Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
forward, without knowing whither, till he delivered me from the `
` persecution of those execrable Yahoos." He asked me, "who made the `
` ship, and how it was possible that the Houyhnhnms of my country `
` would leave it to the management of brutes?" My answer was, "that `
` I durst proceed no further in my relation, unless he would give me `
` his word and honour that he would not be offended, and then I would `
` tell him the wonders I had so often promised." He agreed; and I `
` went on by assuring him, that the ship was made by creatures like `
` myself; who, in all the countries I had travelled, as well as in my `
` own, were the only governing rational animals; and that upon my `
` arrival hither, I was as much astonished to see the Houyhnhnms act `
` like rational beings, as he, or his friends, could be, in finding `
` some marks of reason in a creature he was pleased to call a Yahoo; `
` to which I owned my resemblance in every part, but could not `
` account for their degenerate and brutal nature. I said farther, `
` "that if good fortune ever restored me to my native country, to `
` relate my travels hither, as I resolved to do, everybody would `
` believe, that I said the thing that was not, that I invented the `
` story out of my own head; and (with all possible respect to `
` himself, his family, and friends, and under his promise of not `
` being offended) our countrymen would hardly think it probable that `
` a Houyhnhnm should be the presiding creature of a nation, and a `
` Yahoo the brute." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The Houyhnhnm's notion of truth and falsehood. The author's `
` discourse disapproved by his master. The author gives a more `
` particular account of himself, and the accidents of his voyage.] `
` `
` My master heard me with great appearances of uneasiness in his `
` countenance; because doubting, or not believing, are so little `
` known in this country, that the inhabitants cannot tell how to `
` behave themselves under such circumstances. And I remember, in `
` frequent discourses with my master concerning the nature of manhood `
` in other parts of the world, having occasion to talk of lying and `
` false representation, it was with much difficulty that he `
` comprehended what I meant, although he had otherwise a most acute `
` judgment. For he argued thus: "that the use of speech was to make `
` us understand one another, and to receive information of facts; `
` now, if any one said the thing which was not, these ends were `
` defeated, because I cannot properly be said to understand him; and `
` I am so far from receiving information, that he leaves me worse `
` than in ignorance; for I am led to believe a thing black, when it `
` is white, and short, when it is long." And these were all the `
` notions he had concerning that faculty of lying, so perfectly well `
` understood, and so universally practised, among human creatures. `
` `
` To return from this digression. When I asserted that the Yahoos `
` were the only governing animals in my country, which my master said `
` was altogether past his conception, he desired to know, "whether we `
` had Houyhnhnms among us, and what was their employment?" I told `
` him, "we had great numbers; that in summer they grazed in the `
` fields, and in winter were kept in houses with hay and oats, where `
` Yahoo servants were employed to rub their skins smooth, comb their `
` manes, pick their feet, serve them with food, and make their beds." `
` "I understand you well," said my master: "it is now very plain, `
` from all you have spoken, that whatever share of reason the Yahoos `
` pretend to, the Houyhnhnms are your masters; I heartily wish our `
` Yahoos would be so tractable." I begged "his honour would please `
` to excuse me from proceeding any further, because I was very `
` certain that the account he expected from me would be highly `
` displeasing." But he insisted in commanding me to let him know the `
` best and the worst. I told him "he should be obeyed." I owned `
` "that the Houyhnhnms among us, whom we called horses, were the most `
` generous and comely animals we had; that they excelled in strength `
` and swiftness; and when they belonged to persons of quality, were `
` employed in travelling, racing, or drawing chariots; they were `
` treated with much kindness and care, till they fell into diseases, `
` or became foundered in the feet; but then they were sold, and used `
` to all kind of drudgery till they died; after which their skins `
` were stripped, and sold for what they were worth, and their bodies `
` left to be devoured by dogs and birds of prey. But the common race `
` of horses had not so good fortune, being kept by farmers and `
` carriers, and other mean people, who put them to greater labour, `
` and fed them worse." I described, as well as I could, our way of `
` riding; the shape and use of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a `
` whip; of harness and wheels. I added, "that we fastened plates of `
