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 THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 Dn Jonathan Swift, 
 
 Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin. 
 
 VOLUME II, 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for C. Bath VR ST, in Fleet-Street. 
 MDCCLXVI.
 
 ipt 
 
 TRAVELS'' 
 
 INTO SEVERAL 
 
 Remote Nations 
 
 OF THE 
 
 W O R L D. 
 
 By LEMUEL GULLIVER, 
 
 Firft a Surgeon, and then a Captain of feveral Ships, 
 
 In FourParts. 
 
 P A R T I. A Voyage ioLilliput. 
 
 Part 11. A Voyage to Brobdingn a g. 
 
 Part III. A Voyage to Laput a, Balnibarbi, 
 LuGGNAGG, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan. 
 
 Part IV. A Voyage to the Country of the 
 
 HOU YHNHNMS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for C. B a T h u R s T. 
 
 MDCCLXVI.
 
 tiii] 
 
 I 
 
 THE 
 
 PUBLISHER 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER. 
 
 / I ^ H E author of thefe travels, Mr Lemuel 
 ! Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate 
 JL friend; there is iikewifefoiTie relation between 
 us on the mother's fide. About three years ago Mr. 
 GuLLivE R, growing weary of the coiicourfe of curi- 
 ous people coming to him at his houfe in RtdriJ^, made 
 a fmall purchafe of land with a convenient houie near 
 Neivark in NottinghamJJA.e, his native countr • ; where 
 he now lives retired, yet in good eftecm among his 
 neighbours. 
 
 Although Mr. Gulliver was born mNotdngham- 
 jbirey where his father dwelt, yet 1 have heard him 
 fay, his family came from Oxfordpire ; to confirm 
 which, I have obferved in the church-yard at Banbury 
 in that county feveral tombs and monuments of the 
 Gullivers. 
 
 Before he quitted Redriff^ he left the cuftody of the 
 following papers in my hands, with the liberty to dif- 
 pofe of them as I fhould think fit. I have carefully 
 perufed them three times : The ftyle is very plain and 
 iimple ; and the only fault 1 find is, that che author, 
 after the manner of travellers, is a litde too circum- 
 ftantial. There is an air of truth apparent through the 
 whole ; and indeed the author was fo diftingui(hed for 
 his veracity, that it became a fort of a proverb among 
 
 A z hi»
 
 iv THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER: 
 
 his nelghbonrs at Redriff, when any one affirmed a 
 thing, to fay it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had 
 Ipoken it. 
 
 By the advice of feveral worthy perfons, to whom 
 with the author's permiffion I communicated thefe pa- 
 pers, I now venture to fend them into the world, hoping 
 they may be, at leaft for fome time, a better entertain- 
 ment to our young noblemen, than the common fcrib- 
 bles of politicks and party. ^ 
 
 This volume would have been at leaft twice as 
 large, if I had not made bold to ftrike out innumerable 
 parages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to 
 the variations and bearings in the feveral voyages, toge- 
 ther with the minute defcriptions of the management of 
 the fhip in llorms in the llyle of failors ; likewife the 
 account of longitudes and latitudes ; wherein I have 
 reafon to apprehend, that Mr. Gulliver may be a lit- 
 tle difilitisfied : But I was rcfolved to lit the work as 
 much as poffible to the general capacity of readers. 
 However, if my own ignorance in fea affairs Ihall 
 have led me to commit fome miftakes, I alone am an- 
 fwerable for them : And if any traveller hath a curio- 
 fity to fee the whole work at large as it came from the 
 hand of the author, I will be ready to gratify him. 
 
 As for any further particulars relating to the author, 
 the reader will receive fatisfadHon from the lirft pages 
 of the book. 
 
 RiCyARD SVMPSON, 
 
 A LET-
 
 [O 
 
 LETTER 
 
 FROM 
 
 Captain Gulliver 
 
 T O H I S 
 
 Coufm ST MP SON. 
 
 Written in the Year 1727. 
 
 I HOPE you will be ready to own publickly, 
 whenever you Ihall be called to it, that by your 
 great and frequent urgency you prevailed on me 
 to publifh a very loofe and uncorreft account of my 
 travels, with diredlion to hire fome young gentleman 
 of either univerfity to put them in order, and corre6l 
 the ftyle, as my coufin Dampier did by my advice in 
 his book called, A 'uoyage round the World. But I do 
 not remember 1 gave you power to confent, that any 
 thing fhould be omitted, and much lefs that any 
 thing Ihould be inferted : therefore, as to the latter, I 
 do here renounce every thing of that kind ; particu- 
 larly a paragraph about her majefty queen Jnne of 
 molt pious and glorious memory ; although I did reve- 
 rence and efteem her more than any of human fpecies. 
 
 A 3 But
 
 vi A LETTER FROM GULLIVER 
 
 But you, or your Interpolator, ought to have confide- 
 red, that as it was not my inclination, fo was it not 
 decent to praife any animal of our compofition before 
 my mafter Houyhnhnm : And befides, the fadl was alto- 
 gether falfe ; for to my knowledge, being in Englatid 
 during fome part of her majefty's reign, (he did govern 
 by a chief minifter ; nay even by two fucceffively, the 
 iirft whereof was the lord of Godolphitiy and the iecond 
 the lord of Oxford ; (o that you have made me//ry the 
 thing that n.vas not. Likewife in the account of the 
 academy of projectors, and fevcrai pafiages of my dif- 
 courfe to my mafter Houyhnhnm, you have either omit- 
 ted fome material circumftances, or minced or changed 
 them in fuch a manner, that I do hardly know mine 
 own work. When I formerly hinted to you fomething 
 of this in a letter, you were pleafed to anfvver 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 punifli every thing 
 which looked like an Innuendo (as I think you call it.) 
 But, pray liow could that which I fpoke fo many years 
 ago, and at above five thoufand leao;ues diilance, in 
 another reign, be applied to any of the 3"<2/'ooj, who 
 now are faid to govern the herd ; efpecially at a time 
 when I little thought, or feared, the uiihappinefs of 
 living under them ? have not I the moft reafon to com- 
 plain, when I fee thcfe very Taboos carried by Houy- 
 hnhnms in a vehicle, as if they were brutes and thofe 
 the rational creatures ? And indeed to avoid fo mon- 
 ftrous and detellable a fight was one principal motive 
 of my retirement hither. 
 
 Thus much I thought proper to tell you in relation 
 to youtfclf, and to the truit I icpofcd in you. 
 
 I u o in the next place com.plain of my own great 
 
 want of judgment in being prevailed upon by the in- 
 
 trcaties and falfe reafonings of you and fome others, 
 
 very much againft my own opinion, to fuffer mv travels 
 
 5 'to
 
 TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON. vu 
 
 to be publlfhed. Pray bring to your mind how often I 
 aefired you to confider, when you infilled on the mo- 
 tive of Public Good, that the Taboos were a Ipecies of 
 animals utterly incapable of amendment by precepts or 
 example : And fo it hath proved ; for, inftead of fee- 
 ing a full Hop put to all abufes and corruptions, at leaft 
 in this little ifland, as I had reafon to expcft ; behold, 
 after above fix months warning, I cannot learn that 
 - my book has produced one fingle effeft according 
 to mine intentions. I defired, you would let me 
 know by a letter, when party and fadion were ex- 
 -tinguifned ; judges learned and upright ; pleaders ho- 
 neft and niodefl: with fome tindlure of common fenfe, 
 and SmiihfeU blazing with pyramids of law-books ; 
 the young nobility's education entirely changed ; the 
 phyficians banilhed ; the female Taboos abounding in 
 virtue, honour, truth, and good fenfe ; courts and 
 levees of great miniilers thoroughly weeded and 
 fwept ; wit, merit, and learning rewarded ; all dif- 
 gracers of the prefs in profe and verfe condemned to 
 eat nothing but their own cotton, and quench their 
 thirft with their own ink. Thefe, and a thoufand 
 other reformations, I firmly counted upon by your 
 encouragement ; as indeed they were plainly deducible 
 from the precepts delivered in my book. And it muft 
 be owned, that feven months were a fufficient time 
 to corredl every vice and folly to which Tahogs are 
 fubjeft, if their natures had been capable of the lead 
 difpofition to virtue or wifdom : Yet, fo far have you 
 been from anfwering mine expeftation in any of your 
 letters, that on the contrary you are loading our car- 
 rier every week with libeU, and keys, and refledions, 
 and memoirs, and fecond parts ; wherein I fee myfelf 
 accufed of reflefling upon great ftates-folk ; of de- 
 grading human nature (for fo they have ftill the confi- 
 dence to ftyle it I and oF abufing the female fex. I find 
 likewife, that the writers of thofc bundles are not a- 
 greed among themfelves ; for fome of them will not 
 
 A 4 allow
 
 viii A LETTER FROM GULLIVER 
 
 allow me to be the author of mine own travels ; and 
 others make me author of books, to which I am 
 wholly a ftranger> 
 
 I FIND likewife, that your printer hath been Co 
 carelefs as to confound the times, and miftake the 
 dates of my feveral voyages and returns ; neither af- 
 iigning the true year, nor the true month, nor day of 
 the month : And I hear the original manufcript is all 
 deftroyed fmce the publication of my book ; neither 
 have I any copy left ; however, I have fent you fome 
 corredlions, which you may infert, if ever there fhould 
 be a fecond edition : And yet I cannot fland to them ; 
 but fhall' leave that matter to my judicious and candid 
 readers to ficjuft it as they pleafe. 
 
 I HEAR fome of our (ea-Tahoos find fault with my 
 fea-language, as not proper in many pans, nor now in 
 ufe. I cannot help it. In my firft voyages, while I 
 was young, I was inftrufted by the oldeft mariners, 
 and learned to fpeak as they did. But I have fmce 
 found tiiat the {ea-Tahcos are apt, like the land ones, 
 to become newfangled in their words, which the latter 
 change every year ; infomuch as I remember upon each 
 return to my own country, their old dialed; was fo al- 
 tered, that 1 could hardly undei»fl;and the new. And I 
 obferve, when any Taf^oo comes from London out of cu- 
 riofity to vifit me at mine houfe, we neither of us are 
 able to deliver our conceptions in a manner intelligible 
 to the other. 
 
 If the cenfure of the Yahoos could any way affeft 
 me, I fhould have great reafon to complain, that fome 
 of them are fo bold as to think my book of travels a 
 mere fidion out of mine own brain ; and have gone 
 fo far as to drop hints, that the Houyhnhnms and Ta- 
 boos have no more exiftence than the inhabitants of 
 Utopia, 
 
 In-
 
 TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON. ix 
 
 Indeed I muft confefs, that as to the people of 
 Lilliput, Brohdingrag (for fo the word Ihould have 
 been ipelt, and not erroneoufly Brobdingnag) and La- 
 ptiia, I have never yet heard oi' any Tahoo fo pre- 
 fumptuous as to difpute their being, or the fads I have 
 related concerning them ; becaufe the truth immedi- 
 ately flrikes every reader with convidion. And is 
 there lefs probability in my account of the Houyhnhnms 
 or Yahoos, when it is manifeft as to the latter, there 
 are fo many thoufands, even in this city, who only 
 differ from their brother brutes in Houybnhnm-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 lefs confcquence to me, than the neigh- 
 ing of thofe two degenerate Houylmhnms I keep in my 
 ftable ; becaufe from thefe, degenerate as they are, I 
 ftill improve in fome virtues without any mixture 
 of vice. 
 
 Do thefe miferable animals prefume to think, that 
 I am fb degenerated as to defend my veracity ? Yahoo as 
 I am, it is well known through all Houyhnhnm-landj 
 that, by the inftruftions and example of my illuftrious 
 marter, I was able in the compafs of two years (al- 
 though I confefs with the utmolt difficulty) to remove 
 that infernal habit of lying, fhuffling, deceiving, and 
 equivocating, fo deeply rooted in the very fouls of all 
 my fpecies j efpecially the Europeans. 
 
 I HAVE other complaints to make upon this vexatious 
 occafion ; but I forbear troubling myfeif oryou any fur- 
 ther. I mud freely confefs, that fince my laft return 
 fome corruptions of my Yahoo nature have revived in 
 me by converfmg with a few of your fpecies, and par- 
 ticularly thofe of mine own family, by an unavoidable 
 necelTity j elfe I fhould never have attempted fo ab- 
 
 furd
 
 X A LETTER FROM GULLIVER, Ijfc. 
 
 furd a projeft as that of reforming the Taho race in this 
 kingdom : Uut I have now done with all fuch vifionaiy 
 fchemes for ever. 
 
 Jp-il Zy 1727. 
 
 *^* That the original copy of thefc travels was altered 
 by the perfon, through whofe hands it was conveyed 
 to the prefs, is a faft ; but the pafTages, of which 
 Mr. Giiili'ver complains in this letter, are to be found 
 only in the firft editions ; for the Dean having re- 
 ftored the text wherever it had been altered fent the 
 copy to the late Mr. Mottc by the hands of Mr. Charles 
 Ford. This copy has been exadlly followed in every 
 fubfequent edition, except that printed in Ireland, by 
 George Falhener ; the editor of which, fuppofing the 
 Dean to be ferious when he mentioned the corrup- 
 tions of dates, and yet finding them unaltered, 
 thought fit to alter them himfelf ; there is however 
 icarce one of thel'e alterations, in which he lias not 
 committed a blunder : Though, while he was thus 
 bufy in defacing the parts that were perfefl, he fuf- 
 fered the accidental blemifhes ofothers to remain. See 
 the preface to this edition. 
 
 CON-
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PARTI. 
 
 A Voyage to Lilliput. 
 
 HAP. I. The author gives fame account of h'lnifelf 
 and family. His f.rft inducements to travel. He 
 is Jlipvjiecked^ and fwims for rjis life ; gets fafe on JJjore 
 in the country of Lilliput i is made a prijcner, and 
 carried up the country ^ Page i 
 
 Chap. II. The emperor o/" Lilliput, attended ly fever al 
 of the nobility, comes to fee the author in his confinement. 
 The emperor s pefon and habit defcribtd. Learned ?ncn 
 appointed to teach the author their language. He gains 
 favour by his mild difpofition. His pockets are fearchedy 
 and hisfivcrd and pifiols taken from him, i z 
 
 Ch A r. II L The author diverts the emperor and his nobility 
 
 of both fexes in a very uncommon fnanner. The diver- 
 
 fions of the court of L.illiput defcribed. The author hath 
 
 his liberty granted him up07i certain conditions, 23 
 
 Chap. IV. Mildendo, the metropolis of \Ji\\\Y>\it, defcri- 
 bed, together vjith the emperor^ s palace. A convcrfa'ion 
 betmjeeri the author and a principal fecretar^ concerning 
 the affairs of that e7)ipire. The author^ offers to fer've 
 the emp>ergr in his vjars, 3 1 
 
 Chap.V. The author, by an extraordinary firatagtm, 
 prevents an itinjafon. A high title of honour is con- 
 ferred T.pon him. Ambaffadors arrive from the emperor 
 c/'Blefufcu, and Jue for peace. The etnprefs's apartment 
 en fire by an accident ; the author infrumentc.l in Jwving 
 she refl of the palace, 3 6 
 
 Chap.
 
 3di CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. VI. Of the inhabitants c^Lilliput ; their learn' 
 ing, lavjs, and ciijioms, the manner of educating their 
 children. The author'' s <way of living in that country. 
 His vindication of a great lady, P^g^ 43 
 
 Chap. VII. The author, being informed of a dejign to 
 accufe him of high-treafon, maketh his efcape to B!e- 
 fufcu- His reception there, 53 
 
 Chap. VIII. The author, by a lucky accident , finds means 
 to leave Blefufcu ; and, after fome dificulties, returns 
 fafe to his nati-ve country y 62 
 
 P A R T IL 
 
 A Voyage to Brobdingnag. 
 
 Chap. I. A great form defcrihed, the longboat fent to 
 fetch water, the author goes ijjith it to difcouer the 
 country, tie is left on Jhore, isfeizedby one of the na- 
 tives, and carried to a farmer^ s houfe. His reception^ 
 •vjith feveral accidents that happened there. A defcrip- 
 tion of the inhabitants, 69 
 
 Chap. II. A dfcription of the farmer's daughter. The 
 author carried to a market-to^vn, and then to the metro- 
 polis. The particulars of his journey, 82 
 
 Chap. HI. The author fent for to court. The qw.en buys 
 him of his mafler the farmer, and prefents him to the 
 king. He difputes vjith his majefy's great fcholars. 
 An apartment at court provided for the author. He 
 is in high favour vuilh the queen. He flands up for the 
 honour of his ovun country. His quarrels vjith the qtieen^s 
 dvoarf, 88 
 
 Chap. IV. The country dcfcribcd. A propofal for c'or- 
 reSiing modern maps. The king's palace, and fome ac- 
 count of the 7netropolis. The author's vuay of travelling. 
 The chief temple defcribed, 99 
 
 Ch A p . V . Several adventures that happened to the author. 
 The execution of a criminal. The author Jhevjs his Jkill 
 in navigation^ 104. 
 
 Chap.
 
 CONTENTS. xlii 
 
 Ch a p . VI. Se'veral contrivances of the author to pleafe 
 the king and queen. He Jkeixjs his Jkill in mujick. The 
 king enquires into /^^_/?^/f c/'England, --ivhich the author 
 relates to him. The kin£ s ohfervations thereon^ PageUp. 
 
 Chap. VII. The author's love of his country. He makes a 
 propofal of much advantage to the king, %vhich is rejeS- 
 ed. The kirt^s great ignorance in politicks. The learn- 
 ing of that country very imperfeB and corf Ked. The lavi:s, 
 and military affairs, and parties in the fate, 123 
 
 Chap. VIII. The king and queen make a progrefs to the. 
 
 frontiers. The author attends them. The inanner in 
 
 ^which he leaves the country 'very particularly related^ 
 
 He returns to England, 130 
 
 PART III. 
 
 A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Lugg- 
 NAGG, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan. 
 
 Chap. I. The author fets out o;i his third voyage, is taken 
 by pyrates. The malice of aT)\i\Q\\max\.. His arrival 
 at an if and. He is received into Laputa, 1 43 
 
 Chap. II. The humours and dijpofitions of the Laputians 
 defcrihed. An account of their learning. Of the king^ 
 and his court. The author'' s reception there. The inha- 
 bitants fubjecl to fear and dijquietudes. An account 
 of the vjomen, l^p 
 
 Chap. III. A pha-nomencn folved by modern philofophy and 
 aftronomy. The Laputians great improvements m the lat- 
 ter. The king's method cf fupprejjing infurreciions, 158 
 
 Chap. IV. The author leaves Laputa, is conveyed to^aX- 
 nibarbi, arrives at the metropolis. A defcription of the 
 metropolis, and the country adjoining. The author hofpi- 
 tably received by a great lord. His ccnverjation vjtth 
 that lord, 163 
 
 Chap. V. The author permitted to fee the grand academy 
 
 o/'Lagado. The academy largely defcribed. The arts 
 
 lAiherein the profejfors employ thtmjelvss, 1 69 
 
 3 Chap.
 
 »v CONTENTS. 
 
 Ch ap. VI. A further account of the academy. The au» 
 thor propofes fame impro-vementSy n.vhich are honourably 
 recei-uedf P^ge 177 
 
 Ch a p. VII. The author leaves Lagado, arrives at MaU 
 tlonada. No jhip ready. He takes a JJ?ort --voyage to 
 Glubbdubdrib. His reception by the go'vcrnor y 183 
 
 Chap. Vlll. A further account of G\\:^\,^\}\ids''k). An- 
 cient and modern hijlory corrected, 1 8 7 
 
 Chap. IX. The anther'' s return to Maldonada. Sails to 
 thelingd.mofLaggn^gg. The author caifyicd. He 
 isfentfcr to court. The manner of bis admittance. The 
 kings great lenity to his JuhjedSy loj. 
 
 Chap. X. The 'L\iggXiMi'g\zw% commended. A particular 
 defer iptJon of the Struldbrugs, --with maty con-verfations 
 bet'ween the author and fame eminent perfons upon that 
 fubjeSI, 197 
 
 Chap. XI. The author leaves Luggnagg, and fails to 
 Japan. From thence he returns in a Dutch Jhip to 
 Amlterdam, and from Amlterdam to England, 207 
 
 PART IV: 
 A Voyage to the country of the Houyhnhnms. 
 
 Chap. I. The author fets out as captain of a fyip. His 
 men confpire againf him, conf/ie him a long time to his 
 cab bin. Set him on Jhore in an unknoivn land, Hetra- 
 iiels up into the country. The Yahoos, a ftrange fort of 
 animal, defcribed. The author meets t--wo Hou^lm- 
 hnms, 2 1 1 
 
 Chap. II. The author conduced by a Houyhnhnm to his 
 houfe. The hovfe defcribed. The author'' s reception. The 
 food of the Houyhnhnms. The author in difrefs for 
 fjaru cf meat, is at laji relie-ved. His manner of feed- 
 ing in this country, 2 1 8 
 
 Chap, III. The author Jiudious to learn the language; 
 the Houyhnhnm, hit majlcry affijis in teaching him. 
 
 The
 
 CONTENTS. XV 
 
 The language defer i bed. Se-v.eral Houyhnhnms of qua- 
 lity came out of curioflty to fee the author. He gi-ues his 
 mafler afhort account of his <voyage. Page 224. 
 
 Chap. IV. The Houyhnhnms notion of truth and falf- 
 hood. The author's difcourfe difappro-ved by his majicr. 
 The author gi-ues a Jiiore particular account of himfelf, 
 and the accidents of his <vyagey 230 
 
 Chap. V. The author ^ at his mafler' s command, informs 
 him oftheflate ©/"England. The caiifcs ofnvar among 
 the princes o/" Europe. The author begins to explain the 
 Englifh conflitution, 236 
 
 Ch AP. VI. A continuation of the flate o/'England under 
 queen Anne. The chara£ler of a firfl 7ninijhr of fiat e 
 in European courts, 243 
 
 Chap. VII. The author's great lonte of his natiue country. 
 His mafler' s objeruations upon the confiitutlcn and adtni- 
 niflration o/' England, as defcribed by the author, ivith 
 parallel cafes and comparifons. His 7na/lcr's obfer^ations 
 upon human nature, 250 
 
 Chap. VIII. The author relates fe'veral particulars of the 
 yahoos. The great ^uirtues cf the \io\]iy\ivi}[iUva%, The 
 education and exercije of their youth. Their general 
 affembly, 258 
 
 Ch AP . IX. A grand debate at the general affembly of the 
 Houyhnhnms, and honxj it njoas determined. The 
 ^earning of the Houyhnhnms. Their buildings. Their 
 manner of burials. The defe£li'venefs of their language, 
 
 264. 
 
 Chap. X. The author's ceconomy, and happy life, among 
 the Houyhnhnms. His great improuement in --virtue 
 by conuerjing n.vith them. Their con-verfations. The 
 author hath notice gi^en hjm by his mafler, that he mufl 
 depart from the country, he falls into a f'woon for 
 grief; but fubmits. He contri-ves and fnijhes a canoo 
 by the help of a fello-M-fer^ant^ and puts to fea at a 
 ijenturey 270 
 
 Chap.
 
 xvi CONTENTS. 
 
 Chap. XT. The author's dangerous 'voyage. He arri%<et 
 at New-Holland, hoping to fettle there. Is nuounded 
 nuith an arronv by one of the nati'ves. Is feized and 
 carried by force into a portugueze /?'//'. I he great c't- 
 niilities of the captain. The author arri'ves at England, 
 
 Page 277 
 
 Chap. XIl. The author'' s 'veracity. His defign in fub- 
 lijhin^ this 'work. His cenfure of thofe travellers 'who 
 f'wer've from the truth. The author clears hi?nfelffrom 
 any finifier ends in nuriting. An objedion aifvuered. 
 The method of planting colonies. His nati'vt country 
 commended. The right of the cro'wn to thofe countries 
 defcribed by the author is jujlificd. The difficulty of 
 conquering them. The author takes his lafi lewue of the 
 reader ; propofeth his manner of li'ving for the future ; 
 gives good advice and concludeth^ 286 
 
 A VOY-
 
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 rA. 
 
 if OP*8 1? 
 
 P.^NIintnoi 
 I.GoodTorhiiv^ 
 
 SaUvbar 
 
 svt 
 
 0>^* 
 
 
 leiuscu. 
 
 illlpilt 
 ilcovevd A.DaGpq ^i 
 
 '4. 
 
 \H
 
 [■ 1 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 T O 
 
 L I L L I P U T. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The author gives feme account of himfeJf and family : his 
 
 Jirji inducements to travel. He is fi>ipix:recked, and 
 
 fvuims for his Ife ; gets fafe on fhore in the country of 
 
 Lilliput ; is made a prifoner, and carried up tht 
 
 country. 
 
 MY father had a fmall eftate in Nottinghamjhire ; 
 I was the third of five fons. He fent me to 
 Emanuel college in Cambridge at fourteen years 
 old, where I refided three years, and applied myfelf 
 clofe to my ftudies ; 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 
 
 Thefe voyages are intended as fyftems of philofophy by point- 
 
 a moral political romance to ing out the errcr;, and applying 
 
 correft vice by thewing its dtfor- falutary means to avoid them, 
 
 mity in oppofition to the beauty Orrery, 
 «f virtue, and to amend the falfe 
 
 Vol. I[. B then
 
 2 AVOYAGE 
 
 then fending me fmall Aims of money, I laid them out 
 in learning navigation, and other parts of the mathe- 
 maticks, ufeful to thofe who intend to travel, as I al- . 
 ways believed it would be fome time or other my for- 
 tune to do. When I left Mr. Bales, I went down to 
 niy fatlier ; where, by the affiftance of him and my 
 uncle Jcira, and fome other relations, I got fort/ 
 pounds, and a promife of thirty pounds a year ta 
 maintain me at Leyden : there I ftudied phyfick two 
 years and feven months, knowing it would be ufeful 
 in long voyages. 
 
 Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recom- 
 mended by my good mafter Mr. Bates to be furgeon to 
 the S^juallov), captain Ahraha.m PafineH, commander ; 
 with whom I continued three years and a half, making^ 
 a voyage or two into tlie Levant, and fome other parts. 
 When I came back, I refolved to fettle in Londcn, to 
 which Mr. Bates, my mailer, encouraged me, and by 
 him I was recommended to feveral patients. 1 took part 
 of a fm.iU houfe In the Old-Jury ; and, being advifed 
 to alter m.y condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton^ 
 fecohd daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hofier in NetJo- 
 gatejireet, with whom I received four hundred pounds 
 for a portion. 
 
 But, my good mafter Bates dying in two years after, 
 and 1 having few friends, my buiinefs began to fail ; 
 for my confcience would not fuffer me to imitate the 
 bad praifiice cf too many among my brethren. Hav- 
 ing therefore confulted v/ith my wife, and fome of my 
 acquaintance, 1 determined to go again to fca. I was 
 iurgeon fuccefiively in tv.'O ihips, and made feveral 
 voyages for fix years to the Eaji and Weji Indies, by 
 ■which I got feme addition to my fortune. My hours 
 of leifure I fpent in reading the beft authors, antient 
 and modern, being alvv.ys provided with a good num- 
 ber of boolcs ; and, when 1 wa^ afnore, in obferving 
 the manners and difpofitions of the people, as well as 
 learning their language, wherein i had a great facility 
 by the Ilrength of my memory. 
 
 i The
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 5 
 
 The lall of thefe voyages not proving very fortu* 
 nate, I grew weary of the fea, and intended to itay at 
 home with my wife and family. I removed from the 
 Old-Jury to Fetter-lane y and from thence to IVapping^ 
 hoping to get bufmefs among the failors ; but it would 
 not turn to account. After three years expe£lation that 
 things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer 
 from captain William Pritchard, mailer of the AntelofCy 
 who was making a voyage to the South-Sea. We fet 
 fail from Brijiol, May 4th, 1699, and our voyage at 
 firft was veiy piofperous. 
 
 It would not be proper, for fome reafons, to trou- 
 ble the reader with the particulars of our adventures 
 in thofe feas : let it fuffice to inform him, that, in our 
 paffage from thence to the Eaji-Indies, we were driven 
 by a violent ftorm to the north-well of Fan Diemen's 
 land. By an obfervation we found ourfelves in the 
 latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes fouth. Twelve of 
 our crew were dead by immoderate labour and ill 
 food ; the reft were in a very weak condition. On 
 the fifth of Nonjember, which was the beginning of 
 fummer in thofe parts, the weather being very hazy, 
 the feamen fpied a rock within half a cable's length of 
 the Ihip ; but the wind was fo llrong, that we were 
 driven dircftly upon it, and immediately fplit. 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 fhip 
 and the lock. We rowed by my computation about 
 three leagues, till we were able to work no longer, 
 being already fpent with labour while we were in the 
 {hip. We therefore trufted ourfelves to the mercy of 
 the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overfet 
 by a fudden flurr}' from the north. What became of 
 my companions in the boat, as well as of thofe who 
 efcaped on the rock, or were left in the veflel, I can- 
 not tell ; but conclude they were all loft. For my own 
 part, 1 fwam as fortune direfted me, and was pulhed 
 forward by wind and tide. 1 often let my legs drop, 
 and could feel no bottom : but when I was almoft 
 
 B 2 gone,
 
 4 A V O V A G E 
 
 gone, and able to ftruggle no longer, I found myfelf 
 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 conjedlu- 
 red was about eight a clock in the evening. I then ad- 
 vanced forward near half a mile, but could not difco- 
 ver any figns of houfes or inhabitants ; at leaft 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 myfelf much inclined to 
 fleep. 1 lay down on the grafs, which was very Ihort 
 and foft, where I flept founder than ever 1 remembered 
 to have done in mv life, and, as I reckoned, about nine 
 hours; for, when I awaked, it was juft day-light. I 
 attempted to rife, but was not able to ftir j for, as I 
 happened to lie on my back, 1 found my arms and legs 
 were ftrongly fattened on each fide to the ground ; and 
 my hair, which was long and thick, tied down in ths 
 fame manner. I likewife felt feveral (lender 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 
 noife about mc ; but, in the pofture I lay, could fee 
 nothing except the (ky. In a little time I felt fome- 
 rhino- alive moving on my ieft leg, which advancing 
 gently forward over my breall came almoft up to my 
 chin ; when, bending my eyes downward as much as I 
 could, 1 perceived it to be a human creature not fix 
 inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and 
 a quiver at his back. In the mean tine, 1 felt at leaft 
 forty more of the fame kind (as 1 conjeftured) follow- 
 ing the fuLl. 1 was in the utmoil altonilbment, and 
 roared fo load, that they all ran back in a fright ; and 
 fome of them, as I v.'as afterwards told, were hurt with 
 tlic fills they got by leaping from my fides upon the 
 oTOund. llowcver, they foon returned, and one of 
 them, who ventured fo i'ar as to get a full fight of my 
 fau', lifting i»p his hands and eyes by way of admira- 
 tion.
 
 TOLILLIPUT. $, 
 
 tion, cried out in a fhrill but diftinft voice, hekinah de- 
 gul : the others repeated the fame words feveral times, 
 but I then knew not what they meant. I lay all this 
 while, as the reader may believe, in great uneafinefs ; 
 at length, ftruggling to get loofe, I had the fortune to 
 break the ftrings, and wrench out the pegs, that fail- 
 ened my left arm to the ground ; for, by lifting it up 
 to my face, I difcovered 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 
 firings that tied down my hair on the left fide, fo that I 
 was juft able to turn my head about two inches. But 
 the creatures ran oiF a fecond time, before I could 
 feize them ; whereupon there was a great fhout in a 
 very fhrill accent, and, after it ceafed, I heard one of 
 them cry aloud, tolgo phonac ; when in an inllant 1 fclc 
 above an hundred arrows difcharged on my left hand, 
 which pricked me like fo many needles ; and befides, 
 they Ihot 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 immediately covered with my left-hand. When this 
 fhower of arrows was over, 1 fell a groaning with grief 
 and pain, and then ftriving again to get loofe, they 
 difcharged another volley larger than the firll, and 
 fome of them attempted with Ipears to iUclc me in the 
 iides ; but by good luck I had on me a bufF-jerkin, 
 which they could not pierce. I thought it the moil 
 prudent method to lie ftill, and my defign was to con- 
 tinue fo till night, when, my left-hand being already 
 loofe, I could eafily free myfelf : and, as for the inha- 
 bitants, I had reafon to believe I might be a match for 
 the greateft army they could bring againft me, if they 
 were all of the fame lize with him that I faw. But- 
 fortune difpofed otherways of me. When the people 
 obferved I was quiet, they difcharged no more arrows : 
 but, by the noife I heard, I knew their numbers in- 
 creafed ; and about four yards from me, over-againft 
 jny Tight ear, I he.ard a knocking for above an hour, 
 
 B 3 Like
 
 6 A VOYAGE 
 
 like that of people at work ; when turning my heail 
 that way, as well as the pegs and firings would permit 
 me, I faw a flage erefted about a foot and half from 
 the ground, capable of holding fom- 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 underftood not one 
 fyllable. But I Ihould haVe mentioned, that, before the 
 principal perfon began his oration, he cried out three 
 times, langro dehul fan; (thefe words and the former 
 were afterwards repeated and explained to me). Where- 
 upon immediately about fifty of the inhabitants came 
 and cut the firings that fattened 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 appeared 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 a£led eveiy part of an orator, and I could obferve 
 many periods of threatenings, and others of promifes, 
 pity, and kindnefs. I anfwered in a few words, but in 
 the moft fubmifhve manner, lifting up my left-hand and 
 both my eyes to the fun, as calling him for a witnefs ; 
 'and being almoft famifhed with hunger, having not 
 eaten a morfel for fome hours before I left the ihip, I 
 found the demands of nature fo ftrong upon me, that 
 I could not forbear fliewing my impatience (perhaps 
 againll the flrift rules of decency) by putting my finger 
 frequently to my mouth, to fignify that 1 wanted food. 
 The hurgo (for fo they call a great lord, as I afterwards 
 learnt) underftood me very well. He defcended from 
 the flage, and commanded that feveral ladders fhould 
 be applied to my fides, on which above an hundred of 
 the inhabitants mounted, and wrlked towards my 
 mouth, laden with bafkets full of meat, which had been 
 provided and fent thither by the king's orders, upon 
 the firft intelligence he received of mt. 1 obferved 
 
 the;e
 
 TOLILLIPUT. f 
 
 there was the fleih of feveral animals, but could not 
 diltinguifh them by the tafte. There were fhoulders, 
 legs, and loins, ihaped like thofe of mutton, and very 
 well drefTed, but fmaller than the wings of a lark. I 
 eat them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three 
 loaves at a time about the bignefs of mufket-bullets. 
 They fupplied me as faft as they could, fiiewing a thou- 
 fand marks of wonder and aftonifhment at my bulk and 
 appetite. I then made another fign, that I wanted 
 drink. They found by my eating, that a fmall quan- 
 tity would not fuffice me, and, being a moft ingenious 
 people, they flung up with great dexterity one of their 
 largefl; hoglheads, 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 
 tailed like a fmall wine of Burgutidy, but much more 
 delicious. They brought me a fecond hogfhead, which 
 I drank in the fame manner, and made figns for more ; 
 but they had none to give me. When I had perform- 
 ed thefe wonders, they fhouted for joy, and danced up- 
 on my breaft, repeating feveral times, as they did at firft, 
 hekinah degul. They made me a fign that I fliould throw 
 down the two hogiheads, but firlt warning the people 
 below to Hand out of the way, crying aloud, borach 
 me-vola, and, when they faw the veflels in the air, there 
 was an univerfal fhout of hekinah degul. I confefs I 
 was often tempted, while they were pafling backwards 
 and forwards on my body, to feize forty or fifty of the 
 firft that came in my reach, and dafh them againft the 
 ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, 
 . which probably might not be the worft they could do, 
 and the promife of honour I made them, for fo I inter- 
 preted my fubmiffive behaviour, foon drove out thefe 
 imaginations. Befides, I now confidered myfelf as- 
 bound by the laws of hofpitality to a people, who had 
 treated me with fo much expence and magnificence. 
 However, in my thoughts I could not fufficiently won- 
 der at the intrepidity of thefe diminutive mortals, who 
 durft venture to mount and walk upon my body, while 
 
 B 4 one 
 
 /
 
 8 AVOYAGE 
 
 one of my hands was at liberty, without trembHng a.i 
 the very fight of fo prodigious a creature, as I muft ap- 
 pear to them. After fome time, when they obferved 
 that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared 
 before me a perfon of high rank from his imperial ma- 
 jefty. His excellency, having mounted on the fmall of 
 my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with 
 about a dozen of his retinue. And producing his cre- 
 dentials under the fignet royal, which he applied clofe 
 to my eyes, fpoke about ten minutes without any figns 
 ©f anger, but with a kind of determinate refolution ; 
 often pointing forward?, which, as I afterwards found, 
 was towards the capital city, about half a mile diftant, 
 whither it was agreed by his majefly in council that I 
 muft be conveyed. I anfwered in few words, but to no. 
 purpofe, 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 I defired my liberty. 
 It appeared, that he underftood me well enough, for he 
 fhook his head by way of difapprobation, and held his 
 hand in a pofture to ihew, that I muft be carried as a 
 prifoner. However, he made other figns to let me un~ 
 derftand, that I fhould have meat and drink enough, 
 and very good treatment. W hereupon I once more 
 thought of attempting to break my bonds ; but again, 
 when I felt the fmart of their arrows upon my face and 
 hands, which were all in blifters, and many of the darts 
 Hill flicking in them, and obferving likewife that the 
 number of my enemies increafed, I gave tokens to let 
 them know, that they might do with me what they plea- 
 fed. Upon this tl-e /jurgo and his train withdrevv with 
 much civility and chearful countenances. Soon after I 
 heard a general ftiout, with frequent repetitions of the 
 word peplom felan, and I felt great numbers of people on 
 my left fide relaxing the cords to fuch a degree, that I 
 was able to turn upon my right, and to eafe myfeli with 
 makieg water; which I very plentifully did, to the 
 great alloniflinient of the people, who conjedyring, b.y 
 
 my
 
 TOLILLIPUT. g 
 
 my motion, what I was going to do, immediately open- 
 ed to the right and left on that fide, to avoid the torrent 
 which fell with fuch noife and violence from me. But, 
 before this, they had daubed my face and both my 
 hands with a fort of ointment very pleafant to the 
 fmell, which in a few minutes removed all the fmart of 
 their arrows. Thefe circum fiances, added to the refrelh- 
 ment I had received by their vitSuals and drink, which 
 were very nourifcing, difpofed me to fleep. I flept a- 
 bout eight hours, as I was afterwards afibred ; and it 
 was no wonder, for the phyficians, by the emperor's 
 order, had nungled a fleepy potion in the hoglheads of 
 wine. 
 
 It feems that, upon tike firil moment I was difcover- 
 ed fleeping on the ground after my landing, the em- 
 peror had early notice of it by an exprcfs ; and deter- 
 mined in council, that I fhoold be tied in the manner I 
 have related, vvhich was done in the night while I 
 flept) that plenty of meat and drink fiiould be fent to 
 «ie, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital 
 city. 
 
 This refolution perhaps may appear very bold and 
 dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated 
 by any prince in Europe on the like cccafion ; howe- 
 ver, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well 
 as geneious : for, fuppofing thefe people had endea- 
 voured to kill me with their fpears and arrows while I . 
 was afleep, I Aould certainly have awaked with the 
 firll: fenfe of fmart, vvhich might fo far have rouzed my 
 rage and llrength, as to have enabled me to break the 
 firings, wherewith 1 was tied ; after which, as they 
 were not able to make refillance, fo they could expett 
 no mercy. 
 
 Thefe people are mod excellent mathematicians, and 
 arrived to a gre;.t perfection in mechanicks b}' the coun- 
 tenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a 
 renowned pairon oi learning. 'I his prince hath feveral 
 machines fixed on wheels for thi carriage of trees and 
 pther great weights. He often builds his largeft men of 
 
 war,
 
 10 AVOYAGE 
 
 war, whereof ibme are nine feet long, in the woods where 
 the timber grows, and has them carried on thefe engines 
 three or four hundred yards to the fea. Five hundred 
 carpenters and engineers were immediately fet at work 
 to prepare the greateft engine they had. It was a frame 
 of wood raifed three inches from the ground, about fe- 
 ven feet long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two 
 wheels. The fhout I heard was upon the arrival of this 
 engine, which it fecms fet out in four hours after my 
 landing. It was brought parallel to me, as I lay. But 
 the principal difficulty was to raife and place me in this 
 \'ehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were e- 
 refted for this purpofe, and very ftrong cords of the big- 
 Befs of packthread were faftened by hooks to many ban- 
 dages, which the workmen had girt round my neck, 
 my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of 
 the ilrongeft men were employed to draw up thefe cords 
 by many pullies faflened on the poles, and thus, in lefs 
 than three hours, I was raifed and flung into the engine, 
 and there tied faft. All this I was told, for, while the 
 whole operation was performing, I lay in a profound 
 lleep by the force of that foporiferous medicine infufed 
 into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's 
 largeft horfes, each about four inches and an 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 a- 
 waked by a very ridiculous accident ; for the carriage 
 being llopt awhile to adjuft fomething, that was out of 
 order, two or three of the young natives had the curio- 
 fity to fee how I looked when I was afleep ; they climb- 
 ed up into the engine, and advancing very foftiy to my 
 face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the 
 iharp end of his half-pike a good way up into my I :ft 
 noftril, which tickled my nofe like a ftraw, and made 
 me fneeze violently f : whereupon they dole off unper- 
 
 ceived, 
 
 •f It has been remarked, that courage in whatever caufe, though 
 
 It
 
 T O L I L L r P U T. It 
 
 Ceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the caufe 
 of my awaking i'o fudderily. We made a long march 
 the remaining part of the day, and relied at night with 
 five hundred guards on each fide of me, half widi tor- 
 ches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to ihoot 
 me, if 1 Ihould offer to llir. The next morning at fun- 
 rife we continued our march, and arrived within two 
 hundred yirds of the city-gates about noon. The em- 
 peror, and all his court, came out to meet us, but his 
 great officers would by no means fuffer his majeily to 
 endanger hii perfon by mounting on my body. 
 
 At the place where the carriage llopt, there Hood an 
 ancient temple, d.-'cmed to be the largeft in the whole 
 kingdom, which, having been polluted fome years be^ 
 fore by an unnatural murder, was according to the zeal 
 of thof" people lool-ed upon as prophane, and there- 
 fore had been applied to common ufe, and all the orna- 
 ments and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was 
 determined I ihould lodge. The great gate fronting to 
 the north was about four feet high, and almoil two feet 
 wide, through which I could eafily creep. On each fide 
 of the gate was a fmall window, not above fix inches 
 from the ground : into that on the left fide the king's 
 fmi h coiiveyed fourfcore and eleven chains, like thofe 
 that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almoft as 
 large, which were locked to my left leg with fix and 
 thirty padlocks. Over-againft this temple, on the 
 other fide of the great highway, at twenty feet diftance, 
 there was a turret at leail five feet high. Here the em- 
 peror af^ended with many principal lords of his court 
 to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, 
 
 it fometim^s excites indignation, rifon with Gulliver ; to whom 
 
 is nevti the object or contempt ; he was fo much inferior, that a 
 
 but this appears to be true, only blaft of the mar.-mour.tains nof- 
 
 betaue courage is fuppo'.'ed to trils would have enda.-.gered his 
 
 i npiy fuperionty : for this officer life j and, if heroifm itielf is not 
 
 .;'« the guards becomes extremely proof ag.inil ridicule, thofe fure- 
 
 rouulous and contemptible by ly are Lilliputians in philofophy 
 
 an a<ft of the moft daring cuiio- who co.Tfider ridicule as the teft 
 
 fi y, which fets him in compa- of truth, 
 
 for
 
 12 AVOYAGE 
 
 for i could not fee them. It was reckoned, that abo^^e 
 an hundred thoufand inhabitants came out of the town 
 upon the fame errand ; and, in fpite of my guards, I be- 
 lieve, there could not be fewer than ten thoufand at fe- 
 I'eral times, who mounted my body by the help of lad- 
 ders. But a proclamation was foon iflued to forbid it 
 upon pain of death. Wlien the workmen found it 
 was impoffible for me to break loofe, they cut all the 
 firings that bound me ; whereupon I role up with as 
 melancholy a difpofition as ever I had in my life. But 
 the nojfe and aflonifhment of the people at feeing me 
 rife and walk are not to be exprefled. The chains, that 
 held my left leg, were about two yards long, and gave 
 jne not only the liberty of walking backwards and fur- 
 wards in a femicircle ; but, being fixed within four 
 inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at 
 ray full length in the temple. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Tbe emperor 5/"LilHput, aUended by feueral of the nohiliiy, 
 comes to fee the author in his confinement. The emperor s 
 ferfon and habit defcribtd. Learned men appointed to 
 teach the author their language. He gains favour by his 
 mild dij'pcftion. His pockets are fearched, and hisfajord 
 and piftols taken from him. 
 
 WH E N I found myfelf on my feet, I looked a- 
 bout me, and muft confefs I never beheld a more 
 entertaining profpedt. The country around appeared 
 like a continued garden, and the inclofed fields, which 
 were generally forty feet fquare, refembled fo many 
 beds of flowers. 'I'hefe fields were intermingled with 
 woods of half a Ibng ti and the tallell trees, as I could 
 judge, appeared to be feven feet high. I viewed the 
 town on my left hand, which looked like the painted 
 fccnc of a city in a thcafe. 
 
 I had been for fome hours extremely prefled by the 
 
 I A fiavg it a pole or perch j fixteen feet and an half. 
 
 neceffities
 
 T L I L L I P t T. 13 
 
 neCeffities of nature ; which was no wonder, it being al - 
 moft two days fince I had lafl difburthened myfelf. I 
 was under great difficulties between urgency and fhame. 
 The belt expedient I could think on, was to creep into 
 my houfe, which I acccordingly did ; and, (hutting the 
 gate after me, I went as far as the length of my chain 
 would fuffer, and difcharged my body of that uneafy 
 load. But this was the only time I was ever guilty of 
 fo uncleanly an aftion : for which I cannot but hope the 
 candid reader will give fome allowance, after he hath 
 maturely and impartially confidered my cafe, and the 
 diftrefs I was in. From this time my conftant praftice 
 was, a? foon as I rofe, to perform that bufmefs in open 
 air at the full extent of my chain ; and due care was 
 taken every morning before company came, that the of- 
 fenfive matter (hould be carried off in wheel-barrows by 
 two fervants appointed for that purpofe. I would not 
 have dwelt fo long upon a circumftance, that perhaps at 
 firll fight may appear not very momentous, if I had 
 not thought it necelTary to juilify my charader in point 
 of cleanlinefs to the world ; which I am told fome of 
 my maligners have been pleafed, upon this and other oc- 
 cafions, to call in queftion. 
 
 When this adventure was at an end, T came back 
 out of my houfe, having occafion for frelh air. The 
 emperor was already defcended from the tower, and ad- 
 vancing on horfe-back towards me, which had like to 
 have coft him dear ; for the beaft, though very well 
 trained, yet wholly unufed to fuch a fight, which ap- 
 peared 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 majefty had time to difmount. 
 When he alighted, he furveyed me round with great ad- 
 miration ; but kept beyond the length of my chain. He 
 ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already pre- 
 pared, to give me viftuals and drink, which they pufh- 
 ed forward in a fort of vehicles upon wheels, till I could 
 reach them. I took thefe vehicles, and foon emptied 
 I them
 
 14 A V O y AG E 
 
 them all ; twenty of them were filled with meat, aii<3 
 ten with liquor ; each of the former afforded ir.e two or 
 three good mouthfuls ; and I emptied the liquor of ten 
 vefiels, which was contained in earthen vials, into one 
 vehicle, drinking it oif at a draught ; and fo I did with 
 the reft. The eniprefs, and young princes of the blood 
 of both fexes, attended by many ladies, fat at fome dif- 
 tance 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 almoft the breadth of my nail, than any of 
 his court, which alone is enough to itrike an awe into 
 the beholders. His features are ilrong and mafculine, 
 with an Aufirian lip and arched nofe, his complexion 
 olive, his countenance ere6l, his body and limbs well 
 proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deport- 
 ment majeftic. He was then paft his prime, being 
 twenty-eight years and three quarters old, of which he 
 had reigned about fevcn in great felicity, and generally 
 viflotious. For the better convenience of beholding 
 him, I lay on my fide, fo that my face was parallel to 
 his, and he flood but three yards ofi': however, I have 
 had him fince many times in my hand, and therefore 
 cannot be deceived in the defcription. His drefs was 
 very plain and fimple, and the falbion of it between the 
 adaiick and the europcan : but he had on his head a light 
 helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on 
 the ciefl. He held his fword drawn in his hand to de- 
 fend himfelf, if I fhoald happen to break loofe -f ; it 
 was almofl: three inches long ; the hilt and fcabbard were 
 gold enriched with diamoiids. His voice was llirill, but 
 very clear and articulate, and I could diflindlly hear it, 
 
 \ The mifcjline flrenoth of man pride ; the objects of which 
 
 features, whxh GuUiver could are trifling difl-imniions, whether 
 
 not fee, till he laid his face upon of perfon or tank ; the ridiculous 
 
 ike ground j and the awful fupe- parade and oflentation of a pig- 
 
 lioiity of fiature in a being, niy j which deiive not only thsir 
 
 V(htitn lie held in his hand ; the orij/in but theii ufe from the (ol- 
 
 hflmet, th*" plume, and the Jy, wcnknpf!:^ and imperfeflioa 
 
 iwoid, arc. a tine reproof of hu- cf ourfdvcs and others. 
 
 when
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. ij 
 
 v,'hen I flood up. The ladies and courtiers were all moft 
 mao-nificently clad, fo that the fpot they flood upon 
 feemed to refemble a petticoat fpread on the ground, em- 
 broidered with figures of gold and filver. His imperial 
 majefty fpoke often to me, and I returned anfvvers ; but 
 neither of us could underftand a fyllable. There were 
 feveral of his priefts and lawyers prefent, (as I conjec- 
 tured by their habits) who were commanded to addrefs 
 themfelves to me, and I fpoke to them in as many lan- 
 guages as I had the leaft fmattering of, which were 
 high and lo^v dutch, latin, french, fpanip, italian, and 
 lingua franca ; but all to no purpofe. After about two 
 hours the court retired, and 1 was left with a llrong 
 guard to prevent the impertinence, and probably the 
 malice of tl;e rabble, who were very impatient to croud 
 about me as near as they durft, and fome of them had 
 the impudence to fhoot 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 order- 
 ed fix of the ring-leaders to be feized, and thought no 
 punilhment fo proper as to deliver them bound into my 
 hands ; which fome of his foldiers accordingly did, 
 pufliing 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 fixtih, I 
 made a countenance as if I would eat him alive. The 
 poor man fqualled terribly, and the colonel and his of- 
 ficers were in much pain, efpecially when they faw me 
 take out my penknife : but 1 foon put them out of fear ; 
 for, looking mildly and immediately cutting the firings 
 he was bound with, I fet him gently on the ground, and 
 away he ran. I treated the rell in the fame manner, 
 taking them one by one out of my pocket ; and I ob- 
 ferved both the foldiers and people were highly delight- 
 ed at this mark of my clemency, which was reprefcnted 
 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
 
 $6 AVOYAGE 
 
 gave orders to have a bed prepared for me. Six htih-' 
 dred beds f of the common meafure were brought in 
 carriages, and worked up in my houfe; an hundred 
 and fifty of their beds, fewn together, made up the 
 breadth and length ; and thefe were four doubled, which 
 however kept me but very indifterently from the hard- 
 nefs of the floor, that was of fmooth Hone. By the 
 fame computation they provided me with fheets, blank- 
 ets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one, who had 
 been fo long inured to hardfhips. 
 
 As the news of my arrival fpread through the king- 
 dom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and 
 curious people to fee me ; fo that the villages were al- 
 moft emptied ; and great neglccl of tillage and houf^ 
 hold airairs muft have enfued, if his imperial majefty had 
 notprovided by feveral proclamations and orders of ftate 
 againft this inconveniency. He direfted, that thofe, 
 who had already beheld me, (hould return home, and 
 not prefume to come within fifty yards of my houfe 
 without licence from court ; whereby the fecretaries of 
 ftate 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 afTured by a particular friend, a perfon 
 of great quality, who was as much in the fecret as any, 
 that the court was under many difiiculties concerning 
 me. Thev apprehended my breaking loofe ; that mj 
 diet would be very expenfive, and might caufe a famine. 
 Sometimes they determined to llarve me, or at leaft to 
 flioot me in the face and hands with poifoned arrows, 
 which would foon difpatch me ; but again they confider- 
 ed, that the ftench of fo large a carcafe might produce 
 a plague in the metropolis, and probably fpread thro' 
 the whole ki'iadom. In the midit of thefe confultations 
 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- 
 
 -f- Cu'Iizer has obferved s'cat an^ appearances of the objedTs 
 exaftneis ui the juft proponioa ihus Islltned. Grrerv. 
 
 mentioned.
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 17 
 
 rnentioned, which made fo favourable an imprefllon in 
 the breaft of his majelly, and the whole board, in my 
 behalf, thaf an imperial commiffion was iffued out, ob- 
 liging all the villages nine hundred yards round the city 
 to deliver in every morning fix beeves, forty fheep, and 
 other viftuals for my fuftenance ; together with a propor- 
 tionable quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors ; 
 for the due payment of which his majefty gave aflign- 
 ments upon his treafury. For this prince lives chiefly 
 upon his own demeihes, feldom, except upon great oc- 
 cafions, raifing any fubfidies upon his fubjefts, who are 
 bound to attend him in his wars at their own expence. 
 An eftablifliment was alfo made of fix hundred perfons 
 to be my domefiicks, -who had board-wages allowed for 
 their maintenance, and tents built for them very conve- 
 niently on each fide of my door. It was likewiie order- 
 ed, tliat three hundred taylors fliould make me a fuit of 
 cloaths after the faftiion of the country : that fix of his 
 majefiy's greatelt fcholars fiiould be employed to inftrudl 
 me in their language : and lallly, that the emperor's 
 horfes, and thole of the nobility, and troops of guards, 
 fhould be frequently exercifed in my fight to accuflom 
 themfelves to me. All thefe orders were duly put in 
 execution, and in about three weeks I made a great 
 progrefs in learning their language ; during which time 
 the emperor frequently honoured me with his v'ifits, and 
 was pleafed to affifi: my matters in teaching me. We 
 began already to converfe together in fome fort ; and 
 the firft words I learnt were to exprefs my defire, that 
 he would pleafe to give me my liberty, which I every 
 day repeated on my knees. His anfwer, as I could ap- 
 prehend it, was, that this mull be a work of time, not 
 to be thought on without the advice of his council, and 
 that firit 1 mufl lumos kelmin pej/b deftnar Ion empcfo ; that 
 is, fwear a peace with him and his kinp-dom. Howe- 
 ver, that I fliould be ufed with ail kindnefs ; and he 
 advifedmeto acquire, by my patience and difcreet beha- 
 viour, the good opinion of himfelf and his fubjefts. He 
 defired I would not take it ill, if he gave orders to 
 Vol. II. C certain
 
 a A V O Y A G E 
 
 certain proper officers to fearch me ; for probably t 
 might carry about me feveral weapons, which mufl: 
 needs be dangerous things, if they anfwered the bulk 
 of fo prodigious a perfon. I faid, his majefty fhould 
 be fatisfied ; for I was ready to- ftrip myfelf, and turn 
 op my pockets before him. This I delivered part in 
 words, and part in figns. He replied, that by the laws 
 of the kingdom I muft be fearched by two of his officers ; 
 that he knew this could not be done without my confent 
 and affiftance ; that he had fo good an opinion of my 
 generoiity and juftice, as to truil their perfons in my 
 hands : that whatever they took from me^ fhould be re- 
 turned when I left the country, or paid for at the rate 
 which I would fer upon them. I took up the two offi- 
 cers in my hands, put them fiift into my coat-pockets, 
 and then into every other pocket about me, except my 
 cv.'o fobs, and another fecret pocket, which I had no 
 mind fhould be fearched, wherein I had fome little ne- 
 ceflaries, that were of no confequence to any but my- 
 felf. In one of my fobs there was a filver watch, and in 
 the other a fmall quantity of gold in a puife. 'Thefe 
 gentlemen, having pen, ink, and paper, about them, 
 made an exaft inventory of every thmg they faw ; and, 
 when they had done, defned 1 would fet them down, 
 that they might deliver it to the emperor. This inven- 
 tory I afterv/ards tranflated into EKg/ij9:>, and is word for 
 word as follows : 
 
 Imprimis, In the right coat-pocket o?t\it great man- 
 moitfitai?t (for fo I interpret the words quitibus jlejlrin) 
 after the ilrifteil fearch we found only one great piece 
 of coarfe cloth, large enough to be a fcot-cloth for your 
 majefty's chief room of ftate. In the left- pocket we 
 faw a huge filver chef!:, with a cover of the fame metal, 
 which we the fcarchers were not able to lift. We de- 
 fired it Ihould be opened, and one of us ftepping into 
 it, found himfelf up to the mid leg in a fort of dull, 
 fome part whereof flying up to our faces, fet us both a 
 Iheczing for feveral times together. In his right waift- 
 •oat pocket we found a prodigioas bundle of white thin 
 i '^ fubftan^
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 19 
 
 fiibftances, folded one over another, about the bignefa 
 of three men, tied with a ilrong cable, and marked with 
 black figures ; which we humbly conceive to be writ- 
 ings, every letter almoft 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 long poles, 
 refembling the palifadoes before )'Our majefty's court ; 
 wherewith we conjedlure the rnan-mountain combs his 
 head ; for we did not always trouble him with queftions, 
 becaufe we found it a great diSculty to make him un- 
 derltand us. In the large pocket on the right fide of 
 his middle cover (fo I tranflate the word Ranfu-k, by 
 which they meant my breeches) we faw a hollow pillar 
 of iron, about the length of a man, faftened to a ftrong 
 piece of timber, larger than the pillar ; and upon one 
 iide of the pillar were huge pieces of iron flicking out, 
 cut into ftrange figures, which we know not what to 
 make of. In the left pocket another engine of the fame 
 kind. In the fmallcr pocket on the right fide were fe- 
 veral round flat pieces of white and red metal of diffe- 
 rent 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 were too 
 black pillars irregularly fhaped : wc could not without 
 difficulty reach the top of them, as we Hood at the bot- 
 tom of his pocket. One of them was covered, and 
 leemed all of a piece ; but at the upper end of the other 
 there appeared a white round fubftance, about twice 
 the bignefs of our heads. Within each of thefe was in- 
 clofed a prodigious plate of fteel ; which, by our orders, 
 we obliged him to (hew us, becaufe 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 fliavc his beard with one of thefe, and 
 to cut his meat with the other. There were two pock- 
 ets, which we could not enter : thefe he called his fobs ; 
 they were two large flits cut into the top of his middle 
 cover, but fqueczed clofe by the prefllire of his belly. 
 Out of the right fob hung a great filver chain with a 
 
 C 2 wonder-
 
 zo AVOYAGE 
 
 wonderful engine at the bottom. We direfted him tcy 
 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 ftrange figures circularly drawn, and thought 
 we could touch them, till we found our fingers flopped 
 by that lucid fubftance. He put this engine to our ears, 
 which made an incefiant noife like that of a water- 
 mill : and we ccnjefture it is either fome unknown 
 animal, or the god that he worfhips ; but we are more 
 inclined to the latter opinion, becaufe he afTured us (if 
 we underitood him right, for he exprefled himfelf very 
 imperfectly) that he feldom did any thing without con- 
 fultin-T it. He called it his oracle, and faid it pointed 
 out the time of every aftion for his life*. From the 
 left fob he took out a net almoft large enough for a 
 fiflierman, but contrived to open and fhut like a purfe, 
 and ferved him for the fame ufe : we found therein fe- 
 veral mafi'y pieces of yellow metal, which, if they be 
 real gold, muft be of immenfe value. 
 
 Havino- thus i" obedience to your majefty's com- 
 fnauds, diligently fearched all his pockets, we obferved 
 a girdle about his v^aift, made of the hide of fome pro- 
 digious animal, from which on the left fide hung a 
 fword of the length of five men ; and on the right a 
 bao- or pouch divided into two cells, each cell capable 
 of holdino- three of your majefty's fubjedts. In one of 
 thefe cells were fcveral globes, or balls, of a moft pon- 
 derous metal, about the bignefs of our heads, and re- 
 quired a ftrong hand to lift them : the other cell con- 
 tained 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 cxa£l inventoiy of what we found about 
 the body of the ma?i-mou}2tain, who ufed us with great 
 
 * Perhaps the author intended how little truth need to be mif- 
 to expofe the probable fallacy of underftood to make talfliood fps- 
 opinions (derived from the tela- ciyus, 
 tiont of travellers, by fliewing 
 
 civl-.
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. 21 
 
 civility, and due refpeft to your majefty's commiflion. 
 Signed and fealed, on the fourth day of the eighty- 
 ninth moon of your majefty's aufpicious reign. 
 
 Clefiin Frelock, Marjl FrelocL 
 
 When this inventory was read over to the emperor, 
 he diredled me, although in very gentle terms, to deli- 
 ver up the feveral particulars. He firft called for my 
 fcymeter, which I took out, fcabbard and all. In the 
 mean time he ordered three thoufand of his choiceft 
 troops (who then attended him) to furround me at a 
 diftanre, with their bows and arrows juft ready to dif- 
 charge : but I did not obferve it, for mine eyes were 
 wholly fixed upon his majeily. He then defired me to 
 draw my fcymeter, which, although it had got fome 
 ruft by the fea-water, was in moft parts exceeding 
 bright. I did fo, and immediately all the troops gave 
 a iliout between terror and furprize ; for the fun fnone 
 clear, and the refledion dazzled tlieir eyes, as I waved 
 the fcymeter to and fro in my hand. His majefly, who 
 is a moft magnanimous prince *, was lefs daunted than 
 I could expedt ; he ordered me to return it into the fcab- 
 bard, 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-piltols. I drew it out, 
 and at his defire, as well as I could, exprefied to him 
 the ufe of it ; and charging it only with powder, whick 
 by the clofenefs of my poucli happened to elcape wet- 
 ting in the fea (an inconvenience againii which all piu- 
 dent mariners take fpecial care to provide) I firft cau- 
 tioned the emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it oiF 
 in the air. The aftonifnmcnt here was much greater 
 than at the fight of my fcymeter. Hundreds feil dowr, 
 
 * He who does not find him- ablurdity and inj'jftice arrogated 
 
 felf d;fpofed to honour this mag- by hirn who admires, in a being 
 
 r<3nimity /hould retied that a fix feet high, any qualities that 
 
 ri^ht to judge of moral and in- he defuifts in ore whofe ftature 
 
 icilt^ual excellence is with great does not exceed Ijx inciies, 
 
 C 5 as
 
 22 AVOYAGE 
 
 as if they hr.d been ftruck dead; and even the emperoil'j 
 although he ftood his ground, could not recover him^ 
 felf in Ibme time. I delivered up both my piftols in 
 the fame manner, as I had done my fcymeter, and then 
 my pouch of powder and bullets ; begging him that the 
 former might be kept from fire, for it would kindle 
 with the fmailefl fpark, and blow up his imperial palac© 
 into the air. I likewife delivered up my watch, which 
 the emperor was very curious to fee, and commanded 
 two of his talleft yeomen of the guards to bear it on a 
 pole upon their O^oulders, as draymen in England do a 
 barrel of ale. He was amazed at the continual noife it 
 made, and the motion of the minute-hand, which he. 
 could eafily difcern ; for their fight is much more acute 
 than ours : he alked the opinions of his learned men 
 about it, which were various and remote, as the reader 
 may well imagine without my repeating it ; although 
 indeed I could not very perfeftly underltand them. I 
 then gave up my filver and copper money, my purfe 
 with nine large pieces of gold, and feme fmaller ones; 
 my knife and razor, my comb and filver fnufF-box, my 
 handkerchief and journal-bcok. iMy fcymeter, piUols, 
 and pouch were conveyed in carriages to his majeAy's 
 llores ; but the refl of my goods were returned me. 
 
 I had, as I before obferved, one private pocket, 
 which eicaped their fearch, wherein there was a pair 
 of fpeftacles (which I fometimes ufe for the weaknefs 
 of mine eyes) a pocket perfpeftive, and fome other 
 little conveniencies ; which being of no confequence 
 to the emperor, I did not think myfelf bound in ho-; 
 nour to difcover, and I apprehended they might be lol^ 
 f»r fpoiledj if I ventured them out of my pofleffion. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 TO L I L L I P U T. 23 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 the author di<verts the emperor and his nobility of both /exes 
 in a 'very uncommon vianner. The di-verjions of the 
 court of Lilliput defcribed. The author hath his li- 
 berty granted him on certain conditions^ 
 
 MY gentlenefs and good behaviour had gained fo 
 far on tlie emperor and his court, and indeed 
 «pon the arm)', and people in general, that I began to 
 •conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a Ihort time. 
 I took all poffible methods to cultivate this favourable 
 difpofition. The natives came by degrees to be lefs ap- 
 prehenfive of any danger from me. I would fome- 
 times lie down, and let five or fix of them dance on 
 my hand : and at laft the boys and girls would venture 
 to come and play at hide and feek in my hair. I had 
 now made a good progrefs in underftanding and fpeak- 
 ing their language. The emperor had a mind one 
 day to entertain me with feveral of the country {hows, 
 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 flender 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 praftifed by thofe perfons, who 
 are candidates for great employments, and high favour 
 at court. They are trained in this art from their 
 youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal 
 education. When a great office is vacant either by 
 ■death or difgrace (which often happens) five or fix of 
 thofe candidates petition the emperor to entertain his 
 majelly and the court with a dance on the rope, and 
 •whoever jumps the higheft vv'ithout falling, fucceeds in 
 the office. Very often the chief minillers themfelves 
 are commanded to Ihew their (kill, and to convince the 
 
 C 4 empcrorj
 
 24 AVOYAGE 
 
 emperor, that they have not loft their faculty. Flim- 
 nap, the treafurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the ftrait 
 rope at leaf!: an inch higher, than any other lord in the 
 whole empire. I have feen him do the fummerfet * fe- 
 veral times together upon a trencher, fixed on a rope, 
 which is no thicker than a common packthread in Eng- 
 land. My friend Reldrefal, principal fecretary for pri- 
 vate affairs, is in my opinion, if I am not partial, the 
 fecond after the treafurer ; the reft of the great officers 
 are much upon a par. 
 
 Thefe diverfons are often attended with fatal acci- 
 dents, whereof great numbers are on record. I myfelf 
 have feen two or three candidates break a limb. But 
 the danger is much greater, when the minifters them- 
 f;lves are commanded to fliew their dexterity ; for, by 
 contending to excel themfelves and their fellows, they 
 ftrain fo far, that there is hardly one of them, who 
 hath not received a fallj and feme of them two or three. 
 I was afilired, that a year or two before my arrival 
 Flimnap would have infallibly broke his neck, if one of 
 the king's cufhions, that accidentally lay on the ground, 
 had not weakened the force of his fall. 
 
 There is likewlfe another diverfion, which is only 
 fhewn before the emperor and emprefs, and firft mi- 
 nifter, upon particular occafions. 1 he emperor lays on 
 the table three fine filken threads of fix inches long; 
 one is blue, the other red, and the third green. Thefe 
 threads are propofed as prizes for thofe perfons, whom 
 the emperor hath a mind to diftinguifii by a peculiar 
 mark of his favour. The ceremony is performed in 
 his majefty's great chamber of Hate, where the candi- 
 dates are to undergo a trial of dexterity very different 
 from the former, and fuch as I have not obferved the 
 leaft refemblance of in any other country of the old 
 or new world. The emperor holds a ftick in his hands, 
 
 * Summerfet, or fummcr- heels over head in the air, and 
 fault, a gambol of a tumbler, comes down upon his feet, 
 in which he iprings up, turns 
 
 both
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 25 
 
 both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candidates 
 advancing, one by one, fometimes leap o'. er the ftick, 
 fometimes creep under it backwards and forwards feve- 
 ral times, according as the flick is advanced or depref- 
 fed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the 
 ftick, and his firft minifter the other ; fometimes the 
 minifter has it entirely to himfelf. Vv'hoever performs 
 his part with moft agility, and holds out the longefl in 
 leaping and creeping, is rewarded with the blue-cclou- 
 red 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 fee few great perfons about this 
 court, who are not adorned with one of thefc girdles. 
 
 The horfes of the army, and thofe of the royal ta- 
 bles, having been daily led before me, were no longer 
 fliy, but would come up to my very feet without Part- 
 ing. The riders would leap them over my hand, as I 
 held it on the ground ; and one of the emperor's huntf- 
 men upon a large courfer took my foot, fhoe and all ; 
 which was indeed a prodigious leap. I had the good 
 fortune to divert the emperor one day after a very ex- 
 traordinary manner. I defired he would order feve- 
 ral flicks of two feet high, and the thicknefs of an or- 
 dinary cane, to be brought me ; whereupon his ma- 
 jefly commanded the mafter of his woods to give direc- 
 tions accordinalv, and the next mornincr fix woodmen 
 arrived with as many carriages, drawn by eight horfes 
 to each. I took nine of thefe flicks, and fixing them 
 firmly in the ground in a quadrangular figure, two feet 
 and a half fquare, I took four other flicks, and tied 
 them parallel at each corner about two feet from the 
 ground ; then I faftened my handkerchief to the nine 
 flicks that flood erecl ; and extended it on all fides, till 
 it was tight as the top of a drum ; and the four paral- 
 lel flicks, rifing about five inches higher than the 
 handkerchief, ferved as ledges on each fide. When I 
 had finiihed my work, I defired the emperor to let a 
 troop of his beft horfe, twenty-four in number, come 
 ^nd exercife upon this plj^in. His m^jcfty approved of 
 
 the
 
 v£> A VOYAGE 
 
 the propofal, and I took them up one by one in my 
 hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper of- 
 ficers to exercife them. As foon as they got into or- 
 der, they divided into two parties, performed mock 
 fkirmilhes, difcharged blunt arrows, drew their fwords, 
 fled and purfued, attacked andretired, and in fhort dif- 
 covered the bell military difcipline I ever beheld. The 
 parallel flicks fecured them and their horfes from falling 
 over the ftage ; and the emperor was fo much delight- 
 ed, that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated fe- 
 veral days, and once was pleafed to be lifted up, and 
 give the word of command i and, with great difficulty, 
 perluaded even the emprefs herfelf to let me hold her 
 in her clofe chair v,ithin two yards of the ftage, from 
 whence flie was able to take a full view of the whole 
 performance. It was my good fortune, that no ill ac- 
 cident happened in thefe entertainments, only once a 
 fiery horfe, that belonged to one of the captains, paw- 
 ing with his hoof firuck a hole in my handkerchief, and 
 his foot flipping he overthrew his rider and himfelf ; 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 tv->ok them up. The 
 horfe that fell was flrained in the left flioulder, but the rider 
 got no hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as 
 I could ; however, I would not truft to the ftrength of 
 it any more in fuch dangerous enterprizes. 
 
 About two or three days before 1 was fet at liberty, 
 -as I was entertaining the court with this kind of feats, 
 there arrived an exprefs to inform his majefty, that fome 
 of his fubjefls, riding near the place where I was firft 
 taken up, had feen a great black fubftance lying on the 
 ground, very oddly fliaped, extending its edges round 
 ^s wide as his majelly's bed-chamber, and riflng up in 
 the middle as high as a man ; that it was no living 
 creature, as they at firft apprehended, for it lay on the 
 grafs without motion ; and fome of them had walked 
 round it feveral times ; that, by mounting upon each 
 other's fnoulders, they had got to the top, which was 
 
 flat
 
 TOLILLIPUT. «7. 
 
 flat and even, and, ftamping upon it, they found it was 
 hollow within ; that they humbly conceived it might be 
 fomething belonging to the man-tmuntaw ; and, if his 
 majeSy pleafed, the^- would undertake to bring it with 
 only five horfes. I prefently knew what they meant, 
 and was glad at heart to receive this intelligence, it 
 feems, upon ray firll reaching the fhore after our fliip- 
 wreck I was in fuch confufion, that, before -1 cajivs to 
 the place where I went toJleep, my hat, which I had 
 fattened with a ftring to my h.ad while I was rowing, 
 and had ftuck on all the time I v.as f\^imming, fell off" 
 after 1 came to land ; the ftring, as I conjecture, 
 breaking by fome accident, which I never obferved, 
 but thought my hat had been loft at fea. I intrented his 
 imperial majefty tb give orders, it might be brought to 
 me as foon as poiTible, 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 biim within an inch and half of 
 the edge, and fattened two hooks in the holes ; thcfe 
 hooks wete tied by a long cord to the harnefs, and thus 
 my hat was dragged along for above half an englijh 
 mile ; but, the ground in that country being extremely 
 fmooth and level, it received lefs damage than I ex- 
 pedled. 
 
 Two days after this ad\'enture the emperor, having 
 ordered that part of his army, which quarters in and 
 about his metropolis, to be in a readinefs, took a fancy 
 of diverting himfeif in aver)' fingular manner. He 
 defired 1 would ttand like a coiojfus, with my legs as far 
 afunder as I conveniently could. He th;n 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 under me ; the foot by twenty- 
 four in a breatt, and the horfe by fixteen, with drums 
 beating, colours flying, and pikes advanced. 1 his 
 body confilkd of three thoufand foot, and a thoufand 
 horfe. His majefty gave orders, upon pain of death, 
 that every foldier in his march fiiculd-obferve 'Jie fliift- 
 
 eit
 
 2g A V O Y A G E 
 
 ■eft decency with regard to my perfon ; which however 
 could not prevent fome of the younger officers from 
 turning up their eyes, as they pafled under me : and, to 
 confefs the truth, my breeches were ar that time in (o 
 ill a condhion, that they afforded fome opportunities 
 for laughter and admiration. 
 
