Gulliver's Travels (1726)
by Jonathan Swift
A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GULLIVER TO HIS COUSIN
SYMPSON
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I hope you will be ready to own publicly, whenever
you shall be called to it, that by your great and frequent urgency
you prevailed on me to publish a very loose and uncorrect account
of my travels; with direction to hire some young gentlemen of either
university to put them in order, and correct the style, as my cousin
Dampier did by my advice, in his book called A Voyage round the
World. But I do not remember I gave you power to consent that any
thing should be omitted, and much less that any thing should be
inserted: therefore, as to the latter, I do here renounce every
thing of that kind; particularly a paragraph about her Majesty the
late Queen Anne, of most pious and glorious memory; although I did
reverence and esteem her more than any of human species. But you,
or your interpolator, ought to have considered, that as it was not
my inclination, so was it not decent to praise any animal of our
composition before my master Houyhnhnm: and besides the fact was
altogether false; for to my knowledge, being in England during some
part of her Majestys reign, she did govern by a chief minister;
nay, even by two successively; the first whereof was the Lord of
Godolphin, and the second the Lord of Oxford; so that you have made
me say the thing that was not. Likewise, in the account of the Academy
of Projectors, and several passages of my discourse to my master
Houyhnhnm, you have either omitted some material circumstances,
or minced or changed them in such a manner, that I do hardly know
my own work. When I formerly hinted to you something of this in
a letter, you were pleased to answer that you were afraid of giving
offense; that people in power were very watchful over the press,
and apt not only to interpret, but to punish every thing which looked
like an innuendo (as I think you called it). But pray, how could
that which I spoke so many years ago, and at about five thousand
leagues distance, in another reign, be applied to any of the Yahoos
who now are said to govern the herd; especially at a time when I
little thought on or feared the unhappiness of living under them?
Have not I the most reason to complain, when I see these very Yahoos
carried by Houyhnhnms in a vehicle, as if these were brutes, and
those the rational creatures? And indeed, to avoid so monstrous
and detestable a sight was one principal motive of my retirement
hither.
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Thus much I thought
proper to tell you in relation to yourself, and to the trust I reposed
in you.
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I do in the next
place complain of my own great want of judgement, in being prevailed
upon by the entreaties and false reasonings of you and some others,
very much against my own opinion, to suffer my travels to be published.
Pray bring to your mind how often I desired you to consider, when
you insisted on the motive of public good; that the Yahoos were
a species of animals utterly incapable of amendment by precepts
or examples: and so it hath proved; for instead of seeing a full
stop put to all abuses and corruptions, at least in this little
island, as I had reason to expect: behold, after above six months
warning, I cannot learn that my book hath produced one single effect
according to my intentions: I desired you would let me know by a
letter, when party and faction were extinguished; judges learned
and upright; pleaders honest and modest, with some tincture of common
sense; and Smithfield blazing with pyramids of lawbooks; the young
nobilitys education entirely changed; the physicians banished;
the female Yahoos abounding in virtue, honour, truth and good sense;
courts and levees of great ministers thoroughly weeded and swept;
wit, merit and learning rewarded; all disgracers of the press in
prose and verse condemned to eat nothing but their own cotton, and
quench their thirst with their own ink. These and a thousand other
reformations, I firmly counted upon by your encouragement; as indeed
they were plainly deducible from the precepts delivered in my book.
And it must be owned that seven months were a sufficient time to
correct every vice and folly to which Yahoos are subject, if their
natures had been capable of the least disposition to virtue or wisdom:
yet so far have you been from answering my expectation in any of
your letters, that on the contrary you are loading our carrier every
week with libels, and keys, and reflections, and memoirs, and second
parts; wherein I see myself accused of reflecting upon great states-folk,
of degrading human nature (for so they have still the confidence
to style it), and of abusing the female sex. I find likewise that
the writers of those bundles are not agreed among themselves; for
some of them will not allow me to be author of my own travels; and
others make me author of books to which I am wholly a stranger.
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I find likewise
that your printer hath been so careless as to confound the times,
and mistake the dates of my several voyages and returns; neither
assigning the true year, or the true month, or day of the month:
and I hear the original manuscript is all destroyed since the publication
of my book. Neither have I any copy left: however I have sent you
some corrections, which you may insert, if ever there should be
a second edition: and yet I cannot stand to them, but shall leave
that matter to my judicious and candid readers, to adjust it as
they please.
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I hear some of
our sea-Yahoos find fault with my sea-language, as not proper in
many parts, nor now in use. I cannot help it. In my first voyages,
while I was young, I was instructed by the oldest mariners, and
learned to speak as they did. But I have since found that the sea-Yahoos
are apt, like the land ones, to become new-fangled in their words,
which the latter change every year, insomuch as I remember upon
each return to my own country their old dialect was so altered that
I could hardly understand the new. And I observe, when any Yahoo
comes from London out of curiosity visit me at my own house, we
neither of us are able to deliver our conceptions in a manner intelligible
to the other.
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If the censure
of Yahoos could any way affect me, I should have great reason to
complain that some of them are so bold as to think my book of travels
a mere fiction out of my own brain, and have gone so far as to drop
hints that the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos have no more existence than
the inhabitants of Utopia.
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Indeed I must
confess, that as to the people of Lilliput, Brobdingrag (for so
the word should have been spelt, and not erroneously Brobdingnag),
and Laputa, I have never yet heard of any Yahoo so presumptuous
as to dispute their being, or the facts I have related concerning
them; because the truth immediately strikes every reader with conviction.
And is there less probability in my account of the Houyhnhnms or
Yahoos, when it is manifest as to the latter, there are so many
thousands even in this city, who only differ from their brother
brutes in Houyhnhnm-land, because they use a sort of a jabber, and
do not go naked? I wrote for their amendment, and not their approbation.
The united praise of the whole race would be of less consequence
to me than the neighing of those two degenerate Houyhnhnms I keep
in my stable; because from these, degenerate as they are, I still
improve in some virtues, without any mixture of vice.
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Do these miserable
animals presume to think that I am so far degenerated as to defend
my veracity? Yahoo as I am, it is well known through all Houyhnhnm-land,
that by the instructions and example of my illustrious master I
was able in the compass of two years (although I confess with the
utmost difficulty) to remove that infernal habit of lying, shuffling,
deceiving, and equivocating, so deeply rooted in the very souls
of all my species, especially the Europeans.
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I have other complaints
to make upon this vexatious occasion; but I forbear troubling myself
or you any further. I must freely confess, that since my last return
some corruptions of my Yahoo nature have revived in me by conversing
with a few of your species, and particularly those of my own family,
by an unavoidable necessity; else I should never have attempted
so absurd a project as that of reforming the Yahoo race in this
kingdom; but I have now done with all visionary schemes for ever.
April 2, 1727.
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THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER
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The author of
these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend;
there is likewise some relation between us by the mothers
side. About three years ago Mr. Gulliver, growing weary of the concourse
of curious people coming to him at his house in Redriff, made a
small purchase of land, with a convenient house, near Newark in
Nottinghamshire, his native country; where he now lives retired,
yet in good esteem among his neighbors.
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Although Mr. Gulliver
was born in Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yet I have
heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which,
I have observed in the churchyard at Banbury, in that county, several
tombs and monuments of the Gullivers.
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Before he quitted
Redriff, he left the custody of the following papers in my hands,
with the liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I have
carefully perused them three times: the style is very plain and
simple; and the only fault I find is, that the author, after the
manner of travellers, is a little too circumstantial. There is an
air of truth apparent through the whole; and indeed the author was
so distinguished for his veracity, that it became a sort of proverb
among his neighbors at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to
say it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoke it.
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By the advice
of several worthy persons, to whom, with the authors permission,
I communicated these papers, I now venture to send them into the
world, hoping they may be at least, for some time, a better entertainment
to our young noblemen than the common scribbles of politics and
party.
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This volume would
have been at least twice as large, if I had not made bold to strike
out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well
as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages; together
with the minute descriptions of the management of the ship in storms,
in the style of sailors: likewise the account of the longitudes
and latitudes; wherein I have reason to apprehend that Mr. Gulliver
may be a little dissatisfied: but I was resolved to fit the work
as much as possible to the general capacity of readers. However,
if my own ignorance in sea-affairs shall have led me to commit some
mistakes, I alone am answerable for them: and if any traveller hath
a curiosity to see the whole work at large, as it came from the
hand of the author, I shall be ready to gratify him.
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As for any further
particulars relating to the author, the reader will receive satisfaction
from the first pages of the book
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Richard Sympson.
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PART I: A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT
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Chapter I
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My father had
a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of five sons.
He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen years old,
where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my studies:
but the charge of maintaining me (although I had a very scanty allowance)
being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to
Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued
four years; and my father now and then sending me small sums of
money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of
the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always
believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do. When I
left Mr. Bates, I went down to my father; where, by the assistance
of him and my uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty
pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at
Leyden: there I studied physic two years and seven months, knowing
it would be useful in long voyages.
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Soon after my
return from Leyden, I was recommended, by my good master Mr. Bates,
to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell commander;
with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or
two into the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back, I resolved
to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me,
and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of
a small house in the Old Jury; and being advised to alter my condition,
I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton,
hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred pounds
for a portion.
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But, my good master
Bates dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my business
began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer me to imitate
the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having therefore
consulted with my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I determined
to go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships, and
made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West Indies,
by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of leisure
I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always
provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in
observing the manners and dispositions of the people, well as learning
their language, wherein I had a great facility by the strength of
my memory.
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The last of these
voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the sea, and
intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed from
the Old jury to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to Wapping hoping to
get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account.
After three years expectation that things would mend, I accepted
an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the
Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South-Sea. We set sail
from Bristol May 4, 1699, and our voyage at first was very prosperous.
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It would not be
proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with the particulars
of our adventures in those seas: let it suffice to inform him, that
in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven by
a violent storm to the northwest of Van Diemens Land. By an
observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2
minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labour
and ill food, the rest were in a very weak condition. On the fifth
of November, which was the beginning of summer in those parts, the
weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock, within half a
cables length of the ship; but the wind was so strong, that
we were driven directly upon it, and immediately split. Six of the
crew, of whom I was one, having let down the boat into the sea,
made a shift to get clear of the ship, and the rock. We rowed by
my computation about three leagues, till we were able to work no
longer, being already spent with labour while we were in the ship.
We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in
about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from
the north. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as
of those who escaped on the rock, or were left in the vessel, I
cannot tell; but conclude they were all lost. For my own part, I
swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and
tide. I often let my legs drop, and could feel no bottom: but when
I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found myself
within my depth; and by this time the storm was much abated. The
declivity was so small, that I walked near a mile before I got to
the shore, which I conjectured was about eight oclock in the
evening. I then advanced forward near half a mile, but could not
discover any sign of houses or inhabitants; at least I was in so
weak a condition, that I did not observe them. I was extremely tired,
and with that, and the heat of the weather, and about half a pint
of brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself much inclined
to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft,
where I slept sounder than ever I remember to have done in my life,
and, as I reckoned, above nine hours; for when I awakened, it was
just daylight. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir for,
as I happened to he on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly
fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long
and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several
slender ligatures across my body, from my armpits to my thighs.