` a certain hard substance, called iron, at the bottom of their feet, `
` to preserve their hoofs from being broken by the stony ways, on `
` which we often travelled." `
` `
` My master, after some expressions of great indignation, wondered `
` "how we dared to venture upon a Houyhnhnm's back; for he was sure, `
` that the weakest servant in his house would be able to shake off `
` the strongest Yahoo; or by lying down and rolling on his back, `
` squeeze the brute to death." I answered "that our horses were `
` trained up, from three or four years old, to the several uses we `
` intended them for; that if any of them proved intolerably vicious, `
` they were employed for carriages; that they were severely beaten, `
` while they were young, for any mischievous tricks; that the males, `
` designed for the common use of riding or draught, were generally `
` castrated about two years after their birth, to take down their `
` spirits, and make them more tame and gentle; that they were indeed `
` sensible of rewards and punishments; but his honour would please to `
` consider, that they had not the least tincture of reason, any more `
` than the Yahoos in this country." `
` `
` It put me to the pains of many circumlocutions, to give my master a `
` right idea of what I spoke; for their language does not abound in `
` variety of words, because their wants and passions are fewer than `
` among us. But it is impossible to express his noble resentment at `
` our savage treatment of the Houyhnhnm race; particularly after I `
` had explained the manner and use of castrating horses among us, to `
` hinder them from propagating their kind, and to render them more `
` servile. He said, "if it were possible there could be any country `
` where Yahoos alone were endued with reason, they certainly must be `
` the governing animal; because reason in time will always prevail `
` against brutal strength. But, considering the frame of our bodies, `
` and especially of mine, he thought no creature of equal bulk was so `
` ill-contrived for employing that reason in the common offices of `
` life;" whereupon he desired to know whether those among whom I `
` lived resembled me, or the Yahoos of his country?" I assured him, `
` "that I was as well shaped as most of my age; but the younger, and `
` the females, were much more soft and tender, and the skins of the `
` latter generally as white as milk." He said, "I differed indeed `
` from other Yahoos, being much more cleanly, and not altogether so `
` deformed; but, in point of real advantage, he thought I differed `
` for the worse: that my nails were of no use either to my fore or `
` hinder feet; as to my fore feet, he could not properly call them by `
` that name, for he never observed me to walk upon them; that they `
` were too soft to bear the ground; that I generally went with them `
` uncovered; neither was the covering I sometimes wore on them of the `
` same shape, or so strong as that on my feet behind: that I could `
` not walk with any security, for if either of my hinder feet `
` slipped, I must inevitably fail." He then began to find fault with `
` other parts of my body: "the flatness of my face, the prominence `
` of my nose, mine eyes placed directly in front, so that I could not `
` look on either side without turning my head: that I was not able `
` to feed myself, without lifting one of my fore-feet to my mouth: `
` and therefore nature had placed those joints to answer that `
` necessity. He knew not what could be the use of those several `
` clefts and divisions in my feet behind; that these were too soft to `
` bear the hardness and sharpness of stones, without a covering made `
` from the skin of some other brute; that my whole body wanted a `
` fence against heat and cold, which I was forced to put on and off `
` every day, with tediousness and trouble: and lastly, that he `
` observed every animal in this country naturally to abhor the `
` Yahoos, whom the weaker avoided, and the stronger drove from them. `
` So that, supposing us to have the gift of reason, he could not see `
` how it were possible to cure that natural antipathy, which every `
` creature discovered against us; nor consequently how we could tame `
` and render them serviceable. However, he would," as he said, `
` "debate the matter no farther, because he was more desirous to know `
` my own story, the country where I was born, and the several actions `
` and events of my life, before I came hither." `
` `
` I assured him, "how extremely desirous I was that he should be `
` satisfied on every point; but I doubted much, whether it would be `
` possible for me to explain myself on several subjects, whereof his `
` honour could have no conception; because I saw nothing in his `
` country to which I could resemble them; that, however, I would do `
` my best, and strive to express myself by similitudes, humbly `
` desiring his assistance when I wanted proper words;" which he was `
` pleased to promise me. `
` `
` I said, "my birth was of honest parents, in an island called `
` England; which was remote from his country, as many days' journey `