 I had fent fo many memorials and petitions for 
 *mv liberty, that his majefty at length mentioned the 
 matter firll in the cabinet, and then in a full council ; 
 where it was oppofed by none, except Skyrejh Bolgolanty 
 who was pleafed, without any provocation, to be my 
 mortal enemy. But it was carried againft him by the 
 whole board, and confirmed, by the emperor. That 
 miniller was galb^t, or admiral of the realm, very 
 much in his mailer's confidence, and a perfon well 
 verfed in affairs, but of a morofe and four complexion. 
 However he was at length perfuaded to comply ; but 
 prevailed that the articles and conditions upon which I 
 ihould be fet free, and to which I mull fvvear, fhould be 
 drawn up by himfelf. Thefe artictes were brought to 
 me by Skynjh Bolgclam in perfon„^ttended by two un- 
 der- fecretaries, and feveral perfons of dillinftion. After 
 they were read, I was demanded to fwear to the perfor- 
 mance of them ; firil in the manner of my own coun- 
 try, and afterwards in the method prefcribed 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 
 rio-ht ear. But becaufe the reader may be curious to 
 have fome idea of the llyle 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 inflrument word for word, as 
 near as i was able, v^ich I here offer to the public : 
 
 Gclbafto Mcmaren ^'vlame Gitrdilo Shefn Mully Ully 
 Gue, moll mighty emperor of Lillipuf, delight and ter- 
 ror of the univerfe, whofe dominions extend five thou- 
 iand hlujhugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to 
 the extremities 0/ the globe j monarch of all monarchs, 
 
 taller
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. 29 
 
 taller than the fons of men ; whofe feet prefs down to 
 the center, and whofe head ftrikes againft the fun ; at 
 whofe nod the princes of the earth (hake their knees ; 
 pleafant as the fpring, comfortable as the fummcr, fruit- 
 ful as autumn, dreadful as winter. His moll fublime 
 majefty propofeth to the man-mcuntain, lately arrived at 
 our celeftial dominions, the following articles, which 
 by a folemn oath he fliall he obliged to perform. 
 
 \Ji, The man-mouniain fhall not depart from our do- 
 minions without our licence under our great feal. 
 
 zd. He (hall not prefume to come into our metropo- 
 lis without our exprefs order ; at which time the inha- 
 bitants fhall have two hours warning to keep within 
 doors. 
 
 3^, The faid tnan-mountain fhall confine his walks to- 
 our principal high roads, and not ofrer to walk or lie 
 down in a meadov/ or field of corn, 
 
 ^th. As he walks the faid roads, he fhall take the 
 utmoft care not to trample upon the bodies of any of 
 our loving fubjeds, tiieir horfes, or carriages, nor take 
 any of our fubjeds into his hands without their own 
 confent. 
 
 ^th, If an exprefs requires extraordinary difpatch, 
 the man-mountain fliall be obliged to carry in his pocket 
 the meilenger and horfe a fix days journey once in every 
 moon, and return the faid mefiengtr back (if fo requi- 
 red) fafe to our imperial prefence. 
 
 tth^ He fhall be our ally againft our enemies in the 
 jfland oi Blefufcu *, and do his utmoft to deflroy their 
 fleet, which is now preparing to invade us. 
 
 Jih, That the faid man-mounfain fhall, at his times of 
 leifure, be aiding and alTifting to our workmen, in help- 
 ing to raife certain great ftones, towards covering the 
 
 * In his defcrlption of LlHi- he feems to intend the people 
 
 fut he Teems to have had Eng- and kingdom of Frat:ce, Or- 
 
 /and more immediately in view, reey. 
 In his defer ptioa of BUfufcu, 
 
 wall
 
 ^o A V O Y A G E 
 
 wall of the principal park and other our royal build- 
 ings. 
 
 ^th. That the faid man-mountain (hall, in two moons 
 time, deliver in an exadt furvey of the circumference of 
 our dominions by a computation of his own paces 
 round the coalt. 
 
 LaJIly, That, upon his folemn oath to obferve all the 
 above articles, the faid mau-mountain fhall have a daily 
 allowance of meat and drink fufiicient for the fupport 
 of 1724 of our fubjefts, with free accefs to our royal 
 perfon, and other marks of our favour. Given at our 
 palace at Belfaborac, the twelfth day of the ninety-firft 
 moon of our reign. 
 
 I fwore and fubfcribed to thefe articles with great 
 chearfulnefs and content, although fome of them were 
 not fo honourable, as I could have wifhed ; which pro- 
 ceeded wholly from the malice of Skjrejh Bolgolam, the 
 high admiral ; whereupon my chains were immediately 
 unlocked, and I was at full liberty. The emperor 
 himfclf in pr fon did me the honour to be by at the 
 whole ceremony. 1 made my acknowledgments by 
 proftrating niyfelf at his majelly's feet : but he com- 
 manded me to rife; and after many gracious expreffions, 
 which, to avoid the ccnfure of vanity, I ft all not re- 
 peat, he added, that he hoped I fliould prove a ufeful 
 i'ervant, and well deferve all the favours he had already 
 conferred upon me, or might do for the future. 
 
 The reader may pleafe to obferve, that, in the laft 
 article for the recovery of my liberty, the emperor fti- 
 pulates to allow me a quantity of meat and drink fuf- 
 iicient for the fupport of 1724 Lilliputians. Some time 
 after afldng a friend at court, how they came to fix on 
 that determinate number ; he told me, that his majefty's 
 mathemaiicians having taken the height of my body by 
 the help of a quadrant, and finding it to exceed theirs 
 in the proportion of twelve to one, they concluded 
 from the fimilarity of their bodies, that mine muft con- 
 tain at kail 1724 of theirs, and confequcntly would 
 require as much food as was neceflary to fupport that 
 
 number
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 3» 
 
 number o^ Lilliputians. By which the reader may con- 
 ceive an idea of the ingenuity of that people, as well ai^ 
 the prudent and exadt oeconomy of fo great a prince. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Mildendo, the metropolis cf Lilliput, Jefcrihed, together 
 luith the emperor^ s palace. A conaierfation lefnveen the 
 author and a principal fecretary concerning the affairs cf 
 that empire. The author's offers to ferve the emperor in 
 his avars. 
 
 THE firft requeft I made, after I had obtained my 
 liberty, was, that I might have licence to fee 
 Mildendo, the metropolis ; which the emperor eafily 
 granted me, but with a fpecial charge to do no hurt ei- 
 ther to the inhabitants or their houfes. The people had 
 notice by proclamation of my defign to vifit the town. 
 The wall, which encompafTed it, is Uvo feet and a half 
 high, and at leaft eleven inches broad, fo that a coach 
 and horfes may be driven very fafely round it ; and it is 
 flanked with itrong towers at ten feet dillance. I ftept 
 over the great wellern gate, and pafTed very gently, and 
 fideling, through the two principal ftreets, only in my 
 fhort waiftcoat, for fear of damaging the roofs and eves 
 of the houfes with the fkirts of my coat. I walked with 
 the utmoft circumfpeftion to avoid treading on any 
 ftraggler, who might remain in the ftreets ; altho' the 
 orders were very ftrift, that all people fhould keep in 
 their houfes at their own peril. The garret- windows 
 and tops of houfes were fo crouded with fpedators, that 
 I thought in all my travels I had not feen a more popu- 
 lous place. The city is an exacl fquare, each fide of tiie 
 wall being five hundred feet long. Ihe two great ftreets, 
 which run crofs and divide it into four quarters, are five 
 feet wide. The lanes and alleys, which I could not en- 
 ter, but only viewed tl.em as I pafTed, are from tv/elve 
 to eighteen inches. The town is capable o{ holding live 
 hundred thoufand fouls : the houfes are from_ three to 
 five flories : the Ihops and markets well provided.
 
 52 AVOYAGE 
 
 The emperor's palace is in Uie center of the city, where* 
 the two jjreat llreets meet. It is inclofed by a wall of 
 two feet high, and twenty feet dirlance from the build-' 
 ings. 1 had Ins majeily's permiirion to flep over this 
 wall ; and the fpace being fo wide between that and the 
 palace, I could eafily view it on every fide. The out- 
 ward court is a fcuare of forty feet, and include two 
 other courts : in the inmoll are the royal apartments, 
 which I was very defirous to fee, but found it extremely 
 difficult; for the great gates, from one fquare into ano- 
 ther, were but eighteen inches high, and fcven inches 
 wide. Now the buildings of the outer court v/ere at 
 lead five feet high, and it was impofiible for me to ilride 
 over them without infinite damage to the pile, though 
 the walls were llrongly built of hewn itone, and four 
 inches thick. At the fame time the emperor had a great 
 defire, that I (hould fee the magnificence of his palace; 
 but this I was net able to do till three days after, which 
 I fpent in cutting down with my knife fo:r.e of the larg- 
 eft trees in the royal park, about an hundred yards di- 
 ftance from the city. Of thefe trees I made two Itools, 
 each about three feet high, and ftrong enough to bear 
 my weight. The people having received notice a fccond 
 time, 1 went again through the city to the palace with 
 my two llools in my hands. When I came to the fide 
 of the outer court, 1 llood upon one llool, and took the 
 other in my hand j this I lifted over the roof, and gently 
 fct it down on the fpa.e between the firft and fccond 
 court, which was eight feet wide. I then llept over the 
 building very conveniently from one ftool to the other, 
 and drew up the firft after me with a hooked Hick. By 
 this contrivance I got into the inmoft court ; and, lying 
 down upon my fide, I applied my face to the windows 
 of the middle llories, which were left open on purpofe, 
 and difcovcrcd the mod i'plcndid apartments that can be 
 imagined. There I faw the emprefs and the young 
 princes in their fevcral lodgings with their chief atten^ 
 dants about them. Her imperial m.ajelly was pleafed to 
 
 fmiie 
 
 2
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 33 
 
 Txnile very gracioufly upon me, and gave me out of the 
 window her hand to kifs. 
 
 Eut I fliall not anticipate the reader with farther de- 
 fcriptions of this kind, becaufe I referve them for a 
 greater work, which is now almoft ready for the prefs, 
 containing a general defcription of this empire, from its 
 firft erection, through a long feries of princes, with a 
 particular account of their wars and politicks, laws, 
 learnmg, and religion, their plants and animals, their 
 peculiar manners and cuftoms, with other matters very 
 curious and ufeful ; my chief defign at prcfent being 
 only to relate fuch events and tranfactions, as happened 
 to the publick or to myfelf, during a refidence ot about 
 nine months in that empire. 
 
 One morning, about a fortnight after I had obtained 
 my liberty, Reldrejal, principal fecretary of ftate (as they 
 ftile him) for private affairs, came to my houfe attended 
 oiriy by one fervant. He ordered his coach to wait at 
 a diftance, and defired I would give him an hour's audi- 
 ence ; which I readily confented to, on account of his 
 quality and perfonal merits, as well as of the many good 
 offices he had done me during my follicitations at court. 
 1 offered to lie down, that he might the more conveni- 
 ently reach my ear ; but he chofe rather to let me hold 
 him in my hand during our converfation. He began 
 with compliments on my liberty ; faid, he might pretend 
 to fome merit in it : but however added, that, it it had 
 not been for the prefent fituation of things at court, per- 
 haps I might not have obtained it fo foon. For, faid 
 he, as flourifhing a condition as we may appear to be in 
 to foreigners, we labour under two mighty evils ; a vi- 
 olent fadion at home, and the danger of an invafion by 
 a moll potent enemy from abroad. As to the firft, you 
 are to underlland, that for above feventy moons palt 
 there have been two ftruggling parties in this em.pire, 
 under the names of 'Tramukfan and Slarr.ecfifan *, from 
 
 D the 
 
 • High -church and low- every accidenia! diffeiercehetv/eea 
 
 church, or whig and tory. As man and man i» p rfon and cir- 
 
 V©L. II. cucnftances
 
 y4 A V O y A G E 
 
 the high and low heels of their Ihoes, by which they 
 dilHnguifh themfelves. It is alledged indeed, that the 
 high heels are moit agreeable to our ancient conilitution ; 
 but, however this be, his majefty hath determined to 
 make ufe only of low hoels in the adminiilration of the 
 government, and all offices in the gift of the crown, as 
 you cannot but obferve ; and particularly, that his ma- 
 jefty's imperial heels are lower at leaft by a drurr than 
 any of his court ^^Vz/rr is a meafure about the fourteenth 
 part of an inch.) The animofities between thefe two 
 parties run fo high, that they will neither eat, nor drinkj. 
 nor talk with each other. We compute the Trameci/an, 
 or high-heels, to exceed us in number ; but the power 
 is wholly on our fide. We apprehend his imperial high- 
 nefs, the heir to the crown, to have fome tendency to- 
 wards the high-heels ; at leaft, we can plainly difcover, 
 that one of his heels is higher than the other, which 
 gives him a hobble in his gait. Now, in the midll: of 
 thefe intelline difquiets we are threatened with an inva- 
 fion from the ifland of Blefufcu, which is the other great 
 empire of the univerfe, almoft as large and powerful as 
 this of his majelly. For as to what we have heard you 
 affirm, that there are other kingdoms and ftates in the 
 world inhabited by human creatures as large as yourfelf, 
 our philofophers are in much doubt, and would rather 
 conjetlure that you dropped from the moon, or one of 
 the flars ; becaufe it is certain, that an hundred mortals 
 of your bulk would in a fhort time deflroy all the fruits 
 and cattle of his majefty's dominions : befides, our hif- 
 tories of fix thoufand moons make no mention of any- 
 other regions, than the two great empires of Lillipui 
 and Bhfufcu. Which two might)' powers have, as I 
 was going to tell you, been engaged in a moft obftinate 
 war for fix and thirty moons palT. It began upon the 
 following occafion : it is allowed on all hands, that the 
 
 cumftances is by this work rcn- the zeal v/ith which they arc 
 dered extremely contemptible j oppofcd and defended too much 
 {o fpcciiLtii^c differercci are (hewn ex<5ed« their importance, 
 to be equally ridiculous, when 
 
 primitive
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 35 
 
 primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, 
 was upon the larger end ; but his prefent majefty's 
 grandfather, while he was a boy, going to cat an egg, 
 and breaking it according to the ancient pra(5tice, hap- 
 pened to cut one of his fingers. Whereupon the em- 
 peror, his father, publilhed an edict, commanding all 
 his fubjefls, upon great penalties, to break the fmaller 
 end of their eggs. "J he people fo highly refented this 
 law, that our hiUories tell us, there have been fix rebel- 
 lions raifed on that account; wherein one emperor loll 
 his life, and another his crown. Thefe civil commotions 
 were conftantiy fomented by the monarchs of Blefufcu ; 
 and when they were quelled, the exiles always fled for 
 refuge to that empire. It is computed that eleven thou- 
 fand perfons have at feveral times fuiFered death, rather 
 than fubmit to break their eggs at the fmaller end. Ma- 
 ny hundred large volumes have been publiihed 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 
 thefe troubles, the emperors of Blefufcu did frequently 
 expoftulate by their ambafTadors, accufing us of making 
 a fchifm in religion by oEending againft a fundamental 
 doftrine of our great prophet Lujhog, in the fifty-fourth 
 chapter of the Biundecral (which is \}ciC\x Alcoran.) This 
 however is thought to be a mere drain upon the text ; 
 for the words are thefe : that all true believers break their 
 eggs at the conwnient end. And which is the convenient 
 end, feems in my humble opinion to be left to every 
 man's confc'ence', or at kaft in the power of the chief 
 magiflrate to determine, Now, the Big-endian exiles 
 have found fo much credit in the emperor 0,^ Blefufcu' % 
 court, and fo much private aff.ftance and encouragement 
 from their party here at home, that a bloody war hath 
 been carried on between the two empires for fix-and- 
 thirty moons, with various fuccefs ; during which time 
 we have loft forty capital fliips, and a much greater 
 number of fmalier vefTels, together with thirty thoufand 
 of our bcft feamen and Ibldiers ; and the damage receiv- 
 
 D 2 e^
 
 36 A V O Y A G E 
 
 ed by the enemy Is reckoned to be fomewhat greater 
 than ours. However, they have now equipped a nume- 
 rous fleet, and are juft preparing to make a defcent upon 
 us ; and his imperial majefty, placing great confidence 
 in your valour and ftrength, hath 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 ilate againft all invaders f, 
 
 CHAP. V, 
 
 The author. By an extraordinary Jiratagem, prevents an 
 ifivafion. A high title of honour is conferred upon hint. 
 Ambaffadors arri-ve front the emperor of BlefnCcu, and 
 Jue for peace. The emprefs's apartment, on fire by an 
 accident ; the author injlruinental in faving the reji of 
 the palacg. 
 
 TH E empire of Blefufcu is an ifland, fituated to the 
 north-eall fide of Lilliput, from whence it is 
 parted only by a channel of eight hundred yards wide. 
 I had not yet fecn it, and upon this notice of an intended 
 invafion I avoided appearing on that fide of the coaft, 
 for fear of being difcovered by fome of the enemy's 
 fhips, who had received no intelligence of me, all inter- 
 courfe between the two empires having been liriflly 
 forbidden during the war upon pain of death, and an 
 embargo laid by our emperor upon all veflels what- 
 foever. J communicated to his majefty a projeft I had 
 formed of feizing the enemy's whole fleet : which, as 
 our fcouts afiured us, lay at anchor in the harbour rea- 
 dy to fail v/it!i the firft fair wind. I confulted the moll 
 txperienccd feamen upon the depth of the channel, 
 
 _ f Cul/iver, without exami- knew that no fuch monarch had 
 
 nmg the fubieiTl of difpute, rea- a right to invade the dgminions 
 
 cti'v tngaerd to defend the empe- of another, for the propagation of 
 
 ♦•t 4i^imt invalbn ^ becaute he uuth. 
 
 which
 
 T O L I L L I P U T 57 
 
 wiiich tliey had often plummed ; who told me, that in 
 the middle at high-water it was feventy glumgluffs deep, 
 which is about fix feet of European meafure ; and the 
 reft of it fifty glumgluffs at mod. I walked towards the 
 north-eaft coaft, over-againft Blcfufcu ; where, lying 
 down behind a hillock, I took cut my fmall perfpeftive- 
 glafs, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, confining 
 of about fifty men of war, and a great number of tran- 
 fports : I then came back to my houfe, and gave brders 
 "(for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity of the 
 flrongeft cable and bars of iron. The cable was about 
 as thick as pack-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 reafon I twilled three of 
 the iron bars together, bending the extremities into a 
 hook. Having thus'fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, 
 I went back to the north-eaft coaft, and putting off" my 
 coat, {hoes, and ftockings, walked into the fea in my 
 leathern jerkin, about half an hour before high-water. I 
 waded with what haJle I could, and fwam in the middle 
 about thirty yards, till I felt ground; I arrived at the 
 fleet in lefs than half an hour. The enemy was fo 
 frighted, when they faw me, that they leaped out of 
 their fliips, and f\v ^m to fhore, where there could not 
 be fewer than thhty thoufand fouls : I then took my 
 tackling, and, faftening a liook 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 thou- 
 fand arrows, many of which ftuck in my hands and face ; 
 and, befides the excclfive fmart, gave me much diftur- 
 bance in my work. My greateft apprchenfion was for 
 mine eyes, which I (hould have infallibly loft, if I had 
 •not fuddenly thought of an expedient. 1 kept among 
 other little necefiaries a pair of fpedlacles in a private 
 pocket, which, as I obferved before, had efcaped the 
 emperor's fearchers. Thefe 1 took out, and faftened as 
 ftrongly as I could upon my nofe, and thus armed went 
 on boldly with my work in fpite of the en?'my's arrows, 
 many ef which ftruck againll the glaflcs of n.y fpeiSta- 
 
 D 3 clc-'.
 
 38 A V O Y A G E 
 
 (cles, but without any other efFccl, 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 fhip tt'oiild Hir, for they were all too fall held by their 
 anchors, fo that the boldell part of my enterprize re- 
 mained. I therefore let go the cord, and leaving the 
 hooks fixed to the fhips, I refolutely cut with my knife 
 the cables that fa/lened the anchors, receiving above 
 two hundred fliots in my face and hands ; then 1 took up 
 the knotted end of the cables, to which my hooks were 
 tied, and with great eafe drew fifty of the enemy's lar- 
 gefl men of war after me. 
 
 The Bkfiijcudians, who had not the leaft imagination 
 of what I intended, were at firfl; confounded with allo- 
 nifliment. They had feen me cut the cables, and thought 
 xny defign was only to let the fiiips run a-drift, or tall 
 foul on each other : but when they perceived the whole 
 ilect moving in order, and faw me pulling at the end, 
 they fet up fuch a fcream of grief and deipair, as it is 
 almoft impoflible to defcribe or conceive. v\' hen I had 
 got out of danger, I ilopt a-while to pick out the ar- 
 rows, that iluck in my hands and face ; and rubbed on 
 fome of the fame ointment, that was given me at mv 
 firll arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then took 
 off my fpedacles, and "waiting about an hour, till the 
 tide was a little fallen, I waded through the middle 
 with my cargo, and arrived fafe at the royal port of 
 LilUpul, 
 
 The emperor and his whole court Hood on th3 fhore 
 expedling the iffue of this great adventure. They faw 
 the (hips move forward in a large half-moon, but could 
 not difccrn me, who was up to my breaft in water. 
 "When 1 advanced to the middle of the channel, they 
 were yet more in pain, bccaufc I was under water to 
 iny neck. The emperor concluded me to be drowned, 
 and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in an holHk 
 manner : but he was foon eafed of his fears, for, tlfe 
 channel growing fhallovver every Hep I made, I came in 
 ii ll.ort time within hearing, and, holding up the end of 
 
 the
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 39 
 
 the cable, by which the fleet was faftened, I cried in a 
 loud voice, long linje the moji puijjant emperor of Lilliput ! 
 This great prince received me at my landing with all 
 |ioffible encomiums, and created me a Nardac upon the 
 fpot, which is the higheft title of honour among them. 
 
 His majelly defired, I would take fome other oppor- 
 tunity of bringing all the reft of his enemy's fhips into 
 his ports. And fo unmeafurable is the ambition of 
 princes, that he feemed to think of nothing lefs than 
 reducing the whole empire of Blefufcu into a province, 
 and governing it by a vice-roy ; of deftroying the Big- 
 Indian 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 endea- 
 voured to divert him from this defign by many argu- 
 ments drawn from the topicks of policy as well asjuftice: 
 and I plainly protefted, that I would never be an inllru- 
 ment of bringing a free and brave people into flavery. 
 And, when the matter was debated in council, th« 
 wifeft part of the miniftry were of my opinion. 
 
 This open bold declaration of mine was fo oppofite to 
 the fchemes and politicks of his imperial majeity, that 
 he could never forgive me ; he mentioned it in a very 
 artful manner at council, where I was told that fome of 
 the wifeft appeai-ed at leaft by their filence to be of my 
 opinion ; but others, who were my fecret enemies, 
 could not forbear fome cxprefTions, which by a fide- 
 wind refledled on me. And from this time began an 
 intrigue between his majefty, and a junto of minillers 
 malicioufly bentagainftme, v/hich broke out in lefs than 
 two months, and had like to have ended in my utter 
 deftruftion. Of fo little weight are the greateft fervices 
 to princes, when put into the ballance with a refufal to 
 gratify their paflions. 
 
 About three weeks after this exploit, tliere arrived a 
 folemn ambaffy from Ehfufcu with humble offers of a 
 peace ; which was foon concluded upon conditions very 
 advantageous to our emueror, wherewith I fhall not 
 trouble the reader. There were fix ambafladors, with 
 
 D 4 a train.
 
 40 . A V O Y A G E 
 
 a train of about five hundred perfons ; and their entry 
 was very magnificent, fuitable to the grandeur of their 
 mafter, and the importrince of their bufinefs. When 
 jheir treaty was finifhed, wherein I did them feveral 
 good offices by the credit I now had, or at leaft ap- 
 peared to have at court, their excellencies, who were 
 privately tola how much I had been their friend, made 
 me a vifit in form. They began with many compli- 
 ments upon my valour and generofity, invited me to 
 that kingdom in the emperor their maker's name, and 
 defired me to fl.evv' them fome proofs of my prodigious 
 ftrength, of which they had heard fo many wonders ; 
 wherein I readily obliged them, but ihall not trouble 
 the reader with the particular^;. 
 
 When I had for fome time entertained their excellen- 
 cies to their infinite fatisfaftion and furprize, I defired 
 they would do me the honour to prefent my moH; hum- 
 ble refpeds to the emperor their mafter, the renown 
 of whofe virtues had fo juftly filled the whole world 
 with admiration, and whofe royal perfon I refolved to 
 attend before I returned to my own country : accord- 
 ingly, the next time I had the honour to fee our emperor, 
 I defired his general licence to wait on the Blefiifcudian 
 monarch, which he was pleafed to grant me, as I could 
 plainly perceive, in a very cold manner : but could not 
 guefs the rcafon, till I had a whifper from a certain per- 
 fon, that lltmnap and Bo^golara had reprefented my in- 
 tercourfe with thofe ambafladors as a mark of difafFec- 
 tion, from which I am fure my heart was wholly free. 
 And this was the firft time I began to conceive fome im- 
 perfefl idea of courts and minifters. 
 
 It is to be obferved, that thefe ambafiador? fpoke to 
 me by an interpreter, the languages of both empires 
 differing as much from each ether as any two in Europe^ 
 and rach nation priding itfelfupon the antiquity, beauty, 
 and energy o^ their own tonpues, with an avowed con- 
 tempt for that of their neighbour ; yet our emperor, 
 Handing upon the advantage he had get by the ieizure 
 of their fleet, obliged them to deliver their credentials, 
 
 anfl
 
 TOLILLTPUT. 41 
 
 and make their fpeech in the Lilliputian tongue. And 
 it muft be confefTed, that, from the great intercourfe of 
 trade and commerce between both realms, from the 
 continual reception of exiles, which is mutual among 
 them, and from the cuftom in each empire to fend 
 their young nobility and richer gentry to the other in 
 order to polilh themfelves by feeing the world, and un- 
 derftanding men and manners ; there are few perfons 
 of diftinftion, or merchants, or fcamen, who dwell in 
 the maritime parts, but what can hold converfation in 
 both tongues ; as I found fome weeks after, when I 
 went to pay my refpefts to the emperoi of Blefufcu^ 
 which in the midft of great misfortunes, through the 
 malice of my enemies, proved a very happy adventure 
 to me, as I ihall relate in its proper place. 
 
 The reader may remember, that when I figned thofe 
 articles upon which I recovered my liberty, there were 
 fome which I difliked upon account of tlieir being too 
 fervile, neither could any ihiug but an extrejne neceffity 
 have forced me to fubmit. But being now a Nardac of 
 the higheft rank in that empire, fuch offices were looked 
 upon as below my dignity, and the emperor 'to do him 
 juftice) never once mentioned them to me. However, 
 it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing his 
 majeily, at leaft as I then thought, a mofl fignal fer- 
 vice. 1 was alarmed at midnight with the cries of many- 
 hundred people at ir.y door ; by v/hich being fudder.'y 
 awaked, I was in fome kind of terror. 1 he:.;d the 
 word Bufglum repeated inceflantly : feveral of the em- 
 peror's 'court, making their way through the croud, in- 
 treated me to come immediately to the palace, where 
 her imperial majcfty's apartment wzi on fire by ihe care- 
 lefnefs of a maid of honour, who fell afleep v% hile fhe 
 was reading a romance. I got up in an inftant ; and 
 orders being given to clear the v/ay before me, and it 
 being likewife a moon-fl^.ine night, I made a fliifr to 
 get to the' palace without trampling on any of the p|^- 
 ple. I found they had already applied ladders to t.ie 
 walls of the apartment, and were well provided with 
 
 buckets.
 
 42 AVOYAGE 
 
 bucket:, but the water was at fome diftauce. Thefe 
 buckets were about the fize of a large thimble, and the 
 poor peopl J fupplied me with them as fall as they could ; 
 but the flame was fo violent, that they did little good. 
 I might eafily have iHflcd it with my coat, which 1 un- 
 fortunately left behind me for hafle, and came away only 
 in ray leathern jerkin. The cafe feemed wholly deipe- 
 rate and deplorable, and this magnificent palace would 
 have infallibly been burnt down to the ground, if by a 
 prefencc of mind unufual to me I had not fuddenly 
 thought of an expedient. I had the evening before 
 drank plentifully of a moll delicious wine called Glimi- 
 ^grlm (the Bltfufcudians call itFlunec, but ours is efteemed 
 the better fort) which is very diuretic. By the luckieffc 
 chance in the world I had not difcharged myfelf of any 
 part of it. The heat I had contracted by coming very 
 near the flames, and by my labouring to quench them, 
 made the wine begin to operate by urine ; which I void- 
 ed in fuch a quantity, and applied fo well to the proper 
 places, that in three minutes the iire was wholly extin- 
 guilbed, and the rell of that noble pile, which had coil 
 fo many ages in ereding, preferved from deftrudlion. 
 
 It was now day-light, and I returned to my houfe 
 T\.ithout waiting to congratulate with the emperor; be- 
 caufe, although I had done a very eminent piece offer- 
 vice, yet 1 could not tell how his majefty might refent 
 the manner by which 1 had performed it : for, by the 
 fundamental laws of the realm, it is capital in any per- 
 fon, of what quality foever, to make water within the 
 precinfts of the palace. But I was a litdc comforted by 
 a meflagc from his majefty, that he would give orders to 
 the grand julliciary fur paffmg my pardon in form ; 
 whicn however I could not obtain. And I was privately 
 aflured, that the emprcfs, conceiving the greatell abhor- 
 rence of what I had done, removed to the moil dillant 
 fide of the court, rirmly refolved that thofe buildings 
 fhould never be repaired for her ufe ; and, in the pre- 
 fencc of her chief confidents, could not forbear vowing 
 
 revenge. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 TOLILLIPUT, '4^ 
 
 CHAP. vr. 
 
 Of the inhabitants o/'Lilliput ; their learnings laivsy avd 
 (ujloms., the fnamter of educating their children. The 
 author's ivay ofli-ving in that country. His 'vit:dicaiion 
 cf a great lady, 
 
 ALTHOUGH I intend to leave the defcription of 
 this empire to a particular treatife, yet in the 
 mean time I am content to gratify the curious reader 
 with fome general ideas. As the common fize of the 
 ratives is lomevvhat under {ix inches high, fo there is 
 an exaft proportion in all other animals, as well as 
 plants and trees : for inflance, the talleft horfes and 
 oxen are between four and iive inches in heighth ; the 
 Iheep an inch and half more or lefs ; their geefe about 
 the bignefs of a fparrow ; and fo the feveral gradations 
 downwards, till you come to the fmalleft, wliich to my 
 fight were almoll invifible ; but nature hath adapted 
 the eyes of the Lilliputians to all objefts proper for their 
 view : they fee with great exadnefs, but at no great 
 diftance. And, to fhew the fharpnefs of their fight to- 
 wards objefts that are near, I have been much pleafed 
 with obferving a cook pulling a lark, which was not 
 fo large as a common fly ; and a young girl threading 
 an invifible needle with invifible filk. Their tallelt 
 trees are about feven feet high : I mean fome of thofe 
 in the great royal park, the tops whereof I could but 
 juil reach with my fill clinched. The other vegetables 
 are in the fame proportion ; but this I leave to the rea* 
 der's imagination. 
 
 I fhall fay bv* little at prefent of their learning, which 
 for many ages hath flourifhed in all its branches among 
 theni : but their manner of writing is veiy peculiar, be- 
 ing neither from the left to the right, like the eurcpsans j 
 nor from the right to the left, like the arahians ; nor 
 from up to down, like the chinefe ; but aflant from one 
 corner of the paper to the ether, like ladies in England. 
 
 They
 
 4.4 A V O Y A G E 
 
 They bury their dead with their heads direftly down- 
 wards, becaufe they hold an opinion, that in eleven 
 thoufand moons they are all to rife again, in which pe- 
 riod the earth (which they conceive to be flat) will turn 
 upGde down, and by tliio means they ihall at their re- 
 furredlion be found ready {landing on their feet. The 
 learned among them confefs the abfurdity of this doc- 
 trine, but the praflice ilill continues in compliance to 
 the vulgar. 
 
 There are fome laws and cuftoms in this empire very 
 peculiar ; and, if they were not fo direftly contrary to 
 thofe of my own dear countr}% I Ihould be tempted to 
 fay a little in their j unification. It is only to be wifhed 
 they were as well executed. The firfl: I fhall mention, 
 relates to informers. All crimes againft the ftate are 
 punifhed here with the utmoft feverity ; but, if the per- 
 son accufed m^eth his innocence plainly to appear upon 
 his trial, the accufer is immediately put to an ignomi- 
 nious death : and out of his goods or lands the innocent 
 perfon is quadruply recompenfcd for the lofs of his 
 time, for the danger he underwent, for the hardfhips of 
 !iis imprifonment, and for all the charges he hath been 
 at in makino- his defence. Or. if that fund bj deficient, 
 it is largely fupplied by the crown. The emperor alfo 
 confers on him fome publick mark of his favour, 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 punilh it with death ; for 
 they alledge, that care and vigilance, with a very com- 
 mon underllanding, may preferve a man's goods from 
 tliieves, but honelty has no fence againli fuperior cun- 
 ning ; and fmcc it is neceflary that there fliould be a 
 perpetual ir.tercourfe of buying and felling, and dealing 
 upon credit ; where fraud is permitted, and connived 
 at, or hath no law to punilh it, the honeft dealer is al- 
 ways undone, and the knave gets the advantage. I 
 remember when I was once interceding v.ith the king 
 for a criminal, who had wronged his mafier of a great 
 
 fum
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 45 
 
 fum of money, which he had received by order, and 
 ran away with ; and happening to teil his majeily, by 
 way of extenuation, that it was only a breach of truft ; 
 the emperor thought it monftrous in me to oiFer as a de- 
 fence the greateft aggravation of the crime ; and truly I 
 had little to fay in return, farther than the common an- 
 fvver, that different nations had different cuftoms ; for, 
 I confefs, I was heartily afhamed f . 
 
 Although we ufually call reward and puniihment the 
 two hinges, upon which all government turns, yet t 
 could never obferve this maxim to be put in pra6lice by 
 any nation, except that of Lilliput. Whoever can there 
 bring fufhcient proof, that he hath flridlly obferved the 
 laws of his country for fevertty-three moons, hath a claim 
 to certain privileges, according to his quality and con- 
 dition of life, with a proportionable fum of money out 
 of a fund appropriated for that ufe : he likewife acquires 
 the title oi fnilpalU or legaU which is added to his name, 
 but doth not defcend to his pofterity. And thefe peo- 
 ple 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 juflice in their courts of 
 judicature is formed with fix eyes, two before, as many 
 behind, and on each fide one, to fignify circumfpeclion ; 
 with a bag of gold open in her right-hand, and a fword 
 Iheathed in her left, to Ihew Hie is more difpofed to re- 
 ward than to punifh. 
 
 In chufing perfons for all employments they have 
 more reo-ard to good morals than to great abilities ; 
 for, fince government is neceffary to mankind, they 
 believe that the common fize of human underftandings 
 is fitted to fome ftation or other, and that providence 
 never intended to make the management of publick af- 
 fairs a myftery to be comprehended only by a few per- 
 fons of fublime genius, of which there feldom are three 
 born in an age : but they fuppofe truth, juftice, tempe- 
 
 f An ait of parliament hath breaches of trult have been made 
 ieen fmte pafled, by which fooje capital, 
 
 Mnce,
 
 46 A V O Y A G E 
 
 ranee, and the like, to be in every man's power, thd 
 praftice of which virtues, aflifted by experience and a 
 good intention, would qualify any man for the fervice 
 of his country, except where a courfe of ftudy is requi- 
 red. But they thought the want of moral virtues was 
 fo far from being fupplied by fuperior endowir.ents of 
 the mind, that employments could never be put into 
 fuch dangerous hands as thofe of perfons fo qualified ; 
 and at leaft, that the miftakes committed by ignorance 
 in a virtuous difpofition would never be of fuch fatal con- 
 fequence to the publick weal, as the prai^ices of a man 
 whole inclinations led him to be corrupt, and who had 
 great abilities to manage, to multiply, and defend his 
 corruptions. 
 
 In like manner, the difbellef of a divine providence 
 renders a man uncapable of holding any publick fta- 
 tion ; for, fnice kings avowed themielves to be th-e de- 
 puties 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 acteth. 
 
 In relating thefe and the following laws, I would only 
 be underflood to mean the original inftitntions, and not 
 the moft fcandalous corruptions, into which thefe people 
 are fallen by the degenerate nature of man. For as to 
 that infamous pradlice of acquiring great employments 
 by dancing on the ropes, or badges of favour and dif- 
 tinftion by leaping over (licks, and creeping under 
 them, the reader is to obferve, that they were firlt in- 
 troduced by the grandfather of the emperor now reign- 
 ing, and grew to the prefent heighth by the gradual in- 
 creafe of party and faftion. 
 
 Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we read 
 it to have been in fome other countries ; for they reafon 
 thus, that whoever makes ill returns to his benefaftor, 
 mull needs be a common enemy to the rell of mankind, 
 irom u'hom he hath received no obligation, and there- 
 fore fuch a man is not fit to live. 
 
 Their notions relating to the duties of parents and 
 children djff:r extremely from ours. For, fince the 
 
 cou-
 
 TOLILLIPUT, 47 
 
 eoniunflion of male and female is founded upon the 
 Treat 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 tendernels 
 towards their young proceeds from the like natural prin- 
 ciple : for which reafon they will never allow, that a 
 child is under any obligation to his father for begetting 
 him, or to his mother for bringing him into the world, 
 which, confidering the miferies of human life, was nei- 
 ther a benefit in itfelf, 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 parents are the laft of all others to be 
 trufted with the education of their own children : and 
 therefore they have in every town publick rurferies, 
 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 fuppofed to have fome 
 rudiments of docility. Thefe fchools are of feveral 
 kinds, fuited to different qualities, and to both fexes. 
 They have certain profeffors well ikilled in preparing 
 children for fuch a condition of life as befits the rank 
 of their parents, and their own capacities as well as in- 
 clination. I Ihall firfl: fay fomething of the male nur- 
 feries, and then of the female. 
 
 The nurferies for males of ncble or eminent birth 
 are provided with grave and learned profefibrs, and their 
 feveral deputies. The clothes and food of the children 
 are plain and fimple. They are bred up in the prin- 
 ciples of honour, juilice, courage, modeity, clemency, 
 religion, and love of their country ; they are always 
 employed in fome bufinefs, except in the times of eat- 
 ing and fleeping, which are very (hort, and two hours 
 for diverfions confifting of bodily exercifcs. They are 
 dreffed by men till four years of age, and then are 
 obliged to drefs themfelves, although their quality be 
 ever fo great ; and the women attendants^ who are aged 
 
 pro-
 
 48 AVOYAGE 
 
 proportionably to ours at fifty, perforin only the moft 
 menial offices. They are never fufFered to converfe 
 with fervants, but go together in fmaller or greater 
 numbers to take their diverfions, and always in the 
 prefence of a profeiTor, or one of his deputies ; where- 
 by they avoid thofe early bad impreflions of folly and 
 vice, to which our children are fubjeft. Their parents 
 are fufFered to fee them only twice a year ; the vifit is 
 to lalt but an hour ; they are allowed to kifs the child 
 at meeting and parting ; but a profeffor, who always 
 Hands by on thofe occafions, will not fufFer them to 
 whifpcr, or ufe any fondling exprelTions, or bring any 
 prefents of toys, fweetmcats, and the like. 
 
 The penfion from each family for the education and 
 entertainment of a child, upon failure of due payment, 
 is levied by the emperor's ofiicers. 
 
 The nurferies for childien of ordinary gentlemen, 
 merchants, traders, and handicrafts, are managed pro- 
 portionably after the fame manner ; only thofe defigned 
 for trades are put out apprentices at eleven years old, 
 whereas thofe of pcrfons of quality continue in their 
 exercifes till fifteen, which anfwers to twenty-one with 
 us : but the confinement is gradually lefTened for the 
 laft three years. 
 
 Jn the female nurferies, the young girls of quality 
 are educated much like the males, only they are drefTed 
 by orderly f.rv;:nts of their own fcx ; but always in the 
 prefence of a profeffor or deputy, till they come to drefs 
 themfclves, which is at five years old. And if it be 
 found, that thefe nuries ever prefume to entertain the 
 girls with frightful or fbolidi flories, or the common fol- 
 lies pradlifed by chambermaids among- us, they are pub- 
 lickly whipped thrice about the city, imprifoned for a 
 year, and baniflied for life to the moft defolate part of 
 the country. Thus the young Ir.dies there are as much 
 afhamed of being cowards and fools, as the men, and 
 defpife all perlonal ornaments beyond decency and 
 cleanlineis : neither did I perceive any difference in 
 their education, made by their diiFcrence of fex, only 
 
 that
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 49 
 
 from the exercifes of the females were not altogether fo 
 robuft ; and that fome rules were given them relating 
 to domeflick life, and a fmaller compafs of learning 
 was enjoined them : for their maxim is, that, among 
 people of quality, a wife fhould be always a reafonablt: 
 and agreeable companion, becaufe fhe cannot always be 
 young. When the girls are twelve years old, which 
 among them is the marriageable age, their parents or 
 guardians take them home with great expreffions of 
 gratitude to the profefTors, and feldom without tears of 
 the young lady and her companions. 
 
 In the nurferies of females of the meaner fort, the 
 children are inftruiSted in all kinds of works proper 
 for their fex, and their feveral degrees : thofe intended, 
 for apprentices are difmiffed at feven years old, thd reft 
 are kept to eleven. 
 
 The meaner families, who have children at thefe 
 nurferies, are obliged, befides their annual penfion, 
 which is as low as poffible, to return to the fteward of 
 the nurfery a fmall monthly fhare of their settings to be 
 a portion for the child j and therefore all parents are 
 limited in their expences by the law. For the Lillipu- 
 tiatis think nothing can be more unjuft, than for peo- 
 ple, in fubfervience to their own appetites, to bring 
 children into the world, and leave the burthen of fup- 
 porting them on the publick. 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 hulbandry, and the moft 
 exaft juftice. 
 
 The cottagers and labourers keep their children at 
 home, their bufmefs being only to till and cultivate the 
 earth, and therefore their education is of little confe- 
 quence to the publick : but the old and difeafed among 
 them are fupported 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 domellicks, and my manner ot 
 living in this country during a refidence of nine months 
 
 £ and
 
 ijb A V O Y A G E 
 
 and thirteen days. Having a head mechanlcany turned, 
 and being likewife forced by neceffity, I had made for 
 inyfelf a table and chair convenient enough out of the 
 largell trees in the royal park. Two hundred femp- 
 ■flrelTes were employed to make me fhirts, and linen 
 for my bed and table, all of the ftrongeft and coarfell 
 kind they could get; which however they were forced 
 -to quilt together in feveral folds, for the thickefl; was 
 ibme degrees finer than lawn. Their linen is ufually 
 three inches wide, and three feet make a piece. The 
 iempftrefles took my meafure as I lay on the ground,, 
 one Handing at my neck, and another at my mid-leg, 
 with a llrong cord extended, that each held by the end, 
 while a third meafured the length of the cord with a 
 rule of an inch long. Then they meafured my right 
 thumb, and defired no more ; for by a mathematical 
 computation, that twice round the thumb is once round 
 the wrift, and fo on to the neck and tlie waift, and by 
 the help of my old fhirt, which I difplaycd on the 
 ground before them for a pattern, they fitted me ex- 
 adly. Three hundred taylors were employed in the 
 fame manner to make me cloaths ; but they had ano- 
 ther contrivance for taking my meafure. I kneeled 
 down, and they raifed a ladder from the groxmd to my 
 neck ; upon this ladder one of them mounted,, and let 
 fall a plum -line from my collar to the floor, which juft 
 anfwered the length of my coat ; but my waift and 
 «rms I meafured myfelf. When my cloaths were fi- 
 nilhed, which was done in my houfe (for the largeft of 
 theirs would not have been able to hold them) they 
 looked like the patch-work made by the ladies in Eug- 
 land, only that mine were all of a colour. 
 
 I had three hundred cooks to drefs my viftuals in 
 little convenient huts built about my houfe, where they 
 jind their families lived, and prepared me two dilhes 
 E-piece. I took up twenty waiters in my hand, and 
 placed them on the table ; an hundred more attended 
 below on the groun-^, fome with diflies of meat, and 
 lome with bariels of wine, and other liquots, flung oa 
 s,.-j. 3 their
 
 t O L I L L I P U T. 5t 
 
 their fhoulders ; all which the waiters above drew upj 
 as I wanted, in a very ingenious manner by certain 
 cords, as we draw the bucket up a well in Europe. A 
 di(h of their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel 
 of their liquor a reafonabie draught. Theii- mutton 
 yields to ours, biU their beef is excellent. I have had 
 a firloin fo large, that I have been forced to make three 
 bits of it; but this is rare. My fetvants were aftonifti- 
 ed to fee me eat it, bones and all, as in our country we 
 do the leg of a lark. Their geefe and tilrkies I ufually 
 eat at a mouthful, and I mull 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 himfelf a:nd his royal con- 
 fort, with the young princes of the blood of both 
 fexes, might have the happinefs (as he was pleafed to 
 call it) of dining with me. They came accordingly, 
 and I placed them in chairs of ftate upon my tabic, juft 
 bver-againft me, with their guards about them. Flim- 
 nap, the lord high treafurer, attended there likewife 
 with his white ftaff ; and I obferved he often looked on 
 me with a four countenance, which I would not feemi 
 to regard, but cat more than ufual, in honour to my 
 dear country, as well as to fill the court with admira- 
 tion. I have fonie private reafons to believe, that this 
 V'ifit from his majelly gave Flimnap an opporrunity of 
 doing me ill offices to his mafter. That minifter had 
 always been my fecret enemy, though he outwardly ca- 
 reffed me more than was ufual to the morofenefs of his 
 nature. He reprefentcd to the em.peror the low con- 
 dition of his treafury ; that he was forced to take up 
 money at great difcount ; that exchequer bills would 
 not circu'ate under nine per cent, below par ; that 1 had 
 ieoll his majefty above a million and a half of jprugs 
 (their greatell gold coin, about the bignefs of a fpangle) 
 and upon the whole, that it would be advifeable in the 
 femperor to take the firft fair occafion of difmilGng me. 
 
 J am here obliged to vindicate the reputation of an 
 
 E 2 excellent
 
 52 A V O V A G E 
 
 excellent lady, who was an innocent fufFerer upon my 
 nccoiant. I'he treafurer took a fancy to be jealous of 
 hk wife, from the malice of fome evil tongues, who in- 
 formed him that her grace had taken a violent afFeftion 
 for ray pcrfon ; and the court-fcandal ran for fome time, 
 that Ihe once came privately to my lodging. This I 
 folemnly declare to be a moll infamous faliliood, with- 
 out any grounds, firther than that her grace was pleafed 
 to treat me wiih all innocent marks of freedom and 
 friendfhip. I own fhe came often to my houfe, but al- 
 ways publiekly, nor ever without three more in the; 
 coach, who were ufually her filler and young daughter, 
 and fome particular acquaintance; but this was commorv 
 to many other ladies of the court. And I Hill appeal 
 to my fervants round, whether they at any time law a 
 «oach at my door, v/ithout knowing what perfons were 
 in it. On thofe occafions, when a fervant had given 
 ine notice, my cullom was to go immediately to the 
 door ; and, after paying my refpeds, to take up the 
 coach and two horfes very carefully In my hands (for, 
 if there were fix horfes, the pollillion always unharnef- 
 fed four) and placed 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^ '.vhile I 
 fat in my chair, kaning my face towards them ; and, 
 when I was engaged with oiic fct, the coachmen would 
 gently drive the others round my table. J have pafied 
 many an afternoon very agreeably in thefe converfa- 
 tions. But I defy the treafurer, or his two informers 
 (I will name them, and let them make their bcil of it) 
 iilufiril and Drttnlo, to prove that any perfon ever came 
 lo me incognito^ except the fecretai'y Rthlrejal, v?ho was 
 fent by exprefs command of his imperial majelly, as I 
 have before related. I fhould not have dwelt fo long 
 upon this particulai", it is had not been a point wherelu 
 the reputation of a great lady is To nearly concerned, to 
 fay nothing of my own, though I then had the ho- 
 nour to bf auardaCy which the ueJtfurcr himlclfii not; 
 
 for
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. ^3 
 
 for all the world knows, that he is only a glutnghm, a 
 title inferior by one degree, as that of a marquefs is to 
 a duke in Bngland-y yet I allow he preceded me in 
 right of his poll. Thefe falfe informations, which I 
 afterwards came to the knowledge of by an accident 
 not proper to mention, made the treafurer fhew his la- 
 dy for fome time an ill countenance, and me a worfe ; 
 and although he was at laft undeceived and reconciled 
 to her, yet I loir all credit with him, and found my 
 intereft decline very fall with the emperor bimfelt, wlio 
 was indeed too much governed by that favourite. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 ^he author t being informed of a dcjign to accufe him of 
 high-treafon, mahth his efcape to Blefufcu. Hii recep- 
 tion there, 
 
 BEFORE I proceed to give an account of my leav- 
 ing this kingdom, it may be proper to inform the 
 reader of a private intrigue, which haa been for two 
 months forming againfl me. 
 
 I had been hitherto all my life a fbanger to courts, 
 for which I was unqualified by the meannefs of my con- 
 dition. I had indeed heard and read enough of 6h« 
 difpofitions of great princes and minifters ; but never 
 expefted to have found fuch terrible efiefts of them in 
 fo remote a country, governed, as 1 thought, by very 
 different maxims from thofe in Europe^ 
 
 When I was juft preparing to pay my attendance on 
 the emperor of Blefufcu, a confiderable perfon at court 
 (to whom I had been very ferviceable at a time, when 
 he lay under the higheit difpleafure of his imperial ma- 
 ' jelly) came to my houfe very privately at night in a 
 clofe chair, and, without fending his name, delired 
 •admittance: the chairmen were difmlfTed; I put die 
 chair, with his lordfhip in it, into my coat-pockei ; 
 and, giving orders- to a trully fervant to fay I was ia- 
 dilpofed and gone to fleep, I iallened the door of my 
 
 E 3 houfe,
 
 ,^4 A V O Y A G E 
 
 houfe, priced the chair on the table according to my 
 ufual cuftom, and fat down by it. After the common 
 falutations were over, obferving his lordlhip's counte- 
 nance full of concern, and encjuiring into the reafon, 
 he defired 1 would hear him with patience in a matter, 
 that highly concerned my honour and my life. His 
 fpeech was to the following effedl, 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 moft private man- 
 ner on your account ; and it is but two days fmce his 
 jnajefty came to a full refolution. 
 
 You are very fenfible that Siyris Bclgolam (galhef, or 
 Jiigh-admiral) hath been your mortal enemy almoft ever 
 fmce your arrival : his original reafons 1 know not ; 
 bui his hatred is encreafed flnce your great fuccefs a- 
 gainft Blefufcu, by which his glor)', as admiral, is much 
 obfcured. This lord, in conjunftion with Flimnap the 
 high-treafurer, whofe enmity againll you is notorious 
 pn account of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the 
 chamberlain, and Balmuff the grand jufticiary, have 
 
 J)repared articles of impeachment againft you for trea- 
 bn, and other capital crimes. 
 
 This preface made me fo impatient, being confcious 
 of my own merits and innocence, that I w?s going 
 to interrupt : when he entreated me to be filent, and 
 thus proceeded. 
 
 Out of gratitude for the favours you have done me, 
 I procured informatior. of the whole proceedings, and 
 a copy of the articles j wherein 1 venture my head for 
 your fcrvice. 
 
 Articles of impeachment againji Quinbus Fleftrin th6 
 man-mountain. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Whereas, by a ftatute made in the reign of his im- 
 perial majefty Calin Deffar Plune^ it is enafted, that 
 V'hoever Ihall make water within the precinds of the 
 
 royal
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. 55 
 
 royal palace, fhall he liable to the pains and pefjiilties of 
 high treafon : notwithilanding the faid ^inbus Flcjlrin 
 in open breach of the faid law, under colour of extin- 
 guifhing the fire kindled in the apartment of his majef- 
 ty's moft dear imperial confort, did malicioufly, traiter- 
 oufly, and devilifhly, by difcharge of his urine put out 
 the faid fire kindled in the faid apartment, lying and 
 being within the precinfts of the faid royal palace, a- 
 gainll the ftatute in that cafe provided, ac. againlt the 
 duty, f/f. ' . ' - 
 
 A R T I C L E II, 
 
 That the faid ^inbus Fkftrin having brought the im- 
 perial fleet oi Blefufcu into the royal port, and being af- 
 terwards commanded by his imperial majeily to feize all 
 the other fhips of the faid empire of Blefufcu, and re- 
 duce that empire to a province to be governed by a 
 vice-roy from hence, and to deflroy and put to death 
 not only all the big-endian exiles, but likewife all the 
 people of that empire, who would not immediately 
 forfake the big-endian herefy : he the faid Flejlri... like a 
 falfe traitor againft his moft aufpicious, ferene, imperial 
 majefty, did petition to be excufed from the laid fer- 
 vice, upon pretence of unwillingnefs to force the con- 
 fciences, or deftxoy the liberties and lives of an inno- 
 cent people *. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 That, whereas certain ambaffadors arrived from the 
 court of Blefufcu to fue for piece in his majeily 's court : 
 he the faid Fkftrin did, like a falfe traitor, aid, abet, 
 ■comfort, and divert the faid ambaflixdors, although he 
 knew them to be fervants to a prince, who was lately 
 an open enemy to his imperial njajefty, and in open war 
 againft his laid majefty. 
 
 • A lawyer thinks himfelf coantry, but the dean here in- 
 
 honeft if he does the beft be can culcates an higher notion of right 
 
 for his client, and a ftatefman if and wrong, and obligations to a 
 
 ^ prorcotes the intereft gf bis larger community. 
 
 E 4 A R T I-
 
 5$ AVOYAGE 
 
 # 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 That the fald ^inhus Fkjlrin, contrary to the duty 
 of a faithful fubjeft, is now preparing to make a 
 voyage to the court and empire of Blefufcu, for which 
 he hath received only verbal licence from his imperial 
 majefty ; and under colour of the faid licence doth falfly 
 and traiterouny intend to take the faid voyage, and 
 thereby to aid, comfort, and abet the emperor of Ble- 
 fufcu, fo late an enemy, and in open war with his im- 
 perial majefty aforefaid. 
 
 There are fome other articles, but thefe are the moft 
 important, of which I have read you an abftraft. 
 
 In the feveral debates upon this impeachment it muft 
 be confefled that his majefty gave many marks of his 
 j^rcat lenity, often urging the fervices you had done 
 him, and endeavouring to extenuate your crimes. The 
 treafurer and admiral infifted that you fhould be put to 
 the moft painful and ignominious death by fetting firo 
 on your houfe at night, and the general was .to attend 
 with twenty thoufand men armed with poifoned arrows 
 to fhoot you on the face and hands. Some of your fer- 
 vants were to have private orders to ftrew a poifonous 
 Juice on your fhirts and Iheets, which would foon make 
 your tear your own flefh, and die in the utmoft torture. 
 The general came into the fame opinion ; fo that for 
 a long time there was a majority againft you : but his 
 majefty refolving, if polfible, to fpare your life, at laft 
 brought off the chamberlain. 
 
 Upon this incident Reldrefal principal fecretary for 
 private affairs, who always approved himfelf your true 
 friend, was commanded by the emperor to deliver his 
 ©pinion, which he accordingly did : and therein juftifi- 
 ed the good thoughts you have of him. He allowed 
 your crimes to be great, but that ftill there was room 
 for mercy, the moft commendable virtue in a prince, 
 and for which his majefty was fo juftly celebrated. He 
 faid, the friendfhip between you and hiai was fo well 
 
 knowi\
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 57 
 
 known to the world, that perhaps the moft honourable 
 board might think him partial : however, in obedience 
 to the command he had received, he would freely offer 
 his fentiments. That if his majeily, in confideration 
 of your fervices, and purfuant to his own merciful dif- 
 pofition, would pleafe to fpare your life, and only give 
 order to put out both your eyes, he humbly conceived, 
 that by this expedient juftice might in fome meafure be 
 fatisfied, and all the world would applaud the lenity of 
 the emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceed- 
 ings 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 ftiil be uleful 
 to his majeily : that blindnefs is an addition to courage, 
 by concealing dangers from us ; that the fear you had 
 for your eyes was the greateft difficulty in bringing 
 over the enemies fleet ; and it would be fufficient for 
 you to fee by the eyes of the minifters, fmce the great-* 
 eft princes do no more. 
 
 This propofal was received with the utmoft difappro- 
 bation by the whole board. Bolgolam the admiral 
 could not preferve his temper ; but rifmg up in fury 
 faid, he wondered how ihe fecretary durft prefume to 
 give his opinion for preferving the life of a traitor : 
 that the fervices you had performed were, by all true 
 reafons of ftate, the great aggravation of your crimes ; 
 that you, who was able to extinguifh the fire by dif- 
 charge of urine in her majefty's apartment (which he 
 pientioned with horror) might at another time raife aa 
 inundation by the fame means to drown the whole pa- 
 lace ; and the fame ftrength, which enabled you to 
 bring over the enemies fleet, might ferve upon the firft 
 difcontent to carry it back : that he had good reafons to 
 think you were a big-endian in your heart ; and as trea- 
 fon begins in the heart, before it appears in overt-adls, 
 fo he accufed you as a traitor on that account, and 
 therefore infifled you Ihould be put to death. 
 
 The treafurer was of the fame opinion : he (hewed 
 tp what flreights his majefty's revenue was reduced by 
 
 the
 
 5* A V O Y A G E 
 
 the charge of maintaining you, which would foon 
 grow infupportable : that the lecretary's expedient of 
 putting out your eyes was fo far from being a remedy 
 againft this evil, that it would probably encreafe it, as 
 is manifell from the common praftice of blinding fome 
 kind of fowl, after which they fed the fafler, and grew 
 iboner fat : that his facred majefly, and the council, who 
 are your judges, were in their own confciences fully 
 convinced of your guilt, which was a fufficient argu- 
 ment to condemn yon to death without the formal proofs 
 required by the ftrift letter of the law *. 
 
 JButhis imperial majefly, fully determined againft ca- 
 pital punifhment, was gracioufly pleafed to fay, that 
 iincethe council thought the lofs of your eyes too eafy 
 a cenfure, fome other may be inflidtcd hereafter. And 
 your friend the fecretary, humbly defiring to be heard 
 again, in anfwer to what the treasurer had objefted con- 
 cerning the great clxarge his majefly was at in maintain- 
 ing you, faid, that his exxellency, who had the fble difr* 
 pofal of the emperor's revenue, might eafily provide 
 againft that evil, by gradually lefTening your eitablifh- 
 ment ; by which, for v/ant of fufficient food, yoii 
 would grow weak and faint, and lofe your appetite, 
 and conlume in a few months ; neither would the flench 
 of your carcafe be then fo dangerous, when it Ihould 
 become more than half diminifhed ; and immediately 
 upon your death, five or fix thoufand of his majefly 's 
 fubjefts might in two or three days cut your flefli fron^ 
 your bones, take it awayty cart-loads, and bury it ia 
 
 • There is forrethinj; fo cdi- pretended a right to difpenfe with 
 0H3 in whatever is wrong, that the ftrift fetter of the law to 
 fven thole whom it does not fub- put GuIU'ver to death, tliough by 
 jedl to punifhment, endeavour to the ftrift letter of the law only 
 colour it with an appearance of he could be coiivifted of a 
 right J but the attemft is al- crime j the intention of the fta- 
 »»ay5 unfncrefsful, and only be- tute not being to fufler the pa- 
 trays a conftioulnefs cf defor- lace rather to be burnt than pif- 
 piiry, by (hfwine a defwe to hide fed upon. 
 jt. TJ:u5 the Li'll:i'.!jn court 
 
 diflant
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. 59 
 
 diftant parts to prevent infeftion, leaving the flceleton 
 as a monument of admiration to pofterity. 
 
 Thus by the great friendlhip of the fecretary the 
 whole affair was compromifed. It was ftridlly enjoin- 
 ed, that the project of ftarving you by degrees fhould 
 be kept a fecret, but the fentence of putting out your 
 eyes was entered on the books ; none diifenting except 
 Bolgolam the admiral, who, being a creature of the em- 
 prefs, was perpetually inftigated by her majefty to in- 
 lilt upon your death, (he having borne perpetual ma- 
 lice againft you on account of that infamous and illegal 
 method you took to extinguilh the fire in her apart- 
 ment. 
 
 In three days, your friend the fecretary will be di- 
 refted 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 majefty doth not queftion you will gratefully and 
 humbly fubmit to ; and twenty of his majefty's furgeons 
 will attend in order to fee the operation well performed 
 by difcharging very Iharp-pointed arrows into the balls 
 of your eyes, as you lie on the ground. 
 
 I leave to your prudence what meafures you will 
 take ; and, to avoid fufpicion, I mull immediately re- 
 turn in as private a manner as I came. 
 
 His lordftiip did fo, and I remained alone under 
 many doubts and perplexities of mind. 
 
 Is was a cuftom* introduced by this prince and his 
 miniftry (very different, as I have been afTured, from 
 the pradtices of former times) that after the court had 
 decreed any cruel execution either to gratify the mo- 
 narch's refentment, or the malice of a favourite, the 
 emperor alv/ays made a fpeech to his whole council, 
 cxprefung his great lenity and tendernefs, as qualities 
 known and confefled by all the world. This fpeech 
 was immediately publifhed through the kingdom ; nor 
 did any thing terrify the people fo much as thofe enco- 
 jniums on his majefty's mercy j becaufe it was obfer- 
 
 ved.
 
 fo aVoyage 
 
 ved, that, the more thefe praifes were enlarged and in- 
 filled on, the more inhuman was the punifhment, and 
 the fcfferer more innocent. Yet, as to myfelf, 1 mull 
 confefs, having never been defigned for a courtier ei- 
 ther by my birth or education, I was io ill a jud^re of 
 things, that I could not difcover the lenity and favour 
 of this fentence, but conceived it (perhaps erroneoully) 
 rather to be rigorous than gentle. I fometimes diought 
 of ftanding my trial ; for, although 1 could not deny 
 the fadls alledged. in the feveral articles, yet 1 hoped 
 they would admit of fome extenuation. But having in 
 my life perufed many Hate-trials, which I ever obferved 
 to terminate as the judges thought fit to direft, I durll 
 HOt rely on fo dangerous a decifion, in fo critical ajunc- 
 ture, and againic I'uch powerful enemies. Once I was 
 flrongly bent upon raiiltance, for, while I had liberty, 
 the whole flrength of that empire could hardly fubdue 
 me, and I might eafily with Hones pelt the metropolis 
 to pieces ; but I foon rejefted that project with horror, 
 by remembering the oath I had made to the emperor, 
 the favours I received from him, and the high tide of 
 aardac he conferred upon me. Neither had I fo foon 
 learned the gratitude of courtiers, to perfuade myfelf, 
 that his majeily's prefcnt feverities acquitted me of all 
 paft obligations. 
 
 At lart I fixed upon a refolution, for which it is pro- 
 bable I may incur fome cenfure, and not unjullly ; for 
 I confefs 1 owe the preferving mine eyes, and confe- 
 quently my liberty, to my own great raihnefs, and 
 want of experience ; becaufe, if I had then known the 
 nature of princes and miniilers, which I have fmce ob- 
 ferved in many other courts, and their methods of treat- 
 ing criminals lefs obnoxious than myfelf, I Ihould with 
 great alacrity and readinefs have fubmitted to fo ealy a 
 punifliment. But hurried on by the precipitancy of 
 youth, and having his imperial majeily's licence to pay 
 my attendance upon the emperor oi Blefufcu, I took this 
 opportunity, before three days were elapled, to fend 
 a letter to m}' friend the fecretary, fignifying my refo- 
 
 lutioii
 
 T O L I L L I ? U T. ft 
 
 lution of fetting out that morning for Blcft/fcm, purfu* 
 ant to the leave I had got ; and, without waitino^ for an 
 anfwer, I went to that fide of the ifland where our 
 fleet lay. I feized a large man of war, tied a cable to 
 the prow, and, lifting up the anchors, I llript myfelf, 
 put my cloaths (together with my coverlet, which I 
 carried under my arm) into the veflel, and drawing it 
 after me, between wading and fwimming arrived at the 
 royal port of Blefufcu, where the people had long ex- 
 pedtedme ; they lent me two guides todireft me to the 
 capital city, which is of the fame name. I held them 
 in my hands, till I came within two hundred yards of 
 the gate, and defired them to fignify my arrival to one 
 of the fecretaries, and let him know, 1 there waited his 
 majelly's command. I had an aniwerin about an hour, 
 that his majeily attended by the royal family and gr^at 
 officers- of the court was coming out to receive me. I 
 advanced a hundred yards. "1 he emperor and his train 
 alighted from their horfes, the empreis and ktdies froiu 
 their coaches, and I did not perceive they were in any 
 fright or concern. 1 lay qh the ground to kifs his ma- 
 jelly's and the emprefs's hand. 1 told his majelly, that 
 I was come according to my promife, and with the li- 
 cence of the emperor my mafter, to have the honour of 
 feeing fo mighty a monarch, and to offer him any fer- 
 vice in my power confillent with my duty to mv own 
 prince ; not mentioiiing a word of my difgrace, be- 
 caufe I had hitherto no re2"ular information of it, and 
 might fuppofe myfelf wholly ignorant of any fuch de- 
 lign ; neither could I reafonal>ly conceive that the em- 
 peror would difcover the fecret, while I was cut of his 
 power ; wherein hov.evcr it foon appeared 1 was de- 
 ceived. 
 
 I fhall not trouble the reader with the particular ac- 
 count of my reception at tlijs court, wliich was fuitable 
 to the generofity of fo great a prince ; nor of the diffi- 
 culties I v/as in for want of a houfe and bed, being 
 , iorced to lie on the ground, wrapt up in my coverlets 
 
 C H A ?.
 
 Si AVOYAGE 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 ^Ae autHfy hy a lucky accident, finds means to leave Bl<3- 
 fufcu ; and, after fame diffiailtiesy returns Jafe to his 
 native country. 
 
 T^ H R E E days after my arrival, walking out of 
 curiofity to the north-eaft coaft of the ifland, I 
 obferved about half a league oft', in the fea, fomewhat 
 that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my 
 fhoes and ftockings, and, wading too or three hundred 
 yards, I found the objefl to approach nearer by force of 
 the tide ; and then plainly faw it to be a real boat, 
 which I fuppofed might by fome tempeft have been 
 driven from a Ibip : whereupon I returned immediately 
 towards the city, and defired his imperial majefty to 
 lend me twenty of the talleft vefTels he had left after the 
 lofs of his fleet, and three thoufand feamen, under the 
 command of his vice-admiral. This fleet failed rounds 
 while I went back the Ihorteil: way to the coaft, where 
 I firll difcovered the boat ; I found the tide had driven 
 it ftill nearer. The feamen were all provided with cor- 
 dage, which I had beforehand twilled to a fufficicnt 
 ftrength. When the (hips came up, I Uriptmyfelf, and 
 waded till I came within a hundred yards of the boat, 
 after which I was forced to fwim till I got up trt 
 it. The feamen threw me the end of the cord, which I 
 faftened to a hole in the fore-part of the boat, and the 
 other end to a man of war : but I found all my labour 
 to little purpofe ; for, being out of my depth, I was 
 not able to work. In this necellity, I was forced to 
 fwim behind, and pufh the boat forwards as often as I 
 could, with one of my hands ; and the tide favouring 
 me I advanced lb far, that J could ju!l hold up my chiri 
 and feel the ground. 1 relied two or three minutes^ 
 and then gave the boat another ll ove, and fo on till the 
 fea was no higher than my arm-pits ; and now,- the 
 luoft laborious part being over, I took out my other 
 
 €ables.
 
 T O L I L L I P U T. 63 
 
 cables, which were flowed in one of the fhip3, and 
 faftened them firft to the boat, and then to nine of the 
 veflels which attended me ; the wind being favourable, 
 the feamen towed, and I fhoved till we arrived within 
 forty yards of the iliore, and, waiting till the tide was 
 out, I got dry to the boat, and by the affillance of two 
 thoufand men, with ropes and engines, J made a Ihifr 
 to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but litde 
 damaged. 
 
 I fliall not trouble the reader with the difficukics I 
 was under by the help of certain paddles, which coft 
 me ten days making, tp get my boat to the royal pori 
 oi Blefufcu, where a mighty concourie of people ap- 
 peared upon my arrival, full of wonder at the fight of 
 lb prodigious a veficl. 1 told the emperor, thai my 
 good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry 
 me to fome place, from whence I might return into 
 my native country, and begged his majelty's orders for 
 getting materials to fit it up, together with his licence 
 to depart, which, after fome kind expoilulations, he 
 was pleafed to grant. 
 
 I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have 
 heard of any exprefs relating to me from our emperor 
 to the court of Blcfufcu. But I was afterwards given 
 privately to underitand, that his imperial majefty, ne- 
 ver imagining I had the leaft notice of his defigns, be- 
 lieved I was only gone to Blcfufcu in performance of 
 my promife, according to the licence 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 laft in pain at my long abfeuce ; and, af- 
 ter confulting with the treakirer and the rert of that ca- 
 bal, a perfon of quality was difpatehed with the copy 
 of the articles againi^ me. This envoy had inftruc- 
 tions to reprefent to the monarch of Blefujcu the great 
 lenity of his mailer, who was content to puniih me no 
 farther than with the lofs' of mine eyes ; that 1 had fled 
 from juftice, and, if 1 did not return in two hours-, i 
 fooiild be deprived of my title of nardac, and de- 
 
 elax&d
 
 64 AVOVAGE 
 
 clared a traitor. The envoy further added, that, in 
 order to maintain the peace and amity between botih 
 empires, his mafter expefted, that his brother of Ble- 
 fufcu would give orders to have me fent back to Lilliput, 
 bound hand and foot, to be punifhed as a traitor. 
 
 The emperor of BeJfu/cu, having taken three days to 
 confult, returned an anfwer confifting of many civilities 
 and excufes. Hefaid, 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 obli- 
 gations to me for many good offices I had done him in 
 making the peace. That however both their majefties 
 would foon be made eafy ; for I had found a prodigi- 
 ous veflel on the fhore, able to carry me on the fea, 
 which he had given order to fit up with my own affift- 
 ance and direction ; and he hoped in a few weeks both 
 empires would be freed from fo infupportable an incum- 
 brance. 
 
 With this anfwer the envoy returned to Lilliput^ and 
 the monarch oi Belfufcu related to me all that had part; 
 offering me at the fame time (but under the ftridteft 
 confidence) his gracious protedlion, if I would continue 
 in his fervice ; wherein although 1 believed him fincere, 
 yet I refolved never more to put any confidence in 
 princes or minilters, where I could poffibly avoid it; 
 and therefore, with all due acknowledgments for his fa- 
 vourable intentions, I humbly begged to be excufed. I 
 told him, that fince fortune, whether good or evil, had 
 thrown a veifel in my way, I was refolved to venture 
 myfelf in the ocean, rather than be an occafion of diffe- 
 rence between two fuch mighty monarchs. Neither did 
 I find the emperor at all difpleafed ; and I difcovered 
 by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my re- 
 folution, and fo were moll of his minillers. 
 
 Thefe confiderations moved ma to ha(ten-my depar- 
 ture fomewhat fooner than 1 intended ; to which the 
 court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contri- 
 buted. Five hundred workmen were imployed to make 
 two fails to my boat, according u> va^ direftions, by 
 
 quiltitig
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 6^ 
 
 quilting tliirteen fold of their ftrongeft linen too-cther. 
 i was at the pains of making ropes and cables by twill- 
 ing ten, twenty, or thirty of the thickeit and itrongcft 
 of theirs. A great (lone that I happened to find, after 
 a long fearch by the fea-fhore, ferved me for an an- 
 chor. I had the tallow of three hundred cows for grea- 
 fing my boat and other ufes. I was at incredible pains 
 in cutdng down fome of the largeft timber-trees for oars 
 and mails, wherein I was however much aflilled bv his 
 majefty's ihip-carpcnters, who helped me in fmoothing 
 them after 1 had done the rough work. 
 
 In about a month, when all was prepared, I fent to 
 receive 'his majefty'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 
 gracioufly gave me ; fo did the emprefs, and young 
 princes of the blood. H:s majeity prefented me with 
 fifty purfes of two hundred y^r«^/ a piece, together with 
 his pifture at full length, which I put immediately into 
 one of my gloves to keep it from being hurt. The ce- 
 remonies at my departure were too many to trouble the 
 reader with at this time. 
 
 I ftored the boat with the carcafles of an hundred ox- 
 en, and three hundred flieep, with bread and drink pro- 
 portionable, and as much meat ready dreffed as four 
 hundred cooks could provide. I took with me fix cows 
 and two bulls aiive, v/ith as many ewes and rams, in- 
 tending to carry them into my own country, and pro- 
 pagate 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 doz?n of the natives, but this was a thing 
 the emperor would by no means permit ; and, befides a 
 diligent fearch into my pockets, his maj fty engaged my 
 honour not to carry away any of his fubjedls, aithough 
 with their ov/n confent and defire. 
 
