Gullivers Travels / Swift, Jonathan

TRAVELS INTO SEVERAL REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD

BY LEMUEL GULLIVER, FIRST A SURGEON, 
THEN A CAPTAIN OF SEVERAL SHIPS.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR BENJ. MOTTE,
AT THE MIDDLE TEMPLE-GATE IN FLEET-STREET.
M,DCC,XXVI.

A LETTER from Capt. Gulliver, to his Cousin Sympson 

I HOPE you will be ready to own publickly, whenever you shall be called 
to it, that by your great and frequent Urgency you prevailed on me to 
publish a very loose and uncorrect Account of my Travels; with Direction 
to hire some young Gentlemen of either University to put them in Order, 
and correct the Style, as my Cousin Dampier did by my Advice, in his 
Book calledA Voyage round the World. But I do not remember I gave you 
Power to consent that any thing should be omitted, and much less that any 
thing should be inserted: therefore, as to the latter, I do here renounce 
every thing of that Kind; particularly a Paragraph about her Majesty the 
late Queen Anne, of most pious and glorious Memory; although I did 
reverence and esteem her more than any of human Species. But you, or 
your Interpolator, ought to have considered, that as it was not my 
Inclination, so was it not decent to praise any Animal of our Composition 
before my Master Houyhnhnm: And besides the Fact was altogether false; 
for to my Knowledge, being in England during some Part of her Majesty's 
Reign, she did govern by a chief Minister; nay, even by two successively; 
the first whereof was the Lord of Godolphin, and the second the Lord of 
Oxford; so that you have made me say the thing that was not. Likewise, in 
the Account of the Academy of Projectors, and several Passages of my 
Discourse to my Master Houyhnhnm, you have either omitted some 
material Circumstances, or minced or changed them in such a Manner, that 
I do hardly know mine own Work. When I formerly hinted to you 
something of this in a Letter, you were pleased to answer that you were 
afraid of giving Offense; that People in Power were very watchful over the 
Press, and apt not only to interpret, but to punish every thing which looked 
like an Innuendo (as I think you called it.) But pray, how could that which 
I spoke so many Years ago, and at about five Thousand leagues distance, in 
another Reign, be applied to any of the Yahoos who now are said to govern 
the Herd; especially at a time when I little thought on or feared the 
Unhappiness of living under them. Have not I the most reason to complain, 
when I see these very Yahoos carried by Houyhnhnms in a Vehicle, as if 
these were Brutes, and those the rational Creatures? And indeed, to avoid 
so monstrous and detestable a Sight was one principal Motive of my 
Retirement hither. 

Thus much I thought proper to tell you in Relation to yourself, and to the 
Trust I reposed in you. 

I do in the next Place complain of my own great Want of Judgement, in 
being prevailed upon by the Intreaties and false Reasonings of you and 
some others, very much against mine own Opinion, to suffer my Travels to 
be published. Pray bring to your Mind how often I desired you to consider, 
when you insisted on the Motive of publick good; that the Yahoos were a 
species of Animals utterly incapable of Amendment by Precepts or 
Examples: And so it hath proved; for instead of seeing a full Stop put to all 
Abuses and Corruptions, at least in this little Island, as I had Reason to 
expect: Behold, after above six Months Warning, I cannot learn that my 
Book hath produced one single Effect according to mine Intentions: I 
desired you would let me know by a Letter, when Party and Faction were 
extinguished; Judges learned and upright; Pleaders honest and modest, with 
some Tincture of common Sense; and Smithfield blazing with Pyramids of 
Law-Books; the young Nobility's Education entirely changed; the 
Physicians banished; the female Yahoos abounding in Virtue, Honour, 
Truth and good Sense; Courts and Levees of great Ministers thoroughly 
weeded and swept; Wit, Merit and Learning rewarded; all Disgracers of 
the Press in Prose and Verse condemned to eat nothing but their own 
Cotten, and quench their Thirst with their own Ink. These, and a Thousand 
other Reformations, I firmly counted upon by your Encouragement; as 
indeed they were plainly deducible from the Precepts delivered in my 
Book. And, it must be owned that seven Months were a sufficient Time to 
correct every Vice and Folly to which Yahoos are subject, if their Natures 
had been capable of the least Disposition to Virtue or Wisdom: Yet so far 
have you been from answering mine Expectation in any of your Letters; 
that on the contrary you are loading our Carrier every Week with Libels, 
and Keys, and Reflections, and Memoirs, and Second Parts; wherein I see 
myself accused of reflecting upon great States-Folk, of degrading human 
Nature (for so they have still the Confidence to stile it), and of abusing the 
Female Sex. I find likewise that the Writers of those Bundles are not 
agreed among themselves; for some of them will not allow me to be 
Author of my own Travels; and others make me Author of Books to which 
I am wholly a Stranger. 

I find likewise that your Printer hath been so careless as to confound the 
Times, and mistake the Dates of my several Voyages and Returns; neither 
assigning the true Year, or the true Month, or Day of the Month: And I 
hear the original Manuscript is all destroyed, since the Publication of my 
Book. Neither have I any Copy left; however, I have sent you some 
Corrections, which you may insert, if ever there should be a second 
Edition: And yet I cannot stand to them, but shall leave that Matter to my 
judicious and candid Readers, to adjust it as they please. 

I hear some of our Sea-Yahoos find Fault with my Sea-Language, as not 
proper in many Parts, nor now in use. I cannot help it. In my first 
Voyages, while I was young, I was instructed by the oldest Mariners, and 
learned to speak as they did. But I have since found that the Sea-Yahoos are 
apt, like the Land ones, to become new fangled in their Words, which the 
latter change every Year, insomuch as I remember upon each Return to 
mine own Country their old Dialect was so altered that I could hardly 
understand the new. And I observe, when any Yahoo comes from London 
out of Curiosity visit me at mine own House, we neither of us are able to 
deliver our Conceptions in a Manner intelligible to the other. 

If the Censure of Yahoos could any Way affect me, I should have great 
Reason to complain that some of them are so bold as to think my Book of 
Travels a mere Fiction out of mine own brain; and have gone so far as to 
drop Hints, that the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos have no more Existence than 
the Inhabitants of Utopia. 

Indeed I must confess, that as to the People of Lilliput, Brobdingrag (for so 
the Word should have been spelt, and not erroneously Brobdingnag), and 
Laputa; I have never yet heard of any Yahoo so presumptuous as to dispute 
their being, or the Facts I have related concerning them; because the Truth 
immediately strikes every Reader with Conviction. And is there less 
Probability in my Account of the Houyhnhnms or Yahoos, when it is 
manifest as to the latter, there are so many Thousands even in this City, 
who only differ from their Brother Brutes in Houyhnhnmland, because 
they use a Sort of a Jabber, and do not go naked? I wrote for their 
Amendment, and not their Approbation. The united Praise of the whole 
Race would be of less Consequence to me than the neighing of those two 
degenerate Houyhnhnms I keep in my stable; because from these, 
degenerate as they are, I still improve in some Virtues, without any 
Mixture of Vice. 

Do these miserable Animals presume to think that I am so far degenerated 
as to defend my veracity? Yahoo as I am, it is well known through all 
Houyhnhnmland, that by the Instructions and Example of my illustrious 
Master I was able in the Compass of two Years (although I confess with the 
utmost Difficulty) to remove that infernal Habit of Lying, Shuffling, 
Deceiving, and Equivocating, so deeply rooted in the very Souls of all my 
Species, especially the Europeans. 

I have other Complaints to make upon this vexatious Occasion; but I 
forbear troubling myself or you any further. I must freely confess, that 
since my last Return, some Corruptions of my Yahoo Nature have revived 
in me by conversing with a few of your Species, and particularly those of 
mine own Family, by an unavoidable Necessity; else I should never have 
attempted so absurd a Project as that of reforming the Yahoo Race in this 
Kingdom; but I have now done with all visionary Schemes for ever. 

April 2, 1727. 

THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER 

THE AUTHOR of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my antient and 
intimate Friend; there is likewise some Relation between us by the Mother's 
Side. About three Years ago Mr. Gulliver, growing weary of the 
Concourse of curious People coming to him at his House in Redriff, made a 
small purchase of land, with a convenient house, near Newark in 
Nottinghamshire, his native Country; where he now lives retired, yet in 
good Esteem among his Neighbors. 

Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his Father 
dwelt, yet I have heard him say his Family came from Oxfordshire; to 
confirm which, I have observed in the Church-Yard at Banbury, in that 
County, several Tombs and Monuments of the Gullivers. 

Before he quitted Redriff, he left the Custody of the following Papers in 
my Hands, with the Liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I have 
carefully perused them three Times. The style is very plain and simple; and 
the only Fault I find is, that the Author, after the Manner of Travelers, is a 
little too circumstantial. There is an Air of Truth apparent through the 
whole; and indeed the Author was so distinguished for his Veracity, that it 
became a Sort of Proverb among his Neighbors at Redriff, when any one 
affirmed a Thing, to say it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoke it. 

By the Advice of several worthy Persons, to whom, with the Author's 
Permission, I communicated these Papers, I now venture to send them into 
the World, hoping they may be at least, for some time, a better 
Entertainment to our young Noblemen than the common Scribbles of 
Politicks and Party. 

This Volume would have been at least twice as large, if I had not made 
bold to strike out innumerable Passages relating to the Winds and Tides, as 
well as to the Variations and Bearings in the several Voyages; together with 
the minute Descriptions of the Management of the Ship in Storms, in the 
Style of Sailors. Likewise the Account of the Longitudes and Latitudes; 
wherein I have Reason to apprehend that Mr. Gulliver may be a little 
dissatisfied. But I was resolved to fit the Work as much as possible to the 
general Capacity of Readers. However, if my own Ignorance in Sea-Affairs 
shall have led me to commit some Mistakes, I alone am answerable for 
them. And if any Traveller hath a Curiosity to see the whole Work at 
large, as it came from the Hand of the Author, I shall be ready to gratify 
him. 

As for any further Particulars relating to the Author, the Reader will 
receive Satisfaction from the first Pages of the Book. 

Richard Sympson. 

PART I: A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT

                           [Plate 1: Lilliput]

CHAPTER I.

The Author gives some Account of himself and Family:  His first 
Inducements to travel.  He is shipwreck'd, and swims for his Life:  Gets 
safe on shoar in the Country of Lilliput:  Is made a Prisoner, and carry'd 
up the Country.

MY FATHER had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of 
five Sons. He sent me to Emanuel-College in Cambridge, at Fourteen Years 
old, where I resided three Years, and applyed my self close to my Studies: 
But the Charge of maintaining me (although I had a very scanty 
Allowance) being too great for a narrow Fortune; I was bound Apprentice 
to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in London, with whom I continued 
four Years; and my Father now and then sending me small Sums of Money, 
I laid them out in learning Navigation, and other parts of the 
Mathematicks, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it 
would be some time or other my Fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I 
went down to my Father; where, by the Assistance of him and my Uncle 
John, and some other Relations, I got Forty Pounds, and a Promise of 
Thirty Pounds a Year to maintain me at Leyden: There I studied Physick 
two Years and seven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages.

Soon after my Return from Leyden, I was recommended, by my good 
Master Mr. Bates, to be Surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell 
Commander; with whom I continued three Years and a half, making a 
Voyage or two into the Levant, and some other Parts. When I came back, I 
resolved to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my Master, encouraged 
me, and by him I was recommended to several Patients. I took Part of a 
small House in the Old Jury; and being advised to alter my Condition, I 
married Mrs. Mary Burton, second Daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, 
Hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four Hundred Pounds for 
a Portion.

But, my good Master Bates dying in two Years after, and I having few 
Friends, my Business began to fail; for my Conscience would not suffer me 
to imitate the bad Practice of too many among my Brethren. Having 
therefore consulted with my Wife, and some of my Acquaintance, I 
determined to go again to Sea. I was Surgeon successively in two Ships, and 
made several Voyages, for six Years, to the East and West-Indies, by which 
I got some Addition to my Fortune. My Hours of Leisure I spent in reading 
the best Authors, antient and modern, being always provided with a good 
Number of Books ; and when I was ashore, in observing the Manners and 
Dispositions of the People, well as learning their Language, wherein I had 
a great Facility by the Strength of my Memory.

The last of these Voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the 
Sea, and intended to stay at home with my Wife and Family. I removed 
from the Old Jury to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to Wapping hoping to 
get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After three 
Years Expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous 
Offer from Captain William Prichard, Master of the Antelope, who was 
making a Voyage to the South-Sea. We set sail from Bristol May 4th, 1699 
and our Voyage at first was very prosperous.

