Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
with a sort of a smile which usually arises from pity to the `
` ignorant, "that he was glad of any occasion to keep me among them, `
` and desired my permission to explain to the company what I had `
` spoke." He did so, and they talked together for some time in their `
` own language, whereof I understood not a syllable, neither could I `
` observe by their countenances, what impression my discourse had `
` made on them. After a short silence, the same person told me, `
` "that his friends and mine (so he thought fit to express himself) `
` were very much pleased with the judicious remarks I had made on the `
` great happiness and advantages of immortal life, and they were `
` desirous to know, in a particular manner, what scheme of living I `
` should have formed to myself, if it had fallen to my lot to have `
` been born a struldbrug." `
` `
` I answered, "it was easy to be eloquent on so copious and `
` delightful a subject, especially to me, who had been often apt to `
` amuse myself with visions of what I should do, if I were a king, a `
` general, or a great lord: and upon this very case, I had `
` frequently run over the whole system how I should employ myself, `
` and pass the time, if I were sure to live for ever. `
` `
` "That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a `
` struldbrug, as soon as I could discover my own happiness, by `
` understanding the difference between life and death, I would first `
` resolve, by all arts and methods, whatsoever, to procure myself `
` riches. In the pursuit of which, by thrift and management, I might `
` reasonably expect, in about two hundred years, to be the wealthiest `
` man in the kingdom. In the second place, I would, from my earliest `
` youth, apply myself to the study of arts and sciences, by which I `
` should arrive in time to excel all others in learning. Lastly, I `
` would carefully record every action and event of consequence, that `
` happened in the public, impartially draw the characters of the `
` several successions of princes and great ministers of state, with `
` my own observations on every point. I would exactly set down the `
` several changes in customs, language, fashions of dress, diet, and `
` diversions. By all which acquirements, I should be a living `
` treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle `
` of the nation. `
` `
` "I would never marry after threescore, but live in a hospitable `
` manner, yet still on the saving side. I would entertain myself in `
` forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing `
` them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, `
` fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in `
` public and private life. But my choice and constant companions `
` should be a set of my own immortal brotherhood; among whom, I would `
` elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. `
` Where any of these wanted fortunes, I would provide them with `
` convenient lodges round my own estate, and have some of them always `
` at my table; only mingling a few of the most valuable among you `
` mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lose with little or `
` no reluctance, and treat your posterity after the same manner; just `
` as a man diverts himself with the annual succession of pinks and `
` tulips in his garden, without regretting the loss of those which `
` withered the preceding year. `
` `
` "These struldbrugs and I would mutually communicate our `
` observations and memorials, through the course of time; remark the `
` several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and `
` oppose it in every step, by giving perpetual warning and `
` instruction to mankind; which, added to the strong influence of our `
` own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of `
` human nature so justly complained of in all ages. `
` `
` "Add to this, the pleasure of seeing the various revolutions of `
` states and empires; the changes in the lower and upper world; `
` ancient cities in ruins, and obscure villages become the seats of `
` kings; famous rivers lessening into shallow brooks; the ocean `
` leaving one coast dry, and overwhelming another; the discovery of `
` many countries yet unknown; barbarity overrunning the politest `
` nations, and the most barbarous become civilized. I should then `
` see the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the `
` universal medicine, and many other great inventions, brought to the `
` utmost perfection. `
` `
` "What wonderful discoveries should we make in astronomy, by `
` outliving and confirming our own predictions; by observing the `
` progress and return of comets, with the changes of motion in the `
` sun, moon, and stars!" `
` `
` I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural desire of `
` endless life, and sublunary happiness, could easily furnish me `
` with. When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been `
` interpreted, as before, to the rest of the company, there was a `
` good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not `
` without some laughter at my expense. At last, the same gentleman `
` who had been my interpreter, said, "he was desired by the rest to `
` set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the `
` common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less `
` answerable for them. That this breed of struldbrugs was peculiar `
` to their country, for there were no such people either in `
` Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambassador from `
` his majesty, and found the natives in both those kingdoms very hard `
` to believe that the fact was possible: and it appeared from my `
` astonishment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I `
` received it as a thing wholly new, and scarcely to be credited. `
` That in the two kingdoms above mentioned, where, during his `
` residence, he had conversed very much, he observed long life to be `
` the universal desire and wish of mankind. That whoever had one `
` foot in the grave was sure to hold back the other as strongly as he `
