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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Author, being informed of a design to accuse him of high treason, makes his escape to Blefuscu--His reception there
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.
A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG.
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
A description of the farmer's daughter--The Author carried to a market-town, and then to the metropolis--The particulars of his journey
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
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
Several adventures that happened to the Author--The execution of a criminal--The Author shows his skill in navigation
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
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
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
LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
"They concluded I was only Relplum Sealcath"
Map of Brobdingnag
"A huge creature walking ... on the sea"
"Whereupon the huge creature trod short"
"I drew my hanger to defend myself"
"I called her my Glumdalclitch"
"Flourished after the manner of fencers in England"
"This gracious princess held out her little finger"
"She carried me to the king"
"I could only revenge myself by calling him brother"
"The smaller birds did not appear to be at all afraid of me"
"Gave me a gale with their fans"
"The most violent exercise I ever underwent"
"You have made an admirable panegyric"
"She had some foreboding"
"Somebody calling in the English tongue"
"My daughter kneeled, but I could not see her"
AND TWELVE SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT.
THE FIRST PUBLISHER TO THE READER.
The author of these travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewise some relation between us on the mother's side. About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver, growing weary of the concourse of curious people coming to him at his house in Redriff, made a small purchase of land, with a convenient house, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire, his native county, where he now lives retired, yet in good esteem among his neighbors.
Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yet I have heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I have observed in the churchyard at Banbury, in that county, several tombs and monuments of the Gullivers. Before he quitted Redriff he left the custody of the following papers in my hands, with the liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I have carefully perused them three times. The style is very plain and simple, and the only fault I find is, that the author, after the manner of travellers, is a little too circumstantial. There is an air of truth apparent through the whole; and, indeed, the author was so distinguished for his veracity, that it became a sort of proverb among his neighbors at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to say it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken it.
By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom, with the author's permission, I communicated these papers, I now venture to send them into the world, hoping they may be, at least for some time, a better entertainment than the common scribbles about politics and party.
This volume would have been at least twice as large if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages; together with the minute description of the management of the ship in the storms, in the style of sailors; likewise the account of longitudes and latitudes; wherein I have reason to apprehend that Mr. Gulliver may be a little dissatisfied; but I was resolved to fit the work as much as possible to the general capacity of readers. However, if my own ignorance in sea affairs shall have led me to commit some mistakes, I alone am answerable for them, and if any traveller hath a curiosity to see the whole work at large, as it came from the hand of the author, I will be ready to gratify him.
As for any farther particulars relating to the author, the reader will receive satisfaction from the first pages of the book.
