My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire, and I was the third of
four sons. He sent me to Cambridge at fourteen years old, and after
studying there three years I was bound apprentice to Mr. Bates, a famous
surgeon in London. There, as my father now and then sent me small sums
of money, I spent them in learning navigation and other arts useful to
those who travel, as I always believed it would be some time or other my
fortune to do.
Three years after leaving him my good master, Mr. Bates, recommended me
as ship's surgeon to the Swallow, on which I voyaged three years. When I
came back I settled in London, and having taken part of a small house, I
married Miss Mary Burton, daughter of Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier.
But my good master Bates died two years after, and as I had few friends
my business began to fail, and I determined to go again to sea. After
several voyages I accepted an offer from Captain W. Prichard, master of
the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from
Bristol on May 4, 1699, and our voyage at first was very prosperous.
But in our passage to the East Indies we were driven by a violent storm
to the northwest of Van Diemen's Land. Twelve of our crew died from hard
labor and bad food, and the rest were in a very weak condition. On
November 5, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within
one hundred and twenty yards of the ship; but the wind was so strong
that we were driven straight upon it, and immediately split. Six of the
crew, of whom I was one, letting down the boat, got clear of the ship,
and we rowed about three leagues, till we could work no longer. We
therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in about an
hour the boat was upset by a sudden squall. What became of my companions
in the boat or those who escaped on the rock or were left in the vessel
I cannot tell, but I conclude they were all lost. For my part, I swam as
fortune directed me and was pushed forward by wind and tide; but when I
was able to struggle no longer I found myself within my depth. By this
time the storm was much abated.
I reached the shore at last, about eight o'clock in the evening, and
advanced nearly half a mile inland, but could not discover any sign of
inhabitants. I was extremely tired, and with the heat of the weather I
found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was
very short and soft, and slept sounder than ever I did in my life for
about nine hours. When I awoke it was just daylight. I attempted to
rise, but could not; for as I happened to be lying on my back, I found
my arms and legs were fastened on each side to the ground, and my hair,
which was long and thick, tied down in the same manner. I could only
look upward. The sun began to grow hot, and the light hurt my eyes. I
heard a confused noise about me, but could see nothing except the sky.
In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which,
advancing gently over my breast, came almost up to my chin, when,
bending my eyes downward, 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 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 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, lifted up
his hands in admiration. I lay all this while in great uneasiness; but
at length, struggling to get loose, I succeeded in breaking the strings
that fastened my left arm to the ground, and at the same time, with a
violent pull that gave me extreme pain, I a little loosened the strings
that tied down my hair, 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, and in an instant I felt above a
hundred arrows discharged on my left hand, which pricked me like so many
needles. Moreover, they shot another flight into the air, of which some
fell on my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When the
shower of arrows was over I groaned with grief and pain, and then,
striving again to get loose, they discharged another flight of arrows,
larger than the first, and some of them tried to stab me with their
spears; but by good luck I had on a leather jacket, which they could
not pierce. By this time I thought it most prudent to lie still till
night, when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free
myself; and as for the inhabitants, I thought I might be a match for the
greatest army they could bring against me if they were all of the same
size with him I saw.
When the people observed that I was quiet they discharged no more
arrows, but by the noise I knew that their number was increased, and
about four yards from me, for more than an hour, there was a knocking,
like people at work. Then, turning my head that way as well as the pegs
and strings would let me I saw a stage set up, about a foot and a half
from the ground, with two or three ladders to mount it. From this, one
of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, of
which I could not understand a word, though I could tell from his manner
that he sometimes threatened me and sometimes spoke with pity and
kindness. I answered in few words, but in the most submissive manner,
and being almost famished with hunger, I could not help showing my
impatience by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify that
I wanted food.
He understood me very well, and descending from the stage commanded that
several ladders should be set against my sides, on which more than a
hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked toward my mouth with
baskets full of food, which had been sent by the king's orders when he
first received tidings of me. There were legs and shoulders like
mutton, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them two or three at
a mouthful and took three loaves at a time. They supplied me as fast as
they could, with a thousand marks of wonder at my appetite. I then made
a sign that I wanted something to drink. They guessed that a small
quantity would not suffice me, and being a most ingenious people, they
slung up 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. They brought me a second hogshead,
which I drank and made signs for more; but they had none to give me.
