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Свифт Джонатан - Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's travels into several remote nations of the world, Страница 9
Свифт Джонатан - Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's travels into several remote nations of the worlding in that of Luggnagg.
The king was much delighted with my company, and ordered his
BLIFFMARKLUB, or high-chamberlain, to appoint a lodging in
the court for me and my interpreter; with a daily allowance for my
table, and a large purse of gold for my common expenses.
I staid 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..
[The Luggnaggians commended. A particular description of the
Struldbrugs, with many conversations between the author and
some eminent persons upon that subject.]
The Luggnaggians 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 their STRULDBRUGS, or
immortals?" I said, "I had not;" and desired 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 in 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 threepence, 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 admitted any further alteration." He
said, "these births were so rare, that he did not believe there could
be above eleven hundred struldbrugs, of both sexes, in the whole
kingdom; of which he computed about fifty in 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 STRULDBRUGS
themselves were equally mortal with the rest of the people."
I freely own myself to have been struck with inexpressible
delight, upon hearing this account: and the person who gave it me
happening to understand the Balnibarbian 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 have masters ready to instruct them in the
wisdom of all former ages! but happiest, beyond all comparison,
are those excellent STRULDBRUGS, 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 reverend sages was.
too strict 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 please 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 those superior beings the
STRULDBRUGS, if they would please to admit me."
The gentleman to whom I addressed my discourse, because (as I
have already observed) he spoke the language of Balnibarbi, said
to me, with a sort of a 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 their 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 STRULDBRUG.".
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 for ever.
"That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a
STRULDBRUG, 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,
fashions of dress, diet, and diversions. By all which acquirements,
I should be a living treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and
certainly become the oracle of the nation.
"I would never marry after threescore, 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 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 STRULDBRUGS 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 become 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 become 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 discoveries 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, which the natural desire of
endless life, and sublunary 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
STRULDBRUGS was peculiar to their country, for there were no
such people either in Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the
honour to be ambassador from 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 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 Luggnagg the appetite for living was not so eager,
from the continual example of the STRULDBRUGS before their
eyes.
"That the system of living contrived by me, was unreasonable and
unjust; because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and
vigour, 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 Balnibarbi and Japan, he observed
that every man desired to put off death some time longer, let it
approach ever so late: and he rarely heard of any man who died
willingly, except he 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 account of the
STRULDBRUGS 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 fourscore. This he learned from their own confession: for.
otherwise, there not being above two or three of that species born
in an age, they were too few to form a general observation by.
When they came to fourscore years, which is 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 dead 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 never can hope to arrive. They have no remembrance
of anything but what they learned and observed in their youth and
middle-age, and even that is very imperfect; and for the truth or
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 abound in others.
"If a STRULDBRUG happen 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 fourscore; 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 their 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 succeed 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 meers 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 or 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 of those who are their nearest friends and relations.
For the same reason, they never can 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
STRULDBRUGS 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 STRULDBRUGS, 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 SLUMSKUDASK," 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 reckoned ominous, 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 hear 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
STRULDBRUGS 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
STRULDBRUGS 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..
[The author leaves Luggnagg, 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 STRULDBRUGS 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 travellers
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
STRULDBRUGS; but my stay in Japan was so short, and I was so
entirely a stranger 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 give me his license to depart; and
honoured 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 Glanguenstald, which is a royal port to the south-west
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 Xamoschi, situated on the
south-east part of Japan; the town lies on the western point, where
there is a narrow strait leading northward into along arm of the
sea, upon the north-west part of which, Yedo, the metropolis,
stands. At landing, I showed the custom-house officers my letter
from the king of Luggnagg 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 to 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 Luggnagg." This
interpreter was a person employed to transact 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, whence I had travelled by sea and land to
Luggnagg, 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 Nangasac." To this I added another petition, "that for
the sake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, 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 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
Luggnagg 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 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 Nangasac, the commanding officer had
orders to convey me safe thither, with particular instructions about
the business of the crucifix.
On the 9th day of June, 1709, I arrived at Nangasac, after a very
long and troublesome journey. I soon fell into the company of
some Dutch sailors belonging to the Amboyna, of Amsterdam, a
stout ship of 450 tons. I had lived long in Holland, pursuing my
studies at Leyden, and I spoke Dutch well. The seamen soon knew
whence I came last: they were curious to inquire into my voyages
and 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 Theodorus Vangrult) 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
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 staid only to
take in fresh water. On the 10th of April, 1710, we arrived safe 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 to 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..
[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
Houyhnhnms.]
