Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
he commanded me, some time after, to inform him, "what species of `
` Yahoo I particularly meant by that appellation." `
` `
` I told him, "that a first or chief minister of state, who was the `
` person I intended to describe, was the creature wholly exempt from `
` joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger; at least, makes use `
` of no other passions, but a violent desire of wealth, power, and `
` titles; that he applies his words to all uses, except to the `
` indication of his mind; that he never tells a truth but with an `
` intent that you should take it for a lie; nor a lie, but with a `
` design that you should take it for a truth; that those he speaks `
` worst of behind their backs are in the surest way of preferment; `
` and whenever he begins to praise you to others, or to yourself, you `
` are from that day forlorn. The worst mark you can receive is a `
` promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath; after which, `
` every wise man retires, and gives over all hopes. `
` `
` "There are three methods, by which a man may rise to be chief `
` minister. The first is, by knowing how, with prudence, to dispose `
` of a wife, a daughter, or a sister; the second, by betraying or `
` undermining his predecessor; and the third is, by a furious zeal, `
` in public assemblies, against the corruption's of the court. But a `
` wise prince would rather choose to employ those who practise the `
` last of these methods; because such zealots prove always the most `
` obsequious and subservient to the will and passions of their `
` master. That these ministers, having all employments at their `
` disposal, preserve themselves in power, by bribing the majority of `
` a senate or great council; and at last, by an expedient, called an `
` act of indemnity" (whereof I described the nature to him), "they `
` secure themselves from after-reckonings, and retire from the public `
` laden with the spoils of the nation. `
` `
` "The palace of a chief minister is a seminary to breed up others in `
` his own trade: the pages, lackeys, and porters, by imitating their `
` master, become ministers of state in their several districts, and `
` learn to excel in the three principal ingredients, of insolence, `
` lying, and bribery. Accordingly, they have a subaltern court paid `
` to them by persons of the best rank; and sometimes by the force of `
` dexterity and impudence, arrive, through several gradations, to be `
` successors to their lord. `
` `
` "He is usually governed by a decayed wench, or favourite footman, `
` who are the tunnels through which all graces are conveyed, and may `
` properly be called, in the last resort, the governors of the `
` kingdom." `
` `
` One day, in discourse, my master, having heard me mention the `
` nobility of my country, was pleased to make me a compliment which I `
` could not pretend to deserve: "that he was sure I must have been `
` born of some noble family, because I far exceeded in shape, colour, `
` and cleanliness, all the Yahoos of his nation, although I seemed to `
` fail in strength and agility, which must be imputed to my different `
` way of living from those other brutes; and besides I was not only `
` endowed with the faculty of speech, but likewise with some `
` rudiments of reason, to a degree that, with all his acquaintance, I `
` passed for a prodigy." `
` `
` He made me observe, "that among the Houyhnhnms, the white, the `
` sorrel, and the iron-gray, were not so exactly shaped as the bay, `
` the dapple-gray, and the black; nor born with equal talents of `
` mind, or a capacity to improve them; and therefore continued always `
` in the condition of servants, without ever aspiring to match out of `
` their own race, which in that country would be reckoned monstrous `
` and unnatural." `
` `
` I made his honour my most humble acknowledgments for the good `
` opinion he was pleased to conceive of me, but assured him at the `
` same time, "that my birth was of the lower sort, having been born `
` of plain honest parents, who were just able to give me a tolerable `
` education; that nobility, among us, was altogether a different `
` thing from the idea he had of it; that our young noblemen are bred `
` from their childhood in idleness and luxury; that, as soon as years `
` will permit, they consume their vigour, and contract odious `
` diseases among lewd females; and when their fortunes are almost `
` ruined, they marry some woman of mean birth, disagreeable person, `
` and unsound constitution (merely for the sake of money), whom they `
` hate and despise. That the productions of such marriages are `
` generally scrofulous, rickety, or deformed children; by which means `
` the family seldom continues above three generations, unless the `
