1
Rob Abdy Bar
of Albyns in ex
1.
6. 21.
Hubbard
A
IMAG. Voy.
PR
3724-
•GB
17206
V. I
LEMULL G
CAPTAIN L
GULLIVER OF
EDRIF
Sturter. SheppardSE.
Compofitum jus, fafque animi fanetefque receffus
Mentis,incoctum generofo pectus honefte.
TRAVELS
INTO SEVERAL
Remote NATIONS
OF THE
WORLD.
In FOUR PARTS.
By LEMUEL GULLIVER,
Firft a SURGEON, and then a CAP-
TAIN of feveral SHIPS.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
Printed for BENJ. MOTTE, at the
Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-ftrect.
MDCC XXVI.
Res.
Lucius L. Hubbard
10gth
10226-1922
409703
Ola kq-dg ma
PART I.
A Voyage to Lilliput.
PART II.
A Voyage to Brobdingnag
PART III.
A Voyage to Laputa, Bal
nibarbi, Luggnagg, Glub-
dubdrib, and Japan.
PART IV.
A Voyage to the Country
of the Houyhnhnms.
A 2
THE
PUBLISHER
ΤΟ ΤΗΕ
READER.
HE Author of theſe
Travels, Mr. Lemuel
Gulliver, is my antient
and intimate Friend;
there is likewife fome Relation be-
tween us by the Mother's Side.
About three Years ago, Mr. Gulliver
growing weary of the Concourſe of
curious
The PUBLISHER, &c. V
curious People coming to him at his
Houſe in Redriff, made a ſmall Pur-
chafe of Land, with a convenient
Houſe, near Newark in Nottingham-
fhire, his Native Country; where he
now lives retired, yet in good Efteem
among his Neighbours.
•
ALTHOUGH Mr. Gulliver was
born in Nottinghamshire, where his Fa-
ther dwelt, yet I have heard him fay,
his Family came from Oxfordshire; to
confirm which, I have obferved in
the Church-Yard at Banbury, in that
County, feveral Tombs and Monu-
ments of the Gullivers.
BEFORE he quitted Redriff, he left
the Cuftody of the following Papers
in my Hands, with the liberty to
A 3
difpofe
vi The PUBLISHER
difpofe of them as I fhould think fit.
I have carefully peruſed them three
Times: The Style is very plain and
fimple; and the only Fault I find is,
that the Author, after the Manner
of Travellers, is a little too Circúm-
ftantial. There is an Air of Truth
apparent through the Whole; and
indeed, the Author was fo diftin-
guiſhed for his Veracity, that it be-
came a fort of Proverb among his
Neighbours at Redriff, when any
one affirm'd a Thing, to fay, it was
as true as if Mr. Gulliver had ſpoke
it.
By the Advice of feveral worthy
Perfons, to whom, with the Author's
Permiffion, I communicated theſe
Papers, I now venture to fend them
into
to the READER.
vii
into the World, hoping they may
be at leaft, for fome time, a better
Entertainment to our young Noble-
men, 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 ftrike out innumera-
ble Paffages relating to the Winds
and Tides, as well as to the Varia-
tions and Bearings in the feveral
Voyages; together with the minute
Deſcriptions of the Management of
the Ship in Storms, in the Style of
Sailors: Likewife the Account of the
Longitudes and Latitudes; wherein I
have Reaſon to apprehend that Mr.
Gulliver may be a little diffatisfied :
But I was refolved to fit the Work
A 4
as
viii The PUBLISHER, &C.
as much as poffible to the general Capa-
city of Readers. However, if my own
Ignorance in Sea-Affairs fhall have
led me to commit fome Miſtakes, I
alone am anfwerable for them: And
if any Traveller hath a Curioſity to
fee the whole Work at large, as it
came from the Hand of the Author,
I fhall be ready to gratify him.
As for any further Particulars re-
lating to the Author, the Reader will
receive Satisfaction from the firft
Pages of the Book.
RICHARD SYMPSON.
TRAVELS
INTO SEVERAL
Remote NATIONS
OF THE
WORLD.
PART I.
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
LONDON:
Printed in the Year MDCC XX VI.
THE
CONTENT S.
T
CHAP. I.
HE Author gives fome Account
of himſelf and Family: His firft
Inducements to travel. He is hip-
wreck'd, and fwims for his Life:
Gets Safe on Shoar in the Country of
Lilliput: Is made a Prifoner, and car-
ry'd up the Country.
CHAP. II.
Page 1.
The
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by
Several of the Nobility, come to fee
the Author in his Confinement.
Emperor's Perfon and Habit defcrib'd.
Learned Men appointed to teach the
Author their Language.
He gains
Favour by his mild Difpofition. His
Pockets
The CONTENTS.
xi
Pockets are fearch'd, and his Sword
and Piftols taken from him.
CHAP. III.
p. 25.
The Author diverts the Emperor and his
Nobility of both Sexes, in a very un-
common Manner. The Diverfions of
the Court of Lilliput defcrib'd. The
Author hath his Liberty granted him,
upon certain Conditions. P. 47.
CHAP. IV.
Mildendo the Metropolis of Lilliput de-
fcrib'd, together with the Emperor's
Palace. A Converfation between the
Author and a principal Secretary,
concerning the Affairs of that Empire.
The Author's Offers to ferve the Em-
peror in his Wars.
CHAP. V.
p. 65.
The Author by an extraordinary Strata-
gem, prevents an Invafion. A high
Title
xii The CONTENTS.
Title of Honour is conferr'd upon him.
Embaſſadors arrive from the Emperor
of Blefufcu and fue for Peace. The
Empreſs's Apartment on fire by an
Accident. The Author inftrumental in
Saving the rest of the Palace. p. 77.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput, their
Learning, Laws and Customs, the
Manner of educating their Children.
The Author's way of living in that
Country. His Vindication of a great
Lady.
CHAP. VII.
P. 92.
The Author being inform'd of a Defign
to accufe him of High-Treafon, makes
his Eſcape to Blefufcu. His Recep-
tion there.
CHAP. VIII.
p. 115.
The Author by a lucky Accident, finds
Means to leave Blefufcu, and after
Some Difficulties returns fafe to his
native Country.
P. 134.
Plate.I Part. I Page. I,
Hogs I
P Mintaon
0
I Good Fortune
I Naffow
7 SUMATR
SUNDA
Sillabar
Straits of Sunda
Mendendo
1
Blefufcu
Lilliput.
Difcovered, A.D.1699.
:
Dimens Land.
TRAVELS.
PARTI.
A VOYAGE to LILLIPUT.
CHA P. I. ·
The Author gives fome Account of him-
felf and Family, his first Inducements
to travel. He is Shipwrecked, and
fwims for his Life, gets fafe on fboar
in the Country of Lilliput, is made a
Prifoner, and carryed up the Country.
M
Y Father had a ſmall Eſtate
in Nottinghamshire; I was
the Third of Five Sons. He
fent me to Emanuel College
in Cambridge, at Fourteen Years old, where
I refided three Years, and applyed my ſelf
PART I.
clofe
2
A VOYAGE
clofe to my Studies; But the Charge of
maintaining me (although I had a very
fcanty Allowance) being too great for a
narrow Fortune, I was bound Apprentice
to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon
in London, with whom I continued four
Years; and my Father now and then fend-
ing me fmall 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 fome time or other
my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates,
I went down to my Father; where by
the Affiftance of Him and my Uncle John,
and fome other Relations, I got Forty
Pounds, and a Promiſe of Thirty Pounds
a Year to maintain me at Leyden: There
I ftudied Phyfick two Years and feven
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 Swal-
low,
to LILLIPUT
3
low, Captain Abraham Pannell Com-
mander; with whom I continued three
Years and a half, making a Voyage or two
into the Levant, and fome other Parts.
When I came back, I refolved to ſettle in
London, to which Mr. Bates, my Maſter,
encouraged me, and by him I was recom-
mended to feveral Patients. I took Part
of a ſmall Houſe in the Old Fury; and
being adviſed to alter my Condition, I
married Mrs. Mary Burton, fecond Daugh-
ter to Mr. Edmond Burton Hofier 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 Con-
fcience would not fuffer me to imitate
the bad Practice of two many among my
Brethren. Having therefore confulted
with my Wife, and fome of my Acquain-
tance, I determined to go again to Sea.
I was Surgeon fucceffively in two Ships,
and made ſeveral Voyages, for fix Years,
to
4
A VOYAGE
to the East and Weft-Indies, by which I
got fome Addition to my Fortune. My
Hours of Leifure I fpent in reading the
beſt Authors antient and modern, being
always provided with a good Number of
Books; and when I was afhore, in ob-
ferving the Manners and Difpofitions of
the People, as well as learning their Lan-
guage, wherein I had a great Facility by
the Strength of my Memory.
THE laſt of theſe Voyages not prov-
ing very fortunate, I grew weary of the
Sea, and intended to ſtay at home with
my Wife and Family. I removed from
the Old Fury to Fetter-Lane, and from
thence to Wapping, hoping to get Bufi-
nefs among the Sailors; but it would not
turn to account. After three Years Ex-
pectation that things would mend, I ac-
cepted an advantageous Offer from Cap-
tain William Prichard, Maſter of the
Antelope, who was making a Voyage to
the South-Sea. We fet fail from Briſtol
May 4th, 1699, and our Voyage at firſt
was very profperous.
IT
to LILLIPUT.
>
It would not be proper, for fome Rea-
fons, to trouble the Reader with the
Particulars of our Adventures in thoſe
Seas: Let it fuffice to inform him, that
in our Paffage from thence to the Eaſt-
Indies, we were driven by a violent
Storm to the Northwest of Van Diemen's
Land. By an Obfervation, we found our-
felves in the Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Mi-
nutes 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 Sea-
men fpied 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 fhift to
get clear of the Ship, and the Rock. We
rowed by my Computation about three
Leagues, till we were able to work no
PART I.
longer
R
6
A VOYAGE
longer, being already fpent with Labour
while we were in the Ship. We there-
fore trufted ourſelves to the Mercy of
the Waves, and in about half an Hour
the Boat was overſet by a fudden 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 Veffel, I cannot tell; but con-
clude they were all loft. For my own
part, I fwam 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 almoft gone,
and able to ftruggle no longer, I found
myfelf within my Depth; and by this
time the Storm was much abated.
Declivity was fo fmall, that I walked near
a Mile before I got to the Shore, which I
conjectur'd was about eight a-clock in
the Evening. I then advanced forward
near half a Mile, but could not diſcover
any fign of Houfes or Inhabitants; at
leaſt I was in fo weak a Condition, that
I did not obſerve them. I was extreamly
tired
The
to LILLIPUT.
7
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 fleep. I lay
down on the Grafs, which was very ſhort
and foft, where I flept founder than ever
I remember to have done in my Life,
and as I reckoned, above nine Hours; for
when I awaked, it was juft Day-light.
I attempted to rife, but was not able to
ftir: For as I happen'd to lye on my
Back, I found my Arms and Legs were
ftrongly faſtened on each fide to the
Ground; and my Hair, which was long
and thick, tied down in the fame man-
ner. I likewife felt feveral flender Li-
gatures 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 fee nothing except
the Sky. In a little Time I felt fomething
alive moving on my left Leg, which ad-
vancing gently forward over my Breait,
В 2
came
8
A VOYAGE
came almoſt up to my Chin; when bend-
ing mine Eyes downwards as much as I
could, I perceived it to be a human Ċrea-
ture 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 con-
jectured) following the firft. I was in
the utmoſt Aſtoniſhment, and roared fo
loud, that they all ran back in a Fright;
and fome of them, as I was afterwards
told, were hurt with the Falls they got
by leaping from my Sides upon the Ground.
However, they foon returned, and one
of them, who ventured fo far as to get a
full fight of my Face, lifting up his Hands
and Eyes by Way of Admiration, cryed
out in a fhrill, but diftinct Voice, Hekinah
Degul: The others repeated the ſame
Words feveral times, but I then knew not
what they meant. I lay all this while,
as the Reader may believe, in great Un-
cafinefs: at length, ftruggling to get looſe,
I had the fortune to break the Strings,
and wrench out the Pegs that faſtened my
left
to LILLIPUT.
9
left Arm to the Ground; for, by lifting
it up to my Face, I difcover'd the Me-
thods they had taken to bind me, and,
at the fame Time, with a violent Pull,
which gave me exceffive Pain, I a little
looſened the Strings that tied down my
Hair on the left Side, fo that I was juſt
able to turn my Head about two Inches.
But the Creatures ran off a fecond time,
before I could feize them; whereupon
there was a great Shout in a very fhrill
Accent, and after it ceafed, 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 fo
many Needles;
and beſides they fhot another Flight into
the Air, as we do Bombs in Europe,
whereof many, I fuppofe, fell on my Bo-
dy, (though I felt them not) and fome
on my Face, which I immediately cover-
When this Shower
ed with my left Hand.
of Arrows was over, I fell a groaning
with Grief and Pain, and then ſtriving
again to get loofe, they difcharged an-
B 3
other
10
A VOYAGE
other Volly larger than the firſt, and
ſome of them attempted with Spears to
ſtick me in the Sides; but, by good luck,
I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they
could not pierce. I thought it the moſt
prudent Method to lie ftill, and my de-
fign was to continue fo till Night, when
my left Hand being already loofe, I could
caſily free myſelf: And as for the Inha-
bitants, I had reaſon to believe I might
be a match for the greateſt Armies they
could bring againſt me, if they were all
of the fame Size with him that I faw.
But Fortune difpofed otherwife of me.
When the People obferved I was quiet,
they diſcharged no more Arrows: But
by the Noife I heard, I knew their Num-
bers encreaſed; 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 turn-
ing my Head that Way as well as the
Pegs and Strings would permit me, I
faw a Stage erected about a foot and a
half from the Ground, capable of hold-
ing
to LILLIPUT.
I I
ing four of the Inhabitants, with two
or three Ladders to mount it: From
whence one of them, who feemed to be
a Perſon of Quality, made me a long
Speech, whereof I underſtood not one
Syllable. But I fhould have mentioned,
that before the principal Perfon began his
Oration, he cryed 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 obferving the Per-
ſon 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
fomewhat longer than my middle Fin-
ger; the other two ſtood one on each
fide to fupport him. He acted every
part of an Orator, and I could ob-
ferve many Periods of Threatnings,
B 4
and
I 2
A VOYAGE
and others of Promifes, Pity and Kind-
nefs. I anſwered in a few Words, but
in the moſt fubmiffive Manner, lifting
up my Left Hand and both mine Eyes
to the Sun, as calling him for a Witneſs;
and being almoſt famifhed with Hunger,
having not eaten a Morfel for fome Hours
before I left the Ship, I found the De-
mands of Nature ſo ſtrong upon me, thạt
I could not forbear fhewing my Impa-
tience (perhaps againſt the ſtrict Rules of
Decency) by putting my Finger frequent-
ly on my Mouth, to fignify that I wanted
Food. The Hurgo (for fo they call a
great Lord, as I afterwards learnt) under-
flood me very well. He defcended from
the Stage, and commanded that feveral
Ladders fhould be applyed to my Sides,
on which above an hundred of the Inha-
bitants mounted, and walked towards my
Mouth, laden with Baskets full of Meat,
which had been provided, and fent thị-
ther by the King's Orders upon the firtt In-
telligence he received of me. I obferved
there was the Flesh of feveral Animals,
but
to LILLIPUT.
13
but could not diftinguiſh them by the
Tafte. There were Shoulders, Legs and
Loins fhaped like thoſe of Mutton, and
very well dreffed, but fmaller than the
Wings of a Lark. I eat them by two or
three at a mouthful, and took three
Loaves at a time, about the Bignefs of
Musket Bullets. They fupplyed me as
they could, fhewing 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
fuffice me, and being a moft ingenious
People, they flung up with great Dexterity
one of their largeſt Hogfheads, then rol-
led 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 fmall Wine of Bur-
gundy, but much more delicious. They
brought me a fecond Hogfhead, which I
drank in the fame manner, and made
Sigus for more, but they had none to
give me. When I had performed thefe
Wonders,
14
A VOYAGE
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 Hogfheads, but firſt warn-
ing the People below to ſtand out of the
way, crying aloud, Borach Mivola, and
when they faw the Veffels in the Air,
there was an univerfal fhout of Hekinah
Degul. I confefs I was often tempted,
while they were paffing backwards and
forwards on my Body, to feize 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 Ho-
nour I made them, for fo I interpreted
my
fubmiffive Behavour, foon drove out
thefe Imaginations. Befides, I now con-
fider'd my ſelf as bound by the Laws of
Hofpitality to a People who had treated
me with ſo much Expence and Magnifi-
cence. However, in my Thoughts I
could not fufficiently wonder at the In-
trepidity
to LILLIPUT.
trepidity of thefe diminutive Mortals,
who durft venture to mount and walk
upon my Body, while one of my Hands
was at liberty, without trembling at the
very fight of fo prodigious a Creature as
I muſt appear to them. After fome time,
when they obferv'd that I made no more
Demands for Meat, there appeared before
me a Perſon of high Rank from his Im-
perial Majeſty. His excellency having
mounted on the fmall of my right Leg,
advanced forwards up to my Face, with
about a Dozen of his Retinue. And pro-
ducing his Credentials under the Signet
Royal, which he applyed cloſe to mine
Eyes, ſpoke about ten Minutes, without
any Signs of Anger, but with a kind of
determinate Refolution; 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 con-
veyed. I answered in few words, but to
no purpoſe, and made a Sign with my
Hand that was loofe, putting it to the
other
16
A VOYAGE
other (but over his Excellency's Head, for
fear of hurting him or his Train) and then
to my own Head and Body, to fignify
that I defired my Liberty. It appeared
that he underſtook me well enough, for
he ſhook his Head by way of Difappro-
bation, and held his Hand in a Poſture to
thew that I muſt be carried as a Priſoner.
However, he made other Signs to let me
underſtand that I fhould have Meat and
Drink enough, and very good Treatment.
Whereupon I once more thought of at-
tempting to break my Bonds, but again,
when I felt the Smart of their Arrows,
upon my Face and Hands, which were all
in Blifters, and many of the Darts ſtill
fticking in them, and obferving likewife
that the Number of my Enemies en-
creafed, I gave Tokens to let them know
that they might do with me what they
pleafed. Upon this the Hurgo and his
Train withdrew with much Civility and
chearful Countenances. Soon after I
heard a general Shout, with frequent repe-
titions of the Words, Peplom Selan, and
I
to LILLIPUT.
17
I felt great Numbers of the People on
my Left Side relaxing the Cords to ſuch a
degree, that I was able to turn upon my
Right, and to eaſe myſelf with making
Water; which I very plentifully did, to the
great Aſtoniſhment of the People, who
conjecturing by my Motions what I was
going to do, immediately opened to the
right and left on that fide to avoid the
Torrent which fell with fuch noiſe and vio-
lence from me. But before this, they had
dawbed my Face and both my Hands with
a fort of Ointment very pleaſant to the
Smell, which in a few Minutes removéd
all the Smart of their Arrows. Theſe
Circumftances added to the Refreſhment
I had received by their Victuals and Drink,
which were very nouriſhing, difpofed me
to fleep. I flept about eight Hours, as I
was afterwards affured; and it was no
wonder, for the Phyficians, by the Empe-
ror's Order, had mingled a fleepy Potion
in the Hogfheads of Wine.
IT
هم
18
A VOYAGE
Ir feems that upon the firſt Moment I
was diſcovered fleeping on the Ground af
ter my Landing, the Emperor had early
Notice of it by an Expreſs, and deter-
mined in Council that I fhould be tyed in
the Manner I have related (which was
done in the Night while I flept) that Plen-
ty of Meat and Drink ſhould be ſent to me,
and a Machine prepared to carry me to the
Capital City.
THIS Refolution perhaps may appear
very bold and dangerous, and I am confi-
dent would not be immitated by any Prince
in Europe on the like Occafion; how-
ever, in my Opinion it was extreamly Pru-
dent as well as generous. For fuppofing
thefe People had endeavour'd 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
fo far have rouzed my Rage and Strength,
as to have enabled me to break the Strings
wherewith I was tied; after which, as
they
to LILLIPUT.
19
they were not able to make Reſiſtance, fo
they could expect no Mercy.
THESE People are moſt excellent Mathe-
maticians, and arriv'd to a great Perfection
in Mechanicks by the Countenance and
Encouragement of the Emperor, who is
a renowned Patron of Learning. This
Prince hath feveral Machines fixed on
Wheels for the Carriage of Trees and
other great Weights. He often builds
his largeſt Men of War, whereof fome
are nine Foot long, in the Woods where
the Timber grows, and has them carried
on theſe Engines three or four hundred
Yards to the Sea. Five Hundred Carpen-
ters and Engineers were immediately fet
at work to prepare the greateſt Engine.
they had.
It was a Frame of Wood
raifed three Inches from the Ground,
about ſeven Foot long and four wide,
moving upon twenty two Wheels. The
Shout I heard was upon the Arrival of
this Engine, which it ſeems ſet out in four
Hours after my Landing. It was brought
parallel
20
A VOY A GÉ
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 bignefs of
Packthread were faftned by Hooks to ma-
ny Bandages, which the Work men had
girt round my Neck, my Hands, my Bo-
dy, and my Legs. Nine hundred of the
ſtrongeſt Men were employed to draw up
theſe Cords by many Pulleys faftned on
the Poles, and thus in leſs than three
Hours, I was raiſed and flung into the En-
gine, and there tyed faft. All this I was
told, for while the whole Operation was
performing, I lay in a profound fleep, by
the force of that foporiferous Medicine
infuſed into my Liquor. Fifteen Hun-
dred of the Emperor's largeſt Horfes, each
about four Inches and an half high, were
employed to draw me towards the Metro-
polis, which, as I faid, was half a Mile
diſtant.
ABOUT
to LILLIPUT
2 I
ABOUT four Hours after we began
our Journey, I awaked by a very ridi-
culous 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 Curiofity to ſee how I
looked when I was aſleep; they climbed
up into the Engine, and advancing very
foftly to my Face, one of them, an Of-
ficer in the Guards, put the fharp end of
his Half-pike a good way up into my left
Noftril, which tickled my Nofe like a
Straw, and made me fneeze violently:
whereupon they ftole off unperceived,
and it was three Weeks before I knew
the cauſe of my awaking fo fuddenly.
We made a long March the remaining
part of that Day, and reſted at Night
with five hundred Guards on each fide of
me, half with Torches, and half with
Bows and Arrows, ready to fhoot me
I ſhould offer to ftir. The next Morning
at Sun-rife we continued our March, and
arrived within two hundred Yards of the
PART I.
C
if
City-
22
A VOYAGE
City-Gates about Noon. The Emperor,
and all his Court came out to meet us, but
his gerat Officers would by no means fuf-
fer his Majeſty to endanger his Perſon by
mounting on my Body.
AT the Place where the Carriage ſtopt,
there ftood an antient Temple, eſteemed
to be the largeſt in the whole Kingdom,
which having been polluted fome Years
before by an unnatural Murder, was, ac-
cording to the Zeal of thofe People,
looked on as Prophane, and therefore had
been applied to common Ufe, and all the
Ornaments and Furniture carried away,
In this Edifice it was determined I fhould
lodge. The great Gate fronting to the
North, was about four Foot high, and al-
moſt two Foot 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
to LILLIPUT.
23
and almoſt as large, which were locked to
my left Leg with fix and thirty Padlocks.
Overagainſt this Temple, on t'other fide of
the great Highway, at twenty Foot diſtance,
there was a Turret at leaſt five Foot luigh.
Here the Emperor afcended with many
principal Lords of his Court, to have an
opportunity of viewing me, as I was
told, for I could not fee them. It was
reckoned that above an hundred thou-
fand Inhabitants came out of the Town
upon the fame Errand, and in fpight of
my Guards, I believe there could not be
fewer than ten thouſand, at feveral
times, who mounted upon my Body by
the help of Ladders. But a Proclamation
was foon iffued to forbid it upon pain of
Death. When the Workmen found it
was impoffible for me to break loofe,
they cut all the Strings that bound me;
whereupon 1 roſe up with as melancholy
a Difpofition as ever I had in my Life.
But the noiſe and aſtoniſhment of the Peo-
ple at ſeeing me rife and walk are not to
be expreffed. The Chains that held my
C 2
left
24
A VOYAGE
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.
CHAP.
to LILLIPUT
25
1
CHA P. II.
The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by
Several of the Nobility, come to fee
the Author in his Confinement. The
Emperor's Perfon and Habit defcrib'd.
Learned Men appointed to teach the
Author their Language. He gains
Favour by his mild Difpofition. His
Pockets are ſearched, and his Sword
and Piſtols taken from him.
W
HEN I found myſelf on my
Feet, I looked about me, and
muſt confefs I never beheld a
more entertaining Profpect. The Coun-
try round appeared like a continued
Garden, and the inclofed Fields, which
were generally forty Foot fquare, re-
fembled fo many Beds of Flowers,
Thefe Fields were intermingled with
Woods
C 3
26
A VOYAGE
Woods of half a Stang,
and the talleſt
Trees, as I could judge, appeared to, be
feven Foot high. I viewed the Town on
my left hand, which looked like the
painted Scene of a City in a Theatre.
:
I had been for fome Hours extremely
preffed by the Neceffities of Nature;
which was no wonder, it being almoſt
two Days fince I had laft disburthened
myſelf. I was under great Difficulties
between Urgency and Shame. The beſt
Expedient I could think on, was to creep
into my Houſe, which I accordingly did;
and ſhutting the Gate after me, I went as far
as the length of my Chain would fuffer,
and diſcharged my Body of that uneafy
Load. But this was the only time I was
ever guilty of fo uncleanly an Action ;
for which I cannot but hope the candid
Reader will give fome Allowance, after
he hath maturely and inpartially confi-
dered my Cafe, and the Diſtreſs I was
in. From this time my conftant Practice
was, as foon as I rofe, to perform that
Buff-
to LILLIPUT.
27
Buſineſs in open Air, at the full Extent
of my Chain, and due Care was taken
every Morning before Company came,
that the offenfive Matter fhould be car-
ried off in Wheel-barrows by two Ser-
vants appointed for that Purpoſe. I would
not have dwelt fo long upon a Circum-
ſtance, that perhaps at firſt ſight may ap-
pear not very momentuous, if I had not
thought it neceffary to juftify my Cha-
racter in point of Cleanlineſs to the
World; which I am told fome of my
Maligners have been pleafed, upon this
and other Occafions, to call in queſtion.
WHEN this Adventure was at an end,
I came back out of my Houſe, having oc-
cafion for freſh Air. The Emperor was
already defcended from the Tower, and
advancing on Horfe-back towards me,
which had like to have coft him dear;
for the Beaſt, though very well trained,
yet wholly unuſed to fuch a Sight, which
appeared as if a Mountain moved before
him, reared up on his hinder Feet: But
C 4
that
28
A VOYAGE
that Prince, who is an excellent Horfe-
Man, kept his Seat, till his Attendants
ran in, and held the Bridle, while his Ma-
jeſty had time to difmount. When he
alighted, he furveyed me round with
great Admiration, but kept without the
length of my Chain. He ordered his
Cooks and Butlers, who were already
prepared to give me Victuals and Drink,
which they puſhed forward in a fort of
Vehicles upon Wheels till I could reach
them. I took thefe Vehicles, and foon
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 Li-
quor of ten Veffels, which was contained
in earthen Vials, into one Vehicle, drink-
ing it off at a Draught, and ſo I did
with the reft. The Empreſs, and young
Princes of the Blood, of both Sexes, at-
tended by many Ladies, fat at ſome
diſtance in their Chairs, but upon the
Accident that happened to the Emperor's
Horfe, they alighted, and came near his
Per-
to LILLIPUT.
29
Perfon, which I am now going to de-
fcribe. He is taller by almoſt the breadth
of my Nail, than any of his Court, which
alone is enough to ftrike an Awe into
the Beholders. His Features are ſtrong
and mafculine, with an Auſtrian Lip and
arched Nofe, his Complexion olive, his
Countenance erect, his Body and Limbs
well proportioned, all his Motions grace-
ful, 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 Felicity, and generally victorious.
For the better convenience of beholding
him, I lay on my Side, fo 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 Deſcription.
His Dreſs was very plain and fimple, and
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 Creft.
He
30
A VOYAGE
He held his Sword drawn in his Hand, to
defend himſelf, if I fhould happen to break
loofe; it was almoſt three Inches long,
the Hilt and Scabbard were Gold enriched
with Diamonds. His Voice was fhrill,
but very clear and articulate, and I could
diftinctly hear it when I ftood
up. The
Ladies and Courtiers were all moſt mag-
nificently clad, fo that the Spot they ſtood
upon feemed to reſemble a Petticoat ſpread
on the Ground, embroidered with Figures
of Gold and Silver. His Imperial Majeſty
ſpoke often to me, and I returned An-
fwers, but neither of us could underſtand
a Syllable. There were feveral of his
Prieſts and Lawyers prefent (as I con-
jectured by their Habits) who were com-
manded to addrefs themſelves to me, and
I fpoke 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 Im-
pertinence
to LILLIPUT.
3 I
pertinence, and probably the Malice of
the Rabble, who were very impatient to
croud about me as near as they durft,
and fome of them had the Impudence to
fhoot their Arrows at me as I fate on the
Ground by the Door of my Houſe,
whereof one very narrowly miffed my left
Eye. But the Colonel ordered fix of the
Ring-leaders to be feized, and thought no
Puniſhment ſo proper as to deliver them
bound into my Hands, which ſome of
his Soldiers accordingly did, pufhing 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 fqualled terribly
and the Colonel and his Officers were in
much Pain, eſpecially when they faw me
take out my Penknife: But I foon put
them out of fear; for, looking mildly
and immediately cutting the Strings he
was bound with, I fet him gently on the
Ground, and away he ran; I treated the
reſt
3 2
A VOYAGE
reft in the fame manner, taking them one
by one out of my Pocket, and I obferved
both the Soldiers and People were high-
ly obliged at this Mark of my Clemency,
which was reprefented very much to my
Advantage at Court.
TOWARDS Night I got with fome diffi-
culty into my Houfe, where I lay on the
Ground, and continued to do fo about
a Fortnight; during which time the Em-
peror gave Orders to have a Bed prepared
for me.
Six hundred Beds of the com-
mon Meaſure, were brought in Carriages
and worked up in my Houfe, an hun-
dred and fifty of their Beds fown toge-
ther made up the Breadth and Length,
and theſe were four double, which how-
ever kept me but very indifferently from
the Hardneſs of the Floor, that was of
fmooth Stone. By the fame Computa-
tion they provided me with Sheets, Blan-
kets, and Coverlets, tolerable enough for
one who had been fo long enured to
Hardships as I.
As
to LILLIPUT.
3 3
As the News of my Arrival fpread
through the Kingdom, it brought prodi-
gious Numbers of rich, idle, and curious
People to fee me; fo that the Villages
were almoſt emptied, and great Neglect
of Tillage and Houfhold Affairs muſt
have enfued, if his Imperial Majeſty had
not provided by feveral Proclamations
and Orders of State againſt this Incon-
veniency. He directed that thofe, who had
already beheld me, ſhould return Home,
and not prefume to come within fifty
Yards of my Houfe, without Licence from
Court; whereby the Secretarys of State
got confiderable Fees.
In the mean time, the Emperor held
frequent Councils to debate what Courſe
fhould be taken with me; and I was af-
terwards affured by a particular Friend, a
Perfon of great Quality, who was looked
upon to be as much in the Secret as
that the Court was under many
any,
Difficulties concerning me.
They ap-
prehended
34
A VOYAGE
prehended my breaking loofe, that my
Diet would be very expenfive, and might
cauſe a Famine. Sometimes they deter-
mined to ſtarve me, or at leaſt to fhoot
me in the Face and Hands with poifoned
Arrows, which would foon diſpatch me:
But again they confider'd, that the Stench
of fo large a Carcafe might produce a
Plague in the Metropolis, and probably
ſpread through the whole Kingdom. In
the midſt of theſe Confultations, ſeveral
Officers of the Army went to the Door
of the great Council Chamber; and two
of them being admitted, gave an account
my Behaviour to the fix Criminals a-
bove-mentioned, which made fo favou-
rable an Impreffion in the Breaſt of his
Majefty and the whole Board in my be-
half, that an Imperial Commiffion was
iffued 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 Suftenance; to-
gether with a proportionable Quantity of
Bread, and Wine, and other Liquors:
of
for
to LILLIPUT.
35
for the due Payment of which, his Ma-
jefty gave Affignments upon his Trea-
fury. For this Prince lives chiefly upon
his own Demefnes, feldom except upon
great Occafions raifing any Subfidues up-
on his Subjects, who are bound to attend
him in his Wars at their own Expence.
An Eſtabliſhment was alfo made of fix
hundred Perfons to be my Domeſticks,
who had Board-Wages allowed for their
Maintenance, and Tents built for them
very conveniently on each fide of my
Door. It was likewife ordered, that three
hundred Taylors fhould make me a Suit
of Cloaths after the Faſhion of the Coun-
try: That fix of his Majeſty's greateſt
Scholars fhould be employ'd to in-
ftru&t me in their Language: And, laſt-
ly, that the Emperor's Horfes, and thoſe
of the Nobility, and Troops of Guards,
ſhould be frequently exercifed in my fight,
to accustom themſelves to me. All theſe
Orders were duly put in Execution, and
in about three Weeks I made a great Pro-
grefs in learning their Language; during
which
36
A VOYAGE
which time, the Emperor frequently ho
noured me with his Vifits, and was plea-
ſed to affiſt my Maſters in teaching me.