I could only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light
offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but in the
posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little time
I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently
forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when bending
my eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human
creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands,
and a quiver at his back. In the meantime, I felt at least forty
more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I
was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all
ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told,
were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon
the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who ventured
so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands and
eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinct voice,
Hekinah degul: the others repeated the same words several times,
but I then knew not what they meant. I lay all this while, as the
reader may believe, in great uneasiness: at length, struggling to
get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings, and wrench out
the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground; for, by lifting
it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had taken to bind
me, and at the same time, with a violent pull, which gave me excessive
pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on
the left side, so that I was just able to turn my head about two
inches. But the creatures ran off a second time, before I could
seize them; whereupon there was a great shout in a very shrill accent,
and after it ceased, I heard one of them cry aloud, Tolgo phonac;
when in an instant I felt above a hundred arrows discharged on my
left hand, which pricked me like so many needles; and besides they
shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof
many, I suppose, fell on my body (though I felt them not) and some
on my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When
this shower of arrows was over, I fell a groaning with grief and
pain, and then striving again to get loose, they discharged another
volley larger than the first, and some of them attempted with spears
to stick me in the sides; but, by good luck, I had on me a buff
jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it the most prudent
method to lie still, and my design was to continue so till night,
when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself:
and as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a
match for the greatest armies they could bring against me, if they
were all of the same size with him that I saw. But fortune disposed
otherwise of me. When the people observed I was quiet, they discharged
no more arrows; but, by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers
increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right ear,
I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work;
when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would
permit me, I saw a stage erected, about a foot and a half from the
ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or
three ladders to mount it: from whence one of them, who seemed to
be a person of quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood
not one syllable. But I should have mentioned, that before the principal
person began his oration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul
san (these words and the former were afterwards repeated and explained
to me). Whereupon immediately about fifty of the inhabitants came,
and cut the strings that fastened the left side of my head, which
gave me the liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing
the person and gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to
be of a middle age, and taller than any of the other three who attended
him, whereof one was a page that held up his train, and seemed to
be somewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two stood one
on each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator, and
I could observe many periods of threatenings, and others of promises,
pity, and kindness. I answered in a few words, but in the most submissive
manner, lifting up my left hand and both my eyes to the sun, as
calling him for a witness; and being almost famished with hunger,
having not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship,
I found the demands of nature so strong upon me, that I could not
forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules
of decency) by putting my finger frequently on my mouth, to signify
that I wanted food. The Hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as
I afterwards learned) understood me very well. He descended from
the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be applied
to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted,
and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which
had been provided, and sent thither by the Kings orders, upon
the first intelligence he received of me. I observed there was the
flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the
taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those
of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of
a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three
loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied
me as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment
at my bulk and appetite. I then made another sign that I wanted
drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice
me, and being a most ingenious people, they slung up with great
dexterity one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it toward
my hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which
I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like
a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought
me a second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made
signs for more, but they had none to give me. When I had performed
these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast,
repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They
made me a sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first
warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud,
Borach mivola, and when they saw the vessels in the air, there was
a universal shout of Hekinah degul. I confess I was often tempted,
while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seize
forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them
against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which
probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of
honour I made them, for so I interpreted my submissive behavior,
soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself
as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated
me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts
I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive
mortals, who dare venture to mount and walk upon my body, while
one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight
of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them. After some
time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there
appeared before me a person of high rank from his Imperial Majesty.
His Excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced
forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue. And producing
his credentials under the Signet Royal, which he applied close to
my eyes, spoke about ten minutes, without any signs of anger, but
with a kind of determinate resolution; often pointing forwards,
which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about
half a mile distant, whither it was agreed by his Majesty in council
that I must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no purpose,
and made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other
(but over his Excellencys head, for fear of hurting him or
his train) and then to my own head and body, to signify that I desired
my liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he
shook his head by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a
posture to show that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he
made other signs to let me understand that I should have meat and
drink enough, and very good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought
of attempting to break my bonds, but again, when I felt the smart
of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters,
and many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise
that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them
know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this the
Hurgo and his train withdrew with much civility and cheerful countenances.
Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of
the words, Peplom selan, and I felt great numbers of 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 who
conjecturing by my motions what I was going to do, immediately opened
to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent which fell
with such noise and violence from me. But before this, they had
daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment very pleasant
to the smell, which in a few minutes removed all the smart of their
arrows. These circumstances, added to the refreshment I had received
by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, disposed
me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, as I was afterwards assured;
and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the Emperors
order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.
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xxxIt seems that upon
the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the ground after my
landing, the Emperor had early notice of it by an express; and determined
in council that I should be tied in the manner I have related (which
was done in the night while I slept), that plenty of meat and drink
should be sent me, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital
city.
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This resolution
perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would
not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion; however,
in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous. For
supposing these people had endeavored to kill me with their spears
and arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly have awakened
with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my
rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith
I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance,
so they could expect no mercy
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These people are
most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to great perfection in
mechanics by the countenance and encouragement of the Emperor, who
is a renowned patron of learning. This prince has several machines
fixed on wheels for the carriage of trees and other great weights.
He often builds his largest men of war, whereof some are nine feet
long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried
on these engines three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred
carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare
the greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three
inches from the ground, about seven feet long and four wide, moving
upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival of
this engine, which it seems set out in four hours after my landing.
It was brought parallel to me as I lay. But the principal difficulty
was to raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of
one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords
of the bigness of packthread were fastened by hooks to many bandages,
which the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and
my legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw
up these cords by many pulleys fastened on the poles, and thus,
in less than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine,
and there tied fast. All this I was told, for while the whole operation
was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that
soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of
the Emperors largest horses, each about four inches and a
half high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which,
as I said, was half a mile distant.
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About four hours
after we began our journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous accident;
for the carriage being stopped a while to adjust something that
was out of order, two or three of the young natives had the curiosity
to see how I looked when I was asleep; they climbed up into the
engine, and advancing very softly to my face, one of them, an officer
in the Guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike a good way up
into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made
me sneeze violently: whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it
was three weeks before I knew the cause of my awaking so suddenly.
We made a long march the remaining part of that day, and rested
at night with five hundred guards on each side of me, half with
torches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should
offer to stir. The next morning at sunrise we continued our march,
and arrived within two hundred yards of the city gates about noon.
The Emperor, and all his court, came out to meet us; but his great
officers would by no means suffer his Majesty to endanger his person
by mounting on my body.
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At the place where
the carriage stopped, there stood an ancient temple, esteemed to
be the largest in the whole kingdom, which having been polluted
some years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to the
zeal of those people, looked on as profane, and therefore had been
applied to common uses, and all the ornaments and furniture carried
away. In this edifice it was determined I should lodge. The great
gate fronting to the north was about four feet high, and almost
two feet wide, through which I could easily creep. On each side
of the gate was a small window not above six inches from the ground:
into that on the left side, the Kings smiths conveyed fourscore
and eleven chains, like those that hang to a ladys watch in
Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to my left leg with
six and thirty padlocks. Over against this temple, on the other
side of the great highway, at twenty feet distance, there was a
turret at least five feet high. Here the Emperor ascended with many
principal lords of his court, to have an opportunity of viewing
me, as I was told, for I could not see them. It was reckoned that
above a hundred thousand inhabitants came out of the town upon the
same errand; and in spite of my guards, I believe there could not
be fewer than ten thousand, at several times, who mounted upon my
body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was soon issued
to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible
for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon
I rose up with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life.
But the noise and astonishment of the people at seeing me rise and
walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg
were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking
backwards and forwards in a semi-circle; but, being fixed within
four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full
length in the temple.
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Chapter II
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When I found myself
on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess I never beheld a
more entertaining prospect. The country round appeared like a continued
garden, and the inclosed fields, which were generally forty feet
square, resembled so many beds of flowers. These fields were intermingled
with woods of half a sting, and the tallest trees, as I could judge,
appeared to be seven feet high. I viewed the town on my left hand,
which looked like the painted scene of a city in a theatre.
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I had been for
some hours extremely pressed by the necessities of nature; which
was no wonder, it being almost two days since I had last unburdened
myself. I was under great difficulties between urgency and shame.
The best expedient I could think of, was to creep into my house,
which I accordingly did; and shutting the gate after me, I went
as far as the length of my chain would suffer, and discharged my
body of that uneasy load. But this was the only time I was ever
guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which I cannot but hope the
candid reader will give some allowance, after he has maturely and
impartially considered my case, and the distress I was in. From
this time my constant practice was, as soon as I rose, to perform
that business in open air, at the full extent of my chain, and due
care was taken every morning before company came, that the offensive
matter should be carried off in wheelbarrows, by two servants appointed
for that purpose. I would not have dwelt so long upon a circumstance,
that perhaps at first sight may appear not very momentous, if I
had not thought it necessary to justify my character in point of
cleanliness to the world; which I am told some of my maligners have
been pleased, upon this and other occasions, to call in question.
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When this adventure
was at an end, I came back out of my house, having occasion for
fresh air. The Emperor was already descended from the tower, and
advancing on horseback towards me, which had like to have cost him
dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused
to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him,
he reared up on his hinder feet: but that prince, who is an excellent
horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in, and held the
bridle, while his Majesty had time to dismount. When he alighted,
he surveyed me round with great admiration, but kept without the
length of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already
prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward
in a sort of vehicle upon wheels till I could reach them. I took
these vehicles, and soon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled
with meat, and ten with liquor; each of the former afforded me two
or three good mouthfuls, and I emptied the liquor of ten vessels,
which was contained in earthen vials, into one vehicle, drinking
it off at a draught; and so I did with the rest. The Empress, and
young Princes of the blood, of both sexes, attended by many ladies,
sat at some distance in their chairs; but upon the accident that
happened to the Emperors horse, they alighted, and came near
his person, which I am now going to describe. He is taller by almost
the breadth of my nail than any of his court, which alone is enough
to strike an awe into the beholders. His features are strong and
masculine, with an Austrian lip and arched nose, his complexion
olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned,
all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic. He was then
past his prime, being twenty-eight years and three quarters old,
of which he had reigned about seven, in great felicity, and generally
victorious. For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on
my side, so that my face was parallel to his, and he stood but three
yards off: however, I have had him since many times in my hand,
and therefore cannot be deceived in the description. His dress was
very plain and simple, and the fashion of it between the Asiatic
and the European; but he had on his head a light helmet of gold,
adorned with jewels, and a plume on the crest. He held his sword
drawn in his hand, to defend himself, if I should happen to break
loose; it was almost three inches long, the hilt and scabbard were
gold enriched with diamonds. His voice was shrill, but very clear
and articulate, and I could distinctly hear it when I stood up.
The ladies and courtiers were all most magnificently clad, so that
the spot they stood upon seemed to resemble a petticoat spread on
the ground, embroidered with figures of gold and silver. His Imperial
Majesty spoke often to me, and I returned answers, but neither of
us could understand a syllable. There were several of his priests
and lawyers present (as I conjectured by their habits) who were
commanded to address themselves to me, and I spoke to them in as
many languages as I had the least smattering of, which were High
and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and Lingua Franca;
but all to no purpose. After about two hours the court retired,
and I was left with a strong guard, to prevent the impertinence,
and probably the malice of the rabble, who were very impatient to
crowd about me as near as they dare, and some of them had the impudence
to shoot their arrows at me as I sat on the ground by the door of
my house, whereof one very narrowly missed my left eye. But the
colonel ordered six of the ringleaders to be seized, and thought
no punishment so proper as to deliver them bound into my hands,
which some of his soldiers accordingly did, pushing them forwards
with the butt-ends of their pikes into my reach; I took them all
in my right hand, put five of them into my coat pocket, and as to
the sixth, I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive. The
poor man squalled terribly, and the colonel and his officers were
in much pain, especially when they saw me take out my penknife:
but I soon put them out of fear; for, looking mildly, and immediately
cutting the strings he was bound with, I set him gently on the ground,
and away he ran. I treated the rest in the same manner, taking them
one by one out of my pocket, and I observed both the soldiers and
people were highly obliged at this mark of my clemency, which was
represented very much to my advantage at court.
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Towards night
I with some difficulty got into my house, where I lay on the ground,
and continued to do so about a fortnight; during which time the
Emperor gave orders to have a bed prepared for me. Six hundred beds
of the common measure were brought in carriages, and worked up in
my house; a hundred and fifty of their beds sewn together made up
the breadth and length, and these were four double, which however
kept me but very indifferently from the hardness of the floor, that
was of smooth stone. By the same computation they provided me with
sheets, blankets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had
been so long inured to hardships as I.
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As the news of
my arrival spread through the kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers
of rich, idle, and curious people to see me; so that the villages
were almost emptied, and great neglect of tillage and household
affairs must have ensued, if his Imperial Majesty had not provided,
by several proclamations and orders of state, against this inconveniency.
He directed that those who had already beheld me should return home,
and not presume to come within fifty yards of my house without license
from court; whereby the secretaries of state got considerable fees.
