Andrew Lang_Fairy Book 01 (44 page)

I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to
the Emperor, and to let him know that I was ready, at
the risk of my life, to defend him against all invaders.

It was not long before I communicated to his Majesty
the plan I formed for seizing the enemy's whole fleet.
The Empire of Blefuscu is an island parted from Lilliput
only by a channel eight hundred yards wide. I consulted
the most experienced seamen on the depth of the channel,
and they told me that in the middle, at high water, it was
seventy glumguffs (about six feet of European measure).
I walked toward the coast, where, lying down behind a
hillock, I took out my spy-glass, and viewed the enemy's
fleet at anchor—about fifty men-of-war, and other vessels.
I then came back to my house and gave orders for a great
quantity of the strongest cables and bars of iron. The
cable was about as thick as packthread, and the bars of
the length and size of a knitting-needle. I trebled the
cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason twisted
three of the iron bars together, bending the ends into a
hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables,
I went back to the coast, and taking off my coat, shoes,
and stockings, walked into the sea in my leather jacket
about half an hour before high water. I waded with what
haste I could, swimming in the middle about thirty yards,
till I felt ground, and thus arrived at the fleet in less than
half an hour. The enemy was so frightened when they
saw me that they leaped out of their ships and swam
ashore, where there could not be fewer than thirty
thousand. Then, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of
each ship, I tied all the cords together at the end.
Meanwhile the enemy discharged several thousand arrows,
many of which stuck in my hands and face. My greatest
fear was for my eyes, which I should have lost if I had
not suddenly thought of the pair of spectacles which had
escaped the Emperor's searchers. These I took out and
fastened upon my nose, and thus armed went on with my
work in spite of the arrows, many of which struck against
the glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect
than slightly disturbing them. Then, taking the knot in
my hand, I began to pull; but not a ship would stir, for
they were too fast held by their anchors. Thus the boldest
part of my enterprise remained. Letting go the cord,
I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that fastened
the anchors, receiving more than two hundred shots in
my face and hands. Then I took up again the knotted end
of the cables to which my hooks were tied, and with great
ease drew fifty of the enemy's largest men-of-war after me.

When the Blefuscudians saw the fleet moving in order,
and me pulling at the end, they set up a scream of grief
and despair that it is impossible to describe. When I had
got out of danger I stopped awhile to pick out the arrows
that stuck in my hands and face, and rubbed on some of
the same ointment that was given me at my arrival. I
then took off my spectacles, and after waiting about an
hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded on to the
royal port of Lilliput.

The Emperor and his whole Court stood on the shore
awaiting me. They saw the ships move forward in a large
half-moon, but could not discern me, who, in the middle
of the channel, was under water up to my neck. The
Emperor concluded that I was drowned, and that the
enemy's fleet was approaching in a hostile manner. But
he was soon set at ease, for, the channel growing shallower
every step I made, I came in a short time within hearing,
and holding up the end of the cable by which the fleet
was fastened, I cried in a loud voice: "Long live the most
puissant Emperor of Lilliput!" The Prince received me
at my landing with all possible joy, and made me a
Nardal on the spot, which is the highest title of honor
among them.

His Majesty desired that I would take some opportunity
to bring all the rest of his enemy's ships into his ports,
and seemed to think of nothing less than conquering the
whole Empire of Blefuscu, and becoming the sole monarch
of the world. But I plainly protested that I would never
be the means of bringing a free and brave people into
slavery; and though the wisest of the Ministers were of
my opinion, my open refusal was so opposed to his
Majesty's ambition that he could never forgive me. And
from this time a plot began between himself and those of
his Ministers who were my enemies, that nearly ended
in my utter destruction.

About three weeks after this exploit there arrived an
embassy from Blefuscu, with humble offers of peace,
which was soon concluded, on terms very advantageous
to our Emperor. There were six ambassadors, with a
train of about five hundred persons, all very magnificent.
Having been privately told that I had befriended them,
they made me a visit, and paying me many compliments
on my valor and generosity, invited me to their kingdom
in the Emperor their master's name. I asked them to
present my most humble respects to the Emperor their
master, whose royal person I resolved to attend before I
returned to my own country. Accordingly, the next time
I had the honor to see our Emperor I desired his general
permission to visit the Blefuscudian monarch. This he
granted me, but in a very cold manner, of which I afterward
learned the reason.

When I was just preparing to pay my respects to the
Emperor of Blefuscu, a distinguished person at Court, to
whom I had once done a great service, came to my house
very privately at night, and without sending his name
desired admission. I put his lordship into my coat pocket,
and, giving orders to a trusty servant to admit no one, I
fastened the door, placed my visitor on the table, and sat
down by it. His lordship's face was full of trouble; and
he asked me to hear him with patience, in a matter that
highly concerned my honor and my life.

"You are aware," he said, "that Skyresh Bolgolam has
been your mortal enemy ever since your arrival, and his
hatred is increased since your great success against
Blefuscu, by which his glory as admiral is obscured. This
lord and others have accused you of treason, and several
councils have been called in the most private manner on
your account. Out of gratitude for your favors I procured
information of the whole proceedings, venturing my
head for your service, and this was the charge against
you:

"First, that you, having brought the imperial fleet of
Blefuscu into the royal port, were commanded by his
Majesty to seize all the other ships, and put to death all
the Bigendian exiles, and also all the people of the empire
who would not immediately consent to break their eggs
at the smaller end. And that, like a false traitor to his
Most Serene Majesty, you excused yourself from the service
on pretence of unwillingness to force the consciences
and destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent people.

