UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN |
SSKOUERIS PENINSULAM AMCNAM
1837
SCIENTIA
ARTES
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
TUEROR
CIRCUMSPICE
MAT
GIFT OF
REGENTLL HUBBARD
17
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Joseph Bexill
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Foneph Havance
Battersea
( Erfamphece.
1901
Jan
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
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RE
CAPT. LEMUELGULLIVE
New Wantsuse
பந்தம்
Splendide Merdae Hon
V O LUME III.
OF THE
AUTHOR's WORKS.
CONTAINING,
TRAVELS
INTO SEVERAL
Remote Nations of the World,
In Four Parts, viz.
1. A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
II. A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
TII. A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, BALNIBARBI,
LUGGNAGG, GLUBBDUBDRIB, and
JAPAN.
IV. A VOYAGE to the COUNTRY of the
HOUYHNHNMS.
By LEMUEL GULLIVER, firſt a Surgeon,
and then a Captain, of ſeveral Ships.
Retroq;
Vulgus abhorret ab bis.
D U B L I N:
Printed by GEORGE FAULKNER, MDCCLXII.
Τ' ΗΕ
CONTENTS
PA RT I.
C H A P. I.
The Autbar giveth fome Accounnt of himſelf and Family
bis fir Inducement, to travel. He is hipwrecked
and faimeth for his Life ; gets ſafe en Shore in the
Country of Lilliput , is made a Prijoner, and capa
ried up the Country.
Page
CHA P. II.
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by ferutral of the
Nobility, cometh to ſee the Aubor in bis Confinement.
The Emperor's Perſon and Habit defiribed. Learned
Men appointed to teach the Author their Language.
He gaineth Favour by his mild Diſpoſition. His Pock-
rts are ſearched, and his Srward and Pillots taken
from biex
Page 12
A
CHAP
CO N T E N T S.
CHA P. III.
The Author diverts the Emperor and his Nobility of both
Sexes in a very uncommon Manner. The Diverſions
of the Court of Lilliput defcribed. The Author bath
bis Liberty granted him upon certain Conditions.
Page 22
CHAP. IV.
Mildendo the Metropolis of Lilliput defcribed, together
wiih 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.
Page 30
CH A P. V.
The Author, by an extraordinary Stratagem, prevents
an Invaſion. A bigb Title of Honour is conferred
upon him. Embaſſadors arrive from the Emperor of
Blefuſcu, and ſue for Peace. The Empreſs's Apart-
ment on fire by an Accident. The Author inſtrumental
in ſaving the reſt of the Palace.
Page 36
CH A P. VI.
Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; their Learning, Laws,
and Cuſtoms. The Manner of educating their Chil-
dren. The Author's Way of Living in that Country.
His Vindication of a great Lady.
Page 43
CHA P. VII.
The Author being informed of a Deſign to accuſe bim of
High-Treaſon, maketh bis Eſcape to Blefuſcu. His
Reception there.
Page 53
С НА Р.
Ο Ο Ν Τ Ε Ν Τ S.
C H A P. VIII.
The Author, by a lucky Accident, finds Meant to leave
Blefuſcu, and after some Difficulties returneth Jaje ta
bis native Country.
Page 62
PART II.
C H A P. I.
A grear Storm deſcribed. The Long-boat fent to fetch
Water, the Author goeth with it to diſcover the Coun-
try. He is left on Shore, is frized by one of the Na-
fites, and carried to a Farmer's Houſe. His Recen-
tion there, with ſeveral Accidents that happenerb
so bin A Defcripton of the Inhabitants. Page 69
CHA P. II.
A Defeription of the Farmer's Daughter. The Aurbor
carried to a Markel-Town, and then to the Metropolis.
The Particulars of bis Journey.
Page 82
CH A P. III.
Thu Autbar fent for to Court. The Queen bays him of his
Mafter the Farmer, and preſenteth him the King.
He diſputes with his Majeſty's great Scholars. An
partment at Court provided for the Author. He is
in bigh Favour with the Queen. He ſandeth up for
the Honour of his own Country. His Quarrels with
the ween's Dwarf
Page 28
CHA P. IV
The Coniry deſcribed. A Propoſal for carraiting mo
dora Ma. Ihe King's Palace, and forno A. coast of
A 2
CON TEN T S.
Page 99
the Metropolis. The Author's Way of travelling.
The chief Temple deſcribed.
CHAP. V.
Several Adventures that happened to the Author. The
Execution of a Criminal. The Author Merweth his
Skill in Navigation.
Page 104
CH A P. VI.
Several Contrivances of the Author to pleaſe the King
and Queen. He jeweth his Skill in Muſick. The
King enquireth into the State of Europe, which the
Author relateth to him. The King's Obſervations
thereon.
Page 114
CHA P. VII.
The Author's Love of his Country. He maketh a Propo-
ſal of much Advantage to the King, which is rejett-
ed. The King's great Ignorance in Politicks. The
Learning of that Country very imperfect and confined.
The Laws and military Affairs, and Parties in the
State.
Page 123
CH A P. VIII.
The King and Queen make a Progreſs to the Frontiers.
Tbe Author attends them. The Manner in which he
leaves the Country very particularly related.
returns to England.
He
Page 130
PART III.
CHAP. I.
The Author felteth out onbis Third Voyage. Is taken by
Pyrates. The Halice of a Dutchman. His Arrival
at an Iuud. He is received into Laputa. 143
CHAP
CO N T E N T S.
CH A P. II.
The Humours and. Diſpoſitions of the Laputians deferib-
An Account of their Learning. Of the King
and his Court. The Author's Reception there.
The
Inhabitants ſubjeet to Fears and Diſquietudes. An
Account of the Women.
Page 149
CH A P III.
A Phænomenon folved by modern Philoſophy and Aflrono-
my. The Laputians great Improvements in the latter.
The King's Method of ſuppreſling Inſurre&tions
Page 158
CH A P. IV.
The Author leaveth Laputa, is conveyed 10 Balnibarbi,
arriveth at the Metropolis, A Deſcription of the
Metropolis and the Country adjoining. The Author
hoſpitably received by a great Lord. His Converſa-
tion with that Lord.
Page 163
C H A P. V.
The Author permitted to ſee the grand Academy of La-
gado. The Academy largely deſcribed. The Arts
wherein the Profeſors employ themſelves. Page 170
CH A P. VI.
A further Account of the Academy. The Author pro-
poſeth ſome Improvements, which are honourably re-
ceived
Page 177
CHAP. VII.
The Author leaveth Lagado, arriveth at Maldonada.
No Ship ready. He taketh a ſhort Voyage to Glubb-
dubdrib. His Reception by the Governor. Page 183
CHAP
CONTENT S.
CHA P. VIII.
A further Account of Glubbdubdrib. Antient and mo-
dern Hiſtory corrected.
Page 187
CH A P. IX.
The Author returns to Maldonada. Saileth to the King-
dom of Luggnagg. The Author confined. He is fent
for to Court. The Manner of his Admittance. The
King's great Lenity to bis Subjects.
Page 193
CH A P. X.
The Luggnaggians commended. A particular Deſcrip-
tion of the Struldbruggs, with many Converſations
between the Author and ſome eminent Perſons upon
that Subject.
C HA P. XI.
The Author leaveth Luggnagg, and ſaileth to Japan.
From thence he returneth in a Dutch Ship to Am-
ſterdam, and from Amſterdam to England. Page 206
Page 197
IV.
PART
CH A P. I.
The Author fetteth out as Captain of a Ship His Men
conſpire againſt him, confine him a long Time to his
Cabbin, ſet him on Shore in an unknown Land. He
traveleth up into the Country. The Yahoos, a ſirange
Sort of Animal, deſcribed. The Author meeteth two
Houyhnhnms.
Page 211
CH A P. II.
The Author conduited by a Houyhnhnm to bis Houſe
The Houſe deſcribed. The Authors Reception. The
Food of the Houyhnhams. The Autbor in Difren
for
Page 231
er earn the Language. The
be
CON TEN T S.
for want of Meat, is at lalt relieved. His Manner
of feeding in that Country.
Page 218
CHA P. III.
Houyhnhnm his Maſter afiſeth in teaching him. The
Language deſcribed. Several Houyhnhnms of Qua-
lity come out of Curioſity to ſee the Author. He giveth
bis Mafter a ſhort Account of his Voyage. Page 225
CH A P. IV.
The Houyhnhnms Notion of Truth and Fallbood. The
Autbor's Diſcourſe diſapproved by his Mafter. The
Author givelb a more particular Account of bimfelf,
and the Accidents of his Voyage.
CHAP. V.
The Author, at his Maſter's Commands, informeth bim of
the State of England. The Cauſes of War among
the Princes of Europe. The Author beginneth to ex-
plain the Engliſh Conftitution
Page 236
C H A P. VI.
Anne. The Charalter of a firft Miniſter in the
Courts of Europe.
Page 243
CH A P. VII.
The Author's great Love of bis Native Country. His
Mafler's Obſervations upon the Conſtitution and Ada
miniſtration of England, as deſcribed by the Author,
with parallel Cafes and Compariſons. His Mahler's
Obſervations upon human Nature.
Page 250
CH A P. VIII.
The Author relateth ſeveral Particulars of the Yahoos.
The great Virtues of the Houyhnhnms. The Educa.
tion and Exerciſe of their Youth. Their general
Aſembly.
Page 258
CH A P.
CONTENT S.
.
.
The Le
CHA P. IX.
A Grand Debate at the General Aſembly of the Houy
hnhnms; and how it was determined.
ing of the Houyhnhms. Their Buildings. Their
Manner of Burials, The Defectiveneſs of their
Language.
Page 265
CH A P. X.
The Author's æconomy and happy Life among the Houy-
hnhnms. His great Improvement in Virtue, by con-
verſing with them. Their Converſations. The Au-
thor hath Notice given him by his Mafter that he mult
depart from the Country. He falleth into a Swoon for
Grief, but ſubmitteth. He contriveth and finiſheth aCa-
noo, by the Help of a Fellow-Servant, and puts to
Sea at a Venture.
Page 171
C H A P. XI.
The Author's dangerous Voyage. He arriveth at New .
Holland, hoping to ſettle there. Is wounded with
an Arrow by one of the Natives. Is ſeized and
carried by Force into a Portugueze Ship. The great
Civilites of the Captain. The Author arrivetb at
England,
Page 279
CHA P. XII. .
The Author's Veracity. His Deſign in publiſhing this
Work. His Cenfure of thoſe Travellers who werve
from the Truth. The Author cleareth himſelf from a-
my finifter Ends in writing. An Objection anſwered.
The Method of planting Colonies. His Native Coun-
try commended. The Right of the Crown, to those
Countries deſcribed by the Author, is juflified. The
Difficulty of conquering them. The Author taketb bis
laſt Leave of the Reader ; propoſeth bis Manner of
Living for the future ; giveth good Advice, and con-
cladeth.
Page 287
TRAVELS
Plater Part.1Page)
Hogs
P Mintaong
I Good Fortime
I Naſlaw
SUNDA
SUMATRA
e
Sillabar
PRINS
WY
Straits of Sunda
అని సంచలన ను అందులో ముందు .. .
Blefuſcu
.
Lilliput
Diſcovered AD. 1699.
Mintendo
Dimenu Land
TRA VEL S.
PART 1.
A VOYAGE to Lilliput.
CHAPTER I.
The Author giveth ſome Account of himſelf and Family:
his firft Inducements to travel. He is ſhipwrecked,
and ſwimeth
for his Life ; getteth ſafe on Shoar in the
Country of Lilliput ; is made a Priſoner, and car-
ried up the Country.
M
Y Father had a ſmall Eftate in Notting-
hamſhire; I was the Third of five Sons.
He fent me to Emanuel-College in Cam-
bridge, at fourteen Years old, where I
refided 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 Appren-
tice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in
London, with whom I continued four Years ; and my
VOL. III.
Father
B.
AVOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
Father now and then ſending me ſmall Sums of
Money, I laid them out in learning Navigation, and
other parts of the Mathematicks, uſeful to thoſe who
intend to travel, as I always believed it would be
ſome time or other my Fortune to do. When I left
Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father ; where, by
the Aſſiſtance of him and my Uncle Fohn, and ſome
other Relations, I got forty Pounds, and a Promiſe
of thirty Pounds a Year to maintain me at Leyden ;
There I ſtudied Phyfick two Years and feven Months,
knowing it would be uſeful in long Voyages.
Soon after my Return from Leyden, I was recom-
mended by my good Maſter Mr. Bates, to be Sur-
geon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell, Com-
mander, 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, en-
couraged me; and by him I was recommended to
ſeveral Patients. I took part of a ſmall Houſe in the
Old-Jury; and being adviſed to alter my Condition,
I married Mrs. Mary Burton, fecond Daughter to Mr,
Edmond Burton, Hofier, in Newgate-Street, with
whom I received four Hundred Pounds for a Por-
tion.
But, my good Mafter Bares dying in two Years
after, and I having few Friends, my Buſineſs began
to fail ; for my Conſcience would not fuffer me to
imitate the bad Practice of too many among my Bre-
thren. Having therefore conſulted with my Wife,
and ſome of my Acquaintance, I determined to go a-
gain to Sea. I was Surgeon ſucceſſively in two
Ships, and made ſeveral Voyages, for fix Years, to
the Eaft and Weft-Indies; by which I got ſome Ad-
dition to my Fortune. My Hours of Leiſure I
ſpent in reading the beſt Authors, antient and mo-
dern ; 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
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
as learning their Language ; wherein I had a great
Facility by the Strength of my Memory.
The laſt of theſe Voyages not proving very fortu-
nate, I grew weary of the Sea, and intended to ſtay
at home with my wife and Family. I removed from
the Old-Jury to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to Wap-
ping, hoping to get Buſineſs among the Sailors ; but
it would not turn to Account. After three Years Ex-
pectation that 'Things would mend, I accepted an ad-
vantageous Offer from Captain William Pritchard,
Maſter of the Antelope, who was making a Voyage to
the South-Sea. We ſet ſail from Brifloh, May the 4th,
1699, and our Voyage at firſt was very proſperous.
It would not be proper, for fome Reaſons, to trouble
the Reader with the Particulars of our Adventures in
thoſe Seas: Let it fuffice to inform him, that in our
Paſſage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven
by a violent Storm to the North-Weſt of Van Diemen's
Land. By an Obſervation, we found ourſelves in the
Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Minutes South. Twelve of
our Crew were dead by immoderate Labour, and ill
Food; the Reſt were in a very weak Condition. On
the Fifth of November, which was the Beginning of
Summer in thoſe Parts, the Weather being very hazy,
the Seamen eſpyed a Rock within half a Cable's Length
of the Ship;
but the Wind was ſo ſtrong, that we
were drived 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 Com
putation, about three Leagues, until 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 thule who eſcaped on the
Rock, or were left in the Vellel, I cannot tell ; but
conclude they were all loft. For my own Part, I ſwam
as Fortune directed me, and was puſhed forwards by
Wind
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
were
Wind and Tide. I often let my Legs drop, and could
feel no Bottom : But when I was almoſt gone, and
able to ftruggle 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 ad-
vanced forward near half a Mile, but could not diſ-
cover any Sign of Houſes or Inhabitants; at leaſt I
was in ſo weak a Condition, that I did not obferve
them. I was extreamly tired, and with that, and the
Heat of the Weather, and about half a Pint of Bran-
dy 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 founder
than ever I remember 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
ed on each Side to the Ground; and my Hair, which
wasılong and thick, tied down in the ſame Manner.
I likewiſe felt ſeveral flender 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 mine Eyes. I heard a confuſed Noiſe about
me; but, in the Poſture I lay, could ſee nothing ex-
cept the Sky. In a little Time I felt ſomething alive
moving on my left Leg, which advancing gently for-
ward over my Breaſt, came almoſt up to my
Chin
when bending mine Eyes downwards as much as I
could, I perceived it to be a human Creature not fix
Inches high, with a Bow and Arrow in his Hands,
and a Quiver at his Back. In the mean Time, I felt
at leaſt forty more of the fame Kind (as I conjectured)
following the Firſt. I was in the utmof Aftoniſhment,
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 up-
on the Ground. However, they foon returned ; and
one
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
5
one of them who ventared 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 fhrill but Diltin&t Voice,
Hekinah Degul: The others repeated the ſame Words
ſeveral Times, but I then knew not what they meant.
I lay all this while, as the Reader may believe, in great
Uneaſineſs : At length ſtruggling to get looſe, I had
the Fortune to break the Strings, and wrench out the
Pegs that faſtened my left Arm to the Ground; for by
lifting it up to my Face, I diſcovered the Methods
they had taken to bind me; and, at the ſame time,
with a violent Pull, which gave me exceſlive Pain, I
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 an hundred Arrows
diſcharged on my left Hand, which pricked me like ſo
many Needles; and beſides they fhot another Flight
into the Air, as we do Bombs in Europe ; whereof
many, I fuppofe fell ou my Body, (though I feltthem
not) and ſome on my Face, which I immediately co-
vered with my left Hand, When this Shower of Ar-
rows was over, I fell a groaning with Grief and Pain;
and then ſtriving again to get looſe, they diſcharged an-
other Volley larger than the Firft ; and ſome of them
attempted with Spears to ſtick me in the Sides ; but, by
good Luck, I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they
could not pierce. I thought it the moſt prudent Me-
thod to lie ftill ; and my Deſign was to continue ſo until
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 thegreat-
eſt Armies they could bring againſt me, if they were all
of the fame Size with him that I faw. But Fortune
diſpoſed otherwiſe of me. When the People obſerved
I was quiet they diſcharged no more Arrows: But by
the Noiſe encreaſing, I knew their Numbers were
grearer:
B 3
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
greater ; and about four Yards from me, over-againſt
my right Ear, I heard a knocking for above an Hour,
like People at work; when turning my Head that Way,
as well as the Pegs and Strings would permit me, I ſawa
Stage erected about a Foot and a half from the Ground,
capable of holding four of the Inhabitants, with two or
three Ladders to mountit: 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 princi.
pal Perſon began his Oration, he cried out three Times
Langro Debul fan: (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 who was to
Speak. He appeared to be of a middle Age, and taller
than any of the other three who attended him ; where-
of one was a Page, who 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, butin
the moſt ſubmiſſive Manner, lifting up my left Hand and
both my Eyes to the Son, 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 ſhewing my Impatience (per-
haps againſt the ſtri&t Rules of Decency) by putting my
Finger frequently on my Mouth, to fignify that I want-
od Food. The Hurgo (for ſo they call a great Lord, as
I afterwards learnt) underſtood me very well: He de-
ſcended from the Stage, and commanded that ſeveral
Ladders ſhould be applied to my Sides, on which above
an 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,
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
7
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 Tafte. There were
Shoulders, Legs, and Loms haped like thoſe of Mut-
ton, and very well dreiled, but finaller than the Wings
of a Lark. I eat them by two or three ať a Mouth-
ful, and took three Loaves at a Time, about the Big-
neſs of Muſket Bullets. They ſupplied me as faſt as
they could, ſhewing a thoufand Marks of Wonder and
Aſtoniſhment at my Bolk 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 moft 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 hardly held half a Pint, and taſted like a ſmall Wine
of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought
me a ſecond Hogſhead, which I drank in the ſame
manner, and made Signs for more, but they had none
to give me. When I had performed theſe Wonders,
they ſhouted for loy, and danced upon my Breaſt, re-
peating ſeveral times as they did at first, Hekinah De-
gul. They made me a Sign that I ſhould throw down
the two Hogſheads, but firſt warned the People below
to ſtand out
of the Way, crying aloud Borach Mivola;
and when they ſaw the Veſſels in the Air, there was
an univerſal Shout of Hekinah Degul. I confeſs I
was often tempted, while they were paffing 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 fo I
interpreted my ſabinillive Behaviour, ſoon drove out
thoſe Imaginations. Befides, I now conſidered myſelf,
as bound by the Laws of Hoſpitality to a People who
had treated me with fo much Expence and Magnifi-
cence. However, in my Thoughts I could rot ſuffi-
ciently wonder at the Intrepidity of thoſe diminutive
B 4
Mortals
8
A VOYAGE 10 LILLIPYT.
Mortals, who durft venture to mount and walk on my
Body, while one of my Hands was at Liberty, with-
oat trembling at the very sight of fo prodigious a Crea-
ture 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 mine Eyes, ſpoke about ten
Minutes, without any Signs of Anger, but with a kind
of determinate Reſolation; 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 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
fhook his Head by way of Diſapprobation, and held
hi: Hand in a Poſture to ſhew that I muſt be carried as
a Priſoner. However, he made other Signs to let me
underſtand that I ſhould have Meat and Drink enough,
and very good Treatment. Whereupon I once more
thought of attempting to break my Bonds ; but again,
when I felt the Smart of their Arrows upon my Face
and Hands, which were all in Bliſters, and many of
the Darts ſtill ſticking in them ; and obſerving likewiſe,
that the Number of my Enemies encreaſed, I
gave
Tokens to let them know that they might do with me
what they pleaſed. Upon this, the Hurgo and his
Train withdrew with much Civility and chearful
Countenances. Soon after I heard a general Shout,
with frequent Repetitions of the Words Peplom Selan,
and I felt great numbers of the People on my left Side,
relaxing the Cords to ſuch a Degree, that I was able to
turn upon my Right, and to caſe myſelf with making
Water;
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
Water; which I very plentifully did, to the great
Aſtoniſhment of the People, who conjecturing by my
Motions what I was going to do, immediately opened
to the Right and Left on that Side, to avoid the Tor-
rent 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 Vi&tuals
and Drink, which were very nouriſhing, diſpoſed me
to ſleep. I ſlept about eight Hours, as I was after-
wards aſſured ; and it was no Wonder ; for the Phy-
ficians, by the Emperor's Order, had mingled a ſleep-
ing Potion in the Hogſheads of Wine.
It ſeems, that upon the firſt Moment I was diſco-
vered 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 thould
be ſent me, and a Machine prepared to carry me to
the capital City
This Reſolution perhaps may appear very bold and
dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated
by any Prince in Europe on the like Occaſion ; how.
ever, in my Opinion, it was extremely prudent as well
as generous. For ſuppoſing theſe People had endea-
voured to kill me with their Spears and Arrows while
I was aſleep : I ſhould certainly have awaked with the
firit Senfe of Smart, which might fo far have rouſed
my Rage and Strength, as to enable 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 ama
These People are moſt excellent Mathematicians,
and arrived to a great Perfection in Mechanicks by the
Countenance and Encouragement of the Emperor,
who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince
hath ſeveral Machines fixed on Wheels, for the Car-
5
riage
B° 5
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
riage of Trees and other great Weights. He often
buildeth his largeft 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 pre-
pare 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 Ar-
rival of this Engine, which, it ſeemeth, fet out in four
Hours after iny 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 ereated for this purpoſe, and very
ftrong Cords of the Bigneſs of Packthread, were faften-
ed 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 Pullies
faſtened on the Poles ; and thus in leſs than three
Hours, I was raiſed and flung into the Engine, and
there tied faſt. All this I was told; for while the whole
Operation was performing, I lay in a profound Sleep,
by the Force of that foporiferous Medicine infuſed in-
to my Liquor. Fifteen hundred of the Emperor's
largeſt Hories, each about four Inches and an half high,
were employed to draw me towards the Metropolis,
which, as I ſaid, was half a Mile diſtant.
ABOUT four Hours after we be an our Journey, I
awaked by a very ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage
being ſtopt a while to adjuſt ſomething that was out
of Order, two or three of the young Natives had the
Curioſity to fee 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 Noftril, 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
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
knew the Cauſe of my awaking 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 fuffer his Majeſty to endanger his
Perſon by mounting on my Body.
Ar the Place where the Carriage ſtopt, there ſtood
an ancient Temple, eſteemed to be the largeſt in the
whole Kingdom ; which having been polluted fome
Years before by an unnatural Murder, was, according
to the Zeal of thoſe People, looked upon as prophane,
and therefore had been applied to common Uſe, and
all the Ornaments and Furniture carried away. In
this Edifice it was determined I 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 fix Inches from the Ground :
Into that on the left Side, the King's Smiths conveyed
fourſcore and eleven Chains, like thoſe that hang to
a Lady's Watch in Europe, and almoſt as large, which
were locked to my left Leg with fix and thirty Pad-
locks. 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 Em-
peror aſcended with many principal Lords of his
Court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I
was told, for I could not ſee them. It was reckoned,
that above an hundred thouſand Inhabitants came out
of the Town upon the ſame Errand; and in ſpight of
my Guards, I believe there could not be fewer than
ten thouſand, at ſeveral Times, who mounted upon my
Body by the Help of Ladders. But a Proclamation
was ſoon iſſued to forbid it, upon Pain of Death.
When the Workmen found it was impoſtable for me to
break
A VOYAGE
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 Afto-
niſhment of the People at feeing 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 for-
wards 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.
.
CH A P. II.
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by ſeveral of the No.
bility, cometh to ſee the Author in his Confinement.
The Emperor's Perſon and Habit deſcribed. Learned
Men appointed to teach the Author their Language.
He gaineth Favour by his mild Diſpoſition. His
Pockets are ſearched, and his sword and Piſtols taken
from him.
WHEN
HEN I found myſelf on my Feet, I looked
about me, and muſt confeſs, I never beheld
a more entertaining Proſpect. The Country round
appeared like a continued Garden ; and the incloſed
Fields, which were generally forty Feet ſquare,
reſembled fo many Beds of Flowers. Theſe Fields
were intermingled with Woods of half a Stang, and
the talleſt Trees, as I could judge, appeared to be
feven 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 be-
ing almoſt two Days fince I had laſt diſburthened my
felf. I was under great Difficulties between Urgency
and
VOYAGE 10 LILLIPUT.
13
and Shame. The beſt Expedient I could think on
was, to creep into my Houſe, which I accordingly did;
and ſhutting the Gate after me, I went as far as the
Length of my Chain would ſuffer; and diſcharged my
Body of that uneaſy Load. But this was the only Time
I was ever guilty of ſo uncleanly an A&ion; for which
I cannot but hope the candid Reader will give ſome
Allowance, after he hath maturely and impartially
coufidered my Caſe, and the Diſtreſs I was in. From
this Time my conſtant Practice was, as ſoon as I role,
to perform that Buſineſs in open Air, at the full Ex-
tent 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 an told, fome
of my Maligners have been pleaſed, upon this and
her 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
Einperor was already defcended from the Tower, and
advancing on Horſeback towards me, which had like
to have coſt him dear; for the Beaſt, altho' very well
trained, yet wholly unuſed to ſuch a Sight, which ap-
peared as if a Mountain moved before him, reared up
on his hirder Feer. But that Prince, who is an excel-
lent Horſeman, kept his Seat, until 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 Chains. He ordered his Cooks and
Butlers, who were already prepared, to give me Vic-
tuals and Drink, which they puſhed forward in a Sort
of Vehicle upon Wheels until 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,
14
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
Mouthfuls, and I emptied the Liquor of ten Veffels,
which was contained in earthen Vials, into one Vehicle,
drinking it off at a Draught; and fo I did with the
reſt. The Empreſs, and young Princes of the Blood, of
both Sexes, attended by many Ladies, ſat at ſome Di-
ſtance in their Chairs, but upon the Accident that hap-
pened 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 his Beholders. His Features are ſtrong and mal-
culine, with an Auftrian Lip, an arched Noſe, his
Complexion olive, his Countenance erect, his Body
and Limbs well proportioned, all his Motions graceful,
and his Deportment majeſtick. He was then paſt his
Prime, being twenty-eight Years and three Quarters
old, of which he had reigned about ſeven, in great Fe-
licity, and generally victorious. For the better Conve-
nience 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 fince many times in my
Hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the Deſcrip-
tion. His Dreſs was very plain and ſimple, the Faſhion of
it between the Afiatick 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 bis 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 Petti-
coat ſpread on the Ground, embroidered with Figures
of Gold and Silver. His Imperial Majeſty ſpoke often
to me, and I returned Anſwers, but neither of us could
underſtand a Syllable. There were ſeveral of his Prieſts
and Lawyers preſent, (as I conjectured by their Habits)
who were commanded to addreſs themſelves to me,
and I ſpoke to them in as many Languages as I had the
leaſt
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
15
leaft Smattering of, which were High and Low Datch,
Latin, French, Spaniſh, Italian, and Lingua Franca ;
but all to no Purpoſe. After about two Hours the
Court retired, and I was left with a ſtrong Guard, to
prevent the Impertinence, and probably the Malice of
the Rabble, who were very impatient to croud about
me as near as they durft; and ſome of them had the
Impudence to ſhoot their Arrows at me as I ſate on the
Ground by the Door of my Houſe; whereof one very
narrowly miſſed my left Eye. But the Colonel ordera
ed fix of the Ring-leaders to be ſeized, and thought no
Puniſhment fo proper as to deliver them bound into
my Hands, which ſome of his Soldiers accordingly did,
puſhing them forwards with the But ends of their Pikes
into my Reach: I took them all in my right Hand,
put five of them into my Coat Pocket: and as to the
fixth, I made a Countenance as if I would eat him
alive. The poor Man ſqualled terribly, and the Co-
lonel 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 imme-
diately cutting the Strings he was bound with, I ſet
him gently on the Ground, and away he ran. I treat-
ed the reſt in the ſame Manner, taking them one by
one out of my Pocket ; and I obſerved both the Sol-
diers and People were highly delighted with this Mark
ef 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;
an hundred and hfty of their Beds ſown 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
76
A Vorace to LILLIPUT.
for one who had been ſo long inured to Hardſhips
as I.
As the News of my Arrival (pread through the
Kingdom, it brought prodigious Numbers of rich, idle,
and curious People to ſee me; fo that the Villages
were almoſt emptied, and great Neglect of Tillage and
Houſhold Affairs muſt have enſued, if his Imperial Ma-
jeſty had not provided by ſeveral Proclamations and
Orders of State againſt this Inconveniency. He di-
rected that thoſe, who had already beheld me, ſhould
return home, and not preſume to come within fifty
Yards of my Houſe, without Licence from Court;
whereby the 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 affured by a particular Friend,
a Perſon of great Quality, who was as much in the Se-
cret as any, that the Court was under many Difficul-
ties concerning me. They apprehended my breaking
looſe ; that my Diet would be very expenſive, and
might cauſe a Famine. Sometimes they determined to
ftarve me, or at leaſt to ſhoot me in the Face and Hands
with poiſoned Arrows, which would ſoon diſpatch me:
But again they conſidered, that the Stench of fo large
a Carcaſe might produce a Plague in the Metropolis,
and probably ſpread through the whole Kingdom. In
the Midſt of theſe Conſultations, ſeveral Officers of the
Army went to the Door of the great Council-Cham
ber, 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 fix Beeves, forty Sheep, and
other Vi&tuals for my Subſiſtence; together with a pro-
portionable Quantity of Bread and Wine, and other
Liquors. For the due Payment of which his Majeſty
gave A fignments upon his Treaſury. For this Prince
lives chiefly upon his own Demeſnes ; feldom, except
upon
A Voyage to Lillipur.
17
upon great Occaſions raiſing anySubſidies upon his Sub-
jects, who are bound to attend him in his Wars at their
own Expence. An Eſtabliſhment was alſo made of fix
hundred Perſons to be my Domeſticks, who had board-
Wages allowed for their Maintenance, and Tents built
for them very eonveniently on each side of my Door.
It was likewiſe ordered, that three hundred Taylors
ſhould make me a Suit of Cloaths after the Faſhion of
the Country: That fix of his Majeſty's greateſt Scho-
lars ſhould be employed to inſtruct me in their Lan-
guage: And, laſtly, that the Emperor's Horſes, and
thoſe of the Nobility, and Troops of Guards, ſhould
be 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 Vifits, and
was pleaſed to affift my Maſters in teaching me. We
began already to converſe together in fome Sort; and
the firſt Words I learnt, were to expreſs my Deſire,
that he would pleaſe to give me my Liberty, which I
every Day repeated on my knees. His Anſwer, as I
could apprehend, was, that this muſt be a Work of
Time, not to be thought on without the Advice of his
Council; and that firſt I muft Lumos Kelmin peſo def-
mar lon Empolo ; 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 Pa-
tience 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 ſeve-
ral Weapons, which muſt needs be dangerous Things,
if they anſwered the Bulk of fo prodigious a Perſon. I
ſaid, his Majeſty ſhould be ſatisfied, for I was ready to
ftrip 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;
That
18
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
That he had ſo good an Opinion of my Generoſity and
Juſtice, as to truſt their perſons in my Hands : T'hat,
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 Neceſſa-
ries 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 faw; 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
Words 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 the Mid-leg in
a fort of Duft, ſome Part whereof flying up to our
Faces, ſet us both a fneezing for ſeveral Times together.
In his right Waiſtcoat Pocket, we found a prodigious
Bundle of white thin Subſtances, folded one over ano-
ther, about the Bigneſs of three Men, tied with a
ftrong Cable, and marked with black Figures; which
we humbly conceive to be Writings ; every Letter al.
moſt 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
Palliſadoes 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
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
we found it a great Dificulty to make him underſtand
In the large Pocket on the right side of his mid-
dle Cover, (fo I tranſlate the Word Ranfu-Lo, by
which they meant my Breeches) we ſaw a hollow Pil-
lar 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 En-
gine of the ſame Kind. In the ſmaller Pocket on the
right Side, were ſeveral round flat Pieces of white and
red Metal, of different Bulk : Some of the White,
which ſeemed to be Silver, were ſo large and heavy,
that my Comrade and I could hardly lift them. In the
left Pocket were two black Pillars irregularly ſhaped :
We could not, without Difficulty, reach the Top of
them as we ſtood at the Bottom of his Pocket : One of
them was covered, and ſeemed all of a Piece; but at
the upper End of the other, there appeared a white
round Subſtance, about twice the Bigneſs of our Heads.
Within each of theſe was incloſed a prodigious Plate of
Steel; which, by our Orders, we obliged him to thew
us, becauſe we apprehended they might be dangerous
Engines. He took them out of their Caſes, and told
us, that in his own Country his Practice was to ſhave
his Beard with one of theſe, and to cut his Meat with
the other. There were two Pockets which we could
not enter : Theſe he called his Fobs: they were two
large Slits cut into the Top of his middle
Cover, but
ſqueezed cloſe by the Prefiure 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 fome
tranſparent Metal: For on the tranſparent Side we faw
certain ſtrange Figures circularly drawn, and thought
we could touch them, until we found our Fingers ſtopt
with that lucid Subſtance. He put this Engine to our
Ears, which made an inceſſant Noiſe like that of a
Water-Mill. And we conjecture it is either ſome un-
known
20
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
known Animal, or the God that he worſhips: But we
are more inclined to the latter Opinion, becaaſe he al-
ſured us, (if we underſtood him right, for he expreſſed
himſelf very imperfe&tly) 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 yel.
low Metal, which, if they be of real Gold, muſt be of
immenſe Value.
Having thus, in Obedience to your Majeſty's Com-
mands, diligently fearched all his Pockets, we obſerv-
ed 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 ca-
pable 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 required a ſtrong Hand to lift them : The other
Cell contained a Heap of certain black Grains, but of
no great Bulk or Weight, for we could hold above
fifty of them in the Palms of our Hands.
This is an exact Inventory of what we found about
the Body of the Man Mountain ; who uſed us with
great Civility, and due Reſpect to your Majeſty's Com-
miſſion. Signed and ſealed on the fourth Day of the
eighty-ninth Moon of your Majeſty's aufpicious Reign.
Clefren Frelock, Marſi Frelack.
When this Inventory was read over to the Emperor,
he directed me to deliver up the ſeveral Particulars.
He firſt called for my Scymiter, which I took out,
Scabbard and all. In the mean Time he ordered three
thouſand of the choiceſt Troops, who then attended
him, to ſurround me at a Diſtance, with their Bows
and Arrows juſt ready to diſcharge : But I did not ob-
ferve
A Vorace to LILLIPUT.
21
ſerve it ; for mine Eyes were wholly fixed upon his
Majeſty. He then defired me to draw my Scymiter,
which although it had got ſome Ruſt by the Sea-Water,
was in moft Parts exceeding bright. I did ſo, and im-
mediately all the Troops gave a Shout between Terror
and Surprize ; for the Sun ſhone clear, and the Re-
flection dazzled their Eyes, as I waved the Scymiter to
and fro in my Hand. His Majeſty, who is a moft
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
fix Foot from the End of my Chains. The next Thing
he demanded was one of the hollow Iron Pillars, by
which he meant my Pocket-Piſtols. I drew it out, and
at his Defire, as-well as I could, expreſſed to him the
Uſe of it, and charging it only with Powder, which by
the Cloſeneſs of my Pouch, happened to eſcape wetting
in the Sea, (an Inconvenience that all prudent Mari-
ners take eſpecial Care to provide againſt) I firſt cau-
tioned the Emperor not to be afraid ; and then I let it
off in the Air. The Aftoniſhment here was much
greater than at the Sight of my Scymiter. Hundreds
fell down as if they had been ſtruck dead ; and even
the Emperor, although he ſtood his Ground, could not
recover himſelf for ſome time. I delivered up both my
Piſtols in the ſame Manner as I had done my Scymiter,
and then my Pouch of Powder and Bullets; begging
him that the former might be kept from 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
fee; 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 a-
mazed at the continual Noiſe it made, and the Motion
of the Minute-Hand, which he could eafily diſcern;
for their Sight is much more acute than ours : He
aſked the Opinions of his learned Men about him,
which were various and remote, as the Reader may
well imagine without my repeating ; although indeed, I
could
A VOYAGE 10 LILLIPOT.
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 Hand-
kerchief and Journal Book. My Scymiter, Piſtols, and
Pouch, were conveyed in Carriages to his Majeſty's
Stores ; but the reſt of my Goods were returned me.
I HAD, as I before obſerved, one private Pocket
which eſcaped their Search, wherein there was a Pair
of Spectacles (which I ſometimes uſe for the Weak-
neſs of mine Eyes) a Pocket Perſpective, and ſeveral
other little Conveniencies ; which being of no Conſe-
quence 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 Por-
feflion.
CH A P. III.
The Author diverts the Emperor and his Nobility of
both Sexes, in a very uncommon Manner. The Di
verfions of the Court of Lilliput defcribed. The Au-
thar bath his Liberty granted him upon certaix Can-
TY Gentleneſs and good Behaviour had gained
M'
ſo far on the Emperor and his Court, and in-
deed upon the Army and People in general, that I be-
gan to conceive Hopes of getting my Liberty in a ſhort
Time. I took all polible Methods to cultivate this fa-
vourable Diſpoſition. The Natives came by Degrees
to be leſs apprehenſive of any Danger from me. I would
ſometimes lie down, and let five or fix of them dance
on my Hand. And at laſt the Boys and Girls would
venture to come and play at Hide and Seek in my Hair.
I had now made a good Progreſs in underſtanding and
ſpeaking
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
Speaking their Language. The Emperor had a Miud
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-Dan-
cers, performed upon a ſlender white Thread, extend-
ed about two Foot, and twelve Inches from the
Ground. Upon which, I ſhall defire Liberty, with
the Reader's Patience, to enlarge a little.
Tuis Diverfion is only practiſed by thoſe Perſons,
who are Candidates for great Employments, and high
Favour, at Court. They are trained in this Art from
their Youth, and are not always of noble Birth, or li-
beral Education. When a great Office is vacant, ei-
ther by Death or Diſgrace, (which often happens) five
or fix of thoſe Candidates petition the Emperor to en-
tertain his Majeſty and the Court with a Dance on the
Rope; and whoever jumps the higheſt without falling,
fucceeds in the Office. Very often the chief Miniſters
themſelves are commanded to thew their Skill, and to
convince the Emperor that they have not loſt their Fa-
colcy, Flimap, the Treaſurer, is allowed to cut a
Caper on the ſtrait Rope, at leaſt an Inch higher than
any other Lord in the whole Empire. I have ſeen him
do the Summerſet ſeveral Times together, upon a
Trencher fixed on a Rope, which is no
thicker than a
common Packthread in England. My Friend Reldre-
Jal, principal Secretary for private Affairs, is, in my
Opinion, if I am not partial, the ſecond after the Trea-
arer; the reſt of the great Officers are much upon a
Par.
TUESE Diverſions are often attended with fatal Ace
cidents, whereof great Numbers are on Record, I
myſelf have ſeen two or three Candidates break a Limb,
Rac the Danger is much greater, when the Minifters
abemſelves are commanded to ſhew their Dexterity:
Fon by contending to excel themſelves and their Fel-
Clows, they train ſo far, that there is hardly one of theni
who hath not received a Fall; and ſome of them two
vitieě. I was aſſured, that a Year or two before my
Arrival,
24
A Vorace to LILLIPUT.
Arrival, Flimnap would have infallibly 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 Diverfion, which is only
fhewn before the Emperor and Empreſs, and firſt Mi.
nifter, upon particular Occaſions. The Emperor lays
on a Tablethree fine filken Threads of fix Inches long.
One is Blue, the other Red, and the third Green.
Theſe Threads are propoſed as Prizes, for thoſe Per-
fons whom the Emperor hath a Mind to diſtinguiſh by
a particular 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 Dexteri-
ty very different from the former; and ſuch as I have not
obſerved the leaſt Reſemblance of in any other Country
of the old or the new World. The Emperor holds a
Stick in his Hands, both Ends parallel to the Horizon,
while the Candidates advancing one by one, fome-
times leap over the Stick, and ſometimes creep under
it backwards and forwards ſeveral Times, according
as the Stick is advanced or depreſſed. Sometimes the
Emperor holds one End of the Stick, and his firſt Mi.
nifter the other; ſometimes the Miniſter hath it entires
ly to himſelf.
Whoever performs his Part with moſt
Ágility, and holds out the longeſt in leaping and creep-
ing, 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
.
The Horſes of the Army, and thoſe of the Royal
Stables, having been daily led before me, were no longer
fhy, but would come up to my very Feet, without ſtart-
ing. The Riders would leap them over my Hand as I
held it on the Ground; and one of the Emperor's Huntf-
men upon a large Courſer, took my Foot, Shoeand 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 ſeve-
rål Sticks of two Foot high, and the Thickneſs of an
ordhary
A Vorace to LILLIPUT.
ordinary Cane, to be brought me ; whereupon his Ma-
jeſly commanded the Maſter of his Woods to give Di-
tertions accordingly; and the next Morning fix Wood-
men arrived with as many Carriages, drawn by eight
Horſes to cach. I took nine of thele Sticks, and fixing
them firmly in the Ground in a Quadrangular Figure,
two Foot and a half ſquare; I took four other Sticks
and tied them parallel at each Corner, about two Foot
from the Ground; then I faſtened my Handkerchief to
che nine Sticks that ſtood directed; and extended it on
all Sides, until 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 1 had finiſhed my Work, I deſired the Emperor
to let a Troop of his belt Horfe, twenty-four in Num-
ber, 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
anto Order, they divided into two Parties, performed
mock Skirmiſhes, diſcharged blunt Arrows, drew their
Swords, fled and purſued, attacked and retired ; and in
fort diſcovered the beſt military Diſcipline I ever be-
keld. 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
Iet me hold her in her cloſe Chair, within two Yards
of the Stage, from whence ſhe was able to take a full
View of the whole Performance. It was my good For-
tude that no ill Accident happened in theſe Entertain-
sanent's only once a fiery Horle that belonged to one of
the Captains, pawing with his Hoof, ſtruck a Hole in
my Handkerchief, and his Foot ſlipping, he overthret
is Rider and himſelf, but I immediately relieved them
both Por cavering the Hole with one Hand, I fez
do:the Troop with the other, in the ſame Mannet
So II.
26
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
as I took them up. The Horſe that fell was ſtrained
in the left Shoulder, but the Rider got no Hurt; and
I repaired my Handkerchief as well as I could : How-
ever, I would not truſt to the Strength of it any more
in ſuch dangerous Enterprizes.
About two or three Days before I was ſet at Liber-
ty, as I was entertaining the Court with theſe Kind of
Feats, there arrived an Expreſs to inform his Majeſty,
that ſome of his Subjects, riding near the Place where I
was firſt taken up, had ſeen a great black ſubſtance
lying on the Ground, very oddly ſhaped, extending its
Édges 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 it was hollow within : That, they humbly con-
ceived it might be ſomething belonging to the Man-
Mountain ; and, if his Majelty pleaſed, they would un-
dertake to bring it with only five Horſes. I preſently
knew what they meant: and was glad at Heart to re-
ceive this Intelligence. It ſeems, upon my firſt reach-
ing 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 intreated his Imperial Majeſty
to give Orders it might be brought to me as ſoon as
poſſible, deſcribing to him the Ule and Nature of it:
And the next Day the Waggons arrived with it, but
not in a very good Condition ; they had bored two
Holes in the Brim, within an Inch and a half of the
Edge, and faſtened two Hooks in the Holes; theſe
Hooks were tied by a long Cord to the Harneſs, and
thus
& VOYAGE to LilliPUT.
27
ner.
thus my Hat was dragged along for above half an
is neith Mile : But the Ground in that Country being
extremely (mooth and level, it received leſs Damage
than I expected.
Two Days after this Adventure, the Emperor have.
ing ordered that Part of his Army, which quarters in
and about his Metropolis, to be in a Readineſs, took
a Fancy of diverting himſelf in a very ſingular Man-
He deäred I would ſtand like a Colous, with
my Legs as far alunder as I conveniently could. He
then commanded his General (who was an old expe-
rienced Leader, and a great Patron of mine) to draw
up the Troops in cloſe Order, and march them un-
der me; the Foot by twenty-four in a Breaſt, and the
Horſe by fixteen, with Drums beating, Colours fly.
ing, and Pikes advanced This Body conſiſted of
three thouſand Foot, and a thouſand Horſe. His
Majelly gave Orders upon Pain
of Death, that every
Soldier in his March ſhould obſerve the ſtricteſt De-
cency, with regard to my Perſon; which, however,
could not prevene ſome of the younger Officers
froin
tuſning up their Eyes as they paſſed under me. And
to confeſs the Truth, my Breeches were at chat Time
in ſo ill a Condition, that they afforded ſome Oppor-
tunities for Laughter and Admiration.
I iad ſent ſo many Memorials and Petitions for
my Liberty, that his Majeſty at length mentioned the
Matrer firſt in the Cabinet, and then in a full Council ;
where it was oppoſed by none, except Skyrelis Polgo-
1998, who was pleafed, without any Provocation, to be
my mortal Enemy. Bar it was carried againſt him
by the wliole Board,
and confirmed by the Emperor.
That Miniſter was Galbet, or Admiral of the Realin;
very much in his Maſter's Confidence, and a Perſon
weit verled in Affairs, but of a moroſe and four Com.
pletion. However, he was at length perfuaded to
cómply : but prevailed that the Articles aud Conditions
upon which I ſhould be ſet free, and to which I muſt
ſwear, ſhould be drawn up by himſelf. Theſe Arti.
C 2
28
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
in the Manner of my own Country, and afterwards in
cles were brought to me by Skyreh Bolgolam in Per-
fon, 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
the Method preſcribed by their Laws; which was to
hold my right Foot in my left Hand, to place the
middle Finger of my right Hand on the Crown of my
Head, and my Thumb on the Tip of my right Ear.
But, becauſe the Reader may perhaps be curious to
have ſome Idea of the Style and Manner of Expreſ-
Sion peculiar to that People, as well as to know the
which I recovered my Liberty ; I have
made a Tranſlation of the whole Inſtrument, Word
for Word, as near as I was able; which I here offer
to the Publick.
Articles opon
GOLBASTO MOMAREN EVLAME GURDILO SHEFIN
MuLLY ULLY Gue, Moft Mighty Emperor of Lilli-
put, Delight and Terror of the Univerſe, whoſe Do-
minions extend five thouſand Bluftrugs, (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 Center,
and whoſe Head Itriketh againſt theSun: At whoſeNod
the Princes of the Earth fhake their Knees; pleaſant
as the Spring, comfortable as the Summer, fruitful as
Autumn, dreadful as Winter. His moſt ſublime Ma-
jeſty propoſeth to the Man-Mountain, lately arrived at
our Celeſtial Dominions, the following Articles, which
by a folemn Oath he ſhall be obliged to perform.
First, The Man-Mountain ſhall not depart from our
Dominions, without our Licence under our Great Seal.
Secondly, He ſhall not preſume to come into
our Metropolis, without our expreſs Orders ; at which
Time, the Inhabitants ſhall have two Hours Warning
to keep within Doors.
Thirdly, The ſaid Man-Mountain ſhall confine
his Walks to our principal þigh Roads; and not
offer
29
.
A VOYACE to LILLIPUT.
offer to walk or lie down in a Meadow, or Field of
Corn.
FOURTHLY, As he walks the ſaid Roads, he ſhall
take the utmoſt Care not to trample upon the Bodies
of any of our loving Subjects, their Horſes, or Car-
riages; nor take any of our faid Subjects into his
PIFTHLY, If an Expreſs require extraordinary Dir.
patch : the Man-Mountain ſhall be obliged to carry in
his Pocket the Meſſenger and Horſe, a fix Days Journey
once in every Moon, and return the ſaid Meſſenger
back (if ſo required) fafe to our Imperial Preſence.
SixTHLY, He ſhall be our Ally againſt our Enenice
In the Iſland of Blefufcu, and to his utmoſt deſtray
their Fleet, which is now preparing to invade Us.
SEVENTHLY, That the ſaid Man. Mountain (hall, at
luis Times of Leiſure, be aiding and aſſiſting to our
Workmen, in helping to raiſe certain great Stones, to-
wards covering the Wall of the principal Park, and
other our Royal Buildings.
EiONTHLY, That the ſaid Man-Mountain ſhall, in
two Moons Time, deliver in an exact Survey of the
Circumference of our Dominions, by a Compatation
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
dhily Allowance of Meat and Drink, fufficient 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-firit Moon of our Reign.
I swore and ſubſcribed to theſe Articles with great
Chearfulneſs and Content, although ſome of them were
not fo honourable as I could have wiſhed ; which pro-
ceeded wholly from the Malice of Skyreſh Bolgolam the
High Admiral ; whereupon my Chains were imme-
dately unlocked, and I was at full Liberty : The Em-
peror himſelf, in Perſon, did me the Honour to be by
at the whole Ceremony. I made my Acknowledge-
mients
C 3
30
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
ments, by proſtrating myſelf at his Majeſty's Feet
But he commanded me to riſe; and after many gra-
cious Expreffions, which to avoid the Cenſure of Va-
nity, I ſhall not repeat; he added, that he hoped
I
ſhould prove a uſeful Servant, and well deſerve all the
Favours he had already conferred upon me, or might
do for the future.
The Reader may pleaſe to obſerve, that in the laſt
Article for the Recovery of my Liberty, the Emperor
itipulateth to allow me a Quantity of Meat and Drink
fufficient for the Support of 1724 Lilliputians. Some
Time after, aſking a Friend at Court how they came
to fix on that 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 ne-
ceſſary to ſupport that Number of Lilliputians. By
which, the Reader may conceive an Idea of the In-
genuity of that people, as well as the prudent and
exact Oeconomy of ſo great a Prince,
CH A P. IV.
Mildendo, the Metropolis of Lilliput, deſcribed, toge-
ther with the Emperor's Palace. A Converſation
between the duthor and a principal Secretary, con-
cerning the Affairs of that Empire: The Author's
Offers to ſerve the Emperor in bis Wars.
THI
HE firſt Requeſt I made after I had obtained
my Liberty, was, that I might have Licence
to ſee Mildendo, the Metropolis ; which the Emperor
eaſily granted me; but with a ſpecial Charge to do no
Hurt,
A VOYAGE TO Lillirut.
32
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
(wo Foot and an half high, and at leaſt cleven Inches
bruad, ſo that a Coach and Horſes may be driven very
fafely round it, and it is flanked with ſtrong Towers
a ten Foot Dillance. I ſtepe over the great Weffers
Gate, and paſſed very gently, and ſideling through the
two principal Streets, only in my ſhort Waiſtcoat, for
fear of damaging the Roofs and Eves of the Houſes
with the Skirts of my Coat. I walked
with the utmoſt
Circumſpection, to avoid treading on any 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
pos
pulous Place. The City is an exact Square, each Side
of the Walls being five hundred Foot long. The
iwa
great Streets, which run croſs and divide ir into low
Quarters, are five Foot wide. The Lanes and Alleys
which I could not enter, but only viewed them as I
pafled, are from twelve to eighteen Inches. The
Town is capable of holding five hundred thouſand
Souls. The Houſes are from three to five Scories.
The Shops and Markets well provided.
The Emperor's Palace is in the Center of the City,
where the two great Streets meet. It is incloſed by a
Wall of two Foot high, and twenty Foot diſtant from
the Buildings. I had his Majeſty's Permiſſion to flep
over this Wall; and the Space being fo wide between
that and the Palace, I could eaſily view it on every Side.
The outward Court is a Square
of forty Foot, and in-
cladeth two other Courts: In the inmoft are the Royal
Apartments, which I was very deſirous to fee, but found
* extremely difficult ; for the great Gates, from one
Square into another, were bat eighteen Inches lögh,
and feven Inches wide. Now the Buildings of the
outer Court were at leaſt five Foot high ; and it was
impoſſible for me to ſtride over them, without infinite
Damage
C4
32
& VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
Damage to the Pile, although 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 until three Days after, which I ſpent in cutring
down with my Knife ſome of the largeſt Trees in the
Royal Park, about an hundred Yards diſtant from the
City. Of theſe Trees I made two Stools, each about
three Foot high, and ftrong 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 liſted over the Roof,
and gently ſet it down on the Space between the firſt
and ſecond Court, which was eight Foot wide. I then
flept over the Buildings very conveniently from one
Stool to the other, and drew up the firſt after me with
a hooked Stick. By this Contrivance I got into the
inmoft Court ; and lying down upon my Side, I ap.
plied my Face to the Windows of the middle Stories,
which were left open on Purpoſe, and diſcovered the
moft ſplendid Apartments that can be imagined. There
I ſaw the Empreſs, and the young Princes in their ſe-
veral 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 ber Hand to kiſs.
Dut I fhall not anticipate the Reader with further
Deſcriptions of this Kind, becauſe I reſerve them for a
grcater Work, which is now almoſt ready for the Preſs;
containing a general Deſcription of this Empire, from
its firſt Erection, through a long Series of Princes, with
a peculiar Account of their Wars and Politicks, Laws,
Learning, and Religion ; their Plants and Animals,
their peculiar Manners and Cuſtoms, with other Mat-
ters very curious and uſeful ; my chief Deſign at pre-
ſent being only to relate {uch Events and Tranſactions
as happened to the Publick, or to myſelf, during a
Reſidence of about nine Months in that Empire.
ONE
Site
1 VOYACE to LILLIPUT.
33
One Morning, about a Fortnight after I had obtain-
ed my Liberty ; Reldreſal, Principal Secretary (as they
ftyle him) of private Affairs, came to my Houſe, at-
tended only by one Servant. He ordered his Coach
to wait at a Diſtance, and deſired I would give him an
Hour's Audience; which I readily conſented to, on
Account of his Quality, and Perſonal Merits, as well as
of the many good Offices he had done me during my
Sollicitations at Court. I offered to lie down, that he
might the more conveniently reach my Ear; but he
choſe rather to let me hold him in my Hand during
our Converſation. He began with Compliments on
my Liberty; ſaid, he might pretend to ſome Merit in
it; but, however, added, that if it had not been for the
preſent Situation of Things at Court, perhaps I might
not have obtained it ſo ſoon. For, ſaid he, as flouriſh-
ing a Condition as we appear to be in to Foreigners,
we labour under two mighty Evils; a violent Faction
at Home, and the Danger of an Invaſion by a moſt
potent Enemy from AbroadAs to the firſt, you are
to underſtand, that for above ſeventy Moons paſt,
there have been two ſtruggling Parties in this Empire
under the Names of Trameckfan, and Slameckfan, from
the high and low Heels on their Shoes, by which they
diſtinguiſh themſelves.
It is alledged indeed that the high Heels are moſt
agreeable to our ancient Conſtitution ; but, however
this be, his Majeſty hath determined to make uſe of only
low Heels in the Adminiſtration of the Government,
and all Offices in the Gift of the Crown , as you can-
not 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 Trameck-
fan, or High-Heels, to exceed us in Number; but the
Power is wholly on our Side. We apprehend his Im-
perial Highneſs, the Heir to the Crown, to have ſome
Tendency towards the High-Heels ; at leaſt we can
plainly
CS
34
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
plainly diſcover one of his Heels higher than the other ;
which giveth 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 King-
doms and States
in the World, inhabited by human
Creatures as large as yourſelf, our Philoſophers are in
much Doubt; and would rather conjecture that you
dropt from the Moon, or one of the Stars ; becauſe it is
certain, that an hundred Mortals of your Bulk, would,
in a ſhort Time, deſtroy all the Fruits and Cattle of his
Majeſty's Dominions. Befides, our Hiſtories of fix .
thouſand Moons make no mention of any other Re-
gions, than the two great Empires of Lilliput and Ble-
fufcu. Which two mighty Powers have, as I was go-
ing to tell you, been engaged in a moſt obſtinate War
for fix and thirty Moons palt. It began upon the fol.
lowing Occafion. It is allowed on all Hands, that the
primitive Way of breaking Eggs before we eat them,
was opon 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 Ediệt, commanding
all his Subjects, upon great Penalties, to break the
ſmaller End of their Eggs. The People fo highly re-
ſented this Law, that our Hiſtories tell us, there have
been fix Rebellions raiſed on that Account; wherein
one Emperor loſt his Life, and another his Crown..
Theſe civil Conimotions were conſtantly fomented by
the Monarchs of Blefuſcu; and when they were quell-
ed, the Exiles always fled for Refuge to that Empire.
It is computed, that eleven thouſand- Perſons have, at
ſeveral Times, fuffcred Death rather than ſubmit to
break their Eggs at the finaller End. Many hundred
large Volames have been publiſhed upon this Contro.
verſy : But the Books
of the Big-Endians have been
long forbidden, and the whole Party rendered inca -
pable
A Vorage to LILLIPUT.
35
pable by Law of holding Employments. During the
Courſe of theſe Troubles, the Emperors of Blefuſcu
did frequently expoftulate by their Ambaffadors, ac-
cuſing 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 Brundrecal,
(which is their Alcoran.) This, however, is thought
to be a meer Strain upon the Text: For the Words
are theſe ; That all true Believers ſhall break their
Eggs at the convenient End : And which is the conve-
nient End, ſeemeth, 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 Ex-
dian Exiles have found ſo much Credit in the Emperor
of Blefufcu's Court; and ſo much private Aliſtance
and Encouragement from their Party here at Home,
that a bloody War hath been carried on between the
two Empires for fix and thirty Moons with various
Succeſs; during which Time we have loſt forty ca-
pital Ships, and a much greater Number of ſmaller
Veſſels, together with thirty thouſand of our beſt Sea-
men and Soldiers ; and the Damage received by the
Enemy is reckoned to be ſomewhat greater than ours.
However, they have now equipped a numerous Flect,
and are juſt preparing to make a Deſcent upon us :
And his Imperial Majeſty, placing great Confidence in
your Valour and Strength, hath commanded me to
lay this Account of his Affairs before you.
I desired the Secretary to preſent my humble
Duty to the Emperor, and to let him know, that I
thought it would not become me, who was a Fo-
reigner, to interfere with Parties ; but I was ready,
with the Hazard of my Life, to defend his Perſon and
State againſt all Invaders.
Ο Η Α Ρ.
36
& VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
CH A P. V.
The Author by an extraordinary Stratagem preventeth
an Invaſion. A bigb Title of Honour is conferred
upon him. Ambaſadors arrive from the Emperor of
Blefufcu, and fue for Peate. The Emprefi's Apart-
ment on Fire by an Accident : the Author inſtrumen-
tal in javing the reſt of the Palace.
THE Empire of Blefufcu is an Iſland fituated
to the North North-Eaſt Side of Lilliput, from
whence it is parted only by a Channel of eight hun-
dred Yards wide. I had not yet feen it, and upon
this Notice of an intended Invaſion, I avoided ap-
pearing on that Side of the Coaſt, for fear of being
diſcovered by ſome of the Enemies Ships, who had re-
ceived no Intelligence of me; all Intercourſe between
the two Empires having been ſtrictly forbidden dure-
ing the War, upon Pain of Death; and an Embargo
laid by our Emperor upon all Veſfels whatſoever. I
communicated to his Majeſty a Project I had formed
of ſeizing the Enemy's whole Fleet; which, as our
Scouts affured us, lay at Anchor in the Harbour ready
to fail with the firſt fair Wind. I conſulted the moſt
experienced Seamen, upon the Depth of the Channel,
which they had often plummed; who told me, that
in the Middle, at high Water, it was ſeventy Glumglaffs
deep, which is about fix Foot of European Meaſure ;
and the reſt of it fifty Glumgluffs at moſt. I walked
to the North-Eaſt Coaſt over-againſt Blefuſcu; where
lying down behind a Hillock, I took out my ſmall
Pocket Perſpective Glaſs, and viewed the Enemy's
Fleet at Anchor, 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)
A Voyage to LILLIPUT,
37
Warrant) for a great Quantity of the ſtrongeſt Cable
and Bars of Iron : the Cable was about as thick as
Packthread, and the Bars of the Length and Size of
a Knitting-Needle. I trebled the Cable to make it
ſtronger ; and for the ſame Reaſon I twiſted three of
the Iron Bars together, binding the Extremities into
a Hook. Having thus fixed fifty Hooks to as many
Cables, I went back to the North-Eaſt Coaſt, and put,
ting off my Coat, Shoes, and Stockings, walking into
the Sea in my Leathern Jerkin, about half an Hour be-
fore high Water, I waded with what Hafte I could,
and ſwam in the Middle about thirty Yards until I felt
the Ground ; I arrived to the Fleet in leſs than half
an Hour. The Enemy was ſo frighted when they
ſaw me, that they leaped out of their Ships, and ſwam
to Shore; where there could not be fewer than thirty
thouſand Souls. I then took my Tackling, and faſt-
ning a Hook to the Hole at the Prow of each, I tyed
all the Cords together at the End. While I was thus
employed, the Enemy diſcharged ſeveral Thouſand
Arrows, many of which ſtuck in my Hands and Face ;
and beſides the exceſſive Smart, gave me much Diſ.
turbance 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,
amongſt 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
ſpight of the Enemy's Arrows; many of which ſtruck
againft the Glaſſes of my Spectacles, but without any
other Effe&, 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
ftir, for they were all too faſt held by their Anchors ;
fo that the boldeſt Part of my Enterprize remained.
I therefore let go the Cord, and leaving the Hooks,
fixed to the Ships, I refolutely cut with my Knife the
Cables that faſtened the Anchors ; receiving above two
hundred
38
A VOYACE to LILIPUT:
:
hundred Shots in my Face and Hands : Then I took
up the knotted End of the Cables to which my Hooks
were tyed; and with great Eaſe drew fifty of the Ene-
my's largeſt Men of War after me.
The Blefufcudians, who had not the leaſt Imagi-
nation of what I intended, were at firſt confounded
with Aſtoniſhment. They had feen me cut the Cables,
and thought my Deſign was only to let the Ships run
a-drift, or fall foul on each other : Bat when they per-
ceived the whole Fleet moving in Order, and ſaw me
pulling at the End; they fet up ſuch a Scream of
Grief and Deſpair, that it is almoſt impoſſible to de-
ſcribe or conceive. When I had got out of Danger,
I ſtopt a while to pick out the Arrows that ſtuck in my
Hands and Face, and rubbed on ſome of the ſame
Ointment that was given me at my firſt Arrival, as I
have formerly mentioned. I then took off my Spec-
tacles and waiting about an Hour, until the Tide
was a little fallen, I waded through the Middle with
my Cargo, and arrived fafe at the Royal Port of
Lilliput
The Emperor and his wholé Court ſtood on the
Shore, expecting the Iflue of this great Adventure.
They ſaw the Ships inove forward in a large Half-
Moon, but could not diſcern me, who was up to my
Breaſt in Water. When I advanced to the Middle of
the Channel, they were yet more in Pain, becauſe
I was under Water to my Neck. The Emperor con-
cluded me to be drowned, and that the Enemy's
Fleet was approaching in a hoſtile Manner: But he was
foon eaſed of his Fears; for the Channel growing ſhal-
lower every Srep 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 cryed in a loud
Voice, Long live the moſt puiffant Emperor of Lilli-
put ! This great Prince received me at my Landing
with all poſible Encomiums, and created me a Nardac
upon the Spot, which is the higheſt Title of Honour
among them,
His
a.
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT:
39
His Majeſty deſired I would take fome otherOppor-
tunity of bringing all the reſt of his Enemies Ships in-
to his Ports. And ſo unmeaſurable is the Ambition
of Princes, that he ſeemed to think of nothing leſs than
reducing the whole Empire of Blefufcu into a Pro-
vince, 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 ſole Monarch of the whole World.
But I endeavoured to divert him from this Defigh, by
many Arguments drawn from the Topicks of Policy
as well as Juſtice: And I plainly proteſted, that I
would never be an Inſtrument of bringing a free and
brave People into Slavery : And when the Matter was
debated in Council, the wiſeft Part of the Miniſtry
were of my Opinion.
This open bold Declaration of mine
was ſo oppoſite
to the Schemes and Politicks of his Imperial Majeſty,
that he could never forgive me : He mentioned it in a
very artful Manner at Council, where, I was told,
that ſome of the wiſelt appeared, at leaſt by their Si-
lence, to be of my Opinion ; but others, who were
my ſecret Enemies, could not forbear ſome Expreſs
fions which by a Side wind reflected on me. And
from this Time began an Intrigue between his Ma-
jeſty, and a Junta 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 greatef Services to Princes, when
into the Ballance with a Refuſal to gratify their
Paſſions.
About three Weeks after this Exploit, there arrived
a ſolemn Embaſſy from Blefuſcu, with humble Offers
of a Peace; which was ſoon concluded
tions very advantageous to our Emperor; wherewith
I ſhall not trouble the Reader. There were ſix Am-
baſſadors, with a Train of about five Hundred Per-
lors ; 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
put
upon Condi-
40
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
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 Va-
lour and Generoſity, invited me to that Kingdom in
the Emperor their Maſter's Name; and deſired me to
fhew them ſome Proofs of my prodigious Strength, of
which they had heard ſo many Wonders; wherein I
readily obliged them, but ſhall not interrupt the Reader
with the Particulars.
When I had for ſome time entertained their Excel
lencies to their infinite Satisfaction and Surprize, I'de-
fired they would do me the Honour to preſent my
moft humble Reſpects to the Emperor their Mafter,
the Renown of whoſe Virtues had ſo juſtly filled the
whole World with Admiration, and whole Royal Per-
fon ( reſolved to attend before I returned to my own
Country. Accordingly the next Time I had the
Honour to ſee our Emperor, I deſired his general
Licence to wait on the Blefufcudian Monarch, which
he was pleaſed to grant me, as I could plainly perceive,
in a very cold Manner ; but could not gueſs the Rea-
fon, until 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 Em-
pires differing as much from each other as any two in
Europe, and each Nation priding itſelf upon the Anti-
quity, Beauty, and Energy of their own Tongues,
with an avowed Contempt for that of their Neighbour:
Yet our Emperor, ftanding upon the Advantage he had
got by the Seizure of their Fleet, obliged them to de-
liver their Credentials, and inake their Speech in the
Lilliputian Tongue.' And it muſt be confeffed, that
from the great Intercourſe of Trade and Commerce be-
tween
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
42
tween 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 them.
felves, by ſeeing the World, and underſtanding Men
and Manners; there are few Perſons of Diftin&tion,
or Merchants, or Seamen, who dwell in the Maritime
Parts, but what can hold
Converfation in bothTongues ;
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 figned
thoſe Articles upon which I recovered my Liberty,
there were ſome which I diſliked upon Account of
their being too fervile, neither could any thing but an
extreme Neceſſity have forced me to fubmit. But be-
ing now a Nardac, of the higheſt Rank in that Em-
pire, fuch Ofices were looked upon
as below my Dig-
nity, and the Emperor (to do him Juftice) never once
mentioned them to me. However, it was not long
before I had an Opportunity of doing his Majeſty, at
leaft, 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 fuddenly awaked
I was in ſome kind of Terror. I heard the Word
Burglum repeated inceſſantly; ſeveral of the Emperor's
Court making their Way through the Croud, intreated
me to come immediately to the Palace, where her Im-
perial Majeſty's Apartment was on Fire, by the Care.
leſſneſs of a Maid of Honour, who fell aſleep while ſhe
was reading a Romance. I got ap 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 Lad-
ders to the Walls of the Apartment, and were well
provided with Buckets, but the water was at ſome
Diſtance. Theſe Buckets were about the Size of a
large
42
A Voyage to Lillipur.
large Thimble, and the poor People ſupplied me with
them as faſt as they could ; but the Flame was ſo
violent, that they did little Good. I might eaſily have
ftifled it with my Coat, which I unfortunately left be-
hind me for
Hafte, and came away only in my Lea-
thern Jerkin. The Caſe ſeemed wholly deſperate and
deplorable; and this magnificent Palace would have
been burnt down to the Ground, if, by a Preſence of
Mind, unuſual to me, I had not ſuddenly thought of
an Expedient. I had the Evening before drank plen-
tifully of a moſt delicious Wine, called Glimigrim,
(the Blefufcudians call it Flaner, but ours is eſteemed
the better Sort which is very diuretick. By the
luckieſt Chance in the World, I had not diſcharged
myſelf of any Part of it. The Heat I had contracted
by coming very near the Flames, and by my labouring
to quench them, made the Wine begin to operate by
Urine; which I voided in ſuch a Quantity, and ap-
plied ſo well to the proper Places, that in three Mi-
nutes 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 Par-
don in Form ; which, however, I could not obtain.
And I was privately aſſured, that the Empreſs, con-
ceiving 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 Prefence of her chief Confi-
dents, could not forbear vowing Revenge.
c H A P.
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
43
C H A P. VI.
Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput ; their Learning, Laws,
and Cuſtoms. The Manner of Educating their Chil-
dren. The Author's Way of living in that Country
His Vindication of a great Lady.
A
LTHOUCH I intend to leave the Deſcription of
this Empire to a particular Treatiſe, yet in the
mean Time I am content to gratify the curious Reader
with ſome general Ideas. As the common Size of the
Natives is ſomewhat under fix Inches, ſo there is an
exact Proportion in all other Animals, as well as Plants
and Trees: For Inſtance, the talleſt Horſes and Oxen
are between four and five Inches in Height,
the Sheep
an Inch and a half, more or leſs ; their Geele about
the Bigneſs of a Sparrow; and ſo the ſeveral Grada-
tions downward, until you come to the ſmalleſt, which,
to my Sight, were almoſt inviſible; but Nature hath
adapted the Eyes of the Lilliputians to all Objects pro.
per for their Views : They ſee with great Exactneſs,
but at no great Diſtance. And to ſhow the Sharpneſs
of their Sight towards Obje&ts that are near, I have
been much pleafed with a Cook pulling a Lark, which
was not ſo large as a common Fly; and a young Girl
threading an inviſible Needle with inviſible Silk.
Their talleſt Trees are about ſeven Feet high; I mean
fome of thoſe in the great Royal Park, the Tops
whereof I could but juſt reach with my Fiſt clinched.
The other Vegetables are in the ſame Proportion :
But this I leave to the Reader's Imagination.
I shall ſay but little at preſent of their Learning,
which for many Ages hath flouriſhed in all its Branches
among them: But their Manner of Writing is very pe-
culiar; being neither from the Left to the Right, like
the
44
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
the Faper to e
the Europeans ; nor from the Right to the Left, like
the Arabians ; nor from up to down, like the Chineſe ;
nor from down to up, like the Caſcagians; but aflant
from one Corner of the Paper to the other, like Ladies
in England.
They bury their Dead with their Heads directly
downwards ; becauſe they hold an Opinion, that in
eleven Thouſand Moons they are all to riſe again ; in
which Period, the Earth (which they conceive to be
flat) will turn upſide down, and by this Means they
fall, at the Reſurrection, be found ready ftanding on
their Feet. The Learned among them confeſs the Ab-
furdity of this Doctrine ; but the Practice ſtill conti-
nueth, in Compliance to the Vulgar.
There are ſome Laws and Cuſtoms in this Empire
very peculiar; and if they were not ſo directly contra-
ry to thoſe of my own dear Country, I ſhould be tempt.
ed to ſay a little in their Juſtification. It is only to be
wiſhed, that they were as well executed. The firſt I
fall mention, relateth to Informers. All Crimes a-
gainſt the State are puniſhed here with the utmoſt Se-
verity; but if the Perſon accuſed make his Innocence
plainly to appear upon his Trial, the Accuſer is imme
diately put to an ignominious Death; and out of his
Goods or Lands, the innocent Perſon is quadruply re-
compenſed for the Loſs of his Time, for the Danger
he underwent, for the Hardſhip of his Impriſonment,
and for all the Charges he hath been at in making his
Defence. Or, if that Fund be deficient, it is largely
fupplied by the Crown. The Emperor doth alſo con.
fer on him ſome publick Mark of his Favour; and
Proclamation is made of his Innocence through the
whole City.
