THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He
leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for His name's sake. 5

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy
rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup 10
runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

—The Bible.

DOUBTING CASTLE

By John Bunyan

Now I beheld in my dream that Christian and Hopeful
had not journeyed far until they came where
the river and the way parted, at which they were not a
little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now
the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender 5
by reason of their travel; so the souls of the pilgrims were
much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore, still
as they went on, they wished for a better way.

Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of
the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that 10
meadow is called Bypath Meadow. Then said Christian
to his fellow, "If this meadow lieth along by our wayside,
let us go over into it." Then he went to the stile to see,
and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side
of the fence. 15

"'Tis according to my wish," said Christian; "here is
the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over."

"But how if this path should lead us out of the way?"

"That is not likely," said the other. "Look, doth it
not go along by the wayside?"

So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after
him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were 5
got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet;
and withal they, looking before them, espied a man walking
as they did, and his name was Vain-Confidence: so
they called after him, and asked him whither that way
led. 10

He said, "To the Celestial Gate."

"Look," said Christian, "did not I tell you so? By
this you may see we are right."

So they followed, and he went before them. But,
behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that15
they who were behind lost sight of him that went before.
He, therefore, that went before—Vain-Confidence by
name—not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep
pit and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall; so they 20
called to know the matter. But there was no answer,
only they heard a groan.

Then said Hopeful, "Where are we now?"

Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had
led him out of the way; and now it began to rain and 25
thunder and lightning in a most dreadful manner, and the
water rose amain, by reason of which the way of going
back was very dangerous.

Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark
and the flood so high, that in their going back they had 30
like to have been drowned nine or ten times. Neither
could they, with all the skill they had, get back again to
the stile that night. Wherefore, at last lighting under a
little shelter, they sat down there until daybreak. But
being weary, they fell asleep.

Now there was, not far from the place where they lay,
a castle, called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was 5
Giant Despair; and it was in his grounds they now were
sleeping. Wherefore he, getting up in the morning early,
and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian
and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and
surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence 10
they were and what they did in his grounds.

They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had
lost their way.

Then said the giant, "You have this night trespassed
on me, by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore 15
you must go along with me."

So they were forced to go, because he was stronger
than they. They also had but little to say, for they
knew themselves in a fault. The giant, therefore, drove
them before him and put them into his castle, in a very 20
dark dungeon.

Here, then, they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday
night, without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or
light, or any to ask how they did: they were, therefore,
here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. 25

Now Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence.
So, when he was gone to bed, he told his wife that
he had taken a couple of prisoners, and had cast them into
his dungeon for trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked
her also what he had best do to them. So she asked him 30
what they were, whence they came, and whither they
were bound; and he told her. Then she counseled him
that when he arose in the morning he should beat them
without mercy.

So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous crab-tree
cudgel, and goes into the dungeon to them, and there first5
falls to rating of them as if they were dogs, although they
never gave him an unpleasant word. Then he fell upon
them and beat them fearfully, in such sort that they were
not able to help themselves or to turn them upon the floor.
This done he withdraws and leaves them there to condole 10
their misery and to mourn under their distress. So all
that day they spent their time in nothing but sighs and
bitter lamentations.

The next night she, talking with her husband further
about them, and understanding that they were yet alive, 15
did advise him to counsel them to make away with themselves.

So, when morning was come, he goes to them in a
surly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very
sore with the stripes that he had given them the day before, 20
he told them that, since they were never like to come out
of that place, their only way would be forthwith to make
an end of themselves, either with knife, halter, or poison.
"For why," he said, "should you choose to live, seeing it
is attended with so much bitterness?" 25

But they desired him to let them go. With that he
looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless
made an end of them himself, but that he fell into
one of his fits and lost for a time the use of his hands.
Wherefore he withdrew, and left them, as before, to 30
consider what to do.

Then did the prisoners consult between themselves,
whether it was best to take his counsel or no. But they
soon resolved to reject it; for it would be very wicked to
kill themselves; and, besides, something might soon
happen to enable them to make their escape.

