demands of nature fo ftrong upon me, that I could not forbear fhewing my impatience (perhaps against the ftrict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to fignify that I wanted food. The burgo (for fo they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He defcended from the ftage, and commanded that several ladders should be applied to my fides, on which above an hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and fent thither by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. I obferved there was the flesh of feveral animals, but could not diftinguish them by the tafte. There were thoulders, legs, and loins, fhaped like thofe of mutton, and very well dreffed, but fmaller than the wings of a lark. I eat them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bignefs of mufket-bullets. They fupplied me as faft as they could, fhewing a thousand marks of wonder and aftonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made another fign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating, that a fmall quantity would not fuffice me, and being a moft ingenious people, they flung up with great dexterity one of their largest hogfheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a fecond hogfhead, which I drank in the fame manner, and made figns for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they fhouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating feveral times as they did at first, hekinah degul. They made me a fign that I fhould throw down the two hogfheads, but firft warning the people below to ftand out of the way, crying aloud, borach me vola, and when they faw the veffels in the air, there was an universal shout of hekinah degul. I confefs, I was often tempted, while they were paffing backwards and forwards on my body, to feize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worft they could do, and the promise of honour I made them, for fo I interpreted my fubmiffive behaviour, foon drove out these imaginations. Befides, I now confidered myself as bound by the laws of hofpitality to a people, who had treated me with fo much expence and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not fufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of thefe diminutive mortals, who durft venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very fight of fo prodigious a creature, as I must appear to them. After fome time, when they obferved that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a perfon of high rank from his imperial majefty. His excellency, having mounted on the fmall of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue. And producing his credentials under the fignet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, fpoke about ten minutes without any figns of anger, but with a kind of determinate refolution; often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about half a mile diftant, whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no purpofe, and made a fign with my hand that was loofe, putting it to the other (but over his excellency's head, for fear of hurting him or his train) and then to my own head and body, to fignify that I defired my liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head by way of difapprobation, and held his hand in a pofture to shew, that I must be carried as a prifoner. However, he made other figns to let me understand that I fhould 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 fmart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blifters, and many of the darts ftill sticking in them, and obferving likewife that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know, that they might do with me what they pleafed. Upon this the burgo and his train withdrew with much civility and chearful countenances. Soon after I heard a general fhout, with frequent repetitions of the words, peplom felan, and I felt great numbers of people on my left fide relaxing the cords to fuch a degree that I was able to turn upon my right, and to eafe myfelf with making water; which I very plentifully did, to the great aftonishment of the people, who conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately open ed ed to the right and left on that fide, to avoid the torrent which fell with fuch noife and violence from me. But before this, they had daubed my face and both my hands with a fort of ointment very pleafant to the fmell, which in a few minutes removed all the fmart of their arrows. Thefe circumstances, added to the refrethment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, difpofed me to fleep. I flept about eight hours, as I was afterwards affured; and it was no wonder, for the phyficians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a fleepy potion in the hogfheads of wine. It feems that, upon the first moment 1 was difcovered fleeping on the ground after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an exprefs; and determined in council that I fhould be tied in the manner I have related, (which was done in the night while I flept) that plenty of meat and drink fhould be fent to me, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city. This refolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occafion; however, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for fuppofing thefe people had endeavoured to kill me with their fpears and arrows while I was afleep, I fhould certainly have awaked with the firft fenfe of fmart, which might fo far have rouzed my rage and ftrength, as to have enabled me to break the firings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make refiftance, fo they could expect no mercy. Thefe people are most excellent mathe maticians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince hath feveral machines fixed on wheels for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often builds his largest men of war, whereof fome are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried on thefe engines three or four hundred yards to the fea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately fet at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood railed three inches from the ground, about feven feet long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The thout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which it feems fet out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel to me as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raife and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the bignefs of packthread, were fattened by hooks to many bandages, which the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine handred of the ftrongeft men were employed to draw up thefe cords by many pulics faftened on the poles, and thus, in lefs than three hours, I was raifed and flung into the engine, and there tied faft. All this I was told, for, while