diff options
Diffstat (limited to '13685-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 13685-0.txt | 11895 |
1 files changed, 11895 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/13685-0.txt b/13685-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb06225 --- /dev/null +++ b/13685-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11895 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13685 *** + + THE CHILDREN'S HOUR + + IN TEN VOLUMES + + ILLUSTRATED + + + + VOLUME V + + [Illustration: _Ferdinand and Ariel_] + + + + The + Children's + Hour + + + STORIES + FROM SEVEN + OLD FAVORITES + + + Selected & Arranged by + Eva March Tappan + + + Houghton + Mifflin + Company + + + Between the dark and the daylight, + when the night is beginning to lower, + Comes a pause in the days occupations, + that is known as the Children's Hour. + + + + + CONTENTS + + +TO THE CHILDREN + + +THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS + +CHRISTIAN PASSES THROUGH THE WICKET GATE _John Bunyan_ + +A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF THE INTERPRETER _John Bunyan_ + +AT THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL _John Bunyan_ + +CHRISTIAN'S FIGHT WITH APOLLYON _John Bunyan_ + +THE CASTLE OF GIANT DESPAIR _John Bunyan_ + +THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS _John Bunyan_ + +THE PILGRIMS WANDER FROM THE WAY _John Bunyan_ + +THE CELESTIAL CITY _John Bunyan_ + + +ROBINSON CRUSOE + +ROBINSON CRUSOE IS SHIPWRECKED _Daniel Defoe_ + +UNLOADING A WRECK _Daniel Defoe_ + +ROBINSON CRUSOE'S FIRST HOME ON THE ISLAND _Daniel Defoe_ + +ROBINSON CRUSOE BUILDS A BOAT _Daniel Defoe_ + +THE MYSTERIOUS FOOTPRINT _Daniel Defoe_ + +THE COMING OF FRIDAY _Daniel Defoe_ + +HOMEWARD BOUND _Daniel Defoe_ + + +GULLIVER'S TRAVELS + +GULLIVER IS SHIPWRECKED ON THE COAST OF LILLIPUT _Jonathan Swift_ + +GULLIVER SEIZES THE ENEMY'S FLEET _Jonathan Swift_ + +A LILLIPUTIAN ODE TO THE MAN-MOUNTAIN _Jonathan Swift_ + +AMONG THE BROBDINGNAGIAN GIANTS _Jonathan Swift_ + +ADVENTURES IN BROBDINGNAG _Jonathan Swift_ + +GULLIVER'S ESCAPE _Jonathan Swift_ + + +DON QUIXOTE + +DON QUIXOTE DETERMINES TO BECOME A KNIGHT + _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE FIGHT WITH THE WINDMILLS _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE INNKEEPER'S BILL _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE BATTLE OF THE SHEEP _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE CONQUEST OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +DON QUIXOTE'S BATTLE WITH THE GIANTS _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +DON QUIXOTE MEETS THE LIONS _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE RIDE ON THE WOODEN HORSE _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND ODD LASHES + _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + +THE RETURN AND DEATH OF DON QUIXOTE _Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + +ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES + +SINDBAD THE SAILOR + + +THE TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN + +THE BARON'S FIRST WANDERINGS _Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + +THE BARON'S JOURNEY TO ST. PETERSBURG _Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + +THE BARON'S WONDERFUL HORSE _Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + +THE BARON'S COLD DAY _Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + + +TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE + +THE COMEDY OF ERRORS _Charles and Mary Lamb_ + +THE MERCHANT OF VENICE _Charles and Mary Lamb_ + +THE TEMPEST _Charles and Mary Lamb_ + + + + + ILLUSTRATIONS + + +FERDINAND AND ARIEL _Sir John Everett Millais_ + +CHRISTIAN IS HARNESSED FOR THE PILGRIMAGE _David Scott, R.S.A._ + +CAUGHT CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL ASLEEP _David Scott, R.S.A._ + +THE SECOND RAFT _J. Finnemore_ + +THE PRINT OF A MAN'S NAKED FOOT ON THE SHORE _J. Finnemore_ + +PRODUCING HIS CREDENTIALS _T. Morten_ + +THE HUGE CREATURE TROD SHORT _T. Morten_ + +HURLED AWAY BOTH KNIGHT AND HORSE _Gustave Doré_ + +A HIDEOUS GENIE OF GIGANTIC SIZE APPEARED _Robert Smirke, R.A._ + +THE GREAT HEAPS OF GOLD DAZZLED HER EYES _Robert Smirke, R.A._ + +PURSUED BY THE ROCS _J.D. Batten_ + +THE LION JUMPED FORWARD INTO THE CROCODILE'S MOUTH _Gustave Doré_ + +THE VESSEL WILL BE DASHED TO PIECES _G. Romney_ + + + + + TO THE CHILDREN + + +This volume is made up of stories from seven famous books. These books +are as different as they can possibly be; and yet there are not many +boys and girls who do not like every one of them. The chief reason for +this is because they seem so true, so much more "real" than most other +stories. When you read about Tom Thumb, for instance, you do not +really believe that there ever was a little boy no bigger than his +mother's thumb; at least, you do not believe it in the same way that +you believe the sun shines or the wind blows; but when you read +"Robinson Crusoe," you feel as if every word of it must be true. + +The first of these books is "The Pilgrim's Progress." In one way it is +a little like a fable; that is, when you read it the first time, it is +simply a good story. Afterwards--sometimes a long while +afterwards--you read it again or sit thinking about it, and suddenly +you see that it has another meaning, that it is more than the story of +a man who makes a wonderful journey. This book was written in jail by +a man named John Bunyan. The English laws of that time would not allow +any one to preach except clergymen of the Church of England. Bunyan, +however, felt that it would be wicked for him to obey these laws, so +he kept on preaching. He was thrown into prison, and the prisons of +those days were horrible places. "If you will promise not to preach +again, you shall be free," said the officers. "If you let me out +to-day I will preach again to-morrow," declared Bunyan; and meanwhile +he preached to the other prisoners. He thought of his wife and +children and of how little he could do to support them while he was in +jail; he thought of his little blind daughter Mary; but still he said +to himself, "I must, I must do it." For twelve long years he stayed in +prison. He made tags for shoe laces to sell to help his family; and he +wrote the book that has been read by more people than any other volume +except the Bible. + +The second book, "Robinson Crusoe," was written by Daniel Defoe; and +he, too, knew what it was to be in jail. He was not imprisoned for +preaching, but for his political writings. Once when he had written a +pamphlet that did not please the authorities, he was condemned to +stand in the pillory. The people took his part, and, instead of +throwing stones at him, they dropped roses about him and bought +thousands of copies of a poem that he had written while in jail. + +He wrote many books, but his best, "Robinson Crusoe," was produced +after he had become a middle-aged man and had some money and a big, +homely house with plenty of ground for his favorite gardening. The way +the book came to be written was this. A sailor named Alexander Selkirk +spent more than four years alone on the island of Juan Fernandez. When +he was rescued and brought to England, many people went to gaze at him +in his goatskin clothes and to hear him talk about his life on the +island. Defoe went with the others, and he never forgot the stories +told by the sailor in goatskins. Seven years later he worked in his +garden and thought about the desert island. Then he went into his +house and wrote the book that everybody likes, "Robinson Crusoe." + +"Gulliver's Travels" was written by an Irish clergyman named Jonathan +Swift. He was a strange man. Some people said he was a genius, and +some said he had always been a little insane. When he wrote, he often +seemed to care for nothing but to say the most cutting, scornful +things that he could. There was one class of persons, however, who +loved him from the bottom of their hearts, and they were the poor +people about his home in Ireland. It is true that he sometimes scolded +them, but they saw straight through his grumbling and understood that +he really cared for them and wanted to help them, and they loved him +and trusted him. He lived more than two hundred years ago, but the +Irish have never forgotten him; and even to this day, if you should +wander about in Ireland, you would see in many a little cottage people +gathered around the fire, telling over and over the stories that their +grandmothers had told them of his kind heart and his peculiar ways. + +"The Pilgrim's Progress," "Robinson Crusoe," and "Gulliver's Travels" +were all written by men of the British Isles, but our fourth book, +"Don Quixote," was written by a Spaniard named Cervantes. He was a +soldier part of his life and as valiant a fighter as his own hero. For +five years he was a prisoner of war; he was poor and sick and in one +trouble after another; but he was always brave and cheerful and +good-humored. In his day, the Spaniards read few books except queer +old romances of chivalry, the sort of tale in which a great champion +goes out with his squire to wander over the world in search of +adventures. He makes thieves give back what they have stolen, he sets +prisoners free, he rescues beautiful maidens who have been dragged +away from their homes; in short, he roams about making people do +whatever he thinks proper. Sometimes he takes a castle all by himself, +sometimes he gets the better of a whole group of champions or a host +of giants or even a dragon or two. Cervantes's book makes fun of such +tales as these. His hero attacks a terrible company of giants standing +on a plain all ready to destroy him; but the giants prove to be +windmills, and their sails give him many a heavy blow before his fight +with them is over. Another time, he finds the giants in his very +bedroom; and the courageous knight cuts off their heads as fast as he +can swing his sword. Blood flows like water; only when a light is +brought, it does not prove to be blood but--well, it is not fair to +tell the rest of the story. We must let Cervantes do that for himself +in "Don Quixote's Battle with the Giants." + +The fifth book, the "Arabian Nights," is a mystery. We do not know who +composed the stories or who brought them together in one collection. +We cannot even tell where they came from. The most we can say +positively is that two hundred years ago a Frenchman traveling through +the East came across them in some Arabian manuscripts and translated +them into French. Whether they came in the first place from Arabia or +Persia or India, whether they were composed five or six hundred years +ago or at least one thousand, no one can say. Many learned scholars +have tried in vain to answer these questions; but if we had to choose +between having the stories and knowing who wrote them, I do not +believe that any boy or girl who had read even one of them would find +it difficult to make a choice. + +The sixth book, "The Travels of Baron Munchausen," is said to have +been written by a German named Raspé; but it is just as well not to +believe this statement too positively, for it is quite possible that +Raspé had nothing to do with the book. Learned scholars have held +profound discussions on the source of the stories. One in particular, +that of the frozen tunes which began to play of themselves as soon as +they thawed, has been found in some form in several countries. The +best match for the Baron's version is the old tale of the merchants +who set out one day to buy furs. When they came to a river, they saw +the fur dealers standing on the opposite shore. The dealers held up +their furs and seemed to be shouting their prices, but it was so cold +that the words froze in the air. Then the merchants went out on the +ice and built a great fire. It warmed the air overhead, and the words +thawed and came down. But long before this, the dealers had gone home. +The merchants thought the prices too high, so they, too, went home; +and that was the end of the tale. The "Travels" is full of stories as +absurd as this, but told in such a way that while you are reading +them, and sometimes for as much as five minutes afterwards, you feel +as if they were really true. + +The seventh and last of the books is the plays of Shakespeare. A play +always contains a story, and it is the stories of some of +Shakespeare's dramas that are given here. In the real plays there is +much more than stories, however, because Shakespeare was not only a +story-teller but also a poet. A poet must express what he sees and +thinks in a way to give pleasure and he must see more than other +people. Now when Shakespeare puts a thought into words, we find that +no one else has expressed it so well. Moreover, he sees more clearly +than any other writer how a person would feel and behave in various +circumstances. As we read the plays, we say to ourselves of one +character after another, "That is just the way I should feel if I were +that person." We think of them as real people. We talk of what they +would have done if circumstances had been different. It is only a +great genius who can make out of words characters that seem almost as +real as the people around us, but this is what William Shakespeare has +done. + + + + + THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS + + + + + CHRISTIAN PASSES THROUGH THE WICKET GATE + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +In process of time _Christian_ got up to the Gate. Now over the Gate +there was written, _Knock and it shall be opened unto you_. He knocked +therefore more then once or twice, saying,-- + + "May I now enter here? Will he within + Open to sorry me, though I have bin + An undeserving Rebel? Then shall I + Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high." + +At last there came a grave Person to the Gate named _Good-Will_, who +asked Who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have? + +_Chr._ Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the City of +_Destruction_, but am going to Mount _Zion_, that I may be delivered +from the wrath to come. I would therefore, Sir, since I am informed +that by this Gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let +me in. + +_Good-Will._ I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that he +opened the Gate. + +So when _Christian_ was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Then +said _Christian_, What means that? The other told him, A little +distance from this Gate, there is erected a strong Castle, of which +_Beelzebub_ is the Captain; from thence both he and they that are with +him shoot arrows at those that come up to this Gate, if haply they may +dye before they can enter in. Then said _Christian_, I rejoyce and +tremble. So when he was got in, the Man of the Gate asked him, Who +directed him thither? + +_Chr._ _Evangelist_ bid me come hither and knock (as I did); and he +said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do. + +_Good-Will._ An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it. + +_Chr._ Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards. + +_Good-Will._ But how is it that you came alone? + +_Chr._ Because none of my Neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine. + +_Good-Will._ Did any of them know of your coming? + +_Chr._ Yes, my Wife and Children saw me at the first, and called after +me to turn again; also some of my Neighbours stood crying and calling +after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my +way. + +_Good-Will._ But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go +back? + +_Chr._ Yes, both _Obstinate_ and _Pliable_; but when they saw that +they could not prevail, _Obstinate_ went railing back, but _Pliable_ +came with me a little way. + +_Good-Will._ But why did he not come through? + +_Chr._ We indeed came both together, until we came at the Slow of +_Dispond_, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my +Neighbour _Pliable_ discouraged, and would not adventure further. +Wherefore getting out again on that side next to his own house, he +told me I should possess the brave countrey alone for him; so he went +_his_ way, and I came _mine_: he after _Obstinate_, and I to this +Gate. + +_Good-Will._ Then said _Good-Will_, Alas, poor man, is the +Coelestial Glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it +not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it? + +_Chr._ Truly, said _Christian_, I have said the truth of _Pliable_, +and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there +is no betterment 'twixt him and myself. 'T is true, he went back to +his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, +being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr. _Worldly +Wiseman_. + +_Good-Will._ O, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you a +sought for ease at the hands of Mr. _Legality_. They are both of them +a very cheat. But did you take his counsel? + +_Chr._ Yes, as far as I durst: I went to find out Mr. _Legality_, +until I thought that the Mountain that stands by his house would have +fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop. + +_Good-Will._ That Mountain has been the death of many, and will be the +death of many more; 't is well you escaped being by it dashed in +pieces. + +_Chr._ Why truly I do not know what had become of me there, had not +_Evangelist_ happily met me again, as I was musing in the midst of my +dumps; but 't was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had +never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit +indeed for death by that Mountain than thus to stand talking with my +Lord; but O, what a favor is this to me, that yet I am admitted +entrance here! + +_Good-Will._ We make no objections against any; notwithstanding all +that they have done before they come hither, they in no wise are cast +out; and therefore, good _Christian_, come a little way with me, and I +will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost +thou see this narrow way? THAT is the way thou must go; it was cast up +by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ, his Apostles; and it is as +straight as a rule can make it: This is the way thou must go. + +_Chr._ But said _Christian_, Is there no turnings nor windings, by +which a Stranger may lose the way? + +_Good-Will._ Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they +are crooked and wide: But thus thou mayest distinguish the right from +the wrong, _that_ only being straight and narrow. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that _Christian_ asked him further If he could +not help him off with his Burden that was upon his back; for as yet he +had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without +help. + +He told him, As to the Burden, be content to bear it, until thou +comest to the place of _Deliverance_; for there it will fall from thy +back itself. + +Then _Christian_ began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to +his Journey. So the other told him, that by that he was gone some +distance from the Gate, he would come at the House of the +_Interpreter_, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him +excellent things. Then _Christian_ took his leave of his Friend, and +he again bid him God speed. + + + + + A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF THE INTERPRETER + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +Then _Christian_ went on till he came at the House of the +_Interpreter_, where he knocked over and over; at last one came to the +door, and asked Who was there? + +_Chr._ Sir, here is a Travailler, who was bid by an acquaintance of +the Good-man of this house to call here for my profit; I would +therefore speak with the Master of the House. So he called for the +Master of the house, who after a little time came to _Christian_, and +asked him what he would have? + +_Chr._ Sir, said _Christian_, I am a man that am come from the City of +_Destruction_, and am going to the Mount _Zion_; and I was told by the +Man that stands at the Gate, at the head of this way, that if I called +here, you would shew me excellent things, such as would be an help to +me in my Journey. + +_Inter._ Then said the _Interpreter_, Come in, I will shew thee that +which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the +Candle, and bid _Christian_ follow him: so he had him into a private +room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, +_Christian_ saw the Picture of a very grave Person hang up against the +wall; and this was the fashion of it. It had eyes lift up to Heaven, +the best of Books in its hand, the Law of Truth was written upon its +lips, the World was behind his back. It stood as if it pleaded with +men, and a Crown of Gold did hang over his head. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_, What means this? + +_Inter._ The Man whose Picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can +beget Children, travel in birth with Children, and nurse them himself +when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with eyes lift up to +Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, and the Law of Truth writ on +his lips, it is to shew thee that his work is to know and unfold dark +things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded +with Men; and whereas thou seest the World as cast behind him, and +that a Crown hangs over his head, that is to shew thee that slighting +and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath +to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to +have Glory for his reward. Now, said the _Interpreter_, I have shewed +thee this Picture first, because the Man whose Picture this is, is the +only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath +authorized to be thy Guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet +with in the way; wherefore take good heed to what I have shewed thee, +and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy Journey +thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way +goes down to death. + +Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large _Parlour_ +that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had +reviewed a little while, the _Interpreter_ called for a man to sweep. +Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, +that _Christian_ had almost therewith been choaked. Then said the +_Interpreter_ to a _Damsel_ that stood by, Bring hither the Water, and +sprinkle the Room; the which when she had done, it was swept and +cleansed with pleasure. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_, What means this? + +_Inter._ The _Interpreter_ answered, This _Parlour_ is the heart of a +man that was never sanctified by the sweet Grace of the Gospel: the +_dust_ is his Original Sin and inward Corruptions, that have defiled +the whole Man. He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but She +that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas +thou sawest that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so +fly about that the Room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou +wast almost choaked therewith; this is to shew thee, that the Law, +instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, +put strength into, and increase it in the soul, as it doth discover +and forbid it, but doth not give power to subdue. + +Again, as thou sawest the _Damsel_ sprinkle the room with Water, upon +which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to shew thee, that when +the Gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the +heart, then I say, even as thou sawest the Damsel lay the dust by +sprinkling the floor with Water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and +the soul made clean, through the Faith of it, and consequently fit for +the King of Glory to inhabit. + +I saw moreover in my Dream, that the _Interpreter_ took him by the +hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little Children, +each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was _Passion_, and the +name of the other _Patience_. _Passion_ seemed to be much discontent; +but _Patience_ was very quiet. Then _Christian_ asked, What is the +reason of the discontent of _Passion_? The _Interpreter_ answered, The +Governour of them would have him stay for his best things till the +beginning of the next year; but he will have all now; but _Patience_ +is willing to wait. + +Then I saw that one came to _Passion_, and brought him a bag of +Treasure, and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up and +rejoyced therein; and withall, laughed _Patience_ to scorn. But I +beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left +him but Rags. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_ to the _Interpreter_, Expound this matter +more fully to me. + +_Inter._ So he said, These two Lads are Figures: _Passion_, of the Men +of this World; and _Patience_ of the Men of that which is to come; for +as here thou seest, _Passion_ will have all now this year, that is to +say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all +their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until +the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, _A Bird in +the Hand is worth two in the Bush_, is of more authority with them +then are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the World to come. +But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had +presently left him nothing but Raggs; so will it be with all such Men +at the end of this World. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_, Now I see that _Patience_ has the best +wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best +things. 2. And also because he will have the Glory of his, when the +other has nothing but Raggs. + +_Inter._ Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the _next_ +world will never wear out; but _these_ are suddenly gone. Therefore +_Passion_ had not so much reason to laugh at _Patience_, because he +had his good things first, as _Patience_ will have to laugh at +_Passion_, because he had his best things last; for _first_ must give +place to _last_, because _last_ must have his time to come: but _last_ +gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed. He +therefore that hath his portion _first_, must needs have a time to +spend it; but he that hath his portion _last_, must have it lastingly; +therefore it is said of _Dives, In thy Lifetime thou hadest or +receivedst thy good things, and likewise_ Lazarus _evil things; but +now he is comforted, and thou art tormented_. + +_Chr._ Then I perceive 'tis not best to covet things that are now, but +to wait for things to come. + +_Inter._ You say the Truth: _For the things which are seen are_ +Temporal; _but the things that are not seen are_ Eternal. But though +this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly appetite are such +near neighbours one to another; and, again, because things to come and +carnal sense are such strangers one to another; therefore it is that +the first of these so suddenly fall into _amity_, and that _distance_ +is so continued between the second. + +Then I saw in my Dream that the _Interpreter_ took _Christian_ by the +hand, and led him into a place where was a Fire burning against a +Wall, and one standing by it, always casting Water upon it, to quench +it; yet did the Fire burn higher and hotter. + +Then said _Christian_, What means this? + +The _Interpreter_ answered, This Fire is the work of Grace that is +wrought in the heart; he that casts Water upon it, to extinguish and +put it out, is the _Devil_; but in that thou seest the Fire +notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason +of that. So he had him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw +a man with a Vessel of Oyl in his hand, of the which he did also +continually cast (but secretly) into the Fire. + +Then said _Christian_, What means this? + +The _Interpreter_ answered, This is _Christ_, who continually, with +the Oyl of his Grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart: +by the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the +souls of his people prove gracious still. And in that thou sawest that +the man stood behind the Wall to maintain the Fire, this is to teach +thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how this word of Grace is +maintained in the soul. + +I saw also that the _Interpreter_ took him again by the hand, and led +him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately Palace, +beautiful to behold; at the sight of which _Christian_ was greatly +delighted: he saw also upon the top thereof, certain Persons walking, +who were cloathed all in gold. + +Then said _Christian_ May we go in thither? + +Then the _Interpreter_ took him, and led him up toward the door of the +Palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as +desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a Man at a little +distance from the door, at a table-side, with a Book and his Inkhorn +before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein. He saw +also, that in the door-way stood many men in armour to keep it, being +resolved to do the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they +could. Now was _Christian_ somewhat in a muse. At last, when every man +started back for fear of the armed men, _Christian_ saw a man of a +very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, +saying, _Set down my name, Sir_: the which when he had done, he saw +the man draw his Sword, and put an Helmet upon his head, and rush +toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly +force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and +hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds +to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them +all, and pressed forward into the Palace, at which there was a +pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of the Three +that walked upon the top of the Palace, saying,-- + + Come in, Come in; + Eternal Glory thou shall win. + +So he went in, and was cloathed with such Garments as they. Then +_Christian_ smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of +this. + +Now, said _Christian_, let me go hence. Nay stay, said the +_Interpreter_, till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that +thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led +him into a very dark room, where there sat a Man in an Iron Cage. + +Now the Man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking +down to the ground, his hands folded together; and he sighed as if he +would break his heart. Then said _Christian_, What means this? At +which the _Interpreter_ bid him talk with the Man. + +Then said _Christian_ to the Man, What art thou? The man answered, I +am what I was not once. + +_Chr._ What wast thou once? + +_Man._ The Man said, I was once a fair and flourishing Professor, both +in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, as I +thought, fair for the Coelestial City, and had then even joy at the +thoughts that I should get thither. + +_Chr._ Well, but what art thou now? + +_Man._ I am now a man of _Despair_, and am shut up in it, as in this +Iron Cage. I cannot get out; O _now_ I cannot. + +_Chr._ But how comest thou in this condition? + +_Man._ I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the +neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the Word and the +goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted +the Devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and he +has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I _cannot_ repent. + +Then said _Christian_ to the _Interpreter_, But are there no hopes for +such a man as this? Ask him, said the _Interpreter_. Nay, said +Christian, pray Sir, do you. + +_Inter._ Then said the _Interpreter_, Is there no hope, but you must +be kept in this Iron Cage of Despair? + +_Man._ No, none at all. + +_Inter._ Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. + +_Man._ I have crucified him to myself afresh, I have despised his +Person, I have despised his Righteousness, I have counted his Blood an +unholy thing; I have done despite to the Spirit of Grace. Therefore I +have shut myself out of all the Promises, and there now remains to me +nothing but threatnings, dreadful threatnings, _fearful_ threatnings +of certain Judgement which shall devour me as an Adversary. + +_Chr._ For what did you bring yourself into this condition? + +_Man._ For the Lusts, Pleasures, and Profits of this World; in the +injoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now +even every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a +burning worm. + +_Chr._ But canst thou not now repent and turn? + +_Man._ God hath denied me repentance: his Word gives me no +encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this Iron +Cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O Eternity! +Eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in +Eternity! + +_Inter._ Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian_, Let this man's +misery be remembred by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee. + +_Chr._ Well, said _Christian_, this is fearful; God help me to watch +and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's +misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now? + +_Inter._ Tarry till I shall shew thee one thing more, and then thou +shalt go on thy way. + +So he took _Christian_ by the hand again, and led him into a Chamber, +where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his Rayment, +he shook and trembled. Then said _Christian_, Why doth this man thus +tremble? The _Interpreter_ then bid him tell to _Christian_ the reason +of his so doing. So he began and said, This night, as I was in my +sleep, I dreamed, and behold the Heavens grew exceeding black; also it +thundered and lightned in most fearful wise, that it put me into an +Agony; so I looked up in my Dream, and saw the Clouds rack at an +unusual rate, upon which I heard a great sound of a Trumpet, and saw +also a Man sit upon a Cloud, attended with the thousands of Heaven; +they were all in flaming fire, also the Heavens was on a burning +flame. I heard then a voice saying, _Arise ye Dead, and come to +Judgement_; and with that the Rocks rent, the Graves opened, and the +Dead that were therein came forth. Some of them were exceeding glad, +and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under the +Mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the Cloud open the Book, +and bid the World draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce +Flame which issued out and came from before him, a convenient distance +betwixt him and them, as betwixt the Judge and the Prisoners at the +bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the Man that +sat on the Cloud, _Gather together the Tares, the Chaff, and Stubble, +and cast them into the burning Lake._ And with that, the bottomless +pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there +came in an abundant manner, Smoak and Coals of fire, with hideous +noises. It was also said to the same persons, _Gather my Wheat into my +Garner_. And with that I saw many catch't up and carried away into the +Clouds, but I was left behind. I also sought to hide myself, but I +could not, for the Man that sat upon the Cloud still kept his eye upon +me: my sins also came into my mind; and my Conscience did accuse me on +every side. Upon this I awaked from my sleep. + +_Chr._ But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight? + +_Man._ Why, I thought that the day of Judgement was come, and that I +was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the Angels +gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of Hell opened +her mouth just where I stood: my Conscience too within afflicted me; +and as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, shewing +indignation in his countenance. + +Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian_, Hast thou considered all +these things? + +_Chr._ Yes, and they put me in hope and fear. + +_Inter._ Well, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be as a +Goad in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. Then +Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his +Journey. Then said the _Interpreter_, The Comforter be always with +thee, good _Christian_, to guide thee in the way that leads to the +City. So _Christian_ went on his way, saying-- + + Here I have seen things rare and profitable; + Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable + In what I have began to take in hand; + Then let me think on them, and understand + Wherefore they shew'd me was, and let me be + Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee. + + + + + AT THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +Behold there was a very stately Palace before him, the name of which +was _Beautiful_; and it stood just by the High-way side. + +So I saw in my Dream that he made haste and went forward, that if +possible he might get Lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he +entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of +the Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, +he espied two Lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers +that _Mistrust_ and _Timorus_ were driven back by. (The Lions were +chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought +also himself to go back after them, for he thought nothing but death +was before him: But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is _Watchful_, +perceiving that _Christian_ made a halt as if he would go back, cried +unto him, saying, Is thy strength so small? Fear not the Lions, for +they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, +and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the +Path, and no hurt shall come unto thee. + +Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the Lions, but +taking good heed to the directions of the Porter; he heard them roar, +but they did him no harm. Then he clapt his hands, and went on till he +came and stood before the Gate where the Porter was. Then said +_Christian_ to the Porter, Sir, what House is this? and may I lodge +here to-night? The Porter answered, This House was built by the Lord +of the Hill, and he built it for the relief and security of Pilgrims. +The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going? + +_Chr._ I am come from the City of _Destruction_, and am going to Mount +_Zion_; but because the Sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge +here to-night. + +_Por._ What is your name? + +_Chr._ My name is now _Christian_, but my name at the first was +_Graceless;_ I came of the race of _Japhet_, whom God will perswade to +dwell in the Tents of _Shem_. + +_Por._ But how doth it happen that you come so late? The Sun is set. + +_Chr._ I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am! I +slept in the _Arbour_ that stands on the Hillside; nay, I had +notwithstanding that been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I +lost my Evidence, and came without it to the brow of the Hill; and +then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with sorrow of +heart to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found +it, and now I am come. + +_Por._ Well, I will call out one of the Virgins of this place, who +will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the Family, +according to the rules of the house. So _Watchful_ the Porter rang a +bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house, a grave +and beautiful Damsel named _Discretion_, and asked why she was called. + +The Porter answered, This man is in a Journey from the City of +_Destruction_ to Mount _Zion_, but being weary and benighted, he asked +me if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call for +thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee +good, even according to the Law of the House. + +Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he +told her. She asked him also, how he got into the way; and he told +her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way; and +he told her. And last she asked his name; so he said, It is +_Christian_; and I have so much the more a desire to lodge here +to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the +Lord of the Hill, for the relief and security of Pilgrims. So she +smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little pause, she +said, I will call forth two or three more of the Family. So she ran to +the door, and called out _Prudence_, _Piety_, and _Charity_, who after +a little more discourse with him, had him in to the Family; and many +of them, meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, Come in, +thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the +Hill, on purpose to entertain such Pilgrims in. Then he bowed his +head, and followed them into the house. So when he was come in and set +down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together, that +until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular +discourse with _Christian_, for the best improvement of time; and they +appointed _Piety_, and _Prudence_, and _Charity_ to discourse with +him; and thus they began:-- + +_Piety._ Come, good _Christian_, since we have been so loving to you, +to receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may +better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have +happened to you in your Pilgrimage. + +_Chr._ With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so well +disposed. + +_Piety._ What moved you at first to betake yourself to a Pilgrim's +life? + +_Chr._ I was driven out of my Native Country, by a dreadful sound that +was in mine ears, to wit, That unavoidable destruction did attend me, +if I abode in that place where I was. + +_Piety._ But how did it happen that you came out of your Country this +way? + +_Chr._ It was as God would have it; for when I was under the fears of +destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance there came a +man, even to me, as I was trembling and weeping, whose name is +_Evangelist_, and he directed me to the Wicket-gate, which else I +should never have found, and so set me into the way that hath led me +directly to this house. + +_Piety._ But did you not come by the House of the _Interpreter_? + +_Chr._ Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which +will stick by me as long as I live; specially three things: to wit, +How Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of Grace in the +heart; how the Man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of God's +mercy; and also the Dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of +Judgement was come. + +_Piety._ Why, did you hear him tell his Dream? + +_Chr._ Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my heart ake +as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it. + +_Piety._ Was that all that you saw at the House of the _Interpreter_? + +_Chr._ No, he took me and had me where he shewed me a stately Palace, +and how the people were clad in Gold that were in it; and how there +came a venturous man and cut his way through the armed men that stood +in the door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in, and win +eternal Glory. Methought those things did ravish my heart; I could +have stayed at that good man's house a twelve-month, but that I knew I +had further to go. + +_Piety._ And what saw you else in the way? + +_Chr._ Saw! Why, I went but a little further, and I saw one, as I +thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the Tree; and the very sight of +him made my Burden fall off my back (for I groaned under a weary +Burden), but then it fell down from off me. 'Twas a strange thing to +me, for I never saw such a thing before; yea, and while I stood +looking up (for then I could not forbear looking) three Shining Ones +came to me. One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; +another stript me of my Rags, and gave me this broidred Coat which you +see; and the third set the Mark which you see, in my forehead, and +gave me this sealed Roll (and with that he plucked it out of his +bosom). + +_Piety._ But you saw more then this, did you not? + +_Chr._ The things that I have told you were the best; yet some other +matters I saw, as namely I saw three men, _Simple_, _Sloth_, and +_Presumption_, lye asleep a little out of the way as I came, with +Irons upon their heels; but do you think I could awake them? I also +saw _Formalist_ and _Hypocrisie_ come tumbling over the wall, to go, +as they pretended, to _Sion_; but they were quickly lost; even as I +myself did tell them, but they would not believe. But, above all I +found it hard work to get up this Hill, and as hard to come by the +Lion's mouths; and truly if it had not been for the good man, the +Porter that stands at the Gate, I do not know but that after all I +might have gone back again; but now I thank God I am here, and I thank +you for receiving of me. + +Then _Prudence_ thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired +his answer to them. + +_Prud._ Do you not think sometimes of the Country from whence you +came? + +_Chr._ Yes, but with much shame and detestation: Truly, if I had been +mindful of that Country from whence I came out, I might have had +opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better Country, that +is, an Heavenly. + +_Prud._ Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then +you were conversant withal? + +_Chr._ Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and +carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, +were delighted; but now all those things are my grief; and might I but +chuse mine own things, I would chuse never to think of those things +more; but when I would be doing of that which is best, that which is +worst is with me. + +_Prud._ Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were vanquished, +which at other times are your perplexity? + +_Chr._ Yes, but that is seldom; but they are to me golden hours in +which such things happen to me. + +_Prud._ Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances at +times, as if they were vanquished? + +_Chr._ Yes, when I think what I saw at the Cross, that will do it; and +when I look upon my broidered Coat, that will do it; also when I look +into the Roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my +thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it. + +_Prud._ And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount +_Zion_? + +_Chr._ Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the +Cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day +are in me an annoyance to me; there, they say, there is no death; and +there I shall dwell with such Company as I like best. For to tell you +truth, I love him, because I was by him eased of my Burden, and I am +weary of my inward sickness; I would fain be where I shall die no +more, and with the Company that shall continually cry, _Holy, Holy, +Holy_. + +Then said _Charity_ to _Christian_, Have you a family? Are you a +married man? + +_Chr._ I have a Wife and four small Children. + +_Char._ And why did you not bring them along with you? + +_Chr._ Then _Christian_ wept, and said, Oh, how willingly would I have +done it, but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on +Pilgrimage. + +_Char._ But you should have talked to them, and have endeavoured to +have shewen them the danger of being behind. + +_Chr._ So I did, and told them also what God had shewed to me of the +destruction of our City; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and +they believed me not. + +_Char._ And did you pray to God that he would bless your counsel to +them? + +_Chr._ Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my +Wife and poor Children were very dear unto me. + +_Char._ But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of +destruction? For I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you. + +_Chr._ Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears in +my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the +apprehension of the Judgment that did hang over our heads; but all was +not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me. + +_Char._ But what could they say for themselves, why they came not? + +_Chr._ Why, my Wife was afraid of losing this World, and my Children +were given to the foolish Delights of youth: so what by one thing, and +what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone. + +_Char._ But did you not with your vain life, damp all that you by +words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you? + +_Chr._ Indeed I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious to myself +of many failings therein: I know also, that a man by his conversation +may soon overthrow, what by argument or persuasion he doth labour to +fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary +of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse +to going on Pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would tell me I +was too precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) +in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say, that if what they +saw in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning +against God, or of doing any wrong to my Neighbour. + +_Char._ Indeed _Cain_ hated his Brother, because his own works were +evil, and his Brother's righteous; and if thy Wife and Children have +been offended with thee for this, they thereby shew themselves to be +implacable to good, and thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood. + +Now I saw in my Dream, that thus they sat talking together until +supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. +Now the Table was furnished with fat things, and with Wine that was +well refined: and all their talk at the Table was about the LORD of +the Hill; as namely, about what HE had done, and wherefore HE did what +HE did, and why HE had builded that House: and by what they said, I +perceived that he had been a _great Warriour_, and had fought with and +slain him that had the power of Death, but not without great danger to +himself, which made me love him the more. + +For, as they said, and as I believe (said _Christian_), he did it with +the loss of much blood; but that which put Glory of Grace into all he +did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his Country. And besides, +there were some of them of the Household that said they had seen and +spoke with him since he did dye on the Cross; and they have attested +that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor +Pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the East to the West, + +They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was, He +had stript himself of his glory, that he might do this for the Poor; +and that they heard him say and affirm, That he would not dwell in the +Mountain of _Zion_ alone. They said moreover, that he had made many +Pilgrims Princes, though by nature they were Beggars born, and their +original had been the Dunghill. + +Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had +committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook +themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, +whose window opened towards the Sun-rising; the name of the chamber +was _Peace_, where he slept till break of day; and then he awoke and +sang,-- + + "Where am I now? Is this the love and care + Of Jesus for the men that Pilgrims are + Thus to provide! That I should be forgiven! + And dwell already the next door to Heaven!" + +So in the morning they all got up, and after some more discourse, they +told him that he should not depart till they had shewed him the +_Rarities_ of that place. And first they had him into the Study, where +they shewed him Records of the greatest Antiquity; in which, as I +remember my Dream, they shewed him first the _Pedigree_ of the Lord of +the Hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by an +Eternal Generation. Here also was more fully recorded the Acts that he +had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his +service; and how he had placed them in such Habitations that could +neither by length of Days, nor decaies of Nature, be dissolved. + +Then they read to him some of the worthy Acts that some of his +Servants had done: as, how they had subdued Kingdoms, wrought +Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of Lions, +quenched the violence of Fire, escaped the edge of the Sword; out of +weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to +flight the Armies of the _Aliens_. + +Then they read again in another part of the Records of the house, +where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his +favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered great +affronts to his Person and proceedings. Here also were several other +Histories of many other famous things, of all which _Christian_ had a +view; as of things both Ancient and Modern; together with Prophecies +and Predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both +to the dread and amazement of Enemies, and the comfort and solace of +Pilgrims. + +The next day they took him and had him into the Armory, where they +shewed him all manner of Furniture, which their Lord had provided for +Pilgrims, as Sword, Shield, Helmet, Brestplate, _All-prayer_, and +Shooes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to +harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be +Stars in the Heaven for multitude. + +They also shewed him some of the Engines with which some of his +Servants had done wonderful things. They shewed him _Moses'_ Rod; the +Hammer and Nail with which _Jael_ slew _Sisera_; the Pitchers, +Trumpets, and Lamps too, with which _Gideon_ put to flight the Armies +of _Midian_. Then they shewed him the Oxes goad wherewith _Shamger_ +slew six hundred men. They shewed him also the Jaw-bone with which +_Samson_ did such mighty feats. They shewed him moreover the Sling and +Stone with which _David_ slew _Goliath_ of _Gath_; and the Sword also +with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in the day that he +shall rise up to the prey. They shewed him besides many excellent +things, with which _Christian_ was much delighted. This done, they +went to their rest again. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, +but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said +they, we will (if the day be clear) shew you the Delectable Mountains, +which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they +were nearer the desired Haven then the place where at present he was. +So he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to +the top of the House, and bid him look South; so he did: and behold at +a great distance he saw a most pleasant Mountainous Country, +beautified with Woods, Vinyards, Fruits of all sorts, Flowers also; +Springs and Fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the +name of the Country. They said it was _Immanuel's Land_; and it is as +common, said they, as this _Hill_ is, to and for all the Pilgrims. And +when thou comest there, from thence, said they, thou maist see to the +gate of the Coelestial City, as the Shepheards that live there will +make appear. + +Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he +should: but first, said they, let us go again into the Armory. So they +did; and when they came there they harnessed him from head to foot +with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in +the way. He being therefore thus acoutred, walketh out with his +friends to the Gate, and there he asked the Porter if he saw any +Pilgrims pass by. Then the Porter answered, Yes. + +[Illustration: NOW HE BETHOUGHT HIMSELF OF SETTING FORWARD, AND THEY +WERE WILLING HE SHOULD: BUT FIRST, SAID THEY, LET US GO AGAIN INTO THE +ARMORY. SO THEY DID; AND WHEN THEY CAME THERE THEY HARNESSED HIM FROM +HEAD TO FOOT WITH WHAT WAS OF PROOF, LEST PERHAPS HE SHOULD MEET WITH +ASSAULTS IN THE WAY. HE BEING THEREFORE THUS ACOUTRED, WALKETH OUT +WITH HIS FRIENDS TO THE GATE, AND THERE HE ASKED THE PORTER IF HE SAW +ANY PILGRIMS PASS BY] + +_Chr._ Pray, did you know him? + +_Por._ I asked his name, and he told me it was _Faithful_. + +_Chr._ O, said _Christian_, I know him; he is my Townsman, my near +Neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you +think he may be before? + +_Por._ He has got by this time below the Hill. + +_Chr._ Well, said _Christian_, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and +add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou +hast shewed to me. + +Then he began to go forward; but _Discretion_, _Piety_, _Charity_, and +_Prudence_ would accompany him down to the foot of the Hill. So they +went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came +to go down the Hill. Then said Christian, As it was difficult coming +up, so (so far as I can see) it is dangerous going down. Yes, said +_Prudence_, so it is, for it is an hard matter for a man to go down +into the Valley of _Humiliation_, as thou art now, and to catch no +slip by the way; therefore, said they, are we come out to accompany +thee down the Hill. So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he +caught a slip or two. + +Then I saw in my Dream that these good Companions, when _Christian_ +was gone down to the bottom of the Hill, gave him a loaf of Bread, a +bottle of Wine, and a cluster of Raisins; and then he went on his way. + + + + + CHRISTIAN'S FIGHT WITH APOLLYON + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +In this Valley of _Humiliation_, poor _Christian_ was hard put up to +it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul _Fiend_ +coming over the field to meet him; his name is _Apollyon_. Then did +_Christian_ begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whither to go +back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no +Armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to +him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his +Darts. Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground. For, +thought he, had I no more in mine eye then the saving of my life, 't +would be the best way to stand. + +So he went on, and _Apollyon_ met him. Now the Monster was hidious to +behold; he was cloathed with scales like a Fish (and they are his +pride); he had wings like a Dragon, and out of his belly came Fire and +Smoak; and his mouth was as the mouth of a Lion. When he was come up +to _Christian_, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus +began to question with him. + +_Apol._ Whence come you? and whither are you bound? + +_Chr._ I come from the City of _Destruction_, which is the place of +all evil, and am going to the City of _Zion_. + +_Apol._ By this I perceive thou art one of my Subjects, for all that +Country is mine, and I am the Prince and God of it. How is it then +that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope thou +maiest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the +ground. + +_Chr._ I was born indeed in your dominions, but your service was hard, +and your wages such as a man could not live on, _for the Wages of Sin +is death_; therefore when I was come to years, I did as other +considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself. + +_Apol_ There is no Prince that will thus lightly lose his Subjects, +neither will I as yet lose thee: but since thou complainest of thy +service and wages, be content to go back; what our Country will +afford, I do here promise to give thee. + +_Chr._ But I have let myself to another, even to the King of Princes, +and how can I with fairness go back with thee? + +_Apol._ Thou hast done in this, according to the Proverb, changed a +bad for a worse; but it is ordinary for those that have professed +themselves his Servants, after a while to give him the slip, and +return again to me: do thou so too, and all shall be well. + +_Chr._ I have given him my faith, and sworn my Allegiance to him; how +then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a Traitor? + +_Apol._ Thou diddest the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by +all, if now thou will turn again and go back. + +_Chr._ What I promised thee was in my nonage; and besides, I count +that the Prince under whose Banner now I stand is able to absolve me; +yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee; and +besides, O thou destroying _Apollyon_, to speak truth, I like his +Service, his Wages, his Servants, his Government, his Company and +Country, better than thine; and therefore leave off to perswade me +further; I am his Servant, and I will follow him. + +_Apol._ Consider again when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like +to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the +most part, his Servants come to an ill end, because they are +transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them have been put +to shameful deaths; and besides, thou countest his service better than +mine, whereas he never came yet from the place where he is to deliver +any that served him out of our hands; but as for me, how many times, +as all the World very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or +fraud, those that have faithfully served me, from him and his, though +taken by them; and so I will deliver thee. + +_Chr._ His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try +their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as for the +ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their +account; for, for present deliverance, they do not much expect it, for +they stay for their Glory, and then they shall have it, when their +Prince comes in his and the Glory of the Angels. + +_Apol._ Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and +how dost thou think to receive wages of him? + +_Chr._ Wherein, O _Apollyon_, have I been unfaithful to him? + +_Apol._ Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost +choked in the Gulf of _Dispond_; thou diddest attempt wrong ways to be +rid of thy Burden, whereas thou shouldest have stayed till thy Prince +had taken it off; thou didst sinfully sleep and lose thy choice thing; +thou wast also almost perswaded to go back, at the sight of the Lions; +and when thou talkest of thy Journey, and of what thou hast heard and +seen, thou art inwardly desirous of vainglory in all that thou sayest +or doest. + +_Chr._ All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out; but +the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful, and ready to forgive; +but besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy Country, for there +I sucked them in, and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, +and have obtained pardon of my Prince. + +_Apol._ Then _Apollyon_ broke out into a grievous rage, saying, I am +an enemy to this Prince; I hate his Person, his Laws, and People; I am +come out on purpose to withstand thee. + +_Chr._ _Apollyon_, beware what you do, for I am in the King's +High-way, the way of Holiness, therefore take heed to yourself. + +_Apol._ Then _Apollyon_ strodled quite over the whole breadth of the +way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter, prepare thyself to +dye; for I swear thou shalt go no further; here will I spill thy soul. + +And with that he threw a flaming Dart at his brest, but _Christian_ +had a Shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented +the danger of that. + +Then did _Christian_ draw, for he saw 'twas time to bestir him: and +_Apollyon_ as fast made at him, throwing Darts as thick as Hail; by +the which, notwithstanding all that _Christian_ could do to avoid it, +_Apollyon_ wounded him in his _head_, his _hand_, and _foot_. This +made _Christian_ give a little back; _Apollyon_ therefore followed his +work amain, and _Christian_ again took courage, and resisted as +manfully as he could. This sore Combat lasted for above half a day, +even till _Christian_ was almost quite spent. For you must know that +_Christian_, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and +weaker. + +Then _Apollyon_ espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to +_Christian_, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and +with that _Christian's_ Sword flew out of his hand. Then said +_Apollyon_, _I am sure of thee now_: and with that he had almost prest +him to death, so that _Christian_ began to despair of life. But as God +would have it, while _Apollyon_ was fetching of his last blow, thereby +to make a full end of this good Man, _Christian_ nimbly reached out +his hand for his Sword, and caught it, saying, _Rejoyce not against +me, O mine Enemy! when I fall I shall arise_; and with that gave him a +deadly thrust, which made him give back, as one that had received his +mortal wound: _Christian_ perceiving that, made at him again, saying, +_Nay, in all these things we are more then Conquerours_. And with that +_Apollyon_ spread forth his Dragon's wings, and sped him away, that +_Christian_ for a season saw him no more. + +In this Combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard as I +did, what yelling and hideous roaring _Apollyon_ made all the time of +the fight; he spake like a Dragon: and on the other side, what sighs +and groans brast from _Christian's_ heart. I never saw him all the +while give so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had +wounded _Apollyon_ with his two-edged Sword; then indeed he did smile, +and look upward; but 'twas the dreadfullest sight that ever I saw. + +So when the Battel was over, _Christian_ said, I will here give thanks +to him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the Lion, to him +that did help me against _Apollyon_. And so he did, saying,-- + + "Great _Beelzebub_, the Captain of this Fiend, + Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end + He sent him harnest out: and he with rage + That hellish was, did fiercely me ingage: + But blessed _Michael_ helped me, and I + By dint of Sword did quickly make him fly. + Therefore to him let me give lasting praise, + And thank and bless his holy name always." + +Then there came to him an hand, with some of the leaves of the Tree of +Life, the which _Christian_ took, and applyed to the wounds that he +had received in the Battel, and was healed immediately. He also sat +down in that place to eat Bread, and to drink of the Bottle that was +given him a little before; so being refreshed, he addressed himself to +his Journey, with his Sword drawn in his hand; for he said, I know not +but some other Enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other affront +from _Apollyon_ quite through this Valley. + + + + + THE CASTLE OF GIANT DESPAIR + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +I saw then that they went on their way to a pleasant River, which +_David_ the King called the _River of God_, but _John_, the _River of +the Water of Life_. Now their way lay just upon the bank of the River; +here therefore _Christian_ and his Companion walked with great +delight; they drank also of the water of the River, which was pleasant +and enlivening to their weary spirits: besides, on the banks of this +River on either side were green Trees, that bore all manner of Fruit; +and the Leaves of the Trees were good for Medicine; with the Fruit of +these Trees they were also much delighted; and the Leaves they eat to +prevent Surfeits, and other Diseases that are incident to those that +heat their blood by Travels. On either side of the River was also a +Meadow, curiously beautified with Lilies; and it was green all the +year long. In this Meadow they lay down and slept, for here they might +lie down safely. When they awoke, they gathered again of the Fruit of +the Trees, and drank again of the water of the River, and then lay +down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they +sang,-- + + "Behold ye how these Christal streams do glide, + (To comfort Pilgrims) by the High-way side; + The Meadows green, besides their fragrant smell, + Yield dainties for them: and he that can tell + What pleasant Fruit, yea Leaves, these Trees do yield, + Will soon sell all, that he may buy this Field." + +So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as yet at their +Journey's end), they eat and drank, and departed. + +Now I beheld in my Dream, that they had not journied far, but the +River and the way for a time parted; at which they were not a little +sorry, yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the +River was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their Travels; _so +the soul of the Pilgrims was much discouraged because of the way_. +Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for better way. Now a +little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a Meadow, +and a Stile to go over into it, and that Meadow is called +_Bypath-Meadow._ Then said _Christian_ to his fellow, If this Meadow +lieth along by our way-side, let's go over into it. Then he went to +the Stile to see, and behold a Path lay along by the way on the other +side of the fence. 'Tis according to my wish, said _Christian_, here +is the easiest going; come, good _Hopeful_, and let us go over. + +_Hope._ But how if this Path should lead us out of the way? + +_Chr._ That's not like, said the other; look, doth it not go along by +the way-side? So _Hopeful_, being perswaded by his fellow, went after +him over the Stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the +Path, they found it very easie for their feet: and withal, they +looking before them, espied a man walking as they did (and his name +was _Vain-confidence_), so they called after him, and asked him +whither that way led? He said, To the Coelestial Gate. Look, said +_Christian_, did I not tell you so? By this you may see we are right. +So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came +on, and it grew very dark, so that they that were behind lost the +sight of him that went before. + +He therefore that went before (_Vain-confidence_ by name), not seeing +the way before him, fell into a deep Pit, which was on purpose there +made by the Prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools +withall, and was dashed in pieces with his fall. + +Now _Christian_ and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know +the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. +Then said _Hopeful_, Where are we now? Then was his fellow silent as +mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to +rain, and thunder, and lighten in a very dreadful manner, and the +water rose amain. + +Then _Hopeful_ groaned in himself, saying, Oh that I had kept on my +way! + +_Chr._ Who could have thought that this Path should have led us out of +the way? + +_Hope._ I was afraid on't at very first, and therefore gave you that +gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer, but that you are older +then I. + +_Chr._ Good Brother, be not offended; I am sorry I have brought thee +out of the way, and that I have put thee into such eminent danger; +pray, my Brother, forgive me, I did not do it of an evil intent. + +_Hope._ Be comforted, my Brother, for I forgive thee; and believe too +that this shall be for our good. + +_Chr._ I am glad I have with me a merciful Brother; but we must not +stand thus, let's try to go back again. + +_Hope._ But, good Brother, let me go before. + +_Chr._ No, if you please, let me go first, that if there be any +danger, I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone +out of the way. + +_Hope._ No, said _Hopeful_, you shall not go first; for your mind +being troubled may lead you out of the way again. Then for their +encouragement, they heard the voice of one saying _Let thine heart be +towards the Highway, even the way that thou wentest, turn again_. But +by this time the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which the way +of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier +going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) +Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark, and the flood was +so high, that in their going back they had liked to have been drowned +nine or ten times. + +Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the +Stile that night. Wherefore at last, lighting under a little shelter, +they sat down there till the day brake; but being weary, they fell +asleep. Now there was not far from the place where they lay, a Castle +called _Doubting_ Castle, the owner whereof was Giant _Despair_, and +it was in his grounds they now were sleeping: wherefore he, getting up +in the morning early, and walking up and down in his Fields, caught +_Christian_ and _Hopeful_ asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and +surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were? and +what they did in his grounds? They told him they were Pilgrims, and +that they had lost their way. Then said the Giant, You have this night +trespassed on me, by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and +therefore you must go along with me. So they were forced to go, +because he was stronger then they. They also had but little to say, +for they knew themselves in a fault. The Giant therefore drove them +before him, and put them into his Castle, into a very dark Dungeon, +nasty and stinking to the spirits of these two men. Here then they lay +from _Wednesday_ morning till _Saturday_ night, without one bit of +bread, or drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did; they +were therefore here in evil case, and were far from friends and +acquaintance. Now in this place _Christian_ had double sorrow, because +'twas through his unadvised haste that they were brought into this +distress. + +[Illustration: NOW THERE WAS NOT FAR FROM THE PLACE WHERE THEY LAY, A +CASTLE CALLED DOUBTING CASTLE, THE OWNER WHEREOF WAS GIANT DESPAIR.... +HE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING EARLY, AND WALKING UP AND DOWN IN HIS +FIELDS, CAUGHT CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL ASLEEP IN HIS GROUNDS. THEN WITH +A GRIM AND SURLY VOICE HE BID THEM AWAKE, AND ASKED THEM WHENCE THEY +WERE AND WHAT THEY DID IN HIS GROUNDS. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE +PILGRIMS, AND THAT THEY HAD LOST THEIR WAY. THEN SAID THE GIANT, YOU +HAVE THIS NIGHT TRESPASSED ON ME] + +Now Giant _Despair_ had a Wife and her name was _Diffidence_. So when +he was gone to bed, he told his Wife what he had done, to wit, that he +had taken a couple of Prisoners and cast them into his Dungeon, for +trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked her also what he had best do +further to them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, +and whither they were bound; and he told her. Then she counselled him +that when he arose in the morning he should beat them without any +mercy. So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous Crab-tree Cudgel, +and goes down into the Dungeon to them, and there first falls to +rating of them as if they were dogs, although they gave him never a +word of distaste. Then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, +in such sort, that they were not able to help themselves, or to turn +them upon the floor. This done, he withdraws and leaves them, there to +condole their misery, and to mourn under their distress: so all that +day they spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. +The next night she talking with her Husband about them further, and +understanding that they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them +to make away themselves. So when morning was come, he goes to them in +a surly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very sore with the +stripes that he had given them the day before, he told them, that +since they were never like to come out of that place, their only way +would be forthwith to make an end of themselves, either with Knife, +Halter, or Poison. For why, said he, should you chuse life, seeing it +is attended with so much bitterness? But they desired him to let them +go. With that he looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them had +doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of +his Fits (for he sometimes in Sunshine weather fell into Fits) and +lost for a time the use of his hand; wherefore he withdrew, and left +them as before, to consider what to do. Then did the Prisoners consult +between themselves, whether 'twas best to take his counsel or no; and +thus they began to discourse:-- + +_Chr._ Brother, said _Christian_, what shall we do? The life that we +now live is miserable: for my part I know not whether is best, to live +thus, or to die out of hand. _My soul chuseth strangling rather than +life_, and the Grave is more easy for me than this Dungeon. Shall we +be ruled by the Giant? + +_Hope._ Indeed our present condition is dreadful, and death would be +far more welcome to me than thus for ever to abide; but yet let us +consider, the Lord of the Country to which we are going hath said, +Thou shalt do no murder, no not to another man's person; much more +then are we forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourselves. Besides, +he that kills another can but commit murder upon his body; but for one +to kill himself is to kill body and soul at once. And moreover, my +Brother, thou talkest of ease in the Grave; but hast thou forgotten +the Hell, whither for certain the murderers go? For no murderer hath +eternal life, _&c._ And let us consider again, that all the Law is not +in the hand of Giant _Despair_. Others, so far as I can understand, +have been taken by him as well as we, and yet have escaped out of his +hand. Who knows but that God that made the world may cause that Giant +_Despair_ may die? Or that at some time or other he may forget to lock +us in? Or but he may in short time have another of his Fits before us, +and may lose the use of his limbs? And if ever that should come to +pass again, for my part I am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, +and to try my utmost to get from under his hand. I was a fool that I +did not try to do it before; but however, my Brother, let's be +patient, and endure a while; the time may come that may give us a +happy release; but let us not be our own murderers. With these words +_Hopeful_ at present did moderate the mind of his Brother. So they +continued together (in the dark) that day, in their sad and doleful +condition. + +Well, towards evening the Giant goes down into the Dungeon again, to +see if his Prisoners had taken his counsel; but when he came there he +found them alive, and truly, alive was all; for now, what for want of +Bread and Water, and by reason of the Wounds they received when he +beat them, they could do little but breathe. But, I say, he found them +alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told them that +seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should be worse with them +than if they had never been born. + +At this they trembled greatly, and I think that _Christian_ fell into +a Swound; but coming a little to himself again, they renewed their +discourse about the Giant's counsel, and whether yet they had best to +take it or no. Now _Christian_ again seemed to be for doing it, but +_Hopeful_ made his second reply as followeth: + +_Hope._ My Brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant thou +hast been heretofore? _Apollyon_ could not crush thee, nor could all +that thou didst hear, or see, or feel in the Valley of the _Shadow of +Death_. What hardship, terror, and amazement hast thou already gone +through, and art thou now nothing but fear? Thou seest that I am in +the Dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by nature than thou art; also +this Giant has wounded me as well as thee, and hath also cut off the +Bread and Water from my mouth; and with thee I mourn without the +light. But let's exercise a little more patience; remember how thou +played'st the man at _Vanity Fair_, and wast neither afraid of the +Chain, nor Cage, nor yet of bloody Death: wherefore let us (at least +to avoid the shame, that becomes not a Christian to be found in) bear +up with patience as well as we can. + +Now night being come again, and the Giant and his Wife being in bed, +she asked him concerning the Prisoners, and if they had taken his +counsel. To which he replied, They are sturdy Rogues, they chuse +rather to bear all hardship, than to make away themselves. Then said +she, Take them into the Castle-yard to-morrow, and shew them the Bones +and Skulls of those that thou hast already dispatch'd, and make them +believe, e're a week comes to an end, thou also wilt tear them in +pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them. + +So when the morning was come, the Giant goes to them again, and takes +them into the Castle-yard and shews them as his Wife had bidden him. +These, said he, were Pilgrims as you are, once, and they trespassed in +my grounds, as you have done; and when I thought fit I tore them in +pieces, and so within ten days I will do you. Go get you down to your +Den again; and with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay +therefore all day on _Saturday_ in a lamentable case, as before. Now +when night was come, and when Mrs. _Diffidence_ and her Husband the +Giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their +Prisoners; and withal the old Giant wondered, that he could neither by +his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with that his Wife +replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hope that some will come +to relieve them, or that they have pick-locks about them, by the means +of which they hope to escape. And sayest thou so, my dear? said the +Giant, I will therefore search them in the morning. + +Well on _Saturday_ about midnight they began to pray, and continued in +Prayer till almost break of day. + +Now a little before it was day, good _Christian_, as one half amazed, +brake out in this passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus +to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I +have a Key in my bosom called _Promise_, that will, I am persuaded, +open any Lock in _Doubting_ Castle. Then said _Hopeful_, That's good +news; good Brother, pluck it out of thy bosom and try. + +Then _Christian_ pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the +Dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the Key) gave back, and the +door flew open with ease, and _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ both came out. +Then he went to the outward door that leads into the Castle-yard, and +with his Key opened that door also. After, he went to the iron Gate, +for that must be opened too, but that Lock went damnable hard, yet the +Key did open it. Then they thrust open the Gate to make their escape +with speed, but that Gate as it opened made such a creaking, that it +waked Giant _Despair_, who hastily rising to pursue his Prisoners, +felt his limbs to fail, so that he could by no means go after them. +Then they went on, and came to the King's High-way again, and so were +safe, because they were out of his Jurisdiction. + +Now when they were gone over the Stile, they began to contrive with +themselves what they should do at that Stile, to prevent those that +should come after from falling into the hands of Giant _Despair_. So +they consented to erect there a Pillar, and to engrave upon the side +thereof this sentence, _Over this Stile is the way to_ Doubting +_Castle, which is kept by Giant_ Despair, _who despiseth the King of +the Coelestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy Pilgrims_. +Many therefore that followed after read what was written, and escaped +the danger. This done, they sang as follows:-- + + "Out of the way we went, and then we found + What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground; + And let them that come after have a care, + Lest heedlessness makes them, as we, to fare; + Lest they for trespassing his prisoners are, + Whose Castle's _Doubting_, and whose name's _Despair_." + + + + + THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +They went then till they came to the _Delectable Mountains_, which +Mountains belong to the Lord of that Hill of which we have spoken +before; so they went up to the Mountains, to behold the Gardens and +Orchards, the Vineyards and Fountains of water; where also they drank, +and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the Vineyards. Now there +was on the tops of these Mountains _Shepherds_ feeding their flocks, +and they stood by the High-way side. The Pilgrims therefore went to +them, and leaning upon their staves (as is common with weary Pilgrims, +when they stand to talk with any by the way) they asked, _Whose +Delectable Mountains are these? And whose be the sheep that feed upon +them_? + +_Shep._ These mountains are _Immanuel's Land_, and they are within +sight of his City; and the sheep also are his, and he laid down his +life for them. + +_Chr._ Is this the way to the Coelestial City? + +_Shep._ You are just in your way. + +_Chr._ How far is it thither? + +_Shep._ Too far for any but those that shall get thither +indeed. + +_Chr._ Is the way safe or dangerous? + +_Shep._ Safe for those for whom it is to be safe, _but transgressors +shall fall therein_. + +_Chr._ Is there in this place any relief for Pilgrims that are weary +and faint in the way? + +_Shep._ The Lord of these Mountains hath given us a charge _not to be +forgetful to entertain strangers_; therefore the good of the place is +before you. + +I saw also in my Dream, that when the Shepherds perceived that they +were way-fairing men, they also put questions to them, (to which they +made answer as in other places) as, Whence came you? and, How got you +into the way? and, By what means have you so persevered therein? For +but few of them that begin to come hither do shew their face on these +Mountains. But when the Shepherds heard their answers, being pleased +therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, Welcome to +the Delectable Mountains. + +The Shepherds, I say, whose names were _Knowledge_, _Experience_, +_Watchful_, and _Sincere_, took them by the hand, and had them to +their Tents, and made them partake of that which was ready at present. +They said moreover, We would that ye should stay here a while, to +acquaint with us; and yet more to solace yourselves with the good of +these Delectable Mountains. They told them that they were content to +stay; and so they went to their rest that night, because it was very +late. