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,[1]
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.
RICHARD SYMPSON.
TRAVELS.
PART I.
_A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT_.
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