Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
great pleasure and curiosity, peeping in at the door and every `
` window. I retreated to the farther corner of my room; or box; but `
` the monkey looking in at every side, put me in such a fright, that `
` I wanted presence of mind to conceal myself under the bed, as I `
` might easily have done. After some time spent in peeping, `
` grinning, and chattering, he at last espied me; and reaching one of `
` his paws in at the door, as a cat does when she plays with a mouse, `
` although I often shifted place to avoid him, he at length seized `
` the lappet of my coat (which being made of that country silk, was `
` very thick and strong), and dragged me out. He took me up in his `
` right fore-foot and held me as a nurse does a child she is going to `
` suckle, just as I have seen the same sort of creature do with a `
` kitten in Europe; and when I offered to struggle he squeezed me so `
` hard, that I thought it more prudent to submit. I have good reason `
` to believe, that he took me for a young one of his own species, by `
` his often stroking my face very gently with his other paw. In `
` these diversions he was interrupted by a noise at the closet door, `
` as if somebody were opening it: whereupon he suddenly leaped up to `
` the window at which he had come in, and thence upon the leads and `
` gutters, walking upon three legs, and holding me in the fourth, `
` till he clambered up to a roof that was next to ours. I heard `
` Glumdalclitch give a shriek at the moment he was carrying me out. `
` The poor girl was almost distracted: that quarter of the palace `
` was all in an uproar; the servants ran for ladders; the monkey was `
` seen by hundreds in the court, sitting upon the ridge of a `
` building, holding me like a baby in one of his forepaws, and `
` feeding me with the other, by cramming into my mouth some victuals `
` he had squeezed out of the bag on one side of his chaps, and `
` patting me when I would not eat; whereat many of the rabble below `
` could not forbear laughing; neither do I think they justly ought to `
` be blamed, for, without question, the sight was ridiculous enough `
` to every body but myself. Some of the people threw up stones, `
` hoping to drive the monkey down; but this was strictly forbidden, `
` or else, very probably, my brains had been dashed out. `
` `
` The ladders were now applied, and mounted by several men; which the `
` monkey observing, and finding himself almost encompassed, not being `
` able to make speed enough with his three legs, let me drop on a `
` ridge tile, and made his escape. Here I sat for some time, five `
` hundred yards from the ground, expecting every moment to be blown `
` down by the wind, or to fall by my own giddiness, and come tumbling `
` over and over from the ridge to the eaves; but an honest lad, one `
` of my nurse's footmen, climbed up, and putting me into his breeches `
` pocket, brought me down safe. `
` `
` I was almost choked with the filthy stuff the monkey had crammed `
` down my throat: but my dear little nurse picked it out of my mouth `
` with a small needle, and then I fell a-vomiting, which gave me `
` great relief. Yet I was so weak and bruised in the sides with the `
` squeezes given me by this odious animal, that I was forced to keep `
` my bed a fortnight. The king, queen, and all the court, sent every `
` day to inquire after my health; and her majesty made me several `
` visits during my sickness. The monkey was killed, and an order `
` made, that no such animal should be kept about the palace. `
` `
` When I attended the king after my recovery, to return him thanks `
` for his favours, he was pleased to rally me a good deal upon this `
` adventure. He asked me, "what my thoughts and speculations were, `
` while I lay in the monkey's paw; how I liked the victuals he gave `
` me; his manner of feeding; and whether the fresh air on the roof `
` had sharpened my stomach." He desired to know, "what I would have `
` done upon such an occasion in my own country." I told his majesty, `
` "that in Europe we had no monkeys, except such as were brought for `
` curiosity from other places, and so small, that I could deal with a `
` dozen of them together, if they presumed to attack me. And as for `
` that monstrous animal with whom I was so lately engaged (it was `
` indeed as large as an elephant), if my fears had suffered me to `
` think so far as to make use of my hanger," (looking fiercely, and `
` clapping my hand on the hilt, as I spoke) "when he poked his paw `
` into my chamber, perhaps I should have given him such a wound, as `
` would have made him glad to withdraw it with more haste than he put `
` it in." This I delivered in a firm tone, like a person who was `
` jealous lest his courage should be called in question. However, my `
` speech produced nothing else beside a laud laughter, which all the `
` respect due to his majesty from those about him could not make them `
