CHAPTER VIII.

The king and queen make a progress to the frontiers. The author attends

them. The manner in which he leaves the country very particularly

related. He returns to England.

I had always a strong impulse that I should some time recover my

liberty, though it was impossible to conjecture by what means, or to

form any project with the least hope of succeeding. The ship in which I

sailed, was the first ever known to be driven within sight of that

coast, and the king had given strict orders, that if at any time

another appeared, it should be taken ashore, and with all its crew and

passengers brought in a tumbril to Lorbrulgrud. He was strongly bent to

get me a woman of my own size, by whom I might propagate the breed: but

I think I should rather have died than undergone the disgrace of

leaving a posterity to be kept in cages, like tame canary-birds, and

perhaps, in time, sold about the kingdom, to persons of quality, for

curiosities. I was indeed treated with much kindness: I was the

favourite of a great king and queen, and the delight of the whole

court; but it was upon such a foot as ill became the dignity of

humankind. I could never forget those domestic pledges I had left

behind me. I wanted to be among people, with whom I could converse upon

even terms, and walk about the streets and fields without being afraid

of being trod to death like a frog or a young puppy. But my deliverance

came sooner than I expected, and in a manner not very common; the whole

story and circumstances of which I shall faithfully relate.

I had now been two years in this country; and about the beginning of

the third, Glumdalclitch and I attended the king and queen, in a

progress to the south coast of the kingdom. I was carried, as usual, in

my travelling-box, which as I have already described, was a very

convenient closet, of twelve feet wide. And I had ordered a hammock to

be fixed, by silken ropes from the four corners at the top, to break

the jolts, when a servant carried me before him on horseback, as I

sometimes desired; and would often sleep in my hammock, while we were

upon the road. On the roof of my closet, not directly over the middle

of the hammock, I ordered the joiner to cut out a hole of a foot

square, to give me air in hot weather, as I slept; which hole I shut at

pleasure with a board that drew backward and forward through a groove.

When we came to our journey’s end, the king thought proper to pass a

few days at a palace he has near Flanflasnic, a city within eighteen

English miles of the seaside. Glumdalclitch and I were much fatigued: I

had gotten a small cold, but the poor girl was so ill as to be confined

to her chamber. I longed to see the ocean, which must be the only scene

of my escape, if ever it should happen. I pretended to be worse than I

really was, and desired leave to take the fresh air of the sea, with a

page, whom I was very fond of, and who had sometimes been trusted with

me. I shall never forget with what unwillingness Glumdalclitch

consented, nor the strict charge she gave the page to be careful of me,

bursting at the same time into a flood of tears, as if she had some

forboding of what was to happen. The boy took me out in my box, about

half an hour’s walk from the palace, towards the rocks on the

sea-shore. I ordered him to set me down, and lifting up one of my

sashes, cast many a wistful melancholy look towards the sea. I found

myself not very well, and told the page that I had a mind to take a nap

in my hammock, which I hoped would do me good. I got in, and the boy

shut the window close down, to keep out the cold. I soon fell asleep,

and all I can conjecture is, while I slept, the page, thinking no

danger could happen, went among the rocks to look for birds’ eggs,

having before observed him from my window searching about, and picking

up one or two in the clefts. Be that as it will, I found myself

suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened

at the top of my box for the conveniency of carriage. I felt my box

raised very high in the air, and then borne forward with prodigious

speed. The first jolt had like to have shaken me out of my hammock, but

afterward the motion was easy enough. I called out several times, as

loud as I could raise my voice, but all to no purpose. I looked towards

my windows, and could see nothing but the clouds and sky. I heard a

noise just over my head, like the clapping of wings, and then began to

perceive the woful condition I was in; that some eagle had got the ring

of my box in his beak, with an intent to let it fall on a rock, like a

tortoise in a shell, and then pick out my body, and devour it: for the

sagacity and smell of this bird enables him to discover his quarry at a

great distance, though better concealed than I could be within a

two-inch board.

