Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part I
the curious reader with some general ideas. As the common size of `
` the natives is somewhat under six inches high, so there is an exact `
` proportion in all other animals, as well as plants and trees: for `
` instance, the tallest horses and oxen are between four and five `
` inches in height, the sheep an inch and half, more or less: their `
` geese about the bigness of a sparrow, and so the several gradations `
` downwards till you come to the smallest, which to my sight, were `
` almost invisible; but nature has adapted the eyes of the `
` Lilliputians to all objects proper for their view: they see with `
` great exactness, but at no great distance. And, to show the `
` sharpness of their sight towards objects that are near, I have been `
` much pleased with observing a cook pulling a lark, which was not so `
` large as a common fly; and a young girl threading an invisible `
` needle with invisible silk. Their tallest trees are about seven `
` feet high: I mean some of those in the great royal park, the tops `
` whereof I could but just reach with my fist clenched. The other `
` vegetables are in the same proportion; but this I leave to the `
` reader's imagination. `
` `
` I shall say but little at present of their learning, which, for `
` many ages, has flourished in all its branches among them: but `
` their manner of writing is very peculiar, being neither from the `
` left to the right, like the Europeans, nor from the right to the `
` left, like the Arabians, nor from up to down, like the Chinese, but `
` aslant, from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies in `
` England. `
` `
` They bury their dead with their heads directly downward, because `
` they hold an opinion, that in eleven thousand moons they are all to `
` rise again; in which period the earth (which they conceive to be `
` flat) will turn upside down, and by this means they shall, at their `
` resurrection, be found ready standing on their feet. The learned `
` among them confess the absurdity of this doctrine; but the practice `
` still continues, in compliance to the vulgar. `
` `
` There are some laws and customs in this empire very peculiar; and `
` if they were not so directly contrary to those of my own dear `
` country, I should be tempted to say a little in their `
` justification. It is only to be wished they were as well executed. `
` The first I shall mention, relates to informers. All crimes `
` against the state, are punished here with the utmost severity; but, `
` if the person accused makes his innocence plainly to appear upon `
` his trial, the accuser is immediately put to an ignominious death; `
` and out of his goods or lands the innocent person is quadruply `
` recompensed for the loss of his time, for the danger he underwent, `
` for the hardship of his imprisonment, and for all the charges he `
` has been at in making his defence; or, if that fund be deficient, `
` it is largely supplied by the crown. The emperor also confers on `
` him some public mark of his favour, and proclamation is made of his `
` innocence through the whole city. `
` `
` They look upon fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore `
` seldom fail to punish it with death; for they allege, that care and `
` vigilance, with a very common understanding, may preserve a man's `
` goods from thieves, but honesty has no defence against superior `
` cunning; and, since it is necessary that there should be a `
` perpetual intercourse of buying and selling, and dealing upon `
` credit, where fraud is permitted and connived at, or has no law to `
` punish it, the honest dealer is always undone, and the knave gets `
` the advantage. I remember, when I was once interceding with the `
` emperor for a criminal who had wronged his master of a great sum of `
` money, which he had received by order and ran away with; and `
` happening to tell his majesty, by way of extenuation, that it was `
` only a breach of trust, the emperor thought it monstrous in me to `
` offer as a defence the greatest aggravation of the crime; and truly `
` I had little to say in return, farther than the common answer, that `
` different nations had different customs; for, I confess, I was `
` heartily ashamed. `
` `
` Although we usually call reward and punishment the two hinges upon `
` which all government turns, yet I could never observe this maxim to `
` be put in practice by any nation except that of Lilliput. Whoever `
` can there bring sufficient proof, that he has strictly observed the `
` laws of his country for seventy-three moons, has a claim to certain `
` privileges, according to his quality or condition of life, with a `
` proportionable sum of money out of a fund appropriated for that `
` use: he likewise acquires the title of snilpall, or legal, which `
` is added to his name, but does not descend to his posterity. And `
` these people thought it a prodigious defect of policy among us, `
` when I told them that our laws were enforced only by penalties, `
