niment of an English countenance. Shorten the size of bodies, unbraced the nerves, relaxed the sinews and muscles, introduced a shallow complexion, and rendered the flesh loose and rancid. I descended so low as to desire some English yeoman of the old stamp might be summoned to appear, once so famous for the simplicity of their manners, diet, and dress, for justice in their dealings, for their true spirit of liberty, for their valor and love of their country. Neither could I be wholly unmoved after comparing the living with the dead, when I considered how these pure native virtues were prostituted for a piece of money by their grandchildren, who, in selling their votes and managing at elections, have acquired every vice and corruption that can possibly be learned in a court. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Lizzie Driver. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part 3 A Voyage to Laputa, Baunababi, Lugnag, Glubbdub Dribb, and Japan Chapter 9 The author returns to Melodoneda, sells to the kingdom of Lugnag. The author confined. He is sent for to court, the manner of his admittance, the king's great leniency to his subjects. The day of our departure being come, I took leave of his highness, the governor of Glubbdub Dribb, and returned with my two companions to Melodoneda, where, after a fortnight's waiting, a ship was ready to sail for Lugnag. The two gentlemen and some others were so generous and kind as to furnish me with provisions and see me on board. I was a month in this voyage. We had won violent storm, and were under a necessity of steering westward to get into the trade wind, which holds for above sixty leagues. On the twenty-first of April 1708, we sailed into the river of Clemignic, which is a seaport town, at the southeast point of Lugnag. We cast anchor within a league of the town, and made a signal for a pilot. Two of them came on board in less than half an hour, by whom we were guided between certain shoals and rocks, which are very dangerous in the passage to a large basin, where a fleet may ride in safety within a cable's length of the town wall. Some of our sailors, whether out of treachery or in advertenance, had informed the pilots that I was a stranger and great traveller. Whereof these gave notice to a custom house officer, by whom I was examined very strictly upon my landing. This officer spoke to me in the language about Nibbabi, which, by the force of much commerce, is generally understood in that town, especially by seamen and those employed in the customs. I gave him a short account of some particulars, and made my story as plausible and consistent as I could. But I thought it necessary to disguise my country, and call myself a hollander, because my intentions were for Japan, and I knew the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to enter into that kingdom. I therefore told the officer, that having been shipwrecked on the coast of Bounder-Barbie and cast on a rock, I was received into Laputa, or the flying island, of which he had often heard, and was now endeavouring to get to Japan, whence I might find a convenience of returning to my own country. The officer said, I must be confined till he could receive orders from court, for which he would write immediately, and hope to receive an answer in a fortnight. I was carried to a convenient lodging with a sentry placed at the door. However, I had the liberty of a large garden, and was treated with humanity enough, being maintained all the time at the king's charge. I was invited by several persons, chiefly out of curiosity, because it was reported that I came from countries very remote, of which they had never heard. I hired a young man, who came in the same ship, to be an interpreter. He was a native of Lugnak, but it lived some years at Maldonada, and was a perfect master of both languages. By his assistance I was able to hold a conversation with those who came to visit me. But this consisted only of their questions and my answers. The dispatch came from court about the time we expected. It contained a warrant for conducting me and my retinue to Trial-Drag-Dub, or Trill-Drog-Drib, for it is pronounced both ways as near as I can remember, by a party of ten horse. All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpreter, whom I persuaded into my service, and at my humble request we had each of us a mule to ride on. A messenger dispatched half a day's journey before us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, that his majesty would please to appoint a day and hour, when it would, by his gracious pleasure, that I might have the honour to lick the dust before his footstool. This is the court's style, and I found it to be more than matter of form. For upon my admittance, two days after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced. But on account of my being a stranger, care was taken to have it made so clean, that the dust was not offensive. However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but persons of the highest rank, when they desire an admittance. Nay, sometimes the floor is strewed with dust on purpose, when the person to be admitted happens to have powerful enemies at court. And I have seen a great lord, with his mouth so crammed, that when he had crept to the proper distance from the throne, he was not able to speak a word. Neither is there any remedy, because it is capital for those, who receive an audience, to spit or wipe their mouths in his majesty's presence. There is indeed another custom, which I cannot altogether approve of. When the king has a mind put any of his nobles to death in a gentle, indulgent manner, he commands the floor to be strewed with a certain brown powder of a deadly composition, which, being licked up, infallibly kills him in twenty-four hours. But injustice to this prince's great clemency, and the care he has of his subjects' lives, wherein it were much to be wished that the monarchs of Europe would imitate him. It must be mentioned for his honour that strict orders are given to have the infected parts of the floor well washed after every such execution. Which, if his domestics neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal displeasure. I myself heard him give directions, that one of his pages should be whipped, whose 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 the time had no design against his life. But this good prince was so gracious as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promise that he would do so no more, without special orders. To return from this digression, when I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myself gently upon my knee, and then, striking my forehead seven times against the ground, I pronounced the following words, as they had been taught to me the night before. Ink, plain, gloft, throb, squat, serenbly hop, em-lash-nult, zwin, snod-bal-cuffum, tenod-bal-cuff, selen-op-had, griddle-op, asht. This is the compliment, established by the laws of the land, for all persons admitted to the king's presence. It may be rendered into English thus. May your celestial majesty outlive the sun, eleven moons, and a half. To this the king returned some answer, which, although I could not understand, yet I replied, as I had been directed, fluff-drin, yalloric, dwell-dom, pras-dad, mer-push, which properly signifies, my tongue is in the mouth of my friend. And by this expression was meant, that I desiredly to bring my interpreter. Whereupon the young man already mentioned, was accordingly introduced, by whose intervention I answered as many questions as his majesty could put in above an hour. I spoke in the balm-the-barbie and tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning and that of lug-nag. The king was much delighted with my company, and ordered his bliff mark-lub, or hide-chamblin, 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 expenses. I stayed 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 consistent with prudence and justice, to pass the remainder of my days with my wife and family. And a part three, chapter nine. Part three, chapter ten, of Gulliver's Travels. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter ten. The lug-nagions commended. A particular description of the strolled-brugs, with many conversations between the author and some eminent persons upon that subject. The lug-nagions are a polite and generous people, and although they are not without some share of that pride which is peculiar to all eastern countries, yet they show themselves courteous to strangers, especially such who are countenanced by the court. I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion. And being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable. One day, in much good company, I was asked by a person of quality, whether I had seen any of those strolled-brugs, or immortals. I said I had not, and as I had he would explain to me, what he meant by such an appellation applied to a mortal creature. He told me, that sometimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family with a red circular spot on the forehead, directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark that it should never die. The spot, as he described it, was about the compass of a silver-three pence, but in the course of time grew larger and changed its colour, for at twelve years old it became green, so 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 shilling, but never emitted any further alteration. He said, these births were so rare, that he did not believe there could be above eleven hundred strolled-brugs of both sexes in the whole kingdom, of which he computed about fifteen the metropolis, and among the rest a young girl born about three years ago. That these productions were not peculiar to any family, but a mere effect of chance, and the children of the strolled-brugs themselves were equally mortal with the rest of the people. I freely owned myself to be struck with inexpressible delight, upon hearing this account, and the person who gave it to me happening to understand the Balnabarbian language, which I spoke very well, I could not forbear breaking out into expressions perhaps a little too extravagant. I cried out, as in a rapture, happy nation, where every child hath at least a chance for being immortal, happy people who enjoy so many living examples of ancient virtue, and of masters rarely to instruct them in the wisdom of all former ages. But happiest, beyond all comparison, are those excellent strolled-brugs, who, being born exempt from that universal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and disengaged, without the weight and depression of spirits caused by the continual apprehensions of death. I discovered my admiration, that I had not observed any of these illustrious persons at court, the black spot on the forehead being so remarkable a distinction, that I could not have easily overlooked it. And it was impossible that his majesty, a most judicious prince, should not provide himself with a good number of such wise and able counsellors. Yet perhaps the virtue of those reverent sages was too fast-stretched for the corrupt and libertine manners of a court. And we often find, by experience, that young men are too opinionated and volatile to be guided by the sober dictates of their seniors. However, since the king was pleased to allow me access to his royal person, I was resolved, upon the very first occasion, to deliver my opinion to him on this matter freely and at large, by the help of my interpreter. And whether he would be pleased to take my advice or not. Yet in one thing I was determined, that his majesty, having frequently offered me an establishment in this country, I would, with great thankfulness, accept the favour, and pass my life here in the conversation of these superior beings, the strolled brugs, if they were pleased to admit me. The gentleman to whom I addressed my discourse, because, as I have already observed, he spoke the language about Nibbabi, said to me, with the sort of smile which usually arises from pity to the ignorant, that he was glad of any occasion to keep me among them, and desired my permission to explain to the company what I had spoke. He did so, and they talked together for some time in their own language, whereof I understood not a syllable. Neither could I observe by the countenances what impression my discourse had made on them. After a short silence the same person told me, that his friends and mine, so he thought fit to express himself, were very much pleased with the judicious remarks I had made on the great happiness and advantages of immortal life, and they were desirous to know, in a particular manner, what scheme of living I should have formed to myself, if it had fallen to my lot to have been born a strolled brug. I answered, it was easy to be eloquent on so copious and delightful a subject, especially to me, who had been often apt to amuse myself with visions of what I should do, if I were a king, a general, or a great lord. And upon this very case, I had frequently run over the whole system, how I should employ myself and pass the time, if I were sure to live forever. That fitted me my good fortune to come into the world of strolled brug, as soon as I could discover my own happiness, by understanding the difference between life and death. I would first resolve, by all arts and methods, whatsoever to procure myself riches. In the pursuit of which, by thrift and management, I might reasonably expect, in about two hundred years, to be the wealthiest man in the kingdom. In the second place I would, from my earliest youth, apply myself to the study of arts and sciences, by which I should arrive in time to excel all others in learning. Lastly, I would carefully record every action and event of consequence that happened in the public, impartially draw the characters of the several successions of princes and great ministers of state, with my own observations on every point. I would exactly set down the several changes in customs, language, fashion of dress, diet, and diversions. By all which requirements, I should be a living treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nations. I would never marry after three score, but live in a hospitable manner, yet still on the saving side. I would entertain myself in forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in public and private to life. But my choice and constant companions should be a set of my own immortal brotherhood, among whom I would elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. Where any of these wanted fortunes, I would provide them with convenient lodges round my own estate, and have some of them always at my table, only mingling a few of the most valuable among you mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lose with little or no reluctance, and treat your posterity after the same manner, just as a man diverts himself with the annual succession of pinks and tulips in his garden, without regretting the loss of those, which withered the preceding year. These strultbrugs and I would mutually communicate our observations and memorials through the course of time, remark the several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and oppose it in every step by giving perpetual warning and instruction to mankind, which, added to the strong influence of our own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of human nature, so justly complained of in all ages. Add to this the pleasure of seeing the various revolutions of states and empires, the changes in the lower and upper world, ancient cities in ruins, and obscure villages becoming the seats of kings, famous