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that in the morning the Shepherds called up +_Christian_ and _Hopeful_ to walk with them upon the Mountains; so +they went forth with them, and walked a while, having a pleasant +prospect on every side. Then said the Shepherds one to another, Shall +we shew these Pilgrims some wonders? So when they had concluded to do +it, they had them first to the top of an Hill called _Errour_, which +was very steep on the furthest side, and bid them look down to the +bottom. So _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ lookt down, and saw at the bottom +several men dashed all to pieces by a fall that they had from the top. +Then said _Christian_, What meaneth this? The Shepherds answered, Have +you not heard of them that were made to err, by hearkening to +_Hymeneus_ and _Philetus_, as concerning the Faith of the Resurrection +of the Body? They answered, Yes. Then said the Shepherds, Those that +you see lie dashed in pieces at the bottom of this Mountain are they; +and they have continued to this day unburied (as you see) for an +example to others to take heed how they clamber too high, or how they +come too near the brink of this Mountain. + +Then I saw that they had them to the top of another Mountain, and the +name of that is _Caution_, and bid them look afar off; which when they +did, they perceived, as they thought, several men walking up and down +among the Tombs that were there; and they perceived that the men were +blind, because they stumbled sometimes upon the Tombs, and because +they could not get out from among them. Then said _Christian_, _What +means this_? + +The Shepherds then answered, Did you not see a little below these +Mountains a Stile, that led into a Meadow, on the left hand of this +way? They answered, Yes. Then said the Shepherds, From that Stile +there goes a path that leads directly to _Doubting_ Castle, which is +kept by Giant _Despair_; and these men (pointing to them among the +Tombs) came once on Pilgrimage, as you do now, even till they came to +that same Stile; and because the right way was rough in that place, +they chose to go out of it into that Meadow, and there were taken by +Giant _Despair_, and cast into _Doubting_ Castle; where after they had +been awhile kept in the Dungeon, he at last did put out their eyes, +and led them among those Tombs, where he has left them to wander to +this very day, that the saying of the Wise Man might be fulfilled, _He +that wandereth out of the way of understanding, shall remain in the +Congregation of the dead_. Then _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ looked upon +one another, with tears gushing out, but yet said nothing to the +Shepherds. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that the Shepherds had them to another place, +in a bottom, where was a door in the side of a Hill; and they opened +the door, and bid them look in. They looked in therefore, and saw that +within it was very dark and smoaky; they also thought that they heard +there a lumbring noise as of Fire, and a cry of some tormented, and +that they smelt the scent of Brimstone. Then said _Christian_, _What +means this?_ The Shepherds told them, This is a by-way to Hell, a way +that Hypocrites go in at; namely, such as sell their Birthright, with +_Esau_; such as sell their Master, as _Judas_; such as blaspheme the +Gospel, with _Alexander_; and that lie and dissemble, with _Ananias_ +and _Sapphira_ his Wife. + +_Hope._ Then said _Hopeful_ to the Shepherds, I perceive that these +had on them, even every one, a shew of Pilgrimage, as we have now; had +they not? + +_Shep._ Yes, and held it a long time too. + +_Hope._ How far might they go on Pilgrimage in their day, since they +notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away? + +_Shep._ Some further, and some not so far as these Mountains. + +Then said the Pilgrims one to another, We had need to cry to the +Strong for strength. + +_Shep._ Ay, and you will have need to use it when you have it too. + +By this time the Pilgrims had a desire to go forwards, and the +Shepherds a desire they should; so they walked together towards the +end of the Mountains. Then said the Shepherds one to another, Let us +here shew to the Pilgrims the Gates of the Coelestial City, if they +have still to look through our Perspective-Glass. The Pilgrims then +lovingly accepted the motion; so they had them to the top of an high +Hill, called _Clear_, and gave them their Glass to look. + +Then they assayed to look, but the remembrance of that last thing that +the Shepherds had shewed them, made their hands shake, by means of +which impediment they could not look steddily through the Glass; yet +they thought they saw something like the Gate, and also some of the +Glory of the place. Then they went away. + + + + + THE PILGRIMS WANDER FROM THE WAY + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +Christian and Hopeful went then till they came at a place where they +saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed withal to lie as +straight as the way which they should go: and here they knew not which +of the two to take, for both seemed straight before them; therefore +here they stood still to consider. And as they were thinking about the +way, behold a man black of flesh, but covered with a very light Robe, +came to them, and asked them why they stood there? They answered they +were going to the Coelestial City, but knew not which of these ways +to take. Follow me, said the man, it is thither that I am going. So +they followed him in the way that but now came into the road, which by +degrees turned, and turned them so from the City that they desired to +go to, that in little time their faces were turned away from it: yet +they followed him. But by-and-by, before they were aware, he led them +both within the compass of a Net, in which they were both so +intangled, that they knew not what to do; and with that the white Robe +fell off the black man's back: then they saw where they were. +Wherefore there they lay crying some time, for they could not get +themselves out. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_ to his fellow, Now do I see myself in an +errour. Did not the Shepherds bid us beware of the Flatterers? As is +the saying of the Wise man, so we have found it this day, _A man that +flattereth his Neighbour, spreadeth a Net for his feet_. + +_Hope._ They also gave us a Note of directions about the way, for our +more sure finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, +and have not kept ourselves from the Paths of the Destroyer. Here +_David_ was wiser than wee; for saith he, _Concerning the works of +men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the Paths of the +Destroyer_. Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the Net. At last +they espied a Shining One coming towards them with a Whip of small +cord in his hand. When he was come to the place where they were, he +asked them whence they came? and what they did there? They told him +that they were poor Pilgrims going to _Sion_, but were led out of +their way by a black man, cloathed in white, who bid us, said they, +follow him, for he was going thither too. Then said he with the Whip, +It is _Flatterer_, a false Apostle, that hath transformed himself into +an Angel of Light. So he rent the Net, and let the men out. Then said +he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again: so he led +them back to the way which they had left to follow the _Flatterer_. +Then he asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night? They +said, With the Shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains. He asked them +then, If they had not of them Shepherds a Note of direction for the +way? They answered, Yes. But did you, said he, when you was at a +stand, pluck out and read your Note? They answered, No. He asked them, +Why? They said they forgot. He asked moreover, If the Shepherds did +not bid them beware of the _Flatterer?_ They answered, Yes; but we did +not imagine, said they, that this fine-spoken man had been he. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that he commanded them to lie down; which when +they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the good way wherein +they should walk; and as he chastised them he said, _As many as I +love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent_. This +done, he bids them go on their way, and take good heed to the other +directions of the Shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, +and went softly along the right way. + + "Come hither, you that walk along the way, + See how the Pilgrims fare that go astray; + They catched are in an intangling Net, + 'Cause they good Counsel lightly did forget; + 'Tis true they rescu'd were, but yet you see + They're scourg'd to boot: Let this your caution be." + +Now after a while, they perceived afar off one coming softly and alone +all along the High-way to meet them. Then said _Christian_ to his +fellow, Yonder is a man with his back toward _Sion_, and he is coming +to meet us. + +_Hope._ I see him, let us take heed to ourselves now, lest he should +prove a _Flatterer_ also. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last +came up unto them. His name was _Atheist_, and he asked them whither +they were going? + +_Chr._ We are going to Mount _Zion_. + +Then _Atheist_ fell into a very great Laughter. + +_Chr._ What is the meaning of your Laughter? + +_Atheist._ I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon +you so tedious a Journey, and yet are like to have nothing but your +travel for your paines. + +_Chr._ Why, man? Do you think we shall not be received? + +_Atheist._ Received! There is no such place as you dream of in all +this World. + +_Chr._ But there is in the World to come. + +_Atheist._ When I was at home in mine own Country, I heard as you now +affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking +this City this twenty years; but find no more of it than I did the +first day I set out. + +_Chr._ We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be +found. + +_Atheist._ Had not I when at home believed, I had not come thus far to +seek; but finding none, (and yet I should, had there been such a place +to be found, for I have gone to seek it further than you) I am going +back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I +then cast away, for hopes of that which I now see is not. + +_Chr._ Then said _Christian_ to _Hopeful_ his fellow, Is it true which +this man hath said? + +_Hope._ Take heed, he is one of the _Flatterers_; remember what it +hath cost us once already for our harkening to such kind of Fellows. +What! no Mount _Sion_? Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains +the Gate of the City? Also, are we not now to walk by Faith? Let us go +on, said _Hopeful_, lest the man with the Whip overtakes us again. You +should have taught me that lesson, which I will round you in the ears +withall: _Cease, my Son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err +from the words of knowledge_. I say, my Brother, cease to hear him, +and let us believe to the saving of the Soul. + +_Chr._ My Brother, I did not put the question to thee for that I +doubted of the Truth of our belief myself, but to prove thee, and to +fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. As for this man, +I know that he is blinded by the god of this World. Let thee and I go +on, knowing that we have belief of the Truth, and no lie is of the +Truth. + +_Hope._ Now do I rejoyce in hope of the glory of God. So they turned +away from the man; and he laughing at them went his way. + + + + + THE CELESTIAL CITY + + _By John Bunyan_ + + +Now I saw in my Dream, that by this time the Pilgrims were entering +into the Country of _Beulah_, whose air was very sweet and pleasant, +the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a +season. Yea, here they heard continually the singing of Birds, and saw +every day the Flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the +Turtle in the Land. In this Country the Sun shineth night and day; +wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the _Shadow of Death_, and +also out of the reach of Giant _Despair_, neither could they from this +place so much as see _Doubting_ Castle. Here they were within sight of +the City they were going to, also here met them some of the +inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly +walked, because it was upon the borders of Heaven. In this land also +the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed; yea, +here, _as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride, so did their God +rejoice over them_. Here they had no want of Corn and Wine; for in +this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all +their Pilgrimage. Here they heard voices from out of the City, loud +voices, saying, _Say ye to the daughter of_ Zion, _Behold thy +salvation cometh, behold his reward is with him_. Here all the +inhabitants of the Country called them, _The holy People, The redeemed +of the Lord, Sought out_, &c. + +Now as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing then in parts +more remote from the Kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing +near to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was +builded of Pearls and Precious Stones, also the Street thereof was +paved with Gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the City, +and the reflection of the Sun-beams upon it, _Christian_ with desire +fell sick; _Hopeful_ also had a fit or two of the same disease. +Wherefore here they lay by it a while, crying out because of their +pangs, _If you see my Beloved, tell him that I am sick of love_. + +But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their +sickness, they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, +where were Orchards, Vineyards, and Gardens, and their gates opened +into the High-way. Now as they came up to these places, behold the +Gardiner stood in the way, to whom the Pilgrims said, Whose goodly +Vineyards and Gardens are these? He answered, They are the King's, and +are planted here for his own delights, and also for the solace of +Pilgrims. So the Gardiner had them into the Vineyards, and bid them +refresh themselves with Dainties. He also shewed them there the King's +walks, and the Arbors where he delighted to be; and here they tarried +and slept. + +Now I beheld in my Dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this +time then ever they did in all their Journey, and being in a muse +thereabout, the Gardiner said even to me, Wherefore musest thou at the +matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these Vineyards +to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to +speak. + +So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go unto +the City. But, as I said, the reflections of the Sun upon the City +(for the City was pure Gold) was so extreamly glorious, that they +could not as yet with open face behold it, but through an _Instrument_ +made for that purpose. So I saw that as they went on, there met them +two men, in Raiment that shone like Gold, also their faces shone as +the light. + +These men asked the Pilgrims whence they came, and they told them. +They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and +dangers, what comforts and pleasures they had met in the way, and they +told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two +difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City. + +_Christian_ then and his Companion asked the men to go along with +them, so they told them they would. But said they, you must obtain it +by your own Faith. So I saw in my Dream that they went on together +till they came in sight of the Gate. + +Now I further saw that betwixt them and the Gate was a River, but +there was no Bridge to go over; the River was very deep: at the sight +therefore of this River the Pilgrims were much stounded; but the men +that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at +the Gate. + +The Pilgrims then began to enquire if there was no other way to the +Gate; to which they answered, Yes, but there hath not any, save two, +to wit, _Enoch_ and _Elijah_, been permitted to tread that path, since +the foundation of the World, nor shall, untill the last Trumpet shall +sound. The Pilgrims then, especially _Christian_, began to dispond in +his mind, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by +them by which they might escape the River. Then they asked the men if +the Waters were all of a depth? They said, No; yet they could not help +them in that case, for said they, _you shall find it deeper or +shallower, as you believe in the King of the place_. + +They then addressed themselves to the Water; and entring, _Christian_ +began to sink, and crying out to his good friend _Hopeful_, he said, I +sink in deep Waters; the Billows go over my head, all his Waves go +over me, _Selah_. + +Then said the other, Be of good chear, my Brother, I feel the bottom, +and it is good. Then said _Christian_, Ah my friend, the sorrows of +death have compassed me about, I shall not see the land that flows +with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell +upon _Christian_, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in +great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember, nor +orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with +in the way of his Pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake, still +tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he +should die in that River, and never obtain entrance in at the Gate. +Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the +troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and +before he began to be a Pilgrim. 'Twas also observed that he was +troubled with apparitions of Hobgoblins and evil Spirits, for ever and +anon he would intimate so much by words. _Hopeful_ therefore here had +much adoe to keep his Brother's head above water; yea sometimes he +would be quite gone down, and then ere a while he would rise up again +half dead. _Hopeful_ also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, +Brother, I see the Gate, and men standing by to receive us. But +_Christian_ would answer, 'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for, you have +been _hopeful_ ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to +_Christian_. Ah Brother, said he, surely if I was right, he would now +arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, +and hath left me. Then said _Hopeful_, My Brother, you have quite +forgot the Text, where it is said of the wicked, _There is no band in +their death, but their strength is firm, they are not troubled as +other men, neither are they plagued like other men_. These troubles +and distresses that you go through in these Waters are no sign that +God hath forsaken you, but are sent to try you, whether you will call +to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and +live upon him in your distresses. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that _Christian_ was as in a muse a while. To +whom also _Hopeful_ added this word, _Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ +maketh thee whole_; and with that _Christian_ brake out with a loud +voice, Oh I see him again, and he tells me, _When thou passest through +the Waters, I will be with thee; and through the Rivers, they shall +not overflow thee_. Then they both took courage, and the Enemy was +after that as still as a stone untill they were gone over. _Christian_ +therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed +that the rest of the River was but shallow. Thus they got over. Now +upon the bank of the River on the other side, they saw the two shining +men again, who there waited for them; wherefore being come out of the +River, they saluted them saying, _We are ministring Spirits, sent +forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation._ Thus +they went along towards the Gate. Now you must note that the City +stood upon a mighty Hill, but the Pilgrims went up that Hill with ease +because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms; also they +had left their Mortal Garments behind them in the River, for though +they went in with them, they came out without them. They therefore +went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation upon +which the City was framed was higher than the Clouds. They therefore +went up through the Regions of the Air, sweetly talking as they went, +being comforted, because they safely got over the River, and had such +glorious Companions to attend them. + +The talk they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory of the +place, who told them that the beauty and glory of it was +inexpressible. There, said they, is the Mount _Sion_, the heavenly +_Jerusalem_, the innumerable company of Angels, and the Spirits of +Just Men made perfect. You are going now, said they, to the Paradice +of God, wherein you shall see the Tree of Life, and eat of the +never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have +white Robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with +the King, even all the days of Eternity. There you shall not see again +such things as you saw when you were in the lower Region upon the +earth, to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death, _for the +former things are passed away_. You are now going to _Abraham_, to +_Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and to the Prophets, men that God hath taken +away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon their Beds, +each one walking in his righteousness. The men then asked, What must +we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You must there +receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your +sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your +Prayers and Tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. In that +place you must wear Crowns of Gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and +vision of the Holy One, _for there you shall see him as he is_. There +also you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting, and +thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the World, though with much +difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes +shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the +pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends +again, that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy +receive even every one that follows into the holy place after you. +There also shall you be cloathed with Glory and Majesty, and put into +an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When he shall come +with sound of Trumpet in the Clouds, as upon the wings of the Wind, +you shall come with him; and when he shall sit upon the Throne of +Judgement, you shall sit by him; yea, and when he shall pass sentence +upon all the workers of Iniquity, let them be Angels or Men, you also +have a voice in that Judgement, because they were his and your +Enemies. Also when he shall again return to the City, you shall go +too, with sound of Trumpet, and be ever with him. + +Now while they were thus drawing towards the Gate, behold a company of +the Heavenly Host came out to meet them; to whom it was said by the +other two Shining Ones, These are the men that have loved our Lord +when they were in the World, and that have left all for his holy Name, +and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far +on their desired Journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer +in the face with joy. Then the Heavenly Host gave a great shout, +saying, _Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of +the Lamb_. There came out also at this time to meet them several of +the King's Trumpeters, cloathed in white and shining Raiment, who with +melodious noises and loud, made even the Heavens to echo with their +sound. These Trumpeters saluted _Christian_ and his fellow with ten +thousand welcomes from the World, and this they did with shouting and +sound of Trumpet. + +This done, they compassed them round on every side; some went before, +some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left, (as 't were +to guard them through the upper Regions) continually sounding as they +went with melodious noise, in notes on high: so that the very sight +was to them that could behold it, as if Heaven itself was come down to +meet them. Thus therefore they walked on together; and as they walked, +ever and anon these Trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by +mixing their musick with looks and gestures, still signify to +_Christian_ and his Brother, how welcome they were into their company, +and with what gladness they came to meet them; and now were these two +men as 't were in Heaven before they came at it, being swallowed up +with the sight of Angels, and with hearing of their melodious notes. +Here also they had the City itself in view, and they thought they +heard all the Bells therein ring to welcome them thereto. But above +all, the warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own +dwelling there, with such company, and that for ever and ever. Oh, by +what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed! And thus they +came up to the Gate. + +Now when they were come up to the Gate, there was written over it in +Letters of Gold, _Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they +may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates +into the City_. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that the Shining Men bid them call at the +Gate; the which when they did, some from above looked over the Gate, +to wit, _Enoch_, _Moses_, and _Elijah_, _&c._ to whom it was said, +These Pilgrims are come from the City of _Destruction_ for the love +that they bear to the King of this place; and then the Pilgrims gave +in unto them each man his Certificate, which they had received in the +beginning; those therefore were carried in to the King, who when he +had read them, said, Where are the men? To whom it was answered, They +are standing without the Gate. The King then commanded to open the +Gate, _That the righteous nation_, said he, _that keepeth Truth may +enter in_. + +Now I saw in my Dream that these two men went in at the Gate: and loe, +as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had Raiment put on +that shone like Gold. There was also that met them with Harps and +Crowns, and gave them to them, the Harps to praise withall, and the +Crowns in token of honor. Then I heard in my Dream that all the Bells +in the City rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, _Enter +ye into the joy of your Lord_. I also heard the men themselves, that +they sang with a loud voice, saying, _Blessing, Honour, Glory, and +Power be to him that sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever +and ever_. + +Now just as the Gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after +them, and behold, the City shone like the Sun; the Streets also were +paved with Gold, and in them walked many men, with Crowns on their +heads, Palms in their hands, and golden Harps to sing praises withall. + +There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another +without intermission, saying, _Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord_. And +after that they shut up the Gates. Which when I had seen, I wished +myself among them. + +Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look +back, and saw _Ignorance_ come up to the River-side; but he soon got +over, and that without half that difficulty which the other two men +met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one +_Vainhope_ a Ferry-man, that with his Boat helped him over; so he, as +the other I saw, did ascend the Hill to come up to the Gate, only he +came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least incouragement. +When he was come up to the Gate, he looked up to the writing that was +above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have +been quickly administered to him; but he was asked by the men that +lookt over the top of the Gate, Whence came you? and what would you +have? He answered, I have eat and drank in the presence of the King, +and he has taught in our Streets. Then they asked him for his +Certificate, that they might go in and shew it to the King. So he +fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, Have you +none? But the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he +would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones +that conducted _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ to the City, to go out and +take _Ignorance_, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then +they took him up, and carried him through the air to the door that I +saw in the side of the Hill, and put him in there. Then I saw that +there was a way to Hell even from the Gates of Heaven, as well as from +the City of _Destruction_. So I awoke, and behold it was a Dream. + + + + + ROBINSON CRUSOE + + + + + ROBINSON CRUSOE IS SHIPWRECKED + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +Our ship was about a hundred and twenty tons' burthen, carried six +guns and fourteen men, besides the master, his boy, and myself. We had +on board no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for +our trade with the negroes,--such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and +odd trifles, especially little looking-glasses, knives, scissors, +hatchets, and the like. + +The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the +northward upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the +African coast, when they came about ten or twelve degrees of northern +latitude, which, it seems, was the manner of their course in those +days. We had very good weather, only excessive hot, all the way upon +our own coast, till we came the height of Cape St. Augustino, from +whence, keeping farther off at sea, we lost sight of land, and steered +as if we were bound for the Isle Fernando de Noronha, holding our +course N.E. by N., and leaving those isles on the east. In this course +we passed the line in about twelve days' time, and were, by our last +observation, in 7° 22' northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or +hurricane, took us quite out of our knowledge. It began from the +southeast, came about to the northwest, and then settled into the +northeast, from whence it blew in such a terrible manner that for +twelve days together we could do nothing but drive, and, scudding away +before it, let it carry us where-ever fate and the fury of the winds +directed; and during these twelve days, I need not say that I expected +every day to be swallowed up, nor, indeed, did any in the ship expect +to save their lives. + +In this distress we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of our +men die of the calenture, and one man and the boy washed overboard. +About the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master made +an observation as well as he could, and found that he was in about +eleven degrees north latitude, but that he was twenty-two degrees of +longitude difference west from Cape St. Augustino; so that he found he +was gotten upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, +beyond the river Amazon, toward that of the river Orinoco, commonly +called the Great River, and began to consult with me what course he +should take, for the ship was leaky and very much disabled, and he was +going directly back to the coast of Brazil. + +I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the +sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited +country for us to have recourse to till we came within the circle of +the Caribbee Islands and therefore resolved to stand away for +Barbadoes, which by keeping off at sea, to avoid the indraft of the +Bay or Gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about +fifteen days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make our voyage to +the coast of Africa without some assistance, both to our ship and to +ourselves. + +With this design we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W. in +order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief; +but our voyage was otherwise determined; for being in the latitude of +12° 18', a second storm came upon us, which carried us away with the +same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the very way of all +human commerce that had all our lives been saved as to the sea, we +were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than ever returning +to our own country. + +In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men +early in the morning cried out, "Land!" and we had no sooner ran out +of the cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world +we were, but the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment, her motion +being so stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner that we +expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were +immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the +very foam and spray of the sea. + +It is not easy for any one who has not been in the like condition to +describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances. +We knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were +driven, whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not +inhabited; and as the rage of the wind was still great, though rather +less than at first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold +many minutes without breaking in pieces, unless the winds, by a kind +of miracle, should turn immediately about. In a word, we sat looking +one upon another, and expecting death every moment, and every man +acting accordingly, as preparing for another world; for there was +little or nothing more for us to do in this. That which was our +present comfort, and all the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our +expectation, the ship did not break yet, and that the master said the +wind began to abate. + +Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship +having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to +expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and +had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we +could. We had a boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was +first staved by dashing against the ship's rudder, and in the next +place she broke away, and either sunk or was driven off to sea, so +there was no hope from her; we had another boat on board, but how to +get her off into the sea was a doubtful thing. However, there was no +room to debate, for we fancied the ship would break in pieces every +minute, and some told us she was actually broken already. + +In this distress, the mate of our vessel lays hold of the boat, and +with the help of the rest of the men they got her slung over the +ship's side; and getting all into her, let go, and committed +ourselves, being eleven in number, to God's mercy and the wild sea; +for though the storm was abated considerably, yet the sea went +dreadful high upon the shore, and might well be called _den wild Zee_, +as the Dutch call the sea in a storm. + +And now our case was very dismal indeed, for we all saw plainly that +the sea went so high that the boat could not live, and that we should +be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none; nor if we had, +could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar towards +the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution, for +we all knew that when the boat came nearer the shore, she would be +dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we +committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind +driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own +hands, pulling as well as we could towards land. + +What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we +knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow +of expectation was, if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the +mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat +in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. +But there was nothing of this appeared; but as we made nearer and +nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea. + +After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we +reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us, +and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grâce_. In a word, it took us +with such a fury that it overset the boat at once; and separating us, +as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to +say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a moment. + +Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sunk +into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver +myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave having +driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and +having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry, +but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of +mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland +than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavored to make on towards +the land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and +take me up again. But I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for +I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as +an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with. My +business was to hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I +could; and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself +towards the shore, if possible; my greatest concern now being that the +sea, as it would carry me a great way towards the shore when it came +on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards +the sea. + +The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or thirty +feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself carried with a +mighty force and swiftness towards the shore a very great way; but I +held my breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my +might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath when, as I felt +myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and +hands shoot out above the surface of the water; and though it was not +two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me +greatly, gave me breath and new courage. I was covered again with +water a good while, but not so long but I held it out; and finding the +water had spent itself, and began to return, I struck forward against +the return of the waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood +still a few moments to recover breath, and till the water went from +me, and then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had farther +towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of +the sea, which came pouring in after me again, and twice more I was +lifted up by the waves and carried forwards as before, the shore being +very flat. + +The last time of these two had well near been fatal to me; for the +sea, having hurried me along as before, landed me, or rather dashed +me, against a piece of a rock, and that with such force as it left me +senseless, and indeed helpless as to my own deliverance; for the blow +taking my side and breast, beat the breath as it were quite out of my +body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been +strangled in the water. But I recovered a little before the return of +the waves, and seeing I should be covered again with the water, I +resolved to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my +breath, if possible, till the wave went back. Now as the waves were +not so high as at first, being near land, I held my hold till the wave +abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the +shore that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so +swallow me up as to carry me away, and the next run I took I got to +the mainland, where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of +the shore, and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger, and quite +out of the reach of the water. + +I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank +God that my life was saved in a case wherein there was some minutes +before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express +to the life what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are when it +is so saved, as I may say, out of the very grave; and I do not wonder +now at that custom, viz., that when a malefactor who has the halter +about his neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a +reprieve brought to him--I say, I do not wonder that they bring a +surgeon with it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of +it, that the surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart, +and overwhelm him:-- + + "For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first." + +I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, +as I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance, making +a thousand gestures and motions which I cannot describe, reflecting +upon all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be +one soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them +afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, +and two shoes that were not fellows. + +I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel, when the breach and froth of +the sea being so big I could hardly see it, it lay so far off, and +considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore? + +After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, +I began to look round me to see what kind of place I was in, and what +was next to be done, and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in +a word, I had a dreadful deliverance; for I was wet, had no clothes to +shift me, nor anything either to eat or drink to comfort me, neither +did I see any prospect before me but that of perishing with hunger, or +being devoured by wild beasts; and that which was particularly +afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon either to hunt and kill any +creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other +creatures that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had +nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in +a box. This was all my provision; and this threw me into terrible +agonies of mind, that for a while I ran about like a madman. Night +coming upon me, I began, with a heavy heart, to consider what would be +my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at +night they always come abroad for their prey. + +All the remedy that offered to my thoughts at that time was, to get up +into a thick bushy tree like a fir, but thorny, which grew near me, +and where I resolved to sit all night, and consider the next day what +death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked +about a furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water +to drink, which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a +little tobacco in my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and +getting up into it, endeavored to place myself so, as that if I should +sleep I might not fall; and having cut me a short stick, like a +truncheon for my defense, I took up my lodging, and having been +excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, +I believe, few could have done in my condition, and found myself the +most refreshed with it that I think I ever was on such an occasion. + + + + + UNLOADING A WRECK + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +My next work was to view the country and seek a proper place for my +habitation, and where to stow my goods to secure them from whatever +might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether on the continent or +on an island; whether inhabited or not inhabited; whether in danger of +wild beasts or not. There was a hill, not above a mile from me, which +rose up very steep and high, and which seemed to overtop some other +hills, which lay as in a ridge from it, northward. I took out one of +the fowling-pieces and one of the pistols, and a horn of powder; and +thus armed, I traveled for discovery up to the top of that hill, +where, after I had with great labor and difficulty got to the top, I +saw my fate to my great affliction, viz., that I was in an island +environed every way with the sea, no land to be seen, except some +rocks which lay a great way off, and two small islands less than this, +which lay about three leagues to the west. + +I found, also, that the island I was in was barren, and, as I saw good +reason to believe, uninhabited, except by wild beasts, of whom, +however, I saw none; yet I saw abundance of fowls, but knew not their +kinds; neither, when I killed them, could I tell what was fit for +food, and what not. At my coming back, I shot at a great bird which I +saw sitting upon a tree on the side of a great wood. I believe it was +the first gun that had been fired there since the creation of the +world. I had no sooner fired, but from all the parts of the wood there +arose an innumerable number of fowls of many sorts, making a confused +screaming, and crying every one according to his usual note; but not +one of them of any kind that I knew. As for the creature I killed, I +took it to be a kind of a hawk, its color and beak resembling it, but +it had no talons or claws more than common; its flesh was carrion, and +fit for nothing. + +Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to +work to bring my cargo on shore, which took me up the rest of that +day; and what to do with myself at night I knew not, nor indeed where +to rest; for I was afraid to lie down on the ground, not knowing but +some wild beast might devour me, though, as I afterwards found, there +was really no need for those fears. However, as well as I could, I +barricaded myself round with the chests and boards that I had brought +on shore, and made a kind of a hut for that night's lodging; as for +food, I yet saw not which way to supply myself, except that I had seen +two or three creatures like hares run out of the wood where I shot the +fowl. + +I now began to consider, that I might yet get a great many things out +of the ship which would be useful to me, and particularly some of the +rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to land; and I +resolved to make another voyage on board the vessel, if possible. And +as I knew that the first storm that blew must necessarily break her +all in pieces, I resolved to set all other things apart till I got +everything out of the ship that I could get. Then I called a council, +that is to say, in my thoughts, whether I should take back the raft, +but this appeared impracticable; so I resolved to go as before, when +the tide was down; and I did so, only that I stripped before I went +from my hut, having nothing on but a chequered shirt and a pair of +linen drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet. + +I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft, and +having had experience of the first, I neither made this so unwieldy, +nor loaded it so hard; but yet I brought away several things very +useful to me; as, first, in the carpenter's stores I found two or +three bags full of nails and spikes, a great screw-jack, a dozen or +two of hatchets, and, above all, that most useful thing called a +grindstone. All these I secured, together with several things +belonging to the gunner, particularly two or three iron crows, and two +barrels of musket bullets, seven muskets, and another fowling-piece, +with some small quantity of powder more; a large bag full of +smallshot, and a great roll of sheet lead; but this last was so heavy +I could not hoist it up to get it over the ship's side. Besides these +things, I took all the men's clothes that I could find, and a spare +foretop sail, a hammock, and some bedding; and with this I loaded my +second raft, and brought them all safe on shore, to my very great +comfort. + +[Illustration: I GOT ON BOARD THE SHIP AS BEFORE AND PREPARED A SECOND +RAFT. I TOOK ALL THE MEN'S CLOTHES THAT I COULD FIND, AND A SPARE +FORETOP SAIL, A HAMMOCK, AND SOME BEDDING: AND WITH HIS I LOADED MY +SECOND RAFT, AND BROUGHT THEM ALL SAFE ON SHORE, TO MY VERY GREAT +COMFORT] + +I was under some apprehensions during my absence from the land that at +least my provisions might be devoured on shore; but when I came back, +I found no sign of any visitor, only there sat a creature like a +wildcat upon one of the chests, which, when I came towards it, ran +away a little distance, and then stood still. She sat very composed +and unconcerned, and looked full in my face, as if she had a mind to +be acquainted with me. I presented my gun at her; but as she did not +understand it, she was perfectly unconcerned at it, nor did she offer +to stir away; upon which I tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the +way, I was not very free of it, for my store was not great. However, I +spared her a bit, I say, and she went to it, smelled of it, and ate +it, and looked (as pleased) for more; but I thanked her, and could +spare no more, so she marched off. + +Having got my second cargo on shore, though I was fain to open the +barrels of powder and bring them by parcels, for they were too heavy, +being large casks, I went to work to make me a little tent with the +sail and some poles which I cut for that purpose; and into this tent I +brought everything that I knew would spoil either with rain or sun; +and I piled all the empty chests and casks up in a circle round the +tent, to fortify it from any sudden attempt, either from man or beast. + +When I had done this I blocked up the door of the tent with some +boards within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and spreading +one of the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols just at my +head, and my gun at length by me, I went to bed for the first time, +and slept very quietly all night, for I was very weary and heavy; for +the night before I had slept little, and had labored very hard all +day, as well to fetch all those things from the ship, as to get them +on shore. + +I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, I +believe, for one man; but I was not satisfied still, for while the +ship sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get everything +out of her that I could. So every day at low water I went on board, +and brought away something or other; but, particularly, the third time +I went I brought away as much of the rigging as I could, as also all +the small ropes and rope-twine I could get, with a piece of spare +canvas, which was to mend the sails upon occasion, and the barrel of +wet gunpowder; in a word, I brought away all the sails first and last, +only that I was fain to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a +time as I could; for they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere +canvas only. + +But that which comforted me more still was that, at last of all, after +I had made five or six such voyages as these, and thought I had +nothing more to expect from the ship that was worth my meddling +with,--I say, after all this, I found a great hogshead of bread, and +three large runlets of rum or spirits, and a box of sugar, and a +barrel of fine flour; this was surprising to me, because I had given +over expecting any more provisions, except what was spoilt by the +water. I soon emptied the hogshead of that bread, and wrapped it up +parcel by parcel in pieces of the sails, which I cut out; and, in a +word, I got all this safe on shore also. + +The next day I made another voyage. And now, having plundered the ship +of what was portable and fit to hand out, I began with the cables; and +cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, I got two +cables and a hawser on shore, with all the iron-work I could get; and +having cut down the sprit-sail yard, and the mizzen yard, and +everything I could to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those +heavy goods, and came away. But my good luck began now to leave me; +for this raft was so unwieldy, and so overladen, that after I was +entered the little cove where I had landed the rest of my goods, not +being able to guide it so handily as I did the other, it overset, and +threw me and all my cargo into the water. As for myself, it was no +great harm, for I was near the shore; but as to my cargo, it was great +part of it lost, especially the iron, which I expected would have been +of great use to me. However, when the tide was out I got most of the +pieces of cable ashore, and some of the iron, though with infinite +labor; for I was fain to dip for it into the water, a work which +fatigued me very much. After this I went every day on board, and +brought away what I could get. + +I had been now thirteen days on shore, and had been eleven times on +board the ship; in which time I had brought away all that one pair of +hands could well be supposed capable to bring, though I believe +verily, had the calm weather held, I should have brought away the +whole ship piece by piece. But preparing the twelfth time to go on +board, I found the wind begin to rise. However, at low water I went on +board, and though I thought I had rummaged the cabin so effectually as +that nothing more could be found, yet I discovered a locker with +drawers in it, in one of which I found two or three razors, and one +pair of large scissors, with some ten or a dozen of good knives and +forks; in another, I found about thirty-six pounds value in money, +some European coin, some Brazil, some pieces of eight, some gold, some +silver. + +I smiled to myself at the sight of this money. "O drug!" said I aloud, +"what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking +off of the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap. I have +no manner of use for thee; even remain where thou art, and go to the +bottom as a creature whose life is not worth saving." However, upon +second thoughts I took it away; and wrapping all this in a piece of +canvas, I began to think of making another raft; but while I was +preparing this, I found the sky overcast, and the wind began to rise, +and in a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale from the shore. It +presently occurred to me that it was in vain to pretend to make a raft +with the wind off shore, and that it was my business to be gone before +the tide of flood began, otherwise I might not be able to reach the +shore at all. Accordingly I let myself down into the water, and swam +across the channel, which lay between the ship and the sands, and even +that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the things I +had about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose +very hastily, and before it was quite high water it blew a storm. + +But I was gotten home to my little tent, where I lay with all my +wealth about me very secure. It blew very hard all that night, and in +the morning when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen. I +was a little surprised, but recovered myself with this satisfactory +reflection, viz., that I had lost no time, nor abated no diligence, to +get everything out of her that could be useful to me, and that indeed +there was little left in her that I was able to bring away if I had +had more time. + + + + + ROBINSON CRUSOE'S FIRST HOME ON THE ISLAND + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship, or of anything out of +her, except what might drive on shore from her wreck, as indeed divers +pieces of her afterwards did; but those things were of small use to +me. + +My thoughts were now wholly employed about securing myself against +either savages, if any should appear, or wild beasts, if any were in +the island; and I had many thoughts of the method how to do this, and +what kind of dwelling to make, whether I should make me a cave in the +earth, or a tent upon the earth; and, in short, I resolved upon both, +the manner and description of which it may not be improper to give an +account of. + +I soon found the place I was in was not for my settlement, +particularly because it was upon a low moorish ground near the sea, +and I believed would not be wholesome; and more particularly because +there was no fresh water near it. So I resolved to find a more healthy +and more convenient spot of ground. + +I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would be +proper for me. First, health and fresh water, I just now mentioned. +Secondly, shelter from the heat of the sun. Thirdly, security from +ravenous creatures, whether men or beasts. Fourthly, a view to the +sea, that if God sent any ship in sight I might not lose any advantage +for my deliverance, of which I was not to banish all my expectation +yet. + +In search of a place proper for this, I found a little plain on the +side of a rising hill, whose front towards this little plain was steep +as a house-side, so that nothing could come down upon me from the top. +On the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way +in, like the entrance or door of a cave; but there was not really any +cave, or way into the rock at all. + +On the flat of the green, just before this hollow place, I resolved to +pitch my tent. This plain was not above an hundred yards broad, and +about twice as long, and lay like a green before my door, and at the +end of it descended irregularly every way down into the low grounds by +the seaside. It was on the N.N.W. side of the hill, so that I was +sheltered from the heat every day, till it came to a W. and by S. sun, +or thereabouts, which in those countries is near the setting. + +Before I set up my tent, I drew a half-circle before the hollow place, +which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and +twenty yards in its diameter from its beginning and ending. In this +half-circle I pitched two rows of strong stakes, driving them into the +ground till they stood very firm like piles, the biggest end being out +of the ground about five feet and a half, and sharpened on the top. +The two rows did not stand above six inches from one another. + +Then I took the pieces of cable which I had cut in the ship, and laid +them in rows one upon another, within the circle, between these two +rows of stakes, up to the top, placing other stakes in the inside +leaning against them, about two feet and a half high, like a spur to a +post; and this fence was so strong that neither man nor beast could +get into it, or over it. This cost me a great deal of time and labor, +especially to cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and +drive them into the earth. + +The entrance into this place I made to be not by a door, but by a +short ladder to go over the top; which ladder, when I was in, I lifted +over after me, and so I was completely fenced in, and fortified, as I +thought, from all the world, and consequently slept secure in the +night, which otherwise I could not have done; though, as it appeared +afterward, there was no need of all this caution from the enemies that +I apprehended danger from. + +Into this fence or fortress, with infinite labor, I carried all my +riches, all my provisions, ammunition, and stores, of which you have +the account above; and I made me a large tent, which, to preserve me +from the rains that in one part of the year are very violent there, I +made double, viz., one smaller tent within, and one larger tent above +it, and covered the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I had +saved among the sails. And now I lay no more for a while in the bed +which I had brought on shore, but in a hammock, which was indeed a +very good one, and belonged to the mate of the ship. + +Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and everything that would +spoil by the wet; and having thus enclosed all my goods, I made up the +entrance, which, till now, I had left open, and so passed and +repassed, as I said, by a short ladder. + +When I had done this, I began to work my way into the rock; and +bringing all the earth and stones that I dug down out through my tent, +I laid them up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, so that it +raised the ground within about a foot and a half; and thus I made me a +cave just behind my tent which served me like a cellar to my house. + +It cost me much labor and many days before all these things were +brought to perfection, and therefore I must go back to some other +things which took up some of my thoughts. At the same time it +happened, after I had laid my scheme for the setting up my tent and +making the cave, that a storm of rain falling from a thick dark cloud, +a sudden flash of lightning happened, and after that a great clap of +thunder, as is naturally the effect of it. I was not so much surprised +with the lightning as I was with a thought which darted into my mind +as swift as the lightning itself. Oh, my powder! My very heart sunk +within me when I thought, that at one blast all my powder might be +destroyed, on which, not my defense only, but the providing me food, +as I thought, entirely depended. I was nothing near so anxious about +my own danger; though had the powder taken fire, I had never known who +had hurt me. + +Such impression did this make upon me that after the storm was over I +laid aside all my works, my building and fortifying, and applied +myself to make bags and boxes to separate the powder, and keep it a +little and a little in a parcel, in hope that whatever might come it +might not all take fire at once, and to keep it so apart that it +should not be possible to make one part fire another. I finished this +work in about a fortnight; and I think my powder, which in all was +about 240 pounds' weight, was divided in not less than a hundred +parcels. As to the barrel that had been wet, I did not apprehend any +danger from that, so I placed it in my new cave, which in my fancy I +called my kitchen, and the rest I hid up and down in holes among the +rocks, so that no wet might come to it, marking very carefully where I +laid it. + +In the interval of time while this was doing, I went out once, at +least, every day with my gun, as well to divert myself as to see if I +could kill anything fit for food, and as near as I could to acquaint +myself with what the island produced. The first time I went out, I +presently discovered that there were goats in the island, which was a +great satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with this +misfortune to me, viz., that they were so shy, so subtle, and so swift +of foot that it was the difficultest thing in the world to come at +them. But I was not discouraged at this, not doubting but I might now +and then shoot one, as it soon happened; for after I had found their +haunts a little, I laid wait in this manner for them. I observed if +they saw me in the valleys, though they were upon the rocks, they +would run away as in a terrible fright; but if they were feeding in +the valleys, and I was upon the rocks, they took no notice of me, from +whence I concluded that, by the position of their optics, their sight +was so directed downward that they did not readily see objects that +were above them. So afterward I took this method: I always climbed the +rocks first to get above them, and then had frequently a fair mark. +The first shot I made among these creatures I killed a she-goat, which +had a little kid by her, which she gave suck to, which grieved me +heartily; but when the old one fell, the kid stood stock still by her +till I came and took her up; and not only so, but when I carried the +old one with me upon my shoulders, the kid followed me quite to my +enclosure; upon which I laid down the dam, and took the kid in my +arms, and carried it over my pale, in hopes to have bred it up tame; +but it would not eat, so I was forced to kill it, and eat it myself. +These two supplied me with flesh a great while, for I eat sparingly, +and saved my provisions, my bread especially, as much as possibly I +could. + +Having now fixed my habitation, I found it absolutely necessary to +provide a place to make a fire in, and fuel to burn; and what I did +for that, as also how I enlarged my cave, and what conveniences I +made, I shall give a full account of in its place. But I must first +give some little account of myself, and of my thoughts about living, +which it may well be supposed were not a few. + +I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away +upon that island without being driven, as is said, by a violent storm, +quite out of the course of our intended voyage, and a great way, viz., +some hundreds of leagues, out of the ordinary course of the trade of +mankind, I had great reason to consider it as a determination of +Heaven that in this desolate place, and in this desolate manner, I +should end my life. The tears would run plentifully down my face when +I made these reflections, and sometimes I would expostulate with +myself, why Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures, and +render them so absolutely miserable, so without help abandoned, so +entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful +for such a life. + +But something always returned swift upon me to check these thoughts, +and to reprove me; and particularly one day, walking with my gun in my +hand by the seaside, I was very pensive upon the subject of my present +condition, when Reason, as it were, expostulated with me t' other way, +thus: "Well, you are in a desolate condition, it is true, but pray +remember, where are the rest of you? Did not you come eleven of you +into the boat? Where are the ten? Why were not they saved, and you +lost? Why were you singled out? Is it better to be here, or there?" +And then I pointed to the sea. All evils are to be considered with the +good that is in them, and with what worse attends them. + +Then it occurred to me again, how well I was furnished for my +subsistence, and what would have been my case if it had not happened, +which was an hundred thousand to one, that the ship floated from the +place where she first struck and was driven so near to the shore that +I had time to get all these things out of her; what would have been my +case, if I had been to have lived in the condition in which I at first +came on shore, without necessaries of life, or necessaries to supply +and procure them? "Particularly," said I aloud (though to myself), +"what should I have done without a gun, without ammunition, without +any tools to make anything, or to work with, without clothes, bedding, +a tent, or any manner of covering?" and that now I had all these to a +sufficient quantity, and was in a fair way to provide myself in such a +manner, as to live without my gun when my ammunition was spent; so +that I had a tolerable view of subsisting without any want as long as +I lived. For I considered from the beginning how I would provide for +the accidents that might happen, and for the time that was to come, +even not only after my ammunition should be spent, but even after my +health or strength should decay. + +I confess I had not entertained any notion of my ammunition being +destroyed at one blast--I mean, my powder being blown up by lightning; +and this made the thoughts of it so surprising to me when it lightened +and thundered, as I observed just now. + + + + + ROBINSON CRUSOE BUILDS A BOAT + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +You may be sure my thoughts ran many times upon the prospect of land +which I had seen from the other side of the island, and I was not +without secret wishes that I were on shore there, fancying that seeing +the mainland, and in an inhabited country, I might find some way or +other to convey myself farther, and perhaps at last find some means of +escape. + +But all this while I made no allowance for the dangers of such a +condition, and how I might fall into the hands of savages, and perhaps +such as I might have reason to think far worse than the lions and +tigers of Africa; that if I once came into their power, I should run a +hazard more than a thousand to one of being killed, and perhaps of +being eaten; for I had heard that the people of the Caribbean coasts +were cannibals, or man-eaters, and I knew by the latitude that I could +not be far off from that shore. That suppose they were not cannibals, +yet that they might kill me, as many Europeans who had fallen into +their hands had been served, even when they had been ten or twenty +together, much more I, that was but one, and could make little or no +defense,--all these things, I say, which I ought to have considered +well of, and did cast up in my thoughts afterwards, yet took up none +of my apprehensions at first, but my head ran mightily upon the +thought of getting over to the shore. + +Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the long-boat with the +shoulder-of-mutton sail, with which I sailed above a thousand miles on +the coast of Africa; but this was in vain. Then I thought I would go +and look at our ship's boat, which, as I have said, was blown up upon +the shore a great way, in the storm, when we were first cast away. She +lay almost where she did at first, but not quite; and was turned, by +the force of the waves and the winds, almost bottom upwards, against a +high ridge of beachy rough sand, but no water about her, as before. + +If I had had hands to have refitted her, and to have launched her into +the water, the boat would have done well enough, and I might have gone +back into the Brazils with her easily enough; but I might have +foreseen that I could no more turn her, and set her upright upon her +bottom, than I could remove the island. However, I went to the woods, +and cut levers and rollers, and brought them to the boat, resolved to +try what I could do; suggesting to myself that if I could but turn her +down, I might easily repair the damage she had received, and she would +be a very good boat, and I might go to sea in her very easily. + +I spared no pains, indeed, in this piece of fruitless toil, and spent, +I think, three or four weeks about it. At last, finding it impossible +to heave it up with my little strength, I fell to digging away the +sand, to undermine it, and so to make it fall down, setting pieces of +wood to thrust and guide it right in the fall. But when I had done +this, I was unable to stir it up again, or to get under it, much less +to move it forward towards the water; so I was forced to give it over. +And yet, though I gave over the hopes of the boat, my desire to +venture over for the main increased, rather than decreased, as the +means for it seemed impossible. + +This at length put me upon thinking whether it was not possible to +make myself a canoe, or _periagua_, such as the natives of those +climates make, even without tools, or, as I might say, without hands, +viz., of the trunk of a great tree. This I not only thought possible, +but easy, and pleased myself extremely with the thoughts of making it, +and with my having much more convenience for it than any of the +negroes or Indians; but not at all considering the particular +inconveniences which I lay under more than the Indians did, viz., want +of hands to move it, when it was made, into the water, a difficulty +much harder for me to surmount than all the consequences of want of +tools could be to them. For what was it to me, that when I had chosen +a vast tree in the woods, I might with much trouble cut it down, if, +after I might be able with my tools to hew and dub the outside into +the proper shape of a boat, and burn or cut out the inside to make it +hollow, so to make a boat of it; if, after all this, I must leave it +just there where I found it, and was not able to launch it into the +water? + +One would have thought I could not have had the least reflection upon +my mind of my circumstance while I was making this boat, but I should +have immediately thought how I should get it into the sea; but my +thoughts were so intent upon my voyage over the sea in it that I never +once considered how I should get it off of the land; and it was +really, in its own nature, more easy for me to guide it over +forty-five miles of sea than about forty-five fathoms of land, where +it lay, to set it afloat in the water. + +I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man did +who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design, +without determining whether I was ever able to undertake it. Not but +that the difficulty of launching my boat came often into my head; but +I put a stop to my own inquiries into it by this foolish answer which +I gave myself: "Let's first make it; I'll warrant I'll find some way +or other to get it along when 't is done." + +This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy +prevailed, and to work I went. I felled a cedar-tree: I question much +whether Solomon ever had such a one for the building of the Temple at +Jerusalem. It was five feet ten inches diameter at the lower part next +the stump, and four feet eleven inches diameter at the end of +twenty-two feet, after which it lessened for a while, and then parted +into branches. It was not without infinite labor that I felled this +tree. I was twenty days hacking and hewing at it at the bottom; I was +fourteen more getting the branches and limbs, and the vast spreading +head of it cut off, which I hacked and hewed through with axe and +hatchet, and inexpressible labor. After this, it cost me a month to +shape it and dub it to a proportion, and to something like the bottom +of a boat, that it might swim upright as it ought to do. It cost me +near three months more to clear the inside, and work it so as to make +an exact boat of it. This I did, indeed, without fire, by mere mallet +and chisel, and by the dint of hard labor, till I had brought it to be +a very handsome _periagua_, and big enough to have carried six and +twenty men, and consequently big enough to have carried me and all my +cargo. + +When I had gone through this work, I was extremely delighted with it. +The boat was really much bigger than I ever saw a canoe or _periagua_ +that was made of one tree, in my life. Many a weary stroke it had +cost, you may be sure; and there remained nothing but to get it into +the water; and had I gotten it into the water, I make no question but +I should have begun the maddest voyage, and the most unlikely to be +performed, that ever was undertaken. + +But all my devices to get it into the water failed me, though they +cost me infinite labor too. It lay about one hundred yards from the +water, and not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was uphill +towards the creek. Well, to take away this discouragement, I resolved +to dig into the surface of the earth, and so make a declivity. This I +began, and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains; but who grudges +pains that have their deliverance in view? But when this was worked +through, and this difficulty managed, it was still much at one, for I +could no more stir the canoe than I could the other boat. + +Then I measured the distance of ground, and resolved to cut a dock or +canal, to bring the water up to the canoe, seeing I could not bring +the canoe down to the water. Well, I began this work; and when I began +to enter into it, and calculate how deep it was to be dug, how broad, +how the stuff to be thrown out, I found that by the number of hands I +had, being none but my own, it must have been ten or twelve years +before I should have gone through with it; for the shore lay high, so +that at the upper end it must have been at least twenty feet deep; so +at length, though with great reluctancy, I gave this attempt over +also. + +This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of +beginning a work before we count the cost and before we judge rightly +of our own strength to go through with it. + + + + + THE MYSTERIOUS FOOTPRINT + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +I was something impatient to have the use of my boat, though very +loath to run any more hazards; and therefore sometimes I sat +contriving ways to get her about the island, and at other times I sat +myself down contented enough without her. But I had a strange +uneasiness in my mind to go down to the point of the island where, as +I have said, in my last ramble, I went up the hill to see how the +shore lay, and how the current set, that I might see what I had to do. +This inclination increased upon me every day, and at length I resolved +to travel thither by land, following the edge of the shore. I did so; +but had anyone in England been to meet such a man as I was, it must +either have frighted him, or raised a great deal of laughter; and as I +frequently stood still to look at myself, I could not but smile at the +notion of my traveling through Yorkshire, with such an equipage, and +in such a dress. Be pleased to take a sketch of my figure, as +follows:-- + +I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat-skin, with a flap +hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me, as to shoot the +rain off from running into my neck; nothing being so hurtful in these +climates as the rain upon the flesh, under the clothes. + +I had a short jacket of goat-skin, the skirts coming down to about the +middle of my thighs; and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same. +The breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat, whose hair hung +down such a length on either side, that, like pantaloons, it reached +to the middle of my legs. Stockings and shoes I had none, but had made +me a pair of somethings, I scarce know what to call them, like +buskins, to flap over my legs, and lace on either side like +spatterdashes; but of a most barbarous shape, as indeed were all the +rest of my clothes. + +I had on a broad belt of goat-skin dried, which I drew together with +two thongs of the same, instead of buckles; and in a kind of frog on +either side of this, instead of a sword and a dagger, hung a little +saw and a hatchet, one on one side, one on the other. I had another +belt, not so broad, and fastened in the same manner, which hung over +my shoulder; and at the end of it, under my left arm, hung two +pouches, both made of goat-skin too; in one of which hung my powder, +in the other my shot. At my back I carried my basket, on my shoulder +my gun, and over my head a great clumsy, ugly goat-skin umbrella, but +which, after all, was the most necessary thing I had about me, next to +my gun. As for my face, the color of it was really not so mulatto-like +as one might expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living +within nineteen degrees of the equinox. My beard I had once suffered +to grow till it was about a quarter of a yard long; but as I had both +scissors and razors sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, except what +grew on my upper lip, which I had trimmed into a large pair of +Mahometan whiskers such as I had seen worn by some Turks whom I saw at +Sallee; for the Moors did not wear such, though the Turks did. Of +these mustachios or whiskers, I will not say they were long enough to +hang my hat upon them, but they were of a length and shape monstrous +enough, and such as, in England, would have passed for frightful. + +But all this is by the bye; for as to my figure I had so few to +observe me that it was of no manner of consequence; so I say no more +to that part. In this kind of figure I went my new journey, and was +out five or six days. I traveled first along the seashore, directly to +the place where I first brought my boat to an anchor, to get up upon +the rocks. And having no boat now to take care of, I went over the +land, a nearer way, to the same height that I was upon before; when, +looking forward to the point of the rocks which lay out, and which I +was obliged to double with my boat, as is said above, I was surprised +to see the sea all smooth and quiet, no rippling, no motion, no +current, any more there than in other places. + +I was at a strange loss to understand this, and resolved to spend some +time in the