` could. That the oldest had still hopes of living one day longer, `
` and looked on death as the greatest evil, from which nature always `
` prompted him to retreat. Only in this island of Luggnagg the `
` appetite for living was not so eager, from the continual example of `
` the struldbrugs before their eyes. `
` `
` "That the system of living contrived by me, was unreasonable and `
` unjust; because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and `
` vigour, which no man could be so foolish to hope, however `
` extravagant he may be in his wishes. That the question therefore `
` was not, whether a man would choose to be always in the prime of `
` youth, attended with prosperity and health; but how he would pass a `
` perpetual life under all the usual disadvantages which old age `
` brings along with it. For although few men will avow their desires `
` of being immortal, upon such hard conditions, yet in the two `
` kingdoms before mentioned, of Balnibarbi and Japan, he observed `
` that every man desired to put off death some time longer, let it `
` approach ever so late: and he rarely heard of any man who died `
` willingly, except he were incited by the extremity of grief or `
` torture. And he appealed to me, whether in those countries I had `
` travelled, as well as my own, I had not observed the same general `
` disposition." `
` `
` After this preface, he gave me a particular account of the `
` struldbrugs among them. He said, "they commonly acted like mortals `
` till about thirty years old; after which, by degrees, they grew `
` melancholy and dejected, increasing in both till they came to `
` fourscore. This he learned from their own confession: for `
` otherwise, there not being above two or three of that species born `
` in an age, they were too few to form a general observation by. `
` When they came to fourscore years, which is reckoned the extremity `
` of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and `
` infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the `
` dreadful prospect of never dying. They were not only opinionative, `
` peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of `
` friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which never `
` descended below their grandchildren. Envy and impotent desires are `
` their prevailing passions. But those objects against which their `
` envy seems principally directed, are the vices of the younger sort `
` and the deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former, they find `
` themselves cut off from all possibility of pleasure; and whenever `
` they see a funeral, they lament and repine that others have gone to `
` a harbour of rest to which they themselves never can hope to `
` arrive. They have no remembrance of anything but what they learned `
` and observed in their youth and middle-age, and even that is very `
` imperfect; and for the truth or particulars of any fact, it is `
` safer to depend on common tradition, than upon their best `
` recollections. The least miserable among them appear to be those `
` who turn to dotage, and entirely lose their memories; these meet `
` with more pity and assistance, because they want many bad qualities `
` which abound in others. `
` `
` "If a struldbrug happen to marry one of his own kind, the marriage `
` is dissolved of course, by the courtesy of the kingdom, as soon as `
` the younger of the two comes to be fourscore; for the law thinks it `
` a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned, without any `
` fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, should `
` not have their misery doubled by the load of a wife. `
` `
` "As soon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are `
` looked on as dead in law; their heirs immediately succeed to their `
` estates; only a small pittance is reserved for their support; and `
` the poor ones are maintained at the public charge. After that `
` period, they are held incapable of any employment of trust or `
` profit; they cannot purchase lands, or take leases; neither are `
` they allowed to be witnesses in any cause, either civil or `
` criminal, not even for the decision of meers and bounds. `
` `
` "At ninety, they lose their teeth and hair; they have at that age `
` no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get, `
` without relish or appetite. The diseases they were subject to `
` still continue, without increasing or diminishing. In talking, `
` they forget the common appellation of things, and the names of `
` persons, even of those who are their nearest friends and relations. `
` For the same reason, they never can amuse themselves with reading, `
` because their memory will not serve to carry them from the `
` beginning of a sentence to the end; and by this defect, they are `
` deprived of the only entertainment whereof they might otherwise be `
` capable. `
` `
` The language of this country being always upon the flux, the `
` struldbrugs of one age do not understand those of another; neither `
` are they able, after two hundred years, to hold any conversation `
` (farther than by a few general words) with their neighbours the `
` mortals; and thus they lie under the disadvantage of living like `
` foreigners in their own country." `
` `
` This was the account given me of the struldbrugs, as near as I can `
` remember. I afterwards saw five or six of different ages, the `
` youngest not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at `
` several times by some of my friends; but although they were told, `
` "that I was a great traveller, and had seen all the world," they `
` had not the least curiosity to ask me a question; only desired "I `
` would give them slumskudask," or a token of remembrance; which is a `
` modest way of begging, to avoid the law, that strictly forbids it, `
` because they are provided for by the public, although indeed with a `
` very scanty allowance. `
` `
` They are despised and hated by all sorts of people. When one of `
` them is born, it is reckoned ominous, and their birth is recorded `