` without any mention of reward. It is upon this account that the `
` image of Justice, in their courts of judicature, is formed with six `
` eyes, two before, as many behind, and on each side one, to signify `
` circumspection; with a bag of gold open in her right hand, and a `
` sword sheathed in her left, to show she is more disposed to reward `
` than to punish. `
` `
` In choosing persons for all employments, they have more regard to `
` good morals than to great abilities; for, since government is `
` necessary to mankind, they believe, that the common size of human `
` understanding is fitted to some station or other; and that `
` Providence never intended to make the management of public affairs `
` a mystery to be comprehended only by a few persons of sublime `
` genius, of which there seldom are three born in an age: but they `
` suppose truth, justice, temperance, and the like, to be in every `
` man's power; the practice of which virtues, assisted by experience `
` and a good intention, would qualify any man for the service of his `
` country, except where a course of study is required. But they `
` thought the want of moral virtues was so far from being supplied by `
` superior endowments of the mind, that employments could never be `
` put into such dangerous hands as those of persons so qualified; `
` and, at least, that the mistakes committed by ignorance, in a `
` virtuous disposition, would never be of such fatal consequence to `
` the public weal, as the practices of a man, whose inclinations led `
` him to be corrupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to `
` multiply, and defend his corruptions. `
` `
` In like manner, the disbelief of a Divine Providence renders a man `
` incapable of holding any public station; for, since kings avow `
` themselves to be the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think `
` nothing can be more absurd than for a prince to employ such men as `
` disown the authority under which he acts. `
` `
` In relating these and the following laws, I would only be `
` understood to mean the original institutions, and not the most `
` scandalous corruptions, into which these people are fallen by the `
` degenerate nature of man. For, as to that infamous practice of `
` acquiring great employments by dancing on the ropes, or badges of `
` favour and distinction by leaping over sticks and creeping under `
` them, the reader is to observe, that they were first introduced by `
` the grandfather of the emperor now reigning, and grew to the `
` present height by the gradual increase of party and faction. `
` `
` Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we read it to have `
` been in some other countries: for they reason thus; that whoever `
` makes ill returns to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy `
` to the rest of mankind, from whom he has received no obligation, `
` and therefore such a man is not fit to live. `
` `
` Their notions relating to the duties of parents and children differ `
` extremely from ours. For, since the conjunction of male and female `
` is founded upon the great law of nature, in order to propagate and `
` continue the species, the Lilliputians will needs have it, that men `
` and women are joined together, like other animals, by the motives `
` of concupiscence; and that their tenderness towards their young `
` proceeds from the like natural principle: for which reason they `
` will never allow that a child is under any obligation to his father `
` for begetting him, or to his mother for bringing him into the `
` world; which, considering the miseries of human life, was neither a `
` benefit in itself, nor intended so by his parents, whose thoughts, `
` in their love encounters, were otherwise employed. Upon these, and `
` the like reasonings, their opinion is, that parents are the last of `
` all others to be trusted with the education of their own children; `
` and therefore they have in every town public nurseries, where all `
` parents, except cottagers and labourers, are obliged to send their `
` infants of both sexes to be reared and educated, when they come to `
` the age of twenty moons, at which time they are supposed to have `
` some rudiments of docility. These schools are of several kinds, `
` suited to different qualities, and both sexes. They have certain `
` professors well skilled in preparing children for such a condition `
` of life as befits the rank of their parents, and their own `
` capacities, as well as inclinations. I shall first say something `
` of the male nurseries, and then of the female. `
` `
` The nurseries for males of noble or eminent birth, are provided `
` with grave and learned professors, and their several deputies. The `
` clothes and food of the children are plain and simple. They are `
` bred up in the principles of honour, justice, courage, modesty, `
` clemency, religion, and love of their country; they are always `
` employed in some business, except in the times of eating and `