It would not be proper, for some Reasons, to trouble the Reader with the 
Particulars of our Adventures in those Seas: Let it suffice to inform him, 
that in our Passage from thence to the East-Indies, we were driven by a 
violent Storm to the North-west of Van Diemen's Land. By an 
Observation, we found ourselves in the Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Minutes 
South. Twelve of our Crew were dead by immoderate Labour and ill Food, 
the rest were in a very weak Condition. On the fifth of November, which 
was the beginning of Summer in those Parts, the Weather being very hazy, 
the Seamen spied a Rock, within half a Cable's length of the Ship; but the 
Wind was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately 
split. Six of the Crew, of whom I was one, having let down the Boat into 
the Sea, made a Shift to get clear of the Ship, and the Rock. We rowed by 
my Computation about three Leagues, till we were able to work no longer, 
being already spent with Labour while we were in the Ship. We therefore 
trusted ourselves to the Mercy of the Waves, and in about half an Hour the 
Boat was overset by a sudden Flurry from the North. What became of my 
Companions in the Boat, as well as of those who escaped on the Rock, or 
were left in the Vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all lost. For 
my own Part, I swam as Fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by 
Wind and Tide. I often let my Legs drop, and could feel no Bottom: but 
when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found myself 
within my Depth; and by this Time the Storm was much abated. The 
Declivity was so small, that I walked near a Mile before I got to the Shore, 
which I conjectur'd was about eight a-clock in the Evening. I then advanced 
forward near half a Mile, but could not discover any sign of Houses or 
Inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a Condition, that I did not observe 
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 Ship, I found 
myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the Grass, which was very 
short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remember to have done in 
my Life, and, as I reckoned, above Nine Hours; for when I awakened, it 
was just Day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: For as I 
happen'd to lye on my Back, I found my Arms and Legs were strongly 
fastened on each Side to the Ground; and my Hair, which was long and 
thick, tied down in the same Manner. I likewise felt several slender 
Ligatures across my Body, from my Armpits to my Thighs. I could only 
look upwards; the Sun began to grow hot, and the Light offended my Eyes. 
I heard a confused Noise about me, but in the Posture I lay, could see 
nothing except the Sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my 
left Leg, which advancing gently forward over my Breast, came almost up 
to my Chin; when bending my Eyes downwards as much as I could, I 
perceived it to be a human Creature not six Inches high, with a Bow and 
Arrow in his hands, and a Quiver at his Back. In the meantime, I felt at 
least Forty more of the same Kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I 
was in the utmost Astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran back 
in a Fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the 
Falls they got by leaping from my Sides upon the Ground. However, they 
soon returned, and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full Sight 
of my Face, lifting up his Hands and Eyes by way of Admiration, cried out 
in a shrill but distinct Voice, Hekinah Degul: the others repeated the same 
Words several times, but I then knew not what they meant. I lay all this 
while, as the Reader may believe, in great Uneasiness; At length, struggling 
to get loose, I had the Fortune to break the Strings, and wrench out the 
Pegs that fastened my left Arm to the Ground; for, by lifting it up to my 
Face, I discovered the Methods they had taken to bind me, and at the same 
time, with a violent Pull, which gave me excessive Pain, I a little loosened 
the Strings that tied down my Hair on the left Side, so that I was just able to 
turn my Head about two Inches. But the creatures ran off a second time, 
before I could seize them; Whereupon there was a great Shout in a very 
shrill Accent, and after it ceased, I heard one of them cry aloud, Tolgo 
Phonac; when in an Instant I felt above a Hundred Arrows discharged on 
my left Hand, which pricked me like so many Needles; and besides they 
shot another Flight into the Air, as we do Bombs in Europe, whereof 
many, I suppose, fell on my Body (though I felt them not) and some on my 
Face, which I immediately covered with my left Hand. When this Shower 
of Arrows was over, I fell a groaning with Grief and Pain, and then 
striving again to get loose, they discharged another Volly larger than the 
first, and some of them attempted with Spears to stick me in the Sides; but, 
by good Luck, I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they could not pierce. I 
thought it the most prudent Method to lie still, and my Design was to 
continue so till Night, when, my left Hand being already loose, I could 
easily free myself: And as for the Inhabitants, I had Reason to believe I 
might be a Match for the greatest Armies they could bring against me, if 
they were all of the same Size with him that I saw. But Fortune disposed 
otherwise of me. When the People observed I was quiet, they discharged no 
more Arrows: But, by the Noise increasing, I knew their Numbers were 
greater; and about four Yards from me, over against my right Ear, I heard 
a Knocking for above an Hour, like People at work; when turning my Head 
that Way, as well as the Pegs and Strings would permit me, I saw a Stage 
erected about a Foot and a half from the Ground, capable of holding four 
of the Inhabitants, with two or three Ladders to mount it: From whence 
one of them, who seemed to be a Person of Quality, made me a long 
Speech, whereof I understood not one Syllable. But I should have 
mentioned, that before the principal Person began his Oration, he cryed out 
three times, Langro Dehul san: (these Words and the former were 
afterwards repeated and explained to me). Whereupon immediately about 
fifty of the Inhabitants came, and cut the Strings that fastened the left side 
of my Head, which gave me the Liberty of turning it to the right, and of 
observing the Person and Gesture of him that was to speak. 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 seemed to be somewhat 
longer than my middle Finger; the other two stood one on each side to 
support him. He acted every part of an Orator, and I could observe many 
periods of Threatnings, and others of Promises, Pity and Kindness. I 
answered in a few Words, but in the most submissive Manner, lifting up 
my left Hand and both my eyes to the Sun, as calling him for a Witness; 
and being almost famished with Hunger, having not eaten a Morsel for 
some Hours before I left the Ship, I found the Demands of Nature so strong 
upon me, that I could not forbear showing my Impatience (perhaps against 
the strict Rules of Decency) by putting my Finger frequently on my Mouth, 
to signify that I wanted Food. The Hurgo (for so they call a great Lord, as 
I afterwards learned) understood me very well: He descended from the 
Stage, and commanded that several Ladders should be applied to my Sides, 
on which above a Hundred of the Inhabitants mounted, and walked towards 
my Mouth, laden with Baskets full of Meat, which had been provided, and 
sent thither by the King's Orders, upon the first Intelligence he received of 
me. I observed there was the Flesh of several Animals, but could not 
distinguish them by the Taste. There were Shoulders, Legs, and Loins, 
shaped like those of Mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller 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 bigness of Musket Bullets. They supplied me as 
fast as they could, shewing a thousand Marks of Wonder and Astonishment 
at my Bulk and Appetite. I then made another Sign that I wanted Drink. 
They found by my eating that a small Quantity would not suffice me, and 
being a most ingenious People, they slung up with great Dexterity one of 
their largest Hogsheads, then rolled it toward my Hand, and beat out the 
Top; I drank it off at a Draught, which I might well do, for it hardly held 
half a Pint, and tasted like a small Wine of Burgundy, but much more 
delicious. They brought me a second Hogshead, which I drank in the same 
Manner, and made Signs for more, but they had none to give me. When I 
had performed these Wonders, they shouted for Joy, and danced upon my 
Breast, repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah Degul. They 
made me a Sign that I should throw down the two Hogsheads, but first 
warning the People below to stand out of the Way, crying aloud, Borach 
Mivola, and when they saw the Vessels in the Air, there was a universal 
Shout of Hekinah Degul. I confess I was often tempted, while they were 
passing backwards and forwards on my Body, to seize Forty or Fifty of the 
first that came in my Reach, and dash them against the Ground. But the 
Remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst 
they could do; and the Promise of Honour I made them, for so I 
interpreted my submissive Behaviour, soon drove out these Imaginations. 
Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the Laws of Hospitality to a 
People who had treated me with so much Expense and Magnificence. 
However, in my Thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity 
of these diminutive Mortals, who dare venture to mount and walk upon my 
Body, while one of my Hands was at Liberty, without trembling at the very 
Sight of so prodigious a Creature as I must appear to them. After some 
time, when they observed that I made no more Demands for Meat, there 
appeared before me a Person of high Rank from his Imperial Majesty. His 
Excellency having mounted on the small of my right Leg, advanced 
forwards up to my Face, with about a Dozen of his Retinue; And producing 
his Credentials under the Signet Royal, which he applied close to my Eyes, 
spoke about ten Minutes, without any Signs of Anger, but with a kind of 
determinate Resolution; often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards 
found, was towards the Capital City, about half a Mile distant, whither it 
was agreed by his Majesty in Council that I must be conveyed. I answered 
in few Words, but to no Purpose, and made a Sign with my Hand that was 
loose, 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 signify 
that I desired my Liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, 
for he shook his Head by way of Disapprobation , and held his Hand in a 
Posture to show that I must be carried as a Prisoner. However, he made 
other Signs to let me understand that I should have Meat and Drink enough, 
and very good Treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting 
to break my Bonds, but again, when I felt the Smart of their Arrows upon 
my Face and Hands, which were all in Blisters, and many of the Darts still 
sticking in them, and observing likewise that the Number of my Enemies 
encreased, I gave Tokens to let them know that they might do with me what 
they pleased. Upon this the Hurgo and his Train withdrew with much 
Civility and chearful Countenances. Soon after I heard a general Shout, 
with frequent repetitions of the words, Peplom Selan, and I felt great 
Numbers of the People on my Left Side relaxing the Cords to such a 
Degree, that I was able to turn upon my Right, and to ease myself with 
making Water; which I very plentifully did, to the great Astonishment of 
the People, who conjecturing by my Motions what I was going to do, 
immediately opened to the right and left on that Side, to avoid the Torrent 
which fell with such Noise and Violence from me. But before this, they had 
daubed my Face and both my Hands with a sort of Ointment very pleasant 
to the Smell, which in a few Minutes removed all the Smart of their 
Arrows. These Circumstances, added to the Refreshment I had received by 
their Victuals and Drink, which were very nourishing , disposed me to 
sleep. I slept about eight Hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no 
Wonder, for the Physicians, by the Emperor's Order, had mingled a 
sleeping Potion in the Hogsheads of Wine.

It seems that upon the first Moment I was discovered sleeping on the 
Ground after my Landing, the Emperor had early Notice of it by an 
Express, and determined in Council that I should be tyed in the Manner I 
have related (which was done in the Night while I slept), that plenty of 
Meat and Drink should be sent me, and a Machine prepared to carry me to 
the Capital City.

This Resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am 
confident would not be imitated by any Prince in Europe on the like 
Occasion; however, in my Opinion, it was extremely Prudent, as well as 
Generous. For supposing these People had endeavored to kill me with their 
Spears and Arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly have awakened 
with the first Sense of Smart, which might so far have roused my Rage and 
Strength, as to have enabled me to break the Strings wherewith I was tyed; 
after which, as they were not able to make Resistance, so they could expect 
no Mercy.

These People are most excellent Mathematicians, and arrived to great 
perfection in Mechanicks by the Countenance and Encouragement of the 
Emperor, who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince has several 
Machines fixed on Wheels for the Carriage of Trees and other great 
Weights. He often builds his largest Men of War, whereof some are Nine 
Foot long, in the Woods where the Timber grows, and has them carried on 
these Engines three or four Hundred Yards to the sea. Five Hundred 
Carpenters and Engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the 
greatest Engine they had. It was a Frame of Wood raised three Inches from 
the Ground, about seven Foot long and four wide, moving upon twenty-
two Wheels. The Shout I heard was upon the Arrival of this Engine, which 
it seems set out in four Hours after my Landing. It was brought parallel to 
me as I lay. But the principal Difficulty was to raise and place me in this 
Vehicle. Eighty Poles, each of one Foot high, were erected for this 
Purpose, and very strong Cords of the bigness of Pack thread were 
fastened by Hooks to many Bandages, which the Workmen had girt round 
my Neck, my Hands, my Body, and my Legs. Nine Hundred of the 
strongest Men were employed to draw up these Cords by many Pulleys 
fastned on the Poles, and thus, in less than three Hours, I was raised and 
slung into the Engine, and there tyed fast. All this I was told, for while the 
whole Operation was performing, I lay in a profound Sleep, by the Force 
of that soporiferous Medicine infused into my Liquor. Fifteen Hundred of 
the Emperor's largest Horses, each about four Inches and a half high, were 
employed to draw me towards the Metropolis, which, as I said, was half a 
Mile distant.

About four Hours after we began our Journey, I awaked by a very 
ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage being stopt a while to adjust 
something that was out of Order, two or three of the young Natives had the 
Curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; they climbed up into the 
Engine, and advancing very softly to my Face, one of them, an Officer in 
the Guards, put the sharp End of his Half-Pike a good way up into my left 
Nostril, which tickled my Nose like a Straw, and made me sneeze violently: 
Whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it was three Weeks before I 
knew the Cause of my awaking so suddenly. We made a long March the 
remaining Part of that Day, and rested at Night with Five Hundred Guards 
on each Side of me, half with Torches, and half with Bows and Arrows, 
ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next Morning at Sunrise we 
continued our March, and arrived within two Hundred Yards of the City-
Gates about Noon. The Emperor, and all his Court, came out to meet us; 
but his great Officers would by no means suffer his Majesty to endanger 
his Person by mounting on my Body.

At the Place where the Carriage stopt, there stood an antient Temple, 
esteemed to be the largest in the whole Kingdom, which having been 
polluted some Years before by an unnatural Murder, was, according to the 
Zeal of those People, looked on as prophane, and therefore had been 
applied to common Use, and all the Ornaments and Furniture carried away. 
In this Edifice it was determined I should lodge. The great Gate fronting to 
the North was about four feet high, and almost two feet wide, through 
which I could easily creep. On each Side of the Gate was a small Window 
not above six Inches from the Ground: Into that on the Left Side, the 
King's Smiths conveyed fourscore and eleven Chains, like those that hang 
to a Lady's Watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to 
my Left Leg with six and thirty Padlocks. Over against this Temple, on the 
other Side of the great highway, at twenty Foot Distance, there was a 
Turret at least Five Foot high. Here the Emperor ascended with many 
principal Lords of his Court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I 
was told, for I could not see them. It was reckoned that above a hundred 
thousand Inhabitants came out of the Town upon the same Errand; and in 
spite of my Guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand, at 
several Times, who mounted upon my Body by the Help of Ladders. But a 
Proclamation was soon issued to forbid it upon Pain of Death. When the 
Workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the 
Strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up with as melancholy a 
Disposition as ever I had in my Life. But the Noise and Astonishment of 
the People at seeing me rise and walk, are not to be expressed. The Chains 
that held my left Leg were about two Yards long, and gave me not only the 
Liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a Semicircle; but, being 
fixed within four Inches of the Gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my 
full Length in the Temple.

