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Gulliver's Travels (1726) |
Jonathan Swift |
| 1 | HAVING been condemned by Nature and Fortune to an active and restless Life, in ten Months after my Return, I again left my native Country; and took Shipping in the Downs on the 20th Day of June 1702. in the Adventure, Capt. John Nicholas a Cornish Man Commander, bound for Surat. We had a very prosperous Gale till we arrived at the Cape of Good-hope, where we landed for fresh Water, but discovering a Leak we unshipped our Goods, and winter'd there; for the Captain falling sick of an Ague, we could not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then set sail, and had a good Voyage till we passed the Streights of Madagascar; but having got Northward of that Island, and to about five Degrees South Latitude, the Winds, which in those Seas are observed to blow a constant equal Gale between the North and West from the beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 19th of April began to blow with much greater Violence, and more Westerly than usual, continuing so for twenty Days together, during which time we were driven a little to the East of the Molucca Islands, and about three Degrees Northward of the Line, as our Captain found by an Observation he took the 2d of May, at which time the Wind ceased, and it was a perfect Calm, whereat I was not a little rejoyced. But he being a Man well experienced in the Navigation of those Seas bid us all prepare against a Storm, which accordingly happened the Day following: For a Southern Wind, called the Southern Monsoon, began to set in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 |
FINDING it was like to overblow,
we took in our Sprit-sail, and stood by
to hand the Fore-sail; but making foul
Weather, we look'd the Guns were all
fast, and handed the Missen. The Ship
lay very broad off, so we thought it better spooning before the Sea, than trying
or hulling. We reeft the Fore-sail and
set him, we hawl'd aft the Fore-sheet;
the Helm was hard a Weather. The
Ship wore bravely. We belay'd the Foredown-hall; but the Sail was split, and we
hawl'd down the Yard, and got the Sail
into the Ship, and unbound all the things
clear of it. It was a very fierce Storm;
the Sea broke strange and dangerous.
We hawl'd off upon the Lanniard of
the Whipstaff, and helped the Man at
Helm. We would not get down our
Top-Mast, but let all stand, because she
scudded before the Sea very well, and we
knew that the Top-Mast being aloft, the
Ship was the wholesomer, and made better
way through the Sea, seeing we had Searoom. When the Storm was over, we set
Fore-sail and Main-sail, and brought the
Ship to. Then we set the Missen, Maintop-Sail and | 3 |
DURING this Storm, which was followed by a strong Wind West South-west,
we were carried by my Computation
about five hundred Leagues to the East, so
that the oldest Sailor on Board could not
tell in what part of the World we were.
Our Provisions held out well, our Ship
was staunch, and our Crew all in good
Health; but we lay in the utmost Distress for Water. We thought it best to
hold on the same Course rather than
turn more Northerly, which might have
brought us to the North-west parts of
great Tartary, and into the frozen Sea.
| 4 |
ON the 16th Day of June 1703. a
Boy on the Top-mast discovered Land.
On the 17th we came in full View of
a great Island or Continent, (for we
knew not whether) on the South-side
whereof was a small Neck of Land jutting out into the Sea, and a Creek too
shallow to hold a Ship of above one hundred Tuns. We cast Anchor within a
League of this Creek, and our Captain
sent a dozen of his Men well armed in the
Long Boat, with Vessels for Water if any
could be found. I desired his leave to
go with them, that I might see the Country, and make what Discoveries I could.
When we came to Land we saw no River or Spring, nor any sign of Inhabitants.
Our Men therefore wander'd on the Shore
to find out some fresh Water near the Sea,
and I walked alone about a Mile on
the other Side, where I observed the
Country all barren and rocky. I now
began to be weary, and seeing nothing
to entertain my Curiosity, I returned
gently down towards the Creek; and
the Sea being full in my View, I saw
our Men already got into the Boat, and
rowing for Life to the Ship. I was going to hollow after them, although it
had been to little purpose, when I observed a huge Creature walking after them
in the Sea, as fast as he could: He waded not much deeper than his Knees, and
took prodigious strides: But our Men
had the start of him half a League, and the
| 5 |
I FELL into a high Road, for so I took
it to be, though it served to the Inhabitants only as a foot Path through a Field of
Barley. Here I walked on for some time,
but could see little on either Side, it being now near Harvest, and the Corn rising at least forty Foot. I was an Hour
walking to the end of this Field, which
was fenced in with a Hedge of at least one
hundred and twenty Foot high, and the
Trees so lofty that I could make no
Computation of their Altitude. There was
a Stile to pass from this Field into the
next. It had four Steps, and a Stone to
cross over when you came to the uppermost. It was impossible for me to climb
this Stile, because every Step was six Foot
high, and the upper Stone above twenty.