rivers lessening into shallow brooks, the ocean leaving one coast dry, and overwhelming another, the discovery of many countries yet unknown, barbarity overrunning the politest nations, and the most barbarous becoming civilized. I should then see the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the universal medicine, and many other great inventions brought to the utmost perfection. What wonderful discovery should we make in astronomy, by outliving and confirming our own predictions, by observing the progress and return of comets, with the changes of motion in the sun, moon, and stars. I enlarged upon many other topics, with the natural desire of endless life, and sub-lunary happiness, could easily furnish me with. When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been interpreted, as before to the rest of the company, there was a good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not without some laughter at my expense. At last the same gentleman who had been my interpreter said, he was desired by the rest to set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less answerable for them. That this breed of strolled brugs was peculiar to their country, for there were no such people in Baunabarb, or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambassador for his majesty, and found the natives in both those kingdoms very hard to believe that the fact was possible. And it appeared from my astonishment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I received it as a thing wholly new, and scarcely to be credited, that in the two kingdoms above mentioned, where during his residence, he had conversed very much, he observed a long life to be the universal desire and wish of mankind, that whoever had one foot in the grave was sure to hold back the other as strongly as he could, that the oldest had still hopes of living one day longer, and looked on death as the greatest evil, from which nature always prompted him to retreat. Only in this island of Lucknag, the appetite for living was not so eager, from the continual example of the strolled brugs before their eyes, that the system of living contrived by me was unreasonable and unjust, because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and vigor, which no man could be so foolish to hope, however extravagant he may be in his wishes. That the question, therefore, was not whether a man would choose to be always in the prime of youth, attended with prosperity and health, but how he would pass a perpetual life under all the usual disadvantages which old age brings along with it, for although few men will avow their desires of being immortal upon such hard conditions. Yet in the two kingdoms before mentioned, of Baunababi in Japan, he observed that every man desired to put of death sometimes longer, let it approach ever so late, and he rarely heard of any man who died willingly, except who were incited by the extremity of grief or torture, and he appealed to me whether in those countries I had travelled as well as my own, I had not observed the same general disposition. After this preface, he gave me a particular count of the strolls-brugs among them. He said, they commonly acted like mortals till about thirty years old. After which, by degrees, they grew melancholy and dejected, increasing in both till they came to forescore. This he learned from their own confession, for otherwise there not being above two or three of that species born in the same age, there were too few to form a general observation by. When they came to forescore years, which has reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the dreadful prospect of never dying. They were not only opinionative, peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of friendship, and dared to all natural affection, which never descended below their grandchildren. Envy and impotent desires are their prevailing passions. But those objects against which their envy seems principally directed, are the vices of the younger sort and the deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former, they find themselves cut off from all possibility of pleasure. And whenever they see a funeral, they lament and repine that others have gone to a harbour of rest to which they themselves can never hope to arrive. They have no remembrance of anything but what they learned and observed in their youth for middle age. And even this is very imperfect. And for the truth of particulars of any fact, it is safer to depend on common tradition than upon their best recollections. The least miserable among them appear to be those who turn to dotage, and entirely lose their memories. These meet with more pity and assistance, because they want many bad qualities which are bound in others. If a strolled rug happened to marry one of his own kind, the marriage is dissolved, of course, by the courtesy of the kingdom, as soon as the younger of the two comes to be forescore. For the law thinks it a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned without any fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, should not have the misery doubled by the load of a wife. As soon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law, their heirs immediately succeeded to their estates. Only a small pittance is reserved for their support, and the poor ones are maintained at the public charge. After that period they are held incapable of any employment of trust or profit. They cannot purchase lands or take leases. Neither are they allowed to be witnesses in any cause, either civil or criminal, not even for the decision of mirrors and bounds. At ninety they lose their teeth and hair. They have at that age no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get without relish appetite. The diseases they were subject to still continue, without increasing or diminishing. In talking they forget the common appellation of things and the names of persons, even those who are their nearest friends and relations. For the same reason they can never amuse themselves with reading, because their memory will not serve to carry them from the beginning of a sentence to the end, and by this defect they are deprived of the only entertainment whereof they might otherwise be capable. The language of this country being always upon the flux, the strolled brugs of one age do not understand those of another. Neither are they able, after two hundred years, to hold any conversation, farther than by a few general words, with their neighbours the mortals, and thus they lie under the disadvantage of living like foreigners in their own country. This was the account given me of the strolled brugs as near as I can remember. I afterwards saw five or six of different ages, the youngest not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at several times by some of my friends. But although they were told that I was a great traveller and had seen all the world, they had not the least curiosity to ask me a question. Only desired, I would give them slum scuddesk, or a token of remembrance, which is a modest way of begging to avoid the law that strictly forbids it, because they are provided for by the public, although indeed with a very scanty allowance. They are despised and hated by all sorts of people. When one of them is born it is recondominous, and their birth is recorded very particularly so that you may know their age by consulting the register, which however has not been kept above a thousand years past, or at least has been destroyed by time or public disturbances. But the usual way of computing how old they are is by asking them what kings or great persons they can remember, and then consulting history, for infallibly the last prince in their mind did not begin his reign after they were four score years old. They were the most mortifying sight I ever beheld, and the women more horrible than the men. Besides the usual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an additional ghastliness, in proportion to their number of years, which is not to be described, and among half a dozen I soon distinguished which was the eldest, although there was not above a century or two between them. The reader will easily believe that from what I had heard and seen, my keen appetite for perpetuity of life was much abated. I grew heartily ashamed of the pleasing visions I had formed, and thought no tyrant could invent a death into which I would not run with pleasure from such a life. The king heard of all that had passed between me and my friends upon this occasion, and rallied me very pleasantly, wishing I could send a couple of strolled brugs to my own country, to arm our people against the fear of death. But this it seems is forbidden by the fundamental laws of the kingdom, or else I should have been well content with the trouble and expense of transporting them. I could not but agree that the laws of this kingdom, relative to the strolled brugs, were founded upon the strongest reasons, and such as any other country would be under the necessity of enacting in the like circumstances. Otherwise, as avarice is the necessary consequence of old age, those immortals would in time become proprietors of the whole nation, and engross the civil power, which, for want of abilities to manage, must end in the ruin of the public. End of Part 3 Chapter 10 Part 3 Chapter 11 of Gulliver's Travels This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings from the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part 3 A Voyage to La Pewter, Barney Barbie, Lugnag, Globdub Dribb, and Japan Chapter 11 The author leaves Lugnag and sails to Japan. From thence he returns in a Dutch ship to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam to England. I thought this account of the strolled brugs might be some entertainment to the reader, because it seems to be a little out of the common way. At least, I do not remember to have met the like in any book of travels that has come to my hands. And if I am deceived, my excuse must be, that it is necessary for travelers who describe the same country, very often to agree in dwelling on the same particulars, without deserving the censure of having borrowed or transcribed from those who wrote before them. There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this kingdom and the great empire of Japan. And it is very probable that the Japanese authors may have given some account of the strolled brugs. But my stay in Japan was so short, and I was so entirely estranged to the language, that I was not qualified to make any inquiries. But I hope the Dutch, upon this notice, will be curious and able enough to supply my defects. His Majesty, having often pressed me to accept some employment in his court, and finding me absolutely determined to return to my native country, was pleased to grant me his license to depart, and honor me with a letter of recommendation, under his own hand, to the Emperor of Japan. He likewise presented me with four hundred and forty-four large pieces of gold, this nation delighting in even numbers, and a red diamond, which I sold in England for eleven hundred pounds. On the 6th of May, 1709, I took a solemn leave of his majesty and all my friends. This prince was so gracious as to order a guard to conduct me, to Glangenstald, which is a royal port to the southwest part of the island. In six days I found a vessel ready to carry me to Japan, and spent fifteen days in the voyage. We landed at a small port town called Zamosia, situated on the southeast part of Japan. The town lies on the western point, where there is a narrow strait leading northward into a long arm of the sea. Upon the northwest part of which, Yedo, the metropolis, stands. At landing I showed the custom-house officers my letter from the King of Lucknag to his Imperial Majesty. They knew the seal perfectly well. It was as broad as the palm of my hand. The impression was a king lifting up a lame beggar from the earth. The magistrates of the town, hearing of my letter, received me as a public minister. They provided me with carriages and servants, and bore my charges to Yedo, where I was admitted to an audience and delivered my letter, which was opened with great ceremony, and explained the emperor by an interpreter, who then gave me notice, by his Majesty's order, that I should signify my request, and whatever it were, it should be granted for the sake of his royal brother of Lucknag. This interpreter was a person employed to the trans-act affairs with the Hollanders. He soon conjectured by my countenance that I was a European, and therefore repeated his majesty's commands in low Dutch, which he spoke perfectly well. I answered, as I had before determined, that I was a Dutch merchant, shipwrecked in a very remote country, once I had travelled by sea and land to Lucknag, and then took shipping for Japan, where I knew my countrymen often traded, and with some of these I hoped to get an opportunity of returning into Europe. I therefore most humbly entreated his royal favour, to give order that I should be conducted in safety to Nagazakh. To this I added another petition, that, for the sake of my patron the King of Lucknag, his majesty would condescend to excuse my performing the ceremony imposed on my countrymen of trampling upon the crucifix, because I had been thrown into his kingdom by my own misfortunes, without any intention of trading. When this latter petition was interpreted to the emperor, he seemed a little surprised, and said, he believed I was the first of my countrymen who ever made any scruple in this point, and that he began to doubt whether I was a real Hollander or not, but rather suspected I must be a Christian. However, for the reasons I had offered, but chiefly to gratify the King of Lucknag by an uncommon mark of his favour, he would comply with the singularity of my humour. But the affair must be managed with dexterity, and his officers should be commanded to let me pass as if it were by forgetfulness. For he assured me, that if the secret should be discovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my throat in the voyage. I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so unusual a favour, and some troops being at that time on their march to Nangersek, the commanding officer had orders to convey me safely thither, with particular instructions about the business of the crucifix. On the ninth day of June 1709, I arrived at Nangersek, after a very long and troublesome journey. I soon fell into the company of some Dutch sailors, belonging to the Amboiner of Amsterdam, a stout ship of 450 tonnes. I had lived long in Holland, pursuing my studies at Leiden, and I spoke Dutch well. The seamen soon knew whence I came last. They were curious to inquire into my voyages in course of life. I made up a story as short and probable as I could, but concealed the greatest part. I knew many persons in Holland. I was able to invent names for my parents, whom I pretended to be obscure people, in the province of Gelderland. I would have given the captain, one Theodora's fangrult, what he pleased to ask for my voyage to Holland. But understanding I was a surgeon, he was contented to take half the usual rate, on one condition that I would serve him in the way of my calling. Before we took shipping, I was often asked by some of the crew whether I had performed the ceremony above mentioned. I evaded the question by general answers, that I had satisfied the emperor and court in all particulars. However, a malicious rogue of a skipper went to an officer, and pointing to me told him I had not yet trampled on the crucifix. But the other, who had received instructions to let me pass, gave the rascal twenty strokes on the shoulders with a bamboo, after which I was no more troubled with such questions. Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. We sailed with a fair wind to the Cape of Good Hope, where we stayed only to take in fresh water. On the 10th of April, 1710, we arrived to save at Amsterdam, having lost only three men by sickness in the voyage, and a fourth, who fell from the foremast into the sea, not far from the coast of Guinea. From Amsterdam I soon after set sail for England, in a small vessel belonging into that city. On the 16th of April we put in at the Downs. I landed next morning, and saw once more my native country, after an absence of five years and six months complete. I went straight to Redriff, where I arrived the same day at two in the afternoon, and found my wife and family in good health. And a part three, Chapter 11, Part 4, Chapter 1 of Gulliver's Travels. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part 4. A voyage to the country of the Huynhams. Chapter 1. The author sets out as captain of a ship. His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The yahoos, a strange sort of animal described. The author meets two Huynhams. I continued at home with my wife and children about five months, in a very happy condition, if I could have learned the lesson of knowing when I was well. I left my poor wife big with child, and accepted an advantageous offer made me to be captain of the adventurer. A stout merchant man of three hundred and fifty tonnes. For I understood navigation well, and being grown weary of a surgeon's employment at sea, which, however, I could exercise upon occasion. I took a skilful young man of that calling, one Robert Purefoy, into my ship. We set sail from Portsmouth upon the seventh day of September, 1710, on the fourteenth who met with Captain Pocock of Bristol at Tenerife, who was going to the Bay of Campeche to cut logwood. On the sixteenth he was parted from us by a storm. I heard, since my return, that his ship founded, and none escaped but one cabin boy. He was an honest man and a good sailor, but a little too positive in his own opinions. Which was the cause of his destruction, as it has been with several others. For, if he had followed my advice, he might have been safe at home with his family at this time, as well as myself. I had several men who died in my ship of calendars, so that I was forced to get recruits out of Barbados and the Leeward Islands, where I touched by the direction of the merchants who employed me. Which I had soon too much cause to repent. For I found afterwards that most of them had been buccaneers. I had fifty hands on board, and my orders were that I should trade with the Indians in the South Sea, and make what discoveries I could.  Which they did one morning, rushing into my cabin and binding me hand and foot, threatening to throw me overboard if I offered to stir. I told them I was their prisoner and would submit. This they made me swear to do, and then they unbound me, only fastening one of my legs with a chain near my bed, and placed a sentry at my door with his piece charged.  They sent me own vitals and drink, and took the government of the ship to themselves. Their design was to turn pirates, and plunder the Spaniards, which they could not do till they got more men. But first they resolved to sell the goods in the ship, and then go to Madagascar for recruits. Several among them having died since my confinement. They sailed many weeks and traded with the Indians, but I knew not what course they took, being kept a prisoner in my cabin, and expecting nothing less than to be murdered, as they often threatened me. Upon the ninth day of May, 1711, one James Welch came down to my cabin, and said he had orders from the captain to set me ashore. I expostulated with him, but in vain. Neither would he so much as tell me who their new captain was. They forced me into the longboat, led me put on my best suit of clothes, which were as good as new, and take a small bundle of linen, but no arms except my hangar. And they were so civil as not to search my pockets, into which I conveyed what money I had, with some other little necessaries. They rode about a league, and then set me down on a strand. I desired them to tell me what country it was. They all swore, they knew no more than myself, but said, that the captain, as they called him, was resolved, after they had sold the ladding, to get rid of me in the first place where they could discover land. They pushed off immediately, advising me to make haste for fear of being overtaken by the tide, and so bade me farewell. In this desolate condition I advanced forward, and soon got upon firm ground, where I sat down on a bank to rest myself, and consider what I had best do. When I was a little refreshed I went up into the country, resolving to deliver myself to the first savages I should meet, and purchase my life from them by some bracelets, glass rings, and other toys, which sailors usually provide themselves with in those voyages, and whereof I had some about me. The land was divided by long rows of trees, not regularly planted, but naturally growing. There was great plenty of grass and several fields of oats. I walked very circumspectly, for fear of being surprised, or suddenly shot with an arrow from behind, or on either side. I fell into a beaten road, where I saw many tracks of human feet and some of cows, but most of horses. At last I beheld several animals in a field, and one or two of the same kind sitting in trees. Their shape was very singular and deformed, which a little discomposed me, so that I lay down behind a thicket to observe them better. Some of them coming forward near the place for a lay, gave me an opportunity of distinctly making their form. Their heads and breasts were covered with a thick hair, some frizzled, and others lank.  But the rest of their bodies was bare, so that I might see their skins, which were of a brown buff colour. They had no tails nor any hair at all on their buttocks, except about the anus, which I presume nature had planted there to defend them as they sat on the ground. For this posture they used, as well as lying down, and often stood on their hind feet. They climbed high trees as nimbly as a squirrel, for they had strong extended claws before and behind, terminating in sharp points and hooked. They would often spring and bound and leap with prodigious agility. The females were not so large as the males. They had long, lank hair on their heads, but none on their faces, nor anything more than a sort of down on the rest of their bodies, except about the anus and pudenda. The dugs hung between their forefeet, and often reached almost to the ground as they walked. Their hair of both sexes was of several colours, brown, red, black, and yellow. Upon the whole I never beheld in all my travels, so disagreeable an animal, or one against which I naturally conceived so strong an antipathy. So that, thinking I had seen enough, full of contempt and aversion, I got up, and pursued the beaten road, hoping it might direct me to the cabin of some Indian. I had not got far when I met one of these creatures full in my way and coming up directly to me. The ugly monster, when he saw me, distorted several ways, every feature of his visage, and stared, as at an object he had never seen before. Then, approaching nearer, lifted up his forepaw, whether out of curiosity or mischief I could not tell. But I drew my hangar, and gave him a good blow with the flat side of it, for I durced not strike with the edge, fearing the inhabitants might be revoked against me, if they should come to know that I had killed or maimed any of their cattle. When the beast felt the smart he drew back, and roared so loud, that a herd of at least forty came flocking about me from the next field, howling and making odious faces. But I ran to the body of a tree, and leaning my back against it, kept them off by waving my hangar. Several of this cursed brood, getting hold of the branches behind, leaped up into the tree. Once they began to discharge their excrements on my head. However, I escaped pretty well by sticking close to the stem of the tree, but was almost stifled with the filth, which fell about me on every side. In the midst of this distress, I observed them all to run away on a sudden as fast as they could, at which I ventured to leave the tree and pursue the road, wondering what it was that could put them into this fright. But, looking on my left hand, I saw a horse walking softly in the field, which my persecutors, having sooner discovered, was the cause of their flight. The horse started a little when he came near me, but soon recovering himself, looked full in my face with manifest tokens of wonder. He viewed my hands and feet, walking round me several times. I would have pursued my journey, but he placed himself directly in the way. Yet looking, with a very mild aspect, never offering the least violence. We stood gazing at each other for some time. At last I took the boldness to reach my hand towards his neck with a design to stroke it, using the common style and whistle of jockies, when they are going to handle a strange horse. But this strange animal seemed to receive my civilities with disdain, shook his head and bent his brows, softly raising up his right forefoot to remove my hand. Then he naged three or four times, but in so different accadents that I began to think he was speaking to himself in some language of his own. While he and I were thus employed, another horse came up, who, applying himself to the first in a very formal manner, they gently struck each other's right hoof, before neighing several times by turns and varying the sound, which seemed to be almost articulate. They went some paces off, as if it were to confer together, walking side by side, backward and forward, like persons deliberating upon some affair of weight, but often turning their eyes towards me, as if it were to watch that I might not escape. I was amazed to see such actions and behaviour in brute beasts, and concluded with myself, that if the inhabitants of this country were endued with a proportional degree of reason, they must need to be the wisest people upon earth. This thought gave me so much comfort, that I resolved to go forward, until I could discover some house or village, or meet with any of the natives, leaving the two horses to discourse together as they pleased. But the first, who was a dapple grey, observing me to steal off, nade after me in so expressive a tone, that I fancied myself to understand what he meant. Whereupon I turned back, and came near to him to expect his father's commands. But concealing my fear as much as I could, for I began to be in some pain, how this adventure might terminate, and the reader will easily believe, I did not much like my present situation. The two horses came up close to me, looking with great earnestness upon my face and hands. The grey steed rubbed my hat all around with his right forehoof, and discomposed it so much that I was forced to adjust it better by taking it off and settling it again. Whereat, both he and his companion, who was a brown bay, appeared to be much surprised. The latter felt the lappette of my coat, and finding it to hang loose about me, they both looked with new signs of wonder. He stroked my right hand, seeming to admire the softness and colour. But he squeezed it so hard between his hoof and his pastin, that I was forced to roar. After which they both touched me with all possible tenderness. They were under great perplexity about my shoes and stockings, which they felt very often. Naying to each other and using various gestures. Not unlike those of a philosopher, when he would attempt to solve some new and difficult phenomenon. Upon the whole, the behaviour of these animals was so orderly and rational, so acute and judicious. The title asked concluded they must needs be magicians, who had thus metamorphosed to themselves upon some design. And seeing a stranger in the way, resolved to divert themselves with him. Or perhaps, were really amazed at the sight of a man so very different in habit, feature and complexion, from those who might probably live in so remote a climate. Upon the strength of this reasoning, I ventured to address them in the following manner. Gentlemen, if you be conjurers, as I have good cause to believe, you can understand my language. Therefore I make bold to let your worships know the time of poor distressed Englishmen, driven by his misfortunes upon your coast. And I entreat one of you to let me ride upon his back, as if you were a real horse, to some house or village where I can be relieved. In return of which favour, I will make you a present of this knife and bracelet. Taking them out of my pocket. The two gregas stood silent while I spoke, seeming to listen with great attention. And when I had ended, they kned frequently towards each other, as if they were engaged in serious conversation. I plainly observed that their language expressed the passions very well, and the words might, with little pains, be resolved into an alphabet more easily than the Chinese. I could frequently distinguish the word yahoo, which was repeated by each of them several times. And although it was impossible for me to conjecture what it meant, yet while the two horses were busy in conversation, I endeavoured to practice this word upon my tongue. And as soon as they were silent, I boldly pronounced yahoo in a loud voice, imitating at the same time as near as I could, the neighing of a horse. At which they were both visibly surprised, and the grey repeated the same word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right accent. Wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myself perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any degree of perfection. Then the bay tried me with a second word, much harder to be pronounced, but reducing it to the English orthography may be spelled thus, huynum. I did not succeed in this so well as in the former, but after two or three farther trials I had better fortune, and they both appeared amazed at my capacity. After some further discourse, which I then conjectured might relate to me, the two friends took their leave, with the same compliment of striking each other's hoof, and the grey made me signs that I should walk before him. Wherein I thought it prudent to comply, till I could find a better director. When I offered to slacken my pace he would cry, huynum, huynum. I guessed his meaning, and gave him to understand, as well as I could, that I was weary and not able to walk faster, upon which he would stand a while to let me rest. End of Part Four Chapter One Part Four Chapter Two of Gulliver's Travels This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. From our information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part Four A Voyage to the Country of the Huynums Chapter Two The author conducted by a huynum to his house. The house described the author's reception. The food of the Huynums, the author in distress for want of meat, is at last relieved, his manner of feeding in this country. Having travelled about three miles, we came to a long kind of building, made of timber stuck in the ground and waddled across. The roof was low and covered with straw. I now began to be a little comforted, and took out some toys, which travellers usually carry for presents to the savage Indians of America and other parts, in hopes the people of the house would be thereby encouraged to receive me kindly. The horse made me assigned to go in first. It was a large room with a smooth clay floor and a rack and manger, extending the