` contain. This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man `
` to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all `
` degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet I have seen the `
` moral of my own behaviour very frequent in England since my return; `
` where a little contemptible varlet, without the least title to `
` birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look with `
` importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons `
` of the kingdom. `
` `
` I was every day furnishing the court with some ridiculous story: `
` and Glumdalclitch, although she loved me to excess, yet was arch `
` enough to inform the queen, whenever I committed any folly that she `
` thought would be diverting to her majesty. The girl, who had been `
` out of order, was carried by her governess to take the air about an `
` hour's distance, or thirty miles from town. They alighted out of `
` the coach near a small foot-path in a field, and Glumdalclitch `
` setting down my travelling box, I went out of it to walk. There `
` was a cow-dung in the path, and I must need try my activity by `
` attempting to leap over it. I took a run, but unfortunately jumped `
` short, and found myself just in the middle up to my knees. I waded `
` through with some difficulty, and one of the footmen wiped me as `
` clean as he could with his handkerchief, for I was filthily `
` bemired; and my nurse confined me to my box, till we returned home; `
` where the queen was soon informed of what had passed, and the `
` footmen spread it about the court: so that all the mirth for some `
` days was at my expense. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VI. `
` `
` `
` `
` [Several contrivances of the author to please the king and queen. `
` He shows his skill in music. The king inquires into the state of `
` England, which the author relates to him. The king's observations `
` thereon.] `
` `
` I used to attend the king's levee once or twice a week, and had `
` often seen him under the barber's hand, which indeed was at first `
` very terrible to behold; for the razor was almost twice as long as `
` an ordinary scythe. His majesty, according to the custom of the `
` country, was only shaved twice a-week. I once prevailed on the `
` barber to give me some of the suds or lather, out of which I picked `
` forty or fifty of the strongest stumps of hair. I then took a `
` piece of fine wood, and cut it like the back of a comb, making `
` several holes in it at equal distances with as small a needle as I `
` could get from Glumdalclitch. I fixed in the stumps so `
` artificially, scraping and sloping them with my knife toward the `
` points, that I made a very tolerable comb; which was a seasonable `
` supply, my own being so much broken in the teeth, that it was `
` almost useless: neither did I know any artist in that country so `
` nice and exact, as would undertake to make me another. `
` `
` And this puts me in mind of an amusement, wherein I spent many of `
` my leisure hours. I desired the queen's woman to save for me the `
` combings of her majesty's hair, whereof in time I got a good `
` quantity; and consulting with my friend the cabinet-maker, who had `
` received general orders to do little jobs for me, I directed him to `
` make two chair-frames, no larger than those I had in my box, and to `
` bore little holes with a fine awl, round those parts where I `
` designed the backs and seats; through these holes I wove the `
` strongest hairs I could pick out, just after the manner of cane `
` chairs in England. When they were finished, I made a present of `
` them to her majesty; who kept them in her cabinet, and used to show `
` them for curiosities, as indeed they were the wonder of every one `
` that beheld them. The queen would have me sit upon one of these `
` chairs, but I absolutely refused to obey her, protesting I would `
` rather die than place a dishonourable part of my body on those `
` precious hairs, that once adorned her majesty's head. Of these `
` hairs (as I had always a mechanical genius) I likewise made a neat `
` little purse, about five feet long, with her majesty's name `
` deciphered in gold letters, which I gave to Glumdalclitch, by the `
` queen's consent. To say the truth, it was more for show than use, `
` being not of strength to bear the weight of the larger coins, and `
` therefore she kept nothing in it but some little toys that girls `
` are fond of. `
` `
` The king, who delighted in music, had frequent concerts at court, `
` to which I was sometimes carried, and set in my box on a table to `
` hear them: but the noise was so great that I could hardly `
` distinguish the tunes. I am confident that all the drums and `
` trumpets of a royal army, beating and sounding together just at `
` your ears, could not equal it. My practice was to have my box `
` removed from the place where the performers sat, as far as I could, `
` then to shut the doors and windows of it, and draw the window `
` curtains; after which I found their music not disagreeable. `