 Plaving thus prepared all things as well as I was able, 
 I fet fail on thc'twenty-fourth day o'l Septe?nhcr 1701 at 
 fix in the morning ; and when I had gone about four 
 leagues to the northward, the wind being at fouth-eail, 
 
 Vol. II. F at
 
 66 AVOYAGE 
 
 at fiX in the evening I defcried a fmall ifland about half 
 a league to the norih-welL I advanced forward, and 
 caft anchor on the lee-fide of the ifland, which fecmed 
 to be uninhabited. I then took fome refrefhment, and 
 went to my reft. I flept well, and as I conjefture at 
 leaft fix hours, for I found the day broke in two hours 
 after I awaked, it was a clear night. 1 eat my break- 
 fall before the fun was up ; and heaving anchor, the 
 wind being favourable, I fleered the fame courfc, that I 
 had done the day before, wherein I was diredlcd by my 
 pocket- com pafs. iViy intention was to reach, ifpoiiible, 
 one of thofe iflands which 1 had reafon to believe lay to 
 the north-eaft of Fmi Diemen\ land. I difcovcred no- 
 thing all that day ; but upon the next, about three in 
 the afternoon, when 1 had by my computation made 
 twenty-four leagues from Blefufai, 1 defcribed a fail fteer- 
 inp- to the fouth eall; my courfe was due eaft, I hailed 
 her, but could get no anfwer ; yet I found I gained up- 
 on her, for the wind flackened. I made all the fail I 
 could, and in half an hour flie fpied me, then hung out 
 her antient, and difcharged a gun. It is not eafy to ex- 
 prtfs 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 Ihip flackened her fails, and I 
 came up with her between five and fix in the evening, 
 September 26 ; but my heart leapt within m.e to fee her 
 Efiplijh colours. I put my cows and fl;.eep into my coat- 
 pocket?, and got on board with all my little cargo of 
 provifions. The vefTel was an Englijh merchant-man re- 
 turning from Japan by the mrlb and fouth feas ; the 
 captain Mr. ''^okn Bidclle 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 
 fnip ; and here I met an old comrade of mine, one Pe- 
 ter H'iliiams, who gave me a good charadler to the cap- 
 tain. This gentleniiin treated me with kindnefs, and 
 defied I would let him know what place I came from 
 lail and whither I was bound ; which idid in few words, 
 but lie thought 1 v,'as raving, and that the dangers I had 
 
 Uiiderwent
 
 TOLILLIPUT. 67 
 
 underwent had difturbed my head ; whereupon I took 
 my black cattle and fheep out of my pocket, which, 
 after great aftoniflin!ent, clearly convinced him of my 
 veracity. I then fhewed him the gold given me by the 
 emperor of Bkfi'fcu, togethf r witli his raajefty's pidure 
 at lull length, and fome other rarities of that country. 
 I gave him two purfes of two hundred /^r/z^j each, and 
 promifed, when we arrived in England, to make him a 
 prefent of a cow and a fheep big with young. 
 
 I ihall not trouble the reader with a particular account 
 of this voyage, which v/as very profperous for the moft 
 part. We arrived in the Dcivns on the 13th oi April 
 \'}QZ. I had only one misfortune, that the rats on 
 board carried away one of my fheep ; I found her bones 
 in a liole, picked clean from the Hefli. '1 he rell of my 
 cattle I got fafe a-fhore, and fet them a grazing in a 
 bowling-green at Greenn.vich, where the fiiicnefs of the 
 grafs made them feed very heartily, though I had al- 
 ways feared the contrary : neither could I pofTibly have 
 preferved thtm in fo long a voyage, if the captain had 
 not allowed me fome of his be il biflcet, which rubbed 
 to powder, and mingled with water, was their conflant 
 food. The fhort time I continued in England, I made a 
 confiderable profit by fhewing my cattle to many pcr- 
 fons of quality, and others : and before I began my fe- 
 cond voyage, I fold them for fix hundred pounds. Since 
 my laft return I find the breed is confiderably increafed, 
 efpecially the fheep, which I hope will prove much to 
 the advantage of the woollen manufadure by the fine- 
 nefs of the fleeces. 
 
 I flayed but two months with my wife and family ; 
 for my infatiable defire of feeing foreign countries would 
 fufFer me to continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred 
 pounds with my wife, and fixed her in a good houfe at 
 Redriff. My remaining flock I carried with me^ part 
 in money and part in goods, in hopes to improve my 
 fortunes. My eldell uncle John had Icl't me an eftate 
 in land, ne;u- Eppi>ig, of about tiyrty pounds a year ; 
 
 F 2 and
 
 68 A V O Y A G E, &c. 
 
 and I had a long leafe of the Black-Bull in Tetter-Lane, 
 which yielded mc as much more : lb thai I was not in 
 any danger of leaving my family upon the parifh. My 
 foil Johnny, named fo after his uncle, uas at the gram- 
 mar fchool, 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 fides, and went on board 
 the Jdi'cnture, a merchant- fhip of three hundred tons, 
 bound for Surat, captair. yobti Nicholas oi Linje) pcol zom- 
 mander. But my account of this voyage mull be refer- 
 red to the fecond part of my travels. 
 
 
 A VOY-
 
 T'\u.Ac/.2. ^31 
 
 1S[ O it T H 
 
 AME RIC Jf^ 
 
 
 $^«vv^* C.Blanco 
 
 StSebalHa 
 
 11- C.MendociiK 
 
 l^t^S'iYi^^^*^ 
 
 .X)rn\t' 
 
 P.^ontere
 
 [«9] 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 T O 
 
 BROBDINGNAG. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 A great fiorm defcrihed, the long boat fent to fetch ivater, 
 the author goes ivith it to dijcover the country. He is 
 left onjkore, isfeized by one of the nati'ves, and carried 
 ■to a farmer's houfe. His reception, with fevered acci- 
 dents that happened there. A defription of the inha- 
 bitants. 
 
 HAVING been condemned by nature and for- 
 tune to an aftive and reltlefs lite, in two months 
 after my return I again left my native country, 
 and took fhipping in the Donxns on the 20th day of 
 June 1702, in the Ad'venture, captain John Nicholas a 
 Cornijh man commander, bound for t!urat. We had a 
 very profperous gale till we arrived at the Cape of 
 Good Hope, where we landed for frefh water, but difco- 
 vering a leak, we unlhipped our goods, and wintered 
 there ; for, the captain falling fick of an ague, we 
 could not leave the Cape till the eiid of March. We 
 then fet fail, and had a good voyage till we pafTed the 
 
 ** 3 ^treights
 
 yo AVOYAGE 
 
 Strelghfs o{ Madagafcar : but having got northward of 
 that idand, and to about five degrees fouth latitude, the 
 winds, which in thofe feas are obferved to blow a con- 
 flant equal gale between the north and weft, from the 
 beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 
 igth of Jpril began to blow with much greater vio- 
 lence, and more wefterly than ufual, continuing fo for 
 twenty days together, during which time we were dri- 
 ven a little to the eaft of the Molucca iflands, and a- 
 bout three degrees northward of the line, as our cap- 
 tain found by an obfervation he took the 2d of May, at 
 which time the wind ceafed, and it was a perfefl calm, 
 whereat I was not a little rejoiced. But he, being a 
 man well experienced in the navigation of thofe feas, 
 bid us all prepare againit a ftorm, which accordingly 
 happened the day following : for a fouthern wind, cal- 
 led the fouthern 7nonfco?t, began to fet in. 
 
 Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our 
 fprit-fail, and flood by to hand the forefail ; but, 
 making foul weather, we looked the guns were all faft, 
 and handed the miffen. The Ihip lay very broad off, 
 fo we thought it better fpooning before the fea, than 
 trying or hulling. We reft the fore-fail and fet him, 
 and havvled aft the fore-flieet ; the helm was hard a 
 weather. The fliip wore bravely. We belayed the 
 fore-down-hall ; but the fail was fplit, and we havvled 
 down the yard, and got the fail into the fliip, and un- 
 bound all the things clear of it. It v/as a very fierce 
 florm ; the fea broke ftrange and dangerous. We 
 bawled off" upon the lanniard of the whip-ftafF, and 
 helped the man at the helm. We would not get down 
 our top-maft, but let all ftand, becaufe llie fcudded be- 
 fore the fea very well, and we knew that, the top mall 
 being aloft, the fliip was the wholefomer, and made bet- 
 ter way through the fea, feeing we had fea-room. 
 When the ftorm was over, we fet fore-fail and main- 
 f'til, and brought the ftiip to. Then we fet the miffen, 
 main-top-fail, and the fore-top -fail. Our couHe was 
 (oft-norih-eaj}, the wind was at fouth-ivejl. We got 
 
 tli«
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 71 
 
 the flar-board tacks a-board, we cafe ofF our weather 
 braces and lifts ; ,we fet in the lee-braces, and havvled 
 forward by the weather-bowlings, and hawled them 
 tight, and belayed them, and hawled over the miflen- 
 tack to windward, and kept her full and by as near s.s 
 fhe would lie. 
 
 During this Ilorm, which was followed by a ftrong 
 wind lueji-fouth-njjcjl, we were carried by my compu- 
 tation about five hundred leagues to the eaj}, fo that the 
 oldelt failor on board could not tell in what part of the 
 v/orld we were. Our provifions held out well, our 
 fhip was {launch, and our crew all in good health ; but 
 we lay in the utmofl diftrefs for water. We thought ic 
 befl to hold on the fame courfe, rather than turn more 
 northerly, which might have brought us to the north- 
 <LveJi parts of great Tartary, and into the frozen fea. 
 
 On the 1 6th day of June, 1703, a boy on the top- 
 mall: difcovered land. On the 17th, we came in full 
 view of a great ifland or continent (for we knew not 
 whether) on the fouth-fide whereof was a fmall neck 
 of land jutting out into the fea, and a creek too flial- 
 !ow to hold a fhip of above one hundred tons. We cail 
 anchor within a league of this creek, and our captain 
 fent a dozen of his men well armed in the long-boat, 
 with vefiels for water, if any could be found. 1 defi- 
 red his leave to go with them, that I might fee the coun- 
 try, and make what difcoveries I could. When we 
 came to land, we faw no river or fpring, nor any fign 
 of inhabitants. Our men therefore wandered on the 
 fhore to find out fome frefli water near the fea, and I 
 walked alone about a mile on the other fide, where I 
 obferved the country all barren and rocky. I now be- 
 gan to be weary, and feeing nothing to entertain my 
 curiofity, I returned gently down towards the creek ; 
 and the fea being full in my view, I faw our men al- 
 ready got into the boat, and rov/ing for life to the 
 fhip. 1 was going to hollow after them, although it 
 had been to little purpofe, when T obferved a huge 
 creature walking after them in the fea, as faft as he 
 
 F 4 could :
 
 72 AVOYAGE 
 
 could : he waded not much deeper than his knees, and 
 took prodigious ftrides : but our men had the fiart of 
 i'im half a league, and, the fea thereabouts being full 
 of fharp-pointed rocks, the monller was not able to 
 overtake the boa:. This I was afterwards told, for I 
 durll not flay to fee the ifTue of the adventure ; but ran 
 as fall as I could the way I firft went, and then climbed 
 up a fteep hii!, which gave me fome profpedt of the 
 country- I found it fully cultivated; but that which 
 finl furprifed me was the length of the grafs, which, in 
 thofe groun"'S that feemed to be kept for hay, was 
 about twenty feet high. 
 
 I fell into a high road, for fo I took it to be, though 
 it fcrved for the inhabitants only as a foot-path through 
 a field cf barley. Here I walked on for fome time, 
 but could fee little on either fide, it being now 
 near harveft, and the corn lifing at Icafl forty feet. I 
 was an hour walking to the end of this field, which 
 was fenced in with a hedge of at leait: one hundred and 
 twenty feet high, and the trees fo lofty that I could, 
 make no computation of their altitude. There was a 
 ftile to pafs from this field into the next. It had four 
 ftep?, and a Hone to crofs o^er when you came to the 
 uppermoft. It was impoffible for me to climb this 
 ftile, becaufe every ftep was fix feet high, and the up- 
 per ftonc above twenty. I was endeavouring to find 
 ibme gap in the hedge, when I difcovered one of the 
 ^ inhabitants in the next field advancing towards the flile, 
 of the fame fize with him whom I faw in the fea pur- 
 fuing our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary 
 fpire-fteeple, and took about ten yards at every flride, 
 as near as I could gueis. I was [truck with the utmoft 
 i'e:ir and aftonilhment, and ran to hide myfelf in the 
 corn, from whence I faw him at the top of the ftiie 
 looking back into the next field on the right hand, and 
 heard him call in a voice many degrees louder than a 
 fpeaking-trumpet ; but the noife was fo high in the 
 iiir, that at firft I certainly thought it was thunder. 
 Whereupon ftven monllcrs, like himfelf, came towards 
 
 him
 
 ♦TO EROBDINGNAG. 73 
 
 him with reaping-hooks in their hands, each hook a- 
 bout the largonci'i of fix fcythes. Thefe people were 
 not fo v.ei; clad as the firll, vvhcfe fervants or labourers 
 they feemed to be : for, upon fome words he fpoke, 
 they went to reap the corn in the field »vhere I lay, I 
 kept from them at as great a diftance as I could, but was 
 forced to move with extreme difficulty, for the ftalks of 
 the corn were fometimes not above a foot diilant, fo 
 that I could hardly fqueefe my body betwixt them. 
 However I made a fhift to go forward, till I came to a 
 part of the field where the corn had been laid by the 
 rain and wind. Here it was im.poffible for me to ad- 
 vance a ftep ; for the ftalks were fo interwoven that I 
 could not creep thorough, and the beards of the fallen 
 ears fo ilrong and pointed, that they pierced through 
 my cloaths into my flefh. At the fame time I heard 
 the reapers not above an hundred yards behind me. 
 Being quite difpirited with toil, and wholly overcome 
 by grief and defpair, I lay down between two ridges, 
 and heartily wilhed I might there end my days. I be- 
 moaned my defolate widow, and fatherlefs children. I 
 lamented my own folly and wilfulnefs in attempting a 
 fecond voyage againft the advice of all my friends and 
 relations. In this terrible agitation of mind I could 
 not forbear thinking of Ltlliput, whofe inhabitants 
 looked upon me as the greatell prodigy that ever ap- 
 peared in the world : where I was able to draw an im- 
 perial fieet in my hand, and perform thofe other adions 
 which will be recorded for ever in the chronicles of that 
 empire, v^hile polleiity fhall hardly believe them, al- 
 though atteiied by millions. 1 reflefted what a morti- 
 fication it mull: prove to me to appear as inconfidcrable 
 in this nation, as one fingle Lilliputian would be among 
 us. But this I conceived was to be the leail of my 
 misfortunes : for, as human creatures are obferved to be 
 more favage and cruel in proportion to their bulk, what 
 could I expect but to be a morfel in the niouth or" tlie 
 firll among thefe enormous barbarians, that fnould hap- 
 pen
 
 74 AVOYAGE 
 
 pen to feize me ? Undoubtedly philofophers are in the 
 right when they tcU us, that nothing is great or little 
 otkerwife than by comparifon. It might have pleafed for- 
 tune to have let the Lilliputians find fome nation, where 
 the people were as dimir.utive with refpeft to them, as 
 they were to mc. And who knows but that even this 
 prodigious race of mortals might be equally over- 
 matched in fome diftant part of the world, whereof we 
 have yet no difcovery ? 
 
 Scared and confounded as 1 was, T could not forbear 
 going on witli thefe refleclions, when one of the reap- 
 ers, approaching within ten yards of the ridge where I 
 lay, made me apprehend that with the next ftep I 
 fhouid be fquafhed to death under his foot, or cut in 
 two widi hij reaping-hook. P: nd therefore, when he 
 was again about to move, I fcreamed as loud a:- fear 
 could make me. Whereupon the huge creature trod 
 ihort, and, looking round about under him for fome 
 time, at lafl efpied me as I lay on the ground. He 
 confidered a while with the caution of one who endea- 
 vours to lay hold on a fmall dangerous animal, in fuch 
 a manner that it (hall not be able either to fcratch or to 
 bite him, as 1 myfelf have Sometimes done with a wea- 
 fel in England. At length he ventured to take me up 
 behind by the middle between his fore- finger and thumb, 
 and brought me within three yards of his eyes, that 
 he might behold my Ihape more perfectly. I guefled 
 his meaning, and my good fortune gave me fo much 
 prefence of mind, that 1 refolved not to ftruggle in the 
 lead as he held me in the air above fixty feet from the 
 ground, although he grievoufly pinched my fides, for 
 fear I Ihould flip through his fingers. All 1 ventured 
 was to raife mine eyes towards the fun, and place my 
 hands together in a fupplicating poilurc, and to fpeak 
 fome words in an humble melancholy tone, fuitable to 
 the condition I then was in. For I apprehended every 
 moment he would dafli me againft the ground, as 
 we ufually do any little hateful animal, which we have 
 
 a mind
 
 TO BROBDIGNAG. 75 
 
 a mind to defiroy *. But my good ftar would have it, that 
 he appeared pleafed wilh my voice and jeilures, and be- 
 o-an to look upon me as a curiofity, much wondering to 
 hear me pronounce articulate words, although he could 
 not undeiftand them. In the mean time I was not able 
 to forbear groaning and (hedding tears, and turning 
 my head towai'ds my fides ; letting him know, as well 
 as I could, how cruelly I was hurt by the prefTure of 
 his thumb and finger. He feemed to apprehend my 
 meaning ; for, lifting up the lappet of his coar, he put 
 me gentl" into it, and immediately ran along with ras 
 to his ma, cr, who was a fubftantial farmer, and tlie 
 fame perfon I had firft feen in the field. 
 
 The farmer having (as I fuppofe by their talk) re- 
 ceived fuch an account of me as his fcrvant could give 
 him, took a piece of fmall ftraw, about the fize of a 
 walking-ftaff, and therewith lifted up die lappets of my 
 coat ; which it feems he thought to be fome kind of co- 
 vering 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 afked them (as I afterwards learn- 
 ed) whether they had ever feen in the fields any little 
 creature that relembled m.e : he then placed me fbftly 
 on the ground upon all four, but I got immediately up, 
 and wal'v-ed (lowly backwards and forwards 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 mo- 
 tions. I pulled oft" my hat, and made a low bow to- 
 wards the farmer. 1 fell on my knees, and lifted up 
 my hands and eyes, and fpoke 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 clofe to his eye to fee 
 
 ♦ Our inattenton to the feli- threat of a dog ; but it ftould 
 
 city of fenfitive beings merely always be remembered, that the 
 
 becaufe they are fmaii is here leaft of thele 
 
 forcibly reproved : many have " In mortal fufFerance feels a 
 
 wantonly crufhed an ink&, who pang as great 
 
 would ftudder at cutting the " As when a giant dies." 
 
 I what
 
 76 AVOYAGE 
 
 what it was, and afterwards turned it feveral times with 
 the point of a pin (.which he took out of his lleeve) but 
 could make no"thing of it. Whereupon 1 made a fign 
 that he fhould place his hand on the ground. I then 
 took the purfc, and opening it, poured all the gold in-, 
 to his palm. There were fix fpanijh pieces of four 
 piftoles each, befides twenty or thirty fnialler coins. I 
 faw him wet the tip of his little finger upon his tongue, 
 and take up one of my largeft pieces, and then ano- 
 ther, but he feen:ied to be wholly ignorant what they 
 were. He made me a fign to put them again into my 
 purfe, and the purfe again into my pocket, which, af- 
 ter offering it to him feveral times, 1 thought it beft 
 to do. 
 
 The farmer by this time was convinced I muft be a 
 rational creature. He fpoke often to me, but the 
 found of his voice pierced my ears like that of a wa- 
 ter-mill, yet his words were articulate enough. I an- 
 swered as loud as I could in feveral languages, and he 
 often laid his ear within two yards of me ; but all in 
 vain, for we were wholly unintelligible to each other. 
 He then fenthis fervants to their work, and, taking his 
 handkerchief out of his pocket, he doubled and fpread 
 it on his left hand, which he placed flat on the ground 
 with the palm upwards, making me a fign to ftep into 
 it, as I could eafily do, for it was not above a foot in 
 thickneff. I thought it my part to obey, and, for fear 
 of falling, laid myfelf at full length upon the hand- 
 kerchief, 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 cai'ed his wife, 
 and fnevved me to her ; but (lie fcrearaed and ran back, 
 as women in England do at the fight of a toad or a fpi- 
 der. However, when fhe had a while feen my behavi- 
 our, and hov/ vv'ell I obferved the figns her hufband 
 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 fubitantial difh of meat (fit 
 
 for
 
 TOBROBDINGNAG. 77 
 
 for the plain condition of an hulbandman) in a dilh of 
 about four and tAventy feet diameter. The company 
 were the firmer and his wife, three children and an old 
 grandmother: when they were fat down, the farmer 
 placed me at fome diilance from him on the table, 
 which was thirty feet high from the floor. I was in a 
 terrible fright, and kept as far as 1 could from the edge 
 for fear of falling. The wife minced a bit of meat, 
 then crumbled fome bread on a trencher, and paced it 
 before me. I mad her a low bow, took out my knife 
 and fork, and fell to eat, which gave them exceeding 
 delight. The milbefs fent her maid for a fmall dram- 
 cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it with 
 <lrink ; I took up the velTel with much difricuhy ia both 
 hands, and in a moll refpeclful manner drank to her 
 ladyfhip's hei.lth, exprelfing the words aa louJ as I 
 could in Er.glijh, which made the company laugh fo 
 heartily, that I was alnioft deafened with the noife. 
 This liquor tailed like a fmall cyder, and was not un- 
 pleafint. Then the mailer :-nade a fign to come to his 
 trencher-fide ; but as I walked on the table, being in 
 great furprize all the time, as the indulgent reader will 
 eahiy conceive and excufe, I happened to Humble a- 
 gainit a cruft, and fell flat on my face, but received no 
 hurt. I got up immediately, and obfcrving the good 
 people to bcm much ccy;icern, I took my hat (which I 
 held under my arm out of good manners) and, waving 
 it over my head, made three huzza'?, to (hew I had got 
 no mifchief by my fall. But advancing forv/ards to- 
 w;:rds my mailer (as I (hall henceforth call him) his 
 youngeft fon who fat next him, an arch boy of about 
 ten years old, took me up by the legs, and held me \o 
 high in the air, that I trembled every limb ; but his fa- 
 ther fnatchcd me from him, and at the fame time gave 
 him fuch a box on the left ear, as would hiive felled an 
 European troop of horle to the earth, ordering him to 
 be taken from the table. But being afraid the boy 
 might owe me a fpight, and well remembering hov</ 
 mifchievous all children among us naturally are to fpar- 
 
 rows.
 
 78 A V O Y A G E 
 
 rows, rabbits, young kittens, and puppy-dogs, I fell on 
 mv knees, and pointing to the boy made my mafter to 
 underfiand, as well as I could, that 1 defired his fon 
 might be pardoned. The father complied, and the lad 
 took his feat again ; whereupon I went to him and kiiTed 
 his hand, which my maftertook, and made him ftroak 
 me gently with it. 
 
 In the niidft of dinner, my miftrefs's favourite cat 
 leapt into her lap. I heard a noife behind me like that 
 of a dozen llocking-wcavers at work ; and, turning my 
 head, I found it proceeded from the purring of that a- 
 nimal, 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 miftrefs was feeding and ftroaking her. 
 The fiercenefs of this creature's countenance altogether 
 difcompofed me ; though I flood at the further end of 
 the table, above fifty feet off; and although my miilrefs 
 held her fall, for fear fhe might give a fpring, and 
 ieize me in her talons. But it happened there v/as 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 ex- 
 perience in my travels, that flying or difcovermg fear be- 
 fore a fierce animal is a certain way to make ii purfue 
 or attack you, fo I reiblved in this dangerous junfcure 
 to Ihcw no manner of concern. I walked witii intre- 
 pidity five or fix times before the very head of the cat, 
 and came within half a yard of her ; whereupon (he 
 drew hcrfelf back, as if flie were more afraid of me : I 
 had lefs apprehenfion concerning the dogs, whereof 
 three or four came into the room, as it is ufual in far- 
 mers houfes ; one of which was a mail:ifFc<i'ial in bulk 
 to four elephants, and a greyhound fomevvhat taller 
 than the malHfF, but not fo large. 
 
 When dinner was almofl done, the nurfe came in 
 with a child of a year old in her arms, who immediately 
 Ipied ine, and began a fquall, that you might have heard 
 from Lo7ulon-bridgeto CheJfea, after the ufual oratory of 
 infants to get mc lor a play-thing. The mother out of 
 
 pure
 
 TOBROEDINGNAG. 79 
 
 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 in- 
 fallibly have broke my neck, if the mother had not held 
 her apron under me. The nurfe to quiet her babe made 
 ufe of a rattle, which was a kind of hollow vefTel filled 
 with great ftones, and faftened by a cable to the child s 
 waiil: : but all in vain, fo that flie v/as forced to apply 
 the laft remedy by giving it fuck. I muft confefs no ob- 
 jeft ever difgufted me fo much as the fight of her mon- 
 ftrous breaft, which 1 cannot tell what to compare with, 
 fo as to give the curious reader an idea of its bulk, fhape, 
 and colour. It flood prominent fix feet, and could not 
 be lefs than fixteen in circumference. The nipple was 
 about half the bignefs of my head, and the hue both 
 of that and the dug fo varified with fpots, pimples, and 
 freckles, that »iOthing could appear more naufeous : for 
 I had a near fight of her, fte fitting down the more con- 
 veniently to give fuck, and I fianding on the table. This 
 made me refledl upon the fair fkins of our Englijh ladies, 
 who appear fo beautiful to us, only becaufe they are of 
 our own fize, and their defefts not to be feen but thro' 
 a magnifying-glafs, where v/e find by experiment, that 
 the fmoothelt ancf whiteft fkins look rough and coarfe, 
 and ill-coloured..' 
 
 I remember, when I was at LilUpuf, the complexions 
 of thofe diminutive people appeared to me the faireft in 
 the world ; and talking upon this fubjeft 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 oh?me from the ground, than it did up- 
 on a nearer view when I took him up in my hand and 
 brought him clofe, which he confefied was at fii 1> a very 
 fhocking fight. 'He faid he coald difcover great holes 
 in my fidn ; that the fiumps of my beard v/ere ten times 
 fironger than the'bri|Hes of a boar, and my complexion 
 made up of fevera! c<jlouri altogether difagreeable : al- 
 though 1 muft beg ieave to fay for myfelf, that 1 am 
 
 as
 
 8o AVOYAGE '/ 
 
 fair as moft of my fex and country, and very little fiin- 
 burnt by all my travels. On the oiher f:de, difcoupftftg 
 of the ladies in that emperor's court, he ufed to tell me, 
 one had freckles, another too wide a mouth, a third too •-■ 
 large a nofe, nothing of which I was able to diftinguifh. 
 1 confefs, this refleftion was obvious euough ; which 
 however I could-not forbear, left tlie reader might think 
 thofe vaft creatures were aftually deformed ; for I mult 
 do them juftice to fay, they are a comely race of people ; 
 and particularly the features ot my mailer's counte- 
 nance, although he were but a farmer, when I beheld 
 him from the hcighth of fixty feet, appeared very well 
 proportioned. 
 
 When dinner was done, my mafter went out to his 
 labourers, and, as I could difcover by his voice and 
 gefture, gave his wife a ftricl charge to take care of me. 
 1 was very much tired, and difpofed to fleep, which 
 my miftrefs perceiving, fhe put me on ht:r own bed, and 
 covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger 
 and coarfer than the main-fail of a man of war. 
 
 1 flept about two hours, and dreamed I was at home 
 with my wife and children, vvh.ich aggravated my for- 
 rovvs Vv'hcn I awaked, and found myielf alone in a vaft 
 room, between two and three hundred feet wide, and 
 above two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards 
 wide. My miftrefs was gone abont her houlhold affairs, 
 and had locked me in. The bed was eight yards from 
 the floor. Some natural neceflities required me to get 
 down; I durft not prefume to call, and, if I had, it 
 would have been in vain v/ith fuch a voice as mine, at 
 fo great a diftancc as Irom the room v.'hcre I lay to the 
 kitchen where the family kept. While] was under thefe 
 circumftances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran 
 fmcliing backwards and forwards on the bed. One of 
 them came up almoft to my face, whereupon I rofe in a 
 fright, and drew out my hanger to defend myfelf. i hefe 
 horrible animals had the boldnefs to attack me on both 
 fides, and one of them held his fore feet at my collar j 
 but 1 had the good fortune to rip up his belly, before 
 
 he
 
 to UROBDtNGNAG. 8: 
 
 he could do me any mifchief. He fell down at my feet, 
 and the other feeing the fate of his comrade made his 
 efcape, but not without one good wound on the back> 
 which I gave him as he fled, and made the blood run 
 trickling from him. After this exploit I walked gently 
 to and fro on the bed to recover my breath, and lofs of 
 fpirits. Thefe creatures were of the fize of a large 
 maftiiF, but infinitely more nimble and fierce, fo that, 
 it I had taken off my belt before I went to flecp, I mull 
 have infallibly been torn to pieces and devoured. 1 mea- 
 fured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to be two 
 yards long, wanting an inch ; but it went againll: my 
 ftomach to drag the carcafe off the bed, where it lay Hill 
 bleeding ; I obferved it had yet fome life, but, with a 
 flrong flafh crofs the neck, I thoroughly difpatched it. 
 
 Soon after my miftrefs came into the room, who fee- 
 ing me all bloody ran and took me up in her hand. I 
 pointed to die dead rat, fmiling and making other figiis 
 to fhew I was not hurt, whereat fhe was extremely re- 
 joiced, calling the maid to take up the dead rat with a 
 pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then 
 fhe fet me on a table, where I lliewed her my hanger 
 all bloody, and, wiping it on the lappet of my coat, 
 returned it to the fcabbard. I was prefTed to do more 
 than one thing, which another could not do for me, 
 and therefore endeavoured to make my millrefs under^ 
 Hand that I defired to be fet down on the floor ; which 
 after flie had done, my bafhfulnefs would not fuffer me 
 to exprefs myfelf farther than by pointing to the door^ 
 and bowing ieveral times. The good woman, with 
 much difficulty, at lail perceived what I would be at, 
 and, taking me up again in her hand, walked into the 
 garden, where (he 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 difcharged the neceflities of nature. 
 
 I hope the gentle reader will excufe me for dwelling 
 on thefe and the like particulars, which, however infig- 
 niftcant they may appear to grovelling vulgar minds. 
 
 Vol. JL G yet
 
 9^ AVOYAGE 
 
 yet will certainly help a philofopher to enlarge his 
 thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the benefit 
 of publick as well as private life, which was my fole de- 
 iign in prefenting this and other accounts of my travels 
 to the world ; wherein I have been chiefly ftudious of 
 truth, without affefting any ornaments of learning or of 
 ilyle. But the whole fcene of this voyage made fo- 
 flrong an imprefllon on my mind, and is fo deeply fixed 
 in my memory, that in committing it to paper I did' 
 not omit one material circumitance : however, upon a- 
 flriLl review, I blotted out feveral paflages of lefs mo- 
 ment which were in my firft copy, for fear of being- 
 cenfured as tedious and trifling, whereof travellers are 
 often^ perhaps not without juUice, accufed. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A defcription of the farmer's daughter. The author car- 
 ried to a market-towjn, and then to the metropolis., Th^ 
 particulars of his journey, 
 
 MY miftrefs had a daughter of nine years old, « 
 child of towardly parts for her age, very dex- 
 terous at her needle, and fkilful in drefling her baby. 
 Her mother and (he contrived to fit up the baby's cradle 
 for me againft night : the cradle was put into a fmall 
 drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed upon a 
 hanging-flielf for fear of the rats. This was my bed all 
 the time I Hayed with thofe people, though made more 
 convenient by degrees, as I began to learn their lan- 
 guage, and make my wants known. This young girl 
 was fo handy, that, after I had once or twice pulled off 
 my cloaths before her, flie was able to drefs and undrefs 
 me, though I never gave her that trouble, when flie 
 would \^t. me do cither myfelf She made me feven 
 fliirts, and Ibme other linnen, of as fine cloth as could 
 be got, which indeed was coarfer than fackcloth ; and 
 tliele Ihe conftantly waflied for me with her own hands. 
 She was likevvife my ichool-miftrefs to teach me the lan- 
 guage t
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG* S3 
 
 guage : when I pointed to any thing, flie told me the 
 name of it in her own tongue, fo that in a few days I 
 was able to call for whatever I had a mind to. Slie was 
 very o-ood-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 na- 
 nunculus, the Italians homunceletino, and the Englijh ?nan- 
 nikin. To her I chiefly owe my prcfervation in that 
 country : we never parted while I was there ; I called, 
 her my GlumdakUtch, or little nurfe ; and (hould be 
 guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this honourable 
 mention of her care and aiFeftion towards me, which I 
 heartily wifh it lay in my power to requite as Hie de^ 
 ferves, inllead of being the innocent, but unhappy in- 
 ftrument 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 mailer had found a ilrange animal 
 in the field, about the bignefs of a fplacknuck, but ex- 
 aflly (haped in every part like a hum.an creature ; which 
 it like wife imitated in all its aiSions ; feemed to fpeak 
 in a little language of its own, had already learned fevc- 
 ral words of theirs, wenterecl upon two legs, was tame 
 and gentle, would come when it was called, do what- 
 ever it was bid, had the fincft 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 
 purpofe to enquire into the truth of this ilory. 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 mailer's gueft, 
 afked him in his own language how he did, and told 
 him he was welcome, jull as my little nurfe had in- 
 Ilrufted me. This man, who v/as old and dim-fighted, 
 put on his fpeftacles to behold me better, at which I 
 could not forbear laughing very heartily, for his eyes 
 appeared like tlic full moon Ihininsr into a chamber at 
 ^* G 2 two
 
 84 A V O Y A G E 
 
 two windows. Our people, who difcovered the caufe 
 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 charafter of a great inifer- 
 and, to my misfortune, he well deferved it by the 
 curfed advice he gave my mailer to fhew 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 cur 
 houfe. I guefied there was fome mifchief contriving, 
 when I obferved my mafter and his friend whifpering 
 long together, fometimes pointing at me ; and my fears 
 made me fancy that I overheard and underftood fome of 
 their words. But the next morning Glumdaklitch, my 
 little nurfe, told me the whole matter, which (he had 
 cunningly picked out from her mother. The poor 
 girl laid me on her bofom, and fell a weeping with 
 Ihame and grief. She apprehended fome mifchief 
 would happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who might 
 fqueeze me to death, or break one of my limbs by 
 taking, me in their hands. She had alfo obferved how 
 modeft [ was in my nature, hov*r nicely I regarded my 
 honour,- and what an indignity I lliould conceive it to 
 be expofed for money as a publick fpe£tacle to the 
 meaneil: of the people. She faid, her papa anu ?na?n- 
 ?na had promifed that Grildrig fnould be hers, but now 
 .ilie found they meant to ferve her as they did laft year, 
 when they pretended to give her a lamb, and yet, as 
 ibon as it was far, fold it to a butcher. For my own 
 part, I may truly affirm, that I was lefs concerned than 
 my nurfe. I had a ftrong hope, which never left me, 
 that I Ihould one day recover my liberty ; and, as to the 
 it^nominy of being carried about for a monfter, I con- 
 fidered myfelf to be a perfedl: ftranger in die country, 
 and that fuch a misfortune could never be charged upon 
 me as a reproach, if ever I ibould return to England ; 
 fince the king of Great-Britain himfelf, in my condi- 
 lion, murt have undergone the fame diilrcfi. 
 
 My mailer, purfuant to the advice of hi.*; friend, car- 
 ried me in a box the next day to the neighbouring towu, 
 
 and-
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. S5 
 
 and took along with him his little daughter, my nurfe, 
 upon a pillion behind him. The box was clofe on 
 every fide, with a little door for me to go in and out, 
 and a few gimlet-holes to let in air. The girl had been 
 fo careful as to put the quilt of her baby's bed into it for 
 me to lie down on. However I was terribly Ihaken and 
 difcompofed in this journey, though it were but of 
 half £n hour. For the horfe went about forty feet at 
 every ftep, and trotted fo high, that the agitation was 
 equal to the rifing and falling of a Ihip in a great ftorm» 
 but much more frequent. Our journey was fomewhat 
 farther than from Louden to St. Albans. My mafter 
 alighted at an inn which he ufed to frequent; and after 
 confulting a-while with the inn -keeper, and making 
 fome neceffary preparations, he hired the gruliriid or 
 crier to give notice through the town of a ilrange crea- 
 ture to be feen at the fign of the Green EagUy not fo big 
 as a fplacknuck (an animal in that country very finely 
 ihaped, about fix feet long) and in every part of the 
 body refembling an human creature, could fpeak feve- 
 ral words, and perform an hundred diverting tricks. 
 
 I was placed upon a table in the largefl room of the 
 inn, which might be near three hundred feet fquare. 
 My little nurfe Itood on a low flool clofe to the table to 
 take care of me, and direfl what I Ihould do. My 
 ■mafter, to avoid a cioud, would fufFer only thirty people 
 at a time to fee me. I walked about on the table as 
 the girl commanded ; fhe alked me queftions, as far as 
 ihe knew my underftanding of the language reached, 
 and I anfwered them as loud as I could. I turned about 
 feveral times to the company, paid my humble refpefts, 
 faid they were welcome, and ufcd fome other fpeeches I 
 had been taught. I took up a thimble filled with li- 
 quor, which Glumdalditch had given me for a cup, and 
 drank their health. I drew out my hanger, and flou- 
 rifhed with it after the manner of fencers in England. 
 My nurfe gave me part of a ftraw, which I exercifed as 
 a pike, having learned the art in my youth. I was that 
 day flie^va to twelve fetts of company, and as oftea 
 
 G 3 forced
 
 86 A V O Y A G E 
 
 forced to aft over again the fame fopperies, till I vvas 
 half dead with wcarinefs and vexation. For thofe who 
 had feen me made fuch wonderful reports, that the 
 people were ready to break down the doors to come in. 
 My mafler, for his own interert, would not fuffer any 
 one to touch me except my nurfe ; and to prevent dan- 
 ger benches were fet round the table at fuch a diftance 
 as to put me out of every body's reach. However, an 
 unlucky fchool-boy aimed a hazel-nut direftly at my 
 jhead, which very narrowly mi/Ted me ; otherwife, it 
 came with fo much violence, that it would have infal- 
 libly knocked out my brains, for it was almoft as large 
 as a fmall pumpion : but I had the fatisfadion to fee the 
 young rogue well beaten, and turned out of the room. 
 
 My mafter gave publick notice, that he would fhew 
 me again the next market-day, and in the mean time he 
 prepared a more convenient vehicle for me, which he 
 had reafon enough to do ; for I was fo tired with my 
 iirft journey, and with entertaining company for eight 
 hours together, that I could hardly ftand upon my legs, 
 or fpeak a word. It was at leaft three days before I re- 
 covered my ftrength ; and, that I might have no reft at 
 home, all the neighbouring gentlemen from an 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 matter demanded 
 the rate of a full room whenever he fhewed me at home 
 although it were only to a fingle family : fo that for 
 fome time I had hut little eafe every day of the week 
 (except Wednefday, which is their fabbath) although I 
 were not carried to the town. 
 
 My mailer, fmding how profitable I wns like to be, 
 Tcfolved to carry me to the moft confidcrable cities of 
 the kingdom. IJaving therefore provided himfelf with 
 all things neceffary for a long journey, and fettled his 
 affairs at home, he took leave of his wife, and, upon 
 the 17th o'i Auguft 1703, about two months after my ar- 
 rival, we fet out for the metropolis, fituated near the 
 
 middle
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 87 
 
 middle of that empire, and about three thoufand miles 
 diftance from our houfe : 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 fides with the fofteft cloth fhe could get, well 
 quilted underneath ; furnifhed it with her baby's bed, 
 provided me with linnen and other necefTaries, and 
 made every thing as convenient as fhe could. We had. 
 ■HO other company but a boy of the houfe, who rode 
 after us with the luggage. 
 
 My mailer's defign was to fhew me in all the towns 
 by the way, and to ftep out of the road for fifty or an 
 hundred miles, 10 any village or perfon of quality's 
 •lioufe, where he might expeft cuftom. We made eafy 
 journies of net above feven or eight fcore miles a day : 
 for GlutndakUtch, on purpofe to fpare me, complained 
 ihe 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 fhew me the country, but always held me fafl 
 by a leading-firing. Vt'e pafled over five or fix rivers 
 many degrees broader and deeper than the Nile, or the 
 ■Ganges ; and there was hardly a rivulet fo i'mall as the 
 Thames at Lo7ulo?i- Bridge. We were ten weeks in our 
 journey, and I was fhewn in eighteen large towns, be- 
 iides many villages and private families. 
 
 On the .26th day oiOdober, we arrived at the metro- 
 polis, called in their language Lorhrulontd, or Pride of 
 ihe Uni'verfe. My mailer took a lodging in the princi- 
 pal flreet of the city not far from the royal palace, and 
 put out bills in the ufual form, containing an exaft 
 defcription 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 a£l my part, and pallifadoed it round three feet 
 from the edge, and as many high, to prevent my fal- 
 ling over. 1 was fliewnten times a day, to the wonder 
 and fatisfaftion of all people. I could now fpeak the 
 •language tolerably well, and perfeftly underllood every 
 word that was fjpoken to me. Befides, I had learned 
 
 G 4 their
 
 S8 A V O Y A G E 
 
 their alpKahet, and could make a ftiift to explain a {cn- 
 tence here and there ; for Glumdalclifch had been my 
 inllrudlor while we were at home, and at leifure hours 
 during our journey. She carried a little book in her 
 pocket, not much larger than a Sanfons Atlas ; it was a 
 common treatife for the ufe of young girls, giving a 
 Ihort account of their religion ; out of this Ihe taught 
 me my letters, and interpreted the words. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The author fent for to court. The queen buys him of his 
 mafer the farmer, and prefeuts him to the king. He 
 dijputes n.vith his majejlys great fcholars. An apart- 
 ment at court pro--vided for the author. He is in high 
 fa'vour ivith the queen. He Jlands up for the honour of 
 his oivn country. His quarrels nvith the queeri's dnvarf 
 
 TH E frequent labours T underwent every day, 
 made in a few weeks a very confiderable change 
 in my health : the more my mafter got by me, the 
 more infatiable he grew. 1 had quite lofl my flomach, 
 and was almofl reduced to a fkeleton. The farmer ob- 
 ferved it, and, concluding I muft foon die, refolved to 
 make as good a hand of me as he could. While he 
 was thus reafoning and refolving with himfelf, 7<.fardraU 
 or gentleman-ufher, came from court, commanding my 
 mailer to carry me immediately thither for the diverfion 
 of the queen and her ladies. Some of the latter had al- 
 ready been to fee me, and reported ftrange things of my 
 beauty, behaviour, and good fenfe. Her majeily, and 
 thofe who attended her, were beyond meafure delighted 
 with my demeanour. I fell on my knees, and begged 
 the honour of kifhng her imperial foot ; but this gra- 
 cious princefs held out her little finger towards me (after 
 1 was fet on a table) which 1 embraced in both my arms, 
 and put the rip of it with the utnioR refpeft to my 
 lip. She made me fome general quellions about my 
 cppntry, and my travels, which I anf\vered as diftinftly, 
 
 an 4
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. % 
 
 and in as few words as I could. She aflced, whether I 
 would be content to live at court. I bowed down to 
 the board of the table, and humbly anfwered that I was 
 my mailer's Have ; but, if I were at my own difpofal, I 
 fhould be proud to devote my life to her majeftv's fer- 
 vice. She then alked my mailer, whether he Vvcre wil- 
 ling to fell me at a good price. He, w ho apprehended 
 I could not live a rhonth, was ready enough to part 
 with me, and demanded a thoufand p'cces of gold, 
 which were ordered him on the fpot, each piece being 
 about the bignefs of eight hundred moydores ; but al- 
 lowing for the proportion of all things between that 
 country and Europe, and the high price of gold among 
 them, was hardly io great a fum as a thoufand guineas 
 would be in Evgland. f then faid to the queen, fince I 
 was now her majelly's moll humble creatu/e and vafTal, 
 I mufl beg the favour that Ghtmdaklitch, who had always 
 tended me with fo much care and kindnefs, and under- 
 ftood to do it fo well, might be admitted into her fer- 
 vice, and continue to be my nurfe and inllruftor. Her 
 majefly agreed to my petition, and eafily got the farmer's 
 confent, who was glad enough to have his daughter 
 preferred at court, and the poor girl herfelf was not 
 able to hide her joy : my late mailer withdrew, bidding 
 me farewell, and faying he had left me in a good fer- 
 vice ; to which I replied not a word, only making him 
 a flight bow. 
 
 The queen obferved my coldnefs, and, when the 
 farmer was gone out of the apartment, afked me the 
 reafon. 1 made bold to tell her majelly, that I owed 
 no other obligation to my late mailer, than his not 
 dafhing out the brains of a poor harmlefs creature found 
 by chance in his field ; which obligation was amply re. 
 compenfed by the gain he had made in fhewing me 
 through half the kingdom, and the price he had now 
 fold me for. That the life I had fmce led, was laborious 
 enough to kill an animal of ten times my llrength. 
 That my health was much impaired by the continual 
 dfudgery of entertaining the rabble every hour of the 
 
 day.
 
 ^ AVOYAGE 
 
 day, and that, if my mailer had not thought my life ia 
 <ian<yer, her majcfty would not have got fo cheap a bar- 
 gain. But '.s I was out of all fear of being ill treated 
 under the protefdon of fo great and good an emprefs, 
 the ornament of nature, the darling of the world, the 
 delight of her fubjecls, the phoenix of the creation ; fo 
 I hoped my late mafter's apprehenfions would appear 
 to be groundlefs, for I already found my fpirits to re- 
 vive by the influence of her mofl auguft prefence. 
 
 This was the fum of my fpeech, delivered with great 
 improprieties and hefiration ; the latter part was alto- 
 gether framed in the ftyle peculiar to that people, 
 whereof I learned fome phrafes from Gluindalclitch, 
 while Ihe was carr)'ing me to court. 
 
 The queen, giving great allowance for my defec- 
 tivenefs in fpeaking, was however furprifed 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 gravity and audere countenance, not 
 well obferving my Hiape at firft view, afked the queen 
 after a cold manner, how long it was fmce fhe grew fond 
 of zfplacknzuk ; for fuch it feems he took me to be, as 
 I lay upon my bread in her majefty 'i> right-hand. But 
 this princefs, v,'ho hath an infinite deal of v/it and hu- 
 mour, fet mc gently on my feet upon the fcrutore, 
 and commanded me to give his majefty an account of 
 myfelf, which I did in a very few words ; and Ghimdal- 
 clitch, who attended at the cabinet-door, and could not 
 endure I ftiould be out of her fight, being admitted, 
 confirmed all that liad pafled from my ariival at her 
 father's houfe. 
 
 The king, although he be as learned a perfon as any 
 in his dominions, had been educated in the fl;udy of 
 philofophy, and particularly mathematicks ; yet when he 
 obferved my fliape cxadly, and faw me walk ereft, be- 
 foi-e I began to fpeak, conceived I might be a piece of 
 clock-work (which is in that country arrived to a very 
 great perfci^tion) contrived by fome ingenious artift. 
 
 But
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 91 
 
 But v/hen he heard my voice, and found what I deli- 
 vered to be regular and rational, he could not conceal 
 his aftonifliment. He was by no means fatisfied with. 
 the relation I gave him of the manner I came into his 
 kingdom, but thought it a ftory concerted between 
 Glumdalclitch and her father, who had taught me a fett 
 of words to make me fell at a better price. Upon this 
 imagination he put feveral other queftions to me, and 
 Hill received rational anfwers, no otherwife defedlive 
 than by a foreign accent, and an imperfedl knowledge 
 in the language, with fome ruftick phrafes which I had 
 learned at the farmer's houfe, and did not fuit the po- 
 lite ftyle of a court. 
 
 His raajefty fent for three great fcholars, who were 
 then in their weekly waiting according to the cuRom in 
 that country. Thefe gentlemen, after they had a-whiie 
 examined my fhape with much nicety, were of diffe- 
 rent opinions concerning me. They all agreed, that I 
 could not be produced according to the regular laws of 
 nature, becaufe 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 exadtnefs, 
 that I was a carni/orous animal ; yet moft quadrupeds 
 being an overmatch for me, and field-mice with fome 
 others too nimble, they could not imagine how I fliould 
 be able to fupport myfelf, unlefs I fed upon fnails and 
 other infcfts, which they oifered, by many learned 
 arguments, to evince that I could not poffibly do *. 
 One of thefe virtuofi fecmed to think that I might be 
 an embryo, or abortive birth. But this opinion was 
 rejedled by the other two, who obferved my limbs to 
 be perfedl and finiihed, and that I had lived feveral 
 
 * By this reafoning the au- of the world : whofe cavils are 
 
 thor probably intended to ridi- fpecious, like thofe of the jSrs^.:^ 
 
 cule the pride of thofe philofo- dmgnagian fages, only in pro- 
 
 phers, who have thought fit to portion lo tiie ignorance of thole 
 
 arraign the wifdom of providence to whom they arepropofed. 
 ifl jthe creation and 'government 
 
 years,
 
 ^± A V O Y A G E 
 
 years, as It was manifeft from my beard, the flumps 
 whereof they plainly difcovered through a magnify- 
 ing-glafs. They would not allow me to be a dwarf, 
 becaufc my littlenefs was beyond all degrees of compa- 
 rifon ; for the queen's favourite dwarf, the fmallefl: ever 
 known in that kingdom, was near thirty feet high. 
 After much debate they concluded unanimoufly, that I 
 was only relplum fcalcath, which is interpreted literally 
 lufus natura ; a determination exadlly agreeable to the 
 modern philofophy of Europe, whofe profeflbrs difdain- 
 ing the old evafion of occult caufes, whereby the follow- 
 ers of Arijiotk endeavoured in vain to difguife their ig- 
 norance, have invented this wonderful folution of all 
 difficulties, to the unfpeakable advancement of human 
 knowledge. 
 
 After this decifive conclufion I entreated to be heard 
 a word or two. I applied myfelf to the king, and af- 
 fured his majefly that I came from a country, which 
 abounded with feveral millions of both fexes and of my 
 own flature ; where the animals, trees, and houfes were 
 all in proportion, and where by confequence I might 
 be as able to defend myfelf, and to find fullenance, as 
 any of his majefly's fubjefts could do here ; which I 
 took for a full anfwer to thofe gentlemen's arguments. 
 To this they only replied with a fmile of contempt, 
 faying, that the farmer had inftrufted me very well in 
 my lellbn *. The king, who had a much better un- 
 <lerftanding, difmifling his learned men, fent for the 
 farmer, who by good fortune was not yet gone out of 
 town : having therefore firil examined him privately, 
 and then confronted him with me and the young girl, 
 his majelly began to think that what we told him might 
 poiTibly be true. He defircd the queen to order that 
 a particular care fhould be taken of me, and was of 
 opinion, that Glumdaklitcb (hould ftill continue in her 
 
 • This Tarire is levelled againft counf, notwithftanding the ab- 
 all, who rcjecl thofe fafts for furdity of reiecling ihe teftimony 
 winch they cannot pcrfedly ac- by which they are fup^'crted. 
 
 office
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 93 
 
 office of tending me, becaufe he obferved we had a 
 great afFeftion for each other. A convenient apartment 
 was provided for her at court ; fhe had a fort of gover- 
 nefs appointed to take care of her education, a maid 
 to drefs her, and tv/o other fervants for menial offices ; 
 but the care of me was wholly appropriated to herfelf. 
 The queen commanded her own cabinet-maker to con- 
 trive a box, that might ferve ma for a bed-chamber, 
 after the model that Glumdaklitch and I lliould agree 
 upon. This man was a moft ingenious artift, and ac- 
 cording to my diredlions in three weeks finifhed for me 
 a wooden chamber of fixteen feet fquare, and twelve 
 high, with fifh-windows, a door, and two clofets, like 
 a London bed-chamber. The board, that made the 
 cieling, was to be lifted up and down by two hinges to 
 put in a bed ready furniflied by her majefty's upholfter- 
 er, which Ghtmdalditch 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 workman, 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 cieling, to prevent any accident 
 from the careleifnefs of thofe who carried me, and to 
 break the force of a jolt when I went in a coach. I 
 delired a lock for my door to prev ent rats and mic« 
 from coming in : the fmith, after fevcral attempts, made 
 the fmalleil: that ever was feen among them, for I have 
 known a larger at the gate of a gentleman's houfe in 
 England. 1 made a fhift to keep the key in a pocket 
 of my own, fearing GlumdalcUtch might lofe it. The 
 queen likewife ordered the thinnell filks that could be 
 gotten to make me cloaths, not much thicker than an 
 Englijh blanket, very cumberfome, till i was accullom- 
 edto them. They were after the fafhion of the king- 
 dom, partly refembling t}ix& pcrjiar., and partly the chi- 
 tiffe, and are a very grave and decent habit. 
 
 The queep became fo fond of my company, that fhe 
 I could .
 
 <J4 AVOYAGE 
 
 could not dine without me. I had a table placed npon 
 the fame at which her majefly eat, jufl at her left elbow, 
 and a chair to fit on. Glumdaklhch Hood on a Itool on 
 the floor near my table to affift and take care of me. I 
 had an entire fett of filver difhes and plates and other 
 neceffaries, which, in proportion to thofe of the queen, 
 were not much bigger than what I have feen in a Lon- 
 don toy-fliop, for the furniture of a baby-houfe : thefe- 
 my little nurfe kept in her pocket in a filver box, and 
 gave me at meals as I wanted them, always cleaning 
 them herfelf. No perfon 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 difhes, 
 out of which I carved for myfelf ; and her diveriion 
 was to fee me eat in miniature. For the queen (who 
 had indeed but a weak llomach) took up, at one 
 m.outhful, as much as a dozen EngUjh farmers could 
 eat at a meal, which to me was for fome time a very 
 naufcous 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 hit of bread in her mouth, as big as two 
 twelve-penny loaves. She drank out of a golden cup, 
 above a hoolhead at a draught. Her knives were twice 
 as long as a fcythe, fet llraight upon the handle. The 
 fpoons, forks, and other inllruments, were all in the 
 
 • Among other dreadful and and he who reflefts on the num- 
 
 difjiufling innages which ciiftom ber of lives that have been (a--~ 
 
 has rendered familiar are thofe crificed to fiiffain his own, ihould 
 
 which arife from eating animal enquire by what the account has 
 
 food : he who has ever turned been bailanced, and whether his 
 
 •with abhorrence from the fkele- life is become proportionably of 
 
 ton of abeaft which has been irore value by the exercife of 
 
 picked whole by birds or vermin, viitue and piety, by the fuperior 
 
 niuil confefs that habit only happinefs which he has commu- 
 
 couid have enabled him to en- nicatcd to reafonable beings, and 
 
 duie the fipht of the mangled by the glory which his intellect 
 
 bones and fiefh of a dead carcafe has afcribed to God. 
 
 which evei) day cuver his table : 
 
 fame
 
 TO B R O B D I N G N A G, ^5 
 
 feme proportion. I remember, when Glutndalditch car- 
 ried me out of curiofity to fee fome of the tables at 
 court, where ten or a dozen of thefe enormous knives 
 and forks were lifted up together, I thought I had ne- 
 Ter till then beheld fo terrible a fight. 
 . It is the cuftora, that every Wednefday (which, as I 
 have before obferved, is their Sabbath) the king and 
 queen, with the royal iffue of both fexes, dine together 
 in the apartment of his majefty, to whom I was now 
 become a great favourite ; and at thefe times my little 
 chair and table were placed at his left-hand before one 
 of the falt-cellars. This prince took a pleafure in con- 
 vcrfing with me» enquiring into the manners, religion,, 
 laws, government, and learning of Europe ; wherein I 
 gave him the beft account I was able. His apprehen- 
 fion was fo clear, and his judgment fo exaft, that lie 
 made very wife refle<5lions and obfervations upon all I 
 faid. But I confefs, that after 1 had been a little too 
 copious in talking of my own beloved country, of our 
 trade, and v/ars by fea and land, of our fchifms in re- 
 ligion, and parties in the ftate ; the prejudices of his 
 education prevailed fo far, that he could not forbear 
 taking me up in his right-hand, and ftroakingme gently 
 with the other, after an hearty fit of laughing, a&ed 
 me, whether I was a nxjhig or tory ? Then turning to 
 his firft minifter, who waited behind him with, a white 
 ftaffnear as tall as the main- mail: of the roynl-fo'vereign, 
 he obferved how contemptible a thing was human gran- 
 deur, which could be mimicked by fuch diminutive 
 infedts as I ; and yet, fays he, I dare engage, thefe 
 creatures have their titles and dillinftions of honour, 
 they contrive little nells 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 iadigna- 
 tion to hear our noble country, the miftrefs of aits and 
 arms, the fcourge of France, the arbitrefs of Europe, 
 \ the
 
 g6 AVOYAGE 
 
 the feat of virtue, piety, honour, and truth, the pride 
 and envy of the world, fo contcmptuoufly treated. 
 
 But, as I was not in a condition to refent injuries, fo 
 upon mature thoughts I began to doubt whether I was 
 injured or no. For, after having been accuftomed fe- 
 veral months to the fight and converfe of this people, 
 and obferved every objed upon which I call mine eyes 
 to be of proportionable magnitude, the horror I had at 
 firft conceived from their bulk and afpeft, was fo far 
 worn off, that if I had then beheld a company of 
 EnoUjh lords and ladies in their finery, and birth-day 
 cloaths, ading their feveral parts in the moll courtly 
 manner of ftrutting, and bowing, and prating ; to fay 
 the truth, I fiiould have been firongly tempted to laugh 
 as much at them, as the king and his grandees did at 
 me. Neither indeed could I forbear fmiling at myfelf, 
 when the queen ufed to place me upon her hand to- 
 wai-ds a looking-glafs, by which both our perfons ap- 
 peared before me In full view together ; and there could 
 nothino- be more ridiculous than the comparilbn : fo 
 that I really began to imagine myfelf dwindled many 
 degrees below my ufual fize. 
 
 Nothing anoered and mortified me fo much as the 
 queen's dwarf, who being of the lowcll ftature that 
 was ever in that country (for I verily think he was not 
 full thirty feet high) became fo infolent at feeing a 
 creature fo much beneath him, that he wouM aUvays af- 
 fect to fwagger and look big as he pafied by me in the 
 queen's anti- chamber, while I was ftanding on (ome. 
 table talking with the lords or ladies of the court, and 
 he feldom tailed of a fniart word or two upon my lit- 
 tleiiefs ; againft which I could only revenge myfelf by 
 calling him brother, challenging him to wreille, and 
 fuch repartees as are ufual in the mouths oi court pages. 
 One day, at dinner, this malicious little cub was fo 
 nettled with fomcthing I had faid to him, that, raifing 
 himfelf upon the frame of her majelly's chair, he took 
 nic up by the middle, as I was fitting down, not 
 ih.nking any harm, and let me drop into a laige filver 
 
 bowl
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 97 
 
 howl of ci-eam, and then ran away as fall as he could. 
 I fell over head and ears, and, if I had not been a 
 good fwimmer, it might have gone very hard with me j 
 for Glumdalclitch in that inftant happened to be at the 
 other end of the room, and the queen was' in fuch a 
 fright, that fhe wanted prefence of mind to affill me. 
 But my little nurfe ran to my relief, and took me out, 
 after I had fwallowed above a quart of cream. I was 
 -put to bed; however I received no other damage than 
 the lofs of a fuit of cloaths, which was utterly fpciled. 
 The dwarf was foundly whipped, and as a farther pu- 
 nifhment forced to drink up the bowl of cream, into 
 which he had thrown me ; neither was he ever rellored 
 to favour; for foon after the queen beftowed him on a 
 lady of high quality, fo that I faw him no mor.-, to my 
 very great fatisfaftion ; for I could not tell to what ex- 
 tremity fuch a malicious urchin might have carried his 
 refentment. 
 
 He had before ferved me a fcurvy trick, which fet the 
 queen a laughing, although at tlie fame time fhe was 
 heartily vexed, and would have immediately cafhiered 
 him, if I had not been fo generous as to intercede. Her 
 majefty had taken a marrow-bone upon her plate, and, 
 after knocking out the marrow, placed the bone again 
 in the di(h ered, as it flood before ; the dwarf v/atch- 
 ing his opportunity, while Glumdalclitch was gone to 
 the fide-board, mounted the ftool that fhe flood on to 
 take care of me at meals, took me up in both hands, 
 and, fqueefing my legs together, wedged them into the 
 marrow-bone above my waill, where I fluck for fome 
 t'me, and made a very ridiculous figure. 1 believe it 
 was near a minute before any one knew what was be- 
 come of me; for I thought it below me to cry oat. 
 But, as princes feldcm get their meat hot, my legs were 
 not fcalded-, only my (lockings and breeches in a fad 
 condition. The dwarf, at my entreaty, had no other 
 punifhment than a found whipping. 
 
 I was frequently rallied by the queen upon account of 
 my fearfulncfs j and fhe ufed to afk me, whether the 
 
 Vol. II. H people
 
 fjS A V O y A G E 
 
 people of my country were as great cowards as my- 
 felf? I he occafion was this: the kingdom is much, 
 peftered with flies in fummer ; and thefe odious infefts, 
 each of them as big as a Dunjiable lark, hardly gave me 
 any rell v/ftile I fat at dinner with their continual hum- 
 ming and buzzing about my ears. They would fome- 
 rimes alight upon my vidtuals, and leave their loath- 
 fome excrement or fpawn behind, which to me was ve- 
 ry vifible, though not to the natives of that country^, 
 whofe larqe optics were not fo acute as mine in viewing 
 fmaller objefts. Sometimes they would fix upon my 
 nofe or forehead, where they Hung me to the quick, 
 ih^elling very oifenfively ; and I coald eafily trace thaf 
 vifcous matter, which, our naturalifts tell us, enables 
 thofe creatures to walk with their feet upwards upon a 
 citling. I had much ado to defend myfelf againft thefe 
 detei^able animals, and could not forbear ftarting when 
 they came on my face. It was the common praftice of 
 the dwarf to catch a number of thefe infefts in his 
 hand, as fchool-boys do amortg us, and let them out 
 fuddenly under my nofe, on purpofe to frighten me, 
 and divert the quean. My remedy was to cut them in 
 pieces with my knife, as they flew in the air, wherein 
 my dexterity was much admired. 
 
 I remember, one morning, when Glumdalclitch had 
 fet me in my box upon a window, as ftie 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 '\x\..England) after I had lifted up one of 
 my faflies, and fat down at my table to eat a piece of 
 fvveet cake for my breakfall, above twenty wafps, al- 
 lured by the fmell, came flying into the room, hum- 
 ming louder than the drones of as many bag-pipes. 
 Some of them feized my cake, and carried it piece-meal 
 away ; others flew about my head and face, confound- 
 ing me with the noifc, and putting me in the utmofl: 
 terror of their flings. However, I had the courage to 
 rife and draw my hanger, and attack them in the air. 
 I difpaiched four of them, but the rell got away, and I 
 
 prefently
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 99 
 
 prefently ftiut my window. Thefe infefts were as laro-e 
 as partridges ; I took out their Itings, found them an 
 inch and a half long, and as fliarp as needles. I care- 
 fully preferved them all, and having f5.nce ihewn them 
 with fome other curiofities in feveral parts of Europe^ 
 upon my return to England., I gave three of them to 
 Grejham College, and kept the fourth for myfelf. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The country defcrihcd. A propo/al for correSling modirn 
 maps. The king's palace, and Jam: account of the me- 
 tropolis. The author's nxiay of traTjelling. The ch-ef 
 temple dcfcribed. 
 
 "* ■ %• 
 
 I Now intend to give the reader a Ihort dcfcription <it 
 this country, as far as I travelled in it, v/Iiicu was- 
 not above two thoufand miles round Lorbrulgrud, the 
 metropolis. For the queen, whom I always attended, 
 never went farther when fhc accompanied the king in his 
 progreffes, and there ftaid till his majefty returned from 
 viewing his frontiers. The whole extent of this prince's 
 dominions reacheth about fix thoufand miles in length, 
 and from three to five in breadth. From whence I can- 
 not but conclude, that our geographers q^ Europe are in 
 a great error, by fuppofmg nothing but fea between "Ja- 
 pan and California ; for it was ever my opinion, that 
 there muft be a balance of earth to counterpoife the great 
 continent of Tartary, and therefore they ought to cor- 
 reft their maps and charts by joining this valt trad of 
 land to the noith-well parts 0? America, wherein I fliall 
 be ready to lend them my afTiftance. 
 
 The kingdom is a peninfula, terminated to the north- 
 eaft by a ridge of mountains thirty miles high, which are 
 altogether impaflable by reafon of the vulcanoes upon 
 the tops : neither do the moll learned know what fort o£ 
 mortals inhabit beyond thofe mountains, or whether 
 they be inhabited at all. On the three other fides it is 
 bounded by the ocean. There is not one fea-port in the 
 whole kingdom, and thofe parts of the coalls into which 
 
 H 2 the
 
 160 A V O Y A G E 
 
 the rivers ilTue are fo full of pointed rocks, and the fea 
 generally fo rough, that there is no venturing with the 
 fmallefl of their boats ; fo that thefe people are wholly 
 excluded from any commerce with the reil of the world. 
 But the large rivers are full of veffels, and abound with 
 excellent filb, for they feldom get any from the fea, be- 
 caufe the fea-fllli are of the fame fize with thofe in Eu- 
 ropc, and conlcquently not worth catching; whereby it 
 is manifeft, that nature in the produdlion of plants and 
 animals of fo extraordinary a bulk is wholly confined 
 to this continent, of which I leave the reafons to be de- 
 termined by philofophers. However, now and then 
 they take a whale that happens to be daflied againft 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 fhoulders ; and fometimes for curio- 
 fity they are brought in hampers to Lorhrulgrud : I faw 
 one of them in a difh at the king's table, which pafied 
 for a rarity, but I did not obferve he was fond of It ; 
 for 1 think indeed the bignefs difgnfted him, although I 
 have feen one fomewhat larger in Greenland. 
 
 The onntry is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one 
 cities, near an hundred walled towns, and a great num- 
 ber of villages. To fatisfy my curious readers it may 
 be fuificient to defcribe Lorhrulgrud. This city Hands 
 upon almofi: two equal parts on each fide the river that 
 pafTes through. It contains above eighty thoufandhoufes, 
 and about fjx hundred thoufand inhabitants. It is in 
 length three glo?nglung5 (which makes about fifty-four 
 Englijh miles) and two and a half in breadth, as I mea- 
 fured it mylelf in the royal map made by the king's or- 
 der, which was laid on the ground on purpofe for me, 
 and extended an hundred feet; I paced the diameter 
 and circumference feveral times bare foot, and, compu- 
 ting by the fcale, raeafured it pretty exaftly. 
 
 The king's p.iliice is no regular edifice, but an heap 
 ot buildin:: about feven miles round : the chief rooms 
 are generally two hundied and forty feet high, and 
 broad and long in proportion. A coach was allowed to 
 
 Clu?ndalcUich
 
 TO B R O B D I N G N A G. icj 
 
 Glumrfalclkch and me, wherein her governefs frequently 
 took her out to fee the town, or go among the fhops ; 
 and I was always of the party, carried in my box ; al- 
 though the girl at my own defue would often take me 
 out, and hold me in her hand, that I might more con- 
 veniently view the houfes and the people, as we pafTed 
 along the flreets. I reckoned our coach to be about a 
 fquare of Wejiminjler-hall, but not altogether fo high : 
 however, 1 cannot be very exaft. One day tlie gover- 
 nefs ordered our coachman to flop at feveral ihops, 
 where the beggars, watching their opportunity, croud- 
 ed to the fides of the coach, and gave me tke moft 
 horrible fpcdlacles that ever an european eye beheld. 
 There was a woman with a cancer in her brcaft, fvvelled 
 to a monftrous fize, full of holes, in two or three of 
 which I could have eafily crept, and covered my whole 
 bodv. There was a fellow with a wen in his neck lar- 
 ger than five wool-packs, and another with a couple of 
 wooden legs, each about twenty feet high. But the 
 moft hateful fight of all was the lice crawling on their 
 cloaths. I could fee diliindlly the limbs of thefe vermin 
 with my naked eye, much better than thofe of an euro- 
 pean loiife through a microfcope, and their fnouts with 
 which they rooted like fwiue. They were the firft I had 
 ever beheld, and 1 lho\:ld have been curious enough to 
 diffedl one of them, if I had had proper inltruments 
 (which I unluckily left behind me in the ihip) although 
 indeed the fight was fo naufeous, that it perfeftly turn^ 
 ed my ftomach. 
 
 Befide the large box in which I v.'as ufually carried, 
 the queen ordered a fmaller one to be made for me of 
 about twelve feet fquare and ten high for the conveni- 
 ence of travelling, becaufe the other was fomewhat too 
 large for Glumdalclitch\ lap, and cumberfome in the 
 coach ; it was made by the fame artift, whom I direfted 
 in the whole contrivance. This travelling-clofet was an 
 exadl fquare with a window in the middle of three of 
 the fquares, and each window was latticed with iron vvire 
 on the outfide to prevent accidents in long journies, 
 
 H 3 On
 
 J02 ■ A V O Y A G E 
 
 On the fourth fide, which had no window, two ftrong 
 Naples were fixed, through which the perfon that carried 
 me, when I had a mind to be onhorfeback, put a lea- 
 thern belt, and buckled 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 progrcfTes, or were difpofed to fee the gardens, 
 or pay a vifit to fome great lady or minifter of ftate in 
 the court, when Ghn/i/^akli/ch happened to be out of or- 
 der : for I foon began to be known and cfteemed among 
 the greateft officers, I fuppofe more upon account of 
 their majerty's favour than any merit of my own. In 
 journies, when I was weary of the coach, a fervant on 
 iiorfeback would buckle on my box, and place it upon 
 a cufliion before him ; and there I had a fall profpeft of 
 the country on three fides from my three windows. I 
 had in this clofet a field-bed and a hammock hung from 
 the cieling, two chairs and a table, neatly fcrewed to 
 the floor, to prevent being tofied about by the agitation 
 of the horfe or the coach. And having been long ufed 
 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 al- 
 ways in my travclling-clofet, which Glumdaklifch held 
 in her lap in a kind of open fedan, after the fafhion of 
 the country, borne by four men, and attended by two 
 others in the queen's livery. The people, who had of- 
 ten heard of me, were very curious to croud about the 
 fedan, and the girl was complaifant enough to make the 
 bearers flop, and to take me in her hand that I might ■ 
 be more conveniently feen. 
 
 I was very defiious to fee the chief temple, and par- 
 ticularly the tower belonging to it, which is reckoned 
 the higheil in the kingdom. Accordingly one day my 
 •nurfe carried me thither, but T may truly fay I came back 
 tlifappointed ; for the heighth is not above three thou- 
 fand feet, reckoning from the ground to the highefl; pin- 
 nacle top; which, allowing for the difference between 
 the fizc of thofe people and us in Europe, is no great 
 I matter
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 103 
 
 inatterfor admiration, nor at all equal in proportion (if 
 I rightly remember) to Salijbury fleeple. But, not to 
 detraft from a nation to which during my life I fhall ac- 
 knowledge myfelf extremely obliged, it muft be allowed 
 that whatever this famous tower wants in heighth is am- 
 ply made up in beauty and ftrength. For the walls are 
 near an hundred feet thick, built of hewn ftone, where- 
 of each is about forty feet fquare, and adorned on all 
 lides with ftatues of gods and emperors cut in marble 
 larger than the life, placed in their fcveral niches. I 
 meafured a little fmger which had fallen down from one 
 of thefe ftatues, and lay unperceived among fome rub- 
 bilb, and found it exadtly four feet and an inch in length. 
 Glumdalclitch wrapped it up in her handkerchief j and 
 carried it home in her pocket to keep among other tria- 
 kets, of which the girJ was very fond, as children at 
 her age ufually are. 
 
 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. 
 Paulh ; for I meafured the latter on purpofe after my 
 return. But if I fhould defcribe the kitchen-grate, the 
 prodigious pots and kettles, the joints of meat turning 
 -on the fpits, which many other particulars, perhaps I 
 fhould be hardly believed ; at leaft a fevere critic would 
 be apt to think I enlarged a little, as travellers are often 
 fufpefted to do. To avoid which cenfure, I fear I have 
 irun too much into the other extrearaj and that if this 
 treatife fhould happen to be tranflated into the language 
 of Brohdingnag, (which is the general name of that 
 •kingdom) and tranfmitted tiiither, the king and his peo- 
 ple would havereafon to complain, that I had done them 
 an injury by a falfe and diminutive reprefentation. 
 
 His majefty feldom keeps above lix hundred horfes in 
 his ftables : they are generally from fifty-four to fixty 
 feet high. But, when he goes abroad on folemn days, 
 he is attended for ftate by a militia guard of live hundred 
 horfe, which indeed I thought was the moft fpleadid 
 iight that could be ever beheld, till I faw part of his ar- 
 
 H 4 '^^
 
 104 A V O Y A G E 
 
 my in battalia, whereof I Ihall find another occafion to 
 fpeak. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Several ad^jentures thai happetied to the author. The exe^ 
 cution of a criminal. The author Jhenvs his Jl:ill in «fl- 
 '•cigaiioK. 
 
