ing the Cords to fuch a Degree, that I was able to turn upon my Right, and to eafe myself with making Water; which I very plentifully did, to the great Aftonishment of the People, who conjecturing by my Motions what I was going to do, immediately opened to the Right and Left on that Side, to avoid the Torrent which fell with fuch Noise and Violence from me. But before this, they had daubed my Face and both my Hands with a Sort of Ointment very pleasant to the Smell, which in a few Minutes removed all the Smart of their Arrows. These Circumstances, added to the Refreshment I had received by their Victuals and Drink, which were very nourishing, difpofed me to fleep. I flept about eight Hours, as I was afterwards affured; and it was no Wonder; for the Phy ficians, by the Emperor's Order, had mingled a fleeping Potion in the Hogfheads of Wine.

IT feems, that upon the first Moment I was difcovered fleeping on the Ground after my landing, the Emperor had early Notice of it by an Exprefs; and determined in Council, that I fhould be tied in the Manner I have related (which was done in the Night while I flept) that Plenty of Meat and Drink should be fent me, and a Machine prepared to carry me to the capital City.

THIS Refolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any Prince in Europe on the like Occafion; however, in my Opinion, it was extremely prudent as well as generous. For fuppofing these People had endeavoured to kill me with their Spears and ArrowsTM while I was afleep; I should certainly have awaked with the first Sense of Smart, which might so far have roufed my Rage and Strength, as to enable me to break the Strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make Resistance, so they could expect no Mercy.

THESE People are most excellent Mathematicians, and arrived to a great Perfection in Mechanicks by the Countenance and Encouragement of the Emperor,

who

who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince hath feveral Machines fixed on Wheels, for the Carriage of Trees and other great Weights. He often buildeth his largeft Men of War, whereof fome are nine Feet long, in the Woods where the Timber grows, and has them carried on thefe Engines three or four hundred Yards to the Sea. Five hundred Carpenters and Engineers were immediately fet at work to prepare the greatest Engine they had. It was a Frame of Wood raised three Inches from the Ground, about feven Feet long and four wide, moving upon twentytwo Wheels. The Shout I heard, was upon the Arrival of this Engine, which, it feems, fet out in four Hours after my Landing It was brought parallel to me as I lay. But the principal Difficulty was to raise and place me in this Vehicle. Eighty Poles, each of one Foot high, were erected for this Purpose, and veryftrong Cords of the Bignefs of Packthread, were faftened by Hooks to many Bandages, which the Workmèn had girt round my Neck, my Hands, my Body, and my Legs. Nine hundred of the strongest Men were employed to draw up thefe Cords by many Pulleys faftened on the Poles; and thus in lefs than three Hours, I was raised and flung into the Engine, and there tied faft. All this I was told; for while the whole Operation was performing, I lay in a profound Sleep, by the Force of that foporiferous Medicine infused into my Liquor. Fifteen hundred of the Emperor's largest Horfes, each about four Inches and a half high, were employed to draw me towards the Metropolis, which, as I faid, was half a Mile diftant.

ABOUT four Hours after we began our Journey, I ́ awaked by a very ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage being stopt a while to adjust fomething that was out of Order, two or three of the young Natives had the Curiofity to fee how I looked when I was afleep: they climbed up into the Engine, and advancing very foftly. to my Face, one of them, an Officer in the Guards, put the fharp End of his Half-pike a good way up into my left Noftril, which tickled my Nofe like a Straw,

and

and made me fneeze violently: Whereupon they ftole off unperceived; and it was three Weeks before I knew the Caufe of my awaking fo fuddenly. Wę made a long March the remaining Part of the Day, and rested at Night with five hundred Guards on each Side of me, half with Torches, and half with Bows and Arrows, ready to shoot me if I fhould offer to flir. The next Morning at Sun-rife we continued our March, and arrived within two hundred Yards of the City Gates about Noon. The Emperor, and all his Court, came out to meet us; but his great Officers would by no means fuffer his Majesty to endanger his Perfon by mounting on my Body.

