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.Two of them came on board in less thanhalf an hour, by whom we were guided between certain shoals and rocks, which are very dangerous in thepassage, to a large basin, where a fleet may ride in safety within a cable's length of the town-wall.Some of our sailors, whether out of treachery or inadvertence, had informed the pilots that I was a stranger,and great traveller;" whereof these gave notice to a custom-house officer, by whom I was examined verystrictly upon my landing.This officer spoke to me in the language of Balnibarbi, which, by the force of muchcommerce, is generally understood in that town, especially by seamen and those employed in the customs.Igave him a short account of some particulars, and made my story as plausible and consistent as I could; but Ithought it necessary to disguise my country, and call myself a Hollander; because my intentions were forJapan, and I knew the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to enter into that kingdom.I therefore toldthe officer, that having been shipwrecked on the coast of Balnibarbi, and cast on a rock, I was received upinto Laputa, or the flying island (of which he had often heard), and was now endeavouring to get to Japan,whence I might find a convenience of returning to my own country. The officer said, I must be confined tillhe could receive orders from court, for which he would write immediately, and hoped to receive an answer ina fortnight. I was carried to a convenient lodging with a sentry placed at the door; however, I had the libertyof a large garden, and was treated with humanity enough, being maintained all the time at the king's charge.Iwas invited by several persons, chiefly out of curiosity, because it was reported that I came from countriesvery remote, of which they had never heard.I hired a young man, who came in the same ship, to be an interpreter; he was a native of Luggnagg, but hadlived some years at Maldonada, and was a perfect master of both languages.By his assistance, I was able tohold a conversation with those who came to visit me; but this consisted only of their questions, and myanswers.The despatch came from court about the time we expected.It contained a warrant for conducting me and myretinue to Traldragdubh, or Trildrogdrib (for it is pronounced both ways as near as I can remember), by aparty of ten horse.All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpreter, whom I persuaded into my service, and,at my humble request, we had each of us a mule to ride on.A messenger was despatched half a day's journeybefore us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, that his majesty would please to appoint aday and hour, when it would by his gracious pleasure that I might have the honour to lick the dust before hisfootstool. This is the court style, and I found it to be more than matter of form: for, upon my admittance twodays after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced; but, onaccount of my being a stranger, care was taken to have it made so clean, that the dust was not offensive.However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but persons of the highest rank, when they desire anadmittance.Nay, sometimes the floor is strewed with dust on purpose, when the person to be admittedCHAPTER IX.85 Gulliver's Travelshappens to have powerful enemies at court; and I have seen a great lord with his mouth so crammed, thatwhen he had crept to the proper distance from the throne; he was not able to speak a word.Neither is thereany remedy; because it is capital for those, who receive an audience to spit or wipe their mouths in hismajesty's presence.There is indeed another custom, which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king hasa mind to put any of his nobles to death in a gentle indulgent manner, he commands the floor to be strewedwith a certain brown powder of a deadly composition, which being licked up, infallibly kills him intwenty-four hours.But in justice to this prince's great clemency, and the care he has of his subjects' lives(wherein it were much to be wished that the Monarchs of Europe would imitate him), it must be mentioned forhis honour, that strict orders are given to have the infected parts of the floor well washed after every suchexecution, which, if his domestics neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal displeasure.I myselfheard him give directions, that one of his pages should be whipped, whose turn it was to give notice aboutwashing the floor after an execution, but maliciously had omitted it; by which neglect a young lord of greathopes, coming to an audience, was unfortunately poisoned, although the king at that time had no designagainst his life.But this good prince was so gracious as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promisethat he would do so no more, without special orders.To return from this digression.When I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myself gently uponmy knees, and then striking my forehead seven times against the ground, I pronounced the following words,as they had been taught me the night before, Inckpling gloffthrobb squut serummblhiop mlashnalt zwintnodbalkuffh slhiophad gurdlubh asht.This is the compliment, established by the laws of the land, for allpersons admitted to the king's presence.It may be rendered into English thus: May your celestial majestyoutlive the sun, eleven moons and a half! To this the king returned some answer, which, although I could notunderstand, yet I replied as I had been directed: Fluft drin yalerick dwuldom prastrad mirpush, which properlysignifies, My tongue is in the mouth of my friend; and by this expression was meant, that I desired leave tobring my interpreter; whereupon the young man already mentioned was accordingly introduced, by whoseintervention I answered as many questions as his majesty could put in above an hour.I spoke in theBalnibarbian 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, toappoint a lodging in the court for me and my interpreter; with a daily allowance for my table, and a largepurse of gold for my common expenses.I staid three months in this country, out of perfect obedience to his majesty; who was pleased highly to favourme, and made me very honourable offers.But I thought it more consistent with prudence and justice to passthe remainder of my days with my wife and family.CHAPTER X.