I was endeavouring to find some Gap in
the Hedge, when I discovered one of
the Inhabitants in the next Field advancing towards the Stile, of the same size
with him whom I saw in the Sea pursuing our Boat. He appeared as tall as an
ordinary Spire-steeple, and took about
ten Yards at every Stride, as near as I
could guess. I was struck with the utmost Fear and Astonishment, and ran to
hide my self in the Corn, from whence
I saw him at the top of the Stile, looking back into the next Field on the right
hand, and heard him call in a Voice many degrees louder than a speaking Trumpet; but the Noise was so high in the
Air, that at first I certainly thought it
was Thunder. Whereupon seven
Monsters like himself came towards him with
Reaping-Hooks in their Hands, each Hook
about the largeness of six Scythes. These
People were not so well clad as the first,
whose Servants or Labourers they seemed to be. For, upon some Words he
spoke, they went to reap the Corn in
the Field where I lay. I kept from them
at as great a distance as I could, but was
forced to move with extream Difficulty,
for the Stalks of | 6 |
SCARED and confounded as I was, I
could not forbear going on with these
Reflections, when one of the Reapers approaching within ten Yards of the Ridge
where I lay, made me apprehend that
with the next Step I should be squashed
to Death under his Foot, or cut in two
with his Reaping Hook. And therefore
when he was again about to move, I
screamed as loud as Fear could make me.
Whereupon the huge Creature trod short,
and looking round about under him for
some time, at last espied me as I lay on the
Ground. He considered a while with the
Caution of one who endeavours to lay
hold on a small dangerous Animal in such
a manner that it shall not be able either
to scratch or to bite him, as I my self have
sometimes done with a Weasel in England. At length he ventured to take me
up behind by the middle between | 7 |
THE Farmer having (as I supposed by
their Talk) received such an Account of
me as his Servant could give him, took a
piece of a small Straw, about the size of
a walking Staff, and therewith lifted up
the Lappets of my Coat; which it seems
he thought to be some kind of Covering that Nature had given me. He blew
my Hairs aside to take a better view of
my Face. He called his Hinds about him,
and asked them (as I afterwards learned)
whether they had ever seen in the Fields
any little Creature that resembled me.
He then placed me softly on the Ground
upon all four, but I got immediately up,
and walked slowly backwards and forwards, to let those People see I had no
Intent to run away. They all sate down
in a Circle about me, the better to observe my Motions. I pulled off my Hat,
and made a low Bow towards the Farmer.
I fell on my Knees, and lifted up my
Hands and Eyes, and spoke several Words
as loud as I could: I took a Purse of
Gold out of my Pocket, and humbly
presented it to him. He received it on
the Palm of his Hand, then applied it
close to his Eye, to see what it was, and
afterwards turned it several times with
the Point of a Pin, (which he took out
of his Sleeve,) but could make nothing
of it. Whereupon I made a Sign that
he should place his Hand on the Ground.
I took the Purse, and opening it, poured
all the Gold into his Palm. There were
six Spanish-Pieces of four Pistoles each,
besides twenty or thirty smaller Coyns.
I saw him wet the Tip of his little Finger upon his Tongue, and take up one
of my largest Pieces, and then another,
but he seemed to be wholly ignorant
what they were. He made me a Sign to
put them again into my Purse, and the
Purse again into my Pocket, which after
offering to him several times, I thought
it best to do.
| 8 |
THE Farmer by this time was convinced I must be a rational Creature.
He spoke often to me, but the Sound of
his Voice pierced my Ears like that of
a Water-Mill, yet his Words were articulate enough. I answered as loud as
I could in several Languages, and he
often laid his Ear within two Yards of
me, but all in vain, for we were wholly
unintelligible to each other. He then
sent his Servants to their Work, and
taking his Handkerchief out of his Pocket,
he doubled and spread it on his left
Hand, which he placed flat on the
Ground with the Palm upwards, making
me a Sign to step into it, as I could easily
do, for it was not above a Foot in thickness. I thought it my part to obey,
and for fear of falling, laid my self at
Length upon the Handkerchief, with the
Remainder of which he lapped me up to
the Head for further Security, and in this
manner carried me home to his House.
