Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part I
were not altogether so robust; and that some rules were given them `
` relating to domestic life, and a smaller compass of learning was `
` enjoined them: for their maxim is, that among peoples of quality, `
` a wife should be always a reasonable and agreeable companion, `
` because she cannot always be young. When the girls are twelve `
` years old, which among them is the marriageable age, their parents `
` or guardians take them home, with great expressions of gratitude to `
` the professors, and seldom without tears of the young lady and her `
` companions. `
` `
` In the nurseries of females of the meaner sort, the children are `
` instructed in all kinds of works proper for their sex, and their `
` several degrees: those intended for apprentices are dismissed at `
` seven years old, the rest are kept to eleven. `
` `
` The meaner families who have children at these nurseries, are `
` obliged, besides their annual pension, which is as low as possible, `
` to return to the steward of the nursery a small monthly share of `
` their gettings, to be a portion for the child; and therefore all `
` parents are limited in their expenses by the law. For the `
` Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjust, than for people, in `
` subservience to their own appetites, to bring children into the `
` world, and leave the burthen of supporting them on the public. As `
` to persons of quality, they give security to appropriate a certain `
` sum for each child, suitable to their condition; and these funds `
` are always managed with good husbandry and the most exact justice. `
` `
` The cottagers and labourers keep their children at home, their `
` business being only to till and cultivate the earth, and therefore `
` their education is of little consequence to the public: but the `
` old and diseased among them, are supported by hospitals; for `
` begging is a trade unknown in this empire. `
` `
` And here it may, perhaps, divert the curious reader, to give some `
` account of my domestics, and my manner of living in this country, `
` during a residence of nine months, and thirteen days. Having a `
` head mechanically turned, and being likewise forced by necessity, I `
` had made for myself a table and chair convenient enough, out of the `
` largest trees in the royal park. Two hundred sempstresses were `
` employed to make me shirts, and linen for my bed and table, all of `
` the strongest and coarsest kind they could get; which, however, `
` they were forced to quilt together in several folds, for the `
` thickest was some degrees finer than lawn. Their linen is usually `
` three inches wide, and three feet make a piece. The sempstresses `
` took my measure as I lay on the ground, one standing at my neck, `
` and another at my mid-leg, with a strong cord extended, that each `
` held by the end, while a third measured the length of the cord with `
` a rule of an inch long. Then they measured my right thumb, and `
` desired no more; for by a mathematical computation, that twice `
` round the thumb is once round the wrist, and so on to the neck and `
` the waist, and by the help of my old shirt, which I displayed on `
` the ground before them for a pattern, they fitted me exactly. `
` Three hundred tailors were employed in the same manner to make me `
` clothes; but they had another contrivance for taking my measure. I `
` kneeled down, and they raised a ladder from the ground to my neck; `
` upon this ladder one of them mounted, and let fall a plumb-line `
` from my collar to the floor, which just answered the length of my `
` coat: but my waist and arms I measured myself. When my clothes `
` were finished, which was done in my house (for the largest of `
` theirs would not have been able to hold them), they looked like the `
` patch-work made by the ladies in England, only that mine were all `
` of a colour. `
` `
` I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals, in little `
` convenient huts built about my house, where they and their families `
` lived, and prepared me two dishes a-piece. I took up twenty `
` waiters in my hand, and placed them on the table: a hundred more `
` attended below on the ground, some with dishes of meat, and some `
` with barrels of wine and other liquors slung on their shoulders; `
` all which the waiters above drew up, as I wanted, in a very `
` ingenious manner, by certain cords, as we draw the bucket up a well `
` in Europe. A dish of their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel `
` of their liquor a reasonable draught. Their mutton yields to ours, `
` but their beef is excellent. I have had a sirloin so large, that I `
` have been forced to make three bites of it; but this is rare. My `
` servants were astonished to see me eat it, bones and all, as in our `