They look upon Fraud as a greater Crime than
Theft, and therefore ſeldom fail to punish it with
Death: For they alledge, that Care and Vigilance, with
a very common Underſtanding, may preſerve a Man's
Goods from Thieves; but Honeſty hath no Fence a-
gainſt ſuperior Cunning : And fince it is neceſſary that
there ſhould be a perpetual Intercourſe of buying
and
felling
CA VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
45
felling, and dealing upon Credit; where Fraud is
per-
mitted or connived at, or hath no Law to puniſh it, the
honeſt Dealer is always undone, and the Knave
gets
the Advantage. I remember when I was once inter
ceding with the King for a Criminal who had wrong-
ed his Maſter of a great Sum of Money, which he
had received by Order, and ran away with; and hap-
pening to tell his Majeſty, by way of Extenuation,
that it was only a Breach of Truſt; the Emperor
thought it monſtrous in me to offer, as a Defence, the
greateſt Aggravation of the Crime: And truly, I had
little to ſay in Return, farther than the common An-
ſwer, that different Nations had different Cuſtoms ;
for, I confels, I was heartily aſhamed.
ALTHOUGH we uſually call Reward and Puniſhment,
the two Hinges upon which all Government turneth;
yet I could never obſerve this Maxim to be
put
in
Practice by any Nation except that of Lilliput Who-
ever can there bring ſufficient Proof, that he hath
ftri&tly obſerved the Laws of his Country for Seventy-
three Moons, hath a Claim to certain Privileges, ac-
cording to his Quality and Condition of Life, with a
proportionable Sum of Money out of a Fund appro-
priated for that Uſe: He likewiſe acquires the Title
of Snilpall, or Legal, which is added to his Name, but
doth not deſcend to his poſterity. And theſe People
thought it a prodigious Defect of Policy among us,
when I told them that our Laws were enforced only
by Penalties, without any Mention of Reward. It is
upon this Account, that the Image of Juſtice, in their
Courts of Judicature, is formed with fix Eyes, two be-
fore, as many behind, and on each side one, to ſignify
Circumſpection ; with a Bag of gold open in her right
Hand, and a Sword ſheathed in her left, to fhew ſhe
is more diſpoſed to reward than to puniſh.
In chuſing Perſons for all Employments, they have
more regard to good Morals than to great Abilities:
For, fince Government is neceſſary to Mankind, they
believe that the common Size of human Underſtand-
ings, is fitted to fome Station or other; and that Pro-
vidence
46
A Voyage to Lilliput.
vidence never intended to make the Management of
publick Affairs a Myſtery, to be comprehended only
by a few Perſons of ſublime Genius, of which there
feldom are three born in an Age : But, they ſuppoſe
Truth, Juftice, Temperance, and the like, to be in
every Man's Power ; the Practice of which Virtues, af-
fiſted by Experience and a good Intention, would qua-
lify any Man for the Service of his Country,
except
where a Courſe of Study is required. But they thought
the Want of Moral Virtues was ſo far from being fup-
plied by fuperior Endowments of the Mind, that Em-
ployments could never be put into ſuch dangerous
Hands as thoſe of Perſons ſo qualified ; and at leaſt, that
the Miſtakes committed by Ignorance in a virtuous
Diſpoſition, would never be of ſuch fatal Conſequence
to the Publick Weal, as the Practices of a Man, whoſe
Inclinations led him to be corrupt, and had great Abili.
ties to manage, to multiply, and defend his Corruptions.
In like Manner, the Diſbelief of a Divine Provi-
dence renders a Man uncapable of holding any publick
Station : For, ſince Kings avow themſelves to be the
Deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think nothing
can be more abſurd than for a Prince to employ ſuch
Men as diſown the Authority under which he acteth.
In relating theſe and the following Laws, I would
only be underſtood to mean the original Inſtitutions,
and not the moſt ſcandalous Corruptions into which
theſe People are fallen by the degenerate Nature of
Man. For as to that infamous Practiſe of acquiring
great Employments by dancing on the Rope, or Badges
of Favour and Diſtinction by leaping over Sticks, and
creeping under them; the Reader is to obſerve that they
were firſt introduced by the Grand-father of the Em-
peror now reigning ; and grew to the preſent Height,
by the gradual Increaſe of Party and Faction.
INGRATITUDE is among them a capital Crime, as
we read it to have been in ſome other Countries : For
they reaſon thus; that whoever makes ill Returns to his
Benefactor, muft needs be a common Enemy to the reſt
of
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
47
of Mankind ; from whom they have received no Obli-
gation ; and therefore ſuch a Man is not fit to live.
Their Notions relating to the Duties of Parents
and Children differ extremely from ours. For, fince
the Conjunction of Male and Female is founded upon
the great Law of Nature, in order to propagate and
continue the Species ; the Lilliputians will needs have
it, that Men and Women are joined together like other
Animals, by the Motives of Concupiſcence; and that
their Tenderneſs towards their Young, proceedeth from
the like natural Principle : For which Reaſon they will
never allow, that a Child is under any Obligation to
his Father for begetting him, or to his Mother for
bringing him into the World ; which, conſidering the
Miſeries of human Life, was neither a Benefit in it
ſelf, nor intended ſo by his parents, whoſe Thoughts
in their Love-encounters were otherwiſe employed.
Upon theſe, and the like Reaſonings, their Opinion is,
that Parents are the laſt of all others to be truſted with
the Education of their own Children: And therefore
they have in every Town publick Nurſeries, where
all Parents, except Cottagers and Labourers, are obli-
ged to ſend their Infants of both Sexes to be reared and
educated when they come to the Age of twenty Moons;
at which Time they are ſuppoſed to have ſome Rudi-
ments of Docility. Theſe Schools are of ſeveral Kinds,
ſuited to different Qualities, and to both Sexes. They
have certain Profeſſors well ſkilled in preparing Chil-
dren for ſuch a Condition of Life as befits the Rank of
their Parents, and their own Capacities as well as In-
clinations. I ſhall firſt ſay ſomething of the Male
Nurſeries, and then of the Female.
The Norſeries for Males of Noble or Eminent
Birth ; are provided withg rave and learned Profeſſors,
and their ſeveral Deputies. The Clothes and Food of
the Children are plain and ſimple. They are bred UP
in the Principles of Honour, Juftice, Courage, Model-
ty, Clemency, Religion, and Love of their Country :
They are always employed in ſome Buſineſs, except
in the Times of eating and ſleeping, which are very
fhort,
48
A VOYACE to LILLIPUT.
ſhort, and two Hours for Diverſions, conſiſting of bodi-
ly Exerciſe. They are dreſſed by Men until four Years
of Age, and then are obliged to dreſs themſelves, al-
though their Quality be ever ſo great ; and the Wo-
men Attendants, who are aged proportionably to ours
at fifty, perform only the moſt menial Offices. They
are never ſuffered to converſe with Servants, but go
together in ſmall or greater Numbers to take their
Diverſions, and always in the Preſence of a Profeſſor,
or one of his Deputies ; whereby they avoid thoſe
early bad Impreſſions of Folly and Vice to which our
Children are ſubject. Their Parents are ſuffered to
ſee them only twice a Year ; the Viſits are not to laft a-
bove an Hour ; they are allowed to kiſs the Child at
Meeting and Parting : but a Profeffor, who always
flandeth by on thoſe Occafions,
will not ſuffer them to
whiſper or uſe any fondling Expreſſions or bring any
Preſents of Toys, Sweet-meats, and the like.
The Penſion from each Family for the Education
and Entertainment of a Child, upon Failure of due
Payment, is levyed by the Emperor's Officers.
The Nurſeries for Children of ordinary Gentlemen,
Merchants, Traders, and Handicrafts, are managed
proportionably after the fame Manner; only thoſe de-
figned for Trades, are put out Apprentices at ſeven
Years old; whereas thoſe of Perſons of Quality con-
tinue in their Exerciſes until Fifteen, which anſwers to
Cne and Twenty with us: But the Confinement is
gradually leffened for the laſt three Years.
In the Female Nurſeries, the young Girls of Quali-
ty are educated much like the Males, only they are
dreſſed by orderly Servants of their own Sex, but al-
ways in the Preſence of a Profesor or Deputy, until they
come to dreſs themſelves, which is at five Years old.
And if it be found that theſe Nurſes ever preſume to
entertain the Girls with frightful or fooliſh Stories, or
the common Follies pra&tiſed by Chamber-Maids among
us ; they are publickly whipped thrice about the City,
impriſoned for a Year, and baniſhed for Life to the
molt
A VEYAGE to Lillirut.
baniſhed for Lire to the moſt deſolate Parts of the
Country. Thus the young Ladies there, are as much
aſhamed of being Cowards and Fools, as the Men; and
deſpiſe all perſonal Ornaments beyond Decency and
Cleanlineſs ; neither did I perceive any Difference in
their Education, made by their Difference of Sex, only
that the Exerciſes of the Females were not altogether
ſo robuſt; and that ſome Rules were given them re-
lating to domeſtick Life, and a ſmaller Compaſs of
Learning was enjoyned them: For, their Maxim is,
that among People of Quality, a Wife ſhould be al-
ways a reaſonable and agreeable Companion, becauſe
ſhe cannot always be young. When the Girls are
twelve Years old, which among them is the marriage-
able Age, their Parents or Guardians take them home,
with great Expreſſions of Gratitude to the Profeſſors,
and ſeldom without Tears of the young Lady and her
Companions.
In the Nurſeries of Females of the meaner Sort,
the Children are inſtructed in all kinds of Works pro-
per for their Sex, and their ſeveral Degrees : Thoſe
intended for Apprentices are diſmiſſed at ſeven Years
old, the reſt are kept to eleven.
The meaner Families who have Children at theſe
Nurſeries, are obliged, beſides their annual Penſion,
which is as low as poſſible, to return to the Steward of
the Nurſery, a ſmall monthly Share of their Gettings,
to be a Portion for the Child: and therefore all Pa-
rents are limited in their Expences by the Law. For
the Lilliputians think that nothing can be more unjuſt,
than that People, in Subſervience to their own Appe-
tites, ſhould bring Children into the World, and leave
the Burthen of ſupporting them on the Publick. As
to Perfons of Quality, they give Security to appropri-
ate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Con-
dition ; and theſe Funds are always managed with
good Huſbandry, and the moſt exadt Juſtice.
The Cottagers and Labourers keep their Children
at home, their Buſineſs being only to till and cultivate
the Earth; and therefore their Education is of little
Vol. III.
D
Conſe-
50
A VOYAGE to Lillirur.
Conſequence to the Publick, but the Old and Diſeaſed
among them are ſupported by Hoſpitals : For Begging
is a Trade unknown in this Empire.
And here it may perhaps divert the curious Rea-
der, to give ſome Account of my Domeſticks, and my
Manner of living in this Country, during a Reſidence
of nine Months and thirteen Days. Having a Head
mechanically turned, and being likewiſe forced by Ne.
ceflity, I had made for myſelf a Table and Chair con-
venient enough, out of the largef Trees in the Royal
Park. Two hundred Sempitreffes were employed to
make me Shirts, and Linen for my Bed and Table,
all of the ſtrongeſt and coarſelt Kind they could get;
which, however, they were forced to quilt together
into ſeveral Folds; for the thickeſt was fome Degrees
finer than Lawn. Their Lanch is uſually three Inches
wide, and three Paot make a Piece. The Semp-
ſtreſſes took my Meaſure as I lay on the Ground, one
ſtanding at my Neck, and another at my Mid-Leg.
with a ſtrong Cord extended, that each held by the
End, while the third meafured the Length of the
Cord with a Rule of an Inch long. Then they mea-
ſured my right Thumb, and deſired no more ; for by
a mathematical Computation, that twice round the
Thumb is once round the Wriſt, and ſo on to the Neck
and the Waiſt , and by the Held of my old Shirt,
which I diſplayed on the Ground before them for a
Pattern, they fitted me exaaly. Three hundred Tay-
lors were employed in the fame Manner to make me
Clothes, but they had another Contrivance for taking
my Meaſure. I kneeled down, and they raiſed a Lad-
der from the Ground to my Neck s upon this Ladder
one of them mounted, and he ler fall a Plum-Line
from my Collar to the Floos, which juſt anſwered the
Length of my Coat; but my Waiſt and Arms I mea-
fured myſelf. When my Clothes were finiſhed, which
was done in my Hooſe, (for the largeſt of theirs would
not have been able to hold them) they looked like the
Patch-work made by the Ladies in England, only that
mine were all of a Colour.
I HAP
A VOYAGE 60 LILLIPUT.
50
&
I HAD three hundred Cooks to dreſs my Vi&tuals,
ån little convenient Huts built about my Houſe, where
they and their Families lived, and prepared me two
Diſhes a-piece. I took up twenty Waiters in my
Hand, and placed thein on the Table ; an hundred
more attended below on the Ground, ſome with Diſhes
of Meat, and ſome with Barrels of Wine, and other
Liquors, ſlung on their Shoulders; all which the Wait-
ers above drew up as I wanted, in a very ingenious
Manner, by certain Cords, as we draw the Bucket up
a Well in Europe. A Difh of their Meat was a good
Mouthful, and a Barrel of their Liquor a reaſonable
Draught. Their Mutton yields to ours, but their
Beef is excellent. I have had a Sirloin ſo large, that
I have been forced to make three Bits of it; but this
is rare. My Servants were aſtoniſhed to fee me eat it,
Bones and all, as in our Country we do the Leg of a
Lark. Their Geeſe and Turkeys I uſually eat at a
Mouthful, and I muſt confeſs they far exceed ours.
Of their ſmaller Fowl I could take up twenty or thirty
at the End of my Knife.
- One Day his Imperial Majeſty being informed of
my Way of living, deſired that himſelf
and his Royal
Confort, with the young Princes of the Blood of both
Sexes, might have the Happineſs (as he was pleaſed
to call it) of dining with me. They came accordingly,
and I placed them upon Chairs of State on my Table,
juſt over againſt me, with their Guards about them.
Flinnap the Lord High Treaſurer attended there like-
wiſe, with his white Staff; and I obſerved he often
looked on me with a ſour Countenance, which I would
not ſeem to regard, but eat more than uſual, in Ho-
nour to my dear Country, as well as to fill the Court
with Admiration. I have ſome private Reaſons to be-
lieve, that this Vifit from his Majeſty gave Flimnap an
Opportunity of doing meill Ofices to his Maſter. That
Minifter had always been my ſecret Enemy, although
he outwardly careſſed me more than was uſual to the
Moroſeneſs of his Nature. He repreſented to the Em-
peror
D 2
'A Voyage to Lilliput.
peror the low Condition of his Treaſury; That he was
forced to take up Money at great Diſcount; That Er
chequer Bills would not circulate under nine per Cenés,
below Par; That I had coſt his Majeſty above a Mil-
lion and a half of Sprugs, (their greateſt Gold Coin,
about the Bigneſs of a Spangle;) and upon the Whole,
That it would be adviſeable in the Emperor to take
the first fair Occaſion of difimiſling me.
I am here obiiged to vindicate the Reputation of an
excellenr Lady, who was an innocent Sofferer upon
my Account. The Treaſurer took a Fancy to be jea-
Jous of his Wife, from the Malice of ſome evil Tongues,
who informed him that her Grace had taken a violent
Aftection for my Perſon ; and the Court Scandal ran
for fome Time, that ſhe once caine privately to, my
Lodging. This I ſolemnly declare to be a moſt infa-
mous Falfhood, without any Grounds, farther than
that her Grace was pleaſed to treat me with all inno-
cent Marks of Freedom and Friendſhip. I own ſhe
came often to my Houſe, but always publickly for
ever without three more in the Coach, who were ufu
ally her Siſter, and young Daughter and fame parti.
cular Acquaintance; but this was common to many
ntkit Ladies of the Court. And I fill appeal to my
Servants round, whether they at any Time law a Coach
atray Door without knowing what Perſons were m it.
On thoſe Occaſions, when a Servanthad given me No.
tice, my Cuſtom was to go immediately to the Door;
and after paying my Reſpects, to take up the Coach
24 two Borſes very carefully in my Hands, for it
Lüzre were fix Horſes, the Poſillion always unharnelle
four) and place them on a Table, where I had fixed a
moveable Rim quite round, of five Inches tágh, to
pietent Accidents. And I have often had four Coaches
and Horſes at once on my Table full of Company
wwel fit in my Chair leaning my Face towards them a
and when I was engaged with one Set, the Coachmen
xgald gently drive the others round my 'Tabie, I have
pulled many an Afternoon very agreeably in thele
Convcrfationis; But I defy the Treaſurer or his two las
KA VOYAGE 10 LALIFOT.
merg (I will name them, and let them make their
Lelt of it) Clujirid and Drunlo, to prove that any Pere
lon ever came to me incognito, except the Secretary
Keldrefat, wło was fent by expreſs Command of his
Imperial Majefy, as I have before related, I ſhould
no: ivve dwelt ſo long upon this particular, if it had
gør been a Point wherein the Reputation of a great
Lady is to nearly concerned ; to ſay nothing of iny
own ; although I had the Honour to be a Nardar
which the Treaſurer himſelf is not; for all the World
katave he is only a Glamglam, a Tide inferior by one
Degree, as that of a Marquiſ is to a Deke in Pagland':
Yet I allow he preceded me in Right of his Pot.
Thele falle Inforniations, which I afterwards came to
the Knowledge of, by an Accident not proper to men.
lion, made the Trealurer fhew his Lady for ſome date
An ill Countenance, and me a worſe. For rhongo
he were at lal undeceived and reconciled to her, yet I
loft all Credit with him ; and found my Intereft de-
chine very fun with the Emperor himſelí, who was in-
dead too much governed by that Favourite.
CH A P. VII.
Truthor, being informed of a Deſign to acele bien
lighi Torafon, makuch bis Ejčape ta Blefufca. His
BERG
EFORE I proceed to give an Account of my
leaving this Kingdom, it may be proper to in-
form the Reader of a private Intrigue, which had been
tot two Mouths forming against me.
kmen been bitherto all my Life a Stranger to Courts,
for which I was unqualified by the Meannel of my
Condition. I had indeed heard and read enough of
the Diſpoſitions of great Princes and Miniſters, but
D3
never
A VOYAGE LILLIPUT.
never expeéled to have found ſuch terrible Effees of
them in fo remote a Country, governed, as I thought,
by very different Maxims from
thoſe in Europe.
When I was juſt preparing to pay my Attendance
on the Emperor of Blefuſcu;
a conſiderable Perſon at
Court (to whom I had been very ſerviceable at a Time
when he lay under the higheſt Diſpleaſure of his Im-
perial Majeſty) came to my Houfe very privately at
Night in a cloſe Chair, and, without fending his Name,
deſired Admitrance: The Chairmen were diſmiſſed ;
put the Chair, with his Lordſhip in it, into my Coat-
Pocket, and giving Orders to a truſty Servant to ſay I
was indiſpofed and gone to ſleep, I faſtened the Door
of my Houſe, placed the Chair on the Table, accord-
ing to my uſual Cuſtom, and fat down by it. After
he coirmon Salutations were over, obſerving his Lorde
ship's Countenance full of Concern ; and inquiring inca
the Reaſon, he deſired I would hear him with Pari.
ence, in a Matter that highly concerned my Honour
and my Life. His Speech was to the following Effect,
for I took Notes of is as foon as he left me:
You are to know, ſaid be, that ſeveral Committees
of Council have been lately called in the moſt private
Manner on your Account. And it is but two Days
fince his Majelly came to a full Reſolutions,
You are very fenfible that Skyris Bolcolan (Galbur,
or High. Admiral) hath been your
mortal Enemy al.
moſt ever ſince your Arrival. His original Reaſons I
know not ; but his Hatred is much increaſed ſince
your great Succeſs againſt Blefufu, by which his
Glory, as Admiral, is obſcured. This Lord, in Con
junction with Flimntap the High Treaſurer, whoſe En-
mity againſt you is notorious on Account of his Lady ;
Limtoc the General, Lalcon the Chamberlain, and
Balmuff" the Grand Juſticiary, have prepared Articles
of Impeachment againſt you, for Treaſon, and other
capital Crimes.
This Preface made me ſo impatient, being conſcious
of my own Merit and Innocence, that I was going to
interrupt ; when he intreated me to be filent; and
thus proceeded.
Our
A VOYACE to LILLIPUT.
55
Our of Gratitude for the Favours you have done
me, I procured Information of the whole Proceedings,
and a Copy of the Articles, wherein I venture my
Head for your Service.
Articles of Impeachment again Quinbus Fleſtrin,
(the Man-Mountain.)
ARTICLE I.
7 Hereas, by a Statute made in the Reign of his
Imperial Majeſty Calin Deffar Plune, it is en-
acted, That whoever hall make Water within the
Precincts of the Royal Palace, ſhall be liable to the
Pains and Penalcies of High-Treaſon : Notwithſtand-
ing, the faid Quinbus Fleſtrin, in open Breach of the ſaid
Law, under Colour of extinguiſhing the Fire kindled
in the Apartment of his Majeſty's moſt dear Imperial
Conſort, did maliciouſly, traiterouſly, and deviliſhly,
by Diſcharge of his Urine, put out the ſaid Fire
kindled in the ſaid Apartment,
lying and being within
the Precincts of the ſaid Royal Palace; againſt the Sta-
tute in that Cafe provided, &c. againſt the Duty, &*c.
A R T ICL E II.
That the ſaid Quinbus Flefrin having brought the
Imperial Fleet of Blefufcu into the Royal Port, and
being afterwards commanded by his Imperial Majeſty
to ſeize all the other Ships of the ſaid Emperor of
Blefuſcu, and reduce that Empire to a Province, to be
governed by a Viceroy from hence; and to deſtroy and
put to Death not only all the Big-Endian Exiles, but
likewiſe all the People of that Empire, who would not
immediately forſake the Big-Endian Hereſy: He the
faid Fleirin, like a falſe Traitor againſt his moſt auſpi-
cious, ſerene, Imperial Majeſty, did petition to be ex-
cuſed from the ſaid Service, upon Pretence of Unwil.
lingneſs to force the Conſciences, to deſtroy the Liber-
ties and Lives of an innocent People.
D 4
AR:
Voyage to LILLIPUT.
ARTICLE HII.
THAT, whereas certain Ambaſſadors arrived from
the Court of Blefufcu to ſue for Peace in his Majeſty's
Court: He the faid Fleirin did, like a falle Traitor
alu, alet, comfort, and divert the faid Amballadors
although he knew them to be Servants to a Prince who
was lately an open Enemy to his Imperial Majeſty,
and in open War againſt his ſaid Majeſty.
ARTICLE IV.
TRÁT, the ſaid Quinbus Flellris, contrary to the
Duty of a faithful Subje&t, is now preparing to make
a Voyage to the Court and Empire of Blefuſcu, for
which he hath received only verbal Licence front bis
Imperial Majeſty; and, under Colour of the said li-
coace, doth fallly and traiterouſly intend to take the
faid Voyage, and thereby to aid, comfort, and abet
the Emperor of Blefulcu, fo late an Enemy, and in
open War with his Imperial Majeſty aforeſaid,
Taare are ſome other Articles, but theſe are the
moſt important, of which I have read you an Abſtract.
In the ſeveral Debates upon this Impeachment, it
með be confefled that his Majeily gave many Marks
of his great Lenity, often urging the Services you had
sene hiraj and endeavouring to extenuate your Crimes.
The Treaſurer and Admiral infifted that you ſhould be
puz to nie moſt painful and ignominious Death by fer-
ting Fire on your Houſe at Night, and the General
was to attend with twenty thouſand Men armed with
poiſoned Arrows, to ſhoot you on the Face and Hands.
Some of your Servants were to have private Orders to
Strei a poiſonous Joice on your Shirts and Stectes
which would ſbon make you tear your own Fleikan
Bics in the utmold Torture. The General cime into
the faune Orinion's ſo that for a long Time there was
a Majority againſt you. But his Majeſty reſolving, if
pofbule,
A Voyace 10 Lilliput.
57
poſſible, to ſpare your Life, at laſt brought off the
Chamberlain,
Uron this Incident, Redrefal, principal Secretary
for private Adars, who always approved himſelf you
true Friend, was commanded by the Emperor to de.
Liverhis Opinion, which he accordingly did, and there.
in juſtified the good Thoughts you have of him. He
allowed your Crimes to be great ; but that ſtill there
was room for Mercy, the moſt commendable Virtue in
a Prince, and for which his Majeſty was fo juftly cele-
brated. He ſaid, the Friendſhip between you and him
was ſo well known to the World, that perhaps the moſt
honourable Board might think himn partial: How-
ever, in Obedience to the Command he bad received,
he would freely offer his Sentiments. That, if his Ma-
jeſty, in Confideration of your Services, and purſuant
to his own merciful Diſpoſition, would pleaſe to ſpare
your Life, and only give order to put out both your
Eyes : he bumbly conceived, that by this Expedient,
Follice might in fome Meaſure be ſatisfied, and all the
World wodd amplaud the Lenity of the Ejowetor, as
well as the fair and generous Proceedings of thoſe who
have the Honour to be his Counſellors, That, the
Loſs of your Eyes would be no Impediment to your
bodily Strength, by which you might fill be uſeful to
his Majeſty. That, Blindneſs, is an Addition to Cou-
rage, by concealing Dangers from us. That, the Fear
you had for your Eyes, was the greateſt Difficulty in
brasing over the Enemy's Fleet; and it would be fuf.
ficient for you to ſee by the Eyes of the Miniſters,
luce dhe greatest Princes do no more.
This Propoſal was received with the utmoſt Dilap-
probation by the whole Board. Bolcolan, the Adm
Il could nor preferve his Temper ; blåt riſing up in
Fury ſaid, he wondered how the Secretary durft pre-
ſume to give his Opinion for preſerving the Life of a
Raytor Tliat, the Services you had rei formed, ivez,
by all the Realons of State, the great Aesrashdion of
your Crimes, That, you, who were able to extinguila
the Dire, by diſcharge of Urine in her Maja's Apsi-
ment
DS
58
4 Vonage to LLIPOT.
inént (which he mentioned with Horror ) might at ans
another Time, raiſe an Inundation by the fame Meants
to crown the whole Palace; and the fame Strength
which enabled you to bring over the Enemy's Fleet,
might ſerve, upon the firſt Diſcontent, to carry it back:
That he had good Reaſons to think you were a Big-
Endian in your Heart ; and as Treaſon beginneth in
the Heart before it appeareth in Overt-Acts ; ſo he ac-
cuſed you as a Traytor on that Account, and there-
fore inſiſted you ſhould be put to Death.
The Treaſurer was of the fame Opinion ; he few
cd to what Streights his Majeſty's Revenue was redua
ced by the Charge of maintaining you, which would
foon grow inſupportable : That the Secretary's Expe-
dient of putting out your Eyes, was ſo far from being
a Remedy againſt this Evil, that it would probably in-
creaſe it ; as it is manifeſt from the common Practice of
blinding ſome kind of Fowl, after which they fed the
fafler, and grow ſooner fat: That his facred Majeſty
and the Council, who are your Judges, were in their
own Conſciences fully convinced of your Goilt; which
was a fufficient Argument to condemn you to Death,
without the formal Proofs required by the firik Letter
But his Imperial Majeſty, fully determined againſt
carital Puniſhment, was graciouſly pleaſed to ſay, that
fisice the Council thought the Loſs of your Eyes too caly
a Cenfure, ſome other may be inflicted hereafter. And
your Friend the Secretary humbly deſiring to be heard
amin, in Anſwer to what the Treaſurer had objected
concerning the great Charge his Majeſty was at in main-
taining you; faid, that his Excellency, who had the
fole Ditpoſal of the Emperor's Revenue, might cally
provide againit this Evil, by gradually leſening your
Etablishment; by which, for want of fufficient Food,
you would grow weak and faint, and loſe your Appe-
tite, and conſequently decay and confume in a few
Highs reither would the Stench of your Carcais be
then lo dangerous, when it ſhould become inore th:12.
Mall dimiailhed, and immediately upon your Deatli,
fve
A VOYAGE to LILLIPAT.
59
five or fix Thouſand of his Majeſty's Subjects might,
in two or three Days,
cut your bleſh from your Bones,
take it away by Cart-loads, and bury it in diftant Parts
to prevent Infection ; leaving the Skeleton as a Mo.
nument of Admiration to Poſterity.
Thus, by the great Friendihip of the Secretary,
the whole Affair was compromiſed. It was ſtrictly
enjoined, that the Project of ſtarving you by Degrees
ſhould be kept a Secret ; but the Sentence of putting
out your Eyes was entered on the Books; none diſſent.
ing except Bolgolam the Admiral, who being a Crea-
ture of the Empreſs, wao perpetually inſtigated by her
Majeſty to infiſt upon your Death ; ſhe having borne
perpetual Malice againſt you, on Account of that in.
famous and illegal Method you took to extinguiſh the
Fire in her Apartment.
In three Days yeur Friend the Secretary will be di.
rected to come to your Houſe, and read before you
the Articles of Impeachment ; and then to fignify the
great Lexity and Favour of his Mejeſty and Council ;
whereby you are only condemned to the Loſs of your
Eyes, which his Majelly doch not queſtion you will
gratefully and hambly ſubmit to, and twenty of his
Majeſty's Surgeons will arieod, in order to ſee the
Operation well performed by diſcharging very ſharp
pointed Arrows into the Balls of your Eyes, as you
lie on the Ground.
I Leave to your Prudence what Meaſures you
take; and to avoid Safpicion, I muſt immediately re-
turn in as private a Manner as I came.
*- His Lordſhip didſ o, and I remained alone, under
many Doubts and Perplexities of Mind.
It was a Cuſtom introduced by this Prince and his
Miniſtry, (very different, as I have been aſſured, from
the Practices of fornier Times) that after the Court
had decreed any cruel Execution, either to gratify the
Monarch's Refentment, or the Malice of a Favourite ;
the Emperor always mede a Speech to his whole Coun-
cil, exprefling his great Lenity and Tenderneſs, as Qua-
Vitics kucun and most ded by all <br World. This Speech
Was
60
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
was immediately publifhed through the Kingdom ; nor
did any thing terrify the People lo much as thoſe En-
comiums on his Majeſty's Meroy ; becauſe it was ob-
ferved, that the more theſe Praiſes were enlarged and
inſiſted on, the more inhuman was the Puniſhment, and
the Sufferer more innocent. Yet, as to myſelf, I muſt
confeſs, having never been deſigned for a Courtier, ei-
ther by my Birth or Education, I was ſo ill a Judge of
things, that I could not diſcover the Lenity and Favour
of this Sentence;
but conceived it (perhaps erroneouſly)
rather to be rigorous than gentle. I ſometimes thought
of fanding my Trial; for although I could not deny
the Facts alledged in the ſeveral Articles, yet I hoped
they would admit of ſome Extenuations. But having in
my Life peruſed many State-Tryals, which I ever ob-
ſerved to terminate as the Judges thought fit to direct;
1 durft not rely on ſo dangerous a Decifion, in ſo cri-
tical a Jun&ure, and againſt ſuch powerful Enemies.
Once I was
ſtrongly bene upon Reſiſtance: For while I
had Liberty; the whole Strength of that Empire could
hardly ſubdue me, and I might eaſily with Stones pelt
the Metropolis to Pieces : But I ſoon rejected that Pro-
ject with Horror, by remembering the Oath I had
made to the Emperor, the Favours I received from
him, and the high Title of Nardar he conferred upon
Neither had I ſo foon learned the Gratitude of
Courtiers, 10 perſuade myſelf that his Majeſty's present
Severities acquitted me of all pap Obligations.
At last I fixed upon a Reſolution, for which it is
probable I may incur fome Cenſure, and not unjuftly;
for I confeſs I owe the preſerving mine Eyes, and con-
ſequently my Liberty, to my own great Raſhneſs and
Want of Experience: Becauſe, if I had then known the
Nature of Princes and Miniſters, which I have fince
obſerved in many ocher
Courts, and their Methods of
areating Criminals leſs obnoxious than myſelf ; I ſhould
with great Alacrity and Readineſs have ſubmitted to ſo
eaſi a Puniſhment. But hurried on by the Precipitancy
of Youth; and having his Imperial Majeſty's Licence
to pay my Attendance upon the Emperor of Blefuſcu ;
I took
A VOYAGE to LILLIPOT.
61
I took this opportunity, before the three Days were
elapſed, to fend a Letter to my Friend the Secretary:
fignifying my Reſolution of ſetting out that Morning
for Blefuſcu, purſuant to the Leave I had got; and
without waiting for an Anſwer, I went to that Side of
the Iſland where our Fleet lay, I ſeized a large Man
of War, tied a Cable to the Prow, and lifting up the
Anchors, I ſtript myſelf, put my Cloaths (together with
my Coverlet, which I carried under my Arm) into
the Veſel; and drawing it after me, between wading
and ſwimming, arrived
at the Royal Port of Blefufcu,
where the People had long expected me : They lent
me two Guides to direct me to the Capital City, which
is of the ſame Name; I held them in my Hands until
I came within two hundred Yards of the Gate; and
deGred them to fignify my Arrival to one of the Se-
cretaries, and let him know I there waited his Ma-
jeſty's
Commands. I had an Anſwer in about an Hoor,
that his Majeſty, attended by the Royal Family and
great Officers of the Court, was coming out to receive
me. I advanced an hundred Yards; the Emperor and
his Train alighted from their Horſes ; the Empreſs
and Ladies from their Coaches; and I did not perceive
they were in any Fright or Concern. I lay on the
Ground to kiſs his Majeſty's and the Empreſs's Hand.
I told his Majeſty, that I was come according to my
Promiſe, and with the Licence of the Emperor my
Mafter, to have the Honour of ſeeing ſo mighty a Mo-
narch, and to offer him any Service in my Power, con-
fiſtent with my Duty to my own Prince; not mention-
ing a Word of my Diſgrace, becauſe I had hitherto no
regular Information of it, and might ſuppoſe myſelf
wholly ignorant of any ſuch Deſign; neither could I
reaſonably conceive that the Emperor would diſcover
the Secret while I was out of his Power : Wherein,
however, it ſoon appeared I was deceived.
I shall not trouble the Reader with the particular
Account of my Reception at this Court, which was
ſuitable to the Generoſity of ſo great a Prince ; nor of
the Difficulties I was in for want of a Houſe and Bed,
:
being
62
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
being forced to lie on the Ground, wrapt up in my
Coverlet.
CHA P. VIII.
The Author, by a lucky Accident, finds Means to leave
Blefufcu; and, after fome Dificulties, returneth ſaft
to bis native Country.
T
THREE Days after my Arrival, walking out of
Curioſity to the North-Eaſt Coaſt of the Iſland,
I obſerved, about half a League off, in the Sea, fome-
what that looked
like a Boat overturned : I pulled off
my Shoes and Stockings, and wading two or three
hundred Yards, I found the Object to approach nearer
by Force of the Tide; and then plainly faw it to be a
real Boat, which I fuppoſed might, by ſome Tempeft,
have been driven from a Ship. Whereupon I re-
turned immediately towards the City, and deſired his
Imperial Majeſty to lend me Twenty of the talles
Veftels he had left after the Loſs of his Fleet, and
three Thouſand Seamen under the Command of his
Vice-Admiral. This Fleet failed round, while I went
back the ſhorteſt Way to the Coaſt where I firſt diſ-
covered the Boat; I found the Tide had driven it
ftill nearer ; the Seamen were all provided with Cord-
age, which I had beforehand twiſted to a fufficient
Strength. When the Ships came up, I ſtript myſelf,
and waded until I came within an Hundred Yards of
the Boat; after which I was forced to ſwim until I got
up to it. The Seamen threw me the End of the
Cord, which I faſtened to a Hole in the Fore-part
of the Boat, and the other End to a Man of War:
But I found all my Labour to little Purpoſe ; for being
out of my Depth, I was not able to work. In this Ne-
ceſſity, I was forced to ſwim behind, and puſh the Boat
forwards
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
63
forwards as often as I could, with one of my Mands ;
and the Tide favouring me, I advanced ſo far that I
could juſt hold up my Chin and feel the Ground. I
refted two or three Minutes, and then gave the Boat
another Shove, and ſo on until the Sea was no higher
than my Arm-pits. And now the moſt laborious Part
being over, I took out my other Cables which were
ftowed in one of the Ships, and faſtening them firſt to
the Boat, and then to nine of the Veſſels which attend.
ed me; the Wind being favourable, the Seamen towed,
and I ſhoved until we arrived within forty Yards of
the Shore ; and waiting until the Tide was out, I got
dry to the Boat, and by the Aſſiſtance of two Thou-
fand Men with Ropes and Engines, I made a Shift to
turn it on its Bottom, and found it was but little
damaged.
I SHALL not trouble the Reader with the Difficul-
ties I was under by the Help of certain Paddles,
which coſt me ten Days making, to get my Boat to the
Royal Fort of Blefufcu; where a mighty Concourſe
of People appeared upon my Arrival, full of Wonder
at the Sight of ſo prodigious a Veſſel. I told the
Emperor, that my good Fortune had thrown this Boat
in my Way, to carry me to ſome Place from whence
I might return into my native Country; and begged
his Majeſty's Orders for getting Materials to fit it
up; together with his Licence to depart ; which,
after ſome kind Expoftulations, he was pleaſed to
grant.
I did very much wonder, in all this Time, not to
have heard of any Expreſs relating to me from our Em-
peror to the Court of Blefufcu. But I was afterwards
given privately to underſtand, that his Imperial Maje-
ity, never imagining I had the leaſt Notice of his De-
figns, believed I was only gone to Blefuſcu in Perform-
ance of my Promiſe, according to the Licence he had
given me, which was well known at our Court; and
would return in a few Days when that Ceremony was
ended. But he was at laſt in Pain at my long Abſence;
and, conſulting with the Treaſurer, and the reſt of
64
A Voyage to Lilleur.
:
that Cabal, a Perſon of Quality was diſpatched with
the Copy of the Articles againſt me. This Envoy had
Inſtructions to repreſent to the Monarch of Blefuſcu,
the great Lenity of his Maſter, who was content to
puniſh me no further than with the Loſs of mine
Eyes : That I had fled from Juſtice, and if I did not
return in two Hours, I ſhould be deprived of my Title
of Nardac, and declared a Traytor. The Envoy
further added, that in order to maintain the Peace
and Amity between both Empires, his Maſter expected
that his Brother of Blefuſcu would give Orders to
have me ſent back to Lilliput, bound Hand and Foot,
to be puniſhed as Traytor.
The Emperor of Blefufere having taken three Days
to conſult, returned an Anſwer conſiſting of many Ci-
vilities and Excuſes. He ſaid, that as for fending me
bound, his Brother knew it was impoſſible; that al-
though I had deprived him of his Fleet, yet he owed
great Obligations to me for many good Offices I had
done him in making the Peace. That however, both
their Majeſties would ſoon be made eaſy; for I had
found a prodigious Veſſel on the Shore, able to carry
me on the Sea, which he had given order to fit up
with my own Aſiſtance and Direction ; and he hoped
in a few Weeks both Empires would be freed from ſo
inſupportable an Incumbrance.
With this Anſwer the Envoy returned to Lilliput,
and the Monarch of Blefuſcu related to me all that had
paſſed ; offering me at the ſame time (but under the
Atričleft Confidence) his gracious Protection, if I would
continue in his Service ; wherein although I believed
him ſincere, yet I reſolved never more to put any
Confidence in Princes or Miniſters, where I could pol-
fibly avoid it, and therefore, with all due Acknow-
ledgments for his favourable Intentions, I humbly
begged to be excuſed. I told him, that ſince Fortune,
whether good or evil, had thrown a Veſſel in my
Way; I was reſolved to venture myſelf in the Ocean,
rather than be an Occaſion of Differences between
two ſuch mighty Monarchs. Neither did I find the
Em-
A Voyage to LILLIPUT.
63
Emperor at all diſpleaſed ; and I diſcovered by a cer-
tain Accident, that he was very glad of my Reſolu-
tion and ſo were moſt of his Miniſters.
These Confiderations moved me to haften my
De.
parture ſomewhat ſooner than I intended ; to which
the Court, impatient to have me gone, very readily
contributed. Five hundred Workmen were employed
to make two Sails to my Boat, according to my Direc-
tions, by quilting thirteen Fold of their ſtrongeſt Lin-
sen together. I was at the Pains of making Ropes and
Cables, by twiſting ten, twenty, or thirty of the
thickelt and ſtrongeſt of theirs. A great Stone that I
happened to find, after a long Search by the Sea-ſhore,
ſerved me for an Anchor. I had the Tallow of three
Hundred Cows for greaſing my Boat, and other Uſes.
I was at incredible Pains in cutting down ſome of the
largeſt Timber Trees for Oars and Maſts, wherein I
was, however, much aſſiſted by his Majeſty's Ship-
Carpenters, who helped me in ſmoothing them, after
I had done the rough Work.
In about a Month, when all was prepared, I ſent
to receive his Majeſty's Commands, and to take my
leave. The Emperor and Royal Family came out of
the Palace ; I lay down on my Face to kiſs his Hand,
which he very graciouſly gave me; ſo did the Em-
preſs, and young Princes of the Blood. His Majeſty
preſented me with fifty Purſes of two hundred Sprugs
a-piece, together with his Pi&ture at full length, which
I put immediately into one of my Gloves to keep it
from being hurt. The Ceremonies at my Departure
were too many to trouble the Reader with at this
time.
yo
I stored the Boat with the Carcaſſes of an hun-
dred Oxen, and three hundred Sheep, with Bread and
Drink proportionable, and as much Meat ready dreſ-
fed as four hundred Cooks could provide.
I took with me fix Cows and two Bulls alive, with
as many Ewes and Rams, intending to carry them into
my own Country, and propagate the Breed. And to
feed them on board, I had a good Bundle of Hay, and a
Bag
66
A Voyage 80 LILLIPUT.
Bag of Corn. I would gladly have taken a Dozen of
the Natives ; but this was a thing the Emperor would
by no means permit; and beſides a diligent Search
into my Pockets, his Majeſty engaged my Honour
not to carry away any of his Subjects, although with
their own Conſent and Deſire.
Having thus prepared all things as well as I was
able; I ſet ſail on the Twenty-fourth Day of Septem-
ber 1701, at fix in the Morning ; and when I had
gone about four Leagues to the Northward, the Wind
being at South-Eaſt ; at fix in the Evening, I deſcryed
a ſmall Ifand about half a League to the
North Welt
I advanced forward, and caſt Anchor on the Lee
fide
of the Iſland, which ſeemed to be uninhabited. I
then took ſome refreſhment, and went to my Reſt.
I ſlept well, and as I conje&ture at leaſt fix Hours
to; I found the Day broke in two Hours after I awak.
ed. It was a clear Night; I eat my Breakfaſt before
the Sun was up: and heaving Anchor, the Wind be.
ing favourable, I feered the fame Courſe that I had
done the Day before, wherein I was directed by my
Pocket Compaſs. My: Intention was to reach, if
poſſible, one of thoſe Iſlands, which I had Reaſon to
believe lay on the North-Eaſt of Van Diemen's Land.
I diſcovered nothing all that Day; buc upon the next,
about three in the Afternoon, when I had by my Com-
putation made twenty-four Leagues from Blefuſcu,
I deſeryed a Sail ſteering to the South Eaſt ; my
Courſe was due Eaſt. I hailed her, but could get no
Anſwer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the
Wind (ackened. I made all the Sail I could, and in
half an Hour ſhe eſpyed me, then hung out her An-
tient, and diſcharged a Gun. It is not eaſy to expreſs
the Joy I was in upon the unexpected Hope of once
more ſeeing my beloved Country, and the dear Pledges
I left in it. The Shipſlackened her Sails, and I came
ep with her between five and fix in the Evening,
September 26; but my Heart leapt within me to ſee
her Engliſh Colours. "I put my Cows and Sheep into
my Coat-Pocket, and got on board with all my little
Cargo
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
67
Cargo of Proviſions. The Veſſel was an Engliſh Mer-
chantman, returning from Japan by the North and
South-Seas; the Captain Mr. John Biddel of Deptford
a very civil Man, and an excellent Sailor. We were
now in the Latitude of 30 Degrees South ; there were
about fifty Men in the Ship; and here I met an old
Comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me
a good Character to the Captain. This Gentleman
treated me with Kindneſs, and deſired I would let him
know what Place I came from laſt, and whither I was
bound ; which I did in few Words ; but he thought
was raving, and that the Dangers I underwent had
diſturbed my Head; whereupon I took my Black Cattle
and Sheep out of my Pocker, which, after great Afto-
niſhment, clearly convinced him of my Veracity. I
then ſhewed him the Gold given me by the Emperor
of Blefuſcu, together with his Majeſty's Picture at full
length, and fome other Rarities of that Country. I
gave him two Purſes of two hundred Sprugs each, and
promiſed, when we arrived in England, to make him
a Preſent of a Cow and a Sheep big with Young.
I SHALL not trouble the Reader with a particular
Account of this Voyage, which was very proſperous
for the moſt Part. We arrived in the Downs, on the
13th of April, 1702. I had only one Misfortune,
that the Rats on board carried away one of my Sheep;
I found her Bones in a Hole, picked clean from the
Fleſh. The reſt of my Cattle I got ſafe on Shore,
and ſet them a grazing in a Bowling-Green at Green-
wich, where the Fineneſs of the Graſs made them
feed very heartily, although I had always feared the
contrary: Neither could I poſſibly have preſerved
them in ſo long a Voyage, if the Captain had not al-
lowed me ſoine of his beſt Bilket, which, rubbed to
a Powder and mingled with Water, was their conſtant
Food. The ſhort Time I continued in England, I
made a conſiderable Profit by ſhewing my Cattle to
many Perſons of Quality, and others: And before I
began my ſecond Voyage, I fold them for fix Hun-
dred Pounds. Since my laſt Return, I find the Breed
is
68
& VoYace to LILLIPUT:
is conſiderably increaſed, eſpecially the Sheep ; which
I hope will prove much to the Advantage of the
Woollen Manufacture, by the Fineneſs of the Fleeces.
I stayed but two Months with my Wife and Fa-
mily ; for my inſatiable Deſire of ſeeing foreign
Countries would ſuffer me to continue no longer. I
leſt fifteen Hundred Pounds with my Wife, and fixed
her in a good Houſe at Redriff. My remaining Stock
I carried with me, Part in Money, and Part in Goods,
in Hopes to improve my Fortune. My eldef Uncle
Taon, had left me an Edate in Land, near Epping, of
about thirty Pounds a Year; and I had a long Leaſe
of the Black-Bull in Petter-Lane, which yielded ine as
much more: So that I was not in any Danger of
leaving my Family upon the Pariſh. My Son Johnny,
nimed ſo after his Uncle, was at the Grammar
School, and a towardly Child. My Daughter Bitte
(who is now well married, and hath Children) was
then at her Needle-Work. I took Leave of my wife,
and Boy and Girl, with Tears on both Sides ; and
went on board the Adventure, a Merchant-Ship of
three Hundred Tons, bound for Sural, Captain John
Nicholas of Liverpool, Commander. But any Accoant
of this Voyage muſt be referred to the ſecond Part of
my Travels.
The End of the Firſt Part.
TRAVELS
BROBDINGNAG
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( 69 )
T RA VEL S.
PART II.
A Voyage to Brobdingnag.
CH A P T E R I.
A great Storm deferibed. The long boat ſent to fetch
Water; the Author gees with it to diſcover the
Country. He is left on Shore, ſeized by one of
the Natives, and carried to a Farmer's Houſe.
His Reception there, with ſeveral Accidents that
bappened there. A Defcription of the Inbabitants.
H Н
A VING been condemned by Nature and
Fortune to an active and refleſs Life ; in
ten Months after my Return, I again left
my native Country, and took Shipping in the Downs
on the 20th Day of June, 1702, in the Adventure,
Captain John Nicholas, a Corniſh Man, Commander,
bound for Surat. We had a very proſperous Gale until
we
70
A VOYACE 10 BROBDINGNAG.
we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we land-
ed for freſh Water; but diſcovering a Leak we un-
ſhipped our Goods, and wintered there; for the
Captain falling fick of an Ague, we could not leave
the Cape till the End of March. We then ſet Sail, and
had a good Voyage until we paſſed the Streights of Ma-
dagaſcar ; but having got Northward of that Iland,
and to about five Degrees South Latitude, the Winds,
which in thoſe Seas are obſerved to blow a conſtant
equal Gale between the North and Weſt, from the Be-
ginning of December to the Beginning of May, on the
19th of April began to blow with much greater Vio-
lence, and more weſterly than uſual, continuing ſo for
twenty Days together, during which Time we were
driven a little to the Eaſt of the Molucca Iſlands, and
about three Degrees Northward of the Line, as our
Captain found by an Obſervation he took the ad of
May, at which Time the Wind ceaſed, and it was a per-
feet Calm, whereat I was not a little rejoiced. But he
being a Man well experienced in the Navigation of
thoſe Seas, bid us all prepare againſt a Storm, which
accordingly happened the Day following: For a South-
ern Wind, called the Southern Monſoon, began to ſet in.
Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our
Sprit-ſail, and ſtood by to hand the Fore-ſail; but
making foul Weather, we looked the Guns were all
faſt, and handed the Millen, The Ship lay very broad
off, ſo we thought it better ſpooning before the Sea,
than trying or hulling. We reeft the fore-fail, and ſet
him, we hawled aft the Fore-ſheet ; the Helm was
hard a Weather. The Ship wore bravely. We be-
layed the Foredown-hall; but the Sail was ſplit, and
we hawled the Yard, and got the Sail into the Ship,
and unbound all the Things clear of it. It was a very
fierce Storm; the Sea broke ftrange and dangerous.
We hawled off upon the Lanniard of the Wipſtaff, and
helped the Man at Helm. We could not get down our
Top-maft, but let all ftand, becauſe the feudded be-
fore the a very well,
and we knew that the Top-maſt
being aloft, the Ship was the wholeſomer, and made
better
'A VOYAGE to BROBDINONAG.
better Way through the Sea, ſeeing we had Sea room.
When the Storm was over, we ſet Fore-fail and Main-
fail, and brought the Ship to. Then we ſet the Miſſen,
Maintop-fail and the Foretop-fail. Our Courſe was
Eaſt North-Eaſt, the Wind was at South-Weſt. We
got the Star-board Tack aboard, we caſt off our Wea-
ther-braces and Lifts ; we ſet in the Lee-braces, and
hawled forward by the Weather-bowlings, and hawled
them tight, and belayed them, and hawled over the
Miffen Tack to Windward, and kept her full and by
as near as ſhe would lye.
During this Storm, which was followed by a ſtrong
Wind Weſt South Weſt, we were carried by my Com-
putation about five hundred Leagues to the Eaſt, ſo
that the oldeſt Sailor on board could not tell in what
Part of the World we were. Our Proviſions held out
well, our Ship was ſtaunch, and our Crew all in good
Health ; but we lay in the utmoſt Diſtreſs for Water.
We thought it beſt to hold on the fame Courſe rather
than turn more Northerly, which might have brought
us to the North-Weſt Parts of Great Tartary, and into
the frozen Sea.
On the 16th Day of June 1703, a Boy on the Top-
maſt diſcovered Land. On the 17th we came in full
View of a great Iſland or Continent, (for we knew not
whether) on the South Side whereof was a ſmall Neck
of Land jutting out into the Sea, and a Creek too ſhal-
low to hold a Ship above one hundred Tons. We
caft Anchor within a League of this Creek, and our
Captain ſent a Dozen of his Men well armed in the
Long boat, with Veſſels for Water, if any could be
found. I deſired his Leave to go with them, that I
might ſee the Country, and make what Diſcoveries I
could. When we came to Land we ſaw no River or
Spring, nor any Sign of Inhabitants. Our Men there-
fore wandered on the Shore to find out ſome freſh Wa-
ter near the Sea, and I walked alone about a Mile on
the other Side, where I obſerved the Country all barren
and rocky. I now began to be weary, al ſeeing
nothing to entertain my Curioſity, I returned gently
down
A VOYAGE to BroBDINONAG.
*
down towards the Creek, and the Sea being full in my
View, I ſaw our Men already got into the Boat, and
rowing for Life to the Ship. I was going to halloo
after them, although it had been to little Purpoſe, when
I obſerved a huge Creature walking after them in the
Sea, as faſt as he could: He waded not much deeper
than his Knees, and took prodigious Strides : But our
Men had the Start of him half a League, and the Sea
thereabout being full of Sharp pointed Rocks, the Mon-
fter was not able to overtake the Boat. This I was af-
terwards told, for I durft not ſtay to ſee the iſſue of
that Adventure; but ran as faſt as I could the Way I
firſt went; and then climbed up a ſteep Hill, which
gave me ſome Proſpect of the Country. I found it ful-
ly cultivated ; but that which firſt ſurprized me was the
Length of the Graſs, which in thoſe Grounds that ſeem-
ed to be kept for Hay, was above twenty Foot high.
I rell into a high Road, for ſo I took it to be, al-
though it ferved to the Inhabitants only as a foot Path
through a Field of Barley. Here I walked on for
ſome time, but could ſee little on either Side, it being
now near Harveſt, and the Corn riſing at leaſt forty
Foot. I was an Hour
walking to the End of this Field;
which was fenced in with a Hedge of at leaſt one hundred
and twenty Foot high, and the Trees fo lofty that I
could make no Computation of their Altitude. There
was a Stile to paſs from this field into the next : If
had four Steps, and a Stone to croſsover when you came
to the utmoſt. It was impoſſible for me to climb this
Stile, becauſe every ſtep was fix Foot high, and the up-
per Stone above twenty. I was endeavouring to find
ſome Gap in the Hedge; when I diſcovered one of the
Inhabitants in the next Field advancing towards theSiile,
of the ſame Size with him whom I ſaw in the Sea pur-
ſuing our Boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary
Spire-Steeple; and took about ten Yards at every Stride,
as near as I could gueſs. I was ſtruck with the utmoſt
Fear and Afoniſhment, and ran to hide myſelf in the
Co n, from whence I ſaw him at the Top of the Stile,
lowking back into the next Field on the right Hand ;
and
A VOYAge to BROBDINGNAG.
73
.
and heard him call in a Voice many Degrees louder
than a ſpeaking Trumpet ; but the Noiſe was ſo
in the Air, that at firſt I certainly thought it was Thun-
der. Whereupon ſeven Monſters like himſelf came to-
wards him with Reaping Hooks in their Hands, each
Hook about the Largeneſs of fix Scythes. Theſe Peo-
ple were not ſo well clad as the firſt, whoſe Servants or
Labourers they ſeemed to be. For, upon ſome Words
he ſpoke, they went to reap the Corn in the Field
where I lay. I kept from them at as great a Diſtance
as I could, but was forced to move with extreme Dif-
ficulty ; for the Stalks of the Corn were ſometimes not
above a Foot diftant, ſo that I could hardly ſqueeze
my Body between them. However, I made a Shift to
go forward until I came toa Part of the Field where the
Corn had been laid by the Rain and Wind: Here it
was impoſſible for me to advance a Step; for the Stalks
were ſo interwoven that I could not creep through, and
the Beards of the fallen Ears ſo ſtrong and pointed,
that they pierced through my Clothes into my Fleſh.
At the ſame time I heard the Reapers not above an
hundred Yards behind me. Being quite diſpirited with
Toil, and wholly overcome by Grief and Deſpair, I
lay down between two Ridges, and heartily wiſhed I
might there end my Days. I bemoaned my deſolate
Widow and fatherleſs Children ; I lamented my own
Folly and Wilfulneſs in attempting a ſecond Voyage
againſt the Advice of all my Friends and Relations. In
this terrible Agitation of Mind I could not forbear
thinking of Lilliput, whoſe Inhabitants looked upon me
as the greateſt Prodigy that everappeared in the World;
where I was able to draw an Imperial Fleet in my
Hand, and perform thoſe other Adions which will be
recorded for ever in the Chronicles of that Empire,
while Pofterity ſhall hardly believe them, although at-
teſted by Millions. I reflected what a Mortification it
muſt prove to me to appear as inconſiderable in this
Nation, as one ſingle Lillipution would be among us.
But, this I conceived was to be the leaſt of my Misfor-
tunes : For, as human Creatures are obſerved to be more
VOL. III.
E
ſavage
:
74
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
:
ſavage and cruel in Proportion to their Bulk; what
could I expect but to be a Morſel in the Mouth of the
firſt among theſe enormous Barbarians who ſhould hap-
pen to ſeize me? Undoubtedly Philoſophers are in the
Right when they tell us, that nothing is great or little
otherwiſe than by Compariſon: It might have pleaſed
Fortune to let the Lilliputians find ſome Nation, where
the People were as diminutive with reſpect to them, as
they were to me. And who knows but that even this
prodigious Race of Mortals might be equally over-
matched in ſome diſtant Part of the World, whereof
we have yet no Diſcovery?
Scared and confounded as I was, I could not for-
bear going on with theſe Reflections ; when one of
the Reapers approaching within ten Yards of the
Ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the
next Step I ſhould be ſquaſhed to Death under his Foot,
or cut in two with his Reaping-Hook. And therefore
when he was again about to move, I ſcreamed as loud
as Fear could make me. Whereupon the huge Crea-
ture trod ſhort, and looking round about under him
for fome Time, at laſt elpyed me as I lay on the
Ground. He conſidered a while with the Caution of
one who endeavours to lay hold on a ſmall dangerous
Animal in ſuch a Manner that it ſhall not be able either
to ſcratch or to bite him; as I myſelf have ſometimes
done with a Weafel in England. At length he ven-
tured to take me up behind by the Middle between
his Fore-finger and Thumb, and brought me within
three Yards of his Eyes, that he might behold my Shape
more perfectly. I gueſſed his Meaning ; and my good
Fortune gave me ſo much Preſence of Mind, that I re-
ſolved not to ſtruggle in the leaſt as he held me in the
Air above ſixty Foot from the Ground ; although he
grievouſly pinched my Sides, for fear I ſhould flip
through his Fingers. All I ventured was to raiſe mine
Eyes towards the Sun, and place my Hands together in
a ſupplicating Pofture, and to ſpeak ſome Words in an
humble melancholy Tone, ſuitable to the Condition I
then was in. For I appebended every Moment that
he
A VOYACE to BROBDINGNAG,
75
he would daſh me againſt the Ground, as we uſually do
any little hateful Animal which we have a Mind to de.
ſtroy. But my good Star would have it, that he ap-
peared pleaſed with my Voice and Geſtures, and began
to look upon me as a Curioſity; much wondering to
hear me pronounce articulate Words, although he could
not underſtand them. In the mean Time I was not able
to forbear groaning and ſhedding Tears, and turning my
Head towards my Sides; letting him know, as well as I
could, how cruelly I was hurt hy the Preſſure of his
Thumb and Finger. He ſeemed to apprehend my
Meaning ; for, lifting up the Lappet of his Coat, he
put me gently into it, and immediately ran along with
me to his Maſter, who was a ſubſtantial Farmer, and
the ſame Perſon I had firſt feen in the Field.
The Farmer having (as I ſuppoſed by their Talk,)
received ſuch an Account of me as his Servant could
give him, took a Piece of a ſmall Straw, about the Size
of a walking Staff, and therewith lifted up the Lappets
of my Coat, which it ſeems he thought to be ſome
kind of Covering that Nature had given me. He blew
my Hairs aſide to take a better View of my Face. He
called his Hinds about him, and aſked them (as I after-
wards learned) whether they had ever ſeen in the Fields
any little Creature that reſembled me? He then placed
me ſoftly on the Ground upon all four ; but I got im-
mediately up, and walked' lowly backwards and for-
wards, to let thoſe People ſee I had no Intent to run
away. They all fat down in a Circle about me, the
better to obſerve my Motions. I pulled off my Hat,
and made a low Bow towards the Farmer: I fell on
my Knees, and lifted up my Hands and Eyes, and
ſpoke feveral Words as loud as I could : I took a Purſe
of Gold out of my Pocket, and humbly preſented it to
him. He received it on the Palm of his Hand, then ap-
plied it cloſe to his Eye, to ſee what it was, and after-
wards turned it ſeveral Times with the Point of a Pin,
(which he took out of his Sleeve) but could make no-
thing of it. Whereupon I made a sign that he ſhould
place his Hand on the Ground: I then took the Purſe,
and
E 2
76
A VOYAGE 19 BROBDINGN AC.
and opening it, poured all the Gold into his Palm.
There were lix Spaniſh Pieces of four Piſtoles each, be-
fides twenty or thirty ſmaller Coins. I ſaw him wet the
Tip of his little Finger upon his Tongue, and take up
one of my largeſt Pieces, and then another ; but he
feemed to be wholly Ignorant what they were. He
made me a Sign to put them again into my Purſe, and
the Purſe again into my Pocket; which after offering
to him ſeveral Times, I thought it beſt to do.
The Farmer by this Time was convinced I muſt
be a rational Creature. He ſpoke often to me, but
the Sound of his Voice pierced my Ears like that of a
Water-Mill: yet his Words were articulate enough. I
anſwered as loud as I could in ſeveral Languages; and
he often laid his Ear within two Yards of me, but all in
vain, for we were wholly unintelligible to each other.
He then fent his Servants to their Work, and taking his
Handkerchief out of his Pocket, he doubled and ſpread
it on his Hand, which he placed flat on the Ground
with the Palm upwards, making me a Sign to ftep into
it, as I could eaſily do, for it was not above a Foot in
Thickneſs. I thought it my Part to obey ; and for
fear of falling, laid myſelf at full Length upon the
Handkerchief, with the Remainder of which he lap
ped me up to the Head for further Security; and in
this Manner carried me home to his Houſe. There he
called his Wife, and thewed me to her, but ſhe ſcream-
ed and ran back as Women in England do at the Sight
of a Toad or a Spider. However, when ſhe had a
while ſeen my Behaviour, and how well I obſerved
the Signs her Huſband made, ſhe was ſoon reconciled,
and by Degrees grew extremely tender of me.
It was about twelve at Noon, and a Servant
brought in Dinner. It was only one ſubſtantial Diſh
of Meat, (fit for the plain Condition of an Huſbandman)
in a Diſh of about four and twenty Foot Diameter
The Company were the Farmer and Wife, three Chil.
dren and an old Grandmother : When they were
ſat down, the Farmer placed me at ſome diſtance from
him on the Table, which was thirty Foot high fram
the
A VOYAGE 1o BROBDINGNAG,
7
::
the Floor. I was in a terrible Fright, and kept as far
as I could from the Edge, for fear of falling. The
Wife minced a Bit of Meat, then crumbled ſome Bread
on a Trencher, and placed it before me. I made her
a low Bow, took out my Knife and Fork, and fell to
eat ; which gave them exceeding Delight. The Mi-
ftreſs fent her Maid for a ſmall Dram-cup which held
about two Gallons, and filed it with Drink : I took
up the Veſſel with much Difficulty in both Hands, and
in a moſt reſpectful Manner drank to her Ladyſhip's
Health, expreſſing the Words as loud as I could in Eng-
lilh ; which made the Company laugh fo heartily, that
I was almoſt deafned with the Noiſe. This Liquor
tafted like a ſmallCyder, and was not unpleaſant. Then
the Malter made me a Sign to come to his Trencher Side;
but as I walked on the Table, being in great Surprize
all the Time, as the indulgent Reader will eafily con-
ceive and excuſe, I happened to ſtumble againfta Cruft,
and fell flat on my Face, but received no Hurt. I got
up immediately, and obſerving the good People to be
in much Concern, I took my Hat (wich I held under
my Arm out of good Manners) and waving it over my
Head, made three Huzzas, to fhew I had got no
Miſchief by the Fall. But advancing forwards toward
my Maſter, (as I ſhall henceforth call him) his youngeſt
Son who ſat next him, an arch Boy of about ten Years
old, took me up by the Legs and held me fo high in
the Air, that I trembled every Limb; but his Father
ſnatched me from him ; and at the ſame Time gave
him ſuch a Box on the left Ear as would have felled an
European Troop of Horſe to the Earth; ordering him
to be taken from the Table. But, being afraid the
Boy might owe me a Spight ; and well remembring
how
miſchievous all Children among us naturally
are to
Sparrows, Rabbits, young Kittens, and Puppy-Dogs;
I fell on my knees, and pointing to the Boy, made my
Maſter underſtand, as well as I could, that I deſired
his Son might be pardoned, The Father complied,
and the Lad took his Seat again; whereupon I went to
him
E 3
78
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
:
S:
him and kiſſed his Hand, which my Maſter took, and
made him ftroak me gently with it.
In the Midſt of Dinner my Miſtreſs's favourite
Cat leapt into her Lap. I heard a Noiſe behind me
like that of a Dozen Stocking-Weavers at Work ; and
turning my Head, I found it proceeded from the Pur-
ring of this Animal, who ſeemed to be three Times
larger than an Ox, as I computed by the View of her
Head, and one of her Paws, while her Miſtreſs was
feeding and ſtroaking her. The Fierceneſs of this
Creature's Countenance altogether diſcompoſed me;
although I ſtood at the further End of the Table,
above fifty Foot off, and although my Miſtreſs held
her faſt for fear ſhe might give å Spring, and ſeize me
in her Talons. But it happened there was no Danger;
for the Cat took not the leaſt Notice of me when my
Mafter placed me within three Yards of her. And,
as I have been always told, and found true by Expe-
rience in my Travels, that flying, or diſcovering Fear
before a fierce Animal, is a certain Way to make it
purſue or attack you; fo I reſolved in this dangerous
Juncture to fhew no Manner of Concern. I walked
with Intrepidity five or fix Times before the very
Head of the Cat, and came within half a Yard of
her; whereupon the drew herſelf back, as if ſhe
were more afraid of me: I had leſs Apprehenſion
concerning the Dogs, whereof three or four came into
the Room, as it is uſual in Farmers Houſes; one of
which was a Maſtiff, equal in Bulk to four Elephants,
and a Grey-hound ſomewhat maller than the Maſtiff,
but not ſo large.
When Dinner was almoſt done, the Narfe came in
with a Child of a Year old in her Arms, who imme-
diately ſpied me, and began a Squall that you might
have heard from London-Bridge to Chelſea ; after the
uſual Oratory of Infants, to get me for a Play-thing.
The Mother out of pure Indulgence took me up, and
put me towards the Child, who preſently ſeized me
by the Middle, and got my Head in his Mouth, where
I roared ſo loud that the Urchin was frighted, and
let
der
A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG. 79
me.
let me drop, and I ſhould infallibly have broke my
Neck, if the Mother had not held her Apron under
The Nurſe, to quiet her Babe, made uſe of a
Rattle, which was a Kind of hollow Vefſel filled with
great Stones, and faſtened by a Cable to the Child's
Waiſt : But all in vain, ſo that ſhe was forced to apple
the laſt Remedy by giving it Suck. I muſt confeſs no
Object ever diſguſted me ſo much as the Sight of her
monſtrous Breaſt, which I cannot tell what to com-
pare with, ſo as to give the curious Reader an Idea of
its Bulk, Shape and Colour. It ſtood prominent fix
Foot, and could not be leſs than fixteen in Circum-
ference. The Nipple was about half the Bigneſs of
my Head, and the Hue both of that and the Dug ſo
varified with Spots, Pimples and Freckles, that ne-
thing could appear more nauſeous : For I had a near
Sight of her, ſhe fitting down the more conveniently
to give Suck, and I ſtanding on the Table. This
made me reflect upon the Fair Skins of our Engliſh
Ladies, who appear ſo beautiful to as, only becauſe
they are of our own Size, and their Defects not to be
ſeen but through a magnifying Glaſs, where we find
by Experiment that the fmootheft and whiteft Skins
look rough and coarſe, and ill coloured.
I REMEMBER when I was at Lilliput, the Complexi-
ons of thoſe diminutive People appeared to me the
faireſt in the World: And talking upon this Subject
with a Perſon of Learning there, who was an intimate
Friend of mine; he ſaid that my Face appeared much
fairer and ſmoother when he looked on me from the
Ground, than it did upon a nearer View when I took
him up in my Hand and brought him cloſe ; which he
confeſſed was at firſt a very ſhocking Sight. He ſaid,
he could diſcover great Holes in my Skin; that the
Stumps of my Beard were ren Times ſtronger than the
Briſtles of a Boar; and my Complexion made up of
ſeveral Colours altogether diſagreeable: Although I
muſt beg leave to ſay for myſelf, that I am as fair as
moſt of my Sex and Country, and very little Sun burnt
by all my Travels. On the other Side, diſcourſing of
E
the
.
4
So
A VOYAOB to BRODDINGNAG.
the Ladies in that Emperor's Court, he uſed to tell me,
une had Freckles, another too wide a Mouth, a third
too large a Noſe, nothing of which I was able to di.
ftinguiſh. I confeſs thisReflection was obvious enough;
which, however, I could not forbear, left the Reader
might think thoſe vaft Creatures were actually de-
formed. For I muft do them Juſtice to fay they are a
comely Race of People ; and particularly the Features
of my Maſter's Countenance, although he were but
a Farmer, when I beheld him from the
Height of fixty
Foot, appeared very well proportioned.
When Dinner was done, my Maſter went out to
his Labourers; and, as I could diſcover by his Voice
and Geſtures, gave his Wife a ftri& Charge to take
Care of me, I was very much tired and diſpoſed to
ſleep, which my Miſtreſs perceiving, ſhe put me on
her own Bed, and covered me with a clean white
Handkerchief, but larger and coarſer than the main
Sail of a Man of War.
I slept about two Hours, and dreamed I was at
home with my Wife and Children, which aggravated
my Sorrows when I awaked and found myſelf alone in
a vaſt Room, between two and three hundred Foot
wide, and above two hundred high ; lying in a Bed
twenty Yards wide. My Miſtreſs was gone about her
houſhold Affairs, and had locked me in. The Bed
was eight Yards from the Floor. Some natural Ne-
ceſſities required me to get down: I durft not pre-
ſume to call, and if I had, it would have been in
vain with ſuch a Voice as mine at ſo great a Diſtance
from the Room where I lay to the Kitchen where the
Family kept. While I was under theſe Circum-
ſtances, two Rals crept up the Curtains, and ran
ſmelling backwards and forwards on the Bed : One
of them came up almoſt to my Face , whereupon I
roſe in a Fright, and drew out my Hanger to defend
myſelf. Theſe horrible Animals had the Boldneſs
to attack me on both Sides, and one of them held his
Fore-feet at my Collar; but I had the good Fortune
to rip up his Belly before he could do me any Miſchief.
Не
A VOYAGE fo BROBDINGNAG.
81
He fell down at my Feet; and the other ſeeing the
Fate of his Comrade, made his Eſcape, but not with-
out one good Wound on the Back, which I gave him
as he fled, and made the Blood run trickling from
him. After this Exploit I walked gently to and fro
on the Bed, to recover my Breath and Loſs of Spirits.
Theſe Creatures were of the Size of a large Maſtiff,
but infinitely more nimble and fierce ; ſo that if I had
taken off my Belt before I went to ſleep, I muſt have
infallibly been torn to Pieces and devoured. I mea-
ſured the Tail of the dead Rat, and found it to be two
Yards long, wanting an Inch; but it went againſt my
Stomach to drag the Carcaſe off the Bed, where it lay
ftill bleeding; I obſerved it had yet ſome Life, but
with a ſtrong Slaſh croſs the Neck, I thoroughly dif-
patched it.
Soon after, my Miſtreſs came into the Room, who
feeing me all bloody, ran and took me up in her Hand.
I pointed to the dead Rat, ſmiling and making other
Signs to ſhew I was not hurt ; whereat ſhe was ex-
tremely rejoiced, calling the Maid to take up the dead
Rat with a Pair of Tongs, and throw it out of the
Window. Then the ſet me on a Table, where I
fhewed her my Hanger all bloody, and wiping it on
the Lappet of my Coat, returned it to the Scabbard.
I was preſſed to do more than one Thing, which an-
other could not do for me, and therefore endeavoured
to make my Miſtreſs underſtand that I deſired to be
fet down on the Floor, which after ſhe had done,
my Baſhfulneſs would not ſuffer me to expreſs myſelf
farther than by pointing to the Door, and bowing
ſeveral Times. The good Woman with much Dif-
ficulty at laſt perceived what I would be at; and take-
ing me up again in her Hand, walked into the Garden,
where ſhe fet me down. I went on one Side about
two hundred Yards; and beckoning to her not to look
or to follow me. I hid myſelf between two Leaves
of Sorrel, and there diſcharged the Neceflities of
Nature.
FS
I HOPE
82 A VOYAGE 10 BROBDINGNAG,
I hope, the gentle Reader will excuſe me for
dwelling on theſe and the like Particulars; which
however infignificant they may appear to grovelling
vulgar Minds, yet will certainly help a Philoſopher to
enlarge his Thoughts and Imagination, and apply
them to the Benefit of publick as well as private
Life; which was my fole Deſign in preſenting this
and other Accounts of my Travels to the World;
wherein I have been chiefly ftudious of Truth; with-
out affecting any Ornaments of Learning, or of Style.