` wife takes care to provide a healthy father, among her neighbours `
` or domestics, in order to improve and continue the breed. That a `
` weak diseased body, a meagre countenance, and sallow complexion, `
` are the true marks of noble blood; and a healthy robust appearance `
` is so disgraceful in a man of quality, that the world concludes his `
` real father to have been a groom or a coachman. The imperfections `
` of his mind run parallel with those of his body, being a `
` composition of spleen, dullness, ignorance, caprice, sensuality, `
` and pride. `
` `
` "Without the consent of this illustrious body, no law can be `
` enacted, repealed, or altered: and these nobles have likewise the `
` decision of all our possessions, without appeal." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author's great love of his native country. His master's `
` observations upon the constitution and administration of England, `
` as described by the author, with parallel cases and comparisons. `
` His master's observations upon human nature.] `
` `
` The reader may be disposed to wonder how I could prevail on myself `
` to give so free a representation of my own species, among a race of `
` mortals who are already too apt to conceive the vilest opinion of `
` humankind, from that entire congruity between me and their Yahoos. `
` But I must freely confess, that the many virtues of those excellent `
` quadrupeds, placed in opposite view to human corruptions, had so `
` far opened my eyes and enlarged my understanding, that I began to `
` view the actions and passions of man in a very different light, and `
` to think the honour of my own kind not worth managing; which, `
` besides, it was impossible for me to do, before a person of so `
` acute a judgment as my master, who daily convinced me of a thousand `
` faults in myself, whereof I had not the least perception before, `
` and which, with us, would never be numbered even among human `
` infirmities. I had likewise learned, from his example, an utter `
` detestation of all falsehood or disguise; and truth appeared so `
` amiable to me, that I determined upon sacrificing every thing to `
` it. `
` `
` Let me deal so candidly with the reader as to confess that there `
` was yet a much stronger motive for the freedom I took in my `
` representation of things. I had not yet been a year in this `
` country before I contracted such a love and veneration for the `
` inhabitants, that I entered on a firm resolution never to return to `
` humankind, but to pass the rest of my life among these admirable `
` Houyhnhnms, in the contemplation and practice of every virtue, `
` where I could have no example or incitement to vice. But it was `
` decreed by fortune, my perpetual enemy, that so great a felicity `
` should not fall to my share. However, it is now some comfort to `
` reflect, that in what I said of my countrymen, I extenuated their `
` faults as much as I durst before so strict an examiner; and upon `
` every article gave as favourable a turn as the matter would bear. `
` For, indeed, who is there alive that will not be swayed by his bias `
` and partiality to the place of his birth? `
` `
` I have related the substance of several conversations I had with my `
` master during the greatest part of the time I had the honour to be `
` in his service; but have, indeed, for brevity sake, omitted much `
` more than is here set down. `
` `
` When I had answered all his questions, and his curiosity seemed to `
` be fully satisfied, he sent for me one morning early, and commanded `
` me to sit down at some distance (an honour which he had never `
` before conferred upon me). He said, "he had been very seriously `
` considering my whole story, as far as it related both to myself and `
` my country; that he looked upon us as a sort of animals, to whose `
` share, by what accident he could not conjecture, some small `
` pittance of reason had fallen, whereof we made no other use, than `
` by its assistance, to aggravate our natural corruptions, and to `
` acquire new ones, which nature had not given us; that we disarmed `
` ourselves of the few abilities she had bestowed; had been very `
` successful in multiplying our original wants, and seemed to spend `
` our whole lives in vain endeavours to supply them by our own `
` inventions; that, as to myself, it was manifest I had neither the `
` strength nor agility of a common Yahoo; that I walked infirmly on `
` my hinder feet; had found out a contrivance to make my claws of no `
` use or defence, and to remove the hair from my chin, which was `
` intended as a shelter from the sun and the weather: lastly, that I `
` could neither run with speed, nor climb trees like my brethren," as `
` he called them, "the Yahoos in his country. `
` `
