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|
Gulliver's Travels (1726) |
Jonathan Swift |
| 1 | I BEGAN this desperate Voyage on February 15, 171 4/5. at 9 o'Clock in the Morning. The Wind was very favourable; however, I made use at first only of my Paddles, but considering I should soon be weary, and that the Wind might chop about, I ventured to set up my little Sail; and thus, with the help of the Tide, I went at the rate of a League and a half an Hour, as near as I could guess. My Master and his Friends continued on the Shoar, till I was almost out of sight; and I often heard the Sorrel Nag (who always loved me) crying out, Hnuy illa nyha majah Yahoo, Take care of thyself, gentle Yahoo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | MY Design was, if possible, to discover some small Island uninhabited, yet sufficient by my Labour to furnish me with the Necessaries of Life, which I would have thought a greater Happpiness than to be first Minister in the Politest Court of Europe; so horrible was the Idea I conceived of returning to live in the Society and under the Government of Yahoos. For in such a Solitude as I desired, I could at least enjoy my own Thoughts, and reflect with Delight on the Virtues of those inimitable Houyhnhnms, without any Opportunity of degenerating into the Vices and Corruptions of my own Species. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 |
THE Reader may remember what
I related when my Crew conspired
against me, and confined me to my
Cabbin. How I continued there several Weeks, without knowing what
Course we took, and when I was put
a Shoar in the Long-boat, how the Sailors told me with Oaths, whether true
or false, that they knew not in what
Part of the World we were. However, I did then believe us to be about ten Degrees Southward of the
Cape of Good-Hope, or about 45 Degrees Southern Latitude, as I gathered
from some general Words I overheard
| 4 |
I SAW no Inhabitants in the Place
where I landed, and being unarmed, I
was afraid of venturing far into the
Country. I found some Shell-fish on
the Shore, and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a Fire, for fear of being
discovered by the Natives. I continued
three Days feeding on Oysters and Limpits, to save my own Provisions, and
I fortunately found a Brook of excellent Water, which gave me great Relief.
| 5 |
ON the fourth Day, venturing out
early a little too far, I saw twenty or
thirty Natives upon a Height, not above five hundred Yards from me.
They were stark naked, Men, Women,
and Children round a Fire, as I could
discover by the Smoak. One of them
spied me, and gave notice to the rest;
five of them advanced towards me
leaving the Women and Children at
the Fire. I made what haste I could
to the Shore, and getting into my Canoo, shoved off: The Savages observing me retreat, ran after me; and before I could get far enough into the
Sea, discharged an Arrow, which
wounded me deeply on the inside of my
left Knee (I shall carry the Mark to
my Grave.) I apprehended the Arrow
might be poisoned, and paddling out of
the reach of their Darts (being a calm
Day) I made a shift to suck the Wound,
and dress it as well as I could.
| 6 |
I WAS at a Loss what to do, for I
durst not return to the same Landingplace, but stood to the North, and was
forced to paddle; for the Wind though
very gentle was against me, blowing
North-West. As I was looking about
for a secure Landing-place, I saw a
Sail to the North North-East, which
appearing every Minute more visible.
I was in some Doubt, whether I should
wait for them or no, but at last my Detestation of the Yahoo Race prevailed,
and turning my Canoo, I sailed and paddled together to the South, and got into
the same Creek from whence I set out
in the Morning, choosing rather to trust
myself among these Barbarians, than
live with European Yahoos. I drew up
my Canoo as close as I could to the
Shore, and hid myself behind a Stone
by the little Brook, which, as I have
already said, was excellent Water.
| 7 |
THE Ship came within half a League
of this Creek, and sent out her LongBoat with Vessels to take in fresh Water (for the Place it seems was very
well known) but I did not observe it
till the Boat was almost on Shore, and
it was too late to seek another Hidingplace. The Seamen at their landing observed my Canoo, and rummaging it all
over, easily conjectured that the Owner
could not be far off. Four of them
well-armed searched every Cranny and
Lurking-hole, till at last they found me
flat on my Face behind the Stone. They
gazed a while in admiration at my
strange uncouth Dress, my Coat made
of Skins, my wooden soaled Shoes, and
my furred Stockings; from whence,
however, they concluded I was not a
Native of the Place, who all go naked.