But the whole Scene of this Voyage made ſo ſtrong
an Impreſſion on my Mind, and is ſo deeply fixed in
my Memory, that in committing it to Paper, I did
not omit one material Circumſtance: However, upon
ſtrict Review, I blotted out ſeveral Paſſages of lefs
Moment, which were in my firſt Copy, for fear of
being cenſured as tedious and trifling, whereof Tra-
vellers are often, perhaps not without Juſtice, ac-
cuſed.
CHAP. II.
A Deſcription of the Farmer's Daughter. The Author
carried to a Market - Town, and then to the Metropo-
lis. The Particulars of his Journey.
MY
Miſtreſs had a Daughter of nine years old, a
Child of towardly Parts for her Age, very
dex.
terous at her Needle, and ſkilful in dreſſing her Baby.
Her Mother and ſhe contrived to fit up the Baby's
Cradle for me againſt
Night. The Cradle was put into
a ſmall Drawer of a Cabinet, and the Drawer placed
upon a hang ng Shelf for fear of the Rats. This was
my Bed all the
Time I ſtayed with thoſe People, al-
though made more convenient by Degrees, as I began
to learn their Language, and
make my Wants known.
This young Girl was ſo handy, that after I had once or
twice
A VOYAGE to BrogDINGNAG.
83
Glumdalclitch, or little Nurſe: And I ſhould be
twice pulled off my Clothes before her, ſhe was able
to dreſs and undreſs me, although I never gave her
that Trouble when ſhe would let me do either myſelf.
She made me feven Shirts, and ſome other Linen of
as fine Cloth as could be got, which indeed was coarſer
than Sackcloth; and theſe ſhe conſtantly waſhed for me
with her own Hands. She was likewiſe my School
miſtreſs to teach me the Language. When I pointed
to any Thing, ſhe told me the Name of it in her own
Tongue, ſo that in a few Days I was able to call for
whatever I had a Mind to: She was very good-natured,
and not above forty Foot high, being little for her
Age. She gave me the Name of Grildrig, which the
Family took up, and afterwards the whole Kingdom.
The Word importeth what the Latins call Nanunculus,
the Italians Homunceletino, and the Engliſh Mannikin.
To her I chiefly owe my Preſervation in that Country:
We never parted while I was there ; I called her my
..
guilty of great Ingratitude, if I omitted this honour-
able Mention of her Care and Affection towards me,
which I heartily wiſh it lay in my Power to requite
as ſhe deſerveth, inſtead of being the innocent but un-
happy Inſtrument of her Diſgrace, as I have too
much Reaſon to fear.
Ir now began to be known and talked of in the
Neighbourhood, that my Mafter had found a ſtrange
Animal in the Field, about the Bigneſs of a Splack-
nuck, but exactly ſhaped in every part like a human
Creature ; which it likewiſe imitated in all its Adi-
ons; ſeemed to ſpeak in a little Language of its own,
had already learned ſeveral Words of theirs, went
erect upon two Legs, was tame and gentle, would
come when it was called, do whatever it was bid, had
the fineſt Limbs in the World, and a Complection
fairer than a Nobleman's Daughter of three Years
old. Another Farmer who lived hard by, and was a
particular Friend of my Maſter's, came on a Viſit on
Purpoſe to enquire into the Truth of this Story; I was
immediately prodaced, and placed upon a Table ;
where
84
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
where I walked as I was commanded, drew my Hanger,
put it up again, made my Reverence to my Maſter's
Gueſt, aſked him in his own Language how he did, and
told him he was welcome ; juſt as my little Nurſe had
inſtructed me. This Man, who was old and dim-
fighted, put on his Spectacles to behold me better, at
which I could not forbear laughing very heartily; for
his Eyes appeared like the full Moon ſhining into a
Chamber at two Windows. Our People, who diſcovered
the Cauſe of my Mirth, bore me Company in Laugh-
ing;
at which the old Fellow was Fool enough to be
angry and out of Countenance. He had the Cha-
racter of a great Miſer; and to my Misfortune he well
deſerved it by the curſed Advice he gave my Maſter, to
ſhew me as a Sight upon a Market Day, in the next
Town, which was half an Hour's Riding, about two
and twenty Miles from our Houſe. I gueſſed there
was fome Miſchief contriving, when I obſerved my
Maſter and his friend whiſpering long together,
ſometimes pointing at me; and my Fears made me
fancy that I overheard and underſtood ſome of their
Words. But, the next Morning, Glumdalclitch, my
little Nurſe, told me the whole Matter, which ſhe had
cunningly picked out from her Mother. The poor
Girl laid me on her Boſom, and fell a weeping with
Shame and Grief. She apprehended ſome Miſchief
would happen to me from rude vulgar Folks, who
might ſqueeze me to Death, or break one of my Limbs,
by taking me in their Hands. She had alſo obſerved
how modeft I was in my Nature, how nicely I regard-
ed my Honour, and what an Indignity I ſhould con-
ceive to be expoſed for Money as a publick Spectacle
to the meaneft of the People. She ſaid, her Papa and
Mama had promiſed that Grildrig ſhould be hers;
but now ſhe found they meant to ſerve her as they
did laſt Year, when they pretended to give her a
Lamb; and yet, as ſoon as it was fat, ſold it to a But-
cher. For my own Part, I may truly affirm, that I was
leſs concerned than my Nurſe. I had a ſtrong Hope,
which never left me, that I ſhould one Day recover my
Liberty; and as to the Ignominy of being carried about
for
a
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG. 8$
for a Monſter, I conſidered my ſelf to be a perfect
Stranger in the Country, and that ſuch a Misfortune
could never be charged upon me as a Reproach if ever
I ſhould return to England ; ſince the King of Great
Britain himſelf, in my Condition, muſt have under-
gone the ſame Diſtreſs.
My Maſter, purſuant to the Advice of his Friend,
carried me in a Box the next Market-Day to the
neighbouring Town ; and took along with him his
little Daughter my Nurſe upon a Pillion behind me.
The Box was cloſe on every Side, with a little Door
for me to go in and out, and a few Gimlet-holes to let
in Air. The Girl had been ſo careful as to put the
Quilt of her Baby's Bed into it, for me to lye down on.
However, I was terribly ſhaken and diſcompoſed in
this Journey, although it were but half an Hour :
For the Horſe went about forty Foot at every Step ;
and trotted ſo high, that the Agitation was equal to
the riſing and falling of a Ship in a great Storm, but
much more frequent : Our Journey was ſomewhat
further than from London to St. Albans. My Maſter
alighted at an Inn which he uſed to frequent; and after
conſulting a while with the Inn-keeper, and making
ſome neceſſary Preparations, he hired the Grultrud,
or Cryer to give Notice through the Town, of a
ſtrange Creature to be ſeen at the Sign of the Green
Eagle, not ſo big as a Splacknuck, (an Animal in that
Country very finely ſhaped, about fix Foot long) and
in every Part of the Body reſembling an human
Crea-
ture ; could ſpeak ſeveral Words, and perform an
Hundred diverting Tricks.
I was placed upon a Table in the largeſt Room of
the Inn, which might be near three Hundred Foot
ſquare. My little Nurſe ſtood on a low Stool cloſe to
the Table, to take Care of me, and direct what I ſhould
do. My Maſter, to avoid a Croud, would ſuffer only
Thirty People at a Time to fee me. I walked about
on the Table as the Girl commanded ; ſhe aſked me
Queſtions as far as ſhe knew my Underſtanding of the
Language reached, and I anſwered them as loud as I
could,
86 'A VOYAoE to BROBDINGNAG.
:
could. I turned about ſeveral Times to the Company,
paid my humble Reſpects, ſaid they were welcome ;
and uſed ſome other Speeches I had been taught.
took up a Thimble filled with Liquor, which Glum-
dalclitch had given me for a Cup, and drank their
Health. I drew out my Hanger, and flouriſhed with
it after the Manner of Fencers in England. My Nurſe
gave me Part of a Straw, which I exerciſed as a Pike,
having learned the Art in my Youth. I was that
Day ſhewn to twelve Sets of Company ; and as often
forced to go over again with the ſame Fopperies, until
I was half dead with Wearineſs and Vexation. For,
thoſe who had ſeen me, made ſuch wonderful Reports,
that the People were ready to break down the Doors
to come in. My Maſter for his own Intereſt would
not ſuffer any one to touch me, except my Nurſe; and
to prevent Danger, Benches were ſet round the Table
at ſuch a Diſtance, as put me out of every Body's
Reach. However, an unlucky School-Boy aimed a
Hazel Nut directly at my Head, which very narrow-
ly miſſed me ; otherwiſe, it came with ſo much Vio-
lence, that it would have infallibly knocked out my
Brains; for it was almoſt as large as a ſmall Pumpion
But I had the Satisfaction to ſee the young Rogue well
beaten, and turned out of the Room.
My Maſter gave publick Notice, that he would
ſhew me again
the next Market-Day : And in the
mean time, he prepared a more convenient Vehicle
for me, which he had Reaſon enough to do; for I was
ſo tired with my firft Journey, and with entertaining
Company eight Hours together, that I could hardly
ſtand upon my Legs, or ſpeak a Word. It was at leaſt
three Days before I recovered my Strength; and that
I might have no reſt at home, all the neighbouring
Gentlemen from an Hundred Miles round, hearing of
my Fame, came to ſee me at my Maſter's own Houſe.
There could not be fewer than thirty Perſons with
their Wives and Children ; (for the Country is very
populous) and my Maſter demanded the Rate of a foil
Room whenever he ſhewed me at Home, although it
Were
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
87
were only to a ſingle Family. So that for ſome time
I had but little Eaſe every Day of the Week (except
Wedneſday, which is their Sabbath) although I were
not carried to the Town.
My Mafter finding how profitable I was like to be,
reſolved to carry me to the moſt conſiderable Cities of
the Kingdom. Having therefore provided himſelf with
all things neceſſary for a long Journey, and ſettled his
Affairs at home, he took Leave of his Wife ; and upon
the 17th of Auguſt, 1703, about two Months after my
Arrival, we ſet out for the Metropolis, ſituated near the
Middle of that Empire, and about three Thouſand
Miles diſtance from our Houſe: My Maſter made his
Daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried
me on her Lap in a Box tied about her Waiſt. The
Girl had lined it on all Sides with the ſofteit Cloth ſhe
could get, well quilted underneath ; furniſhed it with
her Baby's Bed, provided me with Linen and other
Neceſſaries ; and made every thing as convenient as
ſhe could. We had no other Company but a Boy of
the Houſe, who rode after us with the Luggage.
My Maſter's Deſign was to fhew me in all the
Towns by the Way, and to ſtep out of the Road for
Fifty or an Hundred Miles, to any Village or Perſon
of Quality's Houſe where he might expect Cuftom.
We made eaſy Journies of not above ſeven or eight
Score Miles a Day: For Glumdalclitcb, on Purpoſe
to ſpare me, complained ſhe was tired with the trotting
of the Horſe. She often took me out of my Box at
my own Defire, to give me Air, and ſhew me the
Country; but always held me faft by Leading-ſtrings.
We paſſed over five or fix Rivers many Degrees
broader and deeper than the Nile or the Ganges; and
there was hardly a Rivulet ſo ſmall as the Thames at
London-Bridge. We were ten Weeks in our Journey;
and I was fhewn in Eighteen large Towns, beſides
many Villages and private Families.
On the 26th Day of October, we arrived at the
Metropolis, called in their Language Lorbrulgrud, or
Pride of the Univerſe, My Mafter took a Lodging in
the
88 A VOYACE to BAOBDINCNAO.
the principal Street of the City, not far from the Royal
Palace ; and put out Bills in the uſual Form, contain
ing an exact Deſcription of my Perfon and Parts. He
hired a large Room between three and four Hundred
Foot wide. He provided a Table fixty Foot in Dia-
meter, upon which I was to act my Part ; and palli-
ſadoed it round three Foot from the Edge, and as ma-
ny high, to prevent my falling over. I was fhewn ten
Times a Day to the Wonder and Satisfaction of all
People. I could now ſpeak the Language tolerably
well; and perfeâly underſtand every Word that was
ſpoken to me. Beſides, I had learned their Alphabet,
and could make a Shift to explain a Sentence here and
for Glumdalclitch had been my Inſtructor while
we were at Home, and at leiſure Hours during our
Journey. She carried a little Book in her Pocket, not
much larger than a Sanſon's Atlas; it was a common
Treatiſe for the Ufe of young Girls, giving a ſhort
Account of their Religion; out of this ſhe taught me
my Letters, and interpreted the Words.
there;
CHA P. III.
The Author fent for to Court. The Queen buys him of
his Mafter the Farmer, and preſenteth him to the King.
He diſputeth with his Majeſty's great Scholars. An A-
partment at Court provided for the Author. He is
in high Favour with the Queen, He fandetb up for
the Honour of his own Country. His Quarrels wish
the Queen's Dwarf.
T
HE frequent Labours I underwent every Day,
made in a few Weeks a very confiderableChange
in my Health : The more my Maſter got by me, the
more unſatiable he grew. I had quite loſt my Stomach,
and was almoſt reduced to a Skeleton. The Farmer ob-
ferved it; and concluding I foon muf die, reſolved to
make as good a Hand of me as he could. While he
was
A VOYAGE to BROEDINGNAG. 89
was thus reaſoning and reſolving with himſelf, a Slar-
dral, or Gentleman Uſher, came from Court, com-
manding my Maſter to bring me immediately thither
for the Diverſion of the Queen and her Ladies. Some
of the latter had already been to ſee me; and reported
ſtrange Things of my Beauty, Behaviour, and good
Senſe. Her Majeſty and thoſe who attended her,
were beyond Meaſure delighted with my Demeanor.
I fell on my knees, and begged the Honour of kiſſing
her Imperial Foot; but this Gracious Princeſs held
out her little Finger towards me (after I was ſet on a
Table) which I embraced in both my Arms, and put
the Tip of it, with the utmoſt Reſpect, to my Lip.
She made me fome general Queſtions about my Country
and my Travels, which I anſwered as diftin&ly, and
in as few Words as I could. She aſked, whether I
would be content to live at Court ? I bowed down to
the Board of the Table, and humbly anſwered, that I
was my Maſter's Slave; but if I were at my own Dif-
poſal, I ſhould be proud to devote my Life at her Ma-
jeſty's Service. She then aſked
She then aſked my Maſter whether
he were willing to ſell me at a good Price? He, who
apprehended I could not live a Month, was ready e-
nough to part with me; and demanded a Thouſand
Pieces of Gold; which were ordered him on the Spot,
each Piece being about the Bigneſs of eight Hundred
Moidores : But, allowing for the Proportion of all
Things between that Country and Europe, and the high
Price of Gold among them, was hardly ſo great a
Sum as a Thouſand Guineas would be in England. I
then ſaid to the Queen; fince I was now her Majeſty's
moſt humble Creature andVaſſal, I muſt beg the Favour,
that Glumdalclitch, who had always tended me with ſo
much Care and Kindneſs, and underſtood to do it fo
well, might be admitted into her Service, and continue
to be my Nurſe and Inſtructor. Her Majeſty agreed to
my Petition, and eaſily got the Farmer's Conſent, who
was glad enough to have his Daughter preferred at
Court: And the poor Girl herſelf was not able to hide
her
go
A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG.
her Joy. My late Maſter withdrew, bidding me fare-
well, ſaying he had left me in a good Service ; to
which I replied not a Word, only making a ſlight
Bow.
THE Queen obſerved my Coldneſs; and when the
Farmer was gone out of the Apartment, aſked me the
Reaſon. I made bold to tell her Majeſty, that I owed
no other Obligation to my late Maſter, than his not
daſhing out the Brains of a poor harmleſs Creature
found by Chance in his Pield ; which Obligation was
amply recompenced by the Gain he had made in thew-
ing me through half the Kingdom, and the Price he
had now fold me for. That, the Life I had ſince led,
was laborious enough to kill an Animal of ten Times
my Strength. That, my Health was much impaired
by the continual Drudgery of entertaining the Rabble
every Hour of the Day; and that, if my Maſter had
not thought my Life in Danger, her Majeſty would
not have got fo cheap a Bargain. But, as I was out of
all fear of being ill treated under the Protection of ſo
great and good an Empreſs, the Ornament of Nature,
the Darling of the World, the Delight of her Subjects,
the Phænix of the Creation ; ſo, I hoped my late Ma
ſter's Apprehenſions would appear to be groundleſs ;
for I already found my Spirits to revive by the In-
fluence of her moſt Auguſt Preſence.
This was the Sum of my Speech, delivered with
great Improprieties and Hefitation; the latter Part was
altogether framed in the Style peculiar to that People,
whereof I learned ſome Phraſes from Glumdalclitch,
while ſhe was carrying me to Court.
The Queen giving great Allowance for my Defec-
tiveneſs in ſpeaking, was however ſurpriſed at ſo much
Wit and good Senſe in ſo diminutive an Animal. She
took me in her own Hand, and carried me to the
King, who was then retired to his Cabinet. His Ma-
jeſty, a Prince of much Gravity and auſtere Counte-
nance, not well obſerving my Shape at firſt View,
aſked the Queen after a cold Manner, how long it was
fince ſhe grew fond of a Splacknuck; for ſuch it ſeemeth
he
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAC.
91
he took me to be, as I lay upon my Breaſt in her Ma-
jeſty's right Hand. But this Princeſs, who hath an in-
finite deal of Wit and Humour, fet me gently on my
Feet upon the Scrutore ; and commanded me to give
his Majeſty an Account of my ſelf, which I did in a
very few Words; and Glumdalilitch, who attended at
the Cabinet Door, and could not endure I ſhould be
out of her Sight, being admitted, confirmed all that
had paſſed from my Arrival at her Father's Houſe.
The King, although he be as learned a Perſon as any
in his Dominions; had been educated in the Study of
Philoſophy, and particularly Mathematicks; yet when
he obſerved my Shape exaétly, and ſaw me walk erect,
before I began to ſpeak, conceived I might be a Piece
of Clock-work, (which is in that Country arrived to a
very great Perfection) contrived by ſome ingenious Ar-
tiſt. But, when he heard my Voice, and found what
I delivered to be regular and rational, he could not
conceal his Aſtoniſhment. He was by no Means fa-
tisfied with the Relation I gave him of the Manner I
came into his Kingdom; but thought it a Story con-
certed between
Glumdalclitch and her Father, who had
taught me a Set of Words to make me ſell at a higher
Price. Upon this Imagination he put ſeveral other
Queſtions to me, and ſtill received rational Anſwers, no
otherwiſe defective than by a Foreign Accent, and an
imperfect Knowledge in the Language; with ſome
ruſtick Phraſes which I had learned at the Farmer's
Houſe, and did not ſuit the polite Style of a Court.
His Majeſty ſent for three great Scholars who were
then in their weekly waiting (according to the Cuſtom
in that Country). Theſe Gentlemen, after they had
a while examined my Shape with much Nicety, were
of different Opinions concerning me. They all agreed
that I could not be produced according to the regular
Laws of Nature ; becauſe I was not framed with a
Capacity of preſerving my Life, either by Swiftneſs,
or climbing of Trees, or digging Holes in the Earth.
They obſerved by my Teeth, which they viewed with
great Exactneſs, that I was a carnivorous Animal; yet
mok
92
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
moft Quadrupeds being an Overmatch for me; and
Field Mice, with ſome others, too nimble, they could
not imagine how I ſhould be able to ſupport myſelf,
unleſs I fed upon Snails and other Infects; which they
offered by many learned Arguments to evince that I
could not poſſibly do. One of them ſeemed to think
that I might be an Embrio, or abortive Birth. But
this Opinion was rejected by the other two, who ob-
ſerved my Limbs to be perfect and finiſhed ; and that
I had lived ſeveral Years, as it was manifefted from my
Beard; the Stumps whereof they plainly diſcovered
through a Magnifying Glaſs. They would not allow
me to be a Dwarf, becauſe my Littlenefs was beyond
all Degrees of Compariſon; for the Queen's favourite
Dwarf, the ſmalleſt ever known in that Kingdom, was
near thirty Foot high. After much Debate, they con-
cluded unanimouſly that I was only Relplum Scalcath,
which is interpreted literally Lufus Naturæ ; a Deter.
mination exacly agreeable to the Modern Philoſophy
of Europe ; whoſe Profeſſors, diſdaining the old Eva-
ſion of occult Cauſes, whereby the Followers of Ari-
ſtotle endeavour in vain to diſguiſe their Ignorance ;
have invented this wonderful Solution of all Difficulties,
to the unſpeakable Advancement of human Knowledge.
After this deciſive Conclufion, I intreated to be
heard a Word or two. I applied myſelf to the King,
and aſſured his Majeſty, that I came from a Country
which abounded with ſeveral Millions of both Sexes,
and of my own Stature; where the Animals, Trees, and
Houſes were all in Proportion ; and where, by Con-
ſequence I might be as able to defend myſelf, and to
find Suſtenance, as any of his Majeſty's Subjects could
do here; which I took for a full Anſwer to thoſe Gen
tlemen's Arguments. To this they only replied with a
Smile of Contempt ; faying, that the Farmer had in-
ſtructed me very well in my Leſſon. The King, who
had a much better Underſtanding, diſmiſſing his learn-
ed Men, ſent for the Farmer, who by good Fortune
was not yet gone out of Town: Having therefore firſt
examined him privately, and then confronted him with
me
A VOYAGE to BROEDINGNAG.
93
me and the young Girl; his Majeſty began to think
that what we told him might poſſibly be true. He de-
fired the Queen to order, that a particular Care ſhould
be taken of me; and was of Opinion that Glumdalclitch
ſhould ſtill continue in her Office of tending me, be-
cauſe he obſerved we had a great Affection for each
other. A convenient Apartment was provided for her at
Court; ſhe had a ſort of Governeſs appointed to take
care of her Education, a Maid to dreſs her, and two
other Servants for menial Offices; but the Care of me
was wholly appropriated to herſelf. The Queen com-
manded her own Cabinet-maker to contrive a Box that
might ſerve me for a Bed-chamber, after the Model
that Glumdalclitch and I ſhould agree upon. This Man
was a moſt ingenious Artiſt; and according to my Di-
rections, in three Weeks finiſhed for me a Wooden
Chamber of fixteen Foot ſquare, and twelve high
with Saſh-Windows, a Door, and two Cloſets, like a
London Bed-chamber. The Board that made the Ciel-
ing was to be lifted up and down by two Hinges, to
put in a Bed ready furniſhed by her Majeſty's Uphol-
iterer ; which Glumdalclitch took out every Day to air,
made it with her own Hands, and letting it down at
Night, locked up the Roof over me. A nice Work-
man, who was famous for little Curioſities, undertook
to make me two Chairs, with Backs and Frames, of a
Subſtance not unlike Ivory; and two Tables, with a
Cabinet to put my Things in. The Room was quilted
on all Sides, as well as the Floor and the Cieling, to
prevent any Accident from the Careleſſneſs of thoſe who
carried me; and to break the Force of a Jolt when I
went in a Coach. I deſired a Lock for my Door to
prevent Rats and Mice from coming in : The Smith
after ſeveral Attempts made the ſmalleſt that was ever
ſeen among them; for I have known a larger at the
Gate of a Gentleman's Houſe in England. I made a
Shift to keep the Key in a Pocket of my own, fearing
Glumdalclitch might loſe it. The Queen likewiſe or-
dered the thinneſt Silks that could be gotten, to make
me Cloaths; not much thicker than an Engliſh Blanket,
very
94
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
Very
cumberſome until I was accuſtomed to them.
They were after the Faſhion of the Kingdom, partly
reſembling the Perfian, and partly the Chineſe'; and
are a very grave decent Habit.
The Queen became ſo fond of my Company, that
ſhe could not dine without me. I had a Table placed
upon the ſame at which her Majeſty eat, juft at her
left Elbow; and a Chair to fit on. Glumdalclitch
ſtood upon a Stool on the Floor, near my Table, to
aſlift and take Care of me. I had an entire Set of
Silver Diſhes and Plates, and other Neceſſaries, which
in Proportion to thoſe of the Queen, were not much
bigger than what I have ſeen in a London Toy-ſhop,
for the Furniture of a Baby-houſe: Theſe, my little
Nurſe kept in her Pocket, in a Silver Box, and gave
me at Meals as I wanted them ; always cleaning them
herſelf. No Perfon dined with the Queen but the two
Princeſſes Royal ; the Elder ſixteen Years old, and
the Younger at that Time thirteen and a Month. Her
Majeſty uſed to put a Bit of Meat upon one of my
Diſhes, out of which I carved for myſelf; and her
Diverſion was to ſee me eat in Miniature. For the
Queen (who had indeed but a weak Stomach) took up
at one Mouthful as much as a Dozen Engliſh Farmers
could eat at a Meal, which to me was for ſome 'Time a
very nauſeous Sight. She would craunch the Wing of
a Lark, Bones and all, between her Teeth, although
it were nine Times as large as that of a full-grown
Turkey, and put a Bit of Bread in her Mouth as big
as two twelve-penny Loaves. She drank out of a Gol-
den Cup, above a Hogſhead at a Draught. Her Knives
were twice as long as a Scythe ſet ftrait upon the Handle.
The Spoons, Forks, and other Inſtruments, were all in
the ſame Proportion. I remember when Glumdalclitch
carried me out of Curioſity to ſee ſome of the Tables at
Court, where ten or a dozen of theſe enormous Knives
and Forks were lifted up together ; I thought I had
never until then beheld ſo terrible a Sight.
It is the Cuſtom, that every Wedneſday, (which, as
I have before obſerved, was their Sabbath) the King
and
A VOYAGE to BrOBD INGNAG.
95
.
and Queen, with the Royal Iſſue of both Sexes, dine
together in the Apartment of his Majeſty ; to whom
was now become a Favourite; and at theſe Times my
little Chair and Table were placed at his left Hand be-
fore one of the Salt ſellers. This Prince took a Pleaſure
in converſing with me ; enquiring into the Manners,
Religion, Laws, Government, and Learning of Eu-
rope, wherein I gave him the beſt Account I was able.
His Apprehenfion was ſo clear, and his Judgment ſo
exact, that he made very wiſe Reflections and Obſer-
sations
upon all I ſaid. But, I confeſs, that after I
had been a little too copious in talking of my own be.
loved Country; of our Trade, and Wars by Sea and
Land, of our Schiſms in Religion, and Parties in the
State ; the Prejudices of his Education prevailed ſo far,
that he could not forbear taking me up in his right
Hand, and Atroaking me gently with the other; after
an hearty Fit of Laughing, aſked me whether I were
a Whig or a Tory ? Then turning to his firſt Miniſter,
who waited behind him with a white Staff, near as tall
as the Main-mart of the Royal Sovereign; he obſerved,
how contemptible a Thing was human Grandeur,which
could be mimicked by ſuch diminutive Inſects as I:
And yet, ſaid he, I dare engage, thoſe Creatures have
their Titles and Diſtinctions of Honour; they contrive
Jittle Neſts and Burrows, that they call Houſes and
Cities; they make a Figure in Dreſs and Equipage;
they love, they fight, they diſpute, they cheat, they be-
tray. And thus he continued on, while my Colour came
and went ſeveral Times, with Indignation to hear our
noble Country, the Miſtreſs of Arts and Arms, the
Scourge of France, the Arbitreſs of Europe, the Seat
of Virtue, Piety, Honour and Truth, the Pride and
Envy of the World, fo contemptuoufly treated.
But, as I was not in a Condition to reſent Injuries;
fo, upon mature Thoughts, I began to doubt whether I
were injured or no. For, after having been accuſtom-
ed ſeveral Months to the Sight and Converſe of this
People, and obſerved every Object upon which I caſt
mine Eyes, to be of proportionable Magnitude ; the
Horror
96
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
Horror I had firſt conceived from their Bulk and Afpect
was ſo far worn off, that if I had then beheld a Com-
pany of Engliſh Lords and Ladies in their Finery and
Birth-day Clothes, acting their ſeveral Parts in the moſt
courtly Manner of Strutting, and Bowing, and Prating:
to ſay the Truth, I ſhould have been ſtrongly tempted
to laugh as much at them as this King and his Gran-
dees did at me. Neither indeed could I forbear ſmiling
at myſelf, when the Queen uſed to place me upon her
Hand towards a Looking-Glaſs, by which both our
Perſons appeared before me in full View together ;
and there could nothing be more ridiculous than the
Compariſon : So that I really began to imagine my-
ſelf dwindled many Degrees below my uſual Size.
Nothing angred and mortified me ſo much as the
Queen's Dwarf, who being of the loweft Stature that
was ever in that Country, (for I verily think he was
not full thirty Foot high) became ſo inſolent at ſeeing
a Creature ſo much beneath him, that he would always
affe&t to ſwagger and look big as he paſſed by me in
the Queen's Antichamber, while I was ſtanding on
ſome Table talking with the Lords or Ladies of the
Court; and he ſeldom failed of a ſmart Word or two
upon my Littleneſs ; againſt which I could only re-
venge myſelf by calling
him Brother, challenging him
to wreſtle ; and ſuch Repartees as are uſual in the
Mouths of Court Pages. One Day at Dinner, this
malicious little Cubb was ſo nettled with ſomething I
had ſaid to him, that raiſing himſelf upon the Frame
of her Majeſty's Chair, he took me up by the Middle,
as I was ſitting down, not thinking any Harm, and let
me drop into a large Silver Bowl of Cream; and then
ran away as faſt as he could. I fell over Head and
Ears, and if I had not been a good Swimmer, it might
have gone very hard with me; for Glumdalclitch in
that Inſtant happened to be at the other End of the
Room, and the Queen was in ſuch a Fright, that
ſhe wanted Preſence of Mind to aſſiſt me.
little Nurſe ran to my Relief, and took me out, after
I had ſwallowed above a Quart of Cream. I was put
But my
to
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
97
to Bed; however, I received no other Damage than
the Loſs of a Suit of Cloaths, which was utterly ſpoil-
ed. The Dwarf was foundly whipped, and as a fur-
ther Puniſhment, forced to drink up the Bowl of
Cream, into which he had thrown me; neither was
he ever reſtored to Favour : For, foon after the Queen
beſtowed him to a Lady of high Quality; ſo that I
faw him no more, to my very great Satisfaction ; for
I could not tell to what Extremity fuch a Malicious
Urchin might have carried his Refentment,
He had before ferved me a fcurvy Trick, which fet
the Queen a laughing, although at the fame Time the
were heartily vexed, and would have immediately ca-
fhiered him, if I had not been ſo generous as to inter-
cede. Her Majeſty had taken a Marrow-bone upon
her Plate; and after knocking out the Marrow, placed
the Bone again in the Diſh erect as it ſtood before ;
the Dwarf watching his Opportunity, while Glum-
dalditch was gone to the Sideboard, mounted the
Stool that ſhe ſtood on to take care of me at Meals ;
took me up in both Hands, and ſqueezing my Legs
together, wedged them into the Marrow-bone above
my Waiſt; where I ſtuck for ſome time, and made a
very ridiculous Figure. I believe it was near a Minute
before any one knew what was become of me ; for I
thought it below me to cry out. But, as Princes fel-
dom get their Meat hot, my Legs were not ſcalded,
only my Stockings and Breeches in a fad Condition,
The Dwarf at my intreaty had no other Puniſhment
than a ſound whipping.
I was frequently rallied by the Queen upon Account
of my Fearfulneſs; and ſhe uſed to aſk me, whether the
People of my Country were as great Cowards as my
felf? The Occaſion was this. The Kingdom is much
pellered with Flies in Summer; and theſe odious In-
fects, each of them as Big as a Dunſtable Lark, hardly
gave me any Reſt while I ſat at Dinner, with their
continual Humming and Buzzing about mine Ears,
They would ſometimes alight upon my Vi&tuals, and
leave their loathſome Excrement or Spawn behind,
Vol. III,
F
which
98
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
my
which to me was very viſible, although not to the Na-
tives of that Country, whoſe large Opticks were not
fo acute as mine in viewing ſmaller Objects. Sometimes
they would fix upon my Noſe or Forehead, where
they ftung me to the Quick, ſmelling very offenſively;
and I could eaſily trace that viſcous Matter, which
our Naturaliſts tell us enables thoſe Creatures to walk
with their Feet upwards upon a Ceiling. I had much
ado to defend myſelf againſt theſe deteſtable Animals,
and could not forbear ſtarting when they came on my
Face. It was the common Pra&tice of the Dwarf to
catch a Number of theſe Inſects in his Hands, as
School-Boys do among us, and let them ſuddenly un-
der my Noſe, on Purpoſe to frighten me, and divert
the Queen. My Remedy was to cut them in Pieces
with my Knife as they flew in the Air; wherein
Dexterity was much admired.
I remember one Morning when Glumdalclitch had
ſet me in my Box upon a Window, as ſhe uſually did
in fair Days to give me Air, (for I durft not venture
to let the Box be hung on a Nail out of the Window,
as we do with Cages in England) after I had lifted up
one of my Saſhes, and ſat down at my Table to eat a
Piece of Sweet Cake for my Breakfaſt ; above twenty
Waſps, allured by the Smell, came flying into the
Room, humming louder than the Drones of as many
Bagpipes. Some of them ſeized my Cake, and carried
it piece meal away ; others flew about my Head and
Face, confounding me with the Noiſe, and putting
me in the utmoſt Terror of their Stings. However, I
had the Courage to riſe and draw my Hanger, and
attack them in the Air. I diſpatched four of them,
but the reſt got away, and I preſently ſhut my Win-
dow. Thele Inſects were as large as Partridges ; I
took out their Stings, found them an Inch and a half
long and as ſharp as Needles. I carefuily preſerved
them all, and having ſince ſhewn them with ſome o-
ther Curioſities in ſeveral Parts of Europe ; upon my
Return to England I gave three of them to Greſham-
College, and kept the fourth for myſelf.
c H A P.
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
99
.
CHAP. IV.
-:
The Country deſcribed. A Propoſal for correcting mo-
dern Maps. The King's Palace, and ſome Account of
the Metropolis. The Author's Way of travelling.
The chief Temple deſcribed.
I
Now intend to give the Reader a fhort Deſcription
of this Country, as far as I travelled in it, which
was not above two thouſand Miles round Lorbrulgrud
the Metropolis. For, the Queen, whom I always at-
tended, never went further when ſhe accompanied the
King in his Progreſſes; and their ſtaid until his Majeſty
returned from viewing his Frontiers. The whole Ex-
tent of this Prince's Dominions reacheth but fix
thouſand Miles in Length, and from three to five in
Breadth. From whence I cannot but conclude, that
our Geographers of Europe are in a great Error, by
ſuppofing nothing but Sea between Japan and Califor-
nia. For, it was ever my Opinion, that there muſt be
a Ballance of Earth to counterpoiſe the great Continent
of Tartary; and therefore they ought to correct their
Maps and Charts, by joining this vaft Tract of Land
to the North-weſt Parts of America, wherein I ſhall
be ready to lend them my Aſiſtance.
The Kingdom is a Peninſula, terminated to the
North-eaſt by a Ridge of Mountains thirty Miles high,
which are altogether impaffable by Reaſon of the
Volcanoes upon the Tops. Neither do the moſt
Learned know what ſort of Mortals inhabit beyond
thoſe Mountains, or whether they be inhabited at
all. On the three other Sides it is bounded by the
Ocean. There is not one Sea-port in the whole King-
dom ; and thoſe Parts of the Coaſts into which the Ri-
vers iffue, are ſo full of pointed Rocks, and the Sea gene-
rally
F 2
A Voyage to BROBDINGSAG.
rally ſo rough, that there is no venturing with the
ſmalleſt of their Boats; ſo that theſe People are wholly
excluded from any Commerce with the reſt of the
World. But the large Rivers are full of Vefſels, and
abound with excellent Fiſh; for they feldom get any
from the Sea, becauſe the Sea-fiſh are of the ſame Size
with thoſe in Europe, and conſequently not worth
catching; whereby it is manifeſt, that Nature, in the
Production of Plants and Animals of ſo extraordinary a
Bulk, is wholly confined to this Continent; of which
I leave the Reaſons to be determined by Philoſophers.
However, now and then they take a Whale that hap-
pens to be daſhed againſt the Rocks, which the com-
mon People feed on heartily. Theſe Whales I have
known fo large that a Man could hardly carry one
upon his Shoulders ; and ſometimes for Curioſity they
are brought in Hampers to Lorbrulgrud: I ſaw one of
them in a Difh at the King's Table, which paſſed for
a Rarity; but I did not obſerve he was fond of it; for
I think indeed the Bigneſs diſguſted him, although I
have ſeen one ſomewhat larger in Greenland.
The Country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty
one Cities, near an hundred walled Towns, and a
great Number of Villages. To ſatisfy my curious
Reader, it may be ſufficient to deſcribe Lorbrulgrud.
This City ſtands upon almoſt two equal Parts on each
Side of the River that paſſes through. It contains
above eighty thouſand Houſes. It is in Length three
Glonglungs, (which makes about fifty-four Engliſh
Miles) and two and a half in Breadth, as I meaſured
it myſelf in the Royal Map made by the King's Order,
which was laid on the Ground on Purpoſe for me, and
extended an hundred Feet ; I paced the Diameter and
Circumference ſeveral times bare-foot, and computing
by the Scale, meaſured it pretty exadly.
The King's Palace is no regular Edifice, but an
Heap of Building about ſeven Miles round. The chief
Rooms are generally two hundred and forty Foot high,
and broad and long in Proportion. A Coach was al-
lowed to Glumdalclitch and me, wherein her Gover-
neſs
A VOYAGE to BroBDINGNAG,
neſs frequently took her out to ſee the Town, or go
among the Shops ; and I was always of the Party, car-
ried in my Box: although the Girl at my own Deſire
would often take me out, and hold me in her Hand,
that I might more conveniently view the Houſes and
the People as we paſſed along the Streets. I reckoned
our Coach to be about a Square of Weſtminſter-Hall,
but not altogether fo high however I cannot be very
exact. One Day the Governeſs ordered our Coach-
man to ſtop at ſeveral Shops ; where the Beggars
watching their Opportunity, crouded to the sides of
the Coach, and gave me the moſt horrible Spectacles
that ever an European Eye beheld. There was a Wo-
man with a Cancer in her Breaſt, ſwelled to a monſtrous
Size, full of Holes, in two or three of which I could
have eafily crept, and covered my whole Body. There
was a fellow with a Wen in his Neck, larger than five
Woolpacks; and another with a couple of Wooden
Legs, each about twenty Foot high. But the moſt
hateful Sight of all was the Lice crawling on their
Cloaths ; I could ſee diſtinctly the Limbs of theſe Ver.
min with my naked Eye, much better than thoſe of
an European Loufe through a Microſcope ; and their
Snouts with which they rooted like Swine. They were
the firſt I had ever beheld ; and I should have been
curious enough to diffect one of them, if I had had
proper Inſtruments, (which I unluckily left behind me
in the Ship) although indeed the Sight was ſo nauſeous,
that it perfectly turned my Stomach.
Beside the large Box in which I was uſually carried,
the Queen ordered a ſmaller one to be made for me,
of about twelve Foot Square, and ten high, for the
Convenience of Travelling; becauſe the other was
ſomewhat too large for Glumdalclitch's Lap, and cum-
berſome in the Coach; it was made by the ſame Ar-
tiſt, whom I directed in the whole Contrivance. This
travelling Cloſet was an exact Square, with a Window
in the Middle of three of the Squares, and each Win-
dow was latticed with Iron Wire on the Outſide, to
prevent Accidents in long Journies. On the fourth
F 3
Side,
102
A Voyace 10 BROBDINGNAG.
Side, which had no Window, two ſtrong Staples were
fixed, through which the Perſon that carried me,
when I had a Mind to be on Horſeback, put in a
Leathern Belt, and buckled it about his Waiſt. This
was always the Office of ſome grave truſty Servant,
in whom I could confide, whether I attended the
King and Queen in their Progreſſes, or were diſpoſed
to ſee the Gardens, or pay a Viſit to ſome great Lady
or Miniſter of State in the Court, when Glumdalclitch
happened to be out of Order: For I foon began to be
known and eſteemed among the greateſt Officers, I
fuppoſe more upon Account of their Majeſty's Fa-
vour than any Merit of my own. In Journies, when
I was weary of the Coach, a Servant on Horſeback
would buckle my Box, and place it on a Caſhion be-
fore him ; and there I had a full Proſpect of the
Country on three Sides from my three Windows. I
had in this Cloſet a Field. Bed and a Hammock hung
from the Ceiling, two Chairs and a Table, neatly
ſcrewed to the Floor, to prevent being toſſed about
by the Agitation of the Horſe or the Coach. And
having been long uſed to Sea-Voyages, thoſe Motions,
although ſometimes very violent, did not much dif-
compole me.
Whenever I had a Mind to ſee the Town, it was
always in my Travelling Cloſet ; which Glumdal.
ditch held in her Lap, in a kind of open Sedan, after
the Faſhion of the Country, borne by four Men, and
attended by two others in the Qucen's Livery. The
People who had often heard of me, were very cu-
rious to croud about the Sedan ; and the Girl was
complaiſant enough to make the Bearers ſtop, and to
take me in her Hand, that I might be more conve-
niently ſeen.
I was very deſirous to ſee the chief Temple, and
particularly the Tower belonging to it, which is rec-
koned the higheſt in the Kingdom. Accordingly one
Day my Nurſe carried me thither, but I may truly ſay
I came back diſappointed; for the Height is not above
three thouſand Foot, reckoning from the Ground
to
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
103
.
to the higheſt Pinnacle Top; which, allowing for the
Difference between the Size of thoſe People and us
in Europe, is no great Matter for Admiration, nor at
all equal in Proportion (if I rightly remember) to
Saliſbury Steeple. But, not to detract from a Nation,
to which during my Life I thall acknowledge myſelf
extremely obliged ; it muſt be allowed, that whatever
this famous Tower wants in Height, is amply made
up in Beauty and Strength. For, the Walls are near
an hundred Foot thick, built of hewn Stone, whereof
each is about forty Foot ſquare, and adorned on all
Sides with Statues of Gods and Emperors, cut in Mar-
ble, larger than the Life, placed in their ſeveral Niches.
I meaſured a little Finger which had fallen down from
one of theſe Statues, and lay unperceived among fome
Rubbiſh ; and found it exa&tly four Foot and an Inch
in Length. Glumdalelitch wrapped it up in a Hand-
kerchief, and carried it home in her Pocket, to keep
among other Trinkets, of which the Girl was very
fond, as Children of her Age uſually are
The King's Kitchen is indeed a noble Building,
vaulted at Top, and about fix hundred Foot high,
The great Oven is not ſo wide by ten Paces as the Cu-
pola at St. Paul's : For I meaſured the latter on Par-
poſe after my Return. But if I ſhould deſcribe the
Kitchen-Grate, the prodigious Pots and Kettles, the
Joints of Meat turning on the Spits, with many other
Particulars ; perhaps I ſhould be hardly believed ; at
leaſt, a ſevere Critic would be apt to think I enlarged a
little, as Travellers are often ſuſpected to do. To avoid
which Cenſure, I fear I have run to much into the
other Extream ; and that, if this Treatiſe ſhould hap-
pen to be tranſlated into the Language of Brobdingnag,
(which is the general Name of that Kingdom) and
tranſmitted thither, the King and his People would
have Reaſon to complain, that I had done them an
Injury, by a falfe and dimunitive Reprefentation.
His Majeſty ſeldom keeps above fix hundred Horſes
in his Stables: They are generally from fifty four to
fixty Foot high. But when he goes abroad on ſolemn
Days,
F 4
104
A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG.
Days, he is attended for State by a Militia Guard of
five hundred Horſe, which indeed I thought was the
moft fplendid Sight that could be ever beheld, until I
ſaw Part of his Army in Battália; whereof I shall find
another Occaſion to ſpeak.
CHAP. V.
Several /dventures that happened to the Author. The
Execution of a Criminal. The Author Sheweh bis
Skill in Navigation.
SHOULD have lived happy enough in that
Country, if my Littleneſs had not expoſed me to
ſeveral ridiculous and troubleſome Accidents; fome of
which I ſhall venture to relate. Glumdalslitch often
carried me into the Gardens of the Court in my ſmaller
Box, and would ſometimes take me out of it, and
hold me in her Hand, or ſet me down to walk. I
remember, before the Dwarf leſt the Queen, he fol-
lowed us one Day into thoſe Gardens ; and my Nurſe
having ſet me down, he and I being cloſe together,
near lome Dwarf Apple-Trees, I mult needs fhew my
Wit by a flly Allofion between him and the Trees,
which happens to hold in their Language as it doth in
ours. Whereupon the malicious Rogue watching his
Opportunity, when I was walking under one of them,
fhook it directly over my Head, by which a Dozen
Apples, each of them near as large as a Briſtol Barrel,
came tumbling about my Ears ; one of them hit me
on the Back as I chanced to floop, and knocked me
down flat on my Face, but I received no other Hurt ;
and the Dwarf was pardoned at my Deſire, becauſe I
had given the Provocation.
Another Day, Glumdalilitch left me on a ſmooth
Graſs.plot, to divert myſelf while ſhe walked at ſome
Distance
A VOYAGE ta BROBDINGNAG. ros
Diſtance with her Governeſs. In the mean time,
there ſuddenly fell ſuch a violent Shower of Hail, that
I was immediately by the force of it ſtruck to the
Ground : And when I was down, the Hail-ſtones gave
me ſuch cruel Bangs all over the Body, as if I had
been pelted with Tennis-Balls; however, I made a
Shift to creep on all four, and ſheltered myſelf by lying
flat on my Face on the Lee-fide of a Border of Lem-
mon-'Thyme ; but ſo bruiſed from Head to Foot, that
I could not go abroad in ten Days. Neither is this
at all to be wondered at, becauſe Nature in that
Country obſerving the ſame Proportion through all her
Operations, a Hail-ſtone is near eighteen hundred
Times as large as one in Europe ; which I can affert
upon Experience, having been ſo curious to weigh and
meaſure them.
But a more dangerous Accident happened to me in
the fame Garden, when my little Nurſe, believing ſhe
had put me in a ſecure Place, which I often entreated
her to do, that I might enjoy my own Thoughts; and
having left my Box at home to avoid the Trouble
of carrying it, went to another Part of the Gardens
with her Governeſs and ſome Ladies of her Acquain-
tance. While ſhe was abſent and out of hearing, a
ſmall white Spaniel belonging to one of the chief Gar-
diners, having got by Accident into the Garden, hap-
pened to range near the Place where I lay. The Dog
following the Scent, came direally up, and taking me
in his Mouth, ran ſtrait to hi: Maffer, wagging his Tail,
and ſet me gently on the Ground. By good Fortune
he had been ſo well taught, that I was carricd between
his Teeth without the leaſt Hurt, or even tearing my
Cloaths. But the poor Gardiner, who knew me well,
and had a great Kindnels for me, was in a terrible
Fright. He gently took me up in both his Hards,
and aſked me how I did; but I was ſo amazed and
out of Breath, that I could not ſpeak a Word.
few Minutes I came to myſelf, and he carried me ſafe
to my little Nurſe, who by this Time had returned to
the Place where ſhe left me, and was in cruel Agonies
FS
when
In a
106 A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
when I did not appear, nor anſwer when ſhe called
ſhe ſeverely reprimanded the Gardiner on account of
his Dog. But the thing was huſhed up, and never
known at Court ; for the Girl was afraid of the
Queen's Anger ; and truly as to myſelf, I thought it
would not be for my Reputation that ſuch a Story
fhould go about.
This Accident abſolutely determined Glumdalclitch
never to truſt me abroad for the future out of her Sight.
I had been long afraid of this Reſolution; and there-
fore concealed from her ſome little unlucky Adventures
that happened in thoſe Times when I was left by my-
ſelf. Once a Kite hovering over the Garden, made a
Stoop at me, and if I had not reſolutely drawn my
Hanger, and run under a thick Eſpalier, he would
have certainly carried me away in his Talons. Ano-
ther time, walking to the Top of a freſh Mole hill, I
fell to my Neck in the Hole through which that Ani-
mal had caft up the Earth ; and coined fome Lye not
worth remembring, to excuſe myſelf
for ſpoiling my
Cloaths. I likewiſe broke my right Shin againſt the
Shell of a Snail, which I happened to ſtumble over,
as I was walking alone and thinking on poor England.
I CANNOT tell whether I were more pleaſed or mor-
tified to obſerve in thoſe ſolitary Walks, that the
ſmaller Birds did not appear to be at all afraid of me;
but would hop about within a Yard Diſtance, looking
for Worms, and other Food, with as much Indifference
and Security as if no Creature at all were near them.
I remember, a Truſh had the Confidence to ſnatch
out of my Hand with his Bill a Piece of Cake that
Glumdalclitch had juſt given me for my Breakfaſt
.
When I attempted to catch any of theſe Birds, they
would boldly turn againſt me, endeavouring to pick my
Fingers, which I durſt not venture within their Reach;
and then they would hop back
unconcerned to hunt
for Worms or Snails, as they did before. But one
Day I took a thick Cudgel, and threw it with all my
Strength ſo luckily at a Linnet, that I knocked him
down, and ſeizing him by the Neck with both my
Hands,
A VOYAQE 12 BROODINGNAG.
107
Hands, ran with him in Triumph to my Nurſe. How-
ever, the Bird, who had only been ſtunned, recovering
himſelf, gave me ſo many Boxes with his Wings on
both Sides of my Head and Body, although I held him
at Arms Length, and was out of the Reach of his
Claws, that I was twenty Times thinking to let him
go. But I was ſoon relieved by one of our Servants,
who wrung off the Bird's Neck; and I had him next
Day for Dinner by the Queen's Command. This
Linnet, as near as I can remember, ſeemed to be ſome-
what larger than an Englib Swan.
The Maids of Honour often invited Glumdaklitch
to their Apartments, and deſired ſhe would bring me
along with her on Purpoſe to have the Pleaſure of fee-
ing and touching me. They would often ſtrip me naked
from Top to Toe, and lay me at full Length in their
Boſoms; wherewith I was much diſguſted; becauſe,
to ſay the Truth, a very offenſive Smell came from
their Skins ; which I do not mention or intend
to the
Diſadvantage of thoſe excellent Ladies, for whom I
have all Manner of Reſpect : But I conceive, that my
Senſe was more acute in proportion to my Liteleneſs;
and that thoſe illaftrious Perfons were not more diſa-
greeable to their Lovers, or to each other, than People
of the ſame Quality are with us in England. And, after
all, I found their natural Smell was much more ſup-
portable than when they ufed Perfumes, ander which I
immediately ſwooned away. I cannot forget, that an
intimate Friend of mine in Lilliput took the freedom in
a warm Day, when I had uſed a good deal of Exerciſe,
to complain of a ſtrong Smell about me: although I am
as little faulty that way as moſt of my Sex, But, I ſup-
po ſe his Faculty of Smelling was as nice with regard
to me, as mine was to that of this People. Upon this
Point, I cannot forbear doing: Juflice to the Queen my
Miſtreſs and Glumdalclick my Nurſe ; whoſe
Perſons
were as ſweet as thoſe of any Lady in England.
That which gave me moit Uneaſineſs among theſe
Maids of Honour, when my Nurſe carried me to viſit
them, was to ſee them uſe me without any Manner of
Ceremony
108 A VOYAGE to BROLD INUNAG,
| Ceremony, like a Creature who had no fort of Confe-
quence. For, they would Arip themſelves to the Skin,
and put on their Smocks in my Preſence, while I was
placed on their Toylet direaly before their naked
Bodies ; which, I am ſure, to me was very far from
being a tempting Sight, or from giving me any other
Motions than thoſe of Horror and Diſguſt. Their
Skins appeared ſo coarſe and uneven, fo variouſly
coloured when I ſaw them near, with a Mole here
and there as broad as a Trencher, and Hairs hanging
from it thicker than Packthreads; to ſay nothing fur-
ther concerning the reſt of their Perſons. Neither did
they at all ſcruple, while I was by, to diſcharge what
they had drunk, to the Quantity of at leaſt two Hogſ-
heads, in a Vefiel that held above three Tuns. The
handſomeſt among theſe Maids of Honour, a pleaſant
frolickfome Girl of ſixteen, would ſometimes ſet me
aſtride upon one of her Nipples; with many other
Tricks, wherein the Reader will excuſe me for not
being over particular. But I was ſo much diſpleaſed,
that I intreated Glumdalditch to contrive fome Excuſe
for not ſeeing that young Lady any more.
One Day, a young Gentleman, who was Nephew
to my Nurſe's Governeſs, came and preſſed them both
to ſee an Execution. It was of a Man who had mur-
dered one of that Gentleman's intimate Acquaintance.
Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the Company,
very much againſt her Inclination ; for ſhe was natu-
rally tender hearted: And, as for myſelf, although I
abhorred ſuch Kind of Spectacles ; yet my Curioſity
tempted me to ſee ſomething that I thought muſt be
extraordinary. The Malefa&or was fixed in a Chair
upon a Scaffold
erecled for the Purpoſe ; and his Head
cut off at one Blow with a Sword of about forty Foot
long. The Veins and Arteries ſpouted up ſuch a pro-
digious Quantity of Blood, and ſo high in the Air, that
the great Jet d'Eau at Verſailles was not equal for the
Time it laſted; and the Head, when it fell on the
Scaffold Floor, gave ſuch a Bounce, as made me flart,
although I were at leaſt an Engliſh Mile diftant.
Tue
A VOYAGE to BrospinGNAC.
209
The Queen, who often uſed to hear me talk of my
Sea-Voyages, and took all Occaſions to divert me when
I was melancholy, aſked me whether I underſtood how
to handle a Sail or an Oar; and whether a little Ex-
erciſe of Rowing might not be convenient for my
Health. I anſwered, that I underſtood both very well.
For, although my proper Employment had been to be
Surgeon or Doctor to the Ship, yet often upon a Pinch,
I was forced to work like a common Mariner. But, I
could not ſee how this could be done in their Country,
where the ſmalleſt Wherry was equal to a firſt Rate
Man of War among us ; and ſuch a Boat as I could
manage, would never live in any of their Rivers :
Her Majeſty faid, if I would contrive a Boat, her own
Joiner ſhould make it, and ſhe would provide a Place
for me to fail in. The Fellow was an ingenious Work
man, and by my Inſtructions in ten Days finiſhed a
Pleaſure-Boat with all its Tackling, able conveniently
to hold eight Europeans. When it was finiſhed, the
Queen was ſo delighted, that ſhe ran with it in her
Lap to the King, who ordered it to be put in a Ciſtern
full of Water, with me in it, by way of Trial ; where
I could not manage my two Scells or little Oars for
want of Room. But, the Queen had before contrived
another Project. She ordered the Joiner to make a
Wooden Trough of three hundred Foot long, fifty
broad, and eight deep; which being well pitched to
prevent leaking, was placed on the
Floor along the
Wall, in an outer Room of the Palace. It had a Cock
near the Bottom, to let out the Water when it began to
grow ftale, and two Servants could eaſily fill it in half
an Hour. Here I often uſed to row for
my
Diverſion,
as well as that of the Queen and her Ladies, who
thought themſelves agreeably entertained with my
Skill and Agility. Sometimes I would
put up my Sail,
and then my Buſineſs was only to ſteer, while the Ladies
gave me a Gale with their l'ans; and when they were
weary, ſome of the Pages would blow my Sail forward
with their Breath, while
I ſhowed my Art by ſteering
Starboard or Lajboard as I pleaſed. When I had done,
Glumdaiclitch
110
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
and the Waiſtband of my Breeches, and thus I was
Glumdalclitch always carried back my Boat into her
Cloſet, and hung it on a Nail to dry.
In this Exerciſe I once met with an Accident which
had like to have coſt me my Life. For, one of the Pages
having put my Boat into the Trough; the Governeſs
who attended Glumdalclitch, very officiouſly lifted me
up to place me in the Boat, but I happened to flip
through her Fingers, and ſhould have infallibly fallen
down forty Foot upon the Floor, if by the luckieſt
Chance in the World I had not been ſtopt by a Cork-
ing-pin that ſtuck in the good Gentlewoman's Stoma-
cher; the Head of the Pin paſſed between my Shirt
held by the Middle in the Air, until Glumdalclitch ran
to my Relief.
Another Time, one of the Servants, whoſe Office
it was to fill my Trough every third Day with freſh
Water ; was ſo careleſs to let a huge Frog (not per-
ceiving it) ſlip out of his Pail. The Frog lay concealed
until I was put into my Boat, but then ſeeing a reſting
Place, climbed up, and made it lean ſo much on one
Side, that I was forced to balance it with all my Weight
on the other, to prevent overturning. When the Frog
was got in, it hopped at once half the Length of the
Boat, and then over my Head, backwards and forwards,
dawbing my Face and Cloaths with its odious Slime.
The largeneſs of its Features made it appear the moſt
deformed Animal that can be conceived. However, I
defired Glumdalditch to let me deal with it alone. I
banged it a good while with one of my Sculls, and
at laſt forced it to leap out of the Boat.
But, the greateſt Danger I ever underwent in that
Kingdom, was from a Monkey, who belonged to one of
the Clerks of the Kitchen. Glumdalclitch had locked
me up in her Cloſet, while ſhe went ſomewhere upon
Buſineſs, or a Viſit. The Weather being very warm,
the Cloſet Window was left open, as well as the
Windows and the Door of my bigger Box, in which
I uſually lived, becauſe of its Largeneſs and Conve-
niency. As I ſat quietly meditating at my Table, I
heard
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
III
heard ſomething bounce in at the Cloſet Window, and
ſkip about from one Side to the other; whereat,although
I were much alarmed, yet I ventured to look out, but
not ſtirring from my Seat; and then I ſaw this frolick-
ſome Animal, frikking and leaping up and down, until
at laſt he came to my Box, which he ſeemed to view
with great pleaſure and Curioſity, peeping in at the
Door and every Window. I retreated to the farther
Corner of my Room, or Box; but the Monkey looking
in at every Side, put me into ſuch a Fright, that I want-
ed Preſence of Mind to conceal myſelf under the Bed,
as I might eafily have done. After ſome Time ſpent in
peeping, grinning, and chattering, he at laſt eſpyed me,
and reaching one of his Paws in at the Door, as a Cat
doth when ſhe playeth with a Mouſe, although I often
ſhifted Place to avoid him ; he at length ſeized the Lap-
per of my Coat, (which being made of that Country
Silk, was very thick and ſtrong) and dragged me out.
He took me up in his right Fore-foot, and held me as
a Nurſe doth a Child ſhe is going to ſuckle ; juſt as I
have ſeen the fame ſort of Creature do with a Kitten
in Europe : And when I offered to ſtruggle, he ſqueezed
me ſo hard, that I thought it more prudent to ſubmit.
I have good Reaſon to believe that he took me for a
young one of his own Species, by his often ſtroaking
my Face very gently with his other Paw. In theſe
Diverſions he was interrupted by a Noiſe at the Cloſet
Door, as if ſomebody were opening it; whereupon he
ſuddenly leaped up to the Window at which he had
come in, and thence upon the Leads and Gutters, walk-
ing upon three Legs, and holding me in the fourth,
until he clambered up to a Roof that was next to ours.
I heard Glumdalclitch give a Shriek at the Moment he
was carrying me out. The
poor Girl was almoſt di-
ſtracted : That Quarter of the Palace was almoſt in an
Uproar; the Servants ran for Ladders ; the Monkey
was ſeen by Hundreds in the Court, fitting upon the
Ridge of a Building, holding me like a Baby in one of
his Fore-Paws, and feeding me with the other, by
cramming into my Mouth fomeVi&tualshe had ſqueezed
out
.
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
out of the Bag on one Side of his Chaps, and patting
me when I would not eat; whereat many of the Rabble
below could not forbear laughing ; neither do I think
they ought juſtly to be blamed; for without Queſtion,
the Sight was ridiculous enough to every body but my.
ſelf. Some of the People threw up Stones, hoping to
drive the Monkey down; but this was ftriatly forbidden,
or elſe very probably my Brains had been daſhed out.
The Ladders were now applied, and mounted by
feveral Men ; which the Monkey obſerving, and find-
ing himſelf almoſt encompaſſed, not being able to make
Speed enough with his three Legs, let me drop on a
Ridge-Tyle, and made his Eſcape. Here I ſat for ſome
Time, five hundred Yards from the Ground, expecting
every Moment to be blown down by the Wind, or
to fall by my own Giddineſs, and come tumbling over
and over from the Ridge to the Eves. But an honeſt
Lad, one of my Nurſe's Footmen, climbed
up,
and
putting me into his Breeches Pocket, brought me
down ſafe.
I was almoſt choaked with the filthy Stuff the Mon-.
key had crammed down my Throat ; but my dear
little Nurſe picked it out of my Mouth with a finall
Needle; and then I fell a vomiting, which gave me
great Relief. Yet I was ſo weak and bruiſed in the
Sides with the Squeezes given me by this odious Ami-
mal, that I was forced to keep my Bed a Fortnight.
The King, Queen, and all the Court, ſent every Day
to enquire after my Health ; and her Majeſty made
me feveral Vifits during my Sicknefs. The Monkey
was killed, and an Order made that no ſuch Animal
ſhould be kept about the Palace.
When I attended the King after my Recovery, to
return him Thanks for his Favours, he was pleaſed to
rally me a good deal upon this Adventure. He aſked
me what my Thoughts and Speculations were while I
lay in the Monkey's Paw; how I liked the Victuals he
gave me, his Manner of Feeding ; and whether the
freſh Air on the Roof had ſharpened my Stomach ? He
deſired to know what I would have done upon ſuch an
Occaſion
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG. 113
Occaſion in my own Country. I told his Majeſty, that
in Europe we had no Monkies, except ſuch as were
brought for Curioſities from other Places, and ſo ſmall,
that I could deal with a Dozen of them together, if
they preſumed to attack me. And as for that monſtrous
Animal with whom I was ſo lately engaged, (it was
indeed as large as an Elephant) if my Fears had ſuffered
me to think ſo far as to make Uſe of my Hanger (look-
ing fiercely, and clapping my Hand upon the Hilt as
I ſpoke) when he poked his Paw into my Chamber,
perhaps I ſhould have given him ſuch a Wound, as
would have made him glad to withdraw it with more
haſte than he pat it in. This I delivered in a firm
Tone, like a Perſon who was jealous left his Courage
ſhould be called in Queſtion. However, my Speech
produced nothing elſe beſides a loud Laughter ; which
all the Reſpect due to his Majefty from thoſe about
him, could not make them contain. This made me
reflect, how vain an Attempt it is for a Man to endea-
vour to do himſelf Honour among thoſe who are out of
all Degrees of Equality or Compariſon with him. And
yet I have ſeen the Moral of my own Behaviour very
frequent in England fince my Return; where a little
contemptible Varlet, without the leaſt Title to Birth,
Perſon, Wit, or common Senſe, ſhall preſume to look
with Importance, and put himſelf upon a Foot with
the greateſt Perſons of the Kingdom.
I was every Day furniſhing the Court with ſome ri-
diculous Story; and Glumdalclıtch, although ſhe loved
me to Exceſs, yet was arch enough to inform the Queen,
whenever committed any Folly that the thought
would be diverting to her Majeſty. The Girl, who
had been out of Order, was carried by her Governeſs
to take the Air about an Hour's Diſtance, or thirty
Miles from Town. They alighted out of the Coach
near a ſmall Foot-path in a Field ; and Glumdalclitch
ſetting down my travelling Box, I went out of it to
walk. There was a Cow-dung in the Path, and I muſt
needs try my A&ivity by attempting to leap over it.
I took a Run, but unfortunately jumped fhort, and
found
114
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGN&G.
found myſelf juſt in the Middle up to my Knees. I
waded through with ſome Difficulty, and one of the
Footmen wiped me as clean as he could with his
Handkerchief; for I was filthily bemired, and my
Nurſe confined me to my Box until we returned home;
where the Queen was foon informed of what had
paſſed, and the Footmen ſpread it about the Court ;
ſo that all the Mirth, for ſome Days, was at my
Expence,
c H A P. VI.
Several Contrivances of the Author to pleaſe the King
and Queen. He foeweth bis Skill in Mufick. The
King enquireth into the State of Europe, which the
Auther relateth to bim. The King's Obſervations
thereon.
USED to attend the King's Levee once or twice
a Week, and had often ſeen him under the Bar-
ber's Hand, which indeed was at firſt very terrible to
behold ; for the Razor was almoſt twice as long as an
ordinary Scythe. His Majeſty, according to the
Cuſtom of the Country, was only ſhaved twice a
Week. I once prevailed on the Barber to give me
ſome of the Suds or Lather, out of which I picked
forty or fifty of the ſtrongeſt Stumps of Hair. I then
took a piece of fine Wood, and cut it like the Back
of a Comb, making ſeveral Holes in it at equal Di-
ftances, with as ſmall a Needle as I could get from
Glumdalclitch. I fixed in the Stumps fo artificially,
ſcraping and ſloping them with my Knife towards the
Points, that I made a very tolerable Comb; which
was a ſeaſonable Supply, my own being fo much
broken in the Teeth, that it was almoſt uſeleſs : Nei-
ther did I know any Artiſt in that Country ſo nice and
exact, as would undertake to make me another.
And
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG:
115
And this puts me in mind of an Amuſement where-
in I ſpent many of my leiſure Hours. I deſired the
Queen's Woman to ſave for me the Combings of her
Majeſty's Hair, whereof in time I got a good Quan-
tity: and conſulting with my Friend the Cabinet-
maker, who had received general Orders to do little
Jobbs for me; I directed him to make two Chair-
frames, no larger than thoſe I had in my Box, and then to
bore little Holes with a fine Awl round thoſe Parts
where I deſigned the Backs and Seats ; through theſe
Holes I wove the ſtrongeſt Hairs I could pick out,
juſt after the Manner of Cane-chairs in England.
When they were finiſhed, I made a Preſent of them to
her Majeſty, who kept them in her Cabinet, and uſed
to ſhew them for Curiofities ; as indeed they were the
Wonder of every one who beheld them. The Queen
would have had me fit upon one of theſe Chairs, but
I abſolutely refuſed to obey her ; proteſting I would
rather die a thouſand Deaths, than place a diſhonourable
Part of my Body on thoſe precious Hairs that once
adorned her Majeſty's Head. Of theſe Hairs (as I
had always a mechanical Genius) I likewiſe made a
neat little Purſe about five Foot long, with her Maje-
fty's Name decyphered in Gold Letters ; which I gave
to Glumdalclitch, by the Queen's Conſent.
the Truth, it was more for Shew than Uſe, being not
of Strength to bear the Weight of the larger Coins ;
and therefore ſhe kept nothing in it, but ſome little
Toys that Girls are fond of.
The King, who delighted in Mafick, had frequent
Concerts at Court, to which I was ſometimes carried,
and ſet in my Box on a Table to hear them : But the
Noiſe was ſo great, that I could hardly diſtinguiſh the
Tunes. Iam confident, that all the Drums and Trum-
pets of a Royal Army, beating and founding together
juſt at your Ears, could not equal it. My Practice was
to have my Box removed from the Place where the
Performers ſat, as far as I could; then to ſhut the Doors
and Windows of it, and draw the Window-Curtains ;
after which I found their Mufick not diſagreeable.
To fay
I HAD
116 A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG.
I had learned in my Youth to play a little upon the
Spinet ; Glumdalclitch kept one in her Chamber, and
a Mafter attended twice a Week to teach her. I call
it a Spinet, becauſe it ſomewhat reſembled that Inftru-
ment, and was played upon in the ſame Manner. A
Fancy came into my Head, that I could entertain the
King and Queen with an Engliſh Tune upon this In-
ftrument. But this appeared extremely difficult : For
the Spinet was near fixty Foot long, each Key being
almoſt a Foot wide ; ſo that, with my Arms extended,
1 could not reach to above five Keys ; and to preſs
them down required a good fmart Stroak with my Fift,
which would be too great a Labour, and to no Par-
poſe. The Method I con rived was this: I prepared
two round Sticks about the Bigneſs of commonCudgels:
They were thicker at one End than the other; and
I covered the thicker End with a Piece of a Mooſe's
Skin, that by rapping on them, I might neither da-
mage the Tops of the Keys, nor interrupt che Sound.
Before the Spinet, a Bench was placed, about four
Foot below the Keys, and I was pat upon the Bench.
I ran fidling upon it that way and this, as faſt as I could,
banging the proper Keys with my two Sticks; and
made a Shift to play a Jigg to the great Satisfaction of
both their Majeſties : But it was the moſt violent Ex-
erciſe I ever underwent, and yet I could not ſtrike
above fixteen Keys, nor, conſequently, play the Baſs
and Treble together, as other Artiſts do ; which was
a great Diſadvantage to my Performance.
The King, who, as I before obſerved, was a Prince
of excellent Underſtanding, would frequently order
that I ſhould be brought in my Box, and ſet upon the
Table in his Cloſet. He would then command me to
bring one of my Chairs out of the Box, and fit down
within three Yards Diſtance, upon the Top of the Ca-
binet ; which brought me almoſt to a Level with his
Face. In this Manner I had ſeveral Converſations
with him. I one Day took the Freedom to tell his
Majeſty, that the Contempt he diſcovered towards Eu-
rope and the reſt of the World, did not ſeem anſwer-
able
A VOYAGE to BroBHINGNAG. 117
able to thoſe excellent Qualities of Mind that he was
Maſter of. That Reaſon did not extend itſelf with the
Bulk of the Body: On the contrary, we obſerved in
our Country, that the talleſt Perſons were uſually leaſt
provided with it. That among other Animals, Bees
and Ants had the Reputation of more Induſtry, Art,
and Sagacity, than many of the larger Kinds : And
that, as inconfiderable as he took me to be, I hope I
might live to do his Majeſty fome ſignal Service. The
King heard me with Attention ; and began to conceive
a much better Opinion of me, than he had ever before.
He deſired I would give him as exact an Account of
the Government of England as I poſſibly could ; be-
cauſe, as fond as Princes commonly are of their own
Cuftoms, (for ſo he conjectured of other Monarchs by
my former Diſcourſes) he ſhould be glad to hear of
any thing that might deſerve Imitation.
Imagine with thyſelf, courteous Reader, how often
I then wiſhed for the Tongue of Demofthenes or Cicero,
that might have enabled me to celebrate the Praiſe of
my own dear native Country, in a Style equal to its
Merits and Felicity,
I began my Diſcourſe by informing his Majeſty,
that our Dominions conſiſted of two Iſlands, which
compoſed three mighty Kingdoms under one Sovereign,
beſides our Plantations in America. I dwelt long upon
the Fertility of our Soil, and the Temperature of our
Climate. I then ſpoke at large upon the Conſtitution
of an Englilo Parliament, partly made up of an illu-
ſtrious Body called the Houſe of Peers, Perſons of the
nobleſt Blood, and of the moſt antient and ample Pa-
trimonies. I deſcribed that extraordinary Care always
taken of their Education in Arts and Arms, to qualify
them for being Councellors born to the King and King-
dom : to have a Share in the Legiſlature, to be Mem-
bers of the higheſt Court of Judicature, from whence
there could be no Appeal; and to be Champions al-
ways ready for the Defence of their Prince and
Country, by theirValour, Conduct, and Fidelity. That
eſe were the Ornament and Bulwark of the King-
dom ;
118
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
:
dom ; worthy Followers of their moſt renowned Ance.
ſtors, whoſe Honour had been the Reward of their Vir-
tue ; from which their Poſterity were never once known
to degenerate. To theſe were joined ſeveral holy
Perſons, as Part of that Aſſembly, under the Title of
Biſhops ; whoſe peculiar Bufineſs it is, to take care of
Religion, and of thoſe who inſtruct the People therein.
Theſe were ſearched and fought out through the whole
Nation, by the Prince and wiſeft Counſellors, among
fuch of the Prieſthood, as were moſt deſervedly diſtin-
guiſhed by the Sanctity of their Lives, and the Depth
of their Erudition ; who were indeed the ſpiritual Fa-
thers of the Clergy and the People.
That the other Part of the Parliament conſiſted of
an Aſſembly called the Houſe of Commons; who were
all principal Gentlemen, freely picked and culled out
by the People themſelves, for their great Abilities
and Love of their Country, to repreſent the Wiſdom
of the whole Nation. And theſe two Bodies make
up the moſt auguſt Aſſembly in Europe; to whom, in
Conjunction with the Prince, the whole Legiſlature is
committed.
I then deſcended to the Courts of Juſtice, over
which the Judges thoſe venerable Sages and Interpre-
ters of the Law, preſided, for determining the diſputed
Rights and Properties of Men, as well as for the Pu-
niſhment of Vice, and Protection of Innocence. I
mentioned the prudent Management of our Treaſury ; .
the Valour and Atchievements of our Forces by Sea
and Land. I computed the Number of our People,
by reckoning how many Millions there might be of
each religious Sect, or political Party among us.
