# Adventures of Cap. Gulliver

Jonathan Swift is bibliographic antecedent but not author
THE
ADVENTURES
OF
CAP. GULLIVER.
IN A VOYAGE TO
LILLIPUT.
STIRLING:
Printed and Sold by C. Randall.
ADVENTURES
OF
CAPt. LEMUEL GULLIVER.
CHAP. I.
Mr Lemuel Gulliver, was the ⟨third⟩ son of a gentleman in Nottinghamshire: at the age of 14 he was sent ⟨to⟩ Emanuel College, Cambridge, where ⟨he⟩ studied very closely for three years; ⟨but⟩ the charge of maintaining him being ⟨too⟩ great for his father's narrow fortune, ⟨he⟩ was bound apprentice to Mr Bates, ⟨a⟩ Surgeon in London. What little ⟨money⟩ he got, he laid out in learning navigation and other parts of mathematics, as he ⟨always⟩ fancied he should be a great ⟨traveller⟩: When his time was expired, he ⟨left⟩ Mr. Bates, and studied physic two years at Leyden, in Holland.
​Soon after his return from Leyden he ⟨espoused⟩ Miss Polly Burton, daughter of a ⟨hosier⟩ in Newgate-street, with whom he ⟨received⟩ a portion of 400l.
After practising about 3 years in ⟨Wapping⟩, with but little success, he accepted of ⟨an⟩ advantageous offer from Captain ⟨Pritchard⟩, of the Antelope, who was making ⟨a⟩ voyage to the South Sea
They sailed from Bristol on the 4th of ⟨May⟩, 1699. Their voyage was at first ⟨very⟩ prosperous; till leaving these seas ⟨and⟩ steering their course towards the ⟨East⟩ Indies they were driven by a storm ⟨to⟩ the northward of Van Diemen's land. ⟨Twelve⟩ of the crew were dead by hard ⟨labour⟩ and bad food, and the rest were in ⟨very⟩ weak condition.
On the 5th of November, (the ⟨beginning⟩ of summer in those parts) the ⟨weather⟩ being hazy, they espied a rock within a ⟨cable's⟩ length of the ship, and the wind ⟨being⟩ strong, they immediately split upon
Mr. Gulliver and five of the crew ⟨heaved⟩ out the boat and made a shift to ⟨get⟩ clear of the ship and the rock. They ⟨rowed⟩ till they could work no longer; ⟨And⟩ then, trusting to the mercy of the ​waves, in about half an the boat was overset by a sudden squall from the north. What became of the other seamen, Mr Gulliver knew not; but he swam with wind and tide and often let his legs drop, in hopes of feeling the bottom; at last when he was almost ready to expire, he found himself within his depth, and the storm being greatly abated he walked above a mile before he reached the shore He then advanced near half a mile up the country, but could not discover either houses or inhabitants He lay down on the grass, which was very soft, and ⟨slept⟩ about nine hours He awaked just at day break and upon attempting to rise he found he could not stir, for as he lay on his back he found his arms and legs fastened to ⟨the⟩ ground, and his hair which was long ⟨and⟩ thick, tied in the same manner. In ⟨a⟩ little time, he felt something alive, ⟨moving⟩ on his left leg, which advanced almost ⟨up⟩ to his chin: when bending his eyes downwards he perceived it to be a human creature, about six inches high, with a ⟨bow⟩ and arrow in his hand, and a quiver ⟨on⟩ his back; he then felt at least forty ⟨more⟩ ​⟨following⟩ the first: and being greatly ⟨astonished⟩, he roared so loud that they all ran back ⟨in⟩ a fright: and some of them broke their ⟨limbs⟩, by leaping from his side to the ground.
