[As given in the original edition.]
The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient
and intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on
the mother's side. About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver growing
weary of the concourse of curious people coming to him at his
house in Redriff, made a small purchase of land, with a
convenient house, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire, his native
country; where he now lives retired, yet in good esteem among his
neighbours.
Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his
father dwelt, yet I have heard him say his family came from
Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I have observed in the churchyard
at Banbury in that county, several tombs and monuments of the
Gullivers.
Before he quitted Redriff, he left the custody of the following
papers in my hands, with the liberty to dispose of them as I should
think fit. I have carefully perused them three times. The style is
very plain and simple; and the only fault I find is, that the author,
after the manner of travellers, is a little too circumstantial. There
is an air of truth apparent through the whole; and indeed the
author was so distinguished for his veracity, that it became a sort.
of proverb among his neighbours at Redriff, when any one
affirmed a thing, to say, it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had
spoken it.
By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom, with the
author's permission, I communicated these papers, I now venture
to send them into the world, hoping they may be, at least for some
time, a better entertainment to our young noblemen, than the
common scribbles of politics and party.
This volume would have been at least twice as large, if I had not
made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the
winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the
several voyages, together with the minute descriptions of the
management of the ship in storms, in the style of sailors; likewise
the account of longitudes and latitudes; wherein I have reason to
apprehend, that Mr. Gulliver may be a little dissatisfied. But I was
resolved to fit the work as much as possible to the general
capacity of readers. However, if my own ignorance in sea affairs
shall have led me to commit some mistakes, I alone am
answerable for them. And if any traveller hath a curiosity to see
the whole work at large, as it came from the hands of the author, I
will be ready to gratify him.
As for any further particulars relating to the author, the reader will
receive satisfaction from the first pages of the book.
RICHARD SYMPSON
I hope you will be ready to own publicly, whenever you shall be
called to it, that by your great and frequent urgency you prevailed
on me to publish a very loose and uncorrect account of my travels,
with directions to hire some young gentleman of either university
to put them in order, and correct the style, as my cousin Dampier
did, by my advice, in his book called "A Voyage round the world."
But I do not remember I gave you power to consent that any thing
should be omitted, and much less that any thing should be
inserted; therefore, as to the latter, I do here renounce every thing
of that kind; particularly a paragraph about her majesty Queen
Anne, of most pious and glorious memory; although I did
reverence and esteem her more than any of human species. But
you, or your interpolator, ought to have considered, that it was not
my inclination, so was it not decent to praise any animal of our
composition before my master HOUYHNHNM: And besides, the
fact was altogether false; for to my knowledge, being in England
during some part of her majesty's reign, she did govern by a chief
minister; nay even by two successively, the first whereof was the
lord of Godolphin, and the second the lord of Oxford; so that you
have made me say the thing that was not. Likewise in the account
of the academy of projectors, and several passages of my.
discourse to my master HOUYHNHNM, you have either omitted
some material circumstances, or minced or changed them in such
a manner, that I do hardly know my own work. When I formerly
hinted to you something of this in a letter, you were pleased to
answer that you were afraid of giving offence; that people in
power were very watchful over the press, and apt not only to
interpret, but to punish every thing which looked like an
INNUENDO (as I think you call it). But, pray how could that
which I spoke so many years ago, and at about five thousand
leagues distance, in another reign, be applied to any of the
YAHOOS, who now are said to govern the herd; especially at a
time when I little thought, or feared, the unhappiness of living
under them? Have not I the most reason to complain, when I see
these very YAHOOS carried by HOUYHNHNMS in a vehicle, as
if they were brutes, and those the rational creatures? And indeed
to avoid so monstrous and detestable a sight was one principal
motive of my retirement hither.
Thus much I thought proper to tell you in relation to yourself, and
to the trust I reposed in you.