CHAPTER II.

The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the Nobility, comes to see 
the Author in his Confinement. The Emperor's Person and Habit describ'd. 
Learned Men appointed to teach the Author their Language. He gains 
Favour by his mild Disposition. His Pockets Are searched, and his Sword 
and Pistols taken from him.

WHEN I found myself on my Feet, I looked about me, and must confess I 
never beheld a more entertaining Prospect. The Country round appeared 
like a continued Garden, and the inclosed Fields, which were generally 
Forty Foot square, resembled so many Beds of Flowers. These Fields were 
intermingled with Woods of half a Stang, and the tallest Trees, as I could 
judge, appeared to be seven Foot high. I viewed the Town on my left Hand, 
which looked like the painted Scene of a City in a Theatre.

I had been for some Hours extremely pressed by the Necessities of Nature; 
which was no Wonder, it being almost two Days since I had last 
disburthened myself. I was under great Difficulties between Urgency and 
Shame. The best Expedient I could think on, was to creep into my House, 
which I accordingly did; and shutting the Gate after me, I went as far as the 
Length of my Chain would suffer, and discharged my Body of that uneasy 
Load. But this was the only Time I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an 
Action; for which I cannot but hope the candid Reader will give some 
Allowance, after he has maturely and impartially considered my Case, and 
the Distress I was in. From this Time my constant Practice was, as soon as 
I rose, to perform that Business in open Air, at the full Extent of my 
Chain, and due Care was taken every Morning before Company came, that 
the offensive Matter should be carried off in Wheel-barrows, by two 
Servants appointed for that Purpose. I would not have dwelt so long upon a 
Circumstance, that perhaps at first sight may appear not very momentous, 
if I had not thought it necessary to justify my Character in point of 
Cleanliness to the world; which I am told some of my Maligners have been 
pleased, upon this and other Occasions, to call in question.

When this Adventure was at an end, I came back out of my House, having 
occasion for fresh Air. The Emperor was already descended from the 
Tower, and advancing on Horse-back towards me, which had like to have 
cost him dear; for the Beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused 
to such a Sight, which appeared as if a Mountain moved before him, he 
reared up on his hinder Feet: But that Prince, who is an excellent Horse-
man, kept his Seat, till his Attendants ran in, and held the Bridle, while his 
Majesty had time to dismount. When he alighted, he surveyed me round 
with great Admiration, but kept without the length of my Chain. He 
ordered his Cooks and Butlers, who were already prepared, to give me 
Victuals and Drink, which they pushed forward in a sort of Vehicles upon 
Wheels till I could reach them. I took these Vehicles, and soon emptied 
them all; twenty of them were filled with Meat, and ten with Liquor; each 
of the former afforded me two or three good Mouthfuls, and I emptied the 
Liquor of ten Vessels, which was contained in earthen Vials, into one 
Vehicle, drinking it off at a Draught; and so I did with the rest. The 
Empress, and young Princes of the Blood, of both Sexes, attended by many 
Ladies, sat at some distance in their Chairs; but upon the Accident that 
happened to the Emperor's Horse, they alighted, and came near his Person, 
which I am now going to describe. He is taller by almost the breadth of my 
Nail, than any of his Court, which alone is enough to strike an Awe into the 
Beholders. His Features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and 
arched Nose, his Complexion olive, his Countenance erect, his Body and 
Limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his Deportment 
majestic. He was then past his Prime, being twenty-eight Years and three 
Quarters old, of which he had reigned about seven, in great Felicity, and 
generally victorious. For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on 
my Side, so that my Face was parallel to his, and he stood but three Yards 
off: However, I have had him since many Times in my Hand, and therefore 
cannot be deceived in the Description. His Dress was very plain and simple, 
and the Fashion of it between the Asiatick and the European; but he had on 
his Head a light Helmet of Gold, adorned with Jewels, and a Plume on the 
Crest. He held his Sword drawn in his Hand, to defend himself, if I should 
happen to break loose; it was almost three Inches long, the Hilt and 
Scabbard were Gold, enriched with Diamonds. His Voice was shrill, but 
very clear and articulate, and I could distinctly hear it when I stood up. 
The Ladies and Courtiers were all most magnificently clad, so that the Spot 
they stood upon seemed to resemble a Petticoat spread on the Ground, 
embroidered with Figures of Gold and Silver. His Imperial Majesty spoke 
often to me, and I returned Answers, but neither of us could understand a 
Syllable. There were several of his Priests and Lawyers present (as I 
conjectured by their Habits) who were commanded to address themselves to 
me, and I spoke to them in as many Languages as I had the least smattering 
of, which were High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and 
Lingua Franca ; but all to no Purpose. After about two Hours the Court 
retired, and I was left with a strong Guard, to prevent the Impertinence, 
and probably the Malice of the Rabble, who were very impatient to croud 
about me as near as they durst, and some of them had the impudence to 
shoot their Arrows at me as I sate on the Ground by the Door of my 
House, whereof one very narrowly missed my left Eye. But the Colonel 
ordered six of the Ringleaders to be seized, and thought no Punishment so 
proper as to deliver them bound into my Hands, which some of his Soldiers 
accordingly did, pushing them forwards with the But-Ends of their Pikes 
into my Reach; I took them all in my right Hand, put five of them into my 
Coat-Pocket, and as to the sixth, I made a Countenance as if I would eat 
him alive. The poor Man squalled terribly, and the Colonel and his 
Officers were in much Pain, especially when they saw me take out my 
Penknife: But I soon put them out of fear; for, looking mildly and 
immediately cutting the Strings he was bound with, I set him gently on the 
Ground, and away he ran; I treated the rest in the same manner, taking 
them one by one out of my Pocket, and I observed both the Soldiers and 
People were highly obliged at this Mark of my Clemency, which was 
represented very much to my Advantage at Court.

Towards Night I with some Difficulty got into my House, where I lay on 
the Ground, and continued to do so about a Fortnight; during which Time 
the Emperor gave Orders to have a Bed prepared for me. Six hundred 
Beds of the common Measure were brought in Carriages, and worked up in 
my House; a hundred and fifty of their Beds sewn together made up the 
Breadth and Length, and these were four double, which however kept me 
but very indifferently from the Hardness of the Floor, that was of smooth 
Stone. By the same Computation they provided me with Sheets, Blankets, 
and Coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had been so long enured to 
Hardships as I.

As the News of my Arrival spread through the Kingdom, it brought 
prodigious Numbers of rich, idle, and curious People to see me; so that the 
Villages were almost emptied, and great Neglect of Tillage and Household 
Affairs must have ensued, if his Imperial Majesty had not provided, by 
several Proclamations and Orders of State, against this Inconveniency. He 
directed that those who had already beheld me should return Home, and not 
presume to come within fifty Yards of my House without Licence from 
Court; whereby the Secretarys of State got considerable Fees.

In the mean time, the Emperor held frequent Councils to debate what 
Course should be taken with me; and I was afterwards assured by a 
particular Friend, a Person of great Quality, who was looked upon to be as 
much in the Secret as any, that the Court was under many Difficulties 
concerning me. They apprehended my breaking loose, that my Diet would 
be very expensive, and might cause a Famine. Sometimes they determined 
to starve me, or at least to shoot me in the Face and Hands with poisoned 
Arrows, which would soon dispatch me: But again they considered, that the 
Stench of so large a Carcass might produce a Plague in the Metropolis, and 
probably spread through the whole Kingdom. In the midst of these 
Consultations, several Officers of the army went to the Door of the great 
Council Chamber; and two of them being admitted, gave an account of my 
Behavior to the six Criminals above-mentioned, which made so favorable 
an Impression in the Breast of his Majesty and the whole Board in my 
behalf, that an Imperial Commission was issued out, obliging all the 
Villages nine hundred Yards round the City, to deliver in every Morning 
six Beeves, forty Sheep, and other Victuals for my Sustenance; together 
with a proportionable Quantity of Bread, and Wine, and other Liquors: for 
the due Payment of which, his Majesty gave assignments upon his 
Treasury. For this Prince lives chiefly upon his own Demesnes, seldom, 
except upon great Occasions, raising any Subsidies upon his Subjects, who 
are bound to attend him in his Wars at their own Expense. An 
Establishment was also made of six hundred Persons to be my Domesticks, 
who had Board-Wages allowed for their Maintenance, and Tents built for 
them very conveniently on each side of my Door. It was likewise ordered, 
that three hundred Taylors should make me a Suit of Cloaths after the 
Fashion of the Country: That six of his Majesty's greatest Scholars should 
be employ'd to instruct me in their Language: And, lastly, that the 
Emperor's Horses, and those of the Nobility, and Troops of Guards, should 
be frequently exercised in my sight, to accustom themselves to me. All 
these Orders were duly put in Execution, and in about three Weeks I made 
a great progress in learning their Language; during which time, the 
Emperor frequently honored me with his Visits, and was pleased to assist 
my Masters in teaching me. We began already to converse together in some 
sort; and the first Words I learnt were to express my Desire that he would 
please give me my Liberty, which I every day repeated on my Knees. His 
Answer, as I could apprehend it, was, that this must be a Work of Time, 
not to be thought on without the Advice of Council, and that first I must 
Lumos Kelmin pesso desmar lon Emposo; that is, swear a Peace with him 
and his Kingdom. However, that I should be used with all Kindness; and he 
advised me to acquire, by my Patience and discreet Behaviour, the good 
Opinion of himself and his Subjects. He desired I would not take it ill, if he 
gave Orders to certain proper Officers to search me; for probably I might 
carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if 
they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person. I said, his Majesty 
should be satisfied, for I was ready to strip myself, and turn out my 
Pockets before him. This I delivered part in Words, and part in Signs. He 
replied, that by the Laws of the Kingdom I must be searched by two of his 
Officers; that he knew this could not be done without my Consent and 
Assistance; that he had so good an Opinion of my Generosity and Justice, as 
to trust their Persons in my Hands: That whatever they took from me 
should be returned when I left the Country, or paid for at the Rate which I 
would set upon them. I took up the two Officers in my Hands, put them 
first into my Coat-Pockets, and then into every other Pocket about me, 
except my two Fobs, and another secret Pocket I had no mind should be 
searched, wherein I had some little Necessaries that were of no 
consequence to any but myself. In one of my Fobs there was a silver 
Watch, and in the other a small Quantity of Gold in a Purse. These 
Gentlemen, having Pen Ink, and Paper about them, made an exact 
Inventory of everything they saw; and when they had done, desired I would 
set them down, that they might deliver it to the Emperor. This Inventory I 
afterwards translated into English, and is word for word as follows.

      IMPRIMIS, In the right coat Pocket of the Great Man Mountain (for
      so I interpret the Words quinbus Flestrin) after the strictest
      search, we found only one great Piece of coarse Cloath, large
      enough to be a Foot-Cloth for your Majesty's chief Room of State.
      In the left Pocket we saw a huge Silver Chest, with a Cover of the
      same Metal, which we the Searchers were not able to lift. We
      desired it should be opened, and one of us stepping into it, found
      himself up to the mid Leg in a sort of Dust, some part whereof
      flying up to our Faces, set us both sneezing for several times
      together. In his right Waistcoat-Pocket we found a prodigious
      Bundle of white thin Substances, folded one over another, about
      the Bigness of three Men, tied with a strong cable, and marked
      with black Figures; which we humbly conceive to be Writings, every
      Letter almost half as large as the Palm of our Hands. In the left
      there was a sort of Engine, from the back of which were extended
      twenty long poles, resembling the palisades before your Majesty's
      Court; wherewith we conjecture the Man Mountain combs his Head,
      for we did not always trouble him with Questions, because we found
      it a great Difficulty to make him understand us. In the large
      Pocket on the right side of his middle Cover (so I translate the
      Word Ranfu-Lo, by which they meant my Breeches) we saw a hollow
      Pillar of Iron, about the length of a Man, fastened to a strong
      piece of Timber, larger than the Pillar; and upon one side of the
      Pillar were huge Pieces of Iron sticking out, cut into strange
      Figures, which we know not what to make of. In the left Pocket,
      another Engine of the same kind. In the smaller Pocket on the
      right side, were several round flat Pieces of white and red Metal,
      of different Bulk; some of the white, which seemed to be silver,
      were so large and heavy, that my Comrade and I could hardly lift
      them. In the left Pocket were two black Pillars irregularly
      shaped: we could not, without Difficulty, reach the Top of them as
      we stood at the Bottom of his Pocket. One of them was covered, and
      seemed all of a Piece: but at the upper End of the other, there
      appeared a white round Substance, about twice the bigness of our
      heads. Within each of these was inclosed a prodigious Plate of
      Steel; which, by our Orders, we obliged him to shew us, because we
      apprehended they might be dangerous Engines. He took them out of
      their Cases, and told us, that in his own Country his Practice was
      to shave his Beard with one of these, and to cut his Meat with the
      other. There were two Pockets which we could not enter: These he
      called his Fobs; they were two large Slits cut into the top of his
      middle Cover, but squeez'd close by the pressure of his Belly. Out
      of the right Fob hung a great silver Chain, with a wonderful kind
      of Engine at the bottom. We directed him to draw out whatever was
      fastened to that Chain; which appeared to be a Globe, half Silver,
      and half of some transparent Metal: for on the transparent side we
      saw certain strange Figures circularly drawn, and thought we could
      touch them, till we found our Fingers stopped by that lucid
      Substance. He put this Engine to our Ears, which made an incessant
      Noise like that of a Water-Mill. And we conjecture it is either
      some unknown Animal, or the God that he worships: But we are more
      inclined to the latter  Opinion, because he assured us (if we
      understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly)
      that he seldom did anything without consulting it: he called it
      his Oracle, and said it pointed out the Time for every Action of
      his Life. From the left Fob he took out a Net almost large enough
      for a Fisherman, but contrived to open and shut like a Purse, and
      serve him for the same use: we found therein several massy Pieces
      of yellow Metal, which, if they be real Gold, must be of immense
      Value.

