The author, being informed of a design to accuse him of high-treason, makes his escape to Blefuscu. His reception there.
Before I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue1 which had been for two months forming against me.
I had been hitherto, all my life, a stranger to courts, for which I was unqualified by the meanness of my condition. I had indeed heard and read enough of the dispositions3 of great princes and ministers, but never expected to have found such terrible effects of them, in so remote a country, governed, as I thought, by very different maxims4 from those in Europe.
When I was just preparing to pay my attendance on the emperor of Blefuscu, a considerable person at court (to whom I had been very serviceable, at a time when he lay under the highest displeasure of his imperial majesty5) came to my house very privately6 at night, in a close chair, and, without sending his name, desired admittance. The chairmen were dismissed; I put the chair, with his lordship in it, into my coat-pocket: and, giving orders to a trusty servant, to say I was indisposed and gone to sleep, I fastened the door of my house, placed the chair on the table, according to my usual custom, and sat down by it. After the common salutations were over, observing his lordship’s countenance7 full of concern, and inquiring into the reason, he desired “I would hear him with patience, in a matter that highly concerned my honour and my life.” His speech was to the following effect, for I took notes of it as soon as he left me:—
“You are to know,” said he, “that several committees of council have been lately called, in the most private manner, on your account; and it is but two days since his majesty came to a full resolution.
“You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam” (galbet, or high-admiral) “has been your mortal enemy, almost ever since your arrival. His original reasons I know not; but his hatred8 is increased since your great success against Blefuscu, by which his glory as admiral is much obscured. This lord, in conjunction with Flimnap the high-treasurer9, whose enmity against you is notorious on account of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain, and Balmuff the grand justiciary, have prepared articles of impeachment10 against you, for treason and other capital crimes.”
This preface made me so impatient, being conscious of my own merits and innocence11, that I was going to interrupt him; when he entreated12 me to be silent, and thus proceeded:—
“Out of gratitude13 for the favours you have done me, I procured14 information of the whole proceedings15, and a copy of the articles; wherein I venture my head for your service.
“’Articles of Impeachment against QUINBUS FLESTRIN, (the Man-Mountain.)
ARTICLE I.
“’Whereas, by a statute16 made in the reign17 of his imperial majesty Calin Deffar Plune, it is enacted18, that, whoever shall make water within the precincts of the royal palace, shall be liable to the pains and penalties of high-treason; notwithstanding, the said Quinbus Flestrin, in open breach20 of the said law, under colour of extinguishing the fire kindled21 in the apartment of his majesty’s most dear imperial consort22, did maliciously23, traitorously24, and devilishly, by discharge of his urine, put out the said fire kindled in the said apartment, lying and being within the precincts of the said royal palace, against the statute in that case provided, etc. against the duty, etc.
ARTICLE II.
“’That the said Quinbus Flestrin, having brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into the royal port, and being afterwards commanded by his imperial majesty to seize all the other ships of the said empire of Blefuscu, and reduce that empire to a province, to be governed by a viceroy from hence, and to destroy and put to death, not only all the Big-endian exiles, but likewise all the people of that empire who would not immediately forsake26 the Big-endian heresy27, he, the said Flestrin, like a false traitor25 against his most auspicious28, serene29, imperial majesty, did petition to be excused from the said service, upon pretence30 of unwillingness31 to force the consciences, or destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent people.
ARTICLE III.
“’That, whereas certain ambassadors arrived from the Court of Blefuscu, to sue for peace in his majesty’s court, he, the said Flestrin, did, like a false traitor, aid, abet32, comfort, and divert, the said ambassadors, although he knew them to be servants to a prince who was lately an open enemy to his imperial majesty, and in an open war against his said majesty.
ARTICLE IV.
“’That the said Quinbus Flestrin, contrary to the duty of a faithful subject, is now preparing to make a voyage to the court and empire of Blefuscu, for which he has received only verbal license33 from his imperial majesty; and, under colour of the said license, does falsely and traitorously intend to take the said voyage, and thereby34 to aid, comfort, and abet the emperor of Blefuscu, so lately an enemy, and in open war with his imperial majesty aforesaid.’
“There are some other articles; but these are the most important, of which I have read you an abstract.
