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|
Gulliver's Travels (1726) |
Jonathan Swift |
| 1 | MY Father had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of Five Sons. He sent me to Emanuel-Colledge in Cambridge, at Fourteen Years old, where I resided three Years, and applyed my self 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 Mathematicks, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father; where, by the assistance of Him and my Uncle 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 Physick two Years and seven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages. | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 |
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. Edmond Burton Hosier in Newgate-street, with whom I received four
Hundred Pounds for a Portion.
| 3 |
BUT, my good Master Bates dying in
two Years after, and I having few Friends,
my Business began to fail; for my Conscience would not suffer me to imitate
the bad Practice of too many among my
Brethren. Having therefore consulted
with my Wife, and some of my Acquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea.
I was Surgeon successively in two Ships,
and made several Voyages, for six Years,
to the East and West-Indies, by which I
got some Addition to my Fortune. My
Hours of Leisure I spent in reading the
best Authors ancient and modern, being
always provided with a good number of
Books; and when I was ashore, in observing the Manners and Dispositions of
the People, as well as learning their Language, wherein I had a great Facility by
the strength of my Memory.
| 4 |
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 4th, 1699, and our Voyage at first
was very prosperous.
| 5 |
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 EastIndies, we were driven by a violent
Storm to the Northwest of Van Diemen's
Land. By an Observation, we found ourselves in the Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Minutes South. Twelve of our Crew were
dead by immoderate Labour, and ill Food,
the rest were in a very weak Condition.
On the fifth of November, which was
the beginning of Summer in those Parts,
the Weather being very hazy, the Seamen spyed a Rock, within half a Cable's
length of the Ship; but the Wind was
so strong, that we were driven directly
upon it, and immediately split. Six of the
Crew, of whom I was one, having let down
the Boat into the Sea, made a shift to
get clear of the Ship, and the Rock. We
rowed by my Computation about three
Leagues, till we were able to work no
longer, being already spent with Labour
while we were in the Ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the Mercy of
the Waves, and in about half an Hour
the Boat was overset by a sudden Flurry
from the North. What became of my
Companions in the Boat, as well as of
those who escaped on the Rock, or were
left in the Vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all lost. For my own
part, I swam as Fortune directed me, and
was push'd 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
conjectur'd was about eight a-clock in
the Evening. I then advanced forward
near half a Mile, but could not discover
any sign of Houses or Inhabitants; at
least I was in so weak a Condition, that
I did not observe them. I was extremely
tired, and with that, and the Heat of the
Weather, and about half a Pint of Brandy that I drank as I left the Ship, I found
myself much inclined to sleep. I lay
down on the Grass, which was very short
and soft, where I slept sounder than ever
I remember to have done in my life,
and as I reckoned, above nine Hours; for
when I awaked, it was just Day-light. I
attempted to rise, but was not able to
stir: For as I happen'd to lie on my
Back, I found my Arms and Legs were
strongly fastened on each side to the
Ground; and my Hair, which was long
and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender Ligatures across my Body, from my Armpits to my Thighs. I could only look
upwards, the Sun began to grow hot, and
the Light offended mine Eyes. I heard
a confused Noise about me, but in the
posture I lay, could see nothing 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 mine Eyes downwards as much as I
could, I perceived it to be a human Creature not six Inches high, with a Bow and
Arrow in his Hands, and a Quiver at his
Back. In the mean time, I felt at least
forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I was in
the utmost Astonishment, and roared so
loud, that they all ran back in a fright;
and some of them, as I was afterwards
told, were hurt with the Falls they got
by leaping from my sides upon the Ground.
