|
appetite. I then made another sign, that I wanted drink. They `
`
found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; and `
`
being a most ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity, `
`
one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and `
`
beat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well `
`
do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine `
`
of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a second `
`
hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs for `
`
more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these `
`
wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating `
`
several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They made me a `
`
sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning `
`
the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borach `
`
mevolah; and when they saw the vessels in the air, there was a `
`
universal shout of Hekinah degul. I confess I was often tempted, `
`
while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seize `
`
forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them `
`
against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which `
`
probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of `
`
honour I made them--for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour-- `
`
soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered `
`
myself as bound by the laws of hospitality, to a people who had `
`
treated me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in my `
`
thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of `
`
these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon `
`
my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at `
`
the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to `
`
them. After some time, when they observed that I made no more `
`
demands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rank `
`
from his imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted on the `
`
small of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about `
`
a dozen of his retinue; and producing his credentials under the `
`
signet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten `
`
minutes without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate `
`
resolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, `
`
was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant; whither it `
`
was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I `
`
answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with my `
`
hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over his `
`
excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then to `
`
my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It `
`
appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head `
`
by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show `
`
that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs `
`
to let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and `
`
very good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting `
`
to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrows `
`
upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the `
`
darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the `
`
number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that `
`
they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and `
`
his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances. `
`
Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of `
`
the words Peplom selan; and I felt great numbers of people on my `
`
left side relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was able to `
`
turn upon my right, and to ease myself with making water; which I `
`
very plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who, `
`
conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately `
`
opened to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent, `
`
which fell with such noise and violence from me. But before this, `
`
they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, `
`
very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all `
`
the smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added to the `
`
refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were `
`
very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, `
`
as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for the `
`
physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy potion in `
`
the hogsheads of wine. `
`
`
`
It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on `
`
the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by `
`
an express; and determined in council, that I should be tied in the `
`
manner I have related, (which was done in the night while I slept;) `
`
that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine `
`
prepared to carry me to the capital city. `
`
`
`
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I `
`
am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the `
`
like occasion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, `
`
as well as generous: for, supposing these people had endeavoured `
`
to kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, I `
`
should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which `
`
might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled `
`
me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they `
`
were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy. `
`
`
`
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a `
`
great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement `
`
of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince `
`
has several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and `
`
other great weights. He often builds his largest men of war, `
`
whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber `
`
grows, and has them carried on these engines three or four hundred `
`
yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were `
`
immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. `
`
It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about `
`
seven feet long, and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The `
`
shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it seems, `
`
set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel to `
`
me, as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and place `
`
me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were `
`
erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the bigness of `
`
packthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the `
`
workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. `
`
Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these `
`
cords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less `
`
than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and there `
`
tied fast. All this I was told; for, while the operation was `
`
performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that `
`
soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of `
`
the emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half `
`
high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I `
`
said, was half a mile distant. `
`
`
`
About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very `
`
ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, to `
`
adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young `
`
natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; `
`
they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my `
`
face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of `
`
his half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my `
`
nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they `
`
stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the `
`
cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a long march the remaining `
`
part of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred guards on `
`
each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows, `
`
ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning at `
`
sun-rise we continued our march, and arrived within two hundred `
`
yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all his `
`
court, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by no `
`
means suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my `
`
body. `
`
`
`
At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient `
`
temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which, `
`
having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was, `
`
according to the zeal of those people, looked upon as profane, and `
`
therefore had been applied to common use, and all the ornaments and `
`
furniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I should `
`
lodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet `
`
high, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep. `
`
On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inches `
`
from the ground: into that on the left side, the king's smith `
`
conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like those that hang to a `
`
lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to `
`
my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against this `
`
temple, on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feet `
`
distance, there was a turret at least five feet high. Here the `
`
emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to have `
`
an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see `
`
them. It was reckoned that above a hundred thousand inhabitants `
`
came out of the town upon the same errand; and, in spite of my `
`
guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand at `
`
several times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a `
`
proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it upon pain of death. `
`
When the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, `
`
they cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up, with `
`
as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life. But the `
`
noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise and walk, `
`
are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg were `
`
about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking `
`
backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within `
`
four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full `
`
length in the temple. `
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
CHAPTER II. `
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
[The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility, `
`
comes to see the author in his confinement. The emperor's person `
`
and habit described. Learned men appointed to teach the author `
`
their language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His `
`
pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.] `
`
`
`
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess `
`
I never beheld a more entertaining prospect. The country around `
`
appeared like a continued garden, and the enclosed fields, which `
`
were generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds of `
`
flowers. These fields were intermingled with woods of half a `
`
stang, and the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to be `
`
seven feet high. I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked `
`
like the painted scene of a city in a theatre. `
`
`
`
I had been for some hours extremely pressed by the necessities of `
`
nature; which was no wonder, it being almost two days since I had `
`
last disburdened myself. I was under great difficulties between `
`
urgency and shame. The best expedient I could think of, was to `
`
creep into my house, which I accordingly did; and shutting the gate `
`
after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would suffer, and `
`
discharged my body of that uneasy load. But this was the only time `
`
I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which I cannot but `
`
hope the candid reader will give some allowance, after he has `
`
maturely and impartially considered my case, and the distress I was `
`
in. From this time my constant practice was, as soon as I rose, to `
`
perform that business in open air, at the full extent of my chain; `
`
and due care was taken every morning before company came, that the `
`
offensive matter should be carried off in wheel-barrows, by two `
`
servants appointed for that purpose. I would not have dwelt so `
`
|