 I Should have lived happy enough in that country, if 
 myliftlen>.fs had not exporedme tofeveral ridiculous 
 and tioubleibme accidents : feme of which 1 fhall ven- 
 ture to relate. Glumdaklitch often carried me into the 
 gardens of the court in my fmallcr box, and would fome- 
 times take n.e out of it, and hold me in her hand, or 
 fet me down to walk. I remember, before the dwarf 
 left the queen, he followed us one day into thofe gar- 
 dens, and my nurfe having fet me down, he and I be- 
 ing clofe together, near fome dwarf apple-trees, I mull 
 need fhew my wit by a filly allufion between him and 
 the trees, which happens to hold in their language, as 
 it doth in ours. Whereupon, the malicious rogue watch- 
 ing his opportunity, when I was walking under one of 
 them, Ihook it direiUy over my head, by which a dozen 
 apples, each of them near as large as a Brijlol barrel, 
 came tumbling about my ears ; one of them hit me on 
 the back as I chanced to Hoop, and knocked me down 
 flat on my face ; but I received no other hurt, and die 
 dwarf was pardoned at my defire, becaufe I had given 
 the provocation. 
 
 Another day Ghmidaklitch left me on a fmooth grafs- 
 plat to divert myfelf, while fhe walked at fome diitance 
 with her governefs. In the mean time there fuddcnly 
 f..Il fuch a violent fhower of hail, that I was immedi- 
 ately by the force of it llruck to the ground : and when 
 J was down, the hail-ftones gave me luch cruel bangs all 
 over the body, as if I had been pelted with tennis-balls; 
 however, I made a fhift to creep on all four, and fhelter 
 jnyfeif by lying flat on my face on the lee-fide of a boiv 
 •Jer of lemon thyme, but fo bruifed from head to foot, 
 tft. thi^
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. lo^ 
 
 that I ccald not go abroad in ten days. Ndither h this 
 at all to be wondered at, becaufe nature in<that country 
 obferving the fame proportion through all her operations, 
 a hailllone is near eighteen hundred times as large as 
 one in Europe, which 1 can afiert upon experience, hav- 
 ing been fo curious to weigh and meafure them. 
 
 But a more dangerous accident happened to me in the 
 fame garden, when my little nurfe believing fhe 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 heme to avoid the trouble of carrying it, 
 went to another part of the garden with lier governefs, 
 and fome ladies of her acquaintance. While (he was 
 abfent, and out of hearing, a fmall white fpaniel belong- 
 ing to one of the chief gardeners, having got by acci- 
 dent into the garden, happened to range near the place 
 where I lay : the dog, following the fcent, came di- 
 redly up, and taking me in his mouth ran ftrait 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 leaft 
 hurt, or even tearing my cloaths. But the poor gar- 
 dener who knew me well, and had a great kindnefs for 
 jne, was in a terrible fright : he gently took mc up in 
 both his hands, and afked me how I did ; but I was fo 
 amazed and oat of breath, that I could not fpeak a 
 word. In a few minutes I came to myfelf, and he car- 
 ried me fafe to my little nurfe, who by this time had re- 
 turned to the place where fhe left m.e, and was in cruel 
 agonies when I did not appear, nor anfwer when fhe 
 called : fhe feverely reprimanded the gardener on ac- 
 count 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 m;. felf, I thought it 
 would not be for my reputation that fuch a ilory Ihould 
 go about. 
 
 This accident abfolutely determined Glumdaklitch ne- 
 ver to trull me abroad for the future out of her fight 1 
 had been long afraid of this lefolution, and therefore 
 
 concealed
 
 io6 A V O Y A G E 
 
 concealed from her fome little unlucky adventures that 
 happened in thofe times when I was left by myfelf. 
 Once a kite, hovering over the garden, madeaftoopat 
 one, and if I had not refolutely drawn my hanger, and 
 run under a thick efpalier, he would have certainly 
 carried me away in his talons. Another time walking 
 to the top of a freOi mole-hill, I fell to my neck in the 
 hole, through which that animal had caft up the earth, 
 and coined fome lye, not worth remembering, lo ex- 
 cufe myfelf for fpoiling ray cloaths. I likewife broke 
 my right Ihin againft the {hell of a fnail, which I hap- 
 pened to flumble over, as I was walking alone, and 
 thinking en poor England. 
 
 I cannot tell, wliether I were more pleafed or mor- 
 tified to obferve in thofe folitary walks, that the fmaller 
 birds did not appear to be at all afraid of me, but 
 would hop about me within a yard's diitance, looking 
 for worms and other food with as much indifference and 
 fecurity, as if no creature at all were near them. I re- 
 member, a thrufli had the confidence to fnatch out of 
 my hand, with his bill, a piece of cake that Glujndal- 
 clitch had jull given me for my breakfaft. V/hen I at- 
 tempted to catch any of thefe birds, they would boldly 
 turn againft me, endea\'ouring to pick my fingers, which 
 I durft not venture witliin their reach ; and then they 
 would hop back unconcerned to hunt for worms or 
 fnails, as they did before. But one day I took a thick 
 cudgel, and threw it with all my ftrength fo luckily at 
 a linnet, that I knocked him down, and feizing him 
 by the neck with both my hands, ran with him in tri- 
 umph to my nurfe. However the bird, who had only 
 been ilunned, recovering himfclf, gave me fo many 
 boxes with his wings on both fides of my head and bo- 
 dy, though I held him at arms length, and was out of 
 the reach of his claws, that I was twenty times think- 
 ing to let him go. But I was foon relieved by one of 
 our fcrvants, who wrung off the bird's neck, and I had 
 him next day for dinner by the queen's command. This 
 
 linnet.
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 107 
 
 linnet, as near as I can remember, feemed to be fome- 
 what larger than an England fwan. 
 
 The maids of honour often invited Glumdalclitch to 
 
 their apartments, and defired fhe would bring me along 
 
 with her, on purpofe to have the pleafure of feeing and 
 
 touching me. They would often ftiip riie naked from 
 
 top to toe, and lay me at full length in their bofoms ; 
 
 wherewith I was much difgufted ; becaufe, to fay the 
 
 truth, a very ofFenfive fmell came from their fkins ; 
 
 which I do not mention, or intend, to the difadvantage 
 
 of thofe excellent ladies, for whom I have all manner 
 
 of refpeft ; but I conceive that my fenfe was more acute 
 
 in proportion to my littlenefs, 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. /\nd, after all, I found their natural 
 
 fmell was much more fupportable, than when they ufed 
 
 perfumes, under which I immediately fwooned away. 
 
 I cannot forget, that an intimate friend of mine in Lil~ 
 
 liptit took the freedom in a warm day, when I had ufed 
 
 a good deal of exercife, to complain of a llrong fmell 
 
 about me, although I am as little faulty that way, as 
 
 moft of my fex : but I fuppofe his faculty of fmelling 
 
 was as nice with regard to me, as mine was to that of 
 
 this people. Upon this point I cannot forbear doing 
 
 juftice to the queen my miftrefs, and Glumdalclitch my 
 
 nurfe, whofe perfons were as fweet as thofe of any lady 
 
 in England. 
 
 That which gave me mofl uneafmefs among thefe 
 maids of honour (when my nurfe carried me to vifit 
 them) was to fee them ufe me without any manner of 
 ceremony, like a creature who had no fort of confe- 
 quence: for they would ilrip themfelves to the fkin, and 
 put on their fmocks in my prefence, while I was placed 
 on their toy let, diredlly before their naked bodies, 
 which I am fure to me was very far from being a tempt- 
 ing fight, or from giving me any other emotions, thaa 
 thofe of horror and difguft. Their Ikins appeared fo 
 coarfe and uneven, fo varioufly coloured, when I faw 
 
 them
 
 jo« A V O Y A G E 
 
 tJiem Ttcar, xj-Ith a mole here and tiiere as broad as a 
 trencher, and haits hanging from it thicker than pack- 
 threads, to fay nothing farther concerning the reft of 
 their perfons. Neither did they at all fcruple, while I 
 was by, to difcharge what they had drank, to the quan- 
 tity of at leaft two hogiheads in a veiiel that held above 
 three tuns. The handlcmeft among thefe maids of ho- 
 nour, a pleafant froiicfome girl of fixteen, would fonie- 
 times fet me aftride upon one of her nipples, with 
 many other tricks, wherein the reader will excufe me 
 for not being over particular. But 1 was fo much dif- 
 pleafed, that I entieated Gli'mdalditch to contiive fome 
 excufe for not feeing that young lady any more. 
 
 One day a young gentleman, who was nephew to 
 my nurfe's governefs, came and prefied them both to 
 fee an execution. It was of a man, who had mur- 
 dered one of that gentleman's intimate acquaintance. 
 Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the company, 
 very much againit her inclinadon, for Hie was naturally 
 tender-hearted ; and as for myfelf, although I abhorred 
 fucii kind of fpeftacles, yet my curioCty tempted me to 
 lee fomething, that I thought muft be extraordmary. 
 The malefador was fixed in a chair upon a fcaftbld 
 erected for that purpofe, and his head cut ofF al one 
 blow widi a fword of about forty feet long. The veins 
 and arteries fpouted up fucli a prodigious quantity of 
 blood, and fo high in the air, that the great "Jett d'eaii 
 at Verfuilles was not equal for the time it lafted ; and the 
 head, when it fell on the fcaffcld floor, gave fuch a 
 bounce as made me ftart, although I were at Icaft half 
 an englijh mile diftant. 
 
 The queen, who often ufed to hear me talk of my 
 fea-voyages, and took all occafions to divert me when I 
 was mehincholy, afked me whether I underftooi ho\v 
 to handle a fail or an oar, and whether a little exercife 
 ot rowing might not be convenient for my health ? I 
 anhvcreJ, that 1 underftood both very well : for altho' 
 my proper employment had been to be furgeon or 
 doctor to the (hip, yet often upon a pinch 1 was forced 
 
 to
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 109 
 
 to work like a comnjon mariner. But I could not fee 
 how this could be done in their country, where the 
 fmalleft wherry was equal to a firft 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 (hould make it, 
 and (he would provide a place lor me to fail in. The 
 fellow was an ingenious workman, and by my inflruc- 
 tions in ten days finifhed a pleafure-boat, with all its 
 tackling, able conveniently to hold eight europcans. 
 When it was finifhed, the queen was fo delighted, that 
 fhe rAn with it in her lap to the king, who ordered it 
 to be put in a ciftern 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 be- 
 fore contrived another projeft. 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 
 wail in an outer room of the palace. It had a cock 
 near the bottom to let out the water, when it began to 
 grow Hale ; and two fervants could eafily fill it in half 
 an hour. Here I often ufcd to row for my own diver- 
 iion, as well as that of the queen and her ladies, who 
 thought themfelves well entertained with my Ikill and 
 agility. Sometimes 1 would put up my fail, and then 
 my bufinefs was only to fleer, while the ladies gave me 
 a gale with their fans ; and, when they were weary, 
 fomc of the pages wouid blow my fail forward with 
 itheir breath, while I Ihewed my art by fleering ftarboard 
 or larboard, as I pleafed When I had done, Glum- 
 daklitch always carried back my boat into her clofet, 
 and hung iK. on a nail to dry. 
 
 In this exercife I once met an accident, which had 
 like to have coft me my life : for, one of the pages 
 having put my boat into the trough, the governefs, who 
 attended GlumdalcUtch, very ofiicioufly lifted me up to 
 place me in the boat, but I happened to flip through 
 her fingers, and ihould infallibly have fallen down forty 
 
 feet
 
 no A V O y A G E 
 
 feet upon the floor, if, by the luckiefl; chance in the 
 world, 1 had not been flopped by a corking-pin that 
 ftuck in the grood gentlewoman's ftomacher ; the head 
 of the pin palfed between my (hirt and the waillband 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 frefh water, 
 was fo carelefs 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 feeing a refting-place climbed 
 up, and made it lean fo much on one iide, that 1 was 
 forced to balance it with all my weight on the other to 
 prevent overturning. When the frog was got in, it 
 hopped at once half the length of the boat, and then 
 ova- my head, backwards and forwards, daubing my 
 face and clothes with its odious flime. The laigenefs 
 of its features made it appear the moft deformed animal 
 that can be conceived. However, I defired Glumdal- 
 clitch to let mv. deal with it alone. I banged it a good 
 while with one of my fculls, and at iafl: forced it to 
 leap out of the boat. 
 
 But the greatcft danger I ever underwent in that 
 kingdom, was from a monkey, who belonged to one 
 of the clerks of the kitchen. Glumdalclitch had locked 
 me up in her clofet, while fhe went fomewhere upon 
 bulinefs, or a vifit. The weather being very warm, 
 the clofet-window was left open, as well as the windows 
 and the door of my bigger box, in which I ufually li- 
 ved, becaufe of its largenefs and conveniency. As 1 
 fit quietly meditating at my table, I heard fomething 
 bounce in at the clofet-window, and fkip about from 
 one fide to the other : whereat although 1 were much 
 alarmed, yet I ventured to look out, but not ftirring 
 from my feat ; and then I faw this frolicfome animal 
 frlHcing and leaping up and down, till at lall he came to 
 my bcjx, which he feenied to view with great pleaiure 
 and curiofity, peeping in at the door and every win- 
 dow. I retreated to the further corner of my room, or 
 
 box.
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. rn 
 
 Box, but the monkey looking in at every fide put me 
 into fuch a fright, that I wanted prefence of mind ta 
 conceal myfelf under the bed, as I might eafily have 
 done. After fome time fpent in peeping, grinning, and 
 chattering, he at laft efpied me, and reaching one of 
 his paws in at the door, as a cat does when Ihe plays 
 with, a moufe, although I often {hifted place to avoid 
 him, he at length feized the lappet of my coat (which, 
 being made of that cou-ntry filk, was very thick and 
 ftrong), and dragged me out. He took me up in his 
 right fore-foot, and held me as a nurfe does a child flie 
 is going to fuckle, jufl as I have feen the fame fort o£ 
 creature do wiih a kitten in Europe : and when I offered 
 to ftruggle, he fqueefed me fo hard,^ tliat I thought it 
 more prudent to fubmit. I have good reafon to believe, 
 that he took me for a young one of his own fpecies, by 
 his often ftroaking my face very gently with his other 
 paw. In thefe diverfions he was interrupted by a noiie 
 at the clofet-door, as if fome body 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 ia 
 the fourth, till he clambered up to a roof chat was next 
 Zo oars. I heard Glumdalcliich give a Ihriek at the mo- 
 ment he was c:irrying me out. The poor girl was al- 
 moll diftradled : that quarter of the palace was all ia aa 
 uproar ; the fervant? ran for ladders j the monkey was- 
 feen by hundreds in the court, fitting upoii the ridge of 
 a building, holding me like a baby in one of his fore- 
 paws, and feeding me with the other, by cramming ia- 
 to my mouth fome viftuals he had fqueefed out of the 
 bag on one fide of his chaps, and patting me when I 
 would not eat ; whereat many of the rabble below 
 could not forbear laughing ; neither do J think they 
 iuftly ought to be blamed, for v/irhout quclUon the fight 
 was ridiculous enough to every body but myfelf. Some 
 of the people chrev/ up flones, hoping to drive the 
 monkey down ; but this was ftridtly forbidden, or slfe 
 yew probably ray brains had been daihed out. 
 
 The
 
 112 A V O YA G E 
 
 The ladders were now applied, and mounted by fcve- 
 ral men, which the monkey obferving, and finding 
 himfelf almoft encompafled, not being able to make 
 fpeed enough with his three legs, let me drop on a ridge 
 tyle, and made his efcape. Here I {at for fome time, 
 five hundred yards from the ground, expeding every 
 moment to be blown down by the wind, or to fall by 
 my own giddinefs, and come tumbling over and over 
 from the ridge to the eves : but an honeft lad, one of 
 my nurfe's footmen, climbing up, and putting me into 
 his breeches-pocket brought me down fafe. 
 
 I was almoft choaked with the filthy ftufF the mon- 
 key had crammed down my throat ; but my dear little 
 nurfe 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 brulfed in the fides with the 
 fqueefes 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 enquire after my 
 health, and her majelty made me feveral vifits during 
 my ficknefs. The monkey was killed, and an order 
 made that no fuch animal fhould be kept about the 
 palace. 
 
 When I attended the king after my recovery to re- 
 turn him thanks for his favours, he was pleafed to rally 
 me a good deal upon this adventure. He aiked me, 
 what my thoughts and fpeculations were while I lay in 
 the monkey's paw ; how I liked the vifluals he gave 
 me ; his manner of feeding; and whether tjie frelli air 
 on the roof had Iharpened my ftom»ach. tie defired to 
 know, what I would have done upon fuch un occafion 
 in my own country. I told his mujefly, that in Eu- 
 rope we had no monkics, except fuch as were brought 
 tor curiofuies from other places, and fo fnall, iliat I 
 cou'd deal with a dozen of them together, if they pre- 
 fumed to attack me. And as for that monftrous ani- 
 mal with whom I was fo lately engaged ,it was indeed 
 as large a? an elephant) if my fears had fuffered me to 
 think fo far as to make ufc of my hanger (looking 
 
 fiercely,
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 113 
 
 fiercely, and clapping my hand upon the hilt, as I fpoke ) 
 when he poked his paw into my chamber, perhaps I 
 (hould have given him fuch a wound, as would have 
 made him glad to withdraw it with more haile than he 
 put it in. This I delivered in a firm tone, like a per- 
 fon who was jealous left his courage (hould be called in 
 quellion. However, my fpeech produced nothing 
 ellc befides a loud laughter, which all the refpeft due to 
 his majefty from thole about him could not make them 
 contain. This made me refledl, how vain an attempt it 
 is for a man to endeavour to do himfelf honour among 
 thofe, who are out of all degree of equality or compa- 
 rifon with him. And yet i have feea the moral of my 
 own behaviour very frequent in England knee my return, 
 where a little contemptible varlet, without the leaft title 
 to birth, perfon, wit, or common fenfe, Ihall prefume 
 to look with importance, and put himfelf upon a foot 
 with the greateft perfons of the kingdom. 
 
 I was every day furnifhing the court with fome ri- 
 diculous ftory ; and GlumdalcUtch, although fhe loved 
 me to excefs, yet was arch enough to inform the queen, 
 whenever I committed any folly that Ihe thought would 
 be diverting to her majefty. The girl, who had been 
 out of order, was carried by her governefs to take the 
 air about an hour's diftance, or thirty miles from town. 
 They alighted out of the coach near a fmall foot-path in 
 a field, and, GlumciakUtch fetting down my travelling- 
 box, I went out of it to walk. There was a cow-dung 
 in the path, and 1 muft needs try my adivity by attempt- 
 ing to leap over it. I took a run, but unfortunately 
 jumped ftiort, and found myfelf juft in the middle up to 
 my knees. I v/aded through with fome difiiculty, and 
 one of the footmen wiped me as clean as he could with 
 his handkerchief; for I was filthily bemired, and my 
 nurfe confined me to my box, till we returned home ; 
 where the queen was foon informed of what had paf- 
 fed, and the footmen fpread it about the court ; fo that 
 all the mirth for fome days was at my expence. 
 
 Vofc. II. I C H A P.
 
 114 A VO Y A G E 
 
 CHAP. VI. • 
 
 Se-veral contri'vances of the author to pleafe the king and 
 queen. He Jheavs his Jk'dlin mujtck. The king enquires 
 into the Jiate o/'England, ixhich the author relates to 
 him. The king s obfervatiens thereon. 
 
 IUfed to attend the king's levee once or twice a 
 week, and had often feen him under the barber's 
 hand, which indeed was at firft very terrible to be- 
 hold : for the razor was almoft twice as long as an or- 
 dinary fcythe. His majefty, according to the cuftom of 
 the country, was only Ihaved twice a week. I once 
 prevailed on the barber to give me fome of the fuds or 
 lather, out of which 1 picked forty or fifty of the 
 ftrongeft ilumps of hair, I then took a piece of fine 
 wood, and cut it like the back of a comb, making fe- 
 vtral holes in it at equal diflance with as fmall a needle 
 as I could get from Glumdaklitch, 1 fixed in the flumps 
 ib artificially, fcraping and Hoping them with my knife, 
 towards the points, that 1 made a very tolerable comb ; 
 which was a feafonable fupply, my own being fo much 
 broken in the ceeth, that it was almoil ufelefs : neither 
 did I know any artill in that country fo nice and exadt, 
 as would undertake to m. ke me another. 
 
 And this puts me in mind of an amufement, wherein 
 I fpent many of my leilure hours. 1 dcfired the queen's 
 woman to i'ave for me the combings of her majei^y's 
 liair, whereof in time I got a good quantity, and con- 
 fulting with my friend the cabinet-maker, who had re- 
 
 • In this chapter he gives an liable, who had read little more 
 
 account of the political ftace of than the titles or contents of 
 
 Europe, Orrery. the chapters, into which this 
 
 This is a midake of the noble work is divirieH ; fur the word 
 commentator, tor GuUi'vcr has Europe has in fome Englijh, and 
 ht-re given a (>o]iticai arcouiit of all the Jrijh, eaitions been print- 
 no country buf England: it is ed in the title of this chapter 
 lu'wevtr a miftake to whtch any inftcid o{ England, 
 
 cumDitiitator would have been 
 
 ceived
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. n^ 
 
 cdved general orders to do little jobbs for me, T direft- 
 cd him to m.ake two chair-frames, no larger than thofe 
 I had in my box, and then to bore little holes with 
 a fine awl round thofe parts where 1 deiigned the backs 
 and feats ; through thefe holes 1 wove the ftrongeft hairs 
 I could pick out, juft after the manner of cane-chairs in 
 England. When they were finifhed, I made a prefent of 
 them to her m. jelly, who kept them in her cabinet, and 
 ufed to fliew 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 J abfolutely refufed to obey her, protefting I would 
 rather die a thoufand deaths than place a dillionourable 
 part of my body on thofe precious hairs, that once a- 
 dorned her majelly's head. Of thefe hairs (as I had 
 always a mechanical geniu>) I likewife made a neat lit- 
 tle purfe about five feet long, with her majelly's name 
 decyphered in gold letters, which I gave to Glumdaldhch 
 by the queen's confent. To fay the truth, it was more 
 for fhevv than ufe, being not of ftrength to bear the 
 weight of the larger coins, and therefore (he kept no- 
 thing in it but fome little toys that girls are fond of. 
 
 The king, who delighted in mufick, had frequent con- 
 certs at court, to which 1 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 confident, that all the drums and trumpets of a royal 
 army, beating and founding together juft at your ears, 
 could not equal it. My praftice was to have my box 
 removed from the place where the performers fat, as far 
 as I could ; then to Ihut the doors and windows of it, 
 and draw the window-curtains ; after which I found 
 their mufick not difagreeable. 
 
 I had learned in nvy youth to play a little upon the 
 fpinet. Glumdalclitch kept one in her chamber, and a 
 mafter attended twice a week ts teach her : 1 called it a 
 fpinet, becaufe it fomewhat refembled that inilrument, 
 and was played upon in the lame manner. A fancy 
 came into my head, that 1 would entertain the king 
 
 I 2 and
 
 ii6 A V O Y A G E 
 
 and qaeen with an Englijh tune upon this inftrument. 
 But this appeared extremely difficult : for the Ipinet 
 was near fixty feet long, each key being almoft a foot 
 wide, fo that with my arms extended I could not reach 
 to above five keys, and to prefs them down required a 
 good fmart ftroak with my fill, which would be too 
 great a labour, and to no purpofe. 1 he method I 
 contrived was this : I prepared two round ilicks about 
 the bignefs of common cudgels ; they were thicker at 
 one end than the other, and f covered the thicker ends 
 with a piece of a moufe's Ikin, 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 fhift to play a jigg to the 
 great fatisfaftion of both their majefties : but it was the 
 moil: violent exercife I ever underwent, and yet 1 could 
 not ftrike above fixteen keys, nor confequently play the 
 bafs and treble together, as other artiils do ; which was 
 a great difadvantage to my performance. 
 
 The king, who, as 1 before obferved, was a prince 
 of excellent underflanding, would frequendy order that 
 I fhould 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 dillance from the top of the cabinet, which 
 brought me almoll to a level with his face. In this 
 manner I had feveral converfations with him. I one 
 day took the freedom to tell his majetly, that the con- 
 tempt he difcovered towards Europe, and the rell of the 
 world, did not feem anfwerable to thofe excellent qua- 
 lities of mind that he v/as mailer of : that reafon did 
 not extend itfelf with the buik of the body ; on the 
 contrary, we obferved, in our country, that the talleft 
 perlbns were ufually lead provided with it: that, among 
 other animals, bees and ants had the reputation of more 
 indullry, art, and fagacity, than many of the larger 
 
 kinds ;
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 117 
 
 kinds ; and that, as inconfiderable as he took me to be, 
 I hoped I might live to do his majefty fome fignal fer- 
 vice. The king heard me with attention, and began to 
 conceive a much better opinion of me than he had ever 
 before. He defined I would give him as exaft an ac- 
 count of the government of England, as I. poffibly 
 could ; becaufe, as fond as princes commonly are of 
 their own cufloms [for fo he conjeftured of other mo- 
 narchs by my former difcourfes) he fhould be glad to 
 hear of any thing chat might deferve imitation. 
 
 Imagine with thyfelf, courteous reader, how often I 
 then wifhfd for the tongue Oi DefnoJJhenes or Cicero, that 
 might have enabled me to celebrate the praife of my 
 own dear native country in a ftyk equal to its merits 
 and feiiciry. 
 
 r began my difcourfe by informing his majefly, that 
 our dominions confuted of two iflands, which com- 
 pofed three n.ighty kingdoms under one fovereign, be- 
 fides our plantations in America, 1 dwelt long upon 
 the fertility of our foil, and the temperature of our 
 climate. 1 then fpoke at large upon the conftitution of 
 an Englijh parliament, partly made up of an illuftrious 
 body called the houfe of peers, perfons of the nobleft 
 blood, and of the moft antient and ample patrimonies, 
 I defcribed that extraordinary care always taken of their 
 education in arts. and arms to qualify them for being 
 counfellors both to the king and kingdom ; to have a 
 fhare in the legiflature ; to be members of the higheft 
 court of judicature, from whence there could be no ap- 
 peal ; and to be champions always ready for the de- 
 fence of their prince and country by their valour, 
 conduft, and fidelity. That thele were the ornament 
 and bulwark of the kingdom, worthy followers of their 
 moft renowned ancedors, whofe honour had been the 
 reward of their virtue, from which their pofterity were 
 never once known to degenerate. To thefe were joined 
 feveral holy perfons as part of that affembly under the 
 title of biiliops, whofe peculiar bufinefs it is to take 
 care of religion, and of thofe who inftrudl the people 
 
 I 2 therein.
 
 ii8 A V O y A G E 
 
 therein. Thefe were fearched and fought out through 
 the whole nation, by the prince and his wifeft counfel- 
 lors among fuch of the priefthood, as were moft defer- 
 vedly diftingoifhed by the fanftity of their lives, and 
 the depth of their erudition, who were indeed the fpi- 
 xitual falficrs of the clergy and the people. 
 
 That the other part of the parliament confifted of ari 
 aflembly called the houfe of commons, who were all 
 principal gentlemen, /rt'^/v picked and culled out by the 
 peOj'le themfelves, for their great abilities and love of 
 their country, to reprefent the wifdom of the whole 
 nation. And that thefe two bodies made up the moft 
 augufl affembly in Europe, to whom in conjundlion with 
 the prince the whole legiflature is committed. 
 
 I then defcended to the courts of jaflice, over which 
 the judges, thofe venerable fagesand interpreters of the 
 law, prefided for determining the difputed rights and 
 properties of men, as well as for the punilhment of 
 vice, and proteftion of innocence. I mentioned the 
 prudent management of our treafury, the valour and 
 atchievements of our forces by fea and land. I com- 
 puted the number of our people, by reckoning how 
 jnany millions there might be of each religious feft, 
 or political party among us. I did not omit even our 
 fports and paftimes, or any other particular, which t 
 thought might redound to the honour of my country. 
 And I finifhed all with a brief hillorical account of af- 
 fairs and events in England for about an hundred years 
 pall. 
 
 This converfation was not ended under five audi- 
 ences, each of feveral hours ; and the King heard the 
 whole with great attention, frequently taking notes of 
 what I fpoke, as well as memorandums of what quef- 
 tions he intended to aik me. 
 
 When I had put an end to thefe long difcourles, his 
 majefty in a fixth audience confulting his notes propofed 
 many doubts, queries, and objedticns upon every arti- 
 cle. He afced what methods were ufed to cultivate the 
 minds and bodies of our young nobility, and in what 
 
 kind
 
 TOBROBDINGNAG. 119 
 
 kind of bufinefs they commonly fpent the firft and 
 teachable part of their lives. What courfe was taken 
 to fupply that aflembly, when any noble family became 
 cxtindl. What qualifications were neceflary in thofe, 
 who were to be created new lords: whether the humour 
 of the prince, a fum of money to a court lady, or a 
 prime miniller, or a defign of ftrengthening a party 
 oppofite to the publick intereft, ever happened to be 
 motives in thofe advancements. What lliare of know- 
 ledge thefe 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-fubjeds in their lail refort. 
 Whether they were always fo free from avarice, par- 
 tialities, or want, that a bribe, or fome other fmifter 
 view could have no place among them. Whether thofe 
 holy lords I {poke of, were always promoted to that 
 rank upon account of their knowledge in religious mat- 
 ters and the fanftity of their lives, had never been 
 compliers with the times while they were common 
 pnefts, or flavifh proftitute chaplains to fome nobleman, 
 whofe opinions they continued fervilely to follow, after 
 they were admitted into that aflembly. 
 
 He then defired to know what arts were praftifed in 
 elefting thofe whom I called commoners : Whether a ftran- 
 ger, with a ftrong purfe, might not influence the vu'gar 
 voters to chufe him before their own landlord, or the moft 
 confiderable gentleman in the neighbourhood. Ho.v it 
 came to pafs, that people were fo violently bent upon get- 
 ting into this aflembly, which 1 allowed to be a great trour 
 ble and expence, often to the ruin of their families, with- 
 out any falary or penfion : becaufe that appeared fuch 
 an exalted flrain of virtue and publick fpirit, that his 
 majefty feemed to doubt it might poflibly not be always 
 iincere : And he defired to know, whether fuch zealous 
 gentlemen could have any views of refunding them- 
 felves for the charges and trouble they were at, by fa- 
 crificing the publick good to the defignsof aweakand vi- 
 cious Prince, in conjundlion with a corrupted minillry. 
 He multiplied his queftions, and fifted me thoroughly 
 
 1 4 upojj
 
 I20 A V O Y A G E 
 
 upon every part of this head, propofing numberlefs en- 
 quiries and objedions, which I think not prudent or 
 convenient to repeat. 
 
 Upon what I laid, in relation to our courts of juftice, 
 his majell^y defired to be fatisfied, in feveral points : 
 and this I was the better able to do, having been for- 
 merly almoft ruined by a long fuit in chancery, Vv'hich 
 was decreed for me with colts. He afked what time 
 was ufiially fpent in determining between right and 
 wrong, and what degree of expence. Whether advo- 
 cates and orators had liberty to plead in caufes mani- 
 feftly known to be unjurt, vexatious, or oppreffive. 
 Whether party in religion, or politicks, were obferved 
 to be of any weight in the fcale of juftice. Whether 
 thofe pleading orators v/ere perfons educated in the ge- 
 neral knowledge of equity, or only in provincial, na- 
 tional, and other local cuftoms. Whether they or their 
 judges had any part in penning thofe laws, v.hich they 
 afTumed the liberty of interpreting or glofling upon at 
 the-irpleafure. Whether they had ever, at different times, 
 pleaded for and againll the f^.me caufe, and cited pre- 
 cedents to prove contrary opinions. Whether they 
 were a rich or a poor corporation. W"hether they re- 
 ceived any pecuniary reward for pleading or delivering 
 their opinions. And particularly, whether they were 
 ever admitted as Members in the lower Senate, 
 
 He fell next upon the managerr.ent of our treafury, 
 and faid, he thought m^'^ memory had failed me, be- 
 caufe T computed our raxes at about five or fix millions 
 a year, and, when I came to mention the irrue%.he found 
 they fometimes amounted to more than dounle';for the 
 potes he had taken were very particular in this point, 
 becaufe he hoped, as he told me, that the knowledge of 
 our condud might be ufcful to him, and he could not 
 be deceived in his calculations: But, if what I told 
 him were true, he v/as dill at a lofs how a kingdom 
 could run out of its eilate like a private perfon. He 
 aflced me who were cur creditors ; and where we fhould 
 iind money to pay them, He wondered to hear me 
 5 talk
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 121 
 
 talk of fuch chargeable and expfenfive wars ; that cer- 
 tainly vve nmtt be a quarrelfome people, or live among 
 very bad neighbours, and that our generals muil needs 
 be richer than our kings. He afked what bufinefs we 
 had otit of our own iflands, unlefs 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 merce- 
 nary fcanding army in the midfl of pea e, and among 
 a free people. He faid, if we were governed bv our 
 own confcnt in the perfons of our reprefentatives, he 
 could not imagine of whom vve were afraid, or againft 
 whom we were to fight; and would hear my opinion, 
 whether a private man's houfe might not better be de- 
 fended by himfelf, his children, and fimily, than by 
 half a dozen rafcals picked up at a venture in the itreets 
 for fmall wages, who might get an hundred times more 
 by cutting their throats. 
 
 He laughed at my odd kind of arithmetick (as he 
 was pleaicd to call it) in reckoning the nurjibers of 
 our people by a computation drawn from the feveral 
 fefts among us in religion and politicks. He faid, he 
 knew no rcafon why thofe, who entertain opinions pre- 
 judicial to the publick, fhculd be obliged to change, or 
 Ihould not be obliged to conceal them. And as it was 
 tyranny in any government to require the firft, fo it was 
 v/eaknefs not to enforce the fecond : 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 nobi- 
 lity and eentry 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 
 aifeCl their fortunes : whether mean vicious people by 
 t^ieir dexterity in that art might not arrive at great 
 riches, and fometimes keep our very r.oblcs in depen- 
 dance, as well as habituate them to vile companions, 
 wholly take them from the improvement of their minds, 
 
 and
 
 122 A V O Y A G E 
 
 and force them by the lofles they have received to lean 
 and praftife that infamous dexterity upon others. 
 
 He was perfeftly alloniihed with the hiftorical account 
 1 gave him of our affairs during the lall century, pro- 
 telting it was only a heap of confpiracies, rebelHons, 
 murders, maflacres, revolutions, banifhments, the very 
 worft effeds that avarice, faftion, hypocrify, perlidiouf- 
 nefs, cruelty, rage, madnefs, hatred, envy, luft, malice, 
 and ambition could produce. 
 
 His majelly in another audience was at the pains to 
 recapitulate the fum of all 1 had fpoken ; compared the 
 ■ queilions he made with the anfwers I had given ; then 
 talinT me into his hands, and ttroaking me gently, de- 
 livered himfelf in thefe words, which I ihall never for- 
 get, nor the manner he fpoke them in : My little friend 
 Grildrig, you have made a moft admirable panegyrick 
 upon your country ; you have clearly proved, that ig- 
 norance, idlenefs, and vice arc the proper ingredients 
 for qualifying a legiilator j that laws are beft explained, 
 interpreted, and applied by thofe whofe intereft and 
 abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding 
 them. I oblerve among you fome lines of an inftitu- 
 tion, v.'hich in its original might have been tolerable, 
 but thefe half erafed, and the reft wholly blurred and 
 blotted by corruptions. It doth not appear from all 
 you have faid, how any one perfe<5tion is required to- 
 wards the procurement of any one ftation among you ; 
 much lefs, that men are ennobled on account of their 
 virtue, that priefts are advanced for their piety or learn- 
 ing, foldiers for their conduft or valour, judges for 
 their integrity, fenators for the love of their country, 
 or counfellors for their wifdom.. As for yourfelf, con- 
 tinued the king, who have fpent the greateft part of 
 your life in travelling, I am well difpofed to hope you 
 may hitherto have efcaped many vices of your country. 
 But by what I have gathered from your own relation, 
 and the anfwers 1 have with much pains wringed and 
 extorted from you, 1 cannot but conclude the bulk of 
 your natives to be the moft pernicious race of little odi- 
 ous
 
 TO EROBDINGNAG. 123 
 
 ous vermin, that nature ever fuffered to crawl upon the 
 furface of the earth. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 the author's lonje of his country. He makts a propoful of 
 much advantage to the king, nvhich is rejeded. The 
 king^s great ignorance iti politicks. The learning of that 
 country mery imperfeii and confined. The la^ws^ and wi- 
 litary affairs, and parties in the Jiate. 
 
 NOTHING but an extreme love of truth could 
 have hindered me from concea.ing this part of 
 my ftory. It was in vain to difcover my refentments, 
 which were always turned into ridicule ; and I was 
 forced to reft with patience, while my noble and moft 
 beloved country was {o injurioufly treated. I am as 
 heartily forry as any of my readers can poffibly be, that 
 fuch an occafion was given : but this prince happened 
 to be fo curious and inquifitive upon every particular, 
 that it could not confilt either with gratitude or good 
 manners to refufe giving him what fatisfadion 1 was 
 able. Yet thus much I may be allowed to fay in my 
 own vindication. That I artfully eluded many of his 
 queftions, and gave to every point a more favourable 
 turn by many degrees than the ftridlnefs of truth would 
 allow. For I have always borne that laudable partia- 
 lity to my own country, which Dionyfius Halicarna£en- 
 fis with fo much julHce recommends to an hillorian : I 
 would hide the frailties and deformities of my political 
 mother, and place her virtues and b. auties in the molt 
 advantageous light. This was my fmcere endeavour 
 in thofe many difcourfes I had with that monarch, al- 
 though it unibrtunately failed of fuccefs. 
 
 But great allowances fhould be given to a king, who 
 lives wholly fecluded from the rell of the world, and 
 muft therefore be altogether unacquainted with the 
 manners and cuftoms that moll prevail in other na- 
 lions : the want of which knowledge will ever produce 
 
 many
 
 i2f A V O Y A G E 
 
 Jmny prejudices, and a certain narronvne/s of thinkings 
 from vvhich we and the pcliter cotintres of Europe ^rc 
 v/h'^Hy exempted. And it would beliard indeed, if fo 
 remote a prince^ notions of virtue and vice were to be 
 offered as a (lar.dard for ali manki-nd. 
 
 To confrm wijat I ha»e now faid, and further to 
 fixew the mlferable eitefls of a confined educatioiiy I fhall 
 Bcre infert a paiTage which wi'I hardly obtain belief. 
 In bope^ to ins;ratiate n^.yfelf farther into his majefty's 
 favour, I told him of an invention difcovered between 
 three and four hundred year^ ,'go to make a certain 
 powder, into an heap of whicli the fmalleft fpark of 
 £re falling would kindle the whole in a moment, al- 
 though it were as big-as a mountain, and make it all 
 % up in the air together, with a noife and agitation 
 greater than thunder. That a proper quality of this 
 powder rammed into an hollow tube of brafi and iron, 
 according to its bignefs, would drive a ball of iron or 
 iead with fuch violence and fpeed, as nothing was able 
 to fuilain its force. . That the largell balls thus dif- 
 charged would not only deftroy whole ranks of an ar- 
 my at once, but batter ilie ftrongeft walls to the ground, 
 £.uk down fliips with a thoufand men in each, to the 
 bottom of the fea ; and, when linked together by a 
 chain, v/ould cut through mails and rigging, divide 
 liuudreds of bodiej in the middle, and lay all wafte be- 
 ii>re them. That we often put this powder into large 
 liollow halls of iron, and difchargcd them bv an engine 
 into fame city we were befieging, which would rip up 
 tli€ pavements, tear the houfes to pieces, burll: and 
 throw fplintcrs on every fide, daihing out the brains of 
 all who came near. Thai I knew the ingredients very 
 well, which were cheap and common ; I underftood the 
 manner of compounding them, and could dired his 
 workmen how to make ihole tubes of a fize propor- 
 tionable to all other things in his majefly's kingdom, 
 and the i.i'-geil need not be above an hundred feet long ; 
 rA'enty or thirty of which tubes, charged with the pro- 
 per quanticy of powder and balls, would batter dowa 
 
 the
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. izj 
 
 tlie walls of the flrongeft town in his dominions in a 
 few hours, or deftroy the whole metropolis, if ever it 
 fhould pretend to difpute his abfolute commands. This 
 I humbly offered to his majefly, as a fmall tribute of 
 acknowledgment 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 infecl as I (thefe 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 defolation, which I had painted as the 
 common effedls of thofe deftruftive machines, whereof 
 he faid fom.e evil genius, enemy to mankind, mull: have 
 been the firtl contriver. As ibr himfelf, he proteHed, 
 that although few things delighted him fo much as new 
 difcoveries in art or in nature, yet he would rather iole 
 half his kingdom, than be privy to fuch a iecret, v. hich 
 he commanded me, as I valued my lite, never to men- 
 tion any more. 
 
 A ftrange elFeft o£ narrt^jj principles 2X\A Jhort -vieivs I 
 that a prince poflefTed of every quality which procures 
 veneration, love, and efleem ; of llrong parts, great 
 wifdom, and profound learning, endowed v/ith admi- 
 rable talents for government, and almoll adored by his 
 fubjedts; fhould from s.nice unnecrjjary fcrnple, v/hereof 
 jn Em-ope we can have no conception, let flip an oppor- 
 tunity put into his hands, that would have made him 
 abfolute mafler of the lives, the liberties, and the for- 
 tunes of his people. Neither do I fay this with the; 
 leaft intention to detraft from the many virtues of that 
 excellent king, whofe charafter I am fenflble will oa 
 this account be very much lellened in the opinion of aa 
 Englijh reader: but I take this def. £1 among them to 
 have rifen from their ignorance, by not having hitherto 
 reduced politicks into a fcience, as the more acute wits 
 of Europe have done. For I rem.ember very v, ell in a 
 difcoLirfe one day with the king, when I hajpened to 
 
 la-.-
 
 126 A V O Y A G E 
 
 fay there were feveral thoufand books among us wflcten 
 upon the art of government, it gave him (direftly con- 
 trary to my intention) a very mean opinion of our un- 
 derftaadings. He profefled both to abominate and de- 
 fpife all myjleryy rejinementy and intrigue, either in a 
 prince or a minifter. He could not tell what I meant 
 hy fecrets of Ji ate, where an enemy, or fome rival na- 
 tion, were not in the cafe He confined the know- 
 ledge of ^overning within very narroiv bounds, to com- 
 mon fenfe and reafon, to juftice and lenity, to the 
 fpeedy determination of civil and criminal caufes ; 
 with fome other obvious topicks, which are not worth 
 confidering. And he gave it for his opinion, that who- 
 ever cou'd make two ears of corn, or two blades of 
 grafs, to grow upon a fpot of ground where only one 
 grew before, would defer ve better of mankind, and do 
 more effential fervice to his country, than the whole 
 race of politicians put together. 
 
 The learning of this people is very defeftive, con- 
 filling only in morality, hiltory, poetry, and mathema- 
 ticks, wherein they mull be allowed to excel. But the 
 laft of thefe is wholly applied to what may be ufeful in 
 life, to the improvement of agriculture, and all mecha- 
 nical arts ; fo that among us it would be little elleem- 
 ed. And as to ideas, entities, abilrafticns, and tran- 
 fcendentals, I could never drive the leafl conception 
 into their heads. 
 
 No law of that country muft exceed in words the 
 number of letters in their alphabet, which confilts only 
 in two and twenty. But indeed few of them extend 
 even to that length. J hey are expreiTed in the moft 
 plain and fiinpie terms, wherein tliofe people are not 
 mercurial enough to difcover above one interpretation : 
 and to write a comment upon any law is a capital crime. 
 As to the decifion of civil caufes, or proceedings againft 
 criminals, their pre;'edents arc fo few, that they have 
 little reafon to boafl: of any extraordinary flcill in ei- 
 ther. 
 They have had the art of printing, as well as the 
 3 cbinefty
 
 TO BROBDTNGNAG. 127 
 
 chinefe, time out of mind : but their libraries are not 
 very large ; for that of the king, which is reckoned the 
 largeft, doth not amount to above a thoufand volumes 
 placed in a gallery of twelve hundred feet long, from 
 whence I had liberty to borrow what books J pleafed. 
 The queen's joiner had contrived in one of Glmndal- 
 clitch's, rooms a kind of wooden machine five and twenty 
 feet high, formed like a ftanding ladder, the fteps were 
 each fifty feet long: it was indeed a moveable pair of 
 flairs, the lowefl end placed at ten feet diftance from 
 the wall of the chamber. The book I had a mind to 
 read was put up leaning againft the wall : I firft mount- 
 ed to the upper flep of the ladder, and, turning 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 
 defcending gradually till I came to the bottom : after 
 which I mounted again, and began the other page in 
 the fame manner, and fo turned over the leaf, which I 
 could eafily do with both my hands, for it was as thick 
 and ftilF as a pafte-board, and in the largeft 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 
 unnecelTary words, or ufing various expreffions. J have 
 perufed many of their books, efpecially thofe in hillory 
 and morality. Among the reil, I was much diverted 
 with a little old treatife, which always lay in Qlumdal- 
 clitch'i bed-chamber, and belonged to her governefs, a 
 grave elderly gentlewoman, who dealt in writings of 
 morality and devotion. The book treats of the weak- 
 nefs of human kind, and is in little eftcem, except a- 
 mong the women and the vulgar. However, I was 
 curious to fee what an author of that country could fay, 
 upon fuch a fubjeft. This writer went through all the 
 ufual topicks oi european moralifts, fhewing how diminu- 
 tive, contemptible, and helplefs an animal was rnan in 
 iis own nature ; how unable to defend himfelf from in- 
 clemencies
 
 128 A V O Y A G E 
 
 clemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beafls : how 
 much he was excelled by one creature in ftrength, by 
 aaothcr in fpeed, by a third in forefight, by a fourth in 
 indultry. He added, that nature was degenerated in 
 thefe latter declining ages of the world, and could now 
 produce only fmall abortive birtlis, in comparifon of 
 tliole ill ar.cient times. He faid, it was very reafona- 
 ble to think, not only that the fpecies of men were 
 originally much larger, but alio that there mull: have 
 bien giants in former ages ; which, as it is afferted by 
 hillory and tradition, fo it hath been confirmed by huge 
 bones ajid fKulLs cafually dug up in feveral parts of the 
 kingdom, far exceeding the common dwindled race of 
 man in our days. Hs argued, that the very laws of 
 nature abfolucely required v/e fnould have been made 
 in the beginning of a fize more large and robult, not 
 lb liable to deftrudtion from every little accident of a 
 tile falling from an boufe, or a ftone catt from the hand 
 of a boy, or being drowned in a little brook. From 
 this v,'ay of realoning, the author drew feveral moral 
 applications uieful in the condudl of life, but needlefs 
 here to repeat. For my own part, I could not avoid re- 
 flecting how univeri'ally this talent was fprcgd, of 
 drawing. kftures in morality, or indeed rather matter 
 of difcontent and repining, from the quarrels we raife 
 with nature. And 1 believe, upon a ftrift enquiry thofe 
 quarrels might be fliewn as ill-grounded among us, as 
 they are among that people *. 
 
 As to their military affairs, they boaftthat the king's 
 army confiils of an hundred and leventy-lix thouland 
 foot, and tliirty-tv^o tiioufand horfe ; if that may be 
 called an army, which is made up of tradefmen in. the 
 feveral cities, and fiiimers in the country, whole com- 
 
 • The author's zeal to juftify ing, that the complaints upon 
 
 providence has before been re- which they are lounded would 
 
 marked ; and thel'e qoarrels with be equally f|jeiioiis among Le- 
 
 naturc, or in othci v.'ords with ings ot iHch aftonifhing I'upetio- 
 
 Cod, could not have been more rity of ftaturs and ftreikgth. 
 ieicibly reproved than by ftrew- 
 
 manders
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 129 
 
 manders are only the nobility and gentry without pay or 
 reward. They are indeed perfeft enough in their exer- 
 cifes, and under very good difcipline, wherein I faw no 
 ^reat 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, chofen after the manner of Venice by ballot? 
 
 I have often feen the militia of Lorhrulgrud drawn out 
 to exercife in a great field near the city of twenty miles 
 fquare. They were in all not above twenty- five thou- 
 fand foot, and fix thoufand horfe ; but it was impolfible 
 for me to compute their number, confidering the fpace 
 of ground they took up. A cavalier, mounted on a 
 large fteed, might be about ninety feet high. I have 
 feen this whole body of horfe, upon a word of com- 
 mand, draw their fwoi ds at once, and brandifh them 
 in the air. Imagination can figure nothing fo grand, 
 fo furprifing, and io aftonilhing ! it looked aS if ten 
 thoufand flafhes of lightning were darting at the fame 
 time from every quarter of the fky. 
 
 I was curious to know how this prince, to whofe do- 
 minions there is no accefs from any other country, came 
 to think of armies, or to teach his people the practice 
 of military difcipline. But I was foon inarmed both 
 by converfation and reading their hiflories : for in the 
 courfe of many ages they have been troubled with the 
 fame difeafe to which the whole race of mankind is fub- 
 jed; the nobility often contending for power, the peo- 
 ple 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 occafioned 
 civil wars, the laft whereof was happily put an end to 
 by this prince's grandfather in a general compofition ; 
 and the militia, then fettled with common confent, hath 
 been ever fmce kept in the ftrifteft duty. 
 
 VoL.ir, K CHAP.
 
 130 A V O Y A G E 
 
 CHAP. viir. 
 
 The king and queen make a frogrefs to the frontiers. The 
 author attends them. The manner in vjhich he leai'ei 
 the country 'very particularly related^ He returns t» 
 England. 
 
 I Had always a flrong impulfe, that I fhould fome 
 time recover my liberty, though it was impoffible to 
 conjefture by what means, or to form any projeft with 
 the leaft hope of fuccceding. The ihip in which I 
 failed was the firll: ever known to be driven v^'ithin fight 
 of that coaft, and the king had given ftrid orders, that, 
 if at any time another appeared, it fhould be taken 
 afliore, and with all its crew and paflengers brought in 
 a tumbril to Lorbrulgrud. He was llrongly bent to get 
 me a woman of my own fize, by whom I might pro- 
 pagate the breed : iDut I think I fhould rather have died, 
 than undergone the difgrace of leaving a pofterity to be 
 kept in cages like tame canary-birds, and perhaps in 
 time fold about the kingdom to perfons of quality for 
 curiofitics. I was indeed treated with much kindnefs : 
 1 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 ne- 
 ver 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 ftreets and 
 fields, without being afraid of being trod to death like 
 a frog, or a young puppy. But my deliverance came 
 fooner than I expedled, and in a manner not very com- 
 mon : the whole ftory and circumflances of which I 
 Ihall faithfully relate. 
 
 I had now been two years in this country ; and 
 about the beginning of the third Glumdalclitch and I 
 attended the king and queen in a progrefs to the Jhith 
 coaft of the kingdom. I was carried as ufual in my 
 ►avcUing-box, which, ai I have already defcribed, was 
 5 a very
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 131 
 
 n \-ery convenient clofet of twelve feet wide. And I 
 had ordered a hammock to be fixed by filken ropes 
 from the four corners at the top, to break the jolts, 
 when a fervant carried me before him on horfeback, as 
 I fometimes defired, and would often fltep in my ham- 
 mock while we were upon 'the road. Cn the roof of 
 my clofet, not diredly over the middle of the ham- 
 mock, I ordered the joiner to cut out a hole of a foot 
 fquare, to give me air in hot weather, as I ilept ; which 
 hole I fhut at pleafure with a board, that drew back- 
 wards and forwards through a groove. 
 
 When we came to our journey's end, the king thought 
 
 proper to pafs a few days at a palace he hath near Flan- 
 
 Jiajnicy a city within eighteen Englijh miles of the fea- 
 
 fide. Glumdalclitch and I were much fatigued : I had 
 
 gbtten a fmall cold, but the poor girl was fo ill as to 
 
 Be confined to her chamber. I longed to fee the ocean, 
 
 which muft be the only fcene of my efcape, if ever it 
 
 Ihould happen. I pretended to be worfe than I really 
 
 was, and defired leave to take the frefh air of the fea 
 
 >vith a page, whom I was very fond of, and who had 
 
 fometimes been trufted with me. I fhall never forget 
 
 with what unwillingnefs Glumdalclitch confented, nor 
 
 the ftridt charge (he gave the page to be careful of me, 
 
 burfting at the fame time into a flood of tears, as if fne 
 
 had fome foreboding of what was to happen. The 
 
 boy took me out in my box about half an hours walk 
 
 from the palace towards the rocks on the fea-lhore. I 
 
 ordered him to fet me down, and lifting up one of my 
 
 fafhes call many a willful melancholy look towards the 
 
 fea. I found myfelf 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 
 
 Ihut the window clofe down to keep out the cold. I 
 
 foon fell afleep, and all T conjefture is, that while 
 
 I flept, 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 
 
 ^ K 2 will.
 
 132 A V O YA G E 
 
 in'ill, I found myfelf fuddenly awaked with a vioknfi 
 pull upon the ring, which was faftened at the top of my 
 box for the conveniency of carriage. I felt my box 
 raifed very high in the air, and then borne forward with 
 prodigious fpeed. 1 he firll jolt had liice to have fhaken 
 me out of my hammock, but afterwards the motion 
 was eafy enough. I called out feveral times, as loud as 
 I could raife my voice, but all to no purpofe. I looked 
 towards my windows, and could 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 fliell, and then pick out 
 my body, and devour it : for the fagacity and fmell of 
 this bird enabled him to dilcover his quarry at a great 
 diftance, though better concealed than I could be with- 
 in a two-inch board. 
 
 In a little time I obferved the noife and flutter of 
 wings to increafe very fafl, and my box was tofled 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 mull have been that held the ring 
 of my box in his beak) and then all on a fuden felt 
 myfelf falling perpendicularly down for above a mi- 
 nute, but with fuch incredible fwiftncfs that I almoft loft 
 my breath. My fall was Hopped by a terrible fquafh, 
 that founded louder to my ears than the cataraft 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 
 row perceived that 1 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 
 
 • Niagara h a fettlcment of Canada) from a rocky precipice, 
 
 the Frrnch in North .'■.'merica, the perpendicular height of which 
 
 iind the catara£l is produced by is one hundred and thirty-fevea 
 
 the tall of a conflux of water feet ; and it is faid to have beea 
 
 (fsiBied of the tour vaft Jakes of heard fifieen league*. 
 
 i cornefft
 
 TO BR OB DING NAG. 153 
 
 •orners of the top and bottom, floated about five feet 
 deep in water. 1 did then, and do now fuppofe, that 
 the eagle which flew away with my box was purfued by 
 two or three others, and forced to let me drop while he 
 defended himfelf again il the reft, who hoped to Ihartj 
 in the prey. The plates of iron faftened at the bot- 
 tom of the box (for thofe were the ftrongelt) 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 hin- 
 ges, but up and down like a fafli, which kept my clo- 
 let fo tight that very little water came in. 1 got with 
 much difficulty out of my hammock, having firjl ven- 
 tured to draw back the flip-board on the roof already 
 mentioned, contrived on purpofe to let in air, for want 
 of which J found myfelf almoft ftifled. 
 
 How often did I then wifh myfelf with my dear 
 GlumdalcUtch, from whom one fingle hour had fo far 
 divided me ! And I may fay with truth, that in the 
 midft of my own misfortunes I could not forbear la- 
 menting my poor nurfe, the grief Ihe would fufFer for 
 my lofs, the difpleafure of the queen, and the ruin of 
 her fortune. Perhaps many travellers have not been 
 under greater difficulties and dillrefs than I was at this 
 juncture, expeding every moment to fee my box dafh- 
 ed to pieces, or at leait overfet by the firft violent blaft 
 or riftng wave. A breach in one fingle pane of g'afs 
 would have been immediate death : nor could any 
 thing have preferved the windows but the ftrong la,t- 
 tice-wires placed on the outlide againft accidents in 
 travelling. 1 faw the water ooze in at feveral crannies, 
 although the le^ks were not confiderable, and I endea-r 
 voured to Hop them as well as I could. I was not able 
 to lift up the roof of my clofet, which otherwifc I cer- 
 tainly ibould have done, and fat on the top of it, 
 where I might at leaft preferve myfelf fome hours 
 longer than by being Ihut up (as I may call it) in the 
 hold. Or, if 1 efcaped thefe dangers for a day or *wo, 
 vhac could I expeft but a miferable death of cold _'' 
 
 K 3 bun
 
 134 A V O Y A G E 
 
 hunger ? I was four hours under thefe circumfiances, 
 expecting, and indeed wilhing every moment to be my 
 lail. 
 
 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 ufed to carry 
 jne on horfeback would put a leathern belt, and buckle 
 it about his waift. Being in this difconfolate ftate, I 
 heard or at leait thought 1 heard fome kind of grating 
 noife en 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 fort of tugging, which made the waves riie 
 near the tops of my windows, leaving me almoft in the 
 dark. This gave me fome faint hopes of relief; al- 
 though 1 was not able to imagine how it could be 
 brought about. I ventured to unfcrew one of my 
 .chair;, which were always failened to the floor ; and 
 having made a bard ihift to fcrew it down again di-. 
 reflly under the fiipping-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 underllood. I then fattened 
 my handkerchief to a ftick I ufually carried, and, 
 thrulting it up the hole waved it feveral times in the 
 air, that if any boat or fliip were near, the feamen might 
 conjedure fome unhappy mortal to be fhiut up in the 
 box. 
 
 I found no efFeft from all I could do, but plainly 
 perceived my clofet to be moved along ; and, in the 
 fpace of an hour, or better, that fide of the box where 
 the ftap'es v.ere, and had no window, flxuck againft 
 fomething that was hard. I apprehended it to be a 
 rock, and found myfelf toifed more than ever. I plainly 
 heard a noife upon the cover of my clofet like that of a 
 cable, and the grating of it as it pafied through the 
 ring. I then found myfelf hoilled up by degrees at 
 1(3qA three feet higher than I was before. Whereupon 
 ,i ""^-"r. thruft up my ft.ick and handkerchief, calling for 
 ^ help
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 135 
 
 help till I was almoft hoarfe. In return to which, I 
 heard a great fhout repeated three times, giving me fuch 
 tranfports of joy as are not to be conceived but by thofc 
 who feel them. I now heard a trampling over my 
 head, and fomebody calling through the hole with a 
 loud voice in the Englijh tongue, If there be any body 
 below, let them fpeak. I anfwered, I was an Englijh- 
 man, drawn by ill fortune into the greateft calamity 
 that ever any creature underwent, and begged by all 
 that was moving to be delivered out of the dungeon I 
 was in. The voice replied, I was fafc, for my box was 
 faftened to their fhip ; and the carpenter fhould imme- 
 diately come and faw a hole in the cover large enough 
 to puJl me out. 1 anfwered, 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 fea into the (hip, and 
 fo into the captain's cabbin f. 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 flature and 
 ftrength. 'I'he carpenter came, and in a fev/ minutes 
 fawed a paflage about four feet fquare, then let down 3 
 foiall ladder, upon which I miounted, and from thence 
 was taken into the (hip in a very weak condition. 
 
 The failors were all in amazement, and afked me a 
 thoufand queftions, which I had no inclination to an- 
 fwer. I was equally confounded at the fight of fo many 
 pigmies, for fuch 1 took them to be, after having fo 
 long accuftomed mine eyes to the monflrous objeds I 
 had left. But the captain, Mr. Thomas I^Hlcocks, an ho- 
 
 t There are feveral little in- mong his countrymen, depended 
 
 cidentB which ftiew the author to on their being of the fame fue 
 
 have had a deep knowledge of with hinnfelf, yet this is forgot- 
 
 human nature ; and I think this ten in his ardour to be delivered : 
 
 is rne. Although the principal and he is afterwards betrayed 
 
 advantages enuuerated by Gul- into the lime abfurdity, by his 
 
 li'ver in the beginning of thi« zeal to pseicivc his furniture, 
 chapter^ of niingling again a-
 
 136 A V O YA G E 
 
 neft worthy Shropjhlre man, obferving I was ready to 
 faint, took me into his cabbin, gave me a cordial to 
 comfort me, and made me turn in upon his own bed, ad- 
 vifmg me to take a little reil:, of which I had great need. 
 Before I went to fleep, I gave him to underitand that I 
 had fome valuable furniture in my box too good to be 
 loft; a fine hammock, an handfome field -bed, two 
 chairs, a table, and a cabinet. That my clofet was 
 hung on all fides, or rather quilted, with filk and cot- 
 ton : that if he v.'ould let one of the crew bring my 
 clofet into his cabbin, I would open it there before him 
 and fhevv him my goods- The captain hearing me ut- 
 ter thei'e abfurdities concluded I was raving : however 
 (I fuppofe to pacify me) he promifed to give order as I 
 defired, and going upon deck fent fome of his men 
 down into my clofet, from whence (as I afterwards 
 found) they drew up all my goods, and ftripped off the 
 quilting ; but the chairs, cabinet, and bedlte^d, being 
 fcrewed to the floor, were much damaged by the igno- 
 rance of the feamen, who tore them up by force. '1 hen 
 they knocked off fome of the boards for the ufe of the 
 ftiip, 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 fpedlator of 
 the havock they made ; becaufe I am confident it would 
 have fenfibly touched me by bringing former paflage& 
 into my mind, which I had rather forget. 
 
 I flept fome hours, but perpetually difturbed with 
 dreams of the place I had left, and the dangers I had 
 cfcaped. However, upon waking, I found myfelf much 
 recovered. It was now about eight o'clock at night, 
 and the captain ordered fupper immediately, thinking I 
 had already fafted too long. He entertained me with 
 great kindnefs, obferving me not to look wildly, or 
 talk inconfiflently ; and, when we were left alone, de- 
 fired I would give him a relation of my travels, and by 
 what accident I came to be fet adrift in that monflrous 
 wooden cheft. He faid, that about twelve o'clock at 
 
 nooHs
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 137 
 
 moon, as he was looking through his glafs, he fpied it 
 at a diftance, and thought it was a fail, which he had a 
 mind to make, being not much out of his courfe, in 
 hopes of buying fome bifket, his own beginning to fall 
 ihort. That upon coming nearer, and finding his er- 
 ror, he fent out his long-boat to difcover what I was ; 
 that his men came back in a fright, fwearing they had 
 feen a fwimming houfe. That he laughed at their fol- 
 ly, and went himfelf in the boat, ordering his men to 
 take a ftrong cable along with them. That the weather 
 being calm he rowed round me fevcral times, obferved 
 my windows, and the wire-lattices that defended them. 
 That he difcovercd two ftaples upon one fide, which 
 was all of boards without any paflage for light. He then 
 commanded his men to row up to that fide, and, faften- 
 ing a cable to one of the ftaples, ordered them to tow 
 my cheft (as they called it) towards the Ihip. When it 
 was there, he gave diredions to faften another cable to 
 the ring fixed in the cover, and to raife up my cheft 
 with pullies, which all the failors were not able to do 
 above two or three feet. He faid, they faw my ftick and 
 handkerchief thruft out of the hole, and concluded that 
 fome unhappy man muft be Hut up in the cavity. I 
 afked, whether he or the crew had feen any prodigious 
 birds in the air about the time he firll: difcovered me ? 
 to which he anfwcred, that, difcourfing this matter with 
 the failors while I was aflecp, one of them faid, he had 
 ohjevued three eagles flying towards the norths but re- 
 marked nothing of their being larger than the ufual 
 fize, which I fuppofe muft be imputed to the great 
 heighth they were at ; and he could not guefs the rea- 
 fon of my queftion. I then afeed the captain, how far 
 he reckoned we might be from land I he faid, by the 
 beft computation he could make, we were at leaft an 
 hundred leagues. 1 afllired him that he muit be mif- 
 takcn by almoft half, for I had not left the country from 
 whence I came above two hours before I dropt into the 
 fea. Whereupon he began again to think that m^- brain 
 wa* dirtarbed, of which he gave me a hint, and advifed 
 
 me
 
 13* A V O Y A G E 
 
 xne to go to bed in a cabbin he had provided. I aflbred 
 him 1 was well refrefhed with his good entertainment an4 
 company, and as mu^h in my fenfes as ever I was in my 
 life. He then grew ferious, and defired to aCc me 
 freely, whether I were not troubkd in mind by the con- 
 fcioufnefs of fome enormous crime, for which 1 was 
 punifhed at the command of fome prince by expoling 
 me in that cheft, as great criminals in other countries 
 have been forced to fea in a leaky veffel without pro- 
 vjiions : for although he fhould be forry to have takea 
 fo ill a man into his Ihip, yet he would engage his word 
 to let me fafe a-fho:e in the fiill port where we arrived. 
 He added, that his fufpicions were much increafed by 
 fome very abfurd fpeeches I had delivered at firft to the 
 fcilors, and afterwards to himfelf, in relation to my 
 clofet or cheft, as well as by my odd looks and beha- 
 \'iour while I was at fuppcr. 
 
 I begged his patience to hear me tell my ftory, which 
 I faithfully did from the lalt time I left England to the 
 moment he firft difcovered me. And, as truth always 
 forceth its way into rational minds, fo this honeft wor- 
 thy gentleman, who had fome tinfture of learning, and 
 very good fenfe, was immediately convinced of my can- 
 dour and veracity. Bur, farther to confirm all I had 
 faid, I entreated him to give order that n:y cabinet 
 Ihould be brought, of which I had the key in my pock- 
 et, (for he had already informed me how the feamen 
 difpofed of my cloft). I opened it in his own prefence, 
 and Ihev. ed him the fmall coUeftion of rarities I made 
 in the country from whence ! had been fo ftrangely de- 
 livered. There was the comb I had contrived out of the 
 (lumps of the king's beard, and another of the fame ma- 
 teria'.s, but fixed into a paring of her majefly s thumb- 
 nail, which ferved for the back. There was a coUedion 
 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 flie made 
 me a prefent of in a moll obliging manner, taking it 
 from her little linger, and throwing it over my head 
 
 like
 
 TO BROBDINGNAG. 139 
 
 like a collar, I defired the captain would pleafe to ac- 
 cept this ring in return of his civilities ; which he ab- 
 folutely refufed. I (hewed him a corn that I had cut off 
 with iny own hand from a maid of honour's toe ; it was 
 about the bignefs of a Kentip? pippin, and grown fj 
 hard, that, when I returned to England, I got it hol- 
 lowed into a cup, and fet in filver. Laftly, I defired 
 him to fee the breeches I had then on, which were 
 made of a moufe's flcin. 
 
 I could force nothing on him but a footman's tooth, 
 which I obferved him to examine with great curiofity, 
 and found he had a fancy for it. He received it with 
 abundance of thanks, more than fuch a trifle could de- 
 ferve. It was drawn by an unflcilful furgeon in a niif- 
 take from one of Glumdalclitch''s men, who was afflidled 
 with the tooth-ach, but it was as found as any in his 
 head. I got it cleaned, 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 
 relation I had given him, and faid, he hoped, when 
 we returned to England, I would oblige the world by 
 putting it on paper, and making it publick. My anfvver 
 was, that I thought we were already over-ftocked with 
 books of travels : that nothing could now pafs which 
 was not extraordinary ; v.hcrein I doubted fome authors 
 lefs confulted truth, than their own vanity, or intereft, 
 or the diverfion of ignorant readers : that my ftory could 
 contain little befides common events, without thofe or- 
 namental defcriptions of firange plants, U'ces, birds, 
 and other animals ; or of the barbarous cuiloms and 
 idolatry of favage people, v»ith which raoH writers a- 
 bound. However, 1 thanked him for his good opinion, 
 and promifed to take the matter into my thoughts. 
 
 He faid, he wondered at one thing very much, which 
 was, to hear me fpeak fo loud, a&ing me whether the 
 king or queen of that country were thick of hearing. I 
 told him, it was what I had been ufed to for above 
 two years paft ; and that I admired as much at the 
 voices of him and his men, who feemed to me only to 
 
 whifper,
 
 i4» A V O Y A G E 
 
 whifper, and yet I could hear them well enough. But, 
 xt'hen I fpoke in that country, it was like a man talking 
 in the ftreet to another looking out from the top of a 
 fieeple, unlefs when 1 was placed on a table, or held 
 in any perfon's hand. I told him, I had likewife ob- 
 feri'-eci another thing, that when I firft get into the fliip, 
 and the fa!lors ftood all about we, 1 thought they were . 
 the moil little contemptible creatures I had ever beheld. 
 For indeed, while 1 was in that prince's country, I 
 could never endure to look in a glafs, after mine eyes 
 had been accuftomed to fuch prodigious objcfts, becaufe 
 the comparifon gave me fo defpicable a conceit of my- 
 felf. 1 he captain {aid, 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 
 iny laughter, which he knew not well how to take, but 
 imputed it to fome diforder in m.y brain. I anfwered, 
 it was very true ; and I wondered how I could forbear, 
 when I faw his difhes of the fize of afiWer three-pence, 
 a leg of perk hardly a mouthful, a cup not fo big as a 
 nut-lhell ; and fo 1 went on, defcribing the reft of his 
 houfhold-ftufF and provifions after the fame manner. 
 For although 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 1 faw on 
 every fide of me, and I winked at my own littlcnefs, as 
 people do at their own faults. 'I'he captain underllood 
 my raillery well, and merrily replied with the old 
 Englijh proverb, that he doubted mine eyes were big- 
 ger than my belly, for he did not obferve my ftomach 
 ft) good although 1 had faftcd all day; and, continuing 
 in his mirth, protefted he would have gladly given an 
 hundred pounds to have feen my clofet in the eagle's 
 bill, and afterwards in its fall from fo great a heighth 
 into the fea ; which would certainly have been a moft 
 aftonifhing objeft, worthy to have the defcription of it 
 tranfmitted to future ages : and the comparifon Qi Phae- 
 ton was ib obvious, that he could not forbear applying 
 it, although I did not much admire the conceit.
 
 TO BROB DING NAG. 141 
 
 The captain, having been at Tonquin^ was in his re- 
 turn to Englattd driven north-eaftward to the latitude of 
 44 degrees, and of longitude 1 43 . But meeting a trade- 
 vvind two days after 1 came on board him, v/e failed 
 fouthward along time, and, coalHng Ne^v-Holland, kept 
 our courfe weft-fouth-weft, and then fouth-fouthvvell, 
 till we doubled the Cape of Gocd Hope. Our voyage 
 was very profperous, but I fhall not trouble the reader 
 with a journal of it. The captain called in at one 0£ 
 two ports, and fent in his long-boat for provifions and 
 frefli water, but I never went out of the Ihip till we 
 came into the Do^ns, which was on the third day of 
 June, 1706, about nine months after my efcape. 1 
 offered to leave my goods in fecurity for payment of 
 my freight; but 'the captain protefted he would not re- 
 ceive one farthing. We took a kind leave of each other, 
 and I made him promife he would come to fee me at 
 my houfe in Redriff. I hired a horfe and guide for five 
 Jhillings, which I borrowed of the captain. 
 
 As I was on the road, obferving the littlenefs of the 
 houfes, the trees, the cattle, and the people, 1 begau 
 10 think myfelf in Lilliput. I was afraid of trampling 
 on every traveller 1 met, and often called aloud to have 
 them Itand out of the way, fo that I had like to have got- 
 ten one or two broken heads for my impertinence. 
 
 When I came to my ov.'n houfe, for which I was for- 
 ced to enquire, one of the fervants opening the door, 
 I bent down to go in (like a goofe under a gate) for 
 fear of ftriking my head. My wife ran out to embrace 
 me, but 1 Hooped lower than her knees, thinking fhe 
 could otherwife never be able to reach my mouth. My 
 daughter kneeled to afk me blelTing, but I could not 
 fee her till fhe arofe, having been lo long ufed to Hand 
 with my head and eyes eredl to above fixty feet j and 
 then I went to take her up v/ith one hand by the waift. 
 I looked down upon the fervants, and one or two friends, 
 who were in the houfe, as if they had been pigmies, 
 and I a giant. I told my wite fhe had been too thrifty, 
 im I found fhe had flsrvwd herfalf aud her daughter to 
 
 r.othin^.
 
 142 A V O y A G E, &c. 
 
 nothing. In fhort, I behaved myfelf fo unaccountably, 
 that they were all of the captain's opinion, when he iirft 
 faw me, and concluded I had loft my wits. This I 
 mention as an inftance of the great power of habit and 
 prejudice. 
 
 In a little time, I and my family and friends came to 
 a right underilanding : but my wife protefted I fhould 
 never go to fea any more ; although my evil deftiny {o 
 ordered, that fhe had not power to hinder me, as the 
 teader may know hereafter. In the mean time, I here 
 conclude the fecond part of my unfortunate voyages *. ■ 
 
 * From the whole of thefe 
 two voyages to LilUput and 
 Brobdingvag arifes one general 
 remark, which, however obvious, 
 has been overlooked by thofe 
 who confider them as little moic 
 than the fport of a vi»anton ima- 
 gination. When human a^^ions 
 are afcribed to pigmies and gi- 
 ants, there are few that do not 
 excite either contempt, difguft, 
 or horror ; to afcribe them there- 
 fore to fuch beings was perhaps 
 the moft probable method of 
 
 engaging the mind to examine 
 them with attention, and judge 
 of them vjith impartiality, by 
 fufpending the fafcination of ha- 
 bit, and exhibiting familiar ob- 
 jects in a new light. The ufe of 
 the fable then is not lefs appa- 
 rent than important and exten- 
 five ; and that this ufe was in- 
 tended by the author can be 
 doubted only by thofe who are 
 difpofed to affirm, that order and 
 regularity are the eti'e^ts of 
 chance. 
 