I
did not omit even our Sports and Paſtimes, or any other
Particular which I thought might redound to the Ho-
nour of my Country. And I finiſhed all with a brief
hiſtorical Account of Affairs and Events in England
for about an hundred Years paſt.
This Converſation was not ended under five Audi.
ences, each of ſeveral Hours ; and the King heard the
whole with great Attention ; frequently taking Notes
of
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAC. 119
of what I ſpoke, as well as Memorandums of what
Queſtions he intended to aſk me.
When I had put an End to theſe long Diſcourſes,
his Majeſty, in a ſixth Audience, conſulting his Notes,
propoſed many Doubts, Queries, and Obječtions, upon
every Article.
He aſked, what Methods were uſed
to cultivate the Minds and Bodies of our young Nobi-
lity; and in what kind of Buſineſs they commonly
ſpent the firſt and teachable Part of their Lives ? What
Courſe was taken to ſupply that Affembly, when any
noble Family became extinct ? What Qualifications
were neceſſary in thoſe who are to be created new
Lords : Whether the Humour of the Prince, a Sum of
Money to a Court-Lady, or a Prime Miniſter ; or a
Deſign of ſtrengthening a Party oppoſite to the publick
Intereft, ever happened to be Motives in thoſe Ad-
vancements ? What Share of Knowledge thoſe Lords
had in the Laws of their Country, and how they came
by it, ſo as to enable them to decide the Properties of
their Fellow-Subjects in the laſt Reſort ? Whether they
were always ſo free from Avarice, Partialities, or
Want, that a Bribe, or ſome other finifter View, could
have no Place among them? Whether thoſe holy
Lords I ſpoke of, were conſtantly promoted to that
Rank upon Account of their knowledge in religious
Matters, and the Sanctity of their Lives, had never
been Compliers with the Times, while they were com-
mon Prieſts; or ſlavilh proſtitute Chaplains to ſome
Nobleman, whoſe Opinions they continued ſervilely
to follow after they were admitted into that Aſſembly?
He then deſired to know, what Arts were practiſed
in electing thoſe whom I call Commoners. Whether
a Stranger with a ſtrong Purſe might not influence the
vulgar Voters to chuſe him before their own Landlords,
or the moſt conſiderable Gentleman in the Neighbour-
hood ? How it came to paſs, that People were ſo
violently bent upon getting into this Affembly, which
I allowed to be a great Trouble and Expence, often
to the Ruin of their Families, without any Salary or
Penſion: Becauſe this appeared ſuch an exalted Strain
of
1 20
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAC.
of Virtue and publick Spirit, that his Majeſty ſeemed
to doubt it might poſſibly not be always fincere: And
he deſired to know, whether ſuch zealous Gentlemen
could have any Views of refunding themſelves for the
Charges and I rouble they were at, by facrificing the
publick Good to the Deſigns of a weak and vicious
Prince, in Conjunction with a corrupted Miniſtry ? He
multiplied his Queſtions, and fifted me thoroughly
upon every Part of this Head ; propoſing numberleſs
Enquiries and Objections, which I think it not prudent
or convenient to repeat.
Upon what I ſaidin relation to our Courts of Juſtice,
his Majeſty deſired to be ſatisfied in ſeveral Points :
And this I was the better able to do, having been for-
merly almoft ruined by a long Suit in Chancery,
which was decreed for me with Coſts. He aſked, what
Time was uſually ſpent in determining between Right
and Wrong; and what Degree of Expence? Whether
Advocates and Orators had Liberty to plead in Cauſes
manifefly known to be unjuſt, vexatious, or oppref-
five ? Whether Party in Religion or Politicks were
obſerved to be of any Weight in the Scale of Juſtice ?
Whether thoſe pleading Orators were Perſons edu-
cated in the general Knowledge of Equity; or only in
provincial, national, and other local Cuſtoms ? Whe
ther they or their Judges had any Part in penning
thoſe Laws, which they aſſumed the Liberty of inter-
preting and gloſſing upon at their Pleaſure ? Whether
they had ever at different Times pleaded for and
againſt the ſame Cauſe and cited Precedents to prove
contrary Opinions ? Whether they were a rich or a
poor Corporation ? Whether they received any pecu-
niary Reward for pleading or delivering theirOpinions ?
And particularly whether they were ever admitted as
Members in the lower Senate
He fell next upon the Management of our Trea-
fory; and ſaid, he thought my Memory had failed me,
becauſe I computed our Taxes at about five or ſix Mil-
lions a Year ; and when I came to mention the Iſſues,
he found they ſometimes amounted to more than dou-
ble,
A Voyage to BrOBDINGNAG.
was a
ble; for the Notes he had taken were very particular
in this point; becauſe he hoped, as he told me, that
theKnowledge of our Conduct might be uſeful to him;
and he could not be deceived in his Calculations. But,
if what I told him were true, he was ſtill at a Loſs
how a Kingdom could run out of its Eftate like a pri-
vate Perſon. He aſked me, who were our Creditors ?
and where we found Money to pay them? He won-
dered to hear me talk of ſuch chargeable and exten-
five Wars; that certainly we muſt be a quarrelſome
People, or live among very bad Neighbours ; and that
our Generals muſt needs be richer than our Kings.
He aſked what Buſineſs we had out of our own
Iſlands, unleſs upon the Score of Trade or Treaty, or
to defend the Coaſts with our ? Fleet Above all, he
amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary ſtanding
Army in the Midſt of Peace, and among a free People.
He ſaid, if we were governed by our own Conſent in
the Perſons of our Repreſentatives, he could not ima-
gine of whom we were afraid, or againſt whom we
were to fight; and would hear my Opinion, whether
a private Man's Houfe might not better be defended by
himſelf, his Children, and Family, than by half a
Dozen Raſcals picked up at a Venture in the Streets,
for ſmall Wages, who might get an hundred Times
more by cutting their Throats.
He laughed at my odd Kind of Arithmetick, (as he
was pleaſed to call it) in reckoning the Number of our
People by a Computation drawn from the ſeveral Sects
among us in Religion and Politicks. He ſaid, he knew
no Reaſon, why thoſe who entertain Opinions prejudi-
cial to the Publick ſhould be obliged to change, or
ſhould not be obliged to conceal them. And as it was
Tyranny in any Government to require the firſt, ſo it
was a Weakneſs not to enforce the ſecond : For a Man
may be allowed to keep Poiſons in his Cloſet, but not
to vend them about as Cordials.
He obſerved, that among the Diverſions of our No-
bility and Gentry, I had mentioned Gaming. He
deſired to know at what Age this Entertainment was
Vol. III.
G
uſually
122
A Voyage ta BROBBINONAG;
uſually taken up, and when it was laid down ? How
much of their Time it employed ; whether it ever
went ſo high as to effect their Fortunes ? Whether
mean vicious People, by their Dexterity in that Art,
might not arrive at great Riches, and ſometimes keep
our very Nobles in Dependance, as well as habituate
them to vile Companions ; wholly take them from the
Improvement of their Minds, and force them, by the
Loſſes they received, to learn and practiſe that infa-
mous Dexterity upon others ?
He was perfectly aftoniſhed with the hiſtorical Ac.
count I gave him of our Affairs during the laſt Cen-
tury; proteſting, it was only an Heap of Conſpiracies,
Rebellions, Murders, Maſſacres, Revolutions, Baniſh-
ments ; the very worſt Effects that Avarice, Faction,
Hypocrify, Perfidiouſneſs, Cruelty, Rage, Madneſs,
Hatred, Envy, Luft, Malice, and Ambition could
produce.
His Majeſty, in another Audience, was at the Point
to recapitalate the Sum of all I had ſpoken ; compared
the Queſtions he made with the Anſwers I had given
then taking me into his Hands, and ſtroaking me gent-
ly, delivered himſelf in theſe Words, which I ſhall
never forget, nor the Manuer he ſpoke them in. My
little Friend, Grildrig, you have made a moſt admira-
ble Panegyrick upon your Country. You have clearly
proved that Ignorance, Idleneſs and Vice are the pro-
per Ingredients for qualifying a Legiſlator. That Laws
are beſt explained, interpreted, and applied by thoſe
whoſe intereſt and Abilities lie in perverting, con-
founding, and eluding them. I obſerve among you
ſome Lines of an Inſtitution, which in its Original
might have been tolerable; but theſe half eraſed, and
the reſt wholly blurred and blotted by Corruptions.
It doth not appear from all you have faid, how any
one Perfection is required towards the Procurement of
any one Station among you ; much leſs that Men are
ennobled on Account of their Virtue, that Prieſts are
advanced for their Piety or Learning, Soldiers for
their Conduct or Valour, Judges for their Integrity,
Senators
A VOYAQL to BroBDIXONAG. 123
Senators for the Love of their Country, or Counſel-
lors for their Wiſdom. As for yourſelf, (continued
the King) who have ſpent the greateſt Part of your
Life in travelling, I am well diſpoſed to hope you may
hitherto have eſcaped many Vices of your Country,
But, by what I have gathered from your own Relation,
and the Anſwers I have with much Pains wringed and
extorted from you, I cannot but conclude the Bulk of
your Natives, to be the moſt pernicious Race of little
odious Vermin, that Nature ever ſuffered to crawl
upon the Surface of the Earth.
CHA P. VII.
The Author's Love of bir Country. He maketh a Pro-
poſal of much Advantage to the King, which is reject-
ed. The King's great Ignorance in Politicks, The
Learning of that Country very imperfed and confined.
The Laws and Military Affairs, and Parties in the
State.
N.
OTHING but an extreme Love of Truth
could have hindered me from concealing this
Part of my Story. It was in vain to diſcover my Re-
ſentments which were always turned into Ridicule :
And I was forced to reſt with Patience, while my no-
ble and moſt beloved Country was ſo injuriouſly treat-
ed. I am as heartily ſorry as any of my Readers can
poſſibly be, that ſuch an Occaſion was given: But this
Prince happened to be ſo curious and inquiſitive upon
every Particular, that it could not confiſt either with
Gratitude or good Manners, to refuſe giving him what
Satisfaction I was able. Yet thus much I may be al-
lowed to ſay in my own Vindication, that I artfully
eluded many of his Queſtions, and gave to every Point
a more favourable Turn, by many Degrees, than the
Stri&neſs of Truth would allow. For, I have always
G 2
borne
124
A Voyage to BRORDINGNAG.
dard for all
borne that laudable Partiality to my own Country,
which Dionyfius Halicarnaffenfis with ſo much Juſtice
recommends to an Hiſtorian. I would hide the Frail-
ties and Deformities of my Political Mother, and place
her Virtues and Beauties in the moſt advantageous
Light. This was my fincere Endeavour in thoſe
many Diſcourſes I had with that Monarch, although
it unfortunately failed of Succeſs.
But great Allowances ſhould be given to a King,
who lives wholly ſecluded from the reft of the World,
and muſt therefore be altogether unacquainted with the
Manners and Cuſtoms that moſt prevail in other Na-
tions : The want of which Knowledge will ever pro-
duce many Prejudices, and a certain Narrowneſs of
Thinking ; from which we and the politer Countries of
Europe are wholly exempted. And it would be hard
indeed, if fo remote a Prince's Notions of Virtue
and Vice were to be offered as a Standard for all
Mankind.
To confirm what I have now faid, and further to
ſhew the miſerable Effects of a confined Education ; I
ſhall here inſert a Pallage which will hardly obtain Be-
lief. In hopes to ingratiate myſelf farther into his Ma-
jeſty's Favour, I told him of an Invention diſcovered
between three and four hundred Years ago, to make a
certain Powder ; into an Heap of which the ſmalleſt
Spark of Fire falling, would kindle the whole in a
Moment, although it were as big as a Mountain, and
make it all fly up in the Air together, with a Noiſe
and Agitation greater than Thunder. That a proper
Quantity of this Powder, rammed into an hollow Tube
of Braſs or Iron, according to its Bigneſs, would drive
a Ball of Iron or Lead with ſuch Violence and Speed,
as nothing was able to ſuſtain its Force. That the
largeſt Balls thus diſcharged, would not only deſtroy
whole Ranks of an Army at once, but batter the
ſtrongeſt Walls to the Ground, fink down Ships, with a
thouſand Men in each, to the Bottom of the Sea; and
when linked together by a Chain, would cut through
Mafts and Rigging, divide Hundreds of Bodies in the
Middle,
A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG.
125
Middle, and lay all Waite before them. That we
often put this Powder into large hollow Balls of Iron,
and diſcharge them by an Engine into ſome City we
were beſieging; which would rip up the Pavement,
tear the Houſes to Pieces, burſ and throw Splinters on
every Side, daſhing out the Brains of all who came near.
That I knew the Ingredients very well, which were
cheap and common; I underſtood the Manner of com-
pounding them, and could direct his Workmen how
to make thoſe 'Tubes of a Size proportionable to all
other Things in his Majeſty's Kingdom; and the largeſt
need not be above two bundred Foot long ; twenty or
thirty of which Tubes, charged with the proper Quan-
tity of Powder and Balls, would batter down the Walls
of the ſtrongeſt Town in his Dominions in a few Hours;
or deſtroy the whole Metropolis, if ever it ſhould pre-
tend to diſpute his abſolute Commands. This I hum-
bly offered to his Majeſty, as a ſmall Tribute of Ac-
knowledgment, in return of ſo inany Marks that I had
received of his Royal Favour and Protection.
The King was ſtruck with Horror at the Deſcription
I had given of thoſe terrible Engines, and the Propoſal
I had made. He was amazed
how ſo impotent
and
groveling an Inſect
as I (theſe were his Expreſſions)
could entertain ſuch inheman Ideas, and in ſo familiar
a Manner as to appear wholly unmoved at all the Scenes
of Blood and Deſolation, which I had painted as the
common Effects of thoſe deſtructive Machines ; where-
of, he ſaid, fome evil Genius, Enemy to Mankind,
muſt have been the first Contriver. As for himſelf, he
proteſted, That, although few Things delighted him
ſo much as new Diſcoveries in Art or in Nature; yet
he would rather loſe half his Kingdom, than be privy
to ſuch a Secret; which he commanded me, as I va-
lued my Life, never to mention any more.
A STRANGE Effe& of narrow Principles and short
Views / that a Prince poffeffed of every Quality which
procures Veneration, Love and Pſteem; of ſtrong Parts,
great Wiſdom and profound Learning; endued with
admirable Talents for Government, and almoſt adored
G 3
by
126
A VOYAGE 1. BROBDINCNAG.
by his Subjects; ſhould from a nice unneceſary Scruple,
whereof in Europe we can have no Conception, let ſlip
an Opportunity put into his Hands, that would have
made him abſolute Maſter of the Lives, the Liberties,
and the Fortunes of his People. Neither do I ſay this
with the leaſt Intention to detra& from the many Vir-
tues of that excellent King, whoſe Character, I am
ſenſible, will on this Account be very much leſſened in
the Opinion of an Engliſh Reader: But I take this
Defect among them to have ariſen from their Igno-
rance; by not having hitherto reduced Politicks into a
Science, as the more acute Wits of Europe have done.
For, I remember very well, in a Diſcourſe one Day
with the King, when I happened to ſay there were
ſeveral thouſand Books among us, written upon the
Art of Government, it gave him (directly contrary to
my Intention) a very mean Opinion of our Under-
ſtandings. He profeffed both to abominate and deſpiſe
all Myflery, Refinement, and Intrigue, either in a Prince
or a Miniſter, He could not tell what I meant by Se-
crets of State, where an Enemy or fome Rival Nation
were not in the Cafe. He confined the Knowledge of
governing within very narrow Bounds; to common
Senſe and Reaſon, to Juſtice and Lenity, to the ſpeedy
Determination of civil and criminal Cauſes ; with
ſome other obvious Topicks, which are not worth
conſidering. And he gave it for his Opinion, that
whoever could make two Ears of Corn, or two Blades
of Graſs to grow upon a Spot of Ground where only
one grew before, would deſerve better of Mankind,
and do more eſſential Service to his Country, than the
whole Race of Politicians put together.
The Learning of this People is very defective ;
confiſting only in Morality, Hiſtory, Poetry, and Ma-
thematicks : wherein they muſt be allowed to excel.
But the laſt of theſe is wholly applied to what may be
ufeful in Life ; to the Improvement of Agriculture
and all mechanical Arts ; ſo that among us it would
be little eſteemed. And as to Ideas, Entities, Ab-
Aractions,
A Voyage To BROBDINONAC. 127
ftractions, and Tranſcendentals, I could never drive
the leaſt Conception into their Heads.
No Law of that Country muſt exceed in Words
the Number of Letters in their Alphabet ; which
conſiſts only of two and twenty. But indeed, few of
them extend even to that Length They are ex-
preſſed in the moſt plain and fimple Terms, wherein
thoſe People are not Mercurial enough to diſcover
above one Interpretation. And, to write a Comment
upon any Law is a capital Crime. As to the Deciſion
of civil Cauſes, or proceedings againſt Criminals,
their Precedents are fo few, that they have little Rea.
ſon to boaſt of their Skill in either.
They have had the Art of Printing, as well as the
Chineſe, Time out of Mind. But their Libraries are
not very large ; for that of the King, which is reck-
oned the largeſt, doth not amount to above a thou
fand Volumes, placed in a Gallery of twelve hun-
dred Foot long; from whence I had Liberty to bor-
Tow what Books I pleaſed. The Queen's Joyner had
contrived in one of Glamdalclitch's Rooms, a Kind
of Wooden Machine five and twenty Foot high, for-
med like a ſtanding Ladder ; the Steps were each
fifty Foot long: It was indeed a moveable Pair of
Stairs, the loweſt End placed at ten Foot Diſtance
from the Wall of the Chamber. The Book I had a
Mind to read, was put up leaning againſt the Wall.
I firſt mounted up to the upper Step of the Ladder,
and turning my Face towards the Book, began at the
Top of the Page, and ſo walking to the Right and
Left about eight or ten Paces according to the Length
of the Lines, until I had gotten a little below the
Level of mine Eyes; and then deſcending gradually
until I came to the Bottom: After which I mounted
again, and began the other Page in the fame Manner,
and ſo turned over the Leaf, which I could eaſily do
with both my Hands, for it was as thick and ſtiff as a
Paſteboard, and in the largeſt Folios not above eigh-
teen or twenty Foot long.
G 4
Tugir
128
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
Their Stile is clear, maſculine, and ſmooth, but
not florid ; for they avoid nothing
more than multi-
plying unneceſſary Words, or uſing various Expreſ-
fions. I have peruſed many of their Books, eſpecially
thoſe in Hiſtory and Morality. Among the latter I
was much diverted with a little old Treatiſe, which
always lay in Glumdalelith's Bed chamber, and be-
longed to her Governeſs, a grave elderly Gentle-
woman, who dealt in Writings of Morality and De-
votion. The Book treats of the Weakneſs of Hu-
man-kind, and is in little Efteem, except among Wo-
men and the Vulgar. However, I was curious to ſee
what an Author of that Country could ſay upon ſuch
a Subject. This Writer went through all the uſual
Topicks of European Moralifts ; fhewing how diminu-
tive, contemptible, and helpleſs an Animal was Man
in his own Nature ; how unable to defend himſelf
from Inclemencies of the Air, or the Fury of wild
Beaſts: How much he was excelled by one Creature
in Strength, by another in Speed, by a third in Fore-
fight, by a fourth in Induſtry. He added, that Na-
ture was degenerated in theſe latter declining Ages of
the World, and could now produce only ſmall abortive
Births in Compariſon of thoſe in ancient Times. He
ſaid, it was very reaſonable to think, not only that the
Species of Man were originally much larger, but alſo
that there muſt have been Giants in former Ages ;
which, as it is aſſerted by Hiſtory and Tradition, ſo
it hath been confirmed by Huge Bones and Sculls ca-
fually dug up in ſeveral Parts of the Kingdom, far
exceeding the common dwindled Race of Man in our
Days. He argued, that the very Laws of Nature
abſolutely required we ſhould have been made in the
Beginning of a Size more large and robuſt, not ſo
liable to Deſtruction from every little Accident of a
Tile falling from an Houſe, or a Stone caſt from the
Hand of a Boy, or of being drowned in a little
Brook. From this Way of Reaſoning the Author
drew ſeveral moral Applications uſeful in the Conduct
of Life, but needleſs here to repeat. For my own
Part,
A VOYAGE tO BROBDINONAG
129
Part, I could not avoid reflecting, how univerſally this
Talent was ſpread of drawing
Lectures in Morality,
or indeed rather Matter of Diſcontent and Repining,
from the Quarrels we raiſe with Nature. And, I be-
lieve, upon a ftria Enquiry, thoſe Quarrels might be
fhewn as ill grounded among us, as they are among
that People.
As to their military Affairs; they boaſt that the
King's Army conſiſts of an hundred and ſeventy-fix
thouſand Foot, and thirty-two thouſand Horſe: If
that may be called an Army which is made up of
Tradeſmen in the ſeveral Cities, and Farmers in the
Country, whoſe Commanders are only the Nobility
and Gentry without Pay or Reward. They are in-
deed perfect enough in their Exerciſes ; and under
very good Diſcipline, wherein I ſaw no great Me.
rit. For how ſhould it be otherwiſe, where every
Farmer is under the Command of his own Landlord,
and
every Citizen under that of the principal Men of
his own City, choſen, after the Manner of Venice, by
Ballot ?
I Have often ſeen the Militia of Lorbrulgrud drawn
out to exerciſe in a great Field near the City, of
twenty Miles Square. They were in all not above
twenty-five thouſand Foot, and fix thouſand Horſe;
but it was impoſſible for me to compute
their Number,
confidering the Space of Ground they took up. A
Cavalier mounted on a large Steed might be about
Ninety Foot high. I have ſeen this whole Body of
Horſe upon the Word of Command draw their Swords
at once, and Brandiſh them in the Air. Imagination
can figure nothing ſo grand, fo ſurpriſing, and ſo
aſtoniſhing. It looked as if ten thouſand Flaſhes of
Lightning were darting at the ſame time from every
Quarter of the Sky.
I Was curious to know how this Prince, to whoſe
Dominions there is no Acceſs from any other Country,
came to think of Armies, or to teach his People
the Practice of military Diſcipline. Bat I was ſoon
informed, both by Converſation, and reading their
Hikories.
.
G 5
130 A VOYAGE TO BROBDINCRAG.
Hiſtories. For, in the Courſe of many Ages, they
have been troubled with the ſame Diſeaſe, to which
the whole Race of Mankind is ſubject; the Nobility
often contending for Power, the People for Liberty,
and the King for abſolute Dominion. All which,
however happily tempered by the Laws of that King-
dom, have been fometimes violated by each of the
three Parties; and have more than once occafioned civil
Wars, the laſt whereof was happily put an End to by
this Prince's Grandfather in a general Compoſition ;
and the Militia, then ſettled with common Conſent,
hath been ever ſince kept in the ſtricteſt Duty.
CHA P. VIII.
The King and Queen make a Progreſs to the Frontiers.
The Author attends them. The Manner in which he
leaves the Country very particularly deſcribed. He
returns to England.
HAD always a ſtrong Impulſe that I ſhould ſome
time recover my Liberty; although it were im-
poffible to conjecture by what Means, or to form any
Project with the leaſt Hope of ſucceeding. The Ship
in which I failed was the firſt ever known to be driven
within Sight of that Coaſt; and the King had given
firi&t Orders, that if at any time another appeared,
it ſhould be taken aſhore, and with all its Crew and
Paſſengers brought in a Tumbril to Lorbrulgrud.
He was ſtrongly bent to get me a Woman of my own
Size, by whom I might propagate the Breed: But I
think I ſhould rather have died than undergone the
Diſgrace of leaving a Pofterity to be kept in Cages
like tame Canary Birds; and perhaps in time fold
about the Kingdom to Perſons of Quality for Curio-
Eties. I was indeed treated with much Kindneſs ::
I was
A VOYAGE to BROEDINGNAC.
131
I was the Favourite of a great King and Queen, and
the Delight of the whole Court, but it was upon ſuch
a Foot as ill became the Dignity of human Kind. I
could never forget thoſe domeſtick Pledges I had left
behind me. I wanted to be among People with whom
I could converſe on even Terms ; and walk about the
Streets and Fields without Fear of being trod to Death
like a Frog or young Puppy. But my Deliverance
came fooner than I expected, and in a Manner not
very common : The whole Story and Circumſtances
of which I ſhall faithfully relate.
I had now been two Years in this Country; and
about the Beginning of the third Glumdalclitch and I
attended the King and Queen in their Progreſs to the
South Coat of the Kingdom. I was carried as uſual in
my Travelling-Box, which, as I have already deſcribed,
was a very convenient Cloſet of twelve Foot wide.
I had ordered a Hammock to be fixed by Silken
Ropes from the four Corners at the Top, to break the
Jolts, when a Servant carried me before him en Horſe-
back, as I ſometimes defired; and would often ſeep
in
iny
Hammock while we were upon the Road, On
the Roof of my Cloſet, fet not direaly over the Mid-
dle of the Hammock, I ordered the Joiner to cut
out a Hole of a Foot ſquare to give me Air in hot
Weather as I ſlept ; which Hole I ſhut at Pleaſure
with a Board that drew backwards and forwards
through a Groove.
When we came to our Journey's End, the King
thought proper to paſs a few Days at a Palace he hath
near Flanflafric, a City within Eighteen Engliſh Miles
of the Sca-ſide. Glumdalclitch and I were much
fatigued: I had gotten a ſmall Cold; but the poor
Girl was ſo ill as to be confined to her Chamber. I
longed to ſee the Ocean, which muſt be the only
Scene of my Eſcape, if ever it ſhould happen. I pre-
tended to be worſe than I really was ; and delired
leave to take the freſh Air of the Sea, with a Page
whom I was very fond of, and who had ſometimes
been truſted with me. I ſhall never forget with what
Unwillingnels
WHITE
132
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
Unwillingneſs Glumdalclitch conſented, nor the ſtrict
Charge ſhe gave the page to be careful of me; burſt-
ing at the ſame time into a Flood of Tears, as if ſhe
had ſome Foreboding of what was to happen. The
Boy took me out in my Box about half an Hour's
Walk from the Palace, towards the Rocks on the Sea-
ſhore. I ordered him to ſet me down, and lifting up
one of my Saſhes, caſt many a wilful melancholy
Look towards the Sea. I found myſelf not very well;
and told the Page that I had a Mind to take a Nap in
my Hammock, which I hoped would do me good.
I got in, and the Boy ſhut the Window cloſe down to
keep out the Cold. I foon fell aſleep : And all I can
conjecture is, that while I ſlept, the Page thinking no
Danger could happen, went among the Rocks to look
for Birds Eggs : having before obſerved him from my
Window ſearching about, and picking up one or two
in the Clefts. Be that as it will, I found myſelf ſud-
denly awaked with a violent Pull upon the Ring
which was faſtened on the Top of my Box, for the
Conveniency of Carriage. I felt the Box raiſed very
high in the Air, and then borne forward with prodigious
Speed. The firſt Jolt had like to have ſhaken me out
of my Hammock ; but afterwards the Motion was
eaſy enough. I called out ſeveral times as loud as
could raiſe my Voice, but all to no Purpoſe; I looked
towards my Windows, and could ſee nothing but the
Clouds and Sky I heard a Noiſe juf over my Head,
like the clapping of Wings; and then began to con-
ceive the woful Condition I was in ; that ſome Eagle
had got the Ring of my Box in his Beak, with an
Intent to let it fall on a Rock, like a Tortoiſe in a
Shell, and then pick out my Body, and devour it.
For the Sagacity and Smell of this Bird enabled him
to diſcover his Quarry at a great Diſtance, although
better concealed than I could be within a two Inch
Board.
In a little time I obſerved the Noiſe and Flutter of
Wings to encreaſe very faſt ; and my Box was toffed
up and down like a Sign on a poft in a windy Day. I
heard
be within an
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG. 133
heard ſeveral Bangs or Buffets, as I thought, given to
the Eagle (for ſuch I am certain it muſt have been
that held the Ring of my Box in his Beak) and then
all on a ſudden felt myſelf falling perpendicularly
down for above a Minute; but with ſuch incredible
Swiftneſs that I almoſt loſt my Breath. My Fall was
ftopped by a terrible Squaſh, that ſounded louder to
mine Ears than the Cataract of Niagara ; after which
I was quite in the Dark for another Minute, and then
my Box began to riſe fo high that I could fee Light
from the Tops of my Windows. I now perceived that
I was fallen into the Sea My Box, by the Weight of
my Body, the Goods that were in, and the broad
Plates of Iron fixed for Strength at the four Corners
of the Top and Bottom, floated about five Foot deep
in Water. I did then, and do now ſuppoſe, that the
Eagle which few away with my Box was purſued by
two or three others, and forced to let me drop while
he was defending himſelf againſt the reſt, who hoped
to ſhare in the Prey. The Plates of Iron-faſtened at
the Bottom of the Box (for thoſe were the ſtrongeſt)
preſerved the Ballance while it fell, and hindered it
from being broken on the Surface of the Water.
Every Joint of it was well grooved, and the Door dia
not move on Hinges, but up and down like a Saſh;
which kept my Cloſet fo tight, that very little Water
came in. I got with much Difficulty out of my Ham-
mock, having firſt ventured to draw back the Slip-
board on the Reof already mentioned, contrived on
purpoſe to let in Air; for want of which I found my-
ſelf almoſt tiAed.
How often did I then wiſh myſelf with my dear
Glumdaltlitch, from whom one ſingle Hour had ſo far
divided me ! And I may ſay with
Truth, that in the
midſt of my own Misfortune, I could not forbear la-
menting my poor Nurſe, the Grief ſhe would ſuffer
for my Loſs, the Diſpleaſure of the Queen, and the
Ruin of her Fortune. Perhaps many Travellers have
not been under greater Difficulties and Diſtreſſes than
I was at this Juncture, expecting every Moment to
fee
134
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG,
ſee my Box daſhed in Pieces, or at leaſt overſet by the
firſt violent Blaft, or a rifing Wave. A Breach in one
fingle Pane of Glaſs would have been immediate
Death: Nor could any Thing have preſerved the
Windows but the ſtrong Lattice Wires placed on the
Outſide againſt Accidents in Travelling. I ſaw the
Water ooze in at ſeveral Crannies, although the Leaks
were not conſiderable; and I endeavoured to ftop
them as well as I could. I was not able to lift up the
Roof of my Cloſet, which otherwiſe I certainly ſhould
have done, and fat on the Top of it, where I might
at leaſt preſerve myſelf from being fhut up, as I may
call it, in the Hold. Or, if I eſcaped theſe Dangers
for a Day or two, what could I expect but a miſerable
Death of Cold and Hunger? I was four Hours under
theſe Circumſtances, expecting and indeed withing
every Moment to be my laſt.
I have already told the Reader, that there were
two ſtrong Staples fixed upon the side of my Box
which had no Window, and into which the Servant,
who uſed to carry me on Horſeback, would put a
Leathern Belt, and buckle it about his Waiſt. Being
in this difconfolate State, I heard, or at leaſt thought
I heard ſome kind of grating Noiſe on that Side of
my Box where the Staples were fixed ; and ſoon after
I began to fancy that the Box was pulled, or towed
along in the Sea ; for I now and then felt a Sort of
tugging, which made the Waves riſe near the Tops of
my Windows, leaving me almoſt
in the Dark. This
gave me ſome faint Hopes of Relief, although I were
not able to imagine how it could be brought about. I
ventured to unſcrew one of my Chairs, which were
always faſtened to the Floor; and having made a hard
fhift to ſcrew it down direally under the Slipping-
board that I had lately opened, I mounted on the
Chair; and putting my Mouth as near as I could to
the Hole, I called for Help in a loud Voice, in all the
Languages I underſtood. I then faſtened my Hand-
kerchief to a Stick I uſually carried, and truſting it
up the Hole, waved it ſeveral times in the Air, that
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
135
:
if any Boat or Ship were near, the Seamen might con-
jecture ſome unhappy Mortal to be ſhut up in the Box.
I FOUND no effect from all I could do, but plainly
perceived my Cloſet to be moved along ; and in the
Space of an Hour, or better, that Side of the Box
where the Staples were, and had no Window, ſtruck
againſt ſomething that was hard. I apprehended it to
be a Rock, and found myſelf toffed inore than ever.
I plainly heard a Noiſe upon the Cover of my Cloſet,
like that of a Cable, and the grating of it as it paſſed
through the Ring. I then found myſelf hoitted up
by Degrees at leaſt three Foot higher than I was be-
fore, Whereupon I again thruſt up my Stick and
Handkerchief, calling for help till I was almoſt hoarſe.
In return to which I heard a great Shout repeated three
times, giving me fuch Tranſports of Joy as are not to
be conceived but by thoſe who feel them. I now
heard a trampling over my Head, and fomebody cak-
ling through the Hole with a loud Voice in the Eng.
lift Tongue: If there be any body below, let them
Speak. I anfwered, I was an Engliſoman, drawn by
ill Fortune into the greateſt Calamity that ever any
Creature underwent ; and begged, by all that was
moving to be delivered out of the Dungeon I was in.
The Voice replied, I was ſafe, for my Box was
faftened to their Ship, and the Carpenter ſhould im
mediately come, and ſaw
an Hole in the Cover, large
enough to pull me out. I anſwered, that was need-
leſs, and would take up too much Time; for there
was no more to be done, but let one of the Crew put
his Finger into the Ring, and take the Box out of the
Sea into the Ship, and fo into the Captain's Cabbin.
Some of them, upon hearing me talk ſo wildly, thought
I was mad; others laughed; for indeed it never came
into my Head, that I was now got among People of
my own Stature and Strength. The Carpenter came,
and in a few Minutes fawed a Paſſage about four Foot
Square; then he let down a ſmall Ladder, upon which
I mounted, and from thence was taken into the Ship
in a very weak Condition.
136
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
The Sailors were all in Amazement, and aſked me
a thouſand Queſtions, which I had no Inclination to
anſwer. I was equally confounded at the Sight of ſo
many Pigmies; for ſuch I took them to be, after have
ing ſo long accuſtomed mine Eyes to the monſtrous.
Objects I had left. But the Captain, Mr. Thomas
Wilcocks, an honeſt worthy Shropſhire Man, obſerving
I was ready to faint, took me into his Cabbin, gave
me a Cordial to comfort me, and made me turn in
upon his own Bed ; adviſing me to take a little Reft,
of which I had great need. Before I went to ſleep, I
gave him to underſtand, that I had ſome valuable
Furniture in my Box, too good to be loft ; a fine
Hammock, an handſome Field-Bed, two Chairs, a
Table, and a Cabinet: That my Cloſet was hung on
all Sides, or rather quilted with Silk and Cotton :
That if he would let one of the Crew bring my Cloſet
into his Cabbin, I would open it before him, and ſhew
my Goods. The Captain
hearing me utter theſe Ab-
ſurdities, concluded I was raving: However, (t fup-
poſe to pacify me) he promiſed to give Orders as I
deſired ; and going upon Deck, ſent ſome of his Men
down into my Cloſet, from whence (as I afterwards
found) they drew up all my Goods, and ſtripped off
the Quilting; but the Chairs, Cabinet and Bed-ſtead
being ſcrewed to the Floor, were much damaged by the
Ignorance of the Seamen, who tore them up by Force.
Then they knocked off ſome of the Boards for the Uſe
of the Ship; and when they had got all they had a mind
for, let the Hull drop into the Sea, which, by reaſon of
many Breaches made in the Bottom and Sides, ſunk to
rights. And indeed I was glad not to have been a Spec-
tator of the Havock they made ; becauſe I am confi-
dent it would have ſenſibly touched me, by bringing
former Paſſages into my Mind, which I had rather forget.
I slept ſome Hours, but perpetually diſturbed with
Dreams of the Place I had left, and the Dangers I had
eſcaped. However, upon waking, I found myſelf
much recovered. It was now about eight a Clock at
Night, and the Captain ordered Supper immediately,
thinking
A VOYAGE to BrOBDINGNAG.
137
thinking I had already fafted too long. He entertain-
ed me with great Kindneſs, obſerving me not to look
wildly, or talk inconſiſtently ; and when we were left
alone, deſired I would give him a Relation of my Tra-
vels, and by what Accident I came to be ſet adrift in
that monſtrous wooden Cheft. He ſaid, that about
twelve a Clock at Noon, as he was looking through his
Glaſs he ſpied it at a Diſtance, and thought it was a
Sail, which he had a Mind to make; being not much
out of his Courſe in hopes of buying fome Biſcuit, his
own beginning to fall fhort. That, upon coming nearer,
and finding his Error, he ſent out his Long boat to dif-
cover what I was ; that his Men came back in a Fright,
ſwearing they had ſeen a ſwimming Houſe. That he
laughed at their Folly, and went himſelf in the Boat,
ordering his Men to take a ftrong Cable along with
them. That, the Weather being calm, he rowed
round me ſeveral Times, obſerved my Windows, and
the Wire Lattices that defended them. That, he dis-
covered two Staples upon one side, which was all of
Boards, without any Paſſage for Light. He then com-
manded his Men to row up to that Side ; and faſtening
a Cable to one of the Staples, ordered his Men to tow
my Cheft (as he called it) towards the Ship. When it
was there, he gave Directions to fallen another Cable
to the Ring fixed in the Cover, and to raiſe up my Cheſt
with Pallies, which all the Sailors were not able to do
above two or three Foot. He ſaid, they ſaw my Stick
and Handkerchief thruſt out of the Hole, and conclud-
ed, that ſome unhappy Man muſt be ſhut up in the
Cavity. I aſked whether he or the Crew had ſeen any
prodigious Birds in the Air about the Time he firſt
diſcovered me : To which he anſwered, that diſcourſe-
ing this Matter with the Sailors while I was aſleep,
one of them faid he had obſerved three Eagles flying
towards the North ; but remarked nothing of their
being larger than the uſual Size; which I ſuppoſe
muſt be imputed to the great Height they were at:
And he could not gueſs the Reaſon of my Queſtion. I
then aſked the Captain how far he reckoned we might
be
138
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
.
be from Land ? he faid, by the beſt Computation he
could make, we were at leait an hundred Leagues. I
affured him, that he muſt be miſtaken by almoſt half;
for I had not left the Country from whence I came, a-
bove two Hours before I dropt into the Sea. Where-
upon he began again to think that my Brain was di-
fturbed, of which he gave me a Hint, and adviſed me
to go to Bed in a Cabbin he had provided. I aſſured
him I was well refreſhed with his good Entertainment
and Company, and as much in my Senſes as ever [
was in my Life. He then grew ſerious, and deſired to
aſk me freely, whether I were not troubled in Mind by
the Conſciouſneſs of ſome enormous Crime, for which
I was puniſhed at the Command of fome Prince, by
expoſing me in that Cheft ; as great Criminals in other
Countries have been forced to Sea in a leaky Veſſel
without Provifions : For although he ſhould be forry
to have taken fo ill a Man into his Ship, yet he would
engage his Word to let me ſafe on Shore in the firſt
Port where he arrived. He added, that his Suſpicions
were much increaſed by ſome very abſurd Speeches I
had delivered at firſt to the Sailors, and afterwards to
himſelf, in relation to my Cloſet or Cheft, as well as
by my odd Looks and Behaviour while I was at Sup-
per.
I BEGGED his Patience to hear me tell my Story;
which I faithfully did from the laſt Time I left Eng-
land, to the Moment he firſt diſcovered me. And, as
Truth always forceth its way into rational Minds ; fo
this honeſt worthy Gentleman, who had ſome T'incture
of Learning, and very good Senſe, was immediately
convinced of my Candour and Veracity. But, further
to confirm all I had ſaid, I intreated him to give Or-
ders that my Cabinet ſhould be brought, of which I
kept the key in my Pocket, (for he had already in-
formed me how the Seamen had diſpoſed of my Cloſet)
I opened it in his Preſence, and thewed him the ſmalí
Collection of Rarities I made in the Country from
whence I had been ſo ftrangely delivered. There was
the Coinb I had contrived out of the Stumps of the
King's
A VOYAGE to BRODDINGNAG. 139
King's Beard ; and another of the fame Materials, but
fixed into a Paring of her Majeſty's Thumb-nail, which
ſerved for the Back. There was a Collection of Needles
and Pins from a Foot to half a Yard long. Four Waſp
Stings, like Joyners Tacks: Some Combings of the
Queen's Hair: A gold Ring which one Day ſhe made
me a Preſent of in a molt obliging Manner, taking it
from her little Finger, and throwing it over my Head
like a Collar. I deſired the Captain would pleaſe to
accept this Ring in Return of his Civilities ; which he
abſolutely refuſed. I fhewed him a Corn that I had
cut off with my own Hand from a Maid of Honour's
Toe; it was about the Bigneſs of a Kentiſh Pippin, and
grown ſo hard, that when I returned to England, I
got it hollowed into a Cup and ſet in Silver. Laſtly, I
deſired him to ſee the Breeches I had then on, which
were made of a Mouſe's Skin.
I COULD force nothing on him but a Footman's
Tooth, which I obſerved him to examine with great
Curioſity, and found he had a Fancy for it. He re-
ceived it with abundance of Thanks, more than ſuch a
Trifle could deſerve. It was drawn by an unſkilful
Surgeon in a Miſtake from one of Glumdalclitch's
Men, who was afflicted with the Tooth-ach; but it
was as found as any in his Head. I got it cleaned,
and put it into my Cabinet. It was about a Foot
long, and four Inches in Diameter.
The Captain was very well ſatisfied with this plain
Relation I had given him ; and ſaid, he hoped when
we returned to England, I would oblige the World by
putting it in Paper, and making it publick. My
Anſwer was, that I thought we were already over-
ſtocked with Books of Travels : That, nothing
could now paſs which was not extraordinary ; where-
in I doubted, fome Authors leſs conſulted Truth than
their own Vanity or Intereſt, or the Diverſion of ig-
norant Readers. That, my Story could contain lit-
tle beſides common Events, without thoſe ornamental
Deſcriptions of ſtrange Plants, Trees, Birds, and other
Animals; or the barbarous Cuſtoms and Idolatry of
ſavage
140
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNAG.
favage People, with which moſt Writers abound,
However, I thanked him for his good Opinion, and
promiſed to take the Matter into my Thoughts.
He ſaid, he wondered at one Thing very much;
which was to hear me ſpeak ſo loud; alking me whe-
ther the King or Queen of that Country were thick of
Hearing. I told him it was what I had been uſed to
for above two Years paft; and that I admired as much
at the Voices of him and his Men, who ſeemed to me
only to whiſper, and yet I could hear them well enough.
But, when I ſpoke in that Country, it was like a Man
talking in the Street to another looking out from the
Top of a Steeple, unleſs when I was placed on a Ta-
ble, or held in any perſon's Hand. I told him, I had
likewiſe obſerved another Thing; that when I firſt got
into the Ship, and the Sailors ſtood all about me, I
thought they were the most little contemptible Crea-
tures I had ever beheld, For, indeed, while I was in
that Prince's Country, I could never endure to look in a
Glaſs after mine Eyes had been accuſtomed to ſuch pro-
digious Objects; becauſe the Compariſon gave me ſo
deſpicable a Conceit of myſelf. The Captain ſaid,
that while we were at Supper, he obſerved me to look
at every Thing with a Sort of Wonder; and that I of-
ten ſeemed hardly able to contain my Laughter ; which
he knew not well how to take, but imputed it to ſome
Diſorder in my Brain, I anſwered, it was very true ;
and I wondered how I could forbear, when I ſaw his
Diſhes of the Size of a Silver Three-pence, a Leg of
Pork hardly a Mouthful, a Cap not ſo big as a Nutſhell:
And ſo I went on, deſcribing the reſt of his Houſhold-
ſtuff and Proviſions after the fame Manner. For, al-
though the Queen had ordered a little Equipage of all
Things neceſſary for me while I was in her Service;
yet my Ideas were wholly taken up with what I ſaw
on every Side of me; and I winked at my own Little-
neſs, as People do at their own Faults. The Captain
underſtood my Raillery very well, and merrily replied
with the old Engliſh Proverb, that he doubted, mine
Eyes were bigger than my Belly; for he did not ob-
ſerve
A VOYAGE to BRODDINGNAG.
141
ſerve my Stomach ſo good, although I had faſted all
Day: And continuing in his Mirth, proteſted he
would have gladly given an hundred Pounds to have
ſeen my Cloſet in the Eagle's Bill, and afterwards in
its Fall from ſo great an Height into the Sea ; which
would certainly have been a moſt aſtonishing Object,
worthy to have the Deſcription of it tranſmitted to
future Ages : And the Compariſon of Phaeton was ſo
obvious, that he could not forbear applying it, al-
though I did not much admire the Conceit.
The Captain having been at Tonquin, was, in his
Return to England, driven North-Eaſtward to the La-
titude of 44 Degrees, and of Longitude 143. But
meeting a Trade Wind two Days after I came on
board him, we failed Southward a long Time, and
coaſting New Holland, kept our Courſe Weft-South-
Weſt, and then South-South-Weſt, until we doubled
the Cape of Good-Hope. Our Voyage was very prof-
perous, but I ſhall not trouble the Reader with a
Journal of it. The Captain called in at one or two
Ports, and ſent in his Long-boat for Proviſions and
freſh Water ; but
I never went out of the Ship until
we came into the Downs, which was on the 3d Day of
Fune, 1706, about nine Months after my Eſcape. I
offered to leave my Goods in Security for Payment of
my Freight, but the Captain proteſted he would not re-
ceive one Farthing. We took a kind Leave of each
other ; and I made him promiſe he would come to ſee
me at my Houſe in Redrift I hired a Horſe and Guide
for five Shillings, which I borrowed of the Captain.
As I was on the Road; obſerving the Littleneſs of
the Houſes, the Trees, the Cattle and the People, I
began to think myſelf in Lilliput. I was afraid of
trampling on every Traveller I met, and often called
aloud to have them ſtand out of the Way; ſo that I
had like to have gotten one or two broken Heads for
my .
WHEN I came to my own Houſe, for which I was
forced to inquire, one of the Servants opening the
Door, I bent down to go in (like a Gooſe under a
Gate)
142
A VOYAce to BROBDINGNAG.
Gate) for fear of ſtriking my Head. My Wife ran
out to embrace me, but I ſtooped lower than her knees,
thinking fhe could otherwiſe never be able to reach my
Mouth. My Daughter kneeled to aſk me Bleſſing,
but I could not ſee her until ſhe aroſe; having been ſo
long uſed to ſtand with my Head and Eyes erect to a-
bove fixty Foot; and then I went to take her ир
with
one Hand, by the Waiſt. I looked down upon the
Servants, and one or two Friends who were in the
Houſe, as if they had been Pigmies, and I a Giant,
I told my Wife ſhe had been too thrifty; for I found
ſhe had ſtarved herſelf and her Daughter to nothing
In ſhort, I behaved myſelf fo unaccountably, that they
were all of the Captain's Opinion when he firſt faw
me; and concluded I had loſt my Wits. This I men-
tion as an Inſtance of the great Power of Habit and
Prejudice,
In a little Time I and my Family and Friends came
to a right Underſtanding : But my Wife proteſted I
ſhould never go to Sea any more ; although my evil
Deſtiny fo ordered, that ſhe had not Power to hinder
me; as the Reader may know hereafter. In the mean
Time, I here conclude the ſecond Part of my unfortu-
nate Voyages.
The End of the Second Part.
TRAVELS
Plate II. Part II.
Page 143
P
Parts Unknown
C Patience
Companys
LAND OF
Sejam Baye
Robin I
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Straits of
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Sea of Corea
Vries
BALNIBARBI
Lagado
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9
Toy PI
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Diſcovered.A.D 1701
JAPO
Tonja Onyeludio 2
Bango South I
Dimonis JEM
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DUGN- AGO
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( 143 )
.
TRAVEL S.
PART III.
A VOYAGE to Laputa, Balnabarbi,
Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan.
CHAPTER 1.
The Author fets out on his Third Voyage. Is taken by
Pyrates. The Malice of a Dutchman. His Arrival
at an Iſland. He is received into Laputa.
I
HAD not been at Home above ten Days,
when Captain William Robinſon, a Corniſh Man
Commander of the Hopewell, a ſtout Ship of
three Hundred Tons, came to my Houſe. I had
formerly been Surgeon of another Ship, where he
was Maſter, and a fourth Part Owner, in a Voyage
to the Levant. He had always treated me more like
a Brother than an inferior Officer ; and hearing of
my Arrival, made me a Viſit, as I apprehended, only
out
144 A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
out of Friendſhip, for nothing pafiled more than what
is uſual after long Abſence. But repeating his Viſits
often, expreſſing his Joy to find me in good Health,
aſking whether I were now ſettled for Life, adding
that he intended a Voyage to the Eaſt-Indies, in two
Months; at laſt he plainly invited me, although with
ſome Apologies, to be Surgeon of the Ship. That
I ſhould have another Surgeon under me, beſides
our two Mates ; That my Salary ſhould be double
to the uſual Pay; and that having experienced my
Knowledge in Sea Affairs to be at leaſt equal to his,
he would enter into any Engagement to follow my
Advice, as much as if I had a Share in the Com
mand.
He ſaid ſo many other obliging Things, and I knew
him to be ſo honeſt a Man, that I could not reject
his Propoſal; the Thirſt I had of ſeeing the World,
notwithſtanding my paſt Misfortunes, continuing as
violent as ever. The only Difficulty that remained,
was to perſuade my Wife, whoſe Conſent however I
at laſt obtained, by the Proſpect of Advantage ſhe
propoſed to her Children.
We ſet out the fifth Day of Auguſt, 1706, and ar-
rived at Fort St. George the nth of April, 1707. We
ſtaid there three Weeks to refreſh our Crew, many of
whom were fick. From thence we went to Tonquin,
where the Captain reſolved to continue ſome Time;
becauſe many of the Goods he intended to buy were
not ready, nor could he expect to be diſpatched in
ſeveral Months. Therefore in hopes to defray ſome
of the Charges he muſt be at, he bought a Sloop,
loaded it with ſeveral Sorts of Goods, wherewith the
Tonquineſe ufually trade to the neighbouring Iſlands ;
and putting fourteen Men on board, whereof three
were of the Country, he appointed me Maſter of the
Sloop, and gave me Power to traffick, while he tranſ-
acled his Affairs at Tonquin.
We had not failed above three Days, when a great
Storm ariſing, we were driven five Days to the North-
North-Eaſt,
A Voyace to Laruta, &c
North-Eaſt, and then to the Eaſt; after which we had
fair Weather, but ſtill with a pretty flrong Gale from
the Weſt. Upon the tenth Day we were chaſed by
two Pyrates, who foon overtook us ; for my Sloop was
ſo deep loaden, that ſhe failed very ſlow ; neither were
we in a Condition to defend ourſelves,
We were boarded about the ſame Time by both the
Pyrates, who entered furiouſly at the Head of their
Men; but finding as all proftrate upon our Faces, (for
fo I gave Order, they pinioned us with ſtrong Ropes,
and ſetting a Guard upon us, went to ſearch the Sloop,
I observed among them a Dutchman, who ſeemed
to be of ſome Authority, although he were not Com.
mander of either Ship. He knew us by our Counte-
nanees to be Engliſhmen, and jabbering to us in his own
Language, fwore we ſhould be tied Back to Back, and
thrown into the Sea. I ſpoke Dutch tolerable well; I
told him who we were, and begged him in Conſidera-
tion of our being Chriſtians and Proteſtants of neigh-
bouring Countries, in ftri&t Alliance, that he would
move the Captains to take ſome Pity on us. This in.
famed his Rage; he repeated his Threatenings, and
turning to his Companions, ſpoke with great Vehe-
mence, in the Japaneſe Language, as I ſuppoſe; often
uſing the Word Chriftianos.
The largeſt of the two Pyrate Ships was commanded
by a Japaneſe Captain, who ſpoke a little Dutch, but
'very imperfe&tly. He came up to me, and after ſeve-
Tal Queſtions, which I anſwered in great Humility, he
faid we ſhould not die. I made the Captain a very low
Bow, and then turning to the Dutchman, ſaid, I was
forry to find more Mercy in a Heathen, than in a Bro-
ther Chriſtian. But I had ſoon Reaſon to repent thoſe
fooliſh Words; for that malicious Reprobate, having of-
ten endeavoured, in vain, to perſuade both the Captains
that I might be thrown into the Sea, (which they would
not yield to after the Promiſe made me, that I ſhould
not die) however prevailed ſo far as to have a Paniſh-
ment inflicted on me, worſe in all human Appearance
than Death it ſelf. My Men were fent by an equal
Vol. III.
Diviſion
146
& VOYAG? to Lafura, &c.
Diviſion into both the Pyrate-Ships, and my Sloop new
manned : As to my felf, it was determined that I
ſhould be ſet a driſt, in a ſmall Canoe, with Paddles and
a Sail, and four Days Proviſions ; which laſt, the Japa-
neſe Captain was ſo kind to double out of his own
Stores, and would permit no Man to ſearch me. I got
down into the Canoe, while the Dutchman ſtanding
upon the Deck, londed me with all the Curſes and in-
jurious Terms his Language could afford.
About an Hour before we ſaw the Pyrates, I had
taken an Obſervation, and found
we were in the
Lati-
tude of 46 N. and of Longitude 183.
When I was
at fome Diſtance from the Pyrates, I difcovered by my
Pocket-Glaſs ſeveral lands to the South-Eaſt. I ſet
up my Sail, the Wind being fair, with a Deſign to
reach the neareſt of thoſe Inands, which I made a Shift
to do in about three Hours. It was all rocky; howe.
ver, I got many Birds Eggs; and
ſtriking Fire, I kind.
led ſome Heath and dry Sea Weed, by which I roaſted
my Eggs. I eat no other Supper, being reſolved to
ſpare my Proviſions as much as I could. I paſſed the
Night under the Shelter of a Rock, Irowing ſome
Heath under me, and flep: pretty well,
The next Day I failed to another Iſland, and thence
to a third and fourth, ſometimes uſing my Sail, and
ſometimes my Paddles. But not to trouble the Reader
with a particular Account of my Diſtreſſes ; let it ſuf-
fice, that on the sch Day, I arrived at the laſt Iſland in
my Sight, which lay South South-Eaſt to the former.
This Iſland was at a greater Diſtance than I expect-
ed, and I did not reach it in leſs than five Hours. I
encompaſſed it almoſt round before I could find a con-
venient Place to lead in, which was a ſmall Creek, a-
bout three Times thc Wideneſs of my Canoe. I found
the INand to be all rocky, only a little intermingled
with l'ufts of Graſs, and fiveet ſmelling Herbs. I took
out my ſmall Proviſions, and after having refreſhed my
felf, I fecured the Reminder in a Cave, whereof there
were great Numbers. I guhered Plenty of Eggs upon
the Rocks, and got a Quantity of dry Sea-Weed, and
Parched
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c."
parched Graſs, which I deſigned to kindle the next
Day, and roaft my Eggs as well as I could. (For I
had about ine my Flint, Steel, Match, and Burning.
Glaſs.) I lay all Night in the Cave where I had
lodged my Proviſions. My Bed was the ſame dry
Grals and Sea-weed which I intended for Fuel. [
ſlept very little ; for the Diſquiets of my Mind pre-
vailed over my Wearineſs, and kept me awake. I con-
fidered how impoſlible it was to preſerve my Life, in
ſo deſolate a Place ; and how miſerable my End muſt
be. Yet I found my ſelf ſo lifleſs and defponding,
that I had not the Heart to riſe ; and before I could
get Spirits enough to creep out of my Cave, the Day
was far advanced. I walked a while among the Rocks,
the Sky was perfectly clear, and the Sun ſo hot, that I
was forced to turn my Face from it: When all on a
ſudden it became obſcured, as I thought, in a Manner
very different from what happens by the Inter poſition
of a Cloud. I turned back, and perceived a valt opake
Body between me and the Sun, moving forwards to-
wards the Iſland : It ſeemed to be about twoMiles high,
and hid the Sun fix or ſeven Minutes, but I did not ob.
ſerve the Air to be much colder, or the Sky more dark-
ned, than if I had ſtood under the Shade of a Mountain.
As it approached nearer over the Place where I was, it
appeared to be a firmSubſlance, the Bottom flat, ſmooth,
and ſliining very bright from the Refleêtion of the Sea
below. I ſtood upon a Height about two hundred
Yards from the Shoar, and ſaw this vaſt Body deſcend-
ing almoſt to a Parallel with me, at leſs than an Engliſh
Mile Diſtance. I took out my Pocket Perſpective, and
could plainly diſcover Numbers of People moving up
and down the sides of it, which appeared to be flop-
ing, but what thoſe People were doing, I was not able
to diſtinguiſh.
Tuz natural Love of Life gave me ſome inward Mo-
tions of joy ; and I was ready to entertain a Hope, that
this Adventure might ſome way or other help to de-
liver me from the defolate Place and Condition I was
sa. But, at the ſame Time, the Reader can hardly
H 2
conceive
148
A Voyaor to Laruta, &ci
conceive my Aloniſhment, to bchold an Iſland in the
Air, inhabited by Men, who were able (as it ſhould
ſeem) to raiſe, or ſink, or put it into a progreſlive Mo-
tion, as they pleaſed. But not being, at that Time, in
a Diſpoſition to philoſophiſe upon this Phænomenon, I
rather chole to obſerve what Courſe the Iſland would
take; becauſe it ſeemed for a while to ſtand ſtill. Yet
ſoon afterit advanced nearer; and I could ſee the Sides
of it, encompaſſed with ſeveralGradations of Galleries
and Stairs, at certain Intervals, to deſcend from one to
the other. In the lowest Gallery, I beheld fome People
fiſhing with long Angling Rods, and others looking on,
I waved my Cap,{for my Hat was long ſince worn out,)
and my Handkerchief towards the Iſland; and upon
its nearer Approach, I called and ſhouted with the ut-
moſt Strength of my Voice ; and then looking circum-
(pealy, I beheld a Crowd gathered to that Side which
was moft in my View. I found by their pointing to-
wards me and to each other, that they plainly diſcover-
ed me, although they made no Return
to my Shouting.
But I could ſee four or five Men running in great Haſte
up the Stairs to the Top of the Iſland, who then diſap-
peared. I happened rightly to conjecture, that theſe
were ſent for Orders to fome Perſon in Authority upon
chis Occaſion,
The Number of People increaſed; and in leſs than
Halfan Hour, the Iſland was moved and
raiſed in ſuch
a Manner, that the loweſt Gallery appeared in a Parallel
of leſs than an hundred Yards Diſtance from the Height
where I flood. I then put myſelf into the moſt fup-
plicating Poſtures, and ſpoke in the humbleſt Accent,
but received no Anſwer. Thoſe wlio ſtood neareſto-
ver againſt me, ſeemned to be Perſons of Diftin&tion, as
I ſuppoſed by their Habit. They conferred earneſtly
with each other, looking often upon me, At length
one of them called out in a clear, polite, ſmooth Dia.
leel, not unlike in Sound to the Italian ;, and there-
fore I returned an Anſwer in that Language, hoping at
leaſt that the Cadence might be more agrecable to his
Ears. Although neither of as underſtood the other,
yet
A Vorage to LAPUTA, Gr. 149
yet my Meaning was eaſily known, for the People faw
the Diſtreſs I was in.
They made Signs for me to come down from the
Rock, and go towards the Shoar, which I accordingly
did ; and the flying Iſland being raiſed to a convenient
Height, the Verge directly over me, a Chain was let
down from the loweſt Gallery, with a Seat faſtned to
the Bottom, to which I fixed myſelf, and was drawn
up by Pullies.
CH A P. II.
The Humours and Diſpofitions of the Laputians deſcrib-
An Account of their Learning. of the King
and bis Court. The Author's Reception there. The
Inbabitants ſubje&t to Fears and Diſquietudes. An
Account of the Women,
T my alighting I was ſurrounded by a Crowd of
People, but thoſe who ſtood neareſt ſeemed to be
of better Quality. They beheld me with all the Marks
and Circumſtances of Wonder ; neither indeed was I
much in their Debt; having never 'till then ſeen a Race
of Mortals ſo ſingular in their Shapes, Habits, and
Countenances. Their Heads were all reclined either
to the Right, or the Left ; one of their Eyes turned
inward, and the other direály up to the Zenith. Their
outward Garments were adorned with the Figures of
Suns, Moons, and Stars, interwoven with thoſe of Fid.
dles, Flutes, Harps, Trumpets, Gaittars, Harpſicords,
and many more Inſtruments of Muſick, unknown to us
in Europe. I obſerved here and there many in the Ha-
bit of Servants, with a blown
Bladder faſtened like a
Flail to the End of a ſhort Stick, which they carried
in their Hands, In each Bladder was a ſmall Quantity
of dried Peaſe, or little Pebbles, (as I was afterwards
informed)
H 3
Iso A Voyage to LAPUTA, &C.
informed.). With theſe Bladders they now and theni
flapped the Mouths and Ears of thoſe who ſtood near
them, of which Practice I could not then conceive the
Meaning. It ſeems, the Minds of theſe People are fo
taken up with intenſe Speculations, that they neither
can ſpeak, or attend to the Diſcourſes of others, with-
out being rouzed by ſome external Taction upon the
Organs of Speech and Flearing; for which Reaſon,
thoſe Perſons who are able to afford it, always keep a
Flapper, (the Original is Clivenole) in their family, as
one of their Domeſticks; nor ever walk Abroad or make
Viſits without hiin. And the Buſineſs of this Officer
is, when two or more Perſons are in Company, gently
to strike with his Bladder the Mouth of him who is to
ſpeak, and the righe Ear of him or chem to whom the
Speaker addreſleth himſelf. This Flapper is likewiſe
imployed diligently to attend hie Maſter in his Walks,
and upon Occafion to give him a ſoft Flap on his Eyes ;
becauſe he is always to wrapt up in Cogitation, that
he is in manifcft Danger of falling down every Preci-
pice and bouncing bis llcaid agaimli every Poſt; and
in the Streets, jollling of others, or being joftled him-
ſelf into the Kennel.
It was neceſſary to give the Reader this Information,
without which he would be at the fame Loſs with me,
to underſtand the Proceedings of theſe People, as they
conducted me up the Stairs, to the Top of the Iſland,
and from thence to the Royal Palace. While we were
afcending, they forgot ſeveral Times what they were
about, and Icít me to myſelf, till their Memories were
again rouzed by their Flappers ; for they appeared alto-
gether unmoved by the Sight of my foreign Habit and
Countenance, and by the Shouts of the Vulgar, whoſe
Thoughts and Minds were more difingaged.
Ar laſt we entered the Palace, and proceeded into
the Chamber of Preſence; where I ſaw the King feat-
ed on his Throne, attended on cach Side by Perſons
of Prime Quality. Belure the 'Throne, was a large Ta-
ble filled with Globes and Spheres, and Mathematical
Inſtruments of all kinds. IIis Majelly took not the
VOYAGE 10 Laputa, &c.
leaſt Notice of us, although our Entrance were not with-
out fufficient Noiſe, by the Concourſe of all Perſons be-
longing to the Court. But, he was then deep in a
Problem, and we attended at leaſt an Hour, before he
could ſolve it. There ſtood by him on each Side, a
young Page, with Flaps in their Hands; and when
they ſaw he was at Leiſure, one of them gently ſtruck
his Mouth, and the other his right Ear ; at which he
ſtarted like one awaked on the Sudden, and looking to-
wards me, and the Company I was in, recolleEled the
Occaſion of our coming, whereof he had been inform-
ed before. He ſpoke ſome Words; whereupon imme-
diately a young Man with a Flap came up to my Sides
and fiapt me gently on the right Ear; but I made Signs
as well as I could, that I had no Occaſion for ſuch an
Inſtrument; which as I afterwards found, gave his Ma.
jeſty and the whole Court a very mean Opinion of my
Underſtanding. The King, as far as I could conjec-
ture, aſked me ſeveral Queſtions, and I addreſſed my
ſelf to him in all the Languages I had. When it was
found, that I could neither underſtand nor be under-
food, I was conducted by his Order to an Apartment
in his Palace, (this Prince being diftinguiſhed above all
his Predeceſſers for his Hoſpitality to Strangers,) where
two Servants were appointed to attend me.
My Din-
ner was brought, and four Perſons of Quality, whom I
remembered to have ſeen very near the King's Perſon,
did me the Honour to dine with me. We had two
Courſes, of three Diſhes each. In the firft. Courſe,
there was a Shoulder of Mutton, cut into an æquilate-
ral Triangle; a Piece of Beef into a Rhomboides; and
a Pudding into a Cycloid. The ſecond Courſe was two
Ducks, truffed up into the Form of Fiddles ; Sauſages
and Puddings reſembling Flutes and Haut-boys, and a
Breaſt of Veal in the Shape of a Harp. The Servants
cut ourBread into Cones, Cylinders,Parallelograms and
ſeveral other Mathematical Figures.
WHIle we were at Dinner, I made bold to aſk the
Names of ſeveral Things in their Language; and thoſe
noble Perfons, by the Afiftance of their Flappers, de-
H4
lighted,
754 A VOYACE to LAPUTA, &c
lighted to give me Anſwers, hoping to raiſe my Admi.
ration of their great Abilities, if I could be brought to
converſe with them. I was ſoon able to call for Bread,
and Drink, or whatever elſe I wanted
After Dinner my Company withdrew, and a Per-
fon was ſent to me by the King's Order, attended by a
Flapper. He brought with him Pen, Ink, and Paper,
and three or four Books ; giving me to underſtand by
Signs, that he was ſent to teach me the Language. We
ſat together four Hours, in which Time I wrote down
a great Number of Words in Columns, with the Tranſ-
lations over againſt them. I likewiſe made a Shift to
learn ſeveral ſhort Sentences, For my Tutor would
order one of my Servants to fetch ſomething, to turn
about, to make a Bow, to fit, or ſtand, or walk, and
the like. Then I took down the Sentence in Writing.
He ſhewed me alſo in one of his Byoks, the Figures of
the Sun, Moon, and Stars, the Zodiack, the Tropics,
and Polar Circles, together with the Denominations of
many Figures of Planes and Solids. He gave me the
Names and Deſcriptions of all the Muſical Inſtruments,
and the general Terms of Art in playing on each of
them. After he had left me, I placed all my Words
with tbeir Interpretations in alphabetical Order. And
thus in a few Days, by the Help of a very faithful Me-
mory, I got ſome Inſight into their Language.
The Word, which I interprct the Flying or Floating
Illard, is in the Original Lafuta ; whereof I could
never learn the true Etymology. Lap in the old obſo-
lete Language fignifieth High, and Untub a Governor ;
from which they ſay by Corruption was derived Lapu-
ta from Lapuntuh. But I do not approve of this De-
rivation, which ſeemeth to be a little ſtrained. I ven-
tured to offer to the Learned among them a Conjecture
of my own, that Laputa was quafi Lap cuted; Lap ſig.
nifying properly the dancing of the Sun Beams in the
Sea; and outed a Wing, which however I ſhall not ob-
trade, but ſubmit to the judicious Reader.
Those to whom the King had intruſted me, obfery.
ing how ill I was clad, ordered a Taylor to come next
Mornings
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &. 153
Morning, and take my Meafure for a Suit of Cloaths.
This Operator did his Office after a different Manner
from thoſe of his Trade in Earope. He firſt took my
Altitude by a Quadrant, and then with Rule and Com-
paſles, deſcribed the Dimenſions and Out-Lines of my
whole Body; all which he entered upon Paper, ard
in fix Days brought my Cloaths very ill made, and quite
out of Shape, by happening to miſtake a Figure in the
Calculation. But my Comfort was, that I obſerved
fuch Accidents very frequent, and little regarded.
During my Confinement for Want of Cloaths, and
by an Indiſpoſition that held me ſome Days longer, I
much enlarged my Di&tionary ; and when I went next
to Court, was able to underſtand many Things the King
ſpoke, and to return him ſome kind of Anſwers. His
Majeſty had given Orders, that the Iſland ſhould move
North Eaſt and by Eaſt, to the vertical Point over La-
gado, the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom, below up-
on the firm Earth. It was about ninety Leagues di-
ftant, and our Voyage laſted four Days and an half. I
was not in the leaſt ſenſible of the progreſſive Motion
made in the Air by the Iſland. On the ſecond Mora-
ing, about Eleven a Clock, the King himſelf in Perſon,
attended by his Nobility, Courtiers, and Officers, hav,
ing prepared all their Muſical Inſtruments, played on
them for three Hours without Intermiſſion; ſo that I
was quite ſtunned with the Noiſe ; neither could I poſ-
fibly gueſs the Meaning, until my Tutor informed me.
He ſaid, that the People of their Iſland had their Ears
adapted to hear the Muſick of the Spheres, which al-
ways played at certain Periods; and the Court was now
prepared to bear their Part in whatever Inſtrument chey
moſt excelled.
In our Journey towards Lagado the capital City, bis
Majeſty ordered that the Iſland ſhould ſtop over certain
'Towns and Villages, from whence he might receive the
Petitions of his Subjects. And to this Purpoſe, ſeveral
Packthreads were let down with ſmall Weights at tlie
Bortom. On theſe Packthreads the People itrung their
Petitions, which mounted up directly like the Scraps
of
Paper,
H5
A VOYACE to LAPUTA, &e.
Paper faſtned by School-boys at the End of the String
that holds their Kite. Sometimes we received Wine
and Victuals from below, which were drawn up by
Pullies,
The Knowledge I had in Mathematicks gave me
great Aſiſtance in acquiring their Phraſeology, which
depended much upon that Science and Mufick; and in
the latter I was not unskilled. Their Ideas are perpe-
tually converſant in Lines and figures. If they would,
for Example, praiſe the Beauty of a Woman, or any
other Animal, they deſcribe it by Rhombs, Circles,
Parallelograms, Elipſes, andother Geometrical Terms:
or elſe by Words of Art drawn from Muſick, needleſs
here to repear. I obſerved in the King's Kitchen all
Sorts of Mathematical and Muſical Inſtruments, after
the figures of which they cut up the Joints that were
ſerved to his Majeſty's Table.
Tueir Houſes are very ill built, the Walls bevil,
without one Right Angle in any Apartment; and this
Defect ariſeth from the Contempt they bcar for practi.
cal Geometry, which they deſpite as vulgar and mecha.
nick, thoſe Inſtručlions they give being roo refined for
the Intellectuals of their Workinen; which occaſions
perpetual Miſtakes. And although they are dexterous
enough upon a Piece of Paper in the Managenient of
the Rule, the Pencil, and the Divider, yet in the com-
mon A&tions and Behaviour of Life, I have not ſeen a
more clumſy, aukward, and unhandy People, nor fo
flow and perplexed in their Conceptions upra, all other
Subjects, except thoſe of Mathematicks and Mufick,
They are very bad Reaſoncra, and vehemently given
to Oppoſition, unleſs when they happen to be of the
right Opinion, which is ſeldoin their Cafe. Imagina-
tion, Rancy, and Invention, they are wholly Strangers
to, nor have any Words in their Language by which
thoſe Ideas can be expreſſed; the whole Compaſs of
their 'Thoughts and Mind, being fhut up within the
two forementioned Sciences,
Most of them, and eſpecially thoſe who deal in the
Afronomical Part, lave great Faith in judicial Aftro.
logy
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, 64. 155
logy, although they are afhamed to own it publickly.
But, what I chiefly admired, and thought altogether
unaccountable, was the ſtrong Diſpoſition I obſerved in
them towrrds News and Politicks; perpetually enquir-
ing into Publick - Affairs, giving their Judgments in
Matters of State; and paſſionately difputing every Inch
of a Party Opinion. I have indeed obſerved the ſame
Diſpoſition among moſt of the Mathematicians I have
known in Europe : although I could never diſcover the
leaſt Analogy between the two Sciences ; unleſs thoſe
People ſuppoſe, that becauſe the ſmalleſt Circle hath as
many Degrees as the largeſt, therefore the Regulation
and Management of the World require no more Abili.
ties than the handling and turning of a Globe. But, I
rather take this Quality to ſpring from a very common
Infirmity of human Nature, inclining us to be more cu.
rious and conceited in Matters, where we have lealt
Concern, and for which we are the leaſt adapted either
by Study or Nature.
These People are under continual Diſquietudes, ne:
ver injoying a Minute's Peace of Mind; and their Di.
ſturbances proceed from Cauſes which very little affcet
the reſt of Mortals. Their Apprehenſions ariſe from
feveral Changes they dread in the Celeſtial Bodies. For
Inſtance; that the Earth by the continual Approaches
of the Sun towards it, mult in Courſe of Time be ab-
forbed or ſwallowed up. That, the Face of the Sun
will by Degrees be entruſted with its own Efflavia,
and give no more Light to the World. That, the
Earth very narrowly eſcaped a Bruſh from the Tail of
the laſt Comet, which would have infallibly reduced it
to Aſhes; and, that the next, which they have calcu-
lated for one and thirty Years hence, will probably des
ftroy us. For, if in his Perihelion it ſhould approach
within a certain Degree of the Sun, (as by their Calcu-
Jations they have Reaſon to dread) it will conceive a
Degree of Heat ten thouſand Times more intenſe thau
that of red-hot glowing Iron ; and in its Abſence from
the Sun, carry a blazing Tail ten hundred thouſand and
fourteen Miles long; through which if she Earth ſhoold
paſs
136
A Voyacı * Laruta, &c.
paſs at the Diſtance of one hundred thouſand Miles
from the Nucleus, or main Body of the Comet, it muſt
in its Paſſage
be ſet on Fire,
and reduced to Aſhes.