` "That our institutions of government and law were plainly owing to `
` our gross defects in reason, and by consequence in virtue; because `
` reason alone is sufficient to govern a rational creature; which `
` was, therefore, a character we had no pretence to challenge, even `
` from the account I had given of my own people; although he `
` manifestly perceived, that, in order to favour them, I had `
` concealed many particulars, and often said the thing which was not. `
` `
` "He was the more confirmed in this opinion, because, he observed, `
` that as I agreed in every feature of my body with other Yahoos, `
` except where it was to my real disadvantage in point of strength, `
` speed, and activity, the shortness of my claws, and some other `
` particulars where nature had no part; so from the representation I `
` had given him of our lives, our manners, and our actions, he found `
` as near a resemblance in the disposition of our minds." He said, `
` "the Yahoos were known to hate one another, more than they did any `
` different species of animals; and the reason usually assigned was, `
` the odiousness of their own shapes, which all could see in the `
` rest, but not in themselves. He had therefore begun to think it `
` not unwise in us to cover our bodies, and by that invention conceal `
` many of our deformities from each other, which would else be hardly `
` supportable. But he now found he had been mistaken, and that the `
` dissensions of those brutes in his country were owing to the same `
` cause with ours, as I had described them. For if," said he, "you `
` throw among five Yahoos as much food as would be sufficient for `
` fifty, they will, instead of eating peaceably, fall together by the `
` ears, each single one impatient to have all to itself; and `
` therefore a servant was usually employed to stand by while they `
` were feeding abroad, and those kept at home were tied at a distance `
` from each other: that if a cow died of age or accident, before a `
` Houyhnhnm could secure it for his own Yahoos, those in the `
` neighbourhood would come in herds to seize it, and then would ensue `
` such a battle as I had described, with terrible wounds made by `
` their claws on both sides, although they seldom were able to kill `
` one another, for want of such convenient instruments of death as we `
` had invented. At other times, the like battles have been fought `
` between the Yahoos of several neighbourhoods, without any visible `
`
` Yahoo I particularly meant by that appellation." `
` `
` I told him, "that a first or chief minister of state, who was the `
` person I intended to describe, was the creature wholly exempt from `
` joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger; at least, makes use `
` of no other passions, but a violent desire of wealth, power, and `
` titles; that he applies his words to all uses, except to the `
` indication of his mind; that he never tells a truth but with an `
` intent that you should take it for a lie; nor a lie, but with a `
` design that you should take it for a truth; that those he speaks `
` worst of behind their backs are in the surest way of preferment; `
` and whenever he begins to praise you to others, or to yourself, you `
` are from that day forlorn. The worst mark you can receive is a `
` promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath; after which, `
` every wise man retires, and gives over all hopes. `
` `
` "There are three methods, by which a man may rise to be chief `
` minister. The first is, by knowing how, with prudence, to dispose `
` of a wife, a daughter, or a sister; the second, by betraying or `
` undermining his predecessor; and the third is, by a furious zeal, `
` in public assemblies, against the corruption's of the court. But a `
` wise prince would rather choose to employ those who practise the `
` last of these methods; because such zealots prove always the most `
` obsequious and subservient to the will and passions of their `
` master. That these ministers, having all employments at their `
` disposal, preserve themselves in power, by bribing the majority of `
` a senate or great council; and at last, by an expedient, called an `
` act of indemnity" (whereof I described the nature to him), "they `
` secure themselves from after-reckonings, and retire from the public `
` laden with the spoils of the nation. `
` `
` "The palace of a chief minister is a seminary to breed up others in `
` his own trade: the pages, lackeys, and porters, by imitating their `
` master, become ministers of state in their several districts, and `
` learn to excel in the three principal ingredients, of insolence, `
` lying, and bribery. Accordingly, they have a subaltern court paid `
` to them by persons of the best rank; and sometimes by the force of `