We began already to converfe together
in fome fort; and the firſt Words I learnt
were to expreſs my Defire that he would
pleaſe to give me my Liberty, which I
every day repeated on my Knees. His
Anſwer, as I could apprehend it, was,
that this muſt be a Work of Time, not
to be thought on without the Advice of
Council, and that firſt I muft Lumos
Kelmin peſſo defmar lon Empofo; that
is, fwear a Peace with him and his King-
dom. However, that I fhould be uſed with
all Kindneſs, and he adviſed me to ac-
quire by my Patience, and diſcreet Be-
haviour, the good Opinion of himſelf
and his Subjects. He defired I would
not take it ill if he gave Orders to cer-
tain proper Officers to fearch me; for
probably I might carry about me feveral
Weapons, which muft needs be dange-
rous things, if they anſwered the Bulk of
fo prodigious a Perfon. I faid, his Majeſty
fhould
to LILLIPUT.
37
fhould be fatisfied, for I was ready to
ftrip myſelf, and turn up my Pockets be-
fore him. This I delivered part in Words,
and part in Signs. He replied, that by
the Laws of the Kingdom I must be
fearched by two of his Officers; that he
knew this could not be done without
my Conſent and Affiſtance; that he had
fo good an Opinion of my Generoſity
and Juſtice, as to trust their Perfons in
my Hands: That whatever they took
from me fhould be returned when I left
the Country, or paid for at the Rate
which I would fet 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 fe-
cret Pocket I had no mind fhould be
fearched, wherein I had fome little Ne-
ceffaries that were of no confequence to
any but myſelf. In one of my Fobs
there was a filver Watch, and in the o-
ther a ſmall Quantity of Gold in a Purſe.
Thefe Gentlemen, having Pen Ink and
PART I.
D
Paper
3 8
A VOYAGE
Paper about them, made an exact Inven-
tory of
every thing they faw; and when
they had done, defired I would fet them
down, that they might deliver it to the
Emperor. This Inventory I afterwards
tranflated into Engliſh, and is word for
word as follows.
1
IMPRIMIS, In the right Coat-Pocket
of the Great Man Mountain (for fo I
interpret the Words Quinbus Fleftrin)
after the ſtricteft fearch, we found only
one great Piece of coarſe Cloath, large
enough to be a Foot-Cloth for your Ma-
jeſty's chief Room of State. In the left
Pocket, we faw a huge Silver Cheſt, with
a Cover of the fame Metal, which we
the Searchers were not able to lift. We
defired it ſhould be opened, and one of
us ſtepping into it, found himſelf up to
the mid Leg in a fort of Duft, fome part
whereof flying up to our Faces, fet us
both a fneezing for feveral times toge-
ther. In his right Waiſtcoat-Pocket, we
found a prodigious Bundle of white thin
Sub-
to LILLIPUT.
35
+
Subſtances, folded one over another, about
the Bignefs of three Men, tied with à
ftrong Cable, and marked with black Fi-
gures; which we humbly conceive to be
Writings, every Letter almoft half as
large as the Palm of our Hands. In the
left there was a fort of Engine, from
the Back of which were extended twenty
long Poles, reſembling the Pallifado's be-
fore your Majeſty's Court; wherewith we
conjecture the Man Mountain combs his
Head, for we did not always trouble him
with Queſtions, becaufe we found it a
great Difficulty to make him underſtand
us. In the large Pocket on the right
fide of his middle Cover, (fo I tranſlate
the Word Ranfu-Lo, by which they
meant my Breeches) we faw a hollow
Pillar of Iron, about the length of a
Man, faſtened to a ſtrong piece of Tim-
ber, larger than the Pillar; and upon one
fide of the Pillar were huge Pieces of
Iron ſticking out, cut into ftrange Fi-
gures, which we know not what to make
of. In the left Pocket, another Enginë
of
D 2
40
VOYAGE
A
of the fame kind. In the ſmaller Pocket
on the right fide, were feveral round flat
Pieces of white and red Metal, of dif-
ferent Bulk; fome of the white, which
feemed to be Silver, were fo large and
heavy, that my Comrade and I could
hardly lift them. In the left Pocket were
two black Pillars irregularly fhaped: we
could not, without Difficulty reach the
Top of them as we ftood at the Bottom
of his Pocket. One of them was co-
vered, and feemed all of a Piece: But at
the upper End of the other, there ap-
peared a white round Subftance, about
twice the bignefs of our Heads. With-
in each of theſe was inclofed a prodi-
gious Plate of Steel; which, by our Orders,
we obliged him to fhew us, becauſe we
apprehended they might be dangerous
Engines. He took them out of their
Cafes, and told us, that in his own Coun-
try his Practice was to fhave his Beard
with one of theſe, and to cut his Meat
with the other. There were two Pockets
which we could not enter: Thefe he
called
to LILLIPUT.
41
called his Fobs; they were two large
Slits cut into the top of his middle Co-
ver, but ſqueez'd cloſe by the preſſure
of his Belly. Out of the right Fob
hung a great filver Chain, with a won-
derful kind of Engine at the bottom.
We directed him to draw out whatever
was faſtened to that Chain; which ap-
peared to be a Globe, half Silver, and
half of fome tranfparent Metal: For on
the tranſparent fide we faw certain ſtrange
Figures circularly drawn, and thought we
could touch them, till we found our Fin-
gers ſtopped by that lucid Subftance. He
put this Engine to our Ears, which made
an inceffant Noife like that of a Water-
Mill. And we conjecture it is either fome
unknown Animal, or the God that he
worſhips But we are more inclined to
the latter Opinion, becauſe he aſſured us,
(if we underſtood him right, for he ex-
preffed himſelf very imperfectly) that he
feldom did any thing without confulting
it. He called it his Oracle, and faid it
pointed out the Time for
D 3
every Ac-
tion
42
A VOYAGE
tion of his Life.
From the left Fob he
took out a Net almoſt large enough for
a Fisherman, but contrived to open and
hut like a Purſe, and ſerved him for the
fame ufe: We found therein ſeveral
maffy Pieces of yellow Metal, which if
they be real Gold, muft be of immenſe
Value.
HAVING thus, in obedience to your
Majefty's Commands, diligently fearched
all his Pockets, we obferved a Girdle
about his Waift made of the Hide of
fome prodigious Animal; from which, on
the left Side, hung a Sword of the length
of five Men; and on the right, a Bag or
Pouch divided into two Cells, each Cell
capable of holding three of your Majeſty's
Subjects, In one of thefe Cells were fe-
yeral Globes or Balls of a moſt ponderous
Metal, about the bignefs of our Heads,
and required a ſtrong Hand to lift them:
The other Cell contained a Heap of cer-
tain black Grains, but of no great Bulk
i
་་
or.
to LILLIPUT.
43
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 ufed us with great Ci-
vility, and due Refpect to your Majeſty's
Commiffion. Signed and Sealed on the
fourth Day of the eighty ninth Moon of
your Majeſty's aufpicious Reign.
up
T
Clefren Frelock, Marfi Frelock.
WHEN this Inventory was read over
to the Emperor, he directed me, al-
though in very gentle Terms, to deliver
the feveral Particulars. He firſt called
for my Scymiter, which I took out, Scab-
bard and all. In the mean time he or-
dered three thoufand of his choiceſt
Troops (who then attended him) to fur-
round me at a diſtance, with their Bows
and Arrows juſt ready to diſcharge: but
I did not obferve it, for mine Eyes were
wholly fixed upon his Majefty. He then
defired me to draw my Scymiter, which,
D 4
al-
44
A VOYAGE
ง
although it had got fome Ruft by the Sea-
Water, was in moſt parts exceeding
bright. I did fo, and immediately all the
Troops gave a Shout between Terror and
Surprize; for the Sun fhone clear, and
the Reflexion dazled their Eyes as I waved
the Scymiter two and fro in my Hand.
His Majefty, who is a moft magnanimous
Prince, was lefs danted than I could ex-
pect; he ordered me to return it into the
Scabbard, and caft in on the Ground as
gently as I could, about fix Foot from the
end of my Chain.
Chain. The next thing he
demanded, was one of the hollow Iron
Pillars, by which he meant my Pocket-
Piftols. I drew it out, and at his defire,
as well as I could, expreffed to him the
Ufe of it; and charging it only with
Powder, which by the clofenefs of
my
Pouch happened to eſcape wetting in the
Sea, (an Inconvenience againſt which all
prudent Mariners take fpecial care to pro-
vide) I firſt cautioned the Emperor not to
be afraid, and then I let it off in the Air.
The Aftoniſhment here was much greater
than
to LILLIPUT.
·45
than at the fight of my Scymiter. Hundreds
fell down as if they had been ftruck dead;
and even the Emperor, although he ftood
his Ground, could not recover himſelf in
fome time. I delivered up both my Pi-
ſtols in the fame Manner, as I had done
my Scymiter, and then my Pouch of
Powder and Bullets; begging him that the
former might be kept from the Fire, for
it would kindle with the ſmalleſt Spark,
and blow up his Imperial Palace into the
Air. I likewife 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 Dray-Men
in England do a Barrel of Ale. He was
amazed at the continual Noife it made,
and the Motion of the Minute-Hand,
which he could eaſily difcern; for their
Sight is much more acute than ours:
and asked the Opinions of his learned
Men about him, which were various and
remote, as the Reader may well imagine
without my repeating; although indeed
i
I
46
A VOYAGE
I could not very perfectly underſtand them.
I then gave up my Silver and Copper
Money, my Purfe with nine large Pieces
of Gold, and fome ſmaller ones; my
Knife and Razor, my Comb and Silver
Snuff-Box, my Handkerchief and Jour-
nal Book. My Scymiter, Piftols, and
Pouch, were conveyed in Carriages to
his Majeſty's Stores; but the reſt of
Goods, were returned me.
my
I had, as I before obferved, one pri-
vate Pocket which eſcaped their Search,
wherein there was a pair of Spectacles
(which I fometimes ufe for the Weakneſs
of mine Eyes) a Pocket Perſpective, and
feveral other little Conveniences; which
being of no confequence to the Empe-
ror, I did not think my ſelf bound in
Honour to diſcover, and I apprehended
they might be loft or ſpoiled if I ventured
them out of my Poffeffion.
CHA P.
to LILLIPUT.
47
CHAP III.
The Author diverts the Emperor and
bis Nobility of both Sexes in a very
uncommon Manner. The Diverfions
of the Court of Lilliput defcribed.
The Author has his Liberty granted
him upon certain Conditions.
M
Y Gentlenefs and good Behavi-
our had gained fo far on the
Emperor and his Court, and in-
deed upon the Army and Peo-
ple in general, that I began to conceive
Hopes of getting my Liberty in a fhort
time. I took all poffible Methods to cul-
tivate this favourable Difpofition. The
Natives came by degrees to be lefs appre-
henfive of any Danger from me. I
would fometimes lie down, and let five or
fix
48
A VOYAGE
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 Progrefs
in underſtanding and fpeaking their Lan-
guage. The Emperor had a mind one
day to entertain me with feveral of the
Country Shows, wherein they exceed all
Nations I have known, both for Dexte-
rity and Magnificence. I was diverted
with none fo much as that of the Rope-
Dancers, performed upon a lender white
Thread, extended about two Foot, and
twelve Inches from the Ground. Upon
which I fhall defire liberty, with the Rea
der's Patience, to enlarge a little.
THIS Diverfion is only practifed by
thofe Perfons who are Candidates for
great Employments, and high Favour, at
Court. They are trained in this Art
from their Youth, and are not always of
noble Birth, or liberal Education. When
a great Office is vacant either by Death
or Difgrace (which often happens) five
or
to LILLIPUT.
·49
or fix of thoſe Candidates petition the
Emperor to entertain his Majefty and the
Court with a Dance on the Rope, and
whoever jumps the higheſt without fal-
ling, fucceeds in the Office. Very often
the Chief Minifters themſelves are com-
manded to fhew their Skill, and to con-
vince the Emperor that they have not loſt
their Faculty. Flimnap, the Treaſurer, is
allowed to cut a Caper on the ftrait Rope,
at leaſt an Inch higher than any other Lord
in the whole Empire. I have feen him
do the Summerfet feveral times together
upon a Trencher fixed on the Rope,
which is no thicker than a common Pack-
thread in England. My Friend Reldre-
fal, principal Secretary for private Affairs,
is, in my Opinion, if I am not partial,
the ſecond after the Treaſurer; the reſt of
the great Officers are much upon a Par.
THESE Diverfions are often attended
with fatal Accidents, whereof great Num-
bers are on Record. I my felf have feen
two or three Candidates break a Limb.
But
50
A VOYAG É
But the Danger is much greater when the
Minifters themſelves are commanded to
ſhew their Dexterity; for by contend-
ing to excel themſelves and their Fellows,
they ſtrain fo far, that there is hardly one
of them who hath not received a Fall,
and fome of them two or three. I was
affured that a Year or two before my Arri-
val, 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 Diverſion
which is only fhewn before the Emperor
and Empreſs, and firſt Miniſter, upon
particular Occafions. The Emperor lays
on a Table three fine filken Threads of
fix Inches long. One is Purple, the
other Yellow, and the third White.
Theſe Threads are propofed as Prizes for
thofe Perſons whom the Emperor hath a
mind to diſtinguiſh by a peculiar Mark of
his Favour. The Ceremony is performed
in his Majeſty's great Chamber of State,
where
to LILLIPUT.
SI
where the Candidates are to undergo a
Tryal of Dexterity very different from
the former, and fuch 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,'
fometimes leap over the Stick, fometimes
creep under it backwards and forwards fe-
veral times, according as the Stick is ad-
vanced or depreſſed. Sometimes the Em-
peror holds one end of the Stick, and his
firft Miniſter the other; fometimes the
Miniſter has it entirely to himſelf. Who-
ever performs his Part with moſt Agility,
and holds out the longeſt in leaping and
creeping, is rewarded with the Purple
coloured Silk; the Yellow is given to the
next, and the White to the third, which
they all were girt twice round about the
middle; and you fee few great Perfons
about this Court, who are not adorned
with one of theſe Girdles.
THE
$ 2
A VOYAGE
THE Horfes of the Army, and thoſe
of the royal Stables, having been daily
led before me, where no longer ſhy, but
would come up to my very Feet without
ftarting. The Riders would leap them
over my Hand as I held it on the Ground,
and one of the Emperor's Huntſmen, up-
on a large Courfer, took my Foot,
Shoe and all; which was indeed a pro-
digious Leap. I had the good fortune to
divert the Emperor one Day after a very
extraordinary manner. I defired he would
order feveral Sticks of two Foot high,
and the thickneſs of an ordinary Cane, to
be brought me; whereupon his Majeſty
commanded the Maſter of his Woods to
give Directions accordingly, and the next
Morning fix Wood-men arrived with as
many Carriages, drawn by eight Horſes
to each. I took nine of thefe 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
to LILLIPUT.
53
two foot from the Ground; then I
faftned my Handkerchief to the nine
Sticks that ſtood erect, and extended it
on all fides till it was as tight as the top of
a Drum; and the four parallel Sticks ri-
fing about five Inches higher than the
Handkerchief, ferved as Ledges on each
fide. When I had finifhed my Work, I
defired the Emperor to let a Troop of
his beſt Horſe, twenty four in number,
come and exercife upon this Plain. His
Majefty approved of the Propoſal, and I
took them up one by one in my hands,
ready mounted and armed, with the pro-
per Officers to exerciſe them. As foon as
they got into order, they divided into
two Partics, performed mock Skirmiſhes,
diſcharged blunt Arrows, drew their
Swords, fled and purfucd, attacked and
retired, and in fhort difcovered the beſt
Military Diſcipline I ever beheld. The
parallel Sticks fecured them and their
Horfes from falling over the Stage; and
the Emperor was fo much delighted, that
he ordered this Entertainment to be re-
PART I.
E
peated
54
A VOYAGE
peated ſeveral days, and once was pleaſed
to be lifted up, and give the word of
Command; and, with great difficulty,
perfuaded even the Emprefs her ſelf to let
me hold her in her clofe Chair within two
Yards of the Stage, from whence fhe was
able to take a full View of the whole
Performance. It was my good fortune
that no ill Accident happened in theſe
Entertainments, only once a fiery Horſe
that belonged to one of the Captains
pawing with his Hoof ftruck a Hole in
my Handkerchief, and his Foot flipping,
he overthrew his Rider and himself; but
I immediately relieved them both, and
covering the Hole with one Hand, I fet
down the Troop with the other, in the
fame manner as I took them up. The
Horfe that fell was ftrained in the left
Shoulder, but the Rider got no hurt, and
I repaired my Handkerchief as well as I
could; however, I would not truſt to the
Strength of it any more in fuch dange-
rous Enterprizes.
ABOUT
to LILLIPUT. 55
ABOUT two or three days before I
was fet at liberty, as I was cntertaining
the Court with thefe kind of Feats, there
arrived an Exprefs to inform his Majefty,
that ſome of his Subjects riding near the
Place where I was firft taken up, had feen
a great black Subſtance lying on the
Ground very oddly fhaped, extending its
Edges round as wide as his Majeſty's Bed-
chamber, and rifing up in the middle as
high as a Man; that it was no living
Creature, as they at first apprchended, for
it lay on the Grafs without Motion, and
fome of them had walked round it feve-
ral times: That by mounting upon cach
other's Shoulders, they had got to the top,
which was flat and even, and ſtamping
upon it they found it was hollow with-
in; that they humbly conceived it might
be fomething belonging to the Man-
Mountain, and if his Majefty pleafed,
they would undertake to bring it with
only five Hories. I prefently knew what
they meant, and was glad at heart to re-
ceive
E 2
56
A VOYAGE
ceive this Intelligence.
It feems upon
my first reaching the Shore after our Ship-
wreck, I was in fuch confufion, that be-
fore I came to the Place where I went to
fleep, my Hat which I had faftned with a
String to my Head while I was rowing,
and had ſtuck on all the time I was fwim-
ming, fell off after I came to Land; the
String, as I conjecture, breaking by fome
Accident which I never obferved, but
thought my Hat had been loft at Sea. I
intreated his Imperial Majefty to give Or-
ders it might be brought to me as foon as
poffible, defcribing to him the Ufe and
the Nature of it: And the next Day the
Waggoners arrived with it, but not in a
very good condition; they had bored two
Holes in the Brim, within an Inch and
half of the Edge, and faftned two Hooks
in the Holes; thefe Hooks were tyed by a
long Cord to the Harnefs, and thus my
Hat was dragged along for above half an
English Mile: but the Ground in that
Country being extremely fmooth and le-
vel, it receiv'd lefs Damage than I expected.
Two
to LILLIPUT.
57
Two Days after this Adventure, the
Emperor having ordered that, Part of his
Army which quarters in and about his
Metropolis to be in a readineſs, took a
fancy of diverting himſelf in a very fin-
gular manner. He defired I would ftand
like a Coloſſus, with my Legs as far a-
funder as I conveniently could. He then
commanded his General, (who was an old
experienced Leader, and a great Patron
of mine) to draw up the Troops in cloſe
Order, and march them under me, the
Foot by Twenty-four in a Breaſt, and
the Horſe by Sixteen, with Drums beat-
ing, Colours flying, and Pikes advanced.
This Body confifted of three thouſand
Foot, and a thouſand Horſe. His Ma-
jeſty gave Orders, upon pain of Death,
that every Soldier in his March fhould ob-
ferve the strictest Decency, with regard to
my Perfon; which, however, could not
prevent ſome of the younger Officers
from turning up their Eyes as they paffed
under me. And, to confefs the Truth,
E 3
my
58 A VOYAGE
my
Breeches were at that time in fo ill a
Condition, that they afforded fome Op-
Fortunities for Laughter and Admiration.
I had fent fo many Memorials and Pe-
titions for my Liberty, that his Majefty
at length mentioned the Matter firſt in
the Cabinet, and then in a full Council;
where it was oppofed by none, except
Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleaſed, with-
out any Provocation, to be my mortal
Enemy. But it was carried againſt him
by the whole Board, and confirmed by
the Emperor. That Minifter was Galbet,
or Admiral of the Realm, very much in
his Maſter's Confidence, and a Perfon
well verfed in Affairs, but of a morofe
and four Complection. However, he
was at length perfuaded to comply; but
prevailed that the Articles and Condi-
tions upon which I fhould be fet free,
and to which I muft fwear, fhould be
drawn up by himself. Thefe Articles
were brought to me by Skyresh Bolgolam
in Perfon, attended by two Under-Secre-
tarys,
to LILLIPUT.
59
tarys, and ſeveral Perſons of Diſtinction.
After they were read, I was demanded to
fwear to the Performance of them; firſt
in the manner of my own Country, and
afterwards in the method preſcribed by
their Laws: which was to hold my right
Foot in my left Hand, to place the mid-
dle Finger of my right Hand on the
Crown of my Head, and my Thumb on
the Tip of my right Ear. But becaufe
the Reader may perhaps be curious to
have ſome Idea of the Style and Manner
of Expreffion peculiar to that People, as
well as to know the Articles upon which
I recovered my Liberty, I have made a
Tranſlation of the whole Inftrument word
for word, as near as I was able, which I
here offer to the Publick.
GOLBASTO MOMAREN EVLAME GUR-
dilo Shefin MULLY ULLY Gue, moſt
Mighty Emperor of Lilliput, Delight and
Terror of the Univerfe, whofe Domi-
nions extend five thousand Bluftrugs, (a-
bout twelve Miles in Circumference) to
E 4
the
60
A VOYAGE
the Extremitys of the Globe; Monarch
of all Monarchs, taller than the Sons of
Men; whofe Feet prefs down to the Cen-
ter, and whoſe Head ftrikes againſt the
Sun: At whofe Nod the Princes of the
Earth fhake their Knees; pleaſant as the
Spring, comfortable as the Summer, fruit-
ful as Autumn, dreadful as Winter.
moſt fublime Majefty propofeth to the
Man-Mountain, lately arrived to our Ce-
leſtial Dominions, the following Articles,
which by a folemn Oath he ſhall be ob-
liged to perform.
His
FIRST, The Man-Mountain ſhall not
depart from our Dominions, without our
Licence under our Great Seal.
2d, He fhall not prefume to come in-
to our Metropolis, without our expreſs
Order; at which time the Inhabitants
fhall have two hours warning to keep
within their doors.
+
୫
3d,
to LILLIPUT.
61
3d, THE faid Man-Mountain fhall con-
fine his Walks to our principal High
Roads, and not offer to walk or lie down
in a Meadow or Field of Corn.
4th, As he walks the faid Roads, he
ſhall take the utmost care not to trample
upon the Bodies of any of our loving
Subjects, their Horſes, or Carriages, nor
take any of our faid Subjects into his
hands, without their own Confent.
5th, IF an Exprefs requires extraordi-
nary Dispatch, the Man-Mountain fhall
be obliged to carry in his Pocket the Mef-
ſenger and Horſe a Six Days Journey once
in every Moon, and return the faid Mef-
fenger back (if fo required) fafe to our
Imperial Preſence.
6th, HE fhall be our Ally againſt our
Enemies in the Inland of Blefufcu, and
do his utmoſt to deſtroy their Fleet, which
is now preparing to invade Us.
7 the
62
A VOYAGE
7th, THAT the faid Man-Mountain
fhall, at his times of leifure, be aiding
and aſſiſting to our Workmen, in help-
ing to raiſe certain great Stones, towards
covering the Wall of the principal Park,
and other our Royal Buildings.
8th, THAT the faid Man-Mountain
fhall, in two Moons time, deliver in an
exact Survey of the Circumference of
our Dominions by a Computation of his
own Paces round the Coaſt.
LASTLY, That upon his folemn Oath
to obferve all the above Articles, the
faid Man-Mountain fhall have a daily
Allowance of Meat and Drink fufficient
for the Support of 1724 of our Subjects,
with free Accefs to our Royal Perfon,
and other Marks of our Favour, Given
at our Palace at Belfaborac the twelfth
Day of the Ninety-firft Moon of our
Reign.
1
to LILLIPUT.
63
I fwore and fubfcribed to theſe Ar-
ties with great Chearfulneſs and Con-
tent, although fome of them were not
fo honourable as I could have wifhed ;
which proceeded wholly from the Ma-
lice of Skyrefb Bolgolam the High Ad-
miral whereupon my Chains were im-
mediately unlocked, and I was at full li-
berty; the Emperor himſelf in Perſon
did me the Honour to be by at the whole
Ceremony. I made my Acknowledg
ments by proftrating myſelf at his Ma-
jefty's Feet: But he commanded me to
rife; and after many gracious Expreffions,
which, to avoid the Cenfüre of Vanity,
I fhall not repeat, he added, that he
hoped I ſhould prove a uſeful Servant,
and well deferve 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 ftipulates
to
64
A VOYAGE
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 ex-
ceed theirs in the Proportion of Twelve
to One, they concluded from the Simi-
larity of their Bodies, that mine muſt con-
tain at leaſt 1724 of theirs, and confe-
quently would require as much Food as
was neceffary to fupport that number of
Lilliputians. By which, the Reader may
conceive an Idea of the Ingenuity of that
People, as well as the prudent and exact
Oeconomy of fo great a Prince.
CHAP.
to LILLIPUT. 65
CHA P. IV.
Mildendo, the Metropolis of Lilliput,
defcribed, together with the Emperor's
Palace. A Converſation between the
Author and a Principal Secretary,
concerning the Affairs of that Empire:
The Author's Offers to ferve the Em-
peror in his Wars.
HE firſt Request I made after I had
obtained my Liberty, was, that
I might have licence to ſee Mil-
dendo, the Metropolis; which the Em-
peror eaſily granted me, but with a fpc-
cial Charge to do no hurt, either to the
Inhabitants, or their Houſes. The People
had notice by Proclamation of my defign
to vifit the Town. The Wall which en-
compaſſed it, is two foot and an half
high,
66 A VOYAGE
high, and at leaſt eleven Inches broad, fo
that a Coach and Horfes may be driven
very fafely round it; and it is flanked
with ftrong Towers at ten foot diſtance.
I ftept over the great Weſtern Gate, and
paffed very gently, and fideling through
the two principal Streets, only in my
ſhort Waiſtcoat, for fear of damaging the
Roofs and Eves of the Houfes with the
Skirts of my Coat. I walked with the
utmoft Circumfpection, to avoid tread-
ing on any Stragglers, that might remain
in the Streets, although the Orders were
very ſtrict, that all People fhould keep in
their Houſes, at their own peril. The
Garret-windows and Tops of Houſes were
fo crowded with Spectators, that I thought
in all my Travels I had not feen a more
populous Place. The City is an exact
Square, each fide of the Wall being five
hundred foot long. The two great Strects
which run crofs and divide it into four
Quarters, are five foot wide. The Lanes
and Alleys which I could not enter, but
only viewed them as I paffed, are from
twelve
to LILLIPUT.
67
twelve to eighteen Inches. The Town
is capable of holding five hundred thou-
fand Souls. The Houfes are from three
to five Stories. The Shops and Markets
well provided.
THE Emperor's Palace is in the Cen-
ter of the City, where the two great
Streets meet. It is incloſed by a Wall
of two foot high, and twenty foot dif
tant from the Buildings. I had his Ma-
jeſty's Permiſſion to ſtep over this Wall;
and the Space being fo wide between
that and the Palace, I could cafily view
it on every fide. The outward Court
is a Square of forty foot, and includes
two other Courts: In the inmoft are the
Royal Apartments, which I was very de-
firous to fee, but found it extremely dif-
ficult; for the great Gates, from one
Square into another, were but eighteen
Inches high, and feven Inches wide. Now
the Buildidgs of the outer Court were
at leaſt five foot high, and it was impof-
fible for me to ftride over them, with-
out
68
A VOYAGE
out infinite Damage to the Pile, though
the Walls were ftrongly built of hewn
Stone, and four Inches thick. At the
fame time the Emperor had a great de-
fire that I fhould fee the Magnificence of
his Palace; but this I was not able to
do till three Days after, which I ſpent in
cutting down with my Knife fome of
the largeſt Trees in the Royal Park, a-
bout an hundred Yards diftant from the
City. Of theſe Trees I made two Stools,
each about three foot high, and ſtrong
enough to bear my Weight. The Peo-
ple having received notice a fecond time,
I went again through the City to the Pa-
lace, with my two Stools in my Hands.
When I came to the fide of the outer
Court, I ftood upon one Stool, and took
the other in my hand: This I lifted over
the Roof, and gently fet it down on the
Space between the firſt and ſecond Court,
which was eight foot wide. I then ſtept
over the Buildings very conveniently
from one Stool to the other, and drew
up the firſt after me with a hooked Stick.
By
to LILLIPUT.
69
By this Contrivance I got into the inmoſt
Court; and lying down upon my Side, I
applied my Face to the Windows of the
middle Storics, which were left open on
purpoſe, and diſcovered the moft fplen-
did Apartments that can be imagined.
There I faw the Empress, and the young
Princes in their feveral Lodgings, with
their chief Attendants about them. Her
Imperial Majeſty was pleaſed to ſmile
very graciously upon me, and gave me
out of the Window her Hand to kifs.
BUT I fhall not anticipate the Reader
with farther Defcriptions of this kind,
becauſe I referve them for a greater Work,
which is now almoft ready for the Prefs,
containing a general Defcription of this
Empire, from its firft Erection, through
a long Series of Princes, with a particu-
lar Account of their Wars and Politicks,
Laws, Learning, and Religion: their
Plants and Animals, their peculiar Man-
ners and Cuſtoms, with other Matters
very curious and uſeful; my chief defign
PART I.
F
at
70
A VOYAGE
at prefent being only to relate fuch E-
vents and Tranfactions as happened to
the Publick, or to myfelf, during a Refi-
dence of about nine Months in that Em-
pire.
ONE Morning, about a Fortnight af-
ter I had obtain❜d my Liberty, Keldrefal,
Principal Secretary (as they ſtyle him)
of private Affairs, came to my Houſe,
attended only by one Servant. He or-
dered his Coach to wait at a distance, and
defired I would give him an Hour's Au-
dience; which I readily confented to, on
account of his Quality, and Perfonal Me-
rits, as well as the many good Offices he
had done me during my Sollicitations at
Court. I offered to lie down, that he
might the more conveniently reach my
Ear; but he choſe rather to let me hold
him in my hand during our Converfa-
tion. He began with Compliments on
my Liberty, faid he might pretend to
fome Merit in it: but, however, added,
that if it had not been for the pretent
+
Situ-
to LILLIPUT.
71
Situation of things at Court, perhaps I
might not have obtained it fo foon. For,
faid he, as flouriſhing a Condition as we
may appear to be in to Foreigners, we
labour under two mighty Evils; a vio-
lent Faction at home, and the Danger of
an Invaſion by a moft potent Enemy from
abroad. As to the firft, you are to un-
derftand, that for above feventy Moons
paſt, there have been two ftruggling Par-
tics in this Empire, under the Names of
Trameckfan, and Slameckfan, from the
high and low Heels on their Shoes, by
which they diftinguifh them felves. It is
alledged indeed, that the high Heels are
moſt agreeable to our ancient Conftitu-
tion: But however this be, his Majefty
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 cannot but ob-
ferve; and particularly, that his Majeſty's
Imperial Heels are lower at leaft by a
Drurr than any of his Court; (Drurr
is a Meaſure about the fourteenth Part
F
of
2
72
A VOYAGE
ber
ز
of an Inch.) The Animofitys between
theſe two Partys run fo high, that they
will neither cat nor drink, nor talk with
each other. We compute the Trameck-
fan, or High Heels, to exceed us in num-
but the Power is wholly on our
fide. We apprehend his Imperial High-
nefs, the Heir to the Crown, to have
fome Tendency towards the High-Heels;
at leaft, we can plainly diſcover one of
his Heels higher than the other, which
gives him a Hobble in his Gait. Now,
in the midst of thefe inteftine Difquiets,
we are threatned with an Invafion from
the Ifland of Blefufcu, which is the o-
ther great Empire of the Univerſe, al-
moſt as large and powerful as this of his
Majelly. 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 Philofophers 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 Mor-
tals
to LILLIPUT.
73
tals of your Bulk would, in a fhort time,
deftroy all the Fruits and Cattle of his
Majeſty's Dominions. Befides, our Hi-
ftorys of fix thouſand Moons make no
mention of any other Regions, than the
two great Empires of Lilliput and Ble-
fufcu. Which two mighty Powers have,
as I was going to tell you, been engaged
in a moft obftinate War for fix and thirty
Moons paft. It began upon the follow-
ing Occafion. It is allowed on all hands,
that the primitive way of breaking Eggs
before we eat them, was upon the larger
End: But his prefent Majefty's Grand-
father, while he was a Boy, going to eat
an Egg, and breaking it according to the
ancient Practice, happened to cut one of
his Fingers. Whereupon the Emperor
his Father publifhed an Edict, command-
ing all his Subjects, upon great Penaltys,
to break the fmaller End of their Eggs.
The People fo highly refented this Law,
that our Hiſtorys tell us there have been
fix Rebellions raiſed on that account;
wherein one Emperor loft his Life, and
F 3
an-
74
A VOYAGE
another his Crown.