There he called his Wife, and shewed
me to her; but she screamed and ran
back as Women in England do at the
Sight of a Toad or a Spider. However,
when she had a while seen my
Behaviour, and how well I observed the signs
her Husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew extreamly tender of me.
| 9 |
IT was about twelve at Noon, and a
Servant brought in Dinner. It was only
one substantial Dish of Meat (fit for the
plain Condition of an Husband-Man)
in a Dish of about four and twenty
Foot Diameter. The Company were
the Farmer and his Wife, three Children, and an old Grandmother: When
they were sat down, the Farmer
placed me at some distance from him
on the Table, which was thirty Foot
high from the Floor. I was in a terrible Fright, and kept as far as I could
from the Edge for fear of falling. The
Wife minced a bit of Meat, then crumbled some Bread on a Trencher, and
placed it before me. I made her a low
Bow, took out my Knife and Fork, and
fell to eat, which gave them exceeding
Delight. The Mistress sent her Maid
for a small Dram-cup, which held about
three Gallons, and filled it with Drink,
I took up the Vessel with much difficulty
in both Hands, and in a most respectful
manner drank to her Lady-ships Health,
expressing the Words as loud as I could
in English, which made the Company
laugh so heartily, that I was almost
deafned with the Noise. This Liquor
tasted like a small Cyder, and was not
unpleasant. Then the Master made me
a sign to come to his Trencher side;
but as I walked on the Table, being in
great surprize all the time, as the indulgent Reader will easily conceive and excuse, I happened to stumble against a
Crust, and fell flat on my Face, but received no hurt. I got up immediately,
and observing the good People to be in
much concern, I took my Hat (which I
held under my Arm out of good Manners) and waving it over my Head, made
three Huzza's to shew I had got no Mischief by my Fall. But advancing forwards toward my Master (as I shall
henceforth call him) his youngest Son who
sate next him, an arch Boy of about ten
Years old, took me up by the Legs, and
held me so high in the Air, that I trembled every Limb; but his Father snatched me from him, and at the same time
gave him such a Box on the left Ear, as
would have felled an European Troop
of Horse to the Earth, ordering him to
be taken from the Table. But, being
afraid the Boy might owe me a spight,
and well remembering how mischievous
all Children among us naturally are to
Sparrows, Rabbits, young Kittens, and
Puppy Dogs, I fell on my Knees, and
pointing to the Boy, made my Master to
understand, as well as I could, that I desired his Son might be pardoned. The
Father complied, and the Lad took his
Seat again; whereupon I went to him and
kissed his Hand, which my Master took,
and made him stroak me gently with it.
| 10 |
IN the midst of Dinner my Mistress's
favourite Cat leapt into her Lap. I
heard a noise behind me like that of a
dozen Stocking-Weavers at work; and
turning my Head I found it proceeded
from the purring of this Animal, who
seemed to be three times larger than an
Ox, as I computed by the View of her
Head, and one of her Paws, while her
Mistress was feeding and stroaking her.
The Fierceness of this Creature's Countenance althogether discomposed me;
though I stood at the further End of the
Table, above fifty Foot off, and although
my Mistress held her fast for fear she
might give a spring, and seize me in
her Talons. But it happened there was
no Danger; for the Cat took not the
least Notice of me when my Master
placed me within three Yards of her.
And as I have been always told, and
found true by Experience in my Travels,
that flying, or discovering Fear before a
fierce Animal, is a certain way to make
it pursue or attack you, so I resolved in
this dangerous Juncture to shew no manner of Concern. I walked with
| 11 |
WHEN Dinner was almost done, the
Nurse came in with a Child of a Year
old in her Arms, who immediately spyed
me, and began a Squall that you might
have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea, after the usual Oratory of Infants,
to get me for a Play-thing. The Mother out of pure Indulgence took me
up, and put me towards the Child, who
presently seized me by the Middle, and
got my Head in his Mouth, where I
roared so loud that the Urchin was
frighted, and let me drop, and I should
infallibly have broke my Neck if the
Mother had not held her Apron
under me. The Nurse to quiet her
Babe made use of a Rattle, which was
a kind of hollow Vessel filled with great
Stones, and fastned by a Cable to the
Child's Wast: But all in vain, so that
she was forced to apply the last Remedy by
giving it suck. I must confess no Object ever disgusted me so much as the
sight of her monstrous Breast, which I
cannot tell what to compare with, so
as to give the curious Reader an Idea of
its Bulk, Shape and Colour. It stood
prominent six Foot, and could not be
less than sixteen in Circumference. The
Nipple was about half the Bigness of
my Head, and the Hew both of that and
the Dug so varified with Spots, Pimples
and Freckles, that nothing could appear
more nauseous: For I had a near sight
of her, she sitting down the more conveniently to give Suck, and I standing on
the Table. This made me reflect upon
the fair Skins of our English Ladies, who
appear so beautiful to us, only because
they are of our own size, and their Defects not to be seen but through a Magnifying Glass, where we find by Experiment that the smoothest and whitest
Skins look rough and coarse, and ill
coloured.
