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32-a voyage to lilliput-第4部分

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hatred is increased since your great success against

Blefuscu; by which his glory as admiral is obscured。 This

lord and others have accused you of treason; and several

councils have been called in the most private manner on

your account。 Out of gratitude for your favors I procured

information of the whole proceedings; venturing my

head for your service; and this was the charge against

you:



〃First; that you; having brought the imperial fleet of

Blefuscu into the royal port; were commanded by his

Majesty to seize all the other ships; and put to death all

the Bigendian exiles; and also all the people of the empire

who would not immediately consent to break their eggs

at the smaller end。 And that; like a false traitor to his

Most Serene Majesty; you excused yourself from the service

on pretence of unwillingness to force the consciences

and destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent people。



〃Again; when ambassadors arrived from the Court of

Blefuscu; like a false traitor; you aided and entertained

them; though you knew them to be servants of a prince

lately in open war against his Imperial Majesty。



〃Moreover; you are now preparing; contrary to the

duty of a faithful subject; to voyage to the Court of

Blefuscu。



〃In the debate on this charge;〃 my friend continued;

〃his Majesty often urged the services you had done him;

while the admiral and treasurer insisted that you should

be put to a shameful death。 But Reldresal; secretary for

private affairs; who has always proved himself your friend

suggested that if his Majesty would please to spare your

life and only give orders to put out both your eyes; justice

might in some measure be satisfied。 At this Bolgolam

rose up in fury; wondering how the secretary dared desire

to preserve the life of a traitor; and the treasurer; pointing

out the expense of keeping you; also urged your death。

But his Majesty was graciously pleased to say that since

the council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a

punishment; some other might afterward be inflicted。 And

the secretary; humbly desiring to be heard again; said

that as to expense your allowance might be gradually

lessened; so that; for want of sufficient food you should

grow weak and faint; and die in a few months; when his

Majesty's subjects might cut your flesh from your bones

and bury it; leaving the skeleton for the admiration of

posterity。



〃Thus; through the great friendship of the secretary

the affair was arranged。 It was commanded that the plan

of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret; but

the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the

books。 In three days your friend the secretary will come

to your house and read the accusation before you; and

point out the great mercy of his Majesty; that only condemns

you to the loss of your eyeswhich; he does not

doubt; you will submit to humbly and gratefully。 Twenty

of his Majesty's surgeons will attend; to see the operation

well performed; by discharging very sharp…pointed arrows

into the balls of your eyes as you lie on the ground。



〃I leave you;〃 said my friend; 〃to consider what

measures you will take; and; to escape suspicion; I must

immediately return; as secretly as I came。〃



His lordship did so; and I remained alone; in great

perplexity。 At first I was bent on resistance; for while I

had liberty I could easily with stones pelt the metropolis

to pieces; but I soon rejected that idea with horror;

remembering the oath I had made to the Emperor; and the

favors I had received from him。 At last; having his

Majesty's leave to pay my respects to the Emperor of Ble…

fuscu; I resolved to take this opportunity。 Before the

three days had passed I wrote a letter to my friend the

secretary telling him of my resolution; and; without

waiting for an answer; went to the coast; and entering the

channel; between wading and swimming reached the port

of Blefuscu; where the people; who had long expected me;

led me to the capital。



His Majesty; with the royal family and great officers of

the Court; came out to receive me; and they entertained

me in a manner suited to the generosity of so great a

prince。 I did not; however; mention my disgrace with the

Emperor of Lilliput; since I did not suppose that prince

would disclose the secret while I was out of his power。

But in this; it soon appeared; I was deceived。





CHAPTER V





Three days after my arrival; walking out of curiosity

to the northeast coast of the island; I observed at some

distance in the sea something that looked like a boat

overturned。 I pulled off my shoes and stockings; and

wading two or three hundred yards; I plainly saw it to be

a real boat; which I supposed might by some tempest

have been driven from a ship。 I returned immediately to

the city for help; and after a huge amount of labor I

managed to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu;

where a great crowd of people appeared; full of wonder at

sight of so prodigious a vessel。 I told the Emperor that

my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to

carry me to some place whence I might return to my

native country; and begged his orders for materials to fit

it up; and leave to departwhich; after many kindly

speeches; he was pleased to grant。



Meanwhile the Emperor of Lilliput; uneasy at my long

absence (but never imagining that I had the least notice

of his designs); sent a person of rank to inform the

Emperor of Blefuscu of my disgrace; this messenger had

orders to represent the great mercy of his master; who was

content to punish me with the loss of my eyes; and who

expected that his brother of Blefuscu would have me sent

back to Lilliput; bound hand and foot; to be punished as

a traitor。 The Emperor of Blefuscu answered with many

civil excuses。 He said that as for sending me bound; his

brother knew it was impossible。 Moreover; though I had

taken away his fleet he was grateful to me for many good

offices I had done him in making the peace。 But that both

their Majesties would soon be made easy; for I had found

a prodigious vessel on the shore; able to carry me on the

sea; which he had given orders to fit up; and he hoped in

a few weeks both empires would be free from me。



With this answer the messenger returned to Lilliput;

and I (though the monarch of Blefuscu secretly offered

me his gracious protection if I would continue in his

service) hastened my departure; resolving never more to put

confidence in princes。



In about a month I was ready to take leave。 The

Emperor of Blefuscu; with the Empress and the royal family;

came out of the palace; and I lay down on my face to kiss

their hands; which they graciously gave me。 His Majesty

presented me with fifty purses of sprugs (their greatest

gold coin) and his picture at full length; which I put

immediately into one of my gloves; to keep it from being

hurt。 Many other ceremonies took place at my departure。



I stored the boat with meat and drink; and took six

cows and two bulls alive; with as many ewes and rams;

intending to carry them into my own country; and to feed

them on board; I had a good bundle of hay and a bag of

corn。 I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives;

but this was a thing the Emperor would by no means permit;

and besides a diligent search into my pockets; his

Majesty pledged my honor not to carry away any of his

subjects; though with their own consent and desire。



Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able;

I set sail。 When I had made twenty…four leagues; by my

reckoning; from the island of Blefuscu; I saw a sail steering

to the northeast。 I hailed her; but could get no

answer; yet I found I gained upon her; for the wind

slackened; and in half an hour she spied me; and

discharged a gun。 I came up with her between five and six

in the evening; Sept。 26; 1701; but my heart leaped within

me to see her English colors。 I put my cows and sheep

into my coat pockets; and got on board with all my little

cargo。 The captain received me with kindness; and asked

me to tell him what place I came from last; but at my

answer he thought I was raving。 However; I took my black

cattle and sheep out of my pocket; which; after great

astonishment; clearly convinced him。



We arrived in England on the 13th of April; 1702。 I

stayed two months with my wife and family; but my

eager desire to see foreign countries would suffer me to

remain no longer。 However; while in England I made

great profit by showing my cattle to persons of quality

and others; and before I began my second voyage I sold

them for 600l。 I left 1500l。 with my wife; and fixed her in

a good house; then taking leave of her and my boy and

girl; with tears on both sides; I sailed on board the

〃Adventure。〃'1'





'1' Swift。
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