Theſe civil Com-
motions were conftantly fomented by the
Monarchs of Blefufcu; and when they
were quelled, the Exiles always fled for
Refuge to that Empire. It is computed,
that eleven thoufand Perfons have, at
feveral times, fuffered Death, rather than
fubmit to break their Eggs at the ſmaller
End. Many hundred large Volumes have
been publifhed upon this Controverſy :
But the Books of the Big-Endians have
been long forbidden, and the whole Par-
ty rendred incapable by Law of hold-
ing Employments. During the Courſe
of thefe Troubles, the Emperors of Ble-
fufcu did frequently expoftulate by their
Embaffadors, accufing us of making a
Schifm in Religion, by offending againſt
a fundamental Doctrine of our great Pro-
phet Luftrog, in the fifty-fourth Chapter
of the Blundecral, (which is their Al-
coran.) This, however, is thought to be
a meer Strain upon the Text: For the
Words are thefe; That all true Believers
fball break their Eggs at the convenient
End :
to LILLIPUT.
75
End: and which is the convenient End,
ſeems, in my humble Opinion, to be left
to every Man's Confcience, or at leaſt in
the power of the Chief Magiftrate to de-
termine. Now, the Big-Endian Exiles
have found fo much Credit in the Emperor
of Blefufcu's Court, and fo much private
Affiſtance 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 loft forty Capital Ships, and a much
greater number of ſmaller Veffels, toge-
ther with thirty thoufand of our beft Sea-
men and Soldiers; and the Damage re-
ceived by the Enemy is reckon'd to be
ſomewhat greater than Ours. However,
they have now equipped a numerous
Fleet, and are juft preparing to make a
Deſcent upon us; and his Imperial Ma-
jefty placing great Confidence in your
Valour and Strength, hath commanded
Me to lay this Account of his Affairs
before You.
F 4
I
76
A VOYAGE
I defired the Secretary to prefent my
humble Duty to the Emperor, and to
let him know, that I thought it would
not become Me, who was a Foreigner, to
interfere with Parties; but I was ready,
with the hazard of my Life, to defend his
Perſon and State againſt all Invaders.
CHAP.
to LILLIPUT.
77
CHAP. V.
The Author by an extraordinary Stra-
tagem prevents an Invafion. A high
Title of Honour is conferred upon him.
Embaſſadors arrive from the Emperor
of Blefuſcu, and fue for Peace. The
Empress's Apartment on fire by an Ac-
cident; the Author inftrumental in
Saving the rest of the Palace.
HE Empire of Blefufcu is an
Ifland, fituated to the North
North-Eaft fide of Lilliput,
from whence it is parted only by a Chan-
nel of eight hundred Yards wide. I had
not yet feen it, and upon this Notice of an
intended Invafion, I avoided appearing on
that fide of the Coaft, for fear of being
diſcovered by fome of the Enemy's Ships,
who
78
A VOYAGE
who had received no Intelligence of me,
all Intercourfe between the two Empires
having been ſtrictly forbidden during
the War, upon pain of Death, and an
Embargo laid by our Emperor upon all
Veffels whatſoever. I communicated to
his Majefty a Project I had formed of
feizing 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 confulted the moſt expe-
rienced Seamen, upon the Depth of the
Channel, which they had often plummed,
who told me, that in the middle at High-
water it was ſeventy Glumgluffs deep,
which is about fix Foot of European Mea-
fure; and the reft of it fifty Glumgluffs at
moft. I walked towards the North-Eaſt
Coaſt over againſt Blefufcu; and lying
down behind a Hillock, took out my
fmall Pocket Perſpective-Glafs, and
viewed the Enemy's Fleet at Anchor, con-
fifting of about fifty Men of War, and a
great Number of Tranfports: I then
came back to my Houſe, and gave Order
(for
to LILLIPUT.
79
(for which I had a Warrant) for a great
Quantity of the ftrongeft Cable and Bars
of Iron. The Cable was about as thick
as Packthread, and the Bars of the length
and fize of a Knitting-Needle. I trebled
the Cable to make it ftronger, and for
the fame reafon I twifted three of the
Iron Bars together, binding the Extremi-
tys into a Hook. Having thus fixed fifty
Hooks to as many Cables, I went back
to the North-Eaſt Coaſt, and putting off
my Coat, Shooes, and Stockins, walked
into the Sea in my Leathern Jerkin, about
half an hour before high Water. I wa-
ded with what hafte I could, and ſwam in
the middle about thirty Yards till I felt
ground; I arrived to the Fleet in leſs than
half an hour. The Enemy was fo fright-
ed when they faw me, that they leaped
out of their Ships, and fwam to fhore,
where there could not be fewer than
thirty thouſand Souls. I then took my
Tackling, and faſtning a Hook to the hole
at the Prow of each, I tyed all the Cords
together at the End. While I was thus
em-
80
AVOYAGE
employed, the Enemy diſcharged feveral
thouſand Arrows, many of which ſtuck in
my Hands and Face; and befides the ex-
ceffive fmart, gave me much diſturbance in
my
Work. My greatest Apprehenfion was
for mine Eyes, which I fhould have in-
fallibly loft, if I had not fuddenly thought
of an Expedient. I kept among other
little Neceffarys a pair of Spectacles in a
private Pocket, which, as I obferved be-
fore, had fcaped the Emperor's Searchers.
Theſe I took out and faſtned as ſtrongly as
I could upon my Noſe, and thus armed
went on boldly with my Work in ſpight
of the Enemy's Arrows, many of which
ftruck againſt the Glaffes of my Spectacles,
but without any other Effect, further
than a little to diſcompofe them. I had
now faſtned 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, ſo that the
bold part of my Enterprize remained. I
therefore let go the Cord, and leaving
the Hooks fixed to the Ships, I refolutely
cuţ
to LILLIPUT.
81
cut with my Knife the Cables that faſt-
ned the Anchors, receiving above two
hundred Shots in my Face and Hands ;
then I took up the knotted End of the Ca-
bles to which my Hooks were tyed, and
with great eaſe drew fifty of the Enemy's
largeſt Men of War after me.
THE Blefufcudians, who had not the
leaſt Imagination of what I intended, were
at first confounded with Aftonifhment.
They had feen me cut the Cables, and
thought my Defign was only to let the
Ships run a-drift, or fall foul on each
other but when they perceived the
whole Fleet moving in Order, and faw
me pulling at the End, they fet up fuch a
fcream of Grief and Defpair, that it is
almoſt impoffible to defcribe or conceive.
When I had got out of danger, I ftopt a
while to pick out the Arrows that ſtuck in
my Hands and Face, and rubbed on fome
of the fame Ointment that was given me
at my first arrival, as I have formerly
mentioned. I then took off my Specta-
cles,
82
A VOYAGE
cles, and waiting about an hour till the
Tide was a little fallen, I waded through
the middle with my Cargo, and arrived
fafe at the Royal Port of Lilliput.
THE Emperor and his whole Court
ſtood on the Shore expecting the Iſſue of
this great Adventure. They faw the
Ships move forward in a large Half-Moon,
but could not difcern me, who was up
to my Breaft in Water. When I ad-
vanced to the middle of the Channel,
they were yet more in pain becauſe I
was under Water to my Neck. The Em-
peror concluded me to be drowned, and
that the Enemy's Flect was approaching in
a hoſtile manner: But he was foon eaſed
of his Fears, for the Channel growing
fhallower every step I made, I came in a
fhort time within hearing, and holding
up the end of the Cable by which the
Fleet was faftned, I cryed in a loud Voice,
Long live the most puissant Emperor of
Lilliput! This great Prince received me
at my Landing with all poffible Enco-
miums,
to LILLIPUT. 83
miums, and created me a Nardac upon
the fpot, which is the highest Title of
Honour among them.
His Majeſty defired I would take
ſome other Opportunity of bringing all
the reft of his Enemy's Ships into his
Ports. And ſo unmeaſurable is the Am-
bition of Princes, that he ſeemed to think
of nothing less than reducing the whole
Empire of Blefufcu into a Province, and
governing it by a Vice-Roy; of deſtroy-
ing the Big-Endian Exiles, and compelling
that People to break the fmaller end of
their Eggs, by which he would remain
the fole Monarch of the whole World.
But I endeavour'd to divert him from this
Defign, by many Arguments drawn from
the Topicks of Policy as well as Juftice:
And I plainly protefted, that I would never
be an Inftrument of bringing a Free and
Brave People into Slavery. And when
the Matter was debated in Council, the
wifeft part of the Miniftry were of my
Opinion.
THIS
84
A VOYAGE
THIS Open bold Declaration of mine,
was ſo oppofite to the Schemes and Poli-
ticks of his Imperial Majefty, that he
could never forgive it; he mentioned it
in a very artful manner at Council, where
I was told that ſome of the wifeft appear-
ed, at leaſt, by their Silence, to be of my
Opinion ; but others, who were my fecret
Enemies, could not forbear fome Ex-
preffions, which by a fide-wind reflect-
ed on me.
And from this time began an
Intrigue between his Majefty, and a Jun-
to of Miniſters maliciously bent againſt
me, which broke out in lefs than two
Months, and had like to have ended in
my utter Deſtruction. Of fo little weight
are the greateſt Services to Princes, when
put into the Ballance with a Refufal to
gratify their Paffions.
ABOUT three Weeks after this Ex-
ploit, there arrived a folemn Embaffy from
Blefufcu, with humble Offers of a Peace;
which was foon concluded upon Condi-
tions
to LILLIPUT.
85
!
tions very advantageous to our Emperor,
wherewith I fhall not trouble the Reader.
There were fix Ambaffadors, with a Train
of about five hundred Perfons, and their
Entry was very magnificent, fuitable to
the Grandeur of their Maſter, and the Im-
portance of their Bufinefs. When their
Treaty was finiſhed, wherein I did them fe-
veral 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
Vifit in Form. They began with many
Compliments upon my Valour and Gene-
rofity, invited me to that Kingdom in
the Emperor their Mafter's Name, and
defired me to fhew them fome Proofs of
my prodigious Strength, of which they
had heard fo many Wonders; wherein I
readily obliged them, but fhall not trou-
ble the Reader with the Particulars.
WHEN I had for fome time cnter-
tained their Excellencies to their infinite
Satisfaction and Surprize, I defired they
PARTI.
would
G
86
A VOYAGE
would do me the Honour to prefent my
moft humble Refpects to the Emperor
their Mafter, the Renown of whofe Vir-
tues had fo juftly filled the whole World
with Admiration, and whofe Royal Per-
fon I refolved to attend before I returned
to my own Country: accordingly, the
next time I had the honour to ſee our
Emperor, I defired his general Licence to
wait on the Blefufcudian Monarch, which
he was pleas'd to grant me, as I could plain-
ly perceive, in a very cold manner; but
could not gueſs the Reafon, till I had a
Whiſper from a certain Perfon, that
Flimnap and Bolgolam had reprefented
my Intercourſe with thoſe Ambaſſadors as
a mark of Difaffection, from which I am
fure 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 obferved, that theſe Am-
baffadors ſpoke to me by an Interpreter,
the Languages of both Empires differing
as much from each other as any two in
Europe,
to LILLIPUT
87
Europe, and each Nation priding itſelf
upon the Antiquity, Beauty, and Energy
of their own Tongues, with an avowed
Contempt for that of their Neighbour;
yet our Emperor ftanding upon the ad-
vantage he had got by the feiſure of their
Fleet, obliged them to deliver their Cre-
dentials, and make their Speech in the
Lilliputian Tongue. And it muſt be
confeffed, that from the great Intercourſe
of Trade and Commerce between both
Realms, from the continual Reception of
Exiles, which is mutual among them, and
from the Cuſtom in each Empire to fend
their young Nobility and richer Gentry to
the other, in order to polifh themſelves
by fecing the World, and underſtanding
Men and Manners; there are few Perfons
of Diſtinction, or Merchants, or Seamen,
who dwell in the Maritime Parts, but
what can hold Converfation in both
Tongues; as I found fome Weeks after,
when I went to pay my refpects to the
Emperor of Blefufcu, which in the midſt
of great Misfortunes, through the Malice of
G 2
my
88
A VOYAGE
my Enemies, proved a very happy Ad-
venture to me, as I fhall relate in its pro-
per place.
THE Reader may remember, that when
I figned thofe Articles upon which I reco-
vered my Liberty, there were ſome which
I difliked upon account of their being
too ſervile, neither could any thing but an
extreme Neceffity have forced me to fub-
mit. But being now a Nardac, of the
higheſt Rank in that Empire, fuch Offi-
ces were looked upon as below my Dig-
nity, and the Emperor (to do him Juſtice)
never once mentioned them to me. How-
ever, it was not long before I had an Op-
portunity of doing his Majefty, at leaſt,
as I then thought, a moft fignal Service.
I was alarmed at Midnight with the Crics
of many hundred People at my Door;
by which being fuddenly awaked, I was
in fome kind of Terror. I heard the
word Burglum repeated inceffantly: fe-
veral of the Emperor's Court making
their Way through the Croud, intreated
me
to LILLIPUT.
89
me to come immediately to the Palace,
where her Imperial Majefty's Apartment
was on fire, by the careleffneſs of a Maid
of Honour, who fell aſleep while fhe
was reading a Romance. I got up in an
inſtant; and Orders being given to clear
the way before me, and it being like-
wife a Moon-fhine Night, I made a
fhift to get to the Palace without tramp-
ling on any of the People. I found
they had already applied Ladders to
the Walls of the Apartment, and were
well provided with Buckets, but the Wa-
ter was at ſome diftance. Thefe Buckets
were about the fize of a large Thimble,
and the poor People fupplied me with
them as fast as they could; but the Flame
was fo violent, that they did little good.
I might eaſily have ſtifled it with my Coat,
which I unfortunately left behind me for
hafte, and came away only in my Leathern
Jerkin. The Cafe feemed wholly defpe-
rate and deplorable, and this magnificent
Palace would have infallibly been burnt
down to the ground, if, by a Preſence
G 3
of
90
A VOYAGE
of Mind, unufual to me, I had not fud-
denly thought of an Expedient. I had
the Evening before drank plentifully
of a moft delicious Wine, called Glimi-
grim, (the Blefufcudians call it Flunec,
but ours is cfteemed the better fort) which
is very diuretick. By the luckieft Chance
in the World, I had not diſcharged my-
ſelf 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 fuch a Quan-
tity, and applied fo well to the proper
Places, that in three Minutes the Fire
was wholly extinguifhed, and the reft of
that noble Pile, which had coft fo many
Ages in erecting, preferved from Deſtruc-
tion.
Ir was now Day-light, and I returned
to my Houfe, without waiting to congratu-
late with the Emperor; becaufe, although
I had done a very eminent piece of Ser-
vice, yet I could not tell how his Ma-
jefty
to LILLIPUT.
91
jefty might refent the manner by which
I had performed it: For, by the funda-
mental Laws of the Realm, it is Capital
in any Perfon, of what Quality foever,
to make water within the Precincts of
the Palace. But I was a little comforted
by a Meffage from his Majefty, that he
would give Orders to the Grand Juſtici-
ary for paffing my Pardon in form; which,
however, I could not obtain. And I was
privately affured, the Emprefs conceiving
the greateſt Abhorrence of what I had
done, removed to the moſt diſtant fide
of the Court, firmly reſolved that thoſe
Buildings fhould never be repaired for
her Ufe; and, in the prefence of her
chief Confidents, could not forbear vow-
ing Revenge.
G 4
CHAP.
92
A VOYAGE
CHAP. VI.
Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; their
Learning, Laws, and Customs, the
Manner of Educating their Children.
The Author's way of living in that
Country. His Vindication of a great
Lady.
Lthough I intend to leave the
Deſcription of this Empire to a
particular Treatife, yet in the
mean time I am content to gra-
tify the curious Reader with fome gene-
ral Ideas. As the common Size of the
Natives is fomewhat under fix Inches
high, fo there is an exact Proportion in
all other Animals, as well as Plants and
Trces: For inftance, the talleft Horfes
and Oxen are between four and five In-
ches
to LILLIPUT.
93
ches in height, the Sheep an Inch and a
half, more or lefs; their Geeſe about the
bigness of a Sparrow, and fo the ſeveral
Gradations downwards, till you come to
the ſmalleſt, which, to my fight, were
almoſt inviſible; but Nature hath adap-
ted the Eyes of the Lilliputians to all
Objects proper for their view: They fee
with great exactneſs, but at no great dif
tance. And to ſhow the fharpneſs of their
Sight toward Objects that are near, I have
been much pleaſed obferving a Cook pul-
ling a Lark, which was not fo large as a
common Fly; and a young Girl thread-
ing an invifible Needle with invifible Silk.
Their tallest Trees are about ſeven foot
high: Imean fome of thoſe in the great
Royal Park, the Tops whereof I could but
juſt reach with my Fift clenched. The
other Vegetables are in the fame Propor-
tion; but this I leave to the Reader's Ima-
gination.
I fhall fay but little at prefent of their
Learning, which for many Ages hath
flouriſhed
94
A VOYAGE
flouriſhed in all its Branches among them:
But their manner of Writing is very pecu-
liar, being neither from the Left to the
Right, like the Europeans; nor from the
Right to the Left, like the Arabians; nor
from up to down, like the Chinese; nor
from down to up, like the Cafcagians;
but aflant from one Corner of the Pa-
per to the other, like Ladies in England.
THEY bury their Dead with their
Heads directly downwards, becauſe they
hold an Opinion, that in eleven thou-
fand Moons they are all to rife again,
in which Period the Earth (which they
conceive to be flat) will turn upfide
down, and by this means they fhall, at
their Reſurrection, be found ready ftand-
ing on their Feet. The Learned among
them confefs the Abfurdity of this Doc-
trine, but the Practice ftill continues, in
compliance to the Vulgar,
THERE are fome Laws and Customs
in this Empire very peculiar; and if they
were
to LILLIPUT.
95
were not fo directly contrary to thoſe
of my own dear Country, I fhould be
tempted to ſay a little in their juſtification.
It is only to be wifhed, that they were as
well executed. The firſt I fhall mention,
relates to Informers. All Crimes againſt
the State are puniſhed here with the ut-
moſt ſeverity; but if the Perfon accufed
maketh his Innocence plainly to appear
upon his Tryal, the Accufer is immediate-
ly put to an ignominious Death; and out
of his Goods or Lands, the innocent Per-
fon is quadruply recompenfed for the Lofs
of his Time, for the Danger he under-
went, for the Hardſhip of his Imprifon-
ment, and for all the Charges he hath
been at in making his Defence. Or, if
that Fund be deficient, it is largely fup-
plyed by the Crown. The Emperor does
alſo confer on him fome publick Mark of
his Favour, and Proclamation is made of
his Innocence through the whole City.
THEY look upon Fraud as a greater
Crime than Theft, and therefore feldom
fail
96
A VOYAGE
fail to puniſh it with Death; for they
alledge, that Care and Vigilance, with a ve-
ry common Understanding, may preferve
a Man's Goods from Thieves, but Honeſty
has no fence againſt fuperior Cunning:
and fince it is neceffary that there fhould
be a perpetual Intercourfe of Buying and
Selling, and dealing upon Credit, where
Fraud is permitted or connived at, or hath
no Law to puniſh it, the honeft Dealer is
always undone, and the Knave gets the ad-
vantage. I remember when I was once in-
tercceding with the King for a Criminal
who had wronged his Mafter of a great
Sum of Money, which he had received
by Order, and ran away with; and hap-
pening to tell his Majefty, by way of Ex-
tenuation, that it was only a Breach of
Truft; 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 Anfwer, that different Nations
had different Cuſtoms; for, I confefs, I
was heartily aſhamed.
AL-
to LILLIPUT.
97
ALTHOUGH we ufually call Reward
and Puniſhment the two Hinges upon
which all Government turns, yet I could
never obferve this Maxim to be put in
practice by any Nation except that of
Lilliput. Whoever can there bring fuf-
ficient Proof that he hath ſtrictly obſerved
the Laws of his Country for feventy
three Moons, hath a claim to certain Pri-
vileges, according to his Quality and Con-
dition of Life, with a proportionable
Sum of Money out of a Fund appropria-
ted for that Ufe: He likewife acquires
the Title of Snilpall, or Legal, which is
added to his Name, but does not defcend
to his Pofterity. And thefe 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 Juftice, in their
Courts of Judicature, is formed with fix
Eyes, two before, as many behind, and
on cach ſide one, to fignify Circum-
fpection;
98 A VOYAGE
ſpection; with a Bag of Gold open in her
Right Hand, and a Sword fheathed in her
Left, to fhew ſhe is more difpofed to Re-
ward than to Puniſh.
IN chufing Perfons for all Employ-
ments, they have more regard to good
Morals than to great Abilities; for, fince
Government is neceffary to Mankind,
they believe that the common Size of Hu-
man Underſtandings, is fitted to fome
Station or other, and that Providence ne-
ver intended to make the Management of
publick Affairs a Myſtery, to be compre-
hended only by a few Perfons of fublime
Genius, of which there feldom are three
born in an Age: but they fuppofe Truth,
Juftice, Temperance, and the like, to be
in every Man's power; the Practice of
which Virtues, affifted by Experience and
a good Intention, would qualify any
Man for the fervice of his Country, ex-
cept where a Courſe of Study is required.
But they thought the want of Moral Vir-
tues was fo far from being fupplyed by fu-
perior
to LILLIPUT.
99
perior Endowments of the Mind, that
Employments could never be put into
fuch dangerous Hands as thofe of Perfons
fo qualify'd; and at leaſt, that the Mi-
ſtakes committed by Ignorance in a vir-
tuous Difpofition, would never be of fuch
fatal Confequence to the Publick Weal,
as the Practices of a Man whofe Inclina-
tions led him to be corrupt, and had
great Abilities to manage and multiply,
and defend his Corruptions.
IN like manner, the Disbelief of a
Divine Providence renders a Man uncapa-
ble of holding any Publick Station; for
fince Kings avow themſelves to be the De-
puties of Providence, the Lilliputians
think nothing can be more abfurd than
for a Prince to employ fuch Men as dif-
own the Authority under which he acts.
IN relating theſe and the following
Laws, I would only be underſtood to
mean the original Inſtitutions, and not
the moſt ſcandalous Corruptions into
which
100
AVOYAGE
which theſe People are fallen by the de-
generate Nature of Man. For as to
that infamous Practice of acquiring great
Employments by dancing on the Ropes,
or Badges of Favour and Diſtinction by
leaping over Sticks, and creeping under
them, the Reader is to obferve, that they
were first introduced by the Grand-father
of the Emperor now reigning, and grew
to the preſent height, by the gradual in-
creaſe of Party and Faction.
INGRATITUDE is among them a
capital Crime, as we read it to have been
in fome other Countries; for they reaſon
thus, that whoever makes ill Returns to
his Benefactor, muft needs be a common
Enemy to the reft of Mankind, from
whom he hath received no Obligation,
and therefore fuch a Man is not fit to live.
THEIR Notions relating to the Du-
ties of Parents and Children differ ex-
tremely from ours. For, fince the Con-
junction of Male and Female is founded
upon
to LILLIPUT.
ΙΟΙ
upon the great Law of Nature, in order
to propagate and continue the Species, the
Lilliputians will needs have it, that Mcn
and Women are joined together like
other Animals, by the Motives of Con-
cupifcence; and that their Tenderness to-
wards their Young proceeds from the like
natural Principle: for which reaſon they
will never allow, that a Child is under
any Obligation to his Father for begetting
him, or his Mother for bringing him into
the World; which, confidering the Miſe-
ries of human Life, was neither a Benefit
in it felf, or intended fo by his Parents,
whofe Thoughts in their Love-Encoun-
ters were otherwife employ'd. Upon
theſe, and the like Reaſonings, their
Opinion is, that Parents are the laſt of
all others to be trufted with the Educa-
tion of their own Children and there-
fore they have in every Town publick
Nurferies, where all Parents, except Cot-
tagers and Labourers, are obliged to fend
their Infants of both Sexes to be reared
and educated when they come to the Age of
twenty
PART I.
H
102
A VOYAGE
twenty Moons, at which time, they are
ſuppoſed to have fome Rudiments of Do-
cility. Thefe Schools are of ſeveral
kinds, fuited to different Qualities, and
to both Sexes. They have certain Pro-
feffors well skilled in preparing Children
for fuch a condition of Life as befits the
Rank of their Parents, and their own
Capacities as well as Inclinations.
fhall firſt ſay ſomething of the Male Nur-
feries, and then of the Female.
I
THE Nurferies for Males of Noble or
Eminent Birth, are provided with Grave
and Learned Profeffors, and their feveral
Deputics. The Clothes and Food of the
Children are plain and fimple. They are
bred up in the Principles of Honour,
Juftice, Courage, Modefty, Clemency,
Religion, and Love of their Country;
they are always employed in fome Bufi-
nefs, except in the times of Eating and
Sleeping, which are very fhort, and two
Hours for Diverfions, confifting of bodi-
ly Exercifes. They are dreffed by Mcn
till
to LILLIPUT.
103
till four Years of Age, and then are
obliged to dress themfelves, although
their Quality be ever fo great; and the
Women Attendants, who are aged pro-
portionably to ours at fifty, perform on-
ly the most menial Offices.
They are.
never fuffered to converfe with Servants,
but go together in ſmall or greater num-
bers to take their Diverfions, and always
in the preſence of a Profeffor, or one of
his Deputies; whereby they avoid thoſe
early bad Impreffions of Folly and Vice
to which our Children are fubject.
Their Parents are fuffered to fee them
only twice a Year; the Vifit is to laft but
àn hour. They are allowed to kifs the
Child at Meeting and Parting; but a Pro-
feffor, who always ftands by on thoſe oc-
cafions, will not fuffer them to whiſper,
or ufe any fondling Expreffions, or bring
any Preſents of Toys, Sweet-meats, and
the like.
THE Penfion from each Family for
the Education and Entertainment of a
H 2
Child
1
104
A VOYAGE
:
Child, upon failure of due payment, is
levyed by the Emperor's Officers.
THE Nurferics for Children of ordi-
nary Gentlemen, Merchants, Traders,
and Handicrafts, are managed proportion-
ably after the fame manner; only thoſe
defigned for Trades, are put out Ap-
prentices at Eleven years old, whereas
thoſe of Perſons of Quality continue in
their Nurſeries till Fifteen, which anſwers
to One and Twenty with us: but the
Confinement is gradually leffened for the
laft three Years.
IN the Female Nurferies, the young
Girls of Quality are educated much like
the Males, only they are dreffed by or-
derly Servants of their own Sex, but al-
ways in the prefence of a Profeffor or
Deputy, till they come to dress them-
felves, which is at five Years old. And if
it be found that thefe Nurfes ever pre-
fume to entertain the Girls with frightful
or fooliſh Stories, or the common Follies
practifed
to LILLIPUT.
105
practiſed by Chamber-Maids among us,
they are publickly whipped thrice about
the City, imprifoned for a Year, and
baniſhed for Life to the most defo-
late Part of the Country.
Thus the
young Ladies there are as much aſhamed
of being Cowards and Fools, as the Men,
and deſpiſe all perfonal Ornaments be-
yond Decency and Cleanlinefs: Neither
did I perceive any Difference in their Edu-
cation, made by their Difference of Sex,
only that the Exercifes of the Females
were not altogether fo robuft; and that
fome Rules were given them relating to
domeftick Life, and a fmaller Compafs
of Learning was enjoined them: For the
Maxim is, that among People of Qua
lity, a Wife ſhould be always a reaſona-
ble and agreeable Companion, becaufe
ſhe cannot always be young. When the
Girls are twelve Years old, which among
them is the marriageable Age, their Pa-
rents or Guardians take them home, with
great Expreffions of Gratitude to the
Profeffors, and feldom without Tears
H 3
of
106 A VOYAGE
of the young Lady and her Compa-
nions.
IN the Nurſeries of Females of the
meaner fort, the Children are inftructed
in all kinds of Works proper for their
Sex, and their feveral degrees: Thoſe in-
tended for Apprentices, are difmiffed at
nineYears old, the reft are kept to thirteen.
THE meaner Families, who have Chil-
dren at thefe Nurferies, are obliged, be-
fides their annual Penfion, which is
as low as poflible, to return to the
Steward of the Nurfery a fmall month-
ly Share of their Gettings, to be a Por-
tion for the Child; and therefore all Pa-
rents are limited in their Expences by
the Law.
For the Lilliputians think
nothing can be more unjust, than for
People, in fubfervience to their own Ap-
petites, to bring Children into the World,
and leave the Burthen of fupporting them
on the Publick. As to Perfons of Qua-
lity, they give Security to appropriate a
cer-
to LILLIPUT.
107
certain Sum for each Child, fuitable to
their Condition; and thefe Funds are al-
ways managed with good Husbandry, and
the moſt exact Juftice.
THE Cottagers and Labourers keep
their Children at home, their Bufincfs be-
ing only to till and cultivate the Earth,
and therefore their Education is of little
confequence to the Publick; but the
Old and Diſeaſed among them are fup-
ported by Hoſpitals: for Begging is a
Trade unknown in this Kingdom.
AND here it may perhaps divert the
curious Reader, to give fome account of
my Domeſtick, and my manner of living
in this Country, during a Refidence of
nine Months and thirteen Days. Hav-
ing a Head mechanically turned, and be-
ing likewife forced by neceffity, I had
made for myſelf a Table and Chair con-
venient enough, out of the largeſt Trees
in the Royal Park. Two hundred Semp-
ftreffes were employed to make me Shirts,
and
H 4
108 A VOYAGE
and Linnen for my Bed and Table, all of
the ſtrongeſt and coarſeft kind they could
get; which, however, they were forced
to quilt together in feveral Folds, for the
thickeſt was fome degrees finer than
Lawn. Their Linnen is ufually three In-
ches wide, and three Foot make a Piece.
The Sempftreffes took my Meaſure as I
lay on the ground, one ſtanding at my
Neck, and another at my Mid Leg, with
a ftrong Cord extended, that cach held
by the end, while the third meaſured the
length of the Cord with a Rule of an
Inch long. Then they meaſured my right
Thumb, and defired no more; for by a
mathematical Computation, that twice
round the Thumb is once round the
Wrift, and fo on to the Neck and the
Waiſt, and by the help of my old Shirt,
which I displayed on the Ground before
them for a Pattern, they fitted me ex-
actly. Three hundred Taylors were em-
ployed in the fame manner to make me
Clothes; but they had another Contri-
vance for taking my Meaſure. Ikneeled
down,
to LILLIPUT.
109
down, and they raiſed a Ladder from the
Ground to my Neck; upon this Ladder
one of them mounted, and let fall a Plum-
Line from my Collar to the Floor, which
juſt anſwered the length of my Coat;
but my Waiſt and Arms I meaſured my-
felf. When my Clothes were finiſhed,
which was done in my Houſe, (for the
largeſt of theirs would not be able to
hold them) they looked like the Patch-
Work made by the Ladies in England,
only that mine were all of a Colour.
I had three hundred Cooks to dreſs
my Victuals, in little convenient Huts
built about my Houfe, where they and
their Families lived, and prepared me two
Diſhes a-piece. I took up twenty Waiters
in my Hand, and placed them on the
Table, an hundred more attended below
on the Ground, fome with Difhes of
Mcat, and ſome with Barrels of Wine,
and other Liquors, flung on their Shoul-
ders; all which the Waiters above drew
up as I wanted, in a very ingenious man-
ner,
IIO
A VOYAGE
ner, 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 fo large, that I have been for-
ced to make three Bits of it; but this is
rare. My Servants were aftoniſhed to fee
me eat it Bones and all, as in our Coun-
try we do the Leg of a Lark. Their
Geefe and Turkeys I ufually cat at a
Mouthful, and I must confefs they far
exceed ours. Of their finaller Fowl I
could take up twenty or thirty at the
end of my Knife.
ONE day his Imperial Majefty being
informed of my way of living, defired
that 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 'em
upon Chairs of State on my Table, juft
over-
to LILLIPUT.
III
That
over-against me, with their Guards about
them. Flimnap the Lord High Treaſurer
attended there likewife, with his white
Staff; and I obferved he often looked on
me with a four Countenance, which I
would not feem to regard, but cat more
than ufual, in honour to my dear Coun-
try, as well as to fill the Court with
Admiration. I have fome private Rea-
fons to believe, that this Vifit from his
Majefty gave Flimnap an opportunity of
doing me ill Offices to his Mafter.
Minifter had always been my fecret Ene-
my, though he outwardly careffed me
more than was ufual to the Morofeneſs
of his Nature. He repreſented to the
Emperor the low Condition of his Trea-
fury; that he was forced to take up Mo-
ney at great Difcount; that Exchequer
Bills would not circulate under nine per
Cent, below Par; that in fhort I had coft his
Majefty above a Million and a half of
Sprugs, (their greatest Gold Coin, about
the bigness of a Spangle ;) and upon the
whole, that it would be advifeable in the
Em-
112 A VOYAGE
Emperor to take the firft fair Occafion
of diſmiſſing me.
i
I am here obliged to vindicate the Re-
putation of an excellent Lady, who was
an innocent Sufferer upon my account.
The Treaſurer took a fancy to be jea-
lous of his Wife, from the Malice of
fome Evil Tongues, who informed him
that her Grace had taken a violent Af-
fection for my Perfon, and the Court-
Scandal ran for fome time, that he once
came privately to my Lodging. This I
folemnly declare to be a moft infamous
Falfhood, without any Grounds, farther
than that her Grace was pleaſed to treat
me with all innocent Marks of Freedom
and Friendſhip. I own fhe came often to
my Houſe, but always publickly, nor
ever without three more in the Coach,
who were uſually her Sifter and young
Daughter, and ſome particular Acquain-
tance; but this was common to many
other Ladies of the Court. And I ftill
appeal to my Servants round, whether
they
to LILLIPUT.