` as the strongest of his honour's servants could travel in the `
` annual course of the sun; that I was bred a surgeon, whose trade it `
` is to cure wounds and hurts in the body, gotten by accident or `
` violence; that my country was governed by a female man, whom we `
` called queen; that I left it to get riches, whereby I might `
` maintain myself and family, when I should return; that, in my last `
` voyage, I was commander of the ship, and had about fifty Yahoos `
` under me, many of which died at sea, and I was forced to supply `
` them by others picked out from several nations; that our ship was `
` twice in danger of being sunk, the first time by a great storm, and `
` the second by striking against a rock." Here my master interposed, `
` by asking me, "how I could persuade strangers, out of different `
` countries, to venture with me, after the losses I had sustained, `
` and the hazards I had run?" I said, "they were fellows of `
` desperate fortunes, forced to fly from the places of their birth on `
` account of their poverty or their crimes. Some were undone by `
` lawsuits; others spent all they had in drinking, whoring, and `
` gaming; others fled for treason; many for murder, theft, poisoning, `
` robbery, perjury, forgery, coining false money, for committing `
` rapes, or sodomy; for flying from their colours, or deserting to `
` the enemy; and most of them had broken prison; none of these durst `
` return to their native countries, for fear of being hanged, or of `
` starving in a jail; and therefore they were under the necessity of `
` seeking a livelihood in other places." `
` `
` During this discourse, my master was pleased to interrupt me `
` several times. I had made use of many circumlocutions in `
` describing to him the nature of the several crimes for which most `
` of our crew had been forced to fly their country. This labour took `
` up several days' conversation, before he was able to comprehend me. `
` He was wholly at a loss to know what could be the use or necessity `
` of practising those vices. To clear up which, I endeavoured to `
` give some ideas of the desire of power and riches; of the terrible `
` effects of lust, intemperance, malice, and envy. All this I was `
` forced to define and describe by putting cases and making `
` suppositions. After which, like one whose imagination was struck `
` with something never seen or heard of before, he would lift up his `
` eyes with amazement and indignation. Power, government, war, law, `
` punishment, and a thousand other things, had no terms wherein that `
`
` persecution of those execrable Yahoos." He asked me, "who made the `
` ship, and how it was possible that the Houyhnhnms of my country `
` would leave it to the management of brutes?" My answer was, "that `
` I durst proceed no further in my relation, unless he would give me `
` his word and honour that he would not be offended, and then I would `
` tell him the wonders I had so often promised." He agreed; and I `
` went on by assuring him, that the ship was made by creatures like `
` myself; who, in all the countries I had travelled, as well as in my `
` own, were the only governing rational animals; and that upon my `
` arrival hither, I was as much astonished to see the Houyhnhnms act `
` like rational beings, as he, or his friends, could be, in finding `
` some marks of reason in a creature he was pleased to call a Yahoo; `
` to which I owned my resemblance in every part, but could not `
` account for their degenerate and brutal nature. I said farther, `
` "that if good fortune ever restored me to my native country, to `
` relate my travels hither, as I resolved to do, everybody would `
` believe, that I said the thing that was not, that I invented the `
` story out of my own head; and (with all possible respect to `
` himself, his family, and friends, and under his promise of not `
` being offended) our countrymen would hardly think it probable that `
` a Houyhnhnm should be the presiding creature of a nation, and a `
` Yahoo the brute." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The Houyhnhnm's notion of truth and falsehood. The author's `
` discourse disapproved by his master. The author gives a more `
` particular account of himself, and the accidents of his voyage.] `
` `
` My master heard me with great appearances of uneasiness in his `
` countenance; because doubting, or not believing, are so little `
` known in this country, that the inhabitants cannot tell how to `
` behave themselves under such circumstances. And I remember, in `
` frequent discourses with my master concerning the nature of manhood `
` in other parts of the world, having occasion to talk of lying and `
` false representation, it was with much difficulty that he `
` comprehended what I meant, although he had otherwise a most acute `
` judgment. For he argued thus: "that the use of speech was to make `
` us understand one another, and to receive information of facts; `
` now, if any one said the thing which was not, these ends were `