the whole operation was performing, I lay in a profound fleep by the force of that foporiferous medicine infufed into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largeft horfes, each about four inches and an half high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I faid, was half a mile diftant. About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopt awhile to adjust fomething that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had the curiofity to fee how I looked when I was afleep; they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very foftly to my face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the fharp end of his half-pike a good way up into my left noftril, which tickled my nofe like a straw, and made me fneeze violently: whereupon they ftole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the caufe of my awaking fo fuddenly. We made a long march the remaining part of the day, and rested at night with five handred guards on each fide of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to fhoot me, if I fhould offer to itir. The next morning at fun-rife 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 It has been remarked, that courage in wint ever caufe, though it fometimes excites indigar tion, is never the object of contempt; but this ap pears to be true, only becaufe courage is fuppofed to imply fuperiority: for this officer in the becomes extremely ridiculous and contempuble by an act of the most daring curiofity, which f him in comparifon with Gulliver; to whom he mountain's noftrils would have endangered his was fo much inferior, that a blast of the Manlife; and if heroifm itfelf is not proof agaaft ridicule, thofe furely are Lilliputians in philosophy, who confider ridicule as the test of truth. meet meet us, but his great officers would by no means fuffer his majefty to endanger his perfon by mounting on my body. At the place where the carriage flopt, there flood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the largeft in the whole kingdom, which, having been polluted fome years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal of thofe people, looked upon as prophane, and therefore had been applied to common ufe, and all the ornaments and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I fhould lodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet high, and almoft two feet wide, through which I could eafily creep. On each fide of the gate was a fmall window, not above fix inches from the ground: into that on the left fide the king's fmith conveyed fourfcore and eleven chains, like thofe that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almoft as large, which were locked to my left leg with fix-and-thirty padlocks. Over-againft this temple, on the other fide of the great highway, at twenty feet diftance, there was a turret at leaft five feet high. Here the emperor afcended, with many principal lords of his court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not fee It was reckoned that above an hundred thousand inhabitants came out of the town upon the fame errand; and, in fpite of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand at feveral times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was foon iffaed to forbid it on pain of death. When the workmen found it was impoffible for me to break loofe, they cut all the frings that bound me; whereupon I rofe up with as melancholy a difpofition as ever I had in my life. But the noife and aftonifhment of the people at feeing me rife and walk are not to be expreffed. 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 femicircle; but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple. them. CHAP. II. pockets are fearched, and bis fword and piftols taken from him. looked about me, and must confefs I never When I found myfelf on my feet, I beheld a more entertaining profpect. The country around appeared like a continued garden, and the inclofed fields, which were generally forty feet fquare, refembled fo many beds of flowers. Thefe fields were intermingled with woods of half a stang and the tallest trees, as I could judge, apthe town on my left hand, which looked peared to be feven feet high. I viewed like the painted fcene of a city in a the atre. I had been for fome hours extremely preffed by the neceffities of nature; which fince I had laft difburthened myfelf. I was was no wonder, it being almost two days and fhame. The best expedient I could under great difficulties between urgency I accordingly did; and, fhutting the gate think on, was to creep into my house, which after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would fuffer, and difcharged my the only time I was ever guilty of fo unbody of that uneafy load. But this was cleanly an action: for which I cannot but hope the candid reader will give fome allowance, after he hath maturely and impartially confidered my cafe, and the difftant practice was, as foon as I rofe, to trefs I was in. From this time my conperform that bufinefs in open air at the full extent of my chain; and due care was taken every morning, before company came, that the offenfive matter fhould be carried off in wheel-barrows by two fervants appointed for that purpose. I would not have dwelt fo long upon a circumftance, that perhaps at first fight may ap pear not very momentous, if I had not thought it neceflary to juftify my character in point of cleanliness to the world have been pleafed, upon this and other ocwhich I am told fome of my maligners cafions, to call in question. When this adventure was at an end, I came back out of my houfe, having occafion for fresh air. The emperor was already defcended from the tower, and advancing on horfeback towards me, which had like to have coft him dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unufed to fuch a fight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him, reared The emperor of Lilliput, attended by feveral of the nobility, comes to fee the author in his confinement. The emperor's perfon and babit defcribed. Learned men appointed to teach the author their language. He up on his hinder feet: but that prince, who gains favour by his mild difpofition. His *A furg is a pole or perch; fixteen feet and an half. is an excellent horfeman, kept his feat till his attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his majefty had time to difmount. When he alighted, he furveyed me round with great admiration; but kept beyond the length of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a fort of vehicles upon wheels, till I could reach them. I took thefe vehicles, and foon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled with meat, and ten with liquor; each of the former afforded me two or three good mouthfuls; and I emptied the liquor of ten veffels, which was contained in earthen vials, into one vehicle, drinking it off at a