whole length on one side. There were three nags and two mares, not eating, but some of them sitting down upon their hands, which I very much wondered at, but wondered more to see the rest employed in domestic business. These seemed but ordinary cattle. However, this confirmed my first opinion, that a people who could so far civilise brute animals must needs excelling wisdom all the nations of the world. The grey came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill treatment which the others might have given me. He knaved to them several times in a style of authority, and received answers. Beyond this room there were three others, reaching the length of the house, to which you passed through three open doors, opposite to each other in the manner of a fista. We went through the second room towards the third. Here the grey walked in first, beckoning me to attend. I waited in the second room, and got ready my presence for the master and mistress of the house. There were two knives, three bracelets of false pearls, a small looking glass, and a bead necklace. The horse knaved three or four times, and I waited to hear some answers in a human voice, but I heard no other returns than in the same dialect, only one or two a little shriller than his. I began to think that this house must belong to some person of great note among them, because there appeared so much ceremony before I could gain admittance. But that a man of quality should be served all by horses was beyond my comprehension. I feared my brain was disturbed by my sufferings and misfortunes. I roused myself, and looked about me in the room where I was left alone. This was furnished like the first, only after a more elegant manner. I rubbed my eyes often, but the same objects still occurred. I pinched my arms and sides to awake myself, hoping I might be in a dream. I then absolutely concluded that all these appearances could be nothing else but necromancy and magic. But I had no time to pursue these reflections, for the grey horse came to the door, and made me assigned to follow him into the third room. Where I saw a very comely mare, together with a cult and foal, sitting on their haunches upon mats of straw, not unartifully made, and perfectly neat and clean. The mare, soon after my entrance, rose from her mat, and, coming up close, after having nicely observed my hands and face, gave me a most contemptuous look. And, turning to the horse, I heard the word yahoo often repeated betwixt them. The meaning of which word I could not then comprehend, although it was the first I had learned to pronounce. But I was soon better informed to my everlasting mortification. For the horse, beckoning to me with his head, and repeated the whin-whin, as he did upon the road, which I understood was to attend him, led me out into a kind of court, where was another building at some distance from the house. Here we entered, and I saw three of those detestable creatures, which I first met after my landing, feeding upon roots and the flesh of some animals, which I afterwards found to be that of asses and dogs, and now and then a cow, dead by accident or disease. They were all tied by the neck with strong widths, fastened to a beam. They held their food between the claws of their forefeet, and tore it with their teeth. The master horse ordered a sorrel nag, one of his servants, to untie the largest of these animals and take him into the yard. The beast and I were brought close together, and by our countenances diligently compared both by master and servant, who thereupon repeated several times the word yahoo. My horror and astonishment are not to be described, when I observed in these abominable animals a perfect human figure. The face of it indeed was flat and broad, the nose depressed, the lips large and the mouth wide, but these differences are common to all savage nations, where the liniments of the countenance are distorted by the native suffering their infants to lie grovelling on the earth, or by carrying them on their back, nuzzling with their face against the mother's shoulders. The forefeet of the yahoo differed from my hands in nothing else but the length of the nails, the coarseness and brownness of the palms, and the hairiness on the backs. There was the same resemblance between our feet, with the same differences, which I knew very well, though the horses did not, because of my shoes and stockings. The same in every part of our bodies except as to hairiness and colour, which I have already described. The great difficulty that seemed to stick with the two horses, was to see the rest of my body so very different from that of a yahoo, for which I was obliged to my clothes, whereof they had no conception. The sorrel nag offered me a route, which he held, after their manner as we shall describe in its proper place, between his hoof and pasta. I took it in my hand, and having smelt it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could. He bought out of the yahoo's kennel a piece of ass's flesh, but it smelt so offensively that I turned from it with loathing. He then threw it to the yahoo, by whom it was greedily devoured. He afterward showed me a wisp of hay and a fetlock full of oats. But I shook my head, to signify that neither of these were food for me. And indeed I now apprehended, that I must absolutely starve, if I did not get to some of my own species. For as to those filthy yahoo's, although there were few great lovers of mankind at that time than myself, yet I confess I never saw any sensitive being so detestable on all accounts. And the more I came near them the more hateful they grew, while I stayed in that country. This the master horse observed by my behaviour, and therefore sent the yahoo back to his kennel. He then put his forehoof to his mouth, at which I was much surprised, although he did it with ease, and with a motion that appeared perfectly natural, and made other signs to know what I would eat. But I could not return him such an answer as he was able to apprehend. And if he had understood me, I did not see how it was possible to contrive any way for finding myself nourishment. While we were thus engaged, I observed a cow passing by, whereupon I pointed to her, and expressed a desire to go and milk her. This had its effect, for he led me back into the house, and ordered a mere servant to open a room. Where a good store of milk lay in earthen and wooden vessels, after a very orderly and cleanly manner. She gave me a large bowlful, of which I drank very heartily, and found myself well refreshed. About noon I saw, coming towards the house, a kind of vehicle drawn like a sledge by four yahoos. There was in it an old steed, who seemed to be of quality. He alighted with his hind feet forward, having by accident got hurt in his left forefoot. He came to dine with our horse, who received him with great civility. They dined in the best room, and had oats boiled in milk for the second course. Which the old horse ate warm, but the rest cold. Their mangers were placed circular in the middle of the room, and divided into several petitions, round which they sat on their haunches, upon bosses of straw. In the middle was a large rack, with angles answering to every partition of the manger, so that each horse and mare ate their own hay, and their own mash of oats and milk, with much decency and regularity. The behaviour of the young colt and foal appeared very modest, and that of the master and mistress extremely cheerful and complacent to their guest. The grey ordered me to stand by him, and much discourse passed between him and his friend concerning me, as I found by the strangers often looking on me, and the frequent repetition of the word yahoo. I happened to wear my gloves, which the master grey observing seemed to perplexed, discovering signs of wonder what I had done to my forefeet. He put his hoof three or four times to them, as if he would signify that I should reduce them to their former shape, which I presently did, pulling off both my gloves and putting them into my pocket. This occasioned father talk, and I saw the company was pleased with my behaviour, whereof I soon found the good effects. I was ordered to speak the few words I understood, and while they were at dinner, the master taught me the names for oats, milk, fire, water, and some others, which I could readily pronounce after him, having from my youth a great facility in learning languages. When dinner was done the master horse took me aside, and by signs and words made me understand the concern he was in in that I had nothing to eat. Oats and their tongue are called holna, the word I pronounced two or three times. For although I had refused them at first, yet upon second thoughts, I considered that I could contrive to make of them a kind of bread, which might be sufficient with milk to keep me alive, till I could make my escape to some other country and a creature of my own species. The horse immediately ordered a white mare servant of his family to bring me a good quantity of oats and a sort of wooden tray. These I heated before the fire, as well as I could, and rubbed them till the husks came off, which I made a sift to winnow from the grain. I ground and beat them between two stones, then took water, and made them into a paste or cake, which I toasted at the fire and warmed with milk. It was at first a very insipid diet, though common enough in many parts of Europe, but grew tolerable by time, and having often been reduced to hard fare in my life, this was not the first experiment I had made how easily nature is satisfied. And I cannot but observe that I never had one hour's sickness while I stayed in this island. It is true I sometimes made a shift to catch a rabbit or bird, by springs made of yahoos hairs, and I often gathered wholesome herbs, which I boiled, and ate as salads with my bread. And now and then, for a rarity, I made a little butter and drank the whey. I was at first at a great loss for salt, but customs soon reconciled me to the want of it, and I am confident that the frequent use of salt among us is an effect of luxury, and was first introduced only as a provocative to drink, except where it is necessary for preserving flesh in long voyages, or in places remote from great markets. For we observe no animal to be fond of it but man, and asked myself, when I left this country, it was a great while before I could endure the taste of it in anything that I ate. This is enough to say upon the subject of my diet, where with other travellers fill their books, as if the reader were personally concerned whether we fare well or ill. However, it was necessary to mention this matter, lest the world should think it impossible that I could find sustenance for three years in such a country, and among such inhabitants. When it grew towards evening, the master horse ordered a place for me to lodge in. It was but six yards from the house, and separated from the stable of the yahoos. Here I got to some straw, and covering myself with my own clothes slept very sound. But I was in a short time better accommodated, as the reader shall know hereafter, when I come to treat more particularly about my way of living. End of part four, chapter two Part four, chapter three of Gulliver's Travels This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part four, A Voyage to the Country of the Huynums Chapter three The author studies to learn the language. The Huynum, his master assists in teaching him, the language described. Several Huynums of quality come out of curiosity to see the author. He gives his master a short account of his voyage. My principal endeavour was to learn the language, which my master, for so I shall henceforth call him, and his children, and every servant of his house, were desirous to teach me. For they looked upon it as a prodigy, that a brute animal should discover such marks of a rational creature. I pointed to everything and acquired the name of it, which I wrote down in my journal book when I was alone, and corrected my bad accent by desiring those of the family to pronounce it often. In this employment a sorrel nag, one of the underservants, was very ready to assist me. In speaking they pronounced through the nose and throat, and their language approaches nearest to the High Dutch or German of any I know in Europe, but is much more graceful and significant. The Emperor Charles V made almost the same observation when he said, that if he were to speak to his horse, it should be in High Dutch. The curiosity and impatience of my master was so great that he spent many hours of his leisure to instruct me. He was convinced, as he afterwards told me, that I must be a yahoo, but my teachableness, civility, and cleanliness astonished him, which were qualities altogether opposite to those animals. He was most perplexed about my clothes, reasoning sometimes with himself, whether they were a part of my body, for I never pulled them off till the family were asleep, and got them on before they waked in the morning. My master was eager to learn whence I came, how I acquired those appearances of reason, which I discovered in all my actions, and to know my story from my own mouth, which he hoped he should soon do by the great proficiency I made in learning and pronouncing their words and sentences. To help my memory, I formed all I learned into the English alphabet, and reached the words down with the translations. This last, after some time, I ventured to do in my master's presence. It cost me much trouble to explain to him what I was doing, for the inhabitants have not the least idea of books or literature. In about ten weeks' time I was able to understand most of his questions, and in three months could give him some tolerable answers. He was extremely curious to know, from what part of the country I came, and how I was taught to imitate a rational creature, because the yahoos whom he saw I exactly resembled in my head, hands, and face, that were only visible, with some appearance of cunning, and the strongest disposition to mischief, were observed to be the most unteachable of all brutes. I answered that I came over the sea, from a far place with many others of my own kind, in a great hollow vessel made of the bodies of trees. That my companions forced me to land on this coast, and they left me to shift for myself. It was with some difficulty, and by the help of many signs, that I brought him to understand me. He replied, that I must need to be mistaken, or that I said the thing which was not. For they have no word in their language to express lying or falsehood. He knew it was impossible that there could be a country beyond the sea, or that a parcel of brutes could move a wooden vessel wither they pleased upon water. He was sure no Huinum alive could make such a vessel, nor would trust yahoos to manage it. The word Huinum in their tongue signifies a horse, and in its etymology, the perfection of nature. I told my master that I was at a loss for expression, but would improve as fast as I could, and hoped, in a short time, I would be able to tell him wonders. He was pleased to direct his own mare, his colt and foal, and the servants of the family, to take all opportunities of instructing me, and every day, for two or three hours, he was at the same pains himself. Several horses and mares of quality in the neighbourhood came often to our house. Upon the report spread off a wonderful yahoo that could speak like a Huinum, and seemed, in his words and actions, to discover some glimmerings of reason. These delighted to converse with me. They put many questions, and received such answers as I was able to return. By all these advantages I made so great a progress, that