` dexterity and impudence, arrive, through several gradations, to be `
` successors to their lord. `
` `
` "He is usually governed by a decayed wench, or favourite footman, `
` who are the tunnels through which all graces are conveyed, and may `
` properly be called, in the last resort, the governors of the `
` kingdom." `
` `
` One day, in discourse, my master, having heard me mention the `
` nobility of my country, was pleased to make me a compliment which I `
` could not pretend to deserve: "that he was sure I must have been `
` born of some noble family, because I far exceeded in shape, colour, `
` and cleanliness, all the Yahoos of his nation, although I seemed to `
` fail in strength and agility, which must be imputed to my different `
` way of living from those other brutes; and besides I was not only `
` endowed with the faculty of speech, but likewise with some `
` rudiments of reason, to a degree that, with all his acquaintance, I `
` passed for a prodigy." `
` `
` He made me observe, "that among the Houyhnhnms, the white, the `
` sorrel, and the iron-gray, were not so exactly shaped as the bay, `
` the dapple-gray, and the black; nor born with equal talents of `
` mind, or a capacity to improve them; and therefore continued always `
` in the condition of servants, without ever aspiring to match out of `
` their own race, which in that country would be reckoned monstrous `
` and unnatural." `
` `
` I made his honour my most humble acknowledgments for the good `
` opinion he was pleased to conceive of me, but assured him at the `
` same time, "that my birth was of the lower sort, having been born `
` of plain honest parents, who were just able to give me a tolerable `
` education; that nobility, among us, was altogether a different `
` thing from the idea he had of it; that our young noblemen are bred `
` from their childhood in idleness and luxury; that, as soon as years `
` will permit, they consume their vigour, and contract odious `
` diseases among lewd females; and when their fortunes are almost `
` ruined, they marry some woman of mean birth, disagreeable person, `
` and unsound constitution (merely for the sake of money), whom they `
` hate and despise. That the productions of such marriages are `
` generally scrofulous, rickety, or deformed children; by which means `
` the family seldom continues above three generations, unless the `
` wife takes care to provide a healthy father, among her neighbours `
` or domestics, in order to improve and continue the breed. That a `
` weak diseased body, a meagre countenance, and sallow complexion, `
` are the true marks of noble blood; and a healthy robust appearance `
` is so disgraceful in a man of quality, that the world concludes his `
` real father to have been a groom or a coachman. The imperfections `
` of his mind run parallel with those of his body, being a `
` composition of spleen, dullness, ignorance, caprice, sensuality, `
` and pride. `
` `
` "Without the consent of this illustrious body, no law can be `
` enacted, repealed, or altered: and these nobles have likewise the `
` decision of all our possessions, without appeal." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author's great love of his native country. His master's `
` observations upon the constitution and administration of England, `
` as described by the author, with parallel cases and comparisons. `
` His master's observations upon human nature.] `
` `
` The reader may be disposed to wonder how I could prevail on myself `
` to give so free a representation of my own species, among a race of `
` mortals who are already too apt to conceive the vilest opinion of `
` humankind, from that entire congruity between me and their Yahoos. `
` But I must freely confess, that the many virtues of those excellent `
` quadrupeds, placed in opposite view to human corruptions, had so `
` far opened my eyes and enlarged my understanding, that I began to `
` view the actions and passions of man in a very different light, and `
` to think the honour of my own kind not worth managing; which, `
` besides, it was impossible for me to do, before a person of so `
` acute a judgment as my master, who daily convinced me of a thousand `
` faults in myself, whereof I had not the least perception before, `
` and which, with us, would never be numbered even among human `
` infirmities. I had likewise learned, from his example, an utter `
` detestation of all falsehood or disguise; and truth appeared so `
` amiable to me, that I determined upon sacrificing every thing to `
` it. `
` `
` Let me deal so candidly with the reader as to confess that there `
` was yet a much stronger motive for the freedom I took in my `
` representation of things. I had not yet been a year in this `
` country before I contracted such a love and veneration for the `