Soon after, one of them cried aloud, ⟨Tolgo⟩ Phonac; when instantly Mr Gulliver ⟨perceived⟩ some hundreds of arrows discharged upon his hands and face which pricked him ⟨like⟩ so many needles, and gave him so much ⟨pain⟩, that he strove again to get loose Some ⟨of⟩ them attempted to stab him in the side ⟨with⟩ their spears, but they could not pierce ⟨his⟩ buff waistcoat. When the people ⟨observed⟩ that he lay quiet, they discharged no ⟨more⟩ arrows. He saw them buy erecting a ⟨stage⟩, at a little distance, about a foot and a ⟨half⟩ high, which they had no sooner finished ⟨than⟩ four of them ascended it by a ladder. One of them who seemed to be a person of ⟨quality⟩, was taller than those who attended ⟨him⟩: one of whom held up his train, and was about four inches high. He cried out three times, Langro Dehul San; on which they cut the strings that bound the ⟨left⟩ side of his head The little monarch made an oration, not one word of which ​Mr. Gulliver could understand, he observed however many signs of threatnings; and others of promises, pity, and kindness; and he answered by motions of submission and friendship Being almost famished with hunger, he put his finger frequently to his mouth, to signify to them that he wanted food The Hurgo (for so they called a great Lord). understood him very well; he descended from the stage, and ordered several ladders to be placed against Mr, Gulliver’s sides, by which above a hundred of the people mounted, and walked towards his mouth, laden with baskets of meat; there were shoulders, legs, and loins shaped like those of mutton, but smaller than the wings of a lark He eat two or three of them at a mouthful and took three of the loaves (which were as big as a musket bullet) at a time The inhabitants were astonished at his bulk and appetite: and on his making a sign for drink, they slung up one of their largest hogsheads, rolled it towards his hand, and beat out the top. He drank it off at a draught, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like Burgundy They afterwards brought second hogshead, ​⟨Which⟩ he also dispatched; and calling for ⟨more⟩, found they had no more to give him. ⟨When⟩ they had done these wonders, they ⟨shouted⟩ for joy; and after warning the ⟨people⟩ on the ground the King desired he would ⟨throw⟩ the empty barrels as far as he could; ⟨And⟩ when they saw the vessels in the air, ⟨There⟩ was an universal shout of Hekina Degul.
Mr Gulliver could not help ⟨wondering⟩ at the intrepidity of these diminutive ⟨mortals⟩ who ventured to walk and mount ⟨upon⟩ his body, while one of his hands was ⟨at⟩ liberty, without trembling at the very ⟨sight⟩ of so prodigious a creature as he must ⟨appear⟩ to them After some time an ⟨ambassador⟩ from the King appeared before ⟨him⟩, who producing credentials under the ⟨royal⟩ seal, spoke about ten minutes without ⟨any⟩ sign of anger, and yet with great ⟨resolution⟩; pointing often towards the ⟨Metropolis⟩, which was distant about ⟨half⟩ a mile, whether it was his Majesty's ⟨pleasure⟩ that he should be conveyed-Mr. Gulliver made signs that he should beglad to be released; and the ambassador ⟨understood⟩ very well what he meant for he shook his head by way of ​disapprobation and signified that he must be carried as a prisoner; he therefore gave tokens that they might do what they would with him; whereupon the Hurgo and his train withdrew with cheerful countenances. Soon after the people shouted out, Peplom Selau, and he felt the cords so relaxed, that he was able to turn upon his right side. they then rubbed his hands and face with an ointment which took off the smart of their arrows; and this circumstance, added to the plentiful meal he had made caused him to fall asleep. The natives of Lilliput are excellent mathematicians and mechanics: and the King immediately set five hundred carpenters to work to prepare an engine by which he might be conveyed to the capital. It was a wooden frame three inches high, seven feet long, and four broad, and moved upon twenty two wheels.
It was brought to Mr Gulliver's side as he lay To raise so immense a creature upon this vehicle, eighty poles, each of a foot high were erected, and very strong ropes of the bigness of packthread were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the ​workmen had girt round his neck, hands, body, and legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords, by pullies fastened on the poles, and in a ⟨few⟩ hours he was raised, slung into the engine and tied down. All this Mr Gulliver was told afterwards, for while the whole operation was performing, he lay fast asleep by the force of a medicine that had been purposely infused in the wine he had drunk Fifteen hundred strong horses, about four inches and a half high, were yoked to the machine and had much ado to drag it along They made a long march this day, and then Mr. Gulliver was guarded in the night, by five thousand men, on each side one half of them with torches, and the other half of them with bows and arrows ready to shoot him if he offered to stir. Early the next morning, they continued their march, and at noon arrived within two hundred yards of the city gate.