in five months from my arrival I understood whatever was spoken, and could express myself tolerably well. The Huinums, who came to visit my master out of a design of seeing and talking with me, could hardly believe me to be a right yahoo, because my body had a different covering from others of my kind. They were astonished to observe me without the usual hair or skin, except on my head, face and hands. But I discovered that secret to my master, upon an accident which happened about a fortnight before. I have already told the reader, that every night when the family were gone to bed, it was my custom to strip and cover myself with my clothes. It happened one morning early, that my master sent for me by the sorrel nag, who was his valet. When he came I was fast asleep, my clothes fallen off on one side, and my shirt above my waist. I awaked at the noise he made, and observed him to deliver his message in some disorder. After which he went to my master, and in a great fright gave him a very confused account of what he had seen. This I presently discovered, for, going as soon as I was dressed to pay my attendance upon his honour, he asked me, the meaning of what his servant had reported, that I was not the same thing when I slept, as I appeared to be at other times. That his valet assured him some part of me was white, some yellow, at least not so white, and some brown. I had hithero concealed the secret of my dress, in order to distinguish myself as much as possible from that cursed race of yahoos. But now I found it in vain to do so any longer. Besides, I considered that my clothes and shoes would soon wear out, which already were in a declining condition, and must be supplied by some contrivance, from the hides of yahoos or other brutes, whereby the whole secret would be known. I therefore told my master, that in the country whence I came, those of my kind always covered their bodies with the hairs of certain animals prepared by art, as well as for decency as to avoid the inclemencies of air, both hot and cold. Of which, as to my own person, I would give him immediate conviction, if you pleased to command me, only desiring his excuse, if I did not expose those parts that nature taught us to conceal. He said, my discourse was all very strange, but especially the last part, for he could not understand why nature should teach us to conceal what nature had given, that neither himself nor family were ashamed of any parts of their bodies. But, however, I might do as I pleased. Whereupon I first unbuttoned my coat and pulled it off. I did the same with my waistcoat, I drew off my shoes, stockings, and breeches.  My master observed the whole performance with great signs of curiosity and admiration. He took up all my clothes in his pasten, one piece after another, and examined them diligently. He then stroked my body very gently, and looked round me several times. After which, he said, it was plain I must be a perfect yahoo, but that I differed very much from the rest of my species, in the softness, whiteness, and smoothness of my skin. My want of hair in several parts of my body, the shape and shortness of my claws behind and before, and my effectation of walking continually on my two hind feet. He desired to see no more, and gave me leave to put on my clothes again, for I was shuddering with cold. I expressed my uneasiness at his giving me so often the appellation of yahoo, an odious animal, for which I had so utter a hatred and contempt. I begged he would forbear applying that word to me, and make the same order in his family and among his friends whom he suffered to see me. I requested likewise, that the secret of my having a false covering to my body might be known to none but himself, at least as long as my present clothing should last. For as to watch the sorrow nag his valet had observed, his honour might command him to conceal it. All this my master very graciously consented to, and thus the secret was kept till my clothes began to wear out, which I was forced to supply by several contrivances that shall hereafter be mentioned. In the meantime he desired I would go on with my utmost diligence to learn their language, because he was more astonished at my captivity for speech and reason, than at the figure of my body, whether it were covered or not. Adding, that he waited with some impatience to hear the wonders which I promised to tell him. Henceforward he doubled the pains he had been at to instruct me. He brought me into all company, and made them treat me with civility, because, as he told them privately, this would put me into good humour and make me more diverting. Every day, when I waited on him, beside the trouble he was at in teaching, he would ask me several questions concerning myself, which I answered as well as I could, and by these means he had already received some general ideas, though very imperfect. It would be tedious to relate the several steps by which I advanced to a more regular conversation. But the first account I gave him myself in any order and length was to this purpose. That I came from a very far country, as I already had attempted to tell him, with about fifty more of my own species. That we travelled upon the seas in a great hollow vessel made of wood, and larger than his honour's house. I described the ship to him in the best terms I could, and explained, by the health of my handkerchief displayed, how it was driven forward by the wind. That, upon a quarrel among us, I was set on shore on this coast, where I walked forward, without knowing wither, till he had delivered me from the persecution of those excruciable yahoos. He asked me, who made the ship, and how it was possible that the whinnoms of my country would leave it to the management of brutes. My answer was, that I durst proceed no further in my relation, unless he would give me his word and honour, that he would not be offended, and then I would tell him the wonders I had so often promised. He agreed, and I went on by assuring him, that the ship was made by creatures like myself, who, in all the countries I had travelled, as well as in my own, were the only governing rational animals, and that upon my arrival hither I was as much astonished to see the whinnoms act like rational beings, as he or his friends could be, in finding some marks of reason in a creature he was pleased to call a yahoo, to which I owned my resemblance in every part, but could not account for their degenerate and brutal nature. I said, Father, that if good fortune ever restored me to my native country, to relate my travels hither as I resolved to do, everybody would believe, that I said the thing that was not, that I invented the story out of my own head, and, with all possible respect to himself, his family, and his friends, and under his promise of not being offended, our countrymen would hardly think it probable, that a whinnom should be the presiding creature of a nation, and a yahoo, the brute. CHAPTER IV The whinnom's notion of truth and falsehood, the author's discourse disapproved by his master, the author gives a more particular account of himself, and the accidents of his voyage. My master heard me with great appearances of uneasiness in his countenance, because doubting, or not believing, are so little known in this country, that the inhabitants cannot tell how to behave themselves under such circumstances. And I remember, in frequent discourses with my master concerning the nature of manhood in other parts of the world, having occasioned a talk of lying and false reputation. It was with much difficulty that he comprehended what I meant, although he had otherwise a most acute judgment. For he argued thus, that the use of speech was to make us understand one another, and to receive information of facts. Now, if anyone said to the thing which was not, these ends were defeated, because I cannot properly be said to understand him, and I am so far from receiving information that he leaves me worse than in ignorance, for I am led to believe a thing black when it is white, and short when it is long, and these were all the notions he had concerning the faculty of lying, so perfectly well understood, and so universally practised among human creatures. To return from this digression, when I asserted that the yahoos were the only governing animals in my country, which my master said was altogether past his conception, he desired to know whether we had whinnams among us and what was their employment. I told him we had great numbers, that in summer they grazed in the fields, and in winter were kept in houses with hay and oats, where yahoos servants were employed to rub their skin smooth, comb their mains, pick their feet, serve them with food, and make their beds. I understand you well, said my master. It is now very plain from all you have spoken, that whatever share of reason the yahoos pretend to, the whinnams are your masters. I heartily wish our yahoos would be so tractable. I begged, his honour would please to excuse me from proceeding any further, because I was very certain that the account he expected from me would be highly displeasing. But he insisted in commanding me to let him know the best and the worst. I told him he should be obeyed. I owned, that the whinnams among us, whom we call horses, were the most generous and comely animals we had, that they excelled in strength and swiftness, and when they belonged to persons of quality, were employed in travelling, racing, or drawing chariots. They were treated with much kindness and care till they fell into disease, or became founded in the feet, but then they were sold, and used to all kind of drudgery till they died. After which their skins were stripped and sold for what they were worth, and their bodies left to be devoured by dogs and birds of prey. But the common race of horses had not so good fortune, being kept by farmers and carriers, and other mean people, who put them to great labour and fed them worse. I described, as well as I could, our way of riding, the shape and juice of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a whip, of harness and wheels. I added, that we fastened plates of a certain hard substance, called iron, out to the bottom of their feet, to preserve their hooves from being broken by the stony ways on which we often travelled. My master, after some expressions of great indignation, wondered how he dared to venture upon a whinnum's back, for he was sure that the weakest servant in his house would be able to shake off the strongest yahoo. Or, by lying down and rolling on his back, squeeze the brute to death. I answered, that our horses were trained up from three or four years old, to the several uses we intended them for. That, if any of them proved intolerably vicious, they were employed for carriages, that they were severely beaten while they were young, for any mischievous tricks. That the males, designed for the common use of riding or draught, were generally castrated about two years after their birth, to take down their spirits, and make them more tame and gentle. That they were indeed sensible of rewards and punishments, but his honour would please to consider, that they had not the least tincture of reason, any more than the yahoo's in this country. It put me to the pains of many circumlocutions, to give my master a right idea of what I spoke, for their language does not abound in variety of words, because their wants and passions are fewer than among us. But it is impossible to express his noble resentment at our savage treatment of the Huynum race, particularly after I had explained the manner and use of castrating horses among us, to hinder them from propagating their kind, and to render them more servile. He said, if it were possible there could be any country where yahoo's alone were endued with reason, they certainly must be the governing animal, because reason in time will always prevail against brute strength. But, considering the frame of our bodies and especially of mine, he thought no creature of equal bulk was so ill-contrived for employing that reason in the common offices of life, whereupon he desired to know whether those among whom I lived resembled me or the yahoo's of his country. I assured him that I was as well-shaped as most of my age, but the younger and the females were much more soft and tender, and the skins of the latter generally as white as milk. He said, I differed indeed from other yahoo's, being much more cleanly and not altogether so deformed. But, in point of real advantage, he thought I differed from the worse, that my nails were of no use either to my fore or hinder feet. As to my forefeet, he could not properly call them by that name, for he never observed me to walk upon them, that they were too soft to bear the ground, that I generally went with them uncovered, neither was the covering I sometimes wore on them of the same shape, also strong as that on my feet behind, that I could not walk without any security, for if either of my hinder feet slipped, I must inevitably fail. He then began to find fault with other parts of my body. The flatness of my face, the prominence of my nose, my eyes placed directly in front, so that I could not look on either side without turning my head, that I was not able to feed myself without lifting one of my four feet to my mouth, and therefore nature had placed those joints to answer that necessity. He knew not what could be the use of those several clefts and divisions in my feet behind, that these were too soft to bear the hardness and sharpness of stones, without a covering made from the skin of some other brute, that my whole body wanted a fence against heat and cold, which I was forced to put on and off every day, with tediousness and trouble, and lastly, that he observed every animal in this country naturally to abhor the yahoos, whom the weaker avoided and the stronger drove from them, so that, supposing us to have the gift of reason, he could not see how it were possible to cure that natural antipathy which every creature discovered against us, nor consequently how we could tame and render them serviceable. However, he would, as he said, debate the matter no farther, because he was more desirous to know my own story, the country where I was born, and the several actions and events of my life before I came hither. I assured him how extremely desirous I was that he should be satisfied in every point, but I doubted much whether it would be possible for me to explain myself on several subjects, whereof his honour could have no conception, because I saw nothing in his country to which I could resemble them. However, that I would do my best, and strive to express myself by similitudes, humbly desiring his assistance when I wanted proper words, which he was pleased to promise me. I said my birth was of honest parents in an island called England, which was remote from his country, as many days' journey as the strongest of his honour's servants could travel in the annual course of the sun.  