      Having thus, in obedience to your Majesty's Commands, diligently
      searched all his Pockets, we observed a Girdle about his Waist
      made of the Hide of some prodigious Animal; from which, on the
      left side, hung a Sword of the length of five Men; and on the
      right, a Bag or Pouch divided into two Cells, each Cell capable of
      holding three of your Majesty's Subjects. In one of these Cells
      were several Globes or Balls of a most ponderous Metal, about the
      bigness of our Heads, and requiring a strong Hand to lift them:
      the other Cell contained a Heap of certain black Grains, but of no
      great Bulk or Weight, for we could hold above fifty of them in the
      Palms of our Hands.

      This is an exact Inventory of what we found about the Body of the
      Man-Mountain, who used us with great Civility, and due Respect to
      your Majesty's Commission.

      Signed and Sealed on the fourth Day of the eighty ninth Moon of
      your Majesty's auspicious Reign.

      Clefren Frelock, Marsi Frelock.

When this Inventory was read over to the Emperor, he directed me, 
although in very gentle Terms, to deliver up the several Particulars. He 
first called for my Scymiter, which I took out, Scabbard and all. In the 
meantime he ordered three thousand of his choicest Troops (who then 
attended him) to surround me at a distance, with their Bows and Arrows 
just ready to discharge: but I did not observe it, for mine Eyes were wholly 
fixed upon his Majesty. He then desired me to draw my Scymiter, which, 
although it had got some Rust by the Sea-Water, was in most parts 
exceeding bright. I did so, and immediately all the Troops gave a Shout 
between Terror and Surprise; for the Sun shone clear, and the Reflection 
dazzled their Eyes as I waved the Scymiter to and fro in my Hand. His 
Majesty, who is a most magnanimous Prince, was less danted than I could 
expect; he ordered me to return it into the Scabbard, and cast it on the 
Ground as gently as I could, about six Foot from the end of my Chain. The 
next thing he demanded was one of the hollow iron pillars, by which he 
meant my Pocket-Pistols. I drew it out, and at his desire, as well as I could, 
expressed to him the Use of it; and charging it only with Powder, which by 
the closeness of my Pouch happened to escape wetting in the Sea (an 
Inconvenience against which all prudent mariners take special Care to 
provide) I first cautioned the Emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it off 
in the Air. The Astonishment here was much greater than at the sight of 
my Scymiter. Hundreds fell down as if they had been struck dead; and even 
the Emperor, although he stood his ground, could not recover himself in 
some time. I delivered up both my Pistols in the same Manner as I had 
done my Scymiter, and then my Pouch of Powder and Bullets; begging him 
that the former might be kept from the Fire, for it would kindle with the 
smallest Spark, and blow up his Imperial Palace into the Air. I likewise 
delivered up my Watch, which the Emperor was very curious to see, and 
commanded two of his tallest Yeomen of the Guards to bear it on a Pole 
upon their shoulders, as Draymen in England do a Barrel of Ale. He was 
amazed at the continual Noise it made, and the Motion of the Minute-Hand, 
which he could easily discern; for their Sight is much more acute than 
ours; and asked the Opinions of his learned Men about him, which were 
various and remote, as the Reader may well imagine without my repeating; 
although indeed I could not very perfectly understand them. I then gave up 
my Silver and Copper money, my Purse with nine large Pieces of Gold, 
and some smaller ones; my Knife and Razor, my Comb and Silver Snuff-
Box, my Handkerchief and Journal Book. My Scymiter, Pistols, and Pouch, 
were conveyed in Carriages to his Majesty's Stores; but the rest of my 
Goods were returned me.

I had, as I before observed, one private Pocket which escaped their Search, 
wherein there was a pair of Spectacles (which I sometimes use for the 
weakness of mine Eyes), a Pocket Perspective, and several other little 
Conveniences; which, being of no consequence to the Emperor, I did not 
think myself bound in Honour to discover, and I apprehended they might 
be lost or spoiled if I ventured them out of my Possession.

CHAPTER III.

The Author diverts the Emperor and his Nobility of both Sexes in a very 
uncommon Manner. The Diversions of the Court of Lilliput described. The 
Author has his Liberty granted him upon certain Conditions.

MY GENTLENESS and good Behaviour had gained so far on the Emperor 
and his Court, and indeed upon the Army and People in general, that I 
began to conceive Hopes of getting my Liberty in a short time. I took all 
possible Methods to cultivate this favorable Disposition. The Natives came 
by degrees to be less apprehensive of any Danger from me. I would 
sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my Hand. And 
last the Boys and Girls would venture to come and play at Hide and Seek in 
my Hair. I had now made good Progress in understanding and speaking 
their Language. The Emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with 
several of the Country Shows, wherein they exceeded all Nations I have 
known, both for Dexterity and Magnificence. I was diverted with none so 
much as that of the Rope-Dancers, performed upon a slender white Thread, 
extended about two Foot and twelve Inches from the Ground. Upon which 
I shall desire liberty, with the Reader's Patience, to enlarge a little.

This Diversion is only practiced by those Persons who are Candidates for 
great Employments, and high Favour, at Court. They are trained in this 
Art from their Youth, and are not always of noble Birth, or liberal 
Education. When a great Office is vacant either by Death or disgrace 
(which often happens) five or six of those Candidates petition the Emperor 
to entertain his Majesty and the Court with a Dance on the Rope, and 
whoever jumps the highest without falling, succeeds in the Office. Very 
often the Chief Ministers themselves are commanded to show their Skill, 
and to convince the Emperor that they have not lost their Faculty. Flimnap, 
the Treasurer, is allowed to cut a Caper on the strait Rope, at least an Inch 
higher than any other Lord in the whole Empire. I have seen him do the 
Summerset several times together upon a Trencher fixed on the Rope, 
which is no thicker than a common packthread in England. My friend 
Reldresal, principal Secretary for private Affairs, is, in my Opinion, if I 
am not partial, the second after the Treasurer; the rest of the great Officers 
are much upon a par.

These Diversions are often attended with fatal Accidents, whereof great 
Numbers are on Record. I my self have seen two or three Candidates break 
a Limb. But the Danger is much greater when the Ministers themselves are 
commanded to shew their Dexterity; for by contending to excel themselves 
and their Fellows, they strain so far, that there is hardly one of them who 
has not received a Fall, and some of them two or three. I was assured that a 
Year or two before my Arrival, Flimnap would have infallibly broken his 
Neck, if one of the King's Cushions, that accidentally lay on the Ground, 
had not weakened the Force of his Fall.

There is likewise another Diversion, which is only shewn before the 
Emperor and Empress, and first Minister, upon particular Occasions. The 
Emperor lays on the Table three fine silken Threads of six Inches long. 
One is Blue, the other Red, and the third Green. These Threads are 
proposed as Prizes for those Persons whom the Emperor has a mind to 
distinguish by a peculiar Mark of his Favor. The Ceremony is performed 
in his Majesty's great Chamber of State, where the Candidates are to 
undergo a Tryal of Dexterity very different from the former, and such as I 
have not observed the least Resemblance of in any other Country of the old 
or the new World. The Emperor holds a Stick in his Hands, both ends 
parallel to the Horizon, while the Candidates, advancing one by one, 
sometimes leap over the Stick, sometimes creep under it backwards and 
forwards several times, according as the Stick is advanced or depressed. 
Sometimes the Emperor holds one end of the Stick, and his first Minister 
the other; sometimes the Minister has it entirely to himself. Whoever 
performs his Part with most Agility, and holds out the longest in leaping 
and creeping, is rewarded with the Blue-colored Silk; the Red is given to 
the next, and the Green to the third, which they all wear girt twice round 
about the middle; and you see few great Persons about this Court who are 
not adorned with one of these Girdles.

The Horses of the Army, and those of the royal Stables, having been daily 
led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very Feet 
without starting. The Riders would leap them over my Hand as I held it on 
the Ground, and one of the Emperor's Huntsmen, upon a large Courser, 
took my Foot, Shoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious Leap. I had the 
good fortune to divert the Emperor one Day after a very extraordinary 
manner. I desired he would order several Sticks of two Foot high, and the 
thickness of an ordinary cane, to be brought me; whereupon his Majesty 
commanded the Master of his Woods to give Directions accordingly; and 
the next Morning six Wood-men arrived with as many Carriages, drawn by 
eight Horses to each. I took nine of these Sticks, and fixing them firmly in 
the Ground in a Quadrangular Figure, two Foot and a half Square, I took 
four other Sticks, and tied them parallel at each Corner, about two feet 
from the Ground; then I fastened my Handkerchief to the nine Sticks that 
stood erect, and extended it on all Sides till it was as tight as the top of a 
Drum; and the four parallel Sticks rising about five Inches higher than the 
Handkerchief served as Ledges on each side. When I had finished my 
Work, I desired the Emperor to let a Troop of his best Horse, twenty four 
in number, come and exercise upon this Plain. His Majesty approved of the 
Proposal, and I took them up one by one in my Hands, ready mounted and 
armed, with the proper Officers to exercise them. As soon as they got into 
order, they divided into two Parties, performed mock Skirmishes, 
discharged blunt Arrows, drew their Swords, fled and pursued, attacked 
and retired, and in short discovered the best Military Discipline I ever 
beheld. The parallel Sticks secured them and their Horses from falling over 
the Stage; and the Emperor was so much delighted, that he ordered this 
Entertainment to be repeated several days, and once was pleased to be lifted 
up and give the Word of Command; and, with great difficulty, persuaded 
even the Empress herself to let me hold her in her close Chair within two 
Yards of the Stage, from whence she was able to take a full View of the 
whole Performance. It was my good fortune that no ill Accident happened 
in these Entertainments, only once a fiery Horse that belonged to one of the 
Captains pawing with his Hoof struck a Hole in my Handkerchief, and his 
Foot slipping, he overthrew his Rider and himself; but I immediately 
relieved them both, and covering the Hole with one Hand, I set down the 
Troop with the other, in the same manner as I took them up. The Horse 
that fell was strained in the left Shoulder, but the Rider got no hurt, and I 
repaired my Handkerchief as well as I could: however I would not trust to 
the Strength of it any more in such dangerous Enterprizes.

About two or three days before I was set at liberty, as I was entertaining 
the Court with these kind of Feats, there arrived an express to inform his 
Majesty that some of his Subjects riding near the Place where I was first 
taken up, had seen a great black Substance lying on the Ground, very oddly 
shaped, extending its Edges round as wide as his Majesty's Bedchamber, 
and rising up in the middle as high as a Man; that it was no living Creature, 
as they at first apprehended, for it lay on the Grass without Motion, and 
some of them had walked round it several tunes: That by mounting upon 
each other's Shoulders, they had got to the top, which was flat and even, 
and stamping upon it they found it was hollow within; that they humbly 
conceived it might be something belonging to the Man-Mountain, and if his 
Majesty pleased, they would undertake to bring it with only five Horses. I 
presently knew what they meant, and was glad at heart to receive this 
Intelligence. It seems upon my first reaching the Shore after our 
Shipwreck, I was in such confusion, that before I came to the Place where I 
went to sleep, my Hat, which I had fastned with a String to my Head while 
I was rowing, and had stuck on all the time I was swimming, fell off after I 
came to Land; the String, as I conjecture, breaking by some Accident 
which I never observed, but thought my Hat had been lost at Sea. I 
entreated his Imperial Majesty to give Orders it might be brought to me as 
soon as possible, describing to him the Use and the Nature of it: And the 
next Day the Waggoners arrived with it, but not in a very good condition; 
they had bored two Holes in the Brim, within an Inch and a half of the 
Edge, and fastened two Hooks in the Holes; these Hooks were tyed by a 
long Cord to the Harness, and thus my Hat was dragged along for above 
half an English Mile: but the Ground in that Country being extremely 
smooth and level, it receiv'd less Damage than I expected.

Two Days after this Adventure, the Emperor having ordered that part of 
his Army which quarters in and about his Metropolis to be in a readiness, 
took a fancy of diverting himself in a very singular manner. He desired I 
would stand like a Colossus, with my Legs as far asunder as I conveniently 
could. He then commanded his General (who was an old experienced 
Leader, and a great Patron of mine) to draw up the Troops in close Order, 
and march them under me, the Foot by Twenty-four in a Breast, and the 
Horse by Sixteen, with Drums beating, Colours flying, and Pikes advanced. 
This Body consisted of three thousand Foot, and a thousand Horse. His 
Majesty gave Orders, upon pain of Death, that every Soldier in his March 
should observe the strictest Decency with regard to my Person; which, 
however, could not prevent some of the younger Officers from turning up 
their Eyes as they passed under me. And, to confess the Truth, my 
Breeches were at that time in so ill a Condition, that they afforded some 
Opportunities for Laughter and Admiration.