That, the Sun daily ſpending its Rays without any Nu .
triment to ſupply them, will at laſt be wholly conſum-
ed and annihilated; which must be attended with the
Deſtruction of this Earth, and of all the Planets that
receive their Light from it.
They are ſo perpetually alarmed with the Appre-
henfions of theſe and the like impending Dangers, that
they can neither ſleep quietly in their Beds, nor have
any
Reliſh for the cominon Pleaſures or Amuſements of
Life. When they meet an Acquaintance in the Morn.
iing, the firſt Queſtion is about the Sun's Health; how
he looked at his Setting and Riſing, and what Hopes
ahcy have to avoid the Stroke
of the approaching Co-
met. This Converſation they are apt to run into with
the ſame Temper that Boys diſcover, in delighting to
hear terrible Stories of Sprites and Hobgoblins, which
they greedily liften to, and dare not go to Bed for
fear.
The Women of the Ifland have Abundance of Viva.
city; they contemn their Huſbands, and are exceeding-
ly fond of Strangers, whereof there is always a confi-
derable Number from the Continent below, attending
at Court, either upón Affairs of the ſeveral Towns and
Corporations, or their own particular Occaſions ; but
are much deſpiſed, becauſe they want the ſame En-
dowments. Among
theſe the Ladies chaſe their
Gal-
lants : But the Vexation is, that they act with too
much Eaſe and Security; for the Huſband is always ſo
wrapped in Speculation, that the MAreſs and Lover
may proceed to the greateſt Familiarities before his
Face, if he be but provided with Paper, and Imple-
ments, and withoot his Flapper at his Side.
Tue Wives and Daughters lament their Confine
ment to the Iland, although I think it the mof deli-
cious Spot of Ground in the World; and although they
live here in the greatef Plenty and Magnificence, and
are allowed to do whatever they pleaſe : They long to
fee
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &'c.
ſee the World, and take the Diverſions of the Metro-
polis, which they are not allowed to do without a pare
ticular Licence from the King; and this is not eaſy to
be obtained, becauſe the People of Quality have found
by frequent Experience, how hard it is to perſuade
their Women to return from below. I was told, that
a great Court Lady, who had ſeveral Children, is mar-
ried to the prime Miniſter, the richeſt Subject in the
Kingdom, a very graceful Perſon, extremely fond of
her, and liveth in the fineſt Palace of the Iſland; went
down to Lagado, on the Pretence of Health, there hid
herſelf for ſeveral Months, until the King ſent a War-
rant to ſearch for her; and ſhe was found in an obſcure
Eating-Houſe all in Rags, having pawned her Cloaths
to maintain an old deformed Footman, who beat her
every Day, and in whoſe Company ſhe was taken much
againſt her Will. And although her Husband received
her with all poſſible Kindneſs, and without the leaſt
Reproach ; ſhe ſoon after contrived to ſteal down again
with all her Jewels, to the fame Gallant, and hath not
been heard of ſince.
This may perhaps pafs with the Reader rather for
an European or Engliſh Story, than for one of a Coun-
try ſo remote : But he may pleaſe to conſider, that the
Caprices of Womankind are not limited by any Climate
or Nation ; and that they are much more uniform than
can be eaſily imagined.
In about a Month's Time I had made a tolerable
Proficiency in their Language, and was able to anſwer
moſt of the King's Queſtions, when I had the Honour
to attend him. His Majeſty diſcovered not the leaſt
Curioſity to enquire into the Laws, Government, Hif-
tory, Religion, or Manners of the Countries where I
had been, but confined his Queſtions to the State of
Mathematicks, and received the Account I gave him,
with great Contempt and Indifference, although often
rouzed by his Flapper on each side.
СНАР:
158
4 Vorace t) Lapura, UA
CH A P. III.
A Phenomenon folved by modern Philoſophy and Aftrono-
my. The Laputians great Improvements in tbe latter.
The King's Method of suppreſſing Infärrettions.
T
Desirid Leave of this Prince to ſee the Curio.
fities of the Iſland ; which he was graciouſly plea-
ſed to grant, and ordered my Tutor to attend me. I
chiefly wanted to know to whatCauſe in Art or in Na.
ture it owed its ſeveral Motions ; whereof I will now
give a philoſophical Account to the Reader.
The flying or floating Irland is exactly circular ; its
Diameter 7837 Yards, or about four Miles and an Half,
and conſequently contains ten Thouſand Acres. It is
three Hundred Yards thick. The Bottom, or under
Surface, which appears to thoſe who view it from be-
low, is one even regular Plate of Adamant, ſhooting
up to the Height of about two Hundred Yards. A.
bove it lie the ſeveral Minerals in their uſual Order :
and over all is a Coat of rich Mould ten or twelve Foot
deep. The Declivity of the upper Surface, from the
Circumſerence to the Center, is the natural Cauſe why
all the Dews and Rains which fall upon the Iiland, are
conveyed in ſmall Rivolets towards the Middle, where
they are emptied into four large Barons, each of about
Half a Mile in Circuit, and two Hundred Yards diſtant
from the Center. From theſe Baſons the Water is con-
tinually exhaled by the Sun in the Day time, which
effectually prevents their overflowing. Beſides, as it is
in the Power of the Monarch to raiſe the Iſland above
the Region of Clouds and Vapours, he can prevent the
falling of Dews and Rains, when ever he pleaſeth.
For the higheit Clouds canno: rik abore two Miles, as
Natu-
'A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c
159
Naturaliſts agree, at leaſt they were never known to do
ſo in that Country.
At the Center of the Iſand there is a Chaſm about
fifty Yards in Diameter, from whence the Aſtronomers
deſcend into a large Dome, which is therefore called
Flandone Gagnole, or the Aftronomers Cave , ſituated at
the Depth of an Hundred Yards beneath the upper Sur-
face of the Adamant. In this Cave are twenty Lamps
continually burning, which from the Reflection of the
Adamant caſt a ſtrong Light into every Part. The Place
is ſtored with great Variety of Sextants, Quadrants, Te-
leſcopes, Aſtrolabes, and Aſtronomical Inſtruments.
But the greateſt Curioſity, upon which the Fate of the
Iſland depends, is a Load-ftone of a prodigious Size,
in Shape reſembling aWeaver's
Shuttle. It is in Length
fix Yards, and in the thickeſt Part at leaſt three Yards
over. This Magnet is fuftained by a very ſtrong Axle
of Adamant, paſſing through its Middle, upon which
it plays, and is poiſed fo exactly that the weakeſt Hand
can turn it. It is hooped round with an hollow Cy.
linder of Adamant, four Foot deep, as many thick, and
twelve Yards in diameter, placed horizontally, and ſup-
ported by eight Adamantine Feet, each fix Yards high.
In the Middle of the Concave Side, there is a Groove
twelve Inches deep, in which the Extremeties of the
Axle are lodged, and turned round as there is Occaſion;
This Stone cannot be moved from its Place by
any Force, becauſe the Hoop and its Feet are one con-
tinued Piece with that Body of Adamant which con-
ſtitutes the Bottom of the Iſland.
By Means of this Load-ſtone, the Iſland is made to
riſe and fall, and move from one place to another. For,
with reſpect to that Part of the Earth over which the
Monarch preſides, the Stone is endued at one of its Sides
with an attra&tive Power, and at the other with a re-
pulſive. Upon placing the Magnet erect with its at-
tracting End towards the Earth, the Iſland deſcends ;
but when the repelling Extremity points downwards,
the INand mounts directly upwards. When the Poſi-
tion of the Stone is oblique, the Motion of the Iſland is
fo
60 a Voyack to LAPUTA, &c.
fo too. For in this Magnet the Forces always ad in
Lines parrallel to its Direction.
By this oblique Motion the Iand is conveyed to
different Parts of the Monarch's Dominions. To ex-
plain the Manner of its Progreſs, let A B repreſent a
Line drawn croſs the Dominions of Balxabarbi; let the
Line c d repreſent the Load-tone, of which let d be
the repelling End, and ethe Attra&ing End, the Iſland
being over C ; let the Stone be placed in the Poſition
ed with its repelling End downwards; then the Iſland
will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it
is arrived at D, let the Srone be turned upon its Axle
until its attracting End points towards E, and then the
Illand will be carried obliquely towards E; where if
the Stone be again turned upon its Axle until it ſtands
in the Poſition & F, with its repelling Point down-
wards, the Inand will riſe oblignely towards F, where
by direčting the attracting End towards G, the Iſland
may be carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the
Stone, ſo as to make its repelling Extremity point di-
rectly downwards. And thus by changing the Situa.
tion of the Stone as often as there is Occaſion, the
Iſland is made to riſe and fall by Turns in an oblique
Direction; and by thoſe alternate Riſings and Fallings
(the Obliquity being not conſiderable)is
conveyed from
one Part of the Dominions to the other.
Bur it muſt be obſerved, that this Inand cannot
moye beyond the Extent of the Dominions below; nor
can it riſe obove the Height of four Miles. For which
the Afronomers (who have written large Syſtems con:
cerning the Stone) aſſign the following Reaſon: That
the Magnetick Virtue
doeth not extend beyond the Dif-
tance of four Miles, and that the Mineral which a&teth
upon the Stone in the Bowels of the Earth, and in the
Sea about fix Leagues diſtant from the Shoar, is not
diffuſed through the whole Globe, but terminaced with
the Limits of the King's Dominions : And it was ea-
fy from the great Advantage of ſuch a ſuperior Situation
for a Prince to bring under his Obedience whatever
Country lay within the Attraction of that Magnet
WHEN
A VOTAGE to LAPUTA, &c 163
When the Stone is put parallel to the Plane of the
Horizon, the Inand ſtandeth ftill ; for in that Caſe, the
Extremities of it being at equal Diſtance from the Earth
act with equal Force, the one in drawing downwards,
the other in puſhing upwards; and conſequently no
Motion can enſue.
This Load ſtone is under the Care of certain
Aſtronomers, who from Time to Time give it ſuch
Pofitions as the Monarch directs. They ſpend the
greateſt Part of their Lives in obſerving the celeſtial
Bodies, which they do by the Aliſtance of Glaſſes, far
excelling ours in Goodneſs. For, although their largeſt
Teleſcopes do not exceed three Feet, they magnify
much more than thoſe of a Hundred with us, and
fhew the Stars with greater Clearneſs. This Advan.
tage hath enabled them to extend their Diſcoveries much
farther than our Aſtronomers in Europe. They have
made a Catalogue of ten Thouſand fixed Stars, where-
as the largeſt of ours do not contain above one third
Part of that Number. They have likewiſe diſcovered
two leſſer Stars, or Statellites, which revolve about
Mars ; whereof the innermoſt is diſtant from the Center
of the primary Planet exa&tly three of his Diameters,
and the outermoſt five; the former revolveth in theSpace
of ten Hours, and the latter in twenty-one and an
half; ſo that the Squares of their Periodical Times, are
very near in the ſame Proportion with the Cubes of
their Diſtance from the Center of Mars; which evi-
dently ſhews them to be governed by the fame Law of
Gravitation, that influences the other heavenly Bo-
dies.
They have obſerved ninety-three different Co-
mets, and ſettled their Periods with great Exa&neſs.
If this be true, (and they affirm it with great Confi-
dence) it is much to be wiſhed that their Obſervations
weré made publick ; whereby the Theory of Comets,
which at preſent is very lame and defective, might be
brought to the fame Perfection with other parts of
Aſtronomy.
Tua
VOYAGE to LATUTA, &c.
The King would be the moſt abſolute Prince in the
Univerſe, if he could but prevail on a Miniſtry to join
with kim; but theſe having rheir Eſtates below on the
Continent, and confidering that the Office of a Favou.
rite hath a very uncertain Tenure, would never con-
ſent to the enſlaving their Country.
If any Town thould ingage in Rebellion or Mutiny,
fall into violent Factions, or refuſe to pay the uſual
Tri-
bute; the King hath two Methods of reducing them
to Obedience. The firſt and the mildeſt Courſe is by
keeping the Iſland hovering over ſuch a Town and the
Lands about it; whereby he can deprive them of the
Benefit of the Sun and the Rain, and conſequently
afia the Inhabitants with Dearth and Diſeaſes And
if the Crime deſerve it, they are at the ſame time pelted
from above with great Stones, againſt which they have
no Defence, but by creeping into Cellars or Caves,
while the Roofs of their Houſes are beaten to Pieces.
But if they ſtill continue obſtinate, or offer to raiſe In-
furrections ; he proceedeth to the lafRemedy, by letting
theIſland drop directly upon their Heads,which maketh
å univerſal Deſtruction both of Houſes and Men.
However, this is an Extremety to which the Prince is
Seldoin driven, neither indeed is he willing to put it
in Execution; nor dare his Miniſters adviſe him to an
Alion, which as it would render them odious to the
People, ſo it would be a great Damage to their own
Eflates that lie all below; for the Illand is the King's
Demeln.
But there is fill indeed a more weighty Reaſon,
why the Kings of this Country have been always averſe
from executing ſo terrible an Action, unleſs upon the
umoſ Neceflity. For, if the Town intended to be
deftrayed ſhould have in it any tall Rocks, as it general-
Jy (alls out in the larger Cities ; a Situation probably
cholen at firſt with a View to prevent fach a Catailro-
phe: Or, if it abound in high Spires or Pillars of Stone,
a fudiden Fall miglit endanger the Bottom or under
Surface of the Mand, which although it coplift as
ve ſaid, of one entire Adamant two hundred Yards
2 Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
163
thick, might happen to crack by too great a Choques
or burit by approaching too near the Fires from the
Houſes below; as the Backs of both Iron and Stone
will often do in our Chimneys. Of all this the People
are well appiized, and underſtand how far to carry
their Obſtinacy, where their Liberty or Property is
concerned. And the King, when he is higheſt provo-
ked, and moſt determined to preſs a City to Rabbith,
orders the Iſland to deſcend with great Gentleneſs, out
of a Pretence of Tenderneſs to his People, but indeed
for fear of breaking the Adamantine Bottom; in which
Caſe it is the Opinion of all their Philoſophers, that the
Load-fone could no longer hold it up, and the whole
Maſs would fall to the Ground.
By a fundamental Law of this Realm, neither the
King nor either of his two eldeſt Sons, are permitted to
leave the Illand; nor the Qeen till ſhe is paſt Child-
bearing
CH A P. IV.
The Author leaveth Laputa, is conveyed 10 Balnibarbi,
arriveth at the Metropolis. A Deſcription of the Me-
tropolis and the Country adjoining. The Aurbano
hoſpitably received by a great Lord. His Converſa.
rion witb obat Lord.
AH
LTHOUGH I cannot ſay that I was ill treated
"in this Iſland, yet I muſt confeſs I thought my
felf too much negle&ed, not without ſome Degree of
Contempt. For neither Prince nor People appeared
to be curious in any Part of Knowledge, except Ma-
thematicks and Muſick, wherein I was far their infe-
rior, and upon that Account very little regarded.
On the other Side, after having ſeen all the Curio-
Gties of the Iland, I was very defirous to leave it,
being
*6 A Vorage to LAPUTA, &c.
being heartily weary of thoſe People. They were in-
deed excellent in two Sciences for which I have great
Eſtcem, and wherein I am not unverſed; but at the
fame time fo abftra&ted and involved in Speculation,
that I never met with ſuch diſagreeable Companions.
I converſed only with Women, Tradeſmen, Flappers,
and Court-Pages, during two Months of my Abode
there ; by which at lait I rendered my ſelf extremely
contemptible; yet theſe were the only People from
whom I could ever receive a reaſonable Anſwer.
I had obtained by hard Study a good Degree of
Knowledge in their Language; I was weary of being
confined to an Iſland where I recceived ſo little
Couu-
tenance; and reſolved to leave it with the firſt Oppor-
tanity.
There was a great Lord at Court, nearly related
to the King, and for that Reaſon alone uſed with Ref-
pe&t. He was univerſally reckoned the moſt ignoran
and fupid Perſon among them. He had performed
many eminent Services for the Crown, had great na.
fural and acquired Parts, adorned with Integrity and
Honour, but ſo ill an Ear for Mufick, that his De-
trafiors reported he had been often known to beat
Time in the Wrong place; neither could his Tutors
without extreine Difficulty teach him to demonſtrate
the mof eafy Propoſition in the Mathematicks. He
was pleaſed to ſhew me many Marks of Favour, of-
ten did me the Honour of a Vifit, deſired to be in.
formed in the Affairs of Europe, the Laws and Cuf-
tom', the Manners and Learning of the ſeveral Coun-
tries where I had travelled. He liſtened to me with
gical Attention, and made very wife Obſervations ou all
I ſpoke. He had two Flappers attending him for
State, but never made uſe of thein, except at Court,
sing in Viſits of Ceremony ; and would always come
mand them to withdraw when we were alone toge
ISTRSATED this illoftrious Perſon to intercede
m behalf with his Majeſty for Leave to dona
wrich he accordingly did, as he was pleaſed to tell me
4 Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 165
with Regret: For, indeed he had made me ſeveral
Offers very advantageous, which however I refuſed
with Expreſſions of the higheſt Acknowledgement.
On the 16th Day of February, I took Leave of his
Majeſty and the Court. The King made me a Pre-
ſent to the Value of about two hundred Pounds Eng-
lib: and my Protector his Kinſman as much more,
together with a Letter of Recommendation to a
Friend of his in Lagado, the Metropolis: The Iſland
being then hovering over a Mountain about two
Miles from it, I was let down from the loweſt Gal.
lery in the ſame Manner I had been taken up.
The Continent, as far as it is ſubject to the Monarch
of the Flying Iſland, paſſeth under the general Name
of Balnibarbi; and the Metropolis, as I ſaid before
is called Lagade. I felt ſome little Satisfaction in
finding myſelf on firm Ground. I walked to the
City without any concern, being clad like one of the
Natives, and ſufficiently inſtructed to converſe with
them. I foon found out the Perſon's Houſe to whom
I was recommended ; preſented my Letter from his
Friend the Grandee in the Iſland, and was received
with much Kindneſs. This great Lord, whoſe Name
was Munodi, ordered me an Apartment in his own
Houſe, where I continued during my Stay, and was
entertained in a moſt hoſpitable Manner.
The next Morning after my Arrival he took me in
his Chariot to ſee the Town, which is about half
the Bigneſs of London ; but the Houfes very ſtrangely
built, and moſt of them out of Repair. The People
in the Streets walked faft, locked wild, their Eyes
fixed, and were generally in Rags. We paſſed through
one of the Town Gates, and went about three Miles
into the Country, where I ſaw many Labourers work-
ing with ſeveral Sorts of Tools in the Ground, but
was not able to conje&ture what they were about ; nei-
ther did I obſerve any Expectation either of Corn or
Graſs, although the Soil appeared to be excellent. I
could not forbear admiring at theſe odd Appearances
both in Town and Country; and I made bola te de-
fire
2 VOYAGE 1 LAPUTA, &'c.
fire my Conductor, that he would be pleaſed to explain
to me what could be meant by ſo many buſy Heads
Hands and Faces, both in the Streets and the Fields,
becauſe I did not diſcover any good Effects they pro-
duced; but on the contrary, I never knew a Soil ſo
unhappily cultivated, Houſes fo ill contirived and fa
ruinous, or a People whole Countenances and Habit ex
preſſed ſo much Miſery and Want.
Tüts Lord Munodi was a Perſon of the firft Rank,
and had been ſome Years Governor of Lapado; bob
by a Cabal of Miniſters was diſcharged for Infuffici.
ency. However the King treated him with Tender-
nels, as a well-meaning Man, but of a low contempt-
ible Underſtanding.
When I gave that free Cenſure of the Country and
its Tnhabitants, he made no further Anſwer, than by
telling me, that I had not been long enough among
them to form a Judgement; and that the different
Nations of the World had different Cuſtoms;
with
other common Topicks to the fame Purpoſe. Bag
when we returned to his Palace, he aſked me how I
liked the Building, what Abſurdities I obſerved, and
what Quarrel I had with the Dreſs and Looks of
his Domeſticks ? This he might ſafely do ; becauſe
every Thing about him was magnificent, regular and
polite. I anſwered, that his Excellency's Prudence,
Quality, and Fortune, had exempted him from thofe
Defects which Folly and Beggary had produced in 9-
thers. He ſaid, if I would go with him to bis Coun-
try Houſe about twenty Miles diſtant, where his El.
kate lay, there would be more Leiſure for this Kind
or Converfation. I told his Excellency that I was en.
tirely at his Diſpoſal; and accordingly we ſet out next
Moroing
During our Journey, he made me obſerve the
feveral Methods uſed by Farmers in managing their
Lands; which to me were wholly unaccountable :
For except in ſome very few Places, I could not diſ-
cover one Ear of Corn, or Blade of Graſs. But, in
Burar Hours travelling, the Scene was wholly altered:
Plate 4. Part 3.
Page 107
D
T
Laputa
H
E
BALNIBARBI
9999
09
99999
418 Lagado
B
Malonada
'A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &. 167
we came into a moſt beautiful Country ; Farmers
Houſes at ſmall Diſtances, neatly built, the Fidlds en-
cloſed, containing Vineyards, Corn Grounds and Mea-
dows. Neither do I remember to have ſeen a more
delightful Proſpect. His Excellency obſerved my
Countenance to clear up; he told me with a Sigh,
that there his Eſtate began, and would continue the
fame until we ſhould come to his Houſe. That his
Countrymen ridiculed and deſpiſed him for managing
his Affairs no better, and for ſetting fo ill an Example
to the Kingdom; which however was followed by ve-
ry few, ſuch as were old and wilful, and weak like
himſelf.
We came at length to the Houſe, which was in-
deed a noble Structure, built according to the belt
Rules of ancient Archite&ture. The Fountains, Gar-
dens, Walks, Avenues, and Groves were all diſpoſed
with exa& Judgment and Taſte. I gave due Praiſes
to every Thing I ſaw, whereof his Excellency took
not the leaſt Notice until after Supper : when there be-
ing no third Companion, he told me with a very melan.
choly Air, that he doubted he muſt throw down his
Houſes in Town and Country, to rebuild them after
the preſent Mode; deſtroy all his Plantations, and caſt
others into ſuch a Form as modern Uſage required,
and give the ſame Directions to all his Tenants, unleſs
he would ſubmit to incur the Cenſure of Pride, Sin-
golarity, Afectation,
Ignorance, Caprice; and per-
haps increaſe his Majelty's Diſpleaſure.
That the Admiration I appeared to be under, ,
would ceaſe or diminiſh when he had informed me of
fome Particulars, which probably I never heard of at
Court, the People there being too much taken up
in their own Speculations, to have Regard to what
paſſed here below.
Tue Sum of his Diſcourſe was to this Effeet.
That about forty Years ago, certain Perſons went up
to Laputa, either upon Buſineſs or Diverſion ; and af-
ter five Months Continuance, came back with a very
little Smatter.ng in the Mathematicks, but full of Vo.
latila
168
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
latile Spirits acquired in that Airy Region. That
theſe Perſons upon their Return, began to diſlike the
Management of every Thing below; and fell into
Schemes of putting all Arts, Sciences, Languages,
and Mechanicks upon a new Foot. To this End they
procured a Royal Patent for erecting an Academy of
Projectors in Lagado: And the Humour prevailed
fo ſtrongly among the People, that there is not
a Town of any Conſequence in the Kingdom without
fuch an Academy. In theſe Colleges, the Profeſſors
contrive new Rules and Methods of Agriculture
and Building, and new Inſtruments and Tools for all
Trades and Manufa&tures, whereby, as they undertake,
one Man ſhall do the Work of ten ; a Palace may be
built in a Week, of Materials fo durable
as to laſt for
ever without repairing. All the Fruits of the Earth
ſhall come to Maturity at whatever Seaſon we think fit
to chuſe, and increaſe án hundred Fold more than
they do at preſent ; with innumerable other happy
Propoſals. The only Inconvenience is, that none of
theſe Projects are yet brought to Perfection; and in
the mean time, the whole Country lieth miſerably
waſte, the Houſes in Ruins, and the People without
Food or Cloaths. By all which, inſtead of being dif-
couraged, they are ofty Times more violently bent
upon proſecuting their Schemes, driven equally on
by Hope and Deſpair: That, as for himſelf, being
not of an enterprizing Spirit, he was content to go
on in the old Forms ; to live in the Houſes his Ancel-
tors had built, and act as they did in every Part of
L:fe without Innovation. That, ſome few other Per-
ſons of Quality and Gentry had done the ſame ; but
were looked on with an Eye of Comtempt and ill
Will, as Enemies to Art, ignorant, and ill Common-
wealths-men, preferring their own Eaſe and Sloth be-
fore the general Improvement of their Country.
His Lordſhip added, that he would not by any fur.
ther Particolars prevent the Pleafure I ſhould certainly
take in viewing the grand Academy, whither he was
reſolved I ſhould go. He only deſired me to obſerve
a ruined
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA. ESr. 16
a ruined Building upon the side of a Mountain about
three Miles diſtant, of which he gave me this Account.
That, he had a very convenient Mill within Half a
Mile of his Houſe, turned by a Current from a large
River, and ſufficient for his own Family as well as a
great Number of his Tenants. That, about ſeven
Years ago, a Club of thoſe Projectors came to him
with Propoſals to deſtroy this Mill, and build another
on the side of that Mountain, on the long Ridge
whereof, a long Canal muſt be cut for a Repoſitory of
Water, to be conveyed up by Pipes and Engines to
ſupply the Mill: Becauſe the Wind and Air, upon a
Height, agitated the Water, and thereby made it fitter
for Motion : And becauſe the Water deſcending down
a Declivity, would turn the Mill with half the Cur.
rent of a River whoſe Courſe is more upon a Level.
He ſaid, that being then not very well with the Court,
and preſſed by many of his Friends, he complied with
the Propoſal ; and after employing an hundred Merz
for two Years, the Work miſcarried, the Projectors
went off, laying the Blame, initrely upon him ; railing
at him ever ſince, and putting others upon the ſame
Experiment, with equal Aſſurance of Succeſs, as well
as equal Diſappointment,
In a few Days we came back to Town; and his
Excellency, conſidering the bad Character he had in
the Academy, would not go with me himſelf, but re-
commended me to a Friend of his to bear me Com.
pany thither. My Lord was pleaſed to repreſent me
as a great Admirer of Projects, and a Perſon of much
Curioſity and eaſy Belief; which indeed was not
without Truth ; for I had myſelf been a Sort of Pro-
jector in my younger Days.
Vol. IIT.
I
СНАР.
170
c;
A Voyace to LaPUTA&,
CHAP. V.
The Author permitted to ſee the grand Academy of La-
gado. The Academy largely deſcribed. The Arts
wherein
the Profeſſors employ themſelves.
T
HIS Academy is not an entire ſingle Building,
but a Continuation of ſeveral Houſes on both
Sides of a Street ; which growing walte, was purchaſed
and applied to that Uſe.
I was received very kindly by the Warden, and
went for many Days to the Academy. Every Room
hath in it one or more Projectors; and I believe I could
not be in fewer than five
Hundred Rooms.
Tue firſt Man I ſaw was of a meagre Aſpect, with
footy Hands and Face, his Hair and Beard long,
ragged, and fingded in feveral Places. His Cloaths,
Shirt, and Skin, were all of the fame Colour. He
had been eight Years upon a Project for extracting
Sun-beams out of Cucumbere, which were to be
put
into Vials hermetically ſealed, and let out to warm the
Air in raw inclement Summers. He told me, he did
not doubt in eight Years more, that he ſhould be able
to ſupply
the Governor's Gardens with Sun-fhine at a
reaſonable Rate; but he complained that his Stock was
low, and entreated me to give him ſomething as an
Encouragement to ingenuity, eſpecially, fince this had
been a very dear Seaſon for Cucumbers. I made him
a ſmall Preſent, for my Lord had furniſhed me with
Money on purpoſe, becauſe he knew their Practice of
begging from all who go to ſee them.
I went into another Chamber, but was ready to
haften back, being almoll overcome with a horrible
Stink. My Conductor prefied me forward, conjuring
me in a Whiſper to give ng Offence, which would be
highly
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &*c.
highly reſented ; and therefore I durft not ſo much as
ftop my Noſe. The Projector of this Cell was the
moſt ancient Student of the Academy. His Face and
Beard were of a pale Yellow ; his Hands and Cloaths
dawbed over with Filth. When I was preſented to
him, he gave me a very cloſe Embrace, (a Compliment
I could well have excuſed). His Employment, from
his firſt coming into the Academy, was an Operation
to reduce human Excrement to its original Food, by
ſeparating the ſeveral Parts, removing the Tincture,
which it receives from the Gall, making the Odour ex-
hale, and ſcumming off the Saliva. He had a weekly
Allowance from the Society, of a Veſſel filled with hu-
man Ordure, about the Bigneſs of a Briſtol Barrel.
I saw another at work to calcine Ice into Gun-
powder ; who likewiſe ſhewed me a Treatiſe he had
written concerning the Malleability of Fire, which he
intended to publiſh.
There was a moſt ingenious Architect, who had
contrived a new Method for building Houſes, by be-
ginning at the Roof, and working downwards to the
Foundation; which he juſtified to me by the like
Practice of thoſe two prudent Inſects the Bee and the
Spider.
There was a Man born blind, who had ſeveral Ap-
prentices in his own Condition : Their Employment
was to mix Colours for Painters, which their Maſter
taught them to diſtinguiſh by feeling and ſmelling. It
was indeed my Misfortune to find them at that Time
not very perfect in their Leflons; and the Profeſſor
himſelf happened to be generally miſtaken. This Ar-
tiſt is much encouraged and eſteemed by the whole
Fraternity.
In another Apartment I was highly pleaſed with
a Projector, who had found a Device of plowing the
Ground with Hogs, to ſave the Charges of Plow,
Cattle, and Labour. The Method is this: In an Acre
of Ground you bury, at ſix Inches Diſtance, and eight
deep, a Quantity of Acorns, Dates, Cheſnats, and
other Maſts or Vegetables, whereof theſe Animals are
fonde.:
I 2
A VOYåor to LaPUTA, &C.
At my
fondeſt ; then you drive fix hundred or more of them
into the Field, where in a few Days they will root up
the whole Ground in ſearch of their Food, and make
it fit for fowing, at the fame time manuring it with
their Dung. It is true, upon Experiment they found
the Charge and Trouble very great, and they had
little or no Crop. However, it is not doubted that this
Invention may be capable of great Improvement.
I went into another Room, where the Walls and
Ceiling were all hung round with Cobwebs, except a
narrow Paſſage for the Artiſt to go in and out.
Entrance he called aloud to me vot to diſturb his Webs.
He lamented the fatal Miſtake the World had been ſo
longin, of uſing Silk-worms, while we had ſuch Plenty
of domeſtick Infeets, who infinitely excelled the for-
mer, becauſe they underſtood how to weave as well as
fpin. And he propoſed farther, that by employing
Spiders, the Charge of dying Silks would be wholly
ſaved; whereof I was fully convinced when he ſhewed
me a vaſt Number of Flies moſt beautifully coloured,
wherewith he fed his Spiders ; aſſuring us, that the
Webs would take a Tincture from them; and as he had
them of all Hues, he hoped to fit every Body's Fancy,
as ſoon as he could find proper Food for the Flies, of
certain Gums, Oils, and other glutinous Matter, to
give a Strength and Conafterice to the Threads.
There was an Aſtronomer who had undertaken to
place a Sun-dial upon the great Weather-cock on the
Town-houſe, by adjuſting the annual and diurnal Mo-
tions of the Earth and Sun, ſo as to anſwer and coin-
cide with all accidental Turning of the Winds.
I was complaining of a finali Fit of the Cholick;
upon
which Condu&ior led me into a Room, where
a great Phyſician reſided, who was famous for curing
zhat Diſeaſe by contrary Operations from the ſame In-
ftrument. He had a large Pair of Bellows, with a
long ſlender Muzzle of Ivory. This he conveyed
eight Inches up the Anus, and drawing in the Wind,
be affirmed he could make the Guts as lank as a dried
Bladder. But when the Dileaſe was more ſtubborn and
violent,
A VOYAGE 10 LAPUTA, &c, 173
violent, he let in the Muzzle while the Bellows was
full of Wind, which he diſcharged into the Body of
the Patient; then withdrew the Inſtrument to reple-
niſh it, clapping his Thumb ſtrongly again the Orifice
of the Fundament ; and this being repeated three or
four times, the adventitious Wind would ruſh out,
bringing the noxious along with it, (like Water pur
into a Pump) and the Patient recovers. I ſaw him
try both Experiments upon a Dog, but could not dif-
cern any Effect from the former. After the latter, the
Animal was ready to burſt, and made ſo violent a dir-
charge as was very offenſive to me and my Companions,
The Dog died on the Spot, and we left the Doctor en*
deavouring to recover him by the fame Operation.
I visited many other Apartments, but ſhall not
trouble my Reader with all the Curioſities I obſerved,
being ſtudious of Brevity.
I had hitherto only ſeen one Side of the Academy,
the other being apropriated to the Advances of ſpe-
culative Learning ; of whom I ſhall ſay ſomething
when I have mentioned one illuſtrious Perſon more,
who is called among them the univerſal Artil. He
told us he had been thirty Years employing his Thoughts
for the Improvement of human Life. He had two
large Rooms full of wonderful Curioſities, and fifty
Men at Work, ſome were condenſing Air into a dry
tangibleSubſtance, by extracting the Nitre, and letting
the aqueous or fluid Particles percolate : Others ſoften-
ing Marble for Pillows and Pin-cufhions; others petri-
fying the Hoofs of a living Horſe to preſerve them
from foundering. The Artiſt himſelf was at that Time
buſy upon tivo great Deſigns: The firſt to ſow Land
with Chaff, wherein he affirmed the true ſeminal Vir-
tue to be contained, as he demonſtrated by ſeveral Ex-
periments, which I was not ſkilful enough to compre-
hend. The other was, by a certain Compofition of
Gums, Minerals and Vegetables, outwardly applied,
to prevent the Growth of Wool upon two young
Lambs, and he hoped in a reaſonable Time to propa-
gate the Breed of naked Sheep all over the Kingdom.
I 3
Wu
174 A VOYAGE . Laruta, &c
We croſſed a Walk to the other part of the Acade.
my, where, as I have already ſaid, the Projectors in
speculative Learning refided.
The firft Profeſſor I ſaw was in a very large Room,
with forty Pupils about him. After Salutation, ob
ſerving me to look earneſtly upon a Frame, which took
up the greateſt Part of both the Length and Breadth of
the Room; he ſaid, perhaps I might wonder to ſee
him employed in a Projeæt for improving ſpeculative
Knowledge by practical and mechanical Operations.
But the World would ſoon be ſenſible of its Uſefulneſs,
and he flattered himſelf, that a more noble exalted
Thought never ſprang in any other Man's Head.
Every one knew how laborious the uſual Method is
of attaining to Arts and Sciences, whereas by his Con-
trivance, the moſt ignorant Perſon, at a reaſonable
Charge, and with a little bodily Labour, may write
Books in Philoſophy, Poetry, Politicks, Law, Mathe-
maticks and Theology, without the leaft Alliſtance
from Genius or Study. He then led me to the Frame,
about the Sides whereof all his Pupils ſtood in Ranks.
It was twenty Foot ſquare, placed in the Middle of
the Room. The Superficies was compoſed of ſeveral
Bits of Wood, about the Bigneſs of a Dye, but ſome
larger than others. They were all linked together by
Alender Wires. Theſe Bits of Wood were covered on
every Square with Paper pafted on them; and on theſe
Papers were written all the Words of their Language
in their ſeveral Moods, Tenſes, and Declenſions, but
without any Order. The Profeffor then deſired me to
obſerve, for he was going to ſet his Engine at work.
The Pupils at his Command took each of them hold of
an Iron Handle, whereof there were forty fixed round
the Edges of the Frame; and giving them a fudden
Turn, the whole Diſpoſition of the Words was entirely
changed. He then commanded fix and thirty of the
Lads to read the ſeveral Lines ſoftly as they appeared
upon the Frame; and where they found three or four
Words together that might make Part of a Sentence,
they di&lated to the four remaining Boys, who were
Scribes.
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c.
175
*Scribes. This Work was repeated three or four Times.
and at every Tarn the Engine was ſo contrived, that
the Words ſhifted into new Places, as the ſquare Bits
of Wood moved upſide down.
Sıx Hours a-day the young Students were employed
in this Laboar; and the Profeſſor ſhewed me ſeveral
Volumes in large Folio, already collected, of broken
Sentences, Thich he intended to piece together; and
out of thoſe rich Materials to give the World a com-
pleat Body of all Arts and Sciences, which however
might be ftill improved, and much expedited, if the
Publick would raiſe a Fund for making and employing
five hundred ſuch Frames in Lagado, and oblige the
Managers to contribute in common their ſeveral Col-
le&tions.
He aſſured me, that this Invention had employed
all his Thoughts from his Youth; that he had emptied
the whole Vocabulary into his Frame, and made the
ftriéteſt Computation of the general Proportion there is
in Books, between the Numbers of Particles, Nouns,
and Verbs, and other Parts of Speech.
I made my humbleft Acknowledgments to this il-
luſtrious Perſon for his great Communicativeneſs; and
promiled, if ever I had the good Fortune to return to
my native Country, that I would do him Juſtice, as
the ſole Inventor of this wonderful Machine; the Form
and Contrivance of which I deſired Leave to delineate
upon Paper, as in the Figure here annexed.
I told
him, although it were the Cuſtom of our Learned in
Europe to ſleal Inventions from each other, who had
thereby at leaſt this Advantage, that it became a Con-
troverſy which was the right Owner; yet I would take
ſuch Caution, that he ſhould have the Honour entire
without a Rival,
We next went to the School of Languages, where
three Profeſſors fat in Conſultation upon improving
that of their own Country.
The firſt Project was to ſhorten Diſcourſe by cut-
ting Polyſyllables into one, and leaving out Verbs and
Par-
14
376
'A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c
Participles ; becauſe in reality all things imaginable
are bat Nouns.
The other was a Scheme for entirely aboliſhing all
Words whatſoever :: And this was urged as a great Ad-
vantage in Point of Health as well as Brevity. For, it
is plain, that every Word we ſpeak is in ſome Degree
a Diminution of our Lungs by Corroſion; and con-
ſequently contributeth to the ſhortening of our Lives.
An Expedient was therefore offered, that fince Words
are only Names for Things, it would be more conve-
nient for all Men to carry about them ſuch Things as
were neceſſary to expreſs the particular Buſineſs they
are to diſcourſe on. And this Invention would certain.
ly have taken place, to the great Eaſe as well as Health
of the Subject, ifthe Women, in Conjunction with the
Vulgar and Illiterate, had not threatened to raiſe a
Rebellion, unleſs they might be allowed the Liberty
to ſpeak with their Tongues, after the Manner of their
Forefathers: Such conſtant irreconcileable Enemies to
Science are the common People. However, many of
the moft Learned and Wiſe adhere to the new Scheme
of expreſſing themſelves by Things; which hath only
this Inconvenience attending it, that if a Man's Buſi.
meſs be very great, and of various Kinds, he muſt be
obliged in Proportion to carry a greater Bundle of
Things upon his Back, unleſs he can afford one or two
ftrong Servants to attend him. I have often beheld
two of thoſe Sages almoft anking under the Weight of
their Packs, like Pedlars among us, who, when they
met in the Streets, would lay down their Loads, open
their Sacks, and hold Converſation for an Hour toge-
ther ; then put up their Implements, help each other
to reſume their Burthens, and take their Leave.
But, for ſhort Converſations, a Man may carry
Implements in his Pockets and under his Arms, enough
to ſupply him, and in his Houſe he cannot be at a
Loſs ; therefore the Room where Company meet to
practice this Art, is full of all Things ready at Hand,
requiſite to furnish Matter for this kind of artificial
Converſe.
ANOTHES
A Voyage to Laputa, &c.
ANOTHER great Advantage propoſed by this Inven-
tion, was, that it would ſerve as an univerſal Lan-
guage to be underſtood in all civilized Nations, whoſe.
Goods and Utenſils are generally of the ſame Kind,
or nearly reſembling, ſo that their Uſes might eaſily
be comprehended. And thus Ambaſſadors would be
qualified to treat with foreign Princes or Miniſters of
State, to whoſe Tongues they were utter Strangers.
I was at the Mathematical School, where the Ma-
fer taught his Pupils after a Method fcarce imaginable
to us in Europe.
The Propoſition and Demonſtration
were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with
Ink com-
poſed of a Cephalick Tin&ture. This the Student was
to ſwallow upon a faſting Stomach, and for three
Days following eat nothing but Bread and Water. As
the Wafer digeſted, the T'in&ture mounted to his
Brain, bearing the Propoſition along with it. But the
Succeſs hath not hitherto been anſwerable, partly by
ſome Error in the Quantum or Compoſition, and partly
by the Perverſeneſs of Lads; to whom this Bolus is ſo ·
nauſeous, that they generally ſteal aſide, and diſcharge
it upwards, before it can operate; neither have they
been yet perſuaded to uſe ſo long an Abſtinence as the
Preſcription requires.
CH A P. VI.
A further Account of the Academy. The Author pra.
pofitb ſome Improvements, which are honourably re.
ceived.
TN the School of political Projectors I was but ill
entertained, the Profeſſors appearing in my Judg-
ment wholly out of their Senſes; which is a Scene that
never faileth to make me inelancholy. Theſe unhappy
People were propoſing Schemes for perſuading Mo-
IS
narche
178
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &.
narchs to chuſe Favourites upon the Score of their Wif-
dom, Capacity and Virtue ; of teaching Miniſters to
conſult the publick Good ; of rewarding Merit, great
Abilities, and eminent Services; of inſtructing Princes
to know their true Intereſt, by placing it on the ſame
Foundation with that of their People: Of chufing for
Imployments Perſons qualified to exerciſe them ; with
many other wild impoſſible Chimæras, that never en-
tered before into the Heart of Man to conceive; and
confirmed in me the old Obſervation, that there is no-
thing fo extravagant and irrational which ſome Philo.
ſophers have not maintained for Truth.
But, however, I ſhall ſo far do Juſtice to this part
of the Academy, as to acknowledge that all of them
were not ſo viſionary. There was a moſt ingenious
Doctor, who ſeemed to be perfectly verſed in the
whole Nature and Syſtem of Government. This
illuſtrious Perſon had very uſefully imployed his Studies
in finding out effectual Remedies for all Diſeaſes and
Corruptions, to which the ſeveral Kinds of publick
Adminiſtration are ſubject by the Vices or Infirmi-
ties of thoſe who govern, as well as by the Licentiouf-
neſs of thoſe who are to obey. For inſtance: Whereas
all Writers and Reaſoners have agreed, that there is a
Atri& univerſal Reſemblance between the natural and
political Body, can there be any thing more evident,
than that the Health of both muſt be preſerved, and
the Diſeaſes cured by the ſame Preſcriptions? It is al-
lowed, that Senates and great Councils are often
troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant
Humours; with many Diſeaſes of the Head, and more
of the Heart; with ſtrong Convulſions, with grievous
Contractions of the Nerves and Sinews in both Hands,
but eſpecially the Right : With Spleen, Flatus, Ver-
tigoes and Deliriums; with ſcrophulous Tumours full
of fætid purulent Matter; with ſower frothy Ructations,
with Canine Appetites, and Crudeneſs of Digeſtion ;
beſides many others needleſs to mention, This Doctor
therefore propoſed, that upon the Meeting of a Senate,
certain Phyficians ſhould attend at the three firſt Days
of
A Voyage to Laruta, &c. 179
of their fitting, and at the Cloſe of each Day's Debate,
feel the Pulſes of every Senator ; after which, having
maturely conſidered, and conſulted upon the Nature
of the ſeveral Maladies, and the Methods of Cure, they
ſhould on the fourth Day return to the Senate-Houſe,
attended by their Apothecaries ſtored with proper Me-
dicines; and before the Members fat, adminiſter to each
of them Lenitives, Aperitives, Abſterſives, Corroſives,
Reſtringents, Palliatives, Laxatives, Cephalalgicks,
Ietericks, Apophlegmaticks, Acouſticks, as their ſeveral
Cafes required; and according as theſe Medicines ſhould
operate, repeat, alter or omit them at the next Meeting.
This Project could not be of any great Expence to
the Publick; and might, in my poor Opinion, be of
much Uſe for the Diſpatch of Buſineſs in thoſe Coun-
tries where Senates have any Share in the legiſlative
Power; beget Unanimity, ſhorten Debates, open a few
Mouths which are now clofed, and cloſe many more
which are now open; curb the Petulancy of the Young,
and correct the Poſitiveneſs of the Old; rouſe the Stu-
pid, and damp the Pert.
Again; becauſe it is a general Complaint, that the
Favourites of Princes are troubled with ſhort and weak
Memories, the fame Doctor propoſed, that whoever
attended a firſt Miniſter, after having told his Buſinefs
with the utmoſt Brevity, and in the plaineſt Words,
ſhould, at his Departure, give the ſaid Miniſter a
Tweak by the Nofe, or a Kick in the Belly, or tread
on his Corns, or lug him thrice by both Ears, or run a
Pin into his Breech, or pinch his Arms black and blue ;
to prevent Forgetfulneſs : And at every Levee Day
repeat the ſame Operation, until the Buſineſs were done
or abſolutely refuſed.
He likewiſe directed, that every Senator in the
great Council of a Nation, after he had delivered his
Opinion, and argued in the Defence of it, ſhould be
obliged to give his Vote dire&tly contrary; becauſe, if
that were done, the Reſult would infallibly terminate
in the Good of the Publick.
WHEN Parties in a State are violent, he offered a
wonderful
A VOYAGE TO LAPUTA, C.
wonderful Contrivance to reconcile them. The Me:
thod is this. You take an hundred Leaders of each
Party ; you diſpoſe them into Couples of ſuch whoſe
Heads are neareſt of a Size; then let two nice Opera-
tors ſaw off the Occiput of each Couple at the ſame
Time, in ſuch Manner that the Brain may be
equally divided. Let the Occiputs thus cut off be in-
terchanged, applying each to the Head of his oppoſite
Party-inan. It ſeemeth indeed to be a Work that re-
quireth ſome Exactneſs ; but the Profeſſor aſſured us,
that if it were dexterouſly performed, the Cure would
be infallible. For he argued thus ; that the cwo half
Brains being left to debate the Matter between them-
ſelves within the Space of one Scull, would ſoon come
to a good Underſtanding, and produce that Modera-
tion, as well as Regularity of thinking, fo much to
be wiſhed for in the Heads of thoſe, who imagine
they came into the World only to watch and govern its
Motions : And as to the Difference of Brains in Quan-
tity or Quality, among thoſe who are Directors in
Faction, the Doctor aſſured us from his own Know-
ledge, that it was a perfect Trifle.
I heard a very warm Debate between two Profef-
fors, about the moſt commodious and effectual Ways
and Means of railing Money without grieving the Sub-
ject. The firſt affirmed, the jufteft Method would be to
lay a certain Tax upon Vices and Folly ; and the Sam
fixed upon every Man to be rated after the faireſ Man-
ner by a Jory of his Neighbours. The ſecond was of
an Opinion directly contrary; to tax thofe Qualities of
Body and Mind for which Men chiefly value them-
ſelves ; the Rate to be more or leſs according to the
Degrees of excelling; the Deciſion whereof ſhould be
left entirely to their own Breaſt. The higheſt Tax was
upon Men, who are the greateſt Favourites of the o-
ther Sex, and the Afefiments according to the Num-
ber and Natures of the Favours they have received ;
for which they are allowed to be their own Vouchers.
Wit, Valour, and Politeneſs were likewiſe propoſed to
be largely taxed and collected in the ſame Manner, by
every
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c 181
every Perſon giving his own Word for the Quantum
of what he poſſeſſed. But, as to Honour, Juſtice,
Wiſdom and Learning, they ſhould not be taxed at all ;
becauſe, they are Qualifications of ſo fingular a Kind,
that no Man will either allow them in his Neighbour,
or value them in himſelf.
The Women were propoſed to be taxed according
to their Beauty and Skill in Dreſling; wherein they had
the ſame Privilege with the Men, to be determined by
their own Judgment. But Conftancy, Chaſtity, good
Senſe, and good Nature were not rated, becauſe they
would not bear the Charge of Collecting.
To keep Senators in the Intereſt of the Crown, it
was propoſed that the Members ſhould raffle for Im-
ployments ; every Man firſt taking an Oath, and giving
Security that he would vote for the Court, whether he
won or no; after which the Loſers had in their Turn
the Liberty of rafiling upon the next Vacancy. Thus,
Hope and Expectation would be kept alive; none
would complain of broken Promiſes, but impute their
Diſappointments wholly to Fortune, whoſe Shoulders
are broader and ſtronger than thoſe of a Miniſtry.
ANOTHER Profeffor ſhewed me a larger Paper of In-
fructions for diſcovering Plots and Conſpiracies againſ
the Government. He adviſed great Stateſmen to exa-
mine into the Diet of all ſuſpected Perſons; their
Times of eating; upon which Side they lay in Bed ;
with which Hand they wiped their Pofteriors; to take a
ftri&t View of their Excrements; and from the Colour,
the Odour, the Taſte, the Conſiſtence, the Crudeneſs,
or Maturity of Digeſtion, form a Judgment of their
Thoughts and Deſigns: Becauſe Men are never ſo ſe-
rious, thoughtful, and intent, as when they are at Stool:
which he found by frequent Experiment; for in fuck
Conjun&tures, when he uſed merely as a Tryal to con-
fider which was the beſt Way of murdering the King,
his Ordure would have a Tincture of Green ; but quite
different when he thought only of raiſing an Inſurrec-
tion, or burning the Metropolis.
Tax whole Diſcourſe was written with great Acute-
neſs,
132
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
nefs, containing many Obſervations both curious and
uſeful for Politicians, but as I conceived not altogether
compleat. This I ventured to tell the Author, and of-
fered, if he pleaſed, to ſupply him with ſomeAdditions.
He received my Propoſition with more Compliance
than is uſual among Writers, eſpecially thoſe of the
Projecting Species ; profeſſing he would be glad to re-
ceive farther Information.
I told him, that in the Kingdom of Tribnia, by
the Natives called Langden, where I had long ſojourned,
the Bulk of the People confifted wholly of Diſcoverers,
Witneſſes, Informers, Accuſers, Proſecutors, Eviden-
ces,Swearers; together with their ſeveral ſubſervient and
ſubaltern Inſtruments; all under the Colours, the Con-
duct, and Pay of Miniſters and their Deputies. The
Plots in that Kingdom are uſually the Workmanſhip
of thoſe Perſons who defire to raiſe their own Charac-
ters of profound Politicians; to reſtore new Vigour to
a crazy Adminiſtration; to ftifle or divert general Dif-
contents; to fill their Coffers with Forfeitures ; and
raiſe or fink the Opinion of publick Credit, as either
fhall belt anſwer their private Advantage. It is firſt a-
greed and ſettled among them, what fufpected Perſons
Thall be accuſed of a Plot : Then, effe&tual Care is
taken to ſecure all their Letters and other Papers, and
put the Owners in Chains. Theſe Papers are delivered
to a Sett of Artiſts very dexterous in finding out the
myſterious Meanings of Words, Syllables and Letterš.
For Inſtance, they can decypher a Cloſe-ftool to fig.
nify a Privy-Council; a Flock of Geeſe, a Senate; a
lame Dog, an Invader ; the Plague a Standing Army :
a Buzzard, a Miniſter; the Gout, a High-Prieſt ; a
Gibbet, a Secretary of State ; a Chamber-Pot, a
Committee of Grandees ; a Sieve, a Court Lady ; a
Broom, a Revolution; a Mouſe-trap, an Imployment;
a bottomleſs Pit, the Treaſury ; a Sink, a Court ; a
Cap and Bells, a Favourite ; a broken Reed, a Court
of Juſtice; an empty Tun, a General ; a running Sore,
the Adminiſtration.
When this Method fails, they have two others mo
effectual ;
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 183
effe&ual; which the Learned among them call Acrof-
tieks, and Anagrams. Firſ, they can decypher all ini-
tial Letters into political Meanings: Thus, N; ſhall
lignify a Plot; B, a Regiment of Horfe; L, a Fleet
at Sea. Or, ſecondly, by tranſpoſing the Letters of
the Alphabet, in any ſuſpected Paper, they can lay
open the deepeſt Deſigns of a diſcontented Party. So
for Example, if I ſhould ſay in a Letter to a friend,
Our Brother Tom hath juſt got the Piles; a Man of
Skill in this Art would diſcover how the ſame Letters
which compoſe that Sentence, may be analyſed into
the following Words ; Reff,--a Plot is brought home --
The Tour. And this is the Anagramatick Method.
* The Profeffor made me great Acknowledgments for
communicating theſe Obſervations, and promiſed to
make honourable mention of me in his Treatiſe.
I saw nothing in this Country that could invite me
to a longer Continuance ; and began to think of re-
turning home to England.
CH A P. VI.
The Author leaveth Lagado, arriveth at Maldonada.
No Ship readı. He taketh a ſhort Voyage to Glubb.
dubdrib. His Reception by the Governor.
TH
H E Continent, of which this Kingdom is a Part,
extends itſelf, as I have Reafon to believe, Eaft.
ward to that unknown Tract of America, Wellward of
California, and North to the Pacifick Ocean, which is
not above an hundred and fifty Miles from Lagado ;
where there is a good Port and much Commerce with
the
great Iſland of Luggnagg, ſituated to the North-
Welt about 29 Degrees North Latitude, and 140 Lou-
gitude. This Iſland of Luggnagg, flandeth South Eaſt-
ward of Japan, about an hundred Leagues diſtant.
There is a ſtrict Alliance between the Japaneſe Em-
peror
184 2 Voyage to Laputa, &c.
peror and the King of Luggnagg, which affordeth fre.
quent Opportunities of failing from one Iſand to the
other. I determined therefore to direct my Courſe
this Way, in order to my Return to Europe. I hired
two Mules, with a Guide to ſhew me the Way, and
carry my ſmall Baggage. I took Leave of my noble
Protector, who had ſhewn me ſo much Favour, and
made me a generous Preſent at my Departure.
My Journey was without any Accident or Adven-
ture worth relating. When I arrived at the Port of
Maldonada, (for ſo it is called) there was no Ship in
the Harbour bound for Luggnagg, nor like to be in
ſome Time. The Town is about as large as Portſ-
mouth. I ſoon fell into ſome Acquaintance, and was
very hoſpitably received. A Gentleman of Diftinction
ſaid to me, that ſince the Ships bound for Luggnagg
could not be ready in leſs than a Month, it might be
no diſagreeable Amuſement for me to take a Trip to
the little Iand of Glubbdubdrib, about five Leagues off
to the South-Weſt. He offered himſelf and a Friend to
accompany me, and that I ſhould be provided with a
ſmall convenient Barque for the Voyage.
GLUBDUBDRIB, as nearly as I can interpret
the Word, fignifies the Iand of Sorcerers or Magi-
cians. It is about one Third as large as the Iſle of
Wight, and extremely fruitful : It is governed by the
Head of a certain Tribe, who are all Magicians.
This Tribe marrieth only among each other; and the
eldeſt in Succeſſion is Prince or Governor. He hath a
noble Palace, and a Park of about three chouſand
Acres, ſurrounded by a Wall of hewn Stone twenty
Foot high. In this Park are ſeveral ſmall Incloſures
for Cattle, Corn, and Gardening.
The Governor and his Family are ſerved and attend-
ed by Domeſticks of a Kind ſomewhat unuſual. By
his Skill in Necromancy, he hath Power of calling
whom he pleaſeth from the Dead, and commanding
their Service for twenty four Hours, but no longer ; nor
can he call the ſame Perſons up again in leſs than three
Months, except upon very extraordinary Occafions
WHEN
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
When we arrived at the Iſland, which was about
eleven in the Morning, one of the Gentlemen who
accompanied me went to the Governor, and deſired
Admittance for a Stranger who came on purpoſe to
have the Honour of attending on his Highneſs. This
was immediately granted, and we all three entered the
Gate of the Palace between Rows of Guards, arm-
ed and dreſſed after a very antick Manner, and ſome-
thing in their Countenances that made my Fleſh creep
with a Horror I cannot expreſs. We paſſed through
ſeveral Apartments between Servants of the ſame Sort,
ranked on each Side as before, until we came to the
Chamber of Preſence, where, after three profound 0.
beyſances, and a few general Queſtions, we were per-
mitted to fit on three Stools near the loweſt Step of his
Highneſs's Throne. He underſtood the Language of
Balnibarbi, although it were different from that of his
Iſland. He deſired me to give him ſome Account of
my Travels; and to let me ſee that I ſhould be treated
without Ceremony, he diſmiſſed all his Attendants with
a Turn of his Finger, at which, to my great Aſtoniſh-
ment, they vaniſhed in an Inſtant, like Viſions in a
Dream, when we awake on a ſudden. I could not
recover myſelf in ſome time, until the Governor af-
ſured me, that I ſhould receive no hurt; and obſerving
my two Companions to be under no Concern, who had
been often entertained in the ſame Manner, 1 began to
take Courage, and related to his Highneſs a ſhort Hi-
fory of my ſeveral Adventures, yet not without ſome
Heſitation, and frequently looking behind me to the
Place where I had ſeen thoſe domeſtick Spectres. I had
the Honour to dine with the Governor, where a new
Set of Ghoſts ſerved up the Meat, and waited at Table.
I now obſerved myſelf to be leſs terrified than I bad
been in the Morning. I ſtaid until Sun ſet, but humbly
defired his Highneſs to excuſe me for not accepting his
Invitation of lodging at the Palace. My two Friends
and I lay at a private Houſe in the Town adjoining,
which is the Capital of this little Iſand ; and the next
Morning
"186 & Vorage to LAPUTA, &C.
Morning we returned to pay our Duty to the Gover-
nor, as he was pleaſed to command us.
Arter this Manner we continued in the Iſand for
ten Days, moſt Part of every Day with the Governor,
and at Night in our Lodging. I ſoon grew fo fami-
liarized to the Sight of Spirits, that after the third or
fourth Time they gave me no Motion at all; or; if I
had any Apprehenfions left, my Curiofity prevailed
over them. For his Highneſs the Governor ordered
me to call up whatever Perſons I would chuſe to name,
and in whatever Numbers, among all the Dead from
the Beginning of the World to the preſent Time, and
command them to anſwer any Queſtions I ſhould think
ft to aſk ; with this Condition, that my Queſtions
muſt be confined within the Compaſs of the Times
they lived in. And one Thing I might depend upon,
that they would certainly tell the Truth ; for Lying
was a Talent of no Uſe in the lower World.
I MADE my humble Acknowledgments to his High-
neſs for ſo great a Favour. We were in a Chamber,
from whence there was a fair Proſpect into the Park.
And becauſe my firſt Inclination was to be entertained
with Scenes of Pomp ánd Magnificence, I deſired to
ſee Alexander the Great at the Head of his Army juſt
after the Battle of Arbela; which, upon a Motion of
the Governor's Finger, immediately appeared in a
large Field under the Window, where we ſtood. Alex-
ander was called up into the Room: It was with
great Difficulty that I underſtood his Greek, and had
but little of my own. He aſſured me upon his Honour
that he was not poiſoned, but died of. a Fever by ex-
ceſſive Drinking
Next I ſaw Hannibal paſſing the Alps, who told
me he had not a Drop of Vinegar in his Camp.
I saw Cæfar and Pompey at the Head of ther Troops
juſt ready to engage. I ſaw the former in his laſt great
Triumph. I deſired that the Senate of Rome might
appear before me in one large Chamber, and a modern
Repreſentative, in a Counterview; in another. The
firſt ſeamed to be an Affembly of Heroes and Demi-
Gods,
A Voyage 10 LAPUTA, &c. 189
nance.
Gods ; the other Knot of Pedlars, Pick-pockets,
Highwaymen, and Bullies.
The Governor, at my Requeſt, gave the Sign for
Cæfar and Brutus to advance towards us.
I was
Struck with a profound Veneration at the Sight of Bri
tus; and could eaſily diſcover the moſt conſommate
Virtue, the greateſt Intrepidity, and Firmneſs of Mind,
the trucft Love of his Country, and general Benevo-
lence for Mankind in every Lineament of his Counte-
I obſerved with much Pleaſure, that theſe two-
Perſons were in good Intelligence with each other ;
and Cæfar freely confeſſed to me, that the greateſt
Actions of his own Life, were not equal, by many
De-
grees, to the Glory of taking it away. I had the Ho-
nour to have much Converſation with Brutus; and
was told, that his Ancefor Junius, Socrates, Epami-
nondas, Cato the Younger, Sir Thomas More and him-
ſelf, were perpetually together : A Sextumvirate to.
which all the Ages of the World cannot add a Seventh.
Ir would be tedious to trouble the Reader with re.
lating what vaſt Numbers of illuſtrious Perſons were
called up, to gratify that inſatiable Deſire I had to ſee
the World, in every period of Antiquity, placed before
me. I chiefly fed mine Eyes with beholding the De-
ſtroyers of Tyrants and Uſurpers, and the Reſtorers
of Liberty to oppreſſed and injured Nations. But, it is
impoſſible, to expreſs the Satisfaction I received in my
own Mind, after ſuch, a Manner as to make it a ſuita-
ble Entertainment to the Reader.
CH A P. VIII.
A further Account of Glubbdubdrib. Antient and ma-
dern Hiſtory correcled.
HA
ITAving a Deſire to ſee thoſe Antients, who were
moſt renowned for Wit and Learning, I lēc
apart one Day on purpoſe. I propoſed that Homer and
Ari
fotle
$38
A Voyace to LAPUTA, &c.
Ariſtotle might appear at the Head of all their Com-
mentators ; but theſe were ſo numerous, that ſome
Hundreds were forced to attend in the Court and out-
ward Rooms of the Palace. I knew and could diſtin-
guiſh thoſe two Heroes at firſt ſight, not only from the
Croud, but from each other. Homer was the taller and
comelier Perſon of the two, walked very ere&t for one
of his Age, and his Eyes were the moſt quick and
piercing I ever beheld. Ariſtotle ftooped much, and
made uſe of a Staff. His Viſage was meagre, his
Hair lank and thin, and his Voice hollow. I foon
diſcovered, that both of them were perfect Strangers
to the reſt of the Company, and had never ſeen or
heard of them before. “And I had a Whiſper from a
Ghoft, who ſhall be nameleſs, that theſe Commcnta-
tors always kepi in the moſt diſtant Quarters from their
Principals in the lower World, through a Conſciouſneſs
of Shame and Guilt, becauſe they had ſo horridly
miſrepreſented the Meaning of thoſe Authors to Pofte-
rity. I introduced Didymus and Eufratbus to Homer,
and prevailedon him to treat them better than perhaps
they deſerved; for he foon found they wanted a Ge-
nius to enter into the Spirit of a Poet. But Ariſtotle
was out of all Patience with the Account I gave him
of Scotus and Ramus, as I preſented them to him ; and
he aſked them, whether the reſt of the Tribe were as
great Dunces as themſelves?
I then deſired the Governor to call up Deſcartes
and Gaſſendi, with whom lº prevailed to explain their
Syſtems to Ariſtotle. This great Philoſopher freely
acknowledged his own Miſtake in Natural Philoſophy,
becauſe he proceeded in many things upon Conjecture,
as all Men muſt do ; and he found that Gaffendi, who
had made the Doctrine of Epicurus as palatable as he
could, and the Vortices of Deſcartes were equally ex-
ploded. He predi&ted the fame Fate to Attra£tion,
whereof the preſent Learned are ſuch zealous Aſſerters,
He ſaid that new Syſtems of Nature were but new
Faſhions, which would vary in every Age ; and even
thoſe who prettend to demonftate them from Mathe-
matical
A VOYAGE to LAPVTA, &. 189
inatical Principles would flouriſh but a Mort Period of
T'ime, and be out of Vogue when that was determined.
I spent five Days in converſing with many others
of the ancient Learned. I ſaw many of the firſt Ro-
man Emperors. I prevailed on the Governor to call
up Eliogabalus's Cooks to dreſs us a Dinner ; but they
could not fhew us much of their Skill for want of Ma.
terials. A Helot of Ageſilaus made us a Difh of Spar-
tan Broth, but I was not able to get down a ſecond
Spoonfal.
The two Gentlemen, who conducted me to the
Iland, were preſſed by their private Affairs to return
in three Days, which I employed in ſeeing ſome of the
modern Dead, who made the greateſt Figure for two
or three hundred Years paſt in our own and other
Countries of Europe ; and having been always a great
Admirer of old illuſtrious Families, I deſired the Go.
vernor would call up a Dozen or two of Kings, with
their Anceſtors in order, for eight or nine Generations,
But my Diſappointment was grievous and unexpected,
For, inſtead of a long Train with Royal Diadems, I
ſaw in one Family, two Fidlers, three ſpruce Courtiers,
and an Italian Prelate. In another, a Barber, an
Abbot, and two Cardinals. I have too great a Vene-
ration for crowned Heads, to dwell any longer on ſo
nice a Subje&t : But, as to Counts, Marquilles, Dakes,
Earls and the like, I was not ſo ſcrupulous. And I
confeſs, it was not without fame Pleaſure, that I found
myſelf able to trace the particular Features, by which
certain Families are diſtinguiſhed up to their Originals.
I could plainly diſcover from whence one Family de-
riveth a long Chin; why a ſecond hath abounded with
Knaves for two Generations, and Fools for two more;
why a third happened to be crack-brained, and a
fourth to be Sharpers. Whence it came, what Poly-
dore Virgil ſays of a certain great Houſe, Nec Vir
fortis, nec femina Caſta. How Cruelty, Falſhood,
and Cowardice grew to be Characteriflicks, by which
certain Families are diftinguiſhed as much by their
Coats of Arms. Who first brought the Pox into
a noble
F
190
A Voyace to LAPUTA, &c.
a noble Houſe, which hath lineally deſcended in
fcrophulous Tumours to their Poſterity. Neither
could I wonder at all this, when I ſaw ſuch an Inter-
ruption of Lineages by Pages, Lacqueys, Valets,
Coachmen, Gameſters, Fidlers, Players, Captains,
and Pick-pockets
I was chiefly diſguſted avith modern Hiſtory. For
having ftriatly examined all the Perſons of greateſt
Name in the Courts of Princes for an hundred Years
paſt, I found how the World had been miſled by pro-
flitute Writers, to aſcribe the greateſt Exploits in War
to Cowards, the wiſeft Counſel to Fools, Sincerity to
Flatterers, Roman Virtue to Betrayers of their Coun.
try, Piety to Atheiſts, Chaſtity to Sodomites, Truth to
Informers. How many innocent and excellent Per-
fons have been condemned to Death, or Baniſhment,
by the practiſing of great Miniſters upon the Corrup-
tion of Judges, and the Malice of Factions: How
many Villains had been exalted to the higheſt Places
of Truſt, Power, Dignity, and Profit: How great a
Share in the Motions and Events of Courts, Councils,
and Senates, might be challenged by Bawds, Whores,
Pimps, Paraſites, and Buffoons: How low an Opinion
I had of human Wiſdom and Integrity, when I was
truly informed of the Springs and Motives of great
Enterprizes and Revolutions in the World, and of
the contemptible Accidents to which they owed their
Succeſs.
Here I diſcovered the Roguery and Ignorance of
thoſe who pretend to write Anecdotes, or ſecret Hifto
ry; who ſend ſo many Kings to their Graves with a
Cup of Poiſon ; will repeat the Diſcourſe between a
Prince and chief Miniſter, where no Witneſs was by ;
unlock the Thoughts and Cabinets of Ambafiadors
and Secretaries of State ; and have the perpetual Miſ-
fortune to be miſtaken. Here I diſcovered the true
Cauſes of many great Events that have ſurprized the
World: How a Whore can govern the Back-flairs, the
Back-ſtairs a Council, and the Council a Senate. A
General confeſſed in my Preſence, that he got a Vi&o-
ry
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
ry.purely, by theForce of Cowardice and ill Conduct:
And an Admiral, that for want of proper Intelligence,
had beat the Enemy to whom he intended to betray the
Fleet. Three Kings proteſted to me, that in their
whole Reigns, they did never once prefer any Perſon of
Merit, unleſs by Miſtake or Treachery of ſome Mi-
niſter in whom they confided : Neither would they
do it, if they were to live again, and they fhewed,
with great Strength of Reaſon, that the Royal Throne,
could not be ſupported without Corruption ; becauſe,
that poſitive, confident, reſtive Temper, which Vir-
tue infuſed into a Man, was a perpetual Clog to pub-
lick Buſineſs .
I had the Curioſity to enquire in a particular Man-
ner, by what Methods great Numbers had procured
to themſelves high Titles of Honour, and prodigious
Eſtates ; and I confined my Enquiry into a very mo-
dern Period: However, without grating upon preſent
Times, becauſe I would be ſure to give no Offence,
even to Foreigners. (For I hope the Reader need not
be told that I do not in the leaſt intend my own
Country in what I ſay upon this Occaſion). A great
Number of Perſons concerned were called up, and
upon a very ſlight Examination, diſcovered ſuch a
Scene of Infamy, that I cannot reflect upon it without
ſome Seriouſneſs. Perjury, Oppreſſion, Subordination,
Fraud, Pandariſm, and the like Infirmities, were
amongft the moſt excuſeable Arts they had to mention;
and for theſe I gave, as it was reaſonable, due Allow-
But, when ſome confeſſed, they owed their
Greatneſs and Wealth to Sodomy or Inceſt ; others to
the proſtituting their own Wives and Daughters; others
to the betraying of their Country or their Prince; ſome
to poiſoning; more to the perverting of Juſtice, in order
to deſtroy the Innocent: I hope I may be pardoned, if
theſe Diſcoveries inclined me a little to abate of that
profound Veneration, which I am naturally apt to pay
to Perſons of high Rank, who ought to be treated
with the utmoſt Řeſpect due to their ſublime Dignity,
by us their Inſeriors.
ance.
I HAD
193 A VOYAGE to LaPota, &c.
I had often read of ſome great Services done to
Princes and States, and deſired to ſee the Perſons by
whom thoſe Services were performed. Upon Enquiry,
I was told, that their Names were to be found on no
Record, except a few of them, whom Hiſtory hath re-
preſented as the vileſt Rogues and Traitors. As to the
reſt, I had never once heard of them. They all ap-
peared with dejected Looks, and in the meaneſt Ha-
bit; moſt of them telling me they died in Poverty and
Diſgrace, and the reſt on a Scaffold or a Gibbet.
AMONG others, there was one Perſon whoſe Caſe
appeared a little fingular. He had a Youth about eigh-
téen Years old ſtanding by his Side. He told me, he
had for many Years been Commander of a Ship, and
in the Sea-Fight at Aflium, had the good Fortune to
break through the Enemy's great Line of Battle, fink
three of their capital Ships, and take a fourth, which
was the ſole Cauſe of Antony's Flight, and of the
Vi&ory that enſued : That the Youth ſtanding by him,
his only Son, was killed in the A&ion. He added,
that upon the Confidence of ſome Merit, the War
being at an End, he went to Rome, and ſolicited at
the Court of Auguftus, to be preferred to a greater
Shir, whoſe Commander had been killed ; but with-
out any Regard to his Pretenſions, it was given to a
Boy who had never ſeen the Sea, the Son of a Liber-
tixa, who waited on one of the Emperor's Miſtreſſes.
Returning back to his own Veſſel, he was charged
with Neglect of Duty, and the Ship given to a favou.
rite Page of Publicola the Vice-Admiral ; whereupon
he retired to a poor Farm, at a great Diſtance from
Rome, and there ended his Liſe. I was ſo curious to
know the Truth of this Story, that I deſired Agrippa
might be called, who was Admiral in that Fight.
He appeared, and copfirmed the whole Account, but
with much more Advantage to the Captain, whoſe
Modelly had extenuated or concealed a great Part of
his Merit.
I was furpriſed to find Corruption grown fo high
and ſo quick in that Empire, by the Force of Luxury
10
A Voyage to LAPUTA. & c.
193
ſo lately introduced ; which made me leſs wonder at
many parallel Caſes in other Countries, where Vices
of all kinds have reigned fo much longer, and where
the whole Praife as well as Pillage hath been engroſſed
by the Chief Commander, who perhaps had the leaſt
Title to either.
As every Perſon called up made exactly the ſame
Appearance he had done in the World, it gave me
melancholy R&tefleions to obſerve how much the Race
of human Kind was degenerated among us, within
theſe hundred Years paſt. How the Pox, under allits
Conſequences and Denominations, had altered every
Lineament of an Engliſh Countenance; ſhortened the
Size of Bodies, unbraced the Nerves, relaxed the Si.
news and Muſcles, introduced a ſallow Complection,
and rendered the Fleſh looſe and rancid.