Well, towards evening the giant goes down to the dungeon 5
again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but
when he came there, he found them alive. I say, he found
them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told
them that, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should
be worse with them than if they had never been born. 10

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian
fell into a swoon; but, coming a little to himself again,
they renewed their discourse about the giant's counsel,
and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now Christian
again seemed for doing it, but Hopeful reminded 15
him of the hardships and terrors he had already gone
through, and said that they ought to bear up with patience
as well as they could, and steadily reject the giant's
wicked counsel.

Now, night being come again, and the giant and his 20
wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners,
and if they had taken his counsel. To this he replied,
"They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all
hardships than to make away with themselves."

Then said she, "Take them into the castle yard to-morrow,25
and show them the bones and skulls of those that
thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe thou
wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows
before them."

So when morning has come, the giant goes to them again, 30
and takes them into the castle yard, and shows them as his
wife had bidden him. "These," said he, "were pilgrims,
as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds,
as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in
pieces; and so within ten days I will do to you. Get
you down to your den again."

And with that he beat them all the way thither. 5

Now, when night was come, Mrs. Diffidence and her
husband began to renew their discourse of their prisoners.
The old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows
nor by his counsel bring them to an end.

And with that his wife replied. "I fear," said she, "that10
they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them,
or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of
which they hope to escape."

"And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant. "I
will therefore search them in the morning." 15

Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray,
and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one
half amazed, broke out into a passionate speech: "What
a fool am I, thus to lie in a dungeon! I have a key in 20
my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded,
open any lock in Doubting Castle."

Then said Hopeful, "That's good news, good brother;
pluck it out of thy bosom and try."

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom and began 25
to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the
key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and
Christian and Hopeful both came out.

After that, he went to the iron gate, for that must be
opened too, but that lock went desperately hard: yet the 30
key did open it. Then they thrust open the gate to make
their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made
such a creaking that it waked Giant Despair, who, hastily
rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his
fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after
them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway
again, and so were safe. 5

—Pilgrim's Progress.

CHRISTMAS EVE AT FEZZIWIG'S

By Charles Dickens

Old Fezziwig in his warehouse laid down his pen
and looked up at the clock, which pointed to the
hour of seven. He rubbed his hands; adjusted his waistcoat;
laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ 5
of benevolence; and called out in a comfortable, oily, rich,
fat, jovial voice:

"Yo-ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick!"

Ebenezer came briskly in, followed by his fellow
'prentice. 10

"Yo-ho, my boys!" said Fezziwig. "No more work
to-night. Christmas Eve, Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer!
Let's have the shutters up," cried old Fezziwig, with a
sharp clap of his hands, "before a man can say Jack
Robinson." 15

You wouldn't believe how those two fellows went at it!
They charged into the street with the shutters—one, two,
three—had 'em in their places—four, five, six—barred
'em and pinned 'em—seven, eight, nine—and came back
before you could have got to twelve, panting like race 20
horses.

"Hilli-ho!" cried old Fezziwig, skipping down from his
desk with wonderful agility. "Clear away, my lads, and
let's have lots of room here! Hilli-ho, Dick! Chirrup,
Ebenezer!" 25

Clear away? There was nothing they wouldn't have
cleared away or couldn't have cleared away, with old
Fezziwig looking on. It was done in a minute. Every
movable was packed off, as if it were dismissed from public
life forevermore. The floor was swept and watered, the
lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped upon the fire; and
the warehouse was as snug and warm, and dry and bright, 5
as any ballroom you would desire to see.

In came a fiddler with a music book, and went up to the
lofty desk, and made an orchestra of it. In came Mrs.
Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile. In came the three
Miss Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable. In came the six 10
young followers whose hearts they broke. In came all
the young men and young women employed in the business.
In came the housemaid with her cousin the baker. In
came the cook with her brother's particular friend the milkman
In came the boy from over the way, who was 15
suspected of not having enough to eat from his master. In
they all came, one after another—some shyly, some boldly,
some gracefully, some awkwardly, some pushing, some
pulling. In they all came, anyhow and everyhow.