I do, in the next place, complain of my own great want of
judgment, in being prevailed upon by the entreaties and false
reasoning of you and some others, very much against my own
opinion, to suffer my travels to be published. Pray bring to your
mind how often I desired you to consider, when you insisted on
the motive of public good, that the YAHOOS were a species of
animals utterly incapable of amendment by precept or example:
and so it has proved; for, instead of seeing a full stop put to all.
abuses and corruptions, at least in this little island, as I had reason
to expect; behold, after above six months warning, I cannot learn
that my book has produced one single effect according to my
intentions. I desired you would let me know, by a letter, when
party and faction were extinguished; judges learned and upright;
pleaders honest and modest, with some tincture of common sense,
and Smithfield blazing with pyramids of law books; the young
nobility's education entirely changed; the physicians banished; the
female YAHOOS abounding in virtue, honour, truth, and good
sense; courts and levees of great ministers thoroughly weeded and
swept; wit, merit, and learning rewarded; all disgracers of the
press in prose and verse condemned to eat nothing but their own
cotton, and quench their thirst with their own ink. These, and a
thousand other reformations, I firmly counted upon by your
encouragement; as indeed they were plainly deducible from the
precepts delivered in my book. And it must be owned, that seven
months were a sufficient time to correct every vice and folly to
which YAHOOS are subject, if their natures had been capable of
the least disposition to virtue or wisdom. Yet, so far have you been
from answering my expectation in any of your letters; that on the
contrary you are loading our carrier every week with libels, and
keys, and reflections, and memoirs, and second parts; wherein I
see myself accused of reflecting upon great state folk; of
degrading human nature (for so they have still the confidence to
style it), and of abusing the female sex. I find likewise that the
writers of those bundles are not agreed among themselves; for
some of them will not allow me to be the author of my own
travels; and others make me author of books to which I am wholly
a stranger..
I find likewise that your printer has been so careless as to
confound the times, and mistake the dates, of my several voyages
and returns; neither assigning the true year, nor the true month,
nor day of the month: and I hear the original manuscript is all
destroyed since the publication of my book; neither have I any
copy left: however, I have sent you some corrections, which you
may insert, if ever there should be a second edition: and yet I
cannot stand to them; but shall leave that matter to my judicious
and candid readers to adjust it as they please.
I hear some of our sea YAHOOS find fault with my sea-language,
as not proper in many parts, nor now in use. I cannot help it. In my
first voyages, while I was young, I was instructed by the oldest
mariners, and learned to speak as they did. But I have since found
that the sea YAHOOS are apt, like the land ones, to become new-fangled
in their words, which the latter change every year;
insomuch, as I remember upon each return to my own country
their old dialect was so altered, that I could hardly understand the
new. And I observe, when any YAHOO comes from London out
of curiosity to visit me at my house, we neither of us are able to
deliver our conceptions in a manner intelligible to the other.
If the censure of the YAHOOS could any way affect me, I should
have great reason to complain, that some of them are so bold as to
think my book of travels a mere fiction out of mine own brain, and
have gone so far as to drop hints, that the HOUYHNHNMS and
YAHOOS have no more existence than the inhabitants of Utopia..
Indeed I must confess, that as to the people of LILLIPUT,
BROBDINGRAG (for so the word should have been spelt, and
not erroneously BROBDINGNAG), and LAPUTA, I have never
yet heard of any YAHOO so presumptuous as to dispute their
being, or the facts I have related concerning them; because the
truth immediately strikes every reader with conviction. And is
there less probability in my account of the HOUYHNHNMS or
YAHOOS, when it is manifest as to the latter, there are so many
thousands even in this country, who only differ from their brother
brutes in HOUYHNHNMLAND, because they use a sort of
jabber, and do not go naked? I wrote for their amendment, and not
their approbation. The united praise of the whole race would be
of less consequence to me, than the neighing of those two
degenerate HOUYHNHNMS I keep in my stable; because from
these, degenerate as they are, I still improve in some virtues
without any mixture of vice.
Do these miserable animals presume to think, that I am so
degenerated as to defend my veracity? YAHOO as I am, it is well
known through all HOUYHNHNMLAND, that, by the
instructions and example of my illustrious master, I was able in
the compass of two years (although I confess with the utmost
difficulty) to remove that infernal habit of lying, shuffling,
deceiving, and equivocating, so deeply rooted in the very souls of
all my species; especially the Europeans.
I have other complaints to make upon this vexatious occasion; but
I forbear troubling myself or you any further. I must freely
confess, that since my last return, some corruptions of my.
YAHOO nature have revived in me by conversing with a few of
your species, and particularly those of my own family, by an
unavoidable necessity; else I should never have attempted so
absurd a project as that of reforming the YAHOO race in this
kingdom: But I have now done with all such visionary schemes
for ever.
APRIL 2, 1727.
[The author gives some account of himself and family. His first
inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life.
Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner,
and carried up the country.]
My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third of
five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at
fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself
close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining me, although I
had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune,
I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in
London, with whom I continued four years. My father now and
then sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning
navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, useful to those
who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be, some time
or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to
my father: where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John, and
some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty
pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden: there I studied physic
two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long
voyages..
Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my
good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain
Abraham Pannel, commander; with whom I continued three years
and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some
other parts. When I came back I resolved to settle in London; to
which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me, and by him I was
recommended to several patients. I took part of a small house in
the Old Jewry; and being advised to alter my condition, I married
Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton,
hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred
pounds for a portion.
But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having
few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would
not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my
brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of
my acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon
successively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six
years, to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to
my fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best
authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good
number of books; and when I was ashore, in observing the
manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their
language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my
memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary
of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family.
I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to.
Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would
not turn to account. After three years expectation that things
would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain
William Prichard, master of the Antelope, who was making a
voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699,
and our voyage was at first very prosperous.
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader
with the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to
inform him, that in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we
were driven by a violent storm to the north-west of Van Diemen's
Land. By an observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30
degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead by
immoderate labour and ill food; the rest were in a very weak
condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning of
summer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen
spied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship; but the wind
was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and
immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let
down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship and
the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till
we were able to work no longer, being already spent with labour
while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the
mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overset
by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my
companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the
rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they
were all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and
was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop,.
and could feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to
struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by this
time the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that I
walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured
was about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward
near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or
inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not
observe them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of
the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left
the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the
grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder than
ever I remembered to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned,
about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just day-light. I
attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I happened to lie
on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on
each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick,
tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender
ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could
only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light
offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in the
posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt
something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently
forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when,
bending my eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to
be a human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in
his hands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least
forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I
was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all
ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told,.
were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon
the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who
ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his
hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but
distinct voice, HEKINAH DEGUL: the others repeated the same
words several times, but then I knew not what they meant. I lay all
this while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness. At
length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the
strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the
ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods
they had taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent
pull, which gave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings
that tied down my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to
turn my head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second
time, before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great
shout in a very shrill accent, and after it ceased I heard one of
them cry aloud TOLGO PHONAC; when in an instant I felt above
a hundred arrows discharged on my left hand, which, pricked me
like so many needles; and besides, they shot another flight into the
air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell on
my body, (though I felt them not), and some on my face, which I
immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower of
arrows was over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then
striving again to get loose, they discharged another volley larger
than the first, and some of them attempted with spears to stick me
in the sides; but by good luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they
could not pierce. I thought it the most prudent method to lie still,
and my design was to continue so till night, when, my left hand
being already loose, I could easily free myself: and as for the.
inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the
greatest army they could bring against me, if they were all of the
same size with him that I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of
me. When the people observed I was quiet, they discharged no
more arrows; but, by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers
increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right
ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at
work; when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and
strings would permit me, I saw a stage erected about a foot and a
half from the ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants,
with two or three ladders to mount it: from whence one of them,
who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech,
whereof I understood not one syllable. But I should have
mentioned, that before the principal person began his oration, he
cried out three times, LANGRO DEHUL SAN (these words and
the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me);
whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and
cut the strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave
me the liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the
person and gesture of him that was to speak.
He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the other
three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his
train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger;
the other two stood one on each side to support him. He acted
every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of
threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I
answered in a few words, but in the most submissive manner,
lifting up my left hand, and both my eyes to the sun, as calling.
him for a witness; and being almost famished with hunger, having
not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship, I found
the demands of nature so strong upon me, that I could not forbear
showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of
decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify
that I wanted food. The HURGO (for so they call a great lord, as I
afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He descended from
the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be applied
to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted
and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat,
which had been provided and sent thither by the king's orders,
upon the first intelligence he received of me. I observed there was
the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the
taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of
mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a
lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three
loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets.