In a little time, I observed the noise and flutter of wings to increase

very fast, and my box was tossed up and down, like a sign in a windy

day. I heard several bangs or buffets, as I thought given to the eagle

(for such I am certain it must have been that held the ring of my box

in his beak), and then, all on a sudden, felt myself falling

perpendicularly down, for above a minute, but with such incredible

swiftness, that I almost lost my breath. My fall was stopped by a

terrible squash, that sounded louder to my ears than the cataract of

Niagara; after which, I was quite in the dark for another minute, and

then my box began to rise so high, that I could see light from the tops

of the windows. I now perceived I was fallen into the sea. My box, by

the weight of my body, the goods that were in, and the broad plates of

iron fixed for strength at the four corners of the top and bottom,

floated about five feet deep in water. I did then, and do now suppose,

that the eagle which flew away with my box was pursued by two or three

others, and forced to let me drop, while he defended himself against

the rest, who hoped to share in the prey. The plates of iron fastened

at the bottom of the box (for those were the strongest) preserved the

balance while it fell, and hindered it from being broken on the surface

of the water. Every joint of it was well grooved; and the door did not

move on hinges, but up and down like a sash, which kept my closet so

tight that very little water came in. I got with much difficulty out of

my hammock, having first ventured to draw back the slip-board on the

roof already mentioned, contrived on purpose to let in air, for want of

which I found myself almost stifled.

How often did I then wish myself with my dear Glumdalclitch, from whom

one single hour had so far divided me! And I may say with truth, that

in the midst of my own misfortunes I could not forbear lamenting my

poor nurse, the grief she would suffer for my loss, the displeasure of

the queen, and the ruin of her fortune. Perhaps many travellers have

not been under greater difficulties and distress than I was at this

juncture, expecting every moment to see my box dashed to pieces, or at

least overset by the first violent blast, or rising wave. A breach in

one single pane of glass would have been immediate death: nor could any

thing have preserved the windows, but the strong lattice wires placed

on the outside, against accidents in travelling. I saw the water ooze

in at several crannies, although the leaks were not considerable, and I

endeavoured to stop them as well as I could. I was not able to lift up

the roof of my closet, which otherwise I certainly should have done,

and sat on the top of it; where I might at least preserve myself some

hours longer, than by being shut up (as I may call it) in the hold. Or

if I escaped these dangers for a day or two, what could I expect but a

miserable death of cold and hunger? I was four hours under these

circumstances, expecting, and indeed wishing, every moment to be my

last.

I have already told the reader that there were two strong staples fixed

upon that side of my box which had no window, and into which the

servant, who used to carry me on horseback, would put a leathern belt,

and buckle it about his waist. Being in this disconsolate state, I

heard, or at least thought I heard, some kind of grating noise on that

side of my box where the staples were fixed; and soon after I began to

fancy that the box was pulled or towed along the sea; for I now and

then felt a sort of tugging, which made the waves rise near the tops of

my windows, leaving me almost in the dark. This gave me some faint

hopes of relief, although I was not able to imagine how it could be

brought about. I ventured to unscrew one of my chairs, which were

always fastened to the floor; and having made a hard shift to screw it

down again, directly under the slipping-board that I had lately opened,

I mounted on the chair, and putting my mouth as near as I could to the

hole, I called for help in a loud voice, and in all the languages I

understood. I then fastened my handkerchief to a stick I usually

carried, and thrusting it up the hole, waved it several times in the

air, that if any boat or ship were near, the seamen might conjecture

some unhappy mortal to be shut up in the box.

