A Voyage To Lilliput

My father had a small farm in Nottinghamshire, and I was the third of four sons. He sent me to Cambridge when I was fourteen, and after studying there for three years I became an apprentice to Mr. Bates, a famous doctor in London. My father sometimes sent me small amounts of money, and I spent them learning about sailing and other useful things for travelers, because I always believed that one day I would travel the world.

Three years after I left Mr. Bates, he recommended me as a ship's doctor on the "Swallow," where I sailed for three years. When I came back I settled in London, and renting part of a small house, I married Miss Mary Burton, the daughter of Mr. Edmund Burton, a sock maker.

But my good master Bates died two years later, and since I had few friends my work began to dry up, so I decided to go to sea again. After several trips, I accepted an offer from Captain W. Pritchard, master of the "Antelope," who was sailing to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol on May 4, 1699, and at first our voyage went very well.

But as we sailed to the East Indies, a violent storm drove us northwest of Van Diemen's Land. Twelve of our crew died from hard work and bad food, and the rest were very weak.

On November 5, the weather was very foggy, and the sailors spotted a rock within 120 yards of the ship. But the wind was so strong that we were driven straight onto it, and the ship split apart immediately. Six of us lowered the boat and got away from the ship.

We rowed about three leagues until we couldn't row any longer. So we trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overturned by a sudden gust of wind.

I don't know what happened to my companions in the boat, or those who escaped onto the rock or stayed on the ship, but I think they all died. As for me, I swam wherever luck took me, pushed forward by wind and tide.

When I could struggle no more, I found I could touch the bottom. By then the storm had calmed down a lot. I finally reached the shore around eight o'clock in the evening and walked nearly half a mile inland, but I couldn't see any signs of people.

I was extremely tired, and because of the warm weather I felt very sleepy. I lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft, and slept more deeply than I ever had in my life, for about nine hours. When I woke up, it was just daylight.

I tried to get up, but I couldn't, because I was lying on my back and found my arms and legs tied to the ground on each side. My long, thick hair was also tied down the same way. I could only look upward.

The sun began to grow hot, and the light hurt my eyes. I heard a confused noise around me, but I could see nothing except the sky. After a little while, I felt something alive moving on my left leg.

It gently advanced over my chest and came almost up to my chin. I looked down and saw it was a tiny person, not six inches tall, with a bow and arrow in his hands and a quiver on his back.

At the same time, I felt at least forty more following the first. I was completely amazed and roared so loudly that they all ran back in fright. Some of them were hurt when they jumped off my sides onto the ground.

But they soon returned, and one of them, who dared to come close enough to see my face fully, lifted up his hands in wonder. I was very uncomfortable all this time, but finally I struggled to get free and managed to break the strings holding my left arm to the ground.

At the same time, with a violent pull that hurt me a lot, I loosened the strings tying my hair, so I could turn my head about two inches. But the little creatures ran away a second time before I could grab them.

Then there was a great shout, and instantly I felt more than a hundred arrows hit my left hand, pricking me like so many needles. They also shot another volley into the air, and some fell on my face, which I covered with my left hand.

When the shower of arrows was over, I groaned with pain and grief. When I tried again to get free, they shot another flight of arrows, larger than the first, and some tried to stab me with their spears. But luckily I was wearing a leather jacket, which they couldn't pierce.

At that point I thought it wisest to lie still until night, since my left hand was already loose and I could easily free myself then. As for the tiny people, I thought I could fight off any army they could bring against me if they were all the same size as the one I saw.

When the people saw that I was quiet, they stopped shooting arrows. But from the noise I heard, I knew more of them had arrived. About four yards away from me, for more than an hour, there was a knocking sound, like people working.

Then, turning my head as much as the pegs and strings would allow, I saw a stage set up about a foot and a half from the ground, with two or three ladders to climb onto it.

From this stage, one of them, who seemed to be an important person, made a long speech to me. I couldn't understand a word, but I could tell from his manner that sometimes he threatened me, and sometimes he spoke with pity and kindness.

