|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 13
I had forgot to acquaint the Reader, that before I began this airy
Journey, my Master took a Mantle, which his Servant carried under his
Wing, and cover'd me, that I had only an Open to see and respire: This
was to prevent the Impertinence he might expect from the Mob at the
Sight of such a Novelty as I was.
When we alighted, he made Signs to me to lye down, sent his Servant to
the Town, and cover'd me all over. The Servant soon returned with a
close Palanquin, which they made me Signs to go into, and I was in an
Instant hurried thro' the Air, and set down in a Stable Yard, and
conducted from thence into a little House, to which this Yard afforded
the only Passage. Both the Avenue, and the Smallness of the House no way
answerable to the Charge and Titles of the Minister to whom it belong'd,
were Matter of Surprize to me; tho' I since learnt it was in him Policy,
that he made no greater Figure in Town than a private Gentleman, not to
encrease the Number of those who envied him; for tho' he was now Nine
Foot high, yet in a late Reign he was dwindled from the Height peculiar
to the Rank of his Family, of Six Foot Nine Inches, to Three Foot Ten.
In the Country, I was told his Seat far exceeded any of the Royal
Palaces, tho' as yet not finish'd, and both his Furniture and Equipage
were answerable; and he never travelled without a great Number of
Servants, who join'd him a Mile or two without the Gates.
This great Person shewed me to his family, every one of which admired
me as a most monstrous Production of Nature. My Master was rewarded,
by being made _Nosocomionarcha_, or Paymaster to the Invalids, had the
Title of _Quityardo_, which answers to our _Squire_, conferred on him,
and was ever after a Favourite of the Minister. He sprung up immediately
Nine Inches higher, grew considerably more bulky, and would eat you
Three or Four _Cacklogallinian_ Chicks in a Day; for the Ministers,
and those in Post, feed on their own Species, and not one of the poorer
Sort is in any Security of their Lives, in case a hungry Grandee sets
his Eyes on, and has a Mind to him. Nay, the slavish Spirit of the
_Cacklogallinians_ is such, that many of them, thro' Folly or
Superstition, will come in Bodies to the House of a Minister, and beg as
the greatest Favour and Honour, they and their Families may be served up
to his Lordship's Table; and I have seen the Fools, who had thus offered
themselves, and been accepted, if there was not immediate Occasion for
them, strut in the Streets with a Chain of Silver about their Necks,
which they look'd upon as the greatest Honour; and when call'd for by
his Lordship's Cook, run exulting, and offer their Throats to his Knife;
tho' this Nation was, in Time past, the bravest, and the most tenacious
of their Liberty, of any of the feather'd Race. But I have digress'd too
far.
My new Master, or, more properly, Lord, order'd an Apartment and a Table
for me, with a Tutor to teach me the Languages, by whose Diligence, and
my own _Avidity_ of Learning, I began in Four Months to understand a
great Part of what was said to me; and my Lord was so very much pleased
at my Progress, that he gave my Tutor a Post, which raised him about
Four Inches. My Lord forbore asking me any Questions concerning my self,
till I was perfectly Master or the Languages, which I was in about
Eleven Months.
He one Day sent for me into his Chamber, and accosted me in the
following Words:
Probusomo (_which is, Monster of Nature, the Name he gave me_)
I have suspended my Curiosity of enquiring whence, and how you came
into this Kingdom, till we could perfectly understand each other,
that I might not be troubled with an imperfect Relation: Now that
you are Master of our Language, tell me of what Part of the World
you are; whether you are of savage, or a civiliz'd Nation? if of the
latter, what is your Policy, what are your Manners and Customs, and
what Accident brought you hither?
I threw my self on my Face, and kiss'd his right golden Spur (for the
Grandees saw off those which Nature has provided them, and substitute
these in their Places) then rising, I answer'd, That I was of _Europe_,
a Country so distant from _Cacklogallinia_, that I was near Six Moons at
Sea, before I was cast on its Coast.
Why, _said he_, is it possible you can swim so long? for you being
destitute of Wings, can have no other Method of passing so vast a
Water.
I told him we pass'd the Seas in Ships, and gave him a Description of
them, but could not make him have the least Idea of what I meant, till
the next Day, that I hollow'd, shap'd, and rigg'd a Piece of Cork, made
Sails of fine Linnen, and brought it to his Excellency in a Bason of
Water. I told him, we were a civiliz'd Nation, and govern'd by a King,
who however did nothing without the Advice of his Great Council, which
consisted of Grandees born to that Honour, and _Quityardo's_ elected by
the People to represent them. That, to these Representatives the People
had delegated the Power of acting for them, and entrusted their Liberty
and Estates to their Probity; consequently nothing could be supposed to
be done by the Prince, but by the universal Consent of the Nation, and
the People could bear no Burthens, but what they voluntarily took upon
themselves for the common Good.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|