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In the meantime,
the Emperor held frequent councils to debate what course should
be taken with me; and I was afterwards assured by a particular friend,
a person of great quality, who was looked upon to be as much in
the secret as any, that the court was under many difficulties concerning
me. They apprehended my breaking loose, that my diet would be very
expensive, and might cause a famine. Sometimes they determined to
starve me, or at least to shoot me in the face and hands with poisoned
arrows, which would soon dispatch me: but again they considered,
that the stench of so large a carcass might produce a plague in
the metropolis, and probably spread through the whole kingdom. In
the midst of these consultations, several officers of the army went
to the door of the great council chamber; and two of them being
admitted, gave an account of my behavior to the six criminals above
mentioned, which made so favorable an impression in the breast of
his Majesty and the whole board in my behalf, that an Imperial Commission
was issued out, obliging all the villages nine hundred yards round
the city, to deliver in every morning six beeves, forty sheep, and
other victuals for my sustenance; together with a proportionable
quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors for the due payment
of which his Majesty gave assignments upon his treasury. For this
prince lives chiefly upon his own demesnes, seldom, except upon
great occasions, raising any subsidies upon his subjects, who are
bound to attend him in his wars at their own expense. An establishment
was also made of six hundred persons to be my domestics, who had
board-wages allowed for their maintenance, and tents built for them
very conveniently on each side of my door. It was likewise ordered,
that three hundred tailors should make me a suit of clothes after
the fashion of the country: that six of his Majestys greatest
scholars should be employed to instruct me in their language: and,
lastly, that the Emperors horses, and those of the nobility,
and troops of guards, should be frequently exercised in my sight,
to accustom themselves to me. All these orders were duly put in
execution, and in about three weeks I made a great progress in learning
their language; during which time the Emperor frequently honoured
me with his visits, and was pleased to assist my masters in teaching
me. We began already to converse together in some sort; and the
first words I learned were to express my desire that he would please
give me my liberty, which I every day repeated on my knees. His
answer, as I could apprehend it, was, that this must be a work of
time, not to be thought on without the advice of his council, and
that first I must Lumos kelmin pesso desmar lon Emposo; that is,
swear a peace with him and his kingdom. However, that I should be
used with all kindness; and he advised me to acquire, by my patience
and discreet behavior, the good opinion of himself and his subjects.
He desired I would not take it ill, if he gave orders to certain
proper officers to search me; for probably I might carry about me
several weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered
the bulk of so prodigious a person. I said, his Majesty should be
satisfied, for I was ready to strip myself, and turn out my pockets
before him. This I delivered part in words, and part in signs. He
replied, that by the laws of the kingdom I must be searched by two
of his officers; that he knew this could not be done without my
consent and assistance; that he had so good an opinion of my generosity
and justice, as to trust their persons in my hands: that whatever
they took from me should be returned when I left the country, or
paid for at the rate which I would set upon them. I took up the
two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and
then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another
secret pocket I had no mind should be searched, wherein I had some
little necessaries that were of no consequence to any but myself.
In one of my fobs there was a silver watch, and in the other a small
quantity of gold in a purse. These gentlemen, having pen, ink, and
paper about them, made an exact inventory of everything they saw;
and when they were through, desired I would set them down, that
they might deliver it to the Emperor. This inventory I afterwards
translated that into English, and is word for word as follows.
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Imprimis,
In the right coat pocket of the Great Man Mountain (for so I interpret
the words Quinbus Flestrin) after the strictest search, we found
only one great piece of coarse cloth, large enough to be a foot
cloth for your Majestys chief room of state. In the left pocket
we saw a huge silver chest, with a cover of the same metal, which
we the searchers were not able to lift. We desired it should be
opened, and one of us stepping into it, found himself up to the
mid leg in a sort of dust, some part whereof flying up to our faces,
set us both sneezing for several times together. In his right waistcoat
pocket we found a prodigious bundle of white thin substances, folded
one over another, about the bigness of three men, tied with a strong
cable, and marked with black figures; which we humbly conceive to
be writings, every letter almost half as large as the palm of our
hands. In the left there was a sort of engine, from the back of
which were extended twenty long poles, resembling the palisades
before your Majestys court; wherewith we conjecture the Man-Mountain
combs his head, for we did not always trouble him with questions,
because we found it a great difficulty to make him understand us.
In the large pocket on the right side of his middle cover (so I
translate the word ranfu-lo, by which they meant my breeches) we
saw a hollow pillar of iron, about the length of a man, fastened
to a strong piece of timber, larger than the pillar; and upon one
side of the pillar were huge pieces of iron sticking out, cut into
strange figures, which we know not what to make of. In the left
pocket, another engine of the same kind. In the smaller pocket on
the right side, were several round flat pieces of white and red
metal, of different bulk; some of the white, which seemed to be
silver, were so large and heavy, that my comrade and I could hardly
lift them. In the left pocket were two black pillars irregularly
shaped: we could not, without difficulty, reach the top of them
as we stood at the bottom of his pocket. One of them was covered,
and seemed all of a piece: but at the upper end of the other, there
appeared a white round substance, about twice the bigness of our
heads. Within each of these was enclosed a prodigious plate of steel;
which, by our orders, we obliged him to show us, because we apprehended
they might be dangerous engines. He took them out of their cases,
and told us, that in his own country his practice was to shave his
beard with one of these, and to cut his meat with the other. There
were two pockets which we could not enter: these he called his fobs;
they were two large slits cut into the top of his middle cover,
but squeezed close by the pressure of his belly. Out of the right
fob hung a great silver chain, with a wonderful kind of engine at
the bottom. We directed him to draw out whatever was fastened to
that chain; which appeared to be a globe, half silver, and half
of some transparent metal: for on the transparent side we saw certain
strange figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them,
till we found our fingers stopped by that lucid substance. He put
this engine to our ears, which made an incessant noise like that
of a watermill: and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal,
or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter
opinion, because he assured us (if we understood him right, for
he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did anything
without consulting it: he called it his oracle, and said it pointed
out the time for every action of his life. From the left fob he
took out a net almost large enough for a fisherman, but contrived
to open and shut like a purse, and serve him for the same use: we
found therein several massy pieces of yellow metal, which, if they
be real gold, must be of immense value.
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Having thus, in
obedience to your Majestys commands, diligently searched all
his pockets, we observed a girdle about his waist made of the hide
of some prodigious animal; from which, on the left side, hung a
sword of the length of five men; and on the right, a bag or pouch
divided into two cells, each cell capable of holding three of your
Majestys subjects. In one of these cells were several globes
or balls of a most ponderous metal, about the bigness of our heads,
and requiring a strong hand to lift them: the other cell contained
a heap of certain black grains, but of no great bulk or weight,
for we could hold above fifty of them in the palms of our hands.
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xxxThis is an exact
inventory of what we found about the body of the Man-Mountain, who
used us with great civility, and due respect to your Majestys
commission. Signed and sealed on the fourth day of the eighty-ninth
moon of your Majestys auspicious reign.
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Clefren Frelock, Marsi Frelock.xxx
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When this inventory
was read over to the Emperor, he directed me, although in very gentle
terms, to deliver up the several particulars. He first called for
my scimitar, which I took out, scabbard and all. In the meantime
he ordered three thousand of his choicest troops (who then attended
him) to surround me at a distance, with their bows and arrows just
ready to discharge: but I did not observe it, for my eyes were wholly
fixed upon his Majesty. He then desired me to draw my scimitar,
which, although it had got some rust by the sea water, was in most
parts exceeding bright. I did so, and immediately all the troops
gave a shout between terror and surprise; for the sun shone clear,
and the reflection dazzled their eyes as I waved the scimitar to
and fro in my hand. His Majesty, who is a most magnanimous prince,
was less daunted than I could expect; he ordered me to return it
into the scabbard, and cast it on the ground as gently as I could,
about six foot from the end of my chain. The next thing he demanded
was one of the hollow iron pillars, by which he meant my pocket-pistols.
I drew it out, and at his desire, as well as I could, expressed
to him the use of it; and charging it only with powder, which by
the closeness of my pouch happened to escape wetting in the sea
(an inconvenience against which all prudent mariners take special
care to provide) I first cautioned the Emperor not to be afraid,
and then I let it off in the air. The astonishment here was much
greater than at the sight of my scimitar. Hundreds fell down as
if they had been struck dead; and even the Emperor, although he
stood his ground, could not recover himself in some time. I delivered
up both my pistols in the same manner as I had done my scimitar,
and then my pouch of powder and bullets; begging him that the former
might be kept from the fire, for it would kindle with the smallest
spark, and blow up his imperial palace into the air. I likewise
delivered up my watch, which the Emperor was very curious to see,
and commanded two of his tallest yeomen of the guards to bear it
on a pole upon their shoulders, as draymen in England do a barrel
of ale. He was amazed at the continual noise it made, and the motion
of the minute-hand, which he could easily discern; for their sight
is much more acute than ours; and asked the opinions of his learned
men about him, which were various and remote, as the reader may
well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very
perfectly understand them. I then gave up my silver and copper money,
my purse with nine large pieces of gold, and some smaller ones;
my knife and razor, my comb and silver snuff-box, my handkerchief
and journal-book. My scimitar, pistols, and pouch, were conveyed
in carriages to his Majestys stores; but the rest of my goods
were returned me.
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I had, as I before
observed, one private pocket which escaped their search, wherein
there was a pair of spectacles (which I sometimes use for the weakness
of my eyes), a pocket perspective, and several other little conveniences;
which, being of no consequence to the Emperor, I did not think myself
bound in honour to discover, and I apprehended they might be lost
or spoiled if I ventured them out of my possession.
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Chapter III
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My gentleness
and good behavior had gained so far on the Emperor and his court,
and indeed upon the army and people in general, that I began to
conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short time. I took all
possible methods to cultivate this favorable disposition. The natives
came by degrees to be less apprehensive of any danger from me. I
would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my
hand. And last the boys and girls would venture to come and play
at hide and seek in my hair. I had now made good progress in understanding
and speaking their language. The Emperor had a mind one day to entertain
me with several of the country shows, wherein they exceeded all
nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was
diverted with none so much as that of the rope-dancers, performed
upon a slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve
inches from the ground. Upon which I shall desire liberty, with
the readers patience, to enlarge a little.
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This diversion
is only practiced by those persons who are candidates for great
employments and high favors at court. They are trained in this art
from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal
education. When a great office is vacant either by death or disgrace
(which often happens) five or six of those candidates petition the
Emperor to entertain his Majesty and the court with a dance on the
rope, and whoever jumps the highest without falling, succeeds in
the office. Very often the chief ministers themselves are commanded
to show their skill, and to convince the Emperor that they have
not lost their faculty. Flimnap, the Treasurer, is allowed to cut
a caper on the straight rope, at least an inch higher than any other
lord in the whole empire. I have seen him do the summerset several
times together upon a trencher fixed on the rope, which is no thicker
than a common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal
Secretary for Private Affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not partial,
the second after the Treasurer; the rest of the great officers are
much upon a par.
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These diversions
are often attended with fatal accidents, whereof great numbers are
on record. I myself have seen two or three candidates break a limb.
But the danger is much greater when the ministers themselves are
commanded to show their dexterity; for by contending to excell themselves
and their fellows, they strain so far, that there is hardly one
of them who has not received a fall, and some of them two or three.
I was assured that a year or two before my arrival, Flimnap would
have infallibly broken his neck, if one of the Kings cushions,
that accidentally lay on the ground, had not weakened the force
of his fall.
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There is likewise
another diversion, which is only shown before the Emperor and Empress,
and first minister, upon particular occasions. The Emperor lays
on the table three fine silken threads of six inches long. One is
blue, the other red, and the third green. These threads are proposed
as prizes for those persons whom the Emperor has a mind to distinguish
by a peculiar mark of his favor. The ceremony is performed in his
Majestys great chamber of state, where the candidates are
to undergo a trial of dexterity very different from the former,
and such as I have not observed the least resemblance of in any
other country of the old or the new world. The Emperor holds a stick
in his hands, both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candidates,
advancing one by one, sometimes leap over the stick, sometimes creep
under it backwards and forwards several times, according as the
stick is advanced or depressed. Sometimes the Emperor holds one
end of the stick, and his first minister the other; sometimes the
minister has it entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part with
most agility, and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping,
is rewarded with the blue-coloured silk; the red is given to the
next, and the green to the third, which they all wear girt twice
round about the middle; and you see few great persons about this
court who are not adorned with one of these girdles.
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The horses of
the army, and those of the royal stables, having been daily led
before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet
without starting. The riders would leap them over my hand as I held
it on the ground, and one of the Emperors huntsmen, upon a
large courser, took my foot, shoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious
leap. I had the good fortune to divert the Emperor one day after
a very extraordinary manner. I desired he would order several sticks
two feet high, and the thickness of an ordinary cane, to be brought
me; whereupon his Majesty commanded the master of his woods to give
directions accordingly; and the next morning six woodmen arrived
with as many carriages, drawn by eight horses to each. I took nine
of these sticks, and fixing them firmly in the ground in a quadrangular
figure, two feet and a half square, I took four other sticks, and
tied them parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground;
then I fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks that stood erect,
and extended it on all sides till it was as tight as the top of
a drum; and the four parallel sticks rising about five inches higher
than the handkerchief served as ledges on each side. When I had
finished my work, I desired the Emperor to let a troop of his best
horse, twentyfour in number, come and exercise upon this plain.