I answered in a few words, in the most humble way. Since I was almost starving with hunger, I couldn't help showing that I wanted food by putting my finger to my mouth many times.

He understood me very well, and climbing down from the stage, he ordered several ladders to be placed against my sides. Then more than a hundred of the inhabitants climbed up and walked toward my mouth with baskets full of food, which had been sent by the King's orders when he first heard about me.

There were legs and shoulders like mutton but smaller than lark's wings. I ate them two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time. They supplied me as fast as they could, with a thousand signs of wonder at my appetite.

Then I made a sign that I wanted something to drink. They guessed that a small amount wouldn't be enough for me, and being very clever, they hoisted up one of their largest barrels, rolled it toward my hand, and knocked out the top.

I drank it in one gulp, which was easy because it didn't hold half a pint. They brought me a second barrel, which I drank, and I made signs for more, but they had none to give me.

I couldn't help wondering at the daring of these tiny mortals, who climbed and walked on my body while one of my hands was free, without trembling at the sight of such a huge creature as I must have seemed to them.

After some time, a person of high rank from his Imperial Majesty appeared before me. His Excellency climbed onto my right leg and advanced to my face, with about a dozen of his attendants, and spoke for about ten minutes, often pointing forward, which I later found was toward the capital city, about half a mile away, where his Majesty had ordered me to be taken.

I made a sign with my free hand, putting it to my other hand (but over his Excellency's head, for fear of hurting him or his attendants), to show that I wanted my freedom. He seemed to understand me well enough, because he shook his head, though he made other signs to let me know that I would have plenty of meat and drink and very good treatment.

Then I once again thought of trying to escape. But when I felt the sting of their arrows on my face and hands, which were all blistered, and saw that the number of my enemies was growing, I made signs to let them know they could do whatever they wanted with me.

Then they smeared my face and hands with a sweet-smelling ointment, which in a few minutes took away all the pain from the arrows. The relief from pain and hunger made me sleepy, and soon I fell asleep.

I slept about eight hours, as I was told later, and no wonder, because the doctors, by the Emperor's orders, had mixed a sleeping potion into the barrels of wine.

It seems that when I was discovered sleeping on the ground after landing, the Emperor was told about it early on. He decided that I should be tied up as I described (which was done at night while I slept), that plenty of food and drink should be sent to me, and that a machine should be built to carry me to the capital city.

Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately set to work to build the machine. It was a wooden frame, raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long and four feet wide, moving on twenty-two wheels. But the difficulty was getting me onto it.

Eighty poles were set up for this purpose, and very strong cords were fastened to bandages that the workmen had tied around my neck, hands, body, and legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were used to pull up these cords with pulleys fastened to the poles, and in less than three hours I was lifted and slung into the machine and tied fast.

Then fifteen hundred of the Emperor's largest horses, each about four and a half inches tall, were used to pull me toward the capital. But while all this was happening, I was still in a deep sleep, and I didn't wake up until four hours after we started our journey.

The Emperor and all his court came out to meet us when we reached the capital. But his high officials would not let his Majesty risk his person by climbing onto my body. Where the carriage stopped, there stood an ancient temple, believed to be the largest in the whole kingdom, and it was decided that I would stay there.

Near the large gate, through which I could easily crawl, they fastened ninety-one chains, like the ones that hang from a lady's watch, which were locked to my left leg with thirty-six padlocks. When the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me.

Then I stood up, feeling as sad as I ever had in my life. But the noise and amazement of the people when they saw me stand up and walk were beyond words. The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long, and they let me walk back and forth in a semicircle, and also crawl inside the temple and lie down full length.

The Emperor, walking toward me from among his courtiers, all very richly dressed, looked at me with great wonder, but stayed beyond the length of my chain. He was taller by about the width of my fingernail than anyone in his court, which alone was enough to inspire awe in those who saw him, and he was graceful and majestic.

