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32-a voyage to lilliput-第2部分

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not suffer his Majesty to risk his person by mounting on

my body。 Where the carriage stopped there stood an

ancient temple; supposed to be the largest in the whole

kingdom; and here it was determined that I should lodge。

Near the great gate; through which I could easily creep;

they fixed ninety…one chains; like those which hang to a

lady's watch; which were locked to my left leg with

thirty…six padlocks; and when the workmen found it was

impossible for me to break loose; they cut all the strings

that bound me。 Then I rose up; feeling as melancholy as

ever I did in my life。 But the noise and astonishment of

the people on seeing me rise and walk were inexpressible。

The chains that held my left leg were about two yards

long; and gave me not only freedom to walk backward and

forward in a semicircle; but to creep in and lie at full

length inside the temple。 The Emperor; advancing

toward me from among his courtiers; all most magnificently

clad; surveyed me with great admiration; but kept beyond

the length of my chain。 He was taller by about the

breadth of my nail than any of his Court; which alone

was enough to strike awe into the beholders; and graceful

and majestic。 The better to behold him; I lay down on

my side; so that my face was level with his; and he stood

three yards off。 However; I have had him since many

times in my hand; and therefore cannot be deceived。 His

dress was very simple; but he wore a light helmet of gold;

adorned with jewels and a plume。 He held his sword

drawn in his hand; to defend himself if I should break

loose; it was almost three inches long; and the hilt was of

gold; enriched with diamonds。 His voice was shrill; but

very clear。 His Imperial Majesty spoke often to me; and

I answered; but neither of us could understand a word。





CHAPTER II





After about two hours the Court retired; and I was left

with a strong guard to keep away the crowd; some of

whom had had the impudence to shoot their arrows at me

as I sat by the door of my house。 But the colonel ordered

six of them to be seized and delivered bound into my

hands。 I put five of them into my coat pocket; and as to

the sixth; I made a face as if I would eat him alive。 The

poor man screamed terribly; and the colonel and his

officers were much distressed; especially when they saw

me take out my penknife。 But I soon set them at ease;

for; cutting the strings he was bound with; I put him

gently on the ground; and away he ran。 I treated the rest

in the same manner; taking them one by one out of my

pocket; and I saw that both the soldiers and people were

delighted at this mark of my kindness



Toward night I got with some difficulty into my house;

where I lay on the ground; as I had to do for a fortnight;

till a bed was prepared for me out of six hundred beds of

the ordinary measure。



Six hundred servants were appointed me; and three

hundred tailors made me a suit of clothes。 Moreover; six

of his Majesty's greatest scholars were employed to teach

me their language; so that soon I was able to converse

after a fashion with the Emperor; who often honored me

with his visits。 The first words I learned were to desire

that he would please to give me my liberty; which I every

day repeated on my knees; but he answered that this

must be a work of time; and that first I must swear a

peace with him and his kingdom。 He told me also that

by the laws of the nation I must be searched by two of his

officers; and that as this could not be done without my

help; he trusted them in my hands; and whatever they

took from me should be returned when I left the country。

I took up the two officers; and put them into my coat

pockets。 These gentlemen; having pen; ink; and paper

about them; made an exact list of everything they saw;

which I afterward translated into English; and which ran

as follows:



〃In the right coat pocket of the great Man…Mountain

we found only one great piece of coarse cloth; large enough

to cover the carpet of your Majesty's chief room of state。

In the left pocket we saw a huge silver chest; with a silver

cover; which we could not lift。 We desired that it should

be opened; and one of us stepping into it found himself

up to the mid…leg in a sort of dust; some of which flying

into our faces sent us both into a fit of sneezing。 In his

right waistcoat pocket we found a number of white thin

substances; folded one over another; about the size of

three men; tied with a strong cable; and marked with

black figures; which we humbly conceive to be writings。

In the left there was a sort of engine; from the back of

which extended twenty long poles; with which; we

conjecture; the Man…Mountain combs his head。 In the

smaller pocket on the right side were several round flat

pieces of white and red metal; of different sizes。 Some of

the white; which appeared to be silver; were so large and

heavy that my comrade and I could hardly lift them。

From another pocket hung a huge silver chain; with a

wonderful kind of engine fastened to it; a globe half silver

and half of some transparent metal; for on the transparent

side we saw certain strange figures; and thought we could

touch them till we found our fingers stopped by the shin…

ing substance。 This engine made an incessant noise; like

a water…mill; and we conjecture it is either some unknown

animal; or the god he worships; but probably the latter;