 A VOY-
 
 .Aiil3 
 
 Z^/.: 
 
 A 
 
 Parts TJnknowiL 
 
 
 ofC 
 
 t ^1 
 
 Oonipatry-s 
 Land 
 
 Lap't^" 
 
 yi.irncreU! 
 ^*^> (xiantium ' 
 
 Tiinui 
 
 DiTcover'il 
 A.D.noi- 
 
 urn^anto 
 
 -VLfSisTV .
 
 [ H3] 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 T O 
 
 Laputa, Balnibarbi, Lugg- 
 NAGG, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan. 
 
 C H a p. I. 
 
 The author fets out on his third njoyagi^ is taken hy pyrates. 
 The malice of a Dutchman. His arriual at an ijland. 
 He is recei'vsd into Laputa. 
 
 IH A D not been at home above ten days, when 
 captain William Rchinfon, a Comijh man, comman- 
 der of the Hope-vjell, a flout fhip of three hundred 
 tons, came to my houfe. I had form.erly been furgeon 
 of another (hip, where he was niafter and a fourth part 
 owner, in a voyage to the Levant; he had always treat- 
 ed me more like a brother, than an inferior officer, and 
 hearing of my arrival made me a vifit, as I apprehend- 
 ed, only outof friendfhiip, for nothing pafled more than 
 wbat is ufual after long abfences. But repeating his vi- 
 lits often, exprefiing his joy to find me in good health, 
 afking whether I were now fettled for life, adding, that 
 he intended a voyage to the Eajl- Indies in two months ; 
 at lall he plainly invited me, though with fome apolo- 
 gies.
 
 144 A V O Y A G E 
 
 gies, to be furgeon of the fiiip ; that I fliould havtf 
 another furgeon under me, befides our two mates s that 
 ttiy falary fhould be double to the ufual pay ; and that, 
 having experienced my knowledge in fea-affairs to be 
 at lead equal to his, he would enter into any engage- 
 ment to follow my advice, as much as if I had fhared 
 in the command 
 
 He faid fb many other obliging things, and I knew 
 him to be fo honeir a man, that I could not rejeft his 
 propofal ; the thirfi; I had of feeing the world, not- 
 withftanding my paft misfortunes, continuing as violent 
 as ever. The only difficulty that remained, was to per- 
 fuade my wife, whofe confent however I at lad obtain- 
 ed, by the profpeft of advantage Ihe propofsd to her 
 children. 
 
 We fet out the 5th day 01 Ai4gujl, 1706, and arrived 
 ^t Fort St. George \\\& \\\^\.oi April, 1707. We flayed 
 there three weeks to refrefh our crew, many of whom 
 were fick. From thence we went to Totiquin, where 
 the captain refolved to continue fome time, becaufe 
 many of the goods he intended to buy were not ready, 
 nor could he ekpedl to be difpatched in fcveral rnonfhs. 
 Therefore, in hopes to defray fome of the charges he 
 muft be at, he bought a floop, loaded it with ieveral 
 forts of goods, wherewith the Tonqiiincfe ufually trade 
 to the neighbouring illandi, and, putting fourteen men 
 on board, whereof three were of the country, he ap- 
 pointed me mafter of the floop, and gave me power to 
 traffic, while he tranfadted his affairs at Toiiquin. 
 
 We had not failed above three days, when, a great 
 fiorm arifing, we were driven five days to the north- 
 north-eall, and then to the eait ; after which we had 
 fair weather, but ftill with a pretty Ilrong gale from the 
 welt. Upon the tenth day we were chaced by two py- 
 rates, who foon overtook us ; for my floop was fo deep 
 laden, that flie failed very flow, neither were we in a 
 condition to defend ourrelves. 
 
 Wc were boarded about the fame time by both the 
 pyrates, who entered furioufly at the head of their 
 
 men ;
 
 T O L A P U T A, ^f. 145 
 
 rntn ; but finding us all proftrate upon our faces (for fo 
 I gave orders) they pinioned us with ilrong ropes, and, 
 ietting a guard upon us, went to fearch the floop. 
 
 I obferved among them a Dutch?nan, who feemed to 
 be of fome authority, though he was not commander of 
 either. Ihip. He knew us by our countenances to be 
 Englijhmen, and jabbering to us in his own language, 
 fvvore we fliould be tied back to back, and thrown into 
 the fea. I fpoke Dutch tolerably well ; I told him who 
 we were, and begged him in confideration of our being 
 chriftians and proteftants, of neighbouring countries in 
 ftria alliance, that he would move the captains to take 
 fome pity on us. This inflamed his rage, he repeated 
 his threatenings, and turning to his companions, fpoke 
 with great vehemence in the Japansfc language, as I 
 fuppofe, often ufing the word ckrijiianos. 
 
 I'he largeft of the two pyrate ibips was commanded 
 by a Japanefe captain, who fpoke a little Duich, but 
 very imperfeftly. Ke came up to me, and after feveral 
 queftions, which I anfwered in great humility, he faid 
 we fhould not die. I made the captain a very low bow, 
 and then turning to the Dutchman laid, 1 was forry to 
 find more mercy in an heathen, than in a brother 
 chriftian. But I had foon reafon to repent thofe fooliib 
 words : for that malicious reprobate, having often en- 
 deavoured in vain to perfuade both the captains that I 
 might be thrown, into the fea (v/hich they vyould not 
 yield to after the promife made me that I fnould not 
 die) however prevailed fo far as to have a punilhment 
 inflided on me, worfe, in all haman appearance, than 
 death itfelf My men were fent by an equal divifion 
 into both the pyrate ftiips, and my floop new manned. 
 As to myfelf, it was determined that I Ihould be fet a- 
 drift in a fmall canoe, with paddles and a fail, and four 
 days provifions, which laft the Japanefe captain was fo 
 kind to double out of his own Itores, and would per- 
 mit no man to fearch me. I got down into the canoe, 
 v/hile the Dutchman ftanding upon the deck loaded me 
 
 Vol, II. L witk
 
 1^6 A V O Y A G E 
 
 with all the curfes and injurious terms his language 
 could afford. 
 
 About an hour before we faw the pyrates I had taken 
 an obfervation, and found we were in the latitude of 
 46 N. and of longitude 183. When I was at fome 
 diflance from the pyrates, I difcovered by my pocket- 
 gjafs feveral iflands to the fouth-eaft. I fet up my fail, 
 the wind being fair, with a defign to reach the neareft 
 of thofe iflands, vvhich I made a {hift to do in about 
 three liours. It was all rocky, however I got many 
 birds eggs, and ftriking fire I kindled fome heath and 
 dry fea-weed, by which 1 roafted my eggs. I eat no 
 other fupper, being refolved to fpare my provisions as 
 much as 1 could. I pafied the night under the fhelter 
 of a rock, ftrewing fome heath under mCj and llept 
 pretty well. 
 
 The next day I failed to another ifland, and thence 
 to a third and fourth, fometimes ufmg my fail, and 
 fometimes my paddles. But, not to trouble the reader 
 with a particular account of my diftreifes, let it fufRce, 
 that on the fifth day 1 arrived at the laft ifland in my 
 iight, which lay fouth-fcuth-eaft to the former. 
 
 This ifland was at a greater diflance than I expefted, 
 and I did not reach it in lefs than five hours. 1 encom- 
 paffed it almoil: round, before I could find a convenient 
 place to land in, which was a fmall creek about three 
 times the widenefs of my canoe. I found the ifland 
 to be all rocky, only a little intermingled with tufts of 
 grafs, and fweet-fmelling herbs. I took out my fmall 
 provifions, and after having refreflied myfelf, 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 fea-v^eed, and parched grafs, 
 which I defigned to kindle the next day, and roalt 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 provifions. My bed was 
 the fame dry grafs and fea-weed vs'hich I intended for 
 itwel. 1 flept very little, for the difquiets of m.y mind 
 5 prevailed
 
 T O L AT V T A, ^c. 147 
 
 prevailed over my wearinefs, and kept me awake. I 
 confidered how impoffible it was to preferve my life in 
 (o defolate a place, and how miferable my end muft be. 
 Yet found myfelf fo lilllefs 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 advan- 
 ced. I walked a while among the rocks, the fky was per- 
 fedly 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 interpofition of a cloud. I turned 
 back, and perceived a vaft opake body between me and 
 the fun, moving forwards towards the ifland : it feemed 
 to be about two miles high, and hid the fun fix or feven 
 minutes, but I did not obferve the air to be much cold- 
 er, or the Iky more darkened, than if I had flood un- 
 der the Ihade of a mountain. As it approached nearer 
 over the place where I was, it appeared to be a firm 
 fubftance, the bottom flat, fmooth, and flaining very 
 bright from the refledlion of the fea below. I flood up- 
 on a heighth about two hundred yards from the fliore* 
 and faw this vaft body defcending almoft to a parallel 
 with me at lefs than an Englijh mile diftance. I took 
 out my pocket-perfpeftive, and could plainly dilcover 
 numbers of people moving up and down the fides of it, 
 which appeared to be floping ; but, what thofe people 
 were doing, I was not able to diftinguifli. 
 
 The natural love of life gave me fome inward mo- 
 tions of joy, and I was ready to entertain a hope, that 
 this adventure might fome way or other help to deliver 
 me from the defoia:e place and condition I was in. Bu,t 
 at the fame time the reader can hardly conceive iny afto* 
 niftiment, to behold an ifland in the air, inhabited by 
 men, who were able (as it fliould feem) to raife or fink* 
 or put it into a progreffive motion, as they pleafed. But 
 not being at that time in a difpofition to philofophife 
 upon this phsenomenon, I rather chofe to obferve what 
 courfe the ifland would take, becaufe it feemed for a 
 while to ftand flill. Yet foon after it advanced nearer.
 
 148 A VOYAGE 
 
 and I could fee the fides of it encompafleJ witK feveral 
 gradations of galleries, and flairs at certain intervals to 
 defcend from one to the other. In the loweft gallery i 
 beheld fome people filhing with long angling rods, and 
 others looking on. 1 waved my cap (for my hat was 
 long fince worn out) and my handkerchief towards the 
 ifland ; and upon its nearer approach I called and Ihout- 
 ed with the utmoft ftrength of my voice j and then, look- 
 ing circurafpedlly, I.bolield a croud gathered to that 
 fide which was moft in my view. 1 found by their 
 pointing towards me and to each other, that they plain- 
 ly difcovered me, although they made no return to my 
 Ihoutino-. But I could fee four or five men running- in 
 gr.^at hafte up the flairs to the top of the illand, who then 
 difappeared. I happened rightly to conjefture, that 
 thefe were fent for orders to lonie perfon in authority 
 upon this occafion. 
 
 The number of people encreafed, and in lefs than 
 half an hour the if],and was moved and raifed in fuch a 
 manner, that the loweft gallery appeared in a parallel 
 of lefs than an hundred yards diftance from the heighth 
 where I flood. I then put myfelf into the mofl fuppli- 
 cating poihires, and fpoke in the humbleft accent, but 
 received no aafwer. Thofe, who flood nearefl over- 
 againf!: me, feemed to be perfons of diflinftion, as i fup- 
 pofed by their habit. They conferred earnellly with 
 each other, looking often upon me. At length one of 
 them called out in a clear, polite, fmooth dialeft, not 
 unlike in found to the Italian, and therefore I returned 
 an anfwer in that language, hoping at leafl, that the ca- 
 dence might be more agreeable to his ears. Although 
 neither of us underflood the other, yet my meaning 
 was eafily known, for the people faw the diilrefs I 
 was in. * 
 
 They made fjgns for me to come down from the 
 rock, and go towards the fhore, which I accordingly 
 did ; and the flying ifbnd being raifed to a convenient 
 heighth, the verge direftly over me, a chain was let 
 4own from the lowelt gaUcry with a feat fallened to the 
 
 bottom.
 
 TO L A P U T A, ^y. 149 
 
 bottom, to which I fixed myfelf, and was drawn up by 
 pullies. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The humours and difpofitions of the Laputians defcrihed. 
 
 An account of their learning. Of the king, and his 
 
 court. The author's reception there. The inhabitants 
 
 fubjeSl to fear and difquietudes. An account of the 
 
 *women. 
 
 AT my alighting I was furrounded with a croud of 
 people, but thofe who ftood nearell feemed to be 
 of better quality. They beheld me with all the marks 
 and circumilances of wonder, neither indeed was I much 
 in their debt ; having never till then feen a race of mor- 
 tals fo fingular in their fhapes, habits, and counte- 
 nances. 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 ttars, interwoven with thofe of fiddles, flutes, harps, 
 trumpets, guittars, harpficords, and many other inftru- 
 menis 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 flayl to the end of a fhort 
 ftick, which they carried in their' hands. In each blad- 
 der was a fmall quantity of dried peafe, or little peb- 
 bles (as I was afterwards informed.) With thefe blad- 
 ders they now and then flapped the mouths and ears of 
 thofe who flood near them, of which pradice I_ could 
 not then conceive the meaning. It feems the minds of 
 thefe people are fo taken up with intenfe fpeculations, 
 that they neither can fpeak, nor attend to the difcourfes 
 
 * By this defcilption the au • fcience, the powers of whofe 
 thor intended to ridicule thofe minds are as abfurdly employed 
 Vvho wafte life in fpeculative as the eyes gf the Laputians. 
 
 h 3 ^^
 
 1*0 ■ A VO Y A G E 
 
 of others, without being rcufed by fome external tac- 
 tion upon the organs of fpeech and hearing ; for which 
 reafon thofe perfons, who are able to afford it, always 
 Iceep Tif.apper (the original is climenole) in their family, 
 as one of their domefticks, nor ever walk abroad or 
 make vifits without him. And the bufmefs of this of- 
 ficer is, when two, three, or more perfons are in com- 
 pany, gently to ftrike with his bladder the mouth of 
 him who is to fpeak, and the right ear of him or them 
 to whom the fpeaker addrefieth himfelf. TYCxs. jlapper is 
 likewife employed diligently to attend his mafter in his 
 walks, and upon occafion to give him a foft flap on his 
 eyes, becaufe he is always fo wrapped up in cogitation, 
 that he is in manifefl danger of falling down every pre- 
 cipice, and bouncing his head againft every poll ; and 
 in the ftreets of juftling others, or being jultled himfelf 
 into the kennel. 
 
 It was necefTary to give the reader this iiiformation, 
 without which he would be at the fame lofs with me to 
 underlland the proceedings of thefe people, as they 
 conduced me up the flairs to the top of the ifland, and 
 from thence to the royal palace. While we were af- 
 cending, they forgot feveral times what they were a- 
 bout, and left me to myfelf, till their memories were 
 again roufed by their flappers ; for they appeared alto- 
 gether unmoved by the fight of my foreign habit and 
 countenance, and by the fhouts of the vulgar, whofe 
 thoughts and minds were more difengaged. 
 
 At lall we entered the palace, and proceeded into the 
 chamber of prefence, where I faw the king feated on 
 his throne, attended on each fide by perfons of prime 
 quality. Before the throne was a large table filled with 
 globes and fpheres, and mathematical inftruments of all 
 kinds. His majefiy took not the leafl notice of us, al- 
 though our entrance was not without fufficient noife by 
 the concourfe of all perfons belonging to the court. 
 But he was then deep in a problem, and we attended 
 at Icaft an hour before he could folve it. There ilood 
 by him on each fide a young page with flaps in their 
 
 hands.
 
 TO LAPUTA, ^r. 151 
 
 Jiands, and when they faw he was at leiVure, one of 
 them gently flruck his mouth, and the other his right 
 ear ; at which he ftarted like one awaked on the fud' 
 den, and looking towards me and the company I was 
 in, recollefted the occafion of our coming, whereof he 
 had been informed before. He fpoke fome words, 
 whereupon immediately a young man with a flap came 
 up to my fide, and flapt me gently on the right ear, but 
 I made figns, as well as I could, that I had no occafion 
 for fuch an inftrument ; which, as I afterwards found, 
 gave his majefty and the whole court a very mean opi- 
 nion of my underftanding. The king, as far as I could 
 conjecture, afked me feveral queftions, and I addrefled 
 myfelf to him in all the languages I had. When it 
 was found, that I could neither underftand, nor be un- 
 derftood, I was conduced by his order to an apartment 
 in his palace, (this prince being diftinguilhed above all 
 his predeceflbrs for his hofpitality to llrangers) where 
 two fervants were appointed to attend me. My din- 
 ner was brought, and four perfons of quality, whom I 
 remembered to have feen very near the king's perfon, 
 did me the honour to dine with me. We had two 
 courfes of three difhes each. In the firft courfe there 
 was a fhoulder of mutton cut into an jequilateral trian- 
 gle, a piece of beef into a rhomboides, and a pudding 
 into a cycloid. The fecond courfe was two ducks truC- 
 fed up into the form of fiddles ; faufages and puddings 
 refembling flutes and baut-boys, and a breait of veal 
 jn the (hape 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 afk the 
 names of feveral things in their language, and thofe 
 noble perfons by the affiftance oi then flappers delighted 
 to give me anfwers, 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 an4 
 drink, or v/hatever elfe I wanted. 
 
 After dinner my company withdrew, and a p«rfon 
 
 L 4 was
 
 15? A V O Y A G E 
 
 was fent to me by the king's order attended by ^fiafper^ 
 He brought with him pen, ink, and paper, and three or 
 four bocks, giving me to underftand by figns, that he 
 was fent to teach me the language. We fat together 
 four hours, in which time I wrote down a great num- 
 ber of words in columns with the tranflations over- 
 againll them ; I likewife made a fhift to learn feveral 
 fhort fentences. For my tutor would order one of my 
 fervants to fetch fomething, to turn about, to make a 
 bow, to fit, or to Hand, or walk, and the like. Then 
 I took down the fentence in writing. He fhewed me 
 alfo in one of his books the figures of the fun, moon, 
 and flars, the zodiack, the tropicks, and polar circles, to- 
 gether with the denominations of many figures of planes 
 ar.d fc'ids. He gave me the names and defcriptions of 
 rii the muficai inllrumcnts, and the general terms of 
 art in playing on each of them. After he had left me, 
 I placed ail my words with their interpretations in al- 
 phabetical order. And thus in a few days by the help 
 of a very faithful memory I got fome infight into their 
 language. 
 
 The word, which I interpret the fiying or floating 
 iJJand, is in the original Lapuia, whereof I could never 
 learn the true etymology. Lap in the old obfolete lan- 
 guage fignifieth high, and untuh a go-oernor, from which 
 they fay by corruption was derived Lapiita, from La- 
 puKtuh. But I do not approve of this derivation, which 
 fecms to be a little ftrained. I ventured to offer to the 
 learned among them a conjecture of my own, that Lar 
 puta was quaji lap outed % lap fignifying properly the 
 dancing of the fun-beams in the Tea, and outed a wing, 
 which however I fliall not obtrude, but fubmit to the 
 judicious reader. 
 
 Thofe to vvhom the k^ng had entrufled me, obfer- 
 ving how iil J was clad, ordered a taylor to come next 
 moining, and take mcafure for a fuit of cloatlis. This 
 operator did his ofiice after a different^' manner from 
 thofe of his trado in Eurcpe. He firll took my altitude 
 by a quadranij and then with rule and compaflcs de- 
 
 fcribed
 
 T O L A P U T A, esff. 15J 
 
 fciibed the dimenfions and out-lines of my whole body, 
 ■all which he entered upon paper ; and in fix days 
 -brought my. deaths very ill made, and quite out of fhape, 
 by happening to miftake 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 deaths, and by 
 an indiipofition that held me fome days longer, I much 
 enlarged my dictionary ; and when I went next to court 
 was able to underlland many things the king fpoke, and 
 to return him fome kind of anfwers. His majefty had 
 -given orders, that the ifland fhould move north- eail and 
 by eaft to the vertical point over Lagado, the metropo- 
 lis of the whole kingdom below upon the firm earth. 
 It was about ninety leagues diiiant, and our voyage 
 lafted four days and an half. I was not in the leait 
 fenfible of the progreflive motion made in the air by the 
 illand. On the fecond morning about eleven o'clock 
 the king himfelf in perfon attended by his nobility, 
 courtiers, and officers, having prepared aU their mufical 
 inilruments, played on them for three hours without in- 
 termiffion, fo that I was quite llunned with the noife ; 
 neither could I polfibly guefs the meaning, till my tu- 
 lor informed me. He faid, that the people of their 
 ifland had their ears adapted to hear the mufic of the 
 ipheres, which always played at certain periods, and 
 the court was now prepared to bear their part, in what- 
 ever inllrument they moll excelled. 
 
 In our journey towards Lagado, the capital city, his 
 majefty ordered that the ifland fhould Itop over certain 
 towns and villages, from whence he might receive the 
 petitions of his fubjefts. And to this purpofe feveral 
 packthreads were let down with fmall weights at the 
 bottom. On thefe packthrekds the people ftrung thdr 
 petitions, which mounted up diredly, like the fcraps of 
 paper faikned by fchool-boys at the end of the ftring 
 that holds their kite. Sometimes we received wine and 
 victuals from below, which were drawn up by pullies. 
 
 The knowledge 1 had in mathematicks gave me great 
 
 affiliancc
 
 ,54- A V O V A G E 
 
 affiftance in acquiring their phrafeology, wliicli depend- 
 ed much upon that fcience and mufick ; and in the latter 
 I was not unfkilled. Their ideas are perpetually con- 
 verfant in lines and figures. If they would for example 
 praife 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 mufick, ncedlefs here to repeat. I obferved in the 
 king's kitchen all forts of mathematical and mufical in- 
 ilruments, after the figures of which they cut up the 
 joints that were fervcd to his majefty's table. 
 
 Their houfes are very ill built, the walls bevil, with- 
 out one right-angle in any apartment ; and this defedl 
 arifeth from the contempt they bear to praftical geome- 
 try, which they defpife as vulgar and mechanick, thofe 
 inftruftions they give being too refined for the intellec- 
 tuals of their v/orkmen, which occafions perpetual mif- 
 takes. And although they are dextrous enough upon 
 a piece of paper in the management of the rule, the 
 pencil, and the dividers, yet in the common aftions and 
 behaviour of life I have not feen a more clumfy, awk- 
 ward, and unhandy people, nor fo flow and perplexed 
 in their conceptions upon all other fubjedls, except thofe 
 of mathematicks and mufick. They are very bad reafon- 
 ers, and vehemently given to oppofition, unlefs when 
 they happen to be of the right opinion, which is feldom 
 their cafe. Imagination, fancy, and invention they are 
 wholly llrangers to, nor have any words in their lan- 
 guage, by which thofe ideas can be exprefiTed ; the 
 Whole compafs of their thoughts and mind being fliut 
 up within the two forementioned fciences. 
 
 Molt of them, and cfpecially thofe who deal in the 
 aOronomical part, have great faith in judicial aftrology, 
 although thcv are afhamed to own it publickly. But 
 what 1 chiefly admired, and thouglit altogether unac- 
 countable, was the ilrong difpofition I obferved in them 
 towards news and politicks, perpetually enquiring into 
 publick affairs, giving their judgments in matters of 
 fate, and pailionately difputing every inch of a party 
 
 opinion.
 
 TO L A P U T A, ^c. 155 
 
 opinion. 1 have indeed obfei'ved the fame difpoiition 
 among moft of the mathematicians I have known in 
 Europe, although I could never difcover the leaft analo- 
 gy between the two fciences ; unlefs thefe people fup- 
 pofe, that becaufe the fmalleft circle hath as many de- 
 grees as the largeft, therefore the regulation and ma- 
 nagement 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 leaft concern, and for 
 which we are leaft adapted either by ftudy or nature. 
 
 Thefe people are under continual difquietudes, never 
 enjoying a minute's peace of mind ; and their diftur- 
 bances proceed from caui'es, which very little affed; the 
 reft of mortals. Their apprehenfions arife from feveral 
 changes they dread in the celeftial bodies. For inftance, 
 that the earth by the continual approaches of the fun 
 towards it muft in courfe of time be abforbed, or fwal- 
 lowed up. That the face of the fun will by degrees 
 be encrufted with its own effluvia, and give no more 
 light to the v;orld. That the earth very narrowly ef- 
 caped a brulli from the tail of the laft comet, which 
 would have infallibly reduced it to alhes ; and that the 
 next, which they have calculated for one and thirty 
 years hence, will probably dellroy us. For, if in its 
 perihelion it ftiould approach within a certain degree of 
 the fun (as by their calculations they have reafon to 
 dread) it will receive a degree of heat ten thoufand 
 times more intenfe/ than that of red-hot glowing iron ; 
 and, in its abfence from the fun, carry a blazing tail 
 ten hundred thoufand and fourteen miles long ; through 
 which if the earth fhould pafs at the diftance of one 
 hundred thoufand miles from the nucleus, or main body 
 of the comet, it muft in its palTage be fet on fire, and 
 reduced to afhes. That the fun, daily fpending its 
 rays without any nutriment to fupply them, will at laft 
 be wholly confumed and annihilated ; which muft be 
 
 attended
 
 -156 A V O Y A G E 
 
 attended with the deftrudlion of this earth and of all the 
 planets that receive their light from it *. 
 
 They are fo perpetually alarmed with the apprehen- 
 £ons of thefe, and the like impending dangers, that 
 they can neither fleep quietly in their beds, nor have 
 any lelifh for the common pleafures or amufements of 
 life. When they meet an acquaintance in the morn- 
 ing, the firft queftion is about the fun's health, how he 
 looked at his fetting and rifmg, and what hopes they 
 have to avoid the Itroke of the approaching comet. 
 This converfation they are spt to run into with the fame 
 temper, that boys difcover in delighting to hear terrible 
 ftories of fpirits and hobgoblins, which they greedily 
 liften to, and dare not go to bed for fear. 
 
 The women of the ifland have abundance cf viva- 
 city ; they contemn their hulbands, and are exceedingly 
 fond of ftrangers, whereof there is always a confidera- 
 ble 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, becaufe they want the fame endow- 
 ments. Among thefe the ladies chufe their gallants : 
 but the vexation is, that they aft with two much eafe 
 and {ecurity, for the hufband is always fo rapt in fpecu- 
 lation, that tlie mlllrefs and lover may proceed to the 
 greateft familiarities before his face, if he be but pro- 
 I'ided with paper and implements, and without his 
 jiapper at his fide. 
 
 The wives and dauo-hters lament their confinement to 
 the ifland, although I think it the moll delicious fpot 
 of ground in the world ; and although they live here in 
 the greateft 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 allowed to do without a particular licence from 
 the king ; and this is not eafy to be obtained, becaufe 
 
 * All thefe were fuppofitions of perfons eminent in their time for 
 aiathematicai knowledge, 
 
 the
 
 T O L A P U T A, £^r. 157 
 
 the people of quality have found by frequent experi- 
 ence, how hard it is to perfaade their women to return 
 from below. I was told, that a great court lady, who 
 had feveral children, is married to the prime miniller, 
 the richeft fubjedl in the kingdom, a very graceful per- 
 fon, extremely fond of her, and lives in the fineft 
 palace of the illand, went down to Lagaio on the pre- 
 tence of health, there hid herfelf for feveral months, till 
 the king fent a warrant to ieaich for her, and fhe was 
 found in an obfcure eating-houfe all in rags, having 
 pav/ned her cloaths to maintain an old deformed foot- 
 man, who beat her every day, and in whoje company 
 fhe was taken much againll her will. And although 
 her hulband received her with all pofTible kindnefs, and 
 without the leaft reproach, flie foon after contrived to 
 Ileal down again with all her jev/els to the fame gallant, 
 and hath not been heard of fince. 
 
 This may perhaps pafs with the reader rather for an 
 European or Englijh ftory, than for one of a country fo 
 remote. But he may pleafe to confider, that the capri- 
 ces of women-kind are not limited by any climate or 
 nation, and that they are much more uniform than can 
 be eafily imagined. 
 
 In about a month's time, I had made a tolerable 
 proficiency in their language, and was able to anfwer 
 moft of the king's queftions, when I had the honour 
 to attend him. His majefty difcovered not the leaft 
 curiofity to enquire into the laws, government, hiftory, 
 religion, or manners of the countries where I had been, 
 but confined his queftions to the ftate of mathematicks, 
 and received the account I gave him with great con- 
 tempt and indifference, though often roufed by Mx^fiap-' 
 per on each fide. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 158 A V O y A G E 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 A pha:nomenon folnjed by modern philofophy and ajlrofiofftyt 
 The Laputians great improvements in the latter. Thu 
 kin^s method offupprejjing infurreSiions. 
 
 IDefired leave of th's prince to fee the curiofities of 
 the ifland, which he was gracioudy 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 philofophi- 
 cal account to the reader. 
 
 7"he flying or floating ifland is exactly circular, its 
 diameter 7S37 yards, or about four miles and an half, 
 and confequently contains ten thoufand acres. It is 
 three hundred yards thick. The bottom, or under fur- 
 face, which appears to thofe who view it from below, 
 is one even regular plate of adamant, llaooting up to 
 the height of about two hundred yards. Above it lie 
 the feveral minerals in their ufual order, and over all is 
 a coat of rich mould, ten or twelve feet deep. The de- 
 clivity of the upper furface, from the circumfeiencc to 
 the center, is the natural caufe why all the dews and 
 rains, which fall upon the ifland, are conveyed in fmall 
 rivulets towards the middle, where they are emptied 
 into four large bafons, each of about half a mile ia 
 circuit, and two hundred yards difl:ant from the center. 
 From thefe bafons the water is continually cxhaufted by 
 the fun in the day-time, which effeftually prevents their 
 overflowing. Befldes, as it is in the power of the mo- 
 narch to raife the ifland above the region of clouds an3 
 vapours, he can prevent the falling of dews and rains 
 whenever he pleafes. For the higheft clouds cannot 
 rife above two miles, as naturalifts agree, at leafl: they 
 were never known to do fo in that country. 
 
 At the center of the ifland there is a chafm about fif- 
 ty yards in diameter, from whence the aftronomers 
 ilefccnd into a large dome, which is therefore called 
 
 jiando »«
 
 ^' 
 
 TO L A P U T A, i^c. 15^ 
 
 fandona gagnole^ or the afircnomer\ cave, fituated at the 
 depth of a hundred yards beneath the upper uirface of 
 the adamant. In this cave are twenty lamps continu- 
 ally burning, which from the refleftion of the adamant, 
 call a llrong light into every part. The place is ftored 
 with great variety of fextants, quadrants, telefcopes, 
 aflrolabes, and other aftronomical inilruments. But the 
 greateft curiofity, upon which the fate of the ifland de- 
 pends, is a loaditone of a prodigious fize, in fliape re- 
 fembling a weaver's fhuttle. It is in length fix yards, 
 and in the thickeft part at leaft three yards over. This 
 magnet is fuftained by a very ftrong axle of adamant 
 paffing through its middle, upon which it plays, and 
 is poiled fo exaftly, that the weakeft hand can turn it. 
 It is hooped round with an hollow cylinder of adamant, 
 four feet deep, as many thick, and twelve yai-ds ia 
 diameter, placed horizontally, and fupported by eight 
 adamantine feet, each fix yards high. In the middle of 
 the concave fide there is a groove twelve inches deep, 
 in which the extremities of the axle are lodged, and 
 turned round as there is occafion. 
 
 The ftone cannot be moved from its place by any 
 force, becaufe 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 load-ftone the ifland is made to rife 
 and fall, and move from one place to another. For, 
 with refpetl to that part of the earth over which the 
 monarch prefides, the ftone is endued at one of its 
 fides with an attraftive power, and at the other with a 
 repulfive. Upon placing the m.agnet ere£l, with its at- 
 tracting end towards the ea. /.:, the ifland defcends ; but 
 when the repelling extremity points downwards, the 
 ifland mounts direftly upwards. When the pofition of 
 the ftone is oblique, the motion of the ifland is fo too : 
 for in this magnet the forces always a£t in lines paral- 
 lel to its diredlion. 
 
 By this oblique motion the ifland is conveyed to dif- 
 ferent parts of th» monarch's dominions. To explain 
 
 the
 
 i6o A V O Y A G E 
 
 the manner of its progrefs, let AB reprefent a ling 
 drawn crofs the dominions of Balniharbiy let the line 
 € d reprefent the load-ftone, of which let d be the re- 
 pelling end, and c the attradling end, the ifland being 
 over C; let the ftone be placed in the pofition cd^ 
 with its repelling end downwards ; then the ifland will 
 be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is 
 arrived at D, let the Itone be turned upon its axle till 
 its attradling end points towards E, and then the ifland 
 will be carried obliquely towards E ; where if the ilone 
 be again turned upon its axle till it ftands in the pofi- 
 tion E F, with its repelling point downward, the ifland 
 will rife obliquely towards F, where, by direiling the 
 attrafling end towards G, the ifland may be carried to 
 G, and from G to // by turning the ftone, fo as to make 
 its repelling extremity point diredlly downward. And 
 thus, by changing the fituation of the ftone as often as 
 there is occafion, the ifland is made to rife and fall by 
 turns in an oblique direftion, and by thofe alternate 
 rifings and fallings (the obliquity being not confidera- 
 ble) is conveyed from one part of the dominions to the 
 other. 
 
 But it muft be obferved, that this ifland cannot move 
 beyond the extent of the dominions below, nor can it 
 rife above the heighth of four miles. For which the 
 aftronomers (who have written large fyftems concern- 
 ing the ftone) affign the following reafon : that the 
 magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the diftance of 
 four miles, and that the mineral, which ads upon the 
 Hone in the bowels of the earth, and in the fea about 
 fix leagues diftant from the fliore, is not diffufed throui^h 
 the whole globe, but terminated with the limits of the 
 king's dominions ; and it was eafy, from the great ad- 
 vantage of fuch a fuperior fituation, for a prince t> 
 bring under his obedience whatever country lay within 
 the attraftion of that magnet. 
 
 When the ftone is put parallel to the plane of- the 
 horizon, the ifland ftandeth ftill; for in that cafe the 
 extremities of it, being at equal diftance from the 
 
 earth.
 
 :^j 
 
 /I,-/ 
 
 •I. 2. 
 
 ^f2clt- 
 
 5lal3oTiada 
 
 W»B^ — - ■ ■'■ I
 
 T O L A P U T A, ^f. i6i 
 
 earth, aft with equal force, the one in drawing down- 
 wards, the other in pulhing upwards, and confequently 
 no motion can enfue. 
 
 This load-ftorie is under the care of certain aflrono- 
 mers, who from time to time give it fuch pofitions as 
 the monarch direcls.' They fpend the greateft part of 
 their lives in obferving the celcltial bodies, which they 
 do by the affiilance of glaffes far excelling ours in good- 
 nefs. For, although their largeft telefcopes do not 
 exceed three feet, they magnify much more thaa thofe 
 of an hundred with us, and Ihew the flari; with greater 
 clearnefs. This advantage hath enabled them to ex- 
 tend their difcoveries much farther than our aftronomers 
 in Europe ; for they have made a catalogue often thou- 
 fand fixed ftars, whereas the largeft of ours do not con- 
 tain above one third part of that number. They have 
 likewife difcovered two lefTer liars, or fatel/ites, which 
 revolve about Mars, whereof the innermoll is diftant 
 from the center of the primary planet exaftly three of 
 his diameters, and the outermoft five ; the former re- 
 volves in the fpace often hours, and the latter in twen- 
 ty-one and an half ; fo that the fquares of their perio- 
 dical times are very near in the fame proportion with 
 the cubes of their diftance from the center of Mars, 
 which evidently fhews them to be governed by the 
 fame law of gravitation, that influences the other hea- 
 venly bodies. 
 
 They have obferved ninety-thrde different comets, 
 and fettled their periods with great exaclnefs. If this 
 be true (and they affirm it with great confidence) it is 
 much to be wifhed, that their obfervations were made 
 publick, whereby the theory of comets, whichit prefent 
 is very lame and defective, might be brought to the 
 fame perfeftion with other parts of aftronomy. 
 
 The king would be the moft abfolute prince in the 
 univerfe, if he could but prevail on a miniftry to join, 
 with him ; but thefe having their ellates below on the 
 continent, and confidering that the office of a favourite 
 
 Vol. II. M hath
 
 i62 A V O Y A G E 
 
 fiath a very uncertain tenure, would never confent to 
 the enflavina; their country. 
 
 Tf any town fhould engage in rebellion or mutiny, 
 fall into violent faftions, or refufe to pay the ufual tri- 
 bute, the king hath two methods of reducing them to 
 obedience. The Hrlt and the mildefl: courfe is by keep- 
 ing the ifland hovering 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 afflift the inha- 
 bitants v/ith dearth and difeafes. And, if the crime de- 
 ferve it, they are at the fame time pelted from above 
 with great ftones, agajnft which they have no defence 
 but by creeping into cellars or caves, v/hile the roofs of 
 their houfes are beaten to pieces. But if they ftill con- 
 tinue obftinate, or offer to raife infurreftion?, he pro- 
 ceeds to the laft remedy by letting the ifland drop di- 
 reftly upon their heads, which makes an univerfal de- 
 ftru6lion both of houfes and men. However this is an 
 extremity to which the prince is feldom driven, neither 
 indeed is he willing to put it in execution, nor dare his 
 minitlers advife him to an adtion, which, as it would 
 render them odious to the people, fo it would be a great 
 damage to their own eflates, which lie all below, for 
 the ifland is the king's dem.eln. 
 
 But there is IHU indeed a more weighty reafbn, why 
 the kings of this country have been always averfe from 
 executing fo terrible an a-ilion, unlefs upon the utmoft 
 neceffity. For if the town intended to be deftroyed 
 fhould have in it any tall rocks, as it generally falls out 
 in the larger cities, a fituation probably chofen at firft 
 with a view to prevent fuch a catallrophc : or if it 
 abound in high fpires, or pillars of Itone, a fudden fall 
 might endanger the bottom or under iurface of the 
 ifland, which, although it confills, as I have faid, of one 
 intire adamant two hundred yards thick, might happen 
 to crack by too great a fliock, or burft by approaching 
 £oo near the fires from the houfes below, as the backs 
 both of iron and Hone will often do in our chimnies. 
 Of all this the people are well apprifed, and under- 
 
 Uand
 
 T O L A P U T A, ^5"^. 163 
 
 ftand how far to carry their obftinacy, where their li- 
 berty or property is concerned. And the king, when 
 he is higheft provoked, and moil: determined to prefs a 
 city to rubbilh, orders the ifland to defcend with great 
 gentlenefs, out of a pretence of tendernefs to his peo- 
 ple, 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 illand, nor the queen, till fhe is pafl child-bearing. 
 
 CHAP. IV, 
 
 ^he author leagues Laputa, is con'veyed to Ealnibarbi, ar- 
 ri'ves at the metropolis. A dejcription of the metropolis, 
 and the country adjoining. The author hofpitably re- 
 cei'ved by a great lord. His con-ver/ation ijuith that 
 lord. 
 
 ALthough I cannot fay that I was ill-treated in this 
 ifland, yet I muft confefs I thought myfelf too 
 much negledled, not without fome degree of contempt. 
 For neither prince nor people appeared to be curious in 
 any part of knowledge, except mathematicks and mu- 
 fick, wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that ac- 
 count very little regarded. 
 
 On the other fide, after having feen all the curiofl- 
 ties of the ifland, I was very defirous to leave it, being 
 heartily weary of thofe people. They were indeed ex- 
 cellent in two fciences, for which I have great efl:eem, 
 and wherein I am not unverfed, but at the fame time fo 
 abftrafted and involved in fpeculation, that I never met 
 with fuch difagreeable companions. I converfed only 
 with women, tradefmen, fappcrs, and court-pages, du- 
 ring two months of my abode there ; by which at laft 
 I rendered myfelf extremely contemptible ; yet thefe 
 
 M 2 were
 
 i64 A V O Y A G E 
 
 were the only people, from whom I could e\'er receive 
 a rcafonalile anlwer. 
 
 1 had obtained by hard ftudy a good degree of know- 
 ledge in their language ; I was weary of being confined 
 to an ifland, where I r ceived fo little countenance, and 
 refolvedto leave it with the firft opportunity. 
 
 There was a great lord at court, nearly related to the 
 king, and, for that reafon alone, ufed with refpe>5i:. He 
 was univcrfally reckoned the moft ignorant and flupid 
 perfon among them. He had performed many eminent 
 fervices for the crown, had great natural and acquired 
 parts, ac^orned with integrity and honour, but fo ill an 
 ear for mufick, that his detradlors reported he had been 
 often known to beat time in the wrong place ; neither 
 could his tutors without extreme difficulty teach him to 
 demonftrate the moil eafy propofnion in the mathema- 
 ticks. He was plcafed to ihew me many marks of fa- 
 vour, often did me the honour of a vifit, defired to be 
 informed in the affairs oi Eu'-ope, the laws and culloms, 
 the manners and learning of the feveral countries where 
 I had travelled. He lilfcned to me with great atten- 
 tion, and made very wife obfervations on all I fpoke. 
 He had two fappers attending him for flate, but never 
 made ufe of them, except at court and in vifits of ce- 
 remony, and would always command them to with- 
 draw, when we were alone together. 
 
 I entreated this illullrious perfon to intercede in my 
 behalf with his majefly for leave to depart, which he 
 accordingly did, as he was pLafed to tell me with re- 
 gret : for indeed he had made me feveral offers very ad- 
 vantageous, which however I refufed with e.xprcUiOns of 
 the higheil acknowledgment. 
 
 On the 1 6th of February I took leave of his mEJefly 
 and the court. The king made me a prefent to the 
 value of about two hundred pounds Englijh, and my 
 protcdor, jiis kinfmaii, as much more, together with a 
 letter of recommendation to a friend of his in Lagado^ 
 the metropolis : the iOand being then hovering over a 
 mountain about two miles from it, I was let down 
 
 fipm
 
 TO L A P U T A, irV. j6^ 
 
 from the loweft gallery, in the fame manner as I had 
 been taken up. 
 
 The continent, as far as it is fubjecl to the monarch 
 of the ^}^»g ijland, paffcs under the general name of 
 Balnibarbi ; and the metropolis, as 1 faid before, is 
 called Lagado. I felt fome little fatisfaflion in nndino- 
 myielf on firm ground. I walked to the city without 
 any concern, bt-ing clad like one of the natives, and 
 fufficiendy intruded to converfe with them. I foon 
 found out the perfon's houfe, to whom I was recom- 
 mended, prefented my letter from his friend the grandee 
 in the ifland, and was received with much kindnefs. 
 This great lord, whofe name was Miincdi, ordered me 
 an apartment in his own houfe, where I continued du- 
 ring my flay, and was entertained in a moil; lipfpitable 
 manner. 
 
 The next morning after my arrival he took me in 
 his chariot to fee the town, which is about half the 
 bignefs of London, but the houfes very lirangely built, 
 and moft of them out of repair. The people in the 
 ilreets walked fall, looked wild, their eyes fixed, and 
 were generally in rags. >A e palTed through one of the 
 town gates, and went about three miles into the coun- 
 try, where I faw many labourers working with feveral 
 forts of tools in the ground, but was not able to con- 
 jeflure what they were about ; neither did I cbferve any 
 expeftation either of corn or grafs, although the foil 
 appeared to be excellent. 1 could not forbear admi- 
 ring at thefe odd appearances both in town and coun- 
 try ; and I made bold to defne my condudlor, that he 
 would be pleafed to explain to me, what could be meant 
 by io many bufy heads, hands, and faces both in the 
 Ilreets and the fields, becaufe I did not difcover any 
 good effeds they produced ; but, on the contrary, I 
 never knew a foil fo unhappily cultivated, houfes fo ill 
 contrived and fo ruinous, or a people whofe countenan- 
 ces and habit exprefTed fo much mifery and want. 
 
 'I his lord Miinodi was a perfon of the firll rank, and 
 had been fome years governor of Logado ; but by a ca- 
 
 M 5 ■ bal
 
 l66 A V O Y A G E 
 
 bal of rraniftcrs was difcharged for infuffidency. How- 
 ever, the king treated him with tendernefs, as a we!l- 
 meariing man, but of a low contemptible under- 
 flanding. 
 
 When I gave that free cenfure of the country and 
 its inhabitants, he made no further anfwer, than by tel- 
 ling me, that I had not been long enough among them 
 to form a judgment ; and that the different nations of 
 the world had different cuftoms ; with other common 
 topicks to the fame purpofe. But, when we returned to 
 his palace, he afked me how I liked the building, what 
 abfurdities I obferved, and v/hat quarrel I had with the 
 drefs or looks of his domefticks. This he might fafely 
 do ; becaufe every thing about him was magnificent, re- 
 gular, and polite. I anfwered, that his excellency's 
 prudence, quality, and fortune, had exempted him from, 
 thofe defefts, which folly and beggary had produced in 
 others. He faid, if I would go with him to his coun- 
 try-houfe about twenty miles diftant, where his eftate 
 ]ay, there would be more leifure for this kind of con- 
 verfation. I told his excellency, that I was intirely at 
 his diipofal ; and accordingly we fet out ne.\t morning. 
 
 During our journey he made me obferve the feveral 
 methods ufed by farmers in managing their lands; 
 which to me were wholly unaccountable ; for except in 
 fome very few places 1 could not difcover one ear of 
 corn, or blade of grafs. But in three hours travelling 
 the fcene was wholly altered ; we came into a moft 
 beautiful country ; farmers houfes at fmall diflances 
 neatly built, the fields inclofed, containing vineyards, 
 corn-grounds, and meadows. Neither do I remember 
 to have feen a more delightful profpefl. His excel- 
 lency obferved my countenance to clear up ; he told me 
 with a figh, that there his eftatc began, and would 
 continue the fame, till we fliould come to his houfe. 
 That his countrymen ridiculed and defpifed him for 
 managing his affairs no better, and for fctting fo ill an 
 example to the kingdom, which however was followed 
 2 b^
 
 T O L A P U T A, ^f. 167 
 
 by very few, fuch as were old, and wilful, and weak 
 like himfelf. 
 
 We came at length to the houfe, which was indeed 
 a noble ftrufture, built accordins: to the befl rules of an- 
 cient architedure. The fountains, gardens, walks, a- 
 venues, and groves, were all difpofed with exaft judg- 
 ment and talle. I gave due praifes to every thing I 
 faw, whereof his excellency took not the leaft notice 
 till after fupper ; when, there being no third compa- 
 nion, he told me with a very melancholy air, that he 
 doubted he muft throw down his houfes in town and 
 country to rebuild them after the p*fent mode, dellroy 
 all his plantations, and call others into fuch a form as 
 modern ufage required, and give the fame diredions to 
 all his tenants, unlefs he would fubmit to incur the 
 cenfure of pride, fingularity, affe6lation, ignorance, 
 caprice, and perhaps encreafe his majefty's difpleafure. 
 
 That the admiration I appeared to be under, would 
 ceafe or diminidi, 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 
 fpeculadons to have regard to what palTed here below. 
 
 The fum of his difcourfe vs'as to this efFeft : that 
 about forty years ago certain perfons went up to La- 
 puta, either upon bufinefs or diverfion, and after five 
 months continuance came back v/ith a very little fmat- 
 tering in mathematicks, but full of volatile ipirits acqui- 
 red in that airy region. That thefe perfons upon their 
 return began to diHike the management of every thing 
 below, and fell into fchemes ofputting all arts, fciences, 
 languages, and mechanicks upon a new foot. To this end 
 they procured a royal patent for erefting an academy of 
 projeftors in Lagado ; and the humour prevailed {o 
 Itrongly among the people, that there is not a town of 
 any confequence in the kingdom without fuch an aca- 
 demy. In thefe colleges the profefibrs contrive nev/ 
 rules and methods of agriculture and building, and new 
 inltruments and tools tor all trades and manufaftures, 
 whereby, as they undertake one man Ihall do the work 
 
 M 4. oi
 
 i6S A V O Y A G E 
 
 often, a palace may be built in a week of materials (a 
 durable, as to laft for ever without repairing. All the 
 fruits of the earth fliall come to maturity at whatever 
 feafon we think fit to chufe, and increafe an hundred 
 fold more than they do at at prefent; with innumerable 
 other happy propofals. The only inconvenience is, 
 that none of thefe projefts are yet brought to perfec- 
 tion ; and in the mean time the whole country lies mii- 
 lerably- wafte, the houies in ruins, and the people 
 without food or cloaths. By all which, inftead cf be- 
 ing difcouraged, they are fifty times more violently 
 bent upon profecuting their £hemes, driven equally on 
 by hope and defpair : that as for himfelf, being not of 
 an enterprifing fpirit, he was content to go en in the 
 old forms, to live in the houfes his anceftors had built, 
 and aft as they did in every part of life Vv-ithout inno- 
 vation. 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, ig- 
 norant, and ill common-wealths-men, preferring their 
 own eafe and floth before the general impi ovement of 
 their country. 
 
 His lordlhip added, that he would not by any fur- 
 ther particulars prevent the pleafure I Ihould certainly 
 take in viewing the grand academy, whither he was 
 refolved I fhould go. He only defired me to obferve a 
 ruined building upon the fide of a mountain about three 
 miles dillant, of v/hich he gave me this account : that 
 he had a verv convenient mill within half a mile of his 
 houfe, turned by a current from a large river, and fuf- 
 ficient for his own family as well as a great number of 
 his tenants. That, about feven years ago, a club of 
 thofe projeftors came to him with propofals to dellroy 
 this mill, and build another on the fide of that moun- 
 tain, on the long ridge whereof a long canal muft be cut 
 for a repofitory of water to be conveyed up by pipes 
 and engines to fupply the mill : becaufe the wind and 
 air upon a heighth agitated the water, and thereby made 
 it fitter for motion : and becaufe the water defcending 
 
 down
 
 T O L A P U T A, e^r. 169 
 
 do\Vn a declivity would turn the mill with half the cur- 
 rent of a river, whofe courfe is more upon a level. He 
 faid, that being then not very well with the court, and 
 prefled by many of his friends, he complied with the 
 propofal ; and after emp'oying a hundred men for two 
 years the work mifcarried, the projectors went off, lay- 
 ing the blame intirely upon him, railing at him ever 
 iince, and putting others upon the fame experiment 
 with equal ailurance of fuccefs, as well as equal di&p- 
 pointment. 
 
 In a few days we came back to town, and his excel- 
 lency confidering the bad charadler he had in the aca- 
 demy v/ould not go with me himfelf, but recommended 
 me to a friend of his to bear me company thither. My 
 lord was pleafed to reprefent me as a great admirer of 
 projefts, and a perfon of much curiofity, and eafy be- 
 lief; which indeed was^not without truth ; for 1 had 
 myfelf been a fort of projetlor in my younger days. 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 The author permitted to fee the grand academy ©/"Lsgadoi 
 I'he academy largely defcribed. The arts ixherein the 
 
 profejfors et?iploy them/elves'' 
 
 ,* 
 
 THIS academy is not an intire fingle building, 
 but a continuation of feveral houfes on both fides 
 of a ftreet, which growing walle was purchafed, and 
 applied to that ufe. 
 
 I was received veiy kindly by the warden, and went 
 for many days to the academy. Every room hath in it 
 
 * However wild the defcrip- approbation, but it is not cafy to 
 
 tion of the flying ifland and the dilcover what in paitiiuhr is 
 
 manners and various pro)c£ts of meant by the woxd real, fince 
 
 the philofophers of Lagado may every pi^uie is a real piflure 
 
 appear, yet it is a real pii'^ure whether it be cop ed from nature 
 
 COibelli/hed with mich latent or fancy ; and indeed it is equally 
 
 ■wit and humour, Orrzsy. diffiiuit to conceive how a/j/r?*/-* 
 
 This note in general feems to of any kir.d can be embeJiiiflied 
 
 be 9 tefliniony of his lordfljip's -.viib that which is h'.dder:.. 
 
 One
 
 ijo A V O Y A G E 
 
 one or more projeftors ; and I believe I could not be ifi 
 fewer than five hundred rooms. 
 
 The firfi: man I faw was of a meagre afpedl, with 
 Iboty hands and face, his hair and beard long, ragged 
 and fmged in feveral places. His cloaths, Ihirt, and 
 Ikin, were all of the fame colour. He had been eight 
 years upon a projedl for extrading fun-beams out of cu- 
 cumbers, which were to be put into 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 fhould be able to fupply die governor's 
 gardens with fun-fhine at a reafonable rate ; but he 
 complained that his flock was low, and entreated me to 
 give him fomething as an encouragement to ingenuity, 
 efpecially fince this had been a very dear feafon for cu- 
 cumbers. I made him a fmall prefent, for my lord had 
 furnifhed me with money on purpofe, becaufe he knew 
 their praftice of begging from all who go to fee them. 
 
 I went into another chamber, but was ready to haften 
 hack, being almoll overcome with a horrible ftink. My 
 condudlor preffed me forward, conjuring me in a whil- 
 per to give no offence, v/hich would be highly refented, 
 and therefore I duril not (o much as Hop my nofe. The 
 projector of this cell was the moft ancient lludentof the 
 academy ; his face and beard were of a pale yellow ; 
 his hands and cloaths davvbed over with filth. When I 
 was prefented to him he gave me a clofe embrace (a 
 complim.ent I could well have excufed). His employ- 
 ment from his firft coming into the academy was an 
 operation to reduce human excrement to its original 
 food by feparating the feveral parts, removing the tinc- 
 ture which it receives from the gall, making the odour 
 exhale, and fcumming off the faliva. He had a weekly 
 allowance from the fociety of a vCiTel filled with human 
 ordure about the bignefs of a Brificl barrel. 
 
 I faw another at work to calcine ice into gunpowder, 
 who likewife fhewed me a treatifc he had v/ritten con- 
 cerning the malleability of lire, which he intended to 
 publifh. 
 
 There
 
 TO L A P U T A, esf. 171 
 
 There was a moft ingenious architeft, v%'ho had con- 
 trived a new method for building houfes by beginning 
 at the roof, and working downwards to the founda- 
 tion, which he jullified to me by the like practice of 
 thofe two prudent infects the bee and the fpider. 
 
 There was a man born blind, who had feveral ap- 
 prentices in his own condition : their employment was 
 to mix colours for painters, which their mailer taught 
 them to dirtinguifh by feeling and fraelling. It was in- 
 deed my misfortune to find them at that time not very 
 perfedl in their lefibns, and the profeflbr himfelf hap- 
 pened to be generally miftaken. This artill is much 
 encouraged and efteemed by the whole fraternity. 
 
 In another apartment I was highly pleafed with a 
 projeftor, who had found a device of plowing the 
 ground with hogs to fave the charges of ploughs, cat- 
 tle, and labour. The method is this : in an acre of 
 ground you bury at fix inches diilance and eight deep a 
 quantity of acorns, dates, chefnuts, and other made or 
 vegetables, whereof thefe animals are fondefl: : 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 fearch of their food, 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. However, 
 it is not doubted that this invention may be capable of 
 great improvement. 
 
 I went into another room, where the walls and ciel- 
 ing were all hung round with cobwebs, except a narrow 
 pafiage for the artill to go in and out. At my entrance 
 he called aloud to me not to difturb his webs. He la- 
 mented the fatal miilake the world had been fo long in 
 of ufing filk-worms, while he had fuch plenty of do- 
 mellick infedls who iiifinitely excelled the former, be- 
 caufe they underrtcod how to weave as well as fpin. 
 And he propofed farther, that by employing fpiders the 
 charge of dying filks Ihould be wholly faved ; whereof 
 I was fully convuiced, when he fhewed me a vail num- 
 ber
 
 172 A V O Y A G E 
 
 ber of flies moft beautifully coloured, wherewith he 
 fed his fpiJer.s afTuring us that the webs would take a 
 tindure frora them ; and as he had them of all hues, he 
 hoped to fitiivery body's fancy, as foon as he could find 
 proper food for the flies, of certain gums, oils, and 
 other glutinous matter to give a ftrengthand confiftence 
 to the threads. 
 
 There was an aftronomer, who had undertaken to 
 place a fun-dial upon the great weather-cock on the 
 town-houfe, by adjufting the annual and diurnal mo- 
 tions of the earth and fun, fo as to anfwer and coincide 
 with all accid ntal turnings of the wind. 
 
 I was complaining of a fmall fit of the cholick, upon 
 which my conduilor led me into a room where a great 
 phyfician refided, who was famous for curing that dif- 
 eafe by contrary 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 
 anusy and drawing in the wind he affirmed he could 
 make the guts as lank as a dried bladder. But when 
 the difeafe was more Uubborn and violent, he let in the 
 muzzle while the bellows were full of wind, which he 
 difcharged into the body of the patient ; then withdrew 
 the inllrument to replenifli it, clapping his thumb 
 llrongly againft the orifice of the fundament ; and this 
 being repeated three or four times, the adventitious 
 wind would rufli out, bringing the noxious along with 
 it (like water put into a pump) and the patient recover. 
 I faw him try both experiments upon a dog, but could 
 not difcern any efi-'eft from the former. After the latter 
 the animal was ready to burfl:, and made fo violent a 
 difcharge, as was very ofFeniive to me and my compa- 
 nions. The dog died on the fpot, and we left the doc- 
 tor endeavouring to recover him by the fame ope- 
 ration. 
 
 I vifited many other apartments, but fliall not trou- 
 ble my reader with all the curiofities 1 obferved, being 
 fludious of brevity. 
 
 I had hitherto fcen only one fide of the academy, the 
 
 other
 
 T O L A P U T A, tffr. 173 
 
 ether being appropriated to the advancers of fpeculative 
 learning, of whom I fhall fay fomcthing when I have 
 mentioned one illuftrious perfon more, who is called 
 among them the uni-ver/al artiji. He told us, he had 
 been thirty years employing his thoughts for the im- 
 provement cf human life. h.t nad two large rooms full 
 of wonderful curiofities, and fify men at work. Som.e 
 were condenfing air into a dry tangible fubflance by ex- 
 trading the nitre, and letting the aqueous or fluid par- 
 ticles percolate; others foftening marble for pillows and 
 pincufhions ; others petrifying the hoofs of a living 
 horfe to preferve them from foundering. The artift 
 himfelf was at that time bufy upon two gre't dtfigns ;. 
 the firlt to fow land with chaiF, wherein he affirmed 
 the true feminal virtue to be contained, as he demon- 
 ftrated by feveral experiments, v/hich I was not fkilful 
 enough to comprehend. The other was by a certain 
 compofition of gums, minerals, and vegetables, out- 
 wardly applied to prevent the growth of wool upon 
 two young Iambs ; and he hoped in a reafonable time 
 to propagate the breed of naked Iheep all over the 
 kingdom. 
 
 We crofTed a walk to the other part of the academy, 
 where as I have already faid the projeftors in fpeculative 
 learning refided. 
 
 The firll profelTor I faw was in a very large room 
 with forty pupils about him. After falutation obfer- 
 ving me to look earnellly upon a frame, which took 
 up the greatell: part of both the length and breadth of 
 the room, he faid perhaps I might wonder to fee him 
 employed in a prcjed for improving fpeculative know- 
 ledge by practical and mechanical operations. But the 
 world would foon be fenfible of its ufefulnefs ; and he 
 flattered himfelf, that a more noble exalted thought 
 never fprang in any other man's head. Every ore 
 knew, how laborious the iifual method is of attaining to 
 arts and fciences ; whereas by his contrivance the mofc 
 ignorant perfon at a rcafonable charge and with a little 
 bodily labour might write books in ph;Iofophy, poetry, 
 
 politick?.
 
 174 A V O Y A G E 
 
 politicks, law, mathematicks, and theology, without the 
 ieaft 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 fquare, placed in the mid- 
 dle of the room. The fuperficies was compofed of fe- 
 veral bits of wood about tlie bignefs of a dye, but fome 
 larger than others. They were all linked together 
 by (lender wires. Thefe bits of wood were covered on 
 every fquare with paper palled on them ; and on thefe 
 papers were written all the words of their language in 
 their feverai moodo, tenfes, and declenfions ; but with- 
 out any order. The profeilbr then defired me to ob- 
 serve ; for he was going to fet his engine at work. The 
 pupils at his comm.and too': each of them hold of an 
 iron handle, whtreor there were forty fixed round the 
 edges of the frame ; a^.d giving them a fudden turn the 
 whole difpofition of the words was intirely changed. 
 He then commanded fix and thiity of the lads to read 
 the feverai lines foftly, as they appeared upon the 
 frame : and where they found three or four words to- 
 gether, that might m.ake part of a fentence, they dic- 
 tated to the four remaining boys, v/ho were fcribes. 
 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 upfide down. 
 
 Six hours a day the young ftudents were employed in 
 this labour, and the profeilbr fliewed me feverai vo- 
 lumes in large folio alrer.dy colleflcd of broken fen- 
 tences, which he intended to piece together, and out of 
 thofe rich materials to give the world a complcat body 
 of all arts and fcicnces ; which however might be flill 
 improved and much expedited, if the publick would 
 raifc a fund for making and employing five hundred 
 fuch frauics in Lagado, and oblige the managers to con- 
 tribute in common their ieveral collections. 
 
 He affured me, that this invention had employed all ■ 
 his thoughts from- lii* youth ; that he had emptied the 
 whole vocabulary into hjs fjame, and made the flriftrit 
 z com-
 
 yjt^. 
 
 Y2r/. 
 
 A 3^2 .
 
 TO L A P U T A, Jfff. 175 
 
 computation of the general proportion there is in books 
 between the numbers of particles, nouns, and verbs, 
 and other parts of fpeech. 
 
 I made my humblefl acknowledgment to this illuf. 
 trious perfon for his great communicativenefs ; and pro- 
 mifed, if ever I had the good fortune to return to my 
 native country, that I would do him jufiice, as the fole 
 inventor of this wonderful machine ; the form and con- 
 trivance of which I defired leave to delineate upon pa- 
 per, as in the figure here annexed. I told him, al- 
 though it were the cuftom of our learned in Europe to 
 ileal inventions from each other, who had thereby ac 
 lead this advantage, that it became a controverfy which 
 was the right owner ; yet 1 would take fuch caution, 
 that he fhould have the honour intire without a rival. 
 
 We next went to the fchool of languages, where 
 three profeflbrs fat in confultation upon improving that 
 of their own country. 
 
 The firft projecl was to fhorten difcourfe by cutting 
 polyfyllables into one, and leaving cut verbs and parti- 
 ciples ; becaufe in reality all things imaginable are but 
 nouns. 
 
 The other projeft was a fcheme for intirely abolifhing 
 all words whatfoever ; and this was urged as a great 
 advantage in point of health, as well as brevity. For 
 it is plain, that every word we fpeak, is in feme degree 
 a diminution of oar lungs by corroiion ; and confe- ' 
 quently contributes to the fhortening 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 necefiary 
 to exprefs the particular bufinefs they are to difcourfe on. 
 And this invention would certainly have taken place, to 
 the great eafe as well as health of the fubjed, if the 
 women in conjunftion with the vulgar and illiterate had 
 not threatened to ntife a rebellion, unlefs they might be 
 allowed the liberty to fpeak with their tongues after 
 the manner of their forefathers, fuch conllant irrecon- 
 cileable enemies to fcience art the common^ people. 
 
 liowever.
 
 1-6 A y O Y A G E 
 
 However, many of the mofi learned and wife adhere to 
 the nev/ fcheme of exprefTmg themfelves by things ; 
 which hath only this inconvenience attending it, that if 
 a man's bufineis be very great and of various kinds, he 
 mull be obiig'd in proportion to carry a greater bundle 
 oi things upon his back, unlefs he can aflbrd one or two 
 ftrong lervatits to attend him. I have often beheld two 
 of thofe fages almoil fmking under the weight of their 
 packs, like pedlars among us ; who, when they met in 
 the ftreets, would lay down their loads, open their 
 facks, and hold converfat on for an hour together ; 
 then put up their implements, help each other to re- 
 fume their burthens, 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 houfe he cannot be at a lofs. 
 Therefore the room, where company meet v,ho prac- 
 tife this art, is full of ail tbirgs ready at hand requilite 
 to furnilh matter for this kind of artificial converfe. 
 
 Another great advantage propo'ed by this invention 
 was, that it would ferve as an univerfal language to be 
 underftood in all civilized nations, v,hofe goods and 
 utenfils are generally of the fame. kind, or nearly re- 
 fembling, fo that their ufes might eafily be compre- 
 hended And thus ambafladors would be qualified to 
 treat with foreign princes, or minifters of ftate, to whofe 
 tongues they were utter ftrangers. 
 
 I was at the mathematical fchool, where the mafter 
 taught his pupils after a method fcarce imaginable to us 
 in Europe. The propofiiion and demonltration were 
 fairly written on a thin wafer with ink compofed of a 
 cephalick tindure. Tliis the fiudent was to fwallow 
 upon a falling ftomach, £nd for three days following 
 eat nothing but bread and water. As the wafer digeil- 
 cd, the tindlure rrounted to his brain, btaiing the pro- 
 pofition along with it. But the fuccefs. hath not hi- 
 therto been anfwerable, p:;rtiy by fome error in the 
 quantum or compolition, and partly by the pervcrfenefs 
 of lads ; to whom this bclus is fc naufeous, that they 
 
 generikUy
 
 T O L A P U T A, (ffr. 177 
 
 generally fteal afide and difcharge it upwards, before it 
 can operate ; neither have they been yet perfuaded to 
 ufe (o long an abftinence as the prefcription requires, 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 j! further account of the academy. The author prcpofet 
 fome itnpro-vements, avhich are honourably recei'ved. 
 
 IN the fchool of political projefhors T was but ill en- 
 tertained ; the profeffors appearing in ray judgment 
 wholly out of their fenfes ; which is a fcene, that never 
 fails to make me melancholy. Thefe unhappy people 
 were propofing fchemes for perfuading monarchs to 
 chule favourites upon the fcore of their wifdom, capa- 
 city, and virtue ; of teaching miniflers to confult the 
 publickgood; of rewarding merit, great abilities, and 
 eminent fervices ; of inftrufting princes to know their 
 true intereft, by placing it on the fame foundation 
 with that of their people; of chufmg for employ- 
 ments perfons qualified to exercife them ; with many 
 other wild impoffible chimseras, that never entered be- 
 fore Into the heart of man to conceive ; and confirmed 
 in me the old obfervation, that there is nothing fo ex- 
 travagant and irrational, which fome philofophers have 
 not maintained for truth. 
 
 But however I Ihall fo far do juftice to this part of 
 the academy, as to acknowledge that all of them were 
 not fo vifionary. There was a moft ingenious dotlor, 
 who feemed to be perfedlly verfed in the whole nature 
 and fyflem of government. This illuftrious perfon had 
 very ufefuUy employed his fludies in finding out effec- 
 tual remedies for all difeafes and corruptions, to which 
 the feveral kinds of publick adminiftration are fubjeft by 
 the vices or infirmities of thofe who govern, as well as 
 by the licentioufnefs of thofe who are to obey. For 
 inftance ; whereas all writers and reafoners have agreed, 
 that there is a ftridl univerfal refemblance between the 
 natural and the political body ; can there be any thing 
 
 Vol. II. N mors
 
 J78 A V O Y A G E 
 
 more evident, than that the health of both mud be 
 preferved and the difeafes cured by the fame prefcrip^- 
 tions ? It is allowed, that fenates and great councils are 
 often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other 
 peccant humours ; with many difeafes of the head, and 
 more of the heart ; with ftrong convulfions, with grie- 
 vous contractions of the nerves and iinews in both 
 hands, but efpecially the right ; with fpleen, flatus, 
 vertigo's and deliriums ; with fcrophulous tumours full 
 of foetid purulent matter ; with four frothy ruflations ; 
 with canine appetites, and crudenefs of digeftion, be 
 iides many others needlefs to mention. This doctor 
 therefore propofed, that upon the meeting of a fenate 
 certain phyficians fhould attend at the three firft days of 
 their fitting, and at the clofe of each day's debate feel 
 the pulfes of every fenator ; after which, having ma- 
 turely confidered and confulted upon the nature of the 
 feveral maladies and the methods of cure, they fhould 
 on the fourth any return to the fenate-houfe attended by 
 their apothecaries ftored with proper medicines ; and 
 before the members fat, adminifter to each of them le- 
 nitives, aperitives, abfterfives, corrofives, reftringents, 
 palliatives, laxatives, cephalalgicks, iftericks, apophleg- 
 maticks, acoufticks, as their feveral cafes require ; and 
 according as thefe medicines fhould operate, repeat, al- 
 ter, or omit them at the next meeting. 
 
 This projedt could not be of any great expence to 
 the publick ; and might in my poor opinion be of much 
 u(c for the difpatch of bulincfs in thofe countries, 
 where fenates have any fhare in the legiflative power; 
 beget unanimity, fhorten debates, open a few mouths 
 which are now clofed, and clofe many more which are 
 now open ; curb the petulancy of the young, and cor- 
 redl the pofitivenefs of the old ; rouze the ftupid, and 
 damp the pert. 
 
 Again ; becaufe it is a general complaint, that the 
 favourites of princes are troubled with fhort and weak 
 memories ; the fame dodlor propofed, that whoever 
 attended a firll miniikr, after having toW. his bufinefs 
 
 with
 
 TO L A ? \j r a; &c. 179 
 
 with the utmoft brevity and in the plaineft words, 
 fhould at his departure give the faid minifter a tweak 
 by the nofe, or a kick in the belly, or tread on his 
 corns, or lug him thrice by both ears, or run a pin in- 
 to his breech, or pinch his arm black and blue, to pre- 
 vent forgetfulnefs : and at every levee day repeat the 
 fame operation, till the bufinefs were done or abfolute- 
 ly refufed. 
 
 He likewife dire£led, that every fenator in the great 
 council of a nation, after he had delivered his opinion, 
 and argued in the defence of it, Ihould be obliged to 
 give his vote direftly contrary ; becaufe if that were 
 done, the refult would infallibly terminate in the good 
 of the publick. 
 
 When parties in a ftate are violent, he offered a 
 wonderful contrivance to reconcile them. The method 
 is this : you take an hundred leaders of each party ; 
 you difpofe them into couples of fuch, whofe heads are 
 neareft of a iize ; then let two nice operators faw off 
 the occiput o( ca.ch. couple at the fame time in fuch a man- 
 ner, 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 requireth fome e-a£tnefs, but the pro- 
 feffor aflured us, that if it were dextroufly perfonmed 
 the cure would be infallible. For he argued thus ; that 
 the two half brains being left to debate the matter be- 
 tween themfelves within the fpace of one fcull would 
 foon come to a good underflanding, and produce that 
 moderation, as well as regularity of thinking, fo much 
 to be wifned for in the heads of thofe, 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 thofe who are directors in faction ; 
 the doftor affured us from his own knowledge, that it 
 was a perfed trifle, 
 
 I heard a very warm debate between two profeffori 
 about the moft commodious and effedlual ways and 
 means of raiiing money without grieving the fubjecl. 
 
 N 2 The
 
 iSo A V O Y A G E 
 
 The hrA: affirmed,, the jufteft method would be to lay 3 
 certain tax upon vices and folly ; and the fum fixed up- 
 on every man to be rated after the faireft manner by a 
 jury of his neighbours. The fecond was of an opinion 
 direftly contrary ; to tax thole qualities of body and 
 mind, for which men chiefly value themfelves ; the rate 
 to be more or lefs according to the degrees of excel- 
 ling ; the decifion whereof {hould be left intirely to 
 their own breaft. The higheft tax was upon men, who 
 are the greateft favourites of the other fex, and the af- 
 felTments according to the number and natures of the 
 favours they have received : for which they are allowed 
 to be their own vouchers. Wit, valour, and politenefs 
 were like wife propofed to be largely taxed, and col- 
 leded in the fame manner, by every perfon's giving his 
 own word for the quantum of what he pofTefled. But 
 as to honour, juftice, wiidom, and learning, they (hould 
 not be taxed at all ; becaufe they are qualifications of 
 fo fingular a kind, that no man will either allow them 
 in his neighbour, or value them in himfelf. 
 
 The women were propofed to be taxed according to 
 their beauty and Ikill in dreffing ; wherein they had the 
 fame privilege with the men, to be determined by their 
 own judgment. But conftancy, challity, good fenfe, 
 and good nature were not rated, becaufe they would 
 not bear the charge of collecting. 
 
 To keep fenators in the intereil of the crown it was 
 propoieJ, that the members (hould rafHe for employ- 
 ments ; every man firft taking an oath, and giving fe- 
 curity, that he would vote for the court, whether he 
 won or no ; after which the lofers had in their turn the 
 liberty of raffling upon the next vacancy. Thus hope 
 and expe<5lation would be kept alive ; none would com-^ 
 plain of broken promifes, but impute their difappoint- 
 ments wholly to fortune, whole Ihoulders are broader 
 and llronger than thofe of a miniflry. 
 
 Another profefTor (hewed me a large paper of inftru<s- 
 tions for diicovering plots and confpiracies againft the 
 irovernment. He ad\irt'd great ftatefmen to examine 
 
 into
 
 T O L A P U T A, (sf., iBi 
 
 into the diet of all fufpeded perfons ; their times of 
 eating ; upon which fide they lay in bed ; wiih which 
 hand they wiped their polleriors; to take a Ihift view 
 of their excrements, and from the colour, ihe odourj the 
 tafte, the confidence, the crudenefs, or maturity of di- 
 geftion, form a judgn;ent of their thoughts and de- 
 figns. Becaufe men are never fo ferious, thoughtful, 
 and intent, as when they are at llool, which he found 
 by frequent experiment : for in fuch conjunftures, when 
 he ufed merely as a trial to confider which was the heft 
 way of murdering the king, his ordure would have a 
 tinfture of green; but quite different, when he thought 
 only of raifing an inlurredion, or burning the metro- 
 polis. 
 