113
they at any time faw a Coach at my
Door without knowing what Perfons
were in it. On thofe Occafions, when
a Servant had given me notice, my Cuf-
tom was to go immediately to the Door:
and, after paying my Refpects, to take
up the Coach and two Horfes very care-
fully in my Hands, (for if there were fix
Horſes, the Poftillion always unharneffed
four) and place them on a Table, where
I had fixed a moveable Rim quite round,
of five Inches high, to prevent Accidents.
And I have often had four Coaches and
Horſes at once on my Table full of Com-
pany, while I fate in my Chair, leaning
my Face towards them; and when I was
engaged with one Sett, the Coachmen
would gently drive the others round my
Table. I have paſſed many an Afternoon
very agreeably in theſe Converſations.
But I defy the Treaſurer, or his two In-
formers, (I will name them, and let 'em
make their beſt of it) Cluftril and Drunlo,
to prove that any Perfon ever came to
me incognito, except the Secretary Rel
drefal,
114 A VOYAGE
drefal, who was fent by exprefs Com-
mand of his Imperial Majefty, as I have
before related. I fhould not have dwelt
fo long upon this Particular, if it had not
been a Point wherein the Reputation of
a great Lady is fo nearly concerned, to
ſay nothing of my own; though I had
then the Honour to be a Nardac, which
the Treaſurer himſelf is not; for all the
World knows he is only a Glumglum, a
Title inferiour by one Degree, as that of
a Marquiſs is to a Duke in England, al-
though I allow he preceded me in right
of his Poft. Theſe falfe Informations,
which I afterwards came to the know-
ledge of, by an Accident not proper to
mention, made Flimnap, the Treaſurer,
fhew his Lady for fome time an ill Coun-
tenance, and me a worfe; and although
he were at laft undeceived and reconciled
to her, yet I loft all Credit with him, and
found my Intereft decline very faſt with
the Emperor himſelf, who was indeed too
much governed by that Favourite.
CHAP.
to LILLIPUT. 115
CHAP. VII.
The Author being informed of a De-
fign to accufe him of High-Treafon,
makes his Eſcape to Blefufcu. His
Reception there.
B
EFORE I proceed to give an
account of my leaving this King-
dom, it may be proper to in-
form the Reader of a private Intrigue
which had been for two Months for-
ming againſt me.
I had been hitherto all my Life a
Stranger to Courts, for which I was un-
qualified by the Meannefs of my Con-
dition. I had indeed heard and read e-
nough of the Difpofitions of great Prin-
ces and Minifters; but never expected to
have
116 A VOYAGE
have found fuch terrible Effects 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 Ble-
fufcu, a confiderable Perfon at Court (to
whom I had been very ſerviceable at a
time when he lay under the higheſt Diſ-
pleaſure of his Imperial Majefty) came to
my Houſe very privately at Night in a
clofe Chair, and, without fending his
Name, defired admittance: The Chair-
Men were difmiffed; I put the Chair,
with his Lordship in it, into my Coat-
Pocket; and giving Orders to a truſty Ser-
vant to fay I was indifpofed and gone to
fleep, I faftened the Door of my Houfe,
placed the Chair on the Table, according
to my uſual Cuſtom, and fate down by
it. After the common Salutations were
over, obſerving his Lordfhip's Counte-
nance full of Concern; and enquiring
into the reaſon, he defired I would hear
him
to LILLIPUT. 117
him with patience in a Matter that highly
concerned my Honour and my Life. His
Speech was to the following effect, for I
took Notes of it as foon as he left me.
You are to know, ſaid he, that ſeve-
ral Committees of Council have been
lately called in the moſt private manner
on your account: And it is but two days
fince his Majefty came to a full Refolu-
tion.
}
You are very fenfible that Skyris Bol
golam (Galbet, or High Admiral) hath
been your mortal Enemy almoſt ever fince
yður Arrival: His original Reaſons I
know not; but his Hatred is much en-
creafed fince your great Succeſs againſt
Blefufcu, by which his Glory, as Admiral,
is obfcur'd. This Lord, in conjunction
with Flimnap the High Treaſurer, whole
Enmity against you is notorious on ac-
count of his Lady, Limtoc the General,
Lalcon the Chamberlain, and Balmuff
the grand Jufticiary, have prepared Ar-
PART I
I
ticles
118 A VOYAGE
ticles of Impeachment againſt you, for
Treaſon, and other capital Crimes.
THIS Preface made me fo impatient,
being conſcious of my own Merits and
Innocence, that I was going to interrupt;
when he entreated me to be filent, and
thus proceeded.
OUT of Gratitude for the Favours
you have done me, I procured Informa-
tion of the whole Proceedings, and a
Copy of the Articles, wherein I venture
my Head for
your
Service.
+
Articles of Impeachment against Quin-
bus Fleftrin (the Man-Mountain.)
ARTICLE I.
WHEREAS, by a Statute made in
the Reign of his Imperial Majefty
Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted, That
whoever ſhall make water within the
Precincts of the Royal Palace, fhall be
liable to the Pains and Penalties of High
Treafon :
to LILLIPUT. 119
Treafon Notwithſtanding the faid Quin-
bus Fleftrin, in open breach of the faid
Law; under colour of extinguiſhing the
Fire Kindled in the Apartment of his
Majeſty's dear Imperial Confort, did ma-
licioufly, traitorously, and devilishly, by
diſcharge of his Uriné, put out the faid
Fire kindled in the faid Apartment, ly-
ing and being within the Precincts of the
faid Royal Palace, againſt the Statute in
that cafe provided, &c. againſt the Duty,
&c.
ARTICLE II.
"
THAT the faid Quinbus Fleftrin hav
ing brought the Imperial Fleet of Ble-
fufcu into the Royal Port, and being af
terwards commanded by his Imperial Ma-
jeſty to feize all the other Ships of the
faid Empire of Blefufcu, and reduce that
Empire to a Province, to be governed by
Vice-Roy from hence, and to deſtroy
and put to death not only all the Big-
Endian Exiles, but likewiſe all the Peo-
ple of that Empire, who would not im-
mediately
I 2
120 A VOYAGE
mediately forfake the Big-Endian Herefy:
He the faid Fleftrin, like a falfe Traitor
againſt his moſt Aufpicious, Serene, Im-
perial Majefty, did petition to be excufed
from the faid Service upon pretence of
unwillingneſs to force the Conſciences,
or deftroy the Liberties and Lives of an
innocent People.
ARTICLE
III.
THAT, whereas certain Embaffadors
arrived from the Court of Blefüfcu, to
fue for Peace in his Majefty's Court:
He the faid Fleftrin did, like a falfe Traitor,
aid, abet, comfort, and divert the ſaid
Embaffadors, although he knew them to
be Servants to a Prince who was lately
an open Enemy to his Imperial Majefty,
and in open War againſt his ſaid Majeſty.
ARTICLE IV.
THAT the faid Quinbus Fleftrin, con
trary to the Duty of a faithful Subject,
is now preparing to make a Voyage to the
Court and Empire of Blefufcu, for which
hc
to LILLIPUT.
121
he hath received only verbal Licence from
his Imperial Majefty; and under colour
of the ſaid Licence doth falfly and trai-
torouſly intend to take the faid Voyage,
and thereby to aid, comfort, and abet the
Emperor of Blefufcu, fo late an Enemy,
and in open War with his Imperial Ma-
jeſty aforesaid.
THERE are fome other Articles, but
theſe are the moſt important, of which I
have read you an Abſtract.
1
IN the ſeveral Debates upon this Im-
peachment, it muſt be confeffed that his
Majeſty gave many marks of his great Le-
nity, often urging the Services you had
done him, and endeavouring to extenuate
your Crimes. The Treafurer and Admi-
ral infifted that you fhould be put to the
moſt painful and ignominious Death, by
fetting fire on your Houſe at Night, and
the General was to attend with twenty
thouſand Men armed with poiſoned Ar-
rows to ſhoot you on the Face and Hands.
I 3
Some
1.2.2
A VOYAGE
Some of your Servants were to have pri-
vate Orders to ftrew a poisonous Juice on
your Shirts, which would foon make you
tear your own Fleſh, and die in the ut-
moft Torture. The General came into
the fame Opinion; fo that for a long
time there was a Majority againſt you;
But his Majefty refolving, if poffible, to
ſpare your Life, at laſt brought off the
Chamberlain.
UPON this Incident, Reldrefal, Prin-
cipal Secretary for private Affairs, who
always approved himself your true Friend,
was commanded by the Emperor to de-
liver his Opinion, which he according-
ly did and therein juftify'd the good
Thoughts you have of him. He allowed
your Crimes to be great, but that ftill
there was room for Mercy, the moſt com-
mendable Virtue in a Prince, and for
which his Majefty was fo juftly celebrated.
He faid, the Friendship between you and
him was fo well known to the World,
that perhaps the moſt honourable Board
might
to LILLIPUT.
123
might think him partial: However, in
obedience to the Command he had re-
ceived, he would freely offer his Senti-
ments. That if his Majefty, in confide-
ration of your Services, and purſuant to
his own merciful Difpofition, would
pleaſe to ſpare your Life, and only give
order to put out both your Eyes, he hum-
bly conceived, that by this Expedient,
Juftice might in fome meaſure be fatif
fied, and all the World would applaud
the Lenity of the Emperor, as well as the
fair and generous Proceedings of thoſe
who have the Honour to be his Coun-
fellors. That the lofs of your Eyes
would be no Impediment to your bodily
Strength, by which you might ſtill be uſe-
ful to his Majefty. That Blindneſs is an
addition to Courage, by concealing Dan-
gers from us; that the Fear you had for
your Eyes, was the greateſt Difficulty in
bringing over the Enemy's Fleet, and it
would be fufficient for you to fee by the
Eyes of the Minifters, fince the greate
Princes do no more.
I 4
THIS
124
A VOYAGE
THIS Propofal was received with the
utmoſt Diſapprobation by the whole
Board. Bolgolam, the Admiral, could
not preferve his Temper; but rifing up in
Fury, faid, he wondered how the Secre-
tary durft preſume to give his Opinion for
preſerving the Life of a Traytor: That
the Services you had performed, were, by
all true Reaſons of State, the great Ag-
gravation of your Crimes; that you, who
were able to extinguifh the Fire, by dif
charge of Urine in her Majefty's Apart-
ment (which he mentioned with horror)
might, at another time, raiſe an Inunda-
tion by the fame means, to drown the
whole Palace; and the fame Strength
which enabled you to bring over the Ene-
my's Fleet, might ferve, 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 Treafon
begins in the Heart before it appears in
Overt-Acts, ſo he accuſed you as a Traytoṛ
on that account, and therefore inſiſted you
fhould be put to death.
THE
to LILLIPUT.
125
THE Treaſurer was of the fame Opi
nion; he fhewed to what ftreights his Ma-
jeſty's Revenue was reduced by the charge
of maintaining you, which would foon
grow infupportable: That the Secretary's
Expedient of putting out your Eyes was
fo far from being a Remedy againſt this
Evil, it would probably increaſe it, as it
is manifeft from the common practice of
blinding ſome kind of Fowl, after which
they fed the fafter, and grew fooner fat:
That his facred Majefty, and the Council,
who are your Judges, were in their own
Confciences fully convinced of your
Guilt, which was a fufficient Argument
to condemn you to Death, without the
formal Proofs required by the ftrict Letter
of the Law.
BUT his Imperial Majefty fully deter-
mined againſt capital Punishment, was
graciouſly pleaſed to ſay, that fince the
Council thought the lofs of your Eyes
too cafy a Cenfure, fome other may be
in.
126
A VOYAGE
inflicted hereafter. And your Friend the
Secretary humbly defiring to be heard
again, in anſwer to what the Treaſurer
had objected concerning the great Charge
his Majefty was at in maintaining you,
faid, that his Excellency, who had the fole
diſpoſal of the Emperor's Revenue, might
cafily provide againſt that Evil, by gradual-
ly leffening your Eftabliſhment; 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 Months; neither would the
Stench of your Carcafs be then ſo dan-
gerous, when it fhould become more
than half diminifhed; and immediately
upon your Death, five or fix Thouſand
of his Majeſty's Subjects might, in two
or three days, cut your Flefh from your
Bones, take it away by Cart-loads, and
bury it in diſtant parts to prevent In-
fection, leaving the Skeleton as a Monu-
ment of Admiration to Pofterity.
THUS
to LILLIPUT. 127
THUS by the great Friendfhip of the
Secretary, the whole Affair was compro-
miſed. It was ftrictly enjoin'd, that the
Project of ſtarving you by degrees fhould
be kept a Secret, but the Sentence of put-
ting out your Eyes was entered on the
Books; none diffenting except Bolgolam
the Admiral, who being a Creature of
the Empreſs, was perpetually inftigated
by her Majefty to infift upon your Death,
fhe having born perpetual Malice againſt
you, on account of that infamous and
illegal Method you took to extinguiſh
the Fire in her Apartment,
IN three days your Friend the Secre-
tary will be directed to come to your
Houſe, and read before you the Articles
of Impeachment; and then to fignify the
great Lenity and Favour of his Majeſty
and Council, whereby you are only con-
demned to the loss of your Eyes, which
his Majefty doth not queftion you will
gratefully and humbly fubmit to; and
twenty
128 A VOYAGE
twenty of his Majefty's Surgeons will at-
tend, in order to fee the Operation well
performed, by diſcharging very fharp-
pointed Arrows into the Balls of your
Eyes, as you lie on the Ground.
I leave to your Prudence what Mea-
fures you will take; and to avoid Suſpi-
cion, I muft immediately return in as pri-
vate a manner as I came.
His Lordſhip did fo, and I remained
alone, under many Doubts and Perplexi-
ties of Mind.
It was a Cuſtom introduced by this
Prince and his Miniftry, (very different,
as I have been affured, from the Practices
of former 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 made
a Speech to his whole Council, expreffing
his great Lenity and Tenderneſs, as Qua-
lities known and confeffed by all the
World.
to LILLIPUT. 129
World. This Speech was immediately
publiſhed through the Kingdom; nor
did any thing terrify the People ſo much
as thoſe Encomiums on his Majefty's
Mercy; becauſe it was obſerved, that the
more theſe Praiſes were enlarged and in-
fifted on, the more inhuman was the Pu-
niſhment, and the Sufferer more inno-
cent. And as to myſelf, I muſt confeſs,
having never been defigned for a Courtier
either by my Birth or Education, I was fo
ill a Judge of Things, that I could not
difcover the Lenity and Favour of this
Sentence, but conceived it (perhaps er-
roneouſly) rather to be rigorous than gen-
tle. Ifometimes thought of ftanding my
Tryal, for although I could not deny the
Facts alledged in the ſeveral Articles, yet
I hoped they would admit of ſome Exte-
nuations. But having in my Life peruſed
many State-Tryals, which I ever obſerved
to terminate as the Judges thought fit to
direct, I durft not rely on fo dangerous
a Decifion, in fo critical a Juncture, and
againſt ſuch powerful Enemies. Once I
was
130 A VOYAGE
was ftrongly bent upon Refiftance, for
while I had Liberty, the whole Strength
of that Empire could hardly fubdue me,
and I might eafily with Stones pelt the Me-
tropolis to pieces; but I foon rejected that
Project with Horror, by remembring the
Oath I had made to the Emperor, the Fa-
vours I received from him, and the high
Title of Nardac he conferred upon me.
Neither had I fo foon learned the Grati-
tude of Courtiers, to perfuade myſelf
that his Majeſty's prefent Severities acquit
ted me of all paft Obligations.
AT laft I fixed upon a Refolution, for
which it is probable I may incur fome'
Cenfure, and not unjustly; for I confefs
I owe the preſerving mine Eyes, and con-
fequently my Liberty, to my own great
Raſhneſs and want of Experience: be-
cauſe if I had then known the Nature of
Princes and Minifters, which I have fince
obferved in many other Courts, and their
Methods of treating Criminals lefs ob-
noxious than myſelf, I fhould with
great
ala-
to LILLIPUT. 131
alacrity and readineſs have fubmitted to ſo
eafy a Puniſhment. But hurry'd on by
the Precipitancy of Youth, and having
his Imperial Majefty's Licence to pay my
Attendance upon the Emperor of Blefuf-
cu, I took this Opportunity, before the
three Days were elapfed, to fend a Letter
to my Friend the Secretary, fignifying my
Refolution of ſetting out that Morning
for Blefufcu purſuant to the leave. I had
got; and without waiting for an Anſwer,
I went to that fide of the Ifland where
our Fleet lay, I feized a large Man of
War, tyd a Cable to the Prow, and lift-
ing up the Anchors, I ftript myſelf, put
my Cloaths (together with my Coverlet,
which I brought under my Arm) into the
Veſſel, 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 fame Name. I held them
in my Hands till I came within two hun-
dred Yards of the Gate, and defired them to
fignify
132
A VOYAGE
fignify my Arrival to one of the Secreta
rys, and let him know, I there waited
his Majeſty's Command. I had an An-
fwer in about an Hour, that his Majefty,
attended by the Royal Family, and great
Officers of the Court, was coming out to
receive me. I advanced a Hundred Yards.
The Emperor, and his Train, alighted
from their Horſes, the Empreſs and La-
dies from their Coaches, and I did not per-
ceive they were in any Fright or Concern.
I lay on the Ground to kiſs his Majefty's
and the Emprefs's Hand. I told his Ma-
jeſty that I was come according to my Pro-
miſe, and with the Licence of the Empe-
ror my Maſter, to have the Honour of
ſeeing ſo Mighty å Monarch, and to offer
him any Service in my power, confiftent
with my Duty to my own Prince; not
mentioning a Word of my Difgrace, be-
cauſe I had hitherto no regular Informa-
tion of it, and might ſuppoſe myſelf
wholly ignorant of any fuch Defign;
neither could I reaſonably conceive that
the Emperor would difcover the Secret
while
to
LILLIPUT. 133
while I was out of his power: wherein,
however, it foon appeared I was deceived.
I fhall not trouble the Reader with the
particular Account of my Reception at
this Court, which was fuitable to the
Generosity of fo great a Prince; nor of
the Difficulties I was in for want of a
Houſe and Bed, being forced to lie on the
Ground, wrapt up in my Coverlet.
PART I.
K
CHAP.
134
A VOYAGE
CHAP. VIII.
The Author, by a lucky Accident, finds
means to leave Blefufcu; and, after
fome Difficulties, returns fafe to his
Native Country.
ཀལ
F
HREE Days after my Arrival,
walking out of Curiofity to the
North-Eaſt Coaſt of the Iſland, I
obferved, about half a League off, in the
Sea, fomewhat that looked like a Boat
overturned. I pulled off my Shoes and
Stockings, and wading two or three Hun-
dred 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
fuppofed might, by fome Tempeft, have
been driven from a Ship: whereupon I re-
turned immediately towards the City, and
defired
to LILLIPUT.
135
defired his Imperial Majefty to lend me
twenty of the talleſt Veffels he had left af-
ter the Lofs of his Fleet, and three thou-
fand Seamen under the Command of the
Vice-Admiral. This Fleet failed round,
while I went back the ſhorteſt way to the
Coaſt where I firſt diſcovered the Boat; I
found the Tide had driven it ftill nearer.
The Seamen were all provided with Cor-
dage, which I had beforehand twiſted to a
fufficient ſtrength. When the Ships came
up, Iftript my felf, and waded till I came
within an hundred Yards of the Boat, af-
ter which I was forced to fwim till I got
up to it. The Seamen threw me the end
of the Cord, which I faftned to a Hole in
the fore-part of the Boat, and the other
end to a Man of War: But I found all my
Labour to little purpofe; for being out of
my depth, I was not able to work. In
this Neceffity, I was forced to fwim behind,
and puſh the Boat forwards as often as I
could, with one of my Hands; and the
Tide favouring me, I advanced to far, that
I could juſt hold up my Chin and feel the
K 2
Ground.
136
A VOYAGE
Ground. Irefted two or three Minutes,
and then gave the Boat another Shove,
and ſo on till the Sea was no higher than
my Arm-pits; and now the moſt laborious
part being over, I took out my other Ca-
bles which were ftowed in one of the
Ships, and faſtening them firſt to the Boat,
and then to nine of the Veffels which at-
tended me j the Wind being favourable
the Sea-men towed, and I fhoved till we
arrived within forty Yards of the Shore,
and waiting till the Tide was out, I got
dry to the Boat, and by the affiſtance of
two thouſand Men, with Ropes and En-
gines, I made a fhift to turn it on its
Bottom, and found it was but little da-
maged.
I fhall not trouble the Reader with the
Difficulties I was under by the help of
certain Paddles, which coft me ten days
making, to get my Boat to the Royal
Port of Blefufcu, where a mighty con-
courſe of People appeared upon my ar-
rival, full of Wonder at the-fight of fo
pro-
to LILLIPUT.
137
prodigious a Veffel. I told the Emperor
that my good Fortune had thrown this
Boat in my way, to carry me to fome
place from whence I might return into
my native Country, and begged his Ma-
jeſty's Orders for getting Materials to fit it
up, together with his Licence to de-
part; which, after fome kind Expoftu-
lations, he was pleaſed to grant.
2
C
جه
I did very much wonder, in all this
time, not to have heard of any Expreſs
relating to me from our Emperor to the
Court of Blefufcu. But I was after-
wards given privately to underſtand, that
his Imperial Majefty, never imagining I
had the leaſt notice of his Defigns, be-
lieved I was only gone to Blefufcu in
performance of my Promife, according
to the Licence he had given me, which
was well known at our Court, and would
return in a few days when that Ceremony
was ended. But he was at laſt in pain at
my long abſence; and, after confulting
with the Treaſurer, and the reſt of that
Cabal,
K 3
138 A VOYAGE
Cabal, a Perfon of Quality was diſpatched
with the Copy of the Articles againſt me.
This Envoy had Inftructions to repreſent
to the Monarch of Blefufcu, the great
Lenity of his Mafter, who was content
to puniſh me no further than with the lofs
of mine Eyes; that I had fled from Juſtice,
and if I did not return in two Hours, I
fhould be deprived of my Title of Nar-
dac, and declared a Traitor. The Envoy
further added, that in order to maintain
the Peace and Amity between both Em-
pires, his Mafter expected, that his Brother
of Blefufcu would give Orders to have
me fent back to Lilliput, bound Hand
and Foot, to be punished as a Traitor.
THE Emperor of Blefufcu having ta-
ken three Days to confult, returned an
Anfwer, confifting of many Civilities and
Excufes. He ſaid, that as for ſending
me bound, his Brother knew it was im-
poffible; that although I had deprived
him of his Fleet, yet he owed great Ob-
ligations to me for many good Offices I
had
to LILLIPUT.
139
had done him in making the Peace. That
however both their Majefties would foon
be made eaſy; for I had found a prodigi-
ous Veffel on the Shore, able to carry me
on the Sea, which he had given order to
fit up with my own Affiftance and Di-
rection; and he hoped in a few Weeks
both Empires would be freed from fo in-
ſupportable an Incumbrance.
WITH this Anfwer the Envoy rc-
turned to Lilliput, and the Monarch of
Blefufcu related to me all that had paſt;
offering me at the fame time (but un-
der the strictest Confidence) his gracious
Protection, if I would continue in his
Service; wherein although I believed him
fincere, yet I refolved never more to put
any Confidence in Princes or Miniſters,
where I could poffibly avoid it; and
therefore, with all due Acknowledgments
for his favourable Intentions, I humbly
begged to be excufed. I told him, that
fince Fortune, whether good or evil, had
thrown a Veffel in my way, I was re-
K 4
folved
140
A VOYAGE
Į
folved to venture myſelf in the Ocean,
rather than be an occafion of Difference
between two fuch mighty Monarchs,
Neither did I find the Emperor at all
diſpleaſed; and I difcover'd by a certain
Accident, that he was very glad of my
Refolution, and fo were moſt of his Mi-
niſters.
THESE Confiderations moved me to
haften my Departure fomewhat fooner
than Iintended; to which the Court, im-
patient to have me gone, very readily
contributed. Five Hundred Workmen
were employed to make two Sails to
my Boat, according to my Directions, by
quilting thirteen fold of their ſtrongeſt
Linnen together. I was at the pains of
making Ropes and Cables, by twiſting
ten, twenty or thirty of the thickeſt and
ftrongest of theirs. A great Stone that
I happen'd to find, after a long Search by
the Sea-fhore, ferved me for an Anchor.
I had the Tallow of three hundred Cows
for greafing my Boat, and other Ufes.
I
to LILLIPUT
141
I was at incredible pains in cutting down
fome of the largeſt Timber-Trees for Oars
and Mafts, wherein I was, however, much
affifted by his Majefty's Ship-Carpenters,
who helped me in ſmoothing them, after
I had done the rough Work.
IN about a Month, when all was pre-
pared, I fent to receive his Majefty's Com-.
mands, and to take my leave. The Em-
peror and Royal Family came out of the
Palace; I lay down on my Face to kiſs;
his Hand, which he very graciouſly gave.
me; fo did the Emprefs, and young,
Princes of the Blood. His Majeſty pre-
fented me with fifty Purſes of two hun-
dred Sprugs a-piece, together with his
Picture at full length, which I put imme-
diately 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.
Iftored the Boat with the Carcaffes of
an hundred Oxen, and three hundred
Sheep,
142
A VOYAGE
Sheep, with Bread and Drink propor-
tionable, and as much Meat ready dref-
ſed as four hundred Cooks could pro-
vide. 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 Bun-
dle of Hay, and a 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 befides a dili-
gent Search into my Pockets, his Majeſty
engaged my Honour not to carry away
any of his Subjects, although with their
own Conſent and Defire.
HAVING thus prepared all things as
well as I was able, I fet fail on the twenty-
fourth Day of September 1701, at fix
in the Morning; and when I had gone
about four Leagues to the Northward, the
Wind being at South-Eaft, at fix in the
Evening, I defcryed a ſmall Iſland about
half a League to the North-Weft. I ad-
vanced
to LILLIPUT.
143
vanced forward, and caft Anchor on the
Lee-fide of the Ifland, which feemed to
be uninhabited. I then took fome Refreſh-
ment, and went to my reft. I flept well,
and I conjecture at leaft fix Hours, for I
found the Day broke in two Hours after I
awaked. It was a clear Night. I eat my
Breakfaſt before the Sun was up; and
heaving Anchor, the Wind being favoura-
ble, I fteered the fame Courſe that I had
done the Day before, wherein I was di-
rected by my Pocket-Compafs. My In-
tention was to reach, if poffible, one of
thoſe Iſlands, which I had reafon to be-
lieve lay to the North-Eaft of Van Die-
men's Land. I diſcovered nothing all that
Day; but upon the next, about three in
the Afternoon, when I had by my Com-
putation made twenty-four Leagues from
Blefufcu, I defcryed a Sail fteering to the
South-Eaft; my Courfe was due Eaft. I
hailed her, but could get no Anſwer; yet
I found I gained upon her, for the Wind
flackned. I made all the fail I could,
and in half an hour fhe fpyed me, then
hung
144 A VOYAGE
&
hung out her Antient, 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 Ship
flackned her Sails, and I came up with
her between five and fix in the Evening,
September 26; but my Heart leapt with
in me to fee her English Colours. I
put my Cows and Sheep into my Coat-
Pockets, and got on board with all my
little Cargo of Provifions. The Veffel
was an English Merchant-Man, returning
from Japan by the North and South-
Seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddel of
Deptford, a very civil Man, and an ex-
cellent 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 Cha-
racter to the Captain. This Gentleman
treated me with Kindneſs, and defired I
would let him know what place I came
from laft, and whither I was bound;
which
to LILLIPUT.
145
which I did in few Words, but he thought
I was raving, and that the Dangers I un-
derwent had diſturbed my Head; where-
upon I took my black Cattle and Sheep
out of my Pocket, which, after great
Aſtoniſhment, clearly convinced him of
my Veracity. I then fhewed him the
Gold given me by the Emperor of Lil-
liput, together with his Majefty's Picture
at full length, and fome other Rarities
of that Country. I gave him two Purfes
of two hundred Sprugs each, and pro-
miſed, when we arrived in England, to
make him a Frefent of a Cow and a
Sheep big with Young.
I fhall not trouble the Reader with a
particular Account of this Voyage, which
was very profperous for the moſt part.
We arrived in the Downs on the 13th
of April 1702. I had only one Misfor-
tune, that the Rats on board carried a-
way one of my Sheep; I found her
Bones in a Hole, picked clean from the
Flesh.
146 A VOY A GE
VOIAGE
Fleſh. The reſt of my Cattle I got fafe
on fhore, and fet them a grazing in a
Bowling-Green at Greenwich, where the
Fineness of the Graſs made them feed
very heartily, though I had always feared
the contrary neither could I poffibly
have preferved them in fo long a Voyage,
if the Captain had not allowed me fome
of his beſt Bisket, which rubbed to Pow-
der, and mingled with Water, was their
conftant Food. The fhort time I con-
tinued in England, I made a confide-
rable Profit by fhewing my Cattle to
many Perſons of Quality, and others:
and before I began my fecond Voyage,
I fold them for fix hundred Pounds.
Since my laſt return, I find the Breed
is confiderably increaſed, eſpecially the
Sheep; which I hope will prove much
to the Advantage of the Woollen Ma-
nufacture, by the Fincnefs of the Flee-
ces.
to LILLIPUT. 147
I ftayed but two Months with my
Wife and Family; for my infatiable De-
fire of ſeeing foreign Countries would
fuffer me to continue no longer. I left
fifteen hundred Pounds with my Wife,
and fixed her in a good Houſe at Red-
riff. My remaining Stock I carried
with me, part in Money, and part in
Goods, in hopes to improve my For-
tunes. My eldeſt Uncle John had left
me an Eſtate in Land, near Epping, of
about Thirty Pounds a Year; and I had
a long Leafe of the Black-Bull in Fet-
ter-Lane, which yielded me as much
more: fo that I was not in any danger
of leaving my Family upon the Parish.
My Son Johnny, named fo after his
Uncle, was at the Grammar School, and
a towardly Child. My Daughter Betty
(who is now well married, and has Chil-
dren) was then at her Needle-Work.
I took leave of my Wife, and Boy and
Girl, with Tears on both fides, and went
on
148 A VOYAGE, 5˚C.
៩.
on board the Adventure, a Merchant-
Ship of three hundred Tons, bound for
Surat, Captain John Nicholas of Le-
verpool Commander. But my Account
of this Voyage must be referred to the
Second Part of my Travels.
The End of the First Part.
TRAVELS
INTO SEVERAL
Remote Nations
OF THE
WORLD.
By Captain L EMUEL GULLIVER.
PART II.
A VOYAGE to BROBDINGNA G.
LONDON:
Printed in the Year, MDCCXXVI.
THE
CONTENTS.
A
thor goes
CHAP. I.
Great Storm defcribed, the Long-
boat fent to fetch Water, the Au-
goes with it to difcover the Country.
He is left on Shore, is feized by one of
the Natives, and carried to a Farmer's
Houſe. His Reception there with ſe-
veral Accidents that happened to them.
A Deſcription of the Inhabitants. Pa. 1
CHAP.
The CONTENTS.
CHA P. II.
A Defcription of the Farmer's Daughter.
The Author carried to a Market-
Town, and then to the Metropolis. The
Particulars of his Journey
CHA P. III.
P. 30
The Author fent for to Court. The Queen
buys him of his Mafter the Farmer, and
prefents him to the King. He dif
putes with his Majesty's great Scho-
lars. An Apartment at Court pro-
vided for the Author. He is in high
Favour with the Queen. He stands
up for the Honour of his own Country.
His Quarrels with the Queen's Dwarf.
P. 43
CHAP. IV.
The Country defcribed. A Proposal for
correcting modern Maps. The King's
Palace, and fome Account of the Me-
tropolis.
The CONTENTS.
tropolis. The Author's way of tra-
velling. The chief Temple defcribed.
p. 67
CHAP. V.
Several Adventures that happened to the
Author. The Execution of a Crimi-
nal. The Author fhews his Skill in
Navigation.
P. 78
CHAP. VI.
Several Contrivances of the
Author to
pleafe the King and Queen.
He fhews
his Skill in Mufick. The King en-
quires into the State of Europe, which
the Author relates to him. The King's
Obfervations thereon.
CHAP. VII.
vii.
p. 101
The Author's Love of his Country. He
makes a Proposal of much Advantage
to
The CONTENTS.
to the King, which is rejected. The
King's great Ignorance in Politicks.
The Learning of that Country very
imperfect and confined. Their Laws,
and military Affairs, and Parties in
the State.
p. 122
CHAP. 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 related.
He returns to England.
P. 138
TRVELS.
Plate, II Part II Page.1.
BROBDINGNAG
#
Flanflafnic
曲
​Lorbrulgrud
it
Difcovered, AD 1703
f
NORTH AMERICA
Streights
Annian
C Blanco
St Sebaſtian
NEW
ALBION
C Mendocino
Pos! Francis Drake
Mount
S'Martin
P Monterey
છે.
TRAVEL S.
PART II.
A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.
CHAP. I.