I DESCENDED ſo low as to defire that ſome Engliſh
Yeomen of the old Stamp, might be ſummoned to ap-
pear; once ſo famous for the Simplicity of their Man-
ners, Dyet and Dreſs ; for Juſtice in their Dealings;
for their true Spirit of Liberty ; for their Valour and
Love of their Country. Neither could I be wholly
unmoved, after comparing the Living with the Dead,
when I conſidered how all theſe pure native Virtues
were proſtituted for a Piece of Money by their Grand-
children; who in ſelling their Votes and managing
at Elections, have acquired every Vice and Corruption
that can poſibly be learned in Court.
CHA P. IX.
The Author returns to Maldonada. Saileth to the King-
dom of Luggnagg. The Author confined. He is sent
for 10 Court. The Manner of his Admittance. The
King's great Lenity to his Subje&s.
ΤΗ
HE Day of our Departure being come, I took
Leave of his Highneſs the Governor of Glubb-
VOL. III.
K
dubsrió,
194
A Voxace to LAPUTA, e.
ty with a
dubdrib, and returned with my two Companions to
Maldonada, whers, after a Fortnight's waiting, a Ship
was ready to ſail for Luggnagg. The two Gentlemen,
and ſome others, were ſo generous and kind as to fur-
niſh me with Provifions, and ſee me on board. I was
a Month in this Voyage. We had one violent Storm,
and were under a Neceflity of ſteering Weſtward,
to get into the Trade Wind, which holds for above
fixty
Leagues. On the 2ift of April
1708, we failed
in the River of Clumegnig, which is a Sea-port Town
at the South-Eaſt Point of Luggnagg. We caſt Anchor
within a League of the Town, and made a Signal for
a Pilot. Two of diem came on board in leſs than
Half an Hour, by whom we were guided between
certain Shoals and Rocks, which are very dangerous
in the Paſſage, to a large Balin, where a Fleet may
ride in Safety within a Cable's Length of the Town-
Wall.
Some of our Sailors, whether out of Treachery or
Inadvertance, had informed the Pilots that I was a
Stranger and a great Traveller, whereof chefe gave
Notice to a Cuſtom-houſe Oficer,
by whom I was ex-
amined very fridly apon my landing. This Oficer
ſpoke to me in the Language of Balibarbi, which
by the Force of much Commerce is generally under-
flood in that Town, eſpecially by Seamen, and thoſe
employed in the Cuſtoms. I gave him a ſhort Ac-
count of ſome Particulars, and made my Story as
plauſible and conſiſtent as I could; but I thought it
neceſſary to diſguiſe my Country, and call myſelf an
Hollander; becauſe my Intentions were for Japan,
and I knew the Dutch were the only Europeans per-
Jnitted to enter into that Kingdoni, I therefore told
the Officer, that having
been ſhipwrecked on the Coaſt
of Balmibarbi, and caſt on a Rock, I was received
up into Laputa, or the flying Iſland, (of which he had
often heard) and was now endeavouring to get to
Japan, from whence I might find a Convenience of
returning to my own Country. The Officer ſaid, I
med be confined until he could receive Orders from
Court,
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
195
Court, for which he would write immediately, and
hoped to receive an Anſwer in a Fortnight. I was
carried to a convenient Lodging, with a Centry
placed at the Door'; however, I had the Liberty of a
large Garden, and was treated with Humanity enough,
being maintained all the Time at the King's Charge.
I was invited by ſeveral Perſons chiefly out of Curio-
fity, becauſe it was reported I came from Countries
very remote, of which they had never heard.
Hired a young Man who came in the ſame Ship
to be an Interpreter ; he was a Native of Luggnagg,
but had lived ſome Years at Maldonada, and was a
perfect Maſter of both Languages. By his Aſiſtance
I was able to hold a Converſation with thoſe that came
to viſit me; but this confifted only of their Queſtions
and
my
Anſwers
The Diſpatch came from Court about the Time we
expected. It contained a Warrant for conducting me
and my Retinue to Traldragdubb or Trildrogdrib, (for
it is pronounced both Ways as near as I can remember)
by a Party of ten Horſe. All my Retinue was that
poor Lad for an Interpreter, whom I perſuaded into
Service. At my humble Requeſt we had each of
us a Mule to ride on. A Meſſenger was diſpatched
Half a Day's Journey before us, to give the King No-
tice of my Approach, and to deſire that his Majeſty
would pleaſe to appoint a Day and Hour, when it
would be his gracious Pleaſure, that I might have the
Honour to lick the Dust before bis Footfool. This is
the Court Style, and I found it to be more than Mat-
ter of Form: For upon my Admittance two Days
after my Arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon
my Belly, and lick the Floor as I advanced ; but on
Account of my being a Stranger, Care was taken to
have it ſo clean that the Duft was not offenſive.
However, this was a peculiar Grace, not allowed to
any but Perſons of the higheſt Rank, when they de.
fire an Admittance : Nay, fometimes the Floor is
Itrewed with Duſt on purpoſe, when the Perſon to be
admitted happens to have powerful Enemies at Court :
K2
And
196
A VOTACE, to Laruta, &c.
And I have ſeen a great Lord with his Mouth ſo cram-
med, that when he had crept to the proper Diſtance
from the Throne, be was not able to ſpeak a Word.
Neither is there any Remedy, becauſe it is capital for
thoſe who receive an Audience to ſpit or wipe their
Mouths in his Majeſty's Preſence. There is indeed
another Cuftom, which I cannot altogether approve of.
When the King hath a Mind to put any of his Nobles
to Death in a gentle indolgent Manner, he commands
che Floor to be ſtrewed with a certain brown Powder,
of a deadly Compoſition, which being licked up, in-
fallibly kills hiin in twenty-four Hoors. But in Juſtice
to this Prince's great Clemency, and the Care he hath
of his Subjeds Lives, (wherein it were much to be
wilhed that the Monarchs of Europe would imitate
him) it moſt be mentioned, for his Honour, that ftriat
Orders are given to have the infected Parts of the Floor
well wallied after every dach Execution ; which, if his
Domeſticks neglect, they are in Danger of incurring
his Royal Diſpleaſure. I myſelf heard him give Di-
reclions that one of his Pages ſhould be whip, whoſe
Turn it was to give Notice about waſhing the Floor
efter an Execation, but maliciouſly had omitted it;
by which Neglea a-yaung Lord of great Hopes come-
ing to an Audience, was unfortunately poiſoned, al-
though the King at that Time had no Deſign againſt
his Life. But this good Prince was ſo gracious, as to
forgive the
Page his Whipping, apon Promiſe that he
would do fo no more, without fpecial Orders,
To return froin this Digreſſion ; when I had crept
within four Yards of the Throne, I raiſed myſelf
gently upon my Knees, and then ſtriking my Forehead
leven Times againſt the Ground, I pronounced the
following Words, as they had been taught me the
Night before, Ickpling Glofibrobb Squut ſerumm blhior
Mlalhaalt Lavia tadbalkpuff Sthuphad Gurdlubb
Aſht. This is the Compliment eſtabliſhed by the
Laws of the Land for all Perſons admitted to the
King's Preſence, it may be rendered into Englija
thus : May jest cælefiial Majolly out-live the Sun, el-
Ver
A Voyagt fo LAPUTA, &*c,
van Moons and au Hall To this the King returned
fome Anſwer, which althoogh I could not underſtand,
yet I replied as I had been directed ; Fluft drin Yale-
rick Druldum prakand mirpluſh, which properly figni-
fies, My Tongue is in the Mouth of my friend; and by
this Expreſſion was meant that I deſired Leave to
bring my Interpreter ; whereupon the young Man al-
ready mentioned will accordingly introduced ; by
whoſe Intervention I anſwered as many Queſtions as
his Majeſty could put in above an Hour. I ſpoke in
the Balnibarbian Tongue, and my Interpreter deliver-
ed my Meaning in that of Luggnagg:
The King was much delighted with my Company,
and ordered his Blijfmarklub, or High Chamberlain,
to appoint a Lodging in the Court for me and my In-
terpreter, with a daily Allowance for my Table, and
a large Purſe of Gold for my common Expences.
1 STAYED three Months in this Country out of per-
fect Obedience to his Majefly, who was pleaſed highly
to favour me, and made me very honourable Offers.
But I thought it more conſiſtent with Prudence and
Juſtice to paſs the Remainder of my Days with my.
Wife and Family
CH A P. X.
The Luggnaggians commended. A particular Defcrif
tione of the Struldbruggs, with many Converſations
between the Author and fome eminent Perſons upon
that Subjea.
HE Luggnaggians are a polite and generous
People; and although they are not without
fome Share of that Pride which is peculiar to all
Eaſtern Countries, yet they ſhew themſelves courteous
to Strangers, eſpecially Cach who are countenanced by
13
the
+98
A Voyaer te Lavra, &c.
the Court. I had many Acquaintance among Perfors
of the beſt Faſhion, and being always attended by my
Interpreter, the Converſation we had was not diſa-
greeable.
One Day, in much good Company, I was aſked by
2 Perſon of Quality, whether I had ſeen any of their
Stuldbruggs or Immortals ” I ſaid, I had not, and de-
fired he would explain to me what he meant by ſuch
an Appellation, applied to a mortal Creature. He
told me, that fometimes, although very rarely, a
Child happened to be born in a Family with a red cir-
cular Spot in the Forehead, direály over the left
Eyebrow, wäich was an infallible Mark that it ſhould
never die,
The Spot, as he defcribed it, was about
the Compaſs of a Silver Three-pence, but in the
Courſe of Time grew larger, and changed its Colour';
for at twelve Years old it became green, fo conti.
nued until five and twenty, then turned to a deep
blue; at five and forty it grew coal black, and a
large as an Englijf Shiling; but never admitted any
farther Aleration. Ha ſaid thefe Births were fo rare,
that he did not believe there could be above eleven
Handred Struldbruggs of both Sexes in the whole
Kingdom, of which he computed about fifty in the
Metropolls, and among the reft a young Gin born
about three Years ago. That theſe Productions were
not peculiar to any Family, but a meer Effect of
Chance; and the Chidren of the Struldbruggs
themſelves were equally mortal with the reſt of the
People.
I FREELY Own myſelf to have been ſtruck with in-
expreffible Delight upon hearing this Account : And
the Perſon who gave it me, happening to underſtand
the Balmibarbian Language, which I ſpoke wery well,
I could not forbear breaking out into Expreſſions, per-
haps a little too* extravagant. I cried out as in a
Rapture » Happy Nation, where every Child hath at
Jeaſt a Chance for being immortal! Happy People,
who enjoy ſo many living Examples of antient Virtue,
and have Maiters ready to inftruct them in the Wir
dom
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &'c. 199
dom of all former. Ages ! But,. happieſt beyond all
Compariſon are thoſe excellent Struldbruggs, who be-
ing born exempt from that univerſal Calamity of hu-
man Nature, have their Minds free and diſengaged,
without the weight and Depreſſion of Spirits cauſed
by the continual Apprchenfion of Death. "I diſcovered
my Admiration that I had not obſerved any of theſe
illuſtrious Perſons at Court; the black Spot on the
Forehead, being fo remarkable a Diſtinction, that I
could not have eaſily overlooked it: And it was im-
poſſible that his Majeſty, a moſt judicious Prince,
Thould not provide himſelf with a good Number of
fuch wiſe and able Counſellors, Yet perhaps the Vir-
tue of thofe Reverend Sages was too ftri&t for the cor-
rupt and libertine Manners of a Court. And we of-
ten find by Experience, that young Men are too opi-
nionative and volatile to be guided by the ſober Dic-
tates of their Seniors. However, fince the King was
pleaſed to allow me Acceſs to his Royal Perſon, I was
reſolved upon the very firft.Occaíon to deliver my
Opinion to him on this Matter freely, and at large,
by the Help of my Interpreter; and whether he would
pleaſe to take my Advice or no; yet in one Thing I
was determined, that his Majeſty having frequently
offered me an Eſtabliſhment in this Country, I would
with great Thankfulneſs accept the Favour, and paſs
my Life here in the Converſation of thoſe ſuperior
Beings the Struldbruggi, if they would pleaſe to ad-
mit me.
The Gentleman to whom l'addreſſed my Diſcourſe,
becauſe (as I have already obſerved) he ſpoke the
Language of Balxibarbi, faid to me, with a sort of a
Smile, which uſually ariſeth from Pity to the Ignorant,
that he was glad of any Occaſion to keep me among
them, and delired my Permiſſion to explain to the Com-
pany what I had ſpoke. He did ſo; and they talked to-
gether for ſome Time in their own Language, whereof
underſtood not a Syllable, neither could I obſerve
by their Countenances wbat Impreſſion my Diſcourſe
had made on them. After a thort Silence, the ſame
Perſon
KA
200
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
Perſon told me, that his Friends and mine (fo he
thought fit to expreſs himſelf) were very much plea-
led with the judicious Remarks I had made on the great
Happineſs and Advantage of immortal Life; and they
were defirous to know in a particular Manner, what
Scheme of Living I ſhould have formed to myſelf, if
it had fallen to my Lot to have been born a Struldbrugg
I answered, it was eaſy to be eloquent on ſo copi-
ous and delightful a Subject, eſpecially to me,who have
been often apt to amuſe myſelf with Viſions of what
I ſhould do if I were a King, a General, or a great
Lord : And upon this very Caſe I had frequently run
over the whole Syſtem how I ſhould employ myſelf,
and paſs the Time if I were ſure to live for ever.
That, if it had been my good Fortune to come in-
to the World a Struldbrugg; as ſoon as I could diſcover
my own Happineſs, by underſtanding the Difference
between Life and Death, I would firſt reſolve by all
Arts and Methods whatſoever to procure myſelf
Riches. In the Purſuit of which, by Thrift and Ma-
nagement, I might reaſonably expect, in about two
Hundred Years, to be the wealthieſt Man in the King.
dom: In the ſecond Place, I would from my earlieſt
Youth apply myſelf to che Study of Arts and Sciences,
by which I ſhould arrive
in Time to excel all others
in Learning. Laſtly, I would carefully record every
Adion and Event of Conſequence that happened in
the Poblick, impartially draw the Characters of the
ſeveral Succeſſions of Princes, and great Miniſters of
State, with my own Obſervations on every Point. I
would exaâly fet down the ſeveral Changes in Cuſtome,
Languages, Faſhions, Dreſs, Diet and Diverſions. By
all which Acquirements, I ſhould be a living Treaſury
of Knowledge and Wiſdom, and certainly become the
Oracle of the Nation.
I would never marry after Threeſcore, but live in
an hoſpitable Manner, yet ſtill on the ſaving Side. I
would entertain myſelf in forming and directing the
Minds of hopeful young Men, by convincing them,
from my own Remembrance, Experience, and Obſer-
vacion,
A VOYAGE 10 LAPUTA, C.
201
vation, fortified by numerous Examples, of the afeful-
meſs of Virtue in publick and private Life. But my
choice and conſtant Companions ſhould be a Set of my
own immortal Brotherhood, among whom I would
elect a Dozen from the moſt ancient down to my own
Cotemporaries. Where any of theſe wanted Fortunes,-
I would provide them with convenient Lodges round
my own Eſtate, and have ſome of them always at my
Table, only mingling a few of the moſt valuable among
you Mortals, whom Length of Time would harden
me to loſe with little or no Reluctance, and trear your
Poſterity after the fame Manner; juſt as a Man diverts
himſelf with the annual Succeſſion of Pinks and Tu-
lips in his Garden, without regretting the Loſs of
thoſe which withered the preceding Year.
THESE Struldbruggs
and I would mutually commu-
nicate our Obſervations and Memorials through the
Courſe of the Time ; remark the ſeveral Gradations
by which
Corruption ſtealeth
into the World,
and op-
poſe it in every Step, by giving perpetual Warning
and Inſtruction to Mankind; which, added to the
ſtrong Influence of our own Example, would probably
prevent that continual Degeneracy of human Nature,
ſo juftly complained of in all Ages.
Add to all this, the Pleaſure of ſeeing the various
Revolutions of States and Empires; the Changes in
the lower and upper World ; ancient Cities in Ruins,
and obſcure Villages become the Seats of Kings. Fa-
mous Rivers leſſening into ſhallow Brooks; the Ocean
leaving one Coaſt dry, and overwhelming another ;
the Diſcovery of many Countries yet unknown. Bar-
barity over-running the politeſt Nations, and the moſt
barbarous becoming civilized. I ſhould then ſee the
Diſcovery of the Longitude, the Perpetual Motion, the
Univerſal Medicine, and many other great Inventions
brought to the utmoſt Perfection.
What wonderful Diſcoveries ſhould we make in:
Aftronomy, by antliving and confirming our own Pre-
dictions ; by obſerving the Progreſs and Returns of
K
Comets,
5
A VOYACE to LAPUTA, &c.
Coinets, with the Changes of Motion in the Sun,
Moon and Stars.
I enlarged upon many other Topicks, which the
natural Defire of endleſs Life and ſublunary Happineſs
could eaſily furniſh me with. When I had ended, and
the Sum of my Diſcourſe had been interpreted as before
to the reſt of the Company, there was a good deal of
Talk among them in the Language of the Country,
not without ſome Laughter at my Expence. At laſt,
the ſame Gentleman who had been my Interpreter,
ſaid, he was deſired by the reſt to ſet me right in a few
Miſtakes, which I had fallen into through the common
Imbecillity of human Nature, and upon that Allowance
was leſs, anſwerable for them. That, this Breed of
Struldbruggs was peculiar to their Country, for there
were no ſuch People either in Balnibarbi or Japan,
where he had the Honour to be Ambaſſador from his
Majeſty, and found the Natives in both thoſe King-
doms very hard to believe that the Fact was poſſible;
and it appeared from my Aſtoniſhment, when he firſt
mentioned the Matter to me, that I received it as a
Thing wholly new, and ſcarcely to be credited. That
in the two Kingdoms above-mentioned, where, during
his Reſidence, he had converſed very much, he ob-
ferved long. Life to be the univerſal Deſire and Wiſh
of Mankind. That whoever had one Foot in the
Grave, was ſure to hold back the other as ſtrongly, as
he could. That the oldeſt had ſtill Hopes of living
one Day longer, and looked on Death as the greateſt
Evil, from which Nature always prompted him to re-
treat ; only in this Inand of Luggnagg, the Appetite
for living was not ſo eager, from the continual Exam-
ple of the Struldbruggs before their Eyes.
That the Syſtem of Living contrived by me, was
unreaſonable and unjuſt, becauſe it ſuppoſed a Perpe-
toity of Youth, Health, and Vigour, which no Man
could be fa fooliſh to hope, however extravagant he
might be in his Wifhes. That the Queſtion therefore
was not whether a Man would chuſe to be always in
the Prime of Youth, atrended with Proſperity and
Health
;
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
203
:.
Health ; but how he would paſs a perpetual Life under
all the uſual Diſadvantages which old Age bringeth
along with it. For although few Men will avow their
Deſires of being immortal upon ſuch hard Conditions,
yet in the two Kingdoms before mentioned of Balni
barbi and Japan, he obſerved that'every Man deſired
to put off Death for fome time longer, let it approach
ever ſo late ; and he rarely heard of any Man who
died willingly, except he were excited by the Extremity
of Grief or Torture. And he appealed to me whether,
in thoſe Countries I had travelled, as well as my own,
I had not obſerved the ſame general Diſpoſition.
After this Preface, he gave me a particular Ac-
count of the Siruldbruggs among them. He ſaid they
commonly acted like Mortals, until about Thirty
Years old, after which, by Degrees, they grew me an-
choly and dejected, increaſing in both until they came
to Fourſcore. This he learned from their own Con-
feſſion; for otherwiſe, there not being above two
or
three of that Species born in an Age, they were tco
few to form a general Obſervation by. When they
came to fourſcore Years, which is reckoned the Ex-
tremity of living in this Country, they had not only
all the Follies and Infirmities of other old Men, but
many more which aroſe from the dreadful Proſpect of
never dying. They were not only opinionative, pee-
viſh, covetous, morofe, vain, talkative, but uncapa-
ble of Friendſhip, and dead to all natural Affection,
which never deſcended below their Grand children.
Envy and impotent Deſires are their prevailing Paſſions.
But thoſeObjects againſt which their Envy ſeemeth prin-
cipally directed, are the Vices of the younger Sort,
and the Deaths of the old. By refle&ing on the for-
mer, they find themſelves cut off from all Poſſibility of
Pleaſure ; and whenever they fee a Funeral, they la-
ment and repine that others are gone to an Harbour of
Reſt, to which they themſelves never can hope to ar-
rive. They have no Remembrance of any Thing but
what they learned and obſerved in their Youth and
middle Age, and even that is very imperfe&t: And for
the
204 A VOYAGL to LAPUTA, &c.
the Truth or Particulars of any Fa&, it is ſafer to de-
pend on common Traditions than upon their beſt Re-
collections. The leaſt miſerable among them appear
to be thoſe who turn to Dotage, and entirely loſe
their Memories; theſe meet with more Pity and Affiſt-
ance, becauſe they want many bad Qualities which
abound in others.
Ir a Struldbrugg happened to marry one of his
own Kind, the Marriage is diffolved of Courſe by the
Courteſy of the Kingdom, as ſoon as the younger of
che two comes to be Fourſcore. For the Law thinks
it a reaſonable Indulgence, that thoſe who are con-
demned without any Fault of their own to a perpetual
Continuance in the World, ſhould not have their Mi-
fery doubled by the Load of a Wife.
As ſoon as they have compleated the Term of
eighty Years, they are looked on as dead in Law; their
Heirs immediately ſucceed to their Eſtates, only a ſmall
Pittance is reſerved for their Support; and the poor
Ones are maintained at the publick Charge. After
that Period they are held incapable of any Employ
ment of Truſt or Profit; they cannot purchaſe Lands,
or take Leaſes, neither are they allowed to be Wit-
neſſes in any Cauſe, either Civil or Criminal, not even
for the Decifion of Meers and Bounds.
At Ninety they loſe their Teeth and Hair ; they
have at that Age no Diſtinction of Taſte, but eat and
drink whatever they can get, without Reliſh or Appe-
tite. The Diſeaſes they were ſubje&t to, ftill continue
without increaſing or diminiſhing. In talking they
forget the common Appellation of Things, and the
Names of Perſons, even of thoſe who are their neareſt
Priends and Relations. For the ſame Reaſon they
never can amuſe themſelves with Reading, becaule
their Memory will not ſerve to carry them from the
Beginning of a Sentence to the End ; and by this De-
fećt they are deprived of the only Entertainment
whereof they might otherwiſe be capable.
The Language of this Country being always upon
the Flux, the 3truldbruggs of ene Age do not under-
Nand
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &c. 205
ſtand thoſe of another ; neither are they able, after
two Hundred Years, to hold any Converſation (farther
than by a few general Words) with their Neighbours
the Mortals ; and thus they lie under the Diſadvantage
of living like Foreigners in their own Country
This
was the Account given me of the Struldbruggs,
as near as I can remember. I afterwards ſaw five or
fix of different Ages, the youngeſt not above two hun-
dred Years old, who were brought to me at ſeveral
Times by ſome of my Friends; but although they
were told that I was a great Traveller, and had ſeen all
the World, they had not the leaſt Curioſity to aſk me
a Queſtion ; only deſired I would give them Slumſku-
dak, or a Token of Remembrance ; which is a mo.
deſt Way of begging, to avoid the Law, that ſtriály
forbids it, becauſe they are provided for by the Publick,
although indeed with a very ſcanty Allowance.
They are deſpiſed and hated by all Sorts of People;
When one of them is born, it is reckoned ominous;
and their Birth is recorded very particularly, ſo that
you may know their Age by conſulting the Regiſtry,
which however hath not been kept above a Thouſand
Years paft, or at leaſt hath been deſtroyed by Time or
publick Diſturbances. But the uſual Way of com-
puting how old they are, is, by aſking them what
Kings or great Perſons they can remember, and then
conſulting Hiſtory ; for infallibly the laſt Prince in
their Mind did not begin his Reign after they were
fourſcore Years old.
They were the moſt mortifying Sight I ever beheld ;.
and the Women more horrible than the Men, Beldes
the uſual Deformities in extreme old Age, they ac-
quired an additional Ghaillineſs in Proportion to their
Number of Years, which is not to be deſcribed ; and
among half a Dozen I foon diftinguiſhed which was
the eldeſt; although there were not above a Century
or two between them.
The Reader will eaſily believe, that from what I
had heard and feen, my keen Appetite for Perpetuity
of Life was much abated. I grew
heartily aſhamed of
che
206
X VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c.
the pleaſing Viſions I had formed; and thought no
Tyrant could invent a Death into which I would not
run with Pleaſure from ſuch a Life. The King heard
of all that had paſſed between me and my Friends upon
this Occaſion, and rallied me very pleaſantly ; wiſh-
ing I would ſend a Couple of Struldbruggs to my own
Country, to arm our People againſt the Fear of Death';
but this it ſeems is forbidden by the fundamental Law
of the Kingdom ; or elſe I ſhould have been well con-
tent with the Trouble and Expence of tranſporting
chem.
I could not but agree that the Laws of this King-
dom, relating to the Soruldbruggs, were founded upon
the Atrongeſt Reaſons, and ſuch as any other Country
would be under the Neceflity of enacting in the like
Gircumſtances. Otherwiſe, as Avarice is the necef-
fary Conſequent of old Age, thoſe Immortals would
in time become Proprietors of the whole Nation, and
engroſs the Civil Power; which, for want of Abilities
to manage, muſt end in the Ruin of the Pablick.
CH A P.
XI.
The Author leaveth Luggnagg, and faileth to Japan,
From thence he returneth in a Dutch Ship to Am-
ſterdam, and from Amſterdam to England.
I
THOUGHT this Account of the Struldbruggs
might be ſome Entertainment to the Reader, be-
cauſe it ſeemeth to be a little out of the common Way:
at leaſt, I do not remember to have met the like in
any
Book of Travels that hath come to my Hands : And,
if I am deceived, my. Excuſe muſt be, that it is necef-
ſary for Travellers, who deſcribe the ſame Country,
very often to agree in dwelling on the ſame Particulars, ,
without deſerving the Cenſure of having borrowed or
tranſcribed from thoſe who wrote before them.
THERE
4 VOYAGE 18 LATUTA, &c.
ZOY
THERE is indeed a perpetual Commerce between
this Kingdom and the great Empire of Japan ; and it
is very probable that the Japaneſe Authors may have
given fome Account of the Struldbruggs; but my
Stay in Japan was ſo ſhort, and I was ſo entirely a
Stranger to the Language, that I was not qualified to
make
any Enquiries. But, I hope, the Dutch ; upon
this Notice, will be curious and able enough to fupply
my Defects,
His Majeſty having often preſſed me to accept ſome
Employment in his Court, and finding me abſolutely
determined to return to my native Country, was
pleaſed to give me his Licence to depart, and honoured
me with a Letter of Recommendation under his own
Hand to the Emperor of Japan. He likewiſe pre-
ſented me with four hundred forty-four large Pieces of
Gold, (this Nation delighting in even Numbers ) and
a red Diamond which I ſold in England for eleven
hundred Pounds.
On the 6th Day of May, 1709, I took a ſolemn
Leave of his Majeſty, and all my Friends. This
Prince was ſo gracious as to order a Guard to conduet
me to Glanguenſtald, which is a Royal Port to the
South-Weſt part of the Iſland. In fix Days I found
a Veſſel ready to carry me to Japan; and ſpent fifteen
Days in the Voyage. We landed at a ſmall Port-
Town called Xamoſebi, ſituated on the South-Eaſt Part
of Japan. The Town lieth on the Weſtern Part, where
there is a narrow Streight leading Northward into a
long Arm of the Sea, upon the North-Weſt Part of
which redo the Metropolis. ftands. At landing I
ſhewed the Cuſtom-houſe Officers my Letter from the
King of Luggnagg to his Imperial Majeſty: They
knew the Seal perfe&rly well; it was as broad as the
Palm of my Hand. The Impreſſion was, 1 King
Lifting up a lame Beggar from the Earth. The Magi.
firates of the Town hearing of my Letter, received
me as a publick Miniſter ;, they provided me with
Carriages and Servants, and bore my Charges to Yeda,
where I was admitted to an Audience, and d livered
Iny
508 4 Voyace to LAPUTX, &c
my Letter, which was opened with great Ceremony,
and explained to the Emperor by an Interpreter, who
gave me Notice of his Majeſty's Order, that I ſhould
ſignify my Requeſt; and whatever it were, it ſhould be
granted for the ſake of his Royal Brother of Luggnagg.
This Interpreter was a Perſon employed to tranſact Af-
fairs with the Hollanders : He foon conjectured by my
Countenance that I was an European, and therefore re-
peated his Majeſty's Commands in Low-Dutch, which
he ſpoke perfectly well. I anſwered, (as I had before
determined that I was a Dutch Merchant, ſhipwrecked
in a very remote Country, from whence I travelled by
Sea and Land to Luggnagg, and then took Shipping
for Japan, where I knew my Countrymen often traded,
and with ſome of theſe I hoped to get an Opportunity
of returning into Europe: I therefore moſt humbly in-
treated his Royal Favour to give Order, that I ſhould
be conducted in Safety to Nangaſac. To this I added
another Petition, that for the ſake of my Patron the
King of Luggnagg, his Majeſty would condeſcend to
excuſe my performing the Ceremony impoſed on my
Countrymen of trampling upon the Crucifix; becauſe I
had been thrown into his Kingdom by my Misfortune,
without any Intention of trading. When this latter
Petition was interpreted to the Emperor, he ſeemed a
little ſurprized; and ſaid, he believed I was the firſt of
my Countrymen who ever made any Scruple in this
Point; and that he began to doubt, whether I were a
eal Hollander or no; but rather ſuſpected I muſt be a
CHRISTIAN. However, for the Reafons I had offered,
but chiefly to gratify the King of Luggnagg, by an un-
common Mark of his Favour, he would comply with
the Singularity of my Humour; but the Affair muft
be managed with Dexterity, and his Officers ſhould be
commanded to let me paſs as it were by Forgetfulneſs.
For he aſſured me, that if the Secret ſhould be diſco-
vered by my Countrymen, the Dutch, they would cut
my Throat in the Voyage. I returned my T'hanks by
the Interpreter for fo unuſual a Favour ; and ſome
Troops being at that Time on their March to Nangafar,
the
A VOYAGE to LAPUTA, &c. 209
the Commanding Officer had Orders to convey me
ſafe thither, with particular Inſtructions about the Bu-
fineſs of the Crucifix.
On the oth Day of June, 1709, I arrived at Nan-
gafar, after a very long and troubleſome Journey. I
ſoon fell into Company of ſome Dutch Sailors belong-
ing to the Amboyna of Amſterdam, a ſtout Ship of 450
Tuns. I had lived long in Holland, purſuing my Stu-
dies at Leyden, and I ſpoke Dutch well: The Seamen
foon knew from whence I came laſt; they were curious
to enquire into my Voyages and Courſe of Life. I
made up a Story as ſhort and probable as I could, but
concealed the greateſt Part. I knew many Perſons in
Holland; I was able to invent Names for my Parents,
whom I pretended to be obſcure People in the Pro-
vince of Guelderland. I would have given the Captain
(one Theodorus Vangrult) what he pleaſed to aſk for
my Voyage to Holland; but, underſtanding I was a
Surgeon, he was contented to take half the uſual Rate,
on Condition, that I would ſerve him in the Way of
my Calling. Before we took Shipping, I was often
alked by ſome of the Crew, whether I had performed
the Ceremony above mentioned ? I evaded the Que-
ſtion by general Anſwers, that I had ſatisfied the Em-
peror and Court in all Particulars. However, a mali-
cious Rogue of a Skipper went to an Officer, and
pointing to me, told him, I had not yet trampled on
the Crucifix. But the other, who had received In-
ſtructions to let me paſs, gave the Raſcaltwenty Strokes
on the Shoulders with a Bamboo ; after which I was
no more troubled with ſuch Queſtions.
Nothing happened worth mentioning in this
Voyage. We failed with a fair Wind to the Cape of
Good Hope, where we ſtaid only to take in freſh Water.
On the 16th of April we arrived ſafe at Amſterdam,
having loſt only three Men by Sickneſs in the Voyage,
and a fourth who fell from the Fore-maſt into the Sea,
not far from the Coaſt of Guinea. From Amſterdam
I foon after ſet ſail for England in a finali Vestel be-
longing to that City.
OS
A Voyage to LAPUTA, &C.
On the 1 oth of April 1710, we put in at the Downs.
I landed the next Morning, and ſaw once more my
native Country, after an Abſence of five Years and
fix Months compleat. I went ſtraight to Redriff, whi-
ther I arrived the ſame Day, at Two in the After-
noon,and found my Wife and Family in good Health,
The End of the Third Part,
TRAVELS
( 211 )
TRAVEL S.
PART IV
A VOYAGE to the Country of the
HOUYHNHNMS.
CH A P T E R I.
The Author ſetteth out as Captain of a Ship. His Men
conſpire againſt him, confine him a long Time to his
Cabbin, a brim o Sbore in an unknown Land. He
traveleth up into the Country, The Yahoos, a ſtrange
Sort of Animal, deſcribed. The datbor metteth towe
Houyhnhnms.
I
CONTINUED at home with my Wife and Children
about five Months in a very happy Condition, if I
could have learned the Leſſon of knowing when I was
well. I left my poor Wife big with Child, and ac-
cepted an advantageous Offer made me to be Captain
of the Adventure, a ſtout Merchant man of 350 Tuns:
For I underfood Navigation well, and being grown
weary
2 Voyage to the HouYunHNMS.
ed
weary of a Surgeon's Employment at Sea, which howa
ever I could exerciſe upon Occaſion, I took a ſkilful
young Man of that Calling, one Robert Purefoy, into
my Ship. We fet fail from Portſmouth upon the 7th
Day of September, 1710, on the 14th we met with
Captain Pocock of Briſtol, at Tenariff, who was going
to the Bay of Campeachy, to cut Logwood. On the
16th he was parted from us by a Storm: I heard ſince
my Return, that his Ship foundered, and none e
ſcaped but one Cabbin-boy. He was an honeſt Man,
and a good Sailor, but a little too poſitive in his own
Opinions, which was the Cauſe of his Deſtruction, as
it hath been of ſeveral others. For if he had follow-
my Advice, he might at this Time have been ſafe
at home with his Family as well as myſelf.
Inad ſeveral Men died in my Ship of Calentures,
ſo that I was forced to get Recruits out of Barbadoes,
and the Leeward Jlands, where I touched by the DI-
rection of the Merchants who employed me; which I
had ſoon too much Cauſe to repent ; for I found after-
wards that moſt of them had been Buccaneers. I
had fifty Hands on Board; and my Orders were, that
I ſhould trade with the Indians in the South-Sea, and
make what Diſcoveries I could. Theſe Rogues whom
I had picked up, debauched many other Men, and
they all formed a Conſpiracy to ſeize the Ship and ſecure
me, which they did one Morning, ruſhing into my
Cabbin, and binding me Hand and Foot, threatening
to throw me over board, if I offered to ſtir. I told
them, I was their Priſoner, and would ſubmit. This
they made me ſwear to do, and then unbound me,
only faſtening one of my Legs with a Chain near my
Bed ; and placed a Centry at my Door with his Piece
charged, who was commanded to ſhoot me dead, if I
attempted my Liberty. They ſent me down Vi&tuals
and Drink, and took the Government of the Ship to
themſelves. Their Deſign was to turn Pirates and
plunder the Spaniards, which they could not do, until
they got more Men. But firſt they reſolved to ſell the
Goods in the Ship, and then go to Madagaſcar for Re-
cruits;
A Voyage to the HOUYHNANNY.
crilits, ſeveral among them having died ſince my Con-
Imement. They failed many Wecks and traded with
the Indians but I knew not what Courſe they took,
being kept cloſe Priſoner in my Cabbin, and expecting
nothing leſs than to be murdered, as they often
threatned me.
Upon the oth Day of May 1711, one James Wall
came down to my Cabbin ; and ſaid he had Orders
from the Captain to ſet me aſhore. I expoftulated.
with him, but in vain; neither would he ſo much as
tell me who their new Captain was. They forced me
to the Long-boat, letting me put on my beſt Suit of
Cloaths, which were as good as new, and a ſmall Bun-
dle of Lipen, but no Arms except my Hanger ; and
they were ſo civil as not to Search my Pockets, into
which I conveyed what Money I had, with ſome o-
ther little Neceſſaries. They rowed about a League ;
and then ſet me down on a Strand. I defired them to
tell me what Country it was : They all ſwore, they
knew no more than myſelf, but ſaid, that the Captain
(as they called him) was reſolved, after they had ſold
the Lading, to get rid of me in the firſt place where
they diſcovered Land. They puſhed off immediately,
adviſing me to make haſte, for fear of being overtaken
by the Tide, and bade me farewell.
In this deſolate Condition I advanced forward, and
loon got upon firm Ground, where I ſat down on a
Bank to relt my ſelf, and conſider what I had beſt to
do. When I was a little refreſhed, I went up into the
Country, refolving to deliver my ſelf to the firſt Sa.
Yiges I ſhould meet; and purchaſe my Life from them
by fome Bracelets, Glaſs-Rings, and other Toys, which
Sailors ofually provide themſelves within thoſe Voyages,
and whereof I had ſome about me: The Land was
divided by long Rows of Trees, not regularly plant-
ed, but naturally growing ; there was great Plenty of
Grals, and foveral Fields of Oats. I walked very cit-
cunfpeclly for fear of being ſurpriſed, or ſuddenly ſhot
with an Arrow frombehind, or on either Side, I fell
into a beatgn Road, where I ſaw many Tracks of hu.
R
214 A Voyage to the HouÝhnHnMs, &c.
man Feet, and ſome of Cows, but moſt of Horſes. At
laſt I beheld ſeveral Animals in a Field, and one or
two of the ſame Kind fitting in Trees. Their Shape
was very ſingular and deformed, which a little dir-
compoſed me, ſo that I lay down behind a Thicket to
obſerve them better. Some of them coming forward
near the Place where I lay, gave me an Opportunity
of diftin&tly marking their Form. Their Heads and
Breaſts were covered with a thick Hair, ſome frizzled
and others lank ; they had Beards like Goats, and a
long Ridge of Hair down their Backs, and the fore
Parts of their Legs and Feet; but the reſt of their
Bodies were bare, ſo that I might ſee their Skins, which
were of a brown Buff Colour. They had no Tails,
nor any Hair at all on their Buttocks, except about the
anus, wbich, I preſume Nature had placed there to
defend them as they ſat on the Ground; for this
Poſture they uſed, as well as lying down, and often
ſtood on their hind Feet. They climbed high Trees,
as nimbly as a Squirrel, for they had ſtrong extended
Claws before and behind, terminating on ſharp Points,
hooked. They would often ſpring, and bound, and
leap with prodigious Agility. The Females were not
ſo large as the Males ; they had long lank Hair on their
Heads, and only a Sort of Down on the reſt of their
Bodies, except about the Anus, and Pudenda. Their
Dags hung between their fore Feet, and often reached
almoſt to the Ground as they walked. The Hair of
both Sexes was of ſeveral Colours, brown, red, black
and yellow. Upon the Whole, I never beheld in all
my Travels ſo diſagreeable an Animal, or one againſt
which I naturally conceived ſo ſtrong an Antipathy.
So that thinking I had ſeen enough, full of Contempt
and Averſion, I got up and purſued the beaten Road,
hoping it might dire&t me to the Cabin of ſome Indian.
I had not gone far, when I met one of theſe Creatures
full in my Way, and coming up directly to me. The
ugly Monſter, when he ſaw me, diſtorted ſeveral Ways
every Feature of his Viſage, and ſtared as at an Ob-
jeat he had never feen before; then approaching near
A VOYACE to the HouYHNHNM), &'c. 215
er lifted up his fore Paw, whether out of Curioſity
or Miſchief, I could not tell: But I drew my Hanger,
and gave him a good Blow with the flat Side of it ;
for I durſt not ſtrike him with the Edge, fearing the
Inhabitants might be provoked againſt me, if they
ſhould come to know that I had killed or maimed any
of their Cattle. When the Beaſt felt the Smart, he
drew back, and roared ſo loud, that a Herd of at
leaſt forty came flocking about me from the next
Field, howling and making odious Faces ; but I ran
to the Body of a Tree, and leaning my Back againſt
it, kept shem off by waving my Hanger. Several of
this curſed Brood getting hold of the Branches behind,
Jeaped up into the Tree, from whence they began to
diſcharge their Excrements on my Head : However,
I eſcaped pretty well, by ſticking cloſe to the Stem of
the Tree, but was almoſt ſtifled with the Filth, which
fell about me on every Side.
In the midſt of this Diſtreſs, I obſerved them all
to run away on a ſudden as faſt as they could ; at which
I ventured to leave the Tree, and purſue the Road,
wondering what it was that could put them into this
Bright But looking on my left Hand, I ſaw a Horſe
walking ſoftly in the Field; which my Perſecutors
having ſooner diſcovered, was the Cauſe of their
Flight. The Horſe ſtarted a little when he came near
me, but ſoon recovering himſelf, looked full in my
Face with manifeft Tokens of Wonder: He viewed
myHands and Feet, walking round me ſeveral Times.
I would have purſued my Journey, but he placed him-
ſeif directly in the Way, yet looking with a very mild
Aſpect, never offering the leaſt Violence. We food
gazing at each other for ſome Time; at laſt I took
che Boldneſs to reach my Hand towards his Neck,
with a Deſign to ſtroak it, uſing the common Style
and Whiſtle of Jockies when they are going to handle
a ſtrange Horſe. But this Animal, ſeeming to receive
my Civilities with Diſdain, ſhook his Head, and bent
his Brows, ſoftly raiſing up his Left Fore-Foot to re-
move my Hand, Then he neighed three or four
Times,
216 4 VOYAGE to the HOUYANHNMS.
Times, but in ſo different a Cadence, that I almoſt
began to think he was ſpeaking to himſelf in ſome
Language of his own.
While he and I were thus employed, another
Horſe came up; who applying himſelf to the firſt in
a very formal Manner, they gently ſtruck each others
Right Hoof before, neighing ſeveral Times by 'Turns,
and varying the Sound, which ſeemed to be almoſt
articulate. They went ſome Paces off, as if it were
to confer together, walking Side by Side, backward
and forward, like Perſons deliberating upon ſome Af-
fair of Weight, but often turning their Eyes towards
me, as it were to watch, that I might not eſcape. I
was amazed to ſee ſuch Actions and Behaviour in
Brute Beaſts ; and concluded with myſell, that if the
Inhabitants of this Country were endued with a pro-
portionable Degree of Reaſon, they muſt needs be the
wife People upon Earth. This Thought gave me
ſo much Comfort, that I refolved to go forward until
I could diſcover ſome Houſe or Village, or meet with
any of the Natives ; leaving the two Horſes to dif-
courſe together as they pleaſed. But the firſt, who
was a Dapple Grey, obſerving me to ſtealoff, neighed
after me in ſo expreſſive a Tone, that I fancied my.
ſelf to underſtand what he meant; wherevpon I turn-
ed back, and came near him, to expect his farther
Commands; but concealing my Fears as much as I
could; for I began to be in ſome Pain, how this Ad.
venture might terminate ; and the Reader will eaſily
believe I did not much like my preſent
Situation.
The two Horſes came up cloſe to me, looking with
great Earneſtneſs upon my Face and Hands. The
grey Steed robbed my Hat all round with his Right
Fore-Hoof, and diſcompoſed it ſo much, that I was
forced to adjuſt it better, by taking it off, and ſettling
it again; whereat, both he and his Companion (who
was a brown Bay) appeared to be much ſurprized ;
the latter felt the Lappet of my Coat, and finding it
to hang looſe about me, they both looked with new
Signs of Wonder. He froaked my Right Hand,
ſeeming
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
217
ſeeming to admire the Softneſs and Colour ; but he
ſqueezed it ſo hard between his Hoof and his Paſtern,
that I was forced to roar;'after which they both
touched me with all poffible Tenderneſs. They were
under great Perplexity about my Shoes and Stockings,
which they felt very often, neighing to each other,
and uſing various Geſtures, not unlike thoſe of a Phi-
loſopher, when he would attempt to ſolve ſome new
and difficult Phänomenon.
Upon the Whole, the Behaviour of theſe Animals
was ſo orderly and rational, fo acute and judicious,
that I at laſt concluded they muſt needs be Magicians,
who had thus metamorphoſed themſelves upon ſome
Deſign; and ſeeing a Stranger in the Way, were re-
folved to divert themſelves with him; or, perhaps,
were really amazed at the Sight of a Man ſo very dif-
ferent in Habit, Feature and Complexion from thoſe
who might probably live in fo remote a Climate.
Upon the Strength of this Reaſoning, I ventured to
addreſs them in the following Manner: Gentlemen, if
you be Conjurers, as I have good Cauſe to believe,
you can underſtand any Language ; therefore I make
bold to let your Worſhips .know, that I am a poor
diſtreſſed Engliſhman, driven by his Misfortunes upon
your Coaft; and I entreat one of you to let me ride
upon his Back, as if he were a real Horſe, to ſome
Houſe or Village, where I can be relieved. In return
of which Favour, I will make you a Preſent of this
Knife and Bracelet (taking them out of my Pocket.)
The two Creatures ſtood filent while I ſpoke, ſeeming
to liſten with great Attention ; and when I had ended,
they neighed frequently towards each other, as if they
were engaged in ſerious Converſation. I plainly ob-
ſerved, that their Language expreſſed the Paſſions
very well, and the Words might, with little Pains, be
reſolved into an Alphabet more eaſily than the Chineſe.
I could frequently diſtinguiſh the Word Yahoo,
which was repeated by each of them ſeveral Times ;
and although it were impoſſible for me to conjecture
what it meant, yet while the two Horſes were buſy in
VOL. III.
L
Converſation,
218 A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS,
Converſation, I endeavoured to practiſe this Word
upon my Tongue; and as ſoon as they were ſilent, I
boldly pronounced Yahoo in a loud Voice, imitating,
at the ſame time, as near as I could, the Neighing of
a Horſe, at which they were both viſibly furprized,
and the Grey repeated the ſame Word twice, as if he
meant to teach me the right Accent, wherein I ſpoke
after him as well as I could, and found myſelf per-
ceivably to improve every Time, although very far
from any Degree of Perfeâion. Then the Bay tried
me with a ſecond Word, much harder to be pro-
nounced; but reducing it to the Engliſh Orthography,
may be ſpelt thus, Houynham, I did not ſucceed in
this ſo well as the former, but after two or three far-
ther Trials, I had better Fortune ; and they both ap.
peared amazed at my Capacity
After ſome farther Diſcourſe, which I then con-
jectured might relate to me, the two Friends took their
Leaves, with the ſame Compliment of ſtriking each
other's Hoofs ; and the Grey made me Signs that I
ſhould walk before him; wherein I thought it pru-
dent to comply, until I could find a better Director.
When I offered to flacken my Pace, he would cry
Hbuan, Hluun: I gueſſed his Meaning, and gave
him to underſtand, as well as I could, that I was
weary, and not able to walk faſter 3 upon which, he
would ſtand a while to let me reſt.
CHA P. II.
The Author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his Houſe.
The Houſe deſcribed. The Author's Reception. Íbe
Food of the Houyhnhnms. The Author in Dillreſa
for want of Meat, is at laſt relieved. His Manner
of feeding in that Country.
AVING travelled about three Miles, we
came to a long Kind of Building, made of
Timber, ſtuck in the Ground, and wattled a-croſs ;
the
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A Voyage to ibe HouYHXHNMS.
219
the Roof was low, and covered with Straw. I now
began to be a little comforted; and took out ſome
Toys, which Travellers uſually carry for Preſents to
the Savage Indians of America, and other Parts, in
hopes the People of the Houſe would be thereby en-
couraged to receive me kindly. The Horſe made me
a Sign to go in firſt. It was a large Room with a
ſmooth Clay Floor, and a Rack and Manger extend-
ing the whole Length on one side. There were three
Nags, and two Mares, not eating, but ſome of them
fitting down upon their Hams, which I very much
wondered at; but wondered more to ſee the reſt em-
ployed in domeſtick Buſineſs: The laſt ſeemed but
ordinary Cattle; however, this confirmed my firſt
Opinion, that a People who could ſo far civilize brate
Animals, muft needs excel in Wiſdom all the Nations
of the World. The Grey came in juſt after, and
thereby prevented any ill Treatment which the others
might have given me. He neighed to them ſeveral
Times in a Style of Authority, and received Anſwers.
Beyond this Room there were three others, reach-
ing the Length of the Houſe, to which you paſſed
through three Doors, oppoſite to each other, in the
Manner of a Viſta: We went through the ſecond
Room towards the third; here the Grey walked in
firſt, beckoning me to attend: I waited in the ſecond
Room, and got ready my Preſents for the Maſter and
Miſtreſs of the Houſe : They were two Knives, three
Bracelets of falſe Pearl, a ſmall Looking Glaſs, and
a Bead Necklace. The Horſe neighed three or
four Times, and I waited to hear ſome Anſwers in a
human Voice, but I heard no other Returns than in
the ſame Dialect, only one or two a little ſhriller than
his. I began to think, that this Houſe muſt belong to
ſome Perſon of great Note among them, becauſe
there appeared ſo much Ceremony before I could gain
Admittance. But that a Man of Quality ſhoald be
ſerved all by Horſes, was beyond my Comprehenſion.
I feared my Brain was diſturbed by my Sufferings and
Misfortunes: I rouſed myſelf, and looked about me
L 2
in
220
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
in the Room where I was left alone; this was furniſh-
ed as the firſt, only after a more elegant Manner. I
rubbed mine Eyes often, but the ſame Objects ſtill
occurred. I pinched my Arms and Sides, to awake
myſelf, hoping, I might be in a Dream. I then abſo-
lutely concluded, that all theſe Appearances could be
nothing elſe but Necromancy and Magick. But I
had no Time to purſue theſe Reflections ; for the
Grey Horſe came to the Door, and made me a Sign
to follow him into the third Room; where I ſaw a
very
comely Mare, together with a Colt and Foal, fitting
on their Haunches, upon Mats of Straw, not unart
fully made, and perfectly neat and clean.
The Mare, ſoon after my Entrance, roſe from her
Mat, and coming up cloſe, after having nicely ob.
ferved my Hands and Face, gave me a moſt contemp-
tuous Look; then turning to the Horſe, I heard the
Word Yahoo often repeated between them; the Mean-
ing of which Word I could not then comprehend,
although it were the firſt I had learned to pronounce;
but I was ſoon better informed, to my everlaſting
Mortification: For, the Horſe beckoning to me with
his Head, and repeating the Word Hhuun, Hhuun,
as he did upon the Road, which I underſtood was to
attend him, led me out into a Kind of Court, where
was another Building at ſome Diſtance from the
Houſe. Here we entered, and I ſaw three of thoſe
deteſtable Creatures, which I firſt met after my Land-
ing, feeding upon Roots, and the Fleſh of ſome
Animals, which I afterwards found to be that of Aſſes
and Dogs, and now and then a Cow dead by Accident
or Diſeaſe. They were all tied by the Neck with
ftrong Wyths, faſtened to a Beam ; they held their
Food between the Claws of their Fore-feet, and tore
it with their Teeth.
The Maſter Horſe ordered a Sorrel Nag, one of
his Servants, to 'untie the largeſt of theſe Animals,
and take him into a Yard. The Beaſt and I were
brought cloſe together ; and our Countenances dili-
gently compared, both by Maſter and Servant, who
thereupon
A VOYAGE to the HouyHNIINMS.
thereupon repeated ſeveral Times the Word Taboo.
My Horror and Aſtoniſhment are not to be deſcribed,
when I obſerved in this abominable Animal, a perfe&
human Figure ; the Face of it indeed was flat and
broad, the Noſe depreſſed, the Lips large, and the
Mouth wide : But thefe Differences are common to all
favage Nations, where the Lineaments of the Coun-
tenance are diſtorted by the Natives ſuffering their In-
fants to lie grovelling on the Earth, or by carrying
them on their Backs, nuzzling with their Face againſt
the Mother's Shoulders. The Fore-feet of the Yahoo
differed from my Hands in nothing elſe, but the Length
of the Nails, the Coarſeneſs and Brownneſs of the
Palms, and the Hairineſs on the Backs. There was
the ſame Reſemblance between our Feet, with the
fame Differences, which I knew very well, although
the Horſes did not, becauſe of my Shoes and Stock-
ings; the ſame in every Part of our Bodies, except as
to Hairineſs and Colour, which I have already de-
ſcribed.
The great Difficulty that ſeemed to ſtick with the
two Horſes, was, to ſee the reſt of my Body ſo very
different from that of a Yahoo, for which I was obliged
to my Cloaths, whereof they had no Conception :
The Sorrel Nag offered me a Root, which he held
(after their Manñer, as we ſhall deſcribe in its proper
Place) between his Hoof and Paſtern; I took it in my
Hand, and having ſmelt it, returned it to him again as
civilly as I could. He brought out of the Yahoo's
Kennel a Piece of Aſs's Fleſh, but it ſmelt fo offenſively
that I turned from it with loathing; he then threw it
to the Yaboo, by whom it was greedily devoured. He
afterwards ſhewed me a Wiſp of Hay, and a Fetlock
full of Oats : but I ſhook my Head, to ſignify, that
neither of theſe were Food for me. And indeed, I
now apprehended, that I muſt abſolutely ſtarve, if I did
not get to ſome of my own Species: For, as to thoſe
filthy Yahoos, although there were few greater Lovers
of Mankind, at that Time, than myſelf; yet, I cor-
feſs, I never ſaw any fenfitive Being ſo deteſtable on all
L3
Accounts;
2 2 2
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNM9,
Accounts; and the more I came near them, the more
hateful they grew, while I ſtayed in that Country,
This the Maſter Horſe obſerved by my Behaviour, and
therefore ſent the Yahoo back to his Kennel. He
then put his fore Hoof to his Mouth, at which I was
much ſurprized, although he did it with Eaſe, and
with a Motion, that appeared perfectly natural ; and
made other Signs to know what I would eat ; but I
could not return him ſuch ari Anſwer as he was able to
apprehend ; and, if he had underſtood me, I did not
fee how it was poſſible to contrive any way for finding
myſelf Nouriſhment. While we were thus engaged,
I obſerved a Cow paſſing by; whereupon I pointed to
her, and expreſſed a Deſire to let me go and milk her.
This had its Effe&t; for he led me back into the Houſe,
and ordered a Mare Servant to open a Room, where
a good Store of Milk lay in Earthen and Wooden
Veffels, after a very orderly and cleanly Manner.
She gave me a large Bowl full, of which I drank very
heartily, and found myſelf well refreſhed.
About Noon I ſaw coming towards the Houſe a
Kind of Vehicle, drawn like a Sledge by four Yahoos.
There was in it an old Steed, who ſeemed to be of
Quality; he alighted with his hind Feet forward,
having by Accident got a Hurt in his left fore Foot.
He came to dine with our Horſe, who received him
with great Civility. They dined in the beſt Room,
and had Oats boiled in Milk for the ſecond Courſe,
which the old Horſe eat warm, but the reſt cold.
Their Mangers were placed circular in the Middle of
the Room, and divided into ſeveral Partitions, round
which they ſat on their Haunches upon Boſſes of
Straw. In the Middle was a large Rack with Angles
anſwering to every Partition of the Manger. So, that
each Horſe and Mare eat their own Hay, and their
own Maſh of Oats and Milk, with much Decency and
Regularity. The Behaviour of the young Colt and
Foal appeared very modeft ; and that of the Maſter and
Miſtreſs extremely chearful and complaiſant to their
Gueſt. The Grey ordered me to ſtand by him; and
much
A VOYAGE to the HOU YHNHNMs.
223
much Diſcourſe paffed between him and his friend
concerning me, as I found by the Stranger's often
looking on me, and the frequent Repetition of the
Word Yaboo.
I HAPPENED to wear my Gloves ; which the Ma.
fter Grey obſerving, ſeemed perplexed ; diſcovering
Signs of Wonder what I had done to my fore Feet ;
he put his Hoof three or four Times to them, as if
he would fignify, that I ſhould reduce them to their
former Shape, which I preſently did, pulling off both
my Gloves, and putting them into my Pocket. This
occafioned farther Talk, and I ſaw the Company was
pleaſed with my Behaviour, whereof I ſoon found the
good Effects. I was ordered to ſpeak the few Words
underſtood; and while they were at Dinner, the
Maſter taught me the Names for Oats, Milk, Fire,
Water, and ſome others ; which I could readily pro-
nounce after him ; having from my Youth a great
Facility in learning Languages.
When Dinner was done, the Maſter Horſe took me
afide, and by Signs and Words made me underſtand
the Concern he was in, that I had nothing to eat.
Oats in their Tongue are called Hlunnh. This Word
I pronounced two or three Times ; for although I had
refuſed them at firſt, yet upon ſecond Thoughts, I con-
fidered, that I could contrive to make of them aKind
of Bread, which might be ſufficient with Milk to keep
me alive, until I could make my Eſcape to ſome other
Country, and to Creatures of my own Species. The
Horſe immediately ordered a white Mare-ſervant of
his Family to bring me a good Quantity of Oats in a
Sort of wooden Tray. Theſe I heated before the
Fire as well as I could, and rubbed them until the
Haſks came off, which I made a ſhiſt to winnow from
the Grain; I ground and beat them between two
Stones, then took Water, and made them into a Paſte
or Cake, which I toaſted at the Fire, and eat warın
with Milk. It was at firſt a very infipid Diet, although
common enough in many Parts of Europe, but grew
tolerable by Time; and having been often reduced to
hard
L 4
224
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
hard Fare in my Life, this was not the firſt Experiment
I had made how eaſily Nature is ſatisfied. And, I can-
not but obſerve, that I never had one Hour's Sickneſs
while I ſtayed in this Ifand. It is true, I ſometimes
made a ſhift to catch a Rabbit, or a Bird, by Springes
made of Yahoos Hairs; and I often gathered whole-
ſome Herbs, which I boiled, or eat as Sallads with
my Bread; and now and then, for a Rarity, I made a
little Butter, and drank the Whey. I was at firſt at a
great Lofs for Salt; but Cuſtom ſoon reconciled the
Want of it, and I am confident, that the frequent Uſe
of Salt among us, is an Effect of Luxury, and was firſt
introduced only as a Provocative to drink; except
where it is neceſſary for preſerving of Fleſh in long
Voyages, or in Places remote from great Markets.
For we obſerve no Animal to be fond of it but Man
And, as to myſelf, when I left this Country, it was a
great while before I could endure the Taſte of it in
any Thing that I eat.
This is enough to ſay upon the Subject of my Diet,
wherewith other Travellers fill their Books, as if the
Readers were perſonally concerned, whether we fare
well or ill. However, it was neceſſary to mention
this Matter, left the World ſhould think it impoſſible
that I could find Suſtenance for three Years in ſuch a
Country, and among ſuch Inhabitants.
When it grew towards Evening, the Maſter Horſe
ordered a Place for me to lodge in; it was but fix
Yards from the Houſe, and ſeparated from the Stable
of the Yahoos. Here I got ſome Straw, and covering
myſelf with my own Cloaths, ſlept very found. But
I was in a ſhort Time better accommodated, as the
Reader ſhall know hereafter, when I come to treat
more particularly about my Way of living.
CHAP .
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
225
CHAP. III.
:
The Author Audieth to learn the Language. The
Houyhnhnm his Maſter affifteth in teaching him. The
Language deſcribed. Several Houyhnhrms of Qua-
lity come out of Curioſity to ſee the Aurker. He giveth
bis Mafter a fhort Account of his Voyage.
Y principal Endeavour was to learn the Lan-
guage, which my Maſter, (for fo I ſhall hence-
forth call him) and his Children, and every Servant of
his Houſe, were defirous to teach me.
For they
looked upon it as a Prodigy, that a brute Animal
ſhould diſcover ſuch Marks of a rational Creature. I
pointed to every "Thing, and enquired the Name of
it, which I wrote down in my Journal Book when I
was alone, and corrected my bad Accent, by deſiring
thoſe of the Family to pronounce it often. In this
Employment a Sorrel Nag, one of the under Ser-
vants, was very ready to affiſt me.
In ſpeaking, they pronounce through the Noſe and
Throat, and their Language approacheth neareſt to the
High Dutch or German, of any I know in Europe,
but is much more graceful and ſignificant. The Em-
peror Charles V. made almoſt the ſame Obſervation,
when he ſaid, 'That, if he were to ſpeak to his Horſe,
it ſhould be in High Dutch.
The Curioſity and Impatience of my Mafter were
fo great, that he ſpent many Hours of his Leiſure to
inftru& me. He was convinced, (as he afterwards told
me) that I muſt be a Yahoo ; but my Teachableneſs,
Civility and Cleanlineſs, aſtoniſhed him, which were
Qualities altogether ſo oppoſite to thoſe Animals. He
was moſt perplexed about my Cloaths, reaſoning ſome-
times with himſelf, whether they were a Part of my
L 5
Body:
226 A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS:
Body ; for I never pulled them off until the Family
were aſleep, and got them on before they waked in the
Morning. My Maſter was eager to learn from whence
I cage; how I acquired thoſe Appearances of Reaſon,
which I diſcovered in all my Actions; and to know my
Story from my own Mouths, which he hoped, he ſhould
foon do, by the great Proficiency I made in learning
and pronouncing their Words and Sentences. To help
my Memory, I formed all I learned into the Engliſh
Alphabet, and writ the Words down with the Tranſla-
tions. This laſt, after ſome Time, I ventured to do
in my Maſter's Preſence. It coſt me much Trouble to
explain to him what I was doing ; for the Inhabitants
have not the leaſt Idea of Books or Literature,
In about ten Weeks Time I was able to underſtand
moſt of his Queſtions; and in three Months could give
him ſome tolerable Anſwers. He was extremely cu-
rious to know from what Part of the Country I came,
and how I was taught to imitate a rational Creature :
becauſe the Yaboos, (whom he ſaw I exactly reſembled
in my Head, Hands and Face, that were only viſible)
with ſome Appearance of Cunning, and the ſtrongeſt
Diſpoſition to Miſchief, were obſerved to be the moſt
unteachable of all Brutes. I anſwered, that I came
over the Sea, from a far Place, with many others of
my own Kind, in a great hollow Veſſel made of the
Bodies of Trees: That, my Companions forced me to
land on his Coaſt, and then left me to ſhift for myſelf,
It was with fome Difficulty, and by the Help of many
Signs, that I brought him to underſtand me.
plied, That I muſt needs be miſtaken, or that I ſaid
sbe Tbing wbich was not. (For they have no Word in
their Language to expreſs Lying or Falfhood.) He
knew, it was impoſſible, that there could be a Country
-beyond the Sea, or that a Parcel of Brutes could move
a Wooden Veffel whither they pleaſed upon Water.
He was ſure no Houyhnbnm alive could make ſuch a
Veffel, or would truſt Yaboos to manage it.
The Word Hauyhnhnm, in their Tongue, ſignifieth a
Harfe ; and in its Etymology, The Perfection of Nature.
I told
He re-
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS. 227
told my Maſter, that I was at a Loſs for Expreſſion,
but would improve as faſt as I could ; and hoped, in a
ſhort Time, I ſhould be able to tell him Wonders : He
was pleaſed to direct his own Mare, his Colt and Foal,
and the Servants of the Family, to take all Oppor-
tunities of inſtructing me; and every Day, for two or
three Hours, he was at the ſame Pains himſelf: Several
Horſes and Mares of Quality in the Neighbourhood,
came often to our Houſe, upon the Report ſpread of a
wonderful Yahoo, that could ſpeak like a Houyhnbnm,
and ſeemed in his Words and A&tions to diſcover ſome
Glimmerings of Reaſon. Theſe delighted to con-
verſe with me ; they put many Queſtions, and received
fuch Anſwers as I was able to return. By all which
Advantages, I made ſo great a Progreſs, that in five
Months from my Arrival, I underſtood whatever was
ſpoke, and could expreſs myſelf tolerably well.
The Houyhnhnms who came to viſit my Maſter, out
of Deſign of ſeeing and talking with me, could hardly
believe me to be a right Yahoo, becauſe my Body had
a different Covering from others of my kind. They
were aſtoniſhed to obſerve me without the uſual Hair
or Skin, except on my Head, Face and Hands : But
I diſcovered that Secret to my Mafter, upon an Acci-
dent which happened about a Fortnight before.
I have already told the Reader, that every Night,
when the Family were gone to Bed, it was my Cuſtom
to ſtrip and cover myſelf with my Cloaths : It hap-
pened one Morning early, that my Maſter ſent for
me, by the Sorrel Nag, who was his Valet ; when he
came, I was faſt aſleep, my Cloaths fallen off on one
Side, and my Shirt above my Waiſt. I awaked at
the Noiſe he made, and obſerved him to deliver his
Meſſage in ſome Diſorder; after which he went to
my Maſter, and in a great Fright gave him a very con-
fuſed Account of what he had feen: This I preſently
diſcovered; for going, as ſoon as I was dreſſed, to pay
my Attendance upon his Honour, he aſked me the
Meaning of what his Servant had reported ; that I
was not the ſame Thing when I ſlept as I appeared to
be
..
228
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
be at other Times ; that his Valet aſſured him, ſome
Part of me was white, ſome yellow, at leaſt not ſo
white, and ſome brown.
I had hitherto concealed the Secret of my Dreſs, in
order to diſtinguiſh myſelf, as much as poſſible, from
that curſed Race of Yahoos; but now I found it in vain
to do ſo any longer. Beſides, I conſidered that my
Cloaths and Shoes would ſoon wear out, which already
were in a declining Condition, and muſt be ſupplied
by ſome Contrivance from the Hides of Yaboos, or
other Brutes, whereby the whole Secret would be
known. I therefore told my Maſter, that in the
Country from whence I came, thoſe of my Kind al-
ways covered their Bodies with the Hairs of certain
Animals prepared by Art, as well for Decency, as to
avoid Inclemencies of Air both hot and cold ; of which
as to my own Perſon, I would give him immediate
Conviaion, if he pleaſed to command me; only de-
firing his Excuſe, if I did not expoſe thoſe Parts that
Nature taught us to conceal. He ſaid, my Diſcourſe
was all very ſtrange, but eſpecially the laſt Part; for he
could not underſtand, why Nature ſhould teach us to
conceal what Nature had given. That neither himſelf
nor Family were aſhamed of any parts of their Bodies
but, however, I might do as I pleaſed. Whereupon I
firſt unbuttoned my Coat, and pulled it off. I did the
fame with my Waiſtcoat; I drew off my Shoes
Stockings and Breeches. I let my Shirt down to my
Waiſt, and drew up the Bottom, faſtening it like a
Girdle about my Middle to hide my Nakedneſs.
My Maſter obſerved the whole Performance with
great Signs of Curioſity and Admiration. He took
up all my Cloaths in his Paſtern, one Piece after áno.
ther, and examined them diligently; he then ſtroaked
my Body very gently, and looked round me ſeveral
Times ; after which he ſaid, it was plain I muſt be a
perfe& Yahoo; but, that I differed very much from the
reſt of my Species, in the Whiteneſs and Smoothneſs
of my Skin, my want of Hair on ſeveral Parts of my
Body, the Shape and Shortneſs of my Claws behind
and
A VOYAGE to the HOVYHNHNMS.
229
and before, and my Affectation of walking continu-
ally on my two hinder Feet. He deſired to ſee no
more ; and gave me Leave to put on my Cloaths again,
for I was ſhuddering with Cold.
I EXPRESSED my Uneaſineſs at his giving me ſo
often the Appellation of Yahoo, an odious Animal,
for which I had fo utter an Hatred and Contempt. I
begged he would forbear applying that Word to me,
and make the ſame Order in his Family, and among his
Friends, whom he fuffered to ſee me. I requeſted like-
wife, that the Secret of my having a falfe Covering to
my Body might be known to none but himſelf at leaſt,
as long as my preſent Cloathing
ſhould laſt : For, as to
what the Sorrel Nag, his Valet, had obſerved, his Ho.
nour might command him to conceal it.
All this my Maſter very graciouſly conſented to;
and thus the Secret was kept, until my Cloaths began to
wear out, which I was forced to ſupply by ſeveral
Contrivances, that ſhall hereafter be mentioned. In
the mean Time, he deſired I would go on with my
utmoſt Diligence, to learn their Language, becauſe he
was more aſtoniſhed at my Capacity
for Speech and
Reaſon, than at the Figure of my Body, whether it
were covered or no; adding, that he waited with ſome
Impatience to hear the Wonders which I promiſed to
tell him.
From thenceforward he doubled the Pains he had
been at to inftru& me; he brought me into all Com-
pany, and made them treat me with Civility ; becauſe,
as he told them privately, this would put me into good
Humour, and make me more diverting.
Every Day, when I waited on him, beſide the
Trouble he was at in Teaching, he would aſk me feve-
ral Queſtions concerning myſelf, which I anſwered as
well as I could ; and by thoſe Means he had already
received ſome general Ideas, although very imperfe&t.
It would be tedious to relate the ſeveral Steps, by
which I advanced to a more regular Converſation :
But the firſt Account I gave of myſelf, in any Order
and Length, was to this
purpoſe.
THAY
230
A VOYAGE to the HOU YHNHX43.
That, I came from a very far Country, as I alrea-
dy had attempted to tell him, with about fifty more of
my own Species : That, we travelled upon the Seas, in
a great hollow Veffel made of Wood, and larger than
his Honour's Houſe. I deſcribed the Ship to him in
the beſt Terms I could ; and explained by the Help
of my Handkerchief diſplayed, how it was driven for-
ward by the Wind. That upon a Quarrel among us,
was ſet on Shoar on this Coaſt, where I walked for-
ward without knowing whither, until he delivered me
from the Perfecution of thoſe execrable Taboos. He
aſked me, Who made the Ship, and how it was poſſible
that the Houyhnhnms of my Country would leave it to
the Management of Brutes ? My Anſwer was, that I
durft proceed no farther in my Relation, unleſs he
would give me his Word and Honour that he would
not be offended ; and then I would tell him the Won-
ders I had fo often promiſed. He agreed ; and I
went on by aſſuring him, that the Ship was made by
Creatures like myſelf, who, in all the Countries I had
travelled, as well as in my own, were the only govern-
ing, rational Animals ; and that upon my Arrival hi-
ther, I was as much aſtoniſhed to fee the Houybnbnms
act like rational Beings, as he, or his Friends could be,
in finding ſome Marks of Reaſon in a Creature he was
pleaſed to call a Yahoo, to which I owned my Reſem-
blance in every Part, but could not account for their
degenerate and brutal Nature. I faid farther, That if
good Fortune ever reſtored me to my native Country,
to relate my Travels hither, as I reſolved to do; every
Body would believe that I ſaid the Thing which was
mor; that I invented the Story out of my own Head:
And with all poſſible Reſpect to Himſelf, his Family,
and Friends, and under his Promiſe of not being offen-
ded, our Countrymen would hardly think it probable,
that a Houyhnhnm ſhould be the preſiding Creature of
a Nation, and a Yahoo che Brute.
CH A P .
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
CH A P. IV.
The Houyhnhnms Notion of Truth and Falhood. The
Author's Diſcourſe di fapproved by his Maſter. The
Author giveth a more particular Account of himſelf,
and the Accidents of his Voyage.
MY
1
TY Mafter heard me with great Appearances of
Uneaſineſs in his Countenance ; becauſe doubt-
ing or not believing, are ſo little known in this Coun-
try, that the Inhabitants cannot tell how to behave
themſelves under ſuch Circumſtances. And, I re-
member, in frequent Diſcourſes with my Maſter con-
cerning the Nature of Manhood, in other Parts of the
World, having Occafion to talk of Lying, and falſe
Repreſentation, it was with much Difficulty, that he
comprehended what I meant; although he had other-
wiſe a moſt acute Judgment. For he argued thus ;
That the Uſe of Speech was to make us underſtand
one another, and to receive Information of Facts ; now
if any one ſaid the Thing which was not, theſe Ends
were defeated ; becauſe I cannot properly be ſaid to
underſtand him ; and I am ſo far from receiving In-
forination, that he leaveth me worſe than in Igno-
rance ; for I am led to believe a Thing Black when it
is White, and Short when it is Long. And theſe were
all the Notions he had concerning that Faculty of Ly-
ing, ſo perfectly well underſtood, and ſo univerſally
practiſed among human Creatures.
To return from this Digreſſion; when I aſſerted that
the Yahoos were the only governing Animals in my
Country, which, my Maſter ſaid, was altogether paſt his
Conception, he defired to know, whether we had
Houybnbnms among us, and what was their Employ.
ment: I told him, we had great Numbers ; that in
Summer
232
À VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS.