I had sent so many Memorials and Petitions for my Liberty, that his 
Majesty at length mentioned the Matter, first in the Cabinet, and then in a 
full Council ; where it was opposed by none, except Skyresh Bolgolam, 
who was pleased, without any Provocation, to be my mortal Enemy. But it 
was carried against him by the whole Board, and confirmed by the 
Emperor. That Minister was Galbet, or Admiral of the Realm, very much 
in his Master's confidence, and a Person well versed in Affairs, but of a 
morose and sour Complection. However, he was at length persuaded to 
comply; but prevailed that the Articles and Conditions upon which I should 
be set free, and to which I must swear, should be drawn up by himself. 
These Articles were brought to me by Skyresh Bolgolam in Person, 
attended by two Under-Secretarys, and several Persons of Distinction. 
After they were read, I was demanded to swear to the Performance of 
them; first in the manner of my own Country, and afterwards in the 
method prescribed by their Laws; which was to hold my right Foot in my 
left Hand, to place the middle Finger of my right Hand on the Crown of 
my Head, and my Thumb on the Tip of my right Ear. But because the 
Reader may perhaps be curious to have some Idea of the Style and Manner 
of Expression peculiar to that People, as well as to know the Articles upon 
which I recovered my Liberty, I have made a Translation of the whole 
Instrument word for word, as near as I was able, which I here offer to the 
Publick.

GOLBASTO MOMAREN EVLAME GURDILO SHEFIN MULLY ULLY 
GUE, most Mighty Emperor of Lilliput, Delight and Terror of the 
Universe, whose Dominions extend five thousand Blustrugs (about twelve 
miles in circumference) to the Extremitys of the Globe; Monarch of all 
Monarchs, taller than the Sons of Men; whose Feet press down to the 
Center, and whose Head strikes against the Sun: At whose Nod the Princes 
of the Earth shake their Knees; pleasant as the Spring, comfortable as the 
Summer, fruitful as Autumn, dreadful as Winter. His most sublime Majesty 
proposeth to the Man-Mountain, lately arrived to our Celestial Dominions, 
the following Articles, which by a solemn Oath he shall be obliged to 
perform.

      First, The Man-Mountain shall not depart from our Dominions, without
      our License under our Great Seal.

      2nd, He shall not presume to come into our Metropolis, without our
      express Order; at which time the Inhabitants shall have two hours
      warning to keep within their Doors.

      3rd, The said Man-Mountain shall confine his Walks to our principal
      High Roads, and not offer to walk or lie down in a Meadow or Field of
      Corn.

      4th, As he walks the said Roads, he shall take the utmost care not to
      trample upon the Bodies of any of our loving Subjects, their Horses, or
      Carriages, nor take any of our said Subjects into his Hands, without
      their own Consent.

      5th, If an Express requires extraordinary Dispatch, the Man-Mountain
      shall be obliged to carry in his Pocket the Messenger and Horse a Six
      Days Journey once in every Moon, and return the said Messenger back (if
      so required) safe to our Imperial Presence.

      6th, He shall be our Ally against our enemies in the Island of
      Blefuscu, and do his utmost to destroy their Fleet, which is now
      preparing to invade Us.

      7th, That the said Man-Mountain shall, at his times of leisure, be
      aiding and assisting to our Workmen, in helping to raise certain great
      Stones, towards covering the Wall of the principal Park, and other of
      our Royal Buildings.

      8th, That the said Man-Mountain shall, in two Moons time, deliver in an
      exact Survey of the Circumference of our Dominions by a Computation of
      his own Paces round the Coast.

      Lastly, That upon his solemn Oath to observe all the above Articles,
      the said Man-Mountain shall have a daily Allowance of Meat and Drink
      sufficient for the support of 1728 of our Subjects, with free Access to
      our Royal Person, and other Marks of our Favour. Given at our Palace at
      Belfaborac the twelfth Day of the Ninety-first Moon of our Reign.

I swore and subscribed to these Articles with great Chearfulness and 
Content, although some of them were not so honorable as I could have 
wished; which proceeded wholly from the Malice of Skyresh Bolgolam the 
High Admiral: whereupon my Chains were immediately unlocked, and I 
was at full liberty; the Emperor himself in Person did me the Honour to be 
by at the whole Ceremony. I made my Acknowledgments by prostrating 
myself at his Majesty's Feet: But he commanded me to rise; and after many 
gracious Expressions, which, to avoid the Censure of Vanity, I shall not 
repeat, he added, that he hoped I should prove a useful Servant, and well 
deserve all the Favours he had already conferred upon me, or might do for 
the future.

The Reader may please to observe, that in the last Article for the Recovery 
of my Liberty the Emperor stipulates to allow me a Quantity of Meat and 
Drink sufficient for the support of 1728 Lilliputians. Some time after, 
asking a Friend at Court how they came to fix on that determinate Number; 
he told me that his Majesty's Mathematicians, having taken the Height of 
my body by the help of a Quadrant, and finding it to exceed theirs in the 
Proportion of Twelve to One, they concluded from the Similarity of their 
Bodies, that mine must contain at least 1728 of theirs, and consequently 
would require as much Food as was necessary to support that number of 
Lilliputians. By which the Reader may conceive an Idea of the Ingenuity of 
that People, as well as the prudent and exact Oeconomy of so great a 
Prince.

CHAPTER IV.

Milendo, the Metropolis of Lilliput, described, together with the  
Emperor's Palace. A Conversation between the Author and a  Principal 
Secretary, concerning the Affairs of that Empire: The  Author Offers to 
serve the Emperor in his Wars.

The first Request I made after I had obtained my Liberty, was, that I might 
have license to see Mildendo, the Metropolis, which the Emperor easily 
granted me, but with a special Charge to do no hurt either to the 
Inhabitants or their Houses. The People had notice by Proclamation of my 
design to visit the Town. The Wall which encompassed it is two foot and a 
half high, and at least eleven Inches broad, so that a Coach and Horses may 
be driven very safely round it; and it is flanked with strong Towers at ten 
foot distance. I stept over the great Western Gate, and passed very gently, 
and sideling through the two principal Streets, only in my short Waistcoat, 
for fear of damaging the Roofs and Eaves of the Houses with the Skirts of 
my Coat. I walked with the utmost Circumspection, to avoid treading on 
any Stragglers, that might remain in the Streets, although the Orders were 
very strict, that all People should keep in their Houses at their own peril. 
The Garret-windows and Tops of Houses were so crowded with Spectators, 
that I thought in all my Travels I had not seen a more populous Place. The 
City is an exact Square, each Side of the Wall being five hundred foot long. 
The two great Streets, which run cross and divide it into four Quarters, are 
five foot wide. The Lanes and Alleys, which I could not enter, but only 
viewed them as I passed, are from twelve to eighteen Inches. The Town is 
capable of holding five hundred thousand Souls. The Houses are from three 
to five Stories. The Shops and Markets well provided.

The Emperor's Palace is in the Center of the City, where the two great 
Streets meet. It is enclosed by a Wall of two foot high, and twenty foot 
distant from the buildings. I had his Majesty's Permission to step over this 
Wall; and the Space being so wide between that and the Palace, I could 
easily view it on every side. The outward Court is a Square of forty foot, 
and includes two other Courts: in the inmost are the Royal Apartments, 
which I was very desirous to see, but found it extremely difficult; for the 
great Gates, from one Square into another, were but eighteen Inches high 
and seven Inches wide. Now the Buildings of the outer Court were at least 
five foot high, and it was impossible for me to stride over them without 
infinite Damage to the Pile, though the Walls were strongly built of hewn 
Stone, and four Inches thick. At the same time the Emperor had a great 
desire that I should see the Magnificence of his Palace; but this I was not 
able to do till three Days after, which I spent in cutting down with my 
Knife some of the largest Trees in the Royal Park, about an hundred Yards 
distant from the City. Of these Trees I made two Stools, each about three 
foot high, and strong enough to bear my Weight. The People having 
received notice a second time, I went again through the City to the Palace, 
with my two Stools in my Hands. When I came to the side of the outer 
Court, I stood upon one Stool, and took the other in my Hand: This I lifted 
over the Roof, and gently set it down on the Space between the first and 
second Court, which was eight foot wide. I then stept over the Buildings 
very conveniently from one Stool to the other, and drew up the first after 
me with a hooked Stick. By this Contrivance I got into the inmost Court; 
and lying down upon my Side, I applied my Face to the Windows of the 
middle Stories, which were left open on purpose, and discovered the most 
splendid Apartments that can be imagined. There I saw the Empress and 
the young Princes, in their several Lodgings, with their chief Attendants 
about them. Her Imperial Majesty was pleased to smile very graciously 
upon me, and gave me out of the Window her Hand to kiss.

But I shall not anticipate the Reader with farther Descriptions of this kind, 
because I reserve them for a greater Work, which is now almost ready for 
the Press, containing a general Description of this Empire, from its first 
Erection, through a long Series of Princes, with a particular Account of 
their Wars and Politicks, Laws, Learning, and Religion: their Plants and 
Animals, their peculiar Manners and Customs, with other Matters very 
curious and useful; my chief design at present being only to relate such 
Events and Transactions as happened to the Publick, or to myself, during a 
Residence of about nine Months in that Empire.

One Morning, about a Fortnight after I had obtained my Liberty, 
Reldresal, Principal Secretary (as they style him) of private Affairs, came 
to my House, attended only by one Servant. He ordered his Coach to wait at 
a distance, and desired I would give him an Hour's Audience; which I 
readily consented to, on account of his Quality, and Personal Merits, as 
well as the many good Offices he had done me during my Sollicitations at 
Court. I offered to lie down, that he might the more conveniently reach my 
Ear; but he chose rather to let me hold him in my hand during our 
Conversation. He began with Compliments on my Liberty; said he might 
pretend to some Merit in it: but, however, added, that if it had not been for 
the present Situation of things at Court, perhaps I might not have obtained 
it so soon. For, said he, as flourishing a Condition as we may appear to be 
in to Foreigners, we labor under two mighty Evils; a violent Faction at 
home, and the Danger of an Invasion by a most potent Enemy from 
abroad. As to the first, you are to understand, that for above seventy 
Moons past there have been two struggling Parties in this Empire, under 
the Names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan, from the high and low Heels on 
their shoes, by which they distinguish themselves. It is alleged indeed, that 
the high Heels are most agreeable to our ancient Constitution: But however 
this be, his Majesty has determined to make use of only low Heels in the 
Administration of the Government, and all Offices in the Gift of the 
Crown, as you cannot but observe; and particularly, that his Majesty's 
Imperial Heels are lower at least by a Drurr than any of his Court; (Drurr 
is a Measure about the fourteenth Part of an Inch). The Animositys 
between these two Partiy run so high, that they will neither eat nor drink, 
nor talk with each other. We compute the Tramecksan, or High-Heels, to 
exceed us in number; but the Power is wholly on our Side. We apprehend 
his Imperial Highness, the Heir to the Crown, to have some Tendency 
towards the High-Heels; at least we can plainly discover one of his Heels 
higher than the other, which gives him a Hobble in his Gait. Now, in the 
midst of these intestine Disquiets, we are threatened with an Invasion from 
the Island of Blefuscu, which is the other great Empire of the Universe, 
almost as large and powerful as this of his Majesty. For as to what we have 
heard you affirm, that there are other Kingdoms and States in the World 
inhabited by human Creatures as large as yourself, our Philosophers are in 
much doubt, and would rather conjecture that you dropt from the Moon, 
or one of the Stars; because it is certain, that a hundred Mortals of your 
Bulk would, in a short time, destroy all the Fruits and Cattle of his 
Majesty's Dominions. Besides, our Historys of six thousand Moons make no 
mention of any other Regions, than the two great Empires of Lilliput and 
Blefuscu. Which two mighty Powers have, as I was going to tell you, been 
engaged in a most obstinate War for six and thirty Moons past. It began 
upon the following Occasion. It is allowed on all Hands, that the primitive 
way of breaking Eggs, before we eat them, was upon the larger End: But 
his present Majesty's Grand-father, while he was a Boy, going to eat an 
Egg, and breaking it according to the ancient Practice, happened to cut one 
of his Fingers. Whereupon the Emperor his Father published an Edict, 
commanding all his Subjects, upon great Penaltys, to break the smaller End 
of their Eggs. The People so highly resented this Law, that our Historys 
tell us there have been six Rebellions raised on that account; wherein one 
Emperor lost his Life, and another his Crown. These civil Commotions 
were constantly fomented by the Monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they 
were quelled, the Exiles always fled for Refuge to that Empire. It is 
computed, that eleven thousand Persons have, at several times, suffered 
Death, rather than submit to break their Eggs at the smaller End. Many 
hundred large Volumes have been published upon this Controversy: But the 
books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole Party 
rendered incapable by Law of holding Employments. During the Course of 
these Troubles, the Emperors of Blefuscu did frequently expostulate by 
their Ambassadors, accusing us of making a Schism in Religion, by 
offending against a fundamental Doctrine of our great Prophet Lustrog, in 
the fifty-fourth Chapter of the Blundecral (which is their Alcoran.) This, 
however, is thought to be a meer Strain upon the Text: For the Words are 
these: That all true Believers shall break their Eggs at the convenient End: 
and which is the convenient End, seems, in my humble Opinion, to be left 
to every Man's Conscience, or at least in the power of the Chief Magistrate 
to determine. Now the Big-Endian Exiles have found so much Credit in the 
Emperor of Blefuscu's Court, and so much private Assistance and 
Encouragement from their Party here at home, that a bloody War has been 
carried on between the two Empires for six and thirty Moons with various 
Success; during which time we have lost forty Capital Ships, and a much 
greater number of smaller Vessels, together with thirty thousand of our 
best Seamen and Soldiers; and the Damage received by the Enemy is 
reckon'd to be somewhat greater than Ours. However, they have now 
equipped a numerous Fleet, and are just preparing to make a Descent upon 
us; and his Imperial Majesty, placing great Confidence in your Valor and 
Strength, has commanded me to lay this Account of his affairs before you.