His Majesty approved of the proposal, and I took them up one by
one in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper officers
to exercise them. As soon as they got into order, they divided into
two parties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged blunt arrows,
drew their swords, fled and pursued, attacked and retired, and in
short discovered the best military discipline I ever beheld. The
parallel sticks secured them and their horses from falling over
the stage; and the Emperor was so much delighted, that he ordered
this entertainment to be repeated several days, and once was pleased
to be lifted up and give the word of command; and, with great difficulty,
persuaded even the Empress herself to let me hold her in her close
chair within two yards of the stage, from whence she was able to
take a full view of the whole performance. It was my good fortune
that no ill accident happened in these entertainments, only once
a fiery horse that belonged to one of the captains pawing with his
hoof struck a hole in my handkerchief, and his foot slipping, he
overthrew his rider and himself; but I immediately relieved them
both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set down the troop
with the other, in the same manner as I took them up. The horse
that fell was strained in the left shoulder, but the rider got no
hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could: however
I would not trust to the strength of it any more in such dangerous
enterprises.
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About two or three
days before I was set at liberty, as I was entertaining the court
with these kind of feats, there arrived an express to inform his
Majesty that some of his subjects riding near the place where I
was first taken up, had seen a great black substance lying on the
ground, very oddly shaped, extending its edges round as wide as
his Majestys bedchamber, and rising up in the middle as high
as a man; that it was no living creature, as they at first apprehended,
for it lay on the grass without motion, and some of them had walked
round it several tunes: that by mounting upon each others
shoulders, they had got to the top, which was flat and even, and
stamping upon it they found it was hollow within; that they humbly
conceived it might be something belonging to the Man-Mountain, and
if his Majesty pleased, they would undertake to bring it with only
five horses. I presently knew what they meant, and was glad at heart
to receive this intelligence. It seems upon my first reaching the
shore after our shipwreck, I was in such confusion, that before
I came to the place where I went to sleep, my hat, which I had fastened
with a string to my head while I was rowing, and had stuck on all
the time I was swimming, fell off after I came to land; the string,
as I conjecture, breaking by some accident which I never observed,
but thought my hat had been lost at sea. I entreated his Imperial
Majesty to give orders it might be brought to me as soon as possible,
describing to him the use and the nature of it: and the next day
the wagoners arrived with it, but not in a very good condition;
they had bored two holes in the brim, within an inch and a half
of the edge, and fastened two hooks in the holes; these hooks were
tied by a long cord to the harness, and thus my hat was dragged
along for above half an English mile: but the ground in that country
being extremely smooth and level, it received less damage than I
expected.
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Two days after
this adventure, the Emperor having ordered that part of his army
which quarters in and about his metropolis to be in a readiness,
took a fancy of diverting himself in a very singular manner. He
desired I would stand like a Colossus, with my legs as far asunder
as I conveniently could. He then commanded his General (who was
an old experienced leader, and a great patron of mine) to draw up
the troops in close order, and march them under me, the foot by
twentyfour in a breast, and the horse by sixteen, with drums beating,
colours flying, and pikes advanced. This body consisted of three
thousand foot, and a thousand horse. His Majesty gave orders, upon
pain of death, that every soldier in his march should observe the
strictest decency with regard to my person; which, however, could
not prevent some of the younger officers from turning up their eyes
as they passed under me. And, to confess the truth, my breeches
were at that time in so ill a condition, that they afforded some
opportunities for laughter and admiration.
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I had sent so
many memorials and petitions for my liberty, that his Majesty at
length mentioned the matter, first in the cabinet, and then in a
full council; where it was opposed by none, except Skyresh Bolgolam,
who was pleased, without any provocation, to be my mortal enemy.
But it was carried against him by the whole board, and confirmed
by the Emperor. That minister was Galbet, or Admiral of the Realm,
very much in his masters confidence, and a person well versed
in affairs, but of a morose and sour complexion. However, he was
at length persuaded to comply; but prevailed that the articles and
conditions upon which I should be set free, and to which I must
swear, should be drawn up by himself. These articles were brought
to me by Skyresh Bolgolam in person, attended by two under-secretaries,
and several persons of distinction. After they were read, I was
demanded to swear to the performance of them; first in the manner
of my own country, and afterwards in the method prescribed by their
laws; which was to hold my right foot in my left hand, to place
the middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head, and
my thumb on the tip of my right ear. But because the reader may
perhaps be curious to have some idea of the style and manner of
expression peculiar to that people, as well as to know the articles
upon which I recovered my liberty, I have made a translation of
the whole instrument word for word, as near as I was able, which
I here offer to the public.
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GOLBASTO MOMAREN
EVLAME GURDILO SHEFIN MULLY ULLY GUE, most mighty Emperor of Lilliput,
delight and terror of the universe, whose dominions extend five
thousand blustrugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to the
extremities of the globe; monarch of all monarchs, taller than the
sons of men; whose feet press down to the center, and whose head
strikes against the sun; at whose nod the princes of the earth shake
their knees; pleasant as the spring, comfortable as the summer,
fruitful as autumn, dreadful as winter. His most sublime Majesty
proposes to the Man-Mountain, lately arrived to our celestial dominions,
the following articles, which by a solemn oath he shall be obliged
to perform.
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First, The Man-Mountain
shall not depart from our dominions, without our license under our
great seal.
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2nd, He shall
not presume to come into our metropolis, without our express order;
at which time the inhabitants shall have two hours warning to keep
within their doors.
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3rd, The said
Man-Mountain shall confine his walks to our principal high roads,
and not offer to walk or lie down in a meadow or field of corn.
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4th, As he walks
the said roads, he shall take the utmost care not to trample upon
the bodies of any of our loving subjects, their horses, or carriages,
nor take any of our said subjects into his hands, without their
own consent.
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5th, If an express
requires extraordinary dispatch, the Man-Mountain shall be obliged
to carry in his pocket the messenger and horse a six days journey
once in every moon, and return the said messenger back (if so required)
safe to our Imperial Presence.
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6th, He shall
be our ally against our enemies in the Island of Blefuscu, and do
his utmost to destroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade
us.
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7th, That the
said Man-Mountain shall, at his times of leisure, be aiding and
assisting to our workmen, in helping to raise certain great stones,
towards covering the wall of the principal park, and other of our
royal buildings.
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8th, That the
said Man-Mountain shall, in two moons time, deliver in an
exact survey of the circumference of our dominions by a computation
of his own paces round the coast.
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Lastly, That upon
his solemn oath to observe all the above articles, the said Man-Mountain
shall have a daily allowance of meat and drink sufficient for the
support of 1,728 of our subjects, with free access to our Royal
Person, and other marks of our favor. Given at our Palace at Belfaborac
the twelfth day of the ninety-first moon of our reign.
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I swore and subscribed
to these articles with great cheerfulness and content, although
some of them were not so honourable as I could have wished; which
proceeded wholly from the malice of Skyresh Bolgolam the High Admiral:
whereupon my chains were immediately unlocked, and I was at full
liberty; the Emperor himself in person did me the honour to be by
at the whole ceremony. I made my acknowledgments by prostrating
myself at his Majestys feet: but he commanded me to rise;
and after many gracious expressions, which, to avoid the censure
of vanity, I shall not repeat, he added, that he hoped I should
prove a useful servant, and well deserve all the favors he had already
conferred upon me, or might do for the future.
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The reader may
please to observe, that in the last article for the recovery of
my liberty the Emperor stipulates to allow me a quantity of meat
and drink sufficient for the support of 1,728 Lilliputians. Some
time after, asking a friend at court how they came to fix on that
determinate number, he told me that his Majestys mathematicians,
having taken the height of my body by the help of a quadrant, and
finding it to exceed theirs in the proportion of twelve to one,
they concluded from the similarity of their bodies, that mine must
contain at least 1,728 of theirs, and consequently would require
as much food as was necessary to support that number of Lilliputians.
By which the reader may conceive an idea of the ingenuity of that
people, as well as the prudent and exact economy of so great a prince.
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Chapter IV
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The first request
I made after I had obtained my liberty, was, that I might have license
to see Mildendo, the metropolis, which the Emperor easily granted
me, but with a special charge to do no hurt either to the inhabitants
or their houses. The people had notice by proclamation of my design
to visit the town. The wall which encompassed it is two feet and
a half high, and at least eleven inches broad, so that a coach and
horses may be driven very safely round it; and it is flanked with
strong towers at ten feet distance. I stepped over the great Gate,
and passed very gently, and sidering through the two principal streets,
only in my short waistcoat, for fear of damaging the roofs and eaves
of the houses with the skirts of my coat. I walked with the utmost
circumspection, to avoid treading on any stragglers, that might
remain in the streets, although the orders were very strict, that
all people should keep in their houses at their own peril. The garret
windows and tops of houses were so crowded with spectators, that
I thought in all my travels I had not seen a more populous place.
The city is an exact square, each side of the wall being five hundred
feet long. The two great streets, which run cross and divide it
into four quarters, are five feet wide. The lanes and alleys, which
I could not enter, but only viewed them as I passed, are from twelve
to eighteen inches. The town is capable of holding five hundred
thousand souls. The houses are from three to five stories. The shops
and markets well provided.
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The Emperors
palace is in the centre of the city, where the two great streets
meet. It is enclosed by a wall of two feet high, and twenty feet
distant from the buildings. I had his Majestys permission
to step over this wall; and the space being so wide between that
and the palace, I could easily view it on every side. The outward
court is a square of forty feet, and includes two other courts:
in the inmost are the royal apartments, which I was very desirous
to see, but found it extremely difficult; for the great gates, from
one square into another, were but eighteen inches high and seven
inches wide. Now the buildings of the outer court were at least
five feet high, and it was impossible for me to stride over them
without infinite damage to the pile, though the walls were strongly
built of hewn stone, and four inches thick. At the same time the
Emperor had a great desire that I should see the magnificence of
his palace; but this I was not able to do till three days after,
which I spent in cutting down with my knife some of the largest
trees in the royal park, about a hundred yards distant from the
city. Of these trees I made two stools, each about three feet high,
and strong enough to bear my weight. The people having received
notice a second time, I went again through the city to the palace,
with my two stools in my hands. When I came to the side of the outer
court, I stood upon one stool, and took the other in my hand: this
I lifted over the roof, and gently set it down on the space between
the first and second court, which was eight feet wide. I then stepped
over the buildings very conveniently from one stool to the other,
and drew up the first after me with a hooked stick. By this contrivance
I got into the inmost court; and lying down upon my side, I applied
my face to the windows of the middle stories, which were left open
on purpose, and discovered the most splendid apartments that can
be imagined. There I saw the Empress and the young Princes, in their
several lodgings, with their chief attendants about them. Her Imperial
Majesty was pleased to smile very graciously upon me, and gave me
out of the window her hand to kiss.
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x But
I shall not anticipate the reader with farther descriptions of this
kind, because I reserve them for a greater work, which is now almost
ready for the press, containing a general description of this empire,
from its first erection, through a long series of princes, with
a particular account of their wars and politics, laws, learning,
and religion: their plants and animals, their peculiar manners and
customs, with other matters very curious and useful; my chief design
at present being only to relate such events and transactions as
happened to the public, or to myself, during a residence of about
nine months in that empire.
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xxxOne morning, about
a fortnight after I had obtained my liberty, Reldresal, principal
Secretary (as they style him) of Private Affairs, came to my house
attended only by one servant. He ordered his coach to wait at a
distance, and desired I would give him an hours audience;
which I readily consented to, on account of his quality and personal
merits, as well as the many good offices he had done me during my
solicitations at court. I offered to lie down, that he might the
more conveniently reach my ear; but he chose rather to let me hold
him in my hand during our conversation. He began with compliments
on my liberty; said he might pretend to some merit in it: but, however,
added, that if it had not been for the present situation of things
at court, perhaps I might not have obtained it so soon. For, said
he, as flourishing a condition as we may appear to be in to foreigners,
we labour under two mighty evils; a violent faction at home, and
the danger of an invasion by a most potent enemy from abroad. As
to the first, you are to understand, that for above seventy moons
past there have been two struggling parties in this empire, under
the names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan, from the high and low heels
on their shoes, by which they distinguish themselves. It is alleged
indeed, that the high heels are most agreeable to our ancient constitution:
but however this be, his Majesty has determined to make use of only
low heels in the administration of the government, and all offices
in the gift of the Crown, as you cannot but observe; and particularly,
that his Majestys Imperial heels are lower at least by a drurr
than any of his court; (drurr is a measure about the fourteenth
part of an inch). The animosities between these two parties run
so high, that they will neither eat nor drink, nor talk with each
other. We compute the Tramecksan, or High-Heels, to exceed us in
number; but the power is wholly on our side. We apprehend his Imperial
Highness, the Heir to the Crown, to have some tendency towards the
High-Heels; at least we can plainly discover one of his heels higher
than the other, which gives him a hobble in his gait. Now, in the
midst of these intestine disquiets, we are threatened with an invasion
from the Island of Blefuscu, which is the other great empire of
the universe, almost as large and powerful as this of his Majesty.