The carriage stopped near an old temple the largest in the kingdom, but which on account of a murder having been committed therein, was never frequented. In this edifice it was agreed Mr. Gulliver ​should lodge. The gate was four feet high. and two feet wide and on each side was four windows To this temple he was fastened by ninety-one chains, which were fixed to his leg by thirty six padlocks.— Just opposite stood a famous turret, five feet high to the top of which, the Emperor and many lords ascended, for the sake of seeing so large a monster; vast numbers of people came also upon the same errand; and when the workmen found that they had thoroughly secured him, they cut all the strings with which he was bound; and upon his rising upon his legs, they shewed the greatest marks of wonder and astonishment.
CHAP. II.
MR. GULLIVER was no sooner on his legs, than he was pleased at beholding the prospect of the country, large fields of forty feet square, woods, at least sixty feet long; and tall trees, almost seven feet high; and the city on the left hand, which looked like the view of London in a farce-shew.
​The Emperor having descended from the tower came forward with the Queen and many ladies, to examine Mr, Gulliver more minutely. He had ordered his cooks and builers to prepare ten waggon loads of meat, and ten of wine, and he and his attendants sat at some distance to see him dine. With regard to the Emperor’s person, he is taller by a quarter of an inch, than any of his subjects which is enough to strike them all with awe His dress was plain and simple, but he wore a golden helmet on his head, adorned with jewel, and a plume of feathers. He suffered Gulliver to take him up into the palm of his hand, after having drawn his sword to defend himself if he should not be used kindly The Emperor spoke often to Mr. Gulliver, and Mr Gulliver as often answered him, but all to no purpose, for they could not understand one another. When the court withdrew he was left with a strong guard, to prevent the impertinence of the rabble, many of whom, supposing he would devour all the victuals in the country, had the audacity to shoot their arrows at him; but the Col. ordered them to be seized and ​delivered into his hands. they were immediately bound and pushed towards him; he placed them upon his right hand and made a sign as if he would eat them up alive, they were greatly affrighted and squalled terribly when they saw him take out his knife; but afterwards looking mildly and cutting the strings with which they were bound he placed them gently on the ground and away they ran as fast as they were able This mark of clemency was represented much to his advantage at court
For a fortnight he lay upon the naked pavement of his house, which was smooth stone; during which time six hundred beds were brought in carriages, and worked up within the building; one hundred and fifty were sewn together in breadth and length; and these were four double, which, however was barely sufficient to relieve him from the hardness of the floor; and in the same manner also, he was provided with sheets, blankets and coverlids.
The Emperor, however, had frequent councils concerning him; who desired that certain officers might search him, for probably he might have weapons about him, ​which might be dangerous to the state—To this Mr Gulliver consented; he took the two officers in his hand, and put them first into one pocket and then into another, These gentlemen set down in writing everything they found; and after putting them safely on the ground, they presented the inventory to the Emperor, which was as follows.
In the right hand coat pocket, we found a large piece of coarse cloth large enough for a floor-cloth to the chamber of state.-In the left pocket a silver chest, with a cover of the same metal, we desired to see it opened; and on our stepping into it found ourselves mid-leg deep in sort of dust, which made us sneeze wonderfully In the right waistcoat pocket we found a number of white thin substances folded about the bigness of three men, tied with a cable and marked with black figures. In the left an engine, from the back of which were extended a row of long poles resembling palisadoes-In the right hand breeches pocket, we saw a hollow pillar of iron, about the length of a man, fastened to a strong piece of timber larger than the pillar; on one side of which were ​pieces of strong iron sticking out; and in the left pocket another engine of the same kind. In a smaller pocket of the right hand several pieces of white and red metal, of different sizes; some of the white ones were so heavy that we could hardly lift them. In the left pocket were two strange engines, gith one of which he told us he shaved himself and that with the other he cut his victaals. There were two other smaller pockets from one of which he took a large globe, half silver, and half of some transparent metal; this he put close to our ears and we were surprized with a noise as loud as the fall of a water-mill; this engine, he called his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time of every action of his life; we therefore presume it is the god that he worships From the left pocket, he took out a net, large enough for a, fisherman; in this were several pieces of yellow metal, which if they be real gold, are of more value thon all the wealth in your Majesty’s coffers.