Ar the Place where the Carriage ftopt, there ftood an antient Temple, efteemed to be the largest in the whole Kingdom; which having been polluted fome Years before by an unnatural Murder, was, according to the Zeal of thofe People, looked upon as profane, and therefore had been applied to common Ufe, and all the Ornaments and Furniture carried away. In this Edifice it was determined I fhould lodge. The great Gate fronting to the North was about four Feet high, and almost two Feet wide, through which I could eafily creep. On each Side of the Gate was a fmall

Window not above fix Inches from the Ground: Into that on the left Side, the King's Smiths conveyed fourfcore and eleven Chains, like thofe that hang to a Lady's Watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to my left Leg with fix and thirty Padlocks. Over-against this Temple, on the other Side of the great High-way, at twenty Feet Distance, there was a Turret at least five Feet high. Here the Emperor afcended with many principal Lords of his Court, to have an Opportunity, of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not fee them. It was reckoned, that above an hundred thousand Inhabitants came out of the Town upon the fame Errand; and, in spite of my Guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand, at feveral times, who mounted upon my Body by the Help of Ladders. But a Proclamation was foon iffued

to

to forbid it, upon Pain of Death. When the Workmen found it was impoffible for me to break loose, they cut all the Strings that bound me; whereupon I rofe up with as melancholy a Difpofition as ever I had in my Life. But the Noise and Astonishment of the People at seeing me rife and walk, are not to be expreffed. The Chains that held my Left-leg were about two Yards long, and gave me not only the Liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a Semicircle; but, being fixed within four Inches of the Gate, allowed me to creep in, and ly at my full Length in the Temple.

CHA P. II.

The Emperor of Lilliput, attended by feveral of the Nobility, comes to fee the Author in his Confinement. The Emperor's Perfon and Habit defcribed. Learned Men appointed to teach the Author their Language. He gains Favour by his mild Difpofition. His Pockets are fearched, and his Sword and Piftols taken from him.

WHE

7HEN I found myself on my Feet, I looked about me, and must confefs, I never beheld a more entertaining Profpect. The Country found appeared like a continued Garden; and the inclosed Fields, which were generally forty Feet fquare, refembled fo many Beds of Flowers. Thefe Fields were intermingled with Woods of half a Stang, and the tallest Trees, as I could judge, appeared to be feven Feet high. I viewed the Town on my Lefthand, which looked like the painted Scene of a City in a Theatre.

I had been for fome Hours extremely preffed by the Neceffities of Nature; which was no Wonder, it being almost two Days fince I had last disburdened myfelf. I was under great Difficulties between Urgency

and

and Shame. The beft Expedient I could think on was, to creep into my Houfe, which I accordingly did; and fhutting the Gate after me, I went as far as the Length of my Chain would fuffer; and difcharged my Body of that uneafy Load. But this was the only Time I was ever guilty of fo uncleanly an Action; for which I cannot but hope the candid Reader will give fome Allowance, after he hath maturely and impartially confidered my Cafe, and the Diftrefs I was in. From this Time my conftant Practice was, as foon as I rofe, to perform that Bufinefs in open Air, at the full Extent of my Chain; and due Care was taken every Morning before Company came, that the offenfive Matter fhould be carried off in Wheel-barrows, by two Servants appointed for that Purpose. I would not have dwelt fo long upon a Circumftance, that perhaps at first Sight may appear not very momentous, if I had not thought it neceflary to juftify my Character in point of Cleanlinefs to the World; which, I am told, fome of my Maligners have been pleased, upon this and other Occafions, to call in Queftion.

WHEN this Adventure was at an End, I came back out of my House, having Occafion for fresh Air. The Emperor was already defcended from the Tower, and advancing on Horfeback towards me, which had like to have coft him dear; for the Beast, altho' very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a Sight, which appeared as if a Mountain moved before him, reared up on his hinder Feet: But that Prince, who is an excellent Horfeman, kept his Seat, until his Attendants ran in, and held the Bridle, while his Majefty had Time to difmount. When he alighted, he furveyed me round with great Admiration, but kept beyond the Length of my Chains. He ordered his Cooks and Butlers, who were already prepared, to give me Vi&tuals and Drink, which they pushed forward in a Sort of Vehicle upon Wheels until I could reach them. I took thefe Vehicles, and foon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled with Meat, and ten with Liquor; each of the former afforded me two or three good VOL. III. Mouthfuls,

C