observing it, to see if nothing from the sets of the tide +had occasioned it. But I was presently convinced how it was, viz., +that the tide of ebb setting from the west, and joining with the +current of waters from some great river on the shore, must be the +occasion of this current; and that according as the wind blew more +forcibly from the west, or from the north, this current came near, or +went farther from the shore; for waiting thereabouts till evening, I +went up to the rock again, and then the tide of ebb being made, I +plainly saw the current again as before, only that it run farther off, +being near half a league from the shore; whereas in my case it set +close upon the shore, and hurried me and my canoe along with it, +which, at another time, it would not have done. + +This observation convinced me that I had nothing to do but to observe +the ebbing and the flowing of the tide, and I might very easily bring +my boat about the island again. But when I began to think of putting +it in practice, I had such a terror upon my spirits at the remembrance +of the danger I had been in that I could not think of it again with +any patience; but, on the contrary, I took up another resolution, +which was more safe, though more laborious; and this was, that I would +build, or rather make me another _periagua_, or canoe, and so have one +for one side of the island, and one for the other. + +You are to understand that now I had, as I may call it, two +plantations in the island; one, my little fortification or tent, with +the wall about it, under the rock, with the cave behind me, which, by +this time, I had enlarged into several apartments or caves, one within +another. One of these, which was the driest and largest, and had a +door out beyond my wall or fortification, that is to say, beyond where +my wall joined to the rock, was all filled up with the large earthen +pots, of which I have given an account, and with fourteen or fifteen +great baskets, which would hold five or six bushels each, where I laid +up my stores of provision, especially my corn, some in the ear, cut +off short from the straw, and the other rubbed out with my hand. + +As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes or piles, those +piles grew all like trees, and were by this time grown so big, and +spread so very much, that there was not the least appearance, to any +one's view, of any habitation behind them. + +Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, and +upon lower ground, lay my two pieces of corn ground, which I kept duly +cultivated and sowed, and which duly yielded me their harvest in its +season; and whenever I had occasion for more corn, I had more land +adjoining as fit as that. + +Besides this, I had my country seat, and I had now a tolerable +plantation there also; for, first, I had my little bower, as I called +it, which I kept in repair; that is to say, I kept the hedge which +circled it in constantly fitted up to its usual height, the ladder +standing always in the inside. I kept the trees, which at first were +no more than my stakes, but were now grown very firm and tall,--I kept +them always so cut that they might spread and grow thick and wild, and +make the more agreeable shade, which they did effectually to my mind. +In the middle of this, I had my tent always standing, being a piece of +a sail spread over poles, set up for that purpose, and which never +wanted any repair or renewing; and under this I had made me a squab or +couch, with the skins of the creatures I had killed, and with other +soft things, and a blanket laid on them, such as belonged to our +sea-bedding, which I had saved, and a great watch-coat to cover me; +and here, whenever I had occasion to be absent from my chief seat, I +took up my country habitation. + +Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle, that is to say, +my goats. And as I had taken an inconceivable deal of pains to fence +and enclose this ground, so I was so uneasy to see it kept entire, +lest the goats should break through, that I never left off till, with +infinite labor, I had stuck the outside of the hedge so full of small +stakes, and so near to one another, that it was rather a pale than a +hedge, and there was scarce room to put a hand through between them; +which afterwards, when those stakes grew, as they all did in the next +rainy season, made the enclosure strong like a wall,--indeed, stronger +than any wall. + +This will testify for me that I was not idle, and that I spared no +pains to bring to pass whatever appeared necessary for my comfortable +support; for I considered the keeping up a breed of tame creatures +thus at my hand would be a living magazine of flesh, milk, butter, and +cheese for me as long as I lived in the place, if it were to be forty +years; and that keeping them in my reach depended entirely upon my +perfecting my enclosures to such a degree that I might be sure of +keeping them together; which, by this method, indeed, I so effectually +secured that when these little stakes began to grow, I had planted +them so very thick I was forced to pull some of them up again. + +In this place also I had my grapes growing, which I principally +depended on for my winter store of raisins, and which I never failed +to preserve very carefully, as the best and most agreeable dainty of +my whole diet. And indeed they were not agreeable only, but physical, +wholesome, nourishing, and refreshing to the last degree. + +As this was also about halfway between my other habitation and the +place where I had laid up my boat, I generally stayed and lay here in +my way thither; for I used frequently to visit my boat, and I kept all +things about or belonging to her in very good order. Sometimes I went +out in her to divert myself, but no more hazardous voyages would I go, +nor scarce ever above a stone's cast or two from the shore, I was so +apprehensive of being hurried out of my knowledge again by the +currents or winds, or any other accident. But now I come to a new +scene of my life. + +It happened one day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was +exceedingly surprised with the print of a man's naked foot on the +shore, which was very plain to be seen in the sand. I stood like one +thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an apparition. I listened, I looked +round me, I could hear nothing, nor see anything. I went up to a +rising ground, to look farther. I went up the shore, and down the +shore, but it was all one; I could see no other impression but that +one. I went to it again to see if there were any more, and to observe +if it might not be my fancy; but there was no room for that, for there +was exactly the very print of a foot--toes, heel, and every part of a +foot. How it came thither I knew not, nor could in the least imagine. +But after innumerable fluttering thoughts, like a man perfectly +confused and out of myself, I came home to my fortification, not +feeling, as we say, the ground I went on, but terrified to the last +degree, looking behind me at every two or three steps, mistaking every +bush and tree, and fancying every stump at a distance to be a man; nor +is it possible to describe how many various shapes affrighted +imagination represented things to me in, how many wild ideas were +found every moment in my fancy, and what strange, unaccountable +whimsies came into my thoughts by the way. + +[Illustration: ONE DAY ABOUT NOON, GOING TOWARDS MY BOAT, I WAS +SURPRISED WITH THE PRINT OF A MAN'S NAKED FOOT ON THE SHORE, WHICH WAS +VERY PLAIN TO BE SEEN IN THE SAND. I STOOD LIKE ONE THUNDERSTRUCK, OR +AS IF I HAD SEEN AN APPARITION. I LISTENED, I LOOKED ROUND ME, I COULD +HEAR NOTHING, NOR SEE ANYTHING. I WENT UP TO A RISING GROUND TO LOOK +FARTHER.] + +When I came to my castle, for so I think I called it ever after this, +I fled into it like one pursued. Whether I went over by the ladder, as +first contrived, or went in at the hole in the rock, which I called a +door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I remember the next morning, +for never frighted hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more +terror of mind than I to this retreat. + +I slept none that night. The farther I was from the occasion of my +fright, the greater my apprehensions were; which is something contrary +to the nature of such things, and especially to the usual practice of +all creatures in fear. But I was so embarrassed with my own frightful +ideas of the thing, that I formed nothing but dismal imaginations to +myself, even though I was now a great way off it. Sometimes I fancied +it must be the devil, and reason joined in with me upon this +supposition; for how should any other thing in human shape come into +the place? Where was the vessel that brought them? What marks were +there of any other footsteps? And how was it possible a man should +come there? But then to think that Satan should take human shape upon +him in such a place, where there could be no manner of occasion for +it, but to leave the print of his foot behind him, and that even for +no purpose too, for he could not be sure I should see it; this was an +amusement the other way. I considered that the devil might have found +out abundance of other ways to have terrified me than this of the +single print of a foot; that as I lived quite on the other side of the +island, he would never have been so simple to leave a mark in a place +where it was ten thousand to one whether I should ever see it or not, +and in the sand too, which the first surge of the sea, upon a high +wind, would have defaced entirely. All this seemed inconsistent with +the thing itself, and with all the notions we usually entertain of the +subtilty of the devil. + +Abundance of such things as these assisted to argue me out of all +apprehensions of its being the devil; and I presently concluded, then, +that it must be some more dangerous creature, viz., that it must be +some of the savages of the mainland over against me, who had wandered +out to sea in their canoes, and, either driven by the currents or by +contrary winds, had made the island, and had been on shore, but were +gone away again to sea, being as loath, perhaps, to stay in this +desolate island as I should have been to have them. + +While these reflections were rolling upon my mind, I was very thankful +in my thoughts that I was so happy as not to be thereabouts at that +time, or that they did not see my boat, by which they would have +concluded that some inhabitants had been in the place, and perhaps +have searched farther for me. Then terrible thoughts racked my +imagination about their having found my boat, and that there were +people here; and that if so, I should certainly have them come again +in greater numbers, and devour me; that if it should happen so that +they should not find me, yet they would find my enclosure, destroy all +my corn, carry away all my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at +last for mere want. + +Thus my fear banished all my religious hope. All that former +confidence in God, which was founded upon such wonderful experience as +I had had of His goodness, now vanished, as if He that had fed me by +miracle hitherto could not preserve, by His power, the provision which +He had made for me by His goodness. I reproached myself with my +easiness, that would not sow any more corn one year than would just +serve me till the next season, as if no accident could intervene to +prevent my enjoying the crop that was upon the ground. And this I +thought so just a reproof that I resolved for the future to have two +or three years' corn beforehand, so that, whatever might come, I might +not perish for want of bread. + +How strange a chequer work of Providence is the life of man! and by +what secret differing springs are the affections hurried about as +differing circumstances present! To-day we love what to-morrow we +hate; to-day we seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire what +to-morrow we fear; nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of. This was +exemplified in me, at this time, in the most lively manner imaginable; +for I, whose only affliction was that I seemed banished from human +society, that I was alone, circumscribed by the boundless ocean, cut +off from mankind, and condemned to what I called silent life; that I +was as one whom Heaven thought not worthy to be numbered among the +living, or to appear among the rest of His creatures; that to have +seen one of my own species would have seemed to me a raising me from +death to life, and the greatest blessing that Heaven itself, next to +the supreme blessing of salvation, could bestow; I say, that I should +now tremble at the very apprehensions of seeing a man, and was ready +to sink into the ground at but the shadow or silent appearance of a +man's having set his foot in the island! + +Such is the uneven state of human life; and it afforded me a great +many curious speculations afterwards, when I had a little recovered my +first surprise. I considered that this was the station of life the +infinitely wise and good providence of God had determined for me; +that, as I could not foresee what the ends of Divine wisdom might be +in all this, so I was not to dispute His sovereignty, who, as I was +His creature, had an undoubted right, by creation, to govern and +dispose of me absolutely as He thought fit, and who, as I was a +creature who had offended Him, had likewise a judicial right to +condemn me to what punishment He thought fit; and that it was my part +to submit to bear His indignation, because I had sinned against Him. + +I then reflected that God, who was not only righteous, but omnipotent, +as He had thought fit thus to punish and afflict me, so He was able to +deliver me; that if He did not think fit to do it, 't was my +unquestioned duty to resign myself absolutely and entirely to His +will; and, on the other hand, it was my duty also to hope in Him, pray +to Him, and quietly to attend the dictates and directions of His daily +providence. + +These thoughts took me up many hours, days, nay, I may say, weeks and +months; and one particular effect of my cogitations on this occasion I +cannot omit, viz., one morning early, lying in my bed, and filled with +thought about my danger from the appearance of savages, I found it +discomposed me very much; upon which those words of the Scripture came +into my thoughts, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will +deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." + +Upon this, rising cheerfully out of my bed, my heart was not only +comforted, but I was guided and encouraged to pray earnestly to God +for deliverance. When I had done praying, I took up my Bible, and +opening it to read, the first words that presented to me were, "Wait +on the Lord, and be of good cheer, and He shall strengthen thy heart; +wait, I say, on the Lord." It is impossible to express the comfort +this gave me. In answer, I thankfully laid down the book, and was no +more sad, at least, not on that occasion. + +In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions, and reflections, it +came into my thought one day that all this might be a mere chimera of +my own; and that this foot might be the print of my own foot, when I +came on shore from my boat. This cheered me up a little too, and I +began to persuade myself it was all a delusion, that it was nothing +else but my own foot; and why might not I come that way from the boat, +as well as I was going that way to the boat? Again, I considered also +that I could by no means tell, for certain, where I had trod, and +where I had not; and that if, at last, this was only the print of my +own foot, I had played the part of those fools who strive to make +stories of spectres and apparitions, and then are frighted at them +more than anybody. + +Now I began to take courage, and to peep abroad again, for I had not +stirred out of my castle for three days and nights, so that I began to +starve for provision; for I had little or nothing within doors but +some barley-cakes and water. Then I knew that my goats wanted to be +milked too, which usually was my evening diversion; and the poor +creatures were in great pain and inconvenience for want of it; and, +indeed, it almost spoiled some of them, and almost dried up their +milk. + +Heartening myself, therefore, with the belief that this was nothing +but the print of one of my own feet, and so I might be truly said to +start at my own shadow, I began to go abroad again, and went to my +country house to milk my flock. But to see with what fear I went +forward, how often I looked behind me, how I was ready, every now and +then, to lay down my basket, and run for my life, it would have made +any one have thought I was haunted with an evil conscience, or that I +had been lately most terribly frighted; and so, indeed, I had. + +However, as I went down thus two or three days, and having seen +nothing, I began to be a little bolder, and to think there was really +nothing in it but my own imagination. But I could not persuade myself +fully of this till I should go down to the shore again, and see this +print of a foot, and measure it by my own, and see if there was any +similitude or fitness, that I might be assured it was my own foot. But +when I came to the place, first, it appeared evidently to me that when +I laid up my boat, I could not possibly be on shore anywhere +thereabout; secondly, when I came to measure the mark with my own +foot, I found my foot not so large by a great deal. Both these things +filled my head with new imaginations, and gave me the vapors again to +the highest degree; so that I shook with cold, like one in an ague; +and I went home again, filled with the belief that some man or men had +been on shore there; or, in short, that the island was inhabited, and +I might be surprised before I was aware. And what course to take for +my security, I knew not. + +Oh, what ridiculous resolution men take when possessed with fear! It +deprives them of the use of those means which reason offers for their +relief. The first thing I proposed to myself was to throw down my +enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle wild into the woods, that the +enemy might not find them, and then frequent the island in prospect of +the same or the like booty; then to the simple thing of digging up my +two corn-fields, that they might not find such a grain there, and +still be prompted to frequent the island; then to demolish my bower +and tent, that they might not see any vestiges of habitation, and be +prompted to look farther, in order to find out the persons inhabiting. + +These were the subject of the first night's cogitation, after I was +come home again, while the apprehensions which had so overrun my mind +were fresh upon me, and my head was full of vapors, as above. Thus +fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger +itself when apparent to the eyes; and we find the burden of anxiety +greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious about; and, which +was worse than all this, I had not that relief in this trouble from +the resignation I used to practice that I hoped to have. I looked, I +thought, like Saul, who complained not only that the Philistines were +upon him, but that God had forsaken him; for I did not now take due +ways to compose my mind, by crying to God in my distress, and resting +upon His providence, as I had done before, for my defense and +deliverance; which, if I had done, I had at least been more cheerfully +supported under this new surprise, and perhaps carried through it with +more resolution. + +This confusion of my thoughts kept me waking all night, but in the +morning I fell asleep; and having, by the amusement of my mind, been, +as it were, tired, and my spirits exhausted, I slept very soundly, and +waked much better composed than I had ever been before. And now I +began to think sedately; and upon the utmost debate with myself, I +concluded that this island, which was so exceeding pleasant, fruitful, +and no farther from the mainland than as I had seen, was not so +entirely abandoned as I might imagine; that although there were no +stated inhabitants who lived on the spot, yet that there might +sometimes come boats off from the shore, who, either with design, or +perhaps never but when they were driven by cross winds, might come to +this place; that I had lived here fifteen years now, and had not met +with the least shadow or figure of any people yet; and that if at any +time they should be driven here, it was probable they went away again +as soon as ever they could, seeing they had never thought fit to fix +there upon any occasion to this time; that the most I could suggest +any danger from, was from any such casual accidental landing of +straggling people from the main, who, as it was likely, if they were +driven hither, were here against their wills; so they made no stay +here, but went off again with all possible speed, seldom staying one +night on shore, lest they should not have the help of the tides and +daylight back again; and that, therefore, I had nothing to do but to +consider of some safe retreat, in case I should see any savages land +upon the spot. + + + + + THE COMING OF FRIDAY + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +I was surprised, one morning early, with seeing no less than five +canoes all on shore together on my side the island, and the people who +belonged to them all landed, and out of my sight. The number of them +broke all my measures; for seeing so many, and knowing that they +always came four, or six, or sometimes more, in a boat, I could not +tell what to think of it, or how to take my measures to attack twenty +or thirty men single-handed; so I lay still in my castle, perplexed +and discomforted. However, I put myself into all the same postures for +an attack that I had formerly provided, and was just ready for action +if anything had presented. Having waited a good while, listening to +hear if they made any noise, at length, being very impatient, I set my +guns at the foot of my ladder, and clambered up to the top of the +hill, by my two stages, as usual; standing so, however, that my head +did not appear above the hill, so that they could not perceive me by +any means. Here I observed, by the help of my perspective glass, that +they were no less than thirty in number, that they had a fire kindled, +that they had had meat dressed. How they had cooked it, that I knew +not, or what it was; but they were all dancing, in I know not how many +barbarous gestures and figures, their own way, round the fire. + +While I was thus looking on them, I perceived by my perspective two +miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems, they were +laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I perceived one +of them immediately fell, being knocked down, I suppose, with a club +or wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were +at work immediately, cutting him open for their cookery, while the +other victim was left standing by himself, till they should be ready +for him. In that very moment, this poor wretch seeing himself a little +at liberty, Nature inspired him with hopes of life, and he started +away from them, and ran with incredible swiftness along the sands +directly towards me,--I mean towards that part of the coast where my +habitation was. + +I was dreadfully frighted (that I must acknowledge) when I perceived +him to run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him +pursued by the whole body; and now I expected that part of my dream +was coming to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter in my +grove; but I could not depend, by any means, upon my dream for the +rest of it, viz., that the other savages would not pursue him thither, +and find him there. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began +to recover when I found that there were not above three men that +followed him; and still more was I encouraged when I found that he +outstripped them exceedingly in running, and gained ground of them; so +that if he could but hold it for half an hour, I saw easily he would +fairly get away from them all. + +There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned +often at the first part of my story, when I landed my cargoes out of +the ship; and this I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the +poor wretch would be taken there. But when the savage escaping came +thither he made nothing of it, though the tide was then up; but +plunging in, swam through in about thirty strokes or thereabouts, +landed, and ran on with exceeding strength and swiftness. When the +three persons came to the creek, I found that two of them could swim, +but the third could not, and that, standing on the other side, he +looked at the other, but went no further, and soon after went softly +back, which, as it happened, was very well for him in the main. + +I observed that the two who swam were yet more than twice as long +swimming over the creek as the fellow was that fled from them. It came +now very warmly upon my thoughts, and indeed irresistibly, that now +was my time to get me a servant, and perhaps a companion or assistant, +and that I was called plainly by Providence to save this poor +creature's life. I immediately run down the ladders with all possible +expedition, fetched my two guns, for they were both but at the foot of +the ladders, as I observed above, and getting up again, with the same +haste, to the top of the hill, I crossed toward the sea, and having a +very short cut, and all down hill, clapped myself in the way between +the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud to him that fled, who, +looking back, was at first perhaps as much frighted at me as at them; +but I beckoned with my hand to him to come back; and, in the meantime, +I slowly advanced towards the two that followed; then rushing at once +upon the foremost, I knocked him down with the stock of my piece. I +was loath to fire, because I would not have the rest hear; though, at +that distance, it would not have been easily heard, and being out of +sight of the smoke, too, they would not have easily known what to make +of it. Having knocked this fellow down, the other who pursued with him +stopped, as if he had been frighted, and I advanced apace towards him; +but as I came nearer, I perceived presently he had a bow and arrow, +and was fitting it to shoot at me; so I was then necessitated to shoot +at him first, which I did, and killed him at the first shot. + +The poor savage who fled, but had stopped, though he saw both his +enemies fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frighted with the +fire and noise of my piece that he stood stock still, and neither came +forward or went backward, though he seemed rather inclined to fly +still than to come on. I hallooed again to him, and made signs to come +forward, which he easily understood, and came a little way, then +stopped again, and then a little further, and stopped again; and I +could then perceive that he stood trembling, as if he had been taken +prisoner, and had just been to be killed, as his two enemies were. I +beckoned him again to come to me, and gave him all the signs of +encouragement that I could think of; and he came nearer and nearer, +kneeling down every ten or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment +for my saving his life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly, and +beckoned to him to come still nearer. At length he came close to me, +and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground, and laid his head +upon the ground, and taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head. +This, it seems, was in token of swearing to be my slave forever. I +took him up, and made much of him, and encouraged him all I could. But +there was more work to do yet; for I perceived the savage whom I +knocked down was not killed, but stunned with the blow, and began to +come to himself; so I pointed to him, and showing him the savage, that +he was not dead, upon this he spoke some words to me; and though I +could not understand them, yet I thought they were pleasant to hear; +for they were the first sound of a man's voice that I had heard, my +own excepted, for above twenty-five years. But there was no time for +such reflections now. The savage who was knocked down recovered +himself so far as to sit up upon the ground, and I perceived that my +savage began to be afraid; but when I saw that, I presented my other +piece at the man, as if I would shoot him. Upon this my savage, for so +I call him now, made a motion to me to lend him my sword, which hung +naked in a belt by my side; so I did. He no sooner had it but he runs +to his enemy, and, at one blow, cut off his head as cleverly, no +executioner in Germany could have done it sooner or better; which I +thought very strange for one who, I had reason to believe, never saw a +sword in his life before, except their own wooden swords. However, it +seems, as I learned afterwards, they make their wooden swords so +sharp, so heavy, and the wood is so hard, that they will cut off heads +even with them, ay, and arms, and that at one blow too. When he had +done this, he comes laughing to me in sign of triumph, and brought me +the sword again, and with abundance of gestures, which I did not +understand, laid it down, with the head of the savage that he had +killed, just before me. + +But that which astonished him most was to know how I had killed the +other Indian so far off; so pointing to him, he made signs to me to +let him go to him; so I bade him go, as well as I could. When he came +to him, he stood like one amazed, looking at him, turned him first on +one side, then on t'other, looked at the wound the bullet had made, +which, it seems, was just in his breast, where it had made a hole, and +no great quantity of blood had followed; but he had bled inwardly, for +he was quite dead. He took up his bow and arrows, and came back; so I +turned to go away, and beckoned to him to follow me, making signs to +him that more might come after them. + +Upon this he signed to me that he should bury them with sand, that +they might not be seen by the rest if they followed; and so I made +signs again to him to do so. He fell to work, and in an instant he had +scraped a hole in the sand with his hands big enough to bury the first +in, and then dragged him into it, and covered him, and did so also by +the other. I believe he had buried them both in a quarter of an hour. +Then calling him away, I carried him, not to my castle, but quite away +to my cave, on the farther part of the island; so I did not let my +dream come to pass in that part, viz., that he came into my grove for +shelter. + +Here I gave him bread and a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of +water, which I found he was indeed in great distress for, by his +running; and having refreshed him, I made signs for him to go lie down +and sleep, pointing to a place where I had laid a great parcel of +rice-straw, and a blanket upon it, which I used to sleep upon myself +sometimes; so the poor creature laid down, and went to sleep. + +He was a comely, handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with straight +strong limbs, not too large, tall and well-shaped, and, as I reckon, +about twenty-six years of age. He had a very good countenance, not a +fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to have something very manly in +his face; and yet he had all the sweetness and softness of an European +in his countenance too, especially when he smiled. His hair was long +and black, not curled like wool; his forehead very high and large; and +a great vivacity and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The color of his +skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly, +yellow, nauseous tawny, as the Brazilians and Virginians, and other +natives of America are, but of a bright kind of a dun olive color, +that had in it something very agreeable, though not very easy to +describe. His face was round and plump; his nose small, not flat like +the negroes; a very good mouth, thin lips, and his fine teeth well +set, and white as ivory. + +After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about half an hour, he +waked again, and comes out of the cave to me, for I had been milking +my goats, which I had in the enclosure just by. When he espied me, he +came running to me, laying himself down again upon the ground, with +all the possible signs of an humble, thankful disposition, making a +many antic gestures to show it. At last he lays his head flat upon the +ground, close to my foot, and sets my other foot upon his head, as he +had done before, and after this made all the signs to me of +subjection, servitude, and submission imaginable, to let me know how +he would serve me as long as he lived. I understood him in many +things, and let him know I was very well pleased with him. In a little +time I began to speak to him, and teach him to speak to me; and first +I made him know his name should be Friday, which was the day I saved +his life. I called him so for the memory of the time. I likewise +taught him to say master, and then let him know that was to be my +name. I likewise taught him to say yes and no, and to know the meaning +of them. I gave him some milk in an earthen pot, and let him see me +drink it before him, and sop my bread in it; and I gave him a cake of +bread to do the like, which he quickly complied with, and made signs +that it was very good for him. + +I kept there with him all that night; but as soon as it was day, I +beckoned to him to come with me, and let him know I would give him +some clothes; at which he seemed very glad, for he was stark naked. As +we went by the place where he had buried the two men, he pointed +exactly to the place, and showed me the marks that he had made to find +them again, making signs to me that we should dig them up again, and +eat them. At this I appeared very angry, expressed my abhorrence of +it, made as if I would vomit at the thoughts of it, and beckoned with +my hand to him to come away; which he did immediately, with great +submission. I then led him up to the top of the hill, to see if his +enemies were gone; and pulling out my glass, I looked, and saw plainly +the place where they had been, but no appearance of them or of their +canoes; so that it was plain that they were gone, and had left their +two comrades behind them, without any search after them. + +But I was not content with this discovery; but having now more +courage, and consequently more curiosity, I took my man Friday with +me, giving him the sword in his hand, with the bow and arrows at his +back, which I found he could use very dexterously, making him carry +one gun for me, and I two for myself, and away we marched to the place +where these creatures had been; for I had a mind now to get some +fuller intelligence of them. When I came to the place, my very blood +ran chill in my veins, and my heart sunk within me, at the horror of +the spectacle. Indeed, it was a dreadful sight, at least it was so to +me, though Friday made nothing of it. The place was covered with human +bones, the ground dyed with their blood, great pieces of flesh left +here and there, half-eaten, mangled, and scorched; and, in short, all +the tokens of the triumphant feast they had been making there, after a +victory over their enemies. I saw three skulls, five hands, and the +bones of three or four legs and feet, and abundance of other parts of +the bodies; and Friday, by his signs, made me understand that they +brought over four prisoners to feast upon; that three of them were +eaten up, and that he, pointing to himself, was the fourth; that there +had been a great battle between them and their next king, whose +subjects it seems he had been one of, and that they had taken a great +number of prisoners; all which were carried to several places by those +that had taken them in the fight, in order to feast upon them, as was +done here by these wretches upon those they brought hither. + +I caused Friday to gather all the skulls, bones, flesh, and whatever +remained, and lay them together on a heap, and make a great fire upon +it, and burn them all to ashes. I found Friday had still a hankering +stomach after some of the flesh, and was still a cannibal in his +nature; but I discovered so much abhorrence at the very thoughts of +it, and at the least appearance of it, that he durst not discover it; +for I had, by some means, let him know that I would kill him if he +offered it. + +When we had done this we came back to our castle, and there I fell to +work for my man Friday; and, first of all, I gave him a pair of linen +drawers, which I had out of the poor gunner's chest I mentioned, and +which I found in the wreck; and which, with a little alteration, +fitted him very well. Then I made him a jerkin of goat-skin, as well +as my skill would allow, and I was now grown a tolerable good tailor; +and I gave him a cap, which I had made of a hare-skin, very convenient +and fashionable enough; and thus he was clothed for the present +tolerably well, and was mighty well pleased to see himself almost as +well clothed as his master. It is true he went awkwardly in these +things at first; wearing the drawers was very awkward to him, and the +sleeves of the waistcoat galled his shoulders, and the inside of his +arms; but a little easing them where he complained they hurt him, and +using himself to them, at length he took to them very well. + +The next day after I came home to my hutch with him, I began to +consider where I should lodge him. And that I might do well for him, +and yet be perfectly easy myself, I made a little tent for him in the +vacant place between my two fortifications, in the inside of the last +and in the outside of the first; and as there was a door or entrance +there into my cave, I made a formal framed door-case, and a door to it +of boards, and set it up in the passage, a little within the entrance; +and causing the door to open on the inside, I barred it up in the +night, taking in my ladders too; so that Friday could no way come at +me in the inside of my innermost wall without making so much noise in +getting over that it must needs waken me; for my first wall had now a +complete roof over it of long poles, covering all my tent, and leaning +up to the side of the hill, which was again laid cross with smaller +sticks instead of laths, and then thatched over a great thickness with +the rice-straw, which was strong, like reeds; and at the hole or place +which was left to go in or out by the ladder, I had placed a kind of +trap-door, which, if it had been attempted on the outside, would not +have opened at all, but would have fallen down, and made a great +noise; and as to weapons, I took them all into my side every night. + +But I needed none of all this precaution; for never man had a more +faithful, loving, sincere servant than Friday was to me; without +passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged and engaged; his +very affections were tied to me, like those of a child to a father; +and I dare say he would have sacrificed his life for the saving mine, +upon any occasion whatsoever. The many testimonies he gave me of this +put it out of doubt, and soon convinced me that I needed to use no +precautions as to my safety on his account. + + + + + HOMEWARD BOUND + + _By Daniel Defoe_ + + +[After Crusoe has spent some years on the island, an English vessel +appears and a number of men come ashore. They prove to be mutineers +who have brought their captain and two other men to be left on the +island. By the aid of Crusoe and Friday, the captain regains +possession of his vessel.] + +I laid me down; and it having been a day of great fatigue to me, I +slept very sound, till I was something surprised with the noise of a +gun; and presently starting up, I heard a man call me by the name of +"Governor," "Governor," and presently I knew the captain's voice; when +climbing up to the top of the hill, there he stood, and pointing to +the ship, he embraced me in his arms. "My dear friend and deliverer," +says he, "there's your ship, for she is all yours, and so are we, and +all that belong to her." I cast my eyes to the ship, and there she +rode within little more than half a mile of the shore; for they had +weighed her anchor as soon as they were masters of her, and, the +weather being fair, had brought her to anchor just against the mouth +of the little creek, and the tide being up, the captain had brought +the pinnace in near the place where I at first landed my rafts and so +landed just at my door. + +I was at first ready to sink down with the surprise; for I saw my +deliverance, indeed, visibly put into my hands, all things easy, and a +large ship just ready to carry me away whither I pleased to go. At +first, for some time, I was not able to answer him one word; but as he +had taken me in his arms, I held fast by him, or I should have fallen +to the ground. + +He perceived the surprise, and immediately pulls a bottle out of his +pocket, and gave me a dram of cordial, which he had brought on purpose +for me. After I had drank it, I sat down upon the ground; and though +it brought me to myself, yet it was a good while before I could speak +a word to him. + +All this while the poor man was in as great an ecstasy as I, only not +under any surprise, as I was; and he said a thousand kind, tender +things to me, to compose me and bring me to myself. But such was the +flood of joy in my breast that it put all my spirits into confusion. +At last it broke out into tears, and in a little while after I +recovered my speech. + +Then I took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and we rejoiced +together. I told him I looked upon him as a man sent from heaven to +deliver me, and that the whole transaction seemed to be a chain of +wonders; that such things as these were the testimonies we had of a +secret hand of Providence governing the world, and an evidence that +the eyes of an infinite Power could search into the remotest corner of +the world, and send help to the miserable whenever He pleased. + +I forgot not to lift up my heart in thankfulness to heaven; and what +heart could forbear to bless Him, who had not only in a miraculous +manner provided for one in such a wilderness, and in such a desolate +condition, but from whom every deliverance must always be acknowledged +to proceed? + +When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me some +little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as the +wretches that had been so long his masters had not plundered him of. +Upon this he called aloud to the boat, and bid his men bring the +things ashore that were for the governor; and, indeed, it was a +present as if I had been one, not that was to be carried away along +with them, but as if I had been to dwell upon the island still, and +they were to go without me. + +First, he had brought me a case of bottles full of excellent cordial +waters, six large bottles of Madeira wine (the bottles held two quarts +apiece), two pounds of excellent good tobacco, twelve good pieces of +the ship's beef, and six pieces of pork, with a bag of peas, and about +a hundred-weight of biscuit. + +He had brought me also a box of sugar, a box of flour, a bag full of +lemons, and two bottles of lime juice, and abundance of other things; +but besides these, and what was a thousand times more useful to me, he +brought me six clean new shirts, six very good neck-cloths, two pair +of gloves, one pair of shoes, a hat, and one pair of stockings, and a +very good suit of clothes of his own, which had been worn but very +little; in a word, he clothed me from head to foot. + +It was a very kind and agreeable present, as any one may imagine, to +one in my circumstances; but never was anything in the world of that +kind so unpleasant, awkward, and uneasy as it was to me to wear such +clothes at their first putting on. + +After these ceremonies passed, and after all his good things were +brought into my little apartment, we began to consult what was to be +done with the prisoners we had; for it was worth considering whether +we might venture to take them away with us or no, especially two of +them, whom we knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the last +degree; and the captain said he knew they were such rogues that there +was no obliging them; and if he did carry them away, it must be in +irons, as malefactors, to be delivered over to justice at the first +English colony he could come at; and I found that the captain himself +was very anxious about it. + +Upon this I told him that, if he desired it, I durst undertake to +bring the two men he spoke of to make it their own request that he +should leave them upon the island. "I should be very glad of that," +says the captain, "with all my heart." + +"Well," says I, "I will send for them up, and talk with them for you." +So I caused Friday and the two hostages, for they were now discharged, +their comrades having performed their promise,--I say, I caused them +to go to the cave and bring up the five men, pinioned as they were, to +the bower, and keep them there till I came. + +After some time I came thither, dressed in my new habit; and now I was +called governor again. Being all met, and the captain with me, I +caused the men to be brought before me, and I told them I had had a +full account of their villainous behavior to the captain, and how they +had run away with the ship, and were preparing to commit further +robberies, but that Providence had ensnared them in their own ways, +and that they were fallen into the pit which they had digged for +others. + +I let them know that by my direction the ship had been seized, that +she lay now in the road, and they might see, by and by, that their new +captain had received the reward of his villainy, for that they might +see him hanging at the yard-arm; that as to them, I wanted to know +what they had to say why I should not execute them as pirates, taken +in the fact, as by my commission they could not doubt I had authority +to do. + +One of them answered in the name of the rest that they had nothing to +say but this, that when they were taken the captain promised them +their lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But I told them I knew +not what mercy to show them; for as for myself, I had resolved to quit +the island with all my men, and had taken passage with the captain to +go for England. And as for the captain, he could not carry them to +England other than as prisoners in irons, to be tried for mutiny, and +running away with the ship; the consequence of which, they must needs +know, would be the gallows; so that I could not tell which was best +for them, unless they had a mind to take their fate in the island. If +they desired that, I did not care, as I had liberty to leave it. I had +some inclination to give them their lives, if they thought they could +shift on shore. + +They seemed very thankful for it, said they would much rather venture +to stay there than to be carried to England to be hanged; so I left it +on that issue. + +However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if he +durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry with the +captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not his; and that +seeing I had offered them so much favor, I would be as good as my +word; and that if he did not think fit to consent to it, I would set +them at liberty, as I found them; and if he did not like it, he might +take them again if he could catch them. + +Upon this they appeared very thankful, and I accordingly set them at +liberty, and bade them retire into the woods to the place whence they +came, and I would leave them some firearms, some ammunition, and some +directions how they should live very well, if they thought fit. + +Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship, but told the captain +that I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired him to +go on board in the meantime, and keep all right in the ship, and send +the boat on shore the next day for me; ordering him, in the meantime, +to cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at the +yard-arm, that these men might see him. + +When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my +apartment, and entered seriously into discourse with them of their +circumstances. I told them I thought they had made a right choice; +that if the captain carried them away, they would certainly be hanged. +I showed them the new captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship, and +told them they had nothing less to expect. + +When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told them +I would let them into the story of my living there, and put them into +the way of making it easy to them. Accordingly I gave them the whole +history of the place, and of my coming to it, showed them my +fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my +grapes; and in a word, all that was necessary to make them easy. I +told them the story also of the sixteen Spaniards that were to be +expected, for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat +them in common with themselves. + +I left them my firearms, viz., five muskets, three fowling-pieces, and +three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of powder left; for +after the first year or two I used but little, and wasted none. I gave +them a description of the way I managed the goats, and directions to +milk and fatten them, and to make both butter and cheese. + +In a word, I gave them every part of my own story, and I told them I +would prevail with the captain to leave them two barrels of gunpowder +more, and some garden seeds, which I told them I would have been very +glad of. Also I gave them the bag of peas which the captain had +brought me to eat, and bade them be sure to sow and increase them. + +Having done all this, I left them the next day, and went on board the +ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that night. +The next morning early two of the five men came swimming to the ship's +side, and, making a most lamentable complaint of the other three, +begged to be taken into the ship for God's sake, for they should be +murdered, and begged the captain to take them on board, though he +hanged them immediately. + +Upon this the captain pretended to have no power without me; but after +some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of amendment, they +were taken on board, and were some time after soundly whipped and +pickled, after which they proved very honest and quiet fellows. + +Some time after this the boat was ordered on shore, the tide being up, +with the things promised to the men, to which the captain, at my +intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be added, which they +took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them by telling +them that if it lay in my way to send any vessel to take them in, I +would not forget them. + +When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for relics, the +great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and my parrot; also I +forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned, which had lain by +me so long useless that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could +hardly pass for silver till it had been a little rubbed and handled; +as also the money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship. + + + + + GULLIVER'S TRAVELS + + + + + GULLIVER IS SHIPWRECKED ON THE COAST OF LILLIPUT + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + +My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of +five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge, at fourteen +years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my +studies; but the charge of maintaining me (although I had a very +scanty allowance) being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound +apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom +I continued four years; and my father now and then sending me small +sums of money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts +of the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always +believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do. When I left +Mr. Bates, I went down to my father; where, by the assistance of him +and my uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a +promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden; there I +studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful +in long voyages. Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended +by my good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain +Abraham Pannell, commander, with whom I continued three years and a +half, making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. +When I came back I resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, +my master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several +patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and being +advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second +daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate Street, with whom I +received four hundred pounds for a portion. + +But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having few +friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer +me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having +therefore consulted with my wife and some of my acquaintance, I +determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two +ships, and made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West +Indies, by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of +leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being +always provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in +observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as +learning their language, wherein I had a great facility, by the +strength of my memory. + +The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of +the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I +removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, +hoping to get business among the sailors, but it would not turn to +account. After three years' expectation that things would mend, I +accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master +of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail +from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our voyage at first was very +prosperous. + +It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with +the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to +inform him that in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were +driven by a violent storm to the northwest of Van Diemen's Land. By an +observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 +minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labor and +ill food; the rest were in a very weak condition. On the 5th of +November, which was the beginning of summer in those parts, the +weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half a cable's +length of the ship; but the wind was so strong that we were driven +directly upon it, and immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I +was one, having let down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get +clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about +three leagues, till we were able to work no longer, being already +spent with labor while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted +ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the +boat was overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my +companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the rock, +or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all +lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed +forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and could feel no +bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I +found myself within my depth; and by this time the storm was much +abated. The declivity was so small, that I walked near a mile before I +got to the shore, which I conjectured was about eight o'clock in the +evening. I then advanced forward near half a mile, but could not +discover any sign of houses or inhabitants; at least I was in so weak +a condition that I did not observe them. I was extremely tired, and +with that, and the heat of the weather, and about half a pint of +brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself much inclined +to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft, +where I slept sounder than ever I remembered to have done in my life, +and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just +daylight. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir; for, as I +happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly +fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and +thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender +ligatures across my body, from my armpits to my thighs. I could only +look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my +eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but, in the posture I lay, +could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt something +alive moving on my left leg, which, advancing gently forward over my +breast, came almost up to my chin; when, bending my eyes downward as +much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature not six inches +high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back. In +the mean time, I felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I +conjectured) following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, +and roared so loud that they all ran back in a fright; and some of +them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by +leaping from my sides upon the ground. However, they soon returned, +and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my +face, lifting up his hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in +a shrill but distinct voice, "Hekinah degul." The others repeated the +same words several times, but I then knew not what they meant. + +I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness; +at length, struggling to get loose. I had the fortune to break the +strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the +ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods +they had taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, +which gave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that +tied down my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn my +head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second time, before +I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout in a very shrill +accent, and after it ceased I heard one of them cry aloud, "Tolgo +phonac;" when in an instant I felt above an hundred arrows discharged +on my left hand, which pricked me like so many needles; and besides, +they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, +whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body (though I felt them not), and +some on my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When +this shower of arrows was over, I fell a-groaning with grief and pain, +and then striving again to get loose, they discharged another volley +larger than the first, and some of them attempted with spears to stick +me in the sides; but by good luck I had on me a buff jerkin, which +they could not pierce. I thought it the most prudent method to lie +still, and my design was to continue so till night, when, my left hand +being already loose, I could easily free myself: and as for the +inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the +greatest army they could bring against me, if they were all of the +same size with him that I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. +When the people observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; +but, by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about +four yards from me, over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for +above an hour, like that of people at work; when turning my head that +way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stage +erected about a foot and half from the ground, capable of holding four +of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it: from whence +one of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long +speech, whereof I understood not one syllable. But I should have +mentioned, that before the principal person began his oration, he +cried out three times, "Langro dehul san" (these words and the former +were afterwards repeated and explained to me). Whereupon, immediately +about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the strings that fastened +the left side of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning it to +the right, and of observing the person and gesture of him that was to +speak. He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the +other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his +train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger; the +other two stood one on each side to support him. He acted every part +of an orator, and I could observe many periods of threatenings, and +others of promises, pity, and kindness. I answered in a few words, but +in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand and both my +eyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness; and being almost +famished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hours before +I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so strong upon me that +I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict +rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to +signify that I wanted food. The _hurgo_ (for so they call a great +lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He descended +from the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be applied +to my sides, on which above an hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and +walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had +been provided and sent thither by the king's orders, upon the first +intelligence he received of me. I observed there was the flesh of +several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There +were shoulders, legs, and loins shaped like those of mutton, and very +well dressed, but smaller than the wing of a lark. I eat them by two +or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the +bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as they could, showing a +thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite. + +I then made another sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating +that a small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious +people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their largest +hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I +drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold +half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more +delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the +same manner, and made signs for more; but they had none to give me. +When I had performed these wonders they shouted for joy, and danced +upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, "Hekinah +degul." They made me a sign that I should throw down the two +hogsheads, but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, +crying aloud, "Borach mevola;" and when they saw the vessels in the +air there was an universal shout of "Hekinah degul." I confess I was +often tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my +body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and +dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, +which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise +of honor I made them--for so I interpreted my submissive +behavior--soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered +myself as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated +me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I +could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive +mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body while one of +my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so +prodigious a creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when +they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared +before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His +excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced +forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue, and +producing his credentials under the signet royal, which he applied +close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes without any signs of anger, +but with a kind of determinate resolution; often pointing forwards, +which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about half +a mile distant, whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I +must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made +a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over +his excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then +to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. + +[Illustration: PRODUCING HIS CREDENTIALS UNDER THE SIGNET ROYAL] + +It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head +by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show that +I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs, to let +me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and very good +treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting to break my +bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrows upon my face +and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts still +sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number of my enemies +increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me +what they pleased. Upon this the _hurgo_ and his train withdrew, with +much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a general +shout, with frequent repetitions of the words, "Peplom selan;" and I +felt great numbers of people on my left side relaxing the cords to +such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right. But, before this, +they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, +very pleasant to the smell, which in a few minutes removed all the +smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added to the refreshment I +had received by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, +disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, as I was afterwards +assured; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the emperor's +order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine. + +It seems that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the +ground, after my landing, the emperors had early notice of it by an +express, and determined in council that I should be tied in the manner +I have related (which was done in the night, while I slept), that +plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine prepared +to carry me to the capital city. This resolution perhaps may appear +very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by +any prince in Europe on the like occasion. However, in my opinion, it +was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for, supposing these +people had endeavored to kill me with their spears and arrows, while I +was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of +smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength as to have +enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as +they were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy. + +These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great +perfection in mechanics by the countenance and encouragement of the +emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince hath +several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and other +great weights. He often builds his largest men-of-war, whereof some +are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them +carried on these engines three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five +hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to +prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised +three inches from the ground, about seven feet long and four wide, +moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival +of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after my +landing. It was brought parallel to me, as I lay. But the principal +difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, +each of one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong +cords, of the bigness of pack-thread, were fastened by hooks to many +bandages, which the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, +and my legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw +up these cords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in +less than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and +there tied fast. All this I was told; for, while the whole operation +was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that +soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the +emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half high, were +employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I said, was half +a mile distant. + +About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very +ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped awhile, to adjust +something that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had +the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; they climbed up +into the engine, and advancing very softly to my face, one of them, an +officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike a good way +up into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made +me sneeze violently; whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it was +three weeks before I knew the cause of my waking so suddenly. We made +a long march the remaining part of that day, and rested at night with +five hundred guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half +with bows and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The +next morning at sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within two +hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor and all his +court, came out to meet us, but his great officers would by no means +suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my body. + +At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple, +esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which, having been +polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to +the zeal of those people, looked on as profane, and therefore had been +applied to common use, and all the ornaments and furniture carried +away. In this edifice it was determined I should lodge. The great +gate, fronting to the north, was about four feet high and almost two +feet wide, through which I could easily creep. On each side of the +gate was a small window, not above six inches from the ground; into +that on the left side the king's smith conveyed fourscore and eleven +chains, like those that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost +as large, which were locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty +padlocks. Over against this temple, on the other side of the great +highway, at twenty feet distance, there was a turret at least five +feet high. Here the emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his +court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I +could not see them. It was reckoned that above an hundred thousand +inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand; and in spite of +my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand, at +several times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a +proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it upon pain of death. When +the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose they cut all +the strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up, with as melancholy a +disposition as ever I had in my life. But the noise and astonishment +of the people, at seeing me rise and walk, are not to be expressed. +The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long, and gave +me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a +semicircle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed +me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple. + + + + + GULLIVER SEIZES THE ENEMY'S FLEET + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + +One morning, about a fortnight after I had obtained my liberty, +Reldresal, principal secretary (as they style him) of private affairs, +came to my house attended only by one servant. He ordered his coach to +wait at a distance, and desired I would give him an hour's audience; +which I readily consented to, on account of his quality and personal +merits, as well as the many good offices he had done me during my +solicitations at court. I offered to lie down, that he might the more +conveniently reach my ear; but he chose rather to let me hold him in +my hand during our conversation. He began with compliments on my +liberty; said he might pretend to some merit in it; but, however, +added, that if it had not been for the present situation of things at +court, perhaps I might not have obtained it so soon. "For," said he, +"as flourishing a condition as we may appear to be in to foreigners, +we labor under two mighty evils: a violent faction at home, and the +danger of an invasion, by a most potent enemy, from abroad. As to the +first, you are to understand that for above seventy moons past there +have been two struggling parties in this empire, under the names of +_Tramecksan_ and _Slamecksan_, from the high and low heels of their +shoes, by which they distinguish themselves. It is alleged, indeed, +that the high heels are most agreeable to our ancient constitution; +but, however this may be, his majesty hath determined to make use of +only low heels in the administration of the government and all offices +in the gift of the crown, as you cannot but observe: and particularly +that his majesty's imperial heels are lower at least by a _drurr_ than +any of his court [_drurr_ is a measure about the fourteenth part of an +inch]. The animosities between these two parties run so high, that +they will neither eat nor drink nor talk with each other. We compute +the _Tramecksan_, or high heels, to exceed us in number; but the power +is wholly on our side. We apprehend his imperial highness, the heir to +the crown, to have some tendency towards the high heels; at least, we +can plainly discover that one of his heels is higher than the other, +which gives him a hobble in his gait. Now, in the midst of these +intestine disquiets, we are threatened with an invasion from the +island of Blefuscu, which is the other great empire of the universe, +almost as large and powerful as this of his majesty. For as to what we +heard you affirm, that there are other kingdoms and states in the +world inhabited by human creatures as large as yourself, our +philosophers are in much doubt, and would rather conjecture that you +dropped from the moon, or one of the stars; because it is certain that +an hundred mortals of your bulk would in a short time destroy all the +fruits and cattle of his majesty's dominions; besides, our histories +of six thousand moons make no mention of any other regions than the +two great empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu. Which two mighty powers +have, as I was going to tell you, been engaged in a most obstinate war +for six-and-thirty moons past. It began upon the following occasion: +it is allowed on all hands, that the primitive way of breaking eggs, +before we eat them, was upon the larger end; but his present majesty's +grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it +according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers; +whereupon the emperor, his father, published an edict, commanding all +his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their +eggs. The people so highly resented this law, that our histories tell +us there have been six rebellions raised on that account; wherein one +emperor lost his life, and another his crown. These civil commotions +were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they +were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire. It is +computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered +death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end. Many +hundred large volumes have been published upon this controversy: but +the books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole +party rendered incapable by law of holding employments. During the +course of these troubles, the emperors of Blefuscu did frequently +expostulate by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a schism in +religion by offending against a fundamental doctrine of our great +prophet Lustrog, in the fifty-fourth chapter of the Blundecral, which +is their Alcoran. This, however, is thought to be a mere strain upon +the text; for the words are these: that all true believers break their +eggs at the convenient end; and which is the convenient end seems, in +my humble opinion, to be left to every man's conscience, or at least +in the power of the chief magistrate to determine. + +"Now, the Big-Endian exiles have found so much credit in the emperor +of Blefuscu's court, and so much private assistance and encouragement +from their party here at home, that a bloody war hath been carried on +between the two empires for thirty-six moons, with various success; +during which time we have lost forty capital ships, and a much greater +number of smaller vessels, together with thirty thousand of our best +seamen and soldiers; and the damage received by the enemy is reckoned +to be somewhat greater than ours. However, they have now equipped a +numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make a descent upon us; and +his imperial majesty, placing great confidence in your valor and +strength, hath commanded me to lay this account of his affairs before +you." + +I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the emperor; and +to let him know that I thought it would not become me, who was a +foreigner, to interfere with parties; but I was ready, with the hazard +of my life, to defend his person and state against all invaders. + +The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to the northeast side of +Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a channel of eight hundred +yards wide. I had not yet seen it, and upon this notice of an intended +invasion I avoided appearing on that side of the coast, for fear of +being discovered by some of the enemy's ships, who had received no +intelligence of me; all intercourse between the two empires having +been strictly forbidden during the war, upon pain of death, and an +embargo laid by our emperor upon all vessels whatsoever. I +communicated to his majesty a project I had formed of seizing the +enemy's whole fleet; which, as our scouts assured us, lay at anchor in +the harbor, ready to sail with the first fair wind. I consulted the +most experienced seamen upon the depth of the channel, which they had +often plumbed; who told me that in the middle, at high water, it was +seventy _glumgluffs_ deep, which is about six feet of European +measure; and the rest of it fifty _glumgluffs_ at most. I walked +towards the northeast coast, over against Blefuscu; where, lying down +behind a hillock, I took out my small perspective glass, and viewed +the enemy's fleet at anchor, consisting of about fifty men-of-war and +a great number of transports. I then came back to my house, and gave +order (for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity of the +strongest cable and bars of iron. The cable was about as thick as +pack-thread, 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 I +twisted three of the iron bars together, binding the extremities into +a hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I went back +to the northeast coast, and, putting off my coat, shoes, and +stockings, walked into the sea in my leathern jerkin, about an hour +before high water. I waded with what haste I could, and swam in the +middle about thirty yards, till I felt ground. I arrived to 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 to shore, where there +could not be fewer than thirty thousand souls. I then took my +tackling, and fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each, I tied +all the cords together at the end. While I was thus employed, the +enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my +hands and face; and, besides the excessive smart, gave me much +disturbance in my work. My greatest apprehension was for mine eyes, +which I should have infallibly lost, if I had not suddenly thought of +an expedient. I kept, among other little necessaries, a pair of +spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed before, had +escaped the emperor's searches. These I took out and fastened as +strongly as I could upon my nose, and thus armed, went on boldly with +my work, in spite of the enemy's arrows, many of which struck against +the glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect, farther +than a little to discompose them. I had now fastened all the hooks, +and taking the knot in my hand, began to pull; but not a ship would +stir, for they were all too fast held by their anchors, so that the +boldest part of my enterprise remained. I therefore let go the cord, +and leaving the hooks fixed to the ships, I resolutely cut with my +knife the cables that fastened the anchors, receiving above two +hundred shots in my face and hands; then I took up 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. + +The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imagination of what I +intended, were at first confounded with astonishment. They had seen me +cut the cables, and thought my design was only to let the ships run +adrift, or fall foul on each other; but when they perceived the whole +fleet moving in order, and saw me pulling at the end, they set up such +a scream of grief and despair that it is almost impossible to describe +or conceive it. 