That my country was governed by a female man, whom we called Queen. That I left to get riches, whereby I might maintain myself and family, when I should return. That, in my last voyage, I was commander of the ship, and had about fifty yahoos under me, many of which died at sea, and I was forced to supply them by others picked out from several nations. The tower ship was twice in danger of being sunk, the first time by a great storm, and the second by striking against a rock. Here my master interposed by asking me how I could persuade strangers, out of different countries, to venture with me after the losses I had sustained and the hazards I had run. I said they were fellows of desperate fortunes, forced to fly from the places of their birth on account of their poverty or their crimes. Some were undone by lawsuits, others spent all they had in drinking, whoring, and gaming, others fled for treason. Many for murder, theft, poisoning, robbery, perjury, forgery, coining false money, for committing rapes or sodomy, for flying from their colours or deserting to the enemy, and most of them had broken prison. None of these dust returned to their native countries, for fear of being hanged, or of starving in a jail, and therefore they were under the necessity of seeking a livelihood in other places. During this discourse my master was pleased to interrupt me several times. I had made use of many circumlocutions, in describing to him the nature of the several crimes for which most of our crew had been forced to fly their country. This labour took up several days' conversation before he was able to comprehend me. He was wholly at a loss to know what could be the use or necessity of practising those vices. To clear up which, I endeavoured to give some ideas of the desire of power and riches, of the terrible effects of lust, intemperance, malice, and envy. All this I was forced to define and describe by putting cases into making suppositions. After which, like one whose imagination was struck with something never seen or heard of before, he would lift up his eyes with amazement and indignation. Power, government, war, law, punishment, and a thousand other things had no terms where in that language could express them, which made the difficulty almost insufferable, to give my master any conception of what I meant. But, being of an excellent understanding, much improved by contemplation and converse, he at last arrived at a competent knowledge of what human nature, in our parts of the world, is capable to perform, and desired I would give him some particular account of that land, which we call Europe, but especially of my own country. End of Part 4 Chapter 4 Part 4 Chapter 5 of Gulliver's Travels This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part 4 A Voyage to the Country of the Huynhams Chapter 5 The author, at his master's command, informs him of the state of England, the causes of war among the princes of Europe. The author begins to explain the English constitution. The reader may please to observe that the following extract of many conversations I had with my master, contains a summary of the most material points which were discoursed at several times for above two years. His honour often desiring fuller satisfaction. As I father improved in the Huynham tongue. I laid before him as well as I could, the whole state of Europe. I discoursed of trade and manufacturers, of arts and sciences, and the answers I gave to all the questions he made, as they arose upon several subjects, were a fund of conversation not to be exhausted. But I shall here only set down the substance of what passed between us, concerning my own country, reducing it in order as well as I can. Without any regard to time or other circumstances, while I strictly adhere to truth. My only concern is, that I shall hardly be able to do justice to my master's arguments and expressions, which must need suffer by my want of capacity, as well as by a translation into our barbarous English. In obedience, therefore, to his honour's commands, I related to him the revolution under the Prince of Orange, the Long War with France, entered into by the said Prince, and renewed by his successor. The present Queen, wherein the greatest powers of Christianity were engaged, and which still continued. I computed at his request, that about a million yahoos might have been killed in the whole progress of it, and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and five times as many ships burnt or sunk. He asked me, what were the usual causes or motives, that made one country go to war with another? I answered they were innumerable, but I should only mention a few of the chief.  Difference in opinions has cost many millions of lives. For instance, whether flesh be bread or bread be flesh, whether the juice of a certain berry be blood or wine, whether whistling be a vice or a virtue, whether it be better to kiss a post or throw it into the fire, what is the best colour for a coat, whether black, white, red or grey, and whether it should be long or short, narrow or wide, dirty or clean, with many more. Neither are any wars so furious and bloody, or of so long a continuance, as are those occasioned by difference in opinion, especially if it be in things indifferent. Sometimes a quarrel between two princes is to decide which of them shall dispossess a third of his dominions, when neither of them pretend to any right. Sometimes one prints quarrels with another, for fear the other should quarrel with him. Sometimes a war is entered upon because the enemy is too strong, and sometimes because he is too weak. Sometimes our neighbours want the things which we have, or have the things which we want, and we both fight, till they take hours or give us theirs. It is a very justifiable cause of war, to invade a country after the people have been wasted by famine, destroyed by pestilence, or embroiled by factions among themselves. It is justifiable to enter into a war against our nearest ally, when one of his towns lies convenient for us, or a territory of land, that would render our dominions round and complete. If a prince sends forces into a nation, where the people are poor and ignorant, he may lawfully put half of them to death, and make slaves of the rest, in order to civilise and reduce them from their barbarous ways of living. It is very kingly honourable and frequent practice, when one prince desires the assistance of another, to secure him against an invasion, that the assistant, when he is driven out the invader, should seize on the dominions himself, and kill, imprison or banish the prince he came to relieve. Alliance by blood or marriage is a frequent cause of war between princes, and the nearer the kindred is, the greater their disposition to quarrel. Poor nations are hungry and rich nations are proud, and pride and hunger will ever be at variance. For these reasons the trade of a soldier is held to the most honourable of all others, because a soldier is a yahoo hired to kill, in cold blood, as many of his own species, who have never offended him as possibly he can. There is likewise a kind of beggarly princes in Europe, not able to make war by themselves, who hire out their troops to richer nations, for so much a day to each man, of which they keep three-fourths to themselves, and it is the best part of their maintenance. Such are those in many northern parts of Europe. What you have told me, said my master, upon the subject of war, does indeed discover most admirably the effects of that reason you pretend to. However, it is happy that the shame is greater than the danger, and that nature has left you utterly incapable of doing much mischief. For, your mouths lying flat with your faces, you can hardly bite each other to any purpose, unless by consent. Then, as to the claws upon your feet before and behind, they are so short and tender, that one of our yahoos would drive a dozen of yours before him. And, therefore, in recounting the numbers of those who have been killed in battle, I cannot but think you have said the thing which is not. I could not forebear shake in my head, and smiling a little at his ignorance. And, being no stranger to the art of war, I gave him a description of cannons, culverines, muskets, carabines, pistols, bullets, powder, swords, bayonets, battles, sieges, retreats, attacks, undermines, countermines, bombardments, sea fights, ships sunk with a thousand men, twenty thousand killed on each side, dying groans, limbs flying in the air, smoke, noise, confusion, trampling to death under horse's feet, flight, pursuit, victory, fields strewed with carcasses, left for food to dogs and wolves and birds of prey, plundering, stripping, ravishing, burning, and destroying. And to set forth the valour of my own dear countrymen, I assured him, that I had seen them blown up a hundred enemies at once in a siege, and as many in a ship, and beheld the dead bodies drop down in pieces from the clouds, to the great divergent of the spectators. I was going on to more particulars when my master commanded me silence. He said, whoever understood the nature of yahoos might easily believe it possible for so vile an animal to be capable of every action I had named, if their strength and cunning equaled their malice. But as my discourse had increased his abhorrence of the whole species, he found it gave him a disturbance in his mind, to which he was wholly a stranger before. He thought his ears, being used to such abominable words, might by degrees admit them with less detestation. That although he hated the yahoos of this country, yet he no more blames them for their odious qualities, than he did a gner, a bird of prey, for its cruelty, or a sharp stone cutting his hoof. But when a creature pretending to reason could be capable of such denominities, he dreaded less the corruption of that facility might be worse than brutality itself. He seemed therefore confident, that instead of reason we were only possessed of some quality fitted, to increase our natural vices. As the reflection from a troubled stream returns the image of an ill-shapen body, not only larger, but more distorted. He added, that he had heard too much upon the subject of war, both in this and some former discourses. There was another point, which a little perplexed him at present. I had informed him, that some of our crew left their country, on account of being ruined by law. That I had already explained the meaning of the word, but he was at a loss how it should come to pass. That the law, which was intended for every man's preservation, should be any man's ruin. Therefore he desired to be further satisfied what I meant by law, and the dispensers thereof, according to the present practice of my own country. Because he thought nature and reason were sufficient guides for a reasonable animal, as we pretended to be, in showing us what he ought to do, and what to avoid. I assured his honour, that the law was a science in which I had not much conversed, further than by employing advocates in vain, upon some injustices that had been done me. However, I would give him all the satisfaction I was able. I said, there was a society of men among us, bred up from their youth and the art of proving, by words multiplied for the purpose, that white is black, and black is white, according as they are paid. To this society all the rest of the people are slaves. For example, if my neighbour has a mind to my cow, he has a lawyer to prove that he ought to have my cow from me. I must then hire another to defend my right. It being against all rules of law that any man should be allowed to speak for himself. Now, in this case, I, who am the right owner, lie under two great disadvantages. First, my lawyer, being practised almost from his cradle in defending falsehood, is quite out of his element when he would be an advocate for justice, which is an unnatural office he always attempts with great awkwardness, if not with ill will. The second disadvantage is, that my lawyer must proceed with great caution, or else he will be reprimanded by the judges and abhorred by his brethren, as one that would lessen the practice of the law. And therefore I have but two methods to preserve my cow. The first is, to gain my adversary's lawyer with a double fee, who will then betray his client by insinuating that he have justice on his side. The second way is for my lawyer to make my case appear as unjust as he can, by allowing the cow to belong to my adversary. And this, if it be skillfully done, will certainly bespeak the favour of the bench.  It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever has been done before may legally be done again, and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice, and the general reason of mankind. These, under the name of precedence, they produce as authorities to justify the most iniquitous opinions, and the judges never fail of directing accordingly, in pleading they studiously avoid entering into the merits of the cause, but allowed, violent and tedious, in dwelling upon all circumstances which are not to the purpose. For instance, in the case already mentioned, they never desire to know what claim or title my adversary has to my cow, but whether they said cow or red or black, her horns long or short, whether the field I graze her in be round or square, whether she was milked at home or abroad, what diseases she is subject to, and the like. After which they consult precedence, adjoin the cause from time to time, and in ten, twenty or thirty years come to an issue. It is likewise to be observed, that this society has a peculiar cant and jargon of their own, that no other mortal can understand, and wherein all their laws are written, which they take special care to multiply, whereby they have wholly confounded the very essence of truth and falsehood, of right and wrong, so that it will take thirty years to decide whether the field left me by my ancestors for six generations belongs to me, or to a stranger three hundred miles off. In the trial of persons accused for crimes against the state, the method is much more short and commendable. The judge first sends to sound the disposition of those in power, after which he can easily hang or save a criminal, strictly preserving all due forms of law. Here my master in deposing said, it was a pity that creatures endowed with such prodigious abilities of mind, as these lawyers, by the description I gave of them, must certainly be, were not rather encouraged to be instructors of others in wisdom and knowledge.  