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fore told the officer, that having been fhip-. wrecked on the coaft of Balnibarbi, and caft 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, 1 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 those who came to vifit me; but this confifted only of their questions and my anfwers.

The dispatch came from court about the time we expected. It contained a warrant for conducting me and my retinue to Traldragdubb, or Trildrogdrib, for it is pronounced both ways, as near as I can remember, by a party of ten horfe. All my retinue was that poor

lad

lad for an interpreter, whom I perfuaded into my service, 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 ftranger care was taken to have it made fo clean, that the duft was not offenfive. How→ ever, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but perfons of the highest rank, when they defire an admittance. Nay, fometimes the floor is ftrewed with duft on purpose, when the perfon to be admittted happens to have powerful enemies at court. And I have seen a great lord with his mouth fo crammed, that, when he had crept to the proper distance from the throne, he was not able to fpeak a word. Neither is there any remedy; because it is capital for those, who receive an audience, to fpit or wipe their mouths in his majesty's prefence. There is indeed another custom which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king hath a mind to put any of his nobles to death in a gentle, indulgent manner, he commands the floor to be ftrewed with a certain brown VOL. II.

T

pow

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 wished, 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 domestics neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal displeasure. 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 design 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 special orders.

To return from this digreffion; when I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myself gently upon my knees, and then, striking my forehead seven times against the ground, Ι pronounced the following words, as they had been taught me the night before, Ickpling gloffthrobb fquut ferumm blbiop mlashnalt zwin_tnodbalkuffhbiophad gurdlubb afht. This is the compliment established by the laws of the land for all perfons admitted to the king's prefence. It may be rendered into English thus: May

your

your cæleftial majesty out-live the fun, eleven moons and a half. To this the king returned fome anfwer, which although I could not underftand, yet I replied as I had been directed: Flute drin yalerick dwuldom praftrad mirpush, which properly fignifies, 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 whose intervention I answered as many queftions, as his majefty could put in above an hour. I spoke in the Balnibarbian tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning 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 expences.

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

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CHA P. X.

The Luggnuggians commended. A particular defcription of the Struldbrugs, with many converfations between the author and fome eminent perfons upon that fubject.

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

One day, in much good company, I was afked by a person of quality, whether I had feen any of their ftruldbrugs or immortals. I faid, I had not; and defired he would explain to me, what he meant by fuch an appellation applied to a mortal creature. He told me, that fometimes, 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 filver threepence, but in the course of time grew larger, and changed its colour; for at twelve years old it became green, fo continued till five and twenty, then turned to a deep blue; at five

and

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