For as to what we have heard you affirm, that there are other kingdoms
and states in the world inhabited by human creatures as large as
yourself, our philosophers are in much doubt, and would rather conjecture
that you dropped from the moon, or one of the stars; because it
is certain, that a hundred mortals of your bulk would, in a short
time, destroy all the fruits and cattle of his Majestys dominions.
Besides, our histories of six thousand moons make no mention of
any other regions, than the two great empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu.
Which two mighty powers have, as I was going to tell you, been engaged
in a most obstinate war for six and thirty moons past. It began
upon the following occasion. It is allowed on all hands, that the
primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, was upon the
larger end: but his present Majestys grandfather, while he
was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the
ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers. Whereupon
the Emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects,
upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs. The
people so highly resented this law, that our histories tell us there
have been six rebellions raised on that account; wherein one Emperor
lost his life, and another his crown. These civil commotions were
constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they were
quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire. It is
computed, that eleven thousand persons have, at several times, suffered
death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.
Many hundred large volumes have been published upon this controversy:
but the books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the
whole party rendered incapable by law of holding employments. During
the course of these troubles, the Emperors of Blefuscu did frequently
expostulate by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a schism
in religion, by offending against a fundamental doctrine of our
great prophet Lustrog, in the fifty-fourth chapter of the Blundecral
(which is their however, is thought to be a mere strain upon the
text: for the words are these; That all true believers shall break
their eggs at the convenient end: and which is the convenient end,
seems, in my humble opinion, to be left to every mans conscience,
or at least in the power of the chief magistrate to determine. Now
the Big-Endian exiles have found so much credit in the Emperor of
Blefuscus court, and so much private assistance and encouragement
from their party here at home, that a bloody war has been carried
on between the two empires for six and thirty moons with various
success; during which time we have lost forty capital ships, and
a much greater number of smaller vessels, together with thirty thousand
of our best seamen and soldiers; and the damage received by the
enemy is reckoned to be somewhat greater than ours. However, they
have now equipped a numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make
a descent upon us; and his Imperial Majesty, placing great confidence
in your valor and strength, has commanded me to lay this account
of his affairs before you.
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I desired the
Secretary to present my humble duty to the Emperor, and to let him
know, that I thought it would not become me, who was a foreigner,
to interfere with parties; but I was ready, with the hazard of my
life, to defend his person and state against all invaders.
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Chapter V
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The Empire of
Blefuscu is an island situated to the north-northeast side of Lilliput,
from whence it is parted only by a channel of eight hundred yards
wide. I had not yet seen it, and upon this notice of an intended
invasion, I avoided appearing on that side of the coast, for fear
of being discovered by some of the enemys ships, who had received
no intelligence of me, all intercourse between the two empires having
been strictly forbidden during the war, upon pain of death, and
an embargo laid by our Emperor upon all vessels whatsoever. I communicated
to his Majesty a project I had formed of seizing the enemys
whole fleet: which, as our scouts assured us, lay at anchor in the
harbor ready to sail with the first fair wind. I consulted the most
experienced seamen, upon the depth of the channel, which they had
often plumbed, who told me, that in the middle at high-water it
was seventy glumgluffs deep, which is about six feet of European
measure; and the rest of it fifty glumgluffs at most. I walked towards
the northeast coast over against Blefuscu; and lying down behind
a hillock, took out my small pocket perspective glass, and viewed
the enemys fleet at anchor, consisting of about fifty men
of war, and a great number of transports; I then came back to my
house, and gave order (for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity
of the strongest cable and bars of iron. The cable was about as
thick as packthread, and the bars of the length and size of a knitting
needle. I trebled the cable to make it stronger, and for the same
reason I twisted three of the iron bars together, binding the extremities
into a hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I
went back to the northeast coast, and putting off my coat, shoes,
and stockings, walked into the sea in my leather jerkin, about half
an hour before high water. I waded with what haste I could, and
swam in the middle about thirty yards till I felt ground; I arrived
at the fleet in less than half an hour. The enemy was so frighted
when they saw me, that they leaped out of their ships, and swam
to shore, where there could not be fewer than thirty thousand souls.
I then took my tackling, and fastening a hook to a hole at the prow
of each, I tied all the cords together at the end. While I was thus
employed, the enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of
which stuck in my hands and face; and besides the excessive smart,
gave me much disturbance in my work. My greatest apprehension was
for my eyes, which I should have infallibly lost, if I had not suddenly
thought of an expedient. I kept among other little necessaries a
pair of spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed before,
had escaped the Emperors searchers. These I took out and fastened
as strongly as I could upon my nose, and thus armed went on boldly
with my work in spite of the enemys arrows, many of which
struck against the glasses of my spectacles, but without any other
effect, further than a little to discompose them. I now fastened
all the hooks, and taking the knot in my hand, began to pull; but
not a ship would stir, for they were all too fast held by their
anchors, so that the boldest part of my enterprise remained. I therefore
let go the cord, and leaving the hooks fixed to the ships, I resolutely
cut with my knife the cables that fastened the anchors, receiving
above two hundred shots in my face and hands; then I took up the
knotted end of the cables to which my hooks were tied, and with
great ease drew fifty of the enemys men-of-war after me.
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The Blefuscudians,
who had not the least imagination of what I intended, were at first
confounded with astonishment. They had seen me cut the cables, and
thought my design was only to let the ships run adrift or fall foul
on each other: but when they perceived the whole fleet moving in
order, and saw me pulling at the end, they set up such a scream
of grief and despair, that it is almost impossible to describe or
conceive. When I had got out of danger, I stopped awhile to pick
out the arrows that stuck in my hands and face, and rubbed on some
of the same ointment that was given me at my first arrival, as I
have formerly mentioned. I then took off my spectacles, and waiting
about an hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through
the middle with my cargo, and arrived safe at the royal port of
Lilliput.
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The Emperor and
his whole court stood on the shore expecting the issue of this great
adventure. They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon,
but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water. When
I advanced to the middle of the channel, they were yet in more pain,
because I was under water to my neck. The Emperor concluded me to
be drowned, and that the enemys fleet was approaching in a
hostile manner: but he was soon eased of his fears, for the channel
growing shallower every step I made, I came in a short time within
hearing, and holding up the end of the cable by which the fleet
was fastened, I cried in a loud voice, Long live the most puissant
Emperor of Lilliput! This great prince received me at my landing
with all possible encomiums, and created me a Nardac upon the spot,
which is the highest title of honour among them.
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His Majesty desired
I would take some other opportunity of bringing all the rest of
his enemys ships into his ports. And so unmeasurable is the
ambition of princes, that he seemed to think of nothing less than
reducing the whole empire of Blefuscu into a province, and governing
it by a Viceroy; of destroying the Big-Endian exiles, and compelling
that people to break the smaller end of their eggs, by which he
would remain the sole monarch of the whole world. But I endeavored
to divert him from this design, by many arguments drawn from the
topics of policy as well as justice; and I plainly protested, that
I would never be an instrument of bringing a free and brave people
into slavery. And when the matter was debated in council, the wisest
part of the ministry were of my opinion.
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This open bold
declaration of mine was so opposite to the schemes and politics
of his Imperial Majesty, that he could never forgive it; he mentioned
it in a very artful manner at council, where I was told that some
of the wisest appeared, at least by their silence, to be of my opinion;
but others, who were my secret enemies, could not forbear some expressions,
which by a side-wind reflected on me. And from this time began an
intrigue between his Majesty and a junto of ministers maliciously
bent against me, which broke out in less than two months, and had
like to have ended in my utter destruction. Of so little weight
are the greatest services to princes, when put into the balance
with a refusal to gratify their passions.
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About three weeks
after this exploit, there arrived a solemn embassy from Blefuscu,
with humble offers of a peace; which was soon concluded upon conditions
very advantageous to our Emperor, wherewith I shall not trouble
the reader. There were six ambassadors, with a train of about five
hundred persons, and their entry was very magnificent, suitable
to the grandeur of their master, and the importance of their business.
When their treaty was finished, wherein I did them several good
offices by the credit I now had, or at least appeared to have at
court, their Excellencies, who were privately told how much I had
been their friend, made me a visit in form. They began with many
compliments upon my valor and generosity, invited me to that kingdom
in the Emperor their masters name, and desired me to show
them some proofs of my prodigious strength, of which they had heard
so many wonders; wherein I readily obliged them, but shall not trouble
the reader with the particulars.
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When I had for
some time entertained their Excellencies, to their infinite satisfaction
and surprise, I desired they would do me the honour to present my
most humble respects to the Emperor their master, the renown of
whose had so justly filled the whole world with admiration, and
whose royal person I resolved to attend before I returned to my
own country: accordingly, the next time I had the honour to see our
Emperor, I desired his general license to wait on the Blefuscudian
monarch, which he was pleased to grant me, as I could plainly perceive,
in a very cold manner; but could not guess the reason, till I had
a whisper from a certain person, that Flimnap and Bolgolam had represented
my intercourse with those ambassadors as a mark of disaffection,
from which I am sure my heart was wholly free. And this was the
first time I began to conceive some imperfect idea of courts and
ministers.
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It is to be observed,
that these ambassadors spoke to me by an interpreter, the languages
of both empires differing as much from each other as any two in
Europe, and each nation priding itself upon the antiquity, beauty,
and energy of their own tongues, with an avowed contempt for that
of their neighbor; yet our Emperor, standing upon the advantage
he had got by the seizure of their fleet, obliged them to deliver
their credentials, and make their speech in the Lilliputian tongue.
And it must be confessed, that from the great intercourse of trade
and commerce between both realms, from the continual reception of
exiles, which is mutual among them, and from the custom in each
empire to send their young nobility and richer gentry to the other,
in order to polish themselves by seeing the world and understanding
men and manners; there are few persons of distinction, or merchants,
or seamen, who dwell in the maritime parts, but what can hold conversation
both tongues; as I found some weeks after, when I went to pay my
respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, which in the midst of great
misfortunes, through the malice of my enemies, proved a very happy
adventure to me, as I shall relate in its proper place.
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The reader may
remember, that when I signed those articles upon which I recovered
my liberty, there were some which I disliked upon account of their
being too servile, neither could anything but an extreme necessity
have forced me to submit. But being now a Nardac, of the highest
rank in that empire, such offices were looked upon as below my dignity,
and the Emperor (to do him justice) never once mentioned them to
me. However, it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing
his Majesty, at least, as I then thought, a most signal service.
I was alarmed at midnight with the cries of many hundred people
at my door; by which being suddenly awaked, I was in some kind of
terror. I heard the word burglum repeated incessantly: several of
the Emperors court, making their way through the crowd, entreated
me to come immediately to the Palace, where her Imperial Majestys
apartment was on fire, by the carelessness of a maid of honour, who
fell asleep while she was reading a romance. I got up in an instant;
and orders being given to clear the way before me, and it being
likewise a moonshine night, I made a shift to get to the Palace
without trampling on any of the people. I found they had already
applied ladders to the walls of the apartment, and were well provided
with buckets, but the water was at some distance. These buckets
were about the size of a large thimble, and the poor people supplied
me with them as fast as they could; but the flame was so violent
that they did little good. I might easily have stifled it with my
coat, which I unfortunately left behind me for haste, and came away
only in my leathern jerkin. The case seemed wholly desperate and
deplorable; and this magnificent palace would have infallibly been
burned down to the ground, if, by a presence of mind, unusual to
me, I had not suddenly thought of an expedient. I had the evening
before drunk plentifully of a most delicious wine, called glimigrim
(the Blefuscudians call it flunec, but ours is esteemed the better
sort), which is very diuretic. By the luckiest chance in the world,
I had not discharged myself of any part of it. The heat I had contracted
by coming very near the flames, and by labouring to quench them,
made the wine begin to operate my urine; which I voided in such
a quantity, and applied so well to the proper places, that in three
minutes the fire was wholly extinguished, and the rest of that noble
pile, which had cost so many ages in erecting, preserved from destruction.