Summer they grazed in the Fields, and in Winter were
kept in Houſes, with Hay and Oats, where Yahoo Ser-
vants were employed to rub their Skins ſmooth, comb
their Manes, pick their Feet, ſerve them with Food,
and make their Beds. I underſtand you well, ſaid my
Maſter; it is now very plain from all you have ſpoken,
that, whatever Share of Reaſon the Yahoos pretend to,
the Houyhnhnms are your Maſters; I heartily with our
Taboos would be fo tractable. I begged his Honour
would pleaſe to excuſe me from proceeding any far-
ther, becauſe I was very certain, that the Account he
expected from me,would be highly difpleafing. But he
inſiſted in commanding me to let him know the beſt
and the worft: I told him he ſhould be obeyed. I
owned, that the Houyhnhnms among us, whom we
called Horſes, were the moſt generous and comely
Animals we had, that they excelled in Strength and
Swiftneſs; and when they belonged to Perſons of
Quality, employed in Travelling, Racing, and draw.
ing Chariots, they were treated with much Kindneſs
and Care, until they fell into Diſeaſes, or became
foundered in the Feet ; but then they were ſold, and
uſed to all kinds of Drudgery, until they died; after
which, their Skins were ſtripped, and ſold for what they
were worth, and their Bodies left to be devoured by
Dogs and Birds of Prey. But the common Race of
Horſes had not ſo good Fortune, being kept by Far-
mers and Carriers, and other mean People, who put
them to greater Labour, and feed them worſe." I
deſcribed, as well as I could, our Way of Riding; the
Shape and Uſe of a Bridle, a Saddle, a Spur, and a
Whip; of Harneſs and Wheels. I added, that we
faſtened Plates of a certain hard Subſtance, called Iron,
at the Bottom of their Feet, to preſerve their Hoofs
from being broken by the fony Ways, on which we
often travelled.
My Maſter, after fome Expreſſions of great Indig-
nation; wondered how we dared to venture upon a
Houyhnham's Back; for he was fure, that the meaneſt
Servant
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS. 233
Servant in his Houſe would be able to ſhake off the
ſtrongeſt Yahoo ; or by lying down, and rolling upon
his Back, ſqueeze the Brute to Death. I anſwered,
That our Horſes were trained up from three or four
Years old, to the ſeveral Ufes we intended them for
That, if any of them proved intolerably vicious, they
were employed forCarriages ; That, they were ſeverely
beaten while they were young, for any miſchievous
Tricks : That, the Males, deſigned for the common
Uſe of Riding or Draught, were generally caſtrated
about two Years after their Birth, to take down their
Spirits, and make them more tame and gentle : That,
they were indeed ſenſible of Rewards and Puniſhments
but his Honour would pleaſe to conſider, that they
had not the leaſt Tincture of Reaſon, any more than
the Yahoos in this country.
It put me to the Pains of many Circumlocutions, to
give my Mafter a right Idea of what I ſpoke; for
their Language doth not abound in Variety of Words,
becauſe their Wants and Paſſions are fewer than among
us. But it is impoffible to expreſs his noble Refent-
ment at our ſavage Treatment of the Houy hnhnm Race;
particularly, after I had explained the Manner and
Uſe of Caſtrating Horſes among us, to hinder them
from propagating their Kind, and to render them more
ſervile. He ſaid, if it were poſſible, there could be
any Country where Yahoas alone were endued with
Reaſon, they certainly muſt be the governing Animal ;
becauſe Reaſon will in Time always prevail againſt
Brutal Strength. But, confidering the Frame of our
Bodies, and eſpecially of mine, he thought no Creature
of equal Bulk was ſo ill contrived for employing that
Reaſon in the common Offices of Life ; whereupon he
deſired to know, whether thoſe among whom I lived,
reſembled me or the Yahoos of his Country. I aſſured
him, that I was as well ſhaped as moſt of my Age; but
the younger and the Females were much more ſoft and
tender, and the Skins of the latter generally as white
as Milk. He ſaid, I differed indeed from other Yahoos,
being much more cleanly, and not altogether ſo de-
formed ;
234 A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
formed; but in Point of real Advantage, he thought
I differed for the worſe. That, my Nails were of no
Uſe either to my fore or hinder Feet: As to my fore
Feet, he could not properly call them by that Name,
for he never obſerved me to walk upon them : That,
they were too ſoft to bear the Ground: That, I gene-
rally went with them uncovered, neither was the Co-
vering I fometimes wore on them, of the fame Shape,
or ſo ſtrong as that on my Feet behind: That, I could
not walk with any Security ; for if either of my
hinder Feet flipped, I muſt inevitably fall. He then
began to find Fault with other Parts of my Body ; the
Flatneſs of my Face, the Prominence of my Noſe,
mine Eyes placed directly in Front, ſo that I could
not look on either Side without turning my Head :
That I was not able to feed myſelf, without lifting
one of my fore Feet to my Mouth: And, therefore
Nature had placed thoſe Joints to anfwer that Neceſ-
fity. He knew not what could be the Uſe of thoſe
ſeveral Clefts and Diviſions in my Feet behind; that
thefe were too ſoft to bear the Hardneſs and Sharp-
neſs of Stones, without a Covering made from the Skin
of ſome other Brute; that my whole Body wanted a
Fence againſt Heat and Cold, which I was forced to
put on and off every Day with Tediouſneſs and Trou-
ble. And laſtly, that he obſerved every Animal in
this Country, naturally to abhor the Yahoos, whom the
Weaker avoided, and the Stronger drove from them.
So, that ſuppoſing us to have the Gift of Reaſon, he
could not ſee how it were poſſible to cure that natural
Antipathy which every Creature diſcovered againſt us ;
nor conſequently how we could tame and render them
ſerviceable. However, he would (as he ſaid) debate
the Matter no farther, becauſe he was more deſirous
to know my own Story, the Country where I was
born, and the ſeveral Actions and Events of my Life
before I came hither.
I assured him, how extremely deſirous I was that
he ſhould be ſatisfied in every Point ; but I doubted
much, whether it would be poflible for me to explain
myſelf
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS. 235
:
myſelf on ſeveral Subjects, whereof his Honour could
have no Conception, becauſe I faw nothing in his
Country to which I could reſemble them. That how-
ever, I would do my beſt, and ſtrive to expreſs my-
felf by Similitudes, humbly defiring his Afliſtance when
I wanted proper Words; which he was pleaſed to
promiſe me.
I SAID, my Birth was of honeft Parents, in an
Iſland called England, which was remote from this
Country, as many Days Journey as the ſtrongeſt of his
Honour's Servants could travel in the Annual Courſe
of the Sun. That, I was bred a Surgeon, whoſe Trade
is to cure Wounds and Hurts in the Body, got by Ac-
cident or Violence. That, my Country was governed
by a Female Man, whom we called Queen. That, I
left it to get Riches, whereby I might maintain myſelf
and Family when I ſhould return. That, in my laſt
Voyage, I was Commander of the Ship, and had about
fifty Yahoos under me, many of which died at Sea,
and I was forced to ſupply them by others, picked
out from ſeveral Nations. That, our Ship was twice
in Danger of being ſunk; the firſt Time by a great
Storm, and the ſecond, by ſtriking againſt a Rock.
Here my Maſter interpoſed, by aſking me, How I
could perſuade Strangers out of different Countries
to venture with me, after the Loſſes I had ſuſtained,
and the Hazards I had run. I ſaid, they were Fel-
lows of deſperate Fortunes, forced to fly from the
Places of their Birth, on Account of their Poverty or
their Crimes. Some were undone by Law-ſuits
others ſpent all they had in Drinking, Whoring, and
Gaming ; others fled for 'Treaſon ; many for Murder,
Theft, Poyſoning, Robbery, Perjury, Forgery, Coin-
ing falſe Money ; for committing Rapes or Sodomy ;
for flying from their Colours, or deſerting to the Ene-
my; and moſt of them had broken Priſon. None of
theſe durft return to their native Countries for fear of
being hanged, or of farving in a Jail; and therefore,
were under a Neceflity of ſeeking a Livelihood in
other Places,
3
DYRING
236 A VOYAGE to the HOUY NHNMs.
CCS,
During this Diſcourſe, my Maſter was pleaſed of
ten to interrupt me. I had made Uſe of many Cir-
cumlocutions in deſcribing to him the Nature of the
ſeveral Crimes, for which moſt of our Crew had been
forced to fly their Country. This Labour took up ſe-
veral Days
Conyerſation before he was able to compre-
hend me. He was
He was wholly at a Loſs to know what
could be the Uſe or Neceſſity of practiſing thoſe Vi-
To clear up which, I endeavoured to give him
ſome Ideas of the Defire of Power and Riches; of the
terrible Effects of Luit, Intemperance, Malice, and
Envy. All this I was forced to define and deſcribe by
putting of Caſes, and making Suppoſitions. After
which, like one whoſe Imagination was ftruck with
fomething never ſeen or heard of before, he would
lift up his Eyes with Amazement and Indignation.
Power, Government, War, Law, Puniſhment, and a
thouſand other Things, had no Terms, wherein that
Language could expreſs them ; which made the Diffi-
culty almoſt inſuperable, to give my Maſter any Con-
ception of what I meant : But being of an excellent
Underſtanding, much improved by Contemplation and
Converſe, he at laſt arrived at a competent Knowledge
of what human Nature, in our Parts of the World, is
capable to perform; and deſired I would give him
ſome particular Account of that Land, which we called
Europe, eſpecially of my own Country.
CH A P. V.
The Author, at bis Maſter's Commands, informeth him of
the State of England. The Cauſes of War among
the Princes of Europe. The Author beginneth to ex-
plain the Engliſh Conftitution.
He Reader may pleaſe to obſerve, that the fol
lowing Extract of many Converſations I had with
my
A Voyage to the HOUYuNuNM3. 237
my Maſter, containeth a Summary of the moſt material
Points, which were diſcourſed at ſeveral Times for
above two Years ; his Honour often defiring fuller
Satisfaction, as I farther improved in the Houybnbnm
Tongue. I laid before him, as well as I could, the
whole State of Europe ; I diſcourſed of Trade and
Manufactures, of Arts and Sciences; and the Anſwers
I gave to all the Queſtions he made, as they aroſe up-
on ſeveral Subjects, were a Fund of Converſation not
to be exhauſted. But, I ſhall here only ſet down the
Subſtance of what paſſed between us concerning my
own Country, reducing it into Order as well as I can,
without any Regard to Time, or other Circumſtances,
while I trialy adhere to Truth. My only Concern
is, that I ſhall hardly be able to do Juſtice to my Ma-
fter's Arguments and Expreſſions, which muſt needs
ſuffer by my Want of Capacity, as well as by a Tran-
flation into our barbarous Engliſh.
In Obedience therefore to his Honour's Commands,
I related to him the Revolution under the Prince of
Orange; the long War with France, entered into by
the ſaid Prince, and renewed by his Succeſſor the pre-
ſent Queen ; wherein the greateſt Powers of Chriſten-
dom were engaged, and which ſtill continued : I com-
puted, at his Requeſt, that about a Million of Yahoos
might have been killed in the whole Progreſs of it;
and perhaps a hundred or more Cities taken, and five
Times as many Ships burnt or ſunk.
He aſked me, what were the uſual Cauſes or Mo.
tives that made one Country go to War with another ?
I anſwered, they were innumerable; but I ſhould
only mention a few of the chief. Sometimes the
Ambition of Princes, who never think they have
Land or People enough to govern: Sometimes the
Corruption of Miniſters, who engage their Maſter in a
War, in order to ſtifle or divert the Clamour of the
Subje&ts againſt their evil Adminiſtration. Difference
in Opinions hach coſt many Millions of Lives : For
Joſlance, whether Fleje be Bread, or Bread be Fleſh :
Whether the Juice of a certain Berry be Blood or Wine:
Whether
238
A VOYAGE to the HOUY NHNMS.
more.
Whether Willing be a Vice or a Virtue: Whether
it be better to kiſs a Pof, or throw it into the Fire :
What is the beſt Colour for a Coat, whether Black,
White, Red, or Grey; and whether it ſhould be long
or ſhort, narrow or wide, dirty or clean; with many
Neither are any Wars ſo furious and bloody,
or of ſo long Continuance, as thoſe occafioned by
Difference in Opinion, eſpecially, if it be in Things
indifferent.
Sometimes the Quarrel between two Princes is to
decide which of them ſhall diſpoffefs a third of his
Dominions, where neither of them pretend to any
Right. Sometimes one Prince quarrelleth with ano-
ther, for Fear the other ſhould quarrel with him.
Sometimes a War is entered upon, becauſe the Enemy
is too ſtrong, and ſometimes becauſe he is too weak.
Sometimes our Neighbours want the Things which we
bave, or have the Things which we want ; and we
both fight, until they take ours or give us theirs. It
is a very juſtifiable Cauſe of War to invade a Country
after the People have been waſted by Famine, deſtroy-
ed by Peſtilence, or embroiled by Factions amongſt
themſelves. It is juftifiable to enter into a War againſt
our neareſt Ally, when one of his Towns lieth conve-
nient for us, or a Territory of Land, that would ren-
der our Dominions round and compact. If a Prince
fend Forces into a Nation, where the People are poor
and ignorant, he may lawfully put half of them to
Death, and make Slaves of the reſt, in order to civi-
lize and reduce them from their barbarous Way of
Living. It is a very kingly, honourable, and frequent
Practice, when one Prince deſires the Aſiſtance of an-
other to ſecure him againſt an Invaſion, that the Af-
fiftant, when he hath driven out the Invader, ſhould
ſeize on the Dominions himſelf, and kill, impriſon, or
baniſh the Prince he came to relieve. Alliance by
Blood or Marriage, is a ſufficient Cauſe of War be-
tween Princes ; and the nearer the Kindred is, the
greater is their Diſpoſition to quarrel : Poor Nations
are bungry, and rich Nations are proud ; and Pride
and
& Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
239
and Hunger will ever be at Variance. For theſe Rea.
fons, the Trade of a Soldier is held the moſt honour-
able of all others; becauſe, a Soldier is a Yaboo hired to
kill in cool Blood, as many of his own Species, who
have never offended him, as poſſibly he can.
THERE is likewiſe a Kind of beggarly Princes in
Europe, not able to make War by themſelves, who
hire out their Troops to richer Nations for ſo much a
Day to each Man; of which they keep three Fourths
to themſelves, and it is the beſt Part of their Mainte-
nance ; ſuch are thoſe in many Northern Parts of Ex-
rope.
What you have told me, (ſaid my Maſter) upon
the Subject of War, doth indeed diſcover moſt admire-
ably the Effects of that Reaſon you pretend to: How-
ever, it is happy that the Shame is greater than the
Danger ; and that Nature hath left you utterly un-
capable of doing mach Miſchief: For your Mouths
lying flat with your Faces, you can hardly bite each
other to any Purpoſe, unleſs by Conſent. Then, as
to the Claws upon your Feet before and behind, they
are ſo ſhort and tender, that one of our Yahoos would
drive a Dozen of yours before him. And therefore, in
recounting the Numbers of thoſe who have been killed
in Battle, I cannot but think that you have ſaid the
Thing which is not.
I could not forbear ſhaking my Head and ſmile.
ing a little at his Ignorance. And, being no Stranger
to the Art of War, I gave him a Deſcription of
Cannons, Culverins, Mufkets, Carbines, Piſtols, Bul-
lets, Powder, Swords, Bayonets, Sieges, Retreats,
Attacks, Undermines, Countermines, Bombardinents,
Sea-fights ; Ships ſunk with a Thouſand Men; twen-
ty Thoufand killed on each Side ; dying Groans,
Limbs flying in the Air: Smoak, Noiſe, Confuſion,
trampling to Death under Horſes Feet : Flight, Pur-
fuit, Victory ; Fields ſtrewed with Carcaffes left for
Food to Dogs, and Wolves, and Birds of Prey; Plun-
dering, Stripping, Raviſhing, Burning and Deſtroying.
And, to ſet forth the Valour of my own dear Coun-
trymen,
240
A VOYACE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
,
trymen, I aſſured him, that I had ſeen them blow up
an hundred Enemies at once, in a Siege, and as many
in a Ship; and beheld the dead Bodies drop down in
Pieces from the Clouds, to the great Diverſion of all
the Spectators.
I was going on to more Particulars, when my Ma-
fter commanded me Silence. He ſaid, whoever
underſtood the Nature of Yahoos, might eaſily believe
it poſſible for fo vile an Animal to be capable of every
Aētion I had named, if their Strength and Cunning
equalled their Malice. But, as my Diſcourſe had in-
creaſed his Abhorrence of the whole Species, ſo he
found it gave him a Diſturbance in his Mind, to
which he was wholly a Stranger before. He thought
his Ears being uſed to ſuch abominable Words, might
by Degrees admit them with leſs Deteftation. That,
although he hated the Yahoos of this Country, yet he
no more blamed them for their odious Qualities, than
he did a Gnnayh (a Bird of Prey) for its Cruelty, or
a ſharp Stone for cutting his Hoof. But, when a
Creature, pretending to Reaſon, could be capable of
ſuch Enormities, he dreaded left the Corruption of
that Faculty might be worſe than Brutality itſelf. He
ſeemed therefore confident, that inſtead of Reaſon, we
were only poſſeſſed of ſome Quality fitted to increaſe
our natural Vices ; as the Reflection from a troubled
Stream returns the Image of an ill-fhapen Body, not
only large, but more diſtorted.
He added, That he had heard too much upon the
Subject of War, both in this, and ſome former Diſ-
courſes. There was another Point which a little per-
plexed him at preſent. I had ſaid, that fome of our
Crew left their Country on Account of being ruined
by Law: That, I had already explained the Meaning
of the Word ; but he was at a Loſs how it ſhould come
to paſs, that the Law, which was intended for every
Man's Preſervation, fhould be any Man's Ruin.
- Therefore he deſired to be farther ſatisfied what I
meant by Law, and the Diſpenſers thereef, according
to the preſent Practice in my own Country : Becauſe,
he
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
241
he thought, Nature and Reaſon were fufficient Guides
for a reaſonable Animal, as we pretended to be, in
Mhewing us what we ought to do, and what to avoid.
I ASSURED his Honour, that Law was a Science
wherein I had not much converſed, further than by
employing Advocates, in vain, upon ſome Injuſtices
that had been done me However, I would give
him all the Satisfaction I was able.
I said there was a Society of Men among us, bred
up
from their Youth in the Art of proving, by Words
multiplied for the Purpoſe, that White is Black, and
Black is White, according as they are paid. To this
Society all the reſt of the People are Slaves.
For Example. If my Neighbour hath a Mind to
my Cow, he hireth a Lawyer to prove that he ought to
have my Cow from me. I muft then hire another to
defend my Right; it being againſt all Rules of Larv,
that any Man Mould be allowed to ſpeak for himſelf.
Now, in this Caſe, I, who am the true Owner, lie
under two great Diſadvantages. Firſt, my Lawyer,
being practiſed almoſt from his Cradle in defending
Falſhood, is quite out of his Element when he would
be an Advocate for Juſtice, which as an Office unna-
tural, he always attempts with great Aukwardneſs,
if not with Ili-will. The fecond Diſadvantage is,
that my Lawyer muſt proceed with great Caution:
Or, elſe, he will be reprimanded by the Judges, and
abhorred by his Brethren, as one who would leſſen the
Practice of the Law. And therefore I have but two
Methods to preſerve my Cow. The firſt is, to gain
over my Adverſary's Lawyer with a double Fee;
who will then betray his Client, by inſinuating that
he hath Juſtice on his side. The ſecond Way is, for
my Lawyer to make my Cauſe appear as unjuſt as he
can, by allowing the Cow to belong to my Adverſary ;
and this, if it be ſkilfully done, will certainly beſpeak
the Favour of the Bench.
Now, your Honour is to know, that theſe Judges
are Perſons appointed to decide all Controverfies of
Property, as well as for the Trial of Criminals; and
Vol. III.
M
picked
242
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
picked out from the moft dextrous Lawyers, who are
grown old or lazy; and having been biaſſed all their
Lives againſt Truth and Equity, lie under ſuch a fatal
Neceſſity of favouring Fraud, Perjury, and Oppreſſion,
that I have known ſome of them to have refuſed a
large Bribe from the Side where Juſtice lay, rather
than injure the Faculty, by doing any Thing unbe-
coming their Nature or their Office.
It is a Maxim among theſe Lawyers, that whatever
hath been done before, may legally be done again :
And therefore they take ſpecial Care to record all the
Deciſions formerly made againſt common Juſtice and
the general Reaſon of Mankind. Theſe, under the
Name of Precedents, they produce as Authorities to
juſtify the moſt iniquitous Opinions ; and the Judges
never fail. of directing accordingly.
In pleading, they ftudiouſly avoid entering into the
Merits of the Cauſe; but are loud, violent, and tedious
in dwelling upon all Circumſtances which are not to the
Purpoſe. For Inſtance, in the Caſe already men-
tioned: They never deſire to know what Claim or
Title my Adverſary hath to my Cow; but whether
the ſaid Cow were Red or Black ; her Horns long or
ſhort ; whether the Field I graze her in be round or
ſquare ; whether ſhe were milked at home or abroad ;
what Diſeaſes ſhe is ſubject to, and the like. After
which they conſult Precedents, adjourn the Cauſe from
Time to T'ime, and in ten, twenty, or thirty Years
come to an Iffue.
Ir is likewiſe to be obſerved, that this Society hath
a peculiar Cant and Jargon of their own, that no
other Mortal can underſtand, and wherein all their
Laws are written, which they take ſpecial Care to
multiply; whereby they have wholly confounded the
very Eſſence of Truth and Falfhood, of Right and
Wrong ; ſo that it will take thirty Years to decide,
whether the Field, left me by my Anceſtors, for fix
Generations, belong to me, or to a Stranger three
hundred Miles off.
IN
A Voyage to the Hou YhNhNMS. 243
In the Tryal of Perſons accuſed for Crimes againſt
the State, the Method is much more ſhort and com-
mendable: The Judge firſt ſendeth to found the Dif-
poſition of thoſe in Power; after which he can eaſily
hang or ſave the Criminal, ftriatly preſerving all the
Forms of Law.
Here my Maſter interpoſing, ſaid, it was a Pity,
that Creatures endowed with ſuch prodigious Abilities
of Mind, as theſe Lawyers, by the Deſcription I gave
of them, muſt certainly be, were not rather encouraged
to be Inſtructors of others in Wiſdom and Knowledge.
In Anſwer to which, I aſſured his Honour, that in all
Points out of their own Trade, they were uſually the
moſt ignorant and ſtupid Generation among us, the
moſt deſpicable in common Converſation, avowed E-
nemies to all Knowledge and Learning; and equally
diſpoſed to pervert the general Reaſon of Mankind,
in every other Subject of Diſcourſe, as in that of their
own Profeflion.
CH A P. VI.
A Continuation of the State of England under Queen
Anne. The Character of a firf Miniſter in the
Courts of Europe.
MY
Y Maſter was yet wholly at a Loſs to under-
ſtand what Motives could incite this Race of
Lawyers to perplex, difquiet, and weary themſelves
by engaging in a Confederacy of Injuſtice, merely for
the sake of injuring their Fellow-Animals; neither
cauld he comprehend, what I meant, in ſaying they did
it for Hire. Whereupon I was at much Pains to de-
ſcribe to him the Uſe of Money, the Materials it was
made of, and the Value of the Metals: That, when a
Yahoo had got a great Store of this precious Subſtance,
he was able to purchaſe whatever he had a Mind to;
the
M 2
244 A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
the fineſt Cloathing, the nobleſt Houſes, great Tracts
of Land, the moſt cofly Meats and Drinks; and
have his Choice of the moſt beautiful Females. There-
fore ſince Money alone was able to perform all theſe
Feats, our Yahoos thought they could never have
enough of it, to ſpend or to ſave, as they found them-
ſelves inclined from their natural Bent either to Profu.
fion or Avarice. That the rich Man enjoyed the Fruit
of the poor Man's Labour, and the latter were a thou-
ſand to one in Proportion to the former: That, the
Bulk of our People was forced to live miſerably, by
labouring every Day for ſmall Wages to make a few
live plentifully. I enlarged myſelf much on theſe and
many other Particulars to the ſame Purpoſe: But his
Honour was ſtill to ſeek: For he went upon a Suppo-
ſition, that all Animals had a Title to their Share in the
Productions of the Earth ; and eſpecially thoſe who
preſided over the reſt. Therefore he deſired I would
let him know, what theſe coſtly Meats were, and how
any of us happened to want them. Whereupon I
enumerated as many Sorts as came into my Head, with
the various Methods of dreſſing them, which could
not be done without ſending Veſſels by Sea to every
Part of the World, as well for Liquors to drink, as
for Sauces, and innumerable other Conveniencies. I
aſſured him, that this whole Globe of Earth muſt be
at leaſt three Times gone round, before one of our
better Female Yaboos could get her Breakfaſt, or a Cup
to put it in. He ſaid, that muſt needs be a miſerable
Country which cannot furniſh Food for its own Inhabi-
tants. But what he chiefly wondered at was, how ſuch
vaft Tracts of Ground as I deſcribed, ſhould be wholly
without Freſh Water, and the People put to the Ne-
ceffity of ſending over the Sea for Drink. I replied,
that England (the dear Place of my Nativity) was com-
puted to produce three Times the Quantity of Food,
more than its Inhabitants are able to conſume, as well
as Liquors extracted from Grain, or preſſed out of the
Fruit of certain Trees, which made excellent Drink ;
and the ſame Proportion in every other Convenience of
Life
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS.
245
:
:
Life. But, in order to feed the Luxury and Intempe-
rance of the Males, and the Vanity of the Females,
we ſent away the greateſt Part of our neceſſary Things
to other Countries, from whence in Return, we
brought the Materials of Diſeaſes, Folly, and Vice, to
ſpend among ourſelves. Hence it followeth of Ne-
ceffity, that vaft Numbers of our People are com-
pelled to ſeek their Livelihood by Begging, Robbing,
Stealing, Cheating, Pimping, Forſwearing, Flattering,
Suborning, Forging, Gaming, Lying, Fawning, Hec-
toring, Voting, Scribling, Star-gazing, Poyſoning,
Whoring, Canting, Libelling, Free-thinking, and the
like Occupations: Every one of which Terms I was
at much Pains to make him underſtand.
That Wine was not imported among us from fo-
reign Countries, to ſupply the Want of Water or other
Drinks, but becauſe it was a Sort of Liquid which
made us merry, by putting us out of our Senſes ; di-
verted all melancholy Thoughts, begat wild extrava-
gant Imaginations in the Brain, raiſed our Hopes, and
baniſhed our Fears; ſuſpended every Office of Reaſon
for a Time, and deprived us of the Uſe of our Limbs,
until we fell into a profound Sleep ; although it muſt
be confeſſed, that we always awaked fick and diſpirited;
and that the Uſe of this Liquor filled us with Diſeaſes,
which made our Lives uncomfortable and ſhort.
But beſide all this, the Bulk of our People ſupported
themſelves by furniſhing the Neceſſities or Convenien-
cies of Life to the Rich, and to each other. For In-
ftance, when I am at home, and dreſſed as I ought to
be, I carry on my Body the Workmanſhip of an hun-
dred Tradeſmen ; the Building and Furniture of my
Houſe employ as many more; and five Times the
Number to adorn my Wiſe.
I was going on to tell him of another Sort of Peo-
ple, who get their Livelihood by attending the Sick;
having upon ſome Occafions informed his Honour that
many of my Crew had died of Diſeaſes. But here it
was with the utmoſt Difficulty, that I brought him to
apprehend what I meant. He could eaſily conceive,
that
M 3
246
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNINMS.
that a Houyhnhnm grew weak and heavy a few Days
before his Death, or by ſome Accident might hurt a
Limb. But that Nature, who worketh all Things to
Perfection, ſhould ſuffer any Pains to breed in our
Bodies, he thought impoſſible ; and deſired to know
the Reaſon of ſo unaccountable an Evil. I told him,
we fed on a thoufand Things, which operated con-
trary to each other: That, we eat when we were not
hungry, and drank without the Provocation of Thirft:
That, we ſat whole Nights drinking ſtrong Liquors,
without eating a Bit; which diſpoſed us to Sloth, en-
flamed our Bodies, and precipitated or prevented Di-
geſtion : That, proſtitute Female Yabaos acquired a
certain Maiady, which bred Rottenneſs in the Bones of
thoſe who fell into their Embraces : T'hat, this, and
many other Diſeaſes were propagated from Father to
Son; ſo that great Numbers come into the World with
complicated Maladies upon them: That, it would be
endleſs to give him a Catalogue of all Diſeaſes incident
to human Bodies ; for they could not be fewer than
five or fix hundred, ſpread over every Limb and Joint:
In ſhort, every Part, external and inteſtine, having
Diſeaſes appropriated to each. To remedy which,
there was a Sort of People bred up among us, in the
Profeffion or Pretence of curing the Sick. And be-
cauſe I had ſome Skill in the Faculty, I would, in
Gratitude to his Honour, let him know the whole
Myſtery and Method, by which they proceed.
* -Their Fundamental is, that all Diſeaſes ariſe from
Repletion; from whence they conclude, that a great
Evacuation of the Body is neceſſary, either through the
natural Paſſage, or upwards at the Mouth. Their next
Buſineſs is, from Herbs, Minerals, Gums, Oils, Shells,
Salts, Juices, Sea-weed, Excrements, Barks of Trees,
Serpents, Toads, Frogs, Spiders, dead Mens Fleſh and
Bones, Beaſts and Fiſhes, to form a Compoſition for
Smell and Taſte, the moſt abominable, nauſeous and
deteſtable, that they can poſſibly contrive, which the
Stomach immediately rejecteth with Loathing: And
this they call a Vomit. Or elſe, from the fame Store-
houſe,
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS. 242
houſe, with ſome other poiſonous Additions, they com-
mand us to take in at the Orifice above or below, (juſt
as the Phyſician then happeneth to be diſpoſed) a Me-
dicine equally annoying and diſguſtful to the Bowels ;
which relaxing the Belly, driveth down all before it :
And this they call a Purge or a Clyfler. For Nature
(as the Phyſicians alledge) having intended the fupe-
rior anterior Orifice only for the Intromiſion of Solids
and Liquids, and the inferior Poſterior for Ejection,
theſe Artiſts ingeniouſly conſidering, that in all Diſea-
ſes, Nature is forced out of her Seat, therefore to re-
place her in it, the Body muſt be treated in a Manner
directly contrary, by interchanging the Uſe of each
Orifice, forcing Solids and Liquids in at the Anus, and
making Evacuations at the Mouth.
But, beſides real Diſeaſes, we are ſubject to many
that are only imaginary, for which the Phyſicians have
invented imaginary Cures ; theſe have their ſeveral
Names, and ſo have the Drugs that are proper for them;
and with theſe our Female Taboos are always infeſted.
ONE great Excellency in this Tribe is, their Skill at
Prognoſticks, wherein they ſeldom fail; their Predic-
tions in real Diſeaſes, when they riſe to any Degree of
Malignity, generally portending Death, which is al-
ways in their Power, when Recovery is not: And there-
fore, upon any unexpected Signs of Amendment, after
they have pronounced their Sentence, Mather than be
accuſed as falſe Prophets, they know how to approve
their Sagacity to the World by a ſeaſonable Doſe.
They are likewiſe of ſpecial Uſe to Huſbands and
Wives, who are grown weary of their Mates ; to eldeſt
Sons, to great Miniſters of State, and often to Princesa
I had formerly, upon Occaſion, diſcourſed with my
Maſter upon the Nature of Government in general,
and particularly of our own excellent Conflitution, de-
ſervedly the Wonder and Envy of the whole World :
But having here accidentally mentioned a Miniſter of
State, he commanded me ſome Time after to inform
him, what Species of Yahoo I particularly meant by
that Appellation.
M 4
I TOLD
248
A Voyage to the HOU YHNHNMS:
I told him, that a Firſt or Chief Miniſter of Stati,
whom I intended to deſcribe, was a Creature wholly
exempt from Joy and Grief, Love and Hatred, Pity
and Anger; at leaſt, maketh uſe of no other Paſſions
but a violent Deſire of Wealth, Power, and Titles :
That, he applieth his Words to all Uſes, except to the
Indication of his Mind: That, he never telleth a Truth,
but with an Intent that you ſhould take it for a Lye
nor a Lye, but with a Deſign that you ſhould take it
for a Truth: That, thoſe he ſpeaketh worſt of behind
their Backs, are in the fureft Way to Preferment; and
whenever he beginneth to praiſe you to others, or to
yourſelf, you are from that Day forlorn. The worſt
Mark you can receive, is a Promiſe, eſpecially, when it
is confirmed with an Oath ; after which, every wiſe
Man retireth, and giveth over all Hopes.
There are three Methods by which a Man may
riſe to be Chief Miniſter: The firſt is, by knowing
bow, with Prudence, to diſpoſe of a Wife, a Daughter,
or a Siſter : The ſecond, by betraying or undermine-
ing his Predeceffor: And the third is, by a furious
Zeal in publick Aſſemblies againſt the Corruptions of
the Court. But a wiſe Prince would rather chuſe to
employ thoſe who practife the laſt of theſe Methods
becauſe ſuch Zealocs prove always the moſt obſequious
and ſubſervient to the Will and Paſſions of their Ma-
fter: That, theſe Miniſters having all Employments at
Rheir Diſpoſal, preſerve themſelves in Power, by bribing
the Majority of a Senate or great Council; and at laſt,
by an Expedient called An Xa of Indemnity, (whereof
I deſcribed the Nature to him) they ſecure themſelves
from After-reckonings, and retire from the Publick,
laden with the Spoils of the Nation.
The Palace of a Chief Miniſler is a Seminary to
breed up others in his own Trade: The Pages, Lac-
quies, and Porter, by imitating their Maſter, become
Minillers of State in their ſeveral Diſtricts, and learn
to excel in the three principal Ingredients of Infolence,
Lying, and Bribery. Accordingly, they have a
Subaltern Court paid to them by Perſons of the beſt
Rank ;
"A VOYAge to the HouYHNHNMS,
249
Rank; and ſometimes by the Force of Dexterity and
Impudence, arrive through ſeveral Gradations to be
Succeſſors to their Lord.
He is uſually governed by a decayed Wench or
favourite Footman, who are the Tunnels through
which all Graces are conveyed, and may properly be
called, in the laſt Reſort, the Governors of the King-
dom.
One Day, my Maſter, having heard me mention
the Nobility of my Country, was pleaſed to make me a
Compliment, which I could not pretend to deſerve:
That,'he was ſure I muſt have been born of ſome no-
ble Family, becauſe I far exceeded in Shape, Colour,
and Cleanlineſs, all the Yaboos of his Nation, although
I ſeemed to fail in Strength and Agility, which muſt
be imputed to my different Way of Living from thoſe
other Brutes ; and beſides, I was not only endowed
with the Faculty of Speech, but likewiſe with ſome
Rudiments of Reaſon, to a Degree, that with all his
Acquaintance I paſſed for a Prodigy.
He made me obſerve, that among the Houyhmhnms,
the White, the Sorrel, and the Iron-grey, were not ſa
exa&tly ſhaped as the Bay, the Dapple-grey, and the
Black; nor born with equal Talents of Mind, or a
Capacity to improve them; and therefore continued
always in the Condition of Servants, without ever
aſpiring to match out of their own Race, which in
that Country would be reckoned monſtrous and unna.
tural.
I made his Honour my moſt humble Acknow-
ledgments for the good Opinion he was pleaſed to
conceive of me ; but aſſured him at the ſame Time,
that my Birth was of the lower Sort, having been born
of plain honeſt Parents, who were juſt able to give
me a tolerable Education : That, Nobility among us,
was altogether a different Thing from the Idea he had
of it: That, our young Noblemen are bred from their
Childhood in Idleneſs and Luxury: That, as ſoon as
their Years will permit, they conſume their Vigour,
and contrad odious Diſeaſes among lewd Females ;
MS
and
2o
A VOYAGz na tbe HOUYANHNMS.
and when their Fortunes are almoſt ruined, they marry
ſome Woman of mean Birth, diſagreeable Perſon, and
unſound Conſtitution, merely for the Sake of Money,
whom they hate and deſpiſe. That the Production of
fuch Marriages, are generally ſcrophulous, rickety, or
deformed Children; by which Means the Family ſel-
dom continueth above three Generations, unleſs the
Wife take Care to provide a healthy Father among her
Neighbours, or Domeſticks, in order to improve and
continue the Breed: That, a weak, diſeaſed Body, a
meagre Countenance, and fallow Complection, are the
true Marks of noble Blood; and a healthy, robuft Ap-
pearance, is ſo diſgraceful in a Man of Quality, that
the World concludeth his real Father to have been a
Groom or a Coachman. The Imperfections of his
Mind run parallel with thoſe, of his Body ; being a
Compoſition of Spleen, Dulneſs, Ignorance, Caprice,
Senſuality and Pride.
Without the Conſent of this illuſtrious Body, no
Law can be enacted, repealed, or altered : And theſe
Nobles have likewiſe the Deciſion of all our Poffeſſions
without Appeal.
CH A P. VII.
The Author's great Love of his Native Country. His
Maſler's Obſervations upon the Conſtitution and Ad-
miniftration of England, as deſcribed by the Author,
with parallel Cafes and Compariſons. His Maſter's
Obſervacions upon buman Nature.
"HE Reader may be diſpoſed to wonder how
I could prevail on myſelf to give ſo free a
Repreſentation of my own Species, among a Race of
Mortals who were already tớo apt to conceive the
vileft Opinion of Human Kind, from that entire Cop-
gruity between me and their Yahoos. But, I muſt free-
ly
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
252
ly confeſs, that the many Virtues of thoſe excellent
Quadrupeds, placed in oppoſite View to human Cor-
ruptions, had ſo far opened mine Eyes, and enlarged
my Underſtanding, that I began to view the A&tions
and Paſſions of Man in a very different Light ; and ta
think the Honour of my own Kind not worth ma-
naging; which, beſides, it was impoflible for me to do
before a Perſon of ſo acute a Judgment as my Maſter,
who daily convinced me of a thouſand Faults in my
ſelf, whereof I had not the leaſt Perception before, and
which with us would never be numbered even among
human Infirmities. I had likewiſe learned from his
Example, an utter Deteſtation of all Falſehood or Diſ-
guiſe; and Truth appeared ſo amiable to me, that I
determined upon facrificing every Thing to it.
Let me deal ſo candidly with the Reader, as to
confeſs, that there was yet a much ſtronger Motive for
the Freedom I took in my Repreſentation of Things. I
had not been a Yearin this Country, before I contracted
ſuch a Love and Veneration for the Inhabitants, that
I entered on a firm Reſolution never to return to
human Kind, but to paſs the reſt of my Life among
theſe admirable Houyhnbnms in the Contemplation and
Practice of every Virtue ; where I could have no Ex-
ample or Incitement to Vice. But, it was decreed by
Fortune, my perpetual Enemy, that ſo great a Felicity
Mhould not fall to my Share. However, it is now
ſome Comfort to reflect, that in what I ſaid of my
Countrymen, I extenuated their Faults as much as I durit
before ſo ftri&t an Examiner ; and upon every Article,
gave as favourable a Turn as the Matter would bear.
For, indeed, who is there alive that will not be ſwayed
by his Byaſs and Partiality to the Place of his Birth ?
I HAVE related the Subſtance of ſeveral Converſa.
tions I had with my Maſter, during the greateſt Part
of the Time I had the Honour to be in his Service :
but have indeed for Brevity Sake omitted much more
than is here ſet down.
When I had anſwered all his Queſtions, and his
Curioſity ſeemed to be fully ſatisfied; he ſent for me
Ong
A VOYACE to the HouYuNHNMS.
One Morning early, and commanding me to fit down
at ſome Diſtance (an Honour which he had never be-
fore conferred upon me) he ſaid, he had been very
ſeriouſly conſidering my whole Story, as far as it re-
lated both to myſelf and my Country: That, he
looked
upon us, as a Sort of Animals, to whoſe Share,
by what Accident, he could not conje&ture, ſome ſmall
Pittance of Reafon had fallen, whereof we made no
other Uſe, than by its Aſſiſtance to aggravate our natu
ral Corruptions, and to acquire new ones, which Na-
ture had not given us. That, we diſarmed ourſelves
of the few Abilities ſhe had beſtowed ; had been very
ſucceſsful in multiplying our original Wants, and
ſeemed to ſpend our whole Lives in vain Endeavours,
to fupply them by our own Inventions. That, as to
myſelf, it was manifeft I had neither the Strength or
Agility of a common Taboo; that I walked infirmly
on my hinder Feet ; had found out a Contrivance to
make my Claws of no Uſe or Defence, and to remove
the Hair from my Chin, which was intended as a
Shelter from the Sun and the Weather. Laſtly, That
I could neither run with Speed, nor climb Trees like
my Brethren (as he called them) the Yahoas in this
Country.
That our Inſtitutions of Government and Law,
were plainly owing to our groſs Defe&ts in Reaſon, and
by Conſequence, in Virtue; becanſe Reaſon alone is
fufficient to govern a Rational Creature ; which was
therefore a Character we had no Pretence to challenge,
even from the Account I had given of my own Peo-
ple ; although manifeſtly perceived, that in orde
to favour them, I had concealed many Particulars
and often ſaid the Thing which was not.
He was the more confirmed in this Opinion, bem
cauſe he obſerved, that as I agreed in every Feature
of my Body with other Yahoos, except, where it was
to my real Diſadvantage, in Point of Strength, Speed,
and Activity, the Shortneſs of my Claws, and ſome
other Particulars, where Nature had no Part; ſo, from
the Repreſentation I had given him of our Lives,
Ous
A Voyage to the HOUYHNINMS, 253
our Manners, and our Actions, he found as near a
Reſemblance in the Diſpoſition of our Minds. He
ſaid, the raboos were known to hate one another
more than they did any different Species of Animals;
and the Reaſon uſually aſſigned, was, the Odiouſneſs
of their own Shapes, which all could ſee in the reſt,
but not in themſelves. He had therefore begun to
think it not unwiſe in us to cover our Bodies, and by
that Invention, conceal many of our Deformities from
each other, which would elfe be hardly ſupportable:
But, he now found he had been miſtaken; and that
the Diſſentions of thoſe Brutes in his Country, were
owing to the
ſame Cauſe with ours, as I had deſcribed
them. For, if (ſaid he) you throw among five Yahoos,
as much Food as would be fufficient for fifty, they
will, inſtead of eating peaceably, fall together by the
Lars, each ſingle one impatient to have all to itſelf :
and therefore, a Servant was uſually employed to ſtand
by while they were feeding abroad, and thoſe kept
at home, were tied at a Diſtance from each other.
That, if a Cow died of Age or Accident, before a
Houybnbnm could ſecure it for his own Yahoos, thoſe
in the Neighbourhood would come in Herds to ſeize
it, and then would enſue ſuch a Battle as I had de-
ſcribed, with terrible Wounds made by their Claws,
on both Sides, although they ſeldom were able to kill
one another, for Want of ſuch convenient Inſtruments,
of Death as we had invented. At other Times, the like
Battles have been fought between the laboos of ſeveral
Neighbourhøods without any viſible Cauſe: Thoſe of
one Diſtrict watching all Opportunities to furprize the
next, before they are prepared. But, if they find their
Proje&t hath miſcarried, they return home, and for
want of Enemies, engage in what I call a Civil War
among themſelves,
That, in ſome Fields of his Country, there are
certain ſhining Stones of ſeveral Colours, whereof the
Yahoos are violently fond ; and when Part of theſe
Stones are fixed in the Earth, as it ſometimes happen-
eth, they will dig with their Claws for whole Days, to
ges
254
A Voyage to the HouyanhNMS.
get them out, and carry them away, and hide them by
Heaps in their Kennels; but ſtill looking round with
great Caution, for fear their Comrades ſhould
find out
their Treaſure. My Maſter ſaid, he could never diſco-
ver the Reaſon of this unnatural Appetite, or how theſe
Stones could be of any Uſe to a Yahoo ; but, now he
believed, it might proceed from the ſame Principle of
Avarice, which I had aſcribed to Mankind. That, he
had once, by way of Experiment, privately removed
a Heap of theſe Stones from the Place where one of
his raboos had buried it: Whereupon, the ſordid
Animal, miſſing his Treaſure, by his loud lamenting,
brought the whole Herd to the Place, there miſerably
howled, then fell to biting and tearing the reſt; began
to pine away, would neither eat, nor ſleep, nor work,
until he ordered a Servant privately to convey the
Stones into the ſame Hole, and hide them as before ;
which, when his Yahoo had found, he preſently re-
covered his Spirits and good Humour; but took Care
to remove them to a better hiding Place; and hath
ever ſince been a very ſerviceable Brute.
My Mafter farther aſſured me, which I alſo ob-
ſerved myſelf; That, in the Fields, where theſe ſhine-
ing Stones abound, the fierceſt and moſt frequent Bar-
tles are fought, occaſioned by perpetual Inroads of the
neighbouring Yaboos.
He ſaid, it was common, when two Yahoos diſ-
covered ſuch a Stone in a Field, and were contending
which of them ſhould be the Proprietor, a third would
take the Advantage, and carry it away from them
both ; which my Maſter would needs contend to have
fome Reſemblance with our Suits at Law; wherein I
thought it for our Credit not to undeceive him; fince
the Deciſion he mentioned, was much more equitable,
than many Decrees among us: Becauſe, the Plaintiff
and Defendant there, loft nothing beſides the Stone they
contended for; whereas our Codnes of Equity, would
never have diſmifled the Cauſe, while either of them
kad any Thing left.
My
'A VOYAGE to the HOUY NHNM3.
255
My Maſter continuing his Diſcourſe, ſaid, There
was nothing that rendered the Yahoos more odious,
than their undiſtinguiſhed Appetite to devour every
Thing that came in their Way, whether Herbs,
Roots, Berries, corrupted Fleſh of Animals, or alt
mingled together: And, it was peculiar in their Tem-
per, that they were fonder of what they could get by
Rapine or Stealth, at a greater Diſtance, than much
better Food provided for them at home. If their
Prey held out, they would eat until they were ready
to burſt, after which, Nature had pointed out to them
a certain Root that gave them a general Evacuation.
There was alſo another Kind of Root, very juicy,
but ſomething rare and difficult to be found, which
the Yaboos fought for with much Eagerneſs, and would
fuck it with great Delight: It produced the ſame
Effects that Wine hath upon us. It would make them
fometimes hug, and ſometimes tear one another; they
would howl and grin, and chatter, and roll, and tum-
ble, and then fall aſleep in the Mud.
I did indeed obferve, that the Taboos were the on-
ly Animals in this Country ſubject to any Diſeaſes ;
which, however, were much fewer than Horſes have
among us, and contracted not by any ill Treatment
they meet with, but by the Naſtineſs and Greedineſs
of that ſordid Brute. Neither has their Language any
more than a general Appellation for thoſe Maladies ;
which is borrowed from the Name of the Beaſt, and
called Hnea Yahoo, or the raboo's- Evil; and the Cure
preſcribed, is a Mixture of their own Dung and Urine,
forcibly put down the Yahoq's Throat. This I have
Since often known to have been taken with Succeſs :
And do here freely recommend it to my Countrymen,
for the publick Good, as an admirable Specifick
againſt all Diſeaſes produced by Repletion.
As to Learning, Government, Arts, Manufactures,
and the like, my Maſter confeſſed he could find little
or no Reſemblance between the Yahoos of that Country
and thoſe in ours.
For, he only meant to obſerve,
what Parity there was in our Natures. He had heard,
indeed
256
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNM).
indeed, ſome curious Houyhnbnms obſerve, that in moſt
Herds there was a Sort of ruling Yahoo, (as among us
there is generally ſome leading or principal Stag in a
Park) who was always more deformed in Body, and
miſchievous in Diſpoſition, than any of the reſt. That,
this Leader had uſually a Favourite as like himſelf, as
he could get, whoſe Employment was to lick his
Maſter's Feet and Poſteriors, and drive the Female Ya-
hoos to his Kennel; for which he was now and then
rewarded with a Piece of Aſs's Fleſh. This Favou-
rite is hated by the whole Herd ; and therefore, to
protect himſelf, keepeth always near the Perfox of bis
Leader. He uſually continueth in Office until a worſe
can be found; but the very Moment he is diſcarded,
his Succeffor, at the Head of all the Yahoos in that
Diſtrict, Young and Old, Male and Female, come in
a Body, and diſcharge their Excrements upon him
from Head to Foot. But, how far this might be ap-
plicable to our Courts and Favourites, and Minillers
of State, my Maſter ſaid, I could beſt determine.
I DURST make no Return to this malicious Inſinua.
tion, which debaſed human Underſtanding below the
Sagacity of a common Hound, who hath Judgment
enough to diſtinguiſh and follow the Cry of the ableft
Dog of the Pack, without being ever miſtaken.
My Maſter told me, there were ſome Qualities re.
markable in the raboos, which he had not obſerved
me to mention, or, at leaſt, very ſlightly, in the Ac-
counts I had given him of human Kind. He ſaid,
thoſe Animals, like other Brutes, had their Females in
common; but, in this they differed, that the She-ra.
boo would admit the Male, while ſhe was pregnant ;
and that the Hees would quarrel and fight with the
Females, as fiercely as with each other. Both which
Practices were ſuch Degrees of infamous Brutality,
that no other ſenſitive Creature ever arrived at.
ANOTHER Thing he wondered at in the Yahoas,
was their ſtrange Diſpoſition to Naſtineſs and Dirt ;
whereas, there appeareth to be a natural Love of Clean-
lineſs in all other Animals. As to the two former
Accufations,
'& Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
257
Accuſations, I was glad to let them paſs without any
Reply, becauſe I had not a Word to offer upon them
in Defence of my Species, which otherwiſe I certainly
had done from my own Inclinations. But I could
have eaſily vindicated human Kind from the Imputa-
tion of Singularity upon the laſt Article, if there had
been any Swine in that Country, (as unluckily for me
there were not) which, although it may be a ſweeter
Quadruped than a Yahoo, cannot, I humbly conceive,
in Juſtice, pretend to more Cleanlineſs; and fo his
Honour himſelf muſt have owned, if he had ſeen
their filthy Way of feeding, and their Cuſtom of
wallowing and ſleeping in the Mud:
My Maſter likewiſe mentioned another Quality,
which his Servants had diſcovered in ſeveral Yahoos,
and to him was wholly unaccountable. He ſaid, a
Fancy would ſometimes take a Yahoo, to retire into a
Corner, to lie down and howl, and groan, and ſpurn
away all that came near him, although he were young
and fat, and wanted neither Food nor Water ; nor
did the Servants imagine what could poſſibly ail him.
And the only Remedy they found was to ſet him to
hard Work, after which he would infallibly come to
himſelf. To this I was filent, out of Partiality to my
own Kind ; yet here I could plainly diſcover the true
Seeds of Spleen, which only ſeizeth on the Lazy, the
Luxurious and the Rich; who, if they were forced
to undergo the fame Regimen, I would undertake for
the Cure.
Hıs Honour had farther obſerved, that a Female
Yaboo, would often ſtand behind a Bank or a Buſh, to
gaze on the young Males paffing by, and then appear,
and hide, uſing many antick Geſtures and Grimaces ;
at which Time it was obſerved, that ſhe had a moſt
offenſive Smell; and when any of the Males advanced,
would flowly retire, looking often back, and with a
counterfeit Shew of Fear, run off into ſome conve-
nient Place, where ſhe knew the Male would follow
her.
At
258
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMs.
Ar other Times, if a Female Stranger came among
them, three or four of her own Sex would get about
her, and ſtare and chatter, and grin, and ſmell her all
over, and then turn off with Geſtures, that ſeemed to
expreſs Contempt and Diſdain.
Perhaps my Maſter might refine a little in theſe
Speculations, which he had drawn from what he ob-
ſerved himſelf, or had been told him by others : How-
ever, I could not reflect without ſome Amazement,
and much Sorrow, that the Rudiments of Lewdneſs,
Coquetry, Cenfure, and Scandal, fhould have Place by
Inſtinct in Womankind.
I expected every Moment, that my Maſter would
accuſe the Yahoos of thoſe unnatural Appetites in both
Sexes, ſo common among us.
But Nature, it ſeems,
hath not been ſo expert a School-miſtreſs; and theſe
politer Pleaſures are entirely the Produđions of Art
and Reaſon, on our Side of the Globe.
CH A P. VIII. .
The Author relateth ſeveral Particulars of the Yahoog.
The great Virtues of the Houyhnhnms. The Educa.
tion and Exerciſe of their Youth. Their general
Aſembly.
A
SI ought to have underſtood human Nature much
better than I ſuppoſed it poſſible for my Maſter
to do, ſo it was eaſy to apply the Character he gave
of the Yahoos to myſelf and my Countrymen ; and I
believed I could yet make farther Diſcoveries from my
own Obſervation. I therefore often begged his Ho-
nour to let me go among the Herds of Yaboos in
the Neighbourhood; to which he always very graci.
ouſly confented, being perfectly convinced, that the
Hatred I bore thoſe Brutes would never ſuffer me to
be corrupted by them ; and his Honour ordered one
of his Servants, a ſtrong Sorrel Nag, very honeſt and
good-
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
259
ao
good-natured, to be my Guard; without whoſe Pro-
te&tion I durft not undertake ſuch Adventures. For I
have already told the Reader how much I was peſtered
by thoſe odious Animais apon my firſt Arrival. I
afterwards failed very narrowly three or four times of
falling into their Clutches, when I happened to ſtray
at any Diſtance without my Hanger. And I have
Reaſon to believe, they had ſome Imagination, that I
was of their own Species, which I often aſſiſted myſelf
by ſtripping up my Sleeves, and ſhewing my naked
Arms and Breaſt in their Sight, when my Protector
was with me: At which times they would approach
as near as they durſt, and imitate my Actions after the
Manner of Monkeys, but ever with great Signs of
Hatred; as a tame Jack-Dar with Cap and Stock-
ings, is always perſecuted by the wild ones, when he
happens to be got among them.
They are prodigiouſly nimble from their Infancy;
however, I once caught a young Male of three Years
old, and endeavoured by all Marks of Tenderneſs to
make it quiet ; but the little Imp fell a ſqualling, and
ſcratching, and biting with ſuch Violence, that I was
forced to let it go ; and it was high time, for a whole
Troop of old ones came about us at the Noiſe ; but
finding the Cub was ſafe, (for away it ran) and my
Sorrel Nag being by, they darſt not venture near us.
I obſerved the young Animal's Fleſh to ſmell very
rank, and the Stink was ſomewhat between a Weaſel
and a Fox, but much more diſagreeable. I forgot
another Circumſtance, (and perhaps I might have the
Reader's Pardon, if it were wholly omitted) that
while I held the odious Vermin in my Hands, it
voided its filthy Excrements, of a yellow liquid Sub-
ſtance, all over my Cloaths ; but, by good Fortune,
there was a ſmall Brook hard by, where I waſhed my-
ſelf as clean as I could ; although I durft not come into
my Maſter's Preſence, until I was ſufficiently aired.
By what I could diſcover, the Yahoos appear to be
the moſt unteachable of all Animals, their Capacities
never reaching higher than to draw or carry Burthens.
Yet
260 A VOYAGE to the HOUXHNHNMG.
Yet I am of Opinion, this Defect ariſeth chiefly from
a perverſe, reſtive Diſpoſition. For they are cunning,
malicious, treacherous, and revengeful. They are
ſtrong and hardy, but of a cowardly Spirit, and by
conſequence inſolent, abjeet, and cruel. It is obſerved,
that the Red-haired of both Sexes are more libidinous
and miſchievous than the reſt, whom yet they much
exceed in Strength and A&tivity
The Houyhnhams keep the Yahoos, for preſent Uſe, in
Huts not far from the Houſe; but the reſt are ſent a-
broad to certain Fields, where they dig up Roots, eat
ſeveral Kinds of Herbs, and ſearch about for Carrion,
or ſometimes catch Weaſels and Lubimuhs, (a Sort of
wild Ral) which they greedily devour. Nature hath
taught them to dig deep Holes with their Nails on the
Side of a riſing Ground, wherein they lie by them-
felves ; only the Kennels of the Females are larger,
ſufficient to hold two or three Cubs.
They ſwim from their Infancy like Frogs, and are
able to continue long under Water, where they often
take Fiſh, which the Females carry home to their
Young. And upon this Occaſion, I hope the Reader
will pardon my relating an odd Adventure.
Being one Day abroad with my Protector the Sor-
rel Nag, and the Weather exceeding hot, I entreated
him to let me bathe in a River that was near. He
conſented, and I immediately ſtripped myſelf ſtark
naked, and went down ſoftly into the Stream, It hap-
pened that a young Female Yaboo ftanding behind a
Bank, ſaw the whole Proceeding; and inflamed by
Deſire, as the Nag and I conjectured, came running
with all Speed, and leaped into the Water within five
Yards of the Place where I bathed. I was never in my
Life ſo terribly frighted; the Nag was grazing at ſome
Diſtance, not ſuſpecting any Harm: She embraced me
after a moſt fulſome Manner; I roared as loud as I
could, and the Nag came galloping towards me :
whereupon ſhe quitted her Graſp, with the utmoſt Re-
luctancy, and leaped upon the oppoſite Bank, where ſhe
ſtood gazing and howling all the Time I was putting
on my Cloaths.
This
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS. 264
3 which it was
This was Matter of Diverſion to my Maſter and his
Family, as well as of Mortification to myſelf. For
now I could no longer deny, that I was a real Yahoo,
in every Limb and Feature, ſince the Females had a
natural Propenſity to me as one of their own Species :
Neither was the Hair of this Brute of a Red Colour,
(which might have been fome Excuſe for an Appetite
a little irregular) but black as a Sloe, and her Counte-
nance did not make an Appearance altogether fo hide.
ous as the reſt of the Kind; for, I think, ſhe could
not be above eleven Years old.
HAVINC already lived three Years in this Country,
the Reader I ſuppoſe will expect, that I ſhould, like
other Travellers, give him ſome Account of the Man-
ners and Cuſtoms of its Inhabitants, which it was in-
deed my principal Study to learn.
As theſe noble Houyhnlınms are endued by Na-
ture with a general Diſpoſition to all Virtues, and have
no Conceptions or Ideas of what is evil in a rational
Creature; fo their Grand Maxim is, to cultivate Rea.
Jon, and to be wholly governed by it. Neither is Rea.
ſon among them a Point Problematical as with us,
where Men can argue with Plauſibility on both Sides
of the Queſtion ; but ſtrikes you with immediate Con-
viction ; as it muſt needs do where it is not ming-
led, obſcured, or diſcoloured by Paffion and Intereſt.
I remember it was with extreme Difficulty, that I
could bring my Maſter to underſtand the meaning of
the Word Opinion, or how a Point could be diſputa-
ble; becauſe Reaſon taught us to affirm or deny only
where we are certain; and beyond our Knowledge
we cannot do either. So that Controverſies, Wrang-
lings, Diſputes, and Poſitiveneſs in falſe and dubious
Propofitions, are Evils unknown among the Houy-
bnbnms. In the like Manner when I uſed to ex-
plain to him our ſeveral Syſtems of Natural Philofo-
phy, he would laugh, that a Creature pretending to
Reaſon, ſhould value itſelf upon the Knowledge of o-
ther People's Conjectures, and in Things, where that
Knowledge, if it were certain, could be of no Uſe.
Wherein
262 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
Wherein he agreed entirely with the Sentiments of
Socrates, as Plato delivers them ; which I mention as
the higheſt Honour I can do that Prince of Philoſo-
phers. I have often ſince reflected what Deſtruction
ſuch a Do&trine would make in the Libraries of Ex-
rope, and how many Paths to Fame would be then
Shut up in the Learned World.
FRIENDSHIP and Benevolence are the two
principal Virtues among the Houghnhnms; and theſe
not confined to particular Objects, but univerſal to the
whole Race. For a Stranger from the remoteſt Part,
is equally treated with the neareſt Neighbour, and
wherever he goeth, looketh upon himſelf as at home.
They preſerve Decency and Civility in the higheſt De-
grees, but are altogether ignorant of Ceremony. They
have no Fondneſs for their Colts or Foles; but the
Care they take in educating them proceedeth entirely
from the Dictates of Reaſon. And, I obſerved my
Maſter to ſhew the ſame Affection to his Neighbours
Iffue that he had for his own. They will have it, that
Nature teaches them to love the whole Species, and it
is Reaſon only that maketh a Diſtinction of Perſons,
where there is a ſuperior Degree of Virtue.
When the Matron Houybnbnms have produced one
of each Sex, they no longer accompany with their
Conſorts, except they loſe one of their Iſſue by ſome
Caſualty, which very ſeldom happens : But, in ſuch a
Caſe, they meet again ; or when the like Accident be-
falleth a Perſon, whoſe Wife is paſt bearing, ſome other
Couple beſtoweth on him one of their own Colts, and
then go together a ſecond Time, until the Mother be
pregnant. This Caution is neceſſary to prevent the
Country from being overburthened with Numbers,
But the Race of inferior Houybrhnms, bred up to be
Servants is not ſo ftri&tly limited upon this Article ;
theſe are allowed to produce three of each Sex, to
be Domeſticks in the Noble Families.
In their Marriages they are exactly careful to chuſe
ſuch Colours as will not make any diſagreeable
Mixture in the Breed. Strength is chiefly valued in
the
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS, 263
the Male, and Comelineſs in the Female; not upon the
Account of Love, but to preſerve the Race from dege.
nerating: For, where a Female happeneth to excel in
Strength, a Conſort is choſen with Regard to Comeli-
neſs. Courtſhip, Love, Preſents, Jointures, Settle-
ments, have no Place in their Thoughts; or Terms
whereby to expreſs them in their Language. The
young Couple meet and are joined, merely becauſe it
is the Determination of their Parents and Friends :
It is what they ſee done every Day; and they look up-
on it as one of the neceſſary A&tions in a reaſonable
Being. But the Violation of Marriage, or any other
Unchaſtity, was never heard of: And the married Pair
paſs their Lives with the ſame Friendſhip, and mutu-
al Benevolence that they bear to all others of the ſame
Species, who come in their way; without Jealouſy,
Fondneſs, Quarrelling, or Diſcontent.
In educating the Youth of both Sexes, their Me-
thod is admirable, and highly deſerveth our Imitation.
Theſe are not ſuffered to taſte a Grain of Oats, ex-
cept upon certain Days, until eighteen Years old ;
nor Milk, but very rarely ; and in Summer they graze
two Hours in the Morning, and as many in the Even-
ing, which their Parents likewiſe obſerve ; but the
Servants are not allowed above half that Time; and a
great Part of the Graſs is brought home, which they
eat at the moſt convenient Hours, when they can be
beſt ſpared from Work.
TEMPE RANGE, Induſtry, Exerciſe, and
Cleanlineſs, are the Leſſons equally enjoined to the
young ones of both Sexes . And my Maſter thought it
monſtrous in us, to give the Females a different kind
of Education from the Males, except in ſome Articles
of Domeſtick Management; whereby, as he truly
obſerved, one Half of our Natives were good for no-
thing but bringing Children into the World: And to
truſt
the care of
their Children to ſuch uſeleſs Ani-
mals, he ſaid, was yet a greater Inſtance of Brutality.
But the Houybnbnms train up their Youth to
Strength, Speed, and Hardineſs, by exerciſing them
3
in
264 A VOYAge to the HOUYHNHNMS.
in running Races up and down ſteep Hills, or over
hard ſtony Grounds; and when they are all in a Sweat,
they are ordered to leap over Head and Ears into a
Pond or River. Four Times a Year, the Youth of
certain Diſtriets meet, to ſhew their Proficiency in Run-
ning, Leaping, and other Feats of Strength and Agi-
lity ; where the Victor is rewarded with a Song made
in his or her Praiſe. On this Feſtival, the Servants
drive a Herd of Taboos into the Field, laden with
Hay, and Oats, and Milk, for a Repaſt to the Houy-
bnhams; after which, theſe Brutes are immediately
driven back again, for fear of being noiſome to the
Afſembly
Every fourth Year, at the Vernal Equinox, there
is a Repreſentative Council of the whole Nation,
which meeteth in a Plain about twenty Miles from our
Houſe, and continueth about five or fix Days. Here
they inquire into the State and Condition of the feve-
ral Diſtriëls; whether they abound, or be deficient, in
Hay or Oats, or Cows or Yahoos? And, wherever
there is any Want (which is but ſeldom) it is immedi-
ately ſupplied by unanimous Conſent and Contribution.
Here, likewiſe, the Regulation of Children is ſettled :
As for Inſtance, if a Houybnbnm hath two Males, he
changeth one of them with another who hath two
Females: And when a Child hath been loſt by any
Caſualty, where the Mother is paſt Breeding, it is de-
termined what Family ſhall breed another to ſupply the
Lols.
CH A P
A VOYAGE to the HOU YHNHNMS.
265
CH A P. IX.
A Grand Debate at the General Afembly of the Houy-
hnhnms; and how it was determined. The Learn-
ing of the Houyhnhms. Their Buildings. Their
Manner of Burials, The Defectiveneſs of ebeir
Language.
NE of theſe Grand Aſſemblies was held in my
Time, about three Months before my Depar-
ture, whither my Maſter went as the Repreſentative
of our Diſtrict. In this Council was reſumed their
old Debate, and indeed the only Debate that ever
kappened in their Country ; whereof my Mafter,
after his Return, gave me a very particular Account.
The Queſtion to be debated was, Whether the
Taboos ſhould be exterminated from the Face of the
Earth ? One of the Members for the Affirmative,
offered ſeveral Arguments of great Strength andWeight,
alledging, That, as the Yahoos were the moſt filthy,
noiſome, and deformed Animals, which Nature ever
produced, ſo they were the moft reftive and indocible,
miſchievous and malicious: They would privately
fuck the Teats of the Houybnbnms Cows, kill and
devour their Cats, trample down their Oats and Graſs,
if they were not continually watched, and commit a
Thouſand other Extravagancies. · He took Notice of
a general Tradition, that Yahoos had not been always
in their Country : But, that many Ages ago, two of
theſe Brutes appeared together upon a Mountain ;
whether produced by the Heat of the Sun upon cor-
rupted Mud and Slime, or from the Ooze and Froth
of the Sea, was never known. That, theſe Yahoos
engendered, and their Brood in a ſhort Time grew ſo
numerous as to over-run and infeft the whole Nation.
Vol. III.
That,
N
266
A Voyage to the HouyhNhNM3.
That, the Houyhnhnms, to get rid of this Evil, made
a general Hunting, and at laſt incloſed the whole
Herd ; and deſtroying the Older, every Houyhnhnm
kept two young Ones in a Kennel, and brought them
to ſuch a Degree of Tameneſs, as an Animal ſo ſavage
by Nature can be capable of acquiring ; uſing them
for Draught and Carriage. That, there ſeemed to be
much Truth in this Tradition, and that thoſe Crea-
tures could not be YInbniamſby, (or Aborigines of the
Land) becauſe of the violent Hatred the Houy-
bnhnms, as well as all other Animals, bore them;
which, although their evil Diſpoſition ſufficiently de.
ſerved, could never have arrived at ſo high a Degree,
if they had been Aborigines, or elſe they would have
long ſince been rooted out. That, the Inhabitants,
taking a Fancy to uſe the Service of the Yahoos, had
very imprudently neglected to cultivate the Breed of
Alles, which were a comely Animal, eafily kept,
more tame and orderly, without any offenſive Smell,
ſtrong enough for Labour, although they yield to the
other in Agility of Body; and, if their Braying be no
agreeable Sound, it is far preferable to the horrible
Howlings of the rahaos.
Several others declared their Sentiments to the
fame Purpoſe ; when my Maſter propoſed an Expedient
to the Aſſembly, whereof he had indeed borrowed the
Hint from me. He approved of the Tradition, men-
tioned by the Honourable Member, who ſpoke before ;
and affirmed, that the two raboos, ſaid to be firſt ſeen
among them, had been driven thither over the Sea :
That, coming to Land, and being forſaken by their
Companions, they retired to the Mountains, and dege-
nerating by Degrees, became in Proceſs of Time much
more ſavage than thoſe of their own Species in the
Country from whence theſe two Originals came. The
Reaſon of his Affertion was, that he had now in his Poſ-
feffion a certain wonderful Yahoo, (meaning myſelf )
which moſt of them had heard of, and many of them
had ſeen. He then related to them, how he firſt found
me : That, my Body was all covered with an artificial
Compo-
Plate 6 Part 4
Page 266
Nuyts Land
I.S+Pieter
Edel. Land
Lewin's Land
7. S'
Francot
Ineers I.
1.Maelsker)
De Wits I.
1 .
HoυYHNHNMS
LAND-
Filia
Difcovered A.D.1711
R
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMs, 267
Compoſure of the Skins and Hairs of other Animals :
That, I ſpoke in a Language of my own, and had
thoroughly learned theirs: That, I had related to him
the Accidents which brought me thither: That, when
he ſaw me without my Covering, I was an exad Ya-
boo in every Part, only of a whiter Colour, leſs hairy,
and with ſhorter Claws. He added, how I had en-
deavoured to perſuade him, that in my own and other
Countries the Yahoos acted as the governing, rational
Animal, and held the Houybnbnms in Servitude: That,
he obſerved in me all the Qualities of a Yahoo, only a
little more civilized by ſome Tincture of Reaſon,
which, however, was in a Degree as far inferior to
the Houybnhnm Race, as the Yahoos of their Country
were to me: That, among other Things, I mentioned
a Cuſtom we had of caftrating Houyhnbnms when they
were young, in order to render them tame. That, the
Operation was eaſy and ſafe : That, it was no Shame
to learn Wiſdom from Brutes, as Induſtry is taught by
the Ant, and Building by the Swallow. (For ſo I
tranſlate the Word Lyhannh, although it be a much
larger Fowl). That, this Invention might be practiſed
upon the younger raboos here, which, beſides render-
ing them tractable and fitter for Uſe, would in an Age
put an End to the whole Species without deſtroying
Life: That, in the mean Time the Houybnbnms ſhould
be exborted to cultivate the Breed of Aſles, which, as
they are in all reſpects more valuable Brutes, ſo they
have this Advantage to be fit for Service at five Years
old, which the others are not till twelve.
This was all my Maſter thought fit to tell me at
that Time, of what paſſed in the Grand Council.
But, he was pleaſed to conceal one Particular, which
related perſonally to myſelf, whereof I ſoon felt the
unhappy Effect, as the Reader will know in its proper
Place, and from whence I date all the ſucceeding Miſ-
fortunes of my Life.
The Houybnbums have no Letters, and conſe-
quently, their knowledge is all traditional. But, there
happening few Events of any Moment among a People
N 2
fo
268 A VOYACE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
fo well united, naturally diſpoſed to every Virtue,
wholly governed by Reaſon, and cut off from all
Commerce with other Nations ; the hiſtorical Part is
eaſily preſerved without burthening their Memories,
I have already obſerved, that they are ſubject to no
Diſeaſes, and therefore can have no need of Phyſicians.
However, they have excellent Medicines compoſed of
Herbs, to cure accidental Bruiſes and Cuts in the Pa-
fern or Frog of the Foot by ſharp Stones, as well as
other Maims and Hurts in the ſeveral Parts of the
Body.
They calculate the Year by the Revolution of the
Sun and the Moon, but uſe no Subdiviſions into
Weeks.
They are well enough acquainted with the
Motions of thoſe two Luminaries, and underſtand the
Nature of Eclipſes; and this is the utmoſt Progreſs of
Afronomy.
In Poetry they muft be allowed to excel all other
Mortals; wherein the Juſtneſs of their Similies, and
the Minuteneſs, as well as Exactneſs of their Deſcrip-
tions, are indeed inimitable. Their Verſes abound
very much in both of theſe ; and uſually contain either
fame exalted Notions of Friendſhip and Benevolence,
or the Praiſes of thoſe who were Victors in Races,
and other bodily Exerciſes. Their Buildings, although
very rude and ſimple, are not inconvenient, but well
contrived to defend them from all Injuries of Cold and
Heat. They have a Kind of Tree, which at forty
Years old, looſens in the Root, and falls with the firſt
Storm; it grows very ſtrait, and being pointed like
Stakes with a ſharp Stone, (for the Houybnbnms know
not the Uſe of Iron) they ſtick them erect in the
Ground about ten Inches aſunder, and then weave
in Oat Straw, or ſometimes Wattles, between them.
The Roof is made after the ſame Manner, and ſo are
the Doors.
The Houyhnhnms uſe the hollow Part between the
Paſtern and the Hoof of their Fore-feet, as we do
our Hands, and this with greater Dexterity, than I
could at firſt imagine. I have ſeen a white Mare of
our
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS. 269
our Family thread a Needle (which I lent her on Pur-
poſe) with that Joint. They milk their Cows, reap
their Oats and do all the Work which requireth Hands
in the ſame Manner. They have a Kind of Hand-
Flints, which, by grinding againſt other Stones, they
form into Inſtruments, that ſerve inſtead of Wedges,
Axes, and Hammers. With Tools made of theſe
Flints, they likewiſe cut their Hay, and reap their
Oats, which there groweth naturally in ſeveral Fields:
The Yaboos draw Home the Sheaves in Carriages, and
the Servants tread them in certain covered Huts, to
get out the Grain, which is kept in Stores, They
make a rude Kind of Earthen and Wooden Veſſels,
and bake the former in the Sun.
