Gulliver's Travels Into Several Remote Regions of the World

CHAPTER VIII.

The Author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave Blefuscu; and after some difficulties, returns safe to his native country

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LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

"He commanded his generals to draw up the troops" Map of Lilliput and Blefuscu "I lay all this while ... in great uneasiness" "Producing his credentials" "These gentlemen made an exact inventory" "Her imperial majesty was pleased to smile very graciously upon me" "And created me a nardac upon the spot" "Three hundred tailors were employed" "The happiness ... of dining with me" "He desired I would hear him with patience" "I set sail ... at six in the morning"

AND TWENTY-THREE SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT.

CONTENTS

A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG.

CHAPTER I.

A great storm described; the long-boat sent to fetch water, the Author goes with it to discover the country--He is left on shore, is seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's house--His reception there, with several accidents that happened there--A description of the inhabitants

CHAPTER II.. A Description of the Farmer's Daughter--the Author Carried to a

A description of the farmer's daughter--The Author carried to a market-town, and then to the metropolis--The particulars of his journey

CHAPTER III.

The Author sent for to court--The queen buys him of his master the farmer, and presents him to the king--He disputes with his majesty's great scholars--An apartment at court provided for the Author--He is in high favor with the queen--He stands up for the honor of his own country--He quarrels with the queen's dwarf

CHAPTER IV.

The country described--A proposal for correcting modern maps--The king's palace, and some account of the metropolis--The Author's way of travelling--The chief temple described

CHAPTER V.

Several adventures that happened to the Author--The execution of a criminal--The Author shows his skill in navigation

CHAPTER VI.

Several contrivances of the Author to please the king and queen--He shows his skill in music--The king inquires into the state of Europe, which the Author relates to him--The king's observations thereon

CHAPTER VII.

The Author's love of his country--He makes a proposal of much advantage to the king, which is rejected--The king's great ignorance in politics--The learning of that country very imperfect and confined--Their laws, and military affairs, and in the state

CHAPTER VIII.

The king and queen make a progress to the frontiers--The Author attends them--The manner in which he leaves the country very particularly related--He returns to England

NOTE

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LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

"They concluded I was only Relplum Sealcath" Map of Brobdingnag "A huge creature walking ... on the sea" "Whereupon the huge creature trod short" "I drew my hanger to defend myself" "I called her my Glumdalclitch" "Flourished after the manner of fencers in England" "This gracious princess held out her little finger" "She carried me to the king" "I could only revenge myself by calling him brother" "The smaller birds did not appear to be at all afraid of me" "Gave me a gale with their fans" "The most violent exercise I ever underwent" "You have made an admirable panegyric" "She had some foreboding" "Somebody calling in the English tongue" "My daughter kneeled, but I could not see her"

AND TWELVE SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT.

THE FIRST PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

The author of these travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on the mother's side. About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver, growing weary of the concourse of curious people coming to him at his house in Redriff, made a small purchase of land, with a convenient house, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire, his native county, where he now lives retired, yet in good esteem among his neighbors.

Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yet I have heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I have observed in the churchyard at Banbury, in that county, several tombs and monuments of the Gullivers. Before he quitted Redriff he left the custody of the following papers in my hands, with the liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I have carefully perused them three times. The style is very plain and simple, and the only fault I find is, that the author, after the manner of travellers, is a little too circumstantial. There is an air of truth apparent through the whole; and, indeed, the author was so distinguished for his veracity, that it became a sort of proverb among his neighbors at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to say it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken it.

By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom, with the author's permission, I communicated these papers, I now venture to send them into the world, hoping they may be, at least for some time, a better entertainment than the common scribbles about politics and party.

This volume would have been at least twice as large if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages; together with the minute description of the management of the ship in the storms, in the style of sailors; likewise the account of longitudes and latitudes; wherein I have reason to apprehend that Mr. Gulliver may be a little dissatisfied; but I was resolved to fit the work as much as possible to the general capacity of readers. However, if my own ignorance in sea affairs shall have led me to commit some mistakes, I alone am answerable for them, and if any traveller hath a curiosity to see the whole work at large, as it came from the hand of the author, I will be ready to gratify him.

As for any farther particulars relating to the author, the reader will receive satisfaction from the first pages of the book.

RICHARD SYMPSON.

TRAVELS.

PART I.. _a Voyage to Lilliput_.

A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.

CHAPTER I.

THE AUTHOR GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF AND FAMILY: HIS FIRST INDUCEMENTS TO TRAVEL. HE IS SHIPWRECKED, AND SWIMS FOR HIS LIFE; GETS SAFE ASHORE IN THE COUNTRY OF LILLIPUT; IS MADE A PRISONER, AND CARRIED UP THE COUNTRY.

My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of five sons. He sent me to Emmanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued four years; and my father now and then sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of the mathematics useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be, some time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my father, where, by the assistance of him, and my uncle John and some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a year, to maintain me at Leyden. There I studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages.

Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the "Swallow," Captain Abraham Pannell, commander; with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back I resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and, being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier in Newgate Street, with whom I received four hundred pounds for a portion.

But my good master, Bates, dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having, therefore, consulted with my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and, when I was ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language, wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.

The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After three years' expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the "Antelope," who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699; and our voyage at first was very prosperous.

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