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 merchantman of 350 tons: 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 7th
day of September, 1710; on the 14th we met with Captain Pocock,
of Bristol, at Teneriffe, who was going to the bay of Campechy to
cut logwood. On the 16th, he was parted from us by a storm; I
heard since my return, that his ship foundered, 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 calentures, so that I was
forced to get recruits out of Barbadoes 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 onboard; and my orders were, that I should trade with the
Indians in the South-Sea, and make what discoveries I could.
These rogues, whom I had picked up, debauched my other men,
and they all formed a conspiracy to seize the ship, and secure me;
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, who was commanded to
shoot me dead if I attempted my liberty. They sent me own
victuals 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 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 close
prisoner in my cabin, and expecting nothing less than to be
murdered, as they often threatened me..
Upon the 9th 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 long-boat, letting 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 hanger; 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 rowed 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 lading, 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 tracts 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
where I lay, gave me an opportunity of distinctly marking their
form. Their heads and breasts were covered with a thick hair,
some frizzled, and others lank; they had beards like goats, and a
long ridge of hair down their backs, and the fore parts of their legs
and feet; 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 placed 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 any thing more than a sort
of down on the rest of their bodies, except about the anus and
pudenda. The dugs hung between their fore feet, and often
reached almost to the ground as they walked. The 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 fore-paw, whether out of curiosity or mischief I could not tell;
but I drew my hanger, and gave him a good blow with the flat side
of it, for I durst not strike with the edge, fearing the inhabitants
might be provoked 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 hanger. Several of
this cursed brood, getting hold of the branches behind, leaped up
into the tree, whence 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 jockeys, when
they are going to handle a strange horse. But this animal seemed
to receive my civilities with disdain, shook his head, and bent his
brows, softly raising up his right fore-foot to remove my hand.
Then he neighed three or four times, but in so different a cadence,
that I almost 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 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 proportionable degree of reason, they must
needs 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 gray, observing me to steal off, neighed 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 farther 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 gray steed rubbed my
hat all round with his right fore-hoof, 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 lappet 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 pastern, 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, neighing 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, that I at last concluded they
must needs be magicians, who had thus metamorphosed
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 that I
am a poor distressed Englishman, driven by his misfortunes upon
your coast; and I entreat one of you to let me ride upon his back,
as if he 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
creatures stood silent while I spoke, seeming to listen with great
attention, and when I had ended, they neighed 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 practise 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 gray 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 spelt thus,.
HOUYHNHNM. 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 leaves, with the same
compliment of striking each other's hoof; and the gray 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 HHUUN HHUUN: 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 awhile to let me rest..
[The author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his house. The house
described. The author's reception. The food of the Houyhnhnms.
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 wattled 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 a sign 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 hams, 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 excel
in wisdom all the nations of the world..
The gray came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill
treatment which the others might have given me. He neighed 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 doors, opposite to
each other, in the manner of a vista. We went through the second
room towards the third. Here the gray walked in first, beckoning
me to attend: I waited in the second room, and got ready my
presents for the master and mistress of the house; they were two
knives, three bracelets of false pearls, a small looking-glass, and a
bead necklace. The horse neighed 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
gray horse came to the door, and made me a sign to follow him.
into the third room where I saw a very comely mare, together with
a colt and foal, sitting on their haunches upon mats of straw, not
unartfully 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 repeating the HHUUN, HHUUN, 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 withes
fastened to a beam; they held their food between the claws of their
fore feet, 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 this
abominable animal, 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 lineaments of the countenance are distorted, by
the natives suffering their infants to lie grovelling on the earth, or
by carrying them on their backs, nuzzling with their face against
the mothers' shoulders. The fore-feet 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 root, which he held
(after their manner, as we shall describe in its proper place)
between his hoof and pastern; I took it in my hand, and, having
smelt it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could. He brought
out of the YAHOOS' 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 afterwards
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
YAHOOS, although there were few greater 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 fore-hoof 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 mare-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 a hurt in his left fore-foot. 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 partitions, 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 complaisant to their guest.
The gray ordered me to stand by him; and much discourse passed
between him and his friend concerning me, as I found by the
stranger's often looking on me, and the frequent repetition of the
word YAHOO.
I happened to wear my gloves, which the master gray observing,
seemed perplexed, discovering signs of wonder what I had done
to my fore-feet. 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 farther 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 that I
had nothing to eat. Oats in their tongue are called HLUNNH.
This 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 to creatures of my own species.
The horse immediately ordered a white mare servant of his family
to bring me a good quantity of oats in a sort of wooden t 
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