of War, tied a Cable to the Prow, and, lifting up' the Anchors, I ftript myfelf, put my Cloaths (together with my Coverlet, which I brought under my Arm) into the Veffel, and drawing it after me, between Wading and Swimming, arrived at the Royal Port of Blefufcu, where the People had long expected me; they lent me two Guides to direct me to the capital City, which is of the fame Name. I held them in my Hands till I came within two hundred Yards of the Gate, and defired them to fignify my Arrival to one of the Secretaries, and let him know, I there waited his Majefty's Command. I had an Answer in about an Hour, that his Majefty, attended by the Royal Family, and great Officers of the Court, was coming out to receive me. I advanced a hundred Yards. The Emperor, and his Train, alighted from their Horses, the Emprefs and Ladies from their Coaches, and I did not perceive they were in any Fright or Concern. I lay on the Ground to kifs his Majefty's and the Emprefs's Hand. I told his Majesty that I was come according to my Promise, and with the Licence of the Emperor my Mafter, to have the Honour of seeing fo mighty a Monarch, and to offer him any Service in my Power, confiftent with my Duty to my own Prince; not mentioning a Word of my Difgrace, because I had hitherto no regular Information of it, and might fuppofe myself wholly ignorant of any fuch Defign; neither could I reafonably conceive that the Emperor would difcover the Secret, while I was out of his Power; wherein, however, it foon appeared I was deceived.

I fhall not trouble the Reader with the particular Account of my Reception at this Court, which was fuitable to the Generofity of fo great a Prince ;

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nor of the Difficulties I was in for want of a Houfe and Bed, being forced to lie on the Ground, wrapt up in my Coverlet.

The Author, by a lucky Accident, finds Means to leave Blefufcu; and, after fome Difficulties, returns fafe to his native Country.

HREE Days after my Arrival, walking

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the Ifland, I obferved, about half a League off, in the Sea, fomewhat that looked like Boat overturned. I pulled off my Shoes and Stockings, and, wading two or three hundred Yards, I found the Object to approach nearer by Force of the Tide ; and then plainly faw it to be a real Boat, which I fuppofed might, by fome Tempeft, have been driven. from a Ship: Whereupon I returned immediately towards the City, and defired his Imperial Majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest Veffels he had left after the Lofs of his Fleet, and three thousand Seamen, under the Command of the Vice-Admiral. This Fleet failed round, while I went back the shortest Way to the Coaft where I first difcovered the Boat; I found the Tide had driven it ftill The Seamen were all provided with Cordage, which I had beforehand twifted to a fufficient Strength. When the Ships came up, I ftript myfelf, and waded till I came within an hundred Yards of the Boat, after which I was forced to swim till I got up to it. The Seamen threw me the End of the Cord, which I faftened to a Hole in the Fore-part of the Boat, and the other End to a Man

nearer.

of

of War: But I found all my Labour to little Purpofe; for, being out of my Depth, I was not able to work. In this Neceffity, I was forced to fwim behind, and push the Boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my Hands; and, the Tide favouring me, I advanced fo far, that I could juft hold up my Chin and feel the Ground. I refted two or three Minutes, and then gave the Boat another Shove, and fo on till the Sea was no higher than my Arm-pits; and now, the most laborious Part being over, I took out my other Cables, which were ftowed in one of the Ships, and faftened them first to the Boat, and then to nine of the Veffels which attended me; the Wind being favourable, the Seamen towed, and I shoved till we arrived within forty Yards of the Shore, and, waiting till the Tide was out, I got dry to the Boat, and by the Affiftance of two thousand Men, with Ropes and Engines, I made a Shift to turn it on its Bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

I fhall not trouble the Reader with the Difficulties I was under by the Help of certain Paddles, which coft me ten Days making, to get my Boat to the Royal Port of Blefufcu, where a mighty Concourfe of People appeared upon my Arrival, full of Wonder at the Sight of fo prodigious a Veffel. I told the Emperor, that my good Fortune had thrown this Boat in my Way, to carry me to fome Place, from whence I might return into my native Country, and begged his Majesty's Orders for getting Materials to fit it up, together with his Licence to depart, which, after fome kind Expoftulations, he was pleased to grant.

I did very much wonder, in all this Time, not to have heard of any Exprefs relating to me, from our Emperor, to the Court of Blefufcu. But I

was

was afterwards given privately to understand, that his Imperial Majefty, never imagining I had the leaft Notice of his Defigns, believed I was on ly gone to Blefufcu in Performance of my Promise, according to the Licence he had given me, which was well known at our Court, and would return in a few Days when the Ceremony was ended. But he was at laft in Pain at my long Abfence; and, after confulting with the Treasurer, and the reft of that Cabal, a Perfon of Quality was dif patched with the Copy of the Articles against me. This Envoy had Inftructions to reprefent to the Monarch of Blefufcu the great Lenity of his Mafter, who was content to punish me no farther than with the Lofs of mine Eyes; that I had fled from Juftice, and, if I did not return in two Hours, I fhould be deprived of my Title of Nardac, and declared a Traitor. The Envoy further added, that, in order to maintain the Peace and Amity between both Empires, his Mafter expected, that his Brother of Blefufcu would give Orders to have me fent back to Lilliput, bound Hand and Foot, to be punished as a Traitor.

The Emperor of Blefufcu, having taken three Days to confult, returned an Anfwer, confifting of many Civilities and Excufes. He faid, that, as for fending me bound, his Brother knew it was impoffible; that although I had deprived him of his Fleet, yet he owed great Obligations to me for many good Offices I had done him in making the Peace. That however both their Majefties would foon be made eafy; for I had found a prodigious Veffel on the Shore, able to carry me on the Sea, which he had given Order to fit up with my own Affiftance and Direction; and he hoped in a few Weeks both Empires would be freed from fo infupportable an Incumbrance. With

With this Answer the Envoy returned to Lik liput, and the Monarch of Blefufcu related to me all that had paft; offering me at the fame Time (but under the ftricteft Confidence) his gracious Protection, if I would continue in his Service; wherein although I believed him fincere, yet I refolved never more to put any Confidence in Princes or Ministers, where I could poffibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due Acknowledgments for his favourable Intentions, I humbly begged to be excufed. I told him, that fince Fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a Veffel in my Way, was refolved to venture myself in the Ocean, rather than be an Occafion of Difference between two fuch mighty Monarchs. Neither did I find the Emperor at all displeased; and I discovered, by a certain Accident, that he was very glad of my Refolution, and fo were most of his Minif

ters.

my

These Confiderations moved me to haften Departure fomewhat fooner than I intended; to which the Court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed. Five hundred Workmen were imployed to make two Sails to my Boat, according to my Directions, by quilting thirteen Fold of their ftrongest Linnen together. I was at the Pains of making Ropes and Cables, by twifting ten, twenty, or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs. A great Stone that I happened to find, after a long Search by the Sea-fhore, ferved me for an Anchor. I had the Tallow of three hundred Cows for greafing my Boat, and other Ufes. I was at incredible Pains in cutting down some of the largest Timber-Trees for Oars and Mafts, wherein I was, however, inuch affifted by his Majesty's Ship-Carpenters, who helped me

in