` country we do the leg of a lark. Their geese and turkeys I usually `
` ate at a mouthful, and I confess they far exceed ours. Of their `
` smaller fowl I could take up twenty or thirty at the end of my `
` knife. `
` `
` One day his imperial majesty, being informed of my way of living, `
` desired "that himself and his royal consort, with the young princes `
` of the blood of both sexes, might have the happiness," as he was `
` pleased to call it, "of dining with me." They came accordingly, `
` and I placed them in chairs of state, upon my table, just over `
` against me, with their guards about them. Flimnap, the lord high `
` treasurer, attended there likewise with his white staff; and I `
` observed he often looked on me with a sour countenance, which I `
` would not seem to regard, but ate more than usual, in honour to my `
` dear country, as well as to fill the court with admiration. I have `
` some private reasons to believe, that this visit from his majesty `
` gave Flimnap an opportunity of doing me ill offices to his master. `
` That minister had always been my secret enemy, though he outwardly `
` caressed me more than was usual to the moroseness of his nature. `
` He represented to the emperor "the low condition of his treasury; `
` that he was forced to take up money at a great discount; that `
` exchequer bills would not circulate under nine per cent. below par; `
` that I had cost his majesty above a million and a half of sprugs" `
` (their greatest gold coin, about the bigness of a spangle) "and, `
` upon the whole, that it would be advisable in the emperor to take `
` the first fair occasion of dismissing me." `
` `
` I am here obliged to vindicate the reputation of an excellent lady, `
` who was an innocent sufferer upon my account. The treasurer took a `
` fancy to be jealous of his wife, from the malice of some evil `
` tongues, who informed him that her grace had taken a violent `
` affection for my person; and the court scandal ran for some time, `
` that she once came privately to my lodging. This I solemnly `
` declare to be a most infamous falsehood, without any grounds, `
` further than that her grace was pleased to treat me with all `
` innocent marks of freedom and friendship. I own she came often to `
` my house, but always publicly, nor ever without three more in the `
` coach, who were usually her sister and young daughter, and some `
` particular acquaintance; but this was common to many other ladies `
` of the court. And I still appeal to my servants round, whether `
` they at any time saw a coach at my door, without knowing what `
` persons were in it. On those occasions, when a servant had given `
` me notice, my custom was to go immediately to the door, and, after `
` paying my respects, to take up the coach and two horses very `
` carefully in my hands (for, if there were six horses, the `
` postillion always unharnessed four,) and place them on a table, `
` where I had fixed a movable rim quite round, of five inches high, `
` to prevent accidents. And I have often had four coaches and horses `
` at once on my table, full of company, while I sat in my chair, `
` leaning my face towards them; and when I was engaged with one set, `
` the coachmen would gently drive the others round my table. I have `
` passed many an afternoon very agreeably in these conversations. `
` But I defy the treasurer, or his two informers (I will name them, `
` and let them make the best of it) Clustril and Drunlo, to prove `
` that any person ever came to me incognito, except the secretary `
` Reldresal, who was sent by express command of his imperial majesty, `
` as I have before related. I should not have dwelt so long upon `
` this particular, if it had not been a point wherein the reputation `
` of a great lady is so nearly concerned, to say nothing of my own; `
` though I then had the honour to be a nardac, which the treasurer `
` himself is not; for all the world knows, that he is only a `
` glumglum, a title inferior by one degree, as that of a marquis is `
` to a duke in England; yet I allow he preceded me in right of his `
` post. These false informations, which I afterwards came to the `
` knowledge of by an accident not proper to mention, made the `
` treasurer show his lady for some time an ill countenance, and me a `
` worse; and although he was at last undeceived and reconciled to `
` her, yet I lost all credit with him, and found my interest decline `
` very fast with the emperor himself, who was, indeed, too much `
` governed by that favourite. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author, being informed of a design to accuse him of high- `
` treason, makes his escape to Blefuscu. His reception there.] `
` `
` Before I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it `
` may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue which had `