To see him better, I lay down on my side, so my face was level with his, and he stood three yards away. However, I have held him in my hand many times since, so I cannot be mistaken.

His clothes were very simple, but he wore a light gold helmet decorated with jewels and a plume. He held his drawn sword in his hand to defend himself if I should break loose. It was almost three inches long, and the hilt was gold, decorated with diamonds.

His voice was shrill but very clear. His Imperial Majesty spoke to me often, and I answered, but neither of us could understand a word.

After about two hours, the court left, and I was left with a strong guard to keep away the crowd. Some of them had been rude enough to shoot arrows at me as I sat by the door of my house.

But the colonel ordered six of them to be captured and handed over to me tied up. I put five of them into my coat pocket. As for the sixth, I made a face as if I would eat him alive.

The poor man screamed terribly, and the colonel and his officers were very worried, especially when they saw me take out my penknife. But I soon put them at ease, because I cut the strings he was tied with, put him gently on the ground, and away he ran.

I treated the rest the same way, taking them one by one out of my pocket. I saw that both the soldiers and the people were delighted by this show of kindness.

Toward night I managed to get into my house with some difficulty, where I lay on the ground, as I had to do for two weeks, until a bed was made for me from six hundred ordinary-sized beds.

Six hundred servants were assigned to me, and three hundred tailors made me a suit of clothes. Also, six of his Majesty's greatest scholars were employed to teach me their language, so that soon I could talk a little with the Emperor, who often honored me with his visits.

The first words I learned were to ask him to give me my freedom, which I repeated every day on my knees. But he answered that this would take time, and that first I had to swear a peace with him and his kingdom.

He also told me that by the laws of the land I had to be searched by two of his officers, and since this could not be done without my help, he trusted them to me, and whatever they took from me would be returned when I left the country.

I picked up the two officers and put them into my coat pockets. These gentlemen, having pen, ink, and paper with them, made an exact list of everything they saw, which I later translated into English. It went like this:

"In the right coat pocket of the great Man-Mountain we found only one large piece of coarse cloth, big enough to cover the carpet of your Majesty's main state room. In the left pocket we saw a huge silver chest with a silver lid, which we could not lift.

We asked for it to be opened, and one of us stepped inside and found himself up to the middle of his leg in a kind of dust, some of which flew into our faces and made us both sneeze.

In his right waistcoat pocket we found a number of thin white things, folded one over another, about the size of three men, tied with a strong rope, and marked with black figures, which we humbly think are writings.

In the left pocket there was a kind of machine, from the back of which extended twenty long poles, with which, we guess, the Man-Mountain combs his hair. In the smaller pocket on the right side were several round flat pieces of white and red metal of different sizes.

Some of the white ones, which appeared to be silver, were so large and heavy that my comrade and I could hardly lift them. From another pocket hung a huge silver chain, with a wonderful kind of machine attached to it, a globe half silver and half of some transparent metal.

On the transparent side we saw certain strange figures, and thought we could touch them until we found our fingers stopped by the shiny substance. This machine made a constant noise, like a watermill, and we guess it is either some unknown animal or the god he worships, probably the latter, because he told us that he seldom did anything without consulting it.

This is a list of what we found on the body of the Man-Mountain, who treated us with great politeness."

I had one private pocket that they missed, containing a pair of spectacles and a small spyglass. Since these were not important to the Emperor, I did not feel I had to reveal them.

My gentleness and good behavior impressed the Emperor and his court, and indeed the people in general, so that I began to hope I would soon get my freedom. The natives gradually became less afraid of me. I would sometimes lie down and let five or six of them dance on my hand. Finally, the boys and girls even dared to come and play hide-and-seek in my hair.

The army horses and the royal stables' horses were no longer shy, having been led past me every day. One of the Emperor's hunters rode a large horse and jumped over my foot, shoe and all, which was indeed a huge leap.

One day I amused the Emperor in a very special way. I took nine sticks and stuck them firmly into the ground in a square. Then I took four other sticks and tied them parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground.