However, I could not wonder enough at the daring of these tiny mortals
who ventured to mount and walk upon my body while one of my hands was
free without trembling at the very sight of so huge a creature as I must
have seemed to them.
After some time there appeared before me a person of high rank from his
imperial majesty. His excellency having mounted my right leg, advanced
to my face with about a dozen of his retinue, and spoke about ten
minutes, often pointing forward, which, as I afterward found, was toward
the capital city, about half a mile distant, whither it was commanded by
his majesty that I should be conveyed. I 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), to show that I desired my liberty. He
seemed to understand me well enough, for he shook his head, though he
made other signs to let me know that I should have meat and drink
enough and very good treatment.
Then I once more thought of attempting to escape, but when I felt the
smart of their arrows on my face and hands, which were all in blisters,
and observed likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave
tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleased.
Then they daubed my face and hands with a sweet-smelling ointment, which
in a few minutes removed all the smart of the arrows. The relief from
pain and hunger made me drowsy, and presently I fell asleep. I slept
about eight hours, as I was told afterward; and it was no wonder, for
the physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleeping-draught
in the hogshead of wine.
It seems that when I was discovered sleeping on the ground after my
landing the emperor had early notice of it, and determined 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 to me, and a
machine prepared to carry me to the capital city. Five hundred
carpenters and engineers were immediately set to work to prepare the
engine. It was a frame of wood, raised three inches from the ground,
about seven feet long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. But
the difficulty was to place me on it. Eighty poles were erected for this
purpose, and very strong cords fastened to bandages which the workmen
tied round my neck, hands, body, and legs. Nine hundred of the strongest
men were employed to draw up these cords by pulleys fastened on the
poles, and in less than three hours I was raised and slung into the
engine and there tied fast. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest
horses, each about four inches and a half high, were then employed to
draw me toward the capital. But while all this was done I still lay in a
deep sleep, and I did not wake till four hours after we began our
journey.
The emperor and all his court came out to meet us when we reached the
capital, but his great officials would not suffer his majesty to risk
his person by mounting on my body. Where the carriage stopped there
stood an ancient temple, supposed to be the largest in the whole
kingdom, and here it was determined that I should lodge. Near the great
gate, through which I could easily creep, they fixed ninety-one chains
like those which hang to a lady's watch, which were locked to my left
leg with thirty-six padlocks; and when the workmen found it was
impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound
me. Then I rose up, feeling as melancholy as ever I did in my life. But
the noise and astonishment of the people on seeing me rise and walk were
inexpressible. The chains that held my left leg were about two yards
long, and gave me not only freedom to walk backward and forward in a
semicircle, but to creep in and lie at full length inside the temple.
The emperor, advancing toward me from among his courtiers, all most
magnificently clad, surveyed me with great admiration, but kept beyond
the length of my chain. He was taller by about the breadth of my nail
than any of his court, which alone was enough to strike awe into the
beholders, and graceful and majestic. The better to behold him I lay
down on my side, so that my face was level with his, and he stood three
yards off. However, I have had him since many times in my hand, and
therefore cannot be deceived. His dress was very simple, but he wore a
light helmet of gold adorned with jewels and a plume. He held his sword
in his hand, to defend himself if I should break loose; it was almost
three inches long, and the hilt was of gold, enriched with diamonds. His
voice was shrill, but very clear. His imperial majesty spoke often to
me, and I answered; but neither of us could understand a word.
After about two hours the court retired, and I was left with a strong
guard to keep away the crowd, some of whom had the impudence to shoot
their arrows at me as I sat by the door of my house. But the colonel
ordered six of them to be seized and delivered bound into my hands. I
put five of them into my coat pocket; and as to the sixth, I made a face
as if I would eat him alive. The poor man screamed terribly, and the
colonel and his officers were much distressed, especially when they saw
me take out my penknife. But I soon set them at ease, for, cutting the
strings he was bound with, I put 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 saw that both the soldiers and people were highly
delighted at this mark of my kindness.
Toward night I got with some difficulty into my house, where I lay on
the ground, as I had to do for a fortnight, till a bed was prepared for
me out of six hundred beds of the ordinary measure.
Six hundred servants were appointed me and three hundred tailors made me
a suit of clothes, moreover, six of his majesty's greatest scholars were
employed to teach me their language, so that soon I was able to converse
after a fashion with the emperor, who often honoured me with his visits.