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 first arrival, as I have +formerly mentioned. I then took off my spectacles, and waiting about +an hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through the middle +with my cargo, and arrived safe at the royal port of Lilliput. + +The emperor and his whole court stood on the shore, expecting the +issue of this great adventure. They saw the ships move forward in a +large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in +water. When I advanced to the middle of the channel, they were yet in +more pain, because I was under water to my neck. The emperor concluded +me to be drowned, and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in a +hostile manner; but he was soon eased of his fears, 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!" This great prince received me at my landing with +all possible encomiums, and created me a _nardac_ upon the spot, which +is the highest title of honor among them. + +His majesty desired I would take some opportunity of bringing all the +rest of his enemy's ships into his ports. And so unmeasurable is the +ambition of princes, that he seemed to think of nothing less than +reducing the whole empire of Blefuscu into a province, and governing +it by a viceroy; of destroying the Big-Endian exiles, and compelling +that people to break the smaller end of their eggs, by which he would +remain the sole monarch of the whole world. But I endeavored to divert +him from his design, by many arguments drawn from the topics of policy +as well as justice; and I plainly protested that I "would never be an +instrument of bringing a free and brave people into slavery;" and when +the matter was debated in council, the wisest part of the ministry +were of my opinion. + + + + + A LILLIPUTIAN ODE TO THE MAN-MOUNTAIN + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + + In amaze, + Lost, I gaze! + Can our eyes + Reach thy size? + May my lays + Swell with praise! + Worthy thee! + Worthy me! + Muse, inspire + All thy fire. + Bards of old + Of him told, + When they said + Atlas' head + Propt the skies: + See, and believe your eyes. + + See him stride + Valleys wide: + Over woods, + Over floods, + When he treads, + Mountains' heads + Groan and shake; + Armies quake, + Lest his spurn + Overturn + Man and steed: + Troops take heed! + Left and right, + Speed your flight! + Lest an host + Beneath his foot be lost. + + Turn'd aside + From his hide, + Safe from wound + Darts rebound; + From his nose + Clouds he blows; + When he speaks, + Thunder breaks! + When he eats, + Famine threats; + When he drinks, + Neptune shrinks! + Nigh thy ear, + In mid air, + On thy hand + Let me stand; + So shall I, + Lofty poet, touch the sky. + + + + + AMONG THE BROBDINGNAGIAN GIANTS + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + +Having been condemned by nature and fortune to an active and restless +life, in two months after my return I again left my native country, +and took shipping in the Downs, on the 20th day of June, 1702, in the +Adventure, Captain John Nicholas, a Cornishman, commander, bound for +Surat. We had a very prosperous gale till we arrived at the Cape of +Good Hope, where we landed for fresh water; but discovering a leak, we +unshipped our goods, and wintered there; for the captain falling sick +of an ague, we could not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then +set sail, and had a good voyage till we passed the Straits of +Madagascar; but having got northward of that island, and to about five +degrees south latitude, the winds, which in those seas were observed +to blow a constant equal gale between the north and west, from the +beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 9th of April +began to blow with much greater violence, and more westerly than +usual, continuing so for twenty days together: during which time we +were driven a little to the east of the Molucca Islands, and about +three degrees northward of the line, as our captain found by an +observation he took the 2d of May, at which time the wind ceased, and +it was a perfect calm; whereat I was not a little rejoiced. But he, +being a man experienced in the navigation of those seas, bid us all +prepare against a storm, which accordingly happened the day following; +for a southern wind, called the southern monsoon, began to set in. + +Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and stood +by to hand the foresail; but, making foul weather, we looked the guns +were all fast, and handed the mizzen. The ship lay very broad off, so +we thought it better spooning before the sea than trying or hulling. +We reefed the foresail and set him, and hauled aft the fore sheet; the +helm was hard-a-weather. The ship wore bravely. We belayed the fore +downhaul; but the sail was split, and we hauled down the yard, and got +the sail into the ship, and unbound all the things clear of it. It was +a very fierce storm; the sea broke strange and dangerous. We hauled +off upon the lanyard of the whip-staff, and helped the man at the +helm. We would not get down our topmast, but let all stand, because +she scudded before the sea very well, and we knew that the topmast +being aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way through +the sea, seeing we had sea-room. When the storm was over, we set +foresail and mainsail, and brought the ship to. Then we set the +mizzen, main topsail, and the fore-topsail. Our course was +east-northeast, the wind was at southwest. We got the starboard tacks +aboard, we cast off our weather braces and lifts; we set in the lee +braces, and hauled forward by the weather bowlings, and hauled them +right, and belayed them, and hauled over the mizzen tack to windward, +and kept her full and by as near as she would lie. During this storm, +which was followed by a strong wind west-southwest, we were carried, +by my computation, about five hundred leagues to the east, so that the +oldest sailor aboard could not tell in what part of the world we were. +Our provisions held out well, our ship was stanch, and our crew all in +good health; but we lay in the utmost distress for water. We thought +it best to hold on the same course, rather than turn more northerly, +which might have brought us to the northwest parts of Great Tartary, +and into the Frozen Sea. + +On the 16th day of June, 1703, a boy on the topmast discovered land. +On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or continent (for +we knew not whether); on the south side whereof was a small neck of +land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too shallow to hold a ship +of above one hundred tons. We cast anchor within a league of this +creek, and our captain sent a dozen of his men well armed in the long +boat, with vessels for water, if any could be found. I desired his +leave to go with them, that I might see the country, and make what +discoveries I could. When we came to land, we saw no river, or spring, +nor any sign of inhabitants. Our men therefore wandered on the shore +to find out some fresh water near the sea, and I walked alone about a +mile on the other side, where I observed the country all barren and +rocky. I now began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my +curiosity, I returned gently down towards the creek; and the sea being +full in my view, I saw our men already got into the boat and rowing +for life to the ship. I was going to holla after them, although it had +been to little purpose, when I observed a huge creature walking after +them in the sea, as fast as he could: he waded not much deeper than +his knees, and took prodigious strides: but our men had the start of +him half a league, and the sea thereabouts being full of sharp-pointed +rocks, the monster was not able to overtake the boat. This I was +afterwards told, for I durst not stay to see the issue of the +adventure, but ran as fast as I could the way I first went, and then +climbed up a steep hill, which gave me some prospect of the country. I +found it fully cultivated; but that which first surprised me was the +length of the grass, which, in those grounds that seemed to be kept +for hay, was about twenty feet high. + +I fell into a highroad, for so I took it to be, though it served to +the inhabitants only as a footpath through a field of barley. Here I +walked on for some time, but could see little on either side, it being +now at least harvest, and the corn rising near forty feet. I was an +hour walking to the end of this field, which was fenced in with a +hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet high, and the trees so +lofty that I could make no computation of their altitude. There was a +stile to pass from this field into the next. It had four steps, and a +stone to cross over when you came to the uppermost. It was impossible +for me to climb this stile, because every step was six feet high, and +the upper stone above twenty. I was endeavoring to find some gap in +the hedge, when I discovered one of the inhabitants in the next field, +advancing towards the stile, of the same size with him I saw in the +sea pursuing our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire +steeple, and took about ten yards at every stride, as near as I could +guess. I was struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, and ran to +hide myself in the corn, whence I saw him at the top of the stile +looking back into the next field on the right hand, and heard him call +in a voice many degrees louder than a speaking-trumpet; but the noise +was so high in the air, that at first I certainly thought it was +thunder. Whereupon seven monsters, like himself, came towards him, +with reaping hooks in their hands, each hook about the largeness of +six scythes. These people were not so well clad as the first, whose +servants or laborers they seemed to be; for, upon some words he spoke, +they went to reap the corn in the field where I lay. I kept from them +at as great a distance as I could, but was forced to move with extreme +difficulty, for the stalks of the corn were sometimes not above a foot +distant, so that I could hardly squeeze my body betwixt them. However, +I made shift to go forward till I came to a part of the field where +the corn had been laid by the rain and wind. Here it was impossible +for me to advance a step; for the stalks were so interwoven that I +could not creep through, and the beards of the fallen ears so strong +and pointed that they pierced though my clothes into my flesh. At the +same time I heard the reapers not above ah hundred yards behind me. +Being quite dispirited with toil, and wholly overcome by grief and +despair, I lay down between two ridges, and heartily wished I might +there end my days. I bemoaned my desolate widow and fatherless +children. I lamented my own folly and willfulness, in attempting a +second voyage against the advice of all my friends and relations. In +this terrible agitation of mind, I could not forbear thinking of +Lilliput, whose inhabitants looked upon me as the greatest prodigy +that ever appeared in the world; where I was able to draw an imperial +fleet in my hand, and perform those other actions which will be +recorded forever in the chronicles of that empire, while posterity +shall hardly believe them, although attested by millions. I reflected +what a mortification it must prove to me to appear as inconsiderable +in this nation as one single Lilliputian would be among us. But this, +I conceived, was to be the least of my misfortunes; for, as human +creatures are observed to be more savage and cruel in proportion to +their bulk, what could I expect but to be a morsel in the mouth of the +first among these enormous barbarians that should happen to seize me? +Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right when they tell us that +nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It might have +pleased fortune to let the Lilliputians find some nation where the +people were as diminutive with respect to them as they were to me. And +who knows but that even this prodigious race of mortals might be +equally overmatched in some distant part of the world, whereof we have +yet no discovery? + +Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with +these reflections, when one of the reapers, approaching within ten +yards of the ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the next +step I should be squashed to death under his foot, or cut in two with +his reaping hook. And, therefore, when he was again about to move, I +screamed as loud as fear could make me; whereupon the huge creature +trod short, and looking round about under him for some time, at last +espied me as I lay on the ground. He considered awhile, with the +caution of one who endeavors to lay hold on a small dangerous animal +in such a manner that it may not be able either to scratch or to bite +him, as I myself have sometimes done with a weasel in England. At +length he ventured to take me up behind, by the middle, between his +forefinger and thumb, and brought me within three yards of his eyes, +that he might behold my shape more perfectly. I guessed his meaning, +and my good fortune gave me so much presence of mind that I resolved +not to struggle in the least as he held me in the air about sixty feet +from the ground, although he grievously pinched my sides, for fear I +should slip through his fingers. All I ventured was to raise mine eyes +toward the sun, and place my hands together in a supplicating posture, +and to speak some words in an humble, melancholy tone, suitable to the +condition I then was in; for I apprehended every moment that he would +dash me against the ground, as we usually do any little hateful animal +which we have in mind to destroy. But my good star would have it that +he appeared pleased with my voice and gestures, and began to look upon +me as a curiosity, much wondering to hear me pronounce articulate +words, although he could not understand them. In the meantime I was +not able to forbear groaning and shedding tears, and turning my head +towards my sides; letting him know, as well as I could, how cruelly I +was hurt by the pressure of his thumb and finger. He seemed to +apprehend my meaning; for, lifting up the lappet of his coat, he put +me gently into it, and immediately ran along with me to his master, +who was a substantial farmer, and the same person I had first seen in +the field. + +[Illustration: THE HUGE CREATURE TROD SHORT] + +The farmer having (as I suppose by their talk) received such an +account of me as his servant could give him, took a piece of a small +straw, about the size of a walking staff, and therewith lifted up the +lappets of my coat; which it seems he thought to be some kind of +covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs aside to take a +better view of my face. He called his hinds about him, and asked them +(as I afterwards learned) whether they had ever seen in the fields any +little creature that resembled me. He then placed me softly on the +ground upon all fours, but I got immediately up, and walked slowly +backwards and forwards, to let those people see I had no intent to run +away. They all sat down in a circle about me, the better to observe my +motions. I pulled off my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I +fell on my knees, and lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several +words as loud as I could; I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and +humbly presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his hand, +and then applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and +afterwards turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he +took out of his sleeve), but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I +made a sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then took +the purse, and opening it, poured all the gold into his palm. There +were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, besides twenty or +thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger upon +his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then another; +but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He made me a sign +to put them again into my purse, and the purse again into my pocket, +which, after offering it to him several times, I thought it best to +do. + +The farmer by this time was convinced I must be a rational creature. +He spoke often to me; but the sound of his voice pierced my ears like +that of a water mill, yet his words were articulate enough. I answered +as loud as I could in several languages, and he often laid his ear +within two yards of me: but all in vain, for we were wholly +unintelligible to each other. He then sent his servants to their work, +and taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he doubled and spread +it on his left hand, which he placed flat on the ground with the palm +upward, making me a sign to step into it, as I could easily do, for it +was not above a foot in thickness. I thought it my part to obey, and, +for fear of falling, laid myself at length upon the handkerchief, with +the remainder of which he lapped me up to the head for further +security, and in this manner carried me home to his house. There he +called his wife, and showed me to her; but she screamed and ran back, +as women in England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. However, +when she had awhile seen my behavior, and how well I observed the +signs her husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew +extremely tender of me. + +It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought in dinner. It was +only one substantial dish of meat (fit for the plain condition of an +husbandman), in a dish of about four-and-twenty feet diameter. The +company were the farmer and his wife, three children, and an old +grandmother. When they were set down, the farmer placed me at some +distance from him on the table, which was thirty feet high from the +floor. I was in a terrible fright, and kept as far as I could from the +edge, for fear of falling. The wife minced a bit of meat, then +crumbled some bread on a trencher, and placed it before me. I made her +a low bow, took out my knife and fork, and fell to eat, which gave +them exceeding delight. The mistress sent her maid for a small dram +cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it with drink; I took up +the vessel with much difficulty in both hands, and in a most +respectful manner drank to her ladyship's health, expressing the words +as loud as I could in English, which made the company laugh so +heartily that I was almost deafened with the noise. This liquor tasted +like a small cider, and was not unpleasant. Then the master made me a +sign to come to his trencher-side; but as I walked on the table, being +in great surprise all the time, as the indulgent reader will easily +conceive and excuse, I happened to stumble against a crust, and fell +flat on my face, but received no hurt. I got up immediately, and +observing the good people to be in much concern, I took my hat (which +I held under my arm out of good manners), and waving it over my head, +made three huzzas, to show I had got no mischief by my fall. But +advancing forward towards my master (as I shall henceforth call him), +his youngest son, who sat next him, an arch boy of about ten years +old, took me up by the legs, and held me so high in the air that I +trembled every limb; but his father snatched me from him, and at the +same time gave him such a box on the left ear as would have felled an +European troop of horse to the earth, ordering him to be taken from +the table. But being afraid the boy might owe me a spite, and well +remembering how mischievous all children among us naturally are to +sparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, I fell on my knees, +and pointing to the boy, made my master to understand as well as I +could that I desired his son might be pardoned. The father complied, +and the lad took his seat again, whereupon I went to him, and kissed +his hand, which my master took, and made him stroke me gently with it. + +In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favorite cat leaped into her +lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking-weavers +at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from the purring of +that animal, who seemed to be three times larger than an ox, as I +computed by the view of her head and one of her paws, while her +mistress was feeding and stroking her. The fierceness of this +creature's countenance altogether discomposed me, though I stood at +the farther end of the table, above fifty feet off, and although my +mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a spring, and seize me +in her talons. But it happened there was no danger, for the cat took +not the least notice of me when my master placed me within three yards +of her. And as I have been always told, and found true by experience +in my travels, that flying or discovering fear before a fierce animal +is a certain way to make it pursue or attack you, so I resolved in +this dangerous juncture to show no manner of concern. I walked with +intrepidity five or six times before the very head of the cat, and +came within half a yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if +she were more afraid of me. I had less apprehension concerning the +dogs, whereof three or four came into the room, as is usual in +farmers' houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to four +elephants, and a greyhound somewhat taller than the mastiff, but not +so large. + +When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a year +old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a squall that you +might have heard from London Bridge to Chelsea, after the usual +oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The mother, out of pure +indulgence, took me up, and put me towards the child, who presently +seized me by the middle, and got my head into his mouth, where I +roared so loud that the urchin was frighted, and let me drop, and I +should infallibly have broken my neck if the mother had not held her +apron under me. The nurse, to quiet her babe, made use of a rattle, +which was a kind of hollow vessel filled with great stones, and +fastened by a cable to the child's waist. + +I remember, when I was at Lilliput, the complexions of those +diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and talking +upon the subject with a person of learning there, who was an intimate +friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much fairer and smoother +when he looked on me from the ground than it did upon a nearer view, +when I took him up in my hand and brought him close, which he +confessed was at first a very shocking sight. He said he could +discover great holes in my skin; that the stumps of my beard were ten +times stronger than the bristles of a boar, and my complexion made up +of several colors, altogether disagreeable; although I must beg leave +to say for myself that I am as fair as most of my sex and country, and +very little sunburnt by travels. On the other side, discoursing of the +ladies in that emperor's court, he used to tell me, one had freckles, +another too wide a mouth, a third too large a nose; nothing of which I +was able to distinguish. I confess this reflection was obvious enough; +which, however, I could not forbear, lest the reader might think those +vast creatures were actually deformed: for I must do them justice to +say, they are a comely race of people; and particularly the features +of my master's countenance, although he were but a farmer, when I +beheld him from the height of sixty feet, appeared very well +proportioned. + +When dinner was done, my master went out to his laborers, and, as I +could discover by his voice and gesture, gave his wife a strict charge +to take care of me. I was very much tired and disposed to sleep, which +my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed, and covered me with +a clean white handkerchief, but larger and coarser than the mainsail +of a man-of-war. + +I slept about two hours, and dreamed I was at home with my wife and +children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and found myself +alone, in a vast room, between two and three hundred feet wide, and +above two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards wide. My mistress +was gone about her household affairs, and had locked me in. The bed +was eight yards from the floor. I durst not presume to call; and if I +had, it would have been in vain, with such a voice as mine, at so +great a distance as from the room where I lay to the kitchen where the +family kept. While I was under these circumstances, two rats crept up +the curtains, and ran smelling backwards and forwards on the bed. One +of them came up almost to my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and +drew out my hanger to defend myself. These horrible animals had the +boldness to attack me on both sides, and one of them held his forefeet +at my collar; but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before he +could do me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the other, +seeing the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not without one +good wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, and made the +blood run trickling from him. After this exploit, I walked gently to +and fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss of spirits. These +creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, but infinitely more +nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my belt before I went to +sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to pieces and devoured. I +measured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to be two yards long +wanting an inch; but it went against my stomach to draw the carcass +off the bed, where it lay still bleeding. I observed it had yet some +life, but with a strong slash across the neck, I thoroughly dispatched +it. + +Soon after, my mistress came into the room, who, seeing me all bloody, +ran and took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat, smiling, +and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat she was +extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead rat with a +pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then she set me on a +table, where I showed her my hanger all bloody, and wiping it on the +lappet of my coat, returned it to the scabbard. + +I hope the gentle reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and the +like particulars, which, however insignificant they may appear to +groveling vulgar minds, yet will certainly help a philosopher to +enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and to apply them to a benefit +of public as private life, which was my sole design in presenting this +and other accounts of my travels to the world; wherein I have been +chiefly studious of truth, without affecting any ornaments of learning +or of style. But the whole scene of this voyage made so strong an +impression on my mind, and is so deeply fixed in my memory, that in +committing it to paper I did not omit one material circumstance: +however, upon a strict review, I blotted out several passages of less +moment, which were in my first copy, for fear of being censured as +tedious and trifling, whereof travelers are often, perhaps not without +justice, accused. + + + + + ADVENTURES IN BROBDINGNAG + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + +I should have lived happy enough in that country if my littleness had +not exposed me to several ridiculous and troublesome accidents; some +of which I shall venture to relate. Glumdalclitch often carried me +into the gardens of the court in my smaller box, and would sometimes +take me out of it, and hold me in her hand, or set me down to walk. I +remember, before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us one day into +those gardens, and my nurse having set me down, he and I being close +together, near some dwarf apple-trees, I must needs show my wit, by a +silly allusion between him and the trees, which happens to hold in +their language as it doth in ours. Whereupon the malicious rogue, +watching his opportunity when I was walking under one of them, shook +it directly over my head, by which a dozen apples, each of them near +as large as a Bristol barrel, came tumbling about my ears; one of them +hit me on the back as I chanced to stoop, and knocked me down flat on +my face; but I received no other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at +my desire, because I had given the provocation. + +Another day, Glumdalclitch left me on a smooth grass-plot to divert +myself, while she walked at some distance with her governess. In the +meantime there suddenly fell such a violent shower of hail that I was +immediately, by the force of it, struck to the ground: and when I was +down, the hailstones gave me such cruel bangs all over the body, as if +I had been pelted with tennis balls: however, I made a shift to creep +on all four, and shelter myself, by lying flat on my face, on the lee +side of a border of lemon-thyme; but so bruised from head to foot that +I could not go abroad in ten days. Neither is this at all to be +wondered at, because nature, in that country, observing the same +proportion through all her operations, a hailstone is near eighteen +hundred times as large as one in Europe; which I can assert upon +experience, having been so curious as to weigh and measure them. + +But a more dangerous accident happened to me in the same garden, when +my little nurse, believing she had put me in a secure place (which I +often entreated her to do, that I might enjoy my own thoughts), and +having left my box at home, to avoid the trouble of carrying it, went +to another part of the garden with her governess and some ladies of +her acquaintance. While she was absent, and out of hearing, a small +white spaniel belonging to one of the chief gardeners, having got by +accident into the garden, happened to range near the place where I +lay; the dog, following the scent, came directly up, and taking me in +his mouth, ran straight to his master, wagging his tail, and set me +gently on the ground. By good fortune he had been so well taught that +I was carried between his teeth without the least hurt, or even +tearing my clothes. But the poor gardener, who knew me well, and had a +great kindness for me, was in a terrible fright; he gently took me up +in both his hands, and asked me how I did, but I was so amazed and out +of breath that I could not speak a word. In few minutes I came to +myself, and he carried me safe to my little nurse, who by this time +had returned to the place where she left me, and was in cruel agonies +when I did not appear, nor answer when she called. She severely +reprimanded the gardener on account of his dog. But the thing was +hushed up, and never known at court, for the girl was afraid of the +queen's anger; and truly, as to myself, I thought it would not be for +my reputation that such a story should go about. + +This accident absolutely determined Glumdalclitch never to trust me +abroad for the future out of her sight. I had been long afraid of this +resolution, and therefore concealed from her some little unlucky +adventures that happened in those times when I was left by myself. +Once a kite, hovering over the garden, made a stoop at me, and if I +had not resolutely drawn my hanger, and run under a thick espalier, he +would have certainly carried me away in his talons. Another time, +walking to the top of a fresh molehill, I fell to my neck in the hole +through which that animal had cast up the earth, and coined some lie, +not worth remembering, to excuse myself for spoiling my clothes. I +likewise broke my right shin against the shell of a snail, which I +happened to stumble over as I was walking alone and thinking on poor +England. + +I cannot tell whether I were more pleased or mortified to observe, in +those solitary walks, that the smaller birds did not appear to be at +all afraid of me, but would hop about within a yard's distance, +looking for worms and other food, with as much indifference and +security as if no creature at all were near them. I remember a thrush +had the confidence to snatch out of my hand, with his bill, a piece of +cake that Glumdalclitch had just given me for my breakfast. When I +attempted to catch any of these birds, they would boldly turn against +me, endeavoring to pick my fingers, which I durst not venture within +their reach; and then they would hop back unconcerned, to hunt for +worms or snails, as they did before. But one day I took a thick +cudgel, and threw it with all my strength so luckily at a linnet that +I knocked him down, and seizing him by the neck with both my hands, +ran with him in triumph to my nurse. However, the bird, who had only +been stunned, recovering himself, gave me so many boxes with his +wings, on both sides of my head and body, though I held him at arm's +length, and was out of the reach of his claws, that I was twenty times +thinking to let him go. But I was soon relieved by one of our +servants, who wrung off the bird's neck, and I had him next day for +dinner, by the queen's command. This linnet, as near as I can +remember, seemed to be somewhat larger than an England swan. + +One day, a young gentleman, who was nephew to my nurse's governess, +came and pressed them both to see an execution. It was of a man who +had murdered one of that gentleman's intimate acquaintance. +Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the company, very much against +her inclination, for she was naturally tender-hearted; and as for +myself, although I abhorred such kind of spectacles, yet my curiosity +tempted me to see something that I thought must be extraordinary. The +malefactor was fixed in a chair upon a scaffold erected for that +purpose, and his head cut off at one blow with a sword of about forty +feet long. The veins and arteries spouted up such a prodigious +quantity of blood, and so high in the air, that the great _jet d'eau_ +at Versailles was not equal for the time it lasted; and the head, when +it fell on the scaffold floor, gave such a bounce as made me start, +although I were at least half an English mile distant. + +The queen, who often used to hear me talk of my sea voyage, and took +all occasions to divert me when I was melancholy, asked me whether I +understood how to handle a sail or an oar, and whether a little +exercise of rowing might not be convenient for my health. I answered +that I understood both very well: for although my proper employment +had been to be surgeon or doctor to the ship, yet often, upon a pinch, +I was forced to work like a common mariner. But I could not see how +this could be done in their country, where the smallest wherry was +equal to a first-rate man-of-war among us; and such a boat as I could +manage would never live in any of their rivers. Her majesty said, if I +would contrive a boat, her own joiner should make it, and she would +provide a place for me to sail in. The fellow was an ingenious +workman, and by my instructions, in ten days finished a pleasure boat, +with all its tackling, able conveniently to hold eight Europeans. When +it was finished the queen was so delighted that she ran with it in her +lap to the king, who ordered it to be put in a cistern full of water, +with me in it, by way of trial; where I could not manage my two +sculls, or little oars, for want of room. But the queen had before +contrived another project. She ordered the joiner to make a wooden +trough of three hundred feet long, fifty broad, and eight deep; which +being well pitched to prevent leaking, was placed on the floor along +the wall, in an outer room of the palace. It had a cock near the +bottom to let out the water when it began to grow stale; and two +servants could easily fill it in half an hour. Here I often used to +row for my own diversion, as well as that of the queen and her ladies, +who thought themselves well entertained with my skill and agility. +Sometimes I would put up my sail, and then my business was only to +steer, while the ladies gave me a gale with their fans; and when they +were weary, some of the pages would blow my sail forward with their +breath, while I showed my art by steering starboard or larboard as I +pleased. When I had done, Glumdalclitch always carried back my boat +into her closet, and hung it on a nail to dry. + +In this exercise I once met an accident which had like to have cost me +my life; for, one of the pages having put my boat into the trough, the +governess who attended Glumdalclitch very officiously lifted me up, to +place me in the boat; but I happened to slip through her fingers, and +should infallibly have fallen down forty feet, upon the floor, if, by +the luckiest chance in the world, I had not been stopped by a +corking-pin that stuck in the good gentlewoman's stomacher; the head +of the pin passed between my shirt and the waistband of my breeches, +and thus I was held by the middle in the air, till Glumdalclitch ran +to my relief. + +Another time, one of the servants, whose office it was to fill my +trough every third day with fresh water, was so careless as to let a +huge frog (not perceiving it) slip out of his pail. The frog lay +concealed till I was put into my boat, but then, seeing a +resting-place, climbed up and made it lean so much on one side that I +was forced to balance it with all my weight on the other to prevent +overturning. When the frog was got in, it hopped at once half the +length of the boat, and then over my head, backwards and forwards, +daubing my face and clothes with its odious slime. The largeness of +its features made it appear the most deformed animal that can be +conceived. However, I desired Glumdalclitch to let me deal with it +alone. I banged it a good while with one of my sculls, and at last +forced it to leap out of the boat. + +But the greatest danger I ever underwent in that kingdom was from a +monkey, that belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen. +Glumdalclitch had locked me up in her closet, while she went somewhere +upon business or a visit. The weather being very warm, the closet +window was left open, as well as the windows and the door of my bigger +box, in which I usually lived, because of its largeness and +conveniency. As I sat quietly meditating at my table, I heard +something bounce in at the closet window, and skip about from one side +to the other; whereat although I were much alarmed, yet I ventured to +look out, but not stirring from my seat; and then I saw this +frolicsome animal frisking and leaping up and down, till at last he +came to my box, which he seemed to view with great pleasure and +curiosity, peeping in at the door and every window. I retreated to the +farther corner of my room, or box; but the monkey, looking in at every +side, put me into such a fright that I wanted presence of mind to +conceal myself under the bed, as I might have easily done. After some +time spent in peeping, grinning, and chattering, he at last espied me; +and reaching one of his paws in at the door, as a cat does when she +plays with a mouse, although I often shifted place to avoid him, he at +length seized the lappet of my coat (which being made of that country +silk, was very thick and strong), and dragged me out. He took me up in +his right forefoot, and held me as a nurse does a child, just as I +have seen the same sort of creature do with a kitten in Europe; and +when I offered to struggle, he squeezed me so hard that I thought it +more prudent to submit. I have good reason to believe that he took me +for a young one of his own species, by his often stroking my face very +gently with his other paw. In these diversions he was interrupted by a +noise at the closet door, as if somebody were opening it; whereupon he +suddenly leaped up to the window, at which he had come in, and thence +upon the leads and gutters, walking upon three legs, and holding me in +the fourth, till he clambered up to a roof that was next to ours. I +heard Glumdalclitch give a shriek at the moment he was carrying me +out. The poor girl was almost distracted; that quarter of the palace +was all in an uproar; the servants ran for ladders; the monkey was +seen by hundreds in the court, sitting upon the ridge of a building, +holding me like a baby in one of his forepaws, and feeding me with the +other, by cramming into my mouth some victuals he had squeezed out of +the bag on one side of his chaps, and patting me when I would not eat; +whereat many of the rabble below could not forbear laughing; neither +do I think they justly ought to be blamed, for, without question, the +sight was ridiculous enough to everybody but myself. Some of the +people threw up stones, hoping to drive the monkey down; but this was +strictly forbidden, or else, very probably, my brains had been dashed +out. + +The ladders were now applied, and mounted by several men; which the +monkey observing, and finding himself almost encompassed, not being +able to make speed enough with his three legs, let me drop on a ridge +tile and made his escape. Here I sat for some time, five hundred yards +from the ground, expecting every moment to be blown down by the wind, +or to fall by my own giddiness, and come tumbling over and over from +the ridge to the eaves; but an honest lad, one of my nurse's footmen, +climbed up, and putting me into his breeches' pocket, brought me down +safe. + +I was so weak and bruised in the sides with the squeezes given me by +this odious animal that I was forced to keep my bed a fortnight. The +king, queen, and all the court sent every day to inquire after my +health; and her majesty made me several visits during my sickness. The +monkey was killed, and an order made that no such animal should be +kept about the palace. + +When I attended the king after my recovery, to return him thanks for +his favors, he was pleased to rally me a good deal upon this +adventure. He asked me what my thoughts and speculations were while I +lay in the monkey's paw; how I liked the victuals he gave me; his +manner of feeding; and whether the fresh air on the roof had sharpened +my stomach. He desired to know what I would have done upon such an +occasion in my own country. I told his majesty that in Europe we had +no monkeys except such as were brought for curiosities from other +places, and so small that I could deal with a dozen of them together, +if they presumed to attack me. And as for that monstrous animal with +which I was so lately engaged (it was indeed as large as an elephant), +if my fears had suffered me to think so far as to make use of my +hanger (looking fiercely, and clapping my hand upon the hilt, as I +spoke) when he poked his paw into my chamber, perhaps I should have +given him such a wound as would have made him glad to withdraw it, +with more haste than he put it in. This I delivered in a firm tone, +like a person who was jealous lest his courage should be called in +question. However, my speech produced nothing else besides a loud +laughter, which all the respect due to his majesty from those about +him could not make them contain. This made me reflect, how vain an +attempt it is for a man to endeavor doing himself honor among those +who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet +I have seen the moral of my own behavior very frequent in England +since my return; where a little contemptible varlet, without the least +title to birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look +with importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons +of the kingdom. + +I was every day furnishing the court with some ridiculous story; and +Glumdalclitch, although she loved me to excess, yet was arch enough to +inform the queen whenever I committed any folly that she thought would +be diverting to her majesty. + + + + + GULLIVER'S ESCAPE + + _By Jonathan Swift_ + + +I had always a strong impulse that I should sometime recover my +liberty, though it was impossible to conjecture by what means, or to +form any project with the least hope of succeeding. The ship in which +I sailed was the first ever known to be driven within sight of that +coast, and the king had given strict orders that if at any time +another appeared, it should be taken ashore, and with all its crew and +passengers brought in a tumbril to Lorbrulgrud. I was indeed treated +with much kindness; I was the favorite of a great king and queen, and +the delight of the whole court; but it was upon such a foot as ill +became the dignity of humankind. I could never forget those domestic +pledges I had left behind me. I wanted to be among people with whom I +could converse upon even terms, and walk about the streets and fields +without being afraid of being trod to death like a frog or a young +puppy. But my deliverance came sooner than I expected, and in a manner +not very common; the whole story and circumstances of which I shall +faithfully relate. + +I had now been two years in this country, and about the beginning of +the third, Glumdalclitch and I attended the king and queen in a +progress to the south coast of the kingdom. I was carried as usual in +my traveling box, which, as I have already described, was a very +convenient closet of twelve feet wide. And I had ordered a hammock to +be fixed by silken ropes from the four corners at the top, to break +the jolts when a servant carried me before him on horseback, as I +sometimes desired; and would often sleep in my hammock, while we were +upon the road. On the roof of my closet, not directly over the middle +of the hammock, I ordered the joiner to cut out a hole of a foot +square, to give me air in hot weather as I slept; which hole I shut at +pleasure, with a board that drew backwards and forwards through a +groove. + +When we came to our journey's end, the king thought proper to pass a +few days at a palace he hath near Flanflasnic, a city within eighteen +English miles of the seaside. Glumdalclitch and I were much +fatigued,--I had gotten a small cold, but the poor girl was so ill as +to be confined to her chamber. I longed to see the ocean, which must +be the only scene of my escape, if ever it should happen. I pretended +to be worse than I really was, and desired leave to take the fresh air +of the sea, with a page I was very fond of, and who had sometimes been +trusted with me. I shall never forget with what unwillingness +Glumdalclitch consented, nor the strict charge she gave the page to be +careful of me, bursting at the same time into a flood of tears, as if +she had some foreboding of what was to happen. The boy took me out in +my box, about half an hour's walk from the palace towards the rocks on +the seashore. I ordered him to set me down, and, lifting up one of my +sashes, cast many a wistful, melancholy look towards the sea. I found +myself not very well, and told the page that I had a mind to take a +nap in my hammock, which I hoped would do me good. I got in, and the +boy shut the window close down to keep out the cold. I soon fell +asleep, and all I can conjecture is, that while I slept, the page, +thinking no danger could happen, went among the rocks to look for +birds' eggs, having before observed him from my window searching +about, and picking up one or two in the clefts. Be that as it will, I +found myself suddenly awakened with a violent pull upon the ring which +was fastened at the top of my box for the conveniency of carriage. I +felt my box raised very high in the air, and then borne forward with +prodigious speed. The first jolt had like to have shaken me out of my +hammock, but afterwards the motion was easy enough. I called out +several times as loud as I could raise my voice, but all to no +purpose. I looked towards my windows, and could see nothing but the +clouds and sky. I heard a noise over my head, like the clapping of +wings, and then began to perceive the woeful condition I was in: that +some eagle had got the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent to +let it fall on a rock, like a tortoise in a shell, and then pick out +my body, and devour it; for the sagacity and smell of this bird enable +him to discover his quarry at a great distance, though better +concealed than I could be within a two-inch board. In a little time, I +observed the noise and flutter of wings to increase very fast, and my +box was tossed up and down like a signpost in a windy day. I heard +several bangs or buffets, as I thought, given to the eagle (for such I +am certain it must have been that held the ring of my box in his +beak), and then all on a sudden felt myself falling perpendicularly +down, for above a minute, but with such incredible swiftness that I +almost lost my breath. My fall was stopped by a terrible squash, that +sounded louder to my ears than the cataract of Niagara; after which I +was quite in the dark for another minute; and then my box began to +rise so high that I could see light from the tops of the windows. I +now perceived that I was fallen into the sea. My box, by the weight of +my body, the goods that were in, and the broad plates of iron fixed +for strength at the four corners of the top and bottom, floated above +five feet deep in water. I did then and do now suppose, that the eagle +which flew away with my box was pursued by two or three others, and +forced to let me drop, while he was defending himself against the +rest, who hoped to share in the prey. The plates of iron fastened at +the bottom of the box (for those were the strongest) preserved the +balance while it fell, and hindered it from being broken on the +surface of the water. Every joint of it was well grooved; and the door +did not move on hinges, but up and down like a sash, which kept my +closet so tight that very little water came in. I got with much +difficulty out of my hammock, having first ventured to draw back the +slipboard on the roof already mentioned, contrived on purpose to let +in air, for want of which I found myself almost stifled. + +How often did I then wish myself with my dear Glumdalclitch, from whom +one single hour had so far divided me! And I may say with truth that +in the midst of my own misfortunes I could not forbear lamenting my +poor nurse, the grief she would suffer for my loss, the displeasure of +the queen, and the ruin of her fortune. Perhaps not many travelers +have been under greater difficulties and distress than I was at this +juncture, expecting every moment to see my box dashed in pieces, or at +least overset by the first violent blast, or a rising wave. A breach +in one single pane of glass would have been immediate death: nor could +anything have preserved the windows but the strong lattice wires +placed on the outside, against accidents in traveling. I saw the water +ooze in at several crannies, although the leaks were not considerable, +and I endeavored to stop them as well as I could. I was not able to +lift up the roof of my closet, which otherwise I certainly should have +done, and sat on the top of it; where I might at least preserve myself +some hours longer than by being shut up (as I may call it) in the +hold. Or if I escaped these dangers for a day or two, what could I +expect but a miserable death of cold and hunger? I was four hours +under these circumstances, expecting, and indeed wishing, every moment +to be my last. + +I have already told the reader that there were two strong staples +fixed upon that side of my box which had no window; and into which the +servant who used to carry me on horseback would put a leathern belt, +and buckle it about his waist. Being in this disconsolate state, I +heard, or at least thought I heard, some kind of grating noise on that +side of my box where the staples were fixed; and soon after I began to +fancy that the box was pulled or towed along in the sea; for I now and +then felt a sort of tugging, which made the waves rise near the tops +of my windows, leaving me almost in the dark. This gave me some faint +hopes of relief, although I was not able to imagine how it could be +brought about. I ventured to unscrew one of my chairs, which were +always fastened to the floor; and having made a hard shift to screw it +down again, directly under the slipping board that I had lately +opened, I mounted on the chair, and putting my mouth as near as I +could to the hole, I called for help in a loud voice, and in all the +languages I understood. I then fastened my handkerchief to a stick I +usually carried, and, thrusting it up the hole, waved it several times +in the air, that if any boat or ship were near, the seamen might +conjecture some unhappy mortal to be shut up in the box. + +I found no effect from all I could do, but plainly perceived my closet +to be moved along; and in the space of an hour, or better, that side +of the box where the staples were, and had no windows, struck against +something that was hard. I apprehended it to be a rock, and found +myself tossed more than ever. I plainly heard a noise upon the cover +of my closet, like that of a cable, and the grating of it as it passed +through the ring. I then found myself hoisted up, by degrees, at least +three feet higher than I was before. Whereupon I again thrust up my +stick and handkerchief, calling for help till I was almost hoarse. In +return to which, I heard a great shout repeated three times, giving me +such transports of joy as are not to be conceived but by those who +feel them. I now heard a trampling over my head, and somebody calling +through the hole with a loud voice, in the English tongue, If there be +anybody below, let them speak. I answered, I was an Englishman, drawn +by ill fortune into the greatest calamity that ever any creature +underwent, and begged, by all that was moving, to be delivered out of +the dungeon I was in. The voice replied, I was safe, for my box was +fastened to their ship; and the carpenter should immediately come and +saw a hole in the cover, large enough to pull me out. I answered that +was needless, and would take up too much time; for there was no more +to be done but let one of the crew put his finger into the ring, and +take the box out of the sea into the ship, and so into the captain's +cabin. Some of them, upon hearing me talk so wildly, thought I was +mad; others laughed; for indeed it never came into my head that I was +now got among people of my own stature and strength. The carpenter +came, and in a few minutes sawed a passage about four feet square, +then let down a small ladder, upon which I mounted, and from thence +was taken into the ship in a very weak condition. + +The sailors were all in amazement, and asked me a thousand questions, +which I had no inclination to answer. I was equally confounded at the +sight of so many pygmies, for such I took them to be, after having so +long accustomed mine eyes to the monstrous objects I had left. But the +captain, Mr. Thomas Wilcocks, an honest, worthy Shropshire man, +observing I was ready to faint, took me into his cabin, gave me a +cordial to comfort me, and made me turn in upon his own bed, advising +me to take a little rest, of which I had great need. Before I went to +sleep, I gave him to understand that I had valuable furniture in my +box, too good to be lost: a fine hammock, an handsome field bed, two +chairs, a table, and a cabinet; that my closet was hung on all sides, +or rather quilted, with silk and cotton; that if he would let one of +the crew bring my closet into his cabin, I would open it there before +him, and show him my goods. The captain, hearing me utter these +absurdities, concluded I was raving; however (I suppose to pacify me), +he promised to give order as I desired, and going upon deck sent some +of his men down into my closet, from whence (as I afterwards found), +they drew up all my goods, and stripped off the quilting; but the +chairs, cabinet, and bedstead, being screwed to the floor, were much +damaged by the ignorance of the seamen, who tore them up by force. +Then they knocked off some of the boards for the use of the ship, and +when they had got all they had a mind for, let the hulk drop into the +sea, which, by reason of many breaches made in the bottom and sides, +sunk to rights. And indeed I was glad not to have been a spectator of +the havoc they made; because I am confident it would have sensibly +touched me, by bringing former passages into my mind which I had +rather forget. + +I slept some hours, but perpetually disturbed with dreams of the place +I had left and the dangers I had escaped. However, upon waking, I +found myself much recovered. It was now about eight o'clock at night, +and the captain ordered supper immediately, thinking I had already +fasted too long. He entertained me with great kindness, observing me +not to look wildly, or talk inconsistently; and, when we were left +alone, desired I would give him a relation of my travels, and by what +accident I came to be set adrift in that monstrous wooden chest. He +said that about twelve o'clock at noon, as he was looking through his +glass, he espied it at a distance, and thought it was a sail, which he +had a mind to make, being not much out of his course, in hopes of +buying some biscuit, his own beginning to fall short. That upon coming +nearer, and finding his error, he sent out his longboat, to discover +what I was; that his men came back in a fright, swearing they had seen +a swimming house. That he laughed at their folly, and went himself in +the boat, ordering his men to take a strong cable along with them. +That the weather being calm, he rowed round me several times, observed +my windows and the wire lattices that defended them. That he +discovered two staples upon one side, which was all of boards, without +any passage for light. He then commanded his men to row up to that +side, and, fastening a cable to one of the staples, ordered them to +tow my chest (as they called it) toward the ship. When it was there, +he gave directions to fasten another cable to the ring fixed in the +cover, and to raise up my chest with pulleys, which all the sailors +were not able to do above two or three feet. He said they saw my stick +and handkerchief thrust out of the hole, and concluded that some +unhappy man must be shut up in the cavity. I asked whether he or the +crew had seen any prodigious bird in the air, about the time he first +discovered me? To which he answered that, discoursing this matter with +the sailors while I was asleep, one of them said he had observed three +eagles flying towards the north, but remarked nothing of their being +larger than the usual size; which I suppose must be imputed to the +great height they were at; and he could not guess the reason of my +question. I then asked the captain how far he reckoned we might be +from land. He said, by the best computation he could make, we were at +least an hundred leagues. I assured him that he must be mistaken by +almost half, for I had not left the country from whence I came above +two hours before I dropped into the sea. Whereupon he began again to +think that my brain was disturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and +advised me to go to bed in a cabin he had provided. I assured him I +was well refreshed with his good entertainment and company, and as +much in my senses as ever I was in my life. He then grew serious, and +desired to ask me freely, whether I were not troubled in my mind by +the consciousness of some enormous crime, for which I was punished, at +the command of some prince, by exposing me in that chest; as great +criminals, in other countries, have been forced to sea in a leaky +vessel, without provisions; for although he should be sorry to have +taken so ill a man into his ship, yet he would engage his word to set +me safe ashore, in the first port where we arrived. He added that his +suspicions were much increased by some very absurd speeches I had +delivered at first to the sailors, and afterwards to himself, in +relation to my closet or chest, as well as by my odd looks and +behavior while I was at supper. + +I begged his patience to hear me tell my story, which I faithfully +did, from the last time I left England to the moment he first +discovered me. And as truth always forceth its way into rational +minds, so this honest, worthy gentleman, who had some tincture of +learning, and very good sense, was immediately convinced of my candor +and veracity. But, further to confirm all I had said, I entreated him +to give order that my cabinet should be brought, of which I had the +key in my pocket (for he had already informed me how the seamen +disposed of my closet). I opened it in his own presence, and showed +him the small collection of rarities I made in the country from whence +I had been so strangely delivered. There was the comb I had contrived +out of the stumps of the king's beard, and another of the same +materials, but fixed into a paring of her majesty's thumb-nail, which +served for the back. There was a collection of needles and pins, from +a foot to half a yard long; four wasp stings, like joiners' tacks; +some combings of the queen's hair; a gold ring which one day she made +me a present of, in a most obliging manner, taking it from her little +finger and throwing it over my head like a collar. I desired the +captain would please to accept this ring in return of his civilities; +which he absolutely refused. I showed him a corn that I had cut off, +with my own hand, from a maid of honor's toe; it was about the bigness +of a Kentish pippin, and grown so hard that when I returned to England +I got it hollowed into a cup, and set in silver. Lastly, I desired him +to see the breeches I had then on, which were made of a mouse's skin. + +I could force nothing on him but a footman's tooth, which I observed +him to examine with great curiosity, and found he had a fancy for it. +He received it with abundance of thanks, more than such a trifle could +deserve. It was drawn by an unskillful surgeon, in a mistake, from one +of Glumdalclitch's men, who was afflicted with the toothache, but it +was as sound as any in his head. I got it cleaned, and put it into my +cabinet. It was about a foot long, and four inches in diameter. + +The captain was very well satisfied with this plain relation I had +given him, and said he hoped, when we returned to England, I would +oblige the world by putting it in paper, and making it public. My +answer was that I thought we were already overstocked with books of +travels; that nothing could now pass which was not extraordinary; +wherein I doubted some authors less consulted truth than their own +vanity, or interest, or the diversion of ignorant readers; that my +story could contain little besides common events, without those +ornamental descriptions of strange plants, trees, birds, and other +animals, or of the barbarous customs and idolatry of savage people, +with which most writers abound. However, I thanked him for his good +opinion, and promised to take the matter into my thoughts. + +He said he wondered at one thing very much, which was to hear me speak +so loud; asking me whether the king or queen of that country were +thick of hearing. I told him it was what I had been used to for above +two years past, and that I admired as much at the voices of him and +his men, who seemed to me only to whisper, and yet I could hear them +well enough. But, when I spoke in that country, it was like a man +talking in the street to another looking out from the top of a +steeple, unless when I was placed on a table, or held in any person's +hand. I told him I had likewise observed another thing, that when I +first got into the ship, and the sailors stood all about me, I thought +they were the most little, contemptible creatures I had ever beheld. +For, indeed, while I was in that prince's country, I could never +endure to look in a glass after mine eyes had been accustomed to such +prodigious objects, because the comparison gave me so despicable a +conceit of myself. The captain said that while we were at supper he +observed me to look at everything with a sort of wonder, and that I +often seemed hardly able to contain my laughter, which he knew not +well how to take, but imputed it to some disorder in my brain. I +answered it was very true; and I wondered how I could forbear, when I +saw his dishes of the size of a silver three-pence, a leg of pork +hardly a mouthful, a cup not so big as a nutshell; and so I went on, +describing the rest of his household stuff and provisions after the +same manner. For, although the queen had ordered a little equipage of +all things necessary while I was in her service, yet my ideas were +wholly taken up with what I saw on every side of me, and I winked at +my own littleness as people do at their own faults. The captain +understood my raillery very well, and merrily replied with the old +English proverb, that he doubted mine eyes were bigger than my belly, +for he did not observe my stomach so good, although I had fasted all +day; and, continuing in his mirth, protested he would have gladly +given an hundred pounds to have seen my closet in the eagle's bill, +and afterwards in its fall from so great a height into the sea; which +would certainly have been a most astonishing object, worthy to have +the description of it transmitted to future ages; and the comparison +of Phaëthon was so obvious, that he could not forbear applying it, +although I did not much admire the conceit. + +The captain, having been at Tonquin, was, in his return to England, +driven northeastward to the latitude of 44 degrees, and of longitude +143. But meeting a trade wind two days after I came on board him, we +sailed southward a long time, and coasting New Holland kept our course +west-southwest, and then south-southwest, till we doubled the Cape of +Good Hope. Our voyage was very prosperous, but I shall not trouble the +reader with a journal of it. The captain called in at one or two +ports, and sent in his longboat for provisions and fresh water; but I +never went out of the ship till we came into the Downs, which was on +the third day of June, 1706, about nine months after my escape. I +offered to leave my goods in security for payment of my freight, but +the captain protested he would not receive one farthing. We took a +kind leave of each other, and I made him promise he would come to see +me at my house in Redriff. I hired a horse and guide for five +shillings, which I borrowed of the captain. + +As I was on the road, observing the littleness of the houses, the +trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to think myself in +Lilliput. I was afraid of trampling on every traveler I met, and often +called aloud to have them stand out of the way, so that I had like to +have gotten one or two broken heads for my impertinence. + +When I came to my own house, for which I was forced to inquire, one of +the servants opening the door, I bent down to go in (like a goose +under a gate), for fear of striking my head. My wife ran out to +embrace me, but I stooped lower than her knees, thinking she could +otherwise never be able to reach my mouth. My daughter kneeled to ask +my blessing, but I could not see her till she arose, having been so +long used to stand with my head and eyes erect to above sixty feet; +and then I went to take her up with one hand by the waist. I looked +down upon the servants, and one or two friends who were in the house, +as if they had been pygmies, and I a giant. I told my wife she had +been too thrifty, for I found she had starved herself and her daughter +to nothing. In short, I behaved myself so unaccountably that they were +all of the captain's opinion when he first saw me, and concluded I had +lost my wits. This I mention as an instance of the great power of +habit and prejudice. + +In a little time, I and my family and friends came to a right +understanding; but my wife protested I should never go to sea any +more; although my evil destiny so ordered that she had not power to +hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter. In the meantime, I here +conclude the Second Part of my unfortunate Voyages. + + + + + DON QUIXOTE + + + + + DON QUIXOTE DETERMINES TO BECOME A KNIGHT + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +At a certain village in La Mancha, of which I cannot remember the +name, there lived not long ago one of those old-fashioned gentlemen +who are never without a lance upon a rack, an old target, a lean +horse, and a greyhound. His diet consisted more of beef than mutton; +and with minced meat on most nights, lentils on Fridays, griefs and +groans on Saturdays, and a pigeon extraordinary on Sundays, he +consumed three quarters of his revenue; the rest was laid out in a +plush coat, velvet breeches, with slippers of the same, for holidays; +and a suit of the very best homespun cloth, which he bestowed on +himself for working days. His whole family was a housekeeper something +turned of forty, a niece not twenty, and a man that served him in the +house and in the field, and could saddle a horse, and handle the +pruning hook. The master himself was nigh fifty years of age, of a +hale and strong complexion, lean-bodied and thin-faced, an early +riser, and a lover of hunting. Some say his surname was Quixada, or +Quesada (for authors differ in this particular); however, we may +reasonably conjecture he was called Quixana; though this concerns us +but little, provided we keep strictly to the truth in every point of +this history. + +You must know, then, that when our gentleman had nothing to do (which +was almost all the year round), he passed his time in reading books of +knight-errantry, which he did with that application and delight, that +at last he in a manner wholly left off his country sports, and even +the care of his estate; nay, he grew so strangely besotted with these +amusements that he sold many acres of arable land to purchase books of +that kind, by which means he collected as many of them as were to be +had; but, among them all, none pleased him like the works of the +famous Feliciano de Sylva; for the clearness of his prose and those +intricate expressions with which it is interlaced, seemed to him so +many pearls of eloquence, especially when he came to read the +challenges, and the amorous addresses, many of them in this +extraordinary style: "The reason of your unreasonable usage of my +reason does so enfeeble my reason that I have reason to expostulate +with your beauty." And this: "The sublime heavens, which with your +divinity divinely fortify you with the stars, and fix you the deserver +of the desert that is deserved by your grandeur." These, and such like +expressions, strangely puzzled the poor gentleman's understanding, +while he was breaking his brain to unravel their meaning, which +Aristotle himself could never have found, though he should have been +raised from the dead for that very purpose. + +He did not so well like those dreadful wounds which Don Belianis gave +and received; for he considered that all the art of surgery could +never secure his face and body from being strangely disfigured with +scars. However, he highly commended the author for concluding his book +with a promise to finish that unfinishable adventure; and many times +he had a desire to put pen to paper, and faithfully and literally +finish it himself; which he had certainly done, and doubtless with +good success, had not his thoughts been wholly engrossed in much more +important designs. + +He would often dispute with the curate of the parish, a man of +learning, that had taken his degrees at Giguenza, who was the better +knight, Palmerin of England or Amadis de Gaul; but Master Nicholas, +the barber of the same town, would say, that none of them could +compare with the Knight of the Sun; and that if any one came near him, +it was certainly Don Galaor, the brother of Amadis de Gaul; for he was +a man of a most commodious temper, neither was he so finical nor such +a puling, whining lover as his brother; and as for courage, he was not +a jot behind him. + +In fine, he gave himself up so wholly to the reading of romances, that +at nights he would pore on until it was day, and by day he would read +on until it was night; and thus by sleeping little and reading much, +the moisture of his brain was exhausted to that degree that at last he +lost the use of his reason. A world of disorderly notions, picked out +of his books, crowded into his imagination; and now his head was full +of nothing but enchantments, quarrels, battles, challenges, wounds, +complaints, amours, torments, and abundance of stuff and +impossibilities; insomuch that all the fables and fantastical tales +which he read, seemed to him now as true as the most authentic +histories. He would say, that the Cid Ruy Diaz was a very brave +knight, but not worthy to stand in competition with the Knight of the +Burning-sword, who, with a single backstroke, had cut in sunder two +fierce and mighty giants. He liked yet better Bernardo del Carpio, +who, at Roncesvalles, deprived of life the enchanted Orlando, having +lifted him from the ground, and choked him in the air, as Hercules did +Antæus, the son of the Earth. + +As for the giant Morgante, he always spoke very civil things of him; +for though he was one of that monstrous brood who ever were +intolerably proud and brutish, he still behaved himself like a civil +and well-bred person. + +But of all men in the world he admired Rinaldo of Montalban, and +particularly his sallying out of his castle to rob all he met; and +then again when abroad he carried away the idol of Mahomet, which was +all massy gold, as the history says; but he so hated that traitor +Galalon, that for the pleasure of kicking him handsomely, he would +have given up his housekeeper; nay, and his niece into the bargain. + +Having thus lost his understanding, he unluckily stumbled upon the +oddest fancy that ever entered into a madman's brain; for now he +thought it convenient and necessary, as well for the increase of his +own honor as the service of the public, to turn knight-errant, and +roam through the whole world, armed cap-a-pie, and mounted on his +steed, in quest of adventures; that thus imitating those +knights-errant of whom he had read, and following their course of +life, redressing all manner of grievances, and exposing himself to +danger on all occasions, at last, after a happy conclusion of his +enterprises, he might purchase everlasting honor and renown. +Transported with these agreeable delusions, the poor gentleman already +grasped in imagination the imperial sceptre of Trebizond, and, hurried +away by his mighty expectations, he prepares with all expedition to +take the field. + +The first thing he did was to scour a suit of armor that had belonged +to his great-grandfather, and had lain time out of mind carelessly +rusting in a corner; but when he had cleaned and repaired it as well +as he could, he perceived there was a material piece wanting; for, +instead of a complete helmet, there was only a single headpiece. +However, his industry supplied that defect; for with some pasteboard +he made a kind of half-beaver, or vizor, which, being fitted to the +headpiece, made it look like an entire helmet. Then, to know whether +it were cutlass-proof, he drew his sword, and tried its edge upon the +pasteboard vizor; but with the very first stroke he unluckily undid in +a moment what he had been a whole week a-doing. He did not like its +being broken with so much ease, and therefore, to secure it from the +like accident, he made it anew, and fenced it with thin plates of +iron, which he fixed on the inside of it so artificially that at last +he had reason to be satisfied with the solidity of the work; and so, +without any further experiment, he resolved it should pass to all +intents and purposes for a full and sufficient helmet. + +It was time to look to his horse, who had more false quarter than +real, being a worse jade than Gonela's, _qui tantum pellis et ossa +fuit_; however, his master thought that neither Alexander's Bucephalus +nor the Cid's Babieca could be compared with him. He was four days +considering what name to give him; for, as he argued with himself, +there was no reason that a horse bestrid by so famous a knight, and +withal so excellent in himself, should not be distinguished by a +particular name; and therefore he studied to give him such a one as +should demonstrate as well what kind of horse he had been before his +master was a knight-errant, as what he was now; thinking it but just, +since the owner changed his profession, that the horse should also +change his title, and be dignified with another; a good big word, such +a one as should fill the mouth, and seem consonant with the quality +and profession of his master. And thus, after many names which he +devised, rejected, changed, liked, disliked, and pitched upon again, +he concluded to call him Rozinante; a name, in his opinion, lofty, +sounding, and significant of what he had been before, and also of what +he was now; in a word, a horse before, or above, all the vulgar breed +of horses in the world. + +When he had thus given his horse a name so much to his satisfaction, +he thought of choosing one for himself; and having seriously pondered +on the matter eight whole days more, at last he determined to call +himself Don Quixote. Whence the author of this most authentic history +draws this inference, that his right name was Quixada, and not +Quesada, as others would maintain. And observing that the valiant +Amadis, not satisfied with the bare appellation of Amadis, added to it +the name of his country, that it might grow more famous by his +exploits, and so styled himself Amadis de Gaul; so he, like a true +lover of his native soil, resolved to call himself Don Quixote de la +Mancha; which addition, to his thinking, denoted very plainly his +parentage and country, and consequently would fix a lasting honor on +that part of the world. + +And now, his armor being scoured, his headpiece improved to a helmet, +his horse and himself new named, he perceived he wanted nothing but a +lady, on whom he might bestow the empire of his heart; for he was +sensible that a knight-errant without a mistress was a tree without +either fruit or leaves, and a body without a soul. Should I, said he +to himself, by good or ill fortune, chance to encounter some giant, as +is common in knight-errantry, and happen to lay him prostrate on the +ground, transfixed with my lance, or cleft in two, or, in short, +overcome him and have him at my mercy, would it not be proper to have +some lady to whom I may send him as a trophy of my valor? Then when he +comes into her presence, throwing himself at her feet, he may thus +make his humble submission: "Lady, I am the giant Caraculiambro, lord +of the island of Malindrania, vanquished in single combat by that +never-deservedly-enough-extolled knight-errant Don Quixote de la +Mancha, who has commanded me to cast myself most humbly at your feet, +that it may please your honor to dispose of me according to your +will." Oh! how elevated was the knight with the conceit of this +imaginary submission of the giant; especially having withal bethought +himself of a person on whom he might confer the title of his mistress! +which, it is believed happened thus: Near the place where he lived +dwelt a good likely country lass, for whom he had formerly had a sort +of an inclination, though, it is believed, she never heard of it, nor +regarded it in the least. Her name was Aldonza Lorenzo, and this was +she whom he thought he might entitle to the sovereingty of his heart; +upon which he studied to find her out a new name, that might have some +affinity with her old one, and yet at the same time sound somewhat +like that of a princess or lady of quality; so at last he resolved to +call her Dulcinea, with the addition of del Toboso, from the place +where she was born; a name, in his opinion, sweet, harmonious, +extraordinary, and no less significative than the others which he had +devised. + + + + + THE FIGHT WITH THE WINDMILLS + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +Don Quixote earnestly solicited one of his neighbors, a country +laborer, and a good honest fellow, if we may call a poor man honest, +for he was poor indeed, poor in purse and poor in brains; and, in +short, the knight talked so long to him, plied him with so many +arguments, and made him so many fair promises, that at last the poor +clown consented to go along with him and become his squire. Among +other inducements to entice him to do it willingly, Don Quixote forgot +not to tell him that it was likely such an adventure would present +itself as might secure him the conquest of some island in the time +that he might be picking up a straw or two, and then the squire might +promise himself to be made governor of the place. Allured with these +large promises and many others, Sancho Panza (for that was the name of +the fellow) forsook his wife and children to be his neighbor's squire. + +This done, Don Quixote made it his business to furnish himself with +money; to which purpose, selling one house, mortgaging another, and +losing by all, he at last got a pretty good sum together. He also +borrowed a target of a friend, and having patched up his headpiece and +beaver as well as he could, he gave his squire notice of the day and +hour when he intended to set out, that he might also furnish himself +with what he thought necessary; but above all he charged him to +provide himself with a wallet; which Sancho promised to do, telling +him he would also take his ass along with him, which being a very good +one, might be a great ease to him, for he was not used to travel much +afoot. The mentioning of the ass made the noble knight pause awhile; +he mused and pondered whether he had ever read of any knight-errant +whose squire used to ride upon an ass; but he could not remember any +precedent for it: however, he gave him leave at last to bring his ass, +hoping to mount him more honorably with the first opportunity, by +unhorsing the next discourteous knight he should meet. He also +furnished himself with shirts and as many other necessaries as he +could conveniently carry, according to the innkeeper's injunctions. +Which being done, Sancho Panza, without bidding either his wife or +children good-by, and Don Quixote, without taking any more notice of +his housekeeper or of his niece, stole out of the village one night, +not so much as suspected by anybody, and made such haste that by break +of day they thought themselves out of reach, should they happen to be +pursued. As for Sancho Panza, he rode like a patriarch, with his +canvas knapsack, or wallet, and his leathern bottle, having a huge +desire to see himself governor of the island, which his master had +promised him. + +Don Quixote happened to strike into the same road which he took the +time before, that is, the plains of Montiel, over which he traveled +with less inconveniency than when he went alone, by reason it was yet +early in the morning; at which time the rays of the sun, striking +obliquely upon them, did not prove so offensive. + +As they jogged on, "I beseech your worship, Sir Knight-errant," quoth +Sancho to his master, "be sure you don't forget what you promised me +about the island; for I dare say I shall make shift to govern it, let +it be never so big."--"You must know, friend Sancho," replied Don +Quixote, "that it has been the constant practice of knights-errant in +former ages to make their squires governors of the islands or kingdoms +they conquered. Now I am not only resolved to keep up that laudable +custom, but even to improve it, and outdo my predecessors in +generosity; for whereas sometimes, or rather most commonly, other +knights delayed rewarding their squires till they were grown old, and +worn out with services, bad days, worse nights, and all manner of hard +duty, and then put them off with some title, either of count, or at +least marquis of some valley or province, of great or small extent; +now, if thou and I do but live, it may happen that before we have +passed six days together I may conquer some kingdom, having many other +kingdoms annexed to its imperial crown; and this would fall out most +luckily for thee; for then would I presently crown thee king of one of +them. Nor do thou imagine this to be a mighty matter; for so strange +accidents and revolutions, so sudden and so unforeseen, attend the +profession of chivalry, that I might easily give thee a great deal +more than I have promised."