the ranks, overturning the carriages, hattering the warriors' faces into mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder hoofs; for they would well deferve the character given to Auguſtus Recalcitrat undique tutus. But, inſtead of propofals for conquering that magnanimous nation, I rather wish they were in a capacity, or difpofition, to fend a fufficient number of their inhabitants for civilizing Eu- rope; by teaching us the first principles of honour, juſtice, truth, temperance, public fpirit, fortitude, chaſtity, friend- hip, benevolence, and fidelity. The names of all which virtues are ſtill retained among us in moft languages, and are to be met with in modern, as well as ancient authors; which I am able to affert from my own fmall reading. But I had another reaſon, which made me lefs forward to enlarge his majeſty's dominions by my difcoveries. To fay the truth, I had conceived a few fcruples with relation to the diſtributive juſtice of princes upon thofe occaſions. For instance, a crew of pirates are driven by a ſtorm they know not whither; at length a boy diſcovers land from the topmaft; they go on ſhore to rob and plunder; they ſee a harmless people, are entertained with kindneſs; they give the country a new name; they take formal poſſeſſion of it for their king; they fet up a rotten plank or a ſtone for a memorial they murder two or three dozen of the na- tives, bring away a couple more, by force, for a fample, return home and get their pardon. Here commences a new dominion acquired with a title by divine right. Ships A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 285 are ſent with the first opportunity; the natives driven out or deſtroyed; their princes tortured to diſcover their gold; a free licenſe given to all acts of inhumanity and luft, the earth reeking with the blood of its inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers, employed in fo pious an ex- pedition, is a modern colony, fent to convert and civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people. But this defcription, I confefs, does by no means affect the British nation, who may be an example to the whole world for their wifdom, care, and juftice in planting colo- nies; their liberal endowments for the advancement of re- ligion and learning; their choice of dev.ut and able paſ- tors to propagate Chriftianity; their caution in ſtocking their provinces with people of ſober lives and converfations, from this the mother kingdom; their ftrict regard to the diftribution of juſtice, in fupplying the civil adminiftra- tion through all their colonies with officers of the greateſt abilities, utter ftrangers to corruption: and to crown all, by fending the most vigilant and virtuous governors, who have no other views than the happineſs of the people over whom they prefide, and the honour of the king their maſter. But as thoſe countries, which I have deſcribed, do not appear to have any defire of being conquered, and en- flaved, murdered or driven out by colonies; nor abound either in gold, filver, fugar, or tobacco; I did humbly con- ceive, they were by no means proper objects of our zeal, our valour, or our intereft. However, if thofe, whom it more concerns, think fit to be of another opinion, I am ready to depoſe, when I ſhall be lawfully called, that no European did ever viſit theſe countries before me. I mean, if the inhabitants ought to be believed, unless a difpute may arife concerning the two Taboos, faid to have been feen many years ago, upon a mountain in Houyhnhum land. But, as to the formality of taking poffeffion in my fove- reign's name, it never came once into my thoughts; and if it had, yet, as my affairs then flood, I should perhaps in point of prudence and felf-preſervation, have put it off to a better opportunity. Having thus anſwered the only objection that can ever 286 Part 4. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: be raiſed againſt me as a traveller, I here take a final leave of all my courteous readers, and return to enjoy my own fpeculations in my little garden at Redriff; to apply thofe excellent leflons of virtue, which I learned among the Houyhnhnms; to inftruct the Taboos of my own family, as far as I fhall find them docible animals; to behold my fi- gure often in a glafs, and thus, if poffible, habituate my- felf by time to tolerate the fight of a human creature: to lament the brutality of Houyhnhnms in my own country, but always treat their perfons with refpect, for the fake of my noble mafter, his family, his friends, and the whole Houyhnhum race, whom thefe of ours have the honour to reſemble in all their lineaments, however their intellectuals came to degenerate. I began last week to permit my wife to fit at dinner with me, at the fartheft end of a long table; and to an- fwer (but with the utmoſt brevity) the few queſtions I alked her. Yet, the fmell of a Taboo continuing very offen- five, I always keep my nofe well ſtopped with rue, laven- der, or tobacco leaves. And, although it be hard for a man late in life to remove old habits, I am not altogether out of hopes, in fome time, to fuffer a neighbour Yahoo in my company, without the apprehenſions I am yet under of his teeth or his claws. My reconcilement to the Yahoo kind in general might not be fo difficult, if they would be content with thoſe vices and follies only, which nature has entitled them to. I am not in the leaft provoked at the fight of a lawyer, a pick-pocket, a colonel, a fool, a lord, a gameſter, a politi- cian, a whoremonger, a phyſician, an evidence, a fuborner, an attorney, a traitor, or the like; this is all according to the due course of things: but when I behold a lump of de- formity and diſeaſes, both in body and mind, fmitten with pride, it immediately breaks all the meafures of my pa- tience; neither fhall I be ever able to comprehend how fuch an animal, and ſuch a vice, could tally together. The wife and virtuous Houyhnhnms, who abound in all excellen- cies that can adorn a rational creature, have no name for this vice in their language; which has no terms to exprefs any thing that is evil, except thofe whereby they defcribe A VOYAGE TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 287 the deteftable qualities of their Yaboos; among which they were not able to diftinguish this of pride, for want of thoroughly underſtanding human nature, as it fhows it- felf in other countries, where that animal prefides. But I, who had more experience, could plainly obferve fome rudi- ments of it among the wild Yaboos. But the Houybubums, who live under the government of reafon, 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 boaſt of, although he muſt be miferable without them. I dwell the longer upon this fubject, from the defire I have to make the lociety of an English Tahoo, by any means not infupportable; and there- fore here entreat thofe, who have any tincture of this abfurd vice, that they will not prefume to come in my fight. +++ To mortify pride, which indeed was not made for man, and produces not only the moſt ridiculous follies, but the most extenſive calamity, appears to have been one ge- neral view of the author in every part of theſe travels. Per- fonal ftrength and beauty, the wifdom and the virtue of mankind, become objects not of pride but of humility, in the diminutive ftature and contemptible weaknefs of the Lilliputians; in the horrid deformity of the Brobdingnagians, in the learned folly of the Laputians, and in the parallel drawn between our manners and thofe of the Houyhabums H. FINIS. H. Mozley, Printer, Gainsborough.