Perhaps my master might refine a little in these speculations,
which he had drawn from what he observed himself, or
had been told him by others; however, I could not
reflect without some amazement, and much sorrow, that
the rudiments of lewdness, coquetry, censure, and
scandal, should have place by instinct in womankind.
I expected every moment that my master would accuse
the Yahoos of those unnatural appetites in both sexes,
so common among us. But nature, it seems, has
not been so expert a school-mistress; and these politer
pleasures are entirely the productions of art and
reason on our side of the globe.
[The author relates several particulars of the Yahoos.
The great virtues of the Houyhnhnms. The education
and exercise of their youth. Their general assembly.]
As I ought to have understood human nature much better
than I supposed it possible for my master to do, so
it was easy to apply the character he gave of the
Yahoos to myself and my countrymen; and I believed
I could yet make further discoveries, from my own
observation. I therefore often begged his honour
to let me go among the herds of Yahoos in the neighbourhood;
to which he always very graciously consented, being
perfectly convinced that the hatred I bore these brutes
would never suffer me to be corrupted by them; and
his honour ordered one of his servants, a strong sorrel
nag, very honest and good-natured, to be my guard;
without whose protection I durst not undertake such
adventures. For I have already told the reader
how much I was pestered by these odious animals, upon
my first arrival; and I afterwards failed very narrowly,
three or four times, of falling into their clutches,
when I happened to stray at any distance without my
hanger. And I have reason to believe they had
some imagination that I was of their own species,
which I often assisted myself by stripping up my sleeves,
and showing my naked arms and breasts in their sight,
when my protector was with me. At which times
they would approach as near as they durst, and imitate
my actions after the manner of monkeys, but ever with
great signs of hatred; as a tame jackdaw with cap and
stockings is always persecuted by the wild ones, when
he happens to be got among them.
They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy.
However, I once caught a young male of three years
old, and endeavoured, by all marks of tenderness,
to make it quiet; but the little imp fell a squalling,
and scratching, and biting with such violence, that
I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for
a whole troop of old ones came about us at the noise,
but finding the cub was safe (for away it ran), and
my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture near
us. I observed the young animal’s flesh
to smell very rank, and the stink was somewhat between
a weasel and a fox, but much more disagreeable.
I forgot another circumstance (and perhaps I might
have the reader’s pardon if it were wholly omitted),
that while I held the odious vermin in my hands, it
voided its filthy excrements of a yellow liquid substance
all over my clothes; but by good fortune there was
a small brook hard by, where I washed myself as clean
as I could; although I durst not come into my master’s
presence until I were sufficiently aired.
