Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
the thickest part at least three yards over. This magnet is `
` sustained by a very strong axle of adamant passing through its `
` middle, upon which it plays, and is poised so exactly that the `
` weakest hand can turn it. It is hooped round with a hollow `
` cylinder of adamant, four feet yards in diameter, placed `
` horizontally, and supported by eight adamantine feet, each six `
` yards high. In the middle of the concave side, there is a groove `
` twelve inches deep, in which the extremities of the axle are `
` lodged, and turned round as there is occasion. `
` `
` The stone cannot be removed from its place by any force, because `
` the hoop and its feet are one continued piece with that body of `
` adamant which constitutes the bottom of the island. `
` `
` By means of this loadstone, the island is made to rise and fall, `
` and move from one place to another. For, with respect to that part `
` of the earth over which the monarch presides, the stone is endued `
` at one of its sides with an attractive power, and at the other with `
` a repulsive. Upon placing the magnet erect, with its attracting `
` end towards the earth, the island descends; but when the repelling `
` extremity points downwards, the island mounts directly upwards. `
` When the position of the stone is oblique, the motion of the island `
` is so too: for in this magnet, the forces always act in lines `
` parallel to its direction. `
` `
` By this oblique motion, the island is conveyed to different parts `
` of the monarch's dominions. To explain the manner of its progress, `
` let A B represent a line drawn across the dominions of Balnibarbi, `
` let the line c d represent the loadstone, of which let d be the `
` repelling end, and c the attracting end, the island being over C: `
` let the stone be placed in position c d, with its repelling end `
` downwards; then the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards `
` D. When it is arrived at D, let the stone be turned upon its axle, `
` till its attracting end points towards E, and then the island will `
` be carried obliquely towards E; where, if the stone be again turned `
` upon its axle till it stands in the position E F, with its `
` repelling point downwards, the island will rise obliquely towards `
` F, where, by directing the attracting end towards G, the island may `
` be carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the stone, so as to `
` make its repelling extremity to point directly downward. And thus, `
` by changing the situation of the stone, as often as there is `
` occasion, the island is made to rise and fall by turns in an `
` oblique direction, and by those alternate risings and fallings (the `
` obliquity being not considerable) is conveyed from one part of the `
` dominions to the other. `
` `
` But it must be observed, that this island cannot move beyond the `
` extent of the dominions below, nor can it rise above the height of `
` four miles. For which the astronomers (who have written large `
` systems concerning the stone) assign the following reason: that `
` the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the distance of four `
` miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the stone in the `
` bowels of the earth, and in the sea about six leagues distant from `
` the shore, is not diffused through the whole globe, but terminated `
` with the limits of the king's dominions; and it was easy, from the `
` great advantage of such a superior situation, for a prince to bring `
` under his obedience whatever country lay within the attraction of `
` that magnet. `
` `
` When the stone is put parallel to the plane of the horizon, the `
` island stands still; for in that case the extremities of it, being `
` at equal distance from the earth, act with equal force, the one in `
` drawing downwards, the other in pushing upwards, and consequently `
` no motion can ensue. `
` `
` This loadstone is under the care of certain astronomers, who, from `
` time to time, give it such positions as the monarch directs. They `
` spend the greatest part of their lives in observing the celestial `
` bodies, which they do by the assistance of glasses, far excelling `
` ours in goodness. For, although their largest telescopes do not `
` exceed three feet, they magnify much more than those of a hundred `
` with us, and show the stars with greater clearness. This advantage `
` has enabled them to extend their discoveries much further than our `
` astronomers in Europe; for they have made a catalogue of ten `
` thousand fixed stars, whereas the largest of ours do not contain `
` above one third part of that number. They have likewise discovered `
` two lesser stars, or satellites, which revolve about Mars; whereof `
` the innermost is distant from the centre of the primary planet `
` exactly three of his diameters, and the outermost, five; the former `
` revolves in the space of ten hours, and the latter in twenty-one `
` and a half; so that the squares of their periodical times are very `
` near in the same proportion with the cubes of their distance from `
` the centre of Mars; which evidently shows them to be governed by `
` the same law of gravitation that influences the other heavenly `
` bodies. `
` `
` They have observed ninety-three different comets, and settled their `
` periods with great exactness. If this be true (and they affirm it `
` with great confidence) it is much to be wished, that their `
` observations were made public, whereby the theory of comets, which `
` at present is very lame and defective, might be brought to the same `
` perfection with other arts of astronomy. `
` `
` The king would be the most absolute prince in the universe, if he `
` could but prevail on a ministry to join with him; but these having `
` their estates below on the continent, and considering that the `