for he told us that he seldom did anything without consulting it。



〃This is a list of what we found about the body of the

Man…Mountain; who treated us with great civility。〃



I had one private pocket which escaped their search;

containing a pair of spectacles and a small spy…glass;

which; being of no consequence to the Emperor; I did not

think myself bound in honor to discover。





CHAPTER III





My gentleness and good behavior gained so far on the

Emperor and his Court; and; indeed; on the people in

general; that I began to have hopes of getting my liberty

in a short time。 The natives came by degrees to be less

fearful of danger from me。 I would sometimes lie down

and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last

the boys and girls ventured to come and play at hide…

and…seek in my hair。



The horses of the army and of the royal stables were

no longer shy; having been daily led before me; and one

of the Emperor s huntsmen; on a large courser; took my

foot; shoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious leap。

I amused the Emperor one day in a very extraordinary

manner。 I took nine sticks; and fixed them firmly in the

ground in a square。 Then I took four other sticks; and

tied them parallel at each corner; about two feet from

the ground。 I fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks

that stood erect; and extended it on all sides till it was as

tight as the top of a drum; and I desired the Emperor

to let a troop of his best horse; twenty…four in number;

come and exercise upon this plain。 His majesty approved

of the proposal; and I took them up one by one; with the

proper officers to exercise them。 As soon as they got into

order they divided into two parties; discharged blunt

arrows; drew their swords; fled and pursued; and; in short;

showed the best military discipline I ever beheld。 The

parallel sticks secured them and their horses from falling

off the stage; and the Emperor was so much delighted

that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated several

days; and persuaded the Empress herself to let me hold

her in her chair within two yards of the stage; whence she

could view the whole performance。 Fortunately no

accident happened; only once a fiery horse; pawing with

his hoof; struck a hole in my handkerchief; and overthrew

his rider and himself。 But I immediately relieved them

both; and covering the hole with one hand; I set down the

troop with the other as I had taken them up。 The horse

that fell was strained in the shoulder; but the rider was

not hurt; and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I

could。 However; I would not trust to the strength of it

any more in such dangerous enterprises。



I had sent so many petitions for my liberty that his

Majesty at length mentioned the matter in a full council;

where it was opposed by none except Skyresh Bolgolam;

admiral of the realm; who was pleased without any

provocation to be my mortal enemy。 However; he agreed at

length; though he succeeded in himself drawing up the

conditions on which I should be set free。 After they were

read I was requested to swear to perform them in the

method prescribed by their laws; which was to hold my

right foot in my left hand; and to place the middle finger

of my right hand on the crown of my head; and my

thumb on the top of my right ear。 But I have made a

translation of the conditions; which I here offer to the

public:



〃Golbaste Mamarem Evlame Gurdile Shefin Mully Ully

Gue; Most Mighty Emperor of Lilliput; delight and terror

of the universe; whose dominions extend to the ends of

the globe; monarch of all monarchs; taller than the sons

of men; whose feet press down to the center; and whose

head strikes against the sun; at whose nod the princes of

the earth shake their knees; pleasant as the spring;

comfortable as the summer; fruitful as autumn; dreadful as

winter: His Most Sublime Majesty proposeth to the

Man…Mountain; lately arrived at our celestial dominions;

the following articles; which by a solemn oath he shall be

obliged to perform:



〃First。 The Man…Mountain shall not depart from our

dominions without our license under the great seal。



〃Second。 He shall not presume to come into our

metropolis without our express order; at which time the

inhabitants shall have two hours' warning to keep within

doors。



〃Third。 The said Man…Mountain shall confine his

walks to our principal high roads; and not offer to walk

or lie down in a meadow or field of c
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