Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
small straw, about the size of a walking-staff, and therewith `
` lifted up the lappets of my coat; which it seems he thought to be `
` some kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs `
` aside to take a better view of my face. He called his hinds about `
` him, and asked them, as I afterwards learned, whether they had ever `
` seen in the fields any little creature that resembled me. He then `
` placed me softly on the ground upon all fours, but I got `
` immediately up, and walked slowly backward and forward, to let `
` those people see I had no intent to run away. They all sat down in `
` a circle about me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off `
` my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I fell on my knees, `
` and lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several words as loud as `
` I could: I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and humbly `
` presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his hand, then `
` applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and afterwards `
` turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he took out `
` of his sleeve,) but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I made a `
` sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then took the `
` purse, and, opening it, poured all the gold into his palm. There `
` were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, beside twenty or `
` thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger `
` upon his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then `
` another; but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He `
` made me a sign to put them again into my purse, and the purse again `
` into my pocket, which, after offering it to him several times, I `
` thought it best to do. `
` `
` The farmer, by this time, was convinced I must be a rational `
` creature. He spoke often to me; but the sound of his voice pierced `
` my ears like that of a water-mill, yet his words were articulate `
` enough. I answered as loud as I could in several languages, and he `
` often laid his ear within two yards of me: but all in vain, for we `
` were wholly unintelligible to each other. He then sent his `
` servants to their work, and taking his handkerchief out of his `
` pocket, he doubled and spread it on his left hand, which he placed `
` flat on the ground with the palm upward, making me a sign to step `
` into it, as I could easily do, for it was not above a foot in `
` thickness. I thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, `
` laid myself at full length upon the handkerchief, with the `
` remainder of which he lapped me up to the head for further `
` security, and in this manner carried me home to his house. There `
` he called his wife, and showed me to her; but she screamed and ran `
` back, as women in England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. `
` However, when she had a while seen my behaviour, and how well I `
` observed the signs her husband made, she was soon reconciled, and `
` by degrees grew extremely tender of me. `
` `
` It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought in dinner. It `
` was only one substantial dish of meat (fit for the plain condition `
` of a husbandman,) in a dish of about four-and-twenty feet diameter. `
` The company were, the farmer and his wife, three children, and an `
` old grandmother. When they were sat down, the farmer placed me at `
` some distance from him on the table, which was thirty feet high `
` from the floor. I was in a terrible fright, and kept as far as I `
` could from the edge, for fear of falling. The wife minced a bit of `
` meat, then crumbled some bread on a trencher, and placed it before `
` me. I made her a low bow, took out my knife and fork, and fell to `
` eat, which gave them exceeding delight. The mistress sent her maid `
` for a small dram cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it `
` with drink; I took up the vessel with much difficulty in both `
` hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to her ladyship's `
` health, expressing the words as loud as I could in English, which `
` made the company laugh so heartily, that I was almost deafened with `
` the noise. This liquor tasted like a small cider, and was not `
` unpleasant. Then the master made me a sign to come to his trencher `
` side; but as I walked on the table, being in great surprise all the `
` time, as the indulgent reader will easily conceive and excuse, I `
` happened to stumble against a crust, and fell flat on my face, but `
` received no hurt. I got up immediately, and observing the good `
` people to be in much concern, I took my hat (which I held under my `
` arm out of good manners,) and waving it over my head, made three `
` huzzas, to show I had got no mischief by my fall. But advancing `
` forward towards my master (as I shall henceforth call him,) his `
` youngest son, who sat next to him, an arch boy of about ten years `
` old, took me up by the legs, and held me so high in the air, that I `
` trembled every limb: but his father snatched me from him, and at `
` the same time gave him such a box on the left ear, as would have `
` felled an European troop of horse to the earth, ordering him to be `
` taken from the table. But being afraid the boy might owe me a `
` spite, and well remembering how mischievous all children among us `
` naturally are to sparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, `
` I fell on my knees, and pointing to the boy, made my master to `
` understand, as well as I could, that I desired his son might be `
` pardoned. The father complied, and the lad took his seat again, `
` whereupon I went to him, and kissed his hand, which my master took, `
` and made him stroke me gently with it. `
` `
` In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favourite cat leaped into her `
` lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking- `
` weavers at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from the `
` purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger than an `
` ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her paws, `
` while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The fierceness of `
` this creature's countenance altogether discomposed me; though I `
` stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet off; and `
` although my mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a `
` spring, and seize me in her talons. But it happened there was no `
` danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me when my master `
` placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been always `
