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merit, the war being at an end, he went to Rome, and follicited at the court of Auguftus to be preferred to a greater fhip, whofe commander had been killed; but without any regard to his pretenfions it was given to a boy, who had never feen the fea, the fon of Libertina, who waited on one of the emperor's mistresses. ing back to his own veffel, he was charged with neglec of duty, and the ship given to a favourite page of Publicola, the vice-admiral; whereupon he retired to a poor farm at a great diftance from Rome, and there ended his life. I was fo curious to know the truth of this story, that I defired Agrippa might be called, who was admiral in that fight. He appeared, and confirmed the whole account, but with much more advantage to the captain, whofe modesty had extenuated or concealed a great part. of his merit.

I was surprised to find corruption grown fo high and fo quick in that empire, by the force of luxury fo lately introduced, which made me lefs wonder at many parallel cafes in other countries, where vices of all kinds have reigned fo much longer, and where the whole praife, as well as pillage, hath been ingroffed by the chief commander, who perhaps had the least title to either.

As every perfon called up made exactly the fame ap pearance he had done in the world, it gave me melancholy reflections to observe, how much the race of human kind was degenerated among us within these hundred years paft. How the pox under all its confequences and denominations had altered every lineament of an English countenance; shortened the fize of bodies, unbraced the nerves, relaxed the fmews and mufcles, introduced a fallow complexion, and rendered the flesh loose, and rancid.

I defcended fo low as to defire, that fome English yeomen of the old stamp might be fummoned to appear; once fo famous for the fimplicity of their manners, diet, and drefs; for juftice in their dealings; for their true fpirit of liberty; for their valour and love of their country. Neither could I be wholly unmoved, after comparing the living with the dead, when i confidered how all thofe pure native virtues were proftituted for a piece of money by their grand-children, who, in felling their votes,

and

and managing at elections, have acquired every vice and corruption that can poffibly be learned in a court.

CHA P. IX.

The author returns to Maldonada. Sails to the kingdom of Luggnagg. The author confined. He is fent for to court. The manner of his admittance. The king's great lenity to his subjects.

HE day of our departure being come, I took leave of his highnefs, the governor of Glubbdubdribb, and returned with my two companions to Maldonada, where after a fortnight's waiting, a ship was ready to fail for Luggnagg. The two gentlemen, and fome others, were fo generous and kind as to furnish me with provifions, and fee me on board. I was a month in this voyage. We had one violent storm, and were under a neceffity of steering weftward to get into the trade-wind, which holds for above fixty leagues. On the 21st of April, 1708, we failed into the river of Clumegnig, which is a fea-port town at the fouth-eaft point of Luggnagg. We caft 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 fhoals and rocks, which are very dan-gerous in the paffage, to a large bafin, where a fleet: may ride in fafety within a cable's length of the town wall.

Some of our failors, whether out of treachery or inadvertence, had informed the pilots that I was a stranger: and a great traveller; whereof thefe gave notice to a custom-houfe officer, by whom I was examined very ftrictly upon my landing. This officer spoke to me in the language of Balnibarbi, which by the force of much commerce is generally understood in that town, efpecially by feamen, and those employed in the customs. I gave him a fhort account of fome particulars, and made my story as plausible and confiftent as I could; but I thought it neceffary to difguife my country, and call my.. felf an Hollander, becaufe. my intentions were for Japan,

and

1

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 Balnibarbi, and cast on a rock, I was received up into Laputa, or the flying island (of which he had often heard) and was now endeavouring to get to Japan, from whence I might find a convenience of returning to my own country. The officer faid, I must be confined-till he could receive orders from court, for which he would write immediately, and hoped to receive an answer in a fortnight. I was carried to a convenient lodging with a centry 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 feveral perfons, chiefly out of curiofity, 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 fame ship, to be an interpreter: he was a native of Luggnagg, but had lived fome years at Maldonada, and was a perfect master of both languages. By his affiftance I was able to hold a converfation with thofe who came to vifit me; but this confifted only of their questions and my answers.

The difpatch came from court about the time we expected. It contained a warrant for conducting me and my retinue to Traldragdubh, or Trildrogdrib, 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 perfuaded into my fervice, and at my humble request we had each of us a mule to ride on. A meffenger was dispatched half a day's journey before us to give the King notice of my approach, and to defire that his Majefty would please to appoint a day and hour, when it would be his gracious pleasure, that I might have the honour to lick the duft before his foot-ftool. This is the court 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 fo clean, that the duft was not offenfive. However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but perfons of the highest

rank,

at court.

rank, when they defire an admittance. Nay, fometimes the floor is ftrewed with duft on purpose, when the perfon to be admitted happens to have powerful enemies And I have feen a great lord with his mouth fo crammed, that, when he had crept to the proper diftance 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 Majefty's prefence. There is indeed another custom which I cannot altogether approve of; when the king hath mind to put any of his nobles to death in a gentle, indulgent manner, he commands the floor to be frewed with a certain brown powder of a deadly compofition, which being licked up infallibly kills him in twenty-four hours. But in juftice to this prince's great clemency, and the care he hath of his fubjects lives (wherein it were much to be wifhed, that the monarchs of Europe would imitate him) it must be mentioned for his honour, that ftrict orders are given to have the infected parts of the floor well washed after every fuch execution; which if his domesticks neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal difpleasure. I myself heard him give directions, that one of his pages fhould be whipt, whofe turn it was to give notice about washing the floor after an execution, but maliciously had omitted it, by which neglect a young lord of great hopes coming to an audience was unfortunately poifoned, although the King at that time had no defign against his life. But this good prince was fo gracious as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promise that he would do fo no more without fpecial orders.

To return from this digreffion; when I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myfelf gently upon my knees, and then, ftriking my forehead feven times a gainst the ground, I pronounced the following words, as they had been taught me the night before, Ickpling gloffthrobb fquut ferumm blhiop mlashnait zwin tnodbalkuffh fiophad gurdlubh afht. This is the compliment eftablished by the laws of the land for all perfons admitted to the King's prefence. It may be rendered into English thus: May your cæleftial Majesty outlive the fun, eleven moons and a half To this the King returned fome an fwer, which although I could not understand, yet I re

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

in

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

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

СНА Р. Х.

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

TH

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

One day, in much good company, I was asked by a perfon of quality, whether I had feen any of their Struldbrugs or immortals. I faid, I had not; and desired he would explain to me, what he meant by fuch an appella