` very particularly so that you may know their age by consulting the `
`
` ignorant, "that he was glad of any occasion to keep me among them, `
` and desired my permission to explain to the company what I had `
` spoke." He did so, and they talked together for some time in their `
` own language, whereof I understood not a syllable, neither could I `
` observe by their countenances, what impression my discourse had `
` made on them. After a short silence, the same person told me, `
` "that his friends and mine (so he thought fit to express himself) `
` were very much pleased with the judicious remarks I had made on the `
` great happiness and advantages of immortal life, and they were `
` desirous to know, in a particular manner, what scheme of living I `
` should have formed to myself, if it had fallen to my lot to have `
` been born a struldbrug." `
` `
` I answered, "it was easy to be eloquent on so copious and `
` delightful a subject, especially to me, who had been often apt to `
` amuse myself with visions of what I should do, if I were a king, a `
` general, or a great lord: and upon this very case, I had `
` frequently run over the whole system how I should employ myself, `
` and pass the time, if I were sure to live for ever. `
` `
` "That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a `
` struldbrug, as soon as I could discover my own happiness, by `
` understanding the difference between life and death, I would first `
` resolve, by all arts and methods, whatsoever, to procure myself `
` riches. In the pursuit of which, by thrift and management, I might `
` reasonably expect, in about two hundred years, to be the wealthiest `
` man in the kingdom. In the second place, I would, from my earliest `
` youth, apply myself to the study of arts and sciences, by which I `
` should arrive in time to excel all others in learning. Lastly, I `
` would carefully record every action and event of consequence, that `
` happened in the public, impartially draw the characters of the `
` several successions of princes and great ministers of state, with `
` my own observations on every point. I would exactly set down the `
` several changes in customs, language, fashions of dress, diet, and `
` diversions. By all which acquirements, I should be a living `
` treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle `
` of the nation. `
` `
` "I would never marry after threescore, but live in a hospitable `
` manner, yet still on the saving side. I would entertain myself in `
` forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing `
` them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, `
` fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in `
` public and private life. But my choice and constant companions `
` should be a set of my own immortal brotherhood; among whom, I would `
` elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. `
` Where any of these wanted fortunes, I would provide them with `
` convenient lodges round my own estate, and have some of them always `
` at my table; only mingling a few of the most valuable among you `
` mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lose with little or `
` no reluctance, and treat your posterity after the same manner; just `
` as a man diverts himself with the annual succession of pinks and `
` tulips in his garden, without regretting the loss of those which `
` withered the preceding year. `
` `
` "These struldbrugs and I would mutually communicate our `
` observations and memorials, through the course of time; remark the `
` several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and `
` oppose it in every step, by giving perpetual warning and `
` instruction to mankind; which, added to the strong influence of our `
` own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of `
` human nature so justly complained of in all ages. `
` `
` "Add to this, the pleasure of seeing the various revolutions of `
` states and empires; the changes in the lower and upper world; `
` ancient cities in ruins, and obscure villages become the seats of `
` kings; famous rivers lessening into shallow brooks; the ocean `
` leaving one coast dry, and overwhelming another; the discovery of `
` many countries yet unknown; barbarity overrunning the politest `
` nations, and the most barbarous become civilized. I should then `
` see the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the `
` universal medicine, and many other great inventions, brought to the `
` utmost perfection. `
` `
` "What wonderful discoveries should we make in astronomy, by `
` outliving and confirming our own predictions; by observing the `
` progress and return of comets, with the changes of motion in the `
` sun, moon, and stars!" `
` `
` I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural desire of `
` endless life, and sublunary happiness, could easily furnish me `
` with. When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been `
` interpreted, as before, to the rest of the company, there was a `
` good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not `
` without some laughter at my expense. At last, the same gentleman `
` who had been my interpreter, said, "he was desired by the rest to `
` set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the `
` common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less `
` answerable for them. That this breed of struldbrugs was peculiar `
` to their country, for there were no such people either in `
` Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambassador from `
` his majesty, and found the natives in both those kingdoms very hard `
` to believe that the fact was possible: and it appeared from my `
` astonishment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I `
` received it as a thing wholly new, and scarcely to be credited. `
` That in the two kingdoms above mentioned, where, during his `
` residence, he had conversed very much, he observed long life to be `
` the universal desire and wish of mankind. That whoever had one `
` foot in the grave was sure to hold back the other as strongly as he `
