Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
firm substance, the bottom flat, smooth, and shining very bright, `
` from the reflection of the sea below. I stood upon a height about `
` two hundred yards from the shore, and saw this vast body descending `
` almost to a parallel with me, at less than an English mile `
` distance. I took out my pocket perspective, and could plainly `
` discover numbers of people moving up and down the sides of it, `
` which appeared to be sloping; but what those people where doing I `
` was not able to distinguish. `
` `
` The natural love of life gave me some inward motion of joy, and I `
` was ready to entertain a hope that this adventure might, some way `
` or other, help to deliver me from the desolate place and condition `
` I was in. But at the same time the reader can hardly conceive my `
` astonishment, to behold an island in the air, inhabited by men, who `
` were able (as it should seem) to raise or sink, or put it into `
` progressive motion, as they pleased. But not being at that time in `
` a disposition to philosophise upon this phenomenon, I rather chose `
` to observe what course the island would take, because it seemed for `
` awhile to stand still. Yet soon after, it advanced nearer, and I `
` could see the sides of it encompassed with several gradations of `
` galleries, and stairs, at certain intervals, to descend from one to `
` the other. In the lowest gallery, I beheld some people fishing `
` with long angling rods, and others looking on. I waved my cap (for `
` my hat was long since worn out) and my handkerchief toward the `
` island; and upon its nearer approach, I called and shouted with the `
` utmost strength of my voice; and then looking circumspectly, I `
` beheld a crowd gather to that side which was most in my view. I `
` found by their pointing towards me and to each other, that they `
` plainly discovered me, although they made no return to my shouting. `
` But I could see four or five men running in great haste, up the `
` stairs, to the top of the island, who then disappeared. I happened `
` rightly to conjecture, that these were sent for orders to some `
` person in authority upon this occasion. `
` `
` The number of people increased, and, in less than half all hour, `
` the island was moved and raised in such a manner, that the lowest `
` gallery appeared in a parallel of less then a hundred yards `
` distance from the height where I stood. I then put myself in the `
` most supplicating posture, and spoke in the humblest accent, but `
` received no answer. Those who stood nearest over against me, `
` seemed to be persons of distinction, as I supposed by their habit. `
` They conferred earnestly with each other, looking often upon me. `
` At length one of them called out in a clear, polite, smooth `
` dialect, not unlike in sound to the Italian: and therefore I `
` returned an answer in that language, hoping at least that the `
` cadence might be more agreeable to his ears. Although neither of `
` us understood the other, yet my meaning was easily known, for the `
` people saw the distress I was in. `
` `
` They made signs for me to come down from the rock, and go towards `
` the shore, which I accordingly did; and the flying island being `
` raised to a convenient height, the verge directly over me, a chain `
` was let down from the lowest gallery, with a seat fastened to the `
` bottom, to which I fixed myself, and was drawn up by pulleys. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The humours and dispositions of the Laputians described. An `
` account of their learning. Of the king and his court. The `
` author's reception there. The inhabitants subject to fear and `
` disquietudes. An account of the women.] `
` `
` At my alighting, I was surrounded with a crowd of people, but those `
` who stood nearest seemed to be of better quality. They beheld me `
` with all the marks and circumstances of wonder; neither indeed was `
` I much in their debt, having never till then seen a race of mortals `
` so singular in their shapes, habits, and countenances. Their heads `
` were all reclined, either to the right, or the left; one of their `
` eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the zenith. Their `
` outward garments were adorned with the figures of suns, moons, and `
` stars; interwoven with those of fiddles, flutes, harps, trumpets, `
` guitars, harpsichords, and many other instruments of music, unknown `
` to us in Europe. I observed, here and there, many in the habit of `
` servants, with a blown bladder, fastened like a flail to the end of `
` a stick, which they carried in their hands. In each bladder was a `
` small quantity of dried peas, or little pebbles, as I was `
` afterwards informed. With these bladders, they now and then `
` flapped the mouths and ears of those who stood near them, of which `
` practice I could not then conceive the meaning. It seems the minds `