They supplied me as fast as they could, showing a thousand marks
of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made
another sign, that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a
small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious
people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their largest
hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I
drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold
half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much
more delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I
drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they had
none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they.
shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several
times as they did at first, HEKINAH DEGUL. They made me a
sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first
warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud,
BORACH MEVOLAH; and when they saw the vessels in the air,
there was a universal shout of HEKINAH DEGUL. I confess I
was often tempted, while they were passing backwards and
forwards on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came
in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the
remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the
worst they could do, and the promise of honour I made them--for
so I interpreted my submissive behaviour--soon drove out these
imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the
laws of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much
expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not
sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals,
who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of
my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so
prodigious a creature as I must appear to them. After some time,
when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there
appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial
majesty. His excellency, having mounted on the small of my right
leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his
retinue; and producing his credentials under the signet royal,
which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes
without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate
resolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found,
was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant; whither it
was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I.
answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with
my hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over his
excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then to
my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It
appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his
head by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to
show that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other
signs to let me understand that I should have meat and drink
enough, and very good treatment. Whereupon I once more
thought of attempting to break my bonds; but again, when I felt
the smart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all
in blisters, and many of the darts still sticking in them, and
observing likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I
gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what
they pleased. Upon this, the HURGO and his train withdrew, with
much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a
general shout, with frequent repetitions of the words PEPLOM
SELAN; and I felt great numbers of people on my left side
relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was able to turn upon
my right, and to ease myself with making water; which I very
plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who,
conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately
opened to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent,
which fell with such noise and violence from me. But before this,
they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of
ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes,
removed all the smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added
to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink,
which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about.
eight hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for
the physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy
potion in the hogsheads of wine.
It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on
the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by
an express; and determined in council, that I should be tied in the
manner I have related, (which was done in the night while I slept;)
that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine
prepared to carry me to the capital city.
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and
I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on
the like occasion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely
prudent, as well as generous: for, supposing these people had
endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was
asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of
smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to
have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after
which, as they were not able to make resistance, so they could
expect no mercy.
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a
great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and
encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of
learning. This prince has several machines fixed on wheels, for
the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often builds his
largest men of war, whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods
where the timber grows, and has them carried on these engines.
three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters
and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the
greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three
inches from the ground, about seven feet long, and four wide,
moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the
arrival of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after
my landing. It was brought parallel to me, as I lay. But the
principal difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle.
Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected for this purpose,
and very strong cords, of the bigness of packthread, were fastened
by hooks to many bandages, which the workmen had girt round
my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of the
strongest men were employed to draw up these cords, by many
pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less than three hours, I
was raised and slung into the engine, and there tied fast. All this I
was told; for, while the operation was performing, I lay in a
profound sleep, by the force of that soporiferous medicine infused
into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest horses,
each about four inches and a half high, were employed to draw me
towards the metropolis, which, as I said, was half a mile distant.
About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very
ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, to
adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young
natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep;
they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my
face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his
half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my
nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they.
stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the
cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a long march the
remaining part of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred
guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows
and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next
morning at sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within
two hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and
all his court, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by
no means suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting
on my body.
At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient
temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which,
having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder,
was, according to the zeal of those people, looked upon as
profane, and therefore had been applied to common use, and all
the ornaments and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was
determined I should lodge. The great gate fronting to the north
was about four feet high, and almost two feet wide, through which
I could easily creep. On each side of the gate was a small window,
not above six inches from the ground: into that on the left side, the
king's smith conveyed four-score and eleven chains, like those
that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which
were locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over
against this temple, on the other side of the great highway, at
twenty feet distance, there was a turret at least five feet high. Here
the emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to
have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not
see them. It was reckoned that above a hundred thousand.
inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand; and, in
spite of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten
thousand at several times, who mounted my body by the help of
ladders. But a proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it upon
pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible for me
to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon I
rose up, with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life.
But the noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise
and walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg
were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of
walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed
within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at
my full length in the temple..
[The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility,
comes to see the author in his confinement. The emperor's person
and habit described. Learned men appointed to teach the author
their language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His
pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.]
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must
confess I never beheld a more entertaining prospect. The country
around appeared like a continued garden, and the enclosed fields,
which were generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds
of flowers. These fields were intermingled with woods of half a
stang, (1) and the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to be
seven feet high. I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked
like the painted scene of a city in a theatre.
I had been for some hours extremely pressed by the necessities of
nature; which was no wonder, it being almost two days since I had
last disburdened myself. I was under great difficulties between
urgency and shame. The best expedient I could think of, was to
creep into my house, which I accordingly did; and shutting the
gate after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would suffer,
and discharged my body of that uneasy load. But this was the only
time I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which I.
cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance, after
he has maturely and impartially considered my case, and the
distress I was in. From this time my constant practice was, as soon
as I rose, to perform that business in open air, at the full extent of
my chain; and due care was taken every morning before company
came, that the offensive matter should be carried off in wheel-barrows,
by two servants appointed for that purpose. I would not
have dwelt so long upon a circumstance that, perhaps, at first
sight, may appear not very momentous, if I had not thought it
necessary to justify my character, in point of cleanliness, to the
world; which, I am told, some of my maligners have been pleased,
upon this and other occasions, to call in question.
