[Illustration]

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 semi-circle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER II.

     THE EMPEROR OF LILLIPUT, ATTENDED BY SEVERAL OF THE NOBILITY, COMES
     TO SEE THE AUTHOR IN HIS CONFINEMENT.  THE EMPEROR’S PERSON AND
     HABIT DESCRIBED. LEARNED MEN APPOINTED TO TEACH THE AUTHOR THEIR
     LANGUAGE.  HE GAINS FAVOR BY HIS MILD DISPOSITION.  HIS POCKETS ARE
     SEARCHED, AND HIS SWORD AND PISTOLS TAKEN FROM HIM.

When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess I never beheld a more entertaining prospect.  The country around, appeared like a continued garden, and the enclosed fields, which were generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds of flowers.  These fields were intermingled with woods of half a stang,[12] and the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to be seven feet high.  I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked like the painted scene of a city in a theatre.

The emperor was already descended from the tower, and advancing on horseback towards me, which had like to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him, reared up on his hind feet.  But that prince, who is an excellent horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in and held the bridle, while his majesty had time to dismount.

When he alighted, he surveyed me round with great admiration, but kept without the length of my chain.  He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a sort of vehicles upon wheels, till I could reach them.  I took these vehicles, and soon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled with meat; each afforded me two or three good mouthfuls.