If they can avoid Caſualties, they die only of old
Age, and are buried in the obſcureſt Places that can
be found, their Friends and Relations expreſſing neither
Joy nor Grief at their Departure ; nor does the dying
Perſon diſcover the leaſt Regret, that he is leaving the
World, any more, than if he were upon returning
Home from a Viſit to one of his Neighbours ; I re-
member, my Maſter having once made an Appointment
with a Friend and his Family to come to his Houſe
upon ſome Affair of Importance ; on the Day fixed,
the Miſtreſs and her two Children came very late ;
ſhe made two Excuſes, firſt for her Huſband, who,
as ſhe faid, happened that very morning to Lhnuwnh,
The Word is ſtrongly expreſſed in their Language,
but not eaſily rendered into Engliſh; it fignifieth, to
retire to his firſt Mafter. Her Excuſe for not coming
ſooner, was, that her Huſband dying late in the Morn-
ing, ſhe was a good while conſulting her Servants a-
bout a convenient Place where his Body ſhould be
laid ; and, I obſerved, ſhe behaved herſelf at our Houſe
as chearfully as the reſt: She died about three Months
after.
They live generally toSeventy orSeventy-five Years,
very ſeldom to Fourſcore : Some Weeks before their
Death they feel a gradual Decay, but without Pain.
During this time they are much viſited by their Friends,
becauſe
N 3
270
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS,
becauſe they cannot go abroad with their uſual Eaſe and
Satisfa&tion. However, about ten Days before their
Death, which they ſeldom fail in computing, they re-
turn the Viſits that have been made them by thoſe who
are neareſt in the Neighbourhood, being carried in a
convenient Sledge, drawn by Yahoos; which Vehicle
they uſe, not only upon this Occaſion, but when they
grow old, upon long Journeys, or when they are
lamed by any Accident. And therefore, when the
dying Heupbuhnms return thoſe Vifits, they take a
folemn Leave of their Friends, as if they were going
to ſome remote Part of the Country, where they de-
figned to paſs the reft of their
Lives.
I know not, whether it may be worth obſerving,
that the Houybnhnms have no Word in their Lan-
guage to expreſs any thing that is evil, except what
they borrow from the Deformities or ill Qualities of
the Yahoos. Thus they denote the Polly of a Servant,
an Omiſſion of a Child, a Stone that cuts their Feet,
a Continuance of fool or unſeaſonable Weather, and
the like, by adding to each the Epithet of Yaboo. For
Inſtance, Hbnm Yahoo Wbrabolm Yahoo, Ymlhmna-
wilma Taboo, and an ill contrived Houſe, Inbolmbno-
roblow Yahoo.
I could with great pleaſure enlarge farther apon
the Manners and Virtues of this excellent People ;
but, intending in a ſhort time to publiſh a Volume by
itſelf exprefly upon that Subject, I refer the Reader
thither. And in the mean Time, proceed to relate
my own ſad Cataſtrophe.
CHAP
A Voyage to the HOU XINHNMS.
272
%
CH A P. X.
.
The author's æconomy and happy Life among the Houy-
hnhnms. His greal Improvement in Virtue, by con-
verfing with them. Their Converſations. The Auta
thor bath Notice given him by his Maſter that he muſt
depart
from the Country. He falleth into a Swoon for
Grief, but ſubmiteth. He contriveth and furiſheth ala-
nog, by the Help of a Fellow-Servant, and puts to
Sea at a Venture.
HAD ſettled my little Oeconomy to my own
Heart's Content. My Maſter had ordered a Room
to be made for me after their Manner, about fix Yards
from the Houſe; the Sides and Floors of which I
plaiſtered with Clay, and covered with Rufh-mats of
my own contriving: I had beaten Hemp, which there
groweth wild, and made of it a Sort of Ticking : This
I filled with the Feathers of ſeveral Birds I had taken
with Springes made of Yahoos Hairs; and were excel-
lent Food. I had worked two Chairs with my Knife,
the Sorrel Nag helping me in the groſſer and more
laborious Part. When my Cloaths were worn to Rags,
I made myſelf others with the Skins of Rabbits, and
of a certain beautiful Animal about the fame Size,
called Nnubnob, the Skin of which is covered with a
fine Down. Of theſe I likewiſe made very tolerable
Stockings. "I ſoaled my Shoes with Wood, which I
cut from a Tree, and fitted to the upper Leather, and
when this was worn out, I fupplied it with the Skins
of Yaboos, dried in the Sun. I often got Honey out
of hollow Trees, which I mingled with Water, or
eat it with my Bread. No Man could more verify the
Truth of theſe two Maxims, That Nature is very
eaſily ſatisfied ; and, That Neceſity is the Mother of
N 4
Invention.
272 A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
Invention. I enjoyed perfect Health of Body, and
Tranquility of Mind: I did not feel the Treachery or
Inconſtancy of a Friend, nor the Injuries of a ſecret
or open Enemy. I had no Occafion of bribing, flat-
tering, or pimping, to procure the Favour of any
great Man, or of his Minion. I wanted no Fence
againſt Fraud or Oppreſſion : Here was neither Phy-
fician to deſtroy my Body, nor Lawyer to ruin my
Fortune: No Informer to watch my Words and
Adions, or forge Accuſations againſt me for Hire:
Here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-
pockets, Highwaymen, Houſe-breakers, Attorneys,
Bawds, Boffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, Sple-
neticks, tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers,
Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſoes; no Leaders or Fol-
lowers of Party and Faction; no Encouragers to Vice,
by Seducement or Examples : No Dungeon, Axes,
Gibbets, Whipping poſts, or Pillories : No cheating
Shop-keepers or Mechanicks : No Pride, Vanity, or
Affectation : No Fops, Bullies, Drunkards, ſtrolling
Whores, or Poxes : No ranting, lewd, expenſive
Wives : No ſtupid, proud Pedants: No importunate,
over-bearing, quarrelſome, noiſy, roaring, empty,
conceited, fwearing Companions : No Scoundrels
raiſed from the Duft upon the Merit of their Vices ;
or Nobility thrown into it on Account of their Virtues:
No Lords, Fidlers, Judges, or Dancing-maſters.
I had the Favour of being admitted to ſeveral
Houyhnhnms, who came to viſit or dine with my Ma-
fter; where his Honour graciouſly ſuffered me to wait in
the Room, and liſten to their Diſcourſe. Both he and
his Company would often deſcend to ask me Que-
ftions, and receive my Anſwers. I had alſo ſometimes
the Honour of attending my Maſter in his Viſits to
others. I never preſumed to ſpeak, except in Anſwer
to a Queſtion; and then I did it with inward Regret,
becaufe it was a Loſs of ſo much Time for improving
myſelf: But, I was infinitely delighted with the Station
of an humble Auditor in ſuch Converſations, where
nothing paſſed, but what was uſeful, expreſſed in the
feweſt
& Voyage to the HOUYHNANM,
feweſt and moſt ſignificant Words : Where (as I have
already ſaid) the greateft Decency was obſerved; with
out the least Degree of Ceremony ; where no Perſon
ſpoke without being pleaſed himſelf, and pleaſing his
Companions : Where there was no Interruption, Te
diouloels, Heat, or Difference of Sentiments. They
have a Notion, That when People are met together,
a ſhort Silence doth much improve Converſation: This
I found to be true; for during thoſe little Intermiſſions
of Talk, dew Ideas would ariſe in their Minds, which
very much enlivened the Diſcourſe. Their Subjects
are generally on Friendſhip and Benevolence; on Or-
der and Oeconomy; ſometimes upon the viſiblc Ope-
rations of Nature, or ancient Traditions ; - upon the
Bounds and Limits of Virtue ; upon the unerring
Rules of Reaſon; or upon ſome Determinations, to be
taken at the next great Aſſembly; and often upon the
various Excellencies of Poetry. I may add, without
Vanity, that my Preſence often gave them fufficient
Matter for Diſcourſe, becauſe it afforded my Maſter
an Occaſion of letting his Friends into the Hiſtory of
me and my Country, upon which they were all pleaſed
to defcant in a Manner not very advantageous to hp
man Kind; and, for that Reaſon, I ſhall not repeat
what they ſaid : Only I may be allowed to obierve.
T'hat his Honour, to ny great Admiration, appeared
to underſtand the Nature of Yahoos much better than
myſelf. He went through all our Vices and Follies,
and diſcovered many which I had never mentioned in
him ; by only ſuppoſing what Qualities a Tabaq of
their Country, with a ſmall Proportion of Reaſon,
might be capable of exerting : And concluded, with
too much Probability, how vile, as well as miferable,
luch a Creature matt be.
I rreely confeſs, that all tħe little Knowledge I
Lave of any Value, was acquired by the Lectures I
received from my Maſter, and from hearing the Dif-
goufes, ol hm and his Friends: to which I ſhould be
prouder to hiten than to dictate to the greateft and
walkl Aflembly in Europe. I admired the Strengti,
Comelnieks
Ň 5
274
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
Comelineſs, and Speed of the Inhabitants ; and ſuch
a Conſtellation of Virtues in ſuch amiable Perſons, pro-
duced in me the higheſt Veneration. At firſt, indeed,
I did not feel that natural Awe, which the Yahoos and
all other Animals bear towards them; but it grew upon
me by Degrees, much ſooner than I imagined, and
was mingled with a reſpectful Love and Gratitude,
that they would condeſcend to diſtinguiſh me from the
reſt of my Species.
When I thought of my Family, my Friends, my
Countrymen, or human Race in general, I conſidered
them as they really were, Yahoos in Shape and Diſpo-
fition, perhaps a little more civilized, and qualified
with the Gift of Speech ; but making no other ufe of
Reaſon, than to improve and multiply thoſe Vices,
whereof their Brethren in this Country had only the
Share that Nature allotted them. When I happened
to behold the Reflection of my own Form in a Lake
or Fountain, I turned away my Face in Horror and
Deteſtation of myſelf; and could better endure the
Sight of a common Yahoo, than of my own Perſon.
By converfing with the Houybnbnms, and looking upon
them with Delight, I fell to imitate their Gait and
Geſture, which is now grown into a Habit; and my
Friends often tell me, in a blunt Way, that I trot like
a Horſe; which, however, I take for a great Compli-
ment: Neither ſhall I diſown, that in ſpeaking, I am
apt to fallinto theVoice and Manner of the Houyhnhnms,
and hear myſelf ridiculed on that Account, without the
leaſt Mortification.
In the midſt of this Happineſs, when I looked upon
myſelf to be fully ſettled for Life, my Maſter fent for
me one Morning a little earlier than his uſual Hour. I
obſerved, by his Countenance, that he was in ſome Per-
plexity, and at a Loſs how to begin what he had to
ſpeak After a fhort Silence, he told me, he did not
know how I would take what he was going to ſay
That, in the laſt general Aſſembly, when the Affair of
the Yahoos was entered upon, the Repreſentatives had
saken Offence at his keeping a Yahoo (meaning myſelf)
in
A VOYAGE to the HOUXHNHNMS.
in his Family, more like a Houyhnbnm than a brute A.
nimal. That, he was known frequently to converſe
with me, as if he could receive fome Advantage or
Pleaſure in my Company : That, fuch a Practice was
not agreeable to Reaſon or Nature, or a Thing ever
heard of before among them. The Allembly did
therefore exbørt bim, either to employ me like the
reſt of my Species, or command me to ſwim back to
the Place from whence I came; That, the firſt of theſe
Expedients was utterly rejected by all the Houphabnms
who had ever ſeen me at his Houſe or their own : For,
they alledged. That becauſe I had ſome Rudiments of
Reaſon, added to the natural Pravity of thoſe Ani-
mals, it was to be feared, I might be able to ſeduce
them into the woody and mountainous Parts of the
Country, and bring them in Troops by Night to de-
ftroy the Houybnbams Cattle, as being naturally of the
ravenous Kind, and averſe from Labour.
My Maſter added, That he was daily preffed by the
Matyboms of the Neighbourhood to have the Atlem-
bly's Exlortation execated, which he could not put
off much longer. He doubted, it would be impoſſible
for me to ſwim to another Country, and therefore
wished I would contrive fome Sort of Vehicle, reſem:
bling thoſe I had deſcribed to him,
that might carry
me on the Sea; in which Work I ſhould have
the
Aflitance of his own Servants, as well aa thoſe of his
Neighbours. He concluded, that for his own Part, he
could have been content to keep me in his Service as
long as I lived ; becauſe he found I had cured myſelf
of lome bad Habits and Diſpoſitions, by endeavouring:
as far as my inferior Nature was capable, to imitate
the Hazukabumas.
{ shound here obſerve to the Reader, that a De:
cree of the general Aſſembly in this Country, is ex-
preſſed by the Word Hnhloan, which ſignifieth an Ex-
hortation, as near as I can renderit: For they have no
Conception how a rational Creature can be compelled,
but only adviſed or exhorted; becauſe no Perſon can
difoney Reaſon, without giving up his Claim to be a
Exional Creature,
I was
276
A Voyage to the HouYHNHNMS.
I was ſtruck with the utmoſt Grief and Deſpair at
my Maſter's Diſcourſe ; and being unable to ſupport
the Agonies I was under, I fell into a Swoon at his
Feet : When I came to myſelf, he told me that he con-
claded I had been dead. (For theſe People are ſub-
ject to no ſuch Imbecillities of Nature). I anſwered,
in a faint Voice, that Death would have been too great
a Happineſs: That, although I could not blame the
Aſſembly's Exhortation, or the Urgency of his Friends,
yet, in my weak and corrupt Judgment, I thought it
might conſiſt with Reaſon to have been leſs rigorous :
That, I could not ſwim a League, and probably the
neareſt Land to theirs might be diſtant above an hun-
dred: That, many Materials, neceſſary for making a
ſmall Veffel to carry me off, were wholly wanting in
this Country, which, however, I would attempt in
Obedience and Gratitude to his Honour, although I
concluded the Thing to be impoſſible, and therefore
looked on myſelf as already devoted to Deſtruction :
That, the certain Proſpect of an unnatural Death was
the leaſt of my Evils: For, fuppofing I ſhould eſcape
with Life, by ſome ſtrange Adventure, how could I
think with Temper, of paſſing my Days among Ya-
boos, and relapſing into my old Corruptions, for want
of Examples to lead and keep me within the Paths of
Virtue: That, I knew too well, upon what folid Rea-
fons, all the Determinations of the wiſe Houyhnhnms
were founded, not to be ſhaken by Arguments of mine,
a miſerable Yahoo ; and therefore, after preſenting
him with my humble Thanks for the Offer of his Ser-
vants Affiftance in making a Veſſel, and defiring
reaſonable Time for ſo difficult a Work, I told him,
I would endeavour to preſerve a wretched Being; and
if ever I returned to England, was not without Hopes
of being uſeful to my own Species, by celebrating the
Praiſes of the renowned Houshnhnms, and propoſing
their Virtues to the Imitation of Mankind.
My Maſter in a few Words, made me a very gra-
cious Reply, allowed me the Space of two Months to
finiſh my Boat ; and ordered the Sorrel Nag, my
Fellow-
VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS.
Fellow-Servant, (for fo at this Diſtance I may pre-
fume to call him) to follow my Inſtructions, becauſe I
told my Mafter that his Help would be ſufficient, and
I knew he had a Tenderneſs for me.
In his Company, my firft Buſineſs was to go to that
Part of the Coat where my rebellious Crew had or
dered me to be ſet on Shore. I got upon a Height,
and looking on every Side into the Sea, fancied I ſaw
a fmall Hland towards the North-Eaſt; I took out my
Pocket-glaſs, and could then clearly diſtinguiſh it
about five Leagues off, as I computed ; but it appear-
ed to the Sorrel Nag to be only a blue Cloud: For,
as he had no conception of any Country befides his
own, fo he could not be as expert in diftinguiſhing re-
mote Objects at Sea, as we who ſo much converſe in
that Element.
After I had diſcovered this Iſland, I conſidered no
farther, but reſolved it fhould, if poſſible, be the first
Place of my Baniſhment, leaving the Conſequence to
I RETURNED Home, and conſulting with the Sorrel
Nag, we went into a Copſe at fome Diſtance, where
I, with my Knife, and he with a ſharp Flint faſtened
very artificially, after their Manner, to a wooden
Handle, cut down ſeveral Oak Wattles about the
Thickneſs of a Walking-ſtaff, and ſome larger Pieces,
But I ſhall not trouble the Reader with a particular
Deſcription of my own Mechanicks : Let it fuffice to
fay, that in fix Weeks Time, with the Help of the
Sorrel Nag, who performed the Parts that required
moft Labour, 1 finiſhed a sort of Indian Canoo, but
much larger, covering it with the Skins of Yahoos well
ftitched together, with Hempen Threads of my own
making. My Sail was likewiſe compoſed of the
Skins of the fame Animal; but 1 made uſe of the
youngeſt I could get, the older being too tough and
thick ; and I likewiſe provided myſelf with four Pad-
dles. I laid in a Stock of boiled Fleſh, of Rabbits
and Fowis, and took with me two Veſſels, one filled
with Milk, and the other with Water,
.
I TRIED
278
A Voyage to the HouYHNANMS.
I was
I tried my Canoo in a large Pond near my Ma-
fter's Houſe, and then corrected in it what was amiſs ;
ſtopping all the Chinks with Taboos Tallow, until I
found it ſtaunch, and able to bear me and my Freight.
And when it was as compleat as I could poſibly make
it, I had it drawn on a Carriage, very gently, by Ya-
hoos, to the Sea Side, under the Conduct of the Sorrel
.
When all was ready, and the Day came for my
Departure, I took Leave of my Maſter and Lady,
and the whole Family, mine Eyes flowing with Tears,
and my Heart quite funk with Grief; but his Honour,
out of Curioſity, and perhaps (if I may ſpeak it
without Vanity) partly out of Kindneſs, was deter-
mined to ſee me in my Canoo; and got ſeveral of his
neighbouring Friends to accompany him.
forced to wait above an Hour for the Tide, and then
obſerving the Wind very fortunately bearing towards
the Iſland, to which I intended to ſteer my Courſe, I
took a ſecond Leave of my Maſter : But, as I was
going to proſtrate myſelf to kiſs his Hoof, he did me
the Honour to raiſe it gently to my Mouth. I am not
ignorant how much I have been cenſured for mention-
ing this laft Particular. Detractors are pleaſed to think
it improbable, that ſo illuſtrious a Perſon ſhould de-
ſcend to give ſo great a Mark of Diſtinction to a Crea-
ture ſo inferior as I. Neither have I forgot how apt
ſome Travellers are to boaſt of extraordinary Favours
they have received. But, if thefe Cenfurers were
better acquainted with the noble and courteous Diſpo-
ſition of the Houyhxbnms, they would ſoon change
their Opinion.
I paid my reſpects to the reſt of the Houghnbnms
in his Honour's Campany; then, getting into my Ca-
noo, I puſhed off from Shore.
CHAP
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
279
C H A P. XỈ.
The dutbor's dangerous Voyage. He arriverb ar Newr
Holland, boping to ſettle there. Is woanded wit
an Arrow by one of the Natives. Is ſeized and.
carried by Force into a Portugueze Ship. I be great
Civilites of the Captain. The Ausbor arriveth at
England.
I
BEGAN this deſperate Voyage on February 15,
1715, at 9 o'Clock in the Morning. The Wind
was very favourable ; however, I made uſe at firſt only
of my Paddles; but confidering I fhould ſoon be weary,
and that the Wind might probably chop about, I ven-
tured to ſet up my little Sail; and thus, with the help
of the Tide, F went at the Rate of a League and a
Half an Hour, as near as I could gueſs. My Mafter
and his Friends continued on the Shore, until I was al-
moſt out of Sight ; and I often heard the Sorrel Nag
(who always loved me) crying out, Hnuy illa nyha
meiab 1aboo, Take Care of thy felf, gentle Taboo.
My Deſign was, if poſible, to diſcover ſome ſmall
Iand uninhabited, yet (officient by my Labour to fur-
niſh me with Neceſſaries of Life, which I would have
thought a greater Happineſs than to be firft Mimifler in
the politeft Court of Europe ; ſo horrible was the Idea
Fconceived of returning to live in the Society and una
der the Government of Taboos. For, in ſuch a Solm-
tude as I deſired, I could at leaſt enjoy my own
Thicughts, and refleet with Delight on the Virtnes of
thoſe inimitable Houybnbums, without any Opportunity
of degenerating into the Vices and Corruptions of
irry own Species.
Th: Reader may remember what I related when
my Crew conſpired againſt me, and confined me to my
€abbia,
into t
280 A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
.
Cabbin. How I continued there ſeveral Weeks, with-
out knowing what Courſe we took; and when I was
put aſhore in the Long-boat, how the Sailors told me
with Oaths, whether true or falſe, that they knew not
in what Part of the World we were. However, I did
then believe us to be about ten Degrees Southrard of
the Cape of good Hope, or about 45 Degrees Southern
Latitude, as I gathered from fome general Words I
overheard among them, being I ſuppoſed to the South-
Eaſt in their intended Voyage to Madagaſcar. And,
although this were but little better than Conjecture,
yet I reſolved to ſteer my Courſe Eaſtward, hoping to
reach the South-Wef Coaſt of New Holland, and per.
haps ſome ſuch Ifland as I defired, lying Weftward of
it. The Wind was full Weſ, and by fix in the Even-
ing I computed I had gone Eaſtward at leaſt eighteen
Leagues ; when I ſpied a very ſmall Iſand about half
a League off, which I ſoon reached. It was nothing
but a Rock with one Creek, naturally arched by the
Force of Tempefts. Here I put in my Canoo, and
climbing a Part of the Rock, I could plainly diſcover
Land to the Eaſt, extending from South to North. I
lay all Night in my Canoo ; and repeating
my Voyage
early in the Morning, arrived in ſeven Hours to the
South-Eaf Point of New-Holland. This confirmed
me in the Opinion I have long entertained, that the
Maps and Charts place this Country at leaſt three De-
grees more to the Eaſt than it really is; which Thought
I communicated many Years ago to my worthy Friend
Mr. Herman Moll, and gave him my Reaſons for it,
although he hath rather choſen to follow other Au-
thors.
I saw no Inhabitants in the Place where I landed ;
and being unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into
the Country. I found ſome Shell-Fiſh on the Shore,
and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a Fire, for
fear of being diſcovered by the Natives. I continued
three Days feeding on Oyſters and Limpits, to ſave
my own Proviſions; and I fortunately found a Brook
of excellent Water, which gave me great Relief,
ON
A VOYAge to the HOUY NHNMS. 281
On the fourth Day, venturing out early a little too
far, I faw twenty or thirty Natives upon a Height,
not above five hundred Yards from me. They
were
ftark naked, Men, Women and Children round a Fire,
as I could diſcover by the Smoke. One of them ſpied
me, and gave Notice to the reft; five of them advan-
ced towards me, leaving the Women and Children at
the Fire. I made what haſte I could to the Shore,
and getting into my Canoo, ſhoved off: 'The Savages
obferving me retreat, ran after me; and before I could
get far enough into the Sea; diſcharged an Arrow,
which wounded me deeply on the Infide of my left
Knee (I ſhall carry the Mark to my Grave.) I ap.
prehended the Arrow might be poiſoned ; and padling
out of the Reach of their Darts (being a calm Day) I
made a shift to fuck che Wound, and dreſs
it as well as
I could.
I was at a Loſs what to do, for I durft not return
to the fame Landing-place, but ſtood to the North,
and was forced to paddle; for the Wind, although
very gentle, was againſt me, blójving North-Well. As
I was looking about for a ſecure Landing place, I ſaw
a Sail to the North North-Eaſt, which appearing every
Minute more viſible, I was in ſome Doubt, whether
I ſhould wait for them or no; but at laſt my Detefta-
tion of the Tabop Race prevailed; and turning my Ca-
noo, I failed and paddled together to the South, and
got into the ſame Creek from whence I ſet out in the
Morning; chooſing rather to truſt myſelf among theſe
Barbarians, than live with European Yaboos, I drew
np my Canoo as cloſe as I could to the Shore, and
hid myſelf behind a Stone by the little Brook, whicb,
as I have already faid, was excellent Water.
The Ship came within half a League of this Creek,
and ſent out her long-Boat with Veſſels to take in
Ireſh Water (for the Place it feemeth was very well
khojun) but I did not obſerve it until
the Boat was al.
moſt out Shore, and it was too late to ſeek another
hiding Place.
The Seamen at their landing obſerved
moj Crnog, and rummaging it all over, eafly con-
jectured
282 A Voyage to the HovyHNHNM..
jećtured that the Owner could not be far off. Four of
them well armed ſearched every Cranny and Lurking.
hole, until at laſt'the found me flat on my Face be-
hind the Stone. They gazed a while in Admiration
at my ſtrange uncouth Dreſs, my Coat made of Skins,
my wooden ſoaled Shoes, and my furred Stockings ;
from whence, however, they concluded I was not a
Native of the Place, who all go naked. One of the
Seamen, in Portugueze, bid me riſe, and aſked, who I
was ? I underſtood that Language very well, and, get-
ting upon my Feet, ſaid, I was a poor Yahoo, baniſhed
from the Houy hnhnms, and deſired they would pleaſe
to let me depart. They admired to hear me anſwer
them in their own Tongue, and ſaw by my Complexi-
on I muſt be an European; but were at a Lofs to know
what I meant by raboos and Houybnbnms, and at the
fame Time fell a laughing at my ſtrange Tone in
Speaking, which reſembled the Neighing of a Horſe.
I trembled all the while between Fear and Hatred: I
again defired Leave to depart, and was gently moving
to my Canoo; but they laid hold on me, deſiring to
know what Country I was of? whence I caine? with
many other Queſtions. I told them, I was born in
England, from whence I came about five Years ago,
and then their Country and ours were at Peace. I
therefore hoped they would not treat me as an Ene-
my, ſince I meant them no Harm, but was a poor
Taboo, ſeeking fome deſolate place where to paſs the
Remainder of my unfortunate Life. .
When they began to talk, I thought I never heard
or ſaw any thing ſo unnatural; for it appeared to me
as monſtrous, as if a Dog or a Cow ſhould ſpeak in Eng-
land, or a raboo in Houybnbnm-Land. The honeſt
Portugueze were equally amazed at my ſtrange Dreſs,
and the odd Manner of delivering my Words, which,
however, they underſtood very well. They ſpoke to
me with great Humanity, and ſaid, they were fure
their Captain would carry me gratis to Liſbon, from
whence I might return to my own Country ; that two
of the Seamen would go back to the Ship, to inform
the
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS. 283
them very
:
the Captain of what they had ſeen, and receive his
Orders ; in the mean Time, unleſs I would give my
folemn Oath not to fly, they would ſecure me by
Force. I thought it belt to comply with their Propo-
fal. They were very curious to know my Story, but
I
gave
little Satisfa&tion; and they all con-
ječtured that my Misfortunes had impaired my Reaſon.
In two Hours the Boat, which went ioaden with Ver-
ſels of Water, returned with the Captain's Commands
to fetch me on Board. I fell on my Knees to preſerve
my Liberty ; but all was in vain, and the Men having
tied me with Cords, heared me into the Boat, from
whence I was taken into the Ship, and from thence
into the Captain's Cabbin.
His Name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very
courteous and generous Perſon ; he entreated me to
give ſome Account of myſelf ; and deſired to know
what I would eat or drink; ſaid, I ſhould be uſed as
well as himſelf, and ſpoke ſo many obliging Things,
that I wondered to find ſuch Civilities from a Yahoo.
However, I remained ſilent and ſullen ; I was ready to
faint at the very Smell of him and his Men. At laſt,
I defired ſomething to eat out of my own Canoo ; but
he ordered me a Chicken and ſome excellent Wine,
and then directed that I ſhould be put to Bed in a very
clean Cabbin. I would not undreſs my ſelf, but lay
on the Bed-cloaths ; and in half an Hour ftole out,
when I thought the Crew was at Dinner; and getting
to the Side of theShip, was going to leap into the Sea,
and ſwim for my Life, rather than continue amongra-
haos: But, one of the Seamen prevented me, and have-
ing informed the Captain, I was chained to my Cabbin.
After Dinner Don Pedro came to me, and defired
to know my Reaſon for ſo deſperate an Attempt; af-
ſured me, he only meant to do me all the Service he
was able ; and ſpoke ſo very movingly, that at laſt I
deſcended to treat him like an Animal which had ſome
little Portion of Reaſon. I gave him a very ſhort Re-
lation of my Voyage; of the Conſpiracy againſt me
by my own Men; of the Country where they let me
on
284 A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
on Shore, and of my five Years Reſidence there. All
which he looked upon as if it were a Dream or a Vifi-
on; whereat I took great Offence: For I had quite
forgot the Faculty of Lying, ſo peculiar to Yahoos in
all Countries where they prefide, and conſequently the
Diſpoſition of ſuſpecting Truth in others of their own
Species. I aſked him, Whether it were the Cuſtom
of his Country to ſay the Thing that was not ? I aſſured
him I had almoſt forgot what he meant by Falſhood ;
and if I had lived a thouſand Years in Houyhnhum. Land,
I ſhould never have heard a Lye from the meaneſt Ser-
vant : That, I was altogether indifferent whether he
believed me or no; but however, in return for his Fa-
vours, I would give ſo much Allowance to the Cor-
ruption of his Nature, as to anſwer any Objection he
would pleaſe to make ; and he might eaſily diſcover
the Truth.
The Captain, a wiſe Man, after many Endeavours to
catch me tripping in ſome Part of my Story, at laſt be-
gan to have a better Opinion of my Veracity. But
he added, that ſince I profeſſed ſo inviolable an At-
tachment to Truth, I muſt give my Word of Ho.
nour to bear him Company in this Voyage, without at-
tempting any thing againſt my Life; or elfe he would
continue me a Priſoner until we arrived at Liſoon. I
gave him the Promiſe he required; but at the ſame
time proteſted, that I would ſuffer the greateſt Hard-
fhips rather than return to live among Yahoos.
Our Voyage paffed without any confiderable Ac-
cident. In Gratitude to the Captain, I ſometimes
fate with him at his earneſt Requeſt, and ſtrove to
conceal my Antipathy againſt human Kind, although it
often broke out ; which he ſuffered to paſs without
Obſervation. But the greateſt Part of the Day, I con-
fined myſelf to my Cabbin, to avoid ſeeing any of the
Crew. The Captain had often intreated me to ſtrip
myſelf of my favage Dreſs, and offered to lend me the
beft Suit of Cloaths he had. This I would not be pre-
vailed on to accept, abhorring to cover myſelf with
any thing that had been on the back of a Yahoo. I
only
A VOYAGE to the HouYHNHNMS. 285
only deſired he would lend me two clean Shirts, which
having been waſhed ſince he wore them, I believed
would
not ſo much defile me. Theſe I changed every
ſecond Day, and waſhed them myſelf.
We arrived at Liſbon Nov. s. 1715. At our Land-
ing the Captain forced me to cover myſelf with his
Cloak, to prevent the Rabble from crouding about me.
I was conveyed
to his own Houſe ; and, at my earneſt
Requeft, he led me up to the higheſt Room backwards.
I conjured him to conceal from all Perſons what I had
told him of the Houybnbnms; becauſe the leaſt Hint
of fach a Story, would not only draw Numbers of Peo-
ple to ſee me, but probably put me in Danger of being
impriſoned, or burnt by the Inquiſition. The Captain
perſwaded me to accept a Suit of Cloaths newly made;
but I would not ſuffer the Taylor to take my Meaſure;
however, Don Pedro being almoſt of my Size, they
fitted me well enough. He accoutred me with other
Neceffaries all new, which I aired for Twenty-four
Hours before I would uſe them.
The Captain had no Wife, nor above three Servants,
none of which were ſuffered to attend at Meals ; and
his whole Deportment was fo obliging, added to very
good human Únderſtanding, that I really began to to-
lerate his Company. He gained ſo far upon me, that
I ventured to look out of the back Window. By De-
grees I was brought into another Room, from whence
I peeped into the Street, but drew my Head back in a
Fright. In a Week's Time he ſeduced me down to
the Door. I found my Terror gradually leſſened, but
my Hatred and Contempt ſeemed to increaſe. I was
at laſt bold enough to walk the Street in his Company,
but kept my Noſe well ſtopped with Rue, or ſometimes
with Tobacco.
In ten Days, Don Pedro, to whom I had given
ſome Account of my domeſtick Affairs, put it upon me
as a Point of Honour and Conſcience, that I ought to
return to my native Country, and live at home with my
Wife and Children. He told me, there was an En-
gliſh Ship in the Port juſt ready to fail, and he would
furnish
8
286
A Voyage to the Hou YnNHNMs.
furniſh me with all Things neceſſary. It would be te-
dious to repeat his Arguments, and my Contradi&tions.
He ſaid it was altogether impoſſible to find ſuch a ſoli-
tary Iſland as I had deſired to live in ; but I might
command in my own Houſe, and paſs my Time in a
Manner as recluſe as I pleaſed.
I complied at laſt, finding I could not do better.
I left Liſbon the 24th Day of November, in an Engliſh
Merchant-man, but who was the Maſter I never in-
quired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the Ship, and
lent me Twenty Pounds. He took kind Leave of me,
and embraced me at parting ; which I bore as well as
I could. During this laſt Voyage, I had no Com-
merce with the Maſter, or any of his Men ; but pre-
tending I was fick, kept cloſe in my Cabbin. On the
fifth of December, 1715,
we caft Anchor in the Downs
about nine in the Morning, and at three in the After-
noon I got ſafe to my Houſe at Redrif
My Wife and Family received me with great Sur-
prize and Joy, becauſe they concluded me certainly
dead; but I muſt freely confeſs, the Sight of them fil-
led me only with Hatred, Diſguſt and Contempt; and
the more, by reflecting on the near Alliance I had to
them. For although, fince my unfortunate Exile from
the Houybnham Country, I had compelled myſelf to
tolerate the Sight of Taboos, and to converſe with
Don Pedro de Mendez, yet my Memory and Imagina-
tion were perpetually filled with the Virtues and
Ideas of thoſe exalted Hoxyhnhnms. And, when I
began to confider, that by copulating with one of the
Yahoo Species, I had become a Parent of more ; it
ſtruck me with the utmoſt Shame, Confuſion and
Horror.
As ſoon as I entered the Houſe, my Wife took me
in her Arms, and kiſſed me; at which, having not
been uſed to the Touch of that odious Animal for ſo
many Years, I fell in a Swoon for almoſt an Hour.
At the Time I am writing, it is five Years fince my
laſt return to England: During the firft Year I could
not endure
my Wife or Children in my Preſence, the
very
A VOYAGE to the HOUYUNHNMS. 287
very Smell of them was intolerable; much leſs could
I ſuffer them to eat in the ſame Room. To this
Hour they dare not preſume to touch my Bread, or
drink out of the ſame Cup; neither was I ever able to
let one of them take me by the Hand. The firſt Mo-
ney I laid out was to buy two young Stone-Horſes,
which I kept in a good Stable, and next to them the
Groom is my greateft Favourite ; for I feel my Spirits
revived by the Smell he contracteth in the Stable. My
Horſes underſtand me tolerably well ; I converſe with
them at leaſt four Hours every Day. They are Stran-
gers to Bridle or Saddle ; they live in great Amity with
me, and Friendſhip to each other.
CH A P. XII.
The Author's Veracity. His Deſign in publiſhing this
Work. His Cenſure of thoſe Travellers who ſwerve
from the Truth. The Author cleareth himſelf from a-
ny finifler Ends in writing. An Objetion anſwered.
The Method of planting Colonies. His Native Coun-
try commended. The Right of the Crown, to thoſe
Countries deſcribed by the Author, is juflified. The
Difficulty of conquering them. The Author taketh his
laft Leave of the Reader ; propoſeth his Manner of
Living for the future ; giveth good Advice, and con-
cludeth.
THUS, gentle Reader, I have given thee a faithful
Hiſtory of my Travels for Sixteen Years and a-
bove Seven Months; wherein I have not been ſo ftu-
dious of Ornament as of Truth. I could perhaps, like
others, have aſtoniſhed thee with ſtrange improbable
Tales; but I rather choſe to relate plain Matter of
Fact in the ſimpleſt Manner and Style ; becauſe my
principal Deſign was to inform, and not to amuſe thee.
It is eaſy for us who travel into remote Countries,
which are feldom viſited by Engliſhmen or other Ex-
ropeans,
I
288
A Voyage to the HovyHNHNMS.
ropeans, to form Deſcriptions of wonderful Animals
both at Sea and Land. Whereas, a Traveller's chief
Aim ſhould be to make Men wiſer and better, and to
improve their Minds by the bad, as well as good Ex-
ample of what they deliver concerning foreign Places.
I could heartily wiſh a Law were enacted, that e.
very Traveller, before he were permitted to publiſh
his Voyages, ſhould be obliged to make Oath before
the Lord High Chancellor, that all he intended to print
was abſolutely true to the beſt of his Knowledge; for,
then the World would no longer be deceived, as it
uſually is, while ſome Writers, to make their Works
paſs the better upon the Publick, impoſe the groffeſt
Falfities on the unwary Reader, I have peruſed ſeve.
ral Books of Travels with great Delight in my youn-
ger Days; but, having ſince gone over moft Parts of
the Globe, and been able to contradi&t many fabulous
Accounts from my own Obſervation ; it hath given me
great Diſguſt againſt this part of Reading, and ſome
Indignation, to ſee the Credulity of Mankind ſo impu-
dently abuſed. Therefore, fince my Acquaintance
were pleaſed to think my poor Endeavours might not
be unacceptable to my Country ; I impoſed on my felf
as a Maxim, never to be ſwerved from, that I would
frietly adhere to Truth ; neither indeed can I be ever
under the leaſt Temptation to vary from it, while I
retain in my Mind the Lectures and Example of my
noble Maſter, and the other illuftrious Houy hnhnms, of
whom I had ſo long the Honour to be an humble
Hearer.
Nec ſi miſerum Fortuna Sinonem
Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba
finget.
I know very well, how little Reputation is to be
got by Writings, which require neither Genius nor
Learning, nor indeed any other Talent, except a good
Memory, or an exact Journal. I know likewiſe, that
Writers of Travels, like Diktionary-Makers, are funk
into
C
A Voyage to the HOU YHNHNMS. 289
into Oblivion by the Weight and Bulk of thoſe who
come laft, and therefore lie uppermoft. And it is high-
ly probable, that ſuch Travellers who ſhall hereafter
viſit the Countries deſcribed in this Work of mine,
may, by detecting my Errors (if there be any) and ad
ding many new Diſcoveries of their own, joſtle me out
of Vogue, and ſtand in my Place; making the World
forget that ever I was an Author. This indeed would
be two great a Mortification if I wrote for Fame: But,
as my fole Intention was the PUBLICK GOOD, I can-
not be altogether diſappointed. For, who can read the
Virtues I have mentioned in the glorious Houyhnhnms,
without being aſhamed of his own Vices, when he
confidereth himſelf as the reaſoning, governing Animal
of his Country? I ſhall ſay nothing of thoſe remote
Nations where Yahoos preſide; amongſt which the leaſt
corrupted are the Brobdingnagians, whoſe wife Maxims
in Morality and Government it would be our Hap-
pineſs to obſerve. But, I forbear deſcanting further,
and rather leave the judicious Reader to his own Re-
marks and Applications.
I am not a little pleaſed, that this work of mine can
poſſibly meet with no Cenſurers : For what Objections
can be made againſt a Writer who relateth only plain
Facts, that happened in ſuch diſtant Countries, where
we have not the leaſt Intereſt with reſpect either to
Trade or Negotiations ? I have carefully avoided every
Fault with which common Writers of Travels are
often too juftly charged. Beſides, I meddle not the
leaſt with any Party, but write without Paſſion, Preju-
dice, or ill Will againſt any Man or Number of Men
whatſoever. I write for the nobleſt End, to inform
and inſtruct Mankind, over whom I may, without
Breach of Modeſty, pretend to ſome Superiority, from
the Advantages I received by converſing ſo long among
the moſt accompliſhed Houyhnhnms. I write without
any View towards Profit or Praiſe. I never ſuffer
a Word to paſs that may look like Reflection,
or poſſibly give the leaſt Offence, even to thoſe who
are moſt ready to take it. So that, I hope, I may
Vol. III.
with
290
A VOYAGE to the HOUYINHNMS.
with Juſtice pronounce myſelf an Author perfe&ly
blameleſs; againſt whom the Tribe of Anſwerers, Con-
fiderers, Obſervers, Reflecters, Detecters, Remarkers,
will never be able to find Matter for exerciſing their
Talents.
I confess it was whiſpered to me, that I was bound
in Duty as a Subject of England, to have given in a
Memorial to a Secretary of State, at my firſt coming
over ; becauſe whatever Lands are diſcovered by a
Subject belong to the Crown. But, I doubt, whether
our Conqueſts in the Countries I treat of, would be as
eaſy as thoſe of Ferdinando Cortez over the naked A-
mericans. The Lilliputians, I think, are hardly worth
the Charge of a Fleet and Army to reduce them; and,
I queſtion whether, it might be prudent or ſafe to at-
tempt the Brobdingnagians : Or, whether an Engliſh
Army would be much at their Eaſe with the Flying
Mand over their Heads. The Houybnhnms, indeed,
appear not to be fo well prepared for War, a Science
to which they are perfect Strangers, and eſpecially
againſt miffive Weapons. However, ſuppoſing myſelf
to be a Miniſter of State, I could never give my Ad-
vice for invading them. Their Prudence, Unanimity,
Unacquaintedneſs with Fear, and their Love of their
Country, would amply fupply all Defects in the mili-
tary Art. Imagine twenty thouſand of them breaking
into the Midſt of an European Army, confounding the
Ranks, overturning the Carriages, battering the Warri-
ors Faces into Mummy, by terrible Yerks from their
hinder Hoofs: For they would well deſerve the Cha-
facter given to Auguflus : Recalcitrat undique tutus.
But inſtead of Propoſals for conquering that magna-
nimous Nation, I rather wiſh they were in a Capacity
or Diſpoſition to ſend a ſufficient Number of their In-
habitants for civilizing Europe ; by teaching us the fire
Principles of Honour, Juſtice, Truth, Temperance,
publick Spirit, Fortitude, Chaſtity, Friendſhip, Bene-
volence and Fidelity. The Names of all which Virtues
are ſtill retained among us in moſt Languages, and are
to be met with in modern as well as ancient Authors ;
which I am able to affert from my own ſmall Reading.
But,
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
291
.
But, I had another Reaſon which made me leſs for
ward to enlarge his Majeſty's Dominions by my Diſco-
veries: To ſay the Truth, I had conceived a few Scru-
ples with relation to the diſtributive Juſtice of Princes
upon thoſe Occaſions. For inſtance, a Crew of Pyrates
are driven by a Storm they know not whither; at
length a Boy diſcovers Land from the Top-maft; they
go on Shore to rob and plunder ; they fee an harmleſs
People, are entertained with Kindneſs, they give the
Country a new Name, they take formal Poffeflion of
it, for the King, they ſet up a rotten Plank or a Stone
for a Memorial, they murder two or three Dozen of
the Natives, bring away a Couple more by Force for
a Sample, return Home, and get their Pardon. Here
commenceth a new Dominion acquired with a Title
by Divine Right. Ships are ſent with the firſt Oppor-
tunity, the Natives driven out or deſtroyed, their Prin-
ces tortured to diſcover their Gold; a free Licence
given to all Acts of Inhumanity and Luft; the Earth
reeking with the Blood of its Inhabitants : And this ex-
ecrable Crew of Butcher's employed in ſo pious an Ex-
pedition, is a Modern Colony ſent to convert and civi.
lize an idolatrous and barbarous People.
But this Defcription, I confeſs, doth by no means
affe&t the Britiſh Nation, who may be an Example to
the whole World for their Wiſdom, Care, and Juſtice
in planting Colonies; the liberal Endowments for the
Advancement of Religion and Learning ; their Choice
of devout and able Paſtors to propagate Cbriftianity;
their Caution in ſtocking their Provinces with People
of ſober Lives and Converſations from this the Mother
Kingdom; their ſtrict Regard to the Diſtribution of
Juſtice, in ſupplying the Civil Adminiſtration through
all their Colonies with Officers of the greateſt Abilities,
utter Strangers to Corruption : And, to crown all, by
fending the moft vigilant and virtuous Governors,
who have no other Views than the Happineſs of the
People over whom they preſide, and the Honour of
the King their Maſter,
02
But,
292
A Voyage to the HOUYHNHNMS.
But, as thoſe Countries which I have deſcribed do
not appear to have a Deſire of being conquered and
enſlaved, murdered, or driven out by Colonies; nor
abound either in Gold, Silver, Sugar, or Tobacco ; I
did humbly conceive they were by no Means proper
Objects of our Zeal, our Valour, or our Intereſt.
However, if thoſe whom it may concern, think fit to
be of another Opinion, I am ready to depoſe, when
I ſhall be lawfully called, That no European did ever
viſit theſe Countries before me. I mean, if the Inha
bitants ought to be believed.
But, as to the Formality of taking Poffeffion in my
Sovereign's Name, it never came once into my
Thoughts; and, if it had, yet as my Affairs then ſtood,
I ſhould perhaps, in point of Prudence and Self- Preſer-
vation have put it off to a better Opportunity.
Having thus anſwered the only Objection that can
be raiſed againſt me as a Traveller : I here take a final
Leave of my courteous Readers, and return to enjoy
my own Speculations in my little Garden at Redrif";
to apply thoſe excellent Leſſons of Virtue, which I
learned among the Houyhnhnms; to inſtruct the Yahoos
of my own Family, as far as I ſhall find them docible
Animals; to behold my Figure often in a Glaſs, and
thus, if poſſible, habituate myſelf by Time to tolerate
the Sight of a human Creature : To lament the Bru-
tality of Houybnbnms in my own Country, but always
treat their Perſons with Reſpect, for the sake of my
noble Maſter, his Family, his Friends, and the whole
Houyhnbnm Race, whom theſe of ours have the Honour
to reſemble in all their Lineaments, however their
Intellectuals came to degenerate.
I began laſt Week to permit my Wife to fit at Din-
ner with me, at the fartheſt End of a long Table ; and
to anſwer (but with the utmoſt Brevity) the few Queſ-
tions I aſked her. Yet the Smell of a Yahoo continue-
ing very offenſive, I always keep my Noſe well ſtopt
with Rue, Lavender, or Tobacco. Leaves. And, al-
though it be hard for a Man late in Life to remove old
Habits ; I am not altogether out of Hopes in ſome
Time
A VOYAGE to the HOUYHNHNMS.
293
Time to ſuffer a Neighbour Yahoo in my Company,
without the Apprehenſions I am yet under of his
Teeth or his Claws.
My Reconcilement to the Yahoo Kind in general
might not be ſo difficult, if they would be content with
thoſe Vices and Follies only which Nature hath entitled
them to. I am not in the leaſt provoked at the Sight
of a Lawyer, a Pick-pocket, a Colonel, a Fool, a Lord,
a Gameſter, a Politician, a Whoremonger, a Phyſician,
an Evidence, a Suborner, an Attorney, a Traitor, or
the Like : This is all according to the due Courſe of
Things : But, when I behold a Lump of Deformity
and Diſeaſes, both in Body and Mind, fmitten with
Pride, it immediately breaketh all the Meaſures of my
Patience; neither ſhall I be ever able to comprehend
how fuch an Animal and ſuch a Vice could tally to-
gether. The wife and virtuous Houyhnhnms, who a-
bound in all Excellencies that can adorn a rational
Creature, have no Name for this Vice in their Lan-
guage, which hath no Terms to expreſs any thing that
is evil, except thoſe whereby they deſcribe the deteſta-
ble Qualities of their Yahoos ; among which they were
not able to diſtinguiſh this of Pride, for want of
thoroughly underſtanding Human Nature, as it ſhews
it felf in other Countries, where that Animal pre-
fides. But I, who had more Experience, could plainly
obſerve ſome Rudiments of it among the wild
Yahoas.
But the Houyhnhnms, who live under the Govern-
ment of Reaſon, are no more proud of the good Quali-
ties they poſſeſs, than I ſhould be for not wanting a Leg
or an Arm, which no Man in his Wits would boaſt of,
although he muſt be miſerable without them. I dwell
the longer upon this Subject from the Deſire I have to
make the Society of an Engliſh raboo by any Means
not inſupportable , and therefore I here entreat thoſe
who have any Tincture of this abſurd Vice, that they
will not preſume to appear in my Sight.
T IN S.
The
( 294 )
The three following Poems were written, as we are
informed, by Doctor Arbuthnot, Mr. Pope, and
Mr. Gay.
TO
QUINBUS FLESTRIN,
THE
M AN-MOUNTAIN.
А
LILLIPUTIAN ODE.
IN
IN Amaze
Loft, I gaze.
Can oar Eyes
Reach thy Size!
May my Lays
Swell with Praiſe,
Worthy thee!
Worthy me !
Maſe inſpire,
All thy Fire !
Bards of old
Of him told,
When they ſaid
Atlas Head
Propt the Skies:
See! and believe your Eyes !
See
( 295 )
II.
See him ftride
Valleys wide:
Over Woods,
Over Floods.
When he treads,
Mountains Heads
Groan and ſhake :
Armies quake,
Left his Spurn
Overturn
Man and Steed :
Troops take heed!
Left and Right,
Speed your Flight!
Left an Hoſt
Beneath his Foot be loſt.
III.
Turn'd aſide
From his Hide,
Safe from Wound
Darts rebound.
From his Noſe
Clouds he blows:
When he ſpeaks,
Thunder breaks!
When he eats,
Famine threats !
When he drinks,
Neptune ſhrinks !
Nigh thy Ear,
In Mid-Air,
On thy Hand,
Let me ſtand;
So ſhall I
Lofty Poet! touch the Sky.
THE
(296)
THE
LAMENTATION
OF
Glumdalclitch for the Loſs of Grildrig.
A PASTOR A L.
.
OON as Glumdalclitch miſs'd her pleaſing Care,
She wept, ſhe blabber'd, and ſhe tore her Hair.
No Britiſh Miſs fincerer Grief has known,
Her Squirrel miſſing, or her Sparrow flown.
She furld her Sampler, and barula in her Thread,
And ſtuck her Needle into Grillrig's Bed ;
Then ſpread her Hands, and with a Bounce let fall
Her Baby, like the Giant in Guildhall.
In Peals of Thunder now ſhe roars, and now
She gently whimpers like a lowing Cow :
Yet lovely in her Sorrow ſtill appears :
Her Locks diſhevell’d, and her Flood of Tears
Seem like the lofty Barn of fome rich Swain,
When from the Thatch drips faſt a Show'r of Rain.
In vain ſhe ſearch'd each Cranny of the Houſe,
Each gaping Chink impervious to a Mouſe.
* Was it for this (ſhe cry'd) with daily Care,
Within thy Reach I ſet the Vinegar?
• And
( 297 )
<
And fill'd the Cruet with the acid Tide,
• While Pepper-Water Worms thy Bait ſupply'd;
Where twin'd the Silver Eel around thy Hook,
And all the little Monſters of the Brook.
Sure in that Lake he dropt : My Grilly's drown'd,
She dragg’d the Cruet, but no Grildrig found.
• Vain is thy Courage, Grilly, vain thy Boaſt:
* But little Creatures enterprize the mok.
• Trembling, I've ſeen thee dare the Kitten's Paw,
• Nay, mix with Children, as they play'd at Taw,
• Nor fear the Marbles, as they bounding flew :
Marbles to them, but rolling Rocks to you.
Why did I truft thee with that giddy Youth ?
Who from a Page can ever learn the Truth?
• Vers'd in Court-Tricks, that Money-loving Boy,
• To fome Lord's Daughter fold the living Toy:
« Or rent him Limb from Limb in cruel Play,
• As Children tear the Wings of Flies away.
• From Place to Place o'er Brobdingnag I'll roam,
And never will return, or bring thee home.
But who hath Eyes to trace the paſſing Wind
How then, thy fairy Footſtepts can I find ?
• Doft thou bewilderd wander all alone,
In the green Thicket of a moffy Stone,
Or tumbled from the Toadſtool's flipp'ry Round,
Perhaps all maim'd, lie grov'ling on the Ground !
Doſt thou, imbofom'd in the lovely Roſe,
• Or funk within the Peach's Down, repoſe?
• Within the King-Cup if thy Limbs are ſpread,
• Or in the golden Cowſlip's Velvet Head,
• O fhew me, Flora, 'midſt thoſe Sweets, the Flow'r
• Where ſleeps my Grildrig in his fragrant Bow'r.
• But ah! I fear thy little Fancy roves
' On little Females, and on little Loves ;
• Thy pigmy Children, and thy tiny Spouſe,
· The Baby Play-things that adorn thy Houſe,
• Doors,
( 298)
Doors, Windows, Chimneys, and the ſpacious Rooms,
Equal in Size to Cells of Honeycombs.
* Hâit thou for theſe now ventur'd from the Shore,
• Thy Bark a Bean-fhell, and a Straw thy Oar?
Or, in thy Box, now bounding on the Main
• Shall I ne'er bear thy ſelf and Houſe again?
• And ſhall I ſet thee on my Hand no more,
• To ſee thee leap the Lines, and traverſe o'er
My ſpacious Palm ? of Stature ſcarce a Span,
Mimick the Actions of a real Man?
No more behold thee turn my Watch's Key,
* As Seamen at a Capſtern Anchors weigh?
• How wert thon wont to walk with cautious Tread,
• A Diſh of Tea like Milk-Pail on thy Head ?
• How chaſe the Mite that bore thy Cheeſe away,
. And kept the rolling Maggot at a Bay ?
She ſaid ; but broken Accents ſtopt her Voice,
Soft as the Speaking-Trumpet's mellow Noiſe:
She fobb’d a Storm, and wip'd her flowing Eyes,
Which ſeem'd like two broad Suns in mifty Skies :
O! ſquander not thy Grief ; thoſe Tears command
To weep upon our Cod in Newfoundland:
The plenteous Pickle ſhall preſerve the Fiſh,
And Europe taſte thy Sorrows in her Diſh.
MARY
( 299 )
MARY GULLIVER,
:
TO
Capt. LEMUEL GULLIVER,
ARGUMENT
The Captain fome time after his Return, being retired
10 Mr. Sympſon's in the Country, Mrs. Gulliver,
apprehending from his late Behaviour fome Efrange-
ment of his Affections, writes him the following
expoftulating, footbing, and tenderly-complaining
EPISTLE.
WELC
ELCOME, thrice welcome, to thy native Place!
What, touch me notWhat ſhun a
Wife's Embrace ?
Have I for this thy tedious Abſence borne,
And wak’d, and wiſh'd whole Nights for thy Return?
In five long Years I took no fecond Spouſe
What Redrif Wife ſo long hath kept her Vows
Your Eyes, your Noſe, Inconſtancy betray ;
Your Nore you ſtop, your Eyes you turn away.
'Tis ſaid, thatthou ſhouldīt cleave unto thy Wife
Once thou didit cleave, and I could cleave for Life.
Hear,
( 300 )
Hear, and relent! hark, how thy Children moan :
Be kind at leaſt to theſe, they are thy own;
Be bold, and count them all; ſecure to find
The honeſt Number that you left behind.
See how they pat thee with their pretty Paws :
Why ſtart you, are they Snakes? or have they Claws ?
Thy Chriſtian Seed, our mutual Fleſh and Bone:
Be kind at leaſt to theſe, they are thy own.
* BIDDEL, like thee, might fartheſt India rove;
He chang'd his Country, but retain'd his Love.
There's Captain Pannel, abſent half his Life,
Comes back, and is the kinder to his Wife.
Yet Pannel's Wife is brown, compar'd to me,
And Miſtrefs Biddel fure is Fifty-three.
Not touch me! never Neighbour call'd me Slut
Was Flimnap's Dame more ſweet in Lilliput?
I've no red Hair to breathe an odious Fume
At leaſt thy Conſort's cleaner than thy Groom.
Why then that dirty Stable-boy thy Care ?
What mean thoſe Viſits to the Sorrel Mare 2
Say, by what Witchcraft, or what Dæmon led,
Preferr's thou Litter to the Marriage Bed ?
itter to
Some ſay, the Dev'l himſelf is in that Mare :
If ſo, our Dean ſhall drive him forth by Prayer.
Some think you mad, fome think you are poffeft,
That Bedlam and clean Straw would ſuit you beſt
Vain Means, alas, this Frenzy to appeaſe!
That Straw, that Straw would heighten the Diſeaſe.
My Bed (the Scene of all our former Joys,
Witneſs two lovely Girls, two lovely Boys)
Alone I preſs ; in Dreams I call my Dear,
I ſtretch my Hand, no Gulliver is there!
I wake, I riſe, and ſhiv’ring with the Froſt,
Search all the Houſe my Gulliver is loft !
Forth
* Names of Sea Captains mentioned in Gulliver's Travels.
(301)
Forth in the Street I ruſh with frantick Cries ;
The Windows open ; all the Neigbours riſe:
Where ſleeps my Gulliver ? O tell me where !
The Neighbours anſwer, • With the Sorrel Mare.
Ar early Morn, I to the Market haſte,
(Studious in ev'ry Thing to pleaſe thy Taſte ;)
A curious Foul and Sparragraſs I choſe,
(For I remember'd you were fond of thoſe,)
Three Shillings coſt the firſt, the laſt ſev’n Groats
Sullen you turn from both, and call for Oats.
Others bring Goods and Treaſure to their Houſes,
Something to deck their pretty Babes and Spouſes ;
My only Token was a Cup like Horn,
That's made of nothing but a Lady's Corn.
'Tis not for that I grieve ; no, 'tis to ſee
The Groom and Sorrel Mare preferr'd to me;
These, for ſome Moments when you deign to quit,
And (at due Diſtance) fweet Diſcourſe admit,
'Tis all my Pleaſure thy paft Toil to know,
For pleas' Remembrance builds Delight on Woe:
At ev'ry Danger pants thy Conſort's Breaſt,
And gaping Infants ſquawl to hear the reſt.
How
did I tremble, when by Thouſands bound,
I ſaw thee ſtretch'd on Lilliputian Ground;
When ſcaling Armies climb'd up ev'ry Part;
Each Step they trod, I felt upon my Heart.
But when thy Torrent quench'd the dreadful Blaze,
King, Queen, and Nation, ſtaring with Amaze,
Full in my View how all my Huſband came,
And what extinguiſh'd theirs, encreas'd my Flame.
Thoſe Spectacles, ordain'd thine Eyes to ſave ;
Were once my Preſent; Love that Armour gave.
How did I mourn at Bolgolam's Decree!
For when he fign'd thy Death, he ſentenc'd me.
When Folks might ſee thee all the Country round
For Sixpence, I'd have giv'n a Thouſand Pound.
Lord
( 302
)
::
?
Lord; when the Giant-Babe that Head of thine
Got in his Mouth, my Heart was up in mine!
When in the Marrow-Bone I ſee thee ram'd,
Or, on the Houſe-top, by the Monkey cram'd ;
The piteous Images renew my Pain,
And all thy Dangers I weep o'er again.
But on the Maiden's Nipple when you rid,
Pray Heav'n 'twas all a wanton Maiden did!
Glumdalelitchtoo! with thee I mourn her Caſey
O may the King that one Neglect forgive,
And pardon her the Fault by which I live!
Was there no other way to ſet him free?
My Life, alas ! I fear prov'd Death to thee.
s!
OTEACH me, Dear, new Words to ſpeak my Flame!
Teach me to wooe thee by thy beſt lov'd Name!
Whether the Style of Grildrig pleaſe thee moft,
So callid on Brobding rag's ftupendous Coaft,
When on the Monarch's ample Hand you ſate,
And halloo'd in his Ears Intrigues of State :
Or Quinbus Fleſtrin more Endearment brings,
When like a Mountain you look'd down on Kings
If Ducal Nardar, Lilliputian Peer,
Or Glumglum's humbler Title ſooth thy Ear;
Nay, would kind Yove my Organs ſo diſpoſe,
To hymn harmonious Honylonbass thro the Noſe,
I'd call thee Houybnbnm, that high founding Name,
Thy Childrens Noſes all ſhould twang
the ſame.
So might I find my loving Spouſe of Courſe
Endu'd with all the Virtues of a Horje.
The End of the Third VOLUMI.
Advertiſement.
C
APTAIN GULLIVER's Letter to
Mr. SYMPSON, prefixed to this Volume,
will make a long Advertiſement unneceſary.
Tboſe Interpolations complained of by the Cap-
tain, were made by a Perſon ſince deceaſed,
on whoſe Judgment the Publiſher relied, to
make any Alterations that might be thought
neceſſary. But this Perſon, not rightly com-
prchending the Scheme of the Author, nor
able to imitate
his plain,
ſimple Style, thought
fir, among many other Alterations and Inſer-
tions, to compliment the Memory of ber late
Majeſty, by ſaying, That ſhe governed
without a Chief Miniſter. We are aſſured,
that the Copy ſent to the Bookſeller in Lon-
don, was a Tranſcript of the Original, which
Original being in the
PoDefion of a very wor-
tby Gentleman in London, and a moſt inti-
mate Friend of the Author's ; after be bad
bought the Book in Sheets, and compared iz
with the Original, bound it up with blank
Leaves, and made thoſe Corrections, which
the Reader will find in our Edition : For, the
fame Gentleman did us the Favour to let us
tranſcribe bis Corre&tions.
LETTER
A
L E T T E R
FROM
Captain GULL I V E R
TO HIS
Couſin S Y MPSON.
I
HOPE, you will be ready to own publickly.
whenever you ſhall be called to it, that by your
great and frequent Urgency, you prevailed on
me to publiſh a very looſe and uncorrect Account of
my Travels ; with Dire&tions to hire ſome young
Gentlemen of either Univerſity to put them in order.
and corre& the Style, as my Coufin Dampier did, by
my Advice, in his Book called, A Voyage round the
World. But, I do not remember I gave you Power to
conſent, that any thing ſhould be omitted, and much
leſs, that any thing ſhould be inſerted : Therefore, as
ii 1 Letter from Capt. GULLIVER
to the latter, I do here renounce every thing of that
Kind ; particularly a Paragraph about Her Majeſty the
late Queen Anne, of moll pious and glorious Memo.
ry ; although I did reverence and eſteem her more than
any of human Species But you, or your Interpolator,
ought to have confidered, that as it was not my Incli-
nation, ſo was it not decent to praiſe any Animal of
our Compoſition before
my Maſter Houpinhum : And
beſides, the fact was altogether falſe; for to my Know-
ledge, being in England during fome Part of her Ma-
jeſty'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 Ox-
ford; ſo that you have made me ſay the thing which was
not. Likewiſe, in the Account of the Academy of Pro-
jectors, and ſeveral Paſſages of my Diſcourſe to my
Maſter Houybnbnm, you have either omitted ſome ma-
terial Circumſtances, or minced or changed them in
ſuch a Manner, that I do hardly know mine own
Work. When I formerly hinted to you ſomething of
this in a Letter, you were pleaſed to anſwer, that
you were afraid of giving Offence ; that People in
Power were very watchful over the Preſs; and apt not
only to interpret, but to puniſh everything which
looked like an Innuendo (as I think you called it). But
pray, how could that which I ſpoke ſo many Years
ago, and at above five thouſand Leagues diſtance, in
another Reign, be applied to any of the Yaboos, who
now are ſaid to govern the Herd ; eſpecially at a time
when I little thought on, or feared the Unhappineſs of
living under them. Have not I the moſt Reaſon to
complain when I ſee theſe very Yabos carried by
Houyhnbnms in a Vehicle, as if theſe were Brutes and
thoſe the rational Creatures : And, indeed, to avoid
fo monſtrous and deteftable a Si_ht, was one principal
Motive of my Retirernent hither,
Thus much I thought proper to tell you in Rela-
tion 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 In-
treaties
to his Couſin SYMPSON.
treaties and falſe Reaſonings of you and fome others,
very much againſt mine own Opinion, to ſuffer my
Travels to be publiſhed. Pray bring to your Mind,
how often I deſired you to conſider, when you inſiſted
on the Motive of publick Good; that the Yahoos were
a Species of Animals utterly incapable of Amendment
by Precepts or Examples: And ſo it hath proved; for,
inſtead of ſeeing a full Stop put to all Abuſes and
Corruptions, at leaſt, in this little and, as I had Rea-
ſon to expect : Behold, after above fix Months Warn-
ing, I cannot learn, that my Book hath produced
one
fingle Effect according to mine Intentions ; I defired
you would but let me know by a Letter, when Party
and Faction were extinguiſhed ; Judges learned and
upright; Pleaders honeſt and modeft, with
ſome Tinc-
ture of common Senſe ; and Smithfield blazing with
Pyramids of Law-Books; the young Nobility's Edu-
cation entirely changed ; the Phyſicians baniſhed;
the
Female Yaboos abounding in Virtue, Honour, Truth
and good Senſe'; Courts and Levees of great Miniſters
thoroughly weeded and ſwept; Wit, Merit and Learn-
ing rewarded; all Diſgracers of the Preſs in Proſe and
Verſe condemned to eat nothing but their own Cot-
ton, and quench their Thirſt with their own Ink.
Theſe, and a Thouſand other Reformations, I firmly
counted upon by your Encouragement; as indeed they
were plainly deducible from the Precepts delivered in
my Book. And it muſt be owned, that ſeven Months
were a ſufficient Time to correct every Vice and Folly
to which Yahoos are ſubject, if their Natures had been
capable of the leaſt Diſpoſition to Virtue or Wiſdom:
Yet ſo far have you been from anſwering mine Ex-
pectation in any of your Letters, that, on the contrary,
you are loading our Carrier every Week with Libels,
and Keys, and Reflections, and Memoirs, and ſecond
Parts: wherein I ſee myſelf accuſed of reflecting upon
great States-Folks, 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 them-
ſelves ;
iv & Letter from Capt. GULLIVER
ſelves; for ſome of them will not allow me to be Au-
thor of mine own Travels, and others make me Au-
thor of Books to which I am wholly a Stranger.
I find likewiſe, that your Printer hath been fo
careleſs as to confound the Times, and miſtake the
Dates of my ſeveral Voyages and Returns ; neither
affigning the true Year, or the true Month, or Day of
the Month: And I hear the original Manuſcript is all
deſtroyed, ſince the Publication of my Book. Neither
have l 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,
bat fhall leave that Marrer to my judicious and candid
Readers, to adjuſt it as they pleaſe.
I hear ſome of our Sea Yahoos find Fault with my
Sea-Language, as not proper in many Parts, nor now
in Uſe. I cannot help it. In my firſt Voyages, while
I was young, I was inſtructed by the oldeſt
Mariners,
and learned to ſpeak as they did. But I have ſince
found, that the Sea-Yahoos are apt, like the Land ones,
to become new-fangled in their Words ; which the
latter change every Year ; inſomuch, as I remember
upon each Return to mine own Country, their old
Diale&t was fo altered, that I could hardly underſtand
the new. And, I obſerve, when 'any Yahoo cometh
from London out of Carioſity to viſit me at mine own
Houſe, we neither of us are able to deliver our Con-
ceptions in a Manner intelligible to the other.
If the Cenſure of Taboes 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
meer Fi&tion out of mine own Brain ; and have gone
ſo far as to drop Hints, that the Howyhnbnms and Ya-
baos have no more Exiſtence than the Inhabitants of
Utopia.
Inbred I muſt confefs, that as to the People of Lil.
liput, Brobdingrag, (for lo the Word ſhould have been
ſpelt, and not erroneouſly Brobdingnagg) and Laputa,
I have never yet heard of any Yahoo fo preſumptuous
as to diſpute their Being, or the Facts I have related
concerning
to his Couſin Symps O'N.
concerning them ; becauſe, the Truth immediately
ſtriketh every Reader with Conviation. And, is there
lefs Probability in my Account of the Houybubums or
Taboos, when it is manifeſt as to the latter, there are ſo
many thouſands, even in this City, who only differ
from their Brother Brutes in Houybonbnmland, becauſe
they uſe a Sort of Jabber, and do not go naked. I
wrote for their Amendment, and not their Approba-
tion. The united Praiſe of the whole Race would be
of leſs Conſequence to me, than the neighing of thoſe
two degenerate Houybnbums I keep in my Stable; be-
cauſe, from theſe, degenerate as they are, I ftill im-
prove in ſome Virtues, without any Mixture of Vice.
Do theſe miſerable Animals preſume to think, that
I am ſo far degenerated as to defend my Veracity : Ya-
koo as I am, it is well known through all Hous bnbnm-
land, that by the Inſtructions and Example of my
illuftrious Mafter, I was able in the Compaſs of two
Years (although, I confeſs, with the atmoft Difficulty)
to remove that infernal Habit of Lying, Shuffling, De-
ceiving, and Equivocating, ſo deeply rooted in the very
Souls of all my Species; eſpecially the Europeans.
I have other Complaints to make upon this vexa-
tious Occaſion ; but I forbear troubling myſelf or you
any further, I muſt freely confeſs, that lince my lait
Return, fome Corruptions of my rabco Nature have
revived in me by converfing with a few of your Spe-
cies, and particularly thoſe of mine own Family, by
an unavoidable Neceſſity ; elſe I ſhould never have
attempted ſo abſurd a Projeět as that of reforming the
Paboo Race in this Kingdom; but I have now done
with all ſuch viſionary Schemes for ever.
April 2, 1727
THE
THE
Publiſher to the Reader.
TH
af Tomos ana.
HE Author of theſe Travels, Mr. Lemuel
Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate Friend ;
there is likewiſe fome Relation between us by the
Mother's Side. About three Years ago, Mr. Gulliver,
growing weary of the Concourſe of curious People
coming to him at his Houſe in Redriff, made a ſmall
Purchaſe of Land, with a convenient Houſe, near
Newark, in Nottinghamſhire, his native Country :
where he now liveth retired, yet in good Eſteem
among his Neighbours,
ALTHOUGH Mr. Gulliver were born in Notting-
bambire, where his Father dwelt, yet I have heard
him ſay, his Family came from Oxfordſhire ; to con-
firm which, I have obſerved in the Church-Yard at
Banbury, in that county, ſeveral Tombs and Monu-
ments of the Gullivers.
BEFORE he quitted Redrift, 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 care-
fully peraſed them three Times: The Style is very
plain and ſimple ; and the only Fault I find is, that
the Author, after the Manner of Travellers, is a little
too circumſtantial. There is an Air of Truth apparent
through the whole ; and indeed the Author was ſo
diſtinguiſhed for his Veracity, that it became a Sort of
a Proverb among his Neighbours at Redriff, when any
one affirmed a Thing, to ſay, it was as true as if Mr.
Gulliver had ſpoke it.
By the Advice of ſeveral worthy Perſons, to whom,
with the Author's Permillion, I communicated theſe
Papers, I now venture to ſend them into the World ;
hoping, they may be, ar leaf for ſome time, a better
Enter-
1. It was as
The PUBLISHER to the READER. vii
Entertainment to our young Noblemen, than the
common Scribbles of Politicks and Party.
This Volume would have been at leaſt twice as
large, if I had not made bold to ſtrike out innumera-
ble Paſſages relating to the Winds and T'ides, as well
as to the Variations and Bearings in the ſeveral Voy-
ages ; together with the minute Deſcriptions of the
Management of the Ship in Storms, in the Style of
Sailors : Likewiſe, the Account of the Longitudes and
Latitudes ; wherein I have Reaſon to apprehend, that
Mr. Gulliver may be a little diſſatisfied : But, I was
reſolved to fit the Work as much as poſſible to the ge-
neral Capacity of Readers. However, if my own Tg-
norance in Sea Affairs ſhall have led me to commit
fome Miſtakes, I alone am anſwerable for them:
And, if any Traveller hath a Curioſity to ſee the
whole Work at large, as it came from the Hand of
the Author, I will be ready to gratify him.
As for any further Particulars relating to the Au.
thor, the Reader will receive Satisfaction from the firſt
Pages of the Book
Richard Sympſon.
BOOKS printed and fold by George
FAULKNER.
IO IO
10
2
NO
II
18 II
1. S. d.
MHE Letters of Pliny the Younger,
with Obſervations on each Let-
ter; and an Eflay on Pliny's Life,
addrefled to Charles, Lord Boyle, by
John, Earl of Orrery in 2 Vols. 8vo. II 43
The preſent State of Europe.
5 5
The Spirit of Laws. Tranſlated from
the French of the celebrated M. De
Secondat, Baron De Monteſquieu, in
2 Vols. 8vo.
Peter Wilkins, 2 Vols, 12mo.
4
The Hiſtory of Pompey the Little ; or,
the Life and Adventures of a Lap
Dog.
Chambers's Dictionary, 2 Vols. Folio. 4
Clariffa 7 Vols.
Voltaire's Letters concerning the Eng-
liſh Nation, Twelves.
2 2
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