One of the Seamen in Portugueze bid
me rise, and asked who I was. I understood that Language very well, and
getting upon my Feet, said, I was a
poor Yahoo, banished from the Houyhnhnms, and desired they would please to
let me depart. They admired to hear me
answer them in their own Tongue, and
saw by my Complexion I must be an European; but were at a loss to know what
I meant by Yahoos and Houyhnhnms,
and at the same time fell a laughing at
my strange Tone in speaking, which
resembled the Neighing of a Horse. I
trembled all the while betwixt Fear
and Hatred: I again desired leave to
depart, and was gently moving to my
Canoo; but they laid hold on me, desiring to know, What Country I was
of? whence I came? with many other
Questions. I told them, I was born in
England, from whence I came about
five Years ago, and then their Country and ours were at Peace. I therefore hoped they would not treat me as
an Enemy, since I meant them no harm,
but was a poor Yahoo, seeking some
desolate Place where to pass the Remainder of his unfortunate Life.
| 8 |
WHEN they began to talk, I thought
I never heard or saw any thing so
unnatural; for it appeared to me as
monstrous as if a Dog or a Cow
should speak in England, | 9 |
HIS Name was Pedro de Mendez,
he was a very courteous and generous
Person; he entreated me to give some
Account of myself, and desired to know
what I would eat or drink; said, I
should be used as well as himself, and
spoke so many obliging things, that I
wondered to find such Civilities from
a Yahoo. However, I remained silent
and sullen; I was ready to faint at the
very smell of him and his Men. At
last I desired something to eat out
of my own Canoo; but he ordered me
a Chicken and some excellent Wine,
and then directed that I should be put
to Bed in a very clean Cabbin. I
would not undress myself, but lay on
the Bed-cloaths, and in half an Hour
stole out, when I thought the Crew was
at Dinner, and getting to the side of
the Ship was going to leap into the
Sea, and swim for my Life, rather than
continue among Yahoos. But one of the
Seamen prevented me, and having
informed the Captain, I was chained to
my Cabbin.
| 10 |
| 11 |
THE Captain, a wise Man, after
many Endeavours to catch me tripping
in some part of my Story, at last began
to have a better Opinion of my Veracity, and the rather because he confessed, he met with a Dutch Skipper, who
pretended to have landed with Five
others of his Crew upon a certain
Island or Continent South of New-Holland, where they went for fresh Water, and observed a Horse driving
before him several Animals exactly resembling those I described under the
Name of Yahoos, with some other Particulars, which the Captain said he had
forgot; because he then concluded them
all to be Lies. But he added, that
since I professed so inviolable an Attachment to Truth, I must give him
my Word of Honour to bear him company in this Voyage without attempting any thing against my Life, or else he
would continue me a Prisoner till we
arrived at Lisbon. I gave him the
Promise he required; but at the same
time protested that I would suffer the
greatest Hardships rather than return
to live among Yahoos.
| 12 |
OUR Voyage passed without any
considerable Accident. In Gratitude to
the Captain I sometimes sate with him
at his earnest Request, and strove to
conceal my Antipathy to human Kind,
although it often broke out, which he
suffered to pass without Observation.
But the greatest part of the Day, I
confined myself to my Cabbin, to avoid
seeing any of the Crew. The Captain
had often entreated me to strip myself
of my savage Dress, and offered to
lend me the best Suit of Cloaths he
had. This I would not be prevailed
on to accept, abhorring to cover myself with any thing that had been on
the Back of a Yahoo. I only desired
he would lend me two clean Shirts,
which having been washed since he
wore them, I believed would not so
much defile me. These I changed every second Day, and washed them myself.
| 13 |
WE arrived at Lisbon, Nov.5.1715.