` `
` I had learned in my youth to play a little upon the spinet. `
` Glumdalclitch kept one in her chamber, and a master attended twice `
` a-week to teach her: I called it a spinet, because it somewhat `
` resembled that instrument, and was played upon in the same manner. `
` A fancy came into my head, that I would entertain the king and `
` queen with an English tune upon this instrument. But this appeared `
` extremely difficult: for the spinet was near sixty feet long, each `
` key being almost a foot wide, so that with my arms extended I could `
` not reach to above five keys, and to press them down required a `
` good smart stroke with my fist, which would be too great a labour, `
` and to no purpose. The method I contrived was this: I prepared `
` two round sticks, about the bigness of common cudgels; they were `
` thicker at one end than the other, and I covered the thicker ends `
` with pieces of a mouse's skin, that by rapping on them I might `
` neither damage the tops of the keys nor interrupt the sound. `
` Before the spinet a bench was placed, about four feet below the `
` keys, and I was put upon the bench. I ran sideling upon it, that `
` way and this, as fast as I could, banging the proper keys with my `
` two sticks, and made a shift to play a jig, to the great `
` satisfaction of both their majesties; but it was the most violent `
` exercise I ever underwent; and yet I could not strike above sixteen `
` keys, nor consequently play the bass and treble together, as other `
` artists do; which was a great disadvantage to my performance. `
` `
` The king, who, as I before observed, was a prince of excellent `
` understanding, would frequently order that I should be brought in `
` my box, and set upon the table in his closet: he would then `
` command me to bring one of my chairs out of the box, and sit down `
` within three yards distance upon the top of the cabinet, which `
` brought me almost to a level with his face. In this manner I had `
` several conversations with him. I one day took the freedom to tell `
` his majesty, "that the contempt he discovered towards Europe, and `
` the rest of the world, did not seem answerable to those excellent `
` qualities of mind that he was master of; that reason did not extend `
` itself with the bulk of the body; on the contrary, we observed in `
` our country, that the tallest persons were usually the least `
` provided with it; that among other animals, bees and ants had the `
` reputation of more industry, art, and sagacity, than many of the `
`
` window. I retreated to the farther corner of my room; or box; but `
` the monkey looking in at every side, put me in such a fright, that `
` I wanted presence of mind to conceal myself under the bed, as I `
` might easily have done. After some time spent in peeping, `
` grinning, and chattering, he at last espied me; and reaching one of `
` his paws in at the door, as a cat does when she plays with a mouse, `
` although I often shifted place to avoid him, he at length seized `
` the lappet of my coat (which being made of that country silk, was `
` very thick and strong), and dragged me out. He took me up in his `
` right fore-foot and held me as a nurse does a child she is going to `
` suckle, just as I have seen the same sort of creature do with a `
` kitten in Europe; and when I offered to struggle he squeezed me so `
` hard, that I thought it more prudent to submit. I have good reason `
` to believe, that he took me for a young one of his own species, by `
` his often stroking my face very gently with his other paw. In `
` these diversions he was interrupted by a noise at the closet door, `
` as if somebody were opening it: whereupon he suddenly leaped up to `
` the window at which he had come in, and thence upon the leads and `
` gutters, walking upon three legs, and holding me in the fourth, `
` till he clambered up to a roof that was next to ours. I heard `
` Glumdalclitch give a shriek at the moment he was carrying me out. `
` The poor girl was almost distracted: that quarter of the palace `
` was all in an uproar; the servants ran for ladders; the monkey was `
` seen by hundreds in the court, sitting upon the ridge of a `
` building, holding me like a baby in one of his forepaws, and `
` feeding me with the other, by cramming into my mouth some victuals `
` he had squeezed out of the bag on one side of his chaps, and `
` patting me when I would not eat; whereat many of the rabble below `
` could not forbear laughing; neither do I think they justly ought to `
` be blamed, for, without question, the sight was ridiculous enough `
` to every body but myself. Some of the people threw up stones, `
` hoping to drive the monkey down; but this was strictly forbidden, `
` or else, very probably, my brains had been dashed out. `
` `
` The ladders were now applied, and mounted by several men; which the `
` monkey observing, and finding himself almost encompassed, not being `
` able to make speed enough with his three legs, let me drop on a `