The most despicable in common conversation, avowed enemies to all knowledge and learning, and equally disposed to revert the general reason of mankind in every other subject of discourse as in that of their own profession. And a part four, Chapter five. Part four, Chapter six of Gulliver's travels. This is the LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. Gulliver's travels by Jonathan Swift. Part four. A voyage to the country of the Huynhams. Chapter six. A continuation of the State of England under Queen Anne. The character of a First Minister of State in European Courts. My master was yet wholly at a loss to understand what motives could incite this race of lawyers, to perplex, disquiet, and weary themselves, and engage in a confederacy of injustice, merely for the sake of injuring their fellow-animals. Neither could he comprehend what I meant in saying they did it for hire. Whereupon I was at much pains to describe to him the use of money, the materials it was made of, and the value of the metals. The Tuana Yahu, who had got a great store of this precious substance, he was able to purchase whatever he had a mind to. The finest clothing, the noblest houses, great tracts of land, the most costly meats and drinks, and have his choice of the most beautiful females. Therefore, since money alone was able to perform all these feats, our Yahus thought they could never have enough of it to spend, or to save, as they found themselves inclined, from their natural bent either to profusion or avarice. That the rich men enjoyed the fruit of the poor man's labour, and the latter were a thousand to one in proportion to the former, that the bulk of our people were forced to live miserably, by labouring every day for small wages, to make a few live plentifully. I enlarged myself much on these and many other particulars to the same purpose, but his honour was still to seek, for he went upon a supposition, that all animals had a title to their share in the productions of the earth, and especially those who preside over the rest. Therefore he desired I would let him know what these costly meats were, and how any of us happened to want them. Bore upon I enumerated as many sorts as came into my head, with the various methods of dressing them, which could not be done without sending vessels by sea to every part of the world. As well, for liquours to drink, as for sauces and innumerable other conveniences, I assured him, that this whole globe of earth must be at least three times gone round, before one of our better female Yahus could get her breakfast, or a cup to put it in. He said, that must needs be a miserable country which cannot furnish food for its own inhabitants. But what he chiefly wondered it was, how such vast tracts of ground as I described, should be wholly without fresh water, and the people put to the necessity of sending over the sea for drink. I replied, that England, the dear place of my nativity, was computed to produce three times the quantity of food more than its inhabitants are able to consume, as well as liquours extracted from grain, or pressed out of the fruit of certain trees, which made excellent drink, and of the same proportion in every other convenience of life. But in order to feed the luxury and intemperance of the males, and of the vanity of the females, we sent away the greatest part of our necessary things to other countries, whence, in return, we brought the materials of diseases, folly and vice, to spend among ourselves. Hence it follows of necessity, that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood, by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, suborning, for swearing, forging, gaming, lying, forning, hectaring, voting, scribbling, stargazing, poisoning, whoring, canting, and the like occupations. Every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him understand. That wine was not imported among us from foreign countries to supply the want of water or other drinks, but because it was a sort of liquid which made us merry, by putting us out of our senses, diverted all melancholy thoughts, beget wild extravagant imaginations in the brain, raised our hopes and banished our fears, suspended every office of reason for a time, and deprived us of the use of our limbs till we fell into a profound sleep. Although it must be confessed, that we always awaked, sick and dispirited, and that the use of this liqueur filled us with diseases which made our lives uncomfortable and short. But besides all this, the bulk of our people supported themselves by furnishing the necessities or convenience of life, to the rich and to each other. For instance, when I am at home and dressed as I ought to be, I carry on my body the workmanship of a hundred tradesmen. The building and furniture of my house employ as many more, and five times the number to adorn my wife. I was going on to tell him of another sort of people, who get their livelihood by attending the sick. Having upon some occasions informed his honour that many of my crew had died of diseases. But here it was with the utmost difficulty that I brought him to apprehend what I meant. He could easily conceive that a whinnom grew weak and heavy a few days before his death, or by some accident might hurt a limb. But that nature, who works all things to perfection, should suffer any pains to breed in our bodies, he thought impossible, and desired to know the reason of so unaccountable an evil. I told him, we fed on a thousand things which operated contrary to each other, that we ate when we were not hungry, and drank without the provocation of thirst, that we sat whole night drinking strong liquours without eating a bit, which disposed us to sloth, inflamed our bodies, and precipitated or prevented digestion. That prostitute female yahoos acquired a certain malady, which bred rottenness in the bones of those who fell into their embraces. That this, and many other diseases, were propagated from father to son, so that great numbers came into the world with complicated maladies upon them. That it would be endless to give him a catalogue of all the diseases incident to human bodies, for they would not be fewer than five or six hundred, spread over every limb and joint, in short every part, external and intestine, having diseases appropriated to itself. To remedy which, there was a sort of people bred up among us, in the profession or pretense of curing the sick. And because I had some skill in the faculty, I word in gratitude to his honour, let him know the whole mystery and method by which they proceed. Their fundamental is, that all diseases arise from repletion, whence they conclude, that a great evacuation of the body is necessary, either through the natural passage or upwards at the mouth. Their next business is from herbs, minerals, gums, oils, shells, salts, juices, seaweed, excrement, barks of trees, serpents, toads, frogs, spiders, dead men's flesh and bones, birds, beasts and fishes. To form a composition for smell and taste, the most abominable, nauseous and detestable they can possibly contrive, which the stomach immediately rejects with loathing, and this they call a vomit. Or else, from the same storehouse, with some other poisonous additions, they command us to take in at the orifice above or below, just as the physician then happens to be disposed, a medicine equally annoying and disgusting to the bowels, which, relaxing the belly, drives down all before it, and this they call a purge or a clister. For nature, as the physicians allege, having intended the superior anterior orifice only for the intramission of solids and liquids, and the inferior posterior for ejection, these artists ingeniously consider that in all diseases nature is forced out of her seat. Therefore, to replace her in it, the body must be treated in a manner directly contrary, by end changing the use of each orifice, forcing solids and liquids in it to the anus, and making evacuations at the mouth. But besides real diseases, we are subject to many the tyranny imaginary, for which the physicians have invented imaginary cures. These have their several names, and so have the drugs that are proper for them, and with these our female yahoos are always infested. One great excellency in this tribe is their skillet prognostics, wherein they seldom fail. Their predictions in real diseases, when they rise to any degree of malignity, generally pretending death, which is always in their power when recovery is not, and therefore upon any unexpected signs of amendment, after they have pronounced their sentence, rather than be accused as false prophets, they know how to approve their sagacity to the world by a seasonable dose. They are likewise of special use to husbands and wives, who are grown weary of their mates, to eldest sons, to great ministers of state, and often to princes. I had formally upon occasion, discoursed with my master upon the nature of government in general, and particularly of our own excellent constitution, deservedly the wonder and envy of the whole world. But having here accidentally mentioned a minister of state, he commanded me, some time after, to inform him what species of yahoos I particularly meant by that I particularly meant by that appellation. I told him, that a first or chief minister of state, who once the person I intended to describe, was the creature wholly exempt from joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger. At least makes use of no other passions, but a violent desire of wealth, power and titles. That he applies his words to all users, except to the indication of his mind, that he never tells a truth, but with an intent that you should take it for a lie. Nor a lie, but with a design that you should take it for a truth. That those he speaks worst of behind their backs, are in the surest way of preferment. And whenever he begins to praise you to others, or to yourself, you are from that day forlorn. The worst mark you can receive is a promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath, after which every wise man retires, and gives over all hopes. There are three methods by which a man may rise to be chief minister. The first is, by knowing how, with prudence to dispose of a wife, a daughter or a sister. The second, by betraying or undermining his predecessor. And the third is, by a furious zeal in public assemblies, against the corruptions of the court. But a wise prince would rather choose to employ those who practice the last of these methods, because such zealots prove always the most obliquious and subservient to the will and passions of their master. That these ministers, having all employments at their disposal, preserve themselves in power, by bribing the majority of a senate or great council, and at last by an expedient, call an act of indemnity, whereof I described the nature to him. They secure themselves from after reckonings, and retire from the public, laden with the spoils of the nation. The palace of a chief minister is a seminary to breed up others in his own trade. The pages, lackeys, and porters, by imitating their master, become ministers of state in their several districts, and learn to excel in the three principal ingredients, of insolence, lying, and bribery. Accordingly they have a subaltern court paid to them by persons of the best rank. And sometimes, by the force of dexterity and impudence, arrive, through several gradations, to be successors to their lord. He is usually governed by a decayed wench or favourite footman, who are the tunnels through which all graces are conveyed, and may properly be called, in the last resort, the governors of the kingdom. One day, in discourse, my master, having heard me mention the nobility of my country, was pleased to make me a compliment which I could not pretend to deserve. That he was sure I must be born of some noble family, because I far exceeded in drape current cleanliness all the ahus of his nation. Although I seem to fail in strength and agility, which must be imputed to my different way of living from those other brutes. And besides, I was not only endowed with the faculty of speech, but likewise with some rudiments of reason, to a degree that, with all his acquaintance, I passed for prodigy. He made me observe that among the Huinams, the white, the sorrel, and the iron grey, were not so exactly shaped as the bay, the daple grey, and the black, nor born with equal talents of mind, or a capacity to improve them, and therefore continued always in the condition of servants, without ever aspiring to match out of their own race. Which, in that country, would be reckoned monstrous and unnatural. I made his honour my most humble acknowledgements, for the good opinion he was pleased to conceive of me, but assured him at the same time, that my birth was of the lower sort, having been born of plain honest parents, who were just able to give me a tolerable education. That nobility among us was altogether a different thing from the idea he had of it. That our young noblemen are bred from their childhood in idleness and luxury. That, as soon as years will permit, they consume their vigour and contract odious diseases among lewd females. And when their fortunes are almost ruined, they marry some woman of mean birth, disagreeable person, and unsound constitution, merely for the sake of money, whom they hate and despise. That the productions of such marriages are generally scruffless, rickety, or deformed children. By which means the family seldom continues above three generations, unless the wife takes care to provide a healthy father, among her neighbours or domestics, in order to improve and continue the breed. That a weak, diseased body, amig countenance, and shallow complexion, are the true marks of noble blood, and a healthy, robust appearance is so disgraceful in a man of quality, that the world concludes his real father to have been a groom or a coachman. The imperfections of his mind run parallel with those of his body, being a composition of spleen, dullness, ignorance, caprice, sensuality, and pride. Without the consent of this illustrious body, no law can be enacted, repealed, or altered. And these nobles have likewise the decision of all our possessions, without appeal. Ender Part 4 Chapter 6 Part 4 Chapter 7 of Gulliver's Travels This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on the volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. According by Lizzie Driver. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Part 4 A voyage to the country of the Whinnams Chapter 7 The author's great love of his native country, his master's observations upon the constitution and administration of England, as described by the author, with parallel cases and comparisons, his master's observations upon human nature. The reader may be disposed to wonder how I could prevail on myself to give so free a representation on my own species, among a race of mortals who are already too apt to conceive the vilest opinion of humankind, from that entire congruity between me and their yahoos. But I must freely confess that the many virtues of those excellent quadrupeds, placed in opposite view to human corruptions, had so far opened my eyes and enlarged my understanding that I began to view the actions and passions of man in a very different light, and to think the honour of my own kind not worth managing. Which, besides, it was impossible for me to do, before a person of so acute judgment as my master, who daily convinced me of a thousand faults in myself, were, however, had not the least perception before, and which, with us, would never be numbered even among human infirmities. I had likewise learned, from his example, another detestation of all falsehood or disguise, and truth appeared so amiable to me, that I determined upon sacrificing everything to it, led me deal so candidly with the reader, as to confess that there was yet a much stronger motive for the freedom I took in my representation of things. I had not yet been a year in this country, before I contracted such a love and veneration for the inhabitants, that I entered on a firm resolution never to return to humankind, but to pass the rest of my life among these admirable whinnoms, in the contemplation and practice of every virtue, where I could have no example or incitement to vice, but it was decreed by fortune, my perpetual enemy, that so great a felicity should not fall to my share. However, it is now some comfort to reflect, that in what I said to my countrymen, I extenuated their faults as much as I durst before so strict an examiner, and upon every article gave as favorable a turn as the matter would bear. For indeed, who is there alive that will not be swayed by his bias and partiality to the place of his birth? I have related the substance of several conversations I had with my master, during the greatest part of the time I had the honour to be in his service. But have indeed, for brevity's sake, omitted much more than his here sit down. When I had answered all his questions, and his curiosity seemed to be fully satisfied, he sent for me one morning early, and commanded me to sit down at some distance, an honour which he had never before conferred upon me. He said, he had been very seriously considering my whole story, as far as it related both to myself and my country. That he looked upon us as a sort of animals, to who share, by what accident he could not conjecture, some small pittance of reason had fallen, whereof we made no other use than by its