The first words I learned were to desire that he would please to give me
my liberty, which I every day repeated on my knees; but he answered that
this must be a work of time, and that first I must swear a peace with
him and his kingdom. He told me also that by the laws of the nation I
must be searched by two of the officers, and that as this could not be
done without my help, he trusted them in my hands, and whatever they
took from me should be returned when I left the country. I took up the
two officers and put them into my coat pockets. These gentlemen, having
pen, ink, and paper about them, made an exact list of everything they
saw, which I afterward translated into English and which ran as follows:
"In the right coat pocket of the great man-mountain we found only one
great piece of coarse cloth, large enough to cover the carpet of your
majesty's chief room of state. In the left pocket we saw a huge silver
chest, with a silver cover, which we could not lift. We desired that it
should be opened, and one of us stepping into it found himself up to
the mid-leg in a sort of dust, some of which flying into our faces sent
us both into a fit of sneezing. In his right waistcoat pocket we found a
number of white thin substances, folded one over another, about the size
of three men, tied with a strong cable, and marked with black figures,
which we humbly conceive to be writings. In the left there was a sort of
engine, from the back of which extended twenty long poles, with which we
conjecture the man-mountain combs his head. In the smaller pocket on the
right side were several round flat pieces of white and red metal, of
different sizes. Some of the white, which appeared to be silver, were so
large and heavy that my comrades and I could hardly lift them. From
another pocket hung a huge silver chain, with a wonderful kind of engine
fastened to it, a globe half silver and half of some transparent metal;
for on the transparent side we saw certain strange figures, and thought
we could touch them till we found our fingers stopped by the shining
substance. This engine made an incessant noise, like a water-mill, and
we conjecture it is either some unknown animal or the god he worships,
but probably the latter, for he has told us that he seldom did anything
without consulting it. This is a list of what we found about the body of
the man-mountain, who treated us with great civility."
I had one private pocket which escaped their search, containing a pair
of spectacles and a small spy-glass, which, being of no consequence to
the emperor, I did not think myself bound in honour to discover.
My gentleness and good behaviour gained so far on the emperor and his
court, and, indeed, on the people in general, that I began to have hopes
of getting my liberty in a short time. The natives came by degrees to be
less fearful of danger from me. I would sometimes lie down and let five
or six of them dance on my hand, and at last the boys and girls ventured
to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair.
The horses of the army and of the royal stables were no longer shy,
having been daily led before me; and one of the emperor's huntsmen, on a
large courser, took my foot, shoe and all, which was indeed a prodigious
leap. I amused the emperor one day in a very extraordinary manner. I
took nine sticks and fixed them firmly in the ground in a square. Then I
took four other sticks and tied them parallel at each corner, about two
feet from the ground. 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 I desired the emperor to let a troop of his best horse,
twenty-four in number, come and exercise upon this plain. His majesty
approved of the proposal, and I took them up one by one, with the proper
officers to exercise them. As soon as they got into order they divided
into two parties, discharged blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and
pursued, and, in short, showed the best military discipline I ever
beheld. The parallel sticks secured them and their horses from falling
off the stage, and the emperor was so much delighted that he ordered
this entertainment to be repeated several days and persuaded the empress
herself to let me hold her in her chair within two yards of the stage,
whence she could view the whole performance. Fortunately no accident
happened, only once a fiery horse, pawing with his hoof, struck a hole
in my handkerchief and 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 as I had taken them up. The horse that
fell was strained in the shoulder, but the rider was not 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.
I had sent so many petitions for my liberty that his majesty at length
mentioned the matter in a full council, where it was opposed by none
except Skyresh Bolgolam, admiral of the realm, who was pleased without
any provocation to be my mortal enemy. He agreed at length, though he
succeeded in himself drawing up the conditions on which I should be set
free. After they were read I was requested to swear to perform them 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 top of my right ear. But I have made a
translation of the conditions, which I here offer to the public:
"Golbaste Momarem Evlame Gurdile Shefin Mully Ully Gue, Most Mighty
Emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the universe, whose
dimensions extend to the ends of the globe, monarch of all monarchs,
taller than the sons of men, whose feet press down to the centre 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
proposeth to the man-mountain, lately arrived at our celestial
dominions, the following articles, which by a solemn oath he shall be
obliged to perform:
"First. The man-mountain shall not depart from our dominions without our
license under the great seal.