A great Storm defcribed, the Long-Boat
fent to fetch Water, the Author goes
with it to discover the Country. He is
left on Shore, is feized by one of the
Natives, and carried to a Farmer's
Houfe. His Reception there, with fe-
veral Accidents that happened there. A
Deſcription of the Inhabitants.
H
AVING been condemned by
Naturc and Fortune to an active
and reftlefs Life, in ten Months
after my Return, I again left
my native Country, and took Shipping
PART II.
B
in
હો
A VOYAGE to
in the Downs on the 20th Day of June
1702. in the Adventure, Capt. John
Nicholas, a Cornish Man, Commander,
bound for Surat. We had a very pro-
fperous Gale till we arrived at the Cape
of Good-hope, where we landed for freſh
Water, but diſcovering a Leak we un-
ſhipped our Goods, and winter'd there;
for the Captain falling fick of an Ague,
we could not leave the Cape till the end
of March. We then fet fail, and had
a good Voyage till we paffed the Streights
of Madagaſcar; but having got North-
ward of that Ifland, and to about five
Degrees South Latitude, the Winds,
which in thofe Seas are obferved to
blow a conftant equal Gale between
the North and Weft from the beginning
of December to the beginning of May,
on the 19th of April began to blow
with much greater Violence, and more
Wefterly than ufual, continuing fo for
twenty Days together, during which
time we were driven a little to the Eaſt
of the Molucca Iſlands, and about three
4
Degrees
BROBDING NAG.
3.
Degrees Northward of the Line, as our
Captain found by an Obſervation he took
the 2d of May, at which time the Wind
ceaſed, and it was a perfect Calm, where-
at I was not a little rejoyced. But he
being a Man well experienc'd in the Na-
vigation of thofe Seas, bid us all prepare
againſt a Storm, which accordingly hap
pened the Day following: For a South-
ern Wind, called the Southern Monfoon,
began to ſet in.
FINDING it was like to overblow,
we took in our Sprit-fail, and ſtood by
to hand the Fore-fail; but making foul
Weather, we look'd the Guns were all
faſt, and handed the Miffen. The Ship
lay very broad off, fo we thought it bet
ter ſpooning before the Sea, than trying
or hulling. We reeft the Fore-fail and
fet him, we hawi'd aft the Fore-fheet;
the Helm was hard a Weather. The
Ship wore bravely. We belay'd the Fore-
down-hall; but the Sail was fplit, and we
hawl'd down the Yard, and got the Sail
into
В 2
4
A VOYAGE to
into the Ship, and unbound all the things
clear of it. It was a very fierce Storm;
the Sea broke ftrange and dangerous.
We hawl'd off upon the Lanniard of
the Whipſtaff, and helped the Man at
Helm. We would not get down our
Top-maft, but let all ftand, becauſe fhe
fcudded before the Sea very well, and we
knew that the Top-maft being aloft, the
Ship was the wholeſomer, and made bet-
ter way thro' the Sea, feeing we had Sea-
room. When the Storm was over, we ſet
Fore-fail and Main-fail, and brought the
Ship to. Then we fet the Miffen, Main-
top-fail and the Foretop-fail. Our Courſe
was Eaft North-eaft, the Wind was at
South-weft. We got the Star-board Tacks
aboard, we caft off our Weather-braces
and Lifts; we fet in the Lee-braces, and
hawl'd forward by the Weather-bowl-
ings, and hawl'd them tight, and belayed
them, and hawl'd over the Miffen Tack
to Windward, and kept her full and by
as near as ſhe could lye.
4
DURING
BROBDING NAG.
5
DURING this Storm, which was fol-
lowed by a ſtrong Wind Weft South-west,
we were carried, by my Computation,
about five hundred Leagues to the Eaſt, ſo
that the oldeft Sailor on Board could not
tell in what part of the World we were.
Our Provifions held out well, our Ship
was ftaunch, and our Crew all in good
Health; but we lay in the utmoft Dif
treſs for Water. We thought it beſt to
hold on the fame Courfe, rather than
turn more Northerly, which might have
brought us to the North-weft parts of
Great Tartary, and into the frozen Sea.
....
ON the 16th Day of June 1703. a
Boy on the Top-maft difcovered Land.
On the 17th we came in full View of
a great Inland or Continent (for we
knew not whether) on the South-fide
whereof was a finall Neck of Land jut-
ting out into the Sea, and a Creek too
fhallow to hold a Ship of above one hun-
dred Tuns. We caft Anchor within a
League of this Creek, and our Captain
B 3
fent
6-
A VOYAGE to
fent a dozen of his Men well armed in the
Long Boat, with Veffels for Water, if any
could be found. I defired his leave to
go with them, that I might ſee the Coun-
try, and make what Difcoveries I could.
When we came to Land we faw no Ri-
ver or Spring, nor any fign of Inhabitants.
Our Men therefore wander'd on the Shore
to find out fome freſh Water near the Sea,
and I walked alone about a mile on
the other Side, where I obferved the
Country all barren and rocky. I now
began to be weary, and feeing nothing
to entertain my Curiofity, I returned
gently down towards the Creek; and
the Sea being full in my View, I faw
our Men already got into the Boat, and
rowing for Life to the Ship. I was go-
ing to hollow after them, although it
had been to little purpoſe, when I ob-
ferved a huge Creature walking after them
in the Sea, as faſt as he could: He wad-
ed not much deeper than his Knees, and
took prodigious ftrides: But our Men
had the ſtart of him half a League, and the
Sea
BROBDING NAG.
7
Sea thereabouts being full of fharp-point-
ed Rocks, the Monster was not able to
overtake the Boat. This I was after-
wards told, for I durft not ſtay to ſee
the Iffue of that Adventure; but ran as
faſt as I could the way I firſt went; and
then climbed up a fteep Hill, which gave
me fome Proſpect of the Country. I
found it fully cultivated; but that which
firſt ſurprized me was the Length of the
Grafs, which in thofe Grounds that feem-
ed to be kept for Hay, was above twen-
ty Foot high.
I FELL into a high Road, for fo I took
it to be, though it ferved to the Inhabi-
tants only as a foot Path through a Field of
Barley. Here I walked on for ſome time,
but could fee little on either Side, it bc-
ing now near Harveft, and the Corn rif-
ing 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 Com-
B 4
putation
8
AVOYAGE to
putation of their Altitude. There was
a Stile to paſs from this Field into the
next. It had four Steps, and a Stone to
croſs over when you came to the upper-
moft. It was impoffible for me to climb
this Stile, becauſe every Step was fix Foot
high, and the upper Stone above twenty.
I was endeavouring to find fome Gap in
the Hedge, when I diſcovered one of
the Inhabitants in the next Field, advanc-
ing towards the Stile, of the fame Size
with him whom I faw in the Sea, pur-
fuing our Boat. He appeared as tall as an
ordinary Spire-fteeple, and took about
ten Yards at every Stride, as near as I
could guess. I was ftruck with the ut-
moſt Fear and Aftoniſhment, and ran to
hide my ſelf in the Corn, from whence
I ſaw him at the top of the Stile, look-
ing back into the next Field on the right
hand, and heard him call in a Voice ma-
ny degrees louder than a ſpeaking Trum-
pet; but the Noife was fo high in the
Air, that at firſt I certainly thought it
was Thunder. Whereupon feven Mon-
fters
BROBDINGNAG.
9
fters like himſelf came towards him with
Reaping-hooks in their Hands, each Hook
about the largeneſs of fix Scythes. Theſe
People were not fo well clad as the firft,
whoſe Servants or Labourers they ſeem-
ed to be: For upon fome Words he
ſpoke, they went to reap the Corn in
the Field where I lay. I kept from them
at as great a diftance as I could, but was
forced to move with extreme Difficulty,
for the Stalks of the Corn were fometimes
not above a Foot diſtant, ſo that I could
hardly fqueeze my Body betwixt them.
I made a fhift to go forward till I came
to a part of the Field where the Corn
had been laid by the Rain and Wind.
Here it was impoffible for me to advance
a ftep; for the Stalks were ſo interwoven
that I could not creep thorough, and the
Beards of the fallen Ears fo ftrong and
pointed that they pierced through my
Cloaths into my Flefh. At the fame
time I heard the Reapers not above an
hundred Yards behind me. Being quite
difpirited with Toil, and wholly over-
come
ΙΟ
AVOYAGE to
come by Grief and Deſpair, I lay down
between two Ridges, and heartily wifh-
ed I might there end my Days. I be-
moaned my defolate Widow, and Father-
lefs Children. I lamented my own Fol-
ly 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 ever appeared in the World: Where
I was able to draw an Imperial Fleet in
my Hand, and perform thoſe other Acti-
ons which will be recorded for ever in
the Chronicles of that Empire, while
Pofterity fhall hardly believe them, al-
though atteſted by Millions. I reflected
what a Mortification it must prove to
me to appear as inconfiderable in this
Nation as one fingle Lilliputian would
be among us. But this I conceived was
to be the leaft of my Misfortunes: For,
as human Creatures are obferved to be
more ſavage and cruel in Proportion to
their
BROBDING NAG.
I I
their Bulk, what could I expect but to
be a Morfel in the Mouth of the firſt a-
mong theſe enormous Barbarians that
fhould happen to feize me? Undoubted-
ly Philofophers are in the right when
they tell us, that nothing is great or little
otherwife than by Compariſon. It might
have pleaſed Fortune to let the Lillipu-
tians find fome Nation, where the Peo-
ple were as diminutive with refpect to
them, as they were to me. And who
knows but that even this prodigious Race
of Mortals might be equally overmatch-
ed in fome diftant part of the World,
whereof we have yet no Difcovery?
SCARED and confounded as I was, I
could not forbear going on with theſe
Reflections, when one of the Reapers ap-
proaching within ten Yards of the Ridge
where I lay, made me apprehend that
with the next Step I fhould 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
fcreamed
12
AVOYAGE to
[
fcreamed as loud as Fear could make me.
Whereupon the huge Creature trod fhort,
and looking round about under him for
fɔme time, at laſt eſpied me as I lay on the
Ground. He confidered a while with the
Caution of one who endeavours to lay
hold on a ſmall dangerous Animal in ſuch
a manner that it may not be able either
to ſcratch or to bite him, as I myſelf have
fometimes done with a Weafel in Eng-
land. At length he ventured to take me
up behind by the Middle between his fore
Finger and Thumb, and brought me with-
in 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 Prefence of Mind, that I
refolved not to ftruggle in the leaſt as
he held me in the Air, about fixty Foot
from the Ground, although he grievously
pinched my Sides, for fear I fhould flip
through his Fingers. All I ventured was
to raiſe mine Eyes towards the Sun, and
place my Hands together in a fupplica-
ting Pofture, and to fpeak fome Words
in
BROBDINGNAG.
13
in an humble melancholy Tone, fuita-
ble to the Condition I then was in. For
I apprehended every Moment that he
would dafh me againſt the Ground, as
we uſually do any little hateful Animal
which we have a mind to deftroy. But
my good Star would have it, that he ap-
peared pleaſed with my Voice and Ge-
ftures, and began to look upon me as a
Curiofity, 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 fhedding Tears, and turn-
ing my Head towards my Sides; letting
him know, as well as I could, how cruel-
ly I was hurt by the Preffure of his
Thumb and Finger. He feemed to ap-
prehend my Meaning; for, lifting up
the Lappet of his Coat, he put me gent-
ly into it, and immediately ran along
with me to his Mafter, who was a fub-
ftantial Farmer, and the fame Perfon I
had firſt ſeen in the Field.
THE
14
A VOYAGE to
THE Farmer having (as I fuppofed by
their Talk) received ſuch an Account of
me as his Servant could give him, took a
piece of a ſmall Straw, about the fize of
a walking Staff, and therewith lifted up
the Lappets of my Coat; which it ſeems
he thought to be ſome kind of Cover-
ing that Nature had given me. He blew
my Hairs afide to take a better View of
my Face. He called his Hinds about him,
and asked them (as I afterwards learned)
whether they had ever feen in the Fields
any little Creature that refembled me?
He then placed me foftly on the Ground
upon all four, but I got immediately up,
and walked flowly backwards and for-
wards, to let thoſe People fee I had no
Intent to run away. They all fate down
in a Circle about me, the better to ob-
ſerve my Motions. I pulled off my Hat,
and made a low Bow towards the Farmer.
I fell on my Knces, and lifted up my
Hands and Eyes, and ſpoke ſeveral Words
as loud as I could: I took a Purſe of
Gold out of my Pocket, and humbly
preſented
BROBDING NAG.
15
preſented it to him. He received it on
the Palm of his Hand, then applied it
cloſe to his Eye, to ſee what it was, and
afterwards turned it feveral times with
the Point of a Pin, (which he took out
of his Sleeve,) but could make nothing
of it. Whereupon I made a Sign that
he ſhould place his Hand on the Ground.
I took the Purſe, and opening it, poured
all the Gold into his Palm. There were
fix Spanish Pieces of four Piftoles each,
befides twenty or thirty fmaller Coins.
I ſaw him wet the Tip of his little Fin-
ger upon his Tongue, and take up one
of my largeſt Pieces, and then another,
but he ſeemed 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 beft to do.
THE Farmer by this time was con-
vinced I must be a rational Creature.
He ſpoke often to me, but the Sound of
his
16
A VOYAGE to
!
his Voice pierced my Ears like that of
a Water Mill, yet his Words were ar-
ticulate enough. I anfwered as loud as
I could, in feveral Languages, and he
often laid his Ear within two Yards of
me; but all in vain, for we were wholly
unintelligible to each other. He then
fent his Servants to their Work, and ta-
king his Handkerchief out of his Pocket,
he doubled and fpread it on his left
Hand, which he placed flat on the
Ground, with the Palm upwards, making
me a Sign to ſtep into it, as I could eaſily
do, for it was not above a Foot in thick-
nefs. I thought it my part to obey,
and for fear of falling, laid my ſelf at
Length upon the Handkerchief, with the
Remainder of which he lapped me up to
the Head for further Security, and in this
manner carried me home to his Houfe.
There he called his Wife, and fhewed
me to her; but ſhe ſcreamed and ran
back, as Women in England do at the
fight of a Toad or a Spider. However,
when ſhe had a while feen my Beha-
viour
BROBDING NAG.
17
viour, and how well I obferved the Signs
her Husband made, fhe was foon re-
conciled, and by degrees grew extreme-
ly tender of me.
Ir was about twelve at Noon, and a
Servant brought in Dinner. It was only
one ſubſtantial Difh 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 his Wife, three Chil-
dren, and an old Grandmother: When
they were fat down, the Farmer
placed me at fome Diſtance from him
on the Table, which was thirty Foot
high from the Floor. I was in a terri-
ble Fright, and kept as far as I could
from the Edge for fear of falling. The
Wife minced a Bit of Meat, then crum-
bled fome 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 Miftrefs fent her Maid
PART II.
C
for
18
A VOYAGE to
for a ſmall Dram-cup, which held about
three Gallons, and filled it with Drink,
I took up the Veffel with much difficulty
in both Hands, and in a moſt reſpectful
manner drank to her Ladyfhip's Health,
exprefling the Words as loud as I could
in English, which made the Company
laugh fo heartily, that I was almoſt
deafned with the Noife. This Liquor
taſted like a ſmall Cyder, and was not
unpleaſant. Then the Mafter made me
a Sign to come to his Trencher-fide;
but as I walked on the Table, being in
great Surprize all the Time, as the indul-
gent Reader will eafily conceive and ex-
cufe, I happened to ftumble againſt a
Cruft, and fell flat on my Face, but re-
ceived no Hurt. I got up immediately,
and obferving the good People to be in
much Concern, I took my Hat (which I
held under my Arm out of good Man-
ners) and waving it over my Head, made
three Huzza's, to fhew I had got no Mif-
chief by my Fall. But advancing for-
wards toward my Mafter (as I fhall hence-
forth
BROBDING NAG.
19
forth call him) his youngeſt Son who
fate 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 trem-
bled every Limb; but his Father fnatch-
ed me from him, and at the ſame time
gave him fuch 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 Knces, and
pointing to the Boy, made my Maſter to
underſtand, as well as I could, that I de-
fired his Son might be pardoned. The
Father complied, and the Lad took his
Seat again; whereupon I went to him and
kiffed his Hand, which my Mafter took,
and made him ftroak me gently with it.
IN the midst of Dinner, my Miſtreſs's
favourite Cat leapt into her Lap, I
C 2
heard
20
A VOYAGE to
heard a Noiſe behind me like that of a
dozen Stocking-Weavers at Work; and
turning my Head, I found it proceeded
from the purring of this Animal, who
feemed to be three times larger than an
Ox, as I computed by the View of her
Head, and one of her Paws, while her
Miſtreſs was feeding and ftroaking her.
The Fiercenefs of this Creature's Coun-
tenance altogether difcompofed me;
though I ftood at the further End of the
Table, above fifty Foot off, and altho
my Miſtreſs held her faft for fear fhe
might give a Spring, and feize me in
her Talons. But it happened there was
no Danger; for the Cat took not the
leaft Notice of me when my Maſter
placed me within three Yards of her..
And as I have been always told, and
found true by Experience in my Travels,
that flying, or difcovering Fear before a
fierce Animal, is a certain Way to make
it purſue or attack you, ſo I refolved in
this dangerous Juncture to fhew no man-
ner of Concern. I walked with Intre-
2
pidity
>
BROBDINGNAG.
21
pidity five or fix times before the very
Head of the Cat, and came within half
a Yard of her; whereupon fhe drew her
ſelf back, as if fhe were more afraid of
me: I had lefs Apprehenfion concerning
the Dogs, whereof three or four came.
into the Room, as it is ufual in Farmers
Houſes; one of which was a Maftiff,
equal in Bulk to four Elephants, and a
Greyhound fomewhat taller than the
Maſtiff, but not ſo large.
WHEN Dinner was almoft done, the
Nurſe came in with a Child of a Year
old in her Arms, who immediately ſpied
me, and began a Squall that you might
have heard from London-Bridge to Chel-
fea, after the ufual Oratory of Infants,
to get me for a Play-thing. The Mo-
ther out of pure Indulgence took me
up, and put me towards the Child, who
preſently feized me by the Middle, and
got my Head in his Mouth, where I
roared fo loud that the Urchin was
frighted, and let me drop, and I ſhould
C 3 infallibly
22
A VOYAGE to
infallibly have broke my Neck if the
Mother had not held
held her Apron
under me. The Nurſe to quiet her
Babe made ufe of a Rattle, which was
a kind of hollow Veffel filled with great
Stones, and faftned by a Cable to the
Child's Waft: But all in vain, ſo that
fhe was forced to apply the laſt Remedy by
giving it fuck. I must confefs no Ob-
ject ever diſguſted me fo much as the
fight of her monstrous Breaſt, which I
cannot tell what to compare with, fo
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 Circumference. The
Nipple was about half the Bignefs of
my Head, and the Hew both of that and
the Dug fo varified with Spots, Pimples
and Freckles, that nothing could appear
more nauſeous: For I had a near fight
of her, fhe fitting down the more con-
veniently to give Suck, and I ftanding on
the Table. This made me reflect upon
the fair Skins of our English Ladies, who
appear
BROBDINGNAG.
23
appear fo beautiful to us, only becauſe
they are of our own Size, and their De-
fects not to be feen but through a Mag-
nifying glafs, where we find by Experi-
ment, that the fmootheft and whiteft
Skins look rough and coarfe, and ill co-
loured.
I REMEMBER When I was at Lilliput,
the Complexions of thofe diminutive
People appeared to me the faireft 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
fmoother 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 confef-
ſed was at firſt a very ſhocking fight. He
faid he could diſcover great Holes in my
Skin; that the Stumps of my Beard were
ten times ſtronger than the Briftles of a
Boar, and my Complexion made up of
ſeveral Colours altogether difagreeable :
Although
C 4
24
A VOYAGE to
Although I muſt beg leave to fay for my
ſelf, that I am as fair as moſt of my Sex
and Country, and very little fun-burnt
by my Travels. On the other Side,
difcourfing of the Ladies in that Em-
peror's Court, he uſed to tell me, one
had Freckles, another too wide a Mouth,
a third too large a Nofe, nothing of
which I was able to diſtinguiſh. I con-
fefs this Reflection was obvious enough;
which however I could not forbear, left
the Reader might think thofe vaft Crea-
tures were actually deformed: For I muſt
do them Juſtice to ſay they are a comely
Race of People; and particularly the
Features of my Maſter's Countenance, al-
though he were but a Farmer, when I
beheld him from the Height of fixty
Foot, appeared very well proportioned.
WHEN Dinner was done, my Mafter
went out to his Labourers, and as I could
diſcover by his Voice and Gefture, gave
his Wife a ſtrict Charge to take care of
me. I was
I was very much tired and diſpoſed
to
BROBDINGNAG.
25
to fleep, which my Miſtreſs perceiving,
ſhe put me on her own Bed, and covered
me with a clean white Handkerchief,
but larger and coarfer than the Main-fail
of a Man of War.
I flept about two Hours, and dreamed
I was at home with my Wife and Chil-
dren, which aggravated my Sorrows when
I awaked and found my felf alone in a
vaſt Room, between two and three hun-
dred Foot wide, and above two hundred
high, lying in a Bed twenty Yards
wide. My Miftrefs was gone about her
houfhold Affairs, and had locked me in.
The Bed was eight Yards from the Floor.
Some natural Neceffities required me to
get down; I durft not preſume to call,
and if I had, it would have been in vain,
with fuch a Voice as mine, at ſo great a
Diſtance as from the Room where I lay to
the Kitchen where the Family kept. While
I was under thefe Circumftances, two Rats
crept up the Curtains, and ran ſmelling
backwards and forwards on theBed. One of
them
26
A VOYAGE to
them came up almoft to my Face, where-
upon I rofe in a Fright, and drew out
my Hanger to defend my felf. Thefe
horrible Animals had the Boldness to
attack me on both Sides, and one
of them held his Fore-feet at my Col-
lar; but I had the good Fortune to
rip up his Belly before he could do me
any Miſchief.
He fell down at my
Feet, and the other feeing the Fate of
his Comrade, made his Efcape, but not
without one good Wound on the Back,
which I gave him as he fled, and made
the Blood run trickling from him. After
this Exploit, I walked gently to and fro
on the Bed, to recover my Breath and
Lofs of Spirits. Thefe Creatures were
of the Size of a large Maftiff, but infi-
nitely more nimble and fierce, fo that
if I had taken off my Belt before I
went to fleep, I muſt have infallibly been
torn to pieces and devoured. I mea-
fured the Tail of the dead Rat, and
found it to be two Yards long, wanting
an Inch; but it went against my Stomach
to
BROBDINGNAG.
27
to drag the Carcafs off the Bed, where
it lay ſtill bleeding; I obſerved it had yet
fome Life, but with a ftrong Slaſh croſs
the Neck I thoroughly diſpatched 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, fmiling and
making other figns to fhew I was not hurt,
whereat ſhe was extremely rejoiced, cal-
ling the Maid to take up the dead Rat
with a pair of Tongs, and throw it out
of the Window. Then fhe fet me on a
Table, where I fhewed her my Hanger all
bloody, and wiping it on the Lappet of
my Coat, returned it to the Scabbard.
I was preffed to do more than one thing,
which another could not do for me, and
therefore endeavoured to make my Mif-
trefs underſtand that I defired to be fet
down on the Floor; which after fhe had
done, my Bafhfulneſs would not fuffer
me to express my felf farther than by
pointing to the Door, and bowing ſeve-
ral
28
A VOYAGE to
ral times. The good Woman with much
Difficulty at laſt perceived what I would
be at, and taking me up again in her
Hand, walked into the Garden where fhe
fet me down. I went on one fide about
two hundred Yards, and beckoning to
her not to look or to follow me, I hid
my ſelf between two Leaves of Sorrel,
and there diſcharged the Neceffities of
Nature.
I HOPE the gentle Reader will ex-
cufe me for dwelling on theſe and the
like Particulars, which however infigni-
ficant they may appear to grovelling vul-
gar Minds, yet will certainly help a Philo-
fopher to enlarge his Thoughts and Ima-
gination, 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 ftudi-
ous of Truth, without affecting any Orna-
ments of Learning or of Style. But the
whole Scene of this Voyage made fo
ftrong
BROBDINGNAG.
29
ſtrong an Impreffion on my Mind, and
is fo deeply fixed in my Memory, that
in committing it to Paper I did not omit
one material Circumftance: However,
upon a ſtrict Review, I blotted out fe-
veral Paffages of lefs Moment which were
in my firſt Copy, for fear of being cen-
fured as tedious and trifling, whereof
Travellers are often, perhaps not with-
out Juftice, accufed.
CHAP.
30
A VOYAGE to
CHA P. II.
A Defcription of the Farmer's Daughter.
The Author carried to a Market-
Town, and then to the Metropolis. The
Particulars of his Journey.
M
Y Miſtreſs had a Daughter of
nine Years old, a Child of to-
ward Parts for her Age, very
dextrous at her Needle, and skilful in
dreffing her Baby. Her Mother and fhe
contrived to fit up the Baby's Cradle for
nie againſt Night: The Cradle was put
into a ſmall Drawer of a Cabinet, and
the Drawer placed upon a Hanging-fhelf,
for fear of the Rats. This was my Bed
all the time I ftay'd with thoſe People,
though made more convenient by de-
grees, as I began to learn their Language,
and make my Wants known. This
young Girl was fo handy, that after I
had
BROBDING NAG.
3 I
had once or twice pulled off my Cloaths
before her, fhe was able to drefs and un-
dreſs me, though I never gave her that
Trouble when ſhe would let me do
either my felf. She made me feven
Shirts, and fome other Linen, of as fine
Cloth as could be got, which indeed was
coarſer than Sackcloth; and theſe ſhe
conftantly waſhed for me with her own
Hands. She was likewife my School-
Miſtreſs to teach me the Language:
When I pointed to any thing, fhe 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-natur'd, 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 imports
what the Latins call Nanunculus, the
Italians Homunceletino, and the English
Mannikin. To her I chiefly owe my
Preſervation in that Country: We ne-
ver parted while I was there; I called her
2
my
32
A VOYAGE to
my Glumdalclitch, or little Nurſe: And
I fhould be guilty of great Ingratitude
if I omitted this honourable Mention of
her Care and Affection towards me,which
I heartily wifh it lay in my Power to re-
quite as fhe deferves, inftead of being the
innocent but unhappy Inftrument of her
Difgrace, as I have too much Reaſon to
fear.
Ir now began to be known and talked
of in the Neighbourhood, that my Ma-
fter had found a ſtrange Animal in the
Field about the bignefs of a Splacknuck,
but exactly ſhaped in every part like a
human Creature; which it likewife imi-
tated in all its Actions; feemed to ſpeak
in a little Language of its own, had al-
ready learned feveral Words of theirs,
went erect upon two Legs, was tame
and gentle, would come when it was cal-
led, do whatever it was bid, had the fi-
neft Limbs in the World, and a Complex-
ion fairer than a Nobleman's Daughter of
three Years old. Another Farmer who
lived
BROBDING NAG.
33
lived hard by, and was a particular Friend
of my Mafter, came on a Viſit on pur-
poſe to enquire into the Truth of this
Story. I was immediately produced, and
placed upon a Table, where I walked as
I was commanded, drew my Hanger, put
it up again, made my Reverence to my
Maſter's Gueft, asked him in his own
Language how he did, and told him he
was welcome, juft as my little Nurfe had
inftructed 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 fhin-
ing into a Chamber at two Windows.
Our People, who difcovered the caufe
of my Mirth, bore me company in Laugh-
ing, at which the old Fellow was Fool
enough to be angry and out of Coun-
tenance. He had the Character of a
great Mifer, and to my Misfortune he
well deſerved it by the curfed Advice he
gave my Maſter to fhew me as a Sight upon
a Market-Day in the next Town, which
PART II.
D
+
was
34
AVOYAGE to
was half an hour's riding, about two and
twenty Miles from our Houſe. I gueff
ed there was fome Mifchief contriving,
when I obſerved my Maſter and his Friend
whispering long together, fometimes
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 Bofom,
and fell a weeping with Shame and Grief.
She apprehended fome Mifchief 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 mo-
deft I was in my Nature, how nicely I re-
garded my Honour, and what an Indig-
nity I fhould conceive it to be expoſed for
Money as a publick Spectacle to the mean-
eft of the People. She faid, her Papa and
Mamma had promiſed that Gildrig ſhould
be hers, but now fhe found they meant
to
BROBDINGNAG.
35
to ferve her as they did laft Year, when
they pretended to give her a Lamb, and
yet, as ſoon as it was fat, fold it to a
Butcher. For my own part, I may tru-
ly affirm that I was lefs concerned than
my Nurſe. I had a ſtrong Hope which
never left me, that I fhould one Day re-
cover my Liberty; and as to the Igno-
miny of being carried about for a Mon-
fter, I confidered my ſelf to be a perfect
Stranger in the Country, and that fuch
a Misfortune could never be charged
upon me as a Reproach if ever I fhould
return to England; fince the King of
Great Britain himſelf, in my Condition,
muft have undergone the fame 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 Daugh-
ter my Nurſe upon a Pillion behind
him. The Box was cloſe on every fide,
with a little Door for me to go in and
out, and a few Gimlet-holes to let in
D 2
Air.
36
AVOYAGE to
Air.
The Girl had been fo careful to
put the Quilt of her Baby's Bed into it,
for me to lye down on. However, I
was terribly fhaken and diſcompoſed in
this Journey, though it were but of half
an Hour. For the Horfe went about
forty Foot at every Step, and trotted fo
high, that the Agitation was equal to the
rifing and falling of a Ship in a great
Storm, but much more frequent: Our
Journey was fomewhat further than from
London to St. Albans. My Maſter aligh-
ted at an Inn which he uſed to frequent;
and after confulting a while with the Inn-
keeper, and making fome neceffary Pre-
parations, he hired the Grultrud, or Cryer
to give notice through the Town of a
ftrange Creature to be feen at the Sign
of the Green Eagle not fo big as a Splac-
nuck (an Animal in that Country very
finely fhaped, about fix Foot long) and
in every part of the Body refembling an
human Creature, could fpeak feveral
Words, and perform an hundred divert-
ing Tricks.
I WAS
BROBDING NAG.
37
I WAS placed upon a Table in the
largeſt Room of the Inn, which might
be near three hundred Foot Square. My
little Nurſe ftood on a low Stool clofe
to the Table, to take care of me, and di-
rect what I ſhould do. My Maſter, to
avoid a Croud, would fuffer only thirty
People at a time to fee me. I walked
about on the Table as the Girl command-
ed: fhe asked me Queftions as far as fhe
knew my Underſtanding of the Language
reached, and I answered them as loud as
I could. I turned about feveral times
to the Company, paid my humble Re-
ſpects, faid they were welcome, and uſed
ſome other Speeches I had been taught.
I took up a Thimble filled with Liquor,
which Glumdalclitch had given me for a
Cup, and drank their Health. I drew
out my Hanger, and flouriſhed with it af-
ter the manner of Fencers in England.
My Nurſe gave me part of a Straw,
which I exerciſed as a Pike, having learn-
ed the Art in my Youth. I was that
day fhewn to twelve Sets of Company,
D 3
and
38
AVOYAGE to
and as often forced to go over again
with the fame Fopperies, till I was
half dead with Wearinefs and Vexation.
For, thoſe who had feen me made fuch
wonderful Reports, that the People were
ready to break down the Doors to come
in. My Maſter for his own Intereſt
would not fuffer any one to touch me
except my Nurfe; and, to prevent dan-
ger, Benches were fet 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 narrowly mif-
fed me; otherwife, it came with ſo much
violence 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 fee the young Rogue
well beaten, and turned out of the Room.
MY Maſter gave publick notice, that
he would fhew me again the next Mar-
ket day, and in the mean time he pre-
pared a more convenient Vehicle for me
which he had reafon enough to do; for
3
I was
BROBDINGNAG.
39
I was fo tired with my first Journey, and
with entertaining Company for eight
Hours together, that I could hardly ftand
upon my Legs, or fpeak a Word. It
was at leaſt three Days before I recover-
ed my Strength; and that I might have
no reft at home, all the neighbouring
Gentlemen from an hundred Miles round,
hearing of my Fame, came to ſee me at
my Maſter's own Houfe. There could not
be fewer than thirty Perfons with their
Wives and Children (for the Country
was very populous ;) and my Maſter de-
manded the rate of a full Room when-
ever he fhewed me at home, although
it were only to a fingle Family: So that
for fome time I had but little eafe every
Day of the Week (except Wednesday,
which is their Sabbath) although I were
not carried to the Town.
My Maſter finding how profitable I
was like to be, reſolved to carry me to
the most confiderable Cities of the King-
dom. Having therefore provided himſelf
with
D 4
40
AVOYAGE to
with all things neceffary for a longJour-
ney, 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 fet out for the Me-
tropolis, fituated near the middle of that
Empire, and about three thouſand Miles
diſtance from our Houfe: My Mafter
made his Daughter Glumdalclitch ride
behind him. She carried me on her
Lap in a Box tyed about her waft. The
Girl had lined it on all fides with the
fofteft Cloth ſhe could get, well quilted
underneath, furniſhed it with her Baby's
Bed, provided me with Linen and other
Neceffaries, and made every thing as con-
venient as ſhe could. We had no other
Company but a Boy of the Houfe, who
rode after us with the Luggage.
My Maſter's Defign 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 Quali-
ty's Houſe where he might expect Cuſtom.
