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Gulliver's
Travels
By Jonathan Swift
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THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.
[As given in the original edition.]
The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and
intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on 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 neighbours.
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 churchyard 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 travellers, is a little too circumstantial. There is an
air of truth apparent through the whole; and indeed the author was so
distinguished for his veracity, that it became a sort of proverb among
his neighbours at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to say, it was
as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken 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
politics 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 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 hands of
the author, I will 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.
A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GULLIVER TO HIS COUSIN SYMPSON.
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1727.
I hope you will be ready to own publicly, whenever you 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
directions to hire some young gentleman of either university to put them
in order, and correct the style, as my cousin Dampier did, by my advice,
in his book called “A 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 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 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 my 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 offence; 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 call 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, 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 they 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 judgment, in
being prevailed upon by the entreaties and false reasoning of you and
some others, very much against my 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 public good, that the Yahoos
were a species of animals utterly incapable of amendment by precept
or example: and so it has 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 has produced one single effect according to my 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 cotton, 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 my 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 state folk; of degrading human nature
(for so they have still the confidence to style 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
the 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 has been so careless as to confound
the times, and mistake the dates, of my several voyages and returns;
neither assigning the true year, nor the true month, nor 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 my 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
to visit me at my house, we neither of us are able to deliver our
conceptions in a manner intelligible to the other.
If the censure of the 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 country, who only differ from their brother
brutes in Houyhnhnmland, because they use a sort of jabber, and
do not go naked? I wrote for their amendment, and not their
approbation. The united praise of the whole race would be of less
consequence to me, than the neighing of those two degenerate 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 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 my 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 such
visionary schemes for ever.
April 2, 1727
PART I - A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
CHAPTER I.
[The author gives some account of himself and family. His first
inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life.
Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner, and
carried up the country.]
My 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 applied myself 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. My father now and then sending me small sums of money,
I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of the
mathematics, 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 physic
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 Pannel,
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 Jewry; 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, ancient 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, as well as
learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength
of my memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of
the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I
removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping,
hoping to get business among the 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 4, 1699, and our voyage was at first 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 5th 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 conjectured was about eight o’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 remembered to have done in my life,
and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just
day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as
I happened to lie 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 arm-pits 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 mean time, 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 then I 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 volley larger than the first, and some of them
attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but by good luck I had
on 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 army 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 I heard, I knew their
numbers increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right
ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work;
when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and 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 cried 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 threatenings, 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 to
my mouth, to signify that I wanted food. The hurgo (for so
they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) 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 ate
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, showing 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 towards my hand, and beat out
the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did
not hold half a pint, and 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 mevolah; 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 durst 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 increased,
I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they
pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew, with
much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a
general shout, with frequent repetitions of the words Peplom selan;
and I felt great numbers of 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 motion 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 sleepy 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 tied in the manner
I have related, (which was done in the night while I slept;) that plenty
of meat and drink should be sent to 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 endeavoured to kill me
with their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, I should certainly
have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have
roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings
wherewith I was tied; 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 a great
perfection in mechanics, 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 feet 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 feet 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 packthread, 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 fastened on the poles; and thus,
in less than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and
there tied fast. All this I was told; for, while the 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 stopped 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 waking so suddenly. We made a
long march the remaining part of the day, and, rested at night with five
hundred guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows
and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next
morning at sun-rise 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 stopped there stood an ancient 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 upon as profane, 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 smith 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 feet distance, there was a turret at least five feet high.
Here the emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to
have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see
them. It was reckoned that above 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 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 described. Learned men appointed to teach the author their
language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His
pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.]
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess I
never beheld a more entertaining prospect. The country around
appeared like a continued garden, and the enclosed fields, which were
generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds of flowers.
These fields were intermingled with woods of half a stang, {1}
and the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to be seven feet 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
disburdened myself. I was under great difficulties between urgency
and shame. The best expedient I could think of, 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 horseback 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, reared up on its hinder feet: but that prince, who is an excellent
horseman, 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 beyond the length
of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already
prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a
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 Asiatic 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 upon 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 crowd about me as near
as they durst; and some of them had the impudence to shoot their arrows
at me, as I sat 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 forward with the butt-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 delighted at this mark of my clemency,
which was represented very much to my advantage at court.
Towards night I got with some difficulty into my house, where I lay on
the ground, and continued to do so about a fortnight; during which time,
the 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 inured to hardships.
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 license from the court; whereby the secretaries of state
got considerable fees.