 The whole difcourfe was written with great acutenefs, 
 containing many obfervations both cunous and uftful 
 for politicians ; but as I conceived not altogether com- 
 pleat. This I ventured to tell the author, and offered 
 if he pleafed to fupply him with fome additions. He 
 received my propofition wiih more compliance, than is 
 ufual among writers^ efpecially thofe of the projecting 
 fpecies ; profelTing he would be glad to receive farther 
 information. 
 
 I told him, that in the kingdom of Trihnia, by the 
 natives called Langdon, where I had fojourned fome 
 time in my travels, the bulk of the people confift in a 
 manner uhoUy of diicoverers, vvitnefle:-, informers, ac- 
 cufers, profecutors, evidences, fwearers, together with 
 their feveral fubfervient and fubaltetn inltruments, all 
 under the colours, the conduft, and pay of minillers of 
 ftate and thei;- deputies. The plots in that kingdom are 
 ufually the workmanlhip of thofe perfo.;s who defire to 
 raife their own charafters of profound politicians ; to 
 reilore new vigour to a crazy adminiftration ; to fiifle 
 or divert general difcontents ; to fill their coffers with 
 forfeitures ; ai:d raife or fink the opinion of publick cre- 
 dit, as either fhall beft anfwer their private advantage. 
 It is firfl: agreed, and fettled among them, what fuf- 
 pcded perfons fhall be accufed of a plot: then, ef- 
 
 N 3 fcaual
 
 t82 A V O y A G E 
 
 feflual care is taken to fecure all their letters and pa« 
 pers, and put the owners in chains. Thefe papers are 
 delivered to a fett of artifts, very dextrous in finding 
 out the myfterious meanings of words, fyllables, and ^ 
 letters : for inftance, they can difcover a clofeftool to 
 {ignify a privy-council ; a flock of geefe, a fenate ; a 
 lame dog *, an invader ; the plague, a Handing army ; 
 a buzzard, a prime miniller; the gout, a high-piefl ; 
 a gibbet, a fecretary of ftate ; a chamber-pot, a com- 
 mittee of grandees ; a fieve, a court-lady ; a broom, 
 a revolution ; a moufe-trap, an employment ; a bot- 
 tomlefs pit, a treafury ; a fink, a court ; a cap and bells, 
 a favourite; a broken reed, a court of juftice; an 
 empty tun, a general -, a running fore, the admini- 
 llration. 
 
 When this method fails, they have two others more 
 efFedlual, which the learned among them call acrofiich 
 and anagrams. Firji, they can decypher all initial let- 
 ters into political meanings. Thus, N fhall fignify a 
 plot, B, a regiment of horfe, Z, a fleet at fea : or, fe- 
 condly, by tranfpcfmg the letters of the alphabet in any 
 fufpefted paper, thty can lay open the deepeft defigns 
 of a difcontented party. So for example, if I fhculd 
 fay in a letter to a friend. Our brother Tom has jujl got 
 the piles, a (kilful decypherer would difcover, that the 
 fame letters, which compofe that fentence, may be ana- 
 
 lyfed into the following words, Rejijl, a plot is 
 
 brought home The tour. And this is the anagram- 
 
 matick method. 
 
 The profeflbr made me great acknowledgments for 
 communicating thefe obfervations, and promifed to 
 make honourable mention of me in his treatife. 
 
 I faw nothing in this country, that could invite me to 
 a longer continuance, and began to think of returning 
 home to England. 
 
 * See the proceediB5s againft Dr, Atterbury, bifliop of Rochefler, 
 State TriaJs, Vol. VI. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 T O L A P U T A, 5if^. x^ 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 T/je author leaves Lagado, arrhoes at Maldonada, No 
 Jhip ready. He takes a Jhort 'voyage to Glubbdubdrib, 
 His reception by the go'vernor, 
 
 TH E continent, of which this kingdom is a part, 
 extends itfelf, as I have reafon to beh'eve, eaft- 
 ward to that unknown tradl o{ America weftward of 
 California, and north to the Pacific ocean, which is not 
 above a hundred and fifty miles from Lagado ; where 
 there is a good port, and much commerce with the 
 ^reat ifland of Luggnaggy iltuated to the north-weft 
 about 29 degrees north latitude, and 140 longitude. 
 This ifland of Luggnagg ftands fouth-eaftward of Ja- 
 fatty about an hundred leagues diftant. There is a 
 ftrift alliance between the Japanefe emperor and the 
 king of Luggnagg, which affords frequent opportunities 
 of failing from one ifland to the other. I determined 
 therefore to direft my courfe this way in order to my 
 return to Europe. I hired two mules, with a guide, to 
 Ihew me the way, and carry my fmall baggage. I took 
 leave of my noble proteftor, who had ihewn me fb 
 much favour, and made me a generous prefent at my 
 departure. 
 
 My journey was without any accident or adventure 
 worth relating. When I arrived at the port of Maldo- 
 nada (for fo it is called) there was no fhip in the har- 
 bour bound for Luggnagg, nor like to be in fome time. 
 The town is about as large as Port/mouth. I foon fell 
 into fome acquaintance, and was very hofpitably re- 
 ceived. A gentleman of diftinftion faid to me, that, 
 fmce the fhips bound for Luggnagg could not be ready 
 in lefs than a month, it might be no difagreeable a- 
 mufement for me to take a trip to the little ifland of 
 Glubbdubdrib, about five leagues off to the fouth-wcll. 
 tij? offered himfelf and a friend to accompany me, and 
 
 N 4 that
 
 ig4 A VOYAGE 
 
 that I {liould be provided with a fmall convenient barqae 
 for the voyage. 
 
 Gluhbdiibdrih, as nearly as I can interpret the word, 
 fignides the ifland o{ forarers or magicians. It is about 
 one third as large as the IJh of Wights and extremely 
 fruitful : it is governed by the head of a ceriain tribe, 
 who are all magicians. ^ his tribe marries only among 
 each other, and the eldeft in uicceffion is prince or go- 
 vernor. Ke hath a noble palace, and a park of about 
 three thoufand acres, furrcunded by a wall of hewn 
 ftone twenty feet high. In this park are feveral fmall 
 inclofures for cattle, corn, and gardening. 
 
 The governor and his family are ferved and attended 
 by domefticks of a kind fomewhat unufual. By his fkill 
 in necromancy he hath a power of calling whom he 
 pleafeth from tlie dead, and commanding their fcrvice 
 for twenty-four hours, but no longer ; nor can he call 
 the fame perfons up again in lefs than three months, 
 except upon very extraordinary occaiions. 
 
 When we arrived at the ifland, which was about 
 eleven in the morning, one of the gentlemen, who 
 accompanied me, went to the governor, and defired ad- 
 mittance for a ftranger, who came on purpcfe to have 
 the honour of attending on his higbnefs. 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 antick manner, and fomething in 
 their countenances that made my fiefh creep with a hor- 
 ror 1 cannot exprefs. We pafled thro' feveral apartments 
 between fervants of the fame fort ranked on each fide, as 
 before, till we came to the chamber of prefence, where, 
 after three profound obeyfances and a few general quef- 
 tions, we were permitted to fit on three ftools near the 
 lowt A ftep of his highnefs's throne. He underllood the 
 language of Balnibarbi, although it were diiferent from 
 that of this ifland. He dt fired me to oive him fome ac- 
 count of my travels ; and, to let me fee that 1 fliould 
 be treated without ceremony, he difmifled all his at- 
 tendants with a turn of hii finger, at which to my great 
 5 altonifli-
 
 TO L A PU T A, ^c. 1S5 
 
 aftonifhmcnt they vanifhed in an inftant, like vifions in 
 a dream, when v,e awake on a fudden. I could not 
 recover royitlf in fome time, till the governor afTured 
 me, that 1 ftould receive no hurt ; and obferving my 
 two companions to be under no concern, who had been 
 often entertained in the ir,me manner, I began to take 
 courage, and related to his highnefs a fhcrt liifiory of 
 my feveral adventures ; yet not without fome hefita- 
 tion, and frequently looking behind me to the place, 
 where I had ieen thofe domefxick fpeflres. I had the 
 honour to dine with the governor, v.here a new fett of 
 ghofts ferved up the meat, and waited at table. I now 
 obferved myfelf to be lefs terriiied, than I had been in 
 the morning. I fiayed till fun-fct, but humbly defirtd 
 his highnefs to escufe me for not accepting his invita- 
 tion oi lodging in the palac<:. My two friends and 1 lay 
 at a private houie in the town adjoining, which is the 
 capital of thii little ifland; and the next morning we 
 returned to pay our duty to the governor, as he was 
 pleafed to command us. 
 
 After this manner we continued in the ifland for ten 
 days, moil part of every day with the governor, and at 
 night in our lodging. J foon grew io familiarized to 
 the fight of fpirits, that after the third or fourth time 
 they gave me no emotion at all ; or if I had any appre- 
 htnhons left, ni)' curiofity prevailed over them. For 
 his highnefs the governor ordered me to call up what- 
 ever perfons I would chufe to name, and in whatever 
 numbers, among all the dead from the beginning of 
 the world to the prefent time, and comm.and them to 
 anfwer any quellions I fliould think fit to afk ; with this 
 condition, that my qucftions muft be confined within 
 the compafs of the times they lived in. And one thing 
 I might depend upon, that they Vv'ould ceitainly tell 
 me truth, for lying was a talent of no ufe in the lower 
 world. I made my humble acknowledgments to his 
 highnefs for (o great a favour. We were in a cham- 
 ber, from whence there was a fair profpc^l into (he 
 park. And, becaufe my firfl inclination was to be en- 
 tertained
 
 i86 A V O Y A G E 
 
 tertained witli fcenes of pomp and magnificence, I defi- 
 red to fee Alexander the Great at the head of his army 
 juft after the battle of Arbela, which, upon a motion of 
 the governor's finger, immediately appeared in a large 
 field under the window, where we flood. Alexander 
 was called up into the room : it was with great difficul- 
 ty that I underftood his Greek *, and had but little of 
 my own. He afilired me upon his honour, that he was 
 not poifoned, but died of a fever by exceffive drink- 
 ing t. 
 
 Next I faw Hanvihal paffing the Alps, who told me, 
 he had not a drop of vinegar in his camp f|. 
 
 I faw Ceefar and Pompey at the head of their troops 
 juft ready to engage. 1 faw the former in his laft great 
 triumph. I defired, that the fenate oi Rome might ap- 
 pear before me in one large chamber, and a modern 
 reprefentative in counterview in another. The firft 
 feemed to be an afiembly of heroes and demy-gods, the 
 other a knot of pedlars, pick-pockets, highway-men, 
 and bullies. 
 
 The governor at my requeft gave the fign for Cafar 
 and Brutus to advance towards us. I was ftruck with a 
 profound veneration at the fight of Brutus, and could 
 eafily difcover the moft confummate virtue, the greatell 
 
 * Anhint from Gu/Z/Ver, that gained no more than an epithet 
 
 we have loft the true Gr«Hdiom, to his name, which after a few 
 
 Orrery. repetitions was no ionger regard- 
 
 ■j" In this paOage there is a ed even by himfelf: thus the 
 
 peculiar beauty, though it is not purpofe of his refurredlion ap» 
 
 difcovered at an hafty view. The pears to be at leaft equally im- 
 
 appearance <i^ Alexander W\x!t\ a portant with that of his life, up- 
 
 vidorious army immediately af- on which it is a fatire not more 
 
 ter the battle of Arbcla produces bitter than juft. 
 
 only a declaration that he died |{ hii:y the "Roman hiftorian 
 
 by druokennefs j thus inadequate has related, that Hannilal burnt 
 
 and ridiculous in the eye of rea- a great pile of wood upon a rock 
 
 fon is the ultimate purpofe for that flopped his paflage, and 
 
 which Alexander with his army when it was thus heated poured 
 
 marched into a remote country, 'vinegar upon it, by which it was 
 
 fubveited a mighty empire, and marie fo foft as to b8 eafily cut 
 
 deluged a natioa with blood j he through, 
 
 intrepidity
 
 T O L A P U T A, Sifr. 1S7 
 
 intrepidity and firmnefs of mind, the truefi: love of his 
 country, and general benevolence for mankind, in every 
 lineament of his countenar.ee. I obferved with much 
 pleafure, that thefe two perfons were in good intelli- 
 gence with each other ; and C^far freely confefied to 
 me, that the greateft adlions of his own life were not 
 equal by many degrees to the glory of taking it away. 
 I had the honour to have much converfation with Bru- 
 tus; and was told, that his anceftor "Junius, Socrates, 
 Epamincndasy Cato the younger *, Sir Thotnas More, 
 and himfelf were perpetually together : a fextum'ui- 
 rate, to which all the ages of the world cannot add a 
 feventh. 
 
 It would be tedious to trouble the reader with re- 
 lating, what vaft numbers of illuflrious 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 op- 
 prefTed and injured nations. But it is impofTible to ex- 
 prefs the fstisfadlion I received in my own mind, after 
 fuch a manner as to make it a fuitable entertainment to 
 the reader. 
 
 CHAP. viir. 
 
 A further account of Glubbdubdrib. Ancient and 
 modern hijlory correcled. 
 
 HAvIng a defire to fee thofe ancients, who were 
 molt renowned for wit and learning, I fet apart 
 one day on purpofe. I propofed that //ow^rand Arijiotle 
 might appear at the head of all their commentators ; 
 but thefe were lb numerous, that fome hundreds were 
 
 • I am in fome dcubt whe- our author, who knew that Cata 
 
 ther Cato the cerfor can fair]y the cenfcr and Calo the younger 
 
 claim a rank airong fo choice a were very different perfons, and 
 
 group of ghofts. Orrery. for good reafons piefensd the 
 
 This note of his lordfhip is an latler, 
 encomium on the judg^oent of 
 
 forced
 
 lis A V O YA G E 
 
 forced to attend in the court and outward rooms of the 
 pakce. I knew and could diilinguiih thofe two heroes 
 at firll l^ght, n' t only from the croud, but from each 
 other. Homer was the taller and comelier perfon of the 
 two, walked very creel for one of his age, and his eyes 
 were the mcl quick and piercing 1 ever beheld. Ari- 
 Jiotle floopcd mu:h, and made ufe of a ftafF. His vifage 
 was meagre, his hair lank and thin, and his voice hol- 
 Jow *. I foon difcovered that both of them were per- 
 fect flrangers to the reft of the company, and had 
 never feen cr heard of them before. And I had a 
 whifper from a ghoft, who fhall be namelefs, that thefe 
 commentators always kept in the moll diiiant quarters 
 from their principals in the lower world, through a 
 confcioufnefs of ihame and guilt, becaufe they had fo 
 horribly raifreprefented the meaning of thofe authors 
 to pollerity. 1 introduced Didymus and EuJIathius 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 fpirit of a poet. But Jrijlo tie 
 was out of all patience with the account I gave him of 
 Scofus and Ra.vius, as I prefented them to him, and he 
 aCced them whet'ier die reft of the tribe were as great 
 dunces as themfelves. 
 
 I then defircd the governor to call up Dcfcartes and 
 Gajfcndi t, with whom I prevailed to explain their 
 
 • This defcription of y^f ;/?;/.'« cannot be believed that y?>-//?o//^*s 
 
 IS fine, and in a few words re- real nrnamenti Jiowever few were 
 
 prefenis the true nature of liis urTraccful. 
 v.oiks, By not having the im- -j- Gajjendi was efteemed one 
 
 mortal fpirit of Homer, he was of the greattft ornaments of 
 
 unable to keep his body ereft j France j he was a doftor of 
 
 and his ftaft which feebly fup- divinity and royal profelTor of 
 
 ported him, like his coalmen- mathematicks ; he was born in 
 
 tatiTS, made this defect rr.ore Frefcr.ce in 1592, and died in 
 
 confpicuous. He wanted not feme 1655. With great induftry he 
 
 ui'etul qualities, but tliefe real or- cohedled whatever related to the 
 
 Tw/tenrs like his hair were th;n perfon and to the philofophy of 
 
 %aA ungraceful. Orriey. £/!;far.vj, the latter of which he 
 
 In this tlie noble comtji'enta- has reduced into a compKat fyf- 
 
 tor feeait to be miflaken, for it tem. Orrery, 
 
 fyftems
 
 TO LAPUTA, i^c. 1S9 
 
 fyftems to Jri/Iotk, This great philofopher freely ac- 
 knowledged his own miflakes in natural philofophy, be- 
 caufe he proceeded in many things upon conjefture, as 
 all men muft do; and he found, that Gajendi, who 
 had made the dodrine of Epkunis as palatable as he 
 could, and the vortices of Defcartes were equally to be 
 exploded. He predi£led the lame fate to attraiiion, 
 whereof the prefent learned are fuch zealous alTerters. 
 He faid, that new fyftems of nature were but new* 
 fafhions, which would vary in every age ; and even 
 thofe, who pretend to demonftrate them from mathe- 
 matical principles, would flourifii but a lliort period of 
 time, and be out of vogue when that was determined. 
 
 I fpent five days in converfing with many others of 
 the ancient learned. I faw moil: of the firft Roman em-' 
 perors, I prevailed on the governor to call up EUoga- 
 ialus^s cooks to drefs us a dinner, but they could not 
 fhew us much of their {kill for want of materials. A 
 helot of yfgejilaui made us a difh o^ Spartan broth, but I 
 was not able to get down a fecond fpoonfuJ. 
 
 The two gentlemen, who condufted me to the 
 ifland, were prefied by their private affairs to return in 
 three days, which I employed in feeing fome of the 
 modern dead, who had made the greateft figure for two 
 or three hundred years pa!t in our own and other coun- 
 tries of Europe ; and having been always a great ad- 
 mirer of old illuftrious families, I defired the governor 
 would call up a dozen or !:wo of kings, v/ith cheir an- 
 ceftors in order for eight or nine generations. But my 
 difappoinrment was grievous and unexpeiled. For, in- 
 ftead of a long train with royal diaderrii, I faw in one 
 family two fidlers, three fpruce courtiers, and an Italian 
 prelate. In another, a barber, an abbot, and two car- 
 dinals. I have too great a veneration for crowned 
 heads to dwell any longer on fo nice a fubjeft. But 
 as to counts, marquifics, dukes, earls, and the like, I- 
 was not fo fcrupulous. And, I confefs,' it was not 
 without fome pleafure, that I found myArlfable to trace 
 the particular fsatwre*, by which ceftaia families are 
 
 cliiHu-
 
 xgo A V O Y A G E 
 
 diftlngulfhed up, to their criginals. I could plainly 
 difcover, from whence one family derives a long chin, 
 why a fecond hath abounded with knaves for two gene- 
 rations, and fools for two more ; why a third happened 
 to be crack-brained, and a fourth to be fharpers ; 
 whence it came what Polydore Virgil fays of a certain 
 great houfe, Nee •vir fortis, nee foemina cajla ; how 
 cruelty, fallThood, and cowardice grew to be charac- 
 terifticks, by which certain families are diilinguiflied as 
 much as by their coats of arms ; who firit brought the 
 pox into a noble houfe, which hath lineally defcended 
 in fcrophulous tumours to their poflerity. Neither could 
 I wonder at all this, when I faw fuch an interruption of 
 lineages by pages, lacqueys, valets, coachmen, game- 
 ilers, fidlers, players, captains, and pick-pockets. 
 
 I was chiefly difgufted with modern hiftory. For, 
 having ftridlly examined all the perfons of greateft 
 name in the courts of princes for an hundred years paft, 
 I found how the world had been mifled by proftitute 
 writers to afcribe the greateft exploits in war to cow- 
 ards, the wifeft counfel to fools, fincerity to flatterers, 
 roman virtue to betrayers of their country, piety to 
 atheifts, chaftjty to fodomites, truth to informers : how 
 many innocent and excellent perfons had been con- 
 demned to death or banifhment by the pradifrng of 
 great minifters upon the corruption of judges, and the 
 malice of fattions : how many villains had been exalted 
 to the highefl: places of truft, power, dignity, and pro- 
 fit : how great a Ihare in the motions and events of 
 courts, councils, and fenates, might be challenged by 
 bawds, whores, pimps, pr.rafitcs, and buffoons : how 
 low an opinion I had of human wifdom and integrity, 
 when I was truly informed of the fprings and motives 
 of "reat enterprizes and revolutions in the world, and 
 of the contemptible accidents to which they owed their 
 
 fuccef- . 
 
 Here I difcovered the roguery and ignorance of thofe, 
 
 who pretend to write anecdoits, or fecret hiftory ; who 
 
 lend fo many kings to their graves with a cup of poi- 
 
 z fon;
 
 T O L A P U T A, {fff. 191 
 
 fon ; will repeat the difcourfe between a prince and 
 chief minifter, where no witneis was by ; unlock the 
 thoughts and cabinets of ambaffadors and iecretaries of 
 ftate; and have the perpetual misfortune to be mif- 
 taken. Here I difcovered the true caufes of many- 
 great events that have furprifed the world ; how a 
 whore can govern the back-ftairs, the back-llairs a coun- 
 cil, and the council a fenate. A general confefTed in 
 my prefence, that he got a vidlory purely by the force 
 of cowardice and ill-conducl; 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, unlefs by millake, or trea- 
 chery of fome minifter in whom they confided : neither 
 would they do it if they were to live again ; and they 
 ihewed with great ilrength of reafon, that the royal 
 throne could not be fupported without corruption, be- 
 caufe that pofitive, confident, reuive temper, which vir- 
 tue infufed into a man, was a perpetual clog to publick 
 bufinefs. 
 
 1 had the curiofity to enquire in a particular manner 
 by what method great numbers had procured to them- 
 felves high titles of honour and prodigious eftates ; and 
 I confined my enquiry to a very modern period, howe- 
 ver without grating upon prefent times, becaufe I 
 would be fure to give no offence even to foreigners ; 
 for I hope the reader need not to be told, that I do 
 not in the leal: intend my own country in what I fay 
 upon this occafion. A great number of perfons con- 
 cerned were called up, and upon a very flight exami- 
 nation difcovered fuch a fcene of infamy, that I cannct 
 refledl upon it without fome ferioufnefs. Perjury, op- 
 preflion, fubornation, fraud, pandarifm, and the like 
 infirmities were amongft the moll excufable arts they 
 had to mention ; and for thefe I gave, as it was reafo- 
 nable, great allowance. But when fome confeflTed they 
 owed their greatnefs and wealth to fodomy, or inceft ; 
 others to the prollitating of their own wives and daugh- 
 ters ;
 
 192 A V O Y A'G E 
 
 ters; others to the betraying their country or theif 
 prince ; feme to poifoning, more to the perverting of 
 juftice in order to deflroy the innocent ; I hope I may 
 be pardoned, if thefe difcoveries inclined me a little to 
 abate of that profound veneration, which I am natural- 
 ly apt to pay to perfons of high rank, who ought to be 
 treated with the utmoft refpedll due to their fublime 
 dignity by us their inferiors, 
 
 I had often read of fome great fervices done to 
 princes and ftates, and defired to fee the perfons, by 
 whom thofe fervices were performed. Upon enquiry I 
 was told, that their names v/ere to be found on no re- 
 cord, except a few of them, whom hiilory has repre- 
 fented as the vileft rogues and traitors. As to the reft, 
 I had never once heard of them.. They all appeared 
 with dejected looks, and in the meaneft habit, moft of 
 them telling me they died in poverty and difgrace, and 
 riie reft on a fcaftbld or a gibbet. 
 
 Among others there was one perfon, whofe cafe ap- 
 peared a little fingular. He had a youth about eighteeri 
 years old Handing by his fide. He told me he had for 
 many years been commander of a fliip ; and in the fea 
 fighc at Adium had the good fortune to break through 
 the enemies great line of battle, fink three of their 
 capital fnips, and take a fourth, which was the fole 
 caufe of Antony?, flight, and of the viflory that enfu- 
 ed ; that the youth itanding by him, his only fon, was 
 kille4 in the as^on. He added, that upan the confi- 
 dence of fonie merit, the war being at an end, he 
 went to Rome^ and follicited at the court of Augnjius to 
 be preferred to a greater ihip, whofe commander had 
 been killed ; but without any regard to his pretenfions 
 it was given to a boy, who had never feen the fea, the 
 fon of Liber tina, who waited on one of the emperor's 
 mirtreiles. Returning back to his own veflel he was 
 charged with neglcft of duty, and the ihip given to a 
 ikvourite page of Publicola, the vice-admiral ; where- 
 upon he retired to a poor farm at a great diftance fiom 
 Rome, and tliere ended his life. 1 was fo curious to 
 
 know
 
 TO LAPUTA, ?ifr. 19? 
 
 Icnow 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 advantage to the captain, whofe modefty 
 had extenuated or concealed a great part of his merit. 
 
 \ was furprifed to find corruption grown {q high and 
 fo quick in that empire, by the force of luxury fo lately 
 introduced, which made me lefs wonder at many paral- 
 lel cafes in other countries, where vices of all kinds 
 have reigned {o much longer, and where the whole 
 praife, as well as pillage, hath been engrofled by the 
 chief commander, who perhaps had the leaft title to 
 either. 
 
 As every perfon called up made exadlly the fame ap- 
 pearance he had done in the world, it gave me me- 
 lancholy refledlions to obferve, how much the race of 
 human kind was degenerated among us within thefe 
 hundred years p?ll. How the pox under all its confe- 
 quences and denominations had altered every lineament 
 of an englijh countenance ; Ihortened the fize of bodies, 
 unbraced the nerves, relaxed the finews and mufcles, 
 introduced a fallow complexion, and rendered the flelh 
 loofe and rancid. 
 
 I defcended fo low as to defire, that fome englijh yeo- 
 men of the old llamp might be fuTi.moned to appear ; 
 once fo famous for the fimplicity of their manners, diet, 
 anddrefs; forjufticein 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 proftituted for a 
 piece of money by their grand-children, who in felling 
 their votes, and managing at eledtions, have acquired 
 every vice and corruption that can poffibly be learned 
 in a court. 
 
 O C H A P,
 
 '94 
 
 A VOYAGE 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Tl->e author returns to Maldonada. Saih to the hlngdcm of 
 ■ -Luggnagg. The author cr^ifined. He is fent for to 
 court, ihe manner of his admittance. The kin£s great 
 lenity to his Jiibjeiis. 
 
 THE day of our departure being come, I took 
 leave of his highnefs, the governor oi Glubbdub' 
 dnbb, and returned with my two companions to MaU 
 donada, where after a fortnight's waiting, a fhip was 
 ready to fail for Luggfiagg. The two gentlemen, and 
 fome others, were lo generous and kind as to furnifli 
 me with provifions, and fee me on board. I was a 
 month in this voyage. We had one violent ftorm, and 
 were under a necelTity of fleering weftward to get into 
 the trade-wind, which holds for above llxty leagues. 
 On the 2 1 ft oi April, 1708, we failed into the river of 
 Clumegnig, which is a fea-port town at the fouth-eaft 
 point of Luggnagg. We call anchor within a league of 
 the town, and made a fignal for a pilot. Two of them 
 came on board in lefs than half an hour, by whom we 
 were guided between certain (hoals and rocks, which 
 are very dangerous in the paflage, to a large bafm, 
 where a fleet may ride in fafety within a cable's length 
 of the town wall. 
 
 Some of our failors, whether out of treacher}' or in- 
 advertence, had informed the pilots that I was a ilranger 
 and a great traveller ; whereof thefe gave notice to a 
 cuftom-houfe officer, by whom I was examined very 
 ftridly upon my landing. This officer fpoke to me in 
 the language of Balntbarbi, which by the force of 
 much commerce is generally underftood in that town, 
 cfpecially by feamen, and thofe employed in the cuf^ 
 toms. I gave him a Ihort account of fome particulars ;, 
 and made my ftory as plaufible and confiilent as I 
 could ; but I thought it neceilary to difguife my coun- 
 try, and call myfelf an Hollander, becaufe my inten- 
 ^ tions
 
 TO t A P U T A, ^r. ipj 
 
 tions were for Japan^, and I knew the Dutch were the 
 only Europeans permitted to enter into tliat kingdom. I 
 therefore told the officer, that having been fhipwrecked 
 On the coaft of Balnibarbi, and cult on a rock, I was 
 received up into Laputa, or the Hying ifiand (of which. 
 he had often heard) and was now endeavouring to gee 
 to Japan, from wiience I might find a convenience of 
 i-eturning to my own country. The officer laid, I muft 
 be confined till he could receive orders from court, for 
 which he would write immediately, and hoped to re- 
 ceive an anfwer in a fortnight. I was carried to a con- 
 venient lodging with a centry placed at the door; 
 however, I had the liberty of a large garden, and was 
 treated with humanity enough, being maintained all the 
 time at the king's charge. I was invited by feveral 
 perfons, chiefly out of curiofity, becauie it was reported 
 that I came from countries very remote, of which they 
 had never heard. 
 
 I hired a young man, who came in the fame fhip> 
 to be an interpreter ; he was a native of Luggnagg, but 
 had lived fome years at Maldonada, and was a perfeft 
 mafter of both languages. By his aflillance I was able 
 to hold a converfation with thofe, who came to vifit ' 
 me ; but this confiiled only of their qucftions and m/ 
 anfwers. 
 
 The difpatch came from court about the time we ex- 
 peeled. It contained a warrant for condufting me and 
 my retinue to Tra'dragdubh, or Triidrogdrib, 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 interpreter, whom I perfuaded into my fervice, 
 iand at my humble requeft we had each of us a mule to 
 ride on. A meffengcr was difpatched half a day's jour- 
 ney before us to give the king notice of my approach, 
 and to defire that his majefty would pleafe to appoint a 
 day and hour, v/hen it would be his gracious pleafure, 
 that I might have the honour to lick the dufi before hii 
 foot-Jlool. This is the court ftyle, and I found it to be 
 more than matter of form. For, upon my admittance 
 
 O 2 tv/o
 
 196 A V O Y A G E 
 
 tw6 days after my arrival, I was commanded to e^aivl 
 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 dull: was not offenfive. 
 However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to 
 any but perfons of the highell rank, when they defired 
 im admittance. Nay, fometimes the floor is itrewed 
 with dull on purpofe, when the perfon 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 diftance from the 
 throne, he was not able to fpeak a word. Neither is 
 there any remedy ; becaufe it is capital for thofe, who 
 receive an audience, to fpit or wipe their mouths in his 
 majefly's prefence. There is indeed another cuftom 
 which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king 
 hath a mind to put any of his nobles to death in a 
 gentle, indulgent manner, he commands the floor to 
 be ftrewed with a certain brown powder of a deadly 
 cofflpofition, which being licked up infallibly kills him 
 in twenty-four hours. But in jullice to this prince's 
 great clemency, and the care he hath of his fubjefts 
 lives (wherein it were much to be wifhed that the mo- 
 narchs of Europe would imitate him) it muit be men- 
 tioned for his honour, that ftridl orders were given to 
 have the infefted parts of the floor v/ell waflied after 
 fuch execution ; which if his domefticks negleft, they 
 are in danger of incurring his royal difpleafure. I 
 myfelf heard him give direftions, that one of his pages 
 fhould be whipt, whofe turn it was to give notice about 
 wafliing the floor after an execution, but malicioufly had 
 omitted it, by which negled a young lord of great hopes 
 coming to an audience was unfortunately poilbned, al- 
 though the king at that time had no defign againfl his 
 life. But this good prince was fo gracious, as to forgive 
 the poor page his whipping upon piomife, that he 
 would do lo no more without fpecial orders. 
 
 To return from this digreflion ; u'ht:n I had crept 
 within four yards of the throne, f raifed myfelf gently 
 
 upon
 
 TO LAPUTA, yr. 197 
 
 tipon my knees, and then, flriking my forehead feven 
 times againft the ground, 1 pronounced the following 
 words, as they had been taught me the night before, 
 hkplirtg ghffthrobb fquut ferumm blhicp mlaJkncAt zivin 
 tmdbalkuffh flhiophad gurdlubh apt. This is the com- 
 pliment elUblifhed by the laws of the land for all per- 
 fons admitted to the king's prefence. It may be ren- 
 dered into Englijh thus : May your celeftial majejly out- 
 ii've the fun ele-ven moons and a half. To this the king 
 returned fome anfwer, which although f could not un- 
 derlland, yet I replied as I had been direfted : Flute drin 
 yakrick dvjuldom prafrad mirpufh, which properly figni- 
 £es, My tongue is in the mnith of my friend; and by this 
 expreiTion 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 anfwered as many quellions, as his majefty could 
 put in above an hour. I fpoke in the Balnibarbian 
 tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning in 
 that of Luggnagg. 
 
 The king was much delighted with my company, 
 and ordered his BUJmarklub, or high chamberlain, to 
 appoint a lodging in the court for me and my inter- 
 preter, with a daily allov/ance for my table, and a large 
 purfc of gold for my common expences. 
 
 I flayed three months in this country out of perfect 
 obedience to his majelly, who was pleafed highly to 
 favour me, and made me very honourable offers. But 
 J thought it more confillent with prudence and juftice 
 to pafs the remainder of my daj'S with my wife and 
 family. 
 
 CHAP. X, 
 
 The Lugnuggians commended. A particular defcription 
 of the Struldbrugs, ivith many con-verfations hein/jeen 
 the author and fome eminent perfons upon that fubjeil. 
 
 THE Luggnuggians are a polite and generous peo- 
 ple? and although they arc not without fome 
 O 3 ■ fhare
 
 19? A V O Y A G E 
 
 lliare of that pride, which is peculiar to all eapm 
 countries, yet they fhew themfelves courteous to ftran- 
 gers, efpecially fuch who are countenanced by the 
 court. 1 had many acquaintance among perfons of the 
 beft fafhion,and being always attended by my interpre- 
 ter, the converfation we had was not difagreeable. 
 
 One day, in much good company, I was alked by a 
 perfon of quality, whether ] had feen any of their 
 jiruldbriigs or immortals. 1 faid, I had not ; and defired 
 he would explain to me, what he meant by fuch an ap- 
 pellation applied to a mortal creature. He told me, 
 that fometimes, though very rarely, a child happened 
 to be born in a family with a red circular fpot in the 
 forehead, diredly over the left eye-brow, which was an 
 infallible mark that it ihould never die. The fpot, as 
 he defcribed it, was about ^he compafs of afilver three-!' 
 pence, 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 englijh Ihilling ; but never admitted any 
 farther alteration. He faid, thefe births were fo rare, 
 that he did not believe there could be above eleven 
 \m\-\^xt^ Jiruldbrugs of both fexes in the whole kingdom, 
 of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, iand 
 among the reft a young girl born about three years ago : 
 that thefe productions were not peculiar to any family, 
 but a mere effeft of chance ; and the children of the 
 firuldhrugs themfelves were equally mortal with the reft 
 of the people. 
 
 I freely own myfelf to have been flruck with inex- 
 preffible delight upon hearing this account : and the per- 
 fon, who goive it me, happening to underftand the Bal- 
 xiharbian language, which 1 fpoke veiy well, I could 
 not forbear breaking out into expreffions perhaps a lit- 
 tle too extravagant. I cried out, as in a rapture : Hap- 
 py nation, where every child hath at leaft a chance for 
 being immortal ! happy people, who enjoy fo many 
 living examples of ancient virtue, and have mailers 
 
 ready
 
 TO L A P U T A, e5V. igq 
 
 rea3y to infiruft them in the vvifdom of all fosnier 
 ages ! but, happieft beyond all comparifon are thole ex- 
 cellent JiriildbrugSy who being born exempt from that 
 univerfal calamity of human nature, have their minds 
 free and difengaged, v/ithout the weight and depreflion 
 of fpirits caufed by the continual apprehenfion of death. 
 I difcovered my admiration, that 1 had not obferved 
 any of thefe illuilrious perfons at court ; the black 
 fpot on the forehead being fo remarkable a diliinftion, 
 that I could not have eafily overlooked it : and it was 
 impoffible that his majelly, a moil judicious prince, 
 ftioitld not provide himfelf with a good number cf fuch 
 wife and able counfellors. Yet perhaps the virtue of 
 thofe reverend fages was too flridl for the corrupt and 
 libertine manners of a court. And we often find by 
 experience, that young men are too opinionative and 
 volatile to be guided by the fober dictates of their fe- 
 niors. However, fince the king was pleafed to allow 
 me accefs to his royal perfon, I was refolvcd, upon the 
 very firft cccafion, to deliver my opinion to him on this 
 matter freely and at large by the help of my interpre- 
 ter; and whether he would pleafe to take my advice or 
 no, yet in one thing I was determined, that, his ma- 
 jelly having frequently offered me an eftablifliment in 
 this country, I would with great thankfulnefs accept 
 the favour, and pafs my life here in the convcrfation of 
 thofe fuperior beings the jlruldbrugs, if they would 
 pleafe to admit me. 
 
 The gentleman, to whom I addrefied my difcourle, 
 becaufe (as I have already obferved) he fpoke the lan- 
 guage Cil Balnibo.rbi, faid to me with a fort of a fmile, 
 which ufually arifeth 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 fpoke. He did fo, and they talked together for 
 fome time in their own language, whereof I underftood 
 not a fyllable, neither could I obferve by their counte- 
 nances, what impreflion my difcourfe had made on 
 them. After a fliort filence the fame perfon told me, 
 
 O 4 that
 
 400 A V O Y A G E 
 
 that his friends and mine (fo he thought fit to expreiS 
 himfelf) were very much pleafed with the judicious re- 
 marks I had made on the great happinels and advanta- 
 ges of immortal life, and they were denrous to know in 
 a particular manner, what fcheme of living I fhould 
 have formed to myfelf, if it had fallen to my'lot to have 
 been born cijiruldbrug. 
 
 I anfwered, it was eafy to be eloquent on fo copious 
 and delightful a fubjeft, efpecially to me, who had 
 been often apt to amufe myfelf v/ith vifions of what I 
 fhould do, if I were a king, a general, or a great lord ; 
 and, upon this very cafe, I had frequently run over the 
 whole fyilem hov/ I fhould employ myfelf, and pafs the 
 lime if 1 were fure to live for ever. 
 
 That, if it had been my good fortune to come into 
 the world a jirnldbrug, as foon as I could difcover my 
 own happinefs by underllanding the difference between 
 life and death, I would firit refblve by all arts and me- 
 thods whatfoever to procure myfelf riches. In the 
 purfuit of which, by thrift and management, I might 
 reafonably evpe<S in about two hundred years to be the 
 weakhiefl man in the kingdom. In the fecond place, I 
 would (rom my earliefi; youth apply myfelf to the ftudy 
 of arts and fciences, by which I fhould arrive in time 
 ^0 excel all others in learning. Laftly, I would care- 
 fully record every aftion and event of confequence that- 
 happened in the publick, impartially draw the charac- 
 ters of the feveral fucceflions of princes and great mi- 
 nifters of ftate, with my own obfervations on every 
 point. I would exaftly fet down the feveral changes in 
 cuiloms, language, faihions of drefs, diet and diver-? 
 fions. By all which acquirements I fliould be a living 
 treafury of knowledge and wifdom, and certainly be- 
 come the oracle of the nation, 
 
 I would never marry after threefcore, but live in an 
 hofpitable manner, yet flill on the faving fide. I would 
 entertain myfelf in forming and dire<'}ing the minds of 
 Jiopetul young men, by convincing them from my own 
 rtrnembrance, experience, and obfervati-on, fortif.ed by 
 
 numerous
 
 TO L A P U T A, yr." 20f 
 
 liumerous examples, of the ufefulnefs of virtue in pub- 
 lick and private life. But my choice and conlknt com- 
 panions (hould be a fet of my own immortal brother- 
 hood, among whom I would eleft a dozen from the 
 mofl ancient down to my own contemporaries. Where 
 any of thefe wanted fortunes, I would provide them 
 with convenient lodges round my own eftate, and have 
 fome of them always at my table, only mingling a few 
 of the moft valuable among you mortals, whom length 
 of time would harden me to lofe with little or no re- 
 ludance, and treat your pofterity after the fame man- 
 ner; juft as a man diverts himfelf with the annual fuc- 
 ceffion of pinks and tulips in his garden, without re- 
 gretting the lofb of thofe, which withered the preceding 
 year. 
 
 Thefe Jiruldhmgs and I would mutually communi- 
 cate our oblervations, and memorials through the courie 
 of time ; remark the feveral gradations by which cor- 
 ruption fteals into the world, and oppofe it in every 
 ftep by giving perpetual warning and initruclion to 
 mankind ; which, added to the Itrong influence of our 
 own example, would probably prevent that continual 
 degeneracy of human nature fo jultly complained of in 
 all ages. 
 
 Add to all this the pleafure of feeing the various re- 
 volutions of itates and empires ; the changes in the 
 lower and upper world ; ancient cities in ruins, and 
 obfcure villages become the feats of kings ; famous ri- 
 vers lefTening into fhallow brooks ; the ocean leaving 
 one coalt dry, and overwhelming another ; the difco- 
 very of many countries yet unknown. Barbarity over- 
 running the politell: nations, and the moll barbarous 
 become civilifed. J fhould then fee the difcovery of 
 the longitude, ihe perpetual motion, the uni'vcrfal me^iicine, 
 and many other great inventions brought to the utmoll 
 perfedlion. 
 
 What wonderful difcoveries ihould we make in agro- 
 nomy by out-living and confirming our own predic- 
 tions, by obferving the progrcfs and returns of comets, 
 
 with
 
 104 AVOYAGE 
 
 with the changes of motion in the fun, moon, and 
 fiars. 
 
 J enlarged upon many other topicks, which the natu- 
 ral defire of endlefs life and fublunary happinefs could 
 eafily furnilh ine with. V/hen I had ended, and the 
 fam of my difcourfe had been interpreted, as before, 
 to the refc of the company, there was a good deal of 
 talk among them in the language of the country, not 
 without fonie laughter at my expence. At laft the 
 fame gentleman, who had been my interpreter, faidhe 
 was defivcdby the relt to fet me right in a few miftakes, 
 which I had fallen into through the common imbecillity 
 of human nature, and upon that allowance was lefs 
 anfvverable for them. That this breed oi Jiruldbriigi 
 was peculiar to their country, for there were no fuch 
 people either in Ealnibarhi or Japan, w here he had the 
 honour to be ambaflador from his majefly, and found 
 the natives in both thofc kingdoms very hard to be- 
 lieve, that the faft was poffible ; and it appeared from 
 my ailoniihment, when he hrll mentioned the matter 
 to me, that I received it as a thing wholly new, and 
 fcarcely to be credited, That in the two kingdoms 
 above mentioned, where during his refidence he had 
 ccnverfed very much, he obferved long life to be the 
 univerfal defire and wifh of mankind. That whoever 
 had one fcot in the grave, was fure to hold back the 
 ether as flrongly as he could. That the oldeft had ftiU 
 hopes of living one day longer, and looked on death as 
 the greatelt evil, from which nature always prompted 
 him to letreat ; only in this ifland o^ Luggnagg the ap- 
 petite for living was not fo eager, from the continual 
 example of l\iej!ruldbrugs before their eyes. 
 
 That the fyllem of living contrived by me was un- 
 jeafonable and unjuft ; becaufe it fuppofed a perpetuity 
 of youth, health, and vigour, which no man could be (o 
 foolilh to hope, however extravagant he may be in his 
 v> ilhco *. That the quellion therefore was not, whe- 
 ther 
 
 • To this it may pofl"ib)y be cbjefled; that the perpetuity of youth, 
 
 Iseaith;
 
 T O L A P U T A, y.. 203 
 
 ther a man would chufe to be always in the prime of 
 
 Jrouth, attended with profperity and health ; but how 
 le would pals a perpetual life under all the ufual dif- 
 advantages, which old age brings along with it. For al- 
 though few men will avow their defires of being immor- 
 tal upon fuch hard conditions, yet in the two kingdoms 
 before mentioned, of Bcilnibarbi and "Japan, he ob- 
 ferved that every man defired to put off death for 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 torture. And he 
 appealed to me, whether in thofe countries I had tra- 
 velled, as well as my own, I had not obferved the 
 fame general difpolition *. 
 
 After this preface he gave me a particular account of 
 the firuldhriigs among them. Hf faid, they commonly 
 afted like mortals, till about thirty years old, after 
 which by degrees they grew melancholy and dejetil^ed, 
 encreafing in both till they came to fourfcore. This he 
 learned from their own confeffion ; for otherwife, there 
 Kot being above two or three of that fpecies born in an 
 
 health, and vigour would be lefs things it is pofllble, an exemp- 
 
 a prodigy than the perpetuity of tion from difeafe, accident, and 
 
 life in a body fubjsdt to gradual decay, is tacitly allowed. It may 
 
 decay, and might therefore be be anfwered, that as we grow old 
 
 hoped without greater extrava- by imperceptible degrees, fo for 
 
 gance of folly ; but the fenti- the moft part we grow old 
 
 ment here expreiTed, is that of a without repining, and every man 
 
 being to whom immortality tho* is ready to profefs himielf wil- 
 
 not perpetual youth was famili- ling to die, when he ftall be 
 
 ar, and in whom the wifh of per- overtaken by the decripitude of 
 
 petual youth only would have age in fome future period ; yet 
 
 been extravagant, becaufe that when every othsr «ye fees that 
 
 only appeared from fadts to be this period is arrived, he is ftill 
 
 impoflible. tenacious of life, and murir.urs 
 
 * If it be faid, that although at the condition upon which he 
 
 the folly of defiring life to be received his exiftence : to recon- 
 
 prolonged under the difadvan- cile old age thereiore to the 
 
 tages of old age is here finely ex- thoughts of a dilTolution appears 
 
 pofedj yet the defire of terreftrial to be all that was necefiiry in a 
 
 immortality upon terms, on moral writer for pridical pur- 
 
 vhich . alone in the nature of pofes.
 
 io4 A V O y A G E 
 
 age, they were too few to form a genersi obfen'ation 
 by. When tliey came to fourfcore years, which is 
 reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they 
 ihad not only all the follies and infirmities of other old 
 men, but many more, which arofe from the dreadful 
 profpetl of never dying. They were not only opinio- 
 uative, peevifh, covetous, morofe, vain, talkative ; but 
 incapable of friendfhip, and dead to all natural affedtion, 
 which never defcended below their grand-children. 
 Envy and impotent defires are their prevailing paflions. 
 But ihofe objefts, againit which their envy feems prin- 
 cipally direded, are the vices of the younger fort, and 
 tl^e deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former 
 they find themfelves cut off" from all pofllbility of plea- 
 fare ; and whenever they fee a funeral, they lament and 
 repine that others are gone to an harbour of reR, to 
 which they themfelves never can hope to arrive. They 
 have no remembrance of any thing, but what they 
 leajTicd and obferved in their youth and middle age, and 
 even that is very imperfe*^. And for the truth or 
 particulars of any fadl it is fafer to depend on common 
 tradition, than upon their bell recoUedlions. The 
 Jeaft miferable among them appear to be thuie, whq 
 tm-n to dota:;e, and intirely lofe their memories ; thefe 
 meet with more pity and affiilance, becaufe they want 
 many bad quabtics, which abound in others. 
 
 livifiruldbrug happen to marry one of his own kind, 
 the marriage is difibived of courfe by the courtefy of 
 the kingdom, as foon as the younger of the two comes 
 to be fourfcore. For the law thinks it a reafonable 
 indulgence, that thofe, 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 foon as they have compleated the terra of eighty 
 years, they are looked on as dead in law ; their heirs 
 immediately fucceed to their eftate^, only a fmall pit- 
 tance is rcferved for their fupport ; and the pQor ones 
 are maintained at ^he publick charge, hh^x that period 
 
 they
 
 T L A P U T A, ef?^. sqr 
 
 ikty are held incapable of any employment of frtift cr 
 profit ; they cannot purchafe lands, or take leafts ; nei- 
 ther are they allowed to be witnefles in any caufe, either 
 civil or criminal, not even for the deciiion of mecrs 
 and bounds. 
 
 At ninety they lofc their teeth and hair ; they have 
 at that age no dilHn(f\ion of talte, but eat and drink 
 whatever they can get without relifh or appetite. The 
 difeafes they were fubjeft to ftill continue, without cn- 
 creafing or diminifhing In talking they forget the 
 common appellation of things, and the names of per- 
 fons, even of thofe who are their neareil friends and re- 
 lations. For the fame reafon they never can amufe theni- 
 felves with reading, becaufe their memory will notfen-e 
 to carry them from the beginning of a fentence to the 
 end ; and by this defeft they are deprived of the only 
 entertainment, whereof they might otherwife be ca- 
 pable. 
 
 The language of this country being always upon the 
 flux, th-tjiruldbrugs of or^e age do not underftand thofe 
 of another J neither are they able after two hundred 
 years to hold any converfation (farther than by a few 
 general words) with their neighbours, the mortals ; aad 
 thus they lie under the difadvantage of li>ing like fo- 
 reigners in their own country. 
 
 This was the account given me of the Jiruldhritgs, as 
 near as I can remember. I afterwards faw five or fix 
 of different ages, the youngefl 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 leaft curiofity to a(k me a queftion ; 
 only defired I would give 'Csxtm jIuir.JJiudap, or a tokea 
 of remembrance ; which is a modeft way of begging, 
 to avoid the law, that flridly forbids it, becaufe they 
 are provided for by the publick, although indeed with a 
 very fcanty allowance. 
 
 They are defpifed and hated by all forts of people; 
 when gne of them is born, it is reckoned ominous, 
 
 and
 
 2o6 A V O Y A G E 
 
 and their birth is recorded very particularly ; fo tliaf 
 you may know their age by confulting the regifter ; 
 which however hath not been kept above a thoufand 
 years paft, or at leaJl hath been deftroyed by time or 
 publick difturbances. But the ufual way of computing 
 Kow old they are, is, by afking them what kings or 
 great pcrfons they can remember, and then confulting 
 hiftory > for infallibly the lail prince in their mind did 
 not begin his reign after they were fcurfcore year; old. 
 
 They were the moll mortifying fight I ever beheld ; 
 and the women more horrible than men. Befides the 
 ufual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an 
 additional ghaftlinefs in proportion to their number of 
 years, which is not to be defcribed ; and among half a 
 dozen I foon dillinguiflied which was the eldeft, al- 
 though 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. J grew heartily afhamed of the 
 pleafmg vifions I had formed ; and thought no tyrant 
 could invent a death, into which 1 would not run with 
 pleafure from fuch a life. The king heard of all that 
 had pafTed between me and my friends upon this oc- 
 cafion, and rallied me very pleafantly ; wifhing I could 
 fend a couple oi JiniUbrugs to my own country to arm 
 our people againft the fear of death *, but this it feems 
 is forbidden by the fundamental laws of the kingdom, 
 or elfe I Ihould have been well content with the trouble 
 and expence of tranfporting them. 
 
 I could not but agree, that the laws of this kingdorrt 
 relating tothejlruldb-nigs were founded upon the ftrong- 
 ell reaions, and fuch as any other country would be 
 under the necefiity of enadling in the like circumftances. 
 
 • Perhaps it may not be hope beyond it, than a man is 
 wholly ufelefs to remark, that armed againft the fear of break- 
 the fight of a Jiruldbrrg would ing his limbs, who jumps out of 
 BO otherwife arm thofe againft a window when his boufe is en 
 the fear of death, who have no fiie. 
 
 Other-
 
 T O L A P U T A, eiff. 207 
 
 Otherwife as avarice is the neceflary confequent of old 
 age, tliofe immortals would in time become proprietors 
 of the whole nation, and engrofs the civil power; 
 which, for want of abilities to manage, mult end in the 
 ruin of the publick. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Tie author leaves Luggnagg, and fails to Japan. From 
 thence he returns in a Dutch, Jhip to Amlterdam, and 
 from Amfterdam to England. 
 
 I Thought this account of the flruUlrugs might be 
 fome entertainment to the reader, becaufi it feems to 
 be a little out of the common way ; at leaft I do not re- 
 member to have met the like in any book of travels, that 
 hath come to my hands : and if I am deceived my cx- 
 cufe muft be, that it is necefTary * for travellers, who de- 
 fcribe the fame country, very often to agree in dwel- 
 ling on the fame particulars, without deferving the 
 cenfure of having borrowed or tranfcribed from thofe 
 who wrote before them. 
 
 There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this 
 kingdon and the great empire of Japan ; and it is very 
 probable, that the Japanefe authors may have given 
 fome account of the ftruldhru7s ; but my llay in Japan. 
 was fo fhort, and I was fo mtirely a Itranger to the 
 language, that I was not qualified to make any enqui- 
 ries. But I hope the Dutch upon this notice will be cu- 
 rious and able enough to fupply my de fetes. 
 
 His majefty having often prefTed me to accept fome 
 employment in his court, and finding me abfolutely de- 
 termined to return to my native country, was pleafed to 
 
 * The word neceJJ'ary is here lers who defcribe the fame coun- 
 
 «fed in the fame luanner, as when try very often necefarily agree in 
 
 by the idiom of our language it dwelling on the fame particulars, 
 
 means ccnver.ient, though it is to and therefore do net dcferie the 
 
 be underftood in its propetand cenfurs of having borrowed, G^c." 
 original fi§rti6«ation, « Travsi. 
 
 give
 
 feo8 A V O Y A G E 
 
 give me Kis licence to depart, and honoured me with * 
 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 numbers) and a red diamond, which 
 I fold in England for eleven hundred pounds. 
 
 On the 6th day of May, 1709, I took a folemn 
 leave of his majelly and all my friends. This prince was 
 fo gracious, as to order a guard to conduft me to Glan^^ 
 gmnftald, which is a royal port to x)i\g fouih-RxieJi part of 
 the ifland. In fix days I found a veffel ready to carry 
 me to Japan, and fpent fifteen days in the voyage. We 
 landed at a fmall port-town called Xamofchi, fituated on 
 ihe/otith-eaji part of Japan ; the town lies on the ivef- 
 tern point, where there is a narrow ftreight leading mrth^ 
 luard into a long arm of the fea, upon the :iorth-vjeJl 
 part of which Yedo the metropolis flands. At landing 
 I (hewed the cuftom-houfe officers my letter from the 
 king of Luggnagg to his imperial majefty. They knew 
 the feal perfeftty well ; it was as broad as the palm of 
 my hand. The impreffion was A ki7ig lifting up a lame 
 beggar from the earth. The magil1:rates of the town, 
 hearing of my letter, received me as a publick miniller ; 
 they provided me with carriages and fervants and bore 
 my charges to Yedo, where I was admitted to an audi- 
 ence, 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 majelty's 
 order, that I (hould fignify my requeft, and whatever it, 
 were, it fhould be granted for the fake of his royal bro- 
 ther of Luggnagg. This interpreter was a perfon em- 
 ployed to tranlaft affairs with the hoUanders ; he foon 
 conjectured by my countenance, that I was an european^ 
 and therefore repeated his majefty's command in lotu- 
 dutch, which he fpoke perfeftly well. I anfvvered (as I 
 had before determined) that I was a dutch merchant 
 fhipwrecked in a very remote country, from whence I 
 had travelled by fea and land to Luggnagg, and then 
 took Ihipping for Japan^ where I knew my countrymen 
 
 often
 
 TO L A P IT T A, t£c. 209 
 
 often traded, and with fome of thefe I hoped to get an 
 opportunity of returning into Europe : I therefore mod 
 humbly entreated his royal favour to give order, that I 
 (hould be condiifted in fafety to Nangafac : to this I ad- 
 ded another petition, that for the fake of my patron the 
 king of Luggfzag^, his majefty would condefcend to ex- 
 cufe my performing the ceremony impofed on my 
 countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix'-, becaufe I 
 had been thrown into his kingdom by my misfoi tunes, 
 without anv intention of trading. When this latter pe- 
 tition was interpreted to the emperor, he fcemed a little 
 furprifcd ; and faid, he believed I was the firft of my 
 countrymen, who ever made any fcruple in this point ; 
 and that he began to doubt, whether I was a real hol- 
 lander, or no ; but rather fufpefted I nmll be a chrifiian. 
 However for the reafons 1 had offered, but chiefly to 
 gratify the king of Luggnagg by an uncommon mark of 
 his favour, he would comply with x\\q Jingularity of my 
 humour ; but the affair mull; be managed with dexte- 
 rity, and his officers fhould be commanded to let me 
 pafs as it were by forgetfulnefs. For he afibred me, 
 that if the fecret fhould be difcovered by my country- 
 men the Dutch, they would cut my throat in the voy- 
 age. I returned my thanks by the interpreter for lo 
 unufual a favour ; and fome troops being at that time 
 on their march to Noiigafac, the commanding officer 
 had orders to convey me fafsj thither with particular in- 
 ftruftions about the bufinefs of the crucifix. 
 
 On the 9th day oi June, 1 709, I arrived at Nanga- 
 fac after a very long and troublefome journey. I foon 
 fell into company of fome dutch failors belonging to the 
 Amhoyiia of A/nfierdam, a ftout ffiip of 450 tons. I had 
 lived long in Holland, purfuing my itudies at LejdeK, 
 and I fpoke dutch wlII. The feamen foon knew from 
 whence I came laft ; they were curious to enquire into 
 my voyages, and courfe cf life. I made up a Itory as 
 fhort and probable as I could, but concealed the gr at- 
 eft part. I knew many perfons in Holland ; IXvas able 
 to invent names for nw parents, whom 1 pretended to 
 Vol.11. P be
 
 210 A V O Y A G E, t^c. 
 
 be obfcure people in the province of Gelderland. t 
 would have given the captain (one Theodorus Vangrult) 
 what he pleafed to aflc for my voyage to Holland \ but 
 underftanding 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 Ihipping, I 
 wis often aflced by fome of the crew, whether I had 
 performed the ceremony above-mentioned ? I evaded 
 the queftion by general anfvvers, that I had fatisfied the 
 emperor and court in all particulars. However a mali- 
 cious rogue of a (kipper went to an officer, and point- 
 ing to me told him, I had not yet trampled on the cru- 
 cifix : but the other who had received inllruftions to let 
 me pafs, gave the rafcal twenty ftrokes on the ihoulders 
 with a bamboo ; after which I was no more troubled 
 with fuch queftions. 
 
 Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. 
 We failed with a fair wind to the cape of Good Hope, 
 where we ftaid only to take in frefli water. On the 
 loth 0^ Jpril 17 lo we arrived fafe at Amfierdam, hav- 
 ing loft only three men by ficknefs in the voyage, and a 
 fourth who fell from the fore-maft into the fea not far 
 from the coaft of Gumea. From jimjierdan: I foon af- 
 ter fet fail for England in a fmall veflel belonging to 
 that city. 
 
 On the 1 6th of Jpril we put in at the Doivns. i 
 landed next morning, and favv once more my native 
 countr)' after an abfence of five years and fix months 
 compleat. I went llrait to Redriff, where I arrived the 
 fame day at two in the afternoon, and found my wife 
 and family in good health. 
 
 A voy-
 
 Sr-j'^/r/z /?:^go. 
 
 13"ujrts Laud 
 
 HoUYl^HN^^tS 
 
 ifcoverd 
 
 t.^ 
 
 m 
 
 iSri'eersT. 

 
 [ 211 ] 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 To ihe Country of the 
 
 H O U Y H N H N M S. 
 
 C H A P. I. 
 
 The author fets out as captain of a JJ?ip. His me?! con- 
 fpire againjl him, confine him a long time to his cahlin. 
 Set him on faore in an unknown land. He travels up into 
 the country. 27:'^ Yahoos, a Jirange fort of animal, dg' 
 fcribed. The author meets two Houyhnhnms. 
 
 I Continued at home with my wife and children a- 
 bout five months in a very happy condition, if 1 
 could have learned the leifon of knowing when I 
 was well. I left my poor wife big with child, and ac- 
 cepted an advantageous offer made me to be captain of 
 the Adventure, a ftout merchant-man of 350 tons : for I 
 underflood navigation well, and being grown weary of 
 a furgeon's employment at fea, which however I could 
 exerdfe upon occafion, I took a fkilful young man of 
 that calling, one Robert Purefoy, into my fhip. We fet 
 fail from Portfmoutb upon the 7th day of September, 
 1710; on the 14th, we met with captain Pocock of 
 
 P » Brijlol
 
 212 A V O YA G E 
 
 Brijiolzt Tenar'rff, who was going to the bay of Cam' 
 pechy to cut logwood. On the i6th, he was parted 
 from us by a ftorm; I heard fince my return, that his 
 {hip foundered, and none efcaped, but cue cr.bbin-boy. 
 He was an honeft man, and a good failor, but a little 
 ^00 pofitive in his own opinions, which was the caufe 
 of his delxruftion, as it hath been of feveral others. For 
 if he had followed my advice, he might have been fafe 
 at home with his family at this time, as well as myfelf. 
 I had feveral men died in my fnip of calentures, lb 
 that I was forced to get recruits out of Barhadoes and 
 the Lee^jcard IJlands, where I touched by the direftion 
 of the merchants, who employed me ; which I had foon 
 too much caufe to repent ; for I found afterwards, that 
 moft of them had been buccaneers *. I had fifty hands on 
 board, and my orders were, that I (hould trade with 
 the Indiafis in the South-fea, and make what difcoveries 
 I could. Thefe rogues, whom I had picked up, de- 
 bauched my other men, and they all formed a confpi- 
 racy to feize the fhip, and fv.cure me ; which they did 
 one morning, ruiliing into my cabbin, and binding me 
 hand and foot, threatening to throw me over-board, if 
 I offered to flir. I told them, I was their prifoner, and 
 would fubmit. This they made me fv/ear to do, and 
 then they unbound me, only faflening one of my legs 
 with a chain near my bed, and placed a centry at my 
 door with his piece charged, who was commanded to 
 Ihoot me dead, if I attempted my liberty. They fent 
 me down victuals and drink, and took the government 
 of the fhip to themfclvcs. Their defign was to turn 
 pyrates, and plunder the Spaniards., which they could 
 not do, till they got more men. But firft they refolved 
 to fell the goods in the fhip, and then go to Madagafcar 
 for recruits, feveral among them having died fince my 
 confinement. They failed many weeks, and traded with 
 the Indians ; but I knew not what courfe they took, 
 being kept a clofe prifoner in my cabbin, and ex- 
 
 * Certain pyrates, that infefted the Wcji -India, were io called. 
 3 peeing
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 215 
 
 pefting nothing lefs than to be murdered, as they often 
 threatened me. 
 
 Upon the 9th day of May 171 1 one James Welch 
 «ame down to my cabbin, and faid he had orders from 
 the captain to fet me a-fhore. I expoftulated with him, 
 but in vain ; neither would he fo much as tell me, who 
 their new captain was. 'i'hey forced me into the long- 
 boat, letting me put on my beft fuit of cloaths, which 
 were as good as new, and take a fmall bundle of lin- 
 nen, but no arms, except my hanger ; and they were 
 fo civil as not to fearch my pockets, into which 1 con- 
 veyed what money I had with fome other little necef- 
 faries. I'hey rowed about a league ; and then fet me 
 down on a ftrand. I defired them to tell me, what 
 country it was. They all fwore, they knew no more 
 than myfelf, but faid, that the captain (as they called 
 him) was refolved, after they had fold the lading, to 
 get rid of me in the firft place, where they could difco- 
 ver land. They puflied off immediately, advihng me 
 to make hafte for fear of being overtaken by the tide, 
 and fo bad me farewel. 
 
 In this defolate condition 1 advanced forward, and 
 foon got upon firm ground, where I fat down on a bank 
 to reft myfelf and confider what 1 had beft do. When 
 I v;as a little refrelhed, I went up into the countrjs re- 
 folving to deliver myfelf to the firft favages I fhould 
 meet, and purchafe my life from them by fome brace- 
 lets, glafs rings, and other toys, which iailors ufually 
 provide themfelves with in thofe voyages, and whereof 
 I had fome about me. The land was divided by long 
 rows of trees not regularly planted, but naturally 
 growing ; there was great plenty of grafs, and feve- 
 ral fields of oats. I walked very circumfpeclly for fear 
 of being furprifed, or fuddenly fhot 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 moft of horfes. At laft I beheld feveral 
 animals in a field, and one or two of the fame kind 
 fitting in trees. Their fhape was very fmgular and 
 
 P 3 deformed.
 
 2r4 A V O y A G E 
 
 deformed, v.hich a little difcompofed me, fo that I lay 
 down behind a thicket to obierve them better. Some of 
 -them coming forward near the place where I lay, gave 
 me an opportunity of diilindly marking their lorm. 
 Their heads and breafts were covered with a thick hair, 
 fome frizzled, and others lari"k; they had beards like 
 goats, and a long ridge of hair down their backs and the 
 fore-parts of their legs and feet ; but the reft of their 
 bodies were bare, fo that 1 might fee their fkins, 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 pof- 
 lure they ufed, as v.'ell as lying down, and often ftcod 
 on their hind feet. They climbled high trees as nimbly 
 as a fquirrel, for they had ftrong extended claws before 
 and beliind, terminating in fharp points, and hooked. 
 They would often fpring, and bound, and leap with 
 prodigious agility. The females were not fo large as 
 the males ; they had long lank hair on their heads, but 
 none on their faces, nor any thing more than a fort of 
 down on the reft of their bodies, except about the anas 
 and pudenda. Their dugs hung between their fore-feet, 
 and often reached almoft 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 be- 
 held in ail my travels {o difagretable an animal, or one 
 againft which 1 nsturally conceived fo ftrong an anti- 
 pathy. So that thinking I had (een enough, full of 
 contempt and avcrfion, J got up, and purfued the 
 btaten road, hoping it might direct me to the cabbin 
 of fome Indian. J had not got far, when I met one 
 of tiiefe treaiures full in my way, and coming up di- 
 rectly to me. The ugly monfter, when he faw me 
 diftorted feveral ways every feature of his vHage, and 
 frarcd as at an objcd he had never feen before ; then ap- 
 proaching nearer lihcd up his fore-paw, whether out of 
 curioiity or mifchief, J could not tell : but I drew my 
 Jianger, and gave him a good blow with the flat fide «f 
 5 it*
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 215 
 
 jt, for I durft not ftrike with the edge, fearing the in- 
 habitants might be provoked againft me, if they fhould 
 come to know, that I had killed or maimed any of 
 their cattle. When the beaft 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 againft it kept them off by 
 waving my hanger. Several of this curfed brood get- 
 ting hold of the branches behind, leapt up into the tree 
 from whence they began to difcharge their excrements 
 on my head : however, I efcaped pretty well by ftick- 
 ing clofe to the ftem of the tree, but was almoft Ilifled 
 with the filth, which fell about me on every fide. 
 
 In the midft of this diftrcfs, I obferved them all to 
 run away on a fudden as faft as they could, at which I 
 ventured to leave tlie tree, and purfue the road, won- 
 dering what it was that could put them into this fright. 
 But looking on my left hand 1 faw a horfe walking ioft- 
 ly in the field ; which my perfecutors having fooner dif- 
 covered, was the caufe of their flight. The horfe 
 llarted a little, when he came near me, but foon reco- 
 vering himfeif looked full in my face v/ith manifell 
 tokens of wonder ; he viewed my hands and feet, 
 walking round me feveral times. 1 would have purfued 
 my journey, but he placed himfeif diredtly in the way, 
 yet looking v/ith a very mild afpeft, never offering 
 the leaft violence. We ftood gazing at each other for 
 fome time ; at laft ftcok the boldnei's to reach my hand 
 towards his neck with a defign to llroak it, ufing the 
 common ilyle and whiftle of jockies, when they are 
 going to handle a ftrange horfe. i3ut this animal feemed. 
 to receive my civilities with difdain, fhook his head, 
 and bent his brows, foftly raifmg up his right fore-foot 
 to remove my hand. 1 hen he neighed three or four 
 times, but in fo different a cadence, that I almoft began 
 to think he was fpeaking to himfeif in fome language 
 of his own. 
 
 While he and I were thus employed, another horfe 
 
 P ^ came
 
 2i6 A V O Y A G E 
 
 came up ; wlib applying himfelf to the firft in a very 
 formal manner, they gently Oruck each other's right 
 hoof before, neighing feveral times by turns, and va- 
 rying the found, v/hich feemed to be almoil articulate. 
 They went fome paces oit, as if it were to confer to- 
 gether, walking fide by fide, backward and forward, 
 like perfons deliberating upon foine affair 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 adlions and behaviour in brute beafts ; and con- ' 
 eluded with myfelf, that if the inhabitants of this coun- 
 try were endued with a proportionable degree of rea- 
 fon, they mu'r needs be the wifeft people upon earth. 
 7"his thought gave me fo much comfort, that I refolved 
 to go forward, until I could difcover fome houfe or vil- 
 lage, or meet with any of the natives, leaving the two 
 horfes to difcourfe together as tliey pleafed. But the 
 firft, who was a dapple grey, obfcrving me to fteal oiF, 
 neighed after me in fo expreffive a tone, tliat I fancied 
 myfelf to underfland what he meant ; v\hereupon I 
 turned back, and came near him to expeft his farther 
 commands ; but concealing my fear as much as I could ; 
 for I began to be in fome pain, how this adventure 
 might terminate; and the reader will eafily believe, I 
 did not much liice my prefent fituation. 
 
 The two horfes came up clofe to me, looking with 
 great earneHnf^fs upon my face and hands. I he grey 
 Iteed rubbed my hat all round with his right fore-hoof, 
 and difcompofed it fo much, that 1 was forced to ad- 
 juft 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 furprifed; the latter felt the 
 lappet of my coat, and finding it to hang loofe about 
 me, they both looked with new figns of wonder. He 
 ftroaked my right hand, feeming to admire the foftnefs 
 and colour ; but he fqueefed it fo hard between his 
 hoof and his pnllern, that I was forced to roar ; after 
 which they'both touched me with all poffible tendernefs. 
 They were under great perplexity about my flioes and 
 
 Hock-
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 217 
 
 ftoclcings, which they felt very often, neighing to each 
 other, and ufmg various geftures not unlike thofe of a 
 philofopher, when he would attempt to foive 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 laft concluded, they muft needs be magicians, 
 who had thus metamorphofed themfelves upon fome 
 defign, and feeing a Ilranger in the way refolved to 
 divert themfelves 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 proba- 
 bly live in fo remote a climate. Upon the ftrength of 
 this reafoning I ventured to addrefs them in the follow- 
 ing manner: Gentlemen, if you be conjurers, as I have 
 good caufe to believe, you can underltand any lan- 
 guage ; therefore 1 make bold to let your worfhips 
 know that I am a poor dillrefTed engifiman driven by 
 his misfortunes upon your coa;>, and \ entreat one of 
 you to let me ride upon his back.^as if he were a real 
 horft, to fome houfe or village, where I can be re- 
 lieved. In return of v^hich favour I will make you a 
 prefent of this knife and bracelet (taking them out of 
 my pocket.) The two creatures flood filent while I 
 fpoke, feeming to liilen with great attention ; and when 
 I had ended, they neighed frequently towards each 
 other, as if they were engaged in ferious converfation. 
 I plainly obferved, that their language exprelTed the 
 paHions very well, and the words might with little 
 pains be refolved into an alphabet more eafily than the 
 chinffe, 
 
 I could frequently diftinguiih the \vor6. yahoo, which 
 was repeated by each of them feveral times ; and al- 
 though it was impoffible for me to conjcfture what it 
 meant, yet while the two horfes v/ere bufy in converfa- 
 tion, I endeavoured to pradlife this word upon my 
 tongue ; and as foon as they were filent, I boldly pro- 
 nounced yahoo in a loud voice, imitating at the fame 
 time as near as I could ths neigliing of a horfe ; at 
 
 which
 
 2i8 A V O y A G E 
 
 which they were both vifibly furprifed, and the grey re- 
 peated the fame vvord twice, as if he meant to teach 
 me the right accent, wherein I fpoke after him as well 
 as I could, and found myfelf perceivably to improve 
 every time, though very far from any degree of per- 
 fection. Then the bay tried me with a fecond word 
 much harder to be pronounced ; but reducing it to the 
 eiiglifo orthography, may be fpelt thus, Houyhnhjim. I 
 did not fuccetd in this fo well as 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 conjedu- 
 red mipht relate to me, the two friends took their 
 leaves with the fame compliment of ilriking each other's 
 hoof; and the grey made me figns that I Ihould walk 
 before him ; wherein I thought it prudent to comply, 
 till I could find a better dir^'dlor. When I offered to 
 flacken my pace, he would cry hhuun, hhuun ; I gueffed 
 his meaning, and gave him to underftand, as v^ell as I 
 could, that t v/as weary, and not able to w'alk falter j 
 upon which he would lland a-while to let me reft. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 ^Ije author conduBed by a Houyhnhnm to his houfe. The 
 hoiifi defcribed. The author s reception. The food of 
 the Houyhnhnms. The author in dijlrefs for ivant of 
 meat, is at Liji relieved. His manner of feeding in this 
 country, 
 
 'Aving travelled about three miles, we came to a 
 long kind of building made of timber ftuck in 
 the ground, and wattled a-crofs ; the roof was low, and 
 covered with llraw. I now began to be a little com- 
 forted ; and took out fome toys, which travellers ufu- 
 ally carry tor prefents to the favage indians of amenca 
 and other parts, in hopes the people of the houfe would 
 be thereby encouraged to receive me kindly. The 
 horfe made me a fign to go in firit ; it was a large roorn 
 
 with
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 219 
 
 with a fmooth clay floor, and a rack and manger, ex- 
 tending; the whole length on one fide. There were 
 three -nags, and two mares not eating, but feme of them 
 fitting down upon their hams, which I very much won- 
 dered at ; but wondered more to fee the reft employed 
 in domeftick bufmefs, thefe fecmed but ordinary cattle ; 
 however this confirm.ed my firft opinion, that a people, 
 who could fo far civilize brute animals, muft needs ex- 
 cel in wifdom all the nations of the world. The grey 
 came in juft after, and thereby prevented any ill treat- 
 ment, which the others might have given me. He 
 neighed to them feveral times in a flyle of authority, 
 and received anfvvers. 
 