` of these people are so taken up with intense speculations, that `
` they neither can speak, nor attend to the discourses of others, `
` without being roused by some external taction upon the organs of `
` speech and hearing; for which reason, those persons who are able to `
` afford it always keep a flapper (the original is climenole) in `
` their family, as one of their domestics; nor ever walk abroad, or `
` make visits, without him. And the business of this officer is, `
` when two, three, or more persons are in company, gently to strike `
` with his bladder the mouth of him who is to speak, and the right `
` ear of him or them to whom the speaker addresses himself. This `
` flapper is likewise employed diligently to attend his master in his `
` walks, and upon occasion to give him a soft flap on his eyes; `
` because he is always so wrapped up in cogitation, that he is in `
` manifest danger of falling down every precipice, and bouncing his `
` head against every post; and in the streets, of justling others, or `
` being justled himself into the kennel. `
` `
` It was necessary to give the reader this information, without which `
` he would be at the same loss with me to understand the proceedings `
` of these people, as they conducted me up the stairs to the top of `
` the island, and from thence to the royal palace. While we were `
` ascending, they forgot several times what they were about, and left `
` me to myself, till their memories were again roused by their `
` flappers; for they appeared altogether unmoved by the sight of my `
` foreign habit and countenance, and by the shouts of the vulgar, `
` whose thoughts and minds were more disengaged. `
` `
` At last we entered the palace, and proceeded into the chamber of `
` presence, where I saw the king seated on his throne, attended on `
` each side by persons of prime quality. Before the throne, was a `
` large table filled with globes and spheres, and mathematical `
` instruments of all kinds. His majesty took not the least notice of `
` us, although our entrance was not without sufficient noise, by the `
` concourse of all persons belonging to the court. But he was then `
` deep in a problem; and we attended at least an hour, before he `
` could solve it. There stood by him, on each side, a young page `
` with flaps in their hands, and when they saw he was at leisure, one `
` of them gently struck his mouth, and the other his right ear; at `
` which he startled like one awaked on the sudden, and looking `
` towards me and the company I was in, recollected the occasion of `
` our coming, whereof he had been informed before. He spoke some `
` words, whereupon immediately a young man with a flap came up to my `
` side, and flapped me gently on the right ear; but I made signs, as `
` well as I could, that I had no occasion for such an instrument; `
` which, as I afterwards found, gave his majesty, and the whole `
` court, a very mean opinion of my understanding. The king, as far `
` as I could conjecture, asked me several questions, and I addressed `
` myself to him in all the languages I had. When it was found I `
` could neither understand nor be understood, I was conducted by his `
` order to an apartment in his palace (this prince being `
` distinguished above all his predecessors for his hospitality to `
` strangers), where two servants were appointed to attend me. My `
` dinner was brought, and four persons of quality, whom I remembered `
` to have seen very near the king's person, did me the honour to dine `
` with me. We had two courses, of three dishes each. In the first `
` course, there was a shoulder of mutton cut into an equilateral `
` triangle, a piece of beef into a rhomboides, and a pudding into a `
` cycloid. The second course was two ducks trussed up in the form of `
` fiddles; sausages and puddings resembling flutes and hautboys, and `
` a breast of veal in the shape of a harp. The servants cut our `
` bread into cones, cylinders, parallelograms, and several other `
` mathematical figures. `
` `
` While we were at dinner, I made bold to ask the names of several `
` things in their language, and those noble persons, by the `
` assistance of their flappers, delighted to give me answers, hoping `
` to raise my admiration of their great abilities if I could be `
` brought to converse with them. I was soon able to call for bread `
` and drink, or whatever else I wanted. `
` `
` After dinner my company withdrew, and a person was sent to me by `
` the king's order, attended by a flapper. He brought with him pen, `
` ink, and paper, and three or four books, giving me to understand by `
` signs, that he was sent to teach me the language. We sat together `
` four hours, in which time I wrote down a great number of words in `
` columns, with the translations over against them; I likewise made a `
` shift to learn several short sentences; for my tutor would order `
` one of my servants to fetch something, to turn about, to make a `