Away they all went, twenty couples at once; down the 20
middle and up again; round and round in various stages
of affectionate grouping; old top couple always turning up
in the wrong place; new top couple starting off again as
soon as they got there; all top couples at last, and not a
bottom one to help them! 25

When this result was brought about, old Fezziwig,
clapping his hands to stop the dance, cried out, "Well
done!" Then there were more dances, and there were
forfeits, and more dances; and there was cake, and there
was a great piece of cold roast, and there was a great piece 30
of cold boiled, and there were mince pies and other delicacies.
But the great effect of the evening came after
the roast and the boiled, when the fiddler, artful dog, struck
up Sir Roger de Coverley. Then old Mr. Fezziwig stood
out to dance with Mrs. Fezziwig. Top couple, too, with
a good stiff piece of work cut out for them; three or
four and twenty pair of partners; people who were not to 5
be trifled with—people who would dance and had no
notion of walking.

But if they had been twice as many—aye, four times—old
Mr. Fezziwig would have been a match for them and
so would Mrs. Fezziwig. As to her, she was worthy to 10
be his partner in every sense of the term. If that's not
high praise, tell me higher and I'll use it. . . . And when
Mr. Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig had gone all through the
dance—advance and retire, both hands to your partner,
bow and curtsy, thread the needle, and back to your place—Fezziwig 15
"cut" so deftly that he appeared to wink with
his legs, and came upon his feet again without a stagger.

When the clock struck eleven this domestic ball broke up.
Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig took their stations one on either
side of the door, and shaking hands with every person 20
individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a
Merry Christmas. When everybody had retired but the
two apprentices they did the same to them; and thus the
cheerful voices died away and the lads were left to their
beds—which were under a counter in the back shop. 25

—A Christmas Carol.

JEAN VALJEAN MEETS THE BISHOP

By Victor Hugo

"You! Listen! I am Jean Valjean, the galley slave.
I was nineteen years in prison. Four days ago
they let me out and I started for Pontarlier. I have been
tramping for four days since I left Toulon, and to-day I
walked twelve leagues. When I came into the town this 5
evening I went to the inn, but because of my yellow passport
that I had shown at the police office, they drove me
out. Then I went to the other inn and the landlord said
to me, 'Off with you!' Everywhere it was the same;
no one would have anything to do with me. Even the 10
jailer of the prison would not take me in. So I was lying
on a stone in the square, when a good woman came along
and she said to me, pointing to this place, 'Knock there.
They will take you in.' What is this? Is it an inn? I
have money—all that I earned in the prison for nineteen
years—109 francs and 15 sous. I will pay. I am terribly
tired and almost famished. Will you let me stay here?"

"Madame Magloire," said the Bishop to his aged housekeeper,
"you will please lay another place for supper." 5

Jean Valjean shuffled to the table where the lamp stood.
He took a large yellow paper from his pocket and unfolded
it. "Wait," he said, "You don't seem to understand. I
am a galley slave, a convict, just from prison. This is
my yellow passport which makes everyone drive me away. 10
You must read it. I can read it myself; I learned to
read in the prison, where they have a class for those that
want to learn. This is what it says on my yellow paper:
'Jean Valjean, a liberated convict, has been nineteen years
at the galleys. Five years for burglary, fourteen years 15
for having tried four times to escape. A very dangerous
man.' Now, will you turn me away like all the others,
or will you give me food and a bed? Perhaps you have
a stable?"

"Madame Magloire," said the Bishop, "kindly put clean 20
sheets on our extra bed in the alcove."

Madame Magloire left the room at once to carry out
these instructions. The Bishop turned to the ex-convict,
saying, "Draw a chair to the fire, sir, we shall eat presently.
Your bed will be prepared while we are at supper." 25

After bidding good-night to his sister and Madame Magloire,
the Bishop took one of the silver candlesticks and
handing the other to his guest, Jean Valjean, he said, "I
will conduct you to your room, sir. I trust you will have
a good night's rest. To-morrow morning, before you leave,30
you will drink a glass of milk from our cow."