| 12 |
I REMEMBER when I was at Lilliput,
the Complexions of those diminutive
People appeared to me the fairest in the
World, and talking upon this subject
with a Person of Learning there, who
was an intimate Friend of mind, he said
that my Face appeared much fairer and
smoother when he looked on me from
the Ground, than it did upon a nearer
View when I took him up in my Hand,
and brought him close, which he confessed was at first a very shocking sight. He
said he could discover great Holes in my
Skin, that the Stumps of my Beard were
ten times stronger than the Bristles of a
Boar, and my Complexion made up of
several Colours altogether disagreeable:
Although I must beg leave to say for my
self, that I am as fair as most of my Sex
and Country, and very little Sunburnt
by all my Travels. On the other side,
discoursing of the Ladies in that Emperor's Court, he used to tell me, one
had Freckles, another too wide a Mouth,
a third too large a Nose, nothing of
which I was able to distinguish. I confess this Reflection was obvious enough;
which however I could not forbear, lest
the Reader might think those vast Creatures were actually deformed: For I must
do them Justice to say they are a comely
Race of People; and particularly the
Features of my Master's Countenance, although he were but a Farmer, when I
beheld him from the Height of sixty
Foot, appeared very well proportioned.
| 13 |
WHEN Dinner was done, my Master
went out to his Labourers, and as I could
discover by his Voice and Gesture, gave
his Wife a strict Charge to take care of
me. I was very much tired and disposed
to sleep, which my Mistress perceiving,
she put me on her own Bed, and covered
me with a clean white Handkerchief,
but larger and coarser than the Main Sail
of a Man of War.
| 14 |
I slept about two Hours, and dreamed
I was at home with my Wife and Children, which aggravated my Sorrows when
I awaked and found my self alone in a
vast Room, between two and three hundred Foot wide, and above two hundred
high, lying in a Bed twenty Yards
wide. My Mistress was gone about her
houshold Affairs, and had locked me in.
The Bed was eight Yards from the Floor.
Some natural Necessities required me to
get down, I durst not presume to call,
and if I had, it would have been in vain
with such a Voice as mine at so great a
distance from the Room where I lay to
the Kitchen where the Family kept. While
I was under these Circumstances two Rats
crept up the Curtains, and ran smelling
backwards and forwards on the Bed. One of
them came up almost to my Face, whereupon I rose in a Fright, and drew out
my Hanger to defend my self. These
horrible Animals had the Boldness
to attack me on both sides, and
one of them held his Fore-feet at my
Collar; but I had the good Fortune to
rip up his Belly before he could do me
any Mischief. He fell down at my
Feet, and the other seeing the Fate of
his Comrade, made his Escape, but not
without one good Wound on the Back,
which I gave him as he fled, and made
the Blood run trickling from him. After
this Exploit I walked gently to and fro
on the Bed, to recover my Breath and
Loss of Spirits. These Creatures were
of the size of a large Mastiff, but infinitely more nimble and fierce, so that
if I had taken off my Belt before I
went to sleep, I must have infallibly been
torn to pieces and devoured. I measured the Tail of the dead Rat, and
found it to be two Yards long wanting
an Inch; but it went against my Stomach
to drag the Carcass off the Bed, where
it lay still bleeding; I observed it had yet
some Life, but with a strong Slash cross
the Neck I thoroughly dispatched it.
| 15 |
SOON after my Mistress came into
the Room, who seeing me all bloody,
ran and took me up in her Hand. I
pointed to the dead Rat, smiling and
making | 16 |
I HOPE the gentle Reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and the
like Particulars, which however insignificant they may appear to grovelling vulgar Minds, yet will certainly help a Philosopher to enlarge his Thoughts and Imagination, and apply them to the Benefit
of publick as well as private Life, which
was my sole Design in presenting this
and other Accounts of my Travels to the
World; wherein I have been chiefly studious of Truth, without affecting any Ornaments of Learning or of Style. But the
whole Scene of this Voyage made so
strong an Impression on my Mind, and
is so deeply fixed in my Memory, that
in committing it to Paper I did not omit
one material Circumstance: However
upon a strict Review, I blotted out several Passages of less Moment which were
in my first Copy, for fear of being censured as tedious and trifling, whereof
Travellers are often, perhaps not without
Justice, accused.
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