I desired the Secretary to present my humble Duty to the Emperor, and to 
let him know, that I thought it would not become Me, who was a 
Foreigner, to interfere with Parties; but I was ready, with the hazard of my 
Life, to defend his Person and State against all Invaders.

CHAPTER V.

The Author by an extraordinary Stratagem prevents an Invasion. A high 
Title of Honour is conferred upon him. Embassadors arrive from the 
Emperor of Blefuscu, and sue for Peace. The Empress's Apartment on fire 
by an Accident;  he Author instrumental I saving the rest of the Palace. 

THE EMPIRE of Blefuscu is an island situated to the North North-East 
side of Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a Channel of eight 
hundred Yards wide. I had not yet seen it, and upon this Notice of an 
intended Invasion, I avoided appearing on that side of the Coast, for fear of 
being discovered by some of the Enemy's Ships, who had received no 
Intelligence of me, all Intercourse between the two Empires having been 
strictly forbidden during the War, upon pain of Death, and an Embargo 
laid by our Emperor upon all Vessels whatsoever. I communicated to his 
Majesty a Project I had formed of seizing the Enemy's whole Fleet:  which, 
as our Scouts assured us, lay at Anchor in the Harbour ready to sail with 
the first fair Wind. I consulted the most experienced Seamen, upon the 
Depth of the Channel, which they had often plummed, who told me, that in 
the middle at High-water it was seventy Glumgluffs deep, which is about 
six Foot of European Measure;  and the rest of it fifty Glumgluffs at most. 
I walked towards the North-East Coast over against Blefuscu;  and lying 
down behind a Hillock, took out my small Pocket Perspective-Glass, and 
viewed the Enemy's Fleet at Anchor, consisting of about fifty Men of War, 
and a great Number of Transports;  I then came back to my House, and 
gave Order (for which I had a Warrant) for a great Quantity of the 
strongest Cable and Bars of Iron. The Cable was about as thick as 
Packthread, and the Bars of the length and size of a Knitting-Needle. I 
trebled the Cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason I twisted 
three of the Iron Bars together, binding the Extremitys into a Hook. 
Having thus fixed fifty Hooks to as many Cables, I went back to the North-
East Coast, and putting off my Coat, Shoes, and Stockings, walked into the 
Sea in my Leathern Jerkin, about half an hour before high Water. I waded 
with what haste I could, and swam in the middle about thirty Yards till I 
felt ground;  I arrived at the Fleet in less than half an hour. The Enemy 
was so frighted when they saw me, that they leaped out of their Ships, and 
swam to shore, where there could not be fewer than thirty thousand Souls. 
I then took my Tackling, and fastning a Hook to a Hole at the Prow of 
each, I tyed all the Cords together at the End. While I was thus employed, 
the Enemy discharged several thousand Arrows, many of which stuck in 
my Hands and Face;  and besides the excessive smart, gave me much 
disturbance in my Work. My greatest Apprehension was for mine Eyes, 
which I should have infallibly lost, if I had not suddenly thought of an 
Expedient. I kept among other little Necessarys a pair of Spectacles in a 
private Pocket, which, as I observed before, had scaped the Emperor's 
Searchers. These I took out and fastned as strongly as I could upon my 
Nose, and thus armed went on boldly with my Work, in spight of the 
Enemy's Arrows, many of which struck against the Glasses of my 
Spectacles, but without any other Effect, further than a little to discompose 
them. I now fastned all the Hooks, and taking the Knot in my Hand, began 
to pull;  but not a Ship would stir, for they were all too fast held by their 
Anchors, so that the bold part of my Enterprise remained. I therefore let 
go the Cord, and leaving the Hooks fixed to the Ships, I resolutely cut with 
my Knife the Cables that fastned the Anchors, receiving above two hundred 
Shots in my Face and Hands;  then I took up the knotted End of the Cables 
to which my Hooks were tyed, and with great ease drew fifty of the 
Enemy's Men-of-War after me. 

The Blefuscudians, who had not the least Imagination of what I intended, 
were at first confounded with Astonishment. They had seen me cut the 
Cables, and thought my Design was only to let the Ships run a-drift or fall 
foul on each other:  but when they perceived the whole Fleet moving in 
Order, and saw me pulling at the End, they set up such a scream of Grief 
and Despair, that it is almost impossible to describe or conceive. When I 
had got out of danger, I stopt a while to pick out the Arrows that stuck in 
my Hands and Face, and rubbed on some of the same Ointment that was 
given me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then took off 
my Spectacles, and waiting about an hour, till the Tide was a little fallen, I 
waded through the middle with my Cargo, and arrived safe at the Royal 
Port of Lilliput 

The Emperor and his whole Court stood on the Shore expecting the Issue 
of this great Adventure. They saw the Ships move forward in a large Half-
Moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my Breast in Water. When 
I advanced to the middle of the Channel, they were yet in more pain, 
because I was under Water to my Neck. The Emperor concluded me to be 
drowned, and that the Enemy's Fleet was approaching in a hostile Manner:  
But he was soon eased of his Fears, for the Channel growing shallower 
every step I made, I came in a short time within hearing, and holding up 
the end of the Cable by which the Fleet was fastned, I cryed in a loud 
Voice, Long live the most puissant Emperor of Lilliput! This great Prince 
received me at my Landing with all possible Encomiums, and created me a 
Nardac upon the spot, which is the highest Title of Honour among them. 

His Majesty desired I would take some other Opportunity of bringing all 
the rest of his Enemy's Ships into his Ports. And so unmeasurable is the 
Ambition of Princes, that he seemed to think of nothing less than reducing 
the whole Empire of Blefuscu into a Province, and governing it by a Vice-
Roy;  of destroying the Big-Endian Exiles, and compelling that People to 
break the smaller end of their Eggs, by which he would remain the sole 
Monarch of the whole World. But I endeavor'd to divert him from this 
Design, by many arguments drawn from the Topicks of Policy as well as 
Justice:  And I plainly protested, that I would never be an Instrument of 
bringing a Free and Brave People into Slavery. And when the Matter was 
debated in Council , the wisest part of the Ministry were of my Opinion. 

This open bold Declaration of mine was so opposite to the Schemes and 
Politicks of his Imperial Majesty, that he could never forgive it;  he 
mentioned it in a very artful Manner at Council, where I was told that 
some of the wisest appeared, at least by their Silence, to be of my Opinion;  
but others, who were my secret Enemies, could not forbear some 
Expressions, which by a side-wind reflected on me. And from this time 
began an intrigue between his Majesty and a Junto of Ministers maliciously 
bent against me, which broke out in less than two Months, and had like to 
have ended in my utter Destruction. Of so little weight are the greatest 
Services to Princes, when put into the Ballance with a refusal to gratify 
their Passions. 

About three Weeks after this Exploit, there arrived a solemn embassy from 
Blefuscu, with humble Offers of a Peace;  which was soon concluded upon 
Conditions very advantageous to our Emperor, wherewith I shall not 
trouble the Reader. There were six Ambassadors, with a Train of about 
five hundred persons, and their Entry was very magnificent, suitable to the 
Grandeur of their Master, and the Importance of their Business. When 
their Treaty was finished, wherein I did them several good Offices by the 
Credit I now had, or at least appeared to have at Court, their Excellencies, 
who were privately told how much I had been their Friend, made me a 
Visit in Form. They began with many Compliments upon my Valor and 
Generosity, invited me to that Kingdom in the Emperor their Master's 
Name, and desired me to show them some Proofs of my prodigious 
Strength, of which they had heard so many Wonders;  wherein I readily 
obliged them, but shall not trouble the Reader with the Particulars. 

When I had for some time entertained their Excellencies, to their infinite 
Satisfaction and Surprize, I desired they would do me the Honour to 
present my most humble Respects to the Emperor their Master, the 
Renown of whose Virtues had so justly filled the whole World with 
Admiration, and whose Royal Person I resolved to attend before I returned 
to my own Country:  accordingly, the next time I had the honour to see our 
Emperor, I desired his general Licence to wait on the Blefuscudian 
Monarch, which he was pleas'd to grant me, as I could plainly perceive, in 
a very cold manner;  but could not guess the Reason, till I had a Whisper 
from a certain Person, that Flimnap and Bolgolam had represented my 
Intercourse with those Ambassadors as a mark of Disaffection, from which 
I am sure my Heart was wholly free. And this was the first time I began to 
conceive some imperfect Idea of Courts and Ministers. 

It is to be observed, that these Ambassadors spoke to me by an Interpreter, 
the Languages of both Empires differing as much from each other as any 
two in Europe, and each Nation priding itself upon the Antiquity, Beauty, 
and Energy of their own Tongues, with an avowed Contempt for that of 
their Neighbour;  yet our Emperor, standing upon the advantage he had got 
by the seizure of their Fleet, obliged them to deliver their Credentials, and 
make their Speech in the Lilliputian Tongue. And it must be confessed, that 
from the great Intercourse of Trade and Commerce between both Realms, 
from the continual Reception of Exiles, which is mutual among them, and 
from the Custom in each Empire to send their young Nobility and richer 
Gentry to the other, in order to polish themselves by seeing the World and 
understanding Men and Manners;  there are few Persons of Distinction, or 
Merchants, or Seamen, who dwell in the Maritime parts, but what can hold 
Conversation both Tongues;  as I found some Weeks after, when I went to 
pay my respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, which in the midst of great 
Misfortunes, through the Malice of my Enemies, proved a very happy 
Adventure to me, as I shall relate in its proper place. 

The Reader may remember, that when I signed those Articles upon which I 
recovered my Liberty, there were some which I disliked upon account of 
their being too servile, neither could anything but an extreme Necessity 
have forced me to submit. But being now a Nardac, of the highest Rank in 
that Empire, such Offices were looked upon as below my Dignity, and the 
Emperor (to do him Justice) never once mentioned them to me. However, 
it was not long before I had an Opportunity of doing his Majesty, at least, 
as I then thought, a most signal Service. I was alarmed at Midnight with the 
Cries of many hundred People at my Door;  by which being suddenly 
awaked, I was in some kind of Terror. I heard the word Burglum repeated 
incessantly:  several of the Emperor's Court, making their way through the 
Croud, intreated me to come immediately to the Palace, where her 
Imperial Majesty's Apartment was on fire, by the carelessness of a Maid of 
Honour, who fell asleep while she was reading a Romance. I got up in an 
instant;  and Orders being given to clear the way before me, and it being 
likewise a Moon-shine Night, I made a shift to get to the Palace without 
trampling on any of the People. I found they had already applied Ladders 
to the Walls of the Apartment, and were well provided with Buckets, but 
the Water was at some distance. These Buckets were about the size of a 
large Thimble, and the poor People supplied me with them as fast as they 
could;  but the Flame was so violent that they did little good. I might easily 
have stifled it with my Coat, which I unfortunately left behind me for 
haste, and came away only in my Leathern Jerkin. The Case seemed wholly 
desperate and deplorable;  and this magnificent Palace would have 
infallibly been burnt down to the ground, if, by a Presence of Mind, 
unusual to me, I had not suddenly thought of an Expedient. I had the 
Evening before drunk plentifully of a most delicious Wine, called 
Glimigrim (the Blefuscudians call it Flunec, but ours is esteemed the better 
sort), which is very diuretick. By the luckiest Chance in the World, I had 
not discharged myself of any part of it. The Heat I had contracted by 
coming very near the Flames, and by labouring to quench them, made the 
Wine begin to operate my Urine;  which I voided in such a Quantity, and 
applied so well to the proper Places, that in three Minutes the Fire was 
wholly extinguished, and the rest of that noble Pile, which had cost so 
many Ages in erecting, preserved from Destruction. 

It was now Day-light, and I returned to my House, without waiting to 
congratulate with the Emperor:  because, although I had done a very 
eminent piece of Service, yet I could not tell how his Majesty might resent 
the manner by which I had performed it:  For, by the fundamental Laws of 
the Realm, it is Capital in any Person, of what Quality soever, to make 
water within the Precincts of the Palace. But I was a little comforted by a 
Message from his Majesty, that he would give Orders to the Grand 
Justiciary for passing my Pardon in form;  which, however, I could not 
obtain. And I was privately assured, that the Empress, conceiving the 
greatest Abhorrence of what I had done, removed to the most distant side 
of the Court, firmly resolved that those Buildings should never be repaired 
for her Use:  and, in the presence of her chief Confidents could not forbear 
vowing Revenge. 

CHAPTER VI.

Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; their Learning, Laws, and Customs, the 
Manner of educating their Children. The Author's Way of living in that 
Country. His Vindication of a great Lady 

ALTHOUGH I intend to leave the Description of this Empire to a 
particular Treatise, yet in the mean time I am content to gratify the curious 
Reader with some general Ideas. As the common Size of the Natives is 
somewhat under six Inches high, so there is an exact Proportion in all other 
Animals, as well as Plants and Trees: For instance, the tallest Horses and 
Oxen are between four and five Inches in height, the Sheep an Inch and a 
half, more or less: their Geese about the bigness of a Sparrow, and so the 
several Gradations downwards till you come to the smallest, which, to my 
sight, were almost invisible; but Nature had adapted the Eyes of the 
Lilliputians to all Objects proper for their view: They see with great 
exactness, but at no great distance. And to show the sharpness of their Sight 
towards Objects that are near, I have been much pleased with observing a 
Cook pulling a Lark, which was not so large as a common Fly; and a young 
Girl threading an invisible Needle with invisible Silk. Their tallest Trees 
are about seven foot high; I mean some of those in the great Royal Park, 
the Tops whereof I could but just reach with my Fist clenched. The other 
Vegetables are in the same Proportion; but this I leave to the Reader's 
Imagination. 

I shall say but little at present of their Learning, which for many Ages had 
flourished in all its Branches among them; But their manner of Writing is 
very peculiar, being neither from the Left to the Right, like the Europeans; 
nor from the Right to the Left, like the Arabians; nor from up to down, 
like the Chinese; nor from down to up, like the Cascagians; but aslant from 
one Corner of the Paper to the other, like Ladies in England. 

They bury their Dead with their Heads directly downwards, because they 
hold an Opinion, that in eleven thousand Moons they are all to rise again, 
in which Period the Earth (which they conceive to be flat) will turn upside 
down, and by this means they shall, at their Resurrection, be found ready 
standing on their Feet. The Learned among them confess the Absurdity of 
this Doctrine, but the Practice still continues, in compliance to the Vulgar. 

There are some Laws and Customs in this Empire very peculiar; and if 
they were not so directly contrary to those of my own dear Country, I 
should be tempted to say a little in their justification. It is only to be wished 
that they were as well executed. The first I shall mention relates to 
Informers. All Crimes against the State are punished here with the utmost 
severity; but if the Person accused makes his Innocence plainly to appear 
upon his Tryal, the Accuser is immediately put to an ignominious Death; 
and out of his Goods or Lands, the innocent Person is quadruply 
recompensed for the Loss of his Time, for the Danger he underwent, for 
the Hardship of his Imprisonment, and for all the Charges he had been at in 
making his Defence. Or, if that Fund be deficient, it is largely supplied by 
the Crown. The Emperor does also confer on him some 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 seldom 
fail to punish it with Death; for they alledge, that Care and Vigilance, with 
a very common Understanding, may preserve a Man's Goods from 
Thieves, but Honesty has no fence against superior Cunning; and since it is 
necessary that there should be a perpetual Intercourse of Buying and 
Selling, and dealing upon Credit, where Fraud is permitted and connived 
at, or has no Law to punish it, the honest Dealer is always undone, and the 
Knave gets the advantage. I remember when I was once interceding with 
the King for a Criminal who had wronged his Master of a great Sum of 
Money, which he had received by Order, and ran away with; and 
happening to tell his Majesty, by way of Extenuation, that it was only a 
Breach of Trust; the Emperor thought it monstrous in me to offer, as a 
Defence, the greatest Aggravation of the Crime: and truly I had little to say 
in return, farther than the common Answer, that different Nations had 
different Customs; for, I confess, I was heartily ashamed. 

Although we usually call Reward and Punishment the two Hinges upon 
which all Government turns, yet I could never observe this Maxim to be 
put in practice by any Nation except that of Lilliput. Whoever can there 
bring sufficient Proof that he has strictly observed the Laws of his Country 
for seventy-three Moons, has a claim to certain Privileges, according to his 
Quality and Condition of Life, with a proportionable Sum of Money out of 
a Fund appropriated for that Use: He likewise acquires the Title of Snilpall, 
or Legal, which is added to his Name, but does not descend to his Posterity. 
And these People thought it a prodigious Defect of Policy among us, when 
I told them that our Laws were enforced only by Penalties without any 
mention of Reward. It is upon this account that the Image of Justice, in 
their courts of Judicature, is formed with six Eyes, two before, as many 
behind, and on each side one, to signify Circumspection; with a Bag of 
Gold open in her Right Hand, and a Sword sheathed in her Left, to shew 
she is more disposed to Reward than to punish. 

In chusing Persons for all Employments, they have more regard to good 
Morals than to great Abilities; for, since Government is necessary to 
Mankind, they believe-that the common Size of Human Understandings is 
fitted to some Station or other, and that Providence never intended to make 
the Management of publick Affairs a Mystery, to be comprehended only by 
a few Persons of sublime Genius, of which there seldom are three born in 
an Age: but they suppose Truth, Justice, Temperance, and the like, to be in 
every Man's power; the Practice of which Virtues, assisted by Experience 
and a good Intention, would qualify any Man for the service of his 
Country, except where a Course of Study is required. But they thought the 
want of Moral Virtues was so far from being supplied by superior 
Endowments of the Mind, that Employments could never be put into such 
dangerous Hands as those of Persons so qualifi'd; and at least, that the 
Mistakes committed by Ignorance in a virtuous Disposition, would never be 
of such fatal Consequence to the Publick Weal, as the Practices of a Man 
whose Inclinations led him to be corrupt, and had great Abilities to 
manage, and multiply, and defend his Corruptions. 

In like manner, the Disbelief of a Divine Providence renders a Man 
incapable of holding any Publick Station; for since Kings avow themselves 
to be the Deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think nothing can be 
more absurd than for a Prince to employ such Men as disown the Authority 
under which he acts. 

In relating these and the following Laws, I would only be understood to 
mean the original Institutions, and not the most scandalous Corruptions into 
which these People are fallen by the degenerate Nature of Man. For as to 
that infamous Practice of acquiring great Employments by dancing on the 
Ropes, or Badges of Favour and Distinction by leaping over Sticks and 
creeping under them, the Reader is to observe, that they were first 
introduced by the Grand-father of the Emperor now reigning, and grew to 
the present height by the gradual increase of Party and Faction. 

Ingratitude is among them a Capital Crime, as we read it to have been in 
some other Countries; for they reason thus, that whoever makes ill Returns 
to his Benefactor, must needs be a common Enemy to the rest of Mankind, 
from whom he has received no Obligation, and therefore such a Man is not 
fit to live. 

Their notions relating to the Duties of Parents and Children differ 
extremely from ours. For since the Conjunction of Male and Female is 
founded upon the great Law of Nature, in order to propagate and continue 
the Species, the Lilliputians will needs have it, that Men and Women are 
joined together like other Animals, by the Motives of Concupiscence; and 
that their Tenderness towards their Young proceeds from the like natural 
Principle: for which reason they will never allow, that a Child is under any 
Obligation to his Father for begetting him, or his Mother for bringing him 
into the World; which, considering the Miseries of human Life, was neither 
a Benefit in it self, or intended so by his Parents, whose Thoughts in their 
Love-Encounters were otherwise employ'd. Upon these, and the like 
Reasonings, their Opinion is, that Parents are the last of all others to be 
trusted with the Education of their own Children: and therefore they have 
in every Town publick Nurseries, where all Parents, except Cottagers and 
Labourers, are obliged to send their Infants of both Sexes to be reared and 
educated when they come to the Age of twenty Moons, at which time they 
are supposed to have some Rudiments of Docility. These Schools are of 
several kinds, suited to different Qualities, and to both Sexes. They have 
certain Professors well skilled in preparing Children for such a condition 
of Life as befits the Rank of their Parents, and their own Capacities as well 
as Inclinations. I shall say something of the Male Nurseries, and then of the 
Female. 

The Nurseries for Males of Noble or Eminent Birth are provided with 
Grave and Learned Professors, and their several Deputies. The Clothes and 
Food of the Children are plain and simple. They are bred up in the 
Principles of Honour, Justice, Courage, Modesty, Clemency, Religion, and 
Love of their Country; they are always employed in some Business, except 
in the times of Eating and Sleeping, which are very short, and two Hours 
for Diversions, consisting of bodily Exercises. They are dressed by Men 
till four Years of Age, and then are obliged to dress themselves, although 
their Quality be ever so great; and the Women Attendants, who are Aged 
proportionably to ours at fifty, perform only the most menial Offices. 
They are never suffered to converse with Servants, but go together in small 
or greater Numbers to take their diversions, and always in the presence of 
a Professor, or one of his Deputies; whereby they avoid those early bad 
Impressions of Folly and Vice to which our Children are subject. Their 
Parents are suffered to see them only twice a Year; the visit is to last but an 
hour. They are allowed to kiss the Child at Meeting and Parting; but a 
Professor, who always stands by on those occasions, will not suffer them to 
whisper, or use any fondling Expressions, or bring any Presents of Toys, 
Sweet-meats, and the like. 

The Pension from each Family for the Education and Entertainment of a 
Child, upon failure of due payment, is levyed by the Emperor's Officers. 

The Nurseries for Children of ordinary Gentlemen, Merchants, Traders, 
and Handicrafts, are managed proportionably after the same manner; only 
those designed for Trades are put out Apprentices at Eleven years old, 
whereas those of Persons of Quality continue in their exercises till Fifteen, 
which answers to One and Twenty with us: but the Confinement is 
gradually lessened for the last three Years. 

In the Female Nurseries, the young Girls of Quality are educated much like 
the Males, only they are dressed by orderly Servants of their own Sex; but 
always in the presence of a Professor or Deputy, till they come to dress 
themselves, which is at five Years old. And if it be found that these Nurses 
ever presume to entertain the Girls with frightful or foolish Stories, or the 
common Follies practiced by Chamber-Maids among us, they are publickly 
whipped thrice about the City, imprisoned for a Year and banished for Life 
to the most desolate part of the Country. Thus the young Ladies there are 
as much ashamed of being Cowards and Fools as the Men, and despise all 
personal Ornaments beyond Decency and Cleanliness: Neither did I 
perceive any Difference in their Education, made by their Difference of 
Sex, only that the Exercises of the Females were not altogether so robust; 
and that some Rules were given them relating to domestic Life, and a 
smaller Compass of Learning was enjoined them: for their maxim is, that 
among People of Quality a Wife should be always a reasonable and 
agreeable Companion, because she cannot always be young. When the Girls 
are twelve Years old, which among them is the marriageable Age, their 
Parents or Guardians take them home, with great Expressions of Gratitude 
to the Professors, and seldom without Tears of the young Lady and her 
Companions. 

In the Nurseries of Females of the meaner sort, the Children are instructed 
in all kinds of Works proper for their Sex, and their several degrees: 
Those intended for Apprentices, are dismissed at nine Years old, the rest 
are kept to thirteen. 

The meaner Families who have Children at these Nurseries, are obliged, 
besides their annual Pension, which is as low as possible, to return to the 
Steward of the Nursery a small monthly Share of their Gettings, to be a 
Portion for the Child; and therefore all Parents are limited in their 
expenses by the Law. For the Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjust, 
than for People, in subservience to their own Appetites, to bring Children 
into the World and leave the Burthen of supporting them on the Publick. 
As to Persons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum 
for each Child, suitable to their Condition; and these Funds are always 
managed with good Husbandry, and the most exact Justice. 

The Cottagers and Labourers keep their Children at Home, their Business 
being only to till and cultivate the Earth, and therefore their Education is 
of little consequence to the Publick; but the Old and Diseased among them 
are supported by Hospitals: for Begging is a Trade unknown in this 
Kingdom. 

And here it may perhaps divert the curious Reader to give some account of 
my Domestick, and my manner of living in this Country, during a 
Residence of nine Months and thirteen Days. Having a Head mechanically 
turned, and being likewise forced by necessity, I had made for myself a 
Table and Chair convenient enough, out of the largest Trees in the Royal 
Park. Two hundred Sempstresses were employed to make me Shirts, and 
Linnen for my Bed and Table, all of the strongest and coarsest kind they 
could get; which, however, they were forced to quilt together in several 
Folds, for the thickest was some degrees finer than Lawn. Their Linnen is 
usually three Inches wide, and three Foot make a Piece. The Sempstresses 
took my Measure as I lay on the ground, one standing at my Neck, and 
another at my Mid-Leg, with a strong Cord extended, that each held by the 
end, while the third measured the length of the Cord with a Rule an Inch 
long. Then they measured my right Thumb, and desired no more; for by a 
mathematical Computation, that twice round the Thumb is once round the 
Wrist, and so on to the Neck and the Waist, and by the help of my old 
Shirt, which I displayed on the Ground before them for a Pattern, they 
fitted me exactly. Three hundred Taylors were employed in the same 
manner to make me Clothes; but they had another Contrivance for taking 
my Measure. I kneeled down, and they raised a Ladder from the Ground to 
my Neck; upon this Ladder one of them mounted, and let fall a Plum-Line 
from my Collar to the Floor, which just answered the length of my Coat; 
but my Waist and Arms I measured myself. When my Clothes finished, 
which was done in my House (for the largest of theirs would not have been 
able to hold them) they looked like the Patch-Work made by the Ladies in 
England, only that mine were all of a Colour. 