As the cathedral bell struck two, Jean Valjean awoke.
The strange sensation of sleeping in a comfortable bed once
more, after nineteen years of life in the galleys, disturbed
his sleep. His first weariness had worn off after a few
hours of deep sleep. After looking into the darkness 5
about him, he tried to sleep again. When many agitating
sensations have filled a man's day, and still preoccupy his
mind, he may fall asleep once, but he cannot go to sleep a
second time. So sleep had come to Jean Valjean, but would
not return to him, and he lay awake thinking. 10

His mind was filled with troubled ideas, which seemed
to float in a kind of obscurity. His old recollections and
recent experiences became confused, lost their identity,
grew out of proportion, dwindled, then disappeared entirely,
all in a distressing vagueness. But one thought persistently 15
returned, to the exclusion of all the others. It was this:
the six silver forks and spoons and the handsome silver
ladle were in the next room, only a few yards from him. He
had seen Madame Magloire put them into a small cupboard
in the adjoining room, on the right as you came from 20
the dining room. It was fine, old silver—the ladle alone
must be worth at least 200 francs, which was twice as
much as he had earned during his nineteen years in the
galleys.

For one hour his mind was occupied with this absorbing 25
theme—weighing, wavering, even struggling. Suddenly
at the stroke of three, he sat upright, reached out for his
knapsack, which he had thrown into a corner, and found
himself, to his surprise, seated on the edge of the bed. He
sat thus for a while, deep in thought; then stooped, took30
off his shoes; then once more resumed his thoughts, sitting
motionless. During this period, he again had the sensation
of all his old and new experiences crossing and recrossing
each other in his mind and weighing upon him. He was
thinking of an old companion of the galleys, recalling his
queer mannerisms, when the clock struck the quarter or
half hour, seeming to call to him "To work!" 5

He stood up and listened. The house was absolutely
silent. He tiptoed to the window and looked out. The
wind was driving heavy clouds across a full moon, producing
alternate light and darkness, within and without. Jean
Valjean examined the window; it was closed by a small peg, 10
had no bars, and looked upon the little garden. He opened
it, but closed it again promptly upon the sharp cold wind
that entered. A study of the garden showed it to be inclosed
by a low whitewashed wall, and a view of treetops
at regular intervals beyond indicated a public walk. 15

This study being completed, Jean Valjean returned to
the alcove, drew from his knapsack an iron bar which he
placed on the bed, put his shoes in a compartment of his
knapsack, which he then lifted to his shoulders, drew his
cap down over his eyes, took his stick from the corner, and 20
finally returning to the bed, took up the article which he
had laid there.

At sunrise the following morning, the Bishop was walking
as usual in his little garden, when Madame Magloire
came hurrying toward him in the greatest excitement. 25

"Monseigneur," she exclaimed, "all our table silver is
stolen and the man is gone."

Just then, glancing at the corner of the garden, she saw
that the coping of the wall had been broken away.

"Look at the wall! He must have climbed over into the 30
lane! And all our silver stolen! What a crime!"

After a moment's silence, the Bishop said earnestly to
Madame Magloire,

"As a matter of fact, was the silver really ours?"

The old housekeeper stood speechless. The Bishop
continued, 5

"It was wrong of me to keep that silver; it belonged
rightfully to the poor. And that man was a poor man,
surely."

"Oh, Monseigneur!" murmured Madame Magloire,
"neither Mademoiselle your sister, nor I, care about the 10
silver. It was only for you. What will Monseigneur eat
with now?"

"Are not pewter forks and spoons to be had?" said the
Bishop.

"Pewter smells," said Madame Magloire. 15

"Then iron?" continued the Bishop.

"Iron has a bad taste," and Madame Magloire grimaced
expressively.

"That still leaves wood," exclaimed the Bishop triumphantly.
Later, at breakfast, the Bishop jokingly commented 20
to his silent sister and grumbling housekeeper, that
for a breakfast of bread and milk even a wooden fork was
unnecessary.

"Just think of it," muttered Madame Magloire as she
trotted back and forth between the dining room and kitchen, 25
"to take in a convict like that, and let him eat and sleep
with decent people. It's lucky that he didn't do worse
than steal. It terrifies one just to think of what might have
happened."

At the moment that the Bishop and his sister were 30
leaving the table, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," said the Bishop.

The door opened, and there appeared three gendarmes
holding a man by the collar. The man was Jean Valjean.
The leader of the party, a corporal, saluted the Bishop.

"Monseigneur," he began.

Jean Valjean looked up, dazed. 5

"Monseigneur!" he muttered, "then this is not an inn.
He is not just a priest!"