` been for two months forming against me. `
` `
` I had been hitherto, all my life, a stranger to courts, for which I `
` was unqualified by the meanness of my condition. I had indeed `
` heard and read enough of the dispositions of great princes and `
` ministers, but never expected to have found such terrible effects `
` of them, in so remote a country, governed, as I thought, by very `
` different maxims from those in Europe. `
` `
` When I was just preparing to pay my attendance on the emperor of `
` Blefuscu, a considerable person at court (to whom I had been very `
` serviceable, at a time when he lay under the highest displeasure of `
` his imperial majesty) came to my house very privately at night, in `
` a close chair, and, without sending his name, desired admittance. `
` The chairmen were dismissed; I put the chair, with his lordship in `
` it, into my coat-pocket: and, giving orders to a trusty servant, `
` to say I was indisposed and gone to sleep, I fastened the door of `
` my house, placed the chair on the table, according to my usual `
` custom, and sat down by it. After the common salutations were `
` over, observing his lordship's countenance full of concern, and `
` inquiring into the reason, he desired "I would hear him with `
` patience, in a matter that highly concerned my honour and my life." `
` His speech was to the following effect, for I took notes of it as `
` soon as he left me:- `
` `
` "You are to know," said he, "that several committees of council `
` have been lately called, in the most private manner, on your `
` account; and it is but two days since his majesty came to a full `
` resolution. `
` `
` "You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam" (galbet, or high- `
` admiral) "has been your mortal enemy, almost ever since your `
` arrival. His original reasons I know not; but his hatred is `
` increased since your great success against Blefuscu, by which his `
` glory as admiral is much obscured. This lord, in conjunction with `
` Flimnap the high-treasurer, whose enmity against you is notorious `
` on account of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain, `
` and Balmuff the grand justiciary, have prepared articles of `
` impeachment against you, for treason and other capital crimes." `
` `
` This preface made me so impatient, being conscious of my own merits `
` and innocence, that I was going to interrupt him; when he entreated `
` me to be silent, and thus proceeded:- `
`
` relating to domestic life, and a smaller compass of learning was `
` enjoined them: for their maxim is, that among peoples of quality, `
` a wife should be always a reasonable and agreeable companion, `
` because she cannot always be young. When the girls are twelve `
` years old, which among them is the marriageable age, their parents `
` or guardians take them home, with great expressions of gratitude to `
` the professors, and seldom without tears of the young lady and her `
` companions. `
` `
` In the nurseries of females of the meaner sort, the children are `
` instructed in all kinds of works proper for their sex, and their `
` several degrees: those intended for apprentices are dismissed at `
` seven years old, the rest are kept to eleven. `
` `
` The meaner families who have children at these nurseries, are `
` obliged, besides their annual pension, which is as low as possible, `
` to return to the steward of the nursery a small monthly share of `
` their gettings, to be a portion for the child; and therefore all `
` parents are limited in their expenses by the law. For the `
` Lilliputians think nothing can be more unjust, than for people, in `
` subservience to their own appetites, to bring children into the `
` world, and leave the burthen of supporting them on the public. As `
` to persons of quality, they give security to appropriate a certain `
` sum for each child, suitable to their condition; and these funds `
` are always managed with good husbandry and the most exact justice. `
` `
` The cottagers and labourers keep their children at home, their `
` business being only to till and cultivate the earth, and therefore `
` their education is of little consequence to the public: but the `
` old and diseased among them, are supported by hospitals; for `
` begging is a trade unknown in this empire. `
` `
` And here it may, perhaps, divert the curious reader, to give some `
` account of my domestics, and my manner of living in this country, `
` during a residence of nine months, and thirteen days. Having a `
` head mechanically turned, and being likewise forced by necessity, I `
` had made for myself a table and chair convenient enough, out of the `
` largest trees in the royal park. Two hundred sempstresses were `
` employed to make me shirts, and linen for my bed and table, all of `