Round his waist was a belt made of the skin of some unknown animal, from which hung a sword the length of nine ​men; on his right side was a bag, containing two cells, in one of which were several balls as big as a man’s head and which we were scarce able to lift; the other was filled with black grains, about fifty of which we could hold in the palms of our hands.
When this inventory was read over; the King desired Mr. Gulliver to give up the several particulars; he therefore first took out his scymeter out of the scabbard and waving it backward and forward, the reflection of the suu greatly dazzled the eyes of the beholders. The next thing he demanded, was one of the hollow iron pillars; Mr Gulliver took it out of his pocket, and charging it with powder only he let it off in the air; on which hundreds of Lilliputians fell to the ground as if they had been dead, and even the Emperor was greatly confounded- His pistols were then delivered up, together with the pouch of powder and bullets, after begging that the former might be kept from the fire, for fear his Imperial Majesty's palace might be blown in the air. The Emperor being desirous of seeing his watch, two of the yeomen of the ​guards hung it accross a pole, as the dray men do a barrel of beer in England, and he and the learned men were amazed at the noise it made, and at the motion of the minute hand His money, comb, knife, razor, &c were then given up The scymiter, pistols, and pouch, were conveyed by broad wheel waggons to the king's stores, but the rest were restored
CHAP III.
MR. Gulliver's gentle behaviour gained the good opinion of the Emperor, the army, and the people in general, insomuch that he was set at full liberty. They became less apprehensive of danger from him, and at last, the boys and girls would dance country dances on the palm of his hand, as he lay on the ground, or play at hide and seek in his hair.
The Emperor one day had a mind to entertain him with several shews, with none of which he was so much diverted as that of the rope-dancers, who performed upon a slender white thread, about two feet long and raised ​about twelve inches from the ground. This diversion is only practised by the nobility and men of liberal education, who are candidates for the high employments of the state—When any great office becomes vacant, five, or six of these candidates pettition the King to entertain his Majesty, with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps highest is to succeed.
These diversions, however, are often attended with fatal accidents; Mr. Gulliver himself saw two or three people break their limbs; and when the Ministers themselves are commanded to perform, they frequently strain so far, that there is hardly any of them who have not received a fall, and some of them two or three
There is another diversion, which is pecnliar to the Liliputians; it is as follows: The Emperor lays on a table three silken threads, one blue, the other red, and the third green These threads are intended for such noblemen as are to be distinguished by a particular favor. The Emperor holds stick in his hand and the ccandidates leap over or creep under it, backwards and ​forwards; and whoever holds out longest in leaping and creeping is honored with the blue silk; the red is given to the next, and the green to the third,
CHAP. IV.
THE wall of the city of Milendo is two feet and a half high, and seven inches broad, so that a coach may be driven upon the top of it, and there are strong towers at the distance of every ten feet Mr Gulliver easily trode over the wall and went carefully through the principal streets in his waistcoat only, for fear the skirts of his coat might damage the roofs and eaves of the honses The garret windows, and tops of houses, were to crouded with spectators thar Mr. Gulliver imagined the city must contain at least five hundred thousand souls Some of the houses were five stories high, the markets well provided, and the shops very rich. The city is an exact square of five hundred teet; two great streets, which divide it into quarters, are five feet wide; ​the lanes aud allies are from twelve to eighteen inches. The Emperor’s palace, which is in the centre, is inclosed by a wall two feet high; the outward court is a vast square of forty feet; and here stand the Royal Apartments. These Mr. Gulliver, by lying down upon his side and applying his face to the windows, had the pleasure of viewing, and he found them more splendid than could be imagined. He saw the Empress and the young Princess in their several lodgings, and her Majesty was pleased to put her hand out at the window for him to kiss.
About a fortnight after Mr. Gulliver obtained his liberty, he was visited by Reldresal; the principal secretary. Reldresal complimented him upon his liberty, and entered into a political conversation with great confidence He informed Mr. Gulliver that the Lilliputians were threatened with an invasion from the island of Blefusca with whom they had waged war for six and thirty moons.
