Gulliver’s Travels

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

Into Several Remote Regions of the World

JONATHAN SWIFT, D.D.

Edited with Introduction and Notes by Thomas M. Balliet Superintendent of Schools, Springfield, Mass.

With Thirty-Eight Illustrations and a Map

PART I

A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT

PART II

A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG

[Illustration: "HE COMMANDED HIS GENERALS TO DRAW UP THE TROOPS." P. 42.]

D.C. Heath & Co., Publishers Boston New York Chicago

1900

PREFACE.

And lo! the book, from all its end beguiled, A harmless wonder to some happy child.

LORD LYTTON.

Gulliver's Travels was published in 1726; and, although it was by no means intended for them, the book was soon appropriated by the children, who have ever since continued to regard it as one of the most delightful of their story books. They cannot comprehend the occasion which provoked the book nor appreciate the satire which underlies the narrative, but they delight in the wonderful adventures, and wander full of open-eyed astonishment into the new worlds through which the vivid and logically accurate imagination of the author so personally conducts them. And there is a meaning and a moral in the stories of the Voyages to Lilliput and Brobdingnag which is entirely apart from the political satire they are intended to convey, a meaning and a moral which the youngest child who can read it will not fail to seize, and upon which it is scarcely necessary for the teacher to comment.

For young children the book combines in a measure the interest of _Robinson Crusoe_ and that of the fairy tale; its style is objective, the narrative is simple, and the matter appeals strongly to the childish imagination. For more mature boys and girls and for adults the interest is found chiefly in the keen satire which underlies the narrative. It appeals, therefore, to a very wide range of intelligence and taste, and can be read with profit by the child of ten and by the young man or woman of mature years.

This edition is practically a reprint of the original (1726-27). The punctuation and capitalization have been modernized, some archaisms changed, and the paragraphs have been made more frequent. A few passages have been omitted which would offend modern ears and are unsuitable for children's reading, and some foot-notes have been added explaining obsolete words and obscure expressions.

As a reading book in school which must be adapted to the average mind, these stories will be found suitable for classes from the fifth or sixth school year to the highest grade of the grammar school.

THOMAS M. BALLIET.

CONTENTS.

VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.

CHAPTER I.

The Author gives some account of himself and family--His first inducements to travel--He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life--Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput--Is made a prisoner, and carried up the country

CHAPTER II.

The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility, comes to see the Author in his confinement--The emperor's person and habits described--Learned men appointed to teach the Author their language--He gains favor by his mild disposition--His pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him

CHAPTER III.

The Author diverts the emperor, and his nobility of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner--The diversions of the court of Lilliput described--The Author has his liberty granted him upon certain conditions

CHAPTER IV.

Mildendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, described, together with the emperor's palace--A conversation between the Author and a principal secretary concerning the affairs of that empire--The Author's offers to serve the emperor in his wars

CHAPTER V.

The Author, by an extraordinary stratagem, prevents an invasion--A high title of honor is conferred upon him--Ambassadors arrive from the emperor of Blefuscu, and sue for peace

CHAPTER VI.

Of the inhabitants of Lilliput; their learning, laws, and customs; the manner of educating their children--The Author's way of living in that country--His vindication of a great lady

CHAPTER VII.

The Author, being informed of a design to accuse him of high treason, makes his escape to Blefuscu--His reception there

CHAPTER VIII.

The Author, by a lucky accident, finds means to leave Blefuscu; and after some difficulties, returns safe to his native country

* * * * *

LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

"He commanded his generals to draw up the troops" Map of Lilliput and Blefuscu "I lay all this while ... in great uneasiness" "Producing his credentials" "These gentlemen made an exact inventory" "Her imperial majesty was pleased to smile very graciously upon me" "And created me a _nardac_ upon the spot" "Three hundred tailors were employed" "The happiness ... of dining with me" "He desired I would hear him with patience" "I set sail ... at six in the morning"

AND TWENTY-THREE SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT.

CONTENTS

A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG.

CHAPTER I.

A great storm described; the long-boat sent to fetch water, the Author goes with it to discover the country--He is left on shore, is seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's house--His reception there, with several accidents that happened there--A description of the inhabitants

CHAPTER II.

A description of the farmer's daughter--The Author carried to a market-town, and then to the metropolis--The particulars of his journey

CHAPTER III.

The Author sent for to court--The queen buys him of his master the farmer, and presents him to the king--He disputes with his majesty's great scholars--An apartment at court provided for the Author--He is in high favor with the queen--He stands up for the honor of his own country--He quarrels with the queen's dwarf

CHAPTER IV.

The country described--A proposal for correcting modern maps--The king's palace, and some account of the metropolis--The Author's way of travelling--The chief temple described

CHAPTER V.

Several adventures that happened to the Author--The execution of a criminal--The Author shows his skill in navigation

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 Europe, which the Author relates to him--The king's observations thereon

CHAPTER VII.

The Author's love of his country--He makes a proposal of much advantage to the king, which is rejected--The king's great ignorance in politics--The learning of that country very imperfect and confined--Their laws, and military affairs, and in the state

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

NOTE