--"Why, should this come to pass," quoth +Sancho Panza, "and I be made a king by some such miracle, as your +worship says, then Joan Gutierez (my mis'ess) would be at least a +queen, and my children infantas."--"Who doubts of that?" cried Don +Quixote. "I doubt of it," replied Sancho Panza; "for I cannot help +believing, that though it should rain kingdoms down upon the face of +the earth, not one of them would sit well upon Mary Gutierez's head; +for I must needs tell you, she's not worth two brass jacks to make a +queen of: no, countess would be better for her, an't please you; and +that too, God help her, will be as much as she can handsomely +manage."--"Recommend the matter to Providence," returned Don Quixote, +"'twill be sure to give what is most expedient for thee; but yet +disdain to entertain inferior thoughts, and be not tempted to accept +less than the dignity of a viceroy."--"No more I won't, sir," quoth +Sancho, "especially since I have so rare a master as your worship, who +will take care to give me whatever may be fit for me, and what I may +be able to deal with." + +As they were thus discoursing, they discovered some thirty or forty +windmills that are in that plain; and as soon as the knight had spied +them, "Fortune," cried he, "directs our affairs better than we +ourselves could have wished: look yonder, friend Sancho, there are at +least thirty outrageous giants, whom I intend to encounter; and having +deprived them of life, we will begin to enrich ourselves with their +spoils; for they are lawful prize; and the extirpation of that cursed +brood will be an acceptable service to Heaven."--"What giants?" quoth +Sancho Panza. "Those whom thou seest yonder," answered Don Quixote, +"with their long extended arms; some of that detested race have arms +of so immense a size, that sometimes they reach two leagues in +length."--"Pray look better, sir," quoth Sancho; "those things yonder +are no giants, but windmills, and the arms you fancy, are their sails, +which being whirled about by the wind, make the mill go." "'Tis a +sign," cried Don Quixote, "thou art but little acquainted with +adventures! I tell thee, they are giants; and therefore if thou art +afraid, go aside and say thy prayers, for I am resolved to engage in a +dreadful unequal combat against them all." This said, he clapt spurs +to his horse Rozinante, without giving ear to his squire Sancho, who +bawled out to him, and assured him that they were windmills, and no +giants. But he was so fully possessed with a strong conceit of the +contrary, that he did not so much as hear his squire's outcry, nor was +he sensible of what they were, although he was already very near them; +far from that: "Stand, cowards," cried he as loud as he could; "stand +your ground, ignoble creatures, and fly not basely from a single +knight, who dares encounter you all!" At the same time, the wind +rising, the mill-sails began to move, which when Don Quixote spied, +"Base miscreants," cried he, "though you move more arms than the giant +Briareus, you shall pay for your arrogance." He most devoutly +recommended himself to his Lady Dulcinea, imploring her assistance in +this perilous adventure; and so covering himself with his shield, and +couching his lance, he rushed with Rozinante's utmost speed upon the +first windmill he could come at, and running his lance into the sail, +the wind whirled it about with such swiftness, that the rapidity of +the motion presently broke the lance into shivers, and hurled away +both knight and horse along with it, till down he fell, rolling a good +way off in the field. Sancho Panza ran as fast as his ass could drive +to help his master, whom he found lying, and not able to stir, such a +blow had he and Rozinante received. "Mercy o' me!" cried Sancho, "did +not I give your worship fair warning? Did not I tell you they were +windmills, and that nobody could think otherwise, unless he had also +windmills in his head?"--"Peace, friend Sancho," replied Don Quixote: +"there is nothing so subject to the inconstancy of fortune as war. I +am verily persuaded that cursed necromancer Freston, who carried away +my study and my books, has transformed these giants into windmills to +deprive me of the honor of the victory; such is his inveterate malice +against me; but in the end, all his pernicious wiles and stratagems +shall prove ineffectual against the prevailing edge of my +sword."--"Amen, say I," replied Sancho. And so heaving him up again +upon his legs, once more the knight mounted poor Rozinante, that was +half shoulder-slipped with his fall. + +[Illustration: Covering himself with his shield, and couching his +lance, he rushed with Rozinante's utmost speed upon the first windmill +he could come at and running his lance into the sail, the wind whirled +it about with such swiftness, that the rapidity of the motion +presently broke the lance into shivers, and hurled away both knight +and horse along with it, till down he fell, rolling a good way off in +the field. Sancho Panza ran as fast as his ass could drive to help his +master, whom he found lying and not able to stir, such a blow had he +and Rozinante received] + +This adventure was the subject of their discourse, as they made the +best of their way towards the pass of Lapice, for Don Quixote took +that road, believing he could not miss of adventure in one so mightily +frequented. However, the loss of his lance was no small affliction to +him; and as he was making his complaint about it to his squire, "I +have read," said he, "friend Sancho, that a certain Spanish knight, +whose name was Diego Perez de Vargas, having broke his sword in the +heat of an engagement, pulled up by the roots a huge oak tree, or at +least tore down a massy branch, and did such wonderful execution, +crushing and grinding so many Moors with it that day, that he won +himself and his posterity the surname of The Pounder, or Bruiser. I +tell thee this, because I intend to tear up the next oak or holm tree +we meet; with the trunk whereof I hope to perform such wondrous deeds +that thou wilt esteem thyself particularly happy in having had the +honor to behold them, and been the ocular witness of achievements +which posterity will scarce be able to believe."--"Heaven grant you +may," cried Sancho; "I believe it all, because your worship says it. +But, an't please you, sit a little more upright in your saddle; you +ride sideling methinks; but that, I suppose, proceeds from your being +bruised by the fall."--"It does so," replied Don Quixote; "and if I do +not complain of the pain, it is because a knight-errant must never +complain of his wounds, though his bowels were dropping out through +them."--"Then I have no more to say," quoth Sancho; "and yet Heaven +knows my heart, I should be glad to hear your worship hone a little +now and then when something ails you: for my part, I shall not fail to +bemoan myself when I suffer the smallest pain, unless indeed it can be +proved, that the rule of not complaining extends to the squires as +well as knights." + +Don Quixote could not forbear smiling at the simplicity of his squire; +and told him he gave him leave to complain not only when he pleased, +but as much as he pleased, whether he had any cause or no; for he had +never yet read anything to the contrary in any books of chivalry. + + + + + THE INNKEEPER'S BILL + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +But Don Quixote, as we have said, found himself in an excellent +temper; and his active soul loathing an inglorious repose, he +presently was impatient to depart to perform the duties of his +adventurous profession; for he thought those moments that were trifled +away in amusements or other concerns only a blank in life; and all +delays a depriving distressed persons and the world in general of his +needed assistance. The confidence which he reposed in his balsam, +heightened, if possible, his resolution; and thus carried away by his +eager thoughts, he saddled Rozinante himself, and then put the pannel +upon the ass, and his squire upon the pannel, after he had helped him +to huddle on his clothes; that done, he mounted his steed; and having +spied a javelin that stood in a corner, he seized and appropriated it +to himself, to supply the want of his lance. Above twenty people that +were in the inn stood spectators of all these transactions; and among +the rest the innkeeper's daughter, from whom Don Quixote had not power +to withdraw his eyes, breathing out at every glance a deep sigh from +the very bottom of his heart; which those who had seen him so +mortified the night before took to proceed from the pain of his +bruises. + +And now being ready to set forward, he called for the master of the +house, and with a grave delivery, "My lord governor," cried he, "the +favors I have received in your castle are so great and extraordinary +that they bind my grateful soul to an eternal acknowledgment; +therefore that I may be so happy as to discharge part of the +obligation, think if there be ever a proud mortal breathing on whom +you desire to be revenged for some affront or other injury, and +acquaint me with it now; and by my order of knighthood, which binds me +to protect the weak, relieve the oppressed, and punish the bad, I +promise you I'll take effectual care, that you shall have ample +satisfaction to the utmost of your wishes."--"Sir Knight," answered +the innkeeper, with an austere gravity, "I shall not need your +assistance to revenge any wrong that may be offered to my person; for +I would have you to understand that I am able to do myself justice +whenever any man presumes to do me wrong; therefore all the +satisfaction I desire is, that you will pay your reckoning for +horse-meat and man's meat, and all your expenses in my inn."--"How!" +cried Don Quixote, "is this an inn?"--"Yes," answered the host, "and +one of the most noted, and of the best repute upon the road."--"How +strangely have I been mistaken, then!" cried Don Quixote; "upon my +honor I took it for a castle, and a considerable one too; but if it be +an inn, and not a castle, all I have to say is, that you must excuse +me from paying anything; for I would by no means break the laws which +we knights-errant are bound to observe; nor was it ever known, that +they ever paid in any inn whatsoever; for this is the least recompense +that can be allowed them for the intolerable labors they endure day +and night, winter and summer, on foot and on horseback, pinched with +hunger, choked with thirst, and exposed to all the injuries of the air +and all the inconveniences in the world."--"I have nothing to do with +all this," cried the innkeeper; "pay your reckoning, and don't trouble +me with your foolish stories of a cock and a bull; I can't afford to +keep house at that rate."--"Thou art both a fool and a knave of an +innkeeper," replied Don Quixote, and with that clapping spurs to +Rozinante, and brandishing his javelin at his host, he rode out of the +inn without any opposition, and got a good way from it, without so +much as once looking behind him to see whether his squire came after +him. + +The knight being marched off, there remained only the squire, who was +stopped for the reckoning. However, he swore he would not pay a cross; +for the selfsame law that acquitted the knight acquitted the squire. +This put the innkeeper into a great passion, and made him threaten +Sancho very hard, telling him if he would not pay him by fair means, +he would have him laid by the heels that moment. Sancho swore by his +master's knighthood he would sooner part with his life than his money +on such an account; nor should the squires in after ages ever have +occasion to upbraid him with giving so ill a precedent, or breaking +their rights. + +As ill luck would have it, there happened to be in the inn four +Segovia clothiers, three Cordova pointmakers, and two Seville +hucksters, all brisk, gamesome, roguish fellows; who agreeing all in +the same design, encompassed Sancho, and pulled him off his ass, while +one of them went and got a blanket. Then they put the unfortunate +squire into it, and observing the roof of the place they were in to be +somewhat too low for their purpose, they carried him into the back +yard, which had no limits but the sky, and there they tossed him for +several times together in the blanket, as they do dogs on Shrove +Tuesday. Poor Sancho made so grievous an outcry all the while that his +master heard him, and imagined those lamentations were of some person +in distress, and consequently the occasion of some adventure; but +having at last distinguished the voice, he made to the inn with a +broken gallop; and finding the gates shut, he rode about to see +whether he might not find some other way to get in. But he no sooner +came to the back-yard wall, which was none of the highest, when he was +an eyewitness of the scurvy trick that was put upon his squire. There +he saw him ascend and descend, and frolic and caper in the air with so +much nimbleness and agility, that it is thought the knight himself +could not have forborne laughing, had he been anything less angry. He +did his best to get over the wall, but alas, he was so bruised, that +he could not so much as alight from his horse. This made him fume and +chafe, and vent his passion in a thousand threats and curses, so +strange and various that it is impossible to repeat them. But the more +he stormed, the more they tossed and laughed; Sancho on his side +begging, and howling, and threatening, and cursing, to as little +purpose as his master, for it was weariness alone could make the +tossers give over. Then they charitably put an end to his high +dancing, and set him upon his ass again, carefully wrapped in his +mantle. + +But Maritornes, pitying a creature in such tribulation and thinking he +had danced and tumbled enough to be dry, was so generous as to help +him to a draught of water, which she purposely drew from the well that +moment, that it might be the cooler. Sancho clapped the pot to his +mouth, but his master made him desist. "Hold, hold," cried he, "son +Sancho, drink no water, child, it will kill thee; behold I have here +the most holy balsam, two drops of which will cure thee +effectually."--"Ha," replied Sancho, shaking his head, and looking +sourly on the knight with a side face, "have you again forgot that I +am no knight? Keep your brewings for yourself, in the devil's name, +and let me alone." With that he lifted up the jug to his nose, but +finding it to be mere element, he spirted out again the little he had +tasted, and desired the wench to help him to some better liquor; so +she went and fetched him wine to make him amends, and paid for it too +out of her own pocket. As soon as Sancho had tipped off his wine, he +visited his ass's ribs twice or thrice with his heels, and, free +egress being granted him, he trooped off, well content with the +thoughts of having had his ends, and got off scot free, though at the +expense of his shoulders, his usual sureties. It is true, the +innkeeper kept his wallet for the reckoning; but the poor squire was +so dismayed, and in such haste to be gone, that he never missed it. +The host was for shutting the inn doors after him, for fear of the +worst; but the tossers would not let him, being a sort of fellows that +would not have cared for Don Quixote a straw, though he had really +been one of the Knights of the Round Table. + + + + + THE BATTLE OF THE SHEEP + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +They went on discoursing, when Don Quixote, perceiving a thick cloud +of dust arise right before them in the road, "The day is come," said +he, turning to his squire, "the day is come, Sancho, that shall usher +in the happiness which fortune has reserved for me; this day shall the +strength of my arm be signalized by such exploits as shall be +transmitted even to the latest posterity. Seest thou that cloud of +dust, Sancho? It is raised by a prodigious army marching this way, and +composed of an infinite number of nations."--"Why then, at this rate," +quoth Sancho, "there should be two armies; for yonder is as great a +dust on the other side." With that Don Quixote looked, and was +transported with joy at the sight, firmly believing that two vast +armies were ready to engage each other in that plain; for his +imagination was so crowded with those battles, enchantments, +surprising adventures, amorous thoughts, and other whimsies which he +had read of in romances, that his strong fancy changed everything he +saw into what he desired to see; and thus he could not conceive that +the dust was only raised by two large flocks of sheep that were going +the same road from different parts, and could not be discerned till +they were very near; he was so positive that they were two armies, +that Sancho firmly believed him at last. "Well, sir," quoth the +squire, "what are we to do, I beseech you?"--"What shall we do," +replied Don Quixote, "but assist the weaker and injured side? for +know, Sancho, that the army which now moves towards us is commanded by +the great Alifanfaron, emperor of the vast island of Taprobana; the +other that advances behind us is his enemy, the king of the +Garamantians, Pentapolin with the naked arm, so called because he +always enters into the battle with his right arm bare."--"Pray, sir," +quoth Sancho, "why are these two great men going together by the +ears?"--"The occasion of their quarrel is this," answered Don Quixote: +"Alifanfaron, a strong Pagan, is in love with Pentapolin's daughter, a +very beautiful lady and a Christian; now her father refuses to give +her in marriage to the heathen prince, unless he abjure his false +belief and embrace the Christian religion."--"Burn my beard," said +Sancho, "if Pentapolin be not in the right on it; I will stand by him, +and help him all I may."--"I commend thy resolution," replied Don +Quixote, "it is not only lawful, but requisite; for there is no need +of being a knight to fight in such battles."--"I guessed as much," +quoth Sancho; "but where shall we leave my ass in the meantime, that I +may be sure to find him again after the battle; for I fancy you never +heard of any man that ever charged upon such a beast."--"It is true," +answered Don Quixote, "and therefore I would have thee turn him loose, +though thou wert sure never to find him again; for we shall have so +many horses after we have got the day that even Rozinante himself will +be in danger of being changed for another." + +Then mounting to the top of a hillock, whence they might have seen +both the flocks, had not the dust obstructed their sight, "Look +yonder, Sancho!" cried Don Quixote; "that knight whom thou seest in +the gilded arms, bearing in his shield a crowned lion couchant at the +feet of a lady, is the valiant Laurcalco, lord of the silver bridge. +He in the armor powdered with flowers of gold, bearing three crows +argent in a field azure, is the formidable Micocolembo, the great duke +of Quiracia. That other, of a gigantic size, that marches on his +right, is the undaunted Brandabarbaran of Boliche, sovereign of the +three Arabias; he is arrayed in a serpent's skin, and carries instead +of a shield a huge gate, which they say belonged to the temple which +Samson pulled down at his death, when he revenged himself upon his +enemies. But cast thy eyes on this side, Sancho, and at the head of +the other army see the victorious Timonel of Carcaiona, prince of New +Biscay, whose armor is quartered azure, vert, or, and argent, and who +bears in his shield a cat or, in a field gules, with these four +letters, MIAU, for a motto, being the beginning of his mistress's +name, the beautiful Miaulina, daughter to Alfeñiquen, duke of Algarva. +That other monstrous load upon the back of yonder wild horse, with +arms as white as snow, and a shield without any device, is a +Frenchman, now created knight, called Pierre Papin, baron of Utrique; +he whom you see pricking that pied courser's flanks with his armed +heels is the mighty duke of Nervia, Espartafilardo of the Wood, +bearing for device on his shield an asparagus plant with this motto in +Castilian, _Rastrea mi suerte_ (Divine my fate)." And thus he went on, +naming a great number of others in both armies, to every one of whom +his fertile imagination assigned arms, colors, impresses, and mottoes, +as readily as if they had really been that moment in being before his +eyes. And then proceeding without the least hesitation, "That vast +body," said he, "that is just opposite to us is composed of several +nations. There you see those who drink the pleasant stream of the +famous Xanthus; there the mountaineers that till the Massilian fields; +those that sift the pure gold of Arabia Felix: those that inhabit the +renowned and delightful banks of Thermodon. Yonder, those who so many +ways sluice and drain the golden Pactolus for its precious sand; the +Numidians, unsteady and careless of their promises; the Persians, +excellent archers; the Medes and Parthians, who fight flying; the +Arabs, who have no fixed habitations; the Scythians, cruel and savage, +though fair-complexioned; the sooty Ethiopians, that bore their lips; +and a thousand other nations whose countenances I know, though I have +forgotten their names. On the other side come those whose country is +watered with the crystal streams of Betis, shaded with olive trees; +those who bathe their limbs in the rich flood of the golden Tagus; +those whose mansions are laved by the profitable stream of the divine +Genil; those who range the verdant Tartesian meadows; those who +indulge their luxurious temper in the delicious pastures of Xerez; the +wealthy inhabitants of La Mancha, crowned with golden ears of corn; +the ancient offspring of the Goths, cased in iron; those who wanton in +the lazy current of Pisuerga; those who feed their numerous flocks in +the ample plains where the Guadiana, so celebrated for its hidden +course, pursues its wandering race; those who shiver with extremity of +cold on the woody Pyrenean hills or on the hoary tops of the snowy +Apennines,--in a word, all that Europe includes within its spacious +bounds, half a world in an army." It is scarce to be imagined how many +countries he had run over, how many nations he enumerated, +distinguishing every one by what is peculiar to them, with an +incredible vivacity of mind, and that still in the puffy style of his +fabulous books. + +Sancho listened to all this romantic muster-roll as mute as a fish, +with amazement; all that he could do was now and then to turn his head +on this side and the other side, to see if he could discern the +knights and giants whom his master named. But at length, not being +able to discover any, "Why," cried he, "you had as good tell me it +snows; the devil of any knight, giant, or man can I see, of all those +you talk of now; who knows but all this may be witchcraft and spirits, +like yesternight?"--"How," replied Don Quixote; "dost thou not hear +their horses neigh, their trumpets sound, and their drums beat?"--"Not +I," quoth Sancho, "I prick up my ears like a sow in the beans, and yet +I can hear nothing but the bleating of sheep." Sancho might justly say +so indeed, for by this time the two flocks were got very near them. +"Thy fears disturb thy senses," said Don Quixote, "and hinder thee +from hearing and seeing right; but it is no matter; withdraw to some +place of safety, since thou art so terrified; for I alone am +sufficient to give the victory to that side which I shall favor with +my assistance." With that he couched his lance, clapped spurs to +Rozinante, and rushed like a thunderbolt from the hillock into the +plain. Sancho bawled after him as loud as he could. "Hold, sir!" cried +Sancho; "for heaven's sake come back! What do you mean? as sure as I +am a sinner those you are going to maul are nothing but poor harmless +sheep. Come back, I say. Woe to him that begot me! Are you mad, sir? +there are no giants, no knights, no cats, no asparagus gardens, no +golden quarters nor what-d'-ye-call-thems. Does the devil possess you? +you are leaping over the hedge before you come at the stile. You are +taking the wrong sow by the ear. Oh, that I was ever born to see this +day!" But Don Quixote still riding on, deaf and lost to good advice, +out-roared his expostulating squire. "Courage, brave knights!" cried +he; "march up, fall on, all you who fight under the standard of the +valiant Pentapolin with the naked arm; follow me, and you shall see +how easily I will revenge him on that infidel Alifanfaron of +Taprobana." + +So saying, he charged into the midst of the squadron of sheep and +commenced to spear them with his lance with as much gallantry and +resolution as if he were verily engaging with his mortal enemies. + +The shepherds and drovers, seeing their sheep go to wreck, called out +to him; till finding fair means ineffectual, they unloosed their +slings, and began to ply him with stones as big as their fists. But +the champion, disdaining such a distant war, spite of their showers of +stones rushed among the routed sheep, trampling both the living and +the slain in a most terrible manner, impatient to meet the general of +the enemy, and end the war at once. "Where, where art thou?" cried he, +"proud, Alifanfaron? Appear! See here a single knight who seeks thee +everywhere, to try now, hand to hand, the boasted force of thy +strenuous arm, and deprive thee of life, as a due punishment for the +unjust war which thou hast audaciously waged with the valiant +Pentapolin." Just as he had said this, while the stones flew about his +ears, one unluckily hit upon his small ribs, and had like to have +buried two of the shortest deep in the middle of his body. + +The knight thought himself slain, or at least desperately wounded; and +therefore calling to mind his precious balsam, and pulling out his +earthen jug, he clapped it to his mouth; but before he had swallowed a +sufficient dose, souse comes another of those bitter almonds, that +spoiled his draught, and hit him so pat upon the jug, hand, and teeth, +that it broke the first, maimed the second, and struck out three or +four of the last. These two blows were so violent that the boisterous +knight, falling from his horse, lay upon the ground as quiet as the +slain; so that the shepherds, fearing he was killed, got their flock +together with all speed, and carrying away their dead, which were no +less than seven sheep, they made what haste they could out of harm's +way, without looking any further into the matter. + +All this while Sancho stood upon the hill, where he was mortified upon +the sight of this mad adventure. There he stamped and swore, and +banned his master to the bottomless pit; he tore his beard for +madness, and cursed the moment he first knew him; but seeing him at +last knocked down and settled, the shepherds being scampered, he +thought he might venture to come down, and found him in a very ill +plight, though not altogether senseless. "Ah! master," quoth he, "this +comes of not taking my counsel. Did I not tell you it was a flock of +sheep, and no army?"--"Friend Sancho," replied Don Quixote, "know, it +is an easy matter for necromancers to change the shapes of things as +they please: thus that malicious enchanter, who is my inveterate +enemy, to deprive me of the glory which he saw me ready to acquire, +while I was reaping a full harvest of laurels, transformed in a moment +the routed squadrons into sheep. If thou wilt not believe me, Sancho, +yet do one thing for my sake; do but take thy ass, and follow those +supposed sheep at a distance, and I dare engage thou shalt soon see +them resume their former shapes, and appear such as I described them." + + + + + THE CONQUEST OF MAMBRINO'S HELMET + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +At the same time it began to rain, and Sancho would fain have taken +shelter in the fulling mills; but Don Quixote had conceived such an +antipathy against them for the shame they had put upon him that he +would by no means be prevailed with to go in; and turning to the right +hand he struck into a highway, where they had not gone far before he +discovered a horseman, who wore upon his head something that glittered +like gold. The knight had no sooner spied him, but, turning to his +squire, "Sancho," cried he, "I believe there is no proverb but what is +true; they are all so many sentences and maxims drawn from experience, +the universal mother of sciences; for instance, that saying that where +one door shuts, another opens: thus fortune, that last night deceived +us with the false prospect of an adventure, this morning offers us a +real one to make us amends; and such an adventure, Sancho, that if I +do not gloriously succeed in it, I shall have now no pretense to an +excuse, no darkness, no unknown sounds, to impute my disappointment +to: in short, in all probability yonder comes the man who wears on his +head Mambrino's helmet, and thou knowest the vow I have made."--"Good +sir," quoth Sancho, "mind what you say, and take heed what you do; for +I would willingly keep my carcass and the case of my understanding +from being pounded, mashed, and crushed with fulling hammers."--"The +block-head!" cried Don Quixote; "is there no difference between a +helmet and a fulling mill?"--"I don't know," saith Sancho, "but I am +sure, were I suffered to speak my mind now as I was wont, mayhap, I +would give you such main reasons, that yourself should see you are +wide of the matter."--"How can I be mistaken, thou eternal +misbeliever!" cried Don Quixote; "dost thou not see that knight that +comes riding up directly towards us upon a dapple-gray steed, with a +helmet of gold on his head."--"I see what I see," replied Sancho, "and +the devil of anything I can spy but a fellow on such another gray ass +as mine is, with something that glitters o' top of his head."--"I tell +thee, that is Mambrino's helmet," replied Don Quixote; "do thou stand +at a distance, and leave me to deal with him; thou shalt see, that +without trifling away so much as a moment in needless talk, I will +finish this adventure, and possess myself of the desired helmet."--"I +shall stand at a distance, you may be sure," quoth Sancho; "but God +grant that it be not the fulling mills again."--"I have warned you +already, fellow," said Don Quixote, "not so much as to name the +fulling mills; dare but once more to do it, nay, but to think on it, +and I vow to--I say no more, but I'll full your very soul." These +threats were more than sufficient to padlock Sancho's lips, for he had +no mind to have his master's vow fulfilled at the expense of his +bones. + +Now the truth of the story was this: there were in that part of the +country two villages, one of which was so little that it had not so +much as a shop in it, nor any barber; so that the barber of the +greater village served also the smaller. And thus a person happening +to have occasion to be let blood, and another to be shaved, the barber +was going thither with his brass basin, which he had clapped upon his +head to keep his hat, that chanced to be a new one, from being spoiled +by the rain; and as the basin was new scoured, it made a glittering +show a great way off. As Sancho had well observed, he rode upon a gray +ass, which Don Quixote as easily took for a dapple-gray steed, as he +took the barber for a knight, and his brass basin for a golden helmet; +his distracted brain easily applying every object to his romantic +ideas. Therefore, when he saw the poor imaginary knight draw near, he +fixed his lance, or javelin, to his thigh, and without staying to hold +a parley with his adversary, flew at him as fiercely as Rozinante +would gallop, resolved to pierce him through and through; crying out +in the midst of his career, "Caitiff, wretch, defend thyself, or +immediately surrender that which is so justly my due." + +The barber, who, as he peaceably went along, saw that terrible +apparition come thundering upon him at unawares, had no other way to +avoid being run through with his lance, but to throw himself off from +his ass to the ground; and then as hastily getting up, he took to his +heels, and ran over the fields swifter than the wind, leaving his ass +and his basin behind him. Don Quixote finding himself thus master of +the field and of the basin, "The miscreant," cried he, "who has left +this helmet, has shown himself as prudent as the beaver, who, finding +himself hotly pursued by the hunters, to save his life, tears and cuts +off with his teeth that for which his natural instinct tells him he is +followed."--Then he ordered Sancho to take up the helmet.--"On my +word," quoth Sancho, having taken it up, "it is a special basin, and +as well worth a piece of eight as a thief is worth a halter." + +With that he gave it to his master, who presently clapped it on his +head, turning it every way to find out the beaver or vizor; and at +last seeing it had none, "Doubtless," said he, "the pagan for whom +this famous helmet was first made, had a head of a prodigious size; +but the worst is, that there is at least one-half of it wanting." +Sancho could not forbear smiling to hear his master call the barber's +basin a helmet, and, had not his fear dashed his mirth, he had +certainly laughed outright. "What does the fool grin at now?" cried +Don Quixote.--"I laugh," said he, "to think what a hugeous jolt-head +he must needs have had who was the owner of this same helmet, that +looks for all the world like a barber's basin."--"I fancy," said Don +Quixote, "this enchanted helmet has fallen by some strange accident +into the hands of some person who, not knowing the value of it, for +the lucre of a little money, finding it to be of pure gold, melted one +half, and of the other made this headpiece, which, as thou sayest, has +some resemblance to a barber's basin: but to me, who know the worth of +it, the metamorphosis signifies little; for as soon as ever I come to +some town where there is an armorer, I will have it altered so much +for the better, that then even the helmet which the god of smiths made +for the god of war shall not deserve to be compared with it. In the +meantime I'll wear it as it is; it is better than nothing, and will +serve at least to save part of my head from the violent encounter of a +stone."--"Ay, that it will," quoth Sancho, "so it is not hurled out of +a sling, as were those at the battle between the two armies, when they +hit you that confounded dowse o' the chops, that saluted your +worship's cheek-teeth, and broke the pot about your ears in which you +kept that blessed drench."--"True," cried Don Quixote, "there I lost +my precious balsam indeed; but I do not much repine at it, for thou +knowest I have the receipt in my memory."--"So have I, too," quoth +Sancho, "and shall have while I have breath to draw; but if ever I +make any of that stuff, or taste it again, may I give up the ghost +with it! Besides, I don't intend ever to do anything that may give +occasion for the use of it, for my fixed resolution is, with all my +five senses, to preserve myself from hurting and from being hurt by +anybody. As to being tossed in a blanket again, I have nothing to say +to that, for there is no remedy for accidents but patience, it seems; +so if it ever be my lot to be served so again, I'll even shrink up my +shoulders, hold my breath, and shut my eyes, and then happy be lucky, +let the blanket and fortune even toss on to the end of the chapter." + +"Truly," said Don Quixote, "I am afraid thou art no good Christian, +Sancho, thou never forgettest injuries. Let me tell thee, it is the +part of noble and generous spirits to pass by trifles. Where art thou +lame? which of thy ribs is broken, or what part of thy skull is +bruised, that thou canst never think on that jest without malice? for, +after all, it was nothing but a jest, a harmless piece of pastime; had +I looked upon it otherwise, I had returned to that place before this +time, and had made more noble mischief in revenge of the abuse than +ever the incensed Grecians did at Troy, for the detention of their +Helen, that famed beauty of the ancient world; who, however, had she +lived in our age, or had my Dulcinea adorned hers, would have found +her charms outrivaled by my mistress's perfections;" and saying this, +he heaved up a deep sigh. "Well, then," quoth Sancho, "I will not rip +up old sores; let it go for a jest, since there is no revenging it in +earnest." + + + + + DON QUIXOTE'S BATTLE WITH THE GIANTS + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +Sancho Panza came running out of Don Quixote's chamber in a terrible +fright, crying out, "Help, help, good people, help my master! He is +just now at it, tooth and nail, with that same giant, the Princess +Micomicona's foe; I never saw a more dreadful battle in my born days. +He has lent him such a sliver, that whip off went the giant's head, as +round as a turnip."--"You are mad, Sancho," said the curate, +interrupted in his reading; "is thy master such a devil of a hero, as +to fight a giant at two thousand leagues' distance?" Upon this, they +presently heard a noise and bustle in the chamber, and Don Quixote +bawling out, "Stay, villain, robber, stay; since I have thee here, thy +scimitar shall but little avail thee;" and with this, they heard him +strike with his sword, with all his force, against the walls.--"Good +folks," said Sancho, "my master does not want your hearkening; why do +not you run in and help him? though I believe there's no need now, for +sure the giant is by this time dead, and giving an account of his ill +life: for I saw his blood run all about the house, and his head +sailing in the middle on it; but such a head! it is bigger than any +wine skin in Spain."--"Death and hell!" cries the innkeeper, "I will +be cut like a cucumber, if this Don Quixote, or Don Devil, has not +been hacking my wine skins that stood filled at his bed's head, and +this coxcomb has taken the spilt liquor for blood." Then running with +the whole company into the room, they found the poor knight in the +most comical posture imaginable. + +He was standing in his shirt, and he wore on his head a little red +greasy cast nightcap of the innkeeper's; he had wrapped one of the bed +blankets about his left arm for a shield; and wielded his drawn sword +in the right, laying about him pellmell; with now and then a start of +some military expression, as if he had been really engaged with some +giant. But the best jest of all, he was all this time fast asleep; for +the thoughts of the adventure he had undertaken had so wrought on his +imagination that his depraved fancy had in his sleep represented to +him the kingdom Micomicon, and the giant; and dreaming that he was +then fighting him, he assaulted the wine skins so desperately that he +set the whole chamber afloat with good wine. The innkeeper, enraged to +see the havoc, flew at Don Quixote with his fists; and had not +Cardenio and the curate taken him off, he had proved a giant indeed +against the knight. All this could not wake the poor knight, till the +barber, throwing a bucket of cold water on him, wakened him from his +sleep, though not from his dream. + +Sancho ran up and down the room searching for the giant's head, till, +finding his labor fruitless, "Well, well," said he, "now I see plainly +that this house is haunted, for when I was here before, in this very +room was I beaten like any stockfish, but knew no more than the man in +the moon who struck me; and now the giant's head that I saw cut off +with these eyes, is vanished; and I am sure I saw the body spout blood +like a pump."--"What a prating and a nonsense about blood and a pump, +and I know not what," said the innkeeper; "I tell you, rascal, it is +my wine skins that are slashed, and my wine that runs about the floor +here, and I hope to see the soul of him that spilt it swimming in hell +for his pains."--"Well, well," said Sancho, "do not trouble me; I only +tell you, that I cannot find the giant's head, and my earldom is gone +after it, and so I am undone, like salt in water." And truly Sancho's +waking dream was worse than his master's when asleep. The innkeeper +was almost mad to see the foolish squire harp so on the same string +with his frantic master, and swore they should not come off now as +before; that their chivalry should be no satisfaction for his wine, +but that they should pay him sauce for the damage, and for the very +leathern patches which the wounded wine skins would want. + +Don Quixote, in the meanwhile, believing he had finished his +adventure, and mistaking the curate, that held him by the arms, for +the Princess Micomicona, fell on his knees before him, and with a +respect due to a royal presence, "Now may your highness," said he, +"great and illustrious princess, live secure, free from any further +apprehensions from your conquered enemy; and now I am acquitted of my +engagement, since, by the assistance of Heaven and the influence of +her favor by whom I live and conquer, your adventure is so happily +achieved."--"Did not I tell you so, gentlefolks?" said Sancho; "who is +drunk or mad now? See if my master has not already put the giant in +pickle? Here are the bulls, and I am an earl." The whole company, +except the innkeeper, were like to split at the extravagances of +master and man. At last, the barber, Cardenio, and the curate having +with much ado got Don Quixote to bed, he presently fell asleep, being +heartily tired; and then they left him to comfort Sancho Panza for the +loss of the giant's head; but it was no easy matter to appease the +innkeeper, who was at his wit's end for the unexpected and sudden fate +of his wine skins. + + + + + DON QUIXOTE MEETS THE LIONS + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +The history relates, that Sancho was chaffering with the shepherds for +some curds, when Don Quixote called to him to bring his helmet; and +finding that his master was in haste, he did not know what to do with +them, nor what to bring them in; yet loth to lose his purchase (for he +had already paid for them), he bethought himself at last of clapping +them into the helmet, where having them safe, he went to know his +master's pleasure. As soon as he came up to him, "Give me that helmet, +friend," said the knight, "for if I understand anything of adventures, +I descry one yonder that obliges me to arm." + +The gentleman in green, hearing this, looked about to see what was the +matter, but could perceive nothing but a wagon, which made towards +them; and by the little flags about it, he judged it to be one of his +majesty's treasure vans, and so he told Don Quixote. But his head was +too much possessed with notions of adventures to give any credit to +what the gentleman said. "Sir," answered he, "forewarned, forearmed; a +man loses nothing by standing on his guard. I know by experience that +I have enemies visible and invisible, and I cannot tell when nor where +nor in what shape they may attack me." At the same time he snatched +the helmet out of Sancho's hands, before he could discharge it of the +curds, and clapped it on his head, without examining the contents. The +curds being thus squeezed, the whey began to run all about his face +and beard; which so frighted him that, calling to Sancho, "What's +this," cried he, "Sancho? What's the matter with me? Sure my skull is +growing soft, or my brains are melting, or else I sweat from head to +foot! But if I do, I am sure it is not for fear. This certainly must +be a dreadful adventure that is approaching. Give me something to wipe +me, if thou canst, for I am almost blinded with the torrent of sweat." + +Sancho did not say a word, but giving him a cloth, thanked Heaven that +his master had not found him out. Don Quixote dried himself, and +taking off the helmet to see what it should be that felt so cold on +his head, perceiving some white morsels, and putting it to his nose, +soon found what it was. "Now, by the life of my lady Dulcinea del +Toboso," cried he, "thou hast put curds in my helmet, vile traitor and +unmannerly squire!"--replied Sancho cunningly, and keeping his +countenance, "if they be curds, good your worship, give them me +hither, and I will eat them. But hold, now I think on it, the devil +eat them for me; for he himself must have put them there. What! I dare +offer to defile your helmet! you must know who dared to do it! As sure +as I am alive, sir, I have got my enchanters too, that owe me a +grudge, and plague me as a limb of your worship; and I warrant have +put that nasty stuff there on purpose to set you against me, and make +you fall foul on my bones. But I hope they have missed their aim this +time, i' troth! My master is a wise man, and must needs know that I +had neither curds nor milk, nor anything of that kind; and if I had +met with curds, I should sooner have put them in my belly than in the +helmet."--"Well," said Don Quixote, "there may be something in that." + +The gentleman had observed these passages, and stood amazed, but +especially when Don Quixote, having put on the helmet again, fixed +himself well in the stirrups, tried whether his sword were loose +enough in his scabbard, and rested his lance. "Now," cried he, "come +what will come; here am I, who dare encounter the devil himself in +person." By this time the wagon with the flags was come up with them, +attended only by the carter, mounted on one of the mules, and another +man that sat on the forepart. Don Quixote making up to them, "Whither +go ye, friends?" said he. "What wagon is this? What do you convey in +it? And what is the meaning of these flags?"--"The wagon is mine," +answered the wagoner; "I have there fast two brave lions, which the +general of Oran is sending to his majesty, and these colors of our +lord the king are to let the people understand that what goes here +belongs to him."--"And are the lions large?" inquired Don +Quixote.--"Very large," answered the man at the door of the wagon; +"there never came bigger from Afric into Spain. I am their keeper," +added he, "and have had charge of several others, but I never saw the +like of these before. In the foremost cage is a he-lion and in the +other, behind, a lioness. By this time they are hungry, for they have +not eaten to-day; therefore, pray, good sir, ride out of the way, for +we must make haste to get to the place where we intend to feed +them."--"What!" said Don Quixote, with a smile, "lion whelps against +me! Against me those puny beasts! And at this time of day? Well, I +will make those gentlemen that sent their lions this way know whether +I am a man to be scared with lions. Get off, honest fellow; and since +you are the keeper, open their cages, and let them both out; for, +maugre and in despite of those enchanters that have sent them to try +me, I will make the creatures know, in the midst of this very field, +who Don Quixote de la Mancha is."--"So," thought the gentleman to +himself, "now has our poor knight discovered who he is; the curds, I +find, have softened his skull, and mellowed his brains." + +On this, Sancho came up to him. "O good dear sir!" cried he, "for +pity's sake, hinder my master from falling upon those lions by all +means, or we shall all be torn a-pieces."--"Why," said the gentleman, +"is your master so arrant a madman, then, that you should fear he +would set upon such furious beasts?"--"Ah, sir!" said Sancho, "he is +not mad, but venturesome."--"Well," replied the gentleman, "I will +take care of that;" and with that advancing up to Don Quixote, who was +urging the lion-keeper to open the cage, "Sir," said he, +"knights-errant ought to engage in adventures from which there may be +some hopes of coming off with safety, but not in such as are +altogether desperate; for that courage which borders on temerity is +more like madness than fortitude. Besides, these lions come not +against you, nor dream of it, but are sent as a present to the king, +and therefore, it is well not to detain them, or stop the +wagon."--"Pray, sweet sir," replied Don Quixote, "go and amuse +yourself with your tame partridge and your bold ferret, and leave +every one to his own business. This is mine, and I know best whether +these lion gentry are sent against me or no." Then turning about to +the keeper, "Sirrah! you rascal you," said he, "either open your cages +on the spot, or I vow to God, I will pin thee to the wagon with this +lance."--"Good sir," cried the wagoner, seeing this strange apparition +in armor so resolute, "for mercy's sake, do but let me take out our +mules first, and get out of harm's way with them as fast as I can, +before the lions get out; for if they should kill them, I should be +undone forever, for that cart and they are all I have in the world to +get a living with."--"Thou man of little faith," said Don Quixote, +"take them out quickly, then, and go with them where thou wilt; though +thou shalt presently see that thy precaution was needless, and thou +mightest have spared thy pains." + +The wagoner on this made haste to take out his mules, while the keeper +cried out loud, "Bear witness, all ye that are here present, that it +is against my will I am forced to open the cages and let loose the +lions; and that I protest to this gentleman here, that he shall be +answerable for all the mischief and damage they may do; together with +the loss of my salary and fees. And now, sirs, shift for yourselves, +for, as for myself, I know the lions will do me no harm." Once more +the gentleman tried to dissuade Don Quixote from doing so mad a thing, +telling him that he tempted Heaven in exposing himself to so great a +danger. To this Don Quixote made no other answer, but that he knew +what he had to do. "Consider, however, what you do," replied the +gentleman, "for it is most certain that you are very much +mistaken."--"Well, sir," said Don Quixote, "if you care not to be +spectator of an action which you think is like to be tragical, e'en +put spurs to your mare, and provide for your safety." Sancho, hearing +this, came up to his master with tears in his eyes and begged him not +to go about this undertaking, to which the adventure of the windmills, +and the fulling mills, and all the brunts he had ever borne in his +life, were but cakes and gingerbread. "Good your worship," cried he, +"here is no enchantment in the case, nor anything like it. I peeped +even now through the grates of the cage, and I am sure I saw the claw +of a true lion, and such a claw as makes me think the lion that owns +it must be bigger than a mountain."--"At any rate," said Don Quixote, +"thy fear will make him bigger than half the world. Retire, Sancho, +and leave me, and if I chance to fall here thou knowest our old +agreement; repair to Dulcinea--I say no more." To this he added some +expressions which cut off all hopes of his giving over his mad design. + +The gentleman in green would have opposed him; but, considering the +other much better armed, and that it was not prudence to encounter a +madman, as Don Quixote seemed to be, he even took the opportunity, +while he was hastening the keeper and repeating his threats, to march +off with his mare, as Sancho did with Dapple, and the carter with his +mules, every one making the best of their way to get as far as they +could from the wagon before the lions were let loose. Sancho at the +same time made lamentations for his master's death; for he gave him up +for lost, not questioning but the lions had already got him into their +clutches. He cursed his ill fortune, and the hour he came again to his +service; but for all his wailing and lamenting, he punched on poor +Dapple, to get as far as he could from the lions. The keeper, +perceiving the persons who fled to be at a good distance, fell to +arguing and entreating Don Quixote as he had done before. But he told +him again that all his reasons and entreaties were but in vain, and +bid him say no more, but immediately dispatch. + +Now while the keeper took time to open the foremost cage, Don Quixote +stood debating with himself, whether he had best make his attack on +foot or on horseback; and upon mature deliberation, he resolved to do +it on foot, lest Rozinante, at sight of the lions, should be put into +disorder. Accordingly he quitted his horse, threw aside his lance, +grasped his shield, and drew his sword; then advancing step by step, +with wondrous courage and an undaunted heart, he posted himself just +before the door of the cage, commending himself to Heaven, and +afterwards to his lady Dulcinea. + +At this point it must be known, the author of this faithful history +makes the following exclamation. "O thou most brave and unutterably +bold Don Quixote de la Mancha! Thou mirror and grand exemplar of +valor! Thou second and new Don Emanuel de Leon, the late glory and +honor of all Spanish cavaliers! What words shall I use to express this +astonishing deed of thine! What language shall I employ to convince +posterity of its truth! What praises can be coined, and eulogies +invented, that will not be outvied by thy superior merit, though +hyperboles were piled on hyperboles! Thou alone, on foot, intrepid and +magnanimous, with nothing but a sword, and that none of the sharpest, +with thy single shield, and that none of the brightest, stoodst ready +to receive and encounter the two fiercest lions that ever roared +within the Libyan deserts. Then let thine own deeds speak thy praise, +brave champion of La Mancha, while I am obliged to leave off, for want +of words to maintain the flight." Here ended the author's exclamation, +and the history goes on. + +The keeper, observing the posture Don Quixote had put himself in, and +that it was not possible for him to prevent letting out the lions, +without incurring the resentment of the desperate knight, set the door +of the foremost cage wide open; where, as I have said, was the male +lion, who appeared of a monstrous bigness and of a hideous, frightful +aspect. The first thing he did was to turn himself round in his cage, +stretch out one of his paws, and rouse himself. After that he gaped +and yawned for a good while, and then thrust out almost two spans of +tongue, and with it licked the dust out of his eyes and face. Having +done this, he thrust his head out of the cage, and stared about with +his eyes that looked like two live coals; a sight and motion enough to +have struck terror into temerity itself. But Don Quixote only regarded +it with attention, wishing he would leap out of the wagon, and come +within his reach, that he might cut the monster piecemeal. To this +height had his incredible folly transported him; but the generous +lion, more gentle than arrogant, taking no notice of his vaporing and +bravados, after he had looked about him awhile, turned his tail, and +having showed Don Quixote his hinder parts, very contentedly lay down +again in his apartment. + +Don Quixote, seeing this, commanded the keeper to rouse him with +blows, and force him out. "Not I, indeed, sir," answered the keeper; +"I dare not do it for my life; for if I provoke him, I am sure to be +the first he will tear to pieces. Let me advise you, sir, to be +satisfied with your day's work. 'Tis as much as the bravest can +pretend to do. Then pray go no further, I beseech you: the door stands +open, the lion is at his choice, whether he will come out or no, and +since he did not come out at the first, I dare engage he will not stir +out this day. You have shown enough the greatness of your courage. No +brave combatant is obliged to do more than challenge his enemy, and +wait for him in the field. If he comes not, that is his fault, and the +scandal is his, and the crown of victory is the challenger's." + +"'Tis true," replied Don Quixote. "Come, shut the door, honest friend, +and give me a certificate under thy hand, in the amplest form thou +canst, of what thou hast seen me perform; how thou didst open the cage +for the lion; how I expected his coming, and he did not come out; how +I stayed his own time, and instead of meeting me, he turned tail and +lay down, I am obliged to do no more. So, enchantments avaunt! and +Heaven prosper truth, justice, and true knight-errantry! Shut the +door, as I bid thee, while I make signs to those that ran away from +us, and get them to come back, that they may have an account of this +exploit from my own mouth." The keeper obeyed, and Don Quixote, +clapping on the point of his lance the handkerchief with which he had +wiped off the deluge of curds from his face, began to call to the +fugitives, who fled nevertheless, looking behind them all the way, and +trooped on in a body with the gentleman at the head of them. + +At last, Sancho observed the signal of the white flag, and calling out +to the rest, "Hold," cried he, "my master calls to us; I will he +hanged if he has not got the better of the lions." At this they all +faced about, and perceived Don Quixote flourishing his ensign; +whereupon recovering a little from their fright, they little by little +came back, till they could plainly distinguish Don Quixote's voice; +and then they came up to the wagon. As soon as they were got near it, +"Come on, friend," said he to the carter; "put to thy mules again, and +pursue thy journey; and, Sancho, do you give him two gold crowns for +the lion-keeper and himself, to make them amends for the time I have +detained them."--"Ay, that I will with all my heart," quoth Sancho; +"but what is become of the lions? Are they dead or alive?" Then the +keeper very formally related the whole action, not failing to +exaggerate, to the best of his skill, Don Quixote's courage; how at +his sight alone the lion was so terrified, that he neither would nor +durst quit his stronghold, though for that end his cage door was kept +open for a considerable time; and how upon his remonstrating to the +knight, who would have had the lion forced out, that it was presuming +too much upon Heaven, he had permitted, though with great reluctancy, +that the lion should be shut up again. "Well, Sancho," said Don +Quixote to his squire, "what dost thou think of this? Can enchantment +prevail over true fortitude? No, these magicians may perhaps rob me of +success, but of fortitude and courage it would be impossible." + +Sancho gave the wagoner and the keeper the two pieces. The first +harnessed his mules, and the last thanked Don Quixote for his bounty, +and promised to acquaint the king himself with his heroic action when +he came to court. "Well," said Don Quixote, "if his majesty should +chance to inquire who did this thing, tell him it was the Knight of +the Lions; a name I intend henceforth to take up, in lieu of that +which I hitherto assumed, of the Knight of the Doleful Countenance; in +which proceeding I do but conform to the ancient custom of +knights-errant, who changed their names as often as they pleased, or +as it suited with their advantage." + + + + + THE RIDE ON THE WOODEN HORSE + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +[An enchanter has revenged himself upon some ladies by putting heavy +beards upon their faces. Don Quixote has been persuaded that the +beards will vanish if he will take a journey of three thousand leagues +on a wooden horse.] + +"Blind thy eyes, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "and get up. Sure he that +sends so far for us can have no design to deceive us! since it would +never be to his credit to delude those that rely on his word; and, +though the success should be contrary to our desires, still, it is not +in the power of malice to eclipse the glory of so brave an +attempt."--"To horse, then, sir," cried Sancho. "The beards and tears +of these poor gentlewomen are sticking in my heart. And I shall not +eat a bit to do me good till I see them as smooth as before. Mount, +then, I say, and blindfold yourself first; for, if I must ride behind, +it is a plain case you must get up before me."--"That is right," said +Don Quixote; and, with that, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket, +he gave it to the Disconsolate Lady to hoodwink him. She did so; but +presently after, uncovering himself, "If I remember right," said he, +"we read in Virgil of the Trojan Palladium, that wooden horse which +the Greeks offered the goddess Pallas, full of armed knights who +afterwards proved the total ruin of Troy. It were prudent, therefore, +before we get up, to see what Clavileño has within him."--"You need +not," said the Disconsolate Lady; "I dare engage that Malambruno would +not countenance any base or treacherous practice. Mount, Don Quixote, +without fear; whatever accident befalls you, I dare answer for." Upon +this, Don Quixote mounted, without any reply, imagining that anything +said concerning his security would be a reflection on his valor. He +then began to try the pin, which was easily turned; and as he sat, +with his long legs stretched at length without stirrups, he looked +like one of those antique figures in a Roman triumph, painted or woven +in Flemish arras. + +Sancho, very leisurely and unwillingly, was made to climb up; and, +fixing himself as well as he could on the crupper, felt it somewhat +hard and uneasy. With that, looking on the duke, "Good my lord," quoth +he, "will you lend me something to clap under me; some pillow from the +page's bed, or the duchess's cushion of state, or anything; for this +horse's crupper seems rather marble than wood."--"It is needless," +said Trifaldi; "for Clavileño will bear no kind of furniture upon him; +so that, for your greater ease, you had best sit sideways, like a +woman." Sancho did so; and after he had taken his leave they bound a +cloth over his eyes; but presently after, uncovering them, with a +pitiful look on the spectators, he prayed them with tears in his eyes +to help him in this peril with two Paternosters and two Ave Marias, as +they would expect the like charity themselves in such a +condition!--"What! you rascal," said Don Quixote, "do you think +yourself at the gallows, and at the point of death, that you hold +forth in such a piteous strain? Dastardly wretch without a soul, dost +thou not know that the fair Magalona once sat in thy place, and +alighted from thence, not into the grave, but into the throne of +France, if there is truth in history? And do not I sit by thee, that I +may vie with the valorous Peter, and press the seat that was once +pressed by him? Come, blindfold thyself, poor spiritless animal, and +let me not hear thee betray the least symptom of fear, at least not in +my presence."--"Well," quoth Sancho, "let them bind me; but, if you +will not let one say his prayers nor be prayed for, it is no marvel +one should fear that we may have a legion of imps about us to deal +with us, as at Peralvillo." + +Now, both being hoodwinked, and Don Quixote perceiving everything +ready, be began to turn the pin; and no sooner had he set his hand to +it than the waitingwomen and all the company set up their throats, +calling out, "Speed you well, valorous knight; Heaven be your guide, +undaunted squire! Now, now, you fly aloft, cutting the air more +swiftly than an arrow, while the gazing world wonders at your course! +Sit fast, courageous Sancho! you do not sit steady; have a care of +falling; for your fall would be greater than the aspiring youth's that +sought to guide the chariot of the sun-god, his father." All this +Sancho heard, and, girting his arms fast about his master, "Sir," +quoth he, "why do they say we are so high, since we can hear their +voices? Truly I hear them so plainly that one would think they were +talking close by us."--"Never mind that," answered Don Quixote; "for +in these extraordinary kinds of flight you can hear and see what you +wish a thousand leagues off. But do not hold me so hard, for you will +make me tumble off. I know not what makes thee tremble so, for I dare +swear I never rode easier in all my life; our horse goes as if he did +not move at all. Take courage, then; for the affair is in a good way, +and we have the wind astern."--"I think so, too," quoth Sancho; "for I +feel the wind puff as briskly here as if a thousand pairs of bellows +were blowing on me at my back." Sancho was not in the wrong; for two +or three pairs of bellows were indeed giving air; so well had the plot +of this adventure been laid by the duke, the duchess, and their +steward, that nothing was wanting to perfect it. + +Don Quixote at last feeling the wind, "Sure," said he, "we must be +risen to the second region of the air, where are engendered the hail +and snow; thunder, lightning, and thunderbolts are produced in the +third region; so that, if we mount at this rate, we shall be in the +region of fire presently; and I do not know how to manage this pin, so +as to avoid being scorched." At the same time some flax, easy to light +and to quench at a distance, was clapped to the end of a long stick, +and made their faces hot; and the heat affecting Sancho, he cried, +"May I be hanged, if we be not come to this fire region or very near +it; for the half of my beard is singed already. I have a mind to peep +out and see whereabouts we are."--"By no means," answered Don Quixote, +"but remember the true story of Doctor Torralva, whom the devil +carried to Rome hoodwinked, and, bestriding a reed, in twelve hours' +time setting him down in the tower of Nona, in one of the streets of +that city. There he saw the dreadful tumult, assault, and death of +Bourdon; and, the next morning, he found himself back in Madrid, where +he related the story. Who said, as he went through the air, the devil +bade him open his eyes, which he did, and then found himself as it +seemed so near the moon that he could touch him with his finger; but +durst not look towards the earth, lest his brains should turn. So, +Sancho, we need not unveil our eyes, but trust to him that has charge +of us, and fear nothing, for perhaps we only mount high, to come +straight down upon the kingdom of Candaya, as a hawk or falcon falls +upon a heron, to seize it more strongly from a height; for, though it +appears to us not half an hour since we left the garden, we have, +nevertheless, traveled over a vast tract."--"I know nothing of the +matter," replied Sancho; "but of this I am very certain, that, if the +Lady Magallanes, or Magalona, could sit this wooden crupper, she +cannot have had very tender flesh." + +This dialogue of the valiant pair was very pleasant all this while to +the duke and duchess, and the rest of the company; and now, at last, +resolving to put an end to this extraordinary and well-contrived +adventure, they set fire with some tow to Clavileño's tail; and, the +horse being stuffed full of fireworks, burst presently into pieces, +with a mighty noise, throwing Don Quixote and Sancho to the ground +half scorched. By this time the Disconsolate Lady and bearded regiment +vanished out of the garden, and all the rest, as if in a trance, lay +flat upon the ground. Don Quixote and Sancho, sorely bruised, got up, +amazed to find themselves in the same garden whence they took horse, +and to see such a number of people lie on the ground. But their wonder +was increased by the appearance of a large lance stuck in the ground, +and a scroll of white parchment fastened to it by two green silken +strings, with the following inscription upon it, in golden +characters:-- + +_"The renowned knight Don Quixote de la Mancha achieved the adventure +of the Countess Trifaldi, otherwise called the Disconsolate Lady, and +her companions, by solely attempting it. Malambruno is fully contented +and satisfied. The waiting gentlewomen have lost their beards. King +Clavijo and Queen Antonomasia have resumed their pristine shapes; and, +when the squire's scourging shall be finished, the white dove shall +escape the pernicious hawks that pursue her, and be lulled in the arms +of her beloved. This is ordained by the Sage Merlin, proto-enchanter +of enchanters."_ + +Don Quixote, having read this document, clearly understood it to refer +to Dulcinea's disenchantment, and rendered thanks to Heaven that he +had achieved so great a feat with so little danger, and brought back +to their former bloom the faces of the venerable waiting-women, who +had now disappeared; and approaching the duke and duchess, who had not +yet come to themselves, he took the duke by the hand: "Courage, +courage, noble sir," cried he, "there is no danger; the adventure is +finished without damage, as you may read it registered in that +record." + +The duke, as if he had been waked out of a sound sleep, recovered +himself by degrees, as did the duchess and the rest of the company, +who were lying prostrate in the garden, all of them acting the +surprise and fear so naturally that the jest might have been believed +earnest. The duke with half-closed eyes read the scroll; then, +embracing Don Quixote, extolled him as the bravest knight the earth +had ever possessed. As for Sancho, he was looking up and down for the +Disconsolate Lady, to see what sort of a face she had got, without her +beard. But he was informed that as Clavileño came down flaming in the +air, the whole squadron of women with Trifaldi vanished immediately, +but all of them shaved and without a hair upon their faces. + +The duchess asked Sancho how he had fared in his long voyage? "Why, +truly, madam," answered he, "when, as my master told me, we were +flying through the region of fire, I wished to uncover my eyes a +little, but my master would not suffer me to do so; yet, as I have a +spice of curiosity still hankering after what is forbidden me, I +shoved my handkerchief a little above my nose and looked down, and, as +it seemed, spied the earth no bigger than a mustard seed; and the men +walking to and fro upon it not much larger than hazelnuts; by which +you may see how high we had got!"--"Have a care what you say, my +friend," said the duchess; "for if the men were bigger than hazelnuts, +and the earth no bigger than a mustard seed, one man must cover the +whole earth."--"Like enough," answered Sancho; "but for all that, do +you see, I saw it with a kind of a side look upon one part of +it."--"Look you, Sancho," replied the duchess, "nothing can be wholly +seen by a partial view of it."--"Well, well, madam," quoth Sancho, "I +do not understand your views; I only know that as we flew by +enchantment, so, by enchantment, I might see the whole earth, and all +the men, which way soever I looked. If you do not believe this, you +will not believe me either when I tell you that when I looked between +my brows, I saw myself so near heaven, that between me and it there +was not a span and a half. And, forsooth, it is a huge place! and we +happened to travel that road where the seven she-goats are; and, faith +and troth, I had such a mind to play with them (having been once a +goatherd myself) that I should have burst, had I not done it. What do +I do then but slip down very soberly from Clavileño without telling a +soul, and played and leaped about for three-quarters of an hour, with +the pretty nanny-goats, who are like so many marigolds or +gilly-flowers; and Clavileño stirred not one step all the +while."--"And while Sancho employed himself with the goats," asked the +duke, "how was Don Quixote employed?"--"Truly," answered the knight, +"I am sensible all things were altered from their natural course; +therefore, what Sancho says seems no marvel to me. But, for my own +part, I saw nothing either above or below, neither heaven nor earth, +sea nor shore. I perceived, indeed, we passed through the region of +the air, and even touched that of fire, but that we went beyond it is +incredible; for, the fiery region lying between the sphere of the moon +and the upper region of the air, it was impossible for us to reach +that heaven where are the seven goats, as Sancho says, without being +consumed; and, therefore, since we were not singed, Sancho either lies +or dreams."--"I neither lie nor dream," replied Sancho; "do but ask me +the marks of these goats, and by them you will see whether I speak +truth or no."--"Prithee tell them, Sancho," said the duchess. "There +were two of them green," answered Sancho, "two carnation, two blue, +and one party-colored."--"That is a new kind of goats," said the duke. +"We have none of those colors in our region of the earth."--"Sure, +sir," replied Sancho, "you will make some sort of difference between +heavenly she-goats and the goats of this world?"--"But, Sancho," said +the duke, "among these she-goats did you ever see a he-goat." "Not +one, sir," answered Sancho; "and I have been told that none has ever +passed beyond the horns of the moon." + +They did not think fit to ask Sancho more about his voyage; for they +judged he would ramble all over the heavens, and tell them news of +whatever was doing there, though he had not stirred out of the garden. + +Thus ended, in short, the adventure of the Disconsolate Lady, which +afforded sport to the duke and duchess, not only for the present, but +for the rest of their lives; and to Sancho matter of talk for ages, +should he live so long. + +"Sancho," said Don Quixote, whispering him in the ear, "if thou +wouldst have us believe what thou hast seen in heaven, I desire thee +to believe what I saw in Montesinos's cave. I say no more." + + + + + THE THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND ODD LASHES + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +[Don Quixote believes that his Dulcinea may be freed from enchantment +by Sancho Panza's inflicting upon himself of his own will "three +thousand three hundred and odd lashes." Sancho has stopped at the +fifth, and now the knight bribes him to continue.] + +"For my part," said Don Quixote, "hadst thou demanded a fee for +disenchanting Dulcinea, I can tell thee that I would have given it +thee already. But I know not if a gratuity would accord with the cure; +and I would not have the reward hinder the medicine. For all that, it +seems to me that nothing will be lost by putting it to a trial. Look +you, Sancho, to what you want, and scourge yourself at once, then pay +yourself ready money with your own hand, since you keep my money." +Sancho, opening his eyes and ears a span wide at this offer, gave +consent in his heart to scourge himself with a good will. "Ay, sir, +now you say well," quoth he to his master. "I am willing to dispose of +myself to do you a pleasure in what may consist with my advantage, for +my love for my children and wife makes me seem selfish. Tell me how +much you will give me for each lash I give myself?"--"Were your +payment, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "to be answerable to the greatness +and quality of this cure, the wealth of Venice and the mines of Potosi +would be small payment for thee. But see what you have of mine, and +set the price on each stripe."--"The lashes," quoth Sancho, "are three +thousand three hundred and odd, of which I have given myself five; the +rest are to come. Let these five go for the odd ones, and let us come +to the three thousand three hundred, which at a quartillo apiece--and +I will not take less if all the world bid me--they make three thousand +three hundred quartillos, of which three thousand make fifteen hundred +half-reals, which amounts to seven hundred and fifty reals; and the +three hundred remaining make an hundred and fifty half-reals, and +three-score and fifteen reals; put that with the seven hundred and +fifty, and it comes altogether to eight hundred and twenty-five reals. +This I will deduct from what I hold of yours, and will return home +rich and well pleased, though well whipped. But one must not think to +catch trout--I say no more."--"O blessed Sancho! O amiable Sancho!" +cried Don Quixote. "How shall Dulcinea and I be bound to serve thee +all the days that Heaven shall give us of life! If she recover from +her lost state (and it is not possible that she fail to do so), her +misfortune will turn to her felicity, and my defeat to the happiest +triumph. And hark ye, Sancho! when wilt thou enter upon thy +discipline? For if thou hastenest it, I will add further a hundred +reals more."--"When?" answered Sancho; "this very night without fail. +Do you but order it that we lie in the fields under the open sky, and +I will open my flesh." + +Night arrived, awaited by Don Quixote with the greatest anxiety; and +he fancied Phoebus had broken his chariot wheels, which made the day +of so unusual a length,--as is always the case with lovers, who never +make allowance for the reckoning of their desires. At last they +entered amongst some pleasant trees that stood a little out of the +road, where, leaving empty the saddle and pannel of Rozinante and +Dapple, they stretched themselves upon the green grass, and supped +from Sancho's wallet. + +He, having made himself a heavy and flexible whip of Dapple's +headstall and reins, retired about twenty paces from his master, +amidst some beeches. Don Quixote, observing him go with readiness and +resolution, said, "Have a care, friend; do not hack thyself to pieces. +Give one stripe time to await another. Thou shouldst not so hurry in +the race that thy breath fails in the midst; go more gently to work, +soft and fair goes furthest; I mean, do not give it thyself so sharply +that strength fails thee before the desired number is reached. And +that you lose not for a card more or less, I will stand at a distance +and keep count on my beads of the strokes thou givest thyself. Heaven +favor thee as thy good intention deserves."--"Pledges do not hurt a +good payer," said Sancho, "I mean to give it to myself in such a way +that it hurts without killing me, for in this must lie the essence of +this miracle." With that he stripped himself from the waist upwards, +and seizing the lash began to lay on; while Don Quixote began to tell +the strokes. But by the time Sancho had applied seven or eight lashes, +he felt that the jest was a heavy one, and its price very cheap. +Whereupon, after a short pause, he told his master that he had been +deceived; for such lashes as these were each worth being paid for with +a half-real, not a quartillo. "Go on, friend Sancho," said Don Quixote, +"take courage, I will double the pay."--"God save us, let it rain +stripes in that case," quoth Sancho. But the cunning knave left off +laying on his back, and fell upon the trees, with groans every now and +then, that one would have thought at each one of them he had been +giving up the ghost. Don Quixote, who was tender-hearted, fearing he +might make an end of his life, and that, by Sancho's imprudence, his +wishes should not be attained, said, "On thy life, my friend, let this +business rest at this point. This seems to be a very sharp sort of +physic, and it will be well to take it at intervals. Rome was not +built in a day. If I have not told wrong, thou hast given thyself +above a thousand stripes; that is enough for the present; for, to use +a homely phrase, 'the ass will carry his load, but not more than his +load.'"--"No, no," quoth Sancho, "it shall never be said of me, 'When +money's paid the arms are stayed.' Stand off a little, and let me lay +on another thousand lashes or so, and then with another bout like this +we shall have done with this job, and have something over."--"Since +thou art so well in the humor," said Don Quixote, "I will withdraw, +and Heaven strengthen and reward thee." Sancho fell to work so freshly +that he soon fetched the bark off a number of trees; such was the +severity with which he thrashed them! At length, raising his voice, +and giving an outrageous blow to one of the beeches: "There!" cried +he, "die thou shalt, Samson, and all that are about thee!" At the +sound of this dismal cry, and the blow of the dreadful stroke, Don +Quixote presently ran up, and laying hold on the twisted halter which +served Sancho for a thong, "Fate forbid," cried he, "friend Sancho, +that thou shouldst for my pleasure lose thy life, which has to serve +for the maintenance of thy wife and children! Let Dulcinea stay for a +better opportunity. I will contain myself within the limits of the +hope that is nigh, and will wait till thou recoverest new strength, +that the business may be accomplished to everybody's +satisfaction."--"Well, sir," replied Sancho, "if it be your pleasure +it should be so, so let it be, and welcome; and do so much as throw +your cloak over my shoulders; for I am all in a sweat, and I have no +mind to catch cold, for that is the danger that new disciplinants +run." This Don Quixote did, and leaving himself unclad, covered up +Sancho, who fell fast asleep till the sun waked him. Then they +continued on their journey, which they brought to an end for that day +at a village three leagues off. They alighted at an inn, for it was +allowed by Don Quixote to be such, and not a castle, with deep ditch, +towers, portcullises, and drawbridge; for since his defeat he spoke +with more sense on all matters. He was lodged in a ground room, in +which some old painted serge hangings, such as are often seen in +villages, served for stamped leathers. On one of these was painted in +a most vile style the rape of Helen, when the audacious guest stole +her away from her husband, Menelaus; and on another was the story of +Dido and Æneas,--the lady upon a lofty turret, as if making signs with +half a sheet to her fugitive guest, who was flying from her across the +sea in a frigate or brigantine. It was indicated in the two stories +that Helen went with no very ill will, for she was smiling artfully +and roguishly, but the fair Dido seemed to be shedding tears as large +as walnuts from her eyes. Seeing which Don Quixote said, "These two +ladies were unfortunate in not having been born in this age; and, +above all, unfortunate am I for not having been born in theirs! For +had I met those gentlemen, Troy would not have been burned, nor +Carthage destroyed; for, by the death of Paris alone, all these +miseries had been prevented."--"I will lay you a wager," quoth Sancho, +"that before long there will not be a tavern, a victualing house, an +inn, or a barber's shop but will have the story of our deeds painted +along it. But I could wish that it may be done by the hands of a +better painter than he that drew these."--"Thou art in the right, +Sancho," said Don Quixote; "for this artist is like Orbaneja, a +painter who was in Ubeda, who, being asked what he was painting, made +answer, 'Whatever it shall turn out;' and if he chanced to draw a +cock, he under-wrote, 'This is a cock,' lest any should take it for a +fox. Of the same sort, it seems to me, Sancho, must be the painter or +the writer (for it is all one) who produced the story of this new Don +Quixote that has lately come out, for he painted or wrote 'whatever +should turn out.' Or he must be like a poet called Mauleon, who went +about Madrid some years ago, and would give answers extempore to any +questions, and when somebody asked what was the meaning of 'Deum de +Deo,' answered, 'Done as one can do.' + +"But setting this aside, tell me, Sancho, if you think of taking +another turn to-night? and would you rather do it under a roof or in +the open air?"