` office of a favourite has a very uncertain tenure, would never `
` consent to the enslaving of their country. `
` `
` If any town should engage in rebellion or mutiny, fall into violent `
` factions, or refuse to pay the usual tribute, the king has two `
` methods of reducing them to obedience. The first and the mildest `
` course is, by keeping the island hovering over such a town, and the `
` lands about it, whereby he can deprive them of the benefit of the `
` sun and the rain, and consequently afflict the inhabitants with `
` dearth and diseases: and if the crime deserve it, they are at the `
` same time pelted from above with great stones, against which they `
` have no defence but by creeping into cellars or caves, while the `
` roofs of their houses are beaten to pieces. But if they still `
` continue obstinate, or offer to raise insurrections, he proceeds to `
` the last remedy, by letting the island drop directly upon their `
` heads, which makes a universal destruction both of houses and men. `
` However, this is an extremity to which the prince is seldom driven, `
` neither indeed is he willing to put it in execution; nor dare his `
` ministers advise him to an action, which, as it would render them `
` odious to the people, so it would be a great damage to their own `
` estates, which all lie below; for the island is the king's demesne. `
` `
` But there is still indeed a more weighty reason, why the kings of `
` this country have been always averse from executing so terrible an `
` action, unless upon the utmost necessity. For, if the town `
` intended to be destroyed should have in it any tall rocks, as it `
` generally falls out in the larger cities, a situation probably `
` chosen at first with a view to prevent such a catastrophe; or if it `
` abound in high spires, or pillars of stone, a sudden fall might `
` endanger the bottom or under surface of the island, which, although `
` it consist, as I have said, of one entire adamant, two hundred `
` yards thick, might happen to crack by too great a shock, or burst `
` by approaching too near the fires from the houses below, as the `
` backs, both of iron and stone, will often do in our chimneys. Of `
` all this the people are well apprised, and understand how far to `
` carry their obstinacy, where their liberty or property is `
` concerned. And the king, when he is highest provoked, and most `
` determined to press a city to rubbish, orders the island to descend `
` with great gentleness, out of a pretence of tenderness to his `
` people, but, indeed, for fear of breaking the adamantine bottom; in `
` which case, it is the opinion of all their philosophers, that the `
` loadstone could no longer hold it up, and the whole mass would fall `
` to the ground. `
` `
` By a fundamental law of this realm, neither the king, nor either of `
` his two eldest sons, are permitted to leave the island; nor the `
` queen, till she is past child-bearing. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author leaves Laputa; is conveyed to Balnibarbi; arrives at `
` the metropolis. A description of the metropolis, and the country `
` adjoining. The author hospitably received by a great lord. His `
` conversation with that lord.] `
` `
` Although I cannot say that I was ill treated in this island, yet I `
` must confess I thought myself too much neglected, not without some `
` degree of contempt; for neither prince nor people appeared to be `
` curious in any part of knowledge, except mathematics and music, `
` wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that account very little `
` regarded. `
` `
` On the other side, after having seen all the curiosities of the `
` island, I was very desirous to leave it, being heartily weary of `
` those people. They were indeed excellent in two sciences for which `
` I have great esteem, and wherein I am not unversed; but, at the `
` same time, so abstracted and involved in speculation, that I never `
` met with such disagreeable companions. I conversed only with `
` women, tradesmen, flappers, and court-pages, during two months of `
` my abode there; by which, at last, I rendered myself extremely `
` contemptible; yet these were the only people from whom I could ever `
` receive a reasonable answer. `
` `
` I had obtained, by hard study, a good degree of knowledge in their `
` language: I was weary of being confined to an island where I `
` received so little countenance, and resolved to leave it with the `
` first opportunity. `
` `
` There was a great lord at court, nearly related to the king, and `
` for that reason alone used with respect. He was universally `
` reckoned the most ignorant and stupid person among them. He had `
` performed many eminent services for the crown, had great natural `
` and acquired parts, adorned with integrity and honour; but so ill `
` an ear for music, that his detractors reported, "he had been often `
` known to beat time in the wrong place;" neither could his tutors, `
` without extreme difficulty, teach him to demonstrate the most easy `
` proposition in the mathematics. He was pleased to show me many `
` marks of favour, often did me the honour of a visit, desired to be `
` informed in the affairs of Europe, the laws and customs, the `
` manners and learning of the several countries where I had `
` travelled. He listened to me with great attention, and made very `
` wise observations on all I spoke. He had two flappers attending `
` him for state, but never made use of them, except at court and in `
` visits of ceremony, and would always command them to withdraw, when `
` we were alone together. `
` `
` I entreated this illustrious person, to intercede in my behalf with `
` his majesty, for leave to depart; which he accordingly did, as he `
` was pleased to tell me, with regret: for indeed he had made me `
` several offers very advantageous, which, however, I refused, with `