` defeated, because I cannot properly be said to understand him; and `
` I am so far from receiving information, that he leaves me worse `
` than in ignorance; for I am led to believe a thing black, when it `
` is white, and short, when it is long." And these were all the `
` notions he had concerning that faculty of lying, so perfectly well `
` understood, and so universally practised, among human creatures. `
` `
` To return from this digression. When I asserted that the Yahoos `
` were the only governing animals in my country, which my master said `
` was altogether past his conception, he desired to know, "whether we `
` had Houyhnhnms among us, and what was their employment?" I told `
` him, "we had great numbers; that in summer they grazed in the `
` fields, and in winter were kept in houses with hay and oats, where `
` Yahoo servants were employed to rub their skins smooth, comb their `
` manes, pick their feet, serve them with food, and make their beds." `
` "I understand you well," said my master: "it is now very plain, `
` from all you have spoken, that whatever share of reason the Yahoos `
` pretend to, the Houyhnhnms are your masters; I heartily wish our `
` Yahoos would be so tractable." I begged "his honour would please `
` to excuse me from proceeding any further, because I was very `
` certain that the account he expected from me would be highly `
` displeasing." But he insisted in commanding me to let him know the `
` best and the worst. I told him "he should be obeyed." I owned `
` "that the Houyhnhnms among us, whom we called horses, were the most `
` generous and comely animals we had; that they excelled in strength `
` and swiftness; and when they belonged to persons of quality, were `
` employed in travelling, racing, or drawing chariots; they were `
` treated with much kindness and care, till they fell into diseases, `
` or became foundered in the feet; but then they were sold, and used `
` to all kind of drudgery till they died; after which their skins `
` were stripped, and sold for what they were worth, and their bodies `
` left to be devoured by dogs and birds of prey. But the common race `
` of horses had not so good fortune, being kept by farmers and `
` carriers, and other mean people, who put them to greater labour, `
` and fed them worse." I described, as well as I could, our way of `
` riding; the shape and use of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a `
` whip; of harness and wheels. I added, "that we fastened plates of `
` a certain hard substance, called iron, at the bottom of their feet, `
` to preserve their hoofs from being broken by the stony ways, on `
` which we often travelled." `
` `
` My master, after some expressions of great indignation, wondered `
` "how we dared to venture upon a Houyhnhnm's back; for he was sure, `
` that the weakest servant in his house would be able to shake off `
` the strongest Yahoo; or by lying down and rolling on his back, `
` squeeze the brute to death." I answered "that our horses were `
` trained up, from three or four years old, to the several uses we `
` intended them for; that if any of them proved intolerably vicious, `
` they were employed for carriages; that they were severely beaten, `
` while they were young, for any mischievous tricks; that the males, `
` designed for the common use of riding or draught, were generally `
` castrated about two years after their birth, to take down their `
` spirits, and make them more tame and gentle; that they were indeed `
` sensible of rewards and punishments; but his honour would please to `
` consider, that they had not the least tincture of reason, any more `
` than the Yahoos in this country." `
` `
` It put me to the pains of many circumlocutions, to give my master a `
` right idea of what I spoke; for their language does not abound in `
` variety of words, because their wants and passions are fewer than `
` among us. But it is impossible to express his noble resentment at `
` our savage treatment of the Houyhnhnm race; particularly after I `
` had explained the manner and use of castrating horses among us, to `
` hinder them from propagating their kind, and to render them more `
` servile. He said, "if it were possible there could be any country `
` where Yahoos alone were endued with reason, they certainly must be `
` the governing animal; because reason in time will always prevail `
` against brutal strength. But, considering the frame of our bodies, `
` and especially of mine, he thought no creature of equal bulk was so `
` ill-contrived for employing that reason in the common offices of `
` life;" whereupon he desired to know whether those among whom I `
` lived resembled me, or the Yahoos of his country?" I assured him, `
` "that I was as well shaped as most of my age; but the younger, and `
` the females, were much more soft and tender, and the skins of the `
` latter generally as white as milk." He said, "I differed indeed `
` from other Yahoos, being much more cleanly, and not altogether so `
` deformed; but, in point of real advantage, he thought I differed `
` for the worse: that my nails were of no use either to my fore or `