--"Why, truly, sir," quoth Sancho, "as to what I think +of giving myself, it may be done as well at home as in the fields, but +withal I could like it to be among trees; for methinks they keep me +company, and help me marvelously to bear my sufferings." + + + + + THE RETURN AND DEATH OF DON QUIXOTE + + _By Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra_ + + +Finally, surrounded by boys, and attended by the curate and the +bachelor, they entered the village, and got to Don Quixote's house, +where they found at the door his housekeeper and his niece, that had +already got the news of their arrival. Neither more nor less had been +told to Teresa Panza, Sancho's wife, who, with her hair about her +ears, and half dressed, dragging by the hand her daughter Sanchica, +came running to see her husband. But when she found that he was not so +well dressed as she thought a governor ought to be, she said to him, +"What is the meaning of this, husband? You look as though you had come +on foot, and tired off your legs! Why, you come more like a groveler +than a governor!"--"Peace, Teresa," answered Sancho; "many a time when +there are hooks, there are no flitches. Let us go home, and then I +will tell thee wonders. I have taken care of the main chance. Money I +have, which is the chief thing, earned by my own industry without +wronging anybody."--"Hast thou got money, my good husband?" said +Teresa. "Be it gained here or there, or however you like to gain it, +you will have made no new sort of profit in the world." Sanchica, +hugging her father, asked him if he had brought her anything, for she +had been longing for him as for rain in May. Thus holding him by the +girdle on one side, and his wife taking him by the hand, and his +daughter leading Dapple, away they went to his house, leaving Don +Quixote in his, under the care of his niece and housekeeper, in +company with the curate and bachelor. + +That very moment Don Quixote, regardless of times and seasons, took +the bachelor and the curate aside, and in few words gave them an +account of his defeat and the obligation he lay under of not leaving +his village for a year, which, like a knight-errant bound by the +strictness and discipline of knight-errantry, he was resolved to +observe to the letter without infringing it one jot. And that he +intended to make himself a shepherd for that year, and entertain +himself in the solitude of the fields, where he might give play to his +amorous thoughts with a loose rein, and employ himself in that +pastoral and virtuous exercise; and he begged them, if they had not +much to do, and if business of greater importance were not an +obstruction, that they would please to be his companions; for he would +provide sheep and cattle enough to give them the name of shepherds; +and that he would have them know that the chief part of the +undertaking was done, for he had provided them all with names that +would fit them exactly. The curate asked him to tell them. Don Quixote +told him he would himself be called the shepherd Quixotiz, and the +bachelor the shepherd Carrascon, and the curate the shepherd +Curiambro, and Sancho Panza the shepherd Pancino. + +They were all struck with amazement at this new folly; but, in order +that they might not have him leaving the village again on his +chivalry, and hoping that within the year he might be cured, they came +into his new design, and approved of his folly as if it were wise, +offering their company in his employment. "And the more," said Samson +Carrasco, "as everybody knows I am a most celebrated poet, and at +every step I will compose verses pastoral, or courtly, or any that +shall come more seasonably, so as to divert us in those groves where +we shall range. But one thing, gentlemen, is most necessary, that each +of us choose a name for the shepherdess he means to celebrate in his +lays; and that we leave no tree, be it ever so hard, on which her name +is not inscribed and cut, as is the use and custom of enamored +shepherds."--"You are quite right," replied Don Quixote; "provided +that I am free from seeking an imaginary shepherdess, since there is +the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, the glory of these banks, the +ornament of these meads, the support of beauty, the cream of elegance, +and, in short, the subject on which all praise may light, however +hyperbolical it may be."--"That is true," said the curate; "but we +shall seek out some shepherdesses of ordinary kind who, if they do not +suit us squarely, will do so cornerwise." To which added Samson +Carrasco, "And if they be wanting, we will give those very names we +find in books, of which the world is full, such as Phyllises, +Amaryllises, Dianas, Floridas, Galateas, Belisardas, which are to be +disposed of in the markets, and can be purchased and kept as our own. +If my mistress, or my shepherdess I should rather say, chance to be +called Anne, I will celebrate her under the name of Anarda; if +Francisca, I will call her Francenia; and if Lucy, Lucinda, and so +forth. And Sancho Panza, if he has to enter into this fraternity, may +celebrate his wife Teresa Panza by the name of Teresayna." Don Quixote +laughed at the turn given to the name. And the curate greatly +applauded his virtuous and honorable resolution, and repeated his +offer of bearing him company all the time that his compulsory +employments would allow him. With this they took their leave of him, +and begged and counseled him to take thought about his health by +enjoying whatever was good for him. + +Fate willed that the niece and the housekeeper, according to custom, +had been listening to the discourse of the three, and so, as they went +away, both came in to Don Quixote; and the niece said, "What is here +to do, uncle! Now when we thought you were come to stay at home, and +live like a sober, honest gentleman in your house, are you hankering +after new crotchets, and turning into a + + 'Gentle shepherd, coming hither, + Gentle shepherd, going hence?' + +For by my troth, sir, the corn is now too old to make pipes of." To +which the housekeeper added, "And will your worship be able to endure +the summer noondays, and the winter's night frosts, and the howlings +of the wolves? No, for certain, for this is the business and duty of +strong men, cut out and bred for such work almost from their swaddling +bands and long clothes. Ill for ill, it is even better to be a +knight-errant than a shepherd. Look ye, sir, take my advice, which is +not given on a full meal of bread and wine, but fasting, and with +fifty years over my head. Stay at home, look after your property, go +often to confession, do good to the poor; and on my soul be it if ill +comes of it."--"Peace, daughters," answered Don Quixote to them; "I +know well what it behooves me to do. Help me to bed, for it seems to +me I am not very well; and be assured that whether I now be a +knight-errant or an errant-shepherd, I shall never fail to provide +whatever you shall need, as you shall see indeed." And the good women +took him to bed, brought him something to eat, and tended him with all +possible care. + +As human things are not eternal, always tending downwards from their +beginnings till they reach their final end, especially the lives of +men, and as Don Quixote held no privilege from heaven to stay the +course of his, so his end and finish arrived when he least expected +it. For whether it was from the melancholy that his defeat caused, or +whether it was by the disposition of heaven that so ordered it, a +fever took possession of him that confined him to his bed for six +days. + +All that time his friends the curate, the bachelor, and the barber, +came often to see him, and his good squire Sancho Panza never stirred +from his bedside. + +They, conjecturing that the regret of his defeat, and his being +disappointed of his desire for Dulcinea's liberty and disenchantment, +kept him in this case, essayed to divert him in all possible ways. The +bachelor begged him to pluck up a good heart, and rise, that he might +begin his pastoral life, for which he had already written an eclogue, +which would confound all those that Sannazaro had ever written, and +that he had already bought, with his own money, two famous dogs to +watch their flock, the one called Barcino, and the other Butron, that +a herdsman of Quintanar had sold him. But this had no effect on Don +Quixote's sadness. His friends called in the doctor, who, upon feeling +his pulse, did not very well like it; and said that in any case he +should provide for the safety of his soul, for that of his body was in +danger. Don Quixote heard this with a calm mind, but not so his +housekeeper, his niece, and his squire, who fell a-weeping bitterly, +as if they already saw him dead before them. The physician was of +opinion that melancholy and vexation were bringing him to his end. Don +Quixote desired them to leave him alone, for he would sleep a little; +they did so, and he slept for more than six hours straight off, as +they say, so that the housekeeper and the niece thought that he would +never wake. + +At the end of that time he awaked, and, with a loud voice said, +"Blessed be Almighty God, who hath done me so much good. His mercies +are without end, nor are they shortened or hindered by the sins of +men." The niece, hearkening very attentively to these words of her +uncle, and finding more sense in them than there was wont to be in his +talk, at least since he had fallen ill, asked him, "What is that you +say, sir; has anything fresh happened? What mercies are these or what +sins of men?"--"The mercies, niece," answered Don Quixote, "are those +that heaven has this moment vouchsafed to me, which, as I said, my +sins do not prevent. My judgment is now free and clear, and the murky +clouds of ignorance removed, which my painful and continual reading of +those detestable books of knight-errantry cast over me. Now I perceive +their nonsense and deceit, and am only sorry the discovery happens so +late, when I want time to make some amends by reading others that +would enlighten my soul. I find, niece, that I am at the point of +death; and I would meet it in such a manner as to show that my life +has not been so evil as to leave me the character of a madman. Send, +my dear, for my good friends the curate, the bachelor Samson Carrasco, +and Master Nicholas the barber, for I wish to confess and make my +will." But this trouble the niece was saved by the entrance of the +three. Don Quixote had scarcely seen them when he said, "Largess, good +gentlemen, for I am no longer Don Quixote de la Mancha, but Alonso +Quixano, the same whom my behavior gave the surname of Good. I am now +an enemy to Amadis de Gaul and all the endless crowd of his +descendants; all the profane stories of knight-errantry are now +hateful to me. I have a sense of my folly and the danger I have run by +having read them; and now, through heaven's mercy and my own +experience, I abhor them." When the three heard this, they concluded +without doubt some new frenzy had possessed him, and Samson said to +him, "Now, Signor Don Quixote, when we have just had news that the +Lady Dulcinea is disenchanted, do you come out with this? and now we +are upon the point of turning shepherds, to spend our lives singing +like princes, do you wish to make yourself a hermit? Peace, on your +life; come to yourself and leave idle tales." + +"Those which hitherto have been true, to my prejudice," replied Don +Quixote, "my death, with the assistance of heaven, shall turn to my +advantage. I perceive, sirs, that I am dying with all speed. Put aside +jests, and fetch me a confessor to confess me, and a scrivener to draw +up my will, for in such straits as this a man must not play with his +soul; and I beg that whilst Master Curate confesses me a scrivener may +be fetched." + +They stared at one another, wondering at Don Quixote's words, and +though in doubt they were inclined to believe him. And one of the +signs by which they conjectured that he would die was his having +changed so quickly from a madman to a sane person; for to the words +already said he added many others so well spoken, so Christian, and so +connected that they came, withal, to lose their doubts and to believe +that he was sane. The curate made all the people leave the room, and +stayed alone with him and confessed him. The bachelor went for the +scrivener, and presently returned with him and with Sancho Panza, who, +being informed by the bachelor in what state his master was, and +finding the housekeeper and the niece in tears, began to make wry +faces and fall a-crying. The confession was ended and the curate came +out saying, "Certainly about to die and certainly in his senses is +Alonso Quixano the Good; we had best go in, that he may make his +will." These tidings were a terrible blow to the swollen eyes of the +housekeeper, the niece, and Sancho Panza, his good squire, so that it +made the tears burst out of their eyes, and a thousand profound sighs +from their hearts; for indeed, as on some occasion has been observed, +whilst Don Quixote was plain Alonso Quixano the Good, and whilst he +was Don Quixote de la Mancha, he was ever of pleasant humor and +agreeable behavior, and therefore he was beloved not only by his +family, but by every one that knew him. + +The scrivener, with the rest, went in, and after he had made the +preamble of the will, and Don Quixote had disposed of his soul with +all those Christian circumstances that are requisite, he came to the +legacies, and said:-- + +"Item, it is my will that of certain moneys that Sancho Panza (whom in +my madness I made my squire) holds, inasmuch as there have been +between him and me certain accounts, both payments and receipts, there +shall be no charge made, nor account demanded of him; but that if any +shall remain over after he has paid himself what I owe him, the +residue shall be his; it can be but small, and may it do him much +good. And if, when I was mad, I was a party to making him governor of +the island, I would now, in my right senses, give him the government +of a kingdom, were it in my power, for the simplicity of his +disposition and the fidelity of his character deserve it." And turning +to Sancho he said, "Pardon me, my friend, that I have given thee +occasion to appear mad like myself, making thee fall into the error in +which I fell that there have been and are knights-errant in the +world."--"Woe's me!" replied Sancho, all in tears, "do not die, dear +master, but take my counsel, and live on a many years; the maddest +thing a man can do in this life is to let himself die without any more +ado, without being killed by anybody or finished by any other hands +but those of melancholy. See you do not be slothful, but get up from +this bed, and let us be off to the fields in our shepherd's clothing, +as we had agreed. Who knows but behind some bush we may find the Lady +Donna Dulcinea disenchanted, as fine a sight as there is to be seen? +If it is that you will die of vexation at being conquered, lay the +blame upon me, and say that through my not girting Rozinante well, +they overthrew him. Especially as you will have seen in your books of +chivalry that it is a common thing for one knight to overthrow +another, and for him who is conquered to-day to be conqueror +to-morrow."--"It is so," said Samson, "and honest Sancho is very much +to the point in these matters."--"Soft and fair, gentlemen," said Don +Quixote; "never look for birds of this year in the nests of the last: +I was mad, and now I am in my senses; I was Don Quixote de la Mancha, +and I am now (as I said before) Alonso Quixano the Good; may my +repentance and my truth restore me to the same esteem you had for me +before; and so let master scrivener go on. + +"Item, I bequeath all my estate without reserve to Antonia Quixana, my +niece here present, having first deducted from such of it as is best +in condition what shall be necessary to discharge the bequests that I +have made; and the first payment that she makes I desire to be that of +the salary due to my housekeeper, for the time that she has served me, +with twenty ducats more for a dress. I appoint Master Curate and +Master Bachelor Samson Carrasco, here present, to be my executors. + +"Item, it is my will that if my niece Antonia Quixana be inclined to +marry, she marry a man of whom she shall first have evidence that he +does not know what books of chivalry are; and in case it shall appear +that he does know, and nevertheless my niece shall wish to marry him +and does so marry, she is to forfeit all that I have bequeathed to +her, which my executors are empowered to dispose of in pious works, as +they shall think proper. + +"Item, I entreat the said gentlemen, my executors, that if by good +fortune they come to know the author who is said to have composed a +story which goes by the title of "The Second Part of the Achievements +of Don Quixote de la Mancha," they most heartily beg his pardon from +me, for being undesignedly the occasion of his writing so many and +such great follies as he has written in it; for I quit this life with +regret for having given him a motive for writing them." + +Herewith finished the will, and, falling into a swoon, he lay at full +length in the bed. They were all alarmed, and ran to his assistance; +and for the space of three days that he lived after he had made his +will he fainted continually. + +The whole family was in confusion; and yet, for all that, the niece +ate, the housekeeper drank, and Sancho Panza cheered himself; for this +matter of inheriting somewhat effaces or alleviates in the inheritor +the thought of sorrow that it is natural for a dead man to leave +behind. + +In short, Don Quixote's last day came, after he had received all the +sacraments, and, by many and weighty arguments, showed his abhorrence +of the books of knight-errantry. The scrivener, who was by, said he +had never read in any book of chivalry of any knight-errant who had +ever died in his bed so quietly and like a good Christian as Don +Quixote, who, amidst the compassion and tears of those who were by, +gave up the ghost, or, to speak plainly, died; which, when the curate +perceived, he desired the scrivener to give him a certificate, how +Alonso Quixano the Good, commonly called Don Quixote de la Mancha, had +departed out of this present life, and died a natural death. This +testimony he desired, to remove opportunity from any other author but +Cid Hamet Benengeli to falsely resuscitate him, and write endless +histories of his adventures. + +This was the end of the INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN OF LA MANCHA, whose native +place Cid Hamet has not thought fit precisely to mention, with design +that all the towns and villages in La Mancha should contend amongst +themselves for the honor of adopting and keeping him as their own, as +the seven cities of Greece did for Homer. We omit here the +lamentations of Sancho, of Don Quixote's niece and the housekeeper, +and the new epitaphs upon his tomb; but Samson Carrasco set this upon +it:-- + + "A valiant gentleman lies here, + So brave that, to his latest breath, + Immortal glory was his care, + And made him triumph over death. + + Of small account he held the world, + Whose fears its ridicule belied; + And if he like a madman lived, + At least he like a wise one died." + + + + + THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + + + + + THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP + + + I + +In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor +named Mustapha. He was so poor that by the hardest daily labor he +could barely support himself and his family, which consisted only of +his wife and a son. + +This son, Aladdin, was a very careless, idle, and disobedient fellow. +He would leave home early in the morning and play all day in the +streets and public places. When he was old enough, his father tried to +teach him the tailor's trade, but Mustapha no sooner turned his back +than the boy was gone for the day. He was frequently punished, but in +vain; and at last the father gave him up as a hopeless idler, and in a +few months died of the grief Aladdin caused him. + +The boy, now free from restraint, became worse than ever. Until he was +fifteen, he spent all his time with idle companions, never thinking +how useless a man this would make of him. Playing thus with his evil +mates one day, a stranger passing by stood to observe him. + +The stranger was a person known as the African magician. Only two days +before, he had arrived from Africa, his native country; and, seeing in +Aladdin's face something that showed the boy to be well fitted for his +purposes, he had taken pains to learn all that he could find out about +him. + +"Child," he said to Aladdin, calling him aside, "was not your father +called Mustapha the tailor?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the boy; "but he has been dead a long time." + +Then the African magician embraced Aladdin and kissed him, saying with +tears in his eyes, "I am your uncle. I knew you at first sight; you +are so like my dear brother." Then he gave the boy a handful of money, +and said, "Give my love to your mother, and tell her that I will visit +her to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived and died." + +"You have no uncle," said Aladdin's mother when she had heard his +story. "Neither your father nor I ever had a brother." + +Again the next day the magician found Aladdin playing in the streets, +and embraced him as before, and put two pieces of gold into his hand, +saying, "Carry this to your mother. Tell her I shall come to sup with +you to-night; but show me first where you live." + +This done, Aladdin ran home with the money, and all day his mother +made ready to receive their guest. Just as they began to fear that he +might not find the house, the African magician knocked at the door, +and came in, bringing wine and fruits of every sort. After words of +greeting to them both, he asked only to be placed where he might face +the sofa on which Mustapha used to sit. + +"My poor brother!" he exclaimed. "How unhappy am I, not to have come +soon enough to give you one last embrace!" + +Then he told Aladdin's mother how he had left their native land of +China forty years ago, had traveled in many lands, and finally settled +in Africa. The desire had seized him to see his brother and his home +once more, and therefore he had come, alas! too late. + +When the widow wept at the thought of her husband, the African +magician turned to Aladdin and asked, "What business do you follow? +Are you of any trade?" + +The boy hung his head, and his mother added to his shame by saying, +"Aladdin is an idle fellow. He would not learn his father's trade, and +now will not heed me, but spends his time where you found him, in the +streets. Unless you can persuade him to mend his ways, some day I must +turn him out to shift for himself." + +Again the widow wept, and the magician said,-- + +"This is not well, nephew. But there are many trades beside your +father's. What say you to having a shop, which I will furnish for you +with fine stuffs and linens? Tell me freely." + +This seemed an easy life, and Aladdin, who hated work, jumped at the +plan. "Well, then," said the magician, "come with me to-morrow, and, +after clothing you handsomely, we will open the shop." + +Soon after supper the stranger took his leave. On the next day he +bought the boy his promised clothes, and entertained him with a +company of merchants at his inn. When he brought Aladdin home to his +mother at night, she called down many blessings on his head for all +his kindness. + +Early the next morning the magician came for Aladdin, saying they +would spend that day in the country, and on the next would buy the +shop. So away they walked through the gardens and palaces outside one +of the gates of the city. Each palace seemed more beautiful than the +last, and they had gone far before Aladdin thought the morning half +gone. By the brink of a fountain they rested, and ate the cakes and +fruit which the magician took from his girdle. At the same time he +gave the boy good advice about the company he should keep. On they +went again after their repast, still farther into the country, till +they nearly reached the place, between two mountains, where the +magician intended to do the work that had brought him from Africa to +China. + +"We will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin. "I will show you here +some strange things. While I strike a light, gather me all the loose, +dry sticks you can see, to kindle a fire with." + +There was soon a great heap of them, and when they were in a blaze the +magician threw in some incense, and spoke magical words which Aladdin +did not understand. + +This was scarcely done when the earth opened just before the magician, +and they both saw a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was +so frightened that he would have run away, but the magician seized him +and gave him a box on the ear that knocked him down. + +"What have I done, to be treated so?" cried Aladdin, trembling. + +"I am your uncle," was the answer; "I stand in your father's place; +make no replies. But, child," he added, softening, "do not be afraid. +I shall ask nothing but that you obey me promptly, if you would have +the good things I intend for you. Know, then, that under this stone +there is a treasure that will make you richer than the greatest +monarch on earth. No one but yourself may lift this stone or enter the +cave; so you must do instantly whatever I command, for this is a +matter of great importance to both of us." + +"Well, uncle, what is to be done?" said Aladdin, losing his fear. + +"Take hold of the ring and lift up that stone." + +"Indeed, uncle, I am not strong enough; you must help me." + +"No," said the magician; "if I help you we can do nothing. Lift it +yourself, and it will come easily." Aladdin obeyed, raised the stone +with ease, and laid it on one side. + +When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about three +or four feet deep, leading to a door. "Descend, my son," said the +magician, "and open that door. It will lead you into a palace divided +into three great halls. Before you enter the first, tuck up your robe +with care. Pass through the three halls, but never touch the walls, +even with your clothes. If you do you will die instantly. At the end +of the third hall you will find a door opening into a garden planted +with trees loaded with fine fruit. Walk directly across the garden to +a terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in the niche a +lighted lamp. Take it down and put it out. Throw away the wick and +pour out the liquor, which is not oil and will not hurt your clothes; +then put the lamp into your waistband and bring it to me." The +magician then took a ring from his finger and put it on Aladdin's, +saying, "This is a talisman against all evil, so long as you obey me. +Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall both be rich all our lives." + +Aladdin descended, found all to be as the magician had said, and +carefully obeyed his orders. When he had put the lamp into his +waistband, he wondered at the beauty of the fruit in the garden, +white, red, green, blue, purple, yellow, and of all other colors, and +gathered some of every sort. The fruits were really precious jewels; +but Aladdin, ignorant of their immense value, would have preferred +figs, grapes, or pomegranates. Nevertheless, he filled two purses his +uncle had given him, besides the skirts of his vest, and crammed his +bosom as full as it would hold. + +Then he returned with extreme care, and found the magician anxiously +waiting. + +"Pray, uncle," he said, "lend me your hand to help me out." + +"Give me the lamp first," replied the magician. "It will be +troublesome to you." + +"Indeed, uncle, I cannot now, but I will as soon as I am up." + +The magician was bent on taking it at once from his hand, but the boy +was so laden with his fruit that he flatly refused to give it over +before getting out of the cave. This drove the magician into such a +passion that he threw more incense into the fire, spoke two magical +words, and instantly the stone moved back into its place, with the +earth above it, as it had been when they first reached the spot. +Aladdin now saw that he had been deceived by one who was not his +uncle, but a cruel enemy. In truth, this man had learned from his +magic books about the secret and value of the wonderful lamp, which +would make him richer than any earthly ruler if he could but receive +it freely given into his hands by another person. He had chosen +Aladdin for this purpose, and when it failed he set out immediately on +his return to Africa, but avoided the town, that none might ask him +what had become of the boy. + + + II + +Aladdin was indeed in a sorry plight. He called for his uncle, but in +vain. The earth was closed above him, and the palace door at the foot +of the steps. His cries and tears brought him no help. At last he +said, "There is no strength or power but in the great and high God;" +and in joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician +had put on his finger. Instantly a genie of frightful aspect appeared +and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee. I serve +him who possesses the ring on thy finger,--I and the other slaves of +that ring." + +At another time Aladdin would have been frightened at the sight of +such a figure; but his danger gave him courage to say, "Whoever thou +art, deliver me from this place." + +He had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself outside the +cave, of which no sign was to be seen on the surface of the earth. He +lost no time in making his way home, where he fainted from weakness, +and afterwards told his mother of his strange adventure. They were +both very bitter against the cruel magician, but this did not prevent +Aladdin from sleeping soundly until late the next morning. As there +was nothing for breakfast, he bethought him of selling the lamp in +order to buy food. "Here it is," said his mother, "but it is very +dirty. If I rub it clean I believe it will bring more." + +No sooner had she begun to rub it than a hideous genie of gigantic +size appeared before her, and said in a voice of thunder, "What +wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave +of all those who have the lamp in their hands,--I and the other slaves +of the lamp." + +In terror at the sight, Aladdin's mother fainted; but the boy, who had +already seen a genie, said boldly, "I am hungry; bring me something to +eat." + +[Illustration: NO SOONER HAD SHE BEGUN TO RUB IT THAN A HIDEOUS GENIE +OF GIGANTIC SIZE APPEARED BEFORE HER AND SAID IN A VOICE OF THUNDER: +"WHAT WOULD'ST THOU HAVE? I AM READY TO OBEY THEE AS THY SLAVE, AND THE +SLAVE OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE THE LAMP IN THEIR HANDS,--I AND THE OTHER +SLAVES OF THE LAMP." IN TERROR AT THE SIGHT ALADDIN'S MOTHER FAINTED, +BUT THE BOY, WHO HAD ALREADY SEEN A GENIE, SAID BOLDLY, "I AM HUNGRY; +BRING ME SOMETHING TO EAT"] + +The genie disappeared, and returned in an instant with a large silver +tray, holding twelve covered silver dishes filled with tempting +viands, six large white bread cakes on two plates, two flagons of +wine, and two silver cups. All these he placed upon a carpet, and +disappeared before Aladdin's mother had come out of her swoon. + +When she was herself again, they satisfied their hunger, and still +there was enough food for the rest of that day and two meals on the +next. This they put aside, and Aladdin's mother made him tell of all +that had passed between him and the genie during her swoon. The simple +woman thought it all a dangerous and wicked business, and begged +Aladdin to sell both the lamp and the ring; but he persuaded her to +let him keep them both, on the condition that she should have nothing +to do with genies again. + +When they had eaten all the food left from the feast the genie +brought, Aladdin sold the silver plates one by one to a Jew, who +cheated him by paying but a small part of their value, and yet made +the boy think himself rich. The tray he sold last, and when the money +it brought was spent he rubbed the lamp again, and again the genie +appeared, and provided the mother and son with another feast and other +silver dishes. These kept them in funds for some time longer, +especially as Aladdin had the good fortune to meet with an honest +goldsmith, who paid him the full value of the metal. Aladdin, all the +while, by visiting the shops of merchants, was gaining knowledge of +the world and a desire to improve himself. From the jewelers he came +to know that the fruits he had gathered when he got the lamp were not +merely colored glass, but stones of untold value, the rarest in the +city. This, however, he had the prudence not to tell to any one, even +his mother. + + + III + +One day, as Aladdin was walking about the town, he heard an order +proclaimed that the people should close their shops and houses and +keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the Sultan's +daughter, should go to the bath and return. Aladdin was filled with an +eager desire to see the face of the princess, and contrived to place +himself behind the door of the bath. When she was a few paces away +from it she removed her veil, and Aladdin saw for a moment one of the +most beautiful faces in the world. When she passed by him he quitted +his hiding-place, and went home thoughtful and grave. + +"Are you ill?" asked his mother. + +"No," he answered, "but I love the princess more than I can express, +and am resolved that I will ask her in marriage of the Sultan." + +His mother thought him mad, but Aladdin said, "I have the slaves of +the lamp and the ring to help me," and then told her for the first +time what riches he possessed in the jewels brought from the +underground palace. "These," he said, "will secure the favor of the +Sultan. You have a large porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, +and let us see how they will look when we have arranged them according +to their different colors." + +Their eyes were dazzled by the splendor of the jewels when they were +arranged in the dish, and Aladdin's mother consented at once to take +them to the Sultan, and ask his daughter's hand for her son. + +Early the next morning she wrapped the dish in two fine napkins and +set out for the palace. Though the crowd was great, she made her way +into the divan, or audience hall, and placed herself just before the +Sultan, the Grand Vizier, and other lords who sat beside him. But +there were many cases for him to hear and judge, and her turn did not +come that day. She told Aladdin that she was sure the Sultan saw her, +and that she would try again. + +For six days more she carried the jewels to the divan, and stood in +the same place. On the sixth the Sultan, as he was leaving the hall, +said to the Grand Vizier, "For some time I have observed a certain +woman standing near me every day with something wrapped in a napkin. +If she comes again, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what she +has to say." + +On the next day, therefore, she was called forward. She bowed her head +till it touched the carpet on the platform of the throne. Then the +Sultan bade her rise and said,-- + +"Good woman, I have observed you many days. What business brings you +here?" + +"Monarch of monarchs," she replied, "I beg you to pardon the boldness +of my petition." + +"Well," said the Sultan, "I will forgive you, be it what it may, and +no hurt shall come to you. Speak boldly." + +This gave her heart to tell the errand on which her son had sent her. +The Sultan listened without anger till she was done, and then asked +what she had brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish, +which she had set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and +presented it to the Sultan. + +His wonder knew no bounds when he looked upon the jewels. Not until he +received the gift from the woman's hands could he find words to say, +"How rich! how beautiful!" + +Then he turned to the Grand Vizier and said, "Behold, admire, wonder! +and confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful +before. What sayest thou to such a present? Is it not worthy of the +princess, my daughter? Ought I not to bestow her on one who values her +at so great a price?" + +"I cannot but own," replied the Grand Vizier, "that the present is +worthy of the princess. But wait for three months. Before that time I +hope my son, whom you regard with favor, will be able to make a nobler +present than this Aladdin, of whom your majesty knows nothing." + +The Sultan granted this request, and said to Aladdin's mother,-- + +"Good woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to what you have +proposed, but I cannot marry the princess, my daughter, for three +months. At the end of that time come again." + +The news which Aladdin's mother brought home filled him and her with +joy. From that time forth he counted every week, day, and hour as they +passed. When two of the three months were gone, Aladdin's mother went +out one evening to buy some oil, and found the streets full of joyful +people, and officers busy with preparations for some festival. + +"What does it mean?" she asked the oil merchant. + +"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you do not know that the +Grand Vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, the +Sultan's daughter, to-night?" + +Home she ran to Aladdin and cried, "Child, you are undone! the +Sultan's fine promises will come to nought. This night the Grand +Vizier's son is to marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor." + +Aladdin was thunderstruck, but wasted no time in idle words against +the Sultan. He went at once to his chamber, took the lamp, rubbed it +in the same place as before, when instantly the genie appeared, and +said to him,-- + +"What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave,--I and +the other slaves of the lamp." + +"Hear me," said Aladdin; "thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am +about to impose on thee a harder task. The Sultan's daughter, who was +promised me as my bride, will this night be wed to the son of the +Grand Vizier. Bring them both hither to me when they are married." + +"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you." + +Aladdin did not have to wait long after supping with his mother and +going to his chamber to be shown again that the genie was indeed his +faithful slave. On this night and the next the princess and the Grand +Vizier's son were borne away from the Sultan's palace in a manner +which none could understand, not even they themselves. The strange +event was told to few, but the Sultan was one of them. He consulted +with the Grand Vizier, and, as both of these parents feared to expose +the young couple to further dangers from unseen foes, the marriage was +canceled, and all the merrymaking in honor of it was stopped. None but +Aladdin knew the cause of all the trouble, and he kept his secret to +himself. Least of all did the Sultan and Grand Vizier, who had quite +forgotten Aladdin, suspect that he had a hand in the matter. + + + IV + +Of course Aladdin had not forgotten the Sultan's promise, and on the +very day which ended the three months, his mother came again to the +divan, and stood in her old place. When the Sultan saw her she was +called forward, and, having bowed to the floor, she said,-- + +"Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask you to fulfill the +promise you made to my son." + +The Sultan could hardly believe the request had been made in earnest, +and, after a few words with the Grand Vizier, decided to propose terms +which one of Aladdin's humble position could not possibly fulfill. + +"Good woman," he said, "it is true that sultans ought to abide by +their word, and I am ready to keep mine. But as I cannot marry my +daughter without further proof that your son will be able to support +her in royal state, you may tell him that I will fulfill my promise so +soon as he shall send me forty trays of massy gold, full of the same +sort of jewels you have already given me, and carried by forty black +slaves, who shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, +all dressed magnificently. When this is done, I will bestow my +daughter, the princess, upon him. Go, good woman, and tell him so, and +I will wait till you bring me his answer." + +As Aladdin's mother hurried home she laughed to think how far the +Sultan's demand would be beyond her son's power. "He awaits your +answer," she said to Aladdin when she had told him all, and added, +laughing, "I believe he may wait long." + +"Not so long as you think," replied Aladdin. "This demand is a mere +trifle. I will prepare to answer it at once." + +In his own chamber he summoned the genie of the lamp, who appeared +without delay, and promised to carry out Aladdin's commands. Within a +very short time, a train of forty black slaves, led by as many white +slaves, appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each black +slave carried on his head a basin of massy gold, full of pearls, +diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Aladdin then said to his mother,-- + +"Madam, pray lose no time. Go to the Sultan before he leaves the +divan, and make this gift to him, that he may see how ardently I +desire his daughter's hand." + +With Aladdin's mother at its head, the procession began to move +through the streets, which were soon filled with people praising the +beauty and bearing of the slaves, splendidly dressed, and walking at +an equal distance from one another. At the palace nothing so brilliant +had ever been seen before. The richest robes of the court looked poor +beside the dresses of these slaves. When they had all entered they +formed a half-circle around the Sultan's throne; the black slaves laid +the golden trays on the carpet, touched it with their foreheads, and +at the same time the white slaves did likewise. When they rose the +black slaves uncovered the trays, and then all stood with their arms +crossed over their breasts. + +This done, Aladdin's mother advanced to the throne, bowed to the +floor, and said,-- + +"Sire, my son knows that this present is much below the notice of the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor, but hopes that your majesty will accept of +it, and make it pleasing to the princess. His hope is the greater +because he has tried to carry out your own wish." + +With delight the Sultan replied,-- + +"Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to embrace him; and +the more haste he makes to come and receive the princess, my daughter, +from my hands, the greater pleasure he will give me." + +While he showed the slaves and the jewels to the princess, Aladdin's +mother carried the good news to her son. "My son," she said, "you may +rejoice, for the Sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience." + +Aladdin was overjoyed, but, saying little, retired to his chamber. +Here he rubbed the lamp, and when its slave appeared said,-- + +"Genie, convey me at once to a bath, and give me the richest robe ever +worn by a monarch." + +This was soon done, and he found himself again in his own chamber, +where the genie asked if he had any other commands. + +"Yes," answered Aladdin; "bring me a charger better than the best in +the Sultan's stables. Fit him with trappings worthy of his value. +Furnish twenty slaves, clothed as richly as those who carried the +presents to the Sultan, to walk by my side and follow me, and twenty +more to go before me in two ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six +women slaves, as richly dressed as any of the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor's, each carrying a complete dress fit for a Sultan's wife. I +want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses: go, and make +haste." + +The commands were instantly fulfilled, and Aladdin gave the six women +slaves to his mother, with the six dresses they had brought, wrapped +in silver tissue. Of the ten purses he gave four to his mother, and +the other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought them, +saying that they must march before him and throw the money by handfuls +into the crowd as the procession moved to the Sultan's palace. Mounted +on his horse, Aladdin, though he had never ridden before, appeared +with a grace which the most practiced horseman might have envied. It +was no wonder that the people made the air echo with their shouts, +especially when the slaves threw out the handfuls of gold. + +The Sultan met him at the palace with joy and surprise that the son of +so humble a mother as the woman he had seen should have such dignity +and good looks, and should be dressed more richly than he himself had +ever been. He embraced Aladdin, held him by the hand, and made him sit +near the throne. Then there was a great feast, and after it the +contract of marriage between the princess and Aladdin was drawn up. +When the Sultan asked him if he would stay in the palace and complete +the marriage that day, Aladdin answered,-- + +"Sire, though my impatience is great to enter on the honor your +majesty has granted, yet I beg first to be allowed to build a palace +worthy of the princess, your daughter. I pray you to give me ground +enough near your own, and I will have it finished with the utmost +speed." + +The request was granted, and Aladdin took his leave with as much +politeness as if he had always lived at court. Again, as he passed +through the streets, the people shouted and wished him joy. In his own +chamber once more, he took the lamp, rubbed it, and there was the +genie. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be of the rarest. Let its walls +be of massive gold and silver bricks. Let each front contain six +windows, and let the lattices of these (except one, which must be left +unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, beyond +anything of the kind ever seen in the world. Let there be courts and a +spacious garden, kitchens, storehouses, stables,--well +equipped,--offices, servants, and slaves. Above all, provide a safe +treasure-house, and fill it with gold and silver. Go, and fulfill my +wishes." + +Early the next morning the genie returned, and bore Aladdin to the +place where the palace had been built. Everything was done as Aladdin +had commanded. The officers, slaves, and grooms were at their work in +hall and stable. The hall, with the twenty-four windows, was beyond +his fondest hopes. + +"Genie," he said, "there is but one thing wanting,--a fine carpet for +the princess to walk upon from the Sultan's palace to mine. Lay one +down at once." + +In an instant the desire was fulfilled. Then the genie carried Aladdin +to his own home. + +When the Sultan looked out of his windows in the morning, he was +amazed to see a shining building where there had been but an empty +garden. "It must be Aladdin's palace," he said, "which I gave him +leave to build for my daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let +us see what wonders can be done in a single night." + +He was only a little less surprised when Aladdin's mother, dressed +more richly than ever his own daughter had been, appeared at the +palace. So good a son, he thought, must make a good husband. And soon +the son himself appeared; and when in royal pomp he left his humble +house for the last time, he did not fail to take with him the +wonderful lamp which had brought him all his good fortune, or to wear +the ring he had received as a talisman. + + + V + +His marriage to the princess was performed with the utmost splendor. +There was feasting and music and dancing, and when the princess was +brought to her new palace she was so dazzled by its richness that she +said to Aladdin, "I thought, prince, there was nothing so beautiful in +the world as my father's palace, but now I know that I was deceived." + +The next day Aladdin with a troop of slaves went himself to the Sultan +and asked him to come with the Grand Vizier and lords of the court to +a repast in the palace of the princess. The Sultan gladly consented, +and the nearer he came to the building the more he marveled at its +grandeur. When he entered the hall of the twenty-four windows he +exclaimed,-- + +"This palace is one of the wonders of the world. Where else shall we +find walls built of gold and silver, and windows of diamonds, rubies, +and emeralds? But tell me this. Why, in a hall of such beauty, was one +window left incomplete?" + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "I left it so, that you should have the glory of +finishing this hall." + +"I take your wish kindly," said the Sultan, "and will give orders +about it at once." + +When the jewelers and goldsmiths were called they undertook to finish +the window, but needed all the jewels the Sultan could give and the +Grand Vizier lend for the work. Even the jewels of Aladdin's gift were +used, and after working for a month the window was not half finished. +Aladdin therefore dismissed them all one day, bade them undo what they +had done, and take the jewels back to the Sultan and Vizier. Then he +rubbed his lamp, and there was the genie. + +"Genie," he said, "I ordered thee to leave one of the four and twenty +windows imperfect, and thou hast obeyed me. Now I would have thee make +it like the rest." And in a moment the work was done. + +The Sultan was greatly surprised when the chief jeweler brought back +the stones and said that their work had been stopped, he could not +tell why. A horse was brought, and the Sultan rode at once to +Aladdin's palace to ask what it all meant. One of the first things he +saw there was the finished window. He could hardly believe it to be +true, and looked very closely at all the four and twenty to see if he +was deceived. When he was convinced he embraced Aladdin and kissed him +between the eyes and said,-- + +"My son, what a man you are to do such things in the twinkling of an +eye! there is not your fellow in the world; the more I know of you the +more I admire you." + +Aladdin won not only the love of the Sultan, but also of the people. +As he went to one mosque or another to prayers, or paid visits to the +Grand Vizier and lords of the court, he caused two slaves who walked +by the side of his horse to throw handfuls of money to the people in +the streets. Thus he lived for several years, making himself dear to +all. + + + VI + +About this time the African magician, who had supposed Aladdin to be +dead in the cave where he had left him, learned by magic art that he +had made his escape, and by the help of the genie of the wonderful +lamp was living in royal splendor. + +On the very next day the magician set out for the capital of China, +where on his arrival he took up his lodging in an inn. There he +quickly learned about Aladdin's wealth and goodness and popularity. As +soon as he saw the palace he knew that none but genies, the slaves of +the lamp, could have built it, and he returned to his inn all the more +angry at Aladdin for having got what he wanted himself. When he +learned by his magic that Aladdin did not carry the lamp about with +him, but left it in the palace, he rubbed his hands with glee, and +said, "Well, I shall have it now, and I shall make Aladdin return to +his low estate." + +The next morning he learned that Aladdin had gone with a hunting +party, to be absent eight days, three of which had passed. He needed +to know no more, and quickly formed his plans. He went to a shop and +asked for a dozen copper lamps. The master of the shop had not so many +then, but promised them the next day, and said he would have them, as +the magician wished, handsome and well polished. + +When the magician came back and paid for them, he put them in a basket +and started directly for Aladdin's palace. As he drew near he began +crying, "Who will change old lamps for new ones?" The children and +people who crowded around hooted and scoffed at him as a madman or a +fool, but he heeded them not, and went on crying, "Who will change old +lamps for new ones?" + +The princess was in the hall with the four and twenty windows, and, +seeing a crowd outside, sent one of her women slaves to find out what +the man was crying. The slave returned laughing, and told of the +foolish offer. Another slave, hearing it, said, "Now you speak of +lamps, I know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there +is an old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing room. +Whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. If +the princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of seeing whether this +old man is silly enough to make the exchange." + +The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, thought it would be +a good joke to do as her slave suggested, and in a few moments it was +done. The magician did not stop to cry, "New lamps for old ones!" +again, but hurried to his inn and out of the town, setting down his +basket of new lamps where nobody saw him. + +When he reached a lonely spot he pulled the old lamp out of his +breast, and, to make sure that it was the one he wanted, rubbed it. +Instantly the genie appeared and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have +that lamp in their hands,--both I and the other slaves of the lamp." + +"I command thee," replied the magician, "to bear me and the palace +which thou and the other slaves of the lamp have built in this city, +with all the people in it, at once to Africa." + +The genie made no reply, but in a moment he and the other slaves of +the lamp had borne the magician and the palace entire to the spot +where he wished it to stand. + +Early the next morning, when the Sultan went as usual to gaze upon +Aladdin's palace, it was nowhere to be seen. How so large a building +that had been standing for some years could disappear so completely, +and leave no trace behind, he could not understand. The Grand Vizier +was summoned to explain it. In secret be bore no good will to Aladdin, +and was glad to suggest that the very building of the palace had been +by magic, and that the hunting party had been merely an excuse for the +removal of the palace by the same means. The Sultan was persuaded, +therefore, to send a body of his guards to seize Aladdin as a prisoner +of state. When he appeared the Sultan would hear no word from him, but +ordered him put to death. This displeased the people so much that the +Sultan, fearing a riot, granted him his life and let him speak. + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "I pray you to let me know the crime by which I +have lost thy favor?" + +"Your crime!" answered the Sultan; "wretched man! do you not know it? +Follow me, and I will show you." + +Then he led Aladdin to a window and said, "You ought to know where +your palace stood; look, and tell me what has become of it." + +Aladdin was as much amazed as the Sultan had been. "True, it is +vanished," he said after a speechless pause, "but I have had no +concern in its removal. I beg you to give me forty days, and if in +that time I cannot restore it, I will offer my head to be disposed of +at your pleasure." + +"I give you the time you ask," answered the Sultan, "but at the end of +forty days forget not to present yourself before me." + +The lords, who had courted Aladdin in his better days, paid him no +heed as he left the palace in extreme shame. For three days he +wandered about the city, exciting the pity of all he met by asking if +they had seen his palace, or could tell where it was. On the third day +he wandered into the country. As he approached a river he slipped and +fell down a bank. Clutching at a rock to save himself, he rubbed his +ring, and instantly the genie whom he had seen in the cave appeared +before him. "What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to +obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that ring +on their finger,--both I and the other slaves of the ring." + +Aladdin had never thought of help from this quarter, and said with +delight,-- + +"Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be built now stands, or +bring it back where it first stood." + +"Your command," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I am +only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp." + +"I command thee, then," replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to +bear me to the spot where my palace stands, wherever it may be." + +These words were no sooner out of his mouth than he found himself in +the midst of a large plain, where his palace stood, not far from a +city, and directly above him was the window of his wife's chamber. +Just then one of her household happened to look out and see him, and +told the good news to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor. She could not +believe it to be true, and hastening to the window opened it herself +with a noise which made Aladdin look up. Seeing the princess, he +saluted her with an air that expressed his joy, and in a moment he had +entered by a private door and was in her arms. + +After shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg +of you, princess, to tell me what is become of an old lamp which stood +upon a shelf in my robing chamber." + +"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might be +owing to that lamp; and what grieves me most is that I have been the +cause of it. I was foolish enough to change the old lamp for a new +one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown country, +which I am told is Africa." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, stopping her, "you have told me all by +telling me we are in Africa. Now, only tell me where the old lamp is." + +"The African magician," answered the princess, "carries it carefully +wrapped up in his bosom. This I know, because one day he pulled it out +before me, and showed it to me in triumph." + +Aladdin quickly formed and carried out a plan to leave the palace, +disguise himself, buy of a druggist a certain powder which he named, +and return to the princess. He told her what she must do to help his +purposes. When the magician should come to the palace, she must assume +a friendly manner and ask him to sup with her. "Before he leaves," +said Aladdin, "ask him to exchange cups with you. This he will gladly +do, and you must give him the cup containing this powder. On drinking +it he will instantly fall asleep, and we shall obtain the lamp, whose +slaves will do our bidding, and bear us and the palace back to the +capital of China." + +It was not long before the magician came to the palace, and the +princess did exactly as Aladdin had bidden her. When, at the end of +the evening, she offered her guest the drugged cup, he drank it, out +of honor to her, to the last drop, and fell back lifeless on the sofa. + +Aladdin was quickly called and said, "Princess, retire, and let me be +left alone while I try to take you back to China as speedily as you +were brought thence." On the dead body of the magician he found the +lamp, carefully wrapped and hidden in his garments. Aladdin rubbed it, +and the genie stood before him. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee to bear this palace instantly +back to the place whence it was brought hither." The genie bowed his +head and departed. In a moment the palace was again in China, and its +removal was felt only by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted +up, the other when it was set down, and both in a very short space of +time. + +Early the next day the Sultan was looking from his window and mourning +his daughter's fate. He could not believe his eyes when first he saw +her palace standing in its old place. But as he looked more closely he +was convinced, and joy came to his heart instead of the grief that had +filled it. At once he ordered a horse and was on his way, when +Aladdin, looking from the hall of twenty-four windows, saw him coming, +and hastened to help him dismount. He was brought at once to the +princess, and both wept tears of joy. When the strange events had been +partly explained, he said to Aladdin,-- + +"My son, be not displeased at the harshness I showed towards you. It +rose from a father's love, and therefore you will forgive it." + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to complain of your +conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This +wicked magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of all." + + + VII + +Only once again were Aladdin and his palace in danger from magic arts. +A younger brother of the African magician learned of what had +happened, and, in the guise of a holy woman, Fatima, whom he killed +that he might pretend to take her place, came to live in the palace. +The princess, thinking him really the holy woman, heeded all that he +said. One day, admiring the beauty of the hall, he told her that +nothing could surpass it if only a roc's egg were hung from the middle +of the dome. "A roc," he said, "is a bird of enormous size which lives +at the summit of Mount Caucasus. The architect who built your palace +can get you an egg." + +When the princess told Aladdin of her desire, he summoned the genie of +the lamp and said to him,-- + +"Genie, I command thee in the name of this lamp, bring a roc's egg to +be hung in the middle of the dome of the hall of the palace." + +No sooner were these words spoken than the hall shook as if ready to +fall, and the genie told Aladdin that he had asked him to bring his +own master and hang him up in the midst of the hall; it was enough to +reduce Aladdin and the princess and the palace all to ashes; but he +should be spared, because the request had really come from another. +Then he told Aladdin who was the true author of it, and warned him +against the pretended Fatima, whom till then he had not known as the +brother of the African magician. Aladdin saw his danger, and on that +very day he killed his wicked enemy with the dagger which was meant to +be his own death. + +Thus was Aladdin delivered from the two brothers who were magicians. +Within a few years the Sultan died at a good old age, and, as he left +no male children, the Princess Buddir al Buddoor came to the throne, +and she and Aladdin reigned together many years. + + + + + ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES + + + I + +There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim +and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided his small property +equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a +wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and +lived by cutting wood and bringing it upon three asses into the town +to sell. + +One day, when Ali Baba had cut just enough wood in the forest to load +his asses, he noticed far off a great cloud of dust. As it drew +nearer, he saw that it was made by a body of horsemen, whom he +suspected to be robbers. Leaving the asses, he climbed a large tree +which grew on a high rock, and had branches thick enough to hide him +completely while he saw what passed beneath. The troop, forty in +number, all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of the rock on +which the tree stood, and there dismounted. Each man unbridled his +horse, tied him to a shrub, and hung about his neck a bag of corn. +Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which from its weight +seemed to Ali Baba full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be +their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; +and, making his way through some shrubs, spoke the words, "Open, +Sesame." As soon as the captain of the robbers said this, a door +opened in the rock, and after he had made all his troop enter before +him, he followed them, when the door shut again of itself. + +The robbers stayed some time within, and Ali Baba, fearful of being +caught, remained in the tree. At last the door opened again, and the +captain came out first, and stood to see all the troop pass by him. +Then Ali Baba heard him make the door close by saying, "Shut, Sesame." +Every man at once bridled his horse, fastened his wallet, and mounted +again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put himself at their +head, and they returned the way they had come. + +Ali Baba watched them out of sight, and then waited some time before +coming down. Wishing to see whether the captain's words would have the +same effect if he should speak them, he found the door hidden in the +shrubs, stood before it, and said, "Open, Sesame." Instantly the door +flew wide open. + +Instead of a dark, dismal cavern, Ali Baba was surprised to see a +large chamber, well lighted from the top, and in it all sorts of +provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and carpeting, gold +and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags. + +Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold +coin, which was in bags, as he thought his asses could carry. When he +had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them so that they +could not be seen, and, passing out of the door for the last time, +stood before it and said, "Shut, Sesame." The door closed of itself, +and he made the best of his way to town. + +When he reached home, he carefully closed the gate of his little yard, +threw off the wood, and carried the bags into the house. They were +emptied before his wife, and the great heap of gold dazzled her eyes. +Then he told her the whole adventure, and warned her, above all +things, to keep it secret. + +Ali Baba would not let her take the time to count it out as she +wished, but said, "I will dig a hole and bury it." + +[Illustration: HE CAREFULLY CLOSED THE GATE OF HIS LITTLE YARD, THREW +OFF THE WOOD, AND CARRIED THE BAGS INTO THE HOUSE. THEY WERE EMPTIED +BEFORE HIS WIFE, AND THE GREAT HEAP OF GOLD DAZZLED HER EYES. THEN HE +TOLD HER THE WHOLE ADVENTURE, AND WARNED HER, ABOVE ALL THINGS, TO +KEEP IT SECRET. ALI BABA WOULD NOT LET HER TAKE TIME TO COUNT IT OUT +AS SHE WISHED, BUT SAID: "I WILL DIG A HOLE AND BURY IT"] + +"But let us know as nearly as may be," she said, "how much we have. I +will borrow a small measure, and measure it, while you dig a hole." + +Away she ran to the wife of Cassim, who lived near by, and asked for a +measure. The sister-in-law, knowing Ali Baba's poverty, was curious to +learn what sort of grain his wife wished to measure out, and artfully +managed to put some suet in the bottom of the measure before she +handed it over. Ali Baba's wife wanted to show how careful she was in +small matters, and, after she had measured the gold, hurried back, +even while her husband was burying it, with the borrowed measure, +never noticing that a coin had stuck to its bottom. + +"What," said Cassim's wife, as soon as her sister-in-law had left her, +"has Ali Baba gold in such plenty that he measures it? Whence has he +all this wealth?" And envy possessed her breast. + +When Cassim came home she said to him, "Cassim, you think yourself +rich, but Ali Baba is much richer. He does not count his money; he +measures it." Then she explained to him how she had found it out, and +they looked together at the piece of money, which was so old that they +could not tell in what prince's reign it was coined. + +Cassim, since marrying the rich widow, had never treated Ali Baba as a +brother, but neglected him. Now, instead of being pleased, he was +filled with a base envy. Early in the morning, after a sleepless +night, he went to him and said, "Ali Baba, you pretend to be +wretchedly poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife found this at the +bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday." + +Ali Baba saw that there was no use of trying to conceal his good +fortune, and told the whole story, offering his brother part of the +treasure to keep the secret. + +"I expect as much," replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know just +where this treasure is and how to visit myself when I choose. +Otherwise I will inform against you, and you will lose even what you +have now." + +Ali Baba told him all he wished to know, even to the words he must +speak at the door of the cave. + +Cassim rose before the sun the next morning, and set out for the +forest with ten mules bearing great chests which he meant to fill. +With little trouble he found the rock and the door, and, standing +before it, spoke the words, "Open, Sesame." The door opened at once, +and when he was within closed upon him. Here indeed were the riches of +which his brother had told. He quickly brought as many bags of gold as +he could carry to the door of the cavern; but his thoughts were so +full of his new wealth that he could not think of the word that should +let him out. Instead of "Sesame," he said, "Open, Barley," and was +much amazed to find that the door remained fast shut. He named several +sorts of grain, but still the door would not open. + +Cassim had never expected such a disaster, and was so frightened that +the more he tried to recall the word "Sesame," the more confused his +mind became. It was as if he had never heard the word at all. He threw +down the bags in his hands, and walked wildly up and down, without a +thought of the riches lying round about him. + +At noon the robbers visited their cave. From afar they saw Cassim's +mules straggling about the rock, and galloped full speed to the cave. +Driving the mules out of sight, they went at once, with their naked +sabres in their hands, to the door, which opened as soon as the +captain had spoken the proper words before it. + +Cassim had heard the noise of the horses' feet, and guessed that the +robbers had come. He resolved to make one effort for his life. As soon +as the door opened, he rushed out and threw the leader down, but could +not pass the other robbers, who with their scimitars soon put him to +death. + +The first care of the robbers was to examine the cave. They found all +the bags Cassim had brought to the door, but did not miss what Ali +Baba had taken. As for Cassim himself, they guessed rightly that, once +within, he could not get out again; but how he had managed to learn +their secret words that let him in, they could not tell. One thing was +certain--there he was; and to warn all others who might know their +secret and follow in Cassim's footsteps, they agreed to cut his body +into four quarters--to hang two on one side and two on the other, +within the door of the cave. This they did at once, and leaving the +place of their hoards well closed, mounted their horses and set out to +attack the caravans they might meet. + + + II + +When night came, and Cassim did not return, his wife became very +uneasy. She ran to Ali Baba for comfort, and he told her that Cassim +would certainly think it unwise to enter the town till night was well +advanced. By midnight Cassim's wife was still more alarmed, and wept +till morning, cursing her desire to pry into the affairs of her +brother and sister in law. In the early day she went again, in tears, +to Ali Baba. + +He did not wait for her to ask him to go and see what had happened to +Cassim, but set out at once for the forest with his three asses. +Finding some blood at the door of the cave, he took it for an ill +omen; but when he had spoken the words, and the door had opened, he +was struck with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's body. He +could not leave it there, and hastened within to find something to +wrap around it. Laying the body on one of his asses, he covered it +with wood. The other two asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering +them also with wood as before. Then bidding the door shut, he came +away, but stopped some time at the edge of the forest, that he might +not go into the town before night. When he reached home he left the +two asses, laden with gold, in his little yard for his wife to unload, +and led the other to his sister-in-law's house. + +Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a clever +slave, full of devices to conquer difficulties. When he came into the +court and unloaded the ass, he took Morgiana aside, and said to her,-- + +"You must observe a strict secrecy. Your master's body is contained in +these two panniers. We must bury him as if he had died a natural +death. Go now and tell your mistress. I leave the matter to your wit +and skillful devices." + +They placed the body in Cassim's house, and, charging Morgiana to act +well her part, Ali Baba returned home with his ass. + +Early the next morning, Morgiana went to a druggist, and asked for a +sort of lozenge used in the most dangerous illness. When he asked her +for whom she wanted it, she answered with a sigh, "My good master +Cassim. He can neither eat nor speak." In the evening she went to the +same druggist, and with tears in her eyes asked for an essence given +to sick persons for whose life there is little hope. "Alas!" said she, +"I am afraid even this will not save my good master." + +All that day Ali Baba and his wife were seen going sadly between their +house and Cassim's, and in the evening nobody was surprised to hear +the shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who told +everybody that her master was dead. + +The next morning at daybreak she went to an old cobbler, who was +always early at work, and, putting a piece of gold in his hand, +said,-- + +"Baba Mustapha, you must bring your sewing tackle and come with me; +but I must tell you, I shall blindfold you when we reach a certain +place." + +"Oh! oh!" replied he, "you would have me do something against my +conscience or my honor." + +"God forbid!" said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold in his +hand; "only come along with me, and fear nothing." + +Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, and at a certain place she bound his +eyes with a handkerchief, which she never unloosed till they had +entered the room of her master's house, where she had put the corpse +together. + +"Baba Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste, and sew the parts of +this body together, and when you have done, I will give you another +piece of gold." + +After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him again, +gave him the third piece of gold she had promised, and, charging him +with secrecy, took him back to the place where she had first bound his +eyes. Taking off the bandage, she watched him till he was out of +sight, lest he should return and dog her; then she went home. + +At Cassim's house she made all things ready for the funeral, which was +duly performed by the imaun and other ministers of the mosque. +Morgiana, as a slave of the dead man, walked in the procession, +weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife +stayed at home, uttering doleful cries with the women of the +neighborhood, who, according to custom, came to mourn with her. The +whole quarter was filled with sounds of sorrow. + +Thus the manner of Cassim's death was hushed up, and, besides his +widow, Ali Baba, and Morgiana, the slave, nobody in the city suspected +the cause of it. Three or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba +removed his few goods openly to his sister-in-law's house, in which he +was to live in the future; but the money he had taken from the robbers +was carried thither by night. As for Cassim's warehouse, Ali Baba put +it entirely under the charge of his eldest son. + + + III + +While all this was going on, the forty robbers again visited their +cave in the forest. Great was their surprise to find Cassim's body +taken away, with some of their bags of gold. + +"We are certainly found out," said the captain; "the body and the +money have been taken by some one else who knows our secret. For our +own lives' sake, we must try and find him. What say you, my lads?" + +The robbers all agreed that this must be done. + +"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most skillful, +must go to the town, disguised as a stranger, and try if he can hear +any talk of the man we killed, and find out where he lived. This +matter is so important that the man who undertakes it and fails should +suffer death. What say you?" + +One of the robbers, without waiting to know what the rest might think, +started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and think it an +honor to expose my life to serve the troop." + +This won great praise from the robber's comrades, and he disguised +himself at once so that nobody could take him for what he was. Just at +daybreak he entered the town, and walked up and down till he came by +chance to Baba Mustapha's stall, which was always open before any of +the shops. + +The old cobbler was just going to work when the robber bade him +good-morrow, and said,-- + +"Honest man, you begin to work very early; how can one of your age see +so well? Even if it were lighter, I question whether you could see to +stitch." + +"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am I have +excellent eyes. You will not doubt me when I tell you that I sewed the +body of a dead man together in a place where I had not so much light +as I have now." + +"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber amazed. + +"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha; "I see you want to know more, but +you shall not." + +The robber felt sure that he was on the right track. He put a piece of +gold into Baba Mustapha's hand, and said to him,-- + +"I do not want to learn your secret, though you could safely trust me +with it. The only thing I ask of you is to show me the house where you +stitched up the dead body." + +"I could not do that," replied Baba Mustapha, "if I would. I was taken +to a certain place, whence I was led blindfold to the house, and +afterwards brought back again in the same manner." + +"Well," replied the robber, "you may remember a little of the way that +you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at the same +place. We will walk together, and perhaps you may recall the way. Here +is another piece of gold for you." + +This was enough to bring Baba Mustapha to his feet. They soon reached +the place where Morgiana had bandaged his eyes, and here he was +blindfolded again. Baba Mustapha and the robber walked on till they +came to Cassim's house, where Ali Baba now lived. Here the old man +stopped, and when the thief pulled off the band, and found that his +guide could not tell him whose house it was, he let him go. But before +he started back for the forest himself, well pleased with what he had +learned, he marked the door with a piece of chalk which he had ready +in his hand. + +Soon after this Morgiana came out upon some errand, and when she +returned she saw the mark the robber had made, and stopped to look at +it. + +"What can this mean?" she said to herself. "Somebody intends my master +harm, and in any case it is best to guard against the worst." Then she +fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two or three doors on each side +in the same manner, saying nothing to her master or mistress. + +When the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and told of his good +fortune in meeting the one man that could have helped him, they were +all delighted. + +"Comrades," said the captain, "we have no time to lose. Let us set off +at once, well armed and disguised, enter the town by twos, and join at +the great square. Meanwhile our comrade who has brought us the good +news and I will go and find out the house, and decide what had best be +done." + +Two by two they entered the town. Last of all went the captain and the +spy. When they came to the first of the houses which Morgiana had +marked, the spy pointed it out. But the captain noticed that the next +door was chalked in the same manner, and asked his guide which house +it was, that or the first. The guide knew not what answer to make, and +was still more puzzled when he and the captain saw five or six houses +marked after this same fashion. He assured the captain, with an oath, +that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had chalked the +rest, nor could he say at which house the cobbler had stopped. + +There was nothing to do but to join the other robbers, and tell them +to go back to the cave. Here they were told why they had all returned, +and the guide was declared by all to be worthy of death. Indeed, he +condemned himself, owning that he ought to have been more careful, and +prepared to receive the stroke which was to cut off his head. + +The safety of the troop still demanded that the second comer to the +cave should be found, and another of the gang offered to try it, with +the same penalty if he should fail. Like the other robber, he found +out Baba Mustapha, and, through him, the house, which he marked, in a +place remote from sight, with red chalk. + +But nothing could escape Morgiana's eyes, and when she went out, not +long after, and saw the red chalk, she argued with herself as before, +and marked the other houses near by in the same place and manner. + +The robber, when he told his comrades what he had done, prided himself +on his carefulness, and the captain and all the troop thought they +must succeed this time. Again they entered the town by twos; but when +the robber and his captain came to the street, they found the same +trouble. The captain was enraged, and the robber as much confused as +the former guide had been. Thus the captain and his troop went back +again to the cave, and the robber who had failed willingly gave +himself up to death. + + + IV + +The captain could not afford to lose any more of his brave fellows, +and decided to take upon himself the task in which two had failed. +Like the others, he went to Baba Mustapha, and was shown the house. +Unlike them he put no mark on it, but studied it carefully and passed +it so often that he could not possibly mistake it. + +When he returned to the troop, who were waiting for him in the cave, +he said,-- + +"Now, comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain +of the house. As I returned I thought of a way to do our work, but if +any one thinks of a better, let him speak." + +He told them his plan, and, as they thought it good, he ordered them +to go into the villages about, and buy nineteen mules, with +thirty-eight large leather jars, one full of oil and the others empty. +Within two or three days they returned with the mules and the jars, +and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for the captain's +purpose, he caused them to be widened. Having put one of his men into +each jar, with the weapons which he thought fit, and having a seam +wide enough open for each man to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the +outside with oil from the full vessel. + +Thus prepared they set out for the town, the nineteen mules loaded +with the thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, with the +captain as their driver. When he reached Ali Baba's door, he found Ali +Baba sitting there taking a little fresh air after his supper. The +captain stopped his mules, and said,-- + +"I have brought some oil a great way to sell at to-morrow's market; +and it is now so late that I do not know where to lodge. Will you do +me the favor to let me pass the night with you?" + +Though Ali Baba had seen the captain in the forest, and had heard him +speak, he could not know him in the disguise of an oil merchant, and +bade him welcome. He opened his gates for the mules to go into the +yard, and ordered a slave to put them in a stable and feed them when +they were unloaded, and then called Morgiana to get a good supper for +his guest. After supper he charged her afresh to take good