draught; and fo I did the reft. The emprefs, and young princes of the blood of both fexes, attended by many ladies, fat at fome diftance in their chairs; but upon the accident that happened to the emperor's horse, they alighted, and came near his perfon, which I am now going to defcribe. He is taller, by almost the breadth of my nail, of his court, which alone is enough to ftrike an awe into the beholders. His features are strong and mafculine, with an Auftrian lip and arched nofe, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majeftic. He was then paft his prime, being twentyeight years and three quarters old, of which he had reigned about feven in great felicity, and generally victorious. For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on my fide, fo that my face was parallel to his, and he ftood but three yards off: however, I have had him fince many times in my hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the defcription. His drefs was very plain and fimple, and the fashion of it between the Afiatic and the European: but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the creft. He held his fword drawn in his hand to defend himself, if I fhould happen to break loofe *; it was almoft three inches long; the hilt and scabbard were gold en than any The mafculine ftrength of features, which Gulliver could not fee till he laid his face upon the ground, and the awful fuperiority of ftature in a being, whom he held in his hand; the helmet, the plume, and the fword, are a fine reproof of human pride; the objects of which are trifling diftinctions, whether of perfon or rank; the ridiculous parade and oftentation of a pigmy; which derive not only their origin but their ufe from the folly, weakness, and imperfection of ourselves and others. riched with diamonds. His voice was fhrill, Towards night I got with fome difficulty into my house, where I lay on the ground, and continued to do fo 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 + Gulliver has obferved great exactness in the juft proportion and appearances of the objects thus leffened. ORRERY. brought brought in carriages, and worked up in my houfe; an hundred and fifty of their beds, fewn together, made up the breadth and length; and these were four doubled, which however kept me but indifferently from the hardness of the floor, that was of fmooth ftone. By the fame computation they provided me with fheets, blankets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had been fo long inured to hardships. As the news of my arrival fpread through the kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and curious people to fee me; fo that the villages were almoft emptied; and great neglect of tillage and houfehold affairs must have enfued, if his imperial majefty had not provided, by feveral proclamations and orders of state, against this inconveniency. He directed, that thofe who had already beheld me should return home, and not prefume to come within fifty yards of my houfe without licence from court; whereby the secretaries of ftate got confiderable fees. In the mean time the emperor held frequent councils, to debate what course fhould be taken with me; and I was afterwards affured by a particular friend, a perfon of great quality, who was as much in the fecret as any, that the court was under many difficulties concerning me. They apprehended my breaking loofe; that my diet would be very expensive, and might caufe a famine. Sometimes they determined to ftarve me, or at least to fhoot me in the face and hands with poifoned arrows, which would foon difpatch me; but again they confidered, that the ftench of fo large a carcafe might produce a plague in the metropolis, and probably spread through the whole kingdom. In the midft of thefe confultations, feveral officers of the army went to the door of the great councilchamber, and two of them being admitted, gave an account of my behaviour to the fix criminals above mentioned, which made fo favourable an impreffion in the breaft of his majefty, and the whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial commiffion was iffued out, obliging all the villages nine hundred yards round the city to deliver in every morning fix beeves, forty fheep, and other victuals, for my fuftenance; together with a proportionable quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors; for the due payment of which his majefty gave affignments upon his treafury. For this prince lives chiefly upon his own demefnes, feldom, except upon great occasions, raifing any fubfidies upon his fubjects, who are bound to attend him in his wars at their own expence. An establishment was also made of fix hundred perfons to be my domeftics, who had board-wages allowed for their maintenance, and tents built for them very conveniently on each fide of my door. It was likewise ordered, that three hundred taylors fhould make me a fuit of cloaths after the fashion of the country: that fix of his majefty's greateft fcholars fhould be employed to inftruct me in their language: and lastly, that the emperor's horfes, and thofe of the nobility, and troops of guards, fhould be frequently exercised in my fight, to accuftom themselves to me. All these orders were duly put in execution, and in about three weeks I made a great progrefs in learning their language; during which time the emperor frequently honoured me with his vifits, and was pleafed to affift my mafters in teaching me. We began already to converfe together in fome fort; and the firft words I learnt were to exprefs my defire, that he would pleafe to give me my liberty, which I every day repeated on my knees. His answer, as I could apprehend it, was, that this must be a work of time, not to be thought on without the advice of his council, and that first I must lumos kelmin peffo defmar ien empojo; that is, fwear a peace with him and his kingdom. However, that I fhould be used with all kindnefs; and he advifed me to acquire, by my patience and difcreet behaviour, the good opinion of himfelf and his fubjects. He defired I would not take it ill, if he gave orders to certain proper officers to fearch me; for probably I might carry about me feveral weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they anfwered the bulk of fo prodigious a perfon. I faid, his majefty fhould be fatisfied; for I was ready to ftrip myself, and turn up my pockets before him. This I delivered part in words, and part in figns. 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 confent and affiftance; that he had fo good an opinion of my generofity and juftice, as to trust their perfons in my hands: that whatever they took from me, fhould be returned when I left the country, or paid for at the rate which I would fet upon them. I took up the two officers in my hands, put them first into my coatpockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another 3 K fecret |