Mr. Gulliver then desired the Secretary to inform the Emperor that he was ready with the hazard of his life, to defend his person & state against all invaders.
CHAP. V.
MR Gulliver comunicated to the Emperor a project he had formed, of seizing the enemy’s whole fleet while it lay at anchor in the harbour, and ready to sail with the first fair wind. The depth of the channel that divided the two islands of Lilliput and Blefuscu, was in the middle, about six feet; and after being provided with a proper quantity of cables, as thick as packthread, and bars of iron, as thick as knitting needles which he bent in the form of a hook Mr. Gulliver in his leather jacket only waded about thirty yards into the sea when being out of his depth he swam till he felt the bottom on the opposite shore The enemy were so frightened, that they all left their and made towards the shore Mr Gulliver then took out his tackle, fastened a hook at the prow of each ship, and then tying all the cords together, began to pull, but not a ship would stir, for they had all good anchorge. He therefore took out his knife and esolutely cut all their cables: in ​executing this, however, he received a prodigious number of wounds in his hands and face, face, from the arrows of the enemy. He then took up the cords to which the hooks were tied, and with great ease drew fifty of the enemy’s men of war after him.
The Emperor with his attendants, stood on the coast, expecting the issue of his adventure They saw the ships move, but could not discern Mr Gulliver, who was up to his chin in water They concluded him to be drowned, and that the enemy’s fleet were approaching in a hostile manner- However, as the sea became shallower and shallower every step, he was soon within hearing and then holding up the end of the cable by which the fleet were fastened together, he cried aloud, “Long live the most puissant Emperor of Lilliput” He was received at his landing, with great əncomiums, and created a Nardic, which is the highest title of honor,
His Majesty desired that Mr. Gulliver would take some future opportunity of bringing all the rest of the enemy’s ships into his ports; and his ambition was so great, that he seemed to think of nothing ​but reducing Blefuscu to a province—Mr. Gulliver however boldly protested, that he would never be an instrument of bringing a brave and free people into slavery.
This open declaration, however, was at first productive of dislike in the Emperor, & afterwards of hatred From this time an intrigue between his Majesty and his ministers, that had like to have ended in poor Gullivers destruction.
Soon after the seizure of the Blefuscuan fleet ambassadors were sent from that nation with humbl offers of peace-After the treay was ratified, their Excellencies paid a visit to Mr Gulliver; they complimented him upon his valor and generosity, and in the name of their Emperor invited him to pay a visit to their kingdom, Accordingly, the next time he saw the Emperor, he desired leave to wait on the Blefuscuan monarch, which he granted indeed, but in a very cold manner; for the Flimnap and Bolgolam had represented his intercourse with the ambassadors as a mark of disaffection.
It was not long however, before he had an opportunity of doing, as he thought, ​so signal a service as would have put aside all suspicions of his fidelity He was alarmed at midnight with horrid cries; and several of the courtiers intreated him to repair immediately to the palace, for her Majesty's apartments were on fire, by the carlessness of a maid of honor. who fell asleep while she was reading a romance Mr Gulliver got up and made the best of his way to the metropolis he might easily have stifled the fire with the flap of his coat but that in his haste he had unfortunately left behind him—The case was truly deplorable, Mr Gulliver had, however, drunk plentifully of wine, and this by his coming very near the flames, and by his labouring to quench them, began to operate and was voided in such a quantity, and was so properly applied, that in three minutes the fire was totally extinguished. By the laws of the realm however, it was a capital offence for any person to make water within the predinct of the palace, and Mr. Gulliver was informed, that the Emperor would rather that the palace had been burnt to the ground, than he shodd made use of such filthy means of extinguishing the fire; and as for the Empress she would never be ​persuaded to live in her apartments and vowed vengeance against our hero.
Mr. Gulliver’s suit of servants was very numerous He had three hundred cooks to dress his victuals. A shoulder of mutton was one mouthful, and a barrel of liquor one reasonable draught. Once indeed, he had a surloin of beef so immensely large, that he made three bites of it The geese and turkies were a scanty mouthful and of their smaller fowls, he frequently took up twenty or thirty at a time upon the end of his knife.
At last; however, he resolved to leave the island, and return to England; which he did, andarrived in the Downs on the 13th of April.
INIS
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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