"Second. 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 doors.
"Third. 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.
"Fourth. As he walks the said road 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 subjects into his hands without their own
consent.
"Fifth. If an express requires extraordinary speed the man-mountain
shall be obliged to carry in his pocket the messenger and horse a six
days' journey, and return the said messenger (if so required) safe to
our imperial presence.
"Sixth. 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.
"Lastly. 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 seventeen hundred and twenty-four of our
subjects, with free access to our royal person and other marks of our
favour.
"Given at our palace at Belfaborac, the twelfth day of the ninety-first
moon of our reign."
I swore to these articles with great cheerfulness, whereupon my chains
were immediately unlocked and I was at full liberty.
One morning, about a fortnight after I had obtained my freedom,
Reldresal, the emperor's secretary for private affairs, came to my
house, attended only by one servant. He ordered his coach to wait at a
distance and desired that I would give him an hour's audience. 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, but he added that, save for the
present state of things at court, perhaps I might not have obtained it
so soon.
"For," he said, "however flourishing we may seem to foreigners, we are
in danger of an invasion from the island of Blefuscu, which is the other
great empire of the universe, almost as large and as powerful as this of
his majesty. For as to what we have heard you say, that there are other
kingdoms in the world, inhabited by human creatures as large as
yourself, our philosophers are very doubtful, and rather conjecture that
you dropped from the moon or one of the stars, because a hundred mortals
of your size would soon destroy all the fruit and cattle of his
majesty's dominions. Besides, our histories of six thousand moons make
no mention of any other regions than the two mighty empires of Lilliput
and Blefuscu, which, as I was going to tell you, are engaged in a most
obstinate war, which began in the following manner: It is allowed on all
hands that the primitive way of breaking eggs was upon the larger end;
but his present majesty's 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, made a law
commanding all his subjects to break the smaller end of their eggs. The
people so highly resented this law that there have been six rebellions
raised on that account, wherein one emperor lost his life and another
his crown. It is calculated that eleven hundred persons have at
different times suffered death rather than break their eggs at the
smaller end. But these rebels, the Bigendians, have found so much
encouragement at the Emperor of Blefuscu's court, to which they always
fled for refuge, that a bloody war, as I said, has been carried on
between the two empires for thirty-six moons; and now the Blefuscudians
have equipped a large fleet and are preparing to descend upon us.
Therefore his imperial majesty, placing great confidence in your valour
and strength, has commanded me to set the case before you."
I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the emperor, and to
let him know that I was ready, at the risk of my life, to defend him
against all invaders.
It was not long before I communicated to his majesty the plan I formed
for seizing the enemy's whole fleet. The empire of Blefuscu is an island
parted from Lilliput only by a channel eight hundred yards wide. I
consulted the most experienced seamen on the depth of the channel, and
they told me that in the middle, at high water, it was seventy
glumgluffs (about six feet of European measure). I walked toward the
coast, where, lying down behind a hillock, I took out my spy-glass and
viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor--about fifty men-of-war and other
vessels. I then came back to my house and gave orders for a great
quantity of the strongest cables and bars of iron. The cable was about
as thick as pack-thread 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 twisted three of the iron bars together, bending the ends
into a hook.
Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables I went back to the
coast, and taking off my coat, shoes, and stockings, walked into the sea
in my leather jacket about half an hour before high water. I waded with
what haste I could, swimming in the middle about thirty yards, till I
felt ground, and thus arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour.
The enemy were so frightened when they saw me that they leaped out of
their ships and swam ashore, where there could not be fewer than thirty
thousand. Then, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each ship, I
tied all the cords together at the end.
Meanwhile the enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which
stuck in my hands and face. My greatest fear was for my eyes, which I
should have lost if I had not suddenly thought of the pair of spectacles
which had escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took out and fastened
upon my nose, and thus armed went on with my work in spite of the
arrows, many of which struck against the glasses of my spectacles, but
without any other effect than slightly disturbing them. Then, taking the
knot in my hand, I began to pull, but not a ship would stir, for they
were too fast held by their anchors. Thus the boldest part of my
enterprise remained. Letting go the cord, I resolutely cut with my knife
the cables that fastened the anchors, receiving more than two hundred
shots in my face and hands. Then I took up again the knotted end of the
cables to which my hooks were tied, and with great ease drew fifty of
the enemy's largest men-of-war after me.