I fastened my handkerchief to the nine standing sticks and stretched it on all sides until it was as tight as the top of a drum. Then I asked the Emperor to let a troop of his best horses, twenty-four in number, come and exercise on this platform.

His Majesty approved of the idea, and I picked them up one by one, along with the proper officers to train them. As soon as they got into order, they divided into two parties, shot blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and chased, and in short showed the best military discipline I had ever seen.

The parallel sticks kept them and their horses from falling off the stage, and the Emperor was so delighted that he ordered this show to be repeated for several days. He even persuaded the Empress to let me hold her in her chair within two yards of the stage, so she could watch the whole performance.

Fortunately no accident happened, except once a lively horse pawed with his hoof and made a hole in my handkerchief, throwing both himself and his rider. But I quickly helped them both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set down the troop with the other as I had picked them up.

The horse that fell had a strained shoulder, but the rider was not hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could. However, I did not trust its strength anymore for such dangerous activities.

I had sent so many requests for my freedom that at last his Majesty brought up the matter in a full council. No one opposed it except Skyresh Bolgolam, the admiral of the realm, who for no reason had become my mortal enemy.

However, he finally agreed, though he insisted on drawing up the conditions under which I would be set free. After they were read, I was asked to swear to follow them in the way prescribed by their laws, which was to hold my right foot in my left hand, place the middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head, and my thumb on the top of my right ear.

I have made a translation of the conditions, which I offer here:

"Golbaste Mamarem Evlame Gurdile Shefin Mully Ully Gue, Most Mighty Emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the universe, whose dominions extend to the ends of the globe, monarch of all monarchs, taller than the sons of men, whose feet press down to the center and whose head strikes the sun, at whose nod the princes of the earth shake their knees, pleasant as spring, comfortable as summer, fruitful as autumn, dreadful as winter: His Most Sublime Majesty proposes to the Man-Mountain, lately arrived at our celestial dominions, the following articles, which by a solemn oath he shall be obliged to perform:

First. The Man-Mountain shall not leave our dominions without our permission under the great seal.

Second. He shall not enter our city without our express order, at which time the inhabitants shall have two hours' warning to stay indoors.

Third. The said Man-Mountain shall keep to the main roads and not walk or lie down in a meadow or cornfield.

Fourth. As he walks the said roads, he shall take the greatest care not to trample on any of our loving subjects, their horses or carriages, nor take any of our subjects into his hands without their own consent.

Fifth. If an express message requires extraordinary speed, the Man-Mountain must carry in his pocket the messenger and horse for a six-day journey, and return the said messenger (if required) safely to our imperial presence.

Sixth. He shall be our ally against our enemies on the island of Blefuscu, and do his best to destroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade us.

Lastly. Upon his solemn oath to observe all the above articles, the said Man-Mountain shall have a daily allowance of meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1,724 of our subjects, with free access to our royal person, and other marks of our favor. Given at our palace at Belfaburac, the twelfth day of the ninety-first moon of our reign."

I swore to these articles with great cheerfulness, and my chains were immediately unlocked. I was fully free.

One morning, about two weeks after I had gained my freedom, Reldresal, the Emperor's secretary for private affairs, came to my house, attended by only one servant. He ordered his coach to wait at a distance and asked if I would give him an hour's audience.

I offered to lie down so he could more easily reach my ear, but he preferred that I hold him in my hand during our conversation. He began with compliments on my freedom, but added that except for the current state of affairs at court, I might not have obtained it so soon.

"For," he said, "however flourishing we may seem to foreigners, we are in danger of an invasion from the island of Blefuscu, which is the other great empire of the universe, almost as large and as powerful as his Majesty's.

As for what we have heard you say, that there are other kingdoms in the world inhabited by people as large as yourself, our philosophers are very doubtful. They think you probably fell from the moon or one of the stars, because a hundred people your size would soon destroy all the fruit and cattle of his Majesty's lands.

Besides, our histories of six thousand moons mention no other regions except the two mighty empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu, which, as I was about to tell you, are engaged in a very stubborn war.