 Beyond this room there were three others reaching 
 the length of the houfe, to which you parted through 
 three doors, oppofite to each other, in the manner of a 
 vifta ; v/e went through the fecond room towards the 
 third i here the grey walked in firft, beckoning me to 
 attend : I vv/aited in the fecond room, and got ready my 
 prefents for the mafter and miftrefs of the houfe : they 
 were two knives, three bracelets of fmall pearl, a fmall 
 looking-glafs, and a bead necklace. The horfe neigh- 
 ed thiee or four times, and I waited to hear fome an- 
 fwers in a human voice, but I heard no other returns, 
 than in the fame dialefl:, only one or two a little fhriller 
 than his. I began to think, that this houfe muft be- 
 long to fome perfon of great note among them, becauie 
 there appeared fo much ceremony, before I could gain 
 admittance. But, that a man of quality ftould be 
 ferved all by horfes, was beyond my comprehenfion, I 
 feared n;y brain was difturbed by my fufFerings and mif- 
 fortunes: I roufed myfelf, and looked about me in the 
 room where I was left alone ; this was furnill.ed like 
 the firft, only after a more elegant manner. I rubbed 
 my eyes often, but the fame objedls liill occurred. I 
 pinched my arms and f des to awake myfelf, hoping I 
 might be in a dream. I then abfolutely concluded, that 
 all thefe appearances could be nothing elfe but necro- 
 jmancy and magick. But I had no tin.e to puribe tliefe 
 
 reftec-
 
 220 A V O Y A G E 
 
 xeflecllons ; for the grey horfe came to the door, and 
 made me a fign to foUov/ him into the third room ; 
 where I faw a very comely mare, together with a colt 
 and fole, fitting on their haunches upon matts of llraw 
 not unartfully made and perfeclly neat and clearj. 
 
 The mare foon after my entrance rofe from her matt, 
 and coming up clofe, after having nicely obferved my 
 iands and face, gave me a moft contemptuous look ; 
 then turning to the horfe, I heard the v^oxAyahoo often 
 repeated betv/ixt them ; the meaning of which word I 
 could net then comprehend, although it were the iirit 
 I had learned to pronounce ; but I was foon better in- 
 formed to my everlafting mortification : for the horfe 
 beckoning to me with his head, and repeating the word 
 hhuun, bhuun, as he did upon the road, which I un- 
 derftood was to attend him, led me out into a kind of 
 court, where was another building at fome didance from 
 the houfe. Here we entered, and I faw three of thefe 
 deteftab'e creatures, which I firft met aft^r my landing, 
 feeding upon roots and the flefh of fome animals, which 
 i afterAardi found to be that of alTes and dogs, and 
 now and then a cow, dead by accident or difeafe. They 
 v.-ere all tied by the neck with ftrong wyths fafiened-to 
 2 beam ; they held their food between the claws of 
 their fore-feet, and tore it with their teeth. 
 
 The mailer horfe ordered a forrel nag, one of his 
 fervants, to untie the largeil of thefe animals, and 
 take him into the yard. The beaft and I were brought 
 clofe together ; and our countenances diligently com- 
 pared both by m.afl.er and fervant, who thereupon re- 
 peated feveral times the word yahoo. My horror and 
 aftonilhment are not to be defcribed, when I obferved 
 in this abominable animal a perfeft human figure : the 
 face of it indeed was fiat and broad, the nofe deprefied, 
 the lips large, and the mouth wide : but thefe diffe- 
 rences are common to all favage nations, where the 
 lineaments of the countenance are diilorted by the na- 
 tives fufferin<->- their infants to lie grovelling on the 
 earth, or by carrying them on their backs nuzzling 
 
 with
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 221 
 
 with their faces againft the mother's fhou'.ders. The 
 fore-feet of theya/^00 differed from my hands in nothing 
 elfe, but the length of the nails, the coarfenefs and 
 brownnefs of the palms, and the hairincfs on the backs. 
 There was the fame refemblance between our feet, v/ith 
 the fame differences, which I knew very well, though 
 the horfes did not becaufe of my ihoes and ilockings ; 
 the fame in every part of our bodies, except as to hairi- 
 nefs and colour, which I have already defcribed. 
 
 The great difficulty, that feemed to ftick v/ith the 
 two horfes, was, to fee the reft of my body fo very 
 different from that of a yahoo, for which i was- obliged 
 to my cloaths, whereof they had no conception. The 
 forrcl nag offered me a root, v/hich he held (after their 
 manner, as we (hall dcfcribe in its proper place) between 
 his hoof and paftern; I took it in my hand, and hav- 
 ing fmelt it returned it to him again as civilly as I could. 
 He brought out of the yahoo's kennel a piece of afs's 
 flefh, but it fmelt fo offenfively, that I turned from it 
 with loathing ; he then threw it to t\ieyaioo, by whom 
 it was greedily devoured *. He afterwards Ihewed me 
 a whifp of hay and a fetlock full of oats ; but I {hook 
 my head to fignify, that neither of thefe were food for 
 me. And indeed I now apprehended, that I mull ab- 
 folutely ftarve, if I did not get to fome of my ov/n fpe- 
 cies ; for as to thofe filthy yahoos, although there were 
 few greater lovers of mankind at that time, than my- 
 felfj'yetlconfefs, I never faw any fenfitive being fa 
 detellable on all accounts ; and the more I came near 
 them, the more hateful they grew, while I flayed in 
 that country- 'I his the malkr horfe obferved by my 
 behaviour, and therefore Tent tYieyah.o back to his ken- 
 nel. He then put his fore-hoof to his mouth, at v/Jiich 
 
 • Whoever is difgufted with the app'tite; of thofe abandoned 
 
 this pidure of ayokoo, would do to vice are not Je.s brutal and 
 
 well to reflect, tbat it becomes fordid than that of a yabo9 far 
 
 his own in exaft proportion as affes flefli, nor is their life a ftatc 
 
 he deviates from virtue, for vir- of lefe abjeft fcrvUll/, 
 tue is the perfeftion of reafcn; 
 
 I was
 
 223 A V O y A G E 
 
 I was much furprifed, although he did it with eafe," and 
 with a motion that appeared perfeftly natural ; and 
 made other figns to know what 1 would eat ; but I could 
 not return liim fuch an anfwer as he was able to appre- 
 hend ; and, if he had underflood me, i did not fee 
 how it was polfible to contrive any way for finding my- 
 felf nouriihment. While we were thus engaged, I ob- 
 served a cow paffing by, whereupon I pointed to her, 
 and expreffed a defire to go and milk her. This had 
 its efFeft ; for he led me back into the houfe, and or- 
 dered a mare-fervant to open a room, where a good 
 ftore of milk lay in earthen and wooden vefiels after a 
 very orderly and cleanly manner. She gave me a large 
 bowl full, of which I drank very heartily, and found 
 myfelf well refrelhed. 
 
 About noon I faw coming towards the houfe a kind 
 of vehicle drawn like a fledge by four yahoos. There 
 was in it an old fleed, who feemed to be of quality ; ha 
 alighted with his hind-feet forward, having by accident 
 got a hurt in his left fore-foot. He came to dine with 
 our horfe, who received him with great civility. They 
 dined in the beft room, and had oats boiled in milk for 
 the fccond courfe, which the old horfe eat warm, but 
 the reft cold. Their mangers were placed circular in 
 the middle of the room, a»d divided into feveral parti- 
 tions, round which they fat on their haunches upon, 
 boffes of ftraw. In the middle was a large rack, with 
 angles anfwering to every partition of the manger. So 
 that each horfe and mare eat their own hay, and their 
 own mafh of oats and milk, with much decency and 
 regularity. The behaviour of the young colt and fole 
 appeared very modcft ; and that of the mailer and mif- 
 trefs extremely chcarful and complaifant to their gueft. 
 The grey ordered me to ftand by him ; and much dif- 
 courfe pafled between him and his friend concerning 
 jne, as 1 found by the ftranger's often looking on me, 
 and the frequent repetition of the woxdi yahoo. 
 
 I happened to wear my gloves, which the mafter- 
 grey obferving, feemed perplexed, difcovcring figns of 
 
 wonder
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 223 
 
 wonder what I had done to my fore-feet ; he put his 
 hoof three or four times to them, as if he would figni- 
 fy, that I Ihould reduce them to their former Ihape, 
 which I prefently did, pulling off both my gloves, and 
 putting them into my pocket. This occafioned farther 
 talk, and I faw the company was pleaf.-d with my be- 
 haviour, whereof I foon found the good effefts. 1 was 
 ordered to fpeak the few words I underftood ; and while 
 they were at dinner, the mailer taught me the names 
 for oat", milk, fire, water, and fome others ; which I 
 could readily pronounce after him, having from my 
 youth a great facility in learning languages. 
 
 When dinner was done, the maiter horfe took me 
 afide, and by figns and words made me underftand the 
 concern he was in, that I had nothing to eat. Oats in 
 their tongue are called hlunnh. This word I pronounced 
 two or three times ; for although i had refufed them at 
 lirft, yet upon fecond thoughts I confidered, that I 
 could contrive to make of them a kind of bread, which 
 might be fufncient with milk to keep me alive, till I 
 could make my efcape 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. 
 Thefe I heated before the fire, as well as I could, and 
 rubbed them till the hulks came off, which I made a 
 Ihift to winnow from the grain ; I ground and beat 
 them between two ilones, then took water, and made 
 them into a palle or cake, which I toailed at the fire, 
 and eat warm v^^ith milk. It was at firft a very infipid 
 diet, though common enough in many parts of Eurcpe^ 
 but grew tolerable by time ; and having been often re- 
 duced to hard fare in my life, this was not the firft ex- 
 periment I had made, how eafily nature is fatisfied. 
 And I cannot but obferve, that I never had one hour's 
 ficknefs, while [ (laid in this ifland. It is true, I fome- 
 times made a ftiiftto catch a rabbit, or bird, by fpringes 
 made oi yahoo' i hairs ; and 1 often gathered wholefome 
 herbs, which I boiled, or eat as falads with my bread ; 
 
 and
 
 224 A V O Y A G E 
 
 and now and then for a rarity I made a little butter, 
 and drank the whey. I was firil at a g;reat lofs for 
 fait ; but cuftom foon reconciled me to the want of it ; 
 and I am confident, that the frequent ufe of fait among 
 us is an efted of luxury, and was firft introduced only 
 as a provocative to drink ; except where it is neceffary 
 for preferving of flelli in long voyages, or in places re- 
 mote from great markets. For we obferve no animal to 
 be fond of it but man : and as to myfelf, when I left 
 this country, it was a great while before I could endure 
 the talle of it in any thing that I eat. 
 
 This is enough to fay upon the fubjeft of my diet, 
 wherewith other travellers fill their books, as if the 
 readers were perfonally concerned, whether we fare well 
 or ill. However it was necefia.y to mention this mat- 
 ter, left the world fliould think it impoflible, that I could 
 find fuftenance for three years in fuch a country and 
 among fuch inhabitants. 
 
 When it grew towards evening, the mafter horfe or- 
 dered a place for me to lodge in ; it was but fix yards 
 from the houfe, and feparated from the ftable of the 
 yahoos. Here I got fome ftraw, and covering myfelf 
 with my own cloaths flept very found. But I was in a 
 Ibort time better accommodated, as the reader fliall 
 know hereafter, when I come to treat more particularly 
 about my way of living. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The author Jtudious to learn the language ; the Houy- 
 hnhnm, his majler, ajjifts in teaching him. The lan- 
 guage defcribed. ^fiy^r^/Houyhnhnms of quality came 
 out of curiofity to fe the author. He gi-ves his majler a 
 Jhort account of his voyage. 
 
 MY principal endeavour was to learn the language, 
 which my mafter (for fo I Ihall henceforth call 
 him) and his children, and every fervant of his houfe 
 were defirous to teach me. For they looked upon it as 
 
 a pro-
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 225 
 
 a prodigy, that a brute animal fliould djfcover fuch 
 marks of a rational creature. I pointed to every things 
 and enquired the name of it, which I wrote down in 
 my journal-booh when I was alone, and correfted my 
 bad accent by defiring thofe of the family to pronounce 
 it often. In this employment a forrel nag, one of the 
 under fervants, was very ready to aflift me. 
 
 In fpeaking they pronounce through tlie nofe and 
 throat, and their language approaches nearell to the 
 high-dutch^ Or german, of any I ^now \n Europe ; but is 
 much more graceful and iignificant. The emperor 
 Charles V, made almoft the fame obfervation, when he 
 faid, That if he were to Ipeak to his horfe, it fliould be 
 in hi vh- dutch. 
 
 The curiofity and impatience of my mafler were lb 
 great, that he fpent many hours of his leifure to in- 
 Itrudl me. He was convinced (as he afterwards told 
 me) that I muft be 2. yahoo ; but my teachablenefs, ci- 
 vility, and cieanlinefs, aftoniflied him ; which were 
 qualities altogether oppofite to thofe animals. He was 
 moft perplexed about my cloaths, reafoning fometimes 
 with himfclf, 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 mailer was eager to learn from whence I came ; 
 how I acquired thofe appearances of reafon, which I 
 difcovercd in all my adtions ; and to know my ftory 
 from my own mouth, which he hoped he fliould foon 
 do by the great proficiency I made in learning and pro- 
 nouncing their words and fentcnces. To help my me- 
 mory I formed all I learned into the cnglijh alphabet, 
 and writ the wordo down with the tranilations. 7'his 
 laft after fome time I ventured to do in my mailer's 
 prefence. It colt me much trouble to explain to him 
 what I was doing ; for the inhabitants have not the leaft 
 idea of books or literature. 
 
 In about ten weeks time I was able to underfland 
 
 moft of his queiUons ; and in three months could give 
 
 him fome tolerable anfwers. He was extremely curi- 
 
 " Vol. JI. Q^ bus
 
 226 A V O Y A G E 
 
 OU5 to knowJ* from what part of the country I came, 
 arfd how I was taught to imitate a rational creature ; be- 
 caufe the yahoos (whom he faw 1 cxa£lly refembled ia 
 my head, hands, and face, that were only vifible) with 
 foine appearance of cunning, and the ftrongeft difpofi- 
 tion to mifchief, were obferved to he the moft un- 
 teachable of all brutes. I anfwered, that I came over 
 the fca from a far place with many others of my own 
 kmd in a great hollow vefTel made of the bodies of 
 trees ; that my companions forced me to land on this 
 coail, and then left me to Ihift for myfelf. It was with 
 fome Cihculty, and by the help of many figns, that I 
 brought him to undeiftand me. He replied, that I 
 muft needs be miftaken, or that I laid the thing ^^hich 
 ^>jas not (for they have no word in their language to ex- 
 prefs lying or falfhood.) He knew it was impoffible, 
 that there could be a cour try 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 vefTel, nor would imik yahoos to 
 manage it. 
 
 The word Houyhnhnm in their tongue fignifies a horfey 
 and in its etymology, the ferfedion cf nature. I told 
 my mailer that I was at a lofs for expreflion, but vyould 
 improve as fail: as I could ; and hoped in a Ihort time I 
 • ihould be able to tell him wonders : he was pleafed to 
 direct his own mare, his colt and fole, and the fer- 
 vants of the family, to take all opportunities of in- 
 ftrucling me ; and every day for two or three hours he 
 was at the fame pains himfelf : feveral horfes and 
 mares of quality in the neighbourhood came often to 
 our houfe, upon the report Ipread of a wonderful _>«^oe 
 that could fpcak like a Houyhnhnm, and feeroed in his 
 words and a<riions to dlfcover fome glimmerings cf 
 reafon. Thel'e delighted to converfe with me j they 
 put many queftions, and received fuch anfwers as I 
 w&s able to return. By all thefe advantages I made fo 
 creat. a uroo-refs, that in five months from my arrival I 
 
 under' 
 
 >
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 227 
 
 vinderflood whatever was fpoken, and could exprefs my- 
 felf tolerably well. 
 
 The Houyhnhnms who came to vifit my mafter out of 
 a defign of feeing and talking with me, could hardly 
 believe me to be a nghx. yahoo, becaufe my body had a 
 different covering from others of my kind. They were 
 alionifhed to obferve me without the ufual hair or flcin, 
 except on my head, face, and hands ; but I difcovered 
 that fecret to my mafter upon an accident, which hap- 
 pened 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 ftrip, 
 and cover myfelf with my doaths : it happened one 
 morning early, that my mafter fentfor me by the forrel 
 nag, who was his valet ; when he came, f was faft 
 afteep, my cloaths fallen off on one fide, and my fhirt 
 above my waift. I waked at the noife he made, and 
 obferved him to deliver his mefTage in fome diforder ; 
 after which he went to my mafter, and in a great fright 
 gave him a very confufed account of what he had feen : 
 this I prefently difcovered ; for going as foon as I was 
 drefled to pay my attendance upon his honour, he afked 
 me the meaning of what his fervant had reported ; that 
 I was not the fame thing when I flept, as I apjpeared to 
 be at other times ; that his valet afTured him, feme part 
 of me was white, fome yellow, at leaft not fo white, 
 and fome brown. 
 
 I had hitherto concealed the fecret of my drefs In 
 order to diftinguifh myfelf, as much as poffible, from 
 that curfed race oi yahoos ; but now I found it in vain to 
 do fo any longer. Befides I confidered, that my cloaths 
 and fhoes would foon wear out, which already were in a 
 declining condition, and muft be fupplied by fome con- 
 trivance from the hides of yahoos, or other brute.") ; 
 whereby the whole fecret would be known : I therefore 
 told my mafter, that in the country from whence I came 
 thofe of my kind always covered their bodies with the 
 hairs of certain animals prepared by art, as well for de- 
 cency, as to avoid the inclemencies of air both hot and 
 
 (^2 cold J
 
 228 A V O y A G E 
 
 cold ; of which, as to my own perfon, I would give 
 him immediate conviftion, if he pleafed to command 
 me ; only defiring his excufe, if I did not expofe thofe 
 parts that nature taught us to conceal. Hefaid my dif- 
 courfe wcs nil. very ftrange, but efpecially the laft part ; 
 for he could not underitand, why nature fhould teach 
 us to conceal what nature had given : tliat neither him- 
 felf nor family were ailiamed of any parts of their bo- 
 dies ; but however I might do as I pleafed. Where- 
 upon I firft unbuttoned my coat, and pulled it off. I 
 did the fame with my waiftcoat ; I drew off my lho.es, 
 flockings, and breeches. I let my Ihirt down to my 
 v/aill, and drew up the bottom, faftening it like a girdle 
 about my middle to hide my nakednefs. 
 
 My mailer obferved the whole performance with 
 great figns of curiofity and admiration. He took up 
 all my cloathsin hispallern one piece after another, and 
 examined them diligently ; he then ftroaked my body 
 very gently, and looked round me feveral times, after 
 which he faid, it was plain I mufl be a perfedlj^z^co ; 
 but that I differed very much from the reft of my fpecies 
 in the foftncfs, whitenefs, and fmoothnefs ofmyikin, 
 my want of hair in feveral parts of my body, tl>e 
 iliape and fhortnefs of my claws behind and before, an3 
 my affcftation of walking continually on my two 
 hinder feet. He defired to fee no more ; and gave me 
 leave to put on my cloaths again, for I was fliuddering 
 with cold. 
 
 lexpreflijdmy uneafinefs at his giving me fo often the 
 appellation of yahoo, an odious animal, for which I had 
 fo utter an hatred and contempt : I begged he woidd 
 forbear applying that word to me, and take the fame 
 order in his family, and among his friends, whom he 
 fuffered to fee me. I requefted Ijkewife, that the fecret 
 of my having a falfe covering to my body might be 
 knov.n to none but himfelf, at leaft as long as my pre- 
 fent cloathina fiiould laft ; for as to what the forrel 
 naj his valet had obferved, his honour might co.iimand 
 him to conceal it.
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 229 
 
 All tills my mafter very gracioufly conrented to, ar,d 
 thus the fecret wab kept till ray cloatks began to \vf ar 
 out, which I was forced to fupply by fewral contri- 
 vances, that fhall hereafter be mentioned. Jn the meaa 
 time he defired I would go on with my utmott diligenee 
 to Ifikarn their language, bccaufe he v/as more aftonifl)ed 
 at my capacity for fpeech and reafon, than at the figure 
 of my body, whether it were covered or no ; adding, 
 that he waited with fome impatience to hear the won- 
 ders, which I promifed to tell him. 
 
 From thenceforward he doubled the pains he had 
 been at to inftrudt me ; he brought me into all com- 
 pany, and made them treat me with civility, bccaufe, 
 as he told them privately, this would put me into good 
 humour, and make me more diverting. 
 
 Every day, when I waited 011 him, befide the trou- 
 ble he was at in teaching, he would alk me feveral 
 quellions concerning myfelf, which I anfvvered as well 
 as I could ; and by thele means he had already received 
 fome general ideas, though very imperfedl. It would 
 be tedious to relate the feveral Heps, by which J ad- 
 vanced to a more regular convcrfation : but the firll ac- 
 count I gave of myfelf in any order and length was to 
 this purpofe. 
 
 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 vefTel made of wood, and larger than his ho- 
 nour's houfe. I defcribed the Ihip to him in the beft 
 terms I could, and explained by the help of my hand- 
 kerchief difplayed, hovy it was driven forward by the 
 wind. That upon a quarrel among us I was fet on. 
 fliore on this coalt, where I walked forward, without 
 knowing whither, till he delivered, me from the perfe- 
 cution of thofe execrable yahoos. He aiked m.e, who 
 made the fliip, and how it was pofiible that the HoUy- 
 hnhnmsoixay country would leave it to the manage- 
 ment of brutes ? My anfwer was, that I durfl: proceed 
 00 farther in my relation, unlefs he would give me his 
 
 0^3 wersi
 
 239 A V O Y A G E 
 
 word and honour that he would not be offended, and 
 then I would tell him the wonders I had (o often pro- 
 mifed. He agreed ; and I went on by afiuring him, 
 that the fhip was made by creatures like myfelf, who in 
 all the countries I had travelled, as weil as in my own, 
 were the only governing, rational animals ; and that 
 upon my arrival hither I was as much aftonifhed to fee 
 the Houyhfthnms adl like rational beings, as he or his 
 friends could be in finding fome marks of reafon in a 
 creature he was pleafed to call a yahoo ; to which I 
 owned my refemblance in ever)' part, but could not ac- 
 count for their degenerate and brutal nature. I faid 
 farther, that if good fortune ever reftored me to my na- 
 tive country to relate my travels hither, as I refolved to 
 do, every body would believe, that I faid the thing 
 ivhich ijuas not ; that I invented the llory out of my 
 own head ; and (with all pofTible refpeft to himfelf, his 
 family, and friends, and under his promife of not being 
 offended) our countrymen would hardly think it pro- 
 bable, that a Houyhnhnm Ihould be the prefiding creature 
 of a nation, and a yahoo the brute. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The Houj'hnhnms mtion of truth and falJJjsod. The au- 
 thor s difcourfe difappro'ved by his mafler. The author 
 gi-ues a more particular accomit of htjnfelf, and the acci- 
 dents of his voyage. 
 
 My mafter heard me with great appearances of un- 
 eafinefs in his countenance ; becaufe doubting, or 
 not btlie-vingy are fo little known in this country, that 
 the inhabitants cannot tell how to behave themfelves 
 uAder fuch circumflances. And I remember, in free- 
 quent difcourfe s with my mafler concerning the nature 
 of manhood in other parts of the world, having occa- 
 iion to talk oi lying, ViwAfalfe reprefenf ation, it was with 
 much difficulty that he comprehended what I meant ; 
 although he had othcrwife a moll; acute judgment. For 
 
 he
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 231 
 
 he arj^ucd thus : that the ufe of fpcech was to make us 
 undcrftand one another, and to receive information of 
 fads ; now, if any one faid the thing ivhich ^was mf, 
 thcfe ends were defeated ; becaufe I cannot properly 
 be laid to underhand him ; and J am fo far froni re- 
 ceiving information, that he leaves me worfe than in 
 ignorance ; for I am led to believe a thing hlack when 
 it is luhite, znAJfjcrt when it is Icag. And thefe were, 
 all the notions he had concerning that faculty oi hingf 
 fo perfectly well underftood, and io univerfally prailifed, 
 among human creatures. 
 
 To return from this digreflion ; when I aflerted that 
 the yahoos were the only governing animak in my 
 country, which my mafter faid, was altogether pail 
 his conception, he defired to know, whetiicr we had 
 Hoayhnhums among us, and what was their employ- 
 ment : I told him, we had great numbers ; that in 
 fummer they gni'zed in the fields, and in winter were 
 kept in houfes with hay and oats, where j^-6c5-fervants 
 were employed to rub their f^ins fmooth, comb their 
 manes, pick their feet, ferve them with food, and 
 make their beds. I underlland you well, faid my 
 mafler ; it is now very plain from all you have fpoktn, 
 that, whatever (hare of reafon th.e yahoos pretend to, the 
 Houybnhnms are your mafters ; I heartily with our 
 yahoos would be fo tradable. I begged his honour 
 would pleafe to excufe me from proceeding any far- 
 ther, becaufe I was very certain that the account he 
 expeded from me would be highly difpleafing. But he 
 infifted in commanding me to let him know tiie bell and 
 the worft : I told him he fhould be obeyed. I owned, 
 that the Houyhnhnms among us, whom we called ho'fes, 
 were the moll generous and comely animal we had; 
 that they excelled in ilrength and fwiftnefs ; and when 
 they belonged to perfons of quality, were employed in 
 travelling, racing, or drawing chariots, they were 
 treated with much kindnefs and care, till they fell in- 
 to diieafes, or became foundered in the feet; but then 
 they were fold, and ufcd to all kind of drudgery, till 
 
 Q..4 ' *^^y
 
 232 A V O y A G E 
 
 they died ; after which their fkins were ftrlpped, and 
 fold for what they were worth, and their bodies left to 
 be devoured by dogs and birds of prey. But the com- 
 mon 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 worfe. I de- 
 fcribed,' as well as I could, our way of riding ; the 
 fhape and ufe of a bridle, a faddle, a fpur, and a whip ; 
 of harnefs and wheels. I added, that we faftened 
 plates of a certain hard fubftance, called iron, at the 
 bottom of their feet to preferve their hoofs from being 
 broken by the ftony ways, on which we often tra- 
 velled. 
 
 My mafler, after fome expreffions of great indigna- 
 tion, wondered how we iired to venture upon a 
 JJouyhnbnfn's, back ; for he was fure, that the weakeft 
 fervant in his houfe would be able to fhake off the 
 ftrongeft jTzZ'co ; or by lying down, and rolling on his 
 back, fqueefe the brute to death. J anfvvered, that 
 our horfes were trained up from three or four years old 
 to the fevei al ufes we intended them for ; that, if any 
 of them proved intolerably vicious, they were employed 
 for carriages ; that they were feverely beaten, while 
 they were young, for any mifchievous tricks : that the 
 males, defigned for the common ufe of riding or 
 draught, very generally cafirated 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 punifhments ; but his honour would 
 pleafe to consider, that they had not the lead tinfture of 
 leafon, any more than X^at yahoes in this country. 
 
 It put me to the pains of many circumlocutions to 
 give my matter a right idea of what I fpoke ; for their 
 language doth not abound in variety of words, becauie 
 their wants and paffions are fewer than among us. But 
 it is impoffible to exprefs his noble refentment at our 
 favage treatment of the Houyhtihnm race ; particularly' 
 after I had explained the manner and ufe of cajlrating 
 hprfes among us to hinder them from propagating their 
 
 kind.
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 233 
 
 kind, and to render them more ferv'ile. He (aid, if it 
 were poflible there could be any country, where yah os 
 alone were endued with reafoH, they certainly mufl: be 
 the governing animal ; becaufe reafon will in time al- 
 ways prevail againft brutal (Irength. But, coniidering 
 the frame of our bodies, and efpecially 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 de fired to know, whether thofe, among 
 whom I lived, refembled me or the ja6cos of his coun- 
 try. I aaiired him, that 1 was as well {hapcd as moft 
 of my age : but the younger, and the females, were 
 much m.cre foft and tender, and the ficins of the latter 
 generally as v/hite as milk. He faid, I differed indeed 
 from other yahoos, being much more cleanly, and not 
 altogether fo deform.ed ; but in point of real advantage 
 he thought 1 differed for the worfe. That my nails 
 were of no ufe either to my fore on hinder- feet ; as to 
 my fore-feet, he could not properly call them by that 
 name, for he never obfcrvcd me to walk upon them ; 
 that they were too foft to bear the ground ; that I ge- 
 nerally went with them uncovered, neither was the co- 
 vering I fometimes wore on them of" the fame fhape, or 
 fo llrong as that on my feet behind. That I could not 
 walk with any fecurity, for if either t)f my hinder- 
 feet flipped, I muit inevitably fall. He then began to 
 jind fault v.'ith other parts of my body ; the flatnefs of 
 my face, the prominence of my nofe, mine eyes, 
 placed direflly in front, fo that 1 could not look on 
 either fide without turning my head : that I was not 
 able to feed myfelf without lifting one of my fore- feet 
 to my mouth : and therefore nature had placed thofc 
 joints to anfwer that nccefiity. He knew not, what 
 could be the ufe of thoie feveral clefts and divifions ia 
 my feet behind ; that thefe were too foft to bear the 
 hardnefs and fharpnefs of ilones without a covering 
 made from the ikin of fome other brute ; that my whole 
 body wanted a fence againft heat and cold, v/hich I 
 was forced to put on a^id off every day with tedioufneis 
 
 and
 
 2J4 A V O Y A G E 
 
 and trouble. And laftly, that he obferved even' an'mal 
 in this country naturally to abhor xhsjal^cos, whom the 
 weaker avoided, and the ftronger drove from them. So 
 that, fuppofing us to have the gift of reafon, he could 
 not He how it were poffible to cure that natural anti- 
 pathy, which ew^ty creature difcovered againll us ; nor 
 confequently, how we would tame and render them 
 ferviccable. However, he would (as he faid) debate 
 the matter no farther, bccaufe he was more defirous to 
 fertow my own ftory, the country where I was born, 
 aiid the i'evcral aftions and events of my life before I 
 came hither. 
 
 I afiured him, how extremely defirous I was, that he 
 fhould be fatisfied in every pomt ; but I doubted much, 
 whether it would be pollible for me to explain myfelf 
 on fevcral fubjedls, whereof his honour could have r.o 
 conception ; becaufe I law nothing in his country, to 
 which J could refemble them. That however I would 
 cio my be:l, and llrive to exprefs myfelf by fmiilitudes, 
 iambly defiring his alfiltance, when I wanted proper 
 words ; which he was pleafed to promife me. 
 
 I faid, my birth was of honelt parents in an ifland 
 called England., which was remote from this country as 
 many days journey, as the llrongcit of his honour's fer- 
 vants could travel in the annual courfe 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 tailed queen, i hat I left it to get 
 riches, whereby I might maintain myfelf and family 
 when I fhould return. That in my latt voyage I was 
 commander of the fnip, and had about i\.h-s yahoos under 
 me, many of which died at fea, and I was forced to 
 fcpply them by others picked out from feveral nations. 
 That our fhip was twice in danger of being funk ; the 
 firft time by a great ftorm, and the fecond by ftriking 
 againft a rock. Here my mailer interpofcd by afking 
 m^, liovv I could perfuade grangers out of different 
 eouiitiies to ventuje with mc, afttr the loiTcs I had fuf- 
 
 taincd.
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 235 
 
 tained, and the hazards I had run. I laid, they were 
 fellows of defperate fortunes, forced to fly from the 
 places of their biith on account of their poverty or their 
 crimes. Some were undone by law-fuits, others fpent 
 all they had in drinking, whoring, and gaming ; ethers 
 fled for treafon ; many for murder, theft, poyfoning, 
 robber}', perjury, forgery, coining falfe jnoney, for 
 committing rapes or fodorny ; for flying from their 
 colouis, o.- deferting to the enemy, and mod of them 
 had broken prifon ; none of tltcfe durft return to their 
 rative countries for fear of being hanged, or of ftarving 
 in a jail ; and therefore they were under a neceffity of. 
 feeking a livelihood in other places. 
 
 During this difcourfc, my mafter was pleafed to inter- 
 rupt me feveral times ; J had made ufe of many circum- 
 locutions in defcribing to him the nature of the feveral 
 crimes, for which moft 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 a lofs to know, what could be the 
 ufe or neceffity of prafliung thofe vices. To clear up 
 which, I endeavoured to give him fome ideas of the de- 
 flre of power and riches ; of the terrible efi^efts of lufc, 
 intcmperarce, malice, and envy. All this I was forced 
 to define and defcribe by putting cafes and making fup- 
 pofitions. After which, like one whofe imagination 
 was llruck \^ ith fomething never feen or heard of be- 
 fore, he would lift up his eyes with amazement and 
 indignation. Power, government, war, law, puniih- 
 iiient, and a thoufand other things had no terms, 
 wherein that language could exprefs them ; which made 
 the difficulty almoft infiiperable to give my mailer any 
 conception of what I meant. But being of an excellent 
 iindcrllanding, much improved by contemplation and 
 converfe, he at laft arrived at a competent knowledge 
 of what human nature in our parts of the world is ca- 
 pable to perform, and defired I would give him fomc 
 particular account of that land, which we Cill Europe, 
 but eipecially of my own country. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 236 A V O Y A G E 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 7"/--? author, at his majiers coinmands, informs him of the 
 fate ©/"England. The caufes of<ivar among the princes 
 £/" Europe. 'I he author begins to explain thelLngli^ 
 coffitiition. 
 
 TH E reader may plcafe to obferve, that the follow- 
 ing extraft of many converfations I had with 1T17 
 m::fl:er, contains a {ummary of the moll material points, 
 which were dilcourled at feveral times for above two 
 years ; his honour often defiring fuller fatisfaftion, as I 
 farther improved in the Eovyh-J-nim toneue. I laid be- 
 fore him, as well as I could, the whole llate oi Europe ; 
 I difcourfed of trade and manufadlures, of arts and fci- 
 ences ; and t)ie anfwers 1 gave to a!i tke queiiions he 
 made as they arofe upon feveral fubjecls, were a fund of 
 converfation net to be exhaufted. But I ftiall here only 
 iet down the fubflance of what pafTed between us con- 
 cerning my own country, reducing it into order as well 
 as I can, without any regard to time or other circum- 
 rtances, v/hile I rtridly adhere to truth. iVIy only con- 
 cern is, that I ihall hardly be able to do juftice to my 
 mader's arguments and expreffions, which muft needs 
 fuffer by my want of capacity, as well as by a tranfla- 
 tion into our barbarous Englijh. 
 
 fn obedience therefore to his honour's commands, I 
 related to him the revolution under the prince of Orange ; 
 the long war with France entered into by the laid prince 
 and renewed by his fucccflbr the prefent queen, wherein 
 the greatcft powers of Chrfevdcm were engaged, and 
 which Hill continued : I computed, at his requeit that 
 about a million o^ yahoos might have been killed in the 
 v.'hole progrefs of it ; and perhaps a hundred or more 
 cities taken, and five times as many fliips burnt or funk. 
 
 He afced me, what were the ufuai caufes or motives 
 that made one country go to war with another. I an- 
 fu ercd they v\ere innumerable ; bnc 1 Hiould only men- 
 tion
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS 257 
 
 don a few of the chief. Sometimes the ambition of 
 princes, who never think they have land or people 
 enough to govern. Sometimes the corruption of mi- 
 nifters, who engage their mafter in a war in orJer to 
 flifle or divert the clamour of the fubjedts againlt their 
 evil adminiftration. DiiTerence in opinions hath coft 
 many millions of lives : for inftance whether fiejl? be 
 bread, or bread bc_y%& ; whether the juice of a certain 
 berry be blood ox iwie * ; whether ivhifAing be a vice or 
 a virtue f ; whether it be better to kifs a foji, or throw it 
 into the fire jj ; what is the bei^ colour for a coat, wlie- 
 ther black, ■•white, red, or grey ; and whether it fljould 
 be lo7ig Qx Jhcrt, narrciv or ivide, dirty or clean, with 
 many more %. Neither are any wars fo furious and 
 bloody, or of fo long continuance, as thofe occafioned 
 by differences in opinion, efpecially if it be in things 
 indiiFerent. 
 
 Sometimes the quarrel between two princes is to de- 
 cide, which of them fhall difpollefs a third of his do- 
 minions, where neither of them pretend to any right. 
 Sometimes one prince quarrelleth with another, for fear 
 the other fhould quarrel with Jiim. Sometimes a wap 
 is entered upon becaufe the enemy is too ftrong ; and 
 fometimes becaufe he is too ixeak. Sometimes our 
 neighbours ^xant the thi?igs which we ho.'ve, or hane the 
 things which we avant ; and we both figlit, till they 
 take ours, or give us theirs. It is a very juftifiable caufe 
 of a war, to invade a country after the people have 
 been watted by famine, deftroyed by pellilence, or era - 
 broiled by factions among themfelves. It is iullifiable to 
 enter into war againil our ncarell ally, when one of his 
 towns lies convenient for us, or a territory of land, that 
 would render our dominions round and conipatl. If a 
 prince fends forces into a natipn, where the people are 
 poor and ignorant, he may lawfully put half of them 
 
 * Tranfubftantlatfon. X The colour and make of 
 
 •f- C'nurch-mulk. facred veftmcnts and different 
 
 jj Kiffing a crwis. orders of pfjp;/h ctclcfialtkks.
 
 i^S A V O Y A G E 
 
 to death, and makes flaves of the reft, in ordtr to ci- 
 vilize and reduce them from their barbarous way of li- 
 ving. It is a very kingly, honourable, and frequent prac- 
 tice, when one prince defires the affillance of another to 
 fecure him againll an invafion, that the afiillant, when 
 he hath driven out the invader, fhould feize on the do- 
 minions himfelf, and kill, imprifon, or banilli the 
 prince he came to relieve. Alliance by blood, or mar- 
 riage, is a frequent caufe of war between princes ; and 
 die nearer the kindred is, the greater is their difpofition 
 to quarrel : poor nations are hut:gry, and rich nations are 
 proud y and pride and hunger will ever be at variance. 
 For thefe reafons, the trade oi a./Uier is held the n,oil 
 honourable of all others : becaufe a foldier is a yahooy 
 hired to kill in cold blood as many of our own fpecies, 
 who have never offended him, as pofhbly he can. 
 
 There is likevvife a kind of beggarly princes in Eurcpty 
 not able to make war by them felves, who hire out tlieir 
 uoops to richer nations, for fo much a day to each 
 man ; of which they keep three-fourths to themfelves, 
 and it is the bell part ot their maintenance ; fuch are 
 thofe in many Jiorthem parts oi Europe. 
 
 What you have told me (faid my mafler) upon the 
 fubjeil ot war, does indeed difcover moft admirably the 
 effeds of that reafon you pretend to : however it is 
 happy that x.\\t Jhatfie is greater than the danger ; and 
 that nature has left you utterly incapable of doing much 
 mifchief. For, your mouths lying flat with your faces, 
 you can hardly bite each other to any purpofe, unlefs by 
 confcnt. Then as to the claws upon your feet before 
 and behind, they are fo fhort and tender, that one of 
 our yahoos would drive a dozen of yours before him. 
 And therefore in recounting the numbers of thofe who 
 have been killed in battle, I cannot but think you have 
 J aid the th'iJig luhich is not. 
 
 I could not forbear Ihaking my head, and fmiling a 
 little at his ignorance. And being no flranger to the 
 art of war, 1 gave him a defcription of cannon?, cul- 
 verins, mufquets, carabiaes, putols, bullets, powder, 
 
 fvvorJi,
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 239 
 
 fwords, bayonets, battles, fieges, retreats, attacks, un- 
 dermines, countermines, bombardments, fea-fight^, 
 ihips funk with a thoufand men, twenty-thoufand killed 
 on each fide, dying groans, limbs flying in the air, 
 •fmoke, noife, confufion, trampling to death under 
 horfes feet ; flight, purfuit, vidory ; fields ftrewed 
 with carcafes, left for food to dogs and wolves, and 
 birds of prey; plundering, ftripping, raviiliing, burn- 
 ing and deftroying. And to fet forth the valour of my 
 own dear countrymen, I alTurcd him, that 1 had feen 
 them blow up a hundred entmies at once in a ficgc, 
 and as many in a fhip ; and beheld the dead bodies 
 drop down in pieces from the clouds, to the great di- 
 verfion of the fpedlators *. 
 
 I was going on to more particulars, when my mailer 
 commanded me filcnce. He faid, whoever under- 
 Itood the nature oiyahooj, might eafily believe it pofli- 
 ble for fo vile an animal to be capable of every adion 
 I had named, if their ftrength and cunning equalled 
 their malice. But as my diicourfe had incieafcd his 
 abhorrence of the whole Ipecics, fo he found it gave 
 
 • It would perhaps be impof- approve and we admire, we envy 
 
 fble, by the moil laboured ar- and we applaud. If, v\hen this 
 
 gument or tb'cibie eloquence, to and the preceding p.^ics are read, 
 
 fhew the abfuid ir)juiHce and we difcover with attoniffjoient, 
 
 horrid cruelty of war fo effec- that when the fame events have 
 
 tually, as by this fimple exhibi- occurred in hiftory we tek no e- 
 
 tion of them in a new 1 ght j motion, and arquiefced in wars 
 
 with war, including every fpecies which we could not but knovr 
 
 of iniquity and every ait of de- to have been commenced for 
 
 Itruclicr', we become familiar by fuch caufcs, and carried on by 
 
 degrees under fpecious terms, fuch mears ; let not him be can- 
 
 which are feldom examined, be- lured for too much debafing his 
 
 caufe they are learned at an age, ff;ecies, who has contributed to 
 
 in which the mind implicitly their felicity and prefervation by 
 
 receives and retain* whatever is /{ripping off the veil of culiom 
 
 imprelt : thus it happens, that and prejudice, and holding up ia 
 
 when one man murders another their native deformity the vices 
 
 to gratify his luft, we Ihudder j by which they become wretchtd, 
 
 but when one man murders a and the arti by v.h;ch they are 
 
 xailiion to gratify his canity, we deHioyed. 
 
 him
 
 J40 A V O Y A G E 
 
 him a diflurbance in his mind, to whicli he was whollv 
 a ftranger before. He thought his ears, being uied'to 
 fuch abominable words, might by degrees admit them 
 with lefs detefiation. That although he hated the 
 yahoos of tliis country, yet he no more blamed thera 
 for their odious qualities, than he did ?ig7mn\h fa bird of 
 prey) for its cruelty, or a iharp Hone for cutting his 
 hoof. Butv/hen a creature, pretending to reafon, could 
 be capable of fuch enormities, he dreaded, left ihe cor- 
 ruption of that faculty might be worfe than brutality it- 
 felf. He feeraeth therefore confident, that inftead of 
 reafon we were only pofibfi^d of fome quality fitted to 
 encreafe our natural vices ; as the refleftion from a trou- 
 bled ftream returns the image of an ill-fhapen body not 
 only larger but more dijlorted. 
 
 He added, that he had heard too much upon the 
 ftibjeft of war both in this, and fome former difcouifes. 
 There was anotlier point, which a little perplexed him 
 at prefent. I had informed him, that fome of our crew- 
 left their country on account of being ruined by la"j:\ 
 that I had already explained the meaning of the word ; 
 but he was at a lofs, how it Ihould come to pafs, that 
 the/rt'if, which was intended for every man's prelbrva- 
 tion, fhould be any man's ruin. Therefore he defired 
 to be farther fatisficd what I meant by lav.', and die 
 dijpenfers thereof, according to the prefent practice in 
 my own country : becaufe he thought nature and reafon 
 were fufficisnt gui|des for a reafonabic animal, as we 
 pretended to be, in {hewing us what we owght to do, 
 and what to avoid. 
 
 I aflurcd bis honour, that laiv was a fcience, in 
 which 1 had not much couverfed, further than by cm- 
 ploying advocates in vain upon fome injuilices, that had 
 been done me; however I would give him all tlie fa- 
 tisfadion I was able. 
 
 I faid, there was a fociety of meq amoug us br«d U^ 
 from their youth in the art of proviug by words (mul- 
 tiplied for the parpofe, that 'whiti \% klady and black ft 
 2 ivhite
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. ■ 241 
 
 fwhile according as they are paid *. To this focic-ty all 
 the reft of the people avejlairs. For example, if my 
 neighbour hath a mind to my co-m, he Iiires a lanvyer to 
 prove that he ought to have my con^} from me. I muft 
 then hire another to defend my right, it being againft 
 all rules of Imv, that any man fhould be allowed to 
 fpeak for himfelf. I\'ow in this cafe I, who am the right 
 owner, lie under two great difadvantages ; /r/?, my 
 la-ivyer, being praflifed almofl- from his cradle in de- 
 fending fallhood, is quite out of his element, v/henhe 
 would be an advocate for juftice, which is an unnatural 
 office he always attempts with great awkwardnefs, if not 
 with ill-will. The/ccond difadvantage is, that my lan.v- 
 yer muft proceed with great caution, or elfe he will be 
 reprimanded by x}i\t judges, and abhorred by his brethren, 
 as one that would lelTen the pradtice of the laiu. And 
 therefore I have but two methods to preferve my coou. 
 The firft is, to gain over my adverfary's lawyer with a 
 double fee ; who will then betray his client by infinua- 
 ting, that he hathyz^/ia on his fide. The fecond way 
 is, for my laivyer to make my caufe appear as unju/l as 
 he can by allowing the covj to belong to my adverfary ; 
 and this,' if it be Ikilfully done, will certainly befpeak 
 the favour of the berch. Now your honour ibto know, 
 that thefe judges are perfons appointed to decide all 
 controverfies of property, as well as for the trial of 
 criminals, and picked out from the moft dexterous 
 lawyers who are grown old or lazy ; and having been 
 byafted all their lives againft truth and equity, lie under 
 fuch a fatal neceffity of favouring fraud, perjury, and 
 oppreffion, that I have known fome of them refufe a 
 large bribe from the fide where juftice 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 
 hath been done before, may legally be done again : and 
 
 * As in every caufe council are fee'd on both fides, it cannot be 
 pretended that this account is much exaggerated. 
 
 Vol. II. R therefore
 
 242 . A V O Y A G E 
 
 therefore they take fpecial care to record all the decifi- 
 ons formerly made againft common jullice, and the ge- 
 neral reafon of mankind. Thefe, under the name of 
 frecedents, they produce as authorities to juftify the moft 
 iniquitous opinions, and the judges never fail of di- 
 recting accordingly. 
 
 In pleading they ftudioufly avoid entering into the 
 merits of the caufe ; but are loud, violent, aud tedi- 
 ous, in dwelling upon all circumjiances which are not 
 to the purpofe. For inllance, in the cafe already men- 
 tioned : they never defire to know what claim or title 
 my adverfary hath to my co-m ; but whether the faid 
 co^M were red or black ; her horns long or fhort ; 
 whether the held I wraze her in be round or fquare ; 
 whether Hie was milked at home or abroad ; what dif- 
 cafes Ihe is fubjed to, and the like ; after which they 
 confult precedents, adjourn the caufe from time to tinre, 
 and in ten, twenty, or thirty years come to an iffue. 
 
 It is likewife to be obferved, that this fociety hath 
 a peculiar cant and jargon of their own, that no other 
 mortal can underiland, and wherein all their laws are 
 written, which they take fpecial care to multiply; 
 whereby they have wholly confounded the very eflence 
 of truth and falfliood, of right and wrong ; fo that it 
 will take thirty years to decide, whether the field left 
 me by my anccrtors for fix generations belongs to me 
 or to a ftranger three hundred miles off. 
 
 In the trial of perfons accufed for crimes againft the 
 flate, the method is much more fhort and commenda- 
 ble : the judge flrft fends to found the difpofition of 
 thofe in pou-er, after which he can eafily hang or fave a 
 ciiminal, ftriftly prcferving all due forms of lanv. 
 
 Here my mafter interpofmg, faid it was a pity, that 
 creatures endowed with fuch prodigious abilities of 
 mind, as thefe la^.vyers, by the defcription I gave of 
 them, rnufl certainly be, were not rather encouraged to 
 be inrtructors of others in wifdom and knowledge. In 
 anfwer to which I afTurcd his honour, that in all 
 points out of their own trade they were ufually the 
 
 molt
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 243 
 
 moft Ignorant and ftupid generation among us, the moft 
 defpicable in common converfation, avowed enemies to 
 all knowledge and learning, and equally difpofed to 
 pervert the general reafon of mankind in every other 
 fubjeft ofdifcourfeas in that of their own profelfion. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 A continuation of the Jiate c/" England under queen Anne, 
 The chara^er of a firfl minifer of Jiate in european 
 courts. 
 
 MY mailer was yet wholly^ at a lofs to underfland, 
 what motives could incite this race o^ lai^yers to 
 perplex, difquiet, and weary themfelves, and engage 
 in a confederacy of injuftice, merely for the fake of 
 injuring their fellow-animals ; neither could he com- 
 prehend what I meant in faying, they did it for hire. 
 Whereupon I was at much pains to defcribe to him the 
 ufe of money^ the materials it was made of, and the 
 value of the metals, that when a yahoo had got a great 
 ftore of this precious fubftance, he was able to purchafe 
 whatever he had a mind to, the finell cloathing, the 
 nobleft houfes, great trafts of land, the moft coftly 
 meats and drinks ; and have his choice of the moft 
 beautiful females. Therefore fince money alone was 
 able to perform all thefe feats, our yahoos thought they 
 could never have enough of it to fpend, or to fave, as 
 they found themfelves inclined from their natural bent 
 either to profufion or avarice. That the rich man en- 
 joyed the fruit of the poor man's labour, and the lat- 
 ter were a thoufand to one in proportion to the former. 
 That the bulk of our people were forced to live mife- 
 rably, by labouring every day for fmall wages, to make 
 a few live plentifully. I enlarged myfelf much on 
 thefe and many others particulars to the fame purpofe :- 
 but his honour was ftill to feek ; for he went upon a 
 fuppofition, that all animals had a titl? to their fhare iit 
 the produdions of the earth, and efpecially thofe who 
 
 R z prefid«<i
 
 244 A V O Y A G E 
 
 prefided over the reft. Therefore he defired I would 
 let him know, what thefe colUy meats were, and how 
 anv of us happened to want them. V\ hereupon I 
 enumerated as many forts as came into my head, with 
 the various methods of drefiing 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 cnnveniencies. I allured him 
 that this whole globe of earth muft be at leaft three 
 times gone round, before one of our better female ja- 
 hovs could get her breakfaft or a cup to put it in. He 
 faid that muft needs be a miferable country, u'hich can- 
 not furnilh food for its own inhabitants. But Vv'hat he 
 chiefly wondered at was, hov/ fuch vafts trads of 
 ground, as I defcribed, ihculd be v/holly without frejh 
 auater, and the people put to the necefiity of fending 
 over the fea for drink. I replied, that Eyigland (the 
 dear place of my nativity) was computed to produce 
 three times the quantity of food, more than its inha- 
 bitants are able to confume, as well as liquors e .trafied 
 from grain, or preffed out of the fruit of certain trees, 
 vvhich made excellent drink ; and the famiC proportion 
 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 greatelV 
 part of our neceifary things to other countries, from 
 whence in return we brought the materials of difeafes, 
 folly, and vice, to fpend among ourfelves. Hence it 
 follows of necelHty, that vaft numbers of our people 
 are compelled to feek their livelihood by begging, rob- 
 bing, ilealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, fuborn- 
 ing, forfwearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, 
 hefloring, voting, fcribbling, llai-gazing, poyfoning, 
 whoring, canting, libelling, free-thinking, and the 
 like occupations : evciy one of which terms 1 was at 
 much pains to make him undeiiland. 
 
 That Wine was not imported among us from fo- 
 reign countries to fupply the want of water, or other 
 drinks, but becaufe it was a fort of liquid, whi;h 
 ^ made
 
 TO THE HOUYHNTHNMS. 245 
 
 made us meriy by putting us out of our feiifes, diverted 
 all melancholy thoughts, begat wild extiavagant ima- 
 ginations in the brain, railed our hopes, and banifhed 
 our fears ; fufpended every office of reafon for a time, 
 and deprived us of the ufe of our limbs, till we fdl 
 into a profound fleep ; although it muft bs confelled, 
 that we always awaked fick and difpirited ; and that 
 the ufe of this liquor filled us with difeafes, which made 
 our lives uncomfortable and fhort *. 
 
 But befide all this, the bulk of our people fupported 
 themfelves by furnilhing the neceflities or convenien- 
 cies of life to the rich, and to each other. For in- 
 ftance, when I am at home, and drefied as I ought to 
 be, 1 carry on my body the workmanfliip of an hun- 
 dred tradefmcn ; the building and furniture of my 
 lioufe employ as many more, and five times the num- 
 ber to adorn my wife. 
 
 I was going on to tell him of another fort of peo- 
 ple, w!;o get their livelihood by attending the iick, 
 having upon fome occafions informed his honour, that 
 many of my crew had died of difeafes. But here it 
 was with the utmoft diff.culty, that i brought him to 
 apprehend what I meant. He could eafily conceive, 
 that a Houyhnhnm grew weak and heavy a few days 
 before his death, or by fome accident m.ight hurt a 
 limb : but that nature, who work? all things to per- 
 feflion, ftould fuffer any pains to breed in our bodies, 
 he thought impoffible, and defired to know the reafon 
 offo unaccountable an evil. I told him, we feed on 
 a thoufand things, which operated contrary to each 
 other : tliat we eat when we were not hungry, and 
 drank without the provocation of thirll ; that u'e fat 
 whole nights drinking llrong liquors without eating a 
 bit, which difpofed us to floth, inflamed our bodies, 
 and precipitated or prevented digeflion. Thr.t proftitute 
 
 • This account excites ideas of der the terms by which it is ge- 
 drurikennefj very different from nerally exprefled, 
 thofe, which are conceived un- 
 
 R x female
 
 246 A V O Y A G S 
 
 female yahoos acquired a certain malady, which bred 
 rottennefs in the bones of thofe who fell into their em- 
 braces ; that this and many other difeafes were propa- 
 gated from father to fon ; fo that great numbers come 
 into the world with complicated maladies upon them : 
 that it would be endlefs to give him a catalogue of all 
 difeafes incident to human bodies ; for they could not 
 be fewer than five or fix hundred fpread over every 
 limb and joint ; in (hort, every part, external and in- 
 teiline, having difeafes appropriated to itfelf To re- 
 medy which there was a fort of people bred up among 
 us in the profeffion, or pretence, of curing the fick. 
 And becaufe I had fome fluU in the faculty, I would in 
 gratitude to his honour let him know the whole myf- 
 tery and method, by which they proceed. 
 
 Their fundamental is, that all difeafes arife from re^ 
 fiction ; from whence they conclude, that a great e-va- 
 cuaticn of the body is neceffary either through the na- 
 tural paffage, or upwards at the mouth. Their next 
 bufinefs is from herbs, minerals, gums, oyls, fhells, 
 falts, juices, fea-weed, excrements, barks of trees, 
 ferpents, toads, frogs, fpiders, dead mens flefh and 
 bones, birds, beafts, and fifhes to form a compofition 
 for fmell and tafte the moil abominable, naufeous, and 
 deteflable, they can poffibly contrive, which the flo- 
 mach immediately rejefts with loathing ; and this they 
 call a 'voniit : or elfe from the fame liore-houfe, with 
 fome other poyfonous additions, they cominand us to 
 take in at the orifice above or belo'w (jull: as the phyfi- 
 cian then happens to be difpofed) a medicine equally 
 annoying and difgullful to the bowels ; which relaxing 
 the belly, drives down all before it ; and this they call 
 z purge, or a clyjler. For nature (as the phyficians al- 
 ledge) having intended the fuperior anterior orifice only 
 for the intromijjjcn of folids and liquids, and the infe- 
 rior pofterior for ejedlion ; thcfe artifis ingenioufly con- 
 fidering that in all difeafes nature is forced out of her 
 feat, therefore to replace her in it, the body mull be 
 treated in a manner dircdly contrary, by interchanging 
 
 the
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 247 
 
 tKe ufe of each orifice ; forcing folids and liquids in at 
 the ajius, and making evacuations at the mouth. 
 
 But, befides real difeafes, we are fubjecl to many 
 that are only imaginary, for which the phyficians have 
 invented imaginary cures ; thefe have their feveral 
 names, and fb have the drugs that are proper for them j 
 and with thefe our female yahoos are always infelled. 
 
 One gre t excellency in this tribe is thtir {kill at 
 frognoJJicks, wherein they feldom fail ; their predidions 
 in real difeafes, when they rife to any degree of ma- 
 lignity, generally poretnding death, which is always in 
 their power, when recovery is not : and therefore upon 
 any unexpeded figns of amendment after they have pror. 
 nounced their fentence, rather than be acculed as falfe 
 prophets, they know how to approve their fagacity to 
 the world by a feafonable dofe. 
 
 They are likewife of fpecial ufe to hufbands and 
 wives, who are grown weary of their mates ; to eldeft 
 fons, to great minillers of ftate, and often to princes. 
 
 I had formerly upon occailon difcourfed with my 
 mafcer upon the nature oi go-vernment in general, and. 
 particularly of our own excellent conjiitution, defervedly 
 the wonder and emy of the whole world. But having 
 here accidentally mentioned a minijler of Jlaie ; he 
 commanded me ibme time after to inform him, vvhat 
 Ipecies g1 yahoo I particularly meant by that appellation. 
 
 I told him, that a firll: or chief miniiter of ftate, who 
 was the perfon I intended to defcribe, was a creature 
 wholly. exempt from joy and grief, love and hatred, 
 pity and anger ; at Icaft, makes ufe of no other paflions, 
 bnt a violent defire of wealth, power, and titles ; that 
 he applies his words to all ufes, except to the indica- 
 tion of his mind ; that he never tells a truth \iv,X. with 
 an intent that you Ihould take it for a lye ; nor a lyey 
 but with a defign that you fhould take it for a truth ; 
 that thofe he fpeaks vvorfl of behind their backs are in 
 the fureft way of preferment ; and whenever he begins 
 JO praife you to others, or to yourfelf, you are from that 
 day forlorn. The worll mark you can receive is a 
 
 R 4 promife.
 
 248 A V O Y A G E 
 
 promife, efpecially when" it is confirmed with an oath ; 
 after which every wife man retires, and gives over all 
 hopes. 
 
 There arc three methods, by which a man may rife 
 to be chief minifcer. The firft is by knowing how 
 with prudence to difpofe of a wife, a daughter, or a 
 fitter: the fecond by betraying or undermining his 
 predccefibr : and the third is by 2. furious zea/ in pub- 
 lick aflemblies againft the corruptions of the court. But 
 a wife prince would rather chufe to employ thofe, who 
 pradlife the laft of thefe methods ; becaufe fuch zealots 
 prove always the mofl: obfequious andfubfervient to the 
 will and paiTions of their mafter. That thefe Mif/i/iers, 
 having all employments at their difpofal, prefeiv^them- 
 felves in power by bribing the majorit}' of a fenate or 
 great council ; and at lail by an expedient, called an 
 «i? of indemnity (whereof I defcribcd the nature to 
 him) they fecure thenifelves from after reckonings, and 
 retire from the publick laden with the fpoils of the 
 nation. 
 
 The palace of a chief mlnif.er is a feminary to breed 
 up others in his own trade : the pages, lacquies, and 
 porter by imitating their mafler become miniftrs cfftate 
 in their fevcral diftridls, and learn to excel in the three 
 principal ingredients, of infolaire, lying, and bribery. 
 Accordingly they have zfubahsm court paid to them 
 by perfons of the befl rank ; and fometimes, by the 
 force of dexterity and impudence, arrive through feve- 
 ral gradations to be fucccffors to their lord. 
 
 He is ufually governed by a decayed wench, or fa- 
 vourite footman, who arc the tunnels through which all 
 graces are conveyed, and may properly be called, in 
 the Infi refori, the governor.s of the kingdom. 
 
 One day in difcourfe my mailer, having heard ifte 
 mention the nobility of my country, was pleafed to 
 make me a compliment, which I could not pretend to 
 defer ve : that he was fure, I muft have been born of 
 fome noble family, becauie I far evceeded in fhape, co- 
 lour, and clean lincis all the yahoos of his nation, al- 
 though
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHfNMS. 249 
 
 though I feemed to fail in ftrength and agih'ty, which 
 mufl: be imputed to my different way of living from 
 thofe other brutes ; and befides, I was not only en- 
 dowed with the faculty of fpeech, but likewife with 
 fome rudiments of realon, to a degree, that with all 
 his acquaintance I paiTed for a prodigy. 
 
 He made me obferve, that among the Houyhnhmnsy 
 the <vohite, t\it/orril, and the iron grey, were not fo ex- 
 adlly fliaped as the bay, the dapple-grey, and the black ; 
 nor born with equal talents of mind, or a capacity to 
 improve them ; and therefore continued always in the 
 condition of fervants, without ever afpiring to matgh 
 out of our own race, which in that country would be 
 reckoned mcnftrous and unnatural. 
 
 I made his honour my moft humble acknowledg- 
 ments for the good opinion he was pleafed to conceive 
 of me ; but afiured him at the fame time, 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 nobility among us was altoge- 
 ther a different thing from the idea he had of it ; that 
 our young noblemen are bred from their childhood in 
 idlenefs and luxury ; that as foon as years will permit, 
 they confume their vigour, and contract odious difeafcs 
 among levs'd females ,; and when their fortunes are al- 
 moft ruined, they marry feme woman of mean birth, 
 difagreeab'e perfon, and unfound conftitution, merely 
 for the fake of money, whom they hate and defpife. 
 That the produdlions of fuch marriages are generally 
 fcrophilous, ricketty, or deformed children ; by which 
 means the family feldom continues above three gene- 
 rations, unlefs the wife takes care to provide a healthy- 
 father among her neighbours or domefticks in order to 
 improve and continue the breed. That a weak difeafed 
 body, a meagre countenance, and fallow complexion 
 are the true marks of 7ioble blood ; and a healthy ro- 
 bufl; appearance is fo difgraceful in a man of quality, 
 that the world concludes his real father to have been a 
 groom, or a coachman. The imperfections of his mind 
 
 ruQ
 
 2CO A V O Y A G E 
 
 -' » 
 
 ruii parallel with thofe of his bodvj being a compofi- 
 tion of fpleen, dalnefs, ignorance, caprice, fenfuality, 
 and pride. 
 
 Without the confent of this illuftricus body no law 
 can be crafted, repealed, or altered ; and thefe nobla 
 have likewife the deciiions of all our pofTeffions, with- 
 out appeal. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 *lhe auth-.r's great Icve to his nati-ue country. His mafier^s 
 ehferuations upon the conjiitution and adminijlration of 
 England, as de/cribsd by the author, ^with parallel 
 cafes and comparifns. His majler^s obfer-uations upon 
 human nature, 
 
 TH F, reader may be difpofed to wonder, how I 
 could prevail on myfelf to give fo free a repre- 
 fentation of my own fpecies among a race of mortals, 
 who are already too apt to conceive the vileft opinion of 
 human kind from that intire congruity betwixt me and 
 ih.€\x yahoos. But I muft 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 underftanding, that I began to view 
 the adions and paffions of man in a ven,- different 
 light ; and to think the honour of my own kind not 
 v.'orth managing ; Vihich beiides it was impoiTible for 
 me to do before a perfon of fo acute a judgment as my 
 mafter, who daily convinced me of a thoufand faults in 
 myfelf, whereof I had not the leail perception before, 
 and which with us v/ould never be num.bered c/en a- 
 mong human infirmities. I had likewife learned from 
 his example an utter deteftation of all falfhood or dif- 
 guife ; and truth appeared fo amiable to me, that I de- 
 termined upon facrihcing ever)' thing to it. 
 
 Let me deal fo candidly with the reader as to con- 
 fefs, that there v/as yet a much flronger motive for 
 the iVeedora I took in my reprefentation of things. I 
 
 had'
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 251 
 
 had not been a year in the country, before I contrafted 
 fuch a love and veneration for the inhabitants, that I 
 entered on a firm refolution never to return to human 
 kind, but to pafs the reft of my life among theie admi- 
 rable Houyhnhnms in the contemplation and practice of 
 every virtue ; where I could have no example or in- 
 citement to vice. Put it was decreed by fortune, my 
 perpetual enem.y, that fo great a felicity O^ould not fall 
 to my fhare. However it is now fom.e con for t to re- 
 fleft, that in what I faid of my countrymen, I exte- 
 nuated their faults as much a I durft before (o l^riit 
 an examiner ; and upon every article gave 2i^ favour a~ 
 hie a turn, as the matter would bear, t-or indeed vvjio 
 is there alive, that v/ill not be fwayed by his byafs and 
 partiality to the place of his birth ? 
 
 I have related the fubflance of feveral converfations 
 I had with my niafter, during the greateft r<"rt of the 
 time I had the honour to be in his fervice ; but a?,ve 
 indeed for brevity fake omitted much more than is here 
 fet down. 
 
 When I had anfwered all his quedions, and his cu- 
 riofity feemed to be fully fatisfied ; he ftnt for me 
 one morning early, and commanding me to fit down 
 at fome diflance (an honour which he had never before 
 conferred upon me, he faid, he had been very ferioufly 
 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 whofe ftare, by what accident he 
 could not conjefture, fome fmall p'ttance ot reajon had 
 fallen, whereof we made no other ufc, than b. its af- 
 fiftance to aggravate our /M/wr^?/ corruptions, and to ac- 
 quire nev/ ones, which nature had not given u^ : that 
 we difarmed ourfelves of the few abilities fl^e had be- 
 ftov'ed ; 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 
 ftrength or agility of a common j^^co ; that I walked 
 infirmly on my hinder feet ; had found out a contri- 
 vance
 
 252 A V O Y A G E 
 
 vance to make my claws c^ no ufe or defence, and to 
 remove the hair from my chin, whicli was intended as a 
 fhelter from the fun and the weather. Laflly, That I 
 could neither run .with fpeed, nor climb trees like 
 my brethren (as he called them) the yahoos in this 
 country. 
 
 That our inPtitutions of ?>o^ernment and lavj were 
 
 o 
 
 plainly owing to our grofs defeds in reafon, and by 
 ccnfcquence in ^virtue ; becaufe rcaf n alone is fiiflici- 
 ent to govern a mi iotial creature ; which was therefore 
 a cbarader we had no pretence to cnallenge, even from 
 the account 1 had given of my own people ; although 
 he manifeiily perceived, that in order to favour them 
 I bad concealed many particulars, and often /aid the 
 ibiag ivhich ^aas not. 
 
 He was the more confirmed in this opinion, becaufe 
 he obfer\ed, that as I agreed in every feature of my 
 body v/ith other j'^Z'ocj-, except where it was to my i-eal 
 diiadvantage, in point of ftrength, fpecd, and adlivity, 
 thefliortneis of my claws, and fome other particulars 
 where nature had no part ; fo from the reprefentation. I 
 had given him o^ our lives, our manners and our 
 ailions, he found as near a refemblance in the difpofi- 
 tioa of our minds. He laid the yahoos were known to 
 hate one another, more than they did any different 
 Jpecics of animals ; and the reafon ufually affigned was, 
 lie odioufnefs of their own fhapes, which all could 
 fee in the re'l but not in themfelves. He had there- 
 fore bep-un to think it not unwife in us to co%'eir our 
 bodies, and by that invention conceal many of our 
 deformities from each other, which v/ould eHe he hard- 
 ly fapportnble. But he now found he had been mif. 
 taken, and that the diflenfions of thofe brutes in his 
 countiy were owing to the fame caufe with our.-, as I 
 had dcfcribed them. For if (faid he' you throw among 
 five yab.cs as much food as would be fufiicient for 
 fifty, they will, inftead of eating peaceably, fall toge- 
 ther by the ears, each fingle one impatient to ha'vc all 
 ic it/flf; and therefore a fervant was ufually employed 
 
 ' to
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS 253 
 
 t^ fiand by, while they were feeding abrond, and thofe 
 kept at home were ded at a diftance from each other ; 
 that if a cow died of age or accident, before a H;tr^^ 
 hnhntn could fecure it for his own yahoos, thofe in the 
 neighbourhood would come in herds to leize it, and 
 then would eufue fuch a battle as I had defcribed, with. 
 terrible wounds made by their claws on both fides, al- 
 though they feldom were able to kill one anoLher for 
 want of fuch convenient inilruments of death as we 
 had invented. At other times the like battles have been 
 fought between the yahoos of feveral neighbourhn<ds 
 without any vihble caufe : thofe of one diilritl v.'atching 
 all opportunities to furprife the next, before thev are 
 prepared. But if they find their projedl hath mifcar- 
 ried, they return home, and for want of enemies en- 
 gage in what I call a civil war among themfelves. 
 
 That in fome fields of his country there are certain 
 Jkining fto7tes of feveral colours, whereof the yaicos are 
 violently fond ; and when part of thefc Jio-aes is fixed in 
 the earth, as it fometinies happeneth, they will dig 
 with their claws for whole days to get them out ; then 
 carry them away and hide them by heaps in their ken- 
 nels ; but ilill looking round with great caution forfear 
 their comrades fhould find out their treafure. My 
 mafter faid he could never difcover the reafon of this 
 unnatural appetite, or how ihefejfo^es could be of any 
 ufe to aja/jco ; but now he believed it might proceed 
 from the fame principle of avarice, wi:iich I had as- 
 cribed to mankind : That he had once, by way of ex- 
 periment, privately removed a heap of thefe /lo/iesftota. 
 the place, where one of YAs yahoos had buried it : where- 
 upon the fordid anim.al, milfing his treafute, by his 
 loud lamenting brought the whole herd to the "place, 
 there miferably howled, then fell to biting and teaiing 
 the reil ; began to pine away, would neither eat, nor 
 fleep, nor work, till he ordered a fervant privately to 
 convey the Jloaes into th; fame hole, and hide them as 
 before ; whrth when his yahoo had found, he prefently 
 recovered his fpirits, and gocd humour, bvit to .k care 
 
 to
 
 254 A V O y A G E 
 
 to remove them to a better hiding-place, and hath evet 
 lince been a very ferviceable brute*. 
 
 My mafter farther aflured me, which I alfo obfer- 
 ved myfelf, that in the fields where the Jhining Jlones 
 abound, the fierceft and moft frequent battles are 
 fought, occafioned by perpetual inroads of the neigh- 
 bouring j/S/Wj. 
 
 Hefaid, it was common, when t^Q yahoos difcovered 
 fuch a pom in a field, and were contending which of 
 them Ihould be the proprietor, a third would take the 
 advantag':^, and carry it away from them both ; which 
 my mafter would needs contend to have fome kind of 
 refemblance with our fuits at lavj ; wherein I thought 
 it for our credit not to undeceive him ; fince the deci- 
 fion he mentioned was much more equitable than many 
 decrees among us : becaufe the plaintiff and defendant 
 there loft nothing befide the Jione they contended for, 
 whereas our courts of equity would never have difmifTed 
 the caufe, while either of them had any thing left. 
 
 My mafter continuing his difcourfe faid, there was 
 nothing that rendered the yaho:.s more odious, than 
 their undiftinguifhing appetite to devour every thing 
 that came in their way, whether herbs, roots, berries, 
 the corrupted flefh of animals, or all mingled too-e- 
 ther : and it was peculiar in their temper, that they 
 were fonder of what they could get by rapine or ftealth 
 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 burft, after which nature had 
 pointed out to them a certain root that gave them a ge- 
 neral evacuation. 
 
 There was alfo another kind a? root very juicy but 
 fomewhat rare and difRcuIt to be found, which the 
 yahoos fought for with much eagernefs, and would fuck 
 it with great delight ; it produced in them the fame 
 
 * Nothing can be faid to vice, which thii defcription will 
 make avarice a greater reproach nottui;. 
 «o mankind, except tjiat it is a
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 2^5 
 
 cffefts, that wine hath upon us. It would make theia 
 fometimes hug, and fometimes tear one another ; they 
 would howl and grin, and chatter, and reel, and tum- 
 ble, and then fall afleep in the mud. 
 
 I did indeed obferve, that the yaht}Oi were the only 
 animals in this country fubjeft to any difeafes ; which 
 however wefe much fewer than horfes have among us, 
 and contradled not by any ill treatment they meet 
 with, but by the naftinefs and greedinefs of that for- 
 did brute. Neither has their language any more than 
 a general appellation for thofe maladies, which is bor- 
 rowed from the name of the beaft, and called hnea-yahoo 
 or \\y& yahoi^s enjil, and the cure prefcribed is a mixture 
 of their o-zun dung and urine., forcibly put down the 
 yahoo'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 publick good, as an admi- 
 rable fpecifick againll all difeafes produced by repletion. 
 