When the Blefuscudians saw the fleet moving in order and me pulling at
the end, they set up a scream of grief and despair that it is impossible
to describe. 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 arrival. I then took off my
spectacles, and after waiting an hour till the tide was a little
fallen, I waded on to the royal port of Lilliput.
The emperor and his whole court stood on the shore awaiting me. They saw
the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me,
who, in the middle of the channel, was under water up to my neck. The
emperor concluded that I was drowned and that the enemy's fleet was
approaching in a hostile manner. But he was soon set at ease, 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!" The prince received me at my landing with all
possible joy and made me a nardal on the spot, which is the highest
title of honour among them. His majesty desired that I would take some
opportunity to bring all the rest of his enemy's ships into his ports,
and seemed to think of nothing less than conquering the whole empire of
Blefuscu and becoming the sole monarch of the world. But I plainly
protested that I would never be the means of bringing a free and brave
people into slavery; and though the wisest of the ministers were of my
opinion, my open refusal was so opposed to his majesty's ambition that
he could never forgive me. And from this time a plot began between
himself and those of his ministers who were my enemies that nearly ended
in my utter destruction.
About three weeks after this exploit there arrived an embassy from
Blefuscu, with humble offers of peace, which was soon concluded, on
terms very advantageous to our emperor. There were six ambassadors, with
a train of about five hundred persons, all very magnificent. Having been
privately told that I had befriended them, they made me a visit, and
paying me many compliments on my valour and generosity, invited me to
their kingdom in the emperor their master's name. I asked them to
present my most humble respects to the emperor their master, 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 permission to visit the Blefuscudian monarch. This he
granted me, but in a very cold manner, of which I afterward learned the
reason.
When I was just preparing to pay my respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu,
a distinguished person at court, to whom I had once done a great
service, came to my house very privately at night, and without sending
his name desired admission. I put his lordship into my coat pocket, and
giving orders to a trusty servant to admit no one, I fastened the door,
placed my visitor on the table, and sat down by it. His lordship's face
was full of trouble, and he asked me to hear him with patience in a
matter that highly concerned my honour and my life. "You are aware," he
said, "that Skyresh Bolgolam has been your mortal enemy ever since your
arrival, and his hatred is increased since your great success against
Blefuscu, by which his glory as admiral is obscured. This lord and
others have accused you of treason, and several councils have been
called in the most private manner on your account. Out of gratitude for
your favours I procured information of the whole proceedings, venturing
my head for your service, and this was the charge against you:
"First, that you having brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into the
royal port, were commanded by his majesty to seize all the other ships
and to put to death all the Bigendian exiles, and also all the people of
the empire who would not immediately consent to break their eggs at the
smaller end. And that, like a false traitor to his most serene majesty,
you excused yourself from the service on pretence of unwillingness to
force the consciences and destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent
people.
"Again, when ambassadors arrived from the court of Blefuscu, like a
false traitor you aided and entertained them, though you knew them to be
servants of a prince lately in open war against his imperial majesty.
"Moreover, you are now preparing, contrary to the duty of a faithful
subject, to voyage to the court of Blefuscu.
"In the debate on this charge," my friend continued, "his majesty often
urged the services you had done him, while the admiral and treasurer
insisted that you should be put to a shameful death. But Reldresal,
secretary for private affairs, who has always proved himself your
friend, suggested that if his majesty would please to spare your life
and only give orders to put out both your eyes, justice might in some
measure be satisfied. At this Bolgolam rose up in a fury, wondering how
the secretary dared desire to preserve the life of a traitor; and the
treasurer, pointing out the expense of keeping you, also urged your
death. But his majesty was graciously pleased to say that since the
council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a punishment, some other
might afterward be inflicted. And the secretary, humbly desiring to be
heard again, said that as to expense your allowance might be gradually
lessened, so that for want of sufficient food you should grow weak and
faint and die in a few months, when his majesty's subjects might cut
your flesh from your bones and bury it, leaving the skeleton for the
admiration of posterity.