However, they soon returned, and one
of them, who ventured so far as to get a
full sight of my Face, lifting up his Hands
and Eyes by way of Admiration, cryed
out in a shrill, but distinct Voice, Hekinah
Degul: The others repreated 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 discover'd 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 an 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 Volly larger than the first, and
some of them attempted with Spears to
stick me in the Sides; but, by good luck,
I had on me a Buff Jerkin, which they
could not pierce. I thought it the most
prudent Method to lie 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 encreased; and about four Yards
from me, over-against my right Ear, I
heard a knocking for above an Hour,
like that of People at work; when 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 cryed 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 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 Threatnings,
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 mine 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 shewing 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 learnt) understood me very well. He descended from
the Stage, and commanded that several
Ladders should be applyed to my Sides,
on which above an hundred of the Inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my
Mouth, laden with Baskets full of Meat,
which had been provided, and sent thither by the King's Orders 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 eat them by two or
three at a mouthful, and took three
Loaves at a time, about the bigness of
Musket Bullets. They supplyed me as
they could, shewing a thousand Marks of
wonder and astonishment at my bulk and
Appetite. I then made another Sign that
I wanted Drink. They found by my
eating that a small quantity would not suffice me, and being a most ingenious People, they slung up with great Dexterity
one of their largest Hogsheads, then rolled it towards my Hand, and beat out the
Top; I drank it off at a Draught, which
I might well do, for it did not hold half a
Pint, and tasted like a small Wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They
brought me a second Hogshead, which I
drank in the same manner, and made
Signs for more, but they had none to
give me. When I had perform'd 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 warned the People below to stand out of the
way, crying aloud, Borach Mivola, and
when they saw the Vessels in the Air,
there was an universal shout of Hekinah
Degul. I confess I was often tempted,
while they were passing backwards and
forwards on my Body to seize Forty or
Fifty of the first that came in my reach,
and dash them against the Ground. But
the remembrance of what I had felt,
which probably might not be the worst
they could do, and the Promise of Honour I made them, for so I interpreted
my submissive Behaviour, soon drove out
these Imaginations. Besides, I now consider'd my self as bound by the Laws of
Hospitality to a People who had treated
me with so much Expence and Magnificence. However, in my Thoughts I
could not sufficiently wonder at the
Intrepidity of these diminutive Mortals,
who durst venture to mount and walk
upon my Body, while one of my Hands
was at liberty, without trembling at the
very sight of so prodigious a Creature as
I must appear to them. After some time,
when they observ'd 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 applyed close to mine
Eyes, spoke about ten Minutes, without
any signs of Anger, but with a kind of
determinate Resolution; often pointing
forwards, which, as I afterwards found,
was towards the Capital City, about half
a Mile distant, whither it was agreed by
his Majesty in Council that I must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to
no purpose, and made a Sign with my
Hand that was loose, putting it to the
other (but over his Excellency's Head, for
fear of hurting him or his Train) and then
to my own Head and Body, to signify
that I desired my Liberty. It appeared
that he understood me well enough, for
he shook his Head by way of Disapprobation, and held his Hand in a Posture to
shew that I must be carryed 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 Enemys encreased, I gave Tokens to let them know
that they might do with me what they
pleased. Upon this the Hurgo and his
Train withdrew with much Civility and
chearful Countenances. Soon after I
heard a general Shout, with frequent repetitions of the Words, Peplom Selan, and
I felt great Numbers of the People on
my Left side relaxing the Cords to such a
degree, that I was able to turn upon my
Right, and to ease myself with making
Water; which I very plentifully did, to the
great astonishment of the People, who
conjecturing by my Motions what I | 6 |
IT seems that upon the first moment I
was discovered sleeping on the Ground after my Landing, the Emperor had early
Notice of it by an Express, and determined in Council that I should be tyed 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.
| 7 |
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 endeavour'd to kill me
with their Spears and Arrows while I was
asleep, I should certainly have awaked
with the first sense of Smart, which might
so far have rouzed 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 would expect no Mercy.
| 8 |
These People are most excellent Mathematicians, and arrived to a great Perfection
in Mechanicks by the countenance and
encouragement of the Emperor, who is
a renowned Patron of Learning. This
Prince hath several Machines fixed on
Wheels for the Carriage of Trees and
other great Weights. He often builds
his largest Men of War, whereof some
are nine foot long, in the Woods where
the Timber grows, and has them carried
on these Engines three or four hundred
Yards to the Sea. Five Hundred 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 Foot long and four wide,
moving upon twenty two Wheels. The
Shout I heard was upon the arrival of this
Engine, which it seems set out in four
hours after my Landing. It was brought
parallel 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 fastned 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 fastned on
the Poles, and thus in less than three
Hours, I was raised and slung into the Engine, and there tyed 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 Emperor's largest Horses, each
about four Inches and an half high, were
employed to draw me towards the Metropolis, which, as I said, was half a Mile
distant.
| 9 |
ABOUT four Hours after we began
our Journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage being
stopt a while to adjust something that was
out of order, two or three of the young
Natives had the Curiosity to 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 Sun-rise we continued our March, and
arrived within two hundred Yards of the
City-Gates about Noon. The Emperor,
and all his Court came out to meet us, but
his great Officers would by no means suffer his Majesty to endanger his Person by
mounting on my Body.
| 10 |
AT the Place where the Carriage stopt,
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 Prophane, and therefore had
been applied to common Use, and all the
Ornaments and Furniture carried away.
In this Edifice it was determined I should
lodge. The great Gate fronting to the
North was about four Foot high, and almost two Foot wide, through which I
could easily creep. On each side of the
Gate was a small Window not above six
Inches from the Ground: into that on the
Left side, the King's Smiths conveyed
fourscore and eleven Chains, like those
that hang to a Lady's Watch in Europe,
and almost as large, which were locked to
my left Leg with six and thirty Padlocks.
Over against this Temple, on t'other side of
the great Highway, at twenty Foot distance,
there was a Turret at least five Foot 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 an hundred thousand Inhabitants came out of the Town
upon the same Errand; and in spight of
my Guards, I believe there could not be
fewer than ten thousand, at several
times, who mounted upon my Body by
the help of Ladders. But a Proclamation
was soon issued to forbid it upon pain of
Death. When the Workmen found it
was 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 | |
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