care of the +stranger, and said to her,-- + +"To-morrow morning I intend to go to the bath before day; take care to +have my bathing linen ready; give it to Abdalla" (which was his +slave's name), "and make me some good broth against my return." After +this he went to bed. + +In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, and +took off the lid of each jar, and told his people what they must do. +To each, in turn, he said,-- + +"As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber window where I lie, +do not fail to come out, and I will join you at once." + +Then he went into the house, and Morgiana showed him his chamber, +where he soon put out the light, and laid himself down in his clothes. + +To carry out Ali Baba's orders, Morgiana got his bathing linen ready, +and bade Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but soon the lamp +went out, and there was no more oil in the house, nor any candles. She +knew not what to do, till the slave reminded her of the oil jars in +the yard. She thanked him for the thought, took the oil pot, and went +out. When she came nigh the first jar, the robber within said softly, +"Is it time?" + +Of course she was surprised to find a man in the jar instead of the +oil, but she saw at once that she must keep silence, as Ali Baba, his +family, and she herself were in great danger. Therefore she answered, +without showing any fear, "Not yet, but presently." In this manner she +went to all the jars and gave the same answers, till she came to the +jar of oil. + +By this means Morgiana found that her master had admitted to his house +thirty-eight robbers, of whom the pretended oil merchant, their +captain, was one. She made what haste she could to fill her oil pot, +and returned to her kitchen, lighted her lamp, and taking a great +kettle went back to the oil jar and filled it. Then she set the kettle +on a large wood fire, and as soon as it boiled went and poured enough +into every jar to stifle and destroy the robber within. + +When this deed, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was done without +any noise, as she had planned, she returned to the kitchen with the +empty kettle, put out the lamp, and left just enough of the fire to +make the broth. Then she sat silent, resolving not to go to rest till +she had seen through the window that opened on the yard whatever might +happen there. + +It was not long before the captain of the robbers got up, and, seeing +that all was dark and quiet, gave the appointed signal by throwing +little stones, some of which hit the jars, as he doubted not by the +sound they gave. As there was no response, he threw stones a second +and a third time, and could not imagine why there was no answer to his +signal. + +Much alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and, going to the +first jar to ask the robber if he was ready, smelt the hot boiled oil, +which sent forth a steam out of the jar. From this he suspected that +his plot was found out, and, looking into the jars one by one, he +found that all his gang were dead. Enraged to despair, he forced the +lock of a door that led from the yard to the garden, and made his +escape. When Morgiana saw him go, she went to bed, well pleased that +she had saved her master and his family. + +Ali Baba rose before day, and went to the baths without knowing what +had happened in the night. When he returned he was very much surprised +to see the oil jars in the yard and the mules in the stable. + +"God preserve you and all your family," said Morgiana when she was +asked what it meant; "you will know better when you have seen what I +have to show you." + +So saying she led him to the first jar, and asked him to see if there +was any oil. When he saw a man instead, he started back in alarm. + +"Do not be afraid," said Morgiana; "he can do neither you nor anybody +else the least harm. He is dead. Now look into all the other jars." + +Ali Baba was more and more amazed as he went on, and saw all the dead +men and the sunken oil jar at the end. He stood looking from the jars +to Morgiana, till he found words to ask, "And what is become of the +merchant?" + +"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am." + +Then she led him into the house, and told of all that she had done, +from the first noticing of the chalkmark to the death of the robbers +and the flight of their captain. On hearing of these brave deeds from +Morgiana's own lips, Ali Baba said to her,-- + +"God, by your means, has delivered me from death. For the first token +of what I owe you, I give you your liberty from this moment till I can +fully reward you as I intend." + +Near the trees at the end of Ali Baba's long garden, he and Abdalla +dug a trench large enough to hold the bodies of the robbers. When they +were buried there, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as the mules +were of no use to him, he sent them at different times to be sold in +the market by his slave. + + + V + +The captain of the forty robbers had returned to his cave in the +forest, but found himself so lonely there that the place became +frightful to him. He resolved at the same time to avenge the fate of +his comrades and to bring about the death of Ali Baba. For this +purpose he returned to the town, disguised as a merchant of silks. By +degrees he brought from his cavern many sorts of fine stuffs, and to +dispose of these he took a warehouse that happened to be opposite +Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied since the death of his +uncle. + +He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and as a newcomer was very civil +to the merchants near him. Ali Baba's son was one of the first to +converse with him, and the new merchant was most friendly. Within two +or three days Ali Baba came to see his son, and the captain of the +robbers knew him at once, and soon learned from his son who he was. +From that time forth he was still more polite to Ali Baba's son, who +soon felt bound to repay the many kindnesses of his new friend. + +As his own house was small, he arranged with his father that on a +certain afternoon, when he and the merchant were passing by Ali Baba's +house they should stop, and he should ask them both to sup with him. +This plan was carried out, though at first the merchant, with whose +own plans it agreed perfectly, made as if to excuse himself. He even +gave it as a reason for not remaining that he could eat no salt in his +victuals. + +"If that is all," said Ali Baba, "it need not deprive me of the honor +of your company;" and he went to the kitchen and told Morgiana to put +no salt into anything she was cooking that evening. + +Thus Cogia Houssain was persuaded to stay, but to Morgiana it seemed +very strange that any one should refuse to eat salt. She wished to see +what manner of man it might be, and to this end, when she had finished +what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla carry up the +dishes. Looking at Cogia Houssain, she knew him at first sight, in +spite of his disguise, to be the captain of the robbers, and, scanning +him very closely, saw that he had a dagger under his garment. + +"I see now why this greatest enemy of my master would eat no salt with +him. He intends to kill him; but I will prevent him." + +While they were at supper Morgiana made up her mind to do one of the +boldest deeds ever conceived. She dressed herself like a dancer, +girded her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, from which hung a poniard, +and put a handsome mask on her face. Then, when the supper was ended, +she said to Abdalla,-- + +"Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son's +friend, as we sometimes do when he is alone." + +They presented themselves at the door with a low bow, and Morgiana was +bidden to enter and show Cogia Houssain how well she danced. This, he +knew, would interrupt him in carrying out his wicked purpose, but he +had to make the best of it, and to seem pleased with Morgiana's +dancing. She was indeed a good dancer, and on this occasion outdid +herself in graceful and surprising motions. At the last, she took the +tabor from Abdalla's hand, and held it out like those who dance for +money. + +Ali Baba put a piece of gold into it, and so did his son. When Cogia +Houssain saw that she was coming to him he pulled out his purse from +his bosom to make her a present; but while he was putting his hand +into it, Morgiana, with courage worthy of herself, plunged the poniard +into his heart. + +"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to ruin me +and my family?" + +"It was to preserve, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana. Then she +showed the dagger in Cogia Houssain's garment, and said, "Look well at +him, and you will see that he is both the pretended oil merchant and +the captain of the band of forty robbers. As soon as you told me that +he would eat no salt with you, I suspected who it was, and when I saw +him I knew." + +Ali Baba embraced her, and said, "Morgiana, I gave you your liberty +before, and promised you more in time; now I would make you my +daughter-in-law. Consider," he said, turning to his son, "that by +marrying Morgiana, you marry the preserver of my family and yours." + +The son was all the more ready to carry out his father's wishes, +because they were the same as his own, and within a few days he and +Morgiana were married, but before this, the captain of the robbers was +buried with his comrades, and so secretly was it done, that their +bones were not found till many years had passed, when no one had any +concern in making this strange story known. + +For a whole year Ali Baba did not visit the robbers' cave. At the end +of that time, as nobody had tried to disturb him, he made another +journey to the forest, and, standing before the entrance to the cave, +said, "Open, Sesame." The door opened at once, and from the appearance +of everything within the cavern, he judged that nobody had been there +since the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time +forth, he took as much of the treasure as his needs demanded. Some +years later he carried his son to the cave, and taught him the secret, +which he handed down in his family, who used their good fortune +wisely, and lived in great honor and splendor. + + + + + THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + + +In the reign of the same Caliph, Haroun Al-Raschid, of whom we have +already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter called Hindbad. One +day, when the weather was very hot, he was employed to carry a heavy +burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much fatigued, he +took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion. + +He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the air was +completely filled with the pleasant scent of wood of aloes and +rose-water, wafted from the house. Besides, he heard from within a +concert of sweet music, mixed with the notes of nightingales and other +birds. There was also the smell of several sorts of savory dishes, and +Hindbad was sure there must be a great feast within. He knew not to +whom the mansion belonged, and asked one of the servants standing by +the gate in rich apparel. + +"How," replied the servant, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that +this is the house of Sindbad the Sailor, the famous voyager who has +sailed around the world?" + +The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be +heard,-- + +"Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference between +Sindbad and me! Every day I suffer fatigue and distress, and can +scarce get coarse barley bread for myself and my family, whilst happy +Sindbad freely spends vast riches, and leads a life of unbroken +pleasure. What has he done to obtain from thee a lot so agreeable? And +what have I done to deserve one so wretched?" + +While the porter was speaking thus, a servant came out of the house, +and, taking him by the arm, made him enter, for Sindbad, his master, +wanted to speak to him. He was led into a great hall, where many +people sat round a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At +the upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white +beard, and behind him stood a number of officers and servants, all +ready to attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad was +much abashed, and saluted the company trembling. But Sindbad seated +him at his right hand and served him himself with excellent wine. + +Now Sindbad had heard the porter's complaint through the window, and +this it was that led him to send for Hindbad. When the feast was over, +Sindbad addressed him, asking his name and employment, and said, "I +wish to hear from your own mouth what you said just now in the +street." + +Hindbad hung his head in shame, and answered,-- + +"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor, and, for the +rash words I uttered, I beg your pardon." + +"Do not think me so unjust," said Sindbad, "as to resent them. But I +must set you right about myself. You think, no doubt, that I gained +without labor or trouble the ease I now enjoy. Do not mistake; before +attaining this estate I suffered for several years more trouble of +body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, +turning to the whole company, "what I have endured would cure the +greatest miser of his love of riches; and with your leave I will +relate to you the dangers I have met." + + + THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +My father was a rich merchant of good fame. He left me a large estate, +which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly saw my error, especially +in misspending my time, which is of all things the most valuable. I +remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I had often heard +from my father, "A good name is better than precious ointment;" and +again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." I resolved to walk in my +father's ways, and embarked with some merchants on board a ship we had +fitted out together. + +We steered our course towards the Indies. At first I was troubled with +seasickness, but speedily regained my health. In our voyage we touched +at several islands, where we sold or exchanged our goods. One day, +whilst under sail, we were becalmed near a small island rising but +little above the level of the water and resembling a green meadow. The +captain permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this +number I was one. But whilst we were eating and drinking, and resting +from the fatigue of the sea, the island of a sudden trembled and shook +us terribly. + +The trembling of the island was soon noticed on board the ship, and we +were called to reëmbark quickly, or we should all be lost; for what we +took to be an island proved to be the back of a sea monster. The +nimblest got into the sloop; others betook themselves to swimming; as +for me, I was still upon the island when it sank into the sea, and I +had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood that we brought from +the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the captain, having taken the +others on board, resolved to make the most of the favoring gale that +had just risen, and sailed away. + +Thus was I left to the mercy of the waves for the rest of the day and +the night that followed. By this time I found my strength gone, and +was despairing of my life, when happily a wave threw me against an +island. The bank was high and rugged, but some roots of trees helped +me to get up. When the sun arose, I was very feeble, but managed to +find some herbs that were fit to eat, and a spring of good water. Thus +refreshed, I advanced farther into the island, and reached a fine +plain, where I saw some horses feeding. As I went towards them, I +heard the voice of a man who appeared and asked me who I was. When I +had told him my adventure, he led me by the hand into a cave, where +there were several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was +to see them. + +I partook of some food which they gave me, and then learned that they +were grooms belonging to the sovereign of the island, where they +brought the king's horses every year for pasturage. They were to +return home on the morrow, and had I been one day later I must have +perished, because the inhabited part of the island was far off, and I +could never have reached it without a guide. + +The next morning they took me to the capital of the island, and +presented me to the sovereign. When at his request I told him of my +misfortune, he was much concerned, and gave orders that I should want +for nothing; and his commands were carefully fulfilled. + +As a merchant I met with many men of my own profession, and sought +news from Bagdad, and the opportunity to return; for the capital of +the island has a fine harbor, where ships arrive daily from many +quarters of the world. I took delight also in hearing the talk of +learned Indians, and withal paid my court to the sovereign, and met +with the governors and petty kings that were subject to him, telling +and learning much. + +There belongs to this king an island named Cassel, where the mariners +said that every night the noise of drums might be heard. This +wonderful place I visited, and on the way thither saw fishes of one +hundred and two hundred cubits in length, that occasion more fear than +hurt; for they are so timid that they will fly upon the rattling of +two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fishes, about a cubit in +length, that had heads like owls. + +One day, as I was at the port after this visit, the ship arrived in +which I had embarked at Bussorah. I knew the captain at once, and went +and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and those bales +marked with his name are mine." + +"Heavens!" he exclaimed, "whom can we trust in these times? I saw +Sindbad perish with my own eyes, and now you tell this tale to possess +yourself of what does not belong to you." + +But at length he was persuaded that I was no cheat, for there came +people from his ship who knew me, and expressed much joy at seeing me +alive. "Heaven be praised," said he at last, "for your happy escape! +There are your goods; take and do with them as you please." What was +of greatest worth in them I presented to the sovereign, who was much +pleased to hear of my good fortune, and gave me in return a gift of +still greater value. Then I took leave of him, and went aboard the +same ship after I had exchanged my goods for products of that country. +I carried with me wood of aloes, sandals, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, +pepper, and ginger. We passed by several islands, and at last arrived +at Bussorah, whence I came to this city with great wealth. + +Here Sindbad stopped, and gave Hindbad a purse of money, bidding him +return the next day, and hear the story of the next voyage. This was +repeated each day, till all the voyages were described. + + + THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After my first voyage, I meant to spend the rest of my days at Bagdad, +but I soon grew weary of an idle life, and put to sea a second time, +with merchants of known honesty. We embarked on board a good ship, and +after committing ourselves to God set sail. We traded from island to +island with great profit. One day we landed on an island where we +could see neither man nor animal. There were many fruits and flowers, +and whilst some were gathering them, I took my wine and food, and sat +down near a stream betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. +I made a good meal, and afterwards fell asleep. I cannot tell how long +I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone. + +In this sad plight, I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in +agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground, +where I lay some time in despair. Why was I not content with the +produce of my first voyage, which would have kept me in comfort all my +life? But it was too late to repent. At last I resigned myself to the +will of God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed to the top of a lofty +tree, where I could look about on all sides for signs of hope. Towards +the sea there was nothing but sky and water. Looking over the land, I +saw something white, and, coming down, took some of the food I had +left, and went towards it, not knowing at the great distance what it +was. + +As I drew near, I thought it to be a white dome of enormous size; and +when I touched it I found it to be very smooth. There was no opening +on any side, and there was no climbing to the top over the smooth +surface. It was at least fifty paces round. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +amazed at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it was +caused by a bird of monstrous size that came flying towards me. I +remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a marvelous bird +called the roc, and felt sure that the great dome by which I stood +must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted and sat over the egg. As +I saw her coming, I crept close to the egg, so that I had before me +one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. +I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that the roc +next morning would carry me with her out of this desert island. After +having passed the night in this condition, the bird flew away as soon +as it was daylight, and carried me so high that I could not see the +earth. Then she descended with so much speed that I lost my senses. +But when I found myself on the ground, I quickly untied the knot, and +had scarcely done so when the roc, having taken up a serpent of +monstrous length in her bill, flew away. + +The spot where I was left was surrounded on all sides by mountains, +that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep that I could not +possibly get out of the valley. It seemed to me that the place was no +better than the desert island from which the roc had brought me. + +As I walked through the valley, I found it strewed with diamonds of a +surprising bigness. But the pleasure of looking at them was soon +destroyed by another sight, which filled me with terror, namely, a +great number of serpents, so monstrous that the least of them could +swallow an elephant. In the daytime they hid in their dens from their +enemy, the roc, and came out only in the night. + +I spent the day in walking about in the valley. When night came I went +into a cave where I thought I might rest in safety. I closed the low +and narrow entrance with a great stone, to preserve me from the +serpents, but did not shut out all the light. Soon the serpents began +hissing around me and put me in such extreme fear that I could not +sleep. When day appeared the serpents retired, and I came out of the +cave trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without +feeling any desire to touch them. At last I sat down, and ate some of +my food, and, in spite of my fears, fell asleep, for I had not closed +my eyes during the night. Scarcely were they shut when something that +fell by me with a great noise awoke me. This was a large piece of raw +meat; and at the same time, I saw several others fall down from the +rocks in different places. + +I had never believed what I had heard sailors and others tell of the +valley of diamonds, and of the means employed by merchants to obtain +jewels from it. But now I found that I had heard the truth. For the +fact is, that merchants come to this valley when the eagles have young +ones, and throw great joints of meat into it; the diamonds, upon whose +points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are stronger in +this country than anywhere else, pounce with great force upon these +pieces of meat, and carry them to their nests on the edge of the rocks +to feed their young; then the merchants run to their nests, drive off +the eagles by their shouts, and take away the diamonds that stick to +the meat. + +In this device I saw the means of my escape. + +I gathered the largest diamonds I could find, and put them into a +leather bag fastened at my waist. Then I took the largest of the +pieces of meat, tied it close around me with the cloth of my turban, +and laid myself upon the ground, with my face downwards. I had +scarcely placed myself thus when one of the eagles bore me, with the +piece of meat to which I was fastened, to his nest on the top of the +mountain. The merchants at once began their shouting to frighten the +eagles, and when they had driven the birds away, one of them came to +the nest where I was. He was much alarmed when he first saw me, but +soon began to quarrel, and asked me why I stole his goods. + +"Do not be uneasy," said I; "here are diamonds enough for you and me, +more than all the others have together. They have to take what chance +brings them, but I chose for myself, in the valley, those which you +see in this bag." + +The other merchants now crowded around in amazement, and led me to +their camp. When I showed them the diamonds in my bag, they confessed +that they had never seen any of such size and beauty. I prayed the +merchant who owned the nest to which I was carried (for every merchant +had his own) to take for his share as many as he pleased. He contented +himself with one, and that the least of them, and, when I urged him to +take more, said,-- + +"No, this will save me the trouble of making any more voyages, and +will raise as great a fortune as I desire." + +When each of the merchants was satisfied with the diamonds which the +eagles brought them, we left the place, and traveled near high +mountains, where there were serpents of prodigious length, and from +these we had the good fortune to escape. We took ship at the first +port we reached, and touched at the Isle of Roha, where the trees grow +that yield camphor. Here also is found the rhinoceros. This animal +fights with the elephant, runs his horn into his belly, and carries +him off upon his head; but when the blood and fat of the elephant run +into his eyes and make him blind, he falls to the ground; then, +strange to relate, the roc comes and carries them both away in her +claws, for food for her young ones. + +In this island I exchanged my diamonds for merchandise. After trading +at various towns, we landed at Bussorah, whence I proceeded to Bagdad. +There I gave large presents to the poor, and lived in honor upon the +vast riches I had gained with so much fatigue. + + + THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I grew weary soon again of living an idle life, and, hardening myself +against the thought of any danger, embarked with some merchants on +another long voyage. After trading at several ports, we were overtaken +one day by a dreadful tempest, which drove us from our course. Before +it ceased we were brought to the port of an island, which the captain +was very unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. The +captain then told us that in this and some islands near it dwelt hairy +savages who would soon attack us; and, though they were but dwarfs, we +must not resist them, for they were more in number than the locusts, +and, if we happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and +destroy us. + +We soon found the captain's words but too true. A great multitude of +frightful savages, about two feet high, covered all over with red +hair, came swimming towards us, and surrounded the ship. They +chattered as they came near, but we understood not their language. +They climbed up the sides of the ship with surprising quickness. They +took down our sails, cut the cable, and, hauling the vessel to the +shore, made us all get out, and then carried the ship into another +island, from which they had come. We saw at a distance a vast pile of +building, and made towards it. We found it to be a palace, elegantly +built, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we +opened. Before us was a large room, with a porch, having on one side a +heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. +We trembled at this sight, and were seized with deadly fear, when +suddenly the gate of the room opened with a loud crash, and there came +out the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a lofty palm-tree. +He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead, where it +blazed bright as a burning coal. His fore-teeth were very long and +sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as that of a +horse. His upper lip hung down upon his breast. His ears were like an +elephant's, and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long and +crooked as the talons of the greatest birds. At the sight of so +frightful a genie, we lost our senses, and lay like dead men. + +At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch, +looking closely at us. Then he advanced, and, laying his hand upon me, +took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned me round, as a butcher +would turn a sheep's head. When he saw that I had nothing but skin and +bone, he let me go. He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed +them in the same manner. As the captain was the fattest, he held him +with one hand, as I would a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he +then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him for his supper. Then +he fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till +morning. As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any +rest, and we passed the night in the most painful fear. When day +appeared the giant awoke, went out, and left us in the palace. + +The next night we revenged ourselves on the brutish giant in the +following manner. After he had finished his inhuman supper on another +of our seamen, he lay down on his back and fell asleep. As soon as we +heard him snore, nine of the boldest among us, and I, took each of us +a spit, and, putting the points of them into the fire till they were +burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and blinded him. +The pain made him break out in a frightful yell; he started up, and +stretched out his hand to seize and kill us; but we ran to such places +as he could not reach. After having sought for us in vain, he groped +for the gate, and went out, howling in agony. + +We left the palace at once, and came to the shore, where we made some +rafts, each large enough to carry three men. We waited till day before +getting on them, for we hoped that by morning the howling, which we +still heard, would cease, and that the giant would be dead; and if +that happened we meant to stay in the island, and not to risk our +lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared when we saw our +cruel enemy, with two giants, almost of the same size, leading him; +and a great number were coming before him at a quick pace. + +We waited no longer to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all the +speed we could. The giants, seeing this, took up great stones, and, +running to the shore, entered the water up to the middle, and threw so +exactly that they sank all the rafts but that I was upon; and all my +comrades, except the two with me, were drowned. We rowed with all our +might, and got out of the reach of the giants. The next morning, after +a night of fear, we were thrown upon an island, where we landed with +much joy, and found good fruit, which refreshed us greatly. + +At night we went to sleep on the seashore, but were awakened by the +noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales +made a rustling noise as it moved itself along. It swallowed up one of +my comrades, in spite of his loud cries and his efforts to save +himself. Dashing him several times against the ground, it crushed him, +and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor fellow's bones, though we +had fled far off. The next day, to our great terror, we saw the +serpent again. "O Heaven, to what dangers are we exposed!" I cried. +"We escape from a giant and the waves, only to meet with this!" + +The next night, having satisfied our hunger with fruit, we mounted a +tall tree, hoping to pass the night in safety. But soon the serpent +came hissing to its foot, raised itself up against the trunk, and, +reaching my comrade, who sat lower than I, swallowed him at once and +went off. + +In the morning when I came down, I was ready to throw myself into the +sea in my despair. But I resisted this impulse, and collected a great +quantity of small wood, brambles, and dry thorns, and, making them up +into fagots, made a wide circle with them round the tree, and also +tied some of them to the branches over my head. Within this circle I +shut myself up when night came, with such satisfaction as I could get +from having neglected nothing that could save me. The serpent failed +not to come at the usual hour, but was prevented from reaching me by +the rampart I had made. He lay below me till day, like a cat watching +in vain for a mouse that has reached a place of safety. When day +appeared he retired, but I dared not to leave my fort until the sun +arose. + +God took pity on my hopeless state, for, just as I was about to cast +myself into the sea, I saw a ship in the distance. I cried aloud and +waved the linen of my turban. Then I was seen, and the captain sent +his boat for me. When I came on board, the merchants and seamen +flocked about me to hear how I came into that deserted island, in a +region where cannibal giants and serpents were known by the oldest +sailors to abound. When I stood before the captain in rags, he gave me +one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I knew him to be +the person who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I +fell asleep, and sailed without me or sending to seek for me. + +"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, +whom you left in that desert island." + +"God be praised!" he cried, after he had scanned me closely. "I +rejoice that fortune has set right my fault. There are your goods, +which I always took care to preserve." I took them from him, and +thanked him for his care of them. + +We remained at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and +landed at last at the island of Salabat, where sandalwood is obtained. +In another island I furnished myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other +spices. After a long voyage, in the course of which I saw such strange +creatures as a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth, I arrived +at Bussorah, and thence returned to Bagdad, with so much wealth that I +knew not its extent. I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought +another large estate besides what I had already. + + + THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage my passion for +trade and novelty soon drove me from home again. When I had settled my +affairs and taken a stock of goods for traffic, I took the route of +Persia, traveled over several provinces, and arrived at a port where I +embarked. It was not long before our ship was wrecked. Several of the +merchants and seamen were drowned, and the cargo was lost. + +I had the good fortune, with a few others, to get upon some planks, +and we were carried by the current to an island which lay before us. +There we found fruit and spring water, which saved our lives. Early +the next morning, we explored the island, and saw some houses, which +we approached. As soon as we drew near, we were surrounded by a great +number of negroes, who seized us, shared us among them, and carried us +to their respective abodes. + +I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here they made us +sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to +eat. My comrades did not notice that the blacks took none of it +themselves, and ate greedily. But I, suspecting some trick, would not +so much as taste it, which happened well for me, for in a little time +I saw that my comrades had lost their senses, and that when they spoke +to me they knew not what they said. + +The negroes fed us afterwards with rice to make us fat, for they were +cannibals and meant to eat us. My comrades, who had lost their senses, +ate heartily of it, but I very sparingly. They were devoured one by +one, and I, with my senses entire, as you may readily guess, grew +leaner every day. The fear of death turned all my food into poison. I +fell into a sickness which proved my safety, for the negroes, having +killed and eaten my comrades, and seeing me to be withered, lean, and +sick, put off my death. + +Meanwhile I had much liberty, and scarcely any notice was taken of +what I did. Therefore one day, when no one but an old man was left +about the houses, I made my escape. For seven days I traveled, +avoiding places which seemed to be inhabited, and living on cocoanuts, +which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day, I came +near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering +pepper, of which there was a great plenty in that place. To them I +went without fear. + +They came to meet me when they saw me, and asked me, in Arabic, who I +was and whence I came. I was overjoyed to hear them speak in my own +language, and told them of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the hands +of the negroes. + +"Those negroes," replied they, "eat men. By what miracle did you +escape?" + +Then I told them what I have just told you, and they were greatly +surprised. When they had finished gathering pepper, they took me with +them to the island whence they had come, and presented me to their +king, who was a good prince. He listened with surprise to the story of +my adventures, and gave me clothes, and commanded that care be taken +of me. + +The island was well peopled, and the capital a place of great trade. +The prince treated me with much kindness, and I, delighted with such a +retreat after my misfortunes, was soon looked upon rather as a native +than as a stranger. I observed one thing which seemed to me very +strange. All the people, even the king, rode horses without bridle or +stirrups. One day I found workmen who made, under my directions, a +saddle with stirrups and a bit. These I presented to the king, who was +so pleased with them that he made me large presents. I made several +others for the ministers and chief officers of his household, which +gained me great repute and regard. + +One day the king, to whom I constantly paid court, said,-- + +"Sindbad, I love thee; I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou +must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay +with us, and think no more of thy own country." + +I durst not resist the prince's will, and soon I was married to one of +the ladies of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. We lived together +in perfect harmony, but I could not forget Bagdad, and planned to make +my escape as soon as might be. + +At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had made a +very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went to comfort him in +his sorrow, and said as soon as I saw him, "God preserve you and grant +you a long life." + +"Alas!" replied he, "how may that be? I have not above an hour to +live, for I must be buried this day with my wife. That is a law in +this island. The living husband is buried with the dead wife, and the +living wife with the dead husband." + +While he was telling me of this barbarous custom, the very account of +which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and neighbors came to +assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of the woman in her +richest robes and all her jewels, as if it had been her wedding-day; +then they placed her on an open bier, and began their march to the +place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the dead body. When +they reached a high mountain, they took up a large stone, which formed +the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all its apparel +and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and friends, let +himself be placed on another bier, with a pot of water, and seven +small loaves, and was led down in the same manner. The mouth of the +pit was again covered with the stone, and the company returned. + +I describe all this the more carefully, because I in a few weeks' time +was to be the chief actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my own wife +fell sick and died. I made every plea I could to the king not to +expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in vain. The +king and all his court, with the chief persons of the city, sought to +soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral with their presence; and when +the ceremony was finished I was lowered into the pit with a vessel +full of water and seven loaves. As I neared the bottom, I saw, by the +aid of a little light that came from above, what sort of place it was. +It seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms deep. + +I lived for some time upon my bread and water, when one day, just as I +was nearly exhausted, I heard something tread, and breathing or +panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal seemed to stop +sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I approached. I +pursued it till at last I saw a light, like a star. I went on, +sometimes lost sight of it, but always found it again, and at last +discovered that it came through a hole in the rock, which I got +through, and found myself, to my great joy, upon the seashore. I fell +upon the shore to thank God for his mercy, and shortly afterwards saw +a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with the linen +of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could. They heard +me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. It was fortunate for me that +they did not inspect the place where they found me, but bore me away +at once. + +We passed by several islands,--the Isle of Bells, Serendib, and Kela, +where lead mines are found, also Indian canes and excellent camphor. +The people of these places are so barbarous that they still eat human +flesh. We touched at several other ports, and finished our traffic, +and at last I arrived happily at Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for +his mercies, I gave large sums towards the support of several mosques +and to the poor, and enjoyed myself with my friends. + + + THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +All that I had undergone could not cure me of my desire to make new +voyages. Therefore I bought goods, departed with them for the best +seaport, and, that I might have a ship at my own command, waited till +one was built for me. As I had not goods enough of my own to load her, +I took with me several merchants, of different nations, with their +wares. + +We sailed with the first fair wind, and the first place we touched at, +after some time, was a desert island, where we found an egg of a roc, +equal in size to the one I have mentioned already. There was a young +roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to break +the egg. + +The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, and made +a hole in it, pulled out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted it. I +had begged them in vain not to meddle with the egg. + +Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the +air far off two great clouds. The captain of my ship, knowing by +experience what they meant, said they were the male and female parents +of the roc, and urged us to reëmbark with all speed. + +The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled +when they saw the egg broken and their young one gone. They flew back +in the direction they had come, and were gone for some time, while we +made all the sail we could, to try to prevent that which unhappily +befell us. + +They soon returned, and we saw that each of them carried in its talons +a huge rock. When they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and +one of them let go his rock; but by the quickness of the steersman it +missed us, and fell into the sea. The other so exactly hit the middle +of the ship as to split it into pieces. The seamen and merchants were +all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I myself was of the number +of the latter; but, as I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a +piece of the wreck, and swimming, sometimes with one hand and +sometimes with the other, but always holding fast to the plank, the +wind and the tide favoring me, I came to an island, and got safely +ashore. + +[Illustration: THE TWO ROCS APPROACHED WITH A FRIGHTFUL NOISE, WHICH +THEY REDOUBLED WHEN THEY SAW THE EGG BROKEN. WE SAW THAT EACH OF THEM +CARRIED IN ITS TALONS A HUGE ROCK. WHEN THEY CAME DIRECTLY OVER MY +SHIP, THEY HOVERED, AND ONE OF THEM LET GO HIS ROCK; BUT BY THE +QUICKNESS OF THE STEERSMAN IT MISSED US, AND FELL INTO THE SEA. THE +OTHER SO EXACTLY HIT THE MIDDLE OF THE SHIP] + +I sat down upon the grass to rest, and then went into the island to +explore it. It seemed to be a delicious garden. Everywhere I found +fruit and streams of fresh, pure water. Of these I ate and drank. + +When I had gone a little way into the island, I saw an old man who +appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream, +and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like +myself. I went towards him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed +his head. I asked him why he sat so still, but, instead of answering +me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over +the brook. + +I believed him really to stand in need of my help, took him upon my +back, and, having carried him over, bade him get down. To that end, I +stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so--and +I laugh every time I think of it--the old man, who to me appeared +quite feeble, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat astride upon +my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought he would have +strangled me, and I fainted away. + +In spite of my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his +seat upon my neck. When I got my breath again, he thrust one of his +feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other, that he +forced me to rise up against my will. Then he made me carry him under +the trees, and obliged me now and then to stop, that he might gather +and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I lay down to +rest at night, he laid himself down with me, holding still fast about +my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and afterwards +forced me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. + +One day I found several dry gourds that had fallen from a tree. I took +a large one, and, after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of +grapes, which abounded in the island. Having filled the gourd, I put +it by, and, going for it some days after, tasted and found the wine so +good that it gave me new vigor, and so raised my spirits that I began +to sing and dance as I carried my burden. + +The old man, noticing the effect of the wine upon me, made me a sign +to give him some of it. I handed him the gourd, and, the liquor +pleasing his palate, he drank it off. As there was some quantity of +it, he soon began to sing, and to move from side to side in his seat +upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. +Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the +ground, where he lay without motion; then I took up a great stone and +slew him. + +I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome +fellow. I now walked towards the beach, where I met the crew of a ship +that had cast anchor, to take in water. When I told them of my +adventure, they said, "You fell into the hands of the Old Man of the +Sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling. He never quitted +those he had once embraced till he had destroyed them, and many are +the men he has slain." + +Their captain received me with great kindness, and after some days' +sail we arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which +overhung the sea. + +With some of the people of this town I went to gather cocoanuts after +their own method. When we reached a thick forest of cocoanut trees, we +saw a great number of apes of several sizes, which fled as soon as +they saw us, and climbed to the tops of the trees with amazing +swiftness. + +The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the +apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw +cocoanuts at us so fast and with such gestures as to show their anger +clearly. We gathered up the cocoanuts, and from time to time threw +stones to provoke the apes. In this way we filled our bags with +cocoanuts, and by degrees I got enough to produce me no small sum of +money. + +We set sail, and traded in various islands, at one of which I hired +divers and with other merchants went a-pearl-fishing. Some of the +pearls they brought me up were very large and pure. Then I returned to +Bagdad, and gave a tenth of my gains in alms, and rested from my +fatigues. + + + THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been +shipwrecked and having escaped so many dangers, I could resolve again +to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. When I reflect +upon it now it seems that I must have been led by destiny, from which +none can escape. Be this as it may, after a year's rest, I prepared +for a sixth voyage, though my kindred and friends did all in their +power to dissuade me. + +Once more I traveled through several provinces of Persia and the +Indies, and arrived at a seaport, where I embarked on a ship bound on +a long voyage, in which the captain and the pilot lost their course. +Suddenly we saw the captain quit his rudder, lamenting loudly, pulling +his beard and beating his head like a madman. In reply to our +questions, he answered,-- + +"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all +perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray God to deliver us from +this peril. We cannot escape, if He does not take pity on us." + +At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered, but all the ropes +broke, and the current carried the ship to the foot of a mountain, +where she struck and went to pieces, but in such a way that we saved +our lives, our provisions, and the best of our goods. + +The foot of the mountain was covered with wrecks, with a vast number +of human bones, and goods and riches of all kinds beyond belief. In +all other places it is usual for rivers to run into the sea; but here +a river of fresh water runs from the sea into a dark cavern, with a +very high and spacious entrance. What is most strange in this place is +that the stones of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, and other +precious stones. Here also are ambergris and wood of aloes. + +It is not possible for ships to get off from this place when once they +approach within a certain distance. If the wind is from the sea, this +and the current drive them on. If it is a land wind, it is stopped by +the height of the mountain, which causes a calm, so that the force of +the current carries them ashore. What is worse, it is no more possible +to ascend the mountain than to escape by sea. Here we remained in a +state of despair, expecting death every day. + +When we landed, we divided the food equally, and thus each one lived a +longer or shorter time, according to the use he made of his share. I +outlived my comrades, and, when I buried the last of them, had so +little food left that I dug a grave for myself. But God once more took +pity on me, and put it in my mind to go to the bank of the river which +ran into the cavern. I said to myself,-- + +"This underground river must somewhere have an outlet. If I make a +raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some +inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I only change +one kind of death for another." + +Out of pieces of timber and cables from the wrecks, I soon made myself +a solid raft. Then I loaded it carefully with some chests of rubies, +emeralds, ambergris, rock crystal, and bales of rich stuffs, and went +on board with two oars that I had made, leaving the raft to the course +of the river, and resigning myself to the will of God. + +As soon as I entered the cavern, I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on, eating only enough +to keep myself alive. But the food was soon spent, and I lost my +senses. When I revived, I found myself on the brink of a river, where +my raft was tied, amidst a great number of negroes. When I saluted +them, they spoke to me, but I did not understand their tongue. In my +joy I recited aloud the following words in Arabic,-- + +"Call upon the Almighty. He will help thee; shut thine eyes, and while +thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into good." + +One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, came forward and told me +that they had seen my raft, and fastened it until I should awake. +Through him I told the others, at their request, of all that had +befallen me. The story was so strange that they said I must tell it to +their king myself. Then they mounted me on a horse, and some led the +way, and some followed with my raft and cargo. + +The king received me kindly, and bade me sit by his side while I told +him what I have told you. When my bales were opened in his presence, +he marveled at what they contained, above all at the rubies and +emeralds, which surpassed any in his treasury. + +When I saw with what pleasure he viewed them, I fell at his feet and +said,-- + +"Sire, not only is my person at your majesty's service, but the cargo +of the raft, and I beg of you to dispose of it as your own." + +But he would take none of my goods, and promised that I should leave +his realm richer than I came. His officers were charged to serve me at +his expense, and every day I paid the king my court, and saw what was +most worthy of notice in the city. By way of devotion I made a +pilgrimage to the place where Adam was confined after his banishment +from Paradise. + +Then I prayed the king to allow me to return to my own country, and +his permission was most kindly given. He would force a rich present +upon me; and at the same time charged me with a letter for the +Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you +give this present for me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun +Al-Raschid, and assure him of my friendship." + +The letter from the king of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color. +The characters of the letter were of azure, and the contents as +follows:-- + +"The king of the Indies, before whom march one hundred elephants, who +lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand rubies, and +who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, +to Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid. + +"Though the present we send you be slight, receive it as a brother and +friend, in token of the hearty friendship we bear for you, and of +which we are willing to give you proof. We desire the same part in +your friendship, since we believe it to be our merit, for we are both +kings. We send you this letter as from one brother to another. +Farewell." + +The present consisted of one ruby made into a cup, about half a foot +high, an inch thick, and filled with round pearls of half a drachm +each; and the skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as a +piece of gold, and preserved from sickness those who lay upon it; +besides a vast quantity of the best quality of wood of aloes and +camphor, and a female slave of great beauty, whose robe was covered +over with jewels. + +As soon as I reached Bagdad I presented myself before the Caliph with +the letter and gift. When he had read the letter he asked if the king +of Serendib were indeed so rich and potent, and, bowing to his feet, I +assured him that it was all true, and told him in what state the +prince appeared in public, with a throne on the back of an elephant, +surrounded by officers and a guard of a thousand men. + +"The officer who is before on his elephant," I said, "cries from time +to time with a loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the mighty +Sultan of the Indies, greater than Solomon.' Then the officer behind +the throne cries in his turn, 'This monarch, so great and powerful, +must die, must die, must die.' And the officer before him replies, +'Praise alone be to Him who liveth for ever and ever.'" + +The Caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a +rich present. + + + THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After my sixth voyage I had given up all thoughts of going to sea +again, for my age required rest, and I wished to expose myself to no +more risks, but to pass the rest of my days in peace. One day, +however, an officer from the palace came and said the Caliph must +speak to me. + +"Sindbad," said he, when I had bowed to the floor before the throne, +"I stand in need of your service; you must carry my answer and present +to the king of Serendib." + +This command was to me like a clap of thunder. Though I had made a vow +never to leave Bagdad, I saw that I must obey. The Caliph was well +pleased, and ordered me a sum of money ample for my needs. + +In a few days I departed with the letter and present, and, after a +safe voyage, reached the isle of Serendib. + +"Sindbad," said the king, when I was brought before him with great +pomp, and had bowed to the earth, "you are welcome; I have many times +thought of you. I bless the day on which I see you once more." + +I thanked him for his kindness, and delivered the gifts from my august +master. The Caliph's letter was as follows:-- + +"Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right Way, from +the Servant of God, Haroun Al-Raschid, whom God hath set in the place +of viceregent to his Prophet, after his ancestors of happy memory, to +the potent and esteemed king of Serendib. + +"We received your letter with joy, and send you this from our imperial +residence, the garden of superior wits. We hope when you look upon it +you will perceive our good will, and be pleased with it. Farewell." + +The Caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, fifty robes +of rich stuff, a hundred of white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, +and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, half a foot wide, on the bottom of +which was carved a man with one knee on the ground, who held a bow and +an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent also a rich tablet, +which, according to tradition, belonged to the great Solomon. + +The king of Serendib was highly pleased. Soon I obtained leave to +depart, though not easily. Dismissed with a large present, I sailed at +once for Bagdad, but had not the good fortune to arrive there so soon +as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise. + +Three or four days after sailing, we were attacked by pirates. Some of +the crew were killed, and I, with others who did not resist, was taken +to a remote island and sold. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who treated me well, and +dressed me handsomely as a slave. In a few days he asked me if I knew +any trade. I told him I was a merchant, robbed of all I possessed. +"Tell me," said he, "can you shoot with a bow?" I said it had been one +of the exercises of my youth. Then he gave me a bow and arrow, took me +behind him on an elephant, and carried me to a thick forest. Stopping +before a great tree, he said, "Climb up that, and shoot at the +elephants, of which there are many in this forest, as you see them +pass by, and if any of them fall, come and give me notice." Then he +left me, and returned to the town, and I remained upon the tree all +night. + +In the morning I shot one of the many elephants that passed under the +tree, and when the others had left it dead, I went into the town and +told my patron of my success, which pleased him greatly. Then we +returned, and dug a hole for the elephant, in which my patron meant to +leave it until it was rotten, when he would take its teeth and trade +with them. + +For two months I did this service. One morning I was amazed to see +that the elephants, instead of passing by, stopped and came towards my +tree with a horrible noise, in such numbers that the plain was +covered, and shook under them. They surrounded the tree, with their +trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon me. This frightened me +so that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand. + +My fears were not without cause, for soon one of the largest of the +elephants put his trunk round the foot of the tree, plucked it up, and +threw it on the ground. I fell with the tree, and the elephant, taking +me up with his trunk, laid me on his back, where I sat more like one +dead than alive. He put himself at the head of the rest, who followed +him in line, carried me some distance, then laid me down on the +ground, and retired with all the others. When they were gone, I got +up, and found that I was upon a long and broad hill, almost covered +with the bones and teeth of elephants. I doubted not but that this was +their burial place, and that they carried me thither on purpose to +tell me that I should no longer kill them, now that I knew where to +get their teeth without doing them harm. I did not stay on the hill, +but turned towards the city, and, traveling a day and a night, came to +my patron. + +He had believed me dead, for he had found the tree pulled up in the +forest, and my bow and arrows on the ground. When he had heard of my +escape, we set out for the hill, and brought back as many teeth as an +elephant could bear. Then my master told me how many slaves had been +killed by the elephants, and blessed me for making him and his whole +city rich. "I can treat you no more as a slave," he said, "but as a +brother. I give you your liberty henceforth. I will also give you +riches." + +To this I answered that the only reward I wished was leave to return +to my own country. "Very well," said he, "the monsoon will soon bring +ships for ivory. Then I will send you home." + +While waiting for the monsoon we made many journeys to the hill, and, +when my ship sailed, my master loaded half of it with ivory on my +account. With this I traded at various ports, gaining vast sums of +money. Besides the ivory, my master gave me precious gifts. The last +portion of my journey I made by land, and when it was done I was happy +in thinking I had nothing more to fear from the seas, from pirates, +from serpents, or from the other perils to which I had been exposed. +Safe at Bagdad, I waited upon the Caliph at once, and told him how I +had fulfilled his mission. He loaded me with honors and rich presents, +and I have ever since devoted myself to my family, kindred, and +friends. + +Sindbad here finished the story of his seventh and last voyage. "Well, +friend," he said, turning to Hindbad, "did you ever hear of any person +that suffered so much as I have done? Is it not just that after all +this I should enjoy a quiet and pleasant life?" + +Hindbad in answer kissed his hand and said, "Sir, my pains are not to +be compared with yours. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are +worthy of all the riches you possess, since you make so good a use of +them. May you live happily for a long time." + +Sindbad ordered another purse of money to be given him, and told him +to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his +table; for he wished Hindbad to remember all his life that he had a +friend in Sindbad the Sailor. + + + + + THE TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN + + + + + THE BARON'S FIRST WANDERINGS + + _By Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + + +Some years before my beard announced approaching manhood, or, in other +words, when I was neither man nor boy, but between both, I expressed +in repeated conversations a strong desire of seeing the world, from +which I was discouraged by my parents, though my father had been no +inconsiderable traveler himself, as will appear before I have reached +the end of my singular and, I may add, interesting adventures. A +cousin, by my mother's side, took a liking to me, often said I was a +fine forward youth, and was much inclined to gratify my curiosity. His +eloquence had more effect than mine, for my father consented to my +accompanying him in a voyage to the island of Ceylon, where his uncle +had resided as governor many years. + +We sailed from Amsterdam with dispatches from their High Mightinesses +the States of Holland. The only circumstance which happened on our +voyage worth relating was the wonderful effects of a storm, which had +torn up by the roots a great number of trees of enormous bulk and +height, in an island where we lay at anchor to take in wood and water. +Some of these trees weighed many tons, yet they were carried by the +wind so amazingly high that they appeared like the feathers of small +birds floating in the air, for they were at least five miles above the +earth. However, as soon as the storm subsided they all fell +perpendicularly into their respective places, and took root again, +except the largest, which happened, when it was blown into the air, to +have a man and his wife, a very honest old couple, upon its branches, +gathering cucumbers (in this part of the globe that useful vegetable +grows upon trees). The weight of this couple, as the tree descended, +over-balanced the trunk, and brought it down in a horizontal position: +it fell upon the chief man of the island, and killed him on the spot. +He had quitted his house in the storm, under an apprehension of its +falling upon him, and was returning through his own garden when this +fortunate accident happened. The word fortunate, here, requires some +explanation. This chief was a man of a very avaricious and oppressive +disposition, and though he had no family, the natives of the island +were half starved by his oppressive and infamous impositions. + +The very goods which he had thus taken from them were spoiling in his +stores, while the poor wretches from whom they were plundered were +pining in poverty. Though the destruction of this tyrant was +accidental, the people chose the cucumber-gatherers for their +governors, as a mark of their gratitude for destroying, though +accidentally, their late tyrant. + +After we had repaired the damages we sustained in this remarkable +storm, and taken leave of the new governor and his lady, we sailed +with a fair wind for the object of our voyage. + +In about six weeks we arrived at Ceylon, where we were received with +great marks of friendship and true politeness. The following singular +adventures may not prove unentertaining. + +After we had resided at Ceylon about a fortnight I accompanied one of +the governor's brothers upon a shooting party. He was a strong, +athletic man, and being used to that climate (for he had resided there +some years), he bore the violent heat of the sun much better than I +could; in our excursion he had made a considerable progress through a +thick wood when I was only at the entrance. + +Near the banks of a large piece of water, which had engaged my +attention, I thought I heard a rustling noise behind; on turning about +I was almost petrified (as who would not be?) at the sight of a lion, +which was evidently approaching with the intention of satisfying his +appetite with my poor carcass, and that without asking my consent. +What was to be done in this horrible dilemma? I had not even a moment +for reflection; my piece was only charged with swan shot, and I had no +other about me; however, though I could have no idea of killing such +an animal with that weak kind of ammunition, yet I had some hopes of +frightening him by the report, and perhaps of wounding him also. I +immediately let fly, without waiting till he was within reach, and the +report did but enrage him, for he now quickened his pace, and seemed +to approach me full speed. I attempted to escape, but that only added +(if an addition could be made) to my distress; for the moment I turned +about I found a large crocodile, with his mouth extended almost ready +to receive me. On my right hand was the piece of water before +mentioned, and on my left a deep precipice, said to have, as I have +since learned, a receptacle at the bottom for venomous creatures; in +short, I gave myself up as lost, for the lion was now upon his hind +legs, just in the act of seizing me; I fell involuntarily to the +ground with fear, and, as it afterwards appeared, he sprang over me. I +lay some time in a situation which no language can describe, expecting +to feel his teeth or talons in some part of me every moment; after +waiting in this prostrate situation a few seconds I heard a violent +but unusual noise, different from any sound that had ever before +assailed my ears; nor is it at all to be wondered at, when I inform +you from whence it proceeded: after listening for some time, I +ventured to raise my head and look round, when, to my unspeakable joy, +I perceived the lion had, by the eagerness with which he sprung at me, +jumped forward, as I fell, into the crocodile's mouth! which, as +before observed, was wide open; the head of the one stuck in the +throat of the other! and they were struggling to extricate themselves! +I fortunately recollected my _couteau de chasse_, which was by my +side; with this instrument I severed the lion's head at one blow, and +the body fell at my feet! I then, with the butt end of my +fowling-piece, rammed the head farther into the throat of the +crocodile, and destroyed him by suffocation, for he could neither +gorge nor eject it. + +[Illustration: I VENTURED TO RAISE MY HEAD AND LOOK ROUND, WHEN, TO MY +UNSPEAKABLE JOY, I PERCEIVED THE LION HAD, BY THE EAGERNESS WITH WHICH +HE SPRUNG AT ME, JUMPED FORWARD, AS I FELL, INTO THE CROCODILE'S +MOUTH, WHICH WAS WIDE OPEN. THE HEAD OF THE ONE STUCK IN THE THROAT OF +THE OTHER, AND THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO EXTRICATE THEMSELVES.] + +Soon after I had thus gained a complete victory over my two powerful +adversaries my companion arrived in search of me; for finding I did +not follow him into the wood, he returned, apprehending I had lost my +way or met with some accident. + +After mutual congratulations, we measured the crocodile, which was +just forty feet in length. + +As soon as we had related this extraordinary adventure to the +governor, he sent a wagon and servants, who brought home the two +carcasses. The lion's skin was properly preserved, with its hair on, +after which it was made into tobacco pouches, and presented by me, +upon our return to Holland, to the burgomasters, who, in return, +requested my acceptance of a thousand ducats. + +The skin of the crocodile was stuffed in the usual manner, and makes a +capital article in their public museum at Amsterdam, where the +exhibitor relates the whole story to each spectator, with such +additions as he thinks proper. Some of his variations are rather +extravagant; one of them is that the crocodile turned about, snatched +the _couteau de chasse_ out of Monsieur's hand, and swallowed it with +such eagerness that it pierced his heart and killed him immediately! + +The little regard which this impudent knave has to veracity makes me +sometimes apprehensive that my _real facts_ may fall under suspicion, +by being found in company with his inventions. + + + + + THE BARON'S JOURNEY TO ST. PETERSBURG + + _By Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + + +I set off from Rome on a journey to Russia, in the midst of winter, +from a just notion that frost and snow must of course mend the roads, +which every traveler had described as uncommonly bad through the +northern parts of Germany, Poland, Courland, and Livonia. I went on +horseback, as the most convenient manner of traveling; I was but +lightly clothed, and of this I felt the inconvenience the more I +advanced northeast. What must not a poor old man have suffered in that +severe weather and climate, whom I saw on a bleak common in Poland, +lying on the road, helpless, shivering, and hardly having wherewithal +to cover his nakedness? I pitied the poor soul; though I felt the +severity of the air myself, I threw my mantle over him, and +immediately I heard a voice from the heavens, blessing me for that +piece of charity, saying,-- + +"You will be rewarded, my son, for this in time." + +I went on: night and darkness overtook me. No village was to be seen. +The country was covered with snow, and I was unacquainted with the +road. + +Tired, I alighted, and fastened my horse to something like a pointed +stump of a tree, which appeared above the snow; for the sake of safety +I placed my pistols under my arm, and lay down on the snow, where I +slept so soundly that I did not open my eyes till full daylight. It is +not easy to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the midst of a +village, lying in a churchyard; nor was my horse to be seen, but I +heard him soon after neigh somewhere above me. On looking upwards I +beheld him hanging by his bridle to the weathercock of the steeple. +Matters were now very plain to me: the village had been covered with +snow over night; a sudden change of weather had taken place; I had +sunk down to the churchyard whilst asleep, gently, and in the same +proportion as the snow had melted away; and what in the dark I had +taken to be a stump of a little tree appearing above the snow, to +which I had tied my horse, proved to be the cross or weathercock of +the steeple! + +Without long consideration I took one of my pistols, shot the bridle +in two, brought down the horse, and proceeded on my journey. [Here the +baron seems to have forgotten his feelings; he should certainly have +ordered his horse a feed of corn, after fasting so long.] + +He carried me well--advancing into the interior parts of Russia. I +found traveling on horseback rather unfashionable in winter, therefore +I submitted, as I always do, to the custom of the country, took a +single horse sledge, and drove briskly towards St. Petersburg. I do +not exactly recollect whether it was in Eastland or Jugemanland, but I +remember that in the midst of a dreary forest I spied a terrible wolf +making after me, with all the speed of ravenous winter hunger. He soon +overtook me. There was no possibility of escape. Mechanically I laid +myself down flat in the sledge, and let my horse run for our safety. +What I wished, but hardly hoped or expected, happened immediately +after. The wolf did not mind me in the least, but took a leap over me, +and falling furiously on the horse, began instantly to tear and devour +the hind part of the poor animal, which ran the faster for his pain +and terror. Thus unnoticed and safe myself, I lifted my head slyly up, +and with horror I beheld that the wolf had eaten his way into the +horse's body; it was not long before he had fairly forced himself into +it, when I took my advantage, and fell upon him with the butt end of +my whip. This unexpected attack in his rear frightened him so much, +that he leaped forward with all his might: the horse's carcass dropped +on the ground, but in his place the wolf was in the harness, and I on +my part whipping him continually; we both arrived in full career safe +at St. Petersburg, contrary to our respective expectations, and very +much to the astonishment of the spectators. + +I shall not tire you, gentlemen, with the politics, arts, sciences, +and history of this magnificent metropolis of Russia, nor trouble you +with the various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had in the +politer circles of that country, where the lady of the house always +receives the visitor with a dram and a salute. I shall confine myself +rather to the greater and nobler objects of your attention,--horses +and dogs, my favorites in the brute creation; also to foxes, wolves, +and bears, with which, and game in general, Russia abounds more than +any other part of the world; and to such sports, manly exercises, and +feats of gallantry and activity as show the gentleman better than +musty Greek or Latin, or all the perfume, finery, and capers of French +wits or _petit-maîtres._ + + + + + THE BARON'S WONDERFUL HORSE + + _By Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + + +I remember with pleasure and tenderness a superb Lithuanian horse, +which no money could have bought. He became mine by an accident, which +gave me an opportunity of showing my horsemanship to a great +advantage. I was at Count Przobossky's noble country seat in +Lithuania, and remained with the ladies at tea in the drawing-room, +while the gentlemen were down in the yard to see a young horse of +blood which had just arrived from the stud. We suddenly heard a noise +of distress; I hastened downstairs, and found the horse so unruly that +nobody durst approach or mount him. The most resolute horsemen stood +dismayed and aghast; despondency was expressed in every countenance, +when, in one leap, I was on his back, took him by surprise, and worked +him quite into gentleness and obedience, with the best display of +horsemanship I was master of. Fully to show this to the ladies, and +save them unnecessary trouble, I forced him to leap in at one of the +open windows of the tea room, walk round several times, pace, trot, +and gallop, and at last made him mount the tea table, there to repeat +his lessons in a pretty style of miniature which was exceedingly +pleasing to the ladies, for he performed them amazingly well, and did +not break either cup or saucer. It placed me so high in their opinion, +and so well in that of the noble lord, that, with his usual +politeness, he begged I would accept of this young horse, and ride him +full career to conquest and honor in the campaign against the Turks, +which was soon to be opened, under the command of Count Munich. + +I could not indeed have received a more agreeable present, nor a more +ominous one at the opening of that campaign, in which I made my +apprenticeship as a soldier. A horse so gentle, so spirited, and so +fierce--at once a lamb and a Bucephalus--put me always in mind of the +soldier's and the gentleman's duty, of young Alexander, and of the +astonishing things he performed in the field. + +We took the field, among several other reasons, it seems, with an +intention to retrieve the character of the Russian arms, which had +been blemished a little by Czar Peter's last campaign on the Pruth; +and this we fully accomplished by several very fatiguing and glorious +campaigns under the command of that great general I mentioned before. + +Modesty forbids individuals to arrogate to themselves great successes +or victories, the glory of which is generally engrossed by the +commander--nay, which is rather awkward, by kings and queens who never +smelled gunpowder but at the field days and reviews of their troops; +never saw a field of battle, or an enemy in battle array. + +Nor do I claim any particular share of glory in the great engagements +with the enemy. We all did our duty, which, in the patriot's, +soldier's, and gentleman's language, is a very comprehensive word, of +great honor, meaning, and import, and of which the generality of idle +quidnuncs and coffee-house politicians can hardly form any but a very +mean and contemptible idea. However having had the command of a body +of hussars, I went upon several expeditions, with discretionary +powers; and the success I then met with is, I think, fairly and only +to be placed to my account, and to that of the brave fellows whom I +led on to conquest and to victory. We had very hot work once in the +van of the army, when we drove the Turks into Oczakow. My spirited +Lithuanian had almost brought me into a scrape: I had an advanced +forepost, and saw the enemy coming against me in a cloud of dust, +which left me rather uncertain about their actual numbers and real +intentions: to wrap myself up in a similar cloud was common prudence, +but would not have much advanced my knowledge or answered the end for +which I had been sent out; therefore I let my flankers on both wings +spread to the right and left, and make what dust they could, and I +myself led on straight upon the enemy, to have a nearer sight of them; +in this I was gratified, for they stood and fought, till, for fear of +my flankers, they began to move off rather disorderly. This was the +moment to fall upon them with spirit; we broke them entirely--made a +terrible havoc amongst them, and drove them not only back to a walled +town in their rear, but even through it, contrary to our most sanguine +expectation. + +The swiftness of my Lithuanian enabled me to be foremost in the +pursuit; and seeing the enemy fairly flying through the opposite gate, +I thought it would be prudent to stop in the market-place, to order +the men to rendezvous. I stopped, gentlemen; but judge of my +astonishment when in this market-place I saw not one of my hussars +about me! Are they scouring the other streets? or what is become of +them? They could not be far off, and must, at all events, soon join +me. In that expectation I walked my panting Lithuanian to a spring in +this market-place and let him drink. He drank uncommonly, with an +eagerness not to be satisfied, but natural enough; for when I looked +round for my men, what should I see, gentlemen! the hind part of the +poor creature--croup and legs were missing, as if he had been cut in +two, and the water ran out as it came in, without refreshing or doing +him any good! How it could have happened was quite a mystery to me, +till I returned with him to the town gate. There I saw that when I +rushed in pell-mell with the flying enemy, they had dropped the +portcullis (a heavy falling door, with sharp spikes at the bottom, let +down suddenly to prevent the entrance of an enemy into a fortified +town) unperceived by me, which had totally cut off his hind part, that +still lay quivering on the outside of the gate. It would have been an +irreparable loss, had not our farrier contrived to bring both parts +together while hot. He sewed them up with sprigs and young shoots of +laurels that were at hand; the wound healed, and, what could not have +happened but to so glorious a horse, the sprigs took root in his body, +grew up, and formed a bower over me; so that afterwards I could go +upon many other expeditions in the shade of my own and my horse's +laurels. + + + + + THE BARON'S COLD DAY + + _By Rodolph Eric Raspe_ + + +Success was not always with me. I had the misfortune to be overpowered +by numbers, to be made prisoner of war; and, what is worse, but always +usual among the Turks, to be sold for a slave. In that state of +humiliation my daily task was not very hard and laborious, but rather +singular and irksome. It was to drive the Sultan's bees every morning +to their pasture grounds, to attend them all the day long, and against +night to drive them back to their hives. One evening I missed a bee, +and soon observed that two bears had fallen upon her to tear her to +pieces for the honey she carried. I had nothing like an offensive +weapon in my hands but the silver hatchet which is the badge of the +Sultan's gardeners and farmers. I threw it at the robbers, with an +intention to frighten them away, and set the poor bee at liberty; but +by an unlucky