“You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam”
(galbet, or high-admiral) “has been your mortal
enemy, almost ever since your arrival. His original
reasons I know not; but his hatred is increased since
your great success against Blefuscu, by which his
glory as admiral is much obscured. This lord,
in conjunction with Flimnap the high-treasurer, whose
enmity against you is notorious on account of his
lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain,
and Balmuff the grand justiciary, have prepared articles
of impeachment against you, for treason and other
capital crimes.”
This preface made me so impatient, being conscious
of my own merits and innocence, that I was going to
interrupt him; when he entreated me to be silent,
and thus proceeded:-
“Out of gratitude for the favours you have done
me, I procured information of the whole proceedings,
and a copy of the articles; wherein I venture my head
for your service.
Article I.
“’Whereas, by a statute made in the reign
of his imperial majesty Calin Deffar Plune, it is
enacted, that, whoever shall make water within the
precincts of the royal palace, shall be liable to the
pains and penalties of high-treason; notwithstanding,
the said Quinbus Flestrin, in open breach of the said
law, under colour of extinguishing the fire kindled
in the apartment of his majesty’s most dear
imperial consort, did maliciously, traitorously, and
devilishly, by discharge of his urine, put out the
said fire kindled in the said apartment, lying and
being within the precincts of the said royal palace,
against the statute in that case provided, etc.
against the duty, etc.
Article II.
“’That the said Quinbus Flestrin, having
brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into the royal
port, and being afterwards commanded by his imperial
majesty to seize all the other ships of the said empire
of Blefuscu, and reduce that empire to a province,
to be governed by a viceroy from hence, and to destroy
and put to death, not only all the Big-endian exiles,
but likewise all the people of that empire who would
not immediately forsake the Big-endian heresy, he,
the said Flestrin, like a false traitor against his
most auspicious, serene, imperial majesty, did petition
to be excused from the said service, upon pretence
of unwillingness to force the consciences, or destroy
the liberties and lives of an innocent people.
Article III.
“’That, whereas certain ambassadors arrived
from the Court of Blefuscu, to sue for peace in his
majesty’s court, he, the said Flestrin, did,
like a false traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and divert,
the said ambassadors, although he knew them to be servants
to a prince who was lately an open enemy to his imperial
majesty, and in an open war against his said majesty.