It began in the following way: Everyone agrees that the original way to break eggs was on the larger end. But his present Majesty's grandfather, when he was a boy, was going to eat an egg and broke it according to the ancient custom, and happened to cut one of his fingers.

So the Emperor, his father, made a law ordering all his subjects to break the smaller end of their eggs. The people were so angry about this law that there have been six rebellions because of it, in which one emperor lost his life and another lost his crown.

It is said that eleven hundred people have at various times suffered rather than break their eggs at the smaller end. But these rebels, the Big-endians, have found so much support at the Emperor of Blefuscu's court, where they always fled for refuge, that a bloody war, as I said, has been going on between the two empires for thirty-six moons.

Now the Blefuscudians have equipped a large fleet and are preparing to attack us. Therefore, his Imperial Majesty, having great confidence in your courage and strength, has sent me to present this matter to you."

I asked the secretary to give my humble duty to the Emperor and to let him know that I was ready, at the risk of my life, to defend him against all invaders.

It was not long before I told his Majesty my plan for capturing the enemy's entire fleet. The empire of Blefuscu is an island separated from Lilliput only by a channel eight hundred yards wide.

I asked the most experienced sailors about the depth of the channel, and they told me that in the middle, at high tide, it was seventy glumguffs (about six feet in European measure). I walked to the coast, where I lay down behind a small hill, took out my spyglass, and looked at the enemy's fleet at anchor—about fifty warships and other vessels.

Then I returned to my house and ordered a great quantity of the strongest cables and iron bars. The cable was about as thick as sewing thread, and the bars were the length and size of a knitting needle.

I twisted the cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason I twisted three iron bars together, bending the ends into a hook. After fixing fifty hooks to fifty cables, I went back to the coast.

Taking off my coat, shoes, and stockings, I walked into the sea in my leather jacket about half an hour before high tide. I waded as fast as I could, swimming in the middle for about thirty yards, until I felt the bottom, and thus I arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour.

The enemy was so frightened when they saw me that they jumped out of their ships and swam ashore, where there must have been at least thirty thousand. Then I fastened a hook to the hole at the front of each ship and tied all the cords together at the end.

Meanwhile, the enemy shot several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my hands and face. My biggest fear was for my eyes, which I would have lost if I hadn't suddenly thought of the pair of spectacles that had escaped the Emperor's searchers.

I took them out and put them on my nose, and thus protected, I continued my work despite the arrows, many of which hit the lenses of my spectacles but only slightly disturbed them. Then, taking the knot in my hand, I began to pull, but not a ship would move, because they were held fast by their anchors.

So the boldest part of my mission remained. Letting go of the cord, I bravely cut with my knife the cables holding the anchors, receiving more than two hundred shots in my face and hands.

Then I took up again the knotted end of the cables to which my hooks were tied, and with great ease I pulled fifty of the enemy's largest warships after me.

When the Blefuscudians saw the fleet moving in order and me pulling at the end, they let out a scream of grief and despair that cannot be described. When I was out of danger, I stopped for a while to pick out the arrows stuck in my hands and face, and rubbed on some of the same ointment I had been given when I arrived. Then I took off my spectacles, and after waiting about an hour until the tide had gone down a bit, I waded on to the royal port of Lilliput.

The Emperor and his whole court stood on the shore waiting for me. They saw the ships moving forward in a large half-moon, but they could not see me, because in the middle of the channel I was underwater up to my neck.

The Emperor thought I had drowned and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in a hostile manner. But he was soon relieved, because the channel got shallower with every step I took. In a short time I came within hearing, and holding up the end of the cable by which the fleet was fastened, I cried in a loud voice: "Long live the most powerful Emperor of Lilliput!" The prince received me when I landed with all possible joy, and made me a Nardal on the spot, which is the highest title of honor among them.

His Majesty wanted me to take some opportunity to bring all the rest of the enemy's ships into his ports, and he seemed to think of nothing less than conquering the whole Empire of Blefuscu and becoming the sole monarch of the world.