` the strongest and coarsest kind they could get; which, however, `
` they were forced to quilt together in several folds, for the `
` thickest was some degrees finer than lawn. Their linen is usually `
` three inches wide, and three feet make a piece. The sempstresses `
` took my measure as I lay on the ground, one standing at my neck, `
` and another at my mid-leg, with a strong cord extended, that each `
` held by the end, while a third measured the length of the cord with `
` a rule of an inch long. Then they measured my right thumb, and `
` desired no more; for by a mathematical computation, that twice `
` round the thumb is once round the wrist, and so on to the neck and `
` the waist, and by the help of my old shirt, which I displayed on `
` the ground before them for a pattern, they fitted me exactly. `
` Three hundred tailors were employed in the same manner to make me `
` clothes; but they had another contrivance for taking my measure. I `
` kneeled down, and they raised a ladder from the ground to my neck; `
` upon this ladder one of them mounted, and let fall a plumb-line `
` from my collar to the floor, which just answered the length of my `
` coat: but my waist and arms I measured myself. When my clothes `
` were finished, which was done in my house (for the largest of `
` theirs would not have been able to hold them), they looked like the `
` patch-work made by the ladies in England, only that mine were all `
` of a colour. `
` `
` I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals, in little `
` convenient huts built about my house, where they and their families `
` lived, and prepared me two dishes a-piece. I took up twenty `
` waiters in my hand, and placed them on the table: a hundred more `
` attended below on the ground, some with dishes of meat, and some `
` with barrels of wine and other liquors slung on their shoulders; `
` all which the waiters above drew up, as I wanted, in a very `
` ingenious manner, by certain cords, as we draw the bucket up a well `
` in Europe. A dish of their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel `
` of their liquor a reasonable draught. Their mutton yields to ours, `
` but their beef is excellent. I have had a sirloin so large, that I `
` have been forced to make three bites of it; but this is rare. My `
` servants were astonished to see me eat it, bones and all, as in our `
` country we do the leg of a lark. Their geese and turkeys I usually `
` ate at a mouthful, and I confess they far exceed ours. Of their `
` smaller fowl I could take up twenty or thirty at the end of my `
` knife. `
` `
` One day his imperial majesty, being informed of my way of living, `
` desired "that himself and his royal consort, with the young princes `
` of the blood of both sexes, might have the happiness," as he was `
` pleased to call it, "of dining with me." They came accordingly, `
` and I placed them in chairs of state, upon my table, just over `
` against me, with their guards about them. Flimnap, the lord high `
` treasurer, attended there likewise with his white staff; and I `
` observed he often looked on me with a sour countenance, which I `
` would not seem to regard, but ate more than usual, in honour to my `
` dear country, as well as to fill the court with admiration. I have `
` some private reasons to believe, that this visit from his majesty `
` gave Flimnap an opportunity of doing me ill offices to his master. `
` That minister had always been my secret enemy, though he outwardly `
` caressed me more than was usual to the moroseness of his nature. `
` He represented to the emperor "the low condition of his treasury; `
` that he was forced to take up money at a great discount; that `
` exchequer bills would not circulate under nine per cent. below par; `
` that I had cost his majesty above a million and a half of sprugs" `
` (their greatest gold coin, about the bigness of a spangle) "and, `
` upon the whole, that it would be advisable in the emperor to take `
` the first fair occasion of dismissing me." `
` `
` I am here obliged to vindicate the reputation of an excellent lady, `
` who was an innocent sufferer upon my account. The treasurer took a `
` fancy to be jealous of his wife, from the malice of some evil `
` tongues, who informed him that her grace had taken a violent `
` affection for my person; and the court scandal ran for some time, `
` that she once came privately to my lodging. This I solemnly `
` declare to be a most infamous falsehood, without any grounds, `
` further than that her grace was pleased to treat me with all `
` innocent marks of freedom and friendship. I own she came often to `
` my house, but always publicly, nor ever without three more in the `
` coach, who were usually her sister and young daughter, and some `
` particular acquaintance; but this was common to many other ladies `