` sleeping, which are very short, and two hours for diversions `
` consisting of bodily exercises. They are dressed by men till four `
` years of age, and then are obliged to dress themselves, although `
` their quality be ever so great; and the women attendant, who are `
` aged proportionably to ours at fifty, perform only the most menial `
` offices. They are never suffered to converse with servants, but go `
` together in smaller or greater numbers to take their diversions, `
` and always in the presence of a professor, or one of his deputies; `
` whereby they avoid those early bad impressions of folly and vice, `
` to which our children are subject. Their parents are suffered to `
` see them only twice a year; the visit is to last but an hour; they `
` are allowed to kiss the child at meeting and parting; but a `
` professor, who always stands by on those occasions, will not suffer `
` them to whisper, or use any fondling expressions, or bring any `
` presents of toys, sweetmeats, and the like. `
` `
` The pension from each family for the education and entertainment of `
` a child, upon failure of due payment, is levied by the emperor's `
` officers. `
` `
` The nurseries for children of ordinary gentlemen, merchants, `
` traders, and handicrafts, are managed proportionably after the same `
` manner; only those designed for trades are put out apprentices at `
` eleven years old, whereas those of persons of quality continue in `
` their exercises till fifteen, which answers to twenty-one with us: `
` but the confinement is gradually lessened for the last three years. `
` `
` In the female nurseries, the young girls of quality are educated `
` much like the males, only they are dressed by orderly servants of `
` their own sex; but always in the presence of a professor or deputy, `
` till they come to dress themselves, which is at five years old. `
` And if it be found that these nurses ever presume to entertain the `
` girls with frightful or foolish stories, or the common follies `
` practised by chambermaids among us, they are publicly whipped `
` thrice about the city, imprisoned for a year, and banished for life `
` to the most desolate part of the country. Thus the young ladies `
` are as much ashamed of being cowards and fools as the men, and `
` despise all personal ornaments, beyond decency and cleanliness: `
` neither did I perceive any difference in their education made by `
` their difference of sex, only that the exercises of the females `
` were not altogether so robust; and that some rules were given them `
`
` the natives is somewhat under six inches high, so there is an exact `
` proportion in all other animals, as well as plants and trees: for `
` instance, the tallest horses and oxen are between four and five `
` inches in height, the sheep an inch and half, more or less: their `
` geese about the bigness of a sparrow, and so the several gradations `
` downwards till you come to the smallest, which to my sight, were `
` almost invisible; but nature has adapted the eyes of the `
` Lilliputians to all objects proper for their view: they see with `
` great exactness, but at no great distance. And, to show the `
` sharpness of their sight towards objects that are near, I have been `
` much pleased with observing a cook pulling a lark, which was not so `
` large as a common fly; and a young girl threading an invisible `
` needle with invisible silk. Their tallest trees are about seven `
` feet high: I mean some of those in the great royal park, the tops `
` whereof I could but just reach with my fist clenched. The other `
` vegetables are in the same proportion; but this I leave to the `
` reader's imagination. `
` `
` I shall say but little at present of their learning, which, for `
` many ages, has flourished in all its branches among them: but `
` their manner of writing is very peculiar, being neither from the `
` left to the right, like the Europeans, nor from the right to the `
` left, like the Arabians, nor from up to down, like the Chinese, but `
` aslant, from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies in `
` England. `
` `
` They bury their dead with their heads directly downward, because `
` they hold an opinion, that in eleven thousand moons they are all to `
` rise again; in which period the earth (which they conceive to be `
` flat) will turn upside down, and by this means they shall, at their `
` resurrection, be found ready standing on their feet. The learned `
` among them confess the absurdity of this doctrine; but the practice `
` still continues, in compliance to the vulgar. `
` `
` There are some laws and customs in this empire very peculiar; and `
` if they were not so directly contrary to those of my own dear `
` country, I should be tempted to say a little in their `
` justification. It is only to be wished they were as well executed. `
` The first I shall mention, relates to informers. All crimes `
` against the state, are punished here with the utmost severity; but, `