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It was now daylight,
and I returned to my house without waiting to congratulate with
the Emperor: because, although I had done a very eminent piece of
service, yet I could not tell how his Majesty might resent the manner
by which I had performed it: for, by the fundamental laws of the
realm, it is capital in any person, of what quality soever, to make
water within the precincts of the palace. But I was a little comforted
by a message from his Majesty, that he would give orders to the
Grand Justiciary for passing my pardon in form; which, however,
I could not obtain. And I was privately assured, that the Empress,
conceiving the greatest abhorrence of what I had done, removed to
the most distant side of the court, firmly resolved that those buildings
should never be repaired for her use: and, in the presence of her
chief confidants could not forbear vowing revenge.
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Chapter VI
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Although I intend
to leave the description of this empire to a particular treatise,
yet in the meantime I am content to gratify the curious reader with
some general ideas. As the common size of the natives is somewhat
under six inches high, so there is an exact proportion in all other
animals, as well as plants and trees: for instance, the tallest
horses and oxen are between four and five inches in height, the
sheep an inch and a half, more or less: their geese about the bigness
of a sparrow, and so the several gradations downwards till you come
to the smallest, which, to my sight, were almost invisible; but
nature had adapted the eyes of the Lilliputians to all objects proper
for their view: they see with great exactness, but at no great distance.
And to show the sharpness of their sight towards objects that are
near, I have been much pleased with observing a cook pulling a lark,
which was not so large as a common fly; and a young girl threading
an invisible needle with invisible silk. Their tallest trees are
about seven feet high; I mean some of those in the great royal park,
the tops whereof I could but just reach with my fist clenched. The
other vegetables are in the same proportion; but this I leave to
the readers imagination.
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I shall say but
little at present of their learning, which for many ages had flourished
in all its branches among them; but their manner of writing is very
peculiar, being neither from the left to the right, like the Europeans;
nor from the right to the left, like the Arabians; nor from up to
down, like the Chinese; nor from down to up, like the Cascagians;
but aslant from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies
in England.
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They bury their
dead with their heads directly downwards, because they hold an opinion,
that in eleven thousand moons they are all to rise again, in which
period the earth (which they conceive to be flat) will turn upside
down, and by this means they shall, at their resurrection, be found
ready standing on their feet. The learned among them confess the
absurdity of this doctrine, but the practice still continues, in
compliance to the vulgar.
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There are some
laws and customs in this empire very peculiar; and if they were
not so directly contrary to those of my own dear country, I should
be tempted to say a little in their justification. It is only to
be wished that they were as well executed. The first I shall mention
relates to informers. All crimes against the state are punished
here with the utmost severity; but if the person accused makes his
innocence plainly to appear upon his trial, the accuser is immediately
put to an ignominious death; and out of his goods or lands, the
innocent person is quadruply recompensed for the loss of his time,
for the danger he underwent, for the hardship of his imprisonment,
and for all the charges he had been at in making his defense. Or,
if that fund be deficient, it is largely supplied by the Crown.
The Emperor does also confer on him some public mark of his favor,
and proclamation is made of his innocence through the whole city.
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They look upon
fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore seldom fail to
punish it with death; for they allege, that care and vigilance,
with a very common understanding, may preserve a mans goods
from thieves, but honesty has no fence against superior cunning;
and since it is necessary that there should be a perpetual intercourse
of buying and selling, and dealing upon credit, where fraud is permitted
and connived at, or has no law to punish it, the honest dealer is
always undone, and the knave gets the advantage. remember when I
was once interceding with the King for a criminal who had wronged
his master of a great sum of money, which he had received by order,
and ran away with; and happening to tell his Majesty, by way of
extenuation, that it was only a breach of trust; the Emperor thought
it monstrous in me to offer, as a defense, the greatest aggravation
of the crime: and truly I had little to say in return, farther than
the common answer, that different nations had different customs;
for, I confess, I was heartily ashamed.
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Although we usually
call reward and punishment the two hinges upon which all government
turns, yet I could never observe this maxim to be put in practice
by any nation except that of Lilliput. Whoever can there bring sufficient
proof that he has strictly observed the laws of his country for
seventy-three moons, has a claim to certain privileges, according
to his quality and condition of life, with a proportionable sum
of money out of a fund appropriated for that use: he likewise acquires
the title of Snilpall, or Legal, which is added to his name, but
does not descend to his posterity. And these people thought it a
prodigious defect of policy among us, when I told them that our
laws were enforced only by penalties without any mention of reward.
It is upon this account that the image of justice, in their courts
of judicature, is formed with six eyes, two before, as many behind,
and on each side one, to signify circumspection; with a bag of gold
open in her right hand, and a sword sheathed in her left, to show
she is more disposed to reward than to punish.
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In choosing persons
for all employments, they have more regard to good morals than to
great abilities; for, since government is necessary to mankind,
they believe-that the common size of human understandings is fitted
to some station or other, and that Providence never intended to
make the management of public affairs a mystery, to be comprehended
only by a few persons of sublime genius, of which there seldom are
three born in an age: but they suppose truth, justice, temperance,
and the like, to be in every mans power; the practice of which
virtues, assisted by experience and a good intention, would qualify
any man for the service of his country, except where a course of
study is required. But they thought the want of moral virtues was
so far from being supplied by superior endowments of the mind, that
employments could never be put into such dangerous hands as those
of persons so qualified; and at least, that the mistakes committed
by ignorance in a virtuous disposition, would never be of such fatal
consequence to the public weal, as the practices of a man whose
inclinations led him to be corrupt, and had great abilities to manage,
and multiply, and defend his corruptions.
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In like manner,
the disbelief of a Divine Providence renders a man incapable of
holding any public station; for, since kings avow themselves to
be the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think nothing can
be more absurd than for a prince to employ such men as disown the
authority under which he acts.
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In relating these
and the following laws, I would only be understood to mean the original
institutions, and not the most scandalous corruptions into which
these people are fallen by the degenerate nature of man. For as
to that infamous practice of acquiring great employments by dancing
on the ropes, or badges of favor and distinction by leaping over
sticks and creeping under them, the reader is to observe, that they
were first introduced by the grandfather of the Emperor now reigning,
and grew to the present height by the gradual increase of party
and faction.
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Ingratitude is
among them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other
countries; for they reason thus, that whoever makes ill returns
to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy to the rest of mankind,
from whom he has received no obligation, and therefore such a man
is not fit to live.
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Their notions
relating to the duties of parents and children differ extremely
from ours. For since the conjunction of male and female is founded
upon the great law of nature, in order to propagate and continue
the species, the Lilliputians will needs have it, that men and women
are joined together like other animals, by the motives of concupiscence;
and that their tenderness towards their young proceeds from the
like natural principle: for which reason they will never allow,
that a child is under any obligation to his father for begetting
him, or his mother for bringing him into the world; which, considering
the miseries of human life, was neither a benefit itself, nor intended
so by his parents, whose thoughts in their love-encounters were
otherwise employed. Upon these, and the like reasonings, their opinion
is, that parents are the last of all others to be trusted with the
education of their own children: and therefore they have in every
town public nurseries, where all parents, except cottagers and labourers,
are obliged to send their infants of both sexes to be reared and
educated when they come to the age of twenty moons, at which time
they are supposed to have some rudiments of docility. These schools
are of several kinds, suited to different qualities, and to both
sexes. They have certain professors well skilled in preparing children
for such a condition of life as befits the rank of their parents,
and their own capacities as well as inclinations. I shall say something
of the male nurseries, and then of the female.
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The nurseries
for males of noble or eminent birth are provided with grave and
learned professors, and their several deputies. The clothes and
food of the children are plain and simple. They are bred up in the
principles of honour, justice, courage, modesty, clemency, religion,
and love of their country; they are always employed in some business,
except in the times of eating and sleeping, which are very short,
and two hours for diversions, consisting of bodily exercises. They
are dressed by men till four years of age, and then are obliged
to dress themselves, although their quality be ever so great; and
the women attendants, who are aged proportionably to ours at fifty,
perform only the most menial offices. They are never suffered to
converse with servants, but go together in small or greater numbers
to take their diversions, and always in the presence of a professor,
or one of his deputies; whereby they avoid those early bad impressions
of folly and vice to which our children are subject. Their parents
are suffered to see them only twice a year; the visit is to last
but an hour. They are allowed to kiss the child at meeting and parting;
but a professor, who always stands by on those occasions, will not
suffer them to whisper, or use any fondling expressions, or bring
any presents of toys, sweetmeats, and the like.
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The pension from
each family for the education and entertainment of a child, upon
failure of due payment, is levied by the Emperors officers.
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The nurseries
for children of ordinary gentlemen, merchants, traders, and handicrafts,
are managed proportionably after the same manner; only those designed
for trades are put out apprentices at eleven years old, whereas
those of persons of quality continue in their exercises till fifteen,
which answers to one and twenty with us: but the confinement is
gradually lessened for the last three years.
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In the female
nurseries, the young girls of quality are educated much like the
males, only they are dressed by orderly servants of their own sex;
but always in the presence of a professor or deputy, till they come
to dress themselves, which is at five years old. And if it be found
that these nurses ever presume to entertain the girls with frightful
or foolish stories, or the common follies practiced by chambermaids
among us, they are publicly whipped thrice about the city, imprisoned
for a year and banished for life to the most desolate part of the
country. Thus the young ladies there are as much ashamed of being
cowards and fools as the men, and despise all personal ornaments
beyond decency and cleanliness: neither did I perceive any difference
in their education, made by their difference of sex, only that the
exercises of the females were not altogether so robust; and that
some rules were given them relating to domestic life, and a smaller
compass of learning was enjoined them: for their maxim is, that
among people of quality a wife should be always a reasonable and
agreeable companion, because she cannot always be young. When the
girls are twelve years old, which among them is the marriageable
age, their parents or guardians take them home, with great expressions
of gratitude to the professors, and seldom without tears of the
young lady and her companions.
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In the nurseries
of females of the meaner sort, the children are instructed in all
kinds of works proper for their sex, and their several degrees:
those intended for apprentices are dismissed at nine years old,
the rest are to thirteen.
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The meaner families
who have children at these nurseries, are obliged, besides their
annual pension, which is as low as possible, to return to the steward
of the nursery a small monthly share of their gettings, to be a
portion for the child; and therefore all parents are limited in
their expenses by the law. For the Lilliputians think nothing can
be more unjust, than for people, in subservience to their own appetites,
to bring children into the world and leave the burden of supporting
them on the public. As to persons of quality, they give security
to appropriate a certain sum for each child, suitable to their condition;
and these funds are always managed with good husbandry, and the
most exact justice.
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The cottagers
and labourers keep their children at home, their business being only
to till and cultivate the earth, and therefore their education is
of little consequence to the public; but the old and discased among
them are supported by hospitals: for begging is a trade unknown
in this kingdom.
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And here it may
perhaps divert the curious reader to give some account of my domestics,
and my manner of living in this country, during a residence of nine
months and thirteen days. Having a head mechanically turned, and
being likewise forced by necessity, I had made for myself a table
and chair convenient enough, out of the largest trees in the royal
park. Two hundred seamstresses were employed to make me shirts,
and linen for my bed and table, all of the strongest and coarsest
kind they could get; which, however, they were forced to quilt together
in several folds, for the thickest was some degrees finer than lawn.
Their linen is usually three inches wide, and three feet make a
piece. The seamstresses took my measure as I lay on the ground,
one standing at my neck, and another at my mid-leg, with a strong
cord extended, that each held by the end, while the third measured
the length of the cord with a rule an inch long. Then they measured
my right thumb, and desired no more; for by a mathematical computation,
that twice round the thumb is once round the wrist, and so on to
the neck and the waist, and by the help of my old shirt, which I
displayed on the ground before them for a pattern, they fitted me
exactly. Three hundred tailors were employed in the same manner
to make me clothes; but they had another contrivance for taking
my measure. I kneeled down, and they raised a ladder from the ground
to my neck; upon this ladder one of them mounted, and let fall a
plumb-line from my collar to the floor, which just answered the
length of my coat; but my waist and arms I measured myself. When
my clothes finished, which was done in my house (for the largest
of theirs would not have been able to hold them) they looked like
the patch-work made by the ladies in England, only that mine were
all of a colour.