` of the court. And I still appeal to my servants round, whether `
` they at any time saw a coach at my door, without knowing what `
` persons were in it. On those occasions, when a servant had given `
` me notice, my custom was to go immediately to the door, and, after `
` paying my respects, to take up the coach and two horses very `
` carefully in my hands (for, if there were six horses, the `
` postillion always unharnessed four,) and place them on a table, `
` where I had fixed a movable rim quite round, of five inches high, `
` to prevent accidents. And I have often had four coaches and horses `
` at once on my table, full of company, while I sat in my chair, `
` leaning my face towards them; and when I was engaged with one set, `
` the coachmen would gently drive the others round my table. I have `
` passed many an afternoon very agreeably in these conversations. `
` But I defy the treasurer, or his two informers (I will name them, `
` and let them make the best of it) Clustril and Drunlo, to prove `
` that any person ever came to me incognito, except the secretary `
` Reldresal, who was sent by express command of his imperial majesty, `
` as I have before related. I should not have dwelt so long upon `
` this particular, if it had not been a point wherein the reputation `
` of a great lady is so nearly concerned, to say nothing of my own; `
` though I then had the honour to be a nardac, which the treasurer `
` himself is not; for all the world knows, that he is only a `
` glumglum, a title inferior by one degree, as that of a marquis is `
` to a duke in England; yet I allow he preceded me in right of his `
` post. These false informations, which I afterwards came to the `
` knowledge of by an accident not proper to mention, made the `
` treasurer show his lady for some time an ill countenance, and me a `
` worse; and although he was at last undeceived and reconciled to `
` her, yet I lost all credit with him, and found my interest decline `
` very fast with the emperor himself, who was, indeed, too much `
` governed by that favourite. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [The author, being informed of a design to accuse him of high- `
` treason, makes his escape to Blefuscu. His reception there.] `
` `
` Before I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it `
` may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue which had `
` been for two months forming against me. `
` `
` I had been hitherto, all my life, a stranger to courts, for which I `
` was unqualified by the meanness of my condition. I had indeed `
` heard and read enough of the dispositions of great princes and `
` ministers, but never expected to have found such terrible effects `
` of them, in so remote a country, governed, as I thought, by very `
` different maxims from those in Europe. `
` `
` When I was just preparing to pay my attendance on the emperor of `
` Blefuscu, a considerable person at court (to whom I had been very `
` serviceable, at a time when he lay under the highest displeasure of `
` his imperial majesty) came to my house very privately at night, in `
` a close chair, and, without sending his name, desired admittance. `
` The chairmen were dismissed; I put the chair, with his lordship in `
` it, into my coat-pocket: and, giving orders to a trusty servant, `
` to say I was indisposed and gone to sleep, I fastened the door of `
` my house, placed the chair on the table, according to my usual `
` custom, and sat down by it. After the common salutations were `
` over, observing his lordship's countenance full of concern, and `
` inquiring into the reason, he desired "I would hear him with `
` patience, in a matter that highly concerned my honour and my life." `
` His speech was to the following effect, for I took notes of it as `
` soon as he left me:- `
` `
` "You are to know," said he, "that several committees of council `
` have been lately called, in the most private manner, on your `
` account; and it is but two days since his majesty came to a full `
` resolution. `
` `
` "You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam" (galbet, or high- `
` admiral) "has been your mortal enemy, almost ever since your `
` arrival. His original reasons I know not; but his hatred is `
` increased since your great success against Blefuscu, by which his `
` glory as admiral is much obscured. This lord, in conjunction with `
` Flimnap the high-treasurer, whose enmity against you is notorious `
` on account of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain, `
` and Balmuff the grand justiciary, have prepared articles of `
` impeachment against you, for treason and other capital crimes." `
` `
` This preface made me so impatient, being conscious of my own merits `
` and innocence, that I was going to interrupt him; when he entreated `
` me to be silent, and thus proceeded:- `
`