"Silence," commanded the corporal. "This is Monseigneur
the Bishop."

The aged Bishop was making his way to Jean Valjean as 10
rapidly as he could.

"Ah, here you are again," he said, "I am glad to see
you. You know I gave you the candlesticks, too. Why
did you not take them? They are worth at least 200
francs. You should have taken them along with the plate 15
silver."

Words cannot describe the expression in the eyes of Jean
Valjean as he gazed at the Bishop.

"Then, Monseigneur, what this man says is true?" asked
the corporal. "He looked as if he was escaping from somewhere, 20
so we arrested him. And then we found this silver
plate upon him."

"And then," interrupted the Bishop, "he explained, of
course, that an old priest at whose house he stayed last
night gave him the plate? I see. And you brought him 25
back. You were wrong."

"Then we are to let him go?" asked the corporal.

"Certainly," replied the Bishop.

Jean Valjean was released. He staggered back.

"Is it true that I am free?" he murmured weakly. 30

"Yes, of course. And my friend," the Bishop continued,
"take the candlesticks with you this time."

Going to the mantelpiece, he took down the two candlesticks
and brought them to Jean Valjean. The two
women watched, speechless, but made no sign of dissent.
Jean Valjean was trembling; he took the candlesticks
mechanically, as if in a dream. 5

"Depart in peace," said the Bishop, "and, by the way,
when you come again, enter by the front door; it is only
latched."

Turning to the gendarmes, he said, "Gentlemen, it is
unnecessary for you to remain." 10

The gendarmes retired.

Jean Valjean seemed unable to recover his senses; he
felt himself about to faint, when the Bishop approached
and said to him, in a very low voice,

"Remember always, my friend, that I have your promise 15
to use this money to become an honest man."

Jean Valjean, unconscious of having made a promise of
any kind, remained silent.

With great solemnity, the Bishop continued, in a low
but firm voice: 20

"Jean Valjean, henceforth you belong only to good.
Your soul I have bought and herewith I banish from it all
black thoughts and the spirit of Evil, and give it to Good."

—Les Misérables.

A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT

By Jonathan Swift

We set sail from Bristol May 4th, 1699, and our voyage
at first was very prosperous. It would not be
proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with the
particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to
inform him that in our passage from thence to the East 5
Indies we were driven by a violent storm to the northwest
of Van Diemen's Land. By an observation we found ourselves
in the latitude of thirty degrees, two minutes, south.
Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labor and ill
food, and the rest were in a very weak condition. 10

On the fifth of November, which was the beginning of
summer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the
seamen spied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship;
but the wind was so strong that we were driven directly
upon it and immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom 15
I was one, having let down the boat into the sea, made a
shift to get clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed, by
my computation, about three leagues, till we were able to
work no longer, being already spent with labor while we
were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the
mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat
was overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What
became of my companions in the boat, as well as those
who escaped on the rock or were left in the vessel, I cannot 5
tell; but conclude they were all lost.

For my own part I swam as fortune directed me, and was
pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs
drop, and could feel no bottom; but when I was almost
gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found myself within 10
my depth, and by this time the storm was much abated.
The declivity was so small that I walked near a mile before
I got to the shore, which I reached, as I conjectured, at about
eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward near
half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or15
inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition that I
did not observe them. I was extremely tired, and with
that, and the heat of the weather, and about half a pint
of brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself
much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was 20
very short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I
remember to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned, above
nine hours; for when I awaked it was just daylight. I
attempted to rise, but was not able to stir; for as I happened
to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly25
fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which
was long and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise
felt several slender ligatures across my body, from my
armpits to my thighs. I could only look upwards, the
sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. 30
I heard a confused noise about me, but in the posture in
which I lay, I could see nothing except the sky.

In a little time I felt something alive moving on my
left leg, which advancing gently forward over my breast,
came almost up to my chin, when bending mine eyes downward
as much as I could I perceived it to be a human creature
not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his 5
hands, and a quiver at his back. In the meantime I
felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured)
following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and
roared so loud that they all ran back in a fright; and some
of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls 10
they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. However
they soon returned, and one of them, who ventured
so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands
and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but
distinct voice, "Hekinah degul"; and others repeated the 15
same words several times, but I then knew not what they
meant. I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in
great uneasiness.