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I had three hundred
cooks to dress my victuals, in little convenient huts built about
my house, where they and their families lived, and prepared me two
dishes apiece. I took up twenty waiters in my hand, and placed them
on the table; a hundred more attended below on the ground, some
with dishes of meat, and some with barrels of wine, and other liquors,
slung on their shoulders; all which the waiters above drew up as
I wanted, in a very ingenious manner, by certain cords, as we draw
the bucket up a well in Europe. A dish of their meat was a good
mouthful, and a barrel of their liquor a reasonable draught. Their
mutton yields to ours, but their beef is excellent. I have had a
sirloin so large, that I have been forced to make three bits of
it; but this is rare. My servants were astonished to see me eat
it bones and all, as in our country we do the leg of a lark. Their
geese and turkeys I usually ate at a mouthful, and I must confess
they far exceed ours. Of their smaller fowl I could take up twenty
or thirty at the end of my knife.
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One day his Imperial
Majesty, being informed of my way of living, desired that himself
and his Royal Consort, with the young Princes of the blood of both
sexes, might have the happiness (as he was pleased to call it) of
dining with me. They came accordingly, and I placed them upon chairs
of state on my table, just over against me, with their guards about
them. Flimnap, the Lord High Treasurer, attended there likewise
with his white staff; and I observed he often looked on me with
a sour countenance, which I would not seem to regard, but ate more
than usual, in honour to my dear country, as well as to fill the
court with admiration. I have some private reasons to believe, that
this visit from his Majesty gave Flimnap an opportunity of doing
me ill offices to his master. That minister had always been my secret
enemy, though he outwardly caressed me more than was usual to the
moroseness of his nature. He represented to the Emperor the low
condition of his treasury; that he was forced to take up money at
great discount; that exchequer bills would not circulate under nine
per cent below par; that in short I had cost his Majesty above a
million and a half of sprugs (their greatest gold coin, about the
bigness of a spangle) and upon the whole, that it would be advisable
in the Emperor to take the first fair occasion of dismissing me.
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I am here obliged
to vindicate the reputation of an excellent lady, who was an innocent
sufferer upon my account. The Treasurer took a fancy to be jealous
of his wife, from the malice of some evil tongues, who informed
him that her Grace had taken a violent affection for my person;
and the court-scandal ran for some time, that she once came privately
to my lodging. This I solemnly declare to be a most infamous falsehood,
without any grounds, farther than that her Grace was pleased to
treat me with all innocent marks of freedom and friendship. I own
she came often to my house, but always publicly, nor ever without
three more in the coach, who were usually her sister and young daughter,
and some particular acquaintance; but this was common to many other
ladies of the court. And I still appeal to my servants round, whether
they at any time saw a coach at my door without knowing what persons
were in it. On those occasions, when a servant had given me notice,
my custom was to go immediately to the door; and, after paying my
respects, to take up the coach and two horses very carefully in
my hands (for if there were six horses, the postillion always unharnessed
four) and place them on a table, where I had fixed a moveable rim
quite round, of five inches high, to prevent accidents. And I have
often had four coaches and horses at once on my table full of company,
while I sat in my chair leaning my face towards them; and when I
was engaged with one set, 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 informers
(I will name them, and let them make their best of it) Clustril
and Drunlo, to prove that any person ever came to me incognito,
except the secretary Reldresal, who was sent by express command
of his Imperial Majesty, as I have before related. I should not
have dwelt so long upon this particular, it had not been a point
wherein the reputation of a great lady is so nearly concerned, to
say nothing of my own; though I then had the honour to be a Nardac,
which the Treasurer himself is not; for all the world knows he is
only a Glumglum, a title inferior by one degree, as that of a Marquis
is to a Duke in England, although I allow he preceded me in right
of his post. These false informations, which I afterwards came to
the knowledge of, by an accident not proper to mention, made Flimnap
the Treasurer show his lady for some time an ill countenance, and
me a worse; and although he were at last undeceived and reconciled
to her, yet I lost all credit with him, and found my interest decline
very fast with the Emperor himself, who was indeed too much governed
by that favorite.
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Chapter VII
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Before I proceed
to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it may be proper
to inform the reader of a private intrigue which had been for two
months forming against me.
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I had been hitherto
all my life a stranger to courts, for which I was unqualified by
the meanness of my condition. I had indeed heard and read enough
of the dispositions of great princes and ministers; but never expected
to have found such terrible effects of them in so remote a country,
governed, as I thought, by very different maxims from those in Europe.
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When I was just
preparing to pay my attendance on the Emperor of Blefuscu, a considerable
person at court (to whom I had been very serviceable at a time when
he lay under the highest displeasure of his Imperial Majesty) came
to my house very privately at night in a close chair, and without
sending his name, desired admittance. The chairmen were dismissed;
I put the chair, with his Lordship in it, into my coat-pocket: and
giving orders to a trusty servant to say I was indisposed and gone
to sleep, I fastened the door of my house, placed the chair on the
table, according to my usual custom, and sat down by it. After the
common salutations were over, observing his Lordships countenance
full of concern, and enquiring into the reason, he desired I would
hear him with patience in a matter that highly concerned my honour
and my life. His speech was to the following effect, for I took
notes of it as soon as he left me.
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You are to know,
said he, that several Committees of Council have been lately called
in the most private manner on your account; and it is but two days
since his Majesty came to a full resolution.
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You are very sensible
that Skyresh Bolgolam (Galbet, or High Admiral) has been your mortal
enemy almost ever since your arrival. His original reasons I know
not, but his hatred is much increased since your great success against
Blefuscu, by which his glory as Admiral is obscured. This Lord,
in conjunction with Flimnap the High Treasurer, whose enmity against
you is notorious on account of his lady, Limtoc the General, Lalcon
the Chamberlain, and Balmuff the Grand Justiciary, have prepared
articles of impeachment against you, for treason, and other capital
crimes.
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This preface made
me so impatient, being conscious of my own merits and innocence,
that I was going to interrupt; when he entreated me to be silent,
and thus proceeded.
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Out of gratitude
for the favors you have done me, I procured information of the whole
proceedings, and a copy of the articles, wherein I venture my head
for your service.
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Articles
of Impeachment against Quinbus Flestrin (the Man-Mountain)
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ARTICLE I
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Whereas, by a
statute made in the reign of his Imperial Majesty Calin Deffar Plune,
it is enacted, that whoever shall make water within the precincts
of the royal palace, should be liable to the pains and penalties
of high treason; notwithstanding, the said Quinbus Flestrin, in
open breach of the said law, under colour of extinguishing the fire
kindled in the apartment of his Majestys most dear Imperial
Consort, did maliciously, traitorously, and devilishly, by discharge
of his urine, put out the said fire kindled in the said apartment,
lying and being within the precincts of the said royal palace, against
the statute in that case provided, etc., against the duty, etc.
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ARTICLE II.
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That the said
Quinbus Flestrin having brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into
the royal port, and being afterwards commanded by his Imperial Majesty
to seize all the other ships of the said empire of Blefuscu, and
reduce that empire to a province, to be governed by a Viceroy from
hence, and to destroy and put to death not only all the Big-Endian
exiles, but likewise all the people of that empire, who would not
immediately forsake the Big-Endian heresy: He, the said Flestrin,
like a false traitor against his most Auspicious, Serene, Imperial
Majesty, did petition to be excused from the said service upon pretense
of unwillingness to force the consciences, or destroy the liberties
and lives of an innocent people.
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ARTICLE III.
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That, whereas
certain ambassadors from the court of Blefuscu, to sue for peace
in his Majestys court: He, the said Flestrin, did, like a
false traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and divert the said ambassadors,
although he knew them to be servants to a Prince who was lately
an open enemy to his Imperial Majesty, and in open war against his
said Majesty.
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ARTICLE IV.
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That the said
Quinbus Flestrin, contrary to the duty of a faithful subject, is
now preparing to make a voyage to the court and empire of Blefuscu,
for which he had received only verbal license from his Imperial
Majesty; and under colour of the said license, doth falsely and traitorously
intend to take the said voyage, and hereby to aid, comfort, and
abet the Emperor of Blefuscu, so late an enemy, and in open war
with his Imperial Majesty aforesaid.
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There are some
other articles, but these are the most important, of which I have
read you an abstract.
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In the several
debates upon this impeachment, it must be confessed that his Majesty
gave many marks of his great lenity, often urging the services you
had done him, and endeavoring to extenuate your crimes. The Treasurer
and Admiral insisted that you should be put to the most painful
and ignominious death, by setting fire on your house at night, and
the General was to attend with twenty thousand men armed with poisoned
arrows to shoot you on the face and hands. Some of your servants
were to have private orders to strew a poisonous juice on your shirts,
which would soon make you tear your own flesh, and die in the utmost
torture. The General came into the same opinion, so that for a long
time there was a majority against you. But his Majesty resolving,
if possible, to spare your life, at last brought off the Chamberlain.
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Upon this incident,
Reldresal, principal Secretary for Private Affairs, who always approved
himself your true friend, was commanded by the Emperor to deliver
his opinion, which he accordingly did; and therein justified the
good thoughts you have of him. He allowed your crimes to be great,
but that still there was room for mercy, the most commendable virtue
in a prince, and for which his Majesty was so justly celebrated.
He said, the friendship between you and him was so well known to
the world, that perhaps the most honourable board might think him
partial: however, in obedience to the command he had received, he
would freely offer his sentiments. That if his Majesty, in consideration
of your services, and pursuant to his own merciful disposition,
would please to spare your life, and only give order to put out
both your eyes, he humbly conceived that by this expedient justice
might in some measure be satisfied, and all the world would applaud
the lenity of the Emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceedings
of those who have the honour to be his counsellors. That the loss
of your eyes would be no impediment to your bodily strength, by
which you might still be useful to his Majesty. That blindness is
an addition to courage, by concealing dangers from us; that the
fear you had for your eyes was the greatest difficulty in bringing
over the enemys fleet, and it would be sufficient for you
to see by the eyes of the ministers, since the greatest princes
do no more.
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This proposal
was received with the utmost disapprobation by the whole board.
Bolgolam, the Admiral, could not preserve his temper, but rising
up in fury said he wondered how the Secretary dared presume to give
his opinion for preserving the life of a traitor: that the services
you had performed, were, by all true reasons of state, the great
aggravation of your crimes; that you, who were able to extinguish
the fire, by discharge of urine in her Majestys apartment
(which he mentioned with horror), might at another time, raise an
inundation by the same means, to drown the whole palace; and the
same strength which enabled you to bring over the enemys fleet,
might serve, upon the first discontent, to carry it back: that he
had good reasons to think you were a Big-Endian in your heart; and
as treason begins in the heart, before it appears in overt acts,
so he accused you as a traitor on that account, and therefore insisted
you should be put to death.
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The Treasurer
was of the same opinion; he showed to what straits his Majestys
revenue was reduced by the charge of maintaining you, which would
soon grow insupportable: that the Secretarys expedient of
putting out your eyes was so far from being a remedy against this
evil, it would probably increase it, as it is manifest from the
common practice of blinding some kind of fowl, after which they
fed the faster, and grew sooner fat: that his sacred Majesty and
the Council, who are your judges, were in their own consciences
fully convinced of your guilt, which was a sufficient argument to
condemn you to death, without the formal proofs required by the
strict letter of the law.
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But his Imperial
Majesty, fully determined against capital punishment, was graciously
pleased to say, that since the Council thought the loss of your
eyes too easy a censure, some other may be inflicted hereafter.
And your friend the Secretary humbly desiring to be heard again,
in answer to what the Treasurer had objected concerning the great
charge his Majesty was at in maintaining you, said that his Excellency,
who had the sole disposal of the Emperors revenue, might easily
provide against that evil, by gradually lessening your establishment;
by which, for want of sufficient food, you would grow weak and faint,
and lose your appetite, and consequently decay and consume in a
few months; neither would the stench of your carcass be then so
dangerous, when it should become more than half diminished; and
immediately upon your death, five or six thousand of his Majestys
subjects might, in two or three days, cut your flesh from your bones,
take it away by cartloads, and bury it in distant parts to prevent
infection, leaving the skeleton as a monument of admiration to posterity.
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Thus by the great
friendship of the Secretary, the whole affair was compromised. It
was strictly enjoined, that the project of starving you by degrees
should be kept a secret, but the sentence of putting out your eyes
was entered on the books; none dissenting except Bolgolam the Admiral,
who, being a creature of the Empress, was perpetually instigated
by her Majesty to insist upon your death, she having borne perpetual
malice against you, on account of that infamous and illegal method
you took to extinguish the fire in her apartment.
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In three days
your friend the Secretary will be directed to come to your house,
and read before you the articles of impeachment; and then to signify
the great lenity and favor of his Majesty and Council, whereby you
are only condemned to the loss of your eyes, which his Majesty does
not question you will gratefully and humbly submit to; and twenty
of his Majestys surgeons will attend, in order to see the
operation well performed, by discharging very sharp-pointed arrows
into the balls of your eyes, as you lie on the ground.
