The wives and daughters lament their confinement to
the island, although I think it the most delicious
spot of ground in the world; and although they live
here in the greatest plenty and magnificence, and
are allowed to do whatever they please, they long
to see the world, and take the diversions of the metropolis,
which they are not allowed to do without a particular
license from the king; and this is not easy to be
obtained, because the people of quality have found,
by frequent experience, how hard it is to persuade
their women to return from below. I was told
that a great court lady, who had several children,—is
married to the prime minister, the richest subject
in the kingdom, a very graceful person, extremely
fond of her, and lives in the finest palace of the
island,—went down to Lagado on the pretence
of health, there hid herself for several months, till
the king sent a warrant to search for her; and she
was found in an obscure eating-house all in rags,
having pawned her clothes to maintain an old deformed
footman, who beat her every day, and in whose company
she was taken, much against her will. And although
her husband received her with all possible kindness,
and without the least reproach, she soon after contrived
to steal down again, with all her jewels, to the same
gallant, and has not been heard of since.
This may perhaps pass with the reader rather for an
European or English story, than for one of a country
so remote. But he may please to consider, that
the caprices of womankind are not limited by any climate
or nation, and that they are much more uniform, than
can be easily imagined.
In about a month’s time, I had made a tolerable
proficiency in their language, and was able to answer
most of the king’s questions, when I had the
honour to attend him. His majesty discovered
not the least curiosity to inquire into the laws,
government, history, religion, or manners of the countries
where I had been; but confined his questions to the
state of mathematics, and received the account I gave
him with great contempt and indifference, though often
roused by his flapper on each side.
CHAPTER III.
[A phenomenon solved by modern philosophy and astronomy.
The Laputians’ great improvements in the latter.
The king’s method of suppressing insurrections.]
I desired leave of this prince to see the curiosities
of the island, which he was graciously pleased to
grant, and ordered my tutor to attend me. I
chiefly wanted to know, to what cause, in art or in
nature, it owed its several motions, whereof I will
now give a philosophical account to the reader.