[The Luggnaggians commended.A particular description of the Struldbrugs, with many conversationsbetween the author and some eminent persons upon that subject.]The Luggnaggians are a polite and generous people; and although they are not without some share of thatpride which is peculiar to all Eastern countries, yet they show themselves courteous to strangers, especiallysuch who are countenanced by the court.I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion;and being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.Two of them came on board in less thanhalf an hour, by whom we were guided between certain shoals and rocks, which are very dangerous in thepassage, to a large basin, where a fleet may ride in safety within a cable's length of the town-wall.Some of our sailors, whether out of treachery or inadvertence, had informed the pilots that I was a stranger,and great traveller;" whereof these gave notice to a custom-house officer, by whom I was examined verystrictly upon my landing.This officer spoke to me in the language of Balnibarbi, which, by the force of muchcommerce, is generally understood in that town, especially by seamen and those employed in the customs.Igave him a short account of some particulars, and made my story as plausible and consistent as I could; but Ithought it necessary to disguise my country, and call myself a Hollander; because my intentions were forJapan, and I knew the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to enter into that kingdom.I therefore toldthe officer, that having been shipwrecked on the coast of Balnibarbi, and cast on a rock, I was received upinto Laputa, or the flying island (of which he had often heard), and was now endeavouring to get to Japan,whence I might find a convenience of returning to my own country. The officer said, I must be confined tillhe could receive orders from court, for which he would write immediately, and hoped to receive an answer ina fortnight. I was carried to a convenient lodging with a sentry placed at the door; however, I had the libertyof a large garden, and was treated with humanity enough, being maintained all the time at the king's charge.Iwas invited by several persons, chiefly out of curiosity, because it was reported that I came from countriesvery remote, of which they had never heard.I hired a young man, who came in the same ship, to be an interpreter; he was a native of Luggnagg, but hadlived some years at Maldonada, and was a perfect master of both languages.By his assistance, I was able tohold a conversation with those who came to visit me; but this consisted only of their questions, and myanswers.The despatch came from court about the time we expected.It contained a warrant for conducting me and myretinue to Traldragdubh, or Trildrogdrib (for it is pronounced both ways as near as I can remember), by aparty of ten horse.All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpreter, whom I persuaded into my service, and,at my humble request, we had each of us a mule to ride on.A messenger was despatched half a day's journeybefore us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, that his majesty would please to appoint aday and hour, when it would by his gracious pleasure that I might have the honour to lick the dust before hisfootstool. This is the court style, and I found it to be more than matter of form: for, upon my admittance twodays after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced; but, onaccount of my being a stranger, care was taken to have it made so clean, that the dust was not offensive.However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but persons of the highest rank, when they desire anadmittance.Nay, sometimes the floor is strewed with dust on purpose, when the person to be admittedCHAPTER IX.85 Gulliver's Travelshappens to have powerful enemies at court; and I have seen a great lord with his mouth so crammed, thatwhen he had crept to the proper distance from the throne; he was not able to speak a word.Neither is thereany remedy; because it is capital for those, who receive an audience to spit or wipe their mouths in hismajesty's presence.There is indeed another custom, which I cannot altogether approve of: when the king hasa mind to put any of his nobles to death in a gentle indulgent manner, he commands the floor to be strewedwith a certain brown powder of a deadly composition, which being licked up, infallibly kills him intwenty-four hours.But in justice to this prince's great clemency, and the care he has of his subjects' lives(wherein it were much to be wished that the Monarchs of Europe would imitate him), it must be mentioned forhis honour, that strict orders are given to have the infected parts of the floor well washed after every suchexecution, which, if his domestics neglect, they are in danger of incurring his royal displeasure.I myselfheard him give directions, that one of his pages should be whipped, whose turn it was to give notice aboutwashing the floor after an execution, but maliciously had omitted it; by which neglect a young lord of greathopes, coming to an audience, was unfortunately poisoned, although the king at that time had no designagainst his life.But this good prince was so gracious as to forgive the poor page his whipping, upon promisethat he would do so no more, without special orders.To return from this digression.When I had crept within four yards of the throne, I raised myself gently uponmy knees, and then striking my forehead seven times against the ground, I pronounced the following words,as they had been taught me the night before, Inckpling gloffthrobb squut serummblhiop mlashnalt zwintnodbalkuffh slhiophad gurdlubh asht.This is the compliment, established by the laws of the land, for allpersons admitted to the king's presence.It may be rendered into English thus: May your celestial majestyoutlive the sun, eleven moons and a half! To this the king returned some answer, which, although I could notunderstand, yet I replied as I had been directed: Fluft drin yalerick dwuldom prastrad mirpush, which properlysignifies, My tongue is in the mouth of my friend; and by this expression was meant, that I desired leave tobring my interpreter; whereupon the young man already mentioned was accordingly introduced, by whoseintervention I answered as many questions as his majesty could put in above an hour.I spoke in theBalnibarbian 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, toappoint a lodging in the court for me and my interpreter; with a daily allowance for my table, and a largepurse of gold for my common expenses.I staid three months in this country, out of perfect obedience to his majesty; who was pleased highly to favourme, and made me very honourable offers.But I thought it more consistent with prudence and justice to passthe remainder of my days with my wife and family.CHAPTER X.[The Luggnaggians commended.A particular description of the Struldbrugs, with many conversationsbetween the author and some eminent persons upon that subject.]The Luggnaggians are a polite and generous people; and although they are not without some share of thatpride which is peculiar to all Eastern countries, yet they show themselves courteous to strangers, especiallysuch who are countenanced by the court.I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion;and being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]