“In the several debates upon this impeachment, it must be confessed that his majesty gave many marks of his great lenity; often urging the services you had done him, and endeavouring to extenuate35 your crimes. The treasurer and admiral insisted that you should be put to the most painful and ignominious36 death, by setting fire to your house at night, and the general was to attend with twenty thousand men, armed with poisoned arrows, to shoot you on the face and hands. Some of your servants were to have private orders to strew37 a poisonous juice on your shirts and sheets, which would soon make you tear your own flesh, and die in the utmost torture. The general came into the same opinion; so that for a long time there was a majority against you; but his majesty resolving, if possible, to spare your life, at last brought off the chamberlain.
“Upon this incident, Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, who always approved himself your true friend, was commanded by the emperor to deliver his opinion, which he accordingly did; and therein justified38 the good thoughts you have of him. He allowed your crimes to be great, but that still there was room for mercy, the most commendable39 virtue40 in a prince, and for which his majesty was so justly celebrated41. He said, the friendship between you and him was so well known to the world, that perhaps the most honourable42 board might think him partial; however, in obedience43 to the command he had received, he would freely offer his sentiments. That if his majesty, in consideration of your services, and pursuant to his own merciful disposition2, would please to spare your life, and only give orders to put out both your eyes, he humbly44 conceived, that by this expedient45 justice might in some measure be satisfied, and all the world would applaud the lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceedings of those who have the honour to be his counsellors. That the loss of your eyes would be no impediment to your bodily strength, by which you might still be useful to his majesty; that blindness is an addition to courage, by concealing46 dangers from us; that the fear you had for your eyes, was the greatest difficulty in bringing over the enemy’s fleet, and it would be sufficient for you to see by the eyes of the ministers, since the greatest princes do no more.
“This proposal was received with the utmost disapprobation by the whole board. Bolgolam, the admiral, could not preserve his temper, but, rising up in fury, said, he wondered how the secretary durst presume to give his opinion for preserving the life of a traitor; that the services you had performed were, by all true reasons of state, the great aggravation47 of your crimes; that you, who were able to extinguish the fire by discharge of urine in her majesty’s apartment (which he mentioned with horror), might, at another time, raise an inundation48 by the same means, to drown the whole palace; and the same strength which enabled you to bring over the enemy’s fleet, might serve, upon the first discontent, to carry it back; that he had good reasons to think you were a Big-endian in your heart; and, as treason begins in the heart, before it appears in overt-acts, so he accused you as a traitor on that account, and therefore insisted you should be put to death.
“The treasurer was of the same opinion: he showed to what straits his majesty’s revenue was reduced, by the charge of maintaining you, which would soon grow insupportable; that the secretary’s expedient of putting out your eyes, was so far from being a remedy against this evil, that it would probably increase it, as is manifest from the common practice of blinding some kind of fowls49, after which they fed the faster, and grew sooner fat; that his sacred majesty and the council, who are your judges, were, in their own consciences, fully50 convinced of your guilt51, which was a sufficient argument to condemn52 you to death, without the formal proofs required by the strict letter of the law.
“But his imperial majesty, fully determined53 against capital punishment, was graciously pleased to say, that since the council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a censure54, some other way may be inflicted55 hereafter. And your friend the secretary, humbly desiring to be heard again, in answer to what the treasurer had objected, concerning the great charge his majesty was at in maintaining you, said, that his excellency, who had the sole disposal of the emperor’s revenue, might easily provide against that evil, by gradually lessening56 your establishment; by which, for want of sufficient for you would grow weak and faint, and lose your appetite, and consequently, decay, and consume in a few months; neither would the stench of your carcass be then so dangerous, when it should become more than half diminished; and immediately upon your death five or six thousand of his majesty’s subjects might, in two or three days, cut your flesh from your bones, take it away by cart-loads, and bury it in distant parts, to prevent infection, leaving the skeleton as a monument of admiration57 to posterity58.
“Thus, by the great friendship of the secretary, the whole affair was compromised. It was strictly59 enjoined60, that the project of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret; but the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the books; none dissenting61, except Bolgolam the admiral, who, being a creature of the empress, was perpetually instigated62 by her majesty to insist upon your death, she having borne perpetual malice63 against you, on account of that infamous64 and illegal method you took to extinguish the fire in her apartment.
“In three days your friend the secretary will be directed to come to your house, and read before you the articles of impeachment; and then to signify the great lenity and favour of his majesty and council, whereby you are only condemned65 to the loss of your eyes, which his majesty does not question you will gratefully and humbly submit to; and twenty of his majesty’s surgeons will attend, in order to see the operation well performed, by discharging very sharp-pointed arrows into the balls of your eyes, as you lie on the ground.
“I leave to your prudence66 what measures you will take; and to avoid suspicion, I must immediately return in as private a manner as I came.”
His lordship did so; and I remained alone, under many doubts and perplexities of mind.
It was a custom introduced by this prince and his ministry67 (very different, as I have been assured, from the practice of former times,) that after the court had decreed any cruel execution, either to gratify the monarch68’s resentment69, or the malice of a favourite, the emperor always made a speech to his whole council, expressing his great lenity and tenderness, as qualities known and confessed by all the world. This speech was immediately published throughout the kingdom; nor did any thing terrify the people so much as those encomiums on his majesty’s mercy; because it was observed, that the more these praises were enlarged and insisted on, the more inhuman70 was the punishment, and the sufferer more innocent. Yet, as to myself, I must confess, having never been designed for a courtier, either by my birth or education, I was so ill a judge of things, that I could not discover the lenity and favour of this sentence, but conceived it (perhaps erroneously) rather to be rigorous than gentle. I sometimes thought of standing19 my trial, for, although I could not deny the facts alleged71 in the several articles, yet I hoped they would admit of some extenuation72. But having in my life perused73 many state-trials, which I ever observed to terminate as the judges thought fit to direct, I durst not rely on so dangerous a decision, in so critical a juncture74, and against such powerful enemies. Once I was strongly bent75 upon resistance, for, while I had liberty the whole strength of that empire could hardly subdue76 me, and I might easily with stones pelt77 the metropolis78 to pieces; but I soon rejected that project with horror, by remembering the oath I had made to the emperor, the favours I received from him, and the high title of nardac he conferred upon me. Neither had I so soon learned the gratitude of courtiers, to persuade myself, that his majesty’s present seventies acquitted79 me of all past obligations.
At last, I fixed80 upon a resolution, for which it is probable I may incur81 some censure, and not unjustly; for I confess I owe the preserving of mine eyes, and consequently my liberty, to my own great rashness and want of experience; because, if I had then known the nature of princes and ministers, which I have since observed in many other courts, and their methods of treating criminals less obnoxious82 than myself, I should, with great alacrity83 and readiness, have submitted to so easy a punishment. But hurried on by the precipitancy of youth, and having his imperial majesty’s license to pay my attendance upon the emperor of Blefuscu, I took this opportunity, before the three days were elapsed, to send a letter to my friend the secretary, signifying my resolution of setting out that morning for Blefuscu, pursuant to the leave I had got; and, without waiting for an answer, I went to that side of the island where our fleet lay. I seized a large man of war, tied a cable to the prow84, and, lifting up the anchors, I stripped myself, put my clothes (together with my coverlet, which I carried under my arm) into the vessel85, and, drawing it after me, between wading86 and swimming arrived at the royal port of Blefuscu, where the people had long expected me: they lent me two guides to direct me to the capital city, which is of the same name. I held them in my hands, till I came within two hundred yards of the gate, and desired them “to signify my arrival to one of the secretaries, and let him know, I there waited his majesty’s command.” I had an answer in about an hour, “that his majesty, attended by the royal family, and great officers of the court, was coming out to receive me.” I advanced a hundred yards. The emperor and his train alighted from their horses, the empress and ladies from their coaches, and I did not perceive they were in any fright or concern. I lay on the ground to kiss his majesty’s and the empress’s hands. I told his majesty, “that I was come according to my promise, and with the license of the emperor my master, to have the honour of seeing so mighty87 a monarch, and to offer him any service in my power, consistent with my duty to my own prince;” not mentioning a word of my disgrace, because I had hitherto no regular information of it, and might suppose myself wholly ignorant of any such design; neither could I reasonably conceive that the emperor would discover the secret, while I was out of his power; wherein, however, it soon appeared I was deceived.
I shall not trouble the reader with the particular account of my reception at this court, which was suitable to the generosity88 of so great a prince; nor of the difficulties I was in for want of a house and bed, being forced to lie on the ground, wrapped up in my coverlet.
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1
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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impeachment
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| n.弹劾；控告；怀疑 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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traitorously
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| 叛逆地，不忠地 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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extenuate
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| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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strew
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| vt.撒；使散落；撒在…上，散布于 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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46
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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50
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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51
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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52
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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59
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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60
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dissenting
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| adj.不同意的 | |
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instigated
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| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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71
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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72
extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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74
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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75
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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76
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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77
pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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78
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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79
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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80
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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81
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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82
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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83
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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84
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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85
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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86
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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87
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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88
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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