3
We
BROBDING NAG.
4 [
We made caſy Journies of not above ſeven
or eightfcore Miles a Day: For Glum-
dalclitch, on purpoſe to fpare me, com-
plained fhe 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 fhew me the Country, but always
held me faft by a Leading-ftring. We
paffed over five or fix Rivers many de-
grees broader and deeper than the Nile
or the Ganges; and there was hardly a
Rivulet fo fmall as the Thames at Lon-
don-Bridge.
We were ten Weeks in
Our Journey, and I was fhewn in eighteen
large Towns befides many Villages and
private Families.
On the 26th Day of October, we ar-
rived at the Metropolis, called in their
Language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the
Univerſe. My Maſter took a Lodging
in the principal Street of the City, not
far from the Royal Palace, and put out
Bills in the ufual Form, containing an
exact Deſcription of my Perfon and Parts.
He
42
AVOYAGE to
He hired a large Room between three
and four hundred Foot wide. He pro-
vided a Table fixty Foot in diameter,
upon which I was to act my Part, and
palifadoed it round three Foot from the
edge, and as many high, to prevent my
falling over. I was fhewn ten times a
Day to the Wonder and Satisfaction of
all People. I could now fpeak the Lan-
guage tolerably well, and perfectly under-
flood every Word that was ſpoken to
me. Befides, I had learned their Alpha-
bet, and could make a fhift to explain a
Sentence here and there; for Glumdal-
clitch had been my Inftructer while we
were at home, and at leifure Hours dur-
ing our Journey. She carried a little
Book in her Pocket, not much larger
than a Sanfon's Atlas; it was a common
Treatife for the ufe of young Girls, giv-
ing a fhort Account of their Religion;
out of this ſhe taught me my Letters,
and interpreted the Words.
CHAP.
BROBDING NAG.
43
CHA P. III.
The Author fent for to Court. The Queen
buys him of his Mafter the Farmer, and
prefents him to the King. He dif
putes with his Majesty's great Scho-
lars. An Apartment at Court pro-
vided for the Author. He is in high
Favour with the Queen. He stands
up for the Honour of his own Country.
His Quarrels with the Queen's Dwarf.
Τ
•
HE frequent Labours I underwent
every Day made in a few Weeks
a very confiderable change in
my Health: The more my Mafter got by
me, the more unfatiable he grew. I had
quite loft my Stomach, and was almoſt
reduced to a Skeleton. The Farmer ob-
ferved it, and concluding I foon muſt
dye, refolved to make as good a Hand
of me as he could. While he was thus
reaſoning
44
AVOYAGE to
reaſoning and refolving with himſelf, a
Slardral, or Gentleman Ufher came from
Court, commanding my Mafter to carry
me immediately thither for the Diverfion
of the Queen and her Ladies. Some of
the latter had already been to fee me, and.
reported ftrange Things of my Beauty,
Behaviour, and good Senfe. Her Maje-
fty and thoſe who attended her were be-
yond Meaſure delighted with my De-
meanor. I fell on my Knees, and begged
the Honour of kiffing her Imperial Foot;
but this Gracious Princefs held out her
little Finger towards me (after I was fet
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 anſwer'd
as diftinctly 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 Mafter's Slave,
but if I were at my own Diſpoſal, I
fhould
BROBDINGNAG.
45
hould be proud to devote my Life to
her Majefty's Service. She then asked
my Maſter whether he were willing to
He who ap-
fell me at a good Price.
prehended I could not live a Month,
was ready enough to part with me, and
demanded a thoufand pieces of Gold,
which were ordered him on the ſpot,
each piece being about the bignefs of
eight hundred Moydores; but, allowing
for the proportion of all Things between
that Country and Europe, and the high
price of Gold among them, was hardly
fo great a fum as a thouſand Guineas
would be in England. I then faid to
the Queen, fince I was now her Majefty's
moſt humble Creature and Vaffal, Imuft
beg the favour, that Glumdalclitch, who
had always tended me with fo much care
and kindneſs, and underſtood to do it fo
well, might be admitted into her Ser-
vice, and continue to be my Nurſe and
Inftructor. Her Majefty
Her Majefty agreed to my
Petition, and eafily got the Farmer's con-
fent, who was glad enough to have his
Daughter
46
AVOYAGE to
Daughter preferred at Court: and the
poor Girl herſelf was not able to hide
her Joy: My late Maſter withdrew, bid-
ing me farewell, and faying he had left
me in a good Service; to which I re-
plyed not a Word, only making him a
flight bow.
THE Queen obferved my coldneſs,
and when the Farmer was gone out of
the Apartment, asked me the reaſon. I
made bold to tell her Majefty that I
owed no other Obligation to my late
Maſter, than his not dafhing out the
Brains of a poor harmless Creature found
by chance in his Field; which Obligati-
on was amply recompenced by the gain
he had made in fhewing me through half
the Kingdom, and the price he had now
fold me for. That the Life I had fince
led, was laborious enough to kill an Ani-
mal of ten times my Strength. That my
Health was much impaired by the con-
tinual drudgery of entertaining the Rab-
ble every hour of the Day, and that if my
Mafter
BROBDINGNAG.
47
Mafter had not thought my Life in danger,
her Majefty would not have got ſo cheap a
Bargain. But as I was out of all fear of
being ill treated under the Protection of
fo great and good an Emprefs, the Orna-
ment of Nature, the Darling of the
World, the Delight of her Subjects, the
Phoenix of the Creation; fo, I hoped my
late Maſter's Apprehenfions would appear
to be groundless, for I already found my
Spirits to revive by the Influence of her
moft Auguft Preſence.
THIS was the fum of my Speech,
delivered with great Improprieties and
Hefitation; the latter part was altoge-
ther framed in the Style peculiar to that
People, whereof I learned fome Phraſes
from Glumdalclitch, while fhe was car-
rying me to Court.
THE Queen giving great Allowance
for my Defectiveneſs in ſpeaking, was
however ſurpriſed at ſo much Wit and
good Senſe in ſo diminutive an Animal.
She
48
AVOYAGE to
She took me in her own Hands, and
carried me to the King, who was then
retired to his Cabinet. His Majefty, a
Prince of much Gravity, and auftere
Countenance, not well obferving my
Shape at firſt View, asked the Queen
after a cold Manner, how long it was
fince fhe grew fond of a Splacnuck; for
fuch it ſeems he took me to be, as I lay
upon my Breaft in her Majefty's right
Hand. But this Princeſs, who hath an
infinite deal of Wit and Humour, ſet me
gently on my Feet upon the Scrutore,
and commanded me to give His Majeſty
an Account of my felf, which I did in
a very few Words; and Glumdalclitch,
who attended at the Cabinet door, and
could not endure I fhould be out of her
fight, being admitted, confirmed all that
had paffed from my Arrival at her Fa
ther's Houſe.
THE King, although he be as learn-
ed a Perfon as any in his Dominions,
had been educated in the Study of Phi-
lofophy,
BROBDING NAG.
49
loſophy, and particularly Mathematicks ;
yet when he obſerved my Shape exactyl,
and faw me walk erect, before I began
to ſpeak, conceived I might be a Piece
of Clock-work, (which is in that Coun-
try arrived to a very great Perfection)
contrived by ſome ingenious Artift. But
when he heard my Voice, and found
what I delivered to be regular and ratio-
nal, he could not conceal his Aftoniſh-
ment. He was by no means fatisfied
with the Relation I gave him of the
Manner I came into his Kingdom, but
thought it a Story concerted between
Glumdalclitch and her Father, who had
taught me a Set of Words to make me
fell at a higher Price. Upon this Imagi-
nation he put feveral 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 fome ruftick Phrafes
which I had learned at the Farmer's
Houſe, and did not ſuit the polite Stile
of a Court.
PART II.
E
HIS
50
A VOYAGE to
His Majefty fent for three great
Scholars who were then in their weekly
waiting (according to the Cuftom in
that Country.) Thefe Gentlemen, after
they had a while examined my Shape
with much Nicety, were of different
Opinions concerning me. They all a-
greed that I could not be produced ac-
cording to the regular Laws of Nature,
becauſe I was not framed with a Capa-
city of preferving my Life, either by
Swiftneſs, or climbing of Trees, or dig-
ging Holes in the Earth. They obfer-
ved by my Teeth, which they viewed
with great Exactnefs, that I was a car-
nivorous Animal; yet moft Quadrupeds
being an Overmatch for me, and Field-
Mice, with fome others, too nimble,
they could not imagine how I fhould be
able to fupport my felf, unleſs I fed
upon Snails and other Infects, which
they offered, by many learned Argu-
ments, to evince that I could not pof
fibly do. One of theſe Virtuofi feemed
to
BROBDING NAG.
SI
to think that I might be an Embrio, or
abortive Birth. But this Opinion was
rejected by the other two, who obſerved
my Limbs to be perfect and finiſhed,
and that I had lived feveral Years, as it
was manifeſt from my Beard, the Stumps
whereof they plainly diſcovered through
a Magnifying-Glafs. They would not
allow me to be a Dwarf, becauſe my
Littleness 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 concluded
unanimously that I was only Relplum
Scalcath, which is interpreted literally,
Lufus Nature; a Determination exactly
agreeable to the modern Philofophy of
Europe, whofe Profeffors, difdaining the
old Evafion of occult Cauſes, whereby
the Followers of Ariftotle endeavour in
vain to diſguiſe their Ignorance, have in-
vented this wonderful Solution of all
Difficulties, to the unspeakable Advance-
ment of human Knowledge.
E 2
AFTER
52
AVOYAGE to
AFTER this decifive Conclufion, I
entreated to be heard a Word or two.
I applied my ſelf to the King, and affured
His Majeſty that I came from a Country
which abounded with feveral Millions of
both Sexes, and of my own Stature;
where the Animals, Trees and Houſes
were all in Proportion, and where by
confequence I might be as able to de-
fend my felf, and to find Suſtenance,
as any of his Majeſty's Subjects could do
here; which I took for a full Anfwer to
thoſe Gentlemens Arguments. To this
they only replied with a Smile of Con-
tempt, faying, That the Farmer had in-
ftructed me very well in my Leffon.
The King, who had a much better Un
derſtanding, diſmiſling his learned Men,
fent for the Farmer, who by good For-
tune was not yet gone out of Town:
Having therefore firſt examined him pri-
vately, and then confronted him with me
and the young Girl, his Majeſty began
to think that what we told him might
poffibly
BROBDING NAG.
53
poffibly be true.
to order that a
be taken of me,
He defired the Queen
particular Care ſhould
and was of Opinion,
that Glumdalclitch ſhould ſtill continue
in her Office of tending me, becauſe he
obſerved we had a great Affection for
each other. A convenient Apartment
was provided for her at Court; fhe had
a fort 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 her felf. The Queen
commanded her own Cabinet-maker to
contrive a Box that might ferve me for
a Bed-chamber, after the Model that
Glumdalclitch and I fhould agree upon.
This Man was a moft ingenious Artiſt,
and according to my Directions, in three
Weeks finiſhed for me a wooden Cham-
ber of fixteen Foot fquare, and twelve.
high, with Safh-windows, a Door, and
two Cloſets, like a London Bed-chamber.
The Board that made the Cieling, was to
be lifted up and down by two Hinges,
E 3
to
54
A VOYAGE to
to put in a Bed ready furniſhed by her
Majefty's Upholsterer, which Glumdal-
clitch took out every Day to air, made
it with her own Hands, and letting it
down at Night locked up the Roof over
me. A nice Workman, who was fa-
mous for little Curiofities 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 Careleſneſs of thoſe who car-
ried me, and to break the Force of a
Jolt when I went in a Coach. I de-
fired a Lock for my Door, to prevent
Rats and Mice from coming in: The
Smith, after feveral Attempts, made
the ſmalleſt that ever was ſeen among
them, for I have known a larger at the
Gate of a Gentleman's Houſe in Eng-
land. I made a fhift to keep the Key
in a Pocket of my own, fearing Glum-
dalclitch might loſe it. The Queen like-
wife
BROBDINGNAG.
55
wife ordered the thinneft Silks that could
be gotten, to make me Cloaths, not
much thicker than an English Blanket,
very cumberſome till I was accuſtomed
to them. They were after the Faſhion
of the Kingdom, partly refembling the
Perfian, and partly the Chineſe, and are
a very grave and decent Habit.
THE Queen became fo fond of my
Company, that ſhe could not dine with-
out me. I had a Table placed upon the
fame at which her Majefty eat, just at
her left Elbow, and a Chair to fit on.
Glumdalclitch ftood upon a Stool on the
Floor, near my Table, to affiſt and take
care of me. I had an entire Set of fil-
ver Diſhes and Plates, and other Necef-
faries, which in Proportion to thofe of
the Queen, were not much bigger than
what I have feen of the fame kind in a
London Toy-fhop, for the Furniture of
a Baby-houſe: Thefe my little Nurſe
kept in her Pocket, in a filver Box, and
gave me at Meals as I wanted them, al-
ways
E 4
56
AVOYAGE to
ways cleaning them her felf. No Per
fon dined with the Queen but the two
Princeffes Royal, the elder fixteen Years
old, and the younger at that time thirteen
and a Month. Her Majefty uſed to put
a Bit of Meat upon one of my Diſhes,
out of which I carved for my felf; and
her Diverfion was to fee me eat in Mi-
niature. For the Queen (who had indeed
but a weak Stomach) took up at one
Mouthful, as much as a dozen Englifb
Farmers could eat at a Meal, which to
me was for fome time a very nauseous.
fight. She would craunch the Wing of
a Lark, Bones and all, between her
Teeth, although it were nine times as
large as that of a full grown Turkey;
and put a Bit of Bread in her Mouth,
as big as two twelvepenny Loaves. She
drank, out of a golden Cup, above a
Hogfhead at a Draught, Her Knives
were twice as long as a Scythe, fet ftrait
upon the Handle. The Spoons, Forks,
and other Inftruments were all in the fame
Proportion. I remember when Glum,
dalclitch
BROBDINGNAG.
57
dalclitch carried me out of Curiofity 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, till then, beheld fo
terrible a Sight.
IT is the Cuſtom that every Wednef
day, (which, as I have before obſerved,
was their Sabbath) the King and Queen,
with the Royal Iffue of both Sexes,
dine together in the Apartment of his
Majefty, to whom I was now become a
great Favourite; and at theſe times my
little Chair and Table were placed at
his left Hand, before one of the Salt-
fellers. This Prince took a Pleaſure in
converfing with me, enquiring into the
Manners, Religion, Laws, Government,
and Learning of Europe; wherein I
gave him the beſt Account I was able.
His Apprehenfion was fo clear, and his
Judgment fo exact, that he made very
wife Reflexions and Obfervations upon
all I faid. But, I confefs, that after I
4
had
58
A VOYAGE to
had been a little too copious in talking
of my own beloved Country, of our
Trade, and Wars by Sea and Land, of
our Schiſms in Religion, and Parties in
the State; the Prejudices of his Educa-
tion prevailed fo far, that he could not
forbear taking me up in his Right Hand,
and ftroaking 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 firft Minifter, who waited
behind him with a white Staff near as
tall as the Main-maft of the Royal So-
veraign, he obſerved how contemptible
a thing was human Grandeur, which
could be mimicked by fuch diminutive
Infects as I: And yet, faid he, I dare en-
gage, theſe Creatures have their Titles
and Diſtinctions of Honour, they con-
trive little Nefts and Burrows, that they
call Houſes and Cities; they make a
Figure in Drefs and Equipage; they
love, they fight, they difpute, they
cheat, they betray. And thus he con-
tinued on, while my Colour came and
went
BROBDINGNAG.
59
went feveral 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 Vir-
tue, Piety, Honour and Truth, the Pride
and Envy of the World, fo contemptu
ouſly treated.
BUT, as I was not in a Condition to
reſent Injuries, fo, upon máture Thoughts,
I began to doubt whether I was injured
or no. For, after having been accuſtom-
ed feveral Months to the Sight and Con
verfe of this People, and obferved every
Object upon which I caft mine Eyes, to
be of proportionable Magnitude, the
Horror I had firft conceived from
their Bulk and Afpect, was ſo far worn
off, that if I had then beheld a Company
of English Lords and Ladies in their
Finery and Birth-day Cloaths, acting
their feveral Parts in the moft courtly
manner, of ftrutting, and bowing, and
prating; to ſay the Truth, I fhould have
been strongly tempted to laugh as much
at
60
AVOYAGE to
at them as the King and his Grandees
did at me. Neither indeed could I
forbear fmiling at my felf, when the
Queen used to place me upon her Hand
towards a Looking-glafs, by which both
our Perfons 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
felf dwindled many Degrees below my
ufual Size.
NOTHING angred and mortified me
fo much as the Queen's Dwarf, who
being of the loweſt Stature that was ever
in that Country (for I verily think he
was not full thirty Foot high) became
infolent at ſeeing a Creature fo much
beneath him, that he would always affect
to fwagger and look big as he paffed by
me in the Queen's Anti-chamber, while
I was ſtanding on fome Table talking
with the Lords or Ladies of the Court,
and he feldom failed of a ſmall Word
or two upon my Littleness; againſt
which
BROBDING NAG.
61
which I could only revenge my ſelf 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
fo nettled with fomething 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 fitting down, not
thinking any harm, and let me drop in-
to a large filver Bowl of Cream, and then
ran away as faft 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 fuch a Fright that ſhe wanted Prefence
of Mind to affiſt me. But my little
Nurſe ran to my Relief, and took me out,
after I had ſwallowed above a Quart of
Cream. I was put to Bed; however I
received no other Damage than the Lofs
of a Suit of Cloaths, which was utterly
fpoiled. The Dwarf was foundly whip-
ped,
62
A VOYAGE to
ped, and as a further 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 ſaw him no
more, to my very great Satisfaction;
for I could not tell to what Extremity
fuch a malicious Urchin might have car-
ried his Refentment.
He had before ferved me a fcurvy
Trick, which fet the Queen a laughing,
although at the fame time fhe was hearti-
ly vexed, and would have immediately
caſhiered him, if I had not been ſo ge-
nerous as to intercede. Her Majefty had
taken a Marrow-bone upon her Plate,
and after knocking out the Marrow,
placed the Bone again in the Difh erect
as it ſtood before; the Dwarf watching
his Opportunity, while Glumdalclitch was
gone to the Side-board, mounted upon
the Stool ſhe ſtood on to take care of me
at Meals, took me up in both Hands, and
fqueez-
BROBDINGNAG.
63
ſqueezing my Legs together, wedged them
into the Marrow-bone above my Waft,
where I ftuck for fome 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
feldom get their Meat hot, my Legs
were not ſcalded, only my Stockings
and Breeches in a fad Condition. The
Dwarf, at my Entreaty, had no other
Puniſhment than a found whipping.
I WAS frequently rallied by the Queen
upon account of my Fearfulness, and fhe
uſed to ask me whether the People of my
Country were as great Cowards as my
felf? The Occafion was this: The King-
dom is much peſtered with Flies in Sum-
mer; and theſe odious Infects, each of
them as big as a Dunstable Lark, hardly
gave me any Reft while I fat at Dinner,
with their continual humming and buz-
zing about mine Ears. They would
fometimes alight upon my Victuals, and
leave
64
AVOYAGE tó
leave their loathfomeExcrement or Spawn
behind, which to me was very vifible,
though not to the Natives of that Coun-
try, 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 offenfively,
and I could eaſily trace that viſcous Mat-
ter, which our Naturalifts tell us enables
thofe Creatures to walk with their Feet
upwards upon a Cieling. I had much
ado to defend my ſelf againſt theſe de-
teftable Animals, and could not forbear
ftarting when they came on my Face. It
was the common Practice of the Dwarf
to catch a number of theſe Infects in his
Hand, as School-boys do among us, and
let them out fuddenly under my Nofe
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 my Dexterity was much
admired.
I RE-
BROBDINGNAG.
65
I REMEMBER one Morning when
Glumdalclitch had fet me in my Box up-
on a Window, as fhe ufually did in fair
Days to give me Air (for I durft not ven-
ture 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 Safhes, and fat down at my Table to
cat a piece of Sweet Cake for my Break-
faft, above twenty Wafps, allured by the
fmell, came flying into the Room, hum-
ming louder than the Drones of as many
Bagpipes. Some of them feized my Cake,
and carried it piece-meal away, others
flew about my Head and Face, confound-
ing me with the Noife, 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
reft got away, and I prefently fhut my
Window. Theſe Creatures were as large
as Partridges,I took out their Stings, found
them an Inch and a half long, and as
PART II.
F
ſharp
66
AVOYAGE to
fharp as Needles. I carefully preſerved
them all, and having fince fhewn them
with fome other Curiofities in feveral
parts of Europe; upon my Return to
England I gave three of them to Gref
ham College, and kept the fourth for
my ſelf.
CHAP.
BROBDING NAG.
67
CHAP. IV.
The Country defcribed. A Propofal for
correcting modern Maps. The King's
Palace, and ſome Account of the Me-
tropolis. The Author's way of tra-
velling. The chief Temple defcribed.
I
NOW intend to give the Reader
a fhort Deſcription of this Coun-
try, as far as I travelled in it,
which was not above two thouſand Miles
round Lorbrulgrud the Metropolis. For,
the Queen, whom I always attended, ne-
ver went further when the accompanied
the King in his Progreffes, and there ftaid
till his Majefty returned from viewing
his Frontiers. The whole Extent of this
Prince's Dominions reacheth about fix
thouſand Miles in Length, and from three
to five in Breadth. From whence I can-
not but conclude that our Geographers of
Europe are in a great Error, by fuppofing
nothing
F 2
68
AVOYAGE to
nothing but Sea between Japan and
California; for it was ever my Opinion,
that there must be a Balance of Earth to
counterpoiſe the great Continent of Tar-
tary; and therefore they ought to cor
rect their Maps and Charts, by joining
this vaft Tract of Land to the North-weſt
Parts of America, wherein I fhall be ready
to lend them my Affiftance.
THE Kingdom is a Peninſula, termi-
nated to the North-eaft by a Ridge of
Mountains thirty Miles high, which are
altogether impaffable by reaſon of the Vol-
canoes upon the Tops. Neither do the
moft Learned know what fort of Mor-
tals 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 Kingdom, and thoſe
Parts of the Coaſts into which the Rivers
iffue are ſo full of pointed Rocks, and
the Sea generally fo rough, that there is
no venturing with the ſmalleſt of their
Boats,
BROBDING NAG.
69
Boats, fo that thefe People are wholly
excluded from any Commerce with the
reft of the World. But the large Rivers
are full of Veffels, and abound with ex-
cellent Fiſh, for they feldom get any
from the Sea, becauſe the Sea-fiſh are of
the fame Size with thoſe in Europe, and
conſequently not worth catching: where-
by it is manifeft, that Nature in the Pro-
duction of Plants and Animals of fo ex-
traordinary a Bulk is wholly confined to
this Continent, of which I leave the
Reaſons to be determined by Philofo-
phers. However, now and then they
take a Whale that happens to be dafh-
ed againſt the Rocks, which the common
People feed on heartily. Theſe Whales
I have known fo large that a Man could
hardly carry one upon his Shoulders ; and
fometimes for Curiofity they are brought
in Hampers to Lorbrulgrud: Ifaw one of
them in a Difh at the King's Table,
which paffed for a Rarity, but I did not
obferve he was fond of it; for I think
indeed the Bignefs difguifted him, al-
though
F 3
70
AVOYAGE to
though I have ſeen one fomewhat lar-
ger in Greenland.
THE Country is well inhabited, for
it contains fifty one Cities, near an hun-
dred walled Towns, and a great num-
ber of Villages. To fatisfy my curious.
Reader, it may be fufficient to deſcribe
Lorbrulgrud. This City ftands upon al-
moſt two equal Parts on each fide the
River that paffes through. It contains
above eighty thouſand Houſes, and about
fix hundred thoufand Inhabitants. It is
in Length three Glonglungs (which make
about fifty four Engliſh Miles) and two
and a half in Breadth, as I meafured it
my ſelf in the Royal Map made by the
King's Order, which was laid on the
Ground on purpoſe for me, and extend-
ed an hundred Feet; I paced the Dia-
meter and Circumference feveral times
barefoot, and computing by the Scale,
meaſured it pretty exactly.
THE King's Palace is no regular Edi-
fice,
BROBDINGNAG.
71
fice, but an heap of Buildings about fe-
ven Miles round: The chief Rooms are
generally two hundred and forty Foot
high, and broad and long in Proporti-
on. A Coach was allowed to Glumdal-
clitch and me, wherein her Governeſs
frequently took her out to ſee the Town,
or go among the Shops; and I was al-
ways of the Party, carried in my Box ;
although the Girl at my own Defire 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 Weft-
minster Hall, but not altogether ſo high;
however. I cannot be very exact. One
Day the Governefs ordered our Coach-
man to ſtop at feveral Shops, where the
Beggars watching their Opportunity,
crouded to the fides of the Coach, and gave
me the moſt horrible Spectacles that ever
an English Eye beheld. There was a
Woman with a Cancer in her Breaſt,
ſwelled to a monftrous ſize, full of Holes,
F 4
in
72
AVOYAGE to
in two or three of which I could have
cafily 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,
cach about twenty Foot high. But, the
moſt hateful Sight of all was the Lice
crawling on their Cloaths. I could fee dif
tinctly the Limbs of theſe Vermin with
my naked Eye, much better than thoſe of
an European Loufe through a Microſcope,
and their Snouts with which they root-
ed like Swine. They were the first I had
ever beheld, and I fhould have been curi-
ous enough to deffect one of them, if I had
proper Inftruments (which I unluckily left
behind me in the Ship) although indeed
the Sight was fo naufeous, that it perfect-
ly turned my Stomach.
a
BESIDE the large Box in which I was
ufually carried, the Queen ordered
ſmaller one to be made for me, of about
twelve Foot ſquare, and ten high, for the
Convenience of Travelling, becauſe the
other
BROBDINGNAG.
73
other was ſomewhat too large for Glum-
dalclitch's Lap, and cumberſom in the
Coach; it was made by the fame Artiſt,
whom I directed in the whole Contri-
vance. This travelling Cloſet was an
exact Square with a Window in the mid-
dle of three of the Squares, and each
Window was latticed with Iron Wire on
the outfide, to prevent Accidents in long
Journeys. On the fourth fide, which had
no Window, two ftrong Staples were
fixed, through which the Perfon that car-
ried me, when I had a mind to be on
Horſeback, put in a Leathern Belt, and
buckled it about his Waſte.
always the Office of fome grave trufty
Servant in whom I could confide, whe-
ther I attended the King and Queen in
their Progreffes, or were difpofed to fee
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 fuppofe more upon Account of their
This was
Majefty's
74
AVOYAGE to
Majeſty's Favour than any Merit of my
own. In Journeys, when I was weary
of the Coach, a Servant on Horſeback
would buckle my Box, and place it on
a Cuſhion before 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 Ham-
mock hung from the Cieling, two Chairs
and a Table, neatly ſcrewed to the Floor,
to prevent being toffed about by the A-
gitation of the Horſe or the Coach. And
having been long uſed to Sea-Voyages,
thoſe Motions, although fometimes very
violent, did not much difcompoſe me.
WHENEVER Ihad a mind to ſee the
Town, it was always in my Travelling-
Cloſet, which Glumdalclitch held in her
Lap in a kind of open Sedan, after the Fa-
ſhion of the Country, born by four Men,
and attended by two others in the Queen's
Livery. The People who had often
heard of me, were very curious to croud
about the Sedan, and the Girl was com
plaifant
BROBDINGNAG.
75
plaifant enough to make the Bearers ftop,
and to take me in her Hand that I might
be more conveniently ſeen.
I WAS very defirous to fee the chief
Temple, and particularly the Tower be-
longing to it, which is reckoned the
higheſt in the Kingdom. Accordingly
one Day my Nurfe carried me thither, but
I may truly fay I came back diſappointed;
for, the height is not above three thou-
fand Foot,and reckoning from the Ground
to the higheſt Pinnacle top; which allow-
ing for the difference between the fize of
thofe People, and us in Europe, is no
great matter for Admiration, nor at all
equal in Proportion, (if I rightly remem-
ber) to Salisbury Steeple. But, not to
detract from a Nation to which during
my Life I fhall acknowledge my ſelf ex-
tremely 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 hun-
dred Foot thick, built of hewn Stone,
whereof
76
AVOYAGE to
whereof each is about forty Foot ſquare,
and adorned on all fides with Statues of
Gods and Emperors cut in Marble larger
than the Life, placed in their ſeveral Nich.
es. I meaſured a little Finger which
had fallen down from one of theſe Sta-
tues, and lay unperceived among fome
Rubbiſh, and found it exactly four Foot
and an Inch in length. Glumdalclitch
wrapped it up in an Handkerchief, and
carried it home in her Pocket to keep
among other Trinkets, of which the
Girl was very fond, as Children at her
Age ufually are.
THE King's Kitchen is indeed a noble
Building, vaulted at top, and about fix
hundred Foot high. The great Oven is
not fo wide by ten Paces as the Cupola
at St. Paul's: For I meaſured the latter
on purpoſe after my Return. But if I
fhould defcribe the Kitchen-grate, the
prodigious Pots and Kettles, the joints
of Meat turning on the Spits, with ma-
ny other Particulars, perhaps I fhould be
hardly
3
BROBDINGNAG.
77
hardly believed; at leaſt a fevere Critick
would be apt to think I enlarged a little,
as Travellers are often fufpected to do.
To avoid which cenfure, I fear I have run
too much into the other extream; and that
if this Treatife ſhould happen to be tranf
lated into the Language of Brobdingnag,
(which is the general name of that King-
dom) and tranſmitted thither, the King
and his People would have reafon to
complain that I had done them an In-
jury by a falfe and diminutive Repre-
ſentation.
His Majeſty ſeldom keeps above fix hun-
dred Horſes in his Stables: They are
generally from fifty four to fixty Foot
high. But when he goes abroad on fo-
lemn Days, he is attended for State by
a Militia Guard of five hundred Horfe,
which indeed I thought was the most
fplendid Sight that could be ever beheld,
till I faw part of his Army in Battalia,
whereof I fhall find another occafion to
ſpeak.
CHAP.
78
AVOYAGE to
CHAP. V.
Several Adventures that happened to the
Author. The Execution of a Crimi-
nal. The Author fhews his Skill in
Navigation.
SHOULD have lived happy e-
I nough in that Country, if my
Littleneſs had not expofed me
to ſeveral ridiculous and troubleſome
Accidents: fome of which I ſhall ventnre
to relate. Glumdalclitch often carried
me into the Gardens of the Court in my
ſmaller Box, and would fometimes take
me out of it and hold me in her Hand,
or fet me down to walk. I remember,
before the Dwarf left the Queen, he fol-
lowed us one Day into thoſe Gardens, and
my Nurſe having fet me down, he and
I being cloſe together, near fome Dwarf
Apple trees, I muft need fhew my Wit
4
by
BROBDINGNAG.
79
by a filly Allufion between him and the
Trees, which happens to hold in their
Language as it doth in ours. Whereup-
on, the malicious Rogue watching his
Opportunity, when I was walking un-
der one of them, fhook it directly over
my Head, by which a dozen Apples, each
of them near as large as a Briſtol Bar-
rel, came tumbling about my Ears; one
of them hit me on the Back as I chanced
to ſtoop, and knocked me down flat on
my Face, but I received no other hurt,
and the Dwarf was pardoned at my De-
fire, becauſe I had given the Provocati-
on.
ANOTHER day Glumdalclitch left
me on a ſmooth Grafs-plot to divert
my ſelf while fhe walked at ſome dif
tance with her Governeſs. In the mean
time there fuddenly fell fuch a violent
ſhower of Hail, that I was immediate-
ly by the force of it ftruck to the Ground:
And when I was down, the Hail-ftones
gave me fuch cruel Bangs all over the
Body
80
AVOYAGE to
Body, as if I had been pelted with Ten-
nis balls; however I made a fhift to
creep on all four, and fhelter my ſelf
by lying flat on my Face on the Lee-
fide of a Border of Lemon Thyme,
but fo bruiſed from Head to Foot that
I could not go abroad in ten Days. Nei-
ther is this at all to be wondered at, be.
caufe Nature in that Country obſerving
the fame Proportion thro' all her Opera-
tions, a Hail-ſtone is near eighteen hun-
dred times as large as one in Europe,
which I can affert upon Experience, hav-
ing been ſo curious to weigh and mea-
fure them.
BUT, a more dangerous Accident hap-
pened to me in the fame Garden, when
my little Nurſe believing fhe had put
me in a fecure Place, which I often en-
treated her to do, that I might enjoy my
own Thoughts, and having left my Box
at home to avoid the Trouble of carry-
ing it, went to another part of the Gar-
dens with her Governefs and fome Ladies
of
BROBDING NAG.
81
of her Acquaintance. While fhe was
abſent, and out of hearing, a ſmall white
Spaniel belonging to one of the chief Gar-
deners, having got by Accident into the
Garden, happened to range near the Place
where I lay The Dog following the
Scent, came directly up, and taking me
in his Mouth, ran ftrait to his Maſter,
wagging his Tail, and fet me gently on
the Ground. By good Fortune he had
been fo well taught, that I was carried
between his Teeth without the leaft
Hurt, or even tearing my Clothes. But
the poor Gardener, who knew me well,
and had a great Kindneſs for me, was in
a terrible Fright: He gently took me
up in both his Hands, and asked me how
I did; but I was fo amazed, and out of
Breath, that I could not speak a Word.