turn of my arm, it flew upwards, and continued rising +till it reached the moon. How should I recover it? how fetch it down +again? I recollected that Turkey beans grow very quick, and run up to +an astonishing height. I planted one immediately; it grew, and +actually fastened itself to one of the moon's horns. I had no more to +do now but to climb up by it into the moon, where I safely arrived, +and had a troublesome piece of business before I could find my silver +hatchet, in a place where everything has the brightness of silver; at +last, however, I found it in a heap of chaff and chopped straw. I was +now for returning: but, alas! the heat of the sun had dried up my +bean; it was totally useless for my descent; so I fell to work, and +twisted me a rope of that chopped straw, as long and as well as I +could make it. This I fastened to one of the moon's horns, and slid +down to the end of it. Here I held myself fast with the left hand, and +with the hatchet in my right, I cut the long, now useless, end of the +upper part, which, when tied to the lower end, brought me a good deal +lower: this repeated splicing and tying of the rope did not improve +its quality, or bring me down to the Sultan's farm. I was four or five +miles from the earth at least when it broke; I fell to the ground with +such amazing violence that I found myself stunned, and in a hole nine +fathoms deep at least, made by the weight of my body falling from so +great a height: I recovered, but knew not how to get out again; +however, I dug slopes or steps with my finger nails (the baron's nails +were then of forty years' growth), and easily accomplished it. + +Peace was soon after concluded with the Turks, and gaining my liberty, +I left St. Petersburg at the time of that singular revolution when the +emperor in his cradle, his mother, the duke of Brunswick, her father, +Field-marshal Munich, and many others were sent to Siberia. The winter +was then so uncommonly severe all over Europe that ever since the sun +seems to be frost-bitten. At my return to this place, I felt on the +road greater inconveniences than those I had experienced on my setting +out. + +I traveled post, and finding myself in a narrow lane, bid the +postilion give a signal with his horn, that other travelers might not +meet us in the narrow passage. He blew with all his might; but his +endeavors were in vain, he could not make the horn sound, which was +unaccountable and rather unfortunate, for soon after we found +ourselves in the presence of another coach coming the other way. There +was no proceeding; however, I got out of my carriage, and being pretty +strong, placed it, wheels and all, upon my head; I then jumped over a +hedge about nine feet high (which, considering the weight of the +coach, was rather difficult) into a field, and came out again by +another jump into the road beyond the other carriage; I then went back +for the horses, and placing one upon my head and the other under my +left arm, by the same means brought them to my coach, put to, and +proceeded to an inn at the end of our stage. I should have told you +that the horse under my arm was very spirited, and not above four +years old; in making my second spring over the hedge he expressed +great dislike to that violent kind of motion by kicking and snorting; +however, I confined his hind legs by putting them into my coat pocket. +After we arrived at the inn my postilion and I refreshed ourselves: he +hung his horn on a peg near the kitchen fire; I sat on the other side. + +Suddenly we heard a _tereng, tereng, teng, teng_. We looked round, and +now found the reason why the postilion had not been able to sound his +horn; his tunes were frozen up in the horn, and came out now by +thawing, plain enough, and much to the credit of the driver; so that +the honest fellow entertained us for some time with a variety of +tunes, without putting his mouth to the horn,--"The King of Prussia's +March," "Over the Hill and over the Dale," with many other favorite +tunes; at length the thawing entertainment concluded, as I shall this +short account of my Russian travels. + + + + + TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE + + + + + THE COMEDY OF ERRORS + + _By Charles and Mary Lamb_ + + +The states of Syracuse and Ephesus being at variance, there was a +cruel law made at Ephesus, ordaining that if any merchant of Syracuse +was seen in the city of Ephesus, he was to be put to death, unless he +could pay a thousand marks for the ransom of his life. + +Ægeon, an old merchant of Syracuse, was discovered in the streets of +Ephesus and brought before the duke, either to pay this heavy fine or +to receive sentence of death. + +Ægeon had no money to pay the fine, and the duke, before he pronounced +the sentence of death upon him, desired him to relate the history of +his life, and to tell for what cause he had ventured to come to the +city of Ephesus, which it was death for any Syracusan merchant to +enter. + +Ægeon said that he did not fear to die, for sorrow had made him weary +of his life, but that a heavier task could not have been imposed upon +him than to relate the event of his unfortunate life. He then began +his own history, in the following words:-- + +"I was born at Syracuse, and brought up to the profession of a +merchant. I married a lady with whom I lived very happily, but being +obliged to go to Epidamnum, I was detained there by my business six +months, and then, finding I should be obliged to stay some time +longer, I sent for my wife, who, as soon as she arrived, was brought +to bed of two sons, and what was very strange, they were both so +exactly alike that it was impossible to distinguish the one from the +other. At the same time that my wife was brought to bed of these twin +boys, a poor woman in the inn where my wife lodged was brought to bed +of two sons, and these twins were as much like each other as my two +sons were. The parents of these children being exceeding poor, I +bought the two boys, and brought them up to attend upon my sons. + +"My sons were very fine children, and my wife was not a little proud +of two such boys; and she daily wishing to return home, I unwillingly +agreed, and in an evil hour we got on shipboard; for we had not sailed +above a league from Epidamnum before a dreadful storm arose, which +continued with such violence that the sailors, seeing no chance of +saving the ship, crowded into the boat to save their own lives, +leaving us alone in the ship, which we every moment expected would be +destroyed by the fury of the storm. + +"The incessant weeping of my wife, and the piteous complaints of the +pretty babes, who not knowing what to fear, wept for fashion, because +they saw their mother weep, filled me with terror for them, though I +did not for myself fear death; and all my thoughts were bent to +contrive means for their safety. I tied my younger son to the end of a +small spare mast, such as seafaring men provide against storms; at the +other end I bound the younger of the twin slaves, and at the same time +I directed my wife how to fasten the other children in like manner to +another mast. She thus having the care of the two elder children, and +I of the two younger, we bound ourselves separately to these masts +with the children; and but for this contrivance we had all been lost, +for the ship split on a mighty rock, and was dashed in pieces; and we, +clinging to these slender masts, were supported above the water, where +I, having the care of two children, was unable to assist my wife, who +with the other children was soon separated from me; but while they +were yet in my sight, they were taken up by a boat of fishermen, from +Corinth (as I supposed), and seeing them in safety, I had no care but +to struggle with the wild sea waves, to preserve my dear son and the +younger slave. At length we in our turn were taken up by a ship, and +the sailors, knowing me, gave us kind welcome and assistance, and +landed us in safety at Syracuse; but from that sad hour I have never +known what became of my wife and elder child. + +"My younger son, and now my only care, when he was eighteen years of +age, began to be inquisitive after his mother and his brother, and +often importuned me that he might take his attendant, the young slave, +who had also lost his brother, and go in search of them; at length I +unwillingly gave consent, for though I anxiously desired to hear +tidings of my wife and elder son, yet in sending my younger one to +find them, I hazarded the loss of him also. It is now seven years +since my son left me; five years have I passed in traveling through +the world in search of him: I have been in farthest Greece, and +through the bounds of Asia, and coasting homewards, I landed here in +Ephesus, being unwilling to leave any place unsought that harbors men; +but this day must end the story of my life, and happy should I think +myself in my death, if I were assured my wife and sons were living." + +Here the hapless Ægeon ended the account of his misfortunes; and the +duke, pitying this unfortunate father who had brought upon himself +this great peril by his love for his lost son, said, if it were not +against the laws, which his oath and dignity did not permit him to +alter, he would freely pardon him; yet, instead of dooming him to +instant death, as the strict letter of the law required, he would give +him that day to try if he could beg or borrow the money to pay the +fine. + +This day of grace did seem no great favor to Ægeon, for not knowing +any man in Ephesus, there seemed to him but little chance that any +stranger would lend or give him a thousand marks to pay the fine; and +helpless and hopeless of any relief, he retired from the presence of +the duke in the custody of a jailer. + +Ægeon supposed he knew no person in Ephesus; but at the very time he +was in danger of losing his life through the careful search he was +making after his youngest son, that son and his eldest son also were +both in the city of Ephesus. + +Ægeon's sons, besides being exactly alike in face and person, were +both named alike, being both called Antipholus, and the two twin +slaves were also both named Dromio. Ægeon's youngest son, Antipholus +of Syracuse, he whom the old man had come to Ephesus to seek, happened +to arrive at Ephesus with his slave Dromio that very same day that +Ægeon did; and he being also a merchant of Syracuse, he would have +been in the same danger that his father was, but by good fortune he +met a friend who told him the peril an old merchant of Syracuse was +in, and advised him to pass for a merchant of Epidamnum; this +Antipholus agreed to do, and he was sorry to hear one of his own +countrymen was in this danger, but he little thought this old merchant +was his own father. + +The oldest son of Ægeon (who must be called Antipholus of Ephesus, to +distinguish him from his brother Antipholus of Syracuse) had lived at +Ephesus twenty years, and, being a rich man, was well able to have +paid the money for the ransom of his father's life; but Antipholus +knew nothing of his father, being so young when he was taken out of +the sea with his mother by the fishermen that he only remembered he +had been so preserved, but he had no recollection of either his father +or his mother; the fishermen who took up this Antipholus and his +mother and the young slave Dromio having carried the two children away +from her (to the great grief of that unhappy lady), intending to sell +them. + +Antipholus and Dromio were sold by them to duke Menaphon, a famous +warrior, who was uncle to the duke of Ephesus, and he carried the boys +to Ephesus, when he went to visit the duke his nephew. + +The duke of Ephesus taking a liking to young Antipholus, when he grew +up, made him an officer in his army, in which he distinguished himself +by his great bravery in the wars, where he saved the life of his +patron the duke, who rewarded his merit by marrying him to Adriana, a +rich lady of Ephesus, with whom he was living (his slave Dromio still +attending him) at the time his father came there. + +Antipholus of Syracuse, when he parted with his friend, who advised +him to say he came from Epidamnum, gave his slave Dromio some money to +carry to the inn where he intended to dine, and in the meantime he +said he would walk about and view the city, and observe the manners of +the people. + +Dromio was a pleasant fellow, and when Antipholus was dull and +melancholy he used to divert himself with the odd humors and merry +jests of his slave, so that the freedoms of speech he allowed in +Dromio were greater than is usual between masters and their servants. + +When Antipholus of Syracuse had sent Dromio away he stood awhile +thinking over his solitary wanderings in search of his mother and his +brother, of whom in no place where he landed could he hear the least +tidings, and he said sorrowfully to himself, "I am like a drop of +water in the ocean, which seeking to find its fellow drop, loses +itself in the wide sea. So I, unhappily, to find a mother and a +brother, do lose myself." + +While he was thus meditating on his weary travels, which had hitherto +been so useless, Dromio (as he thought) returned. Antipholus, +wondering that he came back so soon, asked him where he had left the +money. Now it was not his own Dromio, but the twin brother that lived +with Antipholus of Ephesus, that he spoke to. The two Dromios and the +two Antipholuses were still as much alike as Ægeon had said they were +in their infancy; therefore no wonder Antipholus thought it was his +own slave returned, and asked him why he came back so soon. Dromio +replied, "My mistress sent me to bid you come to dinner. The capon +burns, and the pig falls from the spit, and the meat will be all cold +if you do not come home." "These jests are out of season," said +Antipholus, "where did you leave the money?" Dromio still answering +that his mistress had sent him to fetch Antipholus to dinner, "What +mistress?" said Antipholus. "Why, your worship's wife, sir," replied +Dromio. Antipholus having no wife, he was very angry with Dromio, and +said, "Because I familiarly sometimes chat with you, you presume to +jest with me in this free manner. I am not in a sportive humor now. +Where is the money? we being strangers here, how dare you trust so +great a charge from your own custody?" Dromio hearing his master, as +he thought him, talk of their being strangers, supposed Antipholus was +jesting, and replied merrily, "I pray you, sir, jest as you sit at +dinner: I had no charge but to fetch you home, to dine with my +mistress and her sister." Now Antipholus lost all patience, and beat +Dromio, who ran home, and told his mistress that his master had +refused to come to dinner, and said that he had no wife. + +Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, was very angry, when she +heard that her husband said he had no wife; for she was of a jealous +temper, and she said her husband meant that he loved another lady +better than herself; and she began to fret and say unkind words of +jealousy and reproach of her husband; and her sister Luciana, who +lived with her, tried in vain to persuade her out of her groundless +suspicions. + +Antipholus of Syracuse went to the inn and found Dromio with the money +in safety there, and seeing his own Dromio, he was going again to +chide him for his free jests, when Adriana came up to him, and not +doubting but it was her husband she saw, she began to reproach him for +looking strange upon her (as well he might, never having seen this +angry lady before); and then she told him how well he loved her before +they were married, and that now he loved some other lady instead of +her. "How comes it now, my husband," said she, "oh, how comes it that +I have lost your love?" "Plead you to me, fair dame?" said the +astonished Antipholus. It was in vain he told her he was not her +husband, and that he had been in Ephesus but two hours; she insisted +on his going home with her, and Antipholus at last being unable to get +away, went with her to his brother's house, and dined with Adriana and +her sister,--the one calling him husband and the other brother; he, +all amazed, thinking he must have been married to her in his sleep, or +that he was sleeping now. And Dromio, who followed them, was no less +surprised, for the cookmaid, who was his brother's wife, also claimed +him for her husband. + +While Antipholus of Syracuse was dining with his brother's wife, his +brother, the real husband, returned home to dinner with his slave +Dromio; but the servants would not open the door, because their +mistress had ordered them not to admit any company; and when they +repeatedly knocked, and said they were Antipholus and Dromio, the +maids laughed at them, and said that Antipholus was at dinner with +their mistress, and Dromio was in the kitchen; and though they almost +knocked the door down, they could not gain admittance, and at last +Antipholus went away very angry, and strangely surprised at hearing a +gentleman was dining with his wife. + +When Antipholus of Syracuse had finished his dinner, he was so +perplexed at the lady's still persisting in calling him husband, and +at hearing that Dromio had also been claimed by the cookmaid, that he +left the house, as soon as he could find any pretense to get away; for +though he was very much pleased with Luciana, the sister, yet the +jealous-tempered Adriana he disliked very much, nor was Dromio at all +better satisfied with his fair wife in the kitchen: therefore both +master and man were glad to get away from their new wives as fast as +they could. + +The moment Antipholus of Syracuse had left the house, he was met by a +goldsmith, who mistaking him, as Adriana had done, for Antipholus of +Ephesus, gave him a gold chain, calling him by his name; and when +Antipholus would have refused the chain, saying it did not belong to +him, the goldsmith replied he made it by his own orders; and went +away, leaving the chain in the hands of Antipholus, who ordered his +man Dromio to get his things on board a ship, not choosing to stay in +a place any longer, where he met with such strange adventures that he +surely thought himself bewitched. + +The goldsmith who had given the chain to the wrong Antipholus, was +arrested immediately after for a sum of money he owed; and Antipholus, +the married brother, to whom the goldsmith thought he had given the +chain, happened to come to the place where the officer was arresting +the goldsmith, who, when he saw Antipholus, asked him to pay for the +gold chain he had just delivered to him, the price amounting to nearly +the same sum as that for which he had been arrested. Antipholus +denying having received the chain, and the goldsmith persisting to +declare that he had but a few minutes before given it to him, they +disputed this matter a long time, both thinking they were right: for +Antipholus knew the goldsmith never gave him the chain, and, so like +were the two brothers, the goldsmith was as certain he had delivered +the chain into his hands, till at last the officer took the goldsmith +away to prison for the debt he owed, and at the same time the +goldsmith made the officer arrest Antipholus for the price of the +chain; so that at the conclusion of their dispute, Antipholus and the +merchant were both taken away to prison together. + +As Antipholus was going to prison, he met Dromio of Syracuse, his +brother's slave, and mistaking him for his own, he ordered him to go +to Adriana his wife, and tell her to send the money for which he was +arrested. Dromio, wondering that his master should send him back to +the strange house where he dined, and from which he had just before +been in such haste to depart, did not dare to reply, though he came to +tell his master the ship was ready to sail; for he saw Antipholus was +in no humor to be jested with. Therefore he went away, grumbling +within himself, that he must return to Adriana's house, "Where," said +he, "Dowsabel claims me for a husband: but I must go, for servants +must obey their masters' commands." + +Adriana gave him the money, and as Dromio was returning, he met +Antipholus of Syracuse, who was still in amaze at the surprising +adventures he met with; for his brother being well known in Ephesus, +there was hardly a man he met in the streets but saluted him as an old +acquaintance: some offered him money which they said was owing to him, +some invited him to come and see them, and others gave him thanks for +kindnesses they said he had done them, all mistaking him for his +brother. A tailor showed him some silks he had bought for him, and +insisted upon taking measure of him for some clothes. + +Antipholus began to think he was among a nation of sorcerers and +witches, and Dromio did not at all relieve his master from his +bewildered thoughts, by asking him how he got free from the officer +who was carrying him to prison, and giving him the purse of gold which +Adriana had sent to pay the debt with. This talk of Dromio's of the +arrest and of a prison, and of the money he had brought from Adriana, +perfectly confounded Antipholus, and he said, "This fellow Dromio is +certainly distracted, and we wander here in illusions;" and quite +terrified at his own confused thoughts, he cried out, "Some blessed +power deliver us from this strange place!" + +And now another stranger came up to him, and she was a lady, and she +too called him Antipholus, and told him he had dined with her that +day, and asked him for a gold chain which she said he had promised to +give her. Antipholus now lost all patience, and calling her a +sorceress, he denied that he had ever promised her a chain, or dined +with her, or had even seen her face before that moment. The lady +persisted in affirming he had dined with her, and had promised her a +chain, which Antipholus still denying, she further said that she had +given him a valuable ring, and if he would not give her the gold +chain, she insisted upon having her own ring again. On this Antipholus +became quite frantic, and again calling her sorceress and witch, and +denying all knowledge of her or her ring, ran away from her, leaving +her astonished at his words and his wild looks, for nothing to her +appeared more certain than that he had dined with her, and that she +had given him a ring, in consequence of his promising to make her a +present of a gold chain. But this lady had fallen into the same +mistake the others had done, for she had taken him for his brother: +the married Antipholus had done all the things she taxed this +Antipholus with. + +When the married Antipholus was denied entrance into his own house +(those within supposing him to be already there), he had gone away +very angry, believing it to be one of his wife's jealous freaks, to +which she was very subject, and remembering that she had often falsely +accused him of visiting other ladies, he, to be revenged on her for +shutting him out of his own house, determined to go and dine with this +lady, and she receiving him with great civility, and his wife having +so highly offended him, Antipholus promised to give her a gold chain, +which he had intended as a present for his wife; it was the same chain +which the goldsmith by mistake had given to his brother. The lady +liked so well the thoughts of having a fine gold chain, that she gave +the married Antipholus a ring; which when, as she supposed (taking his +brother for him), he denied, and said he did not know her, and left +her in such a wild passion, she began to think he was certainly out of +his senses; and presently she resolved to go and tell Adriana that her +husband was mad. And while she was telling it to Adriana, he came, +attended by the jailer (who allowed him to come home to get the money +to pay the debt), for the purse of money, which Adriana had sent by +Dromio, and he had delivered to the other Antipholus. + +Adriana believed the story the lady told her of her husband's madness +must be true when he reproached her for shutting him out of his own +house; and remembering how he had protested all dinner time that he +was not her husband, and had never been in Ephesus till that day, she +had no doubt that he was mad; she therefore paid the jailer the money, +and having discharged him, she ordered her servants to bind her +husband with ropes, and had him conveyed into a dark room, and sent +for a doctor to come and cure him of his madness: Antipholus all the +while hotly exclaiming against this false accusation, which the exact +likeness he bore to his brother had brought upon him. But his rage +only the more confirmed them in the belief that he was mad; and Dromio +persisting in the same story, they bound him also, and took him away +along with his master. + +Soon after Adriana had put her husband into confinement, a servant +came to tell her that Antipholus and Dromio must have broken loose +from their keepers, for that they were both walking at liberty in the +next street. On hearing this, Adriana ran out to fetch him home, +taking some people with her to secure her husband again; and her +sister went along with her. When they came to the gates of a convent +in their neighborhood, there they saw Antipholus and Dromio, as they +thought, being again deceived by the likeness of the twin brothers. + +Antipholus of Syracuse was still beset with the perplexities this +likeness had brought upon him. The chain which the goldsmith had given +him was about his neck, and the goldsmith was reproaching him for +denying that he had it, and refusing to pay for it, and Antipholus Was +protesting that the goldsmith freely gave him the chain in the +morning, and that from that hour he had never seen the goldsmith +again. + +And now Adriana came up to him and claimed him as her lunatic husband, +who had escaped from his keepers; and the men she brought with her +were going to lay violent hands on Antipholus and Dromio; but they ran +into the convent, and Antipholus begged the abbess to give him shelter +in her house. + +And now came out the lady abbess herself to inquire into the cause of +this disturbance. She was a grave and venerable lady, and wise to +judge of what she saw, and she would not too hastily give up the man +who had sought protection in her house; so she strictly questioned the +wife about the story she told of her husband's madness, and she said, +"What is the cause of this sudden distemper of your husband's? Has he +lost his wealth at sea? Or is it the death of some dear friend that +has disturbed his mind?" Adriana replied that no such things as these +had been the cause. "Perhaps," said the abbess, "he has fixed his +affections on some other lady than you his wife; and that has driven +him to this state." Adriana said she had long thought the love of some +other lady was the cause of his frequent absences from home. Now it +was not his love for another, but the teasing jealousy of his wife's +temper, that often obliged Antipholus to leave his home; and (the +abbess suspecting this from the vehemence of Adriana's manner) to +learn the truth, she said, "You should have reprehended him for this." +"Why, so I did," replied Adriana. "Aye," said the abbess, "but perhaps +not enough." Adriana, willing to convince the abbess that she had said +enough to Antipholus on this subject, replied, "It was the constant +subject of our conversation: in bed I would not let him sleep for +speaking of it. At table I would not let him eat for speaking of it. +When I was alone with him, I talked of nothing else; and in company I +gave him frequent hints of it. Still all my talk was how vile and bad +it was in him to love any lady better than me." + +The lady abbess, having drawn this full confession from the jealous +Adriana, now said, "And therefore comes it that your husband is mad. +The venomous clamor of a jealous woman is a more deadly poison than a +mad dog's tooth. It seems his sleep was hindered by your railing; no +wonder that his head is light: and his meat was sauced with your +upbraidings; unquiet meals make ill digestions, and that has thrown +him into this fever. You say his sports were disturbed by your brawls; +being debarred from the enjoyment of society and recreation, what +could ensue but dull melancholy and comfortless despair? The +consequence is then, that your jealous fits have made your husband +mad." + +Luciana would have excused her sister, saying, she always reprehended +her husband mildly; and she said to her sister, "Why do you hear these +rebukes without answering them?" But the abbess had made her so +plainly perceive her fault, that she could only answer, "She has +betrayed me to my own reproof." + +Adriana, though ashamed of her own conduct, still insisted on having +her husband delivered up to her; but the abbess would suffer no person +to enter her house, nor would she deliver up this unhappy man to the +care of the jealous wife, determining herself to use gentle means for +his recovery, and she retired into her house again, and ordered her +gates to be shut against them. + +During the course of this eventful day, in which so many errors had +happened from the likeness the twin brothers bore to each other, old +Ægeon's day of grace was passing away, it being now near sunset; and +at sunset he was doomed to die, if he could not pay the money. + +The place of his execution was near this convent, and here he arrived +just as the abbess retired into the convent; the duke attending in +person, that if any offered to pay the money, he might be present to +pardon him. + +Adriana stopped this melancholy procession and cried out to the duke +for justice, telling him that the abbess had refused to deliver up her +lunatic husband to her care. While she was speaking, her real husband +and his servant Dromio, who had got loose, came before the duke to +demand justice, complaining that his wife had confined him on a false +charge of lunacy, and telling in what manner he had broken his bands, +and eluded the vigilance of his keepers. Adriana was strangely +surprised to see her husband, when she thought he had been within the +convent. + +Ægeon, seeing his son, concluded this was the son who had left him to +go in search of his mother and his brother; and he felt secure that +this dear son would readily pay the money demanded for his ransom. He +therefore spoke to Antipholus in words of fatherly affection, with +joyful hope that he should now be released. But to the utter +astonishment of Ægeon, his son denied all knowledge of him, as well he +might, for this Antipholus had never seen his father since they were +separated in the storm in his infancy; but while the poor old Ægeon +was in vain endeavoring to make his son acknowledge him, thinking +surely that either his griefs and the anxieties he had suffered had so +strangely altered him that his son did not know him, or else that he +was ashamed to acknowledge his father in his misery, in the midst of +this perplexity, the lady abbess and the other Antipholus and Dromio +came out, and the wondering Adriana saw two husbands and two Dromios +standing before her. + +And now these riddling errors, which had so perplexed them all, were +clearly made out. When the duke saw the two Antipholuses and the two +Dromios both so exactly alike, he at once conjectured aright of these +seeming mysteries, for he remembered the story Ægeon had told him in +the morning; and he said, these men must be the two sons of Ægeon and +their twin slaves. + +But now an unlooked-for joy, indeed, completed the history of Ægeon; +and the tale he had in the morning told in sorrow, and under sentence +of death, before the setting sun went down was brought to a happy +conclusion, for the venerable lady abbess made herself known to be the +long-lost wife of Ægeon, and the fond mother of the two Antipholuses. + +When the fisherman took the eldest Antipholus and Dromio away from +her, she entered a nunnery, and by her wise and virtuous conduct she +was at length made lady abbess of this convent, and in discharging the +rites of hospitality to an unhappy stranger she had unknowingly +protected her own son. + +Joyful congratulations and affectionate greetings between these long +separated parents and their children made them for a while forget that +Ægeon was yet under sentence of death; but when they were become a +little calm, Antipholus of Ephesus offered the duke the ransom money +for his father's life; but the duke freely pardoned Ægeon, and would +not take the money. And the duke went with the abbess and her newly +found husband and children into the convent, to hear this happy family +discourse at leisure of the blessed ending of their adverse fortunes. +And the two Dromios' humble joy must not be forgotten; they had their +congratulations and greetings too, and each Dromio pleasantly +complimented his brother on his good looks, being well pleased to see +his own person (as in a glass) show so handsome in his brother. + +Adriana had so well profited by the good counsel of her mother-in-law +that she never after cherished unjust suspicions, or was jealous of +her husband. + +Antipholus of Syracuse married the fair Luciana, the sister of his +brother's wife; and the good old Ægeon, with his wife and sons, lived +at Ephesus many years. Nor did the unraveling of these perplexities so +entirely remove every ground of mistake for the future, but that +sometimes, to remind them of adventures past, comical blunders would +happen, and the one Antipholus and the one Dromio be mistaken for the +other, making altogether a pleasant and diverting Comedy of Errors. + + + + + THE MERCHANT OF VENICE + + _By Charles and Mary Lamb_ + + +Shylock, the Jew, lived at Venice: he was an usurer, who had amassed +an immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian +merchants. Shylock, being a hard-hearted man, exacted the payment of +the money he lent with such severity that he was much disliked by all +good men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and +Shylock as much hated Antonio, because he used to lend money to people +in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent; +therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the +generous merchant, Antonio. Whenever Antonio met Shylock on the Rialto +(or Exchange) he used to reproach him with his usuries and hard +dealings, which the Jew would bear with seeming patience, while he +secretly meditated revenge. + +Antonio was the kindest man that lived, the best-conditioned, and had +the most unwearied spirit in doing courtesies; indeed he was one in +whom the ancient Roman honor more appeared than in any that drew +breath in Italy. He was greatly beloved by all his fellow-citizens; +but the friend who was nearest and dearest to his heart was Bassanio, +a noble Venetian, who, having but a small patrimony, had nearly +exhausted his little fortune by living in too expensive a manner for +his slender means, as young men of high rank with small fortunes are +too apt to do. Whenever Bassanio wanted money, Antonio assisted him; +and it seemed as if they had but one heart and one purse between them. + +One day Bassanio came to Antonio, and told him that he wished to +repair his fortune by a wealthy marriage with a lady whom he dearly +loved, whose father, that was lately dead, had left her sole heiress +to a large estate; and that in her father's lifetime he used to visit +at her house, when he thought he had observed this lady had sometimes +from her eyes sent speechless messages that seemed to say he would be +no unwelcome suitor; but not having money to furnish himself with an +appearance befitting the lover of so rich an heiress, he besought +Antonio to add to the many favors he had shown him, by lending him +three thousand ducats. + +Antonio had no money by him at that time to lend his friend; but +expecting soon to have some ships come home laden with merchandise, he +said he would go to Shylock, the rich money-lender, and borrow the +money upon the credit of those ships. + +Antonio and Bassanio went together to Shylock, and Antonio asked the +Jew to lend him three thousand ducats upon any interest he should +require, to be paid out of the merchandise contained in his ships at +sea. On this, Shylock thought within himself, "If I can once catch him +on the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him: he hates +our Jewish nation; he lends out money gratis; and among the merchants +he rails at me and my well-earned bargains which he calls interest. +Cursed be my tribe if I forgive him!" Antonio, finding he was musing +within himself and did not answer, and being impatient for the money, +said, "Shylock, do you hear? will you lend the money?" To this +question the Jew replied, "Signior Antonio, on the Rialto many a time +and often you have railed at me about my moneys and my usuries, and I +have borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all +our tribe; and then you have called me unbeliever, cutthroat dog, and +spit upon my Jewish garments, and spurned at me with your foot as if I +was a cur. Well then, it now appears you need my help; and you come to +me, and say, _Shylock, lend me moneys_. Has a dog money? Is it +possible a cur should lend three thousand ducats? Shall I bend low and +say, Fair sir, you spit upon me on Wednesday last, another time you +called me dog, and for these courtesies I am to lend you moneys?" +Antonio replied, "I am as like to call you so again, to spit on you +again, and spurn you too. If you will lend me this money, lend it not +to me as to a friend, but rather lend it to me as to an enemy, that, +if I break, you may with better face exact the penalty."--"Why look +you," said Shylock, "how you storm! I would be friends with you, and +have your love. I will forget the shames you have put upon me. I will +supply your wants, and take no interest for my money." This seemingly +kind offer greatly surprised Antonio; and then Shylock, still +pretending kindness, and that all he did was to gain Antonio's love, +again said he would lend him the three thousand ducats, and take no +interest for his money; only Antonio should go with him to a lawyer, +and there sign in merry sport a bond, that if he did not repay the +money by a certain day, he would forfeit a pound of flesh, to be cut +off from any part of his body that Shylock pleased. + +"Content," said Antonio; "I will sign to this bond and say there is +much kindness in the Jew." + +Bassanio said Antonio should not sign to such a bond for him; but +still Antonio insisted that he would sign it, for that before the day +of payment came, his ships would return laden with many times the +value of the money. + +Shylock, hearing this debate, exclaimed, "O father Abraham, what +suspicious people these Christians are. Their own hard dealings teach +them to suspect the thoughts of others. I pray you tell me this, +Bassanio: if he should break this day, what should I gain by the +exaction of this forfeiture? A pound of man's flesh taken from a man +is not so estimable, nor profitable neither, as the flesh of mutton or +of beef. I say, to buy his favor, I offer this friendship: if he will +take it, so; if not, adieu." + +At last, against the advice of Bassanio, who, notwithstanding all the +Jew had said of his kind intention, did not like his friend should run +the hazard of this shocking penalty for his sake, Antonio signed the +bond, thinking it really was (as the Jew said) merely in sport. + +The rich heiress that Bassanio wished to marry lived near Venice, at a +place called Belmont; her name was Portia, and in the graces of her +person and her mind she was nothing inferior to that Portia, of whom +we read, who was Cato's daughter and the wife of Brutus. + +Bassanio--being so kindly supplied with money by his friend Antonio, +at the hazard of his life--set out for Belmont with a splendid train, +and attended by a gentleman of the name of Gratiano. + +Bassanio proving successful in his suit, Portia in a short time +consented to accept of him for a husband. + +Bassanio confessed to Portia that he had no fortune, and that his high +birth and noble ancestry was all that he could boast of; she, who +loved him for his worthy qualities, and had riches enough not to +regard wealth in a husband, answered with a graceful modesty that she +would wish herself a thousand times more fair, and ten thousand times +more rich, to be more worthy of him; and then the accomplished Portia +prettily dispraised herself, and said she was an unlessoned girl, +unschooled, unpracticed, yet not so old but that she could learn, and +that she would commit her gentle spirit to be directed and governed by +him in all things; and she said, "Myself and what is mine, to you and +yours is now converted. But yesterday, Bassanio, I was the lady of +this fair mansion, queen of myself, and mistress over these servants; +and now this house, these servants, and myself, are yours, my lord; I +give them with this ring," presenting a ring to Bassanio. + +Bassanio was so overpowered with gratitude and wonder at the gracious +manner in which the rich and noble Portia accepted of a man of his +humble fortunes, that he could not express his joy and reverence to +the dear lady who so honored him, by anything but broken words of love +and thankfulness; and taking the ring, he vowed never to part with it. + +Gratiano and Nerissa, Portia's waiting-maid, were in attendance upon +their lord and lady, when Portia so gracefully promised to become the +obedient wife of Bassanio; and Gratiano, wishing Bassanio and the +generous lady joy, desired permission to be married at the same time. + +"With all my heart, Gratiano," said Bassanio, "if you can get a wife." + +Gratiano then said that he loved the lady Portia's fair waiting +gentlewoman Nerissa, and that she had promised to be his wife, if her +lady married Bassanio. Portia asked Nerissa if this was true. Nerissa +replied, "Madam, it is so, if you approve of it." Portia willingly +consenting, Bassanio pleasantly said, "Then our wedding feast shall be +much honored by your marriage, Gratiano." + +The happiness of these lovers was sadly crossed at this moment by the +entrance of a messenger, who brought a letter from Antonio containing +fearful tidings. When Bassanio read Antonio's letter, Portia feared it +was to tell him of the death of some dear friend, he looked so pale; +and inquiring what was the news which had so distressed him, he said, +"O sweet Portia, here are a few of the unpleasantest words that ever +blotted paper: gentle lady, when I first imparted my love to you, I +freely told you all the wealth I had ran in my veins; but I should +have told you that I had less than nothing, being in debt." Bassanio +then told Portia what has been here related, of his borrowing the +money of Antonio, and of Antonio's procuring it of Shylock the Jew, +and of the bond by which Antonio had engaged to forfeit a pound of +flesh, if it was not repaid by a certain day: and then Bassanio read +Antonio's letter, the words of which were, "Sweet Bassanio, my ships +are all lost, my bond to the Jew is forfeited, and since in paying it +is impossible I should live, I could wish to see you at my death; +notwithstanding, use your pleasure; if your love for me do not +persuade you to come, let not my letter." + +"O my dear love," said Portia, "dispatch all business, and be gone; +you shall have gold to pay the money twenty times over, before this +kind-hearted friend shall lose a hair by my Bassanio's fault; and as +you are so dearly bought, I will dearly love you." Portia then said +she would be married to Bassanio before he set out, to give him a +legal right to her money; and that same day they were married, and +Gratiano was also married to Nerissa; and Bassanio and Gratiano, the +instant they were married, set out in great haste for Venice, where +Bassanio found Antonio in prison. + +The day of payment being past, the cruel Jew would not accept of the +money which Bassanio offered him, but insisted upon having a pound of +Antonio's flesh. A day was appointed to try this shocking cause before +the duke of Venice, and Bassanio awaited in dreadful suspense the +event of the trial. + +When Portia parted with her husband, she spoke cheeringly to him, and +bade him bring his dear friend along with him when he returned; yet +she feared it would go hard with Antonio, and when she was left alone, +she began to think and consider within herself, if she could by any +means be instrumental in saving the life of her dear Bassanio's +friend; and notwithstanding, when she wished to honor her Bassanio, +she had said to him with such a meek and wifelike grace that she would +submit in all things to be governed by his superior wisdom, yet being +now called forth into action by the peril of her honored husband's +friend, she did nothing doubt her own powers, and by the sole guidance +of her own true and perfect judgment, at once resolved to go herself +to Venice, and speak in Antonio's defense. + +Portia had a relation who was a counselor in the law. To this +gentleman, whose name was Bellario, she wrote; and stating the case to +him, desired his opinion, and that with his advice he would also send +her the dress worn by a counselor. When the messenger returned he +brought letters from Bellario of advice how to proceed, and also +everything necessary for her equipment. + +Portia dressed herself and her maid Nerissa in men's apparel, and +putting on the robes of a counselor, she took Nerissa along with her +as her clerk; and setting out immediately, they arrived at Venice on +the very day of the trial. The cause was just going to be heard before +the duke and senators of Venice in the senate house, when Portia +entered this high court of justice, and presented a letter from +Bellario, in which that learned counselor wrote to the duke, saying, +he would have come himself to plead for Antonio, but that he was +prevented by sickness, and he requested that the learned young doctor +Balthasar (so he called Portia) might be permitted to plead in his +stead. This the duke granted, much wondering at the youthful +appearance of the stranger, who was prettily disguised by her +counselor's robes and her large wig. + +And now began this important trial. Portia looked around her, and she +saw the merciless Jew; and she saw Bassanio, but he knew her not in +her disguise. He was standing beside Antonio, in an agony of distress +and fear for his friend. + +The importance of the arduous task Portia had engaged in gave this +tender lady courage, and she boldly proceeded in the duty she had +undertaken to perform: and first of all she addressed herself to +Shylock; and allowing that he had a right by the Venetian law to have +the forfeit expressed in the bond, she spoke so sweetly of the noble +quality of _mercy_ as would have softened any heart but the unfeeling +Shylock's; saying, that it dropped as the gentle rain from heaven upon +the place beneath; and how mercy was a double blessing, it blessed him +that gave, and him that received it: and how it became monarchs better +than their crowns, being an attribute of God himself; and that earthly +power came nearest to God's in proportion as mercy tempered justice; +and she bid Shylock remember that as we all pray for mercy, that same +prayer should teach us to show mercy. Shylock only answered her by +desiring to have the penalty forfeited in the bond. "Is he not able to +pay the money?" asked Portia. Bassanio then offered the Jew the +payment of the three thousand ducats as many times over as he should +desire; which Shylock refusing, and still insisting upon having a +pound of Antonio's flesh, Bassanio begged the learned young counselor +would endeavor to wrest the law a little, to save Antonio's life. But +Portia gravely answered, that laws once established must never be +altered. Shylock hearing Portia say that the law might not be altered, +it seemed to him that she was pleading in his favor, and he said, "A +Daniel is come to judgment! O wise young judge, how I do honor you! +How much elder are you than your looks?" + +Portia now desired Shylock to let her look at the bond: and when she +had read it, she said, "This bond is forfeited, and by this the Jew +may lawfully claim a pound of flesh, to be by him cut off nearest +Antonio's heart." Then said she to Shylock, "Be merciful: take the +money, and bid me tear the bond." But no mercy would the cruel Shylock +show; and he said, "By my soul I swear, there is no power in the +tongue of man to alter me." "Why, then, Antonio," said Portia, "you +must prepare your bosom for the knife;" and while Shylock was +sharpening a long knife with great eagerness to cut off the pound of +flesh, Portia said to Antonio, "Have you anything to say?" Antonio, +with a calm resignation, replied that he had but little to say, for +that he had prepared his mind for death. Then he said to Bassanio, +"Give me your hand, Bassanio! Fare you well! Grieve not that I am +fallen into this misfortune for you. Commend me to your honorable +wife, and tell her how I have loved you!" Bassanio in the deepest +affliction replied, "Antonio, I am married to a wife who is as dear to +me as life itself; but life itself, my wife, and all the world are not +esteemed with me above your life: I would lose all, I would sacrifice +all to this devil here, to deliver you." + +Portia, hearing this, though the kind-hearted lady was not at all +offended with her husband for expressing the love he owed to so true a +friend as Antonio in these strong terms, yet could not help answering, +"Your wife would give you little thanks, if she were present, to hear +you make this offer." And then Gratiano, who loved to copy what his +lord did, thought he must make a speech like Bassanio's, and he said, +in Nerissa's hearing, who was writing in her clerk's dress by the side +of Portia, "I have a wife, whom I protest I love; I wish she were in +heaven, if she could but entreat some power there to change the cruel +temper of this currish Jew." "It is well you wish this behind her +back, else you would have but an unquiet house," said Nerissa. + +Shylock now cried out impatiently, "We trifle time; I pray pronounce +the sentence." And now all was awful expectation in the court, and +every heart was full of grief for Antonio. + +Portia asked if the scales were ready to weigh the flesh; and she said +to the Jew, "Shylock, you must have some surgeon by, lest he bleed to +death." Shylock, whose whole intent was that Antonio should bleed to +death, said, "It is not so named in the bond." Portia replied, "It is +not so named in the bond, but what of that? It were good you did so +much for charity." To this all the answer Shylock would make was, "I +cannot find it; it is not in the bond." "Then," said Portia, "a pound +of Antonio's flesh is thine. The law allows it, and the court awards +it. And you may cut this flesh from off his breast. The law allows it, +and the court awards it." Again Shylock exclaimed, "O wise and upright +judge! A Daniel is come to judgment!" And then he sharpened his long +knife again, and looking eagerly on Antonio, he said, "Come, prepare!" + +"Tarry a little, Jew," said Portia; "there is something else. This +bond here gives you no drop of blood; the words expressly are, 'a +pound of flesh,' If in the cutting off the pound of flesh you shed one +drop of Christian blood, your land and goods are by the law to be +confiscated to the state of Venice." Now as it was utterly impossible +for Shylock to cut off the pound of flesh without shedding some of +Antonio's blood, this wise discovery of Portia's, that it was flesh +and not blood that was named in the bond, saved the life of Antonio; +and all admiring the wonderful sagacity of the young counselor, who +had so happily thought of this expedient, plaudits resounded from +every part of the senate-house; and Gratiano exclaimed, in words which +Shylock had used, "O wise and upright judge! mark, Jew, a Daniel is +come to judgment!" + +Shylock, finding himself defeated in his cruel intent said, with a +disappointed look, that he would take the money; and Bassanio, +rejoiced beyond measure at Antonio's unexpected deliverance, cried +out, "Here is the money!" But Portia stopped him, saying, "Softly; +there is no haste; the Jew shall have nothing but the penalty: +therefore prepare, Shylock, to cut off the flesh; but mind you shed no +blood; nor do not cut off more nor less than just a pound; be it more +or less by one poor scruple, nay, if the scale turn but by the weight +of a single hair, you are condemned by the laws of Venice to die, and +all your wealth is forfeit to the senate." + +"Give me my money, and let me go," said Shylock. "I have it ready," +said Bassanio; "here it is." + +Shylock was going to take the money, when Portia again stopped him, +saying, "Tarry, Jew; I have yet another hold upon you. By the laws of +Venice, your wealth is forfeit to the state, for having conspired +against the life of one of its citizens, and your life lies at the +mercy of the duke; therefore down on your knees, and ask him to pardon +you." + +The duke then said to Shylock, "That you may see the difference of our +Christian spirit, I pardon you your life before you ask it; half your +wealth belongs to Antonio, the other half comes to the state." + +The generous Antonio then said that he would give up his share of +Shylock's wealth, if Shylock would sign a deed to make it over at his +death to his daughter and her husband; for Antonio knew that the Jew +had an only daughter, who had lately married against his consent to a +young Christian, named Lorenzo, a friend of Antonio's, which had so +offended Shylock that he had disinherited her. + +The Jew agreed to this; and being thus disappointed in his revenge and +despoiled of his riches, he said, "I am ill. Let me go home; send the +deed after me, and I will sign over half my riches to my +daughter."--"Get thee gone, then," said the duke, "and sign it; and if +you repent your cruelty and turn Christian, the state will forgive you +the fine of the other half of your riches." + +The duke now released Antonio, and dismissed the court. He then highly +praised the wisdom and ingenuity of the young counselor, and invited +him home to dinner. Portia, who meant to return to Belmont before her +husband, replied, "I humbly thank your grace, but I must away +directly." The duke said he was sorry he had not leisure to stay and +dine with him; and turning to Antonio, he added, "Reward this +gentleman; for in my mind you are much indebted to him." + +The duke and his senators left the court; and then Bassanio said to +Portia, "Most worthy gentleman, I and my friend Antonio have by your +wisdom been this day acquitted of grievous penalties, and I beg you +will accept of the three thousand ducats due unto the Jew." "And we +shall stand indebted to you over and above," said Antonio, "in love +and service evermore." + +Portia could not be prevailed upon to accept the money; but upon +Bassanio still pressing her to accept some reward, she said, "Give me +your gloves; I will wear them for your sake;" and then, Bassanio +taking off his gloves, she espied the ring which she had given him +upon his finger: now it was the ring the wily lady wanted to get from +him to make a merry jest when she saw her Bassanio again, that made +her ask him for his gloves; and she said, when she saw the ring, "And +for your love I will take this ring from you." Bassanio was sadly +distressed, that the counselor should ask him for the only thing he +could not part with, and he replied in great confusion that he could +not give him that ring, because it was his wife's gift, and he had +vowed never to part with it; but that he would give him the most +valuable ring in Venice, and find it out by proclamation. On this +Portia affected to be affronted, and left the court, saying, "You +teach me, sir, how a beggar should be answered." + +"Dear Bassanio," said Antonio, "let him have the ring; let my love and +the great service he has done for me be valued against your wife's +displeasure." Bassanio, ashamed to appear too ungrateful, yielded, and +sent Gratiano after Portia with the ring; and then the _clerk_ +Nerissa, who had also given Gratiano a ring, she begged his ring, and +Gratiano (not choosing to be out-done in generosity by his lord) gave +it to her. And there was laughing among these ladies, to think when +they got home how they would tax their husbands with giving away their +rings, and swear that they had given them as a present to some woman. + +Portia, when she returned, was in that happy temper of mind which +never fails to attend the consciousness of having performed a good +action; her cheerful spirits enjoyed everything she saw: the moon +never seemed to shine so bright before; and when that pleasant moon +was hid behind a cloud, then a light which she saw from her house at +Belmont as well pleased her charmed fancy, and she said to Nerissa, +"That light we see is burning in my hall; how far that little candle +throws its beams, so shines a good deed in a naughty world;" and +hearing the sound of music from her house, she said, "Methinks that +music sounds much sweeter than by day." + +And now Portia and Nerissa entered the house, and dressing themselves +in their own apparel, they awaited the arrival of their husbands, who +soon followed them with Antonio; and Bassanio presenting his dear +friend to the lady Portia, the congratulations and welcomings of that +lady were hardly over, when they perceived Nerissa and her husband +quarreling in a corner of the room. "A quarrel already?" said Portia. +"What is the matter?" Gratiano replied, "Lady, it is about a paltry +gilt ring that Nerissa gave me, with words upon it like the poetry on +a cutler's knife, _Love me, and leave me not_." + +"What does the poetry or the value of the ring signify?" said Nerissa. +"You swore to me when I gave it to you, that you would keep it till +the hour of death; and now you say you gave it to the lawyer's clerk. +I know you gave it to a woman."--"By this hand," replied Gratiano, "I +gave it to a youth, a kind of boy, a little scrubbed boy, no higher +than yourself; he was clerk to the young counselor that by his wise +pleading saved Antonio's life: this prating boy begged it for a fee, +and I could not for my life deny him." Portia said, "You were to +blame, Gratiano, to part with your wife's first gift. I gave my lord +Bassanio a ring, and I am sure he would not part with it for all the +world." Gratiano, in excuse for his fault, now said, "My lord Bassanio +gave his ring away to the counselor, and then the boy, his clerk, that +took some pains in writing, he begged my ring." + +Portia, hearing this, seemed very angry, and reproached Bassanio for +giving away her ring; and she said Nerissa had taught her what to +believe, and that she knew some woman had the ring. Bassanio was very +unhappy to have so offended his dear lady, and he said with great +earnestness, "No, by my honor, no woman had it, but a civil doctor, +who refused three thousand ducats of me, and begged the ring, which, +when I denied him, he went displeased away. What could I do, sweet +Portia? I was so beset with shame for my seeming ingratitude, that I +was forced to send the ring after him. Pardon me, good lady; had you +been there, I think you would have begged the ring of me to give the +worthy doctor." + +"Ah!" said Antonio, "I am the unhappy cause of these quarrels!" + +Portia bid Antonio not to grieve at that, for that he was welcome +notwithstanding; and then Antonio said, "I once did lend my body for +Bassanio's sake; and but for him to whom your husband gave the ring, I +should have now been dead. I dare be bound again, my soul upon the +forfeit, your lord will nevermore break his faith with you."--"Then +you shall be his surety," said Portia; "give him this ring, and bid +him keep it better than the other." + +When Bassanio looked at this ring, he was strangely surprised to find +it the same he gave away; and then Portia told him how she was the +young counselor, and Nerissa was her clerk; and Bassanio found, to his +unspeakable wonder and delight, that it was by the noble courage and +wisdom of his wife that Antonio's life was saved. + +And Portia again welcomed Antonio, and gave him letters which by some +chance had fallen into her hands, which contained an account of +Antonio's ships, that were supposed lost, being safely arrived in the +harbor. So these tragical beginnings of this rich merchant's story +were all forgotten in the unexpected good fortune which ensued; and +there was leisure to laugh at the comical adventure of the rings, and +the husbands that did not know their own wives: Gratiano merrily +swearing, in a sort of rhyming speech, that-- + + "while he lived, he'd fear no other thing + So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa's ring." + + + + + THE TEMPEST + + _By Charles and Mary Lamb_ + + +There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which +were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a +very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young that she +had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's. + +They lived in a cave or cell, made out of a rock; it was divided into +several apartments, one of which Prospero called his study; there he +kept his books, which chiefly treated of magic, a study at that time +much affected by all learned men: and the knowledge of this art he +found very useful to him; for, being thrown by a strange chance upon +this island, which had been enchanted by a witch called Sycorax, who +died there a short time before his arrival, Prospero, by virtue of his +art, released many good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the +bodies of large trees, because they had refused to execute her wicked +commands. These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of +Prospero. Of these Ariel was the chief. + +The lively little sprite Ariel had nothing mischievous in his nature, +except that he took rather too much pleasure in tormenting an ugly +monster called Caliban, for he owed him a grudge because he was the +son of his old enemy Scyorax. This Caliban Prospero found in the +woods, a strange, misshapen thing, far less human in form than an ape: +he took him home to his cell, and taught him to speak; and Prospero +would have been very kind to him, but the bad nature which Caliban +inherited from his mother Scyorax would not let him learn anything +good or useful: therefore he was employed like a slave, to fetch wood, +and do the most laborious offices; and Ariel had the charge of +compelling him to these services. + +When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel (who was invisible +to all eyes but Prospero's) would come slyly and pinch him, and +sometimes tumble him down in the mire; and then Ariel, in the likeness +of an ape, would make mouths at him. Then swiftly changing his shape, +in the likeness of a hedgehog he would lie tumbling in Caliban's way, +who feared the hedgehog's sharp quills would prick his bare feet. With +a variety of such like vexatious tricks Ariel would often torment him, +whenever Caliban neglected the work which Prospero commanded him to +do. + +Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will, Prospero could by +their means command the winds, and the waves of the sea. By his orders +they raised a violent storm, in the midst of which, and struggling +with the wild sea waves that every moment threatened to swallow it up, +he showed his daughter a fine large ship, which he told her was full +of living beings like themselves. "O my dear father," said she, "if by +your art you have raised this dreadful storm, have pity on their sad +distress. See! the vessel will be dashed to pieces. Poor souls! they +will all perish. If I had power, I would sink the sea beneath the +earth, rather than the good ship should be destroyed, with all the +precious souls within her." + +[Illustration: THE VESSEL WILL BE DASHED TO PIECES] + +"Be not so amazed, daughter Miranda," said Prospero; "there is no harm +done. I have so ordered it, that no person in the ship shall receive +any hurt. What I have done has been in care of you, my dear child. You +are ignorant who you are, or where you came from, and you know no more +of me but that I am your father and live in this poor cave. Can you +remember a time before you came to this cell? I think you cannot, for +you were not then three years of age." + +"Certainly I can, sir," replied Miranda. + +"By what?" asked Prospero; "by any other house or person? Tell me what +you can remember, my child." + +Miranda said, "It seems to me like the recollection of a dream. But +had I not once four or five women who attended upon me?" + +Prospero answered, "You had, and more. How is it that this still lives +in your mind? Do you remember how you came here?" + +"No, sir," said Miranda, "I remember nothing more." + +"Twelve years ago, Miranda," continued Prospero, "I was duke of Milan, +and you were a princess, and my only heir. I had a younger brother, +whose name was Antonio, to whom I trusted everything; and as I was +fond of retirement and deep study, I commonly left the management of +my state affairs to your uncle, my false brother (for so indeed he +proved). I, neglecting all worldly ends, buried among my books, did +dedicate my whole time to the bettering of my mind. My brother Antonio +being thus in possession of my power, began to think himself the duke +indeed. The opportunity I gave him of making himself popular among my +subjects awakened in his bad nature a proud ambition to deprive me of +my dukedom: this he soon effected with the aid of the king of Naples, +a powerful prince, who was my enemy." + +"Wherefore," said Miranda, "did they not that hour destroy us?" + +"My child," answered her father, "they durst not, so dear was the love +that my people bore me. Antonio carried us on board a ship, and when +we were some leagues out at sea, he forced us into a small boat +without either tackle, sail, or mast; there he left us, as he thought, +to perish. But a kind lord of my court, one Gonzalo, who loved me, had +privately placed in the boat water, provisions, apparel, and some +books which I prize above my dukedom." + +"O my father," said Miranda, "what a trouble must I have been to you +then!" + +"No, my love," said Prospero, "you were a little cherub that did +preserve me. Your innocent smiles made me to bear up against my +misfortunes. Our food lasted till we landed on this desert island, +since when my chief delight has been in teaching you, Miranda, and +well have you profited by my instructions." + +"Heaven thank you, my dear father," said Miranda. "Now pray tell me, +sir, your reason for raising this sea storm?" + +"Know, then," said her father, "that by means of this storm my +enemies, the king of Naples and my cruel brother, are cast ashore upon +this island." + +Having so said, Prospero gently touched his daughter with his magic +wand, and she fell fast asleep; for the spirit Ariel just then +presented himself before his master, to give an account of the +tempest, and how he had disposed of the ship's company; and, though +the spirits were always invisible to Miranda, Prospero did not choose +she should hear him holding converse (as would seem to her) with the +empty air. + +"Well, my brave spirit," said Prospero to Ariel, "how have you +performed your task?" + +Ariel gave a lively description of the storm, and the terrors of the +mariners; and how the king's son, Ferdinand, was the first who leaped +into the sea; and his father thought he saw his dear son swallowed up +by the waves and lost. "But he is safe," said Ariel, "in a corner of +the isle, sitting with his arms folded, sadly lamenting the loss of +the king his father, whom he concludes drowned. Not a hair of his head +is injured, and his princely garments, though drenched in the sea +waves, look fresher than before." + +"That's my delicate Ariel," said Prospero. "Bring him hither; my +daughter must see this young prince. Where is the king, and my +brother?" + +"I left them," answered Ariel, "searching for Ferdinand, whom they +have little hopes of finding, thinking they saw him perish. Of the +ship's crew not one is missing; though each one thinks himself the +only one saved; and the ship, though invisible to them, is safe in the +harbor." + +"Ariel," said Prospero, "thy charge is faithfully performed; but there +is more work yet." + +"Is there more work?" said Ariel. "Let me remind you, master, you have +promised me my liberty. I pray, remember, I have done you worthy +service, told you no lies, made no mistakes, served you without grudge +or grumbling." + +"How now!" said Prospero. "You do not recollect what a torment I freed +you from. Have you forgot the wicked witch Sycorax, who with age and +envy was almost bent double? Where was she born? Speak; tell me." + +"Sir, in Algiers," said Ariel. + +"Oh, was she so?" said Prospero. "I must recount what you have been, +which I find you do not remember. This bad witch, Sycorax, for her +witchcrafts, too terrible to enter human hearing, was banished from +Algiers, and here left by the sailors; and because you were a spirit +too delicate to execute her wicked commands, she shut you up in a +tree, where I found you howling. This torment, remember, I did free +you from." + +"Pardon me, dear master," said Ariel, ashamed to seem ungrateful; "I +will obey your commands." + +"Do so," said Prospero, "and I will set you free." He then gave orders +what further he would have him do; and away went Ariel, first to where +he had left Ferdinand, and found him still sitting on the grass in the +same melancholy posture. + +"O my young gentleman," said Ariel, when he saw him, "I will soon move +you. You must be brought, I find, for the lady Miranda to have a sight +of your pretty person. Come, sir, follow me." He then began singing, + + "Full fathom five thy father lies; + Of his bones are coral made; + Those are pearls that were his eyes: + Nothing of him that doth fade + But doth suffer a sea change + Into something rich and strange. + Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell: + Hark, now I hear them--Ding-dong-bell." + +This strange news of his lost father soon roused the prince from the +stupid fit into which he had fallen. He followed in amazement the +sound of Ariel's voice till it led him to Prospero and Miranda, who +were sitting under the shade of a large tree. Now, Miranda had never +seen a man before, except her own father. + +"Miranda," said Prospero, "tell me what you are looking at yonder." + +"O father," said Miranda in a strange surprise, "surely that is a +spirit. Lord! how it looks about! Believe me, sir, it is a beautiful +creature. Is it not a spirit?" + +"No, girl," answered her father; "it eats, and sleeps, and has senses +such as we have. This young man you see was in the ship. He is +somewhat altered by grief, or you might call him a handsome person. He +has lost his companions, and is wandering about to find them." + +Miranda, who thought all men had grave faces and gray beards like her +father, was delighted with the appearance of this beautiful young +prince; and Ferdinand, seeing such a lovely lady in this desert place, +and, from the strange sounds he had heard, expecting nothing but +wonders, thought he was upon an enchanted island, and that Miranda was +the goddess of the place, and as such he began to address her. + +She timidly answered, she was no goddess, but a simple maid, and was +going to give him an account of herself, when Prospero interrupted +her. He was well pleased to find they admired each other, for he +plainly perceived they had (as we say) fallen in love at first sight, +but to try Ferdinand's constancy, he resolved to throw some +difficulties in their way; therefore, advancing forward, he addressed +the prince with a stern air, telling him he came to the island as a +spy, to take it from him who was the lord of it. "Follow me," said he; +"I will tie you neck and feet together. You shall drink sea-water; +shellfish, withered roots, and husks of acorns shall be your food." +"No," said Ferdinand, "I will resist such entertainment, till I see a +more powerful enemy," and drew his sword; but Prospero, waving his +magic wand, fixed him to the spot where he stood, so that he had no +power to move. + +Miranda hung upon her father, saying, "Why are you so ungentle? Have +pity, sir; I will be his surety. This is the second man I ever saw, +and to me he seems a true one." + +"Silence," said the father; "one word more will make me chide you, +girl! What! an advocate for an impostor! You think there are no more +such fine men, having seen only him and Caliban. I tell you, foolish +girl, most men as far excel this, as he does Caliban." This he said to +prove his daughter's constancy; and she replied, "My affections are +most humble. I have no wish to see a goodlier man." + +"Come on, young man," said Prospero to the prince; "you have no power +to disobey me." + +"I have not, indeed," answered Ferdinand; and not knowing that it was +by magic he was deprived of all power of resistance, he was astonished +to find himself so strangely compelled to follow Prospero: looking +back on Miranda as long as he could see her, he said, as he went after +Prospero into the cave, "My spirits are all bound up, as if I were in +a dream; but this man's threats, and the weakness which I feel, would +seem light to me if from my prison I might once a day behold this fair +maid." + +Prospero kept Ferdinand not long confined within the cell: he soon +brought out his prisoner, and set him a severe task to perform, taking +care to let his daughter know the hard labor he had imposed on him, +and then pretending to go into his study, he secretly watched them +both. + +Prospero had commanded Ferdinand to pile up some heavy logs of wood. +Kings' sons not being much used to laborious work, Miranda soon after +found her lover almost dying with fatigue. "Alas!" said she, "do not +work so hard; my father is at his studies,--he is safe for these three +hours; pray rest yourself." + +"O my dear lady," said Ferdinand, "I dare not. I must finish my task +before I take my rest." + +"If you will sit down," said Miranda, "I will carry your logs the +while." But this Ferdinand would by no means agree to. Instead of a +help Miranda became a hindrance, for they began a long conversation, +so that the business of log-carrying went on very slowly. + +Prospero, who had enjoined Ferdinand this task merely as a trial of +his love, was not at his books, as his daughter supposed, but was +standing by them invisible to overhear what they said. + +Ferdinand inquired her name, which she told, saying it was against her +father's express command she did so. + +Prospero only smiled at this first instance of his daughter's +disobedience, for having by his magic art caused his daughter to fall +in love so suddenly, he was not angry that she showed her love by +forgetting to obey his commands. And he listened well pleased to a +long speech of Ferdinand's, in which he professed to love her above +all the ladies he ever saw. + +In answer to his praises of her beauty, which he said exceeded all the +women in the world, she replied, "I do not remember the face of any +woman, nor have I seen any more men than you, my good friend, and my +dear father. How features are abroad, I know not; but, believe me, +sir, I would not wish any companion in the world but you, nor can my +imagination form any shape but yours that I could like. But, sir, I +fear I talk to you too freely, and my father's precepts I forget." + +At this Prospero smiled, and nodded his head, as much as to say, "This +goes on exactly as I could wish: my girl will be queen of Naples." + +And then Ferdinand, in another fine long speech (for young princes +speak in courtly phrases), told the innocent Miranda he was heir to +the crown of Naples, and that she should be his queen. + +"Ah! sir," said she, "I am a fool to weep at what I am glad of. I will +answer you in plain and holy innocence. I am your wife, if you will +marry me." + +Prospero prevented Ferdinand's thanks by appearing visible before +them. + +"Fear nothing, my child," said he; "I have overheard, and approve of +all you have said. And, Ferdinand, if I have too severely used you, I +will make you rich amends by giving you my daughter. All your +vexations were but trials of your love, and you have nobly stood the +test. Then as my gift, which your true love has worthily purchased, +take my daughter, and do not smile that I boast she is above all +praise." He then, telling them that he had business which required his +presence, desired they would sit down and talk together till he +returned; and this command Miranda seemed not at all disposed to +disobey. + +When Prospero left them, he called his spirit Ariel, who quickly +appeared before him, eager to relate what he had done with Prospero's +brother and the king of Naples. Ariel said he had left them almost out +of their senses with fear at the strange things he had caused them to +see and hear. When fatigued with wandering about, and famished for +want of food, he had suddenly set before them a delicious banquet, and +then, just as they were going to eat, he appeared visible before them +in the shape of a harpy, a voracious monster with wings, and the feast +vanished away. Then, to their utter amazement, this seeming harpy +spoke to them, reminding them of their cruelty in driving Prospero +from his dukedom, and leaving him and his infant daughter to perish in +the sea; saying that for this cause these terrors were suffered to +afflict them. + +The king of Naples and Antonio, the false brother, repented the +injustice they had done to Prospero; and Ariel told his master he was +certain their penitence was sincere, and that he, though a spirit, +could not but pity them. + +"Then bring them hither, Ariel," said Prospero; "if you, who are but a +spirit, feel for their distress, shall not I, who am a human being +like themselves, have compassion on them? Bring them quickly, my +dainty Ariel." + +Ariel soon returned with the king, Antonio, and old Gonzalo in their +train, who had followed him, wondering at the wild music he played in +the air to draw them on to his master's presence. This Gonzalo was the +same who had so kindly provided Prospero formerly with books and +provisions, when his wicked brother left him, as he thought, to perish +in an open boat in the sea. + +Grief and terror had so stupefied their senses that they did not know +Prospero. He first discovered himself to the good old Gonzalo, calling +him the preserver of his life; and then his brother and the king knew +that he was the injured Prospero. + +Antonio, with tears and sad words of sorrow and true repentance, +implored his brother's forgiveness; and the king expressed his sincere +remorse for having assisted Antonio to depose his brother; and +Prospero forgave them, and upon their engaging to restore his dukedom, +he said to the king of Naples, "I have a gift in store for you, too;" +and, opening a door, showed him his son Ferdinand playing at chess +with Miranda. + +Nothing could exceed the joy of the father and the son at this +unexpected meeting, for they each thought the other drowned in the +storm. + +"O wonder!" said Miranda, "what noble creatures these are! It must +surely be a brave world that has such people in it." + +The king of Naples was almost as much astonished at the beauty and the +excellent graces of the young Miranda as his son had been. "Who is +this maid?" said he; "she seems the goddess that has parted us and +brought us thus together." "No, sir," answered Ferdinand, smiling to +find his father had fallen into the same mistake that he had made when +he first saw Miranda, "she is a mortal, but by immortal Providence she +is mine; I chose her when I could not ask you, my father, for your +consent, not thinking you were alive. She is the daughter to this +Prospero, who is the famous duke of Milan, of whose renown I have +heard so much, but never saw him till now; of him I have received a +new life,--he has made himself to me a second father, giving me this +dear lady." + +"Then I must be her father," said the king; "but oh, how oddly will it +sound, that I must ask my child forgiveness!" + +"No more of that," said Prospero; "let us not remember our troubles +past, since they so happily have ended." And then Prospero embraced +his brother, and again assured him of his forgiveness; and said that a +wise overruling Providence had permitted that he should be driven from +his poor dukedom of Milan, that his daughter might inherit the crown +of Naples, for that by their meeting in this desert island, it had +happened that the king's son had loved Miranda. + +These kind words which Prospero spoke, meaning to comfort his brother, +so filled Antonio with shame and remorse that he wept and was unable +to speak; and the kind old Gonzalo wept to see this joyful +reconciliation, and prayed for blessings on the young couple. + +Prospero now told them that their ship was safe in the harbor, and the +sailors all on board her, and that he and his daughter would accompany +them home the next morning. "In the meantime," says he, "partake of +such refreshments as my poor cave affords; and for your evening's +entertainment I will relate the history of my life from my first +landing in this desert island." He then called for Caliban to prepare +some food, and set the cave in order; and the company were astonished +at the uncouth form and savage appearance of this ugly monster, who +(Prospero said) was the only attendant he had to wait upon him. + +Before Prospero left the island, he dismissed Ariel from his service, +to the great joy of that lively little spirit, who, though he had been +a faithful servant to his master, was always longing to enjoy his free +liberty, to wander uncontrolled in the air, like a wild bird, under +green trees, among pleasant fruits and sweet-smelling flowers. "My +quaint Ariel," said Prospero to the little sprite when he made him +free, "I shall miss you; yet you shall have your freedom." "Thank you, +my dear master," said Ariel; "but give me leave to attend your ship +home with prosperous gales, before you bid farewell to the assistance +of your faithful spirit; and then, master, when I am free, how merrily +I shall live!" Here Ariel sang this pretty song:-- + + "Where the bee sucks, there suck I; + In a cowslip's bell I lie; + There I couch when owls do cry. + On the bat's back I do fly + After summer merrily. + Merrily, merrily shall I live now + Under the blossom that hangs on the bough." + +Prospero then buried deep in the earth his magical books and wand, for +he was resolved never more to make use of the magic art. And having +thus overcome his enemies, and being reconciled to his brother and the +king of Naples, nothing now remained to complete his happiness but to +revisit his native land, to take possession of his dukedom, and to +witness the happy nuptials of his daughter Miranda and Prince +Ferdinand, which the king said should be instantly celebrated with +great splendor on their return to Naples. At which place, under the +safe convoy of the spirit Ariel, they after a pleasant voyage soon +arrived. + + + END OF VOLUME V + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children's Hour, v 5. Stories From +Seven Old Favorites, by Eva March Tappan + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13685 *** |