court, which was fuitable to the generofity of fo great a prince; nor of the difficulties I was in for want of a house and bed, being forced to lie on the ground, wrapt up in my coverlet.

CHAP. VIII.

The author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave Blefufcu; and, after fome difficulties, returns fafe to his native coun

try.

THREE days after my arrival, walking out of curiofity to the north-eaft coaft of the island, I obferved about half a league off, in the fea, fomewhat that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings, and, wading two or three hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer by force of the tide; and then plainly faw it to be a real boat, which I supposed might by some tempeft have been driven from a fhip: whereupon I returned immediately towards the city, and defired his imperial. majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest veffels he had left after the lofs of his fleet,

and three thousand feamen, under the command of his vice-admiral. This fleet failed round, while I went back the shortest way to the coaft, where I first discovered the boat; I found the tide had driven it ftill nearer. The feamen were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand twisted to a fufficient ftrength. When the ships came up, I ftript myself, and waded till I came within an hundred yards of the boat, after which I was forced to fwim till I got up to it. The feamen threw me the end of the cord, which I fastened to a hole in the fore-part of the boat, and the other end to a man of war: but I found all my labour to little purpose; for, being out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this neceffity, I was forced to fwim behind, and push the boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my hands; and the tide favouring me I advanced fo far, that I could just hold up my chin and feel the ground. I refted two or three minutes, and then gave the boat another fhove, and fo on till the fea was no higher than my arm-pits ; and now, now, the most laborious part being over, I took out my other cables, which

H 3

were

were stowed in one of the ships, and fastened them first to the boat, and then to nine of the veffels which attended me; the wind being favourable, the seamen towed, and I fhoved till we arrived within forty yards of the fhore, and, waiting till the tide was out, I got dry to the boat, and by the affiftance of two thoufand men, with ropes and engines, I made a fhift to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

I fhall not trouble the reader with the difficulties I was under by the help of certain paddles, which coft me ten days making, to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu, where a mighty concourse of people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder at the fight of fo prodigious a veffel. I told the emperor, that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry me to fome place, from whence I might return into my native country, and begged his majesty's orders for getting materials to fit it up, together with his licence to depart, which, after fome kind expoftulations, he was pleased to grant.

I did very much wonder, in all this

time, not to have heard of any express relating to me from our emperor to the court of Blefuscu. But I was afterwards given privately to understand, that his imperial majefty, never imagining I had the leaft notice of his defigns, believed I was only gone to Blefufcu in performance of my promife, according to the licence he had given me, which was well known at our court, and would return in a few days when the ceremony was ended. But he was at last in pain at my long abfence; and, after confulting with the treasurer and the rest of that cabal, a perfon of quality was dispatched with the copy of the articles against me. This envoy had inftructions to represent to the monarch of Blefufcu the great lenity of his master, who was content to punish me no farther than with the loss of mine eyes; that I had fled from juftice, and, if I did not return in two hours, I should be deprived of my title of nardac, and declared a traitor. The envoy further added, that, in order to maintain the peace and amity between both empires, his master expected, that his brother of Blefufcu would give orders to have

me fent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a traitor.

The emperor of Blefufcu, having taken three days to confult, returned an answer confifting of many civilities and excuses. He faid, that, as for fending me bound, his brother knew it was impoffible; that although I had deprived him of his fleet, yet he owed great obligations to me for many good offices I had done him in making the peace. That however both their majefties would foon be made eafy; for I had found a prodigious veffel on the shore, able to carry me on the fea, which he had given order to fit up with my own affistance and direction; and he hoped in a few weeks both empires would be freed from fo infupportable an incumbrance.

With this answer the envoy returned to Lilliput, and the monarch of Blefufcu related to me all that had paft; offering me at the fame time (but under the ftrictest confidence) his gracious protection, if I would continue in his fervice; wherein although I believed him fincere, yet I refolved never more to put any confidence in princes or ministers, where I could pos