I found no effect from all I could do, but plainly perceived my closet

to be moved along; and in the space of an hour, or better, that side of

the box where the staples were, and had no windows, struck against

something that was hard. I apprehended it to be a rock, and found

myself tossed more than ever. I plainly heard a noise upon the cover of

my closet, like that of a cable, and the grating of it as it passed

through the ring. I then found myself hoisted up, by degrees, at least

three feet higher than I was before. Whereupon I again thrust up my

stick and handkerchief, calling for help till I was almost hoarse. In

return to which, I heard a great shout repeated three times, giving me

such transports of joy as are not to be conceived but by those who feel

them. I now heard a trampling over my head, and somebody calling

through the hole with a loud voice, in the English tongue, “If there be

any body below, let them speak.” I answered, “I was an Englishman,

drawn by ill fortune into the greatest calamity that ever any creature

underwent, and begged, by all that was moving, to be delivered out of

the dungeon I was in.” The voice replied, “I was safe, for my box was

fastened to their ship; and the carpenter should immediately come and

saw a hole in the cover, large enough to pull me out.” I answered,

“that was needless, and would take up too much time; for there was no

more to be done, but let one of the crew put his finger into the ring,

and take the box out of the sea into the ship, and so into the

captain’s cabin.” Some of them, upon hearing me talk so wildly, thought

I was mad: others laughed; for indeed it never came into my head, that

I was now got among people of my own stature and strength. The

carpenter came, and in a few minutes sawed a passage about four feet

square, then let down a small ladder, upon which I mounted, and thence

was taken into the ship in a very weak condition.

The sailors were all in amazement, and asked me a thousand questions,

which I had no inclination to answer. I was equally confounded at the

sight of so many pigmies, for such I took them to be, after having so

long accustomed my eyes to the monstrous objects I had left. But the

captain, Mr. Thomas Wilcocks, an honest worthy Shropshire man,

observing I was ready to faint, took me into his cabin, gave me a

cordial to comfort me, and made me turn in upon his own bed, advising

me to take a little rest, of which I had great need. Before I went to

sleep, I gave him to understand that I had some valuable furniture in

my box, too good to be lost: a fine hammock, a handsome field-bed, two

chairs, a table, and a cabinet; that my closet was hung on all sides,

or rather quilted, with silk and cotton; that if he would let one of

the crew bring my closet into his cabin, I would open it there before

him, and show him my goods. The captain, hearing me utter these

absurdities, concluded I was raving; however (I suppose to pacify me)

he promised to give order as I desired, and going upon deck, sent some

of his men down into my closet, whence (as I afterwards found) they

drew up all my goods, and stripped off the quilting; but the chairs,

cabinet, and bedstead, being screwed to the floor, were much damaged by

the ignorance of the seamen, who tore them up by force. Then they

knocked off some of the boards for the use of the ship, and when they

had got all they had a mind for, let the hull drop into the sea, which

by reason of many breaches made in the bottom and sides, sunk to

rights. And, indeed, I was glad not to have been a spectator of the

havoc they made, because I am confident it would have sensibly touched

me, by bringing former passages into my mind, which I would rather have

forgot.