But I plainly said that I would never be the one to bring a free and brave people into slavery. Even though the wisest ministers agreed with me, my flat refusal went against his Majesty's ambition so much that he could never forgive me.

And from that time on, a plot began between him and those ministers who were my enemies, which nearly ended in my total destruction.

About three weeks after this exploit, an embassy from Blefuscu arrived with humble offers of peace, which was soon concluded on terms very favorable to our Emperor. There were six ambassadors, with a group of about five hundred people, all very splendid.

Having been privately told that I had helped them, they came to visit me and paid me many compliments on my bravery and generosity, and invited me to their kingdom in the name of the Emperor their master.

I asked them to give my most humble respects to the Emperor their master, and I decided to visit him before returning to my own country. So the next time I had the honor of seeing our Emperor, I asked for his general permission to visit the Blefuscudian monarch.

He granted it, but in a very cold manner, and I later found out why.

Just as I was preparing to pay my respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, a high-ranking person at court, to whom I had once done a great favor, came to my house very privately at night and asked to be let in without giving his name.

I put his lordship into my coat pocket, and after ordering a trusted servant to let no one in, I locked the door, placed my visitor on the table, and sat down beside it. His lordship's face was full of worry, and he asked me to listen to him patiently in a matter that deeply concerned my honor and my life.

"You know," he said, "that Skyresh Bolgolam has been your mortal enemy ever since your arrival, and his hatred has grown since your great success against Blefuscu, because his glory as admiral has been overshadowed. This lord and others have accused you of treason, and several councils have been held in the utmost secrecy concerning you. Out of gratitude for your favors, I obtained information about the whole proceedings, risking my head for your sake. Here is the charge against you:

First: that you, having brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into the royal port, were ordered by his Majesty to seize all the other ships and put to death all the Big-endian exiles, and also all the people of the empire who would not immediately agree to break their eggs at the smaller end. And that, like a false traitor to his Most Serene Majesty, you excused yourself from the service on the pretense of not wanting to force the consciences and destroy the liberties and lives of innocent people.

Second: when ambassadors arrived from the court of Blefuscu, like a false traitor, you helped and entertained them, even though you knew they were servants of a prince who had recently been at open war with his Imperial Majesty.

Third: you are now preparing, contrary to the duty of a faithful subject, to travel to the court of Blefuscu.

In the debate on this charge," my friend continued, "his Majesty often mentioned the services you had done him, while the admiral and treasurer insisted that you should be put to a shameful death. But Reldresal, secretary for private affairs, who has always proven to be your friend, suggested that if his Majesty would please spare your life and only order both your eyes to be put out, justice might be somewhat satisfied.

At this, Bolgolam rose up in fury, wondering how the secretary dared to want to save the life of a traitor. The treasurer, pointing out the cost of keeping you, also urged your death. But his Majesty graciously said that since the council thought the loss of your eyes was too light a punishment, some other could be inflicted later.

The secretary, humbly asking to speak again, said that as for the expense, your allowance could be gradually reduced, so that from lack of enough food you would grow weak and faint, and die within a few months, at which time his Majesty's subjects could cut your flesh from your bones and bury it, leaving the skeleton for the admiration of future generations.

Thus, through the great friendship of the secretary, the matter was arranged. It was commanded that the plan of slowly starving you should be kept secret, but the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered into the records.

In three days your friend the secretary will come to your house and read the accusation to you, and point out the great mercy of his Majesty, who only condemns you to the loss of your eyes—which, he does not doubt, you will submit to humbly and gratefully.

Twenty of his Majesty's surgeons will attend to see the operation properly performed by shooting very sharp arrows into your eyes while you lie on the ground.

I leave you," said my friend, "to consider what measures you will take. To avoid suspicion, I must return immediately, just as secretly as I came."

His lordship did so, and I remained alone, very troubled. At first I was bent on resistance; while I was still free, I could easily smash the city to pieces with stones. But I soon rejected that idea with horror, remembering the oath I had made to the Emperor and the favors I had received from him.