` ridge tile, and made his escape. Here I sat for some time, five `
` hundred yards from the ground, expecting every moment to be blown `
` down by the wind, or to fall by my own giddiness, and come tumbling `
` over and over from the ridge to the eaves; but an honest lad, one `
` of my nurse's footmen, climbed up, and putting me into his breeches `
` pocket, brought me down safe. `
` `
` I was almost choked with the filthy stuff the monkey had crammed `
` down my throat: but my dear little nurse picked it out of my mouth `
` with a small needle, and then I fell a-vomiting, which gave me `
` great relief. Yet I was so weak and bruised in the sides with the `
` squeezes given me by this odious animal, that I was forced to keep `
` my bed a fortnight. The king, queen, and all the court, sent every `
` day to inquire after my health; and her majesty made me several `
` visits during my sickness. The monkey was killed, and an order `
` made, that no such animal should be kept about the palace. `
` `
` When I attended the king after my recovery, to return him thanks `
` for his favours, he was pleased to rally me a good deal upon this `
` adventure. He asked me, "what my thoughts and speculations were, `
` while I lay in the monkey's paw; how I liked the victuals he gave `
` me; his manner of feeding; and whether the fresh air on the roof `
` had sharpened my stomach." He desired to know, "what I would have `
` done upon such an occasion in my own country." I told his majesty, `
` "that in Europe we had no monkeys, except such as were brought for `
` curiosity from other places, and so small, that I could deal with a `
` dozen of them together, if they presumed to attack me. And as for `
` that monstrous animal with whom I was so lately engaged (it was `
` indeed as large as an elephant), if my fears had suffered me to `
` think so far as to make use of my hanger," (looking fiercely, and `
` clapping my hand on the hilt, as I spoke) "when he poked his paw `
` into my chamber, perhaps I should have given him such a wound, as `
` would have made him glad to withdraw it with more haste than he put `
` it in." This I delivered in a firm tone, like a person who was `
` jealous lest his courage should be called in question. However, my `
` speech produced nothing else beside a laud laughter, which all the `
` respect due to his majesty from those about him could not make them `
` contain. This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for a man `
` to endeavour to do himself honour among those who are out of all `
` degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet I have seen the `
` moral of my own behaviour very frequent in England since my return; `
` where a little contemptible varlet, without the least title to `
` birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look with `
` importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons `
` of the kingdom. `
` `
` I was every day furnishing the court with some ridiculous story: `
` and Glumdalclitch, although she loved me to excess, yet was arch `
` enough to inform the queen, whenever I committed any folly that she `
` thought would be diverting to her majesty. The girl, who had been `
` out of order, was carried by her governess to take the air about an `
` hour's distance, or thirty miles from town. They alighted out of `
` the coach near a small foot-path in a field, and Glumdalclitch `
` setting down my travelling box, I went out of it to walk. There `
` was a cow-dung in the path, and I must need try my activity by `
` attempting to leap over it. I took a run, but unfortunately jumped `
` short, and found myself just in the middle up to my knees. I waded `
` through with some difficulty, and one of the footmen wiped me as `
` clean as he could with his handkerchief, for I was filthily `
` bemired; and my nurse confined me to my box, till we returned home; `
` where the queen was soon informed of what had passed, and the `
` footmen spread it about the court: so that all the mirth for some `
` days was at my expense. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VI. `
` `
` `
` `
` [Several contrivances of the author to please the king and queen. `
` He shows his skill in music. The king inquires into the state of `
` England, which the author relates to him. The king's observations `
` thereon.] `
` `
` I used to attend the king's levee once or twice a week, and had `
` often seen him under the barber's hand, which indeed was at first `
` very terrible to behold; for the razor was almost twice as long as `
` an ordinary scythe. His majesty, according to the custom of the `
` country, was only shaved twice a-week. I once prevailed on the `
` barber to give me some of the suds or lather, out of which I picked `
` forty or fifty of the strongest stumps of hair. I then took a `
` piece of fine wood, and cut it like the back of a comb, making `
` several holes in it at equal distances with as small a needle as I `
` could get from Glumdalclitch. I fixed in the stumps so `