 As to learning, government, arts, manufaclures, 
 and the like, my mafter confeffed, he could find little 
 or no refemblance between the yahoos of that country 
 and thofe in ours. For he only meant to obferve, 
 what parity there was in our natures. He had heard 
 indeed fome curious Hcuyhnhnms obferve, that in mofl 
 herds there was a fort of ruling yahoo (as among us 
 there is generally fome leading or principal flag in a 
 park) who was always more defortned in body, and 
 mifchie^ous in di/pcjliion, than any of the reft. That 
 this leader had ufually a favourite as like himfelfzs he 
 could get, whofe employment was to lick his majler'i 
 feet and pojieriors, and drive the female yahoos to hij 
 kennel * ; for which he was now and then rewarded 
 with a piece of afs's flelh. This fa-vourite is hated by 
 the whole herd> and therefore to protedl himfelf keeps 
 always near the ferfon of his leader. He ufually conti- 
 nues in office, till a worfe can be found ; but the very 
 moment he is difcarded, his fucceflbr- at the iiead of all 
 
 « Flattery and pimping. 
 
 tKe
 
 256 A V O Y A G E 
 
 theyal'oos in that diftrift, young and old, male and fe- 
 male, come in a body, and difchar2,e their excrements 
 upon him from head to foot. But how far this might 
 be applicable to our couris and fa-uourhes-, and minifiers 
 cfjlate, my mailer faid I could bell determine. 
 
 I durft make no return to this malicious infinuation, 
 which debafed human underllanding below the fagacity 
 of a common hound, who hath judgment enough to 
 diftinguilh and follow the cry of the ablejl dog in the 
 fad, without being ever miftaken. 
 
 My mailer told me, there were fome qualities remar- 
 kable \nt\\Q yahoos, which he had not obferved me to 
 mention, or at leaft very flightly, in the accounts I had 
 given him of human kind ; he faid, thofe animajslike 
 other brutes had their females in common : but in this 
 thev differed, that the {^eyahco vvould admit the male, 
 while fhe was pregnant ; and that the he's vvould 
 quarrel and fight with the females as fiercely as with 
 each other. Both which praflices were fuch degrees of 
 infamous brutality, as no other fenfitive creature ever 
 
 arrived at. 
 
 Another thing he wondered at in the yahoos, was 
 their Ibange difpofition to naflinefs and dirt ; whereas 
 there appears to be a natural love of cleanlinefs in all 
 other animals. As to the two former accufations, I 
 was glad to let them pafs without any reply, becaufe I 
 had not a word to offer upon them in defence of my 
 fpecies, which otherwife I certainly had done from 
 my own inclinations. But I could have eafily vindica- 
 ted human kind from the imputation of fingularity upon 
 the laft article, if there had been any jkvine in that 
 country (as unluckily for me there were not) whi^k, 
 although it may be a fnveeier quadruped than a yahoo^ 
 cannot, I humbly conceive, in juftice pretend to more 
 cleanlinefs ; and fo his honour himfelf muft have own- 
 ed, if he had feen their filthy way of feeding, and their 
 cuftom of wallowing and fleeping in the mud. 
 
 My mailer likewife mentioned another quality, which 
 hii lejrvants had dilcovercdin feveraljai'o:/, and to him 
 
 was
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 257 
 
 was wholly unaccountable. He faid, a fancy would 
 Ibmetimes take a yahoo 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, want- 
 ed neither food nor water : nor did the iervants imagine 
 what could poffibly ail him. And the only remedy 
 they found was, to fet him to hard work, after which 
 he would infallibly come to himfelf. To this I was 
 iilent out of partiality to my own kind; yet here I 
 could plainly difcover the true feeds o{ff) 'een, which 
 o-nly feizeth on the lazy, the luxurious, and the ruh .• 
 who if they were forced to undergo the/ame regimen, I 
 would undertake for the cure. 
 
 His honour had farther obfervrd, t'^at a female ja/^ao 
 would often ftand behind a bank or a bufh to gaze on 
 the young males paffing by, and then appear, and hide, 
 uiing many antick gertures and grimaces, at which, 
 time it was obferved that flie had a moft 'ffenfi-uefmell ; 
 and when any of the males advanced would flowly re- 
 tire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit Ihew 
 of fear run off into fome convenient place, where fhe 
 knew the male would follow her. 
 
 At other times, if a female ftranger came among 
 them, three or four of her own fex would get about- 
 her, and ftare, and chatter, and grin, and fmell her all 
 over ; and then turn off with geltures, that feemed to 
 exprefs contempt and difdain. 
 
 Perhaps my mafter might refine a little in thefe {pe- 
 culations, which he had drawn from what he obferved 
 himfelf, or had been toM him by others : however I 
 could not reHeft without fome amazement and much 
 forrow, that the rudiments of leuudnefs, coquetry, cen- 
 fure, and /caudal fhould have place by inilind in 
 womankind. 
 
 I expected every moment, that my mafter would ac- 
 
 cufe the yahoos of thofe unnatural appetites in both 
 
 fexes, fo common among us. But nature, it feems, 
 
 hath not been fo expert a fchool-miftrefs ; and thefe 
 
 V^oL. ir. S .politer
 
 258 A V O Y A G E 
 
 politer pleafures are intirely the produdtions of art and 
 realbn on our fide of the globe. 
 
 C H A P. viir. 
 
 The author relates fcveal particulars rf the yahoos. The 
 great virtue of the Houyhnhnms. The education ana 
 exerci/i of tkeir youth. 'J heir general afJetrMy . 
 
 AS r ought to have underHood human nature much 
 better, than I fuppofed it poITible for my mailer 
 to do, fo it was eafy to apply the charafter he gave of 
 t^WQyahoos to myfelf, and my countrymen ; and I be- 
 lieved, I could yet make farther diicoveries from my 
 own obfervation. I therefore often begged his honour 
 to let me go among the herds oi yahoos in the neigh- 
 bourhood, to which he always very gracioufly confent- 
 ed, being perfedly convinced, that the hatred I bore 
 thofe brutes would never fufFer me to be corrupted by 
 them ; and his honour ordered one of his fervants, a 
 ftrong forrel nag, very honeft and good-natured, to be 
 my guard, without whofe protedlion I durft not under- 
 take fuch adventures. For I have already told the rea- 
 der, how much I ivas peftered by thofe odious animals 
 upon my firil arrival. And I afterwards failed very 
 narrowly three or four times of falling into their 
 clutches, when I happened to ftray at any diflance 
 without my hanger. And I have reafon to believe they 
 had fome imagination that I was of their own fpecies, 
 which 1 often affilied myfelf by ftripping up my fleeves, 
 and fhewed my naked arm and bread in their fight, 
 when my protestor was v/ith me. At which times they 
 would approach as near as they durft, and imitate my 
 aclicns after the manner of monkies, but ever with 
 great figns of hatred ; as a x.'xra.tjack-daiu with cap and 
 Itockings is always perfecuted by the wild ones, when 
 he happens to be got among them. 
 
 Tliey are prodigioufly nimble from their infancy ; 
 however I once aaught a young male of thrae years old, 
 
 ani
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 2^-9 
 
 and endeavoured by all marks of tendernefs to make it 
 quiet ; but the little imp fell a fqualling, and fcratch- 
 ing, 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 noife, but finding the cub 
 was fafe (for away it ran) and my forrel nag being 
 by, they durft not venture near us. 1 obferved the 
 young animal's flelh to fmell very rank, and the flink 
 was fomewhat between a iveafd and zfox, but much 
 more difagreeable. I forgot another circumftance (and 
 perhaps T might have the reader's pardon, if it were 
 wholly omitted) that while I held the odious vermin in 
 my hands, it voided its filthy excrements of a yellow 
 liquid fubrtance all over my cloaths ; but by good for- 
 tune there was a fmall brook hard by, where I wafhed 
 myfelf as clean as I could ; although I durft not com.e 
 into my mailer's prefence, until I were fufficiently 
 aired . 
 
 By what I could difcover, t}\z yahoos appear to be the 
 moil unteachable of all animals ; their capacities never 
 reaching higher than to draw or carry burthens. Yet I 
 am of opinion, this defeft arifeth chiefly from a per- 
 verfe, reltive difpofition. For they are cunning, mali- 
 cious, treacherous, and revengeful. They are ftrong 
 and hardy, but of a cowardly fpirit, and by confe- 
 quence infolent, abjedl, 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. 
 
 The Houyhnhnfns keep t\\Q yahoos for prcfent ufe in 
 hutts not far from the houfe ; but the reft are fent abroad 
 to certain fields, where they dig up roots, eat feveral 
 kinds of herbs, and fearch about for carrion, or fome- 
 times catch vjeafels and luhimuhs (a fort of ixjtld rat) 
 which they greedily devour. Nature has taught them 
 to dig deep holes with their nails on the fide of a rifing 
 ground, wherein they lie by thcmfelves ; only the ken- 
 nels of the females are larger, fufficient to hold two or 
 three-cubs, 
 
 S 2 Tliey
 
 26o AVOYAGE 
 
 They fwim from their infancy like frogs, and are able 
 to continue long under wat r, where they often take 
 fiih, which the females carry home to their young. And 
 upon this occafion I hope the reader will pardon my re- 
 lating an odd adventure. 
 
 Being one day abroad with my proteftor the forrel 
 nag, and the weather exceeding hot, I intreated him to 
 let me bathe in a river that was near. He confented, 
 and I immediately iaipped myfelf ftark naked, and 
 went down foftly into the ftream. It happened that a 
 young female yahoo, ftanding behind a bank, faw the 
 whole proceeding, and inflamed by defire, as the nag 
 and I conjeclured, 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 
 frighted ; the nag was grazing at fome dirtance, not 
 fufpeiSling any harm. She embraced me after a moil 
 fulfomiC manner ; I roared as loud as I could, and the 
 nag came galloping towards me, whereupon (he quitted 
 her grafp with the utmoft reluftancy, and leaped upon 
 the oppofite bank, where Ihe ftood gazing and howl- 
 ing all the time I was putting on my cloaths. 
 
 This was a matter of diverfion to my mailer and his 
 family, as well as of mortification to myfelf. For now 
 I could no longer deny, that 1 was a x^2iS.yahoo in every 
 limb and feature, fmce the females had a natural pro- 
 penfity to me, as one of their own fpecies ; neither 
 vva 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 floe, and her countenance did not make 
 an appearance altogether fo hideous as the reft of her 
 kind : for, I think, Ihe could not be above elevea 
 years old. 
 
 Having lived three years in this country, the reader 
 1 fuppofe win e^pedl that I fliould, like other travel- 
 lers, give him fome account of the manners and cuf- 
 toms of its inhabitants, which it was indeed my princi- 
 pal ftuJy to learn. 
 
 As thefe noble Houyhnhnm are endowed by nature 
 
 with
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 26r 
 
 vith a general difpofition to all virtues, and have no 
 conceptions or ideas of what is evil in a rational crea- 
 ture ; To their grand maxim is, to cultivate reafon, and 
 to be wholly governed by it. Neither is reafonzmon^ 
 them a point problematical, as with us, where men 
 can argue with plaufibility on both fides of a queftion ; 
 but ftrikes you with immediate convidlion ; as it mufl 
 needs do, where it is not mingled, obfcured, or dif- 
 coloured by paffion and intereft. I remembered it was 
 with extreme difficulty, that 1 could bring my mafter 
 to underftand the meaning of the word opinion, or how 
 a point could be difputable ; becaufe reafcn taught us 
 to affirm or deny only where we are certain ; and be- 
 yond our knowledge wc cannot do either. So that con- 
 troverfies, wranglings, difputes, and pofitivenefs, in 
 falfe or dubious propofitions, are evils unknown among 
 the Houyhnhnms. In the like manner, when I ufed to 
 explain to him our fcvcral fyflems ofi naiwal fhilofcphy, 
 he would laugh, that a creature pretending to reafcn 
 fhould value itfelf upon the knowledge of other people's 
 conjedures, and in things where that knowledge, if it 
 were certain, could ie of no ufe. Wherein be agreed 
 intirely with the fentiments oi Socrates as Plato delivers 
 them ; which 1 mention as the higlieft honour I can do 
 that prince of philofophers. I had often fmce refleft- 
 cd, what dertru(flion fuch a doftrine would make ia 
 the libraries of Europe ; and how many paths to fame 
 would be then fhut up in the learned world. 
 
 Friendjhip and benevolence arc the two principal vir- 
 tues among the Houyhnhnms * ; and thefe not confined 
 to particular objefts, but univerfal to the whole race. 
 For a llranger from the remoteft: part is equally treated 
 with the nearell neighbour ; and wherever he goes, 
 looks upon himfelf as at home. They preferve de- 
 cency and ci'vility in the higheft degrees, but are alto- 
 gether ignorant oi ceremony. They have no fondnefs 
 tor their colts or foles, but the care they take in edu- 
 
 • Their virtuous qualities are only negativCi Orrery. 
 
 S 3 eating
 
 262 A V O Y A G E 
 
 eating them proceedeth intirely from the dilates of 
 ,reafon *. And I obferved my mafter to fhew the fame 
 afrcAion 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 reafon only that maketh 
 a diftinAion of perfons, where there is a fuperior de- 
 gree of virtue t. 
 
 When the matron Houynhhtims have produced one of 
 each fex, they no longer accompany with their conforts, 
 except they lofe one of their iflue by fome cafualty, 
 which very feldom happens ; but in fuch a cafe they 
 meet again ; or when the like accident befals a perfon 
 whofe wife is paft bearing, fome other couple bellow 
 him one of their own colts, and then go together again 
 until the mother is pregnant. This caution is necelfary 
 to prevent the country from being over-burthened with 
 numbers. But the race of inferior Houyhnhmns, bred up 
 to be fervants, is not fo ftriclly limited upon this ar- 
 ticle ; thefe are allowed to produce three of each fex to 
 be domefticks in the noble families. 
 
 In their marriages they are exaftly careful to chufe 
 fuch colours, as will not make any difagreeable mixture 
 in the breed. Strength is chiefly valued in the male, 
 and comelinefs in the female ; not upon the account of 
 love, but to preferve the race from degenerating ; for 
 where a female happens to excel in Jlrtngth, a confort is 
 chofen with regard to comelinefs. 
 
 • We here view the pure in- merely from their ufing the fame 
 
 flinds of biutes, afting in their word in an oppofite fejifc j as by 
 
 narrow fphere, merely for their the word candour, his lordfhip 
 
 immediate prefervation. Or- always means a quality which 
 
 RERY. inclines a man to put the worft 
 
 "f It may perhaps be thought conftruftion upon the words and 
 
 fcmewhatfl range, that the fenfe aftions of another, and by can- 
 
 cf the noble commentator ihculd drAir, the dean always means juft 
 
 appear to be direflly oppofite to tlie contrary, 
 
 that of the author, in the paflii- Compare Orrery, fmall edit, 
 
 ges which thefe notes were in- p. loo. h;rge edit, p. 146. laft 
 
 •ended to illuftrate ; but this paragraph, with Sicift's apology 
 
 apparent oppofition may arife for the I'a/c of a lub. p. 5. 
 
 Couri-
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 263 
 
 Courtfhip, love, prefents, jointures, fettlements, have 
 no place in their thoughts; or terms whereby weexprefs 
 them in their language. The young couple meet and 
 are joined, merely becaufe it is the determination of 
 their parents and friends : it is what they fee done every 
 day, and they look upon it as one of the neceffary adlioRs 
 of a reafonable being. But the violation of marriage, 
 or any other unchaftity, was never heard of : and the 
 married pair pafs their lives with the famefriendfhip, and 
 mutual benevolence, that they bear to all others of the 
 fame fpecies, who come in their way ; without jealoufy, 
 fondnefs, quarrelling, or difcontent. 
 
 In educating the youth of both fexes their method is 
 admirable, and highly deferveth our imitation. Thefe 
 arc not fuffered to taile a grain of cats, except upon cer- 
 tain days, till eighteen years old ; nor »;//^, but very 
 rarely ; and in lummer they graze two hours in the 
 morning, and as many in the evening, which their pa- 
 rents likewife obferve ; but the fervants are not allowed 
 above half that time, and a great part of their grafs i* 
 brought home, which they eat at the moll convenient 
 hours, when they can be beft fpared from work. 
 
 temperance, indujlry, exercije, and cleanliuefs, are the 
 leflbns equally enjoined to the young ones of both fexes : 
 and my mafler thought it monltrous in us, to give the fe- 
 males a different kind of education from the males, ex- 
 cept in fome articles of domellick managementjwhereby, 
 as he truly obferved, one half of our natives were good 
 for nothing but bringing children into the world : and 
 to truft the care of our children to fuch ufelefs animals, 
 he faid, was yet a greater inllance of brutality. 
 
 But the Houyhnhmns train up tlieir youth to ftrcngth, 
 fpeed, and hardinefs by exerciiing them in running races 
 up and down fteep hills, and over hard ftony grounds ; 
 and when they are all in a fweat, they are ordered to 
 leap over head and ears into a pond or rives. Four 
 times a year the youth of a certain diftrift meet tofliew 
 their proficiency in running and leaping, and other 
 feats of Ilrength and agility ; where tlie vi£lor is re- 
 
 S 4 warded,
 
 264 A V O Y A G E 
 
 warded, with a fong in his or her praife. On this felli- 
 val the fervants drive a herd o^jahoos into the field laden 
 with hay, and oats, and m I- , for a repaft to the Houy- 
 hnhnms; after which thefe brutes are immediately driven 
 back again, for fear of being noifome to the afTembly. 
 
 Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there is a 
 reprefentative council of the whole nation, which meets 
 in a plain about twenty miles from our houfe, and 
 continueth about five or fix days. Here they enquire 
 into the ftate and condition of the feveral diftrids ; whe- 
 ther they abound, or be deficient in hay or oats, or 
 cows or yahoos ? and wherever there is any want (which 
 is but feldom) it is immediately fupplied by unanirhous 
 confent and contribution. Here likewife the regula- 
 tion of children is fettled : as for inflance, if a Houy- 
 hnhnm hath two males, he changeth one of them with 
 another that hath two females ; and when a child hath 
 been loft by any cafualty, where the mother is paft 
 breeding, it is determined what family in the diltridl 
 fliall breed another to fupply the lofs. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 ^ grand debate at the general ajfetnlly of the Houyhnhnms, 
 and hoiu it luas determined. The learning of the 
 Houyhnhnms. Their buildings. Their manner of 
 burials. The defeiiivenefs cf their laf.guage. 
 
 ON E of thefe grand aflemblies was held in my 
 time, about three months before my departure, 
 whether my mafter went as the reprefentative of our 
 diftrid. In this council was refumed their old debate, 
 and indeed the only debate that ever happened in their 
 country ; whereof my mafter after his return gave me 
 a very particular account. 
 
 The queftion to be debated was, whether t\\eyahoos 
 fhould be exterminated from the face of the earth One 
 of the members for the affirmative oftered feveral argu- 
 ments of great ftrength and weight ; alledging, that as 
 
 the
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 265 
 
 tht yahoos were the moft filthy, noifome, and deformed 
 animal which nature ever pioduccd, fo they were the 
 moftreftive and indocible, mifchievous and malicious : 
 they would privately fuck the teats oi i\iQ Honjhnhjims 
 cows ; kill and devour their cats, trample down their 
 oats and grafs, if they were not continually watched, 
 and commit a thoufand other extravagancies. He took 
 notice of a general tradition, that yahoos had not been 
 always in their country ; but that many ages ago two 
 of thefe brutes appeared together upon a mountain ; 
 whether produced by the heat of the fun upon corrupted 
 mud and fiime, or from the ooze and froth of the fea, 
 was never known : that thefe yahoos engendered, and 
 their brood in a Ihort time grew fo numerous as to over- 
 run and infeft the whole nation : that the Houyhnhnms to 
 get rid of this evil made a general hunting, and at laft 
 inclofed the whole herd ; and deftroying the elder, 
 every Houyhnhnm kept two young ones in a kennel, and 
 brought them to fuch a degree of tamenefs, as an ani- 
 mal lb favage by nature can be capable of acquiring ; 
 ufmg them for draught and carriage : that there feemed 
 to be much truth in this tradition, and that thofe crea- 
 tures could not be TInhniampy (or Aborigines of the land) 
 becaufe of the violent hatred the Houyhnhmns, as well as 
 all other animals, bore them ; which, although their 
 evil difpofition fufficicatly deferved, could never have 
 arrived at fo high a degree, if they had been Abori- 
 gines ; or elfe they would have long fmce been rooted 
 out : that the inhabitants, taking a fancy to ufe the fer- 
 vice of the yahoos, had very imprudently neglefted to 
 cultivate the breed of ajjis, which are a comely animal, 
 eafily kept, more tame and orderly, without any of- 
 fenfive fmell, ftrong enough for labour, although they 
 yield to the other in agility of body ; and, \i their 
 braying be no agreeable found, it is far preferable to 
 the horrible howlings of xkit yahoos. 
 
 Several others declared their fcntiments to the fame 
 purpofe, when my mailer propofed an expedient to the 
 aiiembly, whereof he had indeed borrowed the hint 
 
 from
 
 s66 A V O Y A « E 
 
 from me. He apprcr\'ed ofthe tradition mentioned by 
 the honourable Tnember, who fpoke before ; and affirmed 
 that the Vfio yahoos, Taid to be the fir ft feen among them, 
 had been driven thither over the fea j that coming to 
 land, and being forfaken by their companions, they 
 retired to the mountains, and, degenerating by de- 
 grees, became in procefs of time much more lavage, 
 than thofe of their own fpecies in the countr)' from 
 whence thefe two originals came. The reaion of this 
 aflertion was, that he had now in his p"-)lTeffion a certain 
 wonderful yahoo (meaning myfelf) Vv'hich moft of 
 them had heard of and many of them had feen. He 
 then related to them, how he firft found me ; that my 
 body was all covered with an artificial compofure of 
 the fkins and hairs of other animals : that I fpoke 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, lefs hairy, and with fhorter claws. 
 He added how I had endeavoured to perfuade him, 
 that in my own and other countries theyahoos afted as 
 the governing, rational animal, and held the Houy- 
 hnhfims in fervitude : that he obferved in me all the 
 qualities of a yahoo, only a little more civilized by 
 lome tinfture of reafon ; which however was in a de- 
 gree as far inferior to the Houyhnhnm race, as the 
 yahoos of their country were to me : that, among other 
 things, I mentioned a cuftom we had of cajlrating Houy- 
 hnhnms when they were young in order to render them 
 tame ; that the operation was eafy and fafe ; that it 
 was no ihame to learn wifdom from brutes, as induftry 
 is taught by the ant, and building by the fwallow (for 
 fo I tranflate the word lyhannh, although it be a much 
 larger fowl) : that this invention might be praflifed 
 upon the younger yahoos here, which, befides ren- 
 dering them tradable and fitter for nfe, would in an 
 age put an end to the whole fpecies without deftroying 
 ]iTe : that in the mean time the Htuyhnhnms fhould be 
 a ' exhorted
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 267 
 
 (xherted to cultivate the breed of afies, which as they 
 are in all refpefts more valuable brutes, fo they have 
 this advantage, to be fit for fervice 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 whatpafTed in the grand council. But he was 
 pleafed to conceal one particular, which related perfb- 
 nally to m.yfelf, whereof I foon felt the unhappy efFed, 
 as the reader will know in its proper place, and from 
 whence 1 date all the fucceeding misfortunes of my life. 
 
 T he Houyhnhnms have no letters, and confequently 
 their knov/ledge is all traditional. But there happen- 
 ing few events of any moment among a people fo well 
 united, naturally difpofed to every virtue, wholly go- 
 verned by rcafon, and cut off from all commerce with 
 other nations ; the hidorical part is eafily preferved 
 without burthening their memories. I have already ob- 
 ferved that they are fubjeft to no difeafes, and therefore 
 can have no need of phyficians. However, they have 
 excellent medicines compofed of herbs to cure acciden- 
 tal bruifes and cuts in the pattern or frog of the foot 
 by {harp flones, as well as other maims and hurts in the 
 feveral parts of the body. 
 
 They calculate the year by the revolution of the fun 
 and the moon, but ufe no fubdivifions into weeks. They 
 are well enough acquainted with the motions of thofe 
 two luminaries, and underfland the nature oi e.UpJesi 
 and this is the utmoft progrefs of their ajironomy. 
 
 In poetry they muft be allowed to excel all other mor- 
 tals ; wherein the juftnefs of their fimilies, and the mi- 
 nutenefs as well as exaftnefs of their defcriptions, are 
 indeed inimitable. Their verfes abound very much in 
 both of thefe ; and ufually contain either fome exalted 
 notions of friendfliip and benevolence, or the praifes of 
 thofe, who vv'ere vidlors in races and other bodily exer- 
 cifes. Their buildings, although very rude and fim- 
 ple, are not inconvenient, but well contrived to de- 
 fend them from all injuries of cold and heat. They 
 have a kind of tree, which at forty years old loofens in 
 
 the
 
 z6S A V O Y A G E 
 
 the root, and falls with the firIT: ftorm ; it grows very 
 ftrait, and being pointed like Hakes, with a Iharp ftone 
 (for the Houyhnhnms know not the ufe of iron) they Hick 
 them eredl in the ground about ten inches afunder, and 
 then weave in oat-itraw, or fometimes wattles, betwixt 
 them. The roof is made after the fame manner, and 
 fb are the doors. 
 
 The Houyhnhnms ufe the hollow part, between the 
 pattern and the hoof, of their forefeet, as we do our 
 hands, and this with greater dexterity, than I could at 
 firft imagine. 1 have feen a white mare of our family 
 thread a needle (which I lent her on purpofe) with that 
 joint, i hey milk their cows, reap their oats, and do 
 all the work which requires hands in the fame manner. 
 They have a kind of hard flints, which by grinding a- 
 gainil other ftones they form into inftruments, that ferve 
 inftead of wedges, axes, and hammers. With tools 
 made of thefe flints they likewife cut their hay, and 
 reap their oats, which there grow naturally in feveral 
 fields : \}cie yahoos draw home the (heaves in carriages, 
 and the fervants tread them in certain covered hutts to 
 get out the grain, which is kept in ilores. They make 
 a rude kind of eaflern and wooden veflels, and bake 
 the former in the fun. 
 
 . If they can avoid cafualties, they die only of old- 
 age, and are buried in the obfcurefl; places that can be 
 found, their friends and relations expreffing neither joy 
 nor grief at their departure ; nor does the dying perfon 
 difcover die leaft regret that he is leaving the world, any 
 more than if he were upon returning home from a viflt 
 to one of his neighbours. I remember my mailer hav- 
 ing once made an appointment with a friend and his 
 fjimily to come to his houfe upon fome affair of impor- 
 tance, on the day fixed the miftrefs and her two chil- 
 dren came very late ; flie made two excufes, firft for 
 her hufl)and, who, as ihe faid, happened that very 
 morning to Ihnuivfih. The word is llrongly expreflive 
 in their language, but not eafily rendered into englijh ; 
 it fignific:, io retire to his fnjl Kioihcr. Her exculc for 
 
 fiOt
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 269 
 
 not coming fooner was, that, her hufoand dying late in 
 the morning, (lie was a good while confiilting her fer- 
 vants about a convenient place where his body fhould be 
 laid ; and I obferved, fhe behaved herfelf at our houfe 
 as chearfully 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 vifited by their frienas, 
 becaufe they cannot go abroad with their ufual ealc and 
 fatisfaftion. However, about ten days before their 
 death, Vv'hich they feldom fail in computing, they re- 
 turn the vifits that have been made them by thofe, 
 who are neareft in the neighbourhood, being carried in 
 a convenient fledge drawn by yahoos ; which vehicle 
 they ufe, not only upon this occafion, but when they 
 grow old, upon long journies, or when they are lamed 
 by any accident. And therefore when the dying Houy- 
 hnhnms return thofe vifits, they take a folemn leave of 
 their friends, as if they were going to fome remote part 
 of the country, where they defigned to pafs the reit of 
 their live3. 
 
 I know not whether it may be worth obferving, that 
 the Houyhnhnms have no word in their language to ex- 
 prefs any thing that i-s e-vil, except what they borrow 
 from the deformities, or ill qualities of the yahoos. 
 Thus they denote the folly of a fervant, an omifBon of 
 a child, a ftone that cuts their feet, a continuance of 
 foul or unfeafonable weather, and the like, by adding 
 to each the epithet oi yahoo. For inflance, hhnm yahoo, 
 njohnaholm yahoo, ynlhmndnvih'ma yahoo, and an ill con- 
 trived )\o\ik, ytiholrnhnmrohln-Tu yahoo. 
 
 I could with great plealure enlarge farther upon the 
 manners and virtues of this excellent people ; but in- 
 tending in a fliort time to publiih a volume by itfelf cx- 
 prefly upon that fubjetl, I refer the reader thither. And, 
 in the mean tiiiie, proceed to relate my own fad ca- 
 taftrophe. 
 
 C II A P.
 
 ^7<* A V O Y A G E 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The author^ s csconomy, and happy life, among the Houy- 
 hnhnms. His great improvement in <-uirtue by con' 
 •verfng ivith them. Their con-verfations . The author 
 hath notice gi'ven him by his majier, that he niuji de- 
 part from the country. He falls into af'vjocnfcrgrief; 
 but juhmits. He contrives and finif:>es a canoo by the 
 help ofafelloiv-fer'vant, and puts tofea at a -venture, 
 
 I Had fettled my little CEConomy to my own heart's 
 content. My mailer had ordered a room to be made 
 for me after their manner about fix yards fiom the 
 houfe ; the fxdes and floors of which I plaiikred with 
 clay, and covered with rulh matts of my own contri- 
 ving ; 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 fpringes made 
 oi yahoos hairs, and were excellent food. 1 had worked 
 two chairs with my knife, the forrel nag helping me in 
 the grofler and more laborious part. Vv hen my cloaths 
 were worn to rags, I made myfelf others with the fkins 
 of rabbits, and of a certain beautiful animal about the 
 feme fize, called nnuhnoh, the Ikin of which is covered 
 with a fine down. Of thtfe I alfo made very tolerable 
 llockings. 1 foaled 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 o^ yahoos, 
 dried in the fun. I often got honey out of hollow 
 trees, which I mingled vath water, or eat with my 
 bread. No man could more verify the truth of thefe two 
 maxims, 1 hat nature is t'ery eafily fatisfied \ and, That 
 necejfty is the mother of innjenion. I enjoyed perfe(5t 
 health of body, and tranquillity of mind ; I did not 
 feel the treachery or inconltancy of a friend, nor the 
 injuries of a fecret or open enemy. J had no occafion 
 of bribing, flattering, or pimping, to procure the fa- 
 vour of any great man, or of his minion. I w anted 
 
 no
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 271 
 
 no fence againft fraud or oppreflion ; here was neither 
 phyfician to dellroy my body, nor lawyer to ruin my 
 fortune ; no informer to watch my words and adlions, 
 or forge accufations againft me for hire ; here were no 
 gibers, cenfurcrs, backbiters, pick-pockets, highway- 
 men, houfe-breakcrs, attornies, bawds, buffoons, game- 
 fiers, politicians, wits, fpleneticks, tedious talkers, con- 
 trovertifts, raviihers, murderers, robbers, virtuofoes ; 
 no leaders or followers of party and faftion ; no en- 
 couragers to vice by feducement or examples ; no dun- 
 geon, axes, gibbets, whipping-pofts, or pillories ; no 
 cheating fhopkeepers, or mcchanicks ; no pride, vanity, 
 or affedation ; no fops, bullies, drunkards, ftrollirg 
 whores, or poxes ; no ranting, lewd, expenfive wives ; 
 no ftupid, proud pedants ; no importunate, over-bear- 
 ing, quarreHbme, noify, roaring, empty, conceited, 
 fv/earing companions ; no fcoundrels raifed from the 
 duft upon the merit of their vices, or nobility thrown 
 into it on account of their virtues j no lords, fidlers, 
 judges, or dancing-mailers. 
 
 I had the favour of being admitted to feveral Hotty 
 bnhnms, who came to vifit or dine with my mailer, 
 where his honour gracioufiy fuffered me to wait in the 
 room, and lillen 10 their difcourfe. Both he and his 
 company Vv'ould often defcend to afk me quellions, and 
 receive my anfwers. 1 had alfo fomctimes the honour 
 of attending my mafter in his vifits to others. I never 
 prefumed to fpeak, except in anfwer to a quellion'; and 
 then J did it with inward regret, becaufe it was a lofs 
 of fo much time for improving myfelf ; but 1 was in- 
 finitely delighted with the flation of an humble auditor 
 in fuch converfations, where nothing pafled but what 
 was ufeful, expreffed in the feweft and moll fignificant 
 words : v/here (as I have already faid) the greatcft dt- 
 ar.cy was obferved without the leaft degree of cere- 
 mony ; where no perfon fpoke without being pleafed 
 himfelf, and pleafing his companions ; where there was 
 no interruption, tedioufnefs, heat, or difference of fen- 
 sinients. They have a notion, that, when people are 
 
 met
 
 272 A V O y A G E 
 
 met together, a fhort filence doth much Improve con- 
 verfatioa : this I found to be true ; for during thofe 
 little intermiirions of talk new ideas would arife in their 
 minds, which very much enlivened the difcourfe. Their 
 fubjefts are generally on friendihip and benevolence, on 
 order and oecononiy ; fomeiimes upon the vifible ope- 
 rations of nature, or ancient traditions ; upon the 
 bounds and limits of virtue ; upon the unerrin? rules 
 of reafon, or upon fmie detenninations to be taken at 
 the next great aifembly ; and often upon the various ex- 
 cellencies of poetry. 1 may add without vanity, that 
 my prefence often gave them fulEcicnt matter for dif- 
 courfe, becaufe it aftbrded my mailer an occalion of let- 
 ting his friends into the hillory of m.e and my country, 
 upon which they were all pleafed to defcaiit in a man- 
 ner not very advantageous to human kind ; and for 
 that reafon I fliall not repeat what they faid : only I 
 may be allowed to obferve, that his honour to my great 
 admiration appeared to underlland the nature o^' yahoos 
 much better than myfelf. He went through all our 
 vices and follies, and difcovered many, which I had 
 never mentioned to him, by only fuppofing what qua- 
 lities z. yahoo of their country with a fmall proportion of 
 reafon might be capable of exerting ; and concluded, 
 with too much probability, how vile as well as mifera- 
 ble fuch a creature mull be. 
 
 I freely confefs, that all the little knowledge I have 
 of any value, was acquired by the leflures I received 
 from my mailer, and from hearing the difcourfes of him 
 and his friends ; to which I fliould be prouder to liilen, 
 than to diftate to the greatell and wifell aflcmbly in Eu- 
 rope. I admired the llrength, comelinefs, and fpeed of 
 the inhabitants ; and fuch a conilellation of virtues, in 
 fuch amiable perfons, produced in me the higheil vene- 
 ration- At firil indeed I did not feel that natural awe, 
 which the yahoos and all other animals bear towards 
 them ; but it grew upon me by degrees, much fooner 
 than I imagined, and was mingled with a refpe£tful 
 
 love
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 275 
 love and gratitude, that they would condefcend to di- 
 ilinguifli me from the reft of my fpecies. 
 
 When I thought of my family, my friends, my 
 countrymen, or human race in general, I confidered 
 them as they really w^r^^ yahoos in fhape and difpofition, 
 perhaps a little more civilized, and qualified with the 
 gift of fpeech ; but making no other ufe of reafon, than 
 to improve and multiply thofe vices, whereof their bre- 
 thren in this country had only the fliare that nature al- 
 lotted them. When I happened to behold the re- 
 flexion 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 yahoo, than 
 of my own perfon. By converfmg with the Houyhnhnms, 
 and looking upon them with delight, I fell to imitate 
 their gait and gefture, which is now grown into an 
 habit ; and my friends often tell me in a blunt way, 
 that / trot like a horfe ; which however I take for a great 
 compliment : neither fhaJi I difov/n, that in fpeakiag I 
 am apt to fall into the voice and manner of the Houy- 
 hnhnms, and hear myfelf ridiculed on that account 
 without the leaft mortification. 
 
 In the midft of ali this happinefs, and when I looked 
 upon myfelf to be fully fettled for life, my mafter fent 
 for me one morning a little earlier than his ufual hour. 
 I obferved by his countenance, that he was in fome per- 
 plexity, and at a lofs 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 laft general aflembly, when the affair of the 
 yahoos was entered upon, the reprefentatives had taken 
 offence at his 'keeping a yahoo (meaning myfelf) in his 
 family, more like a Houyhiihnm, than a brute animal. 
 That he was known frequently to converfe with me, as 
 if he could receive fome advantage or pleafure in my 
 company : that fuch a pradlice was not agreeable to 
 reafon or nature, or a thing ever heard of before among 
 them. The aflembly did therefore exhort hiai either to 
 cmplcv me like tl e reft of my fpecies, or command m^ 
 
 Voi. IL T to
 
 274 A V O Y A G E 
 
 to (vvim back to the place from whence I came. That 
 the firft of thefe expedients was utterly rejefted by all 
 the Hoiiybnhnms, who had ever feen me at his hcufe or 
 their own : for they alledged, that becaufe I had fome 
 rudiments of reafon, added to the natural pravity of 
 thofe animals, it was to be feared, I might be able to 
 feduce them into the woody and mountainous parts of 
 the country, and bring them in troops by night to de- 
 ftroy the Hoiiyhnhnms cattle, as being naturally of the 
 ravenous kind, and averfe from labour. 
 
 My mafter added, that he was daily prefTed by the 
 Houyhnhnms of the neighbourhood to have the aflembly's 
 exhortation executed, which he could not put off much 
 longer. He doubted it would be impoflible for me to 
 fwim to another country ; and therefore wifhed I would 
 contrive fome fort of vehicle refembling thofe I had de- 
 fcribed to him, that might carry me on the fea ; in 
 which work I fhould have the affiftance of his own fer- 
 vants, as well as thofe of his neighbours. He con- 
 cluded, that for his ovt'n part he could have been con- 
 tent to keep me in his fervice as long as T lived ; be- 
 caufe he found I had cured myfelf of fome bad habits 
 and difpofitions by endeavouring, as far as my inferior 
 nature was capable, to imitate the Houyhnhnms. 
 
 I fhould here obferve to the reader, that a decree of 
 the general aflembly in this country is expreffed by the 
 word hnhloayn, which fignifies an exhortatien, as near as 
 I can render it : for they have no conception how a ra- 
 tional creature can be compelled, but only advifed, or 
 exhorted; becaufe no perfon can difobey reafon without 
 giving up his claim to be a rational creature. 
 
 I was ftruck with the utmoil: grief and defpair at my 
 mailer's difcourfe; and being unable to fupport the ago- 
 nies I was under, I fell into a fwoon at his feet : when 
 I came to myfelf, he told me, that he concluded I had 
 been dead (for thefe people are fubjed to no fuch im- 
 becillities of nature). I anfwered in a faint voice, that 
 death would have been too great an happinefs ; that al- 
 though I could not blame the aflembly's exhortation, or 
 
 the
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 27^- 
 
 die urgency of his friends ; yet, in my weak and cor- 
 rupt judgment, I thought it might confift with reafon 
 to have been lefs rigorous : that I could not fwim a 
 league, and probably the neareft land to theirs might 
 be diftant above an hundred : that many materials, ne- 
 cefiary for making a fmall veflel to carry me off, were 
 wholly wanting in this country, which however I would 
 attempt in 'obedience and gratitude to his honour, al- 
 though I concluded the thing to be impoflible, and 
 therefore looked on myfelf as already devoted to de- 
 ftrudlion : thatthe certain profpe£l of an unnatural death 
 was the leafl: of my evils : for fuppofing I fhould efcape 
 with life by fome ftrange adventure, how could I think 
 with temper of paffing my days among j^j^ow, and re- 
 lapfing 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 deter- 
 minations of the wife Hcuyhnhtuns were founded, not to 
 be fhaken by arguments of mine, a milerable yahoo ; 
 and therefore, after prefenting him with my humble 
 thanks for the offer of his fervants affiftance in making 
 a velfel, and defiring a reafonable time for fo difficult 
 a work, I told him I would endeavour to preferve a 
 wretched being ; and if ever I returned to England, was 
 not without hopes of being ufeful to my own Ipecies by- 
 celebrating the praifes of the renowned Houyhnhnms, 
 and propofmg their virtues to the imitation of man- 
 kind. 
 
 My mafter in a few words made me a very gracious 
 reply, allowed me the fpace of two months to finilh my 
 boat ; and ordered the forrel nag, my fellow-fervant 
 ■(for fo at this diftance I may prefume to call him) to 
 follow my inflruftions ; becaufe I told my mafter, that 
 iiis help would be fufficient, and I knew he had a ten- 
 dernefs for me. 
 
 In his company, my firfl: bufmefs was to go to that 
 part of the coaft, where my rebellious crew had or- 
 dered me to be fet on fhore. I got upon a heighth, 
 and looking on every fide into the fea, fancied I iaw a 
 
 T z foiall
 
 276 A V O Y A G E 
 
 fxnall ifland towards the mrth-eaji : I took out my 
 eocket-glafs, and could then clearly diftlnguifli it aboi^t 
 nve 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 befide his own, fo he could 
 not to be as expert in diftinguifhing remote objefts at fea, 
 au we who fo much converfe in that element. 
 
 After I had difcovered this ifland, I confidered no 
 farther ; but refolved, it fhould, if poflible, be the firft 
 place of my banifhmcnt, leaving the confequence to 
 fortune. 
 
 1 returned home, and confulting with the forrel nag, 
 we went into a copfe at fome dift^nce, where I with my 
 knife, and he with a (harp flint fattened very artificially 
 after their manner ro a wooden handle, cut down feve- 
 ral oak wattles, about the thicknefs of a walking-ftafF, 
 and fome larger pieces. Byt I fhall not trouble the 
 reader with a particular defcription of my own mecha- 
 uicks ; let it fuffice to fay, that in fix weeks time with 
 the help of the forrel nag, who performed the parts 
 that required moft labour, I finifhed a fort of indian 
 canoo, but much larger, covering it with the fk;ns of 
 yahoos well Hitched together with hempen threads of my 
 own making. My fail was likewife compofed of the 
 Ikins of the fame animal ; but I made ufe of the young- 
 eft I could get, the older being too tough and thick ; 
 ?nd I likewife provided myfelf with four paddles. I 
 laid in a ftock of boiled flefh, of rabbets and fowls j 
 and took with me two veffels, one filled with milk, and 
 the other with water. 
 
 I tried my canoo in a large pond near my matter's 
 houfe, and then correfted in it what wjis amifs ; flop- 
 ping all the chinks with yahoos tallow, till I found it 
 ilanch, and able to bear me and my freight. And, 
 when it was as compleat as 1 could poflibly make it, I 
 had it drawn on a carriage very gently hy yahoos to the 
 fea- fide, under the conduft of the forrel nag, and ano- 
 ther fcrvant. 
 
 W)i«n all was ready, and the day came for my de- 
 parture.
 
 TO THE HOUVttNHNMS. i;/ 
 
 parture, I took leave of my mafter and lady and the 
 whole family, mine eyes flowing with tears, and my 
 heart quite funk with grief. But his honour out of 
 curiofity, and perhaps (if I may fpeak it without va- 
 nity) partly out of kindnefs, was determined to fee me 
 in my canoo ; and got feveral of his neighbouring 
 friends to accompany him. I was forced to wait a- 
 boVe an hour for the tide, and then obferving the 
 wind very fortunately bearing towards the ifland, to 
 which I intended to fleer my courfe, I took a fecond 
 leave of my mailer : but, as I was going to proftrate 
 myfelf to kifs his hoof, he did me the honour to raife 
 it gently to my mouth. I am not ignorant how much I 
 have been cenfured for mentioning this lafl particular. 
 Detraftors are pleafed to think it improbable, that fo 
 illuftrious a perfon Ihould defcend to give fo great a 
 mark of diftindlion to a creature fo inferior as I. Nei- 
 ther have I forgotten how apt fome travellers are to 
 boaft of extraordinary favours they have received. But» 
 if thefe cenfurers were better acquainted with the noble 
 and courteous difpofition of the Houyhnhnmsy they would 
 foon change their opinion. 
 
 I paid my refpefts to the reft of the Houyhnhnmt ia 
 his honour's company ; then getting into my canoo I 
 pulhed off from fhore. 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 The author's dangerous voyage. He arri-vts at New- 
 Holland, hoping to fettle there. Is mounded 'with an 
 arroiu by one of the nati'ves. Is Jeized and arried ij 
 force into a portugueze yi?-/^. The great civilities oftht 
 captain. The author arrives at England. 
 
 I Began this defperate voyage on February 15, 1714- 
 15, at 9 o'clock in the morning. The wind was 
 very favourable ; however I made ufe at firft only of 
 my paddles ; but confidering I fhould foon be weary, 
 and that the wind might chop aboutj I ventured to let 
 
 T 3 «P
 
 v^% A VOYAGE 
 
 op 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 1 could guefs. My mailer and his friends continued 
 on the fliore, till I was almoft out of fight ; and I 
 often heard the forrel nag (who always loved me) cry- 
 ing out, hnuy ilia nyha majayahoOf Take care of thyfelf 
 gentle yahoo. 
 
 My defign was, if poffible, to difcover fome fmall 
 ifland uninhabited, yet fufficient by my labour to fur- 
 riifli me with the neceffaries of life, which I would have 
 thought a greater happinefs, than to be firft miniiler in 
 the politeft court of europe ; fo horrible was the idea I 
 conceived of returning to live in the fociety, and under 
 the government oi yahoos. For, in fuch a folitude as I 
 defired, I could at leaft enjoy my own thoughts, and 
 reflect with delight on the virtues of thofe inimitabls 
 Jiouyhnhnms 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 againft me, and confined me to my cab- 
 bin. How 1 continued there feveral weeks without 
 knowing what courfe we took ; and when I was put 
 a-fhoar in the long-boat, how the failors told me 
 with oaths, whether true or falfe, that they knew not in 
 what part of the world we were. However, I did then 
 believe us to be about ten degrees fouth-jjard of the 
 Cape of Good-Hope, or about 45 degrees fmithern lati- 
 tude, as I gathered from fome general words I over- 
 heard among them, being Ifuppofed to \\\t fouth-eajl in 
 their intended voyage to Madagafcar. And although 
 this were but little better than conjedlure, yet I refolved 
 to fteer my courfe eajiivard, honing to reach thefoufh' 
 iv^ft coaii of Nenv-Holland, and perhaps fome fuch 
 ifland as I defired lying nxjejl-ixard of it. The wind 
 was full njjeft, and by fix in the evening I computed I 
 had gone eaji-vard at leall eighteen leagues ; when I 
 fpied a very fmall ifland about half a league off, which 
 I foon reached. It was nothinrr but a rock with one 
 
 o 
 
 creek naturally arched by the force of tempells. Here 
 
 I put
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 279 
 
 I put in my canoo, and climbing a part of the rock I 
 could plainly difcover land to the eaft^ extending from 
 fouth to north. I lay all night in my canoo ; and re- 
 peating my voyage early in the morning, I arrived in 
 feven hours to the foutheajl point of New-Holland. 
 This confirmed me in the opinion I have long enter- 
 tained, that the maps and charts place this country at 
 leaft three degrees more to the eajly 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 hath rather chofen to follow 
 other authors. 
 
 I faw no inhabitants in the place where I landed,, 
 and being unarmed I was. afraid of venturing far into 
 the country. I found fome Ihell-fifli on the fliore, and 
 eat them raw, not daring to kindle a fire for fear of 
 being difcovcred by the natives. I continued three days 
 feeding on oyflers and limpits to fave my own provi- 
 fions ; and I fortunately found a brook of excellent wa- 
 ter, which gave me great relief 
 
 On the fourth day venturing out early a little too 
 far, I faw twenty or thirty natives upon a heighth not 
 above five hundred yards from me. They were ftark 
 naked, men, women, and children round a fire, as I 
 could difcover by the fmoke. One of them fpied me, 
 and gave notice to the reft ; five of them advanced to- 
 wards me, leaving the women and children at the fire. 
 I made what halle I could to the fhore, and getting in- 
 to my canoo fhoved off: the favages, obferving me re- 
 treat, ran after me ; and, before I could get far enough 
 into the fea, difcharged an arrov/ which wounded me 
 deeply on the iiifide 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 a fliift to fuck the 
 wound, and drefs it as well as I «ould. 
 - I was jjt a lofs what to do, for I durft not return to 
 the fame landing-place, but Hood to the ?iorthf and was 
 forced to paddle ; for the wind, though very gentle, 
 
 T 4 Vv-as
 
 2g<5 A V O y A G E 
 
 \Vas againfl me, blowing north-'voeji. As I vvas looking 
 about for a fecure landing-place, I faw a fail to the 
 north-north-eaji, which appearing every minute more vi- 
 fible, I was in feme doubt, whether I fhould wait for 
 them or no ; but at laft my deteftation of \}iiQ yahoo race 
 prevailed ; and turning my canoo I failed and paddled 
 together to ^kcfouth, and got into the fame creek, from 
 whence I fet out in the morning, chufing rather to 
 trUft myfelf among thefe barbarians, than live with Eu- 
 ropean yahoos. 1 drew up my canoo as clofe as 1 could 
 to the ibore, and hid myfelf behind a ftone by the 
 little brook, which, as I have already faid, was excel- 
 lent water. 
 
 The Ihip came within half a league of this creek, 
 and fent out her long-boat with veflels to take in frefh 
 water (for the place, it feems, 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 feamen at their landing obferved my canoo, and, 
 rummaging it all over, eafily conjedlured that the owner 
 could not be far off. Four of them, well armed, fearch- 
 ed every cranny and lurking-hole, till at laft they found 
 me fiat on my face behind the ftone. They gazed a 
 while in admiration at my ftrange uncouth drefs ; my 
 coat made of (kins, my wocden-foaled (hoes, and my 
 furred flockings ; from whence however they conclu- 
 ded, 1 was not a native of the place, who all go naked. 
 One of the feamen, in portuguexe, bid me rife, and 
 afked who 1 was. I underilocd that language very v/ell, 
 and getting upon my feet faid I was a t^oot yahoo ba- 
 nilbed from the Hcuyhnhnms, and defir- d they \\'0uld 
 pleafe to let m.e depart. They admired to hear me 
 anfwer tliem in their own tongue, and faw by my com- 
 
 Elexion, I muft be nn European ; but were at a lofs to 
 now what I meant hy yahoos, and Houyhnhnms, and at 
 the fame time fell a laughing at my llrange tone in 
 fpeaking, which rcfembled the neighing of a horfe. I 
 trembled all the while betwixt fear and hatred : I again 
 dcfired leave to depart, and was gently moving to my 
 
 canoo «
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 281 
 
 canoo ; but they laid hold on me, defiring £0 know 
 what country I was of ? whence I came ? with many 
 other queftions. I told them I was born in England^ 
 from whence I came about five years ago, and then 
 their country and ours were at peace. I therefore 
 hoped they would not treat me as an enemy, fmce I 
 meant them no harm, but was a poor ja^oo, feeking 
 fome defolate place where to pafs the remainder of his 
 unfortunate life. 
 
 When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or 
 faw any thing fo unnatural ; for it appeared to me as 
 monilrous, as if a dog or a cow fhould fpeak in Eng~ 
 land, or a yahoo in Hcuyhnhmn-land. The honeft Per- 
 iiigueze were equally amazed at m.y ftrange drefs, and 
 (he odd manner of delivering my words, which howe- 
 ver they underftood very well. They fpoke to me 
 with great humanity, and faid they were lure the cap- 
 tain would carry me gratis to Lijhon, from whence t 
 might return to my own country ; that two of the fea- 
 men would go back to the fhip, inform the captain of 
 what they had feen, and receive his orders ; in the 
 mean time, unlefs I would give my folemn oath not to 
 fly, they would fecure me by for e. I thought it bell 
 to comply with their propofal. They were ver}' curious 
 to know my llory, but I gave them very little fatif- 
 fadtion : and they all conjeftured, thnt my misfortunes 
 had impaired my reafon. In two hours the boat, which 
 went loaden with vefleb of water, returned with the 
 captain's command to fetch me on board. I fell on my 
 knees to preferve my liberty ; bat all was in vain, and 
 the men having tied me with cords heaved me into the 
 boat, from whence I was taken into the fhip, and from 
 thence into the captain s cabbin. 
 
 His name was Pedro de Mendez ; he was a very cour- 
 teous and generous perfon ; he entreated me to give 
 fome account of myfelf, and defired to know what I 
 would eat or drink ; faid, I fhould be ufed as well as 
 himfelf, and fpoke fo many obliging things, that I won- 
 dered to find fuch civilities from ^ yahoo. Honiveycr, I 
 
 remained
 
 282 A V O y A G E 
 
 remained filent and fallen ; I was ready to faint at the 
 very fmell of him and his men. At lall I deiired fome- 
 thing to eat out of my own canoo ; but he ordered me 
 a chicken, and feme excellent wine, and then direcled 
 that I Ihould be put to bed in a very clean cabbin, I 
 would not undrefs myfelf, but lay on the bed-cloaths, 
 and in half an hour ftole out, when I thought the crew 
 was at dinner, and getting to the fide of the (hip was 
 going to leap into the fea, and fwim for my life, ra- 
 ther than continue zmong yal^oos. But one of the fea- 
 men prevented me, and having informed the captain, I 
 was chained to my cabbin. 
 
 After dinner Don Pedro came to me, and defired to 
 know my reafon for fo defperate an attempt ; aflured 
 jne, he only meant to do me all the fervice he was able, 
 and fpoke 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 fhort relation of my 
 voyage ; of the confpiracy againft me by my own men ; 
 of the country Vv'here they fet mc on fliore, and of my 
 five years rcfidence there All which he looked upon, 
 as if it were a dream or a vifion ; whereat I took great 
 offence ; for I had quite forgot the faculty of lying fo 
 peculiar to yahoos in a'l countries where they prelide, 
 and confequently the difpofition of fufpecting truth in 
 others of their own fpecies. I afked him whether it 
 were the cuftom in his country to fay the thing ivhich 
 rx'as nut ? I aflured him, I had almoft forgot what he 
 meant by fallhood, and, if I had lived a thoufand years 
 in Hou-^hnhyim-land, I fhould never have heard a lye 
 from tiie mcaneft fcrvant ; that I was akogether indiffe- 
 rent whether he believed me or no ; but however in re- 
 turn for his favours I would give fo much allov, ance to 
 the corruption of his nature, as to anfwer any objedlion 
 he would pleafe to make, and then he might eafily dif- 
 cover the truth. 
 ^ The captain, a wife man, after many endeavours to 
 catch me tripping in fome part of my llory, at lall be- 
 gan to have a better opinion of my veracity. But he 
 
 added.
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 285 
 
 added, that, fmce I profelTed fo inviolable an attach- 
 ment to truth, I muft give him my word and honour to 
 bear him company in this voya,ge without attempting 
 any thing againll: my life, or elfe he would continue me 
 a Drifoner till we arrived at Lijbon. I gave him the 
 promife he required ; but at the fame time protefted, 
 that I would fuffer the greateft hardlhips, rather than 
 return to live among j'a^eoj. 
 
 Our voyage pafled without any confiderable accident. 
 In gratitude to the captain I fometimes fat with him at 
 his earneft requeft, and ftrove to conceal my antipathy 
 againft human kind, although it often broke out ; which 
 he fuffered to pafs without obfervation. But the great- 
 eft part of the day I confined niyfelf to my cabbin to 
 avoid feeing any of the crew. The captain had often 
 entreated me to llrip myfelf of my favage drefs, and of- 
 fered to lend me the beft fuit of cloaths he had. This 
 I would not be prevailed on to accept, abhorring to co- 
 ver myfelf with any thing that had been on the back 
 qlz. yahoo. I only defired he would lend me two clean 
 Ihirts, which, having been walhcd fmce he wore them, 
 I believed would not fo much defile me. Thefe I 
 changed every fecond day, and waihed them myfelf. 
 
 We arrived at Lijbon, Nonjemher 5, 171 5. At our 
 landing the captain forced m.e to cover myfelf with his 
 cloak to prevent the rabble from crouding about me. I 
 was conveyed to his own houfe ; and at my earneft re- 
 queft he led me up to the higheft room backwards, I 
 conjured him to conceal from all perfons what I had 
 told him of the Hcuyhnbnms ; becaufe the leaft hint of 
 fuch a ftory would not only draw numbers of people to 
 fee me, but probably put me in danger of being im- 
 prifoned or burnt by the inquifition. The captain per- 
 fuaded me to accept a fuit of cloaths newly made ; but 
 1 would not fuffer the taylor to take m.y meafure ; how- 
 ever. Den Pedro being almoft of my fize, they fitted 
 me well enough. He accoutred me with other necef- 
 faries, all new, which I aired for twenty-four hours, 
 
 before I would ufe them. 
 
 Tk
 
 zU A V O Y A G E 
 
 The captain had no wife, nor above three fervantSi 
 none of which were fufFered to attend at meals ; and his 
 whole deportment was fo obliging, added to very good 
 human underflanding, 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 another room, from whence I peeped into 
 the llreet, 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 lefiened, but my hatred and con- 
 tempt fcemed to encreafe. 1 was at laft bold enough 
 to walk the rtreet in his company, but kept my nofe well 
 flopped with rue, or fometimes with tobacco. 
 
 In ten days Don Pedro, to whom I had given fome ac- 
 count of my domeftick affairs, put it upon me as a mat- 
 ter of honour and confcience, that I ought to return to 
 my native country, and live at home with my wife and 
 children. He told me, there was an englijh fhip in the 
 port juft ready to fail, and he would furnifh me with 
 all things necefTary. It would be tedious to repeat his 
 arguments, and my contradidlions. He faid it was al- 
 together impoffible to find fuch a folitary illand as I had 
 deflred to live in ; but I might command in my own 
 houfe, and pafs my time in a manner as recluie as I 
 plcafed. 
 
 J complied at lafl, finding I could not do better. I 
 left Lifo n the 24th day o( November in an englijh mer- 
 chant-man, but, who was the mafter, I never enqui- 
 red. Don Pedro accompanied me to the fhip, and 
 lent me twenty 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 mafter, or, any of his men ; but pretending I 
 was fick kept clofe in my cabbin. On the 5th of De- 
 centhrr., 1719, we caft anchor in the Donxjns about nine 
 i-c\ the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got 
 fnfc to my hoiilc at Rothcrhith. 
 
 My wife and family received me with great furprizc 
 ar,d joy, becaufe they concluded me certainly dead ; 
 
 |. but
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 285 
 
 but I muft freely confefs the fight of them filled mc 
 only with hatred, difguft, and contempt : and the more 
 by refleftingon the near alliance I had to them. For 
 although, fince my unfortunate exile from the Houy- 
 hnhnm country, I had compelled myfelf to tolerate the 
 fight 0^ yahoos, and to converfe with Don Pedro de Men- 
 <iex ; yet my memory and imagination were perpetually 
 filled with the virtues and ideas of thofe exalted Houy- 
 hnhnms. And when I began to confider, that by co- 
 pulating with one of the yahoo fpecies I had become a 
 parent of more, it ftruck me with the utmoil fhame, 
 eonfufion, and horror. 
 
 As foon as I entered the houfe, my wife took me in 
 her arms, and kifTed me ; at which, having not been 
 ufed to the touch of that odious animal for fo many 
 years, I fell into a fwoon for almoft an hour. At the 
 time I am writing, it is five years fince my lafl; return 
 to England : during the firfl: year 1 could not endure 
 iny 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 pre- 
 fume to touch my bread, or drink out of the fame cup ; 
 neither was I ever able to let one of them take me by 
 the hand. The firfl; money I laid out was to buy two 
 young ftone-horfes, which I keep in a good liable, 
 and next to them the groom is my greatell favourite : 
 for J feel my fpirits revived by the fmell he contrails in 
 the liable. My horfes underfland me tolerably well ; I 
 converfe with them at leaft four hours every day. They 
 are ftrangers to bridle or faddle ; they live in great 
 gmity with me, and friendship to each other. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 28S A V O Y A G b 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 7he author's ^veracity. His defign in puhlijhing this 'Work... 
 His cenfure of thofe travellers nuho fnuerve from -.ht 
 truth. The author clears himfelffrom anyfitiifier '■ .w 
 in <writing. An objeSiio7i anfivered. The method 'if 
 planting colonies. His native country commended. Ih^. 
 right of the croivn to thofe countries defcribed by the au- 
 thor , isjujiified. The dijfficulty of conquering them. The 
 author takes his lajl leave of the reader ; fropofeth his 
 manner of living for the future '3 gives good advice and 
 concludeth. 
 
 1 
 
 ■^ H U S, gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful 
 hiftory of my travels for iixteen years and above 
 feven months ; wherein I have not been fo ftudious of 
 ornament as of truth. I could perhaps, like others, have 
 aftonifhed thee with ftrange improbable tales ; but I 
 rather chofe to relate plain matter of faft in the fim- 
 pleil manner and ftyle ; becaufe 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 engUJhmen or other europeans 
 to form defcriptions of wonderful animals both at fea 
 and land. Whereas a traveller's chief aim Ihould be 
 to make men wifer and better, and to improve their 
 minds by the bad, as well as good example, of what 
 they deliver concerning foreign places. 
 
 I could heartily wifh a law was enabled, that every 
 traveller, before he were permitted to publilh his 
 voyages, fhouM be obliged to make oath before the 
 lord high Chancellor, that all he intended to print was 
 abfolutely true to the bell of his knowledge ; for then 
 the world would no longer be deceived, as itufually is ; 
 while fome writers, to make their works pafs the better 
 upon the publick, impole the groffell falfities on the un- 
 wary reader. I have perufed feveral books of travels 
 with great delight in my younger days ; but having 
 z fjnce
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 287 
 
 fmce gone over moft parts of the globe, and been able 
 to contradict many fabulous accounts from my own ob- 
 fervation, it hath given me a great difguft againft this 
 part of reading, and fome indignation to fee the credu- 
 lity of mankind fo impudently abufed. Therefore, 
 fince my acquaintance were plealed to think my poojr 
 endeavours might not be unacceptable to my country, I 
 impofed on myfelf as a maxim never to be fwerved 
 from, that I would ftriilly adhere to truth ; neither in- 
 deed can I be ever under the leaft temptation to vary 
 from it, while I retain in my mind the ledlures and ex- 
 ample of ray noble mafter, and the other illuftrious 
 Houyhnhnms, of whom I had fo long the honour to be 
 an humble hearer. 
 
 ■ Ncc Ji Tniferum Fortuna Sitronem 
 
 Finxit, •vaniim etiam, mendacemque improhafinget. 
 
 I know very well, how little reputation is to be got 
 by writings, which require neither genius nox learning, 
 nor indeed any other talent, except a good memory, or 
 an ex2.Ei journal. I know likevviie, that writers of tra- 
 vels, like diilionary'Vndktrs, are funk into oblivion by 
 the weight and bulk of tho'e, who come laft, and 
 therefore lie uppermoft. And it is highly probable, 
 that fuch travellers, who fnall hereafter vifit the coun- 
 tries defcribed in this work of mine, may by detefting 
 my errors (if there be any) and adding many new 
 difcoveries of their own, jullie me out of vogue and 
 ftand in my place, making the world forget that ever I 
 was an author. This indeed would be too great a mor- 
 tification, if 1 wrote for fame : but as my fole inten- 
 tion was the publick good, I cannot be altogether difap- 
 pointed. For who can read of the virtues I have men- 
 tioned in the orlonous Houshnhnms without beinjj a- 
 
 Or O 
 
 ftiamed of his own vices, wften he confiders himfelf as 
 the reafoning, governing animal of his country ? I fhall 
 fay nothing of thofe remote nations, where ja^ooj pre- 
 fide ; amongil which the leaft corrupted are the Brob- 
 jdigvagiaiJi, whofe wife maxims in morality and go- 
 vern ment
 
 s88 A V O y A G E 
 
 x'ernisent It would be our happinefs to obferve. l^s: a 
 forbear defcanting farther, and rather leave the judici» 
 ous reader to his own remarks and applications. 
 
 I am not a little pleafed, that this work of mine cat 
 poffibly meet with no cenfurers : for what objedtionit 
 can be made againrt a writer, who relates only plain 
 facts, that happened in fuch diflant countries, where wa 
 have not the lead intereft with refpedl either to trade cr 
 negotiations ? I have carefully avoided eyery fault, with 
 which common writers of travels ar,^ often too juftly 
 charged. Befides, 1 meddle not the leaft with any 
 party, but write without paffion, prejudice, or ill-wil! 
 againltany man, or number of men whatfoever. I write 
 for the nobleft end, to inform and inftruft mankind, 
 over whom 1 may, without breach of modefty, pretend 
 to fome fuperiority from the advantages I received by 
 conrerfmg fo long among the moft accomplifhed Houy- 
 hvhnms. 1 write without any view towards profit or 
 praife. I never fufFer a word to pafs, that may look 
 like refleftion, or poffibly give the leall offence, even to 
 thofc who are moft ready to take it. So that I hope, I 
 may with juftice pronounce myfelf an author perfeftly 
 blamelefs ; againft whom the tribes of anfwerers, confi- 
 derers, obfervers, reflefters, detefters, remarkers, will 
 never be able to iind matter for exercifing their talents. 
 I CO. fefs, it was whilpered to me, that I was bound 
 in duty, as a fubjedl oi England, to have given in a me- 
 morial' to a lecretary of ftate at my firft coming over ; 
 becaufe, whatever lands are difcovered by a fubjedt, be- 
 lono- to the crown. But I doubt whether our conquefts, 
 in the countries I treat of, would be as eafy as thofe of 
 Ferdlnando Cortez over the naked Americans. The Lilli- 
 putians, I think, are hardly worth the charge of a fleet 
 and army to redu e them ; and 1 queftion whether it 
 might be prudent or fafe to attempt the Brobdignagiam. 
 Or'"whether an englijh army would be much at their eafe 
 with the flying ifland over their heads. The Houy- 
 bul.nms indeed appear not to be fo well prepared for 
 war, a fcicnce to which they are perfcd ftrangers, and 
 
 efpecially
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 289 
 
 efpccially againft milTive weapons. However, fuppofing 
 
 myfelf to be a minifter of Hate, 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 defedls in the military 
 
 art. imagine twenty thoufand of them breaking into 
 
 the midft of an european army, confounding the ranks, 
 
 overturning the carriages, battering the warriors faces 
 
 into mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder hoofs; 
 
 for they would \vell deferve the character given to Au- 
 
 gujius : Recakitrat undique tutu:. But inftead of pro- 
 
 pofals for conquering that magnanimous nation, I rather 
 
 wifh they were in a capacity, or difpofition, to fend a 
 
 fufficient number of their inhabitants for civilizing Eu' 
 
 rope, by teaching us the firll principles of honour, 
 
 juftice, truth, temperance, public fpirit, fortitude, 
 
 chaftity, friendlhip, benevolence, and fidelity. The 
 
 names of all which virtues are ftill retained among us 
 
 in moll languages, and are to be met with in modern, 
 
 as well as ancient authors ; which I am able to a/Tert 
 
 from my own fmall reading. 
 
 But 1 had another reafon, which made me lefs for- 
 ward to enlarge his majefty's dominions by my difco- 
 veries. To lay the truth, I had conceived a few fcru- 
 ples with rekticn to the diftrlbutive juiiice of princes 
 upon thofe occafions. For inftance, a crew of pyrates 
 are driven by a ilorm they know not whither ; at length 
 a boy difcovers land from the top-mad ; they go on 
 fhore to rob or plunder ; they fee an harmlefs people, 
 are entertained with kindnefs ; they give the country a 
 new name ; they take formal polTeflion of it for their 
 king J they fet up a rotten plank or a (lone for a m.emo- 
 rial ; they murder two or three dozen of the natives, 
 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 dixnne right. Ships 
 are fent with the firft opportunity ; the natives driven 
 out or delboyed ; their princes tortured to difcover 
 their gold ; a fiee licence given to all adls of inhuma- 
 VOL. II, U jlity
 
 290 A V O Y A G E 
 
 rity and luft, the earth reeking with the blood c. .. 
 inhabitants : and this execrable crew of butchers c . 
 ployed in (o pious an expeoition, is a.tnoder?t cohnj, i"e:u 
 to convert and civilize an idolatrous and barbaroui 
 people. 
 
 But this defcription, I confefs, doth by no means af- 
 fed the Britijh nation, who may be an example to the 
 whole world for their wifdom, care, and juilice in 
 planting colonies ; their liberal endowments for the ad- 
 vancement of religion and learning ; their choice of de- 
 vout and able pallors to propagate chrifianity ; their cau- 
 tion in flocking their provinces with people of fober 
 lives and -.onverfations from this the mother kingdom ; 
 their firift regard to the diftribution of jufiice, m fup- 
 plying the civil adminiflration through all their colonies 
 with officers of the greateft abilities, utter ftrangers to 
 corruption ; and to crown all, by fending the moll vi- 
 gilant and virtuous governors, who have no other view? 
 than the happinefs of the people over whom they pre 
 jide, and the honour of the kmg their mailer. 
 
 But as thofe countries, which I have defcribed, do 
 not appear to have any defn e of being conquered, and 
 enflaved, murdered or driven out by colonies ; nor 
 abound either in gold, lilver, fugar, or tobacco ; 1 did 
 humbly conceive, they were by no means proper ob- 
 jedls ofourEeal, our valoui, or our interell. Howe- 
 ver, if thofe, whom it more concerns, think fit to be 
 of another opinion, I am ready to depofe, when I 
 fhall be lawfully called, that no European did ever vifit 
 thefe countries before me. I mean, if the inhabitants 
 ought to be believed, unlefs a difpute may arife con- 
 cerning the two yahoos faid to have been feen many 
 ages ago upon a mountain in Hcuyhnhnm-Iaf.d. 
 
 But, as to the formality of taking poileffion in my 
 fovereign's name, it never came once into my thoughts ; 
 and if it had, yet, as my affairs then llocd, 1 Ihould 
 perhaps in point of prudence and felf-prefervation have 
 put it off to a better opportunity. 
 
 Having thus anfwered the only objedlion, that can 
 ij erer
 
 TO THE HOUYHNHNMS. 291 
 
 i.er be raifed againfl me as a traveller ; I here take a 
 iiaal leave of all my courteous readers, and return to 
 enjoy my own f^culations in my li|.tle garden at Red- 
 drzff ; to apply thole excellent lelTons of virtue, which 
 I learned among the Houyhnhnms ; to inftruft the yahoos 
 of my own family, as far as I fhali find them docible 
 animals ; to behold my figure often in a glafs, and thus, 
 if poflible, habituate myfelf by time to tolerate the 
 iight of a human creature : to lanr.ent the brutality of 
 Houyhnhmm in my own country, but always treat their 
 perions with reipecl for the fake of my noble mafter, 
 his family, his friends, and the whole Hcuyhnhnm race, 
 whom thefe of curs have the honour to relemble in all 
 their lineaments, however their intelleftuals came to 
 degenerate. 
 
 O 
 
 1 began laft week to permit my wife to fit at dinner 
 with me at the fartheft end of a long table ; and to 
 anlwer ibut with the utmolt brevity) the few queitlons 
 I alked her. Yet, the fmell of a yahco continuing 
 very offennve, I always keep my nofe well liopped 
 with rue, lavender, or tobacco-leaves. And, although 
 it be hard for a man late in life to remove old hajbits, 
 I am not altogether out of hopes in feme time to fuiler 
 a neighbour jrtZ'co in my corspany, v.iihout the appre- 
 hensions I am yet under of his teeth or his claws. 
 
 My reconcilement to \)[iQ yahoo kind in general might 
 not be fo ditScult, if they would be content with thofe 
 vices and follies only, which nature hath intitled them 
 to. 1 am not in the leafl; provoked at the iight of a 
 lawyer, a pick-pocket, a colonel, a fool, a lord, a 
 gamefter, a politician, a whore-monger, a phyfician, 
 an evidence, a fuborner, an attorney, a traitor, or the 
 like ; this is ail according to the due courfe of things : 
 but, when I behold a lump of deformity and difeafes 
 both in rody and mind fmitten with/rzaV, it imme- 
 diately breaks all the meafures of my patience ; neither 
 Ihall I be ever able to comprehend how fuch an animal, 
 ^nd fuch a vice, could tally together. The wiie and 
 yu'tiious Houyhnhnms, who abound in all excellencies 
 
 taat
 
 292 . A V O Y A G E, i^c. 
 
 that can adorn a rational creature, have no name fr)f 
 this vice in their lanfuao-e, which hath no terms to ex- 
 prefs a:iy thing that is evil, except thofe whereby they 
 defcribe the deteltable qualities of their y/i/joos, among 
 which they were not able to diilinguifh this of pride for 
 want of thoroughly underllanding human nature, as it 
 Iheweth itfelf in other countries, where that animal 
 prefides. But I, who had more experience, could 
 plainly obfer\'e feme rudiments of it among the wild 
 jahocs. 
 
 But the Hou-hnhnms, who live under the government 
 of reafon, are i. . more pri ud of the good qualities they 
 pofTefs, than I Ihould be for not wanting a leg or an 
 arm, which no man in his wits would boaftof, although 
 he muil be miferable without them. I dwell the longer 
 upon this fubjefc, from the defire I have to make the 
 fociety of an etiglifh yahoo by any means not infuppcrta- 
 ble ; and therefore I here intreat thofe, who have any 
 tincture of this abfurd vice, that they will not prefume 
 to come in my fight. 
 
 To mortify pride, which in- 
 deed was rot made lor man, 
 and p ojuces rot only tiie rrolt 
 ridiculous Toliier, but the moft 
 cxtenfive ra'aT.ity, appears to 
 have been one general view of 
 the air hot in every part of thefe 
 travel;. Pe Ibnal ftrength and 
 beatty, the wifdom and the 
 virtue of mankind, become ob- 
 
 je£ls not of pride but of humili- 
 ty, in the diminutive ftature and 
 contemptible weaknefs of the 
 Lilliputians ; in ihe honid de-r 
 formity of the B> cbdirgnagians ; 
 in the learned folly or the La- 
 futiaiiSy and in the parallel drawn 
 between our manners and thofa 
 of the Houjbnhr.mi, 
 
 F I N I S.
 
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