When this adventure was at an end, I came back out of my house,
having occasion for fresh air. The emperor was already descended
from the tower, and advancing on horse-back towards me, which
had like to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well
trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a
mountain moved before him, reared up on its hinder feet: but that
prince, who is an excellent horseman, kept his seat, till his
attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his majesty had time
to dismount. When he alighted, he surveyed me round with great
admiration; but kept beyond the length of my chain. He ordered
his cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to give me
victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a sort of vehicles
upon wheels, till I could reach them. I took these vehicles and
soon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled with meat, and
ten with liquor; each of the former afforded me two or three good
mouthfuls; and I emptied the liquor of ten vessels, which was.
contained in earthen vials, into one vehicle, drinking it off at a
draught; and so I did with the rest. The empress, and young
princes of the blood of both sexes, attended by many ladies, sat at
some distance in their chairs; but upon the accident that happened
to the emperor's horse, they alighted, and came near his person,
which I am now going to describe. He is taller by almost the
breadth of my nail, than any of his court; which alone is enough to
strike an awe into the beholders.
His features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and
arched nose, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his
body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and
his deportment majestic. He was then past his prime, being
twenty-eight years and three quarters old, of which he had reigned
about seven in great felicity, and generally victorious. For the
better convenience of beholding him, I lay on my side, so that my
face was parallel to his, and he stood but three yards off: however,
I have had him since many times in my hand, and therefore cannot
be deceived in the description. His dress was very plain and
simple, and the fashion of it between the Asiatic and the
European; but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned
with jewels, and a plume on the crest. He held his sword drawn in
his hand to defend himself, if I should happen to break loose; it
was almost three inches long; the hilt and scabbard were gold
enriched with diamonds. His voice was shrill, but very clear and
articulate; and I could distinctly hear it when I stood up. The
ladies and courtiers were all most magnificently clad; so that the
spot they stood upon seemed to resemble a petticoat spread upon
the ground, embroidered with figures of gold and silver. His.
imperial majesty spoke often to me, and I returned answers: but
neither of us could understand a syllable. There were several of
his priests and lawyers present (as I conjectured by their habits),
who were commanded to address themselves to me; and I spoke
to them in as many languages as I had the least smattering of,
which were High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian,
and Lingua Franca, but all to no purpose. After about two hours
the court retired, and I was left with a strong guard, to prevent the
impertinence, and probably the malice of the rabble, who were
very impatient to crowd about me as near as they durst; and some
of them had the impudence to shoot their arrows at me, as I sat on
the ground by the door of my house, whereof one very narrowly
missed my left eye. But the colonel ordered six of the ringleaders
to be seized, and thought no punishment so proper as to deliver
them bound into my hands; which some of his soldiers
accordingly did, pushing them forward with the butt-ends of their
pikes into my reach. I took them all in my right hand, put five of
them into my coat-pocket; and as to the sixth, I made a
countenance as if I would eat him alive. The poor man squalled
terribly, and the colonel and his officers were in much pain,
especially when they saw me take out my penknife: but I soon put
them out of fear; for, looking mildly, and immediately cutting the
strings he was bound with, I set him gently on the ground, and
away he ran. I treated the rest in the same manner, taking them
one by one out of my pocket; and I observed both the soldiers and
people were highly delighted at this mark of my clemency, which
was represented very much to my advantage at court..
Towards night I got with some difficulty into my house, where I
lay on the ground, and continued to do so about a fortnight; during
which time, the emperor gave orders to have a bed prepared for
me. Six hundred beds of the common measure were brought in
carriages, and worked up in my house; a hundred and fifty of their
beds, sewn together, made up the breadth and length; and these
were four double: which, however, kept me but very indifferently
from the hardness of the floor, that was of smooth stone. By the
same computation, they provided me with sheets, blankets, and
coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had been so long inured
to hardships.
As the news of my arrival spread through the kingdom, it brought
prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and curious people to see me; so
that the villages were almost emptied; and great neglect of tillage
and household affairs must have ensued, if his imperial majesty
had not provided, by several proclamations and orders of state,
against this inconveniency. He directed that those who had
already beheld me should return home, and not presume to come
within fifty yards of my house, without license from the court;
whereby the secretaries of state got considerable fees.