"Thus, through the great friendship of the secretary, the affair was
arranged. It was commanded that the plan of starving you by degrees
should be kept a secret, but the sentence of putting out your eyes was
entered on the books. In three days your friend the secretary will come
to your house and read the accusation before you and point out the great
mercy of his majesty, that only condemns you to the loss of your
eyes--which, he does not doubt, you will submit to humbly and
gratefully. Twenty of his majesty's surgeons will attend, to see the
operation well performed, by discharging very sharp-pointed arrows into
the balls of your eyes as you lie on the ground.
"I leave you," said my friend, "to consider what measures you will take;
and, to escape suspicion, I must immediately return as secretly as I
came."
His lordship did so, and I remained alone in great perplexity. At first
I was bent on resistance, for while I had liberty I could easily with
stones pelt the metropolis to pieces; but I soon rejected that idea with
horror, remembering the oath I had made to the emperor and the favours I
had received from him. At last, having his majesty's leave to pay my
respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, I resolved to take this
opportunity. Before the three days had passed I wrote a letter to my
friend the secretary telling him of my resolution, and without waiting
for an answer went to the coast, and entering the channel, between
wading and swimming reached the port of Blefuscu, where the people, who
had long expected me, led me to the capital.
His majesty, with the royal family and great officers of the court, came
out to receive me, and they entertained me in a manner suited to the
generosity of so great a prince. I did not, however, mention my disgrace
with the Emperor of Lilliput, since I did not suppose that prince would
disclose the secret while I was out of his power. But in this, it soon
appeared, I was deceived.
Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the northeast
coast of the island, I observed at some distance 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 plainly saw it to be a real
boat, which I supposed might by some tempest have been driven from a
ship. I returned immediately to the city for help, and after a huge
amount of labour I managed to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu,
where a great crowd of people appeared 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 where I might
return to my native country," and begged his orders for materials to fit
it up and leave to depart--which, after many kindly speeches, he was
pleased to grant.
Meanwhile the Emperor of Lilliput, uneasy at my long absence (but never
imagining that I had the least notice of his designs), sent a person of
rank to inform the Emperor of Blefuscu of my disgrace. This messenger
had orders to represent the great mercy of his master, who was content
to punish me with the loss of my eyes, and who expected that his brother
of Blefuscu would have me sent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to
be punished as a traitor. The Emperor of Blefuscu answered with many
civil excuses. He said that as for sending me bound, his brother knew it
was impossible. Moreover, though I had taken away his fleet, he was
grateful to me for many good offices I had done him in making the peace.
But that 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 orders to fit up, and he hoped in a few weeks both empires
would be free from me.
With this answer the messenger returned to Lilliput, and I (though the
monarch of Blefuscu secretly offered me his gracious protection if I
would continue in his service) hastened my departure, resolving never
more to put confidence in princes.
In about a month I was ready to take leave. The Emperor of Blefuscu,
with the empress and the royal family, came out of the palace, and I lay
down on my face to kiss their hands, which they graciously gave me. His
majesty presented me with fifty purses of sprugs (their greatest gold
coin) and his picture at full length, which I put immediately into one
of my gloves, to keep it from being hurt. Many other ceremonies took
place at my departure.
I stored the boat with meat and drink and took six cows and two bulls
alive, with as many ewes and rams, intending to carry them into my own
country; 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 pledged my honour not to carry away
any of his subjects, though with their own consent and desire.
Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail. When
I had made twenty-four leagues, by my reckoning, from the island of
Blefuscu, I saw a sail steering to northeast. I hailed her, but could
get no answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened,
and in half an hour she spied me and discharged a gun. I came up with
her between five and six in the evening on the 26th of September, 1701,
but my heart leaped within me to see her English colours. I put my cows
and sheep into my pockets and got on board with all my little cargo. The
captain received me with kindness and asked me to tell him what place I
came from last, but at my answer he thought I was raving. However, I
took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great
astonishment, clearly convinced him.
We arrived in England on the 13th of April, 1702. I stayed two months
with my wife and family, but my eager desire to see foreign countries
would suffer me to remain no longer. While in England I made great
profit by showing my cattle to persons of quality and others, and before
I began my second voyage I sold them for six hundred pounds. I left one
thousand five hundred pounds with my wife and fixed her in a good house;
then, taking leave of her and my boy and girl, with tears on both sides,
I sailed on board the Adventure.