I had three hundred Cooks to dress my Victuals, in little convenient Huts 
built about my House, where they and their Families lived, and prepared 
me two Dishes a-piece. I took up twenty Waiters in my Hand, and placed 
them on the Table; an hundred more attended below on the Ground, some 
with Dishes of Meat, and some with Barrels of Wine, and other Liquors, 
slung on their Shoulders; all which the Waiters above drew up as I wanted, 
in a very ingenious Manner, by certain Cords, as we draw the Bucket up a 
Well in Europe. A Dish of their Meat was a good Mouthful, and a Barrel 
of their Liquor a reasonable Draught. Their Mutton yields to ours, but 
their Beef is excellent. I have had a Sirloin so large, that I have been forced 
to make three Bits of it; but this is rare. My Servants were astonished to see 
me eat it Bones and all, as in our Country we do the Leg of a Lark. Their 
Geese and Turkeys I usually eat at a Mouthful, and I must confess they far 
exceed ours. Of their smaller Fowl I could take up twenty or thirty at the 
end of my Knife. 

One day his Imperial Majesty, being informed of my way of living, desired 
that himself and his Royal Consort, with the young Princes of the Blood of 
both Sexes, might have the Happiness (as he was pleased to call it) of dining 
with me. They came accordingly, and I placed 'em upon Chairs of State on 
my Table, just over-against me, with their Guards about them. Flimnap the 
Lord High Treasurer, attended there likewise with his white Staff; and I 
observed he often looked on me with a sour Countenance, which I would 
not seem to regard, but ate more than usual, in honour to my dear 
Country, as well as to fill the Court with Admiration. I have some private 
Reasons to believe, that this visit from his Majesty gave Flimnap an 
Opportunity of doing me ill Offices to his Master. That Minister had 
always been my secret Enemy, though he outwardly caressed me more than 
was usual to the Moroseness of his Nature. He represented to the Emperor 
the low Condition of his Treasury; that he was forced to take up Money at 
great Discount; that Exchequer Bills would not circulate under nine per 
Cent below Par; that in short I had cost his Majesty above a Million and a 
half of Sprugs (their greatest Gold Coin, about the bigness of a Spangle) 
and upon the whole, that it would be advisable in the Emperor to take the 
first fair Occasion of dismissing me. 

I am here obliged to vindicate the Reputation of an excellent lady, who was 
an innocent Sufferer upon my Account. The Treasurer took a fancy to be 
jealous of his Wife, from the Malice of some Evil Tongues, who informed 
him that her Grace had taken a violent Affection for my Person; and the 
Court-Scandal ran for some time, that she once came privately to my 
lodging. This I solemnly declare to be a most infamous Falsehood, without 
any Grounds, farther than that her Grace was pleased to treat me with all 
innocent Marks of Freedom and Friendship. I own she came often to my 
House, but always publickly, nor ever without three more in the Coach, 
who were usually her Sister and young Daughter, and some particular 
Acquaintance; but this was common to many other Ladies of the Court. 
And I still appeal to my Servants round, whether they at any time saw a 
Coach at my Door without knowing what Persons were in it. On those 
Occasions, when a Servant had given me notice, my Custom was to go 
immediately to the Door; and, after paying my Respects, to take up the 
Coach and two Horses very carefully in my Hands (for if there were six 
Horses, the Postillion always unharnessed four) and place them on a Table, 
where I had fixed a moveable Rim quite round, of five Inches high, to 
prevent Accidents. And I have often had four Coaches and Horses at once 
on my Table full of Company, while I sate in my Chair, leaning my face 
towards them; and when I was engaged with one Sett, the Coachman would 
gently drive the others round my Table. I have passed many an Afternoon 
very agreeably in these Conversations. But I defy the Treasurer, or his two 
Informers, (I will name them, and let 'em make their best of it) Clustril 
and Drunlo, to prove that any Person ever came to me incognito, except 
the Secretary Reldresal, who was sent by express Command of his Imperial 
Majesty, as I have before related. I should not have dwelt so long upon this 
Particular, if it had not been a Point wherein the Reputation of a great 
Lady is so nearly concerned, to say nothing of my own; though I then had 
the Honour to be a Nardac, which the Treasurer himself is not; for all the 
World knows he is only a Glumglum, a Title inferior by one Degree, as 
that of a Marquiss is to a Duke in England, although I allow he preceded 
me in right of his Post. These false Informations, which I afterwards came 
to the knowledge of, by an Accident not proper to mention, made Flimnap 
the Treasurer shew his Lady for some time an ill Countenance, and me a 
worse; and although he were at last undeceived and reconciled to her, yet I 
lost all Credit with him, and found my Interest decline very fast with the 
Emperor himself, who was indeed too much governed by that Favourite. 

CHAPTER VII.

The Author being informed of a Design to accuse him of High-Treason, 
makes his Escape to Blefuscu. His Reception there. 

Before I proceed to give an Account of my leaving this Kingdom, it may 
be proper to inform the Reader of a private Intrigue which had been for 
two Months forming against me. 

I had been hitherto all my Life a Stranger to Courts, for which I was 
unqualified by the meanness of my Condition. I had indeed heard and read 
enough of the Dispositions of great Princes and Ministers; but never 
expected to have found such terrible Effects of them in so remote a 
Country, governed, as I thought, by very different Maxims from those in 
Europe. 

When I was just preparing to pay my Attendance on the Emperor of 
Blefuscu, a considerable Person at Court (to whom I had been very 
serviceable at a time when he lay under the highest Displeasure of his 
Imperial Majesty) came to my House very privately at Night in a close 
Chair, and without sending his Name, desired admittance. The Chair-Men 
were dismissed; I put the Chair, with his Lordship in it, into my Coat-
Pocket: and giving Orders to a trusty Servant to say I was indisposed and 
gone to sleep, I fastened the Door of my House, placed the Chair on the 
Table, according to my usual Custom, and sate down by it. After the 
common Salutations were over, observing his Lordship's Countenance full 
of Concern, and enquiring into the reason, he desired I would hear him 
with patience in a Matter that highly concerned my Honour and my Life. 
His Speech was to the following Effect, for I took Notes of it as soon as he 
left me. 

You are to know, said he, that several Committees of Council have been 
lately called in the most private manner on your account; and it is but two 
Days since his Majesty came to a full Resolution. 

You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam (Galbet, or High Admiral) 
has been your mortal Enemy almost ever since your Arrival: His original 
Reasons I know not, but his Hatred is much increased since your great 
Success against Blefuscu, by which his Glory as Admiral is obscur'd. This 
Lord, in conjunction with Flimnap the High Treasurer, whose Enmity 
against you is notorious on account of his Lady, Limtoc the General, 
Lalcon the Chamberlain, and Balmuff the grand Justiciary, have prepared 
Articles of Impeachment against you, for Treason, and other capital 
Crimes. 

This preface made me so impatient, being conscious of my own Merits and 
Innocence, that I was going to interrupt; when he entreated me to be silent, 
and thus proceeded. 

Out of Gratitude for the Favours you have done me, I procured 
Information of the whole Proceedings, and a Copy of the Articles, wherein 
I venture my Head for your Service. 

                   Articles of Impeachment against 
               Quinbus Flestrin (the Man-Mountain) 

                            ARTICLE I 

      Whereas, by a Statute made in the Reign of his Imperial Majesty 
      Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted, That whoever shall make water
      within the Precincts of the Royal Palace, shall be liable to the
      Pains and Penalties of High Treason; Notwithstanding, the said
      Quinbus Flestrin, in open breach of the said Law, under colour of
      extinguishing the Fire kindled in the Apartment of his Majesty's
      most dear Imperial Consort, did maliciously, traitorously, and
      devilishly, by discharge of his Urine, put out the said Fire
      kindled in the said Apartment, lying and being within the
      Precincts of the said Royal Palace, against the Statute in that
      case provided, etc., against the Duty, etc. 

                           ARTICLE II. 

      That the said Quinbus Flestrin having brought the Imperial Fleet
      of Blefuscu into the Royal Port, and being afterwards commanded by
      his Imperial Majesty to seize all the other Ships of the said
      Empire of Blefuscu, and reduce that Empire to a Province, to be
      governed by a Vice-Roy from hence, and to destroy and put to death
      not only all the Big-Endian Exiles, but likewise all the People of
      that Empire, who would not immediately forsake the Big-Endian
      Heresy: He the said Flestrin, like a false Traitor against his
      most Auspicious, Serene, Imperial Majesty, did petition to be
      excused from the said Service upon pretence of unwillingness to
      force the Consciences, or destroy the Liberties and Lives of an
      innocent People. 

                          ARTICLE III. 

      That, whereas certain Embassadors from the Court of Blefuscu, to
      sue for Peace in his Majesty's Court: He, the said Flestrin, did,
      like a false Traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and divert the said
      Embassadors, although he knew them to be Servants to a Prince who
      was lately an open Enemy to his Imperial Majesty, and in open War
      against his said Majesty. 

                          ARTICLE IV. 

      That the said Quinbus Flestrin, contrary to the Duty of a faithful
      subject, is now preparing to make a Voyage to the Court and Empire
      of Blefuscu, for which he had received only verbal Licence from
      his Imperial Majesty; and under colour of the said Licence, doth
      falsely and traitorously intend to take the said Voyage, and
      hereby to aid, comfort, and abet the Emperor of Blefuscu, so late
      an Enemy, and in open war with his Imperial Majesty aforesaid. 

There are some other Articles, but these are the most important, of which I 
have read you an Abstract. 

In the several Debates upon this Impeachment, it must be confessed that his 
Majesty gave many marks of his great Lenity, often urging the Services 
you had done him, and endeavoring to extenuate your Crimes. The 
Treasurer and Admiral insisted that you should be put to the most painful 
and ignominious Death, by setting fire on your House at Night, and the 
General was to attend with twenty Thousand Men armed with poisoned 
Arrows to shoot you on the Face and Hands. Some of your Servants were 
to have private Orders to strew a poisonous Juice on your Shirts, which 
would soon make you tear your own Flesh, and die in the utmost Torture. 
The General came into the same Opinion, so that for a long time there was 
a Majority against you: but his Majesty resolving, if possible, to spare your 
Life, at last brought off the Chamberlain. 

Upon this Incident, Redresal, principal Secretary for private Affairs, who 
always approved himself your true Friend, was commanded by the 
Emperor to deliver his Opinion, which he accordingly did; and therein 
justify'd the good Thoughts you have of him. He allowed your Crimes to 
be great, but that still there was room for Mercy, the most commendable 
Virtue in a Prince, and for which his Majesty was so justly celebrated. He 
said, the Friendship between you and him was so well known to the World, 
that perhaps the most honourable Board might think him partial: However, 
in obedience to the Command he had received, he would freely offer his 
Sentiments. That if his Majesty, in consideration of your Services, and 
pursuant to his own merciful Disposition, would please to spare your Life, 
and only give Order to put out both your Eyes, he humbly conceived that 
by this Expedient, Justice might in some measure be satisfied, and all the 
World would applaud the Lenity of the Emperor, as well as the fair and 
generous Proceedings of those who have the Honour to be his Counsellors. 
That the loss of your Eyes would be no impediment to your bodily 
Strength, by which you might still be useful to his Majesty. That Blindness 
is an addition to Courage, by concealing Dangers from us; that the Fear 
you had for your Eyes was the greatest Difficulty in bringing over the 
Enemy's Fleet, and it would be sufficient for you to see by the Eyes of the 
Ministers, since the greatest Princes do no more. 

This Proposal was received with the utmost Disapprobation by the whole 
Board. Bolgolam, the Admiral, could not preserve his Temper, but rising 
up in Fury said he wondered how the Secretary dared presume to give his 
Opinion for preserving the Life of a Traytor: That the Services you had 
performed, were, by all true Reasons of State, the great Aggravation of 
your Crimes; that you, who were able to extinguish the Fire, by discharge 
of Urine in her Majesty's Apartment (which he mentioned with horror), 
might at another time, raise an Inundation by the same means, to drown the 
whole Palace; and the same Strength which enabled you to bring over the 
Enemy's Fleet, might serve, upon the first Discontent, to carry it back: 
That he had good Reasons to think you were a Big-Endian in your heart; 
and as Treason begins in the Heart, before it appears in Overt-Acts, so he 
accused you as a Traytor on that Account, and therefore insisted you 
should be put to death. 

The Treasurer was of the same Opinion; he shewed to what streights his 
Majesty's Revenue was reduced by the Charge of maintaining you, which 
would soon grow insupportable: That the Secretary's Expedient of putting 
out your Eyes was so far from being a Remedy against this Evil, it would 
probably increase it, as it is manifest from the common Practice of 
blinding some kind of Fowl, after which they fed the faster, and grew 
sooner fat: That his sacred Majesty, and the Council, who are your Judges, 
were in their own Consciences fully convinced of your Guilt, which was a 
sufficient Argument to condemn you to Death, without the formal Proofs 
required by the strict Letter of the Law. 

But his Imperial Majesty, fully determined against Capital Punishment, was 
graciously pleased to say, that since the Council thought the loss of your 
Eyes too easy a Censure, some other may be inflicted hereafter. And your 
Friend the Secretary humbly desiring to be heard again, in answer to what 
the Treasurer had objected concerning the great Charge his Majesty was at 
in maintaining you, said that his Excellency, who had the sole disposal of 
the Emperor's Revenue, might easily provide against that Evil, by 
gradually lessening your Establishment; by which, for want of sufficient 
Food, you would grow weak and faint, and lose your Appetite, and 
consequently decay and consume in a few Months; neither would the Stench 
of your Carcass be then so dangerous, when it should become more than 
half diminished; and immediately upon your Death, five or six Thousand of 
his Majest