` if the person accused makes his innocence plainly to appear upon `
` his trial, the accuser is immediately put to an ignominious death; `
` and out of his goods or lands the innocent person is quadruply `
` recompensed for the loss of his time, for the danger he underwent, `
` for the hardship of his imprisonment, and for all the charges he `
` has been at in making his defence; or, if that fund be deficient, `
` it is largely supplied by the crown. The emperor also confers on `
` him some public mark of his favour, and proclamation is made of his `
` innocence through the whole city. `
` `
` They look upon fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore `
` seldom fail to punish it with death; for they allege, that care and `
` vigilance, with a very common understanding, may preserve a man's `
` goods from thieves, but honesty has no defence against superior `
` cunning; and, since it is necessary that there should be a `
` perpetual intercourse of buying and selling, and dealing upon `
` credit, where fraud is permitted and connived at, or has no law to `
` punish it, the honest dealer is always undone, and the knave gets `
` the advantage. I remember, when I was once interceding with the `
` emperor for a criminal who had wronged his master of a great sum of `
` money, which he had received by order and ran away with; and `
` happening to tell his majesty, by way of extenuation, that it was `
` only a breach of trust, the emperor thought it monstrous in me to `
` offer as a defence the greatest aggravation of the crime; and truly `
` I had little to say in return, farther than the common answer, that `
` different nations had different customs; for, I confess, I was `
` heartily ashamed. `
` `
` Although we usually call reward and punishment the two hinges upon `
` which all government turns, yet I could never observe this maxim to `
` be put in practice by any nation except that of Lilliput. Whoever `
` can there bring sufficient proof, that he has strictly observed the `
` laws of his country for seventy-three moons, has a claim to certain `
` privileges, according to his quality or condition of life, with a `
` proportionable sum of money out of a fund appropriated for that `
` use: he likewise acquires the title of snilpall, or legal, which `
` is added to his name, but does not descend to his posterity. And `
` these people thought it a prodigious defect of policy among us, `
` when I told them that our laws were enforced only by penalties, `
` without any mention of reward. It is upon this account that the `
` image of Justice, in their courts of judicature, is formed with six `
` eyes, two before, as many behind, and on each side one, to signify `
` circumspection; with a bag of gold open in her right hand, and a `
` sword sheathed in her left, to show she is more disposed to reward `
` than to punish. `
` `
` In choosing persons for all employments, they have more regard to `
` good morals than to great abilities; for, since government is `
` necessary to mankind, they believe, that the common size of human `
` understanding is fitted to some station or other; and that `
` Providence never intended to make the management of public affairs `
` a mystery to be comprehended only by a few persons of sublime `
` genius, of which there seldom are three born in an age: but they `
` suppose truth, justice, temperance, and the like, to be in every `
` man's power; the practice of which virtues, assisted by experience `
` and a good intention, would qualify any man for the service of his `
` country, except where a course of study is required. But they `
` thought the want of moral virtues was so far from being supplied by `
` superior endowments of the mind, that employments could never be `
` put into such dangerous hands as those of persons so qualified; `
` and, at least, that the mistakes committed by ignorance, in a `
` virtuous disposition, would never be of such fatal consequence to `
` the public weal, as the practices of a man, whose inclinations led `
` him to be corrupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to `
` multiply, and defend his corruptions. `
` `
` In like manner, the disbelief of a Divine Providence renders a man `
` incapable of holding any public station; for, since kings avow `
` themselves to be the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians think `
` nothing can be more absurd than for a prince to employ such men as `
` disown the authority under which he acts. `
` `
` In relating these and the following laws, I would only be `
` understood to mean the original institutions, and not the most `
` scandalous corruptions, into which these people are fallen by the `
` degenerate nature of man. For, as to that infamous practice of `
` acquiring great employments by dancing on the ropes, or badges of `
` favour and distinction by leaping over sticks and creeping under `
` them, the reader is to observe, that they were first introduced by `
` the grandfather of the emperor now reigning, and grew to the `