` expressions of the highest acknowledgment. `
`
` sustained by a very strong axle of adamant passing through its `
` middle, upon which it plays, and is poised so exactly that the `
` weakest hand can turn it. It is hooped round with a hollow `
` cylinder of adamant, four feet yards in diameter, placed `
` horizontally, and supported by eight adamantine feet, each six `
` yards high. In the middle of the concave side, there is a groove `
` twelve inches deep, in which the extremities of the axle are `
` lodged, and turned round as there is occasion. `
` `
` The stone cannot be removed from its place by any force, because `
` the hoop and its feet are one continued piece with that body of `
` adamant which constitutes the bottom of the island. `
` `
` By means of this loadstone, the island is made to rise and fall, `
` and move from one place to another. For, with respect to that part `
` of the earth over which the monarch presides, the stone is endued `
` at one of its sides with an attractive power, and at the other with `
` a repulsive. Upon placing the magnet erect, with its attracting `
` end towards the earth, the island descends; but when the repelling `
` extremity points downwards, the island mounts directly upwards. `
` When the position of the stone is oblique, the motion of the island `
` is so too: for in this magnet, the forces always act in lines `
` parallel to its direction. `
` `
` By this oblique motion, the island is conveyed to different parts `
` of the monarch's dominions. To explain the manner of its progress, `
` let A B represent a line drawn across the dominions of Balnibarbi, `
` let the line c d represent the loadstone, of which let d be the `
` repelling end, and c the attracting end, the island being over C: `
` let the stone be placed in position c d, with its repelling end `
` downwards; then the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards `
` D. When it is arrived at D, let the stone be turned upon its axle, `
` till its attracting end points towards E, and then the island will `
` be carried obliquely towards E; where, if the stone be again turned `
` upon its axle till it stands in the position E F, with its `
` repelling point downwards, the island will rise obliquely towards `
` F, where, by directing the attracting end towards G, the island may `
` be carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the stone, so as to `
` make its repelling extremity to point directly downward. And thus, `
` by changing the situation of the stone, as often as there is `
` occasion, the island is made to rise and fall by turns in an `
` oblique direction, and by those alternate risings and fallings (the `
` obliquity being not considerable) is conveyed from one part of the `
` dominions to the other. `
` `
` But it must be observed, that this island cannot move beyond the `
` extent of the dominions below, nor can it rise above the height of `
` four miles. For which the astronomers (who have written large `
` systems concerning the stone) assign the following reason: that `
` the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond the distance of four `
` miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the stone in the `
` bowels of the earth, and in the sea about six leagues distant from `
` the shore, is not diffused through the whole globe, but terminated `
` with the limits of the king's dominions; and it was easy, from the `
` great advantage of such a superior situation, for a prince to bring `
` under his obedience whatever country lay within the attraction of `
` that magnet. `
` `
` When the stone is put parallel to the plane of the horizon, the `
` island stands still; for in that case the extremities of it, being `
` at equal distance from the earth, act with equal force, the one in `
` drawing downwards, the other in pushing upwards, and consequently `
` no motion can ensue. `
` `
` This loadstone is under the care of certain astronomers, who, from `
` time to time, give it such positions as the monarch directs. They `
` spend the greatest part of their lives in observing the celestial `
` bodies, which they do by the assistance of glasses, far excelling `
` ours in goodness. For, although their largest telescopes do not `
` exceed three feet, they magnify much more than those of a hundred `
` with us, and show the stars with greater clearness. This advantage `
` has enabled them to extend their discoveries much further than our `
` astronomers in Europe; for they have made a catalogue of ten `
` thousand fixed stars, whereas the largest of ours do not contain `
` above one third part of that number. They have likewise discovered `
` two lesser stars, or satellites, which revolve about Mars; whereof `
` the innermost is distant from the centre of the primary planet `
` exactly three of his diameters, and the outermost, five; the former `
` revolves in the space of ten hours, and the latter in twenty-one `
` and a half; so that the squares of their periodical times are very `
` near in the same proportion with the cubes of their distance from `
` the centre of Mars; which evidently shows them to be governed by `
` the same law of gravitation that influences the other heavenly `
` bodies. `
` `
` They have observed ninety-three different comets, and settled their `
` periods with great exactness. If this be true (and they affirm it `
` with great confidence) it is much to be wished, that their `
` observations were made public, whereby the theory of comets, which `
` at present is very lame and defective, might be brought to the same `
` perfection with other arts of astronomy. `
` `
` The king would be the most absolute prince in the universe, if he `
` could but prevail on a ministry to join with him; but these having `
` their estates below on the continent, and considering that the `
` office of a favourite has a very uncertain tenure, would never `