assistance, to aggravate our natural corruptions and to acquire new ones, which nature had not given us. That we disarmed ourselves of the few ability she had bestowed, had been very successful in multiplying our original ones, and seemed to spend our whole lives in vain endeavours to supply them by our own inventions. That, as to myself, it was manifest I had neither the strength nor agility of a common yahoo, that I walked infirmly on my hind feet, had found out a contrivance to make my claws of no use or defence, and to remove the hair from my chin, which was intended as a shelter from the sun and the weather. Lastly, that I could neither run with speed, nor climb trees like my brethren, as he called them, the yahoo's in his country, that our institutions of government and law were plainly owing to a gross defects in reason, and by consequence in virtue, because reason alone is sufficient to govern a rational creature, which was, therefore, a character we had no pretense to challenge, even from the account I had given of my own people. Although he manifestly perceived that, in order to favour them, I had concealed many particulars, and often said the thing which was not, he was the more confirmed in this opinion, because he observed, that as I agreed in every feature of my body with other yahoo's, except where it was to my real disadvantage in point of strength, speed, and activity, the shortness of my claws, and some other particulars where nature had no part. So, from the representation I had given him of our lives, our manners, and our actions, he found as nearer resemblance in the disposition of our minds. He said, the yahoo's were known to hate one another, more than they did any different species of animal, and the reason usually assigned was, the odiousness of their own shapes, which all could see in the rest, but not in themselves. He had therefore begun to think it not unwise in us, to cover our bodies, and by that invention conceal many of our deformities from each other, which would else be hardly supportable. That he now found he had been mistaken, and that the dissensions of those brutes in his country were owing to the same cause with ours, as I had described them. For if, said he, you throw among five yahoo's as much food as would be sufficient for fifty, they will, instead of eating peaceably, fall together by the years, each single one impatient to have all to itself, and therefore a servant was usually employed to stand by while they were feeding abroad, and those kept at home were tied at a distance from each other. That if a cow died of age or accident, before a winim could secure it for his own yahoo's, those in the neighbourhood would come in herds to seize it, and then would ensue such a battle as I had described, with terrible wounds made by their claws on both sides, although they seldom were able to kill one another, for one to have such convenient instruments of death as we had invented. At other times the like battles have been fought between the yahoo's of several neighbourhoods, without any visible cause. Those of one district watching all opportunities to surprise the next, before they are prepared, but if they find their project has miscarried, they return home, and, for want of enemies, engage in what I call a civil war among themselves. That in some fields of his country there are certain shining stones of several colours, whereof the yahoo's are violently fond, and when part of these stones are fixed in the earth, as it sometimes happens, they will dig with their claws for whole days to get them out, then carry them away, and hide them by heaps in their kennels, but still looking round with great caution for fear their comrades should find out their treasure. My master said, he could never discover the reason of this unnatural appetite, or how these stones could be of any use to a yahoo. But now he believed it might proceed from the same principle of Averus, which I had ascribed to mankind, that he had once, by way of experiment, privately removed a heap of those stones from the place where one of his yahoo's had buried it. Whereupon the sordid animal, missing his treasure, by his loud lamenting brought the whole herd to the place. There miserably howled, then fell to biting and tearing the rest, began to pline away, would neither eat nor sleep till work, till he ordered a servant privately to convey the stones into the same hole, and hide them as before. Which, when his yahoo had found, he presently recovered his spirits and good humour, but took good care to remove them to a better hiding place, and has ever since been a very serviceable brute. My master further assured me, when I also observed myself, that in the fields where the shining stones abound, the fiercest and most frequent battles are fought. Occasioned by perpetual inroads of the neighbouring yahoo's, he said, it was common when two yahoo's discovered such a stone in a field, and were contending which of them should be the proprietor, a third would take the advantage, and carry it away from both of them, which my master would needs contend to have some kind of resemblance with our suits at law, wherein I thought it for our credit not to undercede him. Since the decision he mentioned was much more equitable than many decrees among us, because the plaintiff and defendant there lost nothing besides the stone they contended for, whereas our courts of equity would never have dismissed the case, whether either of them had anything left. My master, continuing his discourse, said, there was nothing that rendered the yahoo's more odious than their undistinguishing appetite to devour everything that came in their way, whether herbs, roots, berries, the corrupted flesh of animals, or all mingled together, and it was peculiar in their temper, that they were fond of what they could get by raping or stealth at a great distance, then much better food provided for them at home.  After which, nature had pointed out to them a certain root that gave them a general evacuation. There was also another kind of root, very juicy, but somewhat rare and difficult to be found, which the yahoo sought for with much eagerness, and which suck it with great delight. It produced in them the same effects that wine has upon us. It would make them sometimes hug and sometimes tear one another. They would howl and grin and chatter, and reel and tumble, and then fall asleep in the mud. I did indeed observe that the yahoo's were the only animals in this country subject to any diseases, which, however, were much fewer than horses have among us, and contracted, not by any ill-treatment they met with, but by the nastiness and greediness of that sordid brute. Neither has their language any more than a general appellation for those maladies, which is borrowed from the name of the beast, and called hunya yahoo, or yahoo's evil, and the cure prescribed is a mixture of their own dung and urine. Forcibly put down the yahoo's throat. This I have since often known to have been taken with success, and do here freely recommend it to my countrymen for the public good, as an admirable specific against all diseases produced by repelation. As to learning, government, arts, manufacturers, and the like, my master confessed he could find little or no resemblance between the yahoo's of that country and those in ours. For he only meant to observe what parity there was in our natures. He had heard, indeed, some curious whinnoms observe, but he most heard there was a sort of ruling yahoo. As among us there is generally some leaping or principal stag in a park, who was always most deformed in body, and mischievous in disposition, than any of the rest. But this leader had usually a favourite as like himself as he could get, whose employment was to lick his master's feet and posterior's, and drive the female yahoo's to his kennel, for which he was now and then rewarded with a piece of ass's flesh. This favourite is hated by the whole herd, and therefore to protect himself keeps always near the person of his leader. He usually continues in office till a worse can be found. But at the very moment he is discarded, his successor, at the head of all the yahoo's in that district, young and old, male and female, come in a body, and discharge their exclamments upon him from head to foot. But how far this might be applicable to our courts and favourites and ministers of state, my master said I could best determine. I durst make no return to this malicious insinuation, which debased human understanding below the sagacity of a common hound, who has judgment enough to distinguish and follow the cry of the a-blessed dog in the pack without being ever mistaken. My master told me there were some qualities remarkable in the yahoo's, which he had not observed me to mention, or at least very slightly, in the accounts I had given of humankind. He said those animals, like other brutes, had their females in common. But in this they differed, that the she yahoo would emit the males while she was pregnant, and that the hees would quarrel and fight with the females as fiercely as with each other. Both which practises was such degrees of infamous brutality, as no other sensitive creature ever arrived at. Another thing he wandered at in the yahoo's was this strange disposition to nastiness and dirt, whereas there appears to be a natural love of cleanliness in all other animals. As to the two former accusations, I was glad to let them pass without any reply, because I had not a word to offer upon them in defense of my species, which otherwise they certainly had done from my own inclinations. But I could have easily vindicated humankind from the imputation of singularity upon the last article. If there had been any swine in that country, as, and luckily for me there was not, which, although it may be a sweeter quadruped, than a yahoo, cannot, I humbly conceive, in justice, pretend to more cleanliness, and so his honour must have owned if he had seen their filthy wear feeding, and their custom of wallowing and sleeping in the mud. My master likewise mentioned another quality which his servants had discovered in several yahoo's, and to him was wholly unaccountable. He said a fancy would sometimes take a yahoo to retire into a corner, to lie down and howl and groan, and to burn away all that came near him, although he were young and fat, wanted neither food nor water, nor did the servant imagine what could possibly ale him. And the only remedy they found was to set him hard to work, after which he would infallibly come to himself. To this I was silent out of partiality to my own kind, yet here I could plainly discover the true seeds of spleen, which only seizes on the lazy, the luxurious and the rich, who, if they were forced to undergo the same regime, I would undertake for the cure. His honour had further observed, that a female yahoo would often stand behind a bank or a bush, to gaze on the young males passing by, and then appear and hide, using many antique gestures and grimaces, at which time it was observed that she had a most offensive smell. And when any of the males advanced would slowly retire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit show of fear run off into some convenient place, where she knew the male would follow her. At other times, if a female stranger came among them, three or four of her own sex would get about her, and stare and chatter and grin, and smell her all over, and then turn off with gestures that seemed to express contempt and disdain. Perhaps my master might refine a little in these speculations, which he had drawn from what he had observed himself, or had been told by others. However, I could not reflect without some amazement, and much sorrow, that the rudiments of lusiness, coquetry, censure, and scandal, should have placed by instinct in woman-kind. I expected every moment that my master would accuse the yahoos of those unnatural appetites in both sexes, so common among us. But nature, it seems, has not been so expert a school mistress. And these polite of pleasures are entirely the productions of art and reason on our side of the globe. The author relates several particulars of the yahoos, the great virtues of the winims, the education and exercise of their youth, their general assembly. As I ought to have understood human nature much better than I supposed it possible for my master to do, so it was easy to apply the character he gave the yahoos to myself and my countrymen. And I believed I could make yet further discoveries from my own observation. I therefore often begged his honour to let me go among the herds of yahoos in the neighbourhood, to which he always very graciously consented, being perfectly convinced that the hatred I bore these brutes would never suffer me to be corrupted by them. And his honour ordered one of his servants, a strong, sorrow-nag, very honest and good-natured, to be my guide. Without whose protection I durst not undertake such adventures. For I have already told the reader how much I was pestered by these odious animals, upon my first arrival. And I afterwards failed, very narrowly, three or four times, of falling into their clutches, when I happened to stray at any distance without my hangar. And I have reason to believe they had some imagination that I was of their own species. Which I often assisted myself by stripping up my sleeves, and showing my naked arms and breasts in their sight. When my protector was with me. At which times they would approach near as they durst, and imitate my actions after the manner of monkeys, but ever with great signs of hatred. As a tame jack-door with cap and stockings is always persecuted by the wild ones, when he happens to be got among them. They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy. However, I once caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured by all marks of tenderness to make it quiet. But the little imp fell squalling and scratching and biting with such violence, that I was forced to let it go. And it was high time, for a whole troop of old ones came about to set the noise. But finding the cub was safe, for away it ran, and my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture near us. I observed the young animal's flesh to smell very rank, and the stink was somewhat between a weasel and a fox, but much more disagreeable. I forgot another circumstance, and perhaps I might have the readers pardon if it were wholly admitted. That while I held the odious vermin in my hands, it avoided its filthy excrement of a yellow liquid substance all over my clothes. But, by good fortune, there was a small brook hard by, where I washed myself as clean as I could, although I durst not come into my master's presence, until I was sufficiently aired. By what I could discover, the Ahus appear to be the most unteachable of all animals, their capacity never reaching higher than to draw or carry burdens. Yet I am of opinion this defect arises chiefly from a beverse, rest of disposition. For they are cunning, malicious, treacherous, and revengeful. They are strong and hardy, but of a cowardly spirit, and, by consequence, insolent, abject, and cruel. It is observed that the red-haired of both sexes are more libidness and mischievous than the rest, whom yet they much exceed in strength and activity. The Huynums keep the Ahus for present use in huts not far from the house. But the rest are sent abroad to certain fields, where they dig up roots, eat several kinds of herbs, and search about for carrion. Or sometimes catch weasels, or lahimmers, a sort of wild rat, which they greedily devour. Nature has taught them to dig deep holes with their nails on the side of a ri