` could. That the oldest had still hopes of living one day longer, `
` and looked on death as the greatest evil, from which nature always `
` prompted him to retreat. Only in this island of Luggnagg the `
` appetite for living was not so eager, from the continual example of `
` the struldbrugs before their eyes. `
` `
` "That the system of living contrived by me, was unreasonable and `
` unjust; because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and `
` vigour, which no man could be so foolish to hope, however `
` extravagant he may be in his wishes. That the question therefore `
` was not, whether a man would choose to be always in the prime of `
` youth, attended with prosperity and health; but how he would pass a `
` perpetual life under all the usual disadvantages which old age `
` brings along with it. For although few men will avow their desires `
` of being immortal, upon such hard conditions, yet in the two `
` kingdoms before mentioned, of Balnibarbi and Japan, he observed `
` that every man desired to put off death some time longer, let it `
` approach ever so late: and he rarely heard of any man who died `
` willingly, except he were incited by the extremity of grief or `
` torture. And he appealed to me, whether in those countries I had `
` travelled, as well as my own, I had not observed the same general `
` disposition." `
` `
` After this preface, he gave me a particular account of the `
` struldbrugs among them. He said, "they commonly acted like mortals `
` till about thirty years old; after which, by degrees, they grew `
` melancholy and dejected, increasing in both till they came to `
` fourscore. This he learned from their own confession: for `
` otherwise, there not being above two or three of that species born `
` in an age, they were too few to form a general observation by. `
` When they came to fourscore years, which is reckoned the extremity `
` of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and `
` infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the `
` dreadful prospect of never dying. They were not only opinionative, `
` peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of `
` friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which never `
` descended below their grandchildren. Envy and impotent desires are `
` their prevailing passions. But those objects against which their `
` envy seems principally directed, are the vices of the younger sort `
` and the deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former, they find `
` themselves cut off from all possibility of pleasure; and whenever `
` they see a funeral, they lament and repine that others have gone to `
` a harbour of rest to which they themselves never can hope to `
` arrive. They have no remembrance of anything but what they learned `
` and observed in their youth and middle-age, and even that is very `
` imperfect; and for the truth or particulars of any fact, it is `
` safer to depend on common tradition, than upon their best `
` recollections. The least miserable among them appear to be those `
` who turn to dotage, and entirely lose their memories; these meet `
` with more pity and assistance, because they want many bad qualities `
` which abound in others. `
` `
` "If a struldbrug happen to marry one of his own kind, the marriage `
` is dissolved of course, by the courtesy of the kingdom, as soon as `
` the younger of the two comes to be fourscore; for the law thinks it `
` a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned, without any `
` fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, should `
` not have their misery doubled by the load of a wife. `
` `
` "As soon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are `
` looked on as dead in law; their heirs immediately succeed to their `
` estates; only a small pittance is reserved for their support; and `
` the poor ones are maintained at the public charge. After that `
` period, they are held incapable of any employment of trust or `
` profit; they cannot purchase lands, or take leases; neither are `
` they allowed to be witnesses in any cause, either civil or `
` criminal, not even for the decision of meers and bounds. `
` `
` "At ninety, they lose their teeth and hair; they have at that age `
` no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get, `
` without relish or appetite. The diseases they were subject to `
` still continue, without increasing or diminishing. In talking, `
` they forget the common appellation of things, and the names of `
` persons, even of those who are their nearest friends and relations. `
` For the same reason, they never can amuse themselves with reading, `
` because their memory will not serve to carry them from the `
` beginning of a sentence to the end; and by this defect, they are `
` deprived of the only entertainment whereof they might otherwise be `
` capable. `
` `
` The language of this country being always upon the flux, the `
` struldbrugs of one age do not understand those of another; neither `
` are they able, after two hundred years, to hold any conversation `
` (farther than by a few general words) with their neighbours the `
` mortals; and thus they lie under the disadvantage of living like `
` foreigners in their own country." `
` `
` This was the account given me of the struldbrugs, as near as I can `
` remember. I afterwards saw five or six of different ages, the `
` youngest not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at `
` several times by some of my friends; but although they were told, `
` "that I was a great traveller, and had seen all the world," they `
` had not the least curiosity to ask me a question; only desired "I `
` would give them slumskudask," or a token of remembrance; which is a `
` modest way of begging, to avoid the law, that strictly forbids it, `
` because they are provided for by the public, although indeed with a `
` very scanty allowance. `
` `
` They are despised and hated by all sorts of people. When one of `
` them is born, it is reckoned ominous, and their birth is recorded `
` very particularly so that you may know their age by consulting the `
`