In a few Minutes I came to my felf,
and he carried me fafe to my little Nurfe,
who by this Time had returned to the
Place where fhe left me, and was in cruel
Agonies when I did not appear, nor an-
fwer when ſhe called: She feverely repri-
Part II.
G
manded
82
A VOYAGE to
manded 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 my ſelf, I thought it would
not be for my Reputation that fuch a
Story fhould go about.
THIS Accident abfolutely determi-
ned Glumdalclitch never to truft me abroad
for the future out of her Sight. I had
been long afraid of this Refolution, and
therefore concealed from her fome little
unlucky Adventures that happened in
thofe 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
refolutely drawn my Hanger, and run
under a thick Efpalier, he would have
certainly carried me away in his Talons.
Another Time walking to the Top of a
freſh Mole-hill, I fell to my Neck in the
Hole, through which that Animal had
caft up the Earth, and coined fome Lie,
not worth remembring, to excuſe my
felf
BROBDING NAG.
83
felf for fpoiling my Clothes. I likewiſe
broke my right Shin againſt the Shell of
a Snail, which I happened to ſtumble
over, as I was walking alone, and think-
ing on poor England.
I
I CANNOT tell whether I were more
pleafed or mortified, to obferve in thoſe
folitary 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.
remember, a Thrush 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, en-
deavouring to pick my Fingers, which I
durft not venture within their Reach;
and then they would turn back uncon-
cerned, to hunt for Worms or Snails, as
they did before.
But one Day I took
G 2
a thick
8.4
A VOYAGE to
a thick Cudgel, and threw it with all my
Strength fo luckily at a Linnet, that I
knocked him down, and feizing him by
the Neck with both my Hands, ran with
him in Triumph to my Nurfe. How-
ever, the Bird, who had only been ſtun-
ned, recovering himſelf, gave me fo ma-
ny Boxes with his Wings on both Sides
of my Head and Body, though 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 foon
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, feemed to be fomewhat
larger than an English Swan.
*
THE Maids of Honour often invited
Glumdalclitch to their Apartments, and
deſired ſhe would bring me along with
her, on purpoſe to have the Pleaſure of
ſeeing and touching me. They would
often ftrip me naked from Top to Toe,
and
BROBDING NAG.
85
and lay me at full length in their Boſoms;
wherewith I was much difgufted; be-
cauſe, to ſay the Truth, a very offenfive
Smell came from their Skins; which I do
not mention or intend to the Diſadvan-
tage of thoſe excellent Ladies, for whom
I have all manner of Refpect; but, I
conceive that my Senfe was morc acute
in Proportion to my Littleneſs, and that
thofe illuftrious Perfons were no more
difagreeable to their Lovers, or to each
other, than People of the fome Quality
are with us in England. And, after all,
I found their natural Smell was much
more ſupportable than when they uſed
Perfumes, under which I immediately
fwooned 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 Exercife, to com-
plain of a ftrong Smell about me, although
I am as little faulty that way as moſt
of my Sex: But I fuppofe his Faculty of
Smelling was as nice with regard to me,
as mine was to that of this People. Up-
G 3
on
86
A VOYAGE to
on this Point, I cannot forbear doing
Juſtice to the Queen my Miſtreſs, and
Glumdalclitch my Nurfe, whofe Perſons
were as fweet as thofe of any Lady in
England.
THAT which gave me moft Uneaſi-
neſs among theſe Maids of Honour,
when my Nurſe carried me to viſit them,
was to fee them ufe me without any
manner of Ceremony, like a Creature
who had no fort of Confequence. For,
they would ſtrip themſelves to the Skin,
and put on their Smocks in my Preſence,
while I was placed on their Toylet di-
rectly before their naked Bodies, which,
I am fure, to me was very far from be-
ing a tempting Sight, or from giving me
any other Emotions than thofe of Hor-
ror and Diſguſt. Their Skins appeared
fo coarſe and uneven, fo variouſly
coloured, when I faw them near,
with a Mole here and there as
broad as a Trencher, and Hairs hanging
from it thicker than Pack-threads, to
fay
BROBDING NAG.
89
fay nothing further concerning the reft
of their Perfons. Neither did they at
all fcruple while I was by to diſcharge
what they had drunk, to the Quantity
of at leaſt two Hogfheads, in a Veffel
that held above three Tuns. The hand-
ſomeſt among thefe Maids of Honour,
a pleaſant frolickfome Girl of Sixteen,
would ſometimes fet me aftride upon
one of her Nipples, with many other
Tricks, wherein the Reader will excufe
me for not being over particular. But
I was fo much difpleaſed, that I intrea-
ted Glumdalclitch to contrive fome Ex-
cufe for not ſeeing that young Lady any
more.
ONE Day, a young Gentleman, who
was Nephew to my Nurfe's Governeſs,
came and preffed them both to ſee an
Execution. It was of a Man who had
murdered one of that Gentleman's in-
timate Acquaintance. Glumdalclitch was
prevailed on to be of the Company, very
much againſt her Inclination, for ſhe was
naturally
G 4
88
AVOYAGE to
naturally tender-hearted: And, as for
my feif, although I abhorred fuch kind
of Spectacles, yet my Curiofity temp-
ted me to ſee ſomething that I thought
muſt be extraordinary. The Malefactor
was fixed in a Chair upon a Scaffold
erected for the Purpoſe, and his Head
cut off at a Blow with a Sword of about
forty Foot long. The Veins and Arteries
fpouted up fuch a prodigious Quantity of
Blood, and fo high in the Air, that the
great Jett d'eau at Verfailles was not
equal, for the Time it lafted; and the
Head, when it fell on the Scaffold-Floor,
gave fuch a Bounce, as made me ſtart,
although I were at leaſt half an English
Mile diftant.
THE Queen, who often uſed to hear
me talk of my Sea-Voyages, and took all
Occafions to divert me when I was me-
lancholy, asked me whether I under-
ſtood how to handle a Sail, or an Oar, and
whether a little Exerciſe of Rowing might
not be convenient for my Health. I
anſwered
BROBDING NAG.
89
anſwered, that I underſtood both very
well: For although my proper Employ-
ment had been to be Surgeon or Doc-
tor to the Ship, yet often, upon a Pinch,
I was forced to work like a common
Mariner. But I could not fee how
this could be done in their Country,
where the ſmalleſt Wherry was equal to
a First-rate Man of War among us, and
fuch a Boat as I could manage would ne-
ver live in any of their Rivers. Her
Majefty faid, if I would contrive a Boat,
her own Joiner fhould make it, and ſhe
would provide a Place for me to fail in.
The Fellow was an ingenious Work-
man, and, by my Inftructions, in ten Days
finished a Pleaſure-Boat, with all its Tack-
ling, able conveniently to hold eight
Europeans. When it was finiſhed, the
Queen was fo 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 Tryal;
where I could not managemy two Sculls,
or little Oars, for want of Room. But
the
90
A VOYAGE to
the Queen had before contrived another
Project. She ordered the Joiner to
make a wooden Trough of three hun-
dred Foot long, fifty broad, and eight
deep; which being well pitched to pre-
vent 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 eafi-
ly fill it in half an Hour. Here I often
ufed to row for my own Diverfion, as
well as that of the Queen and her Ladies,
who thought themſelves well entertain-
ed with my Skill and Agility. Some-
times I would put up my Sail, and then
my Buſineſs was only to fteer, while the
Ladies gave me a Gale with their Fans;
and when they were weary, fome of the
Pages would blow my Sail forward with
their Breath, while I fhewed my Art by
fteering Starboard or Larboard, as I plea-
fed. When I had done, Glumdalclitch
always carried back my Boat into her
Clofet, and hung it on a Nail to dry.
IN
BRO BDING NAG.
91
IN this Exercife I once met an Ac-
cident which had like to have coft me
my Life: For, one of the Pages having
put my Boat into the Trough, the Go-
vernefs, who attended Glumdalclitch,
very officiouſly lifted me up to place me
in the Boat, but I happened to flip through
her Fingers, and fhould have infallibly
fallen down forty Foot upon the Floor,
if by the luckieft Chance in the World,
I had not been ſtopp'd by a Corking-pin
that ſtuck in the good Gentlewoman's
Stomacher; the Head of the Pin paſſed
between my Shirt and the Waiſt-band of
my Breeches, and thus I was held by the
Middle in the Air till Glumdalclitch ran
to my Relief.
ANOTHER Time, one of the Ser-
vants, whofe Office it was to fill my
Trough every third Day with freſh Wa-
ter, was fo careleſs to let a huge Frog
(not perceiving it) flip out of his Pail.
The Frog lay concealed till I was put
into
92
A VOYAGE to
into my Boat, but then feeing a refting
Place, climbed up, and made it lean fo
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 Clothes with its
odious Slime. The Largenefs of its Fea-
tures made it appear the moft deformed
Animal that can be conceived. How-
ever, I defired Glumdalclitch 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 un-
derwent 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 fomewhere upon Buſineſs, or a
Vifit. The Weather being very warm,
the Cloſet-Window was left open, as
well
BROBDING NAG.
93
well as the Windows and the Door of
my bigger Box, in which I uſually li-
ved, becauſe of its Largeneſs and Conve-
niency. As I fat quietly meditating at
my Table, I heard fomething bounce
in at the Clofet-Window, and skip
about from one Side to the other; where-
at, although I were much alarmed, yet
I ventured to look out, but not ftir-
ring from my Seat; and then I faw this
this frolickſome Animal, frisking and leap-
ing up and down, till at last he came to
my Box, which he ſeemed to view with
great Pleaſure and Curiofity, peeping in
at the Door and every Window.
I re-
treated to the farther Corner of my
Room, or Box, but the Monkey look-
ing in at every Side, put me into fuch
a Fright, that I wanted Prefence of Mind
to conceal my felf under the Bed, as I
might eaſily have done. After fome
Time ſpent in peeping, grinning, and
chattering, he at laſt eſpied me, and
reaching one of his Paws in at the
Door, as a Cat does when ſhe plays with
a
94
A VOY A GE to
a Mouſe, although I often ſhifted Place
to avoid him, he at Length caught hold
of the Lappet of my Coat, (which being
made of that Country Cloth, was very
thick and ſtrong,) and dragged me out.
He took me up in his right Fore-foot,
and held me as a Nurfe does a Child
fhe is going to fuckle, juft as I have ſeen
the fame fort of Creature do with a
Kitten in Europe: And when I offered
to ftruggle, he ſqueezed me fo 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 ftroaking my Face very gently
with his other Faw. In theſe Diverfi-
ons he was interrupted by a Noiſe at
the Cloſet Door, as if fome Body were
opening it; whereupon he fuddenly
leaped up to the Window, at which he
had come in, and thence upon the Leads
and Gutters, walking upon three Legs,
and holding me in the fourth, till he
clamber'd up to a Roof that was next to
ours. I heard Glumdalclitch give a Shreek
at
BROB DING NA G. 95
at the Moment he was carrying me out.
The poor Girl was almoſt diſtracted: That
Quarter of the Palace was all in an uproar,
the Servants ran for Ladders; the Mon-
key was feen 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 fome
Victuals he had fqueezed 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 juſtly ought to be blamed, for with-
out Queſtion the Sight was ridiculous.
enough to every Body but my felf. Some
of the People threw up Stones, hoping
to drive the Monkey down; but this was
ftrictly forbidden, or elfe very probably
my Brains had been dafhed out.
THE Ladders were now applied, and
mounted by feveral Men, which the Mon-
key obſerving, and finding himſelf al-
moft
96
AVOYAGE to
moſt encompaffed; not being able to
make Speed enough with his three Legs,
let me drop on a Ridge-Tyle, and made
his Eſcape. Here I fat for ſome Time three
hundred Yards from the Ground, expect-
ing every Moment to be blown down
by the Wind, or to fall by my own Gid-
dinefs, and come tumbling over and over
from the Ridge to the Eves: But an
honeft Lad, one of my Nurfe's Footmen,
climbed up, and, putting me into his
Breeches-Pocket, brought me down fafe.
I was almoſt choaked with the filthy
Stuff the Monkey had crammed down
my Throat; but my dear little Nurſe
picked it out of my Mouth with a
fmall Needle, and then I fell a vomit-
ing, which gave me great Relief. Yet
I was fo weak, and bruiſed in the Sides,
with the Squeezes given me by this odi-
ous Animal, that I was forced to keep
my Bed a Fortnight. The King, Queen,
and all the Court, fent every Day to en-
quire after my Health, and her Majeſty
made
BROB DINGNAG.
97
made me ſeveral Vifits during my Sick-
nefs. The Monkey was killed, and an
Order made that no fuch Animal ſhould
be kept about the Palace.
WHEN I attended the King after my
Recover, to return him Thanks for his
Favours, he was pleafed to rally me a
good deal upon this Adventure. He
asked me what my Thoughts and Spe-
culations were while I lay in the Mon-
key's Paw; how I liked the Victuals he
gave me; his manner of Feeding; and
whether the freſh Air on the Roof had
fharpen'd my Stomach. He defired to
know what I would have done upon
fuch an Occafion in my own Country.
I told his Majefty, that in Europe we
had no Monkeys, except fuch as were
brought for Curiofities from other Places,
and fo fmall, that I could deal with a
Dozen of them together, if they pre-
fumed to attack me. And as for that
monftrous Animal with whom I was fo
lately engaged, (it was indeed as large
· PART II.
H
as
98
A VOYAGE to
as an Elephant,) if my Fears had fuffer-
ed me to think fo far as to make uſe
of my Hanger, (looking fiercely and clap.
ping my Hand upon the Hilt as I fpoke,)
when he poked his Paw into my Cham-
ber, perhaps I ſhould have given him fuch
a Wound, as would have made him glad
to withdraw it with more hafte than he
put it in. This I delivered in a firm
Tone, like a Perfon who was jealous left
his Honour ſhould be called in queſtion.
However, my Speech produced nothing
elfe befides a loud Laughter, which all
the Reſpect due to his Majeſty from thoſe
about him could not make them con-
tain. This made me reflect how vain
an Attempt it is for a Man to endeavour
doing himſelf Honour among thoſe who
are out of all Degree of Equality or
Compariſon with him. And yet I have
feen the Moral of my own Behaviour
very frequent in England fince my Re-
turn, where a little contemptible Var-
let, without the leaft Title to Birth, Per-
fon, Wit, or common Senfe, fhall pre-
fume
BROBDING NAG.
99
fume to look with Importance, and put
himſelf upon a Foot with the greateſt
Perfons of the Kingdom.
I was every Day furniſhing the Court
with fome ridiculous Story; and Glum-
dalclitch, although fhe loved, me to Ex-
ceſs, yet was arch enough to inform the
Queen, whenever I committed any Fol-
ly that the thought would be diverting
to her Majefty. The Girl who had been
out of Order, was carried by her Gover-
neſs to take the Air about an Hour's
Diſtance, or thirty Miles from Town.
They alighted out of the Coach near a
fmall Foot-path in a Field, and Glum.
dalclitch fetting 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 Activity by attempting to
leap over it. I took a Run, but unfor-
tunately jumped fhort, and found my ſelf
juſt in the Middle up to my Knees. I
waded through with fome Difficulty, and
one of the Footmen wiped me as clean
H 2
as
100
A VOYAGE to
as he could with his Handkerchief; for
I was filthily bemired, and my Nurſe
confined me to my Box till we return-
ed home; where the Queen was foon in-
formed of what had paſſed, and the Foot-
men ſpread it about the Court; fo that
all the Mirth, for fome Days, was at my
Expence.
CHAP.
BROBDING NAG. 101
SAMS. EDG
CHAP. VI.
Several Contrivances of the Author to
pleafe the King and Queen. He fhews
his Skill in Mufick. The King en-
quires into the State of Europe, which
the Author relates to him. The King's
Obfervations thereon.
USED to attend the King's
Levee once or twice a Week,
and had often feen him under
the Barber's Hand, which indeed was at
firft very terrible to behold: For the
Razor was almost twice as long as an
Ordinary Scythe. His Majefty, according
to the Cuſtom of the Country, was on-
ly fhaved twice a Week. I once pre-
vailed on the Barber to give me fome
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,
H 3
102
A VOYAGE to
Wood, and cut it like the Back of a
Comb, making feveral Holes in it at
equal Diſtance with as fmall a Needle as
I could get from Glumdalclitch. I fixed
in the Stumps fo artificially, fcraping and
floping 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 Artift in that Coun-
try fo nice and exact, as would under-
take to make me another.
AND this puts me in Mind of an
Amuſement wherein I ſpent many of my
leiture Hours. I defired the Queen's
Woman to fave for me the Combings
of her Majeſty's Hair, whereof in Time
I got a good Quantity, and confulting
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 thofe
I had in my Box, and then to bore lit
tle
BROBDING NAG.
103
tle Holes with a fine Awl round thofe
Parts where I defigned the Backs and
Seats; through thefe Holes I wove the
ſtrongeſt Hairs I could pick out, juft af
ter the manner of Cane-Chairs in Eng-
land. When they were finiſhed, I made
a Prefent of them to her Majefty, who
kept them in her Cabinet, and uſed to
ſhew them for Curiofities, as indeed
they were the Wonder of every one that
beheld them. The Queen would have
had me fit upon one of theſe Chairs, but
I abfolutely refuſed to obey her, pro-
teſting I would rather die a thouſand
Deaths than place a difhonourable Part
of my Body on thofe precious Hairs
that once adorned her Majeſty's Head.
Of thefe Hairs (as I had always a me-
chanical Genius) I likewiſe made a neat
little Pure about five Foot long, with
her Majeſty's Name decyphered in Gold
Letters, which I gave to Glumdalclitch,
by the Queen's Confent. To ſay the
Truth, it was more for Shew than Ufe,
being not of ftrength to bear the Weight
H 4
of
104
A VOYAGE to
of the larger Coins, and therefore fhe
kept nothing in it, but fome little Toys
that Girls are fond of.
THE King, who delighted in Mu-
fick, had frequent Conforts at Court,
to which I was fometimes carried, and
fet in my Box on a Table to hear them;
But, the Noife was fo great, that I could
hardly diſtinguiſh the Tunes. I am con-
fident that all the Drums and Trumpets
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 Places where the
Performers fat, as far as I could, then to
fhut the Doors and Windows of it, and
draw the Window-Curtains; after which
I found their Mufick not difagreeable.
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 re-
fembled that Inftrument, and was play'd
upon
BROBDING,NAG.
105-
A fancy
upon in the fame Manner.
came into my Head that I would en-
tertain the King and Queen, with an En-
glish Tune upon this Inftrument. But
this appeared extremely difficult: For,
the Spinet was near fixty Foot long, each
Key being almoſt a Foot wide, fo that,
with my Arms extended, I could not
reach to above five Keys, and to preſs
them down required a good ſmart Stroak
with my Fift, which would be too great
a Labour, and to no Purpoſe. The
Method I contrived was this. I pre-
pared two round Sticks about the
Bignefs of common Cudgels; they were
thicker at one End than the other, and
I covered the thicker Ends with a Piece
of a Moufe's Skin, that by rapping on
them, I might neither damage the Tops
of the Keys, nor interrupt the Sound.
Before the Spinet a Bench was placed
about four Foot below the Keys, and I
was put upon the Bench. I ran fide-
ling upon it that Way and this, as faſt as
I could, banging the proper Keys with
my
106
A VOYAGE to
my two Sticks, and made a Shift to play
a Jigg, to the great Satisfaction of both
their Majefties: But it was the moſt
violent Exercife I ever underwent, and
yet I could not ſtrike above ſixteen Keys,
nor, confequently, play the Bafs and
Treble together, as other Artifts 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 fhould be
brought in my Box, and fet 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
Cabinet, which brought me almoſt to a
level with his Face. In this Manner I
had ſeveral Converfations with him. I
One Day took the Freedom to tell his
Majeſty, that the Contempt he diſcover-
ed towards Europe, and the reſt of the
World, did not ſeem anſwerable to thoſe
excellent
BROBDING NAG.
107
excellent Qualities of the Mind he was
Mafter of. That Reafon did not ex-
tend it felf with the Bulk of the Body:
On the contrary, we obferved in our
Country, that the talleſt Perſons were
ufually leaft 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 to k me to be, I hoped I might live
to do his Majefty fome fignal Service.
The King heard me with Attention, and
began to conceive a much better Opi-
nion of me than he had ever before.
He defired I would give him as exact
an Account of the Government of Eng-
Land, as I poffibly could; becauſe, as
fond as Princes commonly are of their
own Customs, (for fo he conjectured of
other Monarchs by my former Difcour-
fes,) he ſhould be glad to hear of any
Thing that might deſerve Imitation.
IMAGINE with thy felf, courteous
Reader,
108
A VOYAGE to
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 Coun-
try in a Stile equal to its Merits and Fe-
licity.
I BEGAN my Difcourfe by inform-
ing his Majesty that our Dominions con-
fifted of two Iſlands, which compofed
three mighty Kingdoms under one So-
vereign, beſides our Plantations in Ame-
rica. I dwelt long upon the Fertility
of our Soil, and the Temperature of
our Climate. I then fpoke at large up-
on the Conſtitution of an English Par-
liament, partly made up of an illuf
trious Body called the Houſe of Peers,
Perſons of the nobleft Blood, and of
the moſt ancient and ample Patrimonies.
I deſcribed that extraordinary Care al-
ways taken of their Education in Arts
and Arms, to qualify them for being
Counſellors born to the King and King-
dom; to have a Share in the Legiſlature;
to
BROBDING NAG.
109
to be Members 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 their Valour,
Conduct and Fidelity. That theſe were
the Ornament and Bulwark of the King-
dom, worthy Followers of their moſt re
nowned Anceſtors, whofe Honour had
been the Reward of their Virtue, from
which their Pofterity were never once
known to degenerate. To theſe were
joined ſeveral holy Perſons, as part of
that Aſſembly, under the Title of Biſhops,
whofe peculiar Buſineſs it is to take
care of Religion, and of thoſe who in-
ſtruct the People therein. Theſe were
fearched, and fought out, through the
whole Nation, by the Prince and his wifeſt
Counſellors, among fuch of the Prieft-
hood as were moft defervedly diftinguiſh-
ed by the Sanctity of their Lives, and the
Depth of their Erudition, who were in-
deed the ſpiritual Fathers of the Clergy
and the People.
THAT
110
A VOY A GE to
THAT, the other Part of the Parlia
ment conſiſted of an Affembly called the
Houſe of Commons, who were all prin-
cipal Gentlemen, freely picked and cul-
led out by the People themſelves, for
their great Abilities and Love of their
Country, to reprefent the Wifdom of
the whole Nation. And theſe two
Bodies make up the moſt auguſt Affem-
bly in Europe, to whom, in Conjunction
with the Prince, the whole Legiſlature
is committed.
I THEN defcended to the Courts of
Juſtice, over which the Judges, thofe ve-
nerable Sages and Interpreters of the
Law prefided, for determining the dif
puted Rights and Properties of Men, as
well as for the Puniſhment 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
BROBDING NAG.
III
how many Millions there might be of
each religious Sect, or political Party
among us. I did not omit even our
Sports and Paftimes, or any other Par-
ticular which I thought might redound
to the Honour of my Country. And I
finiſhed all with a brief hiftorical Account
of Affairs and Events in England for
about an hundred Years paft.
THIS Converfation was not ended
under five Audiences, each of feveral
Hours, and the King heard the whole
with great Attention, frequently taking
Notes of what I fpoke, as well as Me-
morandums of all Queſtions he intend-
ed to ask me.
WHEN I had put an End to theſe
long Diſcourſes, his Majefty in a fixth
Audience confulting his Notes, propo-
fed many Doubts, Queries, and Objec-
tions, upon every Article. He asked
what Methods were uſed to cultivate
the Minds and Bodies of our young No-
bility,
112
A VOYAGE to
bility, and in what kind of Bufinefs they
commonly ſpent the first and teachable
Part of their Lives. What Courfe was
taken to ſupply that Affembly when any
noble Family became extinct. What
Qualifications were neceffary in thofe
who are to be created new Lords: Whe-
ther the Humour of the Prince, a Sum
of Money to a Court-Lady, or a Prime
Miniſter, or a Defign of ftrengthening a
Party oppofite to the publick Intereft,
ever happened to be Motives in thoſe
Advancements. What Share of Know-
ledge theſe Lords had in the Laws of their
Country, and how they came by it, fo
as to enable them to decide the Proper-
ties of their Fellow -Subjects in the laſt
Refort. Whether they were always fo
free from Avarice, Partialities, or Want,
that a Bribe, or fome other finifter View,
could have no Place among them. Whe-
ther thoſe holy Lords I fpoke of were
always promoted to that Rank upon ac-
count of their Knowledge in religious
Matters, and the Sanctity of their Lives,
had
BROBDING NAG.
1 1 3
had never been Compliers with the Times
while they were common Priefts, or fla-
viſh proſtitute Chaplains to fome Noble-
man, whoſe Opinions they continued fer-
vilely to follow after they were admitted
into that Affembly.
He then defired to know what Arts
were practiſed in electing thoſe whom
I called Commoners: Whether a Stran-
ger with
a ſtrong Purſe might not
influence the vulgar Voters to chufe him
before their own Landlord, or the moſt
confiderable Gentleman in the Neigh-
bourhood. How it came to pass, that
People were fo violently bent upon get-
ting into this Affembly, which I allow-
ed to be a great Trouble and Expence,
often to the Ruin of their Families, with-
out any Salary or Penfion: Becauſe this
appeared fuch an exalted Strain of Vir-
tue and publick Spirit, that his Majeſty
feemed to doubt it might poffibly not
be always fincere: And he defired to
know whether fuch zealous Gentlemen
could
Part II.
I
114
A VOYAGE to
could have any Views of refunding them-
felves for the Charges and Trouble they
were at, by facrificing the publick
Good to the Defigns of a weak and
vicious Prince in Conjunction with a
corrupted Miniſtry. He multiplied his
Queſtions, and fifted me thoroughly up-
on every Part of this Head, propofing
numberlefs Enquiries and Objections,
which I think it not prudent or con-
venient to repeat.
UrON what I ſaid in relation to our
Courts of Juftice, his Majefty defired
to be fatisfied in feveral Points: And,
this I was the better able to do, having
been formerly almoſt ruined by à long
Suit in the Chancery, which was decreed
for me with Cofts. 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 manifeftly known to be unjuſt
vexatious, or oppreffive. Whether Party
in
BRO 3 DING NAG.
115
in Religion or Politicks were obſerved
to be of any Weight in the Scale of
Juftice. Whether thofe pleading Orators
were Perfons educated in the general
Knowledge of Equity, or only in pro-
vincial, national, and other local Cuf-
toms. Whether they or their Judges had
any Part in penning thoſe Laws which
they aſſumed the Liberty of interpreting
and gloffing upon at their Pleaſure. Whe-
ther they had ever at different Times
pleaded for and againſt the fame Cauſe,
and cited Precedents to prove contrary
Opinions. Whether they were a rich or
a poor Corporation. Whether they re-
ceived any pecuniary Reward for plead-
ing or delivering their Opinions. And
particularly, whether they were ever ad-
mitted as Members in the lower Senate.
HE
He fell next upon the Management
of our Treaſury, and ſaid, he thought my
Memory had failed me, becauſe I compu-
ted our Taxes at about five or fix Millions
a Year, and when I came to mention the
Iffues,
I 2
116
A VOYAGE to
Iffues, he found they fometimes amount-
ed to more than double; for the.Notes
lie had taken were very particular in this
Point, becauſe he hoped, as he told me,
that the Knowledge 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 ftill
at a Lofslow a Kingdom could run out of
its Eſtate like a private Perfon. He ask-
ed me, who were our Creditors; and
where we ſhould find Money to pay
them. He wonder'd to hear me talk of
fuch chargeable and extenſive Wars; that
certainly we muſt be a quarrelfome Peo-
ple, or live among very bad Neighbours,
and that our Generals muft needs be
richer than our Kings. He asked what
Buſineſs we had out of our own Iflands,
unleſs upon the Score of Trade or Treaty,
or to defend the Coafts with our Fleet.
Above all, he was 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
BROBDINGNAG.
117
?
by our own Confent in the Perfons of
our Repreſentatives, he could not ima-
gine of whom we were afraid, or a-
gainſt whom we were to fight, and
would hear my Opinion, whether a pri-
vate Man's Houfe might not better be
defended by himfelf, his Children, and
Family, than by half a dozen Rafcals
picked up at a venture in the Streets,
for fmall Wages, who might get an
hundred times more by cutting their
Throats.
He laughed at my odd Kind of A-
rithmetick (as he was pleaſed to call it)
in reckoning the Numbers of our Peo-
ple by a Computation drawn from the
feveral Sects among us in Religion and
Politicks. He faid, he knew no Rea-
fon, why thoſe who entertain Opinions
prejudicial to the Publick, fhould be ob-
liged to
to change, or fhould not be
obliged to conceal them. And as it
was Tyranny in any Government to re-
quire the firſt, fo it was Weakneſs not
I 3
t
113
A VOYAGE to
to enforce the fecond: For a Man
may be allowed to keep Poiſons in his
Cloſet, but not to vend them about for
Cordials.
HE obferved, that among the Diver-
fions of our Nobility and Gentry,' I
had mentioned Gaming. He defired
to know at what Age this Entertain-
ment was uſually taken up, and when
it was laid down; how much of their
Time it employed; whether it ever went
fo high as to affect their Fortunes: Whe-
ther mean vicious People, by their Dex-
terity in that Art, might not arrive at
great Riches, and fometimes keep out
very Nobles in Dependance, as well as
habituate them to vile Companions,
wholly take them from the Improve-
ment of their Minds, and force them,
by the Loffes they have received, to
learn and practife that infamous Dex-
terity upon others.
He was perfectly aftoniſhed with the
hiſtorical
BRO BD IN GNAG. 119
hiſtorical Account I gave him of our
Affairs during the laſt Century, proteſt-
ing it was only an Heap of Confpiracies,
Rebellions, Murders, Maffacres, Revo-
lutions, Baniſhments, the very worſt Ef-
fects that Avarice, Faction, Hypocrify,
Perfidiouſneſs, Cruelty, Rage, Madneſs,
Hatred, Envy, Luft, Malice, or Ambi-
tion, could produce.
f.
His Majeſty in another Audience
was at the Pains to recapitulate the
Sum of all I had ſpoken, compared the
Queſtions he made with the Anfwers I
had given; then taking me into his Hands,
and ſtroaking me gently, delivered him-
felf in theſe Words, which I fhall never
forget, nor the Manner he fpoke them
in: My little Friend Gritdrig, you have
made a moſt admirable Panegyrick upon
your Country: You have clearly proved
that Ignorance, Idlenefs and Vice may
be fometimes the only Ingredients for
qualifying a Legiſlator: That Laws are
beft explained, interpreted, and applied
I 4
by
120
A VOYAGE to
+
by thoſe whoſe Intereft and Abilities lie
in perverting, confounding, and elu-
ding them. I obferve among you fome
Lines of an Inftitution, which in its Ori-
ginal might have been tolerable, but theſe
half erazed, and the reft wholly blurred
and blotted by Corruptions. It doth
not appear from all you have faid, how
any one Virtue is required towards the
Procurement of any one Station among
you, much leſs that Men were enno-
bled on Account of their Virtue, that
Prieſts were advanced for their Piety or
Learning, Soldiers for their Conduct or
Valour, Judges for their Integrity, Sena-
tors for the Love of their Country, or
Counſellors for their Wifdom. As for
yourſelf, (continued the King,) who have
ſpent the greateſt Part of your Life in
Travelling, I am well difpofed 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
BROBDING NAG.
121
but conclude the Bulk of your Natives
to be the moſt pernicious Race of little
odious Vermin that Nature ever fuffer-
ed to crawl upon the Surface of the
Earth.
СНАР.
122
A VOYAGE to
PROULEATHER PRE
CHA P. VII.
1
The Author's Love of his Country. He
makes a Propofal of much Advantage
to the King, which is rejected. The
King's great Ignorance in Politicks.
The Learning of that Country very
imperfect and confined. Their Laws,
and military Affairs, and Parties in
the State.
OTHING but an extreme Love
of Truth could have hinder'd me
from concealing this Part of my
Story. It was in vain to diſcover my
Refentments, which were always turn-
ed into Ridicule; and I was forced to
reft with Patience while my noble and
moſt beloved Country was fo injuriouſly
treated. I am heartily forry as any of
my Readers can poffibly be, that fuch
an Occaſion was given: But this Prince
happen-
BRO BDING NAG. 123
happened to be fo curious and inquifi-
tive upon every Particular, that it could
not confift either with Gratitude or good
Manners to refufe giving him what Sa-
tisfaction I was able. Yet thus much I
may be allowed to fay in my own Vin-
dication, that I artfully eluded many
of his Queſtions, and gave to every Point
a more favourable Turn by many De-
grees than the Strictnefs of Truth would
allow. For I have always borne that
laudable Partiality to my own Country,
which Dionyfius Halicarnaffenfis with
fo much Juſtice recommends to an Hif
torian: I would hide the Frailties and
Deformities of my Political Mother, and
place her Virtues and Beauties in the
moſt advantageous Light. This was my
fincere Endeavour in thofe many Difcour-
fes I had with that Monarch, although it
unfortunately failed of Succefs.
