CHA P. VIII.

The author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave Blefufcu; and, after fome difficulties, returns fafe to his native country.

TH

HREE days after my arrival, walking out of curiofity to the north-east coast of the island, I obferved about half a league off, in the fea, fomewhat that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my fhoes and stockings, and, wading two or three hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer by force of the tide; and then plainly faw it to be a real boat, which I fuppofed might by fome tempeft have been driven from a ship: whereupon I returned immediately towards the city, and defired his imperial majefty to lend me twenty of the tallest veffels he had left after the lofs of his fleet, and three thousand feamen, under the command of his vice-admiral. This fleet failed round, while I went back the fhortest way to the coaft, where I first difcovered the boat; I found the tide had driven it ftill nearer. The feamen were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand twifted to a fufficient ftrength. When the ships came

up, I ftript myself, and waded till I came within an hundred yards of the boat, after which I was forced to fwim till I got up to it. The feamen threw me the end of the cord, which

I fastened

I fastened to a hole in the fore-part of the boat, and the other end to a man of war: but I found all my labour to little purpose; for, being out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this neceffity, I was forced to swim behind, and push the boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my hands; and the tide favouring me I advanced fo far, that I could just hold up my chin and feel the ground. I refted two or three minutes, and then gave the boat another fhove, and fo on till the fea was no higher than my arm-pits; and now, the most laborious part being over, I took out my other cables, which were ftowed in one of the hips, and fastened them firft to the boat, and then to nine of the veffels which attended me; the wind being favourable, the feamen towed, and I fhoved till we arrived within forty yards of the fhore, and, waiting till the tide was out, I get dry to the boat, and by the affiftance of two thousand men, with ropes and engines, I made a fhift to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

I fhall not trouble the reader with the difficulties I was under by the help of certain paddles, which coft me ten days making, to get my boat to the royal port of Blefufcu, where a mighty concourfe of people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder at the fight of fo prodigious a veffel. I told the emperor, that my good fortune had thrown this boat in G 4

my

my way to carry me to fome place, from whence I might return into my native country, and begged his majesty's orders for getting materials to fit it up, together with his licence to depart, which, after fome kind expoftulations, he was pleased to grant.

I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have heard of any express relating to me from our emperor to the court of Blefufcu. But I was afterwards given privately to underftand, that his imperial majefty, never imagining I had the leaft notice of his defigns, believed I was only gone to Blefufcu in performance of my promife, according to the licence he had given me, which was well known at our court, and would return in a few days when the ceremony was ended. But he was at laft in pain at my long abfence; and, after confulting with the treasurer and the reft of that cabal, a person of quality was dispatched with the copy of the articles against me. This envoy had inftructions to reprefent to the monarch of Blefufcu the great lenity of his mafter, who was content to punish me no farther than with the lofs of mine eyes; that I had fled from juftice, and, if I did not return in two hours, I fhould be deprived of my title of nardac, and declared a traitor. The envoy further added, that, in order to maintain the peace and amity between both empires, his mafter expected, that his brother of Blefufcu would give orders to have me fent back to Lil

liput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a

traitor.

The emperor of Blefufcu, having taken three days to confult, returned an answer confifting of many civilities and excufes. He faid, that, as for fending me bound, his brother knew it was impoffible; that although I had deprived him of his fleet, yet he owed great obligations to me for many good offices I had done him in making the peace. That however both their majefties would foon be made easy; for I had found a prodigious veffel on the shore, able to carry me on the fea, which he had given order to fit up with my own affistance and direction; and he hoped in a few weeks both empires would be freed from fo infupportable an incumbrance.

With this answer the envoy returned to Lilliput, and the monarch of Blefufcu related to me all that had paft; offering me at the same time (but under the strictest confidence) his gracious protection, if I would continue in his fervice; wherein although I believed him fincere, yet I refolved never more to put any confidence in princes or minifters, where I could poffibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due acknowledgments for his favourable intentions, I humbly begged to be excufed. I told him, that fince fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a veffel in my way, I was refolved to venture myself in the ocean, rather than be an occafion of difference between two such mighty monarchs. Neither did I find the emperor

at

at all displeased; and I difcovered by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my refolution, and fo were moft of his minifters.

A

These confiderations moved me to haften my departure fomewhat fooner than I intended; to which the court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed. Five hundred workmen were imployed to make two fails to my boat, according to my directions, by quilting thirteen fold of their strongest linnen together. I was at the pains of making ropes and cables by twisting ten, twenty, or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs. great ftone that I happened to find, after a long fearch by the fea-fhore, ferved me for an anchor. I had the tallow of three hundred cows for greafing my boat, and other uses. I was at incredible pains in cutting down fome of the largest timber-trees for oars and mafts, wherein I was however much affifted by his majefty's fhip-carpenters, who helped me in fmoothing them after I had done the rough work.

In about a month, when all was prepared, I fent to receive his majefty's commands, and to take my leave. The emperor and royal family came out of the palace; I lay down on my face to kiss his hand, which he very graciously gave me; fo did the emprefs, and young princes of the blood. His majesty prefented me with fifty purfes of two hundred Sprugs a piece, together with his picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of