` consent to the enslaving of their country. `
` `
` If any town should engage in rebellion or mutiny, fall into violent `
` factions, or refuse to pay the usual tribute, the king has two `
` methods of reducing them to obedience. The first and the mildest `
` course is, by keeping the island hovering over such a town, and the `
` lands about it, whereby he can deprive them of the benefit of the `
` sun and the rain, and consequently afflict the inhabitants with `
` dearth and diseases: and if the crime deserve it, they are at the `
` same time pelted from above with great stones, against which they `
` have no defence but by creeping into cellars or caves, while the `
` roofs of their houses are beaten to pieces. But if they still `
` continue obstinate, or offer to raise insurrections, he proceeds to `
` the last remedy, by letting the island drop directly upon their `
` heads, which makes a universal destruction both of houses and men. `
` However, this is an extremity to which the prince is seldom driven, `
` neither indeed is he willing to put it in execution; nor dare his `
` ministers advise him to an action, which, as it would render them `
` odious to the people, so it would be a great damage to their own `
` estates, which all lie below; for the island is the king's demesne. `
` `
` But there is still indeed a more weighty reason, why the kings of `
` this country have been always averse from executing so terrible an `
` action, unless upon the utmost necessity. For, if the town `
` intended to be destroyed should have in it any tall rocks, as it `
` generally falls out in the larger cities, a situation probably `
` chosen at first with a view to prevent such a catastrophe; or if it `
` abound in high spires, or pillars of stone, a sudden fall might `
` endanger the bottom or under surface of the island, which, although `
` it consist, as I have said, of one entire adamant, two hundred `
` yards thick, might happen to crack by too great a shock, or burst `
` by approaching too near the fires from the houses below, as the `
` backs, both of iron and stone, will often do in our chimneys. Of `
` all this the people are well apprised, and understand how far to `
` carry their obstinacy, where their liberty or property is `
` concerned. And the king, when he is highest provoked, and most `
` determined to press a city to rubbish, orders the island to descend `
` with great gentleness, out of a pretence of tenderness to his `
` people, but, indeed, for fear of breaking the adamantine bottom; in `
` which case, it is the opinion of all their philosophers, that the `
` loadstone could no longer hold it up, and the whole mass would fall `
` to the ground. `
` `
` By a fundamental law of this realm, neither the king, nor either of `
` his two eldest sons, are permitted to leave the island; nor the `
` queen, till she is past child-bearing. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author leaves Laputa; is conveyed to Balnibarbi; arrives at `
` the metropolis. A description of the metropolis, and the country `
` adjoining. The author hospitably received by a great lord. His `
` conversation with that lord.] `
` `
` Although I cannot say that I was ill treated in this island, yet I `
` must confess I thought myself too much neglected, not without some `
` degree of contempt; for neither prince nor people appeared to be `
` curious in any part of knowledge, except mathematics and music, `
` wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that account very little `
` regarded. `
` `
` On the other side, after having seen all the curiosities of the `
` island, I was very desirous to leave it, being heartily weary of `
` those people. They were indeed excellent in two sciences for which `
` I have great esteem, and wherein I am not unversed; but, at the `
` same time, so abstracted and involved in speculation, that I never `
` met with such disagreeable companions. I conversed only with `
` women, tradesmen, flappers, and court-pages, during two months of `
` my abode there; by which, at last, I rendered myself extremely `
` contemptible; yet these were the only people from whom I could ever `
` receive a reasonable answer. `
` `
` I had obtained, by hard study, a good degree of knowledge in their `
` language: I was weary of being confined to an island where I `
` received so little countenance, and resolved to leave it with the `
` first opportunity. `
` `
` There was a great lord at court, nearly related to the king, and `
` for that reason alone used with respect. He was universally `
` reckoned the most ignorant and stupid person among them. He had `
` performed many eminent services for the crown, had great natural `
` and acquired parts, adorned with integrity and honour; but so ill `
` an ear for music, that his detractors reported, "he had been often `
` known to beat time in the wrong place;" neither could his tutors, `
` without extreme difficulty, teach him to demonstrate the most easy `
` proposition in the mathematics. He was pleased to show me many `
` marks of favour, often did me the honour of a visit, desired to be `
` informed in the affairs of Europe, the laws and customs, the `
` manners and learning of the several countries where I had `
` travelled. He listened to me with great attention, and made very `
` wise observations on all I spoke. He had two flappers attending `
` him for state, but never made use of them, except at court and in `
` visits of ceremony, and would always command them to withdraw, when `
` we were alone together. `
` `
` I entreated this illustrious person, to intercede in my behalf with `
` his majesty, for leave to depart; which he accordingly did, as he `
` was pleased to tell me, with regret: for indeed he had made me `
` several offers very advantageous, which, however, I refused, with `
` expressions of the highest acknowledgment. `
`