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I leave to your
prudence what measures you will take; and to avoid suspicion, I
must immediately return in as private a manner as I came.
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His Lordship did
so, and I remained alone, under many doubts and perplexities of
mind.
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It was a custom
introduced by this prince and his ministry (very different, as I
have been assured, from the practices of former times) that after
the court had decreed any cruel execution, either to gratify the
monarchs resentment, or the malice of a favorite, the Emperor
always made a speech to his whole Council, expressing his great
lenity and tenderness, as qualities known and confessed by all the
world. This speech was immediately published through the kingdom;
nor did anything terrify the people so much as those encomiums on
his Majestys mercy; because it was observed, that the more
these praises were enlarged and insisted on, the more inhuman was
the punishment, and the sufferer more innocent. And as to myself,
I must confess, having never been designed for a courtier either
by my birth or education, I was so ill a judge of things, that I
could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence, but conceived
it (perhaps erroneously) rather to be rigorous than gentle. I sometimes
thought of standing my trial, for although I could not deny the
facts alleged in the several articles, yet I hoped they would admit
of some extenuations. But having in my life perused many state trials,
which I ever observed to terminate as the judges thought fit to
direct, I dared not rely on so dangerous a decision, in so critical
a juncture, and against such powerful enemies. Once I was strongly
bent upon resistance, for while I had liberty, the whole strength
of that empire could hardly subdue me, and I might easily with stones
pelt the metropolis to pieces; but I soon rejected that project
with horror, by remembering the oath I had made to the Emperor,
the favors I received from him, and the high title of Nardac he
conferred upon me. Neither had I so soon learned the gratitude of
courtiers, to persuade myself that his Majestys present severities
quitted me of all past obligations.
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At last I fixed
upon a resolution, for which it is probable I may incur some censure,
and not unjustly; for I confess I owe the preserving of my eyes,
and consequently my liberty, to my own great rashness and want of
experience: because if I had then known the nature of princes and
ministers, which I have since observed in many other courts, and
their methods of treating criminals less obnoxious than myself,
I should with great alacrity and readiness have submitted to so
easy a punishment. But hurried on by the precipitancy of youth,
and having his Imperial Majestys license to pay my attendance
upon the Emperor of Blefuscu, I took this opportunity, before the
three days were elapsed, to send a letter to my friend the Secretary,
signifying my resolution of setting out that morning Blefuscu pursuant
to the leave I had got; and without waiting for an answer, I went
to that side of the island where our fleet lay. I seized a large
man of war, tied a cable to the prow, and, lifting up the anchors,
I stripped myself, put my clothes (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 Blefuscu,
where the people had long expected me; they lent me two guides to
direct me to the capital city, which is of the same name. I held
them in my hands till I came within two hundred yards of the gate,
and desired them to signify my arrival to one of the secretaries,
and let him know, I there waited his Majestys commands. I
had an answer in about an hour, that his Majesty, 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 ladies from their coaches,
and I did not perceive they were in any fright or concern. I lay
on the ground to kiss his Majestys and the Empresss
hand. I told his Majesty that I had come according to my promise,
and with the license of the Emperor, my master, to have the honour
of seeing so mighty a monarch, and to offer him any service in my
power, consistent with my duty to my own prince; not mentioning
a word of my disgrace, because I had hitherto no regular information
of it, and might suppose myself wholly ignorant of any such design;
neither could I reasonably conceive that the Emperor would discover
the secret while I was out of his power: wherein, however, it soon
appeared I was deceived.
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I shall not trouble
the reader with the particular account of my reception at this court,
which was suitable to the generosity of so great a prince; nor of
the difficulties I was in for want of a house and bed, being forced
to lie on the ground, wrapped up in my coverlet.
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Chapter VIII
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Three days after
my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the northeast coast of the
island, I observed, about half a league off, in the sea, something
that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings,
and wading two or three hundred yards, I found the object to approach
nearer by force of the tide; and then plainly saw it to be a real
boat, which I supposed might, by some tempest, have been driven
from a ship; whereupon I returned immediately towards the city,
and desired his Imperial Majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest
vessels he had left after the loss of his fleet, and three thousand
seamen under the command of his Vice-Admiral. This fleet sailed
round, while I went back the shortest way to the coast where I first
discovered the boat; I found the tide had driven it still nearer.
The seamen were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand
twisted to a sufficient strength. When the ships came up, I stripped
myself, and waded till I came within a hundred yards of the boat,
after which I was forced to swim till I got up to it. The seamen
threw me the end of the cord, which I fastened to a hole in the
forepart of the boat, and the other end to a man of war; but I found
all my labour to little purpose; for being out of my depth, I was
not able to work. In this necessity, I was forced to swim behind,
and push the boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my hands;
and the tide favoring me, I advanced so far, that I could just hold
up my chin and feel the ground. I rested 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 labourious part being over,
I took out my other cables, which were stowed in one of the ships,
and fastening them first to the boat, and then to nine of the vessels
which attended me; the wind being favorable, the seamen towed, and
I shoved 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 assistance
of two thousand men, with ropes and engines, I made a shift to turn
it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged.
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I shall not trouble
the reader with the difficulties I was under by the help of certain
paddles, which cost me ten days making, to get my boat to the royal
port of Blefuscu, where a mighty concourse of people appeared upon
my arrival, full of wonder at the sight of so prodigious a vessel.
I told the Emperor that my good fortune had thrown this boat in
my way, to carry me to some place from whence I might return into
my native country, and begged his Majestys orders for getting
materials to fit it up, together with his license to depart; which,
after some kind expostulations, he was pleased to grant.
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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 Blefuscu. But I was afterwards
given privately to understand, that his Imperial Majesty, never
imagining I had the least notice of his designs, believed I was
only gone to Blefuscu in performance of my promise, according to
the license 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 consulting
with the Treasurer, and the rest of that cabal, a person of quality
was dispatched with the copy of the articles against me. This envoy
had instructions to represent to the monarch of Blefuscu the great
lenity of his master, who was content to punish me no farther than
with the loss of my eyes; that I had fled from justice, and if I
did not return in two hours, I should be deprived of my title of
Nardac, and declared a traitor. The envoy further added, that in
order to maintain the peace and amity between both empires, his
master expected, that his brother of Blefuscu would give orders
to have me sent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished
as a traitor.
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xxxThe Emperor of
Blefuscu having taken three days to consult, returned an answer
consisting of many civilities and excuses. He said, that as for
sending me bound, his brother knew it was impossible; that although
I had deprived him of his fleet, yet he owed great obligations to
me for many good offices I had done him in making the peace. That
however both their Majesties would soon be made easy; for I had
found a prodigious vessel on the shore, able to carry me on the
sea, which he had given order to fit up with my own assistance and
direction; and he hoped in a few weeks both empires would be freed
from so insupportable an incumbrance.
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With this answer
the envoy returned to Lilliput, and the monarch of Blefuscu related
to me all that had past, offering me at the same time (but under
the strictest confidence) his gracious protection, if I would continue
in his service; wherein although I believed him sincere, yet I resolved
never more to put any confidence in princes or ministers, where
I could possibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due acknowledgements
for his favorable intentions, I humbly begged to be excused. I told
him that since fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a vessel
in my way, I was resolved to venture myself in the ocean, rather
than be an occasion of difference between two such mighty monarchs.
Neither did I find the Emperor at all displeased; and I discovered
by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my resolution, and
so were most of his ministers.
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These considerations
moved me to hasten my departure somewhat sooner than I intended;
to which the court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed.
Five hundred workmen were employed to make two sails to my boat,
according to my directions, by quilting thirteen fold of their strongest
linen together. I was at the pains of making ropes and cables, by
twisting ten, twenty or thirty of the thickest and strongest of
theirs. A great stone that I happened to find, after a long search,
by the sea-shore, served me for an anchor. I had the tallow of three
hundred cows for greasing my boat, and other uses. I was at incredible
pains in cutting down some of the largest timber-trees for oars
and masts, wherein I was, however, much assisted by his Majestys
ship carpenters, who helped me in smoothing them, after I had done
the rough work.
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In about a month,
when all was prepared, I sent to receive his Majestys commands,
and to take my leave. The Emperor and Royal Family came out of the
palace; I lay down on my face to kiss his hand, which he very graciously
gave me: so did the Empress and young Princes of the blood. His
Majesty presented me with fifty purses of two hundred sprugs apiece,
together with his picture at full length, which I put immediately
into one of my gloves, to keep it from being hurt. The ceremonies
at my departure were too many to trouble the reader with at this
time.
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I stored the boat
with the carcases of a hundred oxen, and three hundred sheep, with
bread and drink proportionable, and as much meat ready dressed as
four hundred cooks could provide. I took with me six cows and two
bulls alive, with as many ewes and rams, intending to carry them
into my own country, and propagate the breed. And to feed them on
board, I had a good bundle of hay, and a bag of corn. I would gladly
have taken a dozen of the natives, but this was a thing the Emperor
would by no means permit; and besides a diligent search into my
pockets, his Majesty engaged my honour not to carry away any of his
subjects, although with their own consent and desire.
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Having thus prepared
all things as well as I was able, I set sail on the twenty-fourth
day of September, 1701, at six in the morning; and when I had gone
about four leagues to the northward, the wind being at southeast,
at six in the evening I descried a small island about half a league
to the northwest. I advanced forward, and cast anchor on the leeside
of the island, which seemed to be uninhabited. I then took some
refreshment, and went to my rest. I slept well, and I conjecture
at least six hours, for I found the day broke in two hours after
I awaked. It was a clear night. I ate my breakfast before the sun
was up; and heaving anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered
the same course that I had done the day before, wherein I was directed
by my pocket compass. My intention was to reach, if possible, one
of those islands, which I had reason to believe lay to the northeast
of Van Diemens Land. I discovered nothing all that day; but
upon the next, about three in the afternoon, when I had by my computation
made twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a sail steering
to the southeast; my course was due east. I hailed her, but could
get no answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened.
I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me, then
hung out her ancient, 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 had left in it. The ship
slackened her sails, and I came up with her between five and six
in the evening, September 26; but my heart leaped within me to see
her English colours. I put my cows and sheep into my coat pockets,
and got on board with all my little cargo of provisions. The vessel
was an English merchantman, returning from Japan by the North and
South Seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddle of Deptford, a very civil
man, and an excellent sailor. We were now in the latitude of 30
degrees south; there were about fifty men in the ship; and here
I met an old comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a
good character to the Captain. This gentleman treated me with kindness,
and desired I would let know what place I came from last, and whither
I was bound; which I did in few words, but he thought I was raving,
and that the dangers I underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon
I took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after
great astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then
showed him the gold given me by the Emperor of Blefuscu, together
with his Majestys picture at full length, and some other rarities
of that country. I gave him two purses of two hundred sprugs each,
and promised, when we arrived in England, to make him a present
of a cow and a sheep big with young.
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I shall not trouble
the reader with a particular account of this voyage, which was very
prosperous for the most part. We arrived in the Downs on the 13th
of April, 1702. I had only one misfortune, that the rats on board
carried away one of my sheep; I found her bones in a hole, picked
clean from the flesh. The rest of my cattle I got safe on shore,
and set them 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 possibly have preserved
them in so long a voyage, if the Captain had not allowed me some
of his best biscuit, which, rubbed to powder, and mingled with water,
was their constant food. The short time I continued in England,
I made considerable profit by showing my cattle to many persons
of quality, and others: and before I began my second voyage, I sold
them for six hundred pounds. Since my last return, I find the breed
is considerably increased, especially the sheep; which I hope will
prove much to the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the fineness
of the fleeces.
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I stayed but two
months with my wife and family; for my insatiable desire of seeing
foreign countries would suffer me to continue no longer. I left
fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her in a good house
at Redriff. My remaining stock I carried with me, part in money,
and part in goods, in hopes to improve my fortunes. My eldest uncle
John had left me an estate in land, near Epping, of about thirty
pounds a year; and I had a long lease of the Black Bull in Fetter
Lane, which yielded me as much more; so that I was not in any danger
of leaving my family upon the parish. My son Johnny, named so after
his uncle, was at the Grammar School, and a towardly child. My daughter
Betty (who is now well married, and has children) was then at her
needlework. I took leave of my wife, and boy and girl, with tears
on both sides, and went on board the Adventure, a merchantship of
three hundred tons, bound for Surat, Captain John Nicholas of Liverpool,
Commander. But my account of this voyage must be referred to the
second part of my Travels.
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[THE END OF THE FIRST PART]
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