` told, and found true by experience in my travels, that flying or `
` discovering fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way to make `
` it pursue or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous juncture, `
` to show no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity five or `
` six times before the very head of the cat, and came within half a `
` yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she were more `
` afraid of me: I had less apprehension concerning the dogs, whereof `
` three or four came into the room, as it is usual in farmers' `
` houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to four `
` elephants, and another a greyhound, somewhat taller than the `
` mastiff, but not so large. `
` `
` When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a `
` year old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a squall `
` that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea, after the `
` usual oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The mother, `
` out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me towards the child, `
` who presently seized me by the middle, and got my head into his `
` mouth, where I roared so loud that the urchin was frighted, and let `
` me drop, and I should infallibly have broke my neck, if the mother `
` had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to quiet her babe, `
` made use of a rattle which was a kind of hollow vessel filled with `
` great stones, and fastened by a cable to the child's waist: but `
` all in vain; so that she was forced to apply the last remedy by `
` giving it suck. I must confess no object ever disgusted me so much `
` as the sight of her monstrous breast, which I cannot tell what to `
` compare with, so as to give the curious reader an idea of its bulk, `
` shape, and colour. It stood prominent six feet, and could not be `
` less than sixteen in circumference. The nipple was about half the `
` bigness of my head, and the hue both of that and the dug, so varied `
` with spots, pimples, and freckles, that nothing could appear more `
` nauseous: for I had a near sight of her, she sitting down, the `
` more conveniently to give suck, and I standing on the table. This `
` made me reflect upon the fair skins of our English ladies, who `
` appear so beautiful to us, only because they are of our own size, `
` and their defects not to be seen but through a magnifying glass; `
` where we find by experiment that the smoothest and whitest skins `
` look rough, and coarse, and ill-coloured. `
` `
` I remember when I was at Lilliput, the complexion of those `
` diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and `
` talking upon this subject with a person of learning there, who was `
` an intimate friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much `
` fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the ground, than it `
` did upon a nearer view, when I took him up in my hand, and brought `
` him close, which he confessed was at first a very shocking sight. `
` He said, "he could discover great holes in my skin; that the stumps `
` of my beard were ten times stronger than the bristles of a boar, `
` and my complexion made up of several colours altogether `
` disagreeable:" although I must beg leave to say for myself, that I `
` am as fair as most of my sex and country, and very little sunburnt `
` by all my travels. On the other side, discoursing of the ladies in `
` that emperor's court, he used to tell me, "one had freckles; `
` another too wide a mouth; a third too large a nose;" nothing of `
` which I was able to distinguish. I confess this reflection was `
` obvious enough; which, however, I could not forbear, lest the `
` reader might think those vast creatures were actually deformed: `
` for I must do them the justice to say, they are a comely race of `
` people, and particularly the features of my master's countenance, `
` although he was but a farmer, when I beheld him from the height of `
` sixty feet, appeared very well proportioned. `
` `
` When dinner was done, my master went out to his labourers, and, as `
` I could discover by his voice and gesture, gave his wife strict `
` charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and disposed to `
` sleep, which my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed, and `
` covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and coarser `
` than the mainsail of a man-of-war. `
` `
` I slept about two hours, and dreamt I was at home with my wife and `
` children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and found `
` myself alone in a vast room, between two and three hundred feet `
` wide, and above two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards wide. `
` My mistress was gone about her household affairs, and had locked me `
` in. The bed was eight yards from the floor. Some natural `
` necessities required me to get down; I durst not presume to call; `
` and if I had, it would have been in vain, with such a voice as `
` mine, at so great a distance from the room where I lay to the `
` kitchen where the family kept. While I was under these `
` circumstances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran smelling `
` backwards and forwards on the bed. One of them came up almost to `
` my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and drew out my hanger to `
` defend myself. These horrible animals had the boldness to attack `
` me on both sides, and one of them held his fore-feet at my collar; `
` but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before he could do `
` me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the other, seeing `
` the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not without one good `
` wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, and made the blood `
` run trickling from him. After this exploit, I walked gently to and `
` fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss of spirits. These `
` creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, but infinitely more `
` nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my belt before I went `
` to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to pieces and devoured. `
` I measured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to be two yards `
` long, wanting an inch; but it went against my stomach to drag the `
` carcass off the bed, where it lay still bleeding; I observed it had `
` yet some life, but with a strong slash across the neck, I `
` thoroughly despatched it. `
` `
` Soon after my mistress came into the room, who seeing me all `
` bloody, ran and took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat, `