+
BUT great Allowances fhould be gi-
ven to a King who lives wholly fecluded
from the reft of the World, and muft
there.
124
AVOYAGE to
therefore be altogether unacquainted with
the Manners and Cuſtoms that moſt pre-
vail in other Nations: The want of
which Knowledge will ever produce ma-
ny Prejudices, and a certain Narrowness
of Thinking, from which we and the
politer Countries of Europe are wholly
exempted. And it would be hard, in-
deed, 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 fhew the miferable Effects
of a confined Education, I shall here in-
fert a Paffage which will hardly obtain
Belief. In hopes to ingratiate my felf
farther into his Majefty's Favour, I told
him of an Invention difcovered between
three and four hundred Years ago, to
make a certain Powder, into an Heap
of which the fmalleft Spark of Fire fal-
ling, would kindle the whole in a Mo-
ment, although it were as big as a Moun-
tain, and make it all fly up in the Air
together,
BRO BDING NAG.
125
together, with a Noife and Agitation
greater than Thunder. That a proper
Quantity of this Powder rammed into
an hollow Tube of Brafs or Iron, accor-
ding to its Bignefs, would drive a Ball of
Iron or Lead with fuch Violence and
Speed, as nothing was able to fuftain its
Force. That the largeſt Balls thus dif-
charged, 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 link-
ed together by a Chain, would cut
through Mafts and Rigging, divide hun-
dreds of Bodies in the Middle, and lay
all waſte before them. That we often
put this Powder into large hollow Balls
of Iron, and diſcharged them by an En-
gine into fome City we were befieging,
which would rip up the Pavements, tear
the Houſes to pieces, burft and throw
Splinters on every Side, dafhing out the
Brains of all who came near. That I
knew the Ingredients very well, which
were
126
A VOYAGE to
were cheap, and common; I underſtood
the Manner of compounding them, and
could direct his Workmen how to make
thoſe Tubes of a Size proportionable to
all other Things in his Majefty's King-
dom, and the largeſt need not be above
an hundred Foot long; twenty or thirty
of which Tubes, charged with the proper
Quantity of Powder and Balls, would bat
ter down the Walls of the ſtrongeſt Town
in his Dominions in a few Hours, or de-
ftroy the whole Metropolis, if ever it should
pretend to diſpute his abfolute Com-
mands. This I humbly offered to his Ma-
jeſty as a ſmall Tribute of Acknowledg-
ment in Return of fo many Marks that I
had received of his Royal Favour and
Protection.
THE King was ftruck with Horror
at the Deſcription I had given of thoſe
terrible Engines, and the Propofal I had
made. He was amazed how fo impo-
tent and groveling an Infect as I (thefe
were his Expreffions) could entertain
fuch inhuman Ideas, and in fo familiar
a man-
BROBDING NAG. 127
a manner as to appear wholly unmoved
at all the Scenes of Blood and Defola-
tion, which I had painted as the com-
mon Effects of thofe deftructive Ma-
chines, whereof he ſaid, fome evil Ge-
nius, Enemy to Mankind, muſt have been
the firſt Contriver. As for himſelf, he
protefted, that although few Things de-
lighted him ſo much as new Diſcoveries
in Art or in Nature, yet he would ra-
ther loſe half his Kingdom than be pri-
vy to ſuch a Secret, which he command-
ed me, as I valued my Life, never to
mention any more.
A STRANGE Effect of narrow Prin-
ciples and fhort Views! that a Prince pof-
felfed of every Quality which procures
Veneration, Love, and Eſteem; of ftrong
Parts, great Wiſdom, and profound Learn-
ing, endued with admirable Talents for
Government, and almoſt adored by his
Subjects, fhould from a nice unneceſſary
Scruple, whereof in Europe we can have
no Conception, let flip an Opportunity
put
128
A VOYAGE to
put into his Hands, that would have made
him abfolute Mafter of the Lives, the Li-
berties, and the Fortunes of his People.
Neither do I ſay this with the leaſt In-
tention to detract from the many Vir-
tues of that excellent King, whofe Cha-
racter I am fenfible, will, on this Account,
be very much leſſened in the Opinion of
an Engliſh Reader: But I take this De-
fect among them to have riſen from their
Ignorance, they not having hitherto re-
duced Politicks into a Science, as the
more acute Wits of Europe have done.
For I remember very well, in a Dif
courſe one Day with the King, when I
happened to ſay there were ſeveral thou-
fand Books among us written upon the
Art of Government, it gave him (direct-
ly contrary to my Intention) a very
mean Opinion of our Underſtandings.
He profeffed both to abominate and de-
fpife all Mystery, Refinement, and In-
trigue, 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
BROBDING NAG.
129
rival Nation were not in the Cafe. He
confined the Knowledge of Governing
within very narrow Bounds, to com-
mon Senfe and Reafon, to Juftice 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 Grafs,
to grow upon a Spot of Ground where
only one grew before, would deſerve
better of Mankind, and do more effen-
tial Service to his Country than the whole
Race of Politicians put together.
THE Learning of this People is very
defective, conſiſting only in Morality, Hif-
tory, Poetry, and Mathematicks, where-
in they muſt be allowed to excel. But,
the laſt of theſe is wholly applied to what
may be uſeful in Life, to the Improve-
ment of Agriculture and all mechanical
Arts; fo that among us it would be little
eſteemed. And as to Ideas, Entities, Ab-
PART II.
K
ftractions
130
A VOYAGE to
ftraction and Tranfcendentals, I could
never drive the leaft Conception into
their Heads.
No Law of that Country muſt exceed
in Words the Number of Letters in their
Alphabet, which confifts only in two
and twenty. But, indeed, few of them
extend even to that Length. They are
expreffed in the moſt plain and fimple
Terms, wherein thofe People are not
mercurial enough to diſcover above one
Interpretation: And to write a Com-
ment upon any Law is a capital Crime.
As to the Decifion of civil Cauſes, or
Proceedings againſt Criminals, their Pre-
cedents are fo few, that they have little
Reaſon to boaſt of any extraordinary 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's, which is
reckoned the biggeſt, doth not amount to
above
BROBDING NAG.
13 1
above a thouſand Volumes, placed in a
Gallery of twelve hundred Foot long,
from whence I had Liberty to borrow
what Books I pleaſed. The Queen's
Joiner had contrived in one of Glum-
dalclitch's Rooms a kind of wooden
Machine five and twenty Foot high, form-
ed like a ſtanding Ladder, the Steps were
each fifty Foot long: It was indeed a
moveable Pair of Stairs, the loweft End
placed at ten Foot Diſtance from the
Wall of the Chamber. The Book I had
a mind to read was put up leaning a-
gainſt the Wall: I first mounted to the
upper Step of the Ladder, and turning
my Face towards the Book, began at
the Top of the Page, and fo walking to
the Right and Left about eight or ten Paces,
according to the Length of the Lines, till
I had gotten a little below the Level of
mine Eyes, and then deſcending gradual-
ly till I came to the Bottom: After
which I mounted again, and began the
other Page in the fame manner, and
fo turned over the Leaf, which I could
eafily
K 2
132
A VOYAGE to
eafily do with both my Hands, for it was
as thick and ſtiff as a Pafte-board, and in
the largeſt Folio's not above eighteen or
twenty Foot long.
THEIR Stile is clear, mafculine, and
fmooth, but not florid, for they avoid
nothing more than multiplying unnecef-
fary Words, or uſing various Expreffions.
I have peruſed many of their Books,
efpecially thoſe in Hiftory and Morali-
ty. Among the reſt I was much divert-
ed with a little old Treatife, which al-
ways lay in Glumdalclitch's Bed-Cham-
ber, and belonged to her Governeſs, a
grave elderly Gentlewoman, who dealt
in Writings of Morality and Devotion.
The Book treats of the Weakneſs of
Human Kind, and is in little Eſteem, ex-
cept among the Women and the Vul-
gar. However, I was curious to ſec
what an Author of that Country could
fay upon fuch a Subject. This Writer
went through all the ufual Topicks of
European Moralifts, fhewing how dimi-
nutive,
BRO BDING NAG. 133
nutive, contemptible, and helpleſs an
Animal was Man in his own Nature;
how unable to defend himſelf from In-
clemencies of the Air, or the Fury of
wild Beaſts: How much he was excel-
led by one Creature in Strength, by ano-
ther in Speed, by a third in Forefight,
by a fourth in Induſtry. He added, that
Nature was degenerated in theſe latter.
declining Ages of the World, and could
now produce only ſmall abortive Births
in compariſon of thofe in ancient
Times. He faid, 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 afferted
by Hiſtory and Trad tion, fo it hath been
confirmed by huge Bones and Skulls ca-
fually dug up in feveral Parts of the
Kingdom, far exceeding the common
dwindled Race of Man in our Days. He
argued, that the very Laws of Nature ab-
folutely required we fhould have been
made in the Beginning, of a Size more
large
K 3
134
A VOYAGE to
large and robuft, not ſo liable to De-
ſtruction from every little Accident of a
Tile falling from an Houfe, or a Stone caft
from the Hand of a Boy, or of being
drowned in a little Brook. From this
way of Reaſoning, the Author drew fe-
veral moral Applications uſeful in the
Conduct of Life, but needlefs here to
repeat. For my own part, I could not
avoid reflecting how univerfally this Ta-
lent was ſpread, of drawing Lectures in
Morality, or, indeed, rather Matter of Dif-
content and Repining, from the Quarrels
we raiſe with Nature. And, I believe,
upon a ſtrict Enquiry, thofe Quarrels
might be fhewn as ill-grounded among
us, as they are among that People.
As to their Military Affairs, they boaft
that the King's Army confifts of an hun-
dred 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, whofe Com-
manders
BROBDING NAG.
135
manders are only the Nobility and Gen-
try, without Pay or Reward. They are,
indeed, perfect enough in their Exerciſes,
and under very good Difcipline, where-
in I faw no great Merit; for how
ſhould it be otherwiſe, where every Far-
mer is under the Command of his own
Landlord, and every Citizen under that
of the principal Men in his own City,
choſen after the Manner of Venice by
Ballot?
I HAVE often feen the Militia of
Lorbrulgrud drawn out to exerciſe in
a great Field near the City, of twenty
Miles fquare. They were, in all, not
above twenty five thousand Foot, and fix
thouſand Horſe; but it was impoffible
for me to compute their Number, con-
fidering the ſpace of Ground they took
up. A Cavalier mounted on a large Steed
might be about an hundred Foot high. I
have feen this whole Body of Horſe, up-
on a Word of Command, draw their
Swords
K 4
136
A VOYAGE to
Swords at once, and brandiſh them in
the Air. Imagination can figure nothing
fo grand, fo furpriſing, and fo aftoniſh-
ing: It looked as if ten thouſand Flaſhes
of Lightning were darting at the fame
Time from every Quarter of the Sky.
I WAS curious to know how this
Prince, to whofe Dominions there is no
Accefs from any other Country, came
to think of Armies, or to teach his
People the Practice of military Difci-
pline. But I was foon informed, both
by Converſation, and reading their Hif
tories: For, in the Courfe of many Ages
they have been troubled with the fame
Diſeaſe to which fo many other Govern-
ments are fubje&t; the Nobility often con-
tending for Power, the People for Liber-
ty, and the King for abfolute Domini-
on. All which, however happily temper-
ed by the Laws of the Kingdom, have
been fometimes violated by each of the
three Parties, and have once or more
occafioned
BROB DING NAG. 137
occafioned Civil Wars, the laft whereof
was happily put an End to by this Prince's
Grandfather by a general Compoſition;
and the Militia, then fettled with common
Confent, hath been ever ſince kept in the
ftrictest Duty.
CHAP.
138 A VOYAGE to
:
NACISMAGODARS
CHAP. 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 related.
He returns to England.
HAD always a ftróng Im-
pulfe that I ſhould fome Time
recover my Liberty, though it
was impoffible to conjecture
by what Means, or to form any Project
with the leaſt Hope of fucceeding. The
Ship in which I failed was the firſt ever
known to be driven within Sight of that
Coaſt, and the King had given ſtrict Or-
ders, that if at any time another appeared,
it ſhould be taken afhore, and, with all its
Crew and Paffengers, brought in a Tum-
bril to Lorbrulgrud. He was ftrongly bent
to get me a Woman of my own Size,
by
BROBDING NAG.
139
by whom I might propagate the Breed:
But, I think, I ſhould rather have died
than undergone the Difgrace of leaving
a Poſterity to be kept in Cages like tame
Canary Birds, and perhaps, in Time,
fold about the Kingdom to Perfons of
Quality for Curiofities. I was, indeed,
treated with much Kindnefs: I was the
Favourite of a great King and Queen, and
the Delight of the whole Court, but it
was upon fuch a Foot as ill became the
Dignity of Human Kind. I could never
forget thoſe domeſtick Pledges 1 had left
behind me. I wanted to be among People
with whom I could converfe upon even
Terms, and walk about the Streets and
Fields without Fear of being trod to
Death like a Frog or a young Puppy.
But my Deliverance came fooner than
I expected, and, in a Manner, not very
common: The whole Story and Cir-
cumſtances of which, I fhall faithfully
relate.
I HAD now been two Years in this
Country;
140
AVOYAGE to
Country; and, about the Beginning of
the third, Glumdalclitch and I attended
the King and Queen in a Progreſs to
the South Coaſt of the Kingdom. I was
carried, as ufual, in my Travelling-Box,
which, as I have already defcribed, was a
very convenient Cloſet of twelve Foot
wide. And I had ordered a Hammock
to be fixed, by filken Ropes, from the
four Corners at the Top, to break the
Jolts, when a Servant carried me before
him on Horſeback, as I fometimes de-
fired, and would often fleep in my Ham-
mock while we were upon the Road.
On the Roof of my Clofet, not direct-
ly over the Middle of the Hammock, I
ordered the Joyner to cut out a Hole of
a Foot ſquare, to give me Air in hot
Weather, as I flept; which Hole I ſhut,
at Pleaſure, with a Board that drew back-
wards and forwards through a Groove.
WHEN We came to our Journey's End,
the King thought proper to pafs a few
Days at a Palace he hath near Flanflafnic,
a City
BROBDING NAG. 141
I
a City within eighteen English Miles
of the Sea-fide. Glumdalclitch and I
were much fatigued; I had gotten a
fmall Cold, but the poor Girl was fo
ill as to be confined to her Chamber.
longed to fee the Ocean, which muſt be
the only Scene of my Eſcape, if ever it
fhould happen. I pretended to be worſe
than I really was, and defired 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 Unwilling-
nefs Glumdalclitch confented, nor the
ftrict Charge ſhe gave the Page to be care-
ful of me, burſting at the fame Time in-
to 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 Hours Walk from the Palace towards
the Rocks on the Sea-fhore. I ordered
him to fet me down, and lifting up one
of my Saſhes, caft many a wiftful me-
lancholy Look towards the Sea. I found
my ſelf not very well, and told the Page
that
142
to
A VOYAGE
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 fhut the
Window cloſe down to keep out the
cold. I foon fell aſleep, and all I can
conjecture is, that while I flept, the Page
thinking no Danger could happen, went
among the Rocks to look for Bird's Eggs,
having before obferved him from my
Window fearching about, and picking
up one or two in the Clefts. Be that
as it will, I found my felf fuddenly
awaked with a violent Pull upon the Ring
which was faſtned at the Top of my Box
for the Conveniency of Carriage. I felt
my Box raiſed very high in the Air, and
then born forward with prodigious Speed.
The first Jolt had like to have ſhaken me
out of my Hammock, but afterwards the
Motion was eafy enough. I called out
feveral Times, as loud as I could raiſe
my Voice, but all to no Purpoſe. I look-
ed towards my Windows, and could fee
nothing but the Clouds and Sky. I heard
a Noiſe juſt over my Head like the clap-
ping
BROBDING NAG.
143
ping of Wings, and then began to per-
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 Tortoife in a
Shell, and then pick out my Body, and
devour it. For the Sagacity and Smell
of this Bird enable him to diſcover his
Quarry at a great Diſtance, though better
concealed than I could be within a Two-
Inch Board.
IN a little Time I obferved the Noiſe
and Flutter of Wings to increaſe very
faft, and my Box was toffed up and down
like a Sign-poſt in a windy Day. I heard
feveral Bangs or Buffets, as I thought,
given to the Eagle, (for fuch I am cer-
tain it muſt have been that held the Ring
of my Box in his Beak,) and then all
on a ſudden felt my felf falling perpen-
dicularly down for above a Minute, but
with fuch incredible Swiftneſs that I almoſt
loft my Breath. My Fall was ftopped by
a terrible Squaſh, that founded louder to
mine
144
A VOYAGE 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 ſo 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 fuppofe that the Eagle
which flew away with my Box was pur-
ſued by two or three others, and forced
to let me drop while he was defending
himſelf against the reft, who hoped to
fhare in the Prey. The Plates of Iron
faften'd at the Bottom of the Box, (for
thoſe were the ſtrongeſt,) preſerved the
Balance while it fell, and hinder'd it
from being broken on the Surface of the
Water. Every Joint of it was well groo-
ved; and the Door did not move on
Hinges, but up and down like a Safh,
which kept my Cloſet ſo tight that very
little
BROB DINGNAG.
145
little Water came in. I got with much
Difficulty out of my Hammock, having
firſt ventured to draw back the Slip-
board on the Roof already mentioned,
contrived on Purpofe to let in Air, for
want of which I found my ſelf almoſt
ftifled.
How often did I then with my ſelf
with my dear Glumdalclitch, from whom
one fingle Hour had fo far divided me!
And I may ſay, with Truth, that in the
midst of my own Misfortunes I could
not forbear lamenting my poor Nurſe,
the Grief ſhe would fuffer for my Lofs,
the Diſpleaſure of the Queen, and the
Ruin of her Fortune. Perhaps many-Tra-
vellers have not been under greater Dif-
ficulties and Diſtreſs than I was at this
Juncture, expecting every Moment to fee
my Box daſhed in Pieces, or at leaſt over-
fet by the first violent Blaſt, or a rifing
Wave. A Breach in one fingle Pane of
Glaſs would have been immediate Death:
Nor could any Thing have preferved the
PART II.
L
Windows
146
A VOYAGE to
Windows but the ftrong Lettice-Wires
placed on the out-fide againſt Accidents
in Travelling. I faw the Water ooze
in at ſeveral Crannies, although the Leaks
were not confiderable, and I endeavour-
ed to stop them as well as I could. I was
not able to lift up the Roof of my Cloſet,
which otherwiſe I certainly fhould have
done, and fate on the Top of it, where
I might, at leaſt, preferve my ſelf ſome
Hours longer than by being fhut up, as I
may call it, in the Hold. Or if I efca-
ped theſe Dangers for a Day or two,
what could I expect but a miſerable
Death of Cold and Hunger! I was four
Hours under thefe Circumftances, expec-
ting, and indeed wiſhing, every Mo-
ment to be my laſt.
I HAVE already told the Reader, that
there were two ftrong Staples fixed upon
that Side of my Box which had no Win-
dow, and into which the Servant who uſed
to carry me on horſeback would put a lea-
thern Belt, and buckle it about his Waſte.
Being
BRO BDINGNAG.
147
Being in this difconfolate State, I heard,
or at leaſt thought, I heard ſome kind of
grating Noife on that Side of my Box
where the Staples were fixed, and ſoon af-
ter I began to fancy that the Box was pul-
led, or towed along in the Sea; for I now
and then felt a fort of tugging which
made the Waves rife near the Tops of
my Windows, leaving me almoft in the
dark. This gave me fome faint Hopes.
of Relief, although I was not able to
imagine how it could be brought about.
I ventured to unfcrew one of my Chairs,
which were always faftned to the Floor;
and having made a hard Shift to fcrew
it down again directly under the flip-
ping Board that I had lately opened, I
mounted on the Chair, and, putting my
Mouth as near as I could to the Hole,
I called for Help in a loud Voice, and
in all the Languages I understood. I
then faſtned my Handkerchief to a Stick
I uſually carried, and thruſting it up the
Hole, waved it feveral Times in the Air,
that if any Boat or Ship were near, the
L 2
Seamen
148
A VOYAGE to
Seamen might conjecture fome unhappy
Mortal to be ſhut up in this 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, ftruck againſt fomething that
was hard. I apprehended it to be a
Rock, and found my felf tolled more.
than ever. I plainly heard a Noiſe up-
on the Cover of my Clofet, like that of
a Cable, and the grating of it as it paf-
fed through the Ring. I then found
my felf hoisted up by Degrees, at leaſt
three Foot higher than I was before.
Whereupon, I again thruft up my Stick
and Handkerchief, calling for Help till
I was almoſt hoarfe. In return to which,
I heard a great Shout repeated three
Times, giving me fuch Tranfports of Joy,
as are not to be conceived but by thofe
who feel them. I now heard a Tram-
pling over my Head, and fomebody cal-
lirg
BROB DING NAG.
149
ling through the Hole with a loud Voice
in the English Tongue, If there be any
Body below, let them fpeak. I anſwer-
ed, I was an Englishman, drawn by ill
Fortune into the greateſt Calamity that
ever any Creature underwent, and beg-
ged, by all that was moving, to be de-
livered out of the Dungeon I was in.
The Voice replied, I was fafe, for my
Box was faften'd to their Ship; and the
Carpenter fhould immediately come,
and faw an Hole in the Cover large e-
nough to pull me out. I anſwered, that
was needlefs, and would take up too
much Time, for there was no more to
be done, but let one of the Crew put
his Finger into the Ring, and take the
Box out of the Sea into the Ship, and
fo into the Captain's Cabbin. Some of
them upon hearing me talk fo wildly,
thought I was mad; others laughed;
for indeed it never came into my Head
that I was now got among People of my
own Stature and Strength. The Car-
penter came, and in a few Minutes faw-
L 3
ed
150
A VOYAGE to
ed a Paſſage about four Foot fquare, then
let down a ſmall Ladder, upon which
I mounted, and from thence was taken
into the Ship in a very weak Conditi-
on.
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 fuch I took
them to be, after having fo long accuſtom-
ed mine Eyes to the monftrous Objects
I had left. But the Captain, Mr. Tho-
mas Wilcocks, an honeft worthy Shrop
fbire Man, obferving I was ready to faint,
took me into his Cabbin, gave me a Cor-
dial 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 fleep I gave him to un-
derſtand that I had fome valuable Fur-
niture in my Box too good to be loft;
a fine Hammock, an handfome Field-
Bed, two Chairs, a Table, and a Cabinet:
That
B ROB DIN GNAG. 151
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 there before him, and fhew him
my Goods.
The Captain hearing me
utter theſe Abfurdities, concluded I was
raving: However, (I fuppofe to paci-
fy me,) he promiſed to give Order as I
defired, and going upon Deck fent fome
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-fted being fcrewed to the Floor,
were much damaged by the Ignorance of
the Seamen, who tore them up by Force.
Then they knocked off fome of the
Boards for the Uſe of the Ship, and when
they had got all they had a mind for,
let the Hulk drop into the Sea, which by
Reaſon of many Breaches made in the
Bottom and Sides, funk to rights. And
indeed I was glad not to have been a
Spectator of the Havock they made; be-
caufe
L 4
152
A VOYAGE to
cauſe I am confident it would have fen-
fibly touched me, by bringing former
Paffages into my Mind, which I had ra-
ther forget.
I SLEPT fome Hours, but perpetual-
ly disturbed with Dreams of the Place
I had left, and the Dangers I had eſca-
ped. However, upon waking I found my
felf much recovered. It was now about
eight a-Clock at Night, and the Captain
ordered Supper immediately, thinking I
had already fafted too long. He enter
tained me with great Kindneſs, obſer-
ving me not to look wildly, or talk in-
confiftently; and when we were left a-
lone, defired I would give him a Rela-
tion of my Travels, and by what Acci-
dent I came to be fet adrift in that mon-
ftrous wooden Cheſt. He ſaid, that a-
bout twelve a Clock at Noon, as he
was looking through his Glafs, he ſpied
it at a Diſtance, and thought it was a
Sail, which he had a mind to make, be-
ing not much out of his Courſe, in
hopes
BROBDING NAG. 153
hopes of buying fome Biſcuit, his own
beginning to fall fhort. That upon
coming nearer, and finding his Error,
he fent out his Long-Boat to difcover
what I was; that his Men came back
in a Fright, fwearing they had ſeen a
fwimming Houſe. That he laughed at
their Folly, and went himſelf in the
Boat, ordering his Men to take a ſtrong
Cable along with them. That the Wea-
ther being calm, he rowed round me
ſeveral times, obferved my Windows,
and the Wire-Lattices that defended them.
That he diſcovered 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 à Cable to one of the Sta-
ples, ordered them to tow my Cheſt (as
they called it) towards the Ship. When
it was there, he gave Directions to faften
another Cable to the Ring fixed in the
Cover, and to raiſe up my Cheft with
Pullies, which all the Sailors were not
able to do above two or three Foot. He
faid,
154
A VOYAGE to
faid, they faw my Stick and Handker-
chief thruft out of the Hole, and con-
cluded that fome unhappy Men muſt be
fhut up in the Cavity. I asked whether
he or the Crew had feen any prodigi-
ous Birds in the Air about the Time he
firſt diſcovered me. To which he an-
fwered, that difcourfing this Matter with
the Sailors while I was afleep, one of
them ſaid he had obferved three Eagles
flying towards the North, but remark-
ed nothing of their being larger than the
uſual Size, which I ſuppoſe muſt be impu-
ted to the great Height they were at; and
he could not gueſs the Reaſon of my Quef-
tion. I then asked the Captain how far he
reckoned we might be from Land; he
faid, by the beſt Computation he could
make, we were at leaft 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 above two Hours before I dropt
into the Sea. Whereupon he began a-
gain to think that my Brain was diſturb-
ed,
BRO BDING NAG. 155
ed, of which he gave me a Hint, and
adviſed me to go to Bed in a Cabbin he
had provided. I affured him I was well
refreſhed with his good Entertainment
and Company, and as
Senfes as ever I was in
much in my
my Life.
defired to ask
Life. He
then grew ferious, and
me freely whether I were not troubled
in Mind by the Conſciouſneſs of ſome
enormous Crime, for which I was pu-
niſhed 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 Veffel without
Proviſions: For although he ſhould be
forry to have taken fo ill a Man into his
Ship, yet he would engage his Word to
fet me ſafe on Shore in the firſt Port
where we arrived. He added, that his
Sufpicions were much increaſed by fome
very abfurd 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 Supper.
I BEG
156
A VOYAGE to
I BEGGED his Patience to hear me
tell my Story, which I faithfully did from
the laſt time I left England to the Moment
he firſt diſcovered me. And as Truth
always forceth its Way into rational
Minds, fo this honeft worthy Gentle-
man, who had ſome Tincture of Lear-
ning, and very good Senfe, was imme-
diately convinced of my Candour and Ve-
racity. But further to confirm all I had
faid, I entreated him to give Order that
my Cabinet ſhould be brought, of which I
had the Key in my Pocket, (for he had
already informed me how the Seamen
difpofed of my Clofet.) I opened it in
his own Preſence, and fhewed him the
fmall Collection of Rarities I made in
the Country from whence I had been
ſo ſtrangely delivered. There was the
Comb I had contrived out of the Stumps
of the King's Beard, and another of the
fame Materials, but fixed into a Paring
of her Majefty's Thumb-nail, which
ferved for the Back. There was a Col-
lection of Needles and Pins from a Foot
to
BROBDING NAG.
157
*
to half a Yard long: Four Wafp Stings,
like Joiners Tacks: Some Combings of
the Queen's Hair: A gold Ring which
one Day ſhe made me a Preſent of in a
moft obliging Manner, taking it from
her little Finger, and throwing it over
my Head like a Collar. I defired 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 Bignefs of a Kentish
Pippin, and grown fo hard, that when I
returned to England, I got it hollowed
into a Cup and fet in Silver. Laftly,
I defired him to fee the Breeches I had
then on, which were made of a Moufe's
Skin.
I COULD force nothing on him but
a Footman's Tooth, which I obferved
him to examine with great Curiofity,
and found he had a Fancy for it. He
received it with Abundance of Thanks,
more
158
A VOYAGE to
more than fuch a Trifle could deferve.
It was drawn by an unskilful Surgeon
in a Miſtake from one of Glumdal-
clitch'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 Diame-
ter.
THE Captain was very well fatisfied
with this plain Relation I had given
him, and faid, he hoped when we re-
turned to England, I would oblige the
World by putting it in Paper, and ma-
king it publick. My Anſwer was, That
I thought we were already over-ftocked
with Books of Travels: That nothing
could now paſs which was not extraordi-
nary, wherein I doubted fome Authors
lefs confulted Truth than their own Va-
nity, or Intereft, or the Diverſion of
ignorant Readers. That my Story could
contain little befides common Events,
without thoſe ornamental Deſcriptions
of
BROBDING NAG.
159
of ſtrange Plants, Trees, Birds, and other
Animals, or of the barbarous Cuſtoms
and Idolatry of 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 faid, he wondered at one Thing
very much, which was, to hear me
ſpeak fo loud, asking me whether 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 paſt; 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 fpoke 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 Table, or held in any Perſon's Hand.
I told him, I had likewife obferved
another Thing, that when I first got
into
160
AVOYAGE to
into the Ship, and the Sailors ſtood all
about me, I thought they were the moſt
little contemptible Creatures I had ever
beheld. For, indeed, while I was in
that Prince's Country, I could never en-
dure to look in a Glaſs after mine Eyes
had been accuſtomed to fuch prodigious
Objects, becauſe the Compariſon gave
me ſo deſpicable a Conceit of my ſelf.
The Captain faid, that while we were
at Supper, he obſerved me to look at
every Thing with a fort of Wonder,
and that I often ſeemed hardly able to
contain my Laughter, which he knew
not well how to take, but imputed it
to fome Diſorder in my Brain. I an-
fwered, it was very true; and I wonder-
ed how I could forbear, when I faw
his Dishes of the Size of a filver Three-
pence, a Leg of Pork hardly a Mouth.
ful, a Cup not fo big as a Nutshell;
and ſo I went on, defcribing the reſt of
his Houfhold-ſtuff and Proviſions after
the fame Manner. For although the
Queen had ordered a little Equipage of
all
BROBDINGNAG.
161
all things neceffary while I was in her
Service, yet my Ideas were wholly taken
up with what I faw on every fide of
me, and I winked at my own Littleneſs
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 obſerve my Stomach fo good, al-
though I had fafted all Day; and conti-
nuing 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 moft aftoniſhing
Object, worthy to have the Defcription
of it tranſmitted to future Ages: And
the Compariſon of Phaeton was fo ob-
vious, that he could not forbear applying
it, although I did not much admire the
Conceit.
ン
​THE Captain having been at Tonquin
PART II.
M
was
162
AVOYAGE to
was in his return to England driven North
eastward to the Latitude 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 coafting New-Holland kept our
Courſe Weſt-fouth-weft, and then South-
fouth-west till we doubled the Cape of
Good-hope. Our Voyage was very pro-
fperous, but I fhall not trouble the Rea-
der with a Journal of it. The Captain.
called in at one or two Ports and fent
in his Long-boat for Proviſions and freſh
Water, but I never went out of the Ship
till we came into the Downs, which was
on the 3d. Day of June 1706, about
nine Months after my Eſcape. I offered
to leave my Goods in Security for Pay-
ment of my Freight; but the Captain
proteſted he would not receive one Far-
thing. We took kind leave of each other,
and I made him promiſe he would come
to ſee me at my Houſe in Redriff. I
hired a Horfe and Guide for five Shillings,
which I borrowed of the Captain.
4
A s
BROBDINGNAG.
163
As I was on the Road, obferving the
Littleneſs of the Houſes, the Trees, the
Cattle and the People, I began to think
my felf in Lilliput. I was afraid of tram
pling on every Traveller I met, and often
called aloud to have them ftand out of
the way, ſo that I had like to have got-
ten one or two broken Heads for my Im
pertinence.
WHEN I came to my own Houſe,
for which I was forced to enquire, one
of the Servants opening the Door, I bent
down to go in (like a Goofs under a Gate)
for fear of ſtriking my Head. My Wife
ran out to embrace me, but I ſtooped
lower than her Knees, thinking ſhe could
otherwiſe never be able to reach my
Mouth. My Daughter kneeled to ask.
me Bleffing, but I could not fee her till
fhe aroſe, having been fo long uſed to
ſtand with my Head and Eyes erect to a-
bove fixty Foot; and then I went to take
her up with one Hand, by the Wafte. I
looked
164
AVOYAGE, &c.
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. Itold my Wife ſhe had been too
thrifty, for I found ſhe had ſtarved her-
felf and her Daughter to nothing. In
fhort, I behaved my felf fo unaccounta-
bly, that they were all of the Captain's
Opinion when he firſt ſaw me, and con-
cluded I had loſt my Wits. This I men-
tion as an Inftance of the great Power of
Habit and Prejudice.
IN a little time I and my Family and
Friends came to a right Underſtanding:
But my Wife proteſted I ſhould never go
to Sea any more; although my evil Defti-
ny ſo ordered that fhe had not Power
to hinder me, as the Reader may know
hereafter. In the mean time I here con-
clude the Second Part of my unfortunate
Voyages.
The End of the Second Part.
ARTES
1817
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
TUEBOR
SIQUEAIS PENINSULAN AMŒNAMI
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT L·L-HUBBARD
REverett üs
LUCIUS LEE HUBBARD
.-
: