one of his pages should be whipt, whofe turn it was to give notice about washing the floor after an execution, but maliciously had omitted it, by which neglect a young lord of great hopes coming to an audience was unfortunately poisoned, although the king at that time had no defign against his life. But this good prince was fo gracious, as to forgive the poor page his whipping upon promise, that he would do fo no more without special orders.

To return from this digreffion; when I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myself gently upon my knees, and then, ftriking my forehead feven times against the ground, I pronounced the following words, as they had been taught me the night before, Ickpling gloffthrobb fquut Serumm blbiop mlafonalt zwin tnodbalkuffh fbiopbad gurdlubb afht. This is the compliment established by the laws of the land for all perfons admitted to the king's prefence. It may be rendered into English thus: May your cæleftial majefty out-live the fun, eleven moons and a half. To this the king returned fome anfwer, which although I could not understand, yet I replied

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plied as I had been directed: Flute drin yalerick dwuldom praftrad mirpush, which properly fignifies, My tongue is in the mouth of my friend; and by this expreffion was meant, that I defired leave to bring my interpreter; whereupon the young man already mentioned was accordingly introduced, by whose intervention I answered as many questions, as his majefty could put in above an hour. I fpoke in the Balnibarbian tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning in that of Luggnagg.

The king was much delighted with my company, and ordered his Bliffmarklub, or high chamberlain, to appoint a lodging in the court for me and my interpreter, with a daily allowance for my table, and a large purse of gold for my common

expences.

I ftayed three months in this country out of perfect obedience to his majesty, who was pleased highly to favour me, and made me very honourable offers. But I thought it more confiftent with prudence and juftice to pass the remainder of my days with my wife and family.

СНАР.

CHAP. X.

The Luggnuggians commended. A particular defcription of the Struldbrugs, with many conversations between the author and fome eminent perfons upon that Subject.

THE Luggnuggians are a polite and

generous people; and although they are not without fome fhare of that pride, which is peculiar to all eaftern countries, yet they fhew themselves courteous to ftrangers, especially fuch who are countenanced by the court. I had many acquaintance among perfons of the best fashion, and being always attended by my interpreter, the converfation we had was not disagreeable.

One day, in much good company, I was asked by a perfon of quality, whether I had feen any of their firuldbrugs or immortals. I faid, I had not; and defired he would explain to me, what he meant by fuch an appellation applied to a mortal creature. He told me, that fometimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family with a red circular spot

in

in the forehead directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark, that it fhould never die. The fpot, as he defcribed it, was about the compass of a silver three-pence, but in the courfe of time grew larger, and changed its colour; for at twelve years old it became green, fo continued till five and twenty, then turned to a deep blue; at five and forty it grew coal black, and as large as an english fhilling; but never admitted any farther alteration. He said, these births were fo rare, that he did not believe there could be above

eleven hundred fruldbrugs of both fexes in the whole kingdom, of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, and among the reft a young girl born about three years ago: that these productions were not peculiar to any family, but a meer effect of chance; and the children of the fruldbrugs themselves were equally mortal with the reft of the people.

I freely own myself to have been ftruck with inexpreffible delight upon hearing. this account: and the perfon, who gave it me, happening to underftand the Balnibarbian language, which I fpoke very well,

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well, I could not forbear breaking out into expreffions perhaps a little too extravagant. I cried out, as in a rapture: Happy nation, where every child hath at leaft a chance for being immortal! happy people, who enjoy fo many living examples of ancient virtue, and have mafters ready to inftruct them in the wifdom of all former ages! but, happiest beyond all comparison are those excellent firuldbrugs, who being born exempt from that univerfal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and difingaged, without the weight and depreffion of spirits caused by the continual apprehenfion of death. I discovered my admiration, that I had not obferved any of these illuftrious perfons at court; the black spot on the forehead being fo remarkable a distinction, that I could not have eafily overlooked it : and it was impoffible that his majesty, a moft judicious prince, should not provide himself with a good number of such wise and able counsellors. Yet perhaps the virtue of those reverend fages was too ftrict for the corrupt and libertine manners of a court. And we often find by experi

ence,