` present height by the gradual increase of party and faction. `
` `
` Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as we read it to have `
` been in some other countries: for they reason thus; that whoever `
` makes ill returns to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy `
` to the rest of mankind, from whom he has received no obligation, `
` and therefore such a man is not fit to live. `
` `
` Their notions relating to the duties of parents and children differ `
` extremely from ours. For, since the conjunction of male and female `
` is founded upon the great law of nature, in order to propagate and `
` continue the species, the Lilliputians will needs have it, that men `
` and women are joined together, like other animals, by the motives `
` of concupiscence; and that their tenderness towards their young `
` proceeds from the like natural principle: for which reason they `
` will never allow that a child is under any obligation to his father `
` for begetting him, or to his mother for bringing him into the `
` world; which, considering the miseries of human life, was neither a `
` benefit in itself, nor intended so by his parents, whose thoughts, `
` in their love encounters, were otherwise employed. Upon these, and `
` the like reasonings, their opinion is, that parents are the last of `
` all others to be trusted with the education of their own children; `
` and therefore they have in every town public nurseries, where all `
` parents, except cottagers and labourers, are obliged to send their `
` infants of both sexes to be reared and educated, when they come to `
` the age of twenty moons, at which time they are supposed to have `
` some rudiments of docility. These schools are of several kinds, `
` suited to different qualities, and both sexes. They have certain `
` professors well skilled in preparing children for such a condition `
` of life as befits the rank of their parents, and their own `
` capacities, as well as inclinations. I shall first say something `
` of the male nurseries, and then of the female. `
` `
` The nurseries for males of noble or eminent birth, are provided `
` with grave and learned professors, and their several deputies. The `
` clothes and food of the children are plain and simple. They are `
` bred up in the principles of honour, justice, courage, modesty, `
` clemency, religion, and love of their country; they are always `
` employed in some business, except in the times of eating and `
` sleeping, which are very short, and two hours for diversions `
` consisting of bodily exercises. They are dressed by men till four `
` years of age, and then are obliged to dress themselves, although `
` their quality be ever so great; and the women attendant, who are `
` aged proportionably to ours at fifty, perform only the most menial `
` offices. They are never suffered to converse with servants, but go `
` together in smaller or greater numbers to take their diversions, `
` and always in the presence of a professor, or one of his deputies; `
` whereby they avoid those early bad impressions of folly and vice, `
` to which our children are subject. Their parents are suffered to `
` see them only twice a year; the visit is to last but an hour; they `
` are allowed to kiss the child at meeting and parting; but a `
` professor, who always stands by on those occasions, will not suffer `
` them to whisper, or use any fondling expressions, or bring any `
` presents of toys, sweetmeats, and the like. `
` `
` The pension from each family for the education and entertainment of `
` a child, upon failure of due payment, is levied by the emperor's `
` officers. `
` `
` The nurseries for children of ordinary gentlemen, merchants, `
` traders, and handicrafts, are managed proportionably after the same `
` manner; only those designed for trades are put out apprentices at `
` eleven years old, whereas those of persons of quality continue in `
` their exercises till fifteen, which answers to twenty-one with us: `
` but the confinement is gradually lessened for the last three years. `
` `
` In the female nurseries, the young girls of quality are educated `
` much like the males, only they are dressed by orderly servants of `
` their own sex; but always in the presence of a professor or deputy, `
` till they come to dress themselves, which is at five years old. `
` And if it be found that these nurses ever presume to entertain the `
` girls with frightful or foolish stories, or the common follies `
` practised by chambermaids among us, they are publicly whipped `
` thrice about the city, imprisoned for a year, and banished for life `
` to the most desolate part of the country. Thus the young ladies `
` are as much ashamed of being cowards and fools as the men, and `
` despise all personal ornaments, beyond decency and cleanliness: `
` neither did I perceive any difference in their education made by `
` their difference of sex, only that the exercises of the females `
` were not altogether so robust; and that some rules were given them `
`