In the mean time the emperor held frequent councils, to debate what
course should be taken with me; and I was afterwards assured by a
particular friend, a person of great quality, who was as much in 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 despatch 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 behaviour to the six criminals above-mentioned; which
made so favourable 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 domestics, 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 tailors should make me a suit
of clothes, after the fashion of the country; that six of his
majesty’s greatest scholars should be employed to instruct me in their
language; and lastly, that the emperor’s horses, and those of the
nobility and troops of guards, should be 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
honoured 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 comprehend it, was, “that this must be a work
of time, not to be thought on without the advice of his council, and
that first I must lumos kelmin pesso desmar lon 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 up 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; and 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, which 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 every thing
they saw; and when they had done, desired I would set them down, that
they might deliver it to the emperor. This inventory I 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-cloth, 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 a 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 pallisados 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 ranfulo, 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 enclosed a prodigious plate of
steel; which, by our orders, we obliged him to show us, because we
apprehended they might be dangerous engines. He took them out of
their cases, and told us, that in his own country his practice was to
shave his beard with one of these, and cut his meat with the other.
There were two pockets which we could not enter: these he called his
fobs; they were two large slits cut into the top of his middle cover,
but squeezed 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 at the end of
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 the lucid substance. He put this engine
into 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 any thing without consulting it.
He called it his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time for every
action of his life. From the left fob he took out a net almost
large enough for a fisherman, but contrived to open and shut like a
purse, and served 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.
CLEFRIN FRELOCK, MARSI FRELOCK.”
When this inventory was read over to the emperor, he directed me,
although in very gentle terms, to deliver up the several particulars.
He first called for my scimitar, which I took out, scabbard and all.
In the mean time 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
scimitar, 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 scimitar to
and fro in my hand. His majesty, who is a most magnanimous prince,
was less daunted 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
feet from the end of my chain. The next thing he demanded was one
of the hollow iron pillars; by which he meant my pocket pistols. I
drew it out, and at his 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 scimitar. Hundreds fell down as if they had been struck
dead; and even the emperor, although he stood his ground, could not
recover himself for some time. I delivered up both my pistols in
the same manner as I had done my scimitar, and then my pouch of powder
and bullets; begging him that the former might be kept from 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: he asked the opinions of his
learned men about it, which were various and remote, as the reader may
well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very
perfectly 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 scimitar, 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 some 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 favourable disposition. The
natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive of any danger from me.
I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my
hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at
hide-and-seek in my hair. I had now made a good progress in
understanding and speaking the language. The emperor had a mind
one day to entertain me with several of the country shows, wherein they
exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence.
I was diverted with none so much as that of the rope-dancers, performed
upon a slender white thread, extended about two feet, 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 practised by those persons who are candidates for
great employments, and high favour at court. They are trained in
this art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal
education. When a great office is vacant, either by death or
disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of 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 straight 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 a 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 myself have seen two or three candidates
break a limb. But the danger is much greater, when the ministers
themselves are commanded to show 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 infallibly have broke his neck, if one of the king’s
cushions, that accidentally lay on the ground, had not weakened the
force of his fall.
There is likewise another diversion, which is only shown 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 favour. The ceremony
is performed in his majesty’s great chamber of state, where the
candidates are to undergo a trial of dexterity very different from the
former, and such as I have not observed the least resemblance of in any
other country of the new or old world. The emperor holds a stick
in his hands, both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candidates
advancing, one by one, sometimes leap over the stick, sometimes creep
under it, backward and forward, 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-coloured 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 feet high, and the thickness of an ordinary cane, to be brought
me; whereupon his majesty commanded the master of his woods to give
directions accordingly; and the next morning six woodmen 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 feet and a half square, I took four other sticks, and tied
them parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground; then I
fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks that stood erect; and
extended it on all sides, till it was 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 horses
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, when 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 enterprises.
About two or three days before I was set at liberty, as I was
entertaining the court with this kind of feat, 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 around, 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 times; 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 that 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 fastened with a string to my
head while I was rowing, and had stuck on all the time I was swimming,
fell off after I came to land; the 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 half of the edge, and fastened two hooks in the holes; these
hooks were tied by a long cord to the harness, and thus my hat was
dragged along for above half an English mile; but, the ground in that
country being extremely smooth and level, it received 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 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 abreast,
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 complexion. However, he was at
length persuaded to comply; but prevailed that the articles and
conditions upon which I should be set free, and to which I must swear,
should be drawn up by himself. These articles were brought to me
by Skyresh Bolgolam in person attended by two under-secretaries, 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, and to place the
middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head, and my thumb on
the tip of my right ear. But because the reader may be curious to
have some idea of the style and manner of expression peculiar to that
people, as well as to know the article 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 public.
“Golbasto Momarem 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 extremities of the globe; monarch of all monarchs,
taller than the sons of men; whose feet press down to the centre, 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
proposes to the man-mountain, lately arrived at our celestial dominions,
the following articles, which, by a solemn oath, he shall be obliged to
perform:-
“1st, The man-mountain shall not depart from our dominions, without
our license under our great seal.
“2d, 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 doors.
“3d, 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 subjects into his hands without their own
consent.
