[The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the
nobility, comes to see the author in his confinement.
The emperor’s person and habit described.
Learned men appointed to teach the author their language.
He gains favour by his mild disposition. His
pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken
from him.]
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me,
and must confess I never beheld a more entertaining
prospect. The country around appeared like a
continued garden, and the enclosed fields, which were
generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds
of flowers. These fields were intermingled with
woods of half a stang, {1} and the tallest trees,
as I could judge, appeared to be seven feet high.
I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked like
the painted scene of a city in a theatre.
I had been for some hours extremely pressed by the
necessities of nature; which was no wonder, it being
almost two days since I had last disburdened myself.
I was under great difficulties between urgency and
shame. The best expedient I could think of, was
to creep into my house, which I accordingly did; and
shutting the gate after me, I went as far as the length
of my chain would suffer, and discharged my body of
that uneasy load. But this was the only time
I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which
I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some
allowance, after he has maturely and impartially considered
my case, and the distress I was in. From this
time my constant practice was, as soon as I rose, to
perform that business in open air, at the full extent
of my chain; and due care was taken every morning
before company came, that the offensive matter should
be carried off in wheel-barrows, by two servants appointed
for that purpose. I would not have dwelt so
long upon a circumstance that, perhaps, at first sight,
may appear not very momentous, if I had not thought
it necessary to justify my character, in point of
cleanliness, to the world; which, I am told, some
of my maligners have been pleased, upon this and other
occasions, to call in question.
When this adventure was at an end, I came back out
of my house, having occasion for fresh air.
The emperor was already descended from the tower,
and advancing on horseback towards me, which had like
to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well
trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared
as if a mountain moved before him, reared up on its
hinder feet: but that prince, who is an excellent
horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in,
and held the bridle, while his majesty had time to
dismount. When he alighted, he surveyed me round
with great admiration; but kept beyond the length
of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers,
who were already prepared, to give me victuals and
drink, which they pushed forward in a sort of vehicles