` smiling, and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat she `
`
` lifted up the lappets of my coat; which it seems he thought to be `
` some kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs `
` aside to take a better view of my face. He called his hinds about `
` him, and asked them, as I afterwards learned, whether they had ever `
` seen in the fields any little creature that resembled me. He then `
` placed me softly on the ground upon all fours, but I got `
` immediately up, and walked slowly backward and forward, to let `
` those people see I had no intent to run away. They all sat down in `
` a circle about me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off `
` my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I fell on my knees, `
` and lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several words as loud as `
` I could: I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and humbly `
` presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his hand, then `
` applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and afterwards `
` turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he took out `
` of his sleeve,) but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I made a `
` sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then took the `
` purse, and, opening it, poured all the gold into his palm. There `
` were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, beside twenty or `
` thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger `
` upon his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then `
` another; but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He `
` made me a sign to put them again into my purse, and the purse again `
` into my pocket, which, after offering it to him several times, I `
` thought it best to do. `
` `
` The farmer, by this time, was convinced I must be a rational `
` creature. He spoke often to me; but the sound of his voice pierced `
` my ears like that of a water-mill, yet his words were articulate `
` enough. I answered as loud as I could in several languages, and he `
` often laid his ear within two yards of me: but all in vain, for we `
` were wholly unintelligible to each other. He then sent his `
` servants to their work, and taking his handkerchief out of his `
` pocket, he doubled and spread it on his left hand, which he placed `
` flat on the ground with the palm upward, making me a sign to step `
` into it, as I could easily do, for it was not above a foot in `
` thickness. I thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, `
` laid myself at full length upon the handkerchief, with the `
` remainder of which he lapped me up to the head for further `
` security, and in this manner carried me home to his house. There `
` he called his wife, and showed me to her; but she screamed and ran `
` back, as women in England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. `
` However, when she had a while seen my behaviour, and how well I `
` observed the signs her husband made, she was soon reconciled, and `
` by degrees grew extremely tender of me. `
` `
` It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought in dinner. It `
` was only one substantial dish of meat (fit for the plain condition `
` of a husbandman,) in a dish of about four-and-twenty feet diameter. `
` The company were, the farmer and his wife, three children, and an `
` old grandmother. When they were sat down, the farmer placed me at `
` some distance from him on the table, which was thirty feet high `
` from the floor. I was in a terrible fright, and kept as far as I `
` could from the edge, for fear of falling. The wife minced a bit of `
` meat, then crumbled some bread on a trencher, and placed it before `
` me. I made her a low bow, took out my knife and fork, and fell to `
` eat, which gave them exceeding delight. The mistress sent her maid `
` for a small dram cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it `
` with drink; I took up the vessel with much difficulty in both `
` hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to her ladyship's `
` health, expressing the words as loud as I could in English, which `
` made the company laugh so heartily, that I was almost deafened with `
` the noise. This liquor tasted like a small cider, and was not `
` unpleasant. Then the master made me a sign to come to his trencher `
` side; but as I walked on the table, being in great surprise all the `
` time, as the indulgent reader will easily conceive and excuse, I `
` happened to stumble against a crust, and fell flat on my face, but `
` received no hurt. I got up immediately, and observing the good `
` people to be in much concern, I took my hat (which I held under my `
` arm out of good manners,) and waving it over my head, made three `
` huzzas, to show I had got no mischief by my fall. But advancing `
` forward towards my master (as I shall henceforth call him,) his `
` youngest son, who sat next to him, an arch boy of about ten years `
` old, took me up by the legs, and held me so high in the air, that I `
` trembled every limb: but his father snatched me from him, and at `
` the same time gave him such a box on the left ear, as would have `
` felled an European troop of horse to the earth, ordering him to be `
` taken from the table. But being afraid the boy might owe me a `
` spite, and well remembering how mischievous all children among us `
` naturally are to sparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, `
` I fell on my knees, and pointing to the boy, made my master to `
` understand, as well as I could, that I desired his son might be `
` pardoned. The father complied, and the lad took his seat again, `
` whereupon I went to him, and kissed his hand, which my master took, `
` and made him stroke me gently with it. `
` `
` In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favourite cat leaped into her `
` lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking- `
` weavers at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from the `
` purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger than an `
` ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her paws, `
` while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The fierceness of `
` this creature's countenance altogether discomposed me; though I `
` stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet off; and `
` although my mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a `
` spring, and seize me in her talons. But it happened there was no `
` danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me when my master `
` placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been always `
` told, and found true by experience in my travels, that flying or `