“5th, If an express requires extraordinary despatch, 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 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 1724 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 cheerfulness and
content, although some of them were not so honourable 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 acknowledgements 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 of the
recovery of my liberty, the emperor stipulates to allow me a quantity of
meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1724 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 1724 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 economy of so great a prince.
CHAPTER IV.
[Mildendo, 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’s 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 feet 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 feet distance. I
stepped over the great western gate, and passed very gently, and
sidling, 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 who 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 feet long. The two great streets,
which run across and divide it into four quarters, are five feet wide.
The lanes and alleys, which I could not enter, but only view them as I
passed, are from twelve to eighteen inches. The town is capable of
holding five hundred thousand souls: the houses are from three to five
stories: the shops and markets well provided.
The emperor’s palace is in the centre of the city where the two great
streets meet. It is enclosed by a wall of two feet high, and
twenty feet distance 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 feet, 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 feet
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 a hundred
yards distant from the city. Of these trees I made two stools,
each about three feet high, and strong enough to bear my weight.
The people having received notice a second time, I went again through
the city to the palace with my two stools in my hands. When I came
to the 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 feet wide.
I then stept over the building 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 further 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 along series of princes; with a
particular account of their wars and politics, 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
public 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) for 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 hours
audience; which I readily consented to, on account of his quality and
personal merits, as well as of the many good offices he had done me
during my solicitations at court. I offered to lie down that he
might the more conveniently reach my ear, but he 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 labour 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 about 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 of 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 only of 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 animosities
between these two parties 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 that one of his heels is 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 dropped 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 histories 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
grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it
according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers.
Whereupon the emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his
subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs.
The people so highly resented this law, that our histories tell us,
there have been 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
Blefusca 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 mere strain upon the text; for the words are these: ‘that all
true believers 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 a greater number of smaller
vessels, together with thirty thousand of our best seamen and soldiers;
and the damage received by the enemy is reckoned to be somewhat greater
than ours. However, they have now equipped a numerous fleet, and
are just preparing to make a descent upon us; and his imperial majesty,
placing great confidence in your valour and strength, 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. Ambassadors arrive
from the emperor of Blefuscu, and sue for peace. The empress’s
apartment on fire by an accident; the author instrumental in saving the
rest of the palace.]
The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to the north-east of
Lilliput, from which it is parted only by a channel of eight hundred
yards wide. I had not yet seen it, and upon this notice of an
intended 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 plumbed; who told me, that in the middle, at high-water, it
was seventy glumgluffs deep, which is about six feet of European
measure; and the rest of it fifty glumgluffs at most. I
walked towards the north-east coast, over against Blefuscu, where, lying
down behind a hillock, I took out my small 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
orders (for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity of the strongest
cable and bars of iron. The cable was about as thick as packthread
and the bars of the length and 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, bending the extremities into a hook.
Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I went back to the
north-east coast, and putting off my coat, shoes, and stockings, 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 frightened 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, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each, I tied
all the cords together at the end. While I was thus employed, the
enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my
hands and face, and, beside 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 necessaries, a pair of
spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed before, had escaped
the emperor’s searchers. These I took out and fastened as
strongly as I could upon my nose, and thus armed, went on boldly with my
work, in spite of the enemy’s arrows, many of which struck against the
glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect, further than a
little to discompose them. I had now fastened all the hooks, and,
taking the knot in my hand, began to pull; but not a ship would stir,
for they were all too fast held by their anchors, so that the boldest
part of my enterprise remained. I therefore let go the cord, and
leaving the looks fixed to the ships, I resolutely cut with my knife the
cables that fastened the anchors, receiving about two hundred shots in
my face and hands; then I took up the knotted end of the cables, to
which my hooks were tied, and with great ease drew fifty of the
enemy’s largest men of war after me.
The 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 adrift
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 as it is almost impossible to describe or
conceive. When I had got out of danger, I stopped awhile 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
more in 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
fastened, I cried in a loud voice, “Long live the most puissant king
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
unmeasureable 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 viceroy; 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
endeavoured to divert him from this design, by many arguments drawn from
the topics 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
politics of his imperial majesty, that he could never forgive me.
He mentioned it in a very artful manner at council, where I was told
that some of the 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 balance
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 valour 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 surprise, 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 license to wait on the
Blefuscudian monarch, which he was pleased to grant me, as I could
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 tongue, 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
in 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 crowd, entreated 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
moonshine night, I made a shift to get to the palace without trampling
on any of the people. I found they had already applied ladders to
the walls of the apartment, and were well provided with buckets, but the
water was at some distance. These buckets were about the size of
large thimbles, 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 diuretic. By the
luckiest chance in the world, I had not discharged myself of any part of
it. The heat I had contracted by coming very near the flames, and
by labouring to quench them, made the wine begin to operate by 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 inhabitant | |