At length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to
break the strings and wrench out the pegs that fastened 20
my left arm to the ground; for, by lifting it up to my face,
I discovered the methods they had taken to bind me; and,
at the same time, with a violent pull which gave me
excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down
my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn my 25
head about two inches; but the creatures ran off a second
time, before I could seize them, whereupon there was a
great shout in a very shrill accent, and after it ceased I
heard one of them cry aloud, "Tolgo phonac," when in an
instant I felt above a hundred arrows discharged on my 30
left hand, which pricked me like so many needles; and,
besides, they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs
in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body
(though I felt them not) and some on my face, which I
immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower
was over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then
striving again to get loose, they discharged another volley 5
larger than the first, and some of them attempted with
spears to stick me in the sides; but, by good luck, I had
on me a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce.

I thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and
my design was to continue so till night, when my left hand 10
being already loose I could easily free myself. And as for
the inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match
for the greatest armies they could bring against me, if
they were all of the same size with him that I saw. But
fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people 15
observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows;
but by the noise I heard I knew their numbers increased;
and about four yards from me, over against my right ear,
I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at
work; when, turning my head that way as well as the pegs 20
and strings would permit me, I saw a stage erected about a
foot and a half from the ground, capable of holding four
of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it,
from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of
quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood not 25
one syllable. But I should have mentioned that before
the principal person began his oration he cried out three
times, "Langro dehlsan" (these words and the former were
afterwards repeated and explained to me), whereupon immediately
about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the 30
strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave
me the liberty of turning it to the right and of observing
the person and gesture of him that was to speak. He
appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of
the other three who attended him, whereof one was a
page that held up his train, and seemed to be somewhat
longer than my middle finger; the other two stood one 5
on each side to support him. He acted every part of an
orator, and I could observe many periods of threatenings,
and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I answered
in a few words, but in the most submissive manner, lifting
up my left hand and both mine eyes to the sun, as 10
calling him for a witness: and being almost famished
with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hours before
I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so
strong upon me that I could not forbear showing my
impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of decency) 15
by putting my finger frequently on my mouth, to signify
that I wanted food. The hurgo (for so they call a
great lord, as I afterwards learned) understood me very
well.

He descended from the stage, and commanded that 20
several ladders should be applied to my side on which above
a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked toward
my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had been
provided and sent thither by the king's orders upon the
first intelligence he received of me. I observed there was 25
the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish
them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins,
shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but
smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or
three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time about 30
the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast
as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and
astonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made another
sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating
that a small quantity would not suffice me, and, being a most
ingenious people, they flung up with great dexterity one of
their largest hogsheads; then rolled it toward my hand, 5
and beat out the top; I drank it off at a draft, which I
might well do, for it did not hold half a pint and tasted
like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious.
They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the
same manner and made signs for more, but they had none 10
to give me. When I had performed these wonders they
shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating
several times, as they did at first, "Hekinah degul."
They made me a sign that I should throw down the two
hogsheads, but first warning the people below to stand out 15
of the way, crying aloud, "Borach mivola"; and when they
saw the vessels in the air, there was an universal shout of
"Hekinah degul." I confess I was often tempted, while
they were passing backward and forward on my body, to
seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and 20
dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of
what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst
they could do, and the promise of honor I made them, for
so I interpreted my submissive behavior, soon drove out
these imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as 25
bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated
me with so much expense and magnificence. However,
in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity
of these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to
mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was 30
at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious
a creature as I must appear to them.

After some time, when they observed that I made no more
demand for meat, there appeared before me a person of
high rank from His Imperial Majesty. His Excellency having
mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced forward,
up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue, and 5
producing his credentials under the signet royal, which he
applied close to mine eyes, spoke about ten minutes,
without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate
resolution, often pointing forward, which, as I afterward
found, was toward the capital city, about half a mile distant, 10
whither it was agreed by His Majesty in council that
I must be conveyed. I answered in a few words, but to
no purpose, and made a sign with my hand that was loose,
putting it to the other (but over His Excellency's head
for fear of hurting him or his train) and then to my own head 15
and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It appeared
that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head by
way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show
that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made
other signs to let me understand that I should have meat and 20
drink enough, and very good treatment: whereupon I
once more thought of attempting to break my bonds, but
again, when I felt the smart of their arrows upon my face
and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts
still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the 25
number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them
know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon
this the hurgo and his train withdrew with much civility
and cheerful countenances.

Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetition 30
of the words "Peplom selan," and I felt great
numbers of the people on my left side relaxing the cords to
such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right. But
before this they had daubed my face and both my hands
with a sort of ointment very pleasant to the smell, which in
a few minutes removed all the smart of their arrows.
These circumstances, added to the refreshment I had 5
received by their victuals and drink, which were very
nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours
as I was afterward assured; and it was no wonder, for the
physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleeping
potion in the hogsheads of wine. 10

It seems that upon the first moment I was discovered
sleeping on the ground after my landing, the emperor
had early notice of it by an express, and determined in
council that I should be tied in the manner I have related
(which was done in the night while I slept), that plenty of 15
meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine
prepared to carry me to the capital city.

This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and
dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by
any prince in Europe on the like occasion; however, in 20
my opinion it was extremely prudent as well as generous.
For supposing these people had endeavored to kill me with
their spears and arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly
have awaked with the first sense of smart, which
might so far have roused my rage and strength as to have 25
enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied;
after which, as they were not able to make resistance,
so they could expect no mercy.

These people are most excellent mathematicians, and
arrived to a great perfection in mechanics by the countenance 30
and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned
patron of learning. This prince hath several
machines fixed on wheels for the carriage of trees and other
great weights. He often builds his largest men of war,
whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods where the
timber grows, and has them carried on these engines three
or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters 5
and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the
greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised
three inches from the ground, about seven feet long and
four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout
I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which it seems 10
set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought
parallel to me as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to
raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of
one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong
cords of the bigness of packthread were fastened by hooks15
to many bandages, which the workmen had girt round my
neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of
the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords
by many pulleys fastened on the poles, and thus in less
than three hours, I was raised and flung into the engine,20
and there tied fast. All this I was told, for while the whole
operation was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by
the force of that soporiferous medicine infused into my
liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest horses,
each about four inches and a half high, were employed to 25
draw me toward the metropolis, which, as I said, was
half a mile distant.

About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked
by a very ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped
a while to adjust something that was out of order, two or30
three of the young natives had the curiosity to see how I
looked when I was asleep; they climbed up into the engine,
and advancing very softly to my face, one of them, an
officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike
a good way into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like
a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they
stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew 5
the cause of my awaking so suddenly. We made a long
march the remaining part of that day, and rested that
night with five hundred guards on each side of me, half
with torches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to
shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning at 10
sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within two
hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor
and all his court came out to meet us, but his great
officers would by no means suffer His Majesty to endanger
his person by mounting on my body. 15

At the place where the carriage stopped, there stood an
ancient temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole
kingdom, which having been polluted some years before by
an unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal of those
people, looked on as profane, and therefore had been applied 20
to common use, and all the ornaments and furniture carried
away. In this edifice it was determined I should lodge.
The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet
high, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily
creep. On each side of the gate was a small window, not 25
above six inches from the ground; into that on the left side
the king's smiths conveyed fourscore and eleven chains,
like those that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost
as large, which were locked to my left leg with six and
thirty padlocks. Over against this temple, on the other side 30
of the great highway, at twenty foot distance, there was a
turret at least five foot high. Here the emperor ascended
with at least twenty lords of his court, to have an opportunity
of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see
them. It was reckoned that above an hundred thousand
inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand;
and in spite of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer 5
than ten thousand, at several times, who mounted upon my
body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was soon
issued to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen
found that it was impossible for me to break loose, they
cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up 10
with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life.
But the noise and astonishment of the people at seeing me
rise and walk are not to be expressed. The chains that
held my left leg were about two yards long, and gave me
not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in15
a semicircle, but being fixed within four inches of the gate,
allowed me to creep in, and lie at full length in the temple.

—Gulliver's Travels.