I slept some hours, but perpetually disturbed with dreams of the place

I had left, and the dangers I had escaped. However, upon waking, I

found myself much recovered. It was now about eight o’clock at night,

and the captain ordered supper immediately, thinking I had already

fasted too long. He entertained me with great kindness, observing me

not to look wildly, or talk inconsistently: and, when we were left

alone, desired I would give him a relation of my travels, and by what

accident I came to be set adrift, in that monstrous wooden chest. He

said “that about twelve o’clock at noon, as he was looking through his

glass, he spied it at a distance, and thought it was a sail, which he

had a mind to make, being not much out of his course, in hopes of

buying some biscuit, his own beginning to fall short. That upon coming

nearer, and finding his error, he sent out his long-boat to discover

what it was; that his men came back in a fright, swearing they had seen

a swimming house. That he laughed at their folly, and went himself in

the boat, ordering his men to take a strong cable along with them. That

the weather being calm, he rowed round me several times, observed my

windows and wire lattices that defended them. That he discovered two

staples upon one side, which was all of boards, without any passage for

light. He then commanded his men to row up to that side, and fastening

a cable to one of the staples, ordered them to tow my chest, as they

called it, toward the ship. When it was there, he gave directions to

fasten another cable to the ring fixed in the cover, and to raise up my

chest with pulleys, which all the sailors were not able to do above two

or three feet.” He said, “they saw my stick and handkerchief thrust out

of the hole, and concluded that some unhappy man must be shut up in the

cavity.” I asked, “whether he or the crew had seen any prodigious birds

in the air, about the time he first discovered me.” To which he

answered, “that discoursing this matter with the sailors while I was

asleep, one of them said, he had observed three eagles flying towards

the north, but remarked nothing of their being larger than the usual

size:” which I suppose must be imputed to the great height they were

at; and he could not guess the reason of my question. I then asked the

captain, “how far he reckoned we might be from land?” He said, “by the

best computation he could make, we were at least a hundred leagues.” I

assured him, “that he must be mistaken by almost half, for I had not

left the country whence I came above two hours before I dropped into

the sea.” Whereupon he began again to think that my brain was

disturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and advised me to go to bed in a

cabin he had provided. I assured him, “I was well refreshed with his

good entertainment and company, and as much in my senses as ever I was

in my life.” He then grew serious, and desired to ask me freely,

“whether I were not troubled in my mind by the consciousness of some

enormous crime, for which I was punished, at the command of some

prince, by exposing me in that chest; as great criminals, in other

countries, have been forced to sea in a leaky vessel, without

provisions: for although he should be sorry to have taken so ill a man

into his ship, yet he would engage his word to set me safe ashore, in

the first port where we arrived.” He added, “that his suspicions were

much increased by some very absurd speeches I had delivered at first to

his sailors, and afterwards to himself, in relation to my closet or

chest, as well as by my odd looks and behaviour while I was at supper.”

I begged his patience to hear me tell my story, which I faithfully did,

from the last time I left England, to the moment he first discovered

me. And, as truth always forces its way into rational minds, so this

honest worthy gentleman, who had some tincture of learning, and very

good sense, was immediately convinced of my candour and veracity. But

further to confirm all I had said, I entreated him to give order that

my cabinet should be brought, of which I had the key in my pocket; for

he had already informed me how the seamen disposed of my closet. I

opened it in his own presence, and showed him the small collection of

rarities I made in the country from which I had been so strangely

delivered. There was the comb I had contrived out of the stumps of the

king’s beard, and another of the same materials, but fixed into a

paring of her majesty’s thumb-nail, which served for the back. There

was a collection of needles and pins, from a foot to half a yard long;

four wasp stings, like joiner’s tacks; some combings of the queen’s

hair; a gold ring, which one day she made me a present of, in a most

obliging manner, taking it from her little finger, and throwing it over

my head like a collar. I desired the captain would please to accept

this ring in return for his civilities; which he absolutely refused. I

showed him a corn that I had cut off with my own hand, from a maid of

honour’s toe; it was about the bigness of Kentish pippin, and grown so

hard, that when I returned to England, I got it hollowed into a cup,

and set in silver. Lastly, I desired him to see the breeches I had then

on, which were made of a mouse’s skin.

I could force nothing on him but a footman’s tooth, which I observed

him to examine with great curiosity, and found he had a fancy for it.

He received it with abundance of thanks, more than such a trifle could

deserve. It was drawn by an unskilful surgeon, in a mistake, from one

of Glumdalclitch’s men, who was afflicted with the tooth-ache, but it

was as sound as any in his head. I got it cleaned, and put it into my

cabinet. It was about a foot long, and four inches in diameter.

The captain was very well satisfied with this plain relation I had

given him, and said, “he hoped, when we returned to England, I would

oblige the world by putting it on paper, and making it public.” My

answer was, “that we were overstocked with books of travels: that

nothing could now pass which was not extraordinary; wherein I doubted

some authors less consulted truth, than their own vanity, or interest,

or the diversion of ignorant readers; that my story could contain

little beside common events, without those ornamental descriptions of

strange plants, trees, birds, and other animals; or of the barbarous

customs and idolatry of savage people, with which most writers abound.

However, I thanked him for his good opinion, and promised to take the

matter into my thoughts.”