` hinder feet; as to my fore feet, he could not properly call them by `
` that name, for he never observed me to walk upon them; that they `
` were too soft to bear the ground; that I generally went with them `
` uncovered; neither was the covering I sometimes wore on them of the `
` same shape, or so strong as that on my feet behind: that I could `
` not walk with any security, for if either of my hinder feet `
` slipped, I must inevitably fail." He then began to find fault with `
` other parts of my body: "the flatness of my face, the prominence `
` of my nose, mine eyes placed directly in front, so that I could not `
` look on either side without turning my head: that I was not able `
` to feed myself, without lifting one of my fore-feet to my mouth: `
` and therefore nature had placed those joints to answer that `
` necessity. He knew not what could be the use of those several `
` clefts and divisions in my feet behind; that these were too soft to `
` bear the hardness and sharpness of stones, without a covering made `
` from the skin of some other brute; that my whole body wanted a `
` fence against heat and cold, which I was forced to put on and off `
` every day, with tediousness and trouble: and lastly, that he `
` observed every animal in this country naturally to abhor the `
` Yahoos, whom the weaker avoided, and the stronger drove from them. `
` So that, supposing us to have the gift of reason, he could not see `
` how it were possible to cure that natural antipathy, which every `
` creature discovered against us; nor consequently how we could tame `
` and render them serviceable. However, he would," as he said, `
` "debate the matter no farther, because he was more desirous to know `
` my own story, the country where I was born, and the several actions `
` and events of my life, before I came hither." `
` `
` I assured him, "how extremely desirous I was that he should be `
` satisfied on every point; but I doubted much, whether it would be `
` possible for me to explain myself on several subjects, whereof his `
` honour could have no conception; because I saw nothing in his `
` country to which I could resemble them; that, however, I would do `
` my best, and strive to express myself by similitudes, humbly `
` desiring his assistance when I wanted proper words;" which he was `
` pleased to promise me. `
` `
` I said, "my birth was of honest parents, in an island called `
` England; which was remote from his country, as many days' journey `
` as the strongest of his honour's servants could travel in the `
` annual course of the sun; that I was bred a surgeon, whose trade it `
` is to cure wounds and hurts in the body, gotten by accident or `
` violence; that my country was governed by a female man, whom we `
` called queen; that I left it to get riches, whereby I might `
` maintain myself and family, when I should return; that, in my last `
` voyage, I was commander of the ship, and had about fifty Yahoos `
` under me, many of which died at sea, and I was forced to supply `
` them by others picked out from several nations; that our ship was `
` twice in danger of being sunk, the first time by a great storm, and `
` the second by striking against a rock." Here my master interposed, `
` by asking me, "how I could persuade strangers, out of different `
` countries, to venture with me, after the losses I had sustained, `
` and the hazards I had run?" I said, "they were fellows of `
` desperate fortunes, forced to fly from the places of their birth on `
` account of their poverty or their crimes. Some were undone by `
` lawsuits; others spent all they had in drinking, whoring, and `
` gaming; others fled for treason; many for murder, theft, poisoning, `
` robbery, perjury, forgery, coining false money, for committing `
` rapes, or sodomy; for flying from their colours, or deserting to `
` the enemy; and most of them had broken prison; none of these durst `
` return to their native countries, for fear of being hanged, or of `
` starving in a jail; and therefore they were under the necessity of `
` seeking a livelihood in other places." `
` `
` During this discourse, my master was pleased to interrupt me `
` several times. I had made use of many circumlocutions in `
` describing to him the nature of the several crimes for which most `
` of our crew had been forced to fly their country. This labour took `
` up several days' conversation, before he was able to comprehend me. `
` He was wholly at a loss to know what could be the use or necessity `
` of practising those vices. To clear up which, I endeavoured to `
` give some ideas of the desire of power and riches; of the terrible `
` effects of lust, intemperance, malice, and envy. All this I was `
` forced to define and describe by putting cases and making `
` suppositions. After which, like one whose imagination was struck `
` with something never seen or heard of before, he would lift up his `
` eyes with amazement and indignation. Power, government, war, law, `
` punishment, and a thousand other things, had no terms wherein that `
`