prevent fuch a Catastrophe: Or, if it abound in high Spires or Pillars of Stone, a sudden Fall might endanger the Bottom or under Surface of the Island, which although it confifts, as I have faid, of one entire Adamant two hundred Yards thick, might happen to crack by too great a Choque, or burst, by approaching too near the Fires from the Houfes below; as the Backs both of Iron and Stone will often do in our Chimnies. Of all this the People are well apprized, and understand how far to carry their Obftinacy, where their Liberty or Property is concerned. And the King, when he is highest provoked, and moft determined to prefs a City to Rubbish, orders the Inland to defcend with great Gentleness, out of a Pretence of Tenderness to his People, but indeed for fear of breaking the Adamantine Bottom; in which Cafe it is the Opinion of all their Philofophers, that the Load Stone could no longer hold it up, and the whole Mafs would fall to the Ground.

By a fundamental Law of this Realm, neither the King nor either of his two elder Sons, are permitted to leave the Ifland; nor the Queen until fhe is paft Child-bearing.

CHAP.

CHA P. IV.

The Author leaves LAPUTA, is conveyed to Balnibarbi, arrives at the Metropolis. A Defcription of the Metropolis, and the Country adjoyning. The Author hofpitably received by a great Lord. His Converfation with that Lord."

LTHOUGH I cannot fay, that I was ill treated in this Ifland, yet I must confefs, I thought my felf too much neglected, not without fome ***Degree of Contempt. For, neither Prince nor People appear to be curious in any Part of Knowledge, except Mathematicks and Mufick; wherein I was far their Inferior, and upon that Account very little regarded.

On the other Side, after having feen all the Curiofities of the Island, I was very defirous to leave it, being heartily weary of thofe People.. They were indeed, excellent in two Sciences, for which I have great Efteem, and wherein I am not unverfed but, at the fame Time, fo abftracted and involved in Speculation, that I never met with fuch difagreeable Companions. I converfed only with Women, Tradefmen, Flappers, and CourtPages, during two Months of my Abode there ;

by

by which at laft I rendered my felf extremely contemptible; yet these were the only People from whom I could ever receive a reasonable Answer.

I HAD obtained by hard Study a good Degree of Knowledge in their Language: I was weary of being confined to an Ifland where I received fo little Countenance; and refolved to leave it with the first Opportunity.

THERE was a great Lord at Court, nearly related to the King, and for that Reason alone used with Refpect. He was univerfally reckoned the moft ignorant and ftupid Perfon among them. He had performed many eminent Services for the Crown; had great natural and acquired Parts, adorned with Integrity and Honour; but, fo ill an Ear for Mufick, that his Detractors reported he had been often known to beat Time in the wrong Place; neither could his Tutors, without extreme Difficulty, teach him to demonstrate the most easy Proposition in the Mathematicks. He was pleased to fhew me many Marks of Favour; often did me the Honour of a Vifit; defired to be informed in the Affairs of Europe; the Laws and Customs, the Manners and Learning of the feveral Countries where I had travelled. He liftened to me with great Attention, and made very wife Obfervations on all I fpoke: He had two Flappers attending him for State, but never made Ufe of them except at Court, and in Vifits of Ceremony; and, would always command them to withdraw, when we were alone together.

I INTREATED this illuftrious Perfon, to intercede in my Behalf with his Majefty for Leave to depart; which he accordingly did, as he was pleafed to tell me, with Regret : For, indeed he had made me feveral Offers very advantageous; which, how