` inhabitants, that I entered on a firm resolution never to return to `
` humankind, but to pass the rest of my life among these admirable `
` Houyhnhnms, in the contemplation and practice of every virtue, `
` where I could have no example or incitement to vice. But it was `
` decreed by fortune, my perpetual enemy, that so great a felicity `
` should not fall to my share. However, it is now some comfort to `
` reflect, that in what I said of my countrymen, I extenuated their `
` faults as much as I durst before so strict an examiner; and upon `
` every article gave as favourable a turn as the matter would bear. `
` For, indeed, who is there alive that will not be swayed by his bias `
` and partiality to the place of his birth? `
` `
` I have related the substance of several conversations I had with my `
` master during the greatest part of the time I had the honour to be `
` in his service; but have, indeed, for brevity sake, omitted much `
` more than is here set down. `
` `
` When I had answered all his questions, and his curiosity seemed to `
` be fully satisfied, he sent for me one morning early, and commanded `
` me to sit down at some distance (an honour which he had never `
` before conferred upon me). He said, "he had been very seriously `
` considering my whole story, as far as it related both to myself and `
` my country; that he looked upon us as a sort of animals, to whose `
` share, by what accident he could not conjecture, some small `
` pittance of reason had fallen, whereof we made no other use, than `
` by its assistance, to aggravate our natural corruptions, and to `
` acquire new ones, which nature had not given us; that we disarmed `
` ourselves of the few abilities she had bestowed; had been very `
` successful in multiplying our original wants, and seemed to spend `
` our whole lives in vain endeavours to supply them by our own `
` inventions; that, as to myself, it was manifest I had neither the `
` strength nor agility of a common Yahoo; that I walked infirmly on `
` my hinder feet; had found out a contrivance to make my claws of no `
` use or defence, and to remove the hair from my chin, which was `
` intended as a shelter from the sun and the weather: lastly, that I `
` could neither run with speed, nor climb trees like my brethren," as `
` he called them, "the Yahoos in his country. `
` `
` "That our institutions of government and law were plainly owing to `
` our gross defects in reason, and by consequence in virtue; because `
` reason alone is sufficient to govern a rational creature; which `
` was, therefore, a character we had no pretence to challenge, even `
` from the account I had given of my own people; although he `
` manifestly perceived, that, in order to favour them, I had `
` concealed many particulars, and often said the thing which was not. `
` `
` "He was the more confirmed in this opinion, because, he observed, `
` that as I agreed in every feature of my body with other Yahoos, `
` except where it was to my real disadvantage in point of strength, `
` speed, and activity, the shortness of my claws, and some other `
` particulars where nature had no part; so from the representation I `
` had given him of our lives, our manners, and our actions, he found `
` as near a resemblance in the disposition of our minds." He said, `
` "the Yahoos were known to hate one another, more than they did any `
` different species of animals; and the reason usually assigned was, `
` the odiousness of their own shapes, which all could see in the `
` rest, but not in themselves. He had therefore begun to think it `
` not unwise in us to cover our bodies, and by that invention conceal `
` many of our deformities from each other, which would else be hardly `
` supportable. But he now found he had been mistaken, and that the `
` dissensions of those brutes in his country were owing to the same `
` cause with ours, as I had described them. For if," said he, "you `
` throw among five Yahoos as much food as would be sufficient for `
` fifty, they will, instead of eating peaceably, fall together by the `
` ears, each single one impatient to have all to itself; and `
` therefore a servant was usually employed to stand by while they `
` were feeding abroad, and those kept at home were tied at a distance `
` from each other: that if a cow died of age or accident, before a `
` Houyhnhnm could secure it for his own Yahoos, those in the `
` neighbourhood would come in herds to seize it, and then would ensue `
` such a battle as I had described, with terrible wounds made by `
` their claws on both sides, although they seldom were able to kill `
` one another, for want of such convenient instruments of death as we `
` had invented. At other times, the like battles have been fought `
` between the Yahoos of several neighbourhoods, without any visible `
`