In the mean time the emperor held frequent councils, to debate
what course should be taken with me; and I was afterwards
assured by a particular friend, a person of great quality, who was
as much in the secret as any, that the court was under many
difficulties concerning me. They apprehended my breaking loose;
that my diet would be very expensive, and might cause a famine.
Sometimes they determined to starve me; or at least to shoot me in.
the face and hands with poisoned arrows, which would soon
despatch me; but again they considered, that the stench of so large
a carcass might produce a plague in the metropolis, and probably
spread through the whole kingdom. In the midst of these
consultations, several officers of the army went to the door of the
great council-chamber, and two of them being admitted, gave an
account of my behaviour to the six criminals above-mentioned;
which made so favourable an impression in the breast of his
majesty and the whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial
commission was issued out, obliging all the villages, nine hundred
yards round the city, to deliver in every morning six beeves, forty
sheep, and other victuals for my sustenance; together with a
proportionable quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors; for
the due payment of which, his majesty gave assignments upon his
treasury:--for this prince lives chiefly upon his own demesnes;
seldom, except upon great occasions, raising any subsidies upon
his subjects, who are bound to attend him in his wars at their own
expense. An establishment was also made of six hundred persons
to be my domestics, who had board-wages allowed for their
maintenance, and tents built for them very conveniently on each
side of my door. It was likewise ordered, that three hundred tailors
should make me a suit of clothes, after the fashion of the country;
that six of his majesty's greatest scholars should be employed to
instruct me in their language; and lastly, that the emperor's horses,
and those of the nobility and troops of guards, should be
frequently exercised in my sight, to accustom themselves to me.
All these orders were duly put in execution; and in about three
weeks I made a great progress in learning their language; during
which time the emperor frequently honoured me with his visits,.
and was pleased to assist my masters in teaching me. We began
already to converse together in some sort; and the first words I
learnt, were to express my desire "that he would please give me
my liberty;" which I every day repeated on my knees. His answer,
as I could comprehend it, was, "that this must be a work of time,
not to be thought on without the advice of his council, and that
first I must LUMOS KELMIN PESSO DESMAR LON
EMPOSO;" that is, swear a peace with him and his kingdom.
However, that I should be used with all kindness. And he advised
me to "acquire, by my patience and discreet behaviour, the good
opinion of himself and his subjects." He desired "I would not take
it ill, if he gave orders to certain proper officers to search me; for
probably I might carry about me several weapons, which must
needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so
prodigious a person." I said, "His majesty should be satisfied; for I
was ready to strip myself, and turn up my pockets before him."
This I delivered part in words, and part in signs. He replied, "that,
by the laws of the kingdom, I must be searched by two of his
officers; that he knew this could not be done without my consent
and assistance; and he had so good an opinion of my generosity
and justice, as to trust their persons in my hands; that whatever
they took from me, should be returned when I left the country, or
paid for at the rate which I would set upon them." I took up the
two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and
then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and
another secret pocket, which I had no mind should be searched,
wherein I had some little necessaries that were of no consequence
to any but myself. In one of my fobs there was a silver watch, and
in the other a small quantity of gold in a purse. These gentlemen,.
having pen, ink, and paper, about them, made an exact inventory
of every thing they saw; and when they had done, desired I would
set them down, that they might deliver it to the emperor. This
inventory I afterwards translated into English, and is, word for
word, as follows:
"IMPRIMIS, In the right coat-pocket of the great man-mountain"
(for so I interpret the words QUINBUS FLESTRIN,) "after the
strictest search, we found only one great piece of coarse-cloth,
large enough to be a foot-cloth for your majesty's chief room of
state. In the left pocket we saw a huge silver chest, with a cover of
the same metal, which we, the searchers, were not able to lift. We
desired it should be opened, and one of us stepping into it, found
himself up to the mid leg in a sort of dust, some part whereof
flying up to our faces set us both a sneezing for several times
together. In his right waistcoat-pocket we found a prodigious
bundle of white thin substances, folded one over another, about
the bigness of three men, tied with a strong cable, and marked
with black figures; which we humbly conceive to be writings,
every letter almost half as large as the palm of our hands. In the
left there was a sort of engine, from the back of which were
extended twenty long poles, resembling the pallisados before your
majesty's court: wherewith we conjecture the man-mountain
combs his head; for we did not always trouble him with questions,