` bow, to sit, or to stand, or walk, and the like. Then I took down `
` the sentence in writing. He showed me also, in one of his books, `
` the figures of the sun, moon, and stars, the zodiac, the tropics, `
` and polar circles, together with the denominations of many plains `
` and solids. He gave me the names and descriptions of all the `
` musical instruments, and the general terms of art in playing on `
` each of them. After he had left me, I placed all my words, with `
` their interpretations, in alphabetical order. And thus, in a few `
` days, by the help of a very faithful memory, I got some insight `
` into their language. The word, which I interpret the flying or `
` floating island, is in the original Laputa, whereof I could never `
` learn the true etymology. Lap, in the old obsolete language, `
` signifies high; and untuh, a governor; from which they say, by `
` corruption, was derived Laputa, from Lapuntuh. But I do not `
` approve of this derivation, which seems to be a little strained. I `
` ventured to offer to the learned among them a conjecture of my own, `
` that Laputa was quasi lap outed; lap, signifying properly, the `
` dancing of the sunbeams in the sea, and outed, a wing; which, `
` however, I shall not obtrude, but submit to the judicious reader. `
` `
` Those to whom the king had entrusted me, observing how ill I was `
` clad, ordered a tailor to come next morning, and take measure for a `
` suit of clothes. This operator did his office after a different `
` manner from those of his trade in Europe. He first took my `
` altitude by a quadrant, and then, with a rule and compasses, `
` described the dimensions and outlines of my whole body, all which `
` he entered upon paper; and in six days brought my clothes very ill `
` made, and quite out of shape, by happening to mistake a figure in `
` the calculation. But my comfort was, that I observed such `
` accidents very frequent, and little regarded. `
` `
` During my confinement for want of clothes, and by an indisposition `
` that held me some days longer, I much enlarged my dictionary; and `
` when I went next to court, was able to understand many things the `
` king spoke, and to return him some kind of answers. His majesty `
` had given orders, that the island should move north-east and by `
` east, to the vertical point over Lagado, the metropolis of the `
` whole kingdom below, upon the firm earth. It was about ninety `
` leagues distant, and our voyage lasted four days and a half. I was `
` not in the least sensible of the progressive motion made in the air `
`
` from the reflection of the sea below. I stood upon a height about `
` two hundred yards from the shore, and saw this vast body descending `
` almost to a parallel with me, at less than an English mile `
` distance. I took out my pocket perspective, and could plainly `
` discover numbers of people moving up and down the sides of it, `
` which appeared to be sloping; but what those people where doing I `
` was not able to distinguish. `
` `
` The natural love of life gave me some inward motion of joy, and I `
` was ready to entertain a hope that this adventure might, some way `
` or other, help to deliver me from the desolate place and condition `
` I was in. But at the same time the reader can hardly conceive my `
` astonishment, to behold an island in the air, inhabited by men, who `
` were able (as it should seem) to raise or sink, or put it into `
` progressive motion, as they pleased. But not being at that time in `
` a disposition to philosophise upon this phenomenon, I rather chose `
` to observe what course the island would take, because it seemed for `
` awhile to stand still. Yet soon after, it advanced nearer, and I `
` could see the sides of it encompassed with several gradations of `
` galleries, and stairs, at certain intervals, to descend from one to `
` the other. In the lowest gallery, I beheld some people fishing `
` with long angling rods, and others looking on. I waved my cap (for `
` my hat was long since worn out) and my handkerchief toward the `
` island; and upon its nearer approach, I called and shouted with the `
` utmost strength of my voice; and then looking circumspectly, I `
` beheld a crowd gather to that side which was most in my view. I `
` found by their pointing towards me and to each other, that they `
` plainly discovered me, although they made no return to my shouting. `
` But I could see four or five men running in great haste, up the `
` stairs, to the top of the island, who then disappeared. I happened `
` rightly to conjecture, that these were sent for orders to some `
` person in authority upon this occasion. `
` `
` The number of people increased, and, in less than half all hour, `
` the island was moved and raised in such a manner, that the lowest `
` gallery appeared in a parallel of less then a hundred yards `
` distance from the height where I stood. I then put myself in the `
` most supplicating posture, and spoke in the humblest accent, but `