He said “he wondered at one thing very much, which was, to hear me

speak so loud;” asking me “whether the king or queen of that country

were thick of hearing?” I told him, “it was what I had been used to for

above two years past, and that I admired as much at the voices of him

and his men, who seemed to me only to whisper, and yet I could hear

them well enough. But, when I spoke in that country, it was like a man

talking in the streets, to another looking out from the top of a

steeple, unless when I was placed on a table, or held in any person’s

hand.” I told him, “I had likewise observed another thing, that, when I

first got into the ship, and the sailors stood all about me, I thought

they were the most little contemptible creatures I had ever beheld.”

For indeed, while I was in that prince’s country, I could never endure

to look in a glass, after my eyes had been accustomed to such

prodigious objects, because the comparison gave me so despicable a

conceit of myself. The captain said, “that while we were at supper, he

observed me to look at every thing with a sort of wonder, and that I

often seemed hardly able to contain my laughter, which he knew not well

how to take, but imputed it to some disorder in my brain.” I answered,

“it was very true; and I wondered how I could forbear, when I saw his

dishes of the size of a silver three-pence, a leg of pork hardly a

mouthful, a cup not so big as a nut-shell;” and so I went on,

describing the rest of his household-stuff and provisions, after the

same manner. For, although the queen had ordered a little equipage of

all things necessary for me, while I was in her service, yet my ideas

were wholly taken up with what I saw on every side of me, and I winked

at my own littleness, as people do at their own faults. The captain

understood my raillery very well, and merrily replied with the old

English proverb, “that he doubted my eyes were bigger than my belly,

for he did not observe my stomach so good, although I had fasted all

day;” and, continuing in his mirth, protested “he would have gladly

given a hundred pounds, to have seen my closet in the eagle’s bill, and

afterwards in its fall from so great a height into the sea; which would

certainly have been a most astonishing object, worthy to have the

description of it transmitted to future ages:” and the comparison of

Phaeton was so obvious, that he could not forbear applying it, although

I did not much admire the conceit.

The captain having been at Tonquin, was, in his return to England,

driven north-eastward to the latitude of 44 degrees, and longitude of

143. But meeting a trade-wind two days after I came on board him, we

sailed southward a long time, and coasting New Holland, kept our course

west-south-west, and then south-south-west, till we doubled the Cape of

Good Hope. Our voyage was very prosperous, but I shall not trouble the

reader with a journal of it. The captain called in at one or two ports,

and sent in his long-boat for provisions and fresh water; but I never

went out of the ship till we came into the Downs, which was on the

third day of June, 1706, about nine months after my escape. I offered

to leave my goods in security for payment of my freight: but the

captain protested he would not receive one farthing. We took a kind

leave of each other, and I made him promise he would come to see me at

my house in Redriff. I hired a horse and guide for five shillings,

which I borrowed of the captain.

As I was on the road, observing the littleness of the houses, the

trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to think myself in Lilliput.

I was afraid of trampling on every traveller I met, and often called

aloud to have them stand out of the way, so that I had like to have

gotten one or two broken heads for my impertinence.

When I came to my own house, for which I was forced to inquire, one of

the servants opening the door, I bent down to go in, (like a goose

under a gate,) for fear of striking my head. My wife ran out to embrace

me, but I stooped lower than her knees, thinking she could otherwise

never be able to reach my mouth. My daughter kneeled to ask my

blessing, but I could not see her till she arose, having been so long

used to stand with my head and eyes erect to above sixty feet; and then

I went to take her up with one hand by the waist. I looked down upon

the servants, and one or two friends who were in the house, as if they

had been pigmies and I a giant. I told my wife, “she had been too

thrifty, for I found she had starved herself and her daughter to

nothing.” In short, I behaved myself so unaccountably, that they were

all of the captain’s opinion when he first saw me, and concluded I had

lost my wits. This I mention as an instance of the great power of habit

and prejudice.

In a little time, I and my family and friends came to a right

understanding: but my wife protested “I should never go to sea any

more;” although my evil destiny so ordered, that she had not power to

hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter. In the mean time, I here

conclude the second part of my unfortunate voyages.