At our landing the Captain forced me
to cover myself with his Cloak, to prevent the Rabble from crouding about
me. I was conveyed to his own
House, and at my earnest Request, he
led me up to the highest Room backwards. I conjured him to conceal
from all Persons what I had told him
of the Houyhnhnms, because the least
hint of such a Story would not only
draw Numbers of People to see me,
but probably, put me in Danger of
being imprisoned, or burnt by the Inquisition. The Captain persuaded me
to accept a Suit of Cloaths newly
made, but I would not suffer the
Taylor to take my Measure; however, Don Pedro being almost of my
Size, they fitted me well enough. He
accoutred me with other Necessaries all
new, which I aired for twenty-four
Hours before I would use them.
| 14 |
THE Captain had no Wife, nor
above three Servants, none of which
were suffered to attend at Meals, and
his whole Deportment was so obliging,
added to very good human Understanding, that I really began to tolerate his Company. He gained so
far upon me, that I ventured to look
out of the back Window. By degrees
I was brought into another Room,
from whence I peeped into the Street,
but drew my Head back in a Fright.
In a Week's time he seduced me
down to the Door. I found my Terror gradually lessened, but my Hatred
and Contempt seemed to encrease. I
was at last bold enough to walk the
Street in his Company, but kept my
Nose well stopped with Rue, or sometimes with Tobacco.
| 15 |
IN ten Days Don Pedro, to whom I
had given some account of my Domestick Affairs, put it upon me as a Matter of Honour and Conscience, that I
ought to return to my native Country, and live at home with my Wife
and Children. He told me, there was
an English Ship in the Port just ready
to sail, and he would furnish me with
all things necessary. It would be tedious to repeat his Arguments, and my
Contradictions. He said it was altogether impossible to find such a solitary
Island as I had desired to live in; but
I might command in my own House,
and pass my time in a manner as recluse as I pleased.
| 16 |
I COMPLIED at last, finding I
could not do better. I left Lisbon the
24th Day of November, in an English Merchant-Man, but who was the
Master I never enquired. Don Pedro
accompanied me to the Ship, and lent
me Twenty Pounds. He took kind
leave of me, and embraced me at parting, which I bore as well as I could.
During the last Voyage I had no Commerce with the Master or any of his
Men, but pretending I was sick kept
close in my Cabbin. On the Fifth of
December, 1715. we cast Anchor in
the Downs about Nine in the Morning, and at Three in the Afternoon I
got safe to my House at Rotherhith.
| 17 |
MY Wife and Family received me
with great Surprize and Joy, because
they concluded me certainly dead; but
I must freely confess the sight of them
filled me only with Hatred, Disgust
and Contempt, and the more by reflecting on the near Alliance I had to
them. For, although since my unfortunate Exile from the Houyhnhnm Country, I had compelled myself to tolerate
the Sight of Yahoos, and to converse with
Don Pedro de Mendez; yet my Memory and Imaginations were perpetually filled with the Virtues and Ideas of
those exalted Houyhnhnms. And when
I began to consider, that by copulating
with one of the Yahoo-Species I became
a Parent of more, it struck me with
the utmost Shame, Confusion and Horror.
| 18 |
AS soon as I entered the House, my
Wife took me in her Arms, and kissed
me, at which having not been used to
the Touch of that odious Animal for so
many Years, I fell in a Swoon for almost an Hour. At the time I am
writing it is Five Years since my last
Return to England: During the first
Year I could not endure my Wife or
Children in my Presence, the very
Smell of them was intolerable, much
less could I suffer them to eat in the
same Room. To this hour they dare
not presume to touch my Bread, or
drink out of the same Cup, neither
was I ever able to let one of them
take me by the Hand. The first Money I laid out was to buy two young
Stone-Horses which I keep in a good
Stable, and next to them the Groom
is my greatest Favourite; for I feel my
Spirits revived by the Smell he contracts in the Stable. My Horses understand me tolerably well; I converse
with them at least four Hours every
Day. They are Strangers to Bridle
or Saddle, they live in great Amity
with me, and Friendship to each
other.
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UTEL [ History of English | English Composition | Literary Authors | Literary Works | Literary Criticism ]