` discovering fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way to make `
` it pursue or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous juncture, `
` to show no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity five or `
` six times before the very head of the cat, and came within half a `
` yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she were more `
` afraid of me: I had less apprehension concerning the dogs, whereof `
` three or four came into the room, as it is usual in farmers' `
` houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to four `
` elephants, and another a greyhound, somewhat taller than the `
` mastiff, but not so large. `
` `
` When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a `
` year old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a squall `
` that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea, after the `
` usual oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The mother, `
` out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me towards the child, `
` who presently seized me by the middle, and got my head into his `
` mouth, where I roared so loud that the urchin was frighted, and let `
` me drop, and I should infallibly have broke my neck, if the mother `
` had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to quiet her babe, `
` made use of a rattle which was a kind of hollow vessel filled with `
` great stones, and fastened by a cable to the child's waist: but `
` all in vain; so that she was forced to apply the last remedy by `
` giving it suck. I must confess no object ever disgusted me so much `
` as the sight of her monstrous breast, which I cannot tell what to `
` compare with, so as to give the curious reader an idea of its bulk, `
` shape, and colour. It stood prominent six feet, and could not be `
` less than sixteen in circumference. The nipple was about half the `
` bigness of my head, and the hue both of that and the dug, so varied `
` with spots, pimples, and freckles, that nothing could appear more `
` nauseous: for I had a near sight of her, she sitting down, the `
` more conveniently to give suck, and I standing on the table. This `
` made me reflect upon the fair skins of our English ladies, who `
` appear so beautiful to us, only because they are of our own size, `
` and their defects not to be seen but through a magnifying glass; `
` where we find by experiment that the smoothest and whitest skins `
` look rough, and coarse, and ill-coloured. `
` `
` I remember when I was at Lilliput, the complexion of those `
` diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and `
` talking upon this subject with a person of learning there, who was `
` an intimate friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much `
` fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the ground, than it `
` did upon a nearer view, when I took him up in my hand, and brought `
` him close, which he confessed was at first a very shocking sight. `
` He said, "he could discover great holes in my skin; that the stumps `
` of my beard were ten times stronger than the bristles of a boar, `
` and my complexion made up of several colours altogether `
` disagreeable:" although I must beg leave to say for myself, that I `
` am as fair as most of my sex and country, and very little sunburnt `
` by all my travels. On the other side, discoursing of the ladies in `
` that emperor's court, he used to tell me, "one had freckles; `
` another too wide a mouth; a third too large a nose;" nothing of `
` which I was able to distinguish. I confess this reflection was `
` obvious enough; which, however, I could not forbear, lest the `
` reader might think those vast creatures were actually deformed: `
` for I must do them the justice to say, they are a comely race of `
` people, and particularly the features of my master's countenance, `
` although he was but a farmer, when I beheld him from the height of `
` sixty feet, appeared very well proportioned. `
` `
` When dinner was done, my master went out to his labourers, and, as `
` I could discover by his voice and gesture, gave his wife strict `
` charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and disposed to `
` sleep, which my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed, and `
` covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and coarser `
` than the mainsail of a man-of-war. `
` `
` I slept about two hours, and dreamt I was at home with my wife and `
` children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and found `
` myself alone in a vast room, between two and three hundred feet `
` wide, and above two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards wide. `
` My mistress was gone about her household affairs, and had locked me `
` in. The bed was eight yards from the floor. Some natural `
` necessities required me to get down; I durst not presume to call; `
` and if I had, it would have been in vain, with such a voice as `
` mine, at so great a distance from the room where I lay to the `
` kitchen where the family kept. While I was under these `
` circumstances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran smelling `
` backwards and forwards on the bed. One of them came up almost to `
` my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and drew out my hanger to `
` defend myself. These horrible animals had the boldness to attack `
` me on both sides, and one of them held his fore-feet at my collar; `
` but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before he could do `
` me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the other, seeing `
` the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not without one good `
` wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, and made the blood `
` run trickling from him. After this exploit, I walked gently to and `
` fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss of spirits. These `
` creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, but infinitely more `
` nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my belt before I went `
` to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to pieces and devoured. `
` I measured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to be two yards `
` long, wanting an inch; but it went against my stomach to drag the `
` carcass off the bed, where it lay still bleeding; I observed it had `
` yet some life, but with a strong slash across the neck, I `
` thoroughly despatched it. `
` `
` Soon after my mistress came into the room, who seeing me all `
` bloody, ran and took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat, `
` smiling, and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat she `
`