"Again, when ambassadors arrived from the Court of
Blefuscu, like a false traitor, you aided and entertained
them, though you knew them to be servants of a prince
lately in open war against his Imperial Majesty.

"Moreover, you are now preparing, contrary to the
duty of a faithful subject, to voyage to the Court of
Blefuscu.

"In the debate on this charge," my friend continued,
"his Majesty often urged the services you had done him,
while the admiral and treasurer insisted that you should
be put to a shameful death. But Reldresal, secretary for
private affairs, who has always proved himself your friend
suggested that if his Majesty would please to spare your
life and only give orders to put out both your eyes, justice
might in some measure be satisfied. At this Bolgolam
rose up in fury, wondering how the secretary dared desire
to preserve the life of a traitor; and the treasurer, pointing
out the expense of keeping you, also urged your death.
But his Majesty was graciously pleased to say that since
the council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a
punishment, some other might afterward be inflicted. And
the secretary, humbly desiring to be heard again, said
that as to expense your allowance might be gradually
lessened, so that, for want of sufficient food you should
grow weak and faint, and die in a few months, when his
Majesty's subjects might cut your flesh from your bones
and bury it, leaving the skeleton for the admiration of
posterity.

"Thus, through the great friendship of the secretary
the affair was arranged. It was commanded that the plan
of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret; but
the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the
books. In three days your friend the secretary will come
to your house and read the accusation before you, and
point out the great mercy of his Majesty, that only condemns
you to the loss of your eyes—which, he does not
doubt, you will submit to humbly and gratefully. Twenty
of his Majesty's surgeons will attend, 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 you," said my friend, "to consider what
measures you will take; and, to escape suspicion, I must
immediately return, as secretly as I came."

His lordship did so; and I remained alone, in great
perplexity. At first I was bent on resistance; for while I
had liberty I could easily with stones pelt the metropolis
to pieces; but I soon rejected that idea with horror,
remembering the oath I had made to the Emperor, and the
favors I had received from him. At last, having his
Majesty's leave to pay my respects to the Emperor of
Blefuscu, I resolved to take this opportunity. Before the
three days had passed I wrote a letter to my friend the
secretary telling him of my resolution; and, without
waiting for an answer, went to the coast, and entering the
channel, between wading and swimming reached the port
of Blefuscu, where the people, who had long expected me,
led me to the capital.

His Majesty, with the royal family and great officers of
the Court, came out to receive me, and they entertained
me in a manner suited to the generosity of so great a
prince. I did not, however, mention my disgrace with the
Emperor of Lilliput, since I did not suppose that prince
would disclose the secret while I was out of his power.
But in this, it soon appeared, I was deceived.

Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity
to the northeast coast of the island, I observed at some
distance in the sea something that looked like a boat
overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings, and
wading two or three hundred yards, I plainly saw it to be
a real boat, which I supposed might by some tempest
have been driven from a ship. I returned immediately to
the city for help, and after a huge amount of labor I
managed to get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu,
where a great crowd of people appeared, full of wonder at
sight of so prodigious a vessel. I told the Emperor that
my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to
carry me to some place whence I might return to my
native country, and begged his orders for materials to fit
it up, and leave to depart—which, after many kindly
speeches, he was pleased to grant.

Meanwhile the Emperor of Lilliput, uneasy at my long
absence (but never imagining that I had the least notice
of his designs), sent a person of rank to inform the
Emperor of Blefuscu of my disgrace; this messenger had
orders to represent the great mercy of his master, who was
content to punish me with the loss of my eyes, and who
expected that his brother of Blefuscu would have me sent
back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as
a traitor. The Emperor of Blefuscu answered with many
civil excuses. He said that as for sending me bound, his
brother knew it was impossible. Moreover, though I had
taken away his fleet he was grateful to me for many good
offices I had done him in making the peace. But that both
their Majesties would soon be made easy; for I had found
a prodigious vessel on the shore, able to carry me on the
sea, which he had given orders to fit up; and he hoped in
a few weeks both empires would be free from me.

With this answer the messenger returned to Lilliput;
and I (though the monarch of Blefuscu secretly offered
me his gracious protection if I would continue in his
service) hastened my departure, resolving never more to put
confidence in princes.

In about a month I was ready to take leave. The
Emperor of Blefuscu, with the Empress and the royal family,
came out of the palace; and I lay down on my face to kiss
their hands, which they graciously gave me. His Majesty
presented me with fifty purses of sprugs (their greatest
gold coin) and his picture at full length, which I put
immediately into one of my gloves, to keep it from being
hurt. Many other ceremonies took place at my departure.

I stored the boat with meat and drink, and took six
cows and two bulls alive, with as many ewes and rams,
intending to carry them into my own country; and to feed
them on board, I had a good bundle of hay and a bag of
corn. I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives;
but this was a thing the Emperor would by no means permit,
and besides a diligent search into my pockets, his
Majesty pledged my honor not to carry away any of his
subjects, though with their own consent and desire.

Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able,
I set sail. When I had made twenty-four leagues, by my
reckoning, from the island of Blefuscu, I saw a sail steering
to the northeast. I hailed her, but could get no
answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind
slackened; and in half an hour she spied me, and
discharged a gun. I came up with her between five and six
in the evening, Sept. 26, 1701; but my heart leaped within
me to see her English colors. I put my cows and sheep
into my coat pockets, and got on board with all my little
cargo. The captain received me with kindness, and asked
me to tell him what place I came from last; but at my
answer he thought I was raving. However, I took my black
cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great
astonishment, clearly convinced him.