Finally, since I had his Majesty's permission to visit the Emperor of Blefuscu, I decided to take this opportunity. Before the three days had passed, I wrote a letter to my friend the secretary telling him of my decision.

Without waiting for an answer, I went to the coast and, partly wading and partly swimming, crossed the channel and reached the port of Blefuscu, where the people, who had long expected me, led me to the capital.

His Majesty, with the royal family and high officers of the court, came out to meet me, and they entertained me in a manner fitting the generosity of such a great prince. I did not, however, mention my disgrace with the Emperor of Lilliput, because I did not think that prince would reveal the secret while I was out of his power. But as it soon turned out, I was wrong.

Three days after my arrival, while walking out of curiosity on the northeast coast of the island, I saw something far away in the sea that looked like an overturned boat. I took off my shoes and stockings, waded two or three hundred yards, and clearly saw that it was a real boat, which I thought might have been driven from a ship by some storm.

I immediately returned to the city for help, and after a huge amount of work I managed to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu, where a great crowd of people gathered, full of wonder at the sight of such a huge vessel.

I told the Emperor that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry me to some place from which I could return to my native country. I begged his orders for materials to fix it up and permission to leave, which, after many kind words, he was pleased to grant.

Meanwhile, the Emperor of Lilliput, uneasy at my long absence (but never imagining that I had the slightest idea of his plans), sent a high-ranking person to inform the Emperor of Blefuscu of my disgrace.

This messenger was ordered to describe the great mercy of his master, who was content to punish me with the loss of my eyes, and who expected that his brother of Blefuscu would send me back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a traitor.

The Emperor of Blefuscu answered with many polite excuses. He said that as for sending me bound, his brother knew it was impossible. Moreover, though I had taken away his fleet, he was grateful to me for many good services I had done him in making the peace.

He said that both their Majesties would soon be relieved, for I had found a huge vessel on the shore that could carry me at sea, and he had given orders to fit it up. He hoped that in a few weeks both empires would be free of me.

With this answer the messenger returned to Lilliput. And I, although the monarch of Blefuscu secretly offered me his gracious protection if I would stay in his service, hurried my departure, resolving never again to trust princes.

In about a month I was ready to leave. The Emperor of Blefuscu, with the Empress and the royal family, came out of the palace. I lay down on my face to kiss their hands, which they graciously gave me. His Majesty presented me with fifty purses of sprugs (their greatest gold coin) and his full-length picture, which I immediately put into one of my gloves to keep it from being damaged. Many other ceremonies took place at my departure.

I stored the boat with meat and drink, and took six cows and two bulls alive, along with as many ewes and rams, intending to bring them to my own country. To feed them on board, I had a good bundle of hay and a bag of corn. I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives, but the Emperor would by no means allow this, and besides a careful search of my pockets, his Majesty made me promise not to take away any of his subjects, even with their own consent and desire.

Having prepared everything as well as I could, I set sail. When I had made twenty-four leagues, by my reckoning, from the island of Blefuscu, I saw a sail heading northeast. I called out to her, but got no answer. Yet I found I was gaining on her because the wind slackened.

In half an hour she saw me and fired a gun. I caught up with her between five and six in the evening on September 26, 1701. My heart leaped when I saw her English flag.

I put my cows and sheep into my coat pockets and got on board with all my little cargo. The captain received me kindly and asked me to tell him what place I had come from last. But when I answered, he thought I was crazy.

However, I took my cows and sheep out of my pocket, and after great astonishment, he was clearly convinced.

We arrived in England on April 13, 1702. I stayed two months with my wife and family, but my eager desire to see foreign countries would not let me stay longer. However, while in England I made a good profit by showing my cattle to important people and others. Before I began my second voyage, I sold them for six hundred pounds. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife and set her up in a good house. Then, taking leave of her and my boy and girl, with tears on both sides, I sailed on board the "Adventure."