` artificially, scraping and sloping them with my knife toward the `
` points, that I made a very tolerable comb; which was a seasonable `
` supply, my own being so much broken in the teeth, that it was `
` almost useless: neither did I know any artist in that country so `
` nice and exact, as would undertake to make me another. `
` `
` And this puts me in mind of an amusement, wherein I spent many of `
` my leisure hours. I desired the queen's woman to save for me the `
` combings of her majesty's hair, whereof in time I got a good `
` quantity; and consulting with my friend the cabinet-maker, who had `
` received general orders to do little jobs for me, I directed him to `
` make two chair-frames, no larger than those I had in my box, and to `
` bore little holes with a fine awl, round those parts where I `
` designed the backs and seats; through these holes I wove the `
` strongest hairs I could pick out, just after the manner of cane `
` chairs in England. When they were finished, I made a present of `
` them to her majesty; who kept them in her cabinet, and used to show `
` them for curiosities, as indeed they were the wonder of every one `
` that beheld them. The queen would have me sit upon one of these `
` chairs, but I absolutely refused to obey her, protesting I would `
` rather die than place a dishonourable part of my body on those `
` precious hairs, that once adorned her majesty's head. Of these `
` hairs (as I had always a mechanical genius) I likewise made a neat `
` little purse, about five feet long, with her majesty's name `
` deciphered in gold letters, which I gave to Glumdalclitch, by the `
` queen's consent. To say the truth, it was more for show than use, `
` being not of strength to bear the weight of the larger coins, and `
` therefore she kept nothing in it but some little toys that girls `
` are fond of. `
` `
` The king, who delighted in music, had frequent concerts at court, `
` to which I was sometimes carried, and set in my box on a table to `
` hear them: but the noise was so great that I could hardly `
` distinguish the tunes. I am confident that all the drums and `
` trumpets of a royal army, beating and sounding together just at `
` your ears, could not equal it. My practice was to have my box `
` removed from the place where the performers sat, as far as I could, `
` then to shut the doors and windows of it, and draw the window `
` curtains; after which I found their music not disagreeable. `
` `
` I had learned in my youth to play a little upon the spinet. `
` Glumdalclitch kept one in her chamber, and a master attended twice `
` a-week to teach her: I called it a spinet, because it somewhat `
` resembled that instrument, and was played upon in the same manner. `
` A fancy came into my head, that I would entertain the king and `
` queen with an English tune upon this instrument. But this appeared `
` extremely difficult: for the spinet was near sixty feet long, each `
` key being almost a foot wide, so that with my arms extended I could `
` not reach to above five keys, and to press them down required a `
` good smart stroke with my fist, which would be too great a labour, `
` and to no purpose. The method I contrived was this: I prepared `
` two round sticks, about the bigness of common cudgels; they were `
` thicker at one end than the other, and I covered the thicker ends `
` with pieces of a mouse's skin, that by rapping on them I might `
` neither damage the tops of the keys nor interrupt the sound. `
` Before the spinet a bench was placed, about four feet below the `
` keys, and I was put upon the bench. I ran sideling upon it, that `
` way and this, as fast as I could, banging the proper keys with my `
` two sticks, and made a shift to play a jig, to the great `
` satisfaction of both their majesties; but it was the most violent `
` exercise I ever underwent; and yet I could not strike above sixteen `
` keys, nor consequently play the bass and treble together, as other `
` artists do; which was a great disadvantage to my performance. `
` `
` The king, who, as I before observed, was a prince of excellent `
` understanding, would frequently order that I should be brought in `
` my box, and set upon the table in his closet: he would then `
` command me to bring one of my chairs out of the box, and sit down `
` within three yards distance upon the top of the cabinet, which `
` brought me almost to a level with his face. In this manner I had `
` several conversations with him. I one day took the freedom to tell `
` his majesty, "that the contempt he discovered towards Europe, and `
` the rest of the world, did not seem answerable to those excellent `
` qualities of mind that he was master of; that reason did not extend `
` itself with the bulk of the body; on the contrary, we observed in `
` our country, that the tallest persons were usually the least `
` provided with it; that among other animals, bees and ants had the `
` reputation of more industry, art, and sagacity, than many of the `
`