` received no answer. Those who stood nearest over against me, `
` seemed to be persons of distinction, as I supposed by their habit. `
` They conferred earnestly with each other, looking often upon me. `
` At length one of them called out in a clear, polite, smooth `
` dialect, not unlike in sound to the Italian: and therefore I `
` returned an answer in that language, hoping at least that the `
` cadence might be more agreeable to his ears. Although neither of `
` us understood the other, yet my meaning was easily known, for the `
` people saw the distress I was in. `
` `
` They made signs for me to come down from the rock, and go towards `
` the shore, which I accordingly did; and the flying island being `
` raised to a convenient height, the verge directly over me, a chain `
` was let down from the lowest gallery, with a seat fastened to the `
` bottom, to which I fixed myself, and was drawn up by pulleys. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The humours and dispositions of the Laputians described. An `
` account of their learning. Of the king and his court. The `
` author's reception there. The inhabitants subject to fear and `
` disquietudes. An account of the women.] `
` `
` At my alighting, I was surrounded with a crowd of people, but those `
` who stood nearest seemed to be of better quality. They beheld me `
` with all the marks and circumstances of wonder; neither indeed was `
` I much in their debt, having never till then seen a race of mortals `
` so singular in their shapes, habits, and countenances. Their heads `
` were all reclined, either to the right, or the left; one of their `
` eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the zenith. Their `
` outward garments were adorned with the figures of suns, moons, and `
` stars; interwoven with those of fiddles, flutes, harps, trumpets, `
` guitars, harpsichords, and many other instruments of music, unknown `
` to us in Europe. I observed, here and there, many in the habit of `
` servants, with a blown bladder, fastened like a flail to the end of `
` a stick, which they carried in their hands. In each bladder was a `
` small quantity of dried peas, or little pebbles, as I was `
` afterwards informed. With these bladders, they now and then `
` flapped the mouths and ears of those who stood near them, of which `
` practice I could not then conceive the meaning. It seems the minds `
` of these people are so taken up with intense speculations, that `
` they neither can speak, nor attend to the discourses of others, `
` without being roused by some external taction upon the organs of `
` speech and hearing; for which reason, those persons who are able to `
` afford it always keep a flapper (the original is climenole) in `
` their family, as one of their domestics; nor ever walk abroad, or `
` make visits, without him. And the business of this officer is, `
` when two, three, or more persons are in company, gently to strike `
` with his bladder the mouth of him who is to speak, and the right `
` ear of him or them to whom the speaker addresses himself. This `
` flapper is likewise employed diligently to attend his master in his `
` walks, and upon occasion to give him a soft flap on his eyes; `
` because he is always so wrapped up in cogitation, that he is in `
` manifest danger of falling down every precipice, and bouncing his `
` head against every post; and in the streets, of justling others, or `
` being justled himself into the kennel. `
` `
` It was necessary to give the reader this information, without which `
` he would be at the same loss with me to understand the proceedings `
` of these people, as they conducted me up the stairs to the top of `
` the island, and from thence to the royal palace. While we were `
` ascending, they forgot several times what they were about, and left `
` me to myself, till their memories were again roused by their `
` flappers; for they appeared altogether unmoved by the sight of my `
` foreign habit and countenance, and by the shouts of the vulgar, `
` whose thoughts and minds were more disengaged. `
` `
` At last we entered the palace, and proceeded into the chamber of `
` presence, where I saw the king seated on his throne, attended on `
` each side by persons of prime quality. Before the throne, was a `
` large table filled with globes and spheres, and mathematical `
` instruments of all kinds. His majesty took not the least notice of `
` us, although our entrance was not without sufficient noise, by the `
` concourse of all persons belonging to the court. But he was then `
` deep in a problem; and we attended at least an hour, before he `
` could solve it. There stood by him, on each side, a young page `
` with flaps in their hands, and when they saw he was at leisure, one `
` of them gently struck his mouth, and the other his right ear; at `
` which he startled like one awaked on the sudden, and looking `
` towards me and the company I was in, recollected the occasion of `
` our coming, whereof he had been informed before. He spoke some `
` words, whereupon immediately a young man with a flap came up to my `
` side, and flapped me gently on the right ear; but I made signs, as `
` well as I could, that I had no occasion for such an instrument; `
` which, as I afterwards found, gave his majesty, and the whole `
` court, a very mean opinion of my understanding. The king, as far `
` as I could conjecture, asked me several questions, and I addressed `
` myself to him in all the languages I had. When it was found I `
` could neither understand nor be understood, I was conducted by his `
` order to an apartment in his palace (this prince being `
` distinguished above all his predecessors for his hospitality to `
` strangers), where two servants were appointed to attend me. My `
` dinner was brought, and four persons of quality, whom I remembered `
` to have seen very near the king's person, did me the honour to dine `
` with me. We had two courses, of three dishes each. In the first `
` course, there was a shoulder of mutton cut into an equilateral `
` triangle, a piece of beef into a rhomboides, and a pudding into a `
` cycloid. The second course was two ducks trussed up in the form of `
` fiddles; sausages and puddings resembling flutes and hautboys, and `
` a breast of veal in the shape of a harp. The servants cut our `
` bread into cones, cylinders, parallelograms, and several other `
` mathematical figures. `
` `
` While we were at dinner, I made bold to ask the names of several `
` things in their language, and those noble persons, by the `
` assistance of their flappers, delighted to give me answers, hoping `
` to raise my admiration of their great abilities if I could be `
` brought to converse with them. I was soon able to call for bread `
` and drink, or whatever else I wanted. `
` `
` After dinner my company withdrew, and a person was sent to me by `
` the king's order, attended by a flapper. He brought with him pen, `
` ink, and paper, and three or four books, giving me to understand by `
` signs, that he was sent to teach me the language. We sat together `
` four hours, in which time I wrote down a great number of words in `
` columns, with the translations over against them; I likewise made a `
` shift to learn several short sentences; for my tutor would order `
` one of my servants to fetch something, to turn about, to make a `
` bow, to sit, or to stand, or walk, and the like. Then I took down `
` the sentence in writing. He showed me also, in one of his books, `
` the figures of the sun, moon, and stars, the zodiac, the tropics, `
` and polar circles, together with the denominations of many plains `
` and solids. He gave me the names and descriptions of all the `
` musical instruments, and the general terms of art in playing on `
` each of them. After he had left me, I placed all my words, with `
` their interpretations, in alphabetical order. And thus, in a few `
` days, by the help of a very faithful memory, I got some insight `
` into their language. The word, which I interpret the flying or `
` floating island, is in the original Laputa, whereof I could never `
` learn the true etymology. Lap, in the old obsolete language, `
` signifies high; and untuh, a governor; from which they say, by `
` corruption, was derived Laputa, from Lapuntuh. But I do not `
` approve of this derivation, which seems to be a little strained. I `
` ventured to offer to the learned among them a conjecture of my own, `
` that Laputa was quasi lap outed; lap, signifying properly, the `
` dancing of the sunbeams in the sea, and outed, a wing; which, `
` however, I shall not obtrude, but submit to the judicious reader. `
` `
` Those to whom the king had entrusted me, observing how ill I was `
` clad, ordered a tailor to come next morning, and take measure for a `
` suit of clothes. This operator did his office after a different `
` manner from those of his trade in Europe. He first took my `
` altitude by a quadrant, and then, with a rule and compasses, `
` described the dimensions and outlines of my whole body, all which `
` he entered upon paper; and in six days brought my clothes very ill `
` made, and quite out of shape, by happening to mistake a figure in `
` the calculation. But my comfort was, that I observed such `
` accidents very frequent, and little regarded. `
` `
` During my confinement for want of clothes, and by an indisposition `
` that held me some days longer, I much enlarged my dictionary; and `
` when I went next to court, was able to understand many things the `
` king spoke, and to return him some kind of answers. His majesty `
` had given orders, that the island should move north-east and by `
` east, to the vertical point over Lagado, the metropolis of the `
` whole kingdom below, upon the firm earth. It was about ninety